Household electricity bills to rise in May and again in September
The stepped increases is the “Ft” tariff will last until April next year. The fuel adjustment cost, or Ft, is a variable tariff that reflects changes in the uncontrolled cost of utilities, such as fuel costs and purchasing power, which differ from the base tariff. The ERC reviews the Ft every four months – in January, May and September. ERC secretary-general Komkrit Tantrawanich said the commission had calculated the energy cost based on the current situation and concluded that the Ft for May-August should be increased to Bt0.24 per unit to cover the cost. This will result in household electricity bills rising from Bt3.76 to Bt4 per unit.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 21, 2022 19:10 UTC
Price of some food products increased despite govt stipulations
Thansetthakij newspaper surveyed markets in Bangkok and adjacent provinces last week and learned that several items have become more expensive. For instance:• 5kg bag of rice is now 100 baht, up by 5 baht• 15kg bag of rice is 330 baht, up by 10 baht• Can of sardines in tomato sauce is 25 baht, up by 2 baht• Can of condensed milk is 25 baht, up by 2 bahtHowever, the price of canned fruit, canned beverages and canned milk has remained unchanged. Next month, however, the price of Mama instant noodles is expected to go up from 6 baht to 7 baht per packet. The distributor Sahapattanapibul announced on Saturday that it is seeking government approval to adjust the retail price due to the rising cost of logistics.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 21, 2022 14:57 UTC
Overshadowed by Ukraine war, Yemen on brink as pledges fall short
Overshadowed by Ukraine war, Yemen on brink as pledges fall shortIn this photo taken on February 19, 2022, a doctor checks three-year-old Randa Ali, suffering from severe acute malnutrition, in a displacement camp in Yemen's northwestern Hajjah governorate. Overshadowed by the conflict in Ukraine, aid-starved Yemen -- already suffering the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the UN -- is on the verge of total collapse. The UN voiced disappointment after Wednesday's conference raised less than a third of the target to help 17.3 million of Yemen's needy. "A shortfall in funding means the needs of people will not be met," Auke Lootsma, the UN Development Programme's resident representative to Yemen, told AFP. We hope this will change," Erin Hutchinson, the Norwegian Refugee Council's Yemen country director, told AFP.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 20, 2022 02:19 UTC
Russia fires hypersonic missiles as Ukraine presses for peace deal
Russia fires hypersonic missiles as Ukraine presses for peace dealSeveral areas in Kyiv have been targetedKYIV - Russia on Saturday admitted using advanced hypersonic missiles for the first time in the Ukraine conflict as Kyiv's embattled leader Volodymyr Zelensky called for urgent peace talks. Ukrainian authorities said they had "temporarily" lost access to the Sea of Azov although Russia has effectively controlled the coastline for weeks after ringing Mariupol. "This is the time to meet, to talk, time for renewing territorial integrity and fairness for Ukraine," Zelensky said in a Facebook video. Russia's top negotiator said Friday that Moscow and Kyiv had brought their positions "as close as possible" on a proposal for Ukraine to become a neutral state. But Mikhailo Podolyak, an advisor to Zelensky taking part in the negotiations, said his country's position had not budged.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 19, 2022 23:49 UTC
Burger King Russia partner 'refuses' to shut 800 shops
Burger King Russia partner 'refuses' to shut 800 shopsRestaurant Brands International Inc entered Russia a decade ago through a joint venture partnership with three entities. Burger King's parent company said on Thursday that it has not been able to close its 800 restaurants in Russia because its independent operator there "refused" to do so. Like Burger King, Starbucks does not own or operate its more than 100 cafes there. But unlike Burger King, it had a willing partner -- Kuwait-based Alshaya Group -- that immediately agreed to shut its Starbucks' locations in Russia and support its 2,000 employees. "Would we like to suspend all Burger King operations immediately in Russia?
Source:Bangkok Post
March 19, 2022 02:17 UTC
Nadal thwarts Kyrgios to reach Indian Wells semi-finals
Nadal thwarts Kyrgios to reach Indian Wells semi-finalsRafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory over Australian Nick Kyrgios in the ATP quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian WellsINDIAN WELLS: Rafael Nadal left Nick Kyrgios frustrated and fuming with a 7-6 (7/0), 4-7, 6-4 victory in the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells WTA and ATP Masters on Thursday. Serving for the set at 5-4, Kyrgios climbed to 30-15 only to wind up broken by Nadal. "I feel lucky to win that set because returning with 5-4 against Nick, the chances to win that set are, let's say, 10%, maybe less. "I played three bloody good matches ... and everyone will just remember that time where Kyrgios lost to Rafa at Indian Wells or the time that he threw the racquet." Alcaraz, who won the Rio de Janeiro title in February, is the second-youngest Indian Wells ATP semi-finalist ever after 17-year-old Andre Agassi in 1988.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 18, 2022 17:39 UTC
TotalEnergies cedes Myanmar gasfield to PTTEP, seeks no compensation
TotalEnergies cedes Myanmar gasfield to PTTEP, seeks no compensationThe logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is pictured at an electric car charging and petrol station in the financial and business district of La Defense in Courbevoie near Paris, France, June 22, 2021. The company said Wednesday that it would not seek financial compensation for its withdrawal from Myanmar over concerns about human rights abuses since a coup last year. "In light of the exceptional situation, TotalEnergies has chosen to withdraw from Myanmar without seeking any financial compensation for its assets," the company said in a statement. The company's 31.4% stake in the Yadana gas field was the biggest in a consortium that included Chevron, Thai firm PTTEP and Myanmar's army-controlled MOGE. The Thai company said earlier this week that it would take over the running of the Yadana gas field in July.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 17, 2022 00:11 UTC
Trade probe of solar imports from Thailand, 3 other countries poses threat to US projects
Trade probe of solar imports from Thailand, 3 other countries poses threat to US projectsA potential Commerce Department probe of solar imports from Southeast Asia has the potential to freeze investment in the United States, industry leaders warned on Tuesday. The agency is set to decide by Mar 25 whether to formally investigate whether solar products from Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia circumvent longstanding solar tariffs. The four countries supply about 80% of US solar imports and the risk of trade restrictions could drag down shipments. The trade dispute threatens to intensify existing headwinds for the US solar industry, which is already seeing slower growth amid higher costs, shipping delays and supply chain disruptions. “The entire solar industry is watching what the Commerce Department does,” Hopper said.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 16, 2022 16:12 UTC
Russia steps up pressure on Kyiv
'Putin must pay the price'As Russia widens its bombardment and talks between Moscow and Kyiv seemingly go nowhere, pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for NATO to intervene have grown increasingly desperate. The attacks on civilians prompted a new flurry of warnings on Friday that Russia is committing war crimes. A furious Zelensky accused Russia of hiring “murderers from Syria, a country where everything has been destroyed … like they are doing here to us”. In southern Ukraine, Russian soldiers abducted the mayor of Melitopol, which Zelensky said was a “sign of weakness” and a “crime against democracy”. Biden warned Russia would pay a “severe price” if it used chemical weapons — but added: “We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine”.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 13, 2022 01:20 UTC
Russian and Ukrainian tourists in Phuket get help
(Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)PHUKET: Businesses on this resort island are helping Russian and Ukrainian tourists who remain stranded because of events related to the conflict in Ukraine, says a senior hotelier. “Due to flight cancellations, some 3,000 visitors from Russia and Ukraine are stranded in Phuket,” said Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, president of the southern chapter of the Thai Hotels Association. Russians had been the biggest group of arrivals in Phuket since Thailand reopened to international visitors in November last year. But the tourism situation in the province will remain sluggish until the war is over, he said. “Phuket tourism campaigns are being carried out and we hope that the occupancy rate will increase by 50% to 60% during Songkran,” said Mr Kongsak.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 12, 2022 21:53 UTC
Animal-feed may halt operations as ‘corn hoarding’ sends prices soaring
The price of animal-feed corn is at Bt13 per kilo, the highest in several decades, and about 30 per cent higher than the 2021 price of Bt10.05, said the source. Manufacturers are prepared to pay that price but cannot find sellers with available stock anywhere. Farmers also told them that they had already sold their harvest to buyers earlier this year, the source added. “Manufacturers now suspect that these buyers are hoarding corn and waiting for the price to go even higher due to the impact of the Russian-Ukraine war, which has driven up prices of several crops, including corn, wheat and tapioca,” said the source. “The Commerce Ministry should inspect corn buyers’ stocks and take legal action against any merchants found to be profiteering while supplies of animal-feed raw materials remain at a critical level,” it added.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 12, 2022 10:30 UTC
All beneficiaries of healthcare schemes eligible for free Covid-19 treatment
The UCEP Plus scheme, proposed by the Public Health Ministry, was endorsed by the Cabinet on Tuesday. Under UCEP or the Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients, Covid-19 cases in the “yellow” category or with moderate symptoms and those in the “red” category or critical condition are entitled to free treatment at any hospital. Those in the “green” category or with mild or no symptoms will only get free treatment at hospitals under the jurisdiction of relative healthcare schemes, such as “gold card”, social security or scheme for public officials. If the condition of patients in the green group worsens, then they can seek free treatment at the nearest hospitals under the UCEP Plus scheme.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 12, 2022 10:29 UTC
BOI to host ‘BCG Startup Investment Day’ to help startups access capital
BOI to host ‘BCG Startup Investment Day’ to help startups access capitalMs Duangjai Asawachintachit, Secretary-General of the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), together with Dr Pun-Arj Chairatana, Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), and Mr Sarun Sutuntivorakoon, President of the Thai Venture Capital Association (TVCA), announced on 10 March 2022 “BCG Startup Investment Day” organised by the BOI and NIA. The online/on-ground hybrid event will be held on 24 March 2022 at C ASEAN Convention Center, CW Tower, on Ratchadaphisek Road, Bangkok. Startup entrepreneurs in bio-circular-green activities will hear executives of Thai unicorns and larger startups share their experience. Twenty-four selected startups will have the opportunity to pitch for funds and enhance their business linkages.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 11, 2022 19:18 UTC
China says US used its computers for cyberattacks on Russia, Ukraine
China says US used its computers for cyberattacks on Russia, UkraineFigurines with computers and smartphones are seen in front of the words "Cyber Attack", binary codes and the Ukrainian flag. (Image: Reuters)SHANGHAI: China has experienced continuous cyberattacks since February in which internet addresses in the United States have been used to seize control of Chinese computers to target Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday. These overseas groups attacked by taking control of computers in the country to carry out cyber attacks on Russia, Ukraine and Belarus," it quoted the centre as saying. Cyberattacks have been a major point of tension between the United States and its allies and China, as the former have accused China of a carrying out a global cyberespionage campaign. Ukraine's emergency services reported that civilian targets came under Russian shelling in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro on Friday.
Source:Bangkok Post
March 11, 2022 17:42 UTC
Producers push govt to remove animal feed from control list as corn, wheat prices surge
“Feed manufacturers are suffering from rising costs due to the Russia-Ukraine war,” the source said. “The two countries are the world’s biggest suppliers of corn and wheat, which are the main ingredients of animal feed.”The source pointed out that since December, the global price of corn has risen 14 per cent and wheat 43 per cent. In Thailand, the price of corn has risen from 10.05 baht per kilogram in December to 12.65 baht per kilo this month. The price of imported wheat has risen from 8.91 baht to 12.75 baht per kilo and soybean from 19.50 baht to 22.5 baht per kilogram during the same period.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
March 11, 2022 12:50 UTC