#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023798

Heavy rain, flash floods forecast for South this weekend

SATURDAY, JANUARY 07, 2023

The South is expected to be hit by heavy rains and flash floods over the weekend, while the Gulf of Thailand will face strong winds and high waves.

In a weather warning on Friday, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) said a strong northeast monsoon is prevailing over the Gulf and the South, while a low-pressure cell over the lower South China Sea is expected to move near the coast of the Indochina Peninsula.

These conditions will bring isolated heavy to very heavy rain in the lower South on Saturday and Sunday, TMD said. Affected areas include Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.

Meanwhile, strong winds will create 2 to 4-metre-high waves in the Gulf, which will be even higher during thundershowers.

The department has advised people in the lower South to beware of flash floods and runoffs, especially along waterways at foothills and lowlands. All ships in the Gulf should proceed with caution and avoid thundershowers, while small boats should stay ashore until Sunday. Residents along the coast should also beware of inshore surges, TMD added.

Visit www.tmd.go.th or call 1182 for the latest weather updates.

Related Stories

3 killed as heavy rain swamps South of Thailand

Frost may return to hilltops in North as temperatures drop, flash floods threaten South

Temperatures to fall, flash floods a risk in the South: forecast

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023794

Free MRT, BRT, BTS rides for kids under 14 on Saturday

SATURDAY, JANUARY 07, 2023

Youngsters under the age of 14 will be able to ride Bangkok’s BTS and MRT trains for free from 6am to midnight on Saturday, provided they are under 140 centimetres tall.

The free rides are being offered as part of National Children’s Day, which is marked on the second Saturday of January every year.

Children can ride all Skytrain lines, including Sukhumvit, Silom and Krung Thon Buri lines, as well as the bus rapid transport (BRT) for free all day on Saturday.

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is offering similar free rides on the subway system.

Children who are no older than 14 and no taller than 140cm will be allowed free rides on all MRT lines on Saturday.

Free-ride coupons can be picked up at all ticketing booths.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023797

Thais eager to welcome Chinese travellers in post-COVID rebound

SATURDAY, JANUARY 07, 2023

THE NATION

Thai business owners geared up on Friday (January 6) to welcome Chinese travellers back to their country, days before the world’s second largest economy opens its borders.

Without the need for pre-entry COVID-19 tests, Thailand’s tourist economy is set to join other Southeast Asian nations to be leading beneficiaries of China’s end to their border control rules. 
 

Thailand is expecting at least five million Chinese tourist arrivals this year, about half the number recorded before the coronavirus pandemic, as China reopens its borders from Sunday (January 8), the government tourism body said on Tuesday (January 3).

“It’s (the economy) likely to recover. At least, when they (Chinese tourists) come, they eat, buy and travel around, and money is being spent. At least, when they use my tuk-tuk service, I will get the income. But even if not, they are shopping, eating, travelling and so on, the money will still circulate (within the economy).” 41-Year old TUK-TUK Driver, Pramoch Jubklang said.

The return of Chinese tourists would be a further boost to Thailand’s economy and its vital tourism sector. More than 11 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand in 2019, nearly a third of the total.

Tourists wait to check in for flights, ahead of brace of an influx of Chinese tourists as COVID restirction are dismantled, at Bangkok

THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023791

Online sales of lottery tickets surged since June debut, says lottery office

FRIDAY, JANUARY 06, 2023

As many as 890,000 people won cash prizes totalling 7.5 billion baht from lottery draws after the Government Lottery Office office debuted online sales for tickets on June 2 last year, the office said on Friday.

Following the debut of online lottery ticket sales, 14 draws were held between June 16 and December 30 last year. 

Online sales were introduced to reduce price gouging by retailers, who added 25% surcharges on the 80 baht ticket price. Lottery draws are held twice a month: on the 16th and at the end of the month. 

Lottery players can pick their favourite numbers on the Paotang app and never have to pay more than 80 baht per ticket.

Five million tickets were sold online in five days for the June 16 draw, the lottery office said.  

One month later, 7 million tickets were sold in 29 hours for the July 16 draw.

The number surged for the final draw of the year, on December 30, when 16.2 million tickets were sold online, the lottery office said.

It said 2.2 million digital tickets won cash prizes between June 16 and December 30, of which 158 won the first prize of 948 million baht.

One lottery winner had 16 winning tickets for a single draw, with combined winnings of 96 million baht, the lottery office added.

Related stories:

• PM orders probe of Kong Salak Plus lottery after owner boasts THB18bn sales
• After Apec highs, ganja haze and lottery lows, Thailand can go the extra mile in 2023
• First-prize winner of government lottery must wait until Nov 21 to get money

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023790

First case of new Delta-Omicron hybrid found in Thailand

FRIDAY, JANUARY 06, 2023

The first case of a new hybrid Covid-19 variant has been found in Thailand, Department of Medical Sciences director-general Dr Supakit Sirilak said on Friday.

XAY.2, a Delta and Omicron mash-up, was discovered during a monitoring operation involving the department and a network of relevant agencies, he said.

The department has reported its discovery and submitted the virus’s sequencing information to GISAID, a global science initiative that has become the world’s largest repository for SARS-CoV-2 strain sequences since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Supakit said that XAY.2 is a hybrid between Delta’s subvariant AY.45 and Omicron’s BA.4/5. A total of 344 cases have been reported globally.
 

In response to concerns of a potential outbreak of Covid-19 mutations in Thailand with an expected influx of Chinese tourists, he said that the currently dominant variants in China are BA.5.2 and BF.7, which are not newer or spread faster than the existing variants in Thailand.

“So, there should be no cause for concern,” the medical expert said.

He also said that the latest Omicron offshoot, XBB.1.5, which is spreading fast in the United States, has not been found in Thailand.

The dominant variant in Thailand is now Omicron’s BN.1.3, an offshoot of BA.2.75, which spreads as quickly as XBB.1.5, he said.

“The Department of Medical Sciences and our network are closely monitoring the mutation of Covid-19. Preventive measures like wearing a mask, sanitising one’s hands and getting booster shots are still necessary,” Supakit said.

He advised people who had got their previous Covid-19 vaccine shot more than four months ago to get a booster shot to reduce the risk of infection and severe illness in case of infection.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023786

Covid-19 precautions to be strictly followed at Blackpink concert this weekend

FRIDAY, JANUARY 06, 2023

People attending Blackpink’s concert this weekend would be required to wear a face mask as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the organisers said on Friday.

The organisers also said they reserved the right to deny entry to anyone with fever and body temperature higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius, and there would be no refund for the ticket.

Blackpink – a South Korean girl group consisting of Jisoo, Jennie, Rose, and Thai singer Lisa – will perform their Born Pink World Tour concert at Bangkok’s Suphachalasai National Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to wearing a mask, the audience is also required to follow social distancing and sanitise their hands with alcohol gel provided at the venue. They will not be allowed to move or swap seats during the concert.

Concert-goers have been advised to take public transport, particularly the BTS Skytrain. They can get off at the National Stadium station and take Exit 2.

Motorists and commuters are advised to avoid roads around the concert venue, including Phya Thai, Rama I, Banthad Thong, and Soi Chula 5, 6, and 12, between 11am and 11pm.
 

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023784

Glittering goddess: Miss Universe Thailand unveils national costume for 2022 pageant

FRIDAY, JANUARY 06, 2023

Thailand’s entrant for Miss Universe 2022, 24-year-old Anna Sueangam-iam, will be dressed in a shimmering silver creation inspired by the mystical seven Songkran ladies from Thai folklore.

Dubbed “Songkran Devi”, the glittering dress was fashioned by Thai artisans to capture the concept of “flowing water”, pageant organiser Miss Universe Thailand said in a Facebook post.

“The dress was embellished with embroidery, beads, crystals, sequins and discarded bottles,” the post read.

Anna will also be carrying a beautifully crafted silver bowl used in the annual water festival to symbolise Thailand’s life, culture, tradition and local wisdom.

“It reflects the bliss, love, humility and beauty of Thai culture passed down from generation to generation,” the post read.

This costume apparently depicts “Kimita Devi”, the mythical Songkran goddess for Friday.

The 71st Miss Universe 2022 pageant will be held on January 15 in New Orleans.

Related stories:

• Pomp and pageantry: Anna Sueangam-iam off to New Orleans for Miss Universe crown
• New Miss Universe crown a dazzling ‘Force for Good’ in blue
• Guardian Glass celebrates 30th anniversary, launches latest brand ambassador “Amanda Charlene Obdam”

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023782

Jack Ma seen ‘ready to spar’ with legendary Muay Thai fighter in Bangkok

FRIDAY, JANUARY 06, 2023

Chinese billionaire Jack Ma was spotted watching a Muay Thai match at Rajadamnern Stadium on Thursday.

He appeared in the VIP section of the stadium, and was photographed with his fists raised while facing legendary Muay Thai boxer Buakaw Banchamek.

Ma is the co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group, a Chinese multinational tech conglomerate specialising in e-commerce.

He has been living in Tokyo with his family for more than six months, after disappearing from public view following China’s crackdown on the tech sector, according to recent media reports. During his stay in Japan, Ma also reportedly travelled to the United States, Spain, and Israel.

He has kept a low profile since the crackdown, which saw Chinese regulators scrapping the initial public offering of his Ant Group and slapping Alibaba with record fines.

In October 2020, Ma criticised China’s financial regulators, accusing state banks of having a “pawnshop mentality” and calling for bold new players that could extend credit to poor people who lack collateral.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023780

14,737 lives lost on Thai roads in 2022

FRIDAY, JANUARY 06, 2023

As many as 939,713 road accidents were reported in Thailand last year, up 4.7% from 2021, the Thailand Road Accidents Data Centre for Road Safety Culture (ThaiRSC) said.

According to data revealed by ThaiRSC on Friday, road accidents claimed 14,737 lives and injured 924,799 in Thailand last year. Of them, 536 deaths and 7,885 injuries were foreigners.

ThaiRSC said that the average damage incurred per accident was about 200,000 baht, while most accidents occur during morning rush hour, especially from 10am to 11am.

Statistics show that more than half of the accidents (55.9%) involved motorbikes.

Meanwhile, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department’s Road Safety Centre reported 2,440 road accidents during the annual “7 dangerous days” (December 29 to January 4) when people head to their hometowns to mark the New Year.

The accidents resulted in 2,437 injuries and 317 deaths, with Surat Thani having the highest number of accidents at 79 and Kanchanaburi the highest number of injuries at 81. Chiang Rai recorded the most deaths at 15.

Related Stories

317 killed, over 2,400 injured on Thai roads during New Year break

New Year holiday death toll at 282 after six of ‘7 dangerous days’

Thailand’s ‘7 dangerous days’ road toll rises to 218, with 66 deaths on New Year’s Day

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40023779

Motive for murder unclear as police hunt for killer of retired British engineer

FRIDAY, JANUARY 06, 2023

Police in Chonburi province are hunting for the gunman who shot dead a retired British engineer on Thursday night.

Neil Lewis Roger, 71, was found dead beside his scooter with four bullet wounds on his back in an alley in Chonburi’s Bang Lamung district.

His 38-year-old Thai wife, Thitipan Kammalas, said Roger had just returned from England on Wednesday after visiting his ill sister.

She said that he went out on Thursday evening to party with his friends in Pattaya City. She did not know if he had any serious dispute with anyone that could have led to his murder.

Pol Maj-General Thirachai Chamnanmo, commander of the Investigation Division Provincial Police’s Region 2, said on Friday that the investigators would focus on adultery as a possible motive although they have not ruled out other motives.

“We are now collecting evidence and witness accounts,” he said.

Thirachai, who chaired a meeting of Chonburi police investigators on Friday, said that he had instructed them to solve the case and find the gunman as soon as possible.