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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013130

A committee set up by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has prescribed the criteria for the acquisition of fighter aircraft, even as the Air Force chief is known to favour the F-35 fighter jets.

Air Force spokesman Air Vice-Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee said on Monday that the RTAF had set up the committee on January 10 to study the criteria for the purchase of fighter aircraft.

Among key specifications the committee has sought in the fighter aircraft is high quality and cutting-edge technology.

The fighter aircraft must have the capability of network-centric operations and have automatic information management with the Thai Army and civilian side. They must have the capability to attack, conduct anti-aircraft operations, special operations, patrol, and surveillance, Prapas said.

He said the fifth-generation fighters would have five properties: stealth, super cruise, sensor fusion, super manoeuverable, and synergistic integrated avionics.

The criteria set by the committee for the procurement included:

1. They must be authorised to be of military standards by international aviation organisations or organisations according to the manufacturer’s country.
2. The planes, systems, and equipment must be manufactured with military standards and must have a proven track record. They must be reliable, acceptable at the international level, and used widely.
3. They must be manufactured and delivered according to the RTAF’s budget and schedule.
4. The manufacturer must arrange training in use of the fighter aircraft and other related technologies for RTAF personnel.
5. RTAF personnel should get scholarships for technological knowledge so they could develop many aspects by themselves sustainably.

A source reported the commander-in-chief, Air Chief Marshal Napadej Dhupatemiya, as saying earlier in an interview that the RTAF was looking for advanced fighters that could respond to future threats. He said the F-35 was the best choice and it was the fifth-generation fighter.

Published : March 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013129

The Siriraj Hospital has indefinitely closed its emergency services for general cases to renovate its emergency ward, the hospital announced.

In a statement, the hospital said that its medical services by on-shift doctors at the emergency ward on the ground floor of the Outpatient Building has been suspended from March 4 until further notice.

Siriraj explained that it had earlier planned to renovate the emergency ward, but the plan had been put on hold due to the Covid-19 situation.

Now, the hospital has to cordon off the section for its contractor to renovate the area, as a result emergency checks by on-shift doctors will be suspended.

The hospital will accept only really severe cases as emergency cases, the hospital added.

Published : March 07, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013128

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has joined with Thai celebrities and businesswomen to launch the global “Leading Women Fund” in Thailand, ahead of International Women’s Day on Tuesday.

Famous Thai women who have signed up for the fund include Sonya Singha, Piyarat Kaljareuk, Sikanya Saktidej Bhanubandh, Kornkanok Yongsakul, Oranuch Lertsuwankij, Saranee Sanguanruang, Thiranun Arunwattanakul and Wasana Inthasang. Thailand is only the second country to sign up for the fund after Australia.

Fund members will donate Bt72,000 a year, or Bt6,000 every four weeks to help refugee women cover basic expenses like rent, bills and food, said Waewwan Gunnanthorn, chairwoman of the Thai Leading Women Fund and CEO of Rosegold Thailand Group.

“The money will be deposited directly into the refugee’s account, whereby she can withdraw the fund from any ATM,” she said. “During Covid-19 pandemic, our survey of refugees found they preferred monetary aid as they can choose what to spend it on. Most of the women said they would prioritise their children’s education, food and rent, respectively.”

The Leading Women Fund’s mobile app “Connecting Worlds” allows refugees to stay in touch with members and exchange stories and photos of their progress.

The number of people fleeing wars, violence, persecution and human rights violations in 2020 rose to nearly 82.4 million people, according to the UNHCR.

The Leading Women Fund tackles this crisis by gathering unique communities of donors committed to support refugee women all over the world.

“Leading Women Fund Thailand was established aiming to help refugee women build their capacity, skills and financial independence to provide for their families and protect themselves from poverty and exploitation,” said UNHCR.

Published : March 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013126

Thai police will call on a Canadian court to not grant bail to a suspect linked to the Phuket murder of an Indian gangster.

Pol Lt-General Jirapop Phuridej, chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, said he has instructed Crime Suppression Division (CSD) chief Pol Maj-General Montree Theskhan to coordinate with the Royal Thai Police’s Foreign Affairs Division and Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to oppose bail for Matthew Dupre.

Dupree was arrested on February 20 over suspicion of being one of the two gunmen who killed Indian gangster Jimi “Slice” Sandhu on February 4 outside his beachfront villa in Phuket’s Rawai sub-district.

Dupre is now being detained in Edmonton under the order of the Alberta Court.

A police source said the CSD was gathering evidence to submit to the OAG, so it can send the information to the Alberta Court to oppose Dupre’s temporary release before the March 11 deadline.

The source added that Thai police will back its opposition to bail by explaining that Dupre is a flight risk and it will be difficult to recapture him for extradition if he flees.

Thai officials will also explain to the court that the murder had been well planned as the suspects had set up an escape route before one of them was arrested in Canada. The second suspect is still elusive.

Published : March 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013125

Smugglers in Narathiwat are feeling the burn after enforcement agencies seized over Bt4 million in contraband cigarettes from boats moored on the river that marks the border with Malaysia.

Ateam of police, soldiers and customs officials seized two boats in Tak Bai district on Sunday. Inside they discovered 287,000 cigarettes packed and ready for delivery to the Malaysian side of the river.

The raid came after officials were tipped off that a consignment of illegal tobacco was being smuggled from Thailand to a city in Malaysia’s Kelantan just over the border.

The two boats were seized in the Pulanibong community of Jehe subdistrict and impounded at the Tak Bai Customs House.

Customs officials checked the boat registration numbers in a bid to track down the owners, who will be charged with concealing, selling and/or smuggling controlled items.

Published : March 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013124

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has started renovation work on the “Green Bridge”, the elevated walkway connecting Lumpini and Benjakitti parks in Khlong Toei district.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, the BMA said the renovation project started on March 1 and work on the 20-year-old walkway is expected to finish before the end of September 2022.

The BMA also unveiled the concept design of the new Green Bridge, with provision for pedestrian walkways, bicycle lanes and green space incorporated seamlessly to maximise space usage and offer convenience to visitors to both parks.

The renovation project started from Phaisingto Canal next to Ratchadaphisek Road and will finish at the Sarasin intersection on Wireless Road near Lumpini Park, a total distance of 1.6 kilometres.

The BMA said many design partners are taking part in the project, such asUddC-CEUS, Lighting Research and Innovation Centre, Atom Design, Landscape Collaboration, Qbic Engineers and Architects, and Thaitharm.

Apart from bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways, the new Green Bridge will also feature mutli-purpose areas where people of all age groups can engage in outdoor activities, such as exercising, music performance and sightseeing in the heart of the city.

With a state-of-the-art bridge connecting two of its public parks, the BMA is aiming to make Lumpini and Benjakitti parks the equivalent of New York City’s Central Park to serve as a much-needed green lung for Bangkokians.

Published : March 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013123

A forest fire was sparked in three areas behind the Baan Phuthadol Resort in Mae Hong Son’s Muang district on Sunday, and another near the Mae Surin Forest Fire Control Station in Khun Yuam district.

Another hotspot was found in an area near the Muang Pon Subdistrict Administration Organisation.

Ruangrit Poldee, chief of Mae Hong Son’s disaster prevention and mitigation office, said on Monday that though the fires had been brought under control, there were still many simmering hotspots in the area.

Air pollution has also crossed the safety limit in the province.

Separately, a farmer identified only as Noon was arrested on Sunday in Tak for allegedly setting fire to a sugarcane field in Mae Tao subdistrict.

Noon was charged for violating the ban on burning crops and was sent to Mae Hong Son Police Station to face legal action.

Tak banned the burning crop stubble from March 1 to April 30, while Mae Hong Son put a stop to the burning for seven days from March 8 to 14 in a bid to mitigate the air pollution.

Published : March 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013121

Twelve provinces in the North, Northeast and Central were found to have particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) in the air at levels higher than the safety standard, the Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation (CAPM) reported.

The CAPM reported at 7am that Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Saraburi, Bueng Kan, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces were found to have PM2.5 inhalable particles higher than the safety standard of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

The centre reported that the air quality in Bangkok during the past 24 hours was good with the PM2.5 measured at 15 to 34mcg per cubic metre.

The CAPM added that the air quality in the southern and eastern regions are also good with the PM2.5 being measured at 11-19mcg per cubic metre and 14-30mcg per cubic metre respectively.

At noon, the Air4Thai.com reported that the highest level of PM2.5 was measured at Tambon Meechai in Nong Khai province’s Muang district, at 93mg per cubic metre.

Forest and post-harvest plantation burnings in the northern and northeastern provinces are blamed for higher levels of PM2.5 levels there.

Published : March 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013119

The government has announced that it will do its best to keep the price of diesel at less than 30 baht per litre despite the Russia-Ukraine war and ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has reportedly decided to implement three urgent measures to help the public, namely reducing the cost of living, easing debts and boosting investments.

Government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Monday that Prayut will also meet the National Energy Policy Council on Wednesday to come up with measures to be presented to the Cabinet on March 15.

Thanakorn explained that Thailand and the rest of the world are struggling not just with the Covid-19 crisis, but also with inflation and the fallout of the Russia-Ukraine war. The price of crude oil is expected to surge to US$120 per barrel. As of press time, the price of crude oil in Dubai stood at $106.58 per barrel, the Brent price was $118.11 per barrel and the West Texas price was at $110.7 per barrel.

The surge in oil prices has pushed up the cost of manufacturing and shipping, which in turn is affecting the cost of living.

Thanakorn said the public should understand the mechanics of energy prices and that the government cannot control them.

He said some measures had been put in place to deal with the uncertainty, and at this point, every sector should join hands with the authorities to tackle the world economic crisis.

Published : March 07, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40013118

Two rangers were attacked by a wild bull while patrolling Phetchabun’s Tat Mok National Park on Sunday.

They were part of a five-member team that had started their patrol on Thursday.

On Sunday afternoon, the team had reached the Ban Khok subdistrict area when a bull began charging at them and hit squadron leader Woraphot Piraksa head-on.

Woraphot sustained injuries to his face, nose, mouth and body and also lost some teeth. Another team member Jiraphong Nakrabum also sustained some injuries.

National park chief Thongchai Rajabuakaw said he would have sent a helicopter to pick them up, but the injured would have had to walk for two and half hours to get to the landing spot.

Hence, he decided to send an ambulance, which had to be parked some 5 kilometres away. The injured were eventually evacuated by another team of rangers and delivered to Phetchabun Hospital in the early evening.

Published : March 07, 2022

By : THE NATION