PM 'intends to complete 4-year term'Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin. (File photo: Bangkok Post)Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said he hopes to remain in office until he completes his four-year term, insisting the coalition government remains stable. When asked if other parties will be invited to join the coalition government, the prime minister said he hasn't thought about it yet. Asked about whether it would be best if the Democrat Party joins the coalition, Mr Srettha said, "In terms of numbers, that may look better. "I am the prime minister and I am trying to complete my four-year term.

Supreme Court acquits ex-PM Yingluck in one caseFormer prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra greets supporters at the Supreme Court in Bangkok on Aug 1, 2017, when she made her closing statement in rice-scheme case. (Photo: Bangkok Post)The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Tuesday acquitted former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra of malfeasance in her 2011 transfer of a National Security Council secretary-general. The court also revoked a warrant for the arrest of Yingluck, issued when she failed to appear in court in November last year for her trial in the case. Mr Thawil petitioned the Supreme Administrative Court, which subsequently ordered the revocation of the transfer order. Moreover, the Constitutional Court ruled unanimously that Yingluck had abused her power by interfering in the transfer of government officials.

Govt seeks free rides after Pink Line faultThe Transport Ministry will ask the operator of the Pink Line monorail system to extend the free trial period along the line after a section of the line had to be closed on Sunday following the failure of a part of the track's conductor rail. As of Monday, a total of seven stations, from Nonthaburi Civic Centre (PK01) to Pak Kret Bypass (PK07) remain closed. Rides along the Pink Line are currently free of charge, but commercial services are slated to begin on Jan 3, with fares ranging from 15-45 baht. To make up for the suspension of services at the seven stations, the ministry will hold talks with the system's operator to extend the free trial period, he said. A 300-metre stretch of the conductor rail fell to the ground, while a four-km section was left hanging over the street below.

Pro-worker group sweeps Social Security Board electionParticipants join a parade organised by labour groups calling for reform of employment conditions and the social security system for improved protection and welfare of workers. The activity marking the World Day for Decent Work was held at the Social Security Office in Nonthaburi on Oct 7, 2020. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)The Progressive Social Security group emerged as a winner in the country’s first Social Security Board (SSB) election on Sunday, with the vote count almost complete. In the election, 14 new board members were chosen by members of the Social Security Fund (SSF). The first six are from the Progressive Social Security group.

Japan automakers to invest B150bn in Thailand over 5 years: govtFILE PHOTO: A Toyota EV car is seen at the Bangkok International Motor Show in Bangkok, March 30, 2022. (Reuters)Major Japanese auto manufacturers will invest 150 billion baht in Thailand over the next five years, a government spokesperson said on Monday, supporting the country's transition to making electric vehicles. Toyota Motor and Honda Motor will invest about 50 billion baht each, while Isuzu Motors will invest 30 billion baht and Mitsubishi Motors 20 billion baht, spokesperson Chai Wacharoke said, adding this would include the production of electric pickup trucks. Japanese manufacturers have dominated the Thai auto sector for decades, but Chinese EV makers have recently been making large investments. The investment by the Japanese automakers will support the government's policy of transitioning from combustion engine vehicles to EVs, Mr Chai said.

Rawitsara Piakhuntod, Institute of HIV Research and InnovationBesides sections 113 and 114 of the code, Ms Rawitsara said she was also concerned about Section 115. The problem, Ms Rawitsara said, is that a search can be ordered at the discretion of law enforcement officials. And if they are drug dependent, they must be treated as patients, Ms Rawitsara said. The death penalty, imprisonment, custody, fines and confiscation are approaches which are only suitable for those who traffic drugs," Ms Rawitsara said. She said that the Office of Narcotics Control Board's harm reduction programme should be there to reduce harm in society, not harm the people it is supposed to serve.

• 22.35% for Srettha Thavisit, the current prime minister, citing his knowledge, ability and straightforwardness as well as their support for the Pheu Thai Party. • 5.75% for Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra due to her being a new generation politician and their support for the Pheu Thai Party and the Shinawatra family's past achievements. • 1.70% for Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party, citing his ability to befriend people of all groups and his past achievements. • 1.65% for Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Thai Sang Thai Party, citing her past experience and their desire to see women in the country's administration. A combination of 1.85% were for other political parties including Thai Sang Thai, Chartthaipattana, Pheu Thai Ruam Palang, Prachachat, Chart Pattana Kla and Seri Ruam Thai Party.

Search continues for 2 missing passengers on scuba tour boatA navy soldier on board Tor 995 patrol boat uses binoculars to search for two missing passengers on a scuba-diving tour boat that sank near the Surin Islands National Park on Saturday. (Photo supplied)PHUKET: A search and rescue centre has been set up to look for two men - a Thai cook and a British tourist - who were still missing after a scuba-diving tour boat sank near Ko Torinla or Ko Khai island on Saturday. The island is part of the Surin Islands National Park, an archipelago of five islands in the Andaman Sea some 55 kilometres from the mainland. Tor 995 patrol boat was dispatched from the centre at 7.45am to search for the missing men in an area northwest of where the boat, the Reggae Queen, went down. The scuba-diving tour boat had 18 passengers on board when it sank; 16 were subsequently rescued and taken to nearby Khura Buri Pier.

“They shall soon await the closure of the Mediterranean Sea, (the Strait of) Gibraltar and other waterways,” Tasnim quoted Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Naqdi, coordinating commander of the Guards, as saying. The White House on Friday said Iran was “deeply involved” in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Iran has no direct access to the Mediterranean itself and it was not clear how the Guards could attempt to close it off, although Naqdi talked of “the birth of new powers of resistance and the closure of other waterways”. “Yesterday, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz became a nightmare for them, and today they are trapped … in the Red Sea,” Naqdi was quoted as saying. The only groups backed by Iran on the Mediterranean are Lebanon’s Hezbollah and allied militia in Syria, at the far end of the sea from Gibraltar.

With its large user base, the company must combat bad actors on its own, collaborating with local law enforcement authorities. "Last year we received more than 47,000 requests from law enforcement agencies, and the number will be even higher this year," said Mr Jakubcek. Law enforcement must adapt to keep pace with dynamic trends, especially in the cryptocurrency world," he said. These schemes have resulted in victims losing from 10 million baht to 100 million baht, said Pol Col Thanathas. Pol Col Thanathas warned crypto users not to electronically store their digital wallet's private keys, as hackers can potentially access them.

Naval dramasRe: "Charm blitz a smokescreen", (Editorial, Dec 19) & "China-made sub engine is now 'okay'", (BP, Nov 21). Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang must have greeted his appointment with very mixed emotions. On the one hand, he was warmly congratulated for becoming the first civilian minister of defence not concurrently serving as prime minister. What a headache for Minister Sutin. Over to you, Minister Sutin.

The Seagreen offshore wind farm in the North Sea, 27 kilometres off the east coast of Scotland. (Photo: PTTEP)PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) is expanding into the clean energy business by acquiring a 25.5% share in the Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm, the largest offshore wind power generation facility in Scotland, for £522 million, or around 24 billion baht. TotalEnergies Renewables Seagreen Holdco holds a 51% share in Seagreen, so upon completion of the transaction, FutureTech will make an indirect investment in the wind farm of 25.5% proportionately. Seagreen, with power generation capacity of 1.1 gigawatts, is located in the North Sea, 27 kilometres off the east coast of Scotland, where it has strong wind potential. The investment gives PTTEP experience in offshore renewable energy operation, preparing it for further investments in clean energy businesses, he said.

Thaicom inaugurates satellite gatewaySatellite operator Thaicom yesterday launched the Thaicom-Globalstar satellite gateway in Thailand to provide low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation services and solutions. The facilities providing the gateway are located at Thaicom's satellite station in Pathum Thani province. Globalstar is a global LEO satellite operator and a leading provider of satellite IoT solutions and mobile satellite services. The deal with Globalstar is a part of Thaicom's business development roadmap as LEO satellite business is one aspect of Thaicom's business diversification, and to complement its satellite services portfolio. LEO satellite business for IoT solutions allows businesses to streamline operations, providing safety and communication and enabling assets to be monitored remotely via Thaicom's satellite network.

KBank predicts marginal gainsA man walks past the entrance to the KBank Building in the Rat Burana district of Bangkok. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)Kasikornbank (KBank) expects to book marginal growth this year, in line with economic circumstances. KBank set a loan growth target of 5-7% this year, said chief executive Kattiya Indaravijaya. In addition, higher debt repayment of commercial loans should impact total loan growth this year, she said. "We will wait for actual data in the fourth quarter before drawing a conclusion on flat or marginal loan growth for the whole year.

A young woman is arrested for allegedly procuring underage girls for Chinese customers. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham)Police have arrested seven young women, five of them under 18, for allegedly procuring underage girls who were still virgins for Chinese customers. The gang members reportedly lured the girls to fly with them from Mae Hong Son to Bangkok under the guise of entertainment. All of the suspects had sold sex to Chinese customers before becoming procurers, said Pol Maj Gen Saruti. Another young woman involved in procuring underage girls for Chinese men is arrested .