#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004985

Thailand recorded 19,851 Covid-19 cases and 240 deaths on Friday

Ministry of Public Health reported on Friday (August 20) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 19,851 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 325 of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 240, while 20,478 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country are at 1,009,710 with 8,826 total deaths.
 

Published : August 20, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004957

Kratom legalised from August 24

Cultivation and sale of kratom will be legal from August 24 (Tuesday), government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri announced today.

The removal of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) from the narcotics list will also see 1,038 inmates released from prison and their records wiped clean of kratom-related offences, Anucha said.

The move will reduce expenses in the government sector and save the judiciary

1.69 billion baht per year, he added.

A total of 22,076 kratom-related court cases were heard in the first half of this year, each costing an average of 76,612 baht, according to the National Development Research Institute (TDRI).

From August 24, people can plant and consume kratom according to traditional ways of life as well as buy or sell kratom leaves legally. However, it will still be against the law to mix kratom with other drugs. Meanwhile, permission from the government will be required to import or export kratom.

Published : August 19, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004955

Thailand to import 7,800 tonnes of coconuts despite falling price

Thailand will import up to 78,477 tonnes of coconuts tariff-free under the Asean Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) quota covering September to December this year.

The Commerce Ministry says 15 Thai businesses have been granted permission to import coconuts at the rate of 1 per 2.5 coconuts purchased domestically.

However, the Oil and Vegetable Oil Committee has approved the use of World Trade Organisation (WTO) special safeguards to protect Thai coconut farmers from price slumps caused by imports.

If total coconut imports to Thailand this year exceed the WTO trigger volume of 311,235 tonnes, the Customs Department will raise duties. Duties will increase from zero to 72 per cent for AFTA imports and from 54 per cent to 72 per cent on WTO imports.

The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) forecasts Thailand will produce 0.876 million tonnes of coconut this year, down from 1.269 million tonnes last year.

Meanwhile, 0.418 million tonnes of coconut and related products will be imported to the country this year.

However, slowing demand in the first half of 2021 due to Covid-19 has seen the price of coconuts plummet in Thailand.

The price of big coconuts sold by farmers in August averaged 8.19 baht per fruit, a fall of 31.23 per cent from 11.91 baht in the same period last year.

Published : August 19, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004934

Rescue officials coax troubled mother off bridge in Pathum Thani

A distraught woman with her three-year-old son in her arms was spotted standing on the edge of Nuan Chawee Bridge in Pathum Thani on Wednesday. It looked like she was getting ready to jump.

However, rescue officials got to the mother and child in time and spent close to two hours talking her out of committing suicide, the Riverine Squadron reported on its Facebook page on Thursday.

The woman, believed to be 25 to 30 years old, said she wanted to end her life due to family problems, the post read.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Rescue officials coax troubled mother off bridge in Pathum ThaniRescue officials coax troubled mother off bridge in Pathum Thani

Rescue officials coax troubled mother off bridge in Pathum ThaniRescue officials coax troubled mother off bridge in Pathum ThaniRescue officials coax troubled mother off bridge in Pathum Thani

Published : August 19, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004932

Thailand seeks more Asian tourists, travel bubble with Korea

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced plans for a “travel bubble” agreement between Thailand and South Korea, to allow quarantine-free travel between the two countries. The scheme will be launched to stimulate the tourism sector once the pandemic eases.

Meanwhile, TAT offices across the region have been tasked with promoting Thailand as a holiday destination to vaccinated Asian tourists amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Data from the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus tourism schemes indicate the number of Asian tourists is lower than arrivals from Europe and the US.

The marketing plan focuses on Asian territories with lower infection rates, such as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. It was revealed on Thursday by TAT’s deputy governor for marketing communication, Thanet Petchsuwan, who will become TAT’s deputy governor for international marketing (Asia and South Pacific) on October 1.

“My first mission will be to talk to the new Chinese ambassador to Thailand about the possibility of allowing Chinese citizens to travel abroad,” Thanet said. 
“We are also preparing talks with South Korea to launch a tourist-exchange programme, or travel bubble, without the need for quarantine. We are considering the timing and procedures for the programme’s launch once the Covid-19 situation in Thailand unwinds,” he added.

TAT will also ask regional countries such as Singapore to help reduce the expense of 14-day quarantine for its nationals returning from Thailand.

Published : August 19, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004929

Labour network urges Covid protections for vulnerable workers, pregnant women

Representatives of the Labour Network for People’s Rights met with Labour Minister Suchat Chomklin on Thursday to discuss measures to help workers suffering hardship from the Covid-19 crisis.

 The activists were seeking aid for workers in in Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani provinces, where factories have been badly hit by outbreaks.

“We want the ministry to urge employers to launch active case-finding among workers and provide community isolation facilities for those who test positive to prevent Covid-19 from spreading to their family members,” said Sriprai Nonsee, a network representative. She also called for measures to ensure that vulnerable workers, such as pregnant women, have a safe working environment during the outbreak.

Suchart said the ministry was already supporting active case-finding campaigns among employers, adding that its “Factory Sandbox” project to curb the spread of Covid-19 was in the pilot phase.

The ministry is also offering Covid-19 vaccination to workers under the social security scheme in provinces with high infections, he said.

“As for measures for pregnant women, I have ordered the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare to draft a ministerial announcement asking for cooperation from employers to let pregnant workers work from home during Covid-19 to minimise the risk of infection,” said Suchart. “Employers are urged to pay wages in full for workers in this group.”

Published : August 19, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004928

New QSNCC debuts as largest convention centre in central Bangkok

The new Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) has opened for bookings ahead of its scheduled launch in September 2022, said operator NCC Management & Development, a subsidiary of Thai Beverage Plc, owned by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi.

The QSNCC, which crowns Bangkok’s Benjakitti Park on Ratchadaphisek Road, has been rebuilt with five times more space at a budget of 15 billion baht, said the operator.

It now stands as the largest convention centre in central Bangkok, ready to accommodate 100,000 visitors per day and all types of world-class international events, it added.

The original building was demolished in 2019, with Thai Obayashi and Design 103 taking charge of reconstruction and design work.

“This fulfils our vision and aspiration to transform the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre into the leading world-class convention centre in Asia,” said Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi, director of TCC Assets (Thailand), the property development arm of ThaiBev.

The new QSNCC boasts 78,500 square metres of event space, comprising two main exhibition halls covering over 45,000sqm, two large conference halls with nearly 10,000sqm and 50 flexible meeting rooms.

The centre is served by the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre MRT station as well as 2,700 indoor parking spaces.

Positive responses have been received from MICE operators and exhibitors, said the operator, as well as from merchandisers and food businesses for the retail space.

Published : August 19, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004927

Wo-manhunt on for Udon Thani Covid escapee

Udon Thani police are hunting for a Covid-19 patient who walked out of the hospital without completing her treatment.

Kumphawapi Police Station posted CCTV footage on its Facebook page on Wednesday showing the woman walking out of Kumphawapi Hospital at around 7am on the same day. She was seen carrying a shoulder bag and wearing a mask.

“The woman was identified as Ratathini Hongwichitpreecha, aged 32, a local of Huai Kerng subdistrict who had been admitted as a Covid-19 inpatient,” said the post. “The hospital alerted the authorities as she has not fully recovered or been discharged.”

The police added that the hospital is suing the patient for violating the Communicable Disease Act, while officers have been deployed at bus and train stations to look for the escapee.

A source revealed that Ratathini had been admitted at the hospital on August 12 after she tested positive for Covid-19 and had been categorised in the yellow group, or those who display low to medium symptoms but have underlying health problems that require close monitoring. According to the source, it is believed that she left the hospital to be with her husband who works in Samut Prakan. However, police have not been able to reach either of them so far.

People who know of their whereabouts are urged to call (042) 334 464, (081) 871 5546 or (063) 904 0564.

Published : August 19, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004925

Only checking…

The clip of a Khao Yai National Park officer coaxing a wild elephant out of her house in the wee hours of Wednesday went viral on social media on Thursday.

The hungry pachyderm had broken into the officer’s kitchen to hunt for food.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Here’s how she dealt with the situation.

Published : August 19, 2021

By : The Nation

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004923

Protester shot in Din Daeng clash still in coma

The 20-year-old protester who had been shot in the back of his head on Monday is still comatose, Rajavithi Hospital said in an update on Thursday.

The “Thalu Fah” pro-democracy group had gathered at Bangkok’s Victory Monument on Monday afternoon in a bid to march to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s home and demand his resignation.

Crowd-control police, however, blocked them at the Din Daeng intersection, sparking a violent clash.

Reports say that a 20-year-old protester was shot in the back of his head. He fell immediately and was later taken to Rajavithi Hospital.

The hospital said the man had been shot near his left ear. He also had a cardiac arrest, and the bullet was still lodged near the top of the spinal cord.

The patient is hooked up to a ventilator and has swelling in the brain due to cardiac arrest. Doctors said the patient is being closely monitored.

Published : August 19, 2021

By : The Nation