A former Thai MP allegedly shot dead a local official in the southern province of Nonthaburi, then dialled into a YouTube livestream to inform the host – a political pundit – of what he had done, the BBC reported.

Former Nonthaburi MP Chalong Reawraeng told the shocked host, Anchalee Paireerak, that he had shot Thongchai Yenprasert, a former police official, outside Thongchai’s office.

Thongchai, who was hit in the neck, died in hospital. His driver was shot in the arm and hand.

Chalong was arrested but then allowed to hold a press conference at a police station where he attempted to explain what had happened while smoking a cigarette.

He told the reporters there that Thongchai was “angry” at him, but did not explain why. He also said he did not intend to shoot Thongchai, whom he described as a “good friend”.

Chalong said he told Thongchai that he wanted to talk to him. According to local media reports, the two were involved in a personal dispute.

“He [Thongchai] then pushed me, saying ‘I don’t want to talk, I don’t want to talk.'”

Chalong said he then followed Thongchai towards his car.

“When I pulled the gun out, I didn’t intend to shoot him. But then [Thongchai’s driver] pulled his gun out and pointed it at me, so I fired.”

Thongchai, a retired police colonel, was president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation or PAO, a local government body.

Earlier, Chalong had called political commentator Anchalee Paireerak, who was livestreaming on YouTube at the time, to confess to the incident.

Anchalee was filmed picking up a call midway through her programme. “I’ll call you back… Oh, something big [happened]? Go ahead, what’s that?” she said.

Viewers could not hear what the caller said next, but Anchalee was seen reacting in shock.

“Did he die? Did he die? You shot him in the head? You need to wait there for the cops,” she said on the video, which was seen by the BBC. “Don’t go anywhere.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen have published a joint document calling for tighter migration controls, Euronews reports.

“We do not accept uncontrolled immigration into Europe and pursue a strict migration policy. No one can deny the negative impact of illegal immigration on our society, namely the increase in crime, the growing pressure on public services and the erosion of public trust,” the statement said.

The issue of migrant arrivals in Europe has recently moved to the centre of political debate, first following the crisis in the Spanish city of Ceuta and the subsequent border tensions between Madrid and Rome, and later because of disagreements over a demand by the German government that Italy take back migrants who had used the peninsula as a “springboard” to reach other European countries.

A powerful earthquake has struck Colombia, killing at least 22 people. Dozens of buildings have collapsed in the city of Cali, and local authorities say people may still be trapped under the rubble, Euronews reports.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the earthquake at magnitude 7.4, despite the fact that it occurred at a considerable depth. The epicentre was located near San José del Palmar, approximately 400 kilometres west of Bogotá.

The earthquake was preceded by two successive tremors of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 recorded in Venezuela in late June. At the time, the tremors destroyed hundreds of buildings and claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people.

Moldova’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled the country’s ambassador in Moscow for consultations, Deutsche Welle reports, citing a statement from the ministry’s press service.

The decision followed an incident in which a strike drone crashed on Moldovan territory, for which Chișinău holds Russia responsible. Moldova’s Foreign Ministry condemned the incident.

“This incident constitutes a serious violation of Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and endangered the safety of our citizens. Moldova condemns the Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences for the security of our country and the entire region,” the statement said.

The ruling Civil Contract parliamentary faction said on Monday that it will provide the votes needed to confirm Aram Vardevanyan, the opposition Strong Armenia faction’s candidate for the third vacant Deputy Speaker position reserved for the opposition.

The confirmation vote will take place today.

Arusyak Manavazyan, head of the Civil Contract parliamentary faction, made the statement during the parliamentary session.

“The Civil Contract faction has decided to provide enough votes for this election. We also took into account the absence of Artur Sargsyan, who is under house arrest,” Manavazyan said, referring to another opposition candidate for the post from the Hayastan (Armenia) faction. 

“I would only add that you did not cast a single vote for any of our three candidates, even though they were more than deserving,” Manavazyan said, referring to the confirmation votes for Ruben Rubinyan as Speaker, as well as Hayk Konjoryan and Vahagn Aleksanyan as Deputy Speakers.

The opposition Strong Armenia faction’s MP Aram Vardevanyan passed a confirmation vote on Monday and was elected deputy speaker of parliament.

Fifty-three of the 105 MPs took part in the secret ballot, and all voted in favor.

The ruling Civil Contract parliamentary faction said on Monday that it would provide the votes needed to confirm Vardevanyan, Strong Armenia faction’s candidate for the third vacant deputy speaker position reserved for the opposition.

Strong Armenia holds 29 seats in parliament.

The newly elected parliament will have 12 standing committees after lawmakers on Monday adopted a decision formally establishing the committees for the 9th convocation.

The bill was submitted by the Civil Contract parliamentary faction to establish the standing committees.

“The proposal envisages establishing 12 standing committees in the National Assembly of the 9th convocation. In accordance with Article 106, Part 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, seats on standing committees are distributed among parliamentary factions in proportion to the number of deputies in each faction,” Civil Contract MP Arusyak Julhakyan said.

Julhakyan said that the Civil Contract faction has 64 members in the new parliament, the 9th-convocation National Assembly, while the Strong Armenia faction has 29 and the Armenia faction has 12. Based on this distribution, the proposal sets the minimum number of members of each standing committee at eight.

“At the same time, for several committees, it is proposed to set a higher total number of members, taking into account their workload,” Julhakyan said.

The National Assembly will have the following standing committees:

Standing Committee on Labor and Welfare Affairs — 8 members: 5 from Civil Contract, 2 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on Healthcare Affairs — 8 members: 5 from Civil Contract, 2 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on Foreign Relations — 8 members: 5 from Civil Contract, 2 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on Education, Science, Culture, Sports and Diaspora Affairs — 8 members: 5 from Civil Contract, 2 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on European Integration Affairs — 8 members: 5 from Civil Contract, 2 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs — 8 members: 5 from Civil Contract, 2 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on Defense and Security Affairs — 10 members: 6 from Civil Contract, 3 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs — 11 members: 7 from Civil Contract, 3 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration Affairs — 8 members: 5 from Civil Contract, 2 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on Territorial Administration and Environmental Protection Affairs — 10 members: 6 from Civil Contract, 3 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on Economic Affairs — 10 members: 6 from Civil Contract, 3 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs — 8 members: 5 from Civil Contract, 2 from Strong Armenia, and 1 from Armenia.

The decision establishing the standing committees was adopted with 60 votes in favor, none against, and 15 abstentions.

Parliament on Monday adopted a decision to establish an ad hoc commission on matters related to the ethics of Members of Parliament, proposed by the ruling Civil Contract faction.

The bill was presented at the plenary session by Arusyak Julhakyan, a member of the Civil Contract faction.

The ad hoc parliamentary commission on matters related to the ethics of lawmakers will consist of 10 members and have a two-year term.

Civil Contract will be granted the right to appoint five of the commission’s 10 members, while the opposition Strong Armenia faction will appoint three members and the opposition Hayastan faction two members, Julhakyan said.

According to Julhakyan, the Civil Contract faction will have the right to appoint the first chair of the Ethics Commission, while the Strong Armenia faction will have the right to appoint the first deputy chair.

“The draft also provides for the periodic transfer of the right to appoint the chair and deputy chair of the commission among the factions. Thus, after the end of the first six-month period, the right to appoint the commission chair will be granted to the Strong Armenia faction, while the right to appoint the deputy chair will be granted to the Civil Contract faction. After the end of the second six-month period, the right to appoint the commission chair will be granted to the Civil Contract faction, while the right to appoint the deputy chair will be granted to the Hayastan faction.

After the end of the third six-month period, the right to appoint the commission chair will be granted to the Hayastan faction, while the right to appoint the deputy chair will be granted to the Civil Contract faction,” she said.

According to Arusyak Julhakyan, the commission is planned to be established for two years, but its term of activity may later be extended.

“The commission will be established for two years, but after the two-year period ends, naturally, we propose establishing it for another two years, and then for one more year. How this commission will operate depends on the political will of all the factions represented in our parliament,” Julhakyan said.

The bill was adopted with 92 votes in favor.

The Civil Contract faction has nominated MP Vilen Gabrielyan to chair the parliamentary committee on defense and security affairs.

“The committee’s work concerns protecting the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, the stability of state institutions, the security of citizens, and building confidence in the country’s future,” Gabrielyan said in his speech, thanking his colleagues for the nomination.

“This responsibility requires quality legislation, consistent oversight, professional engagement, and the ability to bring people together around the national interest,” he said.

“The committee should become a parliamentary platform where the experience of state bodies, the knowledge of the professional community, the potential of the technological and private sectors, and key public concerns are brought together. The committee’s work should be built on three interconnected pillars: high-quality legislative work, effective parliamentary oversight, and professional and institutional development,” Gabrielyan added.