https://aseannow.com/rss/44-thailand-news.xml/National and regional news from all around Thailandenhttps://aseannow.com/thailand-news/phuket-airport-denies-priority-immigration-fee-claims-r2105/Phuket International Airport has rejected claims circulating on social media that passengers can pay for faster access through immigration checkpoints. The airport confirmed that no additional fees are charged in exchange for special privileges at immigration control and said it is working with relevant authorities to improve passenger processing during busy periods. Get today's headlines by email The clarification was issued on 31 May following online posts from foreign tourists alleging long queues at immigration checkpoints at Phuket Airport and suggesting that faster processing was available for a fee. Airport officials said they were aware of the concerns raised by passengers and the public and were treating all feedback seriously. According to Phuket Airport, it has been working continuously with the Phuket Airport Immigration Checkpoint to improve efficiency, particularly during peak flight periods. Measures include preparations to introduce an automated passport control system, known as the Auto Channel or ABC system, to reduce waiting times for passengers. The airport has also increased the presence of proactive support staff and passenger management personnel within the terminal to assist travellers and oversee queue management more closely. In addition, coordination with relevant agencies continues to ensure flight schedules and passenger flows are managed as effectively as possible. Airport officials stressed that immigration services operate under procedures and standards set by the relevant government agencies. They stated that there is no policy allowing the collection of additional fees in return for preferential treatment during immigration processing. However, the airport acknowledged that large passenger volumes at certain times may create confusion. It also noted the possibility that individuals outside official channels may have made misleading claims or representations to travellers. Phuket Airport said the matter is currently being investigated thoroughly in cooperation with the relevant authorities. The airport said it understood the impact that long waiting times and travel disruptions can have on passengers’ experiences. It reiterated its commitment to improving services despite physical space limitations and increasing passenger numbers. Daily News reported that Phuket Airport said it would continue developing measures to make travel through the airport more convenient, efficient and secure for both Thai and international passengers, while the ongoing fact-finding process examines the allegations raised online. Pictures courtesy of Daily News Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 1 June 2026Sun, 31 May 2026 20:47:04 +0000Phuket International Airport has rejected claims circulating on social media that passengers can pay for faster access through immigration checkpoints. The airport confirmed that no additional fees are charged in exchange for special privileges at immigration control and said it is working with relevant authorities to improve passenger processing during busy periods. Get today's headlines by email The clarification was issued on 31 May following online posts from foreign tourists alleging long queues at immigration checkpoints at Phuket Airport and suggesting that faster processing was available for a fee. Airport officials said they were aware of the concerns raised by passengers and the public and were treating all feedback seriously. According to Phuket Airport, it has been working continuously with the Phuket Airport Immigration Checkpoint to improve efficiency, particularly during peak flight periods. Measures include preparations to introduce an automated passport control system, known as the Auto Channel or ABC system, to reduce waiting times for passengers. The airport has also increased the presence of proactive support staff and passenger management personnel within the terminal to assist travellers and oversee queue management more closely. In addition, coordination with relevant agencies continues to ensure flight schedules and passenger flows are managed as effectively as possible. Airport officials stressed that immigration services operate under procedures and standards set by the relevant government agencies. They stated that there is no policy allowing the collection of additional fees in return for preferential treatment during immigration processing. However, the airport acknowledged that large passenger volumes at certain times may create confusion. It also noted the possibility that individuals outside official channels may have made misleading claims or representations to travellers. Phuket Airport said the matter is currently being investigated thoroughly in cooperation with the relevant authorities. The airport said it understood the impact that long waiting times and travel disruptions can have on passengers’ experiences. It reiterated its commitment to improving services despite physical space limitations and increasing passenger numbers. Daily News reported that Phuket Airport said it would continue developing measures to make travel through the airport more convenient, efficient and secure for both Thai and international passengers, while the ongoing fact-finding process examines the allegations raised online. Pictures courtesy of Daily News Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 1 June 2026 View full articleSun, 31 May 2026 20:47:04 +0000Former US Vice-President Mike Pence has called on the Trump administration to abandon its proposed $1.8bn "anti-weaponisation fund", describing the initiative as "deeply offensive" and arguing it should never have been created. Get today's headlines by email The fund, announced earlier this month, is intended to compensate people who claim they were unfairly targeted by previous administrations through what officials describe as politically motivated prosecutions, or "lawfare". Pence Condemns PlanSpeaking to NBC News, Pence said the proposal was a "bad idea from the start" and expressed concern that individuals involved in the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol could receive compensation. "It's deeply offensive to me that you could have a fund that could even possibly compensate people who assaulted police officers or vandalised the Capitol on January 6," Pence said. He added that he believed most Republicans and Americans shared that view. Pence was present at the Capitol when supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building in an attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election result. Rioters threatened Pence, who was evacuated to a secure location before returning to oversee the formal confirmation of Joe Biden's election victory. Link to IRS SettlementThe fund was established by the Department of Justice as part of a settlement with Trump over a lawsuit he filed against the Internal Revenue Service after his tax records were leaked. Under the agreement, Trump dropped the case in exchange for an apology and the creation of the compensation programme. The proposal has drawn particular scrutiny because many supporters of Trump who were prosecuted over the Capitol attack have indicated they intend to seek payments from the fund. According to Department of Justice figures, nearly 1,600 people faced charges connected to the riot. Around 175 were accused of using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious injury to law enforcement officers. Roughly 140 police officers were injured during the attack. Trump later granted sweeping pardons to defendants involved in the riot after returning to office, including some who had admitted assaulting police officers. Bipartisan OppositionThe fund has faced criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Republican Senate leader John Thune said he was not a supporter of the proposal, while former Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell described it as "utterly stupid". Republican Senator Thom Tillis called the initiative "stupid on stilts", and Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said he planned to introduce legislation aimed at blocking it. However, some Republicans have defended the programme. Senator Tommy Tuberville argued that many Americans had been unfairly prosecuted following the January 6 investigations. Legal ChallengeThe fund's eligibility criteria appear broad. In a memo to Republican senators, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche argued that "tens of millions of Americans" had experienced improper government targeting and stressed that Democrats as well as Republicans would be able to apply. On Friday, a federal judge temporarily halted the creation of the fund pending a hearing scheduled for 12 June. In response, a Justice Department spokesperson said officials remained confident the programme was lawful and supported by legal precedent, adding that they would continue efforts to provide restitution to what they described as victims of government misconduct. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 1 June 2026 View full articleSun, 31 May 2026 20:47:03 +0000Israeli forces have captured the strategic Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, as the military expands its ground offensive against Hezbollah and pushes deeper into Lebanese territory. Get today's headlines by email Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the seizure of the hilltop fortress as a "decisive stage" in Israel's campaign, while Lebanon accused Israel of escalating the conflict and inflicting collective punishment on civilians. Historic Fortress Falls AgainPerched above the Litani Valley, Beaufort Castle has been a key military stronghold for centuries. Built by Crusaders around 900 years ago, the fortress overlooks large parts of southern Lebanon and has long held strategic importance. Israel first captured the site during the 1982 Lebanon War before withdrawing from the area in 2000 as it ended its occupation of a self-declared security zone in southern Lebanon. Following the latest operation, Netanyahu said Israel was taking the initiative across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, Gaza and Syria. He said the objective was to expand Israeli control over areas previously held by Hezbollah. Defence Minister Israel Katz highlighted the symbolic value of the capture, noting that the Golani Brigade had once again raised the Israeli flag over the fortress more than four decades after first seizing it. Ground Forces Push Further NorthThe capture comes as Israeli troops advance beyond the Litani River, the line that had largely defined the scope of earlier ground operations. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also broadened evacuation warnings across southern Lebanon, urging residents to leave areas south of the Zahrani River. Military officials warned civilians to stay away from Hezbollah positions, facilities and weapons infrastructure. An IDF spokesman said a significant number of ground troops were taking part in an operation that is continuing to expand into additional areas of southern Lebanon. Israeli officials say the offensive has intensified in response to increased missile and drone attacks by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement on Israeli troops and communities near the border. Fighting Continues on Both SidesThe conflict showed no signs of easing over the weekend. Lebanon's Health Ministry said an airstrike near Hiram Hospital in the southern city of Tyre injured 13 medical workers and caused substantial damage to the facility. Israel confirmed that another soldier had been killed, while schools in several northern communities were closed as a precaution amid security concerns. On Saturday, Hezbollah fired around 25 projectiles towards northern Israel, prompting opposition politicians to demand stronger measures to protect border residents. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of pursuing a "scorched-earth policy" and carrying out collective punishment in southern Lebanon. International Concern GrowsThe latest escalation has prompted renewed international concern. France has requested a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss Israeli military operations in Lebanon. President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate end to the fighting, saying the current escalation in southern Lebanon could not be justified. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot also criticised the offensive. Both Israel and Lebanon accuse each other of violating a ceasefire agreement that took effect last month and has since been extended twice. While the truce remains formally in place, continued attacks by both sides have undermined its effectiveness. Despite the deteriorating situation, Israeli and Lebanese delegations are expected to hold a fourth round of talks in Washington this week. Lebanese officials view negotiations as the only viable route towards reducing tensions, although Hezbollah is not participating in the discussions. The conflict intensified in March after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel following an Israeli strike that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel responded with a major air campaign and ground invasion. Lebanese authorities say more than 3,300 people have been killed since then, while Israel reports 25 military deaths. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 1 June 2026 View full articleSun, 31 May 2026 20:35:24 +0000Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she feels as though she is "serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit" following the admission by her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, that he embezzled more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP). Get today's headlines by email In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, Sturgeon rejected calls to apologise for the scandal, insisting she was not responsible for Murrell's actions and had no knowledge of the wrongdoing. Murrell admitted embezzling party funds between 2010 and 2022 and is due to be sentenced later this month. Sturgeon, who led the SNP from 2014 until 2023 and served as Scotland's first minister for more than eight years, said she would accept responsibility for her own decisions but would not apologise for crimes committed by someone else. She argued that holding her accountable for Murrell's actions risked reinforcing the idea that women should bear responsibility for the conduct of men in their lives. While acknowledging the impact the affair has had on her personally and politically, she maintained that Murrell had deceived both the party and its leadership. Emotional Account of BetrayalThe former first minister became emotional while describing gifts she received from Murrell that were later found to have been purchased using SNP funds. Among them was a pendant from a Shetland jeweller that she said she treasured and wore frequently. Sturgeon said she believed it had been a thoughtful gift from her husband and found it painful to discover it had been bought with party money. She said learning that items presented as personal gifts had been funded in that way caused her lasting distress and left her struggling to come to terms with what had happened. Sturgeon also addressed questions about a luxury motorhome purchased with party funds and stored at Murrell's mother's property. She said she had no clear recollection of seeing the vehicle and would not have had any reason to suspect it belonged to the SNP. Questions Over Party OversightMurrell, who served as SNP chief executive for more than two decades, resigned in March 2023 amid controversy over party membership figures. He was arrested weeks later as part of the police investigation into SNP finances known as Operation Branchform. Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned during the inquiry but was released without charge. She stressed that prosecutors and investigators had not found evidence linking her to the embezzlement. Asked whether she should bear responsibility given her role overseeing the party, Sturgeon said there had been no warnings about the criminal behaviour to which Murrell later pleaded guilty. She added that if information in the accounts had pointed to wrongdoing, investigators might have reached a different conclusion about her involvement. She also rejected suggestions that her personal assets should be used to repay money lost through the embezzlement, saying she was not guilty of the offence and should not be expected to contribute to any recovery process. Calls for Further ScrutinySturgeon's comments prompted criticism from some political opponents and former SNP figures. Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry said concerns centred not on Murrell's criminal actions but on whether legitimate scrutiny of the party's finances had been obstructed. Meanwhile, UK government minister Pat McFadden backed calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the affair, arguing that questions remained about the SNP's culture and governance. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp also supported an inquiry, saying public trust in politics had been damaged by the scandal. However, Scotland's First Minister John Swinney rejected demands for a Holyrood investigation, arguing that the police inquiry and resulting guilty plea had already established the facts of the case. Murrell remains in custody after pleading guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on 23 June. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 1 June 2026 View full articleSun, 31 May 2026 20:27:01 +0000Georgie, wrong again. You labour voters, re electing Albo should be ashamed of yourselves, he's destroying the Australia I was born in and grew up in. The only one who can save us now is Pauline. They love her in Bali. video_20260524_152734_edit.mp4Sun, 31 May 2026 20:22:33 +0000Thanks for your reply, very concerning. You've spoken about the government expenses, outgoings. What about incoming, Mining, iron ore, coal, gas, etc. also taxes. Poor Georgie pays around 30 or 40 cents in every dollar he earns from mopping floors. We're one the highest taxed country in the world. Australia is a major global supplier of fossil fuels, I would have thought the money coming in would balance outgoing.Sun, 31 May 2026 20:19:31 +0000Lies!! It is confirmed, also by him, that the drone was a Geran-2 type Russian drone.Sun, 31 May 2026 19:47:31 +0000Its probably not as rare as you think. What about ones that perhaps existed before we were even around. They could have existed 1 billion or 5 billion years before us. Their civilization may have expanded to parts of the universe and died off before our time. Maybe they were around for 200 million years.... but a spec in time. Travelling at just 10 percent the speed of light we could colonize the galaxy in 1 to 5 million years .....But a spec in time.Sun, 31 May 2026 19:44:24 +0000Most laptops have a door that allows you to remove the HDD. Have a look underneath the laptop, for a small screw holding closed a door. Remove the HDD, destroy it or store it in a safe place. BTW, There may be a door for RAM upgrade, ignore this door.Sun, 31 May 2026 19:44:01 +0000You need to also wipe it by overwriting. There's a few ways to do this. You could simply fill it with multiple copies of a large file. Or use BCWipe or 'File Shredder' or something like that. Or encrypt the entire drive with something like Veracrypt then remove it and throw it away. I would go with BCWipe - it has a free trial and you're only going to need it once.Sun, 31 May 2026 19:28:58 +0000Burnham may well not win in Makerfield.Sun, 31 May 2026 19:22:05 +0000Strictly IMO here. A presidential candidate has to have "it." Yeah, it's a silly term, it goes back a ways, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_girl In this case I mean someone who grabs people's attention and keeps it, and will say things that make people say "yeah!" Newsom has it. Talarico has it. Mark Kelly has it. Harris does not, nor Booker, nor Klobuchar. I've heard their speeches and none of their stuff sticks -- when I catch them on tv I don't think about what they're saying, instead I drift off and try to remember if I put the milk in the fridge and other menial stuff. AOC is a phoney. I lived in the area of NYC close to where she claims to have grown up, and it's obvious it's not so, her family moved to a more comfortable part of NY state when she was a kid. No way is she a barrio girl, and she better watch out because the real ones would gladly kick her ass. Would I vote for her? If she could defeat MAGA/GOP then yes. Would I vote for a barrio girl? Absolutely, if she has what it takes. AOC should live out here political career in the House. Pete is pretty cool-headed, the only time I've seen him do attitude was when a tv host was trying to get him to say something about how Harris became the 2024 candidate back when that was going on. I don't think enough US voters are ready for someone openly gay, even with his "every mothers' son" personality; there was a reporter hanging around outside a poll on the day of the Iowa caucus asking people who they voted more. He approached a bunch of middle-aged ladies, and they all said they voted for Pete, and in the exchange one them brought up him being gay, and another said "what?" One said he yes he is and her response was "how come no one told me this? Can I get my ballot back so I can change it?" Vance comes off like a "I want to see the manager!" type of blowhard, Marco is an empty suit. It looks like DT has weened the GOP of anyone with a spine. But of course the real MAGA agenda is to have no presidential election. no_more_vote.mp4Sun, 31 May 2026 19:16:20 +0000Falling birth rates have become a defining political battleground across the West, with conservative leaders warning of demographic decline and urging families to have more children. But as populations age and workforce shortages deepen, a difficult question is moving to the centre of the debate: can declining birth rates be offset without immigration? The answer may shape economies, public services and political discourse for decades. A Demographic Squeeze Tightens From the United States to Europe, fertility rates have fallen well below replacement levels. In England and Wales, birth rates have dropped to their lowest level in decades, while deaths are beginning to outpace births in some years. The consequences are already visible. Schools face shrinking enrolment, workforces are ageing, and governments are confronting rising pension and healthcare costs with fewer taxpayers available to support them. The Right Pushes for a Baby Boom Conservative figures including JD Vance, Elon Musk, Giorgia Meloni and Viktor Orbán have framed declining birth rates as a civilisational threat. Their solutions often centre on tax incentives, family support measures and policies designed to encourage larger families. The goal is straightforward: reverse demographic decline through higher domestic birth rates rather than increased migration. Economic Reality Refuses to Cooperate The challenge is that many of the forces suppressing birth rates are deeply economic. Housing costs, expensive childcare, insecure employment and uncertainty about the future continue to weigh on family decisions. Evidence from multiple countries suggests financial incentives alone rarely produce sustained increases in fertility. Governments can influence decisions at the margins, but reversing long-term demographic trends has proved far more difficult. Immigration Moves From Political Flashpoint to Economic Necessity As populations age, demand for workers in healthcare, social care and other essential sectors continues to grow. Many economists argue that immigration provides the fastest way to offset workforce shortages while longer-term demographic solutions are pursued. That creates a growing tension at the heart of right-wing politics. Leaders who promise sharp reductions in migration must also explain how ageing societies will fund pensions, staff hospitals and sustain economic growth. A Debate No Longer About the Future What was once a discussion about distant demographic trends is becoming an immediate policy challenge. Birth rates are falling now. Populations are ageing now. Labour shortages are emerging now. The political argument may focus on culture and identity, but the underlying pressure is increasingly practical: who will work, who will care for the elderly, and how societies adapt when there are fewer young people to carry the load. The right is desperate for a solution to falling birth rates. Who’s going to tell them that the answer is immigration?Sun, 31 May 2026 19:15:17 +0000Are you going back as well, wherever you come from?Sun, 31 May 2026 18:47:05 +0000I have an old Laptop I don't use anymore. Now my question is how to delete everything on the Laptop? I do know how to delete everything, but it will leave traces on my hard drive. So, can I delete everything, or is that impossible? I just don't like anybody reading my old letters and so on. I got nothing illegal on the laptop, so just restore it to the factory settings? Like to hear from you. And no, I am not in LOS at the moment; please refrain from advising me on shops in Thailand. And I have to add, I am not a computer wizard. Thanks in advanceSun, 31 May 2026 18:30:03 +0000You always get sedation, diazepam I think. That's why they require that you don't come to the endoscopy driving your own car because you stay groggy for some time afterwards. The sedation helps you "swallow" the tube, ie helps you relax so that the tube goes down smoothly. It is not more unpleasant than having a tooth pulled. And once it's finished it's much better than having had a tooth pulled. It is the only way to rule out cancer.Sun, 31 May 2026 18:27:14 +0000https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BKVb5GBb9/Sun, 31 May 2026 18:15:28 +0000Gamma, Did Elon Musk Just Rig The Stock Market? NO! The market was rigged from the beginning. Elon is just playing the stock market, as everyone does. Is this wrong, just because Elon is ELON???Sun, 31 May 2026 17:58:49 +0000Collateral Alcohol Damage at 5 am ... By the title , I was expecting a real clash of Titans , like a a 100 people involved ... boring .Sun, 31 May 2026 17:57:29 +0000Thx So, I visited all 7/11 in my neighborhood, 10 stores. One actually had themSun, 31 May 2026 17:57:06 +0000Goomba, I appreciate your enthusiasm for someone, or some kind of supernatural messiah, that you wish actually existed to help save the planet. It’s hard not to share that dream for earth, or any other planet inhabited by semi intelligent life. But the fact that you still can’t grasp how evil, damaging, and destructive people like Trump or Musk really are is probably because you’re simply too buried in a purple haze of 60's stardust to grasp the true state of affairs. Critical thinking, good judgment, and rational decision making are not things that can easily be taught. Even a decent IQ is often not enough to nurture them. And they rarely develop out of nowhere over time. In my experience, you either already have them when you exit the placenta or you don’t. As the oracle once said: I'm sorry, kiddo. I really am. You have a good soul. And I hate giving good people bad news. Don't worry about it. Here. Take a cookie. I promise, by the time you're done eating it, you'll feel right as rain.Sun, 31 May 2026 17:35:23 +0000Considering the fact that French fur traders had their reach from Canada to New Orleans (the Missisipy river) is amazing. Getting along with local indian treibes nicely What's left is Quebec. Unfortunately, Napoleon III neeeded money, Sold Luisiana for 7 million Dollars, not knowing how large Luisiana was. Next great real estate deal. Seward bought Alaska from the Russians also for 7 million Dollars. Talk about great "real estate " deals. Dwarfing Donalds efforts by far.Sun, 31 May 2026 17:29:02 +0000I would like to see a concentration of some of Thailand's finest Toms, many of which are so gorgeous they have a hard time hiding their beauty behind their masculine and bulky clothes.Sun, 31 May 2026 17:18:18 +0000Though my heart certainly goes out to these young men and their families, as their deaths are no doubt a tragedy. But Russia has brought this upon themselves and Putin is certainly getting what he deserves. Let us hope there's a real uprising sometime soon.Sun, 31 May 2026 17:16:01 +0000