Appeal Court upholds death penalty for Nawat
Appeal Court upholds death penalty for NawatThe Appeal Court has upheld the lower court's death sentence against Nawat Tohcharoensuk, the former Pheu Thai Party MP for Khon Kaen, it was announced on Monday. Nawat was found guilty by the Khon Kaen Criminal Court in late September last year of masterminding the murder of a local administrative official seven years ago, and sentenced to death. The judges found that Nawat ordered the murder of Suchart Khotethum, then assistant chief of the Khon Kaen provincial administration organisation, because the victim was having an affair with his wife. Nawat: 'Mastermind' of official's murderNawat was charged separately as the murder mastermind and the case was decided by the Appeal Court on June 23. He has also been accused of ordering an assault on fellow Pheu Thai MP, Yutthapong Charassathien, in September last year.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 00:22 UTC
Narumon touts 'vast experience'
Narumon touts 'vast experience'Government spokeswoman Narumon PinyosinwatGovernment spokeswoman Narumon Pinyosinwat on Monday appeared undaunted by criticism of her new responsibility in the ruling Palang Pracharath Party's (PPRP) economic team while maintaining that her party role had nothing to do with the government's economic line-up. She said she has been a member of the party's economic team since it was founded. She has been assigned to work on the party economic policies following the change of the party's leader and executive board. "To prevent further confusion, I'd like to explain that I'm not the head of the [PPRP's] economic team. Nataphol Teepsuwan, a PPRP executive member and the education minister, confirmed Ms Narumon's new role did not equate to chief of the party's economic team.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 23:26 UTC
Ford to suspend social media ads, presses to 'clean up' ecosystem
Ford to suspend social media ads, presses to 'clean up' ecosystemFord is suspending social media advertising for 30 days, saying it wants to clean up a digital ecosystem marred by "hate speech, violence and racial injustice"SAN FRANCISCO - US auto giant Ford said Monday it would suspend social media advertising for 30 days to evaluate its strategy and press efforts to "clean up" the digital ecosystem. The move comes amid a growing brand boycott of Facebook, with some companies pausing all social media marketing to avoid what some see as a toxic and polarized environment. "We are pausing all national social media advertising for the next 30 days to re-evaluate our presence on these platforms," Ford said in an emailed statement. "The existence of content that includes hate speech, violence and racial injustice on social platforms needs to be eradicated." Ford said it was working with the Association of National Advertisers "to drive more accountability, transparency and trusted measurement to clean up the digital and social media ecosystem."
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:45 UTC
Ex-champs Kirins acquire trio of talented midfielders
Ex-champs Kirins acquire trio of talented midfieldersMuang Thong's new signings, from left, Picha Autra, Pooming Kaewta and Chatmongkol Thongkiri. The Kirins were in seventh place when the top league was halted after four rounds of matches due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Muang Thong director Ronnarit Suewaja hinted that Chatmongkol was handpicked by Kirins coach Alexandre Gama. Chatmongkol said: "I am here on a one-year loan deal but that won't prevent me from doing my best for Muang Thong United. Picha and Pooming also promised to make an effort to become integral parts of the team's starting line-up.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
New ordering platform from KBank subsidiary
New ordering platform from KBank subsidiaryKasikorn Business-Technology Group (KBTG), a tech firm under Kasikornbank (KBank), has launched Eatable, a complete online food ordering platform covering dining in, takeout and delivery. The new digital platform should simplify operations for restaurants and offer added convenience for consumers without charging a fee for the digital service, he said. Diners can browse menus, order food and make contactless payments. The Eatable platform responds to both the restaurant business and consumers who dine in at restaurants, pick up food for takeaway or use a food delivery service, said Mr Ruangroj. Customers from different places who wish to dine together at a restaurant or pick up food to dine at home can also order food through the Eatable platform in advance.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Thais, Indonesia seek deal
Mr Sansern (right) meets with Ahmad Rusdi, the newly appointed ambassador of Indonesia to Thailand, to discuss trade. (Government House photo)Thailand and Indonesia have vowed to tighten bilateral trade cooperation to rehabilitate both economies following the Covid-19 pandemic. He said Thailand and Indonesia have discussed beefing up cooperation on bilateral online trading, which has grown rapidly during the outbreak. Indonesia is Thailand's fourth-largest trading partner in Asean following Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore, and the seventh-largest trading partner in the world. Two-way trade between Indonesia and Thailand amounted to US$16.3 billion last year, with exports from Thailand accounting for $9.09 billion and imports worth $7.23 billion.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
May index sees slight rise after lockdown eased
May index sees slight rise after lockdown easedThailand's manufacturing production index (MPI) in May climbed slightly from April to 80.3, but was still down by 23.1% year-on-year. Compared with 2019, MPI in May decreased 23.1% from 104.57 points, said Ittichai Yotsri, deputy director-general of the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE). Thailand and many countries used lockdown measures to control virus infections, but this affected a large number of businesses, forcing them to reduce employment or even shut down, he said. "The MPI in May managed to increase by 2.8% from April because the government began to relax the lockdown measures, allowing business activities to resume," Mr Ittichai said. Earlier this year, it projected the index would grow 2-3% and industrial GDP would gain 1.5-2.5%.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Triton buys TTR via joint venture
Triton buys TTR via joint ventureTriton Holding Plc has acquired Trans Thai Railway Co (TTR) through a 65:35 joint venture by purchasing existing shares and increasing capital in TTR from 10 million baht to 50 million. Triton said it made the acquisition to expand TTR's business and fully enter the market of railway systems construction through the technical competency of TTR and its partner network. The company is looking to find government support for its future projects through TTR such as long-distance intercity railway systems and large transport systems. Following the increase in capital, Triton has set targets for TTR's income in 2021, 2022 and 2023 at 350 million, 500 million and 700 million baht, respectively. Investment in TTR complies with Triton's business strategies to generate an income base and long-term profit in core businesses of specialised engineering, biogas power plants and other power plant businesses, as well as its food and packaging business Glocon.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
STGT sells 438m IPO shares on high demand
STGT sells 438m IPO shares on high demandSri Trang Gloves Thailand Plc (STGT) sold 438.78 million IPO shares worth 34 baht per share following high demand from institutional and retail investors, as rubber glove demand has surged during the Covid-19 crisis. The 438.78 million IPO shares account for 30.7% of total issued common shares. The company, ranked third globally in rubber glove production, has its first trading day on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index this Thursday. Pongsak Phrukpaisal, managing director of Kasikorn Securities, one of the underwriters of STGT's IPO shares, said the company's IPO shares enticed investors' interest because STGT has expertise in rubber glove production and its products are exported worldwide. The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted every industry to adopt the use of rubber gloves, with the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association forecasting annual demand for rubber gloves will rise by 12%, said Mr Pongsak.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Nightlife makes return
All activities and businesses will be allowed to resume on Wednesday in the final phase of easing of the Covid-19 lockdown. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday gave the green light for all remaining entertainment facilities to reopen from tomorrow. "It was extensively debated," CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin said after the full members' meeting chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. All premises that reopen will be required to use the "Thai Chana" platform, created to alert businesses and customers to any Covid-19 outbreak. From tomorrow, shopping malls, department stores and community malls will be allowed to open until 10pm from the current 9pm.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
KBank adds loan-loss provisions
Pornprom SatrabhayaKasikornbank (KBank) expects to set aside additional loan-loss provisions for the remainder of this year to strengthen its capital buffer against the backdrop of mounting uncertainties. However, a sound capital base should be maintained to prepare for unexpected situations amid heightening uncertainty, he said. KTB needs to monitor the economic condition and borrowers' debt-servicing ability after the central bank's debt relief measures expire. Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana said commercial banks' capital base is solid and they have learned from previous crises how to get through hardships. Regarding the central bank's 500-billion-baht soft loan scheme to SMEs, Mr Uttama said commercial banks have already extended 90 billion.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Minister seeks solar rooftop revisions
Solar rooftop panels at Banpu Plc in Bangkok. Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong has demanded a revision of conditions for the solar rooftop project within two months to encourage more households to produce and sell power to the state grid. Thailand has allowed people to jointly generate electricity from solar energy since 2013, but there was little interest. Some 95% of Thailand's solar energy is produced from ground-based solar farms. Under the PDP, solar power is projected to reach 12,725MW by 2037.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
What role can US play amid Sino-Indian tensions?
What role can US play amid Sino-Indian tensions? Within hours of the conflict, India indicated it was thinking of joining the US bandwagon in banning Huawei and other Chinese firms. It's no coincidence that the secret diplomatic legwork that culminated in Nixon's visit to China was largely conducted via Pakistan. What role, if any, can the US now play in soothing tensions among the three restive neighbouring nuclear states of India, China and Pakistan? His sterling reputation and his role in arranging the Trump-Modi summit give him leverage in the current context.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Grand plans for revamped bus service
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority's (BMTA) rehabilitation plan will allow the loss-ridden bus agency to deliver better services and make bus travel a more attractive option for private car users, says transport permanent secretary Chirute Visalachitra. The plan, endorsed by the State Enterprise Policy Committee (SEPC), has been drawn up with the aim of improving the city's bus services and helping the agency become financially viable, he said. Equipped with GPS, an e-ticketing system and universal design, the fleet will make travel in and around Bangkok more convenient. Bus travel will become cheaper, with a one-day flat-rate fare of 30 baht being introduced. For example, the bidding process to select private firms allowed to operate bus services is to come under an integrity pact, which will allow representatives from the public sector to participate in the vetting process.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC
Asean unity in the age of coronavirus
Asean unity in the age of coronavirusThe opening ceremony of the 36th Asean Summit in Hanoi last Friday, attended by a roomful of local and foreign dignitaries, was a definite "ooh-aah" moment for Vietnam, which has been successful in mitigating the spread of coronavirus. Kudos must go to the current chair for beating the odds and staging a successful virtual Asean summit, the first in the grouping's 53-year history. That helps explains why the Asean leaders strongly support multilateralism, free and open trade and regional economic integration. Another important document adopted was the Asean Leaders' Vision Statement on a Cohesive and Responsive Asean: Rising Above Challenges and Sustaining Growth. Vietnam said it was hoping the upcoming Asean Foreign Ministerial in late July and the 37th Asean summit in November will be conducted face to face.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 29, 2020 21:00 UTC