Thailand's Cabinet withdraws controversial bill to legalise casinos
Cabinet
on Tuesday withdrew a controversial bill that aims to legalise casinos after the Prime Minister was suspended last week over an ethics investigation.
Deputy Minister of Finance Julapun Amornvivat said the government only wants to delay the bill and will reintroduce it at an appropriate time. He cited the current political situation and the Cabinet reshuffle as factors in the decision.
The bill, also known as the "
entertainment complexes bill
," was first approved by the Cabinet in January and was awaiting review by lawmakers. If passed, it would allow casinos to operate within complexes that also house other businesses such as hotels, convention halls, malls or theme parks.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You
Villas In Dubai | Search Ads
Get Rates
Undo
The bill's withdrawal came after
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra
was suspended by the
Constitutional Court
last week after a phone call between her and a senior Cambodian leader was leaked, sparking fresh political turmoil.
Paetongtarn is under an ethics investigation over accusations that she made comments that damaged Thailand's national interests to Cambodia's Senate President Hun Sen when the two discussed a recent border dispute last month.
Live Events
The ruling
Pheu Thai Party
has said the bill would help attract more investments, boost tourism and solve issues of illegal gambling. But it has faced strong opposition from the public and Pheu Thai's former coalition partner, the
Bhumjaithai Party
, which quit the government last month over the leaked call.
Julapun said the government needed more time to explain the benefits of the bill to the public, adding that the delay was regrettable.
The Pheu Thai Party, which pledged to make the country's economic woes top of its agenda, stressed that casinos would be only a small part of a larger plan to boost tourism.
Tourism is the main driver of the
Thai economy
and has always been the focus of different administrations to improve the economy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Desperate for a Nobel Peace Prize? Donald Trump's dream faces these brutal committee rules
A lot of people have been talking about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to nominate US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is the first time the president has been nominated for his work to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas. But is it possible for him to win? Anyone who is alive can win the Nobel Peace Prize , but the committee has a strict process, and nominations from politicians often cause problems. The Nobel Peace Prize is the esteemed worldwide honor bestowed upon persons or institutions acknowledged for their noteworthy achievements in "promoting fellowship among nations." ALSO READ: Red Bull fires Christian Horner: You won't believe how much he and Geri Halliwell are really worth by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo According to Netanyahu's online message to the Nobel Committee, Trump has "exhibited unwavering and remarkable commitment to advancing peace, security, and stability globally." Donald Trump has already been nominated and is trying to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Owing to President Trump's attempts to mediate a conflict between India and Pakistan, Pakistan declared in June that it would nominate him for the honor, as per a report. Live Events Who is eligible to nominate? Names can be suggested by thousands of people, including former Nobel Peace Prize laureates, heads of state, members of parliaments and governments, and professors of philosophy, law, social sciences, and history at universities. You are not allowed to nominate yourself. Though there is nothing to prevent nomination makers from sharing their selections, nominee lists are kept confidential for 50 years, as per a report by Reuters. Who is eligible to win? As stated by Swedish entrepreneur Alfred Nobel, the man who invented dynamite, the prize is given to the person "who has contributed most significantly to the advancement of fellowship among nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies, and the establishment and promotion of peace congresses." All active organizations or living people are qualified. The chair of the Peace Prize Committee, Jorgen Watne Frydnes, says in an introduction on the Nobel website that "in practice anyone can be the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. The history of the prize shows clearly it's given to people from all layers of society from all over the world." Does Trump's nomination stand a real chance? This year, Netanyahu's nomination of Trump cannot be taken into consideration since the Nobel Prizes are announced in October each year, but nominations close in January. Several others have criticized Netanyahu for his support of Donald Trump, including former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, who said on X that Netanyahu was trying to win over Trump. How does the Nobel Committee choose the winner? The Norwegian Nobel Committee is the arbiter and is made up of five members chosen by the parliament; these members are frequently but not always retired politicians. The head of PEN International's Norwegian branch currently serves as the committee's leader, and the appointments made to the committee represent the distribution of power in Norway's parliament. A group of permanent advisers and experts evaluates each of the 338 candidates nominated in 2025- 244 individuals and 94 organizations, before the committee narrows the field to a shortlist. The committee strives for consensus but may make a decision by majority vote. The Nobel Prize winner this year will be awarded a medal, a diploma, 11 million Swedish crowns ($1.15 million), and international recognition. The Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo will make the announcement on October 10 and hold a ceremony on December 10, Alfred Nobel's death anniversary. A political message has frequently been associated with the Nobel Peace Prize. Some Nobel laureates have been "highly controversial political actors," according to the Nobel website, and the award has also raised awareness of domestic or international conflicts. When it was decided in 1973 that U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Vietnamese politician Le Duc Tho should receive the Peace Prize for their efforts to negotiate an end to the Vietnam War, two committee members resigned, as per a report by Reuters. FAQs Is Donald Trump eligible for the Nobel Peace Prize this year? No. Nominations closed in January, so Netanyahu's proposal was too late for 2025 consideration. Can anybody be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize? Pretty much. They are eligible as long as they are alive and have not self-nominated, though the final selection is closely monitored.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino told employees she was leaving before ‘Grok went rouge'
X CEO Linda Yaccarino. (AP Photo) Linda Yaccarino , CEO of X (formerly Twitter), reportedly shared her intention to leave the company before the incident involving Grok, the platform's AI chatbot, which began generating pro-Hitler content . She informed colleagues of her plans to step down, citing recent changes in the company's business landscape. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Yaccarino reportedly told people close to her that a recent uptick in returning advertisers, along with a corporate merger that reduced X's share of overall revenue, made this a suitable moment for her exit. Yaccarino steps down as CEO of X after two years at the helm Yaccarino resigned from her position concluding her two-year tenure. In a lengthy post on X, Yaccarino described her role as "the opportunity of a lifetime," thanking Elon Musk for entrusting her with the mission of "safeguarding free speech, revitalising the company, and evolving X into the 'Everything App.'" Yaccarino, a former NBCUniversal advertising executive, joined the company in June 2023, following Musk's acquisition and rebranding of Twitter. Her primary task was to stabilise the platform's advertising business amidst challenges posed by Musk's more relaxed content moderation policies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo During her leadership, X focused on rebuilding advertiser trust and enhancing user safety, particularly for children. Key initiatives under her guidance included the introduction of Community Notes, a crowdsourced fact-checking tool, and the development of X Money, an upcoming financial services feature. 'I'm incredibly proud of the X team - the historic business turn around we have accomplished together has been nothing short of remarkable. We started with the critical early work necessary to prioritize the safety of our users—especially children, and to restore advertiser confidence. This team has worked relentlessly from groundbreaking innovations like Community Notes, and, soon, X Money to bringing the most iconic voices and content to the platform. Now, the best is yet to come as X enters a new chapter with @xai,' she said in her Goodbye note.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Gold rate today: Yellow metal climbs Rs 250 to Rs 98,670 per 10g in Delhi; silver steady at Rs 1.04 lakh/kg
Gold rate today : Gold prices in the national capital rose by Rs 250 on Thursday to settle at Rs 98,670 per 10 grams, driven by renewed interest from investors and stockists amid global economic uncertainties, according to the All India Sarafa Association. This marks an uptick from Wednesday's closing rate of Rs 98,420 for gold of 99.9% purity. Meanwhile, gold of 99.5% purity rose by Rs 200 to Rs 98,200 per 10 grams, compared to Rs 98,000 in the previous session, PTI reported. Silver, however, remained unchanged at Rs 1,04,000 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes), data showed. 'Gold traded higher on Thursday, buoyed by renewed demand for safe-haven assets,' said Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst – Commodities at HDFC Securities. 'Ongoing uncertainties surrounding US President Donald Trump's trade policies and their potential impact on the global economy supported gold prices.' In global markets, spot gold was marginally up at $3,324.40 per ounce. The upward trend in gold prices was further supported by geopolitical signals, including President Trump's announcement of a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods starting August 1. Adding to the bullish sentiment, minutes from the latest Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting indicated a cautious stance by US Federal Reserve officials. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo According to Chintan Mehta, CEO, Abans Financial Services, the Fed is expected to wait for more economic data before moving ahead with any rate cuts. 'At the same time, higher-than-expected crude oil inventories have kept energy prices in check, easing inflation concerns,' Mehta said. 'This combination of a patient Fed and cooling inflation supports the case for eventual interest rate cuts, which continues to favour gold by reducing the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding assets.' With domestic and international factors both aligning in favour of gold, analysts expect investor interest in the yellow metal to remain strong in the near term. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
