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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018254

Ramathibodi Foundation has received a colossal 900-million-baht donation from Hatari Electric.

Prof Piyamitr Sritara, dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Mahidol University’s Ramathibodi Hospital, and other executives received the donation from Hatari Electric founder chairman Joon Wanavit and his family on Tuesday.

Here’s a break-up of how the money would be used:

• 160 million baht will go to renovate the Ramathibodi School of Nursing.
• 300 million baht will be given to the Ramathibodi Si Ayutthaya Medical Centre.
• 440 million baht will be used to support a Ramathibodi Hospital project and the Yothi Medical Innovation District.

Hatari Electric started out as a humble fan repair shop. Joon subsequently went on to manufacture fans for Japanese brands before starting his own brand.

According to Forbes, Hatari produces 90 per cent of its components in-house and sells around 8 million domestic and industrial fans per year. Joon also owns a minority stake in home improvement chain HomePro.

He was ranked 49th in Forbes Thailand’s 50 Richest list in 2016 but dropped off the list in 2017.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018249

A neurologist at Chulalongkorn University’s medical school expressed concern on Thursday that new Omicron subvariants may emerge in September and vaccines might not be the only solution.

Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, chief of the Thai Red Cross Emerging Infectious Diseases Health Science Centre, said in a Facebook post that new Covid-19 subvariants are good at evading immunity created by vaccination and natural immunity from previous infections.

He said current infections are now dominated by the Omicron BA.5 subvariant that can evade immunity, so re-infections can occur, increasing the risk of re-infected people getting so-called Long Covid.

Thiravat cited an Imperial College London study published in the journal Science to point out that vaccinations would not be the only solution for emerging subvariants.

Vaccinated people must strictly observe universal Covid prevention measures and the state should provide enough medicine to treat infected people quickly, he advised.

Vaccinations are still necessary, the doctor emphasised, because they can reduce severe symptoms and prevent fatalities.

The general public should receive at least three doses, while those aged 80 and the elderly with comorbidities should get at least four shots, Thiravat said.

He added that booster doses must be mRNA types for better efficiency.

“Mandatory vaccinations must comprise three doses and it will depend on a voluntary basis whether to get more,” the doctor concluded in his Facebook post.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018248

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will extend the opening hours of three main parks on Monday.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Wednesday that he had already signed the order to change the opening hours of the three parks – Lumpini, Chatuchak and Benchasiri. The three will open at 4.30am and close 10pm from Monday.

He explained that he wanted to increase the opportunity to use public parks and help Bangkokians gain a better life.

Chadchart said the three parks have been chosen due to demand and because others are not ready for security reasons.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018245

The Public Health Ministry revoked its letter of instructions to the Royal Thai Police (RTP) to take legal action against cannabis lawbreakers, saying it was revising the order.

The ministry handed the letter to the RTP on Tuesday, asking police to arrest and take legal action against offenders according to Section 4 of the Protection and Promotion of Knowledge on Thai Traditional Medicine Act.

Read More:
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018206

However, the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Dr Narong Saiwong, said on Wednesday that Dr Yongyot Thammavudhi, director-general of the Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine Department, wanted to review the order first and send it for further consideration before any action was taken.

Yongyot said the notification to the police needed to be revised because there were four topics to consider:

1. People who use cannabis for medical use should not be affected
2. Past offences are not punishable
3. Clarity of operational procedures for officials
4. Cannabis is important for the economy and medical services

Yongyot said cannabis should not be listed again as a narcotics substance so the subcommittee agreed to declare cannabis buds as a controlled herb while other parts of the plant could be used normally.

The director-general expects the review to be completed within the next week after Dr Kiatiphum Wongrajit, the ministry’s permanent secretary, has considered the matter and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signs the order.

Police will not arrest offenders any time soon except for people who sell “rolled” cannabis on the street, as the ministry is already trying to control recreational use of the plant, Yongyot added.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018242

Airlines, staff and facilities at Suvarnabhumi Airport are all on cloud nine and ready to cope with the extra rush expected during the long holiday weekend starting today, Thursday.

Today is His Majesty the King’s birthday, while Friday is a special public holiday specified by the government. Along with Saturday and Sunday, there’s a total four days of holidays this week.

Suvarnabhumi general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn expects the airport to see 95,000 passengers and 600 flights per day during the period.

He said the airport and the Airline Operators Committee in Bangkok had urged airlines and ground staff to be prepared to serve the soaring number of passengers during the long weekend.

Kittipong Kittikachorn

Kittipong said 318 check-in counters, 196 automatic self-check-in systems and 42 automatic self-bag-drop-off systems are now available for passengers.

Zone C parking is free until August 1, he went on to say, adding that taxi, limousine and bus operators have been asked to prepare enough vehicles to meet passenger demand.

As part of Covid-19 prevention measures, airport staff would frequently clean surfaces that are touched often and provide alcohol gel to passengers, he said.

Staff have also been instructed to wear face masks and maintain social distancing while in the passenger terminal.

Kittipong urged passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure time for international flights and at least two hours before domestic flights.

For more information, contact Airports of Thailand call centre 1722.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018241

Motorway No 6 in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Sikhiu and Kham Thale Sor districts was opened on Thursday to smoothen traffic flow for the current long weekend until Sunday.

Today, Thursday, is His Majesty the King’s birthday, while Friday is a special public holiday specified by the government. Along with Saturday and Sunday, there’s a total four days of holidays this week.

Nakhon Ratchasima Highway 2 district director Chitpol Lao-an said on Wednesday that opening Motorway No 6 is aimed at facilitating motorists travelling in the Northeast and preventing congestion on Highway No 2 (Mittraphap Road).

He said motorists can use the outbound route near Nakhonchai Burin Stray Dog Shelter in Pak Chong district on Thursday and Friday.

“People driving to Chaiyaphum and Buriram can exit the motorway at the grade separation in Sikhio district,” Chitpol said.

“Meanwhile, those heading to the Northeast can exit the motorway at Kham Thale Sor district.”

The motorway’s inbound route will be opened on Saturday and Sunday.

Vehicles can enter the motorway at Kham Thale Sor district and the grade separation in Sikhio district that will lead them to the exit near Nakhonchai Burin Stray Dog Shelter in Pak Chong district, Chitpol said.

“Nakhon Ratchasima Highway 2 district has set up traffic signs to direct people,” he added.

For safety sake, he asked drivers not to park their vehicles on the motorway to click pictures.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018237

The Public Health Ministry reported on Thursday (July 28) that over the past 24 hours, 1,902 Covid-19 patients have been admitted to hospitals.

The death toll has risen by 32, while 2,129 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals. 

The number of cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stands at 2,360,635.

Published : July 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018228

The Cabinet has approved a budget of 16 million baht for buying vehicles and other equipment as well as other costs to enable drug suppression operations in four neighbouring countries.

The budget was approved as proposed by the Justice Ministry during the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The ministry reasoned that the budget would be spent to increase cooperation with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in operations to destroy drug-making sites and eliminating cross-border drug-trafficking networks.

The budget would come from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) for fiscal year 2022 and would be spent between now and December.

According to the Justice Ministry, the budget would be spent for four activities:

▪︎suppression of drug and precursor chemicals in the Mekong basin nations;

▪︎interception of drug and precursor chemicals in the Mekong nations;

▪︎increasing the potential of drug suppression in the Mekong nations;

▪︎management operations of drug suppression coordination centres of Mekong nations.

The budget would be distributed to the four nations as follows:

• 5.1 million baht for Myanmar

The budget for Myanmar would be for procurement of a chemical analysing machine, a 4×4 double cap pickup, and a 3,500-cc sedan car.

• 6.15 million baht for Laos

The budget would include cost of K9 dogs handling in three provinces and in Vientiane. The budget would also be spent for procurement of a 4×4 double cap pickup, four motorcycles, a drone, 30 GPS devices, and three security cameras.

• 2.15 million baht for Cambodia

The budget would include petrol cost of petrol boats and daily allowances for drug suppression units in eight provinces.

The money would also be spent for buying a chemical analysing machine for the National Authority for Combating Drugs, and 320 kits of urine drug test kits, as well as maintenance cost for four chemical analysing machines.

• 2.6 million baht for Vietnam

The money would include allowance for patrol officials along the borders and money rewards for 120 informants as well as allowance for checkpoint officials in Hoa Binh province.

The money would also be spent to buy 10 motorcycles.

The ministry said the ONCB would disburse the money to the four countries as soon as possible.

Published : July 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018223

Deputy PM and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow visited Saudi Arabia to improve bilateral relations and seek cooperation on tourism, agriculture and energy.

Supattanapong travelled to Saudi Arabia on Monday and Tuesday with Thailand Trade Representative ML Chayotid Kridakon, and government officials.

On Monday, he met with Saudi Arabian Investment Minister Khalid Abdulaziz al-Falih and Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud to discuss investment in several industries.

They discussed cooperation in energy, especially clean energy and renewable energy, electric vehicles, health tourism, creative economy, and sustainable agriculture.

The discussions were in line with Saudi Arabia’s strategic framework “Saudi Vision 2030”, while it was an opportunity for Thailand to expand its investment in Saudi Arabid and vice versa.

The two sides discussed making a structured guideline for working together to improve the relationship between the two countries with a clear operation plan for continuous and concrete success.

They also met with Mohammad Abdullah Abunayyan, chairman of ACWA Power which is a developer, investor, co-owner and operator of a portfolio of power generation companies.

They discussed cooperation between the two countries on how to develop Thailand as the centre for clean energy in Southeast Asia. They also sought investment in renewable energy, which is in line with Thailand’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality within 2050.

Published : July 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018220

An exhibition of films titled “Hong Kong cinema makes waves in Thailand” is being held to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the special administrative region.

The exhibition is a collaboration between Hong Kong government agency Create Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Bangkok and SF Corporation.

Screenings are open to the public at SFX Cinema in Chiang Mai’s Maya Lifestyle Shopping Centre until July 31.

A similar exhibition will be held at SF Cinema, Central Khon Kaen, between August 5 and 7.

The exhibition features six Hong Kong films that the public can watch for free – One Second Champion, Rouge, Keep Rolling, Anita, The First Girl I Loved and Time.

Meanwhile, an exhibition of photographs to do with Hong Kong’s film industry is being held at SF World Cinema at Bangkok’s CentralWorld until July 31.

Bangkok deputy governor Sanon Wangsrangboon said Hong Kong and Thailand have enjoyed a good relationship for a long time, especially in art, culture, tourism and films.

“This exhibition will strengthen the relationship between Thailand and Hong Kong via films,” he said.

Those interested can receive tickets at the exhibition’s public relations booth in front of participating theatres.

For more information, visit the SF Cinema website www.sfcinema.com or social media platforms.

Published : July 27, 2022

By : THE NATION