Page 13 - Thailand

Thai lawyer accused of insulting the king receives 4-year prison term

A prominent Thai human rights lawyer was convicted on Tuesday of insulting the monarchy and sentenced to four years in prison, the first conviction under a controversial law guarding the royal institution since a civilian government took office after years of military-backed rule. Arnon Nampa was found guilty of defaming King Maha Vajiralongkorn during a student-led rally on October 14, 2020, that commemorated a popular uprising in 1973 that led to the fall of a decade-long military dictatorship. He was also fined 20,000 baht (USD 550) for violating an emergency decree banning large public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic. Arnon, 39, still faces 13 more cases under the lese majeste law, which makes insulting the monarch, his immediate family and the regent punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The court said in its ruling on Tuesday that Arnon had declared at the rally that if it were dispersed, it would be at the order of King Maha Vajiralongkon. It said that statement

Indian women go down to Thailand 0-1, fail to enter knockout stage

The Indian women's football team failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the Asian Games after their 0-1 defeat to Thailand here on Sunday. Indian side fought bravely but a 52nd minute goal from Thongrong Parichat helped Thailand to emerge winner in their Group B match. India had lost their Asian Games opener to Chinese Taipei 1-2. The defeat against Thailand also ended their chances of finishing among the three second placed teams, who will enter the knockouts along with five top-ranked sides, from five groups. But India made a composed start to the match and even looked the better side, creating a series of chances. Anju Tamang came up with the first promising move for the Indians in the 11th minute from the right flank before her low cross was intercepted. Five minutes later, Manisha Kalyan too created a couple of chances in the company of Bala Devi and Dangmei Grace, but they failed to yield any result. In the 25th minute, Manisha saw her shot getting blocked by the Thai

India to enter JP Morgan's EM bond index; set for $20 billion inflow

To have 10% weight, like China; no tax benefits for bond investors

World eyes India's sugar output as Centre tightens screws on traders

With the world sugar production in 2023-24 poised to go into deficit due to expected drop in production in Thailand, India remains among the very few countries which is in a position to export sugar

Thailand eyes India to boost tourism recovery after waiving visa for China

Thailand PM Srettha said he plans to make a trip to India this year to meet his counterpart Narendra Modi and discuss increasing flight frequency between the two countries

Thailand eyes India to boost tourism recovery after waiving visa for China

Thailand may also mull other measures to boost Indian tourist arrivals, such as offering tax exemptions on jewelry imported for Indian weddings held in Thailand

Srettha Thavisin wins vote to become Thailand's 30th prime minister

Srettha can form his cabinet once his appointment is endorsed by King Maha Vajiralongkorn in a Royal Gazette

Thailand threatens to shut Facebook, alleging it doesn't screen ads well

A Thai Cabinet minister is threatening to try to shut down Facebook in the country, saying the social media platform does not do enough to screen the advertisements it runs, leaving people vulnerable to costly scams. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Thailand's minister of Digital Economy and Society, said in a statement Monday that he is ready to go to criminal court by the end of the month arguing for Facebook to be shut down in Thailand. He said Thai authorities have already appealed to Facebook parent company Meta to take down fraudulent ads, leading to more than 5,000 being blocked, but that the problem persists. He said ads or fake profiles on Facebook frequently purport to represent reputable financial and investment advisers offering high profits, luring people into scams in which they lose their money. Reached by phone on Tuesday, Meta in Thailand asked for queries to be sent by email to its press department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ministe

Court clears way for Thai Parliament to pick new PM, 3 months after polls

Thailand's Constitutional Court cleared the way Wednesday for Parliament to vote for a new prime minister more than three months after national elections by declining to rule on a complaint over the rejection of the winning party's leader. The court had been asked to decide whether Parliament had violated the constitution by refusing to allow the leader of the progressive Move Forward Party to be nominated for a second time as a prime ministerial candidate. Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat had assembled an eight-party coalition with a majority in Parliament's lower house. But under the military-implemented constitution, a new prime minister must receive a majority of votes from both the elected House and the conservative appointed Senate, which was chosen by an earlier military government. Pita lost a first vote in Parliament for prime minister last month, with many senators voting against him because of his party's call for reform of a law that makes it illegal to defame Thailand's .

Thailand's rice exports benefiting from India's export ban: Minister

The government would ensure sufficient rice output for both domestic consumption and exports, and also make sure domestic prices are not too high, minister Jurin Laksanawisit told a press briefing

Thailand train collision with pickup truck kills 8 people and injures 4

Eight people were killed when a freight train struck a pickup truck crossing the tracks in an eastern province of Thailand early Friday morning, authorities said. The accident at 2:20 am also injured four people in the Muang district of Chachoengsao province, according to the State Railway of Thailand. The 54-year-old driver, Wichai Yulek, told authorities he saw the approaching train and heard a warning horn. He slowed, but passengers in the vehicle urged him to keep going. When he realized the truck was headed for a collision, he could not stop in time, the railway agency said. The deceased include an 18 year old, two people in their 20s and five people over 55, while the injured victims included four men in their 20s, the railway said.

Rice supply faces new threat as Thailand urges crop curbs to save water

Farmers in the key central region have already planted most of their rice but the government is encouraging a switch to other crops that need less water

Foxconn EV venture targeting India or Thailand for new small car plant

The Taiwanese company's EV platform unit Mobility in Harmony (MIH) would be willing to work with its parent or another company to build the new three-seat EV priced below $20,000

Thai court suspends PM candidate, to rule whether he broke election law

Thailand's Constitutional Court on Wednesday agreed to suspend Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, a candidate to become prime minister, from his duties as a member of Parliament pending its ruling on whether he violated election law. The court's announcement came on the verge of a likely second vote in Parliament whether to confirm Pita as prime minister. His party was the top finisher in May's general election and assembled an eight-party coalition that won 312 seats in the House of Representatives. However, the coalition failed to win enough support in an initial vote last week from the Senate, which votes together with the lower house to name the new prime minister. The court's announcement still would allow Pita's nomination and selection as prime minister, at least until a ruling. Thailand's state Election Commission had referred Pita's case to the court, saying there was evidence he had violated election law over his alleged undeclared ownership of media company ...

BIMSTEC foreign ministers meeting begins in Bangkok: EAM Jaishankar

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional multilateral organisation

India's defence relationship with Thailand grown after 2014: Jaishankar

He said that the trade between India and Thailand is close to $ 18 billion annually and it was the highest in the last year. Jaishankar was addressing the Indian diaspora while his visit to Thailand

Thailand leader Pita Limjaroenrat falls short in parliamentary vote for PM

The head of the progressive Thai political party that outpaced its rivals to a surprise first-place finish in May's general election failed Thursday in his initial bid to have Parliament name him the country's new prime minister. The vote of a joint session of the 500-seat House of Representatives and 250-seat Senate saw Pita Limjaroenrat win 324 votes in the first round of balloting, short of the majority of 376 needed to become prime minister. His Move Forward Party finished first in the May 14 election and afterward assembled an eight-party coalition that together had won 312 seats, a healthy majority in the lower house. But strong opposition in the Senate, whose members are overwhelmingly conservative and generally opposed to the reformist platform of Pita's party, seemingly doomed his chances in the first vote. Only 13 senators supported Pita's bid, while 34 voted against him and 159 abstained. Pita told reporters afterwards that he accepted the vote but was not giving up. He

Thailand's prime minister, who seized power in a 2014 coup, quits politics

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who served almost nine years in office after seizing power in a 2014 military coup, said Tuesday that he is leaving politics. His announcement came after the political party for which he served as a prime minister candidate this year finished fifth in May's general election, capturing just 36 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. Prayuth, 69, a former army commander, made the announcement on the Facebook page of Ruam Thai Sang Chart, or the United Thai Nation Party. He had been their nominee to return as prime minister. "I would like to announce my retirement from politics by resigning as a member of United Thai Nation," Prayuth wrote. "I'd like to ask the party leader, executives and members to continue their political activities with a strong ideology of protecting the institutions, the nation, the religion and the monarchy, and take care of the Thai people." Parliament on Thursday is due to select a new prime minister. The

Global supplies of sugar, rice at risk from Thai drought that can last yrs

Rainfall across the nation may be as much as 10% below average this monsoon season, and the onset of the El Niño weather pattern could lower precipitation even further over the next two years

Indian defence industry showcases capabilities to delegation from Thailand

The Department of Defence Production on Thursday met a delegation from Thailand and exhibited state-of-the-art capabilities of the Indian defence industry. The interaction with the delegation led by Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), Air Marshal Piboon Vorravanpreecha was focused on strengthening the defence ties, a statement by the Ministry of Defence said. "The Indian defence industries presented their state-of-the-art capabilities to the Thai delegation, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the defence cooperation between the two nations. The event was aimed at deepening mutual understanding, exploring potential partnerships, and contributing to the regional security," it said. During the event, both sides expressed their commitment to forging strong defence ties and exploring avenues for joint research, technology transfer, and strategic partnerships. The presentations and discussions would pave the way for future cooperation in areas of mutual