webfact

Pepsi Price Hike Delayed by 1 Month by Na-ark Rojanasuvan BANGKOK (NNT) - Suntory Pepsico Beverage Thailand has assured that the price of Pepsi will remain unchanged for the month of June. Its planned price hike for all sizes and packages by 1-2 baht will instead commence in July. Wattanasak Sur-iam, Director-General of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT), made the announcement after discussing the matter with Suntory. The company previously planned to make the price hike official on June 1 to keep pace with rising production costs, citing higher fuel prices that have made plastic and transportation more expensive. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Suntory nevertheless decided to postpone the price hike for another month, to officially commence on July 1. Wattanasak said his agency is closely monitoring the prices of consumer products. He also stressed that all price hikes must be thoroughly reviewed in line with actual costs and must not overly burden consumers. Vendors found guilty of price gouging, hoarding or refusal to sell goods can face up to 7 years in prison or a fine of up to 140,000 baht, or both. Members of the public are encouraged to report unfair traders by calling the DIT’s hotline number 1569. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-31 - 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.

Picture: Siam Rath Pol Lt-Gen Thanayuth Wutthijarasthamrong inspected the teams at the start of a five day long event called SWAT Challenge 2022. It is being held at the Naresuan Fort in Cha-Am, Phetchaburi province. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Twelve teams are being put through their paces in tackling serious crime. There are five sections including movement, attack, sniper fire, joint action and an obstacle course. The event ends Friday reported Siam Rath who had pictures of heavily armed SWAT teams ready for action. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-31 - 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. 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: Siam Rath Picture: Siam Rath Picture: Siam Rath Picture: Siam Rath

UPDATE: 70,000+ Daily Travelers Expected Amid Relaxed Entry Restrictions by Na-ark Rojanasuvan BANGKOK (NNT) - Airports of Thailand (AOT) expects more than 70,000 travelers to fly in daily after the kingdom further relaxed travel restrictions from June 1 onwards. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261254-transport-minister-saksayam-at-suvarnabhumi-ahead-of-thailands-latest-reopening/?do=findComment&comment=17390271

70,000+ Daily Travelers Expected Amid Relaxed Entry Restrictions by Na-ark Rojanasuvan BANGKOK (NNT) - Airports of Thailand (AOT) expects more than 70,000 travelers to fly in daily after the kingdom further relaxed travel restrictions from June 1 onwards. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob presented the projection during a recent inspection of Suvarnabhumi Airport. The government earlier approved moves to better facilitate inbound travelers by fast-tracking the documentation process and dropping vaccination requirements. Although the Thailand Pass system remains in place, much of its procedures have been streamlined. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Given these developments, AOT expects the number of daily air passengers in the kingdom to climb to 70,000 in June from 64,000 currently. AOT expects 57% of passengers to be international travelers and hopes average daily flights will bump to 480 from 440 currently. Minister Saksayam also said he was optimistic about tourism activity, noting that air traffic is continuing to rise in the lead up to Q4 - Thailand’s high tourism season. Additionally, the minister reported a dramatic increase in flight bookings. He also noted that tourism projections would be even higher if China relaxes its travel restrictions and the situation in Ukraine improves later this year. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-31 - 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.

Massage lady attacks "unfaithful' husband with axe - she tries to get his phone in the ambulance as "evidence" Daily News Thai Caption: Husband attacked with axe! Daily News reported that a traditional Thai massage lady who suspected her husband of having an affair attacked him with an axe. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261266-massage-lady-attacks-unfaithful-husband-with-axe-she-tries-to-get-his-phone-in-the-ambulance-as-evidence/

Daily News Thai Caption: Husband attacked with axe! Daily News reported that a traditional Thai massage lady who suspected her husband of having an affair attacked him with an axe. "Num", 45, was covered in blood when rescue services arrived at a house in downtown Trang, southern Thailand. A friend had intervened to save him. But after the husband was loaded into the ambulance a furious "A", 40, attacked him again and tried to grab his phone shouting: "The evidence is all on his phone". Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Daily News Num was taken to Trang hospital and A was taken to calm down in the house. A close friend of Num said that he is an aircon technician while his wife is a traditional Thai massage lady. They have lived together for 4-5 years. Picture: Daily News But they are always having jealous arguments that have increased in ferocity recently culminating in this attack. The media made no mention of any police involvement as yet in their report, notes ASEAN NOW. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-31 - 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. 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

Consuming Pork Sashimi Can Lead to Lethal Illness by Na-ark Rojanasuvan BANGKOK (NNT) - Members of the public are being warned about the potentially fatal risks associated with consuming raw pork, including blood infection and sepsis. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261264-consuming-pork-sashimi-can-lead-to-lethal-illness/

by Na-ark Rojanasuvan BANGKOK (NNT) - Members of the public are being warned about the potentially fatal risks associated with consuming raw pork, including blood infection and sepsis. The warning was issued by Dr Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Department of Health (DOH), amid an emerging trend on social media of people eating and recommending pork sashimi. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The director-general reiterated that his department strongly recommends freshly cooked food, as raw pork may contain harmful pathogens. These include Streptococcus suis, which can cause fever, headache, nausea and vomiting, skin rashes, and diarrhea. In more serious cases, the bacteria can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss due to brain infection, Pericarditis, and severe sepsis, which can lead to death. Dr Suwannachai said pork should be processed with high temperature heat of 70 degrees Celsius or higher for over 5 minutes. He added that people should avoid handling raw meat with their bare hands and should wash their hands before and after every meal. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-31 - 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.

Thailand Aims to Welcome 500,000 Indian Tourists This Year by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - Authorities are anticipating that the number of Indian tourists to Thailand will reach 500,000 by the end of 2022, after surpassing 100,000 since January. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261263-thailand-aims-to-welcome-500000-indian-tourists-this-year/

by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - Authorities are anticipating that the number of Indian tourists to Thailand will reach 500,000 by the end of 2022, after surpassing 100,000 since January. Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said Indian travelers could generate as much as 22.5 billion baht in revenue. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) also aims to attract 3,000 daily Indian visitors to the kingdom through various promotional campaigns and special travel incentives. The TAT further noted that wedding tourism has been exceedingly popular to the Indian market, having since set a goal of holding 400 such events in the kingdom this year. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe In addition to India, TAT is focusing on the Middle East and Thailand’s neighbors until the end of September, when the peak season resumes. At least 500,000 international tourists are anticipated each month, a significant rise from the authority’s initial forecast of 300,000 and a sign of increased optimism for the sector’s revival. Thanakorn added that Thailand now plans to welcome 7-10 million international tourists and produce 1.5 trillion baht in revenue from the industry by the end of 2022, which is roughly half the amount generated in the previous full year preceding the pandemic. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-31 - 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.

Tragedy in NE: Four eleven year olds from same school drown in Roi-Et - relative warns parents Picture: Thai Rath Tragedy struck in Nam Om sub-district of Roi-Et province in Thailand's north east yesterday afternoon when four eleven year olds drowned in a two meter deep body of water called Phon Lom Com. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261262-tragedy-in-ne-four-eleven-year-olds-from-same-school-drown-in-roi-et-relative-warns-parents/

Picture: Thai Rath Tragedy struck in Nam Om sub-district of Roi-Et province in Thailand's north east yesterday afternoon when four eleven year olds drowned in a two meter deep body of water called Phon Lom Com. They were all friends who attended the same school called Ban Nam Om School. They were all in P5 (the fifth year of Thai primary education). Kasetwisai police found no signs of foul play. A large crowd of villagers had gathered. Two of the children were dead at the scene. Another two had been taken to hospital by members of the public. All four died. Three were named as Natthamon, Panthita and Suphawadee. A fourth child was not named. Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe A relative of one of the victims told Thai Rath that their child had asked to go and play in the village with friends and they didn't know the children planned to go swimming. The depth of the water had swelled to 2 meters in recent rains. The relative implored parents to look after their precious children and not let such a tragedy happen to you. A tragedy from which there was no turning back. Thai Rath's report contained no further details as to precisely how the tragedy occurred, notes ASEAN NOW. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-31 - 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. 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 Aims to Become ASEAN Bio Hub in 2027 by Na-ark Rojanasuvan BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand has announced its intention to become the “Bio Hub of ASEAN” within 2027. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261261-thailand-aims-to-become-asean-bio-hub-in-2027/

by Na-ark Rojanasuvan BANGKOK (NNT) - Thailand has announced its intention to become the “Bio Hub of ASEAN” within 2027. The announcement was made at the 2022 Nikkei Forum in Japan last week as part of the kingdom’s development strategy involving social gap reduction and expanding the economy. According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek, the administration has issued various measures to promote the development of biotechnology since 2018. Foreign investors have meanwhile shown interest by filing support requests through the Thai Board of Investment (BOI). Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The BOI last year approved a total of 222 biotechnology-related projects worth 76.5 billion baht. Key investment programs include the manufacturing of “Thermoplastic Starch” bioplastic in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), the production of “Polylactic Acid ” bioplastic in Nakhon Sawan province, and biodegradable straw from starch in Khon Kaen province. Leading private development programs include the 57.6 billion-baht “ Asian Bio Hub” in Chachoengsao province. The smart biotechnology industrial estate for biochemicals and bioenergy also conducts research into future food for humans and animals. The program involves both Thai and foreign investors, as well as the participation of more than 60,000 local farmers. -- © Copyright NNT 2022-05-31 - 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.

Dept of Internal Trade puts brake on Pepsi price rise Daily News Thai Caption: Price rise The director of the Department of Internal Trade Wattanasak Seua-iam said that antipated price rises on Pepsi products would not come into effect from tomorrow. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261259-dept-of-internal-trade-puts-brake-on-pepsi-price-rise/

Daily News Thai Caption: Price rise The director of the Department of Internal Trade Wattanasak Seua-iam said that antipated price rises on Pepsi products would not come into effect from tomorrow. The makers of the brand, Suntory Pepsico Beverages (Thailand) had said they wanted to raise prices from between 1-2 baht across all their product range. This was due to increasing costs of plastic, tin cans and transportation brought about by the huge increases in oil prices worldwide. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe But the department has put the brake on the company's moves. Wattanasak said that consumer interests were being protected and investigations were underway to ensure that consumers were not being taken advantage of. Such practices can see prison terms of 7 years and fines of 140,000 baht, reported Daily News. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-31 - 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. 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

Police Commission sacks 30 more bent cops in May - total for year now sails past 100 Picture: Thai Rath The Police Commission met for the fifth time this year at Government House chaired by Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261257-police-commission-sacks-30-more-bent-cops-in-may-total-for-year-now-sails-past-100/

Picture: Thai Rath The Police Commission met for the fifth time this year at Government House chaired by Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha. Main item on the agenda was the removal of a further 30 officers from the force in May. This comprised two levels of removal known in Thai as "lai ork" and "plot ork" - both are dismissal though Thai Rath did not explain the difference. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe This followed work by the Police Sub-Commitee on Discipline, Appeals, Complaints and Human Resource Management, revealed Pol Maj-Gen Yingyot Thepjamnong acting as RTP spokesman. The total of officers removed from the force this year is now at 118 (93 lai ork and 25 plot ork). -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-31 - 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. 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

Kanchanaburi court set to decide fate of Brit who murdered Kalasin woman and stuffed her in red bag Naew Na Thai Caption: Tomorrow's the day! Court to decide fate of farang who murdered Thai woman and stuffed her in a red bag Naew Na reported that the Kanchanaburi court will today (Tuesday) announce its judgment in the case of a British man who murdered an entertainment woman from Kalasin. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261256-kanchanaburi-court-set-to-decide-fate-of-brit-who-murdered-kalasin-woman-and-stuffed-her-in-red-bag/

Kanchanaburi court set to decide fate of Brit who murdered Kalasin woman and stuffed her in red bag Naew Na Thai Caption: Tomorrow's the day! Court to decide fate of farang who murdered Thai woman and stuffed her in a red bag Naew Na reported that the Kanchanaburi court will today (Tuesday) announce its judgment in the case of a British man who murdered an entertainment woman from Kalasin. In what the media described as a vicious murder the victim was weighed down and dumped in a red bag in the Mae Klong river in 2014. A warrant was issued in 2015 to arrest Shane Kenneth Looker for murder as well as removal and concealment of a corpse. It involves the death of Laksami "Puk" Manochart who was 31 at the time of her death. She hailed from Khunhan district of Sisaket in Thailand's NE region. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe She was put in a Pology travel suitcase and tossed in the river. On 6th November 2014 officials found the case floating in the river in Tha Noi sub-district, Tha Muang district, Kanchanaburi province in the west of Thailand. The case was widely followed at the time. Senior prosecutors will be in court to hear the decision. Naew Na said it remains to be seen if Mr Looker will be taken from prison to hear the judgment in court today that begins at 1.30pm. Looker, aged about 51 now, has already admitted all charges in relation to the crime. The media did not speculate on what the court's decision might be. Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper reported last July that Looker had finally been extradited from Spain after years of legal wrangles. He was accused of murdering and dismembering the "strip club dancer" whom he met on the second day of his holiday in Bangkok. The same media reported that "Pook" (their spelling) was a dancer at Hot Lips bar in Nana Plaza. They further said that Looker fled across the border with Malaysia and then returned to his home in Ibiza. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-31 - 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. 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

UPDATE: A user’s guide to Thailand’s controversial new data protection law The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) will finally come into force on June 1, 2022. The law aims to guarantee protection for individuals and their personal data and to impose obligations for businesses and state agencies regarding the collection, processing, use, and disclosure of personal information. (Photo by Sai Kiran Anagani) Postponed twice since 2019, Thailand’s first law on personal data protection will finally come into force this Wednesday (June 1) – despite last-minute efforts by the private sector to delay its implementation for another two years. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261221-personal-data-protection-law-comes-into-force-on-june-1/?do=findComment&comment=17390012

A user’s guide to Thailand’s controversial new data protection law The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) will finally come into force on June 1, 2022. The law aims to guarantee protection for individuals and their personal data and to impose obligations for businesses and state agencies regarding the collection, processing, use, and disclosure of personal information. (Photo by Sai Kiran Anagani) Postponed twice since 2019, Thailand’s first law on personal data protection will finally come into force this Wednesday (June 1) – despite last-minute efforts by the private sector to delay its implementation for another two years. The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) of 2019 aims to guarantee protection for individuals and their personal data and to impose obligations for businesses and state agencies regarding the collection, processing, use, and disclosure of personal information. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The legislation is based on the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, which came into force in 2016. The PDPA also applies to data controllers and processors outside Thailand if they process personal data of data owners in Thailand and offer goods and services to, or monitor the behavior of, those data owners. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/a-users-guide-to-thailands-controversial-new-data-protection-law/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-31 - 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.

Transport minister Saksayam at Suvarnabhumi ahead of Thailand's latest reopening 77kaoded Thai Caption: Transport minister inspects readiness of Suvarnabhumi (Airport) Thailand's transport minister Saksayam Chidchob was at Suvarnabhumi yesterday after the Covid authorities further eased restrictions on foreign travelers into Thailand in the latest re-opening plan tomorrow, reported 77kaoded. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261254-transport-minister-saksayam-at-suvarnabhumi-ahead-of-thailands-latest-reopening/

77kaoded Thai Caption: Transport minister inspects readiness of Suvarnabhumi (Airport) Thailand's transport minister Saksayam Chidchob was at Suvarnabhumi yesterday after the Covid authorities further eased restrictions on foreign travelers into Thailand in the latest re-opening plan tomorrow, reported 77kaoded. He was met by AoT leaders and other officials as he was given a tour of Bangkok's main international airport yesterday afternoon. Tomorrow June 1st is the big day. He started with the international passenger health screening area, moved onto immigration then finally customs after which he chaired a video conference meeting in meeting room AOB 1 on the fifth floor. There he heard the measures that are now in place from various authorities running not just Suvarnabhumi but Thailand's 5 other international airports namely Don Muang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Phuket. The readiness of others involved in receiving foreign tourists was also conveyed to the minister. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: 77kaoded A meeting with senior ministerial figures at the Transport Ministry followed ahead of a press conference. Everything was declared ready as an ever increasing number of flights and passengers continued to arrive in Thailand. Picture: 77kaoded Arrivals are expected to be 70,000 per day in June up from 64,000 daily in May. This is 57% international passengers and 43% domestic. Some 480 flights are expected daily up from 440 flights in May - that's 55% international flights and 45% domestic. Measures to screen passengers from countries deemed at risk from monkeypox are also in place with individuals suspected of having the virus set to be taken to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi, NW of the Thai capital. The media published infographics in Thai to show how it would all work from tomorrow without giving further details in the body of their story. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-05-31 - 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. 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: 77kaoded Picture: 77kaoded