Army set to return land to local peopleDefence Minister Sutin KlungsangDefence Minister Sutin Klungsang is proposing to hand over some military-owned land to local people as part of the government's modernisation plans for the armed forces. RAdm Thanitpong said the ministry is expediting a government policy to modernise the armed forces, which critics have attacked for spending too much on weapons procurement. Initially, the 2nd Army Area planned to return army-owned land in Nong Wua So in Udon Thani so locals can use it for agricultural purposes. A survey is underway to measure the length of the land and determine what the soil conditions. The ministry is also looking to reform the armed forces to make them leaner and more effective, as well as restructure some of the ministry-affiliated agencies.

(Photo: Apichart Jinakul)The baht continues to weaken against the US currency, falling to 37.04 per dollar as the US bond yield rises in line with improving economic data. The baht opened at 37.07 to the dollar on Tuesday, depreciating from Monday's close of 36.96, then registered gradual strengthening. The value of the baht fluctuated in a range of 36.91-37.50 per dollar during trade on Monday. Mr Poon said the baht will possibly weaken as the dollar strengthens and the gold price declines. As a result, Thai gold traders imported the commodity, which further weakened the baht against the dollar.

ThaiBev to allocate B7bn for domestic, overseas expansionMr Thapana gives a keynote speech at ThaiBev's annual conference held yesterday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Under the growth pillar, ThaiBev wants to diversify its market presence, expand its product portfolio and meet evolving consumer demands. "This marks the first time ThaiBev will build its own brewery factory in Cambodia, which is the result of the country's rapid market growth and untapped potential," said Mr Fah. "The company sees substantial potential in the Asian market for premium spirits and aims to increase revenue and profit in its international spirit business. In the first nine months of the company's fiscal 2023, ThaiBev launched 43 various restaurants, bringing the total number of outlets to 771 as of June 2023.

Former MP Pareena calls for senator Porntip's resignation over Iceland tripPareena Kraikupt, then Palang Pracharath MP for Ratchaburi, attends a parliamentary meeting on Feb 16, 2021. (File photo)Former Palang Pracharath MP Pareena Kraikupt has called for senator Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan's resignation over her trip to Iceland during a parliamentary meeting, and will ask the anti-graft agency to investigate her ethical conduct. Ms Pareena posted her demand that Khunying Porntip resign on her Facebook page on Tuesday. But Khunying Porntip earlier posted a photo on social media showing her reclining on protected moss on an Icelandic lava field. Khunying Porntip’s trip to Iceland also sparked drama when the Thai chef at a Japanese restaurant chased her off the premises.

A police officer handcuffs a suspected gunman inside a furniture store on the third floor of Siam Paragon, following a shooting inside the shopping centre on Tuesday afternoon. (Photo: Central Investigation Bureau Facebook)Police have arrested a 14-year-old boy who went on a shooting rampage inside Siam Paragon shopping mall, killing two people and injuring five others — two of them critically — on Tuesday afternoon. A Thai woman wounded in the left shoulder and taken to Police General Hospital was declared out of danger. (Story continues below)A police officer points to an airgun target found in the room of the Paragon shooting suspect. In 2020, a former army officer went on a rampage in a shopping mall in Nakhon Ratchasima, murdering 29 people and wounding scores more.

Man, 29, caught with hundreds of upskirt videosMetropolitan police examine the computer of "Title", a 29-year-old man arrested with hundreds of upskirt videos at his house in Laksi district on Sunday. (Photo: Metropolitan Police Bureau)A 29-year-od man has been arrested for allegedly using his mobile phone to record 873 upskirt videos of hundreds of young women in Bangkok over the past seven years. He said police executed an arrest warrant issued after a group of young women filed a complaint with police. The man allegedly confessed, saying he had studied upskirting techniques on the net after his graduation, and had been taking videos for about seven years for "personal excitement". He took upskirt shots and also recorded the faces of victims, usually on escalators, or in stationery shops or on pedestrian bridges at shopping centres.

Sila's father, Yeng Saeyang, 50, who was helping out at the ceremony, witnessed his son being shot outside the house and decided to seek revenge. Mr Yeng, however, took his 9mm handgun to Mr Chatree's house in the hope of finding him there. New reports say Mr Yeng shot him seven times in the chest and head, killing him instantly. Some 600m down the road they found Chorapong's body, after Mr Yeng shot him dead. News reports say a neighbour called out Apichet's father, Banjerd, who lives nearby, but he too was unable to help.

Golden Week optimism buoys most Asian marketsRECAP: Stocks rose yesterday in most Asian markets on the last trading day of the quarter amid optimism over spending during China's Golden Week holiday and reports of a possible summit between US and Chinese leaders. The SET index moved in a range of 1,524.97 and 1,471.43 this week, and closed yesterday at 1,471.43, down 3.4% from the previous week, with daily turnover averaging 61.98 billion baht. Retail investors were net buyers of 6.84 billion baht, while foreign investors were net sellers of 4.1 billion, followed by brokers at 2.53 billion and institutions at 208.35 million baht. The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) will be compensated for lost interest at 4.5% or 11 billion baht a year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects 5 million Chinese tourists this year, generating revenue of 300 billion baht.

Coral reefs are under increasing threat from pollution and global warming, and creating artificial reefs as a habitat for marine life is one way to reverse the damage. (Photo: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources)The Department of Fisheries and PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) have signed an agreement on developing artificial reefs from carbon dioxide-based mineral stones. The memorandum of understanding also aims at further studying production of the material using a similar process that helps combat global warming. The Department of Fisheries has been working on artificial reef production since 1978 in line with its interest in sustainable fishery management, said director-general Chalermchai Suwanrak. Mr Montri said the artificial reefs responded well to the company’s aim to reduce carbon emissions, as PTTEP is looking to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Rates pause appropriate for now - central bank chiefPeople buy vegetarian food at a fresh market in Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown. On Wednesday, the central bank unexpectedly raised its key interest rate by a quarter point to 2.50%, the highest in a decade, saying growth and inflation would pick up next year. The BoT chief told reporters the policy objective was getting the landing right and the current rate was appropriate for the economy. The central bank on Wednesday predicted headline inflation at 1.6% this year and 2.6% next year, with core inflation seen at 1.4% and 2.0%, respectively. Despite cutting its 2023 economic growth forecast to 2.8% from 3.6% projected earlier, the central bank raised its 2024 growth outlook to 4.4% from 3.8%.

Mr Srettha's monthly as prime minister and finance minister amounts to 125,590 baht -- a 75,590-baht salary plus a 50,000-baht position allowance. Mr Chai said there will be a working team to select the foundations that will receive the prime minister's monthly donation. Mr Srettha will also try to meet charity foundations to listen to their problems and find ways of solving them, said the spokesman. Sarinee Achavanuntakul, an independent academic, said she wanted Mr Srettha to change his mind because accepting the salary meant he must devote himself to serving the public. Pichit Chuenban, an adviser to the prime minister, said that as the salary received was considered the premier's personal property, donating to charity and needy people is acceptable.

AoT allots B140bn for projectsAoT president Kerati KijmanawatAirports of Thailand (AoT) has set a budget of 140 billion baht for two airport construction projects, including the building of Andaman International Airport in Phangnga. "They aim at stimulating tourism, but one also encourages Phuket, Phangnga, Krabi, and Ranong to become hubs for air transportation," said Mr Kerati. The Andaman International Airport will be constructed on roughly 6,000 rai in Thakua Thung district's tambon Kok Kloi, which is a Ratchaphatsadu area owned by the Treasury Department. Mr Kerati said the AoT had conducted some research regarding the construction plan for the area. The AoT is expected to recruit a consultant for the project's research and development stage, at least by the end of this year, to conduct a study mainly on the project's investment, said Mr Kerati.

Rethink urged on proposed tax on overseas incomeMr Trawut recommends any tax on investment in foreign stocks be clearly defined to ensure fairness for all investors. The government is being recommended to review foreign income tax collection as a new tax will affect many retail investors who have invested overseas, says Jitta Wealth Asset Management. Jitta chief executive Trawut Luangsomboon said the Revenue Department should reconsider its plan to require those with income from abroad to include their assessed income in the calculation of personal income tax. "If the department collects tax on investments in foreign stocks, small investors would be affected more than wealthy investors," said Mr Trawut. He suggested the government also exempt capital gains tax for investments in foreign stocks, as such tax is now exempted for investing in local stocks.

Buy Sompo insurance and win bigSompo Insurance (Thailand) recently organised the "Tiew Laew Tiaw Eek Season 2" campaign to encourage Thais to travel. Sompo Insurance has a special promotion for purchasing Sompo TravelJoy online. The first winner will be announced on Nov 3 and the second on Jan 5, through the Sompo Thailand Facebook page at facebook.com/SompoThailand. The Pink Palace Experience. The Pink Palace Experience is one of The Cultural District's seven museums and is first and foremost a celebration of rose wine.

Value of country's digital industry up 14% to B2.6tn last yearThe value of Thailand's digital industry in 2022 reached 2.6 trillion baht, up 14% from 2021, according to a joint survey and assessment regarding the status of the country's digital industry in 2022 carried out by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) and the IMC Institute. The country's digital industry includes five main sectors: software; hardware and smart devices; digital services; telecommunication; and digital content. It has been predicted that the value of the digital services industry will surge to 454 billion baht in 2025. This included imports valued at 438 billion baht, up 13% from 2021, and exports worth 993 billion baht, up 19.4% from 2021. The significant increase in income of the digital industry and related businesses is driven by the digital transformation process in Thailand.