#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

SRT launches Tak-Nakhon Sawan project for East-West Economic Corridor railway

NationalSep 18. 2020

By The Nation

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has hired consultants to produce a study for the Bt96.7 billion rail project to link Tak’s Mae Sot and Nakhon Sawan, with a deadline of next year.

The project is the first section in a planned East-West Economic Corridor double-track route, which will support transportation links to neighbouring Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

The SRT board on Thursday approved the appointment of Tesco Co, Chulalongkorn University and Design Concept Co with a budget of Bt161 million, said SRT governor Niruj Maneepun.

The joint team has been given 360 days to conduct the study, design details, and environmental impacts assessment (EIA) for the new 256-kilometre railway linking Mae Sot, Kamphaeng Phet and Nakhon Sawan.

After that, an investment model and budget for construction will be finalised.

The SRT will requisition land to build the new route, which will support transportation from the border along the East-West Corridor to the planned Nakhon Sawan-Ban Phai and Ban Phai-Nakhon Phanom rail lines, said Niruj.

The green light for the project study marked an important starting point for east-west railway, since construction of the route from Nakhon Sawan to Ban Phai in Khon Kaen was still being studied for feasibility, he added.

The East-West railway is divided into three sections – a 250km stretch from Tak to Nakhon Sawan, 291km from Nakhon Sawan to Ban Phai, and a 355km route to Nakhon Phanom.

The SRT Board acknowledged the commercial development model for a mixed-use rail hub in Bangkok. An area of 325 rai will house an exhibition centre and SRT employee housing, with the private joint investor granted a 50-year concession to manage the site, divided into four years for construction and 46 years of management.

“The consultant estimates the net present value [NPV] of the project is Bt16.8 billion. SRT’s board has acknowledged the concept but will wait for the establishment of an asset management company before forwarding it to the Cabinet for approval,” said Niruj.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Feeding the hungry ghosts in Songkhla

NationalSep 18. 2020

By THE NATION

Crowds of worshippers are gathering at Wat Wang Yai Temple in Songkhla province, where “hungry ghosts” are said to be roaming in search of peace this month.

The 10th Lunar Festival is a major event in the religious calendar of southern Buddhists, an occasion to show respect and gratitude to their dead ancestors with merit-making ceremonies.

A highlight is the Ching Pret ceremony in which alms are offered to Prets (hungry ghosts).

Haunted by desire and attachment in life, the ghosts are afflicted with an insatiable hunger for a particular item or substance – symbolised by their emaciated bodies, small mouths and large, grasping hands.

At the temple, snacks and drinks are placed on a high platform so that Pretas can reach them.

Once the spirit feast is over, locals rush to snatch (“ching”) the snacks, now believed to be blessed by spirits of their grateful ancestors.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Experts weigh impact of Bt51bn stimulus on Thai stocks

NationalSep 18. 2020

By THE NATION

Experts say the government’s latest stimulus injection of Bt51 billion will affect the stock market – but only slightly.

On Wednesday, the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) approved the Bt51 billion injection via two schemes for mainly low-income citizens.

In the first scheme, 14 million welfare cardholders will receive an extra monthly discount of Bt500 on their shopping from October to December.

Under the “Kon La Khreung” (Let’s Go Halves) scheme, 10 million people will get daily discounts of up to Bt50 on food, beverages and household essentials (not including alcohol, tobacco or lottery tickets) sold at smaller, non-franchise shops.

Trinity Securities said the measure will have a limited impact on the stock market, since it was designed to stimulate low-income citizens’ purchasing power in the short term.

“It will not be beneficial for investment,” predicted Nattachat Mekmasin, Trinity’s senior vice-president.

Koraphat Vorachet, an analyst at Capital Nomura Securities, forecast the measure would boost Thailand’s economy by around 0.19 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). It would also support the next phase of economic recovery if the money was spread widely between local shops and stores, he added.

He agreed the stimulus would have a limited effect on the stock market.

However, Capital Nomura Securities predicted a big beneficiary of the stimulus would be Siam Makro (MAKRO), whose customers are mainly small entrepreneurs.

Following MAKRO would be Berli Jucker (BJC) and 7-Eleven operator CP All (CPALL), it added.

The measure will also benefit drinks companies that produce products to sell in local stores, such as Ichitan Group (ICH), Sappe, Carabao Group (CBG), and Osotspa (OSP), said Capital Nomura.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Ministry suspects price manipulation behind yo-yoing rubber

NationalSep 18. 2020

By The Nation

The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has ordered the Rubber Authority of Thailand to investigate suspicious changes in the rubber sheet price after a drop of 13 per cent in the last two weeks.

Minister Chalermchai Srion wants to know whether the price is being suppressed by big exporters, so the ministry can find a solution.

The price has fallen sharply from a high of Bt61.95 per kilo on July 2 to Bt53.4 per kilo this week.

The ministry will collaborate with the Finance Ministry to apply the law against people who suppress the price and to check whether the rubber that is hoarded can affect prices.

The government has targeted an acceptable price level of Bt55-Bt56 per kilo and tasked the Rubber Authority with preventing the price from dropping below the target.

Thailand’s rubber market is being sustained by domestic trade amid low international demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The current situation required cooperation from all rubber stakeholders, said the ministry.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

PM urges protesters to hold off rallies until Covid-19 crisis has ended

NationalSep 17. 2020Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha 

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha called on anti-government groups to consider putting off plans to hold rallies at least until the Covid-19 outbreak is over.

He added that Thais should unite in ending the Covid-19 crisis before focusing on political issues.

He made this appeal in a televised address on Thursday (September 17) evening.

Anti-government groups have been planning to hold a major rally in Bangkok on Saturday to demand amendments to the charter, dissolution of the House and an end to intimidation of government critics.

Prayut said rallies at this time would put Thailand at the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections, which would affect the livelihoods of more than 10 million people and further exacerbate the economic situation. He warned that people should not do anything that would prompt another lockdown.

The prime minister said he has heard protesters’ call for changes, adding, “I respect your opinions, but today Thailand is feeling the pain that we have to urgently tackle first, and that is to mitigate the economic losses brought on by the outbreak. We should not worsen the situation.”

Prayut also warned that political unrest would delay economic recovery, as it would dent investors’ confidence and deter tourists from visiting Thailand once the borders are open. Rallies will also shift the government’s focus from solving economic problems.

He explained that many places are already experiencing a second wave of infections, but Thailand has been able to successfully curb transmissions thanks to the collaboration of related parties.

Related stories: 

PM says authorities won’t spark violence at Thammasat rally

Cabinet okays 9-month visas for foreigners

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Alcoholic arrested for running after mother with a knife

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

Uthai Thani police arrested a man for trying to attack his mother with a knife on Thursday (September 17) before holding himself hostage.

Suchart Jongkhetkit, a resident of Ban Krok village, allegedly lost control when his mother refused to give him money to buy alcohol. Neighbours, who notified police, said they saw him shouting at his mother and running after her with a 6-inch knife.

When police arrived, Suchart shifted his focus and held the knife to his own neck.

Police worked for 15 minutes on calming him down before tackling him to the floor and holding him down for 10 minutes until he was brought under control. He was then sent to a hospital.

Suchart has reportedly developed mental issues due to alcoholism.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Naka Cave restored to its original glory

NationalSep 17. 2020

By THE NATION

In a Facebook post on Tuesday (September 15), the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said the impolite words scratched on the wall of the Naka Cave had been removed.

The cave, located in the Phu Langka National Park, had been closed to public since September 9 due to vandalism.

The Facebook post said the national park chief along with officials from the Department of Mineral Resources had surveyed the cave after signs of vandalism had been removed. It also said areas nearby were also checked for vandalism.

However, no mention was made as to when the cave and its nearby areas will reopen.

The Naka Cave in Bueng Kan province was for the first time opened to public mid this year.

The cave earned its name for the shape and texture of stones that make the walls look like the scaled skin of a snake. Myth has it that this cave was created after a Naga princess was cursed for falling in love with a human prince.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Evacuation plans prepared as storm Noul targets Thailand

NationalSep 17. 2020Nipon Bunyamanee 

By The Nation

Evacuation plans are being drawn up for thousands of residents in the path of tropical storm Noul, which is due to hit the Northeast as early as Friday and then cover Thailand this weekend.

The government has ordered the Disaster Prevention chief and provincial governors to prepare teams and machines to reduce loss of life and damage to property.

The Meteorological Department warned the storm is strengthening as it barrels towards Vietnam and Laos and could become a typhoon by the time it reaches Thailand.

Residents in flood-prone areas have been warned to beware of flash-flooding.

Deputy Interior Minister Nipon Bunyamanee has ordered local authorities to monitor the situation closely and be ready to evacuate residents, especially those living in landslide and flood-prone areas.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Captain Songklod’s attackers deny political motivation

NationalSep 17. 2020

By The Nation

The attackers of Captain Songklod Chuenchuphol aka Captain Poo Khem (salted crab), a core member of the nationalist group Thai Wisdom Guard, insisted the assault was not politically motivated.

Songklod had been attacked by a gang of five at around 1.30pm on Wednesday (September 16) when he stopped for lunch in Chachoengsao. He was driving to Nakhon Ratchasima.

Police arrested the attackers on Thursday and interrogated them to see if the attack was related to the video Songklod had posted earlier declaring war against local mafia.

The five assailants, however, said they attacked Songklod for overtaking their cars and interrupting their race. They said they tracked him down, beat him up and left him bleeding. However, they said, they began feeling guilty so surrendered to police.

Police said the case will be further investigated.

#ศาสตร์เกษตรดินปุ๋ย : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

PM promises to name new finance minister in October

NationalSep 17. 2020Prayut Chan-o-cha 

By THE NATION

Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday (September 17) that he has allocated time next month to consider candidates for the finance minister’s post.

When asked if the candidates named in media recently had been chosen by him, the premier asked if he had not told the press earlier that all contenders were selected by him.

Prayut said all the contenders were capable people and that a new minister will be named once he makes a decision and if they are willing to take the job.

Finance permanent secretary Prasong Poontaneat is believed to be one of the leading candidates. He was apparently added to the list because he has experience in politics and also because the premier likes his style of working.