#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012034

Police are hunting Russian-speaking men over the Phuket murder of a Canadian passport holder who was wanted in both Canada and India.

Apolice source said the team investigating Mandeep Singh’s murder had received witness accounts that the gunmen spoke in Russian.

The new information surfaced on Monday when the investigation team, led by Provincial Police Bureau 8 Commissioner Ampol Buaraporn, met with representatives from the Canadian and Indian embassies.

Singh was gunned down on Saturday in front of a mansion in Rawai, Muang district.

Immigration Bureau records show the Indian-born Canadian first entered Thailand in 2016.

The investigation team was informed that Singh moved from India to Canada when he was 7 years old. He is a suspect in several major crime cases and fled to Thailand to escape a Canadian arrest warrant.

Singh joined a criminal gang dubbed the United Nations in Canada and used the alias “Slice” due to a prominent scar on his cheek, according to a police source at the meeting. In Canada, he was a suspect in the murder of a rival Red Scorpion gang member.

After fleeing Canada, he reportedly began a new career as a drug trafficker in India, where he is wanted on an arrest warrant.

The Thai police source said the investigation team was trying to establish the escape route taken by the gunmen.

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012028

The Interior Ministry will at the Tuesday Cabinet meeting propose that Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTSC)’s concession for BTS Green Line be extended by another 40 years.

In September last year, BTSC filed a lawsuit against Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) suing the city for 12 billion baht it is owed for operating the Green Line extension and another 20 billion baht it is owed for the train operating system.

The suit was filed after BMA reportedly failed to pay the debt within the April deadline.

“The Interior Ministry said the BMA-BTSC dispute has been resolved to an extent and therefore we believe it is a suitable time to propose an extension of the contract,” Deputy PM Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Monday.

“However, the ministry is prepared to suspend the agenda and study the proposal further in case the Cabinet requires it.”

Reporters on Monday asked if the Cabinet would delay its decision on the concession now that Democrat gubernatorial candidate Suchatvee Suwansawas has started negotiating with BTSC. Wissanu responded saying he did not believe Suchatvee’s involvement would affect the Cabinet’s decision.

“If the Cabinet approves the contract extension, opposition parties will still bring this issue up in Parliament to address questions they might have,” he said.

“Also, BTSC can file a lawsuit even after the Cabinet makes its decision if it feels the issue has not been properly resolved. We will try to fix the problem by ensuring that the concession for the BTS Green Line proceeds as planned.”

Related News

Prayut expects BTS-BMA Green Line battle to be resolved soon

Bangkok will remain Thailand’s capital, promises governor candidate Suchatvee

BTS suing City Hall for THB12bn Green Line debt

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012032

The highly transmissible Omicron variant is hammering up to 20 countries in Asia, accounting for most Covid-19 cases and deaths, a Chulalongkorn University lecturer wrote in a Facebook post on Monday.

Thira Woratanarat, Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Medicine lecturer, said 90.11 per cent of new Covid-19 cases and 80.64 per cent of deaths in Asia, Europe and North America could be blamed on Omicron.

“In Europe alone, Omicron accounted for 52.43 per cent of new cases and 29.43 per cent of deaths,” he said.

He added that though the Omicron outbreak was on a downward trajectory in many places, it was moving upwards in South America, Oceania and Asia.

“Up to 20 Asian countries, including Thailand, are in an upward trajectory based on weekly Covid-19 cases and deaths,” he said.

Thira added that it was not easy for Thailand to ease prevention measures like other countries due to differences in vaccine efficacy, the number of people jabbed and infrastructure.

He added that the government should make decisions on curbing the spread of the disease carefully based on factual evidence to prevent losses.

“Claiming that Omicron is less severe than the Delta variant may not be enough to make a decision,” he said.

He also said the government should realise that there is a possibility that Covid-19 will be prolonged and consider the effect it is having on people, the public healthcare sector and the state of the nation.

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012023

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will consider further easing restrictions despite rising number of Covid-19 cases, Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Monday.

Thanakorn said the CCSA is expected to review the measures for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV 2 virus and is likely to relax restrictions so that all businesses can resume and people can resume their normal life as much as possible.

The review of measures is expected at the next meeting of the CCSA, he said.

The spokesman said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed all concerned government agencies to monitor the Covid-19 situation after the number of new daily cases passed the 10,000 mark.

But the Public Health Ministry has assured the prime minister that although the Omicron variant can spread much faster than the previous Delta strain, the new strain did not cause serious illness and the number of fatalities and seriously ill patients had not increased much.

The ministry has assured the prime minister that the public health system can cope with seriously ill patients to prevent more fatalities while people with asymptomatic disease or mild conditions can enter home isolation programme, he said.

Since he has been assured that the situation is under control, Prayut has instructed all agencies to explain to the people that they can live with the Covid-19 virus with safety when they strictly comply with protection measures, the spokesman added.

On Monday, the Public Health Ministry reported that Thailand had logged 10,470 new Covid-19 cases during the previous 24 hours, 10,304 local infections and 166 imported cases.

So far, 284,036 people have been infected in the fourth wave since January 1, 2022.

The previous 24 hours saw 12 people die from the virus.

A total of 118 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered so far, including 52 million doses of first jabs, 48 million doses of second jabs, 15.44 million doses of third jabs and 1.15 million doses of fourth jabs.

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012019

Beauty queen Manita Duangkham Farmer, 22, beat four other finalists to be named Thailand’s most beautiful woman on Sunday.

The final round of the Miss Thailand competition, themed “Revival of the Original”, was held in CentralWorld Bangkok and broadcast live on True4U 24 channel.

The 53rd Miss Thailand beat four other contenders and took home a bouquet, sceptre, sash, crown and a cheque for 800,000 baht.

As this year’s Miss Thailand, Manita will serve as the voice of Thai society and will support people, especially underprivileged children. She is also expected to become Thailand’s ambassador for culture and tourism.

Related News

Body positive Anchilee congratulates new Miss Universe

Grand International queens arrive at their first Phuket gala in spectacular style

Excited Baitong Jareerat vies for Miss Earth crown

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012017

The Transport Ministry has announced it will invest 1.49 trillion baht on 37 projects this year.

The funds will be divided among projects in two categories:

• 516 billion baht for 13 ongoing projects
• 974 billion baht for 24 new projects

Meanwhile, the 24 new projects are divided into five categories:

• 281 billion baht for 12 road projects
• 1.35 billion baht for building Nakhon Phanom Cross-Border Logistics Centre
• 624 billion baht for five railway projects, namely:

1. 124 billion baht for MRT Purple Line extension (Tao Poon-Rat Burana)
2. 122 billion baht for MRT Orange Line (Tao Poon-Rat Burana)
3. 85.3 billion baht for dual-track railway (Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong)
4. 67.9 billion baht for dual-track railway (Ban Phai-Nakhon Phanom)
5. 224 billion baht for a high-speed railway linking three airports

• 7.56 billion baht for two sea projects, namely:

1. 6.12 billion baht for a project to tackle coastal erosion
2. 1.44 billion baht for restoring beaches

• 59.4 billion baht for refurbishing Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chumphon and Ranong airports

Related News

Transport Ministry studies Thailand’s road network to resolve country’s traffic woes

Police, transport dept discuss point system for motorists after doctor’s death

10-baht discount on Chalong Rat Expressway extended by another year

Bidding for government contracts has slowed down over the past two years with many projects being postponed due to Covid-19. Now that prevention measures are easing, the government will launch new bids to boost economic activities.

Bidding for the MRT Purple Line extension (Tao Poon-Rat Burana) was done at the beginning of this year.

Meanwhile, Asia Plus Securities said there is a positive outlook for the construction business this year now that the government has gone ahead with launching large-scale projects.

The next important project that will enter the bidding war will be the MRT Orange Line (Thailand Cultural Centre-Bang Khun Non). Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM) and BTS are expected to battle it out over this bid.
 

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012016

It will take at least one year before the impact of last month’s oil spill off the coast of Rayong is clearly visible, a Chulalongkorn University researcher said on Sunday.

“The authorities evaluate the impact of a chemical or oil spill from a short-term perspective, with no in-depth follow up on the effect it may have had on aquatic wildlife and the marine ecosystem,” said Prof Dr Woranop Wiyakarn, director of Aquatic Resources Research Institute and a professor at Chulalongkorn’s Marine Science Department.

“Coral reefs are mostly overlooked as they are often marked ‘clean’ once the oil slick is cleaned up,” he said. “In reality though, a large amount of oil and other toxic chemicals released in the water can affect the coral reef’s fertility, making them unable to discharge eggs and sperm to generate new coral.

“Even if some types of coral can still produce sperm and eggs, the residue of oil in the water can spoil them and halt the propagation of new reefs,” he added.

Woranop said the process of coral becoming infertile will show in about one year or more after the oil spill.

“Though the sterility is mostly temporary, it will take around three to five years for the coral to return to its original level of fertility,” he added.

Woranop also pointed out that the oil spill took place just ahead of the time corals release their eggs and sperm, which usually happens between February and April every year. Hence, he said, the damage done to coral reefs along Rayong’s shoreline would be worse compared to other oil-spill incidents.

“Researchers from Chulalongkorn University will survey the ecosystem in the area and test samples of water, soil and marine life over the next few months. We will then submit the results to relevant authorities so they can set a long-term rehabilitation plan and take steps accordingly,” he said.

Related News

Rayong shoreline hit by oil spill, area marked as disaster zone

Most of oil slick on Rayong beach, nearby areas ‘taken care of’

Star Petroleum announces compensation for Rayong oil spill

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012014

The last three households of the Prem Prachakorn community were finally talked into moving out by the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) on Friday.

“Several communities encroaching on the Prem Prachakorn canal [which connects Bangkok with Ayutthaya] have had to be removed to make way for the proposed dam construction,” BMA deputy permanent-secretary Narong Ruangsri said. “Since March last year, officials have been trying to talk them into moving out so the project, which was given the go-ahead in December 2020, can continue.”

Narong said the latest negotiation on February 4, which was the 11th one, was successful with families in the last three houses encroaching on the canal agreeing to move out. BMA expects to clear out the houses and have the area ready for construction by April 5.

The project covers a 5,350-metre-long dam along both sides of the canal, a pipeline to collect wastewater, a walkway behind the embankment and steel railings. The work is expected to be completed by January next year.

“Once completed, the floodwalls [dams] will boost the canal’s flood drainage capabilities and wastewater treatment. It will also improve the quality of life of people living along the canal,” Narong said.

BMA reported that some 1,469 houses of 13 allegedly illegal communities have been encroaching on the canal but have gradually moved out after negotiations.

Related News

BMA finds 13 communities encroaching on Prem Prachakorn canal

Bangkokians race to collect trash from Chatuchak canals, model may be applied to other parts of city

Renovation of Bangkok’s Banglamphu canal 40% complete

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012012

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is planning to add infertility treatment to the list of diseases covered in a bid to boost Thailand’s birthrate.

Births in Thailand have hit a critically low level with less than 600,000 deliveries reported for the first time in 2020.

“The NHSO board agreed in November to cover people who require infertility treatment. However, this coverage does not apply to surrogacy,” NHSO secretary-general Dr Jadet Thammathat-Aree said on Sunday.

“We have submitted details of infertility treatment coverage to the Department of Health and the Royal Thai College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, who will make necessary adjustments and then return it to the NHSO. The next step will be estimating the cost and annual usage of such benefits, so NHSO can allocate funds accordingly.”

NHSO reckons the final draft of the coverage will be ready before the government announces mid-year budget allocation.

“The NHSO will also ensure that people who are not ready to have children have access to free contraceptives [condoms and birth control pills], while those ready to be parents but are facing difficulties will also be covered under the national health security scheme,” Jadet said.

Related News

Call for free infertility treatment as Thailand’s birth rate plunges

Why Thai birth rate is on the decline

As birth rate crashes, Thai universities told they must ‘adapt or die’

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012005

Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (February 7) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 10,470 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 166 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 12, while 8,711 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 284,036.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,507,471 – 2,392,384 of whom have recovered, 92,784 are still in hospitals and 22,303 have died.

Separately, another 11,063 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 15,217 their second shot and 190,258 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 117,094,785.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 395.98 million on Monday, 314.91 million of whom have recovered, 75.31 million are active cases (90,593 in severe condition) and 5.76 million have died (up by 6,352).

Thailand ranks 30th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 78.02 million, followed by India with 42.27 million, Brazil with 26.54 million, France with 20.76 million and the UK with 17.8 million.

Published : February 07, 2022

By : THE NATION