Thailand

BANGKOK, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Thai voters flock to polling stations across the country on Sunday for the country's first general election since the 2014 coup.

Eligible voters have been lining up at polling station since 6:00 a.m. local time. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha cast his ballot at a station in Bangkok at about 8:30 a.m. local time.

The prime minister asked voters to use their rights properly to bring about unity and better development of the country.

BANGKOK, March 17 (Xinhua) -- An average of 75 percent voter turnout was reported in Sunday's early voting for the general election in Thailand, a senior official of the Election Commission said.

Of a total of 2.63 million Thais who had registered as early voters, over 75 percent reportedly cast their ballots on Sunday, confirmed Election Commission Deputy Secretary General Nat Laosisavakul.

Early voters cast their ballots without any violent disturbance reported, said National Police Commissioner General Pol. Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda.

13 Feb 2019; DW: The opening ceremony for the annual Cobra Gold maneuvers launched the biggest exercise of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, with 29 nations taking part as participants or observers over ten days until next Thursday.

In addition to Thailand and the US, seven other nations are actively participating: Singapore, Japan, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea. About 4,500 US personnel, on land and sea, are taking part.

11 Feb 2019; AFP: Thai Princess Ubolratana was on Monday formally disqualified for running for prime minister, ending her brief and ill-fated political union with a party allied to the powerful Shinawatra clan, just days after a stern royal command rebuking her candidacy was issued by her brother, the king.

BANGKOK, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn said late Friday that his elder sister Princess Ubolratana Mahidol is still a member of the royal family and thus "inappropriate" to be involved in politics.

A televised royal statement said Princess Ubolratana, although relinquished her royal titles in 1972, is the eldest child of revered late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, and elder sister of current king and other princess, thus is still counted as a member of the royal family.

08 Feb 2019; DW: Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, the sister of Thailand's current King Maha Vajiralongkorn, announced her candidacy Friday for prime minister in the upcoming elections on March 24.

The move was a first for Thailand, a constitutional monarchy since 1932 in which the royal family is expected to stay out of politics.

BANGKOK, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research) said on Monday that initial economic loss from the fine dust fouling the air in Bangkok and surrounding areas is estimated at 2.6 billion baht (82 million U.S. dollars) or more.

K-Research attributed it mainly to lost opportunities in tourism. "The initial opportunity cost for tourism was at 1-3.5 billion baht, representing 2.5-4.5 percent of tourism income contributed by Bangkok," said the report.

11 Jan 2019; AFP: An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family seeking asylum in Australia will fly to Canada late Friday, the head of Thai immigration police said, in a surprise twist to a saga partly played out over Twitter.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun was granted refugee status by the UN days ago after arriving in Bangkok over the weekend and amassing a large Twitter following as she made desperate pleas for help from the airport.

BANGKOK (AP) — Share prices have surged in Europe and Asia on Wednesday on hopes for progress in resolving the tariffs battle between the U.S. and China as talks appeared to have been extended in Beijing.

KEEPING SCORE: Germany’s DAX added 1.3 percent to 10,944.12 while the CAC 40 in France climbed 1.4 percent to 4,837.95. Britain’s FTSE 100 jumped 0.8 percent to 6,913.33. Wall Street looked set for more gains, with the future contract for the Dow up 0.5 percent while that for the S&P 500 also rose 0.5 percent.

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s immigration police chief met Tuesday with officials from the Saudi Embassy in Bangkok, as Saudi Arabia tried to distance itself from accusations that it tried to block a young woman’s effort to flee her family and seek asylum abroad.

Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun arrived in Bangkok from Kuwait late Saturday after slipping away from her family, whom she accused of abusing her. The 18-year-old was stopped by officials in Thailand who confiscated her passport.