https://aseannow.com/rss/44-thailand-news.xml/National and regional news from all around Thailandenhttps://aseannow.com/thailand-news/thai-government-enforces-public-alcohol-bans-r1916/Thailand has implemented strict new rules on alcohol sales and consumption, effective as of May 12, 2026, in various public spaces. This follows the recent enforcement of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (No. 2) 2025. Now, sales and consumption are banned in state enterprises, public parks, factory operation areas, transport terminals, and other transportation-related locations, significantly impacting availability and public drinking practices. Get today's headlines by email The legislation creates clear guidelines, categorically prohibiting alcohol in places like public passenger piers, railway stations (except for special events with ministerial permission), and on roads during travel. The new restrictions replace prior regulations issued under the Prime Minister’s Office with more refined notifications from the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee, addressing previous ambiguities and aligning with updated legal standards. Nipon Chinanonwet, from the Department of Disease Control, highlighted that the advertising and publicity criteria have yet to be finalized. The committee charged with setting these rules hasn't completed its formation, delaying the issuance of detailed advertising regulations. Current advertising remains mostly prohibited until these standards are officially established. The next steps for the control committee involve recruiting members to finalize the board, which will draft comprehensive advertising frameworks under the Act. This development aims to balance legislative clarity and input from the private sector, ensuring a smooth transition in the nation’s approach to alcohol regulation. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 21 May 2026Thu, 21 May 2026 11:39:39 +0000Thailand has implemented strict new rules on alcohol sales and consumption, effective as of May 12, 2026, in various public spaces. This follows the recent enforcement of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (No. 2) 2025. Now, sales and consumption are banned in state enterprises, public parks, factory operation areas, transport terminals, and other transportation-related locations, significantly impacting availability and public drinking practices. Get today's headlines by email The legislation creates clear guidelines, categorically prohibiting alcohol in places like public passenger piers, railway stations (except for special events with ministerial permission), and on roads during travel. The new restrictions replace prior regulations issued under the Prime Minister’s Office with more refined notifications from the Alcohol Beverage Control Committee, addressing previous ambiguities and aligning with updated legal standards. Nipon Chinanonwet, from the Department of Disease Control, highlighted that the advertising and publicity criteria have yet to be finalized. The committee charged with setting these rules hasn't completed its formation, delaying the issuance of detailed advertising regulations. Current advertising remains mostly prohibited until these standards are officially established. The next steps for the control committee involve recruiting members to finalize the board, which will draft comprehensive advertising frameworks under the Act. This development aims to balance legislative clarity and input from the private sector, ensuring a smooth transition in the nation’s approach to alcohol regulation. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 21 May 2026 View full articleThu, 21 May 2026 11:39:39 +0000UreaThu, 21 May 2026 11:39:31 +0000Who else is wondering whether they were used or not?..... Just me then......Thu, 21 May 2026 11:39:25 +0000There needs to be a sharp decline in the illegal 'asylum' boat crossings why is the Royal navy sent to the Mediterranean when the threat has long been in the English channel ?Thu, 21 May 2026 11:37:49 +0000Answered here by Admiral Cooper: https://aseannow.com/topic/1395042-bombs-of-sweet-mercy-we-must-do-the-needful-in-iran/#findComment-20516810 But essentially, the US military blew it all up.Thu, 21 May 2026 11:37:02 +0000It's good to see that artificial and socialist limits on crap that industries can put in the drinking water are removed. MAHA is fine, but not at the expense of Trump/GOP donors! 'EPA wants to repeal limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water' https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2026/05/18/epa-wants-repeal-limits-forever-chemicals-drinking-water/ "The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday proposed repealing limits on four types of “forever chemicals” in drinking water, while delaying regulations on two others, drawing swift criticism from both environmental activists and the Make America Healthy Again movement that has supported President Donald Trump. Shortly after Trump took office, the EPA signaled its plans to rescind the 2024 protections against per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. More than a year later, the agency has issued its formal proposal."Thu, 21 May 2026 11:36:03 +0000UrineThu, 21 May 2026 11:35:53 +0000It's irrelevant to the point I made. 😃Thu, 21 May 2026 11:35:23 +0000Thu, 21 May 2026 11:34:00 +0000After buying a property (yes, I know, through my Thai wife), we agreed that the current occupant would remove junk, rubbish, cars, tires and all air cons at her expense. Today, when inspecting progress, the previous owner explained that the air cons were being removed right now. As I stood outside my house taking pictures, a guy in overalls used a large wrench to turn something next to the aircon. As a loud hiss noise filled the air, the dude in overalls ran away urgently, as refrigerant gas bellowed out of the unit. It was probably R- 22 Freon gas. It is illegal, even in Thailand, to vent refrigerant gas into the atmosphere as it contributes to global warning. Unfortunately, I inhaled quite a bit of it. When I told the previous owner that she needed to remove the air cons professionally, without letting the refrigerant gas escape into the atmosphere (there were six more to go), she asked: "What do you want me to do?" and then she walked off in disbelief. Yep, she must be one of the Thais who don't see the environment as a priority. Same as the dude who renovated my house in Cha-Am in 2014. My then wife said she'd handle everything. I arrived in Thailand six weeks after renovations had commenced. The builder had convinced my then wife to rip out the beautiful parquetry floor and replace them with cold, white tiles. As I drove up the road, I couldn't help but notice that someone had dumped parquetry floor and wooden windows by the side of the road that looked exactly like mine used to look. My ex then confirmed that he had to put them somewhere... which was at the side of the road. I have many stories that will no doubt upset some people but I don't disclose them out of malice. These are the facts: most Thais don't care about the environment. Their actions speak volumes. If they cared, the beaches and sides of road would be clean. But they aren't.Thu, 21 May 2026 11:33:41 +0000https://aseannow.com/thailand-news/police-confirm-seized-rifles-from-chinese-suspect-are-not-state-owned-r1915/The Royal Thai Police announced on Thursday that they have seized two M4 assault rifles from the residence of Chinese suspect Sun Ming Chen, clarifying that these are not official government weapons. Forensic analysis revealed no tampering with serial numbers, but noted mismatched parts from different firearms, indicating they were custom-assembled rather than stolen from official arsenals. Get today's headlines by email This finding comes amid a wider probe into Sun's financial dealings, uncovering his connection to an extensive network of over 600 Thai bank accounts. These accounts are linked to more than 4,000 online fraud cases with an estimated impact of 815 million baht. The investigation has led to seven legal cases and 11 arrests, including key members tied to a Cambodian call-centre scam operated by a figure known as ‘Lan Tian’. Authorities are gathering further evidence to charge Sun and his associates with transnational organised crime and money laundering. These ongoing efforts emphasize the crackdown on a widespread fraudulent network. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · Thai PBS · 21 May 2026Thu, 21 May 2026 11:32:58 +0000The Royal Thai Police announced on Thursday that they have seized two M4 assault rifles from the residence of Chinese suspect Sun Ming Chen, clarifying that these are not official government weapons. Forensic analysis revealed no tampering with serial numbers, but noted mismatched parts from different firearms, indicating they were custom-assembled rather than stolen from official arsenals. Get today's headlines by email This finding comes amid a wider probe into Sun's financial dealings, uncovering his connection to an extensive network of over 600 Thai bank accounts. These accounts are linked to more than 4,000 online fraud cases with an estimated impact of 815 million baht. The investigation has led to seven legal cases and 11 arrests, including key members tied to a Cambodian call-centre scam operated by a figure known as ‘Lan Tian’. Authorities are gathering further evidence to charge Sun and his associates with transnational organised crime and money laundering. These ongoing efforts emphasize the crackdown on a widespread fraudulent network. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · Thai PBS · 21 May 2026 View full articleThu, 21 May 2026 11:32:58 +0000Thu, 21 May 2026 11:32:01 +0000Limit the 60 day visa free to over the over the 50sThu, 21 May 2026 11:31:34 +0000Has Iran been rebuilding? Not really. Cooper also addressed this concern on Tuesday: 1) We damaged or destroyed over 85 percent of Iran’s ballistic missile, drone, and naval defense industrial base. More than 1,450 strikes on weapons manufacturing facilities set the regime’s ability to build and stockpile ballistic missiles and long-range drones back by years. 2) The factories and technical workforce that produced Iran’s ballistic missiles, long-range attack drones, and naval platforms have been degraded to the point that Iran cannot replace its lost capabilities in the near term. 3) We destroyed or buried much of Iran’s ballistic missiles, launcher vehicles, and long-range attack drones with more than 450 strikes on ballistic missile storage and systems and roughly 800 strikes on Iran’s drone-launching units and storage. 4) In the air domain, Iran’s air and air defense forces are functionally and operationally irrelevant. Before OEF, the Iranian Air Force flew between 30 and 100 sorties each day. Today that number is zero. 5) We destroyed or rendered non-mission-capable Iran’s fixed-wing airfields, hangars, fuel storage, and munitions stockpiles, and we knocked out 82 percent of its air defense missile systems along with the radar and command architecture that tied them together. 6) At sea, we destroyed 161 vessels in total across 16 classes of warships, effectively crippling the regime’s ability to operate. We eliminated more than 90 percent of Iran’s once-massive inventory of over 8,000 naval mines, with more than 700 airstrikes on Iranian naval mine targets. In sum, Iran’s navy can no longer claim to be a maritime power, and it cannot project into the Gulf of Oman or the Indian Ocean. Iran retains nuisance capability – harassment, low-end drone and rocket attacks, and residual proxy support – but it no longer possesses the means to threaten major regional operations or to deter U.S. freedom of action in the air or maritime domains. https://armedservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2026-05-19_cooper_testimony.pdfThu, 21 May 2026 11:31:18 +0000PeaThu, 21 May 2026 11:28:39 +0000"Workation" is that like a Busman's Holiday? busman's holiday1. a holiday where you do something similar to your usual work instead of…Thu, 21 May 2026 11:28:26 +0000https://aseannow.com/thailand-news/swiss-man-wrecks-hua-hin-rental-owner-warns-others-r1914/A woman in Hua Hin has alerted fellow property owners and local women after her rental house was severely damaged by a Swiss tenant, who continued to invite women to the property post-lease. The homeowner's Facebook post, featuring photos and details, swiftly caught online attention. She reports the tenant left the house in disarray, with damaged items including a stabbed mattress and electrical appliances in the swimming pool. Get today's headlines by email The property, rented by the Swiss national after leaving another nearby house, was found with excessive damage within a mere six months. Surprising discoveries included over 100 condoms and extensive mess in the kitchen and bathroom. Online, many speculated that the damage was intentional, though the homeowner revealed no prior conflict with the tenant, suggesting possible mental health issues as a motive. Due to the incident going viral, the homeowner was contacted by Channel 8 for further coverage. They are reportedly coordinating with Hua Hin Police Station to help the owner claim compensation. In addition to alerting landlords, the homeowner advised local women to be cautious, as the tenant allegedly continued to arrange meetings with them at the property. As of now, there has been no public response from the accused tenant, nor have the police announced any legal proceedings. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 21 May 2026Thu, 21 May 2026 11:28:14 +0000A woman in Hua Hin has alerted fellow property owners and local women after her rental house was severely damaged by a Swiss tenant, who continued to invite women to the property post-lease. The homeowner's Facebook post, featuring photos and details, swiftly caught online attention. She reports the tenant left the house in disarray, with damaged items including a stabbed mattress and electrical appliances in the swimming pool. Get today's headlines by email The property, rented by the Swiss national after leaving another nearby house, was found with excessive damage within a mere six months. Surprising discoveries included over 100 condoms and extensive mess in the kitchen and bathroom. Online, many speculated that the damage was intentional, though the homeowner revealed no prior conflict with the tenant, suggesting possible mental health issues as a motive. Due to the incident going viral, the homeowner was contacted by Channel 8 for further coverage. They are reportedly coordinating with Hua Hin Police Station to help the owner claim compensation. In addition to alerting landlords, the homeowner advised local women to be cautious, as the tenant allegedly continued to arrange meetings with them at the property. As of now, there has been no public response from the accused tenant, nor have the police announced any legal proceedings. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 21 May 2026 View full articleThu, 21 May 2026 11:28:14 +0000Tired of all the winning yet? Epic Failure.Thu, 21 May 2026 11:26:56 +0000The number of U.S. aircraft lost in the illegal Israel/US war of aggression is now revealed to be at least 42 at a cost of $29 Billion. Tge truth of other losses will out. https://news.usni.org/2026/05/20/report-to-congress-on-u-s-aircraft-combat-losses-in-operation-epic-furyThu, 21 May 2026 11:25:25 +0000NutsThu, 21 May 2026 11:23:17 +0000Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood Net migration to the UK has nearly halved in a dramatic reversal that ministers are already claiming as proof tougher immigration rules are working. New figures from the Office for National Statistics show net migration fell to 171,000 in the year to December 2025 — down 48 per cent from 331,000 a year earlier and far below the post-pandemic peak of 944,000 recorded in 2023. The sharp decline has been driven largely by a collapse in overseas recruitment and tighter restrictions on visas for workers and students. Work Visa Curbs Hit Hard The biggest drop came in work-related migration, with the number of people arriving in Britain for jobs falling by 47 per cent in 2025. A succession of measures introduced under the Conservatives and maintained by Labour tightened access to skilled worker visas, raised salary thresholds and blocked care workers and many overseas students from bringing family members to Britain. Excluding the Covid years, net migration is now at its lowest level since 2012 — a political milestone after years of fierce public debate over border control and pressure on public services. Labour Claims ‘Real Progress’ Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood welcomed the figures, saying net migration had fallen by 82 per cent over three years. “We will always welcome those who contribute to this country,” she said, while insisting the government must continue restoring “order and control” to the immigration system. But the numbers immediately reignited pressure from the Conservatives, with shadow home secretary Chris Philp arguing immigration remained “far too high” and demanding a legally binding annual cap. Citizenship Surge Reveals New Reality Even as arrivals slow, Britain’s foreign-born population continues to grow. Analysis from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford found foreign-born residents now make up 19 per cent of the UK population, up by 2.4 million since the last census. At the same time, applications for British citizenship have hit record levels, topping 300,000 in the year to March 2026. Separate Home Office data also showed asylum claims fell by 12 per cent, while the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels dropped by more than a third — another key target for ministers under pressure to show the system is finally tightening. Net migration to UK slashed by nearly half after work visa cutsThu, 21 May 2026 11:21:30 +0000Here is a funny true story... There was once this talking donkey who would reply "so as you can see..." and everyone would laugh at his ignorance. The end.Thu, 21 May 2026 11:21:14 +0000