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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000346

Student Loan Fund scraps requirement for guarantors

The Student Loan Fund has prepared measures to help alleviate the financial burden of borrowers amid an economic recession caused by a fresh wave of Covid-19, manager Chainarong Katchapanan said on Wednesday.

“New borrowers in academic year 2021 will no longer require a personal guarantor,” he said. “Furthermore, we will reduce the interest to 0.01 per cent annually for borrowers who have not been charged with payment ‘delinquencies’. This interest rate will be valid from May 1 to December 31.

The fund’s other aid measures that were to expire on June 30 will also be extended to December 31. They are:

– Exemption of a fine for borrowers who wish to pay all their debts and close their accounts before the due date of the contract.

– Reduce the fine for late payment by 80 per cent for borrowers who have not been charged with payment delinquencies.

– Reduce the principle by 5 per cent for borrowers who have not been charged with payment delinquencies and wish to pay all their debts and close their accounts before the contract is due.

– Halt the auction of borrowers’ and/or guarantors’ properties that had been repossessed due to execution of a court sentence until the end of 2021, except for cases that will expire before this period.

For further information or inquiry, visit www.studentloan.or.th or Line account @กยศ. Or call 02-016-4888.

Published : April 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000345

Bangkok officials puzzled over body of man who died of unknown cause

Officials are investigating the cause of death of an unidentified man found in front of a hotel on Surawong Road in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district at 4.20am on Thursday.

The deceased was reportedly around 50 years old, of slim build and wearing only shorts and no shirt.

Bangkok officials puzzled over body of man who died of unknown cause

Since the cause of his death is still unknown, officials interacting with the body are taking precautions, including wearing PPE suits to protect against pathogens and viruses.

A preliminary investigation has found no wounds on the body, which was later transported to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for a detailed autopsy.

Bangkok officials puzzled over body of man who died of unknown cause

Officials are also checking missing persons reports in the hope that they can track down the deceased’s family.

Published : April 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000343

SRT cancels a number of trains until June 1

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced on its Facebook page on Wednesday that it would cancel certain train routes from April 30 until June 1 corresponding to the decreasing number of passengers as well as to curb Covid-19.

Trains that will be canceled from April 30 until May 1 are:

– Northern route: 7, 9, 107, 108, 111, 207, 209, 210

– Northeastern route: 21, 22, 23, 25, 71, 75, 139, 140, 145, 339, 340 419, 420, 423, 424, 422, 425, 439, 440

– Southern route: 31, 37, 39, 43, 44, 83, 175, 176, 251, 252, 259, 485, 486

– Urban trains: 4302, 4303, 4308, 4314, 4315, 4316, 4317, 4320, 4321, 4322, 4323, 4326, 4327, 4340, 4341, 4346, 4347, 4381, 4382, 4384, 4385

– Guided tour trains: 909, 910, 911, 912, 997, 998.

Trains that will be cancelled from May 1 until June 1 are:

– Northern route: 8, 10, 112, 208

– Northeastern route: 24, 26, 72, 76, 146

– Southern route: 32, 38, 40, 84, 260.

However, the following long-distance trains will still run:

– Northern route: 13, 14, 109, 102

– Northeastern route: 67, 68, 133, 134, 135, 136

– Southern route: 85, 86, 167, 168, 171, 172, 255, 254, 257, 258.

The SRT added that it would also change the timings of Express Train No 109 (Bangkok-Chiang Mai), which will depart from Bangkok at 7am and arrive in Chiang Mai at 9.10pm, until further notice.

For further information, contact SRT Hotline 1690.

Published : April 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000340

Third wave forces Chatuchak Market to postpone weekday opening until June

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Wednesday decided to postpone the easing of weekday lockdown measures at popular Chatuchak Market until June or until the Covid-19 situation improves, BMA deputy permanent secretary Wanlaya Wattanarat said.

The measures have been in place since March.

To prevent Covid-19 from spreading further, the market had been ordered shut on weekdays and allowed to open only on weekends.

Third wave forces Chatuchak Market to postpone weekday opening until June

“We had planned to help increase revenue for merchants by opening the market until 6pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, while on Friday, Saturday and Sunday merchants could open until 10pm. The market was to be closed every Monday for cleaning,” she said.

“However, due to the third wave of outbreak, the BMA has postponed the weekday opening until June 1 or when the situation improves,” Wanlaya said.

“All promotional activities scheduled to be held around the clock tower in the market will also be postponed accordingly,” she said.

Third wave forces Chatuchak Market to postpone weekday opening until June

Wanlaya added that merchants and shoppers at Chatuchak need to adhere to the “D-M-H-T-T-A” measures as advised by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, which are: distancing from others, wearing a mask, washing your hands regularly, checking your body temperature, testing for Covid-19, and using the Thai Chana or Mor Chana application.

Published : April 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000339

Thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail forecast for upper Thailand

If you live especially in the North or the Northeast, beware: thunderstorms, gusty winds, hail, heavy rains and lightning strikes are likely, as a high pressure system from China covers these areas while southeasterly and southerly winds prevail across this region, the Meteorological Department said on Thursday, advising people to avoid the outdoors and keep away from big trees, unsecured buildings and billboards while farmers should prepare for crop damage.

The department also said westerly and southwesterly winds prevail across the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, leading to scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains there.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Thunderstorms in 70 per cent of the area; heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees and highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Thunderstorms in 70 per cent of the area; heavy rains, gusty winds and hail are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees and highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius.

Central: Thunderstorms in 70 per cent of the area; heavy rains and gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 32-33 degrees Celsius.

East: Thunderstorms in 60 per cent of the area; heavy rains and gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-25 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius; waves less than a metre high and over 1 metre during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 33-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; heavy rains and gusty winds are possible in some areas; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 30-33 degrees Celsius.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : April 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000331

Cabinet reshuffle, new public health minister necessary, say most CEOs

A recent survey of business leaders in Thailand showed that most believe a Cabinet reshuffle is necessary to effectively tackle the third Covid wave, which has sent the number of infections soaring and pushed the daily death toll into double digits.

In a survey conducted by Nation Group’s Bangkok Biz News, 55 per cent of the 200 CEOs said new talent was needed, 30 per cent said this government should step down, 21.3 per cent asked for clear, measurable solutions, while 12.2 per cent said the Parliament should be dissolved.

Meanwhile, 79.3 per cent said if there is a Cabinet reshuffle, then the public health minister should be changed, 35.2 per cent want the interior minister changed, while 31.6 per cent want both commerce and finance ministers changed.

The CEOs said the government should also come up with effective economic policies to cope with the crisis, with 82.8 per cent wanting the government to offer incentives like reduced taxes, lowered interest rates and extended payment periods, while 53 per cent said soft loans should be provided for small businesses that are severely affected. Meanwhile, 46.5 per cent called on the government to reduce or waive utility bills and 27.8 per cent said they want the state to offer remedies in a bid to stimulate spending.

The CEOs also called on the government to accelerate the vaccination roll-out and allow private hospitals to order vaccines.

Speed up inoculation drive

When asked what the government’s most urgent policy should be, 86.9 per cent said vaccination, 54.5 per cent urged help for the private sector, while all of said the government should provide more beds, treatment facilities and patient support.

More than 43 per cent called for strict penalties against violators of public health measures, while 42.9 per cent said telemedicine systems should be fully employed to serve patients in need.

As for measures to curb infections, 36 per cent want their home provinces to be locked down, 33.8 per cent want knowledgeable personnel to provide advice via hotlines or applications and 27.3 per cent said lockdown measures should be used in some provinces or even the entire country. CEOs also said the state should permanently shut down venues where cluster outbreaks were sparked and arrest Thais who have been bringing in illegal migrant workers and spreading new strains of the virus.

Ministers fail test

When asked to give the premier and economy and public health ministers a score out of 10, most CEOs gave them a “fail”.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha got just 1 point out of 10 from 24.9 per cent of the respondents for his work in solving the crisis, 5 points from 14.7 per cent, 3 points from 14.2 per cent and 6 points from 10.6 per cent. Only 2.5 per cent of the respondents gave him a full 10 points.

As for Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, 40 per cent gave him 1 point, 11.6 per cent gave him 2 and 15.7 per cent gave him 3 points. Only 1.5 per cent of the respondents gave him a perfect score.

Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow, who also oversees economic policy, got just 1 point from 23.4 per cent of the CEOS, 3 points from 13.7 per cent and 5 points from 14.7 per cent. Only 2.5 per cent gave him a full 10.

Similarly, Finance Minister Arkom Termpittayapaisith got a failing grade from 19.5 per cent of the CEOS for his fiscal policy, 5 points from 14.9 per cent, but a full 10 from 1.5 per cent.

Published : April 29, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000329

Indian Covid-19 strains ‘not in Thailand yet’

Two potent strains of Covid-19 spreading rapidly in India have not yet been detected in Thailand, a Chulalongkorn University virologist said on Wednesday.

Dr Yong Poovorawan said Chula’s laboratory recently tested more than 500 samples taken from Covid-19 patients in Thailand and found 98 per cent were the B117 (UK) strain. None of the samples tested positive for the Indian, Bengal, South African or Brazilian strains, he said.

The Indian variant spreads faster than the UK strain because of a change in a spike gene from asparagine to tyrosine and its enhanced ability to enter human cells, explained Dr Yong.

Meanwhile, the Bengal variant has a Lysine spike gene at position 484 that may give it the same protection from vaccines as the South African and Brazilian strains.

India is now the global hotspot of the pandemic with more than 300,000 new cases per day this week and a death toll that has risen above 200,000.

Published : April 29, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000325

Bangkok speeds up testing in citywide hunt for virus cases

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has increased the speed of proactive Covid-19 testing across the capital in a bid to find and hospitalise infected people.

BMA permanent secretary Silapasuay Raweesangsoon said on Wednesday that both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients must be treated at hospitals or field hospitals to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Fifty district offices have been tasked with screening city residents area and reporting the number of Covid-positive cases to the Strategy and Evaluation Department.

“The department will submit the reports to the Erawan Emergency Health Service Centre twice per day [at 9am and 2pm],” said Silapasuay.

“The Erawan Emergency Health Service Centre will contact patients to evaluate their risk of Covid-19 transmissibility before deploying officials to take patients to hospitals or field hospitals,” she added.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration on Wednesday reported 2,012 new cases, of which 830 were in Bangkok.

Published : April 28, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000324

250 Thais flee airstrikes on Myanmar border

About 250 Thais fled the border area in Mae Hong Son province on Tuesday after the Myanmar military launched airstrikes against ethnic forces, the Thai Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Fighting erupted at 5am on Tuesday when Karen National Union (KNU) and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) forces attacked a Myanmar army outpost near the Thai border village of Mae Sam Laep in Mae Hong Son’s Sob Moei district, said a ministry spokesman.

Myanmar government forces responded by launching airstrikes against the Karen forces in Hpapun district and a military base near Salawin National Park, he added.

Fighting between Myanmar government troops and ethnic armies has intensified since the military junta staged a coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s government on February 1.

250 Thais flee airstrikes on Myanmar border

About 250 Thais in Mae Sam Laep had been evacuated to a safe zone in Huay Kong Kad, the spokesman said.

The 36th Ranger Forces Regiment and authorities in Sob Moei are giving assistance to the evacuees.

Thai and foreign evacuees would be treated in line with humanitarian principles and screened for Covid-19, added the spokesman.

“If the situation is likely to worsen and continue, evacuees will be transferred to another safe zone approximately 1 kilometre away from the first one,” he said.

250 Thais flee airstrikes on Myanmar border

He added that government agencies in Mae Hong Son will launch a donation campaign if they cannot provide treatment for evacuees.

Published : April 28, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000322

Orange bins mushroom in Bangkok as 3rd wave brings tide of used masks

Bangkok will deploy another 1,000 biohazard garbage bins across the city after used masks and other medical waste generated by the third Covid-19 wave increased to 20 tonnes per day.

“The bins for used face masks will be coloured in orange while the garbage bags for medical waste are red to indicate it needs to be disposed of properly,” said Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang on Wednesday.

Orange bins mushroom in Bangkok as 3rd wave brings tide of used masks

“These bins will be placed at district offices, health service centres, hospitals, city halls, schools, sport centres, youth centres, fire stations, public parks, markets and in front of shopping malls.”

Orange bins mushroom in Bangkok as 3rd wave brings tide of used masks

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also urged people to separate used face masks from other household waste by sealing them in a marked bag and placing them in an orange bin.

Bangkok is one of 63 high-infection provinces where mask-wearing in public is now mandatory, with violation penalised by a THB20,000 fine.

On Wednesday the capital reported 830 new infections, taking the cumulative caseload since April 1 to 10,899.

Published : April 28, 2021

By : THE NATION