13 reasons why ‘respect’ and ‘sympathy’ are very slippery words
Rather than congratulating USA players, many netizens complained about their excessive goal celebrations. The Thai team shipped 13 goals in the game, creating an unenviable record for both the men’s and women’s categories. Should the US team have shown “respect” to the fledging Thai players by going easy on them after scoring, say, eight goals? Many of the Thai players cried after the humiliation. Finding a response to the massive Thai defeat is difficult, but a group of Thai women seem to have found a way.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 18, 2019 18:00 UTC
Women execs fare better in Thailand, survey finds
A 2019 survey by Ipsos reveals that globally, 75 per cent of respondents said they would be comfortable with having a female boss. The same goes for IWG in Thailand, where 70 per cent of all executive roles are occupied by women, spread out between three different co-working brands consisting of Regus, Spaces and HQ. For chief customer officer Lorraine Veber and chief sales officer Fatima Koning, the reason for IWG’s success lies in its unique company culture in which diversity, flexibility and balance are core values. I’ve definitely had a chance to achieve this while working for IWG,” she said. We have a strong track record on equality initiatives, and these are embedded within our HR and operational processes,” Wittig concluded.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 18, 2019 18:00 UTC
Panel to study use of marijuana on mental health patients
Department chief Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said the new committee has been tasked with analysing the pros and cons of using marijuana for mental disorders, coming up with recommendations and an action plan for marijuana usage in DMH hospitals and health institutes, planning support, and controlling the use of marijuana. Meanwhile, the Narcotics Control Committee has agreed to let Prachin Buri’s Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital and Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Sakonnakhon Campus to grow marijuana for research and for medical use, Food and Drug Administration secretary-general Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong said. This brings the number of institutes allowed to grow cannabis to four, Tares said. The other two are Pathum Thani’s Rangsit University and the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation. As marijuana is still prohibited under Thai law, the narcotics committee – which is also known as the Psychotropic Substances Committee – will consider those applying to grow marijuana based on a strict criteria, including whether the land meant for the marijuana crop is suitable, Tares said.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 18, 2019 18:00 UTC
Bed-hopping Donald Trump vs book-loving Lee Kuan Yew
I was amazed to read JC Wilcox’s article citing similarities between Donald Trump and Lee Kuan Yew. Lee built Singapore from an old seaport into a top-notch nation. Trump built his business with a million dollars given to him by his father and has bankrupted his business four times in 25 years. Lee was a determined, consistent and respected leader throughout his career while Donald Trump creates disruption and asserts it is necessary to be unpredictable as president. I doubt if Lee Kuan Yew, were he alive, would regard JC’s comparison as a compliment.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 18, 2019 18:00 UTC
Ingredients for a great leader: patriotism and discernment
He prefers instead to resort to the same old indoctrinated anti-Trump status with the same old parroted chatter about a porn star. Fools judge a book by its cover while others who do read fail to pick up the theme expressed by the author. The enlightened, meanwhile, base their informed opinion on the theme of the book. While Singapore and the US have nothing in common in any way, the two great leaders shared patriotism and an understanding of their country’s strengths and weaknesses. In the interests of their peoples, they strengthened or eradicated the weaknesses and bolstered the strengths.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 18, 2019 18:00 UTC
The internet of things – a Luddite speaks
I thought I was alone in feeling a chill of dread each time I read an article breathlessly extolling the advances of IoT (internet of things) and (AI) artificial intelligence. Two Boeing 737 Maxs have nose-dived to earth because they thought they knew better how to drive themselves than the pilots. On-off switches no longer turn things on and off; instead the decision is left to a recalcitrant piece of software. Do you object when, trying to turn off your printer, it returns a message “Busy. The relentless advance of IoT and AI is dragging us towards a Terminator-style dystopia which will delight Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 18, 2019 18:00 UTC
Prayut now prey to ‘wolves’ of democracy
Prayut may have been nominated by the pro-junta Phalang Pracharat, but the party does not belong to him. Meanwhile, Niphan Sirithorn, Phalang Pracharat MP from Trang province, demanded ministerial seats for his group in the South. The general election saw Phalang Pracharat win 13 seats in the South, making inroads into the traditional Democrat Party stronghold. Prayut can no longer shut the mouths of MPs, who are free to vote or not to vote to support his government. Without strong military back-up and his special powers, Prayut may realise that he has no leverage over the elected MPs.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 18, 2019 17:03 UTC
Boeing's troubled 737 MAX gets huge vote of confidence from IAG
Boeing's troubled 737 MAX gets huge vote of confidence from IAGThe 737 MAX deal came as a surprise given that the aircraft are grounded worldwide after fatal crashesLE BOURGET (FRANCE) - US aircraft giant Boeing got a welcome vote of confidence in its beleaguered 737 MAX plane on Tuesday when International Airlines Group, owner of British Airways, said it wanted to by 200 of the planes. - Uncertain return -Boeing officials have faced a barrage of questions over the 737 MAX disasters, thought to be caused by a faulty MCAS anti-stall system. Reports also suggest that US safety regulators allowed Boeing engineers to self-certify the system, prompting worries of insufficient oversight. Yet it remains unclear when the 737 MAX will fly again, with Alexandre de Juniac, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), warning that certification might not come before August. Some airlines aren't taking any chances, with American Airlines recently cancelling all its 737 MAX flights through September 3.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 18, 2019 16:18 UTC
Iran says CIA spy network dismantled as regional tensions ratchet up
Iran says CIA spy network dismantled as regional tensions ratchet upThis image released on June 17, 2019 by the US Department of Defense is presented as new evidence incriminating Iran in the June 13 tanker attacks in the Gulf of OmanTEHRAN - Iran said Tuesday it had dismantled a US spy network, after Washington announced it would deploy 1,000 more troops to the Middle East and as key powers expressed concerns about regional tensions. It said some members of the alleged CIA network had been arrested and handed over to the judiciary, while others still required "additional investigations". He urged Washington to "change its practise of extreme pressure" but also called on Tehran not to abandon the nuclear agreement "so easily." - Iran ultimatum -Iran's atomic energy organisation spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said Monday that the country would soon pass the amount of low-enriched uranium allowed under the nuclear deal. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani announced on May 8 that Iran would stop observing restrictions it had agreed to in the nuclear deal, in retaliation for the US withdrawal.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 18, 2019 14:37 UTC
Facebook plans own currency
Facebook plans own currencyA 3D-printed Facebook logo standing on PC motherboard is seen in this illustration picture on Oct 26, 2017. Creating its own globe-spanning currency — one that could conceivably threaten banks, national currencies and the privacy of users — isn't likely to dampen regulators' interest in Facebook. The digital currency, called "libra", is scheduled to launch sometime in the next six to 12 months. Facebook won't run libra directly; instead, the company and its partners are forming a nonprofit called the Libra Association, headquartered in Geneva, that will oversee the new currency and its use. Calibra pledges that it won't share transaction data from details of libra user's financials with Facebook unless compelled to do so in criminal cases.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 18, 2019 13:30 UTC
Woman hurt after falling into sewer near MRT station
Woman hurt after falling into sewer near MRT stationWhat is left of the cover of the manhole into which a young woman fell in front of the MRT Ratchadaphisek station in Bangkok on Tuesday morning. (Photo taken from www.js100.com)An office employee was rescued from a three-metre-deep sewer after falling into it while walking on a footpath in front of the MRT Ratchadaphisek subway station in Bangkok on Tuesday morning. The young woman, who was covered from head to toe with sewage, sustained injuries and bruises along her body. Before the fall, she did the same while walking with her friends but this time she fell into the sewer. Media later reported that the broken cover had already been repaired.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 18, 2019 13:01 UTC
Broker: Gold price poised to rebound
Broker: Gold price poised to reboundGold price is projected to rebound for the first time in three years if it breaks the $1,400 resistance, according to a broker. In addition, the weakening of US dollar yields benefits to the gold price. In the past, a reduction in the interest rate and QE implementation resulted in a rapid rise of the gold price. "If the coming price adjustment can push the gold price past $1,400, it will be able to make a major comeback for an upward trend in three years, he said. This fluctuation has a positive effect on the gold price, but once the situation returns to normal, it is possible that people will sell their gold,” Mr Noppavee concluded.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 18, 2019 11:48 UTC
State seeks rejig of premium structure
State seeks rejig of premium structureGovernment finding ways to reduce life and health insurance premiums.. (Bangkok Post file photo)The government is looking for ways to lower life and health insurance premiums after the prices of medicines, medical supplies and medical services are brought under control. According to Whichai Phochanakij, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, the department is scheduled to talk with the Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) this week to discuss the possibility of improving the life and health insurance premium structure to reflect the new price structure for medicines, medical supplies and medical services. The Ucep programme requires hospitals to provide compulsory emergency healthcare for up to 72 hours at any hospital in Thailand. Private hospitals must also inform the Internal Trade Department of the prices of the medicines, medical supplies and medical services for 15 days in advance before raising their prices. Failure to comply with the rule could result in a one-year prison term and/or a fine of up to 200,000 baht or both.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 18, 2019 11:28 UTC
Motorcyclist crushed to death by cement truck in Thalang
Thalang police were notified of the incident, which occurred at 5.10pm on Srisoonthorn Road in central Phuket. Police and emergency responders arrived to find a cement truck in the middle of the road, with a damaged motorbike under the vehicle. His body was taken to Thalang Hospital. Witnesses told police that the cement truck had collided with the motorbike, knocking the bike over and causing the rider to be run over by the truck. The truck driver, 22-year-old Thanin Janyawit, was taken to Thalang police station to be charged with reckless driving causing death.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 18, 2019 11:26 UTC
Plans finalised for huge security operation for this weekend’s Asean Summit: Prawit
He has also ordered the police to control traffic flow and escort the foreign guests to and from the summit. More than 10,000 police officers will be positioned along the routes and at the spots that the Asean heads of government and their spouses visit, including Don Mueang airbase and the summit hotel and meeting hall, Prawit announced. The Asean heads of government gather on Saturday and Sunday at a Bangkok hotel for the summit. Wireless Road from Sarasin intersection to Phloen Chit intersection will be closed from 6am to 6pm on both days. People will have to use Rama IV Road and Phloen Chit Road instead.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 18, 2019 11:03 UTC