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Baht hits seven-year high, could rise to 29.30 to the dollar next quarter (nationthailand.com)

Baht hits seven-year high, could rise to 29.30 to the dollar next quarter

NationalDec 18. 2020

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 29.79 to the US dollar on Friday, strengthening from 29.84 at close on Thursday, the strongest in seven years.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 29.75 and 29.95, said Jitipol Puksamatanan, senior director of the chief investment office at SCB Securities.

On Wednesday night, the S&P 500 index rose by 6 per cent, the third consecutive day of gains. The risk-on situation in the market caused the Stoxx 600 index and the price of WTI crude oil and gold to increase in the range of 0.3 to 1.3 per cent.

In the US, the initial jobless claim announced this week was around 885,000 positions, the highest number in three months.

Meanwhile, Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, signalled that the Brexit issue between the UK and EU was hard to reach an agreement on, as the UK and the EU have different point of views.

In the financial markets, the risk-on state increased the Ten-Year Treasury yield by two basis points to 0.94 per cent. The dollar moreover weakened by 0.5 per cent, compared to other main currencies.

Jitipol said that the market situation was a factor behind the strengthening of the baht, in addition to investors’ concerns about the US placing Thailand on its monitoring list for currency manipulation.

He added that the baht in the next quarter would rise to Bt29.30 per US dollar.

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Administration takes on Bangkok pollution (nationthailand.com)

Administration takes on Bangkok pollution

NationalDec 18. 2020

By THE NATION

The Bangkok city administration and the government have launched measures to combat air pollution in the Thai capital.

At 10pm on Thursday, Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang, Deputy Interior Minister Niphon Bunyamanee, and deputy Metropolitan Police chief Maj-General Jirasan Kaewsaeng-ake launched the “Bangkok Big Cleaning Day” activity in a bid to reduce dust particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM2.5) in the air by spraying water as well as cleaning roads and public facilities.

“The activity will be carried out in 50 districts of Bangkok, while tonight it will be kicked off in five locations,” said Aswin. “They are Din Daeng district, the Wong Wian Yai intersection in Thongburi district, Central Rama II in Bang Khun Thian district, Sanam Luang 2 in Thawi Watthana district, and in front of Nong Khaem district office.”

Niphon added that the Interior Ministry had ordered contractors in Bangkok and its perimeter areas to hold off on construction projects during January and February to reduce the source of dust and air pollution in the city.

“We have also asked provinces around Bangkok to stop burning of garbage and leftover crops, which are one of the sources of PM2.5 that could be carried by wind to Bangkok areas.”

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Samut Sakhon tightens control measures after woman tests positive for Covid-19 (nationthailand.com)

Samut Sakhon tightens control measures after woman tests positive for Covid-19

NationalDec 18. 2020

By THE NATION

A 67-year-old woman who runs a seafood shop has been confirmed positive for Covid-19 in Samut Sakhon province.

Provincial Governor Weerasak Wijitsaengsri told a press conference on Thursday evening that the Department of Disease Control had confirmed a Covid-19 case in the province.

“The patient is a 67-year-old woman who runs a seafood shop in Samut Sakhon Prawn Market in Mahachai subdistrict,” he said.

“She showed symptoms of muscle ache and loss of her ability to smell on December 13. She was tested at a private hospital. The test came back positive and she was sent to Samut Sakhon Hospital for treatment until Thursday, when she took the test again and was confirmed to be infected with the Covid-19 virus.”

The governor added that the patient’s travel history and close contacts had been tracked and tested. He said 16 out of 18 persons who were in close contact with her had been tested and placed in quarantine. Ten of the results already received were all negative.

“Officials are tracking two persons who have not been tested yet. They are Myanmar workers who had visited the patient’s shop,” he added.

“We are still tracking the origin of the infection in this case. People should stay tuned for updates from the province authorities and refrain from believing rumours or news from unconfirmed sources.

“The province has ordered the Samut Sakhon Prawn Market to shut down for one day on Thursday for cleaning and disinfection, while the patient’s seafood shop has been closed for three days,” Weerasak added.

“We urge people to wear face masks, wash their hands regularly, maintain social distancing and avoid going to crowded areas.”

Samut Sakhon police chief Pol Colonep Phatpakorn Chanprasert added that police would strictly enforce the rules that had been used in the province during the Covid-19 lockdown earlier this year to control the outbreak.

“This includes fining up to Bt20,000 anyone who does not wear a face mask in public,” he said.

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Isolated heavy rain in the South raises risk of flash floods (nationthailand.com)

Isolated heavy rain in the South raises risk of flash floods

NationalDec 18. 2020

By THE NATION

People in the South should beware of severe weather conditions that may cause flash floods, the Thailand Meteorological Department said on Friday.

A rather strong northeast monsoon covers the Gulf and the South, bringing thundershowers and isolated heavy to very heavy rain, the department said. Waves in the Gulf are about two metres high and above two metres in thundershowers. All ships should proceed with caution.

Meanwhile, a rather strong high-pressure system from China has extended to cover upper Thailand and the South China Sea. The department predicted cool to cold weather with temperature falling by 1-2 degrees Celsius and strong winds over upper Thailand. Mountaintops remain cold to very cold.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weather with fog in the morning; minimum temperature 15-21 degrees Celsius, maximum 30-34°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 5-14°C with frost in some areas.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather with strong winds; minimum temperature 13-19°C, maximum 29-31°C; temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 8-14°C.

Central: Cool weather in the morning; minimum temperature 20-22°C, maximum 31-34°C.

East: Cool weather in the morning with strong winds; minimum temperature 20-23°C, maximum 32-34°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres off shore.

South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy to very heavy rain; minimum temperature 22-23°C, maximum 27-33°C; waves two metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 22-24°C, maximum 26-32°C; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning; minimum temperature 21-23°C, maximum 32-34°C.

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Phase 2 of ‘We Travel Together’ may be cancelled over corruption (nationthailand.com)

Phase 2 of ‘We Travel Together’ may be cancelled over corruption

NationalDec 18. 2020PM Prayut Chan-o-cha 

By The Nation

The second phase of the “We Travel Together” tourism stimulus campaign may be scrapped over corruption fears, according to a source familiar with the matter.

So far, more than 200 people have been prosecuted for defrauding this and other government schemes to stimulate the pandemic-hit economy.  

According to the source, plans to extend the “We Travel Together” campaign with another one million discounted rooms may be cancelled. Meanwhile plans to issue more Bt600 and Bt900 daily food and travel coupons under the scheme are on hold pending investigation of corruption. 

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha was reportedly furious when he heard details of the graft while chairing Thursday’s meeting of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) executive. Afterwards he instructed Deputy Police Chief Piya Utayo to find ways of punishing the culprits.

He also sought the public’s cooperation in bringing the cheats to justice. 

“Solving the problem of corruption is not just the responsibility of the state,” Prayut said after the CCSA meeting. 

“All parties must cooperate – givers, receivers and service providers. They must help each other by providing information so that we can arrest these fraudsters,” he added.

Prayut pointed out that “We Travel Together” was aimed at helping hotel and other tourism-related businesses recover from the impact of the Covid-19 crisis. The PM and government agencies were scrambling to find budget and set up projects, only to see them end in corruption, he complained.

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Govt corruption highest under NCPO junta, says report by graft watchdog (nationthailand.com)

Govt corruption highest under NCPO junta, says report by graft watchdog

NationalDec 17. 2020Prayut Chan-o-cha 

By The Nation

Government corruption hit a new high under the post-coup National Council for Peace (NCPO) junta, according to a report released by the National Anti-Corruption Commission recently .

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who led the NCPO junta after staging the 2014 coup, acknowledged the report’s findings but said the figures drew mostly on complaints of corruption rather than proven cases.

He said that people would always try to cheat the system but said he did not want to reveal the names of the culprits.

Instead, he ordered the Prime Minister’s Office to publicise the achievements of his government to show how “well it had served the people”.

Asked whether each ministry would now be inspected for corruption, he said monitoring for government graft was the media’s job. He added that government officials preferred working behind closed doors because they were afraid of being attacked by the media if they were too transparent.