Antitrust laws need a rethink
Antitrust laws need a rethinkBig Tech roared back into the headlines last week after US President Donald Trump declared that Washington would ban the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok. If Big Tech's power is to be kept in check, antitrust laws must be reformed to define how markets function in the digital age. Essentially, Big Tech firms have established data monopolies at the expense of users. The EU has on occasions clamped down on Big Tech's reach -- namely Google -- citing antitrust regulations. As technology becomes more embedded in our lives, it's important to have a conversation about Big Tech's power, no matter how messy or uncomfortable it may be.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 23:15 UTC
Govt must brace for long winter of discontent
Govt must brace for long winter of discontentPrime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha does not belong to the House of Stark but he should pay heed to its motto: Winter is coming. Second, the Red Bull scion's dismissal has laid bare the ineptitude of government mechanisms and conservative ideals which PM Gen Prayut and his networks have championed. Then, massive doubt over the justice system because of the Red Bull scion hit-and-run came crashing on top of the weakening economy. The Boss case has been widely held as a test of how the justice system fares against the rich and powerful. PM Gen Prayut in June said he was extremely concerned about anti-monarchy campaigns.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 23:15 UTC
Education ministry to push for full school opening | Bangkok Post: learning
Students attend class on the first day of term on July 1 at Mathayom Prachaniwet School in Bangkok. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The Ministry of Education will this week ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to allow 4,500 schools nationwide to open fully. Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan said on Monday the reopening request was due to Thailand reporting no local transmissions for a long period of time. CCSA spokesperson Taweesilp Visanuyothin said a CCSA committee had discussed the alternate-day arrangement at more than 4,500 schools to reduce classroom density. These schools include those under the Education Ministry and the National Office of Buddhism.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 23:03 UTC
'Boss' case may be revived
Ex-graftbuster Vicha Mahakhun, second left, chairs a panel meeting to look into the Red Bull scion case at Government House on Monday. "I've asked them to study if I can order a re-investigation into the case," he said when asked about a suggestion that he should invoke his power to revive the case. Prompted by public doubts over the handling of the case by police and prosecutors, Gen Prayut last week set up a nine-member panel headed by former graftbuster Vicha Mahakhun to look into the facts and legal aspects of the case. Justice permanent secretary Wisit Wisitsora has been appointed to head another panel tasked with examining witnesses and individuals in the case who are not police and prosecutors. He said it also depended on whether the Wisit panel recommended that Mr Vorayuth be summonsed for questioning.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 22:41 UTC
Entry ban lifted on select foreigners | Bangkok Post: learning
A total of 243 Thai returnees from Sydney arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport on Sunday. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has lifted an entry ban on four groups of foreign nationals, in line with the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's (CCSA) easing of Covid-19 travel restrictions. CAAT director Chula Sukmanop said the agency's easing of travel restrictions for non-Thai nationals, which will take effect on Tuesday, does not apply to ordinary tourists, but only to select groups of foreigners. According to Mr Chula, all incoming visitors are required to strictly observe the country's disease-control measures. Upon arriving, the visitors will be quarantined 14 days at state venues or alternative quarantine locations.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 12:00 UTC
Monday: 3 new Covid imports | Bangkok Post: learning
A woman waits at her departure gate at the almost empty terminal of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on Saturday, as passenger numbers plummeted due to the Covid-19 coronavirus. (AFP photo)Thailand on Monday reported three new imported coronavirus cases, for an accumulated total of 3,320. The third case is a male student, 19, who arrived from India last Thursday and was placed in quarantine in Bangkok. It will be even better if we have no second wave," Dr Taweesilp said. It has now been seventy days since the last confirmed case of local transmission of the novel coronavirus.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 05:47 UTC
Storm Sinlaku hits North, Northeast | Bangkok Post: learning
(Photo: Loei Public Relations Office Facebook account)Chiang Mai and Loei provinces were hit by storm Sinlaku as it moved into Thailand, with heavy rain and flash-floods expected until at least Tuesday. The Kuang River overflowed and flooded San Sai district of Chiang Mai overnight. The flooding was due to damage to a small check-dam in San Sai, built to slow the river's flow, officials said. Three northeastern and six northern provinces, including Chiang Mai and Loei, bore the brunt of the storm. The Meteorological Department issued another weather alert, but said Sinlaku was weakening as it entered Nan on Monday morning.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 05:03 UTC
Witness body to be seized | Bangkok Post: learning
Police take the motorcycle of Jaruchart Maadthong to Phuping Rajanivej police station after an accident on Thursday. Jaruchart, a key witness in the case involving Red Bull scion Vorayuth Yoovidhya, was killed in the crash. Jaruchart was killed in a two-motorcycle crash on Huay Kaew Road in Chiang Mai on Thursday. The driver of the other motorcycle, Somchai Tawino, was injured. Royal Thai Police deputy spokesman Kissana Phathanacharoen said the autopsy will be conducted at Maharaj Nakhon Chiang Mai Hospital of Chiang Mai University.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 02:37 UTC
Three-way tie at top in Toledo
Three-way tie at top in ToledoToledo: Fourth-ranked Danielle Kang overcame three bogeys in the last six holes to claim a share of the lead after Saturday's second round of the LPGA Drive On Championship. "He always tells me to stay positive and keep working on your game and that's what I did," Kang said. Boutier, who shot 71, took advantage of the chance to play while waiting out the virus hiatus in her Texas home. She won the Women's Texas Open in June, defeating a field with 10 LPGA players, and then won an event in Paris, Texas. Compatriot Patty (Paphangkorn) Tavatanakit failed to make the cut after shooting a 77 for 153, three strokes below the cut line.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 00:22 UTC
Asean's virus dilemma
Asean's virus dilemmaThe Covid-19 pandemic poses several challenges to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), intensifying regional poverty and inequality. The growing hardship will also pose a major threat to its economic integration. While the UN warning is acknowledged, the problem is not easy to solve, particularly when Asean is facing challenges shaking its economic integration. Established in 2015, the Asean Economic Community (AEC) is one of the three pillars of Asean striving for economic integration into a single market through the free movement of goods, services, investment and skilled labour. The question for Asean leaders is how to keep regionalisation and integration intact in the post-Covid-19 era in which transnational economic activities could change forever.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 03, 2020 00:11 UTC
Varawut sorry for Bombay Burmah
Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa on Sunday performs merit-making at the site of the now demolished Bombay Burmah. Bombay Burmah was once an office of the Bombay Burmah Trading Company, which was granted a logging concession in the western forests of the Yom River in 1889. Ornamental wood trim from the 131-year-old former Bombay Burmah Trading Co house lies on the ground after it was demolished. The ministry is working with the provincial administration to launch a hearing in September to discuss the reconstruction of the Bombay Burmah building. Mr Therdsak said Bombay Burmah was renovated several times.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 02, 2020 22:30 UTC
Is a China-US 'rivalry partnership' possible?
Is a China-US 'rivalry partnership' possible? Not a day seems to pass without further evidence of the mounting economic tensions between China and the United States, the world's two largest economies. The economic and financial implications of Covid-19 are uniting three segments of the US economy in decoupling from China. Specifically, China is more vulnerable because it still needs the global economy to facilitate its impressive development process. The preferred destination for all is what former Google CEO Eric Schmidt calls a "rivalry partnership" between the US and China.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 02, 2020 21:22 UTC
Justice needs salvaging after fatal crash
Justice needs salvaging after fatal crashA law student holds a miniature scales of justice with a symbol of a bull as he files a petition last week with the National Anti-Commission Council against the Office of the Attorney-General for its decision not to arraign Vorayuth Yoovidhya. Yes, we have been treated like fools, with utter contempt by public prosecutors from the top down. Not because this was the first case where the law has been distorted by public prosecutors. He gave his opinion on the speed Mr Vorayuth's car. His calculation was the alleged offender was driving at a speed of about 76 kph which is below the 80 kph speed limit, not 177 kph as calculated by the police forensic experts.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 02, 2020 21:22 UTC
Ronnarong has big plans for the future
Ronnarong: Helping the poorHis most recent work was taking legal action against Sean Buranahiran, a life coach accused of siphoning off donation money. After finishing junior high school, Ronnarong moved to stay with his father who was then a monk in Nonthaburi. Ronnarong was a "dek wat" or temple boy for many years and studied high school with his father paying for his tuition. That was when he made a big decision in his life -- to host a legal talk show programme on satellite television. As for his future plans, the outspoken lawyer said he wants to establish a foundation to help people and encourage politicians to heed its suggestions.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 02, 2020 21:22 UTC
'Wizards of democracy' wait to be heard
'Wizards of democracy' wait to be heardA movement by young students under the umbrella of Free Youth and the Students Union of Thailand appears to have gained steam. Later on, supporters of LGBT rights raised rainbow flags at the spot, while chanting for the main cause they champion: democracy. Another rally with the Harry Potter theme is to take place at the Democracy Monument this evening. The young protesters have already revealed their slogans of the day: "The wizards who cherish democracy" to cast a spell on the dark power of "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named". Even without clear leadership, the students protesters have managed to maintain calm and order.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 02, 2020 18:56 UTC