PHOTOS OF THE YEAR
These Photos of the Year have captured important incidents and events, some of them historic moments, over the past 12 months. Chanat KatanyuPeople in all-enveloping clothes make their way through Suvarnabhumi airport early this year when Covid-19 hit the country. Wichan CharoenkiatpakulMonks don face shields during their morning alms round in Bangkok in late March. Nutthawat WicheanbutA bride and groom and guests put on face masks at a wedding at Bangkok's Priest Hospital in March. Wichan CharoenkiatpakulA girl kisses her mother through a face mask after being dropped off at school in Samut Prakan.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 31, 2020 00:56 UTC
Do 'road safety' right
Do 'road safety' rightIn a bid to curb traffic fatalities during the forthcoming New Year holidays, the Prayut Chan-o-cha government has launched a centre to ensure road safety and accident reduction. In fact, traffic rules must be strictly enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A 2016 study by the TDRI found that traffic deaths resulted in 1.5 billion baht in economic losses. In fact, a number of accidents over the past several months point towards the recklessness of drivers, as well as Thailand's unsafe road designs which create blind spots that can cause road accidents. The sad fact is there are too many loopholes that weaken the government's endeavours in curbing traffic deaths.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 30, 2020 23:37 UTC
MFA launches passport kiosk
An officer demonstrates a digital information kiosk to visitors seeking consular services at the temporary passport office in Bangkok's MBK Centre. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will roll out the first automatic kiosk for passport renewal to reduce the risk of coronavirus being transmitted through human contact by the end of next month. Chatri Archjananun, director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs, said the first kiosk for passport extension will be launched on Jan 29 at MBK Centre. "The Foreign Ministry has found that 13,241 Thais would like to return home in January (220 by land and 13,021 by air). When asked by the Bangkok Post whether vaccination will be provided to them, he said the Foreign Ministry is discussing the matter with Myanmar authorities.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 30, 2020 23:18 UTC
250 new Covid cases Wednesday | Bangkok Post: learning
(Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasil)The government on Wednesday reported 250 new Covid-19 cases - 241 local infections, eight quarantined arrivals and one illegal Myanmar migrant - raising the total to 6,690. Of these nine, four were in Samut Sakhon, two in Bangkok and one each in Ayutthaya, Ranong and Nonthaburi. Meanwhile, 198 new cases were under investigation including 108 in Chon Buri, 53 in Rayong, 17 in Nonthaburi, 12 in Samut Sakhon, seven in Chanthaburi and one in Trat. Investigation confirmed three new cases were linked to illegal gambling in Rayong province. Of the total 6,690 local cases, 4,212 (62.9%) had recovered, including two discharged over the previous 24 hours, and 2,417 were receiving treatment.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 30, 2020 06:22 UTC
Lockdown, or not?
It's understandable the situation has prompted some people, including celebrities, to come out and voice their support for a full, possibly nationwide lockdown. How can anyone be completely confident the lockdown will stamp out the epidemic entirely? The negative impacts of the lockdown are clear and still present. The government and CCSA must have reviewed the lessons from last time and realised how enormous the effects of the lockdown was on ordinary people. In doing so, we will be protecting ourselves from yet another damaging lockdown.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2020 23:26 UTC
'Post' to cover fireworks extravaganza on FB live
'Post' to cover fireworks extravaganza on FB liveStarting in Auckland, New Zealand, major cities around the world will begin their New Year countdowns tomorrow night, with Sydney, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, and Bangkok all part of a timeline that nears its end with the famous annual Times Square celebration in New York 12 hours later. With widespread vaccination initiatives having just begun, hopes are high that 2021 will be a bookmark in history's pages that shows the point at which the global community saw light at the end of the tunnel, in what was one of the most challenging years for many -- if not, most -- of us. In keeping with this spirit of optimism for the year ahead, the Bangkok Post Facebook page will broadcast a spectacular live fireworks display from the CentralWorld Bangkok Countdown 2021, which this year carries the tagline "A Symbol of Hope", at midnight tomorrow. While members of the public may not be able to venture out to celebrate together this year, we, along with the organisers, hope that this grand event can be the "The Times Square of Southeast Asia", raise the mood of a region that has been suffering under the shadow of Covid-19 for many months now and provide a lively start to the New Year.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2020 23:15 UTC
Stay home, urges Prayut | Bangkok Post: learning
"We may have to celebrate New Year at home this year and with a limited number of people," he said on his official Facebook page "Prayut Chan-o-cha". He also stressed that people should heed the health authorities' advice on Covid-19 preventative measures and monitor updates posted by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). While acknowledging that interprovincial travel has not been banned the PM pointed out that each province has its own specific Covid-19 control rules. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday urged people to stay at home over the New Year holidays following the recent Covid-19 upsurge. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha sends his message on Covid control after a cabinet meeting at Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2020 23:03 UTC
Sweeping closures in city | Bangkok Post: learning
Meanwhile, the governor of Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of Thailand's latest Covid-19 outbreak, has tested positive for the virus. His infection was confirmed on Monday -- one day after he met Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other senior health officials who were visiting Samut Sakhon. The Deputy Public Health Minister confirmed the country's 61st coronavirus-related death on Monday. Thailand's 60th Covid-19 death was a returnee from the UK who died on Nov 6, while the 59th returned from Saudi Arabia. The 58th Covid-19 death was a man from Narathiwat who died in June.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2020 02:26 UTC
Talat Noi turns to street art to save its community walls
The Tourism Authority of ThailandThe Chinese community in Talat Noi has introduced "Amazing Thailand Phoenix Wall" as a gesture to tourists who visit the community. To find a solution, the community's civic group called Chumchon Khon Rak Talat Noi or People Who Love Talat Noi, teamed up with TAT to find a solution. The highlight is a large phoenix flying over the Chao Phraya River. Karnjana KarnjanataweTalat Noi is located in Samphanthawong district on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River. The most convenient way to visit the Talat Noi community is to take the MRT and get off at Hua Lamphong station (Exit 3) and walk for about 900m to Soi Charoen Krung 22.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2020 01:07 UTC
SET keeps eye on surging Delta Electronics shares
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is closely monitoring the volatility of Delta Electronics Thailand's shares, which have surged 250% in one month, 400% in three months and 1,400% in a year. Total trade volume on Monday was 15.7 million shares, or 5.4% of 279 million free-float shares estimated based on data on the book closing date of March 2. It reported free-float shares contributed 22.4% of total Delta shares this year, with 1.247 billion total paid-up shares. Revenue this year is expected to grow by 11.4%, up from 51 billion baht in 2019 to 57 billion baht in 2020, and by 7.4% to 61 billion baht in 2021 thanks to the company's higher gross profit margin. Delta Electronics Thailand on Monday attributed the share price surge to its right business direction, which matches the global trend for advanced technologies.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 29, 2020 01:07 UTC
Unjust practices difficult for the public to accept
Unjust practices difficult for the public to acceptSo we were told there are no gambling dens in Rayong, just like there is no prostitution in Thailand. For the public at large, the unjust practices are hard to swallow. The scale of the demonstrations, filling long sections of public roads and intersections at times, was astonishing to many people. But will the draconian lese majeste charge, widely seen as a flawed and highly problematic piece of legislation, stop the newly found free speech? The problems with the lese majeste law have been widely discussed and made public.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 28, 2020 21:45 UTC
Dodging the real problem
Dodging the real problemAs expected, Police Commander Suwat Jangyodsuk has transferred four senior officers to inactive posts following the gambling den saga in Rayong that is being blamed for a cluster Covid-19 infection in the eastern province. Pol Maj Paphatdet previously dismissed a report which claimed at least 36 people contracted Covid-19 from the city centre den. As of Sunday, that has grown, and at least 85 infections are now said to be related to the gambling den. Had there not been a cluster infection, the gambling den might still be operating as usual. Few have any hope that the RTP will tackle this problem.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 28, 2020 21:45 UTC
Woman tests positive for Covid-19 in Chiang Mai | Bangkok Post: learning
About 5pm on Saturday, she went to a hospital in Chiang Mai for testing. The public health office stressed that Chiang Mai had measures in place to handle three different groups of people on arrival. - People who arrived from other provinces are required to follow the guidelines enforced in Chiang Mai, such as using the CM-Chana application and wearing face masks in crowded places. Chiang Mai has registered its 47th Covid-19 infection, a 46-year-old woman from Rayong. Dr Kittiphan Chalom, assistant chief of the Chiang Mai public health office, announces a new Covid-19 infection in the province on Sunday.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 28, 2020 05:15 UTC
Returnee dies at quarantine hotel | Bangkok Post: learning
They said the woman’s room was on the seventh floor of the eight-storey Patra Hotel, which is a Covid quarantine facility, on Soi Rama IX 31. The woman, 51, arrived on a repatriation flight from South Korea at 11.10pm on Thursday and checked in at the hotel at 1.52am on the same night for a 14-day quarantine. A Thai woman who recently returned to the country from South Korea fell to her death from her room at a hotel in Bang Kapi on Sunday afternoon. Disease control workers and police inspect the fatal plunge scene at The Patra Hotel in Bang Kapi district, Bangkok, on Sunday. - ทางลบrepatriation (noun): sending someone back to a country that is legally their own - การส่งกลับประเทศreturnee : someone who is "returning" to some place -tension : the feeling of being so nervous or worried that you can’t relax - ความตึงเครียด
Source:Bangkok Post
December 28, 2020 02:37 UTC
Covid situation 'more serious' | Bangkok Post: learning
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul inspects measures to handle the Covid-19 outbreak at the Central Shrimp Market in Samut Sakhon province on Sunday. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Sunday admitted the current Covid outbreak is more serious than the first wave early this year. A total of 121 new Covid-19 cases were reported on Sunday, 94 of which were local transmissions. A new cluster of Covid-19 infections was found in Rayong, which is linked to an underground casino in Muang district. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging the public to use the "Mor Chana" application to track Covid-19 cases around them.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 28, 2020 02:26 UTC