Showing 1 - 10 of 32
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
Road to where?
Oped, Postbag, Published on 02/05/2020
» Re: "Cut govt some slack", (PostBag, April 29).
Criminals exploiting 'fears of contagion'
News, Wassayos Ngamkham, Published on 21/04/2020
» The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) has seen its workload increase recently due to crimes related to the coronavirus pandemic, its chief warned yesterday.
Mass testing best
News, Postbag, Published on 21/03/2020
» The most effective and cheapest way of controlling the Covid-19 pandemic will be to conduct mass testing of the population, as urged by eminent French infectious diseases expert Dr Didier Raoult. He has pointed out that cheaply mass produced testing equipment is already available and is being used effectively in South Korea. Countries, including Thailand, should build up this mass testing capability as fast as it can and test as many people as possible. That way it will be possible to isolate only those who test positive and it also makes it possible to treat those who start showing symptoms early which boosts the chance of a favourable outcome for them. This will be far more effective than locking down entire populations of people who are not infected and causing a massive economic dislocation in the process. In Thailand's case, it may cost US$325 million (10.5 billion baht) to test the entire population, but that would be a drop in the bucket compared to the $8 billion cost of a 5% decline in GDP.
Health minister apologises for anti-Western slurs
News, Post Reporters, Published on 08/02/2020
» Government efforts to solve the shortage and high prices of face masks took a hit on Friday after Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had to apologise for saying that a group of foreigners should be "kicked out of Thailand" for refusing to wear them.
Thailand's going bananas for Korea
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 17/09/2019
» When South Korean President Moon Jae-in visited Thailand recently, he highlighted two Thai names, Nichkhun of 2PM and Lisa of Blackpink as symbols of the excellent South Korean-Thai friendship. Nichkhun Horvejkul and Lalisa Manoban are young Thai idols who are making a living as K-Pop performers in Seoul. Both of them speak fluent Korean, they are trained to sing in Korean and are well-versed in K-Pop dancing.
Make city streets obstacle free for the disabled
News, Sirinya Wattanasukchai, Published on 26/07/2019
» If you've been around Bangkok over the past few months, you may have seen a young woman accompanied by a black Labrador riding the BTS Skytrain or strolling through some department stores. Her story with Luther, her guide dog, has gone viral on social media.
High-rises skirt law to spring up in narrow sois
News, Supoj Wancharoen, Published on 12/05/2019
» Due to unscrupulous state officials and greedy real estate developers exploiting legal loopholes, many high-rises manage to spring up in narrow sois in Bangkok, posing environmental problems and safety concerns.
More than 150,000 to attend ceremonies
News, Post Reporters, Published on 30/04/2019
» City Hall is bracing for an influx of more than 150,000 people, expected to flock to Sanam Luang for His Majesty the King's coronation ceremonies this weekend.
Revamp the military
News, Postbag, Published on 23/02/2019
» Let's briefly consider local geopolitics and the Thai military. Thailand needs China like it needs another coup. However, China needs Thailand for a variety of reasons. The US has had a longstanding favourable relationship with Thailand and is its most powerful ally.