Feathers are being ruffled and the undercurrent runs deep in the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), but not quite deep enough to go unnoticed. Cracks within the senior ranks of the coalition party have been visible for some time, only coming to a head when an outspoken member began chastising Srettha Thavisin while the latter was prime minister over his performance in running the country. The PPRP is now bitterly split down the middle, with party leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon leading one side, and party secretary-general and Caretaker Agriculture Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow leading the other. Samat Jenchaijitwanich, a former vice minister for justice, is teetering on the edge of losing his PPRP membership following a conflict with Capt Thamanat. An observer noted that Capt Thamanat had every reason to be displeased when Wan Ubumrung fell out with the ruling Pheu Thai Party at the end of June. Mr. Wan was…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
Bangkok’s tech scene is buzzing this week, and not in a good way. The Thailand Consumers Council (TCC) along with 119 frustrated individuals have taken a bold step: they’ve filed a class action lawsuit against Thai Samsung Electronics Co. What sparked this legal drama, you ask? A string of defective devices and a corporate giant’s refusal to compensate its loyal consumers. Leading the charge is Sophon Nurat, a distinguished division head at the TCC. According to him, complaints have flooded in about mysterious vertical green and pink lines haunting the screens of various Samsung Galaxy models. And, as if haunted screens weren’t enough, users have also reported instances of their phones overheating. Get this: in some cases, these maddening glitches appeared right after a One UI software update. Coincidence? Sophon doesn’t seem to think so. The plot thickens when we delve into the consumer-experience narrative. Desperate for a fix, users…
The Caretaker Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister, Capt Thamanat Prompow, has taken decisive action against 12 durian exporters after alarming reports from Chinese authorities detailed the presence of cadmium in their products. In a bid to safeguard the reputation and quality of Thai durians, the Department of Agriculture (DoA) has been directed to suspend these exporters immediately and launch thorough investigations into the origins of the toxic contamination. Capt Thamanat emphasized the gravity of the situation by mandating criminal complaints against export agents who had illicitly taken advantage of subrogated export rights from Thailand. Particular scrutiny will be placed on those who might have falsified the Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) certifications, a crucial quality seal issued by the Thai government. This certification is a stringent requirement by China for 22 Thai fruits, including durians. A ministry report dated January 9 disclosed that an impressive 218,922 farms and 2,038 packaging plants had…
In a significant shake-up, fifteen police officers have been transferred pending an intense investigation, after four officers from the special operations unit in Ayutthaya were accused of extorting money from two women they had solicited for sex. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, prompting social media outrage and an internal police review. Ekkapop Laungprasert, the founder of the Sai Mai Tong Rot Facebook page and an advisor to the interior minister, has been at the forefront of this case. He accompanied a 27-year-old woman to file an official complaint with Pol. Col. Ekkarat Aunjaroen, the deputy commander of the Ayutthaya Provincial Police. The complaint was filed against four police officers who allegedly extorted money from her. Recounting her harrowing experience, the woman explained that she was initially contacted by a man who requested her services for 1,500 baht, only for this seemingly straightforward transaction to take a sinister…
Next week, the House of Representatives is gearing up for the second and third readings of the 2025 fiscal year’s budget bill. This comes amidst buzz that the overall spending plan has been cut back by nearly 8 billion baht, according to an insider scoop. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha has marked Sept 3-5 for the budget debate following a thorough review by a dedicated committee. In its first reading back in June, the comprehensive 3.75-trillion-baht budget bill cruised through the House with a supportive vote of 311 to 175, with two members sitting on the fence with their abstentions. To sift through the bill in detail, a special 72-member House committee was put together, featuring an 18-member delegation from the cabinet and 54 representatives from various government and opposition factions. Leading this diligent team was Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, who guided the committee through trimming down the budget…
Paralympic taekwondo star Khwansuda “Khwan” Phuangkitcha has etched her name into Thailand’s sporting history by clinching the country’s first medal—a bronze—at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. The nail-biting match took place on Thursday, with Khwansuda triumphing over Iran’s Maryam Abdollahpour Deroei in the women’s 47-kilogramme (K44) category. This category is specially designed for athletes who face challenges with one arm or leg, making every bout a testament to resilience and skill. The showdown was one for the ages. As the clock ticked away, both fighters found themselves in a heated 4-4 tie, leading them into the nerve-wracking golden round. Despite an evident deadlock, Khwansuda’s superior skills and point accumulation ultimately tipped the scales in her favor, earning her the coveted bronze. This victory not only highlighted her unparalleled fighting techniques but also secured Thailand’s first medal at the 17th Summer Paralympic Games. Brimming with emotion, the 23-year-old world number three from…
The Transport Ministry has made a bold move to extend the 20-baht flat fare initiative on the Red and Purple electric railway lines beyond the original end date. Initially set to wrap up in November, the policy will now remain in place thanks to a notable 26% surge in passenger numbers. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit emphasized that his department has been tirelessly advocating for the continuation of this flat-rate system, primarily focusing on the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Red Lines and the Metropolitan Rapid Transit’s (MRT) Purple Line. The scheme began as a pilot project, sanctioned by the cabinet, from Oct 16, 2023, to Nov 30, 2024. Its primary goal? Easing the financial burden on daily commuters. “We’ve ensured that passengers on both lines will benefit from this policy uninterrupted,” Mr. Suriya confirmed, hinting that the extension might even stretch beyond the original Nov 30 cutoff. He noted that…
The Hungarian-Thai Chamber of Commerce is poised to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Budapest Chamber of Commerce next month, an initiative aimed at invigorating bilateral economic cooperation between Hungary and Thailand. This exciting development was revealed during a luncheon hosted by the Hungarian embassy, where the Hungarian ambassador engaged with local Thai media at the British Club Bangkok. The discussions also encompassed Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the European Union and its foreign policy initiatives. Kamilla Balla, the deputy head of mission at the Hungarian embassy, shared with the Bangkok Post that the MoU will be officially signed during the “Thai-Hungarian Business Matching & Fintech Event” at the Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Hungary on September 17. This agreement is designed to stimulate business interactions, trade development, and economic cooperation between the business sectors of both nations. Among its many benefits, the MoU will…
The buzz is palpable across the political spectrum as the new Thai cabinet’s list is poised to receive royal endorsement this weekend. The aftermath of the Democrat Party’s unexpected coalition with the reigning Pheu Thai Party is a forceful alliance now boasting the backing of 322 MPs in parliament. Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai revealed yesterday that Pheu Thai is meticulously vetting the eligibility and backgrounds of each candidate before forwarding the finalised list for royal approval. “We want to ensure each cabinet minister is a perfect fit,” stated Mr. Phumtham, who stepped into the role of acting prime minister following Srettha Thavisin’s dismissal by the Constitutional Court. “The cabinet line-up is nearly complete. Once it receives royal endorsement, we’ll dive straight into work,” he added with palpable determination. The suspense is set to culminate by week’s end with the final cabinet list drawing near completion, as previously indicated…
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, right, and her team from the Pheu Thai Party paid a crucial visit to the flood-stricken areas and victims in Sukhothai’s Sawankhalok district yesterday. The effort underscores the Pheu Thai Party’s commitment to supporting communities in times of crisis. Addressing concerns about potential flooding in Bangkok, Prime Minister Paetongtarn assured the public that the capital is not at risk. She pointed out that neither the current water levels in Bangkok nor the weather conditions suggest any immediate danger comparable to the catastrophic floods in 2011. “We are well-prepared, and the circumstances this year are far less severe,” she emphasized. During her visit to Sukhothai, the Prime Minister engaged directly with residents whose homes and farmlands have been overwhelmed by flooding. “I’ve listened to many stories and understand the hardships people are facing. It’s heartening to see the water levels beginning to recede. Each flood brings significant…