Crypto-mining gang unplugged in operation ‘electric shock’
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2022
About 3,500 cryptocurrency mining devices were seized during a raid on an illegal cryptocurrency-mining gang operating in Bangkok and surroundings, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin told reporters on Wednesday.
The raid was the result of an investigation referred to as “electric shock”, which began in February last year and was conducted by a joint taskforce set up by the ministry and the Department of Special Investigations.
Somsak said the cryptocurrency- mining operation had stolen about 500 million baht worth of electricity from the national grid over two years. The mining devices had been connected directly to power supply lines outside their premises at more than 40 addresses in Bangkok and surroundings.
He said the mining devices were used in batches of about 100 at each location so that officials would not detect unusual rises in power usage. Electricity was stolen around the clock every day of the week at each location. In total, the illegal crypto-mining operation cost the government about 500 million baht worth of stolen electricity over two years, Somsak said.
The crypto-mining operation was headquartered in a building in Soi Samakkee 38 in Nonthaburi’s Muang district.
Somsak said most of the 3,500 cryptocurrency mining devices had been illegally imported from China. Combined, the devices could generate about 4.2 million baht worth of cryptocurrency per month. The crime was very lucrative because the electricity was stolen, he added.
Somsak said the devices seized in the raid were equivalent to only 1% of the total used to illegally mine cryptocurrency in Thailand.
Formaldehyde found in food at 10 restaurants after 25 tonnes of meat seized
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2022
Health officials have found formaldehyde in food at 10 restaurants in Chaiyaphum province, after 25 tonnes of meat soaked in the poisonous preservative was discovered at a food-processing plant in Chonburi province.
Inspections were launched on Monday after livestock officials checking a plant in Chonburi last week found pork, beef and offal stored in formaldehyde.
The plant is believed to have supplied fresh meat and offal to more than 60 restaurants in the eastern province.
The crackdown in Chaiyaphum discovered formaldehyde traces in samples of squid and cow offal from 10 restaurants. The samples will be sent for laboratory tests to confirm the contamination before legal action is launched, said provincial public health chief Dr Wachira Botphaiboon.
“Formaldehyde solution is banned under the Food Act of 1979. Violations are punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment, a 20,000 baht fine, or both,” Wachira warned.
He said public health officials will continue inspecting restaurants in the province, targeting at least 10 in each subdistrict to keep people safe.
Eating food contaminated with formaldehyde can result in nausea, diarrhoea, stomach ulcers, headache, chest pain and even death, said Wachira.
“If the solution touches the skin it can cause rashes or burning, so vendors of formaldehyde-spiked foods are also risking their health.”
He said customers at hotpot and barbecue restaurants should avoid fresh meat and seafood that have a vibrant colour and strong chemical smell. He advised those cooking at home to buy their ingredients from reliable sources, such as markets certified by the Department of Health, and make sure that raw meat is cooked thoroughly.
BA.2.75 now responsible for 75% of new Covid-19 cases in Thailand
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2022
Omicron subvariant BA.2.75 accounted for 75.9% of new cases logged in Thailand last week (November 26-December 2), according to new data released by the Department of Medical Sciences (DMS). That figure rose from 58.9% in the previous week.
BA.2.75 was found in 75.4% of new domestic infections, rising from 60.1% in the previous week, when it overtook BA.5 as the dominant subvariant, said DMS director-general Dr Supakit Sirilak.
Genome sequencing on samples from new cases in Thailand last week found that 856 were caused by the BA.2.75 strain.
The XBB strain spreading in Singapore was found in 30 samples, while the BQ.1 subvariant affecting the Americas and Europe accounted for 13 cases sampled. The DMS found only one case of XBC or Deltacron, a hybrid of Delta and Omicron found recently in the Philippines.
Supakit warned that those who had recovered from infections by previous strains could be reinfected by the newly dominant BA.2.75. However, there is no evidence it causes more severe symptoms than other strains, he added.
“People are still advised to wear face masks in public, wash their hands regularly and get a vaccine booster shot every four months to stay safe from Covid-19,” he said. “Current vaccines are still effective and can reduce the chance of infection and prevent severe symptoms.”
Google’s Year in Search reveals Thailand’s top trends in 2022
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2022
“State welfare card” and “Nida ‘Tangmo’ Patcharaveerapong” were the top trending internet searches this year in Thailand, according to Google’s Year in Search 2022.
Government aid and stimulus schemes were among the top searched words for the fourth year running in the annual review, which provides a snapshot of the key trends and interests over the past 12 months, based on Google searches.
Ranked first in Thailand’s top-10 searches was “State welfare card”, as people struggled with the economic impact of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis. Second was the actress Tangmo, whose death in a controversial boating accident in Bangkok on February 24 dominated the headlines for weeks.
Third place went to “Khon La Khrueng (Let’s Go Halves) Phase 5”, the government’s latest shopping subsidy scheme. “Tai Lar” (The Giver), a Thai drama series, and Indian film “Gangubai Kathiawadi” were the fourth and fifth most popular searches, respectively.
Sixth was the AI text-to-speech app “Botnoi Voice”, followed by the word game “Wordle”. Eighth and ninth places went to the Thai drama series “Duay Rak Lae Haklang” (P.S. I Hate Your) and “Khue Thoe” (Bad Romeo). Ranked 10th was “Sor Thor 02”, the government’s online platform for vocational education institutes.
Google Thailand said Thai users this year searched for ways to relax, with five in 10 trending searches involving entertainment (four dramas or films and one game). Meanwhile education-related searches such as “Botnoi Voice” and “Sor Thor 02” made the top 10, signifying people are still using the internet for learning.
Other trending searches in notable categories were as follows:
Trending news
1. Tangmo Nida 2. Mass shooting in Nongbua Lamphu 3. “Phra Bida” cult leader 4. Russia-Ukraine war 5. Nong Chompoo murder case in Mukdahan
Trending domestic destinations
1. Bangkok 2. Suphanburi 3. Hua Hin 4. Chiang Mai 5. Rayong
Trending overseas destinations
1. Singapore 2. Vietnam 3. Laos 4. Japan 5. Korea
Trending people
1. Chinese singer Jackson Wang 2. Prinn Panitchpakdi, former Democrat deputy leader 3. Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt 4. Actress Amena “Mo” Pinit 5. Actor Thanapon ‘Tle’ Nimtaisuk
“Gowajee”, a Thai Speech-Recognition AI from Chula
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 08, 2022
“Gowajee”, a Thai-language speech recognition AI capable of delivering speech-to-text/ text-to-speech with the accuracy of a native speaker while keeping users’ data secure. Having been rolled out in call centres, and depression patients screening processes, Gowajee is set to be adapted to many other functions.
‘OK, Google’
We’re getting used to using our voice commands for AIs like Google or Siri to search or carry out tasks instead of typing them out. But for Thai speakers, have you ever felt that those AI voices don’t seem to understand the Thai tone of voice that we use?
Many times, we get a transcription that doesn’t match our words which means we need to adjust our Thai pronunciation to the AI developed by a foreign company that was aimed for multilingual adaptability, mostly standard languages like English.
Realizing this problem, a team led by Ekapol Chuangsuwanich of the Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University has developed “Gowajee” a genuine Thai speech-recognition AI that understands and execute commands in the Thai language more naturally and accurately. Actual usage has shown only a 9% incidence of linguistic inaccuracy compared to 15% for other language-recognition AIs.
The name Gowajee derives from the word ‘Go’ and ‘Wajee’ which means words. The word is designed as a command similar to ‘OK Google’ or ‘Hey Siri’. The word Gowajee was designed in such a way as not to replicate any other word being used in the Thai language.
Thai language AI with a Thai sound database
Ekapol and his team began the task of compiling a Thai sound database from 2017 up until the present. As he recalled, “….we applied a variety of methods and formats such as creating a website for people to log in and read a text to be stored as a sound database, getting people to engage in a conversation or actors to perform emotional speaking. Altogether, we achieved a compilation totalling five thousand hours which made us confident that we had a big enough database to transcribe Thai accurately.”
This database was enough to enable the Gowajee team to develop an accurate Thai language recognition AI that could be adapted for use in three main features:
1. Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) which turns speech into text. “For example, if we record a lecture, the AI will transcribe it into texts for us to read without having to transcribe it ourselves,” Ekapol suggested. 2. Text-to-Speech (TTS) works by transcribing a passage into spoken words in the same way that we might be familiar with the use of Google or Siri except that Gowajee will deliver more natural speech thanks to a larger Thai database.
3. Automatic Speaker Verification (ASV) is an identity verification through sound which can be used when contacting a call centre or indicating the speaker and time frame.
Gowajee – a perfect solution for call centres Ever since it was developed, Gowajee has been used by various agencies, like universities, and the public and private sectors, especially at call centres, both for speech-to-text, and text-to-speech functions. Gowajee’s error is only at 9% compared to 15% by other AIs.
“Most clients have been satisfied with Gowajee’s level of accuracy. It is an improved version of what they have previously used and the price is also more affordable. As for the errors, we are certain that they will decrease as the database grow.”
In search of meaning in the voice: Gowajee helps to screen patients with depression
As a result of data gathering of voices that convey various emotions, Gowajee has been able to help develop the systems used in DMIND for screening patients with depression.
“DMIND proved to be very challenging for us. Aside from transcriptions, a model of classifying and decoding emotions from voices in at-risk groups is also needed. Crying is usually involved which makes voices difficult to transcribe and decode, but Gowajee was able to do considerably well by determining the important keywords for decoding.”
How can Gowajee be adapted for use in other areas?
Gowajee and AI technology can be used in many other areas such as … • A dental assistant takes notes while the dentist is doing dental work on the patient and needs to record some notes. • It can be used to detect a stroke risk in patients with slurred speech. • Act as a life coach by asking questions and analyzing people’s life goals from video interviews, use as part of students’ and employees’ orientation. • Modify and amplify sounds for the hard-of-hearing so that they can hear more clearly.
Your data is safe with Gowajee
“Data safety” is what puts Gowajee above other speech-recognition AIs. As Ekapol tells us “Normally other transcription programs store their data on the cloud or compile them on users’ computer. With Gowajee, all the data is stored on the user’s database ensuring its safety. This is useful for organizations like banks which need high data security.”
AIs are becoming increasingly clever with the enhanced linguistic abilities that are getting closer and closer to human beings which have caused many to worry about being replaced by technologies. In terms of AIs for Thai language transcription, Ekapol only sees them as enablers that will make life easier for us in the present and the future.
“AIs aren’t that disrupting to our lives. We are disrupting ourselves. Ageing societies and a shortage of working-age labour are making it necessary for us to create technologies to substitute what we can’t find humans to do.” Ekapol also concluded by saying “I’m not expecting that my work is going to be helpful to the aged of today but I’m thinking that in the future when I reach an old age I will be making use of these technologies.”
Officials seize 3,000 tonnes of chicken as crackdown on smuggling widens
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2022
The Livestock Development Department has seized 3,000 tonnes of chicken meat smuggled across the border, Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sreeon said on Wednesday.
Chalermchai said the chicken was smuggled from a neighbouring country without naming it. More information will be released at an upcoming press conference, he said.
The seizure of chicken followed seizures of 25 tonnes of pork, beef and offal from an unauthorised food-processing plant in Chonburi last week. The plant is believed to have supplied fresh meat and offal to more than 60 restaurants in the eastern province.
Chalermchai said the 66 Thai-style shabu and Isaan food shops in the province, which bought meat and offal from the plant, have been told to purchase from authorised slaughterhouses and processing plants only.
He said a similar warning was sent to restaurants nationwide, instructing them to ensure purchased meat and offal had a seal of approval from the Livestock Development Department, adding that this guarantees that the meat is hygienic and its quality is high.
The minister said the department would continue to step up crackdowns on smuggling of pork from neighbouring countries to prevent the spread of disease.
Somchuan Ratanamungklanon,director-general of the department, identified the virus that causes African swine fever as the main concern.Related story:
Puzzling signs aim to keep drivers from falling asleep at the wheel
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2022
After highway signposts with puzzling messages – like “Is a dolphin a fish?” – went viral, an official from the Department of Highways explained on Wednesday that they are part of a pilot project that aims to prevent motorists from falling asleep at the wheel.
The goal of the signposts is to prevent road accidents caused by sleepy drivers, Suphanburi 1 Highway district director Saranrat Phuangphat said in reference to photos of signposts in Suphan Buri grabbed attention online.
One signpost informs drivers they have entered a “drowsiness fixing area”, while another asks: “is a dolphin a fish?”.
Saranrat said the pilot project is a joint effort by the Department of Highways’ bureau of road research and development and Chulalongkorn University’s transportation institute.
He explained that the project aims to help officials pinpoint the causes of road accidents and is currently being assessed to determine its effectiveness. The assessment should be completed this month, Saranrat said.
“Once the project is completed, the bureau of road research and development will publicise the results,” he said, adding that it would widen use of the signs to maximise road safety.
After second blast, bomb disposal officers scour area near derailed train
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2022
The State Railway of Thailand has temporarily suspended its plan to salvage the derailed freight train in Songkhla’s Sadao district after the second blast killed three workers and injured four others on Tuesday.
Bomb disposal officers were deployed on Wednesday to inspect the area for more bombs, following a request from railway staff.
Meanwhile, Songkhla provincial police and security officers were deployed to ensure security at the scene until the inspection and repairs were completed.
Officers collected gas tank pieces weighing 4 kilograms, a 1.5 volt battery, electric wires, plugs and 8 millimetres of steel bar at the scene.
Tuesday’s blast occurred at about 6.30am while engineers were inspecting the wreckage of a train that derailed after a blast on Saturday.
Train No 707 was travelling from Songkhla’s Hat Yai district to Padang Besar in Malaysia when a bomb blast caused to to derail as it approached Khlong Ngae railway station at 12.50pm on Saturday.
Eleven of its 20 containers left the track, which was also severely damaged. No staff were injured in the incident.
However, the blast on Tuesday morning was deadly. Besides the three killed in the blast, another four engineers were injured. The blast occurred just meters from the site where the train derailed on Saturday.
Rattanakosin Island committee approves repairs to Memorial Bridge
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2022
The Committee for the Conservation and Development of Rattanakosin Island and Old Cities Wednesday approved the restoration of Bangkok’s Memorial Bridge in two years.
The government should inform the public three months in advance before the bridge would be closed to minimise impact on commuters, assistant government spokesman Lt-General Phatchasak Patirooppanon said.
The meeting, which was the second this year, was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan,was held as a teleconference from the Five Provinces Bordering Forest Preservation Foundation.
The Memorial Bridge is a bascule bridge over Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, connecting Phra Nakhon and Thonburi districts.
The bridge was opened on April 6, 1932 by King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Chakri dynasty and the foundation of Bangkok, shortly before the Siamese coup d’état of June 4, 1932. In English the bridge is commonly referred to as Memorial Bridge, however in Thai it is known as Phra Phuttayotfa Bridge after King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama I), the first king of the Chakri dynasty.
Phatchasak said the committee saw that the restoration was necessary to preserve the bridge as a national asset for future generations to see and use and for the safety of commuters.
The spokesman said the committee also acknowledged the progress of the drafting of operation plans for the conservation and development of 12 old cities in 12 provinces.
The committee approved in principle the establishment of Rajdamnoen Centre 1 and Rajdamnoen Centre 2 in the outer area of Ratanakosin Island as learning centres.
The spokesman said the committee endorsed the construction of the Siriraj Hospital station to link two electric train routes and a new hospital building of Siriraj.
The panel also gave the green light for the restoration of the old Nan city hall to use as an arts and cultural hall for Nan province and the ancient Lanna culture learning centre, Patchasak added.
Thailand’s Covid-19 surge being driven by hidden infections: studies
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2022
While 60-70% of people in Thailand have been infected with Covid-19, more than half likely did not realise they had the disease, expert virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan said on Wednesday.
Writing on Facebook, Dr Yong cited two studies conducted by his Chulalongkorn University Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology.
The first study of 190 children aged 5-6 found that the 10% infection rate during the Delta outbreak has now risen to 60-70% after Omicron. About 35% of these cases were asymptomatic and only discovered when blood tests came back positive.
The second study tested 700 people aged six months to 80 years old. Traces of previous or current Covid-19 infection were found in 60-70% of the test group. Yong said the infections were probably Omicron as subjects who caught Covid more than one year ago during the Delta wave would likely test negative. Some level of immunity via antibodies was detected in 95% of the test subjects.
Yong said it was impossible to determine what level of immunity is required to prevent Covid-19 symptoms because most people had been infected or vaccinated. Previous infection or vaccination was not a protection against catching Covid-19, he said. But repeat infections usually generated less severe symptoms.
Noting Thailand’s soaring infection rate as the cold season gets underway, Yong urged people to get a booster dose if it had been six months since their last vaccination or infection.
He said all vaccine brands available offered similar protection against severe Covid symptoms but protection depended on the number of doses. He said immunity from vaccination decreased after the first few months. People should get a booster shot every six months, or every 4-5 months if they are in an at-risk group, he added.
Covid-19 hospitalisations have soared above 700 per day in recent weeks, with deaths rising above 10 per day. The surging infection rate has prompted the government to set up more vaccination sites in Bangkok and other Covid hotspots.
Related story:
SootinClaimon.Com 