Court incident leaves anti-govt protesters in lurch
In this Feb 28 file photo, activists demonstrating against the lese majeste law demand the release of political prisoners behind bars. Mr Patiwat's pledge met the standard requirement for bail approval by the court, which is applicable to all suspects and convicts. The denial is not beyond expectation given the core leaders' challenge to the judicial system. It is not a fixed rule that the court will always reject bail for a lese majeste offence. Several Ratsadon core leaders were granted bail before while their cases were still pending with the police.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 23:37 UTC
Citi changes focus to wealth units
Citi remains fully committed to Thailand and Asia-Pacific even as it announced plans to exit consumer banking in Thailand and 12 other countries. Mrs Fraser said Citi remains committed to maintaining its global network and institutional banking franchises in all the affected markets. Tibor Pandi, Citi Thailand country officer, said there would be no immediate impact on operations or staff. Citi Thailand employs 1,207 people in consumer banking, with another 607 in operations and technology, servicing both the consumer and corporate businesses. Vira-Anong Phutrakul, Thailand consumer business manager for Citi, said it was premature to discuss the impact of the strategic shift on jobs.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 23:26 UTC
Fresh wave threatens media spend
Thailand's media spend is expected to grow less than 5% in 2021, down from a previous estimate of 8-10% following a fresh wave of the pandemic, says Media Intelligence (MI), a media planning and creative agency. In such a scenario, media spending is expected to grow by 5%, he said. Only 5% of brands, he said, would benefit from the fresh outbreak, such as firms dealing with health-related products, but this advantage would not be as strong as last year. However, the fresh outbreak could take a toll on auto, consumer drinks, and department stores, said MI. In 2020, digital ad spending surged 8% to 21 billion baht, an uptick from DAAT's forecast of 0.3% growth.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 23:26 UTC
From hero to zero: Uruguay's coronavirus boomerang
From hero to zero: Uruguay's coronavirus boomerangThe Uruguayan government is placing its hopes for beating a world-record coronavirus infection rate on its vaccine campaignMONTEVIDEO - Battling the world's highest coronavirus infection rate as ambulances queue to deposit patients at hospitals bulging at the seams, Uruguay has gone from a shining example of Covid-19 control to a nation in pandemic crisis. Seventy-three percent of ICU beds are now occupied -- more than half of them by coronavirus patients -- and doctors complain of exhaustion. And GUIAD, a grouping of scientists keeping track of coronavirus data, said Monday that "only strict measures" will curb the infection rate. These suggestions have been rejected by the government, which is putting all its hope on Uruguay's vaccination campaign. "No country in the world, less so on the continent, can bend the infection curve without strict restrictive measures.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 19:07 UTC
US finds no 'currency manipulators'
(Reuters Photo)The United States refrained from designating any trading partner as a currency manipulator in the first foreign-exchange policy report of the Biden administration, even though Switzerland, Taiwan and Vietnam met thresholds for the label. In December, the last report done under President Donald Trump designated Switzerland and Vietnam as manipulators. The new assessments signal the Biden administration is taking a less confrontational approach to international currency policy after the Trump administration’s labelling of China and other countries as manipulators proved ineffective and spurred concerns of politicisation. Those banks can act in currency markets with official guidance due to close relationships with China’s central bank. Taiwan’s central bank has acknowledged intervening in foreign exchange markets to pare gains by its currency against the US dollar.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 14:05 UTC
American scholar in Khon Kaen loses job, visa revoked
Khon Kaen University (KKU) has terminated its employment contract with a well-known American scholar who has been in Thailand for more than 30 years, resulting in his visa being revoked immediately. Thai media reported on Friday that David Streckfuss, founder of Khon Kaen-based The Isaan Record and director of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Khon Kaen since 1994, had had his contract terminated on Feb 18. The Isaan Record is a website focusing on social, political and environmental issues in the northeastern region of Thailand. Local media reported that The Isaan Record was now attempting to secure a visa and work permit for Mr Streckfuss so that he could remain in the country. Thailand recently was ranked the fifth-lowest among 144 countries worldwide in the Academic Freedom Index, compiled by the Germany-based Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) and the Scholars at Risk Network.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 11:48 UTC
Wellness just for you
A simple Google search of wellness programmes or retreats will have you bombarded with countless results. It's not at all difficult to book wellness treatments around Bangkok or in the provinces if you feel like doing a healthy getaway. Staying inKamalaya is a wellness resort that takes wellness seriously. Kamalaya seeks to combine everything from their wellness programmes, their food and the environment you're surrounded with to create what they call a "synergistic wellness experience". Final verdictKamalaya is the ultimate wellness getaway.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 05:37 UTC
A BUDDING LEADER OF AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
A BUDDING LEADER OF AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICSThailand’s automation and intelligent robotics industry has gone from strength to strength in recent years, driven by increasing demand from both domestic and overseas industries along with its well-established ecosystem. With 45 industrial robots for every 10,000 employees in 2019, Thailand was the second largest market for robotics and automation in ASEAN after Singapore. A Well-Established Robotics and Automation EcosystemThe multinational companies involved in Thailand’s global supply chain of key industries and investors have spearheaded the development of the country’s automation and robotics industry. A majority of the firms in the local automation and robotics industry are in the business of system integration and mechanical brain and software development. The Thai Automation and Robotics Association (TARA)4 is also playing a key role in developing Thailand’s automation and robotics industry.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 04:41 UTC
A summertime delicacy
The once-forgotten khao chae has been brought back to life thanks to social media trends. Here are the best places to try the dish which dates back to the King Rama V eraA khao chae set at Flourish, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. Due to a retro revival trend reinforced by social media, the once-forgotten legacy of khao chae has now been brought back to life. Today, khao chae has become summer's much sought-after delicacy and a darling of Instagram. Preparing khao chae demands a long and meticulous, if not secretive, process of labour and understanding.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 15, 2021 23:26 UTC
End justice wait for Karen
End justice wait for KarenSeven years after Karen activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen's death in 2014, issues close to his heart, like ancestral rights of fellow ethnic villagers in Kaeng Krachan National Park, remain unfulfilled. He was last seen in the custody of Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, then park chief, on April 17, 2014, at a time when he was pursuing the Karen rights issue in court. In 2011 Chaiwat led a brutal eviction of the Karen from their upper Bang Kloi village to a namesake relocation site. Once again, park officials applied a heavy-handed approach, forcing them down to the lower area. While it agreed to form a fact-finding panel, the National Park Office slapped the Karen returnees with lawsuits.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 15, 2021 23:15 UTC
Your horoscope for 16-22 Apr
Your spot-on horoscope for work, money, couples & singles from the Bangkok Post's famously accurate fortune teller. (♥) Couples are so busy with their work that they don't get to spend romantic time with each other much. (♥) Couples don't get to be sweet and romantic with each other due to their busy schedules. ♋ CancerJun 21 – Jul 22(⛹) You don't experience post-vacation blues and get back to the grind without any difficulty. (⚤) If you haven't completely gotten over your ex, don't start a new relationship with someone even if s/he asks you to.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 15, 2021 12:45 UTC
TEST YOURSELF: Making reading cool again
TEST YOURSELF: Making reading cool againPhoto by Varuth HirunyathebBooks aren’t dead, and neither are book fairsTest Yourself is where you can improve your reading skills. The National Book Fair will be held virtually from April 17-25 while the in-person event is postponed to next month. As always, this year's National Book Fair comes with a special theme of "Reading Is Cool". He'll be there to share the story of how reading books helped him compose songs and got him where he is today," she said. The 49th National Book Fair & Bangkok International Book Fair 2021 will be held virtually between April 17-25 at ThaiBookFair.com.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 15, 2021 07:41 UTC
Don't protect the culprits
But it should be noted that the two are just employees, which caused suspicion to arise that the quick action was intended to avert public attention from the real culprits. Thong Lor is a prime entertainment district, and one needs strong connections to operate a business there, especially an illegal one. The transfer of two Thong Lor policemen doesn't mean anything. The shenanigans surrounding the infamous hit-and-run case involving the Red Bull scion in the Thong Lor area come to mind, as the culprit remains free. The Thong Lor case is just the tip of the police corruption iceberg.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 14, 2021 23:26 UTC
Reality bites
Reality bitesRe: "BOT recommends additional aid measures," (BP, April 8). Early unrealistic forecasts of 30 million foreign visitors were quickly reduced to 10 million, then to 5 million. The reality is that, without a viable vaccination programme covering the entire population, the number of foreign visitors to Thailand in 2021 is more likely to be somewhere between 30,000 and 300,000 -- not 3 million. A Chinese doctor has just said that the Chinese Sinovac vaccine is only 50% effective. Thailand orders Chinese submarines, now the cheap and poorly effective Chinese vaccine and the much less effective AZ vaccines.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 13, 2021 23:02 UTC
High road toll a blow
High road toll a blowNumerous deaths and injuries related to road accidents over the past three days, almost half way into the extra holidays during the Songkran festival, once again attest to the fact the government's approach to tackling the road toll is of no use. It's likely that accident and death rates -- like in previous years -- will not change much when the designated period ends on April 16. The Royal Thai Police resumed checkpoint operations shortly ahead of the Songkran holidays with the hope that road safety could be boosted. What is needed particularly is comprehensive policy and action plan, and synergy among state agencies and civic groups, to curb road accidents in everyday life. It's time the government learn from its past failures; it needs more than a one-time effort -- like the designated seven-day period -- to achieve road safety.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 13, 2021 23:02 UTC