The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and five partners launched a caravan drive from Bangkok to Pattaya on Tuesday in a bid to stimulate tourism.
Its partners are the PTT Dealer Association, PTT Oil and Retail Business, CP All, Dhipaya Insurance and the Office of SMEs Promotion.
TAT executive director for Tourism Products Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the caravan, which is a part of the “Road Trip” project, aims to enable PTT gas stations nationwide to create a good relationship with locals.
The activity features cash handouts to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo and the Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Centre for improving animal welfare and releasing sea turtles for environment preservation, she said.
Thapanee went on to say that TAT aims to increase the number of tourists visiting Thailand in the last four months this year – September to December.
“The cooperation with gas stations will help attract high-quality tourists to the country, especially to local communities,” she felt.
This event also allows locals to present their products, so PTT station operators can select these for sale, Thapanee said.
“The activity helps support the government’s policy to use the tourism industry to stimulate travel in many regions,” she added.
A rather nervous netizen spotted yet another damaged concrete slab on a U-turn bridge on Rama II Road even after it was supposed to have been closed and repaired.
Facebook user “Dukdik Poy” posted on Tuesday that she found cracked pieces almost coming loose from the concrete slab of the U-turn bridge near Wat Phrom Rangsi in Bangkok.
“I felt a little bit nervous when I was stuck in traffic as I had to wait just below the damaged Rama II U-turn bridge,” she wrote.
Loose concrete slabs on Rama II Road have recently led to a series of incidents involing injuries and deaths.
On July 18, a driver and passenger narrowly escaped death when an iron pillar plunged 20 metres down and onto their pickup truck.
On July 31, a falling beam killed two people and injured another two.
On August 3, a Facebooker user found four loose, partly damaged slabs on the Rama II highway, with the Mahachai highway police subsequently having to block the road to inspect the site and get repairs done.
Some 95.5 per cent of respondents in a Department of Health survey said they wear face masks when they are around others – a slight increase from the 94.2 per cent in a July poll.
According to the Anamai Poll – conducted from August 1 to 23 but which did not provide the number of respondents surveyed – most were willing to wear masks in closed spaces, when interacting with people in vulnerable groups (elders, pregnant women, those who are sick from other illnesses), and when attending public activities even in open air.
Precisely 88.4 per cent of those questioned said they washed their hands after touching communal surfaces and before meals, increasing from 86.9 per cent in the previous month’s poll.
Meanwhile, 87.2 per cent said they maintained social distancing in public, an increase from 86.3 per cent in the previous poll.
“The Covid-19 situation in Thailand is improving, which has prompted authorities to relax disease control measures to let people live their lives as normally as possible,” Department of Health director-general Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai said on Tuesday.
“However, people should still maintain the Covid-19 universal protection practice, especially if you or your family members are in any of the vulnerable groups.”
Suwanchai said it is highly recommended to wear face masks when interacting with others, wash your hands regularly, and avoid visiting crowded areas. If you develop Covid-like symptoms such as a cough, a runny nose or fever, take an antigen test immediately and go into self-isolation to prevent infecting others.
On Wednesday morning Thailand recorded 2,062 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 28 deaths in the past 24 hours, while 2,100 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospital. The number of cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stands at 2,415,826, with 10,411 deaths.
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) is giving free influenza vaccinations until August 31 in its campaign that started on May 1 for those in vulnerable groups.
NHSO secretary-general Dr Jadet Thammathat-Aree said on Tuesday that so far more than 2.9 million people have received free flu shots from hospitals and clinics under the NHSO.
“Only people in vulnerable groups can get the vaccine free of charge. They are elders over 65 years, children from 6 months to 2 years old, thalassaemia patients, and those with chronic health problems,” he said.
The NHSO also reported that provinces with the most people who showed up for the free flu shots were Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani and Chiang Rai, in that order.
“There are only seven days left to get a free flu shot, so we urge people in vulnerable groups to head to the nearest NHSO-certified hospitals and clinics for the shot. There is no charge for recipients who fit the criteria, no matter what health security scheme you are under,” said Jadet.
“The influenza vaccine is safe and can effectively reduce the chance of developing severe symptoms and other complications if you get the flu. It is a necessary protection especially during the raining season, when flu can spread quickly.”
For more information, contact NHSO hotline 1330, Line @NHSO, or Facebook @NHSO.Thailand.
Protesters rallying against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha camped out for the night at Government House on Tuesday to demand he step down immediately, insisting that his 8-year tenure is up.
At around 10pm, the group marched from Democracy Monument in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district and gathered in front of Dusit district’s Rajavinit Mathayom School, which is located next to Government House.
The path to Government House via Chamai Maruchet Bridge has been blocked by containers and steel fences, while crowd-control police have been deployed about 100 metres away from the rally to monitor the situation.
Protests leaders took turns giving speeches on stage, attacking the Prayut administration for its job through eight years since he first took the premiership in 2014. Rally leaders also asked participants to maintain a peaceful gathering and avoid using violence against police.
Most rallyists dispersed at around midnight, but some spent the night on the footpath to resume their protest on Wednesday.
As the gathering on Tuesday concluded, the demonstrators dispersed from their site at Rajavinit Mathayom School to allow traffic to resume as normal.
The protesters believe Wednesday (August 24) is the last day Prayut can legitimately remain in office, since Article 158 of the Constitution states: “The prime minister shall not hold office for more than eight years in total, whether or not consecutively.”
However, what is widely disputed is when exactly did Prayut’s eight-year tenure commence.
Many insist his term started when he first assumed the premiership on August 24, 2014, following a military coup he led in May that year.
Others argue his tenure began only on April 6, 2017, when the current Constitution came into force.
And a third group feels it should be counted from June 9, 2019 – when Prayut assumed the premiership following a general election in March that year.
Upper Thailand is likely to experience more showers, while isolated heavy rains are possible in the Northeast, the East and the South’s west coast, the Meteorological Department reported on Wednesday.
The department said the rains are the result of the southwest monsoon across the country and over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf.
However, tropical storm Ma-on, which is presently hovering over the upper South China Sea and expected to make landfall in southern China by August 25, will have no direct effect on Thailand, the department added.
Here’s the weather forecast for August 24:
Bangkok and surrounding areas:
Scattered thundershowers. Temperature lows of 26-28 degrees and highs of 33-36 degrees Celsius.
North:
Scattered thundershowers mostly in Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Phichit and Phetchabun. Temperature lows of 23-25 degrees and highs of 34-36 degrees Celsius.
Northeast:
Fairly widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rains in Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Kalasin, Mukdahan, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani. Temperature lows of 23-26 degrees and highs of 33-35 degrees Celsius.
Central:
Scattered thundershowers mostly in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi. Temperature lows of 24-26 degrees and highs of 34-36 degrees Celsius.
East:
Fairly widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rains in Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat. Temperature lows of 24-28 degrees and highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius. Waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast):
Scattered thundershowers mostly in Phetchaburi, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. Temperature lows of 23-25 degrees and highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius. Waves about a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast):
Fairly widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rains in Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun. Temperature lows of 23-26 degrees and highs of 30-32 degrees Celsius. Waves 1-2 metres high and over 2 metres during thundershowers.
The Public Health Ministry reported on Wednesday (August 24) that over the past 24 hours, 2,062 Covid-19 patients have been admitted to hospitals.
The death toll has risen by 28, while 2,100 patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals.
The number of cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022, stands at 2,415,826 with 10,411 deaths.
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,639,261 – 4,589,321 of whom have recovered, 17,831 are still in hospitals and 32,109 have died.
Separately, another 3,673 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 7,885 their second shot and 21,697 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 142,515,148.
According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 602.59 million on Wednesday, 577.34 million of whom have recovered, 18.77 million are active cases (43,802 in severe condition) and 6.48 million have died (up by 1,830).
Thailand ranks 29th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 95.54 million, followed by India with 44.37 million, France with 34.39 million, Brazil with 34.31 million and Germany with 31.92 million.
A Delhi-based startup has invented an anti-pollution helmet with a bluetooth-enabled app to enable local bikers cope with low air quality, especially in the winter months.
The helmet titled Puros, developed by Shellios Technolabs, is integrated with air-purifying accessories that include patented innovations of the startup — a brushless DC blower fan, high-efficiency particulate air filter membrane, electronic circuit, and micro-USB charging port integrated into the helmet.
The purifying system at the back of the helmet picks up all particulate matter coming from outside and cleans the air before it reaches the biker.
The startup received seed funding from the Department of Science and Technology and was incubated at Science and Technology Entrepreneur Park Noida.
They have signed commercialisation deals with leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for the helmet. The product, at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) level 9, has been granted utility patent and is now being sold in all parts of the country for Rs 4,500 (around 2,200 baht).
The end-users of the product include individual riders all over India. Shellios has partnered with Royal Enfield Motorcycles for the next version to commercialise the product.
The founders of Shellios Technolabs hit upon the idea on realising the challenges faced by bikers during the air-quality crisis that Delhi faces in the winter months.
“We were disturbed by the health impacts of the air quality on the people, especially the millions of two-wheeler riders who were having prolonged daily exposures and that too, to a double whammy of particulate matter and vehicular emissions in the air that they breathe,” said Amit Pathak, one of the founders.
Two hydropower projects along Southeast Asia’s most important river have had a measurable, but moderate, impact on water flow, sediment and fisheries, according to preliminary findings of a report by the Mekong River Commission (MRC) released last week.
With roughly one year of monitoring data, the MRC says it’s still very early in the process to draw any conclusions. A multinational team of investigators for the MRC-Joint Environmental Monitoring (JEM) is testing protocols that measure five key indicators of the river’s health, namely hydrology, sediment, water quality, aquatic ecology, and fisheries.
By testing this at two relatively new hydropower projects – the Don Sahong and Xayaboury – the MRC aims to create monitoring methods and standards that all hydropower operators on the Mekong mainstream will follow in the future.
Among its most significant findings, the monitoring teams observed that the overall river flow patterns did not change much.
The MRC stated that the river’s ecological health was “good” at upstream dam sites, “moderate” within the dam impoundment sites, and “moderate” downstream of both dams. Water quality remains “within human health thresholds”.
Once water passes through the dams, “there is little evidence of change in downstream water quality.”
The monitors also detected some daily water level fluctuation downstream of the Xayaboury project in Laos – which could affect the ecosystem. However, this didn’t occur downstream of the Don Sahong dam.
Finally, the team observed some changes in fish diversity upstream of Xayaboury, with some stability from 2017 to 2019 and a reduction in 2020. Downstream of the reservoir, diversity remains high.
On the other hand, fish catch seems stable, with a high value reported in 2017, lower in 2018-2019 and higher again in 2020.
Around Don Sahong, though, monitors observed puzzling findings, with a fish catch decline in northern Cambodia, but an increase immediately downstream of the dam.
“We must understand the scope of our challenges and identify the most effective methodology to measure it,” said the MRC Secretariat CEO Dr Anoulak Kittikhoun.
“While this report sheds some light on the impact of hydropower, it’s too early to attribute every impact to the dams. Climate change and other developments are also factors.”
Overall, this Joint Environmental Monitoring report is part of a broader effort by the MRC – which represents Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam – to strike a balance between the economic and societal benefits of hydropower.
For this JEM pilot project, a diverse team of monitors tested their protocols for about one year, after Covid 19 caused significant delays.
Their report will likely become a foundation for both future policies and monitoring activities. As the report itself states, their findings can shape future hydropower projects “siting and design, prediction of changes relating to the project operation, and development, application and evaluation of mitigation and management measures”.
It can also provide a “basis for constructive discussions” between riverine communities and MRC members.
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Malaysia hopes to speed up the revival of the terminated High-Speed Railway (HSR) project with Singapore at the earliest date, says Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said currently Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong is in discussions with his Singaporean counterpart S. Iswaran on the matter.
During a question-answer session with several representatives of the foreign media and Bernama here, Monday, the Prime Minister said that if the project is revived, it would involve some changes including to the terms and conditions.
“It is an ongoing discussion. If possible we want it to be speeded up because Malaysia also has plans to establish HSR between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
“If can, we want to link Bangkok-KL and KL-Singapore,” he said.
He envisaged that the rail line could go up to China, as China and Thailand were also in the process of building high-speed train lines.
Asked if reviving the project is a priority of his administration, Ismail Sabri said: “Not to say priority, since the planning is already there, right from the start, right from BN (Barisan Nasional)’s time, planning is completed, only stopped for a while”.
As the cost of raw materials has been going up, Malaysia may consider reducing the size of the stations to keep in check the overall cost of the project.
Last Nov 29, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was reported saying the republic is open to any new proposal from Malaysia on the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR project, though both countries earlier had agreed to terminate the project.
Malaysia and Singapore inked bilateral agreements for the HSR project on 13 Dec 2016. The 350km railway line was to be completed in 2026, reducing the travel time between both destinations to 90 minutes.
However, the project was put on the back burner in September 2018 with both sides agreeing to shelf the bilateral project worth RM110bil until 31 Dec 2020.
On 1 Jan 2021, Malaysia and Singapore jointly announced the termination of the HSR project, as there was no agreement reached on the changes proposed by Malaysia and the fact that the agreement expired on Dec 31, 2020.
In March 2021, Malaysia announced it had paid SG$102.8mil to Singapore for the cost incurred by the republic for the development of HSR and the delays involved.
On another matter, the Prime Minister said the government is looking into the need for a third link between Johor and Singapore in the effort to reduce the congestion at the Johor Causeway and the Second Link (Linkedua).
“It is still at the planning stages; we will see if there is a need for it,” he said.
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