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The Philippines’ Fuschia Anne Ravena wins Miss International Queen 2022 hosted in Pattaya on Saturday By Nop Meechukhun National – The Philippines’ Fuschia Anne Ravena was crowned as Miss International Queen 2022 during the coronation ceremony in Pattaya, Chonburi, June 25th. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264081-the-philippines’-fuschia-anne-ravena-wins-miss-international-queen-2022-hosted-in-pattaya-on-saturday/

By Nop Meechukhun National – The Philippines’ Fuschia Anne Ravena was crowned as Miss International Queen 2022 during the coronation ceremony in Pattaya, Chonburi, June 25th. More than 23 contestants from around the world participated in the Miss International Queen, known as the world’s biggest beauty pageant for transgender women, on Sunday at Tiffany’s Show Pattaya Theater after a one-year halt due to the situation of the Covid-19 Coronavirus. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/06/26/the-philippines-fuschia-anne-ravena-wins-miss-international-queen-2022-hosted-in-pattaya-on-saturday/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Thai PM feels satisfied, knowing most Thais still voluntarily want to wear masks, government spokesperson says By Tanakorn Panyadee National — Thai Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha felt very satisfied to know that the majority of Thai citizens still voluntarily wanted to wear a facial mask, the government spokesperson said. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264080-thai-pm-feels-satisfied-knowing-most-thais-still-voluntarily-want-to-wear-masks-government-spokesperson-says/

By Tanakorn Panyadee National — Thai Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha felt very satisfied to know that the majority of Thai citizens still voluntarily wanted to wear a facial mask, the government spokesperson said. According to the government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, Thai PM Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha complemented most Thai citizens for keeping their facial masks on despite the official lifting of the mask mandate in outdoor/open spaces on Thursday, June 23rd, 2022. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/06/25/thai-pm-feels-satisfied-knowing-most-thais-still-voluntarily-want-to-wear-masks-government-spokesperson-says/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

BKK Food Bank Initiative to Increase Food Security, Reduce Waste by Natthaphon Sangpolsit BANGKOK (NNT) - An initiative to improve food security in Bangkok while reducing waste has been launched with the involvement of the capital’s 50 district offices. These offices will receive excess food from partner entities and distribute it to vulnerable individuals. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264079-bkk-food-bank-initiative-to-increase-food-security-reduce-waste/

by Natthaphon Sangpolsit BANGKOK (NNT) - An initiative to improve food security in Bangkok while reducing waste has been launched with the involvement of the capital’s 50 district offices. These offices will receive excess food from partner entities and distribute it to vulnerable individuals. The BKK Food Bank policy is being piloted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) Bang Khun Thien district office, with an aim of increasing food security for Bangkok residents and effectively allocating aid to vulnerable individuals. During the first phase of policy’s implementation, district offices will perform the central role of receiving delivered food and distributing it accordingly. As the scheme progresses, the private sector and individuals will be able to directly send food to target communities. BKK Food Bank is a collaborative undertaking between the BMA, the private sector, civil society and agencies already undertaking similar work. Surplus food and raw materials from entities such as hotels, malls, markets, grocery stores and food centers will be distributed to those in need, including vulnerable individuals, the urban poor and individuals afflicted by disasters or emergencies. The BMA will work with partner agencies such as the Sustenance Foundation (SOS) to implement BKK Food Bank. Partner proposals will meanwhile be used to calibrate the implementation of the BKK Food Bank so that all 50 district offices can coordinate their efforts. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Government to Inspect Chiang Mai Projects by Natthaphon Sangpolsit BANGKOK (NNT) - Authorities will travel to Chiang Mai province to check in on government projects and initiatives on Wednesday (29 June). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264078-government-to-inspect-chiang-mai-projects/

by Natthaphon Sangpolsit BANGKOK (NNT) - Authorities will travel to Chiang Mai province to check in on government projects and initiatives on Wednesday (29 June). According to Government Spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, along with other cabinet members, will inspect progress on initiatives in the region, including tunnels transferring water to and from Mae Ngat Somboon Chon Dam to address the area’s depleting water supply amid industrial, tourism and population growth. He will then preside over the opening of the FTI Expo 2022 - Shaping the Future Industry event, which will take place from June 29 to July 3. On Wednesday afternoon, the premier will travel to observe the coding school excellence center program at Wat Weruwan School, which offers students education in coding and digital innovation. The program was initiated by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) and related agencies to improve students’ skills and make them experts in digital technology. Gen Prayut will also visit the province’s Mae Hia subdistrict to inspect the digital transformation taking place in local administration, which has led to more efficient management and better public services for the local community. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Fears for the baht as it hits a 15-year low and Thai economic performance in the medium term by Joseph O' Connor Last week, the Minister of Finance, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, asked the Bank of Thailand to soften its plans to raise borrowing rates so as not to impede the economic recovery. However, Thailand appears poised to only raise interest rates from 0.5% to 1% by the end of the year while there is evidence to show that the widening of the interest rate divergence between the US and Thailand in June at 1.25% was a decisive factor in the precipitous fall in the baht by 4%this month with fears that the divergence may widen further to at least 2.75% by the end of the year despite two probable rate hikes here. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264077-fears-for-the-baht-as-it-hits-a-15-year-low-and-thai-economic-performance-in-the-medium-term/

Last week, the Minister of Finance, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, asked the Bank of Thailand to soften its plans to raise borrowing rates so as not to impede the economic recovery. However, Thailand appears poised to only raise interest rates from 0.5% to 1% by the end of the year while there is evidence to show that the widening of the interest rate divergence between the US and Thailand in June at 1.25% was a decisive factor in the precipitous fall in the baht by 4%this month with fears that the divergence may widen further to at least 2.75% by the end of the year despite two probable rate hikes here. by Joseph O' Connor While the kingdom maintains a strong external financial situation and prudent fiscal management to support its economy, the growing impact of chronic problems such as household debt and a rapidly ageing population as well as inequality and political instability are undermining any prospect of decisive action to find a solution. The result is an economy that has now performed below its regional peers for years and one that, in the short term, faces a need to more rapidly raise bank interest rates to halt a decline in the baht. The Thai baht, this week, reached a 15-year low against the US dollar with local analysts predicting that it will breach the ฿36 barrier against the US currency. They project, at the same time, that it will rebound later this year with rising foreign tourist numbers. However, there is growing concern that a widening divergence between US interest rates may be the real cause of June’s 4% drop in the baht and a projected even further widening of the rate difference could see the Thai currency falling even further. It comes in a week when Fitch Ratings, the American credit rating agency, rated the kingdom’s borrowings at BBB+ and gave the country’s economy a stable outlook due to its robust external financial position. However, it warned that Thailand faces significant problems in the medium term with an ageing population, a record level of household debt and ongoing political instability. These issues are believed to be the underlying reason for the kingdom’s lacklustre economic performance since 2018 which, because of the pandemic crisis, has seen the country’s growth stalled since then as its peers in Asia and Southeast Asia move forward. Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2022/06/26/fears-for-the-baht-as-it-hits-a-15-year-low/ -- © Copyright Thai Examiner 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Gradual Hikes Expected for Policy Interest Rates by Natthaphon Sangpolsit BANGKOK (NNT) - The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has said any hikes in its benchmark interest rate to tame above-target inflation would be gradual, as the economy faces a slow recovery and a weakening baht currency. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264076-gradual-hikes-expected-for-policy-interest-rates/

by Natthaphon Sangpolsit BANGKOK (NNT) - The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has said any hikes in its benchmark interest rate to tame above-target inflation would be gradual, as the economy faces a slow recovery and a weakening baht currency. The BOT is one of the few major Asian central banks to have kept rates at record lows since the pandemic began, but it recently signaled a policy shift as inflation surged to a near 14-year high in May. Senior Director Sakkapop Panyanukul told a trade seminar that headline inflation will remain high this year but should fall back into the BOT’s target range of 1-3% in the second quarter of 2023. The BOT predicts inflation of 6.2% this year and 2.5% next year, and economic growth of 3.3% in 2022 and 4.2% in 2023. Sakkapop also said Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy is expected to return to its pre-pandemic growth level late this year or early next year. He added that the baht had weakened quite fast and would be more volatile, driven by fast-rising U.S. interest rates. The senior director noted that there have been "clearer signs of capital outflows" in June, adding that the central bank "would take care of the baht if the market moves beyond fundamentals". -- © Copyright NNT 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Concerns after 181 cases of new sub variants reported in Thailand By Online Reporter File photo Health officials have spoken of their concern at the emergence of two Omicron sub variants in Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264075-concerns-after-181-cases-of-new-sub-variants-reported-in-thailand/

File photo By Online Reporter Health officials have spoken of their concern at the emergence of two Omicron sub variants in Thailand. The discovery of more than 180 cases of the BA.4 and BA.5 variants have prompted officials to urge members of the public to get a booster shot. Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences said that of the 400 samples sent for analysis, a total of 181 people have tested positive for the sub variants – 48 people who entered Thailand and 133 people who were infected in the country. Most of the samples had been collected from Bangkok. Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/concerns-after-181-cases-of-new-sub-variants-reported-in-thailand/ -- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Task force chief says illicit drugs will be around as long as there is demand As long as there is a demand for illegal narcotics, there will be a supply, because the drug traffickers believe it is worth the investment and risk, even though hundreds of traffickers have been arrested or killed and a huge amount of drugs are being seized, according to Maj-Gen Narit, commander of the northern-based Pha Muang Task Force, speaking on the eve of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264074-task-force-chief-says-illicit-drugs-will-be-around-as-long-as-there-is-demand/

As long as there is a demand for illegal narcotics, there will be a supply, because the drug traffickers believe it is worth the investment and risk, even though hundreds of traffickers have been arrested or killed and a huge amount of drugs are being seized, according to Maj-Gen Narit, commander of the northern-based Pha Muang Task Force, speaking on the eve of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The task force is in charge of overseeing the 933 kilometre long common border with Myanmar and the Lao PDR,covering the six northern Thai provinces of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Uttaradit and Phitsanuloke, while the Naresuan Task Force is in charge of Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces. Both are under the Third Army Region. According to drug suppression statistics, from last October until June, the Pa Muang Task Force staged 264 operations, killing 27 and arresting 320 suspects. 54 millionmethamphetamine pills, 12kgs of heroin, 120kgs of crystal ice and 177kgs of ketamine were seized. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/task-force-chief-says-illicit-drugs-will-be-around-as-long-as-there-is-demand/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Society needs to learn how to use Cannabis and Hemp OPINION Thailand is not the first country to legalize the cultivation and sale of cannabis and hemp for recreational use, but it requires a well-planned approach and preparation to ensure people’s safety. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264073-society-needs-to-learn-how-to-use-cannabis-and-hemp/

OPINION Thailand is not the first country to legalize the cultivation and sale of cannabis and hemp for recreational use, but it requires a well-planned approach and preparation to ensure people’s safety. To commercialize the crops, the seller needs to have the proper training and know-how, to deliver the consumer the real benefit and minimize harm. Unarin Kitpaiboonthawee, the owner of the biggest greenhouse hemp farm in Southeast Asia, Cannabiz Way, said that she spent 3 years on research, and finally got her license to grow a year ago. She is now in the middle of her first harvest. “We have to differentiate between Cannabis and Hemp, and between CBD and THC. Today, we look at them all as the same thing. What actually affects mental health, brain functions, and self-control is THC, which needs to be strictly controlled”. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/society-needs-to-learn-how-to-use-cannabis-and-hemp/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Thai court dismisses AIS attempt to avoid fine imposed by telecom regulator The Supreme Administrative Court has upheld the lower court’s decision, confirming the legitimacy of an order, issued by the secretary-general of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), fining Advanced Info Service (AIS) 100,000 baht a day for a breach of regulations. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264072-thai-court-dismisses-ais-attempt-to-avoid-fine-imposed-by-telecom-regulator/

The Supreme Administrative Court has upheld the lower court’s decision, confirming the legitimacy of an order, issued by the secretary-general of National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), fining Advanced Info Service (AIS) 100,000 baht a day for a breach of regulations. The mobile phone service provider, AIS, filed a lawsuit with the Administrative Court, demanding the withdrawal of the order, issued regarding the pre-paid mobile phone service which was deemed, by the NBTC, to be in violation of a regulation regarding the standard of mobile phone services. Under AIS’s pre-paid phone service program, customers who pay 50 baht can use the service for five days, 300 baht for 30 days and 500 baht for 50 days or 1,500 baht for 365 days. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-court-dismisses-ais-attempt-to-avoid-fine-imposed-by-telecom-regulator/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

Retiring parliament officials may have their terms extended Parliamentary officials can now have their service time extended, after they reach their mandatory retirement age, initially for four years and then to 10 years, under an amended service regulation published in the Royal Gazette Friday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264071-retiring-parliament-officials-may-have-their-terms-extended/

Parliamentary officials can now have their service time extended, after they reach their mandatory retirement age, initially for four years and then to 10 years, under an amended service regulation published in the Royal Gazette Friday. The extended service program will be limited to those whose skills, expertise or knowledge are needed in parliament and which cannot be easily replaced. Another requirement is that they must have a clean performance record and have never been the subject of an investigation into a gross disciplinary violation. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/retiring-parliament-officials-may-have-their-terms-extended/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more!

No masks, cannabis legal, bars open, is Thailand back to normal? OPINION | by Michael Bridge We have all been moaning for ages about the need to open Thailand now it seems the Covid pandemic is under control. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264070-no-masks-cannabis-legal-bars-open-is-thailand-back-to-normal/

OPINION | by Michael Bridge We have all been moaning for ages about the need to open Thailand now it seems the Covid pandemic is under control. Now in the space of a just few days the penny (baht) seems to have dropped and new rules are being announced by the hour. The Government has told us we no longer need to walk around wearing a mask. They also said that nightlife can get back to normal trading hours so we can also drink in a bar later. The restrictions to travel into Thailand will ease on July 1st with the ending of the Thailand Pass. The TM6 immigration card is also suspended to help speed up arrivals at airports. And to top it all we can roll a marijuana joint and smoke it at home too, without the need to visit the dreaded Bangkok Hilton! Seems like Christmas is here in June! Masks or no masks??? It was becoming fairly obvious that masks will be ditched in the main tourist regions. However, it will be interesting to see how this goes down in Bangkok where people were wearing masks before the pandemic due to the pollution. It is likely that the habit of carrying a mask will continue and most will likely continue wearing a mask when in the company of other mask wearers, just to be polite. Easier Entry Procedures This means friends can now visit us by flying into the country without having to get a master’s degree in completing travel documents. It also takes away the concerns on re-entry for many ex-pats who wanted to travel overseas. The CCSA approved the removal of the Thailand Pass registration program and the US$10,000 health insurance requirement for foreign visitors, effective July 1, 2022. From July 1, 2022, foreigners and Thai nationals are only required to show proof of either a certificate of vaccination or a negative RT-PCR or professional ATK test result within 72 hours of travel. These can be in print or digital format. Random checks will be made on arrivals at Thailand’s international airports or land border checkpoints. Children who are unvaccinated may be required to have a negative COVID test. Unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated travelers who are randomly checked and who are unable to show proof of a pre-arrival negative test will be required to undergo a professional ATK test at the point of entry. Travel Insurance will not be mandatory anymore however, it is highly recommended to have insurance when you travel to Thailand, especially during this time. Recommended Travel Insurance for Thailand The COVID travel insurance is no longer mandatory for incoming travelers starting July 1, 2022. However, foreigners are highly recommended to possess Travel Insurance when traveling to Thailand or Asia in general. Perhaps the issue here is that for many older ex-pats, it is getting very expensive to obtain cover, and most policies ask you to pay the first THB40K and do not cover you for pre-conditions. Bye Bye TM6 Also, the Thai Government will temporarily suspend the TM6 immigration card for arriving passengers to help ease congestion, screening, and processing times at international airports. The proposal will be implemented within 7-10 days, but it is clearly stated that the change is only temporary while Thai Immigration assesses the flow-on effects. The TM6 card is one of the major requirements for foreigners to apply for a visa extension at the immigration office, so if you have plans to extend your visa or change your visa, it is recommended that you fill out the TM6 card on arrival even if it is currently suspended. Time for more changes perhaps Perhaps while the Government is in the mood for a change, maybe we should suggest that they stop the 90 days reporting at Immigration and relax the rules on visit visas too. It is clear the Tourism Authority of Thailand has put a lot of pressure on the Prime Minister to make it easier to encourage inbound travellers to visit Thailand. Now they should start to make life a bit simpler for the many expats who want to call Thailand their home too. Although not classed as tourists, ex-pats still spend more money here than the packaged holidaymakers. Still, the news that smoking weed is now legal will add to the appeal to Thailand, which can now officially be called THE LAND OF THE SMILES!!!! -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-27 - 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. Easiest way to own or rent a car in Thailand - click here to find out more! 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

Liverpool FC disapproves of resale of Bangkok’s exhibition match tickets Top English Premier League soccer club, Liverpool, has issued a statement saying that they do not approve of the resale of tickets for the exhibition match at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on July 12th, between the club and Manchester United, billed as “The Match Bangkok Century Cup 2022.” Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1264069-liverpool-fc-disapproves-of-resale-of-bangkok’s-exhibition-match-tickets/