Private pools, fancy meals in Phuket's 'gilded cage' quarantine | Bangkok Post: learning
A villa converted for use as an alternative state quarantine (ASQ) room for incoming overseas tourists is seen at The Senses Resort in Phuket on Saturday. Welcome to five-star quarantine in Phuket, where wealthy tourists can live in luxury while obeying some of the world's strictest anti-coronavirus measures. At The Senses Resort overlooking Phuket's Patong Bay, 16 villas have been specially prepared for quarantine guests. At The Senses resort, visitors will wake up to a view of the island's mountains and can swim in each villa's infinity pool. "It is effectively a gilded cage," says a 50-year-old Danish visitor planning a stay at The Senses, who declined to be named.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 05, 2020 17:37 UTC
Private pools, fancy meals in Phuket's 'gilded cage' quarantine
Private pools, fancy meals in Phuket's 'gilded cage' quarantineA villa converted for use as an alternative state quarantine (ASQ) room for incoming overseas tourists is seen at The Senses Resort in Phuket on Saturday. At The Senses Resort overlooking Phuket's Patong Bay, 16 villas have been specially prepared for quarantine guests. A driver with a buggy cart prepared with plastic dividers waits at The Senses Resort in Phuket on Saturday. At The Senses resort, visitors will wake up to a view of the island's lush sloping mountains and can swim laps in each villa's infinity pool. "It is effectively a gilded cage," says a 50-year-old Danish visitor planning a stay at The Senses, who declined to be named.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 05, 2020 08:03 UTC
Arkhom is new finance minister
Arkhom is new finance ministerArkom Termpittayapaisith is the new finance minister. (Bangkok Post file photo)His Majesty the King has endorsed the appointment of Arkhom Termpittayapaisith as the new finance minister, ending the month-long vacancy left by the sudden resignation of his brief predecessor Predee Daochai. Mr Arkhom, 64, was one of the speculated replacements after Mr Predee abruptly stepped down on Sept 1, claiming health issues. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last week denied any of them would be the new finance minister, but admitted the appointee would be a "famiiar face". As a deputy minister and minister of transport, Mr Arkhom was part of the economic team led at the time by former deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak, although he had no links to Mr Somkid and was known as a trusted man of the prime minister.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 05, 2020 07:40 UTC
Inflation down in September
Inflation down in SeptemberInflation dips 0.70% year-on-year in September and the downward trend will likely continue in the fourth quarter. The ministry said low energy prices and electricity bills had contributed to the 0.7% decline of the headline inflation, compared with the same period of last year. Core inflation, another gauge which excludes volatile food items and energy prices, was still up 0.25%, it added. The ministry expected inflation in the fourth quarter to slightly drop due to economic stimulus measures and the tourism promotion scheme to prop up the economy. It maintained the annual forecast of headline inflation in the region of -0.7% to -1.5%, with an average of -1.1%.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 05, 2020 07:07 UTC
Monday: 5 new Covid imports | Bangkok Post: learning
The Centre for Covid Situation Administration said the only Thai patient was a woman who arrived from Japan on Sept 30 and tested positive on Sunday. Two of them were Indian nationals who arrived in Thailand on Sept 25 and Sept 30. The two men tested positive on Saturday. A Portuguese man who flew into the kingdom from Malaysia was found to be infected with the virus on Saturday. He was an air crew member on a flight from Portugal to India and then Malaysia before landing in Thailand on Sept 30.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 05, 2020 06:00 UTC
Carbon-neutral China
Carbon-neutral ChinaWhile US President Donald Trump concentrated on turning up the political heat on China in his recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, President Xi Jinping surprised many by using his speech to announce China's ambition to become a world leader in tackling global warming and become carbon-neutral by 2060. China is currently the world's biggest producer of carbon emissions and the second largest consumer of coal, after the United States. Moreover, this marks a significant shift away from its previous position that, as a developing nation, it should wait for developed countries to lead the way in reducing emissions. There are good reasons to be optimistic that China can make good on its ambitions. To become carbon-neutral by 2060 will probably require the country to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources from 15% today to something nearer to 85% within four decades.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 05, 2020 02:15 UTC
Gay pioneer stands in Myanmar election
Gay pioneer stands in Myanmar electionMyanmar's first openly gay candidate Myo Min Tun (R) campaigns in a Mandalay market ahead of the Nov 8 elections. YANGON: Outraged over ongoing discrimination in Myanmar, Myo Min Tun decided to stand as the first openly gay election candidate in a country where same-sex relations are illegal. The officers allegedly forced them to remove their bras and kneel in humiliating positions before touching them inappropriately, Myo Min Tun told AFP. -Myo Min Tun knew he was gay when he fell in love with a fellow student while in grade 9 at school. Myo Min Tun instead chose to run for the People's Pioneer Party because of its "anti-discriminatory stance and because they favour young people".
Source:Bangkok Post
October 05, 2020 02:03 UTC
Pheu Thai won't play second fiddle
Pheu Thai won't play second fiddleThis Oct 14 marks the 47th anniversary of the student-led uprising that eventually led to the overthrowing of the Thanom-Praphas-Narong regime notoriously known at the time as the Tyrannical Trio. They point to a recent shakeup in the opposition Pheu Thai Party following an audience with HM the King by Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra. The shakeup in the Pheu Thai Party is like old wine in an old bottle with a new logo for the party's name using a new font. But Oct 14 may provide a clue about the change, if there are any, in the Pheu Thai Party. This time around, the party will not play second fiddle to the Kao Klai Party or Mr Thanathorn's Progressive Movement.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
Vicha report hopes dim
Vicha report hopes dimThe panel probing the alleged mishandling in the 2012 hit-and-run case involving the Red Bull scion Vorayuth Yoovidhya has finished its task after its second report was submitted to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last Thursday. The panel led by Vicha Mahakun recommends in this report a revamp of the justice system to restore public trust shattered by the poor handling by various agencies involved. Given the urgent need to rebuild public trust, a time frame should be set to find and punish wrongdoers. The Vicha panel's second report focuses on structural reforms in the justice system needed to solve six problems evidenced in the Red Bull scion case scandal. Yet, a lack of trust in the justice system could bring about a failed state.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
Online stores owe parties level playing field
Online stores owe parties level playing fieldOvernight, the #BanShopee hashtag climbed to the top of Thailand's Twitter trends. The move raises a question over how online marketplaces should treat political ads and merchandise, and goods related to social movements. Twitter announced in October that it would ban political ads entirely, but remain a platform that gives users the freedom to post and share their political ideas. Google has extended a restriction on micro-targeting political ads worldwide until November. Shopee now faces a major test if its clients refuse to accept anything less than a level playing field.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
E-waste imports banned
E-waste imports bannedThe Commerce Ministry has announced a ban has been imposed on the import of 428 types of electronic waste, or e-waste, declaring Thailand is not a global dumpsite. In the ministry's announcement, e-waste is defined as electric and electronic components and scraps, excluding scraps from an electric generator. The full list of all 428 e-waste items which come under the ban is published on the department's website, he said, adding that inquiries can be made via the ministry's 1385 hotline. Violations are punishable by a jail sentence of up to 10 years, a fine of five times the price of the e-waste imported illegally, or both, he said. All sides are urged to hasten efforts to improve the efficiency in handling domestic e-waste, optimise resources and recycle properly, said Mr Kirati.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 04, 2020 23:26 UTC
East-South 'Thai Bridge' project gains momentum
East-South 'Thai Bridge' project gains momentumThe 900-billion-baht Thai Bridge project, aimed at building a new freight route from the East to the South, is expected to be discussed by the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee today. The development of the Thai Bridge project along with the relaxation of inter-country transport regulations promises to open up new transport routes between East Asia and Asean. The project is predicted to happen faster than the Dawei deep sea-port project in Myanmar, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow. The Dawei investment project is moving slowly because it involves investment by more than one country, he said. Pailin Chuchottaworn, the chairman of the government's committee on economic steering, which is under the CESA, confirmed previously that the Thai Bridge is one of the 30 large investment projects being accelerated.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 04, 2020 23:25 UTC
Hotel apologises for Angkor Wat facade
Hotel apologises for Angkor Wat facadeA picture of a restaurant on the website of the Le Palais Hotel in Koh Phangan shows its 'Bayon Restaurant' which features a touch of Khmer and European culture in the design of the hotel. "Le Palais Hotel Koh Phangan was inspired by the greatness of Angkor Wat located in Cambodia. Nonetheless the greatness will always remain to the great Angkor Wat and will never be compared." Angkor Wat -- recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site since 1992 -- is the most renowned out of all Cambodia's temples and is featured on its national flag. "The owners might draw their inspiration from Angkor Wat.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 04, 2020 23:15 UTC
Brotherly ties endure
Given those early ties, Phinij Jarusombat, the president of the Thai-Chinese Cultural and Relationship Council, hailed the brotherly Sino-Thai relationship as "the greatest treasure", calling for the two countries to forge even closer ties on all fronts. Mr Phinij said anecdotes have been passed down for generations. Mr Phinij said such long-standing ties account for China's deeper engagement in trade, investment and tourism here than many other countries. Reflecting on the course of development, Mr Phinij said the People's Republic of China has risen from a poverty-stricken country to a global superpower since its founding in 1949. When asked whether it shows Thailand's overdependence on China, Mr Phinij dismissed such criticism saying China has never sought territorial control because its policy is not to meddle in any country's internal affairs.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 04, 2020 23:15 UTC
Cambodia confirms US-funded defence facility has been razed
Cambodia confirms US-funded defence facility has been razedDeputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh. (Bangkok Post file photo)PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has razed a US-funded defence facility on its southern coast, Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh confirmed Sunday, the latest move in the ongoing controversial expansion of a strategically crucial naval base being developed with Chinese aid. The Wall Street Journal reported last year on a secret draft deal allowing China to dock warships at the Ream naval base near the kingdom's coastal city of Sihanoukville. Satellite images released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies this week showed a US-funded facility on Ream's naval base had been demolished, raising questions "about rumoured Chinese access", said the Washington-based think tank. But Gen Tea Banh, who is also the defence minister, dismissed concerns Sunday.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 04, 2020 09:01 UTC