Top-level meeting: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra chaired the inaugural session of her five-member senior advisory team on Thursday at the illustrious government guest house known as Baan Phitsanulok. (Photo: Government House) In the captivating atmosphere of Baan Phitsanulok, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra gathered with her newly minted advisory team to chart the course for Thailand’s future. With just over two years left in office, the agenda was ambitious: eradicate poverty and foster a thriving economy. Deputy chairman of the advisory panel, Surapong Suebwonglee, echoed the prime minister’s determination, saying, “Prime Minister Paetongtarn is resolute in her mission to lift Thais out of poverty. Her vision is to tackle economic issues head-on, paving the way for a prosperous economy.” This high-stakes meeting took place at Baan Phitsanulok, located on the elegant Phitsanulok Road. The grand mansion, resonating with history, was abuzz as the prime minister shared updates on her personal X…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In the heart of Buri Ram, a woman proudly fans out a bundle of 500-baht bills on a sunny Thursday. She’s one of the lucky recipients of the government’s 10,000-baht handout programme, an initiative that’s sending ripples of excitement—and much-needed financial relief—throughout the nation. Captured in a vivid moment by Surachai Piraksa, this scene is quickly becoming emblematic of hope for many struggling citizens. The high-profile handout, launched this Wednesday, allows recipients to spend their 10,000 baht on virtually anything they wish—including clearing their lingering debts. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has been quite vocal about this newfound financial freedom. “They can use the money [to clear their debts],” he stressed on Thursday, making it clear that the programme is designed to solve real-world problems. “They have the right to use the money to solve their problems.” Phumtham confidently reiterated, “This is proof that the government will deliver its promises.…
Officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport found themselves in a high-stakes scenario on a recent Thursday, upon receiving a bomb threat linked to an incoming Thai VietJet Air flight from Danang. Fortunately, after thorough investigation, no explosives were found, and both passengers and crew emerged unscathed. “The incident did not affect the airport’s overall operations,” confirmed Kittipong Kittikachorn, the airport’s general manager in a statement released on Thursday evening. Initially, at 2:45 pm, authorities received a notification indicating a bomb threat aboard flight VZ 961 traveling from Danang, Vietnam, to Suvarnabhumi. This aircraft was transporting 120 passengers, six crew members, and 61 checked bags. Upon landing, the focal point of the investigation, a Polish woman who was reported to have made the threat, was swiftly escorted to Suvarnabhumi police station. Authorities, upon careful consideration, determined that she had not intended any harm nor was she in the process of committing any act…
People’s Party spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu (left) and deputy party leader Sirikanya Tansakun attend a parliamentary meeting in Bangkok on Sept 3. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut) The People’s Party has decided to hit the brakes on its push to amend constitutional articles dealing with ethical standards for political officeholders, thanks to an unexpected U-turn by the Pheu Thai Party. According to party spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu, the main opposition party prefers to temporarily shelve this contentious topic to prevent it from becoming a sticking point that could cause other crucial proposals to lose support. Parit emphasized that the party is vigorously advocating for six other constitutional revisions. These include a bill designed to thwart future military coups, one aimed at reforming the armed forces, and another to prevent collusion between the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) and the government. “The likelihood of these amendments being ratified before the next general election may be slim,…
Construction workers bravely battle the blazing heat to bring the Bang Yai-Kanchanaburi motorway project to completion. Last April 24 was no exception, with temperatures soaring and sweat pouring, yet the relentless spirit of these dedicated individuals remained unshaken. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul) In the bustling halls of governance, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn stands resolute. The mandate is clear: the 400-baht daily minimum wage must see the light of day on October 1, as planned. Despite a lingering cloud of uncertainties, marked by the national wage committee’s hesitation to officially endorse it, Mr. Phiphat remains unfazed. During a heated House session on Thursday, opposition MP Sia Champhathong of the People’s Party posed a piercing question. He probed whether the recent adjournments in wage committee meetings were deliberate ploys by the government to skirt the wage issue. With unwavering confidence, Mr. Phiphat clarified that the committee’s actions were beyond his purview. Comprised of…
Customs officials orchestrated an impressive operation, seizing over 1.3 tonnes of dry cannabis buds destined for the United Kingdom, at Laem Chabang Port. The announcement was made during a lively media conference held on a bustling Thursday morning. According to a report by FM91 Trafficpro, the meticulous effort and sharp intuition shown by the officers brought significant results. The operation, as explained by Direk Khacharak, director of the Laem Chabang Port Customs Office, was set into motion based on crucial intelligence from international agencies. Two shipments, flagged as suspicious, were put under the microscope on September 11 and 16. These inspections ultimately led to a remarkable discovery. The export documents painted a quite mundane picture of the shipments. The first was listed as containing three pallets of rubber tiles, destined to enhance fitness centers in the UK. Meanwhile, the second shipment was detailed as four pallets brimming with cloth gloves.…
A sign expressing opposition to the Southern Economic Corridor and the Rayong-Chumphon Land Bridge megaproject stands tall in the Phato district of Chumphon, a testament to the growing discontent in the region. This grandiose undertaking, targeting the Southern part of Thailand, has recently found itself in the crosshairs of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). They have formally petitioned Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, urging a thorough re-evaluation, underscoring its questionable investment merit and potential threats to both the environment and local livelihoods. The NHRC’s reproach isn’t without substance. They’ve drawn upon numerous studies from various state agencies, each echoing their reservations. Leading the charge, council member Sayamol Kaiyoorawongs has called upon the Prime Minister to direct the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTTPP), along with other relevant government bodies, to furnish more comprehensive information about the Land Bridge and its affiliated projects. Ms. Sayamol emphasized the need…
On the splendid evening of September 24, 2024, the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, Han Zhiqiang, graced a celebratory reception in Bangkok, marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. An impressive gathering of over 2,000 guests joined this significant event. Among the distinguished attendees were Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, President of the Thai National Assembly Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Vice Premier Anutin Charnvirakul, Vice Premier Peeraphan Saleerathaviphak, Vice President of the Thai National Assembly Meng Kun, President of the China Overseas Chinese Business Federation Lin Chuqin, President of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Xu Huishen, and Chairman of the Chaozhou Association. During his address, Ambassador Han Zhiqiang reminisced about the pivotal third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held in July. He eloquently recounted China’s journey of remarkable achievements, methodical progress, and bolstering international esteem since its…
A power pole along a local road in the Rangae district of Narathiwat has been dramatically toppled after a bomb attached to it exploded on Thursday, leaving eight soldiers injured. (Photo: Abdullah Benjakat) NARATHIWAT – Eight soldiers were injured in a thrilling yet concerning roadside explosion, assumed to be the handiwork of local insurgents, in the Rangae district of this southern border province on Thursday. The improvised explosive device (IED) was cunningly tied to a power pole on the side of a local road in Ban Hulu Pare, nestled in tambon Tanyongmat. As fate would have it, the bomb was ruthlessly detonated just as a military pickup truck, loaded with soldiers, cruised by. The sheer force of the blast wreaked havoc, brutally toppling the power pole and shattering both the windshield and windows of the pickup truck. The soldiers, caught off guard, sustained injuries and were swiftly transported to Rangae…
In a dramatic turn of events in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district, nine Vietnamese men found themselves under arrest after a tense standoff involving an illegal detainment scheme tied to a cryptocurrency dispute. Local authorities were alerted to the shady dealings occurring in a local house by a fortuitous tip. As Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart of the Immigration Bureau (IB) reports, the tangled tale began to unravel when officers received a tip-off about foreign nationals holding captives over an unresolved debt of 1.7 million baht. The alleged victims, a Thai woman named Suchada, 33, and a Taiwanese man, Li, 21, found themselves caught in the crossfire of a cryptocurrency transaction gone wrong. No surnames were disclosed, but the details of their ordeal paint a vivid picture. According to authorities, the Vietnamese suspects were running a digital currency trade operation from a house in Lat Phao Soi 41, Chankasem, under a veil…