At 9:40 a.m. on 13 August 2025 at Parliament, Rukchonok Srinok, chair of the House Budget Committee, announced that the committee plans to scrutinize the TH-AI Passport project extensively, as registration is expected to begin shortly. The committee will question progress on contract amendments between the Digital Economy and Society Ministry and its partners, review project proposals, and examine outstanding document submissions that the ministry has not yet provided.

Rukchonok said the committee has a particular focus on the marketing component of the bid, concerned that vague requirements might lock in specifications unfairly. The terms require bidders to use top-five offline media in the country, but the committee found that competing firms have not specified which media company screens they will use—yet the ministry and its fund have scored them anyway. The committee also lacks scoring rubrics for AI, marketing, training, and call centre operations, and does not have meeting notes from the ministry fund related to the passport project.

When asked about Minister Chaiyachonok's absence, Rukchonok confirmed that word arrived this morning that he would not attend, citing unspecified duties, and that the Permanent Secretary would appear in his place. Rukchonok stressed that the minister has now declined four invitations to brief the committee in person, adding that if he fails to appear again and documents remain incomplete, she will discuss with the committee the need to invoke statutory power to compel his attendance.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Krungthai Bank (KTB), and Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment have launched a new partnership to strengthen community-led soluti...

The World Bank has encouraged Thailand to adopt Natural Capital Accounting (NCA), a framework designed to measure the economic value of natural resources and integrate them into national development p...

The Anti-Corruption Committee is pressing the Department of Local Administration to quickly submit 5,925 names of suspected exam cheaters to five relevant agencies without delay, in order to open financial investigation channels and trace the masterminds.

At a parliament press conference on August 13, Asarathorn Suntaraipap, the committee chair, explained that regarding the 5,925 individuals proposed by the department to the Central Local Government Employee Examination Committee, which then directed the case to the Central Local Government Personnel Committee as the local government human resources management agency, these names have been verified for accuracy. The committee has therefore revised and finalized the pass list.

Asarathorn questioned why the department has not yet submitted these 5,925 names to the five agencies with which memoranda of understanding have been signed—the department itself, the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Corruption and Misconduct Prevention Unit, and the examination committee. While the central committee's resolution has been sent to provincial authorities, the department has not forwarded the names to allow these agencies to proceed with their respective duties.

When asked about the delay, Asarathorn suggested the agencies may have simply forgotten after signing the MOU, which is why the committee is now pushing for action. He emphasized his determination to ensure that all corrupt individuals face justice and to investigate whether politicians are involved, as the public suspects.

Regarding whether further screening by the Interior Ministry could allow fraudsters to slip through again, Asarathorn said he does not believe this is possible since scores already appear on official answer sheets and represent established facts.

When asked whether the investigation could ultimately reach the top instigators, Asarathorn said the case has reached level 10 officials, who have denied involvement. The committee will pursue financial transaction checks and questioning. He drew a parallel to how scores were altered in earlier rounds, with 97 individuals benefiting from score adjustments appearing on the final pass list despite this misconduct. Even with strong evidence, legal gaps have limited action. He expressed uncertainty whether the Anti-Corruption Commission has sufficient evidence against level 11 or 12 officials but said that if evidence exists, those responsible can be prosecuted.

At 9:30 a.m. on August 13, 2569 at Parliament, Rangsiman Rom, a member of parliament from the People's Party list and party deputy leader, spoke as chair of the House legal affairs, justice, and human rights committee about the investigation into the fraudulent Thai nationality scheme. He described the matter as a major national issue involving corruption and hospital complicity in falsifying identities to obtain Thai citizenship. If the scale of the problem grows, he warned, it could threaten Thailand's security and national policies.

Rangsiman said the committee invited multiple agencies including two private hospitals, the National Police Office, and the Department of Local Administration to provide information. The committee aims to assess how serious and widespread the problem is, whether all cases can be identified, and whether adequate safeguards exist to prevent recurrence. He outlined two main concerns: whether the issue represents organized crime requiring stronger law enforcement response, and whether systemic measures will be designed to prevent such problems from recurring or whether the matter will be forgotten after media attention fades.

Thawee Piyarat, a People's Party parliament member and committee spokesperson, noted that both private hospitals declined to send representatives for questioning, citing insufficient advance notice. When asked if the committee would issue a second summons, Rangsiman said the decision depends on the weight of information already gathered and whether it suffices for further legal action or additional fact-finding. However, he emphasized that the hospitals' refusal to appear sends a poor message, as the committee hearing would have allowed them to present their own perspective and facts. He suggested that avoiding the hearing hoping to escape suspicion has repeatedly proven ineffective and only deepens public doubt. "If the hospitals are confident in their integrity and have good preventive systems in place, and are ready to address what happened transparently and directly, they should not hesitate to clarify before the committee," Rangsiman stated, adding that the committee stands ready to hear all sides openly and fully.

French tourists claim cannabis smuggling gang use free holidays in Thailand to trick themLegacyAt least 11 French nationals, who were arrested in Thailand with cannabis in their luggage, claimed they were deceived into carrying “locked bags” in exchange for free holidays. France’s National Police told French broadcaster RTL that 11 French nationals had been arrested in Thailand after cannabis was discovered in their luggage. The suspects were charged with attempting to smuggle drugs out of the country, with some remaining in police custody under stricter rules now being applied. French media reported that people previously arrested after cannabis was found in their luggage could initially return to France while the cannabis was confiscated as evidence. Under the newer rules, however, suspects who fail to pay a fine at the customs office can be detained while awaiting trial. According to RTL, the reported fine is 30,000 baht, or around 790 euros, for one kilogramme of cannabis. Cannabis smuggling can carry a prison sentence of between two and 10 years. Photo by baona via Getty Images Signature French media outlets also reported claims from the families of several of those arrested that their relatives had fallen victim to the “Thailand plan” trick. According to the families, criminal gangs offered travellers free holidays in Thailand in exchange for bringing luggage back to France. The travellers were allegedly told that the bags contained mobile phones, but the luggage instead contained large quantities of cannabis. AFP reported that a 20 year old French national was arrested during his return journey in June. Thai airport officials found 16.8 kilogrammes of cannabis inside locked luggage that the man said he did not have the password to open. The man told investigators that his trip to Thailand was funded by someone who contacted him through Snapchat. The report did not establish whether he knew what was inside the luggage. Photo by razerbird via Getty Images Signature French media also reported that two other French nationals were arrested in Hong Kong after cannabis was found in luggage they unknowingly carried from Thailand. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs urged French citizens to monitor changes to Thailand’s cannabis laws and comply with local regulations. The ministry is also following the cases of French nationals being held in Thailand and providing consular assistance. The ministry said an investigation would be conducted into the reported “Thailand plan” scheme to identify the people allegedly behind the operation and any wider network involved. The story French tourists claim cannabis smuggling gang use free holidays in Thailand to trick them as seen on Thaiger News.