Prayut 'not OK' with past handling of 'Boss' case
Prayut 'not OK' with past handling of 'Boss' casePrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha addresses the Bangkok Post Forum 2020 in Bangkok on Thursday. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday that he was "not ok" with the handling of the hit-and-run case of Red Bull heir Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya as many aspects were unclear. "I would like to express my standpoint in the Boss Red Bull case, that I am not OK with many aspects that remain unclear. The committee was independent and comprised people society recognised for their knowledge and impartiality, Gen Prayut said. The third and most serious charge, reckless driving causing death, would have remained on the books until 2027.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2020 08:14 UTC
Doi Inthanon National Park reopens
(Photo © The Green Road Project)Doi Inthanon National Park in Chiang Mai has now reopened to the public, but only 1,200 at a time. He introduced the Green Road project years ago to reduce single-use plastic bags. Last week, dozens of volunteers joined the Green Road project to help make the recycled bricks at the temple ground. The volunteers laid out 1,000 recycled paving blocks, which can eliminate about 2,000kg of single-use plastic bags. According to the temple's deputy abbot, the recycled paving bricks are a good project that can help reduce waste in the community.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2020 05:26 UTC
Thursday: 2 returnees from US infected | Bangkok Post: learning
The government on Thursday reported two more Covid-19 infected returnees from the United States. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)The government on Thursday reported two new cases of Covid, returnees from the United States, as the total rose to 3,330. Globally, Covid-19 cases rose by 272,252 over the previous 24 hours to 18.97 million and the death toll increase by 6,824 to 711,189. Brazil ranked second with 2.86 million cases, up by 54,685, and 97,418 deaths, including 1,322 deaths in 24 hours. India was third with 1.96 million cases, and the biggest daily increment at 56,626, and 40,739 deaths, up by 919.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2020 05:15 UTC
Seasons change | Bangkok Post: learning
Photo courtesy of M PicturesA teacher and student get closeIn Wet Season, a new film from Singapore, Ling teaches Mandarin to high school students. Unfortunately, Ling finds out that she can’t have a baby. In the meantime, she gets close to a young student in her class, Kok Wei Lun. She teaches him substitute classes and finds that Wei Lun’s parents usually leave him alone at home while they are travelling abroad for business trips. The relationship between Ling and Wei Lun develops, but how far can they go?
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2020 04:07 UTC
Applications for NBTC board to start this month
Applications for NBTC board to start this monthThe application period for new board members of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is expected to begin this month. Six NBTC board members who are working under a special extension of their term granted by the previous government are to be replaced. In June, the cabinet gave the green light for the recruitment of new NBTC board members to address the decision-making vacuum for critical issues. But the previous government overrode that requirement via Section 44 powers, and the members can work until new board members have been appointed. No obligation is required for the seven board members to represent seven fields as stipulated in the existing act.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2020 00:00 UTC
Govt bows to charter calls
Govt bows to charter callsPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's U-turn on constitutional amendment, revealing that the government has prepared its own version of a charter rewrite, is a crucial development for Thai politics, which has seen growing pressure for changes to the military-sponsored supreme law. It has been unanimously agreed that a charter rewrite is unavoidable given the looming political crisis. There are reports that it will propose an amendment to Section 256 and so pave the way for the formation of a charter rewrite committee. If Gen Prayut is serious about charter amendment, he could kickstart the process immediately after the Pirapan panel submits its recommendations. The latter condition is seen as a major hurdle to fixing the charter, given the unfavourable stance of some key senators.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 23:26 UTC
Gender recognition bill set to be tabled
Gender recognition bill set to be tabledTunyawaj: 'No end to discrimination'The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security will table its gender recognition bill for consideration by parliament in October amid concerns it will leave behind those who do not fall into designated categories, especially non-binary and intersex people. The gender recognition bill will establish the rights of transgender people who have been denied access to services, job opportunities, and welfare benefits on the grounds of their gender identities not matching sexes designated on their birth certificates. Chompoonute Nakornthap, the chair of the working group on the gender recognition draft bill for the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, said her team "hit the ground running" early this year after a push for legislation came under political pressure. She said the bill abides by human rights concerning gender identity and expression, thereby not forcing transgender people to undergo gender reassignment surgery to seek their title change. "We will submit the bill to parliament before the end of the parliamentary session in October," she said.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 23:15 UTC
Thais offer help to blast-hit Beirut
Thais offer help to blast-hit BeirutThe scene of an explosion near the port in the Lebanese capital Beirut. Two huge blasts rocked the Lebanese capital, shaking buildings and sending huge plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. Foreign Ministry spokesman Cherdkiat Atthakor said there were about 200 Thais working in Lebanon though there had been no reports of any Thais killed or injured. The Foreign Ministry and the Royal Thai Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, are monitoring the situation. Thai Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich said Thailand has proper measures in place to ensure the safety of such chemicals.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 23:15 UTC
Vorayuth warrant still in place | Bangkok Post: learning
Police escort Vorayuth Yoovidhya in Bangkok after his hit-and-run on Sept 3, 2012. (Photo: Kosol Nakachol)The arrest warrant for Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya has yet to be revoked as previously requested by the police, Vicha Mahakun, who heads the independent panel examining the 2012 hit-and-run case confirmed on Wednesday. He was speaking after a second meeting of the panel, as ordered by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha amid outrage over public prosecutors' decision to not indict Mr Vorayuth. The court had therefore asked the police to withdraw their request, which they eventually did, said Mr Vicha. Mr Vicha said his panel is due to question the OAG's team which is examining the decision by prosecutors to not indict Mr Vorayuth.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 23:15 UTC
'Safe and Sealed' tourism plan proposed | Bangkok Post: learning
A new plan aims to draw at least 500,000 tourists to Thailand. Photo by Sarot MeksophawannakulTourism operators are proposing a new tourism plan, called Safe and Sealed, to replace travel bubbles and keep Thailand from realising the worst-case revenue scenario of 675 billion baht next year, down from 3.01 trillion baht in 2019. The new plan is expected to draw at least 500,000 tourists to Thailand and generate 50 billion baht in revenue. The cost of the package would be 100,000 baht per person, higher than the average price of 50,000 baht before the pandemic. Tourism businesses want the government to help start the fund with a 100-billion-baht budget.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 12:45 UTC
Time to take notes
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. The Korean company had a few Galaxy Note 20 Ultra and regular Note 20 phones ready for the Bangkok Post to try earlier yesterday. The Note 20 Ultra is Samsung's top-end phone of 2020. Both phones come with a built-in wireless screen casting, called wireless DEX, for easy screen sharing and PowerPoint presentations. These Notes will be deeply integrated with Microsoft Windows by giving real-time file & data synchronization, later in the year.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 09:51 UTC
Wednesday: 7 new Covid cases | Bangkok Post: learning
(Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The government on Wednesday reported seven new cases of coronavirus disease, six quarantined returnees from the Middle East and one from the US, raising total to 3,328. Five other new cases were returnees from Egypt. One of them is a female Thai student aged 21 and the rest are male Thai students aged 22, 23, 26 and 30. She tested positive on Monday, while showing no symptoms, and was admitted at a hospital in Bangkok. Of 3,328 total cases, 3,144 had recovered and 126 others were at hospitals.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 06:11 UTC
Nok Air loses millions on no-show MPs | Bangkok Post: learning
Mr Somboon said the issue was raised by executives of the airline during a conversation with Mr Chuan recently. Nok Air has filed for rehabilitation protection with the Central Bankruptcy Court. According to Mr Somboon, Mr Chuan deemed the issue a personal matter to be settled by the individual MPs. It is the responsibility of the MPs to account for their own actions, Mr Somboon said quoting Mr Chuan. At the end of last month, Nok Air was reported to have 26.79 billion baht worth of debt as of March 31.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 04:32 UTC
Your horoscope for 7-13 August
Your spot-on horoscope for work, money, couples & singles from the Bangkok Post's famously accurate fortune teller. They think you're out of their league. You think you're careful but mistakes happen. (⚤) You are talking to two eligible singles but you don't think they're right for you. You can work hard but don't forget to find time to relax and be silly with your partner.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 04:07 UTC
Ministry wants end to dual pricing | Bangkok Post: learning
Foreigners are charged 200 baht to enter Sa Morakot (Emerald Pool), a popular attraction in Krabi, while Thais pay just 20 baht. Meanwhile, the ministry, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and tourism operators are scheduled to hold a meeting today with private tour companies about creating packages for expats, both as a group and for independent tourists. Expats here deserve to be treated like locals but they regularly face price discrimination, said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn. Mr Yuthasak said one idea is to provide an identification card for expats to use while travelling. The agency is also planning to introduce a weekday tourism campaign to help increase the number of tourists on work days.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 05, 2020 02:15 UTC