Delivery riders protest at Energy Ministry to demand fuel price cap
The protesters rode from CentralWord mall on Rama I Road before mobilising at the ministry building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road at noon. They threatened to block traffic on the road unless Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow or permanent-secretary Kulit Sombatsiri came down to receive their letter of demands. Siwares Thamwiset, the ministry’s inspection department chief, eventually accepted the letter and invited protest representatives to talk with Kulit via video. During the one-hour video conference, the delivery riders demanded that gasohol be capped at 38 baht per litre until the end of year, and its excise tax cut by 5 baht per litre for six months. This could be achieved by suspending gasohol revenue contributions to the Oil Fuel Fund, protesters said.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 28, 2022 03:35 UTC
Health Ministry, agencies aim to deter recreational weed use
Health Ministry, agencies aim to deter recreational weed useThe Public Health Ministry has signed an agreement with eight agencies to emphasise the use of cannabis and hemp for medical, beauty and research and development use amid fears people will use it for recreational purposes when they are allowed to grow the plants at home from June 9. The signatories are the Public Health Ministry, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Mass Communication Organisation of Thailand, The Medical Council of Thailand, Thai Traditional Medical Council, The Pharmacy Council of Thailand and the Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council. The signing event was observed by the Royal Thai Police, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and the Food and Drug Administration. Homegrown cannabis will help save money for some patients who need to use the plant for medical treatments," he said. The Public Health Ministry will prepare guidelines for cannabis users on preventing second-hand smoke from affecting others and will propose them to the National Public Health Committee on May 30, said Mr Anutin.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 27, 2022 23:37 UTC
State transport firm eyes electric buses to cut high fuel costs
She said the study found that electric buses are suitable for routes not more than 400 kilometres, while diesel buses are still necessary for longer routes. She said there is a possibility that electric buses would be used on routes up to 300 kilometres, starting with six routes. Up to 60 buses will be used on these routes, she added. "Using electric buses will help reduce operating costs by up to 30 per cent, as the price of diesel is currently high," she said. However, she said the company has to study this issue thoroughly as charging stations are need to be set up along the routes.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 27, 2022 15:50 UTC
Governor vows to fix Green Line mess
Governor vows to fix Green Line messThe Green LineBangkok governor-elect Chadchart Sittipunt on Thursday vowed to find a solution to problems surrounding the long-lasting dispute over the city's Green Line electric rail system. During a TV interview, Mr Chadchart said he would look into the concessions for operating the Green Line's extensions, focussing on when the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) received debts incurred through the construction of the Green Line and its extensions from the government. He said he will also investigate how the contract to operate the service was signed and how negotiations were conducted and concluded. Mr Chadchart said he was wondering if the transfer of Green Line debts to the BMA was lawful and approved by Bangkok Council. Mr Chadchart also cast doubt on the contract signed by Krungthep Thanakom Co, a state enterprise under the BMA.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 27, 2022 10:28 UTC
KL still backs peace efforts
KL still backs peace effortsMalaysia has given assurances that it will continue to support Thailand's efforts to negotiate peace with insurgent groups in the deep South, a Defence Ministry spokesman says. Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich was speaking after Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon paid a courtesy call on Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein during a visit to the neighbouring country on Thursday. They discussed a wide range of issues, including threats posed by militants holding dual citizenship and Malaysia's pledge to support Thailand's dialogue with insurgents to bring about peace in the three southernmost border provinces. The two sides have set up a communications centre to boost efforts along the border between the two countries, he said, adding they have also held joint border patrols. Both countries have also cooperated on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 27, 2022 10:20 UTC
India replaces China as Thailand’s top tourism market: TAT
Thanet Phetsuwan, TAT deputy governor of marketing for Asia and the South Pacific, said on Friday that his agency expects 500,000 Indian tourists to enter Thailand this year, generating an estimated 22.5 billion baht in revenue. He added that arrivals from India will likely top 600,000, creating revenue of up to 27 billion baht. “If things go like this, India will become the No 1 market for Thai tourism,” Thanet said. In 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, 1.96 million Indians had visited Thailand. The number shrank to 261,730 the following year and dropped even further to just 6,544 last year.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 27, 2022 08:21 UTC
Users face mega-hit in mega-merger
A group representing the Thailand Consumers Council express opposition to the merger deal at the office of the NBTC on Thurday. Mr Somkiat said the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) is commonly used to gauge market concentration conditions. A total of 1,500 points suggests a risk of market concentration, while above 2,500 indicates market concentration is at a dangerous level. Based on research in 2017 by Ofcom, the UK's telecommunications regulator, Thailand's mobile market already had a high level of market concentration at 3,700 points, he said. Prawit Leesathapornwongsa, an advisor to the NBTC chairman, said the NBTC has no bias in mind when considering the merger deal.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 27, 2022 03:15 UTC
Thailand, Japan eye bolstering regional ties
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) invites Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to take a seat at the start of their meeting in Tokyo on Thursday. (AFP photo)TOKYO: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida began talks in Japan's capital on Thursday in which they are expected to agree on enhancing regional ties through a US-led Indo-Pacific economic framework launched earlier in the week. Mr Kishida expressed Japan's cooperation for a successful Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting to be held in November in Bangkok chaired by Thailand. Japan has imposed sanctions on Russia over the invasion in coordinated efforts with other Group of Seven countries, while Thailand maintains a neutral policy on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Mr Kishida and Gen Prayut signed an agreement earlier in the month in Bangkok on the mutual transfer of defense equipment and technology to deepen bilateral security cooperation.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 27, 2022 02:21 UTC
Consumer protection group opposes True-DTAC merger in letter to NBTC
It said if the second and third largest operators in terms of subscribtion numbers -- True and DTAC -- are allowed to merge, it would create a duopoly in the telecom industry and the consumers would definitely be taken advantage. It alleged that the monopoly of retailing and wholeselling by the conglomerate had caused consumer goods prices to rise, causing suffering to the people. Earlier, the new NBTC held a focus group public hearing among those related to the telecom industry and business partners of telecom operators. The NBTC has yet to listen to the opinions of academics and consumer groups in two more focus group hearings. The letter warned that if the NBTC approved the merger, it would be condemned as the one who had tainted the history of Thai telecom industry.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 26, 2022 22:13 UTC
Hundreds stranded after ransomware attack on Indian airline
Hundreds stranded after ransomware attack on Indian airlineBudget Indian carrier SpiceJet has said a ransomware attack was to blame for flight delays and cancellations that left hundreds of passengers stranded on their planes. NEW DELHI: Hundreds of Indian air travellers were stranded inside their planes after the low-cost airline SpiceJet cancelled or delayed flights due to an "attempted ransomware attack", the company has said. Many angry passengers, some of whom were left waiting inside their planes for up to five hours earlier this week, complained about a lack of communication from the budget carrier. "Certain SpiceJet systems faced an attempted ransomware attack last night that impacted our flight operations," the airline said Wednesday on Twitter. Ransomware attacks occur when hackers take control of a computer system by encrypting all its data until a ransom is paid.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 26, 2022 21:15 UTC
No threat of Thai food shortages, Jurin insists
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, presiding over the opening ceremony of the THAIFEX-ANUGA ASIA 2022 exhibition, said Thailand has plentiful food supplies. "With growing concerns about a food crisis, many food importing countries have returned to buy food products from Thailand. Thailand should beef up its strategy to build up the Thai image of food safety, and as a leading food producer in Asia." Visit Limlurcha, honorary president of the Thai Food Processors Association, said Thailand has no concerns over food security, although the prices of some food items have become more expensive due to higher raw material costs. Mr Visit brushed aside the possibility of food shortages, as imports account for only 25% of raw materials used in production.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 26, 2022 15:30 UTC
Bitkub’s Group CEO attends "DeFi - Future of Decentralized Governance" discussion at World Economic Forum: Davos 2022
“Participating in this event is another important step that has brought Thailand into global awareness of its leadership in digital assets and blockchain. Last year was the year that digital assets experienced exponential growth in Thailand. We have the largest number of crypto holders per capita in the world and ranked 3rd in the world for the number of DeFi users. Moreover, the Thai public and private sectors are working together to push the rules on digital assets to keep users safe and protect investors. and together to educate people to the best of their ability” Said Mr SrupsrisopaAnd in particular, “Bitkub Capital Group” is a private organization from Thailand that operates on blockchain technology infrastructure, digital assets exchange, cryptocurrency & blockchain education, Investment in Blockchain-related Startups and Web 3.0, which is considered the infrastructure of the digital economy until the success and has been mentioned as the first fintech unicorn in Thailand.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 26, 2022 11:37 UTC
Prayut invites Japanese businesses to invest in EEC
Prayut also thanked the Japanese government and businessmen for believing in Thailand’s potential and for supporting the country’s economic and social development. The premier said Asian nations must support multilateral trade, with the World Trade Organisation serving as the moderator of rules. He promised that Thailand would develop its business environment to facilitate international trade and investment and support foreign businesses. Prayut went on to say that Thailand would firmly support multilateral trade, especially the idea of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). Prayut added that Thailand has now started its transition to clean energy by supporting and boosting the electric vehicle industry.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 26, 2022 09:53 UTC
Thailand seeks cooperation from Vietnam to boost rice price
He said his ministry would seek cooperation from the Thai agriculture ministry on five issues:- Food security cooperation to increase value of crops- Cooperation to boost the strength of farmers. - Cooperation to help Vietnamese farmers transition to farm machines- Training in agricultural knowledge- Cooperation on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Alongkorn said Thailand and Vietnam have a joint committee to function as a mechanism to facilitate agricultural and SPS cooperation between the two countries. • The Thai side will ask Vietnam to allocate quota for Thai trucks to transport fruits vie Vietnam to China to reduce the chances of Thai fruits going rotten. • Thailand will ask Vietnam to inform the name of its contact point as soon as possible before the next SPS can be held.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 26, 2022 08:02 UTC
OR seeks partners to grow non-oil projects
Petrol stations, convenience stores and other non-oil businesses operate on a brick-and-mortar model in Thailand and 10 Asian countries. The new partnership aims to generate revenue for 13,000 SMEs and startups and create 145,000 new jobs by 2030, said Ms Jiraphon. OR wants startups and SMEs to join the company to increase overseas sales, covering 100 countries. Under OR's inclusive growth concept, the company aims to help startups and SMEs overcome hindrances and enjoy good business outcomes together. OR aims to rack up 40 billion baht in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation in the next decade, up from 20 billion last year, said Ms Jiraphon.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 26, 2022 07:39 UTC