American scholar in Khon Kaen loses job, visa revoked
Khon Kaen University (KKU) has terminated its employment contract with a well-known American scholar who has been in Thailand for more than 30 years, resulting in his visa being revoked immediately. Thai media reported on Friday that David Streckfuss, founder of Khon Kaen-based The Isaan Record and director of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Khon Kaen since 1994, had had his contract terminated on Feb 18. The Isaan Record is a website focusing on social, political and environmental issues in the northeastern region of Thailand. Local media reported that The Isaan Record was now attempting to secure a visa and work permit for Mr Streckfuss so that he could remain in the country. Thailand recently was ranked the fifth-lowest among 144 countries worldwide in the Academic Freedom Index, compiled by the Germany-based Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) and the Scholars at Risk Network.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 11:48 UTC
Wellness just for you
A simple Google search of wellness programmes or retreats will have you bombarded with countless results. It's not at all difficult to book wellness treatments around Bangkok or in the provinces if you feel like doing a healthy getaway. Staying inKamalaya is a wellness resort that takes wellness seriously. Kamalaya seeks to combine everything from their wellness programmes, their food and the environment you're surrounded with to create what they call a "synergistic wellness experience". Final verdictKamalaya is the ultimate wellness getaway.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 05:37 UTC
A BUDDING LEADER OF AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
A BUDDING LEADER OF AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICSThailand’s automation and intelligent robotics industry has gone from strength to strength in recent years, driven by increasing demand from both domestic and overseas industries along with its well-established ecosystem. With 45 industrial robots for every 10,000 employees in 2019, Thailand was the second largest market for robotics and automation in ASEAN after Singapore. A Well-Established Robotics and Automation EcosystemThe multinational companies involved in Thailand’s global supply chain of key industries and investors have spearheaded the development of the country’s automation and robotics industry. A majority of the firms in the local automation and robotics industry are in the business of system integration and mechanical brain and software development. The Thai Automation and Robotics Association (TARA)4 is also playing a key role in developing Thailand’s automation and robotics industry.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 16, 2021 04:41 UTC
A summertime delicacy
The once-forgotten khao chae has been brought back to life thanks to social media trends. Here are the best places to try the dish which dates back to the King Rama V eraA khao chae set at Flourish, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. Due to a retro revival trend reinforced by social media, the once-forgotten legacy of khao chae has now been brought back to life. Today, khao chae has become summer's much sought-after delicacy and a darling of Instagram. Preparing khao chae demands a long and meticulous, if not secretive, process of labour and understanding.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 15, 2021 23:26 UTC
End justice wait for Karen
End justice wait for KarenSeven years after Karen activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen's death in 2014, issues close to his heart, like ancestral rights of fellow ethnic villagers in Kaeng Krachan National Park, remain unfulfilled. He was last seen in the custody of Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, then park chief, on April 17, 2014, at a time when he was pursuing the Karen rights issue in court. In 2011 Chaiwat led a brutal eviction of the Karen from their upper Bang Kloi village to a namesake relocation site. Once again, park officials applied a heavy-handed approach, forcing them down to the lower area. While it agreed to form a fact-finding panel, the National Park Office slapped the Karen returnees with lawsuits.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 15, 2021 23:15 UTC
Your horoscope for 16-22 Apr
Your spot-on horoscope for work, money, couples & singles from the Bangkok Post's famously accurate fortune teller. (♥) Couples are so busy with their work that they don't get to spend romantic time with each other much. (♥) Couples don't get to be sweet and romantic with each other due to their busy schedules. ♋ CancerJun 21 – Jul 22(⛹) You don't experience post-vacation blues and get back to the grind without any difficulty. (⚤) If you haven't completely gotten over your ex, don't start a new relationship with someone even if s/he asks you to.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 15, 2021 12:45 UTC
TEST YOURSELF: Making reading cool again
TEST YOURSELF: Making reading cool againPhoto by Varuth HirunyathebBooks aren’t dead, and neither are book fairsTest Yourself is where you can improve your reading skills. The National Book Fair will be held virtually from April 17-25 while the in-person event is postponed to next month. As always, this year's National Book Fair comes with a special theme of "Reading Is Cool". He'll be there to share the story of how reading books helped him compose songs and got him where he is today," she said. The 49th National Book Fair & Bangkok International Book Fair 2021 will be held virtually between April 17-25 at ThaiBookFair.com.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 15, 2021 07:41 UTC
Don't protect the culprits
But it should be noted that the two are just employees, which caused suspicion to arise that the quick action was intended to avert public attention from the real culprits. Thong Lor is a prime entertainment district, and one needs strong connections to operate a business there, especially an illegal one. The transfer of two Thong Lor policemen doesn't mean anything. The shenanigans surrounding the infamous hit-and-run case involving the Red Bull scion in the Thong Lor area come to mind, as the culprit remains free. The Thong Lor case is just the tip of the police corruption iceberg.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 14, 2021 23:26 UTC
Reality bites
Reality bitesRe: "BOT recommends additional aid measures," (BP, April 8). Early unrealistic forecasts of 30 million foreign visitors were quickly reduced to 10 million, then to 5 million. The reality is that, without a viable vaccination programme covering the entire population, the number of foreign visitors to Thailand in 2021 is more likely to be somewhere between 30,000 and 300,000 -- not 3 million. A Chinese doctor has just said that the Chinese Sinovac vaccine is only 50% effective. Thailand orders Chinese submarines, now the cheap and poorly effective Chinese vaccine and the much less effective AZ vaccines.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 13, 2021 23:02 UTC
High road toll a blow
High road toll a blowNumerous deaths and injuries related to road accidents over the past three days, almost half way into the extra holidays during the Songkran festival, once again attest to the fact the government's approach to tackling the road toll is of no use. It's likely that accident and death rates -- like in previous years -- will not change much when the designated period ends on April 16. The Royal Thai Police resumed checkpoint operations shortly ahead of the Songkran holidays with the hope that road safety could be boosted. What is needed particularly is comprehensive policy and action plan, and synergy among state agencies and civic groups, to curb road accidents in everyday life. It's time the government learn from its past failures; it needs more than a one-time effort -- like the designated seven-day period -- to achieve road safety.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 13, 2021 23:02 UTC
Tackling BTS fares at root cause
Tackling BTS fares at root causeHad it not been for the overwhelming opposition from all around, the BTS skytrain fares on the Sukhumvit Line would have risen to one-third of the country's minimum wage since February. The skytrain fares will not go down unless their root causes are addressed. A short-term solution to reduce the fares is to exempt station entry fees when connecting with different BTS lines. Lastly, the fares of the BTS lines are expensive because government and City Hall are not accountable to the people. When there is the political will to tackle the skytrain concessions, there is hope of bringing sky-high BTS skytrain fares back down to earth.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 13, 2021 23:02 UTC
Paragon's Beauty Hall gets a makeover
Photos courtesy of Siam ParagonFollowing a facelift, Paragon's Beauty Hall now accommodates more than 250 brands in a vibrant retail space spanning 4,000m². The relaunch introduces Albion, Charlotte Tilbury, Elemis, Gucci Beauty and Hermès Beauty as five of 12 exclusive brands. Its feel-good skincare products also deliver aromatherapy. The Charlotte Tilbury Beauty counter also features the Magic Skin Bar shelved with award-winning cream and other skincare formulas. These exclusive brands have joined the Beauty Hall Festival 2021, with the shopping campaign running till end April.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 13, 2021 01:07 UTC
End panic by educating
End panic by educatingWith the number of new Covid-19 infections increasing by almost 1,000 each day since the end of last week, the government is faced with the tough task of tackling the third wave of the virus which was linked to entertainment venues in Bangkok's Thong Lor area. Under such circumstances, an equally difficult (if not, more) difficult task that the government needs to tackle is controlling public panic, which, if allowed to go on, will make the fight against the coronavirus more complicated and costly. Over the past few days, there have been reports of people scrambling to seek Covid-19 test at public and private hospitals alike. Instead of rushing to hospitals, those who have come into contact with Covid-19 patients are supposed to self-quarantine for 14 days as a precaution. The government must strike a fine balance between promoting awareness and preventing public panic.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 13, 2021 00:56 UTC
Most elders 'don't need' outside help
Most elders 'don't need' outside helpA study carried out by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has found that most senior citizens below the age of 69 can still take care of themselves. Furthermore, only 2% of Thais aged 80 and above depended on others for support, most owing to health problems. To prepare Thailand as it transitions to an ageing society, ThaiHealth is focusing on four areas, namely health, the economy, social and environment, Ms Porranee said. ThaiHealth had previously forecast that Thailand will be an ageing society in all aspects by 2022 and a super-aged society in 2033. Half of them have not received an annual health check, he said, before reminding people that regular check-ups can help prevent chronic diseases from worsening over time.
Source:Bangkok Post
April 13, 2021 00:45 UTC