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BTS Green Line extension, BMA Gold Line now officially open

NationalDec 16. 2020Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha

By The Nation
Photos by Korbphuk Phromrekha

The BTS Green Line extension, from Phaholyothin 59 to Khu Khot station, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s Gold Line from Krung Thonburi to Klong San stations were officially launched on Wednesday.

At the launching ceremony, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the Green Line extension was in line with his government’s target to make travel more convenient as well as to reduce the air pollution and traffic congestion.

“We hope people will enjoy using these services,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said the BTS Green Line has been at the heart of Bangkok’s mass transit system for more than 20 years, since it was developed in 1999.

“This line connects with the Airport Rail Link, MRT Blue Line and BMA Gold Line, and is expected to accommodate more than 1.5 million people daily,” he said.

The Green Line will connect with the MRT Pink Line from Khae Rai to Minburi and the MRT Yellow Line from Lat Phrao to Samrong by 2022.

He added that rides on the BTS Green Line extension, from Phaholyothin 59 to Khu Khot stations, will be free from Wednesday 1pm to New Year’s Day.

“The BMA Gold Line will also offer free rides from Wednesday 1pm to January 15, after which fares will be set at Bt15,” he added.

The BTS Green Line extension covers seven stations, namely Phaholyothin 59, Sai Yud, Saphan Mai, Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital, Royal Thai Air Force Museum, Yaek Kor Por Aor and Khu Khot.

The BMA Gold Line covers three stations, namely Krung Thonburi, Charoen Nakhon and Khlong San.

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15 Covid cases found in quarantine

NationalDec 16. 2020

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Wednesday reported 15 new cases in quarantine over a 24-hour period.

The latest cases are both Thai and foreigners from abroad undergoing quarantine in Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Chon Buri:

> A stewardess, aged 29, and a male British adviser, 43, who arrived from the United Arab Emirates.

> A woman, 27, from Hong Kong.

> A 32-year-old male chef assistant at supermarket in Hungary.

> A male student, 28, and a man, 20, from the United Kingdom.

> A masseuse, 40, from Bahrain.

> A 42-year-old male tunnel construction worker, and an Indian businessman, 31.

> A female chef, 52, from the United States.

> A Brazilian man, 32, and a French female teacher, 48, who arrived from their respective countries.

> Three women, aged 24, 33 and 34, working at an entertainment venue in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, 28 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand has increased to 4,261 (1,267 in state quarantine). Of these, 224 are in hospital and 3,977 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains at 60.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am the number of confirmed global cases has risen to 73.8 million (increasing by 587,137). Of these, 51.81 million have recovered, 20.34 million are active cases (117,877 in severe condition) and 1.64 million have died (an increase of 12,635).

Thailand ranks a safe 152nd for most cases in the world. The US has the most number, with 17.14 million, followed by India 9.93 million, Brazil 6.97 million, Russia 2.7 million and France 2.39 million.

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Slight improvement in haze situation

NationalDec 16. 2020

By The Nation

The unhealthy haze situation in the capital has improved slightly, though records show that the level of PM2.5 dust particles in 39 areas exceeded the safety standard.

Bangkok’s Air Quality and Noise Management Division reported on its official Facebook page that a record at 7am on Wednesday revealed the dust content has lessened from previous days in which “still air” led to haze in the city.

The average level of PM2.5 was in the range of 24-98 microgrammes per cubic metre, which means the air will mildly affect residents’ health.

However, some areas are still experiencing high air pollution, such as Nong Khaem district, where the air is not completely safe for breathing.

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Five million scramble to register for Khon La Khrueng phase 2 shopping scheme

NationalDec 16. 2020Kulaya Tantitemit

By The Nation

Five million people rushed to register for the second phase of the government’s “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) subsidised shopping scheme by 8.06am after website registrations opened at 6am on Wednesday.

Fiscal Policy Office acting director-general Kulaya Tantitemit said the registration system was delayed since 6.40am as many jumped at the chance to register for privileges under the scheme.

She said the Finance Ministry would send a confirmation SMS to each registrant in two days as the ministry has to first check whether or not there are registrants who are also receiving benefits under the state welfare card.

“Once the registration process is completed, participants can spend with stores participating in the scheme via the Tung Ngern smartphone application to receive government subsidies of up to Bt150 per day, or Bt3,500 from January 1 to March 31 next year,” she said.

“Participants must start spending within 14 days after the registration is completed, otherwise they will be disqualified and unable to register for privileges under the scheme again,” she warned.

She added that the original participants can confirm their participation in the second phase of the scheme via the Paotang smartphone application and they will receive an additional Bt500 for shopping under the scheme on January 1, or New Year’s Day.

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Baht strengthens as investors advised to monitor capital inflows (nationthailand.com)

Baht strengthens as investors advised to monitor capital inflows

NationalDec 16. 2020

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30.03 to the US dollar on Wednesday, strengthening from 30.05 at close on Tuesday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.93 and 30.13 on Wednesday, predicted Jitipol Puksamatanan, senior director of the chief investment office at SCB Securities.

On Tuesday, some of the main global stock markets recovered. The S&P index increased by 1.3 per cent as investors hoped the US government would come out with a new economic stimulus package. The Stoxx 600 Index and the price of WTI crude oil and gold meanwhile rose by 0.3 per cent, 1.2 per cent and 1.4 per cent, respectively.

The risk-on state of the financial market helped the US Ten-Year Treasury yield increase by 0.91 per cent. The dollar weakened by 0.4 per cent, while the pound strengthened by 1 per cent amid hopes that the UK and the EU would finally agree on Brexit terms by the end of the year.

Jitipol reported that the baht has moved in a narrow range from the beginning of the week. He suggested investors monitor capital inflows into the market on Wednesday as this may pressure the baht to strengthen.

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Pork price to keep rising: CPF (nationthailand.com)

Pork price to keep rising: CPF

NationalDec 16. 2020

By THE NATION

The price of pork will continue to rise next year, said Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) Chief Executive Officer Prasit Boondoungprasert.

He explained that in the past few years there have been outbreaks of swine diseases in Asia, such as the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and African Swine Fever (ASF), for which there are still no preventive vaccines.

“This has affected swine farmers in several countries, such as China and Vietnam, and resulted in pork shortage in the global market,” he said.

“Many countries switched to importing pork from Thailand, which has caused the price of pork to keep rising. This trend will continue next year.”

Prasit also said it could take 2-3 years before pork producers in the region restore their production levels to that of the period before the ASF and PRRS outbreaks.

“By that time pork may no longer be a basic commodity,” he pointed out.

“Farmers who rush into raising a new batch of pigs might suffer a loss if they do not employ strict biosafety standards to protect their swine from the outbreaks,” Prasit said.

“This is why CPF has invested millions of baht in research and development to improve swine breeds to be more resilient to diseases, and design an efficient farm management system that is eco-friendly and at acceptable costs,” he said.

“The ability to protect pigs from diseases and have efficient cost management will be the key factors of success for the swine raising industry in the next few years,” he added.

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Three Chinese nationals nabbed over alleged phishing operation (nationthailand.com)

Three Chinese nationals nabbed over alleged phishing operation

NationalDec 16. 2020

By THE NATION

Immigration chief Pol Lt-General Sompong Chingduang on Tuesday announced the arrest of three Chinese nationals who illegally entered Thailand and were allegedly running a phishing operation to acquire personal data and one-time passwords (OTP) from victims and use the passwords to withdraw money from their victims’ bank accounts.

Yong Hua and Yue Dian were arrested at a house in Soi Charoenkrung 91 in Bangkok’s Bangkholaem district on December 12 along with 88 items including mobile phones, computers, ATM cards and bank passbooks, while Pei Hong was arrested at a house in Lat Phrao district the same day.

“Officials tracked down the gang, which had entered Thailand illegally from Taiwan,” Sompong said. “They had created a fake application mimicking the mobile banking application of Siam Commercial Bank called SCB Easy to siphon millions of baht from several victims’ bank accounts.”

According to the police, the suspects would send an SMS to a victim claiming that the bank’s system was undergoing maintenance and asking them to “update” their personal data by inputting their ID card number, telephone number and OTP that they received from the bank into the fake application.

When the suspects acquired this data, they would use it to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account via the real bank application and then change the money into United States dollars tether, a cryptocurrency.

“If you witness any crimes committed by foreigners in Thailand, please contact immigration police hotline 1178 or www.immigration.go.th,” Sompong added.

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Woman rescued in attempt to jump off Phitsanulok police station building (nationthailand.com)

Woman rescued in attempt to jump off Phitsanulok police station building

NationalDec 16. 2020

By THE NATION

Muang Phitsanulok police on Tuesday evening rescued a woman who had climbed up to the rooftop of the four-storey police station and planned to jump in an attempt to kill herself.

The woman reportedly shouted several times that she had been raped and told onlookers to take a video of her jumping off the building so “everyone would know”.

Officers quickly deployed an air cushion on the ground and dispatched negotiators to talk to the woman. After talking for about 30 minutes, they succeeded in taking her down safely.

Phitsanulok police chief Pol Colonel Phakphum Prabsriphum said the woman had filed a complaint against her friend for raping her earlier that day.

“During an interview she also told officers she had been suffering from depression,” he said. “While they were contacting the man to come in for interrogation, the woman took off her jacket and shoes before going up to the rooftop,” he added.

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Emergency in deep South to be extended for 3 months (nationthailand.com)

Emergency in deep South to be extended for 3 months

NationalDec 16. 2020

By THE NATION

The Cabinet has agreed to extend the State of Emergency in three Southern provinces – Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani – for another three months, from December 20 to March 19, government deputy spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said on Tuesday.

The areas under emergency include all districts in the three provinces except Srisakhon, Su-Ngai Kolok and Sukirin in Narathiwat, Betong in Yala and Maikaen and Maelan in Pattani.

The Cabinet agreed the extension would enable officials to hunt down and arrest insurgents who aim to undermine national security through violence and terror acts, as well as ensure the safety of people in these areas, she said.

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Upper Thailand gets cooler by 1-3 °C, more rain in the South (nationthailand.com)

Upper Thailand gets cooler by 1-3 °C, more rain in the South

NationalDec 16. 2020

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Wednesday that a rather strong high-pressure system from China is covering the Northeast. It is expected to also cover upper Thailand by today.

Cool to cold weather with a 1-3 °C decrease in temperature and strong winds are likely in this area, with mountaintops remaining cold to very cold.

Meanwhile, the department said, the strong northeast monsoon still covers the Gulf and the South and some areas will see more rain and heavy downpours.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weather with fog in the morning and thick fog in some areas; temperature lows of 15-22 degrees and highs of 30-35 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-14 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 16-21 degrees and highs of 30-34 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 6-14 degrees Celsius.

Central: Mostly cloudy with fog in the morning and isolated rain in some areas; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius.

East: Mostly cloudy with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Mostly cloudy with fog in the morning and isolated rain in some areas; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.