Troubling bus rides
This has made it necessary for the agency to cut back its bus fleet in response to what is deemed to be 'lower demand'. On the surface, the adjustment may be justifiable as the city administration has re-launched its "new normal" measures, in response to the virus resurgence. The agency's assurances that the lower bus numbers would not have a big impact -- there are already fewer commuters travelling on the road -- may be partially true. It is probably too early for the bus agency to attribute the lower demand in ridership to having something to do with the mass exodus out of town during the festive season. Some bus drivers, to maintain distancing measures, simply passed by waiting crowds at certain spots, forcing commuters to wait for the next bus.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
New rail links to ease jams
Then, the BTS Skytrain Green Line extension between Wat Phra Si Mahathat and Khu Khot stations opened in mid-December. "But we'll have no real figure [on revenue losses] until the Yellow Line extension opens. Meanwhile, Bombardier Transportation Holding (Thailand) is contracted to supply 42 monorail carriages and their engines for the Pink Line and 30 carriages for the Yellow Line. Red Lines: Bang Sue-Taling Chan, Bang Sue-Rangsit (Test run: November)The other two rail links which are scheduled to open next year are the Bang Sue-Taling Chan and Bang Sue-Rangsit routes. Collectively, they are known as the State Railway of Thailand's (SRT) Red Line.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
Stars prepare for big Bangkok battles
Players practise at Muang Thong Thani ahead of next week's Yonex Thailand Open. Local players, staff and personnel based in Thailand were also tested and quarantined as part of the Green Zone bubble. The quarantine measures will be in place throughout the mandatory 14-day observation period including during the staging of the Yonex Thailand Open," the BWF said. The Yonex Thailand Open will be held from Jan 12-17, followed by the Toyota Thailand Open from Jan 19-24 and the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals from Jan 27-31. The list of players qualified for the World Tour Finals will be determined at the conclusion of the Toyota Thailand Open.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
Covid will stifle, not halt, rallies
Political observers say the Prayut administration will face a tough year this year as it has to face the impact of the Covid-19 and charter amendments. He went on to say that charter amendments remain a controversial political issue this year. Of seven charter amendment bills, only two, one sponsored by the government and another by the opposition bloc, were passed in the first reading in November. Most senators have also opposed the proposal to set up a CDA to draw up a new charter, he said. "However, people are suffering the economic impact of the pandemic and this will ratchet up pressure on the government," Mr Sutin said.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 06, 2021 22:52 UTC
Virus bungles need fixing
Virus bungles need fixingWho should the public listen to regarding Covid-19 regulations? The prime minister? The Public Health Ministry? Later that evening, however, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha overruled the order and extended table service hours to 9pm. Are key decisions being made in the interests of public health, or do the interests of lobby groups and businesses carry too much weight?
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 23:26 UTC
Qualified hope
The DDC under the Ministry of Public Health is overseeing the Covid-19 vaccine campaign due to begin next month. The first shots will be available next month when the first 200,000 of two million doses ordered from China arrive. However, Dr Opas said a national programme won't begin until May when 26 million doses of vaccines purchased from AstraZeneca's collaboration with Oxford University arrive. Negotiations are at an advanced level for another 35 million doses to be shipped in soon after. So we can expect this [Covid-19] vaccine only to reduce fatalities and relieve the symptoms.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 23:26 UTC
Galaxy of stars descend on city for events
Galaxy of stars descend on city for eventsCarolina Marin of Spain reacts during a match last year. All top players have arrived in Thailand to prepare for the final three tournaments of the 2020 season, organisers said yesterday. The women's stars include top-ranked Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan, No.6 Carolina Marin of Spain, and No.7 PV Sindhu from India. All Japanese players, including women's world No.3 Akane Yamaguchi and No.4 Nozomi Okuhara, did not travel to Bangkok after men's No.1 Kento Momota tested positive for Covid-19. The Thai challenge will be led by women's world No.5 Ratchanok Intanon, and world No.3 mixed doubles pair Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 23:26 UTC
Thailand's 'make or break' jobs in 2021
Thailand's 'make or break' jobs in 2021Thailand's future is now at the edge of a precipice due to the recent virus outbreak in Samut Sakhon that has now spread to over 50 out of 77 provinces. The measures employed have yielded positive results, especially in protecting the country from a complete lockdown and economic stagnation. As such Thailand needs fresher narratives, as existing ones are quite misleading and scandalous. Thailand today needs to do a soul-searching for new narratives that can capture the country's economic, political and social dynamism against the background demographic shifts. In the case of Thailand the country must, for example, find appropriate measures to facilitate cross-border business with neighbouring countries.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 00:33 UTC
Building bridges to heal US-China rift
Founded in 1989, APEC was envisioned as a platform for 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim to discuss free trade and economic cooperation. This year, New Zealand is chair of APEC, after picking up the baton from last year's chair, Malaysia. As such, "we will work with [APEC] member economies to resolve it in a constructive manner, and for mutual benefits," he said. He noted that 12 RCEP signatories and 11 CPTPP participants are also APEC members. Mr Cherdchai said Thailand will press ahead with the trilateral highway project and upgrade its seaports to improve connectivity.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 05, 2021 00:22 UTC
Plenty in store for Thai athletes, fans
The Thai national football team, meanwhile, will resume their World Cup qualifying campaign for the 2022 finals. Medal hopefuls in TokyoSeventeen Thai athletes have earned berths at the Tokyo Olympics including taekwondo fighter Panipak Wongpattanakit, boxer Chatchai-decha Butdee and shooter Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit. Nicknamed 'Tennis', the Surat Thani native has won two world titles and an Asian Games gold medal at the 2018 tournament. She won gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia among other achievements. Thai footballer Chanathip Songkrasin, centre, in action against Vietnam in a World Cup qualifier in Rangsit in 2019.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 03, 2021 23:26 UTC
Debt levels are a time bomb
The Bank of Thailand revealed last week the critical problem concerning skyrocketing household debt. That 86.6% figure suggests Thailand could soon find itself in the top 10 countries with the highest ratio of household debt to GDP. In fact, the current level of household debt is just the tip of the iceberg, as the 86.6% figure only includes debt to financial institutions and not informal debt taken on with curb-side lenders. If these informal household loans are included in the tally, the figure might well be close to 100% of GDP. Currently, the one-two punch of a flagging economy and virus-induced hardships are also a catalyst for the rising level of household debt.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 03, 2021 23:26 UTC
Focusing on the bright side
In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Mr Vichai said he chose to focus on the bright side, adding the mistake taught him a lesson -- ketamine isn't the only substance that turns drug test kits purple. The ONCB secretary-general's journey to the top job began when he became the chief of ONCB's intelligence and drugs suppression team in Chiang Rai. "I started from suppression work. Aside from suppression, the ONCB secretary-general said he is also focusing on raising public awareness of drugs. Suppression work alone won't solve the problem, as it doesn't tackle the root cause of drug crimes, he added.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 03, 2021 23:15 UTC
Momota has Covid, out of Thai events
Momota has Covid, out of Thai eventsKento Momota competes at the All-Japan National Championships last month. "Momota has tested positive for the coronavirus, and the association has decided not to send any players, including Momota, to Thailand," an association official told AFP. National broadcaster NHK said Momota tested positive at Narita airport ahead of the Japan team's departure for Thailand. An association official confirmed that none of the other 22 Japan players tested positive, but said the entire team would withdraw nonetheless. Momota won the All-Japan Championships last week in his first competition since his accident last January, when the vehicle taking him to the airport after he won the Malaysia Masters crashed, killing the driver.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 03, 2021 11:37 UTC
Jamieson takes five to blunt Azhar's battling 93
Jamieson takes five to blunt Azhar's battling 93Azhar Ali was holding the Pakistan innings together as he edged towards a century in the second Test against New ZealandCHRISTCHURCH (NEW ZEALAND) - Kyle Jamieson took a five wicket haul as New Zealand bowled out Pakistan for 297, anchored by a sterling 93 from Azhar Ali on day one of the second Test between the two countries in Christchurch Sunday. Jamieson, in only his sixth Test, had the figures of five for 69, the third five-wicket haul of his fledgling career. While the pitch favoured the bowlers, Jamieson said the overall conditions meant there was no room for error. After the early loss of Shan Masood, Azhar added 62 with Abid Ali, 88 with Mohammad Rizwan and 56 with Faheem Ashraf. After the tea adjournment, and once Henry had removed Azhar, Jamieson returned to see off Ashraf who was out for 48 when he edged a ball outside off stump to Ross Taylor at first slip.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 03, 2021 07:52 UTC
Tourism sector gets recovery hopes up
Tourism sector gets recovery hopes upghost market: Bang Phli wet market in Samut Prakan province turns empty after the operator was order to close for one month following the rise of Covid-19 cases. According to the Tourism and Sport Ministry, the tourism sector earned 760 billion baht from January to November of last year, a decline of 1.93 trillion baht or 71.75%, compared to the same period of 2019. Hope of a vaccineFor 2021, however, the world is pinning its hopes on an effective Covid-19 vaccine arising from the work of pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca. For Koh Samui, 95% of its income was derived from foreign tourists, and the pandemic has sent its local economy spiralling downwards for most of the year. Before the pandemic, Chiang Mai earned more than 100 billion baht in tourism income annually, but that was slashed in half after Covid-19 hit.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 02, 2021 21:22 UTC