Rice farmers nationwide to receive aidRice farmers across the country flocked to banks and automated teller machines (ATMs) to receive aid under the government's price guarantee scheme, which began yesterday. Under the project, financial aid will be offered to farmers who grow five varieties of rice, with no more than 15% moisture content. Under the programme, farmers which grew the Hom Mali variety are eligible to receive 4,135.77 baht per tonne, capped at 14 tonnes per household. While farmers who grow white rice will get 1,934.62 baht per tonne, capped at 30 tonnes per household. Those who grow Pathum Thani variety will receive 1,052.13 baht per tonne, limited to 25 tonnes per household, while farmers who grow glutinous rice will get 4,337.47 baht per tonne, limited to no more than 16 tonnes.

Sabuy makes push into ATM marketMr Chookiat says the company targets investment of 1.5-2 billion baht for business expansion in 2022, with revenue projected to grow 50% next year. In the second development, Sabuy decided to buy 4,600 vending machines from Forth Vending Co, a subsidiary of SET-listed Forth Corporation, for 340 million baht. At present, Sabuy operates 57,000 top-up machines and 5,600 vending machines, as well as food court systems for 231 locations. It also has 4,040 branches of Shipsmile shops and 170 shops of postal service Plus Express. Sabuy reported third-quarter revenue of 674.6 million baht, up 69.5% from the same period last year, with net profit reaching 56 million baht in the third quarter, a surge of 148% year-on-year.

Charter Court, surroundings off-limits for ruling in protest caseStudents take part in an anti-government rally at Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus on Aug 10 last year, when they demanded changes to the constitution and the monarchy. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)The Constitutional Court and Building A of the government office complex on Chaeng Wattana road in Nonthaburi have been declared off-limits to the public on Wednesday, when the court is scheduled to deliver its decision in a case against eight pro-democracy protesters. The case involves a petition filed with the Constitutional Court by political activist Nathaporn Toprayoon. To ensure peace and order, the court has issued an order limiting attendance at the hearing to the accused and the petitioner, or representatives with court permission, and court officials. The office of the Constitutional Court is to arrange channels for the public and media to listen to the court decision.

Govt wants more Covid medicinePeople arrive at the Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok on Monday for their second jab of Covid-19 vaccination on a walk-in basis. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)The Ministry of Public Health wants to buy two types of oral antiviral medicines to fight Covid-19. Dr Atthasit said the ministry will also talk with Pfizer on Friday over procurement of another Covid-19 antiviral medicine, Paxlovid. About 50% of those who received Molnupiravir did not require hospitalisation and none of them died. There were no deaths in the group that received Paxlovid and Ritonavir.

Bitcoin, Ether hit records amid broad rally in cryptocurrenciesFILE PHOTO: The exchange rates and logos of Bitcoin (BTH), Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and Monero (XMR) are seen on the display of a cryptocurrency ATM of blockchain payment service provider Bity at the House of Satoshi bitcoin and blockchain shop in Zurich, Switzerland June 25, 2021. (Reuters)Bitcoin and Ether hit all-time highs Tuesday in an ongoing cryptocurrency rally that some analysts attributed partly to the search for investments to hedge risks from inflation. Bitcoin, the world’s largest digital token, jumped as much as 3.6% to $68,513, while Ether posted a more modest advance to about $4,840. The total value of digital tokens tracked by CoinGecko reached some $3.1 trillion. “Strength in Bitcoin, Ethereum and many other altcoins looks likely in the weeks to come.”Another theory for the Bitcoin rally is the seemingly ubiquitous Elon Musk, the world’s richest man.

Tourism operators in resort cities near Bangkok are urging the government to adjust a hotel subsidy scheme called We Travel Together to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain more benefits. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), 890,781 rooms were booked at 3,797 hotels by 323,353 Thais under the stimulus scheme as of Nov 7. Besides hotel subsidies, she said demand from Tour Teaw Thai, which subsidises 40% of tour packages of up to 5,000 baht to 1 million Thais, is still sluggish. As of Nov 7, 3,091 tour packages were sold, while just 299 tourists had already travelled, generating 2 million baht. She said the local market prefers independent travel, so new tourism stimulus measures via tour packages might not effectively boost domestic trips.

Military top brass sworn in on first day as senatorsThe defence permanent secretary and chiefs of the navy and the air force reported for duty as newly appointed senators on Monday. Under the constitution, six of the Senate seats are reserved for the supreme commander, the army, navy and air force chiefs, the defence permanent secretary and the national police chief. However, Gen Chaichan and Mr Jarungvith are required to step down from their current posts if they want to serve as senators, according to the source. PPRP leader Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday refused to answer reporters' questions about speculation involving Mr Anumat joining the ruling party. He also declined to comment about reports that former police chief Chakthip Chaijinda and former permanent secretary for interior Chatchai Phromlert would apply to become members.

Representatives of people affected by gold mining in Phichit and Phitsanulok provinces file their complaint near Government House in Bangkok in 2016. (File photo)A civil society group has threatened to file legal action against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha if the government loses a legal battle against Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd and agrees to the company's terms of reopening its gold mine. Lertsak Kamkongsak, Commoners Party Leader and the network's representative, said the government would be trading the environment and people's health by allowing the company to resume its gold mining operations. Mr Kobchai insisted this does not mean that the Thai government will lose in court. He also assured that the government's legal team will negotiate while having the country's interests as its first priority.

Energy Minister says diesel price crisis is nearly overThe high retail price of diesel is set to fall soon, Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said yesterday. "From about 25 baht per litre late last year, the average retail price of diesel has already surpassed 30 baht, which last month prompted the government's committee on energy policy management to begin subsidising the diesel price in a bid to keep it no higher than 30 baht per litre," Mr Supattanapong said. Aside from using Oil Fund mechanisms to keep the diesel price low, the government has also asked for cooperation from oil retailers to reduce their margins, he said. The diesel price subsidy using the Oil Fund will initially last no later than next year, he said. As for distorted information regarding the government's handling of diesel prices being spread online against the government, Mr Supattanapong said the Energy Ministry is considering taking legal action against those moving behind these malicious rumours.

October TISI hits five-month highPassengers arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport have their documents checked under the Thailand Pass scheme. The reopening of the country to fully vaccinated tourists was one of the reasons cited for the improvement in October's TISI. The reopening of the tourism industry to welcome back fully vaccinated tourists without quarantine also drove the TISI. "But the government should not only hope for the return of Chinese visitors because it remains unclear when the Chinese government will ease rules to allow its people to travel abroad," said Mr Supant. "We're worried the Ft will increase because of the global oil price surge," said Mr Supant.

Air travellers not a Covid problem, illegal migrants a headacheVisitors arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport on Nov 1, when the government reopened the country to vaccinated air travellers. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The government expressed confidence on Monday that Covid-19 can be controlled for travellers arriving by air, but not for people crossing illegally into Thailand by land. Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the number of infected visitors by air was at a controllable level and the government was satisfied with the situation. However, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was concerned about the illegal entry of workers, with more than 2,800 illegal migrants arrested over the past week. He urged business operators to hire only legal migrant workers, quarantine them, provide them with vaccination and have them comply with disease control measures.

Oct industries sentiment at 5-month high on travel reopeningTravellers from Paris assemble in the arrival hall of Suvarnabhumi airport on Nov 1, 2021. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)Thailand's industries sentiment rose for a second straight month in October to a five-month high, bolstered by improved economic activity following an easing of coronavirus curbs, including a travel reopening, an industries group said on Monday. The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said its industries sentiment index rose to 82.1 last month from 79.0 in September. "We see more people mobility and more hotel bookings for the New Year period, which are good signs for the country's reopening," FTI chairman Supant Mongkolsuthree told a briefing. The sentiment index, however, remains below 100, indicating that enterprises' confidence "is still poor", Mr Supant added.

BloombergIf the fashion world wants to have less of an impact on the planet, the best solution would be to produce less. But well-known brands still seem to think sales can keep ticking up as usual. Global fashion chains are starting to talk about a radical overhaul of the clothing business. To fix this, brands want to become more "circular," which would involve changing every part of the fashion supply chain. If shoppers take notice, more mainstream fashion labels might struggle to meet their growth targets, considering their resistance to raising prices.

REUTERSInternational airports in Thailand have come alive over the past week, with more than 12,000 travellers flying in, mostly from 63 countries which have been exempted from quarantine or area restrictions. SLOW LEISURE MARKETThis year has turned out to be a tumultuous time for the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which was forced to revise its tourism target three times. He said entry regulations might not be decisive factors anymore as Thailand was already a step ahead by offering a more simplified process from November. But to sustainably attract the international market, Phuket must return to its core strength since before the pandemic -- outstanding tourism products. He believed tourism operators would not object to this idea.

PM's aide: 'lese majeste untouchable'Anti-government demonstrators gather in front of the United Nations Conference Centre on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok on Dec 10, 2020, calling for the repeal of Section 112 of the Criminal Code. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)It is impossible to repeal Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, both in technicality and spirit, and doing so runs counter to the constitution, said Thipanan Sirichana, the former deputy spokeswoman of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. Abolishing the lese majeste law intended to provide legal protection to the monarch from insults and dishonour would, in essence, contravene the constitution, she said. Section 112, which is reserved for the head of state and categorised as a national security law, works differently from the defamation law which applies to citizens. She said it was puzzling that Progressive Movement secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, who is a legal expert, has shown a lack of understanding of the law.