Russian central bank hikes rates as rouble faltersRussia's central bank warned inflationary pressure was still rising. (Photo: AFP)MOSCOW: Russia's central bank on Tuesday hiked its key interest rate from 8.5 to 12 percent, after the rouble crashed to a more than 16-month low against the dollar. "This decision was taken in order to limit the risks to price stability," the central bank announced after an emergency meeting earlier in the day. "In the case of a strengthening of pro-inflation risks, an additional increase of the key rate is possible," it later said, in comments published by Russian news agencies. The bank is next scheduled to consider its key rate on September 15.

Call for smooth gas production at PailinThe Pailin gas block in the Gulf of Thailand. (Photo: Department of Mineral Fuels)PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) wants energy authorities to prevent any obstacles to continuing gas production in the Gulf of Thailand when a concession at the Pailin gas block ends in 2028. In 2018, gas production at Erawan averaged 1,280 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD). The company managed to increase gas production to 400 MMSCFD in April, up from 200 MMSCFD earlier this year. Pailin is currently co-operated by PTTEP, which made a 60% investment in the gas production, and Chevron Thailand, with a 40% investment.

A sodium tax would be collected via a progressive rate, starting with processed food products such as instant noodles, snacks and frozen food. (Photo: Patipat Janthong)The Excise Department is planning a study of sodium tax collection measures after the success of the "sweet tax" on sugar-sweetened beverages implemented in 2017 to shift consumer and industry behaviour towards making healthier choices, says director-general Ekniti Nitithanprapas. A sodium tax would be levied similarly to the tax on sugary beverages, increasing proportionally based on the level of sodium used, he said. The department plans to collaborate with the Public Health Ministry to jointly set the standards for daily sodium intake. Mr Ekniti said sweeteners are still excluded from the excise tax product categories, meaning the department is unable to collect tax from them.

Pheu Thai candidate Srettha Thavinsin arrives at the 15th polling station on Soi Sukhumvit 16 in Bangkok on May 14, 2023. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)The Pheu Thai (PT) Party is confident its prime ministerial candidate will win endorsement from parliament in the next PM vote, a party source said. Anutin Charnvirakul, leader and prime ministerial candidate of the Bhumjaithai Party, or Gen Prawit, may benefit from this situation. The "uncles" refer to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the former UTN chief adviser and its prime ministerial candidate, and Gen Prawit. If the so-called uncle parties are part of the Pheu Thai-led government, Pheu Thai will lose credibility, he said.

Mr Prasert said on Monday that key party figures had agreed and confirmed that Mr Srettha would be their candidate for prime minister. He dismissed speculation that Paetongtarn Shinawatra, another of the party's three registered candidates, could be nominated to the parliament instead of Mr Srettha. I believe that many senators will support the candidate of Pheu Thai," the party secretary-general said. "So, I am confident that Mr Srettha will be elected right away." The constitution requires a joint vote by the 500 House representatives and 250 senators to select the prime minister.

Srettha ThavisinSenators are still divided over whether to back Srettha Thavisin, a Pheu Thai Party prime ministerial candidate, in the next PM vote in parliament. "The senators want to hear Srettha explain in parliament before the vote," Sen Seree said. "Things can change before the vote," Sen Seree said. "If a prime ministerial candidate fails to meet the qualifications stipulated by the constitution, the nomination may be pulled out. He wrote that supporting Pheu Thai's PM candidate has nothing to do with the PPRP's prospects of joining a Pheu Thai-led coalition.

Parties slam new restriction on old-age allowanceAn elderly freelancer at work in Sam Phraeng community in Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok. If payment of the age allowance was based on the database for state welfare cards, only 5 million of them would be entitled to the age allowance. The requirement for the elderly to prove their poverty may prevent them receiving state welfare, which was in breach of this law. "The government ... should instead lay a foundation for state welfare for all. The Move Forward and Thai Sang Thai parties both propounded policies of paying a monthly allowance of 3,000 baht to all elderly citizens during campaigning for the May 14 general election.

Indonesia c.bank intervenes in currency marketsJAKARTA - Indonesia's central bank has intervened in the spot foreign exchange and domestic nondeliverable forward markets to prevent high volatility in the rupiah currency, an official said on Monday. The rupiah fell 0.8% to 15,325 a dollar earlier on Monday, the weakest level since March. Edi Susianto, head of Bank Indonesia's monetary management department, told Reuters the intervention was meant to "ensure a good balance of supply and demand".

Protesters slam Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai for alliance with military partiesA protestor splashes paint in front of the Bhumjaithai Party headquarters on Phahon Yothin Road in Bangkok on Sunday evening. People using about 50 vehicles first gathered at the BTS Mo Chit station on Phahon Yothin Road at about 1.30pm. The demonstrators then moved to the Pheu Thai headquarters on Phetchaburi Road at about 4.45pm. There they dumped and destroyed Pheu Thai souvenirs including stickers, cups, calendars and shirts. Pheu Thai came second in the May 14 general election with 141 House seats and Bhumjaithai came third with 71 seats.

Russian forces kill 7 including baby in southern UkraineExterior view of a heavily damaged apartment after what officials say was a Russian overnight shelling in Kherson, Ukraine, Aug 7, 2023 in this still image obtained from social media video. (Telegram/Oleksandr Prokudin via REUTERS)Seven people including a baby girl, her 12-year-old brother and their parents were killed on Sunday by Russian shelling in southern Ukraine, officials said. In the village of Stanislav two men aged 57 and 71 were killed, officials said, adding that a woman was wounded. Kherson was one of four regions in Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed to have annexed last year. Late last year, Russian troops withdrew from the city of Kherson but Moscow has continued to target settlements in the region.

They said the make-up of the Pheu Thai-led coalition government will be no different from the outgoing government as only Pheu Thai will serve as a new addition. Wanwichit Boonprong, a political science lecturer at Rangsit University, said the PPRP and the UTN are Pheu Thai's old foes. "It will be difficult for Pheu Thai to implement several of its policies. It is only the previous government, with Pheu Thai added to it." A convoy of cars will start from BTS Mor Chit station and proceed to the headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party and Pheu Thai, he said.

Man accidentally shoots himself while dancing in Hat Yai pubThe 9mm automatic pistol recovered from a pub-goer by police after the weapon accidentally went off while the man was dancing in a Hat Yai pub, Songkhla, early on Sunday (Photo: Assawin Pakkawan)SONGKHLA: About a hundred pub-goers ran for their lives out of a well-known entertainment venue in Hat Yai early on Sunday after a 9mm automatic pistol carried by a customer accidentally went off, sending a bullet into his left leg. The incident occurred at about 1.30am inside Nectar Pub on Chuti-anusorn road in the Hat Yai municipal area. Hat Yai police rushed to the pub to investigate. He was admitted to Hat Yai Hospital for treatment. A police investigation revealed that Mr Niran was among a large group of about 30 customers who made reservations online.

Most favour Abhisit for Democrat leadership: pollAbhisit Vejjajiva, former leader of the Democrat Party, attends a party meeting on July 9. (Photo: Varuth Hiranyatheb)Most people are of the opinion that Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former prime minister and former leader of the Democrat Party, should be re-elected as party chief, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll. The poll was conducted on Aug 9-10 by telephone interviews with 1,310 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education, occupations and incomes throughout the country to compile their opinions on who should be the next Democrat Party leader after the resignation of Jurin Laksanawisit. His resignation necessitated an election for the new party leader and new executive committee, matters which are still unresolved. The Democrat Party was founded in April 1946, and is the country's oldest political party.

Prawit not quitting politics just yet, 'willing' to accept new govt postPrawit: PPRP leader and PM candidateDeputy Prime Minister and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon is not leaving politics just yet and has never knocked back the prospect of a post in the next government, deputy PPRP leader Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said. Mr Chaiwut, who serves as Digital Economy and Society Minister, was speaking following a report the PPRP would join a coalition government led by the Pheu Thai Party. Asked whether Gen Prawit would accept any cabinet post in the Pheu Thai-led coalition government after a report surfaced that he would let his younger brother Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon, the PPRP's chief adviser, take a cabinet post instead, Mr Chaiwut said: "[Gen Prawit] never said he would not accept a post.'' Mr Chaiwut said Gen Prawit remains the party's leader and PM candidate. Mr Chaiwut said the party will meet to decide whether to join the Pheu Thai-led coalition.

Srettha ThavisinSrettha Thavisin, Pheu Thai Party's prime minister candidate, is confident he will garner enough support from both houses to be named as the new PM in a single round of voting. It will be the first time a Pheu Thai prime minister candidate will be nominated for a vote after Move Forward Party Leader Pita Limjaroenrat failed to be picked for the top job amid legal uncertainty over his renomination. He also thanked the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) for pledging to vote for him. The PPRP is led by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is UTN's former chief adviser. Critics have rebuked Pheu Thai for considering partnering with either party, dismissing them as a legacy of the National Council for Peace and Order dictatorship.