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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000765

SRT Red Line may not open this year as scheduled

Bangkok’s Red Line (Bang Sue-Rangsit) may not start running by the end of this year as planned due to several problems that need to be solved first, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced recently.

The first problem is a delay in the delivery of the electromechanical system and passenger bogies, which according to the contract were to be delivered between February and September.

The SRT had signed the contract with MHSC, a joint venture between Mitsubishi Heavy Industrial, Hitachi and Sumitomo Corporation.

The legal team is working on the matter and expects to have a new deal by mid this month. The service was scheduled to start trial runs by July and start running commercially by November.

SRT sources also say that THB10.35 billion is still required to complete the construction of the line and that the agency is preparing a report for the Transport Ministry’s consideration.

Meanwhile, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) may provide additional funding if it is sought by the Public Debt Management Office (PDMO).

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) and the SRT have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the construction of the THB20-million tunnel connecting the Bang Sue Grand Station and MRT Blue Line.

The drilling of two connecting points has started, and the first point is expected to be completed by July in time for the line’s trial run. The second point is scheduled to be completed by October in time for the commercial opening in November.

Separately, fares on the Red Line will range between THB12 and THB42, averaging at THB1.01 per kilometre. The Bang Sue-Rangsit line will have 13 stations and commuters will have a choice of three types of tickets:

1. Monthly cards: A 20-trip card goes for THB700, with each trip averaging at THB35; a 30-trip card is priced at THB900, which works out to about THB30 per trip; and a 50-trip card that goes for THB1,250, with the fare averaging at THB25 per trip.

2. Student cards: Children under 90-centimetres in height can travel for free, while those under 14 years of age and no taller than 120cm will get a 50-per-cent discount. Students get 10 per cent discount.

3. Seniors card: Everybody above the age of 60 will be given a 50-per-cent discount. The discount is applicable on both smart cards and regular tickets.

Published : May 12, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000768

Bangkok canal commuters get more boats amid virus fears

Saen Saep canal boat operators are adding more services amid concern that crowding from high passenger numbers could help spread Covid-19 in Bangkok.

Athirat Rattanaseth, Deputy Minister of Transport, said the Marine Department has imposed social distancing and regular cleaning aboard boats on the capital’s main canal, as well as ordering more frequent services. However, the number of passengers using the canal service is still high, he said.

Boat operators will now add more trips during the morning rush hour from 7am to 8.30am and in the evening from 4:30pm to 6pm. The service frequency will increase from 5-7 minutes to 2-3 minutes to prevent crowding on both boats and piers.

Published : May 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000766

Thai court frees Myanmar journalists from threat of swift deportation

Three Myanmar reporters and two associates charged with illegally crossing the border will not be deported back to their country immediately, a Royal Thai Police spokesman revealed on Tuesday.

Police sent the case to Chiang Mai district court on Tuesday but were told to detain the journalists for investigation, which could take up to 30 days.

The clarification came in response to a Foreign Correspondents Association of Thailand (FCCT) statement calling on Thai authorities to release and offer protection to the reporters, who were arrested in Chiang Mai on Sunday.

The three journalists had covered anti-coup demonstrations in Myanmar and would face arrest or worse if deported, said their employer DVB (Democratic Voice of Burma), which has been banned by the Myanmar regime.

Police spokesman Krisana Pattanacharoen said the five were arrested in Chiang Mai’s San Sai district at 2.30pm on Sunday following tipoffs from locals. Police found the five Myanmar nationals with passports but no Immigration stamps.

All were arrested and sent for Covid-19 tests after confessing to entering the country via a natural border crossing, said the spokesman.

Police will now consider whether there is a legal basis to deport the reporters, he added. At this time deportation was not being considered, Krisana said.

The Thai Foreign Ministry said “humanitarian” solutions were being sought for the case.

Published : May 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000762

Triplets win admission to Thailand’s top medical university

In what is thought to be a historic first, triplets have won admission to Thailand’s top medical college, Mahidol University.

The triplets, from Prommanusorn School in Phetchaburi, have qualified to study at Mahidol University’s Faculty of Medicine, the school’s guidance teacher Pathompong Euauaypon revealed on Tuesday.

He said the trio of siblings – Thanaphat (Mark), Thanarak (Dollar) and Thanarat (Pond) Khemklat – were good students, adding that he had advised them on their portfolio presentations.

“It is now up to the students to decide their goals,” he said.

Published : May 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000761

Tentacles of hope for Thai fishermen as jellyfish season arrives

Feeling the financial sting of Covid-19, fishermen in the South of Thailand have found an unlikely remedy – jellyfish. The southwest monsoon is set to blow in a rich harvest of the sea creatures, bringing much-needed cash to seaside communities like Ban Pak Khong in Trang province.

Here, fisherfolk can generate income of THB5,000-10,000 per day from selling jellyfish, which can inject THB100,000 daily into the community from May to September.

Kasem Bunya, a 52-year-old community headman and jellyfish trader, said the southwest monsoon will bring a huge harvest of jellyfish that can be cooked and eaten or used as medicine.

“This is a great opportunity to generate income after suffering during the Covid-19 outbreak,” he said.

Tentacles of hope for Thai fishermen as jellyfish season arrives

The price of a jellyfish in the South is currently THB4-8 after several markets overseas were closed as part of Covid-19 restrictions.

“Chinese people usually generate high demand for jellyfish as they use them to make medicine, while Thais usually cook them in dishes such as Yen Ta Fo [noodles in pink soup],” Kasem said.

Tentacles of hope for Thai fishermen as jellyfish season arrives

He added that communities in Satun, Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket would also benefit from jellyfish season.

Tentacles of hope for Thai fishermen as jellyfish season arrives

Published : May 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000759

Airlines warned to check documents of passengers flying to Thailand

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) on Tuesday urged airlines to check passengers Certificate of Entry (COE) before boarding aircraft to Thailand.

The move comes after the Foreign Ministry on Monday widened its travel ban to Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal in a bid to prevent the Indian variant of Covid-19 from entering the country. A pregnant Thai woman and her child tested positive for the Indian variant in Thai quarantine after returning from Pakistan on April 24. Non-Thai nationals in India are also banned from entering Thailand.

Thai nationals and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from the ban.

CAAT said if any passengers do not have COE to enter Thailand, airlines must send them back to their country of origin or take care of them until action is taken.

“The authority will punish airlines that allow passengers who do not have a COE to enter the country under measures for permission to fly into the country,” CAAT said.

Published : May 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000758

Rising to racing challenge lands YouTuber in serious trouble

The owner of the “Duk Som” YouTube channel, Piyapong Wongsuwan, was nabbed on Tuesday for holding a motor race down Chachoengsao’s Motorway 7.

He had posted a clip of the race on his YouTube channel in March before going into hiding in Chiang Mai.

Fellow race organiser and truck owner, Chawalit Suwan, turned himself in on May 5 in Chachoengsao and faces charges of racing illegally and putting other motorists in danger.

National Highway Police later tracked down Piyapong, who pleaded guilty and said he had organised the race in response to a challenge posed on social media.

Though he apologised for his misdemeanour profusely, police still confiscated his car.

Published : May 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000755

31 deaths push Thailand’s Covid toll to 452; 1,919 new cases recorded

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported 31 deaths and 1,919 new cases, including 17 returnees, over a 24-hour period on Tuesday.

Of the deaths, 17 were in Bangkok, two each in Nonthaburi, Suphan Buri, Chonburi and Nakhon Si Thammarat, and one each in Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan, Lampang, Pichit and Chiang Mai.

The ages of those who succumbed to the virus ranged from 34 to 94, and they all reportedly suffered from chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, etc.

Meanwhile, the returnees included 15 Thai nationals – 11 from India, three from Cambodia and one from an African country. The other two were a Pakistani national and a Filipino from their own countries.

Meanwhile, 1,829 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.

As of Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 86,924. Of these, 83,517 infections had been contracted locally, including 24,983 who were found via proactive testing, while 3,407 were returnees.

So far, 57,037 have recovered and been discharged, 29,435 patients are still in hospitals, and 452 have died.

Meanwhile, another 69,552 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 19,008 were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 1,898,454.

Separately, according to Worldometer as of 11am on Tuesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 159.59 million (up by 611,096), 137.25 million of whom have recovered, 19.03 million are active cases (106,439 in severe condition) and 3.31 million have died (up by 10,586).

Thailand ranks 99th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 33.51 million, followed by India 22.99 million, Brazil 15.21 million, France 5.78 million, and Turkey 5.04 million.

Published : May 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000754

Shopping with crypto coins a reality now, Lamphun vendor says

Cryptocurrency was used to purchase grilled fish in Thailand, a vendor in Lamphun province announced on his Facebook page last week.

The Facebook user “Oz OatZy” said a customer had visited his shop and bought food using “ada” crypto coins.

“Using cryptocurrency is not a dream anymore. We need to catch up with this technology,” he said.

The vendor also claimed that his shop was the first in Lamphun and maybe the only one in Thailand where customers can use cryptocurrency to make purchases.

The Facebook user “Oz OatZy” said a customer had visited his shop and bought food using “ada” crypto coins.

“Using cryptocurrency is not a dream anymore. We need to catch up with this technology,” he said.

The vendor also claimed that his shop was the first in Lamphun and maybe the only one in Thailand where customers can use cryptocurrency to make purchases.

Published : May 11, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000753

Chiang Mai University field hospital closes

Chiang Mai University announced on Monday that it was closing the field hospital on its campus now that all Covid-19 patients being treated there have recovered and returned home.

The 300-bed field hospital was set up on April 10 to ease the burden on Chiang Mai Hospital.

The last group of patients was admitted to the hospital on May 2.

Published : May 11, 2021

By : The Nation