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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017181

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is celebrating His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 70th birthday with a special steam train route on July 28.

SRT public relations chief Ekkarat Sri-Arayanphong said the historical Bangkok-Ayutthaya route is for Thais to be a part of the celebration and show their loyalty to His Majesty.

The SRT will operate World War II era Pacific steam locomotives No 824 and 850 manufactured by Nippon Sharyo.

The trains will depart from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Station at 8.10am and arrive in Ayutthaya at 10.25am.

On the way, passengers will be picked up at Samsen, Bang Sue, Bang Khen, Lak Si, Don Mueang and Rangsit stations.

The travellers can spend up to six hours in Ayutthaya before hopping back on the steam train of choice at 4.40pm and arriving at Hua Lamphong at 6.55pm.

Ekkarat said this is one of six special occasions which will see the Pacific steam locomotives brought back into service.

They would also support domestic tourism, generating revenue and employment for the local community, he added.

Tickets cost 299 baht per person and will include snacks.

Those who are interested can reserve a seat at any train station or via the D-Ticket system.

Passengers must be fully vaccinated and must present their Digital Health Pass on the Mor Prom application or a negative ATK test result taken not more than 72 hours before boarding.

The SRT will run another special steam train on August 12, from Bangkok to Chachoengsao. 

Tickets will go on sale from July 13.

Published : June 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017180

The Transport Ministry will delay a fare hike of the MRT train plying the Chaloem Ratchamongkhon route, also known as Blue Line, until December 31 in a bid to help alleviate people’s financial burden.

The Blue Line fare was originally scheduled to rise by 1 baht from the sixth station onwards and capped at 43 baht from July 3.

Minister Saksayam Chidchob said on Wednesday that the ministry had proposed the price hike to the Cabinet in March in keeping with the concession contract with the operator, Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA). Under the contract, the fare must be revised every two years based on the Ministry of Commerce’s current consumer price index. The current fare is due for revision on July 2.

The Cabinet on Tuesday gave the green light to increase the fare by one baht at the sixth, ninth, 11th and 12th stations from July 3 onwards.

“To help reduce the people’s cost of living, the MRT Blue Line fare will remain the same until the year-end, starting at 17 baht and capped at 42 baht,” said Saksayam. “Furthermore, children under 14 years old with height not over 120cm and elders aged 60 and over will get 50 per cent discount, while students aged not over 23 years will get 10 per cent discount on MRT fares until December 31.”

MRT Blue Line has a total length of 48 kilometres and 38 stations, starting at Tha Phra station in Bangkok Yai district and terminating at Lak Song station in Bang Khae.

Published : June 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017174

A tropical depression will batter 38 provinces from Thursday to Saturday, the Thai Meteorological Department warned on Wednesday.

An active low-pressure cell over the northern South China Sea has intensified into a tropical depression with maximum sustained wind speeds of about 55 km/hr, the department said.

From Thursday to Saturday, the southwest monsoon will intensify over the Andaman Sea, other parts of the country as well as the Gulf of Thailand, just as a monsoon trough lies across the upper North.

More rain is forecast across the country, with heavy to very heavy showers in some areas of the North, the Northeast, the Central region, the East and the South (west coast), the department said.

It warned people to beware of severe conditions that may cause overflows and flash floods.

It also advised all forms of transport to proceed with added caution and avoid passing areas experiencing thundershowers, while farmers should take action to protect their crops.

These will be the affected areas:

June 30

• North: Chiang Rai, Phayao and Nan.
• Northeast: Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan.
• East: Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.
• South: Ranong, Phang-nga and Phuket.

July 1

• North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Lampang, Uttaradit, Tak, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun.
• Northeast: Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani.
• Central: Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi.
• East: Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.
• South: Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket and Krabi.

July 2

• North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Tak, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun.
• Northeast: Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani.
• Central: Uthai Thani, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi.
• East: Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat.
• South: Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket and Krabi.

Coastal winds will also be stronger.

In the Andaman Sea, winds will whip up 2-metre-high waves and more than 2 metres in areas with thundershowers.

The upper gulf will see waves of around 1-2 metres high and 2 metres in areas experiencing thundershowers.

All ships are warned to proceed with caution and keep away from areas with thundershowers.

The department said the public could follow warnings and up-to-date information via the website http://www.tmd.go.th, or call 0-2399-4012-13 or hotline1182.

Published : June 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017171

The Thai embassy in Seoul has issued a warning to Thais against taking marijuana, hemp and products with their ingredients into South Korea, saying they can be put in jail.

The warning was posted on the embassy’s Facebook page on Tuesday.

The warning is aimed at Thai tourists and those who plan to stay or work in South Korea.

The embassy said that people who are caught smuggling cannabis and hemp into South Korea could face five years in jail and even life imprisonment.

It said people caught planting or selling marijuana and hemp would face a jail term of at least one year, while being in possession of the plants or consuming them would get a punishment of five years in jail.

The warning notice also added thay those who have completed their jail term would be deported and would be blacklisted and prohibited from visiting South Korea again.

Published : June 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017166

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) wants the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) to pay for the damages on its property due to the fire at Sampheng market in Bangkok on Sunday.

According to witnesses, a transformer outside a three-storey shophouse burst into flames on Sunday morning, torching a row of shophouses.

The blaze, which killed two and injured 11 others, took firefighters more than two hours to control. The fire also reportedly damaged four cars and three motorcycles.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Tuesday that people are now uncertain about the safety of electricity transformers near residences after the accident.

He said 400 transformers had been installed in inner Bangkok, adding that the MEA has increased the frequency of transformer maintenance to every six months.

“Many lessons are being learned from this fire,” he noted.

Chadchart said the BMA would ask cable owners, especially the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, to remove unused cables for “safety and order”, starting in Yaowarat.

He urged the MEA to take responsibility for the damages on BMA property similar to alleviating the suffering of victims.

He pointed out that it is necessary to remove unused cables before burying the remaining underground in a bid to mitigate the risk of fire.

Chadchart said he would discuss with Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn the need to bury cables underground, while the 20-billion-baht budget to tackle the issue was just too high.

“Expenses will not be too high if the BMA tackled the issue on its own, so it has to study all the details,” he said.

Chadchart said Krungthep Thanakom chairman Thongthong Chandrangsu has been appointed to check the details.

He added that the BMA would be pleased if the DES Ministry also pitched in with a budget to tackle the problem.

Separately, Chadchart said the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority would look for areas to set up water dispensers across the capital. He confirmed these would not obstruct pedestrians and the water would be clean to drink.

“This will help people save money on buying drinking water and reduce the volume of plastic waste,” he added.

Published : June 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017164

A handful of airlines have rolled out attractive promotions in response to the government’s extension of its “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) tourism co-payment scheme, which will take off next month with rooms and flight discounts for 1.5 million domestic travellers.

Each eligible Thai can book up to ten discounted room nights from July 1 for travel from July 8 to October 31 after registering on June 27. They can also book discounted flights from July 3.

Thai Smile is offering air fare discounts of up to 17 per cent from July 1-10. Passengers who book from July 3-5 can win free air tickets and hotel packages under the airline’s 7.7 campaign. Top spenders in July will also get two round trip tickets to a selected destination.

Additionally, to celebrate the airline’s 10th anniversary, customers can load 20kg of luggage for free, avail of free snacks and beverages to-go, and no credit card fee throughout July.

Thai AirAsia meanwhile offers domestic air fares starting at 590 baht for members and 633 baht for non-members. Tickets can be reserved from now until July 3 for trips from July 11 to September 30. Passengers who book through the AirAsia Super App will receive a 400-baht discount after entering the PayDayTH400 code in the payment page (only applicable for fares amounting to over 1,000 baht).

Bangkok Airways is celebrating its new direct flights: Bangkok-Hat Yai (2 flights a day) and Samui-Hat Yai (3 flights a week) starting July 16 at only 890 baht (one way). Reservation is open until September 30. The airline also offers free 20kg luggage loading, free use of its boutique lounge before flights, a snack pack and free seat selection in advance.

Thai Lion Air is offering domestic flights starting at 1,000 baht with free 10kg luggage loading and no credit card fee for trips before October 31.

Nok Air is also holding a promotional campaign until the year-end. You will get a coupon for each air ticket purchased to win prizes valued at more than 7 million baht, including a Mercedes Benz C220D, three gold bars weighing 1 baht each and 20 air tickets to any domestic destination.

Published : June 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017161

As Covid-19 transitions from a pandemic to an endemic disease, it will eventually become like the flu, Chulalongkorn University expert virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan said on Wednesday.

“Flu spreads every year, and the variant also changes each time it spreads, meaning vaccines used must be adjusted accordingly,” Yong said in a Facebook post.

“Most importantly, you can still catch a flu even after recovering from one.”

Yong pointed out that Covid-19 has shown similar characteristics since it was first discovered in Wuhan.

“We have seen new variants periodically, from G to Alpha, Delta, Omicron BA.1 and currently Omicron BA.5. When a new variant becomes dominant, the old ones gradually disappear,” he said.

“Similar to the flu, you can catch Covid-19 again after recovering from it,” he noted.

Young said the flu and Covid-19 virus constantly change variants to overcome immunity, therefore a new vaccine needs to be developed to combat the new variant.

“People who received several shots of Covid-19 vaccine can still get infected, that is because the vaccine we use is still a first-generation one designed to fight the original virus,” he said.

Although a new type of Covid-19 vaccine has yet to come out, infections currently show a downward trend as people who have recovered from the disease have stronger immunity, while the new variant also tends to cause milder symptoms, he said.

“Being infected with the virus is like receiving a natural vaccine to raise your immunity,” said Yong. “However, the downside is that vulnerable people could still develop severe symptoms and die after infection. Therefore, we need to develop a next generation of vaccines to fight new Covid-19 variants, ideally with coverage of new and existing variants – just like a flu shot that we give to vulnerable people every year,” he added.

Published : June 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017159

A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday has approved a motion to increase the fare of MRT train in Chaloem Ratchamongkhon route, also known as Blue Line, to starting at 17 baht and capped at 43 baht from July 3 onward, a news source revealed.

The move was proposed by Ministry of Transport as the concession contract with the operator Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) stipulated that fare must be revised every two years based on Ministry of Commerce’s current consumer price index, whereas the current fare is due to revision on July 2.

The new fare is hiking from the original fare by 1 baht at the 6th, 9th, 11th and 12th stations. Therefore, from next Sunday the fare for traveling six stations on Blue Line will increase from 28 to 29 baht, nine stations from 35 to 36 baht, 11 stations from 40 to 41 baht, and 12 stations and over from 42 to 43 baht.

The new fare will also be in effect for two years.

MRT Blue Line has a total length of 48 km. and 38 stations, starting at Tha Phra station in Bangkok Yai subdistrict and terminating at Lak Song station in Bang Khae.

Published : June 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017158

Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (June 29) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 2,569 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19 in the country.

Death toll increased by 14, while 1,984 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,296,785.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,520,220 – 4,466,557 of whom have recovered, 23,029 are still in hospitals and 30,634 have died.

Separately, another 6,963 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 11,875 their second shot and 37,850 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 139,682,145.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 550.82 million on Wednesday, 526.39 million of whom have recovered, 18.07 million are active cases (36,662 in severe condition) and 6.35 million have died (up by 1,326).

Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 89.03 million, followed by India with 43.44 million, Brazil with 32.21 million, France with 30.83 million and Germany with 28.05 million.

Published : June 29, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017153

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a budget of 330 billion baht to enhance infrastructure, utilities and communication networks in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The money will be spent on 71 projects up until 2027.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the Cabinet also waived value-added tax for data centre operators to support Thailand’s goal of becoming a regional digital hub.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet discussed establishing a fund to assist manufacturing and service companies affected by free trade agreements.

Prayut also vowed to seek ways to boost the country’s potential in the logistics, smart industries and clean energy sectors.

Prayut said he believed the EEC would become the economic engine of both Thailand and the Asean region.

Separately, Prayut declined to answer press questions on whether the Palang Pracharath Party would propose more than one person as its prime minister candidate for the next election. Prayut was the party’s PM candidate at the last election but fared badly in a recent Nida opinion poll. Prayut was only the fourth most popular choice for next prime minister in the poll, which was topped by Pheu Thai’s Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Published : June 28, 2022

By : THE NATION