Hoping for better days
I was in shock," said Nongluck, whose latest single Swolla was created during the social distancing regulations. Nongluck is beyond happy the government has reopened Bangkok nightlife venues so that people in this industry can once again earn a livelihood. However, she does have an issue with social distancing and wearing a face shield while performing though. "Due to the sudden closure of nightlife venues, people that owed me could not pay me. "Also for me, I feel it would be nice to see the restriction on social distancing be less strict to enable performers and audience to interact better.''
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 03:00 UTC
Chiang Mai, Ubon rally against Prayut, government | Bangkok Post: learning
Protesters listen to a speaker during an anti-government rally at Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai city on Sunday. (Photo from Free Youth Facebook account)Students, activists and ordinary Thais held a rally in Chiang Mai on Sunday demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government. A smaller protest was held in Ubon Ratchathani with the same demands, with the Free Youth group involved in the two peaceful gatherings. Tha Phae Gate, one of the landmarks in the northern city, was surrounded by protesters giving their three-finger salute and displaying placards urging Prayut and his government to step down. In Ubon Ratchathani, a group of university and high school students, along with ordinary people, staged a rally calling for the government to step down.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 02:03 UTC
All eyes on the horizon
Under the central bank's scenario, the Thai economy hit rock bottom in the second quarter. Mr Chairat said the tourism economy will gain momentum if tour operators can convince tourists that they can provide good and safe services. The figures were forecast to plunge by 25-45% in the second quarter. According to the Tourism Council of Thailand, the tourism industry has yet to see the worst of a tragic scenario. But the TAI said the all-year figures reflect some improvement in the auto sector, which was severely pressured by the pandemic in the second quarter.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 01:41 UTC
Thai Covid-19 apps judged invasive
A shopper scans the Thai Chana QR code while checking in at Siam Paragon mall. TRANSPARENCY DOUBTSThe Thai Chana app, which was not discussed in the DPEX report, potentially raises even more problematic personal privacy issues. "Since the PDPA is not enforced now, the Thai Chana app does not violate anything," Mr Prapanpong said. A visitor to Khao Yai National Park scans a QR code to check in via the Thai Chana app upon arriving at the park. Neither the Mor Chana app nor Thai Chana says it allows the Defence Ministry to access its data.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 01:41 UTC
Local app takes on the big boys
The "Tam Sang-Tam Song" app, which launched officially on Friday, was developed by a research team from the Institute of Asian Studies (IAS) at Chulalongkorn University. "Despite the boom in online food delivery services, they were unable to make up for the lost revenue by riding for food delivery companies," he said. "One factor that makes online food delivery thrive is that you can control quality. "However, Tam Sang-Tam Song sets itself apart by not charging any form of commission, either to the shops or the riders," he added. He also expressed his hope that the "Tam Sang-Tam Song" app can become more than a food delivery service.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 01:30 UTC
The power of effective collaboration in tough times
The only way to move forward is to work together with others, whether it’s across teams or various organisations working together toward a collective goal. How can collaboration alleviate the pain we go through during tough times? At the end of the day, what sustains effective collaboration is our ability to practise it in a safe space. Many organisations face problems because they are built around departmental silos and lack cross-functional goals. During tough times, it is more important than ever to depend on each other.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 01:07 UTC
Energy post areshuffle test
Energy post areshuffle testIn every cabinet reshuffle, the top position in the Energy Ministry, like the Transport Ministry, is a prime target for politicians who see it as a "treasure trove''. The most attractive element of the Energy Ministry is its state enterprises. They are Thailand's largest energy firm PTT Plc which contributed 29.2 billion baht, followed by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), at 18.9 billion baht. The Energy Ministry itself also has several multi-billion-baht projects in the pipeline. This is why the Energy Ministry is so important among powerful politicians.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 00:22 UTC
Halal travel closer at home
"We are shifting our business to develop halal tourism packages in various domestic destinations. Members of the association staged a road trip to talk up halal travel in a number of locations including Jakarta, Bandung in West Java, Yogyakarta and Surabaya, Bromo Mountain and Banyuwagi in East Java. "We introduced the halal tourism or Muslim-friendly concept to the local administrations," said Mr Firman. Halal gastronomy is another area poised to go mainstream, according to the Halal Travel Frontier 2020 report issued by Mastercard-CrescentRating in January. According to the CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index 2019, the Muslim travel market continued to be one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, with an estimated 140 Muslim visitors worldwide in 2018, an increase from 131 million in 2017.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 00:22 UTC
Investors hold their breath
Successful development of a Covid-19 vaccine has the potential to boost capital marketsSCB Securities predicts volatility for the stock market in the second half of the year. The second half of 2020 will likely mark a yearly low for the performance of all asset management companies. MAKE OR BREAKThe successful development of a Covid-19 vaccine should lead to a broad-based rally in Thai stocks, KS said. In the second half, the market expects NPLs in the banking sector to increase, benefiting distressed-asset management firms like BAM and CHAYO. Nutthawat WicheanbutRISKY BUSINESSSCB Securities (SCBS) said the market in the second half remains volatile.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 00:11 UTC
Police mull charges over protest
Police are considering pressing charges against anti-government protest leaders over the weekend rally at the Democracy Monument, while denying claims there were "men in black" who threatened demonstrators at the protest site. "Three police stations will meet to discuss whether to press charges against the [protest leaders] for demonstrating in public places without a permit and/or violating the emergency decree," he said, referring to Samranrat, Nang Loeng and Chana Songkhram stations, which have jurisdiction over the site. The protest at the Democracy Monument went on until midnight on Saturday, when its leaders called it off. The rally at Bangkok's Democracy Monument was the first big political gathering since the coronavirus outbreak put a halt to most activities. He admitted traveling to the protest site, but only to observe and give moral support to the protesters.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 00:11 UTC
Silent killer claiming thousands
photos Thana BoonlertEach year, 14,000 Thais die from cancer that manifests in their bile ducts caused by a silent killer known as liver fluke disease. In Khon Kaen, the largest Northeastern province, there is a special ward to handle cases of cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). Liver fluke infection often occurs to those who eat raw fish and meat over a long period of time. With a lifespan of 20 years, the parasitic worm feeds on digestive bile and causes bile duct cancer. He recalled one of his bile duct cancer patients.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 00:11 UTC
Shorter monsoon causing 'water stress'
Shorter monsoon causing 'water stress'Hydro-Informatics Institute (HII), a state body under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation which analyses water-related data, is warning of a water shortage as it expects this year's rainy season to be shorter than usual. "There will be less rain than last year, which will affect water reserves across the country," the director of HII, Sutat Veesakul, said yesterday. The effect of the shorter monsoon can already be seen, with 25 major dams and reservoirs across Thailand having less than 30% of their total water storage capacity. Mr Sutat said "water stress" is imminent as between November this year and May next year, about 12 billion m³ of water will be needed to meet demands from farms and households in the area. While intense showers will bring relief to the nation's depleted dams, HII warned that they may harm farmers' earnings and livelihoods.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 00:11 UTC
Virus fears reignite
Virus fears reigniteJust last week, the situation looked promising as Thailand had no new Covid-19 case resulting from local transmissions for over 50 days. Thais have been observing strict health control measures to contain Covid-19 spread but we finally fell victim to those without discipline. All 127 schools in the province closed again to stop the potential spread of the virus after they had just started a new semester earlier this month. Scores have cancelled their bookings on Koh Samet for the long holiday at the end of the month, according to Sarinthip Thapmongkolsap, chairwoman of the Samet Tourism Association. Rayong has two weeks to contain the spread of Covid-19 before it returns to normal again.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 00:11 UTC
Ripe time to push for pension reforms
Ripe time to push for pension reformsAs the government has no commitment to it, a national pension bill has been put on hold for too long. The national pension bill was sent to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha through his office five months ago, but he has yet to respond. Under the current pension system, only those working in the state service before the creation of the government pension fund or kor bor khor -- Gen Prayut among them -- are granted a monthly pension and other benefits like free medical treatment. Informal workers, which account for 55% of the labour force, also do not qualify for benefits under the pension system. I don't see this concept reflected in the pension system, except perhaps for civil servants.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 00:11 UTC
Travel Is Bouncing Back, but Tourists Stick Close to Home
In the U.S., some domestic travel has rebounded, though renewed spikes in Covid-19 cases have undercut some initial enthusiasm. The travel and tourism industry, in a baseline scenario, was projected to decline this year by about 40%, or roughly $3.5 trillion, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, a trade group, in a June report. Foreign visitors would plunge by more than half, the group estimated, while domestic travelers would fall by one-third. In Japan, where domestic travel has re-emerged, the government is hoping vacation spending will rise further as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe readies $10 billion in subsidies promoting domestic tourism. The U.S., too, is seeing its own miniboom of domestic tourism, though recent surges in Covid-19 are raising concerns about its sustainability.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 20, 2020 00:11 UTC