Importing marijuana, hemp seedsPeople can import cannabis and hemp seeds or other parts of the plants without seeking permission. However, they need to seek import permission according to the 1964 Plant Quarantine Act and the 1975 Plants Act. People who import plant parts that fall under the Category 5 Narcotics list need to seek permission. Can you smoke cannabis? According to the Public Health Act, people who smoke cannabis and/or hemp and their smoke or odour are considered a nuisance without any appropriate reason will face a jail term of up to 1 month or a fine of up to THB2,000.

The third edition of the "BGJF Virtual Trade Fair", scheduled from Monday to June 17, will once again offer a unique platform for entrepreneurs in the gems and jewellery industry to get connected and grow their business together. Conceived by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) in 2020, this digital edition of the "Bangkok Gems And Jewelry Fair (BGJF)" is designed to support the export of gems and jewellery during the pandemic. The online platform combines product showcases and online business matching sessions, enabling entrepreneurs to trade without borders. This virtual trade fair will be a prelude to the fullscale 67th "Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair" which will take place at Impact, Muang Thong Thani, between Sept 7 and 11. To join the virtual trade fair, visit http://bgjf-vtf.com.

Vietnam arrests minister, mayor over Covid scandalPolice officers, wearing protective masks, stand guard in front of a communist logo at the National Convention Center, the venue for the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam during the Covid-19 outbreak in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Jan 28, 2021. (Photo: Reuters)Vietnam's police have arrested the health minister and Hanoi mayor following accusations they were involved in a US$170 million coronavirus test-kit scandal, the public security ministry said Tuesday. The Public Security Ministry issued an arrest warrant late Tuesday for health minister Ngoc Anh over accusations of "violating regulations on management and use of State assets, causing loss and waste" during his term as minister of science and technology, according to a statement on the public security ministry website. A warrant has also been issued for Hanoi mayor Nguyen Thanh Long for "abusing positions and powers while performing official duties". "After being approved by the Supreme People's Procuracy, the Ministry of Public Security has implemented the decisions and orders in accordance with law," the statement on the website added.

30-day visa on arrival for Saudi visitorsVisitors from Saudi Arabia arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport on Feb 28 as direct commercial flights resumed after a 32-year hiatus. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)The cabinet on Tuesday resolved to allow Saudi Arabian visitors to get an extended 30-day visa on arrival, to help stimulate the economy. The decision was considered as a further development of successful efforts by the government and the private sector to restore bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia. Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said Saudi Arabians could previously get a 15-day visa on arrival. Previously, Riyadh had allowed about 30,000 Saudi visitors to Thailand each year, she said.

Q: Can people import cannabis and hemp extracts? A: They can but they will need to seek permission because cannabis and hemp extracts with more than 0.2 per cent THC still fall under the Category 5 Narcotics list. Q: Will cannabis and hemp extract included in medical devices be considered Category 5 Narcotics and how should they be imported? Q: Do people need to seek permission when importing finished products that contain cannabis or hemp extracts? Food and cosmetics with hemp and cannabis extracts cannot be imported, but health or herbal products can.

He explained that it was one of the measures to help recovery for operators who were affected by the pandemic. Meanwhile, the department’s director-general, Wanchai Phanomchai, said that the Cabinet has approved the decision and it will be published in the Royal Gazette, to be enforced from June 10, 2022, to June 9, 2023. He said that there are 60,344 Category 2 and 3 factories this year while the total annual factory licence fee collection amounts to THB280 million. Wanchai said that there is a growing investment trend. The number of factories has grown by 3.5 per cent in fiscal 2022, with an investment budget of THB45.477 billion.

Fiscal, monetary policy must align to ensure full recovery: ArkhomFinance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith speaks during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok. (Reuters photo)Thailand's fiscal and monetary policies must continue to align to ensure the economy will recover fully, the finance minister said on Monday. The central bank, however, may consider raising its key interest rate when the economy recovers strongly, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told the Forbes Thailand Forum 2022, in the face of surging inflation. "But for now, fiscal and monetary policies must go together," he said, as the government tries to support an otherwise slow economic recovery. "The central bank must strike a balance between capital inflows and outflows, and economic matters to ensure that our economy can fully recover," Mr Arkhom said.

Govt calls for more investmentFinance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith yesterday urged people to invest in the kingdom while the economy is on an upward trend and the Bank of Thailand (BoT) is trying to maintain a favourable policy interest rate to support growth. He said Thailand's economic growth this year is forecast at an average of 3.5%. However, first-quarter growth was only 2.2%, so the country must achieve an average growth rate of 5% in the remaining quarters to meet the 3.5% goal, he said. He said several agencies have cut their GDP growth forecast due to last year's growth rate of 1.6%, which was relatively low when compared with other countries in Asean. Mr Arkhom said Thailand must maintain a positive attitude because the Covid-19 pandemic is easing and consumer spending is on the rise.

Digital nomads, spiritual tourists and 5-year visa fuel Bali boomPeople watch as a plane prepares to take off at Ngurah Rai international airport during sunset in Denpasar on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on May 23, 2022. This way we’re getting better quality and better impact to the local economy,” Uno told Bloomberg Television’s Yvonne Man and Rishaad Salamat. Around 95% of surveyed “digital nomads” have said Indonesia -- particularly Bali -- is their “top of mind” destination for remote work and they are ready to travel, Uno said. The ministry has mulled granting a special visa for remote workers and business-leisure travelers since early 2021, before the plan was derailed by coronavirus resurgences, stringent border controls and a lack of flights. The visa would allow its holders to stay for as long as five years without paying taxes if they don’t earn their income within Indonesia.

Hours later, a resistance group known as Nga Pyae Ma claimed responsibility for the killing, posting the video clip on Facebook and Telegram. The unity government’s People’s Defense Force has more than 60,000 fighters organized into battalions, he said, and a similar number make up local resistance groups such as the Nga Pyae Ma. The organized battalions are mainly engaged in fighting the Tatmadaw in the jungles, while the resistance groups operate in towns and cities, where they carry out guerrilla attacks. He was shot dead in the street in January by a local resistance group calling itself the Zarmani Guerrilla Force. He had also donated money to a local resistance group, his son said.

"This proves that the government's efforts to stimulate the economy have not been very successful," AREA president Sopon Pornchokchai commented. He added that the price of dishes rose by only 4 per cent between 2020 and 2021 amid the economic slowdown, but then jumped 7.9 per cent between 2021 and 2022 due to the rising oil price. He forecast prices would rise further through 2023 amid the economic slowdown and rising inflation.

The privileges, which come mostly in the form of tax exemptions, were granted from January-April to four categories of projects:1. Seven hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) projects, with investment value of 37.2 billion baht and production capacity of 438,455 vehicles. Seven plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) projects, with investment value of 7.74 billion baht and production capacity of 92,600 vehicles. 14 battery electric vehicle (BEV) projects, with investment value of 10.52 billion baht and production capacity of 131,200 vehicles. Three battery electric bus projects, with investment value of 2.39 billion baht and production capacity of 4,600 vehicles.

Palang Pracharath MP Pichet Sathirachawal (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)A Group of 16 MPs from small parties is undecided whether to vote against the government in the next censure debate. The Treasury Department, supervised by Deputy Finance Minister Santi Promphat, has a role in the management of the pipeline project. In that case, Mr Pichet insisted he would join hands with Deputy Pheu Thai Party leader, Yuttapong Charasathien, in censuring Mr Santi in the debate. Meanwhile, Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said yesterday he was not concerned that seven party MPs backed the budget bill at its first reading in defiance of the Pheu Thai Party line. "It will compel more people to vote for the Pheu Thai in the next polls," the party leader said.

59 Rohingya 'abandoned' near SatunA boat is deployed to take Rohingya migrants to safety. The rescue came after they were found sitting on rocks by a Koh Dong beach off Satun on Saturday. Photos by the navy and the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command CenterThe Royal Thai Police are trying to identify who abandoned the 59 Rohingya migrants left on an island off mainland Satun province. A navy boat found the 59 Rohingya -- 31 men, 23 women and five children -- on Koh Dong, about 20 kilometres from Koh Lipe, on Saturday after a tip-off. The rescue came after they were found sitting on rocks by a Koh Dong beach off Satun on Saturday.

Nadal wins 14th French Open and record-extending 22nd Grand SlamMoment of victory for Rafael NadalPARIS: Rafael Nadal won a 14th French Open and record-extending 22nd Grand Slam title on Sunday with a straight-sets rout of Casper Ruud to become the oldest male champion at Roland Garros. In a disappointing final, 36-year-old Nadal won 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 with victory coming 17 years to the day since he claimed his first French Open as a 19-year-old in 2005. Nadal won the last 11 games of the final and is now two Slams ahead of old rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer with Sunday's victory coming against all the odds. There was a sudden glimmer of hope when he broke for 3-1 with Nadal again coughing up a double fault. Ruud saved three set points in the ninth game but his first double fault of the final handed Nadal a two-set lead.