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  • Crime NewsNine Bangkok bombing suspects in custody – Thai PM

    Nine Bangkok bombing suspects in custody – Thai PM

    PHOTO: Police cordoned off the area around two small explosions at the Chong Nonsi BTS and Mahanakorn Building The PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced that police now have nine suspects in custody in connection with the bombings around Bangkok last Friday. Speaking after the weekly Cabinet meeting, Prayut, also the Defence Minister, said there had been significant progress in the…

  • Crime NewsAll calm in Bangkok following Friday morning’s spate of explosions

    All calm in Bangkok following Friday morning’s spate of explosions

    The PM says there will be no special laws enacted to respond to yesterday’s bomb blasts around Bangkok. Prayut continues to urge people not to panic and says police will rush to bring the perpetrators to justice. The PM, who is also the defence minister, also ordered police to step up security and appealed for people to report any irregularities…

  • Tourism NewsCurrency investors factor in no-deal Brexit as pound flounders

    Currency investors factor in no-deal Brexit as pound flounders

    The world’s stock markets and economists think leaving the EU won’t have a sterling outcome. That’s the way the protracted Brexit negotiations are playing out in a slow, drawn out and economically painful rout of the GBP. The British pound hit a two year low of $1.212 against the USD on Tuesday, just another blow for the currency following several…

  • Politics NewsFormer police chief, turned MP, rails against the PM

    Former police chief, turned MP, rails against the PM

    PHOTO: Thai PBS Seri Ruam Thai party leader Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavet, former Police Chief appointed by the NCPO, is taking the fight right up to the PM and the coalition, hinted to the media before parliament resumed todaythat he still has enough ammunition to fire at the government and, particularly, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. During his time as the Junta’s…

  • Politics NewsConstitutional Court accepts petition over Prayut’s fitness to be PM

    Constitutional Court accepts petition over Prayut’s fitness to be PM

    The Constitutional Court yesterday accepted a petition from opposition MPs questioning PM Prayut’s “qualifications” to hold the post of Thai prime minister. The Court announced its decision on its website, commenting that the petition had been signed by a total of 110 MPs from various opposition parties but declaring that Prayut was free to continue carrying out his duties as…

  • Hot NewsUPDATE: 3,000 baht Phuket van fare for Australians tourists “all a misunderstanding”

    UPDATE: 3,000 baht Phuket van fare for Australians tourists “all a misunderstanding”

    As a follow up of the complaint about an overcharged van fare of 3,000 baht from Phuket International Airport to Kata by two Australians, a meeting was held yesterday between the driver, the tourists and a representative from the Phuket Land Transport Office. They agreed, in the end, that it was all “a misunderstanding”. The complaint about the expensive fare…

  • Politics NewsNew Thai cabinet now endorsed by HM The King

    New Thai cabinet now endorsed by HM The King

    PHOTO: Adapted from Bangkok Post The new Thai cabinet has now been formally anointed and confirmed by HM The King The new cabinet members were nominated by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha following months of prevarication and internal squabbles in the 19 member coalition led by Palang Pracharat. The Royal Gazette has named Prawit Wongsuwon, Somkid Jatusripitak and Wissanu Krea-ngam as deputy…

  • Politics News‘Grow up’ , ‘don’t throw tantrums’ – Palang Pracharat spokesperson

    ‘Grow up’ , ‘don’t throw tantrums’ – Palang Pracharat spokesperson

    PHOTO: Uttama Savanayana, left, and Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, deputy spokesperson for Phalang Pracharat Party, is lambasting the opposition for being “childish and narrow-minded” as it filed its petition to censure the PM. He says the opposition should give the new government some time to work before launching no-confidence motions against it. “I want the opposition to be more open-minded…

  • Politics NewsPrayut sworn in as 29th Thai PM. Cabinet appointments remain unresolved.

    Prayut sworn in as 29th Thai PM. Cabinet appointments remain unresolved.

    PHOTOS: The Nation Prayut Chan-o-cha was sworn in as the 29th Thai Prime Minister in a ceremony at Government House yesterday. Key points… • PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has received royal endorsement as the new prime minister in a ceremony at Government House, a week after winning a vote in Parliament. • The ceremony was attended by the leaders of the…

  • Thailand Election NewsDemocrats side with Palang Pracharat before today’s PM vote

    Democrats side with Palang Pracharat before today’s PM vote

    PHOTO: Thai PBS The Democrat party has decided, following a fierce debate late yesterday, to join the Palang Pracharat-led coalition government. They cite ‘ending political uncertainty’ and ‘switching off’ the power of the junta, according to new party leader Jurin Laksanavisit. As the new parliament sits and votes on a new Thai PM today, the NCPO automatically dissolves once the…

  • Thailand Election NewsLast minute deal secures Prayut’s PM vote in today’s Thai parliamentary sitting

    Last minute deal secures Prayut’s PM vote in today’s Thai parliamentary sitting

    Leaving it to the last moment, the Democrats dramatically capitulated and decided to join the pro-junta Palang Pracharat coalition. The move gives the current PM, Palang Pracharat’s sole prime ministerial candidate, an easy walk into the PM job during today’s parliamentary vote. General Prayut Chan-o-cha and Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit will face off in the 11am vote. Until yesterday’s…

  • Thailand Election NewsDemocrats meet one day before PM election to decide who to support

    Democrats meet one day before PM election to decide who to support

    PHOTO: Democrat party spokesperson, Ramet Rattanachaweng Three sleeps to go before the Thai parliament meets to elect a new PM. The result of that vote is expected to favour the Palang Pracharat prime ministerial candidate, Prayut Chan-o-cha, the man who has been Thailand’s PM for the past five years. The Democrat party say they will decide on Tuesday, whether to…

  • Thailand Election NewsPrawit plays down Senate appointees coming from NCPO and current cabinet

    Prawit plays down Senate appointees coming from NCPO and current cabinet

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has submitted a list of 250 senators to His Majesty the King, while Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan has commented that a new government won’t be set up until after a new PM has been named. This news is coming from the National News Bureau of Thailand and should be read in light of the source. The…

  • Bangkok NewsPM uses Article 44 powers to sack Surachate

    PM uses Article 44 powers to sack Surachate

    PHOTO: Spring News Thai media is reporting that the PM Prayut Chan-ocha used his Article 44 powers to remove Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn from his job as Immigration chief and side-line him to office duties, pending an enquiry. Following Friday night’s transfer of the Immigration chief it has now been announced that PM Prayut placed the Lt-Gen on a list of…

  • Thailand Election NewsPrayut puts himself up as PM candidate in the March 24 Thai election

    Prayut puts himself up as PM candidate in the March 24 Thai election

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has formally accepted an invitation to stand as prime minister candidate for the Palang Pracharath Party. The announcement has been expected for weeks. Gen Prayut, head of the NCPO, and PM since the 2014 coup announced his decision in a message to the Thai this morning. He made a plea for the ‘status quo’ saying that…

  • Thailand NewsPalang Pracharat nominate PM Prayut as a candidate

    Palang Pracharat nominate PM Prayut as a candidate

    The new junta-sympathetic Palang Pracharat Party has officially nominated three prime ministerial candidates. One of them is the current PM, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. After a party executive meeting today, party secretary general Sontirat Sontijirawong announced the party will nominate Prayut, its party leader Uttama Savanayana and Deputy PM Somkid Jatusripitak as its candidates in the prime ministerial list. They will…

  • Thailand NewsThai PM fires back at media over question of his political future

    Thai PM fires back at media over question of his political future

    The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha fired back at the media when pressed for an answer about his political future. The PM has said in recent months that he will make an announcement about his political future sometime “in September”. It is widely speculated that he will either join a supportive political party running in the election or make himself available…