#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006612

Two people were killed and 195 kilograms of “ice” was seized on Friday after a gunfight with 15 armed men in Chiang Rai’s Doi Charakhae area.

The street value of the confiscated drugs was estimated at 15 million baht.

Rangers learned on Thursday morning that a large amount of drugs was being transported, and arrived to find 15 men with bags. When the rangers presented themselves, the men began shooting.

The gunfight ended after 10 minutes, and rangers found two people from the other side dead.

Pha Muang Force commander Maj-General Narit Thavornwong instructed officials to investigate the incident and officials believe the corpses found were those of Wa ethnic people. Officials also found 15 bags made with sacking cloth. Each bag was filled with 13 packs of “ice” or crystal methamphetamine weighing one kilogram each.

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Officials also found two bombs and a large number of bullet shells, which will be examined at Bandu provincial police station.

Narit has ordered border police to strictly intercept and suppress drug trafficking from neighbouring countries.

Chiang Rai rangers kill two, seize 195kg of ‘ice’ in gunfightChiang Rai rangers kill two, seize 195kg of ‘ice’ in gunfightChiang Rai rangers kill two, seize 195kg of ‘ice’ in gunfightChiang Rai rangers kill two, seize 195kg of ‘ice’ in gunfight

Published : September 24, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006613

A villager clearing forest in Petchabun province has uncovered what is believed to be one of the world’s rarest mushrooms, the Earthstar (Geastrum mirabile Mont).

Jaroon Kiew-oon was tending his land near Wang Cha-om village on Thursday when he spotted strange, star-shaped objects budding from the soil. The flower-like blooms were brownish-grey and measured about 3-5 centimetres in diameter.

Jaroon assumed at first they were flowers from a golden Spanish cherry tree, but then realised these trees were not found in the area.

When he plucked one of the “flowers” out of the ground, he discovered it had spores and roots. Jaroon showed his find to his brother, who identified it as an earthstar – which is ranked as one of the world’s 10 rarest mushroom species.

Petchabun villager stumbles across one of world’s rarest mushroomsPetchabun villager stumbles across one of world’s rarest mushrooms

Earthstars have been found in only three other provinces in Thailand, namely Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Phanom and Phichit.

Residents of Wang Cha-om village told reporters that they had lived in the area for over 40 years but never seen this species of mushroom before.

Earthstars are classified as inedible but said to cause intoxication similar to drunkenness when consumed.

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Petchabun villager stumbles across one of world’s rarest mushrooms

Published : September 24, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006611

Bangkok opened a new public park this week – part of a pilot project to rejuvenate derelict urban spaces in one of Asia’s least green concrete jungles.

The Wat Hua Lamphong Rukkhaniwet Park stands on 2 rai (3,200 square metres) of unused land behind Rama IV Road in Bang Rak district (MRT: Sam Yan).

The park was set up under the crowdfunded We!Park project with support from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).

The We!Park project aims to develop pocket parks throughout the city to offer stressed-out citizens relief from the dense urban environment.

Bangkok has one of the lowest ratios of public green space among big cities in Asia, with just 3.3 square metres per person, according to the Siemens Green City Index. That compares with 66 square metres per person in Singapore – Asia’s greenest city.

The Thai capital’s Green Bangkok 2030 scheme aims to increase public green space to 10 square metres per person over the next decade.

New park opens in central BangkokNew park opens in central Bangkok

Plots for the pocket parks were donated after the new land tax rate, effective since 2020, imposed a rate of up to 3 per cent on unused plots.

Wat Hua Lamphong Rukkhaniwet Park has been designed with a “garden next door” concept. The multi-use area is divided into playgrounds, running paths, outdoor gym and a vegetable garden. The park is open every day from 5am to 8pm.

New park opens in central BangkokNew park opens in central Bangkok

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Published : September 24, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006610

The government is urging the public to join the third phase of the “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) subsidy scheme and the “Tour Tiew Thai” co-payment scheme, both of which open for registration today.

Rao Tiew Duay Kan offers a 40 per cent discount on hotel rooms and restaurants, capped at Bt3,000 per room night for a maximum 15 rooms or 15 nights. Participants also receive a Bt600 e-voucher when checking in at participating hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions as well as a 40 per cent flight refund when they check out, capped at Bt3,000 per person.

The subsidy scheme is limited to 2 million travellers, who must reserve rooms at least seven days in advance. Registration opens from today at www.เราเที่ยวด้วยกัน.com for Thai nationals aged 18 and over and covers room bookings from October 15 October to January 31 next year.

“Those who have already registered for the campaign in the first and second phases do not need to apply again. They can continue using their remaining subsidy from the abovementioned date,” said government spokesperson Traisulee Traisaranakul.

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Meanwhile, the Tour Tiew Thai co-payment scheme covers up to 40 per cent of tour packages for a maximum of one million people. The subsidy is capped at Bt5,000 per trip, with bookings from October 8 until January 31 next year.

Registration for the scheme is open at www.ทัวร์เที่ยวไทย.ไทย for Thai nationals aged 18 and up.

The government expects the schemes to boost domestic travel in 2021 to 90 million trips, bringing total revenue of Bt400 billion.

Published : September 24, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006609

Police on Friday arrested a 17-year-old protester for allegedly vandalising a traffic booth after a pro-democracy rally held by the Thalu Fah group in Bangkok last month.

Police said a security camera recorded the suspect and other protesters smashing the window of the booth at Mahesak Junction in Bang Rak district at 8pm on August 11. The suspect and his motorcycle were clearly visible in the recording, they added.

Police arrested the 17-year-old at his house in Bangkok’s Thung Khru district, where they also seized a black T-shirt and cream trousers as evidence.

Officers said the suspect confessed to joining the protest with a group of friends on August 11. Eight of the friends on four motorbikes rode through a police checkpoint before vandalising public property including the traffic booth, claimed police.

They said the suspect admitted to joining four protests since August. He is currently in the 11th grade at a school in Rat Burana district.

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Thalu Fah protesters had gathered at Victory Monument at 3pm on August 11 to march to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s residence at the 1st Infantry Regiment barracks on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. A rally later in the day at Din Daeng intersection saw police use tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters armed with slingshots and firecrackers.
 

Police arrest schoolboy protester over vandalised traffic boothPolice arrest schoolboy protester over vandalised traffic boothPolice arrest schoolboy protester over vandalised traffic booth

Published : September 24, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006607

Thailand’s daily caseload dipped slightly to 12,697 over the past 24 hours on Friday, though deaths rose to 132. Of the new cases, 170 were in prisons.

Meanwhile, 13,540 people have recovered and been discharged over the past 24 hours.

Thailand’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 1,537,310 – 1,393,902 of whom have recovered, 127,392 are still in hospitals and 16,016 have died.

Separately, another 256,541 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 369,868 their second shot and 487 a booster shot, bringing total Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 47,296,431.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 231.40 million on Friday, 208.08 million of whom have recovered, 18.58 million are active cases (96,546 in severe condition) and 4.74 million have died (up by 8,680).

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Thailand recorded 12,697 Covid-19 cases and 132 deaths on Friday.

Thailand’s daily caseload rises to 13,256 cases, 131 deaths

Thailand logs 11,252 new cases, 141 deaths

Thailand ranks 29th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 43.53 million, followed by India with 33.59 million, Brazil with 21.31 million, the UK with 7.57 million and Russia with 7.35 million.

Published : September 24, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006606

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced on Thursday that all Red Line extensions will be up for service in 2025.

It said the extension project is being studied and will be completed under a public-private partnership (PPP) system.

The mass-transit commuter line will be extended in four sections covering 53.84 kilometres and will cost a total of 67.5 billion baht.

The four extensions are:
• Rangsit-Thammasat University Rangsit: An 8.84km line costing 6.57 billion baht with 28,150 commuters expected daily in the first year.
• Taling Chan-Salaya: A 14.8km line costing 10.2 billion baht with 47,570 commuters daily in the first year.
• Taling Chan-Siriraj: A 4.3km line costing 6.64 billion baht with 55,200 passengers expected daily in the first year.
• Bang Sue-Hua Lamphong and Bang Sue-Hua Mark: Covering 25.9km with a budget of 44.1 billion baht.

SRT is expected to present the progress of the PPP study this month and the project should be finalised by November.

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The agency has prepared terms of reference and the price will be adjusted once the PPP format is finalised. The project is expected to go up for bidding between January and February next year.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has ordered SRT to accelerate the project, so it matches the schedule of the Bang Sue-Rangsit and Bang Sue-Taling Chan lines. The project is expected to be completed within three years or by 2025.

SRT aims to have all Red Line extensions running by 2025

Published : September 24, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006605

The export of rice returned to positive numbers for three consecutive months since June this year thanks to higher production volume and weak baht. The 6-million-tonne export target should be achieved in 2021, the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) said on Thursday.

Keerati Rushchano, DFT director-general, said the export of rice in June and July had risen by 7.35 per cent compared to the same period last year. He said based on the rice export licence applications DFT received, 831,260 tonnes of rice were exported in August and 631,363 tonnes in September. Compared to the same period last year, growth was recorded at 133.13 per cent in August and 61.78 per cent in September. Hence, he said, it is reasonable to expect the 6-million-tonne target to be achieved by the end of this year.

DFT also said exports to South Africa, China, Yemen and Iraq have risen and the orders were mostly for parboiled rice, white rice and brown rice. The main factor contributing to this increase is depreciation of the Thai currency, which has brought the price of rice, especially white and parboiled rice, to a level closer to that of Vietnam and India.

“DFT will hold meetings with other key trading partners such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, etc. It is also accelerating the promotion of Thai rice under the concept ‘Think Rice Think Thailand’ through various online channels to build consumer confidence. Commercial ambassadors will also promote Thai rice under this concept worldwide,” Keerati said.

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Published : September 24, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006603

Close to two million scam calls were made in Thailand amid the Covid-19 pandemic from January to July, according to leading anti-fraud application, Whoscall.

The scammers deceive people by calling to steal personal information from the victims, said Gogolook Company, the application’s developer.

On Thursday, Gogolook Co revealed that Whoscall application had identified more than 1.8 million scam calls during January to July, as people had to stay home.

The company reported a surge in the number of downloads of Whoscall application to identify unknown incoming calls and prevent spams.

The company said that scam groups would pretend to be calling from a leading parcel delivery company and notify the victims that there was a confiscated illegal parcel. The scammer would trick the victims into revealing personal information in order to complete the delivery, and if the victims informed that they had not ordered such a parcel, the scammer would claim that the company would report the matter to the police.

Here is how to prevent and deal with phone-call scams:

• Never give out sensitive personal information if an unknown number calls. Real companies or organisations will never ask for personal information via phone calls;
• Download Whoscall application to identify the origin of unknown incoming calls. The application can also be used to block annoying phone numbers;
• A complaint or a consultation on cyber cases can be made through the Royal Thai Police call centre at number 1599 or number 0818663000 every day, from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

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Published : September 24, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006600

A meeting of the National Communicable Disease Committee on Thursday approved the reduction of quarantine requirement for foreign visitors from 14 days to 7, 10 or 14 days depending on the country and other conditions, said Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC).

The meeting, chaired by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, also approved the initiative to reopen selected provinces to foreign tourists following the pilot sandbox programme that has been implemented in Phuket since July.

“The next phase of reopening Thailand will start from mid-October in Cha Am district of Phetchaburi [province] and Hua Hin district of Prachuap Khiri Khan [province],” said Opas.

“More provinces will be considered for reopening in November, depending on daily infection and vaccination rates as well as available hospital beds in each province.”

The committee also approved the principle of preventive and control measures for diseases caused by insect carriers for the year 2022, as it estimated that the severe dengue fever pandemic would return next year after it recorded low infections since the start of 2021.

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At Thursday’s meeting, the National Communicable Disease Committee acknowledged the Public Health Ministry’s provision of Pfizer vaccine to children aged over 12 years to prepare for the school reopening in November. It is estimated that up to 4.5 million students would be vaccinated with Pfizer jabs.

The committee also acknowledged the vaccination plan for October through December 2021, under which Thailand would have procured a total of 125 million doses of vaccines, to be administered to 62 million people, or 90 per cent of the population.

The plan aims to achieve 70 per cent inoculation rate of the first jab in November, and 80 per cent in December, while 70 per cent inoculation rate of second jabs will be achieved in December.

Published : September 24, 2021