Thailand must act in Myanmar fiasco
Thailand must act in Myanmar fiascoIn less than a week, any sense of optimism about a possible peace process getting under way in Myanmar seems to have evaporated. Thai security forces and officials in Kanchanaburi province were alerted and preparing to deal with Myanmar villagers fleeing into Thailand. Apparently, Myanmar is on the verge of a civil war as civilians in urban areas and a few ethnic groups in rural and Thai-Myanmar border areas turn against the Myanmar army, known as the Tatmadaw. The Myanmar situation will be the test case for Asean -- and a tough nut to crack. After the coup in Myanmar, the army was reportedly accused by the KNU in Myanmar for supplying food to the Myanmar army.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 02, 2021 00:00 UTC
38 migrants found near local reservoir
38 migrants found near local reservoirKanchanaburi: Thirty-eight Myanmar nationals were arrested on Friday at a reservoir in Sangkhla Buri district for illegally crossing the kingdom's border, local officials said yesterday. The migrants were told to wait there for transport to go further into Thailand before the guide left. The migrants left Bo Yipoon village in Myanmar early on Tuesday, officials said, adding that many of the women looked exhausted. The migrants were taken to an exhibition centre in Sangkhla Buri to await deportation. The officers found a boat near their hideout and seized it as part of a probe.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 01, 2021 23:37 UTC
Why get so sour about Madam Choops' sweets?
Why get so sour about Madam Choops' sweets? But I can't help but admire the craftsmanship of this local pâtissier, Madam Choops. On Thursday, a senior NBO official went so far as to force the owner of Madam Choops to offer an apology. Followers of the Lord Buddha must not get hurt so easily, at least this is what the Lord Buddha teaches. What surprises me is that Madam Choops' A-lua is selling so well.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 30, 2021 23:26 UTC
Jailed activists put justice system to test
To demand justice for the political prisoners, the mothers of six jailed protesters have organised a demonstration in front of the Bangkok prison. For common folk, a number of practices used by the authorities against the jailed protesters are disturbing. But the same right was denied Penguin's and other jailed protesters' mothers and friends. It is an act of defiance but at the same time of desperation in having to face a justice system that they feel is weighed against them in an unjust way. Another way to peace must be found and it could begin by recalibrating the justice system to make it not only appear to be just but actually to truly dispense justice to all.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 30, 2021 23:26 UTC
Public needs antiviral meds
Public needs antiviral medsAmid the Covid-19 pandemic, Thais have been gripped by fear. Now the public is getting more anxious, following concerns over a possible shortage of favipiravir, an important medicine used to treat Covid-19 patients with moderate to severe symptoms. Covid-19 patients need 40–70 tablets throughout their treatment cycle, depending on their condition. Yet, under the patent law, the Japanese pharmaceutical firm is allowed to resubmit patent registration documents until August. Yet, Covid-19 patients cannot wait -- medicine shortages are a matter of life or death.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 30, 2021 23:26 UTC
Leading the digital assets revolution
Bitazza, a local digital asset broker, just surpassed 100,000 customers in April, a milestone in the company's goal of becoming Southeast Asia's premier digital asset trading platform. After the scandalous closure of BX, the country's first digital asset exchange established before the Digital Asset Decree took effect, local crypto traders were forced to seek new platforms. Mr Kavin felt it was the right time to capitalise on this emerging market as it coincided with the enforcement of the Digital Asset Decree that legalised and regulated digital asset businesses in Thailand. The legalisation of digital assets and growth potential of this nascent market, with only one large digital asset exchange at the time, sparked an idea to build a digital asset business. Mr Kavin believes digital asset payments will become a mainstream trend as new lifestyles favour people with technological know-how.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 30, 2021 23:25 UTC
GPO: More Sinovac on the way
3.5 million doses due to arrive in May as authorities try to speed up jabs(Post File Photo)Thailand will receive another 3.5 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech coronavirus vaccine in May, says the head of the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO). One million doses will arrive on May 6 and 2 million more are due by the end of May, Witoon Danwiboon said at a briefing on Friday. Health authorities reported 1,583 new cases and 15 more deaths on Friday and said 250 patients were on ventilators. The government has also started discussions with representatives of Sinopharm about its vaccine, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said. The country has also approached Bharat Biotech in India, US-based Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and the makers of Russia's Sputnik V.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 30, 2021 11:37 UTC
Stop the fancy words in battle against Covid
Stop the fancy words in battle against CovidThe small drop in the number of new Covid-19 new cases to under 2,000 yesterday may look like a good sign. A total of 1,871 new cases and 10 deaths in one day tells us there's still a long battle ahead. Since the pandemic began, our society has learnt new vocabulary coined by the CCSA -- SQ (state quarantine), ASQ (alternative state quarantine) and LQ (local quarantine). I wonder how many Thai speakers grapple with these abbreviations and fancy terms, and I doubt whether the government or CCSA even care. It's probably about time for the government to stop feeding us unnecessary information, fancy words, and start sincerely communicating with us.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 29, 2021 23:15 UTC
Weapons not needed now
Despite being so vast, military spending does not contribute to economic growth. In accordance with the country's budget regulations, relinquishing an approved budget is complicated, and that may affect next year's planned expenditure. The military regime under Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, chief of the now-defunct National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), had faced harsh criticism with its approval of the procurement of military hardware and weapons that would not have happened under a civilian government. The coup-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) acted as a rubber stamp, while taxpayers are left to shoulder the burden from the huge military spending spree. In pursuing heavy military spending in a time of economic hardship, the generals should know they are harming the government's stability more than any external enemies, if there are any, could ever do.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 29, 2021 23:15 UTC
Digital Health Solutions from Taiwan Calls for Healthcare Rethink
Digital Health Solutions from Taiwan Calls for Healthcare RethinkThe structure of populations across the world is changing, as many nations see a growing trend towards an ageing society. Accordingly, medical IoT applications have developed into a large, high potential industry, revolutionizing the provision of healthcare. Taiwan excels in a number of medical technology specialties, some ranking among the best in Asia. These strategic and visionary leaders, namely Leltek, Wincomm, Acer Healthcare, MiiS and Apollo Medical Optics, have presented their most innovative digital health solutions to the world. Facing fight to against COVID-19, it would require medical imaging detection in more efficient way, and thus these scalable processors can efficiently perform deep-learning inferencing and thanks to a hybrid CPU-plus-GPU architecture that supports complex, memory-intensive medical imaging workloads.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 29, 2021 08:15 UTC
TEST YOURSELF: History along the tracks
TEST YOURSELF: History along the tracksPhoto by Pattarawadee SaengmaneeExploring the BTS Green LineTest Yourself is where you can improve your reading skills. My sightseeing tour began with a 10-minute walk from the BTS Chang Erawan station to the Erawan Museum, which was once crowded with thousands of tourists. With the aim to educate people about Thai cultural heritage, the museum charges foreigners more for entry than Thais. Just a few stops down from BTS Chang Erawan is BTS Pak Nam and a 450m walk from this station brings you to the monastery of Phra Buddha Chinnarat Mongkonprakan. Erawan Museum.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 29, 2021 07:18 UTC
Bike Riviera races delayed
(Photo © TAT)The Bike Riviera races in Phetchaburi have been postponed due to the new Covid-19 outbreak. The second race is the Sea Race and it will feature a 40km route from Chao Samran Beach to Wat Nai Klang. The fees are 888 baht for one race, 1,600 baht for two races and 2,200 baht for all three competitions. Orchards serve up fruit buffetsFrom now until the end of June, orchards in Rayong and Chanthaburi are offering fruit buffets where you can eat to your heart's content. In Rayong, the orchards offering organic certified fruits are Suan Lung Yod (081-398-8392 or visit facebook.com/yoddurian) and Suan Baan Rao (061-523-2992 or visit facebook.com/suanbaanrao) grows 111 varieties of durians.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 29, 2021 05:15 UTC
All hospitals must pitch in
All hospitals must pitch inEven though the Public Health Ministry has threatened lawsuits against hospitals and medical establishments refusing to admit Covid-19 patients, it seems the agency has no fangs, as public complaints against such establishments are still circulating. There are reports that some private hospitals place such tough conditions, like demanding exorbitant deposits at a 200,000-baht minimum, for patient admission. There are cases of hospitals slamming the door shut on infected people without explanation. Of course, most private hospitals are concerned that they will have to bear extra costs that they cannot claim from the government if they have to handle Covid-19 patients. But in a time of crisis, everyone must pitch in to save as many lives as possible, instead of thinking purely about profit.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 28, 2021 21:45 UTC
TCC urges govt to support local antiviral drug production
TCC urges govt to support local antiviral drug productionThe Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) yesterday called on the government to support the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) make its own favipiravir -- the antiviral medicine used as a treatment for Covid-19. The council said the drug has been generically produced by other countries, including China, since 2019. The company is currently attempting to patent two preparations, in tablet and powder forms, which would make the drug easier to consume, the council said. A Covid-19 patient has to take between 40-70 tablets throughout the treatment cycle, depending on their condition. Withoon Danwiboon, GPO's managing director told the Bangkok Post yesterday there are enough medicines to treat all Covid-19 patients.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 28, 2021 21:33 UTC
1,000 villagers go into lockdown
1,000 villagers go into lockdownNAKHON SAWAN: A village in Chumsaeng district, with a population of almost 1,000, has been placed under a 14-day lockdown after eight residents tested positive for Covid-19. Local officials and health volunteers yesterday strung ropes across all entrances to Village Moo 3 in tambon Phan Lan with banners forbidding people to enter or leave the village. The village is in lockdown until May 11, while 45 people who came into contact with the eight infected people were judged to be at high risk. Chumsaeng district chief Suwat Chansuk said all side entrances to the village have also been closed.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 28, 2021 21:33 UTC