Peoples' power versus military might
Peoples' power versus military mightMillions and millions of protesters swarmed onto the streets throughout Myanmar earlier this week in an overwhelming rejection of the military's seizure of power. This is something similar to what happened in 1958, when the then prime minister, U NU, temporarily handed over power to the army chief General Ne Win. Fresh elections were indeed held in February 1960 -- four months after the military caretaker government took office. It reflects a military that intends to stay in power for a very long time," he told the Bangkok Post. The fact that the military launched the coup when it could not get its own way clearly reflects the army's mentality and priorities.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2021 21:22 UTC
Myanmar needs help
Myanmar needs helpWhen a member of the clan goes wayward, the rest of the family should not sit idle. Ms Marsudi has been travelling across Southeast Asia to rally support for a special summit of Asean foreign ministers on the Myanmar crisis. The meeting between Ms Marsudi and her Myanmar counterpart on Thai soil may help restore the country's image. But Thailand needs to contribute more. Myanmar needs to be reminded of the hardships it faced when it was slapped with sanctions for decades.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2021 21:22 UTC
RESILIENCE AND AGILITY: THE NEW MANTRAS FOR THAI BUSINESSES IN THE POST COVID-19 ERA
The trend also boosts the prospects of Thai startups which thrive on its resilient and agile business models looking to scale up to the global market. Since the beginning of 2020, Thai startups have raised over US$130 million, compared with around US$97.55 million by 35 Thai startups in 2019, and US$61.15 million raised by the same number of startups in 2018. To date, Thai corporates are the largest investors in Thai startups at the growth stage both in the form of fund-of-fund shareholding and direct investment. Meanwhile corporate venture capital funds (CVCs) support most of the Thai startups at the pre-seed and Series A levels. There have been several major startup funding rounds during the past few years, including Series C, highlighting the growing prospects of the Thai startup ecosystem.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2021 09:11 UTC
93 new Covid-19 cases Wednesday | Bangkok Post: learning
The province detected seven new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, of 93 reported nationwide. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)The government on Wednesday reported 93 new Covid-19 cases, 71 local infections and 22 imported cases, raising the total to 25,692. Of these, 51 were confirmed at hospitals (37 Thais, 13 Myanmar and one Lao) and five Thai cases found in communities. Ayutthaya saw five new cases - Thais confirmed at hospitals. Bangkok recorded two new cases, Thai, at hospitals.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2021 06:33 UTC
317k vaccine doses fly in | Bangkok Post: learning
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha speaks to reporters after the cabinet's meeting at Government House on Tuesday. The provinces with the highest infection rates are Samut Sakhon, Bangkok (western), Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Tak (Mae Sot district), Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi. The doses arriving in Thailand are from two manufacturers -- 117,000 from British-Swedish multinational AstraZeneca and the rest from Chinese firm Sinovac. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's Facebook page said the first 200,000 doses from Sinovac will be given to priority groups within three days. A doctor had warned that the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine had been tested only on 18-59-year-olds and its efficacy and side effects were not known in other age groups.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2021 02:59 UTC
Port's agony continues at MT United
Port's agony continues at MT UnitedMuang Thong's Willian Popp reacts after scoring against Port on Tuesday night. Port's slump continued when they lost 2-1 at bitter rivals SCG Muang Thong United in Thai League 1 on Tuesday night. In-form forward Sardor Mirzayev of Uzbekistan gave Muang Thong the lead after 51 minutes at SCG Stadium. Spain's Sergio Suarez equalised for the visitors 10 minutes later only for Brazilian Willian Popp to scored the winner in the 67th minute. Spectators returnFans will be allowed at most stadiums in Thai league matches from this weekend, officials said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2021 23:22 UTC
'Guillotine' regulations to lift economy
'Guillotine' regulations to lift economyIn this Feb 1 photo, craft beer brewers, together with bar operators, pour alcohol over themselves outside the Health Ministry during a protest against the ban on sales of alcohol at restaurants. Despite the relief programme, the Thai economy hasn't yet recovered and even slowed down now those schemes are over. In 2019, the TDRI studied and reviewed laws related to licences and permits to reduce unnecessary or obsolete laws and regulations called the "Regulatory Guillotine". It offers a systematic review and clear analytical process which the reviewer can apply to all the laws and regulations. These are the exact reasons why the government should rapidly guillotine our regulations.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2021 23:15 UTC
Pavements still a problem
Pavements still a problemAmong the many pain points of living in Bangkok, the struggle with poorly designed, shabbily made pavements must be ranked among the worst. Lawsuits have been pursued by people who were either injured from substandard walkways or believed the pavements were not properly designed to accommodate pedestrians. His post coincided with a few other social media stories showing the sad state of the city's pavements. It's true Bangkok pedestrians have to struggle with them everyday but it's not a do-or-die problem. But the condition of a city's pavements can have far-reaching impacts on the health of the city and its people.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2021 23:15 UTC
Covid-19 restrictions eased | Bangkok Post: learning
Officials in Bangkok on Tuesday began to loosen Covid-19 restrictions, allowing transit passengers at Suvarnabhumi airport and alcohol to be served in restaurants and pubs until 11pm. Transit passengers at Suvarnabhumi had to show fit-to-fly and Covid-free certificates, as well as health insurance documents. They will be confined to a specific area in the terminal, and not be allowed to visit shops there," said Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin. "Yacht crews and their passengers might even be allowed to swim in the sea during their quarantine period," said Dr Taweesilp. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Tuesday said that City Hall had agreed that entertainment venues, pubs, bars, karaoke shops and soapy massage parlours should be allowed to resume normal opening hours.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2021 21:56 UTC
Private investment sought for new train services
Private investment sought for new train services(Bangkok Post file photo)The Rail Department has asked the private sector to jointly invest in two rail lines — Bangkok-Khon Kaen and Laem Chabang-Thapra — for passengers and freight. The department on Tuesday told the private sector it hoped they would fund train services on those key domestic and international routes. Director-general of the department Kittiphan Panchan said Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob wanted the private sector to jointly provide the services so as to maximise the use of railway infrastructure provided by the government. For freight services, the selected route is the 501km Laem Chabang-Tha Phra route, which transports 60,000-100,000 containers each year. The government will provide incentives to the private sector to take part in the pilot project, including soft loans and income guarantees.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2021 12:22 UTC
95 new Covid-19 cases Tuesday | Bangkok Post: learning
Workers clean the floor of Bang Yai market in Bang Yai district, Nonthaburi, in a bid to control the spread of Covid-19 on Tuesday when 95 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the country. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The government on Tuesday reported 95 new Covid-19 cases — 93 local infections and two imported cases — raising the total to 25,599. Pathum Thani found 28 new cases -- 25 in communities (15 Thais and 10 Myanmar) and three Thai cases at hospitals. Nonthaburi logged three cases -- two in communities (a Myanmar and a Cambodian) and a Thai at hospital. Also at hospitals, two Myanmar cases were found in Tak and one each (Thai) in Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2021 07:07 UTC
THAILAND RACES AHEAD IN THE GLOBAL DIGITAL REVOLUTION
THAILAND RACES AHEAD IN THE GLOBAL DIGITAL REVOLUTIONFacilitated by easier access to high-speed internet, the rise of Thailand’s vibrant digital industry over recent years has been underpinnedby the rich creativity and strong entrepreneurial spirit of Thailand’s tech-savvy digital generation. At the forefront of this brave new digital world, Thailand has seen its economy consistently prove its readiness to embrace the new opportunities presented by the global digital revolution. Committed to driving investment in digital transformation, Thailand is pursuing six key strategies: 1) efficient digital infrastructure; 2) digital business promotion; 3) the creation of equitable access through digital technology; 4) digital government; 5) workforce development and 6) improved trust in digital business1. Another initiative is True Digital Park, which serves a centre for digital innovations and startup operations. • Digital Technology Development for the development of targeted technology transfers in cooperation with academic researchers and development institutions through a ten-year Corporate Income Tax exemption.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2021 06:45 UTC
PM volunteers for first vaccine shot | Bangkok Post: learning
The prime minister's wish may not be granted, however, after health experts announced that priority will be decided according to age. The government has also purchased 26 million doses from AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish pharmaceutical company. The government has come in for criticism for lagging behind its Southeast Asian neighbours Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore, which have already had shipments of the vaccine. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he is ready to be the first Thai to be vaccinated against Covid-19 with the China-made vaccine. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha confirms he is ready to receive a Covid-19 vaccine jab, at Government House in Bangkok on Monday.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2021 02:37 UTC
Bangkok bars reopen soon | Bangkok Post: learning
Photo by Wichan CharoenkiatpakulThe Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) yesterday allowed restaurants to sell alcohol and have live music, and bars can serve alcohol again from next Monday. In eight orange or control zones which include Bangkok, restaurants are allowed to sell alcohol and stay open until 11pm. Schools and tutoring institutions in the orange zones are allowed to provide normal teaching. Indoor and outdoor fitness centres and gymnasiums in orange zones can resume normal operations, while sports competitions can be arranged with limits on the number of spectators. Shopping malls and restaurants will be allowed to stay open until 9pm but schools and all types of gymnasiums and fitness clubs in the province must remain shut.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2021 02:26 UTC
Avert violence at Bang Kloi
Avert violence at Bang KloiViolence is looming at Kaeng Krachan National Park. One human rights defender was shot dead after fighting for the forest dwellers' rights. Then, Mr Varawut declared the watershed forest at Jai Paen Din was being razed by the villagers. The forest dwellers argued they were only clearing old farm plots to prepare them for crop rotation. Activists in Kaeng Krachan said some 100 armed personnel boarded helicopters and were heading for Jai Paen Din for a crackdown.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 22, 2021 23:15 UTC