Govt nominates Kittiratt for Bank of Thailand board chair: sources

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Government anxious to see interest rates cut as the economy struggles

Described: 16 Sep 2024 at 21: 50

Thailand's former deputy premier and finance minister Kittiratt Na Ranong (Photo: Government House)
Thailand’s former deputy premier and finance minister Kittiratt Na Ranong ( Photo: Government House )

In response to a protracted rift over interest rates, the government will seek to appoint a member of the ruling party who will criticize the governor of the Bank of Thailand ( BoT ) as its chair, according to two sources.

According to the resources who have access to the information, the Pheu Thai Party-led state is supporting 66-year-old former assistant top and finance secretary Kittiratt Na Ranong for the position. Mr Kittiratt’s election has yet to be reported by advertising.

Mr. Kittiratt and the then-central bank government had frequent arguing over economic policy while serving as finance minister from 2012 to 2014.

In recent months, he has backed the latest government’s requirements for a price cut, as it seeks to revive a mumbling business that grew only 1.9 % last month.

The BoT raised the standard price for an seventh straight conference to a decade-high of 2.50 %, where it has since remained, despite repeated enquiries for easing, just days after the nationalist Pheu Thai returned to power in September 2023.

The BoT claimed it had nominated two candidates for the position but declined to disclose them, while Mr. Kittiratt did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The funding ministry’s permanent secretary declined to comment.

A seven-member screen, independent of the central banks, will make the selection of the three elected candidates in the coming weeks and may require the approval of the finance secretary, cabinet, and king.

The government, two assistant rulers, and four outside specialists are chosen by the table they lead to decide the central bank’s interest rate plan.

The chair will also have some impact on the selection of the following BoT main when the former, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, completes his phrase in September 2025.

Rates column

The BoT claims that structural issues caused the country’s growth rate to be at negative rates and that it was not at its potential.

Mr Sethaput has maintained that, while a rate reduce may provide a short-term pull to the market, it was not an effective trade-off&nbsp, for the longer-term unexpected effects it could have.

The BoT’s unwillingness to budge on charges has drawn criticism, including from Pheu Thai’s head Paetongtarn Shinawatra, elected prime minister next month, who described the main company’s freedom as an “obstacle” in May.

Even as the state struggles to restart growth in Southeast Asia’s second-largest market, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan once more demanded that the central bank cut interest rates to improve cash on Monday.

The BoT will conduct qualification checks for the three head nominations, which may take two weeks, according to choice committee head Sathit Limpongpan.

The council will match after the testimonials are finished, and it will hold a second meeting before the middle of October, he told Reuters.

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FAS to resume search for 10th club – local or foreign – to join Singapore Premier League

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The FAS had furthermore invited interested parties to submit a detailed plan to take part in the present year in December of last year. While the in-principle acceptance had been given to one team, the SPL finally remained a nine-team competitors.

” The selected club entered into a due diligence method, which took longer than expected”, said FAS recently.

The team has chosen not to challenge the 2024/25 season because of the small deadline prior to the SPL’s start in May 2024.

” Otherwise, it will focus on getting a group prepared for the 2025/26 season.”

Mr. Tan claimed that FAS had learned something from the previous fruitless search, which was” too good to the cable.”

” The process simply ended in February or March… the group was going to blow off in May, so it was far too soon, “he added.

The nine leagues now in the group are Albirex Niigata, Lion City Sailors, BG Tampines Rovers, Balestier Khalsa, Geylang International, Hougang United, Brunei DPMM, Tanjong Pagar United and the Young Lions.

On purpose change, the Lion City Sailors already lead the group ahead of BG Tampines Rovers.

The SPL, which was formerly known as the S League, was set up with eight regional groups in 1996.

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Thai baby hippo internet star draws thousands to its zoo

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CHONBURI: Thailand’s latest world brand, child dwarf hippo Moo Deng, is challenging its keepers with the surprisingly big crowds it is drawing to its zoo, two hours south of the capital Bangkok. Millions of people have watched Moo Deng’s awkwardly charming adventures on social media, including trying to bite itsContinue Reading

Precarity trap: Gig economy failing Asia’s youth – Asia Times

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Youth in the Asia-Pacific area are extremely concerned about the perilous work situation, with a growing number of young people finding themselves in temporary work without social security or long-term deals.

In Southeast Asia and the Pacific, over 28 % of children were working temporarily without financial security and social privileges in the document Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 from the International Labor Organization.

This circumstance not just undermines the financial stability of people, but it also has significant effects on the state’s leads for long-term economic growth.

International changes, outlined in the ILO’s report, show that temporary jobs in the region has been rising since the early 2000s. Although adaptable, these jobs often provide long-term agreements, leaving younger workers without access to important benefits like medical and pensions.

In places like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, the gig economy has more exacerbated the problem by creating accommodating but often unpredictable work. More than 44 % of Indonesian children are reportedly employed in the informal sector, frequently without arrangements, which makes it difficult for them to obtain social security or monetary stability.

The pressures that children are subject to also increase as a result of social expectations. In some Asian countries, steady employment is seen as a symbol of personal and social victory. This cognitive dissonance, but, causes emotional stress for some younger people who can only secure vulnerable jobs.

For instance, in South Korea and Japan, the societal pressure to find permanent jobs has increased in the number of mental health issues, including a noteworthy rise in youth suicides.

Technology, which was first seen as a gateway to new job prospects, has also played a part in expanding the uncertainty of these tasks.

Although the gig economy has opened up new employment opportunities for young people, particularly in the fields of logistics and transportation ( like Gojek and Grab drivers ), these positions come with significant financial hazard because of the absence of social security. Many of these employees rely on fluctuating desire, which results in unexpected income.

However, systems also holds the potential for revolutionary solutions. To improve transparency and offer better protection for gig workers, blockchain technology and intelligent contracts are being looked into.

These websites can make sure that employees are given timely payments and have access to fundamental social security benefits. In order to incorporate these safeguards into their job market frameworks, nations like Singapore are looking into collaborations with technology companies.

Precarious employment even poses obstacles to social mobility. Youth who are confined to temporary or casual jobs frequently lack access to training or advancement opportunities, which makes it challenging for them to change into more stable and well-paying positions.

This exacerbates intergenerational inequality, specifically for those in lower-income organizations. In order to address this, empowering and mentoring initiatives must be prioritized to enable youth to transition to industries like alternative energy and information technology with better job security.

Governments in the Asia-Pacific area want to improve interpersonal protections for younger workers, including expanding access to healthcare and pension plans for those in the informal sector, at the coverage level.

The establishment of more stable employment in the conventional business might be aided by tax opportunities for companies that offer long-term contracts to younger workers. Also, educational and vocational initiatives need to be more in tune with demands coming from the labor market in the future.

With a more integrated approach—combining open plan, technological innovation, and cultural change—the Asia-Pacific area can create a safer and more diverse labour market for children, paving the way for sustainable economic growth in the long term.

Setyo Budiantoro is a fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ), Nexus Strategist The Prakarsa, and IDEAS Global Program Fellow.

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Online sexual abuse now at severe levels in Thailand

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Described: 16 Sep 2024 at 19: 08

Activists carry messages denouncing sexual harassment and rape as they move from Bangkok's Suntiphap Park to Victory Monument in 2022. (File photo)
As they leave Bangkok’s Suntiphap Park to Victory Monument in 2022, protesters carry signs denying sexual abuse and murder. ( File photo )

According to Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council ( NESDC ), the growing threat of sexual harassment on social media is having a serious impact on young people.

In its cultural view report released on Aug 26, the NESDC said patients of such abuse are at risk of developing social, emotional, and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.

In some cases, they actually commit criminal acts as a result of the hardships they have experienced. ECPAT International, a Unicef-affiliated company, identified Thailand as one of the 25 countries with disturbing rates of online sexual abuse against children and youth. This knowledge corresponds with data from the Royal Thai Police, which shows a sharp increase in child sexual abuse situations, from 48 in 2017 to 540 next year.

According to the NESDC, website sexual abuse against kids is broken into three categories. The perpetrators of low-level harassment are frequently accused of not taking their steps seriously as damaging. At this point, offenders abuse victims by making offensive remarks about school-aged children, such as those who are romantically inclined to like young girls.

The average level concentrates on repeated deeds intended to cause victims emotional distress. It usually involves prolonged harassment, attempts to embarrass and embarrass victims, and the progressive invasion of individual privacy.

Rampant abuse

The severe/high stage involves violent and aggressive steps, causing emotional and psychological damage. This amount of harassment is in direct violation of the laws governing sexual abuse. Examples include conniving minors into intimate relationships and making them commit intimate functions, recording these functions without their consent, and exploiting the victims by charging them to watch the recordings.

Some young people who have experienced online sexual abuse or who have friends who have it do not know how to get support, according to a report released by Unicef in 2022. According to the NESDC, some people do not recognize themselves as patients, while others are too timid to review it, which leads to underreporting these crimes.

Actions may be implemented to address the problem, the NESDC said. These include addressing the confidence with which physical abuse is tolerated, starting with community members carefully monitoring their son’s use of social advertising. Additionally, the government and local societies may take steps to punish those who commit crimes.

The NESDC even emphasized the need for educational institutions and communities to inform people about their rights, the dangers of online sexual abuse, and the changing nature of online threats. According to the NESDC, families may instruct their children to defend their personal information, while education providers should educate them about how to handle physical cleaning as part of their curricula.

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Online sexual abuse now at severe levels

By:
On:
In: South-East Asia

Discussed: 16 Sep 2024 at 19: 08

Activists carry messages denouncing sexual harassment and rape as they move from Suntiphap Park to Victory Monument in 2022. (File photo)
As they move from Suntiphap Park to Victory Monument in 2022, protesters carry signs decribing sexual abuse and murder. ( File photo )

According to the National Economic and Social Development Council ( NESDC ), the growing threat of sexual harassment on social media is having a serious impact on young people.

In its cultural view report released on Aug 26, the NESDC said patients of such abuse are at risk of developing social, emotional, and mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.

In some cases, they also commit criminal acts as a result of the hardships they have experienced. ECPAT International, a Unicef-affiliated company, identified Thailand as one of the 25 countries with disturbing rates of online sexual abuse against children and youth. This information corresponds with information from the Royal Thai Police, which shows a sharp increase in child sexual abuse situations, from 48 in 2017 to 540 next year.

According to the NESDC, website sexual abuse against kids is broken into three levels. The perpetrators of low-level harassment are frequently accused of not taking their steps seriously as damaging. At this point, perpetrators abuse victims by making inappropriate remarks about school-aged children, such as those who are sexually attracted to young ladies, and who make remarks about school-aged children.

The average level concentrates on repeated deeds intended to cause victims mental distress. It usually involves continual harassment, attempts to embarrass and embarrass victims, and the progressive invasion of individual privacy.

The severe/high stage involves violent and aggressive steps, causing emotional and psychological damage. This amount of abuse is in direct violation of the laws governing sexual abuse. Examples include conniving minors into loving relationships and making them commit sexual functions, recording these functions without their consent, and exploiting the victims by charging them to watch the recordings.

Some young people do not know how to get support if they or their friends have been sexually abused online, according to a report released by Unicef in 2022. According to the NESDC, some people do not recognize themselves as patients, while others are too timid to review it, which leads to underreporting these crimes.

Actions must be implemented to address the problem, the NESDC said. These include addressing the confidence with which physical abuse is tolerated, starting with community members carefully monitoring their son’s use of social advertising. Additionally, culprits may be punished by the government and local communities.

The NESDC even emphasized the need for educational institutions and communities to inform people about their rights, the dangers of online sexual abuse, and the changing nature of online threats. According to the NESDC, educators should teach their students how to protect private information, and education providers should teach them how to handle sexual grooming.

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Hoiho: Rare shy penguin wins New Zealand’s bird of the year vote

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In one of New Zealand’s most intense contests, a timid yellow-eyed bird won Bird of the Year.

More than 50, 000 people cast ballots in the contest, which has previously experienced some incident, including allegations of cheating and foreign meddling.

Last year, the pūteketeke won the competition after comedian John Oliver threw his weight behind it, launching a campaign that involved him dressing up as the bird, complete with a striking burnt-orange mullet.

Thought to be one of the country’s finest bird species, the hoiho can be found solely in New Zealand.

According to Forest &amp, Bird, the company that runs the opposition, the hoiho secured a success with 6, 328 vote- ahead of the Karure Chatham Island dark robin with more than 5, 000 votes.

The hoiho has won the competition twice before, having even placed second in 2019 when there were complaints that the hoiho had just triumphed as a result of Russian intervention.

Thousands of votes for the birds were found to possess come from Russia, though Forest &amp, Bird said these were possible not fradulent vote, but those from Russian biologists.

There were also allegations that Australians attempted to rig the 2018 competition to favor the hair, a raven species.

The hoiho, whose Maori label means “noise shouter”, is extremely quiet despite its quiet, loud phone, says the company, who said the win would boost conservation efforts for the species.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, it is an threatened species or three steps away from death.

” This spotlight could n’t have come at a better time”, said Forest &amp, Bird’s chief executive Nicola Toki. ” This renowned penguin is disappearing from mainland Aotearoa ( New Zealand ) before our eyes.”

Conservation initiatives are being made on territory, but Ms. Toki claims they are also required at sea.

” They’re drowning in set nets and ca n’t find enough food”, she said. Our whales immediately require marine protected areas to offer them a chance of survival.

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