(Photo: Reuters)Thailand will have one of its biggest ever Olympic Games contingents of 51 athletes in Paris, but the hopes of raking in medals remain as modest as ever. Thailand is bidding to win an Olympic medal for the 12th consecutive Games after the 1976 tournament in Montreal and is pinning its hopes on the Kingdom's taekwondo, boxing, weightlifting, badminton and golf stars. The two-time world champion is heading to Paris with two teammates -- Banlung Tubtimdang (men's 68kg) and Sasikarn Tongchan (women's 67kg) -- who are both making their Olympic debuts. Thitisan, who earned his Paris ticket at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, will make his Olympic debut alongside Bunjong Sinsiri (63.5kg) and Weerapon Jongjoho (80kg). As the boxing team are looking to increase their medal haul, the country's badminton aces are still in search of their first ever Olympic medal.

The country launched a long-term visa scheme on Thursday to attract foreign investors. (Photo: Antara Foto/Fikri Yusuf via Reuters)JAKARTA - Indonesia launched a long-term visa scheme on Thursday intended to attract foreign investors, President Joko Widodo said, with amounts of up to US$10 million giving them a 10-year visa and access to Southeast Asia's largest economy. The five-year "Golden Visa" requires individual investors to set up a company worth $2.5 million, while a 10-year visa requires a $5 million investment. They need to invest $50 million to gain a 10-year visa. "We're launching the golden visa to make it easier for foreign nationals to invest and contribute in Indonesia," he said.

Thailand to set up task force to prevent transactions for Myanmar armsA protester holds a flag as he shouts slogans during a demonstration to mark the third anniversary of Myanmar’s 2021 military coup, outside of the United Nations office in Bangkok on Feb 1, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)Thailand will form a task force to enhance the due diligence capabilities of its financial institutions in order to prevent transactions by banks that could lead to arms purchases and human rights abuses in Myanmar, the Foreign Ministry said. The meeting discussed progress made in investigating transactions that may be linked to the purchase of weapons, military supplies and the Myanmar government, the ministry said in a statement late on Wednesday. The Bank of Thailand and the Anti-Money Laundering Office will establish a task force to investigate the transactions and review measures to "further equip and enhance the ability of Thai financial institutions," the statement said. Earlier this month, bank representatives told a parliamentary committee that they had followed regulations but lacked capacity to investigate all transactions that could be used for arms purchases.

The Peruvian government exhibited 33 archaeological items on Monday (July 22) that were recovered from private collections in the United States, Canada, Australia and Switzerland in the Andean nation’s latest effort to recover its pre-Hispanic cultural heritage. Archaeologist Sofia del Castillo said it was the "third ceremony of handed-in artifacts."

A number of Mallorcan residents are resorting to living in caravans parked in makeshift camps as they are priced out of the housing market partly due to a tourism boom on the Spanish holiday island.

(Reuters File Photo)Thailand will work towards controlling the use of cannabis through legislation instead of re-listing it as a narcotic, according to Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, signalling yet another policy U-turn. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin now agreed that legislation was the appropriate step to take, Mr Anutin said on Tuesday. The prime minister reportedly gave guidelines to enact an act to control the plant instead of re-listing it as a narcotic. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the prime minister, also attended the talks, said Mr Anutin. Mr Anutin on Tuesday told reporters that it was strictly a social and not a political occasion.

Call for firms to support Thai farmersVisitors make their way around THAIFEX-Anuga Asia 2024, which came to a close last month. (Photo: Varuth Hiranyatheb)The Commerce Ministry has called for collaboration among Thai conglomerates to help purchase agricultural products to support farmers, so that they can have a more stable income. Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced plans and measures to manage agricultural products and secondary crops in the second half of the year. “The conventional method in which government intervenes to support farm prices is not sustainable. On the other hand, the government should seek collaboration from large conglomerates such as PTT, Charoen Pokphand Foods, Thai Beverage, Tops and EmQuartier to help buy agricultural products by leveraging their corporate social responsibility activities,” said Mr Phumtham.

Wooden bulletproof vest claims refutedThe Royal Thai Police’s (RTP) Ordnance Division has denied it has distributed substandard bulletproof vests after a picture of body armour layered with plywood surfaced online. The division’s commander, Pol Maj Gen Nirandon Sirisangchai, said on Monday that the RTP has never procured body armour or armour plates that use wood as a material. Pol Maj Gen Nirandon said the purchasing and inspection process is transparent, verifiable, and aligned with the laws and regulations. Last week, an anonymous netizen posted a picture of a plywood-layered bulletproof vest bearing the RTP’s logo on his Facebook page. The netizen said that procuring such a vest was evidence of corruption among senior officers, as plywood could not protect users.

Bangladesh army forces patrolled the capital Dhaka’s streets on Monday (July 22) as an indefinite curfew remained after clashes between student protesters and security forces killed at least 147 people across the South Asian nation.

Questions over digital wallet fundingPrime Minister Srettha Thavisin makes a point during a press conference for the digital wallet handout programme held at the Government House on Nov 10, 2023. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)The Finance Ministry has not ruled out using funds under Section 28 of the State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act for the digital wallet handout scheme, says Finance Permanent Secretary Lavaron Sangsnit. He said that in the process of managing funds for the government’s digital wallet project, the Finance Ministry would continue to use established fiscal management methods, with Section 28 serving as one of the government’s fiscal tools. “We still use fiscal management methods, and Section 28 is still an option. Initially, the government planned to use funds from three sources to finance the digital wallet project, which was originally set to tally 500 billion baht.

ANA preserves load factor on Thailand-Japan routesAn ANA aircraft. Mr Yoshihara said following the pandemic, Thailand has been one of the strongest routes in Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia, along with Singapore and Shanghai. Despite a weak yen, Japanese carrier ANA has maintained the load factor on Thailand-Japan routes at the same robust level as 2019, with more of its passengers being Thai tourists as well as long-haul travellers transiting in Japan. Many foreigners, such as those from the US, chose to transit in Japan when visiting Southeast Asia and Thailand. Bangkok was ANA's first destination in Southeast Asia.

Trump told CNN on Sunday that he believed Harris would be easier to defeat. "My intention is to earn and win this nomination," Harris said in a statement. The president told allies that as of Saturday night he planned to stay in the race before changing his mind on Sunday afternoon. During that campaign, Biden described himself as a bridge to the next generation. Top Democrats, including former House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a longtime ally, told Biden he cannot win the election.

MFP's reforming spirit will live onA Move Forward Party supporter during an election campaign event in Bangkok on April 22, 2023. Whether the court will heed Prof Suraphol's warning or to be more broad-minded with divergent views regarding the lese majeste law remains to be seen. Conservatives in Thai society, particularly those in the judicial community, may believe that strict enforcement of the lese majeste law and severe punishment may help in protecting constitutional democracy. Come what may, the Move Forward Party will not disappear like thin air from the political landscape. The lese majeste law is not a divine law.

A total of 72,000 rai of state land, previously used by the military, is ready to be handed over for distribution to poor landless farmers to mark the occasion of His Majesty the King's 72nd birthday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced. Speaking in his weekly broadcast on Saturday, Mr Srettha said many farmers across the country are affected by a shortage of farmland. The government asked the military, including the air force, army and navy, to allocate unused lands to landless farmers so that they could rent them at a low rate. He has travelled extensively to supervise and check on the progress of those royal projects in person," said Mr Srettha. The prime minister emphasised the importance of water management, which plays a big role in the country's economy.

Thousands of Shanghai residents flocked to a waterpark in the outskirt of the city after it opened for the summer season on Saturday (July 20) amid a heatwave that continued to bake China’s financial hub. Temperatures rose above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit as large crowds of people splashed in the pools at Playamaya waterpark.