Govt adjusts rule on meth possession

According to the Public Health Ministry, a person who owns no more than five crank pills may be considered to use drugs rather than to trade them. This is based on the findings of an inquiry by relevant parties.

The sum was determined based on thorough research on economic, social, and health problems, according to Dr. Kittisak Aksornwong, acting assistant permanent secretary of the ministry.

In the past, people who had 10 tablets or fewer were regarded as drug users. Now, if the term is accepted, someone who has more than five pills may be categorized as a trader.

He claimed that after much deliberation, the specialists came to the conclusion that someone who has five or fewer heroin pills or less should be regarded as a drug user who requires medical attention.

Data from the Department of Mental Health, Food and Drug Administration, authorities, and relevant agencies were used to inform the choice.

He claimed that taking more than 55 miligrammes of methamphetamine can cause users to develop SMI-V ( Serious Mental Illness with High Risk of Violence ) by citing medical data from Ramathibodi Hospital.

He added that public sessions will be held before the finish is sent to the case for approval. The conclusion will then be submitted for review by the public health minister. If approved, the Office of the Council of State may issue a ministerial rules statement.

The ministry has asked academics, anti-drug organizations, and associated departments to determine the maximum number of meth pills one person may own before being labeled a dealer.

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A parliamentary smokescreen

A parliamentary smokescreen
Will not just hit ankles, Parit

Critics claim that the main opposition Move Forward Party ( MFP) is getting ready to grill the government in a general discussion that could divert attention away from its own dirty laundry.

The MFP has, for the first time, exercised an opposite side’s power, vested in it by the law, after first being anxious to lead the opposite axis.

A standard argument against the federal has been proposed by the party, and it is scheduled to begin early the following year. The televised assault played out in congress promises to put the government on the defensive and perhaps get it in hot water if cabinet ministers fall short of providing clear answers to questions, even though the session never cause any significant harm to the somewhat younger administration since it does not necessitate a no-confidence vote.

Before the May 14 general vote, a public debate was held for the last moment. The Pheu Thai Party, which at the time considered the MFP to be its closest friend, led an antagonism that staged it.

Opponents dismissed the discussion as a fictitious extension of an electoral campaign meant to discredit the coalition parties, led by the Palang Pracharath Party( PPRP ), before the general election.

A common debate can be dangerous to a authorities if it is conducted properly, and the earlier one may have contributed to the decline in popularity experienced by the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration, where the PPRP and United Thai Nation Party affiliated with it were ultimately defeated in the election, finishing in fourth and fifth places, both.

According to watchers, the MFP is holding another public discussion this time in an effort to regain some favorable attention as the proponent of checks and balances and lessen the impact of current allegations of sexual harassment and aggressive behavior against its members.

The very contentious 10, 000-baht digital wallet system, promoted by Pheu Thai, the current ruling party, which may also be the government’s weak point, is likely to become the focus of the discussion.

All over the age of 16 is eligible to receive digital currency through the program, which is estimated to cost at least half a trillion baht to fund.

Pheu Thai contends that the plan, which has been criticized by critics as one of the nation’s biggest wasteful stunts, will unleash an economic stimulus storm for a nation that is in desperate need of an immediate and comprehensive post-pandemic healing.

Although it may be inclined to evaluate the registration of electronic wallet recipients to micro-target those who need it the most, such as low-income earners and the old, Pheu Thai has steadfastly stood its ground despite growing skepticism and openly opposition from experts.

The MFP, which is currently Pheu Thai’s direct competitor, might end up watching the system ‘ popularity decline if it is successful.

According to the observers, the MFP is anticipated to launch a pre-emptive strike against Pheu Thai and divert attention from its own mess during the upcoming public debate.

Perhaps some of its own followers had apparently criticized the MFP for taking too long to respond to damning accusations made against specific group members and MPs over their behavior.

One of them, Prachin Buri MP Wuttiphong Thonglour, is currently the subject of a problem brought by militant Srisuwan Janya with the National Counter Corruption Commission for an alleged violation of MP morality. He was charged with sending improper text messages to the young woman.

Mr. Wuttiphong denies engaging in any illegal activity.

The party executive board suddenly broke its silence on Thursday and declared that Mr. Wuttiphong would be fired.

A renowned separate architect and social beliefs pro named Kittithat Chaiprasit had previously forewarned that MFP silence could be a ticking time bomb for the party in both the short and long terms.

In reference to Mr. Wuttiphong, he claimed that the MP had not apologized or shown any shame before blaming the victim. The situation seemed to be about someone trying to turn” black into white ,” he said, adding salt to the wound.

Party official Parit Wacharasindhu stated that party executives were busy looking into the matter as pressure on the MFP increased and assured them that there wouldn’t be any wrist-slapping.

The official made it clear the MFP does not support cover-ups, admitting the group has been troubled by sexual abuse statements against some members.

According to Mr. Parit, the party’s executive board looked into two prior cases and punished the parties — one for a fight and the other for sexual harassment. The latter was expelled by the group.

Is she on to advance further?

Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the head of the Pheu Thai Family, was recently elected as the party’s head, which has sparked a lot of speculation. Some think this will set her up to become prime minister later in the year.

Spectators claim that the rumor that Thaksin Shinawatra’s youngest child, who is currently imprisoned, might become prime minister is not without cause.

Paetongtarn: Trying to land a major work?

Ms. Paetongtarn, who is regarded as being the politically active of her sisters, has served in politics for two years and collaborated strongly with group members on the most recent election campaign. She ran for excellent minister for the party as well.

She has also been chosen to participate in the national committees on soft power development and plan. The position is also widely regarded as preparing the 37-year-old newbie for a long-term political career.

However, the rumors that Ms. Paetongtarn will become prime minister cast doubt on the current leader, Srettha Thavisin, who, according to the spectators, only recently took office.

The electronic wallet coverage, which is widely regarded as a timebomb for him and his management, is the subject of numerous inquiries from the prime minister, who is also the finance minister.

The program, which was immediately scheduled to go into effect in February of next year, could be moved to September instead of being made available to everyone over the age of 16, regardless of their financial situation.

Due to concerns that a common giveaway might weaken financial control, he or she has recommended restrictions on the distribution of digital cash based on income or savings in order to lower the amount needed to fund the plan.

The Bhumjaithai, Palang Pracharath, and United Thai Nation events, Pheu Thai’s key coalition partners, are rumored to not fully support the plan to entice voters during the election plan.

Additionally, senators who rejected Mr. Srettha’s election in the prime ministerial voting will closely examine the online budget scheme from a variety of sectors.

Speak of Ms. Paetongtarn leading the nation can also be attributed to Mr. Srettha, who, according to observers, has spoken very of her ever since she entered politics.

Mr. Srettha made people laugh just before the Oct. 27 party leadership conference when he responded to a writer who addressed him as” Prime Minister.” Which one, Mr. Srettha asked? There are two officials in power.

The comment was made by Mr. Srettha while he was directing cabinet ministers to watch the critically acclaimed film Sap-Pa-Rer ( The Undertaker ).

It is understood that Ms. Paetongtarn, who joined Mr. Srettha at the movie screen to show government policy on promoting soft power growth, was the” other excellent secretary” he was referring to.

Mr. Srettha was one of the well-wishers who gathered at the conference on October 27 to thank Ms. Paetongtarn on her new position. Many people thought back to the movie comment and wondered if Mr. Srettha might resign but Ms. Paetongtarn can take his place shortly after a popular photo in which he appeared to kiss her hand went viral.

Social science teacher Yutthaporn Issarachai, a professor of political science at Sukhothani Thammathirat Open University, doesn’t think Ms. Paetongtarn will take office as prime minister anytime soon.

He thinks Ms. Paetongtarn’s established ascent to the position of leader of Pheu Thai will help her get ready for a run for prime minister following the upcoming general election. If it happens sooner, it will be after the midterm of Mr. Srettha’s leadership in 2025.

However, Mr. Yutthaporn asserts that a change will have an effect on political stability and that Pheu Thai may be hesitant to switch” animals in the middle of the battle” unless absolutely necessary.

” How may Pheu Thai be certain that the allies of the partnership won’t desert it and change their loyalties?” Without any guarantees that a Pheu Thai applicant will be elected, I don’t believe the party will take the chance of changing the prime minister, he said.

But he thinks that the digital wallet system will determine the fate of the Pheu Thai-led government and of Mr. Srettha. If it can’t be implemented, the prime minister will be the one who suffers second, and the Pheu Thai Party’s achievement in the upcoming election is probably doomed.

Mr. Yutthaporn is confident that Pheu Thai may continue with the plan and make significant changes to lessen the financial stress incurred and guarantee that it completely complies with laws and regulations.

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Under-fire MFP MP ‘Puaut’ refuses to quit

Under-fire MFP MP 'Puaut' refuses to quit
Chaiyamphawan: asserts ignorance

Following a review into allegations of sexual harassment, the opposition Move Forward Party ( MFP ) MP for Bangkok was cautioned. On Friday, he expressed respect for the party’s decision, denied any wrongdoing, and refused to resign despite pressure.

The younger MP Chaiyamphawan” Puaut” Manpianjit, who was spared exclusion on Wednesday, has been urged to release after his colleague MP for Prachin Buri Wuttiphong Thonglour was expelled from the party in a vote by party professionals.

Mr. Chaiyamphawan added that all of this information had already been given to the group’s executives and that he had shown a press conference the Line chat logs between him and one of the three adult plaintiffs yesterday to demonstrate his ignorance.

The MP responded to the next agent’s claim that Mr. Chaiyamphawan had taken pictures of her without her consent and that the assistant had actually come up with the idea to do so in order to promote him on social media during the previous election campaign.

Mr. Chaiyamphawan may have misunderstood the second assistant’s accusation that he touched her badly because his intention was not sexual in nature. He apologized for not paying enough attention to sexual boundaries, which might have made her uneasy.

That would never occur once, he assured.

Mr. Chaiyamphawan claimed that he had received a letter from the party ordering him to apologize” sincerely” to the women in public by now, make amends promptly, and refrain from making any further ambiguous real or word contact with female employees.

In the letter, it was also stated that the MFP would launch a new investigation into the MP if he disobeyed these directions, potentially leading to his expulsion from the group.

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Allies sought for hostage talks

Iran, Qatar, and Egypt pledge their total help.

Allies sought for hostage talks
Parnpree: Need for local channels

According to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Qatar, Egypt, and Iran have vowed to assist in negotiations with Hamas to secure the release of the Vietnamese captives it is holding.

After visiting Qatar and Egypt from October 30 to November 2 in an effort to discover ways to aid Thai abductions when the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7, he spoke at a media briefing.

He met the foreign affairs minister of Iran, who was also in Qatar, the Egyptian foreign secretary, and Qatar’s perfect secretary.

Because the Vietnamese victims have connections to influential Hamas figures, Mr. Parnpree said he talked about ways to assist them.

The majority of Thai laborers in Israel are employed in agriculture, and they send their payments place to provide for their families.

” They are unrelated to politics or this conflict.” We want to convey this information to Hamas, according to Mr. Parnpree.

He claimed that during his excursions, he discovered that Hamas was made up of numerous tissue, making it possible for negotiations to be successful.

According to Mr. Parnpree, Qatar, Iran, and Egypt have vowed to help in any way they can and have asked Thailand for assistance in a peace.

Thais may likely be among the first to be released, according to Qatar’s prime minister, Mr. Parnpree.

In order to assist the victims once they are freed, he added,” He likewise asked Egypt to give Thai authorities access to the Rafah border crossing.”

In order for the particular embassies to get ready to return the Thais, he also asked that any advancements be communicated to Vietnamese ambassadors in the three nations as soon as possible.

Another Thai employee has now been added to the list of hostages, bringing the total to 23. As of yesterday, the number of deaths and injuries remained at 32 and 19, both.

Twenty of the Thai staff taken captive are healthy, according to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who also announced yesterday that they are being moved to a single place where they will rush to be freed at the correct time.

Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia, was quoted by Mr. Srettha as having told him about this statement over the telephone.

Mr. Srettha stated during a press interview at Government House that Mr Anwar had called him on Thursday, claiming that 12 Thai captives in one cluster and 8 in another were being relocated to one area in anticipation of their release.

Nevertheless, he cited Mr. Anwar as saying that efforts were being made to find two or three additional Vietnamese captives whose whereabouts were still unknown.

Mr. Srettha replied,” Yes, as I just said ,” when asked if the hostage people could be confident in the safety of their kids. However, it is still unknown where the other two or three are. The prime minister of Malaysia has affirmed that 20 are healthy.

The Malay prime minister assured Mr. Srettha that he would keep him informed after expressing his gratitude to M. Anwar for his generosity.

According to Mr. Srettha, the head of the Thai defense forces was also in Malaysia over the past year in an effort to negotiate the hostages’ release.

According to Mr. Srettha, the air pressure may be instructed to prepare routes and set planes on standby in case any Thais want to return home, not just in Israel but also in other nations.

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Rare tiger spotted in Yala forest

Rare tiger spotted in Yala forest
On Wednesday, a snare camera in Yala’s Bang Lang National Park managed to capture the Indonesian tiger known as Gang Lang 01. ( Inset) The footprint of a tiger. Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation( Photo )

According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation’s( DNP ) Facebook page, a Philippine lion was recently spotted in Yala, in the area known as Bang Lang.

The DNP reported that there are several sub-species of tigers in its article, with the Philippine tiger being found in Malaysia and Thailand’s southern border regions.

Simply Bang Lang National Park and the Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand are home to Philippine lions. Eastern cats are those that can be found in the nation’s central and western regions.

The” Smart Patrol” system, which is intended to assist in tracking and monitoring animals and preventing risks to the protected forests, is to blame for the sight of the Philippine lion in Bang Lang National Park.

The Philippine lion, known as” Bang Lang 01,” was captured on bait cameras, allowing DNP officials to review the forest and learn more about the creature.

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Extended nightlife hours to start Dec 15

Extended nightlife hours to start Dec 15
The Government House advertising will hear from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Friday about the results of an integrated commerce strategy meeting that decided to increase the starting hours for nighttime entertainment spaces, including restaurants and cafes, from Dec. 15 to 4am in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, and Phuket. Anutin Charnvirakul, the deputy prime minister and internal minister, is standing next to him, and Bangkok government Chadchart Sittipunt is on the left. ( Image: Chanat Katanyu)

Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, and Phuket’s daytime leisure facilities will now open until 4 a.m. on December 15 thanks to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

Mr. Srettha and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said they had discussed extending entertainment entry time for a trial phase with the Tourism and Sports Ministry, Royal Thai Police, and the four provincial governors after an integrated commerce strategy meeting on Friday.

To increase hospitality, the estimate will be put into effect for the first time in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, and Phuket.

According to Mr. Srettha, pertinent companies will take into account how many months are appropriate for the test. The extension will only be in place for the time being, and conversations about zoning changes may take place in the future.

” We want to promote domestic tourism and the market.” According to Mr. Srettha, the program will also assist in increasing enterprise revenue in the tourism industry, which includes restaurants and entertainment venues.

He emphasized that some immigrants don’t eat like Thais would. Some people eat between 9 and 10 p.m. Buyers may have to eat earlier if opening hours are only evening or 2am, which reduces the amount of food they order.

After speaking with security agencies, Mr. Srettha added that it is feasible to extend opening hours to 4am and that the Interior Ministry does investigate planning and licenses.

Authorities will work to increase the use of illegal drugs and ensure the safety of the populace.

According to Mr. Anutin, the state also intends to increase the business hours of restaurants that serve as venues for amusement from midnight to two in the morning.

Alcoholic beverages may only be sold up until midnight under the current laws, and music is prohibited after that time.

The new governmental regulations need case approval, so the Interior Ministry and police have discussed amending them. The government will then put forth a laws allowing provincial governors to specify the planning and business hours of the nightclubs.

Mr. Anutin responded that he had spoken with the provincial administration department’s director general and regional police chief to create a unique unit to handle the situation afterwards when asked if operational officials would have the authority to inspect entertainment venues after hours have been extended.

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Govt sees visa policy lifting flights to 1.3m next year

Following the president’s recent news of a visa-free scheme for Chinese, Kazakh, American, and Japanese tourists, Thailand anticipates seeing more than 1.3 million flights the next year, according to Deputy Minister of Transport Surapong Piyachote.

He stated that the ministry aims to maximize air traffic flow management, facilitating more incoming international flights to Thailand in the future, following a meeting with executives of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd ( Aerothai ) yesterday.

From October 1 of last year to September 30 of this year, there were approximately 720, 000 airlines, according to Aerothai. However, by the end of this year, the number of airlines to Thailand will reach up to 1.2 million flights, which is close to pre-pandemic rates. Due to the free-visa policy, Aerothai predicts that trip numbers will increase by 20 to 30 % the following month, or to about 1.3 million planes.

From November 10 to May 10 of the following month, citizens of Taiwan and India are free from applying for visas. During the six-month visa-free time, it is anticipated that an additional 900, 000 Indian nationals and 400,000 Chinese citizens will visit.

According to Mr. Surapong, some travel companies have requested licenses to operate seaplanes from the Thai Civil Aviation Authority. Siam Seaplane Thailand, according to Aerothai, is one of the applicants who wants to run a seaport on Lipe Island in Satun state.

The transportation minister added that by December, he had given Aerothai the task of researching relevant laws to protect seaplane routes and operations. The company will pin high-income travelers who can purchase comfort and protection.

On home routes connecting the island and the islands,”[ the seaplanes]” will be in use. According to Mr. Surapong, I think that as tourists demand increases in the future, business will expand.

According to Noppasit Chakpitak, chairman of Aerothai, the company is ready to assist the government in luring foreign tourists by maximizing the power of international airports.

According to him, Aerothai has trained its air traffic controllers to manage high-intensity runway operations, which will enable Suvarnabhumi airport’s 68 flights per hour to increase to 94 – 104 flights.

Additionally, if Don Mueang airport’s third rail is finished by the end of the following year, it will be able to handle 57 flights per hour instead of 50. By the end of the following year, Phuket Airport will be able to handle 25 flights per hour, away from 20.

According to Mr. Noppasit, Aerothai has collaborated with China and Laos to develop air routes that support more local flights.

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Panel to put charter-change questions to lawmakers

According to section president Nikorn Chamnong, a sub-committee is tasked with soliciting public input on charter revision proposals before sending draft questions about charter amendments to senators and MPs for feedback next month.

When parliament reconvenes next month, Mr. Nikorn stated over the phone that copies of the questions may be given to specific MPs and lawmakers for evaluation.

According to reports, Mr. Nikorn’s panel asked three questions of the House and Senate committees on social development at individual meetings on Monday and Thursday.

They inquire as to whether the current charter should be amended entirely, with the exception of Chapters 1 and 2, or whether each section should receive an amendment, and whether a constitution-drafting assembly ( CDA ) needs to be established to draft the new charter.

Thailand is defined in Section 1 as a solitary, undivided country with the King serving as the head of state, and Chapter 2 includes sections on aristocratic prerogatives.

Mr. Nikorn reportedly asked Members and lawmakers how many referendums they believe are necessary for a charter modify during the discussions with the political committees.

If a new contract is written, in least two must be conducted, according to an order from the Constitutional Court.

According to its chairman, Parit Wacharasindhu, the House committee on social development has established a sub-committee to analyze CDA election systems.

Mr. Parit, a Move Forward Party( MFP ) MP, stated that the sub-panel’s job is to look into how CDA members are chosen to make sure the body is diverse.

He added that the investigation report will be given to the government-appointed committee on charter rewrite referendums and that it is anticipated to aid in determining whether all CDA members may be elected immediately.

According to Mr. Parit, the 10-member sub-committee consists of two opposite members, including himself, two from the partnership government, three from academia, and three more from polite society.

He claimed that he did not speak with Mr. Nikorn as a MFP representative, but rather as the chairman of the House committee on social development.

On November 14, the group is scheduled to appear before the open opinion-gathering commission.

The board led by Mr. Nikorn is one of two sub-committees under the state committee tasked with examining the structure of the referendums.

By the second month of December, it is anticipated to have completed polling the people, and the summary will be sent to the government at the beginning of the following year.

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Rail plan sped up to meet deadline

Govt eye 2027 complete for a dual-track program

When the double-track train system project, which will provide the region’s fresh Singapore-Kunming route, is finished by 2027, the government hopes to transform Thailand into a local cargo and passenger rail transportation hub.

According to Department of Rail Transport director-general Pichet Kunathammarak, the new system will connect the local road that connects Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and China.

Thailand needs to speed up the second phase of its double-track railroad and the new Thai-Lao friendship bridge in order to open this new local road link by 2027, he said.

According to Mr. Pichet, the initial stage of the new train system will be completed next year, when the entire length of its double-track railway will have been increased to 627 km.

According to Mr. Pichet, the next phase’s plans call for the construction of 168 kilometers from Chumphon to Surat Thani, 57 billion baht for a 321 km section, and around 6.6 b h o t u s v e d i n g p c r y m f w l k q/ j – x.’ 68 km to Hat Yai

In order to make the planned connection of the double-track rail services through Thailand easier, the construction of these three — of seven — sections in the second phase, which span a total length of 1, 479 km, will need to be accelerated.

He stated that construction on the Hat Yai-Padang Besar section will start first, and later this month, the State Railway of Thailand( SRT ) will request cabinet approval for this sub-project.

According to Mr. Pichet, the Department of Highways has finished researching the possibility of constructing a second Thai-Lao connection bridge in Nong Khai and is currently preparing to layout the new bridge to accommodate the double-track rail.

The study concluded that since the northeast province’s first Thai-Lao bridge can also satisfy the demand for car transportation across the Mekong River, the new bridge may be constructed to serve transnational double-track rail services.

According to him, the new bridge’s construction is anticipated to take about three years and should start by first 2025 so that it can be inaugurated by the beginning of 2028.

According to him, it will be made to fit the typical trail measure of 1.435 meters.

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Delivery firms pledge to obey traffic rules

According to the government of Bangkok, the agreement may increase pedestrian safety.

Delivery firms pledge to obey traffic rules
In the heart of Bangkok, food delivery drivers are waiting at a motorist cross. ( Image: Wichieanbut Nutthawat)

To prevent their customers from breaking traffic laws, thirteen delivery service providers have entered into a contract with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration( BMA ).

The action, according to Bangkok government Chadchart Sittipunt, aims to reduce pavement driving and, among other things, guarantee pedestrian safety.

Similar to taxi drivers, delivery service riders are an important part of the urban population, and the BMA will think about giving them parking so they won’t impede traffic, he said.

Kerry Express, Grab Taxi, Lalamove, Line Man, Thailand Post, and CP All were among the shipping service companies who signed the memorandum of understanding.

The preservation of cleanliness and orderliness of the state action, which forbids driving on sidewalks, is enforced by the BMA.

The BMA reports that between July 2018 and October of this year, 55, 231 people were apprehended while riding on asphalt. It stated that 48,787 people had been fined more than 61 million baht and 4,581 had received instructions. The remaining 1, 863 were reported to the authorities for more legal action.

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