https://aseannow.com/rss/44-thailand-news.xml/National and regional news from all around ThailandenBev Craig, the leader of Manchester city council, is running for mayor in the byelection on 30 July Britain's biggest-ever byelection is set to become an early verdict on the country's political direction as voters choose a successor to Andy Burnham as Mayor of Greater Manchester. With more than two million people eligible to vote, the result will be watched closely for what it says about Labour's resilience, Reform UK's momentum and the Greens' growing ambitions. The 30 July contest is unprecedented in scale and carries national significance far beyond the city region, which controls major powers over transport, housing, policing and health. Labour Faces First Big Test Burnham dominated the mayoralty for seven years, winning comfortably at every election since 2017. But his departure leaves Labour defending one of its strongest regional power bases without its most recognisable local figure. The challenge comes after bruising local election losses across Greater Manchester, where Reform UK swept into former Labour heartlands including Wigan, Tameside and Rochdale. Labour believes a change in national leadership could help recover voters who drifted away earlier this year. Reform Targets Breakthrough Reform UK enters the race buoyed by recent local election gains but faces a different electoral challenge. If no candidate secures more than half the vote, second-preference votes will decide the winner under the supplementary voting system. Political analysts suggest that could complicate Reform's path to victory if rival parties' supporters unite behind Labour or another candidate in the final count. Greens Eye Historic Opportunity The Green Party is also seeking to build on recent gains across Greater Manchester, arguing its local successes reflect a lasting political shift rather than a temporary protest vote. Strong performances in Manchester and surrounding boroughs have encouraged party strategists to believe they can compete with the established parties for influence across the region. National Stakes Beyond City Hall The outcome will resonate well beyond Greater Manchester. Control of a mayoralty with a multi-billion-pound budget makes the post one of the most influential elected offices outside London, while the result will offer one of the clearest indications yet of how Britain's political landscape is evolving. Whether Labour reasserts its dominance, Reform converts momentum into executive power or the Greens make another breakthrough, the contest is shaping up as one of the most closely watched electoral battles of the year. Biggest ever byelection will test nation’s mood – and Burnham’s credentialsFri, 03 Jul 2026 19:40:25 +0000Extreme heat has disrupted Fourth of July celebrations across the eastern United States, forcing the temporary closure of the White House's flagship Great American State Fair on the National Mall and prompting organisers to alter or cancel several outdoor events. Get today's headlines by email More than 165 million people were under record-breaking temperatures on Friday across the East Coast and Midwest, according to the US National Weather Service, as one of the year's most intense heatwaves coincided with the Independence Day holiday. Freedom 250, which is organising the Great American State Fair in Washington, DC, temporarily closed the event during the hottest part of the day. Heat Forces Closures and Event Changes"The safety and well-being of our guests, volunteers, performers, vendors, and staff is our highest priority," the organisation said in a social media statement. The fair was scheduled to reopen at 17:00 local time after conditions were expected to improve. The heatwave comes as President Donald Trump hosts celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, while several FIFA World Cup matches are also taking place outdoors. Warnings Across the EastThe National Weather Service warned that parts of the Midwest and eastern United States face "major" or "extreme" heat-related health risks. Temperatures in Washington, DC, and Philadelphia were forecast to reach about 106F (41C), close to all-time records. Forecasters also predicted three consecutive days above 100F (38C) in Philadelphia and four such days in Washington. Although hot and humid weather is common during North American summers, meteorologists said the scale and geographic extent of this heatwave make it particularly dangerous. The hottest conditions are expected to continue through the holiday weekend before gradually easing early next week in some areas. Holiday Events CurtailedThe extreme temperatures have affected many traditional Independence Day activities, including parades, festivals and concerts. In Washington, US Capitol Police delayed public entry to the outdoor A Capitol Fourth concert until 19:00 local time because temperatures were expected to exceed 100F (38C). Entry to the National Mall for the evening fireworks display was also delayed until 17:00, while the fireworks themselves were scheduled to begin at 22:30, later than usual. America 250, the bipartisan commission established by Congress to oversee the country's 250th anniversary commemorations, said it was closely monitoring weather conditions but expected its events, including block parties in Boston, Philadelphia and New York City, to continue. video screenshot President Trump is still expected to deliver an outdoor address on Saturday despite the forecast heat. He told supporters he intended to give "a really long speech just to show that I can do anything." In Philadelphia, organisers cancelled Friday's Salute to Independence Semiquincentennial Parade because of the dangerous conditions. Michael DelBene, chief executive of Wawa Welcome America, said cancelling such a major event at short notice was "heartbreaking", but safety had to come first. Storms to Follow the HeatNew York City reached 100F (38C) on Thursday, its hottest day since 2012, with the heat index remaining in triple digits on Friday. Mayor Zohran Mamdani described the conditions as "extremely dangerous". While temperatures are expected to ease slightly in some central areas over the weekend, dangerous heat will persist across parts of the East before shifting towards Virginia, the Carolinas and the southeastern United States. Hot conditions are also forecast to spread into western parts of the US and Canada next week. Forecasters also warned that severe thunderstorms could sweep across the northern Plains, Midwest and Great Lakes, bringing damaging winds, large hail, flash flooding and the risk of isolated tornadoes as cooler air replaces the heat. Canada has also experienced unusually high temperatures, with heat warnings issued across much of Quebec, including Montreal and Quebec City. In Ontario, temperatures were expected to reach the mid-30s Celsius. Thunderstorms left more than 137,000 Hydro-Québec customers without electricity at their peak on Thursday evening. More than 51,000 customers remained without power on Friday morning, with outages largely caused by strong winds and lightning. Scientists say heatwaves are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting and more intense because of human-induced climate change. Global temperatures have risen by about 1.1C since the industrial era, with further warming expected unless greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 4 July 2026 View full articleFri, 03 Jul 2026 19:37:38 +0000... the Russians and the Americans are equally evil and I cherish the day when they finally succumb, both, to vanish without trave in the fog of history. A much better ending to your sentence, that is.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:37:21 +0000By the time you finish explaining the question, she’s married someone else.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:32:41 +0000Good luck, if the big fellow gets more ball than he did against Ivorians it would be a hell of a threat to Brazil, their defence is a bit suspect, and they've never beaten you yet, have they. If England gets through, and you beat the Brazilians, we can reminisce about the 8-0 thrashing you got from England a few years ago, lol.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:31:10 +0000Dear Folks, Even though I am very old, yet still… Sometimes, and not infrequently, I notice, or “feel”, that younger women are “coming on” to me. But, how can I be sure? Are there any “sure” ways to tell? I am the bashful type. And, most Thai girls are bashful, too. Sometimes, and very often, their overtures are just too subtle for words. And so, I would not want to mistake “come on” signals for other signals, such as…. Some girl’s vague curiosity about why my fly has been left undone, and not fully zippered up. I realize that most of the guys on TV are older than I, and so I am asking for advice. More specifically, my question is how do old men know when young women are giving them “the eye”...???.... I mean, that…Come Hither Look…. During my younger years, just because I was worried about getting my signals crossed, I lost many good opportunities, and slept alone, as a result. But now that I am very old, I worry that I might repeat the mistakes of my youth, and never sleep with anyone, ever again. What I mean is that: Sometimes, you just get the feeling that girls are looking at you, in the right way. And, you suspect that they might want to go to bed with you, too. Crucially, in my case, I’m just asking: How do you tell? How can you be sure? How can you be very sure BEFORE you open your mouth, or rest your hand on hers, and then quickly learn that you had made a total fool of yourself…just because… You got your signals crossed. And she is rolling on the floor with a mixture of laughter and disgust. Any words of advice, or… What is your technique? How do you know, for sure? Thank you. Gamma NOTE: My apologies, because I have no images, vids, nor music to accompany this Topic. This Topic puts me in a sort of somber mood, in fact. NOTE2: Yet, this Topic reminds me, just a little bit, of the great film.....BABY DOLL..... Baby Dolls.... Who would not want one....or two.....? I have NOTHING against women who suck their thumbs..... Do you? Baby Doll.....!!!! Just one of several good links: https://vk.com/video-68583631_456247875 Karl Malden is AMAZING.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:28:59 +0000Sending from my American Wells Fargo account to my Thai Bangkok Bank account is a few seconds last time I did it a few days ago. Reason: Travel expenses No foreign exchange certificate needed. I always send under 50,000 bahtFri, 03 Jul 2026 19:23:35 +0000Poland is preparing for a range of possible security threats as concerns mount over Russia's actions, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk warning that the coming months could prove "critical." Get today's headlines by email Security concerns growSpeaking to reporters on Friday, Tusk said the government was ready for "various" scenarios after media reports claimed Moscow could be planning an armed provocation against Poland to test Nato's resolve. "I don't mean to scare anyone, but the coming months may truly be critical, also due to the changing nature of the war. These concerns are particularly palpable in the Baltic states," Tusk said. Reports cite US intelligencePolish news outlet Onet reported that sources close to President Karol Nawrocki said the United States had issued several warnings to Warsaw about an alleged Russian plot targeting Poland. The Telegraph also reported the claims. According to the reports, possible scenarios could include missile or drone strikes against Polish infrastructure or the deployment of soldiers into the Nato member state. The reported objective would be to pressure Ukraine's Western allies into reducing or suspending military assistance as Kyiv continues to defend itself against Russia's full-scale invasion, launched in 2022. The White House and the US State Department did not respond to requests for comment on the reports. Asked about the allegations, Tusk said Poland could not ignore the warnings. "Let's not be afraid, we are preparing for various situations, but we cannot ignore them. We are aware of the threats, also thanks to information from our allies," he said. Nato summit approachesPresident Karol Nawrocki is due to attend a Nato summit in Turkey next week alongside leaders from the alliance. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has said the meeting will demonstrate that European members are responding to long-standing calls from US President Donald Trump to increase defence spending. Leaders are also expected to reaffirm continued military support for Ukraine. Regional fears persistPolish officials have repeatedly warned that Russia could seek to test Nato's defences. In April, Tusk told the Financial Times that Russia could attack a Nato member state within months. Deputy Prime Minister Radek Sikorski later told CBS News that he could not rule out a Russian "false flag" operation within the next two years aimed at justifying an attack on a Nato country. Neighbouring Baltic states have also expressed concern about the regional security situation. Latvian media reported in June that the country's intelligence services believed Russia was planning military provocations in the Baltic region or Poland. Lithuania's ambassador to Nato said this week that Russia was more likely to rely on hybrid tactics, including missile or drone incursions, rather than launch a conventional military assault. Under Nato's Article 5, an armed attack against one alliance member is considered an attack against all, obliging members to assist in the collective defence of the targeted country. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 4 July 2026 View full articleFri, 03 Jul 2026 19:22:51 +0000Your words- Once the unknown unchecked dross has been legalised they'll be free to travel wherever they like in schengen. They'll spread around Europe like a turd dropped from the 50th floor. They're not free to work in other EU countries even when registered legally in Spain, though it's true other EU countries are furious with Spain. Your vile description of migrant workers in Spain is no better than Nazis comparing Jews to rats.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:19:45 +0000BS, the girl was involved in prostitution and your comments, are deflecting.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:18:34 +0000Soi 6 Soi Buakhou Nana Patpong Ban Chang Ha, ha, posting for a friend (many here) 555Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:11:06 +0000Yes, I know the facts "out there" very well. And the facts have clearly shown to the whole world what Israel is: A child murdering, land stealing, prisoner raping and torturing, mass murdering, mass starving, serial liar colonial settler project which has until today not fully declared its borders so they can steal more land, with different laws depending on ethnicity which makes it an apartheid state, which has just murdered more than 100,000 people most of them women and children, which has attacked most of the countries around it, which even debates the right to rape in its government, which again supports the ongoing theft of land and murdering of its legal owners. But I’ll let the facts and statistics speak for themselves. this does not even include Israeli abominations after Oct 7. Now tell me who is the terrorist again? Feel free to offer any counter facts and statistics. As all I have read from you by now are empty accusations and easy to prove lies and childish insults. And now ask yourself, who is insane?Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:10:10 +0000Ban, expell, whatever you guys call it now or maybe a week or a month on the sideline. These type of guys are punished from being unable to comment or post, some here are addicted to forum interaction. They've been warned, they're also breaking forum rules.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 19:07:24 +0000I think I needed to press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support, and 3 to reach the point of this post.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:48:59 +0000Please go on, get it all out, I'll comment after you make your first five posts. Don't forget to add at least five notes, six addendums and two Jagger videos to each one.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:46:52 +0000LOL. Probably getting close with my advancing old age. No offence meant. I just thought it was funny comparing your name with your posted image.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:37:35 +0000Fair point, if the meter is visible through the window, they do not need to open the cabinet just to read it. But PEA access is not only about reading the meter. They need access for inspection, sealing, replacement, testing, disconnecting, or reconnecting. That is where a private lock becomes a problem. Most random burglars probably do not walk around with tools to cut a heavy power cable, but burglars who know how to disconnect power with tools might also have a cutter. My point is that a simple lock feels like security, but it does not change the bigger risk if someone knows what they are doing. If you do not appreciate ideas, then why post here? Go to PEA and get your question answered there. Nobody here can know what your local PEA office thinks about your solution.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:29:48 +0000Well as trust me bro ' rumours go you can't beat that ! Israel is always seeking piece , a piece of Syria , a piece of Jordan a bigger piece of Palestine because the Bible says so.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:27:22 +0000They don't need to open the cabinet to check the meter. There is a window it the cabinet so the meter is fully visible all the time. I doubt burglars walk around with scissors that can cut a 1-inch power cable easily. As I said already, not gonna spend tens of thousands of baht if it can be sorted with a 200 baht lockFri, 03 Jul 2026 18:20:57 +0000Any thunder/lightenings in the area creating a voltage spike ? Or just a voltage spike when they switched back on after the grid was down.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:14:01 +0000The myth that on AN there is no "time limit" to compose a post is absolutely BS. Once one surpasses a certain time limit, ones post will not appear, although officially one is still "online" before clicking "send". After that, one is "offline" the post has "evaporated", the post "lost" and (newly) not recoverable in any sort of way. That means that every comment lasting more than a certain time must first be written somewhere else and then be copied and pasted to be inserted on AN. As long as the "time window of opportunity" exists on AN. A brilliant business concept, in a time when AN recieves less and less contributions, basically in all the many segments that AN offers. I am here since 2006. I am afraid that 2 years from now Gamma Globulin and myself will be the only customers left. OP's: Clarify the situation in no uncertain terms, as "online overstayers" are not welcome here anymore. PS: This short comment was actually composed in an "outside source". Copy and paste. Fearing that this short comment using AN would have "evaporated" due to the fact that I have overstayed my "online presence". Work on it or go under. CheersFri, 03 Jul 2026 18:13:44 +0000You should ask PEA directly, because every office seems to work from their own policies, not very different from any other public government office in Thailand. But from my experience, they are very rigid about their own system and property. PEA needs access to their equipment and adding private locks, just think about the key system they would need for monthly checks, so it would be a universal key for avery meter in that case. And if someone really wants to cut your electric, a simple lock will not stop them anyway. They can still cut the supply before it even reaches the cabinet, so to me it can easily become false security. A small solar system or battery backup will give you more control, and also live status of your system. Then you can see when the power goes off, when the system switches to backup, and when the battery gets low, which will send messages/alarm to your app.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:10:43 +0000SyphilisFri, 03 Jul 2026 18:02:40 +0000On Friday morning at 7am I woke up to a power outage because no aircon in the bedroom. Called PEA, and they said whole area affected, and ETA for the fix was 11am. So around 10am the heat started to become unbearable, and I went outside, only to see that my neighbour restaurants also had no electric. Closer to 11am I noticed they had electric, but not me. I checked my meter and saw it was online, so that is when I noticed that my main breakers, 2 out of 3 circuits, had tripped. The breakers of 2 aircons on the second circuit also had tripped, Those aircons were not active at that time, and are on a different circuit as the bedroom aircon. Everything seems to work at the moment. So what happened that make my main breakers trip? I'm sure it didn't happen when electric returned, because it would have activated my doorbell for at least 1 sound signal.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:00:41 +0000Similar to my experience, also some years ago. Suspected heart attack, kidnapped straight to Cardiac ward, wired up to remote monitor 24/7 so I could walk about the ward and corridor but no further. Even taking a shower, because they had to disconnect me, a nurse stood outside the bathroom listening out. Blue-light ambulance around the M25 to Harefield hospital, so I could have an Angiogram. Sent for MRI and other scans to a very expensive private clinic across the road from the hospital. Once that was all clear, they relaxed a bit and let me out a few days later with a bucket load of pills. Subsequently I had 8 weeks of Cardiac Rehab (2 hours a week) and to this day get annual blood tests (reminders sent to me) I have had other, less serious issues more recently and the only complaint I might have is that for such less serious issues, obviously lower priority, appointments are hard to get. But even though my Trust is good, they're still underfunded and hence under resourced.Fri, 03 Jul 2026 17:59:24 +0000