NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Thursday 20 July 2023

Pita Lim-jaroen-rat’s hopes of becoming Thailand’s next prime minister were dashed yesterday after a court suspended him as a lawmaker and rivals successfully scuttled his re-nomination in parliament. His suspension came as the Constitutional Court said it would proceed with a case that could see the leader disqualified from Parliament for owning shares in a now defunct media company.

Pro-establishment campaigners sought to block Mr Pita after winning a shock election result in May.

It remains to be seen who may be voted prime minister in next week’s parliamentary session due on 27th July., contenders include Pheu Thai candidate Settha Tawee-sin and Palang Pracha-rat leader Prawit Wong-suwan who was deputy prime minister under General Prayut.

Last night supporters of the Move Forward Party demonstrated across the capital while many gathered at the Democracy Monument to stage a mock burial for junta appointed senators. 

Prosecutors have handed down the first of 75 indictments in the case of Sara-rat known as  “Aem Cyanide” who is accused of poisoning 14 people to death, charges of assisting the accused were also filed against her former husband and lawyer. All three have denied the charges. The case is set to continue in October.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced Thailand will  have received more than 15 million overseas tourists by the end of July, generating some 587 billion baht.

Malaysia topped the list, sending 2 million 245 thousand visitors, followed by China, South Korea, India and Russia.

Around the Region:

China,  US climate envoy John Kerry ended his four-day visit yesterday by meeting Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng, after a series of talks that produced commitments to continue working “intensively” on efforts to fight global warming but ended without any agreements.

He said: We both agreed we want to work together to guarantee a positive outcome from COP28 climate summit  later this year in Dubai], where obviously the cooperation of China and the United States is critical to any outcome.”

The weather:  rain coming in from Myanmar also from the north east

Chiang Mai and the north: Cloudy, with thundershowers 32C                    

Bangkok: Cloudy, with thundershowers 32C

Pattaya, Cloudy with isolated thundershowers 31C

Phuket and the south: Cloudy with thundershowers 29C                                                                                               

‘HuaHin’ :Bright partly cloudy ,isolated shower later this afternoon  32C.

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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