Month: May 2023

  • World News

    Chinese envoy embarks on European tour to discuss Ukraine crisis settlement

    Beijing’s top diplomat, Li Hui, is set to embark on a European tour, including Ukraine, Russia, Poland, France, and Germany, with the aim of discussing a political resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This visit has the potential to coincide with the start of Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive to regain territory occupied by Russia. Li Hui, China’s special representative for…

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  • Pattaya News

    Bangkok Police bust sex toy ring, seize over 1 million baht worth of items

    Bangkok Police apprehended three individuals accused of selling sex toys and confiscated over 1 million baht worth of products on Friday. The suspects, only identified as Tanayong, 29 years old, Kanree, 27 years old, and Ilda, 32 years old, were detained at their residence in Foresta Village, located in Bangkok’s Nong Chok district. Their surnames have been withheld by the…

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  • Business News

    Thailand’s economy grows faster than expected in Q1 due to tourism rebound

    Data released today reveals that Thailand’s economy expanded faster than anticipated in the first quarter, with the return of private consumption and tourism helping to counterbalance slowing exports. As the country grapples with the effects of COVID-19, its recovery has been slower compared to regional neighbours. However, the resurgence of tourism – particularly the recent influx of Chinese visitors –…

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  • World News

    France to provide more light tanks and armoured vehicles to Ukraine

    France has pledged to supply Ukraine with dozens more light tanks and armored vehicles, following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris. The announcement comes as Kyiv prepares for a widely anticipated counter-offensive against Russia. Zelensky visited Macron at the Elysee Palace after making stops in Rome and Germany, where they discussed increasing…

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  • World News

    China sentences 78-year-old US citizen to life in prison for espionage

    A 78-year-old US citizen has been sentenced to life imprisonment for espionage, according to a statement issued by the Intermediate People’s Court in the eastern city of Suzhou, China. John Leung Shing-wan, who holds an American passport and is a permanent resident of Hong Kong, was found guilty of espionage and will be deprived of political rights for life. Suzhou…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket power outage announced for Heroines Monument area

    Phuket’s Thalang branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA Thalang) has announced a power outage scheduled south of the Heroines Monument. The disruption is expected to affect homes and businesses in the area. The power outage has been scheduled to take place tomorrow, May 16, between 9am and 4:30pm, and is necessary for workers to safely install load break switches…

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  • Thailand News

    Pickup truck overturns and catches fire in Ban Lat district, killing two

    A tragic accident occurred in Ban Lat district, Phetchaburi, when a heavily laden pickup truck overturned and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of a man and a woman. The incident took place near kilometer marker 157 on the south-bound Phetkasem highway in Tambon Samo Phlue and was reported to the 191 emergency center around 5:45am. Upon receiving the distress…

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  • Thai Life

    Determined 19 year old leaves ICU to cast vote in Thailand’s General Election

    The political drive of Thailand’s youth was exemplified by a resilient 19 year old who left the intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital in Chanthaburi to exercise his right to vote in Thailand’s General Election yesterday. Staff at Bangkok Chanthaburi Province transferred Kampanat, aka “Boom,” – suffering from a severe allergic reaction – via wheelchair out of the hospital…

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  • Thailand News

    Cheating husband shot and stabbed by wife as he tries to vote with mistress

    A Thai woman shot and stabbed her cheating husband after seeing him vote with his mistress during the General Election yesterday at a polling station in Samut Prakarn province near Bangkok. The mistress managed to escape with her life. CCTV footage captured the electrifying drama yesterday afternoon. CCTV shows a pickup truck moving quickly down the main road and crashing…

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  • Thailand News

    Lottery predictions for May 16: Thai lucky numbers and tips

    Top lottery predictions include a variety of prominent sources this week. Let’s take a look at some of the most standout tips and stories that have been gathered for your enjoyment. Mother River’s winning Numbers unveiled Mother River’s winning numbers for the draw tomorrow have been revealed, featuring a five-dentist number, two-digit numbers 45, 46, 56, three-digit number 456, and…

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  • Thailand News

    Samut Prakan election turmoil as officials refuse recount amidst mismatched votes and cards

    The District Chief of Samut Prakan, Somchak Kaewsena, visited the polling station located at the Daan Sam Rong Municipal District to oversee the vote counting process. Overall, everything went smoothly, and he expressed his gratitude to the Samut Prakan residents who exercised their voting rights. As of 10.30pm, the Move Forward Party (MFP) led in all eight districts. However, complications…

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  • Thailand News

    Record breaking! Bangkok has highest turnout in voter history

    The 2023 General Election witnessed the highest voter turnout in Bangkok’s history. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), over 74% of eligible voters cast their ballots in the election yesterday. Representatives from the BMA announced the unofficial election result from 6,360 polling stations in Bangkok in the early hours of this morning. Out of the 4,479,155 eligible voters, 3,339,664…

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  • Thailand News

    Storm damages Sukhothai polling station, officials flee with ballot boxes and 2 injured

    A severe storm caused significant damage to a polling station in Sukhothai, Thailand, yesterday, injuring two officials and forcing them to quickly gather and secure voting materials. The incident took place at Polling Station No. 22, Area 4, located in the multi-purpose building of Sri Satchanalai Municipal School, in Sri Satchanalai District. Upon arriving, reporters discovered the remains of several…

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  • Thailand News

    Thai postal company transports and delivers pre-election ballots for Thai elections 2022 with 100% coverage

    Yesterday Thai Postal Company Limited announced through social media that they have successfully delivered and distributed 100% of the advance General Election ballots both within Thailand and overseas for the upcoming 2026 elections. The transportation was completed using more than 500 vehicles and implemented strict security measures, including the use of GPS systems to monitor the path of the transport…

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  • Phuket News

    Body of missing Russian tourist found floating in Phuket sea

    The body of the Russian tourist swept away by strong waves at Promthep Cape on Friday was found floating off the coast of Phuket, southern Thailand, yesterday afternoon. A fisherman spotted the body of a foreign man floating in the sea near Laem Saeng Nakhlay, about 200 metres from Phuket’s Kalim Beach, and informed the authorities at 12.50pm, reports DailyNews.…

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  • Phuket News

    MFP wins all Phuket seats in General Election

    In yesterday’s General Election, the Move Forward Party (MFP) claimed victory in all three constituencies in Phuket, according to unofficial results declared early today. In Constituency 1, which covers Phuket Town, Koh Kaew, and Ratsada, Somchart Techathavorncharoen from the MFP emerged as the unofficial winner. On the ballot, Somchart was assigned the number two and received 18,604 votes. He expressed…

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  • Thailand News

    Seriphisut acknowledges election results, citing disapproval of military rule

    Seriphisut, leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, acknowledged the General Election results and congratulated the pro-democratic parties in a press conference after more than 20% of the votes were counted. He expressed hope that the Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party (MFP) parties would form a coalition government without needing support from other parties. This comes as the election…

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  • World News

    South Korea to raise electricity and city gas prices amid high inflation and cost of living

    South Korea announced today that it will increase electricity prices by 5.3% in an effort to partly account for rising generation costs. This decision, initially slated for implementation on April 1, was postponed by over a month due to concerns about the potential impact on already high inflation rates and the cost of living. This will be the second electricity…

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  • Business News

    Accessible tourism potential for Thailand’s post-pandemic resilience

    The World Tourism Organization emphasizes the importance of accessible tourism as the industry aims to recover post-pandemic. An estimated 10% of the global population is aged over 65, while approximately 16% have some form of disability. As Thailand’s economy increasingly relies on tourism, developments in accessible infrastructure are being implemented in both public and private sectors. Despite existing accessibility laws…

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  • Business News

    Thailand Plus Package extension anticipated to attract 6 billion baht investment in three years

    The Revenue Department anticipates that the tax measures designed to support the relocation of foreign investors’ production bases will generate investment of approximately 6 billion baht within three years, according to Deputy Director-General Vinit Visessuvanapoom. Visessuvanapoom explained that the cabinet has given its backing to an extension of the tax measures, also referred to as the Thailand Plus Package, which…

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  • Crime News

    Nine arrested in 1.5 tonne crystal meth seizure at Thai pier

    A total of nine individuals have been apprehended during a crackdown in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand, resulting in the confiscation of 1.5 tonnes of crystal meth. The Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) reported that the drugs were seized as they were being readied for transportation on a boat, ultimately intending to smuggle them out of the country. The operation…

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  • Business News

    National Telecom unlikely to set high-capacity specifications for first satellite

    National Telecom (NT), formed from the merger of TOT and CAT Telecom, is focusing on providing satellite specifications for state agency demands, which are estimated to increase by 7% annually, as stated by a top-ranking executive. With the satellite set to launch in the 126° East slot within the coming three years, determining its specifications is paramount. The firm aims…

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  • Business News

    Southeast Asia and China top destinations for overseas business expansion in Asia

    Southeast Asia and China are now the top choices for overseas expansion, with 83% of Asian businesses expressing interest in venturing abroad, as revealed in a recent report. The Business Outlook report, conducted by United Overseas Bank (UOB), surveyed over 4,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as large organisations in Asia. The study showed that over four out…

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  • Business News

    Thai airlines report surge in earnings as tourism rebounds

    Thai Airways International Public Company Limited and Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited have experienced a significant increase in their earnings for the first quarter, as tourists have started to return to Thailand in increasing numbers. In the first three months up to March, Thai Air recorded a net income of 12.51 billion baht (US$370 million), a considerable turnaround from their…

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  • Thailand News

    Muslim man crowned Mr Gay World Thailand set to compete globally in October

    A 30 year old Muslim man from southern Thailand has made history by winning the Mr Gay World Thailand competition and will represent the Thai LGBTQ+ community at the Mr Gay World 2023 contest in October later this year. Nazmadih Mateem Nujan, an outdoor fitness instructor, clinched the title at the event hosted by Bangkok Rainbow Organisation at Mambo Cabaret.…

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  • Business News

    Funding populist policies: borrowing or tax hikes?

    During the general election, political parties presented various populist pledges aimed at attracting voters. Among these were the controversial 10,000-baht digital wallet handout for individuals aged 16 and over, increasing minimum daily wages, raising minimum monthly salaries for university graduates, suspending debts for farmers, cutting electricity tariffs, and increasing the monthly allowance for people aged 60 and over. The Thailand…

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  • World News

    Thai opposition leader Pita Limjaroenrat set to play major role after voters reject army-backed rule

    Thai opposition leader Pita Limjaroenrat, 42 years old, seems poised to play a significant role in politics following voters rejecting nearly a decade of army-backed rule. With the majority of votes counted from Sunday’s poll, Pita’s radical Move Forward Party led the popular vote, ahead of the more established opposition Pheu Thai party. This is a remarkable achievement for a…

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  • Thailand News

    Vote-buying incidents highest in Bangkok during General Elections, says EC

    The Election Commission (EC) reported that the majority of vote-buying incidents during yesterday’s elections took place in Bangkok, which boasts the highest number of constituencies among all provinces. Despite this, the EC noted that the overall number of poll-related violations was lower than in previous elections. EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee disclosed that the commission received 163 complaints yesterday, with 58…

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  • Business News

    New government has room to spend 2 trillion baht on populist pledges

    The upcoming government is expected to have around two trillion baht at its disposal for implementing its populist policies, according to an anonymous source from the Finance Ministry. The figure takes into account the 500 billion baht needed for the Pheu Thai Party’s pledge to provide digital wallet handouts of 10,000 baht to those aged 16 and over. Should the…

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  • World News

    Thailand’s opposition wins stunning election victory

    Thailand’s opposition celebrated a significant election victory on Sunday after defeating military-allied parties, potentially marking the end of nearly a decade of conservative, army-backed rule. However, despite the liberal Move Forward party and the populist Pheu Thai Party leading with 99% of votes accounted for, it remains uncertain if either will form the next government. Complex parliamentary rules, established after…

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  • World News

    Thai woman robbed of 300,000 baht to bag snatcher at SEA Games in Cambodia

    A bag snatcher stole a handbag with assets worth 300,000 baht from a Thai woman at a restaurant in Cambodia last night. The victim suffered serious injuries to her arms and legs. The Thai woman spoke to KhaoSod about the theft that occurred at 9pm on Thursday, May 11. She revealed that she visited Cambodia to watch a football match…

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  • World News

    Malaysia’s human resource ministry corruption probe presents opportunity for migrant worker system reform

    The ongoing investigation into Malaysia’s Human Resource Ministry over allegations of corruption in foreign workers’ recruitment has cast a shadow on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government, which came to power after the November 2022 general election on an anti-graft platform. Officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have arrested three senior government officials connected to the Human Resource Minister Sivakumar’s…

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  • Business News

    Vaping promotion on social media impacting youth in Australia

    Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook predominantly exhibit vaping in a favourable manner, giving the impression that e-cigarette usage is widespread and socially acceptable. In Australia, traditional tobacco advertising has been prohibited for decades; however, e-cigarettes are extensively promoted on social media, undermining some of the progress made throughout earlier years. Most platforms have content policies explicitly prohibiting…

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  • World News

    Calm returns to Gaza as ceasefire holds

    Calm returned to Gaza on Sunday as a fragile ceasefire held for the most part, with both Palestinians and Israelis counting the cost of five days of cross-border fire that resulted in dozens of casualties. Fishermen took to their boats in the coastal enclave, as Gazans emerged from their homes after sheltering during the intense exchange of fire. The fighting…

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  • World News

    Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu face off in historic Turkish presidential runoff

    Voters in Turkey gave President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu another opportunity yesterday to make their case for the future of the country. A close result means neither secured 50% of the votes and will face each other in Turkey’s first presidential runoff on May 28. Erdogan, 69 years old, rose from humble beginnings in Istanbul to…

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  • Thailand News

    Elderly voters inadvertently tear ballot papers, violating Thai election law

    Instances of individuals tearing up ballot papers were reported in various provinces across Thailand. Most of those involved were elderly individuals who suffer from health conditions, and they maintained that they had no intention of damaging the papers. The Royal Thai Police revealed that the police’s election coordination centre had received around 20 reports of voters tearing up their ballot…

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  • World News

    Cyclone Mocha brings storm surge to western Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh

    Cyclone Mocha swept through Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh yesterday, causing storm surges in western Myanmar, despite sparing large refugee camps. The cyclone made landfall between Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar and Sittwe in Myanmar, with winds reaching up to 195kph in the most significant storm to hit the Bay of Bengal in over ten years. Although communications with Sittwe were mostly cut…

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