#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Samut Sakhon controls may be eased next week; new hotspot in Bangkok’s Pathumwan

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By The Nation

Health officials will discuss easing disease-control measures in Samut Sakhon after February 15, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Thursday. Health officials are now changing their outbreak-management plan in Samut Sakhon, which is at the centre of the outbreak that emerged in mid-December. The province logged 129 cases on Thursday as the infection rate continues to drop.

A total of 1,880 locations had been screened in Samut Sakhon, including factories, fresh markets and communities, said CCSA spokesperson Apisamai Srirangsan.

“Bubble-and-seal” measures had been imposed on nine factories and 42,424 people where more than 10 per cent infection had been found. Health officials are now testing around 8,000 residents daily for natural immunity to see whether they can be allowed to return home.

Praising success in containing the nationwide outbreak, Apisamai said there were now five orange-zone provinces (second highest restrictions) and seven red provinces (highest restrictions).

In Bangkok, a cluster of 16 cases had been found at Chulalongkorn University, she said. Risk analysis indicates such infections in the workplace result from complacency among personnel and a lack of precautions such as temperature checks. Finger scanners were identified as a possible source of transmission, as well as conditions in condominiums, dormitories, etc.

Pathumwan district, where Chulalongkorn University is located, has been declared a Covid-19 hotspot. People in the area are urged to take special care of themselves and use the MorChana platform for updates on the timelines of infected cases in the area.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Shareholder sues operator of bankrupt Chiang Mai luxury resort

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By The Nation

In another twist in the saga of a bankrupt luxury resort in Chiang Mai, its operators are being sued by a shareholder for allegedly transferring revenue.

Champa Phongam filed complaints to the Department of Business Development (DBD) on Thursday, urging it to revoke the juristic-person status of three companies which operate Dhara Dhevi Hotel Chiang Mai.

He said he has a stake in the three companies, namely Dhara Dhevi Hotel, Dhara Dhevi and APK Development.

He added that he had filed a lawsuit against Dhara Dhevi Hotel with the Chiang Mai Provincial Court, accusing the company’s directors of transferring revenue to third parties, causing him to suffer serious damage.

“I have submitted a letter to the DBD to revoke the juristic-person status of the three companies because the directors have not submitted financial statements for three consecutive years,” he said. The three companies had also failed to submit income tax returns to the Revenue Department, he claimed.

Revoking the three companies’ status would help secure shareholders’ benefits by preventing the companies from selling or transferring assets, or receiving any benefits, he said.

Dhara Dhevi Hotel Chiang Mai opened its doors in 2002 as one of Thailand’s top luxury resorts, with 123 rooms sprawling across 153 rai (24.5 hectares). The hotel closed down in November last year after business was badly hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Legal Execution Department planned to auction off the hotel at a reserve price of Bt2.116 billion, but the operator claims the Dhara Devi is worth Bt3.728 billion. The auction is on hold pending a valuation by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Chinese families get ready to usher in the New Year

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Most Chinese-Thai families spent the eve of Chinese New Year cleaning and decorating their homes as well as making offerings for their ancestors.

Many also burn gold and silver papers, which according to ancient Chinese beliefs, turns into money for dead relatives and ancestors in the afterlife.

The last night of the Lunar Year is also spent enjoying a reunion dinner with friends and family before the new year is ushered in, much like a Christmas or Thanksgiving feast.

Traditionally, Chinese families set off firecrackers to scare away evil spirits before closing the door at night and opening it the following morning to a brighter better year.

This is the first time that Chinese New Year, marked this year from February 12 to 14, has been declared a public holiday in Thailand.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Government House dressed up for the Ox

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Government House in Bangkok’s Dusit district has been decorated with red lanterns and auspicious plants to usher in the Year of the Ox on Friday.

“According to Chinese belief, lanterns will help guide holy beings into the building, as well as make our future brighter,” an official said, adding that the lanterns will be lit until Saturday.

Government House staff also repainted and fixed cracks on the shrine in front of the complex. The shrine had been erected during former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s term (2011-2014).

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Tiger out on walkabout finally captured

NationalFeb 11. 2021Photo Credit: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

By The Nation

A tiger that had escaped a wildlife sanctuary in Uthai Thani last Wednesday was finally captured a week later, but not before it had pounced on a herd of goats and feasted on two oxen.

Related story:

Officials hunt tiger after it kills pregnant goat, injures another in Uthai Thani community

Thanit Nooyim, director of the 12th Conservation Area Management Office, set up two teams to deal with the escaped tiger – one to guard farm animals and another to hunt down the escapee.

The tiger was finally found hiding in a sewer near the Huai Kha Khaeng Fire Station. Officials smoked him out with fire before hitting it with an anaesthetic dart. The animal was soon found sleeping peacefully some 500 metres away.

Photo Credit: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Officials then tended to the tiger, providing first aid and attaching a tracking collar before releasing it back in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary.

The escaped male tiger weighed about 120 kilograms and is believed to have taken off because his hunting grounds were being invaded by another male tiger.

Meanwhile, Thanya Netithammakun, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, has instructed relevant authorities to compensate farmers whose animals were killed by the tiger.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Nakhon Ratchasima police, locals hunt man who allegedly raped, killed 8-year-old girl

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Police officers and more than 100 locals in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Thong Chai district are hunting a man who allegedly raped and killed an 8-year-old girl, dumping her body just metres away from her house.

On Wednesday, Pak Thong Chai police were informed about the discovery of the girl’s corpse in a forested area in the district.

The corpse was found by locals 10 metres away from her house. The girl was reportedly found to have been raped and killed.

The alleged rapist was identified as Anuwat Polchapo, 25, a neighbour, who escaped after committing the horrid crime.

The girl’s mother told media on Thursday that she and her husband had gone out for work as usual on Wednesday. Their daughter was missing when they returned.

The alleged rapist was seen drinking with other neighbours that day.

Boonchuay Watchapo, 48, a neighbour, said that Anuwat was living with his grandmother and was jobless. He had been charged with allegedly taking narcotics and raping a boy in Nakhon Phanom province. He was released from jail around four months ago, before allegedly committing this crime.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Lovelorn Bangkokians pray for a Valentine

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Many devotees showed up at the Trimurti Shrine on Thursday in Bangkok’s CentralWorld complex to pray for a happy Valentine’s Day or a successful match.

Though this shrine is popular among those seeking love in Thailand, the Trimurti does not really signify love and partnership in Hinduism.

For Hindus, the Trimurti represents the three aspects of divinity: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the transformer or destroyer.

Before offering prayers at the Trimurti shrine, devotees are required to first say prayers at the Ganesha shrine nearby. Usually, couples or people seeking a partner are seen dressed in red and queuing up to make offerings at the shrine on Thursday evenings.

Like last year, hearts mark out the areas where devotees can stand to ensure social distancing. They are also required to wear face masks.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Ministry wants Phuket road, tram master plan in a month

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By The Nation

Transport Ministry permanent secretary Chayathon Promsorn said he has ordered the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning to create a master transport plan for Phuket within a month.

He made the announcement after a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the progress of a mass transit system linking Phuket International Airport with Ha Yaek Chalong.

He also asked the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to accelerate implementation of the transport project.

The goal is to achieve “efficient network integration” that does not cause traffic jams in Phuket.

The ministry plans to develop a host of projects, especially the Kathu-Patong expressway by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) and the Mueang Mai-Koh Kaew and Koh Kaew-Kathu highways by the Department of Highways (DOH).

“Road construction projects come first,” he said. “The construction of road projects by Exat and the DOH must be expedited first because the trams will make use of the constructed areas of the road. If road development is not completed first, along with the tram construction, it will cause heavy traffic problems in Phuket. There is no bypass for the public,” Chayathon said.

He requested both the MRTA and Exat, the agencies involved in developing the transport network in Phuket, to create an action plan and set up a suitable joint construction framework in a month.

A Transport Ministry source said the policy to push the road construction project first may cause the MRTA tram project to be delayed since it would have to wait for the road network construction project to proceed first.

Bidding hasn’t started yet for the projects.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

201 new cases, Bangkok sees rising trend in infections

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday reported 201 new cases, 16 of whom are returnees in quarantine facilities.

Of the remaining 185, 96 were exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas. Samut Sakhon leads the list with 56 cases, followed by 23 in Tak, 16 in Bangkok and one in Nonthaburi.

Proactive testing led to the discovery of 89 cases, with 73 in Samut Sakhon, followed by 14 in Tak and one each in Bangkok and Rayong.

Of the returnees, 12 were Thais returning from Japan, Turkey, Sweden, and United States, while the rest hailed from Pakistan, Britain, Sudan and Russia.

Apisamai Srirangsan, assistant CCSA spokesperson, said Bangkok has seen 17 cases in the new wave, with two found in Chulalongkorn University.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has been conducting tests in high-risk areas such as Phasi Charoen, Bang Khae, Bang Bon, Klong Toei, Sathorn, Pathum Wan. It has tested 59,845 people, of whom 896 have tested positive so far.

Meanwhile, 885 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Thursday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 24,104. Of these, 21,514 had been contracted locally, including 13,624 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,590 were returnees. So far, 19,799 have recovered and been discharged, 4,225 are still being treated (2,694 in hospitals and 1,531 in field hospital ), while the death toll stands at 80.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 107.86 million (up by 437,780), 80.02 million have recovered, 25.47 million are active cases (101,470 in severe condition) and 2.36 million have died (up by 14,018).

Thailand ranks 114th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 27.9 million, followed by India 10.87 million, Brazil 9.7 million, Russia 4 million and the United Kingdom 3.98 million.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Police arrest duo who allegedly scammed over 500 online game players of Bt50 million

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Technology Crime Suppression Division officers on Thursday announced the arrest of two Thai women – Thanaphon, 25, and Thithipha, 31 (last names withheld) – for allegedly scamming more than 500 users out of Bt50 million.

“The suspects had been operating an online game called ‘Lucky Doca’, a dog-catching game that promised profits to players who bought virtual dogs and successfully sold them to other players,” the TCSD officers said.

“After being repeatedly bought and sold, the ‘dogs’ would become more and more expensive and were expected to generate a huge virtual profit for the ‘owners’. But the game was then shut down, leaving players unable to cash in their ‘dogs’,” the officers said

They said they tracked down the suspects after 30 victims complained to the division that they had lost all the money they invested once the game was shut down.

“An initial investigation revealed that more than 500 victims were scammed, most of whom work from home or spend several hours online each day,” the officers added.

The two suspects were charged with public fraud and inputting false information into a computer system in violation of the Computer Crimes Act.