House opens marathon debate on 2023 budget bill

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES is spending three days in a row beginning today (May 31) debating the 2023 budget bill designed by the Palang Pracharath-led coalition in its fourth or final year in government. The 3.18 trillion baht budget for next fiscal year is expected to sail through the principle …

Urgent! Election Commission has endorsed Chadchart as Bangkok governor

  ON the second consecutive day of considering Bangkok gubernatorial and city council election results the Election Commission today (May 31) endorsed Chadchart Sittipunt as the governor of Bangkok after his landslide victory where he got 1,386,215 votes, Matichon newspaper said. The election body held a video conference via Zoom Cloud to consider the election …

Social media boiling with rage over Chadchart delay

  AFTER THE Election Commission postponed endorsing Chadchart Sittipunt as the governor of Bangkok despite his landslide victory in the gubernatorial election over complaints that his vinyl campaign posters can be converted into bags and aprons the Thai social media boiled with anger with the hashtag #EC what...happened turning into Twitter's top trend in Thailand, …

5 of 10 uncertified winners of Bangkok council election from Pheu Thai Party

EVEN AS the Election Commission announced the names of the Bangkok council election winners in 40 out of 50 districts among the remaining 10 who topped their districts five are from Pheu Thai Party, Matichon newspaper said this evening (May 30). Already certified as Bangkok councillors are 15 out of 20 Pheu Thai Party winners, …

Election Commission puts off certifying Chadchart as Bangkok governor

  THE ELECTION COMMISSION this afternoon (May 30) postponed certifying Chadchart Sittipunt as the governor of Bangkok after his landslide victory in the gubernatorial  election where he got 1,386,215 votes nor the winners of the city council elections, Matichon newspaper said. The Election Commission held a meeting to consider announcing the results of Bangkok elections …

4-year-old boy boy drowns at pool villa in Bang Saray

  A FAMILY staying at a pool villa in Bang Saray in Chonburi province during their holiday there were shattered after their four-year-old son drowned in the swimming pool last night (May 29), Amarin TV said. Pol. Lt.Chidiya Thongchoi, a deputy investigator at Sattahip police station, said he was informed that the four-year-old boy, Falah …

Ukrainian defenders hold out in Donbas city under heavy fire

  By Reuters and published by Channel NewsAsia Kyiv - Ukrainian forces endured heavy artillery barrages on Sunday (May 29) as they held off Russian attempts to capture Sievierodonetsk, the largest city Ukraine still controls in the eastern region of Luhansk, officials said. Russian shelling has destroyed all of Sievierodonetsk's critical infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy …

Opposition bloc to hammer Air Force’s plan to purchase unarmed F-35 fighters 

  By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE AIR FORCE'S reported plan to purchase a startup batch of two F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters without weapon systems aboard will likely draw a stern disapproval at parliament, according to an opposition lawmaker.  Pheu Thai MP Yutthapong Charatsathian said today (May 29) it will be "ultimately unusual" for the …

Indian tourists flocking to Thailand with over 100,000 holidaying here so far

  THE relaxation of entry measures has led to more tourists coming to Thailand with Indians being at the top of the list of arrivals from Jan. 1 to May 24 during which 100,884 holidayed here, Amarin TV said today (May 29). The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is confident that Thailand will be able …

3 suspected monkeypox cases ‘found to be infected with herpes’

  THE PUBLIC HEALTH Ministry confirmed today (May 29) that three persons suspected to have been infected with monkeypox were found to have caught herpes, Matichon newspaper said. Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, the head of the Disease Control Department, reassured that no monkeypox cases had emerged in this country with the three suspected cases having been …

Russian gains in Ukraine’s east indicate a shift in momentum in the war

By Reuters and published by In-Cyprus Kyiv - Russian forces were assaulting the Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk on Saturday after saying they had captured the nearby rail hub of Lyman as Moscow pressed its offensive in the eastern Donbas. Russian gains in recent days indicate a shift in momentum in the war, now in its …

Pattaya bustling as pubs, bars gear up to reopen on June 1

  THERE is a lively mood in Pattaya as pubs and bars in this seaside city start cleaning their premises and equipment for reopening till midnight from June 1 onwards as permitted by the  Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Naewna newspaper said this evening (May 28). The Covid administration had on May 20 allowed entertainment …

Nine drug runners die in gunfight with soldiers, 2.4m meth pills seized

A GUNFIGHT between Thai troops and a drug trafficking gang at the Thai-Myanmar border in Chiang Rai province last night (May 27) left nine drug runners dead with 2.4 million methamphetamine pills seized, Matichon newspaper said. Maj. Gen. Supharek Sathapornphon, commander of Pha Muang Task Force, together with  Col. Suthikhet Srininthin, commander of the 3rd …

Dr Taweesilp urges frequent antigen testing after catching Covid

  AFTER himself getting infected the Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesman Dr. Taweesilp Wisanuyothin urged the public to frequently test for this contagious disease with antigen test kits (ATKs), Sanook.com. In a Facebook message Dr. Taweesilp, who regularly briefed the public when the coronavirus pandemic was at its height, said he had a slight sore …

K-pop supergroup BTS headed to the White House

By CNN KOREAN pop supergroup BTS is set to meet US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, the White House announced, a visit aimed at discussing Asian inclusion and representation and addressing anti-Asian hate crimes and disinformation. The Grammy-nominated boy band's visit comes days after Biden returned from his first trip to Asia as president, which …

Foreign tourist seen driving on the wrong side of the road in Chiang Mai

  ATTRACTING critical comments is a video clip that had been shared by a Facebook member showing a foreign tourist driving on the wrong side of a road that winds up and down a hill in Chiang Mai province and only switching to the left lane after almost hitting a motorcyclist, Amarin TV said today …

PM annoyed at being criticised for reading blank sheets of paper

  DURING his current visit to Japan to attend the  27th International Conference on the Future of Asia or Nikkei Forum, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at one point slammed critics who had said that he appeared to be reading blank sheets of paper during his flight there, Amarin TV and Matichon newspaper said today (May …

Thais in Japan hold anti-Prayut protest during Nikkei Forum

  THAI PEOPLE living in Japan today (May 26) held a protest against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during his visit to attend the  27th International Conference on the Future of Asia or Nikkei Forum, Matichon newspaper said. Calling themselves the UDD Japan group, the protesters staged their demonstration in front of Imperial Tokyo Hotel where …

Gen. Anupong: New Bangkok governor to decide train concession issue

IN ANSWERING an interpellation on the extension of the Bangkok Mass Transit System’s Green Line train concession in Parliament today (May 26) Interior Minister Gen. Anupong Paochinda said the decision on this issue rests with the new Bangkok governor and city council, TV Channel 7 and Matichon newspaper said. Mr. Prademchai Boonchuayluea, Pheu Thai Party …