#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Royalist groups coming together to take on student-led pro-democracy movement

NationalSep 24. 2020

By Krungthep Turakij newspaper
The Nation Thailand

Different royalist groups have begun coordinating to counter student-led pro-democracy movements, Krungthep Turakij newspaper reported.

The right-wing People’s Democratic Reform Committee is trying to rebrand itself with the new name “Thai Pakdee”, aiming to woo royalists and the pro-government public as several former followers switched to the anti-government camp.

Conservative leaders including Warong Dechgitvigrom, Rienthong Nanna and Suwit Thongprasert are also trying to promote their movement in an attempt to maintain the “old way of life”.

They are trying to romanticise tradition, religion and monarchy and also target activists and protesters who might violate the lese-majeste law that forbids insulting the Monarchy.

Tul Sittisomwong is the one who has taken legal action against activists participating in the protests, in which they gave speeches “challenging” the Royal family on some issues.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Securities and Exchange Act being amended

NationalSep 24. 2020

By THE NATION

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is amending the Securities and Exchange Act to allow SEC officials to become investigating officers in legal cases involving the Securities and Exchange Act and Future Exchange Act, said SEC secretary-general Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol.

“Currently, SEC officials have no investigating authority in such cases and can only gather evidence and witnesses for the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in cases were damages are to the tune of over Bt100 million, or for the Economic Crime Suppression Division in cases of less than Bt100 million in damages,” she said.

“We expect the amendment to the Securities and Exchange Act to be completed by early 2021, after which the SEC board will be asked to approve the Act before the end of the first quarter, and then present it to the Finance Ministry to seek Cabinet approval,” Ruenvadee said.

She also said the SEC has the authority to manage and control capital markets but cannot investigate any wrongdoing involving securities exchange and future exchange. However, the new amendment should allow the SEC to investigate and file a case against violators of its regulations, which should help streamline the legal process.

“The SEC has also recently signed a MoU with the Office of General Attorney’s Civil Case Division to promote cooperation in exchanging knowledge and understanding in legal prosecutions involving wrongdoing in capital markets,” she added.

Since 2016, the SEC has recorded 44 civil cases of capital market offences, with 244 offenders. Thirty of these cases have already seen prosecution, with total punishment of over Bt1.27 billion being meted out, while 14 cases are still under investigation.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Popular DJ Annop killed in Bangkok smash-up, speedometer frozen at 200 km/h

NationalSep 24. 2020

By THE NATION

Annop Poonsripattana, 33, a DJ at several entertainment venues in Bangkok, was killed in a likely high-speed crash early today (September 24) opposite Ratchada Criminal Court on a dangerous stretch dubbed the “Curve of 100 deaths” by locals.

He was also a contestant in the Take me out Thailand TV show in 2015.

Phaholyothin Station police, who were alerted at 2.30am to the accident near Soi Ratchadapisek 32 in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, arrived at the scene to find a black Toyota Altis smashed into an electricity post. They found the body of Annop, the driver, in the back seat with a shattered skull and broken neck.

Officers reportedly said the car’s speedometer was stuck at 200 km/h.

Boonsong (last name withheld), 60, who works as a security guard at a nearby building, said that at the time of the accident, he heard a loud explosion from an electricity post, causing a blackout in the entire area.

“This area is highly prone to road accidents. Just last week a mother and her small child were killed here,” he added.

Police speculated Annop lost control of his car on the slippery curve after rain and smashed into the electricity post.

His body was sent to Police General Hospital for a detailed autopsy while officers contacted electricity workers to fix the damaged post and restore power to the area.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

MCOT to cut 700 jobs under voluntary early retirement programme

NationalSep 24. 2020

By THE NATION

A MCOT Public Company Limited board meeting has approved the “Tem Jai Jak” (voluntary leave) programme to provide voluntary early retirement to the firm’s employees, board president Pol General Thawitchart Phalasak told Isara News Agency.

“The Finance Ministry, a major MCOT shareholder, recommended the programme in order to keep the company’s businesses afloat amid the present economic crisis,” he said. “We expect to reduce 700 employees from the current 1,600, after which MCOT will enter restructuring.”

The Tem Jai Jak programme will offer a severance package higher than the law stipulates under a budget of Bt1 billion.

“MCOT will get this money from banks using the compensation of the recalled 2600MHz frequency band that the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission will have to pay us, in installments, as collateral,” he said. “If this amount is not enough, we will use the lands that MCOT owns as collateral too.”

Thawitchart insisted the programme is purely voluntary and there will be no forced layoffs.

He said the board has submitted a business restructuring plan to the management with focus on reducing costs and increasing income from existing businesses and assets, especially TV, radio stations and vacant lands.

“As for the selection of a new MCOT president, the selection committee reported to the board on September 22 that so far there are five candidates who had submitted their applications. The committee will consider whether or not to extend the application deadline to get more candidates,” he added.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Political rally: motorists advised to avoid roads around Parliament this afternoon

NationalSep 24. 2020

By THE NATION

Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has advised motorists to avoid Kiak Kai Road in front of Parliament and nearby routes from 2pm today (September 24) due to a political rally.

“On Thursday afternoon, the Free Youth group will hold a political rally in front of Parliament, where a meeting to amend the constitution is taking place. We expect the rally to start at 2pm and last until 10pm,” said MPB chief Pol Lt-General Pakkapong Pongpetra.

The following routes are expected to be affected by the rally and therefore should be avoided:

> Samsen Road (from Bang Kra Beu Intersection to Kiak Kai Intersection)

> Pracharat Sai 1 Road (from Kiak Kai Intersection to Bang Pho Intersection)

> Thaharn Road (from Kiak Kai Intersection to Saphan Daeng Intersection)

The MPB has advised motorists who wish to travel from Bang Kra Beu Intersection to Bang Pho Intersection to use Amnuay Songkram Road, which leads to Rama V Road, Techa Wanich Road, Pracharat Sai 2 Road, and then Bang Pho Intersection.

“Protest leaders have asked Parliament for permission to hold the rally and have promised to obey the law and not block public roads,” Pakkapong added. “The MPB expects the rally to end peacefully, when the meeting concludes at 10pm.”

For further route information or roadside assistance, call hotline 1197 or visit www.trafficpolice.go.th

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

More rain forecast for upper Thailand today

NationalSep 24. 2020

By THE NATION

If you reside in upper Thailand, expect more showers today, while the North, the Northeast, the Central region, the East and the South will see isolated heavy rain, the Meteorological Department said today (September 24), advising people in risky areas to beware of heavy downpours and accumulated rainfall.

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

North: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 70 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 24-27 degrees and highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees and highs of 32-34 degrees Celsius.

Central: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.

East: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 32-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees, highs of 30-34 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 40 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees, highs of 30-34 degree Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area and isolated heavy rain; temperature lows of 26-27 degrees, highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

SEC opens to repayment claims from THAI debenture holders

NationalSep 24. 2020

By THE NATION

Creditors who hold Thai Airways (THAI) debentures can submit requests for debt repayment at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) office until November 2, the commission said on Wednesday.

Ruenvadee Suwanmongkol, SEC secretary general, said the office would receive requests from general debenture holders from today (September 23).

THAI owes total debt on debentures of Bt71.608 billion, Bt7.586 billion of which is owed to general holders and the remaining Bt64.022 billion to juristic persons.

Meanwhile, the Legal Execution Department (LED) said it had received a total 922 debenture repayment requests via its online channel from September 14-22. This service will also be closed after November 2.

The LED added that creditors, the airline, and its rehabilitation planners will be able to review and lodge official objections to the requests until November 16.

Earlier this month, the Bankruptcy Court accepted THAI’s request for restructuring after the airline racked up more than Bt352 billion in debt.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Luxury Phuket hotel hit by 1-star rating after owner criticises pro-democracy leader

NationalSep 23. 2020

By The Nation

The luxury Sri Panwa resort has had three stars knocked off its Google rating after owner Vorasit Issara called for pro-democracy leader Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul to be jailed.

Supporters of the pro-democracy movement responded by posting 1-star reviews of Vorasit’s Phuket hotel along with messages complaining about the management and owner. They also encouraged people to avoid the hotel, bringing the average rating down to 1.8 stars from its previous 4-star-plus level.

Meanwhile, Tripadvisor has suspended its rating of Sri Panwa after being bombarded with negative reviews.

“Due to a recent event that has attracted media attention and has caused an influx of review submissions that do not describe a first-hand experience, we have temporarily suspended publishing new reviews for this listing,” Tripadvisor announced on the Sri Panwa page.

The hotel appears to be still open for bookings.

However, Vorasit said he had decided to cancel his Baba Beach Club Takeover BEAM 2020 party in Bangkok’s Thonglor district after someone threatened to destroy the event.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Border residents asked to monitor for migrants as Covid surges in Myanmar

NationalSep 23. 2020

By The Nation

The Public Health Ministry has asked residents in 10 border provinces to look out for migrants sneaking in from Myanmar, where Covid-19 infections are surging.

Dr Walairat Chaifoo, director of epidemiology at the Department of Disease Control, revealed on Wednesday that the outbreak is escalating in Myanmar, causing fear it could spread across the long border into Thailand.

Kanchanaburi province shares a jungle border with Mon state, which has reported 100 cases of Covid-19. The other Thai provinces bordering Myanmar are Mae Hong Son, Tak, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Ratchaburi, Petchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Ranong.

Walairat asked people living in the provinces to look out for illegal migrants being smuggled into the country.

She added that Thailand was now preparing for a second wave of Covid-19 infections, so people must maintain the “new normal” precautions to prevent the disease from spreading.

“Most of those infected with Covid-19 will not show symptoms and could be walking around in the community. If you do go outside, please wear masks, wash hands frequently, keep your distance from others, and check-in with Thai Chana for your safety,” said Dr Walairat.

On Wednesday, Myanmar reported 592 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. The country has recorded a total of 6,743 cases with 115 deaths.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

School to shut during Thursday’s rally at Parliament

NationalSep 23. 2020

By THE NATION

A large Bangkok school located close to Parliament will close on Thursday to avoid disruption from a planned pro-democracy protest.

Rajinibon School announced that police asked it to close to protect students and avoid traffic problems during Thursday’s rally at Parliament by the Free People movement.

The school will compensate for the unscheduled closure by holding extra lessons.