NBTC secretary-general exits post with parting advice
NBTC secretary-general exits post with parting adviceNational Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) secretary-general Takorn Tantasith put forward several key agenda items, including 5G adoption promotion, the smart hospital project, over-the-top (OTT) platform development and Thailand as a global work-from-home hub, to the national 5G committee for consideration before he left the post on Tuesday. He has been chosen as the principal expert for the national 5G committee and the National Digital Economy and Society Committee (NDESC). He said the national 5G committee should zero in on 5G tech as a way to shore up the sagging economy. Second, efforts must be made to pursue the smart hospital project through collaboration between the government and related parties. Mr Takorn said Siriraj Hospital has agreed to drive towards the smart hospital concept as a pilot healthcare facility.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 23:37 UTC
Fund inflows into extra SSF units estimated at B10bn
Fund inflows into extra SSF units estimated at B10bnFund inflows into extra units of the Super Savings Fund (SSF) are anticipated to have reached 10 billion baht before the one-time investment incentive lapsed yesterday, says the Association of Investment Management Companies (AIMC). Total investment inflows into the extra SSF units totalled 1.5 billion baht in April, Morningstar Thailand reported. Slim inflows into the extra units of the SSF were due to lacklustre investment sentiment and the lock-up investment period. SSF investment conditions are more relaxed than those for LTFs, as SSF units can invest in any assets, while LTFs stipulate equities as the major investment asset. He declined to comment on Fetco's proposal to extend the investment period for the extra SSF units.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 23:37 UTC
Debt-ridden group lays off 961 staff
Staff of the Business Organisation of the Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel cry after learning they have been laid off. The organisation said it had to let them go to cut costs and better align itself with its missions. The Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel will lend 1.5 billion baht to the organisation to compensate the laid-off employees. A total of 961 staff out of 1,035 lost their job at the organisation. "The employees are the victims of mismanagement by executives who had been appointed by the Education Ministry and the government."
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 23:22 UTC
Govt backs SFIF contribution cut
Govt backs SFIF contribution cutThe cabinet on Tuesday allowed specialised financial institutions to halve their contribution to the Specialised Financial Institution Development Fund (SFIF) to 0.125% of deposit base for two years, starting this year. The contribution reduction is to help cut specialised financial institutions' costs to encourage them to pass on cost savings to assist virus-ravaged customers, GH Bank president Chatchai Sirilai said. Four specialised financial institutions were taxed 0.25% of their deposits to contribute to the SFIF which will use such contributions to help four state banks that have financial problems. The four banks are GH Bank, Government Savings Bank, Export-Import Bank of Thailand and Islamic Bank of Thailand. Mr Chatchai said his bank will slash its lending rates in the third quarter after the contribution reduction is published in the Royal Gazette.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 23:21 UTC
Govt bets on local tourism
She said that originally there were three packages known as "Happiness-sharing trips", "Let's travel", and "Moral Support" -- proposed by the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The "Happiness-sharing trips'' package worth 2 billion baht is to subsidise domestic flight fares, inter-provincial bus fares and car rental fees for a total of 2 million people. The government will subsidise 2 million air tickets, with the subsidy limited to 2,000 baht per person. The "Let's travel" package worth 18 billion baht will fund subsidies for accommodation, food and other services provided at tourist destinations. Gen Prayut also floated an idea to promote domestic tourism on weekdays to ease overcrowding on Saturdays and Sundays.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 23:15 UTC
Facebook boots far-right network and boosts original news
Facebook boots far-right network and boosts original newsThe moves come as Facebook faces an advertiser boycott that has morphed into a global digital activist campaign aimed at curbing hateful and toxic content on the social media platform. The disrupted network was loosely affiliated with the "Boogaloo" movement, whose followers have appeared at recent protests while heavily armed, the Silicon Valley-based company said Tuesday. The group is distinct from the broader "Boogaloo" movement in that it actively seeks to commit violence, Facebook said in a blog post. "This is the latest step in our commitment to ban people who proclaim a violent mission from using our platform," Facebook said. The social network reported that it removed 220 Facebook accounts and another 95 Instagram accounts, along with 28 pages and 106 groups "that currently comprise the network."
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 22:52 UTC
Demand for hygienic shower toilets surges
The coronavirus crisis is catalysing adoption of contactless shower toilets as hygiene concerns escalate, says Lixil Thailand, a maker of sanitaryware and housing products. During the virus spread, 60% of customers in Thailand chose contactless shower toilets, up from 20% pre-pandemic. "In the US and the EU, shower toilets became popular as more people changed from paper to shower toilets." Launched over 50 years ago, shower toilets are popular in Japan, where nearly all toilets are shower toilets. She said the need for hygiene will push stronger demand for products and technologies like touchless faucets, shower toilets and Internet of Things-enabled solutions.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 21:45 UTC
'Skilled worker' Nishino expected to be back in Aug
'Skilled worker' Nishino expected to be back in AugThailand coach Akira Nishino. Pattarapong ChatpattarasillThe Football Association of Thailand (FAT) expects national team coach Akira Nishino to come back next month. FAT secretary-general Patit Supaphong said yesterday his organisation had asked the Foreign Ministry to allow the Japanese coach to return to Thailand as a 'skilled worker.' If Nishino, who is in his native Japan, gets the green light, he will have to go into quarantine for 14 days after arrival. Pinto replaces Serbia's Ivan Jovanovic, who had been on a short-term deal when the coronavirus lockdown saw the UAE release him.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 21:45 UTC
Demolition, lies, nepotism and impunity
Demolition, lies, nepotism and impunityA fine arts official is assembling debris that used to decorate the gable of ancient Bombay Burmah house that was torn down in a restoration project. Although there was no public consultation, the old house indeed needed a facelift. The demolition of the Bombay Burmah House and the culture of impunity should not come as a surprise. We saw the same games of lies, nepotism and impunity during the Bombay Burmah controversy. This is not only about conserving an old, historical house.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 21:45 UTC
MTL unveils lump-sum health rider
MTL unveils lump-sum health riderMr Sara says MTL has shifted its focus to health insurance products as consumers have grown more health-conscious in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. In response, MTL has shifted focus to health insurance products, even though their combined premiums are 10 times smaller than those of savings products, said president and chief executive Sara Lamsam. To cash in on growing demand in health protection products, MTL has launched a new lump-sum product, D Health, which is a rider covering the principal of protection starting from 1 million baht to 5 million baht. "The product is a solution for customers who want to have health protection with affordable premiums," Mr Sara said. MTL is also developing a new digital platform, MTL Click, as a one-stop service to keep up with customers' changing health habits.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 21:45 UTC
'Shady giveaway' claim irks progressive group
'Shady giveaway' claim irks progressive groupThe Progressive Movement has threatened legal action against a politician who claimed its giving away of cash raised as part of relief efforts to more than 2,000 people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic was shady. Boonkua Pussathewo, a former MP assistant in the Bhumjaithai Party, said in his Facebook on Monday the movement's cash giveaway was questionable. Mr Boonkua said in his Facebook he found many discrepancies regarding the names of the recipients which are displayed on a website. She also demanded he apologise and remove the post containing the allegation from his Facebook within 24 hours or face court action. The movement, meanwhile, has put up a web link with the names of the people who obtained the relief money.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 21:45 UTC
Central bank allays NPL concerns
Commercial banks' capital adequacy ratio (CAR) stood at 18.7% of risk-weighted assets at the end of March. With the solid capital base, banks do not need to recapitalise, Mr Don said, adding that the central bank's debt relief measures also help financial institutions to keep a lid on bad debts. He said the central bank has closely monitored unemployment, which is a key vulnerable area hurting economic momentum. Mr Don said the central bank agrees with the government's priority of using the economic rehabilitation budget worth 400 billion baht to tackle unemployment. Despite the pickup signs in May, the economy continued to see a contraction due to the ebbing external demand in both tourism and merchandise exports.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 21:45 UTC
Patients left in disharmony
Patients left in disharmonyThe Medical Council yesterday gave people a rather unpleasant surprise with its announcement detailing the obligations of patients seeking medical services. Some of them are commonplace: Patients should follow recommendations from medical personnel and inform them immediately if suggestions cannot immediately be followed up on; patients should also disclose their health records fully, and patients should comply with hospital rules and regulations. The fifth guideline said patients should avoid disrupting the honest practice of medical and health personnel. Actions by patients made out of ignorance may result in a waste of those precious resources and backfire on the patients' own treatment as well as that of others. These points include a reminder that patients should respect the privacy of health personnel, and that of other patients.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 21:45 UTC
Committee issues new rules governing medical tourism
Committee issues new rules governing medical tourismThailand's medical hub committee on Tuesday unveiled a set of guidelines for medical tourism as the country gears up to open its borders to international visitors. The first meeting of the medical hub committee -- which was attended by members of the public, related government ministries and the private sector -- resulted in three decisions, said Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong, director-general of the Department of Health Service Support. The first decision, he said, was a policy pertaining to quarantine requirements for Thais and foreigners arriving from abroad for medical treatment. Foreign patients, however, will have to book their quarantine arrangements in advance, as state quarantine is reserved for Thai citizens only. The third outcome, Dr Tares said, is the decision to promote the production of locally-made medical equipment, including Covid-19 test kits, personal protection equipment (PPE), disinfectants and treatment equipment.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 21:45 UTC
Edit your apps
Edit your apps- I've never been a Twitter user as I find that platform full of bullies and one-sided, poorly researched commentary. Now ask yourself how many apps on your phone were installed a while back and for which there haven't been any updates for a while. - How many of your apps have been discontinued by their developers or dropped from your app store? - There are machine learning models built for doing business. Or as I wrote, if you have a machine learning system and you keep it up to date then it will be useful.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 21:45 UTC