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By Goong Nang(GN) Phuket - An Australian tourist filed a report to police after a Phuket taxi driver allegedly touched his daughter’s leg inappropriately inside a taxi at a parking area in a shopping mall in the Mueang Phuket District over the past weekend. Yesterday, (May 1st), Lieutenant Colonel Nannapat Malai of the Cherng Talay Police in Thalang reported that a 44-year-old male Australian tourist who stayed at a hotel in Bang Tao Beach in Cherng Talay, Thalang district. (The Phuket Express is withholding his name) filed a report to the police on April 30th about the alleged incident. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/05/02/australian-tourist-files-police-report-after-a-phuket-taxi-driver-allegedly-touched-his-15-year-old-daughters-leg-inappropriately/ -- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2022-05-02 - 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

Chadchart Sittipunt still leads in latest Bangkok election polls Independent candidate in the Bangkok gubernatorial election, former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt, is still leading in the latest surveys by Suan Dusit Poll and NIDA Poll. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258437-chadchart-sittipunt-still-leads-in-latest-bangkok-election-polls/

Independent candidate in the Bangkok gubernatorial election, former transport minister Chadchart Sittipunt, is still leading in the latest surveys by Suan Dusit Poll and NIDA Poll. According to the Suan Dusit Poll, in which field and online interviews were conducted on 2,522 people in Bangkok, the majority of the respondents said they prefer independent candidates and their campaign policies to those affiliated with political parties. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The survey shows 82.2% of the respondents said they will go to the polls, but 1.62% said they will not. 39.94% of the respondents said they favour Chadchart, compared to 14.16% for another independent candidate, former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang. 13.37% are for Democrat candidate Dr. Suchatvee Suwansawat and 10% for Move Forward candidate, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/chadchart-sittipunt-still-leads-in-latest-bangkok-election-polls/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-02 - 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

Forget running a bar in Thailand - now it's DURIAN to the rescue! 77kaoded Thai caption: Turning a crisis into an opportunity A restaurant and bar owner in Samut Prakan had enough of being unable to make a decent living what with all the closures and restrictions caused by the pandemic. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258435-forget-running-a-bar-in-thailand-now-its-durian-to-the-rescue/

77kaoded Thai caption: Turning a crisis into an opportunity A restaurant and bar owner in Samut Prakan had enough of being unable to make a decent living what with all the closures and restrictions caused by the pandemic. So Jay Nok decided to close her nighttime bar and do something more profitable instead. Sell Thailand's "King of Fruits" or durian at knockdown prices. An office has been converted into an area to crack open the fruit and put the coveted pieces onto trays, reported 77kaoded. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: 77kaoded And there is a steady stream of customers from 8 am to 9 pm at the shop in the Rua Bin market in Bang Plee. Great piles of the infamously smelly fruit - the Mon Thong variety from Chanthaburi - were available for customers' perusal and purchase. The restaurant and bar used to do a roaring trade but Covid scuppered that. Now it's durian to the rescue. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-30 - 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

Khao San Road is bustling with tourists, say media - but their picture suggests otherwise! Picture: INN Thai media INN said in their headline that the first day of the reopening of Thailand - May 1st - was bustling with foreign tourists at Khao San Road. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258433-khao-san-road-is-bustling-with-tourists-say-media-but-their-picture-suggests-otherwise/

Picture: INN Thai media INN said in their headline that the first day of the reopening of Thailand - May 1st - was bustling with foreign tourists at Khao San Road. Yet their picture seemed to suggest otherwise as a backpacker in an open shirt strolled by in a largely deserted street. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe INN said that traders and restaurant owners in the area reported an increasing number of tourists now that the country was more fully open again. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-30 - 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

Fake 1,000 baht notes everywhere at Thai market - one lady employee counts the cost Picture; Siam Rath Siam Rath went to investigate after an online post by a woman employee at a chicken stall who got stung by a female customer who paid with a fake 1,000 baht note. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258432-fake-1000-baht-notes-everywhere-at-thai-market-one-lady-employee-counts-the-cost/

Picture; Siam Rath Siam Rath went to investigate after an online post by a woman employee at a chicken stall who got stung by a female customer who paid with a fake 1,000 baht note. Sudarat, 48, was fed up, and with good reason. Her first customer of the day ordered a chicken on a spit for 190 baht. As it was the first customer she didn't have any change when the lady presented a 1,000 baht. So she went to get change with the owner of a fried banana stall. She then handed over the chicken and the 810 baht change. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe But the banana lady Pimchanok, became suspicious as the note felt thick. On closer inspection the color was wrong and so was the watermark. Her husband took it to the bank who confirmed it was fake and scribbled on it so it could not be used further. The money was returned to Sudarat who said she would now be 1,200 baht out of pocket - just what she didn't need what with the state of her finances and the economy. A person at the market at the Phreuksa 3 housing estate in Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi, said that there had been 30 cases of fake bills at places like durian shops in a single day. All the fakes were 1,000 baht bills. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-30 - 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

Baht Depreciation Could Have Widespread Implications by Krajangwit Johjit BANGKOK (NNT) - The central bank has indicated that the baht’s depreciation could impact manufacturing, commodity prices and inflation. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258431-baht-depreciation-could-have-widespread-implications/

by Krajangwit Johjit BANGKOK (NNT) - The central bank has indicated that the baht’s depreciation could impact manufacturing, commodity prices and inflation. Sakkapop Panyanukul, senior director of the Bank of Thailand’s (BOT) Economic and Policy Department, said the baht has depreciated substantially during the months of March and April - dropping 2.5% in value since the start of 2022. According to the senior director, global factors such as the war in Ukraine, China’s economic downturn, and expected adjustments to the U.S. central bank’s benchmark rate have been major contributors. He nevertheless said he believes the baht’s decline has remained consistent with the regional currency trends. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Sakkapop also said the BOT will intervene to stabilize the baht if it experiences significant volatility or movements that contradict Thai economic fundamentals. He noted that such intervention would aim to ensure smooth business operations, as well as help facilitate the nation’s economic recovery. He also recommended that firms take precautions to better insulate themselves from issues related to fluctuating currency exchange rates. The senior director noted that the local economy saw a downturn in March, as government spending and company investment both declined. For the month, the Private Consumption Index fell by 0.9% from February, while private investment slid 0.4% and the Industrial Production Index fell 0.9%. Similarly, government spending and investment decreased amid higher commodity and energy prices. Exports, however, climbed 18.9% year-on-year, while overseas travelers increased by 210,000 over the previous month. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Pattaya officials and mayor candidates discuss legal reopening of nightlife, extended closing hours to “Pre Covid” times By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya — Pattaya business owners, Pattaya police, and Bang Lamung District Administrative Department representatives discussed the re-opening of Walking Street this weekend after the CCSA (Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration) committee extended alcohol selling hours and changed legal opening hours for converted restaurants, which is what entertainment venues currently are. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258430-pattaya-officials-and-mayor-candidates-discuss-legal-reopening-of-nightlife-extended-closing-hours-to-“pre-covid”-times/

By Tanakorn Panyadee Pattaya — Pattaya business owners, Pattaya police, and Bang Lamung District Administrative Department representatives discussed the re-opening of Walking Street this weekend after the CCSA (Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration) committee extended alcohol selling hours and changed legal opening hours for converted restaurants, which is what entertainment venues currently are. Kunlachart Kunlachai, the superintendent of Chonburi Police Station, presided over a meeting Friday, April 29th, to discuss guidelines for the re-opening of Walking Street. He stated that the CCSA had relaxed many regulations after Covid-19 was likely to become endemic, so many business operators wanted the Walking Street to be closed to vehicle traffic for tourism as well as the legal opening of all entertainment venues and extended closing hours to pre-Covid-19 hours, which was 3:00 A.M. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe However, the superintendent requested Walking Street business operators to collect signatures first to petition with the Chonburi Provincial Police Commissioner because he wanted the process to be done in accordance with the law. Initially, Walking Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. every day, but the businesses alongside the street still needed permission to open because certain Covid-19 regulations were still currently in effect. Kunlachart also stated that in regard to pre-covid closing hours for entertainment zones or legal reopening of nightlife, this needed CCSA permission as well as provincial police and the Governor, but was being discussed. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/05/02/pattaya-officials-and-mayor-candidates-discuss-legal-reopening-of-nightlife-extended-closing-hours-to-pre-covid-times/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-05-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai wife finally cremated: Loving husband kept her body for 21 years after her death Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that a loving husband in Bangkok kept his dead wife for 21 years after she died from natural causes. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258428-thai-wife-finally-cremated-loving-husband-kept-her-body-for-21-years-after-her-death/

Picture: Siam Rath Siam Rath reported that a loving husband in Bangkok kept his dead wife for 21 years after she died from natural causes. He just couldn't bring himself to be parted from his dear wife. The story came to light in a post online by the Petchkasem Krungthep rescue foundation. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Former soldier Sub-Lieutenant Chan, 72, told them that his wife died in 2001. After initial rites he decided to keep his wife in her coffin and not cremate the body. He did this in a property used for storage in the Bang Khen area of the Thai capital. The body was kept in a lean-to, reported INN. Picture: INN The couple had two boys but following the lady's death the family broke up with the boys leaving home, and leaving the dad to fend for himself. He thought that at 72 he was getting old and it was time to finally say goodbye. His wife had also been a civil servant in the Ministry of Public Health. The cremation took place at the temple of Wat Sakhon Sun Prachasan after a death certificate was obtained at the Bang Khen district office. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-30 - 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

Over 21,000 overseas passengers arrive in BKK, Phuket, on 1st day without ‘Test & Go’ Over 120 international flights, carrying 21,268 passengers, arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Phuket international airports yesterday (Sunday), the day after the government’s anti-COVID-19 “Test and Go” scheme ended, no longer requiring RT-PCR tests upon entry and first-night quarantine for the fully vaccinated and those who tested negative 72 hours prior to departure. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258427-over-21000-overseas-passengers-arrive-in-bkk-phuket-on-1st-day-without-‘test-go’/

Over 120 international flights, carrying 21,268 passengers, arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Phuket international airports yesterday (Sunday), the day after the government’s anti-COVID-19 “Test and Go” scheme ended, no longer requiring RT-PCR tests upon entry and first-night quarantine for the fully vaccinated and those who tested negative 72 hours prior to departure. At Suvarnabhumi Airport alone, 16,868 arrivals were recorded from 96 flights. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Airport officials reported congestion at the immigration area, as many passengers were seen close to one another, making social distancing impossible. Each passenger took an average of 15 minutes to get through passport control. Arriving passengers were separated into two groups upon arrival, said airport officials. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/over-21000-overseas-passengers-arrive-in-bkk-phuket-on-1st-day-without-test-go/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai PM orders strict surveillance on H3N8 bird flu to prevent disease import to Thailand By Nop Meechukhun PHOTO: Prachathai Bangkok – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha today, May 1st, ordered the relevant authorities to prevent H3N8 bird flu import to Thailand after the first human case was discovered in China last week. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258426-thai-pm-orders-strict-surveillance-on-h3n8-bird-flu-to-prevent-disease-import-to-thailand/

PHOTO: Prachathai By Nop Meechukhun Bangkok – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O’Cha today, May 1st, ordered the relevant authorities to prevent H3N8 bird flu import to Thailand after the first human case was discovered in China last week. Government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana told the Associated Press that the Prime Minister closely monitored the situation of the H3N8 bird flu in China and ordered the relevant agencies to prepare and prevent avian influenza into Thailand. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Initially, the National Health Commission Office assessed that the virus’ capability of infecting humans is at a low level and the risk of the epidemic remains in a narrow range. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/05/01/thai-pm-orders-strict-surveillance-on-h3n8-bird-flu-to-prevent-disease-import-to-thailand/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-05-02 - 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:

Rich driver who deliberately blocked ambulance carrying patient gets fined a paltry 500 baht! Picture: Daily News The rich and entitled BMW driver who played an extraordinary cat and mouse game with a desperate ambulance driver trying to pass with a sick patient in the back has been fined by the Muang Phuket police. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258425-rich-driver-who-deliberately-blocked-ambulance-carrying-patient-gets-fined-a-paltry-500-baht/

Picture: Daily News The rich and entitled BMW driver who played an extraordinary cat and mouse game with a desperate ambulance driver trying to pass with a sick patient in the back has been fined by the Muang Phuket police. ASEAN NOW suggested last week when the story hit the internet via a dashcam video posted by Kusontham Phuket Rescue chief Anit Jenphop that 500 baht was all the police could fine the driver. And so it proved under Article 76, "blocking traffic". Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Yet the video showed clearly that the BMW 320i driver had deliberately braked as they refused to get out of the way of the ambulance with its siren blaring and Anit pleading over the loudspeaker. Some netizens thought this might constitute dangerous driving. The driver was named only as "A" and said they were prepared to pay the fine, reported Daily News. 500 baht is little more than $15. A BMW Series 3 sedan costs between 2.5M and 3.3 million baht in Thailand. That's up to $100,000. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-30 - 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

Miss Thailand Grand goes to the form horse - Miss Bangkok reigns supreme! Picture: INN Thai media in the shape of Sanook and INN reported on the conclusion of the Miss Thailand Grand 2022 beauty pageant yesterday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258424-miss-thailand-grand-goes-to-the-form-horse-miss-bangkok-reigns-supreme/

Picture: INN Thai media in the shape of Sanook and INN reported on the conclusion of the Miss Thailand Grand 2022 beauty pageant yesterday. Coming out on top among the 77 contestants - one from each Thai province - was Miss Bangkok Ingfah Woraha. Filling the runner up berths were Miss Phuket, Miss Kalasin, Miss Ang Thong and Miss Phrae. The contest was a special one in its tenth year with a spectacular opening show and a best National Costume round that featured some stunning costumes. Many 100,000 baht bursaries went to the winners with others getting 30,000 baht. Miss Bangkok was expected to win and did, reported the media. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-30 - 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 Picture: INN Picture: Sanook Picture: INN Picture: Sanook

Over a hundred tourists evacuated from hotel overnight in Jomtien when smoke began filling hallways By Goong Nang(GN) Pattaya/Jomtien – Over a hundred domestic and foreign tourists have escaped without injuries from a hotel in Jomtien after smoke began filling corridors and rooms without, according to several guests, any warning from fire alarms last night (May 1st). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1258422-over-a-hundred-tourists-evacuated-from-hotel-overnight-in-jomtien-when-smoke-began-filling-hallways/