Ratch raises B25bn for expansion in rights issue
Ratch raises B25bn for expansion in rights issueRatch Group Plc, Thailand's largest private power generation company by capacity, has raised 25 billion baht in a rights issue to expand its business and support its loan payment plans. Choosri Kietkajornkul, chief executive of Ratch, said the funds will increase the company's capital expenditure for power generation and infrastructure projects in Thailand and overseas. Up to 80% of capital spending is allocated for the power business, while 20% will go to infrastructure development, said Ms Choosri. The company signed a power purchase agreement with PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara, Indonesia's state electricity company. The company aims to increase electricity generation capacity to 215MW, up from 185MW, and steam production to 45 tonnes per hour, from 40 tonnes per hour, at this facility.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 28, 2022 06:31 UTC
Cannabis bill vetting to be done by August
Cannabis bill vetting to be done by AugustBhumjaithai Party MP Supachai Jaisamut, chairman of a House committee scrutinising the cannabis and hemp bill, said the committee should finish work on the bill by August. The committee has no intention of delaying the bill, Mr Supachai said. "This shows that the bill does not benefit major businesses," Mr Parnthep said while also defending the benefits of cannabis. Mr Parnthep further said the committee vetting the bill comprises representatives from the government, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, lawyers, academics and the civil sector. Some have supported the use of cannabis for recreational purposes, he said, adding that the committee will gather public opinions to improve the bill.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 27, 2022 22:45 UTC
Thailand records 2,236 Covid-19 cases and 16 deaths on Saturday
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,511,777 – 4,458,416 of whom have recovered, 22,786 are still in hospitals and 30,575 have died. Separately, another 8,376 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, 17,767 their second shot and 42,272 a booster, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered nationwide to 139,422,838. According to Worldometer, confirmed cases globally had risen to 548.25 million on Saturday, 523.22 million of whom have recovered, 18.68 million are active cases (36,235 in severe condition) and 6.35 million have died (up by 1,421). Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 88.71 million, followed by India with 43.38 million, Brazil with 32.03 million, France with 30.51 million and Germany with 27.68 million.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 27, 2022 21:01 UTC
Phayahong is first Thai woman K-1 champion
Phayahong is first Thai woman K-1 championPhayahong Ayothayafightgym wins the 45-kilogramme division at the K-1 World Grand Prix, a renowned kickboxing tournament, in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday. (Photo: Ayothaya Fight Gym)Buri Ram boxer Phayahong Ayothayafightgym is the first Thai woman to win a K-1 kickboxing championship, taking the title in the 45-kilogramme division at the K-1 World Grand Prix at Yoyoki National Gymnasium in Tokyo on Saturday. After a four-round fight, Phayahong was declared winner, beating Sukawara Miyu of Japan with a score of 2-1. Her Thai predecessors who won K-1 championship titles were all men - Buakaw Banchamek, Kaew Viriyalekgym and Kongnapa Viriyalekgym. Phayahong is a former student of Nakhon Ratchasima Sports School and began boxing at the age of 9 years.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 27, 2022 15:33 UTC
Scammers’ latest trick: Fake court orders demanding payment
However, the COJ clarified that it never sends court orders demanding transfer of payment. “If a court order is sent to you with instructions to transfer money to a bank account, for whatever reason, do not believe it,” said the COJ statement. It warned that scammers are also trying to trick people via other methods, from phone calls to messaging. The court also advised people to be cautious of Facebook messages from friends, pointing out their accounts may have been hacked to steal their personal or financial data. Hence it was best to check by calling first.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 27, 2022 15:01 UTC
The long road to recovery
The economic recovery in the first half was tepid, but the tourism industry is touted by some as a key growth engine once international visitors are able to travel freely once again. The tourism industry is seen as the key engine after international tourists could travel freely like in the past. Varuth HirunyathebBYPASSING THE MAINLANDThe number of international arrivals in May, after the Test & Go and Sandbox schemes were removed, was 476,171. He said this target is achievable if 1 million tourists arrive each month in the third quarter, before ramping up to 3 million tourists per month in the final quarter. "The council is not worried about the new subvariants as long as the country remains open," said Mr Chamnan.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 27, 2022 14:26 UTC
Maserati looks to the heavens with new convertible
Maserati looks to the heavens with new convertibleMaserati MC20 Cielo. MASERATIMaserati has unveiled its MC20 Cielo, the retractable hardtop version of the Italian company's MC20 supercar. The model name, Cielo, is the Italian word for sky, which emphasises the beauty of driving a convertible. Multimedia and Maserati Connect can be used to control a range of purposes, including all of the Maserati Intelligent Assistant's features. Options include an automatic emergency speed reduction system, a traffic sign recognition system and a new camera that can see in all directions.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 27, 2022 09:47 UTC
India will leap from $3 trillion to $30-trillion economy ‘very soon’
Goyal said India was working actively with different countries to finalise free-trade agreements, which will give zero-duty access for the Indian textile sector in the world market, our New Delhi correspondent reports. Goyal advised all stakeholders in the value chain to strive hard, stand united and thereby become the largest manufacturing country in the world. He said that from farm to fabric, fabric to finished products, finished products to fashion products and then finally to foreign products, India has a major share in the entire value chain. The commerce minister said India has already finalised two FTAs with Australia and the UAE and was negotiating with the UK, Canada and EU. We want to capture the world market," Goyal said.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 27, 2022 07:29 UTC
Wimbledon struggles to avoid shadow of Russia ban
Wimbledon struggles to avoid shadow of Russia banCentre Court to the front line for Sergiy Stakhovsky. LONDON: It's been nine years since Sergiy Stakhovsky stunned Roger Federer at Wimbledon in a Centre Court seismic shock. When Wimbledon announced its ban, the two tours retaliated by stripping the tournament of ranking points. "I don't think it was a good idea to ban the Russian players. Despite the official ban, there are still plenty of Russian-born players taking part at Wimbledon.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 27, 2022 05:03 UTC
Driving down Bangkok footpaths will result in THB5000 fine, BMA warns
In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) said it has dispatched officials to check out footpaths in the metropolitan area to ensure the law is being followed. “BMA’s law-enforcement officers have been authorised to fine violators on the spot. If the fine cannot be paid, then the violator will be prosecuted under the law,” the announcement said. Such flouting of the law can be reported to the BMA via http://www.bangkok.go.th/reward or by scanning the QR code below. Informers will be rewarded half of the fine once the case has been settled.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 27, 2022 03:39 UTC
Riding the green wave
Only two weeks after decriminalising cannabis, Thailand is experiencing a green rush. While a cannabis press does not exist here, media has been covering the topic since the pre-dawn of legalisation. BBC Thai has covered cannabis legalisation since its early days. Growing public interest in cannabis will increase demand for reporters who have a nose for green news. How can we find out the truth and place trust in it when the public health minister and the campaigner for cannabis are the same people?
Source:Bangkok Post
June 26, 2022 23:55 UTC
Bangkok governor to assess designated rally grounds after 1 month
Bangkok governor to assess designated rally grounds after 1 monthPolitical activists from the We Volunteer group prepare to walk to Lan Khon Muang in front of the City Hall office in Phra Nakhon district on Friday to mark the 90th anniversary of the Siamese Revolution on 24 June 1932. (Photo: Pornprom Sattrabhaya)City Hall will review the use of seven locations in Bangkok for public demonstrations after one month, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said on Sunday, although there had been no problems so far. The governor said he was encouraged by the peaceful rally and atmosphere at Lan Khon Muang on Friday and hoped the opening of seven sites for activities would put an end to conflicts as people have venues to express their opinions. Lan Khon Muang in front of the office of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration near the Giant Swing was the first to be used for the purpose. Mr Chadchart said he hoped issues other than politics would be addressed at the designated demonstration grounds to show that people could co-exist with different opinions.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 26, 2022 22:55 UTC
Sermon hall burned down in temple fire
Sermon hall burned down in temple fireThe main Buddha image in the sermon hall at Wat Buaboon Prachasamakkhi in Muang district of Buri Ram province escaped damage from a fire that burnt down the building on Sunday. (Photo: Supachai Piraksa)BURI RAM: The sermon hall at a temple in Muang district of this lower northeastern province was burned down by a fire that broke out in the small hours on Sunday. Phra Maha Paiboon Wipuro, the abbot of Wat Buaboon Prachasamakkhi at Ban Khok Phet in tambon Nong Tat, said the fire started at about 2am inside the new sermon hall, for which construction was nearly complete. Phra Maha Paiboon said he was very sad since the sermon hall, which had been under construction since 2017 and was nearly finished, was built entirely with donations from local people. He thought the fire was probably started by burning candles and joss sticks left in front of the main Buddha image.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 26, 2022 13:29 UTC
Filling stations to offer rice-curry at THB25 as price crisis bites
She added that the association also has guidelines for restaurants on how to soften the impact of rising costs for ingredients and liquid petroleum gas (LPG). "Appropriate guidelines to assist small restaurant operators will be considered to enable all parties to coexist," she said, without elaborating.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
June 26, 2022 09:23 UTC
Romania spies energy opening in Europe
The Ukraine war could lead to breakthroughs in nuclear power and natural gas, with Washington's helpWorkers in a training simulator at the nuclear power complex in Cernavoda, Romania. The Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant in Cernavoda. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which shares a nearly 640-kilometre border with Romania, has strengthened Romania's push for energy independence. Mr Ghita said nuclear power could help Romania achieve a variety of goals, from reducing carbon emissions to "countering Russian aggression in the region" on energy matters. "We will supply energy security for the neighbourhood," Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Romania's energy minister, said in an interview after lawmakers passed legislation designed to encourage investment in gas production.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 26, 2022 09:19 UTC