A stray dog reportedly played a stellar role in getting two alleged drug dealers arrested in Phrae province on Saturday.
The dog reportedly dragged a bag containing 639 pills of amphetamine to a post office in Rong Kwang district in Phrae. It is not known where the dog found the bag.
On Saturday, Rong Kwang Police Station reported that a bag full of drugs was dropped off near the post office and a stray dog was responsible for it.
Police traced the source of those illegal pills and arrested two alleged drug dealers, a 38-year-old male and a 37-year-old female, who were charged with drug possession.
Employees at the post office praised the dog for being smart enough to bring the drugs that the dealers had tried to dispose of, as if it wanted to report the crime.
There were eight new cases in quarantine over a 24-hour period, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported on Sunday
A 39-year-old Thai woman who had returned from Belgium on October 31 showed symptoms of a stuffy nose and tested positive in a Bangkok state quarantine hotel on November 12.
A 37-year-old Thai woman who had returned from the United Arab Emirates on November 1 tested positive in a Chonburi state quarantine facility on November 13.
A 35-year-old Thai woman who had returned from Switzerland on November 8 tested positive on November 13 in a Bangkok alternative state quarantine hotel.
A 47-year-old Egyptian businessman and a 36-year-old Thai housewife flew from Egypt and took a connecting flight in Dubai, and arrived on November 5. They went to an alternative state quarantine hotel in Samut Prakan province where they tested positive on November 10. The woman reportedly had lost her sense of smell.
Three Indian nationals — a 45-year-old businessman, a 45-year-old freelancer and a 46-year-old woman — arrived on November 7. They tested positive at a Bangkok alternative state quarantine hotel on November 5.
Meanwhile, eight patients have recovered and been discharged.
The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand increased to 3,874 (916 in state quarantine), of whom 99 are in hospital and 3,715 have recovered and been discharged, while 60 have died.
According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Sunday, the total number of confirmed cases had increased to 54.3 million (up by 575,576), 37.86 million have recovered, 15.14 million are active cases (98,127 in severe condition) and 1.31 million have died (up by 8,811).
Thailand ranks 151 for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number with 11.23 million, followed by India 8.81 million, Brazil 5.85 million, France 1.95 million and Russia 1.9 million.
Bangkok’s air quality is seeing deterioration with the arrival of winter, making the health of sensitive groups vulnerable, the latest readings show.
The Air Visual application reported on Sunday that Bangkok’s air pollution level, according to the US Air Quality Index (AQI) standard, stood at 111, with the level of particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM2.5) at 39.5 per cubic metre (µg/m3). Bangkok ranks 31st on the list of cities with the worst air quality in the world.
AQI is a standard that indicates the quality of air and level of pollution. Level 0-50 is good air quality, 51-100 is moderate quality, 101-105 starts affecting sensitive groups, 151-200 is slightly harmful to health, 201-300 is highly harmful and 301-500 is extremely dangerous.
Meanwhile, the Pollution Control Department reported that the air quality in Bangkok and its perimeter is currently fluctuating between very good to moderate with PM2.5 at around 32-72µg/m3 detected by 69 air quality stations, increasing from last week by 10 units. Thailand’s safety limit for PM2.5 is 50µg/m3, while the safety limit for AQI is 100.
As of Sunday, the five cities with the worst air quality were: 1. Delhi, India 396; 2. Lahore, Pakistan 330; 3. Shenyang, China 188; 4. Chengdu, China 176; 5. Wrocław, Poland 166.
The cities with the best air quality were: 1. Paris, France and Tashkent, Uzbekistan 1; 2.Melbourne, Australia 2; 3. Salt Lake City, US 3; 4. Skopje, North Macedonia 8; 5. Portland, United States 13.
The Category 5 typhoon “Vamco” over the upper coast of Vietnam was centred about 180 kilometres southeast of Dong Hoi, Vietnam at 4am on Sunday, the Thailand Meteorological Department said.
At latitude 17.0 degrees north, longitude 108.3 degrees east with maximum sustained winds of about 130 kilometres per hour (kph), “Vamco” is moving west-northwest at about 15kph. It is expected to make landfall over Vietnam by Sunday and then downgrade, the department said.
Isolated light to moderate rain is likely over the Northeast and the North on Sunday and Monday. Farmers should beware of damage to crop, the department said.
Meanwhile a high pressure system covers upper Thailand, bringing cool to cold weather with strong winds over upper Thailand. The weather on mountaintops is likely to be cold. People have been urged to take care of their health due to the variable weather.
The northeast monsoon prevailing over the Gulf and the South is weakening. Less rain is likely in the South with isolated heavy rain, the department said. Wind waves about two metres high are likely in the Gulf and more than two metres high in thundershowers. All ships in the Gulf should proceed with caution, the department said.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
Bangkok: Cool with strong winds; minimum temperature 21-22 degrees Celsius, maximum 32-33°C; northeasterly winds 10-30kph.
North: Cool to cold with strong winds; minimum temperature 15-22°C, maximum 32-34°C; cold on mountaintops with minimum temperature 8-14°C; northeasterly winds 10-30kph.
Northeast: Cool to cold with strong winds and isolated rain mostly in Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces; minimum temperature 15-18°C, maximum 30-32°C; cold on the mountaintop with minimum temperature 9-15°C; northeasterly winds 15-30kph.
Central: Cool with strong winds; minimum temperature 18-20°C, maximum 31-33°C; northeasterly winds 10-30kph.
East: Cool with strong winds; minimum temperature 19-22°C, maximum 31-33°C; northeasterly winds 15-35kph; waves 1-2 metres high and about two metres offshore.
South (east coast): Cloudy with scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rain in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Pattani provinces; minimum temperature 21-25°C, maximum 30-32°C; northeasterly winds 20-35kph; waves about two metres high and above three metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Cloudy with isolated thundershowers mostly in Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces; minimum temperature 23-26°C, naximum 30-34°C; northeasterly winds 15-35kph; waves 1-2 metres high and about two metres during thundershowers.
Seven-day forecast:
During November 15-20, the high pressure will weaken and cause an increase in temperature by 3-5°C. Mornings will be cool and fog is likely over the areas. The northeast monsoon prevailing over the Gulf and the South will weaken. Less rain and isolated heavy rain is likely in the South with wind waves forecast to weaken in the Gulf of Thailand. The category 5 , Typhoon “Vamco” over the middle South China Sea is expected to make landfall over upper Vietnam on Sunday and downgrade to tropical depression and low pressure. Isolated rain is likely in the Northeast and the North.
On Sunday and Monday, farmers in the Northeast and the North should beware of damage to crop in this period.
A huge crowd of pro-democracy protesters joined the “Mob Fest” at Democracy Monument in Bangkok on Saturday.
The speakers highlighted the problems faced by Thai people in various sectors and called on the government and the House of Representatives to tackle these issues by amending the Constitution.
The event is organised by various pro-democracy groups.
The Bad Student group kicked off the protest at around 1pm at Rajdamnoen Avenue and they joined the Mob Fest at Democracy Monument at 2pm.
The “Mob Fest” event attended by numerous pro-democracy supporters was poised to kick off at 2pm near Democracy Monument in Bangkok.
Reporters present at the monument said that supporters started arriving at the site since morning, along with organisers from several groups.
The poster for this rally said that all important issues would be discussed on the three stages erected at Rajdamnoen Avenue.
The issues to be discussed include gender equality, alcohol beverage production in Thailand, national institutions, disabled persons, the Constitution and ethnic matters.
The reporters said that roads near the monument have not been blocked by officials.
At the same time, some 5,000 police have bern deployed, from Dusit Palace to Sanam Luang. Police have arranged buses from private companies to use as barriers.
The event’s social media fanpage revealed on Saturday afternoon that water cannon trucks have arrived nearby.
More than 41 per cent of Thais have no savings and are living pay cheque to pay cheque, a new poll shows.
Bangkok Poll by Bangkok University Research Centre on Saturday published a survey on “Thai people’s financial status in 2020”, saying that 41.1 per cent of respondents lived pay cheque to pay cheque and had no monthly savings, while 28.3 per cent said they had to borrow just to support their families. Some 17.6 per cent said they earned adequately, but their savings this year had been reduced.
The survey was conducted among 1,221 respondents from all regions of Thailand.
The majority of respondents (61.3 per cent) listed the reason for their reduced earning/savings as the soaring prices of consumer products, while 36.8 per cent said they had to pay mortgage for house or car, while 29.3 per cent said their businesses had seen fewer customers this year.
When asked how they coped with financial problems, 81.7 per cent said they had to become more thrifty and think before spending, while 55.7 per cent said they had to cut back on dining out and travelling, 22.7 per cent opted to seeking supplementary income, such as selling items online and becoming a delivery person.
When asked what expenses were still the top priority even in this economic situation, 80.8 per cent of respondents said utility bills (water, electricity, internet, telephone), followed by food (73.3 per cent) and educational expenses for their children (43.8 per cent).
Eleven Thai nationals face prosecution after they were allegedly found illegally entering the country from Myanmar by border officials in Tak province on Saturday.They were found by soldiers and border patrol police in Mae Sot district.
The Thai nationals crossed the border with their belongings, officials said. They reportedly confessed later that they worked as staff in an online casino business in Myanmar’s Myawaddy city.
The 11 were tested for Covid-19 and placed in a government quarantine facility. They face prosecution after the quarantine period.
One person was killed when a pickup truck crashed into a trailer truck early on Saturday in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
At around 3.46am, medical emergency officials were called after the fatal accident in Muang district.
The case was passed on to the police station of the area, and the local rescue team.
At the scene, officials found a black pickup, whose front was severely damaged. The driver, Thanapat Vichitsanoi, 50, suffered severe injuries and was found dead in his vehicle.
His body was sent for autopsy to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital.
The driver of the trailer truck, Rattanakorn Nansuwan, 34,
said that the pick-up had crashed into his trailer when he was making a U-turn.
Footage from CCTV cameras nearby pointed to the pickup being driven at high speed,
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Saturday reported five new cases in quarantine over a 24-hour period.
The new patients included three Thai nationals — one, aged 48, arrived from Singapore and two, aged 27 and 19, returned from the UK. The other two patients were a US national, 44, and an Italian, 39.
With the exception of the Thai woman, 27, from UK who had fever, the others were asymptomatic.
The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand has risen to 3,866 (908 in state quarantine), 99 are in hospital, 3,707 have recovered and 60 have died.
According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Saturday, the total number of confirmed cases worldwide had risen to 53.73 million (up by 642,653), 37.51 million have recovered, 16.21 million are active cases (109,452 in severe condition) and 1.3 million have died (up by 9,942).
Thailand ranks 150th in the list of most affected countries, while US tops the list with 11.06 million patients, followed by India with 8.77 million, Brazil 5.81 million, France 1.92 million and Russia 1.88 million.
Photo Credit: Meteorological Department. 
Nation photo: Supakit Khumkun 
