THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

Deputy Interior Minister Sabeeda Thaised, daughter of esteemed Bhumjaithai member Chada Thaised, gracefully arrived at the Government House on Thursday, but not for the reasons you’d imagine. Cameras flashed and reporters buzzed as she underwent Covid-19 testing. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu) In an unexpected twist, two notable cabinet ministers from the Bhumjaithai Party found themselves at the mercy of a positive Covid-19 diagnosis right before their crucial oath-of-office ceremony scheduled with His Majesty the King on Friday. Deputy Interior Ministers Songsak Thongsri and Sabeeda Thaised were the unfortunate pair, with tests confirming their infections on Thursday. Their positive results mean they’ll miss the prestigious swearing-in at the Amporn Sathan Residential Hall within Dusit Palace, slated for 5 pm. This turn of events necessitates a rescheduling of their oath-taking ceremony, which also implies their absence from an informal cabinet meeting focused on policy statements set for Saturday. The news created quite an…

Deputy Interior Minister Sabeeda Thaised, daughter of Bhumjaithai member Chada Thaised, made her way to Government House on Thursday for a routine Covid-19 test. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu) As political dramas go, this one took a viral twist. Two esteemed cabinet ministers from the Bhumjaithai Party found themselves sidelined by unexpected Covid-19 diagnoses. Songsak Thongsri and Sabeeda Thaised, both serving as deputy interior ministers, underwent their routine screenings only to receive the dreaded ‘positive’ result. The timing couldn’t have been worse. The duo was all set to make a grand appearance before His Majesty the King on Friday, where they were scheduled to take their oaths of office. The ceremony, due to be held at the stately Amporn Sathan Residential Hall at Dusit Palace, was poised to be a pivotal event. But alas, the virus had other plans, forcing them to skip the ceremony entirely. Their unexpected health setback has necessitated…

Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the seasoned leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), was greeted with enthusiastic applause as he made his entrance at the party’s headquarters in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok this past Friday. A brief hiatus from his leadership role had ended, mere hours after he initially stepped down to facilitate the election of a new executive board. The party’s general assembly was both spirited and consequential, owing to the resignation of Capt Thamanat Prompow along with five members of his faction. This move further distanced them from the core of the PPRP, necessitating crucial leadership decisions. In an overwhelming show of confidence, Gen Prawit was re-elected as the party leader. Subsequently, Mr. Paiboon stepped into the shoes of the former secretary-general Thamanat. Notably, Gen Krityothin Sasipattanawong took on the role of treasurer, while Sompot Saengkaew assumed the position of registrar. The newly elected executive board features eight…

Get ready for a big change in the world of fresh produce! Starting next year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is gearing up to launch the Hold, Test, Release (HTR) measure to give imported fruit and vegetables a thorough quality check. This move comes hot on the heels of some alarming news that tainted produce, particularly from China, has been slipping into Thai markets. Lertchai Lertvut, the FDA’s deputy secretary-general, explained that the HTR measure is designed to ensure that imported produce meets strict safety standards before it reaches consumers. Here’s how it works: random samples of imported fruits and veggies will be collected and whisked off to specialized labs for rigorous tests. The goal? Delivering results within a speedy 24 hours. If the produce doesn’t make the cut, an immediate import ban will be slapped on it. The logistics behind this quick turnaround are crucial. Imagine those fruits…

In a striking turn of events, Thailand is inching closer to the legalization of casinos as part of a grand entertainment complex project. This news, announced by Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, has sent ripples across the nation. He revealed that a public hearing indicated a substantial 80% approval from the attendees, a promising sign that the project has public backing. The hearing was a dynamic affair, organized to gather insights and opinions on the proposed bill by the Ministry of Finance. Mr. Julapun, a key figure in the Pheu Thai Party, mentioned that the discussions were fruitful and the draft bill would be refined based on the feedback received. The much-anticipated revised bill is slated for submission to the cabinet where coalition parties will determine its fate. With their support, the bill will proceed to the Council of State for meticulous scrutiny before it makes its way to the…

Deloitte has unveiled an insightful new report shedding light on the transformation of micro multinational companies (micro-MNCs) in Asia Pacific (APAC) as they increasingly embrace digital technologies and ramp up investments in branding. The buoyant outlook on cross-border e-commerce and digital trade radiates optimism amidst the global economic turbulence. The comprehensive report, titled “Going-Global: Seizing the Next Great Opportunity in Digital Trade”, crafted with WorldFirst, underscores the robust role of APAC in driving global economic momentum. Despite geopolitical tensions and rising protectionism, the region continues to be a powerhouse, contributing around 40% to the global trade in goods. A mammoth leap from $13.7 trillion in 2013 to nearly $18 trillion attests to the region’s unwavering dynamism. WorldFirst, renowned for its integrated digital payment and financial services tailored for global businesses, particularly SMEs, co-authored this revelatory study. A striking 71% of the surveyed micro-MNCs — those engaged in cross-border e-commerce and…

On the vibrant morning of August 1, 2024, excitement filled the air as a man eagerly signed up for the digital wallet scheme on its very first day. This initiative is a key component of the grand vision laid out in the 2025 budget, which includes a special provision to partially finance this innovative program. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul) With a resounding sense of purpose, the House of Representatives has triumphantly passed a colossal 3.75 trillion baht budget for the fiscal year starting in October. This robust financial plan empowers the newly-appointed Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, to bolster state spending and inject much-needed momentum into the budding economic recovery. The budget bill, championing a 4.2% increase in government spending compared to the current year’s revised outlay, garnered immense support from 309 lawmakers in its conclusive third reading in the 500-member House late Thursday. However, 155 lawmakers offered a dissenting vote after…

Yesterday, a significant legal move was made in the picturesque province of Samut Songkhram. A collective of local fishermen, standing together like an emblem of unity, walked into the hallowed halls of the Bangkok South Civil Court. Their purpose? To seek justice and hold Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) accountable for environmental damage that spanned over the years—damage allegedly caused by the rampant spread of the blackchin tilapia. Panya Tokthong, an ardent environmental advocate and a prominent figure within both the Upper Gulf of Thailand Preservation Network and the Mae Klong Community Lovers Network, spearheaded this movement. This wasn’t just a personal mission; Panya was the voice for 1,400 local fishermen from the districts of Amphawa, Bang Khonthi, and Muang. The roots of this controversy trace back to 2010, when CPF imported blackchin tilapia from Ghana, intended for breeding research at their development centre in Amphawa. It seemed innocent enough—just another…

The Thai government’s ambitious plan to launch a mega entertainment complex, featuring casinos, is moving forward, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. On Thursday, he announced that public hearings had shown overwhelming support, with 80% of participants backing the initiative. Julapun, a significant figure in the coalition-core Pheu Thai Party, emphasized that these hearings served as a platform for inclusive discussions on the entertainment complex bill, crafted by the Ministry of Finance. As it stands, the proposed legislation will legalize the creation of entertainment complexes, including casinos as an integral part. The deputy minister added that the bill would be fine-tuned to incorporate valuable insights and suggestions from the public hearings. Once revised, the bill will face the cabinet’s scrutiny to determine coalition parties’ support. Should the cabinet give its nod, the proposal will advance to the Council of State for thorough examination before making its way to the…

Capt Thamanat Prompow, a notable figure within the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), has made the pivotal decision to step down from his role as the party’s secretary-general. Notably, he is not alone in this venture; five other members from his faction have also resigned from their executive posts within the party. This collective resignation was formally submitted to the Election Commission (EC) earlier, marking a significant upheaval within the PPRP just ahead of a crucial party board meeting chaired by Gen Prawit Wongsuwon. Interestingly, while Capt Thamanat and his cohort have resigned from their executive roles, they have strategically retained their PPRP memberships to avoid jeopardizing their status as Members of Parliament (MPs). This move demonstrates a calculated effort to maintain their political foothold while expressing dissatisfaction with the party’s current trajectory. The faction comprises roughly half of the PPRP’s 40 MPs, establishing a formidable bloc within the party. Meanwhile,…