Venturing into the depths of the North Pacific Ocean, the research vessel EVNautilus inadvertently stumbled upon a visually captivating marine creature; The Dumbo octopus. This rare breed, named for its charming side flippers that strikingly resemble the ears of Walt Disney’s beloved character, Dumbo, was sighted at a staggering depth of 2,665 meters through the lens of a remotely operated vehicle, controlled by the Ocean Exploration Trust. The enigmatic Dumbo octopus, a species known to inhabit the oceanic abyss, as deep as 7,000 meters below the surface level, was discovered during the monumental Ala ʻAumoana Kai Uli (NA154) expedition. Here, the mission’s dedicated and intrepid team is hard at work, unearthing data from the jewel of Mother Nature’s crown, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, a revered World Heritage Site and haven for marine wildlife. With their eyes firmly set on illuminating the mysteries of the deep, EVNautilus and its team are…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Vice Premier and Minister of Foreign Relations Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara has voiced staunch advocacy for unrestricted travel rights, without the prerequisite of a visa, for all Thai tourists wishing to explore the culture and various landscapes of Germany and the rest of the European Union – the countries uniting Europe. While attending the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78) all the way across the ocean in the United States, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, the seasoned politician of age 66, used his time wisely, establishing a connection with his German counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Tobias Lindner. The aim, on this circuitously global diplomatic stage, was to inspire an alliance, and set a platform for negotiations encompassing numerous areas that could potentially see growth between the two countries. The primary points of conversation during the discussions included the establishment of strong trade collaborations, comprehensive strategies to combat the prevalent issue of climate change,…
In a landmark move aimed at improving its extensive rail network, Thailand’s State Railway (SRT) is poised to seek cabinet approval for an impressive funding goal exceeding 50 billion baht. This sizeable investment is designed to breathe life into the ambitious construction of a double-track railway line extending from Khon Kaen to Nong Khai and to enhance the reach of the Red Line electric train routes. The groundbreaking initiative follows clear instructions from the country’s Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, accelerating the momentum of paramount railway game-changers and lining up proposal submissions for the stamp of approval from the cabinet – an event marked on the calendar for the current month. As the conductor of this vast undertaking, SRT Governor Nirut Maneephan stepped into the spotlight to confirm the unfolding plans. He dissected the complex funding jigsaw, presenting the allocation blueprint destined to shape up the much-awaited second phase of the…
A dramatic shift in the weather is taking the northern regions of Thailand by storm, literally, as a slowly receding yet strong storm system is poised to unleash torrential rain in the area from September 26 till 29. This statement was released via a public announcement from the Department of Meteorology, as of 1 am today. The storm, which was originally identified as ‘Depression’, has dwindled down into a formidable low-pressure system situated near the Danang city in Vietnam. The slowly moving storm is anticipated to trail along the monsoon trough passing through the northern portions of Thailand in the last week of September. This stormy encounter could potentially open the floodgates to heavy rainfall across numerous regions of the north, northeast, and central parts, including Bangkok and other nearby regions, the eastern parts, as well as the south. The rain might get heavy to a considerate extent in some…
Deputy Interior Minister Chada Thaiset of Thailand’s Department of Provincial Administration (DoPA) has announced their determined efforts to track down people involved in multiple kinds of crime throughout the nation. Referred to as “influential figures”, these people are believed to be implicated in as many as 16 different forms of illegal activities. The list of criminal offences is comprehensive, ranging from predatory lending and bid rigging to taking bribes from public transportation vehicles and smuggling of untaxed goods. Other forms of crimes consist of both online and offline gambling, human trafficking, illicit entry into the country, illegitimate overseas job placement, scams targeting tourists, hiring of gunmen for illicit purposes, unlawful debt collection, illegal arms trading, encroachment on public land, extortion, and the handling and smuggling of narcotics. Announcement of this active maneuvering by DoPA comes in response to the tragic shooting incident headlined nationwide that involves Police Major Sivakorn Saibua.…
Seafood importers around the globe have been in a state of trepidation regarding potential radioactive contamination, following the discharge of wastewater from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant. These concerns have now been put to rest with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirming that seafood imports from Japan are devoid of harmful radioactivity levels. The FDA’s Deputy Secretary-General, Lertchai Lertvut, offered clarifying details. He stated that before the release of the treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean by Japan on August 12–more than ten years after the nuclear disaster–rigorous safety measures were enforced. Lertvut went on to elucidate that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation’s Office of Atoms for Peace collected a vast array of imported seafood samples, like squid, molluscs, and crabs, for testing. Scienstists evaluated for possible contaminant and potential radioactive elements, namely caesium-134 and caesium-137. Test results came back relieving. From 75…
The Si Thep Historical Park, nestled in Phetchabun, witnessed an exponential rise in tourism over the past weekend. This upsurge followed hot on the heels of the announcement on September 19 that the park had secured the prestigious World Heritage Site status from UNESCO. The rising waves of tourists flocking towards the park have led local administrative entities to turn towards the government with appeals for expanded facilities and accommodation options to handle the burgeoning influx of visitors. Sittichai Poodee, the visionary director of Si Thep Historical Park, reported on September 25 that more than 5,000 visitors had swarmed into the park on the previous Saturday. Adding to this number was a similar headcount at Khao Klang Nok, a neighboring site steeped in rich historical significance. This brought the combined total of visitor headcount over the weekend across both sites to a staggering 20,000, a number that greatly surpassed the…
With the aim of saving and potentially generating revenue, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt is strategically focusing on maximizing the efficacy of waste management in the city. In a recent Facebook livestream, he shed light on the current scenario – about 9,000 tonnes of waste is transported to three waste management facilities – Nong Khaem, Sai Mai and On Nut, every day for disposal. The Nong Khaem Municipal Solid Waste Management Centre, one of the city’s primary waste disposal units, single-handedly processes almost 4,000 tonnes of waste each day. The cost for disposing of this waste oscillates within 649.50 and 970 baht per tonne. Chadchart Sittipunt emphasized on the need to decrease this cost, so the saved funds could serve other municipal needs. His statement came during a live broadcast from the Nong Khaem centre. Providing an instance of their successful efforts towards controlling spendings, the governor revealed how they managed…
In a strategic move set to invigorate the nation’s economy, Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has launched the exciting visa-free policy which started earlier this week. The eagerly awaited policy, targeting Chinese and Kazakh visitors, is aimed at making Thailand a more desirable destination for international tourists, especially those originating from China and Kazakhstan. This exceptional initiative, the Quick Win proactive measure, sees the holder of Chinese and Kazakh passports benefiting from visa exemptions. With this strategic policy in place, an estimated five million Chinese tourists are speculated to make Thailand their choice destination by the end of the year, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). This vehicular policy is scheduled to run until February 29 of the succeeding year as reported by Thailand’s Interior Ministry on September 18. On Monday, the day the policy kicked off, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin made an exceptional appearance at Suvarnabhumi airport…
Recent reports from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) triumphantly announce that imported seafood from Japan is conclusively devoid of radioactive traces exceeding international standards, signaling a sigh of relief for food consumers worldwide. This auspicious news comes on the tails of mounting international apprehension regarding potential contamination of marine life due to last month’s release of wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which sadly fell victim to a cataclysmic tsunami. Lertchai Lertvut, the esteemed deputy secretary-general of the FDA, enlightened the anxious public about the stern safety measures that were dutifully implemented before Japan initiated the release of what they have labeled “treated radioactive water” from the Fukushima power plant on the fateful day of August 12. This event comes 12 long years after the sobering nuclear meltdown. In their commitment to ascertaining absolute safety, FDA operatives industriously collected 75 samples of imported seafood. Vibrantly slithering squids, quintessential…