Surat Thani governor snarls at Thai Smile's flight axe planTravellers board a Thai Smile aeroplane in Surat Thani airport last week. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan)The governor of Surat Thani has asked Thai Smile Airways not to cease its flight services to the southern province in order to protect its tourism. The governor said that more passengers were using the flight services to Surat Thani after the Covid-19 pandemic. In the first half of this year, Surat Thani airport served 695,682 passengers, the governor said. Business operators in Surat Thani said Thai Airways and its subsidiary Thai Smile Airways had operated flighs to the southern province for about four decades.

Florida gunman driven by racial 'hate' kills 3: authoritiesThe shooter, who has not yet been identified, left behind manifestos detailing his "disgusting ideology of hate," Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters said. And that's very clear," Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters told a news conference about the gunman, who was in his early 20s. Manifestos discovered by the gunman's family shortly before the attack "detail the shooter's disgusting ideology of hate," Waters said, and at least one of the guns had hand-drawn swastikas on it. The shooting took place near Edward Waters University, a historically Black college in the southern US state. "An on-campus Edward Waters University security officer engaged an unidentified male in the vicinity of the Centennial Library on campus," it said.

It said it would only recognise signatures on paper documents. Once collected, it said, the paper documents would have to be scanned and then submitted to the commission as a PDF file on a CD. The 2017 charter was approved in August 2016 by 61.4% of voters in a referendum, in which all commentary deemed as expressing opposition to the charter was banned. One of the key points of the campaign is that it aims to secure the right for members of the public to pose questions in a charter referendum. Once the EC receives the petition, it is expected to take another 30 days to verify the signatures.

Thaksin to stay in hospital as tests show no uptickThaksin: Heart and lung problemsFormer prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's condition has not improved since he was transferred to the Police General Hospital for treatment. Pol Lt Gen Dr Sophonrat Singhajaru, the hospital's chief physician, said on Friday an echocardiogram and lung tests showed Thaksin's heart and lung conditions were still a concern, while his blood pressure remains stable. Details of Thaksin's treatment cannot be disclosed due to patient privacy laws, said Pol Lt Gen Dr Sophonrat. Pol Lt Gen Achayon Kraithong, Royal Thai Police spokesperson, told the media that security arrangements for visits have not yet been discussed. Asked if Thaksin might be sent to a private hospital, Mr Wissanu said there was no reason to do so.

Pheu Thai digital money giveaway sparks scam appsSompong: Beware of fraudstersThe Royal Thai Police (RTP) warned on Friday that online scammers are promoting false advertisements for the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme, a policy proposed by the Pheu Thai Party. The fraudulent app tricks victims into believing they can receive the 10,000 baht in digital money if they install it. "The Public Relations Department also stated that the Digital Wallet mobile app is a fraud, aiming to embezzle money from its users," said Pol Gen Sompong. Once they have started chatting with the scammers, victims are instructed to register for the 10,000 baht in digital money. The digital currency giveaway is a Pheu Thai policy that the public has been highly anticipating since it became the leader of the coalition government.

Thai AirAsia targets 40% share of domestic marketPassengers watch planes parked at Don Mueang airport. Thai AirAsia wants to dominate the domestic market, claiming 40% of the passenger market by the end of 2023 as it eyes two more routes in Japan next year. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Thai AirAsia wants to dominate the domestic market, claiming 40% of the passenger market by the end of 2023 as it eyes two more routes in Japan next year. Of the domestic routes, Thai AirAsia is the sole operator in Ranong, Chumphon, Loei, and the Hua Hin-Chiang Mai route. He said Thai AirAsia will gradually increase capacity on existing routes, rather than seeking new routes, with a plan to fly 54 jets by year-end, up from 45 in the first half.

Selection of new police chief postponedRoyal Thai Police Headquarters in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)The selection of the new police chief has been postponed until the inauguration of the new government for the sake of appropriateness, Royal Thai Police (RTP) spokesman Pol Lt Gen Achayon Kraithong said on Friday. The agenda included the selection of a new RTP commissioner-general to replace Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas, who is set to retire at the end of September. According to Pol Lt Gen Achayon, the meeting agreed to postpone the selection of the new police chief until after a new cabinet has been sworn into office, in line with the principle of good governance. Pol Gen Damrongsak was assigned to chair the meeting to proceed with the selection of deputy police chiefs and other positions.

Thailand needs tighter fiscal stance - central bankerPedestrians walk past shops in Bang Kapi district, Bangkok, on Aug 20, 2023. That is part of BoT Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput’s wish-list as he seeks to mitigate the impact of tighter United States interest rates on Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. The central bank’s word of caution against expansive fiscal policy comes after this week’s election of Mr Srettha as Thailand’s 30th prime minister. (Photo: Reuters)Thailand’s fiscal consolidation efforts are likely to be constrained by implementation of poll promises, Fitch Ratings had said last month. The BoT will only intervene to smooth out excess volatility in the currency, Mr Sethaput said, adding that the central bank does not have a pre-determined level for the baht.

When can we expect to see India Inc's moonshots? India became the first nation to successfully land a craft on the Moon's south pole. Since at least 1995, R&D expenditure has remained stuck at around 0.7% of gross domestic product, with less than two-fifths of it coming from the private sector. For the private sector to change, however, a lot will have to be set right first in the public sphere, starting with hopelessly underfunded university education. Like with everything in India, it's hard to say if the glass is half full or half empty.

In 'amicable' exchange of views, Prayut advises successor to be calm and patientPrime Minister Srettha Thavisin shakes hands with his predecessor, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, at Government House on Thursday. (Photo: Government House)Newly appointed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met with his predecessor Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House on Thursday to seek advice. Stay calm and be patient while running the country, Mr Srettha said after a 45-minute visit that he described as amicable. Newly appointed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin arrives at Government House on Thursday. Gen Prayut placed more emphasis on stepping past conflicts and taking good care of the country, said Mr Srettha.

Internet startup VNG files to become first Vietnam tech firm to go public in USSignage outside VNG Corp's city campus in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Sept 22, 2022. VNG will own 49% of VNG Corp, the Vietnamese operating company. Formerly known as Vinagame, VNG Corp had its start as a game publisher in 2004. "Little did we know how lucky we were when the Internet arrived in Vietnam in the middle of the 1990s. A listing by VNG would add momentum to an IPO market that has been warming in fits and starts.

Blockchain and technology analysts believe the Pheu Thai Party's digital wallet scheme could create a new digital payment infrastructure and stimulate the economy. The planned digital wallet scheme using blockchain was a party pledge during the campaign, aiming to stimulate growth. For those without access to the digital wallet app, they can use their national ID card to obtain a personal code in order to spend the digital money. Thanachart Numnonda, founder of IMC Institute, said there are many digital wallet apps, including the Paotang app, that have a large customer base, so there is no need to build a new digital wallet. The Pheu Thai digital wallet is a big project and rapid implementation as well as scaling up the project should be points of concern, said Mr Thanachart.

Chinese economic slowdown set to impact Thai tourismDuring the first half of 2023, only 1.4 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand, indicating a significant decline in numbers. (File photo)Thailand's tourism and exports of chemical products and plastic pellets are expected to decline because of the Chinese economic slowdown, according to the latest study by the Commerce Ministry's planning unit. Only 6.3% of Chinese real estate businesses met these criteria, making it nearly impossible for most businesses to borrow more money to operate. Given the immense size of the real estate sector, which contributes about 29% of China's GDP, its troubles have far-reaching consequences for the Chinese economy. Therefore, the Chinese economic situation has significant implications for Thailand's export sector, Mr Poonpong said.

PT to stick to digital wallet planSrettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party announced the party’s 10,000-baht digital wallet policy at a campaign rally in April. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday insisted the Pheu Thai-led government will press ahead with the party's 10,000 baht digital handout policy immediately after his cabinet is royally endorsed. He said he did not see any apps stating Pheu Thai will scrap the policy going viral on the internet. Many have cast doubt over the possibility of the new government implementing the Pheu Thai Party's 10,000-baht digital money handout policy, as well as other key policies promised in the run-up to the May 14 election. The bureau alone cannot presently give any assurances as the implementation of the flagship policy, he said.

“This success belongs to all of humanity.”The Chandrayaan-3 mission has captivated public attention since launching nearly six weeks ago in front of thousands of cheering spectators. The lander, Vikram, which means “valour” in Sanskrit, detached from its propulsion module last week and has been sending images of the Moon’s surface since entering lunar orbit on August 5. Back then, mission control lost contact with the Chandrayaan-2 lunar module moments before its slated landing. ‘Very, very important’Former ISRO chief K Sivan told AFP that India’s efforts to explore the relatively unmapped lunar south pole would make a “very, very important” contribution to scientific knowledge. Russia launched a lunar probe in August — its first in nearly half a century.