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file photo: Siam Rath Fallout from Tuesday's court dual pricing decision in Phetchaburi continued to reverberate around Thailand. Mr Erwin Buse from the Netherlands had taken the Ministry of Public Health to court over dual pricing for foreigners and other groups at Hua Hin hospital. It was shown that there were four different pricing bands. In the third were expats who would pay a lot more. Mr Buse described this as unconstitutional in his suit. According to press reports the court said that it did not see the dual pricing as discriminatory suggesting the higher rates charged to foreigners who could pay more were good for the nation. The bad image of state sponsored rip-offs was not mentioned by the court. Mr Buse plans to appeal and told ASEAN NOW that the judge in the case acted in the interest of the MoPH. "The bottom line is that foreigners must pay 96% additional for labour cost. "Foreigners must also pay 25% additional (cost) for highly trained English speaking personnel". He said that the court had not considered the pertinent facts in its judgment and had ignored how calculations were made. He continued: "The MoPH revered other Asian nations that use dual pricing (in the court). "That was totally irrelevant for this court case but the court used it to justify their decision. "Unacceptable". -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-30 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

File photo / anti-government “Talufah” group Bangkok police will summon woman to acknowledge a charge of indecent exposure for undressing in public, during a protest by the anti-government “Talufah” group at Nang Lerng intersection, near Government House on Tuesday. Pol Maj-Gen Piya Tavichai, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said today (Wednesday) that the woman, identified as Worawan Sae Aung, aka “Pa Pao”, could face a fine of up to 5,000 baht if convicted, in accordance with Section 388 of the Criminal Code, for undressing in public to protest against the alleged harsh handling of the protesters. He said that nine protesters were arrested in the Nang Lerng area of the capital, following a clash with anti-riot police, as they tried to break through a razor wire barricade to get to Government House, to demand the ouster of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/police-to-charge-naked-protester-for-indecent-exposure-in-public/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-09-30 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Sanook Deputy government spokesman Ratchada Thanadirek said that cabinet approval had been gained for the expropriation of land in five districts. This will pave the way for a new bridge so far called "Kiakkai bridge" that will join Phra Nakhon and Thonburi, reported Sanook. It is in the area of the new parliament and tests are being done to assess whether its building will weaken the structure of the swanky new parliament building. The bridge will be 320 meters long and have three lanes on each side. Experts have deemed a new bridge was the only way to solve traffic problems in the area. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-29 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

UNITED STATES, Sept 29 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai expressed his gratitude towards US senator Tammy Duckworth for pushing for the US donation of COVID-19 vaccine to Thailand. The Foreign Ministry released pictures of the meeting between Mr. Don and Ms. Duckworth, the Thai-American US senator, on Sept 27 during his visit to Washington DC. Mr. Don expressed his gratitude towards Ms. Duckworth for her support for the donation of 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from the US. Both expressed their satisfaction that the US government convened a meeting of a Thai-US working group this week to start the process of the vaccine donation. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-790582 -- © Copyright TNA 2021-09-29 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Bangkok Business News Thailand's Bangkok Business News reminded their readership as floods wracked the country that one of the places most at risk and susceptible to flooding was the Thai capital city. The city was sinking as fast as ever as sea levels continued to rise. They asked if a prediction was going to come true. A survey in 2009 said that bangkok had 25 years to put plans in place or face disaster. There are 13 years left and BBN was asking if the capital's days are numbered, except as a place to get around by boat. One study suggested that from 1978 to 2008 the city had sunk 1 meter. Much of it is at an average of 1.5 M about sea level. Much of the lower reaches of the Chao Praya river are very low lying. The story said that rainfall was not really the problem in Bangkok it was the mitigation measures about where to send it. Bangkok's geographical position presents challenges. Inevitably they asked the question in the current rainy season if Bangkok would flood this year like what it referred to as The Great Bangkok Flood in 2011. Much of the country flooded in that year but Bangkok waited its turn in blue skies and relative quiet. But the city residents had been told that water was on its way despite the fact it wasn't raining. Suburb by northern suburb the water came - not from the sky, at least not here - but gurgling up through the drains. Drains that couldn't cope with the water that was flowing from the north and central regions to Bangkok and the sea. Great areas were swallowed up in places like Don Muang as the water rose. It began with a trickle from a drain that soon became a torrent you could kyack in! With Bangkok sinking and the sea rising according to climate change forecasts the future could be grim if Bangkok city planners drop the ball. Polders, levees, floodwalls, by-pass floodways were all mentioned as helpful in the article. But there needs to be political will as well as ideas to stop and redirect the water. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-29 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath published a long feature about Pattaya past and present and it contained a warning tale about not listening to foreigners. Waxing lyrical they took the reader back to 1974 when "Pattaya was an infant just learning to walk". When the tourism promotion board - forerunner to today's TAT - was eying up the golden sands of the "cresent shaped beach" - and seeing dollar signs. Around this time, so their report continued, investment from the Japanese government including access to experts in city development and infrastructure materialized. The Japanese experts were immediately dispatched to Pattaya to come up with a coherent development plan to ensure the future of what could be a big city given all its geographical advantages. They made a number of clear decisions: No hotels within 100 meters of the tideline. No hotels to be bigger than the top of the pine trees (like Bali). Development of flood mitigation measures and sewage plants. Creation of a full drainage plan. Then the jewel in the crown of the Japanese vision - a 2.7 kilometer pedestrian only area on the beach "Walking Street". Nearly half a century later it is clear that the proposals were knocked back or only half-heartedly accepted. A shining or perhaps dim example depending on your viewpoint, is what Walking Street eventually became. A seedy street with bars, entertainment, nightclubs and restaurants. The rest of the beach became a free-for-all as successive city planners did anything but plan. And prostitutes moved in and became known as "phee maphrao" - ghosts of the coconuts. Then came the pandemic and 70,000 cases in Chonburi, 500 deaths. 18 million tourist visitors a year went to almost zero overnight and despite some resurgences has remained a shadow of its former self for the best part of two years. Pattaya should be the "hub" of the EEC (eastern economic corridor) plans and its mayor is putting a brave face on its future. But exactly what shape that future will take is up to many factors. These are interesting times for Pattaya and its residents with the pandemic increasingly looking like a watershed for the future. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Thai PBS It's been a perennial question since some Pattaya expats now retired were knee high to grasshoppers! Why does their preferred retirement home flood all the time? Yesterday Pattaya's strongarm mayor - from a family used to getting its own way - gave his excuses and outlined the way forward. Thai PBS were in town and they too had noticed that whenever the rainy season comes around great swathes of Pattaya continually go under half a meter of floodwater. Firstly the excuses. Picture: Thai PBS Sontaya Kunplome said that it was caused by rain. Not just any old rain, oh no. Pattaya had suffered the heaviest rain in decades recently, he claimed. Also causing trouble to his plans was the building of the high speed three airport rail link (Don Muang - Suvarnabhumi - U-Tapao). Aspects of this projects construction had interferred with drainage. In addition many areas that are low lying had flooded despite measures to prevent this. That went back years, he suggested without saying "well before I arrived". Picture: Thai PBS He outlined several roads where this was happening saying Soi Bongkot and Jomtien 2 road and at Mongkhol intersection had gone from knee deep to waist deep. He then described Pattaya as being in a shallow frying pan - outlying areas just feed all that dastardly H2O to the city. For answers the mayor is looking at new pipe plans as well as concentrating efforts to stop encroachment on waterways. Offending properties will be removed and more than 100 cases will be continually followed up to conclusion. Rather resigned to Pattaya's problems the mayor asked for time and concluded with a vague set of generalizations: "Solving Pattaya's flooding problem is not a short term issue. Firstly we must drain the water as fast as possible. Secondly we must follow the plan in the medium term. Thirdly we must make improvements to the system". ASEAN NOW advice to residents: Get out your galoshes, the rainy season still has a way to run! -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Daily News reported the latest figures from a Super Poll conducted last week. 1,078 people were asked various questions about the economy and government performance. A total of 66.8% replied that they believed Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha could lead the country through the economic crisis to better days. Image: Daily News The vast majority - 96.6% - wanted easing of restrictions so that they could start earning and being more free again. 86.8% expected to have more money once restrictions were eased. 67.6 expressed confidence that the economy would soon bounce back. But 78.1 pointed to forces within the government who were eroding public confidence. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-27 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Manager When tourism finally gets off the ground again in Pattaya they will have to forget the resort's notorious entertainment industry. In an eight point plan aimed at ensuring that foreign tourism can get off the ground, came an acceptance of the situation from the Pattaya Tourist Business association. Picture: Manager Number eight assumed the entertainment industry is expected to remain shut whenever Pattaya reopens. Number six on TBA chief Bun-anan Pattanasin's list is stopping any reference to "Sandbox" in the "Pattaya Moves On" brand. Marketing materials will refer to Pattaya's new image as "BLUE". This stands for Business, Leisure, Ultimate Experience. Picture: Manager Other measures the TBA raised with the TAT are chivvying the authorities to get everyone vaccinated - 50% have received a double dose in Pattaya and 20,000 remain to be double jabbed, reported Manager. Limiting quarantine to 7 days, promoting more direct flights and getting more hotels onboard with the SHA and SHA+ schemes remain other priorities. Bun-anan was commenting after the CCSA knocked back the October 1st reopening D-Day to November 1st. Pattaya wants to reopen faster than that and is insisting they be heard. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-27 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Thai PBS A leading tourism figure in Pattaya said he was not expecting a million tourists a month in the high season. Tourism Business Association figure Bunawan Patanasin said that if 200,000 Thai and foreign tourists come each month this high season that will be a major positive. Back in the pre-pandemic 2018-2019 period Bunawan said tourism raked in 276 billion baht. In 2020 this had dwindled to 60 billion. Picture: Thai PBS Previous high seasons saw 800,000 to a million visitors a month. Now the ambitious target was 200,000. He wants Pattaya to be allowed to open to foreigners as soon as possible seeing a mid-October opening a chance to test the waters with their protocols ahead of high season. He like others called for clarity from the government to give guidance to tourism businesses and confidence to foreign tourists. Picture: Thai PBS Though the domestic market was expected to prove the major market this year. Meanwhile in a Thai PBS report Pattaya's major Sontaya Kunplome spoke of the resort being ready to reopen to foreign tourists with 70% of the locals vaccinated. He said 60,000 people had been jabbed in Muang district, 140,000 in Bang Lamung and 90% in Koh Larn. It was now up to the CCSA to give the great light so that his Pattaya Move On plan could be enacted. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Naew Na The Immigration Bureau's spokesman Pol Col Phakkapong Sai-ubol told the press yesterday that his chief Pol Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang had ordered action after a video was given to the IB. It purported to show a foreign national putting his feet on bread that was about to be packaged for sale. Apart from being unhygienic this use of the feet was sickening to Thais, suggested Naew Na in their report. Picture: Naew Na The public wanted to know if this foreigner was legally in Thailand and did he even have a work permit. ASEAN NOW notes that Thais have an aversion to the foot though it frequently appears inserted in the mouths of officials. On this occasion the IB is still searching high and low in Bangkok to find the miscreant and the public were urged to call 1178 if they have information about the baker with the feet. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-22 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Image: Reuters, file photo. ASEAN NOW has spoken to a 47 year old British man who has lived on Koh Samui for many years who claims he received what he believes are threatening emails and telephone calls from a well known hospital on the holiday island after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 last month. Following a one night stay in the hospital he was obliged to quarantine for two weeks in the Aura "hospitel". He was not seriously ill. He wanted to isolate at home but was allegedly told this was not possible. The expat said he wouldn't have money to pay the bill. After being backed into a corner, and having his passport taken from him he eventually decided to pay a 60,000 plus bill as his visa expires this coming week. In one email seen by ASEAN NOW after he said he would be unable to pay, the foreign customer service center said: "We can't change any rules and law enforcement. The violation of the Communicable Disease Act has a maximum fine of 100,000 THB and imprisonment maximum of 1 year". They said this was "management in a crisis healthcare situation". A subsequent email said: "This treatment is not for free. If the foreigner can't pay the bill then you are not qualify to leave (sic, probably live) in Thailand any more". The email goes on to say they are a government hospital who follows the law. They continued: "If you (don't) take responsibility to make payment then we will report to immigration to consider your status of living in Thailand. "And as you are a case against the law then deport process will follow." Such heavy handed emails left the expat feeling threatened, he said. He told us: "The hospital is using the Covid laws to profit out of foreigners who get admitted (to) the system". He said that an English speaking lady from customer service was not willing to negotiate. "She tried to bully me and threatened to contact immigration, have my visa cancelled, jailed and deported if I didn't pay the bill". He consulted a lawyer and took these alleged threats seriously. He is currently on a volunteer visa after the collapse of a restaurant business (in partnership with a local) due to the pandemic. He said that the British Embassy contacted the hospital and informed him that the hospital acted within the Covid laws except when they held his passport. He had originally paid a 10,000 baht deposit then was given three months to come up with the rest of the money. He ended up paying just over 50,000 baht more as his volunteer visa was due to be extended and he didn't want further trouble. He said that prior to this the hospital would not let him go until he surrendered his passport and signed a payment contract. The expat used to be in the social security scheme but he said this lapsed after he lost his business. He added a claim that it was totally wrong that the hospital was using the pandemic to make money. "Originally all the hospital staff and all my local friends told me not to worry because Covid treatment is free for everyone in Thailand. "Many of my Thai friends were outraged when I got billed". He told us that he is considering returning to the UK next year. ASEAN NOW has contacted the foreigner center at the hospital concerned for comment about the expat's claims of being harassed. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-22 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

file photo A leading figure in real estate has thrown his weight behind the government's plans to attract foreigners to buy property in Thailand but with three main caveats. Those foreigners need to be loaded with money, limited to where they can buy and potentially stopped from having a vote if more than 50% of a condo project is owned by them. Dr Wichai Wiratkaphan said the government's one million foreigners, one trillion baht investment and economic stimulus plan was a great idea. Picture: Daily News The acting director of the influential Agency for Real Estate Affairs was insistent, however, there must be restrictions, reported Daily News yesterday. The issue has cause a major row in Thailand with 'clarifications' issue by government spokespeople only muddying the waters. Critics see Thailand as overly protectionist while many who live in the country and support Thai spouses and children feel they are being overlooked. Under the doctor's ideas retirees owning a little bit of Isaan and building a home to look after their family remains further away than ever. Dr Wichai proposes: Only foreigners with ten million baht and more should qualify. They should be prevented from buying in the 3 - 8 million baht range favored by most Thai employees as this would lead to pricing Thais out of the market. Foreigners should be restricted to buying houses in the Thai capital Bangkok, the island of Phuket in the south and areas of the so called Eastern Economic Corridor (that's Pattaya mainly). "They should not be free to buy everywhere," he said, a move that will stop foreigners "cornering the market". Lastly if more than 49% of condos end up being allowed to be sold to foreigners - as mooted in the cabinet's plans - foreigners should not be allowed to vote. He said that Thais should keep more than 50% of voting rights irrespective of how many own units in buildings. "Thais need to stay in control" in such circumstances, he said. He was also in favor of leases going up in increments of 30 years rather than 90 year or 99 year leases being offered off the bat. Careful consideration of all factors was important, a beaming Dr Wichai told the media. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-21 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Bangkok Business News The measures to try and encourage a million wealthy foreign visitors to come to Thailand over the next five years are set to have a broader impact for consumers of imported alcohol. The customs department are reportedly going to slash import duty on wine and spirits and cigars maybe by as much as half. Wine drinkers in particular in Thailand have often complained about the cost of foreign imported beverages. What a 50% reduction in import duty would mean at the till remains to be seen. Bangkok Business News quoted the director-general of the Customs Department Patchara Anantasin as saying that the changes would be part of the mix to attract foreign investors. This was announced last Tuesday and includes long term visas, tax breaks and easing in property ownership rules. Details can be seen here. Thailand wants to get a million foreigners to invest a trillion baht in five years in a move to kickstart the post-pandemic economy. A bugbear would be the high cost of imported items like wine, spirits and cigars, hence the proposed changes. Various media outlets are reporting that the changes might only last for five years. But as with condo and land ownership rules this could always be extended. Changes to the excise tax on cigarettes are also in the offing though both this and slashing of alcohol duty has not pleased everyone. Roengrudee Patanavanich of Ramathibodi Hospital who is a researcher on tobacco control said that the proposals are bad news for groups wanting to stop smoking and the consumption of alcoholic beverages. They would prefer to see steady 4% increases in tax on cigarettes rather than flat rates charges. The changes to customs duty would also see revision of customs procedures and duty for personal items for arriving and departing passengers. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-20 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Sanook A leading figure in the real estate business has urged caution regarding the Thai government’s plans to relax laws regarding foreigners owning condos and land in Thailand. likened relaxing rules about condo and land ownership for foreign investors to allow them to live in Thailand to treason. Plans are afoot to allow 100% of condo developments to be owned by foreigners and even allow foreigners to own land and buy their own homes on that land in certain areas, reported Sanook. But Dr Sophon Pornchokchai, who is chairman of the Agency for Real Estate Affairs cautioned in an online rant that it was not necessarily a good idea. He even went as far to say the plans were treasonous. Dr Sophon warned that Thailand did not have the preventative measures in place like other countries to prevent the widespread purchase of land in Thailand by foreigners. He called for all sides to engage in debate about the issue and for the government not to just listen to the views of foreign investors who want the laws changed. All sides and all views need to be aired and considered. In other reports on ASEAN NOW today we report that changes to land and condo ownership laws could be pushed through as early as next year. Thailand wants to kickstart the economy and attract a million wealthy foreigners including retirees and digital nomads to spend a trillion baht over the next five years. The issue is likely to stir strong feelings and the use of expressions like "khai chart" (selling out the country or treason) will doubtless be bandied about as both genuinely held beliefs and political attack weapons. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-20 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

file photo By Paul Andrews Health officials on Sunday (Sept 19) reported 76 new COVID-19 cases, 19 were found in Hua Hin, of those infected in Hua Hin 15 were detected at clusters. Elsewhere in the province, 27 cases were found in Pranburi, 14 cases in Sam Roi Yot, 9 cases in Kuiburi, zero cases in Thap Sakae, 4 cases in Bang Saphan, 1 case in Bang Saphan Noi, and 2 cases in Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan. Health officials said they were dealing clusters at the following locations: Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/sept-19-prachuap-reports-59-new-covid-19-cases-22-cases-in-hua-hin/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2021-09-20 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Pear Maneechote The Progressive Movement, led by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has registered an official foundation under the same name, confirmed in the Royal Gazette Friday. Thanathorn was the leader of the now-dissolved Future Forward Party (FFP), the predecessor to the current opposition Move Forward Party. The director of the new foundation is Thai academic and former FFP secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokku. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/32816/progressive-movement-foundation-registered-with-thanathorn-as-chairman/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-09-18 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Hotel industry leader Phisut Sae-khu has called for a suspension of debt repayment for hotel owners in Pattaya until the foreign tourism industry returns to normal as he warned that they face extreme financial difficulty and are ready to sell out to investors from China. It comes as efforts to relaunch foreign tourism in October under ‘new normal’ arrangements and Sandbox schemes appear to be losing momentum with the country still well behind on its vaccination targets and a lack of interest from visitors. by James Morris and Son Nguyen The Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, last week talked of a nationwide reopening to foreign tourists without quarantine based on the kingdom achieving herd immunity as defined by the Thai government. The minister also raised the prospect of resurrecting the old travel bubble concept or allowing entry from countries with high vaccination rates and low levels of infection from the 1st of January 2022. In Phuket, a hotel industry representative has called for the relaxation of alcohol restrictions which are turning off prospective visitors from booking holidays. A leading hotel and tourism industry leader in Pattaya has warned the government that many property owners are on the verge of selling out to foreign investors, particularly in China, as prospects for a recovery of foreign tourism are again receding. Mr Phisut Sae-khu of the Thai Hotels Association said such an outcome would mean a permanent, ongoing and irrecoverable loss to the wider Thai economy going forward. Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2021/09/11/pattaya-hotel-boss-warns-of-chinese-takeover/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2021-09-11 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Tanakorn Sangiam BANGKOK (NNT) - The State Railway of Thailand has stressed the used trains from Japan it is receiving as a donation are still in good condition. The state railway operator will need to pay for the transportation of the 17 train carriages at a cost of 42.5 million baht. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has announced outcomes of the inspection of the 17 multiple unit diesel train carriages being donated by Japan, finding them all in good condition. Japan’s rail operator JR Hokkaido is donating the train cars decommissioned since 2016 to Thailand, with the cost of transportation and refurbishment covered by the SRT. Mr Aekkarat Sriarayanpong, the SRT’s Public Relations director, said today the SRT will conduct a safety inspection and refurbishment of these trains on their arrival, to make the trains suitable for operations in Thailand as tourism trains. The SRT had earlier in October 2018 received 10 train cars from Japan. These carriages are also being refurbished to serve as a tourism train. The trains, expected to enter service next year, will include three regular passenger carriages, a family car, and a recreational car, with the livery reflecting areas the tourist train passes through. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-09-11 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

The country has implemented changes to attract wealthy foreigners By Cristian Angeloni When Brits think about retiring or moving abroad, more often then not, picturesque landscapes of beaches with cloudless skies are cited as features they want. While usual suspects Spain, Portugal, France and Italy are always top of the list, many have been looking further afield to find a place in the sun. And these prospective expats are drawing the attention of several countries around the world that have been passing favourable tax rules and opening up opportunities for them to either move or retire there. Full story: https://international-adviser.com/are-expats-being-tempted-by-thailand/ -- © Copyright International Adviser 2021-09-10 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News Daily News reported from Koh Samui after a nine year old child died on Koh Phangan as a result of stings from a deadly box jellyfish. Nets have been installed by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources on Lamai and Chaweng Beaches to add to signs about the danger and posts containing vinegar - a standard first response treatment for stings. At Koh Phangan itself the media said the net there at Had Rin beach had been upgraded. Various kinds of jellyfish including boy jellyfish that can kill are particularly prevalent in the area from July to October, said Krissana Phromkoh the owner of Lamai Wantha Hotel as the net was installed outside her property. Stings should be washed continually with vinegar and never touched as this can spread the toxin. Medical help must be sought immediately after a serious attack. She said that tentacles from jellyfish can stretch 5 meters from the main body of the jellyfish. It is always safest to swim in areas surrounded by nets especially at this time of the year. Daily News also published figures from Koh Samui Hospital for the number of stings from all kinds of jellyfish that were treated there: 2016 42 cases 2017 47 cases 2018 17 vases 2019 and 2020 8 cases each 2021 9 cases so far. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-01 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Channel 7 Bangkok's governor Aswin Kwanmuang told the media that obstacles to opening restaurants in the Thai capital more fully had been removed. He said that from September 1st to 30th it will not be necessary that patrons will have to have been vaccinated to use restaurants. Staff will also not have to take ATK tests every 7 days. These obstacles were seen as problematic when they were mooted because only around 10% of the Thai population has been double vaxxed and restaurants complained that ATK testing would eat into their already devastated bottom line, notes ASEAN NOW. Aswin said that from Wednesday it is back to mask wearing, temperature checking and 2 meter social distancing protocols, reported Channel 7. These measures are familiar to everyone by now. He said that where 2 meter SD could not be guaranteed then screens and barriers need to be in place. Schools will also be allowed to open without restrictions from Wednesday with teaching, training and testing for large groups allowed. It remains to be seen what protocols will be in place in each school and how many will reopen but the suprise decision of the CCSA will be a mostly welcome relief to parents who have had their children at home since Songkran. Beauty salons, hairdressing shops and health massage can also reopen - the latter being foot massage only. Restaurants can open to 8 pm, the same as malls and shopping centers. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-30 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Sanook The chief of the Royal Thai Police General Suwat Chaengyodsuk sent in Pol Maj-Gen Noppasin Phoonsawat to try and find a fugitive police colonel at the center of a murder inquiry. Instead they found luxury cars - lots of them. Pol Col Thitisan Utthanaphol was not at his Ram Inthra home in Bangkok but there were 13 sports and supercars including Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Mercedes Benz models. The provenance of the vehicles is being investigated. Graphic: Sanook Later Sanook discovered an inventory of all the vehicles owned by the former chief of the Muang Nakhon Sawan police in the north of Thailand. It contained the names of 29 models amounting to hundreds of millions of baht. Not bad for someone who Daily News reported yesterday as earning just 43,330 baht a month. The cop known by the nickname of "Joe Ferrari" was one of the leading lights in the fight against drugs until his abrupt removal from the force after a drug suspect died in custody. The suspect was shown on a video being tortured by placing plastic bags on his head in an alleged extortion incident involving several officers. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Reuters file photo for reference only The Tourism Authority of Thailand's newest director of Asia and the south Pacific told Bangkok Business News that tourists are clearly desperate to come to Thailand. But Thanes Petchsuwan noted that many countries have a requirement that returning tourists need to quarantine for 14 days and this is hindering matters due to its expense. Some have suggested that if Thailand paid part of their 14 day quarantine costs then they would visit. A case in point was Singapore, said Thanes, where information received has shown that if Thailand helped tourists in this regard their nationals would be prepared to visit Thailand. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-20 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Cod Satrusayang Thai police are seeking software that would help it monitor chat applications and social media private messages, a police source told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday. The Royal Thai Police have reached out to several companies selling software similar to the Pegasus software developed by an Israeli defense company. Police have approached vendors looking for technology that could be used to monitor messages sent between popular chat applications like LINE, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Police will use the application to monitor and prevent political protest as well as go after members of organized crime and drug smugglers, the source told Thai Enquirer on the condition of anonymity. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/31061/thai-police-seeking-spyware-that-will-help-it-monitor-chat-applications/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-08-10 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates