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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015021

Ramathibodi Hospital said on Thursday it would be ready to sequence the DNA of the hepatitis virus if there is an outbreak of acute, severe hepatitis among Thai children following an alert issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The hospital’s Centre for Medical Genomics announced on its Facebook wall on Thursday that it would be ready to use NGS-Clinical Metagenomics technology to check the virus if Thai children are hit by acute, severe hepatitis of unknown origin.

The centre said the technology is much faster in detecting and identifying the virus than the laboratory culture technique. The centre added that several types of virus cannot be cultured in a lab.

The WHO issued the warning on April 15 and revised its announcement on April 23.

The WHO said that as of April 21, at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin have been reported from 11 countries in the WHO European Region and one country in the WHO Region of the Americas.

It said 114 cases have been reported in the United Kingdom, 13 in Spain, 12 in Israel, nine in the United States of America, six in Denmark, five in Ireland, four each in The Netherlands and Italy, two each in Norway and France, and one each in Romania and Belgium.

The clinical syndrome among identified cases is acute hepatitis (liver inflammation) with markedly elevated liver enzymes. Many cases reported gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting preceding presentation with severe acute hepatitis, and increased levels of liver enzymes (aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) greater the 500 IU/L) and jaundice, the WHO said.

The common viruses that cause acute viral hepatitis (hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D and E) have not been detected in any of these cases. International travel or links to other countries based on the currently available information have not been identified as factors, the WHO added.

The WHO said 17 children in the UK needed liver transplant because of the virus.

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015016

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will visit Thailand on May 1-2, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Kishida will have a bilateral meeting with Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House on May 2.

“After the meeting, the two leaders will witness the signing ceremony of agreements between agencies of both sides and have a joint press conference,” the ministry said.

“The prime minister of Japan will then attend a dinner hosted in his honour by the prime minister of Thailand,” the ministry said.

The visit takes place on the 135th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between Thailand and Japan.

It also coincides with Thailand’s coordination of Asean-Japan relations from 2021-24, during which Asean and Japan will mark the 50th commemorative year of friendship and cooperation in 2023.

“The visit serves as a good opportunity for prime ministers of the two countries to discuss issues related to Thailand-Japan relations and steer forward cooperation in all dimensions at the bilateral, sub-regional and regional levels, as well as exchange views on regional and international situations of mutual interests,” the ministry added.

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015015

Thailand will organise the MotoGP Grand Prix at Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram province fron September 30 to October 2.

Thailand had pulled out from organising the MotoGP two years ago due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday.

He said the Covid-19 situation in Thailand is likely to improve and more than 80 per cent of citizens have been vaccinated.

Thailand’s public health system, including hospitals, medical supplies and staff are now ready for transition of Covid-19 from pandemic to endemic, he added.

“Hence, the government has agreed to organise the MotoGP this year to win the confidence of citizens and tourists on travelling in Thailand, as well as stimulating the economy,” he said.

Anutin Charnvirakul

He added that more than 50,000 tourists had participated in 2019 MotoGP, generating more than THB4 billion to tourism-related entrepreneurs in Buri Ram and nearby provinces.

To contain the spread of Covid-19, Anutin said participants must receive at least three Covid-19 jabs and must adhere strictly to prevention measures.

He added that the Buri Ram communicable disease control committee had also approved setting up a subcommittee for medical treatment and disease control to ensure efficiency in Covid-19 prevention.

The Tourism and Sports Ministry had signed the agreement with the MotoGP organisers on September 30 last year to host the world’s top motorcycle racing competition from 2021 to 2026.

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015012

The operator of Bangkok’s Skytrain has urged passengers to mind their manners by not crossing their legs while sitting, saying their feet could inadvertently brush against or hit standing passengers.

“Please cooperate by not sitting with your legs crossed inside the BTS Skytrain,” Bangkok Mass Transit System PCL posted on its BTS Facebook page on Wednesday.

“The page admin would like to seek cooperation from passengers to not cross your legs while sitting especially when the train is crowed because your leg may unknowingly hit standing passengers.”

The post also urged passengers to give up their seats to the people who need to sit, such as the sick, the disabled, children and pregnant women.

Reactions from Facebook users indicated many Skytrain passengers are fed up with the “nasty behaviour”.

The post gained more than 3,400 likes and was shared over 450 times, receiving some 540 comments by noon on Thursday.

Many netizens urged the BTS to make a regular announcement via the onboard public address system because they have always encountered passengers seated crossed-legged.

“I come across this behaviour every time,” said a Facebook user going by the name of Anuch Homchan.

“Please make an announcement through the onboard PA system,” another FB user named Alexander Lynn commented. “I have seen many passengers sitting with their legs crossed. They act as if they are travelling in a personal vehicle.”

Another user Pat Putsawad noted: “There were also those sitting with legs spread wide, as if they were alone.”

User Muttamas Wongwanich sought some form of retaliation, writing: “Let’s walk past and hit their legs to let them know they are blocking the way.”

And user Nalinee Apipan commented: “The tip of the seated passenger’s foot hits the shin of a standing passenger. The train is already crowded and now we have to avoid feet too.”

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015011

A woman, said to be driving at “high speed”, made a wrong turn and ended up trapped between two railway tracks in Bangkok’s Lak Si district early on Thursday.

Fortunately, no train used either of the two tracks at the time of the incident just 500 metres from Bang Khen railway station at 2am.

The Thun Song Hong police station was alerted immediately when the Mazda sedan ended up between the two tracks along Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road.

The bottom of the car was stuck on piles of gravel between the tracks. Its front left tyre had burst apparently after driving on the track bolts. The car’s bonnet was also damaged.

Railway officials spent an hour using a tow truck to spring the car loose and drag the vehicle to safety.

The car was removed from the spot before the first train of the day arrived from Den Chai station at 4am.

An official manning the station told police he heard the roar of the car as it drove at “high speed” into the track area. He said he shouted and ran after the car to tell the driver to halt but the woman continued on for about 500 metres before her vehicle came to a dead stop.

The driver, whose identity was withheld, told police she was not familiar with the area so she made a wrong turn.

Police are set to give her an alcohol test.

The State Railway of Thailand will check for damages if any before filing charges against her for compensation.

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015008

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) will hold a workshop on April 30 to teach people how to clean air conditioners and how to choose them.

Participants must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or been infected within one to three months, or tested via the ATK or RT-PCR method within 72 hours of the workshop.

They must strictly follow Covid-19 prevention measures such as keeping a social distance, washing their hands, and wearing masks. Those who arrive for the course 15 minutes late will not be allowed to take it.

Seats for the training – which will be held at the Egat Learning Centre in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi, from 9am this Saturday – are full.

Egat had offered free air conditioner cleaning services to 10,000 households from April 18 to reduce energy costs.

According to the authority, cleaning your air conditioner every six months can reduce electricity bills by at least 10 per cent and also cut national energy consumption by around 1.3 million units per year.

Those who want to learn more about the workshop can contact the Egat Learning Centre’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/egatlearningcenter/ or call 02-436-8952.

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015006

The Royal Thai Navy is investigating the case of fishing boats carrying Rohingya refugees, Navy chief Admiral Somprasong Nilsamai said on Wednesday.

His statement came after Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome urged the Navy to clarify the case.

Somprasong insisted that the Navy did not conceal any information, adding that it had implemented “prevention measures” to tackle the issue.

Spokesman Vice Admiral Pokkrong Monthatpalin said the Navy has to look into details of the case and is ready to clarify the issue if it is involved.

He said the Navy is still working on anti-human trafficking.

Pol Maj-General Paween Pongsirin, formerly the country’s lead investigator in human trafficking, told Al Jazeera on April 21 that Thai officials were involved in the 2015 Rohingya trafficking case in Songkhla.

The case led to several police and military officers being sentenced for corruption and trafficking after the bodies of more than 30 trafficked Rohingya were discovered in shallow graves on the southern border.

Paween said threats from influential people forced him to flee to Australia before he could catch more “big fish” in the case.

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015005

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra wants Thailand to promote and utilise silk clothing as a “soft power”.

On Wednesday, Yingluck posted pictures of herself on social media wearing outfits made from Thai silk when she met with foreign leaders.

She thanked her brother Thaksin, who explained about soft power on the Clubhouse application the same day.

Yingluck said she wore Pha Khao Ma (loincloth) made of Thai silk when she had a meeting with leaders. She thought it was beautiful and neatly made. She added that wearing them did not make her look older or “out-of-date”.

On the same day, Thaksin explained that South Korea had been utilising its soft power since 2001.

He said the Thai government was ready at that time to promote its movies, for example, but the National Federation of Motion Pictures and Content Association was not, so the policy to use movies as a soft power had not progressed from that time.

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015003

Popular Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park in Phitsanulok province will be closed to visitors for two months – from May 1 to June 30 – to allow environmental rehabilitation.

Park chief Suthon Wiangdao said on Thursday that the next two months usually sees fewer visitors due to the rainy season, therefore it is a suitable time to close the park for both day visits and camping to let nature heal itself.

“Tourists can start visiting the park again from July 1, when we expect the rain forest to be in perfect condition,” he said.

Situated about 130km from Phitsanulok city centre, the 307 sq km mountainous park extends east into Loei and Phetchabun provinces nearly 40km from the Laotian border.

The park has recorded sightings of rare wild animals in its forest areas including leopards, leopard cats, Asian black bears, Asian golden cats, hog badgers, serow and barking deer, besides more than 200 bird species.

The park is also historically significant as it was the scene of fighting between communist insurgents and the Royal Thai Armed Forces between 1968 and 1972, which resulted in the insurgents surrendering with the help of the Hmong community present in the area.

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015001

Thai President Foods has notified its trade partners and retailers that the prices of its popular “Mama” instant noodles will be adjusted up starting from May, a news source revealed on Thursday.

The company said wholesale prices of yellow noodles such as Tom Yum and minced pork flavors will increase from 143 baht to 145 baht per box of 30 packs, and from 858 baht to 870 baht per carton of 180 packs. This will make the retail price of Mama noodles go up from 6 baht per pack to 6.50-7 baht.

However, the prices of white noodles and Mama Cup will remain the same.

The source said the company cited rising costs of transport and raw materials such as wheat flour and palm oil in the past few years as the reason for the price increase.

“The company expects transport costs to jump even higher after the government ends its 30-baht-per-litre cap on the diesel price on May 1,” added the source.

Mama is Thai President Foods’ flagship product, witnessing sales worth 14 billion baht in 2021. The brand of noodles has undergone a price increase three times throughout its history.

The company started selling Mama instant noodles in 1972 at a retail price of 2 baht per pack. It hiked the price to 5 baht in 1997 as a result of the Tom Yum Kung financial crisis. The price of Mama went up again ten years later, in 2007, to 6 baht per pack due to rising raw material costs.

Published : April 28, 2022

By : THE NATION