https://aseannow.com/rss/44-thailand-news.xml/National and regional news from all around Thailandenhttps://aseannow.com/thailand-news/chinese-run-health-product-warehouse-raided-in-bangkok-r2182/Authorities seized a large quantity of illegal health products worth more than 2 million baht during a raid on a warehouse in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district, as investigators moved to trace a Chinese investor believed to be behind the operation. Get today's headlines by email On 5 June, officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) searched the warehouse after discovering that health supplements were being advertised online using a falsified FDA registration number. The operation was ordered by Major General Kongkrit Lertsitthikun, commander of the CPPD. During the search, officials confiscated 14,894 items across seven product categories. The seizure included 1,127 units of the unregistered medicinal product VTEAY MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE + ZINC, 13,438 cosmetic products lacking registration numbers, Thai-language labels or proper labelling requirements, and 329 units of the unregistered herbal product VTEAY POMEGRANATE GLUTA. The investigation began after authorities monitoring online sales identified VTEAY MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE + ZINC being marketed with an FDA registration number belonging to a different product. Officials said the number was displayed on labels and promotional material to create the false impression that the supplement had been legally approved. Thailand’s FDA had previously issued a public warning about the product. Investigators later traced the products to the warehouse and obtained a search warrant from Min Buri Criminal Court. The raid uncovered a substantial stockpile of health products suspected of being imported illegally. Authorities found that the warehouse had been rented and operated by a Chinese national. Investigators believe products were imported from overseas, stored in Thailand and sold through online platforms. Orders were reportedly packed and distributed to customers across the country. Police said the business had been operating for around one year and was selling approximately 3,000 items per day. Pictures courtesy of Daily News Further examination of VTEAY MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE + ZINC found that its label recommended a daily magnesium intake of 600 milligrams, exceeding Thailand’s maximum permitted daily intake of 350 milligrams. Officials said this could pose a risk to consumers and may constitute offences under Thailand’s Drug Act and Herbal Products Act. The Daily News reported that the seized products have been retained as evidence while investigators continue efforts to identify and locate those responsible. Authorities said legal proceedings will follow and urged consumers to verify FDA approval numbers before purchasing health products online. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 6 June 2026Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:44:37 +0000Authorities seized a large quantity of illegal health products worth more than 2 million baht during a raid on a warehouse in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district, as investigators moved to trace a Chinese investor believed to be behind the operation. Get today's headlines by email On 5 June, officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) searched the warehouse after discovering that health supplements were being advertised online using a falsified FDA registration number. The operation was ordered by Major General Kongkrit Lertsitthikun, commander of the CPPD. During the search, officials confiscated 14,894 items across seven product categories. The seizure included 1,127 units of the unregistered medicinal product VTEAY MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE + ZINC, 13,438 cosmetic products lacking registration numbers, Thai-language labels or proper labelling requirements, and 329 units of the unregistered herbal product VTEAY POMEGRANATE GLUTA. The investigation began after authorities monitoring online sales identified VTEAY MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE + ZINC being marketed with an FDA registration number belonging to a different product. Officials said the number was displayed on labels and promotional material to create the false impression that the supplement had been legally approved. Thailand’s FDA had previously issued a public warning about the product. Investigators later traced the products to the warehouse and obtained a search warrant from Min Buri Criminal Court. The raid uncovered a substantial stockpile of health products suspected of being imported illegally. Authorities found that the warehouse had been rented and operated by a Chinese national. Investigators believe products were imported from overseas, stored in Thailand and sold through online platforms. Orders were reportedly packed and distributed to customers across the country. Police said the business had been operating for around one year and was selling approximately 3,000 items per day. Pictures courtesy of Daily News Further examination of VTEAY MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE + ZINC found that its label recommended a daily magnesium intake of 600 milligrams, exceeding Thailand’s maximum permitted daily intake of 350 milligrams. Officials said this could pose a risk to consumers and may constitute offences under Thailand’s Drug Act and Herbal Products Act. The Daily News reported that the seized products have been retained as evidence while investigators continue efforts to identify and locate those responsible. Authorities said legal proceedings will follow and urged consumers to verify FDA approval numbers before purchasing health products online. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 6 June 2026 View full articleFri, 05 Jun 2026 20:44:37 +0000Thaksin heads back to Dubai as his political era fades Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is preparing to return to Dubai, the city that sheltered him during 15 years of self-imposed exile, after a royal pardon erased the remainder of his prison sentence. The move closes a dramatic chapter in one of Southeast Asia’s most turbulent political sagas. But it also highlights a stark reality: the man who once dominated Thai politics is returning to Dubai with far less influence than he wielded before. Royal Pardon Clears the Way The pardon, granted by King Maha Vajiralongkorn as part of a clemency programme marking Queen Suthida’s birthday, removed the final legal restrictions on Thaksin’s freedom. The 76-year-old is expected to leave Thailand once authorities complete the paperwork ending his sentence and remove the electronic monitoring device he has worn since being released on parole. The trip will be his first overseas journey without legal constraints since his return to Thailand in 2023. From Exile Kingmaker to Political Bystander Dubai served as Thaksin’s headquarters after he fled Thailand in 2008 following his ouster in a military coup and subsequent corruption convictions. Even from abroad, he remained a towering force in Thai politics, helping allied parties win election after election. Yet the landscape has shifted dramatically. His political machine, once seemingly unstoppable, has suffered major setbacks, while rivals have consolidated power. A New Order Takes Hold Thailand is now dominated by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, which emerged strongly from February’s election. Meanwhile, Thaksin’s Pheu Thai Party has been reduced to a junior coalition partner after recording its weakest performance in decades. The decline has raised questions about whether the Shinawatra political brand can continue to shape the country’s future. Unfinished Battles Remain Despite his freedom, Thaksin’s legal and political challenges are far from over. Prosecutors are still appealing his acquittal in a royal defamation case, while Pheu Thai faces growing pressure to cultivate a new generation of leaders. Analysts believe Thaksin will continue to exert influence behind the scenes, but the era in which he dictated Thailand’s political direction appears to be drawing to a close. For a man who once stood at the centre of Thai power, Dubai now looks less like a command post and more like a retreat. Thailand’s Thaksin to head to Dubai after royal pardon sets him free | The Straits TimesFri, 05 Jun 2026 20:39:58 +0000Bozo time.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:39:41 +0000https://aseannow.com/thailand-news/uk-confirms-pension-freeze-for-expats-in-thailand-r2181/The UK Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has updated MPs on the impact of the frozen state pension policy on British retirees living overseas, including thousands based in Thailand. The policy affects nearly half a million UK pensioners who live in countries where annual state pension increases under the triple lock do not apply. Get today's headlines by email For those in Thailand and other affected nations, including Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, pension payments remain fixed at the rate first received after leaving the UK. Some individuals are reported to be receiving as little as £20 a week, compared with the current full new state pension of £241.30 a week. The update was given on 2 June 2026 in response to a parliamentary question about the impact of frozen pensions on UK pensioners living abroad. The minister confirmed that the UK State Pension is payable worldwide regardless of nationality, but annual uprating only applies where there is a legal requirement, typically under reciprocal agreements. Thailand remains one of the countries where such an agreement does not exist, meaning British retirees there do not benefit from yearly increases. The policy has been in place for decades and has been maintained by successive governments. Campaigners from the End Frozen Pensions group have long argued that the policy disproportionately affects retirees who moved to Thailand after working in the UK. They claim many affected individuals, including veterans and former civil servants, were not informed that their pensions would be frozen before leaving the country. The group estimates that 86% of those impacted were not made aware of the rule change in advance. They also describe the policy as a political decision that could be reversed through domestic legislation. In his response to MPs, Torsten Bell reiterated that the existing approach remains government policy and indicated there are no plans for change in the near future. He said priority continues to be given to pensioners residing in the UK when allocating additional pensioner benefits. For British retirees in Thailand, this means state pension payments will continue at fixed rates without inflation-linked increases unless future policy changes are introduced. The Mirror reported that the frozen pensions system is expected to remain in place for UK retirees living in Thailand and other non-uprating countries unless new bilateral agreements or domestic legislative changes are made. Campaigners continue to lobby for reform, but the government has signalled stability in the current policy framework. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Mirror 6 June 2026Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:33:24 +0000The UK Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has updated MPs on the impact of the frozen state pension policy on British retirees living overseas, including thousands based in Thailand. The policy affects nearly half a million UK pensioners who live in countries where annual state pension increases under the triple lock do not apply. Get today's headlines by email For those in Thailand and other affected nations, including Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, pension payments remain fixed at the rate first received after leaving the UK. Some individuals are reported to be receiving as little as £20 a week, compared with the current full new state pension of £241.30 a week. The update was given on 2 June 2026 in response to a parliamentary question about the impact of frozen pensions on UK pensioners living abroad. The minister confirmed that the UK State Pension is payable worldwide regardless of nationality, but annual uprating only applies where there is a legal requirement, typically under reciprocal agreements. Thailand remains one of the countries where such an agreement does not exist, meaning British retirees there do not benefit from yearly increases. The policy has been in place for decades and has been maintained by successive governments. Campaigners from the End Frozen Pensions group have long argued that the policy disproportionately affects retirees who moved to Thailand after working in the UK. They claim many affected individuals, including veterans and former civil servants, were not informed that their pensions would be frozen before leaving the country. The group estimates that 86% of those impacted were not made aware of the rule change in advance. They also describe the policy as a political decision that could be reversed through domestic legislation. In his response to MPs, Torsten Bell reiterated that the existing approach remains government policy and indicated there are no plans for change in the near future. He said priority continues to be given to pensioners residing in the UK when allocating additional pensioner benefits. For British retirees in Thailand, this means state pension payments will continue at fixed rates without inflation-linked increases unless future policy changes are introduced. The Mirror reported that the frozen pensions system is expected to remain in place for UK retirees living in Thailand and other non-uprating countries unless new bilateral agreements or domestic legislative changes are made. Campaigners continue to lobby for reform, but the government has signalled stability in the current policy framework. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now Mirror 6 June 2026 View full articleFri, 05 Jun 2026 20:33:24 +0000Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:33:02 +0000The UK government has criticised remarks by US Vice-President JD Vance following his comments on the murder of Henry Nowak, accusing outside figures of attempting to deepen divisions in British society. Get today's headlines by email A spokesman for Downing Street said there were people “trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division” after Vance linked Nowak’s death to immigration in a post on X. The response came after Vance described the killing of the 18-year-old student as both “tragic” and “enraging”. He argued that Nowak would still be alive if European leaders had resisted what he called a “mass invasion of migrants”, adding that the appropriate reaction was “righteous anger”. Family's Wishes HighlightedIn its response, Downing Street pointed to the wishes of the Nowak family, saying they had made clear they did not want his death used to create further division. The spokesman said political leaders should seek to unite people, even in the aftermath of deeply distressing events, adding that this reflected the values of the country. Vance’s comments followed a statement from the US State Department, which criticised what it described as “ideological conditioning” and “two-tiered policing” in Western countries. Political Row IntensifiesEarlier in the week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused tech entrepreneur Elon Musk of attempting to inflame tensions over the case. Musk had shared comments on X urging people to circulate footage showing Nowak’s final moments. He alleged that police treated the victim unfairly while showing deference to his attacker. The controversy has centred on body-camera footage released by police, which showed officers handcuffing Nowak after he was stabbed. Police said the suspect, Vickrum Digwa, had falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist attack. Protests and Political DebateThe footage prompted violent protests in Southampton on Tuesday. During the unrest, officers were struck by missiles, leaving eleven police officers and one police dog injured. Police arrested two people in connection with the disorder. Digwa was later sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. The court heard he used a 21cm blade, which he said he carried as part of his Sikh faith, to fatally stab Nowak as the teenager walked home alone after a night out with friends on 3 December. The case has also fuelled debate among political parties. The Conservative Party and Reform UK have criticised what they describe as “two-tier policing”, arguing that different groups are treated differently by law enforcement. Meanwhile, Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, called for restraint. He said attempts to use Nowak’s death for political purposes should be resisted, regardless of whether they came from American political figures or their supporters in Britain. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 6 June 2026 View full articleFri, 05 Jun 2026 20:32:57 +0000Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:23:48 +0000Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed a proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for direct talks aimed at ending the war, saying there is currently “no point” in a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders. Get today's headlines by email Zelensky made the appeal in an open letter published on Thursday, urging direct negotiations and calling for a ceasefire. He argued that it was wrong to wait for the conflict to once again become a major focus of US attention before seeking a resolution. The Ukrainian leader's message adopted a defiant tone and included criticism of Putin. In response, the Russian president described parts of the letter as rude and questioned whether it was a genuine attempt to arrange talks. Speaking at Russia’s annual economic forum in St Petersburg on Friday, Putin said he did not believe the proposal was intended to create the conditions for a meeting. “I don't see any point for now,” he said when asked whether he would accept Zelensky’s offer. Ukraine Criticises Moscow’s PositionFollowing Putin’s remarks, Zelensky accused Russia of choosing to continue the conflict rather than seeking peace. Writing on Telegram, he said Putin did not want to end the war and suggested many countries would be disappointed by the Russian leader’s response. Putin repeated Moscow’s longstanding position that negotiations should come before any ceasefire agreement. He argued that a temporary halt in fighting would give Ukraine an opportunity to regroup while key Russian demands remained unresolved. According to Putin, experts should first work on potential agreements before any meeting between the two leaders takes place. Russia Maintains War AimsThe Russian president also said military operations would continue until Moscow achieved its objectives. Russia has consistently demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. It has also insisted that Kyiv abandon its ambition to join NATO. Ukraine has rejected those conditions, maintaining that it will not surrender territory. Kyiv argues that making concessions would encourage future Russian aggression, noting that Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 after annexing Crimea in 2014. In his letter, Zelensky also suggested that age was affecting Putin after more than two decades in power and highlighted recent Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, including one targeting St Petersburg on Thursday. Fighting ContinuesThe exchange between the two leaders came as hostilities continued on multiple fronts. US President Donald Trump welcomed the prospect of direct talks, saying it would be positive if Putin and Zelensky met. Meanwhile, Ukraine said it had struck five vessels carrying what it described as illegal cargo in the Sea of Azov and waters near Russian-occupied territories. Ukraine’s drone commander, Robert Brovdi, said the ships were involved in transporting Ukrainian grain as well as fuel and military supplies. Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry reported that five people were killed in attacks on two vessels in the Sea of Azov. It did not assign responsibility for the strikes and said the ships were not Azerbaijani. Ukraine also said one of its drones exploded in the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta after being diverted by Russian electronic interference. Elsewhere, Ukrainian officials reported that at least 13 people were killed and 70 injured in Russian attacks over the previous day. Among the fatalities were four people killed when a dairy factory near Kyiv was struck and a 35-year-old woman who died in a drone attack on a petrol station in Kherson. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 6 June 2026 View full articleFri, 05 Jun 2026 20:20:18 +0000Where does it mention stepfather? AFAIK, he is the father of a three-year-old daughter.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:53:37 +0000Beg to differ and that's the beauty of language................Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:39:09 +0000Perfect example of the meaning of the word 'patronising'....................Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:37:49 +0000Is it too late for Hawaii to secede from the Union? Yes. The damage has already been done.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:35:45 +0000Yangs don't speak English 😁Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:35:22 +0000I make no judgement; however, facts are, he extended an already long four-week holiday at the age of 20, he didn't go home as flights were too expensive, meaning he took a one-way flight. He didn't prioritise keeping his insurance intact when he extended his holiday. Do I feel sorry for him, I most certainly do, as nobody wants to see a kid of 20 in this condition for a couple of poor life choices. My younger son is 35 and visits me here, the maximum he can stay in a visit because of his employment is 17 days. No, the OP doesn't mention it, but they are actively asking for public help:- https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-son-find-his-son https://www.facebook.com/HollyLaneSSOfficial/posts/please-come-and-support-a-very-worthy-cause-with-us-on-friday-12th-junewe-are-ho/1303898831941293/ https://www.hellorayo.co.uk/hits-radio/birmingham/news/ethan-lacey-birmingham-thailand-crashFri, 05 Jun 2026 19:34:55 +0000EnglishFri, 05 Jun 2026 19:32:33 +0000Yes. Why? It's like.....Monica Lewinsky and the cigar..... Monica loves cigars. Freud smoked cigars. Freud was a mental health professional. But, Monica knew nothing about mental health. So, I agree with you for these reasons.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:31:20 +0000It has been tried before, as soon as the kids run out of money, they will sell the helmetFri, 05 Jun 2026 19:25:33 +0000The corollary to this world-famous metaphorical saying from Deng is: If a Farang should open the fly...then.... All should keep their mouths shut.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:23:03 +0000Ha ha, guys in manbuns, nope, not for me. I reckon You 2 would get along, you could put your hair in a manbun and sail the 7 seas.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:20:10 +0000Horrible scenesFri, 05 Jun 2026 19:16:31 +0000Are you aware of one of the most famous apocryphal phrases about foreign flies, often repeated by idiotic foreign media? A word to the wise, Sir..... Do not open your mouth, and you will catch no flies. A closed mouth.... As they say....Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:13:43 +0000Been said often and is proving to be increasingly correct: Elect a clown, get a circus. Especially if the clown happens to be a gifted conman that to this day still has millions of americans that would not know incompetence if it bit them in their nether regions and cling to their fox news/maga talking points in spite of watching the USA and entire world spiral out of control as a direct result of incompetence by spineless senators , cabinet members, and boot lickers. Open your eyes, turn off fox news and right wing propoganda media that know how easy it is to grift off of the uneducated.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:08:57 +0000You're really struggling with both the concept of road safety , and the English language...you need to take a break and think things through.Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:02:49 +0000