PM plays down foreign concerns over Move Forward ruling
Move Forward MPs display the three-finger salute in parliament after the Constitutional Court ordered the party’s dissolution on Wednesday. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Thursday acknowledged concerns expressed by other countries about the court-ordered dissolution of the Move Forward Party, but insisted that Thailand is a free and democratic nation that is not swayed by foreign influence. “I am certain that all Thai people understand we will not allow a foreign nation to interfere with our sovereignty,” Mr Srettha told reporters. He expressed confidence that Move Forward would respect the court ruling and proceed accordingly. Mr Srettha said he had met with security officials to discuss potential demonstrations that might arise following the ruling, but no threats have been found.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 09, 2024 01:37 UTC
All Move Forward MPs ‘will join new party’
Friday launch of new party follows court-ordered dissolution, but with no ‘cobras’ this timeSirikanya Tansakun, deputy leader of the dissolved Move Forward Party, is tipped to lead a new party that will be officially introduced on Friday. (Photo: @MFPThailand on X)All 143 MPs from the dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP) have applied for membership in a new party, confirmation that there will be no “cobras” in the now-disbanded opposition party. MPs from Move Forward will attend a meeting to set up the new party at the Thai Summit Tower on New Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok on Friday, the public relations team of the dissolved party said on Thursday. Other members and party staff across the country will also join the meeting, which will pick party executives and work out policy guidelines and direction. Ms Sirikanya, the deputy leader of Move Forward, is not among the 11 banned party executives.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 08, 2024 15:38 UTC
Taekwondo-Panipak wins historic flyweight gold
Taekwondo-Panipak wins historic flyweight goldListen to this articlePanipak Wongpattanakit of Thailand celebrates on the podium after winning the Gold medal. (Photo: Reuters)PARIS - Panipak Wongpattanakit made history at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, becoming the first person from Thailand to win two gold medals when she defended her Tokyo title in the taekwondo women's flyweight division against China's Guo Qing. Panipak won 6-3 2-3 6-2, clinching the victory with two kicks to the head, which yielded three points each. Panipak had already risen to fame in her home country by getting Thailand's first gold medal in taekwondo in Tokyo. Panipak Wongpattanakit of Thailand in action with Qing Guo of China.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 08, 2024 13:38 UTC
Bank of Thailand launches financing transition programme
Illustrative image (Photo: https://www.bangkokpost.com/)Bangkok (NNT) - The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has launched the "Financing the Transition" initiative in collaboration with eight commercial banks. The programme aims to support businesses in transitioning towards environmental sustainability, tailored to the local context. During the "Financing the Transition: Sustainable Financing for Business Transition" event at BoT headquarters, the initiative was introduced with participation from Bangkok Bank, Krungthai Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, Kasikornbank, Kiatnakin Phatra Bank, TMBThanachart Bank, Siam Commercial Bank, and United Overseas Bank (UOB). BoT Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput emphasised the financial sector's crucial role in aiding Thai businesses, particularly SMEs, to adopt sustainable environmental practices. It covers critical economic sectors such as food and beverage manufacturing, agriculture, construction,real estate, and hospitality./.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 08, 2024 10:21 UTC
PTTEP banking on Ghasha investment
PTTEP banking on Ghasha investmentThe Erawan gas block in the Gulf of Thailand, operated by PTT Exploration and Production Plc. PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) expects its new investment in the Ghasha concession in the United Arab Emirates to increase its petroleum reserves, making them sufficient for sale for up to seven years. Additional reserves came after the company's wholly-owned PTTEP Mena Co signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire a 10% stake in the Ghasha concession from Wintershall Dea Middle East GmbH, said Panporn Sasananan, senior vice-president for finance at PTTEP. According to Ms Panporn, the Ghasha concession includes a pioneering development which aims to operate at net-zero emissions. In 2024, PTTEP expects its petroleum sales to decrease due to the maintenance programmes of petroleum production facilities in the Gulf of Thailand.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 08, 2024 06:47 UTC
Taekwondo star Panipak going for gold
Panipak “Tennis” Wongpattanakit of Thailand in action against Lena Stojkovic of Croatia in the women’s 49kg semi-final on Wednesday at the Grand Palais in Paris. (Photo: Reuters)PARIS - Taekwondo star Panipak Wongpattanakit is once more within reach of Olympic gold for Thailand after defeating Lena Stojkovic 2-0 in the women’s 49kg semi-final on Wednesday. A win by the reigning Olympic champion would be a fitting birthday president for Panipak, who will turn 27 on Thursday. Also competing in Paris are the men’s 68kg 2022 Asian Games gold medallist Banlung Tabtimdang and women’s 67kg fighter Sasikarn Tongchan. Thai lifters last competed at the Olympics at Rio 2016 where they won two gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 08, 2024 01:03 UTC
Tourists rescued from flooded cave, guide drowned
Nam Talu closed to the public since June because of flood dangerListen to this articleTourists rescued from flooded Nam Talu cave arrive at the Rajjaprabha Dam reservoir pier in Surat Thani on Tuesday night. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan)SURAT THANI - A tour guide drowned when a flash flood swept into Nam Talu cave in Khao Sok National Park as a group of tourists was leaving it on Tuesday evening. A flash flood poured into the cave about 7.30pm as the group of 22 tourists and two guides were walking out of it. Nam Talu cave is 600 metres long and 30 metres wide at its mouth. Tourists rest at KriSorn raft hotel after being rescued from flooded Nam Talu cave on Tuesday.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 07, 2024 15:45 UTC
Algerian beats Thai in women's Olympic boxing
Algerian beats Thai in women's Olympic boxingImane Khelif of Algeria (left) in action against Janjaem Suwannapheng of Thailand. (Reuters photo)Imane Khelif, the boxer at the centre of a gender dispute, beat Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng in a semi-final fight at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday. The International Olympic Committee has rejected the results of the IBA-ordered tests. Khelif and Janjaem touched gloves in a sign of respect after the fight, and when Khelif was announced as winner a deafening roar erupted from the fans. Khelif will face Yang Liu of China in the final on Friday.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 07, 2024 14:32 UTC
Fans celebrate Imane Khelif's win to reach the Olympic final
Imane Khelif, the boxer at the centre of a gender dispute, beat Thailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng by unanimous decision in a welterweight semi-final fight at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday (August 6) and advance to the women's final at Roland Garros.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 07, 2024 04:04 UTC
Supplementary budget bill sails through Senate
Supplementary budget bill sails through SenateFood vendors register for the digital money handout scheme in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, on Aug 1. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)The supplementary bill, which seeks to increase the budget for the current fiscal year by 122 billion baht to partially fund the government's digital wallet handout scheme, sailed through all three readings in the Upper House on Tuesday. In the debate before Tuesday's vote on the bill, several senators expressed doubts over whether the digital handout scheme would work as claimed by the government. Speaking in the Upper House, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin defended the 122-billion-baht supplementary bill, saying the need to inject money to stimulate and strengthen the economy was too urgent for the government to wait until the 2025 fiscal budget comes. Considering Thailand's slow economic growth, which is coupled with high household and corporate debt and an extremely volatile world economic situation, the government is in urgent need of a budget to fund its efforts to stimulate economic growth, the PM said.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2024 23:11 UTC
Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning 'sure' Land Bridge will proceed
The southern Land Bridge megaproject will proceed as planned, as several companies from China, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have expressed their interest in investing in the project, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy Planning (OTP) said yesterday. Once completed, the Land Bridge will provide an alternative route for ships heading from the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea and vice versa. He also revealed that international investors, including Dubai Port World (DP World) and other companies from the United States and China, have shown interest in investing in the Land Bridge project. As such, the OTP is confident that the Land Bridge project will proceed, said Mr Panya. The OTP is also pushing for the approval of the SEC Act in a bid to drive the Land Bridge project forward.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2024 18:32 UTC
Does height matter in badminton? Tall and small have tactical advantages
Does height matter in badminton? Tall and small have tactical advantagesKunlavut "View" Vitidsarn is 177 centimetres tall. The Thai lost to 194-cm-tall Viktor Axelsen of Denmark on Monday. Viktor Axelsen of Denmark towers over most of his opponents at about 194 centimetres. (Photo: Reuters)Paris men's singles Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark towers over most of his opponents at about 194 centimetres.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2024 18:03 UTC
Janjaem set for epic semi-final battle
Listen to this articleThailand's Janjaem Suwannapheng will face Algeria's Imane Khelif in the women's 66kg semi-finals tonight. Sudaporn lost 3-2 to top seed and eventual champion Kellie Harrington of Ireland, but only after becoming Thailand's first female boxer to win a Games medal. Janjaem, however, is also in top form after her stunning victory over top-ranked Busenaz Surmeneli of Turkey in the quarter-finals. Thailand have sent eight boxers -- three men and five women -- to Paris and Janjaem is the only one left in the tournament. There were 27 runners competing in three semi-finals, and Puripol came ninth in third semi-final.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2024 13:57 UTC
OTP 'sure' Land Bridge will proceed
According to OTP director-general Panya Chupanich, if all goes according to plan, construction will begin in 2026 and conclude in 2030. Once completed, the Land Bridge will provide an alternative route for ships heading from the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea and vice versa. He also revealed that international investors, including Dubai Port World (DP World) and other companies from the United States and China, have shown interest in investing in the Land Bridge project. As such, the OTP is confident that the Land Bridge project will proceed, said Mr Panya. The OTP is also pushing for the approval of the SEC Act in a bid to drive the Land Bridge project forward.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2024 04:29 UTC
Thailand's Kunlavut gets silver in Olympic badminton men’s singles
Thailand's Kunlavut gets silver in Olympic badminton men’s singlesSilver medallist Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand poses with his medal on Monday. The taller Viktor led by 13-6 with his quick and precise shots across corners. Viktor’s precise shuttlecock landings and Kunlavut’s missed shots gave him a greater lead; Kunlavut was behind at 2-6 with a smash at his opponent’s leg. A long rally that ended with Kunlavut’s smash gave him 8-19, with subsequent precise shots and smashes making it 11-19. But that was as far as Kunlavit got as Viktor won the gold medal at 21-11 in the one-hour match.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 06, 2024 04:00 UTC