Death of 'Black Panther' star spotlights early-onset colon cancer
Death of 'Black Panther' star spotlights early-onset colon cancerLate US actor Chadwick Boseman, star of "Black Panther," poses during the 2019 American Music AwardsWASHINGTON - Actor Chadwick Boseman's death from colon cancer at the age of 43 has highlighted the growing rate of this disease among younger adults, who are often diagnosed at later stages. A former high school athlete, he was otherwise healthy with no family history of colon cancer. It wasn't until she approached a specialist that colon cancer was identified. She needed 23 grueling radiation sessions at MD Anderson Cancer Center to shrink the Stage 3 tumor down to size, before it could be removed. "If somebody is having symptoms concerning colon cancer, they need to seek medical attention," she added.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 30, 2020 00:11 UTC
Govt must act to shield protesters
Consequently, condemnation has become ever louder over the slowness of the state to introduce a law criminalising torture and enforced disappearances after more than a decade of delay. This is not something that has gone unnoticed among the younger generation -- which is often the pool from which such daringly critical figures emerge. It was he, after all, who promised to sweep clean the dirty floor of Thai politics as part of the justification for the military coup of 2014. The prime minister could make a meaningful start by securing support in the coalition to pass the Prevention and Suppression of the Torture and Enforced Disappearances Bill, sponsored by 12 civil society groups and examined by a subcommittee on justice administration reform. The law must also maintain the fundamental principle that cases of enforced disappearances should have no statute of limitations.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 29, 2020 23:15 UTC
Naval skirmishes among the soapsuds
Naval skirmishes among the soapsudsThe current debate concerning the purchase of submarines has sparked memories of some important naval battles I experienced as a kid. I went on to witness some serious naval skirmishes in the tub, including the Battle of Smelly Feet and the Battle of the Soapy Sponge. It would be nice to think that modern-day submarine commanders began their naval careers with similarly intense bathroom battles featuring plastic subs propelled by baking powder. Early proposals for a Polaris tartan were rejected by patriotic Scots as "nonsense", but in 1964 attitudes had changed and the Polaris military tartan got the go-ahead. Mellow yellowWe must not overlook Yellow Submarine.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 29, 2020 23:15 UTC
Missionaries extend helping hand amid downturn in slums of Klong Toey
Catholic mission helps poor in slums of Klong Toey, and even ensures kids get to schoolDaily struggle: Weekly visits cheer up Patcharin Waratchananprom. She said she is able to feel happy and grateful because she has received help from the Xaverian mission in the Klong Toey slum community. In Bangkok, they opened an office in Klong Toey community so they could get closer to locals. One school receiving help is Samakee Songkraw School, a Catholic school in the district. She said she is fond of learning English and thankful to the Xaverian Missionaries for helping her.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 29, 2020 22:52 UTC
Little backing for govt's plan to reopen
In October the island is expected to open up to welcome foreign tourists under the government's 'Phuket Model'. The "Phuket Model" has been proposed to reopen the province in a "new normal" manner. The Phuket Model will be adopted in six regions across the country if it is given the green light by the government. He voiced his disagreement with the government's Phuket Model, saying Phuket must protect and serve local people first. The Bangkok Post also asked local people about the Phuket Model and found most did not believe the model would benefit them.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 29, 2020 22:41 UTC
Long-stay visits possible this winter | Bangkok Post: learning
A chef stands on an empty beach as he waits for customers on Koh Chang in Trat on July 31. (Reuters photo)Authorities are finalising a plan that would make it possible for retired, sun-seeking foreigners to spend the coming winter months in Thailand in an effort to save the ailing tourism industry, says a prominent hospital executive. These long-term visitors would begin their stay with a mandatory 14-day quarantine and frequent virus tests in of Phuket. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn reiterated on Saturday that he supported the idea of a long-stay tourist visa for selected groups. The opening-up would offer a lifeline to the devastated tourism and hospitality industry, which is struggling to survive after five months without foreign visitors.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 29, 2020 10:41 UTC
K-Research sees U-shaped recovery
Thailand's economy is likely to see a gradual U-shaped recovery driven by government spending, with the ratio of public debt to GDP possibly edging towards the 60% ceiling rate, says Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research). The fiscal budget, which represents about 4.5% of GDP, will help support Thailand's recovery after the pandemic derailed economic momentum, said Nattaporn Triratanasirikul, assistant managing director of K-Research. "The U-shaped economic recovery is expected to begin in the first quarter next year and will take around two years for the economy to return to the pre-pandemic state," she said. A positive factor that would support economic recovery is vaccine development, which remains in progress, Ms Nattaporn said. Ms Thanyalak said commercial loan growth at banks is expected to increase to 9.5-12% this year from a 1.8% contraction last year.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 28, 2020 23:37 UTC
Digital veteran on a transforming mission
Mr Ariya, a veteran of Google, Line and BEC, has set up his own firm, Transformational. "Within 18 months, businesses that can succeed in digital transformation would have a huge advantage over others in the post-Covid-19 period," Mr Ariya told the Bangkok Post. According to Mr Ariya, his company has expertise in business strategies, digital commerce and marketing, tech architecture, data analytics and machine learning. "If you are not equipped with digital, e-commerce and tech skills, you are putting yourself at risk," Mr Ariya said. ScoutOut is one of eight partners in the Saphan Digital project created by Google Thailand, the Commerce Ministry and the Business Development Department.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 28, 2020 23:37 UTC
Vaccination tours on the table
Vaccination tours on the tableOutbound tour operators want to revive the market by targeting customers who would like to get vaccinated for Covid-19 and travel at the same time. Tour operators have suggested arranging tours for those who want to get Covid-19 vaccinations abroad, though they are awaiting a clear set of rules and regulations before selling packages. After discussions with overseas partners, "vaccination tours" are possible but require official approval from both Thailand and destination countries. Some tour groups from other countries have started to travel there to get vaccinations, but without official permission. Chotechuang Soorangura, associate managing director of NS Travel and Tours, said vaccination tourism is an interesting idea, but the vaccines must first be approved by the World Health Organization and destination countries must allow foreigners to get vaccinated.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 28, 2020 23:15 UTC
Cracks forming among opposition allies
Cracks forming among opposition alliesA student activist flashes the three-finger anti-dictatorship salute during a rally. Move Forward, the reincarnation of the now-dissolved Future Forward Party (FFP), accuses its former ally of colluding with some top government figures. Pheu Thai, meanwhile, has counter attacked, lashing out against Move Forward's strategy of trying to make the party "superior" to others. If that is the case, Pheu Thai would have an advantage over its rivals since it has previously won under such a system. In the 2019 election, Pheu Thai swept 136 seats, while FFP won 80.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 28, 2020 23:15 UTC
Police station 'rioters' face prosecution
Police station 'rioters' face prosecutionBlue paint is seen splattered on a police officer. (Photos by Apichart Jinakul)Police plan to charge pro-democracy activists who caused chaotic scenes in support of their colleagues on Friday. The supporters forced their way into the station compound, gathering at the bottom of the front entrance stairs as the activists entered the building to acknowledge the charges. Anti-governmentprotesters scuffle with police as they try to break barriers and storm inside Samran Rat police station in Bangkok where 15 political activists arrived yesterday to acknowledge charges against them in connection with a rally on July 18. Regarding the chaos in front of Samran Rat police station, he said the protesters had always tried to be polite and apologised for the incident.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 28, 2020 23:15 UTC
Flood fixes need rethink
Flood fixes need rethinkWhen the country is faced with major floods, policymakers typically resort to the same old solutions: dams and flood dykes. The authorities didn't question those concrete structures, since they were seemingly designed to prevent floods and facilitate water flow. They are not aware that water management requires a combination of expertise in engineering infrastructure, using a well-designed flood warning system with the help of nature. The best example is the Netherlands, which re-examined its water management after two devastating floods in 1993 and 1995. The Sukhothai floods confirm that concrete structures might have become a problem in themselves.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 28, 2020 23:15 UTC
Hotel and casino group MGM Resorts lays off 18,000
Hotel and casino group MGM Resorts lays off 18,000MGM Resorts closed all of its US-based properties as the coronavirus pandemic arrived in March, and has slowly been reopening them. NEW YORK: Hotel and casino giant MGM Resorts on Friday said 18,000 furloughed employees in the United States would be permanently laid off as the hospitality industry struggles amid the coronavirus pandemic. "Regrettably, August 31, marks the date of separation for thousands of MGM Resorts employees whom we have not yet been able to bring back." Hornbuckle said MGM would offer health benefits through the end of September and laid-off workers could re-apply for their jobs when they become available. The United States is home to the world's worst coronavirus pandemic with more than 180,000 dead and 5.8 million infected.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 28, 2020 17:03 UTC
Submarines: is the navy out of its depth?
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Source:Bangkok Post
August 28, 2020 15:28 UTC
Honda e to go on sale in Japan next month
Honda e to go on sale in Japan next monthSenior chief engineer Tomofumi Ichinose poses for a photo next to a Honda e electric car. Honda expects to sell 1,000 units a year of the new model in Japan. Honda is aiming for EVs, fuel-cell vehicles, plug-in hybrids and other hybrids to account for two-thirds of its cars sold globally by 2030. Toyota Motor Corp plans to introduce a small electric two-seater car mainly targeted at elderly drivers later in the year in Japan. Toyota, which sold over 9.7 million vehicles in 2019, aims to boost its global sales of EVs including hybrid cars to 5.5 million units by 2025.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 28, 2020 13:47 UTC