Thailand delayed on Monday its US$724 million purchase of two submarines from China, following public outrage over the controversial deal as the kingdom's economy flatlines due to the coronavirus pandemic.Under a 2015 deal, Thailand was one of the first countries to buy Chinese naval hardware and finalised its purchase of three submarines in 2017, with the first one expected to be delivered in 2023.An order for two more for THB22.5 billion (US$723.9 million) was approved earlier this mon

A 2019 study on Thai media habits conducted by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission showed that television (TV) as a medium will still be in widespread use in Thailand for the next decade.

When university student Rung calmly read out 10 demands to reform Thailand's monarchy before thousands of protesters at a pro-democracy rally this month, she defied the country's biggest political taboo.Backed by an arch-royalist military and shielded by draconian royal defamation laws, the super-rich monarchy wields enormous influence in nearly every sphere of Thai society.But 21-year-old Rung – real name Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul – said the 10 August protest at Thammasat Univer

Relatives of missing Thai activists pleaded Thursday for a long-stalled bill criminalising political disappearances to be made into law, as calls for accountability grow louder from a burgeoning youth-led pro-democracy movement.Thailand has seen weeks of near-daily protests by students demanding an overhaul of the military-aligned government and reforms to the monarchy - long a taboo subject in the kingdom.One of the catalysts for the movement was the disappearance in June of Wanchalearm Sats

Facebook said Tuesday it would file a legal challenge against a Thai government order to take down a group where pro-democracy activists held discussions about the monarchy, a taboo subject in the country.A growing tide of youth-led protests has swept Thailand in recent weeks - buoyed by anger against what many regard as an illegitimate, military-aligned government and an overly powerful royal family.The private Facebook group, called "Royalist Marketplace", was created in April and

The 2014 coup d’état in Thailand was successful because the country’s military had immense power and enjoyed strong support. This power has been embedded in almost all aspects of Thai society for a long time giving the military the capability to design and change political structure at will.

A pro-democracy movement led by student groups is gathering steam across Thailand, with some activists even calling for reform of the kingdom's unassailable monarchy.Authorities have so far made 11 arrests on various charges, including sedition and breaking coronavirus rules, before releasing them on bail.Here is what we know so far:What Do The Protesters Want?The protesters are rallying against the government of Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha.The former army chief led a coup in 2014 and kept

A Thai court issued arrest warrants Wednesday for six pro-democracy activists involved in recent rallies that heard calls for an overhaul of the government and even reforms to the monarchy - a subject usually taboo in the kingdom.Near-daily demonstrations by a youth-led pro-democracy movement have been largely tolerated by authorities so far, but police said Wednesday they now had warrants to arrest half a dozen of the most prominent protesters.They will be charged with "sedition, comput

An anti-government protest in Thailand drew more than 10,000 people on Sunday, the largest political demonstration the kingdom has seen in years as a pro-democracy movement gathers steam.Student-led groups have held near-daily protests across the country for the past month to denounce Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha - a former army chief who led a 2014 coup - and his military-aligned administration.By Sunday evening, the protesters - who are demanding major democratic reforms - had taken over the b

Thailand's prime minister called for unity and urged the kingdom to "say no to the politics of hate" in a televised address on Thursday, following weeks of anti-government protests that have grown bolder in targeting Thai power.The country has seen near-daily demonstrations by pro-democracy student-led groups demanding an overhaul of Prayut Chan-o-cha's administration and a rewrite of a 2017 military-scripted constitution.In his address Thursday evening, the former army ch