Lessons from Covid lockdownLast week, Indonesia became the first country in Southeast Asia to surpass India in terms of daily Covid-19 cases. The country's mishandling of its lockdown should serve as a lesson for the Thai government which is tightening its own lockdown measures. The world has seen what a combination of a lockdown and zero aid can do -- millions of Indians struggled to survive when Narendra Modi's government imposed a lockdown last year with only a few hours notice. As India and Indonesia have shown, the first to be affected are low-income labourers in construction jobs. Thailand, unfortunately, is moving down the same path, with workers confined to their camps for over a month now.

Europeans face travel woes as Covid reaches Olympic VillageBritain's decision to exempt France from its new looser entry policies sparked anger among those hoping to return. PARIS: Europeans faced last-minute travel frustration on Saturday as the UK and France overhauled Covid-19 border restrictions to combat surging infections that threaten plans to get life back to normal. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his country had reached the "milestone" of 50 million doses and promised that half of the population would be fully vaccinated by next week. More than two-thirds of UK adults are fully vaccinated, but with cases surging, critics say the government is making a reckless gamble. The kingdom is allowing only 60,000 fully vaccinated residents to take part -- a fraction of the pre-pandemic number -- as it seeks to repeat last year's success that saw no virus outbreak during the five-day ritual.

(Reuters photo)Not all people who have booked, and paid for, the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine from private hospitals will get all their shots since an allotment system will apply, according to the chairman of the Private Hospitals Association. But before the allotment, 1.1 million of the 5 million shots would go to the Thai Red Cross Society, as well as Siriraj and Ramathibodi hospitals, leaving the private hospitals with 3.9 million doses, Dr Chalerm said. The Thai Red Cross Society said its 1 million shots would be sold to provincial administration organisations nationwide at 1,300 baht each on condition they administer them on people for free. Demand surveys showed 277 of 330 member hospitals of the association had booked 9.2 million doses in total, he said. The remaining 2.4 million doses will then be allotted proportionally to the hospitals according to their demand, which at this stage totalled 7.7 million doses.

The Tokyo Olympic Village will be home to thousands of athletes taking part in the Games that are scheduled to open on Friday. (AFP Photo)TOKYO: The chief of the Tokyo Olympics tried to reassure “worried” athletes on Saturday as the Games Village was hit by its first coronavirus case, six days before the pandemic-delayed event opens. The Japanese capital remains under a coronavirus state of emergency and has in recent days recorded its highest case numbers since January. No details were given about the positive test in the Village, one of 15 Games-related cases revealed on Saturday — the highest figure this month. “That was the very first case in the Village that was reported during the screening test,” Masa Takaya, spokesman for the Tokyo organising committee, told a press conference.

Eyes on the goal: women's football goes pro in JapanThe new league's organisers hope it will bring prestige and fresh talent to Japanese clubs. TOKYO: As global interest in women's football approaches fever pitch, former champions Japan are eyeing a return to glory with the country's first professional league for female players. A decade since winning the 2011 Women's World Cup, Japan has fallen behind, even as the sport becomes more popular and lucrative elsewhere. "If we can show we're just as great as men's football teams... there will be more sponsors and supporters," she said. "The level of the Japan team will go up if the level of the league rises," she said.

WASHINGTON - Jeff Bezos sets his sights on a new frontier in space in the coming days after building a gargantuan business empire which has in many ways conquered the Earth. Bezos "had an instinct for the right thing" in finding the next market, said Roger Kay, analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates. "You can say Bezos has been one of the best business architects of his time." Bezos has been fascinated by space since watching the 1969 Apollo moon landing as a child and sees space as important to the future of the planet. - Lasting legacy -Bezos is stepping away from day-to-day Amazon management to spend more time on projects including Blue Origin.

'Hollywood Ripper' sentenced to death in USThe so-called "Hollywood Ripper," Michael Gargiulo, seen during his trial in Los Angeles on August 15, 2019LOS ANGELES - A man known as the "Hollywood Ripper" was sentenced to death Friday for the gruesome killings of two women in their homes in the early 2000s. Among his victims was 22-year-old Ashley Ellerin, who was found in her Hollywood home with 47 stab wounds in February 2001. "In this case, everywhere that Mr. Gargiulo went, death and destruction followed," Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler said Friday as he announced the sentence. He was arrested in 2008 following an attack on a woman in her apartment in Santa Monica, near Los Angeles. Prior to that the death penalty was last carried out in California in 2006, when it was halted by a federal court order.

Mixed jabs strategy adds to confusionA frontline medical worker at a vaccination site in Nonthaburi province looks at the contents of a refrigerator used for the storage of Covid-19 vaccines. The pandemonium speaks volumes about the government's failure, not only of its vaccination plan, but also of its crisis management. Hospitals were instructed to suspend second Sinovac jabs, and switch to AstraZeneca. Those who have received both Sinovac jabs are now wondering what they have to do next -- does this mean the Sinovac jabs were a waste? Some hospitals went back and forth in their vaccination plan, cancelling second Sinovac jabs and opting for AstraZeneca followups, only to suspend the entire vaccination plan.

Dr Boon criticised the GPO over its slow processes that prevent private firms from obtaining Moderna vaccines in a timely fashion. The GPO defended itself saying that it was a failure of the THG for not putting its money upfront to pay for the vaccines that made the process slow. Indeed, the GPO needs to elaborate to the public on this important aspect as well. Society now has a lot of questions about state vaccine policies; about the decision to bet on the AstraZeneca vaccine and to purchase the Chinese-made Sinovac. To do that the government needs to get its act together and as part of that -- as they're hunting high-and-low for Covid vaccines -- they need to communicate better with the public.

DINING + STAYCATION = DINE/CATION AT KIMPTON MAA-LAI BANGKOKKimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok invites you to enjoy a delight-filled new dining and staycation experience. For your complimentary dinner, choose either a 3-course Italian set dinner curated by Chef Danilo Aissa from Ms.Jigger or a Latin American set dinner curated by Chef Lamberto Valdez from Bar.Yard. DINE/CATION STAYCATION PACKAGEDeluxe Room starts from 5,000++ baht/room/nightGuaranteed upgrade to next room category. Check-in at 3:00 p.m. late check-out till 3:00 p.m.A choice of set dinner from Ms.Jigger or Bar.Yard with beverage pairings. - Check out Kimpton pet policy and pet accessibility areas to ensure that you and your pet have great memories ‘fur-ever’!

From left: Two-tone HydroConquest with the bracelet also featuring rose PVD; Green version of HydroConquest accentuated by yellow PVD. Since 2007, HydroConquest has been Longines' modern diver's watch designed for performance and elegance. New two-tone models feature a coating of rose or yellow PVD outlining the unidirectional rotating bezel for an even more elegant look. Longines has built a special relationship with the world of sports by being a timekeeper for championships or a partner of international sports federations. The blue and black models are now available in two-tone steel with yellow or rose PVD.

Dishes, like Kaew's bulky foie gras sushi, are most treasured by his customers. If the sumptuously rich, creamy and buttery foie gras is what you'd die for, then order the foie gras sushi (320 baht) and prepare to go to gastronomic heaven. The green-hued sushi roll, which comes smothered with wasabi mayo, stars deep-fried breaded Hokkaido scallop, cubed fresh hamachi, avocado, unagi glaze and fragrant oba leaf. For salad lovers, options range from Alaskan king crab honey salad, avocado salad, tofu salad and Thai-style yum salmon. I had spicy salmon salad (290 baht).

The royal decree on regulating digital platforms was formulated by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency as a subordinate law of the Electronic Transactions Act. The royal decree on regulating digital platforms that are subject to prior notifications was formulated by the Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) as a subordinate law of the Electronic Transactions Act. Chaichana Mitrpant, executive director of the ETDA, said the decree was drafted to address complaints from consumers and businesses who said digital platforms treated them unfairly. Many consumers on digital platforms are troubled by inferior goods and services, fraud, unfair prices, personal data leakage as well as unfair terms and conditions, he said. Foreign platforms that provide services in Thailand are obliged to have their representatives in the country who take responsibility for their services.

Long-stay visas, EVs to help spur economyThe government plans to allow rich foreigners to enjoy long-stay visas in Thailand. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow is planning to propose to the cabinet a plan to allow rich foreigners to enjoy long-stay visas in Thailand. According to Mr Supattanapong, the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) approved in principle on June 4 a scheme to offer long-stay visas to four groups of foreigners -- rich global citizens, wealthy retirees, rich professionals working in Thailand, and highly skilled professionals. High-skilled professionals with no age limits are required to work in target industries or academic experts in universities or state agencies. Mr Supattanapong said the government remains committed to continuing to stimulate investment, particularly in digital and electric vehicles (EVs).

This month, we have procured 10 million doses so it is still going according to plan," Mr Sathit said. "We have to wait for AstraZeneca vaccines day by day. "The Department of Disease Control (DDC) will sign a contract on July 16 with Pfizer to procure 20 million doses. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization will also sign a deal with Moderna for five million doses next week," Mr Sathit said. The government previously promised that 10 million doses would arrive last month and 10 million more would be delivered this month.