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Thai Police Bust International Pickpocket and Credit Card Theft Gang in Bangkok By Kittisak Phalaharn Bangkok—At 9:00 AM, on January 20th, 2024, the Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau captured a pickpocket and credit card theft gang stealing from foreign tourists at tourist attractions in Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317659-thai-police-bust-international-pickpocket-and-credit-card-theft-gang-in-bangkok/

Bangkok—At 9:00 AM, on January 20th, 2024, the Thai Metropolitan Police Bureau captured a pickpocket and credit card theft gang stealing from foreign tourists at tourist attractions in Bangkok. According to a report by the police, the suspects were publicly identified as Mr. Warongrit Rattanakijpisan, 46, Ms. Jirapa Saejiw, 39, and Ms. Manatsanan Naiphongsri, 44, and were arrested on charges of allegedly conspiring possession of illicit substances, type 1, without permission. The suspects were captured at a famous hotel in Soi Suea Yai, Ratchadaphisek Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, on January 19th, said the police. Furthermore, the police confiscated an amount of methamphetamine, 4 Electronic Data Capture (EDC) machines, 2 logbooks recording involved individuals, and other relevant evidence. By Kittisak Phalaharn Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-01-22 - 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

Suspect Who Threatened Tourist Over Beer Purchase Refusal Arrested in Na Jomtien By Tanakorn Panyadee PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya Sattahip —Pattaya police arrested a Thai man who threatened a foreign tourist with a knife after the tourist refused to buy beer from him for 200 baht in Na Jomtien last Friday. Full sttory: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317658-suspect-who-threatened-tourist-over-beer-purchase-refusal-arrested-in-na-jomtien/

PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya Sattahip —Pattaya police arrested a Thai man who threatened a foreign tourist with a knife after the tourist refused to buy beer from him for 200 baht in Na Jomtien last Friday. On January 20th, Pattaya police apprehended Mr. Bunsuk Kwan-on, a 52-year-old resident of Chiang Mai, after he was suspected of attempting to assault a foreign tourist on a footpath at the mouth of Soi Na Jomtien 20, Na Jomtien sub-district, Sattahip district, Chonburi province, on Friday night, January 19th. The arrest followed a swift investigation conducted by the Pattaya police in response to the reported incident. Mr. Bunsuk was arrested along with a shirt and a kitchen knife, which he was seen using to threaten an unidentified foreign man. According to local reports, the incident began when the foreigner approached a Thai woman and her friends, who were drinking beer near a sidewalk in Soi Na Jomtien 20. The foreigner then asked the group where he could buy some beer. By Tanakorn Panyadee Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-01-22 - 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

Misunderstanding over actual size of lithium deposits found in Thailand The Department of Primary Industries and Mines has explained that there appears to be a misunderstanding that two major lithium deposits in Phang-nga province have been found to contain 14.8 million tonnes of lithium, making Thailand the world’s third largest source of lithium, after Bolivia and Argentina. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317657-misunderstanding-over-actual-size-of-lithium-deposits-found-in-thailand/

The Department of Primary Industries and Mines has explained that there appears to be a misunderstanding that two major lithium deposits in Phang-nga province have been found to contain 14.8 million tonnes of lithium, making Thailand the world’s third largest source of lithium, after Bolivia and Argentina. The department clarified that, in fact, lepidolite, not lithium, has been found in pegmatite rocks at the two deposits, Ruangkiet and E-thum, and the lepidolite contains about 0.45% lithium, which is not much but rich enough to have commercial potential in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). According to Geology.com, Lepidolite is a rare lithium-rich mica mineral which is usually pink, red or purple in colour. It is the most common lithium-bearing mineral and serves as a minor ore of lithium metal, with rubidium and caesium sometimes being by-products. Full story: Thai PBS 2024-01-22 - 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

to continue: Thailand Live Monday 22 January 2024 https://aseannow.com/topic/1317656-thailand-live-monday-22-january-2024/

THE PEOPLE ARE ROUGHLY equally divided over whether massive street protests against the “untouchable” de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra could possibly occur at any time, according to the latest NIDA Poll. People Equally Divided Over Anti-Thaksin Protests Erupting: NIDA Poll By Thai Newsroom Reporters TOP: De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra next to a sign showing the 14th floor of the Police Hospital where he has been staying since his return to Thailand in August last year. Photo: Thai Rath Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317655-people-equally-divided-over-anti-thaksin-protests-erupting-nida-poll/

THE PEOPLE ARE ROUGHLY equally divided over whether massive street protests against the “untouchable” de facto Pheu Thai boss-cum-convict at large Thaksin Shinawatra could possibly occur at any time, according to the latest NIDA Poll. The NIDA Poll, recently conducted among a total of 1,310 people from all walks of life in all regions of the country, has found 41.60% of the respondents say the possible anti-Thaksin protests will almost certainly not escalate and be prolonged to a politically critical extent as those in the last couple of decades. That compared to 41.30% of the respondents who say the possible anti-Thaksin protests in the capital and elsewhere will almost certainly occur, albeit not as critically as in the past or pivotal to the current Pheu Thai-led government’s survival. Meanwhile, the poll has found 11.15% of the respondents say possible uprisings of anti-Thaksin demonstrators will almost certainly become so politically critical as the previous events which culminated in the ouster of the former prime minister in the 2006 coup and that of his sister/former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in the 2014 coup. By Thai Newsroom Reporters Top: De facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra next to a sign showing the 14th floor of the Police Hospital where he has been staying since his return to Thailand in August last year. Photo: Thai Rath Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-01-22 - 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

SUV inferno leaves two women seriously injured by Puntid Tantivangphaisal Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail A speeding SUV spiraled out of control, crashing into a streetlight post and erupting into flames on the Mab Eiang-Laem Chabang Road on January 17. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317584-suv-inferno-leaves-two-women-seriously-injured/

A speeding SUV spiraled out of control, crashing into a streetlight post and erupting into flames on the Mab Eiang-Laem Chabang Road on January 17. The aftermath left two women injured and the vehicle reduced to ruins. Eyewitnesses recounted the harrowing sequence of events, with the SUV hurtling down the road before the catastrophic collision. One of the victims trapped inside the burning Toyota Fortuner SUV was identified as 45 year old Ladawan Chotirat. The other woman remains to be identified. Both women sustained injuries, with the latter bearing burns from the fiery inferno. Locals rushed to the scene, acting swiftly to provide essential aid to the injured duo before official responders arrived, reported Pattaya Mail. The situation escalated when firefighters, battling against the relentless flames, managed to successfully douse the fire after a tense 15 minutes. by Puntid Tantivangphaisal Photo courtesy of Pattaya Mail Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-20 - 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

Train driver killed as train hit truck in Nakhon Sawan last night North-bound rail services are disrupted today, after a train crashed into a truck and trailer at a level crossing in Chum Saeng district of Nakhon Sawan last night, killing the train driver and injuring a mechanic. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317583-train-driver-killed-as-train-hit-truck-in-nakhon-sawan-last-night/

North-bound rail services are disrupted today, after a train crashed into a truck and trailer at a level crossing in Chum Saeng district of Nakhon Sawan last night, killing the train driver and injuring a mechanic. According to the public relations office of the State Railway of Thailand, train No. 109 left Bangkok’s Bang Sue railway terminal for Chiang Mai last night and crashed into the truck and trailer, carrying a backhoe, which had become stuck on a level crossing between Khlong Pla Kod and Chum Saeng stations. The collision derailed the locomotive and brought the whole train to a sudden stop. Other train services have been disrupted as a result of the accident. Full story: Thai PBS 2024-01-20 - 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 government tests new lottery system with tickets as low as 20 baht by Nattapong Westwood Photo courtesy of KhaoSod The Government Lottery Office (GLO) plans to experiment with the sale of three-digit and two-digit lotteries within a sandbox system mid-year this year. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317578-thai-government-tests-new-lottery-system-with-tickets-as-low-as-20-baht/

The Government Lottery Office (GLO) plans to experiment with the sale of three-digit and two-digit lotteries within a sandbox system mid-year this year. The test will involve one million numbers, both direct and permutation, to combat underground lottery operations. The cost per ticket is expected to range between 20 to 50 baht. The director of GLO revealed that the initial trial would assess the suitability of the number of players and their risk-taking behaviour. The experiment will involve actual sales and payouts to ensure system stability and maximum buyer satisfaction. The results will then be presented to the lottery committee for approval. The prize distribution will remain as approved by the Cabinet, in the form of a lottery contribution. Buyers could stand a chance to win four types of prizes: direct three-digit prizes, permuted three-digit prizes, direct two-digit prizes, and special prizes. The prize money would be allocated from 60% of the sales in each round. by Nattapong Westwood Photo courtesy of KhaoSod Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-20 - 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

Violent dispute between van drivers shocks tourists at Phuket Airport by Mitch Connor PHOTO: via Phuket Go An alarming event unfolded at the Phuket International Airport recently, where a violent dispute erupted between two van drivers. The altercation unfolded before a crowd of tourists and was vividly captured in a video that has subsequently circulated widely on social media. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317577-violent-dispute-between-van-drivers-shocks-tourists-at-phuket-airport/

An alarming event unfolded at the Phuket International Airport recently, where a violent dispute erupted between two van drivers. The altercation unfolded before a crowd of tourists and was vividly captured in a video that has subsequently circulated widely on social media. The incident occurred in the early evening, prompting a swift response from the police who were promptly alerted Sakhu police, led by Police Captain Kornphumphot Pongpaiboon, arrived on the scene to find the two drivers, identified as 34 year old Songsak Gasman and 40 year old Kiattisak Tharaporn. Both men were taken to Thalang Hospital for a thorough physical checkup as part of the ongoing investigation. The viral video footage reveals a white van pulling up at the airport’s departure terminal. Songsak, the driver, steps out to unload the luggage. Shortly after, a silver van arrives in the adjacent lane, and Kiattisak, its driver, gets out and heads directly towards Songsak. The video documents a brief exchange of words before Kiattisak abruptly kicks Songsak in the stomach. A second kick sends Songsak sprawling on the ground, and he manages to block a third attempt, retreating from his attacker. Kiattisak continues his pursuit but a missed kick results in him falling to the ground, enabling Songsak to escape into the terminal building. by Mitch Connor PHOTO: via Phuket Go Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-20 - 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

Narrow Escape as Fire Engulfs Rental Homes in Bangkok Picture: Daily News A harrowing incident unfolded on January 19th at 23:30, when a fire erupted in a rental property at Soi Phaholyothin 56, Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317576-narrow-escape-as-fire-engulfs-rental-homes-in-bangkok/

A harrowing incident unfolded on January 19th at 23:30, when a fire erupted in a rental property at Soi Phaholyothin 56, Bangkok. Police Lieutenant General Rangsan Songsiang, Chief of the SaYai Mai Police Station, received the report and coordinated with the Bang Khen Fire and Rescue Station, deploying four water trucks for inspection, reported Daily News. Picture: Daily News The affected structure, a single-story wooden house with six rental rooms, faced extensive damage from the blaze. Firefighters worked for over 40 minutes to control the flames and prevent further escalation, managing to bring the situation under control without casualties. Witness Mr. Somprasong Amatyot, 67, described hearing an explosion-like sound while in bed. Upon investigation, flames were discovered in the adjacent room. Swift action was taken to evacuate and salvage belongings. Picture: Daily News -- ASEAN NOW 2024-01-20 - 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 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

Fifty-Year Prison Sentence for 14 Chinese Nationals in Child Exploitation Case Picture: Siam Rath In a significant victory for the National Police, Deputy Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Surchart Hakpal disclosed details of a case involving 14 Chinese nationals who deceived local youths into engaging in sexual acts while recording live videos online. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317568-fifty-year-prison-sentence-for-14-chinese-nationals-in-child-exploitation-case/

In a significant victory for the National Police, Deputy Police Chief Pol Lt Gen Surchart Hakpal disclosed details of a case involving 14 Chinese nationals who deceived local youths into engaging in sexual acts while recording live videos online. Following an investigation, the suspects were apprehended and brought to Mae Yao Police Station, Chiang Rai, under Criminal Case No. 140/2023, reported Siam Rath. On December 8, 2023, the Chiang Rai Provincial Court convicted all 14 individuals, sentencing each to 50 years in prison for their involvement in transnational organized crime, human trafficking, and various offenses related to sex crimes. Deputy Police Chief Surchart emphasized that this case is another success in the National Police's efforts to combat human trafficking and transnational crimes, particularly those targeting children and youth. He expressed hope that sustained efforts in addressing these issues will garner international recognition and elevate Thailand's standing in combating human trafficking globally, with a review expected in the coming two months. Top Picture: Siam Rath -- ASEAN NOW 2024-01-20 - 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 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

Social Media Uproar Over New Sanam Luang Sign Showing Two Foreign Women by TNR Staff The sign that was slammed on Thai social media. Photo: TV Channel 7 THAI NETIZENS blasted a new sign put up at Sanam Luang ground forbidding sunbathing in public areas as it shows a photo of two foreign women doing so with a crossed circle over it with this deemed to be inappropriate, TV Channel 7 said today (Jan. 19). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317567-social-media-uproar-over-new-sanam-luang-sign-showing-two-foreign-women/

THAI NETIZENS blasted a new sign put up at Sanam Luang ground forbidding sunbathing in public areas as it shows a photo of two foreign women doing so with a crossed circle over it with this deemed to be inappropriate, TV Channel 7 said today (Jan. 19). The sign put up by Phra Nakhon district officials is in three languages, Thai, English and Chinese, and has graphic images of a person lying down, a bikini and a photo of the two foreign women sunbathing with red crossed circles over them forbidding these two activities and wearing the skimpy garment. However the online uproar arose over the photo of the two foreign women which although their faces had been pixelated was thought to be inappropriate without getting permission from them to use it. This TV Channel’s reporters questioned the district chief about this sign and he explained that in designing it the intention was to clearly convey a message to foreign tourists about what is forbidden so that they immediately understand because violation leads to a 500 baht fine. by TNR Staff TOP: The sign that was slammed on Thai social media. Photo: TV Channel 7 Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 2024-01-20 - 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 university student escapes attempted rape in dormitory by Petch Petpailin Photo via Channel 7 A Thai university student narrowly escaped an attempted rape in her dormitory in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen thanks to the help of her roommate. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1317566-thai-university-student-escapes-attempted-rape-in-dormitory/

A Thai university student narrowly escaped an attempted rape in her dormitory in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen thanks to the help of her roommate. The victim, a 19 year old woman named Wirakarn, told Channel 7 that the incident happened at around 9pm on Monday, January 15. She was waiting for the lift to go to her room on the 15th floor of her dormitory building and noticed a suspicious man in a red shirt waiting for the lift nearby. Wirakarn explained that she felt like the man stalked her since she was outside the dormitory. Normally, dorm residents are required to have a keycard to enter the dorm. However, the keycard system was broken that day and the front door was left open allowing the man to enter. Wirakarn immediately texted her roommate about the suspect and decided not to get in the lift alone with the man. While she was waiting, another Thai man who lived on the same floor as her arrived. So, Wirakarn got in the lift, thinking it would be safer to be with another man. by Petch Petpailin Photo via Channel 7 Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-20 - 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