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TV viewership rose during Covid-19 lockdown in 2020

NationalFeb 06. 2021

By THE NATION

Average viewing hours of both digital and terrestrial television during the second quarter of 2020 were 5.37 per cent higher compared to the same period in 2019, according to a recent report published by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

Digital TV alone saw a 6.94 per cent surge in viewership year on year during the second quarter.

“The surge in TV viewing both on digital and terrestrial networks during the second quarter coincided with the period when the Covid-19 outbreak had been escalating in Thailand and the government had announced lockdown measures nationwide,” said the report.

“The lockdown also had resulted in many people working from home, which consequentially increased the average TV viewing time.”

Compared to 2019, average TV viewing hours in 2020 also increased across all quarters but at a lower rate than in the second quarter. The first quarter of 2020 saw a 1.81 per cent increase year on year, the third quarter saw a 1.8 per cent increase and the fourth quarter saw a 2.68 per cent increase.

The report also revealed that viewers in Bangkok and its perimeter areas spent 5 hours and 25 minutes per day on average watching TV throughout 2020, while viewers upcountry watched TV for 3 hours and 57 minutes per day on average. April was the month with the highest average viewing hours across the nation in 2020 at 4.26 hours per day.

In the second quarter of 2020, TV viewership in Bangkok and its perimeter areas saw a 10 per cent increase in hours compared to the previous year (10.13 per cent increase for all networks, and 10.51 per cent increase for digital TV). Viewers upcountry, however, have increased viewing hours during the same period at 4.33 per cent for all networks and 5.34 per cent for digital TV.

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490 new Covid-19 cases reported

NationalFeb 06. 2021

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday reported 490 new cases, ten of them were returnees and travellers in quarantine facilities.

Two of the state quarantine cases had come from Portugal, two from the US, and one each from France, Germany, the UK, the UAE, Ukraine and Nigeria.

A Cambodian who had crossed over from Malaysia was also found to be infected.

As of Saturday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 23,134 since the outbreak. Of these, 20,605 had been contracted locally, including 13,236 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,529 were returnees.

So far, 16,274 (up 943) have recovered and been discharged, 6,781 patients are still in hospital and 79 have died.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Saturday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 105.9 million (up by 481,790), 77.52 million have recovered, 104,997 in severe condition and 2.3 million have died (up by 14,246).

Thailand ranks 115th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 27.4 million, followed by India 10.81 million, Brazil 9.44 million, Russia 3.93 million and the UK 3.91 million.

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Lockdown imposed in two Samut Sakhon subdistricts

NationalFeb 06. 2021

By THE NATION

The Samut Sakhon provincial authorities have imposed lockdowns in some areas in Tha Sai and Na Di subdistricts, in response to Covid-19 cases in the areas.

According to a statement issued on Thursday, employees of enterprises in the lockdown areas were prohibited from leaving their workplace, except for returning home or on serious business.

They were forbidden from gathering in public spaces, at shops or markets.

Also, apartment operators were ordered to monitor their residents, and to strictly follow public health rules. Also, outsiders are barred from visiting apartments in lockdown areas.

The authorities said the restrictions would be eased when the Covid-19 situation in the two districts improve.

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Seven people arrested in crackdown on cross-border surrogacy racket

NationalFeb 06. 2021

By THE NATION

Four Thais and three Chinese nationals have been arrested in a crackdown on a cross-border surrogacy racket at 10 suspected locations in Bangkok and surrounding areas.

The Ministry of Public Health in cooperation with the Central Investigation Bureau on Friday announced the results of the crackdown.

“The investigation has led to the arrest of three Chinese nationals who allegedly work as agents for customers who need surrogate service, and four Thai women who allegedly carry babies for foreign customers, along with confiscation of other evidence such as computers, mobile phones and documents,” Deputy Public Health Minister Dr Satit Pitutecha said.

Satit added that officials had tracked the racket down after an online advertisement for cleaning ladies, which offered a suspiciously high renumeration.

“One of the suspects has said that they had opened the service for about 10 years and pay the mother-for-hire at around Bt500,000 per pregnancy,” he said. “The racket will pay all the expenses in the surrogacy operation, including taking the women to Cambodia for embryo implant, then bringing them back to stay in Thailand until the due date, and finally taking them to another country to give birth and deliver the babies to the customers.”

Officials also reportedly found two babies aged 6 and 8 months at one of the locations, whereas one of the suspects reportedly confessed that they were born from women who had to give birth in Thailand due to the Covid-19 lockdown preventing them from travelling to birthing destinations as planned.

“The initial DNA test of the babies revealed that they have Chinese national parents,” said Satit. “Officials are gathering evidence to track down these customers as well as those involved with the surrogacy racket.”

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Ministry aims to fix overlapping allowances problem facing senior citizens

NationalFeb 06. 2021

By THE NATION

The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is considering solutions to the problem of some senior citizens facing a demand from the ministry to refund the old-age allowance they had received due to overlapping of benefits provided under different schemes.

The issue came to public attention last month when elders in many provinces began complaining that they did not have enough money to pay back the ministry and were facing lawsuits. Some were reportedly asked to return up to Bt77,000 in allowances plus interest.

Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, who chaired the National Committee for the Elderly, said on Friday that the meeting between the committee and the ministry had agreed on three approaches to resolve the issue.

“First, the committee would propose to Prime Minister General Prayut Cha-o-cha to suspend refund of the allowance until further notice,” said Jurin.

“Secondly, the committee would seek Cabinet assistance for those who have been receiving their allowances with honest intention.

“Lastly, there will be a separate committee responsible for revising regulations and conditions related to elderly allowances. This committee will be chaired by Wichai Chokewiwat, president of the Senior Citizens Council of Thailand,” added Jurin.

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SRT joins RaoChana campaign to allow purchase of train tickets

NationalFeb 06. 2021

By THE NATION

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has joined the government’s cash handout programme, allowing recipients to use the cash given via state welfare cards or Pao Tang application to buy train tickets until May 31, SRT Governor Nirut Maneephan said.

Under the “RaoChana” (We win) scheme, self-employed people, farmers and welfare cardholders whose savings do not exceed Bt500,000, will be given two monthly payments of Bt3,500 each in a bid to ease their financial burden during the Covid-19 crisis.

“Holders of state welfare cards can buy train tickets from February 5 until the end of May, while those who have been approved under the RaoChana campaign can start buying tickets using the Pao Tang application from February 8,” he said.

“The amount given under RaoChana cannot be withdrawn as cash to reduce the risk of virus spreading and to promote a cashless payment system.

“Those who wish to buy tickets using the RaoChana fund must do so at ticket booths at any train station by presenting their ID card or state welfare card to the officials to prevent fraud,” he added. “Tickets bought with the RaoChana fund cannot be redeemed as cash, but buyers can change the departure date and time under SRT’s regulations.”

For more information contact SRT hotline 1690.

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Cool weather continues in upper Thailand, stray thundershowers in South

NationalFeb 06. 2021

By THE NATION

The moderate high-pressure system covering the North, the Northeast, the Central and the East of Thailand is weakening, resulting in cool to cold weather in the upper North and upper Northeast, while a rise in temperature with morning fog is forecast for other parts of upper Thailand.

The Thailand Meteorological Department also forecast on Saturday that waves in the lower Gulf will rise up to about two metres high due to the moderate northeast monsoon across the Gulf and the South.

The department said that during February 7-9, outbreaks of thundershowers, strong winds and isolated hail as well as a drop in temperature by 4-6 degrees Celsius will be likely over the upper country.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weather with morning fog; temperature lows of 15-19°C and highs of 31-35°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-12°C.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather with morning fog; temperature lows of 15-21°C, highs of 30-34°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 8-13°C.

Central: Cool weather with morning fog; temperature lows of 19-21°C, highs of 34-36°C.

East: Cool weather with morning fog; temperature lows of 19-23°C, highs of 31-35°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Cool weather with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-24°C, highs of 30-33°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25°C, highs of 33-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather with morning fog; temperature lows of 21-22°C, highs of 34-36°C.

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Four-point plan to combat Bangkok’s salty tap water

NationalFeb 06. 2021

By The Nation

The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) has unveiled a plan to combat salty tap water that has been plaguing Bangkok for the past week.

The problem is caused by seawater intrusion at the Samlae Raw Water Pumping Station in Pathum Thani, where salinity was measured at 0.25 grams per litre on Tuesday. The World Health Organisation has set the daily intake of salt at 2 grams and recommends people do not consume tap water with sodium exceeding 0.2 grams.

Drought conditions had reduced the amount of water released from Chao Phraya dams to flush out the seawater, explained MWA director of Water Resources and Environment Development Somsak Passananon.

As a result, people living on the Chao Phraya River’s eastern bank in Lak Si, Don Mueang, Lat Krabang, Bang Phli, Bang Na and Samrong districts are suffering brackish tap water. Residents of western Bangkok receive their water from the Mae Klong River Basin and are not affected.

Salty tap water in east Bangkok is expected to persist throughout February, said MWA deputy governor Raksak Suriyaharn.

The MWA said it has a four-pronged plan to combat the crisis.

First, it is monitoring water at the Samlae pumping station, though it says it can only prevent high saline levels for four hours per day given Bangkok’s high tap water consumption.

Second, it has launched two water-hammer operations to flush seawater, on January 13-16 and January 28-31.

Third, it is providing clean water points for the public at 18 WMA offices.

Fourth, it is updating the public with reports and forecasts of water salinity on social media platforms.

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Sa Kaew couple caught for selling underage sex via Twitter

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By THE NATION

A couple was arrested on Friday for allegedly prostituting underage girls in Sa Kaew province.

The suspects, only identified as 24-year-old Sawaluck and 28-year-old Benja, found and communicated with customers via Twitter.

The victims were usually girls from the neighbourhood facing financial difficulties. Sawaluck would lure them with promises of income through her so-called business.

The couple has run this virtual brothel for nearly a year now.

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Thai stock market up despite foreign outflow jitters

NationalFeb 05. 2021

By The Nation

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,496.61 on Friday, up 13.63 points or 0.92 per cent. Total transactions amounted to Bt79.35 billion with an index high of 1,498.35 and a low of 1,488.73

In the morning session, Krungsri Securities expected the day’s index to rebound to between 1,490 and 1,495 points on hopes of US stimulus rollout and the rising oil price.

“However, outflow of foreign funds would drag down the SET,” the securities firm predicted.

The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were BBL, PTT, KBANK, AOT, CPALL, SCB, EA, BAM, IVL and GULF.

As of 4.30pm, the price of oil rose by US$0.72 or 1.28 per cent to $56.95 per barrel, while gold rose by $14.50 or 0.81 per cent to $1,805.70 per ounce.

Other Asian indices were mixed:

Japan’s Nikkei Index closed at 28,779.19, up 437.24 points or 1.54 per cent.

China’s Shang Hai SE Composite Index closed at 3,496.33, down 5.53 points or 0.16 per cent, while the Shenzhen SE Component Index closed at 15,007.30, down 98.64 points or 0.65 per cent.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 29,288.68, up 175.18 points or 0.60 per cent.

South Korea’s KOSPI closed at 3,120.63, up 33.08 points or 1.07 per cent.

Taiwan’s TAIEX closed at 15,802.40, up 96.18 points or 0.61 per cent.