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Treasury to launch e-auction website with Krungthai Bank to dispose of confiscated property

NationalNov 13. 2020

By THE NATION

The Treasury Department on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with Krungthai Bank to develop a “Treasury e-Auction” website that would serve as a database and auction platform for assets seized by courts as state properties.

“Currently the department has more than 700 properties that were seized from corruption and money laundering cases that have become state properties,” said director-general Yutthana Yimkarun. “We are planning to auction these properties off to increase state revenue, and with the help of Krungthai Bank, which has more than 10 years of experience in sales of foreclosure property, we aim to create a fast and transparent online auctioning platform where participants can place their bids in real time.”

Krungthai Bank president Payong Srivanich added that the website was being designed to be compatible with multiple devices, including computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones to enable users to bid at any place and any time according to the new normal trend.

“The Treasury Department would be the first government agency to use an e-auction platform, which would also help officials in issuing documentation to bid winners in a fast and efficient manner,” he said. “The website will be ready for use within December.”

Payong added that to register for e-bidding, applicants must submit valid address, e-mail and phone numbers as well as a deposit of Bt10,000 via the bank’s e-payment system.

“The website would support multiple payment methods, including credit and debit cards, QR code payment and Krungthai Fast Pay,” he said.

“Once have registered, you can place your bid and see the results in real time. The website will alert you when the highest bid price changes and when the bid time is almost over. Officials from the Treasury Department will contact the bid winner directly when the bid is over to notify contract details. As for those who did not win, the system will transfer the deposit back to the bank account specified during registration.”

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Ketamine worth Bt28.7 billion seized from warehouse in Chachoengsao

NationalNov 13. 2020

By THE NATION

Nearly 11.5 tonnes of ketamine valued at Bt28.7 billion were seized from a warehouse in Chachoengsao province on Thursday.

The Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) acted after a tip-off that a foreign drug network planned to ship the ketamine to Taiwan.

“The drugs are the largest amount ever seized in Thailand, with estimated value at Bt28.7 billion based on retail price,” said Wichai Chaimongkhol, ONCB secretary-general.

“Ketamine is a popular drug among nightclub-goers and foreign tourists, but it could cause hallucination and brain damage.”

The female owner of the warehouse in Tha Kham subdistrict, Bangpakong district, whose name was not disclosed, reportedly told officials that two months ago a man had rented the warehouse to store some furniture. He presented a Thai ID card which said he was a Chiang Mai resident named Aphichart Sae Ho, but the owner suspected that he might be from a neighbouring country, as he could barely speak Thai. “The man didn’t pay rent for two months, so I checked the warehouse on October 13 and found only white fertilizer bags and no furniture,” she said. “I tried to contact the man but received no response until officials showed up.”

Minister of Justice Somsak Thepsuthin said that the operation was a collaboration between the ministry, the ONCB, police, Customs Department, Airports of Thailand and other related agencies.

“We have been tracking this network for two months, and believe that the drugs were smuggled in via the Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai province and were kept in the warehouse to be shipped to Taiwan and other countries.”

Officials are investigating evidence as well as the money trail to track down persons behind this drug network.

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Cool weather with strong winds forecast for upper Thailand, rains continue in the South

NationalNov 13. 2020

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Friday that the rather strong high pressure system covering upper Thailand would bring cool to cold weather with strong winds to the areas.

Meanwhile, a strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South, causing isolated heavy to very heavy rain in the South. People in the South should beware of the severe conditions that may cause flash floods and water runoff, the department said. Waves about 2-3 metres high are likely in the Gulf and above three metres high during thundershowers. All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers and small boats should keep ashore on November 13-14, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weather with strong winds and rain in 10 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 13-19 degrees Celsius, maximum 29-32°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 8-10°C.

Northeast: Cool weather with strong winds and rain in 10 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 16-20°C, maximum 27-30°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 10-15°C.

Central: Cool weather with strong winds and rain in 20 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 19-20°C, maximum 26-29°C.

East: Cool weather with strong winds and rain in 20 per cent of the area; minimum temperature 19-21°C, maximum 28-31°C; waves two metres high and over two metres offshore.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 80 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy to very heavy rain; minimum temperature 20-23°C, maximum 26-32°C; waves two metres high and over three metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 23-24°C, maximum 30-33°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather with strong winds and rain in 20 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 21-22°C, maximum 29-30°C.

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Songkhla rescuers rehearse for ‘perfect storm’

NationalNov 13. 2020

By THE NATION

Officials in Songkhla province conducted a disaster-response drill on Thursday as part of preparations for storms during the rainy season.

Rescuers responded to a simulated situation in which a storm-hit fishing boat had collided with a car ferry.

The rehearsal was staged by the subdistrict administrative organisation (SAO) in Muang district. SAO official Praphan Srisuwan explained that the southern province was lashed by heavy rains and high wind between the months of October and January.

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Thailand ready to join world’s largest free trade agreement on Sunday

NationalNov 13. 2020Jurin Laksanawisit 

By THE NATION

Thailand is set to sign the world’s biggest free trade agreement at the 37th Asean Summit this week, the Commerce Ministry confirmed on Thursday.

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit is scheduled to sign the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on Sunday (November 15) at a virtual meeting of Asean countries and their partners.

The RCEP will cover all 10 Asean member states plus five partners: China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. India withdrew from the deal last year.

The RCEP will take effect from the middle of 2021 if at least six Asean members and three partners agree to its terms. The Thai Cabinet will consider the final agreement before it is sent to Parliament for final approval.

The largest free trade agreement will encompass almost 3.6 billion people (48.1 per cent of world population), with a combined GDP of more than $28.5 trillion (32.7 per cent of world GDP) and total trade value of over $11.2 trillion (29.5 per cent of world trade).

The deal will ease trade between members by reducing or scrapping tariffs, strengthening supply chains with common rules, and forging new e-commerce rules.

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National drought-management plan unveiled

NationalNov 13. 2020

By The Nation

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has announced its 2000-2021 drought-risk-management (DRM) plan in a bid to prevent a repeat of the severe water shortages that hit farmers earlier this year.

Deputy permanent secretary Samran Saraban said the ministry has drawn up a blueprint to combat uncontrolled usage of water which leads to shortages.

The blueprint will help guide government agencies to solve farmers’ drought-related issues, he added.

The “Smart DRM” guidelines will be presented to an agriculture-planning subcommittee considering plans for 5.12 million rai of agricultural land nationwide. Of this, 2.61 million rai will be used to grow rice and 2.51 million rai to grow vegetables.

Of the country’s rice fields, 1.12 million rai will be inside irrigation zones and 1.49 million rai will be outside.

Thailand’s irrigation system currently has 48.38 billion cubic metres of water reserves (64 per cent total capacity), of which 24.45 billion or 47 per cent is useable.

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Germany says ‘no evidence’ King is conducting state affairs from its soil

NationalNov 12. 2020Pro-democracy protesters deliver a letter to the German Embassy in Bangkok last month , asking its government to investigate whether the King is exercising his sovereignty from German soil.

By The Nation

Germany’s government has found no evidence that HM the King has conducted state affairs while on German soil, according to the country’s largest press agency.

 The Foreign Ministry said it expected the King not to make decisions that “contravene the German legal system, international law or internationally guaranteed human rights” while on German soil, DPA reported on Wednesday.

“The German government has no reliable evidence that the Thai king has taken any such decisions during his stay in Germany,” the statement continued.

“According to information from the Thai government, the Thai King’s stays in Germany are of a private nature.”

The government statement came in response to a parliamentary question submitted by a Greens MP, concerning what she said were the “increasingly harsh actions taken against the Thai opposition”.

Thai authorities have clamped down on pro-democracy protests in recent weeks, arresting dozens of activists and using water cannon to clear largely peaceful rallies.   

Last month pro-democracy protesters delivered a letter to the German ambassador in Bangkok, asking its government to investigate whether the King was exercising his sovereignty from German soil.

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THAI’s third quarter results show little light ahead

NationalNov 12. 2020

By THE NATION

In response to Thai Airways International (THAI)’s poor earnings in the third quarter of this year, acting president Chansin Treenuchagorn said the airline is doing its best to reduce costs to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 from the previous quarter.

The airline has been providing cargo services in certain routes and also organising special flights to repatriate Thai nationals. It is also placing more emphasis on the domestic market after its subsidiary, ThaiSmile began flying local routes from June 1 this year.

In the third quarter of this year, THAI and ThaiSmile’s passenger production had dropped 95 per cent, while passenger traffic had decreased 97.8 per cent. The average cabin factor was 34.9 per cent lower than last year, when the average factor stood at 80 per cent.

So far, only 490,000 passengers have been transported in the third quarter, marking a drop of 91.9 per cent from 2019. Freight production, meanwhile, was 96.2 per cent lower than the previous year, while freight traffic had dropped 93.6 per cent compared to 2019. The average freight load factor, however, was 91.2 per cent higher than the previous year, when the average stood at 52.2 per cent.

The total revenue earned by THAI and its subsidiaries in the third quarter this year was Bt3.73 billion baht less or 91.7 per cent lower than the Bt41.3 billion earned in the same quarter last year. The main reason for this was that revenue from passenger and cargo transportation had dropped by Bt37.66 billion (95.1 per cent) and revenue from other activities had dropped by Bt1.72 billion (56.2 per cent).

The airline’s total expenses stood at Bt19.38 billion or 59.5 per cent less than the Bt28.48 billion incurred last year, mainly due to reduction in flights.

Fixed expenses, however, remained high, while revenue earned was not enough to compensate for operating loss of Bt15.65 billion, which was Bt12.8 billion or 450.6 per cent higher than the same quarter last year.

THAI and its subsidiaries recorded a net loss of Bt21.53 billion, which was Bt16.85 billion or 360.1 per cent more than the losses incurred in the previous year.

Losses attributed to the owners of the parent company was Bt21.54 billion, representing a loss of Bt9.87 per share compared to last year’s loss of Bt2.14 per share.

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Thai troops quarantined after meeting with infected South Korea soldier

NationalNov 12. 2020Santipong Thampiya

By The Nation

The Army has ordered 177 officers into home quarantine after they attended a meeting in Rayong with a South Korean soldier who tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday. The November 2-6 meeting was held in Ban Chang district to plan next year’s Cobra Gold military exercise and was joined by officers from 10 countries. 

The unnamed Korean soldier arrived in Thailand on October 17, spent two weeks at an alternative quarantine hotel in Bangkok and then travelled to Rayong’s Bang Chan district for the meeting. He tested positive after returning to South Korea on Sunday.  

Army spokesman Santipong Thampiya said the 177 Thai officers had been sent home for 14 days of quarantine. Tests on 129 of the officers had come back negative, with 48 still waiting for their results, he added.

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THAI Warehouse Sale proves to be a resounding success

NationalNov 12. 2020

By The Nation

Thai Airways International (THAI) announced on Wednesday that all products put on sale via the TG Warehouse Sale Facebook page have been snapped up.

Related story:

THAI now selling products via Facebook

“We want to thank customers for their response and the company will process the orders as soon as possible,” the airline said, adding that more products will be made available soon.

The move was initiated by THAI’s management team to generate revenue and avoid the wastage of plates and utensils in stock since the number of flights is expected to drop significantly in the next couple of years due to the Covid-19 crisis.