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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402957

THAI denies rumour of plans to buy 30 planes in 2025

NationalFeb 23. 2021Chansin Treenuchagron

By THE NATION

Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) has no plan to buy 30 planes within 2025, acting president Chansin Treenuchagron said on Tuesday, adding that if flight demand increases the company would look into a rental option first.

A news source had said last week that THAI is planning to buy 20 to 30 planes in 2025 to strengthen its fleet and replace sold/decommissioned planes, adding that the company expected the airline industry to recover from the fallout of Covid-19 by then.

“There is a rumour that THAI would submit a plan to buy new planes along with the company’s business rehabilitation plan to the Central Bankruptcy Court on March 2, but this is not true,” said Chansin.

“Before entering the rehabilitation process, THAI already had a plan to decommission old planes that required high maintenance cost and had low fuel efficiency,” he added.

“In the next five years, the company aims to downsize its air fleet as well as reduce maintenance cost to only necessary level, as well as find new revenue sources and increase administration efficiency in accordance with the current market demand.

“If the demand for air travel increases due to recovering global economy, the company’s strategic committee would carefully estimate market trends both in mid- and long-term, and procure additional planes based on cost-effectiveness to make sure that the company does not lose its competitive advantage in the industry,” added Chansin.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402956

FDA okays use of non-narcotic parts of hemp, cannabis plants in food

NationalFeb 23. 2021

By The Nation

Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of non-addictive parts of cannabis and hemp plants, hemp seed oil and protein from hemp seed in food products, under certain conditions.

Supattra Boonserm, FDA’s deputy secretary-general, said hemp seeds, oil and protein can be used in food products like cereal, baked goods, dietary supplements, beverages, snacks, etc.

Hemp oil can also be used as cooking oil or be turned into spreads.

The amount of hemp or cannabis products that can be used in each type of food will be specified and proposed by the FDA later, she said.

Guidelines on the usage will also be issued, while food manufacturers will be required to provide details on where they source their cannabis and hemp raw materials via http://cannabis.fda.moph.go.th

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402955

95 new Covid-19 cases, two-thirds in Samut Sakhon

NationalFeb 23. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Tuesday reported 95 new cases.

Of the 52 exposed to the disease while visiting high-risk areas, 40 were in Samut Sakhon, followed by three cases in Pathum Thani, two each in Bangkok, Tak, and Ang Thong, one each in Nakhon Pathum, Nonthaburi, and Ayutthaya.

Meanwhile, proactive testing led to the discovery of 41 cases, most in Pathum Thani (25), followed by Samut Sakhon (25) and Nonthaburi (2)

A British male and a Thai man who flew in from the United Kingdom were the two cases of overseas travellers in quarantine facilities.

Meanwhile, 76 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 25,599. Of these, 22,885 had been contracted locally, including 14,448 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,714 were returnees. So far, 24,446 have recovered and been discharged, 1,070 patients are still in hospitals, and 83 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 112.26 million (up by 286,116), 87.78 million have recovered, 22.98 million are active cases (93,916 in severe condition) and 2.49 million have died (up by 6,522).

Thailand ranks 114th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 28.82 million, followed by India 11.01 million, Brazil 10.2 million, Russia 4.18 million and the United Kingdom 4.13 million.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402954

Thai exports upbeat for two months thanks to recovery of some economies

NationalFeb 23. 2021

By The Nation

Thailand’s export sector has been in positive territory for two months running, Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit, director-general of the Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), said on Tuesday.

In January, Thailand’s exports were valued at US$19.70 billion, up 0.35 per cent, while import was $19.90 billion, down 5.24 per cent. The country has a trade deficit of $202 million.

“The country’s exports last year was $231.46 billion, down 6.01 per cent, while import was $206.99 billion, down 12.39 per cent. The country had a trade surplus of $24.47 billion,” he said.

He said exports entered positive territory thanks to global trade recovery, as the economy of many countries has recovered, especially in Asia.

“Export of products related to agriculture, working from home and Covid-19 have all expanded,” he said.

However, he warned that Thailand’s export sector will face pressure if there is a new round of Covid-19 infections.

“However, the Commerce Ministry expects the country’s exports this year to expand by 4 per cent,” he added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402952

PM ‘has no time for Clubhouse’

NationalFeb 23. 2021

By THE NATION

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the press on Tuesday morning that he did not use the famous mobile application “Clubhouse”, adding he had no time for it.

Clubhouse, an exclusive social networking app, has become increasingly popular among Thai netizens. The application gained popularity during the Covid-19 outbreak when most people were forced to stay at home.

On Monday night, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had run a chat room on this application, drawing several persons to have conversation with.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402950

Police complaint filed in Surin against teacher for alleged sexual abuse of students

NationalFeb 23. 2021

By THE NATION

Eight parents of students of a school in Surin on Monday filed a police complaint claiming that a Prathom 3 (grade 3) teacher of a school in Phanom Dongrak district had been molesting 13 of his students.

The complaint filed at Phanom Dongrak Police Station said some children had been molested for over a year since they were in Prathom 2 level.

Dam (last name withheld), aged 50 years, the grandmother of a student, said her granddaughter told her last Friday that the teacher had asked her to give him a massage at his house after school. “The girl said the man grabbed her breasts and genitals, and she came home crying,” she said. “She also said 13 of her classmates were abused in a similar way, as a result some of them were afraid of going to school.”

The group of parents also told police that they had discussed with the school principal, who had promised to take care of the issue, but they later decided to file a police complaint to pursue legal action.

Investigation officers said they would schedule a meeting between all 13 victims and their parents, attorneys and social service workers to get the details of the case and will later summon the teacher for questioning.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402949

Baht makes slight gains, but limited room for further appreciation

NationalFeb 23. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht appreciated to 30.00 to the US dollar on Tuesday, up from Monday’s close of 30.03.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.90 and 30.05, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

He said that the baht will not strengthen much, despite the dollar weakening and gold price rising.

He added that importers would purchase the dollar when the baht is over 30 to the greenback. At the end of this month, the purchasing power of importers will tend to return.

Poon advised investors to monitor foreign funds flows in the short term, which could affect the Thai currency. The value of stocks and bonds sold by foreign investors recently was over Bt3 billion.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402947

Rescued bottlenose dolphin released into the sea

NationalFeb 23. 2021Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources

By THE NATION

A bottlenose dolphin which had been rescued from a Samut Prakarn canal on Sunday was released back into the sea, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources posted on its Facebook page on Monday.

The dolphin was released about 18km off the mouth of Bangpakong River in Chachoengsao province on Sunday evening.

The department on Sunday morning had rescued the bottlenose dolphin floating in the Klongdan irrigation canal in Samut Prakarn province.

Read More: Bottlenose dolphin rescued from Samut Prakarn canal

The dolphin was then taken to the Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Centre in Tha Sa-An subdistrict of Chachoengsao province for a health examination.

Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources

On Sunday afternoon, the department reported that the dolphin had become stronger and could swim on its own, so they transported it on a pickup truck and then a speed boat to the mouth of Bangpakong River and released it back into the sea at around 6.30pm.

Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources

Bottlenose dolphins inhabit warm and temperate seas worldwide, being found everywhere except the Arctic and Antarctic Circle regions. A bottlenose dolphin weighs on average around 300kg and can reach a length of just over four metres.

Photo credit: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402940

Upper Thailand gets warmer with morning fog

NationalFeb 23. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that the high-pressure system covering upper Thailand is weakening.

Morning fog and a 1-3 degrees Celsius rise in temperature are forecast for upper Thailand.

Meanwhile, the moderate easterly winds prevailing over the Gulf and the South are weakening. Wind waves in the lower Gulf are expected to rise 1-2 metres high, the department said.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 17-20 degrees Celsius, highs of 33-37°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 6-14°C.

Northeast: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 19-21°C, highs of 34-36°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-14°C.

Central: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 21-23°C, highs of 35-37°C.

East: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 23-24°C, highs of 33-36°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Partly cloudy with isolated thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-24°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy; temperature lows of 21-24°C, highs of 34-36°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Fog in the morning; temperature lows of 24-25°C, highs of 34-36°C.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402927

Thailand’s nightlife reopens from March 1 as alcohol restrictions eased

NationalFeb 22. 2021

By The Nation

Restaurants, pubs and bars will be allowed to serve alcohol until at least 11pm from March 1, except in Samut Sakhon, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced on Monday.

A CCSA committee meeting chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha relaxed the restrictions on Monday, but opening hours will differ in the red, orange and yellow Covid-19 control zones.

The CCSA also extended the emergency decree for disease control for another month until March 31.

Eased restrictions in each controlled zone from March 1:

Red-zone province (maximum control): Samut Sakhon

– Restaurants can open until 9pm but alcohol must not be served.

– Entertainment venues, pubs and bars cannot open for business.

– Shopping centres or department stores can open until 9pm, no promotions.

– All educational institutions including tutoring schools closed except for online classes.

– Gyms, fitness centres and outdoor exercise facilities remain closed.

Orange-zone provinces (controlled): Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Samut Songkhram, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, Tak, Ratchaburi

– Restaurants can serve food and alcohol until 11pm.

– Entertainment venues, pubs and bars can serve alcohol until 11pm (live music performances permitted, but no dancing).

– Department stores and malls can open as usual (no promotions).

– Educational institutions at all levels can open normally.

– Gyms, fitness centres and outdoor exercise facilities can open as normal.

– Stadiums can admit a limited number of spectators.

Yellow-zone provinces (high surveillance): Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Phetchaburi, Ranong, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chumphon, Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat

– Restaurants can serve food and alcohol until midnight.

– Entertainment venues, pubs, and bars can serve alcohol until midnight ((live music performances but no dancing).

– Department stores and malls can open as usual (no promotions).

– Educational institutions can open normally.

– Outdoor exercise facilities, gyms and fitness centres can open normally.

– Stadiums can admit a limited number of spectators.

In green-zone provinces, restaurants, pubs, bars and entertainment venue can open as normal, along with educational institutions and all type of gyms. Stadiums can admit a limited number of spectators.

The CCSA said the easing of restrictions would boost economic activity, but it urged people to keep wearing masks, maintain social distancing, wash their hands and check their temperature regularly, and check in to venues with the ThaiChana or MorChana applications.