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☆ Thai headline CPI rises 5.98% y/y in Oct, less than forecast
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BANGKOK, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Thailand's headline consumer price index (CPI) rose 5.98% in October from a year earlier, commerce ministry data showed on Monday, slightly lower than forecast. The rise follows September's 6.41% increase and was just shy of the 6.0% forecast in a Reuters poll. The core CPI index, which strips out energy and fresh food prices, was up 3.17% in October from a year ago, versus a forecast rise of 3.20%. "The inflation situation is slowing," senior commerce official Poonpong Naiyanapakorn told a briefing. Reporting by Kitphong Thaichareon and Satawasin Staporncharnchai, writing by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thailand's 'floating train' a big hit as dam waters rise
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LOP BURI, Thailand, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Tickets have been selling out fast in Thailand for rides on a special "floating train", where passengers have been enjoying the illusion of aquatic rail travel due to a post-monsoon rise in water levels. The route starts in the capital Bangkok and passes through the Pasak Jolasid dam in Lop Buri province six hours away on an elevated track just above the water level, which officials say has been unusually high this year. The train runs only at weekends between November and February and tickets have been sold out until New Year. "I've never seen anything like this before," said Bunyanuch Pahuyut, who was among 600 passengers who have travelled on the route on Sunday. Reporting by Jiraporn Kuhakan; Editing by Martin Petty and Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ To the sea: The final journey of a victim of Thailand's nursery massacre
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Dave Lucas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The chubby-cheeked girl with a toothy smile had dreamed of seeing the sea and playing in its waves. But on Oct. 6, Model and many of her classmates were murdered at their nursery by a former police officer, in the world's deadliest killing of children in recent years. Now, several weeks later, her family traveled to the coast to scatter her ashes. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha SEARCH "PERAWONGMETHA KILLINGS" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES.

☆ Atthaya Thitikul: Thai teen becomes second youngest women's world No. 1 golfer
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

In doing so Thitikul becomes the second youngest golfer to reach the summit of the women’s game. Already a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Thitikul is also only the second player – after Park Sung-hyun – to have reached the world No.1 slot in their rookie season. Henderson has since racked up eight wins on the LPGA Tour, her most recent coming at the LA Open in April 2021. She won her first LPGA Tour event in March 2022 at the JTBC Classic in Southern California (pictured), and in May, rose to No. 1 ranking in 2015, and today boasts 17 victories on the LPGA Tour.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The oldest prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay detention center was released and “reunited with his family” in Pakistan, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement Saturday. “We are glad that a Pakistani citizen detained abroad is finally reunited with his family,” the statement said. The Pentagon said in a statement Saturday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had “notified Congress of his intent to repatriate Saifullah Paracha to Pakistan” last month. Following Paracha’s release, 35 detainees remain in Guantanamo Bay and 18 have been cleared for release, according to Amnesty International. The most high-profile prisoner held at Guantanamo Bay prison is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.

BANGKOK, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A Thai celebrity media tycoon, transgender rights advocate and new owner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant wants to use the event to inspire women like her and boost tourism. She bought the Miss Universe Organisation on Wednesday for $20 million, marking the first time the beauty pageant organiser has been owned by a woman, her company said. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha 1 2 3 4She said Miss Universe can promote Thailand's Five F-factors tourism campaign, boosting fighting (Thai boxing), film, festival, fashion and food. “Every country - not just Thailand - will get tourism income when you are the (pageant) host country,” Jakapong said. Other plans for Miss Universe include licensing and merchandising opportunities, including integration with JKN’s own businesses like fashion, beverages and cosmetics.

☆ Economies in Asia have the tools to manage economic headwinds, U.S. deputy Treasury secretary says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( Su-Lin Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Thailand's finance minister, speaks at the meeting of finance ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Bangkok on Oct. 20, 2022. Andre Malerba | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAsian economies are well-equipped to withstand economic headwinds next year, the U.S. Treasury said following the conclusion of the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in Thailand last week. During the two-day meeting, finance ministers in Asia-Pacific also pledged not to adjust exchange rates for competitive purposes, recognizing that "excessive volatility or disorderly movements in exchange rates can have adverse implications for economic and financial stability." He added that U.S. legislation such as the CHIPS Act could help the region generate economic activity. "Ultimately I have come away from with a sense that the economies in this region have the tools to manage through the headwinds that they face": Wally Adeyemo Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

☆ We expect to see an improvement in our current account by the end of this year, says Thai minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe expect to see an improvement in our current account by the end of this year, says Thai ministerArkhom Termpittayapaisith, Thailand's finance minister, says the Thai baht is currently "quite weak" but it expects to see improvements in its current account by the end of 2022.

☆ U.S. Treasury's Adeyemo heads to APEC meeting with focus on trade, 'resilience'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Adeyemo, who has led work on U.S. sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, will represent the United States when the Asian Economic Cooperation (APEC) finance ministers meet in Bangkok on Wednesday and Thursday, Treasury said. He will also meet with Thailand's Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith. The newly relaunched G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and U.S. efforts to build up supply chains with trusted partners were also on the agenda. "While the U.S. economy remains resilient in the face of these headwinds, the Deputy Secretary will work with partners to increase resilience in their economies," it said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Amazon to boost Thailand cloud infrastructure with $5 bln investment
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 18 (Reuters) - Amazon Web Services (AWS),the cloud computing division of Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), said on Monday it plans to invest $5 billion in Thailand over the next 15 years to strengthen its infrastructure in the country. The investment would include construction of data centers and purchase of goods and services from regional businesses, AWS said in a statement. It also plans to set up an infrastructure hub in Thailand's Bangkok to help customers in the region securely store data, and serve end users better. AWS last month opened its first cloud data center in UAE and announced plans to setup a local hub in Mexico to boost bandwidth for clients. The edge locations help to deliver data, videos and applications at higher speeds to end users.

☆ Asia-Pacific markets trade mixed ahead of U.S. inflation data
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Abigail Ng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A man looks at an electronic quotation board displaying stock prices on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on August 2, 2022. Shares in the Asia-Pacific were mixed on Thursday as investors await inflation data from the U.S. due later stateside. The Nikkei 225 in Japan was fractionally lower and the Topix was down 0.28%. Japan's yen strengthened in Asia's morning after touching 146.98 per dollar. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was just above the flatline.

☆ Thai industrial sentiment at near 3-year high in Sept on tourism rebound
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said its industries sentiment index rose to 91.8 in September from 90.5 in the previous month. Sentiment was also boosted by a weak baht , which hovered at 16-year low against the dollar, FTI chairman Kriengkrai Thiennukul said in a statement. An index that projects industrial sentiment over the next three month increased to 101.8 in September from 99.5 in August. "Entrepreneurs see the economy improving steadily mainly on a pick-up in tourism, but higher costs remain a risk," Kriengkrai said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Kitphong Thaichareon, Satawasin Staporncharnchai Editing by Ed DaviesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thai rate hikes to be gradual, inflation to stay high through 2022 -c.bank minutes
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BANGKOK, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Thailand's rate committee raised its key interest rate late last month and noted that headline inflation was set to remain high through 2022, minutes of the meeting showed on Wednesday. Policy normalisation should be done in a gradual and measured manner consistent with the outlook for growth and inflation, the minutes said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterHeadline inflation would remain at a high level through 2022 and the outlook would still be subject to upside risks, the minutes said. The committee felt that potential labour shortage could affect the economic recovery and create upward pressures on wages in some business sectors, the minutes said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Orathai Sriring Editing by Ed DaviesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

For several nights the sound of 34-year-old Panya Khamrap’s 9 mm pistol cracked the silence in the sleepy village of Tha Uthai, neighbours said. Another neighbour said that days before his rampage the village chief warned Panya about his behaviour. They argued and the village chief was afraid, said the neighbour, Suwan Tonsomsen. Another neighbour told Reuters he had seen Panya's mother with his degree certificate. Teachers in the nursery had put the children down for their nap by the time Panya arrived at around 12:30 p.m.

☆ Extreme piercings put devotees in soul-cleansing trance at Thai festival
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A medium woman with her mouth pierced is portrayed while in trance at the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket Town, Thailand, October 2. Worshippers on Thailand's Phuket island have celebrated a nine-day Taoist festival, with many piercing their...moreA medium woman with her mouth pierced is portrayed while in trance at the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket Town, Thailand, October 2. Worshippers on Thailand's Phuket island have celebrated a nine-day Taoist festival, with many piercing their faces with metal spikes and walking on hot coals to show devotion to deities. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaClose

☆ Ritual piercings mark annual Taoist festival in Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A medium man with his mouth pierced is portrayed while in trance during the Kathu Shrine procession amidst celebrations of the annual vegetarian festival, observed by Taoist devotees from the Thai-Chinese community in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, in Phuket Town, Thailand October 3, 2022. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaPHUKET, Thailand Oct 4 (Reuters) - Worshippers on Thailand's Phuket island have celebrated a nine-day Taoist festival, with many piercing their faces with metal spikes and walking on hot coals to show devotion to deities. The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, which was suspended during the coronavirus pandemic, drew thousands of people from the ethnic Chinese community, who marched from a temple in traditional costume. Devotees, who abstain from sex, alcohol, and meat during the festival, say the piercings symbolise repentance for sins and is meant to ward off evil spirits. The piercing is believed to have been influenced by the Indian Thaipusam festival.

☆ Myanmar beauty queen lands in Canada after Thai airport limbo
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Wa Lone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TORONTO, Sept 28 (Reuters) - A Myanmar beauty queen, who had spoken out against military rule in her country and became stranded at Thailand's airport, said she was relieved but remained defiant after landing in Toronto on Wednesday. Han Lay captured global attention last year with her pageant speech on the army's deadly suppression of anti-junta protests. "I am always a supporter for Myanmar democracy; I will always support it as much as I can." Thai immigration officials denied her entry last week following a brief visit to Vietnam, saying she was using invalid travel documents. A Human Rights Watch director said Myanmar's military rulers were using control over passports as a weapon against citizens' right to travel internationally.

☆ GCash, other Asian e-wallets to expand into S.Korea with Ant's Alipay+
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/BEIJING, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Ant Group (688688.SS) said on Monday it would help four Asian e-wallets, including the Philippines' GCash and Malaysia's Touch'n Go expand into South Korea with its cross-border payment service Alipay+, as travel restrictions begin to lift across Asia. Launched in 2020, Alipay+ provides services and technology tools to global merchants and e-wallets that enable them to offer their users the ability to make payments in overseas markets with their local e-wallets. Earlier this month, south korea ended pre-departure COVID-19 test requirement for overseas travellers, in step with Japan and other countries that also removed it. In June, Alipay+ had enabled Malaysia's Touch'n Go users to pay with the e-wallet in Singapore. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Yingzhi Yang and Brenda Goh; Editing by Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thai Aug exports rise 7.5% y/y, slightly lower than forecast
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Anant Chandak | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterA view of the port of Bangkok, Thailand May 26, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo GLOBAL BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD PACKAGE - SEARCH BUSINESS WEEK AHEAD SEPTEMBER 26 FOR ALL IMAGES/File PhotoBANGKOK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Thailand's customs-based exports rose 7.5% in August from a year earlier, the commerce minister said on Monday, slightly lower than analysts' expectations. That compares with a forecast rise of 7.7% for August in a Reuters poll, and after July's 4.3% increase. In the January-August period, exports rose 11% year on year, Jurin Laksanawisit told a news conference. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Satawasin Staporncharnchai Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thai economy improving but household debt a problem - FinMin
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterBANGKOK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Thailand's economy is improving but the country is facing issues with people's debt and the government will seek to ease problems in the longer term, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on Monday. Support would include new funding and debt restructuring Arkom said. Household debt in Thailand was about 89% of gross domestic product at the end of March, one of Asia's highest rates. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Satawasin Staporncharnchai; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Daughter of Thailand's exiled ex-PM Thaksin leads opinion poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterOusted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a bloodless 2006 coup, poses with his daughter Paetongtarn during her graduation day at a Bangkok university July 10, 2008. REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom (THAILAND)/File PhotoBANGKOK, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The daughter of Thailand's ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and lives in self-imposed exile, has emerged as a leading candidate for premier in a preliminary opinion poll ahead of elections due next year. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) poll surveyed 2,500 people nation-wide from Sept. 15 to 21. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, known by the nickname "Ung Ing", is an executive in the pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai party and began appearing at party rallies earlier this year. Pheu Thai topped the opinion poll as the favourite party of 34.4% of respondents, followed by "no party" at 24% and the youth-oriented opposition Move Forward party with 13.6%.

☆ Myanmar beauty queen in Thai airport limbo, fears arrest at home
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Jiraporn Kuhakan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Han Lay, Miss Grand Myanmar looks on during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand, April 2, 2021. The events management team that works with Han Lay said they hoped she could reenter Thailand. Interpol told Reuters on Friday there was "no Red Notice for this person" after Han Lay and her manager claimed she was the subject of the organisation's highest alert level for an individual. In a Facebook post, Han Lay said Myanmar police were at Bangkok's airport seeking to meet her, but she refused and had contacted the United Nations refugee agency. Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch said in a Tweet that Thai authorities should grant Han Lay protection and "under no circumstances" return her to Myanmar.

☆ Thailand denies entry to model who denounced Myanmar junta in pageant speech
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Han Lay, Miss Grand Myanmar looks on during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand, April 2, 2021. Han Lay, who captured international attention last year with a moving beauty pageant speech calling for urgent help for Myanmar's people during a military crackdown, did not have a valid visa to enter Thailand, the immigration department said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterNawit Itsaragrisil, founder of Thailand's Miss Grand International pageant, who also represents Han Lay, said she had been in the transit area of a Bangkok airport since Wednesday afternoon. He said Han Lay was stopped on arrival because she was subject of an Interpol notice. Interpol did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Han Lay was the subject of an Interpol notice.

☆ YouTube considered entering China and bowing to the government's censorship rules, book says
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Tom Dotan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

YouTube discussed launching the site in China but later abandoned the idea, a new book says. YouTube and Google do not currently operate in mainland China. Google and YouTube employees debated whether to launch in China not long after Google bought the site in 2006 for $1.65 billion. After Google bought YouTube, the company struggled to figure out how to launch around the world. It was also an indication that moderating content would be a never-ending struggle for YouTube and its new parent company.

☆ China had a plan to dominate tech and become the world's most powerful country. It's all gone wrong.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-08 | by ( Linette Lopez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Semiconductor chips are the tiny brains that power our technological world, from cars and cellphones to fighter jets and advanced missile systems. Right now China is awash in money for tech, but you need the right people and customers that trust you. Why China needs the chipsThe Chinese economy is big, but it isn't wealthy. In other words, China needs a more lucrative line of business the same way someone with credit-card debt needs a raise. The Made in China 2025 plan lays out a goal for domestically manufactured chips to meet 70% of China's semiconductor needs within three years.

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