NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Wednesday 22 February 2023

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Thai Prime Minister Prayut said he would dissolve Parliament next month ahead of an election that would likely take place on May 7th,

The former army chief, who has been in power since he led a coup in 2014, said the election commission needed until the end of this month to agree on a timeframe.

 

Amnesty International Thailand, together with other activists and families of victims,  urged the ministry of Justice to fully enforce the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance act which is due to come into effect today.  

However the government announced it would postpone enforcing some key sections until till October. 

citing a lack of budget to buy police body cameras, and a shortage of skills.

The director of Amnesty expressed disappointment  with the government's decision, which opened the question of whether the government was sincere in its promise to help victims and their families. 

 

Controversial former politician and massage parlour owner Chuvit Kamon-visit  met prime minister Prayut yesterday.

 
They discussed bringing an end to police-run gambling amongst other concerns.

He told reporters one senior police inspector allegedly accumulated tens of billions of baht in ill-gotten gains. 

Starting this year, Thailand has implemented restrictions on imports of plastic waste, and will completely ban shipments of scrap plastic by 2025. . Only 14 manufacturers located in free trade zones that use the plastic waste as raw materials will be allowed to import it. Following China's ban on plastic waste imports in 2018, there was a significant increase in imports to other countries in the region.

 

The government has given the green light to allocate 396 million baht from the Central Fund for the purchase of 150 armour-plated trucks to be used in the far south. The new one-tonne diesel pickups will feature bullet-proof windows and reinforced suspension systems capable of supporting the added weight of armour plating, making them capable of withstanding bomb shrapnel and bullets.
 
Around the Region:

 

China’s foreign minister said his country  is “very concerned” that the war in Ukraine will escalate out of control, he called on countries to stop providing military support to Ukraine. adding
“We urge relevant countries to immediately stop adding fuel to the fire, stop shifting the blame to China, and stop hyping up talk that the situation in Ukraine today will be Taiwan tomorrow,”

China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang is set to arrive in jakarta for a two-day trip focused on trade and investments, although the South China Sea and Ukraine war will also feature in talks, 

The weather: 

Chiang Mai: Sunny partly cloudy 31 celsius  (AQI High)
Bangkok: Sunny partly cloudy 34 
Pattaya: Sunny with light clouds, 33
Phuket and the far south: partly cloudy  some rain  later today 31C
Here in Hua Hin : Sunny light cloud 30C

The air quality index in central Thailand, Bangkok down to Hua Hin is Red -  HIGH

 

Credits: Bangkok Post, The Nation, Asean Now, Khaosod English,  Hua Hin Today, Royal Coast Review, Kulsawek Sawekwannakorn, Thainewsroom.com, The Pattaya News, Phuket News, Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times. The Irrawaddy. Windy.com. Wunderground.com
 

 

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