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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022445

Officials find hidden pathway linking Satun province to Malaysia

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022

The authorities have uncovered a hidden path through Satun’s mountains on the border with Malaysia and believe it is being used for the trafficking of drugs and humans.

The hidden route goes over a mountain near Wang Prachan Border Market in the southern province’s Khuan Don district, which shares a border with Malaysia’s Perlis town, district chief Pheeraphat Ngerncharoen said on Friday.

Investigators found a wooden ladder hidden behind trees leading up the mountain for about 150 metres and after that, they found a short tunnel and a kilometre-long route leading into Malaysia.

Scattered empty water bottles and instant food packages show that the route was used recently, officials said.

A local villager, meanwhile, said that even though border police patrol the area regularly, they had no idea a secret route was hidden right under their noses.

Pheeraphat said he had been alerted by villagers who noticed cars and motorcycles stopping near the area several hours before the market opened. This had been happening for about a month, prompting villagers to notify authorities of possible illegal operations.

The district chief has ordered officials to tear down the ladder and for security personnel to be deployed on a 24-hour patrol. He has also notified the Internal Security Operations Command to find out if the route is connected to any known crime syndicates.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022442

EXAT seeks THB110 billion to build 5 new expressways

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022

The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) is seeking over 110 billion baht to fund the construction of five new projects planned for next year, EXAT governor Surachet Laophulsuk said on Friday.

He said the planned expressways or expressway extensions are aimed at easing traffic congestion due to the urbanisation of provinces and the growth of tourist cities.

Among the new projects is the N2 northern section of the Stage 3 Expressway in Bangkok linking Prasert Manukit Road and the Western Ring Road. This section is 11.3 kilometres long and requires a budget of 18 billion baht.

Surachet said bidding for its construction could be held early next year if the project gets Cabinet endorsement by December.

The second project is the MR10 section of Bangkok’s Third Ring Road connecting Chalong Rat Expressway, Nakhon Nayok and Saraburi provinces. The section is 17 kilometres long and requires an investment of 18 billion baht. Environmental impact assessment of the project is underway, the EXAT governor said.

The agency also would seek Cabinet endorsement for the construction of the MR6 section of the Kanchanaburi–Sakaeo expressway later this year. Construction could start next year with completion in 2025, he said.

Also, the EXAT would seek an estimated 20 billion baht to fund the construction of the 18km-long M7 section linking Chalong Rat Expressway, Srinakarin Road and Suvarnabhumi Airport, Surachet said.

He said a public hearing was underway for a project to build a new 17km-long double-deck expressway linking Ngam Wongwan Road and Rama IX Road, with an estimated budget of 30 billion baht. If things go as planned, the construction could start in 2025 for be completed in 2030.

The EXAT also plans a new expressway connecting Khanom district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province and Samui Island. It will be 17km long and require an investment of 25 billion baht. Construction is expected to be completed by 2030.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022440

Long-distance trains switch from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue in Jan

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022

Most of Thailand’s long-distance, rapid and express trains will switch from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong station to Bang Sue Grand Station in January next year.

Fifty-two trains will switch over to the new 15-billion-baht national rail hub in mid-January, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) decided on Thursday.

Only eastbound trains will continue to use Hua Lamphong after that date, said a source familiar with the matter.

Bang Sue Grand Station (aka Krungthep Aphiwat Central Station) opened in November last year and began serving passengers on the SRT’s two urban Red Lines.

SRT had planned to move all 66 long-distance trains, apart from eastbound services, to Bang Sue but the plan was delayed due to the Covid-19 situation. Fifty-two of the 66 routes have now reopened – 14 to the North, 20 to the South, and 18 to the Northeast.

The SRT will advertise the change of terminal station in December, so that passengers reserving tickets can plan their travel accordingly.

Meanwhile, urban trains, ordinary trains and trains on tourism routes are still operating from Hua Lamphong station as usual.

From mid-January, trains bound for the North and Northeast will use the elevated railway from Bang Sue Grand Station to Rangsit station. They will no longer stop at five stations, namely Nikhom Rotfai, Thung Song Hong, Bang Khen, Laksi, and Kan Kheha. Don Muang Station will instead serve as the stop between Bang Sue and Rangsit stations.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022433

Minister threatens to replace THAI baggage handler after Suvarnabhumi delays

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has called an urgent meeting with Thai Airways International (THAI) and Worldwide Flight Services Bangkok Air Ground Handling Co Ltd (BFS Ground) over delays in luggage handling at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Saksayam visited the airport on Thursday in response to complaints that passenger services were suffering long delays at peak times as flight schedules return to normal after Covid-19.

Saksayam reported that congestion at passport control for arriving passengers had eased significantly.

It was now taking an average of 15 minutes for each passenger to pass through passport control, he said.

However, passengers were still waiting up to 1.5 hours for their luggage to arrive on the carousel, when the target should be 15 minutes, he added.

THAI and BFS Ground representatives told Saksayam that baggage handling was taking longer due to staff cuts amid rising operational costs. The cuts mean that a large passenger plane is now unloaded by only one ground service team instead of three teams as in the past.

Saksayam ordered the airline and baggage handler to come up with a plan to fix the problem within one month, or the ministry would find a new baggage handling firm.

“There are many operators out there who are capable of handling large volumes of luggage in time,” he said.

Saksayam also ordered the airport to deploy more staff at taxi ticket machines and waiting areas to prevent passenger crowding, as well as open more traffic lanes for taxis during rush hours. The aim is to reduce the taxi waiting time to 10 minutes per passenger.

Suvarnabhumi Airport is expected to welcome 130,000 passengers per day in December as the tourism season peaks, a rise of 13% from November’s 115,000 per day.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022431

World Cup now available on all internet TV platforms as True loses exclusive rights

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2022

Thai internet TV providers other than True Corp can now broadcast the whole 2022 Fifa World Cup, the National Broadcast and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) announced on Thursday evening.

In an urgent notification to internet protocol TV (IPTV) operators, the telecom regulator said that under the “must carry” rule, the tournament must also be made available on IPTV platforms including 3BB TV, NT-TOT IPTV, and AIS Playbox.

The notification effectively cancels True Corp’s exclusive broadcasting rights for half of this year’s World Cup matches via its IPTV and other online platforms.

True had signed a contract with the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) for exclusive broadcast of 32 matches after contributing 300 million baht to SAT’s 1.4-billion-baht purchase of the broadcasting rights.

But from now on, fans in Thailand can also watch the matches via other IPTV platforms.

The “must carry” rule dictates that major sports events like the World Cup must be broadcast for free across all platforms in Thailand.

The NBTC also ordered IPTV operators to employ Fifa-standard encryption to ensure that match broadcasts are limited to Thailand.

On Wednesday, Fifa threatened to revoke Thailand’s World Cup broadcasting rights after it found Thai broadcasts of matches were being watched in neighbouring countries.

Related Stories

True says it has signed contract with SAT for exclusive online World Cup broadcasting rights

NBTC tells True to return exclusive broadcast rights for 16 World Cup matches

Fifa warns it will revoke Thailand’s World Cup broadcast rights over encryption failures

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022425

Organisers credit ‘Thai unity’ for success in hosting Apec Summit

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022

People responsible for organising the recently completed Apec Summit in Bangkok attributed its success to the contributions of “Team Thailand” who work behind the scenes.

The 29th Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting and Related Meetings were held from November 14 and 19 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) under the theme of “Open. Connect. Balance.”

Thanatip Upatising, head of the Apec 2022 Task Force, said that the conference’s success was a result of cooperation of all parties involved from the public and private sectors that were making preparations for years.
“Also, Thai people in general should be credited for playing good hosts and impressing the visitors,” he said.
 

“As head of the Apec 2022 Task Force, I am grateful for all the contributions to help create history by successfully hosting the Apec 2022,” said Thanatip, a former Thai ambassador.

He said the success was a testament to Thailand’s potential to organise international conferences, thanks to the country’s world-class convention centres, modern facilities, professional personnel, and warm hospitality.
The QSNCC served more than 5,000 people, including delegates and media people from all 21 member economies, during the Apec 2022.

Sakchai Pattarapreechakul, president of NCC Management & Development Co Ltd, which manages the QSNCC, said that a wide selection of Thai tradition and fusion food was provided to the delegates and media people during the Apec week.

Meanwhile, NCC executive vice president MR Swasdivudh Svasti-vatana credited contributions from everyone in Team Thailand, including chefs, food stylists, artisans and students who worked behind the scenes to ensure Apec 2022 went on smoothly.

“This success would not have happened without those people, and not just QSNCC teams,” he said.
The executive also said that another pride for QSNCC was that Thai soft power was presented through food made with ingredients from local communities.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40022424

TAT’s new travel route brings tourists to places of worship linked to Naga

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2022

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Udon Thani provincial office has come up with a new travel route created specifically for those looking to visit places linked to superstitious beliefs.

Thanaporn Poonperm, director of the TAT’s Udon Thani office, said that this was part of the “Isaan In Love” campaign aimed at attracting tourists to places in the northeastern provinces through interests in nature, culture and Buddhism.

“We present a travel route that connects with unique local identities to offer a meaningful travel experience to tourists,” she said.

The Udon Thani office’s new travel route involves visits to places of worship in Udon Thani, Nong Khai and Bueng Kan provinces with statues of the mythical serpent Naga, which has been deeply enshrined in the local beliefs.

The new campaign is expected to draw about 120 million baht to the Northeast by February next year.
Thanaporn noted that Naga was recently declared Thailand’s mythical animal by the Cabinet, which she said provided the Northeast with a good opportunity to promote tourism to locations linked to Naga.

According to Hindu and Buddhist mythology, Naga is a semi-divine race of half-human, half-serpent creatures that are protectors of Gods and Buddhism.