Hino supported the organization of the annual general meeting “Laemchabang Logistic Fair 2024”
Hino was the main sponsor of the 2023 Annual General Meeting “Laemchabang Logistic Fair 2024” at the Physical Education Building, Kasetsart University, Sriracha Campus, Chonburi Province on Saturday, March 2, 2024.
The meeting as honored to have Mr. Nopparat Sriphrom, Sriracha District Chief, Ms. Sunee Phutiwanit, President of the Laem Chabang Chonburi Transport Association, and Ms. Yumiko Kawamura, President of Hino Motors Sales (Thailand) Ltd. as the chairman of the opening ceremony.
During the event, there was a discussion on the topic “Moving towards change and being ready to make profits with Hino” providing knowledge and guidance regarding Euro 5 standards, various transportation directions in Thailand, the TSM or Transport Safety Management system, and professional truck management.
In addition to bringing knowledge to transport operators, the Hino booth also displayed commercial trucks which meet the needs of various uses in all forms of transportation. They can be customized for a variety of uses, such as the stage vehicle which we use, the Hino 500 Victor Wing Van, with a wing van body type installed with an LED screen and spacious interior.
The wings can be opened. It is to transport and cover all angles. Hino also brought benefits in terms of after-sales services, including standard and quality spare parts products for attendees at the event. Let Hino be your business partner. We are ready to take care of our clients with happiness, a smile and confidence. We are a leading commercial truck and are ready to take care of and create profits for our customers.
Hino has continuously developed products and services to meet the needs of customers and is ready to take care of customers with happiness and smiles continuously.
For more information and activities of Hino customer smile project to create happiness and make our customer and Thai society smile and now always. Please visit www.hinothailand.com, follow us on Facebook: Hino Thailand Fan Club, Line: @hinoth, YouTube: Hino Thailand Official, and TikTok: @hinoth.
Mr.Suwich Rungwattanapaiboon, president of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT)
BANGKOK – Thailand’s largest book fair “The 52nd National Book Fair and the 22nd Bangkok International Book Fair” will be soon kicked off at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center during March 28-April 8, covering an exhibition area of more than 20,000 square meters.
The event will receive the graciousness of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to preside over the opening ceremony of the event on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT) announced on March 18.
Mr.Suwich Rungwattanapaiboon, president of PUBAT, revealed that this year’s event will be held under the concept of “Booklympics” in welcoming the upcoming Olympic Games, in which over one million books from 322 publishers will be exhibited in 914 booths, along with more than 100 activities and many highlights, including a special activity called “Bangkok Rights Fair 2024.”
Mr.Suwich Rungwattanapaiboon, president of the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (PUBAT), presided over the press conference of “The 52nd National Book Fair and the 22nd Bangkok International Book Fair” at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre on March 18, 2024.
It is the first time in Thailand that the PUBAT join forces with the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB to organize the “Bangkok Rights Fair”, a business matching for copyright trading activity between Thai publishers and international agencies under the Business to Business (B2B) platform.
There will be representatives from 34 foreign agents from 14 countries and 53 publishers/distributors from Thailand participating in the business matching between March 28-30, 2024. This activity is expected to create not less than US$10 million or equivalent to approximately 351 million baht in terms of copyright trading value.
Moreover, more than 100 interesting exhibitions and activities will be presented throughout 12 days of the event, starting from March 28 to April 8, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Hall 5-7, LG Floor, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
The event is divided into three zones: Book Zone, Exhibition Zone, and Activity Zone.
At Book Zone, there will be seven categories of books: 1. Novel, Literature, and Fiction 2. Book Wonderlands which are Comic Books and Books for Teenagers 3. Children’s and Educational books 4. Foreign books 5. General books 6. Old books and 7. Non-books. More than one million books from 322 leading publishers and bookstores will participate in this historical book event in the country.
At the Exhibition Zone: Cat Country Exhibition, a translated literature by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn by Nanmee Books Company Limited, Outstanding Book Exhibition 2024 by the Office of the Basic Education Commission Ministry of Education (OBEC), Phanwaenfah Prize Literary Exhibition: “Phanwaenfah Prize the finish line is not too far away” by the Secretariat of the House of Representatives, Proud Songkran Exhibition by the National Soft Power Strategy Committee, and What Read Exhibition: What do famous people read?.
Activity Zone: more than 100 activities will be available, with the Booklympics competition, as a highlight activity to search for the best talent in the book industry covering five areas: 1. Designer 2. Writer 3. Proofreader 4. Top Seller 5. Best reader. Other highlights are the “One Reader Inspires Million People Foundation” activity by the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand.
This activity is created to raise funds for agencies that promote reading but lack funds. It will provide budget support for “Buy the right books” for 20 organizations (10,000 baht each), totaling 200,000 baht so that those organizations can buy new books by themselves, and the activity so-called “Why the books are having for?”, an activity that will provide readers an opportunity to express their opinions.
Mr.Suwich added that the 22nd Bangkok International Book Fair is also well underway as receiving greater feedback than expected. Eleven world-class publishers from nine countries will join to exhibit 18 booths at the event. Those are such as from Taiwan, Japan, China, and Ukraine. They will present books and cultures of each nation, covering printing technology, culture, and learning of languages.
As part of this event, the PUBAT will organize a Business Field Trip, taking international publishers and copyright agents to participate in reading culture by visiting bookstores, printing houses, and leading Thai publishers. Mr. Sanont Wangsrangboon, Deputy Governor of Bangkok, will be an honorary guest speaker for this special event. He will provide information about the reading promotion policy of Bangkok as one of the world book cities and UNESCO cities of learning to all participants at Bangkok City Hall.
Wilawan Apinyapong and Paweena Thongsuk, former athletes of the Thai national team, attended the press conference for National Book Week with the theme of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Additionally, the PUBAT has partnered with Wisesight (Thailand) Co., Ltd bringing the system https://wisesight.com/th/zocialeye/ which is an Artificial Intelligence or AI system for searching information. This will allow us to get information from every social media platform where people are talking about the book fair whether before the event, during the event, or after the event so that we can acknowledge the perspectives that the general public has about the book fair.
Based on that information, we will be able to analyze that information to prevent and solve problems that may occur as well as use data to analyze consumer behavior in order to create events and activities that are more relevant to the target groups in the future.
See you at the 52nd National Book Fair and the 22nd Bangkok International Book Fair from March 28 to April 8, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Hall 5-7, LG Floor, Queen Sirikit National Convention Center.
For more information, please visit our Facebook Page: Thai Book Fair.
The New Zealand brothers who were accused of assaulting a Phuket traffic police officer in an incident widely shared online are still in custody after they denied all charges on March 18, 2024.
PHUKET – Two New Zealand tourists who were accused of assaulting a Phuket traffic police officer in an incident widely shared online are still in custody after they denied all charges and declined to give any statement while the police requested the court deny their release on bail.
According to Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum, Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Brothers Hamish Day, 36, and Oscar Mattson Day, 34, were charged with five offenses including robbery, fighting or obstructing officials from performing their duties, causing physical harm to an on-duty officer, attempted bribery and driving a motorcycle without a license.
The police chief alleged that the man who attacked the officer is a mixed martial arts fighter. Both of them have had their visas revoked by the immigration authorities.
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum, Phuket Provincial Police Commander, held a press conference on March 18, 2024.
Police said Police Senior Sergeant Major Somsak Noo-iat, who was assaulted on Saturday, is getting better and has returned home to recover.
Somsak spotted the men speeding on their motorbikes and tried to stop them. They allegedly tried to speed away then tried to offer a bribe to Somsak, who refused to take it. He tried to film the two men on his phone, and they allegedly tackled him and wrestled the gun away from him, causing a bullet to be fired. No one was injured by the bullet, police said.
Bystanders in the viral video could be heard shouting for them to stop. They then told reporters that they wouldn’t dare to intervene since the foreigner was armed.
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat said such actions were unacceptable and that officials will increase inspection of tourists who may act inappropriately or violate the law.
CHIANG MAI – How many prime ministers are actually in Thailand? Many people satirised and joked about this as Thailand’s top politicians, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and former Prime Minister candidate Pita Limcharoenrat, visited Chiang Mai last week.
Of course, PM Srettha needed to get there immediately after finishing his trip to Germany and France, as Chiang Mai is one of the world’s most polluted cities.
Pita’s colleagues stated that he had planned to visit Chiang Mai for some time, but many people thought he had to go there to maintain the Move Forward Party (MFP) popular, as the MFP currently has seven out of ten MPs in Chiang Mai, where the Pheu Thai Party had dominated.
Thaksin Shinawatra, 75, the most controversial leader, simply wanted to visit his home province after spending at least 15 years abroad as a fugitive. His visit was personal, but he emphasised the PM.25 problem resulting from the current forest fires, as did Prime Minister Srettha and Mr. Pita.
Live and let live
Thaksin continued his public appearances since leaving detention on February 18. He flied to Chiang Mai on March 14, with his daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai Party leader, and her family.
“Please understand and sympathize with the 75-year-old who has left his homeland for a long time. Who doesn’t like my face, just disregard. We can live separate lives,” he said.
Thaksin went to pay respect to the graveyard of his parents at the top of a mountain on the west side of Huai Mae On Reservoir in Nong Hoi Village, On Nuea Subdistrict, San Kamphaeng District. His ex-wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejara was present along with his extended family.
Thaksin Shinawatra and his family pose for a photo after paying respect to the graveyard of his parents at the top of a mountain on the west side of Huai Mae On Reservoir, San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai Province, on March 15, 2024. (Photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
On that day he joined dinner with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and former prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, his brother-in-law, at Somchai residence inside Summit Green Valley Golf Course, Mae Rim District, on Friday, March 15.
Thaksin told reporters on another day that he didn’t give any particular advice to PM Srettha during the dinner together. He just joked to Srettha not to work beyond midnight otherwise he would have to charge overtime payment.
As for his health, which is a controversial issue that people have doubted him not acually illed, Thaksin said that previously, he was suffering from a serious disease, but strong support helped to improve things significantly.
“However, I continue to experience nerve compression in the bones of my neck and back, as well as symptoms from my COVID-19 infection. At that time, the symptoms were severe. I had to stay in the ICU for 9 days, and my insides were impacted. I still have black spots on my lungs and when I am feeling the pain neck and back, I need to use pain relief spray regularly,” Thaksin said.
Thaksin Shinawatra is greeted by people in Chiang Mai Province on March 15, 2024. (Photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
The 1997 crisis comparison
The former prime minister also stated that now the most important issue is PM 2.5 dust, which is a concern whether the environment can be returned to a moist and green environment, bringing the air back to good condition.
He believes the Prime Minister Srettha has plans to revive the economy. Because if the economy is good, everything else will be fine too. It is equivalent to stating, “An army must march on its stomach.” “It will be difficult if your stomach is not full.”
He has understood that the government’s work now is more challenging than it was during the 1997 Asian financial crisis (the Tom Yum Kung crisis). Because it’s more complex and challenging. Political parties and government officials must collaborate since the task is more difficult than ever.
Pita Limcharoenrat (white shirt) shared a photo of himself using equipment to extinguish a fire in Mae Wang District in Chiang Mai province on March 16, 2024. (Pita Instagram)
However, Pita disagreed with Thaksin. He stated that the current scenario differs from that of 1997. If we say it’s the same, we’ll make the erroneous correction. Now that the economy has been in decline for ten years, the problem is structural; exports and the production sector remain unchanged.
“I’d want to invite the administration or Mr. Thaksin to explore new economic methods to address these issues. GDP alone does not measure inequality. The most important thing is to establish a road map that outlines what will be done, when, and who will assist. But at the present, if there is nothing other than a digital wallet, that is being talked over,” he said.
Should or should not declare a disaster state
Pita’s latest trip to Chiang Mai is described as “a mission of forest fire extinguishing and solving the problem of PM2.5.” He shared a photo of himself using equipment to extinguish a fire in Mae Wang District with the caption “words are not as good as the eyes see.”
Then he gave an interview, claiming that the government should declare Chiang Mai a disaster state in order to spend the central budget, and allow state agencies to be more effectively mobilized to tackle forest fire, agricultural waste fire, and PM2.5 microdust particles.
However his suggestion has been critised that he did not understand the law of state of calamity declaration and its effects.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Nirat Phongsitthaworn The governor of Chiang Mai watched the operation of a helicopter transporting water from the Mae Ngat Sombun Chon Dam, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province, to put out forest fires on March 16, 2024. (Photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
Nirat Phongsitthaworn The governor of Chiang Mai argued that the laws for declaring a dust-related calamity do not specify how much the authorities can pay for it. As a result, the declaration does not benefit government agencies’ budgets. He proposed a central budget to hire staff for fighting fires and monitoring the forest, including gas, water, food, and other expenses, which the government approved.
The Chiang Mai governor also stated that the main cause of the problem between January and February 2024 was burning in agricultural areas. During the time, the Chiang Mai administration had practically complete control of.
“However, as we enter March, we must focus on managing forest fires. Chiang Mai province has the country’s largest forest acreage, at 90%, or approximately 12 million rai. Currently, the area of burning can be reduced by up to 70%,” he stated.
A sign in the middle of a road in Chiang Mai states that PM2.5 levels on March 18, 2024, are at an unhealthy level. (Photo by Kritsana Choenthongchai, Khaosod)
Avoid severe consequences
Chairman of Chiang Mai Tourism Council Phallop Sae Jiw is another one who urged the government not to declare a state of calamity in Chiang Mai because it would severely affect the tourism industry, thus adding to the problems facing the province.
Prime Minister Srettha stated that the government had approved the central budget for forest fire extinguishment, which was set to be disbursed on March 16; therefore, he saw no reason to declare a disaster area at this time. After listening to thoughts and proposals from all relevant sectors, he was concerned that if the declaration is made, it would have even more severe consequences.
“What will happen after that is that it will affect the number of foreign tourists who have purchased insurance from home. If they are travelling in a disaster zone or emergency area, their insurance will not cover them instantly. Of course, Chiang Mai Province will lose tourists who plan to visit in the short and long term. “We are concerned here,” Srettha stated.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin joined dinner with two former prime ministers, Thaksin Shinawatra and Somchai Wongsawat, at Somchai residence inside Summit Green Valley Golf Course, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province on March 15, 2024. (Photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
Acknowledging that the level of air pollution in Chiang Mai is the worst in the world often, PM Srettha argued the situation is better than the same period last year or a third fewer heat spots now.
He said a holistic approach to tackling forest fires, agricultural fires, and PM2.5 must continue, as must the importation of corn from neighbouring countries to be used as animal feed during the dry season from January 15 to the end of April because the visibility is now very low and it’s affecting the economy, including tourism.
Srettha added that he also discussed the matter with Cambodian PM Hun Manet about the burning of agricultural waste in Cambodia, but it cannot be solved easily.
“We are doing good, but we have to do more,” he told related officials and ministers.
I don’t mind being compared
The PM also responded to Pita’s simultaneous trip to Chiang Mai to follow up on the forest fire crisis, saying, “I look at it positively. I believe it was more of a coincidence. Let us help each other since the people will profit the most. If Mr. Pita experiences anything and the government continues to perform poorly, please let me know. I will listen to whatever he recommend. We shall accomplish whatever is possible.”
The Prime Minister also stated that he did not mind being compared to Mr. Thaksin or Mr. Pita, as long as they made Thai people smile.
The homeowner in Buriram claims the Russian man smashed a piece of a wooden altar table and attempted to attack her with it.
BURIRAM – At a party in someone else’s home, a Russian man attacked his Thai wife, and the Thai homeowner in Buriram then claimed that he also attacked her, who tried to stop him. He has now sued the homeowner for 100,000 baht in damages, claiming he was assaulted.
Ms. Sommai Chamnongsuk, 42, a resident of Village 6, Nong Khammar Subdistrict, Ku Mueang District, Buriram Province conducted a media interview, claiming that the matter had been passed for a month with no progress.
The incident took place on February 18, 2024, when she hosted a birthday party for her 10-year-old son at her home. It was a simple event to which she hadn’t invited many people. Her son invited a friend named B, and his mother was from another village.
Ms. Sommai Chamnongsuk, 42, gave a media interview at her house in Village 6, Nong Khammar Subdistrict, Ku Mueang District, Buriram Province on March 17, 2024.
At 11 p.m., Mr. Stanislav, or Star, a Russian national, 43, arrived to pick up his wife and child who were at the birthday party. By this time, her son had already gone to bed. Mr. Star had an argument with his wife and then assaulted her, causing her to bleed profusely. She and her neighbors tried to stop him, whereupon Mr. Star suffered a heart attack.
They helped him by resuscitating him and giving him water until he regained consciousness. Mr. Star’s wife and her child drove away, presumably to see a doctor and have their wounds treated.
When Mr. Star’s condition improved and he no longer saw his wife, he went berserk and ransacked her house. Although she tried to tell him that his wife had already left, he wouldn’t listen to her. He went up the stairs and opened every door in the house. When he couldn’t find her, he turned to her and punched her in the face, causing her to fall to the ground. Then he rode her and tried to strangle her.
The incident occurred in Ms. Sommai’s house in Village 6, Nong Khammar Subdistrict, Ku Mueang District, Buriram Province.
At this point, her son ran to his mother’s aid, kicking the Russian man three times. However, he couldn’t do much because he was still a child. Mr. Star grabbed the boy by the arm and threw him so that he almost fell down the stairs. Then he took the leg of a wooden altar table and tried to hit her with it, but she fought back by grabbing whatever she could find as a weapon. Then neighbors who heard the noise ran over to help, causing a commotion. This resulted in Mr. Star falling down the stairs and hitting his head.
After the incident, she filed a complaint with the Ku Mueang police station against Mr. Star for trespassing, assault and damage to property. However, Mr. Star filed a counter complaint with the police, claiming that they had assaulted him and demanding 100,000 baht in damages.
On March 18, the Thai woman who is the Russian’s wife, Miss A, told reporters another story.
The captured shot from the clip shows Ms. A returning to see her injured husband on February 18, 2024.
She stated that when her husband assaulted her, another friend escorted her away. She escaped into the toilet of another nearby house, but she could hear the owner’s voice saying, “Lock it up; I’ll kill him.” He hurt me first.” So she returned to her husband and discovered that he was covered in blood, with another man tying him up.
After both parties filed lawsuits against one another, Ms. A claimed that she went to every police appointment; however, Ms. Sommai only went once and declared that she would not make a deal. Regarding her husband’s request for 100,000 baht, he hoped to reach an agreement and resolve the situation without going to court.
The case’s owner, Police Lieutenant Amnuay Nonghan, Deputy Inspector, Khu Mueang Police Station, stated that if the medical certificates from Khu Mueang Hospital arrive, both sides will be called to testify again in order to summarise the files and send them to the prosecution.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visits his campaign headquarters after a presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin basked in a victory early Monday that was never in doubt, as partial election results showed him easily securing a fifth term after facing only token challengers and harshly suppressing opposition voices.
With little margin for protest, Russians crowded outside polling stations at noon Sunday, on the last day of the election, apparently heeding an opposition call to express their displeasure with Putin. Still, the impending landslide underlined that Russian leader would accept nothing less than full control of the country’s political system as he extends his nearly quarter-century rule for six more years.
Putin hailed the early results as an indication of “trust” and “hope” in him — while critics saw them as another reflection of the preordained nature of the election.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking on a visit to his campaign headquarters after a presidential election in Moscow, Russia, early Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
“Of course, we have lots of tasks ahead. But I want to make it clear for everyone: When we were consolidated, no one has ever managed to frighten us, to suppress our will and our self-conscience. They failed in the past and they will fail in the future,” Putin said at a meeting with volunteers after polls closed.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “The polls have closed in Russia, following the illegal holding of elections on Ukrainian territory, a lack of choice for voters and no independent OSCE monitoring. This is not what free and fair elections look like.”
Any public criticism of Putin or his war in Ukraine has been stifled. Independent media have been crippled. His fiercest political foe, Alexei Navalny, died in an Arctic prison last month, and other critics are either in jail or in exile.
Beyond the fact that voters had virtually no choice, independent monitoring of the election was extremely limited. According to Russia’s Central Election Commission, Putin had some 87% of the vote with about 90% of precincts counted.
Voters queue at a polling station at noon local time in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo)
In that tightly controlled environment, Navalny’s associates urged those unhappy with Putin or the war in Ukraine to go to the polls at noon on Sunday — and lines outside a number of polling stations both inside Russia and at its embassies around the world appeared to swell at that time.
Among those heeding call was Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, who joined a long line in Berlin as some in the crowd applauded and chanted her name.
She spent more than five hours in the line and told reporters after casting her vote that she wrote her late husband’s name on the ballot.
Asked whether she had a message for Putin, Navalnaya replied: “Please stop asking for messages from me or from somebody for Mr. Putin. There could be no negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin, because he’s a killer, he’s a gangster.”
But Putin brushed off the effectiveness of the apparent protest.
“There were calls to come vote at noon. And this was supposed to be a manifestation of opposition. Well, if there were calls to come vote, then … I praise this,” he said at a news conference after polls closed.
Unusually, Putin referenced Navalny by name for the first time in years at the news conference. And he said he was informed of an idea to release the opposition leader from prison, days before his death. Putin said that he agreed to the idea, on condition that Navalny didn’t return to Russia.
Some Russians waiting to vote in Moscow and St. Petersburg told The Associated Press that they were taking part in the protest, but it wasn’t possible to confirm whether all of those in line were doing so.
Voters queue at a polling station at noon local time in Moscow, Russia, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo)
One woman in Moscow, who said her name was Yulia, told the AP that she was voting for the first time.
“Even if my vote doesn’t change anything, my conscience will be clear … for the future that I want to see for our country,” she said. Like others, she didn’t give her full name because of security concerns.
Another Moscow voter, who also identified himself only by his first name, Vadim, said he hoped for change, but added that “unfortunately, it’s unlikely.”
Meanwhile, supporters of Navalny streamed to his grave in Moscow, some bringing ballots with his name written on them.
Meduza, Russia’s biggest independent news outlet, published photos of ballots it received from their readers, with “killer” inscribed on one, “thief” on another and “The Hague awaits you” on yet another. The last refers to an arrest warrant for Putin from the International Criminal Court that accuses him of personal responsibility for abductions of children from Ukraine.
Some people told the AP that they were happy to vote for Putin — unsurprising in a country where independent media have been hobbled, state TV airs a drumbeat of praise for the Russian leader and voicing any other opinion is risky.
Dmitry Sergienko, who cast his ballot in Moscow, said, “I am happy with everything and want everything to continue as it is now.”
Voting took place over three days at polling stations across the vast country, in illegally annexed regions of Ukraine and online. As people voted Sunday, Russian authorities said Ukraine launched a massive new wave of attacks on Russia, killing two people — underscoring the challenges facing the Kremlin.
Despite tight controls, several dozen cases of vandalism at polling stations were reported across the voting period.
Several people were arrested, including in Moscow and St. Petersburg, after they tried to start fires or set off explosives at polling stations while others were detained for throwing green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.
Stanislav Andreychuk, co-chair of the Golos independent election watchdog, said that pressure on voters from law enforcement had reached unprecedented levels.
Russians, he said in a social media post, were searched when entering polling stations, there were attempts to check filled-out ballots before they were cast, and one report said police demanded a ballot box be opened to remove a ballot.
“It’s the first time in my life that I’ve seen such absurdities,” Andreychuk wrote on the messaging app Telegram, adding that he started monitoring elections in Russia 20 years ago.
The OVD-Info group that monitors political arrests said that 80 people were arrested in 20 cities across Russia on Sunday.
That left little room for people to express their displeasure, but Ivan Zhdanov, the head of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said that the opposition’s call to protest had been successful.
Beyond Russia, huge lines also formed around noon outside diplomatic missions in London, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Belgrade and other cities with large Russian communities, many of whom left home after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Protesters in Berlin displayed a figure of Putin bathing in a bath of blood with the Ukrainian flag on the side, alongside shredded ballots in ballot boxes.
Yulia Navalnaya, centre, widow of Alexey Navalny, stands in a queue with other voters at a polling station near the Russian embassy in Berlin, after noon local time, on Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
Russian state television and officials said the lines abroad showed strong turnout.
In Tallinn, where hundreds stood in a line snaking around the Estonian capital’s cobbled streets leading to the Russian Embassy, 23-year-old Tatiana said she came to take part in the protest.
“If we have some option to protest I think it’s important to utilize any opportunity,” she said, only giving her first name.
Boris Nadezhdin, a liberal politician who tried to join the race on an anti-war platform but was barred from running by election officials, voiced hope that many Russians cast their ballots against Putin.
“I believe that the Russian people today have a chance to show their real attitude to what is happening by voting not for Putin, but for some other candidates or in some other way, which is exactly what I did,” he said after voting in Dolgoprudny, a town just outside Moscow.
The Whizdom Craft Samyan project is a 55-storey condominium
BANGKOK – Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC) has announced a partnership with Knightsbridge Partners, a real estate agency, to sell 100 units of the Whizdom Craft Samyan condominium project in the heart of Bangkok to foreign buyers. The total value of the units is 1.7 billion baht.
Mr. Assada Kaeokhiao, Chief Customer Experience Officer of MQDC, said the Whizdom Craft Samyan project is a 55-storey condominium, the tallest building in the Samyan area, near the Samyan MRT station. Prices start at 7.99 million baht. The 100 units, worth 1.7 billion baht, will be sold to foreign buyers who see it as an investment opportunity.
Kingston Lai, CEO of Knightsbridge Partners and Mr. Assada Kaeokhiao, Chief Customer Experience Officer of MQDC
Kingston Lai, CEO of Knightsbridge Partners, a specialist in condominium sales in international markets, is confident that the project will be well received by clients interested in buying for both residential and investment purposes, as well as those looking to live in a condominium like second home in Thailand, due to its convenient location in the city center. They are also looking for opportunities to settle down permanently.
“Samyan’s location meets the needs of living, working, traveling, shopping, close to traditional stores, restaurants, street snacks, department stores and hospitals, and also has a starting price that is affordable compared to condominium prices in other countries where the company markets, such as Hong Kong, Malaysia and the United Kingdom, allowing us to see the opportunity to sell a large number of units to expatriate customers,” said Mr. Kingston.
Manchester United's Amad Diallo, left, celebrates after scoring his side's fourth goal during the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — There’s still some fight left in Manchester United.
With the season hanging in the balance, Erik ten Hag’s team produced one of the most important wins of his tenure to beat Liverpool 4-3 after extra time in a thrilling FA Cup quarterfinal match on Sunday.
With nearly the last kick of the match, substitute Amad Diallo sent Old Trafford into raptures, ended Liverpool’s bid for a quadruple of trophies and fired United into the semifinals.
“Listen to the noise, you can tell what a big game it is,” said Marcus Rashford, who missed a golden chance to win it at the end of regulation but leveled for 3-3 in extra time. “I had to score that chance at the end … but we got the job done and we have to get something out of this season.”
A thrilling quarterfinal match had seen both teams give away leads in a clash between English soccer’s biggest rivals.
Manchester United’s head coach Erik ten Hag celebrates after Manchester United’s Antony scored his side’s second goal during the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Manchester United and Liverpool at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Ten Hag has faced mounting speculation about his position in the face of a troubled campaign and restructuring at the club. The FA Cup represents his last chance of silverware this season, while Champions League qualification is in doubt with United sixth in the Premier League.
Defeat against the club’s fiercest rival would likely have seen pressure on the Dutchman grow. TV cameras focused on new director Dave Brailsford as the clock ticked down with Liverpool leading 2-1 as the game approached 90 minutes.
Brailsford is part of the team overseeing United’s soccer operations following British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s recent investment in the club. He looked stone-faced with United seemingly headed out of the competition and Liverpool’s away fans making the loudest noise.
Emotions changed drastically inside Old Trafford, however, when Antony equalized in the 87th to make the score 2-2. That set up a white-knuckle ride through to the first minute of stoppage time in extra time, with big chances missed and momentum swinging one way and then another until United’s winner.
Ten Hag hopes it can be a turning point for his team.
“Every team needs its moment into a season and we never had that moment,” the United manager said. “This could be that moment where the team believe and (has) energy that we can do amazing things. I think when you can beat Liverpool the way we did, then you can beat any opponent.”
Twelve-time FA Cup winner United was later drawn against second-tier Coventry in the semifinals and defending champion Manchester City will play Chelsea, which beat Leicester 4-2 earlier Sunday.
The game had looked like going to a penalty shootout until Diallo fired low into the bottom corner to beat Caoimhin Kelleher following a late Liverpool corner.
The substitute was so caught up in the moment that he was shown a second yellow card and sent off for taking off his jersey during wild celebrations.
“It’s the best goal of my life, it’s a really important moment,” he said. “I am disappointed to be sent off, but what is important is to win. To beat Liverpool is a big, big moment for me.”
United’s pursuit of a top-four finish was also helped after fourth-place Aston Villa drew 1-1 at West Ham in the Premier League earlier in the day. Tottenham, in fifth, lost 3-0 at Fulham on Saturday.
Ten Hag’s team is still nine points adrift of Villa, but has a game in hand, and perhaps momentum after such a morale-boosting win.
He described the opening 35 minutes of Sunday’s match as the best his team had played all season.
Scott McTominay put United ahead in the 10th minute before goals from Alexis Mac Allister in the 44th and Mohamed Salah in the second minute of first-half stoppage time gave Liverpool the lead at the break.
After Antony leveled, Harvey Elliott hit the post for Liverpool and Rashford fired wide with only the ‘keeper to beat with the final kick in regulation.
In extra time Elliott restored Liverpool’s lead in the 105th and Rashford leveled for United seven minutes later.
Diallo’s winner killed off Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of winning four trophies before he steps down at the end of the season.
“I wanted to give it back to Garnacho but I see the defender and I have to go on my own. It is unbelievable, it is a dream for me to score the last goal for Manchester United. I want to say thanks to the supporters. It is one of the best games of the season so we want to continue like this,” said Ahmad.
Liverpool has already won the League Cup, is second in the league and through to the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
“I think my boys showed incredible character again,” Klopp said. “You cannot compare our season to United’s with the amount of games. It’s fine, we deal with it.”
CHELSEA’S REVENGE
Two goals in second-half stoppage time saw Chelsea book its place at Wembley and avenge its defeat to Leicester in the 2021 FA Cup final.
But Mauricio Pochettino’s team was given a scare against Leicester at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s head coach Mauricio Pochettino celebrates with Chelsea’s Noni Madueke after the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Stamford Bridge in London, Sunday, March 17, 2024. Chelsea won the match 4-2. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland)
Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer put Chelsea 2-0 up in the first half, with Raheem Sterling also having a penalty saved by Jakub Stolarczyk. Leicester fought back after the break through a spectacular own-goal by Axel Disasi, who sent a long-range back pass without checking where his ‘keeper was, and an equalizer from Stephy Mavididi.
With the game looking set to go to extra time, Chelsea struck twice through two substitutes.
Carney Chukwuemeka restored the Premier League team’s advantage after an assist from Palmer in the second minute of time added on. Noni Madueke scored a brilliant solo effort six minutes later to ensure the win and a semifinal spot.
Leicester beat Chelsea 1-0 in the final three years ago to win the trophy for the first time.
TOP FOUR
Nicolo Zaniolo’s goal in Sunday’s only Premier League game could be crucial in the battle to qualify for the Champions League.
Having been routed 4-0 by Tottenham last week, Aston Villa, in fourth, trailed to Michail Antonio’s header at West Ham. But Zaniolo’s second-half strike secured a 1-1 draw that moved Villa three points clear of Spurs, having played a game more.
The big screen displays Checking Goal during a VAR review after West Ham’s Konstantinos Mavropanos scores a disallowed goal during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Aston Villa, at the London stadium in London, Sunday, March 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Even then, Unai Emery’s team had to rely on VAR to rule out a a stoppage-time goal from Tomas Soucek for handball.
Depending on how English teams perform in Europe this season, the Premier League could be handed an extra Champions League spot, meaning fifth place would gain entry to next season’s competition.
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Manchester United’s Amad Diallo, left, scores his side’s fourth goal, the winning goal, during the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford scores his side’s third goal during the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott celebrates with Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas after scoring his side’s third goal during the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United’s Antony scores his side’s second goal during the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United’s Scott McTominay, right, celebrates with Manchester United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana at full time of the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Manchester United’s Scott McTominay scores his side’s opening goal during the FA Cup quarterfinal soccer match. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
PHUKET – Two New Zealanders were arrested on Saturday in Phuket after they assaulted a traffic police officer who tried to stop them for speeding on a motorcycle but refused to stop and later tried to steal his handgun, with a shot accidentally fired, during the struggle but hits no one.
The officer, Police Senior Sergeant Major Somsak Noo-iat suffered from arm and leg injuries.
The two New Zealanders, Oscar Matson Day, 36, and Hamish Day, 34, were charged with assaulting a police officer, conspiring to commit robbery, assembling to fight or obstruct officials while performing their jobs, and driving without a licence.
The speeding occurred in front of a noodle restaurant on Chao Fah Tawan Ork Road, Phuket’s Muang district, after the two Kiwis failed to stop when notified and after Somsak pursued them to a nearby street-side noodle shop, take a video clip of the two, before being assaulted by them. They were arrested when police reinforcement arrived.
The side of the road where the incident occurred.
Miss Jutharat, who works at a bakery, claimed she heard two gunshots and went outside to find out, where she saw two foreigners fighting with one police officer. Nobody dared to intervene because foreigners had guns. So she and other witnesses called Chalong Police Station to assist the policeman and arrest the foreigners.
“I don’t want anything this violent to happen. She stated that foreigners and Thais are able to live together as long as they respect each other’s rules.
Another witness, Somnuek Chankong, described the incident as frightening. He didn’t dare step in to help because he didn’t have a weapon. He encouraged the police to continue performing their responsibilities so that tourists may travel to Thailand with confidence.
Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, AKA “Big Joke”, late on Sunday instructed immigration police to revoke the visas of the two New Zealanders, and to ban them from reentering Thailand.
Tourists visit the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on Feb. 10, 2024. (Photo by Sao Khuth/Xinhua)
SIEM REAP – Cambodia on Saturday launched the Visit Siem Reap 2024 campaign in the northwestern province, aiming to draw more visitors to its tourist attraction the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park.
Addressing the launching event with thousands of participants, which was held together with the official opening ceremony of the eighth River Festival, Prime Minister Hun Manet said the campaign was designed to revitalize the tourism industry in Siem Reap province in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
“The Visit Siem Reap 2024 campaign, together with the 2024 Cambodia-China people-to-people exchange year and the Cambodia-India tourism year, will give a boost to the tourism sector in Siem Reap province, attracting more foreign tourists to Cambodia,” he said.
Tourists visit the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on Feb. 10, 2024. (Photo by Sao Khuth/Xinhua)
According to Hun Manet, the Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI), which started commercial operation last November, is becoming a potential magnet by facilitating the trip of international tourists to the Angkor park in particular and to Cambodia in general.
The prime minister also encouraged tourism officials, local authorities and tour agents to organize various tourism activities to support the campaign.
Tourism Minister Sok Soken said the campaign would inject new momentum into the local tourism sector, helping attract more international tourists, particularly to the Angkor park.
“The Visit Siem Reap 2024 campaign is one of our major measures to revitalize the tourism industry in Siem Reap province,” he said.
Siem Reap is home to the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1992.
Angkor park, the most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian country, is home to 91 ancient temples built over a time span from the 9th to the 13th centuries.
The ancient site received nearly 800,000 international visitors in 2023, earning 37.1 million U.S. dollars in revenue from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise.
However, the figures were compared to 2.2 million foreign tourists the park received in the pre-pandemic era in 2019, with a gross revenue of 99 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales.
