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TAT to Set Up New Private Company to Support Its Digital Transformation Plan By Suwit Rattiwan BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to come up with a private digital company to support the country’s digital transformation in the next 6 months. The key missions of this company are to develop digital infrastructure for tourism, create big data for the industry, and launch utility tokens under TAT Coin or non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that cannot be used for trading. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235396-tat-to-set-up-new-private-company-to-support-its-digital-transformation-plan/

By Suwit Rattiwan BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to come up with a private digital company to support the country’s digital transformation in the next 6 months. The key missions of this company are to develop digital infrastructure for tourism, create big data for the industry, and launch utility tokens under TAT Coin or non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that cannot be used for trading. With a goal of generating approximately 2.4 trillion baht from high-spending travelers by 2023, TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the authority would be limited to a 40% share so it would not be considered a state enterprise. While another 40% share of ownership will be held by strategic partners in digital fields, and another 20% will be shared by key tourism associations. With a status of being a private firm, the TAT governor said the firm can employ professional experts by offering high salaries and incentives which will be beneficial for its digital tourism. According to Mr Yuthasak, there are few companies that have shown interest to venture into the project. He said the model of this company has a similar structure to the Thailand Longstay Company which offers privileges to long-stay guests. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-10-15 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

WHO approves Siam Bioscience’s AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved Siam Bioscience Company Limited, a Thai company, as a qualified production site for AstraZeneca vaccine and added the company to its Emergency Use Listing (EUL). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235394-who-approves-siam-bioscience’s-astrazeneca-vaccine-for-emergency-use/

(Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved Siam Bioscience Company Limited, a Thai company, as a qualified production site for AstraZeneca vaccine and added the company to its Emergency Use Listing (EUL). A letter, dated October 11th, from Dr. Rogério Gaspar, director of the WHO’s Regulation and Prequalification Department, addressed to Dr. Etleva Kadilli, director of the Supply Division of UNICEF, reads as follows: “We are pleased to inform you of the positive recommendation of an alternative manufacturing site, Siam Bioscience Co., Ltd. , 99 Moo 4, Banmai, Bangyai, Nonthaburi 11140, Thailand, for the AstraZeneca (COPVID-19 vaccine suspension for injection. This site includes the manufacturing of drug substance and drug product. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/who-approves-siam-biosciences-astrazeneca-vaccine-for-emergency-use/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Myanmar driver dies, Thai driver seriously injured in Banglamung motorbike crash By Goong Nang(GN) Banglamung – A Myanmar driver has been pronounced dead at the scene while a Thai driver has sustained serious injuries after their two motorbikes collided earlier this week in Banglamung. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235388-myanmar-driver-dies-thai-driver-seriously-injured-in-banglamung-motorbike-crash/

By Goong Nang(GN) Banglamung – A Myanmar driver has been pronounced dead at the scene while a Thai driver has sustained serious injuries after their two motorbikes collided earlier this week in Banglamung. The Huay Yai Police was notified of the accident at 6:00 P.M. on Monday (October 11th) on Chaiyaphon Vithi Pong Road in Khao Maikaew. Emergency responders and The Pattaya News arrived at the scene to find two damaged motorbikes on the road. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/10/14/myanmar-driver-dies-thai-driver-seriously-injured-in-banglamung-motorbike-crash/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Health ministry unveils preliminary criteria for November 1 quarantine lifting By Thammarat Thadaphrom BANGKOK (NNT) - The minister of public health has unveiled preliminary criteria for quarantine-free travel that will be applied to tourists from low-risk countries who arrive in Thailand from November 1 onward, saying that the visitors will be able to travel freely after they produce a negative result from an RT-PCR Covid test taken on arrival. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235386-health-ministry-unveils-preliminary-criteria-for-november-1-quarantine-lifting/

By Thammarat Thadaphrom BANGKOK (NNT) - The minister of public health has unveiled preliminary criteria for quarantine-free travel that will be applied to tourists from low-risk countries who arrive in Thailand from November 1 onward, saying that the visitors will be able to travel freely after they produce a negative result from an RT-PCR Covid test taken on arrival. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul said the public health ministry will respond to the prime minister’s announcement of Thailand’s reopening to tourists from low-risk countries on November 1, and produce measures and mechanisms that will enable the prime minister’s policy to be realized. Mr. Anutin explained that if possible, he did not want to limit arriving tourists to only the citizens of 10 selected countries and due consideration will be given over this subject, as well as on the issue of whether the visitors will need to spend a night in the city of entry to wait for their RT-PCR test result. The minister said he expects the COVID-19 situation to be largely controllable as vaccination coverage has increased significantly and various public health measures have been implemented. The health ministry will devise more disease control measures that are safe and beneficial to the public. According to the minister, visitors will need to present evidence of full inoculation against COVID-19 as well as a pre-departure test result for COVID-19. They will need to take an RT-PCR test upon arrival in Thailand and must spend the first night at an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) facility or an authorized hotel to wait for the test result. The visitors will need to cover expenses incurred from these requirements. Once a negative result is confirmed, a visitor may then travel anywhere in Thailand. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright NNT 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Anutin Visits Far South to Solve COVID BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was scheduled to visit four southern border provinces to discuss efforts to contain fast COVID-19 outbreaks in the region. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235385-anutin-visits-far-south-to-solve-covid/

BANGKOK, Oct 14 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was scheduled to visit four southern border provinces to discuss efforts to contain fast COVID-19 outbreaks in the region. Natchanon Srikorkuea, deputy spokesman of Mr Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party, said Mr. Anutin would visit Songkhla, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces on Oct 14-15 to discuss solutions, lay down policies and inspect COVID-19 outbreaks. He will also go to vaccination centers and met local administrators, health volunteers and people. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view Full story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news-803076 -- © Copyright TNA 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Thai economy bottomed out in Q3 -central bank minutes FILE PHOTO: Thailand's central bank is seen at the Bank of Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand April 26, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's economy bottomed out in the third quarter of this year and will continue to recover though uncertainty remains high, showed minutes of the central bank's last policy meeting released on Wednesday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235382-thai-economy-bottomed-out-in-q3-central-bank-minutes/

FILE PHOTO: Thailand's central bank is seen at the Bank of Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand April 26, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's economy bottomed out in the third quarter of this year and will continue to recover though uncertainty remains high, showed minutes of the central bank's last policy meeting released on Wednesday. As the Southeast Asian country deals with its worst coronavius outbreak, pent-up demand is expected to support the economic recovery throughout 2021, following progress on vaccination and an earlier-than-expected relaxation of containment measures, the minutes showed. On Sept. 29, the Bank of Thailand's monetary policy committee unanimously voted to keep the benchmark interest rate unchanged at a record low of 0.50% for an 11th consecutive meeting. The BOT next reviews monetary policy on Nov. 10, and analysts expect no rate change for the rest of the year. The committee viewed that financial measures would be more effective than a further reduction in the already-low policy rate, the minutes showed. Fiscal policy is the main driver of the recovery, while monetary policy must contribute to accommodative financial conditions, the minutes showed. At the meeting, the BOT maintained its 2021 economic growth forecast at 0.7% but slightly raised its 2022 outlook to 3.9% growth from 3.7% projected in August. The central bank will closely monitor the baht and ensure its movement does not hinder business and will expedite a new foreign exchange ecosystem, the minutes showed. (Reporting by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Martin Petty) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Kompasu reaching Vietnam; very heavy rain forecast for Northeast and East By Thammarat Thadaphrom BANGKOK (NNT) - tropical storm has brought forth strong winds while a monsoon trough is causing very heavy rain in the upper Northeast and the East. People in risk areas are urged to beware of associated hazards. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235381-kompasu-reaching-vietnam-very-heavy-rain-forecast-for-northeast-and-east/

By Thammarat Thadaphrom BANGKOK (NNT) - tropical storm has brought forth strong winds while a monsoon trough is causing very heavy rain in the upper Northeast and the East. People in risk areas are urged to beware of associated hazards. The weather bureau reports that severe tropical storm Kompasu, with its epicenter currently in the upper South China Sea, is expected to pass over China’s Hainan island and make landfall in upper Vietnam sometime between today and tomorrow (13-14 Oct). The storm is then expected to gradually weaken. Meanwhile, a strong southwest monsoon prevails across the Andaman Sea, Thailand’s South and the Gulf of Thailand. A monsoon trough lies across Thailand’s Central Region, Eastern Region and the lower part of the Northeastern Region. As a result, very heavy rain is likely in the upper Northeast and the East. Heavy rain is forecast for the lower Northeast, the South and the Central Region. People in risk areas are urged to take caution against dangers resulting from heavy rain and accumulated rainwater, as well as flash floods and forest runoffs. Waves in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand are 2-3 meters high whereas in the lower Gulf they are 2 meters high. In thundershower areas, waves could exceed 3 meters in height. Small boats in the Andaman and the Gulf should keep ashore during this time. -- © Copyright NNT 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Hua Hin: Chatchai Market to remain closed until next Monday Picture: Ban Muang Hua Hin's mayor Noppaporn Wutthikul along with local and health officials visited the well known old Chatchai market in the downtown area after it was ordered shut from Monday to Wednesday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235380-hua-hin-chatchai-market-to-remain-closed-until-next-monday/

Picture: Ban Muang Hua Hin's mayor Noppaporn Wutthikul along with local and health officials visited the well known old Chatchai market in the downtown area after it was ordered shut from Monday to Wednesday. There was a cluster of 56 Covid-19 infections there that led to the closure. Hua Hin district health official Jenwit Palisak told Ban Muang that the cluster started with a foreign migrant who was delivering ice. Picture: Ban Muang People in the fish and fruit retail trade soon became infected. Test and trace measures were still ongoing at the market as well as deep cleaning. All shops there must have gel and 100% mask wearing will continue to be mandatory. It would remain closed until Sunday ahead of its expected reopening on Monday October 18th. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - 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's porous borders: 48 Myanmar migrants rounded up by the military Picture: Daily Newws Daily News reported the arrest of 48 Myanmar illegal immigrants who would be checked for Covid then deported. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235379-thailands-porous-borders-48-myanmar-migrants-rounded-up-by-the-military/

Picture: Daily Newws Daily News reported the arrest of 48 Myanmar illegal immigrants who would be checked for Covid then deported. The 16 men, 20 women and 12 children were caught in Ban Luang, Mae Ngon sub-district of Fang district in Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. All were found by a regular military patrol in the border area. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - 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

Democrat cites four factors PM should consider in reopening of Thailand Picture: Daily News Deputy leader of the Democrat Party Ongart Khlamphaiboon spoke to Daily News about PM Prayuth Chan-ocha's plan to reopen Thailand. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235377-democrat-cites-four-factors-pm-should-consider-in-reopening-of-thailand/

Picture: Daily News Deputy leader of the Democrat Party Ongart Khlamphaiboon spoke to Daily News about PM Prayuth Chan-ocha's plan to reopen Thailand. He said that many people had been calling for this to get the economy rolling again and get people back to some semblance of normality. The PM needed to consider four factors: 1. Have enough Thais been vaccinated in the country to achieve "herd immunity". After all foreign tourists would be allowed to go anywhere, he said. 2. Could infection rates in a red, yellow and green areas be controlled. 3. Has RT-PCR testing been sufficiently readied for the tourists' arrival. 4. Has consideration been made about the potential for new variants of Covid. All the above needed to be considered, he said, in order to inspire confidence in the Thai population and guide the country to recovery. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - 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

Huge crowds at Chonburi mall as former footballer taken on gold shop robbery reenactment Picture: Sanook Large crowds of shoppers with mobile phones jostled for a vantage point as a 25 year old former university footballer was taken on a gold shop robbery reenactment at a Chonburi mall. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235375-huge-crowds-at-chonburi-mall-as-former-footballer-taken-on-gold-shop-robbery-reenactment/

Picture: Sanook Large crowds of shoppers with mobile phones jostled for a vantage point as a 25 year old former university footballer was taken on a gold shop robbery reenactment at a Chonburi mall. Wayu or Jack had been arrested by the Don Hua Lor police following the 196,000 baht robbery of three heavy gold necklaces. Unfortunately for Jack he dropped his phone in the robbery and there was also clear CCTV footage in the Sunday robbery. Police easily traced him to Chiang Mai bus station and Muang district in the northern Thai city. Two of three necklaces were recovered as well as 73,000 baht from the sale of the third. The suspect had run into debts from online gambling and had had his mother's land repossessed after mortgaging it, reported Sanook. More than 20 officers were involved in the reenactment spectacle. The suspect said that he had been milling about in the shopping center for two hours before making the fateful decision to rob the store. He approached the store and said he wanted to get jewelry for his girlfriend's birthday - then he ran off. He warned young people not to gamble. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - 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

Intoxicated man allegedly sets fire to his own home, destroys neighbor’s house in Chonburi By Goong Nang(GN) Chonburi – An intoxicated man allegedly burnt down his own house this week in Chonburi and in the process also destroyed his neighbors home, with whom he had reportedly been having a public feud for some time. The suspect has denied the allegations and claims the entire incident was an accident and has counter-alleged that his neighbors assaulted him following the fire. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235373-intoxicated-man-allegedly-sets-fire-to-his-own-home-destroys-neighbor’s-house-in-chonburi/

By Goong Nang(GN) Chonburi – An intoxicated man allegedly burnt down his own house this week in Chonburi and in the process also destroyed his neighbors home, with whom he had reportedly been having a public feud for some time. The suspect has denied the allegations and claims the entire incident was an accident and has counter-alleged that his neighbors assaulted him following the fire. Firefighters were notified of the fire in the early morning of Monday, (October 11th) at a community in Baan Maklua in the Ang Sila sub-district First response teams arrived at the scene to find two houses that were heavily ablaze. It took more than an hour to control the fire. Both homes were reduced to near rubble due to the fire. The village headwoman Mrs. Tippawan Chaimee, 56, told The Pattaya News team, “The suspect, Mr. Supat Chansri, is a known drug user and is always under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/10/14/intoxicated-man-allegedly-sets-fire-to-his-own-home-destroys-neighbors-house-in-chonburi/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-10-14 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Phuket marks 156 new COVID cases, two more deaths By The Phuket News Image: PPHO PHUKET: The latest Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) daily COVID situation report has marked 156 new local infections confirmed across the island yesterday (Oct 12) bringing the total number of people recognised as infected with COVID-19 in Phuket since Apr 3 to 13,309. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1235372-phuket-marks-156-new-covid-cases-two-more-deaths/