Thai K-pop superstar Lalisa “Lisa” Manoban had something sweet to offer to her 80 million Instagram followers – “stories” about Thai desserts.
On Friday, the Blackpink band member posted one reel titled “Thai desserts” displaying traditional delicacies like “luk chup” and steamed banana cakes and another of her rolling a roti with cotton candy with the caption “sai mai (cotton candy)”.
This cotton candy dessert, featuring an adapted version of the Indian roti, is a special delicacy in Ayutthaya province. Lots of well-known “sai mai” vendors can be spotted near the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Hospital.
Many fans are curious if Lisa’s stories will spark a Thai dessert fever, much like the craze for meatballs after she spoke about her favourite meatball vendor in Buri Ram in a television interview last year.
A TikTok clip showing a young Buri Ram student riding an elephant to school went viral on Friday.
The clip, posted by “@Ole FcThailand”, was quick to capture hearts as people were amazed by the love shared by the little girl and her giant friend.
Inspired by the clip, Nation TV visited the girl at home in Buri Ram’s Tha Muang district on Friday and learned that the 25-year-old male elephant is called Ole and is owned by her father Wisanchon Yongram, 38.
Wisanchon owns three other elephants, namely 22-year-old Wassana and 2-month-old Ngamta, both female, and 4-year-old male Ngamchoke.
The elephants used to perform at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace, but Wisanchon was forced to return home with his troop when the place shut down temporarily due to Covid.
He said his daughter Phatcharapha, 11, has helped him feed and bathe Ole for years now and began riding him when she was six. Phatcharapha is now a Prathom 5 student and gets Ole to carry her the half-kilometre to school every day, so her father can save on fuel.
Phatcharapha said she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.
Though the Omicron variant has caused fewer severe pneumonia cases, it is still advised that high-risk groups get their booster shots, a respiratory diseases specialist advised.
Assoc Prof Dr Nitipatana Chierakul said only 8 per cent of patients infected by the Omicron variant developed pneumonia, compared to 40 per cent of Delta cases.
“This can conclude that Omicron variant is five times less likely to cause pneumonia compared to Delta,” he said. “However, the severity of pneumonia in both Omicron and Delta patients is about the same.”
Nitipatana, who oversees the Respiratory Diseases and Tuberculosis Division at Mahidol University’s Siriraj Faculty of Medicine, added that most Omicron patients who develop pneumonia are elderly or suffer from poor health.
“These people are considered to be in high-risk groups and should get booster shots as soon as possible to prevent hospitalisation and death,” he added.
As of July 14, 140.65 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Thailand, of which 57.05 million are first jabs, 53.32 million second jabs and 30.26 million booster shots. So far, 82 per cent of the population has received the first shot, 75.7 per cent their second shot and 43.5 per cent booster shots.
On Saturday, Thailand recorded 2,025 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 20 deaths over 24 hours, while 2,181 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The number of total cases in the country since the pandemic started in early 2020 stands at 4,557,001, including 2,333,566 since January 1 this year. The accumulated death toll from the virus stands at 30,981, including 9,280 this year.
Thailand will see less rain next week as the monsoon trough prevailing over the country will move up to Myanmar, upper Laos and upper Vietnam, the Thai Meteorological Department said on Friday.
However, isolated heavy rains are possible in the East and South of the country, it added.
During the weekend, waves in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf of Thailand will be about 2 metres high and even higher during thundershowers. Ships and boats have been advised to proceed with caution and stay anchored during thundershowers.
The weather forecast for the next six days is as follows:
Greater Bangkok:
Weekend: Thundershowers in 40-60% of the area
Monday-Thursday: Thundershowers in 30-40% of the area
Temperature: Lows of 24-28 degrees, highs of 31-37 degrees Celsius
North:
Weekend: Thundershowers in 40-60% of the area
Monday-Thursday: Thundershowers in 20-40% of the area
Temperature: Lows of 23-26 degrees, highs of 29-36 degrees Celsius
Northeast
Weekend: Thundershowers in 40-60% of the area
Monday-Thursday: Thundershowers in 20-40% of the area
Temperature: Lows of 22-27 degrees, highs of 29-37 degrees Celsius
Central
Weekend: Thundershowers in 40-60% of the area
Monday-Thursday: Thundershowers in 30-40% of the area
Temperature: Lows of 22-27 degrees, highs of 33-37 degrees Celsius
East
Weekend: Thundershowers in 40-60% of the area with isolated heavy rains and 2-metre-high waves
Monday-Thursday: Thundershowers in 30-40% of the area and metre-high waves
Temperature: Lows of 23-28 degrees, highs of 30-36 degrees Celsius
South (East coast)
Weekend: Thundershowers in 40-60% of the area and metre-high waves
Monday-Thursday: Thundershowers in 20-40% of the area and metre-high waves
Temperature: Lows of 22-27 degrees, highs of 30-37 degrees Celsius
South (west coast)
Weekend: Thundershowers in 40-60% of the area with isolated heavy rains; 2-metre-high waves
Monday-Thursday: Thundershowers in 30-40% of the area; about 2-metre-high waves
Temperature: Lows of 23-27 degrees, highs of 29-35 degrees Celsius
The Public Health Ministry reported on Saturday (July 16) that over the past 24 hours, 2,025 Covid-19 patients have been admitted to hospitals, two of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.
The death toll has risen by 20, while 2,181 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals.
The number of cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stands at 2,333,566.
Thai courts will consider police requests for arrest warrants against offenders who repeatedly fail to pay traffic fines on a case-by-case basis, Judiciary Office spokesman Sorawis Limparangsi said on Friday.
He added that courts apply the same rule to all cases regardless of significance or the identity of the accused, including politicians.
“Courts look into the details of each case, including evidence provided by police, such as how many times the offence was committed,” Sorawis said.
The spokesman said suspects and police often have conflicting views about the issuance of arrest warrants. Drivers tend to view traffic violations as less serious cases in which arrest warrants would violate their rights and liberty. Police, on the other hand, view tough measures against repeat offenders as necessary to prevent road accidents that could lead to injuries or deaths, he said.
“The courts are in the middle between both sides. Courts will take into account the behaviour involved, as well as argument and necessity. That’s what we are doing in every case,” the spokesman said.
Under the Royal Thai Police’s new rule, traffic tickets are sent by registered mail to the offender within 30 days of the offence.
If fines are not paid within 15 days, police send a summons to the offender’s registered address. If the offender fails to pay the fine after two summonses, police will ask the court to issue an arrest warrant.
Buakaw Banchamek has become the first Thai boxer to grace the famous digital billboard in New York’s Times Square. The advert has been towering above the Manhattan landmark since Thursday, promoting the Muay Thai legend’s return to the ring.
The digital billboard showcases the upcoming Rajadamnern World Series (RWS) Muay Thai boxing tournament in Bangkok, scheduled to start on August 19.
Buakaw will make his comeback in the RWS tournament, which carries a winner’s purse of 1 million baht.
Up to 450,000 people pass through Times Square each day, making it a prime spot for advertisers seeking to draw eyeballs.
A billboard here can range in cost from $5,000 (183,000 baht) per day to well over $50,000, according to advertising company Inspiria. Typically, the minimum amount of money required to advertise for 1-3 days ranges from $5,000 to $25,000.
Meanwhile, the intersection has drawn between 125,000 and 190,000 pedestrians daily even during the pandemic, according to the Times Square District Management Association.
Pre-Covid, the tourist landmark saw over 360,000 people per day and as many as 450,000 on the busiest days of the year.
The city administration on Friday listed 10 public parks in Bangkok that are perfect for joggers and running enthusiasts with tracks ranging from 1 to 5.5 kilometres.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s Public Relations Department listed the parks on its Facebook page which has 420,000 followers.
The 10 best parks across the city and the track lengths they offer:
1. Nong Bon Water Sports Centre, Prawet: 5.5km
2. Wachirabenchathat (Rot Fai Park), Chatuchak: 3.6km
3. Benchakitti Forest Park, Klong Toei: 2.8km
4. Seri Thai Park, Bueng Kum: 2km
5. Suan Luang Rama VIII Park, Bang Phlat: 1km
6. Suan Luang Rama IX Park, Prawet: 5km
7. Chatuchak Park, Chatuchak: 3km
8. Lumphini Park, Pathum Wan: 2.5km
9. Queen Sirikit Park, Chatuchak: 1km
10. Thian Thale Phatthana Phrueksa Phirom Park, Bang Khun Thien: 1km
The BMA post also pointed out that Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt’s policy is to have public parks that can be accessed easily by Bangkok residents.
The Rural Doctor Society (RDS) has urged the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) to allow domestic production of Favipiravir, warning that supply of the anti-Covid-19 drug is running out.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, the RDS said Favipiravir is in short supply as daily infections rise again. It added that Molnupiravir is being used to treat adult Covid-19 patients, while Fah Talai Jone (green chiretta) is being used to treat children and patients with mild symptoms.
“GPO aimed to produce Favipiravir for use in the country, but the agency is relying on imports of the drug instead,” RDS said, adding that the GPO is the only agency permitted to produce and import Favipiravir in Thailand.
RDS said that this wasn’t the first time that Favipiravir stocks have run low. It said this problem would not happen if the government allowed the private sector to produce or import the drug.
RDS also revealed evidence from a Public Health Ministry executive’s Line chat to support its claim that Favipiravir is running out.
The Line chat shows the executive had called hospitals and Provincial Public Health Office directors nationwide to reserve Favipiravir for children as there was only enough supply for seven days.
The executive noted that the number of Covid-19 infections, especially in children, is rising, adding that the GPO would deliver 2 million tablets of Favipiravir within five to seven days.
“Apart from medical staff, the public should be made aware of this issue as well,” RDS added.
The GPO insists it is still delivering Favipiravir to public hospitals and health services nationwide daily.
“GPO has already delivered 3.7 million tablets to public health service units,” said the agency’s deputy director Sirikul Metheweerangsan, adding that another 21.3 million tablets will be delivered from July 17.
She said the GPO has ordered more raw materials to produce Favipiravir to meet demand. It had also delivered 2 million capsules of Molnupiravir to the Public Health Ministry on Tuesday and would procure another 3 million capsules this month, she added.
Sirikul said the GPO will monitor the Covid-19 situation closely and control supply, production and procurement of drugs according to demand.
Allowing foreigners who invest at least 40 million baht (about US$1 million) to purchase property and land will bring up to 1 trillion baht and 1 million new expat residents in the next five years, the government said on Friday.
The plan, which is part of measures to boost the Thai economy, would also attract 8 billion baht in land/property investment, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said.
Meanwhile, it would add an estimated 270 billion baht in tax revenue between 2022 and 2026, he added. To be eligible, foreigners must invest 40 million baht for at least three years.
The plan is in addition to the Interior Ministry’s move to grant long-term stays for four groups of foreigners — wealthy people, retirees, freelancers based in Thailand, and those with special skills.
The ministry’s Department of Lands is drafting a ministerial decree to set conditions for allowing foreigners to own up to 1 rai of land for residential purposes, Thanakorn said on Friday.
The major condition is a minimum investment of 40 million baht for at least three years in specified sectors, including infrastructure funds and property trusts.
“This is an important measure to boost the Thai economy and investment by attracting foreigners with high potential from around the world,” he said.
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