#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009193

The TDRI’s boss is clearly not happy with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s (NBTC) stance in the expected merger of two telecom giants True Corporation and Total Access Communication (dtac).

Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) president Somkiat Tangkitvanich blamed the NBTC for “failing to do its job” when it did not oppose the planned merger.

On Monday the parent companies of both Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group and Telenor Group announced they had agreed to explore the creation of a new telecom-tech company comprising True and dtac.

“The new company will be a merger of equals, and bring out the best of the two local companies, with the support of its key sponsoring shareholders,” said the joint statement issued by CP and Telenor.

The rumour that CP and Telenor are in talks have been around for nearly a month.

“All three telecom operators in Thailand are benefiting from this news,” Somkiat said.

“In the past five days the price of dtac’s shares has jumped 17 per cent, while True shares went up 15 per cent. AIS, their sole competitor, also enjoyed a 7.7 per cent hike in share price,” the TDRI chief said.

“Investors have noticed that now that there will likely be two players in the market, there is no need for price cuts or inventing new services,” Somkiat pointed out.

“The deal could set Thailand’s telecom industry back by 17 years, as in 2004 there were also two operators in the mobile phone market – AIS and dtac,” he bemoaned.

“Back then operators used user-unfriendly strategies to secure more customers. They locked the IMEI [International Mobile Equipment Identity] number of phones, which practically forced consumers to buy phones only from the operators,” he said.

Somkiat said the merger would lead to a downgrading of service quality and the forced sale of bundle services that users plainly do not need.

“Consumers will also be affected by fewer choices and a variety of services, while startup companies which rely on support from mobile operators will gain fewer sponsors,” he said.

“The country’s digital economy could also be affected by this merger, as the development of digital infrastructure requires a competitive market where operators constantly push out innovations to stay ahead of one another,” Somkiat said.

“The NBTC should have immediately issued a regulation prohibiting the sale of any telecom business to an existing operator to prevent market domination, instead of letting the merger go ahead and wait to fix problems later,” he added.

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Published : November 24, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009183

Officials of Chiang Rai’s Pha Muang task force on Tuesday engaged in a gunfight with a group of drug smugglers while patrolling Thai-Myanmar border in Mae Fah Luang district in Chiang Rai province. After the shootout six of the gang members have been shot dead while nine backpacks containing over 1.8 million amphetamine tablets were found at the scene.

“The shootout took place at around 4am of Tuesday when the soldiers were patrolling Ban Li Se village in Mae Fah Luang district,” said Col. Chatree Sa-Nguantham, deputy commander of the task force. “They found a group of suspects of about 10-15 men trying to enter Thailand via a natural channel while wearing backpacks. They were also fully armed.”

Chatree added that as officials were signaling them to stop, the group opened fired at officials which prompted them to fire back. The gunfight lasted about 15 minutes before the group retreated back into Myanmar territory. 

Six drug smugglers shot dead by Chiang Rai task force

According to Chatree, the backpacks made from fertilizer sacs that the group left behind each contains about 200,000 tablets of amphetamine, which is type I narcotics under Thai law.

Six drug smugglers shot dead by Chiang Rai task force

Gen. Narit Thawornwong, commander of Pha Muang task force has ordered the deployment of additional soldiers along the Thai-Myanmar border in Chiang Rai to stop drug smuggling gangs from entering the country.
 

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Published : November 24, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009182

Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (November 24) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 5,857 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 228 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 55, while 7,318 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,081,992 – 1,979,871 of whom have recovered, 81,557 are still in hospitals and 20,544 have died.

Separately, another 197,148 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 320,501 their second shot and 39,743 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 89,894,183.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 258.44 million on Wednesday, 233.91 million of whom have recovered, 19.36 million are active cases (81,747 in severe condition) and 5.17 million have died (up by 7,603).

Thailand ranks 23rd in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 48.84 million, followed by India with 34.53 million, Brazil with 22.04 million, the UK with 9.93 million and Russia with 9.4 million.

Published : November 24, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009169

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Wednesday (November 24) that the high-pressure system covers the upper Northeast of Thailand and the South China Sea. Cool to cold weather with strong wind is forecast in the upper country with a decrease in temperature by 1-2 degrees Celsius in the North, the Northeast, the Central and the East regions.

The department also mentioned that the northeast monsoon across the Gulf of Thailand and the South has become stronger and causes more rains in the South. Heavy rains are possible in some areas. Waves in the Gulf are about 2 meters high and more than 2 meters high in thundershowers.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:

North: Cool weather with fog in the morning and isolated light rains; temperature lows of 21-22 degrees and highs of 28-32 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-15 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 15-19 degrees and highs of 27-31 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 10-14 degrees Celsius.

Central: Cool weather in the morning with strong wind; temperature lows of 20-23 degrees, highs of 28-30 degrees Celsius.

East: Cool weather in the morning with strong wind; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 meters high and 2 meters offshore.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 29-32 degrees Celsius; waves 2 meters high and over 2 meters during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 28-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 meters high and 2 meters offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning with strong wind; temperature lows of 22-23 degrees, highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius.
 

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : November 24, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40009166

Northeast monsoon winds prevailing over the Gulf of Thailand will strengthen and bring more rain and possibly flash floods to the South on Wednesday, the Water Resources Informatics Institute warned on Tuesday.

Heavy rains began lashing provinces in the South since Monday, though as of press time there were no reports of heavy flooding.

The provinces hit by very heavy rain include Prachuap Khiri Khan (Thap Sakae, Bang Saphan and Bang Saphan Noi districts), Chumphon (Sawi, Thung Tako and Lang Suan districts), Surat Thani (Tha Chana, Chaiya, Kanchanadit, Ban Na San, Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Samui) and Nakhon Si Thammarat (Khanom, Sichon, Nopphitam and Thung Song districts).

Published : November 23, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40009167

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the purchase of another 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of next year.

Thailand hopes this lot will include the new formulation Pfizer is developing for children.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the purchase agreement between Pfizer-BioNTech and the Department of Disease Control is being amended to include the new order.

Including this order, Thailand will have bought 60 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech so far, he said.

Published : November 23, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40009165

The Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) said on Tuesday that it wrapped up its Thai Ruam Jai project on November 15 after administering more than 3 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine in Bangkok.

TCC chairman Sanan Angubolkul said that though the project has officially ended, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is still providing free jabs for both locals and foreigners at the Thai-Japanese Youth Centre on Din Daeng Road.

Sanan said that over the past six months, TCC has received cooperation from businesses, banks, schools and help from more than 60 agencies in terms of venues, materials and volunteers.

He added that nearly everybody in Bangkok has received at least one shot of the Covid-19 vaccine, and the capital should use this fact to bolster the confidence of tourists. He added that a jump in consumer spending in the last two months of the year is very important as it will drive economic recovery next year.

However, he voiced concerns about people who have not been vaccinated yet, saying Thailand has enough doses in stock to cover more people.

Published : November 23, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009163

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Tuesday morning personally checked out the progress being made in the improvement of Rama I Road from Pathum Wan to Ratchprasong intersections.

The project of improving the capital’s Pathum Wan area was launched on October 1 and should be completed by March 29. The aim is to improve the kerb, footpaths, the road surface and the road’s median strip. The project will also see the installation of 134 smart street lights and fences to prevent accidents. Footpaths will also include Braille blocks and wheelchair ramps for disabled people.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said also on the agenda is the repair and improvement of the area’s sewage system and underground cabling.

The project is 5.36 per cent complete, and BMA expects the area between Siam Square Soi 3 and Soi 7 to be completed before the end of the year. Meanwhile, work between Siam Square Soi 3 and Ratchadamri Road and from Phya Thai to Ratchadamri Road to be completed before Songkran next year.

This project will serve as a model for other road improvement projects in the capital.

Bangkok governor checks out Siam Square road-improvement project

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Published : November 23, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009160

A popular Facebook page on Monday posted reports of people allegedly suffering severe hair loss after receiving Covid-19 jabs and called on the government to take responsibility.

The call was sparked when a 19-year-old’s post about him losing a lot of hair after getting two Sinovac shots went viral mid-last week.

On Monday, the Facebook page “Yark Dung Diew Jud Hai (I can make you famous), Return Part 1” revealed four similar cases.

The first case had received the first AstraZeneca jab but refused the second jab after developing severe hair loss. Two had started losing their hair after getting the second dose of Sinopharm vaccine, and the fourth case was a nurse who had received a Pfizer booster.

The page said many people were suffering from such side-effects and that the government should acknowledge this problem and offer treatment or at least some advice instead of leaving people to find solutions on their own.

Related news:

• Over 4,600 people paid compensation for vaccine side-effects: NHSO
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• If you go out in public, attend events, you may have to prove you’re vaccinated

Facebook page launches campaign over complaints of severe hair loss from Covid jabs

Published : November 23, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009158

Tan Thaugsuban, son of veteran politician and protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, along with three others appeared at the Criminal Court on Tuesday to acknowledge a retrial of the 2013 forest encroachment case.

The other defendants are Phongchai Fathaweeporn and Samart Ruangsi from Panya Construction Ltd and Suthep’s former secretary Banjerd Laopiyasakul.

Tan and Banjerd allegedly sold the land in question to the construction company.

Suthep’s son, 3 others back in court over Samui forest encroachment case

In 2013, all four were accused of illegally felling trees and occupying a 14-rai plot of forest land on Koh Samui island in Surat Thani. The prosecution also accused the four of building a reservoir on the land without permission.

In 2016, the court sentenced Tan and Banjerd each to three years in jail, while Phongchai and Samart were each slapped with a five-year term. They filed an appeal after they were released on bail.

In October 2018, the Appeal Court reversed the lower court’s ruling, but the Supreme Court rejected this decision and ordered the court to re-examine the case.

Tan’s lawyer Sawat Charoenphol said the court session on Tuesday was mainly to read the Appeal Court’s verdict to the defendants again.

“The court said it would examine the evidence that led to the ruling that the land in question was not encroaching on forest land,” he said. “Though the actual plot is larger than what is described in the NorSor3 document [detailing land utilisation for the Land Department], there is evidence proving that the land was never part of the national forest and had previously been owned by other people.”

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Published : November 23, 2021

By : THE NATION