Three suspects charged
Three suspects chargedListen to this articleThe police have pressed charges against three individuals connected to the excursion bus inferno tragedy, in which 20 school children and three teachers were killed. National police chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet chaired a two-hour meeting yesterday with high-ranking police officers to discuss the progress in the investigation into the bus fire. Pol Gen Kitrat said charges have been filed against three suspects: the bus driver, the vehicle owner, and the owner of the tour bus company. Pol Gen Kitrat assured that the investigation was being carried out thoroughly and transparently. Two of the three students injured in the blaze will require at least another month of treatment at Thammasat University Hospital.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 11, 2024 11:35 UTC
Cannabis controls to be tightened
Listen to this articleCannabis plants for sale at Nonthaburi Green Market in Nonthaburi in 2023. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)The Public Health Ministry will issue a new ministerial regulation to tighten control of the production, import, export, sale and possession of cannabis and hemp extracts. The draft, proposed by the Public Health Ministry, will be submitted to the Council of State, the government's legal arm, for scrutiny, Pol Lt Gen Phanurat said, adding the draft regulation will be issued under the Narcotics Code. On Monday, the ONCB secretary-general met British Ambassador Mark Gooding to discuss measures to tackle the smuggling of cannabis from Thailand to the UK. The British envoy said more than 200 smugglers from Thailand have been arrested in the UK so far this year, Pol Lt Gen Phanurat said, adding the ambassador expressed concern about transnational criminal networks pulling the strings.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 10, 2024 18:24 UTC
Two suspects from the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case flee
Two suspects from the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case fleeListen to this articleProtesters are arrested in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district on Oct 25, 2004. (File photo: Tawatchai Khemgumnerd)Two suspects in the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case left the country before their arrest warrants were issued, a House committee was told. The meeting aimed to follow up on progress in bringing suspects to trial for the Tak Bai massacre, which took place in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district on Oct 25, 2004. Pol Col Rangsee added the two suspects left before the arrest warrants were handed to the IB. Pol Col Rangsee admitted that, so far, police have been unable to locate the suspects.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 10, 2024 15:16 UTC
Thailand eyes $300bn gas field frozen by Cambodia dispute
Listen to this articlePTT Exploration & Production's gas field. Cambodia remains committed to discussing the issue with Thailand, government spokesperson Pen Bona said in a statement to Bloomberg News. Cambodia has fewer reasons to rush to the negotiating table even though it is almost entirely dependent on foreign fuel. For Thailand, the precedent exists for joint exploration. As for the dispute with Cambodia, a Thai government spokesperson said negotiations are among the prime minister’s priorities but declined to provide a timeline.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 10, 2024 02:55 UTC
Pundits advocate stability at Bank of Thailand
"If interest rates are cut once, it would reduce pressure on the central bank. "The board chairman of the central bank should have the knowledge and ability to coordinate with relevant agencies to smooth work processes. "We are confident the central bank knows the most appropriate actions to take after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates." "We would ask whether the central bank is maintaining the country's financial stability at the cost of SMEs and the economy," said Mr Sangchai. She urged the central bank, in collaboration with commercial banks, to relax the loan criteria to help SMEs, including restaurant operators, in accessing loans.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 09, 2024 15:17 UTC
Tak Bai victims fret as deadline looms
Tak Bai victims fret as deadline loomsListen to this articleRangsiman RomeThe People's Party (PP) has warned that if the statute of limitations in the case concerning the Tak Bai massacre expires without justice being seen to be served, it will further inflate concerns that the nation's legal system operates on double standards. He was referring to the indictment in the Criminal Court of the former senior officials connected to the massacre that occurred in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district on Oct 25, 2004. Some of the suspects, including Pheu Thai Party list MP Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri, have not reported to the court to acknowledge the indictment. Gen Pisal served as the commander of the Fourth Army Region that was involved in the Tak Bai massacre, which occurred when security forces dispersed a rally in front of the police station in Tak Bai district. "More and more people are getting the impression they are experiencing deja vu under the current Pheu Thai administration," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 09, 2024 11:37 UTC
Machine learning pioneers win Nobel physics prize
Scientists John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning within artificial neural networks. Hinton said he was "flabbergasted" as he received the award on Tuesday (October 8).
Source:Bangkok Post
October 09, 2024 09:20 UTC
Health workers get mpox shot as Congo expands vaccination campaign
The Democratic Republic of Congo expanded its mpox vaccination campaign on Monday (October 7), with health workers in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces receiving shots, though many at-risk individuals remain unvaccinated as the country battles to contain a widespread outbreak. Nurse Christian Imani Banyanga says he can now "work with peace of mind."
Source:Bangkok Post
October 09, 2024 05:55 UTC
Flood alert for parts of Bangkok
Flood alert for parts of BangkokWat Arun, best known as the Temple of Dawn, seen from the other side of the Chao Phraya River in overcast Bangkok on Monday. (Photo: Nittaya Nattayai)City Hall on Monday warned people living along the Chao Phraya River in areas with no permanent barriers to prepare for flooding next week. The flood risk would come from the rising Chao Phraya river and forecast high tides, as more water was discharged from the Chao Phraya Dam, upstream from Bangkok in Chai Nat province, during the 11 days. The BMA did not name the flood prone areas of the city outside the embankment zone. Data from 2022 showed these areas as including parts of Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Samphanthawong, Bang Kholaem, Yanawa, Bangkok Noi and Klong San districts.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 08, 2024 13:45 UTC
US looks to deepen Asean partnership
(Photo: Reuters)Annual meetings between Asean leaders and major powers from both the West and East have made Asean an important strategic partner. It is impractical for Mr Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris to attend in person. Mr Biden is focused on his legacy in his last months in office, while Ms Harris is busy with her presidential election campaign. Mr Blinken attended the Asean summit once in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2022, and in May, he held a special summit with Asean leaders in Washington, DC. The challenge for the US is to balance its global priorities while keeping its strategic partnership with Asean strong and beneficial for both sides.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 08, 2024 11:36 UTC
One Thai back, 5 await return from war-hit Lebanon
One Thai back, 5 await return from war-hit LebanonListen to this articleNikorndej: 'Avoid northern Israel'One Thai from Lebanon has returned to Thailand safely, while five others were waiting to flee the conflict-struck country, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, Nikorndej Balankura, the MFA spokesperson, said that about 100 other Thais living in Lebanon still wanted to stay to evaluate the situation further. He said the ministry had been updated by the Royal Thai Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday that the Israel-Hezbollah conflict may worsen. The embassy in Riyadh and the general consulate in Lebanon have been contacting Thais living in Lebanon to inform them about the war and provide assistance according to their needs, including requests to return to Thailand. He added that five Thai masseurs in Lebanon had also requested to return.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 08, 2024 03:36 UTC
Cleanup begins in Chiang Mai as flood recedes
Cleanup begins in Chiang Mai as flood recedesListen to this articleThe big cleanup begins in Chiang Mai city on Monday. (Photo: Screen capture from Chiang Mai Municipality Facebook account)Chiang Mai Municipality started a major cleanup on Monday as the huge flood that paralysed the northern city began draining off. The Chiang Mai Municipality advised drivers some sections of seven main roads were still closed, including Chang Khlan and Charoen Prathet, which are popular tourist and business areas. Kuakul Manasamphansakul, the Chiang Mai Irrigation Office director, said on Monday the levels of the Rim and Taeng rivers and of the Ping in Chiang Dao district had also dropped. The Rim and Taeng are tributaries of the Ping and supply water to northern Chiang Mai.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 07, 2024 16:40 UTC
Thai govt seeks higher inflation target to enable rate cut
Thai govt seeks higher inflation target to enable rate cutThai Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira (Photo: Government House)Thailand’s Finance Ministry plans to propose a higher inflation target of 1.5%-3.5% for next year, adding pressure on the central bank to cut its key interest rate, according to people familiar with the matter. The central bank and the Finance Ministry need to agree on the target before it’s sent to the Cabinet for approval. BoT Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput has said rate settings are neutral for Thailand’s economic and financial conditions, and called for central bank decisions to be free from interference. The Bangkok Post first reported the new target being pushed by the Finance Ministry. While the BoT chairman doesn’t have powers to dictate monetary policy, the official can evaluate the central bank governor’s performance.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 07, 2024 12:30 UTC
Thailand ramps up screening to prevent substandard imports
Authorities of Thailand are intensifying the screening of imported goods to prevent the smuggling of substandard products and protect domestic industries. Thailand's Industry Minister Akanat Promphan (Photo: bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) – Authorities of Thailand are intensifying the screening of imported goods to prevent the smuggling of substandard products and protect domestic industries. It has ordered the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) to work closely with the Customs Department to close the EXEMPT 5 import channel on October 1 to prevent the smuggling of substandard goods. The items imported through EXEMPT 5 were TISI-controlled goods that were not for sale and were imported in limited quantities. They were exempt from permits or certificates due to the minimal quantities involved, making the channel a loophole for low-quality imports.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 07, 2024 11:44 UTC
White rice price dips as India lifts ban
White rice price dips as India lifts banListen to this articleThe domestic price of Thai white rice has begun to decrease following India's resumption of non-basmati white rice exports. However, this shift has yet to affect this year's rice export volume, according to Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association. "Buyers and sellers are evaluating the potential impact of increased Indian rice supplies and are uncertain about the actual sales price of Indian rice exporters," he said. Lifting the export ban increased the global supply of white rice by up to 5-6 million tonnes. Rice exports in the first eight months of 2024 tallied 6.57 million tonnes, up 1.28 million tonnes or 24% year- on-year.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 07, 2024 06:35 UTC