#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011797

A civil society group has called on Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreangam to explain why the government allowed Akara Resources Plc to resume operations at Chatree gold mine, calling the decision a historic stain on Thailand.

The Network of People for Reform of Mineral Resources spoke out after Wissanu said on January 26 the government had no objections to Kingsgate Consolidated, Akara’s parent company, reopening Thailand’s largest gold mine.

Kingsgate has informed the Australian Securities Exchange that it received four mining leases from the Thai government to resume operations at the mine.

Chatree gold mine was closed in January 2017 by an executive decree of the junta National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which cited pollution and environmental damage caused by the mine’s operations.

The closure order triggered a battle with Akara’s parent company Kingsgate Consolidated of Australia, with Thailand set to pay over 25 billion baht if it loses the case.

The government recently said the arbitration ruling has been postponed from the end of January, with no new date set.

The Network of People for Reform of Mineral Resources said that allowing Akara to resume mining at Chatree without waiting for the arbitration ruling violated the law and damaged Thailand.

“We urge Wissanu to clarify this case for Thai citizens because it affects the country’s reputation and stability,” the group said.

“The [government’s] move, which shows no concern regarding damage done to the country, will be a historic stain on our nation,” it added.

Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011796

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn called on Thais to boost their strength and become formidable like “tigers with wings” this year.

The handwritten greeting to mark the arrival of the Year of the Tiger on Tuesday was displayed on the Facebook page of Phufa – an initiative launched by the Princess in 1995 to help Thais in remote areas.

The card also carried handwritten Chinese characters and a message in Thai saying “you are already powerful and capable. Work towards becoming stronger and more powerful”.

Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011794

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed satisfaction at Thailand being ranked 26th out of 53 countries in Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking in January, up from 44th place in the previous year, Government Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Tuesday.

The Covid Resilience Ranking is a monthly overview of where the coronavirus is being handled most effectively while causing the least social and economic impact. 
The ranking evaluates 12 data indicators, including reopening process, infection and mortality status, virus containment, healthcare quality, vaccination coverage, and quality of life and human development during the pandemic.

“In January 2022, Thailand has received a score of 63.7, which is the highest since April 2021. This puts us in the top half of 53 countries with the biggest economies in the world for the first time at 26th place, 18 places higher than where we were last year,” he said.


“PM Prayut was happy with the ranking, and thanked all related agencies for their hard work and dedication in disease control that have resulted in low infection and mortality rate from Covid-19, while the economic recovery is getting on track.”

Prayut also thanked people for their cooperation by following measures announced by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

Bloomberg attributed Thailand’s increasing score to low infections and death rate, increased vaccination rate, and the government’s easing up of Covid-19 restrictions, especially allowing foreign visitors to enter without having to quarantine under the “Test and Go” programme, which will resume on Tuesday (February 1). The programme had been suspended since mid-December to modify some criteria to suit the current situation.

“The government continues to monitor the situation closely and will adjust the Covid strategy in both the short- and long-term to make sure that we can live with Covid-19 with safety while the economic development can still move forward,” said Thanakorn.

The 53 countries on the list, in the order of their ranking: 1. UAE, 2. Saudi Arabia, 3. Finland, 4. Turkey, 5. Singapore, 6. Chile, 7. Iran, 8. Taiwan, 9. South Korea, 10. Ireland, 11. Norway, 12. United Kingdom, 13. Spain, 14. Canada, 15. New Zealand, 16. Austria, 17. Japan, 18. China, 19. Colombia, 20. Nigeria, 21. Portugal, 22. Switzerland, 23. United States, 24. Iraq, 25. Germany, 26. Thailand, 27. Malaysia, 28. Czech Republic, 29. Bangladesh, 30. Belgium, 31. Netherlands, 32. Denmark, 33. Hong Kong, 34. India, 35. Egypt, 36. France, 37. Israel, 38. Pakistan, 39. Mexico, 40. Brazil, 41. Sweden, 42. Peru, 43. Greece, 44. Indonesia, 45. South Africa, 46. Italy, 47. Australia, 48. Poland, 49. Argentina, 50. Russia, 51. Romania, 52. Vietnam, 53. Philippines.

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Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011792

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday that his ministry is ready to start administering Sinovac jabs to children aged three and above as soon as it gets a green light from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

So far, the Thai FDA has only approved the special orange cap Pfizer vaccine for children above the age of five.

The Disease Control Department has informed the minister that the Chinese manufacturer of the inactivated vaccine is seeking official approval for use on children as young as three years old.

The application has been endorsed by a Public Health Ministry panel on immunity promotion and is being considered by the FDA.

The FDA is also reviewing the information provided by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), which will import the Sinovac doses once given the go-ahead, Anutin said.

Anutin added that Sinovac will give parents an alternative choice when it comes to giving their children a Covid-19 jab.

Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011788

Up to 200 small businesses affected by the oil leak filed complaints against Star Petroleum Refining (SPRC) at the Damrongtham Centre in Rayong’s Muang district.

Up to 60 tonnes of oil gushed into the sea when an underwater pipeline owned by SPRC sprung a leak on January 25 in Rayong’s Map Ta Phut industrial estate.

Most of the businesses that filed complaints on Tuesday were restaurants, bungalows, resorts as well as people who supply beach beds and rubber rings at the beach. The centre, which set up a unit at Sabai Sabai Resort near Mae Ram Phueng Beach, expects more complaints.

Mae Ram Phueng Beach was named disaster zone on January 29, while related agencies have been working round the clock to ensure the oil slick does not have too huge an impact on the marine ecosystem.

Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011782

From today, people registered under phase four of “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) can use the co-payment scheme to buy travel tokens for both lines of Bangkok’s MRT.

Registrants can buy general or senior passenger tokens via the Paotang application at ticket counters from 6am to 11pm.

Purchased travel tokens cannot be refunded or changed and can only be used on the date and station where they are issued.

Also, Khon La Khrueng rights cannot be used to top up or pay other fees related to MRT services.

The travel subsidy is aimed at cutting living expenses and aiding economic recovery from Covid-19, said the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and Bangkok Expressway and Metro on Tuesday.

Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011780

Students in Thailand returned to classes on Tuesday after the Education Ministry allowed schools to open as normal under its plan to control Covid-19.

The plan requires 85 per cent of teachers to be vaccinated with at least one dose. Also, schools must evaluate themselves via the Department of Health’s Thai Stop COVID+ website.

Meanwhile, schools must follow Covid-19 prevention measures including social distancing, washing hands and temperature checks.

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Pfizer vaccine for children arriving on Wednesday

Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011776

The oil leak in Rayong’s Map Ta Phut industrial estate has not affected the marine ecosystem in the area yet, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources reported on Monday.

Soon after an underwater pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining (SPRC) sprung a leak on January 25, the company began using chemicals to disperse the oil. According to news reports, the leak released at least 60 tonnes of oil into the sea.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources said, so far, no oil slicks have been reported on the beaches or coral reefs in Koh Samet’s Ao Prao Bay. It added that the quality of seawater was normal with no smell of oil and that marine life was unaffected.

“The quality of seawater at Suchada, Saeng Chan, Mae Ram Phueng, Ban Phe and Suan Son beaches is normal and no sea creatures have washed up,” the report said.

It added that the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources will on Tuesday check on the possible impact the oil slick may have had on rare marine creatures.

“The result of an analysis into the presence of petroleum hydrocarbon and sediments in seawater will be reported later,” it added.

Earlier local media reports showed that some oil droplets had washed up to Ao Prao Bay.

Meanwhile, the Marine Department is suing SPRC for violating Article 119 of the 1913 Navigation in Thai Waters Act by allowing the oil spill to happen, the department’s deputy director of safety Phuripat Theerakulpisut said.

He added that the department was evaluating the impact of the oil slick on residents and the ecosystem before taking rehabilitation steps.

He said the Marine Department will also open channels for victims to sue SPRC.

“The Rayong Marine Office has suspended the use of SPRC’s single-point mooring [SPM] system until maintenance has been completed. Navigators have been told to be careful while sailing near SPM,” he said.

Phuripat added that dispersants deployed by the Marine Department and IRPC have eliminated about 70,000 litres of the oil.

He said the department also deployed a boat on January 30 to join other vessels in using a 350-metre-long buoy to contain the spread of the oil.

Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011775

Kanchanaburi’s Khao Laem National Park in Sangkhla Buri district and the adjacent Thong Pha Phum National Park in Thong Pha Phum district will be closed for 90 days so rangers can drive a wild tiger deep into the forest.

The closure was announced after a 46-year-old Karen villager was attacked by a tiger while he was herding his buffaloes near the Khao Laem National Park last Friday. The victim was rushed to a hospital nearby and is now stable.

Rangers also found two half-eaten bodies of buffaloes and some tiger faeces in the area. The buffaloes had apparently been dead for at least 20 days.

“Representatives of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation have visited the victim and given his family 10,000 baht in compensation for the stress,” said Niphon Jamnongsirisak, chief of Region 3 Conservation Area. “The two national parks will be closed for 90 days so rangers can start driving the tiger deep into the forest.

“Anyone wishing to enter the parks during this time must notify park offices in advance for approval. Violators will be hit with a 100,000 baht fine,” he warned.

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Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40011774

As many as 10,915 people enlisted as soldiers between December 1 and January 31 now that the Royal Thai Army has started accepting applications online, Army chief General Narongphan Jitkaewtae said on Monday.

The Army has been accepting applications online for two years now due to the Covid-19 crisis.

“The applications this year have doubled from last year and can cover 75 per cent of available slots nationwide,” he said. “Of the applicants, 90 per cent are in the 18 to 20 age range, while the second and fourth Army areas have exceeded the slots available by 118 and 134 per cent respectively.”

The second Army area is responsible for the Northeast quadrant and is headquartered in Nakhon Ratchasima, while the fourth Army area covers the South and is headquartered in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

“The overwhelming number of people enlisting voluntarily proves that the Army has been successful in its campaign to find candidates who are truly interested in pursuing a military career,” Narongphan said. “The Army will continue to improve the application and screening system to ensure the right people are selected.”

Narongphan added that to mark Veterans Day on Thursday, the Army will hold activities honouring those who have sacrificed their lives for the country. The top brass will also visit retired veterans, while admission fees will be waived at all Army museums.

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Thai men given chance to join the Army freely

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Published : February 01, 2022

By : THE NATION