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Balance of power in Bangkok shifts to liberals as national poll looms Vote tallies from the recent Bangkok Council elections show that support for the liberal camp is growing at the expense of the conservatives in the capital. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261504-balance-of-power-in-bangkok-shifts-to-liberals-as-national-poll-looms/

Vote tallies from the recent Bangkok Council elections show that support for the liberal camp is growing at the expense of the conservatives in the capital. If the Election Commission endorses all winners of the May 22 poll, Pheu Thai will be the biggest party in the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC), occupying 20 of its 50 councilor seats. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe The progressive Move Forward Party will hold 14 seats, while Thai Sang Thai will have two. Put simply, the BMC will be dominated by the so-called pro-democracy camp. The BMC and Bangkok governor are to the city what Parliament and the prime minister are to the country. Contesting the council elections for the conservative camp were the Democrat Party, who won nine seats, Raks Krungthep Group (3) and the Palang Pracharath Party (2). Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/balance-of-power-in-bangkok-shifts-to-liberals-as-national-poll-looms/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

Video: 22 wheel truck trailer overturns - ceramic tiles scattered all over road near toll booth Picture: 77kaoded 77kaoded reported that the Muang Samut Prakan police were called after the driver of a 22 wheel truck trailer lost control at a bend as he exited the Suksawat expressway bound for the Sri Nakharin toll booth. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261502-video-22-wheel-truck-trailer-overturns-ceramic-tiles-scattered-all-over-road-near-toll-booth/

Picture: 77kaoded 77kaoded reported that the Muang Samut Prakan police were called after the driver of a 22 wheel truck trailer lost control at a bend as he exited the Suksawat expressway bound for the Sri Nakharin toll booth. Ceramic plates were scattered all over the area. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Rescue services treated driver Khamphin, 39, at the scene for leg injuries before taking him to Samut Prakan Hospital. A video published by the media showed the mess caused by the overturned truck. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information Picture: 77kaoded Picture: 77kaoded Picture: 77kaoded

Woman files report with Bangkok police alleging political party spokesman with entertainment industry ties sent her obscene pictures and threats Picture: Daily News Daily News reported that a representative of "Red Shirt Lottery Online" known as Kan Jomphalang took a 41 year old woman - named only as "A" - to file a report with the Suthisan police in Bangkok. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261499-woman-files-report-with-bangkok-police-alleging-political-party-spokesman-with-entertainment-industry-ties-sent-her-obscene-pictures-and-threats/

Picture: Daily News Daily News reported that a representative of "Red Shirt Lottery Online" known as Kan Jomphalang took a 41 year old woman - named only as "A" - to file a report with the Suthisan police in Bangkok. She alleges that a spokesman for a political party with ties to the entertainment industry who has 700,000 followers on Facebook threatened her by sending three obscene photos of a woman's genitals along with a picture of police registration documents. The woman - dressed in a hat and sunglasses to obscure her identity - used to know the spokesman through her husband. She had ended a relationship with both men. She said she had known the man for years and there was once a defamation case that was resolved. Now that she was single again she said that he felt emboldened to threaten her. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe She claimed that the spokesman sent her the pictures of the genitals saying: "That's why your husband split up with you". She said she was an ordinary woman seeking justice and had already made a complaint to a protection agency. If the spokesman counter sues her she will give more datails next week, on June 6th, she said. Meanwhile the spokesman - who was not named - said it was all untrue and he had no idea about any of it. He would counter sue her in due course. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Trucker flees the scene after tailgating then hitting school pick-up - two children thrown out and seriously injured Daily News Thai Caption: Hit and run! Daily News reported on a horrendous accident involving a truck and a school pick-up taking students home in Trat, eastern Thailand, yesterday. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261496-trucker-flees-the-scene-after-tailgating-then-hitting-school-pick-up-two-children-thrown-out-and-seriously-injured/

Daily News Thai Caption: Hit and run! Daily News reported on a horrendous accident involving a truck and a school pick-up taking students home in Trat, eastern Thailand, yesterday. Two students were thrown out onto the road suffering serious injuries. The truck overturned. The trucker initially stayed at the scene but as many parents arrived he fled (presumably on foot, notes ASEAN NOW). Police captain Nakhin Sirikun of the Mai Rut police in Khlong Yai responded to the accident on Sukhumvit Road. Two pupils in M3 and M4 (third and fourth years of secondary) were thrown out and were taken to Khlong Yai Hospital with grievous injuries. The rest of the students, about ten, suffered minor injuries. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Daily News At the scene the school pick-up had extensive damage on its right side. The truck - with Chanthaburi plates - had overturned. Phisit, 40, the pick-up driver who was uninjured said that he was taking the students home yesterday when the truck behind him started tailgating at speed. When it overtook him it sideswiped his vehicle causing him to lose control though he managed not to overturn. Two students sitting at the back were thrown out onto the tarmac while another fell out as he came to a stop. A student confirmed this version of events saying after the collision it was all a blur. Capt Nakhin said that the trucker was initially at the scene when he arrived but as many parents began to arrive he feared danger and fled the scene. "Rest assured," said the captain, "We will find and prosecute him". -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

UN highlights the scale of illegal drug production in the Mekong region By Editor The number of methamphetamine tablets seized in East and Southeast Asia exceeded a billion last year for the first time, highlighting the scale of illegal drug production and trafficking in the region and the challenges of fighting it, says the U.N. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261495-un highlights-the-scale-of-illegal-drug-production-in-the-mekong-region/

By Editor The number of methamphetamine tablets seized in East and Southeast Asia exceeded a billion last year for the first time, highlighting the scale of illegal drug production and trafficking in the region and the challenges of fighting it, says the U.N. The 1.008 billion tablets was part of a regionwide haul of almost 172 tons of methamphetamine in all forms and was seven times higher than the amount seized 10 years earlier, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime said in a report. The drugs are largely consumed in Southeast Asia but also exported to New Zealand and Australia, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan in East Asia, and increasingly to South Asia. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “Production and trafficking of methamphetamine jumped yet again as supply became super concentrated in the Mekong (River region) and in particular Thailand, Laos and Myanmar,” Jeremy Douglas, Southeast Asia regional representative for the U.N. agency, told The Associated Press. The increased production makes the drug cheaper and more accessible, creating greater risk to people and their communities, the report said. Methamphetamine is easy to make and has supplanted opium and its derivative heroin to become the dominant illegal drug in Southeast Asia for both use and export. The Golden Triangle area, where the borders of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet, was historically a major production area for opium and hosted many of the labs that converted it to heroin. Decades of political instability have made Myanmar’s frontier regions largely lawless, to be exploited by drug producers and traffickers. Given the problem of limited governance and low attention to the issue, the UN. agency said organized crime syndicates have the means to continue to produce more meth and to sell it to a growing, young population with increased spending power. Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/06/un-highlights-the-scale-of-illegal-drug-production-in-the-mekong-region/ -- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

Hair cutting at Thai schools: Student attacks teacher at Loei school Sanook Thai Caption: A student kicked me (says teacher) Thai media Thai Rath and Sanook investigated at a school in Loei in NE Thailand after reports on Line that a social studies teacher had been attacked by a M2, 14 year old student. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261494-hair-cutting-at-thai-schools-student-attacks-teacher-at-loei-school/

Sanook Thai Caption: A student kicked me (says teacher) Thai media Thai Rath and Sanook investigated at a school in Loei in NE Thailand after reports on Line that a social studies teacher had been attacked by a M2, 14 year old student. The teacher had told the pupil before the last period of the day they he would cut his hair that was too long. It would be done in front of the class. As all the students were sitting the boy in question came forward and attacked Charnsak with several kicks then threw a plastic chair at him. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Thai Rath He was injured in several places but did not fight back as it was a student. However they fought over a pair of scissors. The teacher was worried they might be used as a weapon. A fellow student aged 13 told Thai Rath that the boy in question had planned the attack. Picture: Thai Rath While a fellow female teacher said she was appalled that a teacher who was there to teach children would be attacked in this way. No one mentioned human rights just that long hair was against school rules for secondary pupils, notes ASEAN NOW. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Questions asked about the right to elect provincial governors By Editor The 2022 Bangkok gubernatorial election, which saw independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt win by a landslide, looks set to change Thailand’s politics in a big way. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261493-questions-asked-about-the-right-to-elect-provincial-governors/

By Editor The 2022 Bangkok gubernatorial election, which saw independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt win by a landslide, looks set to change Thailand’s politics in a big way. Calls for the right to elect governors in other provinces across the country have grown amid the immense media focus on the Bangkok gubernatorial race. At present, only voters in the capital are permitted to elect their governor, while all other provinces must accept governors appointed by the Interior Ministry. The Bangkok election impacts are now being felt not just in the capital but also in many other parts of the country. “Bangkok’s political maturity has risen significantly with this election and the capital looks set to become a political model for local administrations elsewhere,” said Asst Prof Dr. Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, a lecturer at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Law. Asst Prof Tavida Kamolvej, dean of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Political Science, said that by electing their governor, Bangkokians had developed a sense of co-ownership in politics. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe “They have become more politically engaged and active. Also, they feel like they own the policies they have supported,” she said. Two recent surveys conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) indicated that the majority of people living in provinces also want to elect their governor. In the first survey, conducted between April 18 and 20, more than 66 percent of respondents wanted an elected provincial governor instead of an appointed one. In the second one, which sought voters’ opinions from May 2 to 4, the majority of respondents said they were ready to vote for their governor. About a fifth of the respondents demanded provincial governor elections nationwide, while 33.97 percent said an elected governor would respond better to the needs of locals. “People living in other big cities have started asking why they are not allowed to choose their own governor,” Asst Prof Olarn Thinbangtieo, of Burapha University’s Faculty of Political Science said. “Soon, people in small provinces will ask the same question. If Phuket has an elected governor, then [southern neighbor] Songkhla will definitely want one too.” Assoc Prof Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, who teaches at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Political Science, agreed that the Bangkok election had spurred a desire in other provinces to vote for their governors. While the academic does not think gubernatorial elections will be allowed in other provinces anytime soon, she said, “The government will finally feel the ripples.” Source: https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/06/questions-asked-about-the-right-to-elect-provincial-governors/ -- © Copyright Royal Coast Review 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

Pattaya "busy" after bars and clubs allowed to reopen yesterday - many Indians spotted Picture: Siam Rath Thai media Siam Rath said that pubs and clubs in Pattaya were starting to get busy again after yesterday's reopening by the government. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261490-pattaya-busy-after-bars-and-clubs-allowed-to-reopen-yesterday-many-indians-spotted/

Picture: Siam Rath Thai media Siam Rath said that pubs and clubs in Pattaya were starting to get busy again after yesterday's reopening by the government. But they said that building materials left lying about and construction sites were presenting obstacles to customers and spoiling the image of the resort. Places have been allowed to reopen officially in 17 provinces and special areas in 14 provinces. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Siam Rath Customers, staff singers and musicians have to show proof of vaccination and staff have to have ATK tests every seven days or if they are at risk of Covid. In Pattaya's Walking Street that the media called an important area for Pattaya they said that 60% of establishments had been closed down in the pandemic but many were now returning to business. Picture: Siam Rath In Soi 6 - popular with foreigners - it was similar and quite busy. They reckoned 50% of bars and clubs in Walking Street were now open. They remarked on the number of Indian tourists swelling the ranks of Thais and other nationalities. Picture: Siam Rath But they noted much of the street was still a mess after incomplete work by the local authority and electrical authority to bury cables. They published pictures of bricks and sand lying about saying that it looked bad and was preventing some businesses from operating properly. They had a picture of tourist police and other officials and volunteers saluting outside 7-Eleven as they prepared to make sure everyone was following the rules. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Health officials "concerned" about reopening of bars/clubs - promise more checks to ensure compliance Picture: Siam Rath Thailand's authorities were out in force last night as bars and clubs were officially allowed to open and serve alcohol up to midnight. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261489-health-officials-concerned-about-reopening-of-barsclubs-promise-more-checks-to-ensure-compliance/

Picture: Siam Rath Thailand's authorities were out in force last night as bars and clubs were officially allowed to open and serve alcohol up to midnight. But they were determined to make sure that Covid-19 cases remained low and that everyone was following the rules. Visiting the clubs in Soi Ekamai (Sukhumvit 63) in Bangkok were the MopH's rep Dr Kiatphoom Wongjarit and the BMA's Khajit Chachawanich. Dr Kiatphoom told Siam Rath that he was stil concerned about the possible spread of Covid-19 and stated that lots of places were still not following the latest rules to the letter. Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe Picture: Siam Rath Despite ATK tests being done on staff and customers. But he was trying not to be too heavy handed saying that businesses must be supported as the nightlife industry continued on the path to full reopening. But he cautioned that establishments not complying with the regulations would be warned and closed if there were large numbers of cases. He said that information centers were in place to advise businesses about the serving of alcohol, not sharing glasses and the 12 pm closure order. He promised more checks on an ongoing basis. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Thursday June 2 2022 Listen to the news: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261488-national-news-from-surf-1025-fm-thursday-june-2-2022/

Listen to the news: The department of health has stated Covid-19 should be reclassified as a disease under surveillance instead of a dangerous communicable disease. This would allow the government to stop paying covid hospital bills. Health minister Anutin said medical costs could be covered by patients' personal insurance schemes, however it’s unlikely any changes will take place immediately as the CCSA Center for covid 19 will assess the situation again now that restrictions are being lifted. Thailand and Laos have signed an MOU on forming a partnership that includes a 5 year plan of economic and infrastructure development cooperation, including power and energy, sustainable development" and support for victims of human trafficking. Meanwhile more than 2,000 people a day have crossed into Nong Khai since the Thai-Laos border checkpoint reopened. The body of a 40-year-old man was found gagged and tied in a shallow grave in a forest in Hat Yai yesterday, the victim was last seen alive on Tuesday. Thailand’s Constitutional Court yesterday ruled that politician Sam-lee Rak-su-tee should no longer serve as an MP, as he has a conviction for fraud dating back to 2019. The private sector urged the government to capitalize on the global food shortage: Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said: The global food crisis is escalating to the point where countries are already banning the export of food, he added Thailand could benefit by exporting agriculture goods and food products. The ministry of commerce placed price controls on many essential food and medical items after the price of many consumer goods jumped yesterday. Region: Myanmar’s military blamed so called "terrorists" opposed to its rule for a deadly bombing at a bus stop in its biggest city Yangon on Tuesday that killed two people and wounded seven. However, members of the exiled shadow government denied the accusations. Malaysia: A 48 year old man who was released from jail only a month ago, after serving 14 years at Songkhla Prison, southern Thailand, was arrested in Malaysia with 48,000 Yaba pills yesterday, the drugs were worth an estimated: 480,000 ringgit. Chiang Mai: Sunny partly cloudy 34C Bangkok: Sunny partly cloudy 35C Pattaya and SE: cloudy with thundershowers 31, Phuket and the South: cloudy with some thundershowers 30C Heavier rain to the far south, Hua Hin: Sunny becoming cloudy later, perhaps an isolated shower this afternoon 31C, Listen Live: Surf 102.5 Facebook: Surf 102.5 -- © Copyright SURF 102.5 FM 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

Beef buffet restaurant mocks new PDPA law with highly censored pictures Sanook Thai Caption: Yes, we're afraid, very afraid Thailand was coming to terms with a new law that came in yesterday. And one restaurant used humor to poke fun at the new regulations. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261487-beef-buffet-restaurant-mocks-new-pdpa-law-with-highly-censored-pictures/

Sanook Thai Caption: Yes, we're afraid, very afraid Thailand was coming to terms with a new law that came in yesterday. And one restaurant used humor to poke fun at the new regulations. It is the PDPA - Personal Data Protection Act - that principally protects the public against their image in photos or videos being used by places like businesses to promote their operations, reported Sanook. Picture: Sanook Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe A beef buffet restaurant called Beef More More published pictures on their Facebook page that caused much comment. The pictures were intended as a joke - lots of them featured scenes at the restaurant with all the customers faces and bodies completely censored out. Picture: Sanook They said that they always ask first when taking promo shots and admitted that they were "really worried" by the new law. This appeared a little tongue in cheek. After many comments they clarified their position by posting: "We're not saying that the law is wrong - just that it is ambiguous and open to interpretation." They then continued to poke fun at the law. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2022-06-02 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information

Legal victory for Johnny Depp after he and Amber Heard found liable for defamation By Sonia Moghe, CNN (CNN)A jury has found both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp liable for defamation in their lawsuits against each other. The jury awarded significantly more damages to Depp, a legal win for the actor. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1261477-legal-victory-for-johnny-depp-after-he-and-amber-heard-found-liable-for-defamation/

By Sonia Moghe, CNN (CNN)A jury has found both Amber Heard and Johnny Depp liable for defamation in their lawsuits against each other. The jury awarded significantly more damages to Depp, a legal win for the actor. Depp sued Heard, his ex-wife, for defamation over a 2018 op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse." Though Depp was not named in the article, he claims it cost him lucrative acting roles. Heard countersued her ex-husband for defamation over statements Depp's attorney made about her abuse claims. The jury found that Heard defamed Depp in three separate statements in The Washington Post piece, and that Depp defamed Heard with one statement his attorney made. Full story: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/01/entertainment/johnny-depp-amber-heard-verdict/index.html -- © Copyright CNN 2022-06-02