Latest Thailand government News
Myanmar's embattled military government cracks down on free flow of news by blocking VPNs
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military government has launched a major effort to block free communication on the Internet, shutting off access to virtual private networks, or VPNs, which can be used to circumvent blockages of banned websites and services. The attempt to restrict...
Rare twin elephants in Thailand receive monks' blessings a week after their tumultuous birth
BANGKOK (AP) — Buddhist monks in Thailand on Friday blessed twin baby elephants, one male and the other female, a week after their rare birth came close to being a tragedy. Their mother, Chamchuri, gave birth to the pair on the night of June 7 at a camp in Thailand’s ancient...
Rights groups urge Thailand not to extradite Vietnamese activist, saying he's at risk if sent home
BANGKOK (AP) — Human rights groups urged Thailand on Thursday not to extradite a Vietnamese activist detained in Bangkok, saying he could be at risk if handed back to Vietnam. Y Quynh Bdap, who had United Nations refugee status in Thailand, was picked up by local police on Tuesday,...
Myanmar's army is reportedly emptying villages in a western state to boost defenses against rebels
BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military has been emptying villages on the outskirts of the capital of the western state of Rakhine as part of an evident effort to defend against expected attacks by a powerful rebel group that has captured most of the surrounding area, according to residents, a local...
Thailand's progressive Move Forward party braces for court case that might dissolve it
BANGKOK (AP) — The former leader of Thailand’s progressive opposition Move Forward party vowed on Sunday to keep fighting as the party faces a court case that could result in its dissolution. The Constitutional Court has agreed to rule on whether the party violated the...
Myanmar's military government denies allegations by ethnic army foe that it killed 76 villagers
BANGKOK (AP) — A spokesperson for Myanmar’s military government denied accusations that army troops and their local allies killed 76 people when they entered a village last week in the western state of Rakhine, state-controlled media reported Wednesday. Rakhine has become a...
After a quarter century, Thailand's LGBTQ Pride Parade is seen as a popular and political success
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand kicked off its celebration of the LGBTQ+ community’s Pride Month with a parade Saturday, as the country is on course to become the first nation in Southeast Asia to legalize marriage equality. The annual Bangkok Pride Parade Can filled one side of a major...
Tin Oo, a close ally of Myanmar's Suu Kyi and co-founder of her pro-democracy party, dies at 97
BANGKOK (AP) — Tin Oo, one of the closest associates of Myanmar’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi as well as a co-founder of her National League for Democracy party, has died. He was 97. Tin Oo died Saturday morning at Yangon General Hospital, said Moh Khan, a charity worker,...
A Thai court sentences an opposition lawmaker to 2 years in prison for defaming the monarchy
BANGKOK (AP) — A Thai court on Monday sentenced a lawmaker from a progressive opposition party to two years in prison after finding her guilty of defaming the monarchy in a speech she made during a protest rally three years ago. Chonthicha Jangrew of the Move Forward Party was...
The Constitutional Court of Thailand agrees to hear a case that could imperil the prime minister
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Constitutional Court accepted a petition Thursday from members of the country’s outgoing Senate to begin an ethics probe against the prime minister over his appointment of a Cabinet member. If eventually found guilty, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin...
