TBMA: Policy rate static throughout 2020
The government's plan to introduce more economic stimulus measures make it unlikely the policy interest rate will be reduced, says the TBMA. Seksun RojanamethakulThe Bank of Thailand's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is not expected to ease the policy rate for the remainder of this year as more government stimulus measures reduce the likelihood of further rate cuts, says the Thai Bond Market Association (TBMA). The Policy Interest Rate Expectation Index for September was at 50, unchanged from the previous month's measure. The government's plan to introduce more economic stimulus measures make it unnecessary to lower the policy interest rate, said TBMA senior executive vice-president Ariya Tiranaprakij. The MPC cut the policy rate by 0.25 percentage points to 0.5% in May, the fifth rate cut since last August, as the sputtering economy was hammered by the pandemic.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 14, 2020 22:52 UTC
Micro-school 'shows need for reforms' | Bangkok Post: learning
A group of parents dissatisfied with the quality of public education in Surat Thani have set up a micro-school. An expert said the school reflects the urgent need to reform the education system. Niwat Hoteakim, adviser to the Youth Creative Group behind the school, said Little Unicorn House has 19 students. Parents do not worry about accreditation at the Little Unicorn House, as they are assured that teaching instructions are given out only by those devoted to their children's education. Little Unicorn House, he said, does not consider national education standards relevant to the needs of children, so it seeks to develop a curriculum that inspires passion and learning by focusing on real-world knowledge.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 14, 2020 22:52 UTC
Province asks govt to return forestry land to the public
Province asks govt to return forestry land to the publicProvincial authorities want the government to change the status of forest reserves to state land to address long-overdue problems of illegal encroachment, a source has told the Bangkok Post. One of the biggest controversies concerns is Phu Thap Boek, where land plots were originally reserved for the resettlement of the Hmong hilltribe people. By turning the encroached forest land into "Ratchaphatsadu land", or state land under the supervision of the Finance Ministry's Treasury Department, the land still belongs to the state and can be used for commercial development. "Please do not portray this as us selling forest land to the commercial sector," said provincial governor Suebsak. "We are just trying to solve the problem by keeping public land in state ownership, yet also benefiting the economy."
Source:Bangkok Post
September 14, 2020 22:52 UTC
Govt sets 'Boss' case deadline
Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya is with Bangkok police after his hit-and-run crash on Sept 3, 2012. The government has set a seven-day deadline for state agencies whose officials are alleged to have been involved in the mishandling of the 2012 hit-and-run case involving Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya to provide updates on their investigations. These findings were presented to the prime minister and sent to other agencies on Aug 31. The Institute for Justice Reform on Monday issued its second statement on the case, in which it urged the prime minister to heed its four recommendations to restore public trust in the judicial system. One of the officers was Pol Col Thanasit, from the Office of Police Forensic Science, who examined the scene of the accident in 2012.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 14, 2020 22:41 UTC
Micro-school 'shows need for reforms'
A group of parents dissatisfied with the quality of public education in Surat Thani have set up a micro-school, which an expert said reflects the urgent need to reform the education system. Niwat Hoteakim, adviser to the Youth Creative Group behind the school, said Little Unicorn House has 19 students. Mr Niwat said the school's students learn by engaging in projects and activities based on their interests. Mr Sompong said the emergence of micro-schools in Thailand reflects the urgent need to reform the education system, to allow students to better catch up with the fast-changing world. "Perhaps, this can lead to changes within our school system."
Source:Bangkok Post
September 14, 2020 22:41 UTC
Monday: 2 Thai returnees have Covid | Bangkok Post: learning
Health officials check the temperature of a Khon Kaen United player in Khon Kaen on Saturday. The team played a warm-up match with Buriram United shortly before one of the former champions was found to be infected with Covid-19. (Photo by Chakkrapan Natanri)The government reported two new Covid-19 cases on Monday, both Thai nationals who were in quarantine after recently returning from overseas. The first case was a man, 23, who returned to Thailand from the United States on Sept 5. The department has conducted tests on 441 persons, and all results so far -- 155 – have been negative.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 14, 2020 05:03 UTC
Hong Kong ‘won’t interfere’ after China arrests 12 fleeing for Taiwan at sea
Hong Kong ‘won’t interfere’ after China arrests 12 fleeing for Taiwan at seaFamily members of twelve Hong Kong activists, detained as they reportedly sailed to Taiwan to ask for political asylum, hold a news conference to seek help in Hong Kong on Saturday. HONG KONG: Hong Kong's government stood fast in its refusal to interfere with the arrest of 12 residents seeking to flee to Taiwan by sea, despite pleas from families for assistance, saying the crime falls under mainland Chinese jurisdiction. "The relevant crime falls within the jurisdiction of the mainland and the special administrative region government respects and will not interfere with law enforcement actions," Hong Kong's government said. The group was suspected of committing "various criminal offences" in Hong Kong, it added, as it urged the families to make use of a free legal consultation service being provided. US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus had tweeted the arrests were "another example of the deterioration of human rights in Hong Kong", and called on mainland authorities to "ensure due process".
Source:Bangkok Post
September 14, 2020 03:33 UTC
As fires rage, Trump has head 'in the sand': LA mayor
As fires rage, Trump has head 'in the sand': LA mayorA sign in front of a tent along the highway near Salem, Oregon on September 13, 2020 reads "Lost Everything Due To House Fire". "This is climate change, and this is an administration that's put its head in the sand," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, speaking on CNN's "State of the Union." "Talk to a firefighter if you think that climate change isn't real... - 'Wake-up call' -Near the Beachie Creek Fire, east of Oregon state capital Salem, police had set up multiple road blockades on Sunday. "This is a wake-up call for all of us, that we have got to do everything in our power to tackle climate change," Brown said.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 14, 2020 02:48 UTC
Uninvited guest | Bangkok Post: learning
A sign at Patong beach, Phuket, notifying visitors of temporary closure during the Covid-19 outbreak earlier this year. The US has lost $30 billion in tourism revenue, followed by Spain at $9.7 billion and France at $8.7 billion. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the tourism plan for foreign arrivals should be finished by September and will be used in every province in the country, not only Phuket. Phuket hoteliers have lagged behind those in Bangkok and Hua Hin, with only 22.5% average occupancy from January to August. Government officials claim the system has proven successful in Bangkok.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 14, 2020 02:15 UTC
Pomelo banking on omnichannel tack
Pomelo banking on omnichannel tackThailand-based fashion tech startup Pomelo is gearing up to open shops in Indonesia and Malaysia and add stores in Thailand and Singapore to reach new customers in line with its omnichannel strategy. In Thailand, Pomelo opened two shops at Terminal 21 Asok mall and the Mall Ngamwongwan in August. When the shop in Indonesia opens in November, there will be more than 110 try-on spots, including nearly 20 stores covering Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. "In terms of supporting Tap, Try, Buy, we operate a smart logistics network connecting our try-on points and our distribution and fulfilment centres in Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur." "Over the past few months, we've seen our growth online nearly triple with Tap, Try, Buy volume reaching new highs just last month."
Source:Bangkok Post
September 13, 2020 23:37 UTC
Panel: Budget delay won't hurt spending
Panel: Budget delay won't hurt spendingThe delay in disbursing next year's budget won't affect the government's investment projects, salaries of state employees and welfare benefits, the spokesman for a House committee vetting the budget for the 2021 fiscal year said on Sunday. Committee spokesman Akkaradej Wongpitakroj said the 3.3-trillion-baht budget -- which was supposed to be disbursed on Oct 1 -- is likely to clear about a week late. However, the Democrat MP said the delay won't affect the government's ability to sustain its investments, before allaying concerns about possible delays in pension payouts, as well as state officials' salaries. When asked about the reason for the delay, Mr Akkaradej said the Budget Bureau took too much time to submit the budget bill to the House of Representatives, which consequently delayed other parliamentary procedures needed to pass the budget. According to the source, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has approved a set of criteria proposed by the Budget Bureau's director, which outlines the use of the remainder of last year's budget.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 13, 2020 23:26 UTC
Protesters must show more maturity
Protesters must show more maturityStudent activist Parit Chiwarak, centre, speaks at a press conference ahead of next Saturday's rally planned for Thammasat University's Tha Prachan campus. Thammasat University's Tha Prachan campus is symbolic as far as the struggle for democracy is concerned. And Sept 19 marks the 14th anniversary of the putsch that toppled the government of then Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ending just over a decade of military-free politics. The monarchy reform issue will be raised during this Saturday's protest a defiant Mr Parit has declared. In other words, the protesters themselves don't have the means to sustain the protest.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 13, 2020 23:15 UTC
Dialogue over dissent, spokesman urges
However, Mr Anucha said he decided to accept the role of spokesman after being given reassurances that the government wanted to bring all opposing groups together to talk. "I thought by taking the position of government spokesman I could play a role in helping to prevent confrontation,'' he said. Against the backdrop of the ongoing anti-government protests, Mr Anucha said he still believed that retaliation is not an answer. If we can be mindful and control our emotions like good Buddhists, we will also be more forgiving on social media,'' Mr Anucha said. Mr Anucha added it was a government spokesman's responsibility to clarify the government's work to the public.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 13, 2020 23:15 UTC
Clock ticking for Phuket to reinvent itself
Clock ticking for Phuket to reinvent itselfPhuket, Thailand's top tourist destination, has experienced the worst hardship in the country as a result of travel restrictions with international airports shut down for almost six months. With no foreign tourists, most business operators are close to bankruptcy, with tens of thousands of workers losing their jobs. The dim situation has forced Phuket business operators to push for the island's reopening before the end of this year. Local business operators and authorities have focused on amassing income. We need to change our approach," said a one participant at a local business meeting at Patong early this month.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 13, 2020 23:15 UTC
South link needs clarity
South link needs clarityAs plans for a southern land bridge make the headlines once again, doubts are growing on whether the multi-billion-baht project will ever materialise, despite its economic benefits. Last week, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered a new feasibility study for a land bridge in the South, which would connect the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Ultimately, it was decided that a land bridge would be a good choice. However, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said recently that building a canal across the South isn't appropriate given the current economic situation. The land bridge's economic returns are not the issue here, but the lack of transparency, public participation and rampant graft is.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 13, 2020 23:15 UTC