Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Dubai on Nov 8, 2022, with his daughter Paetongtarn, Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate, and baby granddaughter. (Photo: Ing Shinawatra's Facebook)Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, living in self-exile in Dubai, posted on social media again on Tuesday saying he wants to return home to Thailand by July, before his birthday, to care for his grandchildren. I am determined to return home by July before my birthday to take care of my grandchildren. On Tuesday he posted again on Twitter at 10.26am: "Don't worry that I will be a burden for the Pheu Thai Party. Critics said it was his last push for his Pheu Thai Party to achieve its goal of winning the election by a landslide as the Move Forward Party's popularity was growing fast and threatening.

Virus curbs set to return to schoolsYoungsters form a human train as they are led by their teacher to class on the first day of term at Banbangkapi School in May last year. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)The Education and Public Health ministries have been told to ramp up Covid-19 control measures in schools due to concerns over a potential spike in infections when students begin returning to class later this month. To prevent cases from spiralling out of control, Gen Prayut asked the Education and Public Health ministries to bring back preventive measures at schools and other educational institutions. On Friday, the WHO announced that Covid-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), effectively ending the three-year pandemic. Since Jan 1, 10,081 Covid-19 cases have been reported, along with 298 deaths.

(Photo: Somchai Poomlard)The boiling hot weather in Thailand is causing an upsurge in electricity consumption, leading to a record high of 34,826.5 megawatts on May 6, says the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The new record was reached at 9.41pm on Saturday, compared with 33,177.3MW at 2.30pm on April 28. Thailand is seeing new power consumption records during the hot season every year. Many users, especially entrepreneurs who need huge amounts of electricity to run their businesses, have decided to generate power themselves by installing rooftop solar panels. During the first four months of this year, businesses paid 5.33 baht per unit, up 13% from the previous record high of 4.72 baht per unit, while households paid 4.72 baht per unit.

The CIB will not ignore any officers or agencies found to have been involved with such offences," said Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop. A tip-off suggested the hitmen were about to threaten and eliminate certain political canvassers in the South, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said. Cabin gangPol Lt Gen Jirabhop said the Cabin gang is a gathering of gunmen and young miscreants. "This police operation also gets rid of influential figures and hitmen to prevent any impact on the election," said Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop. Pol Lt Gen Nithithorn Chintakanon, the centre spokesman, said staff will notify people to be beware of violating election laws and educate police about poll laws.

Local officials tried to cover up scale of Chinese mine disaster by hiding bodies, report findsLocal officials in northern China moved the bodies of miners killed in a flood last year and produced a fake accident report to downplay the scale of the disaster, an official report has concluded. But the report said local officials committed serious misreporting by issuing a report that only two people were missing - which meant the investigation could have been carried out at a local level. Seven days after the flood, the bodies of 12 workers were transferred to another location in secret. The accident report said the accident was the result of shoddy construction work and 20 people, including the head of the mine, the boss of the firm building the mine and local officials at various levels, have been taken into custody. The investigation report was published on April 28, but on Saturday it could not longer be found on the Hebei emergency management department's website.

King Charles III wears St Edward’s Crown at the coronation ceremony held inside Westminster Abbey in London Saturday. (Photo: AFP)LONDON: Charles III on Saturday finally met his date with destiny after a lifetime as heir to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, as he was officially crowned king in the first coronation in Britain since 1953. (Story continues below)King Charles III arrives at Westminster Abbey. As king, Charles is supreme governor of the Church of England and has described himself as a “committed Anglican Christian”. (Story continues below)King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort kneel in prayer at Westminster Abbey.

Workers in central Cape Town are putting the finishing touches on the 54-room Hemp Hotel, which is due to be completed in June. Hemp bricks are becoming increasingly popular in the construction world thanks to their insulating, fire-resistant and climate-friendly properties. - Carbon credits -Afrimat Hemp is now preparing to produce its first blocks made only with South African hemp. "We see this as a bit of a lighthouse project," Muller says of the Hemp Hotel. Hemp Hotel has been ranked the "tallest building to incorporate hemp-based materials in the world" by Steve Allin, director of the Ireland-based International Hemp Building Association.

Nuttachart Mekmasin, executive director of the research department, said the brokerage expects the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index to improve in the first half of May due to internal and external factors. Pornprom SatrabhayaAsia Plus Securities (ASPS) said buying is more likely than selling this month with fund flows especially after the general election. "Statistically, in the years that the SET index fell in January-April, selling is unlikely in May. The SET index stands at around 1,500, lower than the first-quarter average of 1,645. ASPS expects the SET index to be around 1,610 points with limited upside.

The bid followed a number of reports about foreign tourists who possessed or consumed cannabis without knowing they could face harsh punishment. However, amid a strong resumption of tourism, Mr Yuthasak said existing tourism products should be adequate to strengthen the industry without relying on cannabis. Mr Yuthasak said over the past several months the TAT didn't seriously promote cannabis tourism. Chotechuang Soorangura, vice-president of the TTAA, said foreign arrivals of almost 40 million in 2019 proved that Thai tourism can prosper even without promoting cannabis. Mr Chotechuang said the public outcry against cannabis legalisation stemmed from loopholes in the legislation related to the plant's control.

(Photo: AFP)NEAR BAKHMUT, Ukraine: Near the frontline city of Bakhmut, members of a Ukrainian tank unit say they are all set for the expected spring offensive against Russian forces in the country's east. Surrounded by trees on an overcast day, crew chief Oleksandr and three other soldiers use a special six-metre rod to clean the cannon of their T-72 tank. Ukraine says that for months it has been preparing an offensive aimed at repelling Russian forces from the territory they currently hold in the east and south. Analysts regularly cite those southern areas as potential backdrops to the Ukrainian forces' spring offensive. But for Ivan, a 24-year-old mechanic busy cleaning his tank machine gun, the offensive "will not change things as quickly as everyone wants".

TDRI questions party stimulus plansElection campaign posters are seen along the Asoke-Din Daeng Road. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has warned major political parties that their main election campaign projects might not be necessary as a stimulus since the economy is not in recession. A TDRI report published on Monday aims to study and analyse political parties' budget management and provide some suggestions for them to adapt future strategies. The analysis was based on the policies of six leading political parties -- Pheu Thai, the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party, the Democrat Party, the Bhumjaithai Party, and the Move Forward Party (MFP). The TDRI study also voices caution over budget management plans the six parties declared to the Election Commission (EC).

Wealthy tourists unfazed by pricey tripsPedestrians cross an intersection in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. (Photo: Bloomberg)Increased hotel room prices and living expenses in Japan will not significantly affect tourists with high purchasing power as they usually demand premium services, but the outbound market could slow based on seasonality. Chotechuang Soorangura, vice-president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, said expensive room rates have been an issue in many countries, not only Japan. The outbound market from late May until August is expected to slow as this period is usually a low season for Thai tourists. While the local tourism industry faces a labour shortage, he said the outbound market is fine as Thai tour guides with Japanese language skills are sufficient.

Thaksin says he'll be back soon after Paetongtarn gives birthRed-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship supporters hold a birthday party for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawtra in Bangkok on July 26, 2016, when he turned 67 years old. (File photo)Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra wrote on social media that now his seventh and youngest grandchild has been born, he will be back soon because at 73 years old, he wants to care of his grandchildren. Thaksin on Monday morning wrote on Twitter that he was delighted with the news that his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra had just borne his seventh grandchild. See you soon," Thaksin wrote. Ms Paetongtarn, a prime ministerial candidate from the Pheu Thai Party, wrote on Instagram that her son was named Phruethasin Suksawat and his nickname was Thasin.

Thailand's Achitpol Kirirom shrugs off a challenge from Singapore's Nicky Melvin Singh during their opening Group B game on Sunday. The War Elephants were denied the gold medal in the previous two editions of the Games by arch-rivals Vietnam. Thailand started off well in their first Group B game with a Leon James shot being warded off by a Singapore defender in the opening minute. The War Elephants will play their second Group B game against arch-rivals Malaysia on Saturday at the same venue. Chaba Kaew confidentThe Thai women's football team left for Cambodia on Sunday morning to take part in the 2023 SEA Games.

And no better place than Siem Reap, a place I’ve been to numerous times and yet never tire of it. What does hit you almost immediately is aptly named the resort is, as you enter and you’re almost in a different place. Though, the best place to start the day would be outside by the pool under a slatted roof taking tranquil mornings. The best foot massage I’ve ever had (and I live in Bangkok), the massage includes a foot scrub, cooler and massage. A 4.30am wake-up call and prompt 5am departure from Amansara via a remork will awaken you with fresh cool air.