About 20 officials are facing investigation for arranging special privileges — including prostitutes — for Chinese inmates at the Bangkok Remand Prison, according to the head of the Department of Corrections.

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun has sidestepped questions about whether she is being considered as a prime ministerial candidate for the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), stressing that her priority is running the ministry to the best of her ability.

The People’s Party (PP) says that if Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul dissolves parliament on Dec 12 — the day the parliamentary session opens — in response to a no-confidence motion, it would be akin to a contractor abandoning a project to evade scrutiny.

Songkhla province has declared an emergency disaster zone in seven districts after days of heavy rain triggered widespread flooding, affecting nearly 18,000 households. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.

The Criminal Court has extended the deadline for prosecutors to file an appeal in the Section 112 case against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, granting them an additional month to prepare their submission.

Easy Money, one of the country’s leading pawn shop operators, expects to record its highest loan growth in two decades this year, driven largely by surging gold prices.