Cartier's 'father-son' Valentine draws derision in China
Cartier's 'father-son' Valentine draws derision in ChinaCartier's apparent caution has backfiredBEIJING - French luxury brand Cartier is facing online mockery in China over a Valentine-themed advert which appears to show a gay couple who are described in a caption as depicting "father-son" love. The top comment on Cartier's Weibo post was a user who said "I feel like this supports LGBT", to which hundreds of other users responded with messages of support and praise as well as pride-flag emojis. Online content in China, especially content depicting LGBT people, is subject to heavy and often arbitrarily applied censorship. In recent years, censors have muted discussions on social media, banned homosexuality in films and even prevented the sale of rainbow-themed items online. "Ahahahahaha," one Douban user wrote, "gay love has been turned into incest."
Source:Bangkok Post
August 13, 2020 07:30 UTC
Thursday: 3 new returnee Covid cases | Bangkok Post: learning
The government on Thursday reported three new Covid-19 cases among returnees from India and Singapore. (Photo by Arnun Chonmahatrakool)The government on Thursday reported three new cases of coronavirus disease, quarantined returnees from Singapore and India, raising the total to 3,359. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration reported that the returnee from Singapore was a construction worker aged 53. The two other new cases from India are masseuses aged 30. Of the total cases, 3,169 recovered (94%), while 132 patients are in hospitals.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 13, 2020 06:45 UTC
Following King Bhumibol, always
Monsicha Cha-um is the President of Saeng Tawan Agricultural Tourism Learning Centre in Bangkok's Nong Chok. (Photo by Karnjana Karnjanatawe)Monsicha Cha-um is the president of the Saeng Tawan Agricultural Tourism Learning Centre in Nong Chok district, a large farming area in the eastern part of Bangkok. She converted her 30 rai farm into a learning centre in 2006 to promote self-sufficient farming following the sufficiency economy philosophy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. When we dug the soil out to make a 19.5 rai pond for 130,000 fish, the soil became hard and compact. Saeng Tawan Agricultural Tourism Learning Centre is located on Phadung Phan Road about 3.5km east of Nong Chok market.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 13, 2020 05:03 UTC
Otop fair has all you could want
From now until Sunday, the "Otop Silpacheep 2020 Fair" is taking place at Challenger Halls of Impact Muang Thong Thani. Various kinds of rice, fresh fruits, snacks and other yummy goodies from different regions will also be available. At the fair, you'll find out about several villages where you can go visit and learn more about people's local traditions and ways of life. Also happening simultaneously at Impact Muang Thong Thani but in Impact Hall 6 is the smaller "Kad Klang Krung Fair" where you'll find a plethora of health and wellness goods and services as well as more food from Chiang Mai and other northern provinces. The Otop Silpacheep 2020 Fair is welcoming visitors from 10am-9pm, while the Kad Klang Krung Fair is open from 10am-8pm.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 13, 2020 05:03 UTC
Sexual abuse, assault: Grim prospects for China's blind women
But for many blind women the reality is full of risks. It has been 14 years since she lost sight due to a genetic condition, and this is not the future she envisioned. - Constant harassment -Li was the first lawyer to bring a case under China's new sexual harassment legislation -- which she won. Until 2018 there was no legal definition of sexual harassment and no regulations on how to handle such cases in schools and workplaces. For Miaomiao, who also gave only her nickname, the sexual harassment began when she was a teenage intern at a massage parlour.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 13, 2020 04:07 UTC
No end in sight for flights ban | Bangkok Post: learning
(Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The ban on international commercial flights will remain in force while the Covid-19 pandemic situation remains critical in many countries, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said on Wednesday. It is an indefinite ban, said CAAT director Chula Sukmanop and the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) would monitor the global situation before deciding when the flights could resume. These people, along with Thai nationals looking to return to the country on repatriation flights, had booked to come to Thailand, said Mr Chula. The maximum number of incoming passengers is limited to 500 per day in line with Covid-19 precautionary measures. No ordinary tourists are allowed entry at the moment, while no travel bubble programmes with other countries are agreed yet, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 13, 2020 02:48 UTC
Ariya, Moriya back in action
Ariya Jutanugarn will lead the Thai challenge at this week's Ladies Scottish Open. (AFP photo)Sisters Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn returns to action on Thursday when the Ladies European Tour resumes at the Ladies Scottish Open. Moriya and Ariya have not competed for months due to travel restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Jasmine, meanwhile, has played a couple of tournaments in the US since the LPGA Tour resumed last month. In her last seven starts on the LPGA Tour, Kang has recorded three wins, one second-place finish and two third-place finishes.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 13, 2020 00:56 UTC
Probe into sub-panel 'graft' on cards
Probe into sub-panel 'graft' on cardsThe House committee on laws, justice and human rights will decide whether to launch a probe into alleged extortion by MPs sitting on a sub-panel scrutinising the 2021 expenditure budget, the committee chairman Sira Jenjaka says. The allegation was made by Sakda Wichiensilp, director-general of the Groundwater Resources Department while he was reportedly defending his agency's budget allocation to the sub-panel. Mr Sira said yesterday the scandal has severely tarnished the reputation of the sub-panel as a whole. "If the House committee on laws agrees to initiate a probe, it would set in motion the first step towards finding the truth," he said. Several House sub-panels have been established to examine the bill on the 3.3-trillion-baht budget slated for the next fiscal year starting in October.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 13, 2020 00:56 UTC
Greek PM calls for 'sense' from Turkey in East Med row
Greek PM calls for 'sense' from Turkey in East Med rowTurkey's energy exploration vessel is being escorted by warshipsATHENS - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday urged Turkey to show "sense" in a naval showdown in the Eastern Mediterranean over energy exploration which he warned could lead to a military accident. Tensions were stoked Monday when Ankara dispatched the research ship Oruc Reis accompanied by Turkish naval vessels off the Greek island of Kastellorizo in the eastern Mediterranean. Earlier Wednesday, EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said foreign ministers will hold an extraordinary meeting Friday to discuss the eastern Mediterranean, Lebanon and Belarus. - 'No compromise' from Turkey -A similar crisis last month was averted after Turkey pulled the Oruc Reis back to hold talks with Greece and rotating EU chair Germany. Turkey has announced the Oruc Reis would carry out activities between August 10 and 23, in an area it considers its own continental shelf.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 13, 2020 00:00 UTC
ASP: Outbreak boosts P
In the midst of the viral outbreak, some companies have turned the crisis to their advantage by adjusting business strategy to sustain net profit growth, paving a path for potential investment opportunities, says Asia Plus Securities (ASP). "Businesses that will benefit directly from the viral outbreak are involved with digital technology," Mr Paradorn said. The first phase is the ongoing period, in which the outbreak is uncontrolled in many countries, causing higher demand for rubber gloves for medical personnel and public use. "We forecast Sri Trang Agro-Industry to generate a net profit of 3.6 billion baht this year", swinging from a net loss of 148.5 million baht in 2019, he said. "The net profit will come from subsidiary Sri Trang Gloves Thailand, making up around 80%."
Source:Bangkok Post
August 12, 2020 22:07 UTC
Hun Sen's big gamble
According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Rong Chhun was apprehended without a court warrant. One day after his arrest, Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged the unionist with "incitement to commit a felony" under articles 494 and 495 of Cambodia's penal code. In February, the EU announced plans to suspend access for about 20% of Cambodian goods, citing democratic and human rights setbacks in recent years. On Aug 5, Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) called on Cambodian authorities to end all attacks on those that peacefully voiced their concerns. Or maybe Mr Hun Sen and the CPP simply can't be bothered to uphold Western standards of human rights.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 12, 2020 21:45 UTC
Minister places his 'order' for taxi app
Minister places his 'order' for taxi appTransport Minister Saksayam Chidchob has given the Land Transport Department an ultimatum to launch a taxi hailing mobile application and a traffic point deduction system before the year's end. Personal car owners will be allowed to legally take passengers and charge them for the service when the department launches the anticipated taxi-hailing app, he said. Department director-general Chirute Visalachitra said the amendment of the 1979 Act on cars is required before the department can launch the app and this process will take time. The department is still studying how to regulate the licensing of personal motor vehicle owners who want to offer a taxi service on the app, he said. While waiting for implementation of the app, the department has launched a central taxi-hailing app called "Taxi OK", in use by some 9,000 licensed taxi drivers.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 12, 2020 21:22 UTC
Driver says sorry after road chase | Bangkok Post: learning
Police heard of the incident at 11pm when Ms Vitchuda allegedly rammed her car into others near the Khae Rai intersection in Nonthaburi. Police tried to stop the car, which headed into Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Phahon Yothin Road, Kamphaeng Phet Road and Rama VI Road, but were unable to until it hit another car in Tao Poon. The incident left Ms Vitchuda and several others injured, with four cars and two motorcycles damaged. As she was taken to the Police Hospital for tests, Ms Vitchuda blamed her rampage on learning that her bank accounts had been frozen. She apologised to the victims and said she had refused to stop as she was afraid of being harmed.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 12, 2020 21:22 UTC
Wednesday: 5 new coronavirus cases | Bangkok Post: learning
Three new cases were Thai students, aged 23, 24 and 29 years, who returned from Egypt on July 30 and stayed at a state quarantine facility in Chon Buri. Another Thai student, 18, who arrived from India on July 30, was also found infected with the virus by the second test on Monday, during quarantine in Bangkok. He was quarantined at a place in Bangkok and showed no symptoms, but his second test on Monday was positive. The total number of cases was now 3,356, with 129 patients being treated at hospitals, the CCSA said. Returnees from Egypt have the second highest number of infections, with 53 cases, after Indonesia, with 75, the CCSA reported.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 12, 2020 06:22 UTC
PTT launches 'vital' concept
Patipat JanthongPTT Plc hopes it has a better response to the Covid-19 impact later this year with a "vital concept", though it did move from red to black on its balance sheet in the second quarter. Its revenue in the second quarter fell 40% to 341 billion baht, from 570 billion in the same period of 2019. Looking at the performance in the first half this year, PTT saw its profit plummet by 81% to 10.5 billion baht, from 55.2 billion year-on-year. Revenue dipped 26% to 825 billion baht from 1.1 trillion baht in the same period last year. The company recently issued a 50-year debenture worth US$700 million in Asia and emerging markets, as well as green bonds worth 35 billion baht to maintain cash during the economic recession.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 12, 2020 00:11 UTC