All the news that's fit to printThe news hasn't been particularly uplifting recently, has it? With this in mind a publication was launched in the US some years ago which vowed to carry only good news. Instead the newspaper provided good, wholesome news about golden-hearted grannies, playful pets and in-depth features on butterfly collections and baking cakes. The HedgehoppersBack in 1965 there was a hit song entitled It's Good News Week by the splendidly-named English group Hedgehoppers Anonymous. That's all very well, but people tend to write when they are upset about something, not when they are full of the joys of life.

Protest leaders detained at Huai Kwang police stationStudent leader Parit Cheewarak confronts a police officer outside the Bang Khen police station, where they vowed not to disperse until activists Anon Nampa and Panupong Jaadnok, who are detained at the Huai Kwang police station, are freed. (Reuters photo)Police on Friday night detained two pro-democracy activists at a police station over a demonstration last month as leaders of the student protest movement vowed to escalate their anti-government demonstrations. Security officials physically carried human rights lawyer Anon Nampa, 35, and student activist Panupong Jaadnok, 23, out of the Criminal Court to the Huai Kwang police station as dozens of supporters shouted "officials must serve the people" in protest. Police said they would hold the two overnight and return with their petition at the court on Saturday morning. Another 200 people rallied outside the Bang Khen police station on Friday night, where they vowed not to disperse until the two men were freed.

"I would like to express my standpoint in the Boss Red Bull case, that I am not okay with many aspects that remain unclear," he noted. According to the source, the panel yesterday also asked medical experts for their opinions about substances found in Mr Vorayuth's body. The panel has therefore ecommended a charge of cocaine abuse be pressed against Mr Vorayuth. ''The chief of the bureau has instructed immigration officers to keep an eye out for Mr Vorayuth. If he shows up, he will be detained and quarantined at a state quarantine facility for 14 days under tight security around the clock,'' Pol Col Pakkapong said.

Tough times still lie aheadPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has initially won a political tug-of-war by making a cabinet reshuffle and filling vacant positions with people he mostly trusts, without breaking up the ruling Palang Pracharath Party -- yet. Joining the cabinet are Predee Daochai who is named new finance minister, Supattanapong Punmeechaow, energy minister and deputy prime minister in the reshuffle. Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai gets another assignment as deputy prime minister. The prime minister expressed optimism that the country can make a quick economic turnaround given that it has performed well in controlling the virus. Gen Prayut must take this matter seriously, and not just buy time as many fear.

However, life in the cabinet for newcomers will not be a walk in the park after somebody in the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) warned there would be an "aftershock". She was often spotted walking closely behind Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, who is also the PPRP leader. The "aftershock" comment was thought to have been made by Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin, who is also a co-founder of the Sam Mitr faction. Vorayuth: Whereabouts unknownAccording to the seven-member fact-finding panel led by Deputy Attorney-General Somsak Tiyawanich, Mr Vorayuth can still be prosecuted for reckless driving causing death due to new evidence. Moreover, Mr Vorayuth may also be slapped with a fresh charge of narcotics abuse as the blood analysis report shows traces of cocaine in his system.

(Reuters photo)The Free People group has called for an urgent rally at the Bang Khen police station on Friday evening after human rights lawyer Anon Nampa was arrested in the afternoon. Then, he will likely seek bail,” the head of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Yaowalak Anuphan, told Reuters. The Free People group has called for another rally on Aug 16. Mr Anon said earlier that he was planning to speak at a related rally on Sunday in Chiang Mai. Mr Anon created a stir when he gave a speech at a rally near the Democracy Monument on Tuesday.

Mr Anon made a speech on Monday that touched on some highly sensitive matters related to the monarchy. In a letter posted on the TLHR Twitter account, Mr Anon called on his supporters to continue their rallies. He is named as the fifth suspect in the same case and faces the same charges as Mr Anon, who was listed seventh on the warrant. Mr Anon said earlier that he was planning to speak at a related rally on Sunday in Chiang Mai. Mr Anon created a stir when he gave a speech at a rally near the Democracy Monument on Tuesday.

They play with their hair and make sure a scarecrow and the green fields are included in the picture. The rice field is part of Thung Na Mon, a learning centre to promote the sufficiency economy model and Mon culture in Pathum Thani. We live a simple life like our ancestors and I hope visitors will like this laid-back atmosphere," she said. Thung Na Mon also has space to host workshops if a group of visitors want to learn how to make Mon-style paper garlands. Although my visit was short, I am impressed with the idea of having green space with creative activities.

The government reported 15 new Covid-19 cases on Friday. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)The government on Friday reported 15 new cases of Covid-19 infection, 14 quarantined returnees from the Middle East and one from Japan. Covid infection rates among returnees were 10% of those from Saudi Arabia, 12% from Egypt and 1.5% from Japan. Total Covid-19 cases rose to 3,345, 3,148 of whom recovered and 139 patients were at hospitals. Global Covid-19 cases rose by 282,728 over the past 24 hours to 19.26 million and the death toll was up by 6,491 to 717,680.

A million 'rafts' won't unclog our trash-hit klongsThe Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) seems to take pride in its newly built bamboo "rafts" that can trap rubbish flowing in city canals. The BMA rafts, called phair luk buab, are an adaptation of traditional local wisdom for the public. Not to mention that four BMA rafts would hardly make a difference as there are more than 900 canals in Bangkok. I finally realised why the king-size mattress and all the other unwanted large items had ended up in our waterways. And as long as the BMA does not change its ethos and methods regarding waste collection to focus on the end process, I'm sure a million BMA rafts will be useless.

Police reform at standstillThe deadly shootout at an underground casino on Rama III Road of the capital, resulting in four deaths on Monday, is a stark embarrassment not only for the Royal Thai Police (RTP), but also for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. It speaks volumes about how the promise of police reform the premier made several years ago while head of the military regime has failed to materialise. Prime Minister Prayut in an about-face said on Tuesday he would punish any police officers who abused their authority in connection with illegal casinos. "Yes, the prime minister has total authority to oversee the police. The prime minister must not forget that an overhaul of the force is needed urgently.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha makes a point as he addresses the 'Bangkok Post Forum 2020'. (Photo by Varuth Hirunyatheb); Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha chats to foreign participants. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill); Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha talks to Abel Deng, CEO of Huawei. "Since I took office as prime minister on Aug 24, 2014, I have seen the Thai economy improve gradually. Participants enjoy refreshments at the ‘Bangkok Post Forum 2020’.

Cops nab three foreign suspectsThree foreigners have recently been arrested in two different criminal cases, police said on Thursday. Two suspects arrested in the first case were only identified as Roshan from Iraq and Ghassan from Syria who were wanted for alleged robbery and assault, police said. It emerged Mr Ghassan was being prosecuted in three other criminal cases and was prohibited from leaving Thailand, while Mr Roshan had previously been arrested and charged for illegal entry, police said. Police arrested him on July 23 while he was about to get in a car in a car park, police said. A background check revealed he had entered Thailand illegally two years ago, police said.

TCCC holds 2020 AGMThai Central Chemical PCL (TCCC), leading high quality NPK compound fertilizer producer and distributor in Thailand under OX-Brand, Baby, Singha and TCCC Brand, held its 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholder (AGM) No.48, chaired by Yoshihiro Tamura (centre), President & CEO, together with directors, executives and shareholders at Banyan Tree Bangkok Hotel. Postponed from March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was conducted under strict preventive measures for the safety of participants.

The Baccarat table found outside the gambling den in Yannawa district on Monday. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)A video spreading on social media shows men removing the security cameras at a gambling den in Bangkok's Yannawa district where four people were shot dead on Monday night, one of them an off-duty police major. "Remove all (cameras)," says a man in the video. It seems to explain why police were able to say they found no security cameras inside the premises when they arrived 30 minutes after the fatal shootout. Former MP Chuwit Kamolvisit told Spring News on Wednesday the gambling den had been operating for more than 20 years and was run by a man known as "Hia Tee".