How Thai government services are moving into the metaverse

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019266


Corporate leaders and technology suppliers who gathered to discuss metaverse development at this weekend’s “Thailand Metaverse Expo” were joined by government officials addressing their role in the ecosystem’s growth.

How Thai government services are moving into the metaverse

Supot Tiarawut, president of the Digital Government Development Agency (DGA), said his agency’s role was to “find new technologies for the digitisation of government and also equip government officials with digital skills”.

The idea of placing government services online is to give the public access at the click of a button. However, public users also need digital IDs for security.

How Thai government services are moving into the metaverse

“One service being digitised is the ID process to create standardised online identity verification for government support,” Supot told the “Metaverse Expo 2022” in Bangkok on Saturday.

The ID process is crucial for regulating digital transactions between tech providers and users, explained Sak Segkhoonthod, acting deputy director of the Electronic Transaction Development Agency (ETDA). “And this will be the same for the metaverse,” he added.

How Thai government services are moving into the metaverse

Chinawut Chinaprayoon, vice president of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), explained that while the DGA provides services and the ETDA regulates them, the DEPA’s role is to support growth of the digital economy sector in different ways.

These include matching promising tech start-ups with venture capital, connecting tech supply to demand (users) side and vice versa, as well as helping start-ups to access funding, he said.

Asked about their agencies’ roles in preparing for the metaverse, all three agreed that the metaverse industry was still at an early stage, but research on using it to provide services had already started and should continue if Thailand wanted to keep up with the global trend for transition from so-called Web 2.0.

How Thai government services are moving into the metaverse

Supot predicted government services such as driving licence application would remain offline but others such as complaint platforms could shift to the metaverse for added convenience. The platforms could also serve as a useful tool to update users on real-time progress in solving their complaints, he added.

Sak said the ETDA was making progress in the research and development on the effects of metaverse platforms on people’s lives.

The agency has launched a sandbox metaverse as a learning tool, he said.

He insisted there should be no prohibitions on using metaverse platforms during this trial-and-error period, which should be used to identify problems and what regulations are required.

He cited brainstorming for regulations for emerging metaverse hospitals.

“Question arise over how to regulate a hospital in the metaverse since the current Hospitality Facility Act does not cover this matter,” he said, adding that this was a challenge for the EDTA.

How Thai government services are moving into the metaverse

Meanwhile the DEPA is tasked with strengthening Thai tech start-ups for the new internet era. Those efforts are being focused on Thailand’s global “soft-power” reach via TV series, gaming and tourism. Chinawut said the agency is supporting this ecosystem through projects such as the DEPA Game Online Academy and the DEPA Accelerator Program which are upskilling the workforce for the future industry.

More support is coming from the DEPA Digital Startup Fund, which is backing young tech companies invited to events like the “Thailand Metaverse Expo”.

All three speakers admitted their agencies faced big challenges ahead in preparing for the metaverse era. Thus, flexibility was the key quality for policymakers dealing with metaverse development, they said.

“Governments must play a role in facilitating the emerging industry rather than trying to control it,” said Supot.

Sak added, “Rather than issuing prohibitions, policymakers should encourage the metaverse to grow and assist in finding ways to overcome obstacles.”

One difficult challenge for Thailand would be to create a level metaverse playing field for large enterprises and SMEs/start-ups, he said.

“Thailand lacks the finance infrastructure for small firms that other nations have, where they can fundraise from the start,” Sak added.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

Wild Boar Duangphet wins football scholarship in England

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Duangphet “Dom” Promthep, one of the 12 Wild Boar footballers who was trapped in Chiang Rai’s Tham Luang Cave in 2018, has won a football scholarship in England.

Wild Boar Duangphet wins football scholarship in England

Duangphet posted on Instagram that his dreams had come true after being accepted by the prestigious Brooke House College Football Academy 150 kilometres north of London. Launched in 2008, Brooke House nurtures talented footballers aged 12-19 for professional careers at clubs in England and across the world.

Duangphet thanked the Sports Education Foundation, Zico Foundation and Brooke House for granting him the scholarship.

He also thanked Vachiralai Bee School in Chiang Mai, where he has been studying since the 2018 cave drama, as well as Thai football manager and ex-player Kiatisuk “Zico” Senamuang, for their support.

“I promise to work hard and do my best,” he said.

Wild Boar Duangphet wins football scholarship in England

In June 2018, the world was transfixed for 17 days as an elaborate international rescue mission unfolded after the 12 Wild Boars and their coach were trapped by rising water in the Chiang Rai cave system.

The 200-metre-deep Chamber 1, which visitors use to enter the complex, was the command centre for a rescue operation led by Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn and Thai Navy Seals. Duangphet was part of the second group of boys carried out of the cave on July 9.

Wild Boar Duangphet wins football scholarship in England

The Wild Boars have since become celebrities, depicted in a series of films and documentaries about their ordeal.

The cave complex had been off-limits to the public until October 15 last year.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

Chinese couple arrested for alleged bid to mail heroin abroad

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A Chinese man and a woman have been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle 4.19 kilograms of heroin through a mail parcel to Australia.

Chinese couple arrested for alleged bid to mail heroin abroad

Pol Colonel Adis Charoensawat, deputy commander of Narcotics Suppression Division 3, said the two Chinese nationals were arrested on a road in Tambon Rai Khing in Samphran district of Nakhon Pathom province at 1pm on Monday.

The two were identified as Jun Di, 42, and Jia Li Xia, 28.

They were charged with being in possession of Category 1 narcotics with intent to sell and collaborating to smuggle the drug out of the kingdom.

Adis said officers from his division investigated and traced the two after Customs officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport detected suspicious parcels. Officials checked and found the drug hidden in between layers of PVC boards that were used to make boxes of bottle openers.

Chinese couple arrested for alleged bid to mail heroin abroadThe officials checked with the logistics firm and found that the suspects had sent the parcel from an office in Pattaya.

The two denied knowledge of the heroin, saying they were hired to send the parcel.

Police later checked their residence and froze assets worth 9.37 million baht, including two condominium rooms in the Ratchadaphisek area, worth 4 million baht, a condominium room in Sathorn worth 2.5 million baht, and two Pattaya condo rooms worth 2 million baht.Chinese couple arrested for alleged bid to mail heroin abroad

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

Too big for a monitor lizard: Ayutthaya locals call in croc catchers

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019249


Fisheries officials captured a two-metre-long crocodile from a canal in Ayutthaya’s Muang district early on Tuesday after it was spotted by local fishermen on Monday.

Too big for a monitor lizard: Ayutthaya locals call in croc catchers

Residents of Moo 1 village in Tambon Wat Toom noticed the crocodile in Klong Khuad on Monday and alerted the provincial fisheries office. The five-metre-wide canal connects Lop Buri River and Pa Sak River.

Fisheries staff rushed to the scene and erected nets across the canal to prevent the large reptile from escaping.

On Monday evening, Muang Ayutthaya district chief Witthaya Khiewrod led boats to hunt for the crocodile. A team of officials were deployed on the canalside to flush out the predator. After an hours-long search, the crocodile was finally captured at 2.10am on Tuesday.

Local fisheries officer Sompog Puengchu explained that villagers had flocked to the spot on Monday evening, prompting the croc to take cover under the water.

Too big for a monitor lizard: Ayutthaya locals call in croc catchersIt finally emerged late at night but it took officials four attempts before they could snare the creature.

The crocodile weighed about 90 kilograms and did not appear fierce.

Sompong did not say whether it was a wild crocodile or a farmed beast that had escaped its pen.

It was sent to a wild animal sanctuary in Ayutthaya province.

Too big for a monitor lizard: Ayutthaya locals call in croc catchersCrocodiles have a fearsome reputation in Thai culture thanks in part to the Phichit legend taught to young children in schools. The story tells of the semi-divine crocodile Chalawan, who eats humans but can also transform into human form in his underwater cave.

However, while crocodiles are regularly spotted and captured in Thailand’s rural waterways, reports of people being killed and eaten by the large predators are rare.

Published : August 23, 2022

Diwali to shine bright in Bangkok’s ‘little India’ this year

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019247


India’s famous festival of lights, Diwali, will be celebrated in Bangkok’s Pahurat area from October 21 to 23 this year.

Diwali to shine bright in Bangkok’s ‘little India’ this year

The Diwali Festival 2022 is being jointly organised by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and related agencies, like the Indian Association of Thailand and Destination Siam.

Bangkok deputy governor Sanon Wangsrangboon said the festival aims to shed light on Indian culture as well as attract more Indian tourists to Thailand.

He pointed out that Thailand has never marked any Indian festivals, adding that only Chinese New Year, Christmas and Songkran are celebrated in the capital.

Sanon WangsrangboonSanon Wangsrangboon

“This is a good opportunity to organise a major Indian festival in Bangkok for a change,” he said, adding that the fest also aims to promote Pahurat or “little India” among tourists.

Sanon said that Diwali celebrations will also mark 75 years of diplomatic ties between India and Thailand.

Diwali, also known as Deepawali, is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists. The festival usually lasts five days and falls between mid-October and mid-November based on the Hindu lunisolar calendar.

The festival is particularly associated with the Hindu goddess of prosperity Lakshmi and marks the beginning of the fiscal year in India.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

Department of Groundwater Resources hosts the 1st international academic symposium on groundwater in Thailand

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On August 22, 2022, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, by Department of Groundwater Resources, in collaboration with Groundwater Development Fund, hosted the “1st THAILAND INTERNATIONAL GROUNDWATER SYMPOSIUM: KEY TO WATER SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY”.

Department of Groundwater Resources hosts the 1st international academic symposium on groundwater in Thailand

The event will be held in Bangkok from August 22-24 at the Ballroom, Amari Watergate Hotel, followed by a study trip in Kanchanaburi province on August 25-26, in order to discuss and share knowledge, experiences, research findings including innovations and technology on groundwater issues, as well as to emphasize the significance of groundwater on the international stages.

HE. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, presided over the opening ceremony.

Department of Groundwater Resources hosts the 1st international academic symposium on groundwater in Thailand

During the “1st THAILAND INTERNATIONAL GROUNDWATER SYMPOSIUM: KEY TO WATER SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY”, the international academic symposium on groundwater is organized in Thailand for the first time, with presence of experts from more than 23 countries around the world, such as:

• Mr. Péter Kovács, Head of River Basin Management and Water Protection Department, Ministry of Interior, Hungary.

• Dr. Peter Dillion, Head of CSIRO Australian Research Teams.

• Prof. Dr. Makoto Taniguchi, Deputy Director-General of Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Japan.

• Prof. Dr. Kyoung-Woong Kim, Director of International Environmental Research Institute (IERI), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology.

• Dr. Jim LaMoreaux, Chairman of PELA GeoEnvironmental, IAH US National Chapter.

Department of Groundwater Resources hosts the 1st international academic symposium on groundwater in Thailand

This event marks an important occasion for the gathering of experts in the field of groundwater and includes the executives of the Department of Groundwater Resources, the executives of associated departments, academic work presenters, and more than 350 people interested in attending the event.

Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said during the opening ceremony: “On behalf of the Thai government and Thai people, it is our great pleasure to welcome you all to this international symposium. I believe that you are already aware that water is essential to our lives. Even though water is a renewable resource, it is also a limited resource, and we can still face water shortages in the future. A technical data has revealed that there is an abundance of groundwater throughout different regions of the world, and compared to the surface water, its volume is up to 30 times more. It will bring great benefits if we can develop groundwater sources to provide clean water that can be used in consumption or for industries.

Department of Groundwater Resources hosts the 1st international academic symposium on groundwater in Thailand

“This academic symposium on groundwater is a fantastic opportunity for all of us to exchange ideas, knowledge, and experiences regarding groundwater management. By doing so, it will lead us to collaboration for a wiser use and further conservation of groundwater, as well as making the benefits of groundwater to become more visible by the public.”

Department of Groundwater Resources hosts the 1st international academic symposium on groundwater in Thailand

Mr. Sakda Vicheansil, Director-General of the Department of Groundwater Resources, said “The Department of Groundwater Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as an official agency with the main mission of managing groundwater resources, realizes the benefits of upcoming developments and therefore organizes the 1st International Groundwater Symposium on the topic of Groundwater: The Key to Security and Sustainability.

“The objectives are to promote the academic progress on groundwater in Thailand through learning and sharing of experiences, research findings, and technological innovations, in order to raise the quality of the research to international level. In addition, we aim to build relationships between academic networks in Thailand and both national and international networks of other groundwater organizations, to lead to cooperation in integrated groundwater management and elevate groundwater management to meet the international standards.”

Department of Groundwater Resources hosts the 1st international academic symposium on groundwater in Thailand

The symposium includes 2 activities:

1. The academic seminars on the topic ‘Key to Water Security and Sustainability’; featuring oral and poster presentations on August 22-24, at Amari Watergate Hotel, Bangkok.

2. Study trip on the topic ‘Key to Water Security and Sustainability’, on August 25-26, in Kanchanaburi province.

For more details, please visit http://thaigroundwater-2022.org/
 

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

Chadchart, BMA turn to experts for advice on Bangkok floods

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019243


Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt visited the Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII) on Monday to seek advice on preventing floods in the capital and agreed to improve the flow of Bangkok canals.

Chadchart, BMA turn to experts for advice on Bangkok floods

Joining Chadchart in the visit to HII chairman Dr Royol Chitradon were deputy governor Wissanu Subsomphon, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) inspector-general Surat Charoenchaisakul and Asa Sukkhang, director of BMA’s Drainage Information Division.

The two sides discussed cooperation in water management and flood prevention efforts. They also discussed how the information provided by HII’s National Hydroinformatics Data Centre and its Hydrogence platform can be used to analyse potential flooding.

The BMA executives also learned how data and advice from HII had helped Nakhon Si Thammarat tackle floods and water shortages.

The two sides also agreed to jointly create a development model for the capital.

Chadchart, BMA turn to experts for advice on Bangkok floodsDuring the discussion, Royol warned Chadchart that there will be lots of rain next month, which will coincide with upstream runoffs, so the BMA should be ready to mitigate the impact of possible flooding.

Royol said the BMA team was shown a development model for Bangkok canals, which showed broken bridges being dropped to the bottom after the canals are dredged. He said this action and the raising of fish to get rid of waterweeds will improve water quality.

Chadchart, BMA turn to experts for advice on Bangkok floodsChadchart said he had turned to Royol for advice because he is a leading expert on water resource management. Also, he said, HII has a wealth of data collected from more than 50 other government agencies.

The governor said BMA will use HII data to develop the city’s 2,000-kilometre canal network, which will speed up the flood drainage.

Besides, he said, improving existing canals will cost less than building new drainage tunnels.

Chadchart, BMA turn to experts for advice on Bangkok floodsChadchart said the BMA and HII will initially try out the development model on specific canals. He added that Royol has also advised the BMA to hand the job of managing canals to district offices, so the development work can speed up.

The governor said Royol has also advised the BMA to increase more green spaces to cool down the capital. The expert noted that rain amount is often high in Bangkok because its skyscrapers create a heat trap and do not allow the storms to just pass through.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

Laundromat prank proves costly for two Chiang Mai teenagers

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019242


A laundromat in Chiang Mai shared a CCTV clip of two teenage boys stepping into washing machines for the sake of social media content.

Laundromat prank proves costly for two Chiang Mai teenagers

The laundromat “Shiba Inu Wash&Dry” posted four CCTV clips on its Facebook page on Monday with the caption: “This behaviour was not nice. Our property was damaged and our store is not anybody’s place to create content.”

The laundromat’s owner said he checked CCTV footage when he realised that two washing machines were broken, and the CCTV showed two teenage boys had come into the shop at around dawn on Monday.

The boys took turns in filming each other getting into washing machines. Both were heard gleefully describing the adventure in the clip.

The owner posted the CCTV content on Facebook and demanded that the teens take responsibility for their actions because two washing machines had to be repaired after the incident. He said this action was taken to prevent a repeat of such behaviour.

The owner also warned that the washing machines are industrial types and that such pranks can result in death if the washing machine is turned on.
 

Laundromat prank proves costly for two Chiang Mai teenagers

The owner later informed the reporter that he has removed the clips after the two boys apologised and paid for damages.
 

Laundromat prank proves costly for two Chiang Mai teenagers

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

Small True shareholders sue NBTC for lost earnings

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019240


Minority shareholders of True Corporation (True) are suing the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) for causing a delay in the merger of two telecom giants.

Small True shareholders sue NBTC for lost earnings

The lawyer Phetai Wattanasiri said on Monday that the shareholders also want compensation for losing the chance of purchasing the shares of Citrine Global Co Ltd and Citrine Venture SG Pte Ltd under the True and Total Access Communication (Dtac) merger deal.

He added that other people affected by NBTC’s move can also become part of this class-action lawsuit.

“As of March 14, more than 80,000 True minority shareholders have suffered over 160 billion baht in damages due to a delay in the merger deal consideration,” he said.

Phetai Wattanasiri Phetai Wattanasiri

He also claimed that no progress has been made after True and Dtac submitted a merger request to NBTC on January 25, even though the commission can set up specific measures for the merger.

He added that nine companies have submitted merger requests to NBTC between 2019 and 2021.

Small True shareholders sue NBTC for lost earnings

“This proves that people can file class-action lawsuits against government agencies if these agencies cause them damage,” he said.

He said that other victims can call him at (096) 061 7563, so he can add their names to the list before it is submitted to the court.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

Bangkok’s first monkeypox patient recovers fully after nearly a month in hospital

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Thailand’s second monkeypox patient has recovered and was discharged from Bangkok’s Vajira Hospital on Monday.

Bangkok’s first monkeypox patient recovers fully after nearly a month in hospital

Hospital director Chakrawut Maneerit said the 47-year-old Thai man, who was diagnosed with monkeypox on July 28, has recovered fully and did not put anyone else at risk.

The patient was treated in isolation and under international standards, the hospital said.

The patient, who was the first monkeypox case in the capital, was admitted to the hospital after developing a fever, muscle main and rashes.

It is believed he was infected after engaging in physical contact with a European man.

So far, five monkeypox cases have been discovered in Thailand, including a 27-year-old Nigerian man and a 25-year-old German man in Phuket, and two Thai women aged 22 and 25 in Bangkok.

The Nigerian man, who was the first to be diagnosed in the country, skipped across the border to Cambodia on July 20, where he was arrested before being admitted to the hospital for treatment.

Published : August 23, 2022

By : THE NATION