Differences deserve respect, not scorn
'One of the truest signs of maturity is the ability to disagree with someone while still remaining respectful." This tragic loss caused many people to feel sad and feel for the owner of the collapsed house. He put up billboard-like signs and posters with harsh comments and offensive remarks against Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit around the house. The comments covered the entire home from the sidewall, the front gate, and even the roof. All their menacing comments and ill wishes earned thousands of Likes on social media.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 18, 2021 22:52 UTC
State sets September for new strategic trade plan
State sets September for new strategic trade planMr Phusit stated that a new strategy is the first priority of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office to help the government cope with the Covid-19 crisis and ensure economic recovery. A new five-year strategic trade plan for Thailand is expected to be completed this September to guide state agencies in the post-pandemic period, helping them better understand trends in the bio-, circular and green (BCG) economy, says the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO). The strategy will focus on domestic trade and exports, which must adapt to changes now formalised during the pandemic, said Mr Phusit. "Young farmers and manufacturers must innovate, such as producing edible insects rich in protein to set new trends for consumers," said Mr Phusit. TPSO also wants to introduce new economic indices later this year to provide data to the state and private sectors, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 18, 2021 22:41 UTC
Be selective in field hospital admissions
Be selective in field hospital admissionsThe Chalerm Phrakiat sports stadium in Bang Bon district is transformed into a field hospital for Covid-19 patients. Pattarapong ChatpattarasillWith the surge of new Covid-19 cases, the government is frantically establishing field hospitals nationwide as demand for hospital beds outgrows supply. So field hospitals are deemed to be the answer. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, as of Saturday, ordered that there should be 12,500-bed field hospitals ready. By then, the government will have to find another quick fix to solve the inadequate field hospitals again.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 18, 2021 22:41 UTC
Justice reform can't wait
Justice reform can't waitThe Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted many activities, but it shouldn't disturb the justice process. On Friday, Athapol Yaisawang, chairman of the Public Prosecutor Commission, admitted the delay, citing regulatory obstacles. According to him, the probe panel agreed to firstly investigate Nate Naksuk, the deputy attorney-general who decided to drop the reckless driving charge against Mr Vorayuth. The RTP's panel has reportedly recommended the police chief drop the investigation against implicated officials after six months of probing. These problems suggest Gen Prayut should authorise an independent panel to take over the investigation, in order to restore shattered public faith in the justice system.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 18, 2021 22:30 UTC
Familiar places gone but not forgotten
Familiar places gone but not forgottenLast week I was walking along upper Sukhumvit after an excursion to the somewhat inappropriately-named Trendy building on Soi 13. I decided to drop in on my long-time travel agent nearby who I hadn't seen for a while, just to say hello. I explained I was looking for the travel agent. So the reality in these Covid times is that my travel agent has been transformed into a massage parlour. Lest we forgetSo over the years I have bidden farewell to a favourite bakery, drug store, record shop and travel agent.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 17, 2021 23:15 UTC
Nuclear tainted water a no-go
Nuclear tainted water a no-goEarly last month, Japan honoured the victims of a triple disaster in which over 20,000 people lost their lives. To retire the plant safely, Fukushima Daiichi's owner, Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) for years has pumped water into reactors to keep them cool. Although it is normal for nuclear plants across the world to discharge radioactive wastewater into oceans, Tepco's reputation is on shaky ground. While it is routinely released by "healthy" nuclear plants in low concentrations, there are no such assurances regarding tritium levels in the water at the Fukushima plant. So, even if the water is released safely, the area may suffer from irreversible reputational damage.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 17, 2021 23:15 UTC
Uni denies police pressure to revoke academic's contract
Uni denies police pressure to revoke academic's contractKhon Kaen University on Saturday denied being pressured by the police to terminate the employment contract of American academic David Streckfuss over his political activism, saying the agreement was scrapped for professional reasons. He said the decision was taken as Mr Streckfuss was unable to secure international students for the university's exchange programme. Assoc Prof Charnchai said Mr Streckfuss was not on the staff of the university, but an unpaid representative for the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), a US-based non-profit organisation. Despite the claim, Mr Streckfuss told the Bangkok Post in a phone interview that he has been working with the university on student exchanges since 1994, and the university had always renewed his employment contract in August each year. Mr Streckfuss said he was told by university staff in February that four police came to meet the university's executives after he organised a youth forum to discuss social issues.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 17, 2021 22:52 UTC
Court incident leaves anti-govt protesters in lurch
In this Feb 28 file photo, activists demonstrating against the lese majeste law demand the release of political prisoners behind bars. Mr Patiwat's pledge met the standard requirement for bail approval by the court, which is applicable to all suspects and convicts. The denial is not beyond expectation given the core leaders' challenge to the judicial system. It is not a fixed rule that the court will always reject bail for a lese majeste offence. Several Ratsadon core leaders were granted bail before while their cases were still pending with the police.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 23:37 UTC
Fresh wave threatens media spend
Thailand's media spend is expected to grow less than 5% in 2021, down from a previous estimate of 8-10% following a fresh wave of the pandemic, says Media Intelligence (MI), a media planning and creative agency. In such a scenario, media spending is expected to grow by 5%, he said. Only 5% of brands, he said, would benefit from the fresh outbreak, such as firms dealing with health-related products, but this advantage would not be as strong as last year. However, the fresh outbreak could take a toll on auto, consumer drinks, and department stores, said MI. In 2020, digital ad spending surged 8% to 21 billion baht, an uptick from DAAT's forecast of 0.3% growth.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 23:26 UTC
Citi changes focus to wealth units
Citi remains fully committed to Thailand and Asia-Pacific even as it announced plans to exit consumer banking in Thailand and 12 other countries. Mrs Fraser said Citi remains committed to maintaining its global network and institutional banking franchises in all the affected markets. Tibor Pandi, Citi Thailand country officer, said there would be no immediate impact on operations or staff. Citi Thailand employs 1,207 people in consumer banking, with another 607 in operations and technology, servicing both the consumer and corporate businesses. Vira-Anong Phutrakul, Thailand consumer business manager for Citi, said it was premature to discuss the impact of the strategic shift on jobs.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 23:26 UTC
From hero to zero: Uruguay's coronavirus boomerang
From hero to zero: Uruguay's coronavirus boomerangThe Uruguayan government is placing its hopes for beating a world-record coronavirus infection rate on its vaccine campaignMONTEVIDEO - Battling the world's highest coronavirus infection rate as ambulances queue to deposit patients at hospitals bulging at the seams, Uruguay has gone from a shining example of Covid-19 control to a nation in pandemic crisis. Seventy-three percent of ICU beds are now occupied -- more than half of them by coronavirus patients -- and doctors complain of exhaustion. And GUIAD, a grouping of scientists keeping track of coronavirus data, said Monday that "only strict measures" will curb the infection rate. These suggestions have been rejected by the government, which is putting all its hope on Uruguay's vaccination campaign. "No country in the world, less so on the continent, can bend the infection curve without strict restrictive measures.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 19:07 UTC
US finds no 'currency manipulators'
(Reuters Photo)The United States refrained from designating any trading partner as a currency manipulator in the first foreign-exchange policy report of the Biden administration, even though Switzerland, Taiwan and Vietnam met thresholds for the label. In December, the last report done under President Donald Trump designated Switzerland and Vietnam as manipulators. The new assessments signal the Biden administration is taking a less confrontational approach to international currency policy after the Trump administration’s labelling of China and other countries as manipulators proved ineffective and spurred concerns of politicisation. Those banks can act in currency markets with official guidance due to close relationships with China’s central bank. Taiwan’s central bank has acknowledged intervening in foreign exchange markets to pare gains by its currency against the US dollar.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 14:05 UTC
American scholar in Khon Kaen loses job, visa revoked
Khon Kaen University (KKU) has terminated its employment contract with a well-known American scholar who has been in Thailand for more than 30 years, resulting in his visa being revoked immediately. Thai media reported on Friday that David Streckfuss, founder of Khon Kaen-based The Isaan Record and director of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Khon Kaen since 1994, had had his contract terminated on Feb 18. The Isaan Record is a website focusing on social, political and environmental issues in the northeastern region of Thailand. Local media reported that The Isaan Record was now attempting to secure a visa and work permit for Mr Streckfuss so that he could remain in the country. Thailand recently was ranked the fifth-lowest among 144 countries worldwide in the Academic Freedom Index, compiled by the Germany-based Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) and the Scholars at Risk Network.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 11:48 UTC
Wellness just for you
A simple Google search of wellness programmes or retreats will have you bombarded with countless results. It's not at all difficult to book wellness treatments around Bangkok or in the provinces if you feel like doing a healthy getaway. Staying inKamalaya is a wellness resort that takes wellness seriously. Kamalaya seeks to combine everything from their wellness programmes, their food and the environment you're surrounded with to create what they call a "synergistic wellness experience". Final verdictKamalaya is the ultimate wellness getaway.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 05:37 UTC
A BUDDING LEADER OF AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
A BUDDING LEADER OF AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICSThailand’s automation and intelligent robotics industry has gone from strength to strength in recent years, driven by increasing demand from both domestic and overseas industries along with its well-established ecosystem. With 45 industrial robots for every 10,000 employees in 2019, Thailand was the second largest market for robotics and automation in ASEAN after Singapore. A Well-Established Robotics and Automation EcosystemThe multinational companies involved in Thailand’s global supply chain of key industries and investors have spearheaded the development of the country’s automation and robotics industry. A majority of the firms in the local automation and robotics industry are in the business of system integration and mechanical brain and software development. The Thai Automation and Robotics Association (TARA)4 is also playing a key role in developing Thailand’s automation and robotics industry.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 04:41 UTC