Masterplan to protect Phuket water
Phuket province is considering a raft of measures to combat a dwindling water supply caused by changing rain patterns. Narong Woonsew, the provincial governor, said the proposals were on Tuesday discussed in a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall. "Thailand's popular tourist destination has seen the demand for water rise 12% every year and, without finding more water supplies, a major water shortage is inevitable," he said. The demand for tap water, which currently stands at 80 million cubic metres, will rise to 112 million by 2032. To cater for the higher demand, a provincial meeting proposed a water supply management masterplan for the province.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 19:18 UTC
Two candidates advance for BoT governorship
Two candidates advance for BoT governorshipTwo final candidates have been shortlisted to become the next Bank of Thailand governor, with one an insider and the other an external applicant. "The board has finalised two names as suitable people," said Rangsan Srivorasart, chairman of the selection committee. "One is from the central bank and the other is an external candidate. Of the applicants for central bank governor, four are external candidates and two are insiders. Four candidates -- Mr Mathee, Mr Ronadol, Mr Setthaput and Mr Anusorn -- outlined their vision of central bank supervision to the selection committee yesterday, said a committee source speaking on condition of anonymity.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 19:18 UTC
Kingdom readies itself to lead Apec
Kingdom readies itself to lead ApecDigitisation, global economic challenges and the tensions between the United States and China were topics discussed among experts as Thailand prepares to assume the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) chair in 2022. Cherdchai Chaivaivid, director-general of the Department of International Economic Affairs, yesterday told the Bangkok Post that the experts held their first Apec Focus Group (AFG) meeting on July 14 to prepare for the chairmanship. The group included Narongchai Akrasanee, former commerce minister; Pichet Durongkaveroj, society minister; and Chartsiri Sophonpanich, president of Bangkok Bank. The AFG meeting was chaired by Anusorn Chinwanno, director of the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Apec is the world's largest regional economic bloc, representing about 60% of the world's GDP in 2018.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 19:18 UTC
CCSA asked to extend emergency by a month
CCSA asked to extend emergency by a monthProtesters demand the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government during a rally at the Democracy Monument on Saturday. (Reuters photo)The authority responsible for the country's handling of the coronavirus will on Wednesday be asked to extend the emergency decree by another month. The recommendation is expected to be proposed to the CCSA by Gen Somsak Roongsita, secretary-general of the National Security Council and chair of the ad hoc committee. Gen Natthaphol said if the decree is approved for renewal as recommended, it would be watered down and "tantamount to a soldier being stripped of his firearms". Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha insisted the government would not abuse the emergency decree against protesters.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 19:18 UTC
Anutin slams hospital attacks
Anutin slams hospital attacksPublic Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday strongly condemned recent violence committed by gang members at two hospitals in Samut Prakan. He also calling on hospital management not to settle out of court with the gangs, some of whom had gone on the rampage and assaulted medical personnel. Mr Anutin said the management of Vibharam Chaiprakarn Hospital and Muangsamut Poo Chao Hospital, both privately run, should pursue legal action against the group members who went berserk after one man from a rival group died in a brawl. Eleven people were arrested on Monday over the hospital violence which erupted after a brawl between two rival gangs. After learning their rivals had been admitted to Muangsamut Poo Chao Hospital, they went there to take revenge.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 19:18 UTC
Jet purchase does not fly
Jet purchase does not flyThe country is in the middle of a health crisis. And the army is planning to buy a new luxury jet for its top generals and VIPs. Amid the surrounding hardship, the army still seems convinced its planned purchase of the luxury plane can be justified. Why is it essential for high-ranking generals or VIPs to travel around in a private jet? The army's argument of spending more than a billion baht on a new aircraft simply doesn't fly.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 19:18 UTC
Torn ballot ruling stands
Torn ballot ruling standsThe Supreme Court yesterday upheld the suspended four-month jail sentences and fines given to three people involved in tearing up a ballot paper during the 2016 referendum on the draft constitution, which was enacted in 2017. However, after receiving his ballot paper, Piyarat tore it up and shouted: "Down with dictatorship. The three were charged with destroying a state document, damaging a ballot and causing a disturbance at a polling station. On Sept 26, 2017, a Bangkok court sentenced Piyarat to four months in jail and fined him 4,000 baht. The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the Appeal Court's ruling.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 19:18 UTC
Citi favours defensive stocks
Citi favours defensive stocksMr Boonnisaed sees opportunity in digital and health tech. Citi Thailand likes defensive stocks focused on digital and health tech to build a positive return on investment for high-net-worth customers amid recurring financial market volatility caused by the coronavirus crisis. The crisis does, however, offer an investment opportunity in defensive stocks with hedging characteristics, especially digital and health tech stocks, Mr Boonnisaed said. With this scenario, Citi is paying more attention to defensive stocks with a focus on the Chinese and US markets in order to build up return on investment amid the pandemic. As a result, investment in defensive stocks is an alternative during the economic downturn.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 19:18 UTC
Residents want to keep Si Quey's ashes
Residents want to keep Si Quey's ashesResidents of Thap Sakae district in Prachuap Khiri Khan, once home to renowned serial killer Si Quey, will ask the authorities to keep his ashes at a temple in the province. Si Quey: Executed in 1959Pol Sub Lt Pol Plaisathit, 50, a former officer, said on Tuesday that the villagers would ask the Corrections Department to give Si Quey's ashes to the community. Thap Sakae villagers also plan to hold a merit-making ceremony for him and want to keep his ashes at a temple in the district. Si Quey had no known surviving relatives. Si Quey was Thailand's most notorious serial killer and was executed by firing squad at Bang Kwang on Sept 16, 1959, aged just 32.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 19:18 UTC
Pompeo urges 'entire world' to stand up to China
Pompeo urges 'entire world' to stand up to ChinaBritain is edging closer to the US administration in its geopolitical tug-of-war with China. LONDON - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged "the entire world" Tuesday to stand up to China but denied forcing Britain's hand in its decision to ban the communist superpower's private telecoms giant Huawei. Pompeo also castigated China for claiming disputed areas of the South China Sea "you have no lawful claim to" and trying to "threaten and bully" its neighbours. Pompeo's visit includes a sideline meeting with exiled Hong Kong protest leader Nathan Law aimed at further stressing the seemingly new understanding about Beijing. Raab said Britain viewed Russia as "a top national security priority" but Pompeo did not address the issue in his public remarks.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 17:03 UTC
Hospital denies cruel prank led to death | Bangkok Post: learning
Dr Pichian Wuthisathirapinyo, (centre) director of Ratchaburi Hospital, holds a press conference at his hospital in Muang district, Ratchaburi province, on Tuesday. (Photo: Saichol Ochkajon)The management of Ratchaburi Hospital on Tuesday denied a member of their staff mocked an emergency caller who later lost her father. The woman needed an ambulance for her father, who had severe breathing difficulty and chest pain. I understand that the relative was worried at that moment out of concern for her father," the director said. Caller Pronrawin Ongpisut, 18, wrote on Facebook that she first called the hospital at 7.13am on Sunday, and hospital staff told her they would send an ambulance.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 10:07 UTC
CPF builds “Aquaculture 5.0” shrimp farm in the USA
CPF builds “Aquaculture 5.0” shrimp farm in the USACharoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CPF) is developing a new “Aquaculture 5.0” shrimp farm in the USA. The farm can culture shrimp anywhere, anytime of year, with complete biosecurity and zero waste discharge. “Homegrown shrimp, our subsidiary in the USA, uses technologies that can culture shrimp anywhere in the world in any season.”He added that while shrimp farms are normally located nearby coastal areas, Homegrown shrimp farm takes an unconventional approach. Although operating the aquaculture farm on an inland, it has total independence from the ocean, operating instead with artificial sea water created by blending locally-sourced fresh water with salt. This enables shrimp culture at the optimum temperature of 30◦ Celsius year-round regardless of the outside temperature.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 09:45 UTC
Lorry rear-ended, one killed, one injured
Lorry rear-ended, one killed, one injuredRescue workers check the wreckage of a Toyota after it rear-ended a stationary lorry in Muang district, Kanchaburi province, on Tuesday. (Photo supplied by Piyarat Chongcharoen)KANCHANABURI: A car rammed into the rear of a lorry waiting to make a u-turn, killing its driver and passenger in Muang district on Tuesday, police said. While a six-wheel Hino lorry was stationary as the driver was waiting to make a U-turn, a Toyota Corolla car rammed into its rear end. His friend, Saiyut Lampong, 28, from Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district, was seriously injured. Prachuap Kongka, 49, the lorry driver, said he was delivering electrical appliances from Bangkok to a department store in Kanchanaburi town.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 08:48 UTC
Two killed, one injured in head-on collision
Two killed, one injured in head-on collisionThe wreck of one of the two pickups destroyed in the head-on collision blocks the road in Thung Song district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, on Monday night. Two men were killed and a third was severely injured. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: Two people were killed and another was seriously injured when two pickups collided head-on in Thung Song district on Monday night. The two pickups were travelling in opposite directions and collided violently, head-on. One man was killed and another seriously injured in one vehicle, and the driver of the other pickup also died.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 05:37 UTC
Man killed by hit-and-run driver
Man killed by hit-and-run driverNAKHON RATCHASIMA: A company manager was killed when his pickup was hit by another pickup, which quickly fled the scene, in Chok Chai district on Monday night. Eyewitnesses told police the driver was getting out of of a Mazda Familiar pickup parked in front of the factory. Another pickup travelling on the road suddenly swerved, crashed into the parked Mazda and hit the driver, then raced off. The right side of the Mazda was badly damaged and the driver was killed. Police said they would track down the hit-and-run vehicle and driver.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 03:33 UTC