(Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The Transport Ministry will adjust new bus route numbers following passenger complaints about the change. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said on Friday he had ordered the Land Transport Department to modify all new route numbers by removing the dash between the zone and route numbers, aiming to alleviate confusion among travellers. Buses serving Greater Bangkok underwent route number changes last month as part of an effort to reform the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA). It adjustment has stirred confusion among passengers, many have criticised the bus agency, the department and the ministry for altering familiar route numbers. Even the BMTA labour union staunchly opposed the idea and urged the transport minister and related agencies to revert to the old bus numbers.

Re: "Scandal taints Thai rice", (Editorial, Jan 30). Our arch-competitor Vietnam last year alone received 1 billion baht to develop rice seeds. Their strains are so good that Thai farmers reportedly smuggle their seeds in to grow locally. Instead of billions for rice subsidies, we should spend those billions on R&D to develop the strains most wanted by our markets and develop ways to add value to rice -- like domestically. While we await our R&D results, buy improved strains from other countries and sell them at subsidised prices to farmers to grow.

U.S. senators on Wednesday (January 31) grilled leaders of the biggest social media companies and said Congress must quickly pass legislation, as one lawmaker accused the companies of having "blood on their hands" for failing to protect children from escalating threats of sexual predation on their platforms.

Transport Minister Suriya JungrungreangkitThe Transport Ministry has unveiled its plans to invest 652 billion baht in about 150 transport projects this and next year to improve the country's infrastructure. Speaking after a seminar on policy on Wednesday, Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said 64 projects would be launched this year and 31 more are in the pipeline with a total budget of 389 billion baht. Next year, the ministry has 57 new projects in the pipeline worth a total of 263 billion baht, he said. Nine railway projects will be launched this year such as a double-track railway running from Nakhon Pathom to Hua Hin, Hua Hin to Prachuap Khiri Khan and Prachuap Khiri Khan to Chumphon. The ministry has also planned to develop regional ports connecting Krabi, Phangnga and Phuket this year, Mr Suriya said.

Pita: Court backed him over shareholdingAttention will once again be on a Constitutional Court ruling on Move Forward Party (MFP) affairs when on Wednesday the court passes judgement on whether the party's efforts to amend the lese majeste law are constitutional. He said the petitioner only asked the court to stop any action deemed as an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy, not dissolve the party. Mr Parit also said that if the court rules against the MFP, the party already has a contingency plan in place to deal with any unfavourable ruling. According to observers, Mr Theerayut's petition was based on a Constitutional Court ruling delivered on Nov 10, 2021. The court ruled that the actions of three protest leaders at a rally at Thammasat University in August 2020 were an attempt to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.

Paetongtarn: Films 'good ads' for govtThe government will promote a slew of Thai movies at international film festivals starting with six movies at the Osaka Asian Film Festival in March, according to Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai Party leader and chairwoman of the National Committee on Soft Power Development. "We hope to have good news," she said, of the Thai entrants' chances of scooping an award at the festival. "They will represent the policy to support Thai movies in international film festivals, which is the result of brainstorming between movie directors and the National Committee on Soft Power Development. It is a big step to show the government is serious about supporting the movie industry and promoting Thai culture," she said. "The government is now looking forward to supporting more movie screenings at other international film festivals, such as the International Film Festival Rotterdam and the Berlin International Film Festival," said Ms Paetongtarn.

There's a lot in a nameRe: "A Stroll In Song Wat", (Life, Jan 24). I appreciate an article "A Stroll In Song Wat" in Life on Jan 24. But there's one missing piece of info: Why and how did the name Song Wat come about? As all us Thais know, Song is a royally-connected word. Could the Bangkok Post request historians to enlighten the public on how the name Song Wat came about?

North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles off east coastPeople watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing a ballistic missile towards the sea off its east coast, in Seoul, South Korea, September 25, 2022. (Reuters photo)SEOUL: North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles off its east coast on Sunday, its second such launch in less than a week, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. "While strengthening surveillance and vigilance, our military is cooperating closely with the United States and monitoring additional signs and activities from North Korea," it said in a statement. The latest launches came days after North Korea fired what it called a new strategic cruise missile called "Pulhwasal-3-31", suggesting it is nuclear capable. North Korea is stepping up confrontation with the United States and its allies, but officials in Washington and Seoul say they have spotted no signs Pyongyang intends to take imminent military action.

Two of those slain were suspected of deadly bombing of Catholic mass on southern islandThe city of Marawi in Lanao del Sur province was the site of a five-month siege by Philippine troops to dislodge Islamist militants in 2017. (Reuters File Photo)MANILA - Government troops killed nine members of a pro-Islamic State group in the southern Philippines, the military said on Saturday, including two suspects in a deadly blast at a Roman Catholic mass last month. Four soldiers were wounded during the counter terrorism operation on Thursday and Friday in Lanao del Sur province, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement, but all are in stable condition. Among those killed were the two named suspects in the Dec 3 bombing in a university gymnasium in Marawi that killed at least four people and injured 50 others. “This operation sets a clear precedent: the AFP will not tolerate those who endanger the lives and well-being of our people.”

Business of beliefRe: "Faith travel remains evergreen", (Business, Jan 22). When looked at closely, what is the motivation that sees the reported "money pile[] up in donation boxes", including in the capacious boxes of the cited "god of wealth, the Thao Wessuwan worship statue"? It is touching that as it is on Earth, so too is it in the heavens. Are the gods and their representatives on Earth setting the example to the faith-driven, or is earthly custom teaching the gods how to make a baht? Religion by any name has traditionally been a most lucrative business for its highly skilled officials.

"The navy will abide by the Thai-US agreement about the salvage operation," he said. "The fact that the US is to assist us in the matter during the joint Cobra Gold next month is not a normal procedure but a momentous example of cooperation." He said the US would also help find the remains of the five missing crew and establish the cause of the incident. His statement also responded to a report in October that the navy would select a Thai contractor with Chinese partnership in the salvage mission. The exercise will include Muay Thai training and activities tied to space domain awareness and operations, Mr Jirayu said.

Sri Lanka debt overhaul harms older womenBangkok Post The World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law Index has documented a persistent gender pension gap in rich and poor countries. This is partly because of gender-based legal disparities, such as lower mandatory… Please credit and share this article with others using this link:https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2731005/. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post PCL. https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2731005/Leave a ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment.

National oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc expects the state's gas supply reforms, which aim to make electricity bills less expensive, to cost PTT's gas business 6.5 billion baht, says chief executive and president Auttapol Rerkpiboon. The two pools are known as Gulf Gas and Pool Gas. Gulf Gas is the weighted average price of natural gas from fields in the Gulf of Thailand. Pool Gas is the weighted average wellhead price of gas from the Gulf, Myanmar and imported liquefied natural gas. The fine will be used to support the state measures to reduce electricity prices.

The Italian Trade Agency Bangkok in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Thailand and Lazada Thailand (Lazada) have renewed their collaboration for a second year to promote authentic Italian brands and products under the “Italian Pavilion” campaign. This year's campaign brings together more than 1,000 authentic products from over 50 Italian brands on the Italian Pavilion on LazMall, with a greater assortment of products, ranging from foods & beverage, fashion and beauty, household utensils, and more. Melissa Yunibhand, Chief Business Officer, Lazada Thailand, said, “Our previous Italian Pavilion campaign was warmly received by consumers, and we are excited to extend our partnership with The Italian Trade Agency Bangkok. Shop made-in-Italy products on LazMall today by typing “Italian Pavilion” in the search bar on the Lazada application. For more information, please visit the Italian Pavilion on LazMall: http://bit.ly/3O1UHyM.

Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat returned to parliament on Thursday morning, intentionally wearing the same necktie he had worn on the day when he was suspended as an MP and left the parliament six months ago. The Constitutional Court on Wednesday upheld his MP status, ruling on the case involving his shareholding in iTV Plc. "I would like to return with my same look when I left the place," Mr Pita said, adding that the attire symbolised the resumption of his MP role. (Video by Pornprom Satrabhaya)