Surin Islands closed to tourists for 2 days due to dangerous weather
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022
The five-island Mu Ko Surin national park in the Andaman Sea will be closed to tourists on Sunday and Monday due to high waves expected on the two days.
Waves are expected to exceed four metres in height during thundershowers, officials from the park said in an announcement on Saturday.
“To ensure safety among tourists and prevent damage to people and property, Mu Ko Surin National Park will be temporarily closed on December 18 to 19,” the announcement said.
The national park comprises five islands – Surin Nuea, Surin Tai, Kai, Klang, and Ri – near the border with Myanmar in Phang Nga province.
The park closes from May 1 to October 31 during the rainy season to ensure the safety of tourists.
Frost may return to hilltops in North as temperatures drop, flash floods threaten South
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2022
Temperatures will drop in the North and Northeast while heavy rains will hit areas of the South from Sunday to Tuesday, the Thai Meteorological Department said today.
Temperatures in the North and Northeast will drop by 6-8 degrees Celsius from Sunday to Tuesday as a strong high-pressure front from China extends across the upper part of Thailand. Lows will range from 8-12 degrees, though temperatures could drop to as low as 2 degrees in mountainous areas, the department said.
Mountainous areas may see frost, it added.
Temperatures in the Central and East regions, including Greater Bangkok, are forecast to fall between 4 and 6 degrees, with lows ranging from 14 to 21 degrees Celsius.
The department is forecasting isolated heavy rains in lower areas of the South due to the strong northeast monsoon across the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea.
Heavy rains are forecast for Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces on Sunday and Monday, the department said.
It warned residents in the region of possible flash flooding and overflowing waterways, as well as surges along the coast as waves in both the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea are expected to rise to 4 metres during thundershowers.
“All ships should proceed with caution, and small boats in the Gulf and Andaman Sea should be kept ashore until December 20,” the department said.
The 24-hour weather forecast for each region is:
North: Cool to cold with strong winds and a 1 to 3 degree drop in temperature, with lows of 15-18 and highs of 27-31. Temperatures on hilltops could fall to 6 to 12 degrees.
Northeast: Cold with strong winds and a 4 to 6 degree drop in temperatures, with lows of 10 to 15 degrees and highs of 25 to 28. Temperatures on hilltops could fall to 5 to 10 degrees.
Central: Cool to cold with strong winds and a 3 to 5C drop in temperature, with lows of 15 to 18 degrees and highs of 29 to 31 degrees.
East: Cool to cold with strong winds and a 3 to 5 degree drop in temperatures, with lows of 17 to 21 degrees and highs of 30 to 33 degrees. Waves will range between 1 and 2 metres along the coastline and about 2 metres further offshore.
South (east coast):
Upper part: Cool mornings with a 1 to 2 degree drop in temperatures.
Lower part: Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy to very heavy rains in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces.
Temperatures will range from lows of 19-24C to highs of 28-32C. Waves will reach 2 to 4 metres, rising further during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Scattered thundershowers and isolated heavy rains in Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces. Temperatures will range from lows of 22 to 25 degrees to highs of 30 to 33 degrees. Waves will reach 1 to 2 metres along the coastline and 2 to 4 metres further offshore, rising above 4 metres in thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool with strong winds. Temperatures will drop 3 to 5 degrees, ranging between lows of 18 to 20 degrees and highs of 30 to 32 degrees.
Need for masks may reduce by early next year, reckons virologist
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022
By February most people in Thailand will have developed an immunity to Covid-19, a top virologist said, adding people will generally not need to wear face masks by then.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Dr Prof Yong Poovorawan said by early next year, most healthy people will not need to wear masks, though it is advised that people with respiratory diseases continue doing so.
He added that it was people’s choice whether they wanted to wear masks in public or crowded places, though he said they should be worn correctly to ensure maximum protection.
“There is no real need to wear masks in outdoor places like beaches or public parks,” said Dr Yong, who is the head of Chulalongkorn University’s Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology.
“Hopefully, after February most people will have developed immunity from either vaccines or infection. The virus will be on a decline and people will be able to adapt better. Then the need to wear medical masks will drop,” he said.
The virologist also voiced concern about the massive amount of garbage being created by face masks, especially since they are made of synthetic materials and will only add microplastics to the environment.
Spend more on cybersecurity, panel advises at HackaThailand 2023
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022
Nongluck Ajanapanya
Thailand needs to invest more in cybersecurity, so its digital economy can remain at the forefront globally. This advice was given at the panel discussion on “Envisioning the Future of Digital Economy” at SiamScape in downtown Bangkok on Saturday.
Sharing their ideas were Finnish Ambassador Jyri Järviaho, Singapore’s minister counsellor and deputy chief of mission Harry Goh, and the US Embassy’s trade and investment officer Jonathan Kent.
The three-panel members shared concepts, ideas and examples on how digital economy is used in their countries.
The event was part of “HackaThailand 2023 #TheKickOff”, which is being hosted by the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry, the Digital Economy and Promotion Agency (depa) and their alliances in the public and private sectors.
Lauding Thailand on its rapid development and adoption of the digital economy, the three speakers, however, said the Kingdom still needs to prioritise the strengthening of its cybersecurity systems.
Kent said the government and the business sector should continue developing a proper protection system, which is initially expensive but will prove to be worthwhile in the long run.
Jonathan Kent
“Ransomware, data theft, and online scams can cause enormous loss and damage,” he said. “The United States has felt that pain, and we do not want it to happen in Thailand.”
Supporting Kent’s idea, the Finnish envoy said that having a strong cybersecurity system would boost trust, especially since digital economy is the future of global trade and investment.
Järviaho also highlighted the importance of making data accessible to all parties. He said the free flow of data across state lines and borders will aid the growth of digital economy.
Goh, meanwhile, also stressed the importance of collaboration and partnership in both public and private sectors as well as between nations.
Cooperation, he said, will facilitate both domestic and international trade and investment.
He also said knowledge and cutting-edge technology can be exchanged among countries, which will help in educating, training, upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, which is essential to the digital economy.
Harry Goh (second from left), Jyri Järviaho (second from right)
All three agreed that holistic education would help propel Thailand towards digital competitiveness.
The discussion served as a mechanism to optimise people’s digital skills in a bid to boost Thailand’s competitiveness and standards in parity with other countries.
HackaThailand’s aim is to bring digitally-driven people together to brainstorm future-focused solutions to enhance the country’s development, said Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, depa’s president/CEO. He added that the target is to strike a balance between development and sustainability.
DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, who presided over the event, said he hoped the discussion would help people get ready for digital transformation and disruption.
HackaThailand kicks off today and runs until Monday on the 9th and 10th floors of SiamScape. Organisers expect 45,000 people to participate in the event.
Police interrogate man seeking donations to hold ceremony for Princess
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022
Police have summoned a 66-year-old man suspected of raising funds online for a religious ceremony to purportedly help HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha recover from her illness.
The man, who is allegedly an associate professor, posted on Facebook that he has collected more than 1 million baht in donations for the so-called ceremony.
Senior police officers showed up at his house in Bangkok’s Patthanakan area on Saturday to escort him to the Police Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau headquarters for questioning. The officers said they were acting at the instructions of deputy National Police chief General Torsak Sukvimol.
The Princess, who is the daughter of His Majesty the King and HRH Princess Soamsawali, is being treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok.
She fainted while training her dog for a contest in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Wednesday evening, the Royal Household Bureau said on Thursday. The agency said in a statement that the Princess was given first aid for her heart-related health issue at a local hospital before being flown in a helicopter to Chulalongkorn Hospital for further examination and treatment.
PM2.5 pollution crosses safe levels in 19 Bangkok districts today
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2022
Air pollution in at least 19 of Bangkok’s 50 districts is well above safety standards, the city’s administration has warned.
The measurement of PM2.5 pollution on Saturday was higher than acceptable levels in the districts of Nong Khaem, Klong San, Pathum Wan, Thon Buri, Lat Krabang, Bang Sue, Yannawa, Bang Khen, Prawet, Taling Chan, Lak Si, Din Daeng, Nong Chok, Klong Sam Wa, Thawi Watthana, Sathorn, Bang Na, Wang Thong Lang and Bangkok Yai.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has advised residents to avoid outdoor activities and check the air quality before leaving home.
The readings in these districts stood between 37 and 58 micrograms per cubic metre of air (µg/m3) for the past 24 hours. If the level of pollution is 35µg/m3 or higher over a 24-hour period the air is considered unhealthy and can cause issues for people with existing breathing problems like asthma.
PM2.5 stands for fine particulate dust particles that are a mere 2.5 microns or less in width.
Jonathan Kent
Harry Goh (second from left), Jyri Järviaho (second from right)
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