Goodbye Yahoo, Hello ‘Altaba?’

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10 January 2017, 19:20

Yahoo and Verizon logos in a July 2016 file photo. Photo: Elise Amendola / Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo will adopt a new corporate identity and slash the size of its board if the proposed USD$4.8 billion (170.9 billion baht) sale of its digital services to Verizon Communications goes through.

The company plans to change its name to Altaba Inc. after it turns over its email, websites, mobile apps and advertising tools to Verizon. The new name is meant to reflect Yahoo’s transformation into a holding company for investments in China’s e-commerce leader, Alibaba Group, and Yahoo Japan that are worth about more than $40 billion combined.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, co-founder David Filo and four other directors currently on the company’s 11-member board will resign after the planned sale to Verizon closes. Verizon is expected to retain Yahoo’s brand under its ownership.

But the Verizon deal has been jeopardized by Yahoo’s recent discovery of two computer hacking attacks that stole personal information from more than 1 billion user accounts during two different intrusions that occurred in 2013 and 2014.

Verizon is reassessing whether it should renegotiate the sales price or perhaps cancel the deal light of hacking revelations that could trigger a backlash among Yahoo users upset about sensitive personal details being stolen. Yahoo is fighting to keep the deal intact.

In the only change that took effect Monday, Yahoo director Eric Brandt became the company’s chairman. He replaces Maynard Webb, who becomes chairman emeritus until the Verizon deal closes.

Brandt, the former chief financial officer of chipmaker Broadcom, joined Yahoo’s board 10 months ago. Webb had been Yahoo’s chairman for nearly four years. If the Verizon deal closes, Webb will leave the board along with Mayer, Filo and Eddy Hartenstein, Richard Hill and Jane Shaw.

Court Grants Redshirt Leader Jatuporn Bail Due to Illness

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Teeranai Charuvastra, News Chief

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10 January 2017, 17:48

An April 23, 2015, file photo of Jatuporn Prompan, chairman of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

BANGKOK — The court released Redshirt leader Jatuporn Prompan from prison on a bail Tuesday so he could seek medical treatment.

Although Jatuporn recently recovered from a kidney infection, the 51-year-old former politician is said to be suffering other health conditions including a prostate infection, said fellow Redshirt activist Thida Thavornseth. Jatuporn had been held in prison since October after the court revoked his bail on terrorism charges.

“He was mostly treated well in prison. The prison hospital was also good, but it’s better for him to seek full treatment outside prison,” Thida said.

Read: Jailed Redshirt Leader Recovering From Kidney Infection

Jatuporn’s lawyer Winyat Chartmontri said the court cited three reasons for his release: illness, his need to care for his family and his “repentance” for violating bail conditions. Winyat said he posted a bond of 600,000 baht for Jatuporn.

He was freed from Bangkok Remand Prison on Tuesday afternoon.

Jatuporn is the chairman of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship, a movement loyal to fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his political dynasty.

He’s currently on trial for terrorism charges, which were filed over six years ago by the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva in response to street protests Jatuporn helped organize in 2010. The protests, which called for a fresh election, ended in a bloody military crackdown and acts of arson by some protesters.

In October the court ruled Jatuporn violated the conditions of his bail by appearing on television and making speeches that “incite unrest” in the country.

FIFA World Cup to Feature 48 Teams Starting 2026

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Associated Press

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10 January 2017, 17:16

The Spanish national team celebrate after their World Cup win in 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo: Anthony Stanley / Flickr

ZURICH — FIFA says it will expand the World Cup to 48 teams, adding 16 extra nations to the 2026 tournament.

President Gianni Infantino’s favored plan – for 16 three-team groups with the top two advancing to a round of 32 – was unanimously approved by the FIFA Council.

It meets Infantino’s election pledge of a bigger World Cup, and should help fund promised raises for FIFA’s 211 members.

With 80 matches instead of 64, FIFA forecasts $1 billion extra income from broadcasting and sponsor deals, plus ticket sales, compared to $5.5 billion forecast for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

FIFA’s six continents should find out by May how many extra places they will get.

UEFA wants 16 European teams in the tournament, which will likely be held in North America.

Sexy Kittens Partner With Babes for Charity Calendar Out Saturday

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Kaewta Ketbungkan, Staff Reporter

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10 January 2017, 17:04

BANGKOK — Cat slaves who recently gathered to pose with their little masters for a sexy charity calendar will show their whiskers and tails Saturday at a launch party.

To help support homeless cats, six models donated their time for a black-and-white photo shoot to show how sexy cat adoption is and introduce some gorgeous homeless kitties ready for snuggling.

Proceeds from calendar sales will go to PAWS Bangkok, a nonprofit organization that works to reduce the soi cat population and is overwhelmed with lovely furballs that need homes.

The calendars will be sold for “about 500 baht” at the event, which will feature music by DJ Pageant and activities for party-goers and cat lovers alike. They will later be sold online.

Dress code is simple: cat!

The party starts at 7pm on Saturday at Whiteline, Silom Soi 8. It can be by taxi or moto from BTS Sala Daeng or Surasak.

Go to Battle With Class-Action Lawsuit Startup ‘FongDi’

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Kaewta Ketbungkan, Staff Reporter

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10 January 2017, 16:19

A pivotal battle scene from HBO's 'Game of Thrones.' Image: HBO

BANGKOK — For dropping a bomb on its customers by announcing they could no longer get HBO and its affiliates on short notice, TrueVisions could be the first company to face a class-action lawsuit brought through recently launched legal startup FongDi.

Winter came ahead of season for Thailand’s “Game of Thrones” fans Jan. 1 when the satellite television operator replaced its 6 HBO channels with Warner TV, Paramount Channel HD, Celestial Classic Movies, Food Network, Fox Action Movies HD, Sony Channel and True Film HD 2 after it failed to renegotiate its licensing deals.

The news was broken Dec. 26 by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications, which gave TrueVisions the green light despite the fact it violated regulations by not giving 30 days notice.

Enter FongDi.com, which literally means “suable.”

“Unlike Office of the Consumer Protection Board or Change.org, FongDi.com allows people to take concrete action,” said Peerapat Foithong, lawyer and co-founder. “If people are affected from the same case, they can sue as a group through our site.”

Meant to increase consumer protections by providing a platform for people to come together for class-action suits, FongDi has made TrueVisions its first case.

There, subscribers unsatisfied with TrueVision’s service can put their names toward suing the company. More than 1,000 people have signed on so far.

Peerapat was to attend a meeting today between TrueVisions and the commission to request fee deductions of 200 baht to 500 baht per month for subscribers. They want the company to compensate those who canceled their subscriptions with money, not “True rewards” points.

Depending on how that goes, a lawyer may be hired to take the case to court.

“Class action lawsuits will save a lot of time and procedures in court, in cases where there are many people affected, such as this,” Peerapat said. “Plus, we provide the service free of charge.”

Although class action lawsuits were made possible in 2015, not a single case has been taken to court so far. Peerapat said he wants the case to increase awareness of their legal rights.

FongDi.com is a startup began by two lawyers, a programmer and marketing pro.

Inspired by Peerapat’s master’s thesis and his experience once suing an auto company, FongDi is meant to help people fight for their rights and increase their knowledge about the law. On the site users will find information and illustrations featuring “Buddy” a dog in black suit.

FongDi said the TrueVisions case has generated a lot of interest, and it is developing an English version of the page for all the expats who have been visiting the site looking to participate. Meanwhile, feel free to contact them via Facebook.

Clarification: An earlier version of this story said Peerapat worked on a case involving a lawsuit against and auto company. He was a plaintiff in the case.

Roman Herzog, Ex-German President, 82

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Associated Press

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10 January 2017, 16:01

A photo of Roman Herzog in 2012 in Germany. Photo KASonline / Flickr

BERLIN — Roman Herzog, who as president pressed Germany to embrace economic reform in the 1990s and also stressed the importance of remembering the Nazi Holocaust, has died. He was 82.

Current President Joachim Gauck paid tribute Tuesday to Herzog, whom he described as “a distinctive personality.”

Herzog served as the chief justice of Germany’s highest court before winning the presidency in 1994, four years after reunification.

He was one of the first leaders to address Germany’s resistance to reform and its growing economic stagnation at a time when Chancellor Helmut Kohl’s 16-year tenure was coming to a close. Germany was struggling with double-digit unemployment, amid worries that its labor market was too inflexible.

This is a developing story and will be updated without notice.

Driver Gives One-Fingered Salute to Phuket Police. Cops Fight Back.

By

Asaree Thaitrakulpanich, Staff Reporter

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10 January 2017, 16:01

At left, Jeeranan Khamsuwan’s berates traffic police for giving her a ticket in a Facebook post. On a happier day, at left. Images: Jeeranan Khamsuwan / Facebook

PHUKET — A driver fined for not wearing her seatbelt posted a photo of herself giving the middle finger with the ticket, prompting an Internet fight with Phuket police.

After being pulled over and fined for not wearing a seatbelt Tuesday morning, Facebook user Jeeranan Khamsuwan decided to take her road rage to Facebook, where she ignited a flame war with the authorities by posting a photo of herself, the ticket and her raised middle finger.

“Caught early this morning for #notwearingaseatbelt. They let more expensive cars pass but pull over non-luxury cars,” she wrote. “If you have an expensive car but don’t wear a seatbelt, that’s fine??? … That’s okay, it’s only a small amount. I spend more money than this feeding stray dogs.”

Phuket police soon hit back on their Facebook page by posting a blurred screenshot of Jeeranan’s now-deleted post with a reply employing wordplay derived from television gossip program, “Gossip Since Morning.”

“This is called ‘bullshit since morning.’ Why would police pull over cars that are already wearing seatbelts? The issue of wearing seatbelts is for your own safety. It’s still your life, you can think like that, but it’s also against the law. In foreign countries, the fine is so heavy that it’d make you instantly poor. That’s why people there respect traffic laws,” it said.

This prompted Jeeranan to reply that she saw police wave through expensive cars whose drivers weren’t wearing seatbelts.

“Still not repentant?” the police page admin replied.

Comments from netizens ranged from supporting Jeeranan to berating her behavior.

“They really do wave past expensive cars, I experience this often,” Jaturong Yoosawat wrote.

User Loang Champa Airline said it was just sour grapes on Jeeranan’s part:

“Serves you right. This is for your own safety. Even kindergarten children know the basic rule of fastening your seatbelt.”

Then it got personal.

“She’s just trying to get more customers so she can sell more cream,” Touchathun Taii Suwattanawinit wrote, referring to Jeeranan’s Facebook page where she sells sunscreen and whitening creams.

Kathu Phuket Police’s reply to Jeeranan’s post berating traffic police.

More Than Repression, Junta Pulls Cultural Triggers to Rule, Scholar Argues

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Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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10 January 2017, 15:24

'Such a foul mouth,' PM Prayuth Chan-ocha says Sept. 15 while singing a pop song with reporters at Government House on a day he made the argument Thailand has a stronger economy, more social equality, improved safety and general welfare under his rule.

BANGKOK — More than direct repression, a Chiang Mai scholar says the junta maintains its grip on power by dangling promises of reform, focusing on performance-based metrics and associating itself with the monarchy.

In the January issue of the Kyoto Review of Southeast Asia. Chiang Mai University lecturer Panuwat Panduprasert posited that repression is just one of the tools brought to bear by the regime which staged the 2014 coup.

“[A] regime that depends exclusively on repression is likely to face backlash from those who repeatedly suffer from it. Citizens are unlikely to tolerate long periods of oppression and restrictions, unless they feel there are good reasons for them to live under that kind of government,” the lecturer wrote.

Anuwat added that while a liberal democratic regime can claim legitimacy from being elected by and accountable to the people, an authoritarian regime needs to find alternative means.

The first alternative source cited by Panuwat is the junta’s promotion of what he called “performance legitimacy” in order to make up for its democratic deficits. This, he said, is based on the belief legitimacy can be derived from how well a government performs its duties, “especially in terms of improving people’s livelihood and delivering tangible results.”

In addition, the junta, the lecturer wrote, blames politicians for causing the pre-coup political turmoil associated with six months of street protests which precipitated its move to overthrow the elected government.

The second alternative means used by the junta, Panuwat argued, is closely associating itself with the monarchy:

“The junta has portrayed itself as defenders of the Thai monarchy, though in the Thai context it would be impossible for any government not to make the same claim. As a military government, the Prayuth [Chan-ocha] administration benefits from the longstanding perception in Thailand that the military is closely associated with the monarchy. Under the junta, the use of lese majeste law to crack down on insults and disrespect toward the monarchy has grown more severe and those arrested have been put to trial in the military court instead of a civilian one.”

Panuwat Panduprasert. Photo: Chiang Mai University

Thirdly, Panuwat wrote that the junta has sought to gain legitimacy from the notion of reform.

“In the Thai context, reform (pa ti roop) is a word that conveys seriousness and intelligence but can sometimes also be confusing and misleading,” he wrote.

Panuwat added that the junta has argued the political crisis of the decade prior to the 2014 coup “showed how the country was in need of serious reform,” and the anti-Yingluck Shinawatra groups which staged protests were also calling for reform.

Panuwat, who is currently studying the topic as part of his doctoral research at the University of Leeds, stressed these means of establishing legitimacy can be effective means in the Thai context. He said the junta’s strategy is deeply rooted in Thailand, where the concepts of liberal democracy and popular sovereignty “have struggled to displace the traditional ideological system that emphasizes nationalism, monarchism and Theravada Buddhism.”

Ending with a caveat, the writer said he does not seek to play down the oppressive nature of the junta but invite a more analytical focus on how it has ruled.

Sea Piracy Plunges to 18-Year Low but Kidnappings Rise

By

Associated Press

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10 January 2017, 15:03

Sailors who had been held hostage by pirates for more than four years, and were released in October in Somalia, smile as they arrive at the airport in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: Associated Press

KUALA LUMPUR — Sea piracy plunged to its lowest levels in 18 years in 2016, but kidnappings of crew members for ransom is escalating off west Africa and in the Sulu Seas near the Philippines, a global maritime watchdog said Tuesday.

The International Maritime Bureau said in its annual report that 191 piracy incidents were recorded worldwide, down from 246 in 2015 and the lowest level since 1998. It said pirates hijacked seven vessels and held 151 hostages, down from 15 ships and 271 hostages in 2015.

However, it said maritime kidnappings surged by threefold to 62 people from just 19 people in 2015. It said that 34 were captured off west Africa, while 28 were taken from tugs, barges, fishing boats and more recently merchant ships in waters around Malaysia and Indonesia and believed transferred to southern Philippines.

“The continued fall in piracy is good news, but certain shipping routes remain dangerous, and the escalation of crew kidnapping is a worrying trend in some emerging areas. The kidnappings in the Sulu Seas between eastern Malaysia and the Philippines are a particular concern,” bureau director Pottengal Mukundan said in a statement.

In the last quarter alone, the bureau said 12 crew were kidnapped from two cargo vessels that were underway and from an anchored fishing vessel in the Sulu Sea. In November, a bulk carrier was fired upon but pirates were not able to board the vessel. Earlier in 2016, crewmembers were kidnapped in three attacks on vulnerable slow-moving tugs and barges, it said.

The bureau, whose piracy reporting center is based in Kuala Lumpur, urged ship owners to consider avoiding the Sulu Sea. It called on governments to investigate and identify the kidnappers and punish them under the law.

It urged ships to be vigilant in the Gulf of Guinea, which remained a high-risk kidnapping hotspot with 34 seized from vessels in nine incidents.

Worldwide, Indonesia remained the top hotspot for piracy with 49 incidents, mostly low-level thefts, but this was sharply down from 108 in 2015. Attacks surged off Nigeria which accounted for 36 incidents, up from 14 in 2015. India accounted for 14 incidents, Peru reported 11 and the Philippines 10.

Prayuth to Change Constitution at King’s Request

By

Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff Reporter

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10 January 2017, 14:54

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha speaks Dec. 20 at the Government House in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha Tuesday said His Majesty the King has asked for changes to the constitution approved by the public in August relating to his powers.

Prayuth said the 2014 interim charter would be amended to make it possible to change the already approved constitution after the king told members of his privy council he wanted some sections rewritten.

Although Prayuth reportedly said it would be done through his self-granted absolute power under Article 44, a deputy prime minister later clarified it would be done under Article 46, which requires the consent of the junta-selected cabinet and its rubber-stamp legislature. The change would enable the regime to pull the constitution, change it, then resubmit it to the new King for approval.

Prayuth said three or four issues would be amended in the section involving the authority and role of the king. He said it would not affect people’s rights and freedoms.

“It does not involve people’s rights and freedom at all,” Prayuth said Tuesday after meeting with his cabinet. “It is about His Majesty’s authority.”

Read: Charter Will Be Dropped Feb. 6 Without King’s Endorsement

Prayuth said the process to amend the charter would take no longer than a month. It would then go again to King Vajiralongkorn for endorsement up to three months later.

Within its 279 articles, the constitution includes provisions about the king’s role and powers such as his authority to appoint his privy council, confer nobility and other powers which rely on historic precedent.

Speaking Tuesday evening, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said the articles to be rewritten include 5, 17 and 182. More could be amended if considered relevant, he said.

He said the junta and its cabinet decided to affect the change under Article 46 of the interim constitution put in place after the May 2014 coup.

Wissanu, who serves as the junta’s legal adviser, said a special committee with eight to 10 members would work on the amendment. The revised constitution will then be resubmitted for royal endorsement within 90 days after their work is completed.

Article 5 asserts the charter as the most supreme law of the land superseding all other law. Any issue not addressed by it shall rely on traditions of Thailand’s constitutional monarchy. Article 5 was derived from the previous Article 7, which past political movements have cited when asking the king to appoint a new prime minister during times of political turmoil.

The drafters changed the section in the new charter to say constitutional crises not addressed by the charter would be resolved with the head of the Constitutional Court calling a meeting between the heads of all three branches of power.

Article 17 says that if the king does not or cannot appoint a regent, as is required if he can’t execute his duties or is out of the country, his privy council will propose one to the parliament. That person will serve with parliamentary approval.

Article 182 says laws, royal edicts and proclamations involving the state must be countersigned by a minister. The one who signs will be responsible for whatever the king orders.

The junta-appointed legislators made amending the 2014 interim constitution their urgent item on the agenda for their Friday meeting.

Correction: An earlier version of this story mistakenly indicated Gen. Prayuth said amending the interim constitution would take a month’s time. In fact he said the entire amendment process would be finished within a month.

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