High hopes for policy statement
The government should also subsidise food prices as it does fuel prices, she added. Helping the grassrootsChalerm Changthongmadun, head of the Thai Motorcycle Taxi Drivers Association, wants the government to ensure that motorcycle taxi drivers are well-regulated and registered in line with the law. He also suggests the government find measures to allow motorcycle taxi drivers access to alternative energy sources to help reduce fuel costs. Currently, motorcycle taxi drivers are not allowed by law to resell their licensed vests to people who do not have a proper licence as this risks passengers' safety. He also said the government should support efforts to develop an application for passengers to use the services of licensed motorcycle taxi drivers.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 11, 2023 00:08 UTC
G20 summit ends with India, Brazil and Russia boasting success
G20 summit ends with India, Brazil and Russia boasting successIndia's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) hands over the gavel to Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (right) and the end of the G20 summit. G20 leaders have been deeply riven over the Ukraine war since Moscow's invasion last year, with Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the summit entirely to dodge political opprobrium. "We were able to prevent the West's attempts to 'Ukrainize' the summit agenda," the veteran diplomat said, dubbing the two-day gathering a "success". G20 members Russia and Saudi Arabia are major oil exporters, while coal consumption is rising in China and India, already the world's biggest consumers of the dirty fuel. - 'People's G20' -Modi, who painted the summit as India's diplomatic coming of age and is pushing for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, celebrated the accession of the 55-member African Union to the G20.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 10, 2023 12:38 UTC
Chinese fintech giant Ant Group unveils own AI large language model, along with new Web3 brand, in push to expand presence in financial sector
Chinese fintech giant Ant Group unveils own AI large language model, along with new Web3 brand, in push to expand presence in financial sectorAnt Group has started transforming its entire fintech business on the back of the firm’s own artificial intelligence large language model. The Hangzhou-based company on Friday unveiled its self-developed "financial LLM" at the "Inclusion Conference on the Bund" event in Shanghai, along with two applications powered by the group's AI model. Ant's financial LLM was used to upgrade Zhixiaobao, the firm's consumer-facing "intelligent financial assistant" for wealth management and insurance, to help users in various scenarios including generating asset-management plans. The new AI model of Ant, an affiliate of South China Morning Post owner Alibaba Group Holding, has already outperformed "mainstream general-purpose LLMs" in terms of financial scenarios, according to Wang. In the same Shanghai conference, Ant also launched a new Web3 brand called ZAN, targeting Hong Kong and other overseas markets.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 10, 2023 12:04 UTC
Ukraine steps up pressure on its allies for action against Russia
Ukraine steps up pressure on its allies for action against RussiaZelensky has kept up the pressure on his Western allies, for more weapons, more quicklyKYIV (UKRAINE) - Ukraine stepped up the pressure on its Western allies Saturday, deploring the lack of progress on setting up an international tribunal to try Russia's leaders and on the transfer of frozen Russian assets. There has been insufficient progress too, on the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine for use in the country's reconstruction, Kuleba added. "We are grateful for all the support provided... We need more heavy weapons," Umerov said in his embargoed speech. - 'The enemy is strong' -Deputy Intelligence Chief Vadym Skibitsky estimated Saturday that Russia has more than 420,000 soldiers in the east and south of Ukraine, including Crimea. Skibitsky also said Russia had for a month been actively launching attacks from Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 09, 2023 23:41 UTC
Indian PM plays name game at G20 summit
A giant screen shows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting behind a sign that reads “Bharat”, while delivering the opening speech during the G20 summit in New Delhi on Saturday. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s placard at the opening of the G20 summit on Saturday referred to India as “Bharat”, raising speculation of a change of name for the South Asian nation. India is also called Bharat, Bharata and Hindustan — its pre-colonial names — in Indian languages and these are used interchangeably by the public and officially. As Modi declared the summit in New Delhi open on Saturday, he sat behind a table nameplate that read “Bharat”, while the G20 logo had both names — “Bharat” written in Hindi and “India” in English. While some supporters of the name Bharat say “India” was given by British colonisers, historians say the name predates colonial rule by centuries.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 09, 2023 13:04 UTC
About Politics: Presenting a fresh face
Mr Pita's bid for prime minister faded away as Pheu Thai hit the ground running in its bid to assemble a government. The MFP will be up against its former ally and now the ruling party -- Pheu Thai. It was widely speculated the veteran Pheu Thai Party politician would be included in the cabinet line-up from the beginning. According to Mr Sutin, he also paid visits to other military figures who prefer to stay out of the media glare. It will set a precedent that a defence minister doesn't need to be a former serviceman.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 09, 2023 04:03 UTC
Divided G20 in India to confront a sea of troubles
Divided G20 in India to confront a sea of troublesPeople walk past a banner with flags of countries participating in the G20 summit in New DelhiNEW DELHI - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to forge consensus Saturday on a host of contentious issues from Ukraine to climate change, as G20 leaders hold their annual summit in New Delhi. The Group of 20 was conceived in the throes of the 2008 financial crisis as a way of managing the global economy. Even before it began, the importance of the New Delhi summit was called into question when China's Xi Jinping decided to skip the meeting and send his number two, Premier Li Qiang, to India instead. G20 countries account for around 85 percent of global climate warming emissions, making action in the forum crucial to real progress. Many G20 leaders fear their countries are already at risk of becoming collateral damage as the big beasts of world trade lock horns.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 08, 2023 23:54 UTC
G20 gathers in India, without China's Xi
G20 gathers in India, without China's XiG20 leaders descended on New Delhi, with host Prime Minister Narendra Modi seizing a chance to occupy the geopolitical centre stage. (Photo: AFP)NEW DELHI - US President Joe Biden and other G20 leaders gathered in New Delhi on Friday for their annual summit, as deep divisions between heavyweight members and a no-show by China's Xi Jinping called the bloc's relevance into question. Even before it began, the importance of the G20 summit was undermined when China's Xi decided to skip the meeting and send his number two, Premier Li Qiang instead. But a failure of G20 leaders to agree a joint summit statement, a once routine diplomatic affair, would be a major embarrassment. Many G20 leaders fear their economies are already at risk of becoming collateral damage as the big beasts of world trade lock horns.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 08, 2023 23:54 UTC
Gas prices jump as Australian LNG workers strike
(Photo: Chevron via Reuters)Liquefied natural gas workers at key Chevron Corp sites in Australia began partial strikes on Friday after talks failed to reach an agreement in a dispute that has rattled global gas markets. Since then, Woodside has reached a compromise deal with workers, while Chevron and its workers remain apart on several key claims. The impact on LNG shipments is not likely to be immediate, and gas consumption is currently muted in both Europe and Asia. Tokyo Gas Co, which also has a stake in the plant, said it is checking on impact to its LNG procurement. The region relies heavily on stable LNG shipments after losing most of its pipeline-supplied gas from Russia in 2022.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 08, 2023 17:32 UTC
Airlines to clarify reasons for high fares
Aircraft operated by Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air at Don Mueang airport in Bangkok. "Airlines cannot get a strong load factor except during long holidays. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, right, met with leaders of eight airlines on Aug 28 and vowed to upgrade tourist entry services. Wichan CharoenkiatpakulNuntaporn Komonsittivate, head of commercial operations at Thai Lion Air, said the average load factor for its domestic flights dropped to 75%. IATA yesterday reported an increase of 105.8% for Asia-Pacific airlines in July traffic compared to the corresponding period last year, while load factor increased to 84.5%.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 08, 2023 06:56 UTC
BoI okays 20 projects by Taiwan electronics firms
BoI okays 20 projects by Taiwan electronics firmsThe Board of Investment (BoI) has approved 20 new investment projects worth 30 billion baht from Taiwan-based electronics companies that want to use Thailand as their new export base. The BoI granted investment incentives to the Taiwanese firms during January and August. Semiconductors from Taiwan command a 65% global market share, with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co considered a market leader. The BoI plans to invite more electronics firms to invest in Thailand under its five-year investment promotion strategy. "We are in talks with more Taiwanese firms in order to encourage them to invest here," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2023 11:15 UTC
Minister seeks air force flight slots to boost tourism
(Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit plans to acquire some flight slots from the air force to serve growing demand from airlines to boost tourism. Mr Suriya said on Thursday that that he learned from Airports of Thailand that the air force had many unused flight slots at the country’s airports. He subsequently asked Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang to look into allocating some of the unused slots to commercial flights. “A share of the slots should increase the number of (commercial) flights by 100-150 per day,” Mr Suriya said. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) last month expressed concern about a possible shortage of flight slots in the coming high season.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2023 08:51 UTC
Pheu Thai MPs said to favour Paetongtarn for party leader
Pheu Thai MPs said to favour Paetongtarn for party leaderPaetongtarn "Ung Ing" Shinawatra arrives at Pheu Thai headquarters after visiting her father Thaksin at Police General Hospital on Aug 29. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Pheu Thai MPs are backing Paetongtarn “Ung Ing" Shinawatra to be the new party leader following the resignation of Cholnan Srikaew, according to Prasert Chanthararuangthong, the party's caretaker secretary-general. Dr Cholnan, 62, announced his resignation as party leader on Aug 30, saying he was keeping his word after the party decided to form a coalition government with two military-linked parties from the previous administration. Mr Prasert said many party MPs wanted Ms Paetongtarn to be the new leader. A source said Pheu Thai was preparing to announce the appointment of 21 party MPs to sit on the party’s whip with party-list MP Adisorn Piangkatebeing as government chief whip.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2023 06:14 UTC
Committee highlights trade issues
REUTERSThe Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) is looking into new trade issues, including the influx of Chinese goods, aiming to draft a new economic proposal for the Srettha Thavisin government. The import of cheap Chinese products is on the rise, which will also affect the trade balance between Thailand and China, said Mr Kriengkrai. The JSCCIB plans to consider on Thursday revising its growth and inflation projections as economic circumstances change. The export projection is based on the global economic slowdown and estimates for China's growth to decrease to 5.4-5.5%, down from a previous outlook of 6%, as well as rising interest rates. "The JSCCIB is monitoring global economic factors that may affect the Thai economy," said Mr Kriengkrai.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 07, 2023 05:15 UTC
New govt's agenda outlined in draft paper
(Photo: Chanat Katanyu)A draft policy statement has been handed out to parliamentarians highlighting the Srettha government's priorities, including the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme, addressing debt problems, cutting energy costs and revising the charter. The 52-page document submitted to MPs is for studying before Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin delivers it to parliament on Sept 11. The government will also seek to lower energy costs, including electricity, fuel and cooking gas, revamp energy use and promote the production of clean and renewable energy sources. For middle-term and long-term plans, the government plans to increase revenue through finding new markets abroad for Thai products and services. The draft also said the government would look to enhance the universal healthcare scheme and carry on with carbon-neutral policies.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2023 23:37 UTC