Politics
- Bangkok News
Hippo star Moo Deng steals spotlight as election mascot (video)
The Election Commission (EC) has pulled out all the stops to boost voter enthusiasm for the upcoming provincial administrative organisation (PAO) elections, introducing an unlikely but adorable mascot—Moo Deng, the famous pygmy hippo calf. EC chairperson Ittiporn Boonprakong proudly presented Moo Deng during a lively ceremony at the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road. Speaking to a captivated audience, he…
- Phuket News
PM Paetongtarn to inaugurate International Boat Show in Phuket
Phuket is bracing for a high-profile visit as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra lands on the island tomorrow, January 9 to tackle critical local issues and boost tourism. With an ambitious agenda in tow, the 38 year old PM is set to chair key meetings and launch a glamorous luxury lifestyle event, according to the Phuket Public Relations Department. Touching down…
- Thailand News
Thai Parliament to debate amendment bills on 2017 constitution
The Thai Parliament is gearing up to examine a series of charter amendment bills aimed at revising the 2017 constitution, with discussions set to take place in mid-January. Parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha confirmed this development, highlighting a total of 17 proposals for section-by-section amendments. Additionally, there is a significant bill sponsored by the opposition People’s Party (PP), aiming…
- Thailand News
Teeing off diplomacy: Thailand celebrates 50 years with China
Thailand rolled out the green carpet in Pattaya for over 300 Chinese golf enthusiasts, blending sport and diplomacy in a high-profile event. The Amazing Thailand Golf Paradise 2024, held on December 19 at Siam Country Club Waterside and Rolling Hills, marked the 50th anniversary of Thai-China diplomatic relations with a swing and a celebration. Under Thailand’s specialised golf package tours,…
- Thailand News
MPs urged to prioritise urgent bills in packed Parliamentary session
Chief government whip Wisut Chainarun is optimistic that the House will successfully scrutinise approximately 20 urgent bills during the current Parliamentary session. This session, which commenced yesterday, December 22, has a packed agenda with bills of significant economic and social impact awaiting approval. The urgent bills include legislation on fisheries, aimed at tackling industry challenges, and a bill to introduce…
- Politics News
Nationwide elections set for February 1, excluding 29 provinces
Nationwide elections for provincial administrative organisation presidents and councillors are scheduled for February 1, as confirmed by the Office of Election Commission. The registration for candidacy is open from December 23 to December 27. In 29 provinces, however, elections for PAO presidents will not occur on that day because these presidents vacated their positions before the end of their terms…
- Thailand News
Pheu Thai members defend card photo as fortune telling, not gambling
A group of Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) members from the Pheu Thai Party denied allegations of gambling after a photograph of them playing cards was circulated on social media. One of the BMC members claimed they were reading cards for fortune telling, not gambling. The Facebook page ชมรมSTRONGต้านทุจริต ประเทศไทย (translated as “Strong Anti-Corruption Club Thailand”) shared an image on Tuesday,…
- Thailand News
3 Prachin Buri bodyguards nabbed over deadly shooting of PAO candidate
Police arrested three bodyguards of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) chief for the fatal shooting of the next PAO chief candidate last night. The shooting broke out in the two-storey house of the PAO‘s chief executive, Sunthorn Wilawan, at around 9pm, December 11. Locals heard multiple gunshots before everything went silent. Sunthorn’s pet dogs continued barking. Later, at around…
- Thailand News
PM Paetongtarn to visit Malaysia for trade and border security talks
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra plans to visit Malaysia next month to enhance bilateral ties, focusing on trade and border security improvements. This announcement follows Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s meeting with Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Jojie Samuel during his farewell visit, where they discussed pressing issues along the southern border that necessitate increased collaboration. Anutin highlighted that PM Paetongtarn’s December…
- Politics News
Thailand-US ties remain strong despite US election outcome
Thailand maintains a robust diplomatic relationship with the United States, a bond that Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa believes will endure regardless of Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory. Speaking yesterday at Wing 6’s Military Terminal 2 in Bangkok’s Don Mueang district, Maris conveyed confidence in the continuity of bilateral ties, highlighting their historical strength and mutual goals. “Our relationship…
- Thailand News
PM Paetongtarn attends key regional conferences in China
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is set to attend two significant regional conferences in Kunming, China. These gatherings, scheduled today, November 6, and tomorrow, will precede her journey to Peru for the APEC summit on Sunday, as confirmed by Jirayu Houngsub, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office. The initial conference is the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation Programme Summit (GMS…
- Thailand News
Thailand invites China to build satellite launch base
Thailand extended an invitation to China to build a satellite launch base to provide 6G technology, marking a significant step in enhancing economic cooperation as both nations gear up to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations next year. In addition to technological collaboration, China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to Thailand as goodwill ambassadors for the…
- Politics News
Trudeau applauds Thailand’s marraige equality law
In a high-stakes diplomatic encounter at the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shook hands over a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ rights. Meeting yesterday, October 10 at the National Convention Centre, Trudeau didn’t hold back in praising Thailand’s trailblazing move on marriage equality, noting it as a “first” for ASEAN.…
- Politics News
Thailand and China’s friendship to shine on 50th anniversary
China is rolling out the red carpet for Thailand as both nations prepare to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic ties next year. Chinese Premier Li Qiang vowed to boost traditional friendship and build a China-Thailand community with a shared future in a power-packed meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Vientiane, Laos. “China and Thailand are close friends and…
- Thailand News
Thailand proposes informal talks on Myanmar crisis in December
Thailand proposed hosting informal consultations in December to address the crisis in Myanmar, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Spokesperson Nikorndej Balankur revealed the offer during an online press conference coinciding with the first day of the ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Vientiane. “Our proposal is backed by Laos [the current ASEAN chair] and Malaysia [the incoming…
- Thailand News
Thailand and South Korea to boost cooperation in soft power
Thailand and South Korea have committed to enhancing cooperation in various sectors, including soft power development, electric vehicles (EVs), and labour issues. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol yesterday, October 10, during the ASEAN summit in Vientiane. The leaders discussed expanding collaboration in trade, investment, electric vehicles, national defence, and cultural exchanges. PM Paetongtarn emphasised…
- Thailand News
Paetongtarn’s diplomatic debut: Thailand’s PM faces global stage
Thailand’s youngest prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, kicked off her international leadership journey with a high-stakes appearance at the 3rd Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Leaders’ Summit in Doha, Qatar. This trip, running between October 2 to 4, marks her first official overseas engagement since taking office just a month ago. The ACD holds special significance for PM Paetongtarn, as it was…
- Politics News
Thaksin’s taxing plan to tackle poverty in Thailand
Thaksin Shinawatra is making more waves to shake up Thailand’s social, economic and political scene. His latest pitch? A negative income tax (NIT) to shake up Thailand’s tax system. This isn’t the first time NIT has been floated in Thailand. Over a decade ago, the Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) proposed something similar, and it was included in the…
- Thailand News
Thai-Myanmar gates reopen after sudden closure
The Burmese border town of Phayathonzu, straddling Thailand and Myanmar, was thrown into chaos when its gates were abruptly shut on August 16. The gates, crucial for the movement of goods and people, left locals in a lurch. However, on August 20, relief came as the gates were reopened, much to the delight of residents and traders, one Phayathonzu local…
- Politics News
People’s Party to turn the electoral tide
New People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut demanded his party perform much better in the next General Election. The 37 year old was unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight as the new head of the freshly minted People’s Party (PP). This surprise appointment comes hot on the heels of the Constitutional Court’s bombshell decision to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) and…
- Thailand News
PPRP’s internal clash: Coalition ‘parties’ divided
The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) faces an internal conflict, highlighting clear divisions within the government coalition partner, according to a political analyst. Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a political science lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration, identified two factions within the PPRP: one led by party leader Prawit Wongsuwan and another by party secretary-general Thamanat Prompow. Prawit, who has…
- Politics News
Senators call for PM Srettha’s exit after ex-con Cabinet pick
Forty former senators are pushing for the dismissal of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin over his decision to appoint Pichit Chuenban, an ex-convict, as a Cabinet minister. They announced plans to submit their closing statement to the Constitutional Court by the end of the month. Somchai Swangkarn, a former Senator, revealed that the group is finalising a written closing statement for…
- Thailand News
CPF no show slammed as blackchin tilapia talk goes fishy
Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) faced criticism from a House committee for failing to attend a meeting to address questions regarding the importation of blackchin tilapia for research purposes back in 2010. The Move Forward Party MP for Bangkok, Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, who also serves as the deputy chairman of the subcommittee investigating the spread of the invasive species, stated that CPF…
- Thailand News
Politics in play: Golf outing sparks denials of secret deals by Thai parties
Pheu Thai Party and coalition partner Bhumjaithai Party have refuted claims of any secret agreements after former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul were seen playing golf together at a resort in Nakhon Ratchasima over the weekend. Anutin, who holds the positions of Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, clarified that Thaksin and his family stayed at…
- Thailand News
Thai PM Srettha honoured with President’s Award of Service
The Claremont Graduate University in California, USA, honoured Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin with the President’s Award of Service. This award recognises his significant contributions to the public, the promotion of human development, and the advocacy of human rights. The Thai premier is the first alumnus of Claremont Graduate University to receive this award. The university’s executive team and representatives…
- Thailand News
Chan wins Pathum Thani presidency by narrow margin
Chan Puangpetch, supported by the ruling Pheu Thai Party, secured the presidency of the Pathum Thani Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) yesterday. In a closely contested election, Chan garnered 203,032 votes, edging out Police Lieutenant General Kamronwit Toopkrajang, who received 201,212 votes. The narrow victory margin of 1,820 votes marks a comeback for Chan, who had previously lost the seat to…
- Politics News
ASEAN NOW launches ‘Political Soapbox’: The ultimate forum for expats to discuss world politics
Thailand’s leading expat forum, ASEAN NOW, has been a space for expatriates to seek advice, community, and insightful discussions about living in Southeast Asia. With that, ASEAN NOW has been listening to the increasing interest among expats to engage in world politics and has launched a new forum for it. The new forum, named Political Soapbox, has quickly become the go-to…
- Thailand News
Bhutan prime minister visits Thailand after 10 years
Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay kicked off his official visit to Thailand on Tuesday, June 25, making history as the first Bhutanese leader to do so in over 10 years. The visit, which marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, has set the stage for a series of significant discussions and agreements aimed at strengthening…
- Thailand News
Thaksin postpones lese majeste hearing, citing Covid infection
Former Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra postponed his court hearing on allegedly violating Section 112 of the Criminal Law, also known as the lese majeste law, scheduled for today, citing a Covid-19 infection. The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) rescheduled the hearing for June 18. The 74 year old former politician was accused of violating Section 112 during an interview with…
- Politics News
Jewish independent to challenge Keir Starmer in UK election (video)
Sir Keir Starmer yesterday declared the July 4 General Election announcement by United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was the “moment the country” had been waiting for. While the opposition leader believes it’s a foregone conclusion that the Labour Party will triumph, this may not necessarily be the case. Andrew Feinstein, a former Member of the National Assembly of South…
