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Tourists on Hua Hin beach, file photo By Online Reporter Pattaya and Hua Hin are the two most popular destinations for domestic travellers during the May holidays in Thailand. According to data released by Agoda, Pattaya and Hua Hin were the two most searched destinations on its platform for booking for the recent Labour Day long weekend (May 1-2) and the upcoming Visaka holiday, which will take place from May 15. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Pattaya and Hua Hin, which were the first and second most searched for destinations, respectively, ahead of Phuket (3rd), Bangkok (4th) and Khao Yai (5th), Agoda said. Pattaya Hua Hin Phuket Bangkok Khao Yai Chiang Mai Krabi Kanchanaburi Chonburi Koh Chang Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/hua-hin-news/hua-hin-second-most-popular-destination-in-thailand-for-domestic-travellers-in-may/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-05-05 - Pacific Prime 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 murder hit suspect dies in Canadian plane crash days after being declared ‘most wanted’ by James Morris and Son Nguyen Police in Canada have confirmed that Gene Karl Lahrkamp (centre), wanted for murder in Thailand on foot of an arrest warrant issued by Phuket Provincial Court on February 11th last, died on Saturday, April 30th in a plane crash near Sioux Lookout, a town in Northwestern Ontario. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258705-phuket-murder-hit-suspect-dies-in-canadian-plane-crash-days-after-being-declared-‘most-wanted’/

Police in Canada have confirmed that Gene Karl Lahrkamp (centre), wanted for murder in Thailand on foot of an arrest warrant issued by Phuket Provincial Court on February 11th last, died on Saturday, April 30th in a plane crash near Sioux Lookout, a town in Northwestern Ontario. The private Cherokee plane was carrying four people who all died in the crash. It came only four days after Mr Lahrkamp had been listed as Canada’s second most wanted fugitive in the country’s Be on the Lookout (BOLO) programme by officials in Toronto. by James Morris and Son Nguyen From the moment the two hitmen stepped back onto Canadian soil last February after the murder of crime figure Jimmy Sandhu, their fortunes began to unravel. 36-year-old Matthew Dupre sits in custody in Alberta as he fights extradition to Thailand while his alleged partner in the assassination of Mr Sandhu, Gene Karl Lahrkamp has been declared dead in a plane crash last Saturday while on the run as a fugitive. The hitmen found themselves pursued not only by police in Canada and Thailand but also by both rival gangs with links to Sandhu who they mercilessly gunned down at his villa in Phuket on February 4th last. This followed a robust, lightning speed and highly successful police investigation which identified the pair to the world. One of the two murder suspects identified by Thai police over the murder of drug lord Jimmy Sandhu in Phuket on February 4th last died on Saturday in a plane crash near Sioux Lookout in Canada’s Ontario province. The news came just four days after 36-year-old Gene Karl Lahrkamp had been named the second most wanted man in Canada in an appeal to the public to track him down based on a warrant for his arrest issued in Phuket on February 11th last for murder. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) of British Columbia in Canada has announced that one of the two suspects wanted in Thailand by the court in Phuket for the murder of drug kingpin Jimmy Sandhu has died while on the run in a plane crash. Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/05/04/phuket-murderer-dies-in-canadian-plane-crash-gene-karl-lahrkamp/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-05-05 - Pacific Prime 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

ASEAN’s joint statement on facing common global challenges The Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) flag (R) leads the flags of the 10-member countries during the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Singapore on July 23, 2008. The ASEAN-member countires are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. AFP PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD/POOL (Photo by ROMEO GACAD / POOL / AFP) Amid dramatic shifts in the strategic landscape, and their negative impacts on global peace and stability, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand issued a joint statement Wednesday on their respective roles as hosts of three upcoming and important leaders’ meetings. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258704-asean’s-joint-statement-on-facing-common-global-challenges/

The Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) flag (R) leads the flags of the 10-member countries during the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting in Singapore on July 23, 2008. The ASEAN-member countires are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. AFP PHOTO/ROMEO GACAD/POOL (Photo by ROMEO GACAD / POOL / AFP) Amid dramatic shifts in the strategic landscape, and their negative impacts on global peace and stability, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand issued a joint statement Wednesday on their respective roles as hosts of three upcoming and important leaders’ meetings. The 478-word joint statement said that the three ASEAN members are privileged to host the ASEAN-related summit from 11th to 13th November, the G20 Summit on the 15th and 16th November and the Asia Pacific Economic Leaders’ Meeting on the 18th and 19th November 2022. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe These meetings “share commonalities that provide a unique opportunity for all participating countries/economies to jointly advance the collective global and regional agenda and efforts to bring peace, prosperity and sustainable and inclusive development to all our peoples.” Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/aseans-joint-statement-on-facing-common-global-challenges/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-05 - Pacific Prime 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 we coming to the end of the pandemic in Thailand? ANALYSIS | by Michael Bridge file photo Gradually we are starting to see a drop in the number of Covid cases across Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258703-are-we-coming-to-the-end-of-the-pandemic-in-thailand/

file photo ANALYSIS | by Michael Bridge Gradually we are starting to see a drop in the number of Covid cases across Thailand. In the 24-hour period since the last count on May 3rd, the CCSA recorded 9,721 new Covid-19 cases and 20,145 recoveries. Meanwhile, there are now 118,567 people in Thailand being treated for Covid-19. The number of deaths is also decreasing with seventy-seven coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the CCSA on May 3rd. The trend for deaths continues to drop. It was sitting above one hundred deaths per day during April. The anticipated major spike after the Songkran migration has also not materialised, which is a relief for the medical experts and the government. SE Asia also sees decreases The good news is that covid cases are dropping not just in Thailand but also across SE Asia. According to statistics published by John Hopkins, over a 14-day period from April 19th to May 2nd Vietnam had a total of 180,830 new cases. During the same period, the Philippines had 2,781 cases, Cambodia 178 cases, Malaysia 54,694 and here in Thailand, we had 217,692 cases. For the first time since July 25th last year, Vietnam has recorded no new daily Covid-19 deaths on May 3rd, 2022. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe On Tuesday, the country recorded 2,709 new infections, bringing the total infection tally in the fourth wave to 10,516,539. Covid infections are also decreasing in the Philippines with 197 new cases reported on average per day. Thirteen deaths on May 2nd compared to 255 on the 18th of September. Borders open Common sense seems to be taking over as governments not just in SE Asia but also around the globe are allowing travellers in too. Although not back to the millions who used to holiday in Thailand in the pre-pandemic days, over 21,000 made the journey to Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 1st the first day of relaxed travel restrictions. Of course, people are still catching Covid, but now the vast majority are getting the Omicron variant, which as most of us know is similar to having a bad case of influenza. A few days of self-isolation and you are back on your feet. As discussed many times before, governments often needed to weigh up the loss of life via Covid with the loss of revenue from closed borders. With more and more airlines adding flights, it would seem the battered Thai hospitality industry is, at last, being given the kiss of life. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-05 - Pacific Prime 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

to continue: Thailand Live Thursday 5 May 2022 https://aseannow.com/topic/1258702-thailand-live-thursday-5-may-2022/

Preparations under way for resumption of on-site classes on May 17th Thailand’s Education and Public Health ministries have adopted several measures in preparation for the resumption of on-site classes on May 17th at schools across the country, after almost two years of online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258680-preparations-under-way-for-resumption-of-on-site-classes-on-may-17th/

Retailers to Slash Prices for School Uniforms and Supplies BANGKOK (NNT) - The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) is working with retailers to provide consumers with 10-69% discounts on school uniforms and supplies. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258667-retailers-to-slash-prices-for-school-uniforms-and-supplies/

Thailand’s press freedom ranking improves this year Thailand’s global press freedom ranking has improved, as the country ranks 115 out of 180 countries in this year’s World Press Freedom index, a jump from 137 in 2021. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258664-thailand’s-press-freedom-ranking-improves-this-year/

Brother in law arrested after death of two boys aged 3 and 2 Daily News Thai Caption: In-law murders two children Daily News reported on a tragic case that was referred to social activist Paveena Hongsakul who runs a foundation that bears her name. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258646-brother-in-law-arrested-after-death-of-two-boys-aged-3-and-2/

Daily News Thai Caption: In-law murders two children Daily News reported on a tragic case that was referred to social activist Paveena Hongsakul who runs a foundation that bears her name. It concerned an attack on two young children by the brother in law of the boys' mother. Bang Madua police in Surat Thani in the south of Thailand have now arrested a 33 year old man at a second hand dealers. The father of the boys told Paveena that he had been sentenced to a term in prison for drugs. While inside his wife had started a relationship with another person. On release last year he went back to his house to see his boys aged 3 and 2 but was denied access. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe On March 25th his former partner took their 3 year old to see him. The boy was very badly bruised and could hardly walk. His wife said he had fallen off a chair. He later died. An autopsy revealed bleeding in the stomach. There was worse news. His two year old had died on 24th March. He had a brain hemorrhage and ruptured liver and was being cremated. His wife claimed he had fallen and hit his head on some metal. The reality was they both boys were attacked by s brother in law who is now in police custody charged with assault causing death of the two boys. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-04 - 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

Jealous ex stabs rival THIRTY times in full view of traders and customers at busy market Bang Saothong police and Poh Teck Tung rescue services in Samut Prakan were called to the local market after a horrific attack on a man. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258644-jealous-ex-stabs-rival-thirty-times-in-full-view-of-traders-and-customers-at-busy-market/

Bang Saothong police and Poh Teck Tung rescue services in Samut Prakan were called to the local market after a horrific attack on a man. They found 31 year old Aphisit unconscious in a pool of blood. He had around 30 stab wounds after a frenzied attack by a man who fled on a motorcycle. He was given CPR at the scene then taken to Chularat 5 hospital where he was pronounced dead, reported 77kaoded. Some of this was contained in a video published by the media. A female trader said she heard a commotion and turned to see the victim being assaulted. No one dared intervene as the assailant stabbed the victim multiple times. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The victim's elder sister told police that the assailant was the former lover of her brother's girlfriend. Korakitti, aged about 20, had been trying to reconcile the relationship but had been turned down. It appears that the assailant had arrived at the market and waited until Aphisit and his girlfriend had put away their clothing stall. He had approached Aphisit (in a Toyota Altis) as he prepared to leave opening the car door and attacking him with a knife. Aphisit ran off and was chased and further attacked in full view of the people at the market. The girlfriend was in a state of shock and unable to give evidence. Police know the identity of the assailant who they are trying to find. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-04 - 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

Shots fired outside pub by men claiming to be police and soldiers - it was all a misunderstanding Naew Na Thai Caption: What a kerfuffle! Men claiming to be police and soldiers attacked footballers Three members of a provincial football team in Loei, NE Thailand went to the Muang district police to file a complaint after they were set upon by a group of men claiming to be police and soldiers. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258643-shots-fired-outside-pub-by-men-claiming-to-be-police-and-soldiers-it-was-all-a-misunderstanding/

Naew Na Thai Caption: What a kerfuffle! Men claiming to be police and soldiers attacked footballers Three members of a provincial football team in Loei, NE Thailand went to the Muang district police to file a complaint after they were set upon by a group of men claiming to be police and soldiers. One of the footballers called Thanaphat Phaetphon told Muang district police that the team had been celebrating in a Muang district pub on Monday night and by 12.10 am Tuesday they were ready to leave, reported Naew Na. They stopped in the car park outside the pub to buy some "khai ping" a kind of barbecued egg. Thanphat said that he had put his hand out to greet a friend and by mistake had come into contact with a woman who was in another group. He and his friends apologised profusely and thought that the misunderstanding had been resolved. That was when a couple of khai ping came rolling over followed by the men in the other group. A fight ensued in which Thanaphat said he was punched and kicked and hit in the back of the head with a solid object. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Naew Na Then the other group fired about 16 shots in the air and on the ground to scare them. Some of the footballers were even threatened with guns put to their heads. He said that he had never seen the group before and didn't know who they really were. They had evidence in the form of two 9 mm shell casings. Forensics officers are using those and CCTV to try and get a lead in the case. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-04 - 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

Boy, 14, served with warrant for molesting girl, also 14 - family are too poor to pay compensation or bail Naew Na Thai Caption: 14 year old kid arrested; Molested friend of same age, claimed he didn't force her Naew Na reported on the arrest of a 14 year old boy - named only as M - who molested "A" also 14. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258641-boy-14-served-with-warrant-for-molesting-girl-also-14-family-are-too-poor-to-pay-compensation-or-bail/

Naew Na Thai Caption: 14 year old kid arrested; Molested friend of same age, claimed he didn't force her Naew Na reported on the arrest of a 14 year old boy - named only as M - who molested "A" also 14. The offences occurred back in December 2021 and ceased when the family of the girl - whose father is a navy man - went to the police to request charges. When the case went cold the navy man enlisted the help of social activist Paveena Hongsakul. Now the boy - from Chamni district - has been served with an arrest warrant and taken into custody. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe He said that the sex occurred but it was all consensual and involved no force. Wichian, 52, the boy's grandfather told the media that his family are very poor and had been unable to pay the compensation sought by the other family. In fact he only had 5,000 baht to his name and feared that wouldn't be enough to bail out his grandson. So it proved. The Nang Rong police in Buriram refused bail and left that up to the discretion of the court. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-04 - 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

Heartthrob actor walks out of court with suspended sentence after hitting nursing assistant - no tax, insurance or valid licence Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that heartthrob Thai actor Chanon Akkhrachata or "Khun" was given a prison sentence of one month suspended for a year after hitting a female nursing assistant who was riding a motorcycle in Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258639-heartthrob-actor-walks-out-of-court-with-suspended-sentence-after-hitting-nursing-assistant -no-tax-insurance-or-valid-licence/

Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that heartthrob Thai actor Chanon Akkhrachata or "Khun" was given a prison sentence of one month suspended for a year after hitting a female nursing assistant who was riding a motorcycle in Bangkok. He walked from the court after being fined just 4,000 baht. Khun had been charged with negligence causing injury to Prarattana Rojanakaewprasert, 21, and damage to her bike after the incident near the Lamsalee intersection on Ramkhamhaeng Road on Monday of last week. The famous actor had also been charged with having an out of date licence, no tax and no third party insurance. He admitted everything and apologised to society. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe He said he had taken care of the victim and paid her 30,000 baht compensation. He said he wasn't drunk and gave excuses as to why he did not contact the police at the scene. He said he had an important engagement upcountry and had no time and also couldn't contact the victim because he couldn't get a signal on his phone. The Bangkok North Municipal court handed down its verdict yesterday after Hua Mark police took the celebrity to the court. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-04 - 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

Spectre of a substitute PM looms over Prayut By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk Politicians and observers are seeking a potential “substitute prime minister” in case PM Prayut Chan-o-cha runs into a “political accident”. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258636-spectre-of-a-substitute-pm-looms-over-prayut/

By Thai PBS World’s Political Desk Politicians and observers are seeking a potential “substitute prime minister” in case PM Prayut Chan-o-cha runs into a “political accident”. Talk of an acting PM was triggered this past week after a slip of the tongue by Deputy Premier Prawit Wongsuwan, who also heads the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Prawit said last Tuesday that “there may be a substitute prime minister” if Prayut is unable to remain in his position. However, PM Prayut said he had never heard of a stand-in for his post, while his supporters stressed he is the ruling party’s only PM candidate. Prawit’s former subordinates, who are now in the Thai Economic Party, recently proposed the deputy PM as “the best candidate” for the prime minister’s post in case of a “political mishap”. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/spectre-of-a-substitute-pm-looms-over-prayut/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-04 - 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

Jailbreak! Three prisoners with Covid escape in NE - Thais caught but Laotian drug suspect remains at large Sanook Thai Captions: Covid inmates in prison escape (Inset: Still at large) Sanook reported on the escape of three prisoners who were in Covid isolation on remand at Nong Khai provincial prison in the north east of Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258632-jailbreak-three-prisoners-with-covid-escape-in-ne-thais-caught-but-laotian-drug-suspect-remains-at-large/