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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016898

Dealing with all types of discrimination and developing a public health system to treat patients equally is key to tackling Aids, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday.

He made the remark after presiding over the 50th United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids Programme Coordinating Board conference (UNAids PCB) at the World Health Organisation’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Anutin said Thailand had raised public awareness on Aids as the disease still posed a threat to its public health system.

Thailand, he said, would promote three guidelines to tackle the problem:

1. Educating/helping teenagers so they don’t contract Aids as the disease affects their health and livelihoods. In addition, Aids also affects the country’s development potential.

2. Including Aids treatment in the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) system as many patients have been unable to access treatment. Thailand has also invited other countries to include Aids treatment under their UHC systems.

3. Dealing with all types of discrimination, such as in hospitals, educational institutions, workplaces and communities. Meanwhile, policies and laws related to discrimination must be launched to protect human dignity and ensure access to essential services.

Anutin also hoped humanity would be able to do away with Aids by 2030, or in the next 7-8 years.

Meanwhile, deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said the UNAids PCB conference, held from June 21 to 24, aimed to enable representatives around the world to present their goals and operating results to deal with Aids by 2030.

The conference will be held again in Thailand from December 13 to 15, she added.

Published : June 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016890

Skytrain operator Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) took to Facebook on Tuesday to urge passengers who have long hair to tie their hair when the train is crowded to prevent strands from getting into other people’s eyes or mouth unintentionally.

“Please mind your hair as it could hit others standing/sitting close to you when you turn your head,” said BTS “The tips of your hair can accidentally get into other people’s eyes or mouth,” it said.

The BTS suggested that long-haired passengers should tie up their hair during rush hour, or simply hold the ends of their hair while turning their head or walking past others in a crowded train.

“Doing so is an expression of courtesy toward others, and helps maintain a positive atmosphere throughout the trip on public transportation,” the company added.

Published : June 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016887

More digital lottery tickets will be available to the public via the Pao Tang application after July 17, while the government aims to add at least 10 million tickets per draw by the year-end, Prime Minister’s Office Minister Anucha Nakasai said on Tuesday.

The first batch of digital lotteries – 5.08 million – went on sale last month in a bid to tackle overpriced tickets. Sold at 80 baht each, all tickets were snatched up in just a few days.

“Online tickets are part of the government’s plan to promote a digital economy and cashless society,” Anucha said.

“For the last two draws [June 16, July 1], online tickets have been highly successful and can efficiently combat overpriced tickets. Furthermore, buyers will be automatically alerted via the Pao Tang application if their tickets win any prizes,” he said.

The government will continue to add more tickets from July 17 until the year-end, and will continue to improve the Pao Tang platform to increase system stability and provide increased cashless services in the future, he said.

Pao Tang is one of the government’s “super apps”, with a variety of functions that seamlessly connect with other government projects, including economic stimulus campaigns during the Covid-19 situation, Anucha added.

As for traditional tickets, the government will increase the number of stalls that sell tickets strictly at 80 baht each to 677 locations nationwide to ensure people can buy tickets at the intended price.

The government-approved stalls will sport the label “80 baht tickets”. Sellers must pass a screening process by the Government Lottery Office before they receive a ticket quota.

Published : June 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016886

Foreign actors shooting movies in Thailand will be exempted from paying tax for the next five years in a bid to attract filmmakers to Thailand and boost the country’s soft power.

Deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said the Cabinet approved the move on Tuesday.

Income from foreign filmmakers has increasing significantly, from an average 3.5 billion baht per year during 2017-2020 to 5 billion baht in 2021, she said.

“The government already has a measure to promote movie shooting in Thailand by providing a cash rebate of 20 per cent of what filmmakers spend in Thailand, capped at 75 million baht,” said Ratchada.

“However, in the past foreign actors have had to pay personal income tax from earnings in the country, on top of the tax they already have to pay in their country of origin. This could affect their decision to choose Thailand as a filming destination,” she said.

The government expects the tax-exemption move will help Thailand earn an additional 17.5 billion baht in the next five years from filmmakers, but will lose 71.75 million baht from loss of income tax, Ratchada added.

Published : June 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016885

Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (June 22) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 2,387 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, four of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 19, while 1,683 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,281,494.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,504,929 – 4,453,252 of whom have recovered, 21,152 are still in hospitals and 30,525 have died.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 545.79 million on Wednesday, 521.69 million of whom have recovered, 17.76 million are active cases (36,210 in severe condition) and 6.34 million have died (up by 1,235).

Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 88.24 million, followed by India with 43.33 million, Brazil with 31.82 million, France with 30.28 million and Germany with 27.33 million.

Published : June 22, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016882

A stove called “Maha Setthi” (millionaire), presented by the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, which aims to help conserve energy amid the rising price of cooking gas, went viral on Monday.

The department said that the stove has been developed based on sound academic principles, focusing on design and durability.

The stove can generate between 1,000 and 1,200 degrees Celsius of heat, adding that the cooking device has a lifetime of more than two years.

The department pointed out that the stove offers up to 30 per cent savings in consumption of firewood and charcoal compared to ordinary stoves.

In addition, the stove does not emit smoke and poisonous gas, as the fuel will be completely burned, it added.

The department said that “Maha Setthi” is more efficient in generating heat than ordinary stoves.

It said this stove will enable each household to save up to 600 baht per year in cost of firewood and charcoal.

The price of Maha Setthi stove will be around 200 and 250 baht, it added.

Published : June 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016881

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a new round of eight measures to soften the impact of rising fuel prices on people’s cost of living from July to September.

Existing measures scheduled to expire on June 30 will be extended and new ones added, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The eight measures are:

• Cap NGV price at 15.59 baht per kilo, discounted to 13.62 baht per kilo for taxi drivers, from June 16 to September 15.
• Gradually raise LPG price cap to 408 baht per 15-kilo canister in September, from 363 baht now. LPG price to increase three times between July 1 and September 30.
• Monthly 100-baht cooking gas subsidy for street vendors and state welfare card holders from July to September.
• Monthly 250-baht petrol subsidy for motorcycle taxi drivers.
• Instruct fuel retailers to cap diesel marketing fee at 1.40 baht per litre from July 1 to September 30.
• Ask oil refineries to contribute 8 billion baht per month from refinery margin to the Oil Fuel Fund for three months.
• Stimulate MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism by allowing companies to claim tax relief on expenses from July 15 to December 31.
• Asking citizens, businesses and the transport sector to save energy.

Prayut said the government was doing its best to relieve hardship, especially for poor people and businesses, adding that he did not expect the fuel-price crisis to end soon.

He also asked government agencies to prepare long-term plans to deal with the rising oil price’s impact on energy and food prices.

Meanwhile, an Energy Ministry source said talks with oil refineries on their contribution to the Oil Fuel Fund have not yet concluded.

The source said refineries in which the government has a stake, such as Thai Oil, PTT Global Chemical, Bangchak Corporation and IRPC, will cooperate with the ministry on this issue.

“However, the contribution [from Thai oil refineries] would not be high,” the source said, adding that intervening in the market to negotiate with foreign oil refiners “posed difficulties”.

Published : June 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016879

Hopewell (Thailand) announced on Tuesday that the company is correctly registered and that it will file criminal lawsuits against two state agencies to demand “our money” back.

The company’s director Colin Weir and two Thai executives called a press conference to denounce the Transport Ministry and the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) for launching a smear campaign to avoid paying the compensation, which now adds up to 27 billion baht.

In 2019, the Supreme Administrative Court ordered the ministry and SRT to pay 11.89 billion baht plus the accrued interest rate of 7.5 per cent to the company over the termination of a mega mass-transit project.

Weir said the ministry and SRT were trying to void Hopewell (Thailand)’s legal status with the hope of “not to return our money without fearing that the move would affect the government’s credibility in the eyes of international investors”.

Weir was referring to fresh attempts by the ministry and SRT to invalidate the establishment of Hopewell in Thailand by filing two separate lawsuits.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said the company was thought to have been unlawfully registered with the Department of Business Development, which is why the contract was voided.

The first case against Hopewell (Thailand) is being filed at the Civil Court to seek a ruling on whether the Hopewell project violated the National Executive Council Announcement No 281, which requires companies to be qualified and approved by the Cabinet before conducting business in Thailand.

The second case will be filed by SRT against the registrar of the Bangkok Office of the Central Company and Partnership Registration, who did not object to the registration of Hopewell (Thailand) even though it was in violation of the announcement.

Hitting back

Supat Tirachusak, who oversees legal affairs for Hopewell, said the company was planning to file legal complaints with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases against both agencies and some individuals for damaging the company’s reputation.

“We will go ahead with all legal procedures to take our money back. We don’t have any other motives,” Supat said.

“We have come out to speak today because the amount is not a so-called ‘stupid’ fee that the government has to pay. The money is the amount Hopewell has invested and paid in concession fees to SRT. Since SRT cancelled the contract, it should return the money to the private firm.”

Supat said Hopewell (Thailand) had been registered in line with the law, and its establishment was approved by the Commerce Ministry before it bid for the 80-billion-baht Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System in 1990.

“In 1990, the SRT certified that our company was registered properly, but then in 2021 it said our company’s registration was unlawful. This is not fair. The state agencies are not complying with the law, and we cannot accept this,” the lawyer said.

Long-standing row

The legal battle between Hopewell, SRT and the Transport Ministry was sparked two decades ago when SRT cancelled its contract with Hopewell in 1998.

Hopewell appealed against the cancellation with the Thailand Arbitration Committee, which ruled in favour of the company on September 30, 2008.

The arbitration committee ruled that the ministry and SRT must pay 11.89 billion baht in compensation to Hopewell (Thailand) to cover its investment as well as the cost of the contract guarantee and fee it paid to SRT, plus 7.5 per cent per annum interest.

When the Supreme Administrative Court issued an order in 2019 affirming the previous ruling, the amount had ballooned to 25.4 billion baht thanks to the cumulative interest.

Supat said on Tuesday that the sum now adds up to 27 billion baht and that the two agencies should pay up soon to avoid wasting taxpayers’ money on the accrued interest.

Published : June 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016875

More than 10 houses were destroyed after a fire broke out in the Bon Kai community in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Traffic radio JS100 first reported at 1.12pm that a fire had broken out in the community on Rama IV Road. There were no reports of any casualties.

Firefighters and rescuers travelled to the area and found that the fire had started at a two-storey wooden house and spread to nearby houses.

After around half an hour battling the fire, the firefighters still could not control it and had to install more nozzles to control the flames from spreading.

Meanwhile, traffic in the nearby area was closed to help a bedridden patient reach King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

It was reported later that the fire had started and spread in the area of the community where people lived in wooden houses. The narrow entry path to the community made it difficult for the firefighters to fight the flames. More than 10 fire trucks and some ambulances were standing by outside.

Praram Radio Center 199 reported at around 2.20pm that the firefighters were finally able to control the fire within the area, while JS100 reported at 2.33pm that the fire had been extinguished. Officials will investigate the cause of the blaze soon.

FM91 Trafficpro reported at 3.12pm that Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt will also travel to the scene.

Published : June 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016868

Most households in the Northeast plan to plant cannabis to eat or sell, but won’t smoke it, according to an opinion survey by Khon Kaen University.

The E-Saan Poll surveyed a random sample of 1,105 residents aged 18-plus across all 20 Northeast provinces, from June 17-19.

Asked if they plan to cultivate cannabis in their households, 51.1 per cent of respondents said yes while 46.9 per cent said no.

On whether they would eat foods containing cannabis, 73.2 per cent said yes while 26.8 per cent said no. But when asked whether they would smoke the newly legalised herb, 66.9 per cent said no while 33.1 per cent said they would smoke it, or at least try it.

The survey also asked respondents about cultivating cannabis as a cash crop.

Asked how they foresee the price of cannabis a year from now, 48.1 per cent said it would stay high enough to make cultivation profitable, while 35.2 per cent said it would drop to the level of vegetable prices and profits would be too low. Only 16.6 per cent expected the price of marijuana would support big profits from its cultivation.

Asked whether cultivating cannabis plants would reduce their poverty, 33.3 per cent said yes while 66.7 per cent said no.

On cannabis use by children, 48.6 per cent were worried it would affect their children’s studies, 33.5 per cent were moderately worried, and the rest were a little worried.

Asked whether legalisation would help reduce abuse of narcotics, especially of methamphetamine (“yaba”) and ketamine, 45.8 per cent said no, 24.5 per cent said yes, and the rest expected a surge in narcotics abuse.

More than eight out of 10 (83.3 per cent) supported the ban on cannabis in schools, hospitals, temples and government offices, while 12.5 per cent were opposed and 4.2 per cent had no comment.

Legalisation of cannabis was a campaign policy of the Bhumjaithai Party, a coalition partner in the Prayut government whose power base is in the Northeast.

Asked whether legalisation had boosted Bhumjaithai’s popularity in the Northeast, only 23.1 per cent said yes. Meanwhile 61.5 per cent said no and 15.4 per cent said its popularity had declined.

Asked which party they would vote for if an election was held now, 36 per cent of respondents said Pheu Thai, followed by Move Forward (19.5 per cent), Bhumjaithai (13.7 per cent), Palang Pracharath (13.6 per cent), Thai Sang Thai (11.1 per cent), and the Democrats (2.9 per cent).

Published : June 21, 2022

By : THE NATION