People's Party presses for recounts in disputed races
People's Party presses for recounts in disputed racesPeople’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, left, rides on the back of a truck in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district on Monday to thank voters after preliminary results saw the party win in all constituencies in the capital. Varuth HirunyathebThe People's Party on Monday vowed to pursue recounts in constituencies where voting irregularities were suspected, particularly in Lampang and Khon Kaen, where narrow margins and unusually high numbers of invalid ballots were recorded. The party's legal adviser, Teera Suteevarangkul, has been appointed to lead a nationwide review of any anomalies, urging candidates and supporters to report suspected irregularities directly, said Mr Natthaphong. Addressing rumours that the People's Party was in talks with the Bhumjaithai Party to form a coalition government, Mr Natthaphong denied any such contact. "No one truly loses if the national interest comes first," he said, adding that every vote cast for the People's Party would continue to drive policy development and reform efforts.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 22:44 UTC
BJT to push charter rewrite
Government HouseBhumjaithai Party (BJT) leader Anutin Charnvirakul vowed to press ahead with the constitutional amendment process after the result of the referendum on Sunday showed strong public support for rewriting the charter. The referendum followed a Constitutional Court ruling, which requires public consultation before any attempt to rewrite the entire constitution. Unofficial election results showed the BJT winning 174 constituency seats and 19 party-list seats, a significant increase from the previous general election. Mr Anutin said the outcome exceeded expectations, noting the party had originally projected 130–170 seats. On coalition formation, Mr Anutin said the country needs a strong and stable government capable of functioning effectively.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 22:44 UTC
Vote-buying tops poll complaints
VARUTH HIRUNYATHEBAt least 113 complaints alleging election irregularities have been lodged to date, with vote-buying comprising the vast majority, the Election Commission (EC) said on Monday. Pol Gen Kittharath confirmed that several election law and criminal offences had been reported, including vote-buying, ballot destruction, and illegal distribution of alcohol. He said that at least seven vote-buying cases have been identified and are currently under police investigation. Pol Gen Kittharath said that vote-buying cases have been reported in Police Regions 4, 5, 6, and 7, with one case each, and Police Region 8 with three cases, totalling seven. Pol Gen Kittharath said that the most frequent offence involved torn ballots.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 22:44 UTC
PP secretary-general steps down over poll results
PP secretary-general steps down over poll resultsSarayut: Making way for new ideasPeople's Party (PP) secretary-general Sarayut Jailak said on Monday he would resign after the party's election performance fell below expectations. Asked whether the PP's loss stemmed from its decision to vote for Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister before declining to join the government, Mr Sarayut said this was not the main factor, noting that the results were mixed rather than a total defeat. We also lost in some of the constituencies we had won because Bhumjaithai has been a stronger party," he said. "I've worked behind the scenes with the party for a long time and have had considerable influence," Mr Sarayut said. The case involves three PP constituency MPs and 12 party-list MPs, and the party would wait for the final ruling before taking further action.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 22:20 UTC
What the election results reveal
Varuth HirunyathebThe 2026 election has redrawn Thailand's political landscape, as Bhumjaithai secured a commanding 194 seats, up 123 from 2023. People's PartyThe People's Party fell short of expectations after pre-election polls widely predicted a first-place finish. For the People's Party, the results suggest the party may have already passed its political peak, leaving its future prospects contingent on how convincingly it recalibrates its strategy and rebuilds momentum. Pheu Thai PartyThe election also proved deeply disappointing for Pheu Thai, which lost 65 seats compared with 2023. Thai political history offers numerous examples of similar parties that rose rapidly through defections, only to fade in subsequent elections.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 22:16 UTC
US trial lawyer says Meta, YouTube 'engineered addiction' in children
US trial lawyer says Meta, YouTube 'engineered addiction' in childrenLOS ANGELES (UNITED STATES) - Meta and Google-owned YouTube "engineered addiction" in children, a lawyer for the plaintiff said on Monday as a landmark trial on the effects of social media on minors began in earnest in a California court. "This case is about two of the richest corporations in history who have engineered addiction in children's brains," the attorney, Mark Lanier, told the jury in his opening statement. The Los Angeles trial before Judge Carolyn Kuhl focuses on allegations that a 20-year-old woman identified as Kayley G.M. suffered severe mental harm because she became addicted to social media as a child. The lawyer described Instagram as an "endless feed" of people's "filtered lives" where users "spend time waiting for social validation."
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 21:57 UTC
What next for Vonn after painful end to Olympic dream?
What next for Vonn after painful end to Olympic dream? She, and her coach Aksel Lund Svindal, had insisted she could compete for medals after completing two training runs in Italy. But competition is another matter entirely and with eventual gold winner Breezy Johnson's leading time to aim for, Vonn had to push harder. Vonn went under the knife twice at the Ca' Foncello hospital in Treviso to stabilise a fractured femur bone, according to Italian news agency ANSA. So far the fracture is the only injury to be confirmed by the USA Olympic team but that will likely be enough on its own to bring an end to what had been a phenomenal season in which she still tops the World Cup downhill standings.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 21:50 UTC
Starmer vows to remain as UK PM amid Epstein fallout
Starmer vows to remain as UK PM amid Epstein falloutKeir Starmer has accused Mandelson of lying about his ties to financier Epstein. McSweeney's departure deprives the beleaguered UK leader of his closest adviser and the man who helped Starmer drag Labour back to the centre after succeeding leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2020. Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said he believed Starmer would still be leader this time next year, saying he had a five-year mandate. 'Purpose'Labour has trailed Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party by double-digit margins in the polls for the past year. Starmer also faces a crucial by-election on February 28, defeat in which would add to his woes.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 20:21 UTC
PP concedes defeat in Songkhla Constituency 2
PP concedes defeat in Songkhla Constituency 2Dr Supat Hasuwannakit (photo: People's Party)People's Party candidate Supat Hasuwannakit thanked voters in Songkhla for their support before conceding defeat to Democrat's Juri Namkeaw, who as of Monday looked set to win the seat for Constituency 2. According to unofficial results released on Monday, Mr Juri received 30,686 votes, while Dr Supat received 21,162 votes. Speaking to the media on Monday, Dr Supat congratulated Mr Juri for earning the trust of voters in Constituency 2. Instead, he plans to continue his political journey by working with the People’s Party and people from all sectors to push for national reform. Mr Juri also addressed the media, thanking voters for their trust and pledging to work to the fullest if officially certified, with a focus on local development and flood recovery efforts.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 19:04 UTC
TAT Celebrates 51 Years of Thai-China Relations with CNY 2026 in BKK and Hat Yai.
Bangkok, February 5 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) today announced Amazing Thailand Chinese New Year 2026, marking the Golden Horse year and the 51st anniversary of Thailand–China diplomatic relations. Maj. Gen. Kris Warit, Deputy Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, reflected strong institutional and regional cooperation in delivering the festival. Ms Thapanee said “Through our flagship events in Bangkok and Hat Yai, the TAT is projecting confidence and vitality at a national scale. In Hat Yai, Songkhla, the TAT is presenting Amazing Thailand Chinese New Year 2026 @Hat Yai, taking place from February 17-20 along Saneha Nusorn Road. Beyond the two flagship destinations, the TAT is supporting Chinese New Year celebrations in regions with distinctive Thai–Chinese heritage to extend tourism benefits nationwide.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 18:53 UTC
Singapore’s income inequality at record low but concerns linger
(Photo: Bloomberg)SINGAPORE — Singapore’s income inequality fell to a record low last year amid lingering cost-of-living concerns, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong pledging to reduce the gap further. The city-state, one of the world’s richest nations, also published for the first time a measure of wealth inequality, which is higher than the income gap. Singapore recently updated its methodology on the income inequality metric to factor in other sources like rental income and investments. The narrower income gap comes as residents saw real income growth over the last decade, with those in the lower-income bracket experiencing higher real income growth. The study noted that wealth inequality is “broadly comparable to that of other advanced economies.”Singapore has been trying to navigate a tricky balance.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 18:16 UTC
Lies, horror, trauma: Kenyans recount forced Russian recruitment
Lies, horror, trauma: Kenyans recount forced Russian recruitmentRelatives of Kenyans sent to fight in Ukraine have demanded urgent government action to repatriate their kin. "They told us: 'If you don't sign, you're dead'," Victor told AFP, showing his Russian military service record and combat medallion. AFP was able to identify two other recruitment agencies sending Kenyans to Russia but was unable to contact them. In the early days of its invasion of Ukraine, Russia was accused of using its own ethnic minorities as expendable forces: Chechens, Dagestanis and others. Moscow has "destroyed my life", she told AFP through tears.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 18:11 UTC
Japan restarts world's biggest nuclear plant, again
Japan restarts world's biggest nuclear plant, againKashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station had been offline since Japan pulled the plug on atomic power after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. afpTOKYO - Japan switched on the world's biggest nuclear power plant again on Monday, its operator said, after an earlier attempt was quickly suspended due to a minor glitch. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in the Niigata region restarted at 2pm (1pm Thai time), the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said in a statement. Conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who pulled off a thumping election victory on Sunday, has promoted nuclear power to energise the Asian economic giant. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world's biggest nuclear power plant by potential capacity, although just one reactor of seven was restarted.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 18:11 UTC
Sony to exit Blu-ray disc recorder market amid rise of streaming services
KYODO — Sony Corporation stated on Monday that it has decided to exit the Blu-ray disc recorder market as the widespread availability of streaming services has snuffed out demand, with final shipments of recorders to begin in February this year. Sony, a wholly owned subsidiary and the electronics unit of Sony Group Corp, has already ended production of Blu-ray recorders and ceased manufacturing recordable discs in February last year. But demand for the storage media has steadily declined with the rise of video streaming services such as Netflix and TVer, a catch-up streaming service jointly run by Japanese television networks. According to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, domestic shipments of Blu-ray recorders peaked at 6.39 million units in 2011 but stood at less than 10% of that figure in 2025 at 620,000 units. The Japanese company is pivoting to entertainment businesses, such as anime and films, as part of its strategy to accelerate expansion.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 16:02 UTC
Dems to review strategy as poll results 'below target'
Dems to review strategy as poll results 'below target'Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva (in white shirt) and key party figures including party secretary-general Chaiwut Bannawat, centre, hold a press conference after the general election Sunday evening. Pornprom SatrabhayaThe Democrat Party is preparing to overhaul its strategy and internal operations, said party secretary-general Chaiwut Bannawat, after unofficial results showed the party is poised to win just 22 seats in the House of Representatives — slightly below its target. Mr Chaiwut noted in several constituencies in the South, Democrat candidates came close to winning the race. He admitted the Democrat Party began preparations relatively late and had limited time to campaign, making it difficult to catch up in the province. Mr Chaiwut said the party’s executive committee will meet on Feb 11 to review the party's performance in the election, analyse strengths and weaknesses, and consider structural adjustments.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 09, 2026 15:13 UTC