Thailand is expected to elect a new government on May 7th, 2023. The House of Representatives will be dissolved by a decree of the dictator between March 8th and March 22nd so that the concerned agencies can proceed with their work smoothly ahead of the election. In the run-up to the elections, many MPs have already switched parties in the past year in order to achieve the most favourable position on the ballot paper in order to be re-elected. Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Thai dictator, for example, left the party that had brought him to power in 2018 without being elected and joined a new party founded by a friend. This guarantees that he will be ported as the new prime minister in advance. His former mentor, the controversial Prawit Wongsuwan, has allowed himself to be put in the same position by Prayut Chan-o-cha's former party friends in the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). Many commentators saw this as a rift between the two long-time friends. In my opinion, this is a misjudgement. The two "split" in order to collect together as many votes as possible to take power together again after the elections and with the help of the majority of pro-military senators. Prayut Chan-o-cha for the first 2 years, then Prawit Wongsuwan for the rest of the term. Following a court ruling, Prayut Chan-o-cha is only allowed to hold the office of prime minister for a total of 8 years. He has already served 2 years as coup chief and 4 years as unelected prime minister. Prayut Chan-o-cha is trying to present himself to the voters as a serious candidate who refrains from populist promises. Prawit Wongsuwan, on the other hand, has already promised his voters to raise the minimum wage to 700 baht/day and the welfare benefits to 700 baht/month. As leader of his Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), he even promised to lift 20 million people out of poverty on February 11th, 2023. Captain Thamanat Prompow, a drug trafficker convicted in Australia and a member of the PPRP, promises to convert title deeds for poor farmers. A cheeky leader of the senators, Wanchai Sornsiri, announced as early as February 13th on his Facebook page that he and his cronies will not promote the Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party (MFP) candidates, who are currently leading in the polls, to the prime minister's chair even in the event of a landslide victory of one of the two parties. This means that the military-led senators themselves would ignore the will of the people.

According to press reports, about 30 billion baht were diverted through corruption. Now the accused governor is warning on behalf of the MRTA that the almost completed line cannot be opened if the investigations are not stopped!

Bangkok Post Legal disputes may delay Orange Line, warns MRTA Media claim that about 30 billion baht have been siphoned off through corruption ....

Bangkok Post Orange Line extensions 'on hold' due to legal issues Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate said

It is not only clever businessmen who make a fortune from selling cult objects and rites. Some temples and their monks are also involved in this business, as they encourage their believers to believe in supernatural powers and pay generously for them.

Bangkok Post Cashing in on superstition Thais are increasingly turning to the lucrative business of faith products

Bangkok Post Top cops linked to illegal site

Bangkok Post Investigators await totals in online gambling kingpin's bank accounts

Bangkok Post 'Sua' has a parlour: Chuvit

Bangkok Post Investigation begins into 'inspector Sua's' alleged business empire

Bangkok Post 15-day deadline for probe into 'police gambling network'

Bangkok Post Hundreds of links to 'Inspector Sua' probed

Bangkok Post Latest 'triad' network boss faces charges

Bangkok Post Alleged Chinese 'triad' leader detained, visa revoked

Bangkok Post Alleged triad leader faces three charges, say police

Bangkok Post Official says 33 scholars guilty of academic fraud

Prachatai ENGLISH Thai senator's deep involvement with Myanmar junta crony exposed

Bangkok Post Move Forward not worried about senator's lawsuit

National Geographic Society Thai poaching kingpin is on the run after prison sentence

Thai PBS World Five Thai Excise Dept. officials suspended for alleged extortion

Bangkok Post Police headquarters commander shot dead 'by wife'

Khaosod ENGLISH Thai Famous Cop Killed by His Wife, Who Was Also a Cop

The Pattaya News CCTV Catches Thai Excise Officers Allegedly Extorting Money from Elderly Grocer

Bangkok Post Police to probe Saipay69 Senior officer linked to gambling site

Bangkok Post Local police chief in Chon Buri probed for gambling link

Bangkok Post Police chip away at network of 'Inspector Sua'

Bangkok Post Chuvit targets Chidchob clan

Bangkok Post Fire destroys police building in Bangkok's Sathon

Bangkok Post Bail opposed for aide to 'Inspector Sua', 5 others in gambling case

Bangkok Post Chuvit swears he's acting on his own Whistleblower to step up campaign against graft, cannabis policy linked to Bhumjaithai Party

Bangkok Post Legal disputes may delay Orange Line, warns MRTA Media claim that about 30 billion baht have been siphoned off through corruption ....

Bangkok Post Visa racket report fingers 107 immigration officers This is certainly only the tip of the iceberg

Bangkok Post Sattahip resort 'acquired land from former politician' But the Navy has not released his name or the person in charge of the land trade. We only know the name of the Minister for Defence under whose authority and command this happened: Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Bangkok Post Sukhumbhand facing Green Line graft charges NACC names 13 individuals and entities in connection with extension contract signed in 2012.

Bangkok Post Chuvit petitions graftbusters to probe Saksayam He petitioned the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to look into four cases of alleged misconduct relating to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and the Bhumjaithai Party.

Bangkok Post Probe into revoked drug arrest warrant for senator The national police chief has ordered an investigation into the revocation of a warrant for the arrest of a senator suspected of involvement in a drug and money-laundering case.

Prachatai ENGLISH Leaked letter alleges Court top brass had Thai senator's arrest warrant revoked Leaked testimony from a police officer shows that executives in the Criminal Court stepped in and revoked an arrest warrant on drug and money laundering charges issued against Thai senator Upakit Pachariyangkun.

Bangkok Post Tearful senator denies drug allegations Upakit says accusers have fabricated evidence linking him to accused Myanmar trafficker for political gain

Bangkok Post Probe sought into Upakit's assets Drug-link allegations 'not politically driven'

OCCRP Experts Warn of Political Interference After Thai Court Quashed Senator's Arrest Warrant Judicial officials in Thailand revoked an arrest warrant for a powerful senator on drug trafficking and money laundering charges

Bangkok Post Ex-top cop denies drug lobby claims

Bangkok Post Agitated cop fires shots in housing estate The police man with mental problems is working at the Special Branch Bureau, holding the position of inspector.

Bangkok Post Police-shooter standoff continues in Bangkok

Bangkok Post Police-shooter shot, wounded, siege ends Pol Lt Col Kittikarn Saengbun, 51, an inspector attached to Special Branch Bureau's Intelligence Development Centre, was shot and wounded by police commandos at 12:19. The officer succumbed to his injuries on the same night.

Bangkok Post Police to undergo mental health checks nationwide Police officers across the country will undergo mental health screening to prevent a recurrence of a 27-hour police siege at a house in Bangkok this week.

Bangkok Post Chakthip in hot water over smart cars Former national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda guilty of procurement irregularities in relation to the acquisition of 260 smart patrol cars worth more than 900 million baht.

Thai PBS World Former national police chief Chakthip to face corruption charges Thailand’s National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has decided to file corruption charges against former national police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda and 45 other individuals and legal entities over the procurement of 260 "smart" electric police patrol cars

Khaosod ENGLISH Five Patong Police Are Removed After DOPA Raid Underage Sex Bar The police officers from Patong Provincial Police Station allowed the bar in Patong to provide underage girls as prostitutes to foreign customers.

The Nation Thailand Three police charged with kidnapping Chinese man in botched scam Three police officers were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly kidnapping a Chinese national and his female interpreter during a botched passport-renewal scam at the Chaengwattana government complex in Bangkok.

Bangkok Post Warrants issued for 4 immigration officers for crypto extortion Arrest warrants have been approved for four immigration police accused of the abduction of a Chinese man and Thai woman

Bangkok Post Immigration officers suspended, named in crypto extortion case Four immigration officers accused of the abduction and crypto extortion of a Chinese man and his Thai interpreter have been suspended from the police force pending further investigation.

Bangkok Post Immigration officer wanted for abduction, extortion surrenders Fourth and final suspect remanded in custody in case involving Chinese and Thai victims

Bangkok Post Kalasin police trio investigated for bribery Officers accused of demanding B500'000 for release of drug suspect

Bangkok Post Three police charged with extortion A committee in Kalasin will investigate three police officers accused of demanding 500'000 baht in bribes in exchange for the release of a suspect caught with 2'000 methamphetamine pills

Bangkok Post Chuvit to sue Sittra over 'bribe' claim Whistleblower says donations returned

The Pattaya News Chinese Woman Abducted for 4.7 Million Baht Ransom in Pattaya A Chinese woman has been abducted while getting her kid at a school in Pattaya. Her husband filed a complaint with the police, saying the suspects wanted 4.7 million baht in exchange for his wife’s freedom.

The Pattaya News Pattaya Police Bust Alleged Indian Scammer in Pattaya for Scamming American Victims of Three Billion Baht An Indian man and his Thai wife have been taken into custody by Pattaya Police today for allegedly scamming multiple American victims of over three billion baht.

Bangkok Post Police raids target swindlers preying on American retirees An Indian man and three Thai women were detained for questioning during police raids on 36 premises in four provinces.

Bangkok Post More arrests in phone scams targeting Americans 15 Thais and 5 Indians now detained in connection with network that bilked people out of B3 billion

Thai PBS World Three suspected insurgents killed at Narathiwat jungle hideout Three suspected insurgents were shot dead by Thai security forces at a jungle hideout in the Si Sakhon district of the southern province of Narathiwat on March 20th.

Bangkok Post Police nab 11 linked to online gambling, raid four properties Police raided four properties and arrested 11 suspects allegedly involved in online gambling websites

Butter from Belgium, France or Germany has a higher fat content than butter from the USA or most other countries - at least 82 per cent, as opposed to the 80 per cent required in the USA. But butter from Belgium, France or Germany not only has a higher fat content, it is also cultured, a process in which live active cultures are added to the cream before the butter is buttered. This gives the butter its own flavour - a slight tang - which makes it even tastier.

MiniSo: 8 batteries 69 Baht = 8.625 Baht/battery 20 batteries 189 Baht = 9.45 Baht/battery