Bangkok deputy governor visits Drop In points in bid to get to the root of homelessness
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2023
Deputy Bangkok governor Sanon Wangsrangboon recently visited the capital’s coordination centre for homeless people, known colloquially as the “Drop In” point, under Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge in Phra Nakhon district.
“Today’s activity saw agencies and partners who have been working together to tackle the problem of homelessness at its root,” he said. “Homelessness is an indicator that the welfare system is not working. This problem cannot be solved by simply providing homes or limiting homeless people to a specific zone. We must fix the welfare system, which is at the root of the problem.”
Sanon said the number of homeless people in the post Covid-19 era has been growing. There are also many who have a home but cannot find a job due to the fallout of the pandemic.
“Coordination centres have been providing jobs to the homeless and unemployed in a bid to tackle the problem at its roots,” he said. “In the past month, more than 100 homeless people have applied for jobs via Drop In points and some are now employed.”
The city has also been instructing people wishing to donate food, water and necessities for the homeless to do so only at two designated points: Under the Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge and at Trok Sake alley on Atsadang Road.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has set up Drop In points across Bangkok to provide food and necessities to the homeless. These Drop In points can be reached via the 1330 hotline.
Bangkok coordinates with neighbouring provinces to control air pollution, urges companies to allow working from home
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2023
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) expects PM2.5 levels to rise during the weekend of January 27-28 due to high-air pressure and low-altitude winds, governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Friday.
“However, dust levels should return to normal on Saturday or Sunday,” he added.
PM2.5 is particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometres in diameter and can be harmful for people with chronic lung disease.
The governor said that BMA has been urging neighbouring provinces to monitor pollution sources, including factories and construction sites as well as control the burning of garbage by homeless people in city areas, which is contributing to the rising level of fine dust particles in the air.
“We have urged more than 30 private companies to implement the work-from-home approach to help reduce pollution from workplaces and traffic,” Chadchart added. “All parties should work together to bring down the dust, as well as prepare for a spike due to changes in weather conditions.”
Separately, the governor said the city’s public health system is ready for foreign tourists who have been pouring into Thailand since the start of the year.
“Covid-19 infections in Bangkok are low and we should have no shortage of hospital beds. Besides, most foreign tourists have insurance for Covid-19 treatment at private hospitals or hospitals in other provinces,” Chadchart added.
As for the lack of parking space at tourist attractions due to a surge in tour buses, he said the BMA will provide shuttle or feeder buses to cover tourists and commuters during peak hours.
“The city has also made improvements in congested areas, such as Sanam Luang, where an underground tunnel for pedestrians has been built to reduce crowds on road surfaces,” Chadchart added.
Heavy rain and surging tides are forecast for the weekend in the South of Thailand, with strong winds hitting the Gulf, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has said.
In a weather warning on Saturday, the department said a strong northeast monsoon is prevailing over the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. This condition will bring heavy rain to the lower South on Saturday and Sunday.
Affected areas include Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Trang and Satun. Strong winds will create 2 to 4-metre-high waves in the Gulf, which will become higher during thundershowers, while the Andaman Sea will also see 2-metre or higher waves.
People along the South’s east coast have been advised to beware of surging tides and small boats in the Gulf have been urged to stay ashore until Sunday.
Meanwhile, a strong high-pressure system is covering upper Thailand and the South China Sea, bringing cooler weather and strong winds in the upper half of the country during the weekend, the TMD said.
Temperatures will fall by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in the Northeast and by 1-3 degrees in the East and Central regions, including Greater Bangkok. People in upper Thailand have been advised to beware of fire due to dry air and strong winds.
Visit www.tmd.go.th or call the 1182 hotline for the latest.
Prachin Buri plantations raided by 80 wild elephants looking for food
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023
Local officials closed a road in Chachoengsao province on Friday in an attempt to prevent over 80 wild elephants from feeding on cash crops.
A section of Ban Na Yao Road was closed to traffic, as a large group of administrative officials and military officers attempted to chase the elephants back to the Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, from where the animals had escaped.
Sapthawee Kulsaree, chief executive of the Tha Kradan Tambon Administrative Organisation in Chachoengsao, said that failure to push the elephants back would result in damage to plantations.
The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 1,030 square kilometres spanning five provinces – Chachoengsao, Sa Kaeo, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Chonburi.
About 40 elephants from the herd managed to cross into Kabin Buri district of Chachoengsao’s neighbouring Prachin Buri province, where they began feeding on sugarcane plantations.
A group of local officials and volunteers attempted to scare them away with firecrackers.
A volunteer who took part in the operation said that a large area of sugarcane plantations was destroyed by the wild elephants. He said that events like this had occurred frequently in recent months.
The volunteer said the wild elephants from the wildlife sanctuary seemed to have developed a taste for crops like sugarcane, bananas, cassava and fruits, which are abundant in the area.
“The foods here taste better and are easier to find than in the forest,” he said.
Packaging to extend food shelf life being unrolled in major provinces
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023
Plastic packaging company Eka Global is hosting roadshows in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and Songkhla where food business owners can consult experts in packaging innovations and test the company’s shelf-life extension packaging.
Ten food businesses can test their products with Eka Global‘s shelf life-extending packaging.
The roadshow will launch at Chiang Mai University on February 4 and then move to Khon Kaen University (March 7) and Prince of Songkla University (March 23).
CEO of Eka Global Chaiwat Nantiruj said the firm is ready to offer businesses packaging products that extend the shelf life of food and increase international competitiveness of Thai food firms.
He added that packaging products that keep food fresh for longer are a powerful “weapon” for businesses.
He also said small operators need to adjust themselves to sustainability practices that will be key to doing business in 2023.
Photo shows, from left to right: Dr Chatchai Thnarudee, NZAA President; Dr Tharatee Mookdee, AAA Secretary-General; Niphapan Sang-in, NAAT Vice President; Srisongruk Chaiyasit, OESA Secretary-General; Koblarp
10 Alumni Associations under Royal Patronage jointly organized a merit-making ceremony to wish HRH Princess “Pa” speedy recovery at Vajirayanvongs Bldg – Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital recently.
Photo shows, from left to right: Dr Chatchai Thnarudee, NZAA President; Dr Tharatee Mookdee, AAA Secretary-General; Niphapan Sang-in, NAAT Vice President; Srisongruk Chaiyasit, OESA Secretary-General; Koblarp
Buakaw leads sports stars in campaign to get Thais fit
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023
Health enthusiasts will now have the chance to run/walk alongside five sports stars during the “Sports Day Run Thailand Series 2023”.
The event, which was launched on Thursday, will feature Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek, volleyball star Piyanut Pannoy, elite runner Jiraporn Kamolrangsan, football phenomenon Teeratep Winothai and badminton star Pannawit Thongnuam.
The event is being organised by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).
The event will feature virtual runs and actual runs. The virtual runs, 30-kilometre per challenge, will be available from March 1 to April 8, while the actual running/walking events will be held in different Bangkok public parks.
The events will be based on the athlete featured. The dates, events and venues are:
• February 4: Volleyball Day at SAT headquarters
• March 4: Boxing Day at Benchakitti Park
• April 8: Running Day at Suan Luang Rama IX Park
• May 6: Football Day at Benchakitti Park
• June 3: Badminton Day at Suan Luang Rama IX Park
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn
“The participation of sports stars in this event will motivate young people to exercise,” Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said, adding that the event was in line with his ministry’s mission to promote sports.
Dr Supranee Guptasa
Meanwhile, NSDF manager Dr Supranee Guptasa said the fund’s key mission is to promote sports in line with the national strategy on human resource development.
“Participants will also get free souvenirs to remember the event,” she said.
Buakaw defends Muay Thai amid fight over Cambodian name-change
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023
Kickboxing legend Buakaw Banchamek has urged Thais to show pride in their Muay Thai heritage after Cambodia insisted on calling the sport “Kun Khmer” at this year’s Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
All reference to Muay Thai has been removed from the kickboxing schedule of the May 5-17 Phnom Penh SEA Games, sparking an outcry in Thailand.
Instead, the combat sport will be referred to by its Khmer name during the tournament in Cambodia.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, Buakaw reminded the world of the sport’s ancient roots in Thailand.
“Muay Thai has a unique ritual of worshipping the gurus before each fight, coupled with a systematic training regime and various techniques invented and polished by our ancestors,” said the two-time K-1 World MAX Champion.
“Most importantly, this martial art has been used to protect our nation, religion, and the monarch since ancient times. Muay Thai is Thailand’s national sport recognised by the globe,” he added.
Buakaw also urged Thais to preserve Muay Thai as a national treasure by simply going to see and support kickboxing tournaments.
Cambodia’s move has sparked a backlash, with the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) and the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand threatening to boycott the games.
Muay Thai was recognised by the International Olympic Committee in July 2021, paving the way for the sport’s inclusion in the Olympics.
Buakaw, whose real name is Sombat, is considered to be among the all-time greatest Muay Thai practitioners, having won the K-1 World MAX Champion, Shoot Boxing World Cup and World Muaythai Council World Championship in a career spanning over 250 wins.
Five healthy digital habits for 2023 from Kaspersky
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2023
Early January is a great time to start using healthy digital habits and you still have time to make a promise to yourself and try to follow them during the next year.
Kaspersky experts have prepared a list of simple healthy digital habits that can strengthen the safety of your personal data and even make life easier in the coming year.
New Year, new passwords!
Start the New Year with a real password revision. Now is the time to check and change passwords on all accounts. And remember the main rule – don’t use the same password for multiple accounts!
If you are like many people and have several online accounts, then a reliable password manager is a good help. Modern password managers have features that greatly simplify life with passwords. For example, you can use auto-fill features for different browsers and platforms. Another handy option is the automatic password generator. As a result, a password manager will help you generate unique and complex passwords for each account – and you only need to remember one master password.
Subscribe to notifications about account data leaks
Besides weak passwords, data leaks are another threat to your personal and corporate accounts. Unfortunately, data breaches happen quite often, and it’s hard to keep track of all of them. If your account details leak, fraudsters can use them to take over your accounts. However, you can get ahead of scammers in 2023 if you use services that scan the latest leaks and look whether they contain your data. Advanced password managers include this feature as well and quickly notify users if any of the saved logins or passwords are found in the recent data leaks.
Need more privacy, get a VPN!
Once a niche product for geeky users and businesses, VPNs are now a must-have for anyone who wants to stay safe and private online. Modern VPN solutions meet all user needs, for example, they are easy to use, provide high traffic speeds and keep personal data private.
Now the range of possible scenarios for using a VPN has expanded significantly. It allows you to securely shop online, watch streaming services from anywhere in the world, or access local content. Modern VPN services also provide high traffic speeds and let users watch content even in 4K without quality loss or delays.
Moreover, it hides your IP address from websites and advertisers, granting better privacy. Web tracking can lead to unexpected consequences, for example, targeted ads can reveal the presents you bought for your family. Don’t let advertisers spoil your next celebration!
Transfer documents to a safe place
With the development of digital services, scans and electronic versions of documents are now used as often as their paper originals. This raises a reasonable question – how to store electronic versions so they remain safe and do not fall into unwanted hands? You can create a folder on your computer or upload them to a password-protected cloud – but both of these options are potentially insecure and can lead to the loss of personal data.
A secure alternative would be to store documents in a password manager app. Modern password managers are capable of storing more than just passwords or banking data. Now, these are full-fledged encrypted electronic storages where you can upload scans, PDFs and other important documents that you want to protect. This can also include medical records and telephone addresses, as well as any documentation or files related to work and business.
At the same time, such storage services are many times safer compared to more traditional storage locations, because they are specially encrypted, and can be decrypted only with the help of one master password, which should only be in the user’s head.
Learn more about child’s hobbies on the Internet with kids
Today, children have digital devices in their hands from an early age – about five years old. For a child’s path to the digital world to be safe and interesting, it is important to teach and share with them the rules of online safety from childhood. To make such talks more enjoyable and interesting, parents can use games and other entertaining formats.
Another tip for the New Year is to dive deep into your kids’ online interests. For instance, parents can ask about a favourite series, or listen to music tracks together so you can both together learn some secure practices to stay safe online. There is also a range of child safety software that can help parents learn more about kids’ hobbies and help kids develop healthy digital habits from an early age.
“Privacy and security are not a result, but a process. Just like you cannot get fit or become a healthy-eating person overnight, securing your account and digital footprint also requires some dedication. However, small steps such as creating unique passwords for different accounts and using advanced tools like password managers can greatly boost your privacy while making this task much simpler. And there’s no better time to start a new, more secure digital life than in the New Year,” commented Vladislav Tushkanov, Lead Data Scientist at Kaspersky.
Singha Estate’s new project selling homes for up to 180 million baht
FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 2023
Singha Estate Plc is entering the top end of the detached-housing market with unit prices ranging up to 180 million baht in a new project in the Pattanakarn area east of Bangkok.
Nattavuth Mathayomchan, the company’s chief residential development officer, said Siraninn Residences marked a milestone in his company’s entry into a new market segment.
Siraninn Residences’ 28 two-storey units range in price from 80 million to 180 million baht. The gated community covers 23 rai of land in the Pattanakarn area, about five kilometres from Thonglor.
The project offers convenient access to urban facilities in an area where prices are rising, the company says.
It said about 95% of the 2.9 billion baht project had already been reserved and that pre-sales reached more than 830 million baht.
The developer has numerous residential brands: from highrise to detached homes. They include The ESSE and The EXTRO brands, SANTIBURI the Residences, and home-office projects under the SENTRE brand.
Launched in early 2022, SANTIBURI The Residences sold out in record time, the company said. Singha Estate is known for investing in quality projects as well as intense branding.
“Singha Estate is determined to develop housing that fulfils diverse lifestyles while maintaining a proper housing balance and perfect living,” Nattavuth said.
It plans to launch five new projects this year with a combined value of 10 billion baht, the company said.
Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn
Dr Supranee Guptasa
SootinClaimon.Com 