Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during afternoon trading on Monday in New York City. Fed chairman Jerome Powell's hawkish remarks at the Jackson Hole Symposium on Friday night led markets to believe the Fed would maintain its tight monetary policy and increase the US policy rate higher and for longer than expected, analysts said. His stern message raised the probability that the Fed would vote for a policy rate hike of 75 basis points at its meeting in September. Krungsri Securities research noted Fedwatch was overweight on the Fed's next interest rate hike being 75 basis points on Sept 20-21. Krungthai Asset Management said investors should invest in energy and commodity mutual funds to beat high inflation and interest rate hikes, both of which are expected to continue for several months.

Jurin said the trade value between Thailand and Saudi Arabia had shown satisfactory growth at 46 per cent in the first seven months of 2022. He added that Thailand also enjoyed a trade surplus of 26 per cent with Saudi Arabia due to an improvement in bilateral ties. The minister said Manuel Market sells 30 categories of Thai products, including canned seafood, canned fruit, rice, condiments and pet foods. He added that Manuel Market had imported US$22 billion worth of Thai products last year, and hopes the value will rise to $30 billion this year.

Singapore unveils long-term work visas to end talent crunchOffice workers walk out for a lunch break at Raffles Place financial business district in Singapore on Aug 22, 2022. The new rules will allow foreigners earning a minimum S$30,000 ($21,431) per month to secure a five-year work pass, with a provision to allow their dependents to seek employment, according to the Ministry of Manpower. “Both businesses and talent are searching for safe and stable places to invest, live and work in. The problems are at the high end of the income ladder -- where Singapore wants to attract top global talent particularly in next-generation, technology-heavy industries -- as well as the lower end. “We need to focus on attracting and retaining top talent, in the same way we focus on attracting and retaining investments.”

“The top three provinces affected by flooding are: Nakhon Phanom (22,266 rai), Udon Thani (17,994 rai) and Sakon Nakhon (15,997 rai)," it said. The GISTDA added that 285,785 rai of plantations in the Chi and Mun river basins were flooded. “The top three provinces in their vicinity affected by floods are Roi-Et (83,023 rai), Buri Ram (29,086 rai) and Surin (26,311 rai)," it said. For more information, visit the GISTDA website: http://flood.gistda.or.th.

It was the first direct commercial flight from Saudi Arabia in 32 years, following the recent normalisation of diplomatic ties. Mr Jurin, also deputy prime minister, on Sunday led a trade delegation to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia downgraded diplomatic ties with Thailand after the murder of Saudi diplomats and the disappearance of a Saudi businessman in Bangkok following the theft of Saudi state gems in 1989. The DITP said Mr Jurin is also scheduled to meet the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Saudi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Thailand's leading exports to Saudi Arabia are vehicles and auto parts and accessories, wood and wood products, air-conditioners and parts, rubber products, and processed seafood.

While the Thai government declared foreign investment is expected to be a key component in revitalising the country's fragile economy, analysts have their doubts as to whether Thailand can entice overseas investors to choose the nation for industry relocation. REUTERSDESTINATIONS ELSEWHEREA mix of factors, ranging from the economy to politics, is causing Thailand to lose out in attracting foreign investors looking for new destinations, said Tanit Sorat, vice-chairman of the Employers' Confederation of Thai Trade and Industry. He believes it is not too late for Thailand to give itself a facelift to better attract foreign investors. AFPSTILL ATTRACTIVEDuangjai Asawachintachit, secretary-general of the Board of Investment (BoI), reiterated that Thailand remains an attractive destination for foreign investors as indicated by continuous foreign investment, especially from China, the US and Taiwan. Next came Japan, China, the US and Singapore, with investment values of 16.9 billion baht, 15.5 billion, 11.3 billion and 8.7 billion, respectively.

As a result, Prawit had assigned MPs to monitor the situation and provide urgently needed help in the flood-hit provinces of Nakhon Sawan and Phichit. Sanya Nilsuphan, a Palang Pracharath MP for Nakhon Sawan, has visited her province to field complaints from flood-hit locals and coordinate rescue and aid efforts. The spokeswoman added that PPRP MP Surachart Sribussakorn was also providing urgent help to Phichit villagers affected by floods.

Explainer: China has new entry rules, but are they making travel easier? Two months ago, China also started allowing foreign nationals with permanent residence or who are visiting immediate family to make short visits. The process of applying for work visas has also been made easier by scrapping a requirement to obtain a hard-to-obtain letter of invitation. Travellers still need to take PCR tests before and after entering China, a customs spokesman told a press conference on Friday. Health officials have also warned that the country's health system - which has stark divisions in service provision between rich and poor areas - risks being overwhelmed if the policy is abandoned.

The second phase of the drive will see candidates who have applied for Class-III positions taking a test. The state government is far stricter this time as the fortunes of some 140,000 candidates against some 30,000 vacancies will be decided through this recruitment drive, which is by far the largest. The state government has also put in place tight security measures at all examination centres. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a meeting with various stakeholders to ensure the exams continue smoothly. “We are committed to conducting this ongoing massive recruitment drive for Grade III & IV posts in the most transparent manner … Best wishes to all the candidates!” Sarma tweeted.

US warships transit Taiwan Strait, first since Pelosi visitThe AI Arleigh-burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd (DDG 100) transits the Taiwan Strait during a routine transit on Saturday, the first such transit since China staged unprecedented military drills around the island (Photo by US NAVY / AFP)WASHINGTON: Two US Navy warships sailed through international waters in the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the first such operation since a visit to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi enraged China which regards the island as its territory. Pelosi's Taiwan trip in early August infuriated China which saw it as a US attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. "These (US) ships transited through a corridor in the strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal state," the US Navy said. The narrow Taiwan Strait has been a frequent source of military tension since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the communists, who established the People's Republic of China. Pelosi's visit to Taiwan was followed around a week later by a group of five other US lawmakers, with China's military responding by carrying out more exercises near the island.

If the cannabis in any shape or form is mixed in food, the food and drug law will be enforced to ensure safety for consumers. Also, people are limited to growing no more than 15 cannabis or hemp plants at home for household consumption. The heaviest punishable prescribed by the Cannabis and Hemp Act would be for importing cannabis or hemp without permission. However, details of the do's and dont's surrounding the use of the plants will be fleshed out in the cannabis and hemp law. He said he sympathised with the police, who will have to navigate a maze of legality to find out who offenders are under the cannabis bill.

The law covers not only kratom leaves but also beverages obtained from boiling leaves and extracts of the plant, said government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. The Kratom Plant Act of 2022 decriminalises kratom leaves and removes them from the list of narcotics. The law allows the possession, consumption and use of kratom leaves. However, it places restrictions on the sale, marketing and advertising of leaves and on blending them with other psychotropic substances.

Nong-O showed superior Muay Thai skills to end his rival’s challenge in the first round of their ONE Fight Night 1 bout at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The pair began by trading low kicks before launching strikes to the body. Nong-O began targeting Harrison’s knee with his shin, almost sending his challenger spinning to the ground after one brutal kick. Sensing a weak point, the Thai launched a barrage of low kicks, breaking through the Englishman’s defences and causing his legs to buckle beneath him. At the 2.10 mark in round one, Nong-O landed a vicious kick just below Harrison’s knee, sending him down for the count.

Sapsiree and Puttita, the No.14 seeds, came from behind to defeat 11th seeds Zhang Shuxian and Zheng Yu of China 15-21, 21-18, 22-20. “Popor” Sapsiree and “Earth” Puttita are Thailand’s first women’s doubles pair to get a world championship medal. Women’s doubles duo Sapsiree Taerattanachai, left, and Puttita Supajirakul of Thailand in action in the quarter-finals. In another women’s doubles quarter-final, Thailand’s seventh seeds Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai lost to China’s top seeds Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan 21-16, 21-7. In the women’s singles quarter-finals yesterday, Thailand’s 12th seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan was no match for Taiwan’s second seed Tai Tzu-ying, who won 21-16, 21-9.

The Thai e-commerce market is expected to grow from 817 billion baht currently to over 4 trillion baht in 2025, Kulthirath said. Helping to drive that growth will be the new trend for virtual or metaverse commerce, she added. “Meta-commerce is changing the world of e-commerce by adding virtual reality,” said Kulthirath as she was introduced as the association’s new chief on Thursday, replacing Thanawat Malabuppha. Strategic Market Research forecasts the global meta-commerce market will grow to US$678.80 billion (24.4 trillion baht) by 2030. The market is currently worth about $47.48 billion.