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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404068

‘Let’s Go Halves’ phase 3 to be launched in third quarter

NationalMar 24. 2021Arkhom Termpittayapaisith

By The Nation

The third phase of the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) government co-payment scheme will be launched in the third quarter, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on Wednesday.

He said the ministry would find ways to deal with corruption after the second phase of the scheme ends on March 31, adding that the ministry is keeping an eye on hundreds of shops involved in graft.

“Besides, the ministry will check details of consumer spending in the first and second quarters after a series of economic stimulus schemes were launched, while the government will evaluate the performance of each scheme on how much it has helped boost the economy,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Fiscal Policy Office director-general Kulaya Tantitemit said the third phase of Let’s Go Halves is expected to be launched after the “Rao Chana” (We Win) and “Mor33 Rao Rak Kan” (Section33 We Love Each Other) schemes end in May.

She said registrants eligible under the previous phases may not have to register for the third phase as their information has been saved in the Paotang smartphone application.

“The Finance Ministry will use the remaining budget under the loan agreement to operate the third phase of the co-payment scheme,” she added.

Under the Kon La Khreung scheme, eligible registrants can avail of daily discounts on their shopping of up to Bt150, capped at Bt3,500.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404067

CMU faculty: Art pieces were removed as they could be seen as illegal

NationalMar 24. 2021

By THE NATION

Chiang Mai University’s (CMU) Faculty of Fine Arts came out to defend itself after being criticised for removing certain art installations at an exhibition, saying: “We decided to move the art pieces since they could be seen as illegal things.”

On Monday, a video clip showing a CMU art professor attacking university executives for removing students’ art installations went viral.

The story started when a group of people attired in yellow entered the exhibition and began moving some pieces on display to a parked pick-up truck that belonged to the faculty.

The installations appeared to depict the aftermath of protests.

The executives ignored students and other officials who tried to stop them until art professor Thasnai Sethaseree appeared at the scene.

Thasnai immediately began asking the execs to explain themselves, and when they couldn’t, he began attacking them for not appreciating art. The incident was live-streamed on Facebook and went viral.

The execs eventually agreed to bring back the pieces they had removed, claiming they thought they were “clearing trash”.

The university management has also called on the executives to explain themselves.

On Tuesday, the Faculty of Fine Arts issued a statement clarifying their controversial action. The statement explained that some “suspicious” art pieces – such as an adapted flag with improper sentences – were found, and was not claimed by anyone. So the executives decided to move the particular pieces as they could be seen as “illegal”, in order to protect the whole faculty – professors and students.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404066

BMA announces three strict measures during Songkran fest

NationalMar 24. 2021

By The Nation

Bangkok announced three strict measures to control Covid-19 during the Songkran festival from April 10-15. Violators may be imprisoned for up to two years or fined up to Bt40,000 or both.

Governor Aswin Kwanmuang ordered the three measures, decided by the capital’s communicable disease committee, following concern of a possible new Covid-19 outbreak during Songkran.

The measures are:

1) Traditional Songkran activities such as religious ceremonies and paying respects to one’s elders can proceed as normal. But any activity with more than 300 persons needs to first gain permission from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration district office.

2) Organisers of any other activities during Songkran, such as a banquet with more than 100 participants, must submit an event plan and disease control measures to the district office before the event.

The event, if given the go-ahead, should be arranged in an open area with good ventilation. Activities in confined spaces or in air-conditioned rooms must be avoided. The organiser must also strictly refrain from activities that involve large groups of people that may lead to disorder, or activities involving close contact, such as group gatherings, splashing of water, concerts, or foam parties.

3) It is best to avoid catering to or socialising in groups, “lengthy” eating and drinking should be avoided.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404055

Baht ‘likely to weaken further’

NationalMar 24. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 31 to the US dollar on Wednesday, weakening from a close of 30.95 on Tuesday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 30.95 and 31.10, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

He expected the Monetary Policy Committee to freeze the interest rate at 0.50 per cent as a result of Wednesday’s meeting.

Poon said the Bank of Thailand (BOT) would aim to ensure liquidity in the financial system for sections that are in need of it via measures such as soft loans or asset warehousing.

He also said the baht would continue to fluctuate in line with the dollar, while the Thai currency would likely weaken on Wednesday.

Poon said the BOT would sell the dollar to reduce its foreign reserves and in turn delay the baht’s weakening.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404044

Upper Thailand gets warmer, thundershowers in the South

NationalMar 24. 2021

By THE NATION

The high-pressure system over upper Thailand is weakening and leading to increasing temperatures in the region as southerly and southeasterly winds cover the North, bringing hot weather along with isolated thundershowers, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a moderate easterly wind across the South and the Gulf of Thailand will lead to thundershowers and isolated heavy rains over the lower South, it forecast, advising all ships to proceed with caution as waves in the Gulf are 1-2 metres high and will be above 2 metres during thundershowers.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Partly cloudy; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 34-36 degrees Celsius.

North: Hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees and highs of 33-38 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Partly cloudy; temperature lows of 18-22 degrees and highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius.

Central: Partly cloudy; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 33-36 degrees Celsius.

East: Partly cloudy; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees, highs of 33-36 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Thundershowers in 60 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-27 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and over 2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 23-26 degrees, highs of 34-36 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Source: Thailand Meteorological Department

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404042

Plane tickets cheaper than Bangkok bus fare in new TAT promotion

NationalMar 24. 2021

By The Nation

Travellers, it’s time to check your pockets for change. On Tuesday, six Thai airlines launched special promotions with tickets for domestic routes starting from Bt8.

Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the “Thai Travel Fleet is Even More Amazing” campaign aims to lure back passengers with low fares and Covid-safe transport.

The special fares are being offered by Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Thai Smile, Thai Vietjet, and Bangkok Airways.

Nok Air

30 per cent discounts plus Nok CareKits consisting of disposable seat covers, alcohol pads, and face masks on every seat.

Thai Airways

30 per cent discounts on domestic flight bookings from March 22-28 for travel from March 29-September 30.

Thai Lion Air

Weekday tickets from Bt99 (excluding airport tax) for bookings from April 1-30 to travel on April 1-September 30 (Monday-Thursday, excluding public holidays). Discount vouchers via Klook.

Thai Smile Airways

Fares on all domestic routes start at Bt8 with full service. Promotion available for one day only on March 26 (Friday) for travel from April 1-October 30.

Thai Vietjet

Fares start at Bt99, or Bt480 including taxes and fees, for bookings from March 23-December 31 to travel from March 24-December 31.

Bangkok Airways

50 per cent discount on round-trip fares if you apply for the FlyerBonus points reward programme and register via bangkokair.com/halfprice from 8am on March 24 to 8pm on March 26.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404039

Immigration Bureau sets up field hospital to tend to quarantined migrants

NationalMar 23. 2021(File Photo) Samut Sakhon field hospital in shrimp central market, one of model for a new field hospital which will be established in Bang Khen, Bangkok.

By The Nation

The Immigration Bureau will set up a temporary field hospital to accommodate the 1,615 migrants being quarantined.

Of the migrants, 490 are at the Bang Khen Immigration quarantine centre, while the rest are at the Suan Phlu Immigration Office.

Apart from the 370 men and 23 women testing positive in the Bang Khen immigration office, one police officer also picked up the virus and is undergoing treatment at the Police Hospital.

Immigration commissioner Sompong Chingduan said the 393 patients from Bang Khen quarantine centre will be moved to the field hospital set up at the Royal Thai Police Sport Club on Wednesday.

The relocation of patients will be overseen by the Department of Disease Control (DDC), while a medical team from Samut Sakhon Hospital will be at hand to tend to the patients.

DDC director Dr Sophon Iamsirithaworn said the patients will be separated into three groups – the newly infected, those infected for a while and those who have been infected before.

Most of the patients are of working age and have mild symptoms. He said it will take up to four weeks to have the situation under control before patients will be assessed again.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404035

Thailand serves spicy recipe for Unesco Cultural Heritage 2021 list

NationalMar 23. 2021

By The Nation

Tom Yam Kung will compete for a place on the Unesco world cultural heritage menu after the Cabinet decided to serve up the spicy soup as Thailand’s candidate this year.

The shrimp soup – flavoured with galangal, lemongrass, chilli, lime leaves, fish sauce and sugar – was proposed for recognition by the Culture Ministry at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

Tom Yam Kung will now compete to join Khon and traditional Thai massage as Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Khon dance form based on the Ramakien epic was included as world heritage in 2018 while Thai massage made the list in 2019. Unesco is currently considering Nora, the traditional southern dance form, and the Songkran water festival for inclusion as intangible heritage of humanity.

Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome explained Tom Yam Kung was a national dish famous around the globe, but it also reflected the simple lifestyle of agricultural communities living along central Thailand’s richly fertile rivers and canals.

Proposing Tom Yam Kung as global heritage will be a proud moment for Thais while also boosting awareness among foreigners of the abundant variety of Thai food, he added.

It will also create opportunities for the Thai food business, creating jobs and income for producers including shrimp farmers and herb growers, as well as exporters and Thai restaurant operators both here and abroad, Itthiphol said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404032

Animal group launches call to save seized furballs from auction block

NationalMar 23. 2021

By The Nation

The Thai Animal Guardians Association on Monday called on animal lovers to write to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) chief to suspend the auctioning of the six cats seized from a drug-trafficking suspect.

This is after the association’s founder Roger Lohanan failed to negotiate the cats’ release with Pornthip Chaempong, director of Narcotics Control Office Region 2. Also present at the discussion was Chollada Mekratri, founder of the Voice Foundation.

Pornthip said the cats are being looked after by the suspect’s relatives and cannot be transferred without court approval because they are among assets confiscated in a drug-related case.

“The ONCB has given the relatives 15 days to provide information about the origin of the six cats and they will be able to take them over permanently if officials find that the cats were not acquired under criminal dealings,” Pornthip said.

She said that if the relatives fail to provide information about the cats, then their auction date and price will be set at the end of April.

“ONCB wants to sell them as one lot, so they are not separated,” she added.

On March 15, police raided a house in Rayong’s Klaeng district and arrested the occupant Tathep Arun on suspicion of being part of a drug network run by Soradet “Kook Rayong” Sonsiri.

Police confiscated all assets, including the six cats, which will be checked by the Department of Livestock Development before being auctioned off.

Related story:

Animal lovers work on removing furballs from auction block

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30404029

KPMG offers outsourcing solutions to companies in Thailand

NationalMar 23. 2021Charoen Phosamritlert (right) and Abhisit Pinmaneekul (left)

By The Nation (sponsored news)

Balancing books and managing taxes can become a challenge and even expensive for some companies, especially when it comes to recruiting and retaining qualified staff.

However, an alternative, long-term solution is at hand, with leading professional services provider, KPMG, offering end-to-end accounting and tax outsourcing services.

KPMG Thailand is offering these services to meet growing demand, especially from clients that are setting up a business in Thailand.

Services include company registration, tax registration, VAT, withholding, corporate income tax and personal income tax compliance, payroll, bookkeeping, accounting advice, statutory financial statements, coordination and liaison with auditors among others.

“Outsourcing brings many advantages to businesses,” said Charoen Phosamritlert, chief executive officer for KPMG in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

“It presents a much-coveted possibility for companies to focus on the core of their business as they will not need to worry about hiring full-time staff and complications that come with the need for upskilling, welfare, training and other staff benefits. They also have access to subject matter with highly skilled experts. It is a much more cost-effective solution.

“With a global network of member firms, comprehensive services, professionals with extensive experience, we are confident in providing the best service to local and multinational experts. As we see more companies turn towards outsourcing, we believe we are the clear choice as an outsourcing partner, able to assist clients in adding value through accounting and tax data and analytics, reducing time, operating costs and risk through managing accounting and tax functions,” said Abhisit Pinmaneekul, chief of the tax department at KPMG Thailand.

Visit KPMG’s website for more information.