#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008835

The Royal Thai Airforce (RTAF) on Sunday signed a US$143 million (4.68 billion baht) procurement deal with US military aircraft manufacturer, Textron Aviation Defence, on the first day of the Dubai Airshow.

Under the deal, eight Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine aircraft, ground support equipment, spare parts and other equipment will be procured for the 41st Wing light attack operations in Chiang Mai.

“RTAF pilots and concerned parties found the attributes of the AT-6 procurement programme very favourable,” said Air Marshall Pongsawat Jantasarn, who chairs the procurement committee. “It will also benefit both Thai and US interests, strengthening the enduring strategic partnership between our nations.”

The Beechcraft AT-6TH is the second RTAF procurement in support of the S-Curve 11 strategy, which aims to develop Thailand’s domestic defence industry.

The first procurement under the new strategy was the Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II in 2020.

Textron Aviation Defence will train RTAF maintenance professionals in Thailand in 2023, while pilot training is set to begin in Wichita in 2024. The Beechcraft AT-6TH will join the Royal Thai fleet in 2024.

“We are honoured the Royal Thai Air Force has selected the Beechcraft AT-6 to conduct a broad array of missions in support of its border security and its anti-smuggling, counter-narcotics and anti-human trafficking operations,” said Thomas Hammoor, president and chief executive officer of Textron Aviation Defence.

“The RTAF is a key US security ally and operator of one of the most advanced air forces in Asia-Pacific. Its extensive market research and stringent procurement process sought the alignment of best cost, schedule, and performance to replace its existing fleet of ageing Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft and advance the capabilities of its fleet with the latest technology.”

Related stories:

• Thai Air Force steps up in Covid battle by flying rapid test kits to South
• Covid rips through Royal Thai Airforce base in Bangkok
• Air Force delivers oxygen concentrators to India, brings infected Thai embassy staff home

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008833

Bangkok police dismissed accusations that real bullets were used against pro-democracy protesters on Sunday afternoon, saying it was investigating the incident.

Three protesters sustained injuries when shots were fired into the crowds at around 5pm on Sunday. Members of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, Thalu Fah, Democracy Restoration Group, the Ratsadon movement and others had gathered at Democracy Monument at 3pm and were marching via Pathumwan intersection to the German Embassy. 

No live bullets were used against protesters, claim Bangkok policeNo live bullets were used against protesters, claim Bangkok police

Their aim was to submit a statement opposing the Constitutional Court’s ruling against pro-democracy leaders Arnon Nampa, Panupong “Mike” Jadnok and Panusaya “Rung” Sithijirawattanakul. The court claimed that the 10-point manifesto on monarchy reform read by Panusaya last year aimed to bring down Thailand’s constitutional monarchy. The protesters say this verdict would bring back absolute monarchy.

Meanwhile, Pol Maj-General Jirasan Kaewsaeng-ek said the protesters had tried to break police barriers at Chalerm Phao intersection and lobbed objects at police officers, injuring two of them.

The deputy Metropolitan Police chief and spokesman also claimed that the protesters began launching bombs in front of the Police General Hospitals’ Forensic Institute, which forced officers to fire rubber bullets at them. Two protesters were reportedly injured in this clash, he said.

Jirasan added that after the protesters submitted their letters at the German Embassy, several bombs were set off at the Wireless Road intersection and one more person was injured.

Relayed news:

• 9 protesters held over Oct 6 Din Daeng clash, shooting of officer
• Four imprisoned protest leaders in good health: department
• Bangkok police detain 4 protesters over a slew of charges

No live bullets were used against protesters, claim Bangkok policeNo live bullets were used against protesters, claim Bangkok police

Police said officials from the Forensic Institute have confirmed that no live ammunition was used as reported in the news. As for the distance from which the so-called rubber bullets were shot, police said the distance depends on the type of rubber bullets used. Police also insist that the case is being investigated.

“As for the burning of straw effigies of the nine charter court judges, police will check to see if this can be considered contempt of court and if legal action should be taken. Investigators are collecting other evidence to prosecute violators,” the spokesman said.

Police have also warned that sharing messages and images like those of protesters crouching on the street send a false message and are in violation of the law.

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008831

The Department of Health on Sunday called on all restaurants to strictly comply with Covid-Free Setting measures.

The three aspects of Covid-Free Setting measures are as follows:

• Sterilising tables, seats, toilets and other risky areas every couple of hours. Washing utensils thoroughly, soaking them in hot water for two minutes and then heat drying them before use. Providing areas for diners to wash their hands or placing a bottle of alcohol gel at all tables. Ensuring tables are arranged to allow social distancing, and ensuring staff wear a mask at all times. Diners will be stopped from picking up food themselves.

• Ensuring all staff members are vaccinated, have a history of Covid-19 infection no later than three months or can produce a negative test result. Restaurant workers are to be randomly tested for the virus every seven to 14 days and they must refrain from joining gatherings or eating together.

• Diners will be screened via the Thai Safe Thai website before being allowed into restaurants. Face masks must be worn at all times except when eating. Diners can stay in restaurants for no more than two hours and must maintain social distancing. They are also required to wash their hands before eating and after going to the toilet.

The Department of Health also emphasised the importance of practising universal prevention methods. Individuals who have a fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose or are short of breath must isolate themselves and get tested for the virus.

Related news:

• Thailand recorded 6,343 Covid-19 cases and 45 deaths on Monday.
• Thailand will go well beyond its target of 100 million Covid-19 vaccine doses by end-2021
• China provides more COVID-19 vaccines to Thailand to help fight pandemic

Restaurants urged to strictly comply with rules for Covid-Free Setting

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008828

Though Thailand opened two weeks ago and more than 40,000 people have entered the country, only eight tourists have opted to head to the seaside town of Hua Hin, about 90 kilometres south of Bangkok.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Monday that as of November 13, 44,774 people had landed on Thai soil and only 0.12 per cent or 52 individuals had tested positive.

Since the country reopened on November 1, the highest number or 5,256 people arrived on Saturday (November 13). CCSA expects the number of tourists to rise continuously.

Meanwhile, the Prachuap Khiri Khan Provincial Health Office said only eight tourists had travelled to Hua Hin with the Thailand Pass and all of them tested negative.

The province has opened Hua Hin and Nong Khae subdistricts as part of the pilot tourism area.

Thai Spa Association’s president Krod Rojanasatien said the number of tourists arriving was far lower than expected as the process of entering the country is far too complicated, especially with the Thailand Pass. Hence, he said, the authorities should ease problems by making the website faster, shifting to ATK tests and allowing tourists to fly straight to Hua Hin.

Related News

Thailand to reopen tourism hotspots to fully vaccinated visitors from November

Hua Hin zoo to be closed for 15 days as staffers contract Covid

Hua Hin gets ready to welcome tourists from Oct 1

Thai Hotels Association’s vice president Udom Srimaha-chota said bookings, especially among boutique hotels in Hua Hin and Cha-am, were significantly low in November and December compared to last year, especially from European tourists.

Only 8 tourists attracted by Hua Hin’s charms since Nov 1

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008827

The 116 suspects who allegedly defrauded the government’s “Rao Tiew Duay Kan” (We Travel Together) scheme were taken to face prosecution at the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) headquarters in Bangkok on Monday morning.

Pol Lt-General Chayapol Chatchaiyadech, assistant commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, said the 116 suspects were hunted down after the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) filed a complaint with the CSD.

The suspects allegedly teamed up with tourism operators to falsely withdraw funds from the subsidy. The government has lost close to 100 million baht to fraudsters in Phuket and Chaiyaphum alone.

Chayapol said TAT has reported that some 1,000 people are involved in fraud that has cost the country more than 1 billion baht. Police officers have been deployed to verify the cases.

116 suspects face action for ‘stealing money’ from travel scheme

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Sack filled with guns dropped off at police station in Phang Nga

Hospital director reports to consumer protection police over alleged Favipiravir sale

Thai export sector untouched by used gloves scandal, says Jurin

116 suspects face action for ‘stealing money’ from travel scheme116 suspects face action for ‘stealing money’ from travel scheme

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008826

A wild monkey has taken residence at a farm in Lopburi and is working for her keep by herding 60 cows to the fields in the morning and bringing them back in the evening.

Farm owner Lampueng Srimuang, 45, said one morning when she released her cows, she spotted a monkey riding the lead cow and leading the herd to the field. The monkey also chased back calves that strayed from the herd.

Lampueng, who lives in the farm with her husband and daughter, said in 2019, a troop of wild monkeys from the Khao Som Phot Wildlife Sanctuary showed up in her cornfields to hunt for food. The troop left the farm later, but two monkeys stayed back in the cowshed. She then called the wildlife sanctuary and an officer arrived to take them back.

Four days later, one of the monkeys returned and Lampueng informed the sanctuary again because she was afraid she may be violating the law.

However, the monkey returned the next day and began leading the cow herd. Lampueng said eventually wildlife rangers said she can keep the monkey provided it is not harmed or sold.

The family has named their new pet “Lily”, who has lived with them for two years and is doing her bit to help around the farm.

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Lopburi gets ready to throw a huge party for its monkey population

44 macaques saved from the dinner table in Sa Kaeo

Reporter bitten by ‘Godzilla’ sickened with mystery disease

Wild monkey moonlights as cowherd in Lopburi

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008822

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Sunday put the brakes on the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s proposal to use antigen test kits (ATKs) on foreign arrivals under the Test & Go scheme.

TAT governor Yutthasak Suphasorn said the decision to continue conducting RT-PCR tests on double jabbed tourists was confirmed at the CCSA meeting on Friday. The aim is to ensure safety, he said, adding that the CCSA is set to look into the issue again.

He said TAT proposed the use of ATKs for the convenience of tourists and to reduce their expenses because an RT-PCR test takes at least six hours to provide a result, which means all tourists have to check into a hotel for at least one night.

“Shifting to ATKs will also help the management of tourists as the number of arrivals in December is expected to increase,” he said.

He also said that TAT will call on the CCSA to allow restaurants in hotels to serve alcohol to guests beyond the 9pm deadline.

“It is up to CCSA whether it will approve this proposal or not,” he added.

Related stories:

• Opening of pubs, bars postponed to Jan 15, Chanthaburi shifts to “red” zone
• CCSA issues guidelines for Loy Krathong festivities
• PM urges govt sectors to brainstorm for ideas to turn Thailand around

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008829

Two teenagers allegedly showed up at Krabi’s Andaman Cultural Centre in the wee hours of Monday to destroy a sign put up to welcome the prime minister.

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is in Krabi to chair a mobile Cabinet meeting, was scheduled to preside over the opening of an Otop store at the centre on Monday morning.

received a call from the centre’s security guard saying the sign had been destroyed by two teenagers. The guard said the teens, each driving a car, stopped to destroy the sign before speeding off.

Related news:

• Prayut, Cabinet in Krabi for mobile meeting, to check if Andaman provinces ready for tourists
• Krabi all dressed up and ready for tourists from Nov 1
• New boat route between Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket considered

Krabi teens destroy sign welcoming Prayut

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008818

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and members of his Cabinet landed in Krabi on Monday to attend a mobile Cabinet meeting, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said.

“On Monday morning, the PM will check the progress of the passenger terminal improvement project at Krabi International Airport,” Thanakorn said on Sunday. “He will then travel to the Tourism Safety Development Centre in Sai Thai subdistrict to check on the centre’s work in providing rescue services in provinces along the coast of the Andaman Sea.

“The PM will then visit the Andaman Cultural Learning Centre in Pak Nam subdistrict and open the Andaman Otop Shop, which sells products from Ranong, Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun,” he added. “In the afternoon, the PM and Cabinet members will visit the Khlong Rhude Tourism Community in Nong Thalay subdistrict to meet with local tourism entrepreneurs, and finally travel to Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Ao Nang subdistrict to plant sea poison [Barringtonia asiatica] trees.”

Prayut, Cabinet in Krabi for mobile meeting, to check if Andaman provinces ready for tourists

Thanakorn added that the Cabinet meeting will be held on Tuesday after Prayut has met the governors of the six Andaman provinces to discuss economic measures.

“After the meetings, PM Prayut will take a helicopter to Trang province to open the newly renovated Pak Meng Port and meet with tourism operators in Trang before returning to Bangkok.

“The Cabinet meeting in Krabi is vital to the recovery of the local economy and tourism promotion in the South. The PM will check to see if these provinces are ready to be reopened to vaccinated visitors following the success of the Phuket sandbox scheme and Samui Plus Model,” Thanakorn said.

Prayut, Cabinet in Krabi for mobile meeting, to check if Andaman provinces ready for tourists

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Krabi all dressed up and ready for tourists from Nov 1

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Krabi starts to welcome back tourists after Covid break

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008814

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has allowed schools to offer on-site classroom starting from Monday (November 15), after over 80 per cent of secondary school students in the province have been vaccinated against Covid-19 and the number of daily infections have declined continually.

“Schools that will reopen must comply to Ministry of Education’s “Sandbox: Safety Zone in School” measures, which include the implementation of DMHT-RC and SSET-CQ practices,” said Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Sunday via a facebook post. 

The DMHT-RC refers to Distancing, Mask wearing, Hand washing, Testing for Covid, Reducing crowdedness, and Cleaning. Meanwhile, the SSET-CQ practices include Self-care, using serving Spoon, Eating hot foods, Tracking movement, Checking oneself, and Quarantine.

“Each classroom will have not over 25 students. Schools may consider offering one-site classroom every other day and providing online classroom if necessary,” said Aswin. 

“In case a new patient was found in a classroom, BMA will issue an order to shut down the class for three days for cleaning,” he added. “If patients were found in more than one classes, the school may consider shutting down the entire grade for three days for cleaning.”
 

BMA will also employ 7 anti-Covid measures for non-boarding schools provided by Ministry of Public Health, which include self-evaluating via Thai Stop COVID Plus (TSC)+ platform, organizing classroom activities in small bubbles, providing clean and nutritious food, using standardized ventilation and waste management system, preparing school isolation facility, providing sealed routes for commuting students and staff, and setting up School Pass system whereas students and staff must perform ATK tests every 7 days.

Related Stories

More students to be jabbed as Bangkok schools get ready to reopen in November

Bangkok prepares to reopen selected schools on Nov. 1

NHSO distributes ATKs as schools in Bangkok get ready to reopen

Published : November 15, 2021

By : THE NATION