THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

In the bustling heart of Bangkok, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the steadfast leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), chaired a vital meeting at the party’s headquarters on Friday. As cameras flashed and journalists scribbled notes, one thing became abundantly clear: despite his and his party’s notable exclusion from the new coalition government, Prawit’s political sway remains as formidable as ever. Political pundits have been abuzz, speculating that Pheu Thai’s newfound partnership with the Democrat Party is more of a cunning maneuver than a bona fide olive branch. “The game is not over yet,” insists Sathit Wongnongtoei, a former Democrat Party MP. “Everyone is well aware of Gen Prawit’s extensive network within the political and independent sectors.” According to Sathit, Pheu Thai’s exclusion of the PPRP from the coalition led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is no mere oversight. Rather, it’s a calculated move, with Prawit’s connections stirring suspicion. The general’s…

Forecasting this year’s flood situation, Chawalit Chantararat, a renowned water expert and director at Team Consulting Engineering and Management Public Company Limited (Team Group), predicts that the forthcoming floods will not mirror the catastrophic deluge of 2011. His optimistic outlook, recently shared with the Bangkok Post, is grounded in a combination of smaller water masses descending from the North and the country’s heightened preparedness to address potential flood disasters. Chawalit emphasized that while significant rainfall has been recorded in northern provinces such as Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Sukhothai, and Phichit, it has not yet reached levels capable of submerging the entire region. This year’s water flow past Muang district of Nakhon Sawan province was measured at 15.6 billion cubic meters, a stark contrast to the 23.4 billion cubic meters recorded on September 25, 2011. “The massive water volumes witnessed in 2011 were primarily due to the convergence of the Ping,…

Incoming overflow: Sandbag embankments have been reinforced along Tha Ratcha Woradit near City Hall as Bangkok braces for an overflow of the Chao Phraya River. The Royal Irrigation Department has issued flood warnings to 10 provinces and Bangkok, effective from Sunday. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul) The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has alerted residents across 11 Central provinces about an impending increase in the water discharge rate from the Chao Phraya Dam. This proactive measure is intended to alleviate the devastating impacts of super typhoon Yagi. Det Lekwichai, acting director of the RID, announced on Saturday that the alert extends to Bangkok, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan. The water discharge rate from the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat is set to skyrocket from 300 cubic meters per second to an impressive 1,500-1,700 cubic meters per second, owing…

In a significant and era-defining policy shift, the Chinese government announced on Thursday, September 6, 2024, a decision that marks the end of an epoch: China will no longer facilitate the overseas adoption of its children. This groundbreaking move puts a full stop to a practice that has spanned over three decades, intricately linked to China’s erstwhile stringent one-child policy—an approach that has shaped countless lives and international adoption narratives. The one-child policy, implemented in 1979, was initially driven by a necessity to curb a burgeoning population. Over the decades, this regulation has had far-reaching social consequences, including the widespread practice of international adoption. Western families often adopted Chinese orphans and abandoned children, providing them with new lives far from their birthplaces. These adopted children, now adults, have created diverse communities and narratives that intertwine east and west, connecting cultures through the bonds of family. However, China’s internal demographic dynamics…

Hearts and minds: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra made a heartwarming gesture during a group photo session with her cabinet ministers on the lawn of Government House on Saturday. The ministers had just been granted an audience with His Majesty the King for their swearing-in ceremony, during which the entire 35-member cabinet received the King’s approval. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut) Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has committed to fulfilling her full three-year term in office and has taken proactive measures by forming a team to address any legal complaints that may arise against her. Following a special cabinet meeting at Government House on Saturday, she outlined the government’s policy statement to be presented to parliament on September 12–13. The government is obligated to present its policy statement to parliament before it can commence its operations. As Ms. Paetongtarn expressed, “I am dedicated to carrying out my duties until I complete my three-year term,…

With the Social Security Fund (SSF) teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, the government’s inaction could spell disaster for millions who rely on it. The urgency of the situation demands swift and decisive measures, lest workers and retirees face unimaginable hardships in their golden years. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn recently proposed several remedies to stave off this impending catastrophe, but is it enough? Thailand is grappling with an ageing population, and the younger workforce that feeds the SSF is dwindling. As a result, the fund’s expenses—covering everything from old-age allowances to welfare support—are ballooning. Research suggests that in just a decade, expenditures could outstrip income, depleting reserves within 30 to 40 years if nothing is done. The time for action is now, not later. Established in 1990, the SSF has over 24 million contributors and assets totaling 2.6 trillion baht. However, financial sustainability has always been a concern. Numerous studies,…

Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, center, chairs a general meeting of the Palang Pracharath Party at its head office in Bangkok on Friday. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) The political stage in Thailand is nothing short of an intricate chessboard, where moves and countermoves are the order of the day. Despite being excluded from the new coalition government led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, General Prawit Wongsuwon and his Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) continue to be influential players, say political pundits. Down But Not Out Sathit Wongnongtoei, a former Democrat Party MP, remarked that the game is far from over for Gen Prawit. “Gen Prawit retains substantial political clout, thanks to his extensive network of politicians and members of independent organizations,” Sathit told the Bangkok Post. Sathit believes that Pheu Thai’s decision to exclude PPRP from the coalition wasn’t just a matter of political strategy but also a reaction against Gen Prawit. His alleged…

The Commerce Ministry, under the guidance of Minister Pichai Naripthaphan, has taken a resolute stand against the ongoing influx of Chinese products into Thailand. With a keen eye on public welfare, Pichai has announced a series of fast-tracked initiatives aimed at addressing the high cost of goods juxtaposed with the surge of low-cost Chinese imports, some of which have been flagged for failing to meet consumer safety benchmarks. Minister Pichai highlighted the imperative need for stricter enforcement of current laws, particularly those governing taxes such as value-added tax, corporate income tax, and customs fees. An integral part of this strategy involves a meticulous examination of the quality of imported goods to ensure they carry certifications from esteemed bodies like the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Furthermore, the ministry plans to fortify legal frameworks to uphold fair market competition and bolster consumer protection. One…

This year’s floods are likely to be far less catastrophic than the infamous ones that drenched the country in 2011, thanks to a smaller mass of water coming from the North and the nation’s improved disaster readiness, according to water expert Chawalit Chantararat. Chawalit, director of Team Consulting Engineering and Management Public Company Limited (Team Group), voiced his optimism in a recent interview with the Bangkok Post, explaining that this year’s rainfall should be manageable. Despite heavy rain drenching northern provinces like Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Sukhothai, and Phichit, Chawalit stressed that it hasn’t been sufficient to submerge the entire region. Offering some comparative numbers, he pointed out that the amount of water currently flowing past Muang district in Nakhon Sawan province stands at 15.6 billion cubic meters. This is significantly lower than the record 23.4 billion cubic meters measured on Sept 25, 2011. Chawalit explained that the enormous water…

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) yesterday issued a crucial advisory for 11 provinces in the Central region to brace for an increased water discharge rate from the Chao Phraya Dam. This measure aims to relieve the impact of the formidable super typhoon Yagi. Det Lekwichai, the acting director of RID, emphasized that the warning is directed at Bangkok, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, and Samut Prakan. “We are going to ramp up the discharge rate at the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat from 300 cubic meters per second to a robust 1,500–1,700 cubic meters per second, given that a significant deluge is anticipated in the coming week,” Mr. Lekwichai announced. This decision is expected to elevate the water levels along the river by about 20–50 cm in low-lying zones, particularly in community areas near Phong Phaeng Canal in…