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
Florida residents prepare for Hurricane Milton's arrival
Florida residents are bracing for the storm, filling sandbags as Hurricane Milton is forecast to rapidly intensify and become a major hurricane on Monday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said on Sunday (October 6).
Source:Bangkok Post
October 07, 2024 06:33 UTC
Tough days for PM
Tough days for PMListen to this articleAfter just a month in public office, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is facing growing political pressure. In response, Ms Paetongtarn has expressed disappointment, urging critics to give her government time, having only been in office for a month. According to the latest quarterly poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida), Ms Paetongtarn now leads the pack. However, being the daughter of Thaksin, Ms Paetongtarn cannot escape the political scrutiny that has followed her every step. Numerous complaints have been filed against both Ms Paetongtarn and the Pheu Thai Party, calling for investigations into their qualifications and ethical standards.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 07, 2024 05:46 UTC
Vietnam quarterly growth hits 2-year high on exports, investment
Gross domestic product grew 7.4% year-on-year in the third quarter, surpassing the second quarter's revised 7.09% expansion, the government's General Statistics Office said in a report. "The world economy is stabilising as global trade in goods improves, inflationary pressures ease, financial conditions continue to loosen and labour supply increases," the statistics office said. "The storm brought an end to a period of strong growth in the sector," said Andrew Harker, director at S&P Global Market Intelligence. Consumer prices in September rose 2.63% from a year earlier, the statistics office said in its Sunday report. This year's growth is "supported by continued strong external demand, resilient foreign direct investment, and accommodative policies", the IMF said in a report.
Source:Bangkok Post
October 06, 2024 16:45 UTC
Northeastern Thailand's culinary: Taste of Kaen
"Taste of Kaen" is part of the "Made in Khon Kaen" program, promoting culinary tourism through ingredient stories. Enjoy dishes like Pa Ped, a raw beef salad with fermented rice sausage, and Pa Tum, a yam bean salad. The meal features Khao Hang Fai rice and ends with sato-poached guava, showcasing Khon Kaen's culinary heritage.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2024 02:02 UTC
Man ‘poisoned’ friend for insurance cash
Mr Patipat acted on behalf of Chonlada’s family after the tragedy. On Aug 1 he raised the amount to 1 million baht but police refused the offer. They reported the matter to a supervisor and Mr Patipat was charged with bribery. Police subsequently found that Chonlada had four life insurance policies worth 11 million baht and listed Mr Patipat as the beneficiary. Following his arrest this week, Mr Patipat initially denied any involvement and claimed he and the victim were high-school friends, and she trusted him to take care of her son.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 09, 2024 21:00 UTC
People’s Party sets sights on victory in 2027
(Photo: Apichart Jinakul)All 143 members of parliament from the court-dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP) joined their new political home on Friday, renamed the People’s Party. “We will continue to push for the improvement and fixing of this law, which is still problematic.”The Move Forward Party's Facebook page changed its name and logo to 'People's Party' on Friday. His selection came as a surprise to many political observers, who had expected Move Forward deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun to move into the leadership. Ms Sirikanya will remain deputy leader of the People’s Party. The People’s Party is planning a series of events on Saturday to introduce itself to the public, at Stadium One in the Sam Yan area of Bangkok, from 10am to 8pm.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 09, 2024 16:53 UTC
Unemployment hits 9-month high
The group’s calculation is based on registered workers under Section 33 of the Social Security Act, which refers only to employees who had been working for companies. The outlook is bleak for blue-collar Thai workers as factories have reduced shifts or laid off workers, while some other plants have shut down permanently, said Tanit Sorat, the vice-chairman of EconThai. “The Thai economy is slowing down. According to EconThai, the unemployment rate of 2% is higher than the number provided by the National Statistical Office (NSO), which reports an unemployment rate of only 0.9%. “The 0.9% rate does not reflect realistic data, as it suggests Thailand has the third-lowest unemployment rate in the world, which seems improbable,” said Mr Tanit.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 09, 2024 16:39 UTC
Ex-MFP MPs set to face ethics probe
NACC secretary-general Niwatchai Kasemmongkol said the commission has found grounds to proceed and ordered an inquiry against the 44 MFP MPs who supported the bill. Once finished, he said the 44 MPs in question will be summoned to clarify the allegations against them. "Using the Constitutional Court ruling alone [as a basis for the investigation] won't be fair to the accused," he said. The investigation will be thorough, taking all facts and legal aspects into consideration, he said, before adding the Constitutional Court ruling will be taken into consideration. He claimed the Constitutional Court rulings could be used as evidence and the NACC does not necessarily have to conduct an investigation.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 09, 2024 02:41 UTC