DSI submits extra info on 'Billy' casePinnapa Prueksapan and DSI chief Triyarith Temahivong discuss the probe into the disappearance of her husband, Porlajee 'Billy' Rakchongcharoen, at the DSI headquarters in Bangkok on Tuesday. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has submitted additional information relating to the disappearance of Karen rights activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen to the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG), which the office needs for further legal action. DSI director-general Triyarith Temahivong said investigators have questioned seven witnesses about four issues as requested by prosecutors, in addition to questioning more forensic experts and examining all evidence related to the case. "The DSI will deliver justice to Porlajee's family," said Mr Triyarith. Surapong Kongchantuk, president of the Cross-Cultural Foundation, said that on Sept 9 last year, the OAG asked the DSI to provide more information.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presides over an event to promote Thai cannabis at the Department of Medical Sciences in Nonthaburi province in June last year. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The Public Health Ministry will on Wednesday propose to totally delist cannabis from the narcotics list, paving the way for households to grow the plant legally. The revised narcotic list will take effect after he endorses it. Mr Anutin said the Public Health Ministry has done its part and the revised list is in accordance with the new Narcotics Code which took effect in December last year. The party has been criticised for failing to live up to its promise despite overseeing the Public Health Ministry for three years.

Thai-Chinese joint venture SAIC Motor-CP, the manufacturer and distributor of MG cars, plans to spend 2.5 billion baht developing a factory to produce batteries for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and start making BEVs domestically next year. "The EV industry is growing faster as new Chinese automakers launch more EVs to meet global demand," he said. SAIC, or Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, has invested 10 billion baht in Thailand since 2013. The government is promoting the EV industry as part of its plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and cope with harmful levels of PM2.5 ultra-fine dust emitted from ageing oil-powered cars. The National EV Policy Committee announced in March last year a goal to have EVs constitute 50% of locally made vehicles by 2030, part of a plan to make the country a regional EV production hub.

So, while the third wave seems to have achieved its peak in Mumbai, if other districts also implement strict measures to control the virus spread, the national peak may come within 2-3 weeks after the Mumbai peak, the report said. It added that the share of vacant beds has seen an increase at all major centres, indicating India is much well-prepared to tackle the ongoing wave. In Mumbai, case share is maximum in the 30-39 age group, while death count is maximum in the 60-69 age bracket. Active beds to total capacity have also come down from the second wave, the report said.

Govt to lower Covid alert, ease curbs as infections slowTwo boats pass each other on the Chao Phraya River in front of the Bangkok skyline on Monday. (AFP photo)The government will lower the Covid-19 alert level and is considering easing more restrictions to boost the economy, the health minister said on Tuesday, in response to a slower infection rate. Among measures being considered are establishing more "sandbox" areas for tourists, who can skip quarantine if they stay in specified areas for seven days and undergo two Covid-19 tests. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters new sandbox areas could include Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Khon Kaen and Samut Prakan provinces. Mr Anutin added that the 'Test and Go' scheme that allows free movement to tourists who pass one Covid test on arrival could be revived as soon as February.

The volcano near Tonga in the Pacific Ocean exploded with huge amounts of gas and steam blasting into the air and having a widespread impact. The impact of the eruption was measured in foreign and local weather stations at the following Thai time:3.42pm: Australia, Springbrook Research Observatory7.50pm: Songkhla, regional observatory7.59pm: Nakhon Ratchasima, regional observatory8.01pm: Chachoengsao, regional observatory8.25pm: Chiang Mai, Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark8.28pm: Chiang Mai, Thai National Observatory on Doi Inthanon8.42pm: China, Gao Mei Gu Astronomical observatoryNARIT said this information can be used to determine the impact of the eruption and a similar system can be used for other natural phenomena, such as working out the impact of an asteroid. More details can be found at http://weather.narit.or.th/

Property developers want tax reductions to be extendedAn aerial view of buildings in Bangkok from Baiyoke Sky Hotel. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)Real estate developers are calling for an extension of the 90% reduction in the rate of the land and building tax as the impact on the sector remains severe. "Many people misunderstood that maintaining the land and building tax rates was about a 90% reduction which the government previously offered in 2020. But actually, it means maintaining the rates for tax calculation which ranged from 0.01-0.7%," he said. Mr Issara also suggested the establishment of a committee to review the structure of the land and building tax as the current scheme is unreasonable, impractical and still avoidable if there is good tax planning.

(Reuters photo)The Tourism and Sports Ministry will reduce the budget for the "Tour Teaw Thai" tour package subsidy programme, while slashing the scheme's projected tour packages from a million to 200,000 amid weak demand. As of Jan 17, only 27,277 tour packages had been sold, with 1,972 tour programmes offered on the scheme's website. Some 18,650 tourists had travelled with the scheme since Tour Teaw Thai opened for registration on Oct 8 last year. Thus, the ministry and the National Economic and Social Development Council have discussed returning the Tour Teaw Thai's 4-billion-baht budget and reducing the number of tour packages to 200,000. Mr Thanapol added that the government should promote Tour Teaw Thai to create more recognition among Thais and encourage them to join the scheme.

E-commerce growth stuntedThailand posted its smallest e-commerce growth on record during the third and fourth quarters of 2021, attributed to tepid consumption and the reopening of physical shops, says SET-listed Kerry Express Thailand, a major parcel delivery service provider. "In the previous two quarters, Thailand and Southeast Asia witnessed the slowest e-commerce growth in history," Alex Ng, chief executive of Kerry Express Thailand, told the Bangkok Post. Thanawat Malabuppha, chief executive of shopping search engine Priceza and president of the Thai E-Commerce Association, said the country's e-commerce growth in 2022 is expected to be lower than last year because of a decline in purchasing power, inflation and a hike in utility charges. Vincent Yang, chief executive of JD Central, an e-commerce player, is still optimistic about the country's e-commerce outlook, despite an economic slowdown and a decline in purchasing power. The average basket size for JD Central doubled the average for the e-commerce industry, he said.

Mrs Marisa said in addition to a shrinking young population because of a declining birth rate, the government should pay serious attention to the quality of education for students and young adults. BIG CHALLENGE AHEADMr Tanit said another big challenge for Thailand's labour sector is the growing number of senior citizens. Thailand's birth rate in 2020 dropped below 600,000 for the first time and took the country's TFR down to 1.51, which is "extremely low", according to global organisations. Thailand's birth rate was 1.2 million in 1970. Mr Pailin said he is worried about the extreme dip in Thailand's birth rate because it can lead to labour shortages for the next 30 years.

"We find it necessary to keep those troops due to a very tense situation and very unfriendly environment," Peskov said in an interview with U.S. broadcaster CNN. Russia has to take measures of precaution in response to NATO military build-up, drills and frequent flights of fighter jets and reconnaissance planes near the Russian borders, he said. However, Russia is not considering a military action even if negotiations with the United States and NATO on security guarantees fail, Peskov stressed.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he signed on Dec. 31 the notice of award to BrahMos Aerospace Private Ltd., an Indian-Russian aerospace and defense joint venture. The company’s name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva in Russia. The project, which was negotiated with the Indian government, includes the delivery of three batteries of BrahMos missiles, training for operators and maintainers, as well as the necessary integrated logistics support package. The awarding of the contract came just days after the Department of Budget and Management issued two special allotment release orders amounting to P2.83 billion on Dec. 27, as initial downpayment covering 15 percent of the total contract price. The Philippine Navy Shore-Based Anti-Ship Missile Acquisition Project was part of the second horizon (2018 to 2022) of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

The Revenue Department has the authority to collect taxes from cryptocurrency trading as profits from such activity can be considered assessable income under Section 40 of the Royal Decree amending Revenue Code No.19. The financial transaction tax applies to share sales by individual investors trading on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The ministry is still considering whether the transaction tax should be applied to revenue per transaction of share sales or only to the profit. The Revenue Department expects to gain revenue of around 20 billion baht from this transaction tax. This plan would increase department revenue and ensure fair treatment for all, he said.

Djokovic bid for tennis history over for now - and perhaps foreverNovak Djokovic lost his case against deportation from AustraliaMELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic has never hidden his craving to be remembered as the greatest men's tennis player of all time, but his chance to make Grand Slam history is over for now -- and perhaps indefinitely. He won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon last year to assert his status as the world's top player. Medvedev denied Djokovic the US Open and a calendar-year Grand Slam last year to win his maiden major and is favourite in Melbourne to win back-to-back Slams, now that Djokovic is out. Djokovic has occupied the world number one spot for a record number of weeks, but that could also be in danger now. Despite missing the Australian Open he will remain top of the ranking points even if Medvedev wins, but his position will be in jeopardy the more tournaments he misses.

Japan sets 13-day quarantine for arrivals from ThailandPassersby wearing protective face masks walk on a street in Tokyo on Saturday. (Reuters photo)Air travellers arriving in Japan from Thailand and four other countries must enter quarantine for 13 days starting Monday. The Thai ambassador to Japan said all arrivals from Thailand will be subject to quarantine for three days at accommodation arranged by Japanese authorities after they enter the country. Thailand and four other countries have been added to the list of countries experiencing an Omicron outbreak by the Japanese government. Japan allows only people with permanent residence in Japan, diplomats and people with humanitarian reasons to enter the country.