Thai sex scandal: Police arrest woman who allegedly seduced, blackmailed Buddhist monks
Thailand's Buddhist monastic order has been rocked by a sex scandal involving several high-ranking monks and millions of dollars in embezzled temple donations. The police have arrested a 35-year-old woman, who allegedly developed sexual relationships with senior monks only to blackmail them after.
US Tariff war: Thai government optimistic it can negotiate lower rate
The Trump administration may have sent Thailand a letter announcing it will impose a 36 per cent tariff on Thai imports to the US, but the Thai government remains optimistic that it can still negotiate a lower rate.
Thailand's new Cabinet sworn in
Thailand’s new Cabinet has been sworn in, completing a reshuffle of portfolios. It was originally aimed at stemming a political crisis, which has seen Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended from office, with two acting prime ministers stepping up just this week.
Thai court suspends PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra over leaked phone call
Thailand's constitutional court has suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra pending a legal decision regarding allegations of dishonesty and ethical breaches linked to a leaked phone call. A caretaker prime minister will take over while the case unfolds, raising questions about Paetongtarn's political future amid ongoing protests and instability. Additionally, the confirmation of her new cabinet remains unresolved as she navigates this political crisis.
Thai PM Paetongtarn fights for political survival as thousands of protesters rally in Bangkok
Thailand is on the brink of more political turmoil. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra faces a tough week ahead, as she fights to stay in office less than a year into her premiership. Thousands have gathered in Bangkok to demand her resignation — the largest such rally since the ruling Pheu Thai party came to power two years ago. The Constitutional Court is set to consider a plea tomorrow calling for her resignation. Ms Paetongtarn also faces a possible no-confidence vote when parliament resumes on Thursday.
Thai army closes nearly all border crossings with Cambodia
Thailand's army has put curbs on border crossings with Cambodia in six provinces, as a territorial row between the neighbours rages. Relations have deteriorated after a Cambodian soldier was killed last month when troops exchanged fire in a disputed area known as the Emerald Triangle.
Students in Thailand begin new school year with eased uniform, hairstyle rules
Students in Thailand are starting the second week of the new school year, and they are finally getting what some feel are long overdue changes. Earlier this year, a court ruled that mandating how students should wear their hair violated individual rights and is out of touch with today's society. A new Education Ministry directive also exempts students from having to wear Scout uniforms about once a week, in order to relieve parents of the financial burden.
New court statement triggers confusion over verdict of former Thai PM Yingluck
The implementation of a verdict concerning former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been thrown into question after a statement by the court. The Thai Supreme Administrative Court had found Ms Yingluck liable for the payment of about US$300 million in damages incurred by the state under a rice-pledging scheme launched by her government. But on May 26, the court said it did not have the authority to force the former premier to make the payment, raising questions about what this means for Ms Yingluck, who remains in self-imposed exile.
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.