Thursday: 6 Covid returnee cases | Bangkok Post: learning
Representatives of village-based health volunteers at Government House in Bangkok to discuss Covid-19-related allowances on Wednesday, when the country logged six new coronavirus cases. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)The government on Thursday reported six new cases of coronavirus disease, quarantined returnees from Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Total Covid-19 cases rose to 3,304, of whom 3,111 had recovered and 135 remained at hospitals. The death toll remained unchanged at 58 since June 2. Global Covid-19 cases rose 294,754 over the past 24 hours to 17.18 million.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 30, 2020 05:37 UTC
Prawit denies his family helped 'Boss' | Bangkok Post: learning
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon denies that his family had influence over the decision to drop the manslaughter charge against Vorayuth Yoovidhya in June. "My family has never known [Mr Vorayuth's] family," Gen Prawit said. Mr Samak, Mr Vorayuth's lawyer, previously petitioned the panel to provide justice and postpone forwarding the Office of Attorney-General's prosecution files to court. Gen Prawit claimed neither he nor any member of the Prawit family could have forced the charges to be dropped. Mr Vorayuth was charged with speeding and failing to stop, but the indictments were dropped after exceeding the statute of limitations.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 30, 2020 05:03 UTC
What you think is good may not be good enough
What you think is good may not be good enoughIt’s a catchphrase from a conversation with Mr. Sudhipong Vatanajang, commonly known as Chompoo Fruity, at AriyA Wellness 1st Life Center, Q.House LumpiniThe interview began with a direct question: “What caused Khun Chompoo to come to AriyA Wellness Center” – because anyone who knows Khun Chompoo will know that he is a health lover and takes good care of himself. The answer was: “I used to think what I did was good enough as I play sports, exercise regularly, do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, take care of my diet, and choose good supplements. AriyA physiotherapists teach and design individualised exercises and postures according to each person’s body structure. Balanced body structure ensures excellent immunity for the body. Get a free body structure assessment for symptom examination worth 2,500 baht.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 30, 2020 02:48 UTC
Scientist sticks by car speed
Scientist sticks by car speedA Chulalongkorn scientist who concluded that Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya drove his car at 177km/h in the infamous 2012 hit-and-run case is sticking by his evidence and says he was never told the speed was later adjusted to nearly 100 km/h less. Since that was the only footage available, he said he decided to calculate the car's speed based on the moment it passed the camera. Mr Sathon said the car seemed to be travelling very fast since it appeared on the screen at 05.34.17 and left before 05.34.18. He therefore concluded the car must have travelled at a speed faster than 108 kilometres per hour. Nevertheless, Mr Sathon said his team concluded the Ferrari had travelled at 177km/h and the other team 174km/h.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Tisco: 'Megatrend' equities a good bet
Mr Nattakrit, right, and Mrs Vorasinee present the best-in-class funds at the Tisco Wealth Advisory seminar. Global equities focusing on healthcare and e-commerce are poised to generate handsome returns compared with traditional asset allocations, which should underperform during the global economic slowdown, says Tisco Bank. Asset allocation in conventional sectors has not generated sufficient returns as global stock markets have been ravaged by the looming global economic recession, he said. The pandemic, the upcoming US presidential election and the US-China geopolitical tensions are the main downside risks fuelling the global economic recession, he said. Tisco Bank offers Tisco Strategic Fund and Tisco Global Digital Health Equity Fund, focusing on investing in innovative and digital healthcare solutions.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Software to trace school hardship
The Equitable Education Fund (EEF) on Wednesday launched a new version of its Information System for Equitable Education management software to reduce inequality among students in the kingdom. He said companies who want to help reduce inequality in the education sector could use the software, access EEF's big data system and provide support. Woralak Kongdenfha, a lead developer of iSEE, said the software would enable the government and companies to see how many poor students need help. "We can use all of these data to allocate resources and reduce education inequality properly," she added. The money will be used as remedial measures, with 750,000 students -- 700,000 in the education system, and 50,000 outside -- expected to benefit.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Rethink 'Asia battery' plan
Rethink 'Asia battery' planTwo years ago this month, the villagers of Attapeu in southern Laos encountered their worst nightmare when the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam, which was under construction, failed. The dam project is a joint-venture among investors from South Korea, Thailand and Laos. Considering the significant Thai involvement in the dam project, Thais should feel some moral responsibility and show solidarity with their troubled neighbours whose livelihoods have been sacrificed to help the Lao government realise its ambitious plan to make the landlocked country "the battery of Asia". This plan will see many villagers relocated, and even without another catastrophe like the Xe-Pian collapse, many will face hardship. Such a massive surplus is a result of bad economic planning, yet agencies concerned seem reluctant to address the problem, and more energy projects are being proposed.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Estonia's Bolt launches Bangkok service
Estonia's Bolt launches Bangkok serviceBangkok is the first city in Asean where Bolt is offering service. Ride-hailing app Bolt from Estonia has launched its service in Bangkok, the latest newcomer in a very competitive market still reeling from the pandemic. The move comes after Bolt raised €100 million (3.7 billion baht) in May this year, bringing total funds raised to €300 million. Through its experience in European and African markets, Bolt said ride-hailing is not a winner-takes-all market. Bolt said the demand for urban transport is growing in Bangkok as the city gradually comes out of the lockdown.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Popular CCSA stance costly for stranded Thais
Popular CCSA stance costly for stranded ThaisThailand couldn't be more proud having been hailed as one of the two countries to be documented by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a successful model for handling and curbing Covid-19. But what about Thais stranded abroad who have patiently and desperately waited for their turn to return home? He was about to board a flight to Thailand but unfortunately didn't pass virus screening and was sent off for treatment. Thais stranded abroad realise that if they hope to get home they have to go through several unrealistic procedures set by the CCSA. Better we spare a thought for the large number of Thais stranded abroad who are affected by its hard-line policy.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
House of history in Songkhla
Panya Phoonsin, 50, has a passion for collecting old items. His century-old house on Nakhon Nok Street in the old town of Songkhla is now open as a private museum to display his favourite collections. Since he settled in Songkhla a decade ago, he took it as his personal responsibility to do so. Starting with purchasing local textiles from elderly ladies in small villages in Songkhla, he visited various places along the border between Thailand and Malaysia. He says it is because Songkhla was a major trading port in the past.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
BCG ECONOMY THRIVING ON RICH BIODIVERSITY AND TECHNOLOGICAL STRENGTHS
BCG ECONOMY THRIVING ON RICH BIODIVERSITY AND TECHNOLOGICAL STRENGTHSThailand is embracing the Bio-, Circular and Green Economy (BCG) model as a path towards more sustainable growth, which will be marked by more employment, higher people’s incomes and an eco-friendly society. A study by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation shows that the estimated value of activities in BCG economy could grow to one-fourth of the Thailand’s gross domestic products (US$ 137 billion)1 by 2025 from one-fifth at present2. The BOI has recently broadened eligible activities in the agribusiness industry to cover investment projects applying plant factory technology. Thriving Food and Farm TechnologyThe pandemic of the COVID-19 virus has underscored Thailand’s competitiveness as a major global exporter of food and processed food products as international shipments of these products have held up during the health crisis. Thailand aims to enhance diversification and differentiation of food products and upgrade more of them towards products of higher value such as future healthy food and functional ingredients which will use to produce healthy diets, medical food and cosmeceuticals.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 13:41 UTC
Thai dies of Covid-19 in Egypt
Thai dies of Covid-19 in EgyptA 26-year-old Thai student died of coronavirus disease 2019 in Egypt on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry announced. Spokesman Cherdkiat Atthakor said on Wednesday that the young man died at a hospital in Cairo. His friends told the Thai embassy there that he had developed a cough and suffered from exhaustion for three weeks before being diagnosed with a lung disorder. The student was transferred to a hospital for Covid-19 treatment, but his condition worsened on Tuesday, and he was later pronounced dead. He was the first Thai to die of Covid-19 in Egypt, Mr Cherdkiat said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 09:11 UTC
Genius moves | Bangkok Post: learning
Photo courtesy of GDHSchool cheats students, students cheat backThe hit 2017 movie Bad Genius has been remade as a TV drama, hitting small screens on August 3. Lin realises that her parents had to pay tea money to the school for them her be accepted to study. To fulfill his father's dream, Pat hires Lin to help him in an exam. However, to achieve their goal, they need nerdy genius Bank (Jinjett Wattanasin) to join them. Bad Genius The Series begins on August 3 on Channel One 31 at 8:15 pm and will be available online on WeTV application at 10:30 pm.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 05:03 UTC
Tourist arrivals slump 66% y
Tourist arrivals slump 66% y/yThere were no foreign tourist arrivals for a third straight month in June, as borders remained closed amid the pandemic, with a consequent 66% year-on-year drop in the January-June period to 6.69 million visitors, tourism ministry data showed on Wednesday. In January-June, spending by foreign tourists was 332 billion baht, down 65% from a year earlier. The tourism-reliant country, which had a record 39.8 million tourist arrivals last year, imposed a ban on incoming passenger flights in April, when it first recorded zero foreign visitors. In June 2019 alone, there were 3.05 million foreign tourists who spent about 131 billion baht. Last year, spending by foreign visitors accounted for 11.4% of gross domestic product.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 03:00 UTC
Senator wants new Boss panel | Bangkok Post: learning
Half the committee members must be experts who don't come from the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) or the Royal Thai Police, Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn declared on Facebook on Tuesday. The panel should be given 15 days to present an initial report on the case. "Thais are fed up with the system of committees, particularly those from the same agency investigating each other," Sen Kamnoon said. Meanwhile, the OAG says a panel of public prosecutors will finish their review of the decision not to arraign Mr Vorayuth within seven days. The panel had just started work and it was too soon to answer such questions, Mr Prayuth said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 29, 2020 02:58 UTC