#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Army honours generals set to retire

NationalSep 23. 2020

By The Nation
Photo Credit: Nation Photo by Wanchai Kraisornkhajit

The Royal Thai Army held a ceremony today (September 23) to honour generals who will retire this year.

Chief of Defence Forces General Pornpipat Benyasri presided over the event at Army headquarters.

The ceremony featured a guard of honour march, paying respect to King Rama V monument and activities by 166 cadets from three Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy battalions, with a display of 88 military unit flags.

Army chief General Apirat Kongsompong, deputy permanent secretary for Defence General Kukiat Srinaka, deputy chief of the Defence Forces General Chaichana Nakkerd and Assistant Commander-in-Chief General Sunai Praphuchanay are scheduled to retire this year.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Kanchanaburi closes borders to prevent Covid-19 infections from Myanmar

NationalSep 23. 2020

By The Nation

The Thailand-Myanmar border in Kanchanaburi province has been ordered closed from September 21 to October 5 after the neighbouring country reported a second wave of Covid-19 infections.

As many as 580 new confirmed Covid-19 cases have been reported in Myanmar since August 16 and Kanchanaburi authorities are closing the border to prevent the virus from returning to Thailand.

According to a document signed by provincial governor Jeerakiat Bhumsawat the Phu Namron and Phra Chedi Sam Ong border checkpoints will be closed for 14 days.

The transportation of goods will also be strictly prohibited and all natural routes will be closely monitored by the authorities.

Anybody found to be violating the order will face up to two years in jail and/or a fine of up to Bt200,000.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Three returnees found positive in state quarantine

NationalSep 23. 2020

By The Nation

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration today (September 23) reported three cases in a state quarantine facility over a 24-hour period.

The new cases are all asymptomatic:

They are two women, aged 39 and 53, who returned from Japan on September 21 and went into state quarantine in Chon Buri. They were found positive the same day. A 22-year-old male student, who came home from France on September 18 and entered state quarantine in Chon buri, was found positive on September 21.

Meanwhile, two patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital.

The number of confirmed cases in Thailand has increased to 3,514 (576 in state quarantine). Of these, 110 are in hospital and 3,345 have recovered and been discharged. The death toll remains unchanged at 59.

According to Worldometer, as of 10 am the number of confirmed cases globally is 31.78 million (increasing by 276,367 in 24 hours). Of these, 23.4 million have recovered, 62,083 are in severe condition and 975,471 have died.

Thailand ranks a safe 135th for most Covid-19 cases in the world.

The US has the most number, with 7.09 million, followed by India (5.64 million), Brazil (4.59 million), Russia (1.11 million) and Colombia (777,537).

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

31 provinces hammered by tropical storm

NationalSep 23. 2020

By THE NATION

Thirty-one provinces were hit by tropical storm Noul, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said today (September 23).

“Thirty-one provinces, 135 districts and 290 subdistricts were affected by the storm, which, together with the influence of the southwest monsoon from the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand, had triggered heavy rain and wind, flash floods and landslides since September 18,” department director-general Chayaphol Thitisak said.

The 31 provinces affected are Lampang, Phrae, Lamphun, Tak, Kamphaengphet, Phetchabun, Phichit, Loei, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchathani, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Surin, Buriram, Si Sa Ket, Nakhon Ratchasima, Lopburi, Singburi, Prachinburi, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chumphon, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun.

Of these, 24 have suffered from flash floods and water runoff at the height of 15-30 centimetres. The provinces with no reports of flooding are Udon Thani, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun.

At least 27,658 households were affected by the storm, with one victim in Rayong being killed by a falling tree and two being injured in Phetchabun, also from collapsing trees.

The director-general said his department had coordinated with local authorities, district administration offices and related agencies to help those affected, by handing out survival kits and construction material to villagers whose houses were destroyed.

“If you need help, contact the 24-hour 1784 hotline,” Chayaphol added.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Nok Air mechanic, 25, killed after being ejected from car in ‘high-speed’ crash

NationalSep 23. 2020

By The Nation

A Nok Air mechanic was killed in a car crash on the Patumwan tollway in Bangkok early this morning (September 23) when he was thrown out of his vehicle after it slammed into a barrier.

On being notified at 3am, police, paramedic teams from King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and rescue volunteers dashed to the accident scene on Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway.

His blue BMW was broken into two from the impact of the heavy crash and his body was found on the ground. He was later identified as Thitikul Muanthom, a 25-year-old mechanic at Nok Air.

His brother said Thitikul was returning from Thong Lor to his home in Thonburi when the accident took place.

The police believe Thitikul was driving at high speed and lost control, leading to the crash. They are awaiting an autopsy report and footage from surveillance cameras to confirm their belief.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Baht weakens

NationalSep 23. 2020

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 31.38 per US dollar this morning (September 23), weakening from 31.36 at close yesterday.

The baht this week will likely move between 31.25 and 31.45, said Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool.

The dollar meanwhile strengthened, compared to other currencies, with the US currency index increasing by 94 points, he said.

Some investors have avoided risk by holding the dollar, being concerned over the state of US financial stimulus policies and the Covid-19 situation in Europe. In addition, the UK has again gone in for a lockdown of sorts due to the virus.

In Thailand, the market is monitoring a key Monetary Policy Committee meeting today and expects the MPC to freeze the interest rate at 0.5 per cent.

The MPC is also expected to conclude that the economy has recovered only slightly, since tourism is still in the doldrums. 

Poon predicted the MPC would not come out with any new policy to deal with the strengthening baht.

The strategist advised investors to also monitor the US and EU purchasing managers’ indexes, to be announced today, as this could change the market atmosphere in case of positive results.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Cabinet okays budget to help private sector hire 260,000 new graduates

NationalSep 23. 2020Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri 

By The Nation

The Cabinet yesterday (September 22) approved a budget of Bt19.5 billion to help the private sector hire 260,000 new graduates, with the government using the money to pay half their salaries.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said the move comes under the Labour Ministry’s Department of Employment Job Expo Thailand 2020.

“This move aims to enable new graduates to get a job, improve their quality of life and enhance working experience and skills. Also, it helps entrepreneurs to continue operating their businesses,” he said.

Anucha said the government would pay 50 per cent of new graduates’ monthly salaries depending on the wage rate, which does not exceed Bt7,500, for 12 months from October 1 to September 30, 2021.

“However, there is a condition that employers must operate under the social security system and refrain from laying off more than 15 per cent of their existing employees in one year to solve the unemployment crisis,” he said.

For example, he said, if a new graduate is hired on a Bt15,000 monthly salary, the government will pay Bt7,500 monthly to each, while the employer needs to only pay the remaining amount, on which social security contribution can be deducted.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

USFDA grants Thai bureau accreditation status on 4 more aspects of food manufacturing

NationalSep 23. 2020Juadee Pongmaneerat 

By THE NATION

The United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has certified Thailand’s National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (ACFS) as an accreditation agency for four additional aspects of food manufacturing, secretary-general Juadee Pongmaneerat said.

The bureau received the certification on August 30.

“The ACFS has been certified as an accreditation body on low-acid canned foods, acidified foods, seafood hazard analysis and critical controls point, and juice hazard analysis and critical controls point,” she said.

“This USFDA certification will enable the ACFS to accredit domestic food manufacturers on exports to the United States, maximising their chance of penetrating overseas markets and increasing the value of Thailand’s agriculture and food products,” Juadee said.

The certification has been granted under the US’s Food Safety Modernisation Act, which has been in effect since May 30, 2018. The ACFS certification will be valid till May 30, 2023.

The ACFS has previously received USFDA certification in preventive control for human and animal foods under the Accredited Third Party Certification Programme.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

SMEs reminded to grab govt opportunity on products, services

NationalSep 23. 2020

By THE NATION

October 1 will become the first day the Finance Ministry’s new regulations on government procurement take effect, presenting a good opportunity for small and medium enterprises to gain access to more than Bt400 billion of the government’s procurement budget of over Bt1.3 trillion annually, Office of SME Promotion (OSMEP) director Weeraphong Malai said.

“The new regulations stipulate that government agencies must use at least 30 per cent of their procurement budget to purchase specified products and services from small and medium enterprises, and prioritise sourcing from SMEs located in the same province,” he pointed out. “Moreover, SMEs that enter the e-bidding process will be allowed to propose prices at a maximum of 10 per cent over the asking price.”

Weeraphong said the new regulations are expected to help both micro entrepreneurs (those with fewer than five employees and less than Bt1.5 million in income) and small entrepreneurs (those with less than 50 employees and Bt100 million income).

“Last year, government agencies procured products and services from more than 45,000 SMEs worth over Bt550 billion. However, most of them were medium-sized businesses dealing with construction with over Bt500 million in income per year. The new regulations are now expected to help small and micro entrepreneurs,” he said.

“Interested SMEs can register at OSMEP’s website. State agencies are looking to procure more than 126,000 products and services. So far, 440 entrepreneurs have registered to enter the e-bidding to provide over 1,200 products,” Weeraphong added.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Some Rattanathibet traffic lanes to remain shut until 2021-end

NationalSep 23. 2020

By THE NATION

Unfinished construction of the MRT Pink Line has forced Nonthaburi to shut down some traffic lanes on Rattanathibet Road until the end of 2021.

The royal gazette published on its website yesterday (September 22) the announcement from the Nonthaburi Land Transport Office that traffic lanes on certain parts of Rattanathibet Road will be closed to facilitate construction of the Pink Line (Khae Rai-Minburi section) until December 23 next year.

“The construction is under the responsibility of Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction, which had earlier requested the shutdown of traffic lanes on parts of Rattanathibet, Tiwanon and Chaeng Watthana roads from May 20, 2019 until May 19, 2020,” said the announcement. “However, the company has notified the office that the construction is not finished yet and will require the closure of traffic lanes on Rattanathibet Road to be extended until the end of next year.”

Therefore, two traffic lanes on Rattanathibet Road, from Makut Rommayasaran Park to Khae Rai Intersection, a distance of 735 metres, will be closed from now until December 23, 2021.