Thailand's average headline inflation was 1.15% year-on-year and core inflation 0.21% for the first 11 months this year. According to Ronnarong Phoolpipat, director-general of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), Thailand's headline inflation is likely to top 3% next year from a range of 0.8% to 1.2% this year. "From such cost-push factors, Thailand's headline inflation in 2022 may possibly hit 3%, a rate last seen in 2012," he said. "Rising headline inflation may negatively affect salaried employees and farmers whose income does not come in line with rapidly rising expenses." For the first 11 months this year, Thailand's average headline inflation was 1.15% year-on-year and core inflation 0.21%.

Premchai Karnasuta (left) and three of his staff are arrested on Feb 4, 2018 for allegedly hunting wildlife in the World Heritage Thungyai Naresuan Sanctuary. The former president of Italian-Thai Development Plc and three of his staff were arrested on Feb 4, 2018, for allegedly hunting wildlife at the protected Thungyai Naresuan Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi. The group was permitted to enter the sanctuary after Premchai's request to study wildlife in the pristine forest was granted. "Moreover, the case was scrutinised to ensure wildlife offenders are punished, whether rich or poor." Panudet Kerdmali, secretary-general of the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation, said the Premchai case has raised awareness about wildlife protection and conservation.

Nissan Thailand chief Isao Sekiguchi brings enthusiasm and adaptability to the challenge of keeping the carmaker in tune with changing times. Not surprisingly given his job, Mr Sekiguchi enjoys driving to test the performance, acceleration and speed of a car. The Thai government aims to have electric vehicles (EVs) make up 30% of total car production by 2030, Mr Sekiguchi notes. Covid-19, says Mr Sekiguchi, has been an unprecedented global event, with broad-ranging impacts that continue to change. PERSONAL FAVOURITESAsked about his most enjoyable travel experience, Mr Sekiguchi says the Maldives was one of them.

Complex benefits OR's non-oil revenueA newly renovated Cafe Amazon outlet on Phahon Yothin Road in Ayutthaya, where OR's food production and goods distribution complex is located. PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), Thailand's largest oil trader by volume, aims to increase its non-oil business revenue through a 6-billon-baht food production and goods distribution complex in Ayutthaya. The coffee roasting plant has a capacity of 4,500 tonnes a year, while the non-coffee unit focuses on tea, juice and dairy products. Construction of the complex required part of OR's investment in non-oil and overseas businesses, which comprises 65% of the company's 74.6-billion-baht capital expenditure allocated for 2021 to 2025. Building new Amazon coffee shops led to the company's plan to expand capacity for its coffee roasting facility, increasing it to 10,000 tonnes a year with a budget of 850 million baht.

More than ever, leaders need to be nurturing bosses who show team members how and where to develop their capabilities. We also need to give them a better answer to when this learning needs to take place. Leaders need to accept that their people know what they need to learn for today, and then emphasise sharing what they will need to learn for the future. Learning needs to take place on and around the job. Leaders need to advocate reflection, sharing, and developing the wisdom of the crowd over completing classes.

Last month its initial public offering raised more money than any IPO on a U.S. listing since 2014, making Mr. Scaringe an instant billionaire. Mr. Scaringe declined to comment for this article, citing the so-called quiet period companies typically observe after an IPO. "The electrification of the auto industry,'' Mr. Scaringe said, "is a planet-wide imperative requiring more than 1 billion new vehicles.'' In all, Mr. Scaringe stands to own about 49 million shares if all his options were to vest. Building Rivian, Mr. Scaringe has said in past interviews, was a highly complex and emotional journey.

Tens of thousands protest Austria compulsory Covid jabsAustria last month became the first EU country to say it would make vaccination against the novel coronavirus mandatory. VIENNA - Tens of thousands gathered in Austria's capital Vienna on Saturday to protest mandatory Covid vaccines and home confinement orders for those who have not yet received the jabs. Police said an estimated 44,000 people attended the demonstration, the latest in a string of huge weekend protests since Austria last month became the first EU country to say it would make Covid vaccinations mandatory. Manuela, 47, said she had travelled in from out of town for the protest. A flurry of groups called for rallies on Saturday, including the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), led by leader Herbert Kickl.

(Photo by Somchai Poomlard)The Ministry of Public Health will next year push for legalisation of all cannabis parts, lifting the last remaining hurdle preventing full use and commercialisation of the plant. Thailand earlier removed stems, roots, leaves and sprigs of cannabis from its Category 5 narcotics list, but kept flowers and buds on it. The next step is for the ministry to announce a revised narcotics list of all five categories based on the new law. (continued below)Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visits an exhibition of cannabis products at the ministry in January this year. “What we have achieved so far is to declare that cannabis stems, roots, leaves and sprigs are not drugs.

Challenges stymie tour operators' recoveryA traveller wearing a protective mask is seen at Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Half of the outbound tour operators remaining in the market are facing tremendous challenges during the recovery period as they have insufficient staff and funds to cater to growing demand next year. Suthiphong Pheunphiphop, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), said only 400 of the 800 total outbound tour companies have survived the past two years, of which 150-200 operators are maintaining sales activities as they pivot towards domestic tour packages. They are unable to handle inquiries from customers such as big corporate groups who are looking for outbound trips next year," said Mr Suthiphong. In the first quarter next year, the TTAA has prepared at least five trips for tour operators that want to resume outbound services to Dubai, Switzerland, Germany, France, Scandinavian countries and the US.

Cannabis clinics set to mushroomSince Thailand launched its first cannabis clinic in August 2019, the Public Health Ministry has opened over 500 more nationwide. These clinics offer patients two types of medical cannabis: oil extracted from the seeds, and traditional cannabis remedies that use various parts of the plant including the leaves, roots or flowers. "Our plan is to open more cannabis clinics to cover most of the tambons across the nation," Dr Kwanchai said. He reportedly used cannabis oil to help treat his Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease when he was in the early stages of both almost a decade ago). "Our plan is to open more cannabis clinics to cover most tambons."

More flights seen at Thai airports in DecemberNew arrivals at Suvarnabhumi airport, the country’s gateway, are instructed to go to a health-screening area on Tuesday. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Reservation for international flights to main airports in Thailand has jumped more than 20% this month as the country is entering the high season for tourism. The airport-operating agency also said a total of 17,132 flights would land at its airports in the last two months of this year, most of them in December. The increasing number of flights reflected more air travel to Thailand during the peak season of the tourism sector, AoT said. Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai and Phuket are its facilities serving international travellers since the government reopened the country on Nov 1.

Bank of Thailand governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput (Bank of Thailand photo)Thailand's economy could return to levels logged before the pandemic in the first quarter of 2023, according to the Bank of Thailand governor. The recovery will be slow and uneven across business sectors, governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput said on Wednesday at the MFA CEO Forum hosted by the Foreign Ministry. The central bank expects about 6 million foreign tourists next year. Mr Sethaput said Thailand has to ensure its economic recovery remains intact and fiscal and monetary policies stay accommodative to support the recovery. These commercial digital loans will allow greater access to finance, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), said Siritida Panomwon Na Ayudhya, assistant governor for payment systems policy and financial technology group.

Nuke deal is dead! As a funeral oration, it lacked in elegance, but it did the job: the 2015 treaty curbing Iran's nuclear capabilities is dead. When Joe Biden replaced Mr Trump last January it looked like reviving the deal would be simple. However, we may assume that the people who guide Israel's nuclear strategy -- it has had nuclear weapons for at least fifty years, and now has several hundred of them -- know that a few Iranian nuclear weapons are not a mortal threat to Israel. They might attack Israel with nuclear weapons even if they knew they would be exterminated in return.

NACC rejects petition for ethics probe of ThamanatThamanat PrompowThe National Anti‑Corruption Commission (NACC) on Thursday rejected a petition by the Move Forward Party (MFP) calling for a probe into the ethical conduct of Thamanat Prompow over his narcotics conviction in Australia. NACC secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol said the inquiry panel looking into the petition decided to reject it. Mr Niwatchai also said the case took place before Capt Thamanat held the positions and before the code of ethics took effect. A probe into ethical conduct can be launched only when an MP or cabinet minister violates the code of ethics while in office, he said. Any action committed by an MP or minister before they took office does not warrant an inquiry, Mr Nitwatchai said.

Millcon Steel preps green production initiativesSET-listed Millcon Steel, a Thai steel manufacturer, plans to embark on more green business strategies, including the construction of a waste-to-energy power plant and trading carbon credits, as it is determined to follow the government's bio-, circular and green economic model. The company wants to develop its steel business in line with the global effort to achieve a net-zero carbon target by 2050. Millcon also formed joint ventures with other firms to produce electricity from biomass and biogas, then sell it to the Provincial Electricity Authority. Millcon expects steel consumption in Thailand in 2022 to reach 18-19 million tonnes thanks to the state's infrastructure development projects, including the Thai-Chinese high-speed train project. It expects to sell 1.2 million tonnes of steel products domestically and overseas next year, up from a target of 600,000 tonnes in 2021.