Thai finance ministry slashes GDP outlook to 8.5% contraction
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...orecast-economy-contraction-covid-19-12976516
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/new...orecast-economy-contraction-covid-19-12976516
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A Singaporean's guide to living in Thailand
- Thread starter Leongsam
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BUFFALOS BREAK FREE FROM SLAUGHTERHOUSE, RESCUED BY NUN
By
Khaosod English
-
July 22, 2020 3:41 pm
Buffaloes on On Nut Road on July 22, 2020. Photos: JS100 / Facebook
SAMUT PRAKAN — A nun who owns a farm for rescued farm animals said Wednesday she will pay for six buffalos that broke loose from a slaughterhouse into city streets Wednesday morning.
Phakjira Hatthakitchamroen, who owns Punissarapab Farm in Ratchaburi, is collecting funds to buy six buffalos from the slaughterhouse in the Srinagarindra area. The beasts were seen wandering On Nut Road next to zipping cars in a series of clips and photos that went viral online earlier today.
“We eat their kids and meat, and they help us till the earth but they have no place to live,” Phakjira said by phone Wednesday. “It’s not fair to the buffaloes. Farmers aren’t even keeping buffaloes nowadays. I’m telling you, in three years we will see no more buffaloes.”
The six buffaloes would set back Phakrija at about 290,000 baht. The nun said she’s received 30,000 baht in donation so far, borrowed 150,000 baht from a friend, and put down 10,000 baht of her own money as deposit.
Saving animals from slaughterhouses is regarded as a merit-making by many Buddhists.
One year back, I had a funny strange dream of grabbing a buffalo by it's horns. 2 days later my then Udon Thani GF blocked me for good after she got angry at me over a message.
CRASH AT THIS QUIRKY ‘ENGLISH CAFE’ FOR CAKE AND COFFEE
By
Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer
-
August 3, 2020 10:30 am
https://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/food/2020/08/03/crash-at-this-quirky-english-cafe-for-cake-and-coffee/
BANGKOK — Visiting cafés can be more than just having a cup of coffee. In the case of ‘A pink rabbit + Bob’, it’s about an experience.
The deco and mood at this small cafe may evoke an English coffeehouse or even a pub – but it’s located in the heart of Old Bangkok and not Cotswold or London.
This is no coincidence. Designer/owner Siriwan Tharanamithikul of ‘It’s Happened to be a Closet’ café fame is also the brain behind ‘A pink rabbit + Bob’ on Maharaj Road, just opposite Wat Pho. It’s been in business for two years.
“We provided the ambience,” she said. “Some say it’s like eating cakes inside a pub. We bring in natural light and combine it with low warm electric lights. You look good in photos here because of the daylight.”
With just seven tables and seating for no more than two dozen customers, Siriwan said she can easily control the ambience of this one-storey café inside an old, Brit pop-filled shophouse which specializes in cakes and coffee.
“The small-sized café means I can control its charm from all angles and put customers in the mood,” Siriwan said.
Virtually all chairs and tables are vintage, imported from the UK and Europe and part of the owner’s collection. This added an immediate sense of authenticity to the eclectic UK-Euro ambience. One could have imagined it being situated in one of the cobbled alleys in Oxford, or somewhere around Portobello Market in London.
“We named it ‘A Pink Rabbit + Bob’ in order to make it easy to say. Bob is someone who can indeed prepare coffee real well,” said Siriwan.
Don’t bother looking for him here.Here you have a 52-year-old Thai male barista by the name of Jintana Kotsuwan from Yasothon province instead of Bob from the Isle of Man.
However, this imaginary Bob’s two-decades experience in preparing coffee even before Starbucks entered Thailand and coffee became fashionable, or rather indispensable in Bangkok, means you are in good hands. A cup of Lavazza-bean Americano here costs 90 baht and is good, as expected.
“We put the cakes on display up front so people can make a decision right away,” Siriwan said. “Nothing much has been altered to the front of the café in order to blend in with the old town.”
“Also, we don’t serve alcohol here because we’re very close to the temple,” Siriwan said, referring to the famous temple of Wat Pho with gigantic reclining Buddha once visited by U.S President Barack Obama.
Although you can have beef burgundy stew with rice here (180 baht), this place is really about cakes and more cakes. Indeed, instead of scones, jam and clotted cream, you have a variety of 16 cakes and pies to choose from. We must also note here that – gasp – no English tea is sold here.
Princess Scarlet (185 baht) is basically a velvet cake with generous pieces of walnuts toppings and blueberry as well as raspberry.
It’s very satisfying and reminds us of Magnolia Bakery, a well-known cupcake purveyor on 6th Avenue in Manhattan near Rockefeller Building during Christmas, where velvet cupcakes are the choice of the Winter Holiday Season.
“You don’t have to have a velvet cake only during Christmas anymore,” Suriwan insisted. “You can now have it anytime of the year.”
The next order was Shiny Orange (165 baht), an orange cheesecake with pieces of Californian orange toppings. This, said Siriwan, is among a house specialty “invented” from scratch at the bakery in order to offer customers something more than just the standard “old school” cake repertoire.
It was delicate but nothing that we would miss. Shiny Orange with a colourful chintz-printed plate looks good on IG or Twitter though. And taking selfie and cake pornography are what many Thai customers come here for.
Last but not least, I ordered Raspberry Choc Pie (175 baht). This is highly recommended as the thick sweet chocolate mousse balanced really well with the slight acidity and sourness of half a dozen raspberries.
Cakes are made daily from a common kitchen in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, for all its six café and restaurants under various names.
Strangely enough, Siriwan said more Thais are coming to the café since the coronavirus pandemic broke out and they are doing rather well despite the lack of foreign tourists.
Perhaps the government’s boosting of domestic tourism plays a role. Afterall, the café is well-located to serve those who need more than a crude immediate sugar injection.
“With seven pastry chefs, we make 12,000 slices of cakes daily. Thais are eating more and more cakes. They are more discerning. More adults and people upcountry are eating cakes,” Siriwan said. “Delicious is not enough. It must be eye-catching as well.”
A pink rabbit + Bob open every day from 9am to 8pm. It is located at 378 Maharaj Road. Call 062-639-8880 for details. This review is unsponsored and we paid for the cakes ourselves.
Very lovely cakes..It was delicate but nothing that we would miss. Shiny Orange with a colourful chintz-printed plate looks good on IG or Twitter though. And taking selfie and cake pornography are what many Thai customers come here for.
Last but not least, I ordered Raspberry Choc Pie (175 baht). This is highly recommended as the thick sweet chocolate mousse balanced really well with the slight acidity and sourness of half a dozen raspberries.
Cakes are made daily from a common kitchen in Nonthaburi province, north of Bangkok, for all its six café and restaurants under various names.
Strangely enough, Siriwan said more Thais are coming to the café since the coronavirus pandemic broke out and they are doing rather well despite the lack of foreign tourists.
Perhaps the government’s boosting of domestic tourism plays a role. Afterall, the café is well-located to serve those who need more than a crude immediate sugar injection.
“With seven pastry chefs, we make 12,000 slices of cakes daily. Thais are eating more and more cakes. They are more discerning. More adults and people upcountry are eating cakes,” Siriwan said. “Delicious is not enough. It must be eye-catching as well.”
A pink rabbit + Bob open every day from 9am to 8pm. It is located at 378 Maharaj Road. Call 062-639-8880 for details. This review is unsponsored and we paid for the cakes ourselves.
This is a Spanish Mackerel or Batang fish from the sea
U-turn on Red Bull saga.
Cocaine, reckless driving charges for Red Bull scion
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 4 AUG 2020 AT 11:41
Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya is at the Thong Lor police station in Bangkok after the crash on Sept 3, 2012. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
A panel of prosecutors on Tuesday recommended charges of cocaine abuse and reckless driving causing death for Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya.
The dramatic turnaround on Mr Vorayut's fatal hit-and-run case in Bangkok in 2012 came in a review of the prosecution by a working group of the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) and was announced by OAG spokesman Prayut Petcharakhun. Earlier a deputy attorney-general and an acting police chief decided not to arraign him on the charge of reckless driving causing death.
Mr Prayut said that Nate Naksuk, deputy attorney-general responsible for cases with justice complaints, had initially made a sound decision against arraignment based on available evidence and witnesses.
Although police investigators initially believed Mr Vorayuth had driven his Ferrari car at 177 kilometres per hour, they later reduced the estimated speed below 80kph. The change came after the suspect's repeated appeals for "justice" and the appearance of more evidence and witnesses.
Mr Prayut also mentioned the account of late witness Jaruchart Maadthong, who reportedly drove a pickup truck at the crash scene at 80kph, saw the victim cut in front of him on his motorcycle and then heard the noise of a crash behind. The witness gave his story days after the crash.
Mr Prayut said the prosecutors' working group found later that Sathon Wicharnwannarak, a physics lecturer of Chulalongkorn University who worked for forensic police, had concluded that the speed of the Ferrari at the time of the crash was about 177kph. However, the conclusion had not been included in police investigative report relating to the case.
The statute of limitations on the charge will not expire for another seven years.
Regarding the alleged cocaine abuse, Mr Prayut said that a blood sample taken from Mr Vorayuth's blood on the day of the crash indicated that he had abused cocaine. However, police had not raised the matter in their past investigative report, he said.
Police and prosecutors omitted the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol because a test showed the Red Bull scion must have drunk after the crash -- because his blood alcohol level was so high, he would have been unable to drive.
Charnchai Chalanonniwat, deputy director-general of the OAG's Department of Criminal Litigation, said the blood test showed the presence of benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene.
Neither chemical was a narcotic in itself, he said, but benzoylecgonine would emerge after cocaine use, while cocaethylene resulted from the use of cocaine and alcohol.
Mr Charnchai and Mr Prayut said that the new evidence found by the working group justified the fresh investigation in the hit-and-run case.
Mr Vorayuth, 35, also known as Boss, drove a black Ferrari that killed Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert, 47, in the early morning of Sept 3, 2012.
He crashed into the rear of the police motorcycle on Sukhumvit Road. He then fled the scene to his home nearby.
He delayed hearing charges seven times. It was not until April 27, 2017, that prosecutors finally charged him with reckless driving causing death and failing to help a crash victim.
He fled on a private plane two days before he was due to face the charges.
A speeding charge was later dropped when the one-year statute of limitation expired. A second charge, failing to stop and help a crash victim, expired on Sept 3, 2017.
The third and most serious charge, reckless driving causing death, would have remained on the books until 2027, but on July 23, CNN revealed the charge had been dropped.
Mr Vorayuth is the son of Chalerm Yoovidhya, whose family co-owns the energy drink megabrand Red Bull and ranks second on Thailand's richest list, with a net worth estimated at US$20 billion (about 617 billion baht).
Cocaine, reckless driving charges for Red Bull scion
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 4 AUG 2020 AT 11:41
A panel of prosecutors on Tuesday recommended charges of cocaine abuse and reckless driving causing death for Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya.
The dramatic turnaround on Mr Vorayut's fatal hit-and-run case in Bangkok in 2012 came in a review of the prosecution by a working group of the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) and was announced by OAG spokesman Prayut Petcharakhun. Earlier a deputy attorney-general and an acting police chief decided not to arraign him on the charge of reckless driving causing death.
Mr Prayut said that Nate Naksuk, deputy attorney-general responsible for cases with justice complaints, had initially made a sound decision against arraignment based on available evidence and witnesses.
Although police investigators initially believed Mr Vorayuth had driven his Ferrari car at 177 kilometres per hour, they later reduced the estimated speed below 80kph. The change came after the suspect's repeated appeals for "justice" and the appearance of more evidence and witnesses.
Mr Prayut also mentioned the account of late witness Jaruchart Maadthong, who reportedly drove a pickup truck at the crash scene at 80kph, saw the victim cut in front of him on his motorcycle and then heard the noise of a crash behind. The witness gave his story days after the crash.
Mr Prayut said the prosecutors' working group found later that Sathon Wicharnwannarak, a physics lecturer of Chulalongkorn University who worked for forensic police, had concluded that the speed of the Ferrari at the time of the crash was about 177kph. However, the conclusion had not been included in police investigative report relating to the case.
The statute of limitations on the charge will not expire for another seven years.
Regarding the alleged cocaine abuse, Mr Prayut said that a blood sample taken from Mr Vorayuth's blood on the day of the crash indicated that he had abused cocaine. However, police had not raised the matter in their past investigative report, he said.
Police and prosecutors omitted the charge of driving under the influence of alcohol because a test showed the Red Bull scion must have drunk after the crash -- because his blood alcohol level was so high, he would have been unable to drive.
Charnchai Chalanonniwat, deputy director-general of the OAG's Department of Criminal Litigation, said the blood test showed the presence of benzoylecgonine and cocaethylene.
Neither chemical was a narcotic in itself, he said, but benzoylecgonine would emerge after cocaine use, while cocaethylene resulted from the use of cocaine and alcohol.
Mr Charnchai and Mr Prayut said that the new evidence found by the working group justified the fresh investigation in the hit-and-run case.
Mr Vorayuth, 35, also known as Boss, drove a black Ferrari that killed Pol Snr Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert, 47, in the early morning of Sept 3, 2012.
He crashed into the rear of the police motorcycle on Sukhumvit Road. He then fled the scene to his home nearby.
He delayed hearing charges seven times. It was not until April 27, 2017, that prosecutors finally charged him with reckless driving causing death and failing to help a crash victim.
He fled on a private plane two days before he was due to face the charges.
A speeding charge was later dropped when the one-year statute of limitation expired. A second charge, failing to stop and help a crash victim, expired on Sept 3, 2017.
The third and most serious charge, reckless driving causing death, would have remained on the books until 2027, but on July 23, CNN revealed the charge had been dropped.
Mr Vorayuth is the son of Chalerm Yoovidhya, whose family co-owns the energy drink megabrand Red Bull and ranks second on Thailand's richest list, with a net worth estimated at US$20 billion (about 617 billion baht).
Thailand plans to widen medical marijuana production
Thailand's cabinet approved amendments on Tuesday to its narcotics act to allow private production and sale of marijuana for medical use, officials said
With a tradition of using the leaf to relieve pain and fatigue, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize marijuana in 2017 for medical use and research, but only the government was allowed to grow plants.
Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the proposed amendments would also allow patients, businesses and medical professionals to produce, export, import and sell the leaf.
- News Desk
Reuters
Thailand's cabinet approved amendments on Tuesday to its narcotics act to allow private production and sale of marijuana for medical use, officials said
With a tradition of using the leaf to relieve pain and fatigue, Thailand became the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize marijuana in 2017 for medical use and research, but only the government was allowed to grow plants.
Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the proposed amendments would also allow patients, businesses and medical professionals to produce, export, import and sell the leaf.
New cabinet ministers announced
Predee gets finance, Supattanapong energy and DPM
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 6 AUG 2020 AT 15:01
Predee Daochai is the new finance minister, while Supattanapong Punmeechaow doubles up as energy minister and deputy prime minister, in the cabinet reshuffle published in the Royal Gazette on Thursday.
The Gazette announced six changes in the cabinet .
Mr Predee replaced Uttama Savanayana at the Finance Ministry and Mr Supattanapong filled the void left by Sontirat Sontijirawong at the Energy Ministry.
Mr Predee is the former co-president of Kasikornbank and chairman of the Thai Bankers’ Association.
Mr Supattanapong, a former director of PTT Global Chemical Plc, is the new deputy prime minister. He is expected to lead the economic policy team left by Somkid Jatusripitak.
Anek Laothamatas gets the higher education, science and innovations portfolio left vacant after Suvit Maesincee resigned, along with Mr Uttama and Mr Sontirat, from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP).
Suchat Chomklin is the new labour minister and his new deputy is former cabinet spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat.
The Action Coalition for Thailand Party has swapped the labour portfolio for the higher education, science and innovations post once controlled by the PPRP.
The new positions are effective after they take the oath of office before His Majesty the King. No date is given.
Predee gets finance, Supattanapong energy and DPM
Bangkok Post PUBLISHED : 6 AUG 2020 AT 15:01
Predee Daochai is the new finance minister, while Supattanapong Punmeechaow doubles up as energy minister and deputy prime minister, in the cabinet reshuffle published in the Royal Gazette on Thursday.
The Gazette announced six changes in the cabinet .
Mr Predee replaced Uttama Savanayana at the Finance Ministry and Mr Supattanapong filled the void left by Sontirat Sontijirawong at the Energy Ministry.
Mr Predee is the former co-president of Kasikornbank and chairman of the Thai Bankers’ Association.
Mr Supattanapong, a former director of PTT Global Chemical Plc, is the new deputy prime minister. He is expected to lead the economic policy team left by Somkid Jatusripitak.
- PM submits cabinet list
- PM denies submitting minister list
- Deputy Prime Minister outlines policy to cultivate human resources standards professionally
Anek Laothamatas gets the higher education, science and innovations portfolio left vacant after Suvit Maesincee resigned, along with Mr Uttama and Mr Sontirat, from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP).
Suchat Chomklin is the new labour minister and his new deputy is former cabinet spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat.
The Action Coalition for Thailand Party has swapped the labour portfolio for the higher education, science and innovations post once controlled by the PPRP.
The new positions are effective after they take the oath of office before His Majesty the King. No date is given.
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