THAILAND NEWS

While former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra may well be one of the most polarising politicians in Thai history, there is little doubting his business acumen, having amassed a fortune worth billions of dollars from his ventures in telecommunications, satellites, property and even Premier League football.

Thailand's Democrat Party is expected to hold its general assembly in mid-August to choose a new leader to replace Abhisit Vejjajiva who resigned Monday to take responsibility for his party's loss to the opposition Pheu Thai party in the July 3 general election, according to former party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban.

The selection of cabinet members will be based on their knowledge and competence and is not closed to leaders of the red-shirt movement if they are qualified, prime minister-in-waiting Yingluck Shinawatra said on Thursday.

The Pheu Thai Party is expected to appoint exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a government trade envoy to promote Thai exports abroad, which will enable him to freely travel the world.

Thailand's outgoing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resigned as leader of his Democrat Party owning responsibility for the crushing defeat at the hands of the opposition considered a proxy for ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Chuwit Kamolvisit, leader of the newly-established Rak Thailand Party, revealed his election success surprised even him. Despite being set up just two months ago, Rak Thailand won four of the 11 party-list seats it contested.

(...) The paradox of a billionaire family winning Sunday’s election by championing the have-nots — a notion that flabbergasts its adversaries — was on full display here in San Kamphaeng, the Shinawatra family’s hometown.

Kuwaiti Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammad Al-Nomes visited and pledged continuation of Kuwaiti support to a women's charity providing care for orphans in Thailand and toured a building constructed by Kuwait at the institution to review activities and services offered.

More than 360 tons of rice are being distributed to flood victims in Thailand's north as thousands of households are inundated in heavy flood triggered by a tropical storm.