You can't escape a rural soundtrack
You can't escape a rural soundtrackAdmittedly it's is not exactly earth-shattering news, but for the first time in 20 years I haven't spent the New Year holiday in Isan (the Northeast). If you are ancient enough you have probably guessed it: "When your rooster crows at the break of dawn." LitterbugAside from the actual 1969 moon landing, one space event that captured the imagination in Thailand was the adventures of Skylab. You may recall that Skylab was a giant American space station that hurtled back to Earth out of control in 1979. The spaceship missed Thailand by a mere matter of 5,000 kilometres, crashing to Earth near Esperance in Western Australia.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 02, 2021 21:22 UTC
Heavy traffic in Korat as travellers head back to Bangkok
Heavy traffic in Korat as travellers head back to BangkokTraffic on outbound lanes heading to Bangkok in Wang Nam Khieo district of Nakhon Ratchasima moves slowly on Saturday. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Traffic on Mittraphab Road was congested on Saturday as New Year revellers were returning to Bangkok after the long New Year holiday. In Wang Nam Khieo district, traffic on outbound lanes of Highway 304 was moving slowly due to accumulated traffic on Saturday afternoon. A motorist was found unconscious inside his car along Nakhon Ratchasima-outbound lanes to Wang Nam Khieo district. After receiving first aid, Mr Adipong was sent to Wang Nam Khieo Hospital, said police.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 02, 2021 14:48 UTC
Saccharine sermon
Saccharine sermonRe "Govt 'gifts' need work," (Editorial, Jan 1). On Dec 8, the Bangkok Post said: "Thailand now open to the whole world". I go online and apply for an ASQ hotel but I'm stopped at the space for "travel insurance policy number" and flight details. "Do not send FedEx, send USPS [United States Postal Service] overnight, with return envelope inside." Back to the post, send it all out.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 02, 2021 00:00 UTC
Long-overdue end of O-Net exams
(Bangkok Post file photo)For the past 15 years, the Ordinary National Education Test (O-Net) has been the target of criticism. The average O-Net scores for Grade 12 students were also below 50 in all tested subjects. Moreover, the average O-Net scores of Grade 6, Grade 9 and Grade 12 in previous years weren't much different. Education expert Sompong Jitradup said the O-Net test results also pointed to inequality and discrepancies in the education system. "The low O-Net scores show the Education Ministry's efforts to improve education, despite [receiving] higher budgets every year, are not sufficient."
Source:Bangkok Post
January 01, 2021 23:48 UTC
Replay NY fireworks with VR tech
Replay NY fireworks with VR techA fireworks display under the theme of 'A Symbol of Hope'. It was held on New Year's Eve during the CentralWorld Bangkok Countdown 2021 event organised by Central Pattana Plc. CTWFireworks displays for the New Year countdown at CentralWorld are always a magnet to draw hundreds of thousands of revellers to watch. The extravaganza from CentralWorld Bangkok Countdown 2021, organised by Central Pattana Plc, carried the tagline "A Symbol of Hope" to represent meaningful positivity from Thais to people around the world. For the first time ever, with the support of Huawei Technologies (Thailand), the historic fireworks display was recorded in 360-degree Virtual Reality (VR) video with the latest 5G technology.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 01, 2021 20:15 UTC
Bangkok poll hopes rise
Bangkok poll hopes riseAs 2021 has begun, the Prayut government should consider making a positive response to the Bangkokians' wish list: speed up the Bangkok governor election -- as well as the remaining local elections that have been frozen for almost seven years. The Bangkok gubernatorial election, like other local elections, has been banned since the military took power in 2014. The Provincial Organisation Administration (PAO) was the first of local elections to get the green light, which finally took place on Dec 20. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said in October the Bangkok governor election might be held by the end of 2021. Not to mention that this local election, for voters, has helped infuse a sense of democracy in the capital.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 01, 2021 20:15 UTC
Standout eateries of 2020
Depending on your choice of the main course, the whole meal ranges from 900 baht to 1,800 baht. Although à la carte dishes are available, the restaurant highly recommends that diners opt for the "sharing experience" tasting menu. Highly satisfying are peach crumble (350 baht) and banana butterscotch upside-down tart with ice cream (350 baht) and homemade ice cream (120-150 baht per scoop). Met Cafe's homemade ice cream (120-150 baht) is so good that it alone is worth opening a gourmet ice cream bar. Keep room for a caramelised banana with coconut cream (90 baht) and house-made pineapple sorbet (120 baht).
Source:Bangkok Post
January 01, 2021 02:26 UTC
Chon Buri is ready for more visitors
(Photo by Arnun Chonmahatrakool)The governor of Chon Buri yesterday denied the province was under lockdown and said local authorities were actually considering an easing of restrictions to draw visitors back to the seaside province. Pakkhathorn Thianchai, who is also chairman of the provincial communicable disease committee, said Chon Buri was also open to outsiders and they would not have to self-quarantine when they returned home. Meanwhile, the Chon Buri police chief has been transferred to an inactive post in Bangkok after it was reported that a person infected with Covid-19 had visited an illegal gambling den in the province. The order transferring Pol Maj Gen Prakarn Prachong to the operations centre of the Royal Thai Police Office was signed by national police chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk, effective from Wednesday. In a separate order signed by the police chief, Pol Maj Gen Thiti Saengsawang, deputy commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 1, was made acting Chon Buri police chief.
Source:Bangkok Post
January 01, 2021 00:00 UTC
Turbulent times for travel
IATA Travel Pass in the worksKey design elements have been unveiled for the IATA Travel Pass, a mobile app to help travellers manage their travel in line with any government requirements for Covid-19 testing or vaccine information. A flight information display board at Suvarnabhumi airport shows cancelled international flights due to air travel restrictions. This proposal was revised down from 24 billion baht sought earlier. "We will no longer limit ourselves to being just an air travel provider," he said. A combined 22.4 billion baht was allocated for "We Travel Together", which is for individual travellers, and "Moral Support", which targets health personnel who travel via tour services with a 2,000-baht budget per head.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 31, 2020 23:51 UTC
Govt 'gifts' need work
Govt 'gifts' need workIt has become tradition that the government gives New Year's gifts to the public during the festive season. Several agencies have merely brushed up their routines, adding extras or offering fee exemptions for some services. Many would prefer standard services -- with efficiency and less red tape -- all year round, rather than what is wrapped up as "gifts" for New Year. To begin with, the government must ensure that state agencies listen to the people more and embrace people's participation in their work. In order to achieve this, state agencies should improve their mindset.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 31, 2020 23:48 UTC
Huawei, together with Central World, provides the New Normal countdown live based on HUAWEI 5G + Cloud for an unforgettable New Year celebration experience
Thai people may playback this memorable moment of celebration later on and for unlimited times via a variety of online channels available from Bangkok Post and its group and various media in Central World and other Central Plaza branches. Huawei also collaborates with its partner, LETINVR, to provide the Cloud VR solution based on HUAWEI 5G + Cloud to realize the live countdown for the Central World Bangkok Countdown 2021 – A Symbol of Hope event via VR in the best possible immersive manner. This Cloud VR introduces the technologies of cloud computing and cloud rendering into VR service applications. Huawei Cloud uses the powerful computing capability to render and store the content on the cloud before delivering the immersive VR experience to end users through high-quality 5G networks. Mr. Abel Deng, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Technologies Thailand Co., Ltd., said, “This marks one of our prides at Huawei Thailand to support the Central World Bangkok Countdown 2021 event, as Thailand’s world-class countdown landmark.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 31, 2020 17:48 UTC
Watch New Year fireworks in VR
Watch New Year fireworks in VRThe countdown celebrations have passed and New Year is upon us but there is still a great way to memorise the spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks show. The Bangkok Post is proud to bring our viewers our 360-degree Virtual Reality (VR) video featuring the extravaganza from CentralWorld Bangkok Countdown 2021, organised by Central Pattana Plc, which this year carried the tagline "A Symbol of Hope". Together with our partners Central Pattana and Huawei Technologies (Thailand), the unique recording of the historic fireworks display can be replayed 1,000 times on Bangkok Post and Post Today websites. Viewers will get a unique view of the fireworks, combined with the best experience in virtual reality that can be achieved with a VR headset. The recent advent of 360-degree panoramic video enables viewers to experience the show as surely as if they'd been there, despite most not being able to attend in person this year.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 31, 2020 17:40 UTC
Fireworks extravaganza live broadcast
Fireworks extravaganza live broadcastThe Bangkok Post Facebook page will broadcast tonight's spectacular New Year fireworks display live from CentralWorld Bangkok. The live broadcast will start at 11.40pm. Before counting down to midnight and the fireworks display, there will be performances by various music artists. Viewers can get a unique view of the fireworks shortly afterwards, recorded in the latest 360-degree Digital Virtual Reality using Huawei 5G network technology and posted on the Bangkok Post and Post Today websites. It will also be shown at CentralWorld, Ratchaprasong, from Jan 5-18, sponsored by Huawei Technologies and Bangkok Post.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 31, 2020 06:00 UTC
Chon Buri police chief transferred over gambling den covid reports
Chon Buri police chief transferred over gambling den covid reportsPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, right, inspects Covid-19 responses in Chon Buri province on Wednesday. (Photo: Government House)The Chon Buri police chief has been transferred to an inactive post in Bangkok after reports a person infected with Covid-19 had visited an illegal gambling den in the province. The order transferring Pol Maj Gen Prakarn Prachong to the operations centre of the Royal Thai Police Office was signed by naional police chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk. In a separate order signed by the police chief, Pol Maj Gen Thiti Saengsawang, deputy commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 1, was made acting Chon Buri police chief. One was reportedly near a bus terminal in Muang district of Rayong province, and the other in Pattaya Nua area of Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 31, 2020 04:52 UTC
'Risky' gatherings banned | Bangkok Post: learning
With the country now designated into zones according to the severity of each area's situation, those gatherings and activities that would draw crowds in "maximum control zones" and "control zones" are prohibited. Gatherings and activities in government-designated "close surveillance zones" and "surveillance zones" can take place if they receive approval from provincial governors. Provincial governors will announce which areas are maximum control, control, close surveillance and surveillance zones. Infections linked to entertainment venues in Bangkok rose to 125. This means that schools, childcare centres, entertainment venues and cinemas are among businesses that are to shut immediately.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 31, 2020 02:37 UTC