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Thailand’s total fertility rate drops to alarmingly low level

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By The Nation

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in Thailand has dropped to 1.51 children per woman or below 600,000 newborns per year, Prof Kamthorn Pruksananonda, from the Royal Thai College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist, said recently.

According to the World Health Organisation, the TFR level should stand at 2.1. If it is lower than that then there will be two problems: A quickly ageing society and an influx of migrant workers.

“Previously, the total fertility rate in Japan stood at 1.6, and a national leader said this would be the end of the Japanese race. Though the government introduced many measures, the birth rate in the country is still falling.

“In comparison, Thailand’s birth rate stood at 5.1, but has been going down steadily and has now hit 1.5. If we don’t do anything, it will go down to 1.3 in less than 10 years,” Kamthorn said.

He added that apart from a dropping birth rate, many children are being born with birth defects like Down’s Syndrome because women are getting pregnant at an advanced age.

The chance of babies being born with problems is 1:800 if the mother is below 35, but the rate rises to 1:350 above 35 and then to 1:100 if the mother is above 40.

“I, therefore, urge young couples to not wait too long before having children. If they have problems conceiving, they should go see a doctor,” he said.

Citizens have the right to seek infertility treatment in other countries a lot earlier than in Thailand. Women in Japan and Europe can seek treatment from the age of 32, while in Thailand women have to wait until after the age of 38. The critical problem is that infertility is not considered a disease in Thailand, which means the treatment is not included in state welfare.

Kamthorn said the only way Thailand can boost its population is if it considers infertility a disease and offers benefits accordingly.

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SET down 0.57% despite OR debut

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By The Nation

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index closed at 1,508.35 on Thursday, down 8.59 points or 0.57 per cent. Total transactions amounted to Bt106.41 billion with an index high of 1,521.31 and a low of 1,503.19.

In the morning session, a Krungsri Securities analyst expected the SET to fluctuate between 1,525 and 1,530 points following the US Federal Reserve’s promise to maintain the interest rate to stimulate the economy and employment.

The analyst said the index gained positive sentiment from the upwardly trending oil price and the first day of trading in PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR) shares.

“However, the SET will come under pressure from its tight valuation,” he predicted, adding that the index’s price-to-earnings ratio was 30 times.

The 10 stocks with the highest trade value today were OR, PTT, PTTEP, BBL, BANPU, KBANK, PTG, GPSC, KTC and GULF.

As of 4.30pm, the price of oil dropped by 0.49 per cent to $58.39 per barrel, while gold rose by 0.12 per cent to $1,844.90 per ounce.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index closed at 30,173.57, up 134.85 points or 0.45 per cent.

Stock markets in Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan were closed today.

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Police threaten to deploy riot-control tools after clash at rally

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) said on Thursday that full deployment of its crowd-control tools was being considered after officers were injured in a clash with pro-democracy protesters on Wednesday. The announcement signals a return to riot-control tactics such as water cannon and tear gas used by police in November.

MPB chief Pakapong Pongpetra said seven of his officers had been injured by objects thrown by protesters during the rally in Pathumwan yesterday. Eight police cars and a police motorcycle were also damaged, he said.

However, he denied that police had fired the tear gas which hit protesters, reporters and passers-by during the rally. He explained that police would normally warn protesters or people nearby before using the gas. An investigation was underway to identify who had deployed the tear gas, he added.

Pakapong did admit that smoke bombs found at the Pathumwan rally matched the ones used by police, but said they may have been stolen by protesters during previous police operations. This was also being investigated, he said.

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Samut Sakhon controls may be eased next week; new hotspot in Bangkok’s Pathumwan

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By The Nation

Health officials will discuss easing disease-control measures in Samut Sakhon after February 15, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said on Thursday. Health officials are now changing their outbreak-management plan in Samut Sakhon, which is at the centre of the outbreak that emerged in mid-December. The province logged 129 cases on Thursday as the infection rate continues to drop.

A total of 1,880 locations had been screened in Samut Sakhon, including factories, fresh markets and communities, said CCSA spokesperson Apisamai Srirangsan.

“Bubble-and-seal” measures had been imposed on nine factories and 42,424 people where more than 10 per cent infection had been found. Health officials are now testing around 8,000 residents daily for natural immunity to see whether they can be allowed to return home.

Praising success in containing the nationwide outbreak, Apisamai said there were now five orange-zone provinces (second highest restrictions) and seven red provinces (highest restrictions).

In Bangkok, a cluster of 16 cases had been found at Chulalongkorn University, she said. Risk analysis indicates such infections in the workplace result from complacency among personnel and a lack of precautions such as temperature checks. Finger scanners were identified as a possible source of transmission, as well as conditions in condominiums, dormitories, etc.

Pathumwan district, where Chulalongkorn University is located, has been declared a Covid-19 hotspot. People in the area are urged to take special care of themselves and use the MorChana platform for updates on the timelines of infected cases in the area.

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Shareholder sues operator of bankrupt Chiang Mai luxury resort

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By The Nation

In another twist in the saga of a bankrupt luxury resort in Chiang Mai, its operators are being sued by a shareholder for allegedly transferring revenue.

Champa Phongam filed complaints to the Department of Business Development (DBD) on Thursday, urging it to revoke the juristic-person status of three companies which operate Dhara Dhevi Hotel Chiang Mai.

He said he has a stake in the three companies, namely Dhara Dhevi Hotel, Dhara Dhevi and APK Development.

He added that he had filed a lawsuit against Dhara Dhevi Hotel with the Chiang Mai Provincial Court, accusing the company’s directors of transferring revenue to third parties, causing him to suffer serious damage.

“I have submitted a letter to the DBD to revoke the juristic-person status of the three companies because the directors have not submitted financial statements for three consecutive years,” he said. The three companies had also failed to submit income tax returns to the Revenue Department, he claimed.

Revoking the three companies’ status would help secure shareholders’ benefits by preventing the companies from selling or transferring assets, or receiving any benefits, he said.

Dhara Dhevi Hotel Chiang Mai opened its doors in 2002 as one of Thailand’s top luxury resorts, with 123 rooms sprawling across 153 rai (24.5 hectares). The hotel closed down in November last year after business was badly hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.

The Legal Execution Department planned to auction off the hotel at a reserve price of Bt2.116 billion, but the operator claims the Dhara Devi is worth Bt3.728 billion. The auction is on hold pending a valuation by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court.

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Chinese families get ready to usher in the New Year

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Most Chinese-Thai families spent the eve of Chinese New Year cleaning and decorating their homes as well as making offerings for their ancestors.

Many also burn gold and silver papers, which according to ancient Chinese beliefs, turns into money for dead relatives and ancestors in the afterlife.

The last night of the Lunar Year is also spent enjoying a reunion dinner with friends and family before the new year is ushered in, much like a Christmas or Thanksgiving feast.

Traditionally, Chinese families set off firecrackers to scare away evil spirits before closing the door at night and opening it the following morning to a brighter better year.

This is the first time that Chinese New Year, marked this year from February 12 to 14, has been declared a public holiday in Thailand.

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Government House dressed up for the Ox

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Government House in Bangkok’s Dusit district has been decorated with red lanterns and auspicious plants to usher in the Year of the Ox on Friday.

“According to Chinese belief, lanterns will help guide holy beings into the building, as well as make our future brighter,” an official said, adding that the lanterns will be lit until Saturday.

Government House staff also repainted and fixed cracks on the shrine in front of the complex. The shrine had been erected during former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s term (2011-2014).

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Tiger out on walkabout finally captured

NationalFeb 11. 2021Photo Credit: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

By The Nation

A tiger that had escaped a wildlife sanctuary in Uthai Thani last Wednesday was finally captured a week later, but not before it had pounced on a herd of goats and feasted on two oxen.

Related story:

Officials hunt tiger after it kills pregnant goat, injures another in Uthai Thani community

Thanit Nooyim, director of the 12th Conservation Area Management Office, set up two teams to deal with the escaped tiger – one to guard farm animals and another to hunt down the escapee.

The tiger was finally found hiding in a sewer near the Huai Kha Khaeng Fire Station. Officials smoked him out with fire before hitting it with an anaesthetic dart. The animal was soon found sleeping peacefully some 500 metres away.

Photo Credit: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Officials then tended to the tiger, providing first aid and attaching a tracking collar before releasing it back in the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary.

The escaped male tiger weighed about 120 kilograms and is believed to have taken off because his hunting grounds were being invaded by another male tiger.

Meanwhile, Thanya Netithammakun, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, has instructed relevant authorities to compensate farmers whose animals were killed by the tiger.

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Nakhon Ratchasima police, locals hunt man who allegedly raped, killed 8-year-old girl

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Police officers and more than 100 locals in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Pak Thong Chai district are hunting a man who allegedly raped and killed an 8-year-old girl, dumping her body just metres away from her house.

On Wednesday, Pak Thong Chai police were informed about the discovery of the girl’s corpse in a forested area in the district.

The corpse was found by locals 10 metres away from her house. The girl was reportedly found to have been raped and killed.

The alleged rapist was identified as Anuwat Polchapo, 25, a neighbour, who escaped after committing the horrid crime.

The girl’s mother told media on Thursday that she and her husband had gone out for work as usual on Wednesday. Their daughter was missing when they returned.

The alleged rapist was seen drinking with other neighbours that day.

Boonchuay Watchapo, 48, a neighbour, said that Anuwat was living with his grandmother and was jobless. He had been charged with allegedly taking narcotics and raping a boy in Nakhon Phanom province. He was released from jail around four months ago, before allegedly committing this crime.

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Lovelorn Bangkokians pray for a Valentine

NationalFeb 11. 2021

By THE NATION

Many devotees showed up at the Trimurti Shrine on Thursday in Bangkok’s CentralWorld complex to pray for a happy Valentine’s Day or a successful match.

Though this shrine is popular among those seeking love in Thailand, the Trimurti does not really signify love and partnership in Hinduism.

For Hindus, the Trimurti represents the three aspects of divinity: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the transformer or destroyer.

Before offering prayers at the Trimurti shrine, devotees are required to first say prayers at the Ganesha shrine nearby. Usually, couples or people seeking a partner are seen dressed in red and queuing up to make offerings at the shrine on Thursday evenings.

Like last year, hearts mark out the areas where devotees can stand to ensure social distancing. They are also required to wear face masks.