BANGKOK — The elder sister of His Majesty the King on Wednesday night urged the government to bring Thai students stranded in China’s Wuhan home – the latest high-profile call on authorities to begin the evacuation.
Princess Ubolratana took to social media to question the government’s inaction as well as giving her own experience of trying to avoid the coronavirus in Bangkok. The government said the repatriation could begin by Feb. 4, but added that they have yet to secure permission from the Chinese authorities.
“I don’t know what the government is waiting for. They’re starving over there!” she wrote in response to a comment on Instagram.
Official figures say 64 Thais are residing in Wuhan, where the novel strain of coronavirus is thought to have originated. The city of Wuhan, along with other multiple cities and townships in China, are currently under a lockdown order.
The princess, who gave up royal titles decades ago but retained a place in the Royal Family, also shared photos of herself wearing a qipao at Wat Dibayavari Vihara for Chinese New Year.
“Yesterday I at the temple I took off my face mask temporarily because there were no Chinese tourists there, but when I went back outside I continued to protect myself,” she wrote.
She then congratulated doctors for helping the coronavirus patients to recover, and advised people to wear masks, wash hands frequently, and exercise.
Travelers wear facemasks at Don Mueang International Airport on Jan. 30, 2020.
The government is facing a rising chorus of scrutiny from the public as to why it has not brought back Thai citizens from Wuhan. Japan and the United States evacuated their nationals from the virus-hit city earlier this week.
In reply to a query during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday, deputy health minister Sathit Pitutecha said the government is seeking to repatriate Thai nationals from Wuhan “within Feb. 4,” but added that the Chinese authorities have yet to “formally” grant the flight permission.
Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who’s heading the government’s efforts to contain the virus, also said on Wednesday night the issue of evacuation is a complicated one, since China “is highly concerned about its national security.”
“We can’t just fly in blindly,” Anutin said in a Facebook Live video. “Even when I fly my own airplane there, I had to get permission.”
But he said the government has already prepared physicians, contamination suits, and other medical equipment for the evacuation once the operation is given a greenlight.
“I will be on that plane myself,” Anutin said. “The day we can pick up Thais in Wuhan, I will be on that plane as well. I’ll bring back Thai people there. I will not leave anyone behind.”
The government said 14 cases of coronavirus cases have been discovered in Thailand so far – all but one of them are Chinese tourists. Five of them already recovered and were cleared of the virus, health officials said.
Goods are sold at a market close to Thai-Laotian borders on Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province on Jan. 1, 2018.
BANGKOK (Xinhua) — A senior official from the Thai Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday told reporters that he is worried that the continuing strong Thai baht currency will again affect Thailand’s border trade with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Last year, Thailand missed the target of cross-border trade volume due mainly to the baht appreciation; this year the baht has not weakened, said Keerati Rushchano, said director-general of the ministry’s Foreign Trade Department.
The border trade in 2019 totaled 1.33 trillion baht (43.1 billion U.S. dollars), a 3.43 percent drop, he added.
Other than the strengthening of the Thai baht, global economic slowdown, trade frictions and overall volatile foreign exchange have also weighed in on Thailand’s border trade, Keerati said.
Of the total figures, exports from Thailand accounted for 750 billion baht (24.3 billion U.S. dollars), down 2.72 percent from the previous year, while imports were worth 587 billion baht (19 billion U.S. dollars), down 4.31 percent, said the senior official.
Community health workers check the temperature of a person who recently returned from Hubei Province, center of a virus outbreak, in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang Province, Monday, Jan. 27, 2020. (Chinatopix via AP)
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Organization is necessary to effectively fight the spread of a new coronavirus.
“It will be difficult to maintain health and prevent further infections in this region if (Taiwan) is excluded for political reasons,” Abe said during a parliamentary session. “We will continue to make our country’s stance clear at the WHO.”
TOKYO (Kyodo) — A tour guide living in Osaka Prefecture has been infected with the new coronavirus in addition to a Japanese bus driver, the health ministry said Wednesday, after they rode with Chinese tourists earlier this month.
The tourists were from Wuhan, the center of the deadly virus outbreak. Japan has confirmed eight infections.
Medical workers diagnosed with the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) pneumonia are cured and discharged from a hospital in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
BEIJING (Xinhua) — Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo by phone on Wednesday at the latter’s request, discussing efforts to combat the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) epidemic.
Pompeo conveyed sympathy for the casualties caused by the 2019-nCoV-linked pneumonia in China and expressed appreciation for China’s timely response to U.S. concerns after the outbreak of the epidemic.
Pompeo said that the United States is willing to keep in close communication and coordination with and provide necessary assistance for China, in order to jointly deal with the challenge to international health security.
Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people are making every effort to combat the pneumonia epidemic caused by the new virus.
Aerial photo taken on Jan. 28, 2020 shows laborers working at the construction site of Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)
China has established a working mechanism for joint prevention and control with multiple departments involved, and taken resolute and effective measures in Wuhan in central China’s Hubei Province, as well as other regions of the country, to contain the spread of the epidemic with all its strength, Yang said.
He noted that China has the confidence and capability to win the battle of epidemic prevention and control.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China, in an open, transparent and responsible manner, has promptly informed the World Health Organization (WHO) and relevant countries and regions, including the United States, of the epidemic situation.
In addition to sharing information such as the genetic sequence of the new virus at the first time, China has invited experts from the WHO and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions to do field study in Wuhan, Yang said.
China attaches great importance to the safety of all foreigners in China, including U.S. nationals, Yang said, adding that China stands ready to continue to maintain close coordination and cooperation with the United States.
A woman wearing a face mask packs her suitcase in the departures area of Terminal 5, after it was announced British Airways has suspended all services to and from China, at London's Heathrow Airport, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (Steve Parsons/PA via AP)
PARIS (AP) — European officials and business stepped up efforts Wednesday to counter a spreading virus from China that has killed more than 130 people. Airlines canceled flights to the Chinese mainland, businesses told employees to work from home and EU nations made plans to repatriate some 600 citizens from China.
European officials were seeking to both calm the public and to put up better barriers to protect citizens and workers from the virus. Nine people have been infected in Europe so far, in France, Germany and Finland.
One, an 80-year-old Chinese tourist, is on artificial respiration in a Paris hospital, after being initially turned away for testing from two hospitals because he didn’t meet all the criteria of a suspect case.
The deadly virus that emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan “is likely to get worse before it will get better,” European Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic told reporters in Brussels on Wednesday.
He said the EU has offered help to China to deal with the virus and can mobilize emergency financing and medical teams if needed.
“We are actively coordinating” with Chinese authorities to repatriate citizens from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Britain, he said.
He said planning for the evacuations was still underway. The United States and Japan have already evacuated some citizens from the affected area in China. Britain said it expected to bring back about 200 U.K. citizens from Wuhan on a flight Thursday and said they would be put into quarantine for two weeks. British media said that quarantine would likely be at a military base.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, second right, chairs a meeting on preventing the spread of coronavirus in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The official death toll from the virus rose Wednesday to 132, with confirmed infections jumping to nearly 6,000 cases, Chinese officials said. Scientists say there are still many questions to be answered about the new virus, including just how transmissible and severe it is.
In China’s Hubei province, 17 cities including Wuhan have been locked down, trapping more than 50 million people in the most far-reaching disease control measures ever imposed.
The EU administration urged all of its staff to postpone any non-essential travel to China and called an emergency meeting for health ministers from all 28 members to discuss the outbreak.
“We mustn’t underestimate the situation. We need to mobilize all our tools,” said European Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides.
The Nordic region confirmed its first case Wednesday, a Chinese tourist in northern Finland, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare said. The 32-year-old woman was being treated at an isolation ward at hospital in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland.
In France, hospital officials held an emergency meeting after discovering that the 80-year-old Chinese tourist had been in contact with hospital personnel and other patients for three days before he tested positive for the virus.
The man initially had a fever but no signs of respiratory trouble, and is not from Wuhan but about 400 kilometers (240 miles) north of there, Dr. Yazdan Yazdanpanah, the infectious diseases chief at Bichat Hospital, told reporters Wednesday.
Because he “didn’t fulfill the definition” of someone at risk of having the virus, two hospitals decided it was unnecessary to test him, Yazdanpanah said.
“If we have to hospitalize all patients who have a fever and come from China, that’s dangerous for our hospital system in general,” the doctor said.
Bichat Hospital is leading French efforts to treat patients with the virus, but hospital officials said it only has nine beds for infected patients.
On the airline front, British Airways, Germany’s Lufthansa and its subsidiaries Austrian Airlines and Swiss said Wednesday they are halting flights to mainland China, joining several Asian carriers that are either suspending or significantly cutting back service there due to fears of spreading the virus and endangering the health of employees and passengers.
German auto parts maker Webasto said Wednesday it has temporarily shut down its headquarters near Munich after four employees were confirmed to be infected with the new virus. The infections are believed to have occurred following contact with a Chinese employee who had traveled to Germany to lead a training session. The company said most of the 1,000 staff at its site in Stockdorf are working from home for the time being.
Russian President Vladimir Putin urged the government to “be prepared” for dealing with a possible outbreak of the new virus, even though Russia has not had a confirmed case so far. Russia shares a long border with China and up to 2 million Chinese tourists visit Russia every year.
“It is a new phenomenon, and the question is how well we are prepared for this challenge,” Putin said Wednesday during a meeting with Cabinet members.
In sports, the Danish top-tier soccer club Aalborg Boldklub decided not to play a friendly against the Wuhan Zall club from the top Chinese league. They had been planning to meet up in Spain.
Jill Lawless in London, Frank Jordans in Berlin, Daria Litvinova in Moscow and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen contributed to this report.
People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (Chinatopix via AP)
SEATTLE (AP) — People around the world are buying up protective face masks in hopes of keeping the new virus from China at bay. Some companies have required them for employees. Schools in South Korea have told parents to equip their children with masks and hand sanitizer when they return from winter vacation.
But do the masks work? It depends.
All viruses are small enough to get through a typical strap-on medical mask, but the germs don’t generally spread through the air one at a time, said Dr. Mark Denison of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. Denison studies SARS and MERS, which are coronaviruses, the same family as the new virus.
Instead, viruses ride from person to person on droplets from a sneeze or cough. Those droplets land on hands and other surfaces, where they are touched by others, who then touch their own eyes, noses or mouths.
Masks can block large droplets from a sneeze or cough. That means they have some value, Denison said.
Also, someone in a mask can’t touch their own nose and mouth. That can prevent the wearer from picking up germs left on surfaces by someone who is sick, he said.
Masks are “a very sensible precaution” while scientists work to study exactly how the new virus is transmitted, said University of Oxford researcher Trudie Lang.
None of this, however, is based on rigorous research. Nobody has compared groups of masked and unmasked people by exposing them to the new germ, Denison said. A 2017 review of studies in health care workers suggested masks offer some protection against SARS, but the authors noted “existing evidence is sparse and findings are inconsistent.”
The best way to avoid getting sick from the new virus is to wash your hands with soap and water. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. That’s the same advice for avoiding regular cold and flu viruses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendsmasks for people being evaluated for the new virus, people confirmed to have it, household members and caregivers. Airline crew should offer a face mask to a sick traveler, the CDC said.
Health care workers treating patients with the new virus are advisedby the CDC to take additional precautions such as goggles or face shields.
UNICEF said Wednesday it has shipped six metric tons of respiratory masks and protective suits to China for use by health workers.
In Tokyo, 21-year-old hotel employee Hasumi Tsuchida said she wears a mask. “I work in a hotel where many guests are from China,” she said. “I worry a bit when foreign guests arrive.”
Masks have been commonly used in some countries when wearers are sick, fighting allergies or on days when air pollution is bad. The new virus has fueled demand for them around the world.
Respilon, a Czech company that makes its “nanofiber” masks in China, sold 700,000 of them last year worldwide. Since last week, it received orders for 7 million more. The problem: It cannot make any because the Chinese government extended the Lunar New Year holiday in a bid to contain the virus’ spread.
In Taiwan, where the holiday is over, factories are up and running. Premier Su Tseng-chang said the government had already distributed 23 million masks and that Taiwan will be able to produce 4 million more a day.
A mask factory in Shanghai has gone into overdrive despite the holiday.
“We are now working 24 hours, 2 shifts a day, 12 hours shift,” said Liao Huolin, president of the mask company. “We violated labor law,” Liao said, “but the workers understand.”
___
AP journalists Tong-hyung Kim in Seoul; Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo; Havovi Todd in London; Taijing Wu in Taipei, Taiwan; Erika Kinetz in Shanghai and Karel Janicek in the Czech Republic contributed to this report.
European Parliament President David Sassoli, center, stands with other British MEP's and members of the political group Socialist and Democrats as they participate in a ceremony prior to the vote on the UK's withdrawal from the EU at the European Parliament in Brussels, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Parliament overwhelmingly approved the departure terms of the United Kingdom from the European Union — the final major decision in the four-year Brexit saga.
After an emotional final debate on Wednesday, legislators voted for the withdrawal agreement that will end Britain’s 47-year membership in the bloc. The vote was 621 to 49 in favor of the Brexit deal, with 13 abstentions.
After Britain’s departure on Friday, the U.K. will remain within the EU’s economic arrangements until the end of the year though it won’t have a say in policy as it will not be a member of the EU anymore.
“We will always love you and you will never be far,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on a day when some legislators were moved to tears.
Britain is the first country to leave the EU and for many in Europe its official departure at 11 p.m. London time on Friday, Jan. 31 is a moment of enormous sadness and reduces the number in the bloc to 27.
British MEP’s hold up scarves during a ceremony prior to the vote on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, the final legislative step in the Brexit proceedings, at the European Parliament in Brussels, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
The parliament’s chief Brexit official, Guy Verhofstadt, said that “this vote is not an adieu,” adding that it is “only an au revoir.”
With only two days to spare, legislators will vote to approve the withdrawal agreement that will end the 47-year membership of Britain. At the same time, the vote will cut the 73 U.K. parliamentarians from the 751-seat legislature where die-hard Brexiteers have been a disruptive force for years.
“That’s it. It’s all over,” said Nigel Farage, who has campaigned for Brexit for two decades. On departing the scene, the man who arguably did more than anyone else to move the country to vote for Brexit waved Britain’s Union Flag.
Now, negotiations move on how to cooperate in the future. Britain is seeking to thrash out a comprehensive trade deal within 11 months.
That timetable is viewed as ambitious by many observers of trade discussions, which can often drag on for years.
“We will not yield to any pressure,” French President Emmanuel Macron said. “ The priority is to define, in the short, medium and long term the interests of the European Union and to preserve them.”
The EU has said such a timespan is far too short and fears remain that a chaotic exit, averted this week, might still happen at the end of the year if the transition ends without any agreement in place.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage speaks during a media conference at the European Parliament in Brussels, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
“The urgency of the 11 months of the calendar should in no way lead us to rush, to accept compromises that would hurt our interests,” said Macron’s Europe minister, Amelie de Monchalin. “A trade accord is an agreement that lasts for several decades and we should ensure that we always put fundamental issues of content before calendar issues.”
Even though the European Commission’s task force, led by Michel Barnier, is negotiating on the EU’s behalf, the impact of major nations like France and Germany on those talks is important.
De Montchalin said that unless Britain asks to extend the transition period before the summer, both sides will be facing a cliff-edge scenario by the end of the year where borders could be closed, tariffs imposed and rules changed overnight, to the detriment of smooth trade.
“That’s why we had long discussions this morning on the need to prepare for such a scenario, through contingency measures that we have to keep active to be ready for all eventual scenarios,” de Montchalin said in Paris.
MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit by MQDC offers super-luxury residences designed to embrace every generation, where all residents will share delightful moments with their families, care for each other, and bring back the root of true happiness.
With a project value of THB6 billion, MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit is perfectly positioned in the heart of Sukhumvit, just 250 meters from BTS Ekkamai, and surrounded by the city’s lifestyle destinations for every generation to enjoy.
Designed as a space for happiness, the property stands out for its advanced technology for living and its focus on enriching quality of life with a wide range of exclusive services and enjoyable activities covering all needs.
Available for presales on 1-2 February, starting from 175,XXX baht/sqm.
Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC) held a press conference today to officially launch “MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit by MQDC”. The show gallery was also unveiled for prospective customers to inspect full-scale mockup units.
MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit by MQDC is conceived as Thailand’s first super-luxury property brand to meet the residential and lifestyle needs of every generation under the theme “DESIGN FOR THE FINEST INTERGENERATION LIVING”.
The press conference at the property’s sales office on Sukhumvit Road was led by Mr. Keerin Chutumstid, President, Property & Service Business Group of Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC). Speakers included Mr. Roongrote Chongsujipan, Senior Vice President of MQDC’s MULBERRY GROVE brand, as well as Ms. Aliwassa Pathnadabutr, Managing Director of CBRE Thailand.
Mr. Keerin Chutumstid, President, Property & Service Business Group of MQDC, said: “Under MQDC’s principle of ‘For All Well-Being’ we develop projects that meet the needs of residents by providing well-being in every aspect for them, including all ages, to living happily together. MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit is an initiative from MQDC to provide more than a residence. It will be a place of happiness tailored to every generation, providing fulfilling family relationships, where everyone cares for each other and gets back to the root of true happiness.”
Mr. Roongrote Chongsujipan, Senior Vice President of MQDC’s MULBERRY GROVE brand, said: “MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit is the first ever Super-Luxury Residence brand in the Thai property market designed and developed to meet the residential needs of every generation. Based on deep research, MQDC has found that most Thais want to live together in a big or extended family while enjoying their own space and having their individual requirements. We have therefore designed ‘INTERGENERATION’ space that truly allows for sharing and spending time together. All elements of this residential project have been crafted with the needs of every generation in mind to make it a true intergeneration living experience.”
Built on a site of 2.5 rai (4,000 sq.m) with a total project value of more than THB6 billion, MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit is a 37-storey high-rise residential building with 287 residential units and more than 100% parking provision.
The exclusivity of the address is underlined by many distinctive elements. Its core concept, DESIGN FOR THE FINEST INTERGENERATION LIVING, starts from the MULBERRY INTERGENERATION FACILITIES. These shared amenities are abundant for the numbers of units and residents, with a common area of 1.9 rai and greenery of 0.9 rai.
The MULBERRY FACILITIES consist of 5 core elements:
Intergeneration Well-Being
Facilities designed for intergeneration wellness. A CAREGIVER service can provide healthcare specialists to help with urgent need 24/7. Four swimming pools meet the needs of everyone in the family: INFINITY SKY POOL, HYDROTHERAPY POOL, THERMAL POOL, and CHILDREN’S POOL. The SKY-HIGH GYM STUDIO provides health-conscious residents with a fully equipped world-class fitness studio and a stunning panoramic view of the city. The PRIVATE SPA offers exclusive spa rooms with a choice of relaxing and revitalizing spa treatments. The PRIVATE SKY-HIGH ONSEN is a traditional Japanese-style private onsen for everyone in the family. Other wellness facilities include the BALLET SUITE, PATIO GYM, and YOGA SUITE, where learners can enjoy private classes with their instructors.
Intergeneration Knowledge
A variety of learning spaces are available at MULBERRY GROVE. Everyone can reserve a private space in the PRIVATE STUDY STUDIO for work, homework, or small group private tuition. Whatever your age, the MULBERRY LIBRARY has a vast collection of books for you to read. The CHILDREN’S ROOM has been designed to encourage every kid to discover new talents and social skills.
Intergeneration Social Lifestyle Suite
The residences encourage living in harmony with nature with 3 sustainable gardens on the ground level. The GOURMET COURTYARD is for planting home-grown herbs and vegetables. Residents can grow their favorite kitchen plants together and share their harvest with their neighbors. The garden’s staff are also ready to serve residents. A carefully curated ENGLISH COURTYARD invites residents to enjoy picnics. An INTERGENERATION COURTYARD brings family members together in a host of fun activities. These can provide wonderful spaces for a moms’ tea party, a children’s playground, a tree house, or an outdoor workout venue for the elderly.
Intergeneration Mulberry Service
Quality of life is enhanced through a complete range of residence services. The WELLNESS MANAGER can give useful gym and healthcare advice. COMPLIMENTARY AFTERNOON TEA and desserts help residents unwind. A one-stop CONCIERGE SERVICE is always ready to assist for greater convenience and worry-free lifestyles. Residents can also enjoy MULBERRY ACTIVITIES and workshops throughout the year to cultivate friendships and family bonds.
The entire building and its residences are based mainly on the concept ‘DESIGN FOR THE FINEST INTERGENERATION LIVING’. Each unit has been designed as a home where the entire family can live their best lives. In addition to private space, different generations have a common area to live together and share experience and knowledge, truly building the foundation for joy and happiness through deep family bonds. Inside each unit, the NOOK MULTI-PURPOSE SPACE can become everyone’s favorite customizable place: a cherished reading spot for children, the venue for mom’s tea parties, or a balcony garden for granddad. The WIDE FRONTAGE DESIGN lets each unit capture spectacular views.
All rooms have wide windows with full unobstructed views. The living room and dining room are conveniently connected and provide a useful space for everyone to interact in family activities. There’s always enough space for all the family. The master bedroom is spacious, with room for a wheelchair or an extra bed for kids. The extensive, fully equipped kitchen has an enclosed design and 2 ventilation systems to prevent cooking odors from creeping out to the rest of your residence.
In each bedroom, an energy recovery ventilation (ERV) system monitors air conditions such as CO2 and automatically lets in fresh air so everyone has healthy air to breathe. Importantly, the structure of each unit can be interconnected to add more residential functions and fit different living requirements. Above all, MQDC offers a warranty of 30 years for your peace of mind.
The condominium is also an ideal base for those looking for convenience. It perfectly meets intergeneration needs thanks to its location on Sukhumvit Road, one of Bangkok’s most important business and lifestyle districts. The residences are just 250 meters from BTS Ekkamai, very close to direct links to expressways, and surrounded by schools, business amenities, lifestyle destinations, and leading hospitals.
MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit offers residences with 1 bedroom (47-56.50 sq.m) and 2 bedrooms (87-114 sq.m) and penthouses with 2-5 bedrooms. The starting price is 175,XXX baht/sq.m.
“Presales will be available on 1-2 February this year. Backed by our commitment to building a residential property for ultimate family happiness, we believe that the design has paid attention to every detail to make MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit the right choice for intergeneration bonding that creates true happiness for all,” said Mr. Roongrote.
Ms. Aliwassa Pathnadabutr, Managing Director of CBRE Thailand, said that today’s residential market is changing significantly. One of the rising trends is to build condominiums that meet the needs of Thailand’s aging society. Therefore, developing residential projects that can best respond to those needs is essential.
“Residential demand among the elderly is increasing and, as a result, a new trend for the property development industry has been increasingly noticeable. Like MQDC, which has researched and developed the brand-new MULBERRY GROVE Sukhumvit being launched today, more developers have shifted to respond to these customers’ needs.”
Apart from developing residences to address changing social requirements, services in the project are also important. Especially in the super-luxury segment, developers need to deliver widely recognized premium features for ultimate living experience. These include caregiver services, with a focus on healthcare for older adults or others in case of emergency. Wellness managers provide care and give health advice. Concierge services respond to personal requests and provide immediate assistance.
The 30-year warranty, covering the 4 core elements of the residence, including the structure, roof, doors, and windows, as well as sanitary and electrical system, is another crucial element.
“Convenient facilities within the residence are also vital because today’s society has become a sharing community. Residents increasingly tend to socialize and enjoy activities together. Therefore, developers should give more importance to common areas – not only swimming pools or gyms but also common space that fits lifestyle needs and group activities. The common space should also help create a sense of community and make it a better place to live. It should meet the needs of customers who increasingly seek to live in their condominium in a sustainable way,” said Ms. Aliwassa.
The Key Highlights
30-YEAR WARRANTY A warranty of 30 years covers 4 core elements of your residence, including the structure, roof, doors, and windows as well as piping and electrical system.
MULBERRY SPECIAL SERVICES As a Mulberry resident you can enjoy exclusive extra services such as a 24-hour emergency caregiver, a concierge service, a wellness manager, and daily complimentary afternoon tea.
INTERGENERATIONAL ACTIVITIES Join a cooking workshop, exercise class, and other countless activities that will be held throughout the years to ensure that everyone at Mulberry Grove Sukhumvit can build bonds with family and neighbors.
ENERGY RECOVERY VENTILATION (ERV)WITH IAQ Sophisticated technology takes energy from air leaving the building to treat incoming air, efficiently ensuring the quality of indoor air. The system safeguards your well-being by keeping down the level of carbon dioxide while supplying clean, fresh, filtered air.
SECURITY AI To enhance your safety, comfort, and convenience, each household enjoys the support of intelligent security robots through a collaboration between MQDC and a leading tech company.
COMBINABLE/CONNECTABLE ROOMS Residences are designed to combine and connect, meeting the needs of extended families seeking a place to live together and a layout that best fits all family members at every moment.
Location This residential property is in one of the capital’s best locations. It is just 250 meters from BTS Ekkamai and in one of Bangkok’s most important business districts. The location also features various lifestyle destinations that match different needs. It is surrounded by leading schools, business centers, shopping malls, entertainment venues, and hospitals. There are also direct links to convenient public transportation networks for ideal living of every generation.
Workers gnaw the bones from chicken feet in a video taken at Nonglak Payakprom's factory Jan. 23, 2020 in Nong Khai.
NONG KHAI — While fears of animal-borne illnesses sweep the globe, one chicken processing plant in the northeast was caught gnawing chicken bones out of chicken feet – it’s faster than using tools, the factory owner said.
Days after videos of workers biting the bones out of chicken feet at the factory went viral, local health officials took action on Wednesday and ordered the factory to use pliers to remove the bones instead. Despite the fatal risk of the nibbling raw poultry parts, police say no one has filed a complaint, and therefore no legal action would be taken as of now.
“It seems that they didn’t commit any crime yet. Even the provincial officials haven’t filed anything,” Police Col. Techarat Pathumchart of Ban Duea police said. “However, if the factory doesn’t comply with orders to stop using mouths, then they would be in the wrong.”
The bone-gnawing horror was first brought to the public attention on Friday, when Nong Khao Online News Facebook page posted a video of eight factory workers biting bones out of chicken skin, spitting them out, and placing the deboned feet in another sack or bucket.
Nonglak Payakprom at her factory in Nong Khai on Jan. 28, 2020.
Watcharapong Homwuttiwong, a dentist with the provincial health office, said using the mouth to bite off the flesh could result in transmitting bacteria from the respiratory and digestive systems by saliva as well as gum diseases, cavities, mumps, herpes, the flu, and so on.
“It could be fatal if inflammatory diseases such as Hepatitis A and B are transferred and spread to others,” Watcharapong said.
Factory owner Nonglak Payakprom said human mouths were more efficient than using tools.
“Before, we used pliers but no one wanted to buy them because the shape was all ruined,” Nonglak said. “In the five minutes it takes to remove the bones with pliers, you could bite the bones out from five feet.”
Nonglak’s chicken plant is currently closed to train workers to use tools instead, she said. Nonglak also invited the provincial governor and local media to see the workers removing bones and claws from chicken feet by hands, pliers, and knives in a demonstration at her factory today.
