Sydney enters hard COVID lockdown
Sydney enters hard COVID lockdownSydney and some surrounding areas are entering a hard two-week coronavirus lockdown, as authorities struggle to control a fast-spreading outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant. - REUTERSPublished: 07:54
Source:Bangkok Post
June 21, 2021 06:45 UTC
Europe pushes to slash emissions within a decade
Europe pushes to slash emissions within a decadeThe European Union is set to take the lead in climate policy action among the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters this week, with a raft of ambitious plans designed to cut emissions drastically over the next decade. - REUTERSPublished: 09:24
Source:Bangkok Post
June 21, 2021 06:45 UTC
TEST YOURSELF: A Thai taxi timeline
TEST YOURSELF: A Thai taxi timelinePhoto: Bangkok Post photo archiveDo you know when Thailand got its first taxis? It's not unusual for taxi drivers to refuse passengers, citing traffic jams or returning their vehicles to the taxi cooperatives. 2018 -- The All Thai Taxi app introduces Mercedes-Benz cars to offer VIP taxi services in June. Taxi drivers have …9… with Grab drivers out of fear of losing customers. All Thai Taxi.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 16, 2021 08:03 UTC
42 Covid deaths, 3,995 new cases
42 Covid deaths, 3,995 new casesA worker cleans an area at the Future Park Rangsit shopping mall in Thanya Buri district of Pathum Thani to be used as a vaccination centre on Tuesday. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)Health authorities on Sunday reported 42 more Covid-19 fatalities on Saturday and another 3,995 new transmissions, bringing the accumulated toll to 1,912 deaths and the number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 244,447. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration said 3,950 of the new infections were in the general population and 45 in prisons. More details later from the daily afternoon briefing.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 15, 2021 08:03 UTC
Indonesian exports, imports surge in May
Indonesian exports, imports surge in MayIn this file photo taken on Aug 20, 2015, a shipment of about 500 Toyota vehicles, transported by cargo from the Toyota manufacturing plant in Jakarta, arrive at Surabaya port in eastern Java for distribution to their local outlets. (AFP)JAKARTA: Indonesia's export growth shot up on a yearly basis to an 11-year high in May, supported by high commodity prices and a low base effect, while imports also jumped as domestic demand rose, official data showed on Tuesday. Exports rose 58.76% to $16.60 billion, the biggest increase since January of 2010 due to a strong rise in shipments of oil and gas and mining products. There was a $2.37 billion trade surplus in May, the highest in six months. The poll had expected a $2.30 billion surplus and April's surplus was $2.19 billion.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 15, 2021 04:30 UTC
PM insists he will complete term
PM insists he will complete termPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday ended speculation about an early general election in bizarre fashion. Gen Prayut asked the military-appointed senators to raise their hands if they did not trust him. The PM duly told the Senate he intended to complete his four-year term, which ends in 2023. "I plan to complete my term, so it should put a stop to the talk [about a snap election]. "It is all about work, day in and day out ... and the more they try to throw me out, the more I'll fight," Gen Prayut concluded.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 15, 2021 02:24 UTC
Bangkok Post joins with Fazwaz to power property listings platform
Bangkok Post joins with Fazwaz to power property listings platformBrennan Campbell, left, chief executive of FazWaz, and Mr Trayman are optimistic about the partnership with Bangkok Post. The Bangkok Post joins hands with FazWaz to feature the country's largest selection of unique and verified direct properties for sale and rent, all on a single platform. FazWaz also has an automated valuation model to help sellers price their properties based on actual market conditions. Soonruth Bunyamanee, editor of the Bangkok Post, said he believes the partnership with FazWaz will bring significant value to readers seeking to buy, sell or rent properties. "We see the FazWaz platform as helping to address some of the complexities faced by both buyers and sellers," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 15, 2021 00:56 UTC
New co-payment phase may expand
A sign is displayed in front of a shop participating in the Khon La Khrueng (half-half) co-payment scheme at Chatuchak weekend market. Pornprom SatrabhayaThe Finance Ministry is willing to expand eligibility for phase 3 of the Khon La Khrueng co-payment scheme beyond the original limit of 31 million people, says director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office Kulaya Tantitemit. Phase 3 of the scheme opened registration on Monday, when more than 20 million people signed up as of 2pm. Registration is open from 6am to 10pm and is programmed to close once the number of participants reaches 31 million. The other measure is the e-voucher handout scheme "Ying Chai Ying Dai" (the more you spend, the more you get), which is scheduled to begin next month.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 14, 2021 23:26 UTC
'King of fruits' is nothing to sniff at
'King of fruits' is nothing to sniff atMost people who have a functioning hooter will be well aware we are in the middle of the durian season. I got a timely reminder when my wife returned triumphantly from a day trip to the orchards of Nakhon Nayok last weekend laden with what is called the "king of fruits''. It is also the smelliest of fruits, prompting a brisk trade in T-shirts bearing the message "tastes like heaven and smells like hell". There have even been cases of durian vendors suffering heavy fines for selling unripe durian which was deemed to be "deception". But the durian was not to blame when strange odours prompted a spectacular raid by London police on a Thai restaurant in Soho in October 2007.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 12, 2021 22:18 UTC
Make the best of the re-opening
Make the best of the re-openingAfter much dilly-dallying, the national vaccination programme finally launched last week, with around 400,000 doses administered across the country on the first day alone. With the promised cure now being distributed, the public can now start to see the government's plan for reopening taking shape, improving the general mood and outlook across the country. For now, bars and clubs will remain closed after several clusters were traced back to such venues in recent weeks. If they really want these provinces to reopen to international tourism, those in power must realise there are many issues which need to be addressed first before any more reopening plan can be approved. From Hong Kong, for instance, authorities should know that even a traditionally compliant society can show extraordinary resistance to Covid-19 vaccination when trust in the government sinks to an all-time low.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 12, 2021 22:18 UTC
Covid-battered govt 'won't call early poll': pundits
Talk about an early general election was spurred last week after Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha told cabinet ministers to speed up their tasks as the government had about one year left in office. The Bangkok Post asked politicians, academics, and civil groups about their views on the chance of the much-talked early poll which could see the return of Gen Prayut to power. A source in the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) said political parties are not taking any chances and have already begun preparing for elections. If the issue is not fixed ahead of the next poll, Gen Prayut's chance of returning to power remains high. Based on the political situation he believed Gen Prayut would return to power.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 12, 2021 21:33 UTC
29 Covid deaths, 3,277 cases
(Photo by Somchai Poomlard)Health authorities reported 29 new Covid-19 fatalities on Saturday and another 3,277 new transmissions, bringing the accumulated toll to 1,431 deaths and 193,105 cases since the start of the pandemic. Bangkok reported 17 deaths, followed by three each in Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi, and one each in Pathum Thani, Chai Nat, Nakhon Sawan, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phuket and Udon Thani. Bangkok continued to log the most cases (858), followed by Samut Prakan (313), Nonthaburi (291), Samut Sakhon (188) and Pathum Thani (81). Of the new 3,277 cases, 2,356 were among the public, 892 in prisons and 29 imported. Global Covid-19 cases rose 411,614 in 24 hours to 176.04 million, The worldwide death toll went up 11,422 to 3.80 million.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 12, 2021 07:18 UTC
Lower hopes for Phuket
Phuket prepares to reopen the island to international tourists from July 1, though a longer quarantine period was recently added. The Phuket sandbox tourism scheme faces a chaotic approval process as the government is still struggling to fine-tune the balance between public health and the economy. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha reasserted that the reopening plan for the island, known as the Phuket sandbox, will start on July 1 after it was approved in principle by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) on June 4. Some provinces trying to reopen may find local tourists shy away from their destinations," he said. This sandbox scheme was established as a test run, which means it is a gradual process where we determine the best practices to allow other destinations to follow suit," said Mr Yuthasak.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 12, 2021 02:21 UTC
Shed light on lamp row
Shed light on lamp rowComplaints about the procurement of overpriced street lamps have put the heads of two local administration agencies in Samut Prakan on the block. Reportedly, in the case of Racha Thewa, there was only one supplier truly involved -- other bidders offered cheaper proposals but their offers were not accepted. For example, Trang's Muang district used the sea cow, Saraburi's Tabkwang district used a deer and Samut Prakan's Bang Phli, where Suvarnabhumi airport is located, used aircraft. But the kinnaree and aircraft lamps issue seems a blatant example of how state funds are misspent, particularly in Bang Phli district. There are reports that the Racha Thewa tambon is planning to install even more decorative lamps.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 11, 2021 23:30 UTC
Does govt fear 'fake news', or the truth?
Does govt fear 'fake news', or the truth? In this sense, legal measures are necessary to prevent the harm done by the spread of fake news. The legislation, known as the Computer Crime Act 2017, was supposedly enacted to prevent computer hacking, data theft, or spam or false data. The Public Assembly Act imposes severe restrictions on political assembly, leading to the subsequent arrests of a number of protesters. With its success in gagging free speech thus far, why does the regime feel it needs to resort to more oppressive measures?
Source:Bangkok Post
June 11, 2021 23:30 UTC