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Image: Patrick Jacobs facebook.com/patrick.jacobs By Jonathan Fairfield The first boat to be powered solely by renewable energies and hydrogen stopped near Hua Hin as part of a world tour to raise awareness about clean energy. The Energy Observer, a 30.5 metre catamaran, docked at the Race Marina in Pak Nam Pran on April 30 as part of a three week stay in the kingdom, which also included a trip to Pattaya where it was visited by Thierry Mathou, the French Ambassador to Thailand. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Prior to arriving in Thailand it had been in Singapore, the 70th stop on its voyage. The vessel was open to the public on May 1-2 before it is set to play host to a number of official engagements prior to it departing the region for Koh Samui on May 19. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/local-news/energy-observer-docks-near-hua-hin-to-showcase-zero-emissions-and-clean-technology/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-05-06 - 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

"Chillin'! Tourist sitting down at a shrine: Thai press investigate "inappropriate behavior" Daily News Thai Caption: Just chillin' Daily News went to a Phuket night market to investigate after a social media post of a female tourist's gaffe at a shrine. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258838-chillin-tourist-sitting-down-at-a-shrine-thai-press-investigate-inappropriate-behavior/

Daily News Thai Caption: Just chillin' Daily News went to a Phuket night market to investigate after a social media post of a female tourist's gaffe at a shrine. The lady thought it was ok to chill and relax at a shrine, sitting at a table as though it were a coffee shop. It was at the Chillva Market in Muang district of the southern Thai province - a market frequented by Thai and foreign tourists. It's a place where people stop for a bite to eat or a drink or get some clothes or knick-knacks. But it is also the home of the Phra Phrom shrine - where Thais respectfully light joss-sticks and pray. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Pussadee, a female clothes trader, said the tourist clearly had no idea that her actions might offend. Doubtless she didn't know Thai culture and customs. Wiroj, a male trader, said that two women had arrived and it appeared one's phone had lost battery power and she was charging. She sat there some time as people came to pay their respects. Then one customer advised her this was not a place to sit and was inappropriate. The tourist immediately got up and was shocked that what they were doing was wrong, said Wiroj, who said he would have advised her himself before the other person came. He didn't know where the ladies were from. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-06 - 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 6: Thailand reports 7,705 new coronavirus cases, 11,252 recoveries, 62 deaths file photo Thailand on Friday (May 6) reported 7,705 new COVID-19 cases, 11,252 recoveries and 62 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258824-covid-19-may-6-thailand-reports-7705-new-coronavirus-cases-11252-recoveries-62-deaths/ //CLOSED// /Admin

COVID-19 - May 6: Thailand reports 7,705 new coronavirus cases, 11,252 recoveries, 62 deaths file photo Thailand on Friday (May 6) reported 7,705 new COVID-19 cases, 11,252 recoveries and 62 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258824-covid-19-may-6-thailand-reports-7705-new-coronavirus-cases-11252-recoveries-62-deaths/

file photo Thailand on Friday (May 6) reported 7,705 new COVID-19 cases, 11,252 recoveries and 62 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Friday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 4,308,319 with 28,976 deaths. The news comes as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will open clinics at its nine hospitals to treat patients suffering from Long COVID, starting next Monday. Permanent Secretary of the BMA, Khachit Chatchavanich, said today (Thursday) that patients who are eligible to receive treatment at these clinics must have recovered from their COVID-19 infection for more than a month, with the services focusing on monitoring their post-COVID symptoms.** **Thai PBS contributed to this report Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-06 - 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

Video: Drunk 77-year-old Norwegian arrested for kitchen-knife stabbing in Thailand A 77-year-old Norwegian man was arrested for allegedly stabbing a neighbour and a relative with a kitchen knife in central Thailand. He was reportedly intoxicated with alcohol when he barged into his cousin’s home in Mueang district, Chaiyaphum province, on May 3, 2022. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258817-video-drunk-77-year-old-norwegian-arrested-for-kitchen-knife-stabbing-in-thailand/

A 77-year-old Norwegian man was arrested for allegedly stabbing a neighbour and a relative with a kitchen knife in central Thailand. He was reportedly intoxicated with alcohol when he barged into his cousin’s home in Mueang district, Chaiyaphum province, on May 3, 2022. The foreigner attacked his cousin, who is also aged 77, with a knife, leaving him with deep gashes all over his body including a stab wound on his neck. The other victim is a 60-year-old neighbour who tried to stop A. from fleeing. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The attacker was taken to Chaiyaphum police station for questioning. A drug test showed he had been using “other substances” which also contributed to his behaviour. Source: https://www.scmp.com/video/asia/3176679/drunk-77-year-old-norwegian-arrested-kitchen-knife-stabbing-thailand -- © Copyright South China Morning Post 2022-05-06 - 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

UPDATE: Thailand Pass linked to Emergency Decree as Anutin wants priority for Thais ahead of tourists by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, raised the possibility on Thursday of scrapping the Thailand Pass application for Thai nationals arriving in the kingdom ahead of foreign tourists. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258775-thailand-pass-to-end-for-thai-returnees-first/?do=findComment&comment=17342993

Thailand Pass linked to Emergency Decree as Anutin wants priority for Thais ahead of tourists by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, raised the possibility on Thursday of scrapping the Thailand Pass application for Thai nationals arriving in the kingdom ahead of foreign tourists. At the same time, he gave the impression that the kingdom was ready to return to normal and that the emergency could come to an end within two months. Growth in foreign tourist arrivals since Sunday, May 1st has been impressive with a 63% spike in numbers arriving at Thailand’s main Suvarnabhumi Airport and a wave which will directly affect the economy, boosting growth and income generation. On Tuesday, the Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul made it clear that the kingdom was in a position to do away with Thailand Pass, the last entry control process. He also confirmed that endemic status in Thailand was now less than two months off which should see a full return to normality and the country’s Emergency Decree rescinded. Speaking on Thursday, the Bhumjaithai Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister suggested that Thai nationals should be first in line to be given direct access to the kingdom ahead of foreign tourists. His suggestion comes before a meeting of a key government committee later in May which is scheduled to discuss the abolition of the Thailand Pass application as proposed last week by the Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. Mr Anutin also linked the scrapping of the Thailand Pass regime with bringing an end to the country’s emergency decree which he suggested could be let lapse. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Ahead of a meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) in May which will discuss the fate of the Thailand Pass entry regime for travellers to Thailand, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin suggested that he will propose the abolition of the application first of all for Thai nationals returning to the kingdom. Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/05/05/axe-thailand-pass-for-thai-arrivals-first-minister-anutin/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-05-06 - 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

Police Tackle Fishing Slavery BANGKOK (TNA) – The Central Investigation Bureau raided six locations in Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Chanthaburi provinces to tackle slavery in the fishing industry. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258812-police-tackle-fishing-slavery/

BANGKOK (TNA) – The Central Investigation Bureau raided six locations in Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi and Chanthaburi provinces to tackle slavery in the fishing industry. The raids followed the return of 44 Thai workers from Malaysia on Sept 3, 2021. Three of them were forced workers in the fishing industry. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Subsequent investigation found that they were among victims of organized gangs luring job seekers into forced labor on fishing boats. Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-936498 -- © Copyright Thai News Agency 2022-05-06 - 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

Energy, food prices drive Thai headline inflation in April up 4.65% y-o-y By Panithan Onthaworn Thailand’s headline consumer price index (CPI) in April climbed by 4.65 per cent year-on-year, down from the previous month but still nearing a record high in 13 years, the Commerce Ministry said on Thursday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258811-energy-food-prices-drive-thai-headline-inflation-in-april-up-465-y-o-y/

By Panithan Onthaworn Thailand’s headline consumer price index (CPI) in April climbed by 4.65 per cent year-on-year, down from the previous month but still nearing a record high in 13 years, the Commerce Ministry said on Thursday. After hitting a decade-high of 5.73-per-cent rise in March, the headline inflation in April kept rising in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, said Ronnarong Phoolpipat, director-general of the ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe From the beginning of this year, the inflation rate has surpassed the Bank of Thailand’s targeted range of 1 to 3 per cent. In February, the CPI rose by 5.28 per cent year-on-year, following a jump of 3.23 in January. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/39887/energy-food-prices-drive-thai-headline-inflation-in-april-up-4-65-y-o-y/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-05-06 - 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

Phuket sees 82 percent increase year over year in new tourism business registration, top of southern provinces By Goong Nang(GN) Phuket – Phuket is at the top of the four southern provinces that focus on tourism in terms of new business registration with an 82 percent increase as the tourism economy has improved. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258810-phuket-sees-82-percent-increase-year-over-year-in-new-tourism-business-registration-top-of-southern-provinces/

By Goong Nang(GN) Phuket – Phuket is at the top of the four southern provinces that focus on tourism in terms of new business registration with an 82 percent increase as the tourism economy has improved. The Deputy Minister of Commerce Mr. Sinit Lertkrai told The Phuket Express, “The Department of Business and Development has analyzed business trends in four famous tourism areas in southern provinces which are Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, and Phang Nga in the first three months of this year (January to March). There are 1,216 new businesses registered overall which a is 51.62 percent increase.” Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “Phuket has the highest number of new businesses registered which is 613 businesses. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/05/05/phuket-sees-82-percent-increase-year-over-year-in-new-tourism-business-registration-top-of-southern-provinces/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-05-06 - 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

UPDATE: Thai Public Health Minister proposes to end “Thailand Pass” registration-but at first only for Thai returnees By Adam Judd National – Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today, May 5th, that he would propose the cancellation of the “Thailand Pass” registration initially for Thai returnees before possibly expanding it to foreigners in a further step. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258775-thailand-pass-to-end-for-thai-returnees-first/?do=findComment&comment=17342980

Thai Public Health Minister proposes to end “Thailand Pass” registration-but at first only for Thai returnees By Adam Judd National – Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today, May 5th, that he would propose the cancellation of the “Thailand Pass” registration initially for Thai returnees before possibly expanding it to foreigners in a further step. The Minister stated also that the fatality rate of Covid-19 patients was declining. The bed occupancy rate was currently at about 20 percent, the infection rate found among international arrivals was at 0.001 percent, and the medicines and medical supplies were sufficient to treat COVID-19 patients. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/05/05/thai-public-health-minister-proposes-to-end-thailand-pass-registration-but-at-first-only-for-thai-returnees/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-05-06 - 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

Budget full of flaws, one opposition leader says By Erich Parpart The draft budget for fiscal 2023 is full of flaws and it does not match up with the current economic condition, the deputy leader of the opposition Move Forward Party said on Thursday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258809-budget-full-of-flaws-one-opposition-leader-says/

By Erich Parpart The draft budget for fiscal 2023 is full of flaws and it does not match up with the current economic condition, the deputy leader of the opposition Move Forward Party said on Thursday. The cabinet approved, in principle, the draft budget worth 3.185 trillion baht last month and the official draft was published on Tuesday. The parliament debate on the budget is expected for May 17. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “The 2023 fiscal budget represents an increase of only 85 billion baht or 2.7 per cent which does not coincide with the economic condition which requires more,” MFP deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakul wrote on her social media page on Thursday. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/39895/budget-full-of-flaws-opposition-leader-says/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-05-06 - 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

Government plans to introduce ‘Endemic Sandbox’ program as part Covid relaxation schedule By Erich Parpart Thailand is introducing a “endemic sandbox” concept which includes relaxed measures including no more face mask mandates in some areas ahead of plans by the government to declare Covid-19 as endemic by July. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258808-government-plans-to-introduce-‘endemic-sandbox’-program-as-part-covid-relaxation-schedule/

By Erich Parpart Thailand is introducing a “endemic sandbox” concept which includes relaxed measures including no more face mask mandates in some areas ahead of plans by the government to declare Covid-19 as endemic by July. “We are starting the endemic sandbox in areas that are ready such as Bangkok as the daily number of new cases in the city is decreasing and its vaccination rate is high,” Anutin Charnvirakul, the deputy prime minister and health minister, said on Thursday. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe He said the overall daily number of new Covid cases in Thailand continued to decrease two weeks after the long Songkran holiday period in April and the situation is supporting the government’s move to declare Covid as endemic by July. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/39878/government-plans-to-introduce-endemic-sandbox-program-as-part-covid-relaxation-schedule/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-05-06 - 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

Bangkok to open nine Long COVID clinics The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will open clinics at its nine hospitals to treat patients suffering from Long COVID, starting next Monday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258806-bangkok-to-open-nine-long-covid-clinics/

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will open clinics at its nine hospitals to treat patients suffering from Long COVID, starting next Monday. Permanent Secretary of the BMA, Khachit Chatchavanich, said today (Thursday) that patients who are eligible to receive treatment at these clinics must have recovered from their COVID-19 infection for more than a month, with the services focusing on monitoring their post-COVID symptoms. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Khachit said that the model is a one stop service, which means the patients who suspect they may develop Long COVID will be screened and see a doctor in the same place. If they need psychiatric counselling, they will be required to fill out a questionnaire, to help assess their mental health before seeing a doctor. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/bangkok-to-open-nine-long-covid-clinics/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-06 - 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

Are children getting a fair deal at Schools in Thailand? EDITORIAL | by Michael Bridge file photo for reference only With the recent announcement that 35,000 schools nationwide plan to resume onsite learning on May 17 with a plan to speed up student vaccinations, at last, the kids will be allowed back. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258805-are-children-getting-a-fair-deal-at-schools-in-thailand/