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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012823

Direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Thailand will resume after a 32-year gap on Monday (February 28) when SV846 from Riyadh touches down at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 6.05 pm.

Operated by Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia, the inaugural flight comes after diplomatic ties between the two countries were normalised last month.

The government has hailed the restored relationship as an opportunity to boost tourist arrivals from the Middle East.

The Tourism and Sports minister will lead a delegation of Thai tourism operators to Saudi Arabia next month.

Meanwhile Saudia will operate three flights per week – on Monday, Wednesday and Friday – on the Riyadh-Bangkok route until March 25.

The summer schedule (March 27 to October 29) will then switch to seven flights per week as follows:

Flight SV 844/845 will fly from Jeddah to Suvarnabhumi airport on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while flight SV846/847 will ply the Jeddah-Riyadh-Suvarnabhumi route on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Published : February 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012822

The Public Health Ministry has ordered provincial authorities and hospitals to treat Covid-19 as an endemic disease from March 1 (Tuesday) onwards.

The urgent order was given in a letter submitted to Provincial Public Health Offices and hospitals by the ministry’s Emergency Operation Centre on Friday.

The letter appears to contradict an earlier Cabinet directive ordering the Public Health Ministry to review its plan to remove Covid-19 from the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients (UCEP) scheme on March 1.

The letter, which is signed by Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, directs Provincial Public Health Offices and hospitals to add outpatient services for Covid-19 patients.

“Covid-19 patients with asymptomatic or mild symptoms should observe their symptoms at home,” the letter said.

Published : February 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012820

Thailand has added its voice to UN calls for a diplomatic resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Speaking ahead of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, permanent representative Suriya Chindawongse said Thailand is following developments in Ukraine with great concern as escalating tensions threaten international peace and security.

He added that the Kingdom supported efforts to find a peaceful solution through negotiations under the United Nations Charter and international law based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Thailand also backs the UN’s efforts for a peaceful resolution under the Minsk agreements and other regional mechanisms, Suriya said.

He said Thailand joins the international community in calling on all parties to exercise “ultimate restraint, avoid provocation, and refrain from using force as well as ensuring the protection of civilian life” and civilian infrastructure.

Published : February 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012818

A bridge that collapsed on Udom Suk Road on Saturday was likely undermined during ongoing construction work, according to Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang.

Aswin explained that a water-management building was being constructed nearby as part of the Nong Bon drainage tunnel project in the southeast of the city.

The bridge over Khlong Kled between Prawet and Bang Na districts was closed to traffic after it began collapsing around 4pm on Saturday. City officials and police blocked off access to the bridge as one lane slumped down, causing a large crack to open in the middle of the road.

Traffic police have diverted traffic onto alternative routes.

Road users travelling on the Udom Suk route to Srinakarin Road were instructed to turn left into Soi Udom Suk 51, while vehicles using the Bangna-Trat Road route were told to right into Soi Udomsuk 56.

Initial investigation indicated that water had leaked into a tunnel beneath the bridge, undermining its foundations and causing it to collapse.

Published : February 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012817

Grief over the death of Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong has spread to China, after the 37-year-old Thai actress’s body was retrieved from the Chao Phraya River.

News of her death ranked 11th on Chinese social media platform Weibo on Saturday, according to the Aizhong Facebook page.

The body of the actress was found floating near the Rama VII Bridge in Nonthaburi province on Saturday afternoon following a two-day search operation.

Nida reportedly fell into the river from the back of a speedboat she was riding with a group of friends late on Thursday night.

Aizhong said many Chinese netizens follow entertainment news from Thailand and were mourning the death of Nida. The page added that some Chinese netizens said they were fans of “Bai Mai Tee Plid Plew” (Fallen Leaf), the Thai television drama starring Nida.

“Bai Mai Tee Plid Plew, which aired in 2019, received a good response in China where it trended on the Weibo and Xiaohongshu social media platforms,” the page said. The TV show had spurred Chinese viewers’ interest in Thai dramas and also in Nida, it said, before expressing sadness at her death.

Published : February 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012816

Ten Thais have arrived at Thailand’s evacuation centre in the Ukrainian border city of Lviv, with 20 to 30 more on their way by car or train from other cities in the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, 40 Thais have chartered a bus from Ukraine’s southwestern city of Odessa to the Romanian border, according to Royal Thai Embassy staff in Lviv.

Between 30 and 60 Thai nationals will be evacuated from the centre over the border to Warsaw in Poland on Monday (February 28). They will then catch a flight back to Thailand.

The evacuation of Thai nationals got underway following attacks by Russian troops on the capital, Kyiv, and other major Ukrainian cities.

However, Ukrainian authorities have urged people to stay in their location and imposed a curfew in Kyiv, extending from 5pm to 8am. Thai citizens in cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv have been instructed to stay in place for their safety.

On Sunday, 40 Thais from Odessa in the southwest of Ukraine took a chartered bus to the Ukrainian-Romanian border 300 kilometres away. The Royal Thai Embassy in Romania is arranging a bus to take them to Bucharest to catch a commercial flight to Thailand on Tuesday (March 1).

The Lviv evacuation centre has been set up by personnel from the Royal Thai Embassy in Warsaw, which also covers Ukraine.

Published : February 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012815

Russia-Ukraine tensions will not affect Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) during Thailand’s tenure as chair of the trade bloc, the Foreign Ministry said.

Russia is among the 21 Apec members but has been hit with severe economic sanctions by other members – including the US, Canada and Japan – over its invasion of Ukraine. The invasions and resulting sanctions come at an awkward time for Thailand as it prepares to host Apec summits this year.

Ministry permanent secretary Thanee Thongpakdee insisted that representatives of all Apec economies intend to continue promoting economic development and integration. He added that all were aware that a peaceful, open and dynamic Apec is necessary for sustainable development in every sector.

“Hence, we believe that all economic areas will cooperate, while we will see which aspect of cooperation we can promote in order to achieve goals set for the Putrajaya Vision 2040 [for free and sustainable trade].”

He added that consensus was also necessary for Apec cooperation and every member economy was aware that discussion and cooperation were crucial to achieve that goal.

Apec consists of 21 economic areas, of which the US, Russia, China and Japan are members with political and economic powers.

After taking over the rotating chair from New Zealand, Thailand declared the theme for 2022 Apec was “Open. Connect. Balance”.

The theme aims to tackle inequality due to the Covid-19 crisis by using the BCG (bio-circular-green) economic model. Thailand is due to host the next Apec summit in October-November.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said the summit would showcase Thailand’s role as an “economic ambassador”, creating opportunities for Thai citizens and economies.

He added that the Apec summit would show the country’s potential to global citizens amid recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.

Published : February 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012812

Public Health Ministry reported on Sunday (February 27) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 24,719 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 120 of whom are foreign travellers.

Death toll increased by 42, while 16,875 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 646,181.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,869,616 – 2,637,879 of whom have recovered, 208,846 are still in hospitals and 22,891 have died.

Separately, another 67,406 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 33,769 their second shot and 201,917 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 123,462,330.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 434.88 million on Sunday, 364.82 million of whom have recovered, 64.1 million are active cases (76,643 in severe condition) and 5.96 million have died (up by 6,499).

Thailand ranks 20th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 80.56 million, followed by India with 42.91 million, Brazil with 28.74 million, France with 22.64 million and the UK with 18.80 million.

Published : February 27, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012808

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed relevant state agencies to assess possible impacts the ongoing Russia-Ukraine military conflict may have on the Thai economy, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Saturday.

He added that the premier particular instructed the Energy, Commerce and Finance ministries, as well as the Board of Investment and Tourism Authority of Thailand to follow up on the situation and the effects it will possibly have on Thailand.

The focus will be on the prices of energy, petrol and natural gas, as well as key commodities.

Possible fluctuation in inflation and exchange rate could push up the price of goods, the spokesman said.

Prayut has also instructed agencies to come up with plans and measures to help restrict the impact on Thai consumers, who are already struggling in the fallout of the Covid-19 crisis.

The premier has also ordered all state agencies to ensure there is sufficient medication, supplies and treatment for Covid-19 patients as the number of cases has been on a constant rise over the past few weeks.

“He said everybody should strictly follow public health measures and get their booster shots quickly. People should also follow current affairs to plan their next move and adapt to the world situation,” Thanakorn quoted Prayut as saying.

A total of 25,449 new Covid-19 cases and 40 deaths were reported on Saturday.

Since January 1, there have been a cumulative total of 621,462 infections, 452,510 of whom have recovered, while 201,044 are still under treatment.

Thailand has rolled out more than 123 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines since the launch of a mass vaccination campaign in February last year.

Published : February 26, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012807

The body of actress Nida “Tangmo” Patcharaveerapong was found floating in the Chao Phraya River near the Rama VII Bridge in Nonthaburi province on Saturday afternoon.

It was sighted by the late actress’s brother Dayos Detjob, 44, some 300 metres from the Phibun Songkhram pier and was dragged to land on a jet ski. A medical doctor was at hand to examine the body, which has been sent to the Central Institute of Forensic Science for post-mortem.

Nida, 37, reportedly fell into the river from the back of a speed boat that she was riding with a group of friends on late Thursday night.

Her mother and brother have lodged a complaint with Nonthaburi police seeking an investigation into the incident.

Published : February 26, 2022