Govt blinded by scienceThe government's axeing of two science and math projects, despite a total cost for both of only 700 million baht, raises doubts about how serious it is about improving science and technology education. Last week, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) announced it would suspend its 25th Junior Science Talent Project (JSTP) programme due to a lack of budget. It has been reported that the project requires 300 million baht a year to educate 200 researchers in the science and technology fields. Meanwhile, the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST) said last week it would suspend grants under its Promotion of Science and Mathematics Talented Teachers (PSMT) project, likewise due to budget constraints. The amounts required for these teacher development projects should not be an issue if the government is serious about improving the country's science and technology ability.

Blinken says has 'no doubts' Germany is resolute on UkraineUS Secretary of State Antony Blinken sought to tamp down concerns about Germany's commitment to opposing Russian aggression against Ukraine, expressing confidence that the Germans were aligned with NATO and Washington. WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday he has "no doubts" Germany is maintaining a united front with NATO on the Ukraine crisis, after Berlin faced pressure to toughen its stance against potential Russian aggression. The top US diplomat also dismissed the idea of slapping punitive sanctions on Russia now, before any potential invasion of the former Soviet republic Ukraine, saying sanctions should be used as a means of "dissuading" Moscow from an attack. Germany was in the hot seat at the weekend after its navy chief Kay-Achim Schoenbach said Russian President Vladimir Putin deserves respect and also suggested it was "nonsense" to think Russia was ready to pour troops into Ukraine. That includes beefing up defenses in Ukraine with more military assistance, Blinken said.

The trip will mark the first Thai-Saudi high-level meeting since the 'Blue Diamond Affair'Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha walks in Government House on Jan 18, 2022. He will visit Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Government House photo)Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will visit Saudi Arabia from Tuesday to Wednesday as a guest of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Government House announced on Sunday. A large number of the gems stolen by the janitor, Kriengkrai Techamong - including the rare blue diamond - are yet to be recovered. A year after the theft, three Saudi diplomats in Thailand were killed in three separate assassinations in a single night.

Cop charged with reckless driving, causing female doctor's deathA crowd control policeman has surrendered to police and admitted to driving a big bike that hit and killed a female doctor in Bangkok on Friday, according to media reports. He said Pol L/Cpl Norawich had surrendered to Phayathai police. Pol L/Cpl Norawich was initially charged with reckless driving, causing death. The investigators were waiting for the result of the examination and the autopsy report on Dr Waraluck. A funeral for Dr Waraluck is being held at Sala 3, Wat Phrasrimathat Mahavoraviharn, in Bang Khen district of the capital.

"It is a crucial opportunity for Thailand to promote trade in the Asia-Pacific region," Mr Thanakorn said on Saturday. Gen Prayut said Thailand will host the Apec meeting this year under the concept of "Open. Mr Thanakorn said Gen Prayut also thanked state agencies and the private sector for their cooperation in preparing for Apec. Aside from Apec, Mr Thanakorn said that Gen Prayut was focused on solving the country's problems including the Covid-19 pandemic and soaring consumer prices. "Gen Prayut says everyone should be united to solve problems and should not play too much politics," said Mr Thanakorn.

Officer suspended over child sex abuse claim refuses to talkTrang: A policeman accused of sexually assaulting two girls over an extended period has been charged with four counts of rape and suspended from the force, said the provincial police chief yesterday. Pol Maj Gen Santat Winson, commander of Trang police, said the 53-year-old officer, a deputy inspector, was arrested and charged on Wednesday, two days after a complaint was lodged. The victims, aged 12 and 16, were cousins of his girlfriend and the offences allegedly began in December 2020, weeks after the girls' mother was arrested on drugs charges by officers including the suspect. Ms Pavena said yesterday the policeman faced serious charges so she questioned their decision to grant him temporary release. The grandmother said the accused asked the girls' cousin to take the 12-year-old to live with them after her mother was arrested.

"People who received their third jab more than three months ago can get their fourth jab in February,” he said. Opas said a fourth AstraZeneca jab is recommended for those whose first two jabs were Sinovac and third AstraZeneca, while a Pfizer booster is recommended for those who received two AstraZeneca jabs and a Pfizer booster. He added that provincial Communicable Disease Committees are responsible for planning vaccine management, setting up vaccination stations and publicising the information. "We urge residents to follow the information provided by their local Communicable Disease Committee," he added. The 10 tourism pilot provinces include Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Phang Nga, Bangkok, Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Kanchanaburi and Pathum Thani.

Her younger sister, "Bee", 15, who goes out with Mark's teenage son, Tee, 16, had called Bow asking to be picked up urgently. Bow, who lives in Pathum Thani, travelled to the remote area, accessible only by foot, to rescue her sister. Prakob 'Mark' SaekwoNeighbours say Mark, a former inmate who served a year inside for drugs, has been living at the rental place with his son Tee since his release. Internet pest strikesA department store worker has a sideline job where he chats up women on the internet, rapes and robs them, police say. At the police station Mr Aphiwat told her, "I am not scared...my dad will come and secure my bail."

The French company announced in Friday that it would pull out of Myanmar. PTT Exploration and Production of Thailand (PTTEP) holds 25.5% and state-owned Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) the remaining 15%. Revenue from MOGE is one of the largest sources of income for the military in Myanmar. Total and MOGE hold stakes in Moattama Gas Transportation Company (MGTC), which owns the pipeline linking the Yadana field and Thailand. Ultimately, Myanma Oil & Gas could end up with a larger share, a spokesman for the French company conceded.

Men in white: Officials from samut prakan’s Disaster prevention and mitigation Division spray disinfectant in an old community in tambon pak nam of muang district. Speaking at a press conference, Dr Supakit Sirilak, chief of the Department of Medical Sciences, said that the Omicron variant has now been diagnosed in every province, with 10,701 cases reported so far. The department cited that although there may be socio-cultural factors behind the present split, infections in the South will almost certainly follow suit. "Currently, the proportion of Omicron patients is up to 86.8%, and we believe that it will almost fully dominate the Delta variant by the end of this month. At that time, only six million people were vaccinated, but the virus ultimately saw deaths fall as the symptoms became milder.

“I suspect farmers nearby may have set these traps to keep wild elephants from ransacking their sugarcane plantations,” he added. “The department has discussed this issue with local farmers on several occasions. We have even advised them to keep bees or grow chilli as elephants hate bees and the smell of chilli and will eventually leave the plantation alone. “Though most farmers understand the nature of wild animals and agreed to use harmless methods to repel them, some still apparently resort to cruelty and violence,” Jirachai said. “However, since the nails are rusty, the elephant can develop an infection or tetanus and if left untreated, it could die.”

(PTTEP Photo)The oil majors TotalEnergies and Chevron Corp, partners in a major gas project in Myanmar, have decided to withdraw from the country, they said on Friday, citing the worsening humanitarian situation following last year’s coup. PTTEP is “putting the utmost importance for energy security of both Thailand and Myanmar”, it said in a statement. Myanmar amounted to 0.6% of TotalEnergies’ total oil and gas production in that period. PTTEP and the Myanmar state-owned oil and gas group MOGE hold the remainder. TotalEnergies said it has been the operator of the Yadana gas field’s blocks M5 and M6 in Myanmar since 1992.

Despite COVID-19, the bilateral trade surged nearly 80 per cent to reach US$10 billion last year. In 2021, Vietnamese companies poured more than $88.9 million in four new projects in Cambodia. This raised Việt Nam’s total investment to over $2.84 billion, making it one of the five largest foreign investors in the neighbouring country. The two FMs agreed to strengthen cooperation and enforce agreements reached by both countries’ leaders on land border demarcation and marker planting. It is necessary to push for talks to finalise a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, he said.

"Once Thailand has been removed from the blacklist, the country will be able to host sports events and use the national flag in international sports competitions," Thanakorn said. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday asked the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) to inform WADA that the country published the newly amended 2012 Sports Doping Control Act in the Royal Gazette on December 31 in line with the agency's requirements. Prayut also ordered Thai agencies to maintain regular contact with international agencies and keep regulations updated, as this issue affected the morale of athletes and citizens and the reputation of the economy and country. "The government is ready to support Thai athletes in various sports competitions, especially the 31st SEA Games in Vietnam between May 12 and 23," Thanakorn added.

Nippon Steel to buy Thai steelmakers in deal worth up to $763mTOKYO: Japan's biggest steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp will buy two electric arc furnace steelmakers in Thailand in a deal worth up to $763 million, it said on Friday, as it seeks to cut its reliance on blast furnaces that use coking coal and emit carbon dioxide. Nippon Steel will pay about $300 million to buy stakes in Thai steelmakers G Steel and GJ Steel. The total cost of the acquisition will be up to $763 million, a spokesperson told Reuters. The company was in talks to buy a steel mill in Southeast Asia to secure iron-making resources in the growing market, a senior executive told Reuters in November.