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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012260

The Marine Department is investigating another oil spill off the coast of Rayong that was reportedly caused when Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC) moved the underwater pipeline at its single point mooring (SPM). The same pipeline caused a massive oil spill on January 25.

“Moving the pipeline reportedly caused about 5,000 litres of oil that was still in the pipe to flow into the sea on February 10 [Thursday],” said Marine Department deputy director-general Phuri Theerakulpisut on Saturday.

The department has banned ships from the area and filed a complaint with Map Tha Phut police accusing SPRC of violating its order to suspend operations at the SPM and causing further marine pollution.

The Department also ordered SPRC to issue a Tier 1 warning, which is a standard protocol when less than 20 tonnes of oil is spilled during transport. Under the protocol, after alerting the public, the party responsible for causing the spill must clean up the oil slick or immediately request assistance from agencies to prevent the slick from expanding.

“SPRC said they deployed booms around the slick on Thursday and that the situation is now under control,” said Phuri. “The department has dispatched boats and officials to monitor the situation and will investigate to estimate the environmental damage.”

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Published : February 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012259

Phase four of the government’s “Kon La Krueng” co-payment scheme has seen more than 20 billion baht in spending over the first 10 days since launching on February 1, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Saturday.

The 22.23 million eligible Kon La Krueng users have spent 10.43 billion baht while the government has subsidised their shopping bills with 10.17 billion baht, making a total of 20.61 billion baht.

Over 2.2 billion baht has been spent for the 11.32 million state welfare card holders under the fourth phase of the scheme.

Meanwhile, phase two of the government scheme for vulnerable people has seen 171.8 million baht in spending since its launch on February 1.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was satisfied with the public response to the government’s three subsidy schemes to help people affected by Covid-19, the spokesman said. He added that neighbourhood economies were now recovering and expanding as people and local businesses shared benefits from the schemes.

Published : February 12, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012257

Bangkok authorities have slapped a total of 44 million baht in fines on motorcyclists caught riding on footpaths in the city over the past three years, deputy Bangkok governor Sakolthi Pattiyakul said.

He added that violation of the 1992 Act on the Maintenance of the Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Country have continued despite fines of between 500 and 2,000 being slapped on them. Some of the violators have even faced a maximum fine of 5,000 baht.

“Some people complained the fines are too high, but I believe that strict enforcement of the law will force people to change their behaviour,” Sakolthi wrote in a Facebook post on Friday.

The deputy Bangkok governor said he noticed that some motorcyclists get off their bike and push it when they need to use the footpath.

He said the maximum 5,000 baht fine has been imposed on violators who attacked the enforcing officer, informer or pedestrian. These include a recent case in Sai Mai district where a motorcyclist hurt a pedestrian on the pavement, Sakolthi noted.

Published : February 12, 2022

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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012256

No commercial fishing will be allowed in the Gulf of Thailand until mid-June this year in a bid to rebuild marine resources, Chalermchai Suwanrak, deputy director-general of the Fisheries Department, said on Friday.

The closure will be conducted in two phases: Waters off the coasts of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani will be blocked for 90 days from February 15 to May 15, and then from the foot of Khao Ta Mong Lai Mountain to Hua Hin for 30 days from May 16 to June 14.

The first phase covers an area of 27,000 square kilometers, while the second phase spans across 5,300sqkm.

“The closure is being done in two phases because marine animals will move to lay their eggs and raise the young in the inner portion of the Gulf in mid-May. Therefore, fishing from Khao Ta Mong Lai to Hua Hin will be closed for a month to let these animals grow,” Chalermchai said.

The Fisheries Department has been conducting annual closure of the Gulf of Thailand to commercial fishing since 1953, during which villagers are allowed to catch fish, provided their boats are less than 10 gross tonnage in size and engines less than 280 horsepower.

“During the closure, the department will also deliver young aquatic animals to village headmen in Prachuap Khiri Khan to be released in the sea to increase resource in the Gulf,” Chalermchai added. “This year we aim to release 700,000 giant prawns, 100,000 black tiger prawns, 100,000 banana shrimps and 20,000 white sea bass.”

Published : February 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012255

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported on Friday that as of February 8, 18,582 or 52.26 per cent of 35,554 schools nationwide had opened and were conducting onsite classes.

“The Education Ministry has allowed five types of instruction during the ongoing Covid-19 situation: On-Site, On Hand, Online, On-Demand and On Air,” CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said. “Schools in low-infection areas where most students have been vaccinated will be allowed to open for onsite classes.”

Meanwhile, 6,479 schools or 18.22 per cent are using the on-hand approach, meaning teachers go to students’ homes and deliver learning materials and assignments.

Of the remaining schools, 5,813 or 16.35 per cent are conducting online classes, 3,113 conducting on-demand classes via mobile apps, and 1,470 schools are providing on-air classes via the DLTV (distance learning television) system.

“To qualify for conducting classes on campus, the school must also pass the Thai Stop Covid+ standard and implement DMHT-RC practices, namely distancing, mask-wearing, hand washing, temperature checking, reducing crowds and cleaning regularly,” Taweesin said.

He added that nearly 100 per cent of school staffers have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine, while 79.45 per cent have received their second jabs. As for students, 95.11 per cent have received their first jab, and 71.41 their second jab.

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Published : February 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012254

Top officials from the Thai Police Cyber Taskforce (PCT) and the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry met top brass in Cambodia earlier this week to discuss the extradition of cybercriminals believed to be hiding in the neighbouring country.

“Amarried couple was arrested on February 3 in Sa Kaew province for allegedly coordinating the transfer of Thais to work at two call centre gangs in Cambodia. This operation is reportedly overseen by a Chinese gang leader,” PCT chief Pol General Damrongsak Kittipraphat said.

“The PCT is tracking down other accomplices and has called on the court to issue arrest warrants for 71 individuals involved with two cybercriminal gangs believed to be hiding in Cambodia.”

Damrongsak said Cambodian authorities will cooperate with PCT to inspect three locations in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville where the suspects are believed to be hiding. They will then be arrested and handed over to Thailand for legal action.

“During Covid lockdowns, there have been many reports of people living along the Thai-Cambodian border being tricked into joining call-centre gangs in Cambodia, which scam victims in Thailand via the internet or calls,” Damrongsak said. “The PCT will work with relevant agencies in Thailand and neighbouring countries to bring these criminals to justice.”

People who have any information of call-centre gangs are urged to call the 1441 hotline or provide information at www.pct.police.go.th.

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Published : February 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday gave the go-ahead to the new Thailand Pass Hotel & Swab (TPHS) system, which will ensure all arrivals undergo their RT-PCR test for Covid-19 and their movements in Thailand can be tracked.

No date for the system’s official launch has been announced.

Under the current Test & Go scheme, new arrivals must take two RT-PCR tests – the first at a hotel on the day of landing and the second on the fifth day at a different hotel if necessary.

“Visitors who wish to enter Thailand must book both the RT-PCR tests along with two days in hotels,” CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin said. “Under TPHS, hotels will be required to verify each Thailand Pass booking within 30 hours or visitors’ registration will be automatically rejected. This way they can ensure that guests have paid for both tests and hotel rooms before arriving.”

Once the booking of both tests and hotel rooms are verified, tourists can then proceed with registering for their Thailand Pass by entering details of the hotels they will stay in on the first and fifth days. The Department of Disease Control will then approve the registration within seven days.

Taweesin added that the Thailand Pass system will send data to the TPHS system every hour to ensure visitors’ information is updated regularly.

The CCSA said 151,774 foreigners have entered Thailand under the Test & Go scheme so far this year.

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Published : February 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012251

Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (February 12) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 16,330 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 150 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 25, while 9,205 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 354,010.
 

Published : February 12, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012241

Hundreds of wild macaques in Phetchaburi province have been sterilised in a bid to curb the expanding population and prevent possible spread of diseases to locals.

Phetchaburi’s monkey population has climbed steadily over the years and is now estimated at 1,000-1,500 in each of its eight districts and as many as 3,000 in its main city and surrounding Muang district.

The macaques have begun to stray out of their original habitats, causing trouble to residents and sparking concern over health and safety, as well as impacts on the local tourism industry.

Chatri Wachirapadetsuek, director of Phetchaburi’s Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment, said the monkey population had grown to the point where sterilisation was necessary.

About 600 macaques have already been caught and neutered in an operation that began this month. Blood samples were taken from 10 per cent of the creatures for disease analysis.

The sterilisation project will continue throughout February and cost Bt1.12 million.

Every captured macaque is neutered and also tattooed with an ID number on the inside of its arm, according to Pichai Watcharawongpaiboon, director of the Protected Areas Regional Office 3 in Petchaburi. Males get tattooed on their left arm and females on their right arm so that officials can tell which animals have been neutered.

Published : February 11, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40012240

The new slick caused by 5,000 litres of oil leaking from an undersea pipeline five kilometres off Rayong province is expected to hit Mae Ramphueng Beach on Friday, Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) said.

Earlier, Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate had said the incident on Thursday was initially due to Star Petroleum Refining Plc (SPRC)’s move to inspect the leakage point on single point mooring (SPM) as there was residual oil inside the pipeline.

So far, the Region 1 Navy Command has used dispersants to scatter the oil slicks on the seas, and expects only a low volume of oil slick to hit Mae Ramphueng Beach.

Meanwhile, Rayong-based petrochemical firm IRPC, a subsidiary of oil and gas giant PTT Group, placed a 400 metres boom to contain the spread of the oil slicks.

In response to the OSRL forecast, the SPRC has prepared a team to conduct a cleaning operation on the beach. The company added that it has also borrowed the Region 1 Navy Command’s helicopter to disperse oil slicks on Friday.

Published : February 11, 2022

By : THE NATION