Hat Yai has declared it wants to be a medical and wellness hub in the southern region.

The new cabinet, led by recently appointed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has the highest number of women in Thailand’s political history.

The Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) supports the Transport Ministry’s plan to cap the fare on mass transit electric train services at 20 baht per trip, according to Saree Ongsomwang, TCC secretary-general.

The Rice Department wants to increase the profile of Thai rice on the global stage, by promoting unique strains with certified, geographical indication (GI) labels to a wider market.

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn insists on increasing the daily wage to 400 baht nationwide on Oct 1 despite concerns that the rise will harm businesses.

The opposition and the Senate are set to put the new government in the crosshairs when it spells out its policy statement in parliament this week, with the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s digital wallet handout scheme among the main targets.

The director of Mongkutwattana Hospital in Bangkok has vowed to lock defiant smokers on his premises in “gas chambers” until they inhale 100% of their cigarette smoke.

Weather forecasters expect heavy downpours to continue in Thailand’s North and upper Northeast due to the influence of former typhoon Yagi, which was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning.

Most Thais believe the new government led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will be able to complete the remaining three years of the current parliament’s term, and consider healthcare and economic policies to be the government’s strongest suits, according to the latest Super Poll survey. 

Thailand’s new government plans to expedite a sweeping debt restructuring to tackle an estimated $474 billion of household liability, offer financial assistance to small businesses and accelerate fiscal stimulus to lift growth.