Eight others being investigated as ministry seeks to crack down on fakerySupachai Pathumnakul, deputy permanent secretary for the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), discloses the outcome of an investigation into research paper fraud at a meeting on July 16. (Photo: MHESI Facebook)Six academics from three Thai universities have been sacked and eight others are being investigated for research paper fraud, according to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI). Three lecturers from Khon Kaen University were terminated and will also face criminal charges, according to the ministry. An investigation into allegations of phoney research papers involving 109 academics from 33 universities stemmed from a report in August last year saying that a CMU lecturer had purchased his paper for 30,000 baht. It also found 14 lecturers, including a former high-ranking executive of Thaksin University, were involved in committing fraud, Mr Supachai said.

Reigning men's singles world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn. For a country that boasts current and former world champions, an Olympic medal remains elusive for Thai badminton players. Despite competing in every Olympic Games since 1992, the closest Thai badminton players got to a podium finish was at Athens 2004 when Boonsak Ponsana reached the men's singles semi-final and lost to the eventual champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia. Boonsak was also beaten in the bronze medal match by Sony Dawi Kuncoro of Indonesia to finish in fourth place. For Dechapol, Sapsiree, Jongkolphan and Rawinda, Paris 2024 will be their second Games appearances.

<p>An eyewitness recalled the horror of the MH17 crash as people on Wednesday (July 17) laid flowers and brought toys to a memorial in a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary. Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 came down near Hrabove in the Russian-controlled Donetsk region of Ukraine. - REUTERS</p>

(GAC Aion Thailand)BANGKOK - China's electric vehicle (EV) maker GAC Aion, a subsidiary of GAC Group, on Wednesday opened its first factory in Thailand, a key regional auto export and assembly hub and fast-growing EV market. "We are using a strategy to produce quickly in a small amount using AI (artificial intelligence) ... to reduce waste and minimise cost," Ma Haiyang, Managing Director GAC Aion Southeast Asia said. GAC Aion New Energy Automobile logo is seen in this illustration taken on Jan 16, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)The new factory comes days after rival Chinese EV maker BYD Motor opened a factory in Thailand, it is first in Southeast Asia. Honda Motor, Japan's second-largest auto maker, last week said it would consolidate its two factories in Thailand into a single facility.

The used, cyanide-tainted teacups found in the Bangkok hotel room where six Vietnamese were found dead on Tuesday evening. Pol Maj Gen Nopasilp Poonsawat, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, on Wednesday identified the suspect as Vietnam-born Sherine Chong. Pol Maj Gen Nopasilp said the suspect had invited the other five people to invest in construction projects. Pol Maj Gen Nopasilp said cyanide residue was found in the six used teacups found in the hotel room. Pol Maj Gen Nopasilp said officers are investigating whether the cyanide was smuggled into the country or acquired locally.

Murder-suicide suspected in Thai hotel poison deathsSenior Bangkok police discuss the Vietnamese-deaths case at Lumpini police station in Bangkok on Wednesday morning. (Photo supplied)Police believe one of six Vietnamese people found dead at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok on Tuesday evening poisoned the others and then committed suicide. Six Vietnamese people were found dead in a room on the fifth floor of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in downtown Bangkok on Tuesday evening. An informed source said forensic police detected a cyanide-like substance in used cups in room 502 where the bodies were found. The woman had left the country on July 10, and was unlikely to have had anything to do with the deaths.

Thailand’s new visas: call for questionsA group of Chinese visitors who signed up to learn Muay Thai under the government’s soft power promotion push is welcomed upon arriving at Phuket International Airport on May 4, 2024. Muay Thai students, digital nomads and others can now apply for a 5-year visa. What would you like me to ask him? Please write your questions in the comments section, or if you’d like to record the question, please send an mp3 to: deeperdivethailand@gmail.com. Several inaccuracies in this article were corrected after details of the new visas were clarified.

Digital wallet criteria for vendors unclearMr Ouychai is optimistic that the 10,000-baht digital wallet handout scheme will stimulate the economy at the end of this year. The digital wallet handout scheme will boost the economy, but the eligibility criteria for vendors remain unclear, according to Loxley Trading Co Ltd, the consumer goods distribution arm of trading conglomerate Loxley Plc. Referring to the 10,000-baht digital wallet handout scheme, Mr Ouychai said the scheme would stimulate the economy at the end of this year. However, the eligibility criteria for vendors remain unclear. "Currently, there is no guidance for vendors to deal with the digital money that they will receive from buyers, such as whether they can immediately cash in the digital money at commercial and/or state banks or whether the digital money can be used to purchase goods from wholesalers," Mr Ouychai said.

Myanmar crisis hits 'fatigue' level<p>Nearly three and a half years since the military coup in February 2021, the <strong>crisis in Myanmar </strong>shows no signs of resolution. the Tatmadaw, as Myanmar's military is known, has gradually lost control of territory, especially in areas bordering China, Thailand and India. However, the resignation of former deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara in May caused a hiccup in Thailand's efforts to advance the aid plans. The new UN special envoy on Myanmar, Julie Bishop, has been travelling throughout Asean to learn firsthand about the situation in Myanmar. On the sidelines of the retreat, foreign ministers from Thailand, India and Myanmar also held a meeting to discuss their mutual concerns.

Fuel consumption decreases 0.4%A motorist refuels at a Bangchak petrol station. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)Thailand's total fuel consumption dipped by 0.4% year-on-year to 157.1 million litres per day (MLD) between January and May, attributed to higher energy prices and the country's economic slowdown, says the Department of Energy Business. More tourism activities, driven by the visa-free policy, increased the consumption of jet fuel, which jumped 17.9% for the period to 16 MLD, up from 13.6 MLD. Fuel oil consumption dropped by 21.6% to 4.92 MLD from 6.27 MLD as businesses shifted from costly fuel oil to other types of fuels. Thailand's fuel imports, including crude oil, LPG and refined oil, dropped by 3% to 1.04 million barrels per day (BPD), with import value rising by 3.3% to 99.9 billion baht.

Mr Phumtham at the third Thailand-Malaysia joint trade committee meeting on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai attended the third joint trade committee (JTC) meeting between Thailand and Malaysia on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur. The initiative aims to turn the conflict zones in these provinces into trade arenas in a push for peace, he said. Both countries said they want to form new partnerships that will benefit their economies and entrepreneurs, aligning with policies to promote trade, reduce trade obstacles and enable bilateral trade. Trade between the countries totalled $25 billion last year and $11 billion during the first five months of this year.

(Photo: Pattarapong​ Chatpattarasil​l)RAYONG - China's BYD (Build Your Dreams) opened an electric vehicle (EV) plant in Thailand on Thursday, the auto maker's first factory in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing regional EV market where it has become the dominant player. "Thailand has a clear EV vision and is entering a new era of auto manufacturing," BYD CEO and President Wang Chuanfu said at the opening ceremony. The BYD plant is part of a wave of investment worth more than US$1.44 billion from Chinese EV makers who are setting up factories in Thailand, helped by government subsidies and tax incentives. By 2030, Thailand aims to convert 30% of its annual production of 2.5 million vehicles into EVs, according to a government plan. Other EV rivals in the local market include Great Wall Motor, which also has a production facility in Thailand, and Tesla.

A new international train service connecting Bangkok and Vientiane will begin on July 19, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced on July 3. The State Railway of Thailand has announced the start of an international train service connecting Bangkok and Vientiane, in Laos, on July 19. Bangkok (VNA) – A new international train service connecting Bangkok and Vientiane will begin on July 19, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) announced on July 3. They can also board the high-speed Laos-China railway at Vientiane Railway Station to travel to other provinces in Laos or to China. A trial service between Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Thanalaeng and Vientiane stations was completed on May 21 without any problems./.

The government previously used tax measures to promote tourism in secondary cities, allowing both organisations and individuals to deduct tourism expenses in these areas for tax purposes. "However, using credit measures to stimulate the economy carries lower fiscal costs compared with other measures." He said the ministry is about to introduce tax measures to attract investment, which will be submitted to the cabinet within 1-2 weeks. In addition, to increase access to formal credit for small and medium-sized enterprises, Mr Paopoom said the ministry is in the process of improving credit guarantee measures for the state-owned Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (TCG). The government's increased deficit has led to a rise in public debt levels to 64.3% of GDP as of May, but this level is still considered manageable by the Public Debt Management Office.

The Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC) expects the country’s export value to expand by 1-2% in the second half of this year. (Photo: Bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC) expects the country’s export value to expand by 1-2% in the second half of this year. TNSC Chairman Chaichan Chareonsuk said the council is maintaining its export growth forecast at 1-2% this year. The TNSC recommended the government maintain energy and electricity prices, the daily minimum wage and logistics costs at a suitable level. The government should support and promote investment in industries with export potential, such as electronic components and electrical appliances, said Chaichan.