Tech

Thailand bans Galaxy Note 7

Thai telecom regulator has banned the import of a batch of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones that have faulty batteries.

Published

5 years ago

September 14, 2016

Changyong Rhee

Thai telecom regulator has banned the import of a batch of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones that have faulty batteries.

Thai Airways International and its budget subsidiary Thai Smile Airways have also joined other carriers in banning the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from checked baggage and being used onboard.

The national telecom regulator has banned Thai Samsung Electronics from importing a batch of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones associated with a technical flaw that caused the phone to burst into flames.

Several airlines, including the national carrier Thai Airways, have imposed the same ban including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Etihad and Virgin Australia.

“The powering up and charging of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones is prohibited on all our flights,” Singapore Airlines (SIA) said in a statement yesterday.

National Broadcast and Telecommunication Commission (NBTC) secretary-general Takorn Tantasith said Samsung had not yet imported its flagship Galaxy Note 7 model into Thailand.

Takorn added that the company could import Galaxy Note 7 smartphones that did not have safety problems at a later date, but it would have to show the NBTC that the models complied with the required electrical safety standards.

The NBTC move came after Samsung recalled 2.5 million phones last week after reports of the device exploding during or after charging.

Airline passengers were warned by US authorities not to use or charge the phones while on board planes.

Thai Airways International and its budget subsidiary Thai Smile Airways have joined other carriers in banning the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 from checked baggage and being used onboard.

Pratana Patanasiri, THAI vice-president of aviation safety, said the ban was due to global recalls and sale suspensions of the Note 7 device after a number of batteries exploded. A similar explanation was also posted on the Thai Smile Airways website.

Mr Pratana advised passengers that in general, they should always tell flight attendants if their electronic devices break, become abnormally hot or are lost during flights.

He said the action falls in line with the safety directives of THAI and the European Aviation Safety Agency.

The growing list of other airlines that have imposed the same ban includes Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Etihad and Virgin Australia.

– See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/thailand-bans-imports-some-galaxy-note-7#sthash.ci6zePBh.dpuf

Myanmar

Digital Revolution and Repression in Myanmar and Thailand

Activists have also proactively published social media content in multiple languages using the hashtags #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar and #WhatsHappeningInThailand to boost coverage of events on the ground.

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2021

Headline Editor

By Karen Lee

Following the February 1 coup, Myanmar’s netizens became the latest to join the #MilkTeaAlliance, an online collective of pro-democracy youth across Asia.

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Ecommerce

How will oil prices shape the Covid-19 recovery in emerging markets?

Published

4 weeks ago

March 24, 2021

Oxford Business Group

How will oil prices shape the Covid-19 recovery in emerging markets?

– After falling significantly in 2020, oil prices have returned to pre-pandemic levels
– The rise has been driven by OPEC+ production cuts and an improving economic climate
– Higher prices are likely to support a rebound in oil-producing emerging markets
– Further virus outbreaks or increased production would pose challenges to price stability

A combination of continued production cuts and an increase in economic activity has prompted oil prices to return to pre-pandemic levels – a factor that will be crucial to the recovery of major oil-producing countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Brent crude prices rose above $60 a barrel in early February, the first time they had exceeded pre-Covid-19 values. They have since continued to rise, going above $66 a barrel on February 24.

The ongoing increase in oil prices, which have soared by 75% since November and around 26% since the beginning of the year, marks a dramatic change from last year.

Following the closure of many national borders and the implementation of travel-related restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, demand for oil slumped globally.

In the wake of the Saudi-Russia price war in early 2020, Brent crude prices fell from around $60 a barrel in February that year to two-decade lows of $20 a barrel in late April, as supply increased and demand plummeted. The value of WTI crude – the main benchmark for oil in the US – fell to record lows of around $40 a barrel last year on the back of a lack of storage space.

While global demand for oil remains low, one factor credited with reversing the trend is the decision to make significant cuts to oil production, which subsequently tightened global supplies.

Tech

How the Rural-Urban Divide Plays Out on Digital Platforms

It is one thing for entrepreneurs, whether urban or rural, to create and operate an online store, as some digital platforms have made it relatively easy to manage an e-store – even by using just a smartphone.

Published

4 weeks ago

March 24, 2021

Insead Knowledge

In the West, villages are emptying out due to the lack of economic opportunities. Consider Italy where, in a bid to attract newcomers, a handful of municipalities have turned to selling houses for €1.

(more…)