Trump briefed on Russian bounties in February: report
Trump briefed on Russian bounties in February: reportPresident Donald Trump has come under increasing pressure to explain US media reports that he was informed that Russian military intelligence had offered and paid cash to Taliban-linked militants for US soldiers' deaths. Ratcliffe and national security advisor Robert O'Brien condemned leaks to the media over the intelligence in statements late Monday. "Because the allegations in recent press articles have not been verified or substantiated by the intelligence community, President Trump had not been briefed on the items," O'Brien said. "Nevertheless, the administration, including the National Security Council staff, have been preparing should the situation warrant action." "And since when is Trump briefed only on fully verified information?
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 05:26 UTC
TikTok denies sharing Indian user data with Chinese govt
TikTok denies sharing Indian user data with Chinese govtTikTok is owned by China's ByteDance and was one of 59 Chinese mobile apps banned late Monday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. NEW DELHI: TikTok denied Tuesday sharing Indian users' data with the Chinese government, after New Delhi banned the wildly popular app in a sharp deterioration of relations with Beijing two weeks after a deadly border clash. "TikTok continues to comply with all data privacy and security requirements under Indian law and have not shared any information of our users in India with any foreign government, including the Chinese government," TikTok India chief Nikhil Gandhi said in a statement. TikTok is owned by China's ByteDance and was one of 59 Chinese mobile apps banned late Monday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. There are estimated to be about 120 million TikTok users in India, making the South Asian nation of 1.3 billion people the app's biggest international market.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 05:15 UTC
Two more Covid cases in Thailand Tuesday
Two more Covid cases in Thailand TuesdayThis photo taken on Sunday shows a couple with a child walking past a sign advising visitors to wear face masks at Lumpini Park in Bangkok to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus. (AFP)Two additional cases of Covid-19 were found in Thailand over the past 24 hours, the government said on Tuesday, taking the total number of infections in Thailand to 3,171. Total cases rose to 3,171, 3,056 of whom recovered, including three patients released over the past 24 hours. Global Covid-19 cases rose 159,056 over the past 24 hours to 10.41 million while the death toll went up by 3,422 to 507,497. Its total cases rose to 1.37 million, the second highest in the world.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 04:46 UTC
Poker gamblers arrested in Pattaya
Poker gamblers arrested in PattayaNine card players caught gambling at poker in a house in Pattaya by police on Monday night. (Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong)CHON BURI: Nine Chinese men were arrested for gathering in a crowd and gambling in Pattaya on Monday night. They seized gambling chips and two sets of cards as evidence, and arrested the nine players. The gamblers were identified as Wang Dong Xu, 30, Chen Jun, 33, Feng Xu, 36, Xia Tian, 30, Lu Xiao, 34, Zhen Yun Lei, 32, Lin Feng, 42, Gan Xiaobini, 31, and Lu Wei, 31. One of them, Lu Xiao, was additionally charged with overstaying his visa.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 03:45 UTC
Thai economy will shrink at least 5% this year: World Bank
Thai economy will shrink at least 5% this year: World BankA hostess is seen at an empty bar in Royal Orchid Sheraton hotel in Bangkok on June 26. (Reuters photo)Thailand's economy is expected to be severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, shrinking by at least 5% this year and taking more than two years to return to pre-pandemic GDP output levels, the World Bank said on Tuesday. In the baseline scenario, the economy is projected to grow by 4.1% in 2021 and by 3.6% in 2022, the agency said in a statement. An estimated 8.3 million workers will lose employment or income because of the Covid-19 crisis, which has put many jobs at risk, particularly those related to tourism and services, the World Bank said.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 03:22 UTC
Five injured in tour bus accident
Five injured in tour bus accidentRescuers assist passengers at the scene where the tour bus crashed into the median ditch on Phetkasem highway in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Bang Saphan district on Monday night. (Photo: Chaiwat Satyaem)PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: Five passengers received minor injuries when their tour bus ran off Phetkasem highway and crashed into the median ditch in Bang Saphan district late on Monday night, police said. The accident occurred about 11.10pm near the Bang Saphan intersection at kilometre marker 383 in tambon Rom Thong. Nearing the Bang Saphan intersection, a bicycle cut in front of the bus, crossing to the other side of the road. He swerved to the side to avoid hitting the bicycle, and the bus crashed into the centre ditch and toppled onto its side, Mr Preecha said.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 03:22 UTC
Bali hotels on sale cheap amid tourism slump
Bali hotels on sale cheap amid tourism slumpGone are the Australian surfers and Chinese tour groups. For investors with a long view, it’s a chance to grab a slice of paradise on the cheap. The number of lodgings listed for sale in Bali has jumped 30% since the pandemic struck, according to Indonesian property firm Galaxy Kuta. With eye-catching neon window frames and interiors, the 140-room hotel was put up for sale for $7.7 million in May. Intense competition at the budget end of the market had many hotel owners strained even before the virus hit.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 03:22 UTC
Pilgrims trickle back to the Ganges as India lockdown eases
Pilgrims trickle back to the Ganges as India lockdown easesLife is slowly returning to normal among the hallowed temples of Haridwar, one of Hinduism's holiest places. But India remains in the grip of a raging Covid-19 outbreak that has claimed more than 15,000 lives and infected over half a million people. For the first time in as long as any local can remember, pilgrims stopped coming in late March after India imposed the world's biggest coronavirus shutdown. In the past few weeks as India has eased restrictions -- even as case numbers have surged -- a few pilgrims have begun to return. One of the few pilgrims to return is Mohit Kumar, who came from Delhi to take a purifying dip in the Ganges, which is looking slightly cleaner for the lockdown.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 03:00 UTC
China passes Hong Kong security law: reports
China passes Hong Kong security law: reportsA government advertisement (left) promoting China’s national security law is displayed inside an MTR train station in Hong Kong. HONG KONG: China passed a sweeping national security law for Hong Kong on Tuesday, multiple local media outlets in the city reported Tuesday, in what critics fear will herald a wave of mainland style political repression. Beijing says the law banning subversion, secession, terrorism and colluding with foreign forces is needed to return stability to Hong Kong after a year of angry pro-democracy protests. At her weekly press conference on Tuesday morning, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam — a pro-Beijing appointee — declined to comment on whether the law had been passed. "I think at this moment, it is not appropriate for me to comment on any questions related to the national security law," Lam told reporters.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 02:03 UTC
As Facebook ad boycott enters new phase, impact unclear
As Facebook ad boycott enters new phase, impact unclearActivists have been stepping up pressure on Facebook to crack down more aggressively on racism and hateful content on the world's biggest social networkWASHINGTON - The advertiser boycott of Facebook has morphed into a global digital activist campaign aimed at curbing hateful and toxic content on the social media giant. "Non-profit groups are appealing to advertisers to police social media, given the general reluctance or refusal of the companies to do so themselves. Indeed, all social media will be compelled to re-examine and adjust or adopt new policies that don't permit hate and racism to proliferate." - 7 million advertisers -Despite the boycott, Facebook boasts some seven million advertisers on its network, with the vast majority small- and medium-sized businesses. The boycott "may lead to a softening of Facebook revenues a bit, but it will bounce back," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 01:18 UTC
YouTube shuts down far-right channels over hate speech
YouTube shuts down far-right channels over hate speechYouTube pulled the plug on six far-right channels as online social media platforms face increasing pressure to crack down on hateful rhetoricSAN FRANCISCO - YouTube on Monday shut down six far-right channels for violating rules against "supremacist" content, booting videos by David Duke, Stefan Molyneux and Richard Spencer. "We have strict policies prohibiting hate speech on YouTube, and terminate any channel that repeatedly or egregiously violates those policies," YouTube said in response to an AFP inquiry about the move. Since updating guidelines a year ago to better address supremacist content, YouTube saw a fivefold spike in video removals and has terminated more than 25,000 channels for violating hate speech policies, the spokesperson added. All the terminated channels broke YouTube rules by alleging that members of protected groups were innately inferior to others, according to the Google-owned video platform. Some of the nixed channels also violated rules against linking YouTube videos to hateful content hosted elsewhere on the internet, the company said.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 01:18 UTC
Formula One deploys war chest of coronavirus strategies for Austria
Formula One deploys war chest of coronavirus strategies for AustriaMax Verstappen during the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg last yearPARIS - The Formula One season roars into action at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg this weekend with "military-like", coronavirus-busting sanitary regulations. Brawn predicted teams would be quick to adapt to all new measures. "It suits our culture, our philosophy of working through every scenario, plan A, plan B, plan C," said Brawn, who added there was a two-metre social-distancing rule and compulsory visors or masks. Anyone at the track must submit to coronavirus testing and regular temperature checks and no spectators will be allowed in the arena. Haas team principal Guenther Steiner said last week he was more than happy with the ongoing safety measures.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 01:07 UTC
Thailand to lift ban on international flights Wednesday
(Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Thailand will lift a ban on international flights on Wednesday, its aviation regulator said on Monday. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) said the ban on international flights will be lifted on Wednesday under some conditions. This represents a significant contraction compared to the same period last year, when 9.3 million passengers used the same airports. The announcement of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand on the lifting of a ban on international flights starting Wednesday. With the lockdown being progressively eased in recent weeks, a limited number of domestic flights have have started slowly pushing up airport usage.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 00:56 UTC
Evolution of skincare
Like how gut health depends on gastrointestinal microbiota, the beauty of the skin relies on a good symbiotic relationship. Understanding the role of the skin microbiota, the French brand has formulated hydrating Super Aqua emulsions. "Good hydration and skin barrier functionality is key to skin's beauty and wellbeing. By ensuring biodiversity and equilibrium of the different species present on the skin surface, we can help guarantee the vitality, quality and normal skin function," said Bonté. The skin feeds the microbiota with micronutrients, and in turn the microorganisms contribute to a healthy skin barrier and other functions.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 00:45 UTC
Brentford's value-driven approach fires Premier League push
Brentford's value-driven approach fires Premier League pushBrentford manager Thomas FrankLONDON: Brentford are pushing hard for a return to the English top flight after more than 70 years away, with head coach Thomas Frank highlighting their values-driven approach as one reason for the club's success. In April they posted a 20 million pound ($25 million) profit for the financial year to the end of June 2019. Danish boss Frank told AFP that a big part of the ethos of the club is only buying players whose character fits. "Our success is down to different things but character and values are key above anything else," said the 46-year-old. "Attitude is a big, big thing, as in one's attitude to life.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 00:33 UTC