A tale of two Delhis: Deadly air exposes rich poor divide | Bangkok Post: news
High-end eateries, bars and cinemas are tapping into that demand -- installing electronic air purifiers and creating dedicated areas of rich vegetation to help filter airborne toxins. He cannot dream of buying the foreign-made air purifiers to protect his family at home -- machines favoured by Delhi's elite, expat communities and office workers -- that easily cost Singh's annual wage. "The rich and the poor have to breathe the same poisonous air. But the poor are more exposed to pollution," explains Sunil Dahiya, a campaigner for Greenpeace India. He adds: "Most of the time, they don't even know the effects the toxic air is having on their health.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 21, 2019 04:41 UTC
Disney closes $71bn deal for Fox entertainment assets | Bangkok Post: news
The closure paves the way for Disney to launch its streaming service, Disney Plus, due out later this year. Among other things, it paves the way for Disney to launch its streaming service, Disney Plus, due out later this year. With Fox, Disney could add Marvel's X-Men and Deadpool, along with programmes shown on such Fox channels as FX Networks and National Geographic. Disney CEO Bob Iger said in an earnings call in February that Disney Plus and other direct-to-consumer businesses are Disney's "No 1 priority.'' Meanwhile, Fox Corp -- the parts of 21st Century Fox that are not part of the deal, including Fox News, Fox Sports and Fox Broadcasting -- started trading on the Nasdaq under the "FOX'' and "FOXA'' tickers on Tuesday.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 21, 2019 04:18 UTC
Chevrolet previews new Captiva for Thailand | Bangkok Post: auto
Compact SUV has been developed at GM’s Chinese joint venture and goes on sale in the second half of this year. And yes, the second-generation Captiva isn’t based on the American Blazer, unlike what has been reported earlier this year. Chevrolet has yet to reveal what’s powering the new Captiva for the Thai market. Chevrolet has confirmed that there will be either five- or seven-seat matrix for Thai buyers to choose from; the previous Captiva had seven only. It should be a shade cheaper than Chevrolet’s own Trailblazer, a pickup-based SUV with seven seats and slightly larger dimensions.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 21, 2019 03:56 UTC
Pyongyang sanctions workarounds failing to soften impact | Bangkok Post: news
SEOUL - North Korea's illicit and highly sophisticated efforts to circumvent UN sanctions may have sought to cushion their impact, but they offer no long-term solution to the fallout of tightened economic isolation, analysts say. Portraits of late North Korean leaders Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang. Exports to China were just $213 million last year, say the Chinese Customs statistics -- although some observers question their reliability. Hugh Griffiths, the co-ordinator of the UN panel, likened Pyongyang's efforts to high-net-worth tax avoiders and multinational corporations. Last April Kim declared the development of his nuclear programme complete and said that "socialist economic construction" was now Pyongyang's top priority.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 21, 2019 03:45 UTC
NZ to ban all military-style semi-automatic weapons | Bangkok Post: news
"Now, six days after this attack, we are announcing a ban on all military-style semi-automatics (MSSA) and assault rifles in New Zealand," Ardern said. A lone gunman armed with semi-automatic rifles including an AR-15, last Friday killed 50 people in two mosque attacks in Christchurch. Australia banned semi-automatic weapons and launched a gun buy-back after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996 in which 35 people were gunned down. “All semi-automatic weapons used during the terrorist attack on Friday 15 March will be banned." The minimum legal age to own a gun in New Zealand is currently 16, or 18 for military-style semi-automatic weapons.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 21, 2019 03:45 UTC
Fire damages Myanmar refugee houses in Mae Hong Son
No one was injured. Col Wutthi Pathomruangkul, commander of the 36th Ranger Taskforce, said the fire started at about 1.45am and damaged nine houses, affecting 54 refugees at the Ban Mae La camp. He said the fire might have been caused by an electrical short circuit. The camp has 1,606 houses with 7,842 refugees from Myanmar.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 21, 2019 03:22 UTC
Master Plan of the Village Fund and Urban Community Project Promoting sustainable ‘grass-roots development’
Tens of thousands of members of the “Village Fund and Urban Community” networks participated in the key event. The “Master Plan of the Village Fund and Urban Community Project” is a vital mechanism to strengthen the funds under the Project in the long run. It was recently proposed to the Prime Minister by representatives from the Village Fund and Urban Community networks and 38 Rajabhat universities. It anticipates a sustainable village fund consisting of 1) National banks; 2) Grass-roots economic development mechanisms in villages and communities; 3) Village and community social welfare networks; 4) Learning and development centers for grass-roots economic development; and 5) Volunteer development initiatives based on Royal guidelines, leading to sustainable development. Prof. Natee Khlibtong, Chief Executive Officer of the National Village and Urban Community Fund Office, stressed that the conceptual framework will allow the Village Fund to move forward to achieve the goal of becoming a national financial institution and a village and urban community development bank within 20 years.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 21, 2019 03:11 UTC
Filing room at Rajabhat Suan Sunantha University damaged by fire
Police said no one was injured in the fire. A room on the fourth floor of the office building of the university's rectory on Uthong Nok road in Bangkok's Dusit district was damaged at 5am. Seven fire engines took about 50 minutes to put out the flames. Police are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 21, 2019 02:48 UTC
Winter wonderland, summer retreat | Bangkok Post: news
Nozawaonsen is rightly famous for its hot springs and skiing. But there's much more to it than thatNozawaonsen is home to 30 different types of hot springs and 13 public hot spring bathing facilities. Marvel at the ryokan, temples, shrines and hot springs, and stop to buy fresh local produce and souvenirs. There are thirteen outdoor springs and many more indoor bathing facilities with abundant sulphur hot springs, believed to alleviate muscle pain, rheumatism, chronic fatigue and stress as well as promoting beautiful glowing skin. Everywhere you look, there are ryokan (Japanese inns), temples, shrines and hot springs.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 21, 2019 00:28 UTC
Energy Regulatory Commission eyes B40bn from solar power projects | Bangkok Post: business
(Photo by Weeraboon Wisartsakul)The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) expects to create new investment value of 40 billion baht from its new 10,000-megawatt solar power projects for households from 2019-2028. The state grid plans to buy the electricity from solar rooftops, offering a feed-in tariff of 1.68 baht per kilowatt-hour (unit) for 10-year contracts. Under the PDP, solar power is projected to total 12,725MW by 2037. "Under the PDP, policymakers expect to increase the solar power generation to account for 50% of overall renewable power by 2037," said Ms Naruphat. The waste-to-energy power projects are expected to launch next month, but the ERC has yet to set a pilot power capacity for this renewable resource.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 21, 2019 00:00 UTC
Party time for day trippers | Bangkok Post: lifestyle
Selby MG. Day TripThe second edition of Day Trip, an outdoor music festival with a picnic concept, is coming to the heart of Bangkok at Connex Asoke's garden, Ratchadaphisek Road, on March 30 from 1.30-9.30pm. After its debut in the Amphawa district of Samut Songkhram last year, the picnic-style boutique festival promises to give the exhausted Bangkok crowd an intimate break from the bustling city. Bringing the charms of Thaibreak Festival, the vacation escape with music and all-around fun, to this daytime open-air party will be Meat aka Carsten Schuchmann, an international guest DJ from Germany and founder of Freebase Records. Also set to delight partygoers will be local talents including DJs Chamapoo and Junesis while Selby MG will give a live performance featuring funk, disco and deep house tunes. Photos courtesy of Day TripTickets cost 400 baht (500 baht at the door) and can be purchased from http://ticketmelon.com/dt/daytripopenair.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2019 23:15 UTC
State launches telemedicine in rural areas | Bangkok Post: business
The government on Wednesday began development of its telemedicine programme at 32 hospitals in rural areas in eight provinces, encouraging adoption of new technologies and remote medical care. The broadband internet infrastructure required to operate telemedicine will run through the NBTC's USO (universal service obligation) Net. "People will benefit from better standards through telemedicine, which will directly help people in remote villages." He said the initial 32 hospitals will start offering telemedicine services by the fourth quarter of this year. The 32 hospitals comprise 15 subdistrict health-promoting hospitals, five community hospitals, eight provincial hospitals and four primary care clusters.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2019 23:08 UTC
Unit set up to probe ex-cop's murder | Bangkok Post: news
Pol Capt Watcharin Benjathotsawat, 48, a former deputy superintendent of investigations for Songkhla's police headquarters, was shot three times at point blank range outside his house on Soi Prasanmit 2 in tambon Khao Roop Chang. Pol Capt Watcharin was later pronounced dead at a local hospital. However, the car seen in footage had fake car registration plates, the source said. The police said that Pol Capt Watcharin's murder could be linked to his investigation of a case that involves a businessman and a senior police officer, or a personal matter relating to his property dealings. According to the same source, footage from the dashboard camera in the victim's car revealed that Pol Capt Watcharin was talking on the phone with a lawyer when the shots were fired.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2019 23:03 UTC
King's College to open sister school in Bangkok | Bangkok Post: business
Wealthy Bangkok parents will be getting yet another choice of private schools for their children next year when King's College International School Bangkok opens in the Ratchada-Rama III area. The school will bring elite British education to Bangkok as a sister school of King's College Wimbledon in Britain, a school where 25% of students go on to attend Oxford or Cambridge. "Thai parents want the best for their kids and want to open as many doors for them as possible," said Thomas Banyard, principal of King's College Bangkok. In recent years King's College has expanded into Asia with two campuses in China and now one under construction in Bangkok. The project is a joint venture of King's College and Excellence Education Thailand (XET).
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2019 23:03 UTC
GH Bank keen to cut low-cost rates | Bangkok Post: business
State-owned GH Bank wants to slash the mortgage rate for the 1-million-unit low-cost government housing scheme to below 3% and lengthen the maximum housing loan term to 50 years from 40 years. The three-year savings lotteries will be divided into three batches of 30 billion baht, 20 billion and 50 billion, with the first lot expected to be launched in September. To make the housing scheme affordable, GH Bank will seek a 2.4-billion-baht budget from the government for six years of subsidies, said Mr Chatchai. Of the total, 50 billion baht is for housing loans to borrowers, with 10 billion for project financing for developers to build the projects. GH Bank should consider offering special mortgages to those who are starting families, looking to buy homes priced more than 1 million baht, said Mr Somkid.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2019 23:03 UTC