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by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - Islamic Bank of Thailand (iBank) is offering financial aid to residents affected by ongoing floods in the Southern region. Heavy rains have been hammering seven provinces in the South since February 24, causing flooding and runoff. According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the situation has already affected at least 12,000 citizens in the region. To help communities cope with the situation, iBank announced several policies for its clients. These include suspending debt principal payments for up to 6 months and waiving various fines, including late charges. Under the campaign, flood-affected borrowers only need to pay interest and request an extension for their loan payment period. Interested individuals can apply for the program at any of the iBank branches from now until the end of this year. More information can be inquired at the bank’s hotline 1302. The government has meanwhile instructed relevant units to continue providing assistance to flood victims. The 4th Army Area recently dispatched military officials to evacuate residents and those in need of assistance are urged to file their request at the local Damrongtham Center. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-03-01 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Tangmo Might Fall Overboard on Sharp Turn NONTHABURI, March 2 (TNA) – TV actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong might fall overboard when her speedboat made a sharp turn, according to police who also found a scratch and bruise on her boat companion. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252035-tangmo-might-fall-overboard-on-sharp-turn/v

NONTHABURI, March 2 (TNA) – TV actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong might fall overboard when her speedboat made a sharp turn, according to police who also found a scratch and bruise on her boat companion. Pol Lt Gen Jiraphat Phumjit, commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 1, told a press conference that accounts from suspects and witnesses including fishermen on a bank of the Chao Phraya River as well as a record from a global positioning system indicated that the speedboat traveled fast, then slowed down near the spot where Tangmo fell overboard and made a quick U-turn. Police had yet to determine if Tangmo fell accidentally or plunged into the river at the moment of the U-turn. Police still had two suspects as existing evidence did not point to another. Other people in the tragic incident remained witnesses although their accounts did not completely convince police. Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-893719 -- © Copyright TNA 2022-03-02 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand officially enters summer on Wednesday Photo created by tawatchai07 / www.freepik.com The cool season in Thailand is now officially over, as the country officially enters summer today (Wednesday), according the Thai Meteorological Department. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252032-thailand-officially-enters-summer-on-wednesday/

Photo created by tawatchai07 / www.freepik.com The cool season in Thailand is now officially over, as the country officially enters summer today (Wednesday), according the Thai Meteorological Department. Most of the northern part of Thailand will be hot, with temperatures forecast to be at least 35oC which could soar to as high as 43oC in some areas, as the north-eastern monsoon winds change south-easterly, indicative of the arrival of the dry season, said the department. During the initial stage of the dry season, however, some areas in northern and north-eastern regions will continue to experience cold weather in the mornings for a while and occasional rain is forecast. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-officially-enters-summer-on-wednesday/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-02 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Ukraine invasion: crashing Russian rouble, sanctions deal blow to Thailand bid to revive tourism ● Money-transfer difficulties and flight cancellations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have shaken Thai tour operators ● Russians were the largest group of visitors to the kingdom in January and some 1.5 million of them came in 2019 and spent US$3.3 billion Bloomberg A Russian tourist takes a selfie at Mai Khao beach in Phuket, Thailand. File photo: Reuters A plunging rouble, flight cancellations and money-transfer difficulties are prompting Russian and European tourists to cancel trips to Thailand, a blow to the Southeast Asian nation’s tourism-revival efforts. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252031-ukraine-invasion-crashing-russian-rouble-sanctions-deal-blow-to-thailand-bid-to-revive-tourism/

A Russian tourist takes a selfie at Mai Khao beach in Phuket, Thailand. File photo: Reuters ● Money-transfer difficulties and flight cancellations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have shaken Thai tour operators ● Russians were the largest group of visitors to the kingdom in January and some 1.5 million of them came in 2019 and spent US$3.3 billion Bloomberg A plunging rouble, flight cancellations and money-transfer difficulties are prompting Russian and European tourists to cancel trips to Thailand, a blow to the Southeast Asian nation’s tourism-revival efforts. The exclusion of many Russian banks from the Swift payments network has resulted in tour operators running into problems when making transfers, according to Charintip Tiyaphorn, co-owner of Pimalai Resort & Spa in Phuket. Some flights have been cancelled following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and many European airlines are re-routing to get to Southeast Asia, she said. Russians were the largest group of travellers to Thailand in January and top applicants for new visas under a quarantine-free entry programme relaunched last month. About 1.5 million Russians visited in pre-pandemic 2019 and spent US$3.3 billion, the third-highest source of tourism revenue for the country, according to official data. Full story: https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3168884/ukraine-invasion-crashing-russian-rouble-sanctions-deal -- © Copyright South China Morning Post 2022-03-02 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

First 38 Thais evacuated from Ukraine arrive in Bangkok The first 38 Thai citizens to be evacuated from Ukraine arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport this morning (Wednesday) on board a Thai Airways flight from the German city of Frankfurt after they departed the Romanian capital of Bucharest. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252030-first-38-thais-evacuated-from-ukraine-arrive-in-bangkok/

The first 38 Thai citizens to be evacuated from Ukraine arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi international airport this morning (Wednesday) on board a Thai Airways flight from the German city of Frankfurt after they departed the Romanian capital of Bucharest. According to the Facebook page of the Thai embassy in Warsaw, Poland, a second group of 58 Thais left Warsaw on Tuesday on an Emirates flight which is due to arrive at mid-day today in Bangkok. The embassy said there are still 35 Thais on their way by train to the Ukrainian city of Lviv, where a coordination centre has been set up by the embassy to arrange for their safe passage to Poland. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/first-38-thais-evacuated-from-ukraine-arrive-in-bangkok/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-02 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Gangsters’ paradise? Killing spotlights Thailand’s reputation as criminal hideout Vijitra Duangdee in Bangkok ● For decades, criminals of all stripes have felt the pull of Thailand, from drug traffickers and Russian arms dealers to Chinese and Korean scam artists ● Pandemic-era restrictions made it easier for the authorities to catch wrongdoers, but will that all change as virus curbs ease and tourists start to return? Tourists walk on a beach on the Thai island of Phuket last year. Photo: AFP The killing of an Indian gangster on Phuket island has highlighted Thailand’s reputation as a hideout for foreign criminals. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252029-gangsters’-paradise-killing-spotlights-thailand’s-reputation-as-criminal-hideout/

Tourists walk on a beach on the Thai island of Phuket last year. Photo: AFP Vijitra Duangdee in Bangkok ● For decades, criminals of all stripes have felt the pull of Thailand, from drug traffickers and Russian arms dealers to Chinese and Korean scam artists ● Pandemic-era restrictions made it easier for the authorities to catch wrongdoers, but will that all change as virus curbs ease and tourists start to return? The killing of an Indian gangster on Phuket island has highlighted Thailand’s reputation as a hideout for foreign criminals, even amid a pandemic that has restricted global travel and heightened scrutiny of people’s movements. Jimi “Slice” Sandhu, 32, was gunned down as he left his car on the night of February 4 by two hooded suspects lying in wait outside his rented villa. Sandhu was widely believed to have links to the criminal underworld of Vancouver, having been deported from Canada several years ago. Days after the killing, Interpol in Thailand issued a “red notice” for two Canadians suspected of carrying out the hit. They were allegedly on the island for several weeks and tracked their victim by using a GPS device attached to his car, among other methods. Full story: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3168888/gangsters-paradise-killing-spotlights-thailands -- © Copyright South China Morning Post 2022-03-02 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Ukrainian Crisis: PTT expect crude oil price will reach 100 dollars a barrel for short period by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - PTT Public Company Limited expects the average price of Dubai crude oil to reach 100 dollars a barrel for a short period, due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252027-ukrainian-crisis-ptt-expect-crude-oil-price-will-reach-100-dollars-a-barrel-for-short-period/

by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - PTT Public Company Limited expects the average price of Dubai crude oil to reach 100 dollars a barrel for a short period, due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Atthaphon Rerkpiboon, PTT Chief Executive Officer and President, made the statement, amid concerns that the Black Sea conflict would pose economic impact to Thailand. Currently, Dubai crude oil price is at 92.34 dollars a barrel, with WTI and Brent crude already well exceeding 100 dollars at 108.58 and 110.39 dollars respectively, as of Wednesday morning. Citing analysts, Atthaphon said that the Ukrainian crisis would likely improve within 6 months. He added that crude prices could start to drop if Iran is allowed to export oil again. The nation is currently facing sanctions triggered by its nuclear experiments. The CEO further stated that the Ministry of Energy, PTT, and related agencies closely follow the development in Ukraine. He gave his reassurance that the Kingdom would not face energy shortages. However, it is expected that fuel prices will be affected by the conflict. He urged people to conserve and consume energy strategically. Global prices of LNG is, meanwhile, also expected to rise to an average of 26.3 dollars per million BTU in the first quarter of this year. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-03-01 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Air travel bubble between Thailand and India approved, set to start later this month By Online Reporter The Cabinet has approved an air travel bubble between Thailand and India, government deputy spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek announced on Tuesday (Mar 1). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252024-air-travel-bubble-between-thailand-and-india-approved-set-to-start-later-this-month/

By Online Reporter The Cabinet has approved an air travel bubble between Thailand and India, government deputy spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek announced on Tuesday (Mar 1). The move is seen as an important step in the post-pandemic recovery of Thailand’s beleaguered tourism industry. The air travel bubble, which is expected to begin later this month, applies to commercial flights between the two countries. As part of the agreement, Thai, Indian, Bhutanese and Nepalese nationals, as well as foreigners who have been granted visas for either Thailand or India will be able to travel between the countries. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/air-travel-bubble-between-thailand-and-india-approved-set-to-start-later-this-month/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-03-02 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Gangster who had been hiding in Thailand held on landing at Delhi airport Rana was located in Thailand after key inputs were shared by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Haryana Police with central security agencies. By: Express News Service | New Delhi | Virender Partap alias Kala Rana The Delhi Police Tuesday arrested wanted gangster Virender Partap alias Kala Rana, allegedly a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Kala Jathedi syndicate, who was running a syndicate in India from Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252018-gangster-who-had-been-hiding-in-thailand-held-on-landing-at-delhi-airport/

Virender Partap alias Kala Rana Rana was located in Thailand after key inputs were shared by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Haryana Police with central security agencies. By: Express News Service | New Delhi | The Delhi Police Tuesday arrested wanted gangster Virender Partap alias Kala Rana, allegedly a key member of the Lawrence Bishnoi and Kala Jathedi syndicate, who was running a syndicate in India from Thailand. Rana was located in Thailand after key inputs were shared by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Haryana Police with central security agencies. Police said Rana is involved in at least 30 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion and criminal intimidation across Haryana, and had also planned the escape of Kuldeep alias Fajja from police custody at GTB Hospital last year. Full story: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/gangster-who-had-been-hiding-in-thailand-held-on-landing-at-igi-airport-7796713/ -- © Copyright The Indian EXPRESS 2022-03-02 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai cabinet endorses draft agreements for nationals to work in Saudi Arabia A general view shows office buildings at al-Raidah Digital City of the Saudi capital Riaydh on February 28, 2022. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) In yet another step in the normalisation of relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, today the Thai cabinet Tuesday approved two draft agreements related to the recruitment of Thais to work in Saudi Arabia. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252016-thai-cabinet-endorses-draft-agreements-for-nationals-to-work-in-saudi-arabia/

A general view shows office buildings at al-Raidah Digital City of the Saudi capital Riaydh on February 28, 2022. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) In yet another step in the normalisation of relations between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, today the Thai cabinet Tuesday approved two draft agreements related to the recruitment of Thais to work in Saudi Arabia. Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the cabinet also designated the Thai Labour Ministry as the authority to sign the two agreements with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. The cabinet’s approval comes shortly after the first Saudia flight in 32 years landed at Suvarnabhumi international airport on Monday, carrying 71 passengers. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-cabinet-endorses-draft-agreements-for-nationals-to-work-in-saudi-arabia/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-03-02 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand’s Tourism Industry Unites at TTF 2022 as Hospitality Leaders Sign Pledge for the Future Tourism leaders call for a full opening up of the country as concerns emerge that Thailand is losing the initiative to regional competitors and will not achieve 10 million arrivals in 2022 C9 Hotelworks Ltd. Thailand Tourism Leadership Summit: (from left) Bill Barnett, MD, C9 Hotelworks; Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau; Bill Heinecke, Chairman/Founder Minor International; Stephan Vanden Auweele, Chief Hospitality Officer, Asset World Corporation; Proudputh Liptapanlop, Executive Director, Proud Group; Boon Kwee Lim, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International; Dirk De Cuyper, CEO of S Hotels & Resorts; Clarence Tan, Senior Vice President of Development, Hilton Asia Pacific; and Marisa Sukosol, President of the Thailand Hotel Association. — Photo by C9 Hotelworks Ltd. . BANGKOK, THAILAND - More than 500 delegates, including many of Thai tourism and hospitality’s most senior figures, came together... Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252011-thailand’s-tourism-industry-unites-at-ttf-2022-as-hospitality-leaders-sign-pledge-for-the-future/

Thailand Tourism Leadership Summit: (from left) Bill Barnett, MD, C9 Hotelworks; Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau; Bill Heinecke, Chairman/Founder Minor International; Stephan Vanden Auweele, Chief Hospitality Officer, Asset World Corporation; Proudputh Liptapanlop, Executive Director, Proud Group; Boon Kwee Lim, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International; Dirk De Cuyper, CEO of S Hotels & Resorts; Clarence Tan, Senior Vice President of Development, Hilton Asia Pacific; and Marisa Sukosol, President of the Thailand Hotel Association. — Photo by C9 Hotelworks Ltd. Tourism leaders call for a full opening up of the country as concerns emerge that Thailand is losing the initiative to regional competitors and will not achieve 10 million arrivals in 2022 C9 Hotelworks Ltd. . BANGKOK, THAILAND - More than 500 delegates, including many of Thai tourism and hospitality’s most senior figures, came together at the 11th Thailand Tourism Forum (TTF 2022) on 1st March 2022, with the aim of charting a strong and sustainable path out of the global pandemic. TTF 2022, Thailand’s largest annual tourism and hospitality event, taking place as the industry grapples with an unprecedented period of crisis, opportunity, threat and disruption, ran under the theme #ThaiTourismUnited and kicked off with the Thailand Tourism Leadership Summit, which saw influential CEOs set out their joint vision for the future and jointly sign the Thailand Tourism Pledge. Together, these leaders committed to forging a new strategic direction for Thailand, including placing tourism at the forefront of the national economy, putting the service sector back to work, achieving sustainable growth, and making international visitors feel safe and secure. The Thailand Tourism Pledge will lay the foundations upon which Thai tourism can be rebuilt from the ground up, following the devastation of the global pandemic. Full story: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4109191.html -- © Copyright Hospitality Net 2022-03-01 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

COVID-19: Thailand reports 22,197 new coronavirus cases, 45 deaths, 19,093 recoveries File photo Thailand on Wednesday (March 2) reported 22,197 new COVID-19 cases, 19,093 recoveries and 45 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252006-covid-19-thailand-reports-22197-new-coronavirus-cases-45-deaths-19093-recoveries/ //CLOSED// /Admin

COVID-19: Thailand reports 22,197 new coronavirus cases, 45 deaths, 19,093 recoveries File photo Thailand on Wednesday (March 2) reported 22,197 new COVID-19 cases, 19,093 recoveries and 45 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1252006-covid-19-thailand-reports-22197-new-coronavirus-cases-45-deaths-19093-recoveries/

File photo Thailand on Wednesday (March 2) reported 22,197 new COVID-19 cases, 19,093 recoveries and 45 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Wednesday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 2,934,544 with 23,021 deaths. The news comes as the Department of Disease Control (DDC) has warned that daily COVID-19 cases in Thailand could exceed 100,000 by the Songkran holiday in April under the worst-case scenario. The DDC noted that whether the infection level decreases or increases in the coming weeks depends on how strictly safety precautions are followed. The agency also urged the public to avoid group activities, work from home, postpone unnecessary travel, maintain high immunization rates, and follow VUCA (Vaccine, Universal Prevention, COVID-Free Setting, and ATK) procedures. *NNT contributed to this report Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-02 - Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information