UOB Thailand Equips Clients With Resilience and Strength Amid Economic Flux in the Mid-Year Outlook Seminar

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19 July 2023, 17:36

UOB Thailand hosted its Mid-Year Outlook seminar today to help clients navigate the second half of 2023 amidst global economic risks. The seminar aims to provide investment insights and strategies that will enable clients to build resilience in their portfolios.

As the global economy experiences a slowdown, UOB Thailand advises clients to focus on building defensive portfolios with lower-risk core allocations in diversified multi-asset strategies and investment-grade bonds. Those with an appropriate risk appetite can then capture targeted tactical opportunities in Top Ideas -– Global Healthcare and Asia-ex Japan/ASEAN/China. The seminar also closely examines Asia-ex Japan becoming more independent from Developed Markets (DM), making it prime for investment opportunities.

Thai Economy – Resilience Amid Challenges

According to Mr Enrico Tanuwidjaja, Economist at Global Economics and Market Research, UOB, the Thai economy has shown strength in its recovery from the pandemic. He said, “We expect the positive trend to continue, with projected growth of at least 3 per cent this year and even stronger growth of around 3.5 per cent in 2024. The recovery in the tourism sector will contribute to a current account surplus, supporting Thailand’s external sector. We are optimistic about the country’s economic outlook with stable fiscal conditions and ongoing monetary policy measures.”

Mr Tanuwidjaja further added that the Thai economy is forecasted to encounter less significant inflationary pressure this year. Compared to the 6 per cent high in 2022, the average for this year is expected to be around 2.7 per cent, falling within the central bank’s goal range of 1 to 3 per cent for 2023. As the supply chain disruptions are improving, the inflation rate is expected to decrease and reach an average of 2.2 per cent in the upcoming year.

While challenges such as the ageing population and household debts persist, Mr Tanuwidjaja believes that the Thai economy can address these by exploring new sources of growth opportunities, such as competitive food exports, the digital economy, and e-commerce.

Strategies for Portfolio Resilience

Mr Abel Lim, Head of Wealth Management Advisory and Strategy, UOB, highlighted the need for robust portfolios to meet long-term financial goals. He added, “The first half of 2023 was a mix of expected outcomes and unexpected surprises for investors. We have been confronted with a crisis of confidence in the banking sector that led to the failure of three US regional banks, both within and outside the US. As Developed Market economies move into a slowdown, volatility is expected to persist into the second half of 2023. During this time, we focus on ideas and solutions that help clients build robust portfolios to meet long-term financial goals.”

With inflation reaching its peak and the global monetary policy tightening cycle nearing its end, Mr Lim suggested that now is an opportune time for clients to secure higher yields by investing in investment-grade bonds. He highlighted the potential benefits of longer-duration bonds, as attractive coupons may become scarce in the coming years. Bonds also tend to outperform stocks during economic slowdowns and recessions, offering the potential for both higher yields and capital gains.

Regarding the Top Ideas, Mr. Lim recommended Global Healthcare for clients with a risk appetite for stocks. He pointed out the industry’s defensive characteristics, supported by the secular trend of an ageing global population and technological advancements. While acknowledging short-term headwinds in the Asia-ex Japan/ASEAN/China region, primarily due to China’s uneven economic recovery and declining exports across Asian economies, Mr Lim remained positive about the medium-term prospects. He cited resilient regional consumption and lower valuations as factors contributing to this optimism.

Digital Advancements and Wealth Management Solutions

Mr Gidon Jerome Kessel, Head of Deposit and Wealth Management, UOB Thailand, emphasised UOB’s commitment to digital capabilities and personalised services. He said, “At UOB, we believe in combining human expertise with data and technology to deliver optimised and comprehensive services to our clients. Our upcoming wealth advisory tools, including the proprietary digital portfolio advisory tool (PAT), will empower our customers to monitor, manage, and optimise their investment portfolios effectively.”

UOB provides a wide range of quality investment strategies in onshore and offshore mutual funds. Specialised advice tailored to personal goals and additional privileges and benefits for existing customers cater to various life stages and market conditions.

Investors must be aware of their risk appetites and maintain a diversified portfolio to mitigate risks due to unforeseen events. UOB’s team of dedicated client advisors and specialists, together with a comprehensive suite of wealth advisory tools and investment products both onshore and offshore, offer expert advice built around what matters to each investor. Before making any investment decisions, investors should always ensure that they are clear about what they are investing in and have considered the potential risk factors.

KMUTNB Triumphs as Nine-time World RoboCup Rescue Champions

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Contributor

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19 July 2023, 17:10

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Suchart Siengchin, KMUTNB President, revealed on 13 July 2023 that the iRAP Robot team of KMUTNB students had joined the World RoboCup Rescue 2023 during 4 – 10 July 2024 at Bordeaux, France.

Presently, the competition has been concluded. The iRAP Robot team from KMUTNB won the world champion for the ninth time. Also, the team won other two additional awards, including the Best in Class Mobility Award and Best in Class Mapping.

The RoboCup Rescue Robot 2023 was joined by 17 teams from 11 countries across the world, including United States, Germany, France, Japan, China, Australia, Turkey, Mexico, Bangladesh, South Korea and Thai.

The Hector Darmstadt team from Germany won the First runner-up while the Quix team from Japan won Second runner-up.

The team members are as follows

Mr. Thitiyos Prakaitham
Mr. Phumithat Sangkhaphan
Mr. Sakdithat Vinitsorn
Mr. Jirakarn Sukcharoen
Mr. Chaiyapruk Laohapanich
Mr. Artit Narasetthakul
Mr. Peeyaphoom Thanawutthianan
Mr. Kolpat Boonleua
Mr. Thoranin Oonariya
Mr. Tanakorn Kulsri
Mr. Noppadol Jumrussri
Mr. Jedsadakorn Chainarapipat
Mr. Pubadee Bunjing

The supervisors of the iRAP Robot team includes

Asst. Prof. Somchai Vetchakam
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teerawat Boonyasopon
Dr. Jiraphan Inthiam
Dr. Alan Blattler
Asst. Prof. Dr. Noppadol Pudchuen

Thai High Court Suspends Prime Minister Candidate and Will Rule on Whether He Broke Election Law

By

Associated Press

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19 July 2023, 13:47

Thailand Politics — Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May's general election shows the lawmaker ID during a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

GRANT PECK and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI — Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday agreed to suspend Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, a top candidate to become prime minister, from his duties as a member of Parliament pending its ruling on whether he violated election law.

The court’s announcement came ahead of a likely second vote in Parliament on whether to confirm Pita as prime minister. His party was the top finisher in May’s general election and assembled an eight-party coalition that won 312 seats in the House of Representatives.

However, the coalition failed to win enough support in an initial vote last week from the non-elected, military-appointed Senate, which votes together with the lower house to select the country’s head of government.

AP23200234348023 — Pita Limjaroenrat, bottom right, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May’s general election is surrounded by the party’s lawmakers during a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The court’s announcement would still allow Pita’s nomination and selection as prime minister, at least until a ruling. But it also puts pressure on him to make way for another candidate, perhaps even before a second vote scheduled for Wednesday can be held.

Thailand’s state Election Commission had referred Pita’s case to the court, saying there was evidence he had violated election law over his undeclared alleged ownership of media company shares, which candidates for the legislature are not allowed to have. His supporters have challenged the commission’s conclusion on what is widely seen as a minor technical transgression at worst.

Pita had been expected to have a last chance Wednesday to get the country’s Parliament to confirm him as the next prime minister after being rebuffed last week when he failed to get enough support from the Senate, whose members made clear they would not vote for him because of his party’s platform.

The party campaigned with a promise to try to amend a law that makes it illegal to defame, insult or threaten Thailand’s royal family. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, is abused as a political weapon.

AP23200139276143 — Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May’s general election attends a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The Senate’s members, along with the army and the courts, are considered to be the conservative royalist establishment’s bulwark against change.

Move Forward, whose agenda appealed greatly to younger voters, also seeks reforms that would reduce the influence of the military, which has staged more than a dozen coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, and big business monopolies.

Ahead of Wednesday’s session, Pita posted a message on Twitter asking senators to apply the same principles they did in 2019, when they voted for the candidate of a military-backed coalition that held a majority of House seats. He also accused some senators of using the controversial claim that he is undermining the monarchy as an excuse to reject his candidacy, when their actual reason is that they feel their own interests are threatened by his party’s broader reform agenda.

By midday Wednesday, Pita was not even guaranteed to get another chance at securing a needed majority in a combined vote of the lower house and the Senate. There first needs to be a parliamentary ruling on whether he can legally receive a second nomination for the prime minister’s post, which is not clear.

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha was set to decide the matter after a debate. He was elected to the House from one of the smaller parties in the coalition backing Pita’s bid but has said he must consider the arguments for and against re-nominating Pita.

If Pita is disqualified, it is unclear whether Wednesday’s vote for prime minister will proceed. If a vote is held but fails to confirm Pita, it also is unclear whether a planned third round of voting would take place Thursday.

Pita said Monday said he would stand for prime minister again this week but declared he would allow a candidate from another party in his coalition to try for the post if he failed to attract substantially more votes than last week. There is little to suggest that he would gain many, if any, more senators this time around.

The media’s focus has already shifted to the putative replacement for Pita as nominee for prime minister.

He or she would come from the Pheu Thai party, which won 141 seats in the election, just 10 less than Move Forward’s 151. The eight-party coalition seeking to take power won 312 House seats in all, a majority of elected lawmakers.

AP23200235917163 — Pita Limjaroenrat, front left, the leader of Move Forward Party and top winner in the May’s general election hugs a lawmaker of the party during a meeting at Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

However, confirming a new prime minister requires a vote of a joint sitting of the lower house and the Senate. The coalition mustered only 324 votes last week, well short of the minimum 376 it needed.

Pita was Move Forward’s only candidate, while Pheu Thai registered three names: real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by a 2006 military coup; and Chaikasem Nitsiri, the party’s chief strategist.

Srettha has emerged as the favorite. He entered active politics only last year, and on Tuesday won a public endorsement from Paetongtarn.

She mentioned his business acumen and experience, which are seen as Srettha’s strongest selling points to steady an economy which has had trouble bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic.

If neither Pita nor a Pheu Thai candidate can win parliamentary approval, there will be pressure to assemble a new coalition, adding less liberal partners while dropping Move Forward because its position on royal reforms is seen as the stumbling block to a compromise.

For its part, Move Forward has declared it has no interest in serving in a government with parties tainted by links to the nine years of military-backed rule now ending, so it may be more comfortable in opposition.

“I think they would be willing to step out of the picture themselves and still feel like they are honoring what they announced to voters in the pre-election campaigning,” said Saowanee T. Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in northeastern Thailand.

She said she was hopeful but pessimistic since the issue of reforms to the monarchy “makes politics going forward very hard.”

“I still don’t see how we can get these roadblocks out of the way,” Saowanee said.

The prospect of Pita being denied the prime minister’s job has already riled his supporters and pro-democracy activists, who have called for demonstrations on Wednesday.

Thai Election Winner Set To Make Last Stand In Contentious Bid To Become Prime Minister

By

Associated Press

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19 July 2023, 10:15

GRANT PECK and JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI — The leader of Thailand’s Move Forward Party, which won a surprise first-place finish in May’s general election, is expected to have a last chance Wednesday to get the country’s parliament to confirm him as the next prime minister after he was rebuffed in a first round of voting.

Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat fell short last week when he failed to get enough support from the non-elected Senate, whose members made clear they would not vote for him because of his party’s platform.

The party campaigned with a promise to try to amend a law that makes it illegal to defame, insult or threaten Thailand’s royal family. Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, is abused as a political weapon.

AP23198476864895 — Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party, right , and Leader of Pheu Thai party Chonlanan Srikaew, C, wave to supportters after meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, July 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The Senate’s members were appointed by a military government rather than elected and are considered, along with the army and the courts, as serving as the conservative royalist establishment’s bulwark against change.

Move Forward, whose agenda appealed greatly to younger voters, also seeks reforms that would reduce the influence of the military, which has staged more than a dozen coups since Thailand became a constitutional monarchy in 1932, and big business monopolies.

Pita is not guaranteed to get another chance at securing a needed majority in a combined vote of the House of Representatives and the Senate. There first needs to be a ruling on whether he can legally receive a second nomination for the prime minister’s post, which is not clear.

House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha is set to decide the matter after a scheduled debate. He was elected to the House from one of the smaller parties in the eight-party coalition backing Pita’s bid but has said he must consider the arguments for and against re-nominating Pita.

If Pita is disqualified, it is unclear whether Wednesday’s vote for prime minister will proceed. If a vote is held but fails to confirm Pita, it also is unclear whether a planned third round of voting would take place Thursday.

AP23198476069051 — Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward Party, left, and Leader of Pheu Thai party Chonlanan Srikaew shakes hands after meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, July 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Pita faces the prospect of additional bad news on Wednesday. The Constitutional Court is set to decide whether to accept a referral from the state Election Commission for a ruling on whether Pita violated election law and whether he should be suspended from his duties as a member of parliament in the meantime. When and whether the court would rule on either point is not known.

Pita said Monday said he would stand for prime minister again this week but declared he would allow a candidate from another party in his coalition to try for the post if he failed to attract substantially more votes than last week. There is little to suggest that he would gain many, if any, more senators this time around.

The media’s focus has already shifted to the putative replacement for Pita as nominee for prime minister.

He or she would come from the Pheu Thai party, which won 141 seats in the election, just 10 less than Move Forward’s 151. The eight-party coalition seeking to take power won 312 House seats in all, a majority of elected lawmakers.

However, confirming a new prime minister requires a vote of a joint sitting of the lower house and the Senate. The coalition mustered only 324 votes last week, well short of the minimum 376 it needed.

Pita was Move Forward’s only candidate, while Pheu Thai registered three names: real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. who was ousted by a 2006 military coup; and Chaikasem Nitsiri, the party’s chief strategist.

Paetongtarn was touted as the party’s top prospect during the election campaign, but Srettha has emerged as the favorite. He entered active politics only last year, and on Tuesday won a public endorsement from Paetongtarn.

AP23132458472057 — Paetongtarn Shinawatra, right, a leading Thai politician and youngest daughter of exiled former deposed Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, and real estate mogul Srettha Thavisin, left, two of the opposition Pheu Thai Party’s three nominees to become the next prime minister, greeted by supporters during general election final campaign rallies in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)

She mentioned his business acumen and experience, which are seen as Srettha’s strongest selling points to steady an economy which has had trouble bouncing back from the coronavirus pandemic.

If neither Pita nor a Pheu Thai candidate can win parliamentary approval, there will be pressure to assemble a new coalition, adding less liberal partners while dropping Move Forward because its position on royal reforms is seen as the stumbling block to a compromise.

For its part. Move Forward has declared it has no interest in serving in a government with parties tainted by links to the nine years of military-backed rule now ending, so it may be more comfortable in opposition.

“I think they would be willing to step out of the picture themselves and still feel like they they are honoring what they announced to voters in the pre-election campaigning,” Saowanee T. Alexander, a professor at Ubon Ratchathani University in northeastern Thailand, said.

She said she was hopeful but pessimistic since the issue of reforms to the monarchy “makes politics going forward very hard.”

“I still don’t see how we can get these roadblocks out of the way,” Saowanee said.

The prospect of Pita being denied the prime minister’s job has already riled his supporters and pro-democracy activists, who have called for demonstrations on Wednesday.

South Korea Searches For Missing People As Death Toll From Downpours Reaches 41

By

Associated Press

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18 July 2023, 22:40

South Korea Weather — A South Korean Marine's assault amphibious vehicle is mobilized to search for missing people in the Sam River in Yecheon, South Korea, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (Kim Dong-min/Yonhap via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Rescuers searched Tuesday for nine people still missing in landslides and other incidents caused by more than a week of torrential rains in South Korea, as the country’s military dispatched more than 10,000 troops to support rescue works.

The downpours pounding South Korea since July 9 have left 41 people dead, nine missing and 35 others injured. The rainfall has also forced about 12,780 people to evacuate and left about 28,600 households without power.

AP23199257789896 — South Korean marines on boats search for missing people in the Sam River in Yecheon, South Korea, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (Kim Dong-min/Yonhap via AP)

During a Cabinet Council meeting Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered officials to mobilize all available resources to rescue any possible additional survivors, assist victims and conduct recovery works.

Yoon said the government plans to designate major rain-stricken areas as special disaster zones to help speed up the recovery.

The Defense Ministry separately said it was sending equipment and 11,000 soldiers on Tuesday to support government efforts to find the missing people and restore damages.

Much of the severe damage has been reported in South Korea’s central and southern regions, with the nine missing people listed in the southeastern North Gyeognsang province or the southeastern city of Busan.

AP23199258706290 — A South Korean Marine’s assault amphibious vehicle is mobilized to search for missing people in the Sam River in Yecheon, South Korea, Tuesday, July 18, 2023.(Kim Dong-min/Yonhap via AP)

Also, 14 fatalities were reported from a tunnel in the central city of Cheongju, where 17 vehicles including a bus were trapped in a flash flood that may have filled up the passageway. Authorities earlier mobilized divers and other workers to rescue survivors and retrieve bodies before they reportedly ended searches inside the tunnel on Monday night.

Severe weather was also affecting many other places around the world. Earlier this month, relentless flooding also deluged parts of India, Japan, China, Turkey and the U.S

Although the destructive floods are occurring in different parts of the world, atmospheric scientists say they have this in common: With climate change, storms are forming in a warmer atmosphere, making extreme rainfall a more frequent reality now.

A Dog Jumps on a Dead Car Owner’s Lap and Makes a Little Mess

By

Khaosod English

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18 July 2023, 19:29

Officials from the Thung Khru police station in Bangkok encountered an unexpected situation on Monday while investigating the death of a roast pork vendor in a car. When the rescuers were going to remove her body, her dog ran from the house and leapt onto her lap.

Then the car alarm sounded throughout the area.

The officer tried to turn off the alarm by closing the car door, but all four car doors locked themselves. The woman’s husband had to use a remote key to unlock the door so that the officers could continue their work.

Khao Pan, a female Pomeranian dog, has been taken care of by her owner since she was a puppy. Khao Pan is very attached to her owner. Everyone took pity on her because her owner passed away.

dog stove2 — Khao Pan, a female Pomeranian dog is very attached to her owner.

Anong, who died at age 54, lived with her husband and son in Bangkok’s Thung Khru District at Sinthawee Village 2, Soi Pracha Uthit 76. To kill herself, she lit the stove and smoked in a car parked in front of her house.

Her 62-year-old husband said that he, his wife, and their son usually wake up at 4 a.m. every day and help each other get ready for the motorcycle being towed to the side to sell grilled pork. But on July 17, he couldn’t find his wife when he woke up, so he went looking for her and found her dead in the car.

Anong’s husband said that his wife’s health problems and worry about the accident that happened two months ago have caused her a lot of stress. She was selling grilled pork from a sidecar when she fainted, causing her car to crash into a pickup truck until its tail light was broken. His wife was worried that someone would sue her.

DeeMoney Launches “OWNDEE Movie” Along With Biggest Campaign

By

Contributor

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18 July 2023, 17:28

Thailand’s Leading FinTech Company, DeeMoney, Launches “OWNDEE Movie” along with the “DeeMoney OWNDEE Win Tesla” Campaign, Offering Over THB 3.5 Million in Prizes

SawasdeeShop Co Ltd or DeeMoney, the foremost FinTech firm in Thailand, specializing in cross-border payments under the DeeMoney brand, is excited to announce the launch of the first movie advertisement, titled “OWNDEE Movie” as well as the biggest promotion of the year, “DeeMoney OWNDEE Win Tesla” campaign.

DeeMoney, operational since 2017, has achieved an impressive total transaction volume of USD 4 billion. The company has successfully facilitated over 7 million transactions, ensuring settlements to a vast network of over 1 million bank accounts, catering to the diverse needs of our valued customers.

DeeMoney is strategically positioned as a prominent cross-border gateway in Thailand,facilitating seamless processing of both inbound and outbound international payments. With an extensive selection of 26 available currencies, DeeMoney offers a diverse range of options for cross-border transactions. Moreover, the outbound services of DeeMoney extend to an impressive network of more than 43 countries, further enhancing its global reach.

Cross-border transactions and remittances play a vital role in bolstering the economic capacity of a nation. In this context, Thailand stands out, ranking among the top 20 countries worldwide in terms of both sending and receiving cross-border payments and remittances, according to data provided by the World Bank.

This positioning and extensive reach enable DeeMoney to serve as a reliable and efficient platform for individuals and businesses seeking international payment solutions, catering to the growing demands of global transactions and facilitating the smooth flow of funds across borders.

With the steadfast vision of becoming the go-to cross-border money transfer app, DeeMoney is embarking on an exciting mission to captivate its users and solidify its position in the industry. Commencing on today and running until November 30th, 2023, the DeeMoney OWNDEE Win Tesla campaign presents an incredible opportunity for app users to win multiple prizes with every transaction over THB 1,000.

The prize pool includes an impressive lineup featuring a Tesla Model 3, Honda Wave 110i New 2022, iPhone 14 Pro Max, AirPods Pro Gen2, and much more, with prizes worth over 3.5 million baht.

Mr. Aswin Phlaphongphanich, Co-Founder and CEO of DeeMoney, shared his vision for the brand, stating, “Our aim is to establish DeeMoney as the unrivaled leader in cross-border money transfers in Thailand, setting new benchmarks for international excellence. To achieve this ambitious goal, we are allocating a large marketing budget on a game-changing marketing campaign that will captivate the public’s attention and firmly establish our brand, products and services in their hearts and minds. We strive to become the trusted provider for international money transfers, fostering trust, and leaving an unforgettable impression on our valued customers.”

Ms. Rasmegh Srisethi, Co-Founder and Managing Director, added, “We are excited to unveil our strategic plans for strengthening the DeeMoney brand and enhancing the visibility of our exceptional money transfer products and services. By effectively reaching and engaging our target customers, clear communication plays a crucial role, which is why at the core of our approach lies our unique ‘OWNDEE’ strategy, which emphasizes better rate, faster and easier money transfers.

To achieve this, we are launching an engaging online advertising campaign that will effectively convey these key messages to the wider public. Furthermore, we are introducing a fun customer engagement activity and an impactful promotional campaign. We are confident that these initiatives will help customers become more familiar with us and better understand us, while we effectively reach them.”

Mr. Tanit Ruttjananthana, DeeMoney’s Chief Marketing Officer, spearheads this innovative marketing campaign, which will serve as a fundamental stepping stone for DeeMoney‘s debut, impressing customers and enhancing the customer satisfaction experience. This campaign aims to achieve 20% increase in brand recognition and boost total sales volume by 200%.

Noteworthy among the campaign highlights is the release of DeeMoney’s first movie advertisement, titled “OWNDEE Movie EP: Fast Global Money Transfers, Made Easy!” Directed by renowned director Pongsakarn Sonklin, whose impressive resume includes directing well-loved advertisements such as Ngern Tid Lor, Thai Life Insurance, GQ White, Air Asia, and more.

This 1.30 minute dramedy sheds light on consumer pain points regarding ordinary international money transfer services and demonstrates how DeeMoney can solve these problems. It emphasizes better rates, faster transfers, and easier transactions, highlighting DeeMoney‘s brand positioning and value.

Last but not least, to celebrate the campaign launch and engage with customers, DeeMoney invites social media enthusiasts and influencers to participate in the “#DeeMoneyOWNDEEChallenge,” a creative and production-of-movie challenge.

This initiative aims to create awareness among individuals in Thailand seeking reliable international money transfer and payment services, fostering a vibrant community.

Unleash your creativity and confidence by crafting your unique movie style, drawing inspiration from the “OWNDEE Movie.” By participating, you stand a chance to win incredible prizes worth over 150,000 THB. What’s more, seize the opportunity to showcase your exceptional movie on DeeMoney’s social media platforms.

Visit DeeMoney’s Facebook page and www.deemoney.com for more information about the DeeMoney OWNDEE Win Tesla campaign and the “#DeeMoneyOWNDEEChallenge“. Join us in revolutionizing the way people transfer money across borders. Together, let’s celebrate, build a strong community, and make history with DeeMoney.

Watch “OWNDEE” movie here:

Facebook Fanpage: https://fb.watch/lRMGTGXx0U/
YouTube: https://youtu.be/1bR3m898f5Y

It’s Official: Taylor Swift Has More No. 1 Albums Than Any Woman in History

By

Associated Press

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18 July 2023, 15:13

Music Taylor Swift Number 1 — FILE - Taylor Swift performs during "The Eras Tour," May 5, 2023, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Congratulations are in order for Taylor Swift and her loyal fans, known as Swifties. The pop star officially has more No. 1 albums than any woman in history.

“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)”, released earlier this month, is the third in her endeavor to re-record her first six albums, instigated by music manager Scooter Braun’s sale of her early catalog. It has officially debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming her 12th album to reach the top spot.

Previously, Barbra Streisand held the record, with 11 No. 1 albums.

AP23198726847086 — FILE – Taylor Swift arrives at the 65th annual Grammy Awards, Feb. 5, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Swift ties Drake’s record of 12 No. 1 records, but sits just behind Jay-Z, who has 14 No. 1 albums to his name, and the Beatles, who have 19.

In addition to hitting this incredible milestone, Swift has 2023’s biggest album release to date, with 716,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate. An impressive 506,600 are in traditional album sales (a combination of 410,000 physical and 96,600 digital sales.)

With those figures, Swift has dethroned country singer Morgan Wallen, whose album “One Thing at a Time” sold 501,000 units in its first week.

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MARIA SHERMAN reported from LOS ANGELES.

Digital Gambling Craze: Over 3 Million Thai Young Players Hooked!

By

Khaosod English

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18 July 2023, 14:53

Police arrest online gambling suspects on an almost daily basis, including recent cases in which three influencers encouraged others to gamble.

The celebrities involved are Ms. Ladapa Ratchataarmornchote, also known as Cherry Samkok and her manager Mr. Kritsada Chanakhan, Ms. Papawi Chaimongkol or Oi the Kiss, Mr. Nipon Chitkla, an owner of the popular song Time Machine, and Ms. Jiranan Thongklaing, Nipon’s girlfriend.

The four suspects admitted their wrongdoing. The court in Nonthaburi Sub-District commuted half of the prison sentence, reducing it to 2 months for all four defendants. As the defendants have no previous convictions, it is considered appropriate to replace the prison sentence with a suspended sentence.

This decision will take effect immediately on July 17, 2023, as the defendant’s actions, according to an analysis of the circumstances of the case, could easily lead others, especially minors, to engage in gambling.

This case coincides with the findings of the Gambling Problem Education Center, which recently studied online gambling behavior among young people in 2023. The study found that within the last 12 months, about 32.3 percent, or nearly 3 million young people, participated in online gambling.

Associate Professor Dr. Nualnoi Trita, Director of the Gambling Problem Education Center, stated that the top 5 warning signs of problematic gambling behavior are:
1. Increasing the amount of money wagered to experience excitement, thrill, or the illusion of a chance to win.
2. Chasing losses by repeatedly returning to gambling in an attempt to recover lost money.
3. Gambling with larger amounts of money than one can afford to pay.
4. Feeling guilty about gambling or experiencing negative consequences resulting from gambling.
5. Recognizing that there may be a problem related to gambling.

In addition, it was found that around 23 per cent of young individuals engaging in online gambling fall into the category of problematic gamblers, requiring counseling and assistance from mental health experts. Within this group, there are approximately 112,000 adolescents aged 15-18 and 577,000 young adults aged 19-25 who are affected.

Australian Man and His Dog Rescued by Mexican Tuna Boat After Drifting 3 Months in the Pacific Ocean

By

Associated Press

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18 July 2023, 14:18

Mexico Lost at Sea — Australian Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella were aboard his incapacitated catamaran Aloha Toa some 1,200 miles from land when they were rescued. (Grupomar/Atun Tuny via AP)

MANZANILLO, Mexico (AP) — An Australian sailor who had been adrift at sea with his dog for three months has been rescued by a Mexican tuna boat in international waters, the fishing vessel’s owner said Monday.

Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock, 54, was aboard his incapacitated catamaran Aloha Toa in the Pacific about 1200 miles (1900 kilometers) from land when the crew of the boat from the Grupomar fleet spotted them, the company said in a statement.

The company said Shaddock and his dog Bella were in a “precarious” state when found, lacking provisions and shelter. The tuna boat’s crew gave them medical attention, food and hydration, it said.

AP23199083618106 — Bella the dog belonging to Australian Tim Shaddock rolls on the deck after both were rescued by a Mexican tuna boat in international waters. (Grupomar/Atun Tuny via AP)

Grupomar did not provide specific details on what day Shaddock was rescued or when he had started his voyage.

The tuna boat, captained by Oscar Meza Oregón, was expected to arrive in the Pacific coast port of Manzanillo on Tuesday with Shaddock and Bella.

Antonio Suárez Gutiérrez, Grupomar’s founder and president, said he was proud of his crew, praising them for their humanity in saving the life of someone in trouble.

AP23199104793275 — Australian Tim Shaddock sits with his dog Bella after being rescued by a Mexican tuna boat in international waters. (Grupomar/Atun Tuny via AP)

Shaddock told Australia’s Nine News television that he and his dog had survived on raw fish and rain water after a storm damaged his vessel and wiped out its electronics.

“I’ve been through a very difficult ordeal at sea and I’m just needing rest and good food because I’ve been alone at sea a long time,” a thin and bearded Shaddock said in video broadcast by Nine on Sunday night Australian time.

“Otherwise, I’m in very good health,” Shaddock added.

The Sydney resident and his dog had sailed from the Mexican city of La Paz for French Polynesia in April, but the voyage ended within weeks, Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.

In photographs of the rescue provided by Grupomar to the AP, a smiling, bearded and thin Shaddock is seen with a blood pressure cuff around his arm, holding a box of pain medication inside the fishing boat’s cabin. In others, Bella is stretched out on the deck. The catamaran floated nearby without a visible sail.

AP23199106867412 — Australian Tim Shaddock (Grupomar/Atun Tuny via AP)

“I would try and find the happiness inside myself, and I found a lot of that alone at sea,” Shaddock said.

Part of that encounter with sailors from the María Delia was captured on video. They circle Shaddock’s bobbing catamaran, a flock of white seabirds perched on its double hulls as Shaddock scrambles to his feet in the stern. Bella wags her tail.

A crew member asks Shaddock if he speaks English, if he’s okay, and if he has any drugs or weapons on board. Shaddock initially just hoarsely repeats, “Thank you, thank you.”

But he’s coherent, welcomes them to inspect the boat, and hands over the knife dangling from his neck.

Grupomar, the company that owns the tuna boat, said its crew gave Shaddock and Bella food and medical attention.

Shaddock said the María Delia became his “land” and the crew his family.

He said a lesson he took from the experience was a feeling that “your family is everyone, and your family is all of nature.”

Bella was an immediate hit with the crew. Shaddock said he met the dog in Mexico, and even though he tried to find her a home on land she kept following him back to sea. “She’s a lot braver than I am, that’s for sure,” he said.

AP23199607898824 — The crew of the Mexican tuna boat “Maria Delia” pose for photos with Bella, the dog of Australian Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock, both of whom they rescued from a incapacitated catamaran in the Pacific Ocean, as they bring the pair to port in Manzanillo, Mexico, Tuesday, July. 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Maybe that was why Bella wasn’t allowed to disembark Tuesday until Shaddock had driven away. The Australian had chosen Genaro Rosales, a fisherman from Mazatlan on the María Delia’s crew, to adopt Bella on condition that he took good care of her.

Shaddock planned to return to Australia to spend time with family and friends, but said that he enjoyed solitude. Still, he said, it might be a while before he goes back to sea.

People adrift at sea have occasionally survived much longer, but maritime accidents often do not end happily.

In 2014, a Salvadoran fisherman washed ashore on the tiny Pacific atoll of Ebon in the Marshall Islands after drifting at sea for 13 months. Jose Salvador Alvarenga left Mexico for a day of shark fishing in December 2012 and got lost during bad weather. He said he survived on fish, birds and turtles until his boat washed ashore 5,500 miles (8,850 kilometers) away.

In other cases, disabled boats are found without survivors, or are lost entirely.

AP23199642866266 — Australian Timothy Lyndsay Shaddock smiles as he speaks during a welcoming ceremony by Grupo Mar after being rescued from sea and arriving to port in Manzanillo, Mexico, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Antonio Suárez, Grupomar’s president, said Tuesday that the voyage during which the María Delia rescued Shaddock may have been its final trip, because he is modernizing the company’s fleet and the boat is its smallest and more than 50 years old.

If so, it would be a “marvelous farewell, saving human lives,” Suárez said.

Shaddock hugged Suárez in gratitude, and Suárez invited him to go for a meal in celebration.

When asked what he would like to eat back on land, Shaddock, smiling and jovial as he slid into a waiting car, said “tuna sushi.”

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