The vibrant energy at Pheu Thai headquarters took an unexpected turn last Tuesday when former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made a surprise visit. As he entered, bathed in enthusiastic cheers and admiration, the day’s session with the party’s young MPs took on a new dimension of excitement. Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was conducting the session, quickly addressed the buzz around Thaksin’s arrival. She jested that her father had lightened the mood with a playful remark about becoming her assistant, adding a dash of humor to the proceedings. “He was just joking,” Ms. Paetongtarn reassured the reporters with a smile. The room filled with laughter when Thaksin casually mentioned his willingness to be her assistant, a suggestion that naturally drew attention from political analysts and enthusiasts alike. Paetongtarn laughed it off, emphasizing, “He has too many other ambitions and projects to focus on.” Yet, she left no room for…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
A fiery chaos erupted in Pazigyi village, nestled in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, when an aerial attack by the Myanmar military tragically ended the lives of about 160 individuals, including 40 innocent children, in April 2023. Fast forward to the 2023-24 fiscal year, the value of weapons and related materials exported from Thailand to Myanmar soared to an astounding $120 million, doubling from the previous year, according to a report spearheaded by Tom Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar. His report, titled “Death Trade: How Banks and Governments Enable the Military Junta in Myanmar,” paints a vivid picture of how international efforts to cut off Myanmar’s ruling junta have seen mixed results. Although there have been significant strides in reducing shipments from Singapore-based companies, thanks to stringent measures from the city-state’s government, businesses in Thailand have filled in the void with alarming efficiency. Mr. Andrews spotlighted 16…
Swiss national Oliver Ehrat, 51, found himself at the center of a legal whirlwind when tourist police walked into his barber shop, Oliver Twist Hair, on the picturesque island of Koh Phangan in Surat Thani. The moment was both surreal and indisputable; a foreigner meticulously styling hair, who’d been living out his hairstyling dream in a land famous for its enchantingly pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife. The picturesque island, known for its Full Moon Party and idyllic beauty, provided the perfect backdrop for Oliver Ehrat’s nine-year-long run as a beloved hair stylist. Nestled within the island’s hub, in tambon Ban Tai, Oliver’s shop didn’t just promise a haircut; it offered an experience. From locals to globetrotters, the “Oliver Twist Hair salon” had become a reputed name. However, destiny had other plans. One sunny Tuesday afternoon, tourist police, accompanied by local authorities, entered the cozy sanctum of Oliver Twist Hair. Their…
Ngern Tid Lor Public Company Limited (TIDLOR), a prominent player in the non-banking financial institution (NBFI) sector, has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first entity in the financial realm to secure funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This capital injection is earmarked to support Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) located in rural Thailand, with a particular focus on those helmed by women and those embedded in the country’s agricultural value chain. In a notable event, Mr. Piyasak Ukritnukun, the astute Managing Director of TIDLOR, and Ms. Suzanne Gaboury, ADB’s dedicated Director General for Private Sector Operations, came together to put pen to paper on this groundbreaking loan agreement. The accord locks in a hefty $150 million (around 5.5 billion baht) to be funneled into MSMEs led by women and agricultural entrepreneurs in Thailand’s bucolic locales. These segments frequently encounter immense challenges in securing the working capital…
The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has launched a heartwarming initiative titled “United Hearts to Provide Clean Water to Schools Honouring His Majesty the King on the Auspicious Occasion of His 72nd Birthday Anniversary on 28 July 2024.” This commendable project involves inspecting and analyzing the water quality in over 740 schools across the nation, aiming to enhance both the quality of life and hygiene for students through the provision of clean drinking water. Chakapong Kamchan, the Deputy Governor (Operations 2) and Acting Governor of PWA, shed light on the inspiration behind this initiative. He recounted the timeless wisdom of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, who once said, “Water is life.” His Majesty emphasized that drinking water, water for use, and water for cultivation are crucial, as life depends on water. “If there is water, people can live. Without water, people cannot live. Without electricity, people can still live.…
In a promising stride towards sustainable advancement in medical material research, IRPC Public Company Limited, under the leadership of Mr. Anucha Somjitchob, Executive Vice President of the IRPC Innovation Center, and Mae Fah Luang University, represented by the esteemed Prof. Dr. Sujitra Wongkasemjit, Vice President, have inked a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This collaboration is a beacon of innovation, aiming to decipher and develop robust materials pivotal to the medical industry’s evolution. This groundbreaking agreement is not just a pact; it’s a pledge to propel the medical sector into a new echelon of specialty products and futuristic medical advancements. Both entities envision this collaboration as an emblem of innovation and sustainability. It’s a harmonious blend of academia and industry working in tandem to sculpt a future that’s not only technologically advanced but also grounded in sustainable practices. Mr. Anucha Somjitchob, with his wealth of experience and visionary leadership, envisages…
Senate candidates made their grand entrance at the Impact Forum in Nonthaburi on Wednesday morning, setting the stage for an electrifying final round of the Senate election. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) In the picturesque locale of Nonthaburi, the day dawned with great anticipation as the last leg of the Senate election commenced. Heading the event was the chairman of the Election Commission, who was confident that by the evening, the names of all 200 newly elected senators would be unveiled. The buzz was palpable as the 2,995 candidates, who had secured their positions at the provincial level, gathered at the esteemed Impact Forum by 9am sharp. However, in every race, there are those who lag behind—six candidates couldn’t beat the clock, leaving 2,989 to fight it out in the national-level election. The crucial votes would happen in two pivotal rounds throughout the day, one in the morning and another in the…
Senate candidates arrived at the final election venue, Impact Forum, in Nonthaburi on Wednesday morning. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) In Nonthaburi, the air buzzed with anticipation as Wednesday marked the ultimate showdown in the Senate election saga. The Election Commission’s chairman buoyantly predicted that by the cloak of evening, all 200 senators-elect would finally rise to the surface, their names etched in the annals of a new political era. The journey to this climactic day had been long and arduous. Earlier in the provincial races, 2,995 hopefuls scraped through the ordinals of local politics to secure their spots at the national arena. The venue of choice, the Impact Forum building in Nonthaburi, was a hive by 9 am, though six candidates’ clocks failed them, leaving 2,989 contestants to battle it out in a dual onslaught of ballots – morning and afternoon rounds. At the crack of dawn, amidst bursts of morning…
M-Shield Loft proudly introduces its revolutionary air-purifying paint, M-Shield ION LOFT, a creation masterminded by 16-year-old prodigy biochemist, Jiranat “Maxx” Chaiyosburana. This innovation not only tackles environmental issues but also offers remarkable social benefits, especially for the fishery-rich province of Samut Sakhon. Maxx’s inspiring journey began with a visit to Samut Sakhon, where he encountered daunting heaps of discarded green mussel shells. These rotting shells emitted an unbearable stench and attracted swarms of insects. Determined to find a solution, Maxx partnered with experts at Chulalongkorn University, devising an eco-friendly method to extract calcium carbonate from the mussel shells. The process, involving washing, baking, and treating the shells with potassium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide, significantly reduces the environmental impact. Maxx’s deep dive into biochemistry led to a groundbreaking discovery: when bio-calcium carbonate is combined with titanium dioxide, it can effectively degrade harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like ammonia and formaldehyde. This…
Kingspan, a global titan in high-performance building envelope solutions, celebrated a significant milestone on June 19, 2024, with the acquisition of Thailand-based insulated panels manufacturer, Fatek Advance Insulation Company. Nestled in the bustling Rojana Industrial Park Ayutthaya, this facility has been rebranded as Kingspan Insulated Panels (Thailand) Co., Ltd. The grand launch ceremony was graced by a host of distinguished Kingspan representatives, including Mr. Manuel Furer, Regional Managing Director (Asia Pacific), Mr. Minh Ha, Area Manager (Indochina), Mr. Liam Wignall, Regional Finance Director (Asia Pacific), and Ms. Thararat Wutticha, the General Manager (Thailand). Mr. Manuel Furer, Regional Managing Director (Asia Pacific), expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Kingspan Ayutthaya stands as the Kingspan Group’s second factory in Southeast Asia. Following the commencement of production at our greenfield factory in Vietnam, Kingspan Phu My, last month, our foray into Thailand marks an exhilarating new chapter in our journey towards a net-zero emissions future…