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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403021

DDC dismisses claim that Chatuchak market could be origin of Covid

NationalFeb 24. 2021Dr Chawetsan Namwat

By The Nation

Thai health authorities on Wednesday dismissed reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is now looking at Bangkok’s Chatuchak weekend market as the possible origin of Covid-19 virus.

Danish media reported that the WHO team who visited Wuhan in January cast doubt on the theory that the virus originated in the Chinese city and are now looking at other possible sources, including wildlife vendors at Chatuchak market.

The Department of Disease Control (DDC) on Wednesday denied the claim in a press briefing.

Dr Chawetsan Namwat, director of the DDC’s emergency disease and health hazards control division, said the claim was based on research that shows Thai horseshoe bats carry a SARS virus that shares 91.5 per cent of its genetic code with the Covid-19 virus. However, the bat virus is not transmissible to humans, he added.

The DDC continues to advise people not to eat wild animals, including bats, he said.

“This is just an academic assumption, not absolute truth,” said Chawetsan of the reports.

“We are constantly monitoring the animal-trading zone in Chatuchak weekend market. Even if there is no clear evidence on the origin of this virus, we still need to be vigilant and maintain strong disease-prevention measures.”

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403019

Mother of ‘angelic’ volunteer denies ever seeking compensation

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

The mother of a 13-year-old volunteer – who died after sweeping up debris in a jungle near her hometown in Chiang Mai – insisted that she has not been seeking financial help as claimed by some media agencies.

Aree Kanmangmee, 38, whose daughter Natthawarun Anusornpana died from a brain-related illness in hospital on Saturday, was given a compensation of Bt50,000 from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

Ministry officials later told the press that they will look into other sources of support for the family, while provincial authorities have also said they are looking into ways of helping.

Aree, however, has insisted that she has never asked for help and does not understand why the authorities have stepped up.

She added that some comments on social media accusing her of making her daughter “work to death” were hurtful and had put undue stress on her and her husband.

Aree, who works as a local teacher, said she was proud that her daughter had sacrificed her time and energy to help the community, and hoped she was “an angel up in heaven”.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403018

Govt offers helping hand to seniors in Saraburi

NationalFeb 24. 2021Photo credit: Don Phut District Office

By The Nation

Government officials showed up in Saraburi’s Don Phut district on Monday to help senior residents register for benefits under the state’s “Rao Chana” (We Win) cash handout scheme.

Photo credit: Don Phut District Office

Photo credit: Don Phut District Office

District chief Puttapong Suriyasing said officials’ first focus was to help an 85-year-old partially paralysed woman who had lost her national ID card. She apparently lives alone and has not left her home for 16 years.

Photo credit: Don Phut District OfficePhoto credit: Don Phut District Office

“The officials carried the woman to the Don Phut District Office to make a new ID, after which she was helped to register for benefits under the Rao Chana scheme,” he said, adding that many seniors in the area have been helped in the same manner.Photo credit: Don Phut District Office

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403015

Hand-held lasers the latest weapon in Thailand’s war on drugs

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

Thailand was armed with a powerful new weapon for its war on drugs on Wednesday, when Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin took delivery of handheld narcotics analysers from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

“The new portable analysers utilise the Raman spectroscopy technique to identify suspicious drugs and chemicals in less than 30 seconds, and more accurately than the colour test method that we currently use,” said Somsak.

The analysers will be used in drug prevention and suppression operations conducted by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

“UNODC has handed two machines to the ONCB, which will help increase agents’ efficiency in detecting illegal drugs and chemicals smuggled cross the border via natural channels, or at the airports, seaports, and other routes,” added the justice minister.

ONCB secretary-general Wichai Chaimongkhol said the portable Raman spectroscopy analysers can detect the drugs as well as additives such as colouring and flavouring agents, which will make it easier to track down drug smugglers and manufacturers.

“The machine can detect chemicals either in powder, crystallised, tablet, capsule or liquid form,” said Wichai. “Furthermore, its laser can penetrate transparent containers or wrapping of up to 2mm thickness and read the scattering of light to identify the substance accurately, reducing the risk of officials handling harmful chemicals while also helping preserve the evidence.”

Jeremy Douglas, regional representative of UNODC’s Southeast Asia and Pacific Office, said the UN agency was glad to help Thailand in its campaign against drugs at both the national and regional level, and is looking forward to future cooperation on a larger scale.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403014

Cabinet okays new law forcing NGOs to register with govt

NationalFeb 24. 2021Government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek

By The Nation

A draft law that will force non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to register with the Interior Ministry was approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday.

Currently, only 87 of Thailand’s many NGOs are registered, said government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek. The registered NGOs are organisations that work for the benefit of the public, she added.

However, many others claim to be non-profit organisations but are funded, and do not operate for the public interest as claimed, she said.

Some of these organisations used their funds to benefit their own members rather than the public, so the government found it necessary to create a law to ensure transparency, said the spokeswoman.

Under the draft law, NGOs must be registered with the Interior Ministry’s Department of Provincial Administration. Their actions must comply with the rules prescribed by law and administered by the Interior Ministry.

NGOs must also disclose the sources of their actions and income via an audit report submitted to the Department of Provincial Administration and published in public.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403011

Asthma-stricken Phrae resident allegedly gives up on life

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

A 47-year-old man in Phrae province was found dead on his bed on Tuesday evening, and it is believed he killed himself because he could no longer deal with his chronic asthma.

Sung Men district police arrived at 6pm to find the dead man, identified as Thongsian Kukong, lying on his bed under a mosquito net.

The man had shot himself by triggering the gun with his toe. There was no sign of a struggle.

Officials believe Thongsian had been dead for at least four hours. A two-day-old chicken carcass was also found in the man’s kitchen.

Neighbour Kaewma Puengpak, 71, told the press that the last time she had seen the man was on Monday. She added that she asked another neighbour to check on Thongsian as he had not joined her and other neighbours for a late-afternoon meal on Tuesday as he usually did.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403010

93 test positive for Covid-19, mostly in Samut Sakhon

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By The Nation

The number of infections in Thailand was below 100 for the fifth consecutive day, with 93 being reported on Wednesday.

Of the 93, 22 are returnees in quarantine, while 59 had been exposed to the virus while visiting high-risk areas.

Samut Sakhon again leads the list with 51 cases, followed by five in Ayutthaya, two in Bangkok and one in Pathum Thani.

Meanwhile, proactive tests lead to the discovery of 12 cases, six of whom were in Pathum Thani, five in Samut Sakhon and one in Nonthaburi.

Of the 22 travellers found infected, 17 are Thai nationals returning from Japan, Bahrain, Germany and United Arab Emirates, while one is a Briton flying in from Pakistan. The remainder are a Japanese, an Iranian, a Kuwaiti and a Ugandan who flew in from their respective nations.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration also announced that 96 patients have recovered and discharged.

As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 25,692. Of these, 22,956 had been contracted locally, including 14,460 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,736 were returnees. So far, 24,542 have recovered and been discharged, 1,067 patients are still being treated and the death toll remains unchanged at 83.

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 112.7 million (up by 371,151), of whom 88.24 million have recovered, 21.97 million are active cases (93,916 in severe condition) and 2.49 million have died (up by 10,297).

Thailand ranks 114th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 28.9 million, followed by India 11.03 million, Brazil 10.26 million, Russia 4.19 million and the United Kingdom 4.13 million.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403009

Gun-toting Phuket cop suspended, charged

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

The gun-happy policeman in Phuket who injured a noodle vendor on Tuesday in a pub brawl has been suspended from duty and faces three charges.

After arguing with some foreign patrons at a pub, the off-duty cop came out to shoot in the air as a warning in the early hours of Tuesday.

CCTV images show one of the shots caught noodle vendor Arun Thongplub, 25, who immediately fell to the floor. After that the cop approached the victim and shot him again.

The incident took place in Soi Bang La in Kathu district’s Patong area.

Arun, who was shot in his armpit and back, was taken to Patong hospital for treatment. His condition is of concern.

The off-duty cop, who police said was drunk and incomprehensible at the time of arrest, was taken to Patong Police Station.

He has been suspended and will be charged for attempted murder, carrying a gun publicly without permission and shooting for no reason. The cop is under detention.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403008

Cabinet okays Interpol-DSI draft agreement

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By THE NATION

A Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved a draft agreement between Interpol’s National Central Bureau for Thailand in Bangkok and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on direct access to Interpol’s information system, said government deputy spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek.

“The agreement, as proposed by the Justice Ministry, aims to enhance efficiency and cooperation between the Royal Thai Police and Interpol in various countries in investigation, prevention and suppression of international crimes,” she said.

Under the agreement, the DSI will be able to access nine key Interpol databases:

1. Stolen and lost travel documents

2. Stolen administrative documents

3. International child sexual exploitation images

4. The Illicit Arms Records and Tracing Management System

5. Edison travel documents

6. The firearms reference table

7. The Digital Interpol Alert Library – documents

8. Interpol’s Criminal Information System, and

9. The Interpol Ballistic Information Network.

The agreement will take effect within 30 days from the date of approval by Interpol’s secretary-general and after it is signed by both parties.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403007

Good news: 200,000 doses of Sinovac arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport

NationalFeb 24. 2021

By The Nation

The first batch – 200,000 doses – of China’s Sinovac vaccine arrived in Thailand at precisely 10.05 am, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on hand to receive them at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The anti-Covid-19 vaccines departed Beijing at 05.50am local time, arriving on Cargo Flight TG 675 at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10.05am.

The 200,000 doses will be stored at the DKHS Vaccine Store at the Department of Medical Sciences. The vaccine will undergo a test for three days and the first lot will be sent to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute. Anutin will reportedly be the first to be vaccinated with Sinovac. He will get the injection at the institute on February 27 at 9am. Prayut will be reportedly vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is set to arrive in Thailand on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Yang Xin, this first batch of Sinovac vaccines was purchased for commercial use.