Demand for major fuels on the increase
Demand for major fuels on the increaseFuel consumption in Thailand is on the rise again after a decline last year caused by the pandemic. Demand for fuel increased by 13.9% to 153 million litres per day in the first two months of 2022, according to the Department of Energy Business. Diesel, accounting for the largest quantity of fuel consumed, grew by 18.1% to 77 million litres per day on average, up from 65.1 million litres per day. Demand for gasohol, a mix of gasoline and ethanol, rose by 2.1% to 29.51 million litres per day while consumption of unleaded gasoline fell by 14% to 0.61 million litres per day. Jet fuel consumption grew by 65.1% to an average of 6.88 million litres a day.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2022 03:19 UTC
Consumption surges, but Ukraine hits confidence
Consumption surges, but Ukraine hits confidenceThe Thai economy last month recorded growing private domestic consumption, especially for durable items, alongside support from export growth, according to Fiscal Policy Office adviser Wuttipong Jittungsakul. Private consumption grew last month, reflected by the collection of value-added tax (VAT) increasing 27.7% year-on-year. However, the consumer confidence index dropped to 43.3 from 44.8 in January because of concerns about the pandemic and the war in Europe. The Tourism and Sports Ministry is aiming for 7 million foreign arrivals this year, but only around 400,000 travellers visited Thailand during the first three months this year. If this low rate continues, there will be only 1.6 million foreign visitors this year, said Mr Arkhom.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 31, 2022 03:19 UTC
TU launches specialised e-learning platform to cope with labour market changes
Jobbkk.com founder Thassanai Mhuansean said a change in the global labour market was due to digital disruption, an ageing society, climate change and influence from social media and big data. He said employers must adjust or adapt their organisations to cope with change and pay attention to building new employee skills. Boonlert said employees should be aware of skills necessary to meet labour market demand. Thammasat University’s Institute for Continuing Education and Human Resources director Surapit Promsit said the TU Next platform would enable people to learn anywhere anytime. The university will launch learning courses for top executives focusing on experience sharing and sustainable development, he said.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 30, 2022 11:33 UTC
Thai Airways sells Airbus seats for B1m
Thai Airways sells Airbus seats for B1mSeats originally from an Airbus 330 aircraft are sold by Thai Airways International via live streaming. The seats were sold in under one minute. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Cash-strapped Thai Airways International earned over 1 million baht in under a minute on Tuesday by selling passenger seats stripped from its decommissioned aircraft. The economy class seats, on sale at 35,000 baht a pair, were sold out in less than a minute. They were taken from a decommissioned Airbus A330-300.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 30, 2022 03:23 UTC
Subsidy on premium diesel revoked
Subsidy on premium diesel revokedCooking gas becomes pricier for some people after the state allows traders to hike prices from April 1. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)The cabinet on Tuesday approved revoking the subsidy on premium diesel used in luxury cars, effective from April, in a move to save on budget expenses. Rachada Dhnadirek, deputy government spokeswoman, said the cabinet's move also aims to reduce the financial burden on the state Oil Fund, which currently subsidises the diesel price at 8 baht per litre. Domestic diesel consumption totals about 65 million litres per day, 1.4 million of which belongs to premium diesel. Ms Rachada said the government may need to support the Oil Fund in the event of an emergency to create confidence among financial institutions that extend loans to the fund for use in the government's oil subsidy scheme.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 30, 2022 03:23 UTC
Temporary closure of 258 national, forest parks
The announcement, signed by department director-general Saratcha Suriyakul Na Ayudhaya, stipulated that the 258 parks would be closed to visitors at different periods throughout the year in a bid to increase efficiency in park management, rehabilitate natural resources and ensure the safety of tourists in “dangerous” seasons. The names of 258 parks and the periods during which they will close can be downloaded at http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2565/E/073/T_0007.PDF
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 30, 2022 02:55 UTC
Tourism sentiment in the doldrums
The Tourism Council of Thailand recently called for greater relaxation of the country's entry rules to support the tourism industry. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan)The tourism index in the first quarter remains depressed, while the risk of more unemployment still clouds the outlook for the next quarter, mainly attributed to the Omicron variant and the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT). "Tourism operators are still struggling to maintain business as the number of tourists has yet to fully rebound due to the current travel rules. Meanwhile, TCT's recent tourism confidence index in the first quarter this year stood at 44, considerably improving from 36 in the same period in 2021, but still declining from 47 in the fourth quarter last year. The index reflects weak tourism confidence as a reading below 100 indicates low confidence among the industry.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2022 03:24 UTC
Social work in the spotlight
Rita MonteiroFor the first time in history, ordinary Americans realize that they have the opportunity to break free from high fuel prices. How do we know this? Well, the adoption rate of electric vehicles is at an all time high. But there is a catch: as people buy more EVs, America will not have enough charging
Source:Bangkok Post
March 29, 2022 01:19 UTC
Huawei joins efforts to drive digital technology
Huawei joins efforts to drive digital technologyMr. Abel Deng, CEO of Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd.Powering sustainable, low-carbon ThailandAs the world moves towards the trend of net-zero carbon emissions for the future, the Thai government has set the goal of ‘Carbon Neutrality 2050’. This has led to climate change and global warming, which has become an urgent issue that requires all parties to come together to find a solution by utilising digital technology. In addition, Thailand’s Ministry of Energy has set its strategy with a mission to drive the Thai economy with support from Huawei Thailand to drive green development for the country using digital technology. Apart from playing a vital role in driving the digital economy, digitalization is also the key for green development. This is in line with the Ministry of Energy’s mission as well as the national agenda to drive the country towards carbon neutrality.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 28, 2022 15:28 UTC
Carbon neutral quest
Photo © Gulf Energy Development PlcSetting net-zero targets has moved higher on many Asian corporate agendas. Many Asian developing countries with limited resources are likely to pursue a gradual transition path instead of a high-speed one. Its survey of executives in Asean finds that the lack of support from their organisations' investors presents the biggest barrier to their net-zero transition. "Supporting the efficient movement of capital and technology to reduce carbon emissions as fast as possible, without slowing development, is key," said Ms Harris. "To complement current renewable energy solutions and corporate net-zero solutions, an effective carbon credits market focused on quality, integrity and transparency is important."
Source:Bangkok Post
March 28, 2022 13:19 UTC
Law undergoing 'transition'
Law undergoing 'transition'Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is urging police not to arrest people growing marijuana at home ahead of June 8, the day cannabis and hemp are officially delisted from the country's narcotics list. Khon Kaen police arrested two women for growing one cannabis plant each for medical purposes on Sunday. Both women spent a night in jail before being released on bail. Mr Anutin, head of the Bhumjaithai Party, promised to legalise cannabis in his 2019 election campaign. The law is undergoing a "transition period", which may lead to some confusion among law enforcers and people, Mr Anutin said, adding the Royal Thai Police should refrain from taking action against those who grow a few cannabis plants at home for medical purposes.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 26, 2022 02:08 UTC
Ukraine war reverberates on Taiwan's 'frontline of democracy'
Lin Jih-shou was brewing tea last month in his popular breakfast joint when he heard the buzz of a plane – a rare sound on the remote Taiwan-controlled island of Dongyin near China's coast, which does not have an airport. Lin, 64, rushed outside, but only saw the shadow of what the government later described as a small, propeller-driven Chinese aircraft that most likely was testing Taiwan's military response. It was a stark reminder to residents of Dongyin and Taiwan's other islands off China's coast of the threat from their huge neighbour, which considers Taipei's democratically elected government illegitimate and Taiwan a rogue province to be taken by force if needed.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 25, 2022 19:33 UTC
Bt80bn to be spent on 10 subsidies for low income earners during fuel crisis: Energy minister
Supattanapong said 49 per cent of the budget (Bt39.52 billion) will come from the Oil Fuel Fund, while 44 per cent (Bt35.22 billion) will come from the Social Security Fund. For the rest, 5 per cent (Bt3.74 billion) will come from the central budget, while 2 per cent (Bt1.76 billion) will be contributed by state-owned oil firm PTT. Bt100 cooking gas subsidy for 3.6 million state welfare card holders. Bt100 cooking gas subsidy for 5,500 vendors with state welfare cards. Price of cooking gas to be regulated from April to June and subsidised through the Oil Fuel Fund.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 25, 2022 19:33 UTC
Face recognition tech joins Ukraine war
Face recognition tech joins Ukraine warUkrainian firefighters work amid the rubble in the northwest of the Ukranian capital Kyiv, (Photo: AFP)WASHINGTON: Ukraine is employing face recognition technology to identify invading Russian troops killed on its soil, a complex and unprecedented avenue for software already seen as problematic, experts said on Thursday. While this type of artificial intelligence could offer closure to families denied it by the fog of war or Kremlin secrecy, the potential for mistakes is considerable and consequential. Facial recognition arrives in the war as technology that has met with significant and sustained doubts, ranging from its intrusion on people's privacy to criticism it can make errors identifying people of color. Experts noted that face recognition could be particularly problematic when used on the dead, especially after battlefield wounds leave people looking very different than in a smiling, well-lit picture from a wedding, for example. "We can imagine a circumstance where the ability to reduce the number of people missing in action actually would help," he added, though he noted face recognition may not be the right solution.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 25, 2022 13:46 UTC
Russian move on Ukraine aid fails at U.N. Security Council
"If Russia cared about the humanitarian situation, it would stop bombing children and end their siege tactics. Ambassador Barbara Woodward told the council after the vote. A Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, Britain, France or the United States to be adopted. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused those who abstained on Wednesday of doing so "for political reasons." Explaining China's yes vote, Ambassador Zhang Jun said Beijing had a "strong expectation" that there should be an immediate ceasefire, but that while pushing for a halt to the fighting, the council should "also respond to the humanitarian crisis in a positive, pragmatic and constructive manner."
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 24, 2022 13:29 UTC