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Fortuner driver fails to pay for his gas - attendant who earns just 325 baht a day says come back to pay! Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on an incident at a gas station on Route 304 heading from Kabinburi to Chachoengsao on Sunday evening in Krorksomboon sub-district. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257858-fortuner-driver-fails-to-pay-for-his-gas-attendant-who-earns-just-325-baht-a-day-says-come-back-to-pay/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Rath reported on an incident at a gas station on Route 304 heading from Kabinburi to Chachoengsao on Sunday evening in Krorksomboon sub-district. The driver of a white Toyota Fortuner asked attendant Surachai, 33, to fill up with gas. After doing this Surachai went to get three bottles of complimentary water. The driver said they would go to the counter to pay with a card. Instead they drove off into the NE Thailand night leaving the busy station. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe They should have paid 634 baht for the full tank of LPG. The owner of the station said that the staffer would not have their salary cut as it was not their fault. Surachai said that after the driver drove off he checked on dash cam footage from another customer but both that and CCTV did not show the licence plate clearly. He implored the Fortuner driver to come back and pay as this reflected badly on staff. Staff who he said get paid only 325 baht a day. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-26 - 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

NE policeman gets certificate and money after holding onto door of gas tanker that went through red light Picture: Thai Rath A senior sergeant major who was featured on social media holding onto the door of a fleeing gas tanker on Sunday has been recognised for his actions. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257853-ne-policeman-gets-certificate-and-money-after-holding-onto-door-of-gas-tanker-that-went-through-red-light/

Picture: Thai Rath A senior sergeant major who was featured on social media holding onto the door of a fleeing gas tanker on Sunday has been recognised for his actions. A gas tanker being driven by Opchoey Buddabat, 54, failed to stop at a red light and police stop on the Udon bypass. Instead, claiming that he was unable to stop, he drove off. Pol Sen Sgt Maj Mana Nonthapha chased on his motorcycle. When the truck eventually stopped he ordered the driver down, reported Thai Rath. He climbed up to the cab but the driver took off again and drove for ten kilometers at 40-50 kmph insisting he wanted to sort out matters at the company. The drama happened in Udon Thani on Sunday with a member of the public taking pictures that attracted widespread social media attention. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Thai Rath Udon Thani provincial chief Pol Maj-Gen Pisanu Anuhaseri praised the Udon traffic cop though he was concerned for the policeman's safety in doing such a thing. He was presented with a certificate and money at a meeting yesterday of the 23 chiefs of police stations in the province. The driver of the tanker has been charged with going through a red light and failing to obey police instructions to stop. Mana said he had ordered the driver down three times. He said he had to hold on tight with his right hand while calling for 191 back-up with his left. Picture: Thai Rath Later Sunday the driver and a company rep went to see him to apologize and present a basket of goodies. They promised to take full responsibility. Mana said a relative of his had implored him not to do that again! -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-26 - 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

OPINION: Why Thailand’s soft power is not as successful as South Korea’s By Nad Bunnag, Thai PBS World After female Thai rapper, Danupha “Milli” Khanatheerakul, ate mango sticky rice during her Coachella concert performance a week ago, the Thai dessert suddenly became a hot item and has been selling like hot cakes since. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257851-opinion-why-thailand’s-soft-power-is-not-as-successful-as-south-korea’s/

By Nad Bunnag, Thai PBS World After female Thai rapper, Danupha “Milli” Khanatheerakul, ate mango sticky rice during her Coachella concert performance a week ago, the Thai dessert suddenly became a hot item and has been selling like hot cakes since. This is not the first time a Thai food or product has become a top trending item, whether it has been presented by famous celebrities or featured in the international media. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Last September, when Thai member of K-pop group BLACKPINK, Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban, wore traditional headdresses and costumes in her debut solo single video, such accessories saw a significant increase in their sales in local markets. Local meatballs, in Lisa’s hometown of Buri Ram, also saw unprecedented popularity, after her exclusive interview with famous TV presenter, Woody. Unfortunately, such hype is somewhat short-lived and nowhere near South Korea’s success in its use of soft power, commonly known as the “Hallyu Wave”. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/opinion-why-thailands-soft-power-is-not-as-successful-as-south-koreas/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-04-26 - 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

WHO praises Thailand for Covid-19 response - Anutin recognises role of public in success Picture: Thai Rath Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister praised the Thai public after the country was held up as an example in the world for its Covid-19 response. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257849-who-praises-thailand-for-covid-19-response-anutin-recognises-role-of-public-in-success/

Picture: Thai Rath Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister praised the Thai public after the country was held up as an example in the world for its Covid-19 response. The praise came from a senior World Health Organisation figure as Bangkok hosted the Universal Health and Preparedness Review Pilot in Bangkok, reported Thai Rath. Picture: Thai Rath Assistant WHO director Dr Samila Asma said that Thailand was a fine example for other countries especially in its readiness and preparedness. The country will be explaining to others how they achieved this through best practice when they attend the World Health Assembly 2022. Anutin praised the cooperative role of the Thai public. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Thai Rath He noted that Thailand started the pandemic with a great health service and showed that it was able to get the necessary equipment, improve infrastructure to adapt to changing situations. This has been done through a frank exchange of information. Now the stress is on lowering the daily numbers of sick and dying so that the disease can be declared endemic as soon as possible. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-26 - 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

COVID-19 - April 26: Thailand reports 13,816 new coronavirus cases, 21,072 recoveries, 120 deaths File photo Thailand on Tuesday (April 26) reported 13,816 new COVID-19 cases, 21,072 recoveries and 120 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257841-covid-19-april-26-thailand-reports-13816-new-coronavirus-cases-21072-recoveries-120-deaths/ //CLOSED// /Admin

COVID-19 - April 26: Thailand reports 13,816 new coronavirus cases, 21,072 recoveries, 120 deaths File photo Thailand on Tuesday (April 26) reported 13,816 new COVID-19 cases, 21,072 recoveries and 120 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257841-covid-19-april-26-thailand-reports-13816-new-coronavirus-cases-21072-recoveries-120-deaths/

File photo Thailand on Tuesday (April 26) reported 13,816 new COVID-19 cases, 21,072 recoveries and 120 additional deaths over the past 24 hours. Tuesday’s cases bring the total number of COVID-19 infections in Thailand to 4,194,684 with 28,019 deaths. The news comes as a number of provinces in Thailand have stated their intention to be among the first to declare COVID-19 an endemic disease, though approval from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is required before any further announcements can be made. Dr Suthep Petchmak, inspector-general of the Ministry of Public Health, said during a meeting that he was informed by Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, that 15 provinces are prepared for the new disease status. According to Dr Suthep, the Department of Disease Control has completed its criteria for the designation, but the EOC has yet to discuss which provinces are ready for approval. A date for the EOC meeting to discuss the issue has not been set.** ** NNT contributed to this report Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-04-26 - 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

Thailand travel rules: All you need to know for visiting Thailand from May 1, 2022 By Jonathan Fairfield File photo Thailand’s COVID-19 task force has approved a significant easing of restrictions for both vaccinated and non vaccinated travellers from May 1. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257833-thailand-travel-rules-all-you-need-to-know-for-visiting-thailand-from-may-1-2022/

File photo By Jonathan Fairfield Thailand’s COVID-19 task force has approved a significant easing of restrictions for both vaccinated and non vaccinated travellers from May 1. The easing of restrictions all but fully reopens Thailand to international tourists. The move comes as countries around the world are beginning to relax entry rules in a bid to boost tourism. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “Adjusting measures has an impact on drawing in tourism receipts,” said Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). “Test & Go will be scrapped and there will be a shift to antigen testing on May 1. This will be more convenient and faster for visitors. Tourism is also starting to recover,” Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said during the announcement. Thailand travel rules: Vaccinated travellers [read more...] Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/thailand-travel-rules-all-you-need-to-know-for-visiting-thailand-from-may-1-2022/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-04-26 - 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

Imax Expanding in Thailand With Major Cineplex Deal By Patrick Frater Courtesy of Imax Imax and Major Cineplex, Thailand’s biggest cinema operator, have struck a deal for three Imax With Laser installations in capital city Bangkok. The agreement will expand the Imax screen total in Thailand to seven. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257832-imax-expanding-in-thailand-with-major-cineplex-deal/

Courtesy of Imax By Patrick Frater Imax and Major Cineplex, Thailand’s biggest cinema operator, have struck a deal for three Imax With Laser installations in capital city Bangkok. The agreement will expand the Imax screen total in Thailand to seven. Two of the three installations are upgrades in central Bangkok locations. One is at the relatively new Icon Cineconic at high end shopping mall Iconsiam. The upgrade will be fitted before the venue is used for the CineAsia exhibition and distribution industry convention in December. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The other upgrade is at Siam Paragon, where Major’s Paragon Cineplex is currently one of the largest and most visited multiplexes in the country. Full story: https://variety.com/2022/biz/asia/imax-expanding-in-thailand-1235239846/

US cannabis firm to light up Thai weed scene American firm Audacious first foreign company to take advantage of Thailand’s new liberal laws on medical marijuana By RICHARD S EHRLICH A Thai man sniffs marijuana plants at the Cannabis Expo in Buriram province, Thailand, April 19, 2019. Photo: Facebook BANGKOK – A Las Vegas-based cannabis company has become the first foreign franchise to jointly open a medical marijuana clinic in Thailand, treating Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer, eating disorders and insomnia in Bangkok’s flashy tourist zone. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257831-us-cannabis-firm-to-light-up-thai-weed-scene/

A Thai man sniffs marijuana plants at the Cannabis Expo in Buriram province, Thailand, April 19, 2019. Photo: Facebook American firm Audacious first foreign company to take advantage of Thailand’s new liberal laws on medical marijuana By RICHARD S EHRLICH BANGKOK – A Las Vegas-based cannabis company has become the first foreign franchise to jointly open a medical marijuana clinic in Thailand, treating Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer, eating disorders and insomnia in Bangkok’s flashy tourist zone. “I hope that Thailand becomes the Silicon Valley of cannabis for Asia,” the clinic’s Thai partner Julpas Kruesopon – “or as most people in Thailand call me now, ‘Mister Weed,'” said in an interview. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “I welcome Israeli companies. I welcome European companies. The key is to grow the industry,” Julpas said. Their Herbidus Medical Center opened March 7 along Bangkok’s main Sukhumvit Road, which is lined with restaurants, hotels, massage parlors, sex bars and extravagant shopping malls amid exotic sleaze and 5-star venues. Full story: https://asiatimes.com/2022/04/us-cannabis-firm-to-light-up-thai-weed-scene/ -- © Copyright ASIA TIMES 2022-04-26 - 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

Government auctions off 21 million baht worth of criminal assets By Erich Parpart An auction of 21 million baht worth of seized assets from convicted drug criminals caused a buzz on Monday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257830-government-auctions-off-21-million-baht-worth-of-criminal-assets/

By Erich Parpart An auction of 21 million baht worth of seized assets from convicted drug criminals caused a buzz on Monday. The Ministry of Justice said the 192 auctioned items were parts of thousands of items worth 3.2 billion baht that were confiscated by the Narcotics Control Board (NCB) from October until present. Not all confiscated assets are appropriate for auctions, the government agency said. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “Our main target is to seize assets and expand the investigation to arrest the entire network,” said the Justice Minister, Somsak Thepsuthin. “The target is 10 billion baht since we have already confiscated more than three billion baht so far.” Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/39646/government-auctions-off-21-million-baht-worth-of-criminal-assets/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-04-26 - 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

Almost 1,000 Thai students seek help after receiving 0 admission score due to missing test’s serial no. By Panithan Onthaworn A high school student group urged the Ministry of Higher Education on Monday to reassess the admission exams of nearly 1,000 students who earned zero scores, as their examiner allegedly did not instruct them to mark down the test’s serial number. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257829-almost-1000-thai-students-seek-help-after-receiving-0-admission-score-due-to-missing-test’s-serial-no/

By Panithan Onthaworn A high school student group urged the Ministry of Higher Education on Monday to reassess the admission exams of nearly 1,000 students who earned zero scores, as their examiner allegedly did not instruct them to mark down the test’s serial number. When the General Aptitude Test (GAT) and Professional and Academic Aptitude Test (PAT) results were announced last week, the Thai University Central Admission System (TCAS65) said that 983 students failed to provide the test’s serial number on their answer papers. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Following that, several student complaints were raised to clarify that this was because of the examiner’s negligence to instruct them to write down the number even being asked twice. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/39648/almost-1000-thai-students-seek-help-after-receiving-0-admission-score-due-to-missing-tests-serial-no/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-04-26 - 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

Co-payment stimulus scheme to be reduced pending cabinet approval By Erich Parpart The fifth phase of the half-half co-payment scheme, Kon La Kreung, could be replaced with a quarter and three-quarters scheme, a government agency said on Monday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257828-co-payment-stimulus-scheme-to-be-reduced-pending-cabinet-approval/

By Erich Parpart The fifth phase of the half-half co-payment scheme, Kon La Kreung, could be replaced with a quarter and three-quarters scheme, a government agency said on Monday. The popular half-half co-payment scheme is one of the government’s Covid-19 relief measures. The scheme allows registered Thai nationals to pay half the price of their purchases at participating stores and the government will pay the other half. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The fourth phase came with a cap of 150 baht per person per day and no more than 1,200 baht per person. The fourth phase began on February 1 and it is coming to an end on April 30. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/39639/co-payment-stimulus-scheme-to-be-reduced-pending-cabinet-approval/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-04-26 - 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 elephants fitted with GPS to monitor their movements, behaviour Image Credit: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Wildlife officials in Thailand have recently captured a third wild elephant in the Phu Luang wildlife sanctuary, in the north-eastern province of Loei, and fitted it with a GPS collar, to enable monitoring of its movements after it ventured out of its habitat to search for food. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1257827-thai-elephants-fitted-with-gps-to-monitor-their-movements-behaviour/