FTI readies 9-point relief proposal for firms
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) this Wednesday will ask the Center for Economic Situation Administration to approve its nine-point proposal aimed at using taxation tools and other relief packages to help businesses and employees get through the crisis. Authorities should consider waving corporate income tax for small and medium-sized enterprises for the 2020 to 2022 tax years, the FTI said. Fees caused by failure to file a mid-year tax declaration, based on profits made by companies, should also be waived, the FTI said. FTI believes the measure can help commercial banks, which grant loans to businesses, better manage the risks of non-performing loans. "The FTI is planning to ask the Industry Ministry to co-organise the 'Made in Thailand Expo' to promote Thai products," Mr Supant said.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2020 23:37 UTC
Slaughtering the planet -- on a farm
Animal agriculture is eclipsing fossil fuels as a driver of climate change, a panel was told. Ask someone what the biggest cause of climate change is, and the answer is almost always the same: burning fossil fuels. The biggest driver of climate change and environmental destruction could well have been handed to us on a plate. "Meat and dairy production alone is responsible for as much greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change than the transport sector. This is a new aspirational lifestyle that's good for the planet, good for health."
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2020 23:29 UTC
Tourists face arrest, jail for overstaying
Tourists face arrest, jail for overstayingMore than 150,000 foreign nationals need to have their tourist visas renewed by Sept 26, according to the Immigration Bureau. More than 150,000 foreign nationals need to have their tourist visas renewed by Sept 26 or face a charge of overstaying, warned Pol Col Pakpong Sai-ubol, deputy spokesman of the Immigration Bureau. "Overstaying the tourist visa is punishable by both a jail term and fine under the Immigration Act," he said, adding offenders would also be deported to their countries of origin. But the grace period ends on Saturday which has also been set as a deadline for having their visas renewed. A source in the IB said authorities were concerned some stranded tourists might not turn up to request visa renewals.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2020 23:26 UTC
200kg of 'ice' seized from abandoned warehouse
Drugs found in Chon Buri have street value of about B150mCHON BURI: About 200 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine were found around in an abandoned warehouse in tambon Nong Pla Lai of Bang Lamung district on Saturday, Siamrath online reported. Officers on a routine crime prevention patrol reported that a number of black plastic bags were found at several spots in the undergrowth around the warehouse at Moo 4 village around 3.30pm, said Pol Col Patanachai Pamonpiboon, the Bang Lamung police chief. A team of forensic and local police officers later arrived at the warehouse and collected a number of black plastic bags from six different spots. The bags contained about 200kg of crystal meth in total with a street value of about 150 million baht. An investigation is under way to find the source of the drugs.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2020 03:22 UTC
Protesters install 'new plaque' at Sanam Luang | Bangkok Post: learning
Pro-democracy protesters on Sunday morning staged a ceremony to install a new plaque at Sanam Luang to declare the people’s power. The first and original plaque that marked the 1932 Revolution that overthrew the absolute monarchy was planted on the ground of the Royal Plaza. Lawyer Arnon Nampa, one of the protest leaders, had vowed late Saturday night that a plaque for a “new People’s Party” would be unveiled on Sunday morning. Before placing the new plaque, Mr Parit led the protesters to pray for the souls of all of those who sacrificed their lives for democracy. The demonstrators chose 6.39am as an “auspicious time” to install the new plaque on the ground of Sanam Luang.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2020 03:22 UTC
Activists end rally after submitting demands
(Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)Pro-democracy protest leaders ended their overnight rally early Sunday after presenting a list of their demands to the Metropolitan Police Bureau chief. Protest leaders wave to supporters as they are leaving #SanamLuang to end the rally that began on Saturday. The movement’s three core demands have been a new constitution, the resignation of the current government an end to harassment of critics of the government. After the demands were presented to the city police chief, Mr Parit announced the end of the rally, which had drawn tens of thousands of people to Sanam Luang since Saturday afternoon. However, he said protest leaders would gather again outside Parliament on Thursday, the second day of a two-day debate on motions to amend the constitution.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2020 03:09 UTC
Trump touts 'fantastic' TikTok deal with Walmart and Oracle
Trump touts 'fantastic' TikTok deal with Walmart and OracleUS President Donald Trump has targeted video-sharing app TikTok over what he says are national security concernsWASHINGTON - Popular video app TikTok announced Saturday it has proposed an agreement with Oracle as its US technology provider and Walmart as a commercial partner, a potential deal US President Donald Trump touted as "fantastic." "We are pleased that the proposal by TikTok, Oracle, and Walmart will resolve the security concerns of the US Administration and settle questions around TikTok's future in the US," a spokeswoman for TikTok, owned by China's ByteDance, told AFP. Trump has claimed for weeks that TikTok is collecting user data for Beijing, without ever providing evidence for his allegations. That timeframe potentially allows for the deal with Walmart and Oracle to get tied up, to safeguard data for the wildly popular app to allay Washington's security concerns. Trump critics have said that while TikTok's security risks were unclear, the sweeping ban raises concerns about the government's ability to regulate free expression.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2020 23:48 UTC
The everlasting appeal of Mrs Peel
The feisty Mrs Peel often appeared in a cat-suit which she later admitted she hated. Admittedly the only dialogue I can remember is early in each episode when Steed would get onto the phone and announce: "Mrs Peel … we're needed". Then I could settle down to an entertaining hour of brollies, bowler hats and Mrs Peel in all her glory. Introducing EmmaRigg went on to enjoy a hugely successful career especially in the theatre and even appeared in the Game of Thrones, but I will always remember her as Mrs Peel. Her Avengers name evolved after scriptwriters said they wanted a woman with "man appeal" which in their notes quickly became "M appeal" … and naturally, Emma Peel.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2020 21:11 UTC
Educate, not shame, litterbugs
Educate, not shame, litterbugsMore than 20 million tourists visited the nation's 154 national parks in 2019, generating some 2.2 billion baht in revenue, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). Last October, a young male deer died a gruesome death in a national park in Nan. Even today, eateries within national parks supply food to willing customers in the normal way; by over-using plastic packaging. Why not encourage or financially incentivise restaurants in national parks to offer such a service? What is clear is that the nation's tourism industry is still reeling from the effects of Covid-19, which means national parks are operating at less than full capacity.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2020 21:11 UTC
Excuse me, corporal, but there's a bone in my soup
Excuse me, corporal, but there's a bone in my soupThe army yesterday admitted serving conscripts meatless bone soup was a mistake after a photo of the "meal" circulated on social media. Army spokesman Col Winthai Suvaree yesterday confirmed the picture was real but did not say when or where the image was taken. Pork meat had run out before the entire batch of conscripts was served, Col Winthai said. He said army units deduct 50 baht per day from the allowance of each conscript to pay for three daily meals. "That works out to be about 16-17 baht per meal," Col Winthai said.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2020 21:11 UTC
Police gear up for protest
Protest leaders said they expected 50,000 demonstrators to take part. Police officers will be sent in groups of 300 to each of the locations where the protesters gather, Pol Maj Gen Jirasan said. The demonstrators are then expected to proceed to Government House on Sunday, and thus some sections of the roads may be closed temporarily, Pol Maj Gen Jirasan said. He said members of the public are advised to avoid roads and bridges around Thammasat University and Sanam Luang where the rally takes place. He also said police would not stop supporters from the provinces joining the protest, as the right to assembly is guaranteed under the constitution.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2020 03:45 UTC
Bangkok inches up Smart City rankings
Bangkok inches up Smart City rankingsBangkok climbed four spots to 71st out of 109 cities in the Smart City Index for 2020, supported by some elements in the technology pillar, especially with regard to work and school. The index ranks cities based on economic and technological data, as well as by citizens' perceptions of how "smart" their cities are. "For Bangkok, 71st is actually a respectable position," Arturo Bris, an IMD finance professor, told the Bangkok Post in an email interview. Smart cities are not the solution, but technology helps." "Smart cities closer to the top of the rankings seem to deal with unexpected challenges of the devastating pandemic with a better outcome," said Chan Heng Chee, chair of the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities at SUTD.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 18, 2020 21:33 UTC
Stop vicious land grab cycle
Stop vicious land grab cycleFour years ago, Phu Thap Boek -- a popular mountainous attraction in Phetchabun province -- became synonymous with the success of the military regime in reclaiming forest land, or the Tuang Kuen Phuen Pa campaign when the state took back forest land from illegal occupants. Phu Thap Boek was indeed a watershed moment, symbolising a bold policy with action taken against influential people. Phetchabun has struggled to address the wrongful use of forest reserve land for several years. The move by the provincial authorities is a disservice to the state forest reserve and the country. Phu Thap Boek comprises a watershed area that helps generate natural water and rivers.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 18, 2020 21:33 UTC
'Boss' to face fresh charges
'Boss' to face fresh chargesProsecutors have decided to indict Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya on two counts -- cocaine use and reckless driving causing death -- stemming from his fatal hit-and-run case in Bangkok in 2012. Although the charge of reckless driving causing death against Mr Vorayuth had earlier been dropped, Mr Ittiporn said fresh evidence and key new witnesses justified reviving it. The working group agreed unanimously to recommend indictment on two counts: reckless driving causing death and cocaine use, he said. The statute of limitations on the reckless driving causing death charge is 15 years and will expire on Sept 3, 2027. It was not until April 27, 2017, that prosecutors finally charged him with reckless driving causing death and failing to help a crash victim.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 18, 2020 21:33 UTC
FTI chairman says economy's worst is past
Mr Supant says the latest 3,000-baht handout may not be powerful enough. "The fourth quarter will not be as bad as the second quarter," he told the Bangkok Post. "At this point," Mr Supant said, "what I can't tell is whether the fourth quarter will be better than the third one." The FTI chairman agrees with the government's plan to grant special visas to foreign tourists who plan long-stay visits in Thailand. Mr Supant said the government needs to earn revenue from foreign tourists and the fourth quarter will be the right time.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 18, 2020 21:33 UTC