Thai celebrity meets police on iCon direct sales controversyListen to this articleKan Kantathavorn arrives at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok on Sunday. (Police photo)Well-known TV host and actor Kan Kantathavorn met consumer protection police on Sunday morning for interrogation about complaints concerning The iCon Group direct sales company. Mr Kan arrived at the Central Investigation Bureau with his lawyer for questioning by consumer protection police. About 500 people have filed complaints with consumer protection police about losses amounting to about 178 million baht related to their participation in the direct sales business of The iCon Group. Warathaphon Waratyaworrakul, 41, chief executive of the group, met consumer protection police on Saturday and said he was saddened upon learning that people have suffered losses investing in the company’s direct sales business.

'Amazing Thailand' just won't go awayListen to this articleI must confess to groaning just a little this week upon seeing the headline "Amazing Thailand is back". We were informed that next year we are in for "Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism Year" with the aim to attract more than 40 million visitors to these sunny shores. When the "Amazing Thailand" slogan was first introduced back in the late 1990s it felt a little over the top. At times things can be amazingly confusing or amazingly absurd and on occasions even amazingly amazing. Over the years there have been several similar incidents concerning power poles which have the alarming tendency to fall like dominoes.

He also added that despite having protection under immunity as an MP, Gen Pisal is required to undergo legal procedures as he had the arrest warrant issued by the Narathiwat Provincial Court. "The absence of Gen Pisal is not related to the party. Mr Phumtham said he was not aware of the fact that Gen Pisal was reportedly granted leave to receive medical treatment overseas. According to an earlier report, Gen Pisal filed a leave of absence from the House until Oct 30, after the statute's expiry. The Tak Bai tragedy occurred on Oct 25, 2004, when security forces dispersed a rally in front of the police station in Tak Bai district.

Warrants sought in iCon caseLawyer Sittra Biabungkerd, left, and Tankhun Jitt-itsara, centre, show copies of luxury watches and celebrities involved with The iCon Group for alleged public fraud and money laundering, at the Central Investigation Bureau's complaint centre yesterday. Royal Thai PoliceThe Royal Thai Police (RTP) plan to ask a criminal court for arrest warrants against all parties involved in The iCon Group case including its owner after receiving complaints from 161 people who lost about 62 million baht to the suspected pyramid scheme. Pol Col Uthane Nuipin, deputy RTP spokesman, gave an update on the progress of the case yesterday, listing the number of victims and the alleged damages. Yesterday morning, the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) searched the company's premises to gather information. An investigation showed the company's annual revenue reached up to 5 billion baht, despite having only 15 products for sale.

South faces heavy rain, flood riskVehicles travel through floodwater in Hua Hin district on Wednesday morning. (Photo: Chaiwat Satyaem)People in the South are being warned to brace for torrential rains that started on Wednesday and will continue until Saturday, potentially triggering flash floods. Heavy rain and strong winds have been affecting parts of Phetchaburi since late Tuesday night. In Chai Nat, flooding has improved, with the water level in the Chao Phraya River receding to a level well below the river bank. The situation in Ayutthaya, which was receiving the northern run-off from the Chao Phraya, intensified on Wednesday, with larger areas hit by floods.

Three suspects chargedListen to this articleThe police have pressed charges against three individuals connected to the excursion bus inferno tragedy, in which 20 school children and three teachers were killed. National police chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet chaired a two-hour meeting yesterday with high-ranking police officers to discuss the progress in the investigation into the bus fire. Pol Gen Kitrat said charges have been filed against three suspects: the bus driver, the vehicle owner, and the owner of the tour bus company. Pol Gen Kitrat assured that the investigation was being carried out thoroughly and transparently. Two of the three students injured in the blaze will require at least another month of treatment at Thammasat University Hospital.

Listen to this articleCannabis plants for sale at Nonthaburi Green Market in Nonthaburi in 2023. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)The Public Health Ministry will issue a new ministerial regulation to tighten control of the production, import, export, sale and possession of cannabis and hemp extracts. The draft, proposed by the Public Health Ministry, will be submitted to the Council of State, the government's legal arm, for scrutiny, Pol Lt Gen Phanurat said, adding the draft regulation will be issued under the Narcotics Code. On Monday, the ONCB secretary-general met British Ambassador Mark Gooding to discuss measures to tackle the smuggling of cannabis from Thailand to the UK. The British envoy said more than 200 smugglers from Thailand have been arrested in the UK so far this year, Pol Lt Gen Phanurat said, adding the ambassador expressed concern about transnational criminal networks pulling the strings.

Two suspects from the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case fleeListen to this articleProtesters are arrested in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district on Oct 25, 2004. (File photo: Tawatchai Khemgumnerd)Two suspects in the 2004 Tak Bai massacre case left the country before their arrest warrants were issued, a House committee was told. The meeting aimed to follow up on progress in bringing suspects to trial for the Tak Bai massacre, which took place in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district on Oct 25, 2004. Pol Col Rangsee added the two suspects left before the arrest warrants were handed to the IB. Pol Col Rangsee admitted that, so far, police have been unable to locate the suspects.

Listen to this articlePTT Exploration & Production's gas field. Cambodia remains committed to discussing the issue with Thailand, government spokesperson Pen Bona said in a statement to Bloomberg News. Cambodia has fewer reasons to rush to the negotiating table even though it is almost entirely dependent on foreign fuel. For Thailand, the precedent exists for joint exploration. As for the dispute with Cambodia, a Thai government spokesperson said negotiations are among the prime minister’s priorities but declined to provide a timeline.

"If interest rates are cut once, it would reduce pressure on the central bank. "The board chairman of the central bank should have the knowledge and ability to coordinate with relevant agencies to smooth work processes. "We are confident the central bank knows the most appropriate actions to take after the US Federal Reserve cut interest rates." "We would ask whether the central bank is maintaining the country's financial stability at the cost of SMEs and the economy," said Mr Sangchai. She urged the central bank, in collaboration with commercial banks, to relax the loan criteria to help SMEs, including restaurant operators, in accessing loans.

Tak Bai victims fret as deadline loomsListen to this articleRangsiman RomeThe People's Party (PP) has warned that if the statute of limitations in the case concerning the Tak Bai massacre expires without justice being seen to be served, it will further inflate concerns that the nation's legal system operates on double standards. He was referring to the indictment in the Criminal Court of the former senior officials connected to the massacre that occurred in Narathiwat's Tak Bai district on Oct 25, 2004. Some of the suspects, including Pheu Thai Party list MP Gen Pisal Wattanawongkiri, have not reported to the court to acknowledge the indictment. Gen Pisal served as the commander of the Fourth Army Region that was involved in the Tak Bai massacre, which occurred when security forces dispersed a rally in front of the police station in Tak Bai district. "More and more people are getting the impression they are experiencing deja vu under the current Pheu Thai administration," he said.

Scientists John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning within artificial neural networks. Hinton said he was "flabbergasted" as he received the award on Tuesday (October 8).

The Democratic Republic of Congo expanded its mpox vaccination campaign on Monday (October 7), with health workers in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces receiving shots, though many at-risk individuals remain unvaccinated as the country battles to contain a widespread outbreak. Nurse Christian Imani Banyanga says he can now "work with peace of mind."

Flood alert for parts of BangkokWat Arun, best known as the Temple of Dawn, seen from the other side of the Chao Phraya River in overcast Bangkok on Monday. (Photo: Nittaya Nattayai)City Hall on Monday warned people living along the Chao Phraya River in areas with no permanent barriers to prepare for flooding next week. The flood risk would come from the rising Chao Phraya river and forecast high tides, as more water was discharged from the Chao Phraya Dam, upstream from Bangkok in Chai Nat province, during the 11 days. The BMA did not name the flood prone areas of the city outside the embankment zone. Data from 2022 showed these areas as including parts of Dusit, Phra Nakhon, Samphanthawong, Bang Kholaem, Yanawa, Bangkok Noi and Klong San districts.

(Photo: Reuters)Annual meetings between Asean leaders and major powers from both the West and East have made Asean an important strategic partner. It is impractical for Mr Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris to attend in person. Mr Biden is focused on his legacy in his last months in office, while Ms Harris is busy with her presidential election campaign. Mr Blinken attended the Asean summit once in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2022, and in May, he held a special summit with Asean leaders in Washington, DC. The challenge for the US is to balance its global priorities while keeping its strategic partnership with Asean strong and beneficial for both sides.