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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020468

Thailand set for lashings of rain as Noru barrels toward southwest monsoon clouds

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

THE NATION

Typhoon Noru will bring heavy rain to many parts of Thailand before it weakens into a tropical storm and enters the Northeast on Thursday, the Thai Meteorological Department said.

This ninth warning on the super typhoon was issued at 11am on Tuesday.

The department said that as of 10am on Tuesday, Noru was over the centre of the South China Sea and was due to make landfall in central Vietnam by Wednesday.

The forecast said the typhoon would weaken to a tropical storm before crossing lower Laos and moving to the middle and lower parts of the Northeast on Thursday. After hitting Thailand, the tropical storm will further weaken into a depression.

The department noted that the storm, together with the southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, South and Gulf of Thailand, will unleash heavy rains in much of the North, Northeast, Central region including Greater Bangkok, the East and the South until Friday.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020458

Samui tourist claims Russian mafia squeezed $3m worth digital coins from him

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

THE NATION

A Russian tourist showed up at Samui police station on Tuesday complaining that a Russian gang had extorted 112 million baht worth of cryptocurrency from him.

He said he was filing the complaint because he was worried about the security of his wife, also a Russian national.

The 31-year-old, who only identified himself as Evgenii, filed the complaint with inspector Pol Lt-Colonel Udomsak Thappa.

In his complaint, Evgenii claimed six Russian men showed up at the coffee shop where he was having coffee with his wife and demanded he gives them his digital coins worth US$3 million. The incident reportedly took place in Koh Samui’s Taling Ngam area on September 15, though the alleged victim did not explain why he waited more than 10 days to file the complaint.

He also did not explain why this alleged gang was picking on him. He only said that the six men arrived in a black van and a motorcycle and told him that they wanted his digital coins.

Evgenii also failed to explain how he had amassed a fortune in digital coins or which coins were stolen. He only claimed he had 58,000 digital coins and had transferred 50,000 to the gang.

He added that the gang continued following him and called him again on September 18 demanding more coins.

Initial investigation unveiled security camera footage of the black van and motorcycle in question. The van was seen parking in front of an exchange booth and two men coming out to exchange money. CCTV footage also showed that the motorcycle was being driven by a foreigner.

Police, however, did not find any footage of the men intimidating or talking to the Russian tourist.

Police said the licence plate of the black van showed it came from Chonburi and the six men may be part of the Russian mafia in Pattaya.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020446

Disaster mitigation agencies on standby as Noru hits provinces with heavy rain

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

THE NATION

All provincial disaster prevention and mitigation offices and related agencies have been instructed to prepare for flash floods and runoffs caused by super typhoon Noru as it heads to Vietnam.

Interior Minister General Anupong Paochinda issued the order on Monday, citing the Thai Meteorological Department’s forecast of heavy to very heavy rain and gusty winds hitting several provinces from Wednesday to Saturday.

Anupong said provincial disaster prevention and mitigation offices should establish an operation centre to monitor the weather as well as evaluate the impact in their areas, including the amount of rain, water levels in rivers and canals, and the discharge rate of dams and reservoirs.

These centres should keep residents updated and issue advance warnings, so people can prepare for evacuation if necessary.

The minister also tasked all disaster prevention and mitigation units to dispatch officials to survey their areas and prepare equipment such as water pumps, rescue boats and vehicles for delivery of survival bags. They should be ready for deployment at any time to provide aid and evacuate affected communities.

Anupong also instructed related agencies to coordinate with the military, police, rescue foundations and volunteers to help people affected by heavy rain and flooding, including establishing temporary shelters and kitchens to cook meals for displaced people and delivering survival bags to inundated households.

The minister also tasked agencies in coastal provinces to monitor the shores and ensure all ships follow the advice of the Marine Department, the Royal Thai Navy and the Marine Police. Hotels by the sea have also been told to advise their guests to stay out of the sea during strong winds, high waves and thundershowers.

People needing help can call the 1784 24-hour hotline.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020445

Heavy rain, flash floods forecast for most provinces as Noru heads to Vietnam

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

THE NATION

The influence of super typhoon Noru is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rain causing flash floods and runoffs in many provinces from Wednesday to Saturday.

The Thai Meteorological Department said on Monday evening that Noru was moving from the centre of the South China Sea to make landfall in central Vietnam on Wednesday. On Thursday it is expected to head to the northeast of Vietnam before weakening into a tropical storm and depression.

Noru, teamed up with the strengthening southwest monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand the Gulf of Thailand, will bring heavy to very heavy rain and gusty winds to the North, Northeast, Central region including Greater Bangkok, the East and the South from Wednesday to Saturday.

People have been warned of flash floods and overflow, especially along waterways near foothills and lowlands. Coastal communities should beware of high tides and rough seas.

The department also forecast 2- to 3-metre-high waves from Wednesday to Saturday in the Andaman Sea and upper Gulf, which will become higher under thundershowers.

High waves have also been predicted for the lower Gulf, while ships and boats have been advised to stay onshore until Saturday.

Provinces that will be hit by heavy to very heavy rain are:

Wednesday

Northeast: Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani

Central: Greater Bangkok

East: Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Sa Kaew, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat

South: Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun

Thursday

North: Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun

Northeast: Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani

Central: Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Suphanburi, Lopburi, Saraburi, Singburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Greater Bangkok

East: Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Sa Kaew, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat

South: Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun

Friday

North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun

Northeast: Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima

Central: Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Suphanburi, Lopburi, Saraburi, Singburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Greater Bangkok

East: Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Prachinburi, Sa Kaew, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat

South: Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020443

Thailand’s digital companies employing Vietnamese to fill skills gap in workforce

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Digital industry companies in Thailand are having to employ workers from Vietnam and other neighbouring countries to fill a domestic skills shortage, experts warned on Monday.

The warning came as the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) revealed the results of a survey showing explosive growth in Thailand’s digital industries.

The “2021 Digital Industry Survey” showed revenue of Thai digital industries grew 25 per cent to 898 billion baht from a year earlier.

But that impressive growth was not being matched by Thailand’s workforce, which is still lagging behind neighbouring countries such as Vietnam in terms of tech workers and developers, said experts.

Pathom Indarodom, of the Digital Council Committee, said Thailand is suffering a significant gap between “infrastructure readiness and people readiness”.

Speaking at a seminar on “The Direction of the Thai Digital Industry: Moving Forward with DEPA”, Pathom observed that while Thailand’s private sector has invested heavily in digital equipment and systems, it is still short of highly skilled digital workers. To sustain growth, many Thai tech companies end up hiring young Vietnamese workers or partnering with Vietnamese companies, he said.

Thailand urgently needed to invest in human resources to support digitalisation, he added.

Kulthirath Pakawachkrilers, president of the Thai e-Commerce Association (THECA), said that as well as boosting digital education of young people, Thailand must also assist the elderly in learning digital technology. 

Although it may be too late for seniors to become advanced developers, they can still apply digital technology to create new products, services or ways of doing things, she said.

DEPA executive vice president Kasama Kongsmak said the agency is collaborating with institutions across the country to educate the next generation in programming and coding. However, the process would take time and require cooperation from all digital stakeholders, she said.

The “2021 Digital Industry Survey”, conducted by DEPA and the IMC Institute, focused on revenue and employment in the software, hardware and smart devices industries, as well as the digital services sector.

The highest growth was experienced in the digital services sector, which expanded 37 per cent to 346 billion baht last year. The survey found a corresponding increase in the number of digital workers, which rose 26 per cent from 2010 to 2020.

E-delivery and e-retail services had seen growth of 57 per cent and 44 per cent respectively as Thai society moved onto digital service platforms.
Meanwhile, the digital services workforce increased 26.55 per cent, from 66,917 in 2020 to 84,683 in 2021.

IMC executive director Thanachart Numnonda said digital services will be the fastest growing industry over the next three years, reaching 690 billion baht by 2024.

He expects the software industry to grow by around 10 per cent this year.

The value of the hardware and smart devices industry increased by 20 per cent to 386 billion baht in 2021, driven by a computer market worth over 100 billion baht.

The impact of lockdowns and working from home had spurred growth of hardware and smart devices, said IMC researcher Supachai Satjapaiboonkit.

The software and software services industries grew 13 per cent to 163 billion baht. Thai software firms were worth 121 billion baht, a 14 per cent rise from 2020.

The majority of Thai software firms were still small businesses with fewer than 10 employees, and more than 90 per cent had annual revenue of less than 10 million baht.

Kasititorn Pooparadai, senior executive vice president of DEPA’s Strategy and Security Unit, said the survey will be used to formulate a strategy to support long-term development of the digital industry.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020437

Bangkok ‘congestion charge’ in pipeline as traffic study nears completion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

THE NATION

Motorists may soon have to pay a fee of 60 baht every time they enter inner Bangkok, according to the Transport Ministry.

A study on whether a London-style “congestion charge” is suitable for Bangkok will be finalised this year, the ministry’s Traffic Policy and Planning Office (TTPPO) said recently.

TTPPO director Panya Chuphanit said the study is part of the government’s five-year plan to reduce heavy traffic congestion on the capital’s roads.

The congestion-charge study is being conducted by Germany’s international cooperation agency GIZ, under its global TRANSfer III programme to “facilitate the development of ambitious transport mitigation actions”.

Panya said the study found that collecting fees from motorists who use inner Bangkok roads could reduce PM2.5 pollution by up to 36 per cent. The capital regularly suffers unhealthy levels of PM2.5, which is linked to premature death from lung and heart conditions.

Panya said the TTPPO will hold public hearings on the finished study before sending it to the Transport Ministry for consideration before the end of this year.

However, before adopting the congestion charge, the government would have to consider whether Bangkok mass transport systems were ready to absorb the extra passengers that would result.

“The [congestion charge] project may take time to put in place,” Panya said.

“For example, London studied it for 30 years before adopting fee collection.”

He added that the congestion charge may not go ahead if the government decides it would hurt commuters.

The study uses the MRT Blue Line as the boundary within which the fee would be collected. This congestion-charge area would improve traffic flow by 20 per cent, reduce PM2.5 by 3 to 36 per cent and cut annual CO2 emissions by 100,000 to 600,000 tonnes, according to the study.

The fee of 60 baht per trip would be collected digitally by a system similar to the existing M-Flow expressway barriers, allowing motorists to drive through central Bangkok and pay later. Panya said a similar system is used in Singapore.

Revenue from the congestion charge would be used to improve public transport and car parks for motorists to park and ride instead of driving into inner Bangkok, he added.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020436

Thais generally against regulated use of marijuana, poll finds

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

THE NATION

Most Thais are against the Public Health Ministry’s bill to regulate the use of marijuana, hemp and related products, a recent survey found.

The opinion poll, conducted by the Southeast Asia Study Centre of the Open Cyber University of Korea (OCU Poll) from September 21 to 23, covered 1,218 respondents from across the country. The results of the survey were released on Saturday.

The draft, labelled simply “marijuana and hemp” bill, was proposed by the Public Health Ministry which is under the Bhumjaithai Party. If enacted, the bill will regulate the use and sale of cannabis and hemp products after both plants were removed from the list of Category 5 narcotics in early June.

The bill was sent back to an ad hoc House panel for review after Democrat Party joined the opposition in voting against it. Democrat MPs voiced concerns that the bill would promote the recreational use of marijuana.

Though the survey results show that up to 87.27 per cent of the respondents disagree, the question may have been too ambiguous. It is not clear if those who said “no” to “do you agree with the free ganja bill or not?” actually disagree with the bill or recreational use of marijuana. Meanwhile, 10.92 per cent chose “yes”, while 1.81 per cent chose “no comment”.

In response to using marijuana for medical purposes, 88.01 per cent chose “yes”, while 10.34 per cent disagreed and 1.65 per cent had no comment.

For the third question, which asked if they think the “free use” of ganja will turn young people into addicts, up to 80.79 per cent said “yes”, 17.82 per cent said “no”, while the rest had no comment.

When asked how they think the “free use” of ganja will affect Thailand’s image, 15.68 per cent said it would boost the image, 71.02 per cent said it would damage the image and 13.30 per cent had no comment.

As for whether letting people grow marijuana at home for sale would improve people’s livelihood, 29.15 per cent said “yes”, 70.53 per cent said “no”, and 0.32 per cent chose “no comment”.

Bhumjaithai Party, whose election promise was to decriminalise marijuana, cried foul over the Democrat Party’s move, saying there may have been political motives behind it. The party insists the bill will promote the medical use of marijuana and its use as a cash crop. The party insisted the bill will not allow recreational use of the herb.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020421

Thailand’s finest fare lined up to tickle world leaders’ tastebuds at Apec banquet

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

THE NATION

The opening gala dinner for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit promises to be a gastronomic delight featuring fresh ingredients from different corners of Thailand.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said on Monday that the menu will feature delicacies like pheasant from the Royal Project, painted spiny lobster from Phuket, Ayutthaya’s river prawn and coffee from Nan.

“Creating the dishes will be celebrity ‘iron chief’ Chumpol Chaengprai, who has also been chosen as one of the nine representatives of Thailand at the summit,” he said.

The tables, meanwhile, will be decorated with handicrafts from the Support Foundation of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. “This will offer us an opportunity to promote Thai goods on the international stage,” he added.

The gala dinner, designed to reflect Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy model, will be held at the Royal Thai Navy Convention Hall.

The Apec summit, scheduled to be held at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre from November 18 to 19, will be organised under the theme “Open. Connect. Balance.”

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020407

Most of Thailand to see heavy rain as Noru heads to Vietnam

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

THE NATION

The super typhoon Noru, which is barrelling towards Vietnam, will bring heavy to very heavy rain to most parts of Thailand.

The Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning on Monday, saying Noru was moving westward from the middle of the South China Sea after making landfall in the Philippines. It is expected to hit Vietnam on Wednesday.

The super typhoon, together with the strengthening monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand will bring heavy to very heavy rain to the North, Northeast, Central region including Greater Bangkok, the East and the South from Wednesday to Saturday.

People in these areas are warned against flash floods and overflows, especially along waterways near foothills and lowlands, and are advised to keep up with weather updates.

The department has also forecast 2 to 3-metre-high waves from Tuesday to Saturday in the Andaman Sea and upper Gulf, which will become higher under thundershowers.

Waves in the lower Gulf will be about 2m high and higher in thundershowers. Ships have been advised to proceed with caution, while small boats in the Andaman Sea and upper Gulf have been told to stay ashore.

THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40020402

Magical supplements, promised windfalls among top 10 fake news last week

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2022

THE NATION

Up to six of the top 10 fake news items last week were related to health issues, though none touched upon Covid-19, the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry said on Sunday.

The authorities checked 148 pieces of fake news shared on social media between September 16 and 22, and pinpointed the top 10 as follows:

• People suffer insomnia because smartphones affect their brainwaves

• People can apply for a driving licence via Line application

• Thailand will be hit by a storm called “Kularb” in the last week of September

• Liquid soap and amine compounds put people at risk of cancer

• The Stock Exchange of Thailand allows people to buy stocks at 1,000 baht with weekly dividends of 4,000 to 6,000 baht

• Food supplement “Vgine” helps prevent abnormalities in women’s uterine system

• A powerful tropical storm will hit the Northeast in eight to nine days

• Food supplement “Adapto-Air” helps improve lungs and body

• Food supplements “Balance U” and “U Core” can cure thyroid toxicity, swollen glands, bulging eyes, insomnia and palpitation

• Consuming a handful of peanuts daily can cure mood disorders

People can report fake news via the Anti-Fake News Centre’s website https://www.antifakenewscenter.com, Twitter https://twitter.com/AFNCThailand, Line account @antifakenewscenter or via the Government Contact Centre’s 1111 hotline extension 87.

THE NATION