(Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Concern the Israeli-Hamas conflict may escalate has led to worries over volatility in global crude oil prices. Last week, West Texas Intermediate reference crude oil prices were expected to average $80-87 per barrel, according to an estimate by Thai Oil Plc, the oil refinery arm of PTT. The Middle East produces one-third of the global crude oil supply, and prices rose more than 4% on Tuesday. Oil prices are projected to remain flat at $85-87 because Israel and Palestine are not major oil producers, said the brokerage. The crude oil prices may fluctuate if the war escalates as the US, Canada and the Middle East are among the world's top 10 crude oil producers," said ASPS.

Most want B10,000 digital wallet scheme implemented but fear consequences: pollThe government's digital wallet steering committee holds a meeting at Government House on Oct 5. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)A huge majority of people want the Pheu Thai-led government to go ahead with the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme as planned although some of them worry it could turn out to be damaging, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll. to compile their opinion on the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme. Under the digital wallet scheme championed by the Pheu Thai Party, every Thai national who is 16 and older will receive a one-time payment of 10,000 baht, to be wired into their digital wallet for spending within six months on products and services in shops within a 4km radius of their residence. Asked whether they worried the scheme could do more harm than good to the country, a majority, 56.19%, agreed – 30.92% moderately and 25.27% strongly.

Hubris meets nemesis as Israel refuses compromiseSooner or later, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's destructive political magic, which has kept him in power for 15 years, was bound to usher in a major tragedy. Meanwhile, he also sidelined the more moderate Palestinian leadership of Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, effectively beefing up the radical Hamas in Gaza. According to Mr Netanyahu's twisted logic, strong Islamist rule in Gaza would be the ultimate argument against a political solution in Palestine. But, in the ruthless, barbaric massacre of Israeli civilians in the villages surrounding Gaza, Mr Netanyahu's hubris met its nemesis in the form of Hamas's savagery. Fifty years and a day after Egypt and Syria launched their surprise attack in what became known as the Yom Kippur War, Hamas stormed Gaza's borders with Israel and slaughtered hundreds of defenceless civilians.

Ban Kradon train station in Nakhon Ratchasima province is part of the Chira-Khon Kaen double-track route. (Photo: Patipat Janthong)The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will ask the cabinet to approve the funding for the second phase of double-track upgrades between Khon Kaen and Nong Khai next week, according to Department of Rail Transport director-general Pichet Kunathammarak on Thursday. The loan will be repaid by the Budget Bureau using the government's annual budget. The double-track upgrades are meant to improve connectivity to the northeastern region and beyond. Transport officials have already been told to submit their proposal for the Hat Yai-Padang Besar double-track upgrade to the SRT board by next week.

Pickup hit by train at rail crossing, driver escapes deathPolice inspect the scene of a crash involving a pickup truck and a train at a railway crossing in Chaiya district of Surat Thani province on Friday. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan)SURAT THANI: A man narrowly escaped death when a pick-up he was driving was hit by an oncoming train at a railway crossing in Chaiya district of this southern province early on Friday. Police said the incident occurred at about 3.50am at a railway crossing near a market in tambon Talad Chaiya. Tassanai Jiewmaidaeng, 56, the pickup driver, told police that while driving from his house to the market he overtook another pickup and sped toward the railway crossing without noticing that the wooden bars at the crossing had been lowered. The train paused for a while before proceeding to the Chaiya railway station about 200 metres away.

Veg fest to generate B9bn: TATPeople shop for ingredients for vegetarian meals in Talad Kao (Old Market) in Yaowarat on 24 September 2022. The Vegetarian Festival in Yaowarat will last until 4 October 2022. Mr Thanet said the vegetarian festival will bring a large number of tourists to Phuket during the end of the green season. Some hotels or restaurants will offer an all-you-can-eat vegetarian buffet while others will turn their menus into vegetarian food offerings. Meanwhile, Phuket Commerce Office director Woranit Apiratjirawong said officials regularly inspect the food ingredients in markets in Phuket.

She said another two Thai workers had been killed by a rocket, raising the Thai death toll to 20. Four more Thais had been wounded and three others reported abducted, bringing the injured to 13 and the abducted Thais to 14. She said the Thai embassy had checked the list of names and there were no Thais among them. A total of 5,019 Thai workers had said they wanted to Thailand. Ambassador meets Thai workers in Israel: On Tuesday afternoon, Pannabha Chandraramya, the Thai ambassador to Israel, visited Thai workers in a village near Herzliya city.

Russia, Myanmar discuss gas pipeline constructionRussia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, right, and Myanmar's Foreign Minister Than Swe attend a press conference after their meeting in Moscow on Sept 14, 2023. (Photo: AFP)MOSCOW - Top energy officials from Russia and Myanmar held discussions in Moscow on Wednesday on Russian participation in the construction of a gas pipeline to Yangon, the Russian energy ministry said. It did not provide further details. Myanmar started buying Russian oil products last year and said it was ready to pay in roubles.

Cabinet fixes duck parts export rules with ChinaThe cabinet on Tuesday approved an agreement to amend export procedures for duck parts bound for China. Following the amendment, duck export value in the first year is expected to amount to 1 billion baht. The 18 duck parts comprise: feet, wings, mid-wings, wingtips, upper wings, livers, necks, gizzards, hearts, kidneys, tongues, heads, beaks, bones, cartilage, tendons, fat and skin. In the past, Mr Chai said China allowed Thailand to export chickens and frozen chicken parts, with exports reaching up to 13 billion baht in 2022. China approved the import of duck parts as a substitute to help sate consumer demand there, said Mr Chai.

B2.7bn needed to fund apps for students' free tabletsStudents attend an Eduzone Expo in Bangkok. Obec secretary-general Thanu Wongchinda said the tablet distribution programme could not be put into effect this year. He said the tablets will be provided to Mathayom 4-6 students, teachers and education supervisors in the pilot phase, expected to begin next year. It will take four years for the tablet distribution scheme to cover all schools nationwide, Mr Thanu said. The tablet distribution scheme is part of Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob's policy to cut parents' expenses and reduce disparities in opportunities for education.

PM in Hong Kong to court investors, drum up businessPrime Minister Srettha Thavisin with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, John Lee Ka-chiu, on Monday. After Hong Kong, Mr Srettha will visit Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore. (Government House photo)Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Monday assured potential investors in Hong Kong that Thailand is open for business and ready to facilitate investment. The Hong Kong private sector expressed their interest in investment opportunities in Thailand; however, they urged Mr Srettha to facilitate the ease of doing business for foreign investors in the kingdom. Mr Srettha met with John Lee Ka-chiu, the Hong Kong chief executive, and discussed bilateral cooperation and investments.

Consumer confidence improves for second straight monthPeople shop for goods at Wang Lang market near Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok on Sept 11. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)Consumer confidence rose for a second straight month in September, following a clearer political landscape in the country, but concerns about global economic prospects linger. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) reported on Monday that the consumer confidence index rose to 58.7 in September, up from 56.9 in August and 55.6 in July. "Consumer confidence is expected to continue to improve if the government is able to implement stimulus policies to sped up recovery." There is a risk of further eroding consumer confidence both in the present and in the near future, he said.

Go back to the glorious era of the Thai film industry with “Once Upon A Star”, the latest movie by award-winning director Nonzee "Oui" Nimibutr, which premieres on Netflix on Oct 11. Nonzee opens up about his deep connection to the Thai film industry through a heartfelt letter expressing his profound love for Thai cinema: “Over the decades, the Thai film industry has gone through a lot and weathered many ups and downs. My profound love and strong bond with Thai films have shaped my entire way of life and continue to be an integral part of my life. Therefore, I wanted to make a film to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Thai film industry”Once Upon A Star tells the story of the nostalgic charm of the 60s. They must confront challenges in an era where the film industry is undergoing transformation.

"I have to rise to the challenge and work harder to answer the calls of people in society," Mr Chaithawat said. Mr Chaithawat said that as part of its commitment to decentralisation, the party will field candidates in all elections. Party members in local areas will be given a more participatory role in the party. In the next elections, we expect to win at least 200 House seats," Mr Chaithawat said. He said he also instructed MFP members to get themselves ready for a change of government within two years.

Police will still ticket motorists despite rulingMotorists will continue to be ticketed despite the Central Administrative Court (CAC) deciding police have issued traffic tickets unlawfully since July 2020. The CAC ruled on Sept 27 that a Royal Thai Police (RTP) announcement which went into effect on July 20, 2020, pertaining to traffic tickets, was unlawful. The ruling came after Supa Chotngam, a motorist, petitioned the court asking the announcement be revoked. The announcement, therefore, does not cause her right to dispute the ticket to be forfeited. According to deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, the RTP will appeal against the ruling, reports said.