The Bangkok Post
Energy market opens up
Thailand has resumed liberalising its energy sector, opening it up to competition again after a decade of policy hiatus when global oil prices were well over US$100 a barrel. During this period, the costs of electricity and gas for the people were heavily subsidised by ...
Malaysia reports 'highly pathogenic' bird flu
Malaysia has reported an outbreak of a highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus in the eastern part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health said on March 8, citing a report from the Malaysian agriculture ministry. The strain was confirmed among chickens at ...
Songkhla wants visa rules eased
The Songkhla tourism industry has cried foul over the government’s new entry regime that restricts land arrivals from two key source markets, Singapore and Indonesia. The Tourism Council of Songkhla has expressed concerns over the possible drop in arrivals from the two countries, especially during ...
Top private sector group predicts 3.5-4% GDP growth
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking has kept its key economic forecasts unchanged, citing threats of external risks that could impede recovery. Chen Namchaisiri, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, who chaired the JSCCIB meeting on March 7, said these factors ...
Farmers flout crop warnings
Farmers in the Central Plains provinces are planting more off-season rice crops than allowed at their own peril, a senior irrigation officer warned. Bowdaeng Takaew, head of the Ayutthaya Irrigation Project, said many farmers in the Central region have refused to cooperate with authorities and ...
Shelters offer hope to the homeless
After living under Rama VIII Bridge for more than eight years, a 54-year-old disabled man grasped the chance for a new start. He walked with crutches to a vehicle that would take him to a state-run shelter where he was promised food, basic necessities and ...
Geologists die in tunnel cave-in
The deaths of two young geologists may have been caused by a fragile layer of rocks in a freshly built tunnel caving in, causing a large rock to fall and crush them, engineers say. The incident in Mae Taeng district occurred as Pratyawat Wasu-anant, 24, and ...
Govt pushes Krabi coal plant forum
The government has pressed ahead with its plan to improve the public’s understanding about new environmental and health impact assessments needed for the Krabi coal-fired power plant project, saying a forum have to be organised within a month from now. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon assigned agencies ...
BoT governor: Thailand assets a safe haven
Foreign investors are parking money in Thai assets in the short run because they see the baht as a safe haven backed by solid foreign reserves amid global market fluctuation, the central bank chief says. But the Bank of Thailand has instruments up its sleeve ...
Anti-coal group issues deadline to halt EHIA
Authorities have until Monday to withdraw the environmental and health impact assessment studies for the controversial Krabi power plant project or brace for a major protest, a group opposing the project warns. Prasitthichai Nunual, key coordinator of Save the Andaman from Coal network, said the ...