webfact

Picture: Thai Rath Muang Chiang Mai police went to investigate after foreigners and Thai tourists engaged in water fights contrary to regulations. The tourists were using water from a pipe that had not been turned off. They took this as an open invitation to have a water fight, claiming they didn't know there was a ban. Most people were not wearing masks. The fighting was going on in the City Gate area. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Thai Rath Pol Col Phuwanat Duangdee said that the local authority later turned off the water as his men asked people not to have water fights. Some continued despite the police intervention. No arrests were reported. Thai Rath had "I am sorry" transliterated into Thai in their headline though no one had appeared to apologize. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

Songkran brings a splash of memories For anyone who has lived in Thailand for more than a year, Songkran time is unforgettable. The bright yellow flowers, called Golden Shower or ratchaphruek, burst into bloom weeks ahead, adding to the build-up to this vibrant festival. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256755-songkran-brings-a-splash-of-memories/

For anyone who has lived in Thailand for more than a year, Songkran time is unforgettable. The bright yellow flowers, called Golden Shower or ratchaphruek, burst into bloom weeks ahead, adding to the build-up to this vibrant festival. If you are organized enough and plan well in advance, you would be at some scenic beach resort escaping the heat, but that was beyond me. Moreover, work that had to be done in advance to cover the long holiday period meant that many were at breaking point by the time the actual holidays arrived. Sitting in the traffic for hours would be the last thing anyone would want. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe For Bangkok residents who stay in the city, one of the main things to look forward to is the lack of traffic as most Thais head to their hometowns. Zipping around the city is possible during the Songkran holidays giving you a chance to make a trip across town to catch up with some old mates. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/songkran-brings-a-splash-of-memories/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

Tourists ignore Songkran water-fight ban on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road A large number of locals and foreign tourists flocked to Bangkok’s Khaosan Road last night (Wednesday) to engage in Songkran water fights, despite the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s ban on the usual widespread splashing of water for the third year, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256754-tourists-ignore-songkran-water-fight-ban-on-bangkok’s-khaosan-road/

A large number of locals and foreign tourists flocked to Bangkok’s Khaosan Road last night (Wednesday) to engage in Songkran water fights, despite the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s ban on the usual widespread splashing of water for the third year, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Wednesday afternoon, municipal officials from Phra Nakhon District Office ordered all businesses on Khaosan Road not to allow tourists to splash water and to remove all ice buckets, adding that those who defy the order would be subject to a 100,000 baht fine. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Despite the ban, however, many foreign tourists continued to play with water guns, without maintaining any social distancing. Most of them did not wear facemasks. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tourists-ignore-songkran-water-fight-ban-on-bangkoks-khaosan-road/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

Huge crowds celebrate Songkran in Phuket - police crackdown on water fights Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath followed up in Soi Bangla, Patong, Phuket after there were widespread water fights onTuesday among Thai and foreign tourists raising fears of Covid-19 spread. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256753-huge-crowds-celebrate-songkran-in-phuket-police-crackdown-on-water-fights/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath followed up in Soi Bangla, Patong, Phuket after there were widespread water fights onTuesday among Thai and foreign tourists raising fears of Covid-19 spread. Yesterday the Patong police and DOPA (Department of Provincial Administration) officials went to the popular entertainment area. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Thai Rath But they were not out for arrests; this was a softy-softly campaign to ensure that bar owners discouraged water fights outside their establishments, as per the regulations. Large deposits of water prepared for tourists to refill their guns were tipped away. Picture: Thai Rath The media reported that the area was bustling yesterday evening with still some pockets of people engaging in illegal water fights. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

Roi-Et shooting update: Killer snared with cigarette ruse Picture: Thai Rath The standoff between a man who murdered his father in Roi-Et and shot two other relatives is over. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256751-roi-et-shooting-update-killer-snared-with-cigarette-ruse/

UPDATE Roi-Et shooting update: Killer snared with cigarette ruse Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256751-roi-et-shooting-update-killer-snared-with-cigarette-ruse/

Picture: Thai Rath The standoff between a man who murdered his father in Roi-Et and shot two other relatives is over. Through Tuesday night police in Waeng sub-district of the NE province, had been involved in tense negotiations with Ekkapong, 33, who was holed up on the second floor. But the dark hampered their efforts and they were prepared to wait till morning for a resolution. His mother and child were called to try and talk him round. But while this was going on, Ekkapong had called a friend who has a grocery business. He desperately wanted a cigarette. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The friend took him some and put the cigarettes down on the stairs. When Ekkapong came down he was tasered and taken into custody without further incident. Thai Rath reported that the assailant had gone to the house of his 59 year old uncle with whom he was in dispute. He shot him several times then blasted a cousin in the knee who came to help. He then went back home and was further criticized by his father. Sawat, 57, was shot five times and died later in hospital. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

What threat do COVID-19 recombinants pose to Thailand? This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (orange)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (green) cultured in the lab. (Image captured and colorized at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana) In the two years since it was declared a pandemic, the COVID-19 virus has given birth to many variants and, recently, to recombinants as well. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256750-what-threat-do-covid-19-recombinants-pose-to-thailand/

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (orange)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (green) cultured in the lab. (Image captured and colorized at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana) In the two years since it was declared a pandemic, the COVID-19 virus has given birth to many variants and, recently, to recombinants as well. People, therefore, need to stay updated about the changing virus to maximize their protection against the widespread and potentially fatal disease it causes. What is a recombinant? A recombinant is born when one person becomes infected with two variants or subvariants, which then interact inside their body. These hybrid forms of the virus are given the prefix “X”. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The list of hybrids is getting longer, as countries around the world decode genome sequences of their local cases and report the results to GISAID. Established in 2008, this global initiative provides open access to the genomic data of the influenza virus and the coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/what-threat-do-covid-19-recombinants-pose-to-thailand/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

Shooter in custody after "win" empties his gun into motorcycle taxi driver friend Thai Rath video screenshot A motorcycle taxi driver in the Prachacheun area of northern Bangkok has surrendered to police after a brazen shooting incident of a colleague. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256749-shooter-in-custody-after-win-empties-his-gun-into-motorcycle-taxi-driver-friend/

Thai Rath video screenshot A motorcycle taxi driver in the Prachacheun area of northern Bangkok has surrendered to police after a brazen shooting incident of a colleague. A CCTV video showed Chatchai Sukjaidee, 53, #40 on the rank, going down Soi Sarmsuk in the Bang Sue area. Sompong or "Khiad", 44, called him back then a conversation ensued. Thai Rath said that the pair were trying to resolve months of conflict of the former friends. They both acknowledged they needed to sort out their difficulties. But Sompong was not about to engage in diplomacy. He took a step back from the older man then unloaded a .22 gun emptying six shots into Chatchai who managed to get off his bike but soon died. Sompong raced off on his bike - to his mother's in Sai Mai. She later took him to the police station where he was interviewed around midday yesterday. Relatives of the victim threatened to storm the police station at one point. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Met chief Lt-Gen Samran Nuanma went to Prachacheun police station telling the press that the suspect had admitted the crime. He said that the pair were not hoodlums, just ordinary guys who had had a five month feud. They were originally friends and involved together in the cock fighting trade. Chatchai bought the gun for 7,000 baht and always wore it about his person. He has been charged with murder and gun offences. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

Foreign Bitcoin fraudster nabbed by Thai police at Suvarnabhumi Airport Picture: Daily News Daily News reported on the arrest of a 29 year old Pakistani man for fraud in relation to a Bitcoin transaction. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256748-foreign-bitcoin-fraudster-nabbed-by-thai-police-at-suvarnabhumi-airport/

Picture: Daily News Daily News reported on the arrest of a 29 year old Pakistani man for fraud in relation to a Bitcoin transaction. The Pakistani man is now in custody after an arrest warrant for fraud was issued in Phuket. He was involved in a Bitcoin deal for Thai baht and he is alleged to have provided a customer with a fake bank transfer slip for 10 million baht. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Police suspected he would flee the kingdom and were waiting for him after he flew from Phuket to Bangkok. The suspect was taken back to Phuket denying some aspects of the case against him. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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 reports record high COVID-19 deaths File photo Thailand on Thursday (April 14) reported 24,134 new COVID-19 cases, 26,997 recoveries and 115 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256739-thailand-reports-record-high-covid-19-deaths/ //CLOSED// /Admin

Thailand reports record high COVID-19 deaths File photo Thailand on Thursday (April 14) reported 24,134 new COVID-19 cases, 26,997 recoveries and 115 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256739-thailand-reports-record-high-covid-19-deaths/

File photo Thailand on Thursday (April 14) reported 24,134 new COVID-19 cases, 26,997 recoveries and 115 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Thursday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 3,973,003 with 26,510 deaths. Starting next month, the home isolation period for high-risk individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 cases is expected to be reduced from a week to five days. According to Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), the National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC) agreed this week to shorten the quarantine period to five days for those who test positive for COVID-19, plus an additional five days for observation and monitoring their health. Dr Opas said during a media briefing that the decision was made based on information indicating that the Omicron coronavirus variant, which is now the dominant COVID strain in Thailand and many other countries, has a three-day incubation period.** **NNT contributed to this report Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

First day of Songkran in Pattaya sees heavy traffic, busy beaches, but mostly dry streets By Goong Nang(GN) Pattaya – The first day of the nationwide three-day Songkran (Thai New Year) festival yesterday saw heavy traffic, busy beaches, but mostly dry streets due to a ban on water splashing this year in public. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256726-first-day-of-songkran-in-pattaya-sees-heavy-traffic-busy-beaches-but-mostly-dry-streets/

By Goong Nang(GN) Pattaya – The first day of the nationwide three-day Songkran (Thai New Year) festival yesterday saw heavy traffic, busy beaches, but mostly dry streets due to a ban on water splashing this year in public. Yesterday afternoon (April 13th) on Motorway 7 Section 5, the highway was busy with lots of vehicles heading to Pattaya City with many kilometers of traffic tailed back. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe However, traffic easily flowed on Sukhumvit Road and onto several main roads of Pattaya for most of the day (North Pattaya, Central Pattaya, and South Pattaya). We filmed a video of the situation on the ground below. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/04/14/first-day-of-songkran-in-pattaya-sees-heavy-traffic-busy-beaches-but-mostly-dry-streets/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

Even with high infection levels, top officials are saying that incoming tourism will see a takeoff by James Morris and Son Nguyen The manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport Kittipong Kittikachorn (left) this week announced that the Airports of Thailand (AOT) was providing additional and better-organised facilities to cope with a rapidly increasing level of passenger traffic of up to 3,000 visitors per hour. This followed days of chaos and pandemonium at the airport during peak hours as the arrival halls struggled to cope with boosted passenger numbers from all over the world as international travellers are increasingly putting Covid behind them. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256725-even-with-high-infection-levels-top-officials-are-saying-that-incoming-tourism-will-see-a-takeoff/

The manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport Kittipong Kittikachorn (left) this week announced that the Airports of Thailand (AOT) was providing additional and better-organised facilities to cope with a rapidly increasing level of passenger traffic of up to 3,000 visitors per hour. This followed days of chaos and pandemonium at the airport during peak hours as the arrival halls struggled to cope with boosted passenger numbers from all over the world as international travellers are increasingly putting Covid behind them. Thai Airways and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) predict that the country will see over 80,000 visitors a month from an Indian Thai air bubble. Thailand looks set for a powerful take-off in arrivals in 2022 provided the country proceeds with its full reopening plan which very much now depends on the decision of Prime Minister Prayut Chan ocha and experts with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) when clinical data is reviewed after Songkran. Indications that the kingdom will drop entry restrictions after the Songkran holidays come to an end. The news is coming with an encouraging take off in entry numbers in response to previous moves to lighten the load on travellers. There is now every reason to believe that the kingdom’s critical and highly lucrative foreign tourism industry could turn into an economic bright spot for 2022 provided another Covid storm does not descend. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Senior Thai officials within the government, in recent days, have talked up the kingdom’s plans to fully reopen after the Songkran holiday period with a plan already agreed in principle to reduce paperwork associated with the Thailand Pass system as well as insurance requirements while also replacing the RT-PCR test with an antigen test on arrival. This is despite one senior doctor with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) suggesting the country may already be experiencing 100,000 infections a day. Dr Udom Kachintorn, a key advisor, however, points out that by comparison, infection levels among incoming tourists are far lower. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/04/13/incoming-tourism-take-off-with-easier-entry/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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

Some Resorts are starting to sell out for the Songkran break by Michael Bridge File photo Seems the Thais have had enough of being in isolation for so long and are heading in their masses to the beaches for a well-deserved break. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1256723-some-resorts-are-starting-to-sell-out-for-the-songkran-break/

File photo by Michael Bridge Seems the Thais have had enough of being in isolation for so long and are heading in their masses to the beaches for a well-deserved break. Although hotels have upped their rates significantly, travellers are willing to pay these soaring prices. I suppose you cannot blame the hospitality industry for trying. Phuket and Hua Hin still are showing vacancies however Pattaya’s top-end hotels are almost full as are hotels on the islands. The mighty Centara Grand Mirage Resort Pattaya with over six hundred rooms is sold out according to Agoda.com. There an average room during Songkran was shown at THB8,013 yet a week later it had dropped to THB3,852. One luxury resort owner on the island of Koh Chang told me they were completed sold out for the next seven days. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe File photo Assume that many of Koh Chang hotels are busy too, so let us hope the local ferries are prepared to work overtime to get the cars off the island at the end of the break. Otherwise, some may have to wait up to 9 hours to board a ferry!!! Songkran in the past has meant a mass exodus abroad for many who do not enjoy the madness of water fights and crazy driving. I am sure some will be heading for the airport, but with an expected Covid spike due after Songkran, many are not prepared to take the risk and will stay at home. Therefore, expect the golf courses to be busier and those with kids will be heading for the water parks too. Police leave has been canceled as they try to stop the madness on the roads at a time when it is the most dangerous time to drive. So perhaps the best bet is to fill the fridge up with alcohol and binge-watch on Netflix until next Monday. Enjoy. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-14 - Aetna 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