'Accident' unravels, fraudster's frolics, auntie feels heat
Ms Urai said Ms Sumarin was seeing another man and she and her husband had argued the night before. She and her husband would break up but reunite again for the sake of their kids, Ms Urai said. Ms Urai, the victim's mother-in-law, said Pitthayut sought shelter at her place the night before he died after a row with his wife. She revealed later that her daughter had admitted killing him, though Ms Urai said she suspected Pong was the main culprit. Ms Urai said she and her husband visited Ms Sumarin at their rental place later that night and urged them to make up.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:33 UTC
A lovely bunch of coconuts and all that
A lovely bunch of coconuts and all thatThe humble coconut (ma prow) has been in the news lately following allegations of abuse of Thai monkeys used in harvesting the fruit. We were hungry and thirsty and looking up saw a bunch of coconuts sitting seductively in a tree above us. The song I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts could be regularly heard on BBC Radio in the 1950s, especially in the Billy Cotton Band Show. Winning tuneYou don't hear that Coconuts song very often these days as it sounds rather old fashioned, but it can still be heard in the unlikeliest of settings -- Cambridge United Football Club. There was a small pile of records on his desk and he picked out the Coconuts song by Billy Cotton.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:32 UTC
Don't politicise the Hagia Sophia
Don't politicise the Hagia SophiaAfter it was designated as a museum in 1936 by the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Hagia Sophia took on a different meaning. Why did the government, under Mr Erdogan, feel compelled to bring up the issue? In order to see this, one must first understand Mr Erdogan himself. The Hagia Sophia belongs to Turkey -- not humanity. By taking that stance, Mr Erdogan is effectively reducing the significance of the Hagia Sophia, which for over a millennium served as the symbolic centre for both a bulwark of Christendom and the gatekeepers of Mecca.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:32 UTC
Police slam 'illegal' protests against govt
Police slam 'illegal' protests against govtBattle of wills: Protesters from the Student Union of Thailand and the Free Youth group attempt to break past security barricades around the Democracy Monument as police officers try to stop them from demonstrating. The Student Union of Thailand and the Free Youth group rallied at the Democracy Monument yesterday against the government, threatening to step up their protests while police said they had not asked for permission to demonstrate. Under the banner of "We Will No Longer Tolerate", the rally was joined by students from many institutions. The Free Youth group demanded the government dissolve parliament immediately due to its failure to manage the economy, and stop threatening people by enforcing laws and using security reasons to silence them. Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol Lt Gen Phakkhaphong Phongphetra, travelled to the rally site to command officers providing security there.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:22 UTC
'We Travel Together' stimulus package launched
'We Travel Together' stimulus package launchedMore than 3.5 million people have registered for the government's latest tourism stimulus campaign known as Rao Tiew Duay Kan (We Travel Together). About 200,000 applications had not been completed properly and Mr Lavaron asked those people to go through the process again. The subsidised tourist facilities must be outside the tourists' home provinces to qualify and are limited to 40% of actual expenses, with tourists paying the rest. The subsidy will be transferred into the Pao Tang application accounts by 5pm every day after registrants check into the registered hotel accommodation. When tourists travel by airline, the government will refund 40% of the ticket price, but no more than 1,000 baht per seat and the quota is limited to 2 million seats.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:21 UTC
Senator's amnesty plan sparks debate
However, his proposed amnesty would not cover people who were charged with corruption or other felonies. No amnesty bill has since been proposed to the parliament out of fear it might prompt similar scenes of unrest. National reconciliation can be achieved through enacting an amnesty bill, Mr Kamnoon said. "If the prime minister wants to unify Thais, he has to erase the stigma of conflict," Mr Kamnoon said. "An amnesty bill should be based on the principle of reconciliation.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:11 UTC
Veerathai opts out of cabinet role
Outgoing Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob has denied reports he is being considered for a new economic team as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha prepares to shuffle his cabinet. Mr Veerathai's five-year term as central bank governor ends in September and the bank is in the process of selecting his successor. The prime minister also said he had asked former central bank governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul to join the cabinet but he had declined the invitation for family reasons. In a related development, interviews scheduled for this coming week with six candidates for the role of central bank governor will be delayed, the head of the selection committee said. Two deputy central bank governors have also applied.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:11 UTC
Events to boost morale in Rayong
Events to boost morale in RayongThe Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) yesterday reassured the public that Rayong is returning to normality, saying most schools can re-open tomorrow and sporting events will be held in August. He said the government and local authorities are also preparing various events to reassure concerned residents. He said Rayong officials have proposed other events to help boost confidence among locals, including a cycling tour on a coastal route and an online beach concert. He said the number of tourists drastically declined following news of the infected Egyptian airman, noting the province's hotel occupancy rate was 80% every year. The rehabilitation of Rayong might serve as an example for other provinces if it is successful, Dr Taweesilp said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:11 UTC
Rights groups slam army DNA tests for soldiers
Rights groups slam army DNA tests for soldiersHuman rights advocacy groups have urged the army to stop collecting DNA samples during the military draft process in the four restive southern provinces. Ms Anchana was referring to an army pilot project to gather DNA samples from drafted and enlisted soldiers. "The collected DNA in the military draft process is unfair treatment. While the army maintains the DNA collections are voluntary, the practice continues to draw criticism from rights groups. The army must listen to warnings from rights groups, he said, as it starts the upcoming military draft this Thursday.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:11 UTC
Covid-19 hastens university revolution
If universities do not move quickly to transform themselves into educational institutions for a technology-assisted future, they risk becoming obsolete. LOOKING TO THE FUTUREMr Suvit believes universities of the future will become places for people of all ages. "Teachers will become facilitators of learning and students will have more control of their own learning journey." "The business model of being a multipurpose university with a combination of a range of degrees and faculties will not work. University administrators will have to choose the path they want and focus on a particular area such as teaching or certain types of research.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 21:11 UTC
RMUTI steps up cannabis research
Rajamangala University of Technology Isan (RMUTI) Khon Kaen Campus is teaming up with partners to research and develop production and processing of cannabis, hemp and other Thai herbs for medical purposes. Tambon administration organisations in Na Fay and Phu Pha in Khon Kaen will take part in pilot projects under the MoU. “The hemp, medical cannabis, and associated sectors are among the fastest developing countries,” said Mr Whitmore. “We have been made to feel very welcome by everyone we have met in Khon Kaen. In particular, we would like to acknowledge and thank the TAO of Na Fay and RMUTI for their guidance and support.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 10:41 UTC
Twitter hackers tell their story
OAKLAND, California: A Twitter hacking scheme that targeted political, corporate and cultural luminaries this week began with a teasing message between two hackers late Tuesday on the online messaging platform Discord. “i work at twitter / don’t show this to anyone / seriously.”He then demonstrated that he could take control of valuable Twitter accounts — the sort of thing that would require insider access to the company’s computer network. The interviews indicate that the attack was not the work of a single country like Russia or a sophisticated group of hackers. They also presented corroborating evidence of their involvement, including the logs from their conversations on Discord, a messaging platform popular with gamers and hackers, and Twitter. For online gamers, Twitter users and hackers, so-called OG usernames — usually a short word or even a number — are hotly desired.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 09:00 UTC
Veerathai says he's not a cabinet contender
(Reuters Photo)Outgoing Bank of Thailand governor Veerathai Santiprabhob has denied reports that he was being considered for a new economic team as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha prepares to shuffle his cabinet. Local media had linked Mr Veerathai to an unspecified cabinet position to shore up the economic team following the resignation of Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and two others on Thursday. Mr Veerathai’s five-year term as central bank governor ends in September and the bank is in the process of selecting his successor. The prime minister also said he had asked former central bank governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul to join the cabinet but the latter declined the invitation for family reasons. Two deputy central bank governors have also applied.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 08:48 UTC
Seven new cases returnees from 3 countries
(Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The government on Saturday reported seven new cases of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), all returnees in state quarantine, bringing the total to 3,246 cases since January. Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said the new cases were returnees from the United States (2), Bahrain (1) and Egypt (4). The two returnees from the US, aged 64 and 66, arrived in Thailand on July 11 and tested positive five days later. They arrived and tested positive on Friday and were sent to a hospital in Samut Prakan province. Brazil came second with 2 million cases and 77,932 deaths.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 06:56 UTC
Foreigners can apply for visa extensions after July 31 | Bangkok Post: learning
Long queues of foreign nationals at the Immigration Bureau office at the Government Complex in Nonthaburi on March 23, seeking visa extensions after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted their travel plans. The bureau later declared a “visa amnesty” until July 31 to reduce the risk of crowding at its offices. However, if they do not obtain extensions and are still in the country after Sept 26, they would face legal action and be blacklisted. Foreigners should contact the bureau as soon as possible to prepare for their next steps as the Sept 26 deadline approached. The government earlier automatically extended their visas until July 31, but they must still inform authorities where they are staying.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 18, 2020 03:22 UTC