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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/in-focus/40009927

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) on Monday took receipt of 17 KiHA 183 diesel trains donated to Thailand by Japan’s Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido).

The shipment was welcomed at Laem Chabang Port by SRT deputy governor Siripong Preutthipan.

Initial inspection showed that the 17 railcars are in good condition and technicians believe they can easily last for another 50 years.

The trains will be shifted to the Makkasan maintenance centre for inspection before modified bogeys are added. The entire operation is expected to take about four months.

Once the trains are ready, they will be put to service for the Udon Thani-Nong Khai-Vientiane; Nakhon Ratchasima-Khon Kaen and Bangkok-Hua Hin-Suan Son Pradipat routes as well as used as tourist convoys to nearby provinces like Lopburi and Ayutthaya.

The trains can also be chartered by the public or agencies.

Siripong said SRT is confident that the diesel trains will be put to good use as it will enhance domestic tourism and boost revenue for the railway sector.

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009924

Miss Universe Thailand Anchilee Scott-Kemmis tweeted a message congratulating her Indian counterpart, Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu, for winning the Miss Universe 2021 crown on Sunday night in Israel.

The tweet read: “Congratulations to our new Miss Universe 2021 Harnaaz. You will be nothing short of amazing!”

Anchilee followed up with another tweet with the hashtag #RealSizeBeauty, saying she will continue battling for “real size” beauty.

Apart from the fact that the Thai-Australian beauty queen did not make it to the top-16 round on Sunday, her fans were also disappointed that she did not get to show off her final evening gown.

The gown for the final round was designed by Thai atelier Valentier and inspired by the traditional Thai garland and the iconic Temple of Dawn.

Related news:

• Thailand’s ‘Woman of Steel’ gets ready to battle for Miss Universe crown
• Thai-Australian beauty Anchilee crowned Miss Universe Thailand
• Thai-Australian beauty Anchilee crowned Miss Universe Thailand

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009923

The Public Health Ministry said on Monday that there are eight Omicron cases in Thailand, with three samples awaiting confirmation.

Dr Suppakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said the new infections had been brought into the country from overseas.

He also said that no infections from hybrid variants have been detected in Thailand so far. Dr Suppakit added that the spread of the Delta variant also appears to have slowed down in Bangkok.

Meanwhile, the eight confirmed Omicron cases between December 1 and 11 are:

• American man, 35, tests positive under Test & Go scheme upon arrival in Bangkok from Spain.

• Thai woman, 46, tests positive under Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) after landing in Bangkok from Nigeria.

• Thai woman, 36, tests positive under ASQ after arriving in Bangkok from Nigeria.

• Thai man, 39, tests positive upon arrival from Nigeria under the Bangkok sandbox scheme.

• American man, 40, tests positive under Test & Go measure after arriving in Bangkok from South Korea.

• Belarusian man, 51, tests positive under Test & Go measure in Bangkok upon arrival from the United Arab Emirates.

• British man, 51, tests positive via Test & Go scheme in Chonburi after arrival from the UK.

• Thai man, 37, tests positive at ASQ facility in Nonthaburi after arrival from Nonthaburi.

The three cases still pending confirmation are:

• Thai man, 41, detected via Bangkok sandbox scheme upon arrival from Congo.

• Columbian man, 62, tests upon arrival from Nigeria via the Bangkok sandbox scheme.

• British man, 31, tests positive via Test & Go measure upon entering Bangkok from the UK.

Related news:

• Third vaccine rollout needed to deal with Omicron, advises expert virologist
• UK raises COVID-19 alert level amid rising Omicron cases
• Thailand may have its fourth Omicron case

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009921

Ministry of Public Health reported on Monday (December 13) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 3,398 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, two of whom have been found in prisons.

Death toll increased by 23, while 5,467 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 2,172,044 – 2,101,326 of whom have recovered, 49,524 are still in hospitals and 21,194 have died.

Separately, another 21,685 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 35,659 their second shot and 24,023 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 97,403,117.

According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 270.42 million on Monday, 243.09 million of whom have recovered, 22 million are active cases (88,826 in severe condition) and 5.32 million have died (up by 3,988).

Thailand ranks 24th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 50.80 million, followed by India with 34.69 million, Brazil with 22.18 million, the UK with 10.81 million and Russia with 10.01 million.

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009918

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday issued new guidelines for the New Year holidays.

Under the new regulations, outdoor restaurants and eateries will be allowed to serve alcohol until 1am to ring in the New Year, provided they strictly adhere to Covid-Free Setting standards.

For events involving more than 1,000 people, organisers must ensure all members of staff, musicians and guests are fully vaccinated and have tested negative for Covid-19 within 72 hours.

Every guest, except children below the age of 12, is required to register their attendance as well as show proof of vaccination and negative test results at the door. Alternatively, organisers can conduct antigen tests at the entrance.

CCSA said the most important thing is that all staff and guests must strictly adhere to measures put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19.

The CCSA also removed the red tag of “maximum control” on 23 provinces effective from Thursday onwards.

Now, 39 provinces come under the orange tag of “controlled zone”. They are Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi, Chachoengsao, Chumphon, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Trang, Trat, Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pattani, Prachin Buri, Ayutthaya, Phatthalung, Phitsanulok, Phetchaburi, Phetchabun, Mae Hong Son, Yala, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Lop Buri, Lampang, Lamphun, Satun, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla, Sa Kaew, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.

Meanwhile, 30 provinces come under the yellow tag or “under surveillance”, namely Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Bueng Kan, Buri Ram, Phichit, Phayao, Phrae, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Yasothon, Roi Et, Loei, Si Sa Ket, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Songkhram, Singburi, Sukhothai, Surin, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu, Uttaradit, Uthai Thani, Ang Thong and Amnat Charoen.

Separately, Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Krabi, Chonburi, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Phang Nga and Phuket remain under the “blue zone” as tourism pilot provinces.

Related stories:

• Two more Omicron cases in Thailand
• No sign of Omicron among tourists from southern Africa: CCSA
• Thai-Cambodia border provinces await CCSA okay before flinging open doors from Dec 16

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009917

The rice-pledging scheme under former PM Yingluck Shinawatra’s 2011-2014 government incurred losses of up to 500 billion baht, the government announced on Sunday.

The scheme also piled up debts worth 100 billion baht with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) and left more than 200,000 tonnes of rice rotting in granaries.

Anucha Burapachaisri, deputy secretary on political affairs to the prime minister, told reporters that this government has been left to shoulder the 100 billion baht debt owed to BAAC.

He said the Budget Bureau plans to earmark 10-20 per cent of the national budget to cover the bill, which will take up to five years to clear.

He added that the rice-pledging scheme will eventually be wrapped up once all the rice in storage is released, though 200,000 tonnes of it is not even fit for animal consumption.

The government aims to close all accounts related to the scheme within next year.

Anucha said the state has lost more than 500 billion baht from corruption related to the rice-pledging scheme and some 1,143 graft-related lawsuits are in court.

Related news:

• Court revokes order for Yingluck to pay Bt35bn compensation for rice scheme
• AMLO seizes more assets in Yingluck G-to-G rice scandal
• Bt13 billion seized in rice pledge case, says AMLO

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009908

Winter has arrived in Loei’s Phu Kradueng National Park with its maple trees turning a fiery red and tourists returning leaves they may have taken as a souvenir.

Apost on the park’s Facebook page announced that the maple trees were now in glorious shades of red and yellow, and attached to it was the photograph of a maple leaf a tourist had returned. The leaf came with a note that read: “Please return it. I picked up the leaf for photographs but forgot to put it back.”

Park officials said they receive hundreds of such letters every year.

Phu Kradueng’s maple trees usually turn bright red from December to February, giving tourists a spectacular backdrop for their photographs.

Legend has it that something bad happens to people who take home natural souvenirs from the park, though sceptics believe this is just a ruse to protect the area.

Related news:

• Loeis Phu Kradueng wakes up to frosty mornings
• Phu Kradueng’s wonders open to tourists again
• Soak in the beauty of nature at colourful Thung Salaeng Luang National Park

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40009906

A Thai man who recently returned from Congo may be Thailand’s fourth Omicron case, the Public Health Ministry said on Sunday, adding that no infections have been found among people who may have been in contact with the patients.

So far, three people in Thailand have tested positive for the new variant, with one potential case, the ministry said.

The three cases include an American businessman who travelled from Spain and two Thai women who had returned from Nigeria.

The Thai man who returned from Congo tested positive for Covid-19 and his sample is being tested to see if he may have contracted Omicron.

The Public Health Ministry said that as of Friday, there were some 3,000 Omicron patients worldwide, which is a minute percentage of the global population. The countries with the highest number of Omicron cases are South Africa, the UK, Germany and the US.

The ministry has advised people not to panic over the new variant as nobody who has come in contact with the Omicron patients has been infected.

Related news:

• Arkhom ready to allocate money to fight Omicron
• Covid is set to cost the tourism industry $1.6 trillion this year. Omicron could make it worse.
• Thailand’s finance minister confident of 4% growth in 2022 despite Omicron threat

Published : December 13, 2021

By : THE NATION