Poll parties vow more money for the elderlyPolitical parties aim to win the hearts of elderly voters by granting them an old age allowance ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 baht, according to a policy dialogue organised by the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) and the National Health Commission Office. This would require a budget of 420 billion baht to cover around 12 million elderly people in the country. The PPRP also plans to form a health link to arrange local health volunteers to treat elderly and bedridden people in remote areas, and encourage the employment of elderly workers aged 60-65 in the private sector, Mr Sontirat said. Pisit Leeahtam, Democrat policy chairman, said the party will support elderly workers by giving 30,000 baht to elderly clubs in each community. Supachai Jaisamut, Bhumjaithai's registrar, said the party will set up a life insurance fund for elderly people over 60, with death benefits worth 100,000 baht.

Student pilot seriously injured during landing of trainer plane in Nakhon PathomThe CT-4E Airtrainer is a single-engine training plane manufactured by Pacific Aerospace Corp in New Zealand. (Photo supplied/Wassana Nanuam)An air force flight instructor was killed and a trainee pilot seriously injured when their plane crashed on landing in Kamphaeng Saen district of Nakhon Pathom on Saturday. The crash occurred at 11.52am when the CT-4E trainer was making a landing at the Kamphaeng Saen Flying Training School, said air force spokesman AVM Prapas Sornjaidee. The force of the crash killed flight instructor Flt Lt Supakit Inthachai and injured student pilot Plt Off Phurin Chana. ACM Alongkorn Vannarot ordered an air force medical team and an EC725 helicopter dispatched to the site to take the injured student pilot for medical treatment.

S112 charge restored for Rama IX postThe Appeals Court yesterday reversed a lower court's decision to acquit a suspect charged with lese majeste over remarks deemed offensive to the monarchy. On June 2, 2020, Mr Wutthipat posted the comment online about the passing of King Ananda Mahidol, or King Rama VIII, in 1946. On July 19, 2021, Siwaphan Manitkul, a private citizen, filed a police complaint accusing Mr Wutthipat of violating Section 112, as well as the Computer Crime Act. During the court's witness hearings on March 1-2 of last year, Mr Wutthipat admitted he had posted the comment and made a reference to King Rama IX, the younger brother of King Rama VIII, though he argued Section 112 did not cover past kings. The Samut Prakan Provincial Court dismissed the case, reasoning that even though the defendant had posted a comment referencing King Rama IX with offensive remarks, Section 112 only protects the current king, queen, heir to the throne and regent.

Record-hot summer has already peakedPeople use jackets and hoods as protection from strong sunlight in Bang Na district, Bangkok in early April. The department is expected to announce the end of summer and the beginning of the rainy season in the middle of next month, he added. Coupled with a high air temperature, the heat index there is usually higher than other areas, he said. In other words, the heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature. If the air temperature is higher than 40°C, the heat index can be 45°C or higher, a level which can cause people to faint or be hit by heat stroke, he added.

(Photo: @MFPThailand Twitter)The country’s opposition bloc should stick together to dislodge the military from politics and form a government after the election in May, Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat said on Saturday. Mr Pita made the comment on the sidelines of a campaign rally that drew thousands of enthusiastic supporters to Samyan Mitrtown in Bangkok. The May 14 election is shaping up as a contest between pro-military conservatives and the populist opposition led by the Pheu Thai Party and Move Forward. Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Pheu Thai and Mr Pita are the top two picks. Mr Pita said that support base complements Pheu Thai, backed by working people and farmers in the rural North and Northeast.

Authorities on Saturday warned residents across large swathes of the country, including Bangkok, to avoid going outdoors due to extreme heat. The department also warned of serious health impacts due to the persistent high heat. A heat index of between 41 and 54C is associated with a high risk of heat stroke in cases of prolonged exposure to the heat, she said, citing information published by the Department of Health. Bang Na in Bangkok, as well as the provinces of Chon Buri and Phuket, had a high heat index because of high humidity as they are very close to the sea, she said. This high heat situation is expected to continue until Sunday, while extreme weather, including thunderstorms, is expected from next Monday to Thursday.

Paetongtarn as PM would solve economic problems: pollThe Election Commission (EC) organised a meeting, attended by the general public, to promote knowledge and understanding of elections at the Chaeng Wattana government office complex in Lak Si district on April 11. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)Paetongtarn "Ung Ing" Shinawatra, a prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party, would be good at solving economic problems if she is chosen to take the position, according to an opinion survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, or Suan Dusit Poll. Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward Party would be good at solving corruption problems (20.91%) and promoting education (22.24%). Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha of the United Thai Nation Party would be good at promoting understanding between the people and the military (20.19%) and handling of religious affairs (16.24%). Pol Gen Sereepisut Temeeyaves of the Seri Ruam Thai Party would be good at narcotics suppression (34.90%).

Srettha Thavisin, one of Pheu Thai's prime ministerial candidates, announces the 10,000-baht handout policy early this month. "We are getting to the digital economy, but not everyone will benefit from it. Mr Jadet said Pheu Thai's digital wallet policy is not about simply wooing voters ahead of the election, but the party's determination to address economic problems. The 10,000-baht digital wallet policy has struck the right note with small-time vendors interviewed by the Bangkok Post, although some are not quite sure how it works. However, Preeyapat Raksatsana, a student and first-time voter, poured scorn on Pheu Thai's digital wallet policy, saying it is not sustainable and is close to vote-buying.

Haaland at the double as City heap pressure on Arsenal, Villa extend streakManchester City celebrate John Stones' opening goal against Leicester. City, chasing a fifth Premier League title in six years, are on 70 points, three behind Arsenal with eight games to go -- the Gunners play West Ham on Sunday. "Like I said lately, it is win, win and win," said Guardiola, whose side have now won 10 consecutive games in all competitions. "It was important for us to win today to arrive for the 'final' we have against them in the next Premier League game." - Villa form -Aston Villa put themselves in the mix for a top-four finish by beating Newcastle 3-0 for a fifth straight league win as Tottenham also lost.

Djokovic withdraws from Indian Wells Masters: organisersSerbia's Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Indian Wells Masters in California, organisers confirmed on SundayLOS ANGELES - World number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week's ATP/WTA Indian Wells Masters event, organisers confirmed on Sunday with the Serb barred from entering the country. Djokovic is unable to enter the United States because he is unvaccinated against Covid-19, but he had petitioned US authorities for special permission to enter. The Indian Wells ATP 1000 event begins next week in the California desert and is followed by the prestigious tournament in Miami which Djokovic is now expected to miss unless US authorities have a change of heart. On Friday, both the US Tennis Association and US Open organisers voiced support for Djokovic's request to be allowed to enter the United States. "Novak Djokovic is one the greatest champions our sport has ever seen," the US Open wrote on its official Twitter feed.

Hong Kong airline worker shortage hits city’s push to reopenHong Kong’s goal to reclaim its spot as Asia’s premier financial hub is being tested by a scarcity of workers in the air industry that’s vital for re-establishing the city’s international links. Manpower constraints are making it tough for local start-up Greater Bay Airlines to add flights from Hong Kong, Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hui told Bloomberg News this month. “We are now lacking hands, we need to fill vacancies,” said Yolanda Yu, vice-chair of the Board of Airline Representatives of Hong Kong. Like elsewhere during the pandemic, Hong Kong air industry workers were let go as demand for flights plunged. Yet Hong Kong was far slower than other international travel hubs in lifting its Covid restrictions, which were among the world’s most extreme.

(Photo: Piyarat Chongcharoen)KANCHANABURI: Security has been tightened along the border in Sangkhla Buri district as fresh fighting erupted in Myanmar on Saturday morning. They are about 200 metres away from the Three Pagodas Pass in Sangkhla Buri. People were not allowed to pass through the Nam Kerd security checkpoint in Nong Lu for their own safety. But security officers will remain on full alert along the border around the clock, particularly in vulnerable areas, to prevent possible intrusions. Sutthiporn Siwawetphikul, the Sangkhla Buri district chief, on Saturday assigned his deputy Damrongrat Suphaphan to inspect the border area and monitor the situation.

Court asked to rule on poll formulaThe Election Commission (EC) yesterday asked the Constitutional Court to rule on the inclusion of non-Thai citizens in its formula to calculate the number of people represented by each MP, which will have an impact on the number of seats each party could win in the next election. Based on the EC's calculation, there will be one member of parliament per 165,226 members of the public, based on a total population of 66,090,475, as of Dec 31 last year. Constitutional Court officials yesterday spent about 30 minutes examining the EC's petition. According to a source, the Office of Constitutional Court is required to forward the petition to the court within two days of receiving the petition and the court must decide if it will accept it within five days. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said as the matter involves pressing legal technicalities, the court should not take too long to consider it.

Sentiment increases in January to 43-month highThe Thailand Industry Sentiment Index (TISI) rose to 93.9 points in January, the highest level in 43 months, up from 92.6 points in December last year as entrepreneurs benefited from the state "Shop Dee Mee Khuen" tax rebate, the tourism recovery and China's reopening. This scheme helped increase demand for goods, said Suchart Chantaranakaracha, vice-chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The January TISI is based on a survey of 1,321 enterprises across 45 industry clubs under the FTI. One measure is to sign more free trade agreements, including one with the EU, said the FTI. "This will enable Thailand to benefit from many trade pacts, similar to Vietnam," he said.

Fighting continued at key points along the long front as Russian forces sought to expand their hold on territory in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin-appointed Donetsk leader, Denis Pushilin, claimed Russian forces were advancing near Vugledar, a strategically valuable town southwest of Donetsk city. "The enemy doesn't count its people and, despite numerous casualties, maintains a high intensity of attacks," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said late Sunday. -At the White House, Biden said he was opposed to supplying American fighter jets to Ukraine. Macron had talks with Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who has already floated the idea of sending Dutch F-16s to Ukraine.