Hungarian foreign minister tests positive on arrival in Bangkok
Hungarian foreign minister tests positive on arrival in BangkokHungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto during a visit to Vietnam on Oct 16 this year. (Photo: Reuters)Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto tested positive for Covid-19 after arriving in Bangkok on Tuesday and was to return home by private plane on Wednesday. Mr Szijjarto arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday for a two-day visit as a guest of the Foreign Ministry. The tests, conducted at two labs, confirmed the minister was infected with the virus, although he showed no symptoms. During his Cambodia visit, Szijjarto was pictured with Hun Sen at a meeting where neither appeared to be socially distancing or wearing a mask.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 04, 2020 09:40 UTC
Singer 'Pookie', husband sentenced to 38 years on drug charges
Singer 'Pookie', husband sentenced to 38 years on drug chargesSinger Prissana "Pookie" Praisaeng makes a wai on Wednesday as she enters the Criminal Court to hear judgement on charges of drug dealing and money laundering. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced former pop singer Prissana Praisaeng and her husband to prison for 38 years and nine months on charges of drug dealing and money laundering. Prissana, widely known by her nickname "Pookie", 41, and her husband, Cholavit Keetatraku, 50, were also fined a total of 3.6 million baht. The court sentenced the pair to life iimprisonment, and then commuted the sentences because they confessed. A third defendant, Taiwanese national Hung Cheng Yi, 29, was given 25 years in jail and fined 2.5 million baht.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 04, 2020 07:52 UTC
Wednesday: 7 new Covid-19 infections | Bangkok Post: learning
(Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)Seven new coronavirus cases were reported on Wednesday, all imported, taking the total number of infections to 3,804, with no new fatalities. Three of the new cases were Thai nationals returning home, and the other four were foreigners who had flown in from overseas. The Thai returnees included a man arriving from Jordan via Qatar on Oct 27. A Thai man who returned from France on Friday tested positive on Monday, while a Thai woman coming from Sweden via Qatar tested positive on Thursday after arriving in Thailand on Saturday. An Italian tested positive on Monday after he arrived on Friday, while a woman from the Maldives arrived in Thailand via Qatar on Friday and her test on Monday was positive.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 04, 2020 06:33 UTC
Low-cost flights may get cheaper | Bangkok Post: learning
Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air jets at Don Mueang airport. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)Low-cost carriers are ready to lower domestic airfares after the cabinet approved the extension of jet fuel tax reduction. Santisuk Klongchaiya of Thai AirAsia (TAA), Thailand's largest low-cost carrier, said the decision from the government will help airlines save costs and allow them to maintain average airfare prices. "We still have weak demand for weekday flights because of the lack of international tourists who would normally fill this void," said Mr Santisuk. "The average price before the pandemic was too low as there was fierce competition.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 04, 2020 00:22 UTC
Pandemic poll drives reform demands
Pandemic poll drives reform demandsMyanmar goes to the polls on Sunday in a critical election that will determine the country's future direction. This could be a watershed moment in Myanmar's recent political history and irreversibly cement the country's desire for democracy and a civilian government. "I just know the NLD and USDP parties, but I am going to vote NLD as I wish the next government to work to help and solve all our troubles and problems," she said. On the ground, campaigning is also muted, because of government restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the pandemic. But the next NLD-government -- if it wins the election -- will have to intensify its reform agenda," she added.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 03, 2020 23:26 UTC
Reconciliation path unclear
Reconciliation path unclearWith the country currently so polarised, the expectation that the reconciliation panel set up by parliament will be able to find a way out of this political conflict is low. Parliament president Chuan Leekpai revealed on Monday that he had approached three former prime ministers to join the reconciliation committee. For one thing, reconciliation committees do not have a proven track record, especially when it comes to practical achievements. Over a decade ago, the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) was established as an independent body to address the violent conflict in the three southernmost provinces. Mr Chuan must work to flesh out the unity panel so that it commands respect and active participation.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 03, 2020 23:26 UTC
3 ex-PMs invited to reconciliation panel
Three former prime ministers have hinted at the possibility of joining the proposed reconciliation committee being set up to resolve the ongoing political conflict. "They have indicated their cooperation and agree with the idea of setting up the panel," Mr Chuan said, adding that he was also hoping to lure another ex-premier, Somchai Wongsawat. Mr Chuan said he heard that Mr Somchai was having a health examination. The second model is that the panel be made up of "neutral" representatives proposed by those involved. Mr Abhisit, another former prime minister and ex-Democrat Party leader, told the Bangkok Post that Mr Chuan had sought his opinions about the proposed panel.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 03, 2020 23:15 UTC
Government blocks Pornhub | Bangkok Post: learning
Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta is under attack by government critics after blocking accesses to Pornhub. (Bangkok Post file photo)The government has blocked access to Pornhub, a well-known adult website based outside the country. Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta has become a target of criticism for violating the right of the people to free access to the media. That freedom included media containing sexual content, as long as viewers were not forced to watch it, the group said. Once Pornhub was blocked, tips on how to access it quickly began circulating on social media.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 03, 2020 10:52 UTC
American shoots himself in Pattaya | Bangkok Post: learning
(Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)CHON BURI: A 25-year-old American man shot himself dead with a stolen gun in Pattaya on Tuesday morning, police said. On the way, he allegedly fired some shots, but hurt nobody. About 12.30am on Tuesday, in front of The Trust Residence Central Pattaya, the man allegedly had an argument with Pichakorn Thapana, 18, a local resident, and hit him on the head. The man allegedly produced a knife then walked away, returned with a gun and fired one shot into the sky. According to police, the man fired a few shots in reply.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 03, 2020 04:41 UTC
THAI sells 'holy' flight | Bangkok Post: learning
Thai Airways International has launched a special flight for passengers who want to chant Buddhist mantras over 99 sacred sites. (Bangkok Post file photo)Thai Airways International (THAI) has launched a special flight that flies over 99 sacred sites in the kingdom on Nov 30. Wiwat Piyawiroj, executive vice president for THAI's commercial operations, said the special flight is part of a programme aimed at helping the tourism sector. Mr Wiwat said passengers will fly over the 99 holy sites in the capital and 31 provinces, as they chant mantras. "There will be no landing during the flight and passengers will receive positive energy from chanting while onboard," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 03, 2020 02:26 UTC
Students to learn political history | Bangkok Post: learning
Former education minister Somsak Prissananantakul on Monday backed the idea of providing students with a better understanding of political history. This process, where academics agree on a standard interpretation, should also be applied to other key political events, he said. According to Mr Somsak, history was frequently written by its winner rather than by "non-partisan" hands. The syllabus for social sciences will be reworked to include political history from 1932-1957 not currently taught. The Education Ministry plans to revamp the Basic Education Core Curriculum to include key political events from 1932-1957.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 03, 2020 00:11 UTC
The architects of this ruinous mess must go
For this future to materialise, the two things that must go are the current constitution and Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. As soon as Gen Prayut admitted the charter must be rewritten, so too vanished the legitimacy that has kept him in power. PM Gen Prayut continues to insist he will not bow to pressure and resign and hangs on only with his own tenacity. If the current charter which he oversaw has led us to the brink, how can people trust him to draft another? In defending his position, Gen Prayut apparently looked back to the past and asked: "What have I done wrong?"
Source:Bangkok Post
November 02, 2020 23:48 UTC
Compromise is the answer
Yesterday, Paiboon Nititawan, a list MP and deputy leader of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), reiterated the need for such a process. However, his proposal to ban political rallies for two years to allow the economy to recover was jaw-dropping. The ban on political rallies, many critics have suggested, would infringe on civil rights guaranteed under the current charter. In fact, His Majesty the King in answering an impromptu question by a CNN reporter on Sunday evening said himself that "Thailand is the land of compromise". All factions should heed this guidance and together strive to achieve a bloodless and inclusive end to the crisis.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 02, 2020 23:48 UTC
'Rally ban' vote plan under fire
A referendum will solve ongoing political conflicts and give economic recovery a chance, says Palang Pracharath deputy leader Paiboon Nititawan. (Bangkok Post file photo)Critics have slammed a Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) deputy leader's proposal to hold a referendum to ban political rallies for two years, saying it would violate people's rights and only worsen the ongoing conflict. The idea was floated by Paiboon Nititawan who said it would allow the economy to recover and stop tensions from escalating. Since the public referendum law has yet to take effect, the prime minister could issue an executive decree for the referendum since it is an urgent issue, he said. He said that the cabinet could use the referendum to restrict the people's rights which would lead to a dictatorship of the majority, thus only further fuelling the conflict.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 02, 2020 23:48 UTC
Two dead in 'terror' attack in central Vienna
Two dead in 'terror' attack in central ViennaPolice officers were checking people in central Vienna for weapons after the shootings. VIENNA: Two people including one attacker were killed in central Vienna on Monday evening in what Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz described as a "repulsive terror attack". Meanwhile, one suspect was "shot and killed by police officers," Vienna police said on their Twitter account. "Police are carrying out random checks of vehicles and passengers on border crossings with Austria as a preventive measure in relation to the terror attack in Vienna," Czech police tweeted. Czech Interior Minister Jan Hamacek said in a tweet Czech police were in touch with Austrian colleagues following the "dreadful news from Vienna".
Source:Bangkok Post
November 02, 2020 22:30 UTC