MFP pushes for fairer labour laws
MFP pushes for fairer labour lawsA Move Forward Party (MFP) labour network will submit its draft for a new Labour Protection Act to the House today as the current law has been in place for 26 years and has never been changed. According to the MFP's website, the current welfare system and labour protection mechanisms do not provide enough coverage for 39 million labourers. The draft demands employers pay their employees every 30 days, including weekends, holidays and during sick leave. The draft specifies that a labourer's maximum working hours be 40 hours per week, or eight hours a day. The MFP says the changes are expected to improve labourers' quality of life.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2024 11:41 UTC
Trojan attacks zero in on Thailand
The firm reported on GoldPickaxe.iOS -- a previously unknown iOS Trojan capable of collecting identity documents, facial recognition data and intercepting SMS. This Trojan specifically targeted Thailand and Vietnam, impersonating local banks and government organisations. News on Thailand's policy on facial biometric verification was released in March 2023, to be enforced by July. Ransomware attacks in Asia-Pacific rose 39% year-on-year in 2023, with manufacturing and real estate companies the most common victims, said Group-IB. The government, military, manufacturing, and finance and banking sectors were subject to 5,789 attacks during the last six months of 2023.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2024 06:50 UTC
Cabinet sees nation as halal hub
Cabinet sees nation as halal hubA visitor looks at food items at a halal food fair. Mr Srettha said he discussed with the King of Brunei and the prime minister of Malaysia jointly developing a halal food centre. The majority of these exports were in the naturally halal food group, including rice, grains and sugar cane. There are 15,043 halal food producers and more than 3,500 halal food establishments in Thailand. "The government is fully committed to establishing halal industry centres and expanding the halal product market, especially efforts to make Thailand a global halal kitchen."
Source:Bangkok Post
February 28, 2024 06:17 UTC
India's 'no' at WTO may just mean 'not yet'
India's 'no' at WTO may just mean 'not yet'Farmers shout slogans as they burn an effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers at a protest site at Shambhu Barrier, the border between Punjab and Haryana states, on Friday. India's welfare state, like so many others, is not set up for modern concerns and problems. This very week, some of India's farmers are protesting again -- a reminder that, if India says no, it is because a large subset of Indians are saying no. And a large subset of Indians can often mean a group of people larger than the populations of most WTO member states. India's "no" at the WTO is sometimes "not just yet".
Source:Bangkok Post
February 27, 2024 01:55 UTC
Dip in deposits for 2023
Dip in deposits for 2023Customers use automatic teller machines and cash deposit machines at a department store in 2021. In 2023, deposits amounted to 16 trillion baht, down by 80.4 billion baht or 0.5% compared with the previous year. Mr Songpol said the factors for this shift came from two segments —deposit amounts not exceeding 1 million baht, and deposits exceeding 10 million baht. Mr Songpol said deposits in the top-tier segment, or those exceeding 10 million baht also declined last year. Normally, deposit growth would be in line with GDP growth.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 26, 2024 13:52 UTC
Who's pulling the economic strings?
"Whether or not Thaksin is involved with Thai politics, I believe most entrepreneurs would like to see the nation's economy left intact," he said. In terms of politics, he said Thaksin's release might redefine the image of Mr Srettha and who is the real political baron overseeing the government's economic policies. He said Mr Srettha should implement short-term economic stimulus that neither borrows nor adds to public debt, aiming to generate revenue quickly. "Economic stimulus will be implemented to boost economic growth, as Thaksin comes from the private sector and has a better understanding of economic issues and conditions than someone from the public sector," he said. While serving as prime minister between 2001 and 2006, Thaksin implemented an economic policy, widely known as Thaksinomics.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 26, 2024 10:37 UTC
Ex-NRA chief mismanaged group's money, cost it $5.4mln
A New York state jury found that former National Rifle Association chief Wayne LaPierre mismanaged the gun rights group and cost it $5.4 million, ruling in a civil corruption case brought by New York's attorney general.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 26, 2024 08:23 UTC
Retinue for relics
A procession transports the relics of the Lord Buddha and his chief disciples — Sariputra and Moggallana — from the National Museum to the ceremonial pavilion at Sanam Luang. The parade included flower-festooned vehicles and performances from Thailand, India and various ethnic groups. The relics will be displayed at Sanam Luang from today until March 3, before being exhibited in Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani and Krabi. The relics came from India. (Photos: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)
Source:Bangkok Post
February 26, 2024 07:52 UTC
Redefining the traditional meaning of art
Atta Gallery invites art lovers to reconsider traditional definitions of art and bridge the gap between art practices during "Seam-less" which is running until April 14. This cross-disciplinary exhibition showcases Prins' jewellery and wall art alongside Morakot's paintings and painting installations, fostering a dialogue among the artworks, allowing viewers to perceive relationships within the exhibition. photos courtesy of ATTA GalleryBoth artists eloquently demonstrate in their works how the seam or junction between distinct materials and practices leads to seamlessness, evident in both their art and artistic approaches. By juxtaposing these artists and their works, the exhibition seeks to dissolve boundaries between art practices, encouraging audiences to appreciate diverse art forms without predetermined hierarchies or binary classifications commonly observed in the region's art scene. Atta Gallery is located at Warehouse 30, Charoen Krung 30, and opens Wednesday to Sunday from 1-6.30pm.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 26, 2024 04:11 UTC
S. Korean doctors protest against medical school quotas
Hundreds of senior doctors held a rally near the presidential office in Seoul on Sunday (February 25) to support young doctors and protest against a government plan to increase medical school admissions.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 26, 2024 03:23 UTC
Snow lacking, French ski resort turns to new activities
The Hautacam Ski Resort in southwest France has had a mostly snowless winter. In January, the resort rebranded itself the "Hautacam Plage" on social media channels, showing deckchairs and barbecues instead of white slopes and hot chocolate. "Will this become the only recipe for our resort in winter? I don't know," said Marie-Florentine Hulin, the resort's communications and marketing manager.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 25, 2024 18:23 UTC
Cobra Gold wargames start Monday, may affect some flights
Cobra Gold wargames start Monday, may affect some flightsA parachuter participates in Cobra Gold in March 2023. (Photo: Royal Thai Army)Nearly 10,000 military officers will participate in Cobra Gold from Feb 26 to March 8, and the military exercise may cause some flight delays, according to officials. Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman for the Defence Ministry, said on Sunday that 9,590 military officers from 30 countries would take part in the 12-day drills – full-scale for the first year after being downsized during the Covid-19 pandemic. Muay Thai boxing would be a part of Cobra Gold as the government expected participants would help promote the sport overseas in the future, the spokesman said. Flights might be slightly delayed during the period, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 25, 2024 10:39 UTC
Bangkok Post - Some valid points here
Some valid points hereRe: "Taxes slashed for booze, pubs", & "Thaksin can enter politics on parole", (BP, Feb 24). The Excise Department director-general said alcohol prices are stimulus measures to encourage visitors to travel to Thailand. Do tourists really choose a place to visit based on alcohol prices as the first criteria? Thaksin can enter politics. Our prime minister said we should have effective feeder public transport services in Bangkok.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 25, 2024 03:25 UTC
Knocked off their perch
The curtain looks to be coming down on the once-mighty bloc ruled by the Three Por generals -- former prime minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, former deputy prime minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and former interior minister Gen Anupong Paojinda. However, after the former prime minister was named a privy councillor, his nomination is believed to have been invalidated to preserve his political neutrality. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, meanwhile, will handle administrative duties and day-to-day routine work, including chairing cabinet meetings and representing the government at international forums. Without a support base in the party, this role seems well-suited to his skills and background, according to the analyst. He said the so-called double-PM phenomenon is a challenge to independent public agencies, particularly the Election Commission (EC), which is responsible for upholding political party law and ensuring fair and transparent political processes.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2024 12:34 UTC
Amid global risks, investment themes for Thailand
Amid global risks, investment themes for ThailandThe global economic and investment landscape at the beginning of 2024 bears some similarities to the start of last year. However, the global economy has been relatively resilient in the face of these risks. Data from the US investment bank Goldman Sachs indicates global economic activity is as buoyant now as it was in 2019 before the pandemic. Meanwhile, economic policy risk, measured by the Economic Policy Uncertainty Index, is 254.4, down from the three-year average of 263.9. This was in line with many countries that also contracted, which indicates the global economy is weakening.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2024 01:54 UTC