Mudslinging moves online | Bangkok Post: news
Reflecting the fierce competition in the run-up to the March 24 election, political parties are already using creative and dirty tactics to win the MP seats. While campaign poster vandalism is still as prevalent as in every past election, online mudslinging now appears to be far fiercer -- a matter of concern to both parties and the election regulator. "We don't know who they [the people behind the social media war] are, but we can see their political stance. Political parties are unlikely to do this by themselves as it would be too risky to violate election laws and regulations. "The problem appears to be more hostile on social media, which is very new to the party," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 22:18 UTC
Dems urge majority rule | Bangkok Post: news
"I'm calling on every party to find an internal process and clarify who the majority MPs will choose as the prime minister and support as a government. It is believed he is guaranteed solid support from the 250 senators to be appointed by the NCPO. Gen Prayut on Friday defended the role of the senators, saying they could act independently at their own discretion. "Actually he [Gen Prayut] should encourage the Senate to support whoever receives the mandate from the people to form a government," he said. The Pheu Thai veteran was accompanied by Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of fugitive prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, as she helped the party candidates solicit support in this northeastern province.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 22:18 UTC
CMP says it won't censor election ads | Bangkok Post: news
The Commoners Party (CMP) has refused to remove the words "military dictatorship" and "shackles" from its election campaign announcements on YouTube, according to party leader Lertsak Kamkongsak. The CMP claimed the provincial election office in Loei has asked the party to drop the two words. CMP poll candidate Sunthorn Hongchai said party members have fought against environmental destruction caused by gold mining operations, which had often landed them in court. The party has tried to woo voters by using leftover materials such as wicker bamboo trays in lieu of campaign posters. CMP poll candidate Sunthorn Hongchai said some candidates in Sakon Nakhon have sprayed their candidacy numbers and names on discarded sheets of plastic.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 22:18 UTC
Scum of the Earth | Bangkok Post: opinion
The army chief ordered incessant blasting across airwaves and military tannoys throughout the country, of the 1976 ditty Nak Phandin. In context, though, the sister English idioms are "Oxygen Wasters" and "Scum of the Earth". There was nothing spontaneous about the blasting of Nak Phandin. Nak Phandin was the beat of the marching song. Naturally, the film had no massacre scene but the Nak Phandin melody lingered on.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 22:18 UTC
France's Societe Generale to cut 1,500 jobs | Bangkok Post: news
PARIS - French banking group Societe Generale is planning to cut 1,500 positions in its BFI corporate and investment banking arm, Le Figaro newspaper reported on Saturday. Societe Generale could not give details on the impact its review of business would have on jobs worldwideCiting internal bank documents, the paper said the bank was looking at two scenarios, both of which envisage 1,500 job cuts worldwide, with around 700 of them in France. The review is part of a plan to reduce costs by 500 million euros ($567 million), the bank said earlier this month on announcing its financial results. Fournil said its management had pledged to get back to the union within "4 to 8 weeks" with more details. Societe Generale reported higher-than-expected profits in 2018 but said it would adjust its targets and those of its investment bank for next year anticipating financial headwinds ahead.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 21:22 UTC
Singer R. Kelly gets $1 million bail | Bangkok Post: news
Prosecutor Kimberly Foxx said a witness, not publicly identified, had provided the video showing Kelly repeatedly having oral and vaginal sex with the youngest girl. "In the video," the prosecutor said, "the victim repeatedly, repeatedly, says she is 14 years old." Kelly met another alleged victim at her 16th birthday party, making clear he knew her age, Foxx said. In yet another case, Foxx said, Kelly had an appointment to have his hair braided by a 24-year-old hairdresser. But last month's release of the explosive docu-series "Surviving R. Kelly" once again brought accusations against him to the fore.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 20:48 UTC
Singer R Kelly walks on $1 million bail | Bangkok Post: news
Prosecutor Kimberly Foxx said a witness, not publicly identified, had provided the video showing Kelly repeatedly having oral and vaginal sex with the youngest girl. "In the video," the prosecutor said, "the victim repeatedly, repeatedly, says she is 14 years old." Kelly met another alleged victim at her 16th birthday party, making clear he knew her age, Foxx said. In yet another case, Foxx said, Kelly had an appointment to have his hair braided by a 24-year-old hairdresser. But last month's release of the explosive docu-series "Surviving R. Kelly" once again brought accusations against him to the fore.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 20:48 UTC
Why China remains key player as US, North Korea meet
But Pyongyang's weapons testing has created headaches for Beijing, "and China felt North Korea was increasingly becoming a liability rather than an asset," he added. Since then, the leaders have met three more times in China, though Xi has yet to act on invitations to visit North Korea. "A Trump-Kim deal in which the US and North Korea keep talking and there is incremental progress toward the goal of denuclearisation is beneficial for China." How has China kept its influence over North Korea? "China has resumed some of the economic and trading relationship with North Korea and that has been very helpful for North Korea to survive under the very harsh international maximum pressure campaign led by the United States," said Zhao.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 23, 2019 17:26 UTC
Shoes and stripes: Brits present Ferragamo, Cavalli shows | Bangkok Post: news
MILAN - British designers on Saturday presented fashion collections for two Italian houses at Milan fashion week, with one inspired by shoes as key items, and the other by tiger motifs. Paul Andrew presented Italian fashion label Salvatore Ferragamo's latest collection, just days after being announced as the group's creative director. And Paul Surridge, creative director at another Florence-based fashion house, presented the Roberto Cavalli collection. The Ferragamo autumn/winter collection was presented in the Rotonda della Besana, a desanctified church from late Baroque period. - Surridge presents Cavalli -Another British designer, Paul Surridge, presented the Roberto Cavalli collection.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 16:18 UTC
R&B star R. Kelly jailed on sex abuse charges
Known for hits like "I Believe I Can Fly," Kelly surrendered to Chicago police Friday night and was taken into custody. It is the second time Chicago prosecutors have charged Kelly with a sex crime. He was acquitted in 2008 of 21 counts of child pornography after a dramatic trial that also involved a sex tape. He described in graphic detail a number of sex acts shown on the tape, saying the girl refers repeatedly to Kelly as "daddy." Explosive docu-seriesKelly infamously is known for marrying his protege Aaliyah in 1994, when the late R&B star was 15.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 23, 2019 15:33 UTC
North Korean leader's train arrives in China: reports
Another option would be to take the train to Beijing and catch a plane to the Vietnamese capital. But several sources said Kim was expected to arrive in Vietnam by train, stopping at the Dong Dang train station near the China border, then driving to Hanoi. Jeong Young-tae of the Institute of North Korean Studies in Seoul said the safest way to travel would be to take a plane provided by Beijing. But China may view the hassle as a necessary cost to get Kim to the summit, he told AFP. "China wants North Korea to make some steps to denuclearise as much as anyone else."
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 23, 2019 15:11 UTC
North Korean leader's train arrives in China: reports | Bangkok Post: news
DANDONG (CHINA) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's armoured train arrived in China late Saturday ahead of his highly anticipated second summit with US President Donald Trump in Vietnam, according to media reports. But several sources said Kim was expected to arrive in Vietnam by train, stopping at the Dong Dang train station near the China border, then driving to Hanoi. Still, a journey from China's frozen northern border to subtropical Vietnam would present a logistical headache and complex security challenges. But China may view the hassle as a necessary cost to get Kim to the summit, he told AFP. "China wants North Korea to make some steps to denuclearise as much as anyone else."
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 14:48 UTC
Burnley upset Spurs 2-1 | Bangkok Post: news
Burnley's Ashley Barnes is pursued by Spurs’ Juan Foyth duding the clubs’ Premier League match at Turf Moor in Burnley on Saturday. (Reuters Photo)BURNLEY, England: Improving Burnley remained undefeated in 2019 with a 2-1 triumph over Tottenham Hotspur in their Premier League match at Turf Moor on Saturday. Despite holding a 70:30 edge in possession and outshooting their hosts 11-2, Spurs could not get on the scoresheet in the first half. But Ashley Barnes found the net seven minutes from time to put Burnley ahead to stay. Burnley are now within one match of equalling their longest undefeated streak in the top flight, which was nine matches between May and September 1966.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 14:26 UTC
Former champion Yang and Aussie Lee share lead at LPGA Thailand
Minjee Lee“I feel pretty solid. I have been hitting it pretty solid, so that's pretty nice, too,” said Lee who has four LPGA titles with the latest one occurring in the LPGA Volvik Championship last year. Made some solid putts. “She's really upset she can't be here. “She’s really lovely and nice.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 23, 2019 14:03 UTC
Venezuela troops fire tear gas on demo at Colombia border | Bangkok Post: news
UREñA (VENEZUELA) - Venezuelan forces on Saturday fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up a crowd demanding to cross a closed border bridge to Colombia, AFP journalists reported. Venezuelan national guards clash with demonstrators at the border town of Ureña after Maduro´s government ordered to temporary close down the border with Colombia on February 23, 2019"We want to work!" they chanted while facing the Venezuelan National Guard riot police who were blocking the crossing in Urena, a town in Tachira state. Late on Friday, President Nicolas Maduro ordered the closure of all four bridges linking Tachira to Colombia. Some 40,000 Venezuelans cross from Tachira into Colombia every day, most returning the same day.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2019 13:52 UTC