Bangchak Gets Major Earnings Boost From Norway Venture As Fuel Prices Soar

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Bangchak gets major earnings boost from Norway venture as fuel prices soar

Bangchak Gets Major Earnings Boost From Norway Venture As Fuel Prices Soar

BY LINE : THE NATION

WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

Thailand’s Petroleum And Oil Conglomerate Bangchak Corporation (BCP) Is Reaping The Dividends Of Investing In Natural Resources In Norway, The Company’s Results Show.

In the first half of this year, 30 per cent of BCP’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation was attributed to investment in oil and gas exploration and production in the leading mid-to-late-life operator OKEA ASA on the Norwegian continental shelf.

BCP president and CEO Chaiwat Kovavisarach said OKEA is an important flagship for BCP to achieve its long-term strategy on energy security.

He added that OKEA has witnessed constant growth in the first half of this year, boosted by rising global fuel prices amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and increasing global demand.

“In the first half of this year, OKEA recorded 10.23 billion baht revenue from the sale of crude oil and natural gas, up 148 per cent from 4.13 billion baht in the previous year,” he explained.

Chaiwat, who is also OKEA chairman, said BCP is paying attention to maintaining the balance of fossil fuels and renewable energy as natural gas and oil will continue to be the world’s crucial source of energy for many decades.

He said the role that renewable energy will play in people’s lives will depend on the development of renewable energy storage systems.

“BCP is placing high emphasis on balancing the energy trilemma — energy security, energy affordability, and environmental sustainability,” he said.

He added that BCP will draw experience and skills from its investment in Norway as a model to expand investments in the exploration and production business to strengthen organisational stability throughout the supply chain.

Meanwhile, OKEA CEO Svein J Liknes said BCP shared the same objectives as the company on maintaining the balance of fossil fuels and renewable energy.

He added that the transition from fossil fuels and renewable energy must be made step by step based on technologies and investment budgets.

“The demand for gas and nuclear energy will soon replace coal,” he said, adding that trends in renewable energy will come around 2030 and 2035.

He also vowed to make full use of the company’s assets along with applying new technologies for long-term sustainability in energy.

Presently, OKEA has four oil fields in Norway, namely, Draugen (44.56 per cent stake), Gjoa (12 per cent), Yme (15 per cent), and Ivar Aasen (2.77 per cent).

OKEA is continually developing new oil fields, which will increase the company’s petroleum production to about 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day compared to the current of about 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by the end of this year.

In the first half of this year, OKEA’s production consisted of 61 per cent crude oil and 39 per cent natural gas, the latter being a critical component of the energy transition.

Council Of State Meets To Consider Telecom Watchdog’s Power Over True-Dtac Merger

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Council of State meets to consider telecom watchdog’s power over True-Dtac merger

Council Of State Meets To Consider Telecom Watchdog’s Power Over True-Dtac Merger

BY LINE : THE NATION

TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

The Government’s Council Of State Legal Advisers Met On Tuesday To Decide Whether The Telecom Watchdog Has Authority To Halt A Planned Merger Between True Corporation And Total Access Communication (Dtac).

The meeting heard testimony from a National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission representative.

The NBTC has deferred its decision on the planned True-Dtac merger pending legal advice from the Council of State.

The meeting came after a second request by the NBTC for the council to interpret its power to regulate the merger deal.

The first request was rejected by the Council of State on grounds that the NBTC did have the power according to law but also that the watchdog was being sued in the Central Administrative Court. The lawsuit, which was filed by Napat Winitchaikul, a member of a committee overseeing the telecoms watchdog, asked the court to order the NBTC to nullify its regulations on telecom mergers.

The Central Administrative Court rejected the lawsuit on grounds that the NBTC had power to halt any merger it deemed as a threat to fair competition.

The Council of State called Tuesday’s meeting in response to an order from acting Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, who was petitioned by the NBTC after the first request was refused, according to sources.

The NBTC sent two deputy secretary generals, Trairat Wiriyasirikul and Sutthisak Tantayothin, to testify at the meeting.

The meeting was chaired by Meechai Ruchuphan and attended by government legal experts Aree Wongaraya and Asa Meksawan.

Civil society groups including the Civil Group for Liberal Communications have urged the NBTC to uphold its duty to protect the public from monopolies and reject the merger.

However, True and Dtac have insisted that the NBTC has no power to reject the deal. They argue that the telecom watchdog can only issue measures to mitigate its impact on consumers.

Zelenskiy Pays Surprise Visit To Recaptured Town Of Izium In Northeast Ukraine

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Zelenskiy pays surprise visit to recaptured town of Izium in northeast Ukraine

Zelenskiy Pays Surprise Visit To Recaptured Town Of Izium In Northeast Ukraine

WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy Paid A Surprise Visit On Wednesday To The Newly Recaptured Town Of Izium, A Key Logistics Hub In The Northeastern Kharkiv Region, And Thanked His Army For Their Success In Retaking Territory From Russian Forces.

Thousands of Russian troops fled Izium at the weekend, leaving behind large amounts of ammunition and equipment, in their worst defeat since they were driven back from the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in March.

Commenting on the devastation he had seen in Izium, Zelenskiy said: “It’s not a shock for me… because we saw the same scenes as in Bucha… The same destroyed buildings and people killed.”

Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, was occupied for a short period of time by invading Russian forces. Ukraine and its Western allies have accused the Russian forces of perpetrating war crimes there, something Moscow denies.

Izium, which had a prewar population of about 50,000, is located on an important highway that runs from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second biggest city, to the eastern city of Sloviansk, seized by Russian forces in July.

Zelenskiy said in a late-night address on Tuesday that his army had now liberated around 8,000 square km (3,100 square miles) of territory so far this month, though Russia still holds about a fifth of Ukraine.

He has vowed to recapture all Ukrainian territory from Russian forces, including Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

“We will come. I don’t know when. Nobody knows when. But we have plans, so we’ll come because it’s our land and our people,” he said.

The Wealthiest Cities In The World In 2022

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The Wealthiest Cities in the World in 2022

The Wealthiest Cities In The World In 2022

WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

The USA Dominates The World’s Top 20 Cities With The Most Millionaires In 2022, With New York Taking The Crown With 345,600 Millionaires, And Five Other American Cities —­­ San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, And Dallas ­— Securing Places On The World’s Wealthiest Cities Ranking.

Tokyo is in 2nd place with 304,900 resident high-net-worth individuals worth over USD 1 million, and London, the wealthiest city in the world for many years, drops to 4th place below the San Francisco Bay Area with just 272,400 millionaires, according to the latest Henley Global Citizens Report, which tracks private wealth migration trends worldwide.

Two Chinese cities, Beijing (9th) and Shanghai (10th), make it into the Top 10, and Switzerland and Australia each manage to secure two top city spots, with Sydney (11th), Zurich (15th), Melbourne (17th), and Geneva (19th) all making the cut. Singapore (5th), Hong Kong (SAR China) (12th), Frankfurt (13th), Toronto (14th), Seoul (16th), and finally Paris, plummeting 3 places to 20th, make up the rest of the 2022 ranking. 

The report features exclusive data from global wealth intelligence firm New World Wealth, and includes the five wealthiest cities in each major region, and the 25 fastest growing cities in terms of millionaire growth.

Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, points out that 14 of the Top 20 are in countries that host investment migration programs. “The right to live, work, study, and invest in leading international wealth hubs such as New York, London, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto can be secured via residence by investment. Being able to relocate yourself, your family, or your business to a more favourable city or have the option to choose between multiple different residences across the world is an increasingly important aspect of international wealth and legacy planning for private clients.”

The millionaire populations of Dubai, Mumbai, and Shenzhen are expected to break into the Top 20 wealthiest cities by 2030, according to Andrew Amoils, Head of Research at New World Wealth. “Cities with strong oil and gas industries are performing especially well this year, including the likes of Riyadh, Sharjah, Luanda, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Lagos. Others on the fastest-growing list include Lugano, a Swiss hotspot for affluent retirees, Bengaluru, the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, and Hangzhou, one of China’s most scenic cities.”

Commenting on the latest Henley Global Citizens Report, José Caballero, Senior Economist at the IMD World Competitiveness Center, says “quality of life is a fundamental driver of global mobility, and for business executives, high living standards and effective institutions are significant city drawcards.”

Steffen agrees, saying “cities are centres of opportunity, innovation, prosperity, and culture. We’ve seen record growth this year, with more and more high-net-worth investors exploring investment migration solutions that offer location fluidity and optionality, enabling them to live and conduct their businesses across a wide range of different jurisdictions and cities.” 

PRNewswire/InfoQuest

UN Trying To Get Russian Ammonia To World Through Ukraine

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UN trying to get Russian ammonia to world through Ukraine

UN Trying To Get Russian Ammonia To World Through Ukraine

WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

The United Nations Is Trying To Broker A Resumption Of Russian Ammonia Exports Through Ukraine, A Western Diplomat Said On Tuesday, A Move That Could Stabilize A Landmark Deal Allowing Ukrainian Food And Fertilizer Shipments From Black Sea Ports.

Ammonia is a key ingredient in nitrate fertilizer. A pipeline transporting ammonia from Russia’s Volga region to Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odessa was shut down when Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Facilitating Russia’s food and fertilizer exports is a central aspect of a package deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey on July 22 that also restarted Ukraine’s Black Sea grain and fertilizer shipments. Russia has recently criticized the deal, complaining that its exports were still hindered.

The United Nations has proposed that ammonia gas owned by Russian fertilizer producer Uralchem be brought via pipeline to the Russia-Ukraine border. There it would be purchased by US-headquartered commodities trader Trammo, according to the proposal.

Trammo and Uralchem did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The pipeline is designed to pump up to 2.5 million tonnes of ammonia per year.

“The UN is pursuing all efforts to allow for a positive outcome on Russian ammonia exports to international markets,” said senior UN trade official Rebeca Grynspan, who leads the facilitation of Russian food and fertilizer exports.

She declined to comment on the specifics of the deal and said it was “too early to say” how close an agreement was. Grynspan said food and fertilizer were being exported from Russian ports.

Ukraine and Russia are both major global grain and fertilizer exporters. The United Nations said the agreement on Russian and Ukrainian exports is needed to tackle a global food crisis that it said had been worsened by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

An ammonia deal would give Russia more of a reason to stick to the Ukrainian Black Sea export deal. Russia and Ukraine declined immediate comment on the discussions.

Reuters

US Government Makes Contingency Plans For Rail Shutdown

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US government makes contingency plans for rail shutdown

US Government Makes Contingency Plans For Rail Shutdown

WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

President Joe Biden’s Administration On Tuesday Made Contingency Plans Aiming To Ensure Deliveries Of Critical Goods In The Event Of A Shutdown Of The US Rail System While Pressing Railroads And Unions To Reach A Deal To Avoid A Work Stoppage Affecting Freight And Passenger Service.

The potential shutdown, which could come as early as Friday, could freeze almost 30% of U.S. cargo shipments, stoke inflation, impede supplies of food and fuel, cost the U.S. economy about $2 billion per day and cause transportation woes.

Railroads including Union Pacific, Berkshire Hathaway’s BNSF, CSX and Norfolk Southern have until a minute after midnight on Friday to reach tentative deals with three hold-out unions representing about 60,000 workers.

If agreements are not reached, there could be union strikes or employer lockouts. But the railroads and unions also could agree to stay at the bargaining table or the Democratic-led U.S. Congress could intervene by extending talks or establishing settlement terms.

The Biden administration’s push comes as food, energy, automotive and retail groups implore Congress to intervene, saying a rail shutdown could threaten everything from global grain supplies to shipments of goods related to Christmas holiday shopping.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration is asking truckers and air shippers to assist should rail service cease and also is considering invoking emergency authorities. Jean-Pierre added that the administration is hosting daily interagency meetings to assess which supply chains and commodities are at the highest risk.

The White House has told railroads and unions that “a shutdown is unacceptable and will hurt American workers, families and businesses, and they must take action to avert it,” a White House official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

One key issue is ensuring the “continued distribution of vital hazardous materials that depend on rail transport, such as chlorine for water treatment plants,” this official added. Railroads on Monday stopped accepting shipments for hazardous materials such as chlorine and chemicals used in fertilizer so they are not stranded in unsafe locations if rail traffic stops.

The U.S. energy sector relies on railroads to move coal, crude oil, ethanol and other products.

Some railroads plan to impose additional restrictions that could impact food suppliers and online retailers that use intermodal services that connect ships, trains and trucks. BNSF, which serves the western United States, said it will stop accepting refrigerated intermodal cargo. Norfolk Southern, which serves the eastern United States, said it will stop accepting all intermodal shipments.

U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak, which uses tracks maintained by freight railways, is facing growing disruptions. Amtrak said it will cancel trains on seven more long-distance routes on Wednesday after it began cancelling trains on four long-distance routes on Tuesday.

US Fed Expected To Raise Rate By 100 Basis Points Next Week: Nomura

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US Fed expected to raise rate by 100 basis points next week: Nomura

US Fed Expected To Raise Rate By 100 Basis Points Next Week: Nomura

BY LINE : THE NATION

WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

Nomura Holdings Analysts Expect The US Federal Reserve To Raise The Interest Rate By 100 Basis Points Next Week After A Higher Than Expected Inflation Rate In August At 8.3 Per Cent.

Earlier, analysts from Nomura and other financial institutes estimated the Fed would hike the rate by 75 basis points during their September 20-21 meeting, which would be the third consecutive hike by 0.75 per cent since June.

Nomura had also estimated the Fed would hike rates again in November and December, at 0.50 per cent on both occasions, and then again by 0.25 per cent in February 2023.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that traders have been ramping up their 100-basis-point bets all day, since the US Labour Department earlier on Tuesday released a hotter-than-expected August Consumer Price Index report that looked destined to cement an aggressive stance by the Fed.

The CPI climbed 0.1 per cent last month from July and gained 8.3 per cent in the 12 months through August, the Labour Department reported.

Meanwhile, the basic CPI, which excludes food and energy, rose 6.3 per cent in August, higher than analysts’ 6.1 per cent estimation.

Meanwhile, CME Group’s FedWatch Tool stated investors weighted 22 per cent probability that the US central bank would hike the interest rates by 100 basis points to 3.25-3.5 per cent in its September meeting, and a 78 per cent probability that the rates would be raised by 75 basis points. Earlier, no investors had believed the rate hike would reach a full percentage point.

The Fed still has three policy meetings scheduled for this year – September 20-21, November 1-2, and December 13-14.

Queen’s Coffin Arrives At Buckingham Palace As Huge Crowds Line Route

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Queen's coffin arrives at Buckingham Palace as huge crowds line route

Queen’s Coffin Arrives At Buckingham Palace As Huge Crowds Line Route

WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

The Hearse Carrying The Coffin Of The Late Queen Elizabeth Arrived At Buckingham Palace On Tuesday Night, After Tens Of Thousands Of People Lined The Streets In Heavy Rain To Mark Its Arrival In The British Capital.

King Charles and members of the royal family received the coffin, which had travelled in the well-lit hearse driving slowly from a nearby airport through London, with crowds stood all along the route, some cheering, others throwing flowers, and many ditching their cars or running from nearby streets to catch a glimpse of the cortege.

Londoners took the opportunity to witness the queen’s final journey to her residence in London, Buckingham Palace.

“I’ve never been so close to the Queen and it’s like one last goodbye,” said Lilly Scott, 9, as she stood with her grandmother to witness the hearse.

Lynne Lloyd-Thomas had travelled to London from Oxfordshire with her son to mark the historic day.

“It’s history,” she said. “It’s just what I felt we should do, really.”

72-year-old Londoner Alexandra Jimmerson said she was glad to be part of the crowd that greeted the Queen, saying the country owed her so much.

Ardent royalist Chris Edington was also moved by the experience.

“It was powerful, that’s the word I’d use,” he said.

Princess Anne, the queen’s only daughter, travelled with the coffin, first from the remote castle in Balmoral to Edinburgh, where it was greeted by tens of thousands of mourners, and then as it was brought to London.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to accompany her on her final journeys,” Anne said in a statement.

“Witnessing the love and respect shown by so many on these journeys has been both humbling and uplifting.”

On Wednesday, the coffin will be taken on a gun carriage as part of a grand military procession to Westminster Hall, where a period of lying in state will begin until the funeral on Monday.

Members of the public will be allowed to walk past the coffin 24 hours a day until the morning of the funeral, which will be attended by dozens of world leaders including US President Joe Biden.

Elizabeth died peacefully on Thursday (September 8) in her holiday home at Balmoral Castle, in the Scottish Highlands, at the age of 96, plunging the nation into 10 days of national mourning.

The death of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch has prompted hundreds of thousands of people to gather at royal palaces across the country to express their condolences.

Just over five million people viewed Queen Elizabeth’s final flight on Tuesday, making the journey carrying the late monarch’s body from Edinburgh to London the most tracked flight in history.

Flight tracking website Flightradar24 said a total of 4.79 million people watched the flight live online, with a further quarter of million people watching it on its Youtube channel.

The company said an unprecedented six million people tried to follow the flight within the first minute of the Boeing C17A Globemaster turning on its transponder at Edinburgh’s airport, affecting the stability of the platform.

“Seventy years after her first flight as Queen aboard the BOAC Argonaut ‘Atalanta,’ Queen Elizabeth II’s final flight is the most tracked flight in Flightradar24 history,” Flightradar24 Director of Communications said in an email to Reuters.

Flightradar24 said the flight was more than twice the previous record of 2.2 million – when U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi flew on a controversial visit to Taiwan in August.

Najib Admitted To Hospital, 1MDB Trial Postponed

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Najib admitted to hospital, 1MDB trial postponed

Najib Admitted To Hospital, 1MDB Trial Postponed

TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak Was Admitted To Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) On Monday And May Be Referred To The National Heart Institute (IJN).

His lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah confirmed this when met by reporters after court proceedings in the 1Malaysia Development (1MDB) trial ended on Tuesday.

The lawyer had earlier told the High Court that Najib was suffering from fluctuating blood pressure and had to undergo several tests over the next few days to ascertain his condition.

The lawyer asked for the Tuesday hearing to be postponed as he was unable to obtain instructions as he was not allowed to visit Najib in hospital.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam did not object to an adjournment.

Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah then adjourned the proceedings to Wednesday afternoon for the court to be updated on the situation.

Yesterday, the court was informed that Najib was unwell due to a change in his blood pressure medication.

This caused the proceedings, which usually last a full day, to be shortened to a half-day session for Najib to seek medical attention.

Najib, 69, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.28 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The Star

Asia News Network

Cambodia Eyes Revamp Of Its Logistics Sector

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Cambodia eyes revamp of its logistics sector

Cambodia Eyes Revamp Of Its Logistics Sector

TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

Cambodia Is Exploring Options To Expedite Preliminary Studies On Key Public Railway Infrastructure Projects, Especially Converting The Northern Railway Line Into A High-Speed One. This Railway Line Links To Thailand.

Railway freight and passenger transportation have been pinpointed as potential engines of economic growth and employment opportunities as well as a magnet for inbound foreign investment.

Public Works and Transport Minister Sun Chanthol recently said feasibility studies are being done on modernising and upgrading the Phnom Penh-Poipet and Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville lines – also known as the Northern and Southern Railway Lines.

He also mentioned metro, monorail and automated guideway transit (AGT) options to reduce traffic congestion in Phnom Penh.

The minister had noted in April 2019 that a metro and AGT system would be the most expensive of the three choices.

Ministry undersecretary of state Vasim Sorya told The Post on September 12 that these and similar railway-related projects are in the study phase and that many procedures must be completed before a time frame for construction and development can be set.

Once the studies are completed, there are still discussions with ministry experts, inter-ministerial meetings, and the procurement of partners in addition to a substantial amount of funds, he said.

“The ministry is willing to get the study done as soon as possible, but everything takes time. The modernisation of the railway connecting Cambodia to Thailand is essential to prop up freight transportation as well as the tourism sector,” he said.

Logistics and Supply Chain Business Association in Cambodia (Loscba) president Chea Chandara said the transport sector is seeking development on all fronts – road, railway, waterways and air – to reduce the cost of logistics. He noted that railways are a popular option for moving large and heavy cargo.

“More long and high-speed railways will not only make it easier to transport goods, but also encourage investors to come and invest in Cambodia,” he said, adding that an adequate railway system would provide better access to the international market, and reduce the number of heavily loaded trucks on the road.

The Phnom Penh Post

Asia News Network