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Raising schoolchildren’s lunch budget by Bt1 is ‘not marginal’, says minister

NationalFeb 15. 2021

By THE NATION

The increase in the lunch budget for students by 5 per cent, or from Bt20 to Bt21 per person per day, is not a “marginal increase” as widely criticised by the public, Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan said on Sunday.

The ministry announced the new budget last week to cover students from Anuban 1 [kindergarten] to Prathom 6 [Grade 6] levels in 49,861 schools nationwide, totalling 5,894,420 students.

“If you look at the meal budget alone, a Bt1 increase will seem insignificant,” he said. “However, we have discussed with the Budget Bureau to restructure the management cost of lunch budget, effectively reducing it from Bt4 to Bt2 per person per day. Adding this saved cost to the increased meal budget, each student will be allotted Bt3 more per day, or equal to a 20 per cent increase.”

Nataphol added that more adjustments to the lunch budget will follow in the future to suit the changing economy and the size of the schools.

“Small schools will need a lunch budget of around Bt30 per person per day, while large schools with more than 300 students can be easily managed with less than Bt20 lunch budget per person per day,” he added.

“With efficient management we can balance this out and make sure that the budget is adequate to provide nutritious meals to all students.”

The minister added that in the past year there had been significantly lower cases of lunch budget corruption, thanks to the ministry’s strict cost management system.

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Upper Thailand gets warmer with morning fog, less rain in the South

NationalFeb 15. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday that the weak high-pressure covers upper Thailand and the South China Sea, leading to an increase in temperature by 1-3°C with morning fog in the areas.

All vehicles should move with caution due to poor visibility, the department said.

Meanwhile, the weak northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South, resulting in less rain in the South.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 16-20 degrees Celsius and highs of 32-36°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-12°C.

Northeast: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 16-20°C, highs of 32-34°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-14°C.

Central: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 22-24°C, highs of 34-36°C.

East: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 21-25°C, highs of 32-36°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 23-24°C, highs of 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-26°C, highs of 34-36°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Fog in the morning and isolated light rain; temperature lows of 23-25°C, highs of 33-36°C.

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Pathum Thani zooms in on two markets after proactive testing finds 50 cases

NationalFeb 14. 2021

By The Nation

Health officials have accelerated proactive testing of merchants in Pornpat Market and Suchart Market, in the Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani province after cases of Covid-19 infection were found.

Cumulative Covid-19 cases in the province after the latest outbreak have risen to 173.

Officers continue to screen merchants operating in the Pornpat and Suchart markets after the governor of Pathum Thani ordered the closure of both markets. Proactive testing found cases of Covid-19 infection on February 10-11. The markets will remain closed until February 16.

Proactive testing of 520 people on Saturday found 50 cases — 37 Thais, eight Myanmar workers and five Lao workers. Three results are awaited.

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Cross-border trade with Myanmar via Ranong looking up

NationalFeb 14. 2021

By The Nation

Thai-Myanmar border trade through Ranong province in January 2021 grew by 3.94 per cent in value compared to the previous month, with Thai exports increasing by 6.12 per cent, Wanida Arunothai, chief of Ranong Provincial Commercial Office under the Ministry of Commerce, revealed.

The main exports were fuel, lubricants, cement and components used for machinery among others, while imports increased by 0.33 per cent.

Teerapol Chalisaraphong, chairman of the Ranong Province Chamber of Commerce, said that Thai-Myanmar border trade in Ranong was robust despite a new wave of Covid-19 and Myanmar’s internal political problems.

In the beginning, many were concerned that it would affect the economy and border trade, but the situation is still normal without any change, he said.

Myanmar orders for cement and fuel products were more than usual due to the dry season, when transportation is not affected by rain. Increase in orders was likely to stock up well before the rainy season and infrastructure development in Myanmar, he said, adding, orders for essential consumer products had also gone up. This may be due to the fear of Covid-19 spreading.

However, regulatory restrictions on border trade due to Covid-19 have contributed to an overall decline in border trade. The problem at this time is transportation and export process from the coast of Ranong that involves more regulations, resulting in a delays in approval to access the port.

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CSD probing online investment fraud after victims file complaints

NationalFeb 14. 2021

By The Nation

More than 10 victims have filed complaints at the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district on Sunday after being deceived by criminals to invest via smartphone applications, such as LEGO and Yao Thai.

One of the victims said the criminals claimed to be agents of an online shopping platform which has operated since 2013. The victim added that the criminals lured them to invest between Bt500 and Bt600,000 for dividends of between Bt10 and Bt80,000 daily.

“We have received dividends only once. After that, we no longer make transactions via LEGO and Yao Thai applications,” the victim said, adding that they had lost contact with the administrator since February 10.

The victim added that these criminals had caused over Bt100 million in damages to over 500 victims nationwide.

“We would like to warn other people to check the source before investing because they could suffer losses,” the victim warned.

Initially, the CSD investigation officers interrogated one of the victims and advised them to file complaints at the Economic Crime Suppression Division in Bang Rak district.

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Valentine’s Day on minds of majority of Bangkokians: poll

NationalFeb 14. 2021

By The Nation

The majority of Bangkokians are focused on celebrating Valentine’s Day, Bansomdej Poll revealed on Sunday.

The poll was conducted from February 3 to 7 with 1,118 respondents.

Asked about the importance of Valentine’s Day:

55.9 per cent said they were focused on the celebration;

27.5 per cent said they were not focused;

16.6 per cent said they were not sure.

Asked for their opinion on whether Valentine’s Day is a festival to be celebrated in Thailand:

55.9 per cent said it is;

27.5 per cent said it is not;

16.6 per cent said they are not sure.

Asked about awareness on Saint Valentine:

72.9 per cent said they were aware;

16.9 per cent said they did not know;

10.2 per cent said they were not sure.

Asked about respondents’ opinion on whether Valentine’s Day is related to sexual relations:

54.5 per cent said they did not agree;

23.6 per cent said they agreed;

21.9 per cent said they were not sure.

Asked about who respondents want to be with on Valentine’s Day:

55.8 per cent said family;

37.7 per cent said lover;

6.4 per cent said friends.

Asked which place respondents want to take their lover to on Valentine’s Day:

36.7 per cent said a restaurant;

23.8 per cent said house;

21 per cent said department stores;

15.9 per cent said they were not sure;

1.5 per cent said hotel;

1 per cent said dormitory.

On gifts respondents want to give to their lover for Valentine’s Day:

30.9 per cent said they were not sure;

25.2 per cent said bouquets;

13 per cent said chocolate, cake or cookies;

10.2 per cent said accessories;

5.3 per cent said perfumes;

5.1 per cent said dolls;

4.8 per cent said items made by themselves;

3.3 per cent said bags;

2.1 per cent said lover T-shirts.

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166 new Covid-19 cases reported, most from Pathum Thani’s proactive testing

NationalFeb 14. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Sunday reported 166 new cases, of whom 28 were overseas travellers in quarantine facilities.

Of the 49 people exposed to the disease while visiting high-risk areas, Samut Sakhon leads the list with 33 cases, followed by 11 cases in Bangkok (one of them considered a re-active case), two in Saraburi, and one each in Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Samut Prakarn.

Meanwhile, proactive testing led to the discovery of 89 cases, 67 in Pathum Thani, 11 in Samut Sakhon, 7 in Tak, 3 in Rayong, and one in Nonthaburi.

Of the overseas travellers found infected in quarantine facilities, 23 Thais had returned from Germany, Maldives, United Arab Emirates, India, Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Mozambique, United Kingdom and Russia, a Lithuanian had travelled from Russia, a Canadian from Kazakhstan, an Italian, a Pakistani, and a Spanish from their respective countries.

Meanwhile, 931 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 24,571. Of these, 21,935 had been contracted locally, including 13,922 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,636 were returnees. So far, 22,111 have recovered and been discharged, 2,380 patients are still in hospitals, and 80 people have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Sunday, the number of confirmed cases globally since the outbreak had risen to 109.1 million (up by 372,367), 81.12 million have recovered, 25.42 million are active cases (98,686 in severe condition) and 2.4 million have died (up by 10,146).

Thailand ranks 114th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 28.19 million, followed by India 10.9 million, Brazil 9.81 million, Russia 4.05 million and the United Kingdom 4.02 million.

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Celebrating Valentine’s Day on Doi Inthanon

NationalFeb 14. 2021

By The Nation

Doi Inthanon National Park in Chom Thong district of Chiang Mai province on Sunday saw a big influx of tourists wanting to see the sunrise and frost to mark Valentine’s Day.

The lowest temperature on Doi Inthanon mountaintop and Kew Mae Pan nature trail was 2 degrees Celsius. The national park has seen frost for five successive days.

The Thailand Meteorological Department on Sunday forecast the weather in the northern region to be cool with fog in the morning and 1-3°C rise in temperature. The weather on the mountaintop is expected to be cold to very cold with a minimum temperature of 4-12°C.

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Key economic data to determine direction of SET Index next week

NationalFeb 14. 2021

By The Nation

Five issues would affect the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index next week, an expert said on Sunday.

An analyst at Kasikorn Asset Management expected the SET to have support at 1,485 and 1,500 points, but resistance at 1,520 and 1,530 points.

He said key matters to watch include the Covid-19 and political situations, fourth-quarter results of Thai listed companies and gross domestic product in 2020, and progress in the approval of US stimulus measures.

“US economic data that warrants close monitoring include minutes of the Federal Reserve meeting, January retail sales and industrial production and February initial Purchasing Managers’ Index [PMI],” he said.

“Other important factors that warrant close monitoring include Japan and the euro-zone’s February initial PMI.”

The SET Index closed at 1,508.35 on Thursday, up 0.78 per cent compared to the previous week’s close. Aerage daily transactions were Bt92.11 billion, up 17.64 per cent compared to the previous week’s close.

The SET Index was closed on Friday for Chinese New Year.

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Five Bangkok districts report unsafe air quality today

NationalFeb 14. 2021

By The Nation

The air quality in five districts of Bangkok and its vicinity hit unsafe levels on Sunday morning, the Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation reported.

PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter) readings were in the range of 24-60 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3). Thailand’s standard for safe levels of PM2.5 is 50 μg/m3 or lower.

The five districts are: Wang Thonglang (60 μg/m3), Bueng Kum (56 μg/m3), Prawet (53 μg/m3), Sai Mai (51 μg/m3) and Bang Kapi (51 μg/m3).

Other provinces that reported unhealthy air quality were: Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet and Saraburi.

PM2.5 readings in different parts of the country:

North: 28 to 62 μg/m3.

Northeast: 22 to 49 μg/m3

Central and West: 15 to 55 μg/m3

East: 25 to 42 μg/m3

South: 6 to 24 μg/m3

People in areas where PM2.5 pollution is bad, especially the elderly, children and patients with respiratory diseases, have been advised to monitor their health and reduce time spent on outdoor activities.

The PM2.5 situation can be followed on Air4Thai.com and bangkokairquality.com websites, or via Air4Thai and AirBKK smartphone applications.