Thai reporters come up with new yearend handles for govt, ministers

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In keeping with traditions, reporters on the Government House have come up with nicknames for the government and its ministers. Here are some of the monikers handed out this year:

Thai reporters come up with new yearend handles for govt, ministers

Government: “Yue Yut” (Holding on Prayut)

This government continues to give all authority to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha with no concern about citizens and the country’s development.

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha: “Chamrut Yut Som” (Worn out Prayut)

Prayut has been single-handedly running the show all year, yet most people find his management style a complete failure, especially in terms of the Covid-19 crisis, economic stimulus measures and politics.

Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan: “Rong Chum” (Suffering Deputy Prime Minister)

As the eldest of the 3Ps – including Prayut and Anupong “Big Pok” Paochinda – Prawit has had a difficult year, especially in terms of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party’s internal conflicts.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul: “VAAAACCINE”

Anutin has had to defend himself against pressure and severe criticism related to the delay in the delivery of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines and general confusion over Thailand’s response to the pandemic. He has been the subject of unmerciful jokes on social media.

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit: “Nayok Bang Poll” (Prime minister in some poll)

Some surveys show that Jurin is a preferred PM choice for many political party leaders.

Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow: “Maha Choei 4D” (Superslow 4D)

The minister’s policies to deal with economic issues, such as rising oil prices, have been seen as ineffective. His growth projects like the 4D scheme have been labelled as just “daydreams”.

Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin: “Suchart Chom Keng” (Great with compliments)

Suchart is always full of praise for Prayut and Prawit when asked about the government’s policies or even his own work. His loyalty to Prayut is so strong that he even accepted the kickboxing challenge posed by Thai Civilised Party leader Mongkolkit Suksintharanon on the premier’s behalf. Mongkolkit had challenged Prayut to fight him in the ring and dared that the loser steps down from his post.

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob: “Sai Khom Nom Chompoo” (Bitter nature disguised as strawberry milk)

Saksayam has not been able to solve the long-standing bitter battle over the BTS Green Line. He was also linked to the Covid-19 cluster that sparked the third wave in April this year after a photograph of him at a bar in Bangkok’s high-end entertainment district Thong Lor began doing the rounds on social media. The minister defended himself by saying the photograph only reflects the life of a single man who sings karaoke and drinks “pink milk” for happiness after work.

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn: “Deal Lom Radab Lok” (World-class deal crash)

Phiphat’s dreams were dashed and the government’s credibility shattered when South Korea’s YG Entertainment rejected his offer to have BlackPink’s only Thai member Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban lead the New Year countdown in Phuket.

Quote of the year: “Naja”

Prayut often uses the endearment “naja” to soften his comments. However, this has sparked a wave of criticism online, with netizens accusing him of making light of the Covid-19 crisis. The hashtag #นะจ๊ะ (naja) was top-trending on Twitter on June 28.

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Published : December 28, 2021

By : THE NATION

Over a million pieces of fake news posted online in two years

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More than a million pieces of fake news have been posted on social media since November 2019, with teachers being in the group having the highest rate of sharing such news, the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry said on Wednesday.

Over a million pieces of fake news posted online in two years

DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakmanusorn told reporters that the Anti-Fake News Centre had detected 1,167,543 persons who posted fake news online and 23,785,145 persons sharing false news from November 1, 2019 until December 23, 2021.

The age range with the highest rate of sharing and posting such news is between 18 and 24 years old, while people between 55 and 64 years old are in the group with the lowest rate.

The top three career groups with the highest interest in fake news are journalists, managers/chief executives, and entrepreneurs.

The top three career groups with the highest rate of sharing fake news are teachers/students, photographers, and engineers.

The ministry added that fake news to do with government policy was shared more than 50,000 times per day among netizens while the government was coming out with aid measures to tackle Covid-19 outbreaks.

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Published : December 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

Thailand now has 740 Omicron patients: Medical Sciences Dept chief

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There are presently 740 Omicron patients in Thailand, Department of Medical Sciences director-general Suphakit Sirilak revealed on Wednesday.

Thailand now has 740 Omicron patients: Medical Sciences Dept chief

He said there were 226 Omicron patients from December 27 to 28 but most were infected with the Delta variant.

Suphakit said 740 Omicron patients were mostly found in Bangkok (277), followed by Kalasin (121) and Roi Et (50).

Of these, 489 had travelled from foreign countries and 251 were infected in Thailand.

The Omicron variant has been found in 19 provinces.

Suphakit said that cloth masks, surgical masks or N95 masks cannot prevent Covid-19 if people fail to wear them properly.
 

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He recommended that cloth masks should be made from muslin fabric with many layers.

Suphakit also warned that infected people who don’t wear their masks properly and sneeze or cough could spread Omicron.

He added that the variant has been found in 108 countries, including all states of the United States.

Published : December 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

Bomb set off by 2 insurgents damages Narathiwat Army command centre

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A bomb exploded near the rear wall of the Army’s 21st Special Forces Command Centre in Ban Ba Le village in Narathiwat’s Reuso district on Wednesday morning, damaging two concrete sheets and a concrete pillar that served as a wall for the structure.

Bomb set off by 2 insurgents damages Narathiwat Army command centre

Reuso Station police were alerted to the explosion at 6.15am.

Officials found bits of an improvised explosive device wired to a 20kg LPG canister, whose shells were scattered across the area.

The officers suspect the bomb was set off via radio frequency.

There was no report yet of injuries or deaths from the incident.

Bomb set off by 2 insurgents damages Narathiwat Army command centre

Police reviewed CCTV footage from a nearby railway signal pole and found two suspects on a motorcycle pass the rear wall twice just minutes before the explosion, although the camera did not capture exactly when or where the bomb was placed.

“The two suspects are positively male, although the pillion rider disguised himself in female clothes and a hijab,” the police said.

“We suspect they could be the same duo that set off a bomb to ambush border patrol soldiers on December 11 as the soldiers guarded Buddhist monks during morning alms in Reuso district. Witnesses at that time also said the pillion rider was actually a man dressed as a female,” the police added.

Bomb set off by 2 insurgents damages Narathiwat Army command centre
Bomb set off by 2 insurgents damages Narathiwat Army command centre

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Published : December 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

Omicron spreading due to short-range virus aerosols that easily enter mouth, nose: Siriraj doctor

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The cause of Covid-19 Omicron outbreaks was due to short-range virus aerosols which can easily enter the body through the mouth and nose, Dr Nithiphat Chiarakun, head of the respiratory disease and tuberculosis division at the Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Omicron spreading due to short-range virus aerosols that easily enter mouth, nose: Siriraj doctor

Nithiphat said an Omicron cluster occurred at a restaurant in Kalasin on Monday, where more than 20 people contracted the virus from a couple who had travelled back from Belgium. He said a number of musicians at the restaurant were infected even though they did not come into close contact with the couple because the variant can spread easily in a short range.

According to Nithiphat, the size of the Omicron aerosol is up to 50 micrometres in diameter (about the size of a hair), which is 10 times bigger than normal aerosols but can be inhaled through the nose and mouth.

Omicron spreading due to short-range virus aerosols that easily enter mouth, nose: Siriraj doctor
Omicron spreading due to short-range virus aerosols that easily enter mouth, nose: Siriraj doctor

Citing a laboratory study, Nithiphat said the variant residues in the upper respiratory system can easily be spread by talking, yelling, singing, coughing or sneezing.

Therefore, he urged business operators and customers alike to strictly abide by virus prevention measures, especially the quality of face masks used and proper ventilation at venues.

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Omicron spreading due to short-range virus aerosols that easily enter mouth, nose: Siriraj doctor

Published : December 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

PM orders strict monitoring of New Year events

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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has appointed the Interior and Tourism & Sports ministries to ensure that all organisers of New Year events abide by strict safety measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, the government’s deputy spokesperson Traisulee Traisoranakul said on Wednesday.

PM orders strict monitoring of New Year events

She said any events that violate Covid-19 prevention measures would be shut down immediately, citing Prayut’s instructions.

Traisulee went on to say that Thailand is closely monitoring the Omicron variant and strictly screening foreign visitors as well as gatherings during the New Year festival as Omicron is now a dominant strain in many countries.

“The Public Health Ministry said the Covid-19 alert level in Thailand is currently at level 3 [from a total of five], in which people can presently visit restaurants and various venues, but there is still a risk of getting infected,” she said.

“Where New Year events are concerned, the organisers must adhere to Covid-19 Free Setting and universal prevention measures to contain the spread of virus,” she warned.

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Published : December 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

Covid-19 screening points set up at Bangkok bus terminal, main railway station

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The Public Health and Transport ministries have together set up Covid-19 screening points with free antigen test kits (ATKs) at the Bangkok bus terminal and the main railway station from December 28 to January 3.

Covid-19 screening points set up at Bangkok bus terminal, main railway station

People who test positive via ATK tests will be retested using the RT-PCR method.

Patients who are confirmed to be infected and are under the Universal Coverage Scheme must call National Health Security Office hotline 1330 extension 14.

Those under the Social Security Scheme must call SSO hotline 1506 extension 6 for treatment if infected.

Patients who would like to be treated in their hometown or other provinces must call 1330 extension 15.

All patients are required to have their ID cards and inform the offices they call of their card number, test result, place, date and symptoms.

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Published : December 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

Extraordinary photo taken over Doi Inthanon shows passing comet and Nasa telescope launch plume

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) posted a unique photo of Comet Leonard passing Earth just as the James Webb Space Telescope was being launched into orbit. The photo was taken at Thailand’s famed Doi Inthanon National Park on Monday.

Extraordinary photo taken over Doi Inthanon shows passing comet and Nasa telescope launch plume

The rare yet thrilling atmospheric event was photographed by Matipon Tangmatitham from the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand.

“Which one of these two streaks is a comet? Although they both have comet-like features, the lower streak is the only real comet,” Nasa said.

Extraordinary photo taken over Doi Inthanon shows passing comet and Nasa telescope launch plume

The lower streak shows the coma and tail of Comet Leonard, a city-sized block of rocky ice, passing through the inner solar system as it continues its looping orbit around the Sun.

Comet Leonard recently passed its closest point to both Earth and Venus and will reach the Sun next week.

The comet, still visible to the unaided eye, has developed a long and changing tail in recent weeks.

Extraordinary photo taken over Doi Inthanon shows passing comet and Nasa telescope launch plume

In contrast, the upper streak is the launch plume of the Ariane V rocket that lifted the James Webb telescope into space two days ago.

Nasa’s largest and most powerful space telescope so far will orbit the Sun near the Earth-Sun L2 point and is scheduled to start observing the universe in the summer of 2022 as it peeks further into the past.

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Published : December 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

This week will be a severity indicator of Omicron outbreaks: lecturer

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The last week before New Year is going to be a severity indicator of Covid-19 Omicron outbreaks in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Medicine lecturer Thira Woratanarat wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

This week will be a severity indicator of Omicron outbreaks: lecturer

With the biggest holiday season of the year arriving, Thira urged people to celebrate the New Year with extra precautions in a bid to keep the pandemic from spreading yet again.

He said two face masks – a medical face mask and a cloth one – should be worn at all times while each person needs to strictly follow the social distancing rule of at least a metre.

He also said public transportation and group gatherings should be avoided.

Thira said New Year celebrations should be held only within family, with separate sets of food and utensils.

He urged those with signs of Covid-19 symptoms to get tested immediately.

Thira pointed out that a booster dose was the key factor in reducing the severity and spread of Omicron. But follow-up studies are required in order to specify the exact frequency of the vaccination, he added in his post.

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This week will be a severity indicator of Omicron outbreaks: lecturer

Published : December 29, 2021

By : THE NATION

NHRC calls on govt to assist Myanmar refugees, Thais in border areas

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The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) advised the government on Tuesday to assist Myanmar refugees and Thai nationals in Mae Hong Son and Tak border areas as soon as possible.

NHRC calls on govt to assist Myanmar refugees, Thais in border areas

The request came after the battle between Myanmar’s armed forces and the Karen resistance intensified, forcing Myanmar nationals to flee into Thailand while Thai citizens living in border areas were at risk of losing their property and lives.

The NHRC said it was closely monitoring the situation as human rights and safety were a concern.

“To create stability and safety on the Thailand-Myanmar border, the government should prepare for the situation based on the international non-refoulement principle” the commission said.

“Meanwhile, the government should have a clear policy to assist refugees, such as implementing the four necessities of life, disease prevention and treatment. In this Covid-19 crisis, the government should launch measures to enable refugees to be screened for the virus and have access to treatment and vaccines.”

NHRC calls on govt to assist Myanmar refugees, Thais in border areas

The commission also said the government should promote local mechanisms between the government, private business and civil society to take care of the refugees.

“Related agencies should provide safety for Thai nationals living on the Thailand-Myanmar border, such as building shelters, preparing an emergency plan and creating awareness,” the NHRC explained.

NHRC calls on govt to assist Myanmar refugees, Thais in border areas

It said its two commissioners, Preeda Kongpan and Sayamon Kaiyurawong, would go to Tak’s Mae Sot district to cooperate with provincial agencies on human rights in the area.

“The commission hopes that assisting victims in line with human rights principles during the unrest will be the first priority for every party,” the commission added.

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Published : December 29, 2021

By : THE NATION