Reopening poses global dilemmaPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced on June 16 that his government would reopen the country within 120 days, falling in October. To show he is a man of his word, the government last week announced the partial reopening of many businesses and activities. Yesterday, many of the nation's venues, businesses and activities began their journey on what remains a long road towards a "new normal". Thailand and other tourist-dependent nations in the Southeast Asia region now find themselves caught in a dilemma. When cases rise, governments are labelled as weak and when cases are low, people notice their empty pockets that much more vocally.

Hot off the press on Ratchadamnoen AveAfter last week's column regarding old seafaring expressions still in everyday use, I thought we could take a look at a few sayings that have their origins in newspapers. Perhaps the most obvious is "hot off the press", meaning the latest news. During the printing process, friction causes the press to heat up and if you grab the paper off the press it can be quite hot. A key part of the duties was to check the newspaper as it came "hot off the press" to ensure there were no major cock-ups. Sorted outDuring the printing process there was something called a "dab" which was used to supply the right amount of ink to the printing process .

It isn't the same old Ryder Cup anymoreThe criticism in the British press on what went wrong with Europe in the Ryder Cup in Wisconsin last week will soon subside and a new captain will be named. In the frame to fill the vacancy, and most likely at the top of the list, is Lee Westwood. Over time, my personal view of the Ryder Cup has changed from excitement to cringe worthy. Gone are the days when the whole team flew back to Heathrow together, as 11 of the 12 members of the 2021 European team reside and own properties in the US. Members of the US team including captain Steve Sricker have, so far, won $409 million with Dustin Johnson heading the tournament winnings tally with $73 million.

In-form Chinese only a win away from retaining Sudirman CupChina will vie for a record-extending 12th title in the Sudirman Cup after reaching their 14th consecutive final of the mixed team world championship in Finland yesterday. The top-seeded Chinese defeated South Korea 3-0 in the semi-finals of the biennial tournament at the Energia Areena in Vantaa. China beat Japan to win the 2019 championship in Nanning. Olympic champion Chen Yufei then sealed the place in the final for the Chinese after rallying past An Se-Young in the women's singles. She fought back to win the next two 21-15, 21-15 to give the 11-time champions the victory.

US charges Canadian who narrated Islamic State videosA US Justice Department statement said Mohammed Khalifa, who narrated violent IS videos, was recently handed over to US authorities and chargedWASHINGTON - A Canadian jihadist who fought for the Islamic State group and narrated violent propaganda videos has been taken into custody by the United States and charged, the Justice Department said Saturday. Khalifa left Canada in 2013 to join the Islamic State group in Syria, and by the next year had become a key member of its propaganda team because of his fluent English and Arabic, according to the statement. He allegedly served as a lead translator in Islamic State propaganda production and as the English-speaking narrator on two violent recruitment videos. The cell was behind videos showing the beheadings of foreigners including the US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, who died in 2014. Two members of the notorious Islamic State kidnapping cell dubbed the "Beatles," Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, are currently in the hands of US authorities after being transferred to the United States from Iraq nearly a year ago.

South Korea's Park, Ko share LPGA ShopRite leadSouth Korea's Ko Jin-young shares the lead with compatriot Park In-bee heading into the final round of the LPGA ShopRite Classic. NEW YORK: Ko Jin-young and Park In-bee set the stage for a South Korean shootout, firing second-round 65s to share a two-stroke lead heading into Sunday's final round of the LPGA ShopRite Classic. Putting was good -- putting, swinging, everything was good." A victory on Sunday would also make Ko the fifth South Korean LPGA player with 10 wins, along with Pak Se-ri, Shin Ji-yai, Park and Kim Sei-young. "I remember putting good in Kia and then earlier in the season," Park said.

British PM Johnson upbeat despite UK's woesJohnson addresses the annual Conservative conference on WednesdayMANCHESTER (UNITED KINGDOM) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday vowed to press on with his post-Brexit agenda for Britain, even as the country faces a growing supply chain crisis made worse by its EU departure. In a bullish eve-of-conference message to the Tory faithful, Johnson vowed to forge ahead with his post-Covid recovery plan to "build back better" in areas from infrastructure to climate change. Meanwhile, another storm is brewing with France after Britain refused many licence applications to fish in UK territorial waters. Last week, the main opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer attacked Johnson as a Brexit-obsessed one-trick pony without a plan, even if his popularity remains high with the public. "We have a fuel crisis, a pay crisis, a goods crisis, and a cost of living crisis, all at the same time."

Fans power China's lucrative idol economy, boosting stars on social media and buying merchandise that they promote at shops like this. Fans power China's lucrative idol economy, previously forecast by state media to be worth 140 billion yuan ($21.6 billion) by 2022. Critics say fan culture is an exploitative industry aimed at profiting from minors, built on artificially inflated social media engagement -- something the government wants to eliminate through the new regulations. "Chinese youth lack other types of idols," said Fang Kecheng, communications professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. While Li has over 200,000 followers on social media, it's far from viral superstardom.

Authorities reported 87 fatalities and 11,375 new infections, 11,191 in the general population and 184 at prisons. New cases have been above 10,000 for all but one day (Sept 28) since July 17. The new cases on Friday comprised 11,358 local infections and 17 imported cases. Greater Bangkok reported 2,401 new cases (-471) and 35 new deaths (-19). Four southern border provinces had 1,978 new cases (+61) and four new deaths (-13), while 67 other provinces recorded 6,795 new cases (+342) and 48 new fatalities (-4).

US surpasses 700,000 Covid deaths: Johns HopkinsWhite flags marking US Covid-19 deaths -- a toll which has surpassed 700,000 -- are seen on the National Mall near the White House as part of a September 2021 project. WASHINGTON: US fatalities from Covid-19 surpassed 700,000 on Friday, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, a toll roughly equivalent to the population of the nation's capital Washington. After a heavily criticized early response to the pandemic, the United States has since organized among the world's most effective vaccine roll-outs. While the latest global coronavirus wave peaked in late August, the virus continues to spread rapidly, particularly in the United States. The Democratic state of California on the other hand announced on Friday that Covid vaccinations will be compulsory for all students.

AIS looks ahead to Thailand's 5G futureMr Somchai names "I-Irene", Thailand's first virtual influencer, as AIS's new presenter. Advanced Info Service (AIS), Thailand's largest mobile operator by subscriber base, vows to continue revolutionising Thailand through its 5G technology as it celebrates 31 years of quality service. Somchai Lertsutiwong, chief executive of AIS, said the network's 5G technology was ranked the fastest in Thailand. "We have unlocked access to digital platforms with 5G technology, yielding the same efficiency as any leading industrialised nation," said Mr Somchai. The company projects Thailand's 5G market will grow to US$1.2 billion by 2025.

The SET index moved in a range of 1,593.32 and 1,639.97 points this week before closing yesterday at 1,605.17, down 1.59% from the previous week, in daily turnover averaging 98.84 billion baht. Retail investors were net buyers of 6.11 billion baht. Foreign investors bought 2 billion baht and brokerage firms purchased 1.33 billion baht worth of shares. Institutional investors sold 9.45 billion baht worth of shares. The government plans to introduce more measures to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) retain workers and create new jobs, with 46.9 billion baht to be allocated.

Thailand's first real estate-backed tokens, Siri Hub Investment Digital Tokens (SIRIHUB), have raised 2.2 billion baht through a 90% sale of overall tokens within the first week of the public initial coin offering (ICO). The debut of Siri Hub Investment Digital Tokens was warmly received by investors, with 90% of overall tokens subscribed within the first week. Att Thongyai Asavanund, chief executive of XSpring Digital, said SIRIHUB tokens broke the limits of all other traditional investments. They comprise 160 million tokens worth 1.6 billion baht for the first tranche and 80 million tokens worth 800 million for the latter. Holders of SIRIHUB-A receive a quarterly revenue share of 4.5%, while SIRIHUB-B holders receive a return of 8% per year.

Test case for toleranceA new set of children's books, titled Waad Wang, which provides information on the other side of the anti-institution movement, has drawn mixed reactions and become another test case for tolerance towards different opinions in our society. Most of the books in the eight-piece set are written by well-known children's book author Srisamorn Soffer under the pen name of Song-ka, which means two legs. There's also the use of some political symbols, employed by young political activists like yellow ducks, and the three-finger sign in promoting their ideology. Some even went so far as to ask the authorities to slap Section 112 charges against the publisher for promoting sedition. It should limit its duty to ensuring the book set has no dangerous distortions, leaving the rest to parents to decide what is good or not for their kids.

Quarter-final heartbreak for ThailandThai men's doubles pair Supak Jomkoh, left, and Kittinupong Kedren. In another quarter-final, China beat Denmark 3-2. Thailand took the lead when Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree beat Kim Wan-Ho and Kong Hee-Yong 21-9, 21-17 in the opening mixed doubles match. In the men's doubles, Thailand's Supak Jomkoh and Kittinupong Kedren finished off Choi Sol-Gyu and Seo Seung-Jae 21-18, 24-22 in 48 minutes. Thailand reached the semi-finals in the previous edition in 2019 but lost 3-0 to China who went on to claim their 11th title in Nanning.