Victory for determination
Victory for determinationA fierce fight to protect a pristine beach from a state-built seawall by villagers of tambon Muang Ngam in Songkhla's Singha Nakhon district has finally paid off. It said the structure, when completed, would intensify beach erosion, rather than protecting it and that meant the project, worth 80 million baht, would be a waste of taxpayers' money. When the sea was calm, the villagers said they could simple remove the bags without any major work needed on the beach structure. Unfortunately, the office fell short of saying exactly who was responsible for the failed projects or if anyone would be held responsible financially. At the same time, the National Marine and Coastal Resource Management Committee has decided to toughen measures regarding seawall and shoreline stabilisation.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 23:26 UTC
Clear vision needed to inspire public confidence
Will it be the same economic team led by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak? But before that, Gen Prayut should send out a clear signal over the government's economic team, said the economists. A source in the PPRP said Mr Krungsivilai is being given solid backing from a high-profile politician in Samut Prakan. If Mr Krungsivilai is re-elected, it might bode well for Mr Suchart's chances of landing a cabinet post in the next reshuffle. Mr Krungsivilai and Mr Suchart belong to the same faction in the PPRP.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 23:15 UTC
Thais, US plot post-outbreak future
The prime minister was quoted as reaffirming Thailand's readiness to work with the US to restore the Thai economy. The prime minister also said that Thailand would facilitate investment by the US private sector in the country, according to Ms Narumon. Gen McConville also met Thai army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong to discuss Thai-US military relations and signed the Thailand and United States Army-to-Army Strategic Vision Statement. "Our alliance has a long and productive history, and now we are taking on 21st-century challenges together," said Gen McConville. Gen McConville arrived in Thailand on Thursday for a two-day visit, the first since the government began lifting Covid-19 control measures.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 23:15 UTC
More doubt cast over influencer's spending
More doubt cast over influencer's spendingA district official in Chiang Mai looking into the case of embattled social media influencer Sean Buranahiran has expressed doubt over the star's management of donations he had received to battle wildfires in the north. Sean: Transfers give cause for worrySean is under scrutiny for lacking transparency in the management of 1.33 million baht he had raised to fight wildfires in the province. Bank statements and records of Sean's financial transactions have been turned in to provincial authorities as part of the investigation. On April 7, Sean reportedly transferred 1 million baht from the KBank account into another account he opened with Siam Commercial Bank for the fundraising, Mr Boonyarit said. Sean then transferred 1.2 million baht to the new account within five days, he added.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 23:15 UTC
Cash boost for virus-hit
Cash boost for virus-hitSocial Security Fund (SSF) members were yesterday told that their unemployment payments should at least equal the 5,000 baht subsidy offered to those without jobs and not already covered by the scheme. Labour Minister MR Chatu Mongol Sonakul said Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana has agreed with the Social Security Office to raise the minimum payment. The government launched the cash handouts as part of relief measures directed at those affected by the pandemic but not covered by the Social Security Fund's Section 33. Members of the SSF were covered separately by the fund. Therefore, they will get the difference compensated by the government.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 23:15 UTC
Somkid hints he'll 'accept' chop
the Government HouseDeputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has hinted that he is prepared to accept his fate if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha decides to reshuffle the cabinet. A decision to shake up the cabinet is the prerogative of the prime minister, Mr Somkid said, adding that he believed the prime minister would choose suitable people. I already lost heart years ago," said Mr Somkid who is known to be the government's economic tsar. Mr Somkid said that political problems will have an impact on the stability of the economy and therefore, it is necessary to make sure politics goes smoothly. Mr Somkid and Mr Uttama were present at the meeting.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 23:15 UTC
AirAsia considers twin hubs in capital
AirAsia considers twin hubs in capitalThai AirAsia (TAA) is considering making Suvarnabhumi airport its new aviation hub, alongside its already established hub in Don Mueang airport, to increase the company's revenue. Mr Tassapon said TAA is not worried about competition from existing rivals already using Suvarnabhumi airport as an aviation hub. "We're now using just 30% of our 60-aircraft fleet," Mr Tassapon said. "A 14-day quarantine can be an obstacle for tourists who want to travel," Mr Tassapon said. Air Asia Berhad, a Malaysian company, is the parent company of all AirAsia subsidiaries.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 23:15 UTC
Barca-Bayern Champions League clash possible
"We all know what's happened, but football is back now and we're up for the Champions League campaign," Guillermo Amor, Barcelona's director of institutional relations, told UEFA.com. "We've got a final to play against Napoli and we're fully focused on ending the season the best way we can." First-time quarter-finalists RB Leipzig of Germany will meet Atletico Madrid, runners-up to city rivals Real the last time the Champions League final was played in Lisbon in 2014. None of those teams have ever won the trophy, and only Atletico have been to the final before. This season's final was initially supposed to be played in Istanbul in late May before the Covid-19 crisis took hold.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 12:22 UTC
Long queues as Singaporeans vote
(Reuters Photo)SINGAPORE: Officials in Singapore extended voting in the city-state’s general election by two hours on Friday night after apologising for long queues at polling stations. Polls would remain open until 10pm in order to give everyone a chance to vote, said the Elections Department. It said people arriving outside their assigned time for casting their vote had been a factor in lengthy lines. It has never won less than 93% of parliamentary seats, despite seeing its popular vote slip as low as 60% in 2011. But the officers are trying their best,” Prime Minister Lee was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia before casting his vote on Friday morning.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 11:26 UTC
TEST YOURSELF: End of an era | Bangkok Post: learning
Photo from Bangkok Post archivesThe Scala movie theatre closed its doors with a special eventTest Yourself is where you can improve your reading skills. Read the following story by Tatat Bunnag from the Bangkok Post. Then the movie theatre closed its doors for good after serving Thai cinemagoers for more than half a century. Cinema Paradiso is a heartwarming story that …14… the importance of movie theatres. The film …15… the story of Toto, a young boy who …16… a friendship with Alfredo, the projectionist working in a movie theatre in his small Italian town.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 08:48 UTC
Kim's sister: 'No need' for another US summit
Kim's sister: 'No need' for another US summitKim Yo Jong is a close adviser to her brother, North Korean leader Kim Jong UnSEOUL: The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Friday there was "no need" for another summit with the United States unless Washington offered a "decisive change" in approach. But in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo Jong -- who has emerged as one of her brother's closest advisers -- said: "There is no need for us to sit across with the US right now." If a summit was held, she said, "it is too obvious that it will only be used as boring boasting coming from someone's pride". Kim Yo Jong's statement was only her personal view, she said, but the lengthy declaration appeared intended to send multiple messages. Her brother had "entrusted me with conveying his wishes to President Trump that he would certainly achieve great successes in his work", she added.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 07:07 UTC
Lost dog knocks on pet clinic door
Lost dog knocks on pet clinic doorKhiew Ngern waits for its owner at Phuttaraksa Animal Clinic in Muang district of Samut Prakan on Tuesday. (Photo: Phuttaraksa Animal Clinic Facebook account)SAMUT PRAKAN: Knock, knock, knock on the animal clinic door. (Photo: Phuttaraksa Animal Clinic Facebook accountThe dog was first noticed by an assistant at Phuttaraksa Animal Clinic, in Muang district of Samut Prakan, pacing back and forth outside the glass door about 8 o'clock on Tuesday nght. She said Khiew Ngern had been missing since around 2pm, and had probably become lost. She and the vet believed the dog was lost, but remembered its way to the clinic and went there for help.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 06:56 UTC
No new Covid-19 cases Friday | Bangkok Post: learning
Commuters wear face masks at Phaya Thai train station in Bangkok on Friday, when the government announced no new Covid-19 cases. The country had been free of local Covid-19 infection for 46 days. Fifty-seven patients remained at hospitals while the death toll was unchanged at 58, or 1.81% of total cases. Global Covid-19 cases rose by 223,653 over the past 24 hours to 12.39 million. Brazil ranked second with 1.76 million cases, up by 42,907.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 06:00 UTC
Fair and unlovely: India confronts dark-skin bias
Fair and unlovely: India confronts dark-skin biasUnilever reportedly made $500 million from Fair & Lovely sales last yearNEW DELHI - When Chandana Hiran was a child, strangers would urge her to lighten her skin. The campaign achieved its first victory when cosmetics giant Unilever dropped the word "fair" from its popular Fair & Lovely skin-lightening cream. "They have been thriving on selling insecurities to women," 22-year-old Hiran, who launched an online petition against Fair & Lovely, told AFP. Unilever made $500 million from Fair & Lovely sales in India last year, according to Bloomberg. Seema, a 29-year-old domestic worker in New Delhi, has used Fair & Lovely since she was 14.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 05:26 UTC
MEA rated "AAA" for corporate credit
MEA rated "AAA" for corporate creditMr Kirapat Jiamset, Governor of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), disclosed on 9 July 2020, that TRIS Rating Co., Ltd. has announced a corporate credit rating for the MEA of "AAA", or Triple A, the highest rank only bestowed on organisations with the most stability. Credit ratings are indicators for investors in their decision-making concerning bond risks. They are also factors that indicate an organisation’s ability to repay debt and financial stability. The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) of the Ministry of Finance has a policy to encourage enterprises to arrange credit ratings to support offerings of state enterprise bonds through the e-Bidding system of the Bank of Thailand (BOT). The intention is to reach more groups of investors and provide them a greater variety of opportunities to invest in state enterprise bonds.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 10, 2020 05:03 UTC