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Thailand's new senate convenes for first time following controversial selection process

Thailand's new senate has convened for the first time, following a controversial and complicated selection process. This batch of 200 new lawmakers replace the previous 250 senators who were-handpicked by the previous military government. The first order of business was to vote for a new senate speaker and their deputies. Mr Mongkol Surasajja, the former governor of Buriram province received the most votes. The upper chamber of Thailand's parliament is supposed to be independent from political parties, but it's not as straightforward as it seems.

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Cyanide found in teacups shared by 6 foreigners found dead in Bangkok hotel

Thai police say they have detected traces of cyanide in the bodies of six foreigners found in a room in a luxury Bangkok hotel on Jul 16. Authorities are calling the incident a murder-suicide, with the culprit possibly among the dead. Full pathology results are expected before the end of the week.

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Thai banks admit lack of capacity to investigate Myanmar weapon payments

Major Thai banks defended themselves on Thursday against criticism that they facilitated weapons purchases by the Myanmar junta, saying they lacked the capacity to investigate all transactions that may be used for such purchases. This comes after UN Special Rapporteur on Myanmar Tom Andrews spoke before a Thai parliamentary committee on national security, highlighting the Myanmar military’s use of international banks to finance its weapons.

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CNA Correspondent Podcast: Bhutan’s Reputation as a Utopia Doesn’t Reflect Its Gritty Reality

The once isolated nation of Bhutan, nestled deep in the Himalayas, is now being forced to reckon with reality. Its government is eyeing cutting-edge technology to stem a brain drain and growing economic unhappiness. Teresa Tang speaks to CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut about how the country can hold onto its past even as it forges a new future.

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Former Thai PM Thaksin formally indicted on royal defamation charges

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been indicted for allegedly insulting the monarchy in 2015. He has been granted bail, but is not allowed to leave the country without permission. The offence could see him jailed for up to 15 years. Mr Thaksin had returned to Thailand following more than a decade of self-exile. It is one of several court cases that could impact the government and the opposition, adding to political uncertainty in the kingdom.

Earlier live reports

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Former Thai PM Thaksin to be formally indicted on lèse majesté charges

Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra is set to be formally indicted on allegations of royal defamation, an offense that could see him get up to 15 years behind bars. This is just one of several court cases taking place tomorrow (Tuesday, June 18, 2024) including another against the current Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the main opposition party. CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut looks at a string of potential political earthquakes.

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CNA Exclusive Interview with Tshering Tobgay: Bhutan Prime Minister on the country's economy, culture, environment

In an exclusive interview with CNA, Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay talks about his country's economy, environment and culture, as well as how it's navigating its place in the region. He also touches on the Gelephu Mindfulness City, a special administrative region in southern Bhutan that focuses on mindfulness, sustainability, and harmony.

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Impact of climate change, growing power needs on carbon-negative Bhutan

Bhutan is known as the world's first carbon-negative country. The nation of nearly 800,000 people is emitting less carbon dioxide than it is offsetting from the environment today. But can Bhutan continue its focus on conservation and renewable energy in the face of growing power demands, and the onslaught of climate change? CNA’s Saksith Saiyasombut finds out.

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CNA Correspondent: Bhutan - The Happiest Place on Earth?

Bhutan, a kingdom hidden away in the Himalayas, told the world once Gross National Happiness counts as much as GDP. Now, it has a new vision to take the country into the future. It will redefine capitalism and yet remain loyal to its famous focus on its people’s well-being. CNA Correspondent travels to Bhutan to find out if it has indeed found that winning formula to strike that delicate balance everyone is seeking between material wealth and happiness?

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Decoding Bhutan's "Mindfulness Philosophy" and Economic Future

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is perhaps best known for giving the world its Gross National Happiness Index. That's a measure of how happy people are. For the Bhutanese, the GNH index is a national indicator that is not any less important than the GDP -- which is how the rest of the world measures progress. But that's not to say that economic growth does not matter for Bhutan. The Kingdom is facing a serious youth unemployment problem. Many young people are forced to leave the country for better jobs elsewhere. And Bhutan is trying to solve just that -- by rethinking how to improve the situation for its people. It has looked not just to boost jobs, or the economy and has instead turned to mindfulness. Saksith Saiyasombut explored Bhutan’s mindfulness philosophy in the latest episode of CNA Correspondent.

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Exploring Bhutan's high-value-low-volume tourism policy

Bhutan is often described as the “last Shangri-La” because of its nature and spiritual allure. In an effort to conserve its culture and natural beauty, authorities have strictly controlled the number of travellers who can enter the Himalayan kingdom. CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut explores whether Bhutan’s low-number-high-value tourism policy is a winning formula.

Panel Discussion with Damcho Rinzin, Chief Tourism Officer, Department of Tourism, Bhutan

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Exploring Bhutan's place in the world amid China-India rivalry

The Kingdom of Bhutan -- often dubbed "the happiest place on earth" -- is nestled at the foot of the Himalayas, wedged between India and China. Amid the growing geopolitical rivalry between the two nuclear superpowers, CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut looks at how the South Asian nation is trying to safely carve its own path.

Discussion Panel with Prof. Ian Hall, Griffith University

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Hunger-striking Thai activist dies in detention after cardiac arrest

A Thai political activist has died from cardiac arrest after more than 15 weeks of a hunger strike. Twenty-eight-year-old Netiporn Sanesangkhom had been prosecuted under the lese majeste law. This is the first death of an activist since massive youth-led protests demanding political reforms broke out in 2020. CNA’s Saksith Saiyasombut reports from Bangkok.

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Top Thai court accepts case seeking to disband opposition Move Forward Party

Thailand’s opposition Move Forward Party is under threat, following a decision by the Constitutional Court to accept a case seeking its dissolution. Earlier this year, judges had ruled that the reformist party’s campaign promise to amend the royal insult law was equivalent to treason. Move Forward had won the most seats in last year's election, but were blocked from forming a government coalition, with their stance on the lèse majesté law being one of the factors held against them.

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Thailand’s Election Commission asks Constitutional Court to consider dissolving Move Forward Party

Thailand’s opposition Move Forward Party is under threat of dissolution following a decision by the country’s Election Commission to petition the Constitutional Court to decide on their fate. This comes as the judges ruled earlier this year that the reformist-progressive party’s campaign promise to amend the royal insult law is equivalent to treason. CNA’s Saksith Saiyasombut explains the background behind the decision and the potential impact on Thailand’s political landscape.

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Thailand's top court acquits former PM Yingluck in last pending case

Thailand's Supreme Court has cleared self-exiled former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and five other officials of negligence. They were acquitted of a decade-old case involving a roadshow to promote Thailand. They had been accused of not carrying out a proper bidding process for the $6.7-million project. This was the last pending case against Yingluck and it has fuelled speculations about her potential return to the country after years of self-exile.

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