IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Thailand

Rama X appoints queen ahead of coronation

Thai Royal Consort Suthida Vajiralongkorn na Ayutthaya was named Queen Suthida on Wednesday. In a royal announcement published in the Royal Gazette, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn, also known by the title King Rama X, declared the royal consort Queen Suthida. The naming of the 40-year-old new queen, who carries the army rank of general, took place days before the coronation ceremonies for the monarch, scheduled for the weekend. Vajiralongkorn has had three previous marriages and divorced his previous wife, with whom he has a son, in 2014. He became king after the death in October 2016 of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Venezuela

Washington divided over military option

US media reported on Wednesday that the US government has not reached a consensus on whether to engage in military intervention in Venezuela to support the opposition leader Juan Guaido. According to a report in The Washington Post, as the Venezuelan government remains intact after an attempted yet failed coup on Tuesday, Washington has sent "mixed messages about what role, if any, the US military would play in Washington's future efforts to resolve the Venezuelan crisis". US President Donald Trump has "shown little willingness to plunge into Venezuela", according to his current and former aides, the newspaper reported. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told financial news channel Fox Business on Wednesday that a peaceful solution was still desired but that "military action is possible. If that's what's required, that's what the United States will do".

Xinhua - Afp

(China Daily Global 05/03/2019 page4)