New national security body stacked with Hun Sen family, ‘loyalists’
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Economy Cash Handout Pause Shock: Phase III Delayed Indefinitely
Picture courtesy of THai PBS World In a surprising turn of events, Thailand's Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced today that the much-anticipated phase three of the cash handout scheme is postponed indefinitely. Despite the delay, the Minister reassured the public that the scheme would resume once conditions improve. The primary reason cited for the postponement is the looming economic challenges, including the threat of steep tariffs on Thai exports to the US, which could climb as high as 36%. This tax increase could hit Thai businesses hard, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are already in need of government assistance. The delay affects 2.7 million Thais, aged between 16 to 60, who were expecting a financial boost of 10,000 baht each. The government aimed to bolster the economy through these handouts, but tight financial constraints have pushed the plans aside for now. To counterbalance the halting of cash distribution, Pichai shared that the Economic Stimulation Board held a meeting to reassess their current financial strategies. They discussed redirecting an estimated 157 billion baht from the Central Fund into more immediate projects, focusing on water management, public transport, and improvement of public facilities aimed at boosting tourism, alongside educational promotions. While the cash handout scheme is on hold, the government implores financial institutions to issue more soft loans, equipped with low-interest rates, to aid struggling SMEs. This move intends to prevent a dramatic dip in GDP growth, keeping it above the critical 1% threshold. Looking ahead, Pichai indicated that the government would leverage parliamentary procedures to scrutinise spending and investments for the next fiscal years, placing priority on enhancing the production sector, logistics, and water management. Despite the indefinite pause of the cash handout scheme, actions are still being taken to support the economy in other essential areas. The focus remains squarely on safeguarding businesses and ensuring sustainable growth during these challenging times. Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai PBS World 2025-05-20 -
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Trump’s Call for Ukraine Ceasefire Meets Putin’s Cold Resolve
Trump’s Call for Ukraine Ceasefire Meets Putin’s Cold Resolve President Donald Trump emerged from a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday with optimism and declarations of imminent peace in Ukraine. Yet, as Trump touted the call as a breakthrough moment, Putin remained unmoved, signaling little to no shift in Russia’s hardened stance. The two leaders spoke for the third time this year, a conversation that Trump presented as pivotal. From the Oval Office, Trump declared ahead of the call in capital letters on social media that a major moment was coming. Afterward, he announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to “immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire.” But that statement stood in stark contrast to Putin’s more muted response. The Russian leader made the call from a school for gifted children in Sochi, sandwiched between a tour of the facility, and described the exchange as “meaningful and frank,” giving no indication that he had shifted from his prior demands. Despite the lack of concrete progress, Trump remained upbeat. He told reporters later that day, “I do,” when asked whether he believed Putin wanted peace, though he offered no further detail. His social media summary focused more on tone than substance, highlighting what he called an excellent “tone and spirit” during the discussion. Putin, however, gave no ground. Even as Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, Russia refused, and recent escalations—including a new wave of drone and missile strikes on Kyiv over the weekend—suggest Moscow’s strategy remains unchanged. Trump did not mention the latest attacks while recounting his call, though he has previously labeled such assaults as counterproductive. Trump’s aides have reportedly begun to question whether Putin is using the American leader’s eagerness for peace to stall or manipulate the process. Trump himself has previously raised that concern, but showed no signs of skepticism after Monday’s call. Instead, he emphasized the potential for future economic cooperation as an incentive. “Russia wants to do largescale TRADE with the United States when this catastrophic ‘bloodbath’ is over, and I agree. There is a tremendous opportunity for Russia to create massive amounts of jobs and wealth. Its potential is UNLIMITED,” Trump wrote. He added that Ukraine “can be a great beneficiary on Trade.” Although Trump previously insisted that only he could bring the war to an end, he seemed to retreat from that position on Monday, saying that “the conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.” There was no mention of an upcoming summit between Trump and Putin in either side’s official readouts of the call. Still, Trump said he had briefed several global leaders on the conversation, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and the Pope. Zelensky confirmed he spoke with Trump both before and after the call with Putin. Following the conversation, European leaders renewed discussions about imposing further sanctions on Russia, with Zelensky stating that the U.S. still needed to be “pressured” into action on that front. Talks about a location for the next round of peace negotiations are ongoing, with Turkey, Switzerland, and the Vatican all mentioned as possible hosts. “The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations. Let the process begin!” Trump declared. Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-05-20 -
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Community Police Sergeant Found Dead in Phatthalung Quarters After Days Unseen
Picture courtesy of khaosod. A police sergeant was found dead in his official residence behind the Kong Ra Police Station, Phatthalung province, after colleagues became concerned when he had not been seen for several days and a foul odour was detected emanating from his room. At approximately 13:00 on 19 May, Pol.Lt. Nathacharong Inkhaw of Kong Ra Police Station responded to a report from fellow officers who discovered the body of the deceased, identified as Pol.Sgt.Maj. Somsak, a member of the station’s crime prevention unit. The discovery was made in the officer’s private quarters located behind the station. Upon entering the room, police found the body with a gunshot wound to the temple. A 9mm service pistol was found nearby, along with a spent casing and bullet. Unused rounds remained in the magazine. Investigators documented the scene and collected evidence for further examination. According to colleagues, the deceased officer was known to be a quiet and private individual who often kept to himself. He was last seen in the evening of 16 May. On the morning of 19 May, a fellow officer became alarmed by a strong odour coming from the room and made the grim discovery. Pol.Col. Natthawut Techato, Superintendent of Kong Ra Police Station, stated that initial indications suggest the officer took his own life, likely due to personal stress. “He was a reserved man who didn’t interact much with others,” he said. Authorities are continuing their investigation and have not ruled out further possibilities as they await autopsy results. If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress or depression. Seek out help. Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-20. -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 20 May 2025
Woman Trampled to Death by Wild Elephant While Foraging for Mushrooms Picture courtesy of Amarin A 52-year-old woman was killed by a wild elephant in the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, marking the first fatal elephant attack in the area this year. The incident occurred as the victim was foraging for mushrooms with family members and fellow villagers in a forested area near Ban Phu Ngern, Baan Tong subdistrict, Seka district, Bueng Kan province. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1361143-woman-trampled-to-death-by-wild-elephant-while-foraging-for-mushrooms/ -
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Accident Woman Trampled to Death by Wild Elephant While Foraging for Mushrooms
Picture courtesy of Amarin A 52-year-old woman was killed by a wild elephant in the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, marking the first fatal elephant attack in the area this year. The incident occurred as the victim was foraging for mushrooms with family members and fellow villagers in a forested area near Ban Phu Ngern, Baan Tong subdistrict, Seka district, Bueng Kan province. The head of the Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary, Mr. Wisanu Kumphao, received a report from the Chanaen Forest Protection Unit, regarding the fatal elephant encounter. Authorities from Sok Kam Police Station, sanctuary officials, local rescue teams, and hospital staff were dispatched to the scene. The deceased, later identified as Ms. Khunanya, had entered the protected forest area early in the morning with her husband, daughter, and a group of villagers to search for wild mushrooms. According to a heart-wrenching account given by the victim’s daughter, who witnessed the incident, the attack occurred around 06:00. She described walking just 4–5 metres behind her mother when a wild elephant suddenly emerged from the trees and charged directly at her. The elephant reportedly trampled Ms. Khunanya while emitting a single loud cry. The daughter said she heard her mother scream twice before she was fatally crushed. Panicked and unable to help, the daughter hid behind a nearby tree and attempted to scare the elephant away by lighting firecrackers. The elephant eventually retreated into the forest, allowing her to rush to her mother’s side, only to find that she had already succumbed to her injuries. The daughter then ran to seek help from other villagers. Rescue personnel later retrieved the body from the forest and transported it down from the mountainous area of Phu Wua for examination by the on-duty physician at Seka Hospital. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved when entering protected forest areas, especially during the mushroom-gathering season when human–wildlife encounters tend to increase. Local authorities are urging villagers to exercise extreme caution and to coordinate with wildlife officials when entering such areas. Wild elephants are known to roam the region and although usually peaceful, they can become aggressive if startled or if they feel threatened. Conservation officers are continuing to monitor elephant activity in the area. Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-05-20.
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