Return of Doumbia
As Sangare's career took off, others like Sali Sidibe and Nahawa Doumbia also emerged. In 2006, I saw Nahawa Doumbia perform at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak, Malaysia. Born near the most important town in Wassoulou, Bougouni, Doumbia was ear-marked for success as a singer by her mother, despite the family not being part of the jeli tradition. The response from international African music fans was very positive. And as with Oumou Sangare, Doumbia sings of social issues, peace, equality, women's rights and social justice.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2021 00:56 UTC
Ghetto to Games: Kenya's Ongare takes swing at Tokyo
Ghetto to Games: Kenya's Ongare takes swing at TokyoKenyan boxer Christine Ongare trains ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. The 27-year-old Kenyan will have her chance in Tokyo -- her first Games, and a moment she still cannot believe is coming true. He calls my mum, 'mum'," she said, laughing nervously. The sport gave Ongare a newfound "resilience" and helped her cope with the troubles at home, said Benjamin Musa, head coach of Kenya's Olympic boxing squad. That same year Elizabeth Andiego became the first Kenyan woman to qualify for the London Olympics, an inspiring moment for Ongare.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2021 00:33 UTC
Future tech fears
A deepfake is the use of artificial intelligence to create images, audio or voice recordings in someone else's likeness. Respondents' reservations about this technology are not without grounds, as deepfake videos have been used for political purposes, as well as for personal revenge. Advise against casual browsing on work devices: Casual browsing may lead to compromised network security, so make sure employees know this. Patch employees' machines: If your employees' devices aren't completely patched and up-to-date, the chances increase of hackers finding a vulnerability in your system. Few people bother to change it because it's a somewhat tricky process, but it will drastically improve employees' cyber-defences.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 19, 2021 21:33 UTC
Inept govt never learns from its Covid blunders
Inept govt never learns from its Covid blundersThe government's biggest mistake was not its decision to not join Covax. It was not even underestimating the Covid-19 pandemic and its failure to secure enough vaccines of sufficient variety to fight possible virus mutations. Is it time to accept that the administration has put too much baggage on itself to prevail over the pandemic? At least, however, there was an expectation that the curfew and partial ban on people's mobility would help flatten the new infections and fatalities curve. They feel they have to fight to stay alive and afloat by themselves.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 19, 2021 21:11 UTC
Foreigners over 75 get jab offer
Foreigners over 75 get jab offerForeigners aged 75 and over residing in the country who have not yet had a Covid-19 vaccine can register for their shots through a walk-in process at the Central Vaccination Center at Bang Sue Grand Station. Tanee Sangrat, the director-general of the Department of Information and spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, yesterday said that elderly foreigners can do this between 9am-4pm any day of the week. He said that walk-in vaccination is available everyday at gates 2, 3 and 4. He said that Covid-19 preventive measures should therefore be strictly observed while travelling to and from the vaccination site. Mr Tanee said that this arrangement is reserved only for foreigners who have not yet received any vaccine shots.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 19, 2021 21:11 UTC
Treat heroes like heroes
This time it was one of "the warriors in white gowns", the honoured title bestowed on healthcare workers. While they may be called heroes, healthcare workers are not treated as such. It was great news for medical and healthcare workers who prefer the Pfizer vaccine. However, the Pfizer vaccine from the US has been specifically donated to healthcare workers as a first priority. Since we call them heroes, they should be treated like heroes.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 19, 2021 00:45 UTC
Constitution bill's second reading set for August
Constitution bill's second reading set for AugustPaiboon: Thinks bill will be passedThe charter amendment bill is expected to go through a post-scrutiny debate in parliament next month before being put to a vote in September, according to Paiboon Nititawan, chairman of the committee scrutinising the bill. Mr Paiboon said on Sunday the committee will meet on July 27 and 30 to iron out differences and amendment issues. After the panel has wrapped up its work, it will present the revised version of the bill for a second-reading debate later next month. After that, parliament will deliberate the bill at its second reading towards the end of next month. He believed the debate will be held next month before parliament goes into recess in September.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 19, 2021 00:36 UTC
Holding them accountable
Their home is only 500m away from the Taiwanese-owned chemical factory, which they never knew existed. Firefighters battle the chemical fire at the Ming Dih Chemical Co factory in Samut Prakan earlier this month. The Pollution Control Department said officials are removing the styrene monomer from the fire-gutted factory for safe disposal. Somkid Chaijitvanit fails to stop her dog from eating grass in her garden out of concern over chemical fallout in the wake of the factory explosion. It was deemed to incur expenses even though the party insisted that it is the duty of the Pollution Control Department.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 19, 2021 00:33 UTC
Covid self-testing came way too late
Varuth HirunyathebSince last week, Covid-19 antigen test kits have become available in chemists nationwide. The availability of self-test Covid kits, once banned by the state, reflects the latest policy to deal with the healthcare sector meltdown after Covid cases skyrocketed. Despite being relatively less reliable, the antigen test kits will make Covid testing faster and more affordable. State doctors and ministry executives cast doubt on the reliability of antigen test kits and people's inability to use them properly. Without the ministry's approval, the use of antigen test kits was close to an illegal act.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 19, 2021 00:11 UTC
Leaked letter a blow to govt
Leaked letter a blow to govtThe leaked AstraZeneca letter concerning negotiations over the domestic production and supply of its vaccine in Thailand has proven a slap in the face to the government and hammers home the reality of mistakes made in its national vaccination programme. In the leaked letter from the company, dated June 25, and obtained by the Isranews Agency, AstraZeneca appears to directly contradict statements made by the government regarding supply. The message from the letter is at odds with statements made to the public proudly announcing that a deal had been struck for the company to deliver 10 million doses per month. So far, no one has come out to comment on the authenticity of the letter, despite Mr Anutin having claimed it was he who demanded the company supply at least 10 million doses a month. It has never admitted any blunders in allowing large crowds to return to their home towns during the Songkran festival and made excuses that its vaccine policy was devised when the situation was very different.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 19, 2021 00:00 UTC
Firms urge extra relief
(Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)Business leaders have called on the government to come up with additional relief measures to ease the plight of people affected by the expanded lockdown measures which will take effect on Tuesday. The expanded measures have drawn mixed responses from business leaders. Some said the expanded measures were acceptable while others thought they would only worsen the economy further. "The economy will worsen because the relief measures are unclear. The government has said the restrictions will be evaluated after a week, and indicated the lockdown measures would be in place beyond Aug 2 if the pandemic continues to worsen.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2021 23:15 UTC
Zuma graft trial to resume despite deadly S.Africa protests
Zuma graft trial to resume despite deadly S.Africa protestsZuma is accused of widespread corruption but denies the chargesJOHANNESBURG - The dragging corruption trial of South Africa's jailed ex-president Jacob Zuma resumes on Monday despite deadly violence that swept the nation after his imprisonment in an unrelated case. But things took a nasty turn when on June 29, Zuma was found guilty of contempt of South Africa's top court for snubbing graft investigators probing his tenure as president. Carl Niehaus, a close friend of Zuma, told reporters this week that there was no "coordinated campaign to lead to looting and violence". South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party forced Zuma -- who is a member of the country's dominant Zulu ethnic group -- to resign in 2018 after mounting graft scandals. Ralph Mathekga, author of "When Zuma Goes", says judges in the graft case will not bow to "political pressure".
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2021 05:37 UTC
New deal gets thumbs down
We surveyed a wide range of residents, in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, from motorcycle taxi drivers to restaurateurs. Mass testing a saviourSophon Maleehuan, 43, a motorcycle taxi driver in the Ram Intra area, said the lockdown is not tackling the problem at its roots. Another motorcycle taxi driver, Niyom Thuekthong, 59, said widespread infections have rendered relief almost unworkable. When people stop going out, motorcycle taxi drivers immediately feel the brunt. Taxi and motorcycle taxi drivers earn a fraction of what they used to earn.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2021 04:07 UTC
Lessons from Covid lockdown
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2021 02:37 UTC
Europeans face travel woes as Covid reaches Olympic Village
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 17, 2021 23:37 UTC