#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018002

Move Forward Party’s former governor candidate, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, on Thursday expressed his readiness to help Governor Chadchart Sittipunt fix the flood problem in metropolitan areas, while slamming the previous governor of mismanaging the budget earmarked for Bangkok’s Drainage and Sewerage Department.

In a Facebook post, Wiroj, a former party-list MP, said the previous governor, Aswin Kwanmuang, had poorly managed the budget for Bangkok’s water management during his term (2016-2022), resulting in floods and drainage problems plaguing the city almost every time heavy rains hit the city.

“The former governor had approved several water-related projects, including the construction of giant tunnels, flood retention areas, and new drainage facilities. Putting together these projects ended up costing more than the budget, resulting in constructions being delayed and eventually unfinished,” he said.

“Meanwhile, some projects had trouble finding qualified contractors as the specification requirements are too limited, as though they had been set to facilitate certain bidders only.”

Wiroj also pointed out that some of the projects only focus on the outcome without considering the impact on surrounding communities as a result there is a lack of participation from the public.

“The budget of the Drainage and Sewerage Department in 2023 had been set at 7.7 billion baht by Aswin. This time, under new Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, we need to disburse it carefully to fix the problems at their roots,” said Wiroj.

“Move Forward Party’s members of the city council in 13 districts are ready to work with the governor and district officials in surveying flood prone areas and plan the draining drill ahead of heavy rains to make sure that the water is drained as soon as possible.

“Move Forward Party will monitor budget disbursement closely at district and provincial levels to make sure that Bangkok has enough budget to tackle the flood problem,” he insisted.

Wiroj now serves as Move Forward Party’s chief of Bangkok policy taskforce.

Published : July 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018000

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will stick to its schedule of open-air movie screenings despite the possibility that the heavens would open up and soak an already wet capital with more showers.

Bangkok deputy governor Sanon Wangsrangboon said on Thursday the plan to screen films at Benchakitti Park and Bang Khae Phirom Park has not been cancelled because preparations have been made.

The capital was pummelled by heavy downpours on Wednesday night, flooding several parts of the city and leading to questions whether the BMA would be able to go ahead with its open-air movie screenings.

Sanon explained that the screenings would be held under a roof at Bang Khae Phirom. He said the BMA has also prepared buses to evacuate people from the screening site in Benchakitti Park if heavy rains occur.

Movie screens have been set up while vendors have already put up stalls, so the screenings will go ahead, Sanon added.

Published : July 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017994

Thai delegate Suphanvasa Chotikajan Tang was elected as a vice-chair of the 55th session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) from June 27 to July 15.

Suphanvasa is the director-general of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs under the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

During the meeting, the Thai delegation made interventions on several issues of particular interest to Thailand, which were under the consideration of the Commission, namely the progress of Working Group I concerning micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and Working Group III concerning investor-state dispute settlement reforms, as well as possible topics for future work of Working Group II (dispute settlements).

This year’s session has also seen the completion of several new instruments, with the Commission approving the draft Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships, recommendations to assist mediation centres and other interested bodies with regard to arbitration under UNCITRAL Mediation Rules, and the Model Law on the Use and Cross-border Recognition of Identity Management and Trust Services.

UNCITRAL was established in 1966 as a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly, comprising 70 member countries. It serves as the main mechanism of the United Nations in the development of international trade law.

Thailand has just been elected for the term 2022-2028, the kingdom’s seventh.

The country has long benefited from a number of UNCITRAL legal instruments, especially as models for promulgating national legislation such as the Electronic Transaction Act of 2001, the Arbitration Act of 2002 and the Secured Transactions Act of 2015.

Published : July 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017993

Roads in Ramkhamhaeng, eastern Bangkok, were heavily flooded on Thursday after monsoon showers battered the capital for several hours the previous night.

City residents were forced to travel through inundated streets and clogged traffic to reach offices and schools. Floodwaters submerged many areas even at noon, when rains came down again in the capital, much to the exasperation of residents.

Photos by Sukpamorn Hengprapakorn

Published : July 21, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017991

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aims to boost domestic tourism in 2023 with tailored themes for each of the five regions.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said on Thursday that 117 million to 135 million domestic travels are forecast for next year, generating between 670 billion to 880 billion baht in revenue from an estimated average of 4,200-4,800 baht per trip.

TAT is launching “Thais can visit amazing Thailand 365 Days” campaign next year.

The authority will use the “REAL” strategy to promote domestic tourism by Thais, urging people to take a trip whenever they want, thus making every day a high season, he said. “REAL is an acronym standing for Responsible Tourism, Extraordinary Experience, Avantgarde Marketing and Less for More Economy.”

Yuthasak added that next year, TAT plans to organise promotional campaigns for each region with distinctive themes and target groups, in a bid to highlight the unique characteristics and charms of each region.

The North will get campaigns under “charming history of the North” theme, aiming to promote historical attractions across several provinces, targeting multi-generation families. The Central region will focus on trendy tourist attractions as well as eco-tourism targeting Gen-Y and Gen-Z audiences. The Northeast will focus on religious, natural and cultural tourism in 20 provinces that have a rich heritage, targeting Gen-Y travellers and working people.

Meanwhile, the East will get campaigns boosting seafood and luxury tourism tailored for Gen-Y travellers, high-spenders and millennial families. 

The campaign in the South will also be based on food attractions, but will focus on the authentic southern cuisine, targeting foodies who prefer bold and spicy tastes. TAT also aims to promote responsible tourism in the South to preserve its many marine natural attractions.

Yuthasak said TAT hopes that the campaign will help generate income to local businesses outside of traditional high seasons, as well as reduce crowding at popular attractions on holidays by distributing travellers to secondary tourism provinces or lesser-known attractions, keeping the overall tourism industry growing throughout the year.

Published : July 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017990

Thai police are yet to receive a request to help in an international hunt for a Thai-Singaporean couple wanted in the city-state for an alleged 840-million-baht luxury goods scam.

The Royal Thai Police (RTP) will duly inform their Singaporean counterparts of the information they have and make an arrest if requested by that country’s authorities, RTP deputy spokesman Pol Colonel Krisana Pattanacharoen said on Thursday.

The RTP is aware that the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) – which has 195 member countries – has issued a red notice for the fugitive couple at Singapore’s request, Krisana said.

The spokesman noted that National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk had instructed all units to closely cooperate with domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies in arresting criminal suspects.

Singaporean police are appealing for information on the whereabouts of the couple, who allegedly failed to deliver luxury goods worth about S$32 million to their customers.

They identified the suspects as a 26-year-old Singaporean man and a Thai woman aged 27.

The two fled Singapore on July 4 in the container compartment of a lorry, Singaporean authorities said on Wednesday. Arrest warrants and Interpol red notices have been issued for them.

It was unclear if the duo entered Thailand.

Since June, at least 180 police complaints have been lodged against the couple, whose alleged victims claimed they had made advance payments for luxury watches or luxury bags but the couple failed to deliver the products to them.

Published : July 21, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017989

Men should not worry that their manhood would shrink from Covid as a well-known medical technician had warned, a urological surgeon assured apprehensive males on Thursday, pointing out there is no hard evidence to support the case.

Dr Nantawat Siritanan from Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital said men should meet urologists or erectile dysfunction experts if they fear “long Covid” has decreased the size of their organ.

Nantawat was referring to a Facebook post made by Pakphum Dejhassadin, a medical technician better known as “Mor Lab Panda”. Pakphum wrote on Wednesday that he came across a report saying American men experienced a shortening of their organ by one to one-and-a-half inches after they contracted Covid.

Pakphum went on to explain that it has been reported Covid could cause erectile dysfunction by causing blood clotting at the male sex organ, and with reduced blood flow the organ could fail to reach its optimal size, .

By noon on Thursday, the post received more than 36,000 reactions, over 46,000 comments and was shared over 27,000 times.

Nantawat said it was possible – theoretically, at least – that Covid could cause male sex organ inflammation, resulting in blood clotting. But he hastened to add that the number of such cases both in Thailand and abroad were very few and there was no hard proof Covid caused a shortening of the male organ.

Nantawat said the patients could have been paranoid that their organ had been affected.

There could be other causes for a shrinking organ, the urologist added, including age, obesity and other diseases such as Peyronie’s Disease.

He advised male patients to see an urologist or erectile dysfunction expert before jumping to conclusion that Covid in itself had shortened their organ.

Published : July 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017988

A six-year-old second grader died of inflammatory syndrome after contracting Covid apparently because he was not vaccinated, the chief of the Disease Control Department said.

Director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said the boy, who lived in Pathum Thani, was diagnosed with Covid-19 at a private hospital before he was transferred to Pathum Thani General Hospital on Tuesday.

Initially, the boy had fever, a runny nose and diarrhoea, but his condition worsened and he suffered a septic shock, prompting the private hospital to send him to the provincial hospital.

Opas said doctors did their best to try to save the child but he suffered Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and severe inflammation occurred both in his heart and lungs, resulting in death.

Opas said the boy did not have a Covid vaccine, so it was possible for MIS-C to develop.

MIS-C is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs.

Opas said MIS-C could be prevented by being vaccinated against Covid, so he urged parents with children five years and above to get their kids vaccinated as soon as possible.

The director-general said Omicron BA.5 is currently the main virus in the country. The subvariant can spread faster than previous ones but most children do not experience severe symptoms. However, very few could suffer from MIS-C, Opas warned.

Published : July 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017980

Private clinics under the Health Facility Act 1998 are now allowed to purchase and sell Covid-19 antiviral drugs approved by Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a FDA announcement on Wednesday.

FDA secretary-general Dr Phaisan Dankhum said that before the new regulation, manufacturers and importers of antiviral drugs were allowed to supply the drugs to private hospitals only.

The FDA’s latest move would enable infected people to receive treatment along with the drugs at any hospital or clinic. However, prescriptions for such drugs must still be made at the physician’s discretion.

Currently, four antiviral drugs have been approved by the FDA, namely Favipiravir, Remdesivir, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid.

On Monday, Public Health permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said the ministry aimed to make Covid treatment and drugs more widely available as steps were underway to redesignate the disease as endemic from a pandemic.

Not all Covid-19 patients need antiviral drugs, as those with no or mild symptoms can take Fah Talai Jone capsules until they are cured, Kiattiphum added.

Published : July 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017976

Several roads and neighbourhoods in Bangkok were flooded on Thursday morning after strong winds and heavy showers battered the capital since 11pm on Wednesday.

Bangkok’s Drainage and Sewerage Department reported on Thursday morning that a preliminary survey showed up to 23 roads have been submerged under 20-30 centimetres of water, especially Ratchadaphisek, Pracha Songkhro, Prachasuk, Lat Phrao, Phatthanakan, Navamin, Asok Montri, Chan, Saint Louis, Sriwara, Jomthong, Ekachai, Suanplu, and Sukhumvit sois 22, 23, 26, 39, and 71.

The department said it would continue to drain flood water from major roads so traffic conditions can return to normal as quickly as possible.

Bangkok authorities advised motorists to avoid the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway in front of Wat Sarod and instead use Rama IX Bridge after an electricity pole collapsed.

Meanwhile, on Pradit Manutham Road next to Rama IX Expressway Intersection, a truck had flipped over on its side, choking traffic as only one lane could be used. Motorists are urged to avoid this route too.

Netizens took to social media to share photos of their flooded neighbourhoods with the hashtag #น้ำท่วม (flood), which swiftly became the number one trending topic on Twitter on Thursday morning.

The Thailand Meteorological Department said isolated heavy to very heavy rains are likely across the North, the Northeast, the Central region, the East and the South on Thursday.

Published : July 21, 2022

By : THE NATION