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.

Police probe dumping of 59 Rohingya on island off SatunRohingya migrants sit on the rocks by a beach on Koh Dong off Satun on Saturday before being picked up by a Royal Thai Navy boat. (Photo: Satun Public Relations Office)Police are trying to find out who abandoned 59 Rohingya boat people, including five children, on an island off mainland Satun - and told them they were in Malaysia. A Royal Thai Navy coast guard 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 #Rohingya boat people were transported to mainland Satun. The boat dropped them on the island about a week ago and then sailed away, he said, adding that the Rohingya will be sent back to Bangladesh.

Prapit said the Royal Irrigation Department’s machinery office is rushing to clear the Bang Pakong irrigation dam in Chachoengsao’s Muang district. The office has deployed cranes on rafts and other tools to clear the overgrowth. Meanwhile, Anek Kansangwon, director of the Royal Irrigation Machinery Office, said his office has reached an agreement with irrigation offices nationwide to cooperate in clearing the weeds. Anek said his office has deployed 222 small fibreglass boats designed for clearing weeds to the 17 irrigation offices so they can start working right away. The boats come armed with equipment to push the weeds ashore and pull them out upon reaching the bank.

Suspected monkeypox cases all test negativeTest tubes labelled "Monkeypox virus positive and negative" are seen in this illustration taken on May 23, 2022. (Reuters photo)Six suspected cases of monkeypox were ruled out on Friday following lab tests which came back negative for the virus, says the Department of Disease Control (DDC). However, monkeypox has a tendency to spread more rapidly, the WHO added. On Friday, there was a global spike in cases in Portugal (19), the UK (11), the Netherlands (8) and the US (3). The DDC said the Public Health Ministry has measures in place to work with hospitals and clinics in Bangkok where those infected with monkeypox will be treated.

Ukraine says Russia using 'all its power' to capture eastern cityResidents wait to evacuate the city of Sloviansk, to the west of Severodonetsk, on June 2KYIV (UKRAINE) - Ukraine said Saturday its forces were managing to push back against Russian troops in fierce fighting in Severodonetsk despite Russia "throwing all its power" into capturing the strategic eastern city. Western powers have slapped increasingly stringent sanctions on Russia and supplied arms to Ukraine but divisions have emerged on how to react. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba reacted on Saturday saying such calls "only humiliate France" and any country taking a similar position. The blockade has sparked fears of a global food crisis since Ukraine and Russia are among the top wheat exporters in the world. The UN has warned that African countries, which normally import more than half of their wheat consumption from Ukraine and Russia, face an "unprecedented" crisis.

Swiatek wins second French Open titleIga Swiatek saw off Coco Gauff in straight sets to win her second Grand Slam title. (AFP Photo)PARIS: Iga Swiatek cruised to her second French Open title by dominating teenager Coco Gauff in the final on Saturday, as the world number one claimed her 35th successive victory. Swiatek celebrated her sixth straight title this year in the players' box with her friends and family. Swiatek, only the 10th woman to win multiple French Opens in the Open era, lost just one set in the tournament — against China's Zheng Qinwen in the fourth round. The Pole gifted her opponent a potential route back into the match, making four unforced errors to throw away her serve in the first game of the second set.

Govt denies oversupply of vaccineThe Public Health Ministry has denied accusations by the Rural Doctor Society (RDS) that it has flooded remote hospitals with Covid-19 vaccines, saying such quantities were justified to expand immunisation coverage. Dr Suthep Phetmak, the ministry's chief inspector, insisted it was crucial for people across the country to have access to the vaccine close to their homes. "It is precisely the reason the vaccine was distributed to the HPH [health promotion hospitals] in the tambons in the outlying areas of the country," he said. So far, 138 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered, of which 81% were first doses and 75% were second doses. Earlier, the RDS criticised the ministry for sending the vaccine without adequate refrigeration at the HPHs.

But govt making it through the upcoming censure debate could well be a different storyPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha speaks during a budget bill debate in Parliament on Thursday. The initial passage of the budget bill was said by some observers to be a key first step in the government's bid to remain in power. House committee seats are important to small parties, particularly the committee vetting the budget bill, he said. Committee members scrutinising the budget bill, particularly those from the coalition government parties can push for allocations to their constituencies, he said. "Some Pheu Thai MPs also voted for the bill, which shows they may want to leave Pheu Thai.