Asia

Thai PM declares election victory as conservatives lead rivals

Contrary to forecasts from opinion polls that indicated the reformist People’s Party would emerge victorious, the conservative party in power secured a win.

Thailand's general election has yielded a preliminary victory for Prime Minister Anutin Charnavirakul, with early vote tallies indicating his conservative party is leading the field.

In a statement, Anutin dedicated his party's anticipated win to the entire Thai population, regardless of their voting choices, following a result that contradicted pre-election polls which had favored the reform-minded People's Party.

As 90% of the ballots have been counted, projections suggest Anutin's Bhumjaithai party will secure 194 seats in the 500-seat Thai parliament, while the People's Party trails behind with 116 seats.

Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the leader of the People's Party, seems to have acknowledged defeat, expressing his willingness to assume an opposition role if Anutin is able to establish a government.

The election was prompted by the dissolution of the coalition government, led by Anutin, which had lasted only three months before collapsing in December.

Anutin's tenure in office appears secure, as his Bhumjaithai party is poised to significantly increase its seat count from the 2023 election, potentially more than doubling its previous total.

The outcome of Thai elections can be difficult to forecast, and this latest poll has proven no exception, yielding unexpected results.

The People's Party had anticipated building on its success from three years prior, but instead faced a setback, falling short of expectations in a surprising turn of events.

Despite predictions of a strong showing by the party's youthful and idealistic candidates, this anticipated surge of support, often referred to as an "orange wave," failed to emerge.

Having won the 2023 election under its former name, Move Forward, but been prevented from assuming power by the senate, the party this time found itself relegated to second place by Anutin's Bhumjaithai party, which took a more pragmatic conservative approach.

For the time being, the reformists will not be in power. The potential crisis that could have arisen if they had won the election, only to be denied office again, has been avoided.

The inaccuracy of opinion polls in Thailand is well-documented, but post-election analysis will likely focus on how Anutin transformed the Bhumjaithai party, also known as "Thai Pride", from a small regional party into a significant electoral force.

Anutin smiling in a room full of supporters and staff — PM Anutin celebrated at his party's Bangkok headquarters

Anutin's party successfully tapped into patriotic feelings following the brief border conflicts with Cambodia in the previous year, positioning itself as a champion of traditional Thai institutions, including the monarchy and the military.

Anutin's campaign centered on nationalist rhetoric and populist policies, but his success can also be attributed to his ability to secure the support of local influencers, taking advantage of an electoral system in which 80% of seats are determined by individual constituencies using a first-past-the-post system, and the remaining 20% allocated based on national vote share.

Additionally, Anutin expanded his party's appeal by featuring prominent, experienced technocrats with strong reputations for effectiveness at the forefront of his campaign.

In the proportional vote, the People's Party saw significant gains, although its overall support appears to have decreased since 2023, and its limited local networks continue to pose a challenge.

The Pheu Thai party, led by the Shinawatra family, is expected to secure 86 seats, marking a substantial decline from its performance in 2023.

Historically, Pheu Thai has been a dominant force in elections, leveraging its populist policies to attract widespread support; however, after the 2023 election, the party formed a coalition government following the obstruction of Move Forward, only to have two of its prime ministers removed by the constitutional court.

The party's reputation in Thailand has been impacted by criticism of its handling of the Cambodian conflict and the imprisonment of its founder, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in September of last year.

Economic concerns were a major factor for many voters, as Thailand grapples with record-high household debt and slower growth rates compared to previous years.

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station during Thailand's general election in Bangkok, Thailand. — People in Thailand voted in the election throughout Sunday

Phananya Bunthong, a civil servant, expressed her desire for economic growth and concern about the potential relocation of large factories to neighboring countries, such as Vietnam, in an interview with the BBC.

Since its inception eight years ago, the People's Party has advocated for significant reforms, including limiting the influence of major corporations and the military, simplifying the bureaucratic system, and updating the education sector, which has resonated with many young Thais.

Kittitat Daengkongkho, 28, shared his aspirations with the BBC, stating that he seeks transformation and an end to the status quo.

The election results indicate that the People's Party's platform was less appealing to older voters and those in rural areas, who were instead drawn to the financial support promises made by Anutin's party.

In conjunction with the election, a referendum was held in which Thai citizens voted on whether to reform the constitution, which was established in 2017 under military rule, with the aim of potentially revising the 2017 document.

Opponents of the charter argue that it grants excessive authority to non-elected bodies, such as the judiciary and the senate, thereby limiting the democratic process.

As the vote count nears completion, with more than 90% of ballots tallied, initial results indicate that approximately 65% of voters have expressed support for the measure.

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Emergency call recording reveals boy’s heroic swim to save family

A 13-year-old boy, Austin Appelbee, took action to secure assistance for his mother and siblings when they were pulled out into the ocean.

An audio recording has been made public by authorities, capturing a distress call made by a 13-year-old Australian boy who swam for an extended period to seek assistance for his family after they were caught in a strong current at sea in early February.

During the call, the boy, identified as Austin Appelbee, informs emergency services that his brother, Beau, 12, sister, Grace, eight, and their mother remain in the water, awaiting rescue.

Austin expresses concern for his family's well-being, stating that he is unsure of their current condition, which is causing him significant distress.

The teenager also reports feeling severely exhausted, a result of his prolonged and physically demanding effort to reach shore and call for help.

Following the call, Austin lost consciousness and was hospitalized, where he later received news that his mother, brother, and sister had been rescued approximately 14 kilometers offshore and were in good health.

Asia

Australian opposition leader faces pressure after key staff member quits

The departure of a high-ranking colleague has created an opportunity for a potential challenge to Sussan Ley, who holds the distinction of being the first female leader of the Liberal party.

Sussan Ley, the first female leader of the Liberal Party, is facing renewed scrutiny following the departure of Angus Taylor, her shadow defence minister, from the party's leadership team.

Sussan Ley, a blonde haired woman with pearl earrings and glasses looks off camera while people in suits sit on a green leather bench behind her — Liberal leader Sussan Ley is facing an expected leadership challenge from Angus Taylor

Taylor's resignation is expected to pave the way for a potential challenge to Ley's leadership, with local media outlets suggesting he has been quietly working to unseat her for some time.

Ley's tenure has been marked by struggles, including a narrow victory over Taylor in a leadership contest last year, which was held in the aftermath of the party's worst-ever electoral performance.

The Liberal-National coalition, a partnership that dates back to the 1940s, has experienced significant instability under Ley's leadership, having split and reunited twice during her tenure.

On Wednesday, Taylor, a member of the party's conservative faction, announced his resignation from the leadership team, citing his commitment to continuing to serve the Liberal Party.

In a statement to reporters, Taylor expressed his disappointment with the party's inability to hold the current Labor government accountable, emphasizing the need to protect Australians' way of life and restore their standard of living.

Taylor stated that he does not believe Ley is capable of leading the party effectively, citing the need for a change in leadership.

It remains to be seen whether Taylor's allies within the shadow cabinet will follow his lead and resign from their positions.

Local media reports suggest that Taylor's supporters are planning to request a special party meeting to consider a spill motion, which would allow the party to reconsider its leadership.

If Taylor were to succeed in his bid for leadership, it would bring an end to the ongoing speculation surrounding Ley's tenure, which has been marred by uncertainty.

The coalition's most recent split, which occurred in January, was followed by a reunification just days ago, after a dispute over hate speech laws, which Ley had supported in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack in December.

At the time of the initial split, Nationals leader David Littleproud explicitly stated that his party could not continue to serve in a shadow cabinet under Ley's leadership.

Recent polling data has shown the One Nation party, which secured 6% of the national vote in the previous election, surpassing the Coalition to take second place behind Labor, while Ley's personal approval ratings remain low.

The coalition has yet to reach a consensus on the factors that contributed to its decisive election loss to Labor, which saw the Liberals suffer significant losses in major cities.

In the aftermath of the election, the coalition briefly split over disagreements on climate and energy policy, including its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, a policy that the Liberals later abandoned under pressure from the Nationals and their own right-wing faction.

The Nationals, which have a strong presence in rural areas and tend to lean more conservative than the Liberals, have been pushed further to the right in response to the surge in support for the One Nation party, according to political analysts, who note that this shift may hinder the Liberals' ability to appeal to centrist voters in urban areas.

Asia

India sets 3-hour deadline for social media firms to remove illegal content

Concerns have been raised that the regulations may pose a difficulty for tech companies in terms of compliance and potentially lead to increased censorship.

In a significant update to its existing regulations, India has implemented new rules requiring social media companies to delete unlawful content within a three-hour window after being notified, a substantial reduction from the previous 36-hour timeframe.

A man stands on the right side of the frame, holding a mobile phone to his ear. He is wearing a light-coloured short-sleeved shirt and dark trousers and appears to be looking ahead while speaking. Behind him is an illustrated wall showing the outline of India filled with oversized social media and tech logos, including YouTube, Google, Gmail, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Yahoo and Google Drive. — India has taken several steps in recent years to tighten oversight of online speech

These revised guidelines, set to come into effect on February 20, will apply to prominent platforms such as Meta, YouTube, and X, as well as content generated using artificial intelligence.

The government has not provided a specific reason for shortening the deadline for removing objectionable content.

Critics, however, are concerned that this move may be part of a broader effort to increase oversight of online content, potentially leading to censorship in a country with over a billion internet users, which is the world's largest democracy.

In the past, Indian authorities have utilized existing Information Technology rules to direct social media platforms to remove content deemed illegal under laws related to national security and public order, granting them broad authority over online content.

According to transparency reports, Indian authorities requested the removal of more than 28,000 URLs or web links in 2024, which were subsequently blocked.

The BBC has sought comment from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology regarding the latest amendments, while Meta has declined to comment; the BBC has also reached out to X and Google, the owner of YouTube, for their response.

The updated regulations also introduce new guidelines for AI-generated content, marking a significant development in the country's approach to regulating online material.

For the first time, Indian law defines AI-generated content, including audio and video that has been created or altered to appear realistic, such as deepfakes, while excluding ordinary editing, accessibility features, and genuine educational or design work.

Platforms that allow users to create or share AI-generated content must clearly label it, and where possible, add permanent markers to facilitate tracing its origin.

Once labels are added to AI-generated content, companies will not be permitted to remove them; furthermore, they must utilize automated tools to detect and prevent the dissemination of illegal AI content, including deceptive or non-consensual material.

Technology experts and digital rights groups have expressed concerns regarding the feasibility and implications of the new regulations.

The Internet Freedom Foundation has stated that the shortened timeline will effectively transform platforms into "rapid fire censors," highlighting the potential risks associated with the updated rules.

The group has argued that the extremely short deadlines will eliminate the possibility of meaningful human review, forcing platforms to rely on automated removals, which may lead to over-removal of content.

Anushka Jain, a research associate at the Digital Futures Lab, has welcomed the requirement for labeling AI-generated content, suggesting that it could enhance transparency; however, she has also cautioned that the three-hour deadline may push companies towards complete automation.

Jain has noted that companies are already struggling to comply with the 36-hour deadline due to the need for human oversight, and that a fully automated process may result in the censorship of legitimate content.

Prasanto K Roy, a Delhi-based technology analyst, has described the new regulations as "perhaps the most extreme takedown regime in any democracy," highlighting the challenges associated with compliance.

Roy has stated that meeting the new requirements will be "nearly impossible" without extensive automation and minimal human oversight, as the tight deadline leaves little room for assessing the legitimacy of removal requests.

Regarding the labeling of AI-generated content, Roy has acknowledged the positive intention behind the regulation but has also noted that reliable and tamper-proof labeling technologies are still in development.

The BBC has requested a response from the Indian government regarding the concerns raised by technology experts and digital rights groups.