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Police raid drug party at gay club in Bangkok - place was busted in May but opened again Picture: Daily News Police from the Children and Women's Welfare Supervision Division and local Wang Thong Lang officers raided a gay men's club in Ramkhamhaeng Soi 21 late last night. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234790-police-raid-drug-party-at-gay-club-in-bangkok-place-was-busted-in-may-but-opened-again/

Picture: Daily News Police from the Children and Women's Welfare Supervision Division and local Wang Thong Lang officers raided a gay men's club in Ramkhamhaeng Soi 21 late last night. Ten men were arrested at the premises that has two three and five story buildings, 50 rooms with karaoke, sauna and swimming pool, reported Daily News. Complaints had been received that people were drinking and doing drugs contrary to the law and Covid-19 regulations. Taken into evidence were "ice" and drug taking equipment, syringes used for injecting drugs, Viagra and aphrodisiacs taken via the nasal route. Deputy at the CWWSD Pol Col Theerachai Chamnanmor said that 57 people were arrested at the same place in May. The owner Nu or Jaynu, 63, had already admitted he had no licence. Theerachai said that they were continuing to operate thinking that the police didn't know what they were up to, but they did. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Parties reveal PM candidates for next general election By Thammarat Thadaphrom BANGKOK (NNT) - Several political parties have already signaled the names of persons they would be nominating as prime ministerial candidates. While most parties nominate their party leader, the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) announced it was nominating the incumbent prime minister, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, PM candidate for the next term. The opposition Pheu Thai Party however remained tight-lipped on who it would nominate. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234789-parties-reveal-pm-candidates-for-next-general-election/

By Thammarat Thadaphrom BANGKOK (NNT) - Several political parties have already signaled the names of persons they would be nominating as prime ministerial candidates. While most parties nominate their party leader, the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) announced it was nominating the incumbent prime minister, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, PM candidate for the next term. The opposition Pheu Thai Party however remained tight-lipped on who it would nominate. Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, said he would back Gen Prayut and that he was not upset for not getting the nomination. The nomination of Gen Prayut for another term has sparked criticism about whether the incumbent PM can stay in this position after the next general election, as the constitution forbids anyone from taking the Prime Minister post for longer than 8 years. Gen Prawit said this argument will need to be settled based on the ruling of the Constitutional Court. Gen Prayut was nominated by the party in the previous election as an independent candidate. He was not and is not a party member. The ruling party has seen a departure of Col Suchart Jantarachotikul, the former campaign head for the southern region, who resigned to set up his own party. PPRP leader Gen Prawit denied this was a move to have a backup party. Other parties in the coalition have also unveiled their candidates. The Bhumjaithai Party (BJP) will nominate party leader and incumbent Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul. The Democrat Party will be nominating party leader and incumbent Minister of Commerce Jurin Laksanawisit. On the opposition side, Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat said he is ready to serve as the party’s PM candidate, adding that he had been making community visits to get a better understanding of people’s plights and would propose solutions during the party’s election campaign. He said his party must be ready for all scenarios, including a possibility for a snap election, adding that the current government has long lost its legitimacy since the latest censure debate. Meanwhile, Pheu Thai Party’s (PTP) Secretary-General Prasert Jantararuangtong said his party does not wish to reveal its PM nominee at this time, but is confident the supporters will be pleased with its choice. The last general election was held on 24 March 2019, which was the first-ever general election held under the 2017 constitution. The next election is expected to be held no later than 23 March 2023, which could adopt a new polling system proposed under the constitutional amendment bill. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Return of nightlife, entertainment boost hope for Phuket tourism By Chutharat Plerin An energy drink sits on a bar on Bangla Rd. Photo: The Phuket News PHUKET: Key tourism figures have welcomed the move to allow alcohol to be served and consumed in restaurants across the island, and to allow live music to be performed in venues, saying the easing of the restriction removes one of the barriers preventing tourists from coming to Phuket. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234788-return-of-nightlife-entertainment-boost-hope-for-phuket-tourism/

An energy drink sits on a bar on Bangla Rd. Photo: The Phuket News By Chutharat Plerin PHUKET: Key tourism figures have welcomed the move to allow alcohol to be served and consumed in restaurants across the island, and to allow live music to be performed in venues, saying the easing of the restriction removes one of the barriers preventing tourists from coming to Phuket. They also look to the measure, which came into effect last Friday (Oct 1) as a stepping stone towards allowing pubs and bars across the island to reopen. Thanusak Phungdet, President of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce noted that the move to allow alcohol to be sold, even though only until 10pm, came after long-standing pressure from Phuket’s business community. Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/return-of-nightlife-entertainment-boost-hope-for-phuket-tourism-81642.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Anutin praised for getting Thailand off UK's travel "red list" Picture: Daily News Bhumjaithai party list PM and registrar Suphachai Jaisamut went on his personal Facebook page to praise his party leader, DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234787-anutin-praised-for-getting-thailand-off-uks-travel-red-list/

Picture: Daily News Bhumjaithai party list PM and registrar Suphachai Jaisamut went on his personal Facebook page to praise his party leader, DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul. He claimed that Anutin's efforts were directly responsible for Thailand being removed from the United Kingdom's travel red list that is effective on Monday. Supachai said this was because of Thailand's great vaccine rollout under Anutin that is now accepted by the international community. Before Thais couldn't even visit the UK and those like students or returning expats would have to pay 89,000 to 135,000 baht for ten day quarantine. Now thanks to Anutin who went with his entourage to visit the UK ambassador Mark Gooding on September 22nd this would all be in the past. Suphachai wrote that Anutin explained to the ambassador about the virus situation in Thailand and said that 46-47 million (now 55 million) had received jabs, Thailand was on top of everything and it was all going according to plan. Conveniently perhaps, Suphachai made no mention of any hiccups on the way, notes ASEAN NOW. Daily News went with a smiling Anutin behind a mask holding something with the ambassador as others smiled for the cameras in a photo apparently from their meeting in September. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Phuket marks 161 new COVID cases, no new deaths By The Phuket News Image: PPHO PHUKET: The latest Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) daily COVID situation report has marked 161 new local infections confirmed across the island yesterday (Oct 8th) bringing the total number of people recognised as infected with COVID-19 in Phuket since Apr 3 to 12,493. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234784-phuket-marks-161-new-covid-cases-no-new-deaths/

Image: PPHO By The Phuket News PHUKET: The latest Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) daily COVID situation report has marked 161 new local infections confirmed across the island yesterday (Oct 8th) bringing the total number of people recognised as infected with COVID-19 in Phuket since Apr 3 to 12,493. The PPHO report, marked as accurate as of 8pm last night, but posted online at 11:49pm, reported one new infection among Sandbox tourist arrivals and no new infections among non-Sandbox arrivals from abroad. The report also marked no new deaths attributed to COVID-19, leaving the total number of deaths in Phuket attributed to COVID-19 since Apr 3 at 85. Of those, 65 deaths have occurred since Sept 4. Ten of those deaths have been since last Saturday (Oct 2). Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-marks-161-new-covid-cases-no-new-deaths-81648.php -- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Sudarat says make Phuket Sandbox entry simpler - wants free testing and free Covid insurance for foreigners Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported that no sooner had veteran politician Sudarat Keyuraphan got back from a trip to the US she headed for Phuket with aides from the Thai Sang Thai political party. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234779-sudarat-says-make-phuket-sandbox-entry-simpler-wants-free-testing-and-free-covid-insurance-for-foreigners/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported that no sooner had veteran politician Sudarat Keyuraphan got back from a trip to the US she headed for Phuket with aides from the Thai Sang Thai political party. There they met local leaders, business people and those from the tourism industry at the Phuket Boat Lagoon. Also present were Thai Sang Thai senior members Pokin Palakun and Sitha Thiwaree. Sudarat said that Phuket faced many obstacles in recovering from the pandemic. But in the short term she said the island needed to attract foreign tourists and right now the Sandbox idea was far too complicated. She said that when she got off the plane in the States there was free vaccine, no problems no hassles. She wants the same for Phuket and in addition free insurance for foreigners and a far simpler documentation process in place for the new year to help her Thai compatriots recover on the island. In the long term she said she wanted to see Phuket become a "Special Economic Tourism Zone"with its own separate rules. She said it should become the "office of the world" and the "living room of the region". Sitha echoed this saying Thai Sang Thai wanted to see Phuket attract digital nomads and foreign based workers to use it as their office and "work from Phuket". Pokin praised himself for being on the board at the time of the expansion of the airport but claimed that 12 million capacity would not be enough per year in the future if he and his party's plans become reality. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Doping-Thailand, Indonesia want WADA to reconsider non-compliant ruling FILE PHOTO: A woman walks into the head office of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada November 9, 2015. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (Reuters) - Thailand and Indonesia will ask the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to reconsider its decision to declare them non-compliant, representatives of the two countries said on Friday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234778-doping-thailand-indonesia-want-wada-to-reconsider-non-compliant-ruling/

FILE PHOTO: A woman walks into the head office of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada November 9, 2015. REUTERS/Christinne Muschi (Reuters) - Thailand and Indonesia will ask the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to reconsider its decision to declare them non-compliant, representatives of the two countries said on Friday. WADA announced on Thursday that the National Anti-Doping Agencies (NADOs) of North Korea and Indonesia were ruled to be non-compliant for not implementing effective testing programs. Thailand was declared non-compliant after failing to fully implement the 2021 Anti-Doping Code, WADA added. Indonesia's sports minister Zainudin Amali told reporters that the country wrote to WADA on Friday explaining that the COVID-19 pandemic had prevented it from extracting enough samples from athletes and sending them to WADA. The pandemic resulted in most sports events around the world being cancelled or postponed last year. "This caused the sample requirement to not be fulfilled," Amali said, adding that Indonesia's government hoped to send WADA 'ample' samples from a nationwide sports event being held in the easternmost Papua province. A spokesman for Indonesia's badminton association said three tournaments in Bali -- the Indonesia Masters, Indonesia Open, and BWF World Tour Finals -- would proceed as planned in November and December despite the WADA sanction. The declaration of non-compliance means the three countries are ineligible to be awarded the right to host regional, continental or world championships during their suspension. Representatives of the countries are also ineligible to sit as members of the boards on committees until their nations are reinstated or for a period of one year, whichever is longer. The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) said they would petition WADA next week to reconsider the non-compliance ruling. Thailand has finished amending the text of its anti-doping regulations to be in compliance with WADA's 2021 Anti-Doping Code, but the document has not been published for enactment due to internal legal processes, SAT Governor Gongsak Yodmani said. "We will explain to WADA that we weren't ignoring the problem. We will proceed with enacting the law as soon as possible," Gongsak added. The law could be published as a decree instead to speed up enactment and it will be in effect before the Beijing Winter Olympics in February, he said. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto in Jakarta and Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok; Writing by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

POLL: Should Thailand scrap the quota on foreign condo ownership? File photo//REUTERS/Jorge Silva Many have been recently reading that the Thai government has proposed to ease the restrictions with regards to foreigners owning property, and even land, in Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234769-poll-should-thailand-scrap-the-quota-on-foreign-condo-ownership/

Foreign skimming gang operating in Bangkok and Hua Hin arrested at seaside resort Immigration police said at a press conference yesterday that they had arrested a skimming gang who were operating in the Sathorn area of Bangkok and in the seaside resort of Hua Hin over the last three months. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234771-foreign-skimming-gang-operating-in-bangkok-and-hua-hin-arrested-at-seaside-resort/

Immigration police said at a press conference yesterday that they had arrested a skimming gang who were operating in the Sathorn area of Bangkok and in the seaside resort of Hua Hin over the last three months. They are Jacob C., 39, from Romania and Gim T. W.. 33, from Malaysia, reported Siam Rath. Gim was arrested at a beachfront hotel in Hua Hin and his accomplice was nabbed nearby. Their arrests followed complaints from customers of Kasikorn Bank that their accounts had been used despite ATM and credit cards always being in their possession. Gim was caught with 209 "white cards" two of which had had data placed in them so they could be used to withdraw cash. He had a data adding machine. His accomplice had 28 cards and another machine and other equipment and bankbooks. In skimming a machine is inserted into an ATM that reads data, which is then put on blank cards later and used to withdraw funds. The pair admitted skimming and said they operated in tourist areas of the Thai capital and Hua Hin. They got the data machines from China and the skimming machines from the UK. They would skim in the early hours of the morning then withdraw money late at night. Siam Rath said there were many victims of the pair who are now in custody facing fake card charges. Gim also is an illegal immigrant. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Nigerian drug dealer selling to foreigners nabbed by immigration in the toilets of Silom mall Picture: Naew Na Naew Na reported from the press briefing at immigration HQ in Suan Phlu, Bangkok, yesterday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234770-nigerian-drug-dealer-selling-to-foreigners-nabbed-by-immigration-in-the-toilets-of-silom-mall/

Picture: Naew Na Naew Na reported from the press briefing at immigration HQ in Suan Phlu, Bangkok, yesterday. The case with the top billing went to the activities of Region 1 officers who were told by an informant that a colored man was dealing drugs in the downtown area. He was using WhatsApp to communicate - an app popular with Europeans, Americans and Africans, said the media. A sting was set up for the late evening of October 5th with the informant arranging to buy drugs by meeting in the toilets of a mall in the Bang Rak, Silom area of downtown Bangkok. Immigration knew the suspect would arrive by BTS and had staked out the Saladaeng station when they saw a black man matching the description. He was followed then confronted at the toilets where he tried to flush several packets of drugs down the toilet. Police retrieved three ziplock sachets of ice and ketamine. Picture: Naew Na Arrested was Nigerian national George aged 28. He said he got the drugs from a Thai woman in Ramkhamhaeng and could make a profit by selling them on to foriegners who paid above the market price. His passport had absolutely no stamps in it and there was no record of him on the immigration biometrics system. He was charged with possession with intent to sell Class 1 and 2 narcotics and illegal entry and detained. Some information he supplied is being used to expand the case. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

File photo//REUTERS/Jorge Silva Many have been recently reading that the Thai government has proposed to ease the restrictions with regards to foreigners owning property, and even land, in Thailand. The government sees the easing of restrictions on property ownership as a key part of its post pandemic economic recovery. However, while some commentators have welcomed the idea, others have cautioned against the move, and have even gone as far to say that allowing foreigners to own land in Thailand would be treasonous. But perhaps a bigger issue is still about the 2008 Condominium Act, which states that at least 51% of a condo project must be owned by Thai nationals. In the past, in resorts like Pattaya, developers found they could often sell more than the 49% allowed for foreign ownership. However, they would then encourage Thais to buy the rest of the condos, often at a lower price and with easier terms. Now that Covid has decimated the tourist market, foreign buyers are a scarcity, and Thais are not willing or financially able to take up the slack. Previously, it was reported that there are as many as 100,000 empty condo units in Bangkok alone, while Hua Hin and Cha Am have more than 6,000 empty condo units. It is likely that thousands of these units are left unoccupied and unsold because of these unmanageable quota regulations. The 2008 Condominium Act does not seem to serve anyone especially if the building is located in a resort like Pattaya, Hua Hin or Phuket. What should be done? -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

44-year-old man dies after being run over by train in Chonburi, police believe victim was intoxicated By Goong Nang(GN) PHOTO: Pu Chonburi / Top News Chonburi – A 44-year-old man has been pronounced dead on a railway in the Phan Thong District after being run over by a train yesterday morning (October 8th). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234768-44-year-old-man-dies-after-being-run-over-by-train-in-chonburi-police-believe-victim-was-intoxicated/

PHOTO: Pu Chonburi / Top News By Goong Nang(GN) Chonburi – A 44-year-old man has been pronounced dead on a railway in the Phan Thong District after being run over by a train yesterday morning (October 8th). The Phan Tong Police were notified of the accident at 9:50 A.M. near a temple in the Kok Keenon sub-district. They and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of Mr. Kampan Chaochengyuen, 44, lying on the railway. He was found lying face down and had suffered severe injuries from being run over by a train. A bowl of half-eaten noodles was found near his body, leading police to believe that Kampan may have been eating on the train tracks prior to the accident. The train managed to stop about 300 meters further down the railway. A security guard, Mr. Songkran Sornnarain, 58, who was at a security box nearby told Phan Thong police, “I saw Kampan walking shirtless near my security booth holding a bowl of noodles. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/10/09/44-year-old-man-dies-after-being-run-over-by-train-in-chonburi-police-believe-victim-was-intoxicated/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand reports 10,630 new COVID-19 cases, 73 deaths File photo: REUTERS Thailand on Saturday (October 9) reported 10,630 new COVID-19 cases, 10,542 recoveries and 73 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234766-thailand-reports-10630-new-covid-19-cases-73-deaths/ //CLOSED// /Admin

Thailand reports 10,630 new COVID-19 cases, 73 deaths File photo: REUTERS Thailand on Saturday (October 9) reported 10,630 new COVID-19 cases, 10,542 recoveries and 73 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1234766-thailand-reports-10630-new-covid-19-cases-73-deaths/

File photo: REUTERS Thailand on Saturday (October 9) reported 10,630 new COVID-19 cases, 10,542 recoveries and 73 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. ◼︎ 10,542 recoveries ◼︎ 10,563 new infections ◼︎ 67 prison / prison infections ▶︎ Total infections since April 1: 1,671,204 ▶︎ Total recoveries since since April 1: 1,544,906 Saturday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 1,700,067 with 17,607 deaths. The news comes as more than 57.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have so far been administered in Thailand, the Public Health Ministry delivered another 500,000 doses of vaccine to Krabi to support the province-wide reopening to foreign tourists. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul, Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan and Krabi Governor Phutthiphong Sirimat attended a meeting to follow up on the COVID-19 situation in Krabi province and the progress of vaccination, as well as to prepare the province for opening up to tourists. Krabi is among the first provinces marked for reopening by the government, which hoped to reduce the stagnation in the national economy by reopening various areas to international tourists. In Krabi. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates