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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403009

Gun-toting Phuket cop suspended, charged

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

The gun-happy policeman in Phuket who injured a noodle vendor on Tuesday in a pub brawl has been suspended from duty and faces three charges.

After arguing with some foreign patrons at a pub, the off-duty cop came out to shoot in the air as a warning in the early hours of Tuesday.

CCTV images show one of the shots caught noodle vendor Arun Thongplub, 25, who immediately fell to the floor. After that the cop approached the victim and shot him again.

The incident took place in Soi Bang La in Kathu district’s Patong area.

Arun, who was shot in his armpit and back, was taken to Patong hospital for treatment. His condition is of concern.

The off-duty cop, who police said was drunk and incomprehensible at the time of arrest, was taken to Patong Police Station.

He has been suspended and will be charged for attempted murder, carrying a gun publicly without permission and shooting for no reason. The cop is under detention.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403008

Cabinet okays Interpol-DSI draft agreement

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved a draft agreement between Interpol’s National Central Bureau for Thailand in Bangkok and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on direct access to Interpol’s information system, said government deputy spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek.

“The agreement, as proposed by the Justice Ministry, aims to enhance efficiency and cooperation between the Royal Thai Police and Interpol in various countries in investigation, prevention and suppression of international crimes,” she said.

Under the agreement, the DSI will be able to access nine key Interpol databases:

1. Stolen and lost travel documents

2. Stolen administrative documents

3. International child sexual exploitation images

4. The Illicit Arms Records and Tracing Management System

5. Edison travel documents

6. The firearms reference table

7. The Digital Interpol Alert Library – documents

8. Interpol’s Criminal Information System, and

9. The Interpol Ballistic Information Network.

The agreement will take effect within 30 days from the date of approval by Interpol’s secretary-general and after it is signed by both parties.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403007

Good news: 200,000 doses of Sinovac arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By The Nation

The first batch – 200,000 doses – of China’s Sinovac vaccine arrived in Thailand at precisely 10.05 am, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on hand to receive them at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The anti-Covid-19 vaccines departed Beijing at 05.50am local time, arriving on Cargo Flight TG 675 at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10.05am.

The 200,000 doses will be stored at the DKHS Vaccine Store at the Department of Medical Sciences. The vaccine will undergo a test for three days and the first lot will be sent to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute. Anutin will reportedly be the first to be vaccinated with Sinovac. He will get the injection at the institute on February 27 at 9am. Prayut will be reportedly vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is set to arrive in Thailand on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Yang Xin, this first batch of Sinovac vaccines was purchased for commercial use.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403006

AstraZeneca vaccines set to arrive this afternoon, subcommittee confirms

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By The Nation

The first lot of AstraZeneca vaccines will arrive on Wednesday afternoon, Dr Sopon Mekthon, chairman of the government’s subcommittee on Covid-19 vaccine management, confirmed.

Around 100,000 doses of the vaccine will be used to inject 50,000 people.

The Public Health Ministry revealed the AstraZeneca vaccine would also be used to inject people aged 60 and over as China’s Sinovac isn’t recommended for this group of elders.

Thailand will receive AstraZeneca from the company’s plant in Italy, where the European Commission is strictly monitoring exports.

Thai authorities will take at least three days to check the quality of both Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines. As soon as the vaccines are considered safe, vaccinations will commence, even if the day is a Sunday.

The first vaccinations will be conducted at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute.

The subcommittee hopes both Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will take different vaccines to boost public confidence, with Prayut reportedly set to receive AstraZeneca since he aged over 60 while Anutin will reportedly take Sinovac.

Dr Sophon said there was no big difference between the two vaccines. Both need to be stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius.

After being injected, both ministers will be observed for symptoms, if any, at the hospital for 30 minutes.

For Sinovac vaccines, two doses are required – injected 2-4 weeks apart, but the subcommittee plans to carry out injections 3 weeks apart. On the other hand, the AstraZeneca vaccines need to be injected 10-12 weeks apart.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403005

Trial runs: free electric boat trips for 6 months on Pakkred-Sathorn route

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

Chao Phraya Express Boat signed a memorandum of understanding with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) on Tuesday to test run passenger electric boats on the Chao Phraya River from Pakkred pier to Sathorn pier.

“This year marks the company’s 50th anniversary of providing boat services on the Chao Phraya River,” said Chao Phraya Express Boat president Suphaphan Phichaironnarongsongkhram. “We have been working with Egat in developing electric boats that are energy efficient and will help reduce air and noise pollution along the river, effectively tackling the PM2.5 problem that has been threatening the livelihoods of people in metropolitan areas,” she said.

Egat deputy governor Jiraporn Sirikham said the development of electric boats is part of the government’s “One Transport” policy, aiming to integrate various types of public transport under one seamless system.

“The trial run will last for six months. Commuters can board electric boats for free, from Pakkred pier to Rama VII pier, and from Rama VII pier to Sathorn pier.”

Jiraporn added that Egat would collect data from the trial run and use it to develop electric boat services on other routes nationwide.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403003

Baht rate unchanged in opening trade

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht stayed at 30.03 to the US dollar on Wednesday, unchanged from Tuesday’s close.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.95 and 30.05, Krungthai market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.
He said the baht would continue to move in a narrow range, as no new factors have emerged to influence the market.

However, if the financial market calms down – after the US Federal Reserve chairman gave an assurance that the central bank’s policies would not change rapidly – the baht would tend to strengthen from foreign fund flows into Thailand in the short term, Poon said.

Importers will purchase the dollar when the baht strengthens to between 29.85 and 29.90 per US dollar, he added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402996

BTSC sues MRTA for scrapping Orange Line bidding

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

The Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC) filed a lawsuit at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on Monday against the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and related parties regarding the MRTA’s cancellation of bidding for construction of the Bt128-billion Orange Line western train section, a news source revealed on Tuesday.

The BTSC claimed that MRTA executives abused their power as government officials, in violation of Criminal Code sections 157 and 165 and Section 172 of the Organic Act on Counter Corruption.

Opposition MP Jirayu Huangsap claimed during last week’s no-confidence debate that the bid conditions had been altered at the request of Italian-Thai Development despite opposition from fellow bidder BTSC.

The ensuing legal dispute saw the bidding scrapped altogether on February 3 for the 13.4-kilometre line from the Thailand Cultural Centre to Bang Khun Non.

By raising this issue, the opposition aimed to gain no-confidence votes against Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob, which led to six Palang Pracharath Party MPs abstaining from casting their votes due to a “lack of clear explanation to the opposition’s questioning”.

MRTA governor Pakapong Sirikantaramas said last week that the selection committee’s 50:50 weighting for financial and technical proposals had been altered to 70:30 on August 21, 2020, as the change in conditions was needed to protect the city’s heritage and buildings from Orange Line tunnelling in the old quarter of Bangkok.

“To maintain reasonable financial returns in the present economic conditions, the MRTA decided to use the 70 per cent rule to achieve financial returns and 30 per cent for technical criteria to ensure the safety of people and archaeological sites that are national treasures,” Pakapong said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402995

‘Elephant ticket’ protest at police HQ ends peacefully at 8.30pm

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

The protest by Ratsadon pro-democracy rallyists in front of the Royal Thai Police Headquarters came to end at 8.30pm on Tuesday.

The group said earlier on their Facebook page that the rally would focus on alleged corruption in the promotion system for senior police officers.

Protesters took turns giving speeches on a stage, mostly focusing on the “elephant ticket”, or the so-called confidential documents used to allegedly buy and sell senior police positions previously pointed out by Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome during a censure debate earlier this month.

The protesters also urged low-ranking police officers to stand against corruption and uphold the ideology of police in protecting the people.

The rallyists had gathered at Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok’s Pathumwan district at 5pm, before marching to the Royal Thai Police Headquarters at 7.30pm.

They also demanded the release of four leaders – Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, Arnon Nampa, Somyos Prueksakasemsuk and Patiwat “Bank” Saraiyam – who have been charged with lese majeste and sedition after participating in anti-establishment rallies last year.

At 8.30pm, after singing the “Elephant Song”, protest leaders announced the conclusion of their rally and the demonstrators dispersed peacefully.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402986

Upper Thailand gets warmer today, less rain in the South

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

A low heat system is presently covering the lower North and the upper Central region while southeasterly and southerly winds prevail over the lower Northeast, the Central and East regions, leading to a 1-3°C rise in temperatures in upper Thailand, but mountaintops will continue to experience cold to very cold weather, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday.

It also mentioned that the easterly wind across the Gulf of Thailand will bring less rain in the South, and added that from February 25-26, a high-altitude westerly wind will bring cool air from Myanmar to the North of Thailand. Temperatures in this region will decrease by 1-3°C.

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

North: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 18-24 degrees and highs of 33-38 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 6-15 degrees Celsius.

Northeast: Cool weather with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 18-21 degrees and highs of 35-36 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 9-15 degrees Celsius.

Central: Cool weather with fog in the morning and thick fog in some areas; temperature lows of 20-24 degrees, highs of 35-37 degrees Celsius.

East: Partly cloudy with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 22-25 degrees, highs of 31-36 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Partly cloudy with isolated light rain; temperature lows of 20-22 degrees, highs of 30-35 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy; temperature lows of 19-24 degrees, highs of 34-36 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Partly cloudy with fog in the morning; temperature lows of 23-25 degrees, highs of 33-36 degrees Celsius.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402974

Zooming about on skateboards new craze for Bangkokians

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

Skateboarding appears to have become popular among both youngsters and adults in Bangkok recently, and the reasons for this are:

• Covid-related restrictions are forcing people to find new hobbies, and

• Being influenced by celebrities or social-media influencers.

Though skateboarding has health benefits, this craze is expected to be short-lived because Bangkok’s footpaths are not smooth enough to make the experience enjoyable.