Prayuth Chan-ocha

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Thai Parliament Says Election Winner Can't Be PM

Military-appointed senators blocked Pita Limjaroenrat's nomination

(Newser) - The bitter battle to name Thailand's next prime minister took a major turn Wednesday as Parliament voted to deny Pita Limjaroenrat, whose progressive Move Forward Party won a surprise victory in May's election, a second chance to be confirmed for the post. Pita had assembled a coalition of...

Thailand Resurrects 8-Year-Old Case Against Red Bull Heir

Thai PM orders investigation into fatal 2012 hit-and-run involving Vorayuth 'Boss' Yoovidhya

(Newser) - Thailand's prime minister responded Wednesday to growing public furor by ordering a probe into the dropping of criminal charges against a Thai heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune, accused of killing a policeman in a hit-and-run accident eight years ago. The case involving Vorayuth Yoovidhya, whose family...

Princess Hoped to Be Next Thai PM. Then Her Brother Spoke

Country's Election Commission nixes Ubolratana Mahidol's bid after king voices disapproval

(Newser) - Thailand's Election Commission on Monday disqualified the sister of the country's king from becoming a candidate for prime minister in next month's general election, saying all royals have to be above politics and the monarchy must remain politically neutral. The commission's decision came after her brother...

As Thai Elections Approach, a Princess and a 'Game Changer'

Royals aren't supposed to run for prime minister, but Ubolratana Mahidol is changing that

(Newser) - A Thai political party on Friday named a princess as its nominee to be the next prime minister, upending a tradition of the palace eschewing politics and upsetting all predictions about what might happen in next month's elections. The selection of Princess Ubolratana Mahidol by the Thai Raksa Chart...

Thai Junta: Our Poll Says 99.3% Like Military Rule

The others may be in for some 'attitude adjustment'

(Newser) - An astonishing 99.3% of Thais are perfectly happy with life under the country's ruling military junta, according to a poll carried out by the country's ruling military junta. Thai authorities say the poll of 2,700 people found that 98.9% believe the junta could solve Thailand'...

Man Faces 32 Years for Liking Facebook Photo

Shared post was insulting to Thai king, say authorities

(Newser) - A simple thumbs up could send a Thai man to prison for the next 32 years. Thai police arrested 27-year-old factory worker Thanakorn Siripaiboon near Bangkok on Tuesday after he liked a doctored image of 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej showing the leader in a negative light, reports the Bangkok Post...

2nd Bomb Rattles Bangkok
 Thai Police: This Is 
 the Bangkok Bomber 
UPDATED
Aug 18, 2015 6:56 AM CDT

Thai Police: This Is the Bangkok Bomber

No injuries as a 2nd bomb rattled a ferry pier in the city today

(Newser) - Thai police have released stills of security footage they say shows the man—wearing a yellow T-shirt—who set off the explosion in central Bangkok yesterday, killing 20 and injuring 140. "The yellow shirt guy is not just the suspect. He is the bomber," a police rep tells...

Thailand Stumped as DNA Clears 12 in Tourist Slayings

Cops 'really don't know where to look now'

(Newser) - DNA tests have thrown Thai authorities a goose egg in their quest to solve the savage murders of two British tourists. Semen from two different men was found on the body of 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, reports the BBC , but analysis revealed that while both sets matched DNA pulled from a...

Thai PM: Tourists in Bikinis Aren't Safe—Unless They're Ugly

Or, what not to say after 2 tourists are brutally murdered in your country

(Newser) - Faced with the savage murder of two young British tourists on one of his country's most popular beaches, Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha elected to address the topic of tourist safety. Unfortunately, he wasn't entirely reassuring, reports the Independent : "There are always problems with tourist safety. They think...

Thailand Scrubs Ex-PM From Textbooks

Thaksin's name disappears from new curriculum

(Newser) - In the Thai calendar, this is the year 2557—but you could be forgiven for thinking it was 1984. The generals who have been running the country since May's military coup have not only banned elections and sought to purge the government of people loyal to former Prime Minister...

Coup Leader to Thais: Don't Criticize

King is on my side, general says

(Newser) - Bolstered by a royal endorsement to run the country after last week's coup, Thailand's junta leader has warned against mounting opposition to the takeover, ordering Thais not to cause trouble, not to criticize, not to protest—or else face a return to the "old days" of street...

Thais to Army: Your Music Stinks

US condemns coup as military tightens grip

(Newser) - With Thailand's military now firmly in control of the country after yesterday's coup , more than 150 politicians and activists have been detained and banned from leaving the country. Among them was ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was summoned for talks with army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha today along...

Thai Army: OK, Now It's a Coup


 Thai Army: 
 OK, Now 
 It's a Coup 
UPDATED
May 22, 2014 7:47 AM CDT

Thai Army: OK, Now It's a Coup

Army chief ends 2 days of meetings, grabs control

(Newser) - Two days after Thailand's military instituted martial law in what it said was decidedly not a coup , the army chief took to national television today to announce that now it's staging a coup d'etat. The move abruptly ended two days of meetings between political rivals that had...

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