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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021501

Phuket comes to standstill after flood damages 2 highways, Prayut urged to help

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

Phuket business leaders representing 15 tourism industry groups wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha calling on him to “urgently” order the repair of two major roads.

The letter said the Nesat typhoon, which swept over the island province last week flooded most areas and severely damaged Highway 4028 in Kathu district.

Land subsidence has also damaged a section of Highway 4029, which connects the busy Patong tourist area with Phuket downtown and the international airport.

The road damage has made the road impassable since October 19, the letter said.

Approximately 18,000 people use this road daily and the obstruction is damaging tourism businesses in the Patong area and denting confidence in Phuket’s tourism sector, the letter added.

Though there are two alternative roads, they are far smaller and go through hilly areas, which makes travel tougher.

It now takes 90 minutes to get from Phuket downtown to Patong and at least two hours from the airport, almost double the time spent previously.

The letter said the highway should be quickly repaired to help offset the room cancellations caused by flooding and road damage.

The business groups also warned that a delay in the repair would undermine confidence in Phuket’s tourism, with direct negative impacts on businesses in Patong and the province’s economy as a whole.

“We ask your excellency to consider instructing the responsible agencies to expedite the repair of Highway 4029 so it can be used again as soon as possible,” the letter read.

The business groups that jointly signed the letter include the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Phuket Tourism Businesses, the Federation of Phuket Industries, the Patong Hotel Association, and the Association of Phuket Tour Operators.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021502

Under Thai ownership, Miss Universe opens doors to married women and mothers

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

Stephanie Adair

The Miss Universe pageant, now owned by Thai company JKN, would offer opportunities to more women, embracing married women and mothers interested in vying for the coveted crown, the company’s CEO, Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip, said.

The Thai transgender tycoon told a press conference that “Whether married or divorced, they [women] can compete, and do you know why? If you’ve had a husband but you’re still beautiful and fabulous, then why not?” Jakkaphong said.

“Why are you hiding at home, right? It’s not their business whether or not the contestant has a husband or not. Why must I remain in the same market share? If I can’t compete in that, then I’ll simply change the market and that’s how it should be, it has to be one universe.”

The celebrity media tycoon earlier this week bought Miss Universe Organisation (MUO), the company which runs the beauty pageant, for US$20 million (759 million baht)

“This is something we’re doing for all women and I can say that this is the first and only beauty pageant that allows the word ‘one universe’ to come true, as well as the equality of rights, humanity, and femininity to rise and create faith for people around the world as well.”

This push for diversity will allow married women and mothers to compete, ending a long practice of allowing only women who have never been married and have no children to enter the pageant.

She added that MUO was founded 71 years ago with an estimated 500 million people across the globe watching the competition and contestants from 94 countries vying for the crown each year.

The acquisition of MUO will transform the business in managing the rights of the Miss Universe pageant in each country, Jakkaphong said.

JKN plans to use the Miss Universe brand to strengthen its commerce businesses – from food, beverages, and supplements to cosmetics and lifestyle products.

The next Miss Universe pageant is scheduled to be held in January 2023 in New Orleans.

Stephanie Adair

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021499

Thai, Laos PMs ‘lay’ foundation stone for 5th Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

Laos and Thailand jointly held a symbolic foundation-laying ceremony for the fifth friendship bridge on Friday. The ceremony, held in Bueng Kan province, was presided over by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his counterpart Phankham Viphavanh.

The 1.35-kilometre bridge over the Mekong River will link Bueng Kan to Pakxan town in Laos’ Bolikhamxay province.

Related story: Thai, Lao PMs to lay foundation stone for new Mekong bridge

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said the bridge was in line with the government’s 20-year national strategy to develop infrastructure and boost travel links between Asean countries. It will also contribute to the local economy, boost tourism and improve people’s quality of life, he said.

“Thailand and Laos’ transport ministries signed an agreement to set up construction guidelines after the Cabinet approved the project in 2019,” he said.

The construction of the cantilever bridge is expected to cost about 3.9 billion baht, with Thailand contributing about 2.6 billion baht and Laos 1.3 billion baht.

The two-lane bridge, which is 57 per cent complete, is expected to be ready for traffic in 2024.

Apart from checkpoints on both ends, the bridge will also have an inbuilt tracking system so both sides can monitor its durability.

This project is part of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), which aims to develop infrastructure between Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021497

Entertainment venues to be under strict scrutiny, police warn

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

The police will strictly monitor entertainment venues nationwide to gain the confidence of society, deputy National Police chief Pol General Torsak Sukwimol said on Friday.

He made the remarks after National Police chief Pol General Damrongsak Kittipraphat tasked him with working on the issue.

Torsak said the move is in line with the order of the former National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), forbidding entertainment venue operators from allowing children aged 20 years and under in their premises. The NCPO was the military junta that ruled Thailand from 2014 to 2019.

Meanwhile, operators must close their entertainment venue at midnight and ban weapons, narcotics, human trafficking and gambling inside the venue.

From left, Pol General Torsak Sukwimol and Pol General Damrongsak Kittipraphat

He said entertainment venue operators who violate the laws would face revocation of licence or a five-year closure. Repeat offenders will face a year’s imprisonment, he warned.

“Royal Thai Police will be strict on this issue and send teams to survey entertainment venues periodically,” he said.

He also urged police officers nationwide to survey entertainment venues in order to gain the confidence of society, adding that anyone who neglects duties will face punishment.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021496

OKNation returns with a new look to welcome existing and new bloggers

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

If you love telling stories or sharing experiences, you can register with OKNation, which will be relaunched with a new look on November 1.

This lifestyle community platform was first launched in February 2007, 15 years before the emergence of social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. The aim was to create an area where people can express their opinions freely.

Adisak Limparungpatanakij, Nation Group’s deputy CEO who also co-founded OKNation, said the platform offers a safe space for people to tell their stories without the fear of being bullied.

“The redesigned OKNation aims to bring bloggers back to their home,” he said, adding that the platform already boasts of more than 900,000 pieces and over 2 million images.

Adisak Limparungpatanakij

The new OKNation platform offers great mobility as it can be used on smartphones as well as computers, Adisak said.

He added that OKNation had recorded 4.32 million users and 6.04 million page views between January and September this year, even though the blog has remained unchanged over the past 10 years.

Pechsupa Tanasapan, OKNation’s system development coordinator, said the team was ready for comments and suggestions on how the platform can be improved.

Existing members can use login as usual, while new members can register from November 1 onwards.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021492

New fabric for student uniforms eliminates need for ironing, saves millions of baht in electricity costs

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

A new student uniform fabric that needs no ironing has been approved by energy authorities in the hope that the move could result in savings of millions of baht in electricity costs.

Energy authorities certified it as “Label No. 5”, which is normally associated with electrical appliances that pass the energy savings standards of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) to help people select energy-efficient appliances for their homes.

Egat has been working with the Thailand Textile Institute to develop student uniforms with a highly flexible fabric that could return them to their original state after washing and do not cause wrinkles, thus eliminating the need for ironing, which is one of the most energy-consuming activities.

The uniforms will also feature the “Cool Mode” technology that helps reduce temperature while wearing by 1-5 degrees Celsius, ensuring comfort for users in Thailand’s tropical climate.

At its head office in Nonthaburi province on Friday, Egat introduced the new students uniform by giving the well-known “Label No. 5” stamp to certify energy efficiency. Egat has manufactured 300 prototypes and delivered them to schools in Nonthaburi’s Bang Kruai district free of charge in the test run period.

“Without the need for ironing, Label No. 5 certified uniforms can potentially reduce household energy usage by 7.75 million units, or 31 million baht per year, thus reducing carbon emissions caused by electricity generation by 3.7 billion tonnes per year,” said Egat governor Boonyanit Wongrukmit. “Several manufacturers have expressed interest in adopting the technology to produce and sell the uniforms commercially.”

On Friday, Egat also awarded Label No. 5 to 43 manufacturers of three electrical appliances that have recently been added to the energy-saving standard, namely electric motorcycle chargers, removable li-ion battery for electric motorcycles, and multi-indoor-unit air-conditioners using variable refrigerant flow system.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021491

Lampang national park gets 2 great hornbills in bid to repopulate North

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

A pair of great hornbills were reintroduced to the wild in Lampang after being reported extinct in the North of Thailand for over 20 years.

The rare birds were released on Thursday in Lampang’s Chae Son National Park by the Zoological Park Organisation (ZPO).

The two released birds are among several great hornbills being raised and studied in artificial habitats.

“Researchers will continue studying the released birds to see how they nest, how they survive and raise their young,” ZPO director Atthaporn Sriheran said. “We will then use this data to supplement our study before deciding where the next pair will be released.”

He said great hornbills were an endangered species and can only be found in certain parts of Thailand. No great hornbills have been sighted in the North over the past 20 years.

Great hornbills are the largest of this species and can grow 95 to 120 centimetres long with a wingspan of 150cm to 178cm and can weigh up to 4 kilos.

Atthaporn said the breeding project kicked off in 1997 with the first great hornbill being hatched five years later.

This project is a collaboration between ZPO, six national parks in the North, Kasetsart and Mahidol universities as well as private partners.

The birds are being bred in natural surroundings and trained to survive in the wild.

Great hornbills are one of the 13 species of hornbills found in Thailand, all of which come under the 2019 Wild Animal Conservation and Protection Act. The species is also included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s “Red List” of Threatened Species.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021484

Thailand’s cool season officially starts from tomorrow, says Met Dept

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

Temperatures will start dipping from Saturday and Thailand’s so-called winter will be cooler than last year, the Thai Meteorological Department said on Friday.

The weather report also said that upper Thailand can expect temperatures to drop below 23 degrees Celsius and though there will be a drop in precipitation in those areas, the rain will continue for a while.

The rain in the South, meanwhile, is not expected to ease any time soon, the department added.

Meanwhile, typhoon Nalkae, which brought heavy rain to the Philippines, is heading westward towards Thailand and should disperse when it reaches the shores of Vietnam on November 5.

Chawalit Chantararat, a water expert from the engineering consultant TEAM Group, said on Friday that the tropical storm would have no impact on Thailand though the country will be hit by a new front of cold air mass from China between Saturday and next Wednesday.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021481

Security measures mapped out for Apec Summit next month

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

A high-level government panel tasked with providing security at the upcoming Apec Summit has come up with measures to counter potential terrorist attacks and cyber threats when leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific economies gather in Bangkok next month.

The subcommittee on security and traffic management convened on Friday through electronic media.

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and attended by representatives from relevant agencies, including Deputy Defence Minister General Chaichan Changmongkol, armed forces supreme commander General Chalermpol Srisawat, national police chief Pol General Damrongsak Kittiprapat, Defence Ministry permanent secretary General Sanitchanok Sangkachan, and National Security Council secretary-general General Supot Malaniyom.

Prawit led the meeting from his office at the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation.

The meeting endorsed a plan to tackle terrorist acts and prevent cyberattacks, as well as manage traffic routes during the international conference.

Prawit instructed relevant agencies to implement security measures carefully, with close attention to detail in line with international standards. He said authorities should focus on gathering intelligence and calling for public participation in their work.

The deputy premier also said preemptive measures should be taken in providing security to all participants at all locations and all routes.

The participating agencies were instructed to be ready to immediately tackle any violent incidents or security threats that could adversely affect the country’s image.

Thailand is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit and related meetings this year under the theme “Open. Connect. Balance”. The leaders from the 21 member economies will attend their summit on November 18-19 at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021450

Minister Varawut urges officials to be proactive in tackling environmental issues

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2022

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varawut Silpa-archa on Wednesday (October 26) urged officials of the ministry to use a proactive approach in handling environmental issues at regional and community levels.

He was speaking at the 3/2022 executive meeting at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)’s headquarters in Bangkok. The meeting was joined by minister’s assistant Anucha Sasomsub, minister’s advisor Yutthapol Angkinan, minister’s secretary Thanesphol Thanaboonyawat, ministry permanent secretary Jatuporn Buruspat, executives and officials of the MNRE.

During the meeting, Varawut urged all related agencies to tackle environmental issues faced by the people in a proactive manner, including operational issues of royal initiative projects, forest fire surveillance, smog issues, corrosion of coastal areas, above and underground water resource management, implementation of BCG (bio-circular-green) economy model, and disbursement of ministry’s budget of fiscal 2023.

The minister told MNRE executives to prepare for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, to be held in November in Egypt from November 6-18. He also suggested officials to use social media to communicate with target groups, and ordered supervisors to pay close attention to their subordinates’ operations, especially those with armed units.

Varawut then advised agencies responsible for hosting the “MNRE Meets the People” event in four regions to focus on building public awareness and understanding of the current climate situation, while presenting MNRE’s latest updates and progress in environmental projects by using easily accessible language and media.

The first “MNRE Meets the People” event will be held in Roi Et province between October 28-29, before moving to Chiang Rai, Phetchaburi and Nakhon Pathom, respectively.

On this occasion, Varawut also congratulated Pawit Chalermwat on his new position as the director of the Botanical Garden Organisation.