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Yesterday the Royal Thai Police's top brass gathered for that perennial question. What to do with the roads and the massive populations that will use them in the yearly exodus that are the Songkran holidays. Gen Damrongsak Kittipraphas gathered his troops to mount their battle plans that had been handed down for "the good of the people" from PM Prayuth Chan-ocha and RTP chief Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk, reported Siam Rath. Two figures leapt out of the meeting. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Firstly the fact that Songkran is expected to see places like Bangkok empty from 8th to 17th April as the rush to the countryside pans out. About 6.7 million people are expected to go in and out of Bangkok during this period - up from 6.4 million in 2021. Then there is the accident reduction target. This year it is at 5%. In total 80,000 officers are being mobilized to take care of the public during Songkran. Aetna Platinum+ Light on premium, great on coverage -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-29 - 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

COVID-19: Thailand reports 21,678 new coronavirus cases, 78 deaths, 27,183 recoveries File photo Thailand on Tuesday (March 29) reported 22,678 new COVID-19 cases, 27,183 recoveries and 78 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254993-covid-19-thailand-reports-21678-new-coronavirus-cases-78-deaths-27183-recoveries/ //CLOSED// /Admin

COVID-19: Thailand reports 21,678 new coronavirus cases, 78 deaths, 27,183 recoveries File photo Thailand on Tuesday (March 29) reported 22,678 new COVID-19 cases, 27,183 recoveries and 78 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254993-covid-19-thailand-reports-21678-new-coronavirus-cases-78-deaths-27183-recoveries/

File photo Thailand on Tuesday (March 29) reported 21,678 new COVID-19 cases, 27,183 recoveries and 78 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Tuesday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 3,575,398 with 24,958 deaths. The news comes as authorities in the northeastern province of Surin plan to make it the first province that declares COVID-19 endemic disease, on April 1. The Public Relations Office of Surin announced the plan while encouraging locals to receive their third and booster COVID-19 vaccine shots to strengthen their immunity.** ** TNA/MCOT contributed to this report Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-03-29 - 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

Hua Hin and Cha Am Wellness Sandbox set to become ‘Thailand Wellness Coast’ By Online Reporter Despite being in its infancy, the ‘Hua Hin and Cha Am Wellness Sandbox’ is already set to be renamed. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254980-hua-hin-and-cha-am-wellness-sandbox-set-to-become-‘thailand-wellness-coast’/

By Online Reporter Despite being in its infancy, the ‘Hua Hin and Cha Am Wellness Sandbox’ is already set to be renamed. The ‘Wellness Sandbox’ refers to plans to promote Hua Hin and Cha Am as a destination for health and wellness. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Mr. Chattan Kunchorn Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, has said that going forward, the project will be named the “Thailand Wellness Coast” rather than “Sandbox”. The reason for the name change is because the term ‘Sandbox’ is linked to a form of ‘quarantine’ where those who enter must stay in an area for 7 days before they can travel anywhere else – as is the case with the Phuket Sandbox. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/local-news/hua-hin-and-cha-am-wellness-sandbox-set-to-become-thailand-wellness-coast/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-03-29 - 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

Legal pot does not appear to be working for Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party in latest opinion poll by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul intervened after two women were arrested in Khon Kaen for the possession of a cannabis plant leading to an intervention by senior police officers and a message to the ranks of Provincial Police Region 4 to exercise restraint in prosecuting people for possession of cannabis plants for personal use at this time. In a statement following the affair, the deputy prime minister, in strongly worded terms, said that the prosecution of such people in such a situation, given the regulatory and legal changes in train, could amount to bullying. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254979-legal-pot-does-not-appear-to-be-working-for-anutin’s-bhumjaithai-party-in-latest-opinion-poll/

Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul intervened after two women were arrested in Khon Kaen for the possession of a cannabis plant leading to an intervention by senior police officers and a message to the ranks of Provincial Police Region 4 to exercise restraint in prosecuting people for possession of cannabis plants for personal use at this time. In a statement following the affair, the deputy prime minister, in strongly worded terms, said that the prosecution of such people in such a situation, given the regulatory and legal changes in train, could amount to bullying. by Carla Boonkong & Pranee O' Connor The drive to legalise pot or marijuana pursued by the Bhumjaithai Party may, in time, prove popular with Thai people as a source of income or potential health benefits but for now, it has left law enforcement agencies and the police facing a minefield and a new challenge to determine what is legal and what is illegal even after June 8th next when the ministerial order to remove cannabis as a schedule 5 listed narcotic has full legal effect. For now, however, it does not appear to be such a big vote winner with the electorate as the country faces the rising prospect of a General Election. A shock opinion poll on Sunday shows that Bhumjaithai Party and Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul lagging far behind other political contenders despite the party’s mission to legalise pot in Thailand which is causing legal confusion for law enforcement agencies across the country as Thai officials try to balance the finer aspects of laws and regulations which, so far, has resulted in a grey area over what exactly is legal and what is not. On Sunday, in a National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) opinion poll published in the Bangkok Post newspaper, the Bhumjaithai Party, Thailand’s populist and nationalist political grouping which took 10.33% of the vote in the 2019 General Election and 51 seats in parliament, only managed to register 1.88% with the two main opposition parties, the Pheu Thai Party and Move Forward Party, dominating the field with over 42%. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/03/28/legal-pot-cannabis-not-a-vote-getter-for-bhumjaithai/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-03-29 - 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

It’s a rich man’s world by Agneta de Bekassy The 2022 MOTOR SHOW at Impact Arena! Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254978-it’s-a-rich-man’s-world-the-2022-motor-show-at-impact-arena/

by Agneta de Bekassy The 2022 MOTOR SHOW at Impact Arena! You don’t have to be a big fan of cars, to enjoy a visit to a Motorshow. You step into a world full of beauties, and I don’t talk about long leg women, no these beauties have 4 wheels and some of them an immense power. This is a rich man’s world! To have a salesman open the door for you and letting you take the seat for a few minutes behind the wheel of the new Rolls-Royce Phantom Black Badge, that is magic. The smell of the perfect leather, chosen from the best bulls for an unblemished leather hide, the star-design insignia embossed on the ceiling, also providing you with a random shooting star option in the starfield and the possibility to choose your personal star constellation, what about that? Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Not to forget the designed umbrella, that the doorman or your husband/lover prepares for you by just pushing the door button and the electric motor opens the door and the umbrella appears from its heated compartment. When the umbrella is returned back in place, it will automatically dry so you don’t have to worry about getting wet the next time you need it. Full story: https://scandasia.com/its-a-rich-mans-world/ -- © Copyright ScandAsia 2022-03-29 - 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

IKEA to open the fourth store in Thailand by Gregers Møller IKEA Thailand via Facebook Last week, the Swedish furniture giant announced the opening of its fourth store in Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254977-ikea-to-open-the-fourth-store-in-thailand/

IKEA Thailand via Facebook by Gregers Møller Last week, the Swedish furniture giant announced the opening of its fourth store in Thailand. Posting on Facebook, IKEA said: “Get ready to meet the 4th IKEA store in Thailand! on Sukhumvit Road In the heart of Bangkok at Emsphere”. IKEA did not include details of an opening date or details of the concept for its new store at Emsphere, the project mall being constructed next to the Emporium shopping mall by BTS Phrom Phong. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Full story: https://scandasia.com/ikea-to-open-the-fourth-store-in-thailand/ -- © Copyright ScandAsia 2022-03-29 - 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

Navy: Cause of Tanker Fire Still Unknown BANGKOK (TNA) – The spokesman of the Royal Thai Navy said the cause of the fire on an oil tanker in the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan province Sunday remained unknown. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254976-navy-cause-of-tanker-fire-still-unknown/

BANGKOK (TNA) – The spokesman of the Royal Thai Navy said the cause of the fire on an oil tanker in the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan province Sunday remained unknown. VAdm Pokkrong Monthatphalin said staff from the Disaster Relief Center of the navy inspected the vessel that was anchored in the middle of the river and were still unable to find a clue to the blaze. The Samut Prakan office of the Marine Department was informed of the incident at the estuary of the Chao Phraya River at 1.30pm yesterday (March 27). It happened near the Mine Squadron of the navy. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-911554 -- © Copyright TNA 2022-03-29 - 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

Low Immunity May Cause Pita’s Repeated COVID Infection BANGKOK (TNA) – Low immunity might cause Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat to repeatedly contract COVID-19 in about one month, according to the director-general of the Department of Disease Control. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254975-low-immunity-may-cause-pita’s-repeated-covid-infection/

BANGKOK (TNA) – Low immunity might cause Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat to repeatedly contract COVID-19 in about one month, according to the director-general of the Department of Disease Control. Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, the director-general, said that repeated infections in a month could happen to those whose immunity was low or those who first contracted the Delta variant and later was infected with Omicron. He said that there was not a report of anyone who contracted Omicron and then got Delta. Besides, someone could repeatedly test positive for COVID-19 only because dead virus fragments were detected, he said. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-911878 -- © Copyright TNA 2022-03-29 - 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

Surin first province to make COVID endemic on April 1 SURIN, March 28 (TNA) – Authorities in the northeastern province of Surin plan to make it the first province that declares COVID-19 endemic disease, on April 1. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254973-surin-first-province to-make-covid-endemic-on-april-1/

SURIN, March 28 (TNA) – Authorities in the northeastern province of Surin plan to make it the first province that declares COVID-19 endemic disease, on April 1. The Public Relations Office of Surin announced the plan while encouraging locals to receive their third and booster COVID-19 vaccine shots to strengthen their immunity. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe According to the office, all villages are actively campaigning for COVID-19 prevention. The fatality rate among local COVID-19 cases is capped at 0.5%. No more than 3% of patients occupy hospital beds. At least 70% of local people were fully vaccinated against the disease and all of them regularly wear face masks and comply strictly with disease control measures. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-911712 -- © Copyright TNA 2022-03-29 - 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

Thailand to export thousands of tonnes of chicken products to Saudi Arabia as diplomatic ties improve By Erich Parpart Thailand is planning to export 10,000 tonnes of chicken products to Saudi Arabia this year following the resumption of diplomatic and trade ties between the two countries. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254972-thailand-to-export-thousands-of-tonnes-of-chicken-products-to-saudi-arabia-as-diplomatic-ties-improve/

By Erich Parpart Thailand is planning to export 10,000 tonnes of chicken products to Saudi Arabia this year following the resumption of diplomatic and trade ties between the two countries. “I would like to congratulate CPF (Charoen Pokphand Foods) for being the first company to export chicken products in this inaugural container which represents the new era of trade between Thailand and Saudi Arabia,” Jurin Laksanawisit, CPF’s commerce minister said on Monday. Jurin added that this would be the first shipment of exported Thai chicken products to Saudi Arabia since the middle-eastern country banned the import of these products 18 years ago in 2004. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/38986/thailand-to-export-thousands-of-tonnes-of-chicken-products-to-saudi-arabia-as-diplomatic-ties-improve/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-03-29 - 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

Shanghai lockdown could impact Thai logistics firms By Panithan Onthaworn The recent city-wide lockdown imposed in Shanghai, a key financial and manufacturing hub of China, will likely have an impact on sentiment of the logistics sector, analysts said on Monday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254971-shanghai-lockdown-could-impact-thai-logistics-firms/

By Panithan Onthaworn The recent city-wide lockdown imposed in Shanghai, a key financial and manufacturing hub of China, will likely have an impact on sentiment of the logistics sector, analysts said on Monday. Analysts at KTB Securities predicted in a research note that the shipping and logistics sector would see a brief impact from the lockdown measures in Shanghai as it’s one of the world’s busiest container ports. “Shipping operations will be halted due to a sudden lack of demand,” KTB analyst Amnart Ngosawang, explained. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/38975/shanghai-lockdown-could-impact-thai-logistics-firms/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-03-29 - 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

Air Force Considers Plan to Relocate Udon Training Base by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has revealed that it is considering relocating a training base for Thai and Singaporean F-16 fighter jets to Nam Phong Air Base in Khon Kaen province over the next 3-4 years in order to address noise concerns. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254970-air-force-considers-plan-to-relocate-udon-training-base/

by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has revealed that it is considering relocating a training base for Thai and Singaporean F-16 fighter jets to Nam Phong Air Base in Khon Kaen province over the next 3-4 years in order to address noise concerns. The move is intended to help residents living near the air base in Udon Thani province cope with excessive noise created by fighter jet engines. A meeting convened by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the RTAF, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and local residents discussed increasing noise pollution in recent years, particularly during take-offs and landings. Gp Capt Wisarut Chanthapradit, commander of the RTAF’s 23rd air wing, said all parties are making every effort to address complaints and resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe According to the commander, the base typically only has three or four jets in service during this time of the year. However, up to 12 aircraft have been sent to the province to participate in a variety of training programs, resulting in the current noise situation. Sarawut Petchpanomporn, the Pheu Thai Member of Parliament for Udon Thani and chairman of the House committee, expressed his support for the air force’s decision to relocate the training base. He also requested additional assistance and counseling for residents impacted by the increased air traffic. According to Sayan Meekaew, chief of the Environment Office’s environment quality control division, hazardous noise levels have so far been detected across three areas near the base. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-03-299 - 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

Worries raised over possible fertiliser shortage in Thailand amid war in Ukraine Thailand may experience fertiliser shortages in April and May and prices are expected to increase further as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1254969-worries-raised-over-possible-fertiliser-shortage-in-thailand-amid-war-in-ukraine/