In a surprising turn of events, the Pheu Thai Party, a close-runner up in the existing general election, has drawn curtains to its teamwork with the top-rank holder Move Forward Party. The reason that prompted this unexpected move is the MFP’s stringent stance on altering the lese majeste law. The development was publicly announced on Wednesday afternoon by Pheu Thai’s leader Cholnan Srikaew. The MFP and Pheu Thai, previously co-conspirators in an alliance of eight parties led by MFP to secure governmental authority, held 151 and 141 seats within the House respectively. Together, the coalition accounted for an overwhelming majority, with 312 out of the total 500 House seats. However, the MFP’s failure to clinch a majority vote during the joint assembly of the House and Senate post nominating its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, for the prime minister’s role dealt a blow to their ambitions. This hapless outcome nudged the MFP…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Weng Tojirakarn, the former red-shirt leader, has expressed his distaste towards Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan. The reason behind his disappointment is her public declaration that she will not be using her senatorial vote for the appointment of a Prime Minister, regardless of the candidates. Reacting to this decision, Weng Tojirakarn suggested that Senator Porntip consider stepping down from her position if the refusal to use her voting rights is her final decision. Weng shared his thoughts in a post on his Facebook account. His message was directed at Porntip, as he stated, “An esteemed senator such as yourself, appointed under the 2017 Constitution, must understand that the only way to relinquish your power is through resignation, not by refusing to exercise your right to vote. Abstention, in any form, contradicts the will of the people. Maintain your self-respect and remain true to yourself.” He expressed his concern, “Sans the senators appointed…
The esteemed Associate Professor, Dr Vishnu Atthavanich, from the Faculty of Economics at Kasetsart University joined a thought-provoking conversation at a panel discourse aptly named, “Cope and Adapt to Stave Off the Global Warming Crisis”. During this interactive dialogue, Dr. Vishnu raised quite a startling proposal. He suggested that an estimated 1.2 trillion trees would be necessary to plant to counterbalance the carbon dioxide produced within the last decade alone. But to do so in such a brief span is as ambitious as it is challenging, even technologically. An insightful research piece that attempts to comprehend global warming’s overarching effects on Thai agriculture suggests that non-irrigated farmlands are extraordinarily susceptible. The projected average annual damage of a whopping 83 billion baht only highlights this crisis. The study extrapolates that should global warming persist until 2045, the conservative cost to Thai agriculture could potentially escalate to a staggering 2.85 trillion baht.…
As the world commemorates World Breastfeeding Week in the first week of August, Unicef makes an impassioned plea for increased backing from both the public and private sectors in a bid to empower all mothers, working mothers included, to successfully administer exclusive breastfeeding to their newborns. “Studies show that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in Thailand has seen a significant boost, doubling in the past few years. Nevertheless, a considerable number of children in Thailand are still denied the chance to have the best possible start in life,” expressed Kyungsun Kim, Unicef’s Representative for Thailand. “The magic of motherhood is encapsulated in breastmilk. Speaking as a mother though, I am well-aware of the challenges that breastfeeding presents, even more so when it comes to exclusively breastfeeding for at least six months, especially for mothers who juggle both child-rearing and professional life. Such mothers vitaly require support from family, healthcare professionals…
With the increasing convergence of science, technology, and public health, two Thai institutions, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), have pooled their resources and expertise to create an innovative tool. This joins hands with the country’s Ministry of Public Health and the Department of Disease Control to present a mobile application dubbed “RooTun.” RooTun, a Thai term which translates to ‘Know Now,’ is a beacon of proactive vigilance and disease control in your palm. The mastermind behind the idea, Dr. Naina Sahavejchaphan, who heads the Simulation and Data-Drive Research Team, fills us in on how this works. Essentially, the RooTun App gathers key data about the prevalence and intensity of dengue in various locations around the country. It then uses this highly-specific location information to warn users about potential risks in areas they’re planning to visit or currently are. Beyond…
Renowned assistant governor of the Bank of Thailand, Chayawadee Chai-anant, has recently opened up about her concerns regarding the nation’s economic future. She believes that political instability forms a part of the triple-threat faced by Thailand’s economic stature. The other two causes for concern comprise global economic fortitude and the skyrocketing cost of living. Chai-anant is worried that an extended hiatus in the establishment of the government could hamper the distribution of the budget intended for state agencies. She holds the opinion that the aftermath of this could be grave and severely detrimental to the economy. “The magnitude of resulting impact would be directly proportional to the length of the delay. If it’s too lengthy, it might dampen investor confidence,” she clarified. Post the May elections, the Move Forward and Pheu Thai-led coalition, comprising eight parties, has yet to successfully constitute a government. The primary hindrance being the resistance from…
This coming Friday, the Parliament is set to assemble for a united session that is specifically dedicated to selecting the next premier of the nation. “If we want to see the nation progress and the establishment of a new government in the near future, it is essential to temporarily put to rest discussions on Section 112 [of the Penal Code],” expressed Srettha during a recent Tuesday address. “Presently, Pheu Thai places the greatest emphasis on issues concerning the economy and the welfare of the general populace. Instead of focusing on other areas, it is crucial to focus on economic enhancement and ensuring that the populace has access to essential and basic necessities,” he added further. The hallmark economic revitalization policy that Pheu Thai pledged during its election campaign season was the initiation of a 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme, which is expected to set the government coffers back by approximately 560…
Deputy Director-General Duangarthit Nidhi-u-tai of the Department of Trade Negotiations, under the auspices of the Commerce Ministry, has indicated enhanced cross-border trade opportunities, fruitfully impacting industries, particularly those oriented toward agriculture. He cited the removal of trade barriers as a significant contributor. According to Duangarthit, the revamping of the agreements is foreseen to boost innovations from all associated parties, solidifying economic growth for not only the region but its associates as well. The pivotal meeting occurred over July 14-15, where negotiators and representatives of the ASEAN nations dissected each FTA, resulting in several amendments. Duangarthit highlighted the 39th meeting of the ASEAN Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA), stating noteworthy advancements in the tax reduction tables from the years of 2017 to 2022. Such progress, approved by nine of the ASEAN states, would undoubtedly catalyze and make ASEAN-Korea trade even more transparent. Additional advancements within AKFTA were identified, which included the…
Thailand’s tourism industry has raised a loud call for the re-establishment of the visa fee waiver program, targeting an increase in visitor numbers from densely populated nations such as China and India. This appeal closely follows a less than favourable recovery in several key sectors and is regarded as crucial to enhancing visitor intake this year. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, the President of the Thai Hotels Association, accentuated the strategic importance of targeting countries with large populations. For this, countries such as China and India are especially attractive, as their tourists majorly stay in popular Thai destinations including Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket. Despite the encouraging numbers of high-spending tourists contributing to Thailand’s tourism sector, the significance of budget travellers and large tour groups hasn’t waned, Marisa pointed out. Emphasizing this notion, she stated, “While Thailand has been attracting quite a substantial number of high-spending tourists, we must not overlook the reliance…
Prepare the raincoats and secure the boats, Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) is predicting abundant rainfall across the northern and northeastern provinces, which might make things a bit wet and wild. Up to 45 provinces, including the thriving city of Bangkok, have been forewarned for a sudden bout of flooding and quick-as-a wink flash floods, especially in the lower lying locales and neighborhoods by the serene waterways. Your friendly weather predictor, the TMD, has it on good authority that the impending southwestern monsoon is riling up in strength, already spreading out its robust winds over the tranquil Andaman Sea, all of Thailand, and the turquoise Gulf of Thailand. The heart of the matter is a monsoon trough that’s maneuvering its way towards a low-pressure area over northern Vietnam, via the picturesque landscapes of Laos and Thailand. What does this signify for Thailand’s almost tropical rainforest climate? Most likely an increase in…