#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015792

Artificial reefs installed in the Gulf of Thailand around Surat Thani’s Koh Pha-ngan island nine years ago have given a significant boost to marine wildlife in the area.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa, however, said he had to cancel his plan to dive down and check the reefs for himself due to high waves and monsoon.

The artificial reefs are made with seven decommissioned petroleum wellhead platforms that were donated by Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd.

“Though I have not seen it in person, the photos taken by divers yesterday [May 20] show the artificial reefs have served as the foundation of an underwater ecosystem, which helped increase the number of marine life around the island significantly,” he said.

The reefs were installed in September 2013 as part of a rig-to-reef project conducted in partnership with eight petrol exploration companies. Since then, the ministry has installed more than 150,000 artificial reefs made from decommissioned petroleum rigs covering some 36,000 rai of Thailand’s waters.

“I have instructed the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to monitor the condition of these artificial reefs and record changes and impacts to marine resources periodically, so we can make further improvements when implementing the project elsewhere,” he said.

On March 8, 2019, the ministry announced the area around the Koh Pha-ngan artificial reefs as a protected site. Fishing and diving activities have been banned in a bid to accelerate the rate at which young coral will latch on to the artificial reefs.

“We have learned that limiting human activity is key to rebuilding new coral, which will serve as shelter to marine life. The ban will be in effect until March 8, 2023,” Varawut said.

Published : May 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015790

A Bangkok motorcycle taxi driver was lauded not just for his honesty, but also for his generosity when he handed over a dropped wallet and refused the reward.

Preecha Mudlung, 39, went to Prachachuen Police Station in Chatuchak district to report he had lost his wallet on Saturday while heading to work on his motorbike.

Meanwhile, motorbike taxi driver Somnuek Sitthiprom and a passenger were at the same police station to report they had found a wallet.

When Somnuek asked Preecha if the wallet he found was his, Preecha checked it and found that his ATM card, ID card, driving licence and 4,000 baht in cash were all there, untouched.

Preecha said when he could not find his wallet he decided to report the loss to the police so he could freeze his ATM card.

Somnuek said he found the wallet on the road while he was delivering a passenger. He said he picked up and opened the wallet with the passenger as a witness before heading to the police station.

Preecha then tried to hand 500 baht to Somnuek, who refused it, saying Preecha probably needed it more due to the current economic situation. The motorbike taxi driver, however, said he would settle for two bottles of energy drink. Preecha, meanwhile, said he was so happy that there are still some good people in society and wanted to share this story.

Published : May 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015788

The Interior Ministry has joined several organisations to work on solving problems faced by the underprivileged in Thailand with the use of big data.

Speaking at the “Better Thailand Open Dialogue” on Friday, Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda said the government was looking for ways of dealing with the poverty problem.

He said the authorities rely on the Thai People Map and Analytics Platform (TPMAP) for details on the underprivileged, so the problem can be tackled from all aspects including income, health and education.

According to TPMAP, Thailand’s “targeted poor” population has risen to 1.03 million this year, up by 42,466 persons since 2019.

He said the government will also send out teams to knock on people’s doors and collect information personally.

“The plan to tackle the country’s poverty problem within this fiscal year has been criticised, with many people saying it cannot be done. My aim is to get relevant organisations to listen to the problems and find a solution,” he said.

He added that the TPMAP will be used to tackle poverty from five aspects, namely health, livelihood, income, education and accessibility to public services. The government will also use big data to create management guidelines.

TPMAP is a government-sponsored platform built in cooperation with the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (NECTEC) and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA).

The platform collects information about the population, namely newborns, education, the elderly and housing.

Published : May 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015787

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has installed water pumps in 11 canals across the capital to prepare for the rainy season.

Somsak Meeudomsak, deputy director of the BMA’s Drainage and Sewerage Department, said on Friday that the water pumps will help “ease the flood situation” and several drainage projects should be completed this month.

So far, pumps have been installed at:

• Khlong Lat Phrao (4 pumps)
• Khlong Bang Talat (3)
• Wat Thewasunthon (3)
• Ratchadapisek Bridge (3)
• Southern Line intersection (2)
• Khlong Ban Mai (4)
• Khlong Bang Na (4)
• Khlong Phra Khanong (2)
• Khlong Prawet Buri Rom (4)
• Khlong Lat Phrao (Lat Phrao 56 watergate) (2)
• Khlong Bang Khen (2)

Published : May 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015784

Young children will only need half the adult dose of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, according to the Thai importer of the jabs.

The Thailand Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Moderna vaccine in children aged 6-11 last week.

“Recipients in this age group will receive two jabs of Moderna at 50 micrograms each at an interval of 28 days,” said Sunaina Kitkasetpaisal, general manager of vaccine importer ZP Therapeutics Zuellig Pharma Thailand.

Studies show that two doses of 50mg for children aged 6-11 are as effective against Covid-19 as two 100mg doses in adults aged 18-25, she added.

She said Australia, Canada and European countries had already approved the use of Moderna vaccine in children aged six and over.

Moderna is an mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine that stimulates the body’s cells to create a protein similar to the spike of the Covid-19 virus. This protein then stimulates an immune response in the body that protects against infection.

“We are glad to play a part in supporting the government’s plan to transition to endemic Covid-19 in the near future,” Sunaina said.

The government has set a tentative deadline of July to declare Covid-19 endemic.

On Saturday, Thailand recorded 5,377 new Covid-19 cases and 37 deaths. Meanwhile 5,775 patients recovered and left hospitals. Cumulative cases since the beginning of the year stand at 2,183,320.

As of Friday, Thailand had administered just over 136 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine. Of these, 56.563 million were first jabs, 52.108 million second jabs, and 27.391 million were boosters.

Published : May 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015782

The government has hit back at social media criticism that branded its “Better Thailand, Open Dialogue” event a propaganda exercise and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Held at Bangkok’s Siam Paragon on Thursday and Friday, the event saw Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha take the stage to talk about his government’s achievements and Thailand’s future direction.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Friday that the event was sponsored by private partners and did not use government budget.

It was hosted by three Chulalongkorn alumni associations as well as the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB), which represents the Board of Trade, Federation of Thai Industries and Thai Banker’s Association.

The ministers of energy and finance and the Bank of Thailand governor were among at least 35 speakers at the forum, which was broadcast live on YouTube.

However, the event saw sparse attendance with many of the seats unoccupied even during the PM’s keynote speech.

“The event was a collaboration among Chulalongkorn University’s alumni associations from the faculties of engineering, commerce and accountancy, and economics, the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industries, and the Thai Bankers’ Association,” said Thanakorn.

“The government did not spend a single baht on this event,” he said, adding that the budget was provided by PTT Group and other private companies.

“The prime minister and participating ministers used the forum to convey government policies to the public, which should help in moving the country forward and creating mutual understanding between the government and the people,” Thanakorn said.

Published : May 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015781

United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai on Friday (May 20) met with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Jurin Laksanawisit, before the official opening of the 2022 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting. Ambassador Tai thanked Minister Laksanawisit for his gracious hospitality and underscored her full support for Thailand’s APEC host year.

Ambassador Tai and Minister Laksanawisit highlighted the important bilateral relationship between the United States and Thailand. Ambassador Tai affirmed Thailand’s importance as a trading partner and friend in the region. She underscored the Biden-Harris Administration’s pursuit of worker-centric trade policies that create durable, inclusive growth and Minister Laksanawisit provided an update on Thailand’s labor reform efforts. Ambassador Tai then discussed the upcoming launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which will create a fairer, more resilient economy for families, workers, and businesses in the United States and in the Indo-Pacific region.

Ambassador Tai and Minister Laksanawisit looked forward to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference next month. They both emphasized the importance of reforming the organization and Ambassador Tai stressed the need to find a meaningful outcome to the negotiations around disciplining Fishing subsidies. Ambassador Tai concluded by saying that she looks forward to building on Thailand’s success and a positive transition to the United States hosting APEC in 2023.

Published : May 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015775

Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (May 21) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 5,377 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, two of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 37, while 5,775 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 2,183,320.
 

Published : May 21, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015767

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has expressed its readiness to collaborate with Thailand, as the Kingdom prepares to cope with an ageing society, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

UNFPA deputy executive director Diene Keita paid a courtesy call on the ministry’s deputy permanent secretary, Chulamanee Chartsuwan, on May 11 to exchange views on further cooperation between the fund and Thailand.

Kieta praised Thailand for being at the forefront of development cooperation through South-South and Triangular Cooperation, particularly the UNFPA and Thailand’s joint projects on Health System Development in Bhutan and Midwifery Education in the Lao PDR.

The UNFPA also expressed interest to exchange knowledge and experiences on South-South Cooperation at the Global South-South Development Expo which Thailand will co-host in September this year.

Chulamanee reiterated Thailand’s readiness to work closely with the fund to implement the UNFPA Country Program Document for Thailand 2022-26 to promote access to family planning, eliminate gender-based violence, strengthen population development policy, and prepare Thailand for becoming an ageing society next year.

Thailand will be hosting the International Conference on Family Planning in November this year in Pattaya.

Published : May 20, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40015764

Thailand must use its United Nations seat to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war and for both countries to return to the negotiating table, former foreign minister Kasit Piromya said on Friday.

He said the government should show Thailand is a peace-loving country by calling on Russia and Ukraine, as well as the United States and Nato, to secure a truce so the warring sides can solve their dispute through negotiations.

“Thailand can do this [call for a ceasefire] unilaterally through the United Nations and other international forums. We can also make the call via Asean or alongside other countries such as Turkey, China or India,” he said.

Kasit, who served as the Thai ambassador to Russia in the mid-1990s, said signs in the international community were now pointing towards this option. He noted that France, Germany and Italy have called on Russia and Ukraine to return to the negotiating table.

The war between the two neighbouring countries has raged for almost three months since Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24. Previous talks between the two countries failed to bring an end to hostilities.

Kasit voiced support for Thailand’s stance to condemn Russia’s invasion but opt out of US-led sanctions imposed mostly by Western countries.

“Thailand is not directly involved in the conflict,” he explained. “We have good ties with both Russia and Ukraine, as well as the whole of Europe.”

Published : May 20, 2022