Govt vows to see farmers through coronavirus slump
Govt vows to see farmers through coronavirus slumpThe income guarantee scheme for rubber farmers will continue as the industry is likely to remain sluggish due to economic impacts caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Tuesday. Due to uncontrollable factors the Democrat Party came up with the income guarantee scheme to cushion adverse economic impacts, Mr Jurin added. "The income guarantee scheme helps farmers when the economy slumps and prices fall. People ask if we will continue this, and my answer is that we will as long as this government stays in power," he told rubber farmers on Tuesday. The Democrat Party advocated income guarantees as part of a promise prior to the election to raise farmers' incomes.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 23:15 UTC
Monkeys fetching coconuts 'is like hogs finding truffles'
Monkeys fetching coconuts 'is like hogs finding truffles'More politicians have come out to reject accusations that monkeys are trained by Thai farmers to harvest coconuts and are often abused, which has prompted boycotts of coconut milk products from Thailand in several Western countries. Kla Party secretary-general Atavit Suwannapakdee, likened the use of monkeys in coconut picking in Thailand to the use of hogs in finding truffles in some Western countries. In Thailand some monkeys are used to pick coconuts because coconuts are a key ingredient in various Thai dishes, he said. Likewise, in the Western world, hogs are trained to find truffles, which are then used as ingredients in various Western dishes, he said. However, Peta Senior Vice President Jason Baker yesterday dismissed Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit's denial that Thailand used monkeys to pick coconuts on an industrial scale.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 23:15 UTC
Activist group renews SEZ fight in South
The Chana Rak Thin Network has renewed its call for the government to scrap a plan to develop a special economic zone (SEZ) in Songkhla's Chana district ahead of a zoning meeting concerning the proposed project. Ms Kaireya issued the invitation during a public forum on Tuesday at the Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre (BACC). According to the Southern Border Provinces Administration Centre (SBPAC), 80% of people in Chana approve of the project. The SBPAC cannot authorise the SBPAC to be in charge of urban planning," Ms Pranee said. "The seven-page document [proposal] does not give any details on what the special economic zone will look like because it covers a large area of over 16,000 rai," Mr Amarin said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 22:52 UTC
Ringo marks 80th at online gig with fellow Beatle McCartney
Ringo marks 80th at online gig with fellow Beatle McCartneyRingo Starr, performing here in 2019 during the Woodstock 50th anniversary, is holding an online birthday party to fete his 80th yearLOS ANGELES - With a little help from his friends, Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was set to hold an online 80th birthday bash Tuesday featuring former bandmate Paul McCartney, in aid of charities including Black Lives Matter. Normally the British musician marks each passing year with performances including fellow musicians and hundreds of fans -- but the pandemic forced a rethink this time. "I love birthdays," Starr told Rolling Stone recently. Ahead of the bash NASA's Curiosity Rover tweeted Starr birthday wishes from space. - 'Peace and Love' -"Happy 80th, Ringo!
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 20:03 UTC
Trump a narcissist shaped by bullying father, says niece in memoir
Trump a narcissist shaped by bullying father, says niece in memoirUS President Donald Trump's niece is about to release a memoir that does not reflect kindly on the Republican leaderNEW YORK - Donald Trump's niece describes the US president as a lying narcissist who was shaped by his domineering father, according to excerpts of her eagerly anticipated memoir carried in US media Tuesday. She writes that Trump developed "twisted behaviors" and saw "cheating as a way of life," according to The New York Times. The 240-page book, out July 14, says Trump is a product of his "sociopath" father Fred Trump, The Washington Post reported. - 'Clown' -Mary is the son of Fred Trump Jr, Trump's older brother, who died in 1981 from complications related to alcoholism. She writes that her uncle meets all the clinical criteria for being a narcissist, according to The New York Times.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 19:30 UTC
Johnny Depp denies 'wife-beater' claim in London libel trial
Johnny Depp denies 'wife-beater' claim in London libel trialBoth Depp and Heard were present at the first day of the London trialLONDON - Hollywood actor Johnny Depp strenuously denied being violent to his ex-wife Amber Heard, as he launched a libel claim in a London court on Tuesday against a British tabloid newspaper that called him a "wife-beater". He said it was a "strong and central part" of his moral code that he would never hit a woman, having witnessed domestic violence growing up and vowed never to do so. But Depp said it was the other way round, accusing Heard of violence against him during their "unhappy" time together. The Sun story -- "Gone Potty: How can JK Rowling be 'genuinely happy' casting wife beater Johnny Depp in the new Fantastic Beast film?" -- came after he had already publicly denied domestic violence.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 16:30 UTC
Russian ex-reporter now space aide held for treason
Russian ex-reporter now space aide held for treasonUntil he started his Roscosmos job in May, Safronov worked as a journalist covering defence matters and politicsMOSCOW - A high-profile Russian journalist who became an advisor to the head of the space agency was detained Tuesday on charges of treason for divulging state military secrets, authorities said. Ivan Safronov, 30, was one of Russia's most high profile journalists reporting on defence and politics. His arrest on charges that carry a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars sparked an uproar among supporters. The charges were unrelated to his work at Roscosmos, the space agency said in a statement, adding it was "fully cooperating with the investigative authorities". The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Safronov was accused of "committing high treason" and "transferring secret information to foreign intelligence services".
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 15:11 UTC
MP seeks support for anti-torture bill
MP seeks support for anti-torture billAn activist holds up a picture of missing pro-democracy activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit during a ‘White Bows for Justice’ campaign on June 12. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)A Move Forward Party list-MP has called on all lawmakers to back a bill outlawing torture and forced disappearances, saying the proposed law would help raise human rights standards in the country. "It's time to push for the passage of this bill to raise human rights standards," Mr Rangsiman said. Late last month, the cabinet approved a draft bill from the Justice Ministry against torture and forced disappearances. While welcoming the government’s draft law, human rights advocates suggested the bill should set a statute of limitations on such cases at 50 years.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 13:41 UTC
'Lenient treatment' for US delegation
'Lenient treatment' for US delegationThai army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong (left) and US army chief of staff Gen James McConville shake hands during the 11th Indo-Pacific Armies Chiefs Conference held in Bangkok in September last year. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)Activist Srisuwan Janya is calling on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) over its preferential treatment of a high-profile US delegation which will arrive in Thailand on Thursday. He also alleged that the six measures had been designed specifically to benefit the US delegation. CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said yesterday the delegation would be led by US army chief of staff Gen James McConville, who will be accompanied by liaison officers, plus health and security officials. Gen McConville will meet Gen Apirat Kongsompong, commander in chief of the Royal Thai Army, and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during the two-day trip.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 13:41 UTC
Australia locks down millions as US struggles to contain virus
Australia locks down millions as US struggles to contain virusAustralia will effectively seal off the state of Victoria from the rest of the country. There is simply no alternative (to the lockdown) other than thousands and thousands of cases and potentially more." Brazil is the second worst-hit country in the world with more than 65,000 deaths and 1.6 million infections. - Schools in... and out -In China, nearly 11 million students began taking the gruelling annual college entrance exam known as Gaokao on Tuesday following a month-long delay. "If all of us wear one, we protect each other and thereby ourselves, reducing transmission," wrote Venki Ramakrishnan.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 13:30 UTC
TNSC sees 10% export drop
TNSC sees 10% export dropThai shippers have downgraded the country’s export outlook to a 10% contraction, deeper than the previous forecast of an 8% drop, with the finger pointed at the coronavirus crisis and the strong baht. Ghanyapad Tantipipatpong, chairwoman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council, said weakening purchasing power and the ailing economies of key trading partners were key components in the TNSC’s export forecast cut. According to Ms Ghanyapad, a handful of Thai products still see promising prospects such as processed agricultural products, food, fruits and canned processed food. “The baht has gained very fast, faster than the currencies of any Asean peers, making Thai exports less competitive and affecting overall exports,” she said. Ms Ghanyapad said the group foresees the country’s export performance in the remaining months will become negative in every month.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 10:30 UTC
Q1 household debt at 80% of GDP, highest in 4 years
Q1 household debt at 80% of GDP, highest in 4 yearsA Phitsanulok woman warned Thais to repay their debts after the Land Execution Department seized 4 rai of family-owned land in lieu of a phone debt she failed to pay, earlier this year. As of March, household debt stood at 13.479 trillion baht ($431.47 billion), little changed from the 13.483 trillion baht at the end of last year, equal to 79.9% of GDP. The debt to GDP ratio may jump to 88-90% at the end of this year, which would be the highest in the 18 years that the central bank has compiled records on household debt, according to Kasikornbank's research centre. A sharp economic contraction and banks' debt relief measures, including lower loan repayments and debt moratoria, are likely to keep household debt levels high, it said. Soft loans offered to households hit by the outbreak are also likely to push up debt levels, which are already among Asia's highest.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 10:30 UTC
Man charged with raping stepdaughter
Man charged with raping stepdaughterThe suspect is arrested by police at his house in Tha Sala district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and charged with the rape of his stepdaughter. (Police photo)A 38-year-old man has been detained and charged with the repeated rape of his young stepdaughter, and illegal use of drugs. She said the girl, who was under 15 years old, had been raped repeatedly by her stepfather for about six months. He was charged with statutory rape of a minor aged under 15 years and illegal use of drugs. The teenage girl was placed in the care of the social welfare office in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 10:07 UTC
B200m drugs, assets seized from 11 suspects
B200m drugs, assets seized from 11 suspectsDrugs are put on display at the Narcotic Suppression Bureau in Bangkok on Tuesday after they were seized from suspects during the long weekend. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Police arrested 11 suspects and seized 1.5m meth pills, 2.4 tonnes of cannabis, six kilogrammes of ketamine and assets worth altogether 200 million baht in three drug trafficking cases during the long weekend. Police said the suspects were transporting the drugs from Bung Kan province to greater Bangkok. The drugs were found on a Toyota pickup truck accompanied by two other vehicles. Police seized from the suspects a total of 21 vehicles and the title deed for a plot in Kaeng Khoi district of Saraburi province where a cannabis compressor was found.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 09:49 UTC
Vietnam jails Facebook user for 8 years over 'anti-state' posts
Vietnam jails Facebook user for 8 years over 'anti-state' postsHANOI: A court in Vietnam on Tuesday sentenced a man to eight years in prison after finding him guilty of uploading anti-state posts on his Facebook account, the security ministry said. Despite sweeping economic reform and increasing openness to social change, Vietnam's ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and tolerates little criticism. Vuong was accused of livestreaming 110 hours of videos and writing 366 posts on his Facebook account to smear the image of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam's founding leader, and spread anti-state propaganda, the ministry said. "Vietnam must recognise that expressing political views contrary to Communist Party line should not be a crime," he said in an email statement. Arrests of political activists in Vietnam have steadily increased since late last year as Vietnam gears up for a key Party congress in January 2021.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 07, 2020 09:22 UTC