PRAYUTH CHAN-OCHA

Thailand’s prime minister has attended funeral rites for six sailors who perished when their warship sank in stormy weather, leaving 23 others still missing

Officials acknowledged there were not enough life jackets for all those aboard. Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Chonlathis Navanugraha said the survivor and the bodies, along with some debris, were found about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from where the ship sank. Navy Commander Cherngchai confirmed that was true in comments to PPTV television. This is why I think there were not enough life jackets,” he said. If there were not enough life jackets, how much hope can you give me?” she said.

Thailand’s navy says it has found two survivors and recovered four bodies from a Thai warship that sank over the weekend in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand

Thailand's navy says it has found one survivor and recovered five bodies from a Thai warship that sank over the weekend in rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand.

Hopes were fading for more than two dozen people still unaccounted for. Officials acknowledged there weren't enough life jackets for all those on board.

BANGKOK — (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke briefly with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Saturday in another step toward keeping lines of communication open between the two biggest economies. Harris and Xi exchanged remarks Saturday while heading into a closed-door meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's summit in Bangkok. “I greeted President Xi before the APEC Leaders Retreat,” Harris wrote on Twitter. After the APEC meeting, Harris also met with with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. In addition to economic issues, the two were expected to talk about the close and long-term security alliance between Thailand and the United States.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has spoken briefly with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in another step toward keeping lines of communication open between the two biggest economies.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha opened Saturday's meeting by urging the leaders to push ahead with APEC's agenda of promoting free trade in the Pacific region. On Friday, APEC ministers issued a statement condemning Moscow's war on Ukraine and calling for it to fully withdraw. The meetings Saturday wrap up a flurry of leaders’ meetings in Southeast Asian countries this week. The APEC meetings Saturday returned to economic concerns. In Bali, China and India, after months of refusing to condemn Russia's war in Ukraine, did not block the release of a statement that harshly criticized Moscow.

Leaders from around the Asia-Pacific have condemned and called for an end to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Pacific Rim leaders are seeking common ground on the war in Ukraine and other dire threats to humankind in an annual meeting that began Friday in Bangkok.

Thailand has relatively strict firearm rules that officials are seeking to tighten and better enforce after the Nong Bua Lamphu day-care center slaughter.

Later, they placed trays of food, toys and milk along the outside of the temple walls as offerings to the spirits of their slain children. “Today, all the relatives will hold a ceremony to guide children’s souls back to the temple,” said Panida Prawana, a relative of a victim. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is expected to attend an evening prayer at one of the temples later Sunday. He then left the daycare center and drove home, where he killed his wife and son before taking his own life. An employee at the day care told Thai media that Panya’s son had attended the center but hadn’t been there for about a month.

Grieving families have gathered at a Buddhist temple to pray and make offerings to the spirits of their deceased toddlers who were killed amid a rampage by a former police officer who shot and slashed them with knives at their day care in northeastern Thailand last week

Families offered flowers and dolls, popcorn and juice boxes to the children massacred at a day care center in Thailand.

Relatives collapsed in grief over the small coffins of children slain by a fired police officer who stormed a day care center at naptime.

Prayuth officially became prime minister in a military government in August 2014, and was named prime minister again after a 2019 election. They have called for a demonstration ahead of the court ruling and promised to bring more pressure if he stays. The senior deputy prime minister in his Cabinet, Prawit Wongsuwan, became acting prime minister, while Prayuth retained his concurrent position of defense minister. His critics thus contend the eight-year term limit expired Aug. 24. Prayuth’s supporters say the constitution containing the term limit provision came into effect on April 6, 2017, and his time in office should be counted from that date.

They have called for a demonstration ahead of the court ruling and promised to bring more pressure if he stays. The senior deputy prime minister in his Cabinet, Prawit Wongsuwan, became acting prime minister, while Prayuth retained his concurrent position of defense minister. A more expansive but less likely interpretation favoring his continuing tenure is that the countdown began on June 9, 2019, when Prayuth took office following a general election. Whether Prayuth himself could be caretaker prime minister is unclear, though the court may decide the matter. The caretaker government would exist until Parliament chooses a new prime minister — the main options being candidates nominated after the 2019 election.

BANGKOK — (AP) — Thailand’s Constitutional Court is set to rule Friday on whether Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has exceeded the term limits of his job and must leave office immediately. They have called for a demonstration ahead of the court ruling and promised to bring more pressure if he stays. The senior deputy prime minister in his Cabinet, Prawit Wongsuwon, became acting prime minister, while Prayuth retained his concurrent position of defense minister. A more expansive but less likely interpretation favoring his continuing tenure is that the countdown began on June 9, 2019, when Prayuth took office following a general election. The caretaker government would exist until Parliament chooses a new prime minister — the main options being candidates nominated after the 2019 election.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha can remain in his job and did not violate a constitutional provision limiting him to eight years in office.

BANGKOK — (AP) — Thailand entered a phase of political uncertainty on Thursday, with its prime minister suspended and his deputy taking over in his stead pending a ruling from a top court on whether the premier has reached his constitutional term limit. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha came to power in a military coup in 2014, and would have hit the 8-year term limit earlier this week if the clock started when he seized power. The Constitutional Court suspended Prayuth, the army's commander at the time of the coup, on Wednesday as it considers arguments in his case. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan has assumed the role of acting prime minister, taking over Prayuth’s duties. Prawit, 77, is closely associated with the military clique behind the 2014 coup, and is expected to toe the same line as Prayuth.

Thailand has entered a phase of political uncertainty, with its prime minister suspended and his deputy taking over in his stead pending a ruling from a top court on whether the premier has reached his constitutional term limit.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's removal is likely to only be temporary going by past trends. But letting him stay poses some risks.

BANGKOK — (AP) — Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha from his duties on Wednesday while it decides whether the man who led a military coup in 2014 has violated the country's term limits. While Prayuth initially came to power in a coup, he won the job legally after a general election in 2019. It was not immediately announced who would become acting prime minister. No military coup government," the group known as Ratsadon, or The People, said while issuing a new call for protest. The eight-year term limit was meant to target former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist billionaire who was ousted by a 2006 military coup but whose political machine remains powerful.

BANGKOK — (AP) — Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha must suspend his active duties while the court decides whether he has overstayed his legal term in office. It was not immediately announced who would assume his duties as acting prime minister. Under law, it would be Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who is ranked first among several deputies. The court did not say when it would rule on whether Prayuth has breached the clause in the constitution on the eight-year limit as prime minister. If he is not forced out of office, Prayuth must call a new election by March next year, though he has the option of calling one before that.

BANGKOK — (AP) — Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha must suspend his active duties while the court decides whether he has overstayed his legal term in office. It was not immediately announced who would assume his duties as acting prime minister. Under law, it would be Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who is ranked first among several deputies . The court agreed unanimously there was reason to consider the petition arguing he has exceeded his term limit. By a vote of 5 to 4, the court members agreed to suspend Prayuth from his duties effective Wednesday until it reached a decision.

Thailand’s government convened its first Cabinet meeting Thursday under an acting prime minister, after its leader was suspended from his duties while a court decides if the 2014 coup leader violated the country’s term limits.

BANGKOK — (AP) — Groups of protesters gathered in Thailand's capital on Tuesday to call for the country’s prime minister to step down, saying he has exceeded his constitutional term limit. They say the eight years ended on Tuesday, a day before the anniversary of Prayuth taking the post of prime minister in the military government installed after the coup. The protest movement at one point attracted crowds of 20,000-30,000 in Bangkok. The major faction of the protest movement, calling itself Ratsadon — The People — issued a statement Sunday affirming its call for Prayuth’s ouster. A period under the rule of a tyrant who took power away from the people.

Protesters in Thailand have called for Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to step down, saying he has exceeded his constitutional term limit.

Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who last month fled anti-government protests in his country, arrived in Thailand on Thursday night on a flight from Singapore, where he had been staying since mid-July. Thai television stations showed Rajapaksa and a woman believed to be his wife outside the VIP hall at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport being led to a limousine, which then drove off to an undisclosed destination. Officials in Thailand on Wednesday said they had been asked by the Sri Lankan government to allow him entry, and that he would be permitted to stay temporarily.

BANGKOK — (AP) — Cybersecurity researchers say that Thai activists involved in the country’s pro-democracy protests had their cell phones or other devices infected and attacked with government-sponsored spyware. Those whose devices were attacked were either involved in the pro-democracy protests that took place between 2020 and 2021, or were publicly critical of the Thai monarchy. The two groups said lawyers who defended the activists also were under such digital surveillance. The Pegasus spyware is known for “zero-click exploits” which means it can be installed remotely onto a target’s phone, without the target having to click any links or download software. “The findings included in this report suggest that NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware was used as part of these efforts to suppress Thai calls for democratic reforms,” Citizen Lab concluded.

Cybersecurity researchers have found that Thai activists involved in the country’s pro-democracy protests had their cell phones or other devices infected and attacked with spyware.

Before June was over, chaos had come to define travel in the summer of 2022. Always has been,” said Simon Hudson, a professor of tourism at the University of South Carolina, who is writing a book about the pandemic recovery. That's produced encouraging signs in certain places, from Israel to the United States, Italy, Mexico and France. Big plans for 2023 are in the offing in the United States, such as a cruise featuring some of Broadway's biggest stars. “When we reopened,” he said, “it never slowed down.”In Italy, tourists — especially from the United States — returned this year in droves.

Summer travel is underway across the globe, but a full recovery from two years of coronavirus could last as long as the pandemic itself.

A North Korean army medic hands out medication to counter 'fever' -- a term Pyongyang often uses to refer to Covid -- and related sickness. The medic, Jong Jun Ho says the number of people receiving treatment for 'fever' has gone down in recent times. North Korea says its Covid-19 outbreak has been brought under control, but experts question the official numbers given the isolated country has one of the world's worst healthcare systems and likely no Covid-19 drugs or mass testing ability.

Thailand Bangkok Election FILE - A supporter takes a selfie with Bangkok governor independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt, left, during an election campaign in Bangkok, Thailand on May 17, 2022. Former Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang, a retired senior police officer, came in fifth with 214,692 votes, or about 8% of the votes cast. Prayuth was returned to office as prime minister following the 2019 election in a coalition government led by the military-backed Palang Pracharath party. “The result, if it clearly goes against ruling Palang Pracharath, would be consequential for Parliament, Prayuth and no-confidence.”However, while the Bangkok election results are discouraging for Prayuth and the ruling party, they don't constitute a death knell. More significantly, voters in Bangkok do not necessarily reflect nationwide trends in Thailand, whose electorate is largely rural.

Residents of the Thai capital Bangkok have elected an independent politician seen as representing opponents of the country’s military-backed government.

Thailand Bangkok Election Thai people cast their ballots in Bangkok's gubernatorial election at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, May 22, 2022. One is former Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt, a front-runner, and the other Asawin Kwanmuang, who served as the military-appointed governor since 2016. He served as transport minister in a Pheu Thai government in 2012-2014. As army commander, Prayuth seized power in the 2014 coup to lead a military regime, and he dismissed the previous governor over corruption allegations. Political science professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University noted this was the first significant election since the 2014 coup.

Thailand Bangkok Election Thai people cast their ballots in Bangkok's gubernatorial election at a polling station in Bangkok, Thailand, Sunday, May 22, 2022. One is former Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt, a front-runner, and the other Asawin Kwanmuang, who served as the military-appointed governor since 2016. He served as transport minister in a Pheu Thai government in 2012-2014. As army commander, Prayuth seized power in the 2014 coup to lead a military regime, and he dismissed the previous governor over corruption allegations. Political science professor Thitinan Pongsudhirak of Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University noted this was the first significant election since the 2014 coup.

Voters in the Thai capital are electing a new governor in a contest delayed by a military coup that still reflects a divided country with main candidates either supported by the conservative establishment or the liberal opposition.

Virus Outbreak Thailand FILE - Tourists arrive at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Nov. 1, 2021. Thailand announced Friday, April 22, 2022, that visitors who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will no longer need to undergo any test or quarantine on arrival starting May 1, a measure the authorities hope will help rejuvenate the country’s lucrative tourism industry. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File) (Sakchai Lalit)BANGKOK — (AP) — Visitors to Thailand who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will no longer need to undergo any test or quarantine on arrival starting May 1, a measure the authorities hope will help rejuvenate the country’s lucrative tourism industry. All visitors still must register with an online “Thailand Pass” system and provide proof of health insurance with coverage of at least $10,000 for COVID-19 treatment. The official figures are based on RT-PCR tests, and the new cases do not include 20,635 positive results from antigen tests, which would almost double the number of new cases to 42,443.

Thailand has announced that beginning next month, visitors who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus will no longer have to undergo any test or quarantine on arrival.

Thai royalists have stepped up their campaign to drive out the country’s branch of rights group Amnesty International, handing over copies of a petition to government ministries that they say is backed by more than a million signatures.

Saudi Thailand In this photo released by the Saudi Royal Palace, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, right, welcomes Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, at the royal palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. Saudi Arabia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand over the theft that led to a string of mysterious killings and became known as the Blue Diamond affair. Tourism is a key element of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's economic reform plan meant to wean the kingdom off oil. A Bangkok-based Saudi businessman believed to have been hunting for the missing jewels also disappeared, and was presumed killed. Thailand, deprived by the dispute of billions of dollars in badly needed tourism revenues and workers' remittances, long has wanted to patch up relations with oil-rich Saudi Arabia.

The official visit by Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to the kingdom signals the nations are seeking to thaw relations, long chilled by the 1989 scandal. Saudi Arabia downgraded its diplomatic ties with Thailand over the theft that became known as the Blue Diamond affair. A notably low-ranking official, the deputy governor of Riyadh, received the prime minister at the airport. A Bangkok-based Saudi businessman believed to have been hunting for the missing jewels also disappeared, and was presumed killed. Thailand, deprived by the dispute of billions of dollars in badly needed tourism revenues and workers' remittances, long has wanted to patch up relations with oil-rich Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has ordered the restoration of full diplomatic ties with Thailand and said the countries agreed to trade ambassadors.

Thailand's prime minister arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for the first high-level meeting since relations between the nations soured three decades ago over a sensational jewelry heist that led to a diplomatic row and string of mysterious killings. The official visit by Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to Riyadh signals the nations are seeking to thaw ties, long chilled by the 1989 scandal. Saudi Arabia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand over the theft that became known as the Blue Diamond affair.

Thailand will ease entry requirements for vaccinated visitors from all countries next month as concerns about the omicron variant of the coronavirus decline.

Thailand has decided to immediately reimpose a mandatory quarantine for visitors and suspend a “test-and-go” scheme for fully vaccinated arrivals as concerns grow over the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Winter the Dolphin died from intestinal torsion, or a twisting of the intestines, according to veterinarians at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Thailand’s Constitutional Court has ruled that three pro-democracy activists who called for reform of the monarchy were attempting to overthrow the nation’s system of government with the king as head of state.

Pro-democracy activists in Thailand have announced a campaign to gather 1 million signatures to support the abolition of the law that makes defaming the monarchy a crime

Pro-democracy activists in Thailand on Sunday announced a campaign to gather 1 million signatures to support the abolition of the law that makes defaming the monarchy a crime. About 3,000 people turned out in central Bangkok for a rally urging the end of the lese majeste law -- also known as Article 112 -- which makes even constructive criticism of the royal institution risky. The rally organizers last year began holding street demonstrations with three core demands: the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who initially came to power as army commander by staging a coup in 2014; amendment of the constitution to make it more democratic; and reform of the monarchy to make it more accountable.

Thailand is accelerating plans to reopen the country to foreign tourists, slashing mandatory quarantines beginning Nov. 1 for fully vaccinated visitors arriving by air from 46 countries and territories.

(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, file) (Sakchai Lalit)BANGKOK — (AP) — Thailand plans to no longer require international visitors from at least 10 low-risk nations to quarantine beginning next month if they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, the prime minister said Monday. The list would be expanded on Dec. 1, and then made even more extensive on Jan. 1, he said. Last month, the government said it plans to secure 178.2 million vaccine doses in 2021, and targets at least 62 million people, or around 90% of the population, to be fully vaccinated this year. It reported that 35 million people received at least the first jab, including 23.4 million people who are fully vaccinated and 1.73 million people who received the booster shot. Thailand reported 10,035 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 60 related deaths on Monday, bringing a total since the pandemic started to 1.7 million and 17,751 deaths.

Thailand's prime minister says the country plans to no longer require international visitors from at least 10 low-risk nations to quarantine beginning next month if they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

Five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Saturday.

Bangkok and other areas of central Thailand received new warnings of possible major flooding, even as disaster relief authorities said Wednesday the threat had eased in 13 of 30 provinces elsewhere that were lashed by seasonal monsoon rains. Seven people have died and two are missing since the weekend from flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Dianmu, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigations said. Bangkok has had no major flooding yet, but many rural areas have been severely affected.

Seasonal monsoon rains may worsen flooding that has already badly affected about a third of Thailand.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha sacked two Cabinet members on Thursday, including one who was widely reported to have unsuccessfully plotted for him to lose a parliamentary no-confidence vote last week. Deputy Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao was deeply controversial even before the alleged mutiny attempt for being imprisoned for four years in Australia in the 1990s in a case involving heroin smuggling. Thammanat won his Cabinet position by being a political power broker capable of turning out the vote in northern Thailand for the governing Palang Pracharath party, and was made party general secretary in June.

Thailand Politics Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha talks to reporters at parliament after a confidence vote on himself and five members of his Cabinet in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Prayuth won the vote after a frenzy of speculation over the makeup of the ruling coalition. (AP Photo/Sompong Sonnak) (Sompong Sonnak)BANGKOK — (AP) — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha won votes of confidence in Parliament on Saturday, helping to steady his government after it had come under intense criticism for bungling its response to the coronavirus pandemic. There were 208 votes in support of the motion, 34 short of the 242 simple majority of the 482 total members the Opposition needed to succeed. The other Cabinet members targeted with no-confidence motions also easily survived Saturday’s votes.

Thailand Politics Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha arrives at parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Sompong Sonnak) (Uncredited)BANGKOK — (AP) — Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has won a confidence vote in Parliament after a frenzy of speculation over the makeup of the ruling coalition. Rumors his own political allies might try to unseat him had recently overshadowed harsh criticism from the opposition about his government’s coronavirus response. Thai media were instead abuzz with rumors that the secretary-general of the military-backed ruling party was leading the effort to unseat Prayuth and to add the main opposition party to the coalition. Prayuth and his government have survived two previous no-confidence debates since he was named prime minister after a 2019 general election.

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has won votes of confidence in Parliament, helping to steady his government after it had come under intense criticism for bungling its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

A long line of cars, trucks and motorbikes wended its way Sunday through the Thai capital Bangkok in a mobile protest against the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. The protesters on wheels hope their nonviolent action, dubbed a “car mob,” can help force the ouster of Prayuth, whom they accuse of botching the campaign against the coronavirus. “There is only one message from this car mob, which is ‘Prayuth get out!‘” Sombat Boonngamanong, a veteran social activist who helped originate such protests in July, said ahead of the protest.

Thailand Protests An anti-government protester tries to control smoke from a tear gas canister fired by riot police during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. Protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha for what they say is his failure in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Thanachote Thanawikran) (Thanachote Thanawikran)BANGKOK — (AP) — Police in Thailand's capital fired rubber bullets and tear gas on Friday to stop hundreds of protesters who were attempting to march to the prime minister's residence to demand he resign over his handling of the country's coronavirus crisis. It was the third anti-government protest in Bangkok this week blocked by police with tear gas and rubber bullets. Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas when the protesters attempted to remove the containers.

Police in Thailand’s capital have fired rubber bullets and tear gas to stop hundreds of protesters who were attempting to march to the prime minister’s residence to demand he resign over his handling of the country’s coronavirus crisis.

Thailand Protests Riot police launch tear gas at anti-government protesters during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. Protesters demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha for his failure in handling the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo) (Anuthep Cheysakron)BANGKOK — (AP) — Thai police clashed for the second time in four days on Tuesday with protesters angry over the government's handling of a coronavirus surge and a lack of progress in political reform. Lines of police, backed by trucks spraying jets from water cannons, fired tear gas and rubber bullets at scores of demonstrators in Bangkok. The protest came on the anniversary of a rally at a university campus last year at which young campaigners revealed a 10-point royal reform agenda.

Police in Thailand have clashed for a second time in four days with protesters angry over the government’s handling of a coronavirus surge and a lack of progress in political reform.

Thailand Protests Anti-government protesters try to control smoke from tear gas fired by riot police during a protest in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021. Many people blame Prayuth and his administration for failing to develop an adequate vaccination policy. The rally was led by the Free Youth, a student protest group that drew tens of thousands to its protests last year. The march was called off in the early evening but disturbances continued, with protesters battling the police and hurling objects. The protest movement began last year with demands for sweeping political change, including unprecedented public calls for the reform of the powerful monarchy to make it more accountable.

Thai riot police have fired water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to repel a crowd of several hundred young anti-government protesters who marched on an army base where Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has his residence to demand his resignation.

A Thai protest leader on Tuesday renewed calls for the reform of the country's monarchy and suggested that time was running out for the powerful institution to respond. (AP Photo/Anuthep Cheysakron) (Anuthep Cheysakron)BANGKOK — (AP) — A Thai protest leader on Tuesday renewed calls for the reform of the country’s monarchy and suggested that time was running out for the powerful institution to respond. “This year shall be the last year that we will discuss monarchy reform. They’ve largely targeted Prayuth's government but Arnon’s speech on Tuesday suggests the monarchy will once again be a focus of Thai political debate. Many people still revere the monarchy, and the military, a major power in Thai society, considers its defense a key priority.

A protest leader in Thailand has renewed calls for the reform of the country’s monarchy and suggested that time is running out for the powerful institution to respond.

Virus Outbreak Thailand Media Restrictions Local Thai media interviews Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang at the Wat Srisudaram in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, July 30, 2021. Thailand on Friday has implemented regulations that appear to broaden the government's ability to restrict media reports and social media posts about the coronavirus pandemic, raising immediate concerns authorities will seek to stifle criticism rather than just combat false rumors. (AP Photo) (Uncredited)BANGKOK — (AP) — Thailand implemented new regulations on Friday that appeared to broaden the government's ability to restrict media reports and social media posts about the coronavirus pandemic, raising immediate concerns that authorities will seek to stifle criticism. “The clause ‘news that may cause public fear’ allows authorities to proceed with legal action against the media and the public without clear criteria,” they wrote, threatening to take legal action if necessary. “We have daily briefings to give the right information to the public,” Prayuth said.

Thailand implemented have new regulations that appear to broaden the government’s ability to restrict media reports and social media posts about the coronavirus pandemic, raising immediate concerns that authorities will seek to stifle criticism.

Health authorities in Thailand are racing to set up a large field hospital at one of Bangkok’s airports as the country sees new highs in coronavirus infections and deaths.

Authorities in Thailand have began transporting some people who tested positive for the coronavirus from Bangkok to their hometowns for isolation and treatment to alleviate the burden on the capital’s overwhelmed medical system.

The head of Thailand’s National Vaccine Institute has apologized for the country’s slow and inadequate rollout of coronavirus vaccines, promising it will join the U.N.-backed COVAX program to receive supplies from its pool of donated vaccines next year.

APTOPIX Thailand Protests Riot police launch tear gas to protesters marching to Government House in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday, July 18, 2021. Hundreds of anti-government protesters rallied on Sunday despite the government’s recent measures to prohibit the gathering of more than 5 people in the capital to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Anuthep Cheysakron) (Anuthep Cheysakron)BANGKOK, Thailand — (AP) — Thai police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons Sunday to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters who held a rally in Bangkok despite coronavirus restrictions banning gatherings of more than five people. This weekend daily virus deaths rose above 100 for the first time. Deputy National Police Spokesman Kissana Pattanacharoen acknowledged that the authorities used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters after several warnings were given.

Thai police have used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters who held a rally in Bangkok despite coronavirus restrictions banning gatherings of more than five people.

Thai police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons Sunday to disperse hundreds of anti-government protesters who held a rally in Bangkok despite coronavirus restrictions banning gatherings of more than five people. The demonstrators were demanding Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government step down, insisting the budget of the monarchy and the military be cut during the pandemic, and calling for the importing mRNA coronavirus vaccines that have yet to be brought to Thailand on a large scale to fight a growing surge of the virus.

Some Las Vegas resorts and casinos are again requiring employees to wear masks, a response to a recommendation by regional health officials amid rising COVID-19 case rates.

Thailand has tightened coronavirus restrictions and warned of further measures as daily cases surpassed 10,000 and the death toll hit a record 141 despite an overnight curfew in Bangkok and several other provinces.

Thailand has tightened coronavirus restrictions further as daily cases surpassed 10,000 and the death toll hit a record 141 on Saturday despite an overnight curfew in Bangkok and several other provinces. Cases have been climbing particularly in Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

"I get out of the car and at one point I see they have guns so I told my husband to run," says the woman who, through tears explains she is a mother of two and never imagined something like this to happen.

A government official says production of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine at a factory in Thailand has fallen short of its target, likely delaying the country’s plan to acquire a total of 61 million doses until next May.

Thai health authorities say they plan to limit exports of locally produced AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine because the country doesn’t have enough for its own needs.

APTOP{IX Virus Outbreak Locals wait in line overnight for free the coronavirus testing at Wat Phra Si Mahathat temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, July 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) (Sakchai Lalit)BANGKOK — (AP) — Officials in Thailand on Friday announced a seven-hour curfew and other restrictions for the capital and nine other provinces to try to slow a growing number of cases and deaths in a coronavirus surge that began in early April. The restrictions take effect on Monday and will be reviewed after two weeks, Deputy Health Minister Satit Pitutacha said. Health authorities on Friday announced 9,276 new cases, bringing the total to 317,506 since the pandemic began last year. More than 90% of the cases and deaths have occurred since the beginning of April.

Officials in Thailand have announced a seven-hour curfew and other restrictions for the capital and nine other provinces to try to slow a growing number of cases and deaths in a coronavirus surge that began in early April.

Several countries around Asia and the Pacific that are experiencing their first major surges of the coronavirus have rushed to implement tough restrictions.

A week into an ambitious but risky plan to open the Thai resort island of Phuket to vaccinated visitors, signs were encouraging that the gambit to resuscitate the decimated tourism industry was working, even as infections elsewhere in the country surged Thursday to record highs. After seeing fewer than 5,000 foreign travelers over the first five months of the year, the island off Thailand's southwest coast, whose economy is 95% reliant on the tourist industry, welcomed 2,399 visitors during the first week of July. The so-called Phuket sandbox plan relies on a strategy of vaccinations, testing and restrictions — measures that officials are hoping are strict enough to mitigate any COVID-19 threat, while still providing enough freedom for tourists to enjoy a beach vacation.

Health authorities in Thailand have reported more than 6,000 new COVID-19 cases, setting a record for a second straight day, as concerns mount over shortages of treatment facilities and vaccine supplies.

Thailand has opened the popular resort island of Phuket to fully vaccinated foreigners from lower-risk countries in an ambitious but risky plan that it hopes will breathe new life into a tourism industry devastated by the pandemic.

Thailand’s tourism industry has been devastated by the pandemic, and nowhere has it been felt more than the resort island of Phuket, where nearly 95% of the economy is related to the industry.

Faced with a sharp rise in coronavirus cases, the Thai capital has announced a ban on indoor dining and gatherings of more than 20 people.

China says its relationship with Cambodia has made positive contributions to regional peace and stability, after the U.S. expressed concerns about the presence of the Chinese military in the country.

A U.S. State Department official is calling for the immediate release of two American journalists who were arrested by Myanmar’s military junta.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will be under as much scrutiny as Myanmar's junta leader when the 10-member regional body meets Saturday.

New Mexico health officials say they are preparing to respond to pockets of vaccine hesitancy in some communities as overall interest increases in receiving the vaccine for COVID-19.

When Thailand’s transport minister was diagnosed with COVID-19, it was Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha who got a headache.

Thailand’s Health Ministry says coronavirus restrictions may need to be tightened to slow a new wave that's infecting people at a record rate.

Thai authorities are struggling to contain a growing coronavirus outbreak just days before the country’s traditional Songkran New Year’s holiday, when millions of people travel.