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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019539

The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Tuesday seized assets worth over 100 million baht belonging to Kittkorn Inta, chief executive officer of P Miner Cryptocurrency Group Co Ltd.

The company, located in Muang district of Chiang Mai province, has been under investigation for allegedly running an online investment scam since January this year.

Chief of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division 1, Pol Maj-General Ronnachai Jindamuk, said the CCIB had received complaints from over 380 victims who had invested in the company’s cryptocurrency mining programmes, totalling more than 300 million baht, but had yet to receive any dividends as promised.

Ronnachai said the company was registered in February 2019 as a limited partnership engaged in domain registration with three partners — Kittkorn, his girlfriend and his brother. The company later expanded into the cloud rental business and since January 1, 2022 started inviting investments from people in over a dozen cryptocurrency mining programmes, each promising a different amount in profits.

“Kittkorn and his gang advertised the company on social media as a successful business, while posting photos of him driving sport cars and wearing luxury watches to attract the victims. Furthermore, they also posted evidence of donations to different charities to create a positive image,” said Ronnachai.

Police visited Kittkorn’s house in San Sai district of Chiang Mai on Tuesday, but he was not present. Officials then proceeded to seize five sports cars, luxury watches, title deeds of houses and lands, and over 10 saving accounts passbooks, all together worth more than 101 million baht.

Ronnachai said police are tracking down the three suspects who are still on the run. He was positive that they were still in the country.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019536

Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn discussed challenges in digital transformation with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) on Tuesday.

The discussion with Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, under-secretary-general of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of Escap was held at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district.

Chaiwut and Alisjahbana discussed the possibility of cooperation in information communication technology and digital technology between Thailand and Escap.

Both parties also exchanged ideas on the development of personnel for digital technology and cooperation to promote Thailand as an internet transmission hub in the Pacific region using internet exchange protocol.

The discussion also covered various projects related to digital transformation, such as Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway initiative, and the Asian and Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019531

A Lao man was left with serious injuries after an explosion ripped through a two-floor shophouse in Pattaya on Tuesday morning.

The 29-year-old victim, named only as Khith, was rushed to Pattaya Memorial Hospital after the incident in Bang Lamung district.

The explosion tore apart a Hainanese chicken rice restaurant on the ground floor and scattered kitchen equipment across the pavement.

Neighbouring shophouses also suffered damage in the blast.

Police cordoned off the scene and banned people from entering the shophouse over fear it may collapse. Officers picked through the wreckage and took photographs in a bid to trace the source of the accident.

Initial investigations pointed to a gas explosion.

Police estimated the damage at more than 1 million baht.

The building’s owner, named only as Paisan, 56, said he had rushed to the scene after getting news of the explosion.

He said that although the damage was severe, none of the gas cylinders stored at the restaurant had exploded.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019530

Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting did not consider relief measures for household electricity users, a source at Government House revealed.

The move was left off the agenda despite an earlier government pledge to soften impacts from rising fuel prices. However, the source speculated that power-bill relief measures would be discussed at next week’s Cabinet meeting.

Last week, Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said the Energy Policy Administration Committee that he chairs approved discounts for household electricity users amid a record rise in the cost of electricity. Over the next four months, the price of electricity will soar from 4 baht per unit to a record high of 4.72 baht.

The discounts, which are expected to last from September to December, will see electricity bills for households that use less than 500 units per month cut by between 15 to 75 per cent.

Households that use less than 300 units per month will get a discount of 0.9204 baht per unit, equivalent to the average fuel tariff (Ft) imposed this year.

The Ft is reviewed every four months, in January, May, and September by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), which adjusts its value to reflect the actual cost of generating electricity.

Supattanapong estimated the discounts will cost the government around 2 billion baht per month or 8 billion baht over the four months.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019521

Members of the Mon Jam community in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district blocked moves to demolish five resorts in their area on Monday.

Best known for its beautiful mountaintop viewpoint over the Mae Rim Valley and the floral orchard of its Royal Project farms, Mon Jam is about an hour’s drive from central Chiang Mai.

The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry is targeting five resorts, namely Lang Suan Homestay, Mon Daorueng, Mon Doo Dao, Mon Saengrawee and Saeng Nuea Camping, for allegedly encroaching on forestland.

The locals, however, say these resorts cannot be demolished because the case is still being considered at the Administrative Court.

They also say that the photographic evidence being used does not match reality. They have also vowed to submit a letter to the Mae Ram Subdistrict Municipality on Tuesday to officially oppose the demolition.

Prasert Methanankul, the operator of Saeng Nuea Camping, said he was ready to let the demolition go ahead if found guilty. He also said officials should wait for a court verdict as the land had been inherited by the residents.

Montree Plookpanya, director of Forest Resources Management Office 1’s forest protection division, said the demolition operation commenced on Monday as the five resorts violated the Forest Act. He added that 36 of 122 hotels in the community were in violation of the law.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019520

The Finance Ministry has said it is ready to guarantee a loan of up to 150 billion baht to boost the Oil Fuel Fund’s liquidity.

As of August 14, the fund had accumulated a deficit of 177.4 billion baht – 76.52 billion baht deficit in oil subsidy and 40.88 billion baht deficit in LPG gas subsidy.

The fund has been accumulating a monthly deficit of 20 billion baht from March to June owing to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

Krisada Chinavicharana, the Finance Ministry’s permanent secretary, said providing this guarantee will not create a burden on the ministry as the Oil Fund will be responsible for repaying its debts.

“The fund has many ways of managing its finances, so its debt-repayment potential is not worrisome,” he said, adding that the ministry has guaranteed a loan for the fund before.

He added that Thailand will have at least 550 billion baht in cash reserves at the end of fiscal 2022 on September 30.

In the first 10 months of fiscal 2022 (October 2021-July 2022), the government generated 2.03 trillion baht in revenue, up 5.8 per cent compared to the 2021 fiscal year.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019519

The Parliament has given the go-ahead to the 13th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2023-2027), which aims to make Thailand stable, prosperous and sustainable.

Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC), said on Monday that the plan will be submitted to His Majesty the King for review before it is announced on October 1.

He added that NESDC has included the sufficiency economy philosophy, UN Sustainable Development Goals and bio-circular-green economy in the plan.

“The plan focuses on five aspects, including innovation-based production structure, personnel development, sustainable production and consumption, as well as boosting the country’s potential in dealing with risks and changes,” he said.

He explained that the plan’s key performance indicators include:

• Boosting per capita income to US$9,300 or 300,000 baht compared to $7,097 or 227,000 baht in 2021.

• Boosting the human development index to 0.7209 compared to 0.6501 in 2020

• Reducing the income gap between the rich and poor to less than five times compared to 5.66 times in 2019.

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 per cent compared to 16 per cent in 2018.

Danucha said NESDC had set up development targets to ensure the plan can go smoothly, covering production and service, economic and social equality, and natural resource sustainability.

He added that the council will launch an online campaign on September 23 to build public awareness about the plan.

“The aim is to help Thailand have an advanced society and sustainable economy, which is a future everyone wants to see,” he said.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019511

Thailand is accelerating plans to become carbon neutral and achieve the net-zero emission target by 2050 and 2065 respectively, bringing its deadline forward from 2065 and 2090.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa announced this new plan at the ESG Declaration event held in Bangkok on Monday by the Bank of Thailand and the Thai Bankers’ Association.

The event was titled “ESG: Powering a Climate Resilient Economy and Path to Net Zero”.

“In November last year, we announced these goals at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland,” Varawut said. “Before COP26 kicked off, several ambassadors from the European Union met me to discuss the possibility of moving up Thailand’s deadline for becoming carbon neutral and net-zero.

“These countries proposed that if Thailand moves up the timeline, they would provide financial support as well as technology and knowledge necessary to achieve the new targets.”

Varawut said the government has adjusted its plans in line with the adjusted timeline. The first step will be to shift the target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 30 per cent to 40 per cent within 2030.

“This 10 per cent increase will require cooperation from all parties, as well as financial and technological aid from international communities,” he pointed out. “I am glad that the Bank of Thailand and the Thai Bankers’ Association will take part in this effort by reducing energy usage in business operations and transport, the two sectors that are responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

Varawut also urged the business sector to adopt the government’s BCG (bio, circular and green economy) model as a framework for business development that focuses on sustainability and efficient use of resources.

Businesses are also urged to adhere to ESG (environmental, social and governance) principles as a guideline to ensure that the organisation is making responsible investment and expansion plans.

“Investments should be made with environmental and social impacts in mind, not just a focus on profits alone. Sustainable growth does not create a burden on the environment and surrounding communities,” he said.

Varawut added that other measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that have been implemented so far include the promotion of electric vehicles, implementation of CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation and storage) technology across several industries, producing renewable energy from community and industrial waste, reducing methane emissions from the agricultural sector, using zoning system and increasing green spaces in both urban and rural areas.

“I have always believed in the potential of Thai people, and that if we work together, we can achieve these goals and overcome any crisis. Most importantly, I believe that tackling climate issues is no longer optional, it’s the only way to ensure our survival,” Varawut said.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

The black clouds blocking the sun on the eastern side of Greater Bangkok on Monday were cumulonimbus clouds or dense vertical clouds formed from condensation in the lower troposphere.

In a Facebook post on Monday evening, the Thai Meteorological Department said: “When cumulonimbus clouds move quickly, they could generate arcus clouds, or a low, horizontal cloud formation expanding from rain clouds and can be seen from several kilometres away.

“The rain clouds on Monday morning formed above Chachoengsao and moved east to cover the Greater Bangkok area. Their thickness blocked most of the light from the sun. The clouds were so thick and dark that the sky looked like it was night,” the post read.

Marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat put this cloud phenomenon to global warming.

“With oceans getting warmer, more vapour is being released into the air, which is forming thick clouds that hold a huge amount of water,” he said in a Facebook post. “These clouds are thicker than usual and could bring heavy downpours. Luckily, strong winds blew most of them away and we were left with light rain on Monday.

“This is just the start of the age of ‘extreme weather’ caused by decades of greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. “This year we have already seen it happen in Pakistan, where heavy rains for eight weeks have caused major floods that have killed more than 1,000 and displaced over 33 million.”

Thon, who is an assistant dean at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Fisheries, called on people to do their part in reducing global warming.

“The storm is drawing closer. We all know what to do, so we should do it as much as we can. Compared to what is coming, this little inconvenience is nothing we can’t handle,” he said.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/national/40019504

Anybody dumping oil into Bangkok sewers will be slapped with a fine of up to 10,000 baht, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt warned on Monday.

He was responding to photos shared on social media of a restaurant worker pouring leftover cooking oil into a manhole. Chadchart said initial investigation revealed that the restaurant was in Chatuchak district and officials have been deployed to find the offender and hit them with appropriate punishment.

“Article 33 of the 1992 Act on the Maintenance of the Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Country prohibits the dumping of garbage, wastewater or similar things onto public roads or sewers. Violators will be fined a maximum of 10,000 baht,” said Chadchart. “Furthermore, those who alert officials of the violation will be rewarded half of the fine.”

Chadchart said evidence of such violation can be delivered to city officials at the district office or via the Traffy Fondue application.

The governor also said that he met with district chiefs and representatives of hawkers to discuss zones for hawkers to sell their products. The following areas in three districts have been marked out for hawkers so far:

• Ratchathewi: Hua Chang bridge, Soi Rang Nam, Soi Senarak

• Bangkok Noi: Soi Saeng Suksa

• Dusit: Soi Sangkhalok (Vajira Hospital)

Chadchart said more areas will be considered to ensure hawkers have places to do their business while the city’s orderliness is maintained.

Published : August 30, 2022

By : THE NATION