THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

Ready for office: Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, centre front, poses with the new cabinet for a group photo at Government House yesterday afternoon before taking the oath of office in the presence of His Majesty the King yesterday evening. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu) There’s a palpable buzz in the air as the new cabinet begins its journey, officially kicking off with a special meeting today. The objective? Crafting a comprehensive policy statement showcasing the government’s agenda. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took the lead yesterday, guiding her 35 ministers through their oath-taking ceremony in front of His Majesty the King at the illustrious Ambara Villa in Dusit Palace. The upcoming week is sure to be monumental. Starting September 12-13, Ms. Paetongtarn will present the new government’s policy statement before parliament, with her official role commencing on September 16. The inaugural cabinet meeting is slated for September 17, and everyone is eager to…

Picture this: tourists bustling through the Suvarnabhumi Airport passenger terminal. It’s a lively setting that reflects a country on the move. So, what’s next for one of Asia’s busiest aviation hubs? Airports of Thailand (AoT) has a master plan, and it’s nothing short of ambitious. They’re ramping up their six international airports to accommodate a whopping 210 million passengers by 2032. Let’s dive into the details, shall we? On a bright Friday morning, Kerati Kijmanawat, the AoT director, revealed the Ministry of Transport’s grand strategy for 2023-2027. It’s tailored to elevate Thailand into a premier regional aviation hub. Picture Suvarnabhumi International Airport as a mega gateway, aspiring to accommodate 120 million passengers by 2030. Don Mueang International Airport isn’t far behind, targeting 40 million. By 2032, Chiang Mai International Airport will cater to 20 million travelers, while Phuket International Airport braces for 18 million by 2028. Over at Mae Fah…

The People’s Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) recently laid out 10 forward-thinking policies, among them robust land management strategies for farmers, targeted at the new government led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. This bold initiative saw a coalition of passionate P-Move members, fronted by their dynamic secretary-general Theeranet Chaisuwan, congregating at Shinawatra Tower 3 on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road early yesterday morning. Arriving subtly via an underground entrance to elude the growing assembly at the main entrance, Prime Minister Paetongtarn made her way into the building around 9am, an hour after the eager group had gathered. At around 9:20am, a Pheu Thai Party representative stepped forward to accept the pivotal proposal letter from the determined P-Move members. Reports indicate that Prime Minister Paetongtarn promptly delegated Somkid Chuakong, the deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, to initiate contact with P-Move. The objective? To carve out a schedule for discussions addressing the…

In a persistent whirlwind of controversy, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has once again fervently asserted its innocence regarding the notorious blackchin tilapia outbreak. Despite their ongoing efforts, critics remain unconvinced, largely because CPF has cited their internal investigation rather than an independent third-party review. This past Thursday, the situation escalated as local fishermen in the serene Samut Songkhram region filed a sweeping lawsuit with Bangkok South Civil Court. They are demanding a staggering 2.4 billion baht in compensation. The lawsuit alleges that CPF’s negligence unleashed the invasive blackchin tilapia into local waterways. A source indicated that these fish were initially imported from Ghana back in 2010 for breeding research at CPF’s development center in the picturesque Amphawa district. CPF, in a vigorous defense, revealed it had established a diligent fact-finding committee to delve into the matter. Scrutinizing everything from the inception of the idea in 2006 until the cessation of…

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has cast a spotlight on a high-profile scandal involving a former permanent secretary of the Ministry of Culture and more than 20 other individuals. They’ve been indicted for allegedly helping a firm secure a 485-million-baht contract to provide ceremonial materials for royally sponsored funerals back in 2020. This dramatic turn of events was unveiled yesterday, according to a source, shattering the cloak of secrecy surrounding the issue. The main character in this unfolding drama is none other than Kitsayapong Siri, the former permanent secretary of the Culture Ministry. Alongside him, a cast of over 20 other individuals, including top-ranking officials, members from both the Terms of Reference Committee and Procurement Committee, and personnel from private companies, have found themselves ensnared in the legal net. The plot thickens as we delve into the origins of the case, which saw the light of day after Isara News…

The serene tranquility of the Northern and Northeastern provinces is about to be challenged by Mother Nature herself. Starting Monday, these twelve provinces need to tighten their belts and brace for deluges as Typhoon Yagi slams into Vietnam today. According to the National Hydroinformatics Data Center (NHC), the typhoon is on its way to being downgraded to a low-pressure area as it snakes its way inland over the upper reaches of Laos. From today, expect torrents of rain to drench the scenic northern provinces of Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Tak, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Phayao, and Nan. Not to be left out, the northeastern provinces of Loei, Nong Khai, Bung Kan, and Nakhon Phanom are also on the list to get soaked. The Meteorological Department didn’t hold back either, urging the eastern region and the western edges of the South to prepare for intense rainfall and potential flash flooding,…

The Upper House is gearing up to conduct all three readings of the 3.75-trillion-baht budget bill for the 2025 fiscal year this Monday, with the bill’s approval potentially on the horizon the very same day, reveals Deputy Senate Speaker Gen Kriangkrai Srirak. Thanks to a meticulously planned expedition, the Senate had earlier set up a special committee, allowing for simultaneous deliberation while the bill was under scrutiny in the Lower House from Tuesday to Thursday this week. This dual-track deliberation, lauded by Gen Kriangkrai, significantly boosts the chances that the Senate’s planned one-day examination of the bill will proceed smoothly and finish without a hitch. Late on Thursday, the House of Representatives gave the green light to the budget bill, empowering newly appointed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to amplify state spending and kickstart an economic recovery that’s still in its early stages. The budget bill outlines a 4.2% uptick in…

Officials have released an announcement mandating the closure of the Myinttar Yeink Bang Kung Learning Centre in Surat Thani province. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan) The Education Ministry has stepped up its efforts, instructing local authorities to investigate the presence of potentially illegal Burmese language learning centres across their provinces. This initiative follows the discovery of six such centres in Surat Thani, all of which have now been ordered to close. The impetus for this action was a viral clip showing students at the Myinttar Yeink Bang Kung Learning Centre singing both the Thai and Myanmar national anthems during a school assembly. This specific learning centre was found illegally operating on the grounds of the former Bang Kung Technological College in tambon Bang Kung, located in Surat Thani’s Muang district. Once the complaint reached the Education Ministry’s ears, Education Minister Pol Gen Permpoon Chidchob and the ministry’s permanent secretary, Suthep Kaengsanthia, were…

The northern province of Nan, a hidden gem nestled in Thailand, houses one of the country’s most vital watershed forests. This lush expanse has long been the cradle of several major waterways, including the life-giving Chao Phraya River. Declared a first-grade national forest back in the 1960s, this area once stood as an unyielding testament to nature’s grandeur. However, fast forward half a century, and you’ll find that about 28% of this invaluable forestland has succumbed to the plows and hoes of agricultural activities. Banthoon Lamsam, a revered figure in Nan, calls this predicament an “intractable malady.” As the Chairman Emeritus of Kasikorn Bank, his voice carries weight, and he doesn’t mince words when he says that Nan’s forests and its people are crying out for urgent aid. Mr. Banthoon recently made a heartfelt plea during a keynote address at the charity gala, “Together for Nan and Beyond.” This event,…

Senator Keskamol Pleansamai has sparked quite the controversy by proposing a new agency to regulate social media content, complete with the authority to take legal action against those responsible for harmful or illegal posts. In a fiery address to the Senate this past Thursday, Dr. Keskamol lamented the lack of a specific agency able to effectively oversee social media. The current divisions of responsibility between the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and the Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry seem to fall short. The NBTC has its hands full regulating broadcasting media and telecommunications, but it has no jurisdiction over social media. Meanwhile, the DES Ministry oversees online media yet lacks the clout to regulate the actual content appearing on these platforms. This oversight vacuum results in unchecked harmful content that could pose serious risks to national security, according to the senator. Dr. Keskamol didn’t just highlight the issue;…