webfact

Healthcare operators to return to non-Covid treatment as Thailand shifts to endemic era By Panithan Onthaworn Thailand’s healthcare sector is expected to see less Covid-related income in the second half of the year as the nation eases more travel rules and moves to label Covid as endemic, experts said on Tuesday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263477-healthcare-operators-to-return-to-non-covid-treatment-as-thailand-shifts-to-endemic-era/

By Panithan Onthaworn Thailand’s healthcare sector is expected to see less Covid-related income in the second half of the year as the nation eases more travel rules and moves to label Covid as endemic, experts said on Tuesday. “A key highlight for Thailand’s healthcare outlook would be a change from ‘pandemic’ to ‘endemic’ from July 1,” said Parin Kitchatornpitak, an analyst at KGI Securities. In the first quarter of 2022, when the Omicron variant emerged, hospital stocks rallied robustly in light of sentiment on their strong earnings enhanced by Covid-19 patients, as well as vaccination services. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/41072/healthcare-operators-to-return-to-non-covid-treatment-as-thailand-shifts-to-endemic-era/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-06-21 - 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!

Thailand cannabis: From a war on drugs to weed curries Thailand has given away one million cannabis plants to encourage cultivation Thailand legalised cultivating and consuming cannabis this month, reversing a hard-line approach of long prison sentences or even the death penalty for drug offences. The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head reports on what's behind the dramatic change. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263470-thailand-cannabis-from-a-war-on-drugs-to-weed-curries/

Thailand has given away one million cannabis plants to encourage cultivation Thailand legalised cultivating and consuming cannabis this month, reversing a hard-line approach of long prison sentences or even the death penalty for drug offences. The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head reports on what's behind the dramatic change. Twenty-one years ago, I had one of the more searing experiences of my journalistic career. We were invited to watch, and film, the execution of five prisoners, four of them convicted drug traffickers, by firing squad in Bangkok's Bangkwan prison. The look on those men's faces, as they were walked, leg-chains clinking, to the pavilion where the executions took place, is something I shall never forget. It was part of then prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's "war on drugs", which later escalated into the killing of many hundreds of drug suspects. Full story: https://www.bbc.com/news/61836019 -- © Copyright BBC 2022-06-21 - 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!

Forget coffins! The lottery numbers are in a weird banana tree Sanook Thai Caption: Truth is in the eye of the beholder. On the same day that Thais were contemplating playing the lottery with numbers gleaned from a coffin lid in Pattaya comes news of a less creepy way to riches. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263467-forget-coffins-the-lottery-numbers-are-in-a-weird-banana-tree/

Sanook Thai Caption: Truth is in the eye of the beholder. On the same day that Thais were contemplating playing the lottery with numbers gleaned from a coffin lid in Pattaya comes news of a less creepy way to riches. Sanook reporters caught up with 77 year old Lamun Nitmai who lives in Nai Muang sub-district of Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima province in the NE of Thailand. Lamun explained earnestly that five months ago she planted two kinds of trees behind the shrine at the front of her house but they withered and died. Lo and behold a banana tree seed must have arrived on the wind and started to grow rapidly. Now the blossoms resemble a lotus, yet more evidence of its mystical properties according to the faithful. She doesn't know what variety it is. Lamun further explained that when the banana tree first blossomed it spoke to her in a dream giving her the last two lottery numbers. She bought many tickets and she won! Now all her neighbors have been asking her if she's had any more dreams and are trying to divine what the next numbers will be. She suggested her house number 35 and her age, 77. Incidentally, the coffin in Pattaya had 635 on the lid. Goodness 35 again! Now doesn't that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, suggests ASEAN NOW's cultural affairs reporter with tongue slightly embedded in cheek. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-21 - 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

Marijuana infused "hop drinks" set to be all the rage in Korat Picture: INN INN reported from Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand's Isaan region (NE) where a producer has seven marijuana infused drink varieties ready for market. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263465-marijuana-infused-hop-drinks-set-to-be-all-the-rage-in-korat/

Picture: INN INN reported from Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand's Isaan region (NE) where a producer has seven marijuana infused drink varieties ready for market. They are expecting to sell 20,000 bottles a day, far exceeding expectations. This comes after the goverment eased restrictions on the once class 5 drug on June 9th. Monkhol Srithamma, the owner of Hop Beer House, said he always fancied the idea and researched the issue during the waiting period before the regulations came into force. Now his ganja infused cola, honey lemonade, CBD water and "Hoppy Refreshers" are expected to fly off the shelves. He claims his products will reduce stress and help insomniacs. He did his market research at his Hop Beer Houses and the customers loved the non-alcoholic alternative to beer. Monkgol explained that his products still need to be rubber stamped by the Thai FDA but as soon as that happens he'll be able to supply 20,000 bottles a day. He wasn't worried about the products being consumed by youth as they contain only minor amounts of marijuana and conform to all health ministry requirements. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-21 - 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

Video: Rocks thrown at house damage car windshield Picture: 77kaoded Thai media 77kaoded went to investigate after a video showed a man in a red hoody throw rocks at a house before fleeing on a motorcycle. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263464-video-rocks-thrown-at-house-damage-car-windshield/

Picture: 77kaoded Thai media 77kaoded went to investigate after a video showed a man in a red hoody throw rocks at a house before fleeing on a motorcycle. The rocks damaged the windshield of a car parked in the drive. It happened in Soi Suksawat sub-soi 5 in Phrapradaeng, Samut Prakan south east of the Thai capital Bangkok. A post on a "so you wanna be famous" site said this was the second such nighttime attack by a brazen individual with no fear of the law. Picture: 77kaoded Janphen, the 58 year old house owner, said the first attack was in April, now this. She had filed a report with the local police since the first time but no one was apprehended. So what is the reason for all this? Janphen thinks its over a complaint she made about trucks coming down the soi. She got 60 residents to sign a petition to stop it and presented this to a government watchdog and the local authority. Nothing's happened but now her priority is to get the police to do something. A man at the address did the pointing, lest there be any doubt. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-21 - 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

Thailand named as one of leading countries in world for e-Payment Sanook Thai Caption: World leaders!!! Sanook reported that the Thai government were jumping for joy after the country was named as #3 in the world for online e-Payments. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263462-thailand-named-as-one-of-leading-countries-in-world-for-e-payment/

Sanook Thai Caption: World leaders!!! Sanook reported that the Thai government were jumping for joy after the country was named as #3 in the world for online e-Payments. There had been 9.7 billion transactions in 2021. Government spokeswoman Rachada Thanadirek quoted an ACI Worldwide survey in conjunction with GlobalData and the Centre for Economic and Business Research. India had 48.6 billion transactions and China 18.5 billion. Obviously these have much larger populations. Ratchada said this had spurred economic growth or GDP of 2.08% and represented a marked increase on the previous two years. "Realtime payments have exploded in Thailand", she enthused. "That's across all ages and all forms of business" adding that the systems in place are of a worldwide standard. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-21 - 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

Student claims teacher whacked her ear - teacher says don't rush to believe kids, respect us Sanook Thai Caption: Just pulled his hand back, not hit? Sanook reported from Udon Thani in north east Thailand where an 11 year old female student claimed she was hit by a teacher then later fell down unconscious. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263461-student-claims-teacher-whacked-her-ear-teacher-says-dont-rush-to-believe-kids-respect-us/

Sanook Thai Caption: Just pulled his hand back, not hit? Sanook reported from Udon Thani in north east Thailand where an 11 year old female student claimed she was hit by a teacher then later fell down unconscious. Her claims were refuted by the teacher - a 59 year old near retirement - who said Thais shouldn't rush to believe children over respected teachers. The media became aware of the case after a grandmother who is the guardian of the child said she had gone to the police after a friend brought her 11 year old granddaughter home from school on Friday. The girl told reporters that it was break time and she was trying to leave the school to buy a drink from a store when her path was blocked by the teacher. He allegedly said: "Meung ja pai nai?" - if true this is extremely inappropriate language for a teacher equivalent to saying "Where the f**k are you going?" She claimed that he hit her in the ear then back in class she had breathing difficulties and fainted. Another teacher wanted her to go to hospital but the original teacher responsible for the alleged attack said not to take her "she's just looking for sympathy". She was taken home instead and now says she doesn't want to go to school anymore. The teacher at the center of the controversy said he merely drew back his hand as if to strike her and warned her to get back to class. There was no attack and he said that CCTV proves it. He admitted that he likes to warn kids in an aggressive manner sometimes but that Thai society should not jump to conclusions about "old school" teachers close to retirement. An education authority promised a full investigation that was due to take place yesterday. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-21 - 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

Thai media plumbs depths quoting "fun" conspiracy theory science site - "Thai man cuts off penis after smoking ganja" Sanook Thai Caption: (Thai) man cuts his penis off after paranoid "ganja" attack A story published by Sanook showed the extraordinary lengths that Thai media is going to "report" anything about marijuana. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263454-thai-media-plumbs-depths-quoting-fun-conspiracy-theory-science-site-thai-man-cuts-off-penis-after-smoking-ganja/

Sanook Thai Caption: (Thai) man cuts his penis off after paranoid "ganja" attack A story published by Sanook showed the extraordinary lengths that Thai media is going to "report" anything about marijuana. Some would say not lengths, but depths. Though this story is also about length. This comes as the country is gripped by "ganja fever" following legalization on June 9th. They put out a story from a site called IFL Science that bills itself as "The Lighter Side of science," notes ASEAN NOW. It's a conspiracy-cum-quasi scientific nonsense site that purports to be following the science. Yesterday's headlines were about a new gonorrhea strain in an Austrian man, Hercules' missing marble head found on a 2,000 year old shipwreck and "summer penis not being a real thing". Get the idea? Sanook didn't caution about any of this instead relating the story about what allegedly happened to a 23 year old Thai man in....wait for it...January. According to the story - backed up by "Biomed Central" - the man was a frequent marijuana user who took a three months break before smoking two grams of the drug in a bong. His penis started swelling out of control and the top was wonky. After having a snip he removed his penis with scissors in the paranoid attack. Doctors couldn't reattach the Thai member due to dirt and ants and there was only a 2 cm stump left. Toxicology showed only marijuana in the system and not even alcohol. The man was allegedly given mental evaluations. For the full story - or laugh - go to the IFL Science site but we're giving it a fact check warning. And further suggesting to Sanook - normally a reasonable outlet for Thai news - to warn their readers about the sources of some of their stories. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-21 - 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

How long can Thailand’s central bank swim against the tide? By Thai PBS World’s Business Desk Should the BOT raise the policy rate and commercial banks by raising their lending and deposit rates, it would be a blow to borrowers, especially those with mortgage and car-hire purchase debt. (Photo by Jack TAYLOR / AFP) The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has come under high pressure to react as domestic inflation has been climbing fast and other central banks, especially the US Federal Reserve (Fed), have started to raise their interest rates. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263453-how-long-can-thailand’s-central-bank-swim-against-the-tide/

Should the BOT raise the policy rate and commercial banks by raising their lending and deposit rates, it would be a blow to borrowers, especially those with mortgage and car-hire purchase debt. (Photo by Jack TAYLOR / AFP) By Thai PBS World’s Business Desk The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has come under high pressure to react as domestic inflation has been climbing fast and other central banks, especially the US Federal Reserve (Fed), have started to raise their interest rates. Many countries have been suffering from high inflation due to rising prices of oil, natural gas and food, as well as from the consequences of loosening monetary and fiscal policies aimed at boosting economic growth amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Thailand’s headline inflation hit a 13-year-high in May, rising 7.1 percent. It was even worse in the US where it climbed as high as 8.6 percent, a 40-year-high for the country, which compelled the Fed to raise its benchmark funds rate by 0.75 percentage point on June 15. It was the biggest rate hike in 28 years, bringing the Fed funds rate to a range of 1.5-1.75 percent. Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/how-long-can-thailands-central-bank-swim-against-the-tide/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-06-21 - 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!

Old man making merit suffers skull fracture after attack by vicious walking-stick wielding monk in Surin Daily News Thai Caption: Vicious monk Daily News reported on yet another transgression by Thailand's increasingly maligned monkhood. This one was very serious. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263450-old-man-making-merit-suffers-skull-fracture-after-attack-by-vicious-walking-stick-wielding-monk-in-surin/

Daily News Thai Caption: Vicious monk Daily News reported on yet another transgression by Thailand's increasingly maligned monkhood. This one was very serious. They said that a woman they named only as "B" had gone to the police to file a report against "Luang Taa Uan" - Fatty Monk the Elder. He's a monk at a kind of Buddhist affairs office in Ban Kanthajan, Prasat, Surin in Thailand's NE. She told Thung Mon police how the monk used a walking stick to attack her grandfather causing a skull fracture. The old man - named only as "A" - was covered in blood and needed 7 stitches and was still recovering in Surin Hospital two days after the attack. The monk only said that he didn't like the look of the old man. It was lucky that relatives managed to intervene in time to save the old man from an even worse beating. The attack occurred on June 11th when the family went to make merit and pay their respects to Buddha. It turned into a nightmare. Fatty Monk was alone at his "temple". The family decided to seek the monk's advice about lottery numbers after their merit making. While they were waiting their turn something snapped in the monk who launched an unprovoked attack, according to the granddaughter. He was also babbling in "Khymer tongues" slagging off the family and even threatened shooting them. Not surprisingly the family were utterly bemused by this torrid rant from the supposed holy man. One of the family members whipped out a phone to film the altercation. That really set off Fatty Monk who grabbed the walking stick. The grandfather fell down unconscious after the savage blows to his head. Now the family have filed a report for assault causing grievous boldily harm. They want action against the monk and checks on his mental state fearing this could happen to someone else. Thankfully the old man who was assaulted has made a full recovery. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-21 - 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

Opinion: The president of the senate just said nepotism is not morally wrong; we’re not kidding By Erich Parpart and Cod Satrusayang “[Nepotism] is not wrong because it is not against the law.” Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263448-opinion-the-president-of-the-senate-just-said-nepotism-is-not-morally-wrong-we’re-not-kidding/

By Erich Parpart and Cod Satrusayang “[Nepotism] is not wrong because it is not against the law.” This is not a line from some terrible mafia movie but an actual statement uttered by the President of the Senate Pornpetch Wichitcholchai – out loud, and to reporters, even. What is even worse is that the reporters gathered at the senate on Monday gave Pornpetch a chance to walk back his statement and he still failed. The reporters acknowledged that even though nepotism was not technically illegal, wasn’t it still morally wrong? Pornpetch did not disappoint. He said nepotism, in government, is not morally wrong. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/41056/the-president-of-the-senate-just-said-nepotism-is-not-morally-wrong-were-not-kidding/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-06-21 - 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!

Pattaya: Coffin found in secluded soi - bloodstains on cloth but no body - just three lucky numbers! Daily News Thai Caption: Getting lucky numbers from coffin lids It's another story right out of the "Amazing Thailand" playbook. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1263446-pattaya-coffin-found-in-secluded-soi-bloodstains-on-cloth-but-no-body-just-three-lucky-numbers/

Daily News Thai Caption: Getting lucky numbers from coffin lids It's another story right out of the "Amazing Thailand" playbook. Daily News reported that someone had spotted a white coffin left by the side of the road in a wooded and secluded area of Thepparat Soi 7 in Pattaya, eastern Thailand. The local who first saw the coffin was so freaked they didn't want to think about it until 2-3 days had passed and they decided it was time to call Sawang Boriboon rescue. Yesterday their team found bloodstains and oozings from a dead body on a white cloth in the coffin - but no body. Who dumped it there remains a mystery but Daily News were saying it really put the hairs up on the back of your neck. What was clear were three numbers on the lid - 635. These will doubtless come in handy for the next draw in the state lottery. The coffin was taken away for disposal. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-21 - 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