Barkar Nash (Page 46)

Important signs of 15 people trapped in the fell under-construction State Audit Office tower in Bangkok’s Chatuchak city were detected on Saturday, raising expectations for volunteers to keep them within 72 hours.

The death toll from the building collapse stands at eight, while 47 citizens remain missing and their names unsubstantiated, Suriyan Rawiwan, chairman of the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, said on Saturday.

Firefighters have detected critical evidence for 15 people trapped in the 30-storey tower, according to Mr Suriyan. Heavy equipment has been deployed to clear dust and explore rescue teams to the sufferers.

” Recovery time is set at 72 days, as eating and thirst are possible. Patients risk horror and dying if save takes more”, he said. The office aims to perform the recovery operation within 48 hours. Important indications were detected for trapped people who were in groups of three to seven under the wreckage.

Now, water and food products have not yet reached the regions where signs of life were detected, as they are about three feet full, according to Mr Suriyan.

Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt inspected the fell page on Saturday night and said that heavy equipment is being used to clear the way for volunteers. Crane trucks did lift dirt and practical segments from the site, as many remain stuck.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) is sending 130 volunteer engineers to inspect high-rise buildings in the capital. About 200 complexes need to be assessed, especially in Din Daeng and Huai Khwang regions. Two apartment buildings in D Phrao may be evacuated due to safety concerns, said Mr Chadchart.

The BMA has opened public parks for those affected after the strong disaster in neighbouring Myanmar triggered spasms in Bangkok. More than 300 individuals sought refuge in the gardens on Friday evening, with the government stating they may be open for one more day if conditions do not increase.

Individuals stay overnight at a public garden in Bangkok following spasms triggered by a strong collapse in Myanmar. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration on Friday opened five people gardens around the clock with portable toilet cars deployed. ( Photo: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration )

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Thailand next week, marking his second formal visit to the country in 12 years, state official Jirayu Houngsub said yesterday.

Mr Jirayu said Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra may welcome Mr Modi and his group at Government House on Thursday. The two officials will carry detailed discussions and witness the signing of contracts and memorandums of knowledge, which will be followed by a joint media conference.

This explore provides a significant chance for both nations to develop bilateral and multilateral ties, discuss local issues, and increase participation in different sectors, including democratic and military cooperation, trade and investment, connectivity, science, space technology and innovation, and tourism, the spokesman said.

Mr Modi will also attend the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation ( Bimstec) Summit on Friday, hosted by Thailand.

After discovering a historical site in Phayao, the Fine Arts Department ( FAD ) is urging the State Railway of Thailand ( SRT ) to halt the construction of a dual-track railway.

Citizens from Ban Chedi Ngam in the Muang region of this northwestern territory recently discovered an ancient site in grain fields that had been expropriated for the development of the dual-track rail spanning the Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong way, according to FAD director-general Phnombootra Chandrajoti.

The Chiang Mai Office of the FAD discovered that the page is thought to have been around 1, 000 years old.

The SRT, which is in charge of monitoring historical and archaeological places in the area as part of prevention efforts to reduce climate impact, failed to inform the Novelty of the revelation.

In order to protect this significant cultural and historical traditions, the FAD issued a letter urging the SRT to completely adhere to the effect prevention steps outlined in the report.

Numerous historical bricks, including the foundation of a temple wall with carved lotus buds, and a pagoda’s seven-tiered tip, are believed to have been discovered.

The old remains were then transported by Wat Chedi Ngam’s residents and monks to the temple grounds, where they would be examined by the FAD.

” Until serious archaeological work is finished and a solution to mitigate the impact is discovered, building in the area of the Ban Chedi Ngam historic site must stop,” said Mr. Phnombootra.

The historic site in Ban Chedi Ngam is still protected by Thai rules but is not yet registered. The FAD did send experts to inspect it and offer suggestions for how to best protect it.

He stated that the Fine Arts Department is committed to preserving traditional places while advancing the nation’s growth.

On Thursday, the FAD announced the district’s 114th celebration by moving from survival to development.

The department has four major divisions: songs and performing arts, language and literature, architecture and workmanship, and archaeology and museums. According to Mr. Phnombootra, each of these will be developed to enhance their accuracy.

The National Theatre’s restoration to international requirements, which is being completed this month, and the beginning of the Phanom-Surin Shipwreck page in Samut Sakhon as a new learning and social commerce place are two important activities.

According to him,” The department wants to include modern technology into archaeological studies and the preservation of ancient sites to generate Thailand’s history more relevant and accessible.”

Additionally, brand-new academic initiatives like local history classes and the development of local heritage guides are intended to instill pride in younger people.

Additionally, they are improving regional museums to make sure they offer contemporary services while respecting the country’s historic legacy.

The Dental Council of Thailand has called on the Minister of Labour to boost social security members ‘ accessibility to medical benefits.

The Thursday debate on how to maintain fairer access to healthcare services for clients across various methods was held between Dental Council president Dr Chairat Chaloemratroj and Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

Dr Wirasak Phutthasri, a committee member who participated in the conversation, said the government proposed to help insured individuals to get medical treatment at any common hospital.

This plan aims to ensure that if the patient’s medical care price rises above the insurance limit of 900 baht a year, the cost can still be covered, specifically for low-income subscribers.

Dental care has been covered by social security benefits for at least 20 years, with the latest insurance control of 900 ringgit at any medical doctor, said Dr Wirasak.

” The conversation was that we don’t need to ask for the social security members to add more each quarter for the SSO, but that we support those whose dental fees exceed 900 ringgit by letting them get the remedy at a public hospital”, said Dr Wirasak.

Currently, gold card holders, Thais under the universal healthcare scheme, are not subject to dental treatment fees, depending on the kind of treatment they receive and how often they get it each year at all public hospitals across the country.

” It can ensure more equal access to dental services for social security subscribers, compared to gold card holders. They can either receive services at either the private or the public hospitals, depending on the fees”, said Dr Wirasak.

The labour ministry-run social security scheme has recently been scrutinised in comparison with the public health ministry-run gold card scheme, broadly regarding access to services and the costs subscribers must shoulder.

Dr Wirasak said other details like the types of dental services provided for subscribers were also discussed, as well as additional voluntary contribution fees for certain dental services. This is to allow clarity on types of benefits for subscribers and for them to receive them fully.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society’s ramped-up efforts to combat net crimes reduced the ensuing injuries by over 3 billion ringgit between October 2024 and February, according to Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong.

Mr Prasert said yesterday that his government has intensified efforts to combat net crimes by implementing methods developed by the committee on tech violence prevention and suppression.

According to statistics from the Royal Thai Police (RTP), economic losses due to online acts from October to February amounted to 11.3 billion rmb, down 3.3 billion ringgit from the same time in the previous year.

In February, regular loss averaged 65 million baht, a 45 % decrease from 117 million baht in first 2024.

Mr Prasert said the relevant agencies overseen by the council have implemented some measures, including melting horse accounts, blocking false SIM cards and telecommunication signals, and providing cash-on-delivery services for online shopping.

” Through the integration of work with relevant companies in monitoring, investigating and tracking online offences under various actions, along with functions to cut electricity, internet signs and fuel exports in the Thai-Myanmar border area, financial losses have significantly decreased”, said the minister.

He added that once the new order on technical crime prevention is formally published in the Royal Gazette, which is expected next fortnight, website crime-related damages are anticipated to rise further.

In a related development, the Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ) transferred 33 million baht to the Anti-Money Laundering Office ( Amlo ) yesterday to compensate victims defrauded by call centre scams.

This fund transfer came after an extensive investigation into the Crown 168 online gambling network, revealing evidence of financial fraud involving 27 mule accounts owned by 22 legal entities. Authorities arrested 64 suspects and seized over 100 million baht in assets.

Victims of these scams can apply for compensation from Amlo until June 23 by submitting claims with evidence of financial losses.

Further details are available on the Amlo website. Reports of mule accounts and online gambling activities can be submitted to the Crime Suppression Division via the 1195 hotline.

Says area is a vehicle of hospitality

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has thrown her fat behind Phuket’s push to become a world-famous health hub and prime target for sustainable hospitality.

She delivered a keynote speech yesterday at the opening of the first Thailand Sustainable Tourism Conference ( TSTC ) 2025 in Phuket.

During the conversation on the subject” Soft Power: A device for Thailand’s green tourism”, the leading said she was happy to arrive in Phuket for the second time since assuming the world’s top work.

Phuket is a vehicle of hospitality, she said, and it is a place for immigrants to receive medical treatment and be long-term, an region the government is ready to help.

A worldwide trend of responsible tourism is also another important focus of the state, she said. A harmony needs to be obtained between tourism and the environment– no simply among tourism users but society in general.

She even congratulated the area on its future opening of the Global Sustainable Tourism Conference 2026, which coincides with the new wave of foreign investment, while announced by the Board of Investment in January.

Ms Paetongtarn said locals need to be more ready to welcome visitors in the luxury segment. The government will help support this, relying on the body of knowledge from tourism operators to drive growth.

Meanwhile, Phuket Tourist Association ( PTA ) president Thanet Tantipiriyakit said the association has prepared a sustainable tourism plan that deals with upgrading the capabilities of tourism operators in the future.

The plan includes a push for operators to obtain the” Green Hotel Plus”, an industry criteria certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

The plan also addresses the need to improve Phuket’s infrastructure and public transportation. Mr Thanet said he hoped the prime minister would help push the budget allocation to address these areas.

He said this year’s tourist arrivals in Phuket are higher than last year’s.

The Bangkok South Criminal Court yesterday sentenced a 22-year-old man to death for the fatal shooting of a rival scholar and a person in Klong Toey region in November 2023. It ordered him to give over 6 million ringgit in payment to the patients ‘ people.

The shooting occurred on Nov 11 at around 9.30am, in front of TMB Bank in the Klong Toey place, when the accused, Anawin Kaewkeb, a scholar from Pathumwan Institute of Technology, along with a team of technical students, chased and opened fire on their competitors. The tragedy resulted in the deaths of Sirada Sinprasert, 45, a machine science professor at the local Sacred Heart Convent School, and Thanasorn Hongsawat, 19, a college student.

Anawin was arrested in Chiang Mai on Nov 24 after a countrywide chase, which resulted in the arrest of 24 offenders in many places, including Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan regions.

After examining the evidence presented by the trial and army, including 59 testimony and CCTV film, which was consistent with police investigations, the jury found Anawin was the gunman.

He was convicted of several charges, including legal organization, gang-related activities, weapons offences, and deliberate crime under Part 91 of the Criminal Code. Abuse for the latter includes the possibility of the death penalty.

All of the 23 different accused save one, who was acquitted, were given numerous words, from two-year prison term to life imprisonment for aiding premeditated crime. The jury ordered Anawin to give 6, 078, 000 ringgit in compensation plus 5 % annual interest to the families of the deceased. The people welcomed the ruling. Ms Pornpimol, Thanasorn’s family, told reporters the plaintiffs have no issued an apology.

Anawin showed no remorse even when he was sentenced to die, she said, adding he smiled and joked with the other accused otherwise. After the decision, a fight between the two rival schools broke out behind the court tower where the accused were detained.

Their companions began shouting at a group of Thanasorn’s companions. Authorities from Yannawa place and judge officials intervened and separated the two organizations before the collision could rise.