Hell or high water movie

PHOTO: No, it’s not the moon, it’s Bang Neow Dam this week Phuket shuffles into the high season with meagre water reserves and no concrete, sustainable plans to meet the upcoming seasonal water demands. In April this year the local water authority shuffled uncomfortably about the crisis at the end of the 2018/2019 dry season, denying there was a problem whilst cutting supplies to many communities around Phuket, mostly around Chalong, Thalang and eastern suburbs of Phuket Town. Just shut off the water! On a tropical island where we’re surrounded by water, and with plenty of monsoonal rain falling on the island every year, it’s hard to imagine we could possibly be facing a water shortage. Especially after the crisis in March and April this year. But here we are. In a ‘would-have-been-funny-if-it-wasn’t-true’ moment in April, the Phuket Water Authority announced water restrictions for the island one day (an odds and evens water usage schedule), only to reverse their decision … [Read more...] about Phuket’s water supply running on empty

High school students in Bangkok are being summoned for violating the emergency decree after police found they had joined the banned anti-government protests last month. The 2 teens spoke at a rally on October 15, a day after PM Prayut announced that tougher actions would be taken against protesters. The students were directly targetted out of tens of thousands of people who defied the ban on public gatherings in order to demand the removal of the PM himself while demanding reforms of the monarchy. 15 year old Benjamaporn Nivas sent Reuters a message on her position towards the ban on protesters. “Even if you arrest protest leaders, there is not enough space in prison because hundreds more will rise up.” Indeed the students aren’t stopping as the “Bad Student” group is set to hold another protest today with Benjamaporn saying she would attend. 17 year old Lopanapat Wangpaisit was the other student who was summoned although it is not clear that the recent action taken against him … [Read more...] about High school students summoned for violating emergency decree after joining banned protest

Lockdown has been a nightmare... but for singer Paloma Faith it did lead to her dream family. The star was on the brink of ­giving up in her bid for a second child after five failed rounds of IVF sapped her both physically and mentally. But things changed when lockdown came – and last month she welcomed her second daughter with partner Leyman Lahcine. Paloma, 39, says: “I feel like you know for yourself what your boundaries are and I actually knew I’d had enough after three goes. Then lockdown happened and I thought, ‘What else am I going to do?’ I’ll have ­another go – and then it worked.” Next thing was to come to terms with the pregnancy and birth itself – after revealing that her first labour was so tough it was as if she had been “to the gates of hell”. Paloma says: “My last birth was so wild. It’s a bit like when you do your driving test and you don’t want to tell anyone when it is. “Everything went wrong – she was early, it was a big bloody mess, on many levels. … [Read more...] about New mum Paloma Faith says lockdown led to her dream family after infertility hell

PHUKET: Fisheries experts are trying to find ways to culture hardier types of giant clams in order to make the huge mollusks better able to cope with rising sea temperatures, the state-run Thai News Agency has reported. Kongkiat Kittiwattawong, a researcher with the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), said giant clams in local waters face a variety of natural and man-made threats. Like coral, they also suffer “bleaching” if water temperatures rise too high. “With the return normal temperatures, the bleaching disappears,” he explained. Experts generally agree bleaching is not a symptom of dying sea-life, but the situation must nonetheless be monitored closely, Mr Kongkiat said. Of particular worry is the state of giant clam species once abundant along Thailand’s Andaman coastline. Out of the eight species of giant clam in the world, five species were found in Thai waters but two of these are already extinct, according to PMBC. “Many have been dug up and sold off…Those … [Read more...] about Giant Clam in peril in Phuket waters

PHUKET: Residents of Phuket Town’s tambon Talad Neua might consider getting out of town tomorrow, when there will be a one-day suspension of both electric power and water supply services. The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has announced the power cuts, from 9am to 4pm, to carry out maintenance on high voltage wires The blackout will also affect pumps used to pressurize water pipes, resulting in a “double whammy” for area residents: no power and no water. Affected areas will include Chao Fa East Road, north from Rama IX (Suan Luang) Park; Patiphat Road south of Jui Tui Shrine Intersection; Phoon Phol Road and Bangkok Road. Residents who plan to stay home are strongly advised to store enough water to last throughout the period. A PEA officer said there would also be a half-hour power cut along Kwang Rd and Chao Fa West Road starting at about 9am. Those planning to spend the day at the beach should consider that the 24-hour forecast for Phuket issued by the … [Read more...] about No power, water in parts of Phuket Town tomorrow

Video Player Close -- China has set a modest economic growth target for 2021, as the world's second-largest economy is experiencing fundamental changes with its development focus shifting from quantity to quality. -- China is always committed to the people-centered philosophy of development and strives to further improve people's livelihoods through pursuing high-quality development. -- China, in pursuit of stellar scientific and technological achievements, is upholding innovation as the central role in its modernization drive while making itself a country of innovators. -- The government is walking a fine line between economic development and environmental protection. by Xinhua Writers Jiang Tingting, Xie Jiang, Xuan Liqi BEIJING, March 6 (Xinhua) -- China has set a modest economic growth target for 2021, as the world's second-largest economy is experiencing fundamental changes with its development focus shifting from quantity to quality. "A target of … [Read more...] about China adheres to high-quality growth on journey to modernization