https://aseannow.com/rss/44-thailand-news.xml/National and regional news from all around Thailandenhttps://aseannow.com/thailand-news/thai-army-protests-cambodian-fire-near-surin-r1938/The Royal Thai Army says five gunshots fired from the Cambodian side near the Surin border violated a joint ceasefire understanding and were intended to harass Thai troops. Get today's headlines by email According to Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, the incident took place on May 21, 2026, while personnel from Ranger Company 2603 under the Suranaree Task Force were improving defensive positions and strengthening security near Border Marker 18 in Kap Choeng district, Surin province. At around 2.20pm, Thai personnel heard five rounds of small-arms fire coming from the south, approximately 600 metres away, in an area under Cambodian control. After stopping to assess the situation and observe the area, troops reported no irregularities and resumed their mission. The Army confirmed that no Thai personnel were injured during the incident. Thai forces also did not return fire, with Maj Gen Winthai stating that troops avoided responding in order to prevent revealing their positions and deployment. The Suranaree Task Force said units stationed along the border remain on alert and are continuing to follow established rules of engagement based on the situation on the ground. The Army added that, although the firing appeared to be long-range harassment, it was considered a clear violation of the existing joint statement between the two sides. The border area in Surin province has seen periodic tensions in the past, with both Thai and Cambodian forces maintaining a military presence in sensitive areas near the frontier. The latest exchange comes as authorities on both sides continue coordination efforts aimed at preventing escalation along the border. In response to the gunfire, the Suranaree Task Force said it would issue a formal warning and lodge a protest with the Cambodian side through local coordination channels. Thai military officials stressed that forces in the area remain prepared to respond if necessary while continuing to avoid actions that could worsen tensions. Security analysts have previously noted that even isolated incidents along disputed or sensitive border areas can increase strain between neighbouring forces if not quickly addressed through military coordination mechanisms. The Nation reported that Thai authorities have not announced any additional security measures following the incident, but troops operating in the area have been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance while carrying out ongoing defensive operations near the border. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 23 May 2026Fri, 22 May 2026 21:02:29 +0000The Royal Thai Army says five gunshots fired from the Cambodian side near the Surin border violated a joint ceasefire understanding and were intended to harass Thai troops. Get today's headlines by email According to Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, the incident took place on May 21, 2026, while personnel from Ranger Company 2603 under the Suranaree Task Force were improving defensive positions and strengthening security near Border Marker 18 in Kap Choeng district, Surin province. At around 2.20pm, Thai personnel heard five rounds of small-arms fire coming from the south, approximately 600 metres away, in an area under Cambodian control. After stopping to assess the situation and observe the area, troops reported no irregularities and resumed their mission. The Army confirmed that no Thai personnel were injured during the incident. Thai forces also did not return fire, with Maj Gen Winthai stating that troops avoided responding in order to prevent revealing their positions and deployment. The Suranaree Task Force said units stationed along the border remain on alert and are continuing to follow established rules of engagement based on the situation on the ground. The Army added that, although the firing appeared to be long-range harassment, it was considered a clear violation of the existing joint statement between the two sides. The border area in Surin province has seen periodic tensions in the past, with both Thai and Cambodian forces maintaining a military presence in sensitive areas near the frontier. The latest exchange comes as authorities on both sides continue coordination efforts aimed at preventing escalation along the border. In response to the gunfire, the Suranaree Task Force said it would issue a formal warning and lodge a protest with the Cambodian side through local coordination channels. Thai military officials stressed that forces in the area remain prepared to respond if necessary while continuing to avoid actions that could worsen tensions. Security analysts have previously noted that even isolated incidents along disputed or sensitive border areas can increase strain between neighbouring forces if not quickly addressed through military coordination mechanisms. The Nation reported that Thai authorities have not announced any additional security measures following the incident, but troops operating in the area have been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance while carrying out ongoing defensive operations near the border. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Nation 23 May 2026 View full articleFri, 22 May 2026 21:02:29 +0000A second federal lawsuit has been filed against the Trump administration’s planned $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund”, escalating legal challenges over a compensation programme intended for people who say they were targeted by the Biden administration. Get today's headlines by email The complaint, filed on Friday in the Eastern District of Virginia, argues that the fund was created without congressional approval and violates constitutional limits on federal spending. The suit also claims the initiative breaches the 14th Amendment’s ban on using public money “in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States”. The legal action was brought by a coalition of nonprofit groups and individuals, including a former prosecutor involved in January 6 cases, the advocacy group Common Cause, the National Abortion Federation, and the city of New Haven, Connecticut. In court filings, the plaintiffs argued the fund lacked any legal foundation or oversight. “Created following a collusive agreement between the President and his own administration, this Fund has no congressional authorization, no basis in law, and no accountability,” the lawsuit stated. Second Legal ChallengeThe latest case follows a separate lawsuit filed earlier in Washington, D.C., by former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges. Both officers defended the Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack and are seeking to block the fund before it is established. The Department of Justice announced the creation of the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” as part of a broader settlement arrangement involving President Donald Trump. In exchange, Trump agreed to drop a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service and two additional civil claims. The proposed fund has triggered criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans, particularly over the possibility that taxpayer money could ultimately benefit people convicted or accused in connection with the Capitol riot. Under the agreement, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is expected to establish the fund within 30 days. Blanche would also appoint a five-member commission responsible for reviewing and approving claims. Trump Defends the PlanAlthough Trump previously said he was not directly involved in creating the programme, he publicly defended it on social media on Friday. He said he had sacrificed the possibility of securing a large personal settlement in order to support people he described as victims of a “weaponized” Biden administration. Trump cited both the disclosure of his tax returns and the FBI search of his Mar-a-Lago property among the grievances connected to the settlement discussions. The Virginia lawsuit also challenges the administration’s planned use of the federal Judgment Fund, a permanent appropriation typically used to pay legal settlements and court judgments against the government. Plaintiffs argue the administration is improperly using that fund to bypass Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending. Questions Over Legal StandingDespite growing political controversy, some legal experts have questioned whether the lawsuits will succeed. A key issue is whether the plaintiffs can demonstrate legal standing — meaning they can show they would be directly harmed by the creation of the fund. ABC News legal contributor James Sample said the earlier case brought by the Capitol officers may struggle to meet that requirement because many of the harms they cite relate to past events rather than future consequences tied directly to the compensation programme. Sample acknowledged that the officers had faced threats and harassment since speaking publicly about January 6, but argued those injuries may not be legally connected to the proposed use of the Judgment Fund. The lawsuits were filed before the compensation fund itself has formally begun operating. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026 View full articleFri, 22 May 2026 20:59:20 +0000Nexus there is little point trying to discuss threads with Joebloggs he will just feed you. What ever you say he will pull you down even if you produce videos in Evidence he will have an answer for you so your wasting your time and effort, he will never accept anything on Tommy Robinson. He is proud of the way British justice is served but after 2 court trials where the culprits have been allowed to walk free after comitting GBH on a serving police officer says it all about justice in the UK. Joebloggs will come back with his full page answer but the second case is different from the 1st where one of the Thugs was jailed.Fri, 22 May 2026 20:56:03 +0000I'm sure her 'cousin' agrees.Fri, 22 May 2026 20:49:05 +0000Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed retaliation after accusing Ukraine of carrying out a deadly drone strike on a student dormitory in the Russian-occupied town of Starobilsk in eastern Ukraine. Get today's headlines by email Speaking at a reception at the Kremlin on Friday, Putin said six people were killed and 39 injured in the overnight attack in the occupied Luhansk region. He added that another 15 people were missing following the strike. Moscow said the building targeted was a student dormitory and denied claims that military facilities were located nearby. “There are no military facilities, intelligence service facilities, or related services in the vicinity,” Putin said. He also rejected suggestions that the damage may have been caused by Russian air defence systems or electronic warfare equipment. The Russian leader said the attack had been carried out in three waves using 16 drones and instructed the military to prepare proposals for a response. Ukraine claims military targetUkraine’s military later confirmed carrying out a strike in Starobilsk, saying it had targeted the headquarters of Russia’s elite Rubicon drone unit. Kyiv did not specify whether the military site was located in the same building identified by Russian authorities as a dormitory. In a statement, Ukraine accused Rubicon personnel of repeatedly attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure inside Ukraine. The military said Ukrainian forces were striking “military infrastructure and facilities used for military purposes” while adhering to international humanitarian law and the laws of war. Russian state television broadcast footage of what it said was one of the injured students, identifying her as 19-year-old Diana Shovkun. Reports said she suffered head injuries after being struck by falling concrete during the collapse of part of the building. No images or videos of the people Moscow said were killed were publicly released. Escalating strikesThe reported attack came amid continuing cross-border drone and missile strikes by both sides in the war, now in its fourth year since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had struck the headquarters of Russia’s FSB security service in occupied parts of the southern Kherson region. Zelensky claimed around 100 Russian personnel had been killed or wounded in the operation. Russia’s defence ministry has not commented on the reported Kherson strike, although a pro-Kremlin Telegram channel reported casualties after what it described as a “massive drone strike”. Civilian casualties remain a major point of dispute between Moscow and Kyiv. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians and residential areas during the war, allegations the Kremlin denies. Last week, Ukrainian officials said a Russian missile strike on a high-rise residential building in Kyiv killed 24 people, including three girls. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026 View full articleFri, 22 May 2026 20:48:49 +0000The US is also experiencing a surge a STDs. Various theories as to why; a post-COVD-19 cohort has been suggested. https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/the-state-of-stis-cdc-reports-an-alarming-rise-in-syphilis/ Australia reports similar trends, though they detect increases pre-Covid. https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/surge-in-most-stis-over-the-past-10-years And Japan https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12127005/ So you start thinking the reasons mught go beyond changes in behaviour. Thats part of it, but also increased diagnostic testing rates contributes. And the diagnostic protocol for syphillis has improved immeasurably.Fri, 22 May 2026 20:45:05 +0000British police investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have appealed for further witnesses to come forward as detectives examine allegations that could include sexual misconduct linked to his time as a UK trade envoy. Get today's headlines by email In an update on Friday, Thames Valley Police said investigators believed more people may hold relevant information as part of the force’s ongoing inquiry into alleged misconduct in public office by the former prince. The force confirmed it had contacted lawyers representing a woman who previously claimed she was taken to an address in Windsor for sexual purposes in 2010. The allegation, first reported by the BBC earlier this year, relates to an alleged encounter at Royal Lodge, Mountbatten-Windsor’s former residence. Contact With Alleged VictimThe woman’s lawyer, Brad Edwards of US law firm Edwards Henderson, told the BBC that his client had been sent to Britain by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein while she was in her 20s. He said the woman later spent a night with Mountbatten-Windsor and was given a tour of Buckingham Palace. Police said they had not yet spoken directly to the alleged victim but stressed that any future complaint would be handled carefully and confidentially. “We have engaged with the woman’s legal representative to confirm that, should she wish to report this to police, it will be taken seriously and handled with care, sensitivity and respect for her privacy and her right for anonymity,” the force said. Investigators added that any contact with police would proceed according to the woman’s wishes. Broad Misconduct InquiryThe statement marked the first public update since Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February at his home in Sandringham, Norfolk, over allegations linked to misconduct in public office. He was released under investigation later the same day. Mountbatten-Windsor has denied all wrongdoing connected to Epstein and has rejected accusations that he benefited personally from his role as Britain’s trade envoy. Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright said investigators continued to examine “a number of aspects of alleged misconduct” following the release of US government files related to Epstein. “Our misconduct in public office investigation is continuing,” Wright said. “Misconduct in public office is a crime that can take different forms, making this a complex investigation.” Focus Beyond Confidential InformationThe update came after the British government published documents relating to Mountbatten-Windsor’s appointment as a trade envoy in 2001. The papers suggested there was no evidence he had undergone formal vetting before taking the role and showed that the late Queen Elizabeth II had supported his appointment. Previously released documents from the US Department of Justice appeared to indicate Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential material with Epstein while serving as a trade envoy. Officials in such positions are barred from disclosing sensitive commercial or political information. However, Britain’s PA Media news agency reported that detectives were concerned the public may wrongly believe the investigation only concerns alleged information-sharing. Under British law, misconduct in public office can cover a wide range of alleged behaviour, including corruption, conflicts of interest, financial misconduct, wilful neglect of duty and sexual misconduct. Police said they continued to support other UK forces contacting victims and survivors connected to Epstein investigations. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026 View full articleFri, 22 May 2026 20:40:37 +0000There you go. Never fails, from the same drooling trolling envious crowdFri, 22 May 2026 20:33:02 +0000StrawFri, 22 May 2026 20:31:37 +0000Possibly, but a lot of fighting is in contested no-man lands. The Ukrainian priority is of course their own people. https://youtu.be/lgFXDuuP910?si=uDfQleUUYrntqhsx https://youtu.be/k7SDXVHIA94?si=bQjK9VoB8iCGdWvh https://youtu.be/RaZn_k2zAZk?si=1_9rLAbSM6adD5SF If all that is left of you after a couple of years in the open is some rib bones and tibia/fibia, then no doubt many will remain missing. The founder of the Black Tulip group gives a grim account of battlefield body recovery: https://war.huri.harvard.edu/2023/02/15/an-interview-with-oleksii-yukov/ In the account, as he has given in other interviews, he recounts that before the war, he was involved in WW2 battlefield recovery, and disclosed that Soviet mass graves were often full of more bodies than recorded, as the Soviets tried to cover up losses.Fri, 22 May 2026 20:26:19 +0000Easy enough to get a 60 day VISA online for a few shekels so not a huge problem.Fri, 22 May 2026 20:24:55 +0000US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sought to reassure Nato allies over shifting American troop deployments in Europe, following a series of announcements by President Donald Trump that have unsettled members of the alliance. Get today's headlines by email Rubio spoke after a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Helsingborg, where concerns were raised over recent US decisions involving troop movements in Poland and Germany. Troop changes spark uncertaintyTrump announced on Thursday that the US would deploy an additional 5,000 troops to Poland. The move came only a week after the Pentagon cancelled a planned deployment of 4,000 troops to the country and days after Washington confirmed plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. The sequence of announcements has caused confusion among Nato members, many of whom are already uneasy about Washington’s long-term commitment to European security. Rubio addresses Nato concernsSpeaking to reporters on Friday, Rubio said the US was continually reviewing its military posture abroad in light of wider global obligations, including ongoing tensions in the Middle East linked to the conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. “Allies understand that the United States troop presence in Europe is going to be adjusted,” Rubio said, adding that consultations with Nato partners had already taken place. US says allies were informedWhile acknowledging concerns among allies, Rubio said they were aware changes were under discussion even if they were not fully satisfied with them. Rubio also said troop deployments were being reassessed as part of broader global military commitments, including operations outside Europe. Trump links move to Polish tiesTrump announced the new deployment to Poland while Nato ministers were meeting in Sweden. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he linked the decision to Washington’s relationship with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump supported during Poland’s presidential election campaign. Uncertainty over deployment plansThe US president did not clarify whether the extra troops were connected to the previously cancelled deployment or represented a separate operation altogether. Questions have also been raised about whether the troops leaving Germany could instead be redirected to Poland. Germany withdrawal adds to confusionEarlier this month, Washington confirmed plans to reduce its military presence in Germany after tensions between Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the conflict involving Iran. The overlapping announcements have left several allies uncertain about the direction of US military planning in Europe. Sweden highlights allied uneaseSwedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the mixed signals from Washington had been difficult for allies to interpret. “It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” she said while hosting the Nato talks. US remains central to Nato defenceThe US remains Nato’s largest military power and has stationed troops across Europe for decades as part of the alliance’s collective defence structure. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, European allies have repeatedly urged Washington to maintain a strong military presence on the continent. Large US military presence in EuropeGermany hosts the largest number of US troops in Europe, with more than 36,000 personnel stationed there. Poland and the UK each host around 10,000 US troops, while Italy has roughly 12,000. Trump presses Nato on spendingTrump has long criticised Nato members for relying too heavily on the US and failing to spend enough on defence. He has repeatedly argued that European allies should contribute more financially to the alliance. Europe moves toward self-relianceSeveral Nato countries have since pledged increases in defence spending, though tensions remain over Washington’s broader “America First” foreign policy approach. The White House has recently indicated that it plans to reduce overall US troop numbers in Europe as part of that strategy. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said Europe would continue moving towards greater military self-reliance. Rubio stresses value of allianceRubio also acknowledged longstanding debate within the US over the value of Nato, saying the alliance must remain beneficial not only for Europe but also for the United States. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026 View full articleFri, 22 May 2026 20:21:45 +0000Tulsi Gabbard will resign as US director of national intelligence at the end of June, citing her husband's recent bone cancer diagnosis as the reason for leaving the Trump administration. Get today's headlines by email In a resignation letter obtained by CBS News, Gabbard said she could not continue in such a demanding role while her husband, Abraham, faces serious health challenges. “His strength and love have sustained me through every challenge,” she wrote. “I cannot in good conscience ask him to face this fight alone while I continue in this demanding and time-consuming position.” US President Donald Trump praised Gabbard in a social media post, saying she had “done an incredible job” and would be missed. He added that she wanted to focus on supporting her husband during his treatment. Her resignation takes effect on 30 June. Aaron Lukas, the principal deputy director of national intelligence, will serve as acting director, Trump said. Tensions Over Iran PolicyGabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, became one of Trump’s most prominent intelligence officials after being confirmed in early 2025. However, she has maintained a lower public profile in recent months as the administration intensified its foreign policy actions involving Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. Known for her long-standing opposition to US military intervention abroad, Gabbard faced scrutiny after the United States joined Israeli strikes on Iran. She stopped short of fully endorsing the decision and avoided directly answering questions during a congressional hearing in March about whether the administration understood the potential consequences of the conflict. She also came under pressure from Democrats over what they viewed as inconsistencies between intelligence assessments and White House statements regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. Last year, Trump publicly dismissed Gabbard’s testimony to Congress that Iran was not actively seeking to build a nuclear weapon. “I don’t care what she said,” Trump told reporters at the time. “I think they were very close to having a weapon.” The president has repeatedly cited Iran’s nuclear capabilities as justification for US military action. Senior Departures From AdministrationGabbard is the fourth Cabinet-level official to leave the Trump administration this year. Former labor secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer departed in April, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi also stepped down earlier in 2026. Her resignation follows the earlier departure of her top aide, former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent, who left over disagreements concerning US policy toward Iran. Kent had urged Trump to “reverse course” on the conflict. After Kent resigned, Gabbard publicly defended the president’s approach, saying the commander-in-chief was responsible for deciding what constituted an imminent threat to the United States. From Democrat to Trump AllyA military veteran who served in Iraq with a medical unit, Gabbard first entered politics in 2002 when she was elected to the Hawaii Legislature at the age of 21, becoming the youngest person ever elected in the state. She later served in Congress as a Democrat from 2013 to 2021 and became the first Hindu member of the US House of Representatives. Gabbard ran unsuccessfully for president in 2020 on an anti-interventionist platform. Two years later, she left the Democratic Party, accusing it of being controlled by what she called an “elitist cabal of warmongers”. After becoming a political commentator on Fox News, she increasingly aligned herself with Trump, endorsing him during the 2024 presidential campaign and joining his transition team after the election. Trump later nominated her to lead the US intelligence community, a role that oversees coordination among multiple intelligence agencies and advises the president on national security matters. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 23 May 2026 View full articleFri, 22 May 2026 20:04:17 +0000Times are hard, bro - a website’s gotta eat. But I’d trust the British legal system over the Thai one every single time. I remember chatting to a Thai lawyer in VT3 and she basically said, “You have to remember the Thai legal system isn’t like the British one.” We both burst out laughing because we both knew exactly what she meant.Fri, 22 May 2026 19:53:55 +0000Cool. Tough is good.Fri, 22 May 2026 19:51:10 +0000You wont remember anything, you will be too busy trolling somewhere else.Fri, 22 May 2026 19:49:16 +0000When this is all over, we'll remember your sort, just like we remembered the apologists in WW2.Fri, 22 May 2026 19:46:53 +0000The BuK TELAR that shot down MH17 originated not from a defecting unit of the AFU, but from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade based in Kursk. https://www.prosecutionservice.nl/topics/m/mh17-plane-crash/criminal-investigation-jit-mh17 OECD observers? You got your acronyms mixed while rage googling. There were unarmed OSCE observers. At no point were economists watching the movement of forces. You must be in your 80s. A fool is a fool, old or young. The line that the OSCE never detected a weapons transfer from the Russian military to the seperatists is a Kremlin line. Maybe you are of the generation who regularly tuned into Radio Moscow for the "alternative perspective". https://news.liga.net/politics/news/u_obse_est_informatsiya_o_nalichii_voennosluzhashchikh_rf_v_zone_ato https://www.unian.info/war/1595556-us-mission-to-osce-russia-continues-sending-troops-equipment-into-ukraine.html https://euromaidanpress.com/2016/11/19/osce-checkpoints-gukovo-donetsk-smm/ https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2015/10/02/russian-rocket-system-seen-in-ukraine-for-first-time-osce-a50026 https://www.osce.org/ukraine-smm/175736Fri, 22 May 2026 19:45:36 +0000publishing photos of the paraphenalia and substances was so unprofessional IMO. Next thing we will be shown loaded syringes hanging off forearms. Any such visual images should be kept strictly private by the Investigators.Fri, 22 May 2026 19:38:03 +0000He is keeping the pot boiling because he tried to take legal action in the UK and found he could not. The law firm he consulted and did in fact write to Drummond have specifically stated "We no longer represent Bryan Flowers." Since then Flower has created 20 plus videos and over 150 stories in internet smear hubs. Now he has to invent the name of a law firm which is representing him. No other website in the world has allowed links to all that A1 slop. ASEAN NOW has allowed two attack threads against Andrew Drummond whoi was was well known for fighting and winning libel cases in Thailand. He was aided in this by donations from readers and newspapers in London. While in Thailand between 1989 and 2015 he was accredited as coprrespondent for the Evening Standard, Times and Ob server to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bryan Flowers had all his bars in the names of nominees. In the case of the Flirt bar the nominee was his wife's brother, who lives in Korat and had never seeen the bar. His wife was found to be the owner because ATIP police discovered that all the takings from the bar went into her bank account. This is a story written by Drummond's deputy. He could not write it himself obviously. Funny how ASEAN NOW has allowed tqwo people within 24 hours to create Drummond attack sites. It seems many of the readers know the truth. By the way he was acquiited of these cases at the appeal court. Never truth the first court in Pattaya. If you want thre truth go to andrew drumonds website (www.andrew-drummond.com) and search The Night Wish Files.Fri, 22 May 2026 19:35:31 +0000The absolute mad bit is that most foreign blokes in Thailand, living in houses they paid for out of their own pocket, do not actually own the bloody things.Fri, 22 May 2026 19:26:37 +0000...or self raising flourFri, 22 May 2026 19:19:18 +0000International outrage over a stunt by Israel’s national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has triggered a new diplomatic backlash against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government — and reignited debate over just how far Israel’s political centre has shifted to the right. Ben-Gvir sparked condemnation after posting footage from a detention site holding activists from a Gaza aid flotilla. The video showed detainees kneeling with their hands restrained as Israel’s national anthem blasted in the background. Waving an Israeli flag, Ben-Gvir declared: “We are the landlords here.” The reaction was swift. Western governments lined up to denounce the spectacle, with criticism extending from Europe to Washington. Allies Turn on Netanyahu Minister British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said she was “truly appalled” by the footage, while officials from France, Germany, Canada, Spain and several other countries formally criticised the incident. Even the Trump administration broke ranks. US ambassador Mike Huckabee reportedly accused Ben-Gvir of betraying “the dignity of his nation”. Netanyahu’s office also distanced itself from the video, insisting the display did not reflect “Israel’s values and norms”. Foreign minister Gideon Saar publicly rebuked Ben-Gvir, declaring: “You are not the face of Israel.” But critics argue the opposite is true. From Fringe Radical to Power Broker Far from operating on the political margins, Ben-Gvir sits at the heart of Israel’s ruling coalition. As national security minister, he oversees police forces, prison systems and security policy across Israel and the occupied territories. Under his tenure, rights groups have accused Israeli authorities of intensifying crackdowns on Palestinians, expanding armed settler networks and escalating pressure around Jerusalem’s most sensitive religious sites. Ben-Gvir’s rise also reflects a broader transformation inside Israeli politics. Once associated with extremist movements rejected even by Israel’s right wing, figures aligned with his ideology now occupy senior cabinet posts and shape government policy. Netanyahu’s Political Trap The deeper problem for Netanyahu is political survival. Ben-Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich helped deliver the coalition keeping the prime minister in power. That alliance has tied Netanyahu ever more tightly to hard-line nationalist forces as the Gaza war deepens international isolation and intensifies scrutiny of Israeli policy. What once sat on the fringe of Israeli politics is now firmly embedded inside the state itself — and the diplomatic fallout is growing harder to contain. Nobody better represents Israeli politics today than Itamar Ben-GvirFri, 22 May 2026 19:01:19 +0000Just curious if it still exists and how does a person go about buying it?Fri, 22 May 2026 18:48:25 +0000