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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012730

The State Railway of Thailand announced on Thursday that the Rama VI Bridge could be reopened as usual from February 25.

Ekkarat Sriarayanpong, director of Public Relations Centre of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), said the SRT had closed the railway line between Bang Sue and Bang Bamru stations temporarily since January 24 to renovate the Rama VI Bridge structure.

The renovation of the Rama VI Bridge has been completed and is ready to resume normal operations from February 25, resulting in all southern routes resuming service, the SRT said

Southern trains that are back in service are:

• Special Express Train No. 43 Bangkok – Surat Thani

• Ordinary train No. 261 Bangkok – Hua Hin

• Speed ​​Train No. 171 Bangkok – Su-ngai Kolok

• Thaksinarat Expressway 31, Bangkok – Hat Yai Junction

• Suburban convoy No. 355 Bangkok – Nong Pla Duk

• Express Train No. 83, Bangkok – Trang

• Express Train No. 85, Bangkok – Nakhon Si Thammarat

• Special express train No. 39, Bangkok – Surat Thani.

return trip

• Suburban convoy no. 356 Nong Pla Duk – Bangkok

• Special express train 40 Surat Thani – Bangkok

• Speed ​​Train No. 172 Su-ngai Kolok – Bangkok

• Ordinary train No. 262 Hua Hin – Bangkok

• Express Train No. 86 Nakhon Si Thammarat – Bangkok

• Express train No. 84 Trang – Bangkok

• Thaksinarat Expressway No. 32, Hat Yai Junction – Bangkok

• Special Express Train No. 44 Surat Thani – Bangkok

Published : February 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40012728

More Thai people have confidence in their digital skills for today’s workforce compared to the global average, a recent survey revealed.

The Global Digital Skills Index survey pointed to a growing global digital skills crisis. The report surveyed the digital readiness of more than 23,000 global workers in 19 countries, including more than 1,400 respondents from Thailand, to explore the perspectives and attitudes of workers on digital skills readiness for today’s business and in the next five years

More than half, or 51 per cent of Thai respondents, feel they have enough digital skills for today’s workforce. This is higher than the average percentage of global respondents (40 per cent).

However, although more than half of Thai respondents feel that they are ready for digital skills in the workplace, only 42 per vent have access to digital skills learning resources.

In addition, 43 per cent of Thai respondents are planning to actively learn and train digital skills in the future.

Kittiphong Asawapichayont, regional vice president and managing director of Salesforce Thailand, said that Thai people assess their readiness and digital skills for work higher than survey participants from various countries around the world. This is evident in the results of higher scores than other countries, including technology-leading countries.

However, the results of this self-assessment show that it is imperative for businesses, governments and agencies to work together to promote the digital skills necessary for employees and people of working age, Kittiphong said.

Survey respondents in developing countries such as Thailand, India, Mexico and Brazil are more confident than people in developed countries about their digital future.

Indian workers rated their digital skills readiness the highest (63 out of 100), with 76 per cent of survey respondents in India feeling they were digitally ready for work and 69 per cent of respondents in India feeling they were digitally ready for the job and to learn new digital skills

Respondents from Thailand rated their readiness for digital skills the third highest (48 out of 100), with 51 per cent of Thai respondents stating they were digitally ready for work and 39 per cent ready to learn new digital skills.

Published : February 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012727

The Immigration Bureau has arrested an Indian fugitive wanted on an Interpol arrest warrant in Pattaya, the bureau chief announced Thursday.

The arrest of Harman (surname withheld), 29, was announced at a press conference by Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol Lt-General Phakphumpipit Sajjaphan.

The Immigration Police chief said the Indian suspect was wanted on charges related to murder, robbery, human trafficking, abduction for ransom, and money laundering in India.

Phakphumpipit said Harman entered Thailand in June 2019 and has been living in Pattaya, Chon Buri province. After his visa expired on October 30, 2019, the suspect shuttled between Bangkok and Chonburi to try to avoid Immigration Police.

Later, the Immigration Bureau was informed by Indian police and Interpol that Harman was wanted on an international arrest warrant so the Immigration Bureau started looking out for him in Chonburi since January.

He was arrested on January 21 in front of a grocery store on North Pattaya Road and charged with overstaying his visa for 448 days.

The Immigration Police chief said Harman would face legal action for overstaying his visa and after serving his jail term in Thailand, he would be extradited to India.

Published : February 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012726

The Thai Army chief and the acting US ambassador to Thailand on Thursday kicked off the Hanuman Guardian 2022 bilateral training for the two armies.

Royal Thai Army Commander-in-Chief General Narongpan Jitkaewthae and US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Michael Heath, the acting US ambassador, jointly presided over the ceremony at the Infantry Centre in Prachuap Khiri Khan province to kick off the Hanuman Guardian 2022 war exercise.

Senior officers of both the Royal Thai Army and US Army were present during the ceremony.

Speaking during the ceremony, Narongpan said the joint training of the two armies was the 11th exercise so far.

He said troops from the two armies will exchange experience and learn to carry out joint operations, and the training would boost the military cooperation of the two nations that would lead to security in other affairs of the two countries.

Narongpan said the joint strategic parachute jumping exercise would be a valuable experience for army personnel and their units. He said the troops that will join the parachute jumping exercise had earlier received training to adjust their knowledge base for strategic parachute jumping in the US before they were flown in a military plane to the Infantry Centre.

Narongpan noted that he himself had once taken part in a joint strategic parachute jumping exercise under the codename “Black Tiger – GeronimoStrike” in 1998.

In his speech, the acting US ambassador admired the devotion of troops of the two armies for joint training despite restrictions under the Covid-19 situation.

The acting ambassador said the joint training was the result of warm bilateral ties between Thailand and the US for 200 years. He said the joint exercise reflected cooperation of the two countries on security affairs, the good ties of the two armies and the two governments.

After the opening ceremony, the Army chief handed out commemorative medals to troops of the two countries.

The Hanuman Guardian 2022 is being held on Thursday and Friday in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Lop Buri provinces with the goal to increase the capability of both troops and their units and boost cooperation of the military, which will result in enhanced security in other affairs.

The Thai Army is deploying some 1,000 troops from the First Army Area, the Fourth Army Area, the Artillery Centre, the Army Aviation Centre, the Army Ordnance Department and the Royal Thai Army Chemical Department. The US army is deploying 600 troops from the United States Army Pacific to join the training.

The bilateral exercise will be divided into four parts – the adjustment of knowledge of troops, strategic parachute jumping, exchange of experience, and field training.

The two armies will exchange technical and tactical knowledge among infantry troops, striker armoured vehicle units, and air logistics units, as well as exchange experience of specialists from artillery, aviation, ordnance and chemical units.

The training is carried out under strict Covid-19 measures and the training areas will be closed to outsiders and the troops will not be allowed to leave the areas. Troops will also be flown in charter planes.

The Hanuman Guardian training has been held in Thailand every year since 2012 following an initiative by the USARPAC and Thai Army to expand cooperation and exchange experience to be able to cope with new threats in the region.

Published : February 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012724

An evacuation plan has been set for Thai nationals living in Ukraine in case the ongoing military conflict with Russia gets out of control, Thai officials said on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Thai expatriates in Ukraine’s capital city Kiev reported a highly tense situation there, with multiple explosions and a large presence of the military.

“People can’t travel by air now because Kiev’s sky is closed. People are panicking. Many people are rushing home while others are fleeing the city by cars. This has caused traffic congestion,” a Thai woman told Nation Online.

The expatriate said that she had heard many explosions in the city but could not find out where they came from.

Ukraine has been involved in a military conflict with Russia, which reportedly made an invasion into parts of its western neighbour on Thursday.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is preparing chartered flights and military cargo planes for possible evacuation of Thai nationals living in Ukraine, RTAF spokesman Air Vice-Marshal Prapas Sornjaidee said on Thursday.

He said that evacuation by military planes would require careful consideration as there is a military conflict in the area. So, chartered flights would be the first choice, as instructed by the government.

However, as a backup plan, RTAF commander-in-chief Air Chief Marshal Napadej Dhupatemiya has ordered cargo planes to be readied for operation whenever needed, according to the spokesman.

The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set an evacuation plan for Thai nationals in Ukraine, deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek said.

Chartered flights would be used in case of emergency, and land transport would be provided for Thai expats in case of air traffic suspension to bring them to Poland’s capital Warsaw before flying home, she said.

Thai nationals in Ukraine seeking assistance may contact the Thai Embassy in Warsaw by calling +48-696-642-348 or through e-mail at thaiconsularwarsaw@thaiemb.pl.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has updated Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha regularly on the latest situation in Ukraine and the PM has expressed his concern for the safety of Thai nationals there, according to the spokesperson.

Published : February 24, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012723

A patrol unit of the Navy in Nong Khai province has intercepted an attempt to smuggle in Bt12 million worth of drugs from China.

Captain Rakop Thewaprateep, commander of Nong Khai’s Mekong Patrol Unit of the Royal Thai Navy, told a press conference on Thursday that his unit had foiled the attempt at midnight on Tuesday but no arrests were made.

Acting on a tip-off, officials from the Mekong Patrol Unit were deployed to stake out near piers along the Mekong River in Nong Khai’s Muang district on Tuesday night.

A team of officials spotted a boat approaching the riverbank near the pier at Wat Meechai at 11pm. Two men were seen carrying two bags from the boat and leaving them on the river bank.

When a man came arrived to pick up the bags, the officials came out of hiding to try and arrest them but the three men managed to escape along the dark river bank, he said.

Officials seized the bags and found two kilograms of crystal meth, four kg of ecstasy, six kg of ketamine drug as well as 200 sachets of coffee mixed with ecstasy and 100 grams of ecstasy hidden in a bean bag. The coffee and bean bags carried Chinese trademarks so the Navy believed the drug was being smuggled in from China, Rakop said.

Rakop said the Navy has stepped up efforts to prevent drug smuggling across the Mekong River due to the increased incidence of drug trafficking in the country recently.

Published : February 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012720

The Public Health Ministry aims to relegate the Covid-19 from a pandemic to an endemic in four months, it announced Thursday.

Dr Kiartiphum Wongrachit, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said the goal is to make the change in four months.

Kiartiphum said he had learned from epidemiologists that the new Covid-19 strain was less virulent, although the number of new cases was increasing fast.

“The new strain spreads fast so the number of people with inflammation of lung tissue rose in proportion with the rising cases,” Kiartiphum said. “But the ratio of Covid-19 patients, who had died or who had lung inflammation, had dropped compared to previous waves of the pandemic.”

Kiartiphum said the Public Health Ministry would later announce its management plan for dealing with Covid-19 as endemic.

The permanent secretary said more than 90 per cent of people who had been infected with the Omicron variant were asymptomatic, so the Public Health Ministry plans to increase the ratio of people in home isolation from 60 per cent at present to 90 per cent, compared to Covid-19 patients in hospitals.

He said when more people enter the home isolation treatment programme, hospitals will have more capability to take care of patients with other diseases.

“The Public Health Ministry will later adjust the number of days for taking care of infected people and for quarantining people at high risk,” Kiartiphum added.

He said the Public Health Ministry will continue to allow people with severe symptoms to receive treatment at any hospital as emergency cases, but people with mild symptoms can receive treatment from the hospitals under the Gold Card universal healthcare, the Social Security System or government officials’ healthcare system.

Kiartiphum said most of the Covid-19 fatalities were elderly people with comorbidities or pregnant women, especially those who have not been vaccinated or not been fully vaccinated.

As a result, the Public Health Ministry will coordinate with the Interior Ministry to check household registration to search for the elderly who have not received a booster dose to administer the third dose to them as soon as possible and reduce deaths. He added that only about 30 per cent of the elderly have received the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr Rungruang Kijphati, chief adviser and a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry, said the rate of fatalities and people with severe symptoms was 10 times lower than what had happened during the Delta variant crisis. He said if 60 to 70 per cent of the elderly got the third jab, the fatalities could drop by 50 per cent from the current 30 to 40 deaths a day.

Published : February 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012718

The Thai government has borrowed US$500 million (16.2 billion baht) from Japan to fund Covid-19 economic relief measures, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on Thursday.

This is allowed under the executive decree for additional loans of up to 500 billion baht, to be spent on measures to address the pandemic’s economic impacts.

Of the approved quota of 500 billion baht, more than 100 billion has remained unused, according to the finance minister.

“This is enough [for Covid relief] and there’s no need to issue another loan decree,” he said.

The Japanese government offered the $500-million loan at low interest, the finance minister said, adding that similar offers also came from the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank to help countries affected by Covid-19 to deal with liquidity issues.

In fact, Thailand has no liquidity problem and the government has borrowed mainly from domestic creditors, Arkhom said.

However, he added, the money from Japan would help maintain Thailand’s liquidity as the private sector needs loans from domestic sources for investment when the economy recovers.

“We have to maintain the balance of domestic liquidity so that the private sector can use the money. When there is surplus liquidity, the government absorbs it,” the finance minister added.

Published : February 24, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012717

The government has kept chartered flights ready to evacuate Thai people from Ukraine.

Government deputy spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said on Thursday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was worried about Thai people in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is prepared to evacuate Thai people with chartered flights by Thai Airways and the Royal Thai Air Force in case there is an emergency situation. 

If Ukraine’s airspace is closed, the ministry will organise vehicular transport for Thais to Warsaw, Poland.

The ministry is regularly briefing the prime minister about the situation in Ukraine, while the Embassy of Thailand in Warsaw is communicating with Thai people to prepare for any urgent situation, the Foreign Ministry said.

Thai people in Ukraine who would like to ask for help could contact the Embassy of Thailand in Warsaw at +48-696-642-348 or e-mail thaiconsularwarsaw@thaiemb.pl

Related News

Thailand-UK flight route not affected by Russia-Ukraine tensions: TAT

Embassy in Poland ready with plans to evacuate Thai people in Ukraine

Russia-Ukraine tensions could affect fuel-energy prices, says Finance Minister

Published : February 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012715

Thanyaburi Mini Zoo is 95 per cent complete and will open in Pathum Thani on March 13 as planned, the Tourism and Sports Ministry announced on Facebook on Thursday.

The zoo will serve as a foundation for the relocation of Bangkok’s famous old Dusit Zoo that shut down in August 2018 after 80 years in operation.

Animals from Dusit Zoo have been relocated to six other zoos nationwide under the Zoological Park Organisation.

The new zoo, located on a 300-rai plot in Klong Hok, Rangsit subdistrict, Thanyaburi district, will feature several animal exhibitions on the opening day, including Thai cranes, sulcata tortoises, raccoons, ring-tailed lemurs, squirrel monkeys, and capibaras.

Thanyaburi Mini Zoo will open daily from 9.30am to 4.30pm on weekdays and from 8.30am to 5.30pm on weekends and holidays. Admission is free.

Related News

Thanyaburi Mini Zoo to open in Pathum Thani on March 13

Famous Bangkok zoo about to shut after 80 years

Mighty exodus begins at Dusit Zoo

Published : February 24, 2022

By : THE NATION