#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Rubber price could hit Bt67 per kg on rising demand

NationalOct 22. 2020

By THE NATION

The Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) estimates the price of rubber could rise to Bt67 per kg soon due to increased demand from China, while the supply of latex is decreasing due to frequent rains in the South and labour shortage amid the Covid-19 situation, RAOT governor Nakorn Tangavirapat said on Wednesday.

“As of October 21 the price of grade 3 smoked sheet rubber from Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat markets was Bt65; this will continue to rise,” he said.

“Meanwhile, raw rubber sheet is priced at Bt59.60 per kg, latex with 100 per cent DRC [dry rubber content] is sold at Bt59 per kg, and latex with 50 per cent DRC goes for Bt43 per kg. These prices are the highest in the past three years.”

Nakorn also said the rubber price could go up as China predicts its GDP expansion at 4.9 per cent and has a tendency to import more rubber from Thailand.

“Furthermore, some neighbouring countries which also produce rubber have been suffering from natural disasters in the past month, while Thailand’s southern region is also bearing the brunt of frequent rains and labour shortage in the Covid-19 situation, which will result in decreasing rubber output and increasing prices,” Nakorn said.

“The rubber price in future markets is also rising, either at Singapore’s Sicom or Japan’s Tocom. Soon the price will reach Bt67 per kg or go even higher,” he said.

The governor believed the government’s policy to support loans to rubber farmers will help them hire additional labourers to increase harvesting capability and rubber output.

“This project was implemented in May this year and will end in April 2022 under a budget of Bt20 billion,” he added. “The loans should eventually help stabilise the market rubber price.”

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

German ex-boxer held for allegedly growing marijuana at rented Chiang Mai house

NationalOct 22. 2020

By THE NATION

The Region 5 Provincial Police Bureau raided a rented house on Chiang Mai-Hod Road in Suthep subdistrict, Chiang Mai’s Muang district, on Wednesday after police intelligence reported that a foreigner had been allegedly growing marijuana there for sale online.

Police promptly arrested the tenant, named Vincent Rich Moritz, 29, of German nationality and reportedly found three greenhouses and 13 cannabis plants as well as a few bottles of dried marijuana that were ready to be allegedly shipped to customers.

Officials also found tools to grow the plants, soil and fertiliser on the ground floor of the house, which was modified into a temperature controlled room for growing marijuana.

Moritz reportedly said that he used to work as a Muay Thai boxing trainer in Germany and even won a title at a Muay Thai boxing championship before moving to Chiang Mai earlier this year to work as a boxer.

The suspect reportedly rented the house in Chiang Mai for about six months after he was out of a job due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Moritz was taken to Muang Chiang Mai police station to be charged with growing and manufacturing marijuana without a licence.

Police also took in Moritz’s Thai girlfriend, who reportedly admitted to helping the suspect find and rent the house. But she said she had no involvement in growing the marijuana. Officers were interviewing her too.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

SME federation targets 1 million new jobs

NationalOct 22. 2020

By THE NATION

The Federation of Thai SMEs aims to create 1 million jobs to help those affected by the economic crisis due to Covid-19, starting by partnering with the “Claim Di Bike” app to hire 25,000 staff by December.

“One of the federation’s missions is to help mitigate the impact of the economic crisis that has resulted in increasing unemployment nationwide,” said Nopphong Theeraworn, federation president.

“We have been working with Anywhere to Go, operator of the Claim Di Bike mobile application that provides express insurance claim services to road users involved in an accident,” he said.

“By working with public and private partners, the federation aims to create at least 1 million jobs by mid-2021,” Noophong added.

Meanwhile, Anywhere to Go president Kittinan Anupan said that under cooperation with the federation, his company would create 25,000 jobs nationwide by December 31.

“Candidates to become a Claim Di Bike agent can either hold a high school diploma or vocational certificate, with no experience required,” he said. “You can work from anywhere, or even use this as a second job for additional income, as the job will be sent to your smartphone.”

Kittinan said each job would need about an hour to complete and will pay at least Bt150 per task.

“If you are committed, you can upgrade your status to Super Claim Di Bike agent, with potential for earning up to Bt85,000 per month,” he claimed.

Visit www.claimdi.com/bike for more details and registration.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Less rain, cool weather forecast for upper Thailand

NationalOct 22. 2020

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Thursday that a high pressure area covering the upper North and the Northeast will cause less rain in those areas and temperatures will see a 1-2° C decrease with strong wind in the Northeast, the North and the Central regions. Meanwhile, isolated heavy rains are likely in the South amid a monsoon trough, it said.

The department mentioned that category 4 severe tropical storm Saudel in the South China Sea is expected to make landfall in Vietnam on October 25 and 26 before declining rapidly. Isolated rain with strong wind is likely over the East and lower Northeast on these days.

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

North: Cool weather with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 20-23 degrees and highs of 26-31 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool weather with strong wind and thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 19-21 degrees and highs of 28-22 degrees Celsius.

Central: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees, highs of 29-31 degrees Celsius.

East: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 20 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and over 2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees, highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-24 degrees, highs of 30-31 degrees Celsius.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

PM asks all sides to ‘step back from brink’ amid tense stand-off in Bangkok

NationalOct 21. 2020Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha 

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday pleaded for all parties to take a step back amid escalating political conflict.

Speaking to the nation on television at 7pm as thousands of protesters confronted police in central Bangkok, he promised to lift the “serious” state of emergency in the capital soon if no serious situation erupted.

The PM’s address came amid weeks of anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok and other provinces, in which protesters have called for Prayut’s resignation, changes to the Constitution, and reform of the monarchy.

Prayut asked all parties to step back from a “path that would lead the country to downfall”. He said emotional behaviour would add heat to the situation and warned that violence would lead to more violence and end up damaging the country.

The warning came after police cracked down on a peaceful protest in Bangkok last Friday by firing water cannon.

Prayut added that the only way out of the conflict without damaging the country was to talk, respect the law, and work together via the parliamentary process.

He added that all sides must be patient and have courage to take the middle path.

He said that the demonstrators had made their view clear, and it was time to consider their opinions together with the demands of people in other sectors, to seek an appropriate way out at Parliament.

The Cabinet this week gave the green light for an extraordinary session of Parliament to seek resolutions for the conflict. Prayut said the session is expected to take place on October 26-27.

He added that the government still facing the no less urgent problem of mitigating the economic impact of Covid-19.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Protesters head to Government House after gathering at Victory Monument

NationalOct 21. 2020Photos by Korbphuk Phromrekha 

By The NationMore police and barriers are deployed at Urupong intersection to halt demonstrators on Phetchaburi road.

The authorities place barriers at Si Ayutthaya intersection to stop protesters from marching to Government House.Photos by Korbphuk Phromrekha

Pro-democratic protester shift to Phaya Road in a bid to reach the Government House.

Photos by Tanachai Pramarnpanic

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Royalists gather across Thailand for ‘protection’ of monarchy

NationalOct 21. 2020

By The Nation

Royalists held simultaneous gatherings in different parts of the country on Wednesday in a bid to protect the monarchy.

Some 200 royalists, mostly seniors, gathered at 9.30am near the clock tower in Lampang’s Muang district. Police were on hand to ensure their safety.

At 10am, some 5,000 government officials and royalists showed up at the Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Chiang Mai’s Muang district to mark the 120th birthday of the Late Princess Mother Srinagarindra. Governor Charoenrit Sanguansat presided over the ceremony.

Meanwhile, in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, more than 100 subdistrict and village headmen gathered at the district office to submit a letter calling for the monarchy’s protection.

“This move aims to boost awareness among people about maintaining peace, unity and solidarity,” the group’s leader Direk Khanthamala said.

In Songkhla, at 10am more than 1,000 royalists arrived at the Sathing Phra district office to read a statement calling for the institution to be protected. The gathering dispersed 45 minutes later, but promised to regroup at Songkhla City Hall on Friday.

In Nakhon Si Thammarat, Khangka Taweesin School’s directors, teachers and students kicked off their 2-kilometre march down Highway 401 in Sichon district. The march took about an hour and was aimed to create awareness on protecting the institution.

Similarly, royalists in Narathiwat started their march from the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives to the district office in Sungai Kolok at 9am to call for the protection of the monarchy.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Court rejects DES Ministry’s bid to tighten leash on media

NationalOct 21. 2020

By The Nation

The criminal court rejected the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry’s push to block media on Wednesday, saying it had not provided clear explanations on how the law was allegedly violated.

The ministry had said earlier that it will continue keeping media in check as soon as the court issues an order. It also said it aims to shut down all platforms operated by the Free Youth group.

Putchapong Nodthaisong, the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, said moves to close media for violating the emergency decree was within the law.

He added that the ministry will also instruct media platforms, namely Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to take action, though the final decision will depend on the platforms.

Though more than 1,000 accounts are being monitored, only a few have been suspended by social-media operators, Putchapong said.

The court has said that the ministry does not have enough evidence to shut down Voice TV, Prachathai.com, The Reporter and The Standard, though Free Youth is still being targeted.

Free Youth, meanwhile, responded to the government’s moves by saying: “We are an inescapable movement, not just internet pages that you can shut down. We will continue to rise and reborn with dignity.”

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Quarantine for tourists could be reduced to 10 days – or even none: Anutin

NationalOct 21. 2020

By The Nation

The Public Health Ministry aims to reduce quarantine for tourists to 10 days.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced the target on Wednesday, as Thailand received its first foreign tourists since closing the country in March.

The batch of 39 tourists from Shanghai were tested for Covid-19 before arriving in Bangkok and would undergo the full 14-day quarantine under current rules, said Anutin.

He added that progress was being made to reduce the quarantine period while guaranteeing safety so that tourists gradually returned.

“The truth is, the Public Health Ministry is ready for the change but other relevant agencies still have requested time to adjust. So we have to wait and work together.

“The Department of Disease Control proposed reducing quarantine to 10 days to begin with,” Anutin said.

“I have said that if we are confident, we do not have to be afraid since the goal is finding the safest period for quarantine. If we find a good method, it may be reduced to five, four, three days or even none.”

However, Anutin said he was opposed to lifting all entry restrictions, a move taken by some countries in Europe, where Covid-19 cases have begun to surge again. He said quarantine was still effective and had achieved great results over the last 5-6 months, adding that Thailand still needs to focus on halting the disease at its borders, especially in Mae Sot district, Tak province.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

When the world shatters…

NationalOct 21. 2020Photo Credit to สังคมโรงงาน 

By The Nation

Workers at a factory in Samut Prakan suddenly learned they were jobless halfway into their shift on Tuesday, and a photograph of them embracing each other for comfort went viral on the net.

The image was later shared on the “Factory Society” Facebook page with the caption: “The last embrace. It can happen. You’re working as usual and suddenly find you’re unemployed.”

This online community provides support to workers and keeps them updated on the unstable job market. Recent posts on this page say more layoffs are coming next month.