It said if the second and third largest operators in terms of subscribtion numbers -- True and DTAC -- are allowed to merge, it would create a duopoly in the telecom industry and the consumers would definitely be taken advantage. It alleged that the monopoly of retailing and wholeselling by the conglomerate had caused consumer goods prices to rise, causing suffering to the people. Earlier, the new NBTC held a focus group public hearing among those related to the telecom industry and business partners of telecom operators. The NBTC has yet to listen to the opinions of academics and consumer groups in two more focus group hearings. The letter warned that if the NBTC approved the merger, it would be condemned as the one who had tainted the history of Thai telecom industry.

Hundreds stranded after ransomware attack on Indian airlineBudget Indian carrier SpiceJet has said a ransomware attack was to blame for flight delays and cancellations that left hundreds of passengers stranded on their planes. NEW DELHI: Hundreds of Indian air travellers were stranded inside their planes after the low-cost airline SpiceJet cancelled or delayed flights due to an "attempted ransomware attack", the company has said. Many angry passengers, some of whom were left waiting inside their planes for up to five hours earlier this week, complained about a lack of communication from the budget carrier. "Certain SpiceJet systems faced an attempted ransomware attack last night that impacted our flight operations," the airline said Wednesday on Twitter. Ransomware attacks occur when hackers take control of a computer system by encrypting all its data until a ransom is paid.

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, presiding over the opening ceremony of the THAIFEX-ANUGA ASIA 2022 exhibition, said Thailand has plentiful food supplies. "With growing concerns about a food crisis, many food importing countries have returned to buy food products from Thailand. Thailand should beef up its strategy to build up the Thai image of food safety, and as a leading food producer in Asia." Visit Limlurcha, honorary president of the Thai Food Processors Association, said Thailand has no concerns over food security, although the prices of some food items have become more expensive due to higher raw material costs. Mr Visit brushed aside the possibility of food shortages, as imports account for only 25% of raw materials used in production.

“Participating in this event is another important step that has brought Thailand into global awareness of its leadership in digital assets and blockchain. Last year was the year that digital assets experienced exponential growth in Thailand. We have the largest number of crypto holders per capita in the world and ranked 3rd in the world for the number of DeFi users. Moreover, the Thai public and private sectors are working together to push the rules on digital assets to keep users safe and protect investors. and together to educate people to the best of their ability” Said Mr SrupsrisopaAnd in particular, “Bitkub Capital Group” is a private organization from Thailand that operates on blockchain technology infrastructure, digital assets exchange, cryptocurrency & blockchain education, Investment in Blockchain-related Startups and Web 3.0, which is considered the infrastructure of the digital economy until the success and has been mentioned as the first fintech unicorn in Thailand.

Prayut also thanked the Japanese government and businessmen for believing in Thailand’s potential and for supporting the country’s economic and social development. The premier said Asian nations must support multilateral trade, with the World Trade Organisation serving as the moderator of rules. He promised that Thailand would develop its business environment to facilitate international trade and investment and support foreign businesses. Prayut went on to say that Thailand would firmly support multilateral trade, especially the idea of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). Prayut added that Thailand has now started its transition to clean energy by supporting and boosting the electric vehicle industry.

He said his ministry would seek cooperation from the Thai agriculture ministry on five issues:- Food security cooperation to increase value of crops- Cooperation to boost the strength of farmers. - Cooperation to help Vietnamese farmers transition to farm machines- Training in agricultural knowledge- Cooperation on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. Alongkorn said Thailand and Vietnam have a joint committee to function as a mechanism to facilitate agricultural and SPS cooperation between the two countries. • The Thai side will ask Vietnam to allocate quota for Thai trucks to transport fruits vie Vietnam to China to reduce the chances of Thai fruits going rotten. • Thailand will ask Vietnam to inform the name of its contact point as soon as possible before the next SPS can be held.

Petrol stations, convenience stores and other non-oil businesses operate on a brick-and-mortar model in Thailand and 10 Asian countries. The new partnership aims to generate revenue for 13,000 SMEs and startups and create 145,000 new jobs by 2030, said Ms Jiraphon. OR wants startups and SMEs to join the company to increase overseas sales, covering 100 countries. Under OR's inclusive growth concept, the company aims to help startups and SMEs overcome hindrances and enjoy good business outcomes together. OR aims to rack up 40 billion baht in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation in the next decade, up from 20 billion last year, said Ms Jiraphon.

Collection surpasses target in first 7 monthsThe government's revenue collection in the first seven months of fiscal 2022 surpassed its target by 3.7% as a result of the expansion of product import volume, in line with the economic recovery, says Pornchai Thiraveja, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office. He said the Revenue Department's collection during the period exceeded the target because of higher collection from personal and corporate income tax. The government's net revenue collection in the first seven months of fiscal 2022 stood at 1.27 trillion baht, exceeding the target by 45.8 billion baht or 3.7%. The Excise Department collected 320 billion baht, down 3.3% year-on-year or 11.1 billion baht, while the Customs Department collected revenue of 61.7 billion baht, up 4.8% year-on-year or 2.83 billion baht. The government projected expenses of 3.1 trillion baht in fiscal 2022, with a revenue target of 2.4 trillion baht.

According to Royal Decrees published on the Royal Gazette website on Tuesday, the transfer of cryptocurrencies or digital tokens at digital asset exchanges under the laws has been exempted from VAT collection.

The Covid-19 situation in the country is improving quickly and faster than expected, Kiattiphum said. He believed Thailand would enter endemic transition in July as planned. In this regard, public health agencies must prepare activities to encourage people to coexist safely with Covid-19, he said.

Oil, gas firms use Ukraine war to resist climate efforts: reportUS oil and gas companies spread the misleading message that US climate change policies were to blame for rising energy pricesPARIS - US oil and gas firms took advantage of energy worries over the Ukraine war to push their fossil fuel products and resist climate change regulatory measures, an analysis showed on Wednesday. It said the companies spread the misleading message that US climate change policies were to blame for rising energy prices and that more US-produced oil and gas was the solution. They pushed "long-standing policy asks relating to the continued expansion of oil and gas," despite the widely-documented role such operations play in driving deadly global climate change, InfluenceMap said. It also analysed public statements by oil and gas executives, finding that several of them publicly blamed climate change policies or promoted US-produced energy as part of the solution to the energy crisis. But analysts told AFP in March that swings in energy prices in 2022 were due to a variety of factors, including a rebound in economic activity following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The counterfeits were smuggled in from China and stored at the houseware for retail distribution nationwide. The impounded lots, worth a total of Bt50 million, mostly included glasses, hats, and buckles, said DSI official, adding that a sum of Bt300 million was also sieged. Representatives of the brands' right holders were present at the announcement. Thailand has been stepping up the crackdown on fake brand products as they have a direct impact on the Thai economy, DSI Director-General Paisit Wongmuang.

The drop comes as the stock market flirts with its first bear market since the beginning of the pandemic. Mr. Musk, Tesla Inc chief executive and the world's richest man, currently has a net worth of $201 billion. On paper, he has lost $69.1 billion so far this year, the most of any billionaire currently on the top 50 list, according to the index. Mr. Bezos still has a net worth of $131 billion and Mr. Arnault is worth $123 billion. Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates is currently worth $116 billion but has lost $21.7 billion in wealth this year.

Cabinet approves 'We Travel Together' extensionฺBang Saen beach in Chon Buri is crowded with tourists during the Songkran holiday in April. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The cabinet on Tuesday approved the extension of the "Rao Tiew Duay Kan’" (We Travel Together) tourism stimulus campaign to cover an additional 1.5 million people. The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, approved the fourth-phase extension of the stimulus package, with the deadline extended from May 31 to Sept 30, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said. Before the cabinet meeting, Gen Prayut said the Finance Ministry and the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) were considering extending the We Travel Together scheme. Total expenditure from this phase was 8.4 billion baht, of which 7.1 billion baht was for hotel rooms, 1.25 billion baht for food and drink via vouchers, and the remainder for air tickets.

India to limit sugar exports in new risk to global food pricesFILE PHOTO: Vendors load sugarcane onto a vehicle at a wholesale market in Kolkata, India, Oct 9, 2018. India is expected to produce 35 million tons this season and consume 27 million tons, according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association. An export halt is likely to have a significant impact on the global sugar market given India is a major producer and exporter. Once shipments hit 9 million tons, exporters will have to apply for permits to send the remaining 1 million tons, the person said. An estimated 7.1 million tons have been shipped as of end-April, and another 800,000 to 1 million tons are likely to be exported in May, the industry group said last week.