The association president, Assoc Dr Chawanan Charnsilp, was presiding over an academic conference at Novotel Chiang Mai Nimman Journey hub in Chiang Mai on Saturday (December 7).

He said that nowadays, social media is playing an important role in daily life, having both positive and negative impacts on children.

“On the positive side, children use social media as a communication channel which enables them to talk with friends or relatives anywhere, while teachers use it to coordinate with their parents to provide information on their children. Children also use it to search for knowledge, while some schools use it to open online teaching classes,” he said.

“However, the negative impact causes children to become addicted to social media until they lose relationships with people and their families. These children become irritated, stressed and depressed, causing impacts on both their physical and mental health, such as attention-deficit and lack of confidence.”

He suggested that there should be an authority to supervise the use of social media by children, while parents should be informed on their accesses.

“The number of children seeking advice about being hated or bullied through social media is on the rise. This problem requires cooperation from school and parents,” he said.

He added that most of the children were teenagers, while elementary school children aged 7-8 years rarely have the problems.

“The treatment will become easier if they see the doctor immediately, but it depends on the family and the people close to them as well,” he added.

The blaze started at around 5.25am and took firefighters around one hour to put out the flames.

Buppha Ram Police Station deputy inspector Waritthorn Aonkrai said disaster prevention and mitigation officers and staff of Por Teck Tung Foundation were involved in dealing with the scene of the blaze.

“It was a big slum near Wat Kanlayanamit,” he said. “Firefighters used eight water nozzles to stop the fire from spreading,” he added.

Initial inspection showed the fire may have been started by a short circuit at a 100-year-old house. He said 10 houses were damaged and two old women were injured from inhaling the smoke.

The owner of the 100-year-old house, Yupa, 56, said that she sold krathongs during Loi Kratong Festival last month, and had kept those materials she used for creating krathong in a storage room on the second floor of her house.

“Around 5am, I found the storage room on fire. Our six family members, including my daughter and relatives, managed to escape,” she said.

Department of Health director-general Dr Panpimol Wipulakorn said that as the year draws to a close, the Department “is monitoring these beer gardens to make sure they comply with related health regulations, especially the Public Health Act BE 2535”, she said.

“Entrepreneurs looking to set up booths selling foods with music performance in an area larger than 200 square metres must obtain a permit from the local administration office,” she said. “Furthermore, in cities with regulations limiting activities that may affect health type 9 (6), which covers music performance in public area, entrepreneurs must obtain permit for activities under type 9 (6) as well.”

Panpimol further added that beer gardens selling foods must comply with ministerial regulations regarding hygienic conditions under food-selling establishment BE 2561. “Violation of these regulations may result in confiscation of permit as well as a maximum Bt50,000 fine or six months imprisonment, or both.”

“Sellers of alcoholic beverages must also follow the regulations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act BE 2551,” she added. “The Department of Health would urge people to drink moderately and responsibly, as alcohol causes several health problems and is one of the major causes of road accidents.”

Farmers from more than 20 families have been growing the mushrooms for distribution to large stores for almost a year,” she said. “This business has able to create enough revenue for those farmers, compensating for the low prices they are getting for rubber and palm oil.

Asara said that she started growing mushrooms at her house three years ago. After learning that market demand was at least 200 to 300 kilograms per day, she suggested her neighbors start cultivating them too.

Generally, farmers grow the mushrooms in the rubber or palm plantations. They use palm branches left by palm factories for nurseries. “Presently, we can harvest around 30 to 50 kilograms per day,” Asara added.

The growers also allow those without their own space to use their mushroom’s nurseries, as the soil can be used as fertilizer after the mushrooms are harvested.

In addition, Asara said that she wanted the government to help those who wanted to grow the mushrooms but had no funds to start. “Buyers have confirmed that there are still not enough straw mushrooms to satisfy demand.”

“Doi Kiew Low viewpoint is especially crowded today as it offers a panoramic view of Chiang Mai from 1600 metres up,” he said.

“Yesterday the park welcomed 1,556 visitors in 388 cars and 79 motorcycles, 395 of them choosing to stay overnight in the park’s accommodation,” Bancha added.

“There are also other tourist attractions nearby, such as Pong Dued Hot Spring in Mae Taeng district and Tha Pai Hot Spring in Pai district, both enjoying chilly temperatures of 8 and 13 degree Celsius respectively, plus other activities for tourists to enjoy.

The procession, which has taken place for nearly 700 years, will sail along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, and the government has prepared places to watch the magnificent barges, including Thammasat University, Santichaiprakarn Park, Nakapirom Park, Siriraj Hospital, and Wat Rakhang Khositaram.

The State Railway of Thailand’s director-general, Suthep Panpeng has said that Airport Rail Link will offer free rides from 5.30am to midnight. Tickets are available at all stations.

“This measure will be operated in parallel with the project of income guarantee for rice farmers,” he said.

The measures are divided into the following categories:

1. Payment of harvest fee and improving rice quality: Bt27.45 billion. This project will help farmers who registered in the first planting of the production year 2019 to 2020 and involves 4.57 million households who are entitled to Bt500 per rai, but not exceeding 20 rai or Bt10,000 per household. The committee will offer only one right per household.

2. Loans for rice collection by the Farmers Institute and compensation for rice traders to keep the stock. The committee approved the additional budget allocation of Bt1.37 billion for Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC)’s loans to delay the sale of unmilled rice.

The committee also approved the project to support the production cost for rice farmers by increasing the target to 4.57 million households, up by 0.26 million households from the previous 4.31 million households.

3. The committee extended the payment period for farmers in other regions from December 31 to April 30 next year, and approved an additional budget of Bt2.66 billion to reduce costs for farmers.

Deputy Director General and Spokesperson of the Department of Medical Services, Dr Narong Aphikulvanich explained that cold and dry weather caused the skin to become dry and rough, especially in the elderly and patients with skin allergies.

“Common skin disorders which are found during the cold season include dermatitis and dry skin,” he said. “These skin disorders are commonly found in children and the elderly due to bathing in hot water, which causes the skin to become sensitive to water, soap, or chemicals.”

He recommended warm not hot water for bathing and using cream or moisturizer when dry.

Meanwhile, the director of the department’s Institute of Dermatology, Dr Mingkwan Wichaidit added that patients with skin disorders should take care of their skin and should see a doctor if they feel a burning sensation or suffer itching.

“Patients with skin conditions should wear gloves, avoid touching chemicals or hot water. Children should not use antibacterial soap because it may cause irritation,” she said.

“There are 1.1 million registrants who were disqualified under 14-day rule,” he said. “However, the Ministry of Finance will give them a chance to re-authenticate their registration and receive the right to cash-back rewards until January 31, 2020.”

Registrants will be entitled to 15-per-cent cash back for spending of less than Bt30,000, and 20 per cent for spending of Bt30,001-50,000. The total cash back received is limited to Bt8,500 per person, he added.

“Please note that this second chance will give you only the cash-back reward from spending the money that you topped up, while the Bt1,000 giveaway will not be handed out again,” he said.

“To re-authenticate your registration, simply log on to Pao Tang application and input the mobile phone number and password that you used to register with the campaign,” said Pornchai. “Alternately, you can contact any branch of Krung Thai bank for assistance from staff.”

“However, you won’t get this second chance if you have changed phone number since the first registration,” added Pornchai.