Harnessing the potential of diversity for your business
If your business is to embrace diversity then a cultural shift is needed. The best place to start is with diversity and inclusion training across the organisation. I can ask questions if I don't understand something.”Organisations like Steps can help your business prepare for the adjustments that may be needed. Some of our trainees have come to us because they have learning differences and traditional education doesn't work for them. Dataconsult's Thailand Regional Forum provides seminars and extensive documentation to update business on future trends in Thailand and in the Mekong Region.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 03:11 UTC
Mawla the 'Destroyer', brutal new head of IS group
Mawla the 'Destroyer', brutal new head of IS groupIS fighters have carried out an attack every three days on average in Syria in recent months, according to the Centre for Global PolicyPARIS - With monikers as divergent as the "Professor" and the "Destroyer", the Islamic State group's new head has a reputation for brutality, but otherwise remains largely an enigma. Mawla was initially presented to the world by the Islamic State (IS) as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi -- a man about whom America and Iraq had little intelligence. US officials later came to believe that al-Qurashi was Mawla's nom de guerre, recognising him in March as the new head of IS. In 2004, Mawla was detained by US forces at the Camp Bucca prison in southern Iraq, where he met Baghdadi. A profile drawn up by the CEP said that Mawla "quickly established himself among the insurgency's senior ranks, and was nicknamed the 'Professor' and the 'Destroyer'".
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 03:00 UTC
Middle East mythbusters battle virus 'infodemic'
Middle East mythbusters battle virus 'infodemic'Activists are battling misinformation about coronavirus spread on social media platforms such as WhatsApp. Arabic pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are brimming with fake news stories on the novel coronavirus, from benign inaccuracies to full-throated conspiracy theories. As authorities work to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, activists across the Middle East are stepping up to combat the Arabic "infodemic" they say is as dangerous as the infection itself. Indeed, Reporters Without Borders has noted authorities' tightening control over media in the Middle East in 2020, specifically over information relating to Covid-19. WhatsApp boasts 75 percent penetration among internet users in the Middle East, according to a 2019 study by the Northwestern University in Qatar.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 01:52 UTC
Blurring the boundaries
The top rank goes to Bosnian Sevdah master Damir Imamovic with his Singer Of Tales album. As long-time readers know, I'm not the biggest fan of rock music but some rock bands -- and this is one of them -- have that something else that seems to blur the boundaries. Another interesting album is the eponymously titled Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn. Damir Imamovic · Singer Of Tales (Wrasse)2. Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn · Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)4.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 00:33 UTC
TTSA seeks support for startups
"We are concerned about the loss of the local startup ecosystem and the competitiveness of local startups. We need the government to offer measures to support local players," Pattaraporn Bodhisuwan told the Bangkok Post. That is why local startups struggle to compete as they fall short of capital," he said. For example, the government could promote the use of local startup services in each ministry, calling it "One startup, one ministry", he said. Policymakers can provide tax incentives for corporations that use local startups' services, said Mr Pattaraporn.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 00:11 UTC
Water reserves at 4 dams fall to 'critical'
Water reserves at 4 dams fall to 'critical'An Asian openbill is seen in drought-stricken rice fields in Ang Thong province. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Authorities might not be able to supply water to farmers in the Central Plains again next year, as water levels at four major dams in the region have dropped to critical levels, the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) said on Monday. Water reserves at four major dams in Central Plains, namely Bhumibol, Sirikit, Pasak Jolasid and Kwae Noi Bamrung Daen dams, have hit critical levels. Water levels across the four dams are less than half of what they were last year. As such, Mr Somkiat said, the government may not be able to supply water for irrigation purposes next year.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 21, 2020 00:03 UTC
Best betting on Thai market
Best betting on Thai marketBest Inc, a Chinese logistics firm backed by e-commerce titan Alibaba, plans to invest 300 million baht in the second half to boost its express delivery service, Best Express, in Thailand. The logistics market in Thailand is projected to rise 35% to 6.6 billion baht this year. "We see the rise of logistics business in Thailand and Southeast Asia as the pandemic changes user behaviour towards online shopping," said Jason Qian, chief executive and president of Best Thailand and Best Logistics Technology (Thailand) Co.Thailand's market for parcel delivery has grown from 2017 to 2019. "We will recruit couriers, not only motorcycle riders, but also tuktuk and taxi drivers," said Nattharak Dilokpitthhayarath, general manager of Best Thailand. The company, which relies on a franchise model, uses Best Express service stations and aims to expand to more 800 franchises by year-end and over 2,000 in 2022.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 23:26 UTC
More than just a fad
Life explores several aspects people need to know about the popular cooking applianceThe air fryer is undeniably the hottest cooking appliance of 2020. "The items people make with the air fryer may not always be healthy. As the air fryer makes use of high temperatures, academics have warned that it may lead to the formation of carcinogens. This also applies to any accessories used with the air fryer. "The air fryer is not just a fad.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 23:26 UTC
New ant species discovered
New ant species discoveredA close-up of 'Myopias striaticeps Jaitrong, Wiwatwitaya et Yamane'. (National Science Museum photo)The National Science Museum (NSM) on Monday announced that its researchers had discovered five new species of ants in Southeast Asia. The two species found in Thailand have been named Syscia chaladthanyakiji Jaitrong, Wiwatwitaya et Yamane, 2020 and Syscia reticularis Jaitrong, Wiwatwitaya et Yamane, 2020. The three species found in Malaysia are Myopias etsukoae Jaitrong, Wiwatwitaya et Yamane; Myopias striaticeps Jaitrong, Wiwatwitaya et Yamane; and Myopias suwannaphaki Jaitrong, Wiwatwitaya et Yamane. The NSM says researcher Bang-orn Changlom also discovered two species of snails in January this year.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 23:26 UTC
Tepid response to travel scheme
Tepid response to travel schemeTourists relax at Pattaya beach. Hotels have been warned not to increase room rates for the domestic tourism scheme. WICHAN CHAROENKIATPAKULThe domestic tourism stimulus scheme has registered a slow response from locals as limited supply and price gouging marked the first two days of booking, prompting the government to allowed non-licensed hotels to join the scheme this week. "It is too soon to say domestic tourism consumption is weaker because the 'We travel together' scheme just launched a few days ago," said Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister. The government will loosen the restrictions to three groups: hotels in the process of obtaining a licence; hotels that have an expired licence for less than one year; and small or boutique hotels that do not fit the hotel licence criteria.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 23:14 UTC
BoT rules out IMF help, cites fundamentals
"There are some concerns that Thailand could ask for financial assistance from the IMF to overcome this crisis, similar to the Asian financial crisis in 1997. There are 102 IMF member countries that require financial support from the IMF, from a total of 195 member countries, he said. The central bank forecasts GDP to shrink by 8.1% this year. General financial assistance measures used in the second phase helped provide debt relief for many borrowers, he said, but these weaken financial institutions and dampen the financial system. Central banks' monetary and financial measures across the world have affected market liquidity and foreign capital movement, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 23:03 UTC
Besieged Prayut government has birthday blues
Besieged Prayut government has birthday bluesWhat a difference a year makes. This time last year, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was invincible. What did Gen Prayut, who agreed to be the party's choice for outsider PM, do? Everything would be up to Gen Prayut to decide, they mewed. With PM Gen Prayut would capable people who usually don't want to meddle with party politicking trust that he will be able to protect them?
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 23:03 UTC
Cool heads must prevail
Cool heads must prevailThe government should tread extreme carefully in its handling of Saturday's political protests by young students at Democracy Monument in Phra Nakhon district and in the provinces. In a challenge to the emergency decree, these were the first major gatherings since the coronavirus hit the country in March. The organisers called off the Bangkok demonstration at about midnight after skirmishes with the police but vowed a repeat in two weeks. The government would be well advised to heed the students' demands. They started with exactly these kinds of small steps by students and ordinary people, whose calls for change had been dismissed.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 23:03 UTC
RCEP the key to East Asia's recovery
RCEP the key to East Asia's recoveryThe Asean-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will almost certainly be signed at the 37th Asean Summit in November. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that most of China's claims in the South China Sea are unlawful. The US also said it would support countries whose maritime territories in the South China Sea have been claimed by China. They are confident that this free trade pact will speed up the economic recovery of the entire East Asian region. With the easing of lockdowns and travel restrictions in most parts of the region, East Asia's economic recovery has had an earlier start.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 23:03 UTC
Health chiefs 'prepared for mass testing'
(Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)The Public Health Ministry's Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) on Monday assured members of the public of its Covid-19 testing capability as the country prepares for fresh infections now that most businesses have reopened. He also talked up Thailand's vaccine research efforts, increased local production of Covid-19 test kits, the development of new testing methods and investigation into mutations of the virus. Dr Opas said the country was also moving closer to finding a Covid-19 vaccine after a second round of testing an mRNA vaccine on monkeys proved to be successful. In terms of testing, Mr Opas said that a total of 652,089 samples have been checked since January, with four in a 1,000 having come back positive. He said this indicated that public health authorities have been actively searching for Covid-19 cases.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 22:52 UTC