#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009059

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered tighter border security to ensure no weapons or drugs are smuggled into Thailand, and also because he is concerned about the crisis in Myanmar.

Defence Ministry spokesman General Kongcheep Tantrawanit said on Saturday that Deputy Defence Minister General Chaichan Changmongkol met with the armed forces, police and Internal Security Operations via teleconferencing to discuss security and tackling possible Covid-19 outbreaks now that the country has reopened.

Chaichan told the meeting that the premier has ordered every force, especially border security units, to be particularly careful and intercept smugglers. He said the premier is concerned that once Thailand eases its lockdown measures, illegal border crossers may be infected with Covid-19 or may bring drugs or illegal goods into the country.

The minister added that Prayut has also ordered the forces to intercept and deal with weapon traffickers at the border. He also said that every regiment has been instructed to strictly guard its armoury and the authorities have been instructed to ensure no government officials are involved with the smuggling cartels.

Tighter border security as Thailand slowly reopens to outside world

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Published : November 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009057

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Friday decided to increase the electricity tariff rate by 0.139 baht per unit between January and April next year. This will make it more expensive by 4.63 per cent which will be 3.78 baht for each unit on average.

ERC secretary Komkrit Tantrawanich said the tariff had to be increased due to a weakening baht, a drop in hydroelectric power supply from outside Thailand and a reduction in the use of fossil fuel.

Moreover, he said, the price of natural gas is rising in line with the jump in crude oil prices. Thailand also has to import liquified natural gas (LNG) to make up for the drop in natural gas supplies in the Gulf of Thailand.

He said the ERC has supported the government’s policies and kept power bills low over the past two years. However, now that the Covid-19 crisis is easing and many economies are starting to recover, the energy demand is rising. This increase in demand has resulted in a jump in the price of both oil and natural gas.

Komkrit said the ERC has used four factors to determine the tariff increase in the first four months of 2022. They are:
• Estimated demand during the period
• Estimated proportion of fuel used to generate power during that period
• Estimated average fuel price from January to April 2022
• Average foreign exchange rate from September 1-30, 2021

The ERC will adjust the tariff every four months instead of increasing it in one go to ease the burden on residents. Komkrit said the ERC will keep an eye on the oil and natural gas situation and hopes the price drops in the future.

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ERC is collecting public opinion on the subject via its website, https://www.erc.or.th/, until November 25.

Published : November 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009054

In the morning after Loy Krathong, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said it had collected 403,235 krathongs from different waterways in the capital.

The collection period was between 8pm on Friday and 5am on Saturday.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said of the krathongs collected, 388,954 were made of natural materials, while 14,281 were made with Styrofoam.

He also said the number of krathongs collected this year has dropped by 18.13 per cent from last year, while the number of eco-friendly krathongs has risen to 96.46 per cent compared to 96.40 per cent last year.

In addition, BMA’s call for krathongs to be limited to one per family has helped cut down the number of floats collected over the past three years. Last year saw 492,537 krathongs, 502,024 in 2019 and 841,327 in 2018.

Out of Bangkok’s 50 districts, the one with the highest number of krathongs was Chatuchak, where 12,595 were collected, while the lowest number was Bang Sue where only 99 were collected. Chatuchak also led the list in having the most eco-friendly krathongs, with 12,240, while Khlong Sam Wa district had the highest number of Styrofoam krathongs with 470.

BMA sweeps Bangkok waterways clean after Loy Krathong, most floats eco-friendly

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Meanwhile, the most environmentally friendly districts were Phra Nakhon, Bangkok Yai, Bang Khae, Min Buri, Prawet, Thawi Watthana and Sathorn.

Eco-friendly krathongs, mostly made from bread or other organic materials, will be sent to a fertiliser factory, while the Styrofoam krathongs will be sent to a landfill or incinerated.

BMA sweeps Bangkok waterways clean after Loy Krathong, most floats eco-friendlyBMA sweeps Bangkok waterways clean after Loy Krathong, most floats eco-friendlyBMA sweeps Bangkok waterways clean after Loy Krathong, most floats eco-friendlyBMA sweeps Bangkok waterways clean after Loy Krathong, most floats eco-friendlyBMA sweeps Bangkok waterways clean after Loy Krathong, most floats eco-friendly

Published : November 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009051

Thailand’s anti-trafficking police taskforce, in cooperation with Cambodian authorities and the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh, rescued a group of Thais forced to work in slave-like conditions and arrested several others over human-trafficking charges.

Pol Lt-General Surachet Hakphan, assistant to the National Police chief, said on Friday that police had received a tip-off about some 300 Thais working inside a building in Phnom Penh.

“Officials raided the building and arrested nine Thais who had allegedly brought the victims to work there and 20 Chinese nationals who allegedly run the operation. Investigation is ongoing and additional evidence is being collected to arrest others who may be involved.

“After the raid, officials learned that the victims were being forced to work almost 20 hours daily for an illegal call centre that runs romance scams targeting people in Thailand,” he added.

“These people were forced to live in the building, not allowed to use phones or call their families and were physically abused if they were caught calling home.

“Many of the victims have signs of physical abuse on their bodies,” Surachet said.

He added that 214 of the workers have returned to Thailand, while another 99 are waiting for their documents to be processed. “The second group of people should return home within two weeks,” he said. “All Thai and Chinese nationals who have been detained will be brought to Thailand for prosecution.”

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Published : November 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009038

Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (November 20) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 6,595 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 220 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 53, while 8,478 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,057,575 – 1,949,332 of whom have recovered, 87,885 are still in hospitals and 20,358 have died.

Separately, another 224,587 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 414,568 their second shot and 36,893 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 88,330,952.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 256.97 million on Saturday, 232 million of whom have recovered, 19.81 million are active cases (79,226 in severe condition) and 5.16 million have died (up by 7,461).

Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 48.52 million, followed by India with 34.5 million, Brazil with 22 million, the UK with 9.77 million and Russia with 9.26 million.

Published : November 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009036

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Saturday (November 20) that the weak high-pressure system covers upper Thailand and the South China Sea while the easterly wind prevails over the lower Northeast, the East and the Central. Cool weather with morning fog is forecast in the North and the Northeast. Isolated rains are possible in the lower Northeast, the East and the Central. All transports should proceed with caution in foggy areas.

The department also mentioned that less rain is likely in the South due to the weak northeast monsoon that prevails across the Gulf of Thailand and the South.

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

North: Cool weather and fog in the morning with isolated light rains; temperature lows of 20-23 degrees and highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 10-16 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool weather and fog in the morning with isolated light rains; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees and highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 13-17 degrees Celsius.

Central: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.

East: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters offshore.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 40 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves a meter high and 1-2 meters offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Mostly cloudy with isolated light rains; temperature lows of 26-27 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : November 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009028

Of Thailand’s over 70 million people, only some 11 million have not received a Covid-19 jab, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Friday.

“Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has tasked the Department of Disease Control to find these people and have them vaccinated as soon as possible, ideally before December 15, to help achieve herd immunity,” he said. “This timeframe is not difficult as the current vaccination rate stands at around 700,000-800,000 doses daily. Covering 11 million people in 30 days will require us to average slightly more than 300,000 recipients per day.”

The minister said vaccination venues or doses available are not the only things that ensure a 100-per-cent vaccination rate. It also requires persuading those who are on the fence to get vaccinated.

“Public health volunteers are advised to go door to door to convince those who have not received a jab, especially the elderly who don’t go outdoors and believe they don’t need to be vaccinated because they have little contact with outsiders. It is these people who are most vulnerable, as they can be infected by family members.

“Convincing these people to get vaccinated is the only way to make everybody safe,” Anutin added.

Vaccinating the 11 million on the fence will help Thailand achieve 100% jab rate: Anutin

The minister said more than 86 million doses have been administered since the vaccine rollout was launched in February, and the government will procure at least 90 million doses next year to ensure everybody gets a booster shot.

“AstraZeneca will deliver 60 million doses next year, while Pfizer will deliver 30 million doses,” he said. “We will also have access to other types of vaccines, including the one produced by Novavax and the one being developed by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation.

“Achieving a 100-per-cent vaccination rate is a huge milestone and will prove to the global community that Thailand has an efficient public health system and that the government is serious about taking care of its citizens,” Anutin said. “This is the target we should all aim to achieve.”

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Published : November 19, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009027

Organisers of the Miss Grand International 2021 pageant invested more than 20 million baht on supercars, so the 60 beauties could arrive in style at the glamourous welcome dinner hosted in Phuket on Thursday evening.

The beauty queens, dressed in glittering evening gowns and spectacular crowns, were delivered to the Four Points by Sheraton Resort in either a Corvette C8 or a Mustang.

The supercars were made available by Nawat Isarakraisil, president and founder of Miss Grand International.

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

The pageant, some rounds of which will be held in Phuket, will include trips to many tourist attractions in Phuket including its Banana Beach, Coral Island (Koh He), Old Phuket Farm, zipline park Hanuman World, the Tsunami Museum and the beautiful Sarasin Bridge. The contest will also include a cruise on the Andaman Sea and a swimsuit qualifying round at the Chalong Bay marina.

The contestants will fly to Bangkok for other important rounds, scheduled to be held at Show DC Hall Rama 9 as follows:

National costume round: November 30, 7pm

Preliminary Contest: December 2, 7pm

Final Round: December 4, 7pm.

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

Related news:

• Miss Grand International chief says Phuket pageant will go ahead despite community committee objection
• Miss Grand International contestants dazzle in Bangkok’s Covid gloom
• Refusal to hold beauty pageant in Phuket’s Old Town ‘a lost PR opportunity’

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

Published : November 19, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009026

Thailand is ready to host the first kick-off regional conference for the “United Nations Decade of Ocean Science” on November 25-26, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Warawut Silpa-archa said on Thursday.

Representatives from 24 countries will be attending the event.

“Hosting the conference will help strengthen Thailand’s role as a regional leader in ocean conservation and in realising the UN’s decade actions,” he said. “I have told the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to coordinate with United Nations’ Decade Coordination Office, which is responsible for organising the virtual conference.”

The conference is being held in response to the United Nations General Assembly’s proclamation of 2021-2030 as the “UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development”. The UN Decade of Ocean Science was officially inaugurated on June 1 at a high-level online conference in Berlin.

Thailand joins fight to save oceans by hosting kick-off conference on ‘UN Decade of Ocean Science’ next week

Sopon Thongdee, director-general of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, said Thailand will display its capacity to take leadership in the Western Pacific region and steer all partners towards implementing the UN’s decade actions.

“Thailand possesses policy readiness to meet this task, with its 20-year national strategy, various master plans, and national reform plan all reflecting on the conservation of ocean resources,” he said.

Thailand joins fight to save oceans by hosting kick-off conference on ‘UN Decade of Ocean Science’ next week

Registration is now open for the “UN Ocean Decade Kickoff Conference for the Western Pacific and its Adjacent Areas”, which will be held online via https://www.ioc-westpac.org/decade-kickoff-conference/ on November 25-26.

The forum will be hosted by Alex Rendell, co-founder of the Environmental Education Centre Thailand and Channel 3 news anchor Cholaphansa “Hunny” Narula. Those interested can keep updated via hashtags #oceandecade and #iocwestpac.

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Published : November 19, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009025

The National Digital Economics and Society Committee has approved plans to develop a platform that supports the compliance of the Personal Data Protection Act. The platform will also make government services available online for Thai digital start-ups.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chaired the meeting on Thursday, said the new government platform will help ease the overall financial burden on the state sector. It will also make online transactions more secure and bolster the development of a digital economy, the premier said.

“The implementation will be divided into two phases. The first phase will take 18 months and will focus on the development and promotion of the platform. Training will also be provided to 2,000 personnel from 200 government agencies. The second phase will promote and evaluate the use of the platform in the private sector,” Prayut said.

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The committee has also agreed to task the Digital Economy Promotion Agency with setting up a digital service account registration system for digital start-ups and providers. The digital service accounts will be linked with state mechanisms, such as tax policies, to broaden services provided to Thai digital entrepreneurs.

Published : November 19, 2021

By : THE NATION