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The three, who had acquired refugee status, had planned to hold a protest on the day of Hun Manet’s arrival. A Cambodian former political prisoner and two other activists associated with the country’s opposition Candlelight Party were arrested in Thailand on Friday, in what they think is the latest example of their government exercising its influence across borders, they told Radio Free Asia. Kong Raiya, who was jailed twice for his outspoken activities against the government, senior Candlelight member Lim Sokha and opposition activist Phan Phana were caught in an immigration roundup at an apartment complex in Bangkok. The three activists had recently fled to Thailand to seek asylum and had been granted refugee status, according to Phan Phana, who has ties to the Cambodia Youth Network. They had planned to hold a protest rally next week on the day Prime Minister Hun Manet is scheduled to arrive in Thailand on an official visit. “I am afraid that I will be deported back to Cambodia,” Phan Phana told RFA Khmer before his phone was confiscated. “The [ruling Cambodian People’s Party] were behind this arrest because the police are asking for details about other activists.” By RFA Khmer Picture: Kong Raiya talks on the phone when Thai immigration police arrive. Raiya claims that Thai police worked with the Cambodian government to arrest him because he had criticized Hun Manet's government. Courtesy Kong Raiya Full story: RFA - Radio Free Asia 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Nok Air’s Boeing 737 max 8 plans hit turbulence by Puntid Tantivangphaisal Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post Thai airline Nok Air’s plans to introduce Boeing 737 Max 8 jets are facing unexpected headwinds. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318828-nok-air’s-boeing-737-max-8-plans-hit-turbulence/

Thai airline Nok Air’s plans to introduce Boeing 737 Max 8 jets are facing unexpected headwinds. Safety anxieties soar amid recent incidents within the 737 Max family, casting shadows over Nok Air’s ambitious fleet expansion. Amidst the clouds of uncertainty, Nok Air, having already committed to lease eight Boeing 737 Max 8s, is grappling with safety concerns that have grounded the aircraft in the United States following the latest mishap with an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand have echoed the cautious stance, grounding these planes until further notice. Wutthiphum Jurangkool, Nok Air’s CEO, reveals a meticulous approach. “We plan to gauge passenger sentiment and prioritise safety by closely monitoring FAA instructions before accepting delivery, scheduled for 2025.” by Puntid Tantivangphaisal Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Elderly Activists Resume Anti-Thaksin Protest Outside Government House By Thai Newsroom Reporters The anti-Thaksin protesters outside Government House. Photo: Thai Rath DOZENS OF POLITICAL ACTIVISTS yesterday (Feb.2) resumed a street protest against de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra outside Government House where they have planned to hang around for a month. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318827-elderly-activists-resume-anti-thaksin-protest-outside-government-house/

DOZENS OF POLITICAL ACTIVISTS yesterday (Feb.2) resumed a street protest against de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra outside Government House where they have planned to hang around for a month. Pichit Chaimongkol, leader of the anti-Thaksin demonstrators, mostly being elderly persons, said the protesters have returned to a corner of the street outside Government House where they have planned to spend days and nights until March 3 in anticipation of a response from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to questions about the de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict. Thaksin, alleged to have surreptitiously played a part in the power play over the setup of a Pheu Thai-led coalition government and the allocation of cabinet portfolios among coalition partners, has never spent a single day behind bars despite his having been earlier sentenced in absentia to a curtailed, one-year jail term for a few counts of misconduct perpetrated during his previous premiership. Pichit said the peaceful protesters are expecting the prime minister as well as Justice Minister Thawee Sodsong to respond to the yet-unanswered question of whether Thaksin’s prolonged stay at Police Hospital due to mystery-shrouded “illnesses” may have been justified by law or whether the law may have been practically compromised and privileges may have been excessively provided for him, albeit unprovided for other convicts. By Thai Newsroom Reporters TOP: The anti-Thaksin protesters outside Government House. Photo: Thai Rath Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Netizens cry foul: Thai govt accused of stealing bridge-building thunder (video) by Petch Petpailin Photo via Facebook/ ขยะมรสุม ᴍᴏɴsᴏᴏɴɢᴀʀʙᴀɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɪʟᴀɴᴅ Thai netizens accused the government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of stealing the spotlight from two foreigners who raised funds to build a bridge for children to cross in Koh Phayam, an island in the southern province of Ranong. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318826-netizens-cry-foul-thai-govt-accused-of-stealing-bridge-building-thunder-video/

Thai netizens accused the government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of stealing the spotlight from two foreigners who raised funds to build a bridge for children to cross in Koh Phayam, an island in the southern province of Ranong. A viral image circulating on social media recently captured the attention of many, showing children in school uniforms wading through a shallow canal while clutching their school bags above the water. The photo highlighted an unfinished bridge nearby, its old structure indicating prolonged neglect. These children, residents of the Morgan community on the island, must navigate the canal daily to reach school. In the absence of a proper bridge, they rely on a makeshift wooden raft, which proves inadequate and often capsises, leaving the children to begin their day in soaked uniforms. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that over half of the residents in the Morgan area lack Thai nationality and consequently do not receive any welfare support. by Petch Petpailin Photo via Facebook/ ขยะมรสุม ᴍᴏɴsᴏᴏɴɢᴀʀʙᴀɢᴇ ᴛʜᴀɪʟᴀɴᴅ Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Thai astronomers unearth 13 ancient galaxies, smaller than a speck in the universe by Puntid Tantivangphaisal Photo courtesy of The Nation Thai astronomers have unravelled the mysteries of the universe by uncovering 13 low-mass galaxies, each a celestial relic from the dawn of time. The James Webb Space Telescope, their cosmic peephole, allowed them to peer into the very fabric of the early universe. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318824-thai-astronomers-unearth-13-ancient-galaxies-smaller-than-a-speck-in-the-universe/

Thai astronomers have unravelled the mysteries of the universe by uncovering 13 low-mass galaxies, each a celestial relic from the dawn of time. The James Webb Space Telescope, their cosmic peephole, allowed them to peer into the very fabric of the early universe. The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) harnessed the power of the James Webb Space Telescope, capturing images that unveiled these minuscule galaxies, each boasting a mass 10 to 100 times less than our own Milky Way. NARIT proudly announced this stellar discovery yesterday, February 1, showcasing its findings in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. These cosmic wonders, originating around 13 billion years ago, provide a rare glimpse into the Epoch of Reionization, an era when the universe was a mere 550 to 700 million years old. Here, the remnants of the Big Bang coalesced into stars and galaxies, birthing these tiny celestial bodies that defy our cosmic understanding. The James Webb Space Telescope, orbiting the Sun 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth, navigated the challenges of capturing these elusive low-mass galaxies, pushing the boundaries of its imaging capabilities. by Puntid Tantivangphaisal Photo courtesy of The Nation Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Phuket security meeting enhances tourist safety for Chinese New Year by Mitch Connor Picture courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. A high-level security meeting was convened in Phuket yesterday, guided by the region’s top police officials and led by the Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Sinlert Sukhum. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318820-phuket-security-meeting-enhances-tourist-safety-for-chinese-new-year/

A high-level security meeting was convened in Phuket yesterday, guided by the region’s top police officials and led by the Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Sinlert Sukhum. As per the directive of the Phuket Governor, the meeting aimed to bolster safety measures for tourists in anticipation of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, occurring from February 10-15. The agenda of the meeting revolved around the safety of tourists on land and at sea. It was hosted at the 191 Incident Report Center, situated within the Phuket Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town. In addition to Sinlert Sukhum, the meeting saw the presence of several other high-ranking officials. These included Teerawat Liamsuwan, Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police; Padthongtew Damapong, Superintendent of the Phuket Airport Immigration Checkpoint; Ekkachai Siri, Inspector General of the Phuket Tourist Police, and Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, Director of TAT Phuket Office. by Mitch Connor Picture courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Tourism Concerns Spark Plea for Alcohol Sales Law Change By Kittisak Phalaharn On February 1st, 2024, Mr. Thanakorn Kuptajit, the advisor to the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association (TABBA), petitioned the Thai government to consider revising the law prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM as it negatively impacted Thailand’s tourism in overall. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318818-tourism-concerns-spark-plea-for-alcohol-sales-law-change/

On February 1st, 2024, Mr. Thanakorn Kuptajit, the advisor to the Thai Alcohol Beverage Business Association (TABBA), petitioned the Thai government to consider revising the law prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM as it negatively impacted Thailand’s tourism in overall. While the implementation aligns with the government’s policy to boost Thailand’s tourism by extending entertainment service hours, Thanakorn noted remaining challenges, such as issues related to road accidents from DUIs and the sale of alcoholic beverages to individuals under the age of 20. Thanakorn suggested a review of regulations hindering economic recovery, such as the ban on alcohol sales during specific hours, and aligning them with the tourism context. Furthermore, Thanakorn emphasized the importance of maintaining safety measures and strict control over youth access to alcohol. Additionally, Thanakorn mentioned the bilateral agreement on reciprocally permanently waiving visas for Thai and Chinese tourists effective on March 1st, 2024. This has significantly increased the number of Chinese tourists seeking information about Thailand, aligning with the government’s efforts to boost the economy, remarked Thanakorn. By Kittisak Phalaharn Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Stabbing Incident Involving 14-Year-Old Students Unfolds Near School in Trang; Two Teens in Critical Condition By Kittisak Phalaharn Trang—At 4:30 PM, on February 1st, 2024, Yan Ta Khao police officers received a report of a conflict between two groups of 14-year-old students only 100 meters away from a school in Yan Ta Khao, Trang. As a result, there were two 14-year-old students in critical condition. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318817-stabbing-incident-involving-14-year-old-students-unfolds-near-school-in-trang/

Trang—At 4:30 PM, on February 1st, 2024, Yan Ta Khao police officers received a report of a conflict between two groups of 14-year-old students only 100 meters away from a school in Yan Ta Khao, Trang. As a result, there were two 14-year-old students in critical condition. Yan Ta Khao police rushed to the incident scene, however, the wounded students had already been transferred to Yan Ta Khao Hospital by good citizens. According to a report by the police, one 14-year-old student had a stab wound with a sharp object under their right breast, penetrating the lung, and another 14-year-old student had a stab wound around the left breast, an inch away from the heart. Upon police investigation, a group of victims and five other friends had a rival conflict within the same school with five other 14-year-old students including the one who stabbed the two 14-year-old students. During the fight, the culprit allegedly stabbed two 14-year-old students with a sharp object, causing two serious injuries, before the culprit’s group fled from the incident scene. By Kittisak Phalaharn Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Chachoengsao Police Capture Suspect in Murder Conspiracy on Bang Pakong Motorway By Kittisak Phalaharn Chachoengsao—At 1:00 AM, on February 2nd, 2024, Chachoengsao and Bang Pakong investigative police officers captured one of six suspects according to an arrest warrant from the Chachoengsao Provincial Court on conspiring to murder a man. The victim’s body was found at a roadside on the Bang Pakong motorway, Chachoengsao. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318816-chachoengsao-police-capture-suspect-in-murder-conspiracy-on-bang-pakong-motorway/

Chachoengsao—At 1:00 AM, on February 2nd, 2024, Chachoengsao and Bang Pakong investigative police officers captured one of six suspects according to an arrest warrant from the Chachoengsao Provincial Court on conspiring to murder a man. The victim’s body was found at a roadside on the Bang Pakong motorway, Chachoengsao. According to a report by the police, the victim, publicly identified only as Mr. Thanasan, 33, was found dead with his hands and feet tied at a roadside near the Bang Pakong motorway on January 29th. Thanasan’s wife, publicly identified only as Ms. Wannaporn, 33, reported to the police about her missing husband in Samut Prakan on January 27th. Upon police investigation, one of the suspects conspiring in the murder, publicly identified only as Mr. Kittichot, 37, was captured at a gas station in Bang Phli, Samut Prakan, and a vehicle used to commit the crimes was confiscated, according to the police. By Kittisak Phalaharn Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Sri Racha Schoolgirl Gets Leg Stuck in Gutter, Rescue Teams Free Her By Aim Tanakorn PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya Sri Racha — A 15-year-old schoolgirl stepped onto a gutter and fell through its cover, sustaining minor leg injuries. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318815-sri-racha-schoolgirl-gets-leg-stuck-in-gutter-rescue-teams-free-her/

Sri Racha — A 15-year-old schoolgirl stepped onto a gutter and fell through its cover, sustaining minor leg injuries. The incident happened in Chonburi’s Sri Racha district on February 1st, prompting an urgent response from the Sawang Prateep Sri Racha Rescue Unit. The rescue officials arrived at the scene in front of the J J Steak shop to find a 15-year-old schoolgirl with her leg trapped in a broken gutter cover. The student was unable to free herself, while her father was by her side, trying to comfort her. The rescue team immediately jumped into action, using cutting equipment to extract the student’s leg, which took about five minutes. She had sustained minor abrasions and lacerations on her right leg due to the friction with the cover. By Aim Tanakorn PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Thai woman stabs herself, spins murder tale to evade debt payments by Petch Petpailin Photo via Channel 3 A Thai woman stabbed herself in the stomach and fabricated an attempted murder scenario in an attempt to escape her debt repayments in the Isaan province of Buriram. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318814-thai-woman-stabs-herself-spins-murder-tale-to-evade-debt-payments/

A Thai woman stabbed herself in the stomach and fabricated an attempted murder scenario in an attempt to escape her debt repayments in the Isaan province of Buriram. Srinapa Srisopha, a 63 year old retired teacher, hurried 38 year old Wassana Srisanga to Satuek Hospital after she sustained a stab wound to the stomach. Srinapa clarified that Wassana had been one of her former students and had held her in high regard, akin to a mother figure. Hence, Wassana sought her out for assistance following the stabbing incident. According to what Wassana told Srinapa, two attackers assaulted and tried to kill her. They parked their motorcycle in front of her home in the Satuek district in Buriram. One of them strangled her, while the other stabbed her in the stomach. She said she was unable to identify the attackers because they covered their faces with balaclavas. Officers from Satuek Police Station questioned Wassana in hospital after her condition improved. Wassana told the officers the same story, prompting them to check CCTV cameras at the scene and nearby. by Petch Petpailin Photo via Channel 3 Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Transport Ministry’s bus number shuffle leaves Bangkok commuters in chaos by Puntid Tantivangphaisal Photo courtesy of 12Go Asia The Transport Ministry announced a major overhaul of new bus route numbers, leaving commuters in disarray. Amidst the chaos, the ministry stands firm on its decision, sparking a wave of criticism from disgruntled passengers. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318813-transport-ministry’s-bus-number-shuffle-leaves-bangkok-commuters-in-chaos/

The Transport Ministry announced a major overhaul of new bus route numbers, leaving commuters in disarray. Amidst the chaos, the ministry stands firm on its decision, sparking a wave of criticism from disgruntled passengers. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit revealed today that he instructed the Land Transport Department to make modifications to all new route numbers, eliminating the dash between zone and route numbers. The move aims to address the confusion that has plagued travellers since the recent changes to buses serving Greater Bangkok, part of a broader effort to reform the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA). The controversial alteration, implemented this month, irked commuters, with bus No.59 now transformed into the perplexing 1-8, adding the first number to represent the service zone and incorporating the letter E for expressway routes. Critics argue that the adjustment, based on a 2017 study by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), has failed to consider the practical implications for daily passengers. by Puntid Tantivangphaisal Photo courtesy of 12Go Asia Full story: The Thaiger 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

House Panel Digs Into Draft-Dodging Kickback Scandals By Thai Newsroom Reporters Young Thai men going through conscription process. Photos: Matichon THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES Committee has quietly launched an in-depth investigation into unsolved scandals surrounding alleged payoffs over the annual army drafting procedures throughout the country. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1318812-house-panel-digs-into-draft-dodging-kickback-scandals/

THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES Committee has quietly launched an in-depth investigation into unsolved scandals surrounding alleged payoffs over the annual army drafting procedures throughout the country. House committee chair Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn confirmed today (Feb.2) some people have volunteered to help the House panel by trying to collect facts and figures in unofficial, hidden fashion pertaining to alleged kickbacks demanded by some army officers, including army district registrars in charge of the annual, compulsory drafting procedures, from those who may have looked to dodge the drafting. The so-called Sor Dor 43 document issued by the army for those who may have been spared the conscription was largely alleged of being purchasable in kickback cash handed out in hush-hush fashion from potential draft dodgers to the army officers in charge. The House committee chair, concurrently a Move Forward MP, said some light will definitely be shed onto the alleged misconduct on the part of any army officers and whether the illegal business of each draft dodger handing out tens of thousands of baht in alleged payoff may have thrived since the last several decades. By Thai Newsroom Reporters TOP: Young Thai men going through conscription process. Photos: Matichon Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-02-03 - Cigna 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. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe