May 01, 2024

A Wan Smile

A single clinic on Thailand’s border receives 500 refugees fleeing neighboring Myanmar’s civil war every day as Myanmar’s military fights pro-democracy and local ethnic rebels, reported Sky News. Critics told Nikkei Asia that the Thai government was not prepared to handle the approximately 90,000 refugees that...

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April 04, 2024

The Perpetual Outsiders

Thailand’s constitutional court agreed Wednesday to consider a case that could lead to the dissolution of the opposition Move Forward Party, a decision that dealt another blow to the country’s anti-establishment movement advocating for major institutional reforms, Reuters reported. The case stems from a complaint filed...

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February 07, 2024

No Way Out

Thailand’s state prosecutors said on Tuesday they were reopening an investigation into former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s alleged violation of a strict royal insult law, just weeks before he was expected to be released after serving a sentence for corruption, the Associated Press reported. Thaksin was...

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September 22, 2023

Total Recall

Thailand’s new government is planning to restrict the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, a year after the country approved a landmark policy to decriminalize the narcotic, Bloomberg reported Thursday. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that his 11-party coalition is seeking to “rectify” the country’s cannabis...

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August 23, 2023

New Beginnings

Real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin secured enough votes in parliament to become Thailand’s new prime minister Tuesday, finally ending the political deadlock in the Southeast Asian country following May’s elections, CNBC reported. Srettha, a candidate of the populist Pheu Thai Party, received 482 votes, including from...

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August 17, 2023

The Tricky Dance

Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed a petition that challenged parliament’s decision to block the leader of the election’s leading party from being renominated as a prime ministerial candidate, a ruling that could end the political deadlock that began following May’s vote, Nikkei Asia reported Wednesday. Since May,...

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August 03, 2023

Lost Winner

The Move Forward party will not be part of Thailand’s future coalition government, according to a former ally, the latest blow for the progressive party that won the most seats in the country’s general election in May, the Associated Press reported. On Wednesday, coalition partner Pheu...

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July 20, 2023

The Unwanted

Thailand’s parliament blocked Pita Limjaroenrat from being nominated for the post of prime minister Wednesday, the second time lawmakers rejected the candidate whose progressive Move Forward Party won a surprise victory in May’s election, the Washington Post reported. Pita had assembled a coalition of parties holding...

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July 12, 2023

Making Way

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will not seek reelection and is to retire from politics, his party announced Tuesday, a decision that comes two months after a parliamentary election that saw voters overwhelmingly reject the country’s military-backed rule, CNN reported. The announcement came just two days...

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May 16, 2023

Checkmate

Two Thai opposition parties secured the largest share of the vote in Sunday’s parliamentary polls, delivering a stinging rebuke to Thailand’s military leaders who have ruled the country since their 2014 coup, the New York Times reported. Election results showed that the progressive Move Forward Party...

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May 11, 2023

Family Business

Thai political candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 36, who is the frontrunner in upcoming national elections, recently gave birth to a son, Pluenkthasinsuksawat, known by his nickname, Thasin. The baby might have brought her luck. Paetongtarn, the scion of a family of prime ministers from the opposition populist...

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October 28, 2022

Open for Everyone

A Thai media tycoon and transgender businesswoman bought the Miss Universe Organization this week, marking the first time the beauty pageant organizer will be owned by a woman, CNN reported Thursday. Anne Jakkaphong Jakrajutatip, CEO of a Thailand-based media distribution company, JKN Global Group PCL, purchased...

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October 04, 2022

No Limits

Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled this week that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha can remain in office, after previously suspending him as it considered whether the former military leader had exceeded his term limit, the Guardian reported. In August, opposition parties petitioned the high court, saying that Prayuth...

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August 25, 2022

Overstaying

Thailand’s Constitutional Court ordered the temporary suspension of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Wednesday, following a petition by the opposition accusing the strongman leader of exceeding his legally mandated eight-year term, the Financial Times reported. The case concerns a dispute on the length and legality of...

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July 27, 2022

Huffing and Puffing

Thailand recently decriminalized marijuana, becoming the first country in Asia to embrace a new attitude toward the plant that the locals refer to as ganja. The Southeast Asian country will likely not become a pot-focused tourist haven anytime soon, however, the Washington Post cautioned. While marijuana...

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