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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021077

Lunching adventures: Slurping noodles in knee-high waters in Nakhon Pathom

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

A riverside Thai noodle stall in Nakhon Pathom is still buzzing with a constant flow of customers despite being under knee-deep water after Tha Chin River broke its banks.

Heavy rain brought by the Noru tropical storm last month coupled with the release of water from several dams in the Northeast have caused many rivers to overflow. Many riverside communities are inundated, but the heavy flooding does not seem to faze the Pa Jit Chicken Noodle stall that has been sitting under a highway bridge for over 30 years.

“I thought I would not open the shop because with the rising water level, who would come to eat? But because there was fish and the customers continued coming, it gave me the strength to keep going,” stall owner Pornkamol Prangprempree said on Saturday.

“We get a lot of customers now because they also come to feed the fish. It’s like getting a foot spa at the same time,” she added.

Pornkamol said the water rose very fast this year, adding that it only took 10 days for the water to rise to knee length.

She added that the glistening tinfoil barb fish were very popular among children, who loved feeding them while their parents slurped up their noodles.

Many parts of Thailand, including the North, Northeast and Central region been hit by severe flooding over most of September with more than 224,000 households affected.

Reuters

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021073

Free rehab for drug addicts not the answer, say most Thais

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

Most Thais believe that treating drug addicts as medical patients would not help the country overcome its problems with narcotics or solve social issues. Instead, they said, this policy will only give the addicts an excuse to escape punishment and continue abusing as well as trafficking drugs.

These opinions were gathered in a recent poll carried out by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida). The poll, conducted from October 10 to 12, covered 1,310 respondents aged 15 and above from different backgrounds and income levels.

According to the poll, 64.04 per cent of the respondents disagreed with providing state-sponsored rehabilitation to drug addicts.

The government announced this policy after a former cop who was dismissed from the police force for consuming methamphetamines massacred sleeping children at a nursery in Nong Bua Lamphu on October 6.

Some 36 people, including 22 young children, were shot and knifed by the ex-cop, who later killed his wife and child before turning the gun on himself.

The government said the policy to provide rehabilitation to drug addicts was based on a resolution of the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs on the World Drug Problem (UNGASS 2016).

When asked if they agreed with the new code which considers drug addicts as patients, the response was:

• Totally disagree: 50.15%

• Somewhat disagree: 13.89%

• Totally agree: 20.31%

• Somewhat agree: 15.57%

• No comment: 0.08%

When asked how many methamphetamine pills they think suspects should be caught with to be considered addicts and not traffickers, the response was:

• 1 pill: 30.76%

• 2 to 3: 16.11%

• 4 to 6: 7.33%

• 7 to 9: 2.75%

• 10 to 12: 3.59%

• 13 to 15: 1.75%

• No comment: 37.71%

As for why they believe drugs have become such a problem in Thailand, the respondents, who were allowed more than one choice, said:

• Lax enforcement of law: 48.02%

• Cheap drugs: 47.86%

• Inefficient drug suppression measures: 31.83%

• Officials looking the other way: 30.92%

• Social conditions encouraging abuse: 26.56%

• Inefficient government policies: 26.49%

• Inefficient preventive measures: 25.42%

• Drug addicts’ attitude: 21.30%

• Economic woes: 20.31%

When asked if they personally know a drug addict, 56.11 per cent said “No”, while 43.89 per cent said “Yes”.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021072

All Ayutthaya industrial estates safe from flooding, says IEAT

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

There is no reason to believe the industrial estates in Ayutthaya will be flooded, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) said on Sunday.

Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit had last week instructed IEAT to closely monitor the Nakhon Luang, Bang Pa-in and Bang Wa industrial estates as he feared they may be flooded from runoffs.

IEAT governor Veeris Ammarapala said the industrial estates were not at risk of flooding because the dams upstream of Ayutthaya have been reducing the drainage levels.

“If there are no more storms, the situation at the three industrial estates will remain normal,” Veeris said.

As for worries about floods having an impact on workers’ commute to and from work, he said IEAT has asked provincial agencies to ensure roads leading to the estates are not blocked by flooding.

Last month, Suriya had also instructed IEAT to check the levees put in place after the 2011 floods left a trail of destruction and losses as many factories in Ayutthaya industrial estates had to halt operations for several months.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021071

Mountain B Pub inferno claims 25th victim

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

A 26-year-old woman on Sunday became the 25th victim of the deadly blaze at Mountain B Pub in Sattahip in early August.

Parichart Kwanyuenyong was pronounced dead at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok following 72 days of treatment for severe burns suffered in the August 5 inferno.

Parichart was drinking at the pub in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district with friends on the night of the fire. After the blaze erupted, she managed to escape via the front door after all other exits were locked, receiving burns to about 85 per cent of her skin.

She was rushed to Queen Sirikit Naval Hospital where she spent one night before being sent to Chulalongkorn Hospital.

During treatment her blood became infected and she suffered lung and kidney failure so was placed on dialysis.

Doctors finally halted treatment on Saturday after her body failed to respond to medicines, and she was pronounced dead on Sunday morning.

Her family will hold the funeral at Wat Nong Wa in Rayong.

Thirteen victims were killed in the Mountain B blaze and 12 more have since succumbed to their injuries. It followed a 2009 inferno at the Santika Pub in Bangkok that killed 67 people and left 32 severely injured at a New Year’s party.

An investigation showed Santika had no signs for fire exits or emergency lights for escape routes.

The pub owner, Wisuk Setsawat, and Boonchu Laosinart, manager of the company hired to install the lighting system blamed for the blaze, were each sentenced to three years in jail.

Meanwhile the investigation of the Mountain B blaze found all fire escapes had been locked, giving pubgoers only one escape route through the front door.

The pub had also sound-proofed the roof using rubber tyres, which caught fire and began dripping onto the pub and partygoers below.

Workers demolished the gutted pub on Saturday, removing the remaining debris by truck and leaving only bare ground.

Relatives of the victims have filed a case for compensation at the Pattaya Court.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021070

Thailand 5th best country in Asia, shows USNews.com ranking

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

Thailand came in fifth best in Asia and the 28th in the world as per a recent survey conducted by the American media company US News.

Of the 85 countries surveyed, Switzerland was named the best country this year, followed by Germany, Canada, the United States and Sweden.

The Asian list was led by Japan, followed by China, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said that based on the Asia listing, Thailand can be considered the second best country in Asean after Singapore.

The ranking covered 10 criteria, namely adventure, agility, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, heritage, movers, open for business, power, social purpose and quality of life.

Anucha said this ranking proves that foreigners have a positive view of Thailand, which is considered one of the best travel destinations in the world.

Thailand got the No 3 rank in this year’s Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards.

Meanwhile, Anucha quoted Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as saying that Thai people’s potential and generosity are also key factors that make the country so popular among foreigners.

“Thailand can overcome all crises if all Thais join together to help with the country’s development,” he said, quoting Prayut.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021069

South Korea’s hottest virtual model to debut at Thai landmarks

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

A South Korean virtual female model is about to rise over Thailand’s cityscapes, fuelling the country’s love affair with K-pop.

Onmind, a subsidiary of South Korean game-maker Neptune, said Friday its artificial intelligence virtual model Sua has signed a three-year modelling deal to work with top Thai advertiser DDD.

DDD advertises for Thai Airways, global luxury brands such as Chanel and Dior, and large Korean conglomerates. It currently has advertising billboards at major landmarks in Bangkok including Suvarnabhumi Airport and Siam Paragon and MBK Center malls.

Under the contract, Sua will appear on billboards at these major landmarks to promote products and brands in DDD campaigns.

The South Korean company said it will continue to work with its Thai counterpart to expand Sua’s presence in Southeast Asia.

“The expansion into the Thai market is based on the agreement between our two companies on Onmind’s 3D virtual human technology aptitude and its business potential, and Thailand’s Hallyu [K-pop] craze and the potential of the country’s 3D virtual human market,” Onmind said in a statement.

Sua is Korea’s first AI virtual human capable of live interaction, according to its developers. It recently appeared in a local SK Telecom commercial with K-pop star Jang Won-young.

The Korea Herald

Asia News Network

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021068

Phuket old town under metre-deep flood after overnight storm

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

Heavy overnight rain left Phuket old town under floodwater up to one metre deep on Sunday.

A monsoon downpour that began Saturday evening was still battering the tourism destination in the early hours of Sunday, causing flash floods to sweep across many parts of the island.

Among buildings submerged were the old town’s traditional Sino-Portuguese shophouses, a magnet for Thai and foreign tourists. Floods hit the Charter Bank Intersection, the Thep Kasattree-Thalang Intersection, Klang Road and the Clock Tower roundabout.

Phuket old town roads were submerged by floodwater up to one metre deep.

Roads in the Patong Beach area in Krathu district were also underwater, while flash-flooding cut the main road leading from Krathu’s Tambon Kamala to downtown Phuket.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021062

Bombing rocks Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022

Two bombs exploded near the first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge just over the border from Mae Sot district, Tak on Saturday night.

The first bomb detonated at the Myawaddy-Mae Sot border checkpoint at 7.20pm, causing damage to one car.

The second bomb exploded soon after at Bayinnaung Market, about 1 kilometre from the Myawaddy-Mae Sot checkpoint.

Security officials in Mae Sot said improvised explosive devices were used in the attacks. There were no reports of casualties.

Thai officials said the bombs were likely planted by a group opposing Myanmar’s military regime. The country has descended into civil war since the military staged a coup in February last year.

This is the second bombing on the Myawaddy-Mae Sot border so far this year. The first incident happened on April 23 when a car bomb planted at the foot of the first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge near the Myawaddy-Mae Sot border checkpoint exploded, damaging a four-storey building and shops nearby.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021060

Google Maps adds EV charging stations as searches surge in Thailand

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2022

The updated Google Maps app has a new feature that directs motorists to the nearest electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Thailand.

To use it, EV drivers simply need to hit the “More” button under the search bar, then look for “Electric vehicle charging” under the “Services” category.

Google Maps has added the feature in response to rising EV ownership in Thailand over the past few years coupled with an expanding network of charging stations.

The new feature enables EV drivers to better plan long trips where charging is required during the journey.

Google Maps reported in April that searches for EV charging stations in Thailand had surged by 357 per cent over the past year.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021057

New Omicron XBB named variant of concern in Thailand

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2022

The new Covid-19 Omicron subvariant XBB has become a cause of concern for health authorities after three people from Thailand tested positive in Hong Kong last week.

Random tests are being conducted at Thai airports on passengers with respiratory symptoms from Hong Kong and Singapore to see if they may be carrying XBB.

The subvariant, also known as BA.2.10, is reportedly a combination of Omicron’s BA.2.75 and BJ.1 variants and was first detected in Singapore and the United States in August. So far, 260 XBB cases have been reported globally.

Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said recently that XBB spreads quickly and evades immunity more than other subvariants.

However, he said, no cases of this new subvariant have been reported in Thailand, where the dominant Omicron subvariant is BA.5.

He suggested that people should get Covid-19 vaccines and continue wearing masks, maintaining social distancing and washing hands regularly to protect themselves.

Prof Dr Thira Woratanarat, from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, said in a Facebook post last week that the XBB subvariant is worrisome because of its tolerance to immunity.

“XBB, which derives from the BA.2 subvariant, was found to be more tolerant to immunity than other subvariants,” he said, citing results of a Peking University study.

“New cases of XBB have been on the rise and it has become a subvariant of interest globally,” Thira said.

The doctor added on Saturday that Singapore authorities believe an XBB outbreak will likely be worse than previous Covid-19 waves.

He also advised people to stay away from crowded places and wear masks if they need to be there.

Dr Sophon Iamsirithaworn, Disease Control Department’s deputy director-general, advised people travelling overseas to follow recommendations for travellers to those countries. He also suggested that people take preventive measures and get Covid-19 jabs to cut down on severe symptoms.