Kittiratt off the hook for rice sale
Listen to this articleFormer commerce minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong was indicted in 2021 in connection with a rice sale to Indonesia a decade earlier, and acquitted of malfeasance this year. In its ruling, the Supreme Court said Mr Kittiratt did not neglect his duty because the information regarding the rice sale and handover was handled by his deputy, Phum Sarapol. It said Mr Kittiratt knew that Siam Indica had been chosen to supply the additional quantity of rice without a bid being called. Mr Kittiratt served in the Yingluck Shinawatra government and has long been close to senior Pheu Thai Party figures. The government has proposed Mr Kittiratt for the position, but critics see a risk of political interference.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2024 14:43 UTC
US, others, condemn North Korea's missile launch
U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the U.N., Robert Wood, condemned North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile launch on Tuesday (November 5). He made the statement at U.N. headquarters jointly with representatives from Denmark, Ecuador, France, Greece, Japan, Malta, Panama, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Switzerland and the UK.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2024 06:21 UTC
Southeast Asia’s digital economy slows as consumers cut spending
Southeast Asia’s digital economy slows as consumers cut spendingConsumers in Thailand and other countries the region are curbing spending to cope with elevated inflation and interest rates. The local digital economy is also set to record its lowest level of private funding this year, the report showed. Consumers in the region of more than 650 million people are curbing spending to cope with elevated inflation and interest rates. “Robust macroeconomic conditions in SEA continue to underpin the digital economy,” the researchers wrote in the annual collaborative report. In the first half of the year, tech giants committed about $30 billion to build AI-ready data centers, the report showed.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 05, 2024 16:26 UTC
People's Party rejects 'not doing opposition duty' jibe
Party says public will judge it at next pollsListen to this articleParit: Party has been 'proactive'The People's Party (PP) dismissed criticism that it had failed to fulfil its duty as the opposition, saying the public would judge its performance in the next election. Speaking at a press conference on the main opposition party's legislative work on Monday, PP spokesman and list MP Parit Wacharasindhu said the party was doing its best to keep the government in check. According to Mr Parit, the party had been proactive in scrutinising the Pheu Thai-led administration and proposing bills that aligned with its election campaign promises. "Pushing for legal changes (to debate bills) is the PP's core mission as the main opposition party. The PP spokesman also downplayed the latest poll results showing the party's declining popularity, saying they could be an opportunity to galvanise the party into improving itself.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 05, 2024 09:37 UTC
Feeling stressed about the election? You're not alone
Many Americans report feeling stress and anxiety related to the heated presidential race. An American Psychological Association poll taken earlier this year found that 65% of U.S. adults always or often felt exhausted by politics and 55% always or often felt angry.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 05, 2024 05:08 UTC
Thailand eyes sending more workers to Singapore
Thai Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn,(Photo:bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand's Labour Ministry aims to export more Thai workers to Singapore, especially in the shipyard sector. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, who recently visited Singapore, said on November 3 that nearly 4,000 Thais are working in Singapore. They are mainly in construction, production workers, welders, flight attendants, labourers, electronic parts production workers, pipe assemblers, and general workers. According to him, Singapore is actively seeking more welders in shipbuilding, skilled workers in electronics manufacturing, and experienced construction workers. The Labour Ministry of Thailand views labour export as an essential policy to enhance the skills of Thai workers abroad while bringing foreign currencies back to Thailand./.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 04, 2024 19:29 UTC
Thailand’s SCG halts operations at $5.4bn Vietnam petrochemical complex
Thailand’s SCG halts operations at $5.4bn Vietnam petrochemical complexSCG's Long Son Petrochemicals (LSP) complex project in Vietnam. LSP, which commenced commercial operations in Vietnam's southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on Sept 30, is the first integrated petrochemical complex in Vietnam and produces polyethylene, polypropylene and basic chemicals. In an interview with Reuters last year, SCG representatives said the complex's capacity would reach 1.3 million to 1.5 million tonnes. Total demand for Vietnam was about 3.3 million tonnes of both polyethylene and polypropylene combined, it said at the time. Last week, SCG also announced another $700 million investment in the Vietnamese complex for storage of ethane feedstock.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 04, 2024 14:00 UTC
Making a business wish list
"Raising the minimum wage could impact the restaurant business for establishments that hire foreign workers" he said. QUICKER REHABSanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the group wants ongoing government stimulus measures apart from the 10,000-baht cash handout to vulnerable groups. Collaboration with the business sector is needed to successfully implement the government's stimulus measures, said Mr Kriengkrai. Asia Green Energy is gradually restructuring its business by focusing more on cleaner energy, especially the production of biomass-derived fuel. The company expects the revenue proportion from its coal business to decrease in the future, said Mr Pongtham.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 04, 2024 08:36 UTC
Navigating Thailand’s Renewable Energy Landscape: Insights From APAC
Navigating Thailand’s Renewable Energy Landscape: Insights From APACRenewable energy is a pivotal force in the global energy transition, particularly in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and Thailand has a valuable role to play. By 2030, renewable energy is expected to account for 30% to 50% of the power generation mix across most APAC markets. Energised ambitions in ThailandThailand is a regional leader in renewable energy with around 12,500 MW currently installed. In navigating the renewable energy landscape across Thailand and APAC, developers and investors must adapt to the diverse business environments present in each market. The reliability of biomass power generation compared to other, variable renewable energy source also makes it a preferred energy source by government.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 04, 2024 08:09 UTC
Thousands rally for women's rights ahead of US presidential election
Thousands of people marched for women's rights in Washington, D.C., on Saturday (November 2), just days before the U.S. presidential election. Many of the attendees urged voters to cast their ballots, including Rachel O’Leary Carmona, the executive director of the Women's March, who said, "More than ever in 2024, we are voting on freedom or fascism."
Source:Bangkok Post
November 04, 2024 06:25 UTC
Book expo attracts record number of visitors
Most books sold at the fair were cartoonsListen to this articleVisitors throng the 29th Book Expo Thailand at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok on Oct 10. Visitors were 63% female, 26% male while the remainder classified themselves as being part of the LGBTQQIP2SA community, the Pubat president said. Most books sold at the fair were cartoons (40%), followed by novels (30%) and psychology and emotional healing books (20%). The rest were textbooks, children’s books and books on investment and health. Each buyer spent an average of 600 baht on books, and many visitors returned to make more purchases.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 22, 2024 23:45 UTC
Cambodia backs Thai-led 6-country single visa plan
Cambodia backs Thai-led 6-country single visa planListen to this articleArriving passengers snake through a long queue for immigration counters at Suvarnabhumi airport on Feb 10, 2024. The source said the Cambodian tourism minister supported Thailand's "6 Countries, 1 Destination" policy and agreed to discuss the issue further with Cambodia's Ministry of Interior, Customs Department and other relevant agencies. The "6 Countries, 1 Destination" initiative aims to promote tourism and economic collaboration between Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. The Thai government plans to begin policy discussions with Cambodia as a pilot project, with the goal of eventually expanding cooperation to other countries soon. The meeting also discussed various strategies to enhance tourism cooperation.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 22, 2024 13:42 UTC
Royal barge rehearsal viewing spots on offer
Royal barge rehearsal viewing spots on offerListen to this articleDesignated viewing spots will be available for people wanting to watch the full-dress rehearsal of the Royal Barge Procession on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok today, according to the Public Relations Department. Gilded and garlanded: A worker decorates a replica of the royal barge ‘Suphannahong’ with flowers. The replica is displayed on Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue ahead of the Royal Barge Ceremony on Oct 27, which marks the royal ‘kathin’ ceremony. The procession starts from Wasukri Pier (Wat Rachathiwat Pier), passes under Rama VIII Bridge and Phra Pinklao Bridge, and ends at Wat Arun. The rehearsal will start at 3pm and the city has prepared viewing areas for the public with mobile restroom facilities at the following locations:
Source:Bangkok Post
October 22, 2024 11:38 UTC
Boost seen from Thai Airways rehab exit
Boost seen from Thai Airways rehab exitListen to this articleThai Airways aircraft on the tarmac at Suvarnabhumi airport. The national carrier will undergo capital restructuring in this year's fourth quarter as part of its business rehabilitation plan. (Bangkok Post file photo)Creditors of Thai Airways International (THAI), especially Bangkok Bank (BBL) and Krungthai Bank (KTB), will receive a boost from the national carrier's planned exit from its rehabilitation plan in mid-2025 as the banks are being given multiple options for debt repayment, analysts say. The Central Bankruptcy Court is expected to approve its exit from the rehabilitation plan in May and the carrier's shares would then be able to resume trading on the SET by the end of June. Meanwhile, KTB's NPL ratio is forecast to drop from 3.85% to 3.59% and its NPL coverage ratio to rise from 181% to 192%, Mr Weerapat added.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 22, 2024 04:53 UTC
Thai PM urged to track down Tak Bai massacre defendants
Thai PM urged to track down Tak Bai massacre defendantsListen to this articleGen Pisal WattanawongkiriForty-three non-governmental organisations have signed an open letter urging Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, along with the Interior Minister and national police chief, to make sure the seven defendants in the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case are brought to trial before the case's statute of limitations expires this Friday. "If the Tak Bai case is considered a crime against humanity or genocide, then the case won't expire," she said, referring to the Friday deadline. The incident took place after security forces dispersed a protest calling for the release of six detainees in front of a police station in Tak Bai district of Narathiwat on Oct 25, 2004. "Even Thaksin [Shinawatra] has said he has [almost] forgotten [about the massacre]," she said. Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said he felt uncomfortable seeing the Tak Bai case being used to portray the government as the villain.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 22, 2024 04:29 UTC