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Phuket International Airport reopened its main runway on Wednesday afternoon, three hours after a Royal Thai Navy aircraft experienced a landing gear malfunction and blocked the runway.

The belly landing by the Cessna T-337 Skymaster, which the Navy said was on a routine patrol, happened at 11.18am. There were no injuries.

The incident prompted an immediate emergency response to remove the aircraft and to thoroughly inspect the surface. Airport officials initially said the runway would be closed until 3pm.

The recovery operation was carried out by Navy pilots, aircraft technicians and Phuket airport officials. The airport drained the aircraft’s fuel and arranged for lifting equipment to remove the plane.

The aircraft was successfully moved off the runway at 1.49pm. After cleaning up the oil stains, the runway was reopened at 2.30 pm.

The closure affected a total of 70 flights, airport officials said in a statement.

Danilo Yavhushyshyn fled the war in his native Ukraine to follow his dream of becoming a professional sumo wrestler in Japan and has taken the ancient sport by storm.

The 21-year-old competed in the world junior sumo championships as a teenager but left Ukraine after Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

He arrived in Japan two months later and made a blistering start to his career, reaching sumo’s upper divisions in only a year and winning promotion to the fourth-highest rank.

He took his bid to win a first title down to the final day of the July tournament and has twice beaten one of sumo’s two current grand masters.

Now known as Aonishiki and speaking fluent Japanese, he told reporters in Tokyo on Thursday that he wants to be the first European to reach sumo’s highest rank.

‘When I joined the sumo world I was confident that I could reach the upper divisions but I didn’t think that I could do it so quickly,’ he said.

‘I’ve surprised myself. Now my goal is to become a grand master.’

Yavhushyshyn was born in central Ukraine and took up sumo at the age of seven, becoming a national champion at 17.

His age meant he narrowly avoided Ukraine’s military draft for men aged 18 and older when war broke out and he sought refuge in Germany before moving to Japan.

His parents stayed in Germany and he arrived in Japan knowing nothing of the language.

Local rivalry

Yavhushyshyn has since settled into his new home but admits he still misses Ukraine and has not been able to visit since he left.

‘Of course I would like to go back because it’s the place where I was born and raised and I still have a lot of friends and family there,’ he said.

‘If it’s possible, I’d like to go back and meet them and walk on the streets of my home town.’

Yavhushyshyn became the second Ukraine-born professional sumo wrestler when he made his debut in July 2023, following in the footsteps of compatriot Serhii Sokolovskyi, better known as Shishi.

Sokolovskyi moved to Japan before the outbreak of war and the two are now rivals in the ring.

‘Shishi gave me some advice at first but now we’re competing against each other so I don’t want to get too close to him,’ said Yavhushyshyn.

‘I don’t speak to him so often but maybe when once we’ve both retired I’ll try to be friends with him.’

Yavhushyshyn’s promotion to sumo’s upper divisions was the fifth fastest since the current system of six tournaments a year was introduced in 1958.

He scalped one of the sport’s grand masters in only his 12th tournament and has a winning record in every competition he has appeared in so far.

He seems set for a successful career in the sport but admits that things do not always go to plan.

‘Human beings are weak and they have times where they feel tired or they feel down, but I know what my goal is and I always try to keep it in mind,’ he said.

‘There are tough times but I have to do my best to overcome them.’

The consumer confidence index (CCI) in September rose for the first time in eight months as consumers are optimistic about the government’s economic stimulus measures, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Thanavath Phonvichai, president of UTCC, said the CCI increased from 50.1 in August to 50.7 in September, fuelled by positive reactions to the new cabinet ministers.

“The ‘Khon La Khrueng Plus’ co-payment scheme boosted consumer confidence, despite the Thai economy not having grown significantly. This should encourage consumer spending, reflecting the positive reception for government policies,” he said.

However, the CCI remains below 100 points, indicating that consumers see a slow economic recovery amid high living costs, said Mr Thanavath. Concerns about the trade war could potentially undermine consumer sentiment in the near term, he said.

Mr Thanavath expects improvements in the economy in the fourth quarter when the co-payment scheme becomes effective in November and December.

He said this initiative could inject 50-80 billion baht into the economy, potentially boosting GDP by 0.4-0.5 percentage points this year.

The UTCC upgraded its Thai GDP growth projection to 2% for this year, up from 1.7% previously, while predicting export growth of 6.1%, rising from 2.5%.

Private investment was revised to 1.1% growth from a projected contraction of 1.2%, and private consumption is expected to grow by 2.8%, driven by stimulus measures and increased consumption at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, several negative factors are affecting the economy, including a slowdown in tourism. Foreign tourist arrivals are projected at 33 million, down from 36 million in 2024, while tourism revenue is expected to fall from 1.69 trillion baht to 1.55 trillion.

Other factors include risks related to transshipment tariffs. Mr Thanavath said if the local content requirement is increased to 50-60%, it could lead to a decline in GDP of 0.27-0.5 percentage points within one year.

Uncertainties remain stemming from a minority government, as the anticipated dissolution of parliament within four months may make investors uneasy, he said.

Mr Thanavath said a lack of government stability could lead to a reduction in GDP of 0.75-0.9 percentage points from the baseline scenario.

In addition, fluctuations in foreign tourist numbers could affect growth. If arrivals vary from the baseline by 1 million, GDP would rise or fall by 0.25 percentage points, he said.

“It is important to monitor whether tourism and exports continue to grow, as this will determine whether Thailand’s GDP growth this year can surpass 2-2.5%,” Mr Thanavath said.

He said in addition to short-term economic fixes, the government must enhance long-term competitiveness to lift Thailand’s GDP growth to 4% in the future.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has completed the first 30 days of his one-year sentence at Klongprem Central Prison and remains in good spirits, his family said on Thursday.

‘His mental health is strong. It has been about a month now. My father did mention about numbness in his fingers,’ his daughter Pintongta Shinawatra Kunakornwong said after a visit.

Ms Pintongta, her husband Nuttaphong Kunakornwong, and Pidok Sooksawas, husband of former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, visited Thaksin at the prison on Ngam Wong Wan Road in Chatuchak district of Bangkok for more than an hour.

Mr Nuttaphong said his father-in-law’s morale remained high. He added that Thaksin had been informed of a visit by his former classmates from Montfort College in Chiang Mai, and had expressed his gratitude.

Reporters said they had heard some people gathered outside the prison teasingly refer to Mr Nuttaphong as ‘the next prime minister’. They asked his wife if she had heard the comments but the couple just smiled bashfully and declined to respond.

Earlier, the Pheu Thai Party hinted at its intention to approach Mr Nuttaphong about being a party prime ministerial candidate in the next general election.

Red-shirt supporters also continued to gather outside the prison to offer their encouragement to the billionaire.

‘We came from Si Sa Ket to show our support. We will fight in the next general election and wait for you. Stay strong, our prime minister,’ one supporter said, smiling and glancing at Mr Nutthaphong.

The family responded with respectful gestures and posed for photos with the crowd. Mr Pidok also received a warm response from the red-shirt supporters.

Reporters also asked Ms Pintongta for her views on the opinion given by Justice Minister Rutthaphon Naowarat about Thaksin’s second petition for a royal pardon, but she declined to answer and quickly left the prison grounds.

Pol Lt Gen Rutthaphon said on Wednesday that he had reviewed the pardon request submitted on Thaksin’s behalf and concluded it did not meet the legal criteria, citing multiple reasons. He declined to disclose further details.

The Supreme Court on Sept 9 sentenced Thaksin, 76, to prison, ordering him to actually serve the one-year imprisonment sentence handed down two years ago for abuse of power and conflict of interest while serving as prime minister from 2001-06.

The court rejected Thaksin’s previous claims of illness that had allowed him to stay in a VIP room at Police General Hospital from his return to Thailand in August 2023 until his parole in early 2024.

14th floor update

In a related development, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) said it would expand its investigation into the ’14th floor case’, as Thaksin’s hospital stay has come to be known.

Surapong Intharathorn, the acting NACC secretary-general, said the panel has already questioned 12 civil servants linked to the case. However, two new people have since been implicated, with the investigation divided into two periods: Thaksin’s 180-day medical stay and the period following his parole.

Asked whether Thaksin himself would be named as a new suspect, Mr Surapong said the former premier was already serving a sentence in the original case.

‘The issue is whether the consequences of the earlier case extend to this new one,’ he said. ‘The inquiry panel must determine if he bears responsibility under the law, as he was not previously investigated in this matter.

‘While he did not directly commit an offence in this case, it will be up to the inquiry panel to decide.’

The Thaksin ruling was considered by many to be historic because it is rare for the Supreme Court to initiate its own inquiry. But Mr Surapong said such proceedings were not abnormal and were consistent with established judicial practice.

‘The court has authority to investigate facts, and while it may seem unusual to outsiders, it is within the bounds of legal procedure,’ he said.

Thailand take on Taiwan in a crucial Group D battle of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign Thursday night, knowing they cannot afford to drop any more points.

The match will kick off at 7.30pm at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.

Since their 3-1 defeat at the hands of Turkmenistan in their second Group D match, Thailand have been left with the uphill task of winning their remaining group games.

The away loss pushed Thailand down to second place in the group with three points from two games. They had earlier beaten Sri Lanka 1-0 in their opening match.

Turkmenistan top the standings with a perfect six points.

Only the winners of the six groups in the qualifying tournament will advance and join the 18 countries that have already booked their spots in the finals in Saudi Arabia.

Thailand coach Masatada Ishii admitted at a pre-match press conference on Wednesday that his men cannot afford any more slip-ups.

“This time, we face Taiwan in both home and away matches, and our only target is to win both games and collect six points,” said the Japanese tactician.

Ishii was questioned about his decision not to replace the injured Supachai Chaided with another forward, leaving Teerasak Poeiphimai — who has already picked up a yellow card — as the only natural striker in the team.

The coach said: “I also worry about this a lot, thinking all the time how to help Teerasak avoid picking up another card.

“We don’t just have to win these games, but we also have to think about scoring as many goals as possible and improving our goal difference.

“Teerasak is the obvious choice for the task, and I didn’t bring another striker into the team because I wanted to select players of the equal calibre as those who have pulled out of the squad.”

Taiwan coach Huang Che Ming said: “Playing against Thailand is not easy at all. We are focusing on building a new generation, so most of our players are young. We are concentrating on our defence.

“We have to be careful as Thai midfielders can be difficult to handle, but that isn’t our only concern — the strength of the Thai defence is also a big worry for us.”

The match between Thailand and Taiwan will be televised live on Thai Rath TV (32), the BG Sports YouTube channel, and TrueVisions NOW.

U23 team depart for China

The Thailand U23 men’s national football team departed Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Wednesday for Kunming, China, where they will play two friendly matches against the China U23 side on Friday and Oct 14.

Head coach Thawatchai Dam­- rong-ongtrakul is leading a 23-man squad, which will form the core of this year’s SEA Games team.

Speaking before departure, Thawatchai noted the importance of the fixtures: “These matches fall on Fifa Days, and since China are in our group for the final round, it’s a valuable chance to test ourselves. We want to sharpen our attacking play while also improving our defending at set-pieces, because China are physically strong.”

He added that injuries to key players such as Waris Chuthong and Sittha Boonla have opened opportunities for newcomers: “It’s a chance to see if the new players can step up and replace them.”

The second match on Oct 14 will be broadcast live via BG Sports YouTube channel and TrueVisions NOW.

Uthai sack coach Lettieri

Uthai Thani have officially announced their decision to part ways with Italian coach Gino Lettieri after just seven Thai League 1 games.

The announcement came hot on the heels of Buriram United’s shock decision to sack their Brazilian coach, Osmar Loss Vieira, only 24 hours earlier.

Uthai Thani have appointed Milos Joksic as their new head coach. Joksic returns to the club after guiding them to a ninth-place finish last season.

The team are currently rooted to the bottom of the top-flight table, having collected only three points from seven games — all of them draws.

Lettieri joined Uthai Thani during the pre-season after leaving Muang Thong United at the end of the previous campaign.

The Italian becomes the fourth Thai League 1 coach to lose his job this season, following Osmar, Dusit Chalermsan (Kanchanaburi Power), and Supachai Komsilp (BG Pathum United).

Cool season this year will start about two weeks later than usual and is expected to be slightly warmer than average, the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) announced on Thursday.

According to the department’s outlook, the average minimum temperature in upper Thailand will be around 21 degrees Celsius – slightly warmer than the historical average of 19.9°C and last year’s average of 20.7°C.

While some parts of the North and Northeast will still see temperatures drop to 7 to 8°C, the average minimum temperature in Bangkok is expected to be around 18 to 20°C, with surrounding provinces experiencing lows of about 16 to 18°C.

The weather agency said the coolest period will be between mid-December and early February.

Although mountain peaks and ridges in the country’s upper regions will still experience frost and severe cold, conditions in the South are expected to be milder and wetter, especially along the eastern coast between November and December.

Heavy rainfall could trigger flash floods and cause rivers to overflow, while waves in the Gulf of Thailand may reach 2 to 3 metres, potentially rising to 4 to 5 m during tropical storms. The Andaman Sea will see waves of 1 to 2 m.

The TMD said low-pressure systems in November and December may develop into tropical cyclones.

The Thai government plans to improve the skills of 100,000 workers in an effort to align with modern technologies.

According to Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, speaking as head of the government’s economic team, a major issue facing investors considering Thailand is the shortage of skilled labour.

He said on Thursday that the government will use the Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which has a budget of 10 billion baht, to implement skills training programmes. The training will be demand-driven, based on market needs, rather than supply-driven, he said.

The Board of Investment (BOI) manages the fund and will coordinate with businesses holding investment promotion privileges to determine the types of labour skills they require, he added.

The BOI can collaborate with educational institutions to design standardised training programmes.

‘Our goal is to improve the skills of 100,000 workers through training over four months so they can enter industrial sectors, addressing labour quality issues among investors,’ said Mr Ekniti.

The government also wants to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adapt to new technologies. The BOI has a grant programme for SMEs seeking to transform their operations – up to 20 million baht for small enterprises and up to 50 million for medium-sized enterprises.

However, the board requires SMEs to complete their investments prior to receiving the grant. As SMEs often face liquidity problems, he said he would request financial institutions provide bridge financing for SMEs undergoing a transformation.

The financial institutions will be guaranteed that once an SME’s grant is approved, the lending institution will recover its loan, said Mr Ekniti.

Given these liquidity constraints, the government plans to ask the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation to provide loan guarantees to help SMEs access financing more easily.

Moreover, the government is launching a ‘Big Brother Helping Little Brother’ initiative. Large corporations that purchase goods from SMEs will be allowed to deduct 1.5-2 times the expenses from their taxable income, encouraging them to purchase more from SMEs.

Mr Ekniti said the Thai economy is ‘trapped’ due to four issues:

Low economic growth: Since 2017, growth has averaged less than 2% annually, keeping the country in the middle-income trap and preventing it from advancing to high-income status. A key reason is low investment, as before 1997 investment accounted for up to 40% of gross domestic product (GDP), but after 1997 it fell to only 20%.

Labour skills: As Thailand transitions to an ageing society, with more than 20% of the population 60 or older, there are also widespread skills shortages among the workforces.

Technology upgrades: Rapid technological changes over the past three to four years have made it difficult for industries to keep pace.

Debt: Household debt exceeds 80% of GDP, while government public debt tallies 64% of GDP, approaching critical limits with the ceiling set at 70%.

He said to address low investment, the BOI will set clearer targets for promoting modern industries such as data centres, semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and bio-circular and green industries, leveraging Thailand’s strong agricultural base, as well as electric vehicle industries.

Regarding household debt, Mr Ekniti said the government will use part of the remaining 26 billion baht from the ‘Khun Soo Rao Chuay’ (You Fight, We Help) debt relief programme, allocating roughly 10 billion baht to purchase non-performing consumer debts from financial institutions.

Bangkok Commercial Asset Management Plc and Sukhumvit Asset Management were selected to help restructure these debts, allowing borrowers to continue making payments. This debt relief programme is expected to be launched within one month, he said.

The withdrawal of Cambodia’s heavy weapons and civilians from disputed areas has been designated as one of the key conditions by Thailand in response to a letter from US President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday.

Speaking during his visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver policy guidance, Mr Anutin, who also serves as an interior minister, said the meeting was held to prepare for upcoming negotiations with Cambodia, as well as to formulate a response to Trump’s letter addressed to him.

Mr Anutin said Trump had sent a letter expressing his desire for the country and Cambodia to resolve ongoing border tensions.

The remark came a day after Mr Anutin appeared to dismiss any further role for Mr Trump – who is seeking a Nobel Peace Prize – in negotiations between the two nations to resolve their border dispute.

Mr Anutin expressed appreciation for the goodwill shown by the US president, who conveyed his wish for regional peace, especially regarding the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border issue.

He reaffirmed Thailand’s unwavering commitment to peace and its intention to ensure that all efforts contribute to long-term regional stability and harmony.

He emphasised that prior agreements between Thailand and Cambodia must be upheld, including the withdrawal of heavy weaponry, demining efforts along the border, addressing online scam operations and ensuring lawful administration of areas within Thai territory.

‘These are the official positions of the Thai government,’ Mr Anutin said, noting that these terms had been clearly communicated to mediators involved in the dispute. However, he stressed that both Thailand and Cambodia, as the directly involved parties, must take responsibility for resolving the issue.

When asked about the statement from the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, who expressed China’s readiness to support Cambodia in resolving the dispute, Mr Anutin responded that the Chinese ambassador to Thailand had given similar assurances.

‘Nevertheless, I wish to emphasise that this is a matter between Thailand and Cambodia. I believe other countries have good intentions and wish to see the conflict de-escalate,’ he added.

Regarding Thailand’s management of the Ban Nong Chan area in Sa Kaeo province, and how this will be communicated internationally, Mr Anutin said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will first issue a formal letter to Cambodia clarifying that Thailand must act to safeguard its sovereignty and that all actions will be legal.

In response to an article published by the Khmer Times, which claimed the prime minister had set an Oct 10 deadline for Cambodians to leave the Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo areas in Sa Kaeo, Mr Anutin denied the report. ‘The word ‘deadline’ has never been used by this government,’ he said.

The prime minister also expressed confidence that security agencies already have measures in place. He reiterated that, since day one in office, he has affirmed that diplomacy and negotiations fall under the full authority of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, which is empowered to pursue the best possible outcomes.

As for defending and safeguarding national sovereignty, that responsibility lies entirely with the armed forces. He added that the government’s role is to provide full support to both the military and the Foreign Ministry in fulfilling their respective missions.

Police are expediting their review of evidence in a high-profile 40-million-baht bribery case allegedly linked to Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob.

The case involves an alleged attempt to delay crackdowns on call centre scams, online fraud and illegal gambling operations. Investigators expect to forward their findings to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) within 30 days.

Investigators have completed taking Mr Chaichanok’s statement, which was consistent with earlier media reports, said Pol Col Manoon Kaewkam, chief of Subdivision 1 of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD).

“We must give our team time to do its work thoroughly before submitting the report to the NACC,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Chaichanok filed a formal complaint with the CSD after disclosing in parliament that someone had offered him 40 million baht to slow down the ministry’s crackdown efforts.

The bribe aimed to secure protection for transnational scam and gambling networks operating from nearby countries, he said. He was reportedly questioned for over six hours.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has responded to US President Donald Trump’s offer to act as a mediator in peace talks between Thailand and Cambodia, saying that while the gesture reflects goodwill, any negotiations must adhere to previously agreed principles.

Thailand has been the victim of aggression, and any talks must be based on four key conditions, Mr Anutin said on Wednesday. These were the complete withdrawal of all military personnel and weapons from disputed zones, the removal of all intruders from Thai sovereign territory, the clearance of hazardous materials that could endanger civilians, and reaffirmation of respect for Thailand’s sovereignty, he said.

Mr Anutin was speaking after the US news site Politico reported Mr Trump had said he was willing to attend the Asean Summit in Malaysia later this month — on condition that he could preside over the signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia. According to Politico, the White House made Mr Trump’s attendance at the Oct 26-28 meeting in Kuala Lumpur contingent on a signing ceremony being held on the sidelines of the summit. The report cited three sources familiar with the matter, who declined to be identified.

The White House also asked that summit organisers exclude Chinese officials from the event, the report said. “Keeping China out would help ensure the spotlight stays on Trump, while downplaying Beijing’s efforts to mediate between Bangkok and Phnom Penh,” Politico said. The White House has since denied that Mr Trump linked his attendance to a desire to sign the peace deal. Reports suggest he is angling for the Nobel Peace Prize.

A source at Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the matter would ultimately be decided by Malaysia, which holds the Asean chair this year. Mr Anutin added: “Thailand is always ready for dialogue once these conditions are fully met. We are neighbours, after all, while the mediator is from another continent. If President Trump can help persuade Cambodia to comply with these terms, that would be welcome — it would ensure Thailand faces no further encroachments.”

When asked about reports that the Cambodian government had nominated Mr Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize to highlight their political ties, he replied: “I only care about what benefits Thailand. If anyone receives a prize, good for them.” Mr Trump has made no secret of his obsession with winning the prize. In recent months, he has claimed credit for ending as many as seven international conflicts. The winner will be announced on Friday.