Southeast Insurance, a subsidiary of Thai Group Holdings (TGH), will cease operations after disagreement in the board over its future direction.
TGH executive chairman Chotiphat Peechanon informed the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Wednesday about the decision made at a board meeting on Tuesday.
The company will cease operations after Thai Charoen Corporation Group pays Covid-19 compensation totalling 9.9 billion baht. The company has net assets of 1.8 billion baht with a capital adequacy ratio of 170 per cent.
The board of directors agreed to cease operations of Southeast Insurance and return the licence as the directors refused to transfer the company to Indara Insurance Pcl.
There are several Covid-19 risks associated with upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations from January 28 to February 3, Department of Disease Control hazard communications director Sumanee Wacharasin noted on Tuesday.
They are:
Family gatherings from many places for partying or worshipping of ancestors.
Ancestor worshipping among many family members “inside homes”.
Travelling to markets or supermarkets to buy offerings, causing crowds
Travelling to restaurants to dine or meet with extended families, friends
Travelling to shrines to make wishes or pay respect, leading to crowded venues.
Sumanee also advised strict prevention measures at high-risk venues such as restaurants, markets, shrines, or places for a family gatherings:
1. Deploy Covid-free personnel:
Organisers and staff must be vaccinated according to the criteria.
They must be tested with antigen kits not more than 72 hours before events.
They should evaluate the level of risk before entering and use Thai Save Thai or other related applications.
Everyone must follow the UP-DMHTA measure (universal prevention – distancing, mask wearing, regular hand washing, temperature checks and testing, and using the Thai Chana and Thai Save Thai applications).
Everyone must avoid activities with close contact, such as dancing or entertainment events.
Attendees/visitors must register and present their vaccination certificates or antigen test results within 72 hours.
They must evaluate risks before entering and use Thai Save Thai or other related applications.
They must follow UP-DMHTA measures.
3. Have a Covid-free environment
Follow Covid-Free Setting measures strictly.
Have screening points for staff, while attendees must register.
Clean the area, equipment and surfaces before and after an event. Toilets and contact points must be cleaned every 1-2 hours.
The audience should be kept at least five metres away from the concert/entertainment stages. Booths and stores at events must be separated by at least 1-2 metres.
The number of attendees must be limited to one person per four square metres and a sign must show the number of the audience. Avoid gathering at one spot.
Closed areas should be well-ventilated.
Walking areas, ventilation should not be blocked.
Reduce the number of spots for worshipping, use electric incense candles.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha led a team on an official visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to meet Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in order to strengthen ties between the two countries.
This marks the first time in 30 years that a Thai PM has visited Saudi Arabia.
Prayut’s team includes Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai, Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow, Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana and deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek.
The premier and his team received a warm welcome from Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud at Al Yamamah Palace at 8.30pm on Tuesday, according to a report by the Saudi Arabian press.
Don said the visit was the result of six years of work by the Foreign Affairs Ministry since trilateral discussions took place among Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at the 2nd Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Bangkok on October 9 and 10, 2016.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and Wednesday is the result of six years of work by the Foreign Affairs Ministry since trilateral discussions among Bangkok, Riyadh and Bahrain in 2016, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Tuesday.
The talks took place at the 2nd Asia Cooperation Dialogue on October 9 and 10, 2016, in the Thai capital.
Prayut had discussed ties and cooperation with Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, then-prime minister of Bahrain and then Saudi foreign minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir.
“The government has been working and following up on our relationship with Saudi Arabia for the past six years until PM Prayut made an official visit today [January 25], making him the first Thai PM to visit Saudi Arabia in 30 years,” Don pointed out.
Saudi Arabia downgraded diplomatic ties with Thailand, which were established in 1957, after the theft of around US$20 million (Bt659.7 million) worth of jewels by a Thai janitor in 1989. This sparked a long-standing row that became known as the “Blue Diamond Affair”.
“What happened in the past will not be brought up during this visit as it would not benefit anyone. Furthermore, every party involved in the incident has already been remedied,” said Don. “During this visit as a guest of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, PM Prayut will focus on discussing our future relationship and co-op projects between the two nations,” Don said.
“The Foreign Affairs Ministry also hopes a Thai ambassador will soon be appointed for Saudi Arabia following the success of this visit, which will greatly benefit the governments and people of both countries,” he added.
Prayut and his team will arrive back in Thailand on Thursday at 8.45pm via Don Mueang International Airport, where they will take RT-PCR tests and remain in isolation under Covid-19 preventive measures.
A meeting of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) approved a proposal to remove cannabis and hemp from the Category 5 narcotics list, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday.
Apart from Anutin, the others who attended Tuesday’s meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam at Government House included Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin and ONCB secretary-general Wichai Chaimongkhol.
The proposal was submitted by the Public Health Ministry’s controlled drugs committee to remove both plants from the list of illicit drugs. The move aims to promote the use of cannabis and hemp in medical, research, industrial and food applications and thus make them new “economic” crops. However, this only applies to cannabis and hemp grown in the country and excludes cannabidiol extracts with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) of more than 0.2 per cent.
“The plants that are still on the Category 5 narcotics list are opium, psilocybin mushroom and cannabis extract with more than 0.2 per cent of THC,” Anutin said.
“Tomorrow [January 26] the Bhumjaithai Party will present the drafts of cannabis and hemp acts to Parliament. We hope all MPs will vote for these, after which they will be announced in the Royal Gazette and become effective in the next 120 days,” he said.
“People who are interested in growing hemp and cannabis should wait until all the details of the two acts are finalised,” Anutin made it clear.
“From now on growing them will be much easier, but growers still need to register with related authorities and follow the restrictions on growing volume and application,” he added.
Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (January 26) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 7,587 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 156 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.
Death toll increased by 19, while 7,801 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 175,509.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,398,944 – 2,295,569 of whom have recovered, 81,299 are still in hospitals and 22,076 have died.
Separately, another 41,545 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 73,034 their second shot and 307,158 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 113,181,596.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 359.35 million on Wednesday, 284.68 million of whom have recovered, 69.04 million are active cases (95,828 in severe condition) and 5.63 million have died (up by 9,647).
Thailand ranks 27th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 73.45 million, followed by India with 40.08 million, Brazil with 24.33 million, France with 17.3 million and the UK with 16.05 million.
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Wednesday (January 26) that the high-pressure system covers the upper North and the upper Northeast while the upper westerly wind prevails across upper Thailand. Cool to cold weather with light fog in the morning are likely in the upper country.
Mountaintops in the North and the Northeast are cold to very cold with minimum temperature in the range of 5-15 °C. People in the upper country should take care of their health due to variable weather. All transports should take more caution due to poor visibility.
The Department also mentioned that the weak northeast monsoon prevails across the Gulf of Thailand and the South and brings isolated thundershowers to the South.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:
North: Cool to cold weather with light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 14-18 degrees and highs of 29-35 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-13 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Cool weather with light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 16-20 degrees and highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 10-15 degrees Celsius.
Central: Cool weather with light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 20-21 degrees, highs of 34-36 degrees Celsius.
East: Cool weather with light fog in the morning and isolated light rains; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and about a meter high offshore.
South (east coast): Cool weather in the morning with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 31-33 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and about a meter high during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-26 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius; waves less than a meter high and about a meter high offshore.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Partly cloudy with light fog in the morning; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees, highs of 32-35 degrees Celsius.
The first batch of orange cap Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 5-11 years will be delivered to Thailand on Wednesday, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Tuesday.
On receiving approval from paediatricians, these vaccines will be administered to children aged 5-11 years with seven chronic diseases.
“The next batch of orange cap Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines will be administered to Prathom 6 children and will be kept as a reserve for tackling any possible Covid-19 outbreak,” the CCSA said.
As of Tuesday, another 22,996 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 47,236 their second shot and 218,124 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 112,759,859.
Many tourists are upset about measures in Rayong province making it mandatory for all tourists to have an antigen rapid test kit (ATK) result, certified by an accredited doctor and medical facility, not earlier than 72 hours before arrival.
The tourists have been making their displeasure known through online posts. Most tourists are unaware of this information. Upon arrival, a medical examination fee of 330 baht per person has to be paid to a local hospital. Most of the tourists cancelled their trips and did not continue their journey.
Pathida Limprasit, a 52-year-old, took a group of 10 Swedish people to Samet Island. Pathida said that she and her team had travelled from Surin province. When the tourists learned that they had to pay for the ATK at 330 baht each, they decide to drop their travel plan, as they considered it an unnecessary expenditure when everyone had already had two vaccination doses, especially foreigners who have been quarantined and undergone tests many times.
Anan Nakniyom, deputy governor of Rayong province, said the measure had been in effect since January 20. Officials found that operators were affected. Tourists cannot accept ATK priced at 330 baht. He said there are many places providing services priced at 330 baht and 250 baht, or they. could buy an ATK to check at the hospital. Anna said the province is preparing to discuss with relevant agencies and entrepreneurs to find a solution so as to prevent further impacts on tourists and entrepreneurs.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed concern on Tuesday after the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) said it received over 11.5 million reports of “fake news” in the space of just one week this month.
The ministry said it handled a total of 11,540,617 reports of misinformation between January 14 and 20.
It found 231 messages of fake news covering 116 issues, including 21 issues related to Covid-19.
The fake news was divided into four groups: 74 items related to government policy or official information; 29 items related to health products; six items related to disaster; and seven items related to the economy.
Monitoring of Thailand’s internet has tightened considerably since the 2014 coup, triggering complaints from rights groups that the government is waging a war against free speech.
A government spokesman said citizens were becoming more aware of fake news on social media since the campaign against misinformation had increased the proportion of genuine news.
He said citizens could report fake news at the Line account @antifakenewscenter, https://www.antifakenewscenter.com/, Twitter @AFNCThailand, or call the GCC hotline 1111-87.
He added that Prayut was worried about the effect of fake news on people, especially during the Covid-19 situation. He asked netizens to verify information before sharing it with others.
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