KMT to meet over unpopular candidate

TAIPEI • Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) yesterday called an extraordinary congress over its unpopular presidential candidate as some in the deeply divided party said she should be ousted.

Known as "xiao-la-jiao" or "little hot pepper" for her straight-talking style, Ms Hung Hsiu-chu is trailing behind opposition candidate Tsai Ing-wen in the opinion polls.

Local media have reported that KMT chairman Eric Chu is set to take over the candidacy, but Mr Chu said he hoped the party would support Ms Hung.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

German tourist killed by jellyfish in Koh Samui

BANGKOK • A 20-year-old German tourist has died after being stung by a poisonous box jellyfish off the popular island resort of Koh Samui, police said yesterday, the third known fatality in Thailand in just over a year.

The woman was pronounced dead late on Tuesday at a private hospital on the island after the attack during a night swim at Lamai beach.

Lieutenant Thanakorn Patnankaew, a tourist police officer, said local officials have since travelled to nearby beaches to warn tourists to be cautious while swimming.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Thai PM denies rumours of Kra canal project

BANGKOK • Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has dismissed the latest round of rumours that the government plans to dig a canal across the Kra Isthmus, the Bangkok Post reported yesterday.

He was responding to a report by China's broadcaster CCTV that said Beijing was considering a proposal from Bangkok to build the canal from the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea. The PM said the Chinese government had not proposed such a plan and, if they did, Bangkok would need to hold discussions to evaluate the project and its benefits, the newspaper said.