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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025028

Caught on TikTok: Airline ‘urgently’ investigating food-tray mishap

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023

Thai Airways is investigating why flight attendants on a flight from Singapore to Bangkok failed to remove food trays from passengers’ foldable tables before landing, its corporate communications team announced on Facebook.

The investigation follows a TikTok video showing flight attendants may have been negligent.

On Friday, “Praewa_panicha” posted a video clip on her TikTok page showing food trays left on the foldable tables of three seats. One water bottle fell from a tray during landing, the video clip showed.

No flight attendant removed the food trays from the tables of her and two friends, which inconvenienced them, Praewa said in the clip.

By Sunday, the clip drew over 5,700 reactions and more than 360 comments.

Praewa added in a comment that she rang the bell to summon a flight attendant before landing but none turned up.

On Saturday, Praewa posted a second clip of the flight, providing more details about the inconvenience she and her friends experienced.

She was flying back from Singapore with two friends when she heard an announcement that the plane was preparing to land, she said.

She was startled that the food trays in front of her and her friends had not been removed, she added.

She said again that she pressed a button to summon a flight attendant but none showed up.

Passengers were then told to fasten their seat belts, but the food trays were still there, she explained.

She and friends had to hold the trays in place to prevent a mess, she added.

After landing, she had to get out of her seat and ask a flight attendant to remove the food trays in front of her friends so they could exit their seats, she added.

“Thai Airways International Plc would like to explain that the company has learned of the incident and did not ignore it,” the airline’s Facebook announcement said.

“The incident may have happened because of several factors and the company is in the process of an urgent investigation to find the facts,” it said.

The airline gives priority to passenger safety and has a checklist flight attendants must follow before taking off and landing, it added.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025027

New campaign aims to turn Thai daredevils into ‘Wow Riders’

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023

A campaign to show teen daredevils the thrill of becoming professional motorbike riders was launched in Bangkok over the weekend.

The campaign aims to save lives and limbs by turning teen speeders – called “wann” in Thai – into “Wow Riders”, organisers said.

The two-day event at CentralWorld mall in Pathumwan district combined theory and practical training for 60 youths from across the country. Organisers said they hope the teens will take the skills they learned home and encourage their peers to emulate them.

Two professional motorbike riders – Ratchada “Tann” Nakcharoensri and Saranyoo “Beam” Prachakit – added star power to the event.

It was organised by the Motorcycle Sport Association of Thailand (MSAT), the National Sports Development Fund, and the Sports Authority of Thailand.

MSAT chairman Thongchai Wongsawan said the campaign shows Thai youths how to ride a motorcycle the way professionals do – to focus on skills rather than speed.

“The aim is to show teens how to hone their riding skills, so they can become professional bikers in the future,” he said.

They received instruction on how to drive safely, handle road curves, and provide first aid.

Participants were evaluated by their trainers and encouraged to ask questions.

The campaign will continue on March 4-5, 28-29, April 22-23, and May 1-2.

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SLEEK EV officially debuts in Thailand, eyes having battery swapping stations nationwide in 2023

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025019

Bangkok’s air quality reading crosses safe levels again today

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023

As of 11am on Sunday, 35 air-quality monitoring stations reported most of Bangkok was covered in a haze of unsafe air.

PM2.5 readings were between 38 and 70 micrograms per cubic metre of air (μg/m3) in most parts of the capital. PM2.5 are particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter that can severely affect people with chronic lung and heart conditions.

Thailand’s safe standard for PM2.5 pollution is 50μg/m3, though the World Health Organisation sets it at 12μg/m3 or lower.

The top 10 most polluted areas in Bangkok were:

• Lat Krabang Road (70μg/m3)

• Liep Khlong Song Road in Khlong Sam Wa (63μg/m3)

• Srinakarin Road in Prawet (63μg/m3)

• Khlong Kum subdistrict, Bueang Kam (63μg/m3)

• Liap Wari Road, Nong Chok (61μg/m3)

• Rama III Road, Yannawa (61μg/m3)

• Bang Na-Trat Road (61μg/m3)

• Rama IV Road, Pathumwan (60μg/m3)

• Phaholyothin Road, Bang Khen (58μg/m3)

• Charoen Nakhon Road, Klong San (58μg/m3)

The Bangkok Air Quality Centre said air circulation in Greater Bangkok is expected to be low until next Friday, before improving on Saturday and Sunday (February 25-26).

The centre advised Bangkokians to be prepared for bad air pollution in some areas from Wednesday to Saturday.

Residents in areas with bad air quality have been advised to stay indoors and check pollution levels before stepping out.

Air pollution in Greater Bangkok can be monitored via bangkokairquality.com, the Bangkok Environment Department, the Air Quality and Noise Management Division, the BMA Facebook page or the AirBKK smartphone application.

Related stories:

Bangkok Governor rewards ‘active citizens’ for tracking down smog sources

Forest-fire crisis delays flights at Mae Hong Son Airport

Chiang Mai struggles with dangerous PM2.5 readings for 5 days

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025016

Chanthaburi and Battambang team up to fight border drug crime

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023

Authorities in Cambodia’s Battambang province and bordering Chanthaburi of Thailand have vowed to step up collaboration to crack down on crime along the shared frontier, with a focus on drugs, to maintain security and spur economic growth in the area.

The pledge came at a February 16 meeting between the Battambang and Chanthaburi provincial administrations.

New Chanthaburi governor Monsit Paisarnthanawat sees the meeting as an impetus to the strengthening of bilateral cooperation, reaffirming the desire of his province’s authorities to work with their Battambang counterparts in a variety of areas, including the crackdown on border crime, such as drug-related offences.

Monsit reassured that Chanthaburi authorities will continue to intervene when Cambodian workers in Thailand encounter problems.

Battambang provincial governor Sok Lou contended that joint efforts to promote mutual understanding and friendships between the two provinces have stimulated economic growth in border areas.

Between 2018 and 2022, the Battambang Provincial Administration logged 6,020 people held or arrested in relation to 3,698 drug-related criminal cases, as well as 1,021 more linked to 727 additional cases under the “general crimes” category, out of a total 778 – of which 605 or 77.8 per cent of them were classified as misdemeanours.

The Phnom Penh Post

Asia News Network

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025008

Marine Department reassures public that ‘river taxi’ travel is safe

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2023

The Marine Department is enforcing safety measures for boat passengers on waterways across the country, its acting director-general Sorapong Paithoonpong assured the public on Saturday.

The department’s officials in Bangkok and its regional offices have been instructed to check the readiness of passenger boats, crew, and safety gear – including life jackets – as well as piers to ensure maximum safety, Sorapong said.

Boat pilots have been advised to closely follow weather forecasts, he said.

The department operates patrol boats on the Chao Phraya River and Saen Sap Canal, Bangkok’s major water-transport routes, to ensure safety. Department officials have dispatched to piers along both waterways to ensure the safety of boat passengers.

The director-general encouraged members of the public to report any marine transport safety issues through its hotline (1199).

Data from the department on Friday showed that the Chao Phraya Express river taxis carried a total of 13,054 passengers on 114 trips, while MINE Smart Ferry electric boats carried 2,148 passengers on 44 trips.

Ferries on the Chao Phraya operated 886 trips on Friday, carrying 19,313 passengers, while restaurant boats served 5,694 customers on 25 cruises.

Canal boats operating on Saen Sap Canal carried 28,379 passengers on 168 trips on Friday.

In the provinces, passenger boats carried a total of 148,993 passengers on 3,079 trips on Friday.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025007

Thai team fails to qualify for Women’s World Cup for 3rd time

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2023

Thailand’s female football team failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 after losing to Cameroon in a play-off match on Saturday.

The stronger African team beat the Thai side by two goals in their match at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand.

As Thailand lost the chance to contest the final round of women’s World Cup football for a third time, they will have to wait four years to try again.

Thailand women’s national football team is nicknamed “Chaba Kaew” after the pink elephant heroine in the Thai computer animated film “Khan Kluay” (“Blue Elephant”).

They managed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup twice, in 2015 and 2019.

Thailand got off to a strong start in Saturday’s game, but Cameroon slowly began to take charge of the pitch.

The Thais struggled to break out of their own half as the match wore on but did have one near miss on the hour-mark when captain Nipawan Panyosuk found the side-netting with a free-kick from just outside the area, Supersport.com reported.

Cameroon’s substitute Gabrielle Onguene scored both goals in the second half. She broke the 0-0 deadlock with 11 minutes remaining and made the second goal three minutes later.

Cameroon goalkeeper Ange Bawou got a red card for a dangerous challenge in the final minutes of the match, but Thailand was unable to find a way past her replacement.

The match was Cameroon’s first-ever win against an Asian team, according to Supersport.com. Their three previous run-ins with teams from the continent all ended in defeat.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025006

Hero’s welcome for Thai rescue team returning from quake-hit Turkey

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2023

The Thai search and rescue team that joined the global effort to retrieve earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria returned to a hero’s welcome on Saturday, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha presenting each member – including the sniffer dogs – with a medal.

The Urban Search and Rescue Team arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport at about 10am on a Turkish Airline flight from Istanbul.

Applause and appreciation was given to its 42 people and two sniffer dogs: Sierra and Sahara. The Golden Retrievers are certified rescue dogs by the International Rescue Dog Organisation.

General Prayut welcomed the rescue team on behalf of the Thai people and government. A large crowd of media and well-wishers, including senior public officials, gathered to welcome the Thai team home.

The team, which joined the search and rescue operation on February 9, included personnel from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Department of Medical Services, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Prayut thanked all the parties involved in sending the Thai rescue team to Turkey.

The effort was a first for Thailand and the team made the country proud in its swift ability to provide humanitarian aid to quake victims, he said.

“You all are heroes. I admire your sacrifice,” Prayut told the team.

“Please give them another round of applause,” he told the crowd greeting them.

The team was formed on short notice after a quick decision by the government to send a rescue team to Turkey, Prayut said.

The swift mobilisation demonstrates Thailand is prepared to lend a hand overseas, the prime minister said, adding: “The recent earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria drew a unified effort from around the world for disaster relief.”

He later presented medals of recognition to all members of the rescue team, including Sierra and Sahara.

The prime minister was heard saying “this is for you” while giving each Golden Retriever a medal. He also shook hands with their handlers and thanked them personally.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025005

Schools cannot transfer pregnant students: new ministerial directive

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2023

Schools and higher education institutes can no longer use a legal loophole to transfer pregnant students against their will.

This is thanks to a new ministerial directive issued jointly by the Education Ministry and Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Ministry. The directive was published in the Royal Gazette on Friday.

Both ministers employed their authority under the 2016 Act to Prevent and Solve Adolescent Pregnancy.

The newest directive is a revision of the one issued in 2018, which barred educational institutions from expelling pregnant students. However, the previous directive allowed pregnant students to be transferred to other schools or colleges, which was later used as a legal loophole.

In the revised directive, educational institutions cannot transfer a pregnant student unless the mother-to-be wishes so.

The footnote of the latest regulation states that a revision was necessary because there have been many cases in which pregnant women were transferred out of their schools or colleges against their will.

“The latest revision is necessary to protect pregnant students’ right to an education in an institution, format and period in accordance with their wishes,” the remark reads.

The ministerial directive governs primary and high schools, vocational institutions, and higher education institutes.

In addition to banning the dismissal of pregnant students, it also requires educational institutions to come up with a system to take care of the young mothers-to-be, so they can continue their studies.

Schools and colleges are also required to grant maternity leave to young mothers and adjust their class schedules accordingly.

To ensure that pregnant students receive proper health services, the directive requires that the schools or colleges come up with a system to have them be escorted to the places involved by contacting either relevant government agencies or service facilities.

Records by the United Nations Population Fund show that teenage pregnancy in Thailand has risen steadily from 2002 to 2014. In 2002, 32 of every 1,000 girls under the age of 19 had been pregnant at least once. This number rose to 53 in 2014.

According to the Bureau of Reproductive Health, the number of children born to women aged 15-19 fell to 28 for every 1,000 people in 2020, down from 31 in 2019. However, the number of pregnant teenagers jumped to 47 for every 1,000 in 2021.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025004

School warned not to serve ‘Peekaboo’ meatballs after factory raided: FDA

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2023

An international school in Pathum Thani has been warned not to serve meatballs it recently purchased for student lunches, following a raid on the factory that produces the “Peekaboo” brand of meatballs, officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Saturday.

Initial tests found Peekaboo meatballs were contaminated with the banned food additive borax, they said.

The factory had been operating for about two years, producing up to 800 kilogrammes of meatballs a day, before it was raided on Thursday.

It sold its Peekaboo meatballs at more than 40 wet markets in Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan, its owner, identified only as Samrit, told officials.

It had just sold 65kg of Peekaboo meatballs to an unnamed international school in Pathum Thani for student lunches, FDA officials said.

The school has been warned not to serve the meatballs to students, they said.

FDA officials, and police, were acting on a tip that the factory, located in Khlong Luang district, was not complying with food-safety production regulations.

The factory was also using excessive amounts of food preservatives and failing to conduct quality-control checks.

It was also mixing chicken with pork in meatballs it advertised as being 100% pork, officials said.

Samrit has been charged with failing to comply with food-safety manufacturing standards and false advertising, police said.

He will be charged with producing contaminated food if further tests confirm the initial tests finding borax in his Peekaboo meatballs, FDA officials said, adding that tests will be conducted for other chemicals.

They seized more than 30 bags of meatballs, 13kg of pork and chicken, packages of the preservative sodium benzoate, and three meatball-making machines with meatballs inside them.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40025003

Train travel to North back on track after derailment

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2023

The rail route connecting Bangkok to the North fully reopened Saturday morning after being closed since a cargo train derailed in Lopburi province on Friday, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said this morning.

A cargo train heading to Lampang province derailed near Tha Khae station in Lopburi’s Muang district on Friday. The tracks were damaged but no injuries were reported.

The SRT on Friday suspended three passenger trains: two from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and one from Bangkok to Phrae. It offered refunds or rescheduled trips for ticket holders.

SRT governor Nirut Maneephan visited the site of the accident on Friday. The derailed containers were removed and the tracks repaired by midnight on Friday, he said.

All train travel between Bangkok and the North resumed as usual from Saturday morning, he said.

Related stories:

• Long-distance trains switch from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong to Bang Sue in Jan
• Train tickets to most parts of Thailand now available at Bang Sue Grand Station
• Hua Lamphong or Bang Sue Grand Station? Public asked which they prefer