REUTERSThe Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) is looking into new trade issues, including the influx of Chinese goods, aiming to draft a new economic proposal for the Srettha Thavisin government. The import of cheap Chinese products is on the rise, which will also affect the trade balance between Thailand and China, said Mr Kriengkrai. The JSCCIB plans to consider on Thursday revising its growth and inflation projections as economic circumstances change. The export projection is based on the global economic slowdown and estimates for China's growth to decrease to 5.4-5.5%, down from a previous outlook of 6%, as well as rising interest rates. "The JSCCIB is monitoring global economic factors that may affect the Thai economy," said Mr Kriengkrai.

(Photo: Chanat Katanyu)A draft policy statement has been handed out to parliamentarians highlighting the Srettha government's priorities, including the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme, addressing debt problems, cutting energy costs and revising the charter. The 52-page document submitted to MPs is for studying before Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin delivers it to parliament on Sept 11. The government will also seek to lower energy costs, including electricity, fuel and cooking gas, revamp energy use and promote the production of clean and renewable energy sources. For middle-term and long-term plans, the government plans to increase revenue through finding new markets abroad for Thai products and services. The draft also said the government would look to enhance the universal healthcare scheme and carry on with carbon-neutral policies.

Piyabutr calls for political prisoner dealThe new government should consider passing a new law to grant amnesty to all those facing criminal sentences in connection with their political activities regardless of their affiliations, said Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, secretary-general of the Progressive Movement, on Tuesday. However, amnesty should be granted to anyone prosecuted for their role in any political movement from 2005 until now, regardless of which political side they belonged to, Mr Piyabutr said. "This would, in reality, become a first step for Thai society to overcome political conflicts and begin fostering national unity," he said. Last October, the MFP proposed a similar amnesty for political cases as it unveiled its policy platform to kickstart the election campaign. The proposed amnesty, particularly for political offenders facing legal action since the 2014 coup, was the highlight of its proposed reforms.

Mr Srettha said he and cabinet ministers will take advice from His Majesty the King and use it as a guideline when carrying out their duties. What can be done quickly must be done first," the prime minister said. He also said he has yet to put a deputy prime minister in charge of national security. Asked when he will assess the performance of his cabinet ministers, Mr Srettha said: "It depends. Our work will be based on people's needs," said Mr Srettha.

In total, JKN issued seven tranches of bonds worth 3.36 billion baht with maturity dates in 2024 and 2025. Stark Corporation missed payment on five tranches of bonds worth nearly 9.2 billion baht, while All Inspire Development missed payment on seven tranches of bonds worth 2.33 billion baht. One popular method is rolling the debt over by issuing a new tranche of debentures to raise fresh funding for the redemption of previous bonds. Obtaining loans from financial institutions has become more difficult, whether for corporate or project loans, amid growing caution by banks. Before the financial crisis in 1997, financial institutions offered project loans to developers for both land acquisition and project development.

(Photo: PTT Plc)SINGAPORE: Thailand’s capacity to convert liquefied natural gas (LNG) will nearly double by the end of the decade as imports are set to rise to replace declining domestic natural gas production, a senior executive of PTT Plc said on Tuesday. Costly LNG imports have been a major factor behind the high cost of electricity, something the new Pheu Thai-led government has pledged to address as quickly as possible. ML Peekthong expects LNG imports to fall to “a more manageable level” at the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year as domestic gas production recovers. However, natural gas production is set to decline in the long run which will require more imports, said ML Peekthong. PTT is also looking to diversify LNG imports and reduce pricing risks by buying from different locations and using a variety of benchmarks, he added.

Bomb attack in Myanmar border hub kills 5 officials, wounds 11Hla Win walks with crutches at an internally displaced people camp near Pekon township on July 29. (Photo: AFP)A bomb attack on a government compound in the Myanmar border hub of Myawady killed five government and security officials and wounded 11 policemen, sources told AFP on Monday. The town has seen sporadic clashes between the military and anti-junta fighters since a coup in 2021 plunged the country into turmoil. Early Sunday evening two "drop bombs" fell into a compound containing the district police office and general administration office, a military source told AFP. The dead included a military officer, two police officers and two officials from the administration department, they said.

2 dead, 3 missing as torrential rains lash SpainRubble in front of a house in the flood-hit town of Aldea del FresnoMADRID: Two people died and three were missing on Monday after heavy rains lashed drought-hit Spain, triggering flash floods that closed Madrid metro lines and high-speed rail links. Emergency services had rescued the boy's mother and sister earlier in the day. Aemet lowered its alert level for the Madrid region to yellow from a maximum red alert on Sunday. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez thanked emergency services for their work and urged people to "continue to behave with caution". Scientists warn that extreme weather such as heatwaves and storms is becoming more intense as a result of climate change.

Francis not the liberal Pope the world is keen forJavier Milei, who is very likely to be elected president of Argentina in the October election, is fairly frank in his view of Pope Francis, a fellow Argentine. He calls Pope Francis "a Communist turd" and "the representative of the Evil One on Earth". Pope Francis gives as good as he gets. But it's actually more complicated than that, because the "liberal" Pope of today was not so liberal when he was starting out back in Argentina in the 1970s. Pope Francis is a more mature and less ideological man than the old Bergoglio -- but he's still combative ideologically, and he's still confused.

Mekong level falling, flooded crops drainingThe level of the Mekong river is falling and it now only 6 metres deep as it passes through Nakhon Phanom province. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)NAKHON PHANOM: The level of the Mekong river is falling steadily and is now only 6 metres deep as it passes through this northeastern border province, allowing for the quicker release of flood water trapped in its tributaries. On Monday morning, the Mekong's water level was 6m below the spilling point of 12m. With the level down, the Nam Kam and Nam Bang streams, which run through Wang Yang, Na Kae and That Phanom districts, are now discharging more rapidly into the Mekong, draining water off about 3,000 rai of flooded rice fields. An agriculture official said that by latest estimates only 300 rai of rice fields in That Phanom district had been damaged.

Russia hits Ukraine's Danube port in attack condemned by RomaniaThe Odesa region attacks also came as Kyiv has claimed some successes in its counter-offensive on the southern front this week. KYIV, Ukraine: Russian drones targeted Ukraine's southern Odesa region in the early hours of Sunday, with Moscow hitting a Danube port on the border with NATO member Romania in an attack condemned by Bucharest. The Odesa region attacks also came as Kyiv has claimed some successes in its counter-offensive on the southern front this week. The Russian army said it had targeted "fuel storage" facilities in the Ukrainian port of Reni, which lies on the Danube river that separates Ukraine from Romania. He admitted difficult losses for Kyiv, saying that "we are losing the strongest and best."

Indonesia offers 'golden visa' to entice foreign investorsJAKARTA: Indonesia is introducing a golden visa scheme to attract foreign individual and corporate investors in an attempt to boost its national economy, a statement from the ministry of law and human rights distributed on Sunday said. The five-year visa requires individual investors to set up a company worth $2.5 million, while for the 10 years visa, a $5 million investment is required. Other countries around the world including the US, Ireland, New Zealand and Spain have introduced similar golden visas for investors, seeking to attract capital and entrepreneurial residents. Different provisions apply to individual foreign investors who do not want to establish a company in the Southeast Asian country. “Once they arrive in Indonesia, golden visa holders no longer need to apply for permit,” Silmy Karim said.

Thailand's Kusuma ends 10-year title drought with play-off victoryHappy ending: Kusuma Meechai celebrates with the CTBC Ladies Classic trophy. Jiangsu: Kusuma Meechai picked up her first victory in a decade on Friday when the Thai veteran beat compatriot Pakin Kawinpakorn in a second-hole play-off to win the CTBC Ladies Classic on the China LPGA Tour. With Pakin (70) and Kusuma (68) deadlocked at five-under 211 through 54 holes at Shanghai Silport Golf Club, the Sa Kaeo native ended the contest when she sank a three-foot birdie in the second extra hole on the par-five 18th. China's Shi Yuli (70) and Zeng Liqi (70) finished one shot out of the play-off, while Cao Xinyu (69) was the top amateur a shot further back. I couldn't ask for more because on the front nine I had a triple bogey and then I had a lot of birdies coming in.

Haaland hits hat-trick to take Man City top, Son treble inspires SpursErling Haaland became the fastest player to 40 Premier League goals in Manchester City's 5-1 win over Fulham. He became the fastest player to reach 40 Premier League goals, in just 39 appearances, with a cool finish from Phil Foden's through ball. James Maddison's curling finish from the edge of the box made it 3-1 before Son took centre stage to score twice in three minutes and complete his hat-trick. "We made a mistake and then we created opportunities, but if you don't score it is difficult to win games. The Irish international then curled home a sensational second from outside the box before benefitting from a huge deflection for his first Premier League hat-trick.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says 2.1 million tourists from China visited Thailand during the first eight months of 2023. (File photo: Bangkok Post)The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) estimates the government's plan to issue free visas to visitors from China will add 700,000 arrivals during the high season. She said Chinese tourists on average spent 40,000 baht per trip. During the first half of 2023, 40.3 million Chinese tourists travelled abroad and 93% of them chose short-haul destinations. Regarding the free visa plan, the Consular Affairs Department is awaiting an official announcement.