Commentary: Breaking the vicious cycle of haze and climate change in Southeast Asia
TO Alleviate HAZE, GET ON THE Earth
South Asian maritime haze pollution is recognized as a complex issue that necessitates multi-stakeholder engagement with local communities, municipal governments, corporations, and civil society.
Since the 1990s, ASEAN has been actively working to reduce haze, and in 2015, the Singaporean government passed a law prohibiting intergovernmental waste. Researchers have spent years carefully analyzing the haze’s underlying reasons, factors, impacts, and implications. But the issue keeps coming up every season.
It is now time to move beyond the realms of diplomacy and academia and engage the public to convince towns, businesses, and institutions that it is in their best interests to protect peat. Simply put, every effort we make to keep our coal reserves in our peatlands may contribute to the prevention of our climate and haze.
In this regard, the region’s current speed in using carbon prices tools and the creation of voluntary carbon emissions trading markets( as Indonesia has just done ) may provide a window of opportunity to encourage stakeholders to scale-up their conservation efforts and produce high-quality carbon credits that can be monetized.
For instance, the United Kingdom has developed the Peatland Code, a cutting-edge organic capital financing mechanism that uses an independent standard to provide independent validation and verification for projects involving the restoration of peatlands.
Through this, the UK has been using a combination of public and private funding to register about 200 peatland jobs in its nationwide registry and track the total amount of emissions reduced and the place restored. The need for individualized job reviews is replaced by the Code, which reassures investors of best practices.
Development toward these opportunities in the peatlands of Southeast Asia may be diverse. According to international standards, the results may be measurable, actionable, and factual.
In the current brass environment, this may be difficult, but the advantages are well worth it. For peatland populations, this might lead to better standard of living. The same could contribute to corporate conservation moves. They may improve national carbon products account for governments. It might eventually signify for the area the realization of the” Haze-Free ASEAN” perspective.
At the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s ASEAN Studies Centre, Sharon Seah serves as Senior Fellow and Coordinator. At the University of Malaya’s Department of International and Strategic Studies, Helena Varkkey teaches climate politics and leadership as an associate doctor. This article first appeared on the website Fulcrum of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
Commentary: Singapore banksâ latest anti-scam measures may be inconvenient, but would you rather lose your life savings?
THE PROBLEM May CONTINUE.
The bad news is that these offenders will only be motivated to innovate as they already have by the allure of quick bargains. Scammers are already using new technologies, like artificial intelligence, to produce deepfakes that can be used to have convincing telephone or video conversations.
Fortunately, the government and economic institutions have taken action. In the midst of a wave of SMS hacking schemes, Singaporean businesses announced new steps in January 2022 to increase the security of online banking.
The measures include removing clickable links from SMS or email notifications sent to clients, establishing a South$ 100 or lower threshold for funds exchange transaction notifications, and mandating that new gentle tokens be activated on portable devices at least 12 hours in advance.
Whenever a request to transform these details is made, businesses may also notify the current mobile number or email that has been registered with the lender.
More safeguards included a cooling-off period prior to the implementation of important accounts changes, such as contact information, and more numerous scam education alerts.
Additionally, devoted and well-equipped customer service teams are needed to handle feedback on possible scams cases on a priority basis.
Banks must then, among other things, request additional verification in order to approach major changes to user accounts and other high-risk transactions discovered through fraud surveillance, set the default transaction limit for virtual funds transfers to S$ 5, 000 or lower, and offer an emergency self-service” kill switch” so customers can quickly suspend their accounts if they believe their bank accounts have been compromised.
Members of the public have also been warned by the Singapore Police Force not to download suspicious Android package kit( APK ) files from unauthorized or suspicious websites because doing so could result in malware being installed on their devices. Anti-virus software installation comments have also been made.
Carabao band calls it quits
12 October 2023 at 05:05 PUBLISHED
The famous songs-for-life band Carabao is saying goodbye after more than 40 years with a farewell performance scheduled for April of next year.
Yuenyong Opakul, also known as” Ad Carabao,” a singer for the band, revealed on Tuesday that the group intended to cut up.
Due to the poor health of several of its members, Yuenyong said it was time to call it a day. The leave music is scheduled for April 1 of the following month.
But, Yuenyong, who has been named a national artist, stated that he will keep writing music with up-and-coming players.
Yuenyong, Kirati Promsaka na Sakonnakhon, and Sanit Limsala, who were studying in Manila, the Philippines, founded Carabao, which means” water bison” in Tagalog and denotes hard work, in 1980.
CNA Explains: Why is Telegram becoming a hotbed for crime?
Law enforcement organizations may also face difficulties with data recovery, particularly with fog and web-based store technology, he said.
Law enforcement efforts are further complicated by the sheer size and scope of messaging action on communication apps, according to Mr. Wee.
” Areas frequently have thousands of users, and they can all privately communication one another.” Additionally, new populations or groups can appear almost instantly, making scanning and detection challenging, he continued.
According to a CNB voice, cautious knowledge gathering and thorough investigations are used to cut off the supply of controlled drugs and neutralize drug activity in its anti-drug campaigns.
These drug offenders might believe that using such talk programs do allow them to conduct business secretly. Drug offenders may avoid the long arm of CNB’s police efforts, the spokesperson said, regardless of the strategy or platform used in an effort to avoid detection.
Does TELEGRAM BE CONSIDERED Guilty?
According to two attorneys CNA spoke with, it will be challenging to hold Telegram responsible for the legal actions carried out on the communications app.
According to Mr. Wee, Telegram may say that it has no control over the content that is exchanged on the application. He also added that the use of end-to-end encryption enables the company to” assert that its knowledge of the contents of message exchanges”
Messaging apps like Telegram are frequently found in countries where it is challenging to enforce decisions or orders, he continued.
Establishing legal duty, which frequently involves objective, against Telegram, a” significantly bona fide software for communication ,” according to Mr. James Gomez, may be difficult.
However, the attorneys CNA spoke with emphasized that the recently passed Online Criminal Harms Act 2023( OCHA ), which was passed in Parliament on July 5, may hold messaging apps like Telegram legally responsible for criminal activities carried out on their platform.
According to Mr. Ng, the OCHA will help the government deal with illegal content electronically more effectively.
” The OCHA enables the government to give instructions to online companies where legal activity is carried out.” It applies to specific criminal offenses, such as website gambling, drug trafficking, physical crimes, and online frauds.
Where instructions have been disobeyed, the state may issue orders prohibiting non-compliance, such as directions blocking or restricting access to the relevant communication system in Singapore. Additionally, the communication system may be ordered to be taken out of Singaporean application stores by the government, he added.
According to Mr. James Gomez, the Act” gives law enforcement agencies better access to control website illegal activities and to enable them to better regulate unlawful online activities.”
According to Mr. James Gomez, the Act enables law enforcement to get information from online service companies like Telegram, which improves the effectiveness of tracing criminal activity.
Abuse claim rocks MFP
12 October 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
Nuttawut Buaprathum, the deputy leader of the Move Forward Party( MFP ), acknowledged yesterday that a party MP’s claim that she received sexual harassment text messages from him has merit.
In response to a complaint made against Prachin Buri MP Wuttiphong Thonglour, Mr. Nuttawut served as the group’s disciplinary committee chair.
According to Mr. Nuttawut, a sensor is currently being conducted after the MFP received the issue in August.
As information is being gathered, the MP has not yet been invited to address the group about the matter, he added, adding that it is impossible to predict how huge the investigation will last or when it will be finished.
He claimed that in order to decide the accused MP’s fate, the administrative panel must review the situation in accordance with the recently updated MFP regulations.
Since both the accused and the defendant have provided contradictory information, Mr. Nuttawut added that the operation may be time-consuming.
” In order to meet women’s anticipation, the MFP will need to discuss this issue. Every action will be taken based on the evidence, according to Mr. Nuttawut.
When asked if the argument against Mr. Wuttiphong had any merit, he replied that the group believes the situation does. The sufferer has been brave and self-assured, and she has given the party enough details to submit a plea.
He added that if the accusations are proven to be true, the party may either remove the MP or prevent him from running in the upcoming elections. Any punishment meted out to him would depend on the seriousness of the wrongdoing.
According to Mr. Nuttawut, the MFP has stringent verification standards for its applicants, and in some cases, testing takes place before a candidate joins.
Nevertheless, he asserted that the MFP cannot absolve itself of accountability for the actions of its users.
The MFP often holds workshops to promote gender equality among its members and candidates. Sasinan Thamnithinan and Nittaya Meesri, two attorneys with experience in relevant legal matters, he claimed, have joined the administrative commission.
He continued,” We are not dragging our legs, but we must take the time to carefully consider the evidence before a decision is made.
In the meantime, Deputy House Speaker and former MFP part Padipat Santipada stated that if the MP is the subject of a conventional complaint, the legislature may launch an investigation.
He claimed that while the new opposition leader is being named, Parliament has not yet established its morality council.
Veg fest to generate B9bn: TAT
PUBLISHED: 12 October 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
The Phuket Provincial Commercial Office reported that fruit prices are lower than they were during the same time last month, and the monthly 10-day vegetarian event is anticipated to bring in over 9 billion ringgit.
The Phuket Tourist Association’s chair, Thanet Tantipiriyakit, stated that in October, the low season, also known as the green season in Phuket, comes to an end.
Phuket is hosting its yearly vegetarian festival from October 15 to October 24 to commemorate the change to the beach island’s high season, which lasts from November to April.
According to Mr. Thanet, the TAT’s Phuket Office predicts that more than 9 billion baht in revenue may be brought in during the festival, compared to 3.4 billion for the previous occasion.
According to him, lodging will account for 20 % of the anticipated revenue, the culinary industry for another 20 %, and local products for the remaining 20 %.
He stated that over 70 % of the city’s ability for hotels in Phuket is also anticipated to be occupied.
According to Mr. Thanet, the salad event will draw a sizable number of visitors to Phuket as the green season comes to an end.
He claimed that the public and private businesses both contributed to Phuket’s amenities and lodging. While some hotels or restaurants will provide an all-you-can-eat vegetable buffet, others may change their menus to include vegetable dishes.
According to Mr. Thanet, vegetarian food will make up about 80 % of the menu in Phuket.
Woranit Apiratjirawong, director of the Phuket Commerce Office, added that officials often check the ingredients in Phuket’s areas.
To prevent customer exploitation, especially during important festivals, the office will dispatch inspectors to monitor present ingredient costs.
She claimed that prices for carrot, white sugar, water spinach, bean sprouts, and cabbage are 20 to 30 % lower than they were during the same time last year.
Deep South emergency decree extended
12 October 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
According to the order administration panel that ordered the extension, the emergency order imposed in the deep South may be extended by an additional three months but lifted in six regions and reinstated in one.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin, who presided over the board meeting yesterday, announced the improvement.
However, the purchase must be approved by the cabinet meeting on October 16 before it can go into effect.
After examining the security situation in the heavy South, the board decided to extend the order for an additional three months starting on October 20, when it expires.
Before deciding whether to prolong the order, Mr. Somsak claimed that Interior Ministry officials had conducted a survey to ascertain the opinions of locals and sought feedback from the National Security Council and the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center.
According to statistics, the insurgency-related murder in the southwestern border provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and portions of Songkhla has frequently decreased between 2007 and the present.
Although the number had decreased to 70 on average per year during the crisis, in some times, the violent incidents peaked at 100 on an annual average.
The number of incidents may rise this year, but according to the authorities, it won’t exceed 100 for the entire time.
According to Mr. Somsak, the decree would be lifted in three districts — Krong Pinang in Yala, Thung Yang Daeng in Pattani, and Yi-ngo in Narathiwat — and replaced by the National Security Act. Additionally, the screen has decided to restore the decree in Narathiwat’s Sri Sakhon district, where unrest has been resurging for the past five years.
Sutin Klungsang, the defense minister, was reportedly attempting to expand the emergency decree that was being enforced in the southernmost provinces in response to requests from some local communities.
The defense minister claims that while groups of Tibetan occupants called for the order to get upheld, some Arab residents have urged the government to scrap it.
The so-called Intellectual Network Council suggested the government revoke the order last Friday at a meeting, claiming that the restrictive actions had already been extended 73 times, which was sufficient.
Israel conflict claims lives of more Thais
20 people were killed, and 14 more were kidnapped: accounts
According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, more studies of Thais being kidnapped or injured have also been made, and two more Thai workers in Israel have died as a result of Hamas attacks.
According to Kanchana Patarachoke, director-general of the agency’s Department of Information, attacks and underwater bombardments continued close to the Gaza Strip, with reports of fatalities and injuries coming from both sides.
Based on illegal information from employers and Thai nationals on the ground and pending official confirmation from Israeli authorities, she claimed that the two Vietnamese workers were killed in a jet attack, bringing the total number of Thai deaths to 20.
Thirteen Thais were injured and fourteen were kidnapped as a result of the reports of three additional abductions and four additional injuries.
According to Ms. Kanchana, the Thai consulate checked the list of names and found no Thais among the 14 captives who had lately been freed.
According to Ms. Kanchana, who likewise serves as the agency’s representative, 5, 174 Thai employees have registered for deliberate repatriation in full, and 64 have confirmed they may stay in Israel. There are about 30,000 Thai people living in Israel.
She responded that the first 15 Thais were scheduled to return to Thailand on an El Al journey at 10.35 a.m. today when asked about evacuations.
According to her, officials have also reserved 80 seats for Thais on commercial airlines for departure on Wednesday.
According to Ms. Kanchana, the Royal Thai Air Force( RTAF) has transport plane ready to return more Thais back as other nations are first requesting permission to fly through their aircraft. The RTAF may take its aircraft to remove Thai citizens from Israel on Sunday and October 24 once it has been given permission.
According to her, the Thai consulate in Tel Aviv is also working with professional airlines to set up planes to help more Thai people leave Israel.
According to Ms. Kanchana, Thai citizens in Israel have also requested assistance from Siamese diplomats in Jordan and Egypt in entering those nations from Israel.
The offices, according to her, are prepared to assist them, but they must move across borders with more caution.
According to Ms. Kanchana, the Thai consulate in Tel Aviv has been in contact with Israel’s foreign affairs ministry and a number of Israeli officials to hasten the removal of Thai citizens from high-risk areas to protected areas.
Thai citizens among the hundreds of citizens who have been evacuated to protected areas. For the time being, she said, they may either labor on agricultural estates or stay in makeshift shelters.
According to Ms. Kanchana, Pannabha Chandraramya visited a group of Thai residents in Tel Aviv to provide support and raise their spirits. He was also the Thai embassy to Israel and the labor attaché to the embassy.
When the first 15 Thais return today, immigration officials may arrange their entrance, and they will finally be taken to the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute for health check-ups, according to Naruchai Ninnat, assistant director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs.
The 15 Thais are entitled to 15, 000 ringgit in compensation each from the ministry’s bank that was established to assist Vietnamese staff abroad, according to Samas Pattamasukhon, inspector general at the Labour Ministry.
According to Mr. Samas, they will each receive an additional 15, 000 baht if they sustain injuries and a health document certifying their conditions.
2023’s influenza cases jump 5-fold
12 October 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) is now issuing a warning against purchasing artificial influenza antiviral pills labeled oseltamivir that have been smuggled into the nation because the number of influenza cases in 2023 has increased fivefold compared to the monthly averages for the same period last year.
According to Dr. Thira Woratanarat of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine on his Facebook page yesterday, the number of virus cases from January to September of this year was higher than the same time next year.
In January of this year, there were fewer than 20,000 cases of flu, but by September, that number had increased to 100,000 circumstances. In September of last year, there were only 20, 000 virus circumstances. According to Dr. Thira, the number of influenza cases increased by 5.2 % in January compared to the same time in 2022, 7.6 % in February, 3.5 % in March, 4.8 % in April, 5.9 % in May, 7.2 times in July, 6.4 % in August, and 5.1 % in September.
Recently, Cholnan Srikaew, the minister of public health, announced the flu subtypes that are common in Thailand: the A H1N1, H3N2, and B viruses. The Public Health Ministry is even extending the time spectrum of infant immunization from six months to two years and up to five years.
In the meantime, drug, an arbitrary antiviral drug, is becoming more and more popular in the North. According to complaints made to the government, there is a scarcity of oseltamivir, which has led to panic buying, according to locals.
Oseltamivir is on stock, according to Dr. Narong Aphikulvanich, acting secretary-general of the FDA, and the Government Pharmaceutical Organization is promoting the production of osaltavivir ( 30g and 45g ) to be distributed throughout the world. He claimed that smuggled unnatural drug, which was sold in the North, entered the nation. According to him, the FDA may take legal action against the offenders.
Tamiflu 75g, GPO A-Flu 30g and 35g are the drug treatments that are available in Thailand. Oseltamivir is a controlled drug that is only sold in clinics. Oseltamivir may be prescribed to patients before use, and they shouldn’t purchase it from pharmacy or on other websites, he said.
Dam water to help farmers with second rice crop
12 October 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
Due to higher than anticipated rain this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives plans to release stored water from rivers to assist farmers with their minute corn crop estate.
The Department of Royal Irrigation reported yesterday that some reservoirs have received more water as a result of the monsoons that have been hitting the nation since July, according to Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Capt. Thamanat Prompow.
The lower North, the Central Plains, and the Northeast parts of Thailand experienced higher precipitation levels.
Due to extremely low water levels in the dams, the government recently stated that it would not be able to support liquid control for the next wheat farm for farmers living in irrigation zones.
But, Capt. Thamanat claimed that too much rain has increased the amount of water in several dams. Over 81 % of their water storage capacity has been reached by 14 rivers, and over 80 % of that ability is attained by 17. Dams.
According to him, more water can be released for the next round of corn planting because the volume of water stored is higher than anticipated.
” This time, we might be able to take more water to help the second grain.” We predict that the next plantation’s find won’t be significantly different from last year.
However, we will need to obtain the committee’s consent for the corn farming. The choice will then be sent to the National Water Resource Committee for review, according to Captain Thamanat.
Regarding Northeasterly flood, he anticipates a treatment in the Chi-Moon River valley within the next 20 time, or by November 10.
By bringing the increased volumes of water into water retention districts in rice fields, he continued, the government is also making every effort to manage the water in the Central Plains and lessen the effects on individuals.
The amount of water available for use at the moment is approximately 31.87 billion square meters, which is 6.87 million cubic yards less than the previous month.