(Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Chiang Mai and Phuket tourism operators hope the new government led by the Move Forward Party (MFP) can solve the PM2.5 dust crisis, work to decentralise power, and allocate budget for regional development and restoring tourism competitiveness. La-iad Bungsrithong, board adviser for the Thai Hotels Association, said the election result reaffirms that Chiang Mai desires change. In addition, there was a delay in Covid-19 vaccine allotments, with Chiang Mai among the last to receive them despite being one of the major provinces in Thailand, said Mrs La-iad. Mrs La-iad said the new government should negotiate with neighbouring countries on a national scale and set annual targets with key performance indicators for related authorities. However, if a higher minimum wage can help the majority of society, tourism operators are ready to comply with a new rule, she said.

Exit poll shows Pheu Thai, Move Forward leading votePheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidates Paetongtarn Shinawatra (left) and Srettha Thavisin (right) leave after looking at live results on a screen at the party headquarters in Bangkok on May 14, 2023 after polls closed in Thailand's general election. A pre-election poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) showed the Pheu Thai party winning between 164 and 172 seats, the most of any party. The liberal Move Forward party came in second with between 80 and 88 seats, according to the Nida poll. A separate exit poll by Nation Group showed the Pheu Thai party, linked to influential former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, garnering 32.6% of the constituency vote, while Move Forward had 29.4%, together giving them a slim majority if those results hold. A third survey by university Suan Dusit, taken before voting began, showed Pheu Thai winning as many as 246 seats, followed by Move Forward at 106.

Ngern Tid Lor Public Company Limited, or TIDLOR has unveiled its Q1/23 performance, achieving 955 million baht in net profit, representing a 16.9% increase compared to the previous quarter. The strong performance reflects remarkable portfolio growth and outstanding growth in the insurance brokerage business, while maintaining a low non-performing loan (NPLs) ratio of 1.5%. Piyasak Ukritnukun, Managing Director of Ngern Tidlor or TIDLOR, stated, "The Q1/23 performance reflects the company's key strategies set in Q4/22 with a solid commitment to driving growth with a focus on quality. Looking at Q1/23, the company showed strong performances in the vehicle-title loan business and insurance brokerage business, in line with the recovering economic outlook, particularly inthe tourism sector. Ngern Tidlor is committed to leveraging its services in these areas to sustain its leadership and foster future growth.

Election Commission says MFP won Sunday's electionThe Election Commission concluded its vote counting on Monday morning and announced the Move Forward Party’s victory in the May 14 general election. EC chairman Ittiporn Boonpracong said MFP won 112 constituency MPs and 39 list seats, followed by Pheu Thai with 112 constituency MPs and 29 list MPs, Bhumjaithai with 68 constituency MPs and 3 list MPs, Palang Pracharath 39 constituency MPs and 1 list MP and United Thai Nation Party with 23 constituency MPs and 13 list MPs. Of the other parties, the Democrats won 22 constituency MPs and 3 list MPs, Chartthaipattana 9 constituency MPs and 1 list MP, Prachachat 7 constituency MPs and 2 list MPs, Thai Sang Thai 5 constituency MPs and 1 list MP, Peu Thai Rumphalang 2 constituency MPs, Chartpattanakla 1 constituency MP and 1 list MP and Seriruamthai 1 list MP. Other parties that won 1 list MP each were New Democracy, New Party, Thai Counties, Fair Party, Plung Sungkom Mai and Thai Teachers for People. Mr Ittiporn said voter turnout was a record 75.22%, surpassing 75.03% in 2011.

Thailand decides: Live vote countThe Election Commission (EC) began counting votes after the general election concluded at 5pm on Sunday. As of 00.34am, the Move Forward Party had taken the lead in both the constituency and party-list races, followed by the Pheu Thai Party and the Bhumjaithai Party.

Brits can still put on a good showConsidering how depressing the world news has been lately, the coronation of King Charles III last weekend provided a brief diversion. It might not be everybody's cup of tea but the Brits certainly know how to put on a show if a bit of history is involved. They're good at pomp and pageantry and most importantly love a parade with plenty of horses. The more adventurous could purchase a King Charles solar-powered dancing figurine. Other foodstuffs included musical biscuit tins that play the national anthem and who could resist chocolate crowns and chocolate heads of King Charles.

G-7 finance chiefs boost Ukraine aid, propose supply chain planIgnazio Visco, governor of the Bank of Italy, seated front row from right, Francois Villeroy de Galhau, governor of the Bank of France, Tiff Macklem, governor of the Bank of Canada, and Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank (ECB), ahead of the central bank session of the Group of Seven (G-7) finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Niigata, Japan, on Saturday. - Financial stability -The need to ensure global financial stability was a prominent theme following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank and the takeover of Credit Suisse. The world’s top economic policymakers said they would closely monitor developments in the banking sector and “stand ready to take appropriate actions” to maintain financial stability. The finance ministers and central bank governors also said they would address vulnerabilities in non-bank financial intermediation and tackle liquidity issues in open-ended funds. That indicates growing concerns among the G-7 over China, given its role in supplying and manufacturing for the global economy.

Registrations for tourism businesses grow in 2023Tourists arrive for an hour-long visit to Maya Bay beach in the Phi Phi islands in Krabi province. The country's tourism sector has experienced a robust recovery based on new registrations of tourism-related businesses in the first four months of this year. Based on registered capital, the range with the most new registrations was less than 1 million baht, totalling 3,971 businesses or 65.7%, followed by capital of 1-5 million baht with 1,985 businesses or 32.9%. The next capital range was 5-100 million baht with 67 businesses or 1.11% of total new registrations, followed by more than 100 million baht, which had 18 businesses or 0.30%. These businesses can be classified into three types: limited partnerships (202,544 businesses, accounting for 23.3%), limited companies (667,100 businesses, accounting for 76.6%) and public companies (1,397 businesses, accounting for 0.16%).

Soraoat Dapbang celebrates after winning the men's 100m final at the SEA Games on Friday. (Photo: AFP)Thailand's Soraoat Dapbang became the fastest man in Southeast Asia when he won the 100m title at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia on Friday. In taekwondo, Jiraphong Khetlak and Sasipha Chupon added the men's and women's freestyle poomsae individual gold medals to the Thai haul. In fencing, Thailand's Voragun Srinualnad beat Vietnam's Vu Thanh An in the men's sabre final. It is the first SEA Games on Cambodian soil since the event was launched as the South East Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games in 1959.

KingBridge Tower, Saha Group's first skyscraper in its history of over 80 years, is intended to be the home and space for companies within the group and their tenants. The design of KingBridge Tower encourages the gathering of people and organisations while being architecturally harmonious with Bhumibol Bridge and its surrounding landscape and community. Architects 49 Limited (A49) is the main architecture firm responsible for the building design, and Mott MacDonald, a globally-renowned engineering consultancy, has designed the engineering structure of Bhumibol Bridge itself. The building's design takes a harmonious approach, which means it will not undermine the elegance of Bhumibol Bridge but will reinforce each other. KingBridge Tower also prioritises quality of life for its occupants.

The World Wide Web turns 30The public version of the World Wide Web turned 30 recently. Inside CERN, people loved it and by January 1993 the world had around 50 HTTP servers. The cross piece is the transistor channel and the two pieces making up the stem make up the transistor gate. - Some of us have yet to upgrade to Windows 11 and I'm reading Windows 12 will be out in 2024. - So here we are at the end of this week's article without once mentioning the biggest topic of the moment.

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.