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Digital Ministry holds Anti Fake News Center operational meeting

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BANGKOK (NNT) – The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has held a brainstorming workshop with some 200 agencies to enhance the operations at Anti Fake News Center, after the center has so far received verification requests for some 500,000 messages online.

The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) Permanent Secretary Ajarin Pattanapanchai has presided over the opening ceremony of the Anti Fake News Center operational workshop participated by some 200 government agencies and private companies.

The workshop is aimed to promote the roles of the government’s Anti Fake News Center’s coordinators on the publishing of verified contents, and train participants on highly-efficient fake news management.

Since the establishment on 1 November this year, the government’s Anti Fake News Center has received requests to verify the accuracy of 482,077 messages, Most of these messages are related to health claims at 63.2 percent, government policies at 21.8 percent, economy at 14.2 percent, and disasters at 0.8 percent.

This figure reflects good feedback the general public have with the center. The sheer amount of requests mean the center must improve effectiveness of its fake news management, coordination protocols, and notification tools through the center’s system.

The MDES permanent secretary said the main objectives of the Anti Fake News Center is to allow the general public, who could be affected from misinformation, to be able to verify the information they receive within 2 hours, and to prevent the sharing of inappropriate information. The center is equipped with capable staff, and technologically advanced systems including artificial intelligence (AI).

The center operates 24-hour monitoring of online content. With the goal to reduce the spread of fake news in the society, the center will be engaging with all sectors and help raise public awareness in order to improve online media literacy in the society.

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Trump might lose the US–China trade war

The US–China trade war originated from US President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ agenda.

It is the centrepiece of his administration’s challenge to multilateralism and reflects the country’s failure in global leadership. Alas, Trump’s trade war is destined to fail. The trade war is based on an overestimation of the damages […]

Author: Yan Liang, Willamette University

The post Trump might lose the US–China trade war appeared first on Thailand – China.

Read the complete story on Thailand-China Business News

UNESCO adds Bangkok and Sukhothai to Creative Cities Network – Tourism

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has designated Bangkok and Sukhothai among 66 new ‘Creative Cities, thus bringing the total number of UNESCO Creative Cities in Thailand to four.

UNESCO announced on 30 October that Bangkok was designated as a ‘Creative City of Design’ and Sukhothai as a ‘Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art’. The UNESCO Creative Cities Network now totals 246 cities, including Phuket which was named a ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ in 2015 while Chiang Mai was named a ‘Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art’ in 2017.

According to UNESCO, the member cities that make up the network are on all continents and regions with different income levels and populations.

They work together towards a common mission: placing creativity and the creative economy at the core of their urban development plans to make cities safe, resilient, inclusive and sustainable, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“All over the world, these cities, each in their own way, make culture the pillar, not an accessory, of their strategy,” said UNESCO Director-General Mrs. Audrey Azoulay in UNESCO’s announcement. “This favours political and social innovation and is particularly important for the young…

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Consumer protection agency has 21 retailers sign MOU to improve…

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BANGKOK (NNT) – Major retail stores and department stores in Thailand have signed on with the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to present high-quality items at promotional prices for New Year’s gift baskets.

The Prime Minister’s Office Minister and OCPB Chairman, Tewan Liptapallop, presided over the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be in effect this New Year’s period. A total 21 of retail stores, department stores and gift basket makers joined in the agreement created by the OCPB to aid citizens doing their holiday shopping.

Baskets by participating sellers will bear the logo of the retailer, a list of items within the basket and expiry dates for all goods. Items in baskets are required to have an expiry date no less than six months from the end of this year. The baskets will include a message “Unsatisfied Customers Can Exchange or Return This Basket”.

Hampers under the agreement will be presented in their own area. They will be available at retailers, such as Mae Fah Luang, Robinson, Big C Super Center, Makro and Tops Supermarket.

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China’s COSCO Invests in Largest Greek Port With Expansion Plans for Biggest European Port

Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced an agreement for Chinese state-owned shipping firm COSCO to invest and expand the Port of Piraeus into Europe’s largest port. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife landed in Athens on Nov. 10 for a state visit between the countries. The visit culminated with the signing of an agreement for China […]

The post China’s COSCO Invests in Largest Greek Port With Expansion Plans for Biggest European Port appeared first on Thailand – China.

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Industry Ministry calls first meeting on substitutes for Paraquat on 27th November

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BANGKOK (NNT) – The Hazardous Substances Committee has issued import and distribution ban for Paraquat, Glyphosate, and Chlorpyrifos, requiring related agencies to find substitutes for these chemicals previously used as pesticides by farmers. The first meeting of such will be taking place on this 27 November.

The Minister of Industry Suriya Jungrungreangkit revealed he has ordered the Ministry of Industry Permanent Secretary to call a meeting with the Hazardous Substances Committee to find substitutes for the three chemicals banned, namely Paraquat, Glyphosate, and Chlorpyrifos.

Once the ban goes into effect on 1 December 2019, these chemicals will be prohibited for use and will have to be removed from Thailand. Importers who still have these chemicals in stock will have to revert the items back to the manufacturer, which may result in some operational costs.

The Ministry of Industry and the Hazardous Substances Committee will be holding a meeting on 27 November to find solutions for this matter, and to find alternative chemicals for these three previously used as pesticides in agriculture.

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Excise Department eyes jet fuel tax discount to help domestic…

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BANGKOK (NNT) – Many low cost domestic carriers have reported losses this year, one of the factors being the increase in jet fuel tax of 0.2 baht to 4.73 baht per liter in 2017. The losses have led to some airlines cancelling certain domestic routes. The Excise Department has held talks with airline representatives and fuel suppliers on the feasibility of reducing the jet fuel tax as a remedial measure.

At the meeting, the Excise Department ordered airlines to assemble information on benefits the general public would receive from a lower fuel tax, such as any reduction in airfares, service enhancements, and facilitation of tourism in smaller cities stemming from the opening of new routes.

Over the next two weeks, the department will be holding additional talks with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and private companies in the tourism industry on this matter.

The Excise Department’s Director General Patchara Anuatasilpa, said today the current jet fuel tax is not higher than the taxes imposed on other petroleum products, adding that any discount on jet fuel tax would only be offered as part of a short-term campaign.

Bangkok Airways’ Senior Vice President on finance and accounting Anawat Leelawatwatana, commented that the airline is willing to help promote Thailand as the region’s transportation hub, and promote tourism to local cities. He said however that added fuel costs account for 30-40 percent of the airline’s operational costs, which is rather high.

He said airlines would be capable of opening new routes serving more local cities should the government offer assistance in this regard.

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NESDC cuts Thailand’s growth to 2.6%

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Thailand Business News

BANGKOK (NNT) – The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has announced that Thailand’s Q3 2019 GDP growth came in at 2.4 percent, adjusting the overall GDP growth this year down to 2.6 percent, citing negative factors from the trade war affecting the export sector.

The council now expects 2020 GDP to grow at least 2.7 percent after businesses adjust their operations.

The NESDC Secretary General Thosaporn Sirisamphand said Thailand’s Q3 2019 GDP growth at 2.4 percent is an improvement over Q2 at 2.3 percent, albeit a slower than expected improvement due to a slowdown in the export sector, a trend which can be seen in every country.

Exports down 2 percent

He said the export sector’s performance this year is now expected to be a negative 2 percent, down from a previous prediction of a negative 1.2 percent, due to global economic challenges such as the trade war, the UK’s withdrawal from the EU or Brexit, and appreciation of the Thai Baht.

He said the Thai economy in Q4 2019 must grow by no less than 2.8 percent in order to achieve 2.6 percent annual growth as forecast, which would still be the smallest growth in 5 years.

The NESDC secretary general said today the Thai economy still has good prospects due to good domestic consumption in late 2019 to 2020, a slowly improving export sector thanks to the government’s promotion of newer markets, companies’ adjustment to trade war consequences, and the government’s economic stimulation measures.

Growth to pick up in 2020 on export recovery

He said these factors, along with an improving tourism sector, and the IMF’s new…

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