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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.

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Japan Airlines launches free Covid-19 coverage (nationthailand.com)

Japan Airlines launches free Covid-19 coverage

NationalDec 16. 2020

By THE NATION

Japan Airlines (JAL) has launched a free service to insure international travellers against medical costs if they contract Covid-19.The carrier is offering JAL Covid-19 Cover as part of its JAL FlySafe programme to support passengers with essential travel needs during the global pandemic.The new service provided by Allianz Travel includes coverage of up to €150,000 (Bt5.47 million) in total medical costs resulting from the initial Covid-19 testing fee and subsequent medical treatment for those who test positive during their travels.Additional coverage for isolation costs and repatriation is also included. A global 24-hour support line in English and Japanese will also be available to assist customers exhibiting symptoms.The coverage will be offered from December 23.

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Prayut, ministers test-ride new Red Line from Central Station (nationthailand.com)

Prayut, ministers test-ride new Red Line from Central Station

NationalDec 16. 2020

By THE NATION

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and members of his Cabinet visited Bang Sue Central Station on Tuesday for a test ride on the new Red Line urban train.

The central station will serve as a high-speed train hub linking the three airports of Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao with the 10 stations of the Red Line.

Construction of the station is now 100 per cent complete, but the Red Line won’t launch full services until November 2021.

The Red Line, running between Bang Sue and Rangsit stations, will help shorten travel time between the city’s heart and urban areas to under 30 minutes thanks to high-speed (120kph) trains. Public test runs will start in March, with at least 272,500 passengers per day expected after the official opening in November.

Meanwhile, the State Railway of Thailand plans to develop a rental apartment project in Don Muang to accommodate residents whose properties were expropriated to build the high-speed train project.

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TAT launches travel routes for lonely hearts on Tinder (nationthailand.com)

TAT launches travel routes for lonely hearts on Tinder

NationalDec 16. 2020

By The Nation

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has chosen the dating app Tinder to launch a new campaign aimed at solo travellers.

The “Single Journey” campaign comes with the hashtag #Don‘tJokeWithLoneliness and promotes domestic travel for tourists who like to travel alone, said Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, chief of TAT product promotion.

The campaign aims to reach 70 million people through Tinder and Facebook, generating 7 million trips and Bt100 million spending in the first quarter of 2021.

It will feature at least 20 routes covering different activities and all regions of the country.

The campaign will be piloted by trips on three routes, starting on Sunday (December 20).

Route 1 is dubbed “Praying to Buddha for love” and features a boat trip on the Chao Phraya to visit nine temples between Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Celebrity astrologist Tossaporn “Chang” Sritula will instruct travellers on how to pray for love, before the day ends with dinner aboard the boat. Booking for the December 20 voyage opens via the Sneakout fanpage and Tinder app on December 16, with free trips for the first 100 who register.

Route 2 for “Hot Singles” focuses on the beaches and party life of Koh Kai in Krabi.

Route 3 is dubbed “Chilling Single by Train” and features a romantic rail trip through the stunning scenery of Pasak Chonlasit Dam in Lopburi, followed by a meal on the reservoir.

More routes will be added, including trips to the bright lights of Pattaya and the hills of Mae Hong Son.

Solo travel is among the world’s most popular forms of tourism and tended to generate high spending, said Thapanee.

More than 20 singles travel routes would be launched in the near future with the aim of generating at least Bt100 million in the first quarter of 2021, she added.