Capital readies for Chao Phraya to overflow

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Water from north storms reaches the area.

Better safe than sorry: Disaster mitigation officials fill sandbags to be used to erect a floodwall along the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
Better safe than sorry: Nonthaburi’s hazard reduction officials fill bags to create a floodwall along the institutions of the Chao Phraya River. ( Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill )

As Bangkok prepares to flow the Chao Phraya River, waters from extensive flooding in inland northeastern provinces has reportedly reached Bangkok.

The second wave of liquid from the floods that devastated the upper northern regions eight weeks ago has flowed down the Chao Phraya to Bangkok after the Chao Phraya bridge storm in Chai Nat expedited the release of the water.

The Chao Phraya river basin’s downstream waterways are monitored by the barrage, which has a direct impact on the water quality in Bangkok and the Northern Plains provinces.

On Thursday, the storm released 1, 300 square feet of waters per minute, away from 1, 100 square metres per minute.

The Yom and Nan river, two of the four rivers of the Chao Phraya, are now swollen, which has forced the storm to increase the rate of liquid discharge.

As a result of the high volumes of water currently passing by, the discharge amount will be maintained at 1, 300-1, 400 square meters of water per second in the upcoming weeks, according to Thanet Somboon, chairman of the Bureau of Water Management and Hydrology.

The commission will be keeping an eye on rainfall patterns in flood-prone and flooded areas between September 1 and September 4, for which additional heavy rain is expected.

The lower North and the lower Central Plains regions are the areas to enjoy.

According to Mr. Thanet, flooding poses a significant threat to provinces in the middle Central Plains, where wheat is currently being harvested.

Farmers may be forced to financial ruin by these floods and sweep out this essential crop, he added.

The director claimed that the top priority should be given to first managing the principal rivers, which are overflowing with water.

After the corn harvest is completed, any extra water may be diverted to the bare fields to minimize water flow inland, he said.

” People should n’t panic”, he said, adding the surging water is not adversely impacting Bangkok as it is being managed according to the plan.

However, the government are bracing for more slippery conditions. Tuesday, more than 100 millimetres of rain was recorded in each of the top northern regions of Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Nan and Phrae, which are all reeling from various times of flood.

Water levels are rising in the Yom and Nan river ponds as a result of the snowfall.

The major sluice doorway at Hat Saphan Chan in Sukhothai has prevented any flow in the Sri Satchanalai, Sri Samrong, and Muang towns, keeping levels in check in the Yom River and rivers.

Municipal officials in Sukhothai, one of the regions worst-hit by storms in recent days, have reported more than 70, 000 ray of property being inundated. The Sawankhalok city saw the most damage to farmland.

The great Bang Rakam industry, which has a reservoir capability of up to 62 million square meters of water, will receive extra water from Klong Hok Bat, Klong Yom Nam, the Yom River, and the Nan River.

Sukhothai’s flooded open areas will then be drained to make room for the effects of additional storms forecast for the following month.

It may be required to siphon water from the Chao Phraya into water rivers, the ministry claims.

After crop planting is finished in the Central Plains place by the middle of next month, the commission anticipates that more empty fields will be available for irrigation.

Which fields will be opened to receive the water will be decided by the National Water Command.

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt of Bangkok was given 50 sheets of fencing to bolster the hydro fence and maintain lower water levels along the Chao Phraya.

Meanwhile, the flooding has forced the closure of five state-run clinics in Phrae, said Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin.

On September 2, they are anticipated to reopen.

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China denies releasing water upstream

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After Thaksin made comments in Chiang Rai, Embassy clarifies the rank of the Jinghong Dam.

PUBLISHED: 28 Aug 2024 at 20: 50

Water from the Nam Songkhram river, a major tributary of the Mekong, breached its banks and flooded about 5,000 rai of paddy fields in Sri Songkhram district of Nakhon Phanom province on Wednesday. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)
On Wednesday, the Nam Songkhram valley, a main tributary of the Mekong, breached its bankers and flooded about 5, 000 ray of rice fields in the district of Sri Songkhram in Nakhon Phanom state. ( Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai )

Following accusations that these releases may have caused flooding in Thailand’s north and northeast areas, China has denied releasing liquid from the Jinghong Dam in Yunnan into the Mekong River.

Since the dam has n’t released any water in a while, the Chinese embassy in Bangkok has stated in a statement that it has n’t been connected to the country’s flood situation.

Foreign rivers were in a typical condition for this time of year, according to Embassy officials ‘ inquiries of several state agencies. Between August 18 and August 25, according to the military, pools connected to the Lancang River, as the Mekong is known in China.

The Jinghong Dam’s average daily outflow of water had decreased by 60 % from August last year, and the dam has n’t recently released water, according to the embassy.

When visiting flood victims in Chiang Rai on Tuesday, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra claimed that China’s exceptionally high water release may have caused the Mekong to have experienced an abundance of water while it was even experiencing storms.

He claimed that the Chinese government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were negotiating ways to relieve water without the river filled.

It is not known if the diplomat’s statement responded to Thaksin’s remarks.

Chinese officials are concerned about the flood, according to the embassy.

The six nations in the Lancang ( Mekong ) River Basin are a community of a shared future that are connected by mountains and rivers, according to it on Facebook.

China “fully acknowledges and bears the concerns and interests of other basin countries,” according to the statement.” China is ready to further enhance information sharing and cooperation about water resources, improve the complete management capacity in the basin, and simultaneously address issues like climate change and floods.”

As of Wednesday, the ocean level in the Mekong in Nakhon Phanom had risen to around 10.4 feet, about 1.6 feet below the overflowing degree, with a mass of waters coming from the North.

Specialists in the towns of Muang, Ban Phaeng, Tha Uthen, and That Phanom have been issued a statewide advisory to mount big water pumps to prevent any flow. Residents have also been instructed to monitor weather reports.

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Lebanon has long made survival an art form – Asia Times

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Three decades into the civil war and six times before Theodore Ell was born, I traveled to Lebanon for the first time in 1978.

His opinions and judgments in his superb fresh book” Lebanon Days” that covers the turbulent period from 2018 to 2021, are in line very closely with my own, despite the fact that our experience of this amazing country were at different times.

At the request of the American Department of Foreign Affairs, I was studying Arabic in Cairo at the time of my second visit. In those days, DFA ( no” T” on the acronym ) was attempting to increase its Middle East expertise in response to the dramatic rise in oil prices engineered by Gulf oil producers following the Arab-Israeli War in 1973.

My office had approved the trip in order for me to expand my understanding of the Middle East and training Arabic in various settings where that terrifyingly challenging language is spoken. This was travel on the cheap through Lebanon, Syria and Jordan over three weeks – using” service” taxis ( taxis with several passengers ) and staying in hotels that would struggle to earn half-star ratings.

The goal was for me to fully immerse myself in settings where there is little to no English spoken, and I must learn Hebrew for all the realities of everyday life.

Beirut: a town divided

Before flying to Beirut, I had consulted ebooks on the area in the Cairo ministry’s collection. The civil conflict arose before those in Lebanon. I was struck by the beauty of Beirut’s center, mainly Martyrs Square, which is depicted on both sides of Ell’s text with large palm trees on its eastern and western factors.

At Beirut airport, just south of the city, I hailed a taxi and asked the driver in fus’ha ( formal ) Arabic to take me to Martyrs ‘ Square. He looked at me surprised, as I had assumed because his Arabic was n’t the colloquial dialect he was used to. However, when we arrived at the circle, I learned that there was another motivation. About a meter from the ground, high-velocity shots had shorn off all the hand plants.

I had stumbled onto the “green line” multiplying Beirut’s east and west, the principal battle area of the battle. The taxi driver, who was Muslim, was obviously concerned about being close to the square and would n’t let me enter the Christian east.

I went to Beirut many times throughout the war in later years. In the late 1990s, when the country appeared for a while to get regaining momentum, I worked there for three times.

There was charm in Beirut’s facility. Photo: Jo Kassis / Pexels via The Talk

While posted in Damascus, investment of Syria, in the mid-1980s, I occasionally went to Beirut with another team member to carry out different formal jobs during breaks in the battle. If we stayed in West Beirut, we often slept in the then-closed military building.

To reduce the chance of shattered glass getting sprayed on to the inside of the building, we used to move mattresses from bedrooms into the inner hallway.

Another brilliant memory from that time is receiving a business from Lebanon an invitation to lunch at one of Beirut’s top restaurants. French cuisine was served, and the setting was typical for premium European restaurants. The only drawback to a nice dinner experience was that the restaurant’s windows had sandbags on them.

The 2019 revolutionary

The Taif Accord of October 1989 is usually regarded as the war’s official conclusion. But even then, René Moawad, Lebanon’s first post leader, served for just 18 days before mysterious assailants assassinated him on 22 November that time.

Rafiq Hariri, the prime minister for six years in the 1990s, contributed a significant portion of his own money to Beirut’s post restoration. In order to help with financing the restoration, he also invited other businessmen to give a 10 % voluntary tax on their earnings to the state at the time.

A business friendship once told me that he thought this request was a joke because no one would pay for a tax. I questioned how he anticipated that the position would be able to fund streets, institutions, and schools without paying taxes. He responded that in Australia, I may reasonably conclude that my taxes would be used for these purposes. In Lebanon, for bills may end up in European banks.

In” Lebanon Days”, Ell recounts some such tales, based on his experience accompanying his wife, Caitlin, an American diplomat who was on a posting at our military in Beirut.

The Syrian pound’s decline, among other things, contributed to its economic destruction during his time there. From 1999 to 2019, the Lebanese Central Bank had maintained the pound’s artificially high price of 1, 507.50 to the US dollar.

This distorted the economy by causing exports to be deliberately cheap and imports to be artificially cheap, preventing the growth of trade industries, and accumulating deficits that are unsustainable.

In order to keep the currency’s value, the Central Bank had to be able to obtain the funds at a lower price than it sold them. October 2019: It was a trust method that was doomed to ultimately fail. The outcome was cultural panic – thowra, or trend, involving protests over months.

Demonstrators of all faiths gathered in Martyrs ‘ Square to chant slogans and perform protest music as a result of the likewise affected 18 religious cults in Lebanon. According to Ell, one like phrase described Lebanon as” a state of animals, run by wolf, owned by animals”.

Therefore, in early 2020, Covid struck the state, Ell and Caitlin included. However, that did not stop the rebellion, which ultimately led to yet another disaster that was about to occur: the tragic explosion in Beirut’s slot in August 2020 from careless storage of a sizable amount of ammonium nitrate.

Ell wrote an essay for the Australian Book Review that won the 2021 Calibre Essay Prize and vividly described the blast and its effects on capital people.

In his guide, he goes into more information about that. I found his claim that no one had developed a way to make money from the nitrogen oxide had not been moved to safer store particularly impressive.

Ell’s text exudes fact to anyone who has lived in Lebanon. He vividly describes the Palestinian sense of fun, the bars in East Beirut where customers could drink and dance until sunrise, as they had done before the civil war.

The Syrian people’s resolve to keep their appearances as the business sank in front of them was on the flip side. People who had frequented fashionable shopping stores but no longer had money to spend it on the bare necessities would continue to walk the corridors, buying nothing but carrying comfort brand shopping bags that suggested otherwise.

The conflict that did certainly come to an end

Ell makes the appropriate level that the civil war did never stop; it simply vanished in” Lebanon Days.” As he describes it,” Lebanon’s theological differences refined disillusionment into a way of life”.

His portrayal of Genevieve, a Maronite Christian woman, is especially poignant because she” told us, in all honesty, as though it was evident points could be no other manner, that she had never met a Muslim.”

Genevieve” spoke as though the number of Muslims in her country – in her entire region of the world – was something unpleasant and nasty to get resisted” (quoting a quote from Wikipedia ).

A federal unity government was established in the early 1990s made up of the several religious leaders who had prosecuted the war in order to make the Taif Agreement job. The major hold-out from this design was Samir Geagea, the president of the Lebanese Forces, a Christian army.

Geagea objected to continuing Arab impact in the government’s management. He was detained and imprisoned in 1994 for supposedly committing war crimes. Another officials who might have been accused of crimes related to those who were charged did not.

I recall the US Ambassador’s 1997 meeting with a group of Lebanese officials and some European diplomats to discuss these wartime arrangements with the US congressional delegation.

A representative inquired as to whether there had been a” truth and reconciliation commission” in Lebanon following the war in the same way that South Africa did following the end of racism. One of the visitors was the capricious Druze head Walid Jumblatt, at the time a secretary.

He soon responded,” No, we were more advanced in Lebanon. We placed all of the war offenders in the cupboard, and any one who resisted becoming a minister was imprisoned. The confused group was told by the US embassy that this was essentially what had happened amid the laugh.

Conspiracy theories

Ell builds his tale chronologically, but with a foreword that explains how Lebanon came to be the nation it is.

He describes the impressive stelae (standing stone slabs used as markers in antiquity ) on the rock face north of Beirut, close to the Dog River. Every tomb contains an invading army, from Ramses II of Egypt to the Romans, the Ottomans, the French under Napoleon III, and a force from the Australian Imperial Force whose monument lists its invasion of Lebanon in 1941.

He describes the conspiracy theories that Syrian have propagated as a result of the continuous threat of Israeli military action. Hezbollah, a Shia militia that is better armed than the Lebanese Army and over which the government has no authority, has typically brought up that danger following strikes on Israel. Jewish aircraft’s sound-damaging booms over Beirut lead to intuitive requests for places to sleep in as they fly past the sound barrier.

Lebanon’s outstanding ancient stupas record past invaders. Photo: Doris Pemler/Flickr, CC BY-NC

Ell concludes the book with a terrible account of his and Caitlin’s exit. Some of their Syrian friends were leaving as also, but they had already made some. Duplicacy gave them a foreign bolthole in the event of another catastrophe, making the only ones who were still able to remain relatively content.

The guide is also presented. A valuable historical timeline, a vocabulary of Arabic conditions, a chart showing the locations mentioned in the tale, and a list of recommended readings are included.

” Lebanon Days” is a prayer on a region that always leaves its customers intact. Ell is a brilliant writer: his narrative is intact, accurate and elegant. He has used the play from his three years in Lebanon to highlight the amazing history of this amazing nation and point to a future that, for the time being, seems hopeless, especially given the ever-present threat of war between Israel and Hezbollah. However, the people’s resilience also shows up.

This absurd nation has made survival a form of art.

The Australian National University’s Center for Arab and Islamic Studies employs Ian Parmeter as a research scientist.

This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Avalanche alert: China may dump dollars when Fed eases rates – Asia Times

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Since the mid-1990s, the US Federal Reserve has had a somewhat shaky past in Asia.

Between 1994 and 1995, the US central bank past tightened with the same intensity as it did recently. The 1997-98 Eastern problems, which resulted from a runaway dollar rally destabilizing the region’s currency pegs, was caused by the short-term rate increase in 12 months.

Since then, the 2008″ Lehman impact” that the Fed was slow to see coming and the 2013 “taper kid” have overwhelmingly rocked Asian areas.

Asia also bore the brunt of the Fed’s 2022-2023 tightening period. Epic ripples of capital scurrying toward US assets as the currency’s surge in response to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s price hikes resulted in spectacular waves of funds.

However, could the Fed’s rate reductions cause a different sort of tumult in Asia? If analyst Stephen Jen is correct, it certainly was.

As Team Powell undoes its most recent price hike campaign, the CEO of Eurizon SLJ Capital anticipates Chinese companies to chuck about US$ 1 trillion in dollar-denominated assets.

In truth, Jen predicts something of an “avalanche” as a strengthening dollar sends tides of repatriating money China’s manner, upending dollar industry in the process.

Granted, Jen has warned of this dollar-dumping active for a couple of years today. In June 2023, for instance, Jen argued that” Taiwanese corporates continue to hoard cash. Foreign companies ‘ total investment is increasing as a whole. The economy’s higher have perhaps at present seem enticing to Chinese entities, but this construction is ultimately unpredictable”.

The scenario Jen has been advising about is “prospective rate cuts by the Fed and/or an economic reacceleration in China could lead to a precipitous fall” in the dollar-yuan rate” as corporate treasurers in China scramble to sell the dollars they do n’t need to have.”

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, mainland companies have gobbled up more than$ 2 trillion of overseas investment, a bet on higher-yielding assets than punters often find in China. As Powell begins ratcheting levels lower, those assets may grow less appealing.

Up to US$ 1 trillion will be on the move as a significant number of island companies decide to return funds, according to Jen. Interestingly, Jen points out that his guestimate may be” conservative”.

Then, as Powell declares” the time has come for legislation to change” toward less restrictive problems, Chinese selling dangers may be upon us. It’s worth noting, Jen adds, that companies swapping out of dollar assets could see the yuan&nbsp, strengthening by up to 10 %.

Additionally, it’s important to point out that the resettlement fluid that is developing throughout China could reach businesses in Asia.

This is n’t a risk many have on their Bingo cards. Powell’s vow on August 23 to” we will do everything we can to help a strong work industry as we make more progress toward price balance” has frequently boosted Asia’s markets.

The same with Powell’s confidence that the US can achieve a so-called” soft landing”, a remarkably rare occurrence. There is good reason to believe that the economy will return to 2 % inflation while maintaining a robust labor market, Jen tells Bloomberg.

Asian bourses were cheering when they learned that Powell “has rung the bell for the start of the cutting cycle,” according to Seema Shah, principal global strategist at Principal Asset Management.

The real gains could be in Asia’s “laggard” markets, notes Chetan Seth, strategist at Nomura Holdings. We believe that the relatively safe harbor is likely to be markets and sectors that are uncrowded ( parts of ASEAN ) and more domestically driven markets ( India/ASEAN), as Seth writes in a recent note. Investors in this situation must be much more cautious and reduce their investment in Asian cyclical markets, like those in North Asia.

Yet other risks abound. Consider Jen to be one of the economists who worry that central banks from Washington to Tokyo have recently injected too much stimulus into the global financial system, causing inflation.

As Powell said in July:” Go too soon, and you undermine progress on inflation. Wait too long or do n’t go fast enough, and you put at risk the recovery. And so, we have to balance those two things. It’s a rough balance”.

Problem is that the costs of a policy error are rapidly rising due to the US’s high and rising national debt, which has recently surpassed US$ 35 trillion. Just a few months before Americans vote on November 5 to choose a new president, this milestone was reached.

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris provides details on spending plans that will add trillions of dollars to the public debt in one corner. Donald Trump, too. Trump makes hints that removing the Fed’s role as independent arbitrator of US interest rates, in addition to another multi-trillion tax cut that is currently being funded by the government.

Trump browbeat Powell into cutting rates in 2019 when the US did n’t need it during his first term as president, from 2017 to 2021. Trump also threatened to fire Powell, a previously unheard of threat from a US leader.

In a second term, the” Project 2025″ scheme that Republican activists cooked up for a Trump 2.0 White House could see the Fed’s power curtailed.

In such an uncertain world, though, the Fed pivoting toward monetary accommodation is n’t necessarily straightforward. The view driving this Asian stock rally is “broadly correct”, at least in the medium-term, says Tan Kai Xian, economist at Gavekal Research.

” Rate cuts will reverse the recent contraction in US liquidity, which will support US aggregate demand, after a lag”, Tan notes. ” But in the shorter term, rate cuts will squeeze corporates ‘ interest income, and therefore their profits. This will disproportionately affect large corporations with large cash reserves, which may result in their relative underperformance.

The effect, Tan notes,” will be bigger than commonly believed. Even though the path was indirect, thanks to businesses selling products to households in receipt of stimulus checks, handouts during Covid allowed US companies to build up sizable cash reserves.

When the Fed cuts interest rates, interest income will fall. At least before the lagged boost to aggregate demand kicks in, Tan says,” The near-term drag on corporate profits could discourage capital spending, which would have a dampening effect on US economic growth.” ” In the short term, then, rate cuts could weigh on large-cap US equities relative to bonds”.

Given that the US inflation rate is continuing to decline, Jen believes Powell may raise rates more forcefully than many investors anticipate. The global reserve currency may be under increased downward pressure due to Washington’s dual budget and current account deficits. That, Jen argues, could see the yuan appreciating more than many investors expect.

The yuan’s gains could be even bigger if the People’s Bank of China avoids moves to offset dollar liquidity. Odds are that the yuan will start to rise once the Fed starts cutting interest rates as soon as September 18? If the Fed makes any hints about further easing, the pressure will increase.

This could cause tension between PBOC Governor Pan&nbsp, Gongsheng and Xi’s economic team. Beijing has been surprisingly tolerant of a rising yuan over the past year despite the fact that global export markets became more competitive.

Xi has been working to gain more confidence in the yuan and stop large property developers from defaulting on their foreign debts. A skyrocketing yuan that nullifies growth prospects may be even worse unwelcome.

The clouds on China’s economic horizon can be seen in this week’s$ 55 billion stock crash&nbsp, in Temu-owner PDD Holdings. It’s a sign that China’s growth engines are still cooling despite Beijing’s effort to boost household demand.

Additionally, the external sector does n’t appear particularly promising. This week, Canada slapped a 100 % tariff on China-made electric vehicle imports, following the lead of the US and European Union.

Additionally, it is unlikely that the upcoming US election cycle will offer Team Xi a break. Both presidential candidates, Trump and Harris, are trying to outdo each other with anti-China rhetoric and trade policies.

All of this explains why China’s foreign exchange watchdog has been paying close attention to dizzying yuan-dollar movements. And why things might turn out differently than many investment funds currently believe.

” The pressure will be there” on the yuan to rally, Jen tells Bloomberg. We are talking about$ 1 trillion worth of fast money that could be involved in such a potential stampede if we just assume half of this amount is the money that is “footloose” and easily provoked by changing market conditions and policies.

Follow William Pesek on X at @WilliamPesek

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Solvarvest and AGMO form joint venture to lead digital revolution in clean energy sector 

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  • to contain Powerbee natural EV charging ecosystem and Vestech EcoHomes solutions andamp;
  • Will develop online applications that improve the performance, scalability of fresh energy solutions

Davis Chong Chun Shiong, executive director and group CEO of Solarvest Holdings Berhad; Hj. Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, secretary general, Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Malaysia; Fadillah Yusof, deputy prime minister, Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Malaysia; Ahmad Zairin Ismail, chairman of Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia; Tan Aik Keong, non-independent executive director & CEO of Agmo Holdings Berhad at the joint venture signing ceremony between Solarvest and Agmo.

A proper joint venture between Solarvest Holdings Berhad and Agmo Holdings Berhad has been announced that aims to transform Malaysia’s clean energy industry through advanced online options. The partnership was unveiled during the 6th International Sustainable Energy Summit ( ISES ) 2024, with the Deputy Prime Minister, Haji Fadillah Bin Haji Yusof, in attendance.

Solarvest Energy Sdn. may be a part of this engagement. Bhd. ( a subsidiary of Solarvest ) and Agmo Capital Sdn. Bhd. Working together to create online applications that increase the effectiveness and scaleability of clean energy solutions. The initial focus will be on improving Solarvest’s existing offerings, including its Vestech EcoHomes solutions and the Powerbee green Electric Vehicle ( EV ) charging ecosystem.

Solarvest’s executive director and team CEO, Davis Chong Chun Shiong, emphasized that this relationship advances significantly their effort to create innovative products for the clean power sector. ” Our engagement with Agmo represents a major step forward in our pursuit of fostering development and conservation in the clean energy sector. The modern app we are creating will revolutionize how we scale and manage clean energy solutions by providing users with a smooth, integrated experience. This agreement demonstrates our commitment to advancing solar energy and demonstrates our strategic approach to meeting the needs of the sector. We are working together to improve the scaleability and effects of green power solutions, he said.

Agmo’s CEO, Tan Aik Keong, expressed joy for the engagement, highlighting the potential for their technical competence to improve clean energy accessibility. ” We are excited to begin this partnership with Solarvest, utilizing our technological prowess to advance the clean energy trend. This cutting-edge action in the clean energy industry demonstrates our determination to driving innovation in the sector. By combining Solarvest’s considerable experience in clean power with our innovative digital solutions, this program is poised to be a game-changer, offering a comprehensive program that makes clear energy more accessible and reasonable for both businesses and consumers, effectively supporting Malaysia’s sustainability goals” he added.

This program is anticipated to contribute significantly to meeting Malaysia’s sustainability goals by providing a smooth, integrated approach to tidy energy services as the sector continues to evolve. The JV’s announcement came at the recently concluded 6th International Sustainable Energy Summit ( ISES ) 2024, a crucial forum for dialogue and innovation on sustainable energy. The summit’s theme of” Accelerating Energy Transition Through Innovation,” which was hosted by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation ( PETRA ), was organized by Malaysia’s Sustainable Energy Development Authority ( SEDA ) and was a result of Malaysia’s commitment to leading the ASEAN region in the global energy transition through innovative technologies and approaches.

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Heavy rain warning, Sukhothai facing flood surge

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PUBLISHED: 26 Aug 2024 at 13: 01

A truck navigates a flooded road in northern Chiang Rai province on Sunday. (Photo: @Thoetchat_CR5 X account)
On Sunday, a vehicle navigates a flooded street in northeastern Chiang Rai province. ( Photo: @Thoetchat_CR5 X account )

Heavy rain is forecast for north, northeast, central and southern provinces this year, with Sukhothai in the North at risk of big flood from the rain-swollen Yom River. &nbsp,

The Meteorological Department issued a caution early on Monday.

It said heavy rainfall was expected in North, lower Northeast and Central areas, including Bangkok, and most components of the southern area. It warned of possible flash flooding from drainage and overflowing watersheds until at least until Wednesday.

The Hydro Informatics Institute said big rains may continue until Friday, particularly in Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan and Phrae regions. &nbsp,

The Crisis Prevention and Mitigation Department had previously reported that those four provinces had suddenly started experiencing flooding after extreme downpours next week. According to the most recent estimates, they are now back in the danger zone. &nbsp, &nbsp,

About 12, 000 families in the northern provinces were now affected by storms, it said.

Flooding in the northern area is due to water overflowing the&nbsp, institutions of the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan river.

Sukhothai, which always absorbs water brought by the Yom River from regions to the northwest, is the next goal for river flood. The Yom is the only major river in the area without a bridge to hold back liquid.

Sophan Srisawangworakul, commander of the imperial water project in Sukhothai, told The Reporters Television that Sawankhalok, Si Samrong and Muang towns were likely to be flooded. &nbsp,

The circumstance was not yet important. The province’s rivers could control the flow of liquid in the Yom. Sukhothai’s position is” serious” only because it receives more waters, he claimed.

Mr Sophan said, but, more heavy rain could destroy storm prevention measures in the state and produce new issues. &nbsp,

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Govt revisits B6tn flood project

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Yingluck-era program will be for it: DPM

A vehicle was driving through a flooded road as the Yom River began to overflow parts of the floodwalls in Muang district of Sukhothai on Sunday. (Photo: Sukhothai Municipality)
On Sunday, a car was passing through the Yom River’s floodwalls in the Muang region of Sukhothai. ( Photo: Sukhothai Municipality )

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai reported that Yingluck Shinawatra’s water management initiative could be revived for$ 6 trillion ringgit in a bid to stop frequent flood and drought.

He claimed that because the problem is a federal goal, a significant investment is required to address it.

” The problem was first raised by the Yingluck state. In 2011, a budget of 2–3 trillion baht was set apart for the job. Then, it will cost about 5–6 trillion to carry out the project”, Mr Phumtham said.

It is a sizable sum of money, but it will be worthwhile over the long run.

He made the remarks while touring Nan state in northern China, where he examined flood relief efforts and provided items for flood victims.

” Prime Minister Paetongtarn]Shinawatra] is concerned for the disaster victims, and she is frustrated that there is nothing she can do to support them pending the formation of a new government. The caretaker government is presently assisting itself with every possible way, according to Mr. Phumtham.

When the new government assumes company, the waters management job may be presented for thought, he said.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra stated last week in a nearby conference that the new authorities must carry out a number of “megaprojects” over the course of its term, particularly to handle the country’s persistent flooding and drought issues.

As of Sunday, storms were also reported in five counties in the North, especially Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao, Phetchabun and Phrae, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation ( DDPM).

Between Aug 16 and 22, landslides claimed the lives of 22 individuals– 13 of whom were killed in Phuket. The flood has affected 22 regions, displacing 30, 807 people across the country.

Even though the floods in some areas have subsided, Chaovalit Gunkham, an assistant governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand ( Egat ), stated that Egat will monitor water levels across the country’s main river basins.

As of Sunday, the Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit territory, one of the main rivers in the middle North, was about 70 % complete. According to Mr. Chaovalit, it is still able to absorb an extra 2.9 million square meters of run-off.

According to Mr. Chaovalit, the groundwater transfer rate has been lowered to 3 million square meters per day to prevent flooding downstream and conserve water for the upcoming dry season.

Surasee Kittimonthon, secretary-general of the Office of the National Water Resources ( ONWR ), Sunday said persistent rain has caused water levels along the Mekong River to continue to rise, affecting many low-lying areas in the North and Northeast.

He said the ONWR has sent an emergency notice to the Mekong River Commission Secretariat ( MRCS), requesting increased flood surveillance and daily reports from water stations in Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani.

In Sukhothai, the Yom River burst through its institutions Sunday, inundating villages and farm in Sawankhalok, Sri Samrong, Kong Krailat and Muang regions, with flood waters reaching as high as 50cm.

Suchart Theekhasuk, the government of Sukhothai, set up a comfort function center to assist the displaced villagers.

City Hall claimed it has already implemented a number of measures to stop run-offs from the North from causing widespread flood in Bangkok because more rainfall is still forecast.

City Hall is carefully monitoring water degrees along the Chao Phraya River, according to Bangkok lieutenant governor Wissanu Sapsompol, who is also in charge of ONWR.

” The flow]of the Chao Phraya River ] through Ayutthaya’s Bang Sai city was not at a worrying amount immediately. Run-off from Nan is expected to take about five days to arrive inland, and we will know]the severity of the situation ] two days in advance, when the liquid reaches Bang Sai”, Mr Wissanu said.

Mr. Wissanu claimed that authorities had used sandbags to raise and lower the level of storm walls along the Chao Phraya to stop flooding. He claimed that to allow rapid reaction in emergencies, manpower and resources, including sandbags and water pumps, have been mobilized to flood-prone regions throughout the money.

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Paetongtarn surveys flood damage on Nan visit

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In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 25 Aug 2024 at 04: 00

Mercy visit: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and other Pheu Thai Party heavyweights wade through floodwater during a tour of Nan province, where they joined a relief distribution operation. (Photo: Pheu Thai Party)
While touring Nan territory, Pheu Thai Party heavyweights Paetongtarn Shinawatra and other leaders of the party swam through floodwaters to join a comfort distribution operation. ( Photo: Pheu Thai Party )

As three people who just vanished in Nan’s northwestern province were discovered on Saturday, more than 20 000 homes in seven regions have been affected by heavy flood.

A full of 21, 971 homes have been affected by the flood, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, despite the fact that rainwater rates are currently declining.

Of the variety, 5, 381 families suffered injury in Chiang Rai’s 11 regions while 3, 500 in Phayao were also struck by flood.

Nan was the hardest hit, with a total of 10, 157 families affected, while 383 communities in five regions of Phrae, 1, 726 communities in Phetchabun’s three regions, and 255 in Udon Thani’s six regions, were also affected.

In Phuket’s Muang city, 209 families suffered from inundation and floods, with 13 fatalities and 19 accidents.

The worst flooding position in decades started to relieve on Friday night as the Nan River’s level remained low.

Since Friday night, ocean levels in Nan’s commercial and economic place have decreased by more than 30-40 centimetres. In some places, they have fallen by more than 1 inch. The Nan municipality’s area then allows motorcycles and cars to go. Residents were cleaning their homes and businesses as well as inspecting the injury.

But, water levels remained great in some low-lying locations along the water’s lenders as pumps were deployed to remove the excess.

The systems of three people who went missing on Wednesday were discovered after the waters dried up. Charan Tankab, 52, was found in Thung Chang city, while Yutthaphum Sirirat, 40, and Anan Chaisalee, 59, were found in Tha Wang Ha area.

Between Monday and Wednesday, Nan was hit by heavy rains, which caused flash floods and landslides in several places. These also damaged fields, fisheries and cattle. Numerous organizations visited disaster victims and gave them guidance and supplies for relief.

On Saturday, Nan’s Muang district’s flood victims were visited by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Nan’s Muang city.

The prime minister traveled by boat to explore people in impacted areas and give them food and products, along with Pheu Thai MPs. To avoid electric hazards during the flood, the Provincial Electricity Authority of Thailand shut off supply of electricity.

People were now experiencing a electricity shortage as a result of the flooding, according to Ms. Paetongtarn.

Citizens of our country were pleased to see us. We gave them social support. She said that the new government will take immediate steps to assist them as soon as possible once it actually takes business.

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Digital News Asia

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In: Technology
  • Tourplus CEO embodies leader hurry, with keen gaze for chance
  • Owners have the highest duty, may convey optimism &amp, hope

The partnership with Tourism Selangor will earn Rickson Goh revenue, expand his supply of products and give him market inroad.

Some Malaysian startup founders have acquitted themselves as well as Rickson Goh, the gentle said founder of travel tech company Tourplus Technology Sdn Bhd, if you want to see how well they have handled the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the midst of a terrible halt in Malaysia’s tourism industry, he never merely raised eyebrows in the ecosystem with a powerful US$ 1 million seed capital fund raise, but he also went on to form some partnerships that will place his travel tech startup quite well when the tourism rebound occurs. Plus, he has also started talking to buyers on raising his second large as he projects profits for 2021 to reach US$ 1.65 million ( RM7 million )– almost none of it coming from vacation.

But what exactly is he smoking and what exactly is he spitting in his te sir? Turns out it is nothing more than leader rush and a strong desire for success. &nbsp,

Cuts win-win cope with Tourism Selangor

Tourplus, which had no mobile application before this, announced in a simple press release that it had worked with Tourism Selangor to create a wireless application for the state agency.

The true story is that Tourplus and Tourism Selangor have a 50:50 revenue share contract under the name Get Selangor for any income made through the game. Better yet, the state agency will start promoting Tourplus to those interested in the state agency’s database by encouraging all manufacturers of travel-related products to start digitizing their operations ( though this is not an exclusive agreement ).

As Rickson points out, the majority of these vacation players are small businesses, which would have been nearly impossible for Tourplus to enter. Instead, then it gets a reputable position company to make the introduction.

” We expect the game does go sit in Oct 2021″, says Rickson. Tourplus did examine business arrangements and installation in the app, operate and make the payout, etc., he states.

As Selangor intensifies efforts to prepare the journey ecosystem for the post-pandemic go rebound, Go Selangor may serve as the state government’s official travel app.

A crucial part of the efforts to find habitat players, most of whom are SMEs, available, is to encourage them to digitalise so that their vacation packages, services and inventory may be added to Get Selangor.

Rickson, who first proposed the idea in March and was given approval by the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corp. in July, believes that this partnership will benefit more rural operators or “hidden gem providers” that are not in the main stream platforms like Klook.

It is also a sweet deal for Rickson, who is preparing himself for the post-pandemic rebound by adding new inventory to his database. The latest of his recent cutbacks to his fundraising efforts in October, 2017.

Rickson Goh shows how you deal with a pandemicHis back was against the wall by that point, so the timing could n’t have been better. It was not an easy time, he admits. There was little to no money being made, and the statement” We were running out of money then” was true.

Even Rickson ( pic ) struggled to see any light, and the team had lost hope. It was very difficult for me. Day and night, I was trying to figure out a way to survive. We founders have the highest responsibility. No matter how we feel inside, and sometimes I felt helpless, but we have to exude hope and optimism for the team”, he says.

A quick foray into providing frozen food to consumers was unsuccessful. The key moment, however, came when he made the decision to forgo any international travel for at least for 24 months. A startup that had built its future off of inbound travel to Malaysia made a chilling realization.

Hanging out in Parliament, getting TSP status, convincing investors

Rickson swung into action. In the early stages of the pandemic lockdowns, webinars rose in popularity, and Rickson started taking classes there to learn from other business owners. He also became aware of the benefits of local players going digital and learned about the various government initiatives that are being implemented to help businesses. This would serve as Rickson’s lifeline as domestic tourism was awaiting a return to life.

” I was able to persuade my investors that domestic tourism was the best course of action and that the various government Covid aid recovery programs offered short-term opportunities.”

One of his biggest advantages was the stable government relations he established over a short period of time. He claims that it was not from funding any projects but rather from supporting the government in digitizing brick and mortar businesses, particularly those in the travel industry. He had to travel to the Malaysian Parliament to meet with relevant ministers in order to make his pitch, which helped Tourplus become recognized as a TSP ( Technology Service Provider ).

With this recognition Tourplus was able to assist businesses in requesting the Digital Marketing Grant, which is a component of the Malaysian Government’s efforts to assist businesses in recovering from the effects of the pandemic. They were qualified for up to a RM5,000 grant, and we have already received 200 companies ‘ approval from an overall 800 applications for the grant.

This work not only keeps his 20-strong team ( 30 % are part-time ) busy but has helped with cash flow as well.

Rickson Goh

Key collaborations in China, instant access to 200k hotel rooms globally

One important collaboration between Rickson and the Chinese travel agency ChongQing China Youth Travel Service started in April of this year.

Even though we raised money, traveling is still our main business, according to Rickson, adding that income and cash flow must be closely monitored.

” We need to keep innovating as well and I need to hire tech people, UI/UX designers, product people which will also help us scale”.

Another exciting development, one that he has kept under wraps is a partnership he has struck with China’s largest OTA ( Online Travel Agency ), the Nasdaq listed Ctrip. Users of the Tourplus app can now now directly book 200, 000 hotel rooms from all over the world where Ctrip has hotel partners thanks to an API integration.

” It is a very exclusive priviledge to be given the trust of API integration with a business like Ctrip,” Rickson asserts. That likely cuts both ways because Ctrip, which was founded in 1999, likely sees a little of itself in the ferocious startup from Kuala Lumpur and its gritty founder.

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