Briefs

In a statement, the board also authorised the bank's executive chairman and president to accept the ruling and report to the board. The court is considering whether the Revenue Department's order for the bank to unlock the accounts is justified. - The Nation

Higher inventories in importing countries and a feasting period in Muslim nations were cited as the main reasons. As of Wednesday, only 502,161 tonnes of rice had been shipped out, up only 9.9 per cent against an average month¬ly increase of more than 40 per cent. In only a week, jasmine rice has dropped to US$922 (Bt31,440) a tonne, from $937 before, while regular white rice has fallen from $767 a tonne to $750. - The Nation

Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) chairman Santi Vilassakdanont said the manu¬facturers consume about 800,000 tonnes of sugar per year, or 40 per cent of total sugar consumption. The Bt5perkg increase in sugar price is expected to push up their costs by Bt3.8 billion this year. - The Nation

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has set up a 22member committee to over¬see the communityradio and cableTV sectors. It will convene for the first time about the mid¬dle of next month.

A provisional clause of the Broadcasting Act mandates the NTC to set up the committee to pursue the task until the new regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, gets off the ground. - The Nation

The Land Transport Department is opening bids for bus service on two new routes: Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Chang; and Suvarnabhumi Airport to Koh Samui. Applications must be submitted by October 10. Directorgeneral Chairat Sanguansue said the new services would help tourists visit both popular des¬tinations. The routes can be serviced by both firstclass and secondclass airconditioned buses. - The Nation