#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

AOT hires IATA, ICAO for revision of Suvarnabhumi expansion plan

NationalFeb 08. 2021

By THE NATION

Airports of Thailand (AOT) is tapping the expertise of International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to revise the development plan of Suvarnabhumi Airport, a project with a total budget of nearly Bt57 billion.

“We have submitted updated data to IATA and expect them to turn in the revised plan by mid-March, as they have studied this project since November 2019,” said AOT president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn.

“Meanwhile, we are negotiating with ICAO for further revision of the IATA’s approved plan. If the ICAO says they cannot wait for IATA to finish, we will ask them to start work on the framework immediately so that the project can start as scheduled.”

Nitinai added that the motion to hire the IATA and ICAO had been proposed at AOT’s board meeting to make sure that the expansion of three terminals at Suvarnabhumi Airport involving an expenditure of nearly Bt57 billion is a viable investment.

The development project includes the expansion of the eastern and western terminals with a budget of Bt7.83 billion per terminal, aiming to increase usable space by 66,000 square metres per terminal to accommodate 15 million passengers per terminal per year, and the expansion of the northern terminal with a budget of Bt41.26 billion, aiming to increase usable space by 348,000sqm to accommodate an additional 30 to 40 million passengers per year.

Nitinai added that the construction of SAT1 building at Suvarnabhumi Airport is nearly 95 per cent finished while the landscaping and interior decorations should be completed within July.

“After the building is finished, we will start installing the APM [Automated People Mover], baggage handling and explosive detection systems before October. The test run of these systems should take six months, therefore the SAT1 building will officially open in April 2022.”

The SAT 1 building is a part of the second phase development of Suvarnabhumi Airport, being undertaken with a budget of Bt62 billion.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Gold starts steady after declining last week

NationalFeb 08. 2021

By The Nation

The price of gold was unchanged in morning trade on Monday after rising by Bt50 per baht weight at close on Saturday, the Gold Traders Association reported.

Gold price had dropped by Bt400 per baht weight last week.

As of 9.22am, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt25,700 per baht weight and selling price Bt25,800, while gold ornaments were priced at Bt25,241.40 and Bt26,300, respectively.

Spot gold price dropped to US$1,812 (Bt54,420) per ounce in the morning after rising by $21.8 to $1,813 per ounce on Friday, thanks to mass buy-ups of safe-haven assets after the US non-farm payrolls increased slightly in January this year.

Hong Kong gold price rose by HK$40 to $16,770 (Bt64,961) per tael, the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society reported.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Work on pier connecting MRT Purple Line and electric boat service to finish in March

NationalFeb 08. 2021(File photo of Chao Phraya electric boats)

By THE NATION

The construction of Phra Nangklao Bridge Pier is expected to finish in March and serve as a transportation hub for commuters of MRT Purple Line train and electric boat service in the Bangkok and Nonthaburi areas, the Marine Department said.

“The construction is now 90 per cent complete,” department director-general Witthaya Thamuang said on Sunday.

“When finished, the pier would help attract more commuters to use electric boats as an alternative to land transport, which will ultimately help reduce air pollution caused by PM2.5 dust particles, as well as promote tourism along Chao Phraya River,” he said.

The construction of Phra Nangklao Bridge Pier is under co-management of the Marine Department and Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), under the Ministry of Transport’s master plan to connect road, rail and boat networks in metropolitan areas.

Witthaya added that the department is also planning to improve the Nonthaburi Pier by installing security infrastructure and improving the landscape.

“Nonthaburi Pier would become the country’s second ‘Smart Pier’ and would also serve as a leisure park,” he said, adding, “During the Covid-19 situation, the department installed thermal scanning checkpoints at all piers and made the wearing of face masks compulsory in the transport system to prevent the spread of the virus.”

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Lottery sellers who ask for ‘service fee’ face fine, loss of permit

NationalFeb 08. 2021

By THE NATION

Lottery sellers are not allowed to ask for any fee on top of the standard price of Bt80 for a lottery ticket, the director-general at the Government Lottery Office (GLO), Boonsong Jantrisri, said on Sunday.

His remarks came after a social media post, showing a picture of a lottery stall asking for “service fee” of Bt10 to Bt20, went viral and was widely criticised by netizens since last week.

“Asking for additional fee constitutes price gouging and is punishable with up to Bt10,000 fine and revocation of permit,” he warned.

“The GLO recently increased the profit margin of registered sellers from 7 per cent (Bt5.6 per ticket) to 12 per cent (Bt9.6 per ticket). The profit should be enough for sellers to maintain their business and livelihood, and therefore asking for additional fees is inexcusable.”

Boonsong added that the GLO is offering a cash reward of Bt1,000 to citizens who provide information to officials on each case of lottery price gouging, while officials who catch wrongdoers will be rewarded based on the fine in each case, but not exceeding Bt2,000.

“The GLO has earmarked Bt8 million for cash rewards, which will be paid once the offenders confess to their crime and pay the fine,” he added.

According to GLO’s statistics, 6,047 lottery sellers were found guilty of price gouging in 2020 and their permits were revoked.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail forecast for upper Thailand

NationalFeb 08. 2021

By THE NATION

The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday that the westerly trough is moving past Myanmar to cover the upper North of Thailand, resulting in outbreaks of thunderstorms with gusty winds and hail in some areas.

People in the North should beware of the severe conditions by keeping off open areas, big trees and unsecured billboards, while farmers should beware of damage to crop.

Meanwhile, the weak high-pressure system covering the Northeast and the South China Sea brings cool weather to the Northeast, the Central and the East with morning fog. The moderate northeast monsoon in the Gulf and the South leads to waves in the lower Gulf up to about two metres high.

The department also forecast that on February 8-9, thundershowers, strong winds and isolated hail will be likely over the upper country, followed by a 4-6 degrees Celsius fall in temperature in the North and the Northeast and a 2-4°C drop in other regions.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool weather with morning fog, thunderstorms in 40 per cent of the areas with gusty winds and hail in some areas; temperature lows of 16-21°C, highs of 29-36°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 7-15°C.

Northeast: Cool weather with morning fog; thunderstorms in 20 per cent of the areas with gusty winds and hail in some areas; temperature lows of 17-21°C, highs of 32-34°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 10-15°C.

Central: Cool weather with morning fog, thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas and gusty winds; temperature lows of 20-22°C, highs of 34-36°C.

East: Partly cloudy with morning fog and isolated light rain; temperature lows of 20-25°C, highs of 31-36°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

South (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25°C, highs of 30-34°C; waves 1-2 metres high and two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 22-25°C, highs of 33-36°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres offshore.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Partly cloudy with morning fog; temperature lows of 23-24°C, highs of 34-36°C.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Myanmar citizens in Thailand protest coup at home

NationalFeb 07. 2021

By The Nation

Myanmar people in Thailand gathered outside the United Nations Office on Bangkok’s Rajdamnoen Road on Sunday afternoon to protest the military coup in their country.

Nang Loeng Metropolitan Police officers allowed the protesters to hold the demonstration on a traffic island in front of the UN Office by setting up fences and screening checkpoints.

The protesters were required to wear face mask and wash their hands with alcohol-based gel as part of measures to contain the spread of Covid-19. Thai people were not allowed to participate in the demonstration.

The protest was called off at around 2pm. About 500-600 Myanmar people participated.

On Monday, Myanmar’s de facto head of state Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior figures from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), as well as regional government leaders were arrested in early morning raids.

Later in the morning, a military-owned television station announced that a one-year state of emergency was being imposed under the authority of the commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

According to a Washington Post report on Saturday, Myanmar authorities restricted Internet connectivity and blocked more social media websites, as thousands of people protested in the first street demonstrations since the military took power from the democratically elected government in a coup.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Online registration opens to join Military

NationalFeb 07. 2021

By The Nation

1,466 Thai men have registered online to join the military, Royal Thai Army deputy spokesperson Colonel Sirichan Ngathong said on Sunday.

Of the total, 365 men have registered in the 1st Army Area, 405 in the 2nd Army Area, 304 in the 3rd Army Area and 392 in the 4th Army Area. Most of the registrants were 18-20 years old.

The Army is allowing Thai men who have not been conscripted or recruited to join the military online via www.rcm64.rta.mi.th until February 28.

This is the first time that the Army is giving Thai men a chance to voluntarily join the services.

“The Territorial Defence Command has appointed military recruiting officers to publicise the online registration and facilitate registrants who contact recruiting offices nationwide,” she said.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Asian king vulture lays an egg for the first time in 25 years

NationalFeb 07. 2021

By The Nation

After a wait of more than 25 years, the Asian king vulture has finally delivered in Thailand. “Nui” laid the first egg on January 30, after being nearly extinct for 30 years.

Nakhon Ratchasima acting zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy said it was a good omen for Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.

He said it was the first time in Asia that the vulture had laid an egg in her cage.

Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo has four vultures: a 19-year-old male vulture, Pocky; a 21-year-old male, Jack; a 12-year-old male, Tan; and a 10-year-old female, Nui.

The working team of the Condor Population Rehabilitation Project in Thailand has been waiting all year round.

The Asian king vulture is protected wildlife and only five are left in the country.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Covid-19, US stimulus package could influence baht, SET next week

NationalFeb 07. 2021

By The Nation

The Covid-19 outbreak and the rollout of US economic stimulus measures would affect the baht and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index next week, Kasikorn Research Centre (KResearch) said.

The baht closed at 30.09 against the dollar on Friday despite the Monetary Policy Committee’s resolution to maintain the interest rate at 0.50 per cent. However, the baht was pressured by the strengthening dollar amid strong US economic data and US President Joe Biden’s signal to accelerate the rollout of economic stimulus measures and Covid-19 vaccination.

KResearch expected the baht next week to move between 29.90 and 30.30 to the dollar, advising investors to follow the rollout of US economic stimulus measures, the US Federal Reserve chairman’s statement and the Covid-19 outbreak.

The SET Index on Friday closed at 1,496.61, up 2.02 per cent compared to the previous week’s close with total transactions amounting to Bt78.30 billion, down 10.557 per cent compared to the previous week’s close, riding strong US economic data which was better than the market expectations.

The Market for Alternative Investment on Friday closed at 369.95, up 3.82 per cent compared to previous week’s close.

KResearch advised investors to follow the Covid-19 outbreak, SET-listed companies’ fourth-quarter performance in 2020, the rollout of US economic stimulus measures and US-China relations.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

FDA outlines requirements to apply for permission to grow hemp

NationalFeb 07. 2021

By The Nation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has clarified doubts on seeking permission to grow or import hemp on Saturday.

Earlier, the FDA allowed government agencies, private companies, farmers and the public to apply to grow hemp from January 29 after the Public Health Ministry removed the plant species from the category V narcotics list in November.

FDA vice secretary-general Supattra Boonserm said people can apply to grow hemp at the FDA’s head office and provincial public health offices, while those who wish to import hemp must apply at the FDA’s head office.

She said applicants must arrange house title deed, rental agreement or landlord permission letter for the application.

“We will consider the application to grow hemp within 135 days, and in 75 days for the application to import hemp,” she said.

“The FDA will arrange business matching between growers and buyers for applicants who do not have business partners.”

She added that the FDA is cooperating with the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to set up a central market for trading cannabis and hemp products.

She asked people not to believe in individuals who deceive them to apply for hemp seeds by paying Bt1,000 application fee and another Bt1,000 for buying shares.

For more information, contact 0-2590-7793-4, 0-2590-7339 or 0-2590-7756.