webfact

Picture: Manager Manager reported that the provincial governor of Nong Khai province had rescinded orders closing the border with Laos. This has been in place throughout the pandemic since March 2020. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe From yesterday Monsit Phaisanthanawat's order opens the Thai side. And from today the Laotian authorities have fully opened their borders to cars and other vehicles. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Car seats set to be mandatory for children up to age 6 in Thailand - more laws to curb street racing Daily News Thai Caption: Car seats for children to be mandatory Daily News reported on the latest changes to traffic laws in Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259067-car-seats-set-to-be-mandatory-for-children-up-to-age-6-in-thailand-more-laws-to-curb-street-racing/

Daily News Thai Caption: Car seats for children to be mandatory Daily News reported on the latest changes to traffic laws in Thailand. Article 123 has been amended and will mean that all children aged up to 6 years old will have to be in a car seat. Parents and guardians who break the law will have to pay 2,000 baht fines. Street racers are also facing stricter penalties. In the future it will be forbidden for more than 5 motorcycles to gather as this will constitute meeting for street racing. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Offenders under article 134 will face three months in jail, licence suspensions of between 30 and 180 days or removal of licences altogether. Fines of 5,000-10,000 baht can also be levied. The changes announced in the Government Gazette will become law after the statutory waiting period of 120 days. So potentially millions of parents in Thailand will be faced with having to buy a car seat in the coming months before the September deadline. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Underage sex ring in south: Court gives red light for 41 arrests Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on the ongoing investigation in Surat Thani into a pedophile sex ring preying on children under the age of 15. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259066-underage-sex-ring-in-south-court-gives-red-light-for-41-arrests/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on the ongoing investigation in Surat Thani into a pedophile sex ring preying on children under the age of 15. Since the case started to come to light in November of last year after an altercation involving a 13 year old girl at a hotel the dominoes have started to fall. In total 41 arrest warrants have been issued by a court. This number is made up of 12 "madams" who arranged for children to be offered for sex, 28 customers of the teens and 1 promoter. Ten children under the age of 15 are now in care. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Leading figures involved include the son of a local politician who is preparing to talk to investigators. Also involved is the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission after Thailand's high profile assistant at RTP HQ Pol Lt-Gen Surachate "Big Joke" Hakpan lent his weight behind the investigation. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Thailand gripped by case of "holy hermit" who advises disciples to eat body secretions to cure illness Picture: Thai Rath Thai media was baying for more to satisfy a voracious public as a social activist trying to expose quackery mounted a high profile raid in Thailand's north east at a cult center. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259060-thailand-gripped-by-case-of-holy-hermit-who-advises-disciples-to-eat-body-secretions-to-cure-illness/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai media was baying for more to satisfy a voracious public as a social activist trying to expose quackery mounted a high profile raid in Thailand's north east at a cult center. Mor Pla (Dr Fish) or Jiraphan Petchkhao responded to public complaints by leading officials to a retreat in Khonsan district of Chaiyaphum. There they found a hermit with a long beard who is proclaiming himself as the cult leader cutting across religious denominations. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The weird cult thinks that by eating urine, feces, phlegm and skin scrapings they can cure all sorts of diseases, reported Thai Rath. So far Pol Col Wattanachai Janthathum, chief of the Khonsan police, said that charges of trespass on public property have been made as investigations continue with the help of provincial governor Kraisorn Kongchalad. Eleven corpses have been found at the property with cultists saying they were "waiting to go to heaven". -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

THA chief admits that 2023 will be "tourism recovery year" - but more Indians expected in 2022 Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath posed the question to their readership: "How has the end of Test and Go affected international tourism?" Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259053-tha-chief-admits-that-2023-will-be-tourism-recovery-year-but-more-indians-expected-in-2022/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath posed the question to their readership: "How has the end of Test and Go affected international tourism?" For their answer they said there was no better person to ask than Marisa Sukosol Nunphakdee, the chief of the Thai Hoteliers' Association. She said that since the onerous and expensive Test and Go program had ended on May 1st the country had seen arrivals at Suvarnabhumi go from about 10-12,000 daily to 15-16,000. This was not "a great leap forward but represented an improvement. "If we can get 400,000 a month during the low season months that will indicate we can get a million a month for the next high season from October," she said. She expected 2022 to see 6-8 million foreign tourists. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe But she said that 2023 would be the big recovery year when she expected Bank of Thailand expectations of 19 million tourists to be met. She thought that abolishing Thailand Pass was not pivotal. 2.5 million have already registered. At the moment she pointed to the emergence once again of the Indian tourism sector especially people from the sub-continent coming for short trips, seminars and weddings in Thailand. She said that the kind of tourist Thailand is trying to get from India have not been hit economically by the pandemic and Thailand is the most popular destination for Indians. And, she pointed out, there are plenty of them. By and large 2022 so far has seen mostly Asians come to Thailand with Malaysians, Singaporeans and South Koreans bolstering the numbers. In 2019 4 million Malaysians came, many crossing the southern land border, and now this is open again this will hopefully provide a much needed boost. Especially as Chinese tourists - the previous bedrock of Thai tourism - are still not coming at all. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

COVID-19 - May 9: Thailand reports 6,488 new coronavirus cases, 12,755 recoveries, 55 deaths file photo Thailand on Monday (May 9) reported 6,488 new COVID-19 cases, 12,755 recoveries and 55 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259050-covid-19-may-9-thailand-reports-6488-new-coronavirus-cases-12755-recoveries-55-deaths/ //CLOSED// /Admin

COVID-19 - May 9: Thailand reports 6,488 new coronavirus cases, 12,755 recoveries, 55 deaths file photo Thailand on Monday (May 9) reported 6,488 new COVID-19 cases, 12,755 recoveries and 55 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259050-covid-19-may-9-thailand-reports-6488-new-coronavirus-cases-12755-recoveries-55-deaths/

file photo Thailand on Monday (May 9) reported 6,488 new COVID-19 cases, 12,755 recoveries and 55 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Monday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 4,331,338 with 29,143 deaths. The news comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has yet to recommend the fourth dose, citing a lack of good evidence to back the recommendation. Hence, countries have taken different approaches where the second booster is concerned. In Thailand, the government is encouraging people to get the fourth jab and has opened several channels for them to get their shot for free.** **Thai PBS contributed to this report Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Thousands of runners take part in Cha Am – Hua Hin Marathon 2022 By Online Reporter Image: ห้องข่าวเพชรบุรี Thousands of runners hit the roads early on Sunday morning (May 8th) to take part in the Cha Am – Hua Hin Marathon 2022. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259044-thousands-of-runners-take-part-in-cha-am-–-hua-hin-marathon-2022/

Image: ห้องข่าวเพชรบุรี By Online Reporter Thousands of runners hit the roads early on Sunday morning (May 8th) to take part in the Cha Am – Hua Hin Marathon 2022. The event was split over four distances – 42km, 21km, 10k and 5k – with the full marathon (42km) getting underway at 3am. The start and finish line for the race was on Cha Am beach road outside the Hotel Tara Mantra. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Runners continued along Cha Am beach road for 4km before turning right towards Phetkasem Road, with various u-turns for the different race distances. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/thousands-of-runners-take-part-in-cha-am-hua-hin-marathon-2022/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Bank props up a slipping baht while Thai unions strongly pursue B492 minimum daily wage claim by Joseph O' Connor Senior Director Sakkapop Panyanukul of the Bank of Thailand has expressed concern about the volatility of the Thai baht and suggested that the bank will take action to stabilise the currency where necessary. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259042-bank-props-up-a-slipping-baht-while-thai-unions-strongly-pursue-b492-minimum-daily-wage-claim/

Senior Director Sakkapop Panyanukul of the Bank of Thailand has expressed concern about the volatility of the Thai baht and suggested that the bank will take action to stabilise the currency where necessary. The baht has depreciated in the last months by 2.27% against the US dollar although it has gained ground against the euro and the pound sterling. There is concern that the baht may weaken further against a steady stream of interest rate hikes still expected from the US Federal Reserve, a situation which will exacerbate further higher oil prices and inflationary pressures. by Joseph O' Connor The slow return of the foreign tourism industry and rising living costs were among the reasons given by JP Morgan as it downgraded its investor rating for both Thai equities and the kingdom’s industrial sector last Monday. The kingdom’s more than adequate Foreign Exchange Reserves dropped by 5.7% in April with reports that the Bank of Thailand has been intervening to prop up the baht against the dollar even as it gained ground against both the euro and pound sterling. There are fears that Thailand’s economic recovery may be choked off by growing pressure to reverse course on its recently adopted pro-growth policy and raise interest rates. The country’s economy continues to do battle against rising costs with oil prices worldwide again ticking up and unions pursuing a new minimum daily wage claim of B492 per day. This comes as the 10-year yield on government bonds has risen sharply and amid reports that the Bank of Thailand may be intervening to stop the Thai baht from falling further against the US dollar. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe There are also reports that the Bank of Thailand may have begun to intervene in markets to halt the sliding baht. At the end of April, Sakkapop Panyanukul, the central bank’s senior director for Macroeconomics expressed concern about the volatility of the baht after it declined precipitously during the month. Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/05/08/bank-of-thailand-props-up-baht-as-unions-seek-pay-rise/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

26th Phuket Bike Week to be held from May 13th to May 15th By Goong Nang(GN) Phuket – Phuket Bike Week 26 is going to be held from May 13th to May 15th, 2022 in the Thalang district! Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259041-26th-phuket-bike-week-to-be-held-from-may-13th-to-may-15th/

By Goong Nang(GN) Phuket – Phuket Bike Week 26 is going to be held from May 13th to May 15th, 2022 in the Thalang district! The press conference was held Friday (May 6th) at the Phuket City Hall led by the Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Vice Governor Pichet told The Phuket Express, “PHUKET BIKE WEEK 2022 this year is under the concept ‘New Normal Ride Together’. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/05/08/26th-phuket-bike-week-to-be-held-from-may-13th-to-may-15th/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai PM orders strict discipline and principles adhered to for Buddhist monks nationwide following recent scandalous news By Nop Meechukhun PHOTO: Bangkokbiznews Bangkok – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha ordered the National Office of Buddhism to strengthen the discipline and principles of monks nationwide following recent news regarding inappropriate behaviors among Thai monks. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259039-thai-pm-orders-strict-discipline-and-principles-adhered-to-for-buddhist-monks-nationwide-following-recent-scandalous-news/

PHOTO: Bangkokbiznews By Nop Meechukhun Bangkok – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha ordered the National Office of Buddhism to strengthen the discipline and principles of monks nationwide following recent news regarding inappropriate behaviors among Thai monks. Government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana told the Associated Press today, May 8th, that the Prime Minister expressed his concerns regarding the news published about indisciplined Buddhist monks which crucially affected the faith of Thai Buddhists. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Therefore, he ordered the National Office of Buddhism to instruct the Provincial Office of Buddhism (P.O.C.) to observe monks and make sure they strictly adhere to the discipline and principles of Dharma. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/05/08/thai-pm-orders-strict-discipline-and-principles-adhered-to-for-buddhist-monks-nationwide-following-recent-scandalous-news/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Pattaya Marine Business Committee considers legally resuming Pattaya bay floating restaurants, Jet ski services, parasailing, etc. By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya — The Pattaya Marine Business Committee gathered yesterday, May 7th, to devise rough guidelines for marine business operators to follow in order to legally reopen floating bay restaurants as well as jet ski services, parasailing, and other marine activities. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259038-pattaya-marine-business-committee-considers-legally-resuming-pattaya-bay-floating-restaurants-jet-ski-services-parasailing-etc/

By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya — The Pattaya Marine Business Committee gathered yesterday, May 7th, to devise rough guidelines for marine business operators to follow in order to legally reopen floating bay restaurants as well as jet ski services, parasailing, and other marine activities. TPN notes that some marine businesses have been “open” unofficially lately, although the Thai government views many of the restaurants on the bay as entertainment-style venues, which due to Covid-19 regulations are actually not currently legally reopened yet. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Mr. Pramote Tubtim, the city manager, presided over a meeting at the Pattaya City Hall to lay out the standard principles for conducting marine business with several relevant individuals attending the meeting such as bay restaurant owners and jet skis and tugboat operators. According to the committee’s unofficial conclusion, business operators must have a berth in a designated area and attach buoys to each berth without obstructing the boat route. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/05/08/pattaya-marine-business-committee-considers-legally-resuming-pattaya-bay-floating-restaurants-jet-ski-services-parasailing-etc/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Big Events Planned to Promote Bangkok Tourism by Natthaphon Sangpolsit BANGKOK (NNT) - Four major events are being planned to promote tourism in Bangkok under the “Visit Thailand Year 2022-2023: Amazing New Chapters” campaign. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259037-big-events-planned-to-promote-bangkok-tourism/

by Natthaphon Sangpolsit BANGKOK (NNT) - Four major events are being planned to promote tourism in Bangkok under the “Visit Thailand Year 2022-2023: Amazing New Chapters” campaign. According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul, a panel reviewing the effects of the global pandemic on the Thai economy recently resolved to prolong its Visit Thailand campaign by another year to help revitalize the tourism industry. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The events, hosted under the theme “Unfolding Bangkok,” will run from June 2022 to January 2023 and aim to attract domestic and foreign travelers to the capital. The deputy spokesperson said the events are titled “Greeting Bangkok,” “Sound of Music,” Vivid Chao Phraya” and “Living Hua Lamphong.” -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-09 - 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. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thailand on Track to Declare COVID-19 Endemic by Natthaphon Sangpolsit BANGKOK (NNT) - The Thai government is on track to declare COVID-19 an endemic disease. Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutacha said the nation is capable of achieving such a goal, despite concerns over new variants expressed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259036-thailand-on-track-to-declare-covid-19-endemic/