Author: Chalong Narkhirunkanok

State-owned Changan announced in April that it will invest 9.8 billion baht to manufacture 100,000 EVs per year at a plant in Rayong. Phumtham urged the automaker to participate in technology transfer to enhance Thailand’s domestic EV industry in three areas: supporting research and development, enhancing supply chain management, and fostering Thai automotive engineering talent. Changan has already established research centres in six other countries – China, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and Germany – collaborating with renowned global car brands like Ford, Mazda, Suzuki, and Peugeot. In Thailand, Changan will engage in research and development, manufacturing, support parts,…

BANGKOK (AP) — Armed resistance groups fighting Myanmar ‘s military government seized a district capital in the north Monday after taking state offices and a police station in a four-day offensive, according to residents, the country’s major opposition coalition and media reports. Kawlin in Sagaing region is the first administrative capital seized by the resistance forces in continuing strife since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Sagaing has been a stronghold of armed resistance to the army, which has responded with major offensives using ground troops supported by artillery and air strikes, burning down villages and…

Myanmar’s Cardinal Charles Maung Bo has called for ecological justice as Pope Francis plans to publish a second Laudato Sì’ (praise be to you,) next month. “This ecological injustice has robbed food from the plates of millions of children in poor countries and snatched water from their thirsty mouths,” Cardinal Bo, president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference, said on Sept.1 to mark the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. This year’s theme is “Let Justice and Peace Flow.” He said, “Farmers have lost their seeds and forests have lost their topsoil. Poor countries are strangled with an existential…

India is considering trading power with South-East Asian countries through Myanmar and Thailand, five sources briefed on the matter said, as New Delhi looks to use its growing renewables capacity to boost regional diplomatic engagement. The grid linkages, which an industry official said could take at least four years to complete, follow India’s effort to begin trading power with Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates. The sources, who also include four power ministry officials, declined to be identified as the previously unreported plan has not been made public. India’s federal power ministry did not immediately respond to…

Germany’s website dw.com has published an article describing Vietnam as one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia for its diverse landscapes, beaches, mountainous rice terraces and bustling cities. The article cited a report by Google Destination Insights which assessed that Vietnam was the 7th most searched destination from March to June this year, and the only country in Southeast Asia in the top 20. Bobby Nguyen, Chairman of Rustic Hospitality Group, a tour agency, said that the boost is coming mainly from Chinese, Indian and Korean tourists. “China has reopened the outbound market to Vietnam and the Indian market has grown since…

The Interim Executive Council of Karenni State (IEC) appealed to individuals of Myanmar origin residing worldwide, as well as international organizations, to extend their assistance in response to the escalating refugee crisis caused by the worsening conflict in Karenni (Kayah) State. U Banyar, a member of IEC said that Karenni refugees are currently facing a dire situation, making it imperative for expatriate Myanmar citizens and international organizations to provide urgent assistance. “I urge Myanmar citizens residing abroad and international organizations to deeply consider the critical circumstances confronting Karenni people. The Military Council’s deliberate obstruction of roads has made it arduous…

Amidst the global wave of the energy transition, Thailand is actively promoting its role as a leader in regional energy transformation. During the opening ceremony of the Future Energy Asia Exhibition and Summit here on Wednesday, Veerapat Kiatfuengfoo, Deputy permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry, expressed Thailand’s commitment to achieving a low-carbon economy through determined efforts and consistent policy measures. “We are scaling up our utilization of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower, by implementing various measures, including subsidies,” Veerapat said. Thailand has set ambitious targets of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 and achieving net-zero emissions by…

Vietnam on Thursday opened its first large-scale international defence exhibition, as the Southeast Asian country seeks to diversify its arms sources and also to export equipment, APA reports citing Reuters. The three-day event held at an airport in the capital Hanoi attracted 174 exhibitors from 30 countries, including the United States, Russia and European nations. The exhibition will help “diversify defence equipment procurement sources for the purpose of protecting the nation and the people amid rising conventional and unconventional challenges,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at the opening of the event. Officials and analysts said Vietnam is also eyeing a major defence…

In a cramped shophouse in one of Bangkok’s nondescript outer suburbs, a small group of volunteers feverishly pack leaflets in preparation for the daily ritual of canvassing for votes. This is the decidedly low-rent campaign headquarters in Bang Bon for Move Forward, the most radical party contesting this month’s general election in Thailand. Pacing among them is the parliamentary candidate, Rukchanok “Ice” Srinork, a 28-year-old woman brimming with energy. Ice’s team have bought cheap bicycles, and for weeks now they have been using them, in brutally hot weather, to reach out to residents in the smallest alleys of Bang Bon.…

Thailand’s economy slowed down in March compared with the previous month, as exports declined but the service sector continued to improve, driven by higher foreign tourist numbers, the central bank said on Friday. Economic activity is expected to have improved in April and exports should gradually get better along with a recovery in the economies of trading partners, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) said in a statement. In the first quarter, the economy continued to improve from the previous period, mainly due to the tourism sector which bolstered services and private consumption, the BOT said. Last month, the BOT trimmed…