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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018491

The removal of damaged flyover slabs above Rama II highway is now complete and traffic has been restored to normal, the Department of Highways announced on Wednesday evening.

Director-general Sarawut Songsiwilai said the damage – which was caused by a vehicle higher than the legal limit hitting four of the flyover’s slabs and causing them to become loose and partly damaged – has had no effect on the bridge structure.

The Mahachai highway police unit posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday that after it learned of the incident, it promptly closed the frontage road on Rama II highway from kilometre marker 22+500 from 2pm for removal of the four dangerous slabs.

Sarawut said removal of damaged slabs was completed at around 4pm. There were no reports of damages or injuries caused by the incident.

“The Samut Sakhon Highway Office will perform a detailed survey of the flyover and surrounding routes to get an estimate of the budget required for total renovation, to ensure the safety of road users,” he added.

Published : August 04, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018489

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) advised Thai airlines on Wednesday to avoid the airspace around Taiwan, after the Chinese government declared the airspace a “dangerous zone” due to its military exercises in the area.

CAAT instructed all Thai airlines to strictly adhere to China’s notice to airmen (Notam) and to follow updates issued by Beijing periodically.

CAAT’s announcement came after China’s Defence Ministry announced it would undertake air and sea military drills in six zones around Taiwan from Thursday to Sunday to protest against a visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who landed in Taipei on Tuesday night.

The ministry has advised all airlines in Asia as well as cargo ships to avoid the six zones.

Of the six, the one closest to Taiwan is merely 9 nautical miles away.

Published : August 04, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018488

The Public Health Ministry reported on Thursday (August 4) that over the past 24 hours, 2,166 Covid-19 patients have been admitted to hospitals.

The death toll has risen by 29, while 2,700 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals. 

The number of cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stands at 2,375,290 with 9,794 deaths.
 

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,598,725 – 4,545,856 of whom have recovered, 21,377 are still in hospitals and 31,492 have died.

Separately, another 4,060 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 8,290 their second shot and 29,738 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 141,722,388.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 585.54 million on Thursday, 556.11 million of whom have recovered, 23.01 million are active cases (43,622 in severe condition) and 6.43 million have died (up by 2,054).

Thailand ranks 28th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 93.59 million, followed by India with 44.09 million, Brazil with 33.96 million, France with 33.93 million and Germany with 31.12 million.

Published : August 04, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018485

Thailand hopes parties involved in the situation in the Taiwan strait will resolve their differences through peaceful means, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat said on Wednesday.

His remarks came after US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday, the first such visit by a high-ranking US official in 25 years and one that risks pushing relations between Washington and Beijing to a new low.

Tanee said Thailand is closely following developments in the Taiwan Strait with much concern.

“Thailand stands by the ‘One China’ policy. We do not wish to see any actions that would aggravate tensions and undermine peace and stability in the region,” he said.

“We hope that all parties concerned exercise utmost restraint, abide by international law and principles of respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolve their differences through peaceful means.”

Published : August 03, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018484

Thailand has donated medicines, medical supplies, food and financial support worth 5 million baht to Sri Lanka, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The donations were made by the Department of Disease Control, the Public Health Ministry, Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, Thai Red Cross Society, Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Somdet Phra Sangharaja Wat Bavoranives Vihara Foundation under the Royal Patronage and Wat Phra Ram 9 Karnchanapisek.

The Foreign Ministry also donated another 1.3 million baht worth of medical supplies to Sri Lanka.

The donations were received by Sri Lanka’s Ambassador CA Chaminda I Colonne on behalf of his government.

Earlier, the Thai government and private agencies had provided support to Sri Lanka, with the Thai Parliament donating 700,000 baht and Siam City Cement donating 4 million baht worth of medical supplies and monetary assistance.

Other Thai public and private sectors are also considering providing additional assistance to Sri Lanka.

“The donations reflect the close and cordial ties as well as the goodwill between Thai and Sri Lankan peoples,” the announcement read.

“Moreover, the donation of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka is a reflection of Thainess as ‘a true friend’.”

Published : August 03, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018482

Beijing residents expressed mixed opinions over a visit by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

Beijing residents expressed mixed opinions over a visit by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

Published : August 03, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018480

Highway police on Wednesday blocked a section of the Rama II highway in Muang district of Samut Sakhon province to remove four loose and partly damaged slabs of a flyover.

The Mahachai highway police unit posted on its Facebook wall that they had learned of the dangerous part of the flyover and closed the frontage road of the Rama II highway from kilometre marker 22+500 from 2pm for removal of the four dangerous slabs.

Traffic on the frontage road would be diverted to Ekkachai Road for about 1.5 kilometres before it would be rerouted back to the Rama II frontage road.

Earlier in the day, a Facebook user posted photos of the partly damaged part of the flyover, saying it could lead to a tragic accident like the one that happened on Rama II Road, also in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district, earlier this week.

On the night of July 31, two people were killed and five injured when a five-tonne, 10-metre-long concrete beam fell off the U-turn bridge onto a car while also damaging a pickup truck. The bridge, which is under maintenance, is located in front of Vibharam Hospital in Muang district.

Pranpong Netnitkul, chief of the Samut Sakhon highway office, said the bridge with the loose slabs was the flyover at the Ekkachai-Rama II intersection in Tambon Khok Krabua.

The four slabs were part of a group of slabs holding up the main concrete beam of the bridge, he said.

He said the four pieces were apparently hit by a very high vehicle, causing parts of the concrete to fall off, revealing steel parts that were attached to the bridge.

Pranpong said the removal of the slabs would take at least three hours.

Published : August 03, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018476

Kindhearted Buddhist monks of a temple in Nakhon Ratchasima are making coffins to hand out to poor families who cannot afford to buy one for deceased relatives.

Phra Acharn Kittisak of Wat Don Thao in Tambon Muang Prasart, None Sung district, said on Wednesday that his temple has been making coffins for four years now.

The monk said his temple got the idea after a family, who came to the temple for a funeral service four years ago, said they had no money to buy a coffin.

A coffin costs around 5,000-6,000 baht, something poor people cannot afford, the monk said. So he was motivated to make coffins for those in need.

The monk said he has carpenter’s skills so he could make coffins.

Temple followers have donated wooden planks and other materials, but when in short supply, the temple has had to buy the materials itself.

During Buddhist Lent, when monks could not leave their temple, he enlisted help from other monks to help build and decorate coffins, Phra Kittisak said.

So far, he has made and given away more than 500.

He said poor people can contact the temple for free coffins and generous people can make merit by donating materials.

Phra Acharn Kittisak can be reached via phone number 093-116-0077.

Earlier, the abbot of Wat Pa Putthayarn Rangsi in Khon Kaen province announced that his temple had bought coffins from a factory to give to poor families. The abbot, Acharn Phanthawat Thammawatthano, said his temple normally purchased 50 coffins at a time to give to families in need.

Published : August 03, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018473

A consumer network asked the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) on Wednesday to strike down a planned merger deal between True Corporation and Total Access Communication (Dtac).

The network said the merger move by the two telecom giants without NBTC permission was against Section 21 of the Telecommunications Business Act.

The network also claimed the deal would see “consumers losing service options while entrepreneurs would lose opportunities in telecommunication business operations”.

“Hence, we are submitting a letter asking the NBTC to strike down the merger deal and reveal to the public studies and analysis by the commission’s four subcommittees,” the network said.

The NBTC had earlier set up four subcommittees to study impacts of the planned merger and organise hearings from related sectors, such as business operators, academics and consumers.

Meanwhile, Foundation for Consumers deputy director Naruemon Mekborisut also urged the NBTC to consider the merger deal thoroughly in line with the Administrative Court’s ruling.

She submitted a list of supporters who are against the merger.

Published : August 03, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018462

Gulf Energy Development (Gulf) hit Move Forward MP Rangsiman Rome with a 100-million-baht lawsuit for allegedly presenting distorted information during the censure debate on September 3 last year.

Gulf is claiming 100 million baht from Rangsiman because “his distorted information caused damages to the company”.

The Bangkok South Criminal Court will summon Rangsiman on October 10 this year.

During the censure debate on September 3, 2021, Rangsiman accused Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakmanusorn of using his position to benefit the company.

Rangsiman claimed Gulf had gradually purchased Intouch Holdings, a major Thaicom shareholder, since June 22, 2020, adding that Gulf’s board approved the purchase of up to 81.07 per cent of Intouch shares on April 18, 2021.

The MP also alleged Gulf “supported” meals for Palang Pracharath’s Bangkok MP Kankanit Haewsanti, who is Chaiwut’s wife, during the party’s campaign to hand out meals to Covid-19 victims.

Rangsiman went on to claim that Gulf donated 5 million baht in cash to the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan in 2016.

Published : August 03, 2022

By : THE NATION