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THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

Bangkok and Yokohama Leaders Unite for BKK EXPO 2024: A Step Towards Net-Zero Emissions

Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, the dedicated and visionary Governor of Bangkok, graciously welcomed Dr. Takeharu Yamanaka, the esteemed Mayor of Yokohama City, along with the distinguished Yokohama City Executive Committee and representatives from the Japanese Embassy in Thailand. The occasion that brought these leaders together was none other than the much-anticipated BKK EXPO 2024, held at the picturesque Benjakiti Forest Park Museum, nestled in the vibrant Khlong Toei District. In an event that highlighted global cooperation, both the Governor of Bangkok and the Mayor of Yokohama captivated the audience with a profound and thought-provoking special lecture. The topic at hand was one that resonates deeply in today’s world: cooperation in sustainable development to achieve a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions society. Under the theme “City-to-City Cooperation towards Net Zero,” these leaders underscored the pivotal role that collaborative efforts play in shaping a greener, more sustainable future. The Governor of Bangkok extended a…

Sansiri Launches ARTIZEN Project: Fostering New Talents in Thailand’s Creative Economy for 40th Anniversary

As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and innovation, Sansiri Public Company Limited, Thailand’s leading real estate brand and design powerhouse, is thrilled to unveil the “ARTIZEN” project. In celebration of its 40th anniversary, Sansiri is teaming up with celebrated national artists to create a one-of-a-kind platform for emerging talents in Illustration, Photography, Music Composition, and Product Design. This pioneering campaign, a first in Thailand, offers professional classes and unparalleled chances for winners to exhibit their work at Bangkok Design Week 2025 and gain international exposure through travel with the Sansiri team. Confident in the creative potential of the new generation, Sansiri is dedicated to catalyzing substantial economic value while nurturing the country’s future creators. Sriamphai Rattanamayoon, Chief Marketing Officer of Sansiri PCL, emphasized that Sansiri’s commitment lies in unlocking possibilities with a sharp focus on future design. With an impressive 40-year legacy, Sansiri is steering Thailand’s Creative…

Major Drug Bust at Suvarnabhumi Airport: Hong Kong Nationals Nabbed with 14kg of Heroin

Officials unearthed a startling discovery at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday night, where bags of heroin were found stashed in the suspects’ suitcase. (Photo credit: Sutthiwit Chayutworakan) In the bustling province of Samut Prakan, a major bust sent ripples through the law enforcement community. Four individuals hailing from Hong Kong were nabbed at Suvarnabhumi Airport, allegedly attempting to smuggle a whopping 14 kilograms of heroin out of the country. Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon, the determined secretary-general of the Narcotics Control Board, revealed that the quartet was captured thanks to a timely tip-off. He didn’t hesitate to drop some names either—Leung Wai Kit and Chun He Chow, specifically calling out Mr. Leung as a prime player in the illicit drug trade. It turns out, as Pol Lt Gen Panurat detailed, Thai and Hong Kong drug enforcement agencies had been tracking Mr. Leung and Mr. Chun. Intelligence suggested that the pair flew…

Chatchawan Paettayathai Warns Against Inflated Royal Thai Air Force Transceiver Purchase

A lawmaker from the opposition Thai Sang Thai Party (TST), Chatchawan Paettayathai, issued a stark warning to a House committee, urging them not to give the green light to the Royal Thai Air Force’s (RTAF) controversial plan to purchase digital transceivers. Chatchawan, representing Roi Et as a TST MP, revealed alarming information regarding the pricing discrepancy for the Jotron TR-7750 digital transceivers. According to him, the price quoted in the RTAF’s proposal is astonishingly more than double the current market price, leading to concerns of financial misconduct. During a House budget meeting centered on fiscal planning for the upcoming year, Mr. Chatchawan voiced his apprehensions. “A quick search online would show that the price quoted in the proposal is shockingly inflated,” he stated, pointing out that the RTAF intends to buy each unit for 956,250 baht, totaling 38.25 million baht for 40 units. Chatchawan didn’t just present figures; he offered…

Jirayut Srupsrisopa’s Insights on Digital Assets and ASEAN’s Future at World Economic Forum 2024

Jirayut Srupsrisopa, affectionately known as Topp, Founder & Group CEO of Bitkub Capital Group Holdings Co., Ltd., recently embarked on an engaging dialogue with Professor Klaus Schwab, the esteemed Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. Their discussion spanned a spectrum of riveting topics, notably the dynamic evolution of digital assets in Thailand and the broader ASEAN region, as well as the transformative future of the stock market, finance, and tokenisation systems. Marked by a notable achievement, Topp holds the distinction of being the very first executive from Thailand invited to offer his insights in a meeting with the World Economic Forum’s chairman. This notable invitation included an exclusive interview where Topp shed light on forward-thinking educational paradigms, with a spotlight on fintech, digital assets, and the shaping of the future global workforce. These enriching dialogues took place at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2024, held…

Jungceylon Completes Billion-Baht Revamp: New Zones and M Social Phuket Boost Patong Beach

Mr. Prawit Janyasittikul, Chief Executive Officer of Phuket Square Co., Ltd., which manages Jungceylon, gleefully announced, “We are thrilled to usher in a new chapter for Jungceylon with the completion of our AEI. This full transformation encompasses revamped and re-configured spaces alongside innovative retail concepts. Since the start of this ambitious development and renovation plan in 2022, we’ve rejuvenated over 200,000 sqm with an investment exceeding 1 billion baht. The revitalized mall now proudly hosts more than 300 stores divided across four distinct zones, each meticulously designed with natural themes to evoke freshness and relaxation.” With international tourists constituting over 80% of Jungceylon’s clientele, the mall has fine-tuned its marketing strategies to attract this crucial segment, particularly the burgeoning Free Independent Traveler (FIT) group. For the latter half of 2024, a robust marketing budget exceeding 60 million baht has been earmarked for exhilarating promotions and initiatives aimed at infusing even…

Chon Buri Marine Police Under Scrutiny in Major Oil Smuggling Investigation Led by Jaroonkiat Pankaew

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) is diving deep into murky waters, investigating nine marine police officers from Chon Buri who might just be the key to unlocking the mysterious vanishing act of three smuggling oil ships in Sattahip district. Deputy Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew has revealed that CIB’s Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) is teaming up with the Thai Marine Police Division to scrutinize the phone usage history of these nine officers. The communique data extracted from their devices will be handed over to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) for meticulous scrutiny. Once analyzed, the findings will be forwarded to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), who will determine whether to press charges against the officers entangled in this oily web. Pol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat hinted at the potential for an initial charge of malfeasance, should the evidence point to it, followed by an in-depth disciplinary inquiry. The investigative lens…

Ruangkrai Leekitwattana Demands NACC Probe into PM Srettha Thavisin’s Wealth Declarations

Political activist Ruangkrai Leekitwattana is on a mission, and his target is none other than Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. The reason? Alleged omissions in the declaration of his wealth and certain senior executive positions he held in the past. Ruangkrai has petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to probe into these alleged discrepancies in Mr. Srettha’s wealth and former position statements, which were submitted upon taking office as both the Prime Minister and Finance Minister on September 5 of last year. The story took another twist recently when Ruangkrai sent the petition to the NACC via express mail service (EMS), ensuring it reached its destination promptly. According to Ruangkrai, Mr. Srettha made another declaration on June 17, as required by law after assuming office. He claims that discrepancies began to surface when comparing the recent declaration with the one made in September. One of the main points of contention is…

Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira Optimistic About Early Passage of 2025 Budget Bill

The government is eagerly counting the days until the 2025 fiscal year’s budget bill clears its second and third readings in parliament, which Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira optimistically predicts will happen a full month ahead of its September deadline. Following his selection as chairman after the inaugural meeting of a House committee dedicated to dissecting the budget bill, Mr. Pichai revealed that sub-committees will meticulously examine each portion of the bill. However, he stayed mum regarding the opposition’s threats to have the Administrative Court nix the government’s hotly debated digital wallet handout scheme if the budget bill passes its third reading. The grand plan? The government intends to allocate a sum of 152.7 billion baht from the 2025 budget’s central fund to fuel its flashy digital wallet scheme, one of the three primary sources of funding. In its first dramatic reading in the House of Representatives last Friday, the ambitious…

Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai Demands Probe into V8 Intertrading’s Controversial Rice Auction Win

Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has issued a stringent ultimatum to the Public Warehouse Organisation (PWO), demanding a thorough investigation into the winning bidder of an auction for 15,000 tonnes of old rice. With rampant public speculation about the financial stability and potential political ties of the bidding victor, V8 Intertrading Co Ltd, the stakes are high, and the countdown is on. The ministry, still holding out on official announcements, is under pressure to scrutinize V8 Intertrading Co Ltd. Amid whispers of dubious affiliations, V8 Intertrading attracted attention by placing the top bid of 19.07 baht per kilogramme, translating to an enormous 286 million baht for the entire rice lot. Speculatively, V8 Intertrading Co Ltd, originating from Kamphaeng Phet province, is a relatively recent entrant in the business world, having been established on March 6, 2020, with a modest capital investment of merely two million baht. Initially, the company reported zero…