Category: The Bangkok Post

The Chinese-made C919 passenger jet will make its first scheduled international flights next month in a significant milestone for the country’s ambitions to become self-sufficient in aerospace.

Planes, operated by national carrier Air China, will start flying between Beijing and the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar on Aug 12, making one flight from each city every day, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The plane has already been making regular commercial flights to and from Hong Kong, its first non-mainland destination.

China Eastern Airlines started using the plane on the Shanghai-Hong Kong route in January last year, while Air China began operating the C919 on its Beijing-Hong Kong service in November.

Produced by the state-owned manufacturer Comac, the single-aisle plane is China’s alternative to Boeing and Airbus’s narrowbody jets that currently dominate the commercial market.

The massive state-backed effort to develop the plane was approved in 2007, with the first aircraft rolling off the production line in Shanghai in 2015.

More than 300,000 people were involved in the project, according to the government, along with over 1,000 businesses, universities, and research institutions. The authorities added that the project had made a number of technological breakthroughs along the way.

The plane made its maiden commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing in May 2023 and started regular flights along that route in January the following year.

By the end of last year, 31 C919s had been registered domestically while the planes had carried more than 4 million passengers, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

However, although it was designed and built in China, the plane is powered by CFM International LEAP engines, which were jointly developed by American and French companies.

So far Comac has received more than 1,200 orders for the plane from around the world, but delivery is falling behind schedule.

Last year it only delivered 15 of the jets – well short of the target of 75 – after escalating trade tensions prompted the United States to temporarily suspend exports of the engines.

The South China Morning Post reported in January that Comac expected fewer supply chain problems this year and aimed to deliver at least 28 jets to customers.

However, last year’s disruption highlighted a fundamental vulnerability for China’s commercial aviation programme, which remains heavily reliant on Western-made components.

The C919’s global reach also remains limited because it has yet to gain the airworthiness certifications it needs to operate in several major Western markets.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency is carrying out in-flight evaluations and technical verifications in Shanghai, but full European certification is a lengthy process that is not expected to be completed until some time between 2028 and 2031.

Until then, the C919 is likely to be restricted to the domestic market and some regional ones, including Southeast Asia.

Comac has set up an Asia-Pacific office in Singapore in the hope of capitalising on the momentum of the smaller C909 passenger jet, which has been ordered or bought by airlines in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Smartphone makers OnePlus and realme have announced major market withdrawals, with OnePlus exiting the United States and Europe, while sister brand realme departs mainland China to focus entirely on global markets.

The strategic shake-up will see both brands lean heavily into parent company OPPO’s ecosystem. OnePlus confirmed to Android Authority and The Verge that it will stop restocking its handsets in the West, allowing OPPO to take over its market share in those regions.

OnePlus plans to maintain its presence in India and China. However, the future remains hazy as the company has not yet confirmed the launch of its next flagship, the OnePlus 16, amidst lingering rumors that it might also quit the Indian market by 2027.

According to a company statement, the decision was made jointly with OPPO as part of a resource management strategy to optimize marketing efforts for each individual brand.

OnePlus assured existing customers that the move will not affect after-sales service, device warranties or software updates. The company even hinted at potentially extending software support periods for certain devices in the future.

Realme is executing a parallel shift by withdrawing from the competitive Chinese market. The brand will now pivot its focus toward launching new products exclusively for the global consumer base.

Following realme’s departure from China, OPPO will assume responsibility for all after-sales services and product warranties for existing realme devices in the country.

Another major change is that OnePlus and realme smartphones, along with related devices, will transition to OPPO’s ColorOS operating system, replacing their existing software platforms. The companies said the move will simplify software development and improve efficiency across their product ecosystem.

State enterprise National Telecom (NT) has extended the retirement date of the Thaicom 4 satellite to the end of September 2026, though it is declining to pay Thaicom 4’s management fees to Thaicom Plc, citing technical risks.

The move follows Thaicom’s proposal to NT that the satellite’s expiration date be extended to the end of next year after two extensions in recent years.

According to NT president Col Sanpachai Huvanandana, the latest extension addresses the delayed deployment of the satellite’s successor, Thaicom 9, ensuring uninterrupted service for customers.

In the past, the Thaicom 4 and Thaicom 6 satellites were operated by Thaicom under a state concession regime.

Thaicom later transferred ownership of the two satellites to the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry, which in turn assigned NT to operate servicing for the two satellites.

NT hired Thaicom to manage the two satellites on its behalf.

Thaicom claims the engineering lifespan of Thaicom 4 could potentially last until next year because it has sufficient fuel and can be safely removed from its orbit once it reaches its definitive end of life, Col Sanpachai said.

The satellite operator’s push to extend the lifespan of Thaicom 4 aligns with its plan to migrate its customer base from the retiring satellite to other platforms, particularly broadband internet users in the Indian market who have not yet been fully transitioned to other platforms.

Due to delays in launching Thaicom’s two replacement satellites, the company has leased capacity on foreign satellites to accommodate clients on an interim basis.

A recent board meeting of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) approved Thaicom’s proposal to use the foreign satellite capacity of Koreasat to provide service as a replacement for Thaicom 4.

The NBTC board meeting in April also determined Thaicom 4 would be unable to maintain its orbital position beyond July 31 due to constraints in onboard power systems, with officials indicating further extension is infeasible.

“The NT board acknowledged the need for continued operation, but limited the extension to September, noting the satellite’s lifespan has already been extended twice before,” Col Sanpachai said.

Initially scheduled for retirement in 2022, its operations were first prolonged to 2024, then extended again in March 2024 for an additional year.

Thaicom recently requested the NBTC allow it to extend the launch deadline of Thaicom 9 until Sept 30, 2027, citing force majeure circumstances after satellite manufacturer Astranis encountered production failures affecting an entire batch of satellites. The satellite was originally scheduled for launch during 2025-2026.

NO FEE PAYMENT

Col Sanpachai said NT has paid Thaicom a monthly fee of 10 million baht to manage both Thaicom 4 and Thaicom 6.

However, the NT board resolved it would no longer pay the fee for Thaicom 4 management after mid-year, arguing the satellite’s engineering life should technically be considered exhausted.

Furthermore, the state telecom declared it will not be held responsible for any damage or service interruptions occurring after mid-year, as the risk of technical failure increases with the satellite’s age.

This move aligns with a directive from the DES Ministry that authorised the NT board to make the final decision on the matter.

Despite NT’s concerns over technical risks, Col Sanpachai said the lifespan extension until September is a final grace period for Thaicom to handle its service transitions before the ageing satellite is retired from NT’s oversight.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ: Ferran Torres ?scored in ?the 106th minute to lift Spain to their second World Cup title with a 1-0 win in extra time over gutsy, 10-man Argentina in Sunday’s final.

Torres’ deserved winner came 16 years and eight days after Andres Iniesta also scored in extra time to lift the Spaniards to their first World Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands.

It came on La Roja’s 20th shot on the contest against a ?defending champion Argentina that failed to manage any to that point and struggled to wrest possession away from their superior Iberian opponents.

That was true at even strength and became more difficult when the Albiceleste’s numbers were reduced when Enzo Fernandez’s late challenge of Pau Cubarsi left referee Slavko Vincic no choice but to produce a second caution just before the end of normal time.

Spain ?remain the only nation ever to win a European Championship and World Cup in successive tournaments, having now done so a second time. They are also the first World Cup champion ever to concede only once across an entire tournament.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina failed to earn a title for the first time in three major tournaments, having also captured the 2021 and 2024 Copa Americas either side of their 2022 World Cup triumph.

The 39-year-old, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi finished the competition with eight goals and four assists, but had little time on the ball until Spain finally took the lead and never seriously looked ?like lifting his side to another great moment as he has so many times in the last two World Cup cycles.

Emi Martinez ?made 11 saves for the Albiceleste, who fell short in their bid to be the first consecutive World Cup champions since Brazil won the 1958 and 1962 titles.

What had felt so difficult for the first 105 minutes ?suddenly looked easy after 37 seconds of play in the second period of extra time.

Pedro Porro curled in an outswinging cross from the left to the back post, Nico Williams won the header and nodded it back into space, and Torres hammered a half-volley at last past the flailing Martinez. It was his ?only goal of the tournament, making him the seventh player to score during a tournament in which his side never trailed.

The government is inviting public feedback on proposed amendments to update the country’s surrogacy law.

Deputy government spokeswoman Ploythalay Laksameesaengjan said the draft intends to provide balanced access to assisted reproductive technology, with safeguards for children, parents, surrogates and medics.

It also aims to strengthen regulatory oversight, prevent commercial exploitation and support Thailand’s ambition to become a regional medical hub, she said.

Key amendments include replacing the term “husband and wife” with “spouses” to align with marriage equality laws, and increasing penalties for human trafficking.

Other changes include revised eligibility conditions for couples involving foreign nationals and provisions allowing the export of sperm, eggs or embryos by their owners.

Public comments can be submitted via www.law.go.th until July 31.

Police and local officials raided 31 companies suspected of being nominee firms under actual foreign ownership and arrested five suspects on Monday.

About 250 police and local officials were involved in the operation.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma said they searched 31 company premises and files at 18 locations in Chiang Mai.

Of the 31 companies, 16 allegedly have Thai proxy shareholders and the other 15 breach foreign shareholding limits. The 31 companies occupy about 20 rai of land worth about 633 million baht.

Pol Gen Samran said there were 74 suspects in the case and police had court arrest warrants for 22 – two Thais, seven Myanma, three Indians, one Briton and nine Chinese. On Monday police arrested five of the suspects, two Indians and three Myanma.

Some Thai suspects had been detained prior to the raids. One is a man who has been in Chiang Mai Central Prison since 2021. His name was mentioned as a shareholder in two companies.

He told police that a former inmate invited him into an investment project and asked for his ID card and house registration document, supposedly for company registration. He said he never received any return from the claimed investment projects.

“Police have taken legal action against the shareholders and directors of such companies and are expanding the investigation to catch all the offenders, including the real beneficiaries,” Pol Gen Samran said.

Similar operations were planned in Phuket, Krabi, Phangnga, Chon Buri and Surat Thani provinces, he said.

Moo Deng’s World Cup prediction streak remains perfectly wrong, three for three, after she picked Argentina to beat Spain in the final.

The curtain came down in style on the 2026 Fifa World Cup, with Spain edging Argentina 1-0 in extra time to claim their second world title. In the third-place play-off, England saw off France in a thrilling 6-4 encounter.

Amid the excitement among football fans worldwide, Thai social media found its own reason to smile. Popular Facebook page “Kha Moo and The Gang” posted an adorable photo of celebrity pygmy hippo Moo Deng eating a watermelon marked with the shortened country name “ARG”, along with a cheeky caption summing up her World Cup prediction record.

The page put it bluntly: “Moo Deng’s prediction rate: 100%. She predicted three matches and got none of them right.”

Moo Deng had earlier picked France to beat Spain and England to down Argentina, and been wrong each time.

The self-deprecating post charmed fans, who flooded the comments section, poking fun at the page admin’s honesty about Moo Deng’s flop of a forecasting career. One poster joked, “Maybe she was supposed to eat the losing side.”

The Royal Thai Navy has dismissed reports that a vessel flying the Thai flag was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the ship referred to in the reports was not Thai.

Spokesman Rear Adm Parach Rattanachaiyaphan said on Saturday the Naval Operations Centre had verified the vessel’s identity using ship-tracking data. “The vessel referred to in the reports is not a Thai vessel,” he said.

Rear Adm Parach said the navy had also checked on the only Thai cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman.

After coordinating with the vessel’s safety officer, authorities confirmed the ship and its crew were safe and continuing normal operations.

Rear Adm Parach was responding to reports on social media claiming a vessel flying the Thai flag had been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday after allegedly attempting to transit without authorisation from Iranian Revolutionary Guards.

Thailand’s top flight will open its 2026-27 campaign on Sept 4 with newly promoted Pattani hosting BG Pathum United, the Football Association of Thailand’s organising committee announced on Friday, confirming a schedule delayed by three weeks to give national team players extra recovery time.

Defending champions Buriram United face an early away test at Sukhothai, as they begin their pursuit of a fresh title amid growing competition from clubs strengthening their squads over the close season.

Fellow promoted side Rasisalai United will welcome Port in their maiden top-flight fixture. The third new arrival, Si Sa Ket United, begin life in Thai League 1 away at Bangkok United.

The season will run until May 30, 2027, comprising 29 weekend rounds and a single midweek fixture, excluding rearranged or postponed matches. The FAT said the later start — pushed back three weeks compared with last season — was designed with player welfare in mind, following a punishing schedule that saw clubs and the national team competing in close succession with little downtime.

Organisers also confirmed the calendar has been built around Asian and Asean Cup commitments, in an effort to reduce the disruption caused by fixture postponements in previous campaigns.

In a further nod to inclusivity, Pattani’s home matches during Ramadan — expected to fall between Feb 8 and March 10, 2027 — will kick off at 7pm to allow Muslim supporters to attend after breaking their fast.

The final round of fixtures will be played simultaneously across all venues, a measure intended to preserve fairness in both the title race and the relegation battle, which the FAT said would go down to the wire this season.

The governing body called on clubs to adhere strictly to competition regulations throughout the campaign as it looks to raise standards across Thai professional football.

“I am not a photographer, I am not an artist, I am just a man watching the world change,” Anuchit Sundarakiti once said of himself on his Facebook page.

Anuchit and his wife Prasanee died in a blaze at their attached houses in soi Taksin 11 in Bangkok’s Thonburi district on Saturday, along with 73 of the 92 cats the pair were taking care of.

His followers, admirers and photo enthusiasts were saddened by the loss and continue to send condolence messages to his social media address.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said on Saturday Anuchit, 62, and his wife, 55, probably died from smoke inhalation, possibly due to a short circuit. The exact cause of their deaths and the fire are still under investigation.

“Wish you, your wife and the cats a place in heaven,” said one person using the name Naris Sra.

“Thank you for the kindness you showed me. I’m so proud to have had the chance to do a painting of a lotus photographed by you,” Api Apirada said. (continues below)

Other messages also wished him, his family and their cats a place in heaven after learning of the sudden tragedy. His latest Facebook post was as recent as Friday, promoting a black-and-white photographs session.

Anuchit’s ‘fine art photographs’ are nationally and internationally recognised. His photos reflecting people’s lives, especially those in black and white, are among his signature images.

His image of a woman collecting trash among people mourning the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great was among nine selected from 50,000 submitted photos by the Culture Ministry in 2016 as reflecting the good works carried out by ordinary people but usually unheralded. (continues below)

His photographers were also in National Geographic Travel and his Lost Train shot at Hua Lamphong was selected as one of the weekly best by 500px, a global online community of photographers.

In fact, Hua Lamphong was one of his favourite locations for taking photos because it is a place where people and trains meet . “Trains represent evolution in society,” he said in a ThaiDphoto YouTube programme in 2016.

He had a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education (Architecture), but it was not known which university he studied at.

Anuchit had one big tip for struggling photographers – success starts with passion and determination, and those two traits must be reflected in their photographs, he told the ThaiDphoto programme.

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