Thai court orders ex-PM Yingluck to pay more than US$300m in damages over rice scheme
A court in Thailand has ordered former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to pay the state more than US$300 million for losses incurred from her landmark rice subsidy scheme during her time in office. It is a verdict that could have massive ramifications for government policy making going forward.
Indonesia and Thailand upgrade ties to strategic partnership
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra have upgraded ties to a strategic partnership. This, as both countries mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. Mr Prabowo and Ms Paetongtarn also laid out plans to expand economic and security cooperation, as well as efforts to combat transboundary crime.
Thai construction tycoon among 15 arrested in connection to Bangkok skyscraper collapse
The police in Thailand have arrested 15 people in connection with the collapse of a high-rise building triggered by the earthquake in Bangkok on March 28. One of them is Thai construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta, who heads Italian-Thai Development. The company is in a joint venture with China Railway No 10 (Thailand). Those arrested are now waiting to find out if they can secure release on bail. The State Audit Office was the only building to collapse in Bangkok during the earthquake, killing 92 people — all of them workers involved in the construction.
CNA Correspondent: The Other Side of The Scam Call
We have all gotten scam calls, but what do we know about the people calling us? Many are out to swindle us of our money, but some are also victims themselves, forced to choose between being tortured and committing a crime, over and over again. CNA Correspondent reveals those on the other end of the scam call, the ones who have been freed from Myanmar’s notorious scam compounds, and how authorities distinguish between real victims and the crime syndicate operators hiding amongst them.
Has the crackdown on scam call centres on the Thai-Myanmar border worked?
Earlier this year, authorities in Thailand and militia groups in Myanmar launched a large-scale crackdown against the notorious scam centres operating from Myanmar's Myawaddy, a border town close to Thailand. They cleaned out the crime syndicates operating blatantly in multi-storeyed office buildings and rounded up those working inside. Saksith Saiyasombut investigates if the operations have indeed eradicated these rampant criminals, in a report for CNA Correspondent.
One month after the earthquake, probe finds flaws in Bangkok's sole deadly building collapse
A month ago, Bangkok was hit by unexpected tremors. A magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Myanmar sent buildings in the Thai capital shaking, and one solitary office tower, still under construction, folded in on itself. Investigations have been launched into the collapse, which has killed at least 65 people, with dozens still unaccounted for.
Pope's cousin travels to Vatican from Thailand to attend his funeral
One of Pope Francis' cousins travelled from Thailand to the Vatican for his burial on Saturday (Apr 26). Earlier this week, she was in Bangkok where she joined the country's Catholic minority in remembering the late pontiff.
Thailand investigates 30-storey skyscraper that collapsed in earthquake
A week after a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar, investigations are still ongoing into a 30-storey building that collapsed in Thailand. The probe seeks to understand why the skyscraper in Bangkok collapsed, since every building in Thailand should be able to tolerate earthquakes. However, with search and rescue operations still ongoing, the investigation committee said the site is still not fully accessible to collect samples from. More than 100 workers were working onsite when the skyscraper crumbled. At least 15 people were killed and more than 70 remain missing.
Regional leaders attend BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok against backdrop of fresh US tariffs
Regional leaders are gathered in Thailand for the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) summit, which could see a widely speculated meeting taking place between India's prime minister and Bangladesh's chief adviser. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra welcomed her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi with a guard of honour, before holding delegation-level talks. Ms Paetongtarn is also set to hold talks with Myanmar's Min Aung Hlaing — a rare foreign trip for the military leader since he staged a coup in 2021. Saksith Saiyasombut and Leong Wai Kit report.
Myanmar earthquake: Thai PM visits Bangkok collapse site as authorities vow to continue search
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has pledged support for rescue efforts at a Bangkok construction site where a 30-storey building collapsed following the strong earthquake in Myanmar last week. Government officials say they are ready to provide extra equipment and assistance, while emergency crews continue to search for 78 people who are missing.
Rescue efforts continue in Bangkok following tremors that collapsed a building
Rescue efforts continue in Bangkok after tremors from the Myanmar earthquake felled a 33-storey building under construction. Thai authorities say at least nine people were killed and 22 injured. Most of the dead were workers at the building, while others were from other construction sites.
7.7-magnitude quake hits Myanmar, tremors also felt in Thailand and China
Myanmar's military leader has made a rare plea after a powerful earthquake on Mar 28 left at least three people dead. A state of emergency has also been declared across six regions. The earthquake hit 16 kilometres northwest of the city of Sagaing, caught up in years of civil war. The US Geological Survey put quake the magnitude at 7.7, at a depth of 10 kilometres. A 6.4-magnitude aftershock hit the same area minutes later. Tremors were also felt in the Thai capital of Bangkok, as well as the neighbouring southwestern province of Yunnan in China.
Many workers feared trapped at site of skyscraper collapse in Bangkok after Myanmar earthquake
CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut is at the scene of a collapsed skyscraper in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok. Many workers are feared trapped there after the under-construction building came down amid tremors from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in neighbouring Myanmar. At least three people are dead from the building collapse in the Thai capital, officials say. Bangkok has declared a disaster zone.
Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra survives no-confidence vote
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, just over six months into the job. 319 MPs among 488 present voted to keep her in office. The opposition had called for the vote, accusing her of being unqualified for the job and taking orders from her father, former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thai PM faces no-confidence vote
Thailand’s parliament is debating a censure motion on Monday (Mar 24) against the country’s prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, which could result in a no confidence vote against her. Ms Paetongtarn has been in office since last August. And the opposition says she has shown herself to be – in their words - untrustworthy to continue as prime minister.
Thai delegation to visit Xinjiang to verify condition of 40 deportees
A Thai government delegation is headed for China’s Xinjiang region to follow up on the condition of Uyghur refugees deported last month. The deportation sparked international condemnation, with concerns raised about members of the Muslim minority group facing persecution in China.
US, Japan embassies warn citizens in Thailand of possible terror attacks after Uyghur deportation
The US and Japanese embassies in Bangkok have warned their citizens in Thailand of possible terror attacks, after the kingdom deported dozens of Uyghurs to China. The US embassy noted that the last deportation of Uyghurs from Thailand in 2015 had been followed by a bomb attack at Bangkok's famous Erawan Shrine. Thai authorities at the time concluded the attack was linked to their crackdown on a human trafficking ring. Meanwhile, Thailand has played host to China and Myanmar for talks to develop long-term strategies for combating cross-border crime, including scams and call centre gangs.
Thailand deports 40 Uyghurs back to China
Thailand has sent back to China 40 Uyghurs, who have been held for more than a decade after fleeing China's Xinjiang region. Rights groups claim the Uyghurs in Xinjiang face persecution from Chinese authorities. The Thai defence ministry said Beijing reassured that it would look after the deportees from the ethnic minority group. The UN said it deeply regrets the move by Thailand, calling it a clear violation of Bangkok's obligations under international law. Saksith Saiyasombut reports from Thailand's border with Cambodia.
First batch of Chinese workers rescued from scam centres in Myanmar repatriated
The first batch of Chinese nationals involved in scam centers in Myanmar have left for China from Thailand. They are among hundreds of foreigners turned over to Thai authorities. Thailand’s deputy prime minister was at the airport to monitor the departure, but declined to comment when asked if those on board were people running the scam centres. CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut reports.