Search Results for: Thai Cabinet

  • Thailand NewsMajority oppose casino-entertainment complex and online gambling legalisation

    Majority oppose casino-entertainment complex and online gambling legalisation

    A significant majority of people have expressed opposition to the government’s proposal for a casino-entertainment complex and the legalisation of online gambling, as revealed by a survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration. The Nida Poll gathered responses through telephone interviews from January 20 to January 21 from 1,310 individuals over the age of 18, representing diverse educational…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s future: Seminar tackles bold new environmental rules

    Phuket’s future: Seminar tackles bold new environmental rules

    Phuket’s business leaders and environmental experts gathered yesterday, January 23 at the Royal Phuket City Hotel for a pivotal seminar titled Unlocking the Phuket Environment: Crisis or Opportunity? Organised by the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and presided over by Chamber President Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, the event focused on the sweeping new environmental regulations announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok fights smog with free public transport for a week

    Bangkok fights smog with free public transport for a week

    The Thai government is taking bold action to tackle Bangkok’s persistent smog problem by offering free rides on the BTS, MRT, and BMTA buses for seven days, starting tomorrow, January 25. The initiative aims to reduce vehicle usage and ease air pollution in the capital. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced the measure today. “From January…

  • Thailand NewsCyber Crime Division probes legality of Jagat coin app

    Cyber Crime Division probes legality of Jagat coin app

    Thailand’s Cyber Crime Division has identified the Jagat coin as potentially illegal, uncovering three bank accounts linked to player transactions, and has summoned account holders for questioning. Players are warned of possible legal repercussions. Police Lieutenant General Trirong Phiewpan, commander of the Cyber Crime Division, yesterday highlighted concerns about the Jagat coin hunt app. Initial investigations suggest it may involve…

  • Thailand NewsState Welfare Card applications to open by March

    State Welfare Card applications to open by March

    Applications for the State Welfare Card will open by the end of March, with low-income and vulnerable groups invited to register. The registration follows two years after the last round, which took place from September 5 to October 31, 2022. Julapan Amornwiwat, Deputy Finance Minister, announced that the details of the new registration for the State Welfare Card this year…

  • Chiang Mai NewsTreasure game chaos: Chiang Mai teens warned to stay out

    Treasure game chaos: Chiang Mai teens warned to stay out

    Chiang Mai police issued a stern warning to teenagers playing the Jagat Coin treasure-hunting game after reports of property damage and safety risks surfaced. The popular app, developed in Indonesia, has caused disturbances in the northern province, prompting law enforcement to caution players against trespassing on private property. The warning was posted on the Chiang Mai Police Facebook page after…

  • Bangkok NewsMore jobs: Thaksin defends casino complex in Maha Sarakham

    More jobs: Thaksin defends casino complex in Maha Sarakham

    In Maha Sarakham province, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra criticised opponents of the government’s proposed casino entertainment complex, accusing them of misrepresenting the project as merely a casino. Thaksin defended the plan, stating that less than 10% of the complex’s activities would involve gaming, with the majority dedicated to other attractions. The 75 year old former prime minister highlighted that each…

  • Thailand NewsThaksin blames Prawit for political turmoil amid coup fallout

    Thaksin blames Prawit for political turmoil amid coup fallout

    Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra responded to complaints from Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader General Prawit Wongsuwon about political victimisation, attributing the current political turmoil to the general’s actions. Thaksin questioned the necessity of the coup that initially disrupted the political landscape. General Prawit was a key figure in the government led by Prayut Chan-o-cha, established by the National Council…

  • Pattaya News“Barrelled and dumped”: Korean killers get life for Pattaya murder

    “Barrelled and dumped”: Korean killers get life for Pattaya murder

    A South Korean court has sentenced three men to lengthy jail terms for the gruesome murder of a compatriot near Pattaya, Thailand, last year. The Changwon District Court handed life sentences to two of the perpetrators, aged 28 and 40, while a third, aged 27, received 25 years behind bars, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap. The chilling crime occurred…

  • Thailand News‘Stay away’ leaflets target PM’s visit in Yala slammed as fake news

    ‘Stay away’ leaflets target PM’s visit in Yala slammed as fake news

    Reports of ominous warning leaflets telling citizens to stay away from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during her visit to Thailand’s southern border provinces have been branded misinformation by local officials. The alleged leaflets were said to have been distributed at key locations in Yala City, including the Yala Central Mosque, Old Market’s Soi 5, and the Jaru Community near Dhamma…

  • Hot PropertyCondo or resort? Inside PEYLAA, the upcoming Phuket project that promises to let you live the moment

    Condo or resort? Inside PEYLAA, the upcoming Phuket project that promises to let you live the moment

    Life in Phuket feels like a perpetual holiday. Time seems to slow down, nature becomes a part of your daily rhythm, and the ordinary becomes anything but mundane. Simple pleasures, like sipping coffee on your balcony or taking an evening stroll along the beach, become extraordinary. This is the life that PEYLAA Phuket Bang Tao promises to deliver with its…

  • Business NewsTax cuts with a twist: SEZ businesses get a decade of ten-percenters

    Tax cuts with a twist: SEZ businesses get a decade of ten-percenters

    The Revenue Department is slashing corporate income tax to just 10% for businesses nestled in Thailand’s special economic zones (SEZs) for the next ten years in a stunning financial manoeuvre. The move, designed to inject life into these strategically positioned areas, is set to give them a major boost. Director General Pinsai Suraswadi revealed that this game-changing tax cut received…

  • Thailand NewsRice to the occasion: Commerce Ministry fast-tracks SME trade talks

    Rice to the occasion: Commerce Ministry fast-tracks SME trade talks

    The Commerce Ministry is moving to accelerate the liberalisation of rice trade, with a meeting planned for January 17. This session aims to finalise strategies to assist small enterprises in becoming rice exporters, targeting concrete outcomes in the first quarter of the year. During a meeting on January 10 to discuss pressing policies, Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan instructed all departments…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket lifts building restriction above 80 metres for hillside development

    Phuket lifts building restriction above 80 metres for hillside development

    A recent Cabinet decision has lifted the restriction on construction above the 80-metre mark in Phuket, paving the way for increased single-building developments on the island’s hillsides. This change is expected to benefit owners of high-altitude land on the island. The approval of a rezoning proposal by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) now permits development in Zone…

  • Thailand NewsKanchanaburi school director cleared of negligence allegations

    Kanchanaburi school director cleared of negligence allegations

    A school director in Kanchanaburi province faced scrutiny after a Facebook page, known as Operation Watchdog, posted allegations of negligence, claiming the director only attended school three times a week. Investigations by education officials have found no misconduct. According to the Facebook post, the director reportedly missed school weeks entirely by claiming official duties, while residing in Tha Maka district,…

  • Thailand NewsOpposition plans censure debate against coalition government

    Opposition plans censure debate against coalition government

    The opposition is planning to file a motion for a censure debate against the coalition government by February, with the debate anticipated to occur between late February and early March. This was announced by Pakornwut Udompipatskul, a People’s Party list MP and head opposition whip. Pakornwut emphasised that the debate should not extend beyond the second week of March. Key…

  • Thailand NewsPM Paetongtarn defends Thaksin amid racist remark controversy

    PM Paetongtarn defends Thaksin amid racist remark controversy

    Stepping out from a Cabinet lunch today, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra launched into a defence of her father, Thaksin, after he was caught in making controversial racist comments during a rally speech. Thaksin’s remarks yesterday, January 6, criticised as discriminatory, sparked a backlash and calls from Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit for Paetongtarn to reprimand him. Initially caught off-guard by the journalists’ pressing…

  • Transport NewsTransport Ministry plans 319 billion baht rail upgrades

    Transport Ministry plans 319 billion baht rail upgrades

    The Transport Ministry is planning to initiate several significant public transportation projects early this year, pending approval from the Cabinet, to enhance national connectivity. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated that the projects involve extending the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) Dark Red and Light Red lines and advancing the second phase of double-track upgrades in the north, northeast, and south.…

  • Thailand NewsSRT Red lines to get 319 billion baht upgrades: Transport Ministry

    SRT Red lines to get 319 billion baht upgrades: Transport Ministry

    The Transport Ministry is planning to initiate several significant public transportation projects early this year, pending approval from the Cabinet, to enhance national connectivity. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stated that the projects involve extending the State Railway of Thailand’s (SRT) Dark Red and Light Red lines and advancing the second phase of double-track upgrades in the north, northeast, and south.…

  • Thailand NewsGridlock crisis: Phuket’s billion-baht boom sparks urgent action

    Gridlock crisis: Phuket’s billion-baht boom sparks urgent action

    Provincial officials have vowed to tackle Phuket’s surging traffic chaos as the island’s tourism industry hits record-breaking highs. Governor Sophon Suwannarat chaired a high-stakes Zoom meeting with key stakeholders on Thursday, December 26, to address infrastructure challenges threatening the paradise’s reputation. With over 10 million visitors in 2023 generating a staggering 388 billion baht in revenue—an astounding 100.38% increase from…

  • Business NewsGovernment extends excise tax cut for entertainment venues to boost tourism

    Government extends excise tax cut for entertainment venues to boost tourism

    The government has decided to extend the current excise tax reduction for entertainment venues, such as pubs, bars, nightclubs, and cocktail lounges, for another year to bolster tourism. This decision was announced by Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul following a Cabinet meeting held yesterday, December 24. The extension will see the excise tax rate decrease from 10% to 5% of…

  • Thailand NewsDefence Council approves plan to downsize RTA and cut costs

    Defence Council approves plan to downsize RTA and cut costs

    The Thai Defence Council has approved a significant white paper, marking a strategic shift to downsize the Royal Thai Army (RTA) and cut back on weapon expenses. This decision, made during the council’s final meeting of the year, aligns with the strategic plan for 2026 to 2037, which Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai presented to set the…

  • Bangkok NewsFire in Bangkok’s Phetkasem community damages four homes

    Fire in Bangkok’s Phetkasem community damages four homes

    A fire broke out in the Phetkasem 114 community, spreading to four houses late yesterday evening, December 23. Emergency services were alerted at 10.03pm by the Rama Radio Centre via hotline 199, reporting a blaze engulfing residential homes on Phetkasem Road, Nong Khang Phlu, in the Nong Khaem district of Bangkok. Firefighters from the Nong Khaem Fire and Rescue Station…

  • Thailand NewsPM Paetongtarn embraces political moniker amid press scrutiny

    PM Paetongtarn embraces political moniker amid press scrutiny

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been nicknamed “Paetongphoey” by Government House reporters, as part of their tradition of assigning monikers to senior officials at the year’s end. The nickname combines the first two syllables of her name with the Thai word “phoey,” meaning “script,” referencing her reliance on prepared speeches during significant events. When asked about the nickname, the 38…

  • Pattaya News2 million baht in valuables stolen from secure apartment in Pattaya

    2 million baht in valuables stolen from secure apartment in Pattaya

    A shocking burglary took place yesterday at an apartment in Pattaya, leaving a woman stunned as thieves managed to infiltrate her room and break into a safe hidden within a storage cabinet. The thieves made off with nearly 2 million baht worth of valuables, including gold jewellery and cash. There were no signs of forced entry into the room, leading…

  • Pattaya NewsPanic in Pattaya: Apartment blaze sparks late-night chaos

    Panic in Pattaya: Apartment blaze sparks late-night chaos

    Chaos erupted late last night in Pattaya as a fire broke out in a four-storey apartment building, sending thick smoke billowing into the air that was seen from miles around. Despite the panic, no injuries were reported in the incident, which could have ended far worse. The Pattaya City Land Disaster Relief Department received the emergency call at 11.46pm yesterday,…

  • Thailand NewsPolish man sentenced for trafficking £100k of cannabis into UK

    Polish man sentenced for trafficking £100k of cannabis into UK

    A young Polish man in the United Kingdom was sentenced to two years in a young offenders institution after pleading guilty to trafficking almost £100,000 (4.3 million baht) of cannabis into Newcastle International Airport in the North-East of England. He claimed he was coerced into the illicit operation by a threatening organised crime syndicate. On August 30, Border Force officials…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s expressway project moves forward: EXAT

    Phuket’s expressway project moves forward: EXAT

    Phuket’s ambitious infrastructure plans took a significant step forward after Governor Sophon Suwannarat held a crucial meeting with representatives from the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) at the Phuket Provincial Hall. The discussions centred on the progress of the highly anticipated Phuket Expressway Project, commonly referred to by locals as the Patong Tunnel and Mueang Mai-Koh Kaew-Kathu Expressway projects. In…

  • Thailand NewsPM Paetongtarn to outline key policies in public address tomorrow

    PM Paetongtarn to outline key policies in public address tomorrow

    Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is set to deliver a significant public address tomorrow, December 10, where she will highlight her Cabinet’s accomplishments over the past three months and underscore the importance of the government’s key policies for the upcoming year. The address, titled 2025 Empowering Thais: A Real Possibility, will commence at 10am and will be broadcast live on NBT2HD,…

  • Thailand NewsUNESCO experts to assess Ayutthaya rail project impact

    UNESCO experts to assess Ayutthaya rail project impact

    UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee will send experts to review the high-speed rail track construction project in Ayutthaya next month. The visit aims to discuss the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) with the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and provide technical recommendations for preserving the integrity of the world heritage site. These experts, while offering guidance, do not have the power to…