Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak, widely considered Thailand’s economic tzar, has resigned, along with 3 ministers working for him, paving the way for the long-rumoured cabinet reshuffle by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha of the government’s economic team. The 3 others are Finance Minister Uttama Savanayana, the energy minister and the minister of higher education, science, research, and innovation. The deputy secretary-general of the PM, also in Somkid’s team, resigned as well. Asked about the resignations, the PM told reporters…“I don’t know, I have not seen”. Sources within Prayut’s ruling Palang Pracharat Party gave contradictory answers when contacted by Reuters. Uttama quit the […]

With the nation rattled by news of 2 new Covid-19 infections among “VIPs” who were exempted from testing when they arrived in the country – one an Egyptian soldier, the other the 9 year old daughter of a Sudanese diplomat – PM Prayut Chan-o-cha asked reporters today to make their reports on the new cases “less scary”. He said the latest case, in Rayong province, is the government’s fault and anybody affected by it will be provided with help. When the PM was asked “what scares people into not leaving home”, his reply was “the press”. “You should ease off […]

A national park officer has suffered head injuries after he was allegedly attacked last night by a group of teenagers in Chon Buri. He told Banglamung police there was no apparent reason for the assault. Police were notified of the incident,at a house in Baan Phuthai, at around 10:30pm. Police, emergency responders and reporters arrived to find Phonsuwan Arunsri, a staffer of Khao Laem Ya National Park at the north end of Koh Samet, bleeding from head injuries. He was taken to hospital after giving a brief statement to police. Relatives told police they were just chatting in front of the […]