By Reuters and published by CNA THAILAND’S central bank said on Wednesday (Jan. 7) the economy is facing challenges, including a sustained decline in competitiveness, with exports expected to be negatively affected by US tariffs and the persistently overvalued baht. Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy has been struggling with an appreciating currency, US tariffs, high
Author: TNR Staff
Ancient bronze sculptures return to Thailand after 60 years
THE Thai Fine Arts Department has received four ancient bronze sculptures, three of them Bodhisattvas and one the Buddha, that had been smuggled to US by an unscrupulous art dealer and officially returned by San Francisco Museum of Asian Art on Dec. 8, Naewna newspaper said today (Jan. 6). Villagers living around Khao Plai
Read moreBhumjaithai aims to get no less than 20 MP seats in party-listed mode
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE BHUMJAITHAI, currently core of the caretaker government, is expecting to get no less than 20 MP seats in party-listed mode of the Feb.8 election, Bhumjaithai Secretary-General Chaichanok Chidchob confirmed today (Jan.6). Compared to only three MP seats won by the Bhumjaithai in party-listed mode of the 2023 election, the
Read moreMortar round fired accidently no need for evacuation: PM
AFTER A mortar round landed on Thai territory this morning (Jan. 6) injuring a soldier in Ubon Ratchathani province Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said relevant agencies had followed procedures stipulated in the agreements but as Cambodians had explained it was an accident it is not necessary for border residents to evacuate, PPTVHD36 said.
Read moreEx-diplomat picked as People’s foreign minister
By Thai Newsroom Reporters FORMER DIPLOMAT Pisan Manawapat was today (Jan.6) introduced as the People’s pick for foreign minister if the reformist party eventually becomes core of a government after the Feb.8 election. Pisan is not only a former ambassador to the United States, Canada, India and head of Thai delegates to the European
Read moreMaduro’s capture shows exploitative regimes are fragile: Army officer
By Naewna and Reuters – published by CNA A THAI army’s deputy spokesperson compared the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to Cambodia’s senior leader Hun Sen in a post shared on his personal Facebook page pointing out that regimes focused solely on exploiting resources for a “single group” are more fragile than generally
Read moreEx-Thammasat law dean introduced as People’s-chosen justice minister
By Thai Newsroom Reporters FORMER THAMMASAT University dean Munin Pongsapan was yesterday (Jan.5) introduced as the People’s pick for justice minister in case that the reformist party become core of a government after the Feb.8 election. Munin, a former dean of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law, was formally introduced as one of the People’s
Read moreYodchanan rules out possibility of anyone predestined for PM
By Thai Newsroom Reporters YODCHANAN WONGSAWAT, one of a trio of Pheu Thai candidates for prime minister, today (Jan.5) categorically dismissed the possibility that a certain person might already be predestined to be named head of government after the Feb.5 election and advised that all voters be given due respect as part of the
Read moreMaduro to appear in US court, Trump says further strikes on Venezuela possible
By Reuters and published by CNA Washington – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was due to appear in a United States court on Monday (Jan. 5) after his weekend capture by American forces, with US President Donald Trump leaving open the possibility of another incursion if the United States does not get its way with
Read more3,731 drink-driving cases in six days of New Year holidays
THERE were a total of 3,936 traffic accidents during six days of New Year holidays (Dec. 30-Jan. 4) with drink-driving accounting for a staggering 3,731 cases (94.79%), TV Channel 7 said this morning (Jan. 5). Pol. Lt. Col. Piya Raksakul, director of Probation Department, said despite intensified enforcement measures yesterday there were altogether 813
Read moreThais fear 3rd round of fighting after Khmer border town is evacuated
THAI residents of Chong Chom border town, Surin province, adjacent to Khmer O’Smach town, Oddar Meanchey province, fear that a third round of fighting could break out between the two countries after their Khmer neighbours started moving their belongings out upon being ordered to not return, Amarin TV said today (Jan. 4). They also
Read moreThailand monitoring Venezuela situation while Sam Rainsy says Hun Sen is next in line
WITH US having captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife and brought them to New York City to face drugs and weapons charges in Manhattan federal court next week the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry said it is closely monitoring this situation while former Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy said in an online post
Read moreTrump says US will ‘run’ Venezuela until ‘safe’ transition
By Agencies – published by CNA and CNN Washington – US President Donald Trump on Saturday (Jan. 3) said the United States will “run” Venezuela until “such time that we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition” following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. At a press conference detailing their
Read moreMovements by Cambodian troops observed but Thailand not threatened
THE Thai army has seen Cambodian troops operating within established boundaries, showing no clear signs of threat, but security remains uncertain after the a joint statement under the Kuala Lumpur agreement assenting to a 72-hour ceasefire was signed on Dec. 27 with patrols along the border having already begun, TV Channel 7 said today
Read moreElection Commission urged to look into Anutin’s Copay-Plus promise
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE ELECTION COMMISSION was today (Jan.3) suggested to consider whether Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul may have evidently violated the electoral rules by reportedly promising to pay the people 2,400 baht in cash each under the Bhumjaithai-led government’s Copay-Plus handout project. Former deputy transport minister Manaporn Charoensri who is running
Read moreImmigration Police release Myanmar murder suspect citing overcrowded detention centres
A MAJOR SCANDAL has erupted at Mae Sot town abutting Myawaddy township in Myanmar, as a neighbouring country’s citizen implicated in the murder of a Thai woman who had employed him to work in her ricefield was released and allowed to return to home because detention centres were overcrowded, Amarin TV said today (Jan.
Read moreSparklers on champagne bottles blamed for deadly Swiss bar fire
By AFP and published by CNA Crans-Montana, Switzerland – Sparklers held under a foam-clad ceiling likely ignited a deadly blaze that killed 40 New Year’s revellers in a Swiss ski bar, authorities said on Friday (Jan. 2), but the bar owner insisted that all safety standards were followed. Investigators working to get to the
Read more937,000 voters wish to cast early votes
By Thai Newsroom Reporters OVER 937,000 VOTERS have requested to go to the polls inside Thailand and outside one week before schedule, according to today’s (Jan.2) report of the Election Commission. A total of 937,061 eligible voters have filed their formal requests to cast their early votes on Feb.1 instead of Feb.8 which is
Read moreBhumjaithai furious at academic for alleging next PM has been chosen
A FORMER Bhumjaithai party-listed MP angrily criticised an independent academic for alleging in an online interview that the formation of the next government after the Feb. 8 general election had been prearranged to ensure that Caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul continues to stay at the helm with the country remaining in a precarious situation,
Read moreCouple found shot dead at their home after New Year’s Eve party
A THAI couple were found shot dead at their townhouse in Prachinburi province after enjoying a the New Year’s Eve party with some friends, Naewna newspaper said this afternoon (Jan. 2). Pol. Lt. Col. Somchai Wangwon, an investigating officer at Prachantakham police station, rushed to a two-storey corner townhouse belonging to an employee of
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