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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009481

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to organize the New Year festival and Buddhist chanting ceremony from December 31 to January 1 at Lan Khon Mueang Town Square in Phra Nakhon district, said Chaloemphol Chotinuchit, deputy BMA permanent secretary on Tuesday.

“BMA’s Office of Culture, Sports and Tourism will be responsible for organizing the events,” he said. “The events aim to welcome the year 2022 and promote Thai tradition of merit making and Buddhist chanting on New Year Day.”

Chaloemphol added that activities will be held under new normal standard to prevent the spreading of Covid-19. Participants must wear facemasks and strictly follow disease control measures announced by Ministry of Public Health.

Bangkok plans New Year festival and chanting ceremony

BMA will hold an official press conference regarding the events on December 23 from 1.30pm onward at Bangkok City Hall in Phra Nakhon district.
 

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Published : December 01, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009479

The government is keeping a close watch on the Covid-19 situation amid fears over the latest Omicron variant, and has ordered border agencies to increase security and screening measures for all visitors entering Thailand, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Tuesday.

“Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has said that security officials at borders must strictly follow disease-control regulations. If any illegal migrants are reported to have slipped into the country, those responsible officials would be punished,” he warned.

“The prime minister also ordered related agencies to closely follow the latest updates on Omicron, especially the rate of its spread and severity of symptoms compared to known variants such as Delta and Alpha.”

On Saturday, the Public Health Ministry announced that from December 1 Thailand would ban visitors by air from eight African countries to prevent the spread of the new, more easily transmissible Covid-19 variant, which was reported on November 24 in South Africa. The countries are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Govt beefs up border security as it keeps hawk’s eye on Omicron variant

“PM Prayut also said that in order to strengthen the economy that is slowly recovering, the government would continue to vaccinate people to increase their immunity and prevent severe symptoms and deaths,” Thanakorn said.

“The government will also provide accurate information about the new variant and inform people promptly if there is any Omicron case reported in the country,” he added.

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Published : December 01, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009477

Ministry of Public Health reported on Wednesday (December 1) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 4,886 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 165 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 43, while 6,326 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,120,758 – 2,025,754 of whom have recovered, 74,190 are still in hospitals and 20,814 have died.

Separately, another 233,654 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 274,665 their second shot and 64,754 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 93,231,463.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 263.06 million on Wednesday, 237.54 million of whom have recovered, 20.29 million are active cases (84,759 in severe condition) and 5.23 million have died (up by 7,617).

Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 49.43 million, followed by India with 34.6 million, Brazil with 22.1 million, the UK with 10.23 million and Russia with 9.64 million.

Published : December 01, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009464

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Wednesday (December 1) that the rather strong high-pressure system covers upper Thailand while another rather strong high-pressure system from China extends to cover the upper Laos and Northeast of Thailand. Cool to cold weather in the morning and strong winds are forecast in the areas, with a drop in temperature by 1-3 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the rather strong northeast monsoon prevails over the Gulf and the South. Heavy rains are likely over the middle and the lower parts of the South. People should beware of the severe condition and rain accumulation that may cause overflows and flash floods. 

Waves in the Gulf of Thailand are 2-3 meters high and more than 3 meters high during thundershowers. All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers, while and small boats should keep ashore until December 2.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:

North: Cool to cold weather in the morning; temperature lows of 14-19 degrees and highs of 27-31 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 6-12 degrees Celsius with frost in some areas.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather with strong winds; temperature lows of 14-18 degrees and highs of 27-29 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-14 degrees Celsius.

Central: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; temperature lows of 21-22 degrees, highs of 28-31 degrees Celsius.

East: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; temperature lows of 21-24 degrees, highs of 29-32 degrees Celsius; waves 2 meters high and over 2 meters offshore.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 28-31 degrees Celsius; waves 2-3 meters high and over 3 meters during thundershowers.
 

South (west coast): Thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas with isolated heavy rains; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 26-32 degrees Celsius; waves 2 meters high and over 2 meters offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 29-31 degrees Celsius.
 

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

Published : December 01, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40009454

The Cabinet on Tuesday agreed to provide subsidies of 2.28 billion baht to the Bangkok Mass Transit Organisation (BMTA) and 3.38 billion baht to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).

These funds are being allocated to compensate for losses incurred by BMTA and SRT as well as to boost their liquidity.

The Cabinet has also instructed the two organisations to seek ways of reducing their reliance on subsidies, boosting revenue and reducing costs.

BMTA said it will expedite the preparation of a business rehabilitation plan that is in line with plans to reform the public bus system in Greater Bangkok. The SRT, meanwhile, has been instructed to come up with a business recovery plan, especially to earn additional income from the transfer of assets.

Published : November 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40009452

The Cabinet on Tuesday set aside more than 140 billion baht for rice price guarantee in the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said the price guarantee scheme should also be implemented in the following fiscal year but will depend on the price of rice in the world market.

This year Thailand is expected to export about 6 million tonnes of rice as targeted because exporters have received many orders.

Published : November 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40009451

Thailand will continue conducting RT-PCR tests on travellers arriving under the Test & Go scheme, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said after wrapping up the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

This means tourists will still need to book their first night in a SHA Plus+ hotel as they wait for their test results.

Prayut said the plan to conduct rapid antigen tests (ATK) has been shelved given the new variant Omicron being found in many parts of Europe.

Thailand has also banned flights from eight countries in southern Africa, namely Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Omicron, marked as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation, was reported on November 24 and found in a sample collected in South Africa on November 9.

Published : November 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40009453

The State Railway of Thailand’s Red Line went commercial on Monday after providing free runs for four months.

The fares range from 12 to 42 baht, and the first day saw a total of 11,401 commuters, with most of them ending or starting their journey at Bang Sue Grand Station.

At Bang Sue, the line branches into two – Bang Sue-Rangsit to the north and Bang Sue-Taling Chan to the west.

The services have been extended to midnight every day.

Trains on the Bang Sue-Rangsit line run every 12 minutes during rush hour – 7am to 9.30am and 5pm to 7.30pm – and 20 minutes outside of rush hour. Trains on Bang Sue-Taling Chan line run every 20 minutes during service hours

Published : November 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009449

The Triumph International Worker’s Union led employees from Brilliant Alliance Thai Global to file a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission at the Government Complex in Bangkok on Tuesday.

This move came after Loeng Police Station charged six labour activists on November 16 for allegedly holding an illegal protest outside the Government House in Dusit district on October 19.

Garment workers fight for their right to survival, as police slap them with charges

The protesters were demanding that the government and Labour Ministry secure a 242-million baht compensation for the 1,388 employees that had been laid off with little or no severance pay by Brilliant Alliance Thai Global, a lingerie manufacturing company in Samut Prakan.

Garment workers fight for their right to survival, as police slap them with charges

The Textile Industrial Labour Union said the police charges violated the workers’ rights, especially since they were suffering from a loss of income and had nothing to fall back on.

The apparel industry is known for its chronically low wages and most workers have little or no savings.

Garment workers fight for their right to survival, as police slap them with charges

The union said they had submitted a letter to the government many times, but no progress has been made.

Garment workers fight for their right to survival, as police slap them with charges

Brilliant Alliance Thai Global, formerly called Body Fashion and owned by Triumph International, is now part of the Hong Kong-based Clover Group International.

Related stories:

• Govt spokesman concerned about traffic jams if trucks block roads
• No live bullets were used against protesters, claim Bangkok police
• Timeline of Sunday’s rally from Pathumwan Intersection to Germany Embassy

Published : November 30, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009447

Two Pakistani nationals were caught at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday trying to smuggle in 30.6 kilograms of ketamine and 1.1kg of heroin. The total street value of the seized drugs came in at 95 million baht.

Customs Department director-general Pachara Anantasilp told the press on Tuesday that the two men were nabbed as they tried to walk through the “nothing to declare” green channel.

They had travelled from Karachi to the United Arab Emirates, before landing in Thailand on an Emirates flight. The drugs had been hidden inside instant tea packages in their luggage.

Pachara said the drugs were not detected in either Karachi or Dubai airports until they arrived in Thailand. He said the other airports may have missed the haul because they focused more on weapons and other dangerous items.
The two suspects are currently being interrogated.

Though the smuggling of drugs via air travel tapered off during the Covid-19 pandemic, it has started picking up again now that Thailand is slowly reopening. The Customs Department has been randomly checking the luggage of arriving and departing passengers.

Since October 2020, 202 suspects have been caught trying to smuggle drugs worth about 8.5 billion baht.

2 Pakistani men caught in Suvarnabhumi with haul of ketamine, heroin

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2 Pakistani men caught in Suvarnabhumi with haul of ketamine, heroin2 Pakistani men caught in Suvarnabhumi with haul of ketamine, heroin2 Pakistani men caught in Suvarnabhumi with haul of ketamine, heroin

Published : November 30, 2021

By : THE NATION