(Photo courtesy of Facebook: Moneyexpo)Banks are tightening their loan growth in the second half of this year because of global economic uncertainty and Thailand's uneven recovery. Global economic slowdown would impact Thai exports and the loan growth of the business segment. Therefore, the bank believes it will book positive loan growth throughout the year. On the other hand, Ronadol Numnonda, the Bank of Thailand's deputy governor, said the banking industry's loan growth is expected to continue in the second half of this year, supported by the manufacturing and tourism sectors. As a result, the bank is expected to expand loans at low-edge growth rather than middle growth for the whole of 2023 in accordance with the bank's tightening risk management policy, said chief executive Kris Chantanotoke.

PTTEP first-half profit rises to $1.18bnThe Erawan gas block in the Gulf of Thailand, operated by PTTEP. The company continues to increase gas production to boost domestic gas supply. Production stood at between 250-300 MMSCFD when PTTEP entered the area in April last year, said Montri Rawanchaikul, chief executive of PTTEP. The company faced a two-year delay in its plan to enter the gas block for gas production preparation. If petroleum is discovered there, the company will develop facilities to support petroleum production, said Mr Montri.

Shippers trying to renegotiate contracts as prices surge after Indian export banA farmer winnows rice next to a paddy field outside Hanoi. Exporters are rushing to cover supplies from farmers who have raised prices following a surge in the world market, putting millions of dollars worth of deals at risk. Thailand and Vietnam, the world’s second- and third-largest exporters respectively, are expected to ship more than one million tonnes of rice in August. India is the world’s biggest rice exporter, accounting for around 40% of global supplies. “The current prices are way higher than the contracted prices,” said one trader in Ho Chi Minh City.

"Five major gangs are on our radar," he said, adding they are the Outlaws Motorcycle Club or Outlaws MC, Hells Angels Motorcycle Club or Hells Angels, the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, which is also known as the Bandido Nation, the Mongols Motorcycle Club or the Mongol Brotherhood, and the Vagos Motorcycle Club, which is also known as the Green Nation. "We will eradicate bad guys not only among gangs but also among police officials and agencies involved with foreigners. News of the incident spread like wildfire, scaring many Chinese visitors who decided not to come to the kingdom. For biker gangs, he said the Outlaws gang now has been rooted out from Pattaya. "When police strictly enforce the law, there will be no such crime gangs.

Navy explains damage to HTMS NaresuanThe navy frigate HTMS Naresuan at sea. (Photo supplied/ Wassana Nanuam)The damage to the navy frigate HTMS Naresuan on July 26 occurred when the ship's left gunwale hit a corner of the quay at Map Ta Phut industrial port in Muang district, Rayong province, the Royal Thai Navy spoksman said on Tuesday. The incident occurred while the frigate was taking part in Naval Security Port and Ship Map Ta Phut Exercise 2023, held from July 25-27 at the Map Ta Phut industrial port. HTMS Naresuan is the most capable of the navy’s frigates with a maximum speed of 32 knots from its 44,250-horsepower diesel engines. Earlier reports said the accident occurred on July 26 while HTMS Naresuan was docking and sources estimated the damage at 100 million baht, but gave fewer details.

The party had confirmed in discussions with elected MPs of other parties and appointed senators that they would vote for a prime minister nominated by the Pheu Thai Party if Move Forward was excluded from the new government. Pheu Thai would convene a meeting with MFP and the six other allies on Wednesday. On Thursday Pheu Thai MPs would meet. On Monday Mr Phumtham posted economic policies of Pheu Thai on Twitter. He referred to Pheu Thai as the leader of the expected next government.

Japanese woman found dead in hotel room toiletForensic police arrive at the hotel where the tourist was found dead on Monday. (Photo: Kulsolsongkhor Chiangmai Rescue Association)CHIANG MAI: A 25-year-old Japanese woman was found dead on Monday morning with a mobile phone charging cable around her neck in a hotel room where she stayed with her husband. Local police were informed of the discovery of her body about 10am by Parc Borough hotel on Mahidol Road in Muang district. Police said the couple checked in at the hotel two days ago after arriving from Bangkok. When he awoke again later on Monday morning he found his wife was dead in the toilet with a phone charging cable wrapped around her neck.

Frigate's torpedo tube damaged while dockingThe damaged torpedo launcher, left, on HTMS Naresuan after the docking accident at Map Taphut industrial port in Rayong province on July 26. (Photo supplied)A torpedo tube and several life rafts on the frigate HTMS Naresuan were damaged by an incident at Map Taphut boat pier last Wednesday, a navy source said. The accident occurred on July 26 while HTMS Naresuan was docking, the source said but gave no further details. The ship and crew were taking part in Naval Security Port and Ship Map Taphut Exercise 2023 (Nasmex 2023) held from July 25-27 at Map Taphut industrial port in Muang district, Rayong province. The accident damaged one of the three tubes of a torpedo launcher, along with several life rafts.

Lead caretaker party wants to be in next govtPalang Pracharath Party secretary-general Thamanat Prompow, right, and PPRP deputy leader Santi Prompat greet executives of the Pheu Thai Party when they paid a visit to the Pheu Thai head office on July 23. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), which leads the caretaker government, would accept the chance to join the next coalition government if it is invited, said its secretary-general. He was voted PPRP secretary-general just after its leader Prawit Wongsuwon resigned. Representatives of PPRP met executives of the Pheu Thai Party last week and PPRP has not been contacted since, Capt Thamanat said. PPRP won 40 House seats in the May 14 election, coming fourth after MFP, Pheu Thai and the Bhumjaithai Party.

Day 1 of long holiday weekend sees 2,000 injured, 22 killed on the nation's roadsA heavily damaged car rests on the Burapha Withi (Bang Na-Bang Pakong) elevated expressway after a clash in Bang Bo district, Samut Prakan, on Friday. (Photo: Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)The total number of people injured in road accidents on the first day of the long holiday reached almost 2,000 with 22 fatalities, according to the Royal Thai Police (RTP). He advised drivers to check their vehicles and study the route before leaving home to avoid road accidents. Pol Lt Gen Nithithorn said first-time offenders will face up to a year of jail time or 5,000-10,000 baht in fines. No passengers will be left stranded at bus or coach stops on their way back to the city, he said.

Current holidays to generate B17bn from 5m tripsTourists visit Pha Keb Tawan cliff in Nakhon Ratchasima province on Sunday. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that with the estimated volume of domestic tours during the special holiday period the hotel occupancy rate was expected at 63%. In the first two days of the long holiday, most trips were made to destinations within a radius of 200-300 kilometres, he said. The government announced a special holiday on Monday (July 31) at short notice, apparently to stimulate domestic tourism. Last week the cabinet declared July 31 a special holiday to create a six-day break from Friday last week to Wednesday this week.

(Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)Anyone who believes fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will return to Thailand on Aug 10 to face prison time is mistaken, according to political whistleblower Chuvit Kamolvisit. Exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra gestures while being interviewed by reporters in Hong Kong on March 25, 2019. “To petition for a royal pardon for a personal crime, it is left to the royal prerogative,” Mr Chuvit wrote. “No one has ever received a royal pardon, except for Section 112 (lese-majeste) offences.”Those who have committed crimes like corruption, robbery and fraud have never been granted a royal pardon, he said. Thaksin is retreating and has cancelled his plans to return to Thailand.

The 77-year-old politician has been re-elected as PPRP leader on Saturday. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)Gen Prawit Wongsuwon has been re-elected as the Palang Pracharath Party leader, hours after stepping down from the position on Saturday morning. That set the stage for the voting process to elect a new party leader and a 21-member executive board. Palang Pracharath MP Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn nominated Gen Prawit for the top post, and he was the sole candidate. The unofficial voting results showed that Gen Prawit had made a comeback as the party leader.

Another drug convict on death row has been scheduled for execution on Aug 3A view of the Singapore skyline on July 6, 2023. (Photo: Reuters)Singapore on Friday hanged a 45-year-old citizen for drug trafficking, the city-state's first execution of a woman in nearly 20 years, officials said. A rights group said Friday it had confirmed that another drug convict on death row has been scheduled for execution on Aug 3. It's horrible for the families and worrying for other death row inmates," Singaporean rights activist Kirsten Han told AFP. "The number of women on death row in Singapore is relatively uncommon and there is no clear reason why there are fewer women."

Banks respond to household debt planMembers of the public attend a debt mediation fair held at Impact Muang Thong Thani. Non-banks who are members of the club are ready to comply with the central bank's measures. Payong Srivanich, chairman of the Thai Bankers' Association, said commercial banks are preparing to comply with the central bank's PD measures. Ronadol Numnonda, deputy governor of the Bank of Thailand, said the central bank would approach auto hire-purchase loan operators and the remaining co-operatives to participate in the central bank's household debt resolution. Around 70% of total household debt is currently under the central bank's supervision.