Thai AirAsia X considers operating Almaty flights next yearMr Tassapon says the airline plans to add three jets to its fleet next year. Tassapon Bijleveld, executive chairman of Asia Aviation, the holding company of Thai AirAsia, said the airline plans to add three more aircraft to its fleet of seven aircraft within 2024. Most flights have been fully booked due to robust demand in Kazakhstan for flights to Thailand. In addition to this route, Thai AirAsia X is studying new markets in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, which experienced steady growth during 2023, said Mr Tassapon. In terms of domestic routes operated by Thai AirAsia, he said the volume of passengers had already reached the same level as seen in 2019.

Petitioner alleges abuse of power in 'privileged treatment' of ThaksinSrisuwan Janya, leader of the Patriotic People Organisation, at the Administrative Court wih his petition accusing the director-general of the Department of Corrections and three other high-level officials of providing privileged treatment for ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Mr Srisuwan, as leader of the Patriotic People Organisation, accused the four officials of abuse of power in giving Thaksin the privilege of receiving treatment in a luxury facility at Police General Hospital in violation of laws and regulations. The persistent petitioner said Thaksin returned to the country to serve a prison term 17 years after being sentenced. By law, the minister of justice must personally approve any stay exceeding 120 days by an inmate receiving medical treatment outside a prison hospital. Only a court could decide whether or not the admission of Thaksin to the Police General Hospital was legal, Mr Srisuwan said.

KONYA, Turkey - The tall light brown hats worn by whirling dervishes are as intriguing as the elliptical dance performed in honour of the Sufi poet and mystic Rumi. In Konya, a sprawling city in Turkey's central Anatolian plain where Rumi spent most of his life and died 750 years ago, one of the last workshops makes these special "sikke" hats to order. Yunus Girgic refuses to sell sikkes to tourists because they are exclusively reserved for real dervish dancers. The manufacturing secrets of these deeply symbolic felt hats — each one 26 to 27 centimetres tall — have been passed down for four generations to Girgic. The material, relatively heavy and itchy on the forehead, is a "reminder of the discomforts of life on Earth", Girgic said.

Debt plan to 'return B500bn'Government spokesman Chai WacharonkeGovernment spokesman Chai Wacharonke on Monday said that the government's debt solution plan will bring 500 billion baht back to the economy if successful. Mr Srettha said the plan would grant a debt moratorium to about 1.1 million debtors affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The government will also adjust a debt restructuring plan for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are indebted to state-run banks and grant them a debt moratorium for one year, Mr Srettha said. Those with irregular incomes will be offered a temporary debt moratorium, loan interest reductions or a lower rate of monthly debt payments. Farmers are already part of the government's three-year debt moratorium, aiding more than 1.5 million farmers, the PM said.

As a result, they yield to ever-greater political and economic power of the big tech companies, and pay mere lip service to meaningful regulation. The only binding requirement on AI companies is a reporting requirement if they exceed a certain threshold of computational intensity. What's more likely in the meantime is that without meaningful regulation, AI will make our corporate overlords even stronger. Far from liberating us from precarity, the AI revolution will intensify inequality and corporate power. We should remind ourselves what a more historically normal trajectory of AI regulation might look like.

N. Korea fires 'long-range ballistic missile': SeoulNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un has overseen a record-breaking number of missile launches and weapons tests this year that have been condemned by the WestSEOUL - North Korea fired another internationally banned "long-range ballistic missile" on Monday, the South's military said, after Pyongyang voiced outrage over deeper nuclear cooperation between Seoul and Washington. The back-to-back launches also come after another bout of fearsome rhetoric between North Korea and the US-South Korean allies. On Monday morning, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said its military had detected a "suspected long-range ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area". The JCS added the military had heightened its alert posture and was "closely sharing information regarding North Korea's ballistic missile with the United States and Japan". The United Nations Security Council has adopted many resolutions calling on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes since it first conducted a nuclear test in 2006.

Anutin: Waiting on trial resultsThe government is preparing to consider allowing bars, clubs and other entertainment venues in more areas to operate until 4am in an effort to stimulate the economy, according to Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. Venues attached to registered hotels nationwide could also remain open until 4am. In Bangkok, the extended hours apply to entertainment venues in Silom, Patpong, RCA and Ratchadaphisek as well as those located in the premises of hotels. Separaly, Polathep Vichitkunakorn, deputy director of the Centre for Alcohol Studies, said the government has not heeded calls to hold off on extending the operating hours. "In fact, the government has even decided to extend the operating hours of entertainment places on the night of Dec 31 to 6am on Jan 1," he said.

Chad votes on new constitution ahead of promised end of military ruleA large section of the opposition is urging voters to boycott the referendumN'DJAMENA - Polls opened in a Chadian referendum on a new constitution on Sunday, with the vote seen as a key step towards elections and the return of civilian rule promised, but postponed, by the ruling military junta. The capital N'Djamena has been plastered with posters championing a "yes" vote to bring in a constitution for a "unitary and decentralised state". It is not very different from the constitution that the military repealed in 2021, enshrining a regime in which most of the power is concentrated in the head of state. The 'yes' vote will win." Yet in late October, Masra signed a reconciliation agreement with the regime and went into exile, from where he has been encouraging his followers to vote "yes" on Sunday.

Dozens of winter swimmers plunged into the icy waters of Beijing's partially frozen Houhai Lake on Saturday (December 16) - the city's coldest weekend this winter.

The prime minister on Thursday flew to Japan for the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of Asean-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. There will also be meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. The prime minister said that several Thai businessmen would also accompany him on the trip, and they would hold talks with their Japanese counterparts. They include Pornwut Sarasin, president of Honda Automobile (Thailand), and Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Board of Directors of Toyota Motor Thailand Co. According to his schedule, the prime minister will today meet with the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and will then deliver a speech at the Thailand-Japan Investment Forum.

PTTEP predicts 9% sales uptick on higher outputThe Erawan gas block in the Gulf of Thailand, operated by PTT Exploration and Production Plc. PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) expects its petroleum sales to increase by 9% next year thanks to more gas production from the Erawan field in the Gulf of Thailand. Sales in 2023 are projected at an average of 464,000 barrels per day, said Montri Rawanchaikul, president and chief executive of PTTEP. PTTEP earlier allocated $2 billion to support its investment in offshore renewable energy development, carbon capture storage technology and a hydrogen energy project. "To support growth, PTTEP is seeking investment opportunities in clean energy across various regions," he said.

PM 'heavy-hearted' about 2024 prospectsPrime Minister Srettha Thavisin, centre, inspects Ratchaprasong area on Wednesday. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has admitted he felt "heavy-hearted" about the country's economic prospects next year, describing the current state of the economy as being in a crisis. In an interview with Dailynews Talk 2023 on Wednesday, Mr Srettha expressed his feelings about the economy which he says is beset by crisis: "Which I think everyone is well aware of," he said. The prime minister added he was particularly concerned about low wages, "in addition to a raft of other problems." "The FTA is a goal which [the government] regards as more important than the infrastructure improvements," Mr Srettha said.

PM downplays news of Dems joining govtPrime Minister Srettha Thavisin has brushed aside speculation of the Democrat Party joining the cabinet, saying the government is still strong with 314 MPs. Mr Srettha refused to reply to questions about a cabinet reshuffle now that he is three months into his premiership. We need to give Mr Chalermchai a chance to work and manage his party as he was appointed only 2-3 days ago," he said. Now the Democrats have Mr Chalermchai as leader, rumours have surfaced that the party will be part of the government. A political observer said that despite Mr Chalermchai vowing to stay in opposition, he might think again if the political situation changes.

Move Forward Party MP for Bangkok Rukchanok Srinork, right, and MFP leader Chaithawat Tulathon, left, arrive at the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road on Wednesday morning. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)The Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced Move Forward Party MP Rukchanok Srinork to six years in prison, without suspension, for lese majeste and computer crime. Bail was set at 500,000 baht, and the MP must refrain from participating in activities similar to those with which she has been charged. As a result, Rukchanok will be able to continue serving as an MP. Mr Chaithawat said he would offer his MP status as surety in seeking her temporary release.

(Bangkok Post File Photo)The government whip has proposed setting up a special House committee to discuss among all political parties what a new amnesty bill should look like. Hence, we think it would be best for us to begin with considerable discussion in a formal House committee comprising both government and opposition parties,” he said on Tuesday. He said an urgent motion would be filed requesting the formation of the committee, which would have one representative from each political party. Pheu Thai has yet to draw up an amnesty bill and would never propose its own version as a model for a joint draft expected later when the new House committee reaches a conclusion on the scope of the bill, Mr Chusak said. “We don’t want to see a new amnesty bill provoke a new wave of social division when it is submitted to the House for deliberation,” said Mr Chusak.