Phu Kradueng Ready To Welcome Visitors From October 1
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2022
THE NATION
Loei’s Beautiful Phu Kradueng National Park Will Open Its Doors To Tourists From October 1 After Being Closed Since June 1, An Announcement On The Park’s Facebook Page Said On Friday.
The park shuts down for four months every year from June 1 for nature to rehabilitate and to prevent accidents during the rainy season.
To enter the park, tourists are required to register via the QueQ application, which allows advance bookings of up to 60 days.
Tourists can climb the Phu Kradueng mount, which is 1,315 metres above sea level, from 6am to 1pm on weekdays and from 5.30am to 1pm on weekends and public holidays.
Visitors are advised to wear a face mask when near people to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Phu Kradueng is one of Thailand’s best-known national parks, famous for its sea of mist, cool temperatures and rich flora and fauna spread over 217,576 rai (34,800 hectares). Its diverse landscape features soaring cliffs, waterfalls, fields and forests, which draw local and foreign tourists all year.
Ajinomoto Invites Everyone To Visit The “Green Factory Model For Sustainable Environment” Via A Virtual Platform
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
THE NATION
Ajinomoto (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Aims To Conduct Business In Line With The Bio-Circular-Green Economy Concept While Also Promoting Sustainable Environmental Management.
Recently, the company launched a new “Virtual Factory Visit Platform” by introducing the Ajinomoto “Kamphaeng Phet Factory” as the greenest factory model among the Ajinomoto Group of Companies in Thailand that allows everyone to visit in 360° through online and smart devices. This online program tour can offer the visitor an edutainment activity as it is “easy, fun, and enjoyable everywhere, every time,” reflecting on our company’s image as a leading food company with an in-depth understanding of consumers’ needs.
This new “Virtual Factory Visit Platform” is designed as one of the channels to promote environmental awareness through business activities that contribute to the environmental impacts. The exemplary showcases reflect effective management starting from the procurement of raw materials, the production of products, and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, alternative or renewable energy usage, waste management, and efficient use of water resources. In particular, the success of implementing biomass cogeneration technology instead of fossil fuels, which was able to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, a key driver of climate change and global warming.
The Ajinomoto Group aims to become a “solution-providing group of companies for food and health issues” by working to reduce environmental impacts by following “The Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value (ASV)” as a conceptual framework for the Ajinomoto Group’s work worldwide.
Consumer Councils Nationwide Are Looking To Sue NBTC Over True-Dtac Merger
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
THE NATION
The Thailand Consumers Council Has Joined Consumer Organisations In 14 Provinces With The Intent To Sue The NBTC For Dereliction Of Duty In Protecting The Public Interest And Favouring Investors, And Abandoning The Issue Of Service Charges And Telecom Marketing In A Permanent Monopoly. NBTC Is Challenged To Debate The Issues With A Diverse Range Of Voices Before Passing A Resolution.
Miss Supinya Klangnarong, chair of the telecom subcommittee of the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) spoke at a seminar, “Impacts of mobile phone monopolies on citizens’ rights to 5G.” She said that the issue of the business merger between True Corporation PCL and Total Access Communication PCL or Dtac was now with the Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), who were considering a resolution in this matter, as soon as the Council of State issued an opinion concerning NBTC’s powers to consider that matter.
Personally, she felt that NBTC’s execution of its duties had not been as stated in the Constitution, which required it to take the public’s side, and operate in the best interests of the general public, national security and the public interest, including ensuring that the public obtain the benefits from radio frequency spectra. Therefore, TCC and a network of consumer protection organizations in 14 provinces were petitioning NBTC concerning NBTC’s obligations to consider this merger.
Also, Supinya stated that it was necessary to create awareness in every sector about this deal, because it is not only the consumer sector that is impacted. There are also labourers for whom a 10-20 THB increase in service charges would affect their lives, and there is also the vulnerable group of disabled people for whom it is necessary to use Internet networks in the main for communication. Thus, if the merger goes ahead and prices go up, these groups must not be overlooked.
“We have proposed that the NBTC establish forums to hear opinions on this matter in the provinces, because this merger has affected people nationwide.
“NBTC is being proposed to hold forums to listen to opinions on this matter in the provinces, because the merger impacts the whole country. NBTC has 20 regional offices, and the NBTC board should be giving policy, because it must not be forgotten that there are many dimensions in the public sector, and every group should have the right to express their intentions.”
Supinya also said that the TCC’s demands were not only from the perspective of the merger deal. Another one or two years into the future, the world will be fully in the age of IoT, which will further increase reliance on the Internet following the global dynamic. As a consequence, it is crucial that citizens’ rights and voices are given priority by NBTC, or even the government, rather than neglected. This unity between TCC and the consumers’ network in 14 provinces will amplify our voices. Before NBTC passes a resolution on the True-Dtac merger, it should listen to the voice of the people, and must be open to participation from the public down to the grassroots, to express a broad spectrum of opinions in this matter.
TCC hits back with five reasons from consumers to the deal makers, and attacks propaganda which only refers to private sector interests
Miss Sari Ongsomwang, TCC Secretary-General, added that besides TCC and the network in 14 provinces suing NBTC, TCC would also join the Move Forward Party in suing NBTC to carry out its duties on this occasion. As for topics concerning the True-Dtac deal, she would like to explain from the perspective of consumers. True had previously sent out PR news about five good points of the merger, while from a contradictory perspective it had to be seen what consumers would lose if the merger was allowed to proceed. TCC has prepared five reasons for not approving the merger.
1. Service charges would certainly increase, because according to the report from NBTC’s economic and consumer protection subcommittee established by NBTC itself, this stated that service charges are trending to maximise, which is consistent with many bodies who have stated that they could rise by anything from 12 to 224%. When NBTC still lacked guarantees that service charges would not increase, promotions and distribution channels must not increase the burdens on consumers. NBTC has no concrete plan. Therefore the merger should not be allowed.
2. The perspective merger is between the number 2 and number 3 operators in the market, and after such a merger only two large operators will remain, AIS and the new company formed from True and Dtac. The latter will have a market share exceeding 50%, meaning consumers will not have choices in using services. Despite the claim that there also remain National Telecommunications Co., Ltd. (NT) and two other MVNO companies, this does not reflect true competition. If the merger is allowed, market conditions will become a permanent monopoly.
3. Private sector claims were not completely true that the merger is required because the telecom business has not yielded profits, so becoming a technology company required a merger. This was because at present, although revenues from voice services have been recently reduced, revenues from data services are still at a high level. This shows that operators are still able to generate revenues from this business, and telecom networks are still considered key infrastructure to generate revenues.
4. The group of low-income consumers and students who required the Internet for their studies would have to top up an extra 30 THB per day or 900 THB per month. On this issue, NBTC and neither of True or Dtac however had a plan or measures to protect this group. A successful merger would be the cause of major impacts among this group of people.
5. This merger cannot be implemented because NBTC has the authority pursuant to the Announcement not allowing telecom operators to perform any monopolistic actions, or reduce or eliminate competition in the provision of telecom services. This includes giving orders to “approve” or “disapprove” the business manager of these telecom operators. NBTC also has the duty to apply the criteria in the anti-monopolistic Announcement of 2006 and the Announcement on mergers of 2018.
“NBTC should open up a debate forum on the pros and cons of the merger, and allow consumers to have maximal participation. This is because consumers are the group who must shoulder the eventual burden. Once the debate forum has been held, people will talk about the impacts from allowing the merger. Will NBTC not listen to the voice of the people? Will it have an opinion completely different to that of the public? NBTC should maintain its reputation for the greatest benefit of the public and the nation.”
GQ Perfect Stretch Light Chino™ Shorts: For The Comfort Of All Lifestyles
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
THE NATION
GQ Introduces The New Perfect Stretch Light Chino™ Shorts That Fix Common Problems Faced By Shorts Wearers Such As Ripped Crotch, Inflexibility, Items Falling Out From Pockets, And Lack Of Expandable Waist.
Made from high-quality fabric with water-repellent capability, GQ Perfect Stretch Light Chino™ Shorts are light, breathable, and flexible in four directions for maximum comfort. The pockets are deep and can block radiation from mobile phones, while the waist is adjustable up to two inches. GQ Perfect Stretch Light Chino™ are truly the shorts for everyday activities.
GQ Perfect Stretch Light Chino™ Shorts come in several colours and seven sizes for the perfect fit. Available at GQ shops in leading department stores and online shop at https://gqsize.link/PNQv9W
England Soccer Great David Beckham Spotted In Queue For Queen’s Coffin
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
THE NATION
Former England Soccer Star David Beckham Was Seen Queuing Alongside Other Mourners On Friday (September 16) In London To See The Coffin Of Britain’s Longest Reigning Monarch Queen Elizabeth II Who Died Last Week.
Beckham – wearing a dark jacket, tie and a dark hat – gently smiled as others in the queue spoke with him and took selfies.
Elizabeth died in Scotland aged 96 last week, prompting an outpouring of emotion that drew tens of thousands out to see her coffin on its journey to London, and that has now compelled many more to join long lines pay their respects during a four and a half day lying-in-state ceremony.
The 47-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder and current co-owner of American Major League Soccer team Inter Miami said he had joined the queue at 2.15 a.m. (0115 GMT).
“It’s hard to explain. You know, it’s very, very emotional. You know, the silence….the feeling in the room is very hard to explain,” said Beckham, who was wearing a dark flat cap and a dark suit with a black tie and appeared to be alone.
Television footage of Westminster Hall showed Beckham, who met the queen several times during her 70-year reign, looked tearful as he waited to file past her coffin.
Stopping to pay his respects by the coffin at around 3.25 p.m, Beckham bowed his head and closed his eyes momentarily.
The government paused entry to the queue for a few hours earlier on Friday after warning of waiting times of at least 14 hours.
It snakes its way for miles through central London to parliament’s Westminster Hall. Some 750,000 people in total are expected to file past the coffin before Monday morning.
Kammalas Namuangruk Shot A Second Round 64 To Cling To The Lead Going To The Weekend Stage Of The Bt5 Million Thailand Mixed Hosted By TrustGolf At The Gasson Panorama Golf Club In Lamphun On Friday.
With his accurate fairways in regulation, Kammalas sprinkled his round with nine birdies against a lone bogey on the 17th hole to lead on 13 under-par-131 at the par 72 6,929-yard layout for the men and 6,314 for the women.
“I was playing incredibly well. In fact, my goal this week is to hit eight fairways and 12-13 greens each day. But hitting 18 fairways today was far beyond my expectation. That’s why I was able to hit close to the pins and shot so many birdies,” said the 30-year-old former SEA Games national player.
Kammalas is now in a good position to add his second professional win in his portfolio. His maiden and only professional victory occurred in the All Thailand Golf Tour at the Royal Hill Golf Resort and Spa in Nakhon Nayok four years ago.
“I’m going to the weekends with the same mindset and game plan. Hitting 13 fairways and 13 greens in regulation is what I have in mind. Other than that, I will try to create myself more scoring opportunities,” added the Bangkok-based golfer.
Chiang Mai’s hope Sirapob Yapala set himself as another title prospect, shooting a second round 67 to trail by three strokes on a 134.
Sitting four strokes back was the in-form Amarin Kravixien who carded a 67 (one eagle on the 15h, five birdies and two bogeys) for a midway total of 135.
“That eagle really got me into the groove. Everything about my game was great. I just wished that I made more birdies,” added Amarin who came closet to his first career win by settling at second in the last Thailand Mixed at Thana City Golf Club in Bangkok last month. “I’m here to win. But whether that’s going to happen or not is another story. If I don’t want to win, I wouldn’t be here,” said the 26-year-old Amarin.
Former champion Arpichaya Yubol, with a 67, followed a shot behind with a total 136, the best by a female challenger.
“I did quite well in my approach game within 100 yards and made birdies. I was hitting the iron better than yesterday. Maybe because the weather in the morning wasn’t so hot like yesterday which proved to my benefit,” said the 20-year-old from Saraburi. “About my game plan for tomorrow, I will stick to the same game plan and focus more on my lobs. I also need to hit straight to the fairways and create some good opportunities out there,” she added.
A stroke behind were three-time victor Chanette Wannasaen and Waris Manthorn, each with a 137. With the cut at three over-par-147, a total of sixty-six players made it to the weekend rounds.
The Thailand Mixed is organised by TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology. It is supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Bangkok Bank, B.Grimm Company, Bond Holdings, AISPLAY, Bridgestone, Trust Pharmacy, Trust Live Streaming, Adidas Golf, Balance Golf Nutrition, Leborn, LMV, Longa, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration and Gatsson Legacy Golf Club in Lamphun.
Federer To Retire From The Sport After Next Week’s Laver Cup
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
THE NATION
Federer Broke The News Fans Across The World Have Long Been Fearing When He Announced On Thursday He Will Retire From Competitive Tennis After Next Week’s Laver Cup In London.
The 41-year-old Swiss, who has won 20 Grand Slam titles and is regarded by many as the best player ever to wield a racket, has not played a match since last year’s Wimbledon.
“As many of you know, the past three years have presented me with challenges in the form of injuries and surgeries,” Federer said in a post on Instagram.
“I’ve worked hard to return to full competitive form. But I also know my body’s capacities and limits, and its message to me lately has been clear. I am 41 years old.”
“I have played more than 1,500 matches over 24 years. Tennis has treated me more generously than I ever would have dreamt, and now I must recognize when it’s time to end my competitive career. The Laver Cup next week in London will be my final ATP event. I will play more tennis in the future, of course, but just not in Grand Slams or on the tour.”
Federer, who dominated men’s tennis after winning his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2003, has been troubled by injuries in recent years.
He has undergone three knee operations in the last two years and his last competitive match was a quarter-final defeat against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at the 2021 Wimbledon.
Federer had announced he planned to return to the tour when he teams up with long-time rival and friend Rafa Nadal to play doubles at the Laver Cup in London.
He had also planned to play at the Swiss indoors tournament at home in Basel.
Kammalas Among Four Leaders At 5th Thailand Mixed In Lumphun
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
THE NATION
Former SEA Games Gold Medalist Kammalas Namuangrak Produced A Spectacular Back-Nine Performance To Emerge Among The Four-Way Lead In The Bt5 Million Thailand Mixed Presented By TrustGolf At The Gasson Legacy Golf Club In Lamphun On Thursday.
With his opening 67, the 30-year-old, a member of the Thailand’s winning team in the 2017 Games in Kuala Lumpur, carded seven birdies, six on the back, against a double bogey on the first hole to share the lead alongside Thai-Taiwanese Ekpharit Wu, teenage Sirapop Yapala and Waris Manthon at the par 72 6,929-yard landscape for the men and 6,314 for the women.
“I hit six-under on the back (started on the 10th). I played almost perfectly, hitting 17 greens with only one double on the first hole. But I’m prepared for some tough conditions as there are ponds here and there on this course,” said Kamalas who is based in Bangkok.
“But I really like to praise the course staff here for their amazing work. On Monday, the course was soaked with water due to some heavy rain, but today it sets up in a great condition,” added Kamalas, a one-time winner on the All Thailand Golf Tour in Nakhon Nayok back in 2018.
“I have a good start this week, and I intend to keep it that way. I will focus on hole by hole, play one shot at a time. I’m not competing against anyone as we have a bunch of good players out there. I’m my own enemy,” he said.
Ekpharit, 23 from Rayong, enjoyed an unblemished back-nine play which featured four birdies before he committed an error on the third hole, then recovering to shoot two straight birdies on the sixth and seventh to share the lead.
“I’m quite pleased with my iron. I hit most of the fairways. The bad thing is I missed a few three-foot putts. But overall, I’m quite happy with my game. I just need to fix on a few things before the second round,” said Ekpharit who posted eight top 20 finishes on the All Thailand Golf Tour events this season. His best run in a professional tour was a runner-up position in the Thai PGA Tour at the Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa in Nakon Nayok two months ago. Former national team’s player, 17-year-old Siripob from Chiang Mai also hit six birdies with only one bogey on his scorecard.
“I hit 17 greens in regulation, missing only one on the 12th. However, my putter let me down a bit. I feel like I have my momentum back again after being far from impressive in the Thailand Open,” said Sirapob “I will try to serve well and hit he fairways like I did today. I also have to make more putts in order to stay in contention this week,” the teenager said.
Amarin Kraivixien, who finished runner-up in the previous Thailand Mixed in Bangkok, hit an ace on the fifth hole and was leading at six-under heading to the 18th. Unfortunately, an ending double bogey saw him finish with a 68 along with Woradech Jangphan and Chommapat Pongthanrak, the only female in the top five.
The Thailand Mixed is organised by TrustGolf, an indoor training center with advanced technology. It is supported by the Sports Authority of Thailand, the National Sports Development Fund, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Bangkok Bank, B.Grimm Company, Bond Holdings, AISPLAY, Bridgestone, Trust Pharmacy, Trust Live Streaming, Adidas Golf, Balance Golf Nutrition, Leborn, LMV, Longa, the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration and Gatsson Legacy Golf Club in Lamphun.
Kintsugi Restaurant Ready With Japanese Delights For Autumn
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2022
THE NATION
Kintsugi, A Japanese Restaurant At The Athenee Hotel In Bangkok, Is Celebrating The Arrival Of Autumn With A Selection Of Special Japanese Ingredients.
The restaurant’s Japanese-American celebrity chef Jeff Okada Ramsey has ushered in a new tasting menu to achieve a harmonious balance of complex flavours and textures.
Ramsey’s assistant, Alvin Chew, is ready to welcome visitors with menus that will be made in line with the chef’s recipe in every respect.
The beautiful Dobin Mushi, a delicate soup made with a medley of mushrooms, was inspired by the chef’s love for the humble and mysterious fungi foraged from woods in Japan and Europe.
This dish is made even more special with the breath mint strip-like film made with heavy herbal aromatics in dash’s with a touch of mint, that guests will put in their mouth to prepare their pallets for the mushroom soup.
Other delightful creations include the creamy silky custard-like texture Ankimo — or monfish liver.
Chef Ramsey layers the technique of first steaming the liver with sake and then braising it in a rich sweet soy broth paired with a collagen-rich salmon jelly and lacto-fermented sour red plums.
This dish is perfected by the chef for a heavenly assortment of textures, savoury, sweet and sour tastes.
Another autumnal treasure is the humble “Truffle Kawabon”, a Japanese take on the French combination of chicken and truffles.
The chicken skin is steamed overnight and then moulded into handmade sheets to make ravioli of the chicken tail, or bonjiri.
The delicate parcels are then fried crisp on the outside, then grilled over charcoal, and served with truffle yuzu chicken essence, with shaved truffles over the top.
Chef Ramsey recently won a thrilling kitchen battle in the prestigious “Iron Chef Thailand”, the exciting television culinary competition show, with his creative takes on Japanese ingredients.
He defeated the reigning Iron Chef, Teerapat Teeyasoontranon, with his natto ice-cream dessert which features in all the kaiseki menus at Kintsugi for a limited time.
Nok Air Puts Brakes On Korat-Chiang Mai Route After Losses
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
Nok Air Is Mulling Whether To Terminate Its Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat)-Chiang Mai Service Less Than Two Months After It Launched The New Route On August 2.
The budget carrier would become the 10th airline to abandon the route, which has so far proved uneconomical to fly.
Flights between the northeastern and northern cities have previously been offered by nine Thailand-based carriers in the hope of expanding to China. Thai Airways International, Air Andaman, Air Asia, Air Phoenix, Happy Air, Thai Regional Airline, Kan Air, and New Gen Airways all discontinued the route after they lost money.
After a four-year absence, Nok Air launched the latest service between Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai last month, using 86-seater Bombardier Q400 NextGen turboprop planes.
However, the service has suffered losses after failing to attract enough passengers. Some flights between the cities have carried only nine passengers.
Nok Air said it would suspend the route in October for routine plane maintenance.
On Friday, Nakhon Ratchasima governor Wichian Chantaranothai called a videoconference with Nok Air CEO Wutthiphum Jurangkool and representatives of relevant agencies and the travel sector.
Korat authorities offered incentives for the airline to continue the service but no solution was reached at the meeting.
