Police chief nomination faces delayPol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas arrives at Government House on March 14. In the past, it was the incumbent national police chief who was responsible for making the nomination to the RTP board. Incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chaired a meeting of the commission on Wednesday, declined to comment on whether the appointment would be made under his watch. There are four deputy national police chiefs who are in line to be nominated for the top job, said the source, namely Pol Gen Roy Ingkapairote, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, Pol Gen Kittirat Phanphet and Pol Gen Torsak Sukwimol. Pol Gen Roy and Pol Gen Torsak are both due to retire next year, Pol Gen Kittirat is due to retire in 2026, and Pol Gen Surachate in 2031, said the source.

Thaksin ouster: Time to come homeIn this file photo taken in May 2007, then army chief and coup leader Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin (centre) gives a press conference following the dissolution of political parties over election fraud. According to the former army chief, Thaksin told him several days after the September 2006 coup that he was a gentleman and had good sportsmanship while looking forward to reconciliation. With the Pheu Thai Party taking the lead in forming the next government, Gen Sonthi said the party will likely focus on finding solutions to conflicts within the country. Gen Sonthi added that he was of Class 6 at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School and Thaksin was his junior at the same school. I do believe that he still has the loyalty," Gen Sonthi said.

June factory output drops 5.24%, more than forecastA petrochemical factory in Map Ta Phut, Rayong province. (File photo)Thailand's manufacturing production index (MPI) in June contracted 5.24% from a year earlier as exports declined amid sluggish global demand, the Industry Ministry said on Thursday. Output shrank a revised 3.05% in May. In the January-June period, the MPI declined 4.6% from a year earlier, the ministry said in a statement. The ministry had earlier forecast factory output would show zero to 1% growth this year.

The Fiscal Policy Office revised its forecast for this year's economic growth to 3.5%, down by 0.1%, due to a decrease of international tourism revenues and a slowdown in exports. The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) has revised its forecast for this year's economic growth to 3.5%, down by 0.1%, due to a decrease in international tourism revenues and a slowdown in exports, said director-general Pornchai Thiraveja. He said during a press conference on the Thai economic outlook for 2023 that the economy will expand by 3.5%, down from the previous forecast of 3.6% in April, mainly due to lower estimated revenue from foreign tourists. As of June, 12.9 million foreign tourists had entered Thailand, with the annual target set at 29.5 million. With the budget for 2024 expected to be delayed by up to six months, this would affect the country's GDP this year by 0.05%, Mr Pornchai said.

Pita petition decision on Aug 3Pita: Renomination to be weighed upThe Constitutional Court will consider next Thursday whether it will accept for deliberation a petition regarding the renomination of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister, a source said. Mr Wan said on Wednesday his decision to postpone the vote had nothing to do with Pheu Thai's attempt to secure support in parliament for one of its three prime ministerial candidates. "It is speculated the court may decide whether to pass a ruling on the petition on Aug 9. If the court throws out the petition, I can schedule a meeting [to elect a prime minister] immediately," Mr Wan said. Democrat Party list-MP Chuan Leekpai said on Wednesday the prime ministerial selection is likely to be completed well before the five-year term of the military-appointed senators expires.

Pheu Thai urged to hurry up and form new governmentPheu Thai supporters on Tuesday call for one of the party's PM candidates to be nominated for the top job. A group of red-shirt supporters calling themselves the Media Alliance for Democracy arrived at the Pheu Thai headquarters on Tuesday to offer moral support as the party struggles to assemble a new government. Pheu Thai has taken the leading role after the Move Forward Party (MFP), which emerged as the biggest party at the May 14 election, failed to do so. The group also said Pheu Thai has the right to include parties opposing amendments to the lese majeste law in the new government it is trying to create. In addition, any one of the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidates -- Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Srettha Thavisin and Chaikasem Nitisiri -- must be nominated for a vote in parliament without delay.

A Jaguar F-Type V8 5.0 is seen at an event in France in 2016. (Photo: Falcon@Photography via Wikimedia Commons)LONDON: The “unmistakeable, supercharged” sound of the Jaguar F-Type V8 will be stored for posterity in Britain’s national library, the luxury car manufacturer said on Wednesday, as it moves towards a quieter, electric future. Recordings of the famous growl will be submitted to the British Library’s archives alongside other culturally significant sounds such as the first street recordings of cars. The sounds recorded were “something we want to be available for generations to come”, said Charles Richardson, senior sound engineer with Jaguar. “From there the run in the chamber simulates a variety of the F-Type’s ‘vocal abilities’,” said Jaguar.

Asia Wealth Securities has licence revokedThe Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has ordered the revocation of the derivatives business licence of Asia Wealth Securities (AWS) due to its inability to maintain qualifications as a derivatives business operator in accordance with the specified laws. AWS has not been able to solve the problem of maintaining NC, which is non-compliant with the rules regarding permission to conduct a derivatives business. As a result, the company was disqualified as a legal derivatives business operator, the regulator said in a statement. The SEC has therefore revoked the company's derivatives business licence (advisory and derivatives fund manager) effective July 24. "The derivatives business operator must maintain the qualifications required by law throughout the period of derivatives business operation as well as being ready to support the business operations for the provision of services based on the principle of the best interests of investors," it added.

While drivers may have already noticed the performance-enhancing "Super Power" oil at PTT Stations, its unique advantages go beyond its name. Super Power oil, available exclusively at PTT Stations, is the best premium-grade oil from PTT Station, offering two exceptional formulas: Super Power Gasohol 95 and Super Power Diesel B7. Super Power oil is publicly endorsed by both a global oil innovator and a world-class racer. Mr. Matthias Lang, an esteemed automotive professional and Vice President of Fuel and Lubricant Solutions Business Management at BASF SE, expressed his admiration for Super Power oil, stating, "Super Power oil truly caters to the needs of drivers who value strength, speed, and affordability. Drivers who prioritise world-class quality, speed, and performance can now experience the remarkable benefits of Super Power oil at selected PTT Stations nationwide.

Eight-party meeting cancelledKey figures of the eight coalition allies meet at Pheu Thai Party headquarters last week. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)Tuesday's planned meeting of the eight political parties intent on forming a new government was suddenly cancelled. The meeting had been called by the Pheu Thai Party to discuss progress in getting additional support for the nomination of a preferred prime minister. The Pheu Thai Party initially made an appointment for the eight parties to meet on Tuesday at 2pm at Pheu Thai headquarters. The eight parties are Move Forward, Pheu Thai, Prachachat, Thai Sang Thai, Seri Ruam Thai (Thai Liberal), Fair, Plung Sungkom Mai (New Force) and Peu Thai Rumphlang.

Ombudsman asks court to postpone PM voteMove Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, seated left, consults with party MPS during the joint sitting of the House and the Senate to consider his renomination for prime minister on July 19. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)The Ombudsman on Monday asked the Constitutional Court to order the parliament to postpone the next vote for prime minister, and to rule on the rejected renomination of Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat. Some complainants proposed the Constitutional Court postpone the next parliamentary vote for prime minister pending a ruling by the court. MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulanon said earlier on Monday that the party had petitioned the Ombudsman to ask the Constitutional Court to rule if Mr Pita could be renominated. The parliament on July 19 rejected the renomination of Mr Pita for prime minister by majority vote on a procedural issue.

MFP rejects generals' partiesOrange-clad demonstrators with a portrait of Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat outside the parliament on July 19, when a joint sitting rejected Mr Pita's renomination for prime minister on procedural grounds. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Move Forward MPs resolved on Monday the party would not join a coalition government with the Palang Pracharath (PPRP) or United Thai Nation (UTN) parties. The party announcement after the meeting said that PPRP was led by Gen Prawit Wongsuwon and UTN had Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as its prime ministerial candidate. Both were key figures in the coup d'etat on May 22, 2014, and there was a push to prolong their hold on power. Any attempt to form a government that went against the people's decision would erode their faith in democracy, the announcement said.

Chains unveil expansion plansA new Santa Fe restaurant concept called Santa Fe Easy was launched recently to attract younger consumers. "Politics has relatively less impact on the food business since food is a daily necessity. New Santa Fe restaurant concept called Santa Fe Easy was recently launched to capture customers of the younger generation. "In response to the disruption caused by the shabu sukiyaki segment, we have adjusted the expansion plans. "Regardless of the political landscape and the prime minister in power, our expansion plans will stay on course," Mr Suchat said.

Pita: Move Forward 'keeps promise with voters, won't quit coalition'Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat meets supporters in Chon Buri province on Saturday. (Photo: Move Forward Party)The Move Forward Party (MFP) will not quit the eight-party coalition it put together; otherwise, it will be considered to have let people down, its leader Pita Limjaroenrat said on Sunday. Mr Pita acknowledged that the Pheu Thai Party had offered talks with the Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation (UTN) parties. Mr Pita said that if the two latter parties join the coalition, MFP could not stay. I confirm that I still have trust and confidence in the Pheu Thai Party," Mr Pita said.

Pheu Thai told again: kick Move Forward out of coalitionChartthaipattana Party leader Varawut Silpa-archa, centre, and Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew, right, hold a press conference at the Pheu Thai headquarters on Sunday. Chartthaipattana Party leader Varawut Silpa-archa informed a press conference of his party's standpoint after meeting key Pheu Thai figures at PTP headquarters on Sunday. Pheu Thai has discussed forming a government with parties outside its eight-party coalition alliance, meeting the Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation and Chartpattanakla parties. "If Pheu Thai has a similar direction with Chartthaipattana about the institution and Section 112 and if there is a prime ministerial candidate from Pheu Thai, we, Chartthaipattana, will be willing to give support. On the same occasion, Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said the eight-party coalition alliance assigned Pheu Thai to gather support for government formation with other political parties, and was seeking their opinions.