Covid travel precautions
The "Open Thailand Safely" campaign was initiated by leading travel and hospitality companies including Yaana Ventures, Minor Group and Asian Trails. It was launched on March 2 with the support of over 40 major hotels, travel agents and organisations including Cape & Kantary Hotels, Capella Hotels and Resorts and Skal International. It found a growing demand for last-minute travel searches for same day and next-day overnight hotel stay. Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand are the top three Asia Pacific markets to embrace the impromptu travel experience. The service offers extra privacy and space including couples who wish to have the entire row to themselves (maximum of three seats in the same row) and parents travelling with in-lap infants.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 11, 2021 05:15 UTC
Restrictions to end 'by October'
Dr Apisamai Srirangson, assistant spokesperson for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, is in her press conference at Government House in Bangkok on Wednesday. (Screenshot)Thailand will be fully reopened by October and all Covid-19 restrictions lifted, if all sectors continue to cooperate with the government in its containment efforts, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) hinted on Wednesday. Among the major requirements for reopening the country, after more than a year of costly restrictions, was the public sector's readiness to resume normal life, said CCSA assistant spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangson. Speaking after a meeting of the CCSA's sub-committee on easing business and activity restrictions, Dr Apisamai praised officials in Samut Sakhon, the epicentre of a recent wave of infections. On Wednesday was the last day of preparing to imnplement so-called "bubble and seal" Covid-19 containment measures, Dr Apisamai said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 11, 2021 02:26 UTC
Cathay Pacific Airways posts record losses for 2020
An aircraft operated by Cathay Pacific Airways takes off from the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong on Tuesday. (Bloomberg photo)HONG KONG: Cathay Pacific Airways on Wednesday revealed record losses of HK$21.6 billion (US$2.8 billion) in 2020, a year blighted by the Covid-19 pandemic – the worst crisis in commercial aviation history. More than 110,000 people in Hong Kong have so far received a Covid-19 vaccine. The airline turned to the government and shareholders in June 2020 for a HK$39 billion bailout to avoid going bust. During the pandemic, travel has been discouraged by sweeping border closures in the markets where Cathay operate and quarantine measures to stave off the importation of the virus into Hong Kong.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 10, 2021 11:48 UTC
PepsiCo Donates 6 Million Baht
PepsoCo Thailand, the leading manufacturer, and distributor of food and beverages under PepsiCo brands, including Pepsi and Lay’s potato chips, donates 6 million Thai Baht to Raks Thai Foundation to support their environmental conservation, water resource management, and rehabilitation projects for the eighth consecutive year. Our Sustainability Policy pillar on Water Management endeavours improvement in resources management environmental responsibility. PepsiCo gives precedence to improving water management efficiency in the agricultural sector and manufacturing processes. Utilising our expertise in resources management, we adopt our high standards to help protect water resources in the communities contributing to safe access to water for the people. We have been working closely with farmers and communities where we created check dams to improve water resources and alleviate the impact of flooding.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 10, 2021 08:26 UTC
Panel chief opposed to allowing water splashing during Songkran
Panel chief opposed to allowing water splashing during SongkranPeople traditionally bathe Buddha images during the Songkran festival. (Bangkok Post file photo)The Covid-19 operations chief is opposed to allowing water splashing during the Songkran festival and wants only activities that are compatible with use of face masks. Such activities included splashing water and applying talcum powder, and they should be banned in the Songkran festival mid next month, he said. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had ordered the relaxation of disease control measures to stimulate the economy during the Songkran festival. His committee supported traditional Songkran activities, including giving Thai New Year greetings to elderly people and the bathing of Buddha images.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 10, 2021 07:52 UTC
Nattapol and publishers sued
Nattapol and publishers suedMR Priyanandana Rangsit is taking legal action and seeking damages of 50 million baht from writer Nattapol Chaiching and publisher Fah Diew Kan (Same Sky) for alleged slander. Mr Nattapol authored two books, Khor Funfai Nai Fun An Lueachuea and Khun Seuk Sakdina Phraya Insi, and also wrote a thesis Thai Politics in Phibun's Government under the US World Order (1948–1957). MR Priyanandana claimed that some parts of it were misleading and damaged the reputation of the founder of the Rangsit family, the Prince of Chai Nat. Earlier, Chaiyand Chaiyaporn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, accused Mr Nattapol of using false references in the thesis and said he aggravated the damage by repeating its contents in the two books. Mr Nattapol has admitted making a mistake and declared his intention to correct it.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 09, 2021 23:03 UTC
A 'culture of silence' at work is not OK
Wichan CharoenkiatpakulEvery year on March 8, we celebrate International Women's Day to recognise the progress we have made in women's social, economic and political advancement. Since the start of this month, we have heard news about sexual violence and harassment being committed by public officials in many countries. Some of the important gaps here, however, are a lack of definitive laws, and a culture of silence. Sexual harassment may be perpetrated by different individuals, including colleagues, supervisors, subordinates and third parties such as customers or public officials. Your voice can end the culture of silence, and help to stop sexual violence and harassment from happening to others.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 09, 2021 22:52 UTC
Army must clear its name
Army must clear its namePlain denial will no longer suffice in this case. The social media giant said it took down the accounts because they were using deceptive behaviour to influence public debate. Even with such details, the army accused Twitter of unfairly linking it with IOs and asked the social media company to clarify the issue. Only an independent probe consisting of well-respected representatives especially from the civil society sector will clear its name. The pressure is decidedly on the army and it will only escalate as the political conflict intensifies.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 09, 2021 22:52 UTC
Connecting the classic to the contemporary
It is similar to Angkor Wat, which was built according to the Hindu belief systems connecting heaven and Earth to create temporary cosmology. To create the choreography, Jitti works with the architecture of the body, which corresponds with how the khon dance is constructed. "Narrators play a significant role in the khon performance. "This inspired me to create a dance performance based on khon's roots. ", "Body Architecture And Miscellany Of Khon" and "Bridging The Traditional To Contemporary Art".
Source:Bangkok Post
March 08, 2021 23:15 UTC
Post Plc ex-director van der Linden dies aged 95
Post Plc ex-director van der Linden dies aged 95van der Linden: Passes at homeJohannes Bernardus van der Linden, a former director and member of the Executive Committee of the Bangkok Post Plc, passed away at his home in Bangkok on Ram Intra Road Sunday. He was managing director of Multi Credit Corporation (MCC) of Thailand from 1979 until 1989. From 1987 to 1998, he served on the General Committee of the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. He rejoined the Board of The Post Publishing Plc, currently known as the Bangkok Post Plc in 1990 after retiring from the MCC. His funeral rites will be held at 6.30pm until Saturday at Wat Nuan Chan in Bangkok.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 08, 2021 23:07 UTC
Freedom in a perilous state
Freedom in a perilous stateAbout a year after Thailand under the Prayut Chan-o-cha government could boast about a small improvement in its freedom ranking, as rated annually by Freedom House, the country has suffered a setback with it damningly described as no longer having any freedom at all -- a position it held during the coup years. The new ranking by Freedom House is ironic given Thailand's name that means "land of the free". Altogether 210 countries and territories are rated in two categories, political rights (40) and civil liberties (60). The only three countries considered to afford their citizens complete freedom in the report were Finland, Norway and Sweden. It was rated poorly in the areas of freedom of assembly, civil society space, due process, an independent judiciary, academic freedom and the rights of marginalised people, but scores better in freedom of religion, freedom of movement and personal social freedoms.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 08, 2021 23:03 UTC
Pushed to the brink of civil war?
We have to work together to avoid any severe conflict that deepens social division, which would lead to a civil war as some countries or some groups wish to see,'' Mr Suthep said. Mr Suthep said that some groups have been trying to plunge the country into civil war, though he believed it would unlikely happen because of Thais' cultural predisposition. "From my experience, it will be difficult for the country to reach a civil war, even though several groups are trying to provoke it. It is worrying, but it is impossible because most Thais by nature are not extremists or prone to violence,'' Mr Suthep said. Plus, he also remains steadfast in his loyalty to the nation," Mr Suthep said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 08, 2021 22:30 UTC
City officials benefit from seat at top table
The big relief cake is to be shared among city officials and workers. The first question that came to my mind is: how are those officials and city workers affected by Covid restraints deserving of state assistance? Like other state officials, it's business as usual for those at the City Hall during first or second outbreak. So, it's hard to accept payments in this case where state officials appear to be receiving what many consider to be an unjustifiable "bonus". So, this week, a number of city officials will get extra payments without doing anything extra.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 07, 2021 23:26 UTC
Focus on competence
Focus on competenceThailand will lose the chance to lead disruptive changes in the digital and education sector if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha continues to allow political jockeying for cabinet quotas dominate his decision on the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle. Prime Minister Prayut has insisted he has the final say on the reshuffle and there would be no "outsiders" in the cabinet line-up. Although Gen Prayut said the reshuffle is his call, it's no secret Gen Prawit also has a big say in the matter, as the "big brother" of Gen Prayut when they served in the military. These politicians know that Gen Prayut may ignore their requests at first, but he will listen to Gen Prawit's advice. Unfortunately, Gen Prayut has not showed decisive leadership by choosing the most most suitable candidates to fill in the new cabinet vacancies.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 07, 2021 23:23 UTC
Hope beyond cure
But now wearing a different hat as a CEO and co-founder of Baiya Phytopharm, many times she feels the stress is almost too much to bear. Sometimes I woke up in the middle of the night and could not sleep on," said the 36-year-old lecturer at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Earlier, Baiya Phytopharm also developed the Baiya Rapid Covid-19 test kit using low-nicotine tobacco leaves. Covid-19 vaccines from Baiya Phytopharm are now expected to be used in clinical studies this year. At this point, it doesn't matter if the Covid-19 vaccines will succeed or fail.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 07, 2021 23:03 UTC