Thirat said the loan amount would be THB30 billion, in line with the projected spending for fiscal year 2022 as planned by the Public Debt Management Office. He said the Finance Ministry would borrow the full amount of THB30 billion but the Oil Fuel Fund would be topped up as required. “The talks should be finalised this month. After we get the loan, we will gradually distribute it to the fund to boost its liquidity,” Thirat said.

Performers dressed in traditional Thai warrior costumes bang drums to kick off City Hall's campaign on Monday to encourage voters to turn out for the elections for Bangkok governor and city councillors on May 22. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) kicked off a campaign on Monday to encourage eligible city residents to cast their votes in the governor election set for May 22. City clerk Khachit Chatchawanit, who led the launch of the campaign at City Hall, said all 50 districts will launch their own activities aimed at attracting a large voter turnout to elect a new governor and city councillors. Eligible voters must be at least 18 years of age on election day. The former deputy Bangkok governor said the BMA's annual budget of around 80 billion baht may sound like a lot of money.

The rainy season will last from mid-May to mid-October, according to the Thai Meteorological Department. "The ministry also asked the Rice Department to seek effective rice species, and the Commerce Ministry to find new markets, such as in the Middle East," he added. Thailand has 19.95 billion cubic metres of water reserved for the rainy season, higher than the targeted 15.55 billion cubic metres. The rainy season is expected to bring lower rainfall between June and July and heavy rain from August and September, he said. "The department is cooperating with provincial agencies to monitor the water situation and prepare equipment, such as water pumps, excavators and tractors," he added.

NEA director Nanthaphong Jiralertphong said this week that NEA and DITP have together pioneered the use of AI and Big Data technologies to analyse markets in various countries including China, Vietnam, Singapore, Laos and Cambodia. “The project revealed that Thai entrepreneurs are in need of in-depth data on foreign markets in order to develop products that suit the needs of consumers in those countries,” he added. “In 2020, NEA will start developing our own platform of AI and Big Data Analytics to analyse consumers’ behaviours and market trends in specific areas with real-time updates, focusing mainly on the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) and China,” he said. “The product groups that will most benefit from this programme are processed agricultural produce, health and beauty, gifts, and other consumer products.”Nanthaphong further explained that the data analytics module will be combined with the design thinking process to analyze consumers’ behaviors, market trends and cultural preferences and cross reference these with products’ characteristics. “NEA will then use this information to formulate strategic plans for each product and market, enabling Thai entrepreneurs to plan their manufacturing and exports accordingly.”Further information can be found at https://nea.ditp.go.th and www.ditp.go.th or by calling the hotline at 1169.

Supranee Couptasa, manager of the Sports Development Fund, said Prince Fahd vowed to promote Muay Thai on the international stage over the next two years to enhance chances of an Olympic debut. The Saudi royal’s visit had helped strengthen the relationship between Thailand and Saudi Arabia's sports authorities, she said. Prince Fahd has a personal passion for Thailand's national sport and aims to boost its popularity in Saudi Arabia, she added. "Prince Fahd also wants to promote Muay Thai, as well as its ceremonies and techniques, via international competitions – including the Olympic Games,” Supranee said.

(Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)There were 55 more Covid-19 fatalities and 6,488 confirmed new cases during the previous 24 hours, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported on Monday. This compared with the 54 coronavirus-related fatalities and 8,081 new cases reported on the previous day. Since the pandemic started in early 2020, there have been 4,331,338 Covid-19 cases, including 2,107,903 this year, with 4,217,238 complete recoveries to date. Global Covid-19 cases rose by 302,546 in 24 hours to 517.26 million. The United States had the most cases at 83.58 million, up 14,008, and the most deaths at 1.02 million, up 21.

The cannabis grown must be of medical grade and used for medicinal purposes only. Anutin announced the move on Sunday, in a Facebook post that also outlined the separate benefits of commercial cultivation. It is currently legal in Thailand for registered companies to sell cannabis products with less than 0.2 per cent tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the psychoactive compound in marijuana that gets people “high”. Anutin explained that people could also operate cannabis-related businesses and enterprises under the new rules. "Meanwhile, people can showcase their cannabis and hemp-related products and wisdom and sell their products nationwide."

Arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport on May 1, 2022, following the scrapping of the RT-PCR test requirement for vaccinated travellers. However, after the pre-travel RT-PCR test requirement was removed in April, the monthly arrival figure skyrocketed to 382,212. Charoen Wangananont, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, said outbound travellers this year would not reach 1 million. Most tour operators remain closed, while active companies struggle to maintain profit amid inflation, he said. Tour operators returning their licences from January to April this year accounted for 559 companies, down from 706 during the same period in 2021.

Food shipments to grow 5%Traders arrange durians into batches at Simummuang market in Pathum Thani. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul)Thai food exports are expected to grow by 5% this year after robust growth of 26% in the first quarter, driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and mounting concerns about food shortages in many countries. Visit Limlurcha, honorary president of the Thai Food Processors Association, said the war triggered growing concerns about food security in many countries, leading importers to accelerate food shipments to avoid a shortage. Food exports generated 324 billion baht in the first quarter," said Mr Visit. Of the total, industrial food products made up 187 billion baht, up 40.5% year-on-year, while agricultural food products accounted for 138 billion, a gain of 10%.

Blooming shame: Pandemic, Ukraine war hurts orchid industryFarmer Somchai Lerdrungwitacha inspects orchids at his orchid farm in Nakhon Pathom province on April 7, 2022. But times are tough: Mr Somchai has been dipping into his savings for two years to keep paying his 50-odd employees. Adding to his woes are dramatically falling sales: pre-pandemic China bought 270 million orchid stems annually from Thailand -- a figure that dropped to 170 million last year. Before the pandemic, the company was delivering 3.6 million orchids a month to China, Japan, Vietnam and the United States. Now, only 1.2 million flowers leave the warehouse, and he has had to let go of half of his staff.

The store’s owner Sittichok Pao-in said on Sunday that this is the second year the handout has been organised. A similar event was held last year when many parents donated old school uniforms to help out. “The store is accepting old uniforms to help other children,” he said.

Sutthipong said that though the date for the third phase has not been set, it will offer 10,000 rights and people should be able to register for it in June at participating air-conditioner shops. Meanwhile, the regulations for registering for the Phase 2 are:• One right per household to clean one air-conditioner• Applicable only for a wall-type air-conditioner with a capacity of no more than 24,000 BTU. • Those who have used their right under Phase 1 are ineligible. What is required:• Identification card• An electricity bill for any month in 2022The spokesman said those who win the right can make an appointment for the aircon cleaning service at the site of registration. People who have used up their rights in either of the two phases cannot register for the third phase.

CASSIDY ARAIZA/nytThe hardy cactus -- fond of heat and aridity, adapted to rough soils -- might not seem like the picture of a climate change victim. The study looks at 408 cactus species, or roughly one-quarter of all known cactus species, and how their geographic range could shift under three different trajectories for global warming in this century. "There are a lot of these tipping points and thresholds that are very fragile and responsive to changes in the environment, land use and climate change." There's no real reason, so we think it might be climate change." "As adaptation is a slow process and current climate change is occurring rapidly, it is likely that many species will be lost."

Southeast Asia stock markets stand out as geopolitical heaven for investorsA computer monitor displays passengers’ body temperatures and face masks as they walk through a screening checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi airport on April 29, 2022. Foreign funds have been net buying Southeast Asia shares every month of this year, with total inflows of US$10 billion so far, Bloomberg-compiled data show. The broader Southeast Asia gauge is on track to outperform the MSCI All Country World Index for a second straight quarter. The impact of any policy tightening will at least seep through to earnings for financial firms, which make up almost 40% of the Southeast Asian benchmark. International investors’ rotating out of China allocations “has indirectly benefited select Southeast Asian markets,” said Sid Choraria, global equities portfolio manager at SC Asia.

Brands are going viral with Facebook adverts showcasing the “ordinariness” of their products – defying Thailand’s obsession with luxury and exclusivity. The trend took off on Friday when Thai apparel manufacturer Double Goose flew in the face of advertising wisdom by showcasing its "ordinary" shirts for ordinary people's needs. Thai shoe manufacturer Nanyang quickly jumped aboard the honesty bandwagon, replying that its shoes were "ordinary" as well.