A Feb 24 Criminal Court verdict has placed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in a situation he was dreading — the need for a Cabinet reshuffle he reportedly tried to delay…
Read MoreA Feb 24 Criminal Court verdict has placed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha in a situation he was dreading — the need for a Cabinet reshuffle he reportedly tried to delay…
Read MoreAlthough new to Parliament, Sira Jenjaka has lost no time in stealing the limelight from veteran MPs – drawing publicity for his outspoken views, belligerent talk and ability to take…
Read MoreThe prime minister and nine Cabinet members managed to sail through the recent censure vote, but the voting has rejiggered a rift between the coalition’s two largest partners. Six MPs…
Read MoreAcross the South-East-Asian nation, millions have marched against military dictatorship. Both private and public workers have engaged in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), in an attempt to shake the military…
Read MoreAlthough Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appears to be sailing out of a big storm, his ship will still remain in uncharted waters, which could turn extremely treacherous at any moment….
Read MoreAssistant Professor Arnond Sakworawich first came under the spotlight last November, when he sparred on TV with firebrand protest leader Panusaya “Rung” Sitthijirawattanakul over royal assets. Viewers were glued to…
Read MorePrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine other Cabinet members managed to sail through last week’s no-confidence vote — mostly with comfortable margins — while the opposition declared success in opening…
Read MoreWith their clear majority in the House, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the nine other targeted ministers are expected to sail through the second no-confidence debate in the two years…
Read MoreEducation Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan is expected to gain the fewest approval votes following his censure-debate grilling this week, amid speculation that up to 30 MPs will give him the thumbs-down….
Read MoreA “vaccine passport” has emerged as the best hope for Thai tourism businesses devastated by COVID-19. The passport, which could exempt inoculated tourists from the mandatory 14-day quarantine, might help…
Read MoreThe government’s handling of economic problems worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to be the core of the no-confidence debate starting on Tuesday (Feb 16). Opposition MPs are poised…
Read MoreThirty-eight opposition MPs have been allocated 42 hours on the floor during the four-day censure debate, which kicks off on Tuesday (Feb 16), with voting scheduled for Saturday (Feb 20)….
Read MoreA draft cybersecurity law due to be implemented in Myanmar has raised protests that it will be used to quash dissent rather than protect privacy. Human rights advocates issued statements…
Read MoreThe battle over Thailand’s lèse majesté law has intensified with supporters and opponents coming out in full force to fight for their cause. Representing opponents of the Criminal Code’s Article…
Read MoreThe soaring price of Bitcoin is making headlines around the globe following news that electric-car maker Tesla, one of the world’s largest auto firms by market valuation, has invested $1.5…
Read MoreThe current junta-sponsored Constitution is among the most condemned charters in Thai history, yet also arguably one of the most difficult to amend. The push for charter change received another…
Read MorePublic Debt Management Office (PDMO) chief Patricia Mongkhonvanit on Wednesday encouraged people to purchase newly issued government savings bonds worth Bt8 billion. The Bt8 billion issuance is part of Bt55…
Read MoreTwo most difficult periods to bring a politician to justice are during the peak of his (or her) power and the time after he has just lost it. Thailand has…
Read MoreAmid all the confusion about Thailand’s COVID-19 vaccination plans, two things are very clear: People will not start getting inoculated from Valentine’s Day no matter what top government figures said…
Read MoreLost at not being able to celebrate in Chinatown? We offer an alternative that’s just as enjoyable, albeit in a very different way Like many other countries around the world,…
Read MoreIllegal gambling will be among the issues fired at Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and nine members of his Cabinet in next week’s censure debate. The grilling – scheduled for February…
Read MoreThe review of two charter draft bills has been completed, paving the way for changes to the 2017 Constitution that is at the heart of Thailand’s political impasse. However, critics…
Read MoreBangkok commuters are crossing their fingers and hoping that the Central Administrative Court will stop the maximum BTS Skytrain fare being raised from Bt65 to Bt104 on February 16. The…
Read MoreThai and other foreign companies are expected to delay their investments in Myanmar following a military coup that threatens Thai border trade and migrant labour. Myanmar’s military seized power on…
Read MoreBorn to a wealthy family, Apirak “Sia Po” Chat-anon could have made money without courting legal trouble. But this 28-year-old macho internet celebrity chose a different path – one that…
Read MoreMove Forward, Thailand’s second-largest opposition party, has been hit by accusations that could result in its dissolution after less than a year in politics. Move Forward or Kao Klai is…
Read MoreA court ruling against Theptai Senapong has brought the curtain crashing down on one of Thailand’s most colourful political performers. Renowned for his sense of humour, the senior Democrat politician…
Read MorePrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will remain the prime target, but the similarities between the upcoming no-confidence attack and the last one end there. The rest of the strategy and the…
Read MoreA 99-year-old grandmother says she will go to prison if the government sues for repayment of Bt100,000 in subsidies whose overlapping claim rules were too complicated for her to understand….
Read MoreA widening rift between coalition partners Palang Pracharath and the Democrats over the upcoming Nakhon Si Thammarat by-election is threatening to undermine the government’s stability. After falling out over several…
Read MoreThailand is bracing for unprecedented chaos in Parliament later this month when the opposition shatters a deep-seated taboo by citing the monarchy in its censure motion against the prime minister….
Read More(Reuters) – Myanmar’s powerful military chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is in the spotlight after politicians from the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party were detained and the…
Read MoreAs the new wave of COVID-19 exploded in Samut Sakhon, the governor leading the fightback always managed to keep a smile on his face, radiating much-needed confidence to his team…
Read MoreThe opposition is unlikely to upend the government in next month’s censure debate, as has been the case previously. But its performance will show if opposition MPs are indeed serious…
Read MoreThe Mekong river is a life line of millions of people in six countries. In the past few years, however, life has been very difficult for people who depend on…
Read MoreSometimes, ones explode their way out of a dark tunnel, whether they like it or not, or even intend it or not. Whatever Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit is thinking about being charged…
Read MoreTV host Kalamare downed by her own “Power Shot” She started as an ugly duckling in TV’s glamorous world but Patcharasri “Kalamare” Benjamas quickly rose to fame, winning over viewers…
Read MoreThailand looks poised to confirm its first official “super spreader” as fears grow over the scale of the latest cluster infection. The hashtag #DJ Matoom is top-trending on Twitter after…
Read MoreAlready hit by an anti-establishment uprising, Thailand’s ruling Palang Pracharath Party is now facing a potential revolt from within as it chooses a candidate for the Bangkok governor election. Three…
Read MoreMyanmar’s long-delayed Dawei mega-project experienced yet another setback after contracts with Thailand’s construction giant Italian-Thai Development were cancelled recently. The ambitious, but controversial Dawei Special Economic Zone (DSEZ) project seeks…
Read MorePrioritising both safety and speed as it faces a new wave of COVID-19 infections, Thailand is poised to launch its largest ever inoculation programme when the first batch of AstraZeneca…
Read MoreMany municipalities’ eagerness to procure COVID-19 vaccines for their residents has roused suspicion of political motives and concerns about inequality between residents of richer and poorer areas. Local authorities have…
Read MoreThe prime minister can be forgiven if he assumes that his previous problems were “political”, albeit ones that had more to do with ideology and power play than genuine well-being…
Read MoreDr. Apisamai Srirangsan has become the second former beauty queen to join the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)’s spokesperson team, tasked with updating the public on the mission to…
Read MoreThailand’s heated debate over the lèse-majesté law has been revived, with supporters and detractors clashing on social media following the arrest of dozens of alleged violators in recent weeks. Some…
Read MoreThe new wave of COVID-19 has forced leaders of the anti-establishment movement to break from street rallies and focus instead on legal cases stemming from their campaign. As a result,…
Read MoreThe Capitol Hill tragedy may be an exception to US rules. Or it might not be. Donald Trump may have acted crazy after he “lost” the presidential election, but many…
Read MorePublic Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has tossed an explosive question into the country’s ongoing battle against the COVID-19 outbreak: Should illegal migrant workers pay for their own treatment if infected?…
Read MoreThe old saying “there are no permanent friends or foes in politics” has been proven true once again. Jatuporn Prompan, an activist/politician and a long-time loyal ally of the Shinawatra…
Read MoreWith fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as his role model, Pol Lt-General Camronwit Toopkrajank is on a mission to turn his hometown of Pathum Thani into a highly developed…
Read MorePop diva Nantida Kaewbuasai is set to become the first woman to head the Samut Prakan Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO) after scoring a landslide victory at the polls. Unofficial tallies…
Read MoreSome major political changes in Thailand followed high-profile troubles with the land. A Democrat-led government crumbled in the 1980s after some politicians of the ruling party were accused of grabbing…
Read MorePol General Chakthip Chaijinda has never held a political post let alone contested for one. Yet, his entry in the upcoming Bangkok governor’s race – if confirmed – will send…
Read MoreThailand has been praised on the international stage for the way it is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. But the recent cases, discovered in several provinces, resulting from a group…
Read MoreA former key leader of Pheu Thai dating back to its incarnation as Thai Rak Thai in 1998, veteran politician Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan has left the opposition party abruptly. In her…
Read MoreSocial critic Sulak Sivaraksa, a veteran scholar who has a love-hate relationship with royalists, was the “big surprise” planned by protest leaders at their anti-establishment rally last Wednesday (November 25). …
Read MoreThe country is counting down to December 2, when the Constitutional Court is scheduled to rule if Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha should lose his post for violating the charter….
Read MoreJon Ungphakorn is the man behind the civil sector’s first ever constitutional-amendment motion to go before Parliament – though it was overwhelmingly rejected by lawmakers. Only three senators voted for…
Read MoreFear is growing that Thailand’s ongoing political conflict will intensify, with no visible way out, after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared that “all existing laws” would be wielded against anti-establishment…
Read MoreThe red and blue colors marking who wins which states in the US presidential race are eerily similar to how Thailand’s map is painted after each general election. Consequences of…
Read MoreAs the saying goes, behind every successful man, there’s a woman. Except in Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow’s case, there are two – the woman he is legally…
Read MoreWhen Thailand’s rising political conflict went international outside two embassies last week, two women with opposing viewpoints were leading the way. Patsaravalee “Mind” Tanakitvibulpon, a 25-year-old student, led several thousand…
Read MoreAs ongoing pro-democracy protests prompt more and more Thais to choose sides, actor and charity worker Bin Bunluerit has stood up to declare himself an uncompromising royalist. He surprised the…
Read MoreBuddha Isara, a former monk convicted for his role in violent protests seven years ago, returned to the spotlight on Friday when he caught the attention of Their Majesties the…
Read MoreAs soon as political heat rises in the country, the name of ultra-royalist Maj-General Dr Rienthong Nanna starts flashing on the radar. Last week he won media coverage not for…
Read MoreColourful solo activist Ekachai Hongkangwan has landed himself in legal trouble again – this time facing the rare charge of threatening Her Majesty the Queen. The former lese-majeste…
Read MoreBehind every successful man there stands a strong woman, goes the old saying. And no one illustrates this better than Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra, who has taken much credit…
Read MoreIn a move never before attempted by any Thai politician, opposition MP Rangsiman Rome has proposed a “new deal” between the people and the monarchy to ensure that Thailand becomes…
Read MoreA firebrand leader of student-led protests against the Thai establishment, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak may sound aggressive on stage and at times may seem bent on getting what he wants at…
Read MoreThailand has witnessed the departure of two finance ministers in just past two months, and a veteran politician who served as their deputy is now offering himself as a well-qualified…
Read MoreThe man behind a popular Facebook page critical of the Thai monarchy and military has been left to defend himself against allegations that he employs an authoritarian approach in running…
Read MoreArmy chief General Apirat Kongsompong has stirred up politics and ruffled more than a few feathers during his two years as Thailand’s most powerful military figure. He has launched repeated…
Read MoreWarong Dechgitvigrom is best remembered for his crucial role in exposing corruption in the rice-pledging scheme of the Yingluck government. And now the veteran politician is carving a niche for…
Read MoreIn the eyes of pro-royalists, Anon Nampa, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul and Parit Chiwarak are trying to abolish the monarchy, but for fellow anti-establishment protesters they are heroes. The three have become…
Read MorePredee Daochai is taking on what is probably the most unenviable task — steering Thailand out of its worst economic crisis in modern history. By accepting Prime Minister Prayut…
Read MoreKhairiyah Rahmanyah from the deep South of Thailand may not be as famous as Sweden’s young environmental activist Greta Thunberg, but they both have plenty in common. Not only are…
Read MoreIt was no surprise that Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, Palang Pracharath’s chief strategist, was elected the party’s new chief at its general meeting on Saturday, replacing Finance Minister…
Read MoreWanchalerm Satsaksit is not the first activist living in exile in a neighbouring country to mysteriously disappear since the 2014 military coup, and he may not be the last. At…
Read MoreRanking among the country’s most talked-about female MPs, former Miss Congeniality Pareena Kraikupt has received huge media coverage ever since she joined the Palang Pracharath Party. The coverage has not always…
Read MoreIn his 34 years as a politician, Chaturon Chaisang has never been out of the spotlight. Despite being ousted by three coups, seeing his parties dissolved twice and being banned…
Read MoreCrowned Miss Thailand 2008, Dr Panprapa Yongtrakul returned to the spotlight last week as assistant spokeswoman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Her task in this new position…
Read MoreFormer Constitutional Court president Nurak Mapraneet was named privy councillor on Monday (May 4), becoming the 17th since His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s accession to the throne in 2016. Following…
Read MoreGiven his humble background and inspirational rise to the top, Loei governor Chaiwat Chuenkosum knows exactly where to find people in dire need. Hence, his destination one day recently was…
Read MoreA crucial weapon in the battle against any public crisis is concise information that can be understood by each and every one of us. However, since the outbreak of Covid-19,…
Read MoreAfter weeks of fumbling for answers to deal with the worsening coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha finally said what many had wanted to hear: “I am in charge.” But…
Read MoreWith just two years in the field of politics, Pita Limjaroenrat has taken on the challenging mission of leading more than 50 MPs elected under the banner of the now-defunct…
Read MoreOpinion The Constitutional Court’s verdict to dissolve the Future Forward Party (FFP) and ban 16 party executives from politics for 10 years on February 21, 2020 sends a shock wave…
Read MoreGrudge and weaponry expertise can be a very bad mix, as proven tragically in the case of Sergeant Major Jakrapanth Thomma, the gunman in what is Thailand’s first massive random…
Read MoreSorrayuth Suthassanachinda started off like any young, promising journalist — bold, relentless, working hard, getting great exclusives and building good, widespread connections. He, however, has ended up on a treacherous…
Read MoreBeing a complete political outcast is difficult, especially in Thailand, where one man’s villain is easily another man’s hero. Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao has not fallen into the “ostracized”…
Read MoreIf the Prayut government was a man with a weak heart, legal cases involving opponents of the administration were strong pills, which aren’t necessarily good for someone not in perfect…
Read MorePrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha may have taken one step closer to the brink with the Cabinet he has set up. But it’s not quite about the “faces”, which are a…
Read MoreFor someone whose name was largely associated with “half-baked democracy”, to be generally accepted as a “statesman” is unique. Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, who passed away this week at…
Read MoreJurin Laksanavisit’s first job as Democrat leader is tackling an immense dilemma that brought down his immediate predecessor Abhisit Vejjajiva. A social media cynical post has it that Jurin had…
Read MorePiyabutr Saengkanokkul, secretary-general of the Future Forward Party, is travelling at the speed of light politically. A virtual nobody last year, he has come under a major media spotlight along…
Read MoreIf Jurin Laksanawisit is a footballer, he will be called a “utility player”. By that, he can help the team by playing any role no matter how small, how big,…
Read MoreBecause of his height and good look, Korn Chatikavanij is an outstanding man. In politics, though, he is the sort of men who let many people, including those less qualified,…
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