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Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported on the latest arrest of drug smugglers in Bangkok. Metropolitan Region 8 chief Pol Col Nipphaphol Sukniyom said that they had arrested four gang members who had brought a consignment of 500 kilos of compressed marijuana - a Class 5 restricted drug - from Nakhon Phanom in the NE to Bangkok. The drugs originated in a "neighboring country" - that would be Laos, notes ASEAN NOW. Taken into evidence were two D-Max trucks and four phones. One pick-up acted as lookout vehicle while the other carried the drugs. Arrested were four foundry workers the leader of whom, a woman called Benz, said she had been approached by a man called "Er" to transport the drugs and take them to a man called "Tee" in Don Muang. The four were arrested in Soi Phutthabucha in Bang Mod, Thung Khru on Wednesday. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Siam Rath Police had become aware of drug dealers in the area and were waiting for the arrival and arrested the suspects in the middle of the soi. Benz claimed they were being paid 200,000 baht and this was their first such venture. They were all charged with having class 5 drugs in their possession with intent to sell. Now police are trying to find those behind the consignment. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-13 - 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

One stabbed, explosives thrown as feuding school children fight in Lad Phrao Picture: Siam Rath There was more inter school fighting in the Lad Phrao area of Bangkok yesterday, reported Siam Rath. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259528-one-stabbed-explosives-thrown-as-feuding-school-children-fight-in-lad-phrao/

Picture: Siam Rath There was more inter school fighting in the Lad Phrao area of Bangkok yesterday, reported Siam Rath. Lad Phrao police went to Happyland 1, Bangkapi to the are outside the Click@E-Sports games shop. They found a smashed window and damage to ceramic floloring. An injured student with a stab wound had already been taken to hopsital by rescue services. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe A witness nearby said that a group of students in yellow school sports kit were playing outside the shop when about six motorcyles arrives with children in sky blue sports kit. They were tooled up with clubs and knives. An altercation developed in which the group that arrived utilized so called ping pong bombs to make their escape. There was panic in the area as people rushed for cover. Police are studying CCTV to get a lead. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-13 - 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

CCSA to consider changing Thailand Pass requirement next week by Tanakorn Sangiam BANGKOK (NNT) - Changes to the current Thailand Pass requirement for international travelers will be revisited at the full panel meeting of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on 20 May. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259527-ccsa-to-consider-changing-thailand-pass-requirement-next-week/

by Tanakorn Sangiam BANGKOK (NNT) - Changes to the current Thailand Pass requirement for international travelers will be revisited at the full panel meeting of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on 20 May. Under the current entry requirements, all international travelers, including returning Thai nationals, are required to get an entry clearance by obtaining their Thailand Pass online prior to departure. Several changes to the requirements have been made throughout the course of the pandemic, with testing now not required for all vaccinated travelers. Dr. Apisamai Srirangsan, an Assistant Spokesperson for the CCSA, said the center has received several inquiries on future changes to the current Thailand Pass requirement, which is now being considered by the CCSA operations center (CCSA-OC). Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Proposed changes considered by the CCSA-OC will then be proposed at the full-panel CCSA meeting on 20 May for final approval. The CCSA-OC also discussed the preparation for the 17 May school reopening for the new semester, based on the preparedness of each school. Schools that are not well prepared, and schools with lower vaccination uptake, may opt to arrange online classes for the time being, based on the consideration from their provincial communicable disease committees. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-13 - 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.

Authorities seize consignment of snakes and other reptiles that arrived on Egypt Air from ME Daily News Thai Caption: Illegal imports Thai officials at Suvarnabhumi airport said yesterday that they had seized a large quantity of illegally imported snakes and reptiles at Bangkok's main airport. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259525-authorities-seize-consignment-of-snakes-and-other-reptiles-that-arrived-on-egypt-air-from-me/

Daily News Thai Caption: Illegal imports Thai officials at Suvarnabhumi airport said yesterday that they had seized a large quantity of illegally imported snakes and reptiles at Bangkok's main airport. In a storage area they found horned desert vipers, arab vipers, sahara vipers, lizards and scorpions. There were 636 creatures in total. Sathon Khongngern of the environment ministry said they had all arrived in the morning on Egypt Air flight MS507/30. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Paperwork to seize the illegal imports has been issued; now the authorities begin the investigation as to who was behind it, reported Daily News. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-13 - 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 Picture: Daily News Picture: Daily News

PM Prayut arrives in US for 2nd ASEAN-US Special Summit by Namo Vananupong BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s prime minister has arrived in the US for the ASEAN-US Special Summit and will be having dinner with the US president later today. Shortly after arriving, he was greeted by Thais who are living in the US and received their support for Thailand’s full reopening. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259523-pm-prayut-arrives-in-us-for-2nd-asean-us-special-summit/

by Namo Vananupong BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand’s prime minister has arrived in the US for the ASEAN-US Special Summit and will be having dinner with the US president later today. Shortly after arriving, he was greeted by Thais who are living in the US and received their support for Thailand’s full reopening. Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha’s delegation arrived in Maryland, United States this morning (Thailand time). Gen. Prayut is attending the 2nd ASEAN-US Special Summit in Washington, DC, on May 12 and 13. Upon arriving at his hotel, a number of Thai people living in the US greeted the prime minister with flower bouquets and gave him their moral support. Among the crowd were Thai restaurateurs who face the problem of labor and want the government to support work visas for Thais to work abroad. They argued doing so would also help promote Thailand’s soft power. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Gen. Prayut thanked everybody for the welcome and gave his greetings. He tasked foreign minister Don Pramudwinai and the Thai ambassador to the US to process the matter and consider providing assistance. The prime minister is scheduled for a welcome at the US Congress by House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He will then have lunch with leaders of ASEAN nations before they all attend a meeting with US business leaders. The US Secretary of Commerce and US trade representatives will also participate in this meeting. Climate change, clean energy, the supply chain, digital economy, and human capital development are among the topics to be discussed. Gen. Prayut is also scheduled to have a discussion with the US Secretary of Defense to affirm the military cooperation and alliance between Thailand and the US. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-13 - 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.

COVID-19 - May 13: Thailand reports 7,779 new coronavirus cases, 9,286 recoveries, 56 deaths https://aseannow.com/topic/1259506-covid-19-may-13-thailand-reports-7779-new-coronavirus-cases-9286-recoveries-56-deaths/ //CLOSED// /Admin

COVID-19 - May 13: Thailand reports 7,779 new coronavirus cases, 9,286 recoveries, 56 deaths Graphic: ASEAN NOW https://aseannow.com/topic/1259506-covid-19-may-13-thailand-reports-7779-new-coronavirus-cases-9286-recoveries-56-deaths/

Graphic: ASEAN NOW Thailand on Friday (May 13) reported 7,779 new COVID-19 cases, 9,286 recoveries and 56 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Friday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 4,361,016 with 29,367 deaths. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-13 - 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

Thai Public Health Ministry to propose ‘Endemic Sandboxes’ initially on three tourist islands to allow entertainment venues to legally reopen-but Pattaya left out By Nop Meechukhun PHOTO: Prachachat National – The Thai Ministry of Public Health is planning to propose what they call ‘Endemic Sandboxes’ on three tourist islands, namely Koh Samui, Koh Chang, and Phuket, and allow the reopening of night entertainment venues legally in these areas. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259502-thai-public-health-ministry-to-propose-‘endemic-sandboxes’-initially-on-three-tourist-islands-to-allow-entertainment-venues-to-legally-reopen-but-pattaya-left-out/

PHOTO: Prachachat By Nop Meechukhun National – The Thai Ministry of Public Health is planning to propose what they call ‘Endemic Sandboxes’ on three tourist islands, namely Koh Samui, Koh Chang, and Phuket, and allow the reopening of night entertainment venues legally in these areas. Notably, however, Pattaya is left out of the initial proposal despite its sprawling nightlife industry, as Public Health officials at first want to limit legal reopenings to islands that they claim can be more easily monitored. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Public Health Permanent Secretary Kiattiphum Wongrajit said today, May 12th, that the plan would initially be proposed to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) for their consideration as an initial action plan for approaching the ‘endemic’ period in Thailand and, after over a year, legally reopening nightlife, which has been roughly closed since April of 2021. Currently, the bar and nightlife industry is operating, on paper anyway, as “converted restaurants” with a variety of restrictions and rules. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/05/12/thai-public-health-ministry-to-propose-endemic-sandboxes-initially-on-three-tourist-islands-to-allow-entertainment-venues-to-legally-reopen-but-pattaya-left-out/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-05-13 - 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.

Pattaya police chief gives update on recent gold snatching incidents, assures foreign tourists they are safe By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya — The Pattaya police chief, Kunlachart Kunlachai, says he has tightened security measures in the city and gave an update on multiple recent gold snatching incidents, saying the number of tourists in Pattaya, especially Indians, has doubled after Test&Go’s removal on May first. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259501-pattaya-police-chief-gives-update-on-recent-gold-snatching-incidents-assures-foreign-tourists-they-are-safe/

By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya — The Pattaya police chief, Kunlachart Kunlachai, says he has tightened security measures in the city and gave an update on multiple recent gold snatching incidents, saying the number of tourists in Pattaya, especially Indians, has doubled after Test&Go’s removal on May first. According to the chief, Pattaya was one of the national vital income sources in terms of tourism, so while the tourists were increasing rapidly, the Pattaya police enforcement along with other relevant private parties and citizens needed to cooperate in preserving a good tourism city image. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Pattaya depends on tourism for roughly 85-90% of its economy, according to city officials, and as a result, had been devastated during Covid-19. As the city recovers, however, so does the potential for petty crime, with the chief noting that many opportunistic individuals who have suffered economic problems during Covid-19 may be looking to take advantage of what they consider easy victims. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/05/12/pattaya-police-chief-gives-update-on-recent-gold-snatching-incidents-assures-foreign-tourists-they-are-safe/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-05-13 - 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.

A new police Smart Safety Zone launched near the Phuket Checkpoint in Tha Chatchai By Goong Nang(GN) Phuket – brand new Smart Safety Zone was launched near the Phuket Checkpoint by the Tha Chatchai Police in the Tha Chatchai sub-district, Thalang district, this week. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259500-a-new-police-smart-safety-zone-launched-near-the-phuket-checkpoint-in-tha-chatchai/

By Goong Nang(GN) Phuket – brand new Smart Safety Zone was launched near the Phuket Checkpoint by the Tha Chatchai Police in the Tha Chatchai sub-district, Thalang district, this week. The Tha Chatchai Police Chief Colonel Sompong Boonrat told the Phuket Express, “Our project is called ‘Chatchai Smart Safety 4.0’. Smart Safety Police are patrolling around famous tourist areas and hotels in the Tha Chatchai sub-district.” Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/05/12/a-new-police-smart-safety-zone-launched-near-the-phuket-checkpoint-in-tha-chatchai/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-05-13 - 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.

Four-day holiday with two official events to be observed in Thailand, starting from Friday, Alcohol sales ban on Sunday By Adam Judd National – The four-day holiday on the occasion of two official events in Thailand is held with the Royal Ploughing Ceremony on Friday the 13th and the Vasakha Bucha public holiday on Monday the 16th. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259499-four-day-holiday-with-two-official-events-to-be-observed-in-thailand-starting-from-friday-alcohol-sales-ban-on-sunday/

By Adam Judd National – The four-day holiday on the occasion of two official events in Thailand is held with the Royal Ploughing Ceremony on Friday the 13th and the Vasakha Bucha public holiday on Monday the 16th. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony is usually observed around May. The date is annually determined by astrological observations and this year is set on the 13th. The event is to mark the beginning of the rice-growing season in Thailand. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe In the pre-Covid-19 period, the royal ceremony was staged at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. Oxen were dressed in red and gold as lucky colors and would eat two out of the nine prepared plants/fruits as a farming horoscope of how farmers and the country’s agriculture would be like in general in a certain year. Sunday the 15th is marked as Visakha Bucha Day to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha Siddhartha. Similar to other Buddhist holidays in Thailand, Thai Buddhists would be gathering at local temples to make merit and celebrate the occasion. Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/05/12/four-day-holiday-with-two-official-events-to-be-observed-in-thailand-starting-from-friday-alcohol-sales-ban-on-sunday/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-05-13 - 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.

Face masks to be still needed in Thailand even after the emergency said Minster Anutin this week by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul this week insisted that face masks should continue to be worn by everyone in Thailand even when the current emergency comes to an end with the virus on track to being declared endemic in the weeks ahead. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259498-face-masks-to-be-still-needed-in-thailand-even-after-the-emergency-said-minster-anutin-this-week/

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul this week insisted that face masks should continue to be worn by everyone in Thailand even when the current emergency comes to an end with the virus on track to being declared endemic in the weeks ahead. He said that the current emergency had raised and improved Thailand’s standing abroad while also revealing to reporters that he has asked his officials to find ways to direct people’s behaviour concerning face masks even if the health threat was now being brought under control. The minister was also non-committal on when the Thailand Pass application would be withdrawn and said his officials were also working on protocols for the nightlife industry and bars even after endemic status is declared. (Inset Right) Minister Anutin with the permanent secretary at his ministry Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit at the ministry in Nonthaburi. by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor Minister still on a mission about face masks. A key committee within the Ministry of Public Health is looking to make sure that the public, including foreign tourists, continues to wear face masks even after the virus has been declared endemic in the coming months which may still include some sort of mandate or legal provision in certain circumstances. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul has come out strongly this week to insist on the need to make sure that face masks are still worn throughout the kingdom even after the current emergency comes to an end with endemic status declared. On Thursday, he told reporters that he has asked his officials to find a way to direct the public’s behaviour in this respect even if the current health threat itself can be seen as under control for now. Minister Anutin also could not confirm a date for removal of the Thailand Pass application which he acknowledged was being worked towards and said that a declaration of endemic status would require input from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Thailand’s Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul has doubled down on his stance regarding the use of face masks this week as he called on his officials to encourage their use among the public and foreign tourists. This could extend even to a legal basis making them still mandatory after the kingdom has declared endemic status with regard to the disease, a move widely expected in the weeks ahead. Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/05/13/anutin-says-face-masks-still-to-be-needed/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-05-13 - 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.

to continue: Thailand Live Friday 13 May 2022 https://aseannow.com/topic/1259497-thailand-live-friday-13-may-2022/

New Food Delivery Platform Launched to Help Restaurants and Consumers BANGKOK (NNT) - A national food delivery platform has been launched to assist restaurants in paying lower commission fees, thereby reducing food prices for consumers. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1259486-new-food-delivery-platform-launched-to-help-restaurants-and-consumers/