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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014401

Although organised water fights have been banned again in Thailand, there is still one place where people around the world can get trigger-happy at Songkran.

Revellers can now choose an avatar and plunge into the full Thai New Year experience in the metaverse.

The ONESIAM x Zepeto Metaverse Songkran Festival 2022 is a collaboration between property giant Siam Piwat and the Zepeto chat app.

Siam Piwat owns Siam Paragon, Siam Centre and Siam Discovery shopping malls while Zepeto is a 3D avatar chat app made by South Korea’s Naver Z Corp, the owner of Line.

Zepeto boasts around 300 million users, who create their own 3D avatars to socialise in a virtual world.

Siam Piwat said customers of its shopping malls could download Zepeto and create their 3D avatars to immerse themselves in the Songkran spirit via the ONESIAM x Zepeto metaverse.

Users can play the role of a fashionista called ONESIAM, browsing the OneSiam shop for fashion items including traditional Thai costumes, sunglasses and water guns. Once they are dressed and armed, next stop is Beach Town for Songkran splashing with Zepeto users from around the world. Metaverse revellers can also meet avatars of popular entertainers in Thailand and enjoy Songkran beach parties from April 13 to 19.

Customers who visit Siam Paragon to download the ONESIAM SuperApp and Zepeto app will also be handed gift vouchers from leading stores in the mall. The ONESIAM SuperApp is an e-shopping platform showcasing items from all three shopping malls.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014396

Thais will be able to grow any amount of marijuana for personal use from June 9 onwards, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday.

Anutin, who is also deputy PM and Bhumjaithai Party leader, was speaking at the opening ceremony of a forum on the medical use of marijuana in Public Health Area 10. The meeting was held at Rajabhat Si Sa Ket University on Saturday.

Anutin said his party’s campaign promise was to get households to be allowed to grow six marijuana plants for personal use, but he could do better by lifting this limit.

However, he said, the public would have to wait until June 9 because that’s when the Public Health Ministry’s directive decriminalising marijuana goes into effect. The order will have completed the requisite 120 days after being published in the Royal Gazette by then.

The minister added that people will not have to seek permission for growing marijuana, but will have to inform the authorities about the number of plants they possess. He said the registration of the number of plants is required by an international treaty Thailand has ratified.

He added that the Public Health Ministry will soon submit a bill to the House of Representatives to govern the use of marijuana after it is officially decriminalised. The minister did not provide a timeframe for the new bill.

Anutin said marijuana and hemp are really useful products, which is why his party and ministry are pushing for Thais to grow them like household crops.

He added that Bhumjaithai has received full support from all agencies under the Public Health Ministry to push for the medical use of marijuana and some 100,000 patients have been treated so far. He added that the next goal is to push for the plants to become cash crops for communities.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014395

Facebook has become the tool most frequently used to deceive the elderly, according to experts who warned the elderly and their families during a seminar.

National Statistics Bureau data on seniors’ internet usage show that they are most often deceived while browsing Facebook pages, said Jaruwan Sriphakdee, director of the Older Persons’ Rights Protection and Assistance Division of the Older Persons Department.

According to the data, 44 per cent of seniors have been deceived by Facebook posts, 31.25 per cent by Line chats and 5.25 per cent by Instagram posts, said Jaruwan, speaking at a recent online seminar organised by the Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) to alert the elderly and their families to the dangers of fraud on social media.

She did not elaborate on the number of seniors surveyed or the timeframe involved.

Jaruwan explained that the elderly tend to be deceived more on Facebook than other social media platforms because older people use the portal to keep abreast of current events, meet friends and shop.

The seminar also heard that complaints received last year by the Electronics Transactions Development Agency rose by 20 per cent to about 50,000.

Praparat Chaiyos, a senior official at the agency, said the majority of complaints were about online purchases of goods that failed to meet the quality advertised.

She said most of the complainants were aged 40-plus.

The deceiving posts often featured made-up stories, time limits for making purchases, and elderly presenters.

She cited ads that used seniors to present ointments for relieving knee-joint pain, luring many elderly customers to waste money on the useless products.

Praparat advised elderly internet users to consult their children before making a purchase and always check the blacklistseller.com website before buying.

Speaking at the same seminar, Pasawat Jumpa, chief of the Consumer Protection Board’s advert-monitoring division, said most of the deceiving ads claimed massive discounts on their products. The vendors also made unverifiable claims, such as that their products were top sellers or were guaranteed to prevent Covid-19.

Thailand now has over 10 million elderly people and rising, said TCC deputy secretary general Suphaporn Thinwatanakul, citing data from the Provincial Administration Department.

As a result, it is necessary for their younger relatives to help shield them from online deceptions, he added.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014392

The Metropolitan Police Bureau has advised motorists to avoid routes around Ratchaprasong intersection, the October 14 Memorial and Democracy Monument on Sunday afternoon, as pro-democracy activists plan to hold a car-mob rally at the sites.

Bureau deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Jirasan Kaewsangek explained that the activists had vowed to gather at Ratchaprasong intersection at 2pm before travelling on to the October 14 Memorial and then Democracy Monument.

He added that heavy traffic would be heavy on the route, especially during rush hour.

He advised motorists to avoid Rama I, Ratchadamri, Phloenchit, Ratchadamnoen Klang, Tanao and Dinsor roads, as well as Somdet Phra Pinklao bridge.

Instead, he recommended using Wisut Kasat, Phra Sumen, Chakrabongse, Phra Athit, Rachinee, Atsadang, Boonsiri, Mahannop, Bamrung Mueang and Mahachai roads, as well as the Rama VIII, Phra Phuttha Yodfa and Phra Pok Klao bridges.

He added that traffic police were standing ready to aid motorists.

“People can contact Traffic Control and Command Centre’s hotline 1197 anytime,” he said.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014391

Air quality in 45 provinces across Thailand hit unsafe levels on Sunday morning, the Centre for Air Pollution Mitigation reported.

The provinces where PM2.5 air pollution exceeded safe levels were Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Nan, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Singburi, Lopburi, Saraburi, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Phetchaburi, Sa Kaew, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Rayong, Nong Khai, Loei, Udon Thani, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Kalasin, Roi Et, Chaiyaphum, Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Nakhon Ratchasima and Buriram.

Thailand’s standard for safe levels of dangerous PM2.5 particles is 50 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), though the World Health Organisation sets it at 15μg/m3.

As of Sunday morning, pollution levels across the country were as follows:

• North: PM2.5 at 44 to 101μg/m3
• Northeast: 48 to 110
• Central region and West: 57 to 94
• East: 49 to 68
• South: 11 to 18
• Bangkok and its vicinity: 58 to 99

People in areas affected by high levels of PM2.5 pollution – especially the elderly, children, and those with respiratory diseases – have been advised to monitor their health and reduce time spent on outdoor activities.

The PM2.5 situation can be followed at Air4Thai.com and bangkokairquality.com, or via the Air4Thai and AirBKK smartphone applications.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014390

A rumour that people should refrain from consuming pork and chicken for six months after “an outbreak of Aids” among livestock is not true, police said on Saturday.

Police spokesman Krisana Pattanacharoen explained that the rumour stemmed from fake news on social media that a famous company had concealed the death of 1,000 pigs and chickens from Aids at a farm in Nakhon Pathom.

Studies show that HIV/Aids does not infect livestock.

“The Department of Livestock Development has informed the Anti-Fake News Centre that this rumour is not true as no pigs and chickens have been infected with HIV,” Krisana said.

“The department said that someone who wanted to destroy livestock industry has been sharing this fake news since 2008, causing confusion among the public.”

He asked people not to believe or share such false statements, adding that they can check the Department of Livestock Development’s news and information at www.dld.go.th or by contacting (02) 653 4444.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014389

Moderna’s move to recall a batch of 764,900 vaccine doses on Friday does not affect Thailand, Public Health Commission vice chairman Chalermchai Boonyaleephan said on Sunday.

The recalled doses had been delivered to five European countries – Norway, Sweden, Spain, Portugal and Poland – in January, he said.

“Hence, people who have received Moderna jabs or are waiting for booster jabs do not have to worry about this issue,” he wrote in a Blockdit post.

Chalermchai said Moderna recalled the doses because contamination was found in one vial, adding that the company did not clarify what was found in the vial.

“Moderna said the doses in question were made by its contracted manufacturer, Rovi, in Spain,” he said.

Rovi was also behind the recall of 1.63 million doses in Japan last September after 39 vials were found to be contaminated with stainless steel.

Chalermchai said the issue demonstrated the important role of manufacturers in safely delivering the vaccine.

He added that AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by Thailand’s Siam Bioscience has so far met safety standards with no reports of contamination.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014388

Nok Air will begin flying again from Bangkok to Betong Airport in Yala province on April 29, according to the Betong Tourism Association.

The move comes after the airline suspended flights to Betong on March 16, just two days after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha arrived on the first commercial flight to open the airport.

Nok Air cited a lack of demand for cancelling the service from Bangkok’s Don Mueang to the newly opened airport, adding that only three of 86 seats were booked.

On Saturday, Betong Tourism Association vice president Narin Ruangwongsa said the airline will operate flights three days per week – on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

He added that the price of a round-trip ticket has been reduced from 6,300 baht to 5,300 baht thanks to a 1,000-baht subsidy from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

“After confirmation that Nok Air will operate flights from Don Mueang to Betong from April 29, tour operators are now preparing programmes to attract tourists [to Yala],” he said.

One programme will see tourists fly from Bangkok to Hat Yai Airport on April 27 before taking return flights from Betong, a two-hour drive away, on April 29.

However, Nok Air said tour operators must guarantee that 60 of 86 seats are booked on each flight.

Narin added that the association would contact Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn over the possibility of establishing flights to Betong from Indonesia and Malaysia under an economic triangle project.

He added that both Indonesia and Malaysia have small aircraft that can land at Betong. The newly opened airport has a 1,800-metre runway suitable for turboprop aircraft, such as ATR-72s.

“If this plan is possible, it will help increase the number of passengers visiting Betong International Airport,” Narin said.

Separately, Tourism Council of Songkhla president Sompol Cheewawattanapong said Hat Yai Airport will receive many international flights in April.

AirAsia will operate Kuala Lumpur-Hat Yai flights three times per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) from April 13, while Scoot will launch a Singapore-Hat Yai service thrice weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) on April 25.

“Tourists from Malaysia and Singapore will gradually return to Songkhla within three months,” he said.

Sompol expressed confidence that tourism in the southern province would recover by July.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014383

Public Health Ministry reported on Sunday (April 10) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 25,139 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 67 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 108, while 25,509 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,660,050.

Published : April 10, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014374

Intense burning of farm waste in neighbouring countries and the direction of the wind will possibly worsen air pollution in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand, a local social-media celebrity warned on Saturday.

In a Facebook post, Thon Thamrongnawasawat pointed to several hotspots to the east of Thailand, mostly in Cambodia and Laos, and a map of air current travelling from the eastern neighbours into Thailand.

“The map on the left shows hotspots caused by burning. There are not many in Thailand, but the number is huge in some neighbouring countries,” wrote Thon, who is also an expert in marine ecology.

He said cross-border dust will continue to be a big problem that is difficult to handle. Hence, he said, Thailand should focus on reducing PM2.5 pollution inside the country as much as possible by curbing engine smoke, promoting public transport and planting more trees. Particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter (PM2.5) and can be inhaled is very dangerous, especially for people with lung diseases and children.

PM2.5 readings were higher than acceptable levels in many parts of Bangkok on Saturday. Readings above the Thai safe standard of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air (μg/m3) were recorded in 56 stations across the city – with some areas reading as high as 105μg/m3.

The World Health Organisation has set the safe level of PM2.5 at 25 μg/m3.

Published : April 09, 2022