THAI seeks B25bn loan, expands cargo flights by 30 routesA Thai Airways International plane departs Suvarnabhumi airport. (Bangkok Post file photo)Thai Airways International (THAI) is expected to seek 25 billion baht in loans to boost its financial liquidity as the airline expands its cargo flight services to a further 30 routes from now until March next year. Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said the airline's business rehabilitation plan administrators recently met Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to report about the plan. Therefore, the airline may need a loan of only 25 billion baht to boost its financial liquidity, instead of an initially estimated 50 billion baht, Mr Arkhom said. Nond Kalinta, the airline's vice president for commercial affairs, said the company will provide cargo flight services on 30 routes covering Asia, Europe and Australia, in line with the airline's winter flight schedule between Oct 21 and March 26.

Dogs to help inmates return to societyYoung beagles will play an important role in a pilot project for dog-assisted therapy that the Justice Ministry has organised to help inmates ease their depression and anxiety by raising and bonding with dogs. (Photo courtesy of Justice Ministry)The Justice Ministry will allow inmates in four prisons to raise dogs, as part of a pilot project aimed at reducing anxiety, depression and other antisocial behaviour among convicts. The department is working with animal associations and shelters to seek out dogs for the project, the minister said. Inmates will also be briefed by a veterinarian on how to handle a dog and look after it. If the project is well received, it will be expanded to other correctional facilities in the country, the minister said.

Regulator, DSI aim to raise investigative efficiencyMs Ruenvadee (second from left) chairs the SEC meeting with the DSI to discuss ways to proactively enhance their collaboration both in the process of investigating and examining offences in the capital markets. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has partnered with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to enhance the regulator's efficiency in investigating wrongdoings in the capital market. The SEC is also considering adding the nature of offences under the law on digital assets and derivatives contracts in the footer of DSI Law. The regulator is also considering developing a guideline to appoint a special case investigation officer under the Securities and Exchange Act to enhance its investigative authority, she said. She said as the SEC already has expertise and readiness in investigating securities offences, the legal investigative authority will shorten the investigation process.

Reopening a good bet with high costsNearly two weeks into Thailand's official reopening during the Covid-19 pandemic, it is time to evaluate the country's vaccine management plan, economic costs and prospects of recovery. While the reopening is worth the attendant risks, Thailand is paying a disproportionately high price for earlier mistakes and the government's mismanagement. The local production of the AstraZeneca vaccine was delayed and short of target. It should have led to the transfer and demotion of elected officials and public health bureaucrats involved but so far there has been no accountability. This means the reopening is a big bet on public health.

Wissanu: 'Don't defy charter court'The government has warned protesters not to defy the Constitutional Court's ruling which ordered them to stop any actions that pose a threat to the constitutional monarchy. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon echoed the view, saying protest groups must comply with the court's ruling and order. He also brushed aside speculation that future demonstrations may become violent, saying the court's ruling has laid the issue to rest. The statement said protesters were exercising their right to freedom of expression and to demonstrate, which was protected by the constitution. Cholnan Srikaew, the leader of the main opposition Pheu Thai Party, said that party members had been concerned that divisions could arise over the charter court's ruling.

Malaysia to reopen to international visitors by Jan 1FILE PHOTO: Tourists visit the Sky Bridge as it reopens to domestic tourists amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic in Langkawi, Malaysia, Sept 16, 2021. (Reuters)KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will reopen its borders to international visitors by Jan 1 at the latest, a government advisory council said on Thursday, as the country seeks to revive its ailing tourism sector. The neighbouring country has gradually reopened its economy in recent weeks as coronavirus infection rates have slowed amid a ramped-up vaccination programme. Malaysia this week announced it would launch a vaccinated travel lane with neighbouring Singapore on Nov 29, allowing quarantine-free travel for inoculated people between both countries. It has also agreed with Indonesia to introduce a similar travel corridor on a gradual basis.

Move Forward Party warns court ruling may trigger social unrestSupporters of three activists throw leaflets calling for the abolition of Section 112 -the infamous lese majeste law - to vent their displeasure outside the Constitutional Court after hearing the court's ruling on Wednesday. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)The Move Forward Party (MFP) has warned the Constitutional Court’s ruling against young protesters on Wednesday may trigger a social explosion, and asked those in power not to view the young generation as enemies. Mr Natthaporn cited the Constitutional Court ruling that three activists -- Arnon Nampa, Panupong "Mike" Jadnok and Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul -- had attempted to overthrow the state and the monarchy in their speeches. Party MPs who bailed out those who were arrested had performed their duties as MPs and acted within the scope of the constitution, he added. The secretary-general insisted the party was not worried about attempts to dissolve it, but was prepared for such an eventuality.

PM ready to take up Apec chairPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is preparing to take up the chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting from New Zealand next year. The Apec chairmanship will fall on Thailand's shoulders at the end of the virtual meeting of 28th Apec Economic Leaders Week (AELW) which will take place from Nov 11-12. At 7pm, Gen Prayut will participate in a meeting between the AELW and Apec Business Advisory Council (Abac) Leaders Dialogue. Gen Prawit was asked by Gen Prayut, who is also the defence minister, to attend the meeting on his behalf. The event was hosted by the Bruneian defence minister via a video teleconference, Defence Ministry spokesman Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich said.

Mexico City sets world record for free Wi-Fi hotspotsPhoto of a "Free WiFi" zone sign in Mexico CityMEXICO CITY: Mexico City has set a world record for free Wi-Fi access thanks to thousands of public internet access points across the capital, Guinness World Records announced Wednesday. Official adjudicator Carlos Tapia presented the award for the most hotspots -- 21,500 -- in a single free urban Wi-Fi network to Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum. The access points are spread across the sprawling city of some nine million people, particularly in public transport, although at times the network can become saturated. When schools closed for more than a year during the Covid-19 pandemic, some students turned to the service to take part in online classes. Sheinbaum said that the aim was to make internet access a right for all, in particular disadvantaged families with no connection at home.

These led to a 20% increase in revenue to 1.3 billion baht in the third quarter, up from 1.08 billion baht in the second quarter. From January to September, net profit increased by 19.5% to 1.7 billion baht, up from 1.4 billion baht in the same period last year, according to BCPG. The company took over the 69-megawatt Nam San 3A and 45-megawatt Nam San 3B in February last year at a cost of 3.7 billion baht. In the solar energy segment, BCPG last week started commercial operations of two solar power projects -- 7.7-MW rooftop solar panels at Chiang Mai University's Smart City Project in Thailand, and a 20-MW solar power plant in Chiba, Japan. The firm's Komagane and Yabuki solar power projects, with combined electricity generation capacity of 49 MW, are set to start operations by the first half of 2022.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) has set up a committee to tackle problems arising from online transactions. "The committee will tackle and prevent problems, handle consumers' complaints and gather information to come up with guidelines," Ms Saree said. "This is an important step forward for various agencies to work together to protect consumers from online fraud." Ms Saree said after the committee was set up, the TCC will focus on achieving results to safeguard consumers. Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn will preside over the ceremony, Ms Saree said.

M Vision handles Metaverse project's land trade managementMetaverse Thailand shows virtual land plots around the Ekamai area that have been purchased (in green). M Vision Plc, the organiser of Thailand Mobile Expo, is catching the metaverse opportunity by working with a Singaporean partner to handle marketing and land trade management at Metaverse Thailand project, where virtual land can be bought, traded and developed. Metaverse Thailand, which can be accessed through the metaversethailand.io website, is being developed by A Plus Fintech, a financial tech firm headquartered in Singapore. M Vision is in charge of virtual land trade management and marketing on the platform. Metaverse Thailand enables users to buy, sell, name and develop the land they own, according to the project's white paper.

A seated Buddha statue from Gandhara, Pakistan, and a standing Buddha statue in a posture of giving a blessing was crafted in Gupta Sarnath School-style during the 5th to 6th century and transported from Varanasi, India. Photo: Pattarawadee Saengmanee"The Buddha statue in a posture of benediction is a masterpiece from the Gupta Sarnath School. Archaeological evidence indicates that ancient humans lived on this continent and built the Mesopotamian civilisation in West Asia, the Indus Valley civilisation in South Asia and the Chinese civilisation in East Asia. A long hallway leads out of a burial chamber and is decorated with a collection of ancient bronze containers dating from 1,700 to 2,000 years ago. Apichart JinakulA Buddha statue in the posture of giving a blessing is a masterpiece from the Gupta Sarnath School.

The study also found that the top three factors that will make Thai travellers comfortable to travel again are having received a vaccination (67%), a reduction of global cases of Covid infections (55%), and having Covid insurance (41%). "It's clear that caution remains among the public when it comes to travel, and there is a strong preference for safety and familiarity," said Suripong Tantiyanon, country manager for Visa Thailand. When it comes to the top overseas travel destinations, the majority of Thai travellers are keen to visit Japan, followed by China, Australia, South Korea, Canada and France. When asked about their appetite for travel, nearly half (48%) said they were keen to travel within a bubble but not in the immediate future. In the post-Covid era, digital payments are synonymous with confidence, safety and recovery," said Mr Suripong.

Protesters set fire at model of the Democracy Monument outside the Constitutional Court premises in protest against the ruling against the three activists on Wednesday. (AFP photo)Activist Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul on Wednesday denied any attempt to overthrow the monarchy in demands made and other actions during anti-government rallies. "They said I am trying to overthrow (the monarchy) when I am only asking for reform," she wrote a short Twitter message after the Constitutional Court's ruling on her case. The group also said they had no intention to overthrow the constitutional monarchy. Supporters of the three activists waiting outside the court premises set fire to a model of the Democracy Monument in protest at the ruling.