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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019450

Construction of the high-speed railway between Bangkok and Nong Khai is on schedule, said a government progress report on Sunday.

Thailand’s first high-speed railway will link up with the China-Laos high-speed railway in a network that will eventually connect Kunming in China to Singapore.

First-phase construction of the project – a 250-kilometre high-speed railway from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima – is on schedule for completion in 2026, government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Sunday.

The first phase consists of six stations – Bangkok’s Bang Sue Grand Station, Don Mueang, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Pak Chong and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Traisuree said that of 14 civil construction contracts under the first phase, one contract had been completed, nine are under construction, one is being prepared and three have yet to be signed.

She said the second phase – a 357-kilometre high-speed railway from Nakhon Ratchasima to Nong Khai – is currently undergoing environmental impact assessment.

She added that the Department of Highways is cooperating with Laos on the construction of a bridge over the Mekong River for the high-speed railway.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul would lead a team to Laos for talks on the bridge construction in October, she added.

Published : August 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019448

Thais seeking jobs overseas have been warned to beware of advertisements on social media, especially on Facebook and Line.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said agencies under the ministry have received many complaints about Thais being deceived abroad.

“Most complaints are about reality not matching the job description, salary and welfare,” he said, adding that many Thais were also detained and threatened by employers.

He especially warned good-looking women seeking jobs in Myanmar to not respond to advertisements for receptionists at entertainment venues, hotels or casinos, as they will be deceived into becoming sex workers.

“Upon arrival in Myanmar, the victims will be shifted to North and East of the country near China, where they will be forced to provide sexual services,” he said.

He went on to say that people seeking jobs in Cambodia should beware of openings for online administrators or marketing officers in Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh, Poi Pet and Svay Rieng.

He said applicants are usually deceived into working in call centres to deceive Thais into investing.

“Thai middlemen often lure victims with too-good-to-refuse offers, including no work experience requirements, good income, free accommodation, meals and welfare,” Tanee said.

As for people seeking jobs in the Philippines, he said, people responding to ads for online administrators, public relations officers and marketing officers will most likely face unfair treatment.

“Upon arrival, victims will be forced into signing an unfair contract, have their passport seized and end up working very hard for no payment,” he said, adding that they will also be forced to talk people into gambling or making false investments.

Tanee Sangrat

He warned that people falling for these jobs often get detained, harmed, threatened or “sold” to other companies if they refuse to cooperate or fail to meet expectations. They are also required to pay huge sums of money to free themselves from slave-like conditions, he added.

Tanee said that Thai authorities cannot provide immediate help due to various factors such as geopolitical risks and legal procedures.

“Victims may end up having to pay fines or face prosecution in both Thailand and overseas,” he warned.

The spokesman said people seeking jobs overseas should respond to advertisements from government agencies or reliable private firms that clearly list qualifications, job description, income, welfare and contact information.

Job seekers can call the Department of Employment at (02) 247 9423, (02) 2484743, 1506 press 2 and 1694, or contact Employment Offices nationwide.

Those facing problems outside Thailand can call the

Department of Consular Affairs’ call centre at (02) 572 8442 at any time.

Published : August 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019447

Acting Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has instructed his Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) MPs to visit people hit by floods in two lower-North provinces.

PPRP spokeswoman Patcharin Samsiripong said on Sunday that party leader Prawit was concerned about people living downstream of dams swollen by heavy rain.

As a result, Prawit had assigned MPs to monitor the situation and provide urgently needed help in the flood-hit provinces of Nakhon Sawan and Phichit.

Sanya Nilsuphan, a Palang Pracharath MP for Nakhon Sawan, has visited her province to field complaints from flood-hit locals and coordinate rescue and aid efforts.

The spokeswoman added that PPRP MP Surachart Sribussakorn was also providing urgent help to Phichit villagers affected by floods.

Prawit also instructed PPRP to monitor the situation closely as the country would be hit by more storms over the remaining three months of rainy season, Patcharin said.

She said PPRP MPs were told to collaborate with government agencies to prepare evacuation plans in case of flash flooding.

Published : August 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019446

People have been warned to brace themselves for a dengue fever and hand-foot-mouth disease outbreak during the rainy season.

Government deputy spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Sunday that people should particularly protect themselves from dengue fever. She also cited figures from the Disease Control Department, which showed that 16,276 people had contracted dengue fever from January 1 to August 10, and 14 had succumbed to the virus.

She pointed out that most of those who had died from the virus were at least 35 years old, which means dengue fever is no longer a disease that only affects children.

She advised people to see the doctor immediately if they suffer from a high fever for more than two days, and especially if they develop a persistent headache, muscle pain and tiny red spots on the body and limbs.

Traisuree said visiting the doctor in time will help reduce fatalities.

She also encouraged people to get rid of mosquito breeding grounds like stagnant water or cover their water containers with a lid.

She said the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health has also warned parents and teachers to keep an eye out for head-foot-and-mouth disease among youngsters, especially kindergarteners.

Traisuree quoted the institute as saying that the spread of the disease will intensify during the rainy season and all children under five should be closely monitored. Infected children will develop a fever, fatigue, red blisters on the tongue and gums and clear blisters on their hands and feet.

Published : August 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019444

A popular YouTuber who claimed to be a successful forex trader has reportedly fled abroad after allegedly cheating thousands of investors out of 2 billion baht.

Natthamon Khongchak, better known as Nutty the YouTuber, defrauded over 6,000 victims, according to Phaisal Ruangrit, a lawyer who campaigns to help fraud victims.

Phaisal said one victim had deposited about 18 baht million with her.

On August 24, the lawyer led some 30 people to file complaints against Natthamon with the Economic Crime Suppression Division.

He said the YouTuber had used her popularity to lure victims with the promise of high returns in a short time.

Natthamon’s YouTube account, which is titled Nutty’s Diary, has over 800,000 followers but the last clip was posted some five months ago.

Natthamon claimed to be a successful forex trader and financial coach.

She invited people to deposit money in her account, promising 25 per cent returns for three-month contracts, 30 per cent for six-month contracts and 35 per cent for 12-month contracts. She pledged to pay returns every month.

However, in April, her customers began complaining that they had not received the payments as promised.

In a May 25 Instagram post, Natthamon said she had made a mistake in trading and lost all the money but promised to repay to her investors.

On June 24, she announced she was being sued in two cases and would not be able to repay other investors if she was jailed.

On Sunday, popular Facebook page Drama-addict posted that Natthamon had fled abroad. It added that one of her alleged victims, identified only as Nok, had offered a reward of 1 million baht to anyone who could provide information that led to her arrest.

The page said it received information that Natthamon had fled to Malaysia.

Published : August 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019443

Thailand being hit by nine storms at the same time was among the top 10 fake news items detected by the Digital Economy and Society Ministry from August 19 to 25.

Noppawan Huajaiman, the ministry’s spokesperson, said on Sunday that Thailand usually gets a lot of rain during August, which may have resulted in so many fake weather reports.

Apart from the nine storms that will supposedly hit Thailand, another fake report claims the country will be hit by three storms simultaneously.

Noppawan said the only way people can be sure of weather reports is if they read reports published by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) instead of believing rumours circulated on social media. She said weather can be monitored on the www.tmd.go.th website or by calling TMD’s 1182 hotline.

From last Friday to Thursday, the ministry has studied 319 social media posts and found 166 to be fake, she said. Noppawan added that 10 per cent of the fake news was related to weather and natural disasters.

The top 10 fake news shared on social media from August 19 to 25 were:

1. South Korea has created more than 3,000 jobs for Thai workers with monthly salaries starting from 70,000 baht.

2. The Government Savings Bank (GSB) lets people apply for loans worth 5,000 to 300,000 baht by registering via Line application.

3. GSB has launched a new website.

4. Thailand will be battered by nine storms simultaneously all this week, unleashing floods in Bangkok.

5. The GSB has sent text messages encouraging people to apply for loans worth 30,000 baht.

6. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) will let members of the public buy shares for as little as 1,415 baht.

7. Chewing and swallowing three papaya seeds without water can cure last-stage cancer.

8. The SET has launched an investment campaign with a starting fund of 950 baht.

9. The SET has launched an investment campaign with a starting fund of 899 baht.

10. Krung Thai Bank is taking applications for loans of up to 200,000 baht via Line.

Published : August 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019437

Thailand’s first electric amphibious boat and five electric pontoons will be tested at the Srinagarind Dam in Kanchanaburi from early next year.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) said on Saturday that it is helping the Bangkok Dock Company (BCD) build the electric boat and pontoons as part of Thailand’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The six-wheeled amphibious boat will be designed to run at about 40 kilometres per hour on land and at least 10kmph on water.

The vehicle, which will also feature audio, air-conditioning and CCTV systems, should be able to accommodate at least 20 passengers.

The boat’s keel-laying ceremony was held at BCD’s office in Chonburi’s Sattahip office on Saturday, EGAT said.

The five electric pontoons, which will be used for surveillance, will be designed to achieve speeds of at least 16kmph and accommodate up to six people, it added.

Published : August 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019435

Soldiers will join the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s Department of Drainage and Sewerage on Monday in setting up sandbag barriers to prevent flooding in the capital.

The move came after Acting Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan contacted Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt on Saturday, saying the government was ready to help with flood prevention efforts.

Prawit, who is responsible for national water management, also gave Chadchart his direct telephone number.

In response to the offer, BMA has requested a troop of 50 soldiers to help set up sandbag barriers in two areas, namely:

• 16,000 sandbags in the public park under Taksin Bridge in Sathorn district to protect southern Bangkok.

• 8,000-10,000 sandbags in the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard in Bangkok Noi district to protect Thonburi area.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM) had on Wednesday warned people in Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, Saraburi and Lopburi of possible flash floods caused by overflows from Pa Sak and Chao Phraya rivers. The level of both rivers is expected to rise from Saturday once the Pa Sak Jolasid Dam starts discharging huge amounts of water.

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) estimates Pa Sak Jolasid Dam will receive a hefty 133 million cubic metres of water between August 24 and 30, with the level of water in the dam reaching a massive 355 million cubic metres, well above its optimal level, the DDPM said.

Therefore, RID decided to bump up the dam’s water discharge from 34.56 million cubic metres to 43.2 million cubic metres per day from Saturday, which will drastically increase the water levels in both the Pa Sak and Chao Phraya rivers that flow through the six provinces.

Published : August 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019430

The Public Health Ministry reported on Sunday (August 28) that over the past 24 hours, 1,769 Covid-19 patients have been admitted to hospitals.

The death toll has risen by 27, while 2,305 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals. 

The number of cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stands at 2,422,977.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,646,412 – 4,596,636 of whom have recovered, 17,554 are still in hospitals and 32,222 have died.

Separately, another 6,539 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 13,021 their second shot and 37,183 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 142,668,189.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 605.60 million on Sunday, 580.78 million of whom have recovered, 18.33 million are active cases (43,581 in severe condition) and 6.48 million have died.

Thailand ranks 29th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 96 million, followed by India with 44.40 million, France with 34.46 million, Brazil with 34.38 million and Germany with 32.04 million.

Published : August 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019427

A new law to regulate decriminalised kratom comes into force today (August 27) following its publication in the Royal Gazette on Friday.

The law covers not only kratom leaves but also beverages obtained from boiling leaves and extracts of the plant, said government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek.

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. Its leaves have opioid properties and are used as a mild stimulant and painkiller.

The Kratom Plant Act of 2022 decriminalises kratom leaves and removes them from the list of narcotics.

The law allows the possession, consumption and use of kratom leaves. However, it places restrictions on the sale, marketing and advertising of leaves and on blending them with other psychotropic substances. Official permission is required to import or export the leaves.

Rachada said the new legislation requires that relevant state agencies encourage people to grow and process kratom for use in their communities and development as an economic crop.

“The government’s policy is to turn kratom into an economic crop and push for its medical use to create incomes for farmers,” she said.

She added that the law aims to prevent overuse and consumption of kratom by vulnerable people.

Anyone caught selling kratom leaves and products to children under 18, pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers faces a fine of up to 30,000 baht.

The sale of kratom is forbidden at educational institutions, dormitories, public parks, zoos and amusement parks, as well as from vending machines. Violators risk a maximum fine of 50,000 baht.

Import or export of kratom leaves without permission is penalised with a maximum of one year in jail and/or a fine of up to 100,000 baht.

The law also bans the advertising of kratom leaves or leaves mixed with psychotropic substances for recreational purposes. Violators face a maximum two-year sentence and/or a fine of up to 200,000 baht.

Published : August 27, 2022