AIS extends AUNJAI CYBER syllabus with the power of NCSA

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27 April 2023, 10:17

AIS extends AUNJAI CYBER syllabus to the Thais People with the power of NCSA Building cyber-immunity and skills for digital citizens through national network of security government organizations.

AIS is partnering with allies from every sector to expand the AUNJAI CYBER Syllabus, a course of digital skills certified by the Ministry of Education to meet the standards of school syllabi. AIS has been collaborating with government agencies including the Department of Mental Health and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, with a common goal to level up digital skills, and build a society that can use digital safely and responsibly.

Previously, the company has worked with the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of the Interior to bring the AUNJAI CYBER syllabus to educators and students of its affiliated schools nationwide. This kicked off in over 29,000 schools affiliated to OBEC around the country.

Today, AIS has signed an MoU with the state agency directly responsible for maintaining cyber security, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA). This cooperation will provide know-how from the AUNJAI CYBER syllabus to the public through the nationwide network of cyber security, including children, youth, working people, the elderly and the disabled.

They can acquire cyber immunity and be informed digital citizens when going online. They gain the digital skills to cope with threats, and enjoy the digital world safely, constructively and responsibly.

Saichon Submakudom, Acting Head of Public Relations and Business Relations Business Unit at AIS, noted, “We are focused on developing an intelligent communication communications network to support every use case of our customers and the general public. Alongside this, AIS is on a mission to operate its business sustainably in society, and take the lead in efforts to cope with cyber-threats.

This comprises both deploying digital tech as a tool for users to negotiate the Internet safely, and the necessary knowledge to promote digital skills for Thai people to be clued-up, and enjoy the digital world securely and responsibly.

For this, we have developed the AUNJAI CYBER syllabus, designed in consultation with the Ministry of Education, the Department of Mental Health and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), which complies with the standards required for courses at Thai schools.

The syllabus instils and enhances digital skills and awareness through 4 Professional Skill Modules or the 4 P4, comprising 1. Practice, knowledge and understanding of using tech correctly and appropriately, 2. Personality, recommendations for personal protection online, 3. Protection, learning how to protect against cyber threats online and 4. Participation, interacting with appropriate skills and behavior for social media. Until now, the AUNJAI CYBER course has reached over 224,886 people, including students of schools affiliated to OBEC, which has brought the syllabus to over 29,000 students at schools all over Thailand.

“Today, we have expanded our cooperation to bring the content of this course to a larger number of Thai people. On this occasion, we are honored to be partnering with a government body which has a key role in preventing cyber-threats at the national level, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA). Together, we will expand AUNJAI CYBER to the general public on a systematic basis covering every segment from children and youth to working people, the elderly and the disabled. We will achieve this through the mechanisms of NCSA, whose network reaches to the subdistrict and district level nationwide, including the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) and local administrative organizations. This cooperation is in the form of activities, field trips and joint communications through various channels.

“We are confident that this close collaboration with state agencies who are directly responsible for cyber security for the general public such as NCSA will help achieve the common goal of both organizations. This is to reduce the impact of cyber threats while building digital skills, which include competency in understanding, accessing and using digital tech beneficially and safely.”

Air Vice Marshal Amorn Chomchoey, Secretary General of the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) commented, “A key mission of NCSA is to address the risk from cyber-threats, and efficiently upgrade the nation’s cyber-security. Thailand is facing a continual increase in cyber-threats, of which the statistics doubled in 2022. As a result, we have intensified our operations to integrate organizations from every sector, to lay the foundations of cyber-security. We aim to build awareness of risky situations in cyber-security to the general public, so that they can cope with the situation efficiently.

“This cooperation with AIS, including the Department of Mental Health and KMUTT, is a new aspect of sharing digital skills with the AUNJAI CYBER course. It has been integrated with the core mission of NCSA to build awareness and skills in cyber-security among the general public at every level, including children, young people, working people, the elderly and the disabled. We achieve this through NCSA’s network, in the form of proactive intervention to instill content of the AUNJAI CYBER syllabus, through activities to inform about cyber-threats at the regional level.

The public will be able to learn and assess themselves by doing a test. Know-how is also shared to provide a greater variety of knowledge. This includes promoting the AUNJAI CYBER syllabus through various NCSA channels. We are creating working formats which are open to every segment and age range of the public to gain new knowledge and build awareness for the public to have understanding. They can adapt to live in the digital world as responsible digital citizens enjoying the online world safely.”

Supreme Court Upholds Death Penalty for Lopburi Robber

By

Khaosod English

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27 April 2023, 10:00

Prasittichai Khaokaew is escorted by police commandos to a police station in Lopburi on Jan. 22, 2020.

BANGKOK — The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence for a school director convicted of murdering three people in a gold store robbery in 2020.

The court affirmed rulings by two lower courts that found Prasittichai Khaokaew, 41, guilty of shooting three people to death at a gold shop inside Robinson Department Store in Lopburi province three years ago.

In its ruling today, the court called his actions “cruel and inhumane” that resulted in the deaths and injuries of many innocent people, and therefore declined to overturn the verdicts by lower courts condemning him to death.

The deadly heist occurred on Jan. 9, 2020, when Prasittichai stormed the department store and shot seven people while he robbed gold necklaces worth 664,470 baht. Three people, including a 2-year-old toddler, were killed, while the four other people were wounded.

A still from CCTV footage showing the suspect walking into Robinson shopping mall with a handgun on Jan. 9, 2020.

Prasittichai was sent back to Bang Kwang Central Prison upon hearing the verdict.

Nine charges, including murder and armed robbery, were brought against Prasittichai and he was handed down the death penalty and a fine of 1,000 baht in August 2020. He was also ordered to pay compensation to all of the victims.

Previous appeal for clemency was dismissed by the court as his confession came after the guilt was already established.

Capital punishment is rare in Thailand and it was last carried out in 2018, when a 26-year-old man was put to death by lethal injection for aggravated murder.

Slain Japanese Journalist’s Camera Surfaces After 15 Years

By

Associated Press

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27 April 2023, 00:30

Thailand Myanmar Japanese Journalist — Aye Chan Naing from Democratic Voice of Burma holds the video camera of slain Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai before handing over to his sister Noriko Ogawa, at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, April 26, 2023.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

BANGKOK (AP) — A video camera that had been missing for more than 15 years after it was dropped by a Japanese journalist who was fatally shot during a street protest in Myanmar was handed over Wednesday to his sister at a ceremony in Bangkok.

Kenji Nagai was recording the demonstration on Sept. 27, 2007, in downtown Yangon -– part of a peaceful anti-military uprising known as the Saffron Revolution -– when soldiers arrived, dispersing the crowd with gunfire. The 50-year-old journalist, who was working for Japan’s APF News, a small video and photo agency, was hit and mortally wounded. He was one of about 10 people killed that day.

AP23116376595860 — Aye Chan Naing from Democratic Voice of Burma holds the video camera of slain Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai
before handing over to his sister Noriko Ogawa, at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Nagai’s sister Noriko Ogawa received the small Sony Handycam from Aye Chan Naing, head of the Democratic Voice of Burma, a Myanmar media organization which was involved in its recovery.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” she said. “This is a great surprise and joy for me, as I hadn’t even had any information about the camera until now.”

The handover of the camera comes as Myanmar is in the grip of upheaval far worse than that of 2007. A widespread, determined armed resistance has sprung up in response to the overthrow of Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government by the military in 2021. According to tallies kept by journalists in Myanmar, three of their local colleagues have been killed by the authorities since the army takeover and more than 150 detained. A handful of foreign journalists were also detained and later deported.

The camera when found still had the original tape inside it. Its contents were screened at Wednesday’s event.

AP23116375703956 — From left to right, Shawn Crispin, Committee to Protect Journalists, Aye Chan Naing of Democratic Voice of Burma, Noriko Ogawa, sister of Kenji Nagai, and her husband Futoshi Ogawa, watch video taken by Japanese Kenji Nagai when Nagai recorded a demonstration in downtown Yangon in September 2007, at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The images showed protesters and monks in the street close to Yangon’s ancient Sule Pagoda, singing and chanting, with police blocking their way. Trucks full of soldiers then arrived, prompting Nagai to turn the camera on himself.

“The army has arrived. Over there, that’s the army,” he says. “I think it’s a heavily armed army. In front of the temple, it is filled with citizens. Citizens are gathering in front of the head of the Buddha. A heavily armed army truck has arrived.”

The images then appear to show people scattering. The video cut off before the fatal moment.

However, video recorded by the Democratic Voice of Burma caught the moment of Nagai’s death, as he fell down and was then apparently shot at close range by a soldier. A photo of the incident taken by Adrees Latif of the Reuters news agency won a 2008 Pulitzer Prize.

Exact details of when and how Nagai’s camera was found and where it was kept in the intervening years remain vague. Aye Chan Naing said only that it had gone through a series of people before getting out of Myanmar.

AP23116377552168 — FILE- Airport cargo crew stand by a crate containing the body of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai who was killed during military crackdown on street protests in Yangon, Myanmar, on his arrival in Bangkok, Thailand on Oct. 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

“For obvious security reasons, we cannot go deeper into how we get out. What I can tell you is we got it through a good citizen who knew what was right and what was wrong and that is how we got it,” he said.

Nagai’s sister said she hoped an analysis of the tape would disprove the Myanmar government’s claim that he had not been deliberately targeted.

“I will definitely bring this camera and tape back to Japan and I would like to confirm that this is what my older brother really held onto until the end, investigate the details of the data and clarify what my brother wanted to tell, and the truth about the cause of his death. I hope I can reverse the Myanmar military’s claim that my brother’s death was an accident,” she said.

An op-ed in Myanmar’s state-controlled press less than a month after the shooting said Nagai was to blame for his own death because he put himself in harm’s way.

“The Japanese correspondent caused his tragic end by getting among the protesters, it said. “Surely, the Japanese correspondent was shot accidentally, not on purpose. He met his tragic end due to the fact that he was together with the protesters at an improper site at an improper time.”

The article also complained that Nagai had entered the country on a tourist visa, not a journalist visa. Journalist visas were very difficult, if not impossible, to obtain during the period of the protest.

Shawn Crispin from the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom group, said danger for journalists in Myanmar persists.

“Today’s event is important and timely as a reminder that the Myanmar military has and continued to kill journalists with impunity,” said Crispin, who took part in Wednesday’s ceremony. “And the killings won’t stop until Kenji’s murder receives full justice, from the triggerman, from any commanders that day who gave shoot-to-kill orders, to the military leaders who orchestrated that day’s lethal repression.”

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JERRY HARMER reported from Bangkok

A Pregnant Woman Is Investigated For Possible 11 Serial Murders

By

Khaosod English

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26 April 2023, 19:20

am1 — Police arrest 'Am Cyanide' on April 25, 2023.

The death of a 32-year-old healthy woman, who was reported to have suddenly fainted and later died, triggered an inquest as relatives did not believe it was a natural death. The investigation leads to the discovery of serial murders—at least 11 murders and one attempted murder.

Police issued a warrant for the arrest of ‘Am’ Sararat Rangsiwutthaporn, 36, the former wife of a deputy superintendent, who is currently four months pregnant, on April 25. She was suspected to have poisoned Siriporn Khanwong, Koi, with cyanide.

Siriporn, 32, a resident of Kanchanaburi, was found dead after she went to the Mae Klong River to release fish with the suspect in Ban Pong district, Ratchaburi province on April 14, 2023.

am3 — The mother of Ms. Siriporn showed her daughter’s picture on a TV programme.

Police are also investigating other cases where relatives have reported a death similar to Siriporn’s.

Tannicha Aksuwannawat, Am’s lawyer, said Am has denied any wrongdoing but admitted she was the last person seen with Siriporn.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, deputy national police chief, said it was a serial killing. Police are now focusing on gathering as much evidence as possible, as many relatives of the victims did not immediately report the death because they did not realise it was unnatural. In order to prosecute the criminal, the police will need forensic evidence.

Pol Maj Gen Surachate said that since 2020, there have been a total of 11 deaths in 6 provinces: Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Samut Sakorn and Udon Thani.

am2 — Ms.Am was in the same place with Ms.Siriporn and took the victim’s smart phone but told the sister of victim that she wasn’t there.

The main evidence leading to the arrest was the cyanide in Siriporn’s body, the video footage and the cyanide bottle in the suspect’s house in Ratchaburi Province.

On April 26, the investigating team found a medicine bottle with liquids inside it, a white bag with 3 packages inside it, and a lot of empty pill capsules in the medicine cabinet on the first floor of the suspect’s house in Nakhon Pathom Province.

There was also a survivor who ate food with Am and later vomited before fainting, but was not dead. The survivor became a key witness.

The police believe that the motive could be the desire for the property of the dead. However, it is clear that all the victims were close to the suspect, as they all live in the police flat and were police officers. So the suspect knew what each victim was doing and whether they were rich or not.

Cases related to cyanide with names, places and dates of victims:
1st, December 13, 2020, Name: Ms.Fah, 34, Location: a house in Nakhon Pathom
2nd, January 6, 2021, Name: Surat Thorntup, 35, Location: a house in Tha Maka district, Kanchanaburi
3rd, August 10, 2022, Name: Pol. Capt. (female) Kanda Torai, 36, Location: The Global department store in Nakhon Pathom
4th, August, 15, 2022, Name: Mrs.Chantarat Wongkraisin, Location: a house in Cha-am district, Petchaburi
5th, September, 12, 2022, Name: Ms.Kanida Tuladecharak, 44, Location: PTT gas station near Photharam roundabout, Ratchaburi
6th, March 12, 2023, Name: Mr.Suthisak Poonkwan, 35, Am’s husband, Location: a house in Udon Thani
7th, April 1, 2023, Name: Pol. Maj. Nipha Saenchan, Location: Phra Pathommachedi Stupa, Nakon Pathom
8th, April 14, 2023, Name: Ms.Siriporn Khanwing, 32, Location: Ban Pong district, Ratchaburi

Three more cases were found to be involved later:

9th, August 10, 2022, Name: Mrs. Rajarin, Location: Mahachai Market, Samut Sakhon
10th, September 10, 2022, Name: Mrs. Maneerat, Location: Muang District, Nakhon Pathom
11th, November 20,2022, Name: Ms. Phusadee or Teacher Aod, Location: a villa in Lam Bua Subdistrict, Don Tum District, Nakhon Pathom

am9 — The police officers brought ‘Am’ Sararat Rangsiwutthaporn, to the court.

On Wednesday afternoon, the police officers from the Crime Suppression Division took “Am,” an accused with an arrest warrant from the Criminal Court for premeditated murder, to the Ratchada Criminal Court to ask for prosecution and imprisonment. It was stated that the interrogation wasn’t done yet because the accused wouldn’t answer any questions or let them take a blood or DNA sample.

When the court approved the detention, Am was taken to the Central Women’s Correctional Institution. She has neither family nor a lawyer who can post bail for her.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Surachate revealed that Am’s sister has opened a pharmacy in the Photharam district of Ratchaburi province; this may allow Am to learn about chemicals from her sister.

Later, a doctor in Nakon Pathom who did an autopsy on Pol. Maj. Nipha Saenchan told the police that he found “cyanide” in the blood of the victim. So, the police could bring charges against Am in another case.

When Told of Kishida Attack, Safety Chief Kept Eating Eel

By

Associated Press

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26 April 2023, 18:25

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s public safety chief has come under fire for his remark that he enjoyed eel rice so much that he kept eating after his agency informed him of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s narrow escape from a pipe bomb attack two weeks ago.

Koichi Tani, chair of the National Public Safety Commission for Kishida’s Cabinet, told a governing party gathering Tuesday that he had the local delicacy in front of him for lunch when the phone rang.

“I was told that we can eat delicious unagi (eel) rice bowl there, and I was really looking forward to it,” Tani told party lawmakers. “Just as I was going to dig into it, I got a call from the National Police Agency saying something was thrown at the prime minister in Wakayama,” Tani said.

“But I fully savored and finished … my unadon (eel rice bowl),” he said, beaming.

AP23105124238041 — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida waves as he visits a port in Wakayama, western Japan to cheer his ruling party’s candidate in a local election, Saturday, April 15, 2023. Japan’s NHK television reported Saturday that a loud explosion occurred at the western Japanese port during Kishida’s visit, but there were no injuries. (Kyodo News via AP)

Tani was in the Shimanto area in the southwestern prefecture of Kochi during the attack — about 250 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Wakayama, where a man threw an explosive device at Kishida as the prime minister was about to make a campaign speech to cheer a local governing party candidate. Kishida was unharmed and the suspect arrested.

The attack on the prime minister came less than a year after former leader Shinzo Abe was killed while delivering a campaign speech. The assassination investigation found holes in police security and led to reinforcement of dignitary protection. Experts, however, said the attack on Kishida raised questions if any lessons were learned from the Abe case.

Tani’s eel comment immediately sparked criticisms and concern at Parliament and on social media about Japan’s public safety as the country makes its final preparations for the Group of Seven summit that Kishida will host May 19-21 in Hiroshima. During a parliamentary session, some opposition lawmakers demanded Tani’s dismissal.

“As head of the National Public Safety Commission, (Tani) lacks sense of urgency,” said Jun Azumi, an executive of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. “Isn’t this a negative for the prime minister to have such a person as chief executive responsible for Japan’s security?”

But Kishida said Tani handled his duties adequately and that he wanted the public safety chief to stay on.

AP23105131030757 — A man, on the ground, is caught after what appeared to be a smoke bomb was thrown at a port in Wakayama, western Japan Saturday, April 15, 2023.(Kyodo News via AP)

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also defended Tani. He said the public safety chief, who was in Kochi as the disaster prevention minister, juggled both duties and gave adequate instructions to officials responding to the explosion in Wakayama.

“I also contacted Minister Tani and once again told him to carry out his duties firmly,” Matsuno said.

Tani later Wednesday told reporters he wanted to highlight eel as a local delicacy of the area he visited, but that he had “poorly expressed myself in my brief comment and might have caused misunderstanding — and I must take it seriously.”

“With the G-7 summit coming up, I’m aware of the importance of protecting Japan’s public safety, and I will carry out my duty with a sense of alertness,” Tani added.

Kishida told a group of foreign media journalists last week that he planned to improve security before G-7.

Tani is the latest member of Kishida’s government to come under fire over controversial remarks. In November, then-Justice Minister Yasuhiro Hanashi resigned after saying his low-profile job only makes news when he places a stamp approving a death penalty. In February, a Kishida aide was dismissed after making homophobic remarks that he didn’t want to live next door to or see LGBTQ+ people.
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Zenbio’s recent launch marks B.Grimm Pharma’s entry into the pharmaceutical and dietary supplement industry

By

Contributor

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26 April 2023, 17:35

B.Grimm Pharma’s new business arm is equipped to meet the increasing demand for natural products in response to growing health trends.

B.Grimm has been a multi-business corporation serving the Thai people for over 145 years. Its operations span several sectors including energy, building systems, industrial systems, health, lifestyle, transportation, and real estate. In the latest development, B.Grimm Pharma, a subsidiary of B.Grimm, has introduced Zenbio to expand its presence in the integrated health industry encompassing pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements.

During a recent launch event, B.Grimm Pharma unveiled its debut probiotic product, named “Zenbio Pro BL8,” with the aim of aiding to supplement the health of Thai people. The event also included an informative discussion titled “Benefits of Probiotics: Gut Health and Beyond” for medical practitioners, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals, which was met with a positive and enthusiastic response.

According to Dr. Nara Decharin, the Executive Vice President of B.Grimm Pharma, the launch of Zenbio is aimed at entering the integrated health product industry, encompassing pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements. Zenbio professionally pays attention to product quality from the formulation till to end users .

“Our forte lies in leveraging our proficiency in dietary supplements with research-backed evidence of their effectiveness and safety from our global trade partners. We place the utmost importance on the careful selection of natural ingredients that have been scientifically proven to be effective, to formulate products that address the unique requirements of our customers and promote their optimum health. We remain committed to carrying out extensive research and development to introduce new and improved medicines, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare products to promote the overall well-being of individuals,” said Dr. Nara.

“Zenbio strives to emerge as a pioneering company in natural dietary supplements, supported by scientific evidence and endorsements from our commercial partners worldwide, validating their safety and effectiveness. The company operates with great care and precision at each stage of the process, beginning from the careful selection of raw materials, followed by production, storage, and transportation, and ultimately the delivery of the products to the end consumers. Each step of the process is certified by trusted and reputable organizations.”

The outbreak of COVID-19 and other illnesses in recent years has caused a significant shift in consumer behavior, with a growing emphasis on healthcare and wellness. This trend has contributed considerably to the exponential growth of the pharmaceutical and health products industry, particularly in Asia, which is a constantly evolving and expanding market.

B.Grimm Pharma is dedicated to promoting good health and making quality healthcare products accessible to all members of society. The company is a subsidiary of B.Grimm, and its origins can be traced back to the pharmacy business. B.Grimm Pharma began operating in Thailand during the reign of King Rama V and pioneered modern drugstores under the name “Siam Dispensary”.

B.Grimm has been operating in Thailand for over 145 years, guided by the philosophy of conducting business with generosity and promoting the harmonious coexistence of civilization and nature. The company is committed to benefiting both individuals and society.

Thai Navy Reveals 3 Factors for the Purchase of Chinese Submarines

By

Khaosod English

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26 April 2023, 16:58

yuan submarine2 — People’s Liberation Army’s Navy (PLAN) Yuan-class submarine.

Chief of Navy Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet informed reporters about the problem with the submarine’s engine after talking to the head of the Chinese Navy. He said the state-owned China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) will have to replace the Thai submarine engines, German MTU 396 engines, with Chinese CHD 620 engines.

The Thai Navy insist on 3 important considerations: 1. The engine must be safe. 2. The Chinese Navy must certify this to the Royal Thai Navy. 3. There must be compensation for the proper replacement of the engine due to the delay in delivery. These are important factors to consider in order to move forward with the deal or to cancel the agreement.

“At this meeting, I spoke with the Chinese navy chief and the Chinese defence minister. Both of them understood the issue and ensured that the Chinese Navy will support the CSOC-built CHD 620 engine within the agreed timeframe last year,” Admiral Choengchai said.

thai navy scaled — Chief of Navy Admiral Choengchai Chomchoengpaet

He added that it would take about 40 months, nearly 3 years and 4 months, to build a submarine after getting the CHD 620 engine. The navy will put the second and third submarines on hold for now or transfer to the frigate warship. Admiral Choengchai said the final decision will depend on the new government as the new budget depends on the new government. He added that the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister will have to talk about the issue.

According to the Diplomat, Thailand agreed in 2017 to pay 13.5 billion baht ($395 million) for the procurement of an S26T Yuan-class submarine from CSOC, with delivery expected in 2023.

Read: Admiral Behind Submarine Deal Defends Need for ‘Dream Weapon’

But the construction on the submarine ground to a halt in 2022 when Germany’s Motor and Turbine Union company said that it would not supply its cutting-edge MTU396 diesel engines to CSOC for installation in the Thai submarine. The German company said it was barred from making the sale due to a European Union government embargo on the sale of military items to China, imposed in the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacres.

In response, CSOS has offered to install a Chinese-made engine in the submarine or to offer Thailand two decommissioned boats from the People’s Liberation Army Navy.

The specific Chinese deal was criticized as a costly extravagance during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many Thais were struggling to get by. Indeed, the pandemic forced the government to postpone its planned purchase of two more Yuan-class subs, at a cost of 22.5 billion baht ($657 million)

On Tuesday, April 25, the Chinese-built HTMS Chang, the Navy’s new multi-purpose amphibious ship with landing platform (LPD-792) supporting submarine operations, arrived at Chuk Samet Port, Sattahip Naval Base, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province.

The Royal Thai Navy and China signed a contract to acquire a Type 071E (Yuzhao)-class landing platform dock (LPD) in Beijing on September 9, 2019. It reportedly took four years for building and is valued at THB 4 billion ($117 million). There are a total of 196 personnel on board. At present, Capt. Teerasarn Kongman is the ship’s commander.

Nine political parties will participate “The Last War” Election Forum

By

Khaosod English

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26 April 2023, 15:23

Matichon Group X Daily News’ next election forum will be on Tuesday, May 2 at Siam Paragon’s Royal Paragon Hall. Billed as “The Last War”, nine political parties will participate in the three sessions running from noon to 5.15 p.m.

The first session entitled “Young Blood Compete for the Future” features the following speakers who will express their political vision: Sililpas Kongtrakarn of Move Forward Party, Radklao Suwannakiri of the United Thai Nation Party, Methi Arun of the Democrat Party, Sakaojai Poonsawad of Pheu Thai Party, Ittidej Supong of Bhumjai Thai Party, Panitarn Prachuabmor of Thai Sang Thai Party, Atchawit Cherngklinchan of Chart Thai Pattana Party, Vivian Chulamont of Chart Pattana Kla Party and Rapipat Sumerchotemetha of Phalang Pracharath Party.

Session two, entitled “general leading the charge” compose of key party members or figures explaining their key political, business and social policies and strategies particularly towers the last stretch before the general election.

Speakers are: Thanathorn Juangrungruangkit speaking on behalf of Future Forward Party, Kiat Sitti-amorn of the Democrat Party, Nuttawut Sai-gua of Pheu Thai, Puttipong Punnakarn of Bhumjai Thai, Sita Tiwari of Thai Sang Thai, Chartchai Payuhanavychai of Chart Thai Pattana, Attaint Suwannapakdi of Chart Pattana Kla and Chaiwut Tanakmanusorn of Phalang Pracharath Party.

The third and last session is entitled “Commander-in-chief, visions and pledges”. PM candidates or leaders from seven political parties will speak about what they will do if elected, time frame and how to strengthenThailand.

They are: Pita Limjaroenrat of Move Forward Party, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, leader of the United Thai Nation Party, Jurin Laksanawisit of the Democrat Party, Anutin Charnveerakul of Bhumjai Thai Party, Sudarat Keyuraphan of Thai Sang Thai Party Varawut Silpa-archa of Chart Thai Pattana Party and Suwat Liptapanlop, chairman of Chart Pattana Kla Party.

Those interested can register to participate on all media channels of Matichon Group and Daily News.
Viewers can follow the forum online at all these media outlet. They are: Matichon Online, Matichon TV, The Poltics, Khaosod, Khaosod English, Prachachat, Matichon Weekender, Daily News Online and Daily News YouTube.
Khaosod English’s Pravit Rojanaphruk will provide simultaneous interpretation for the last session Live on Khaosod English Facebook page.

Singapore Executes Man for Coordinating Cannabis Delivery

By

Associated Press

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26 April 2023, 14:46

Malaysia Singapore Execution — Members of Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) hold candle outside Singapore Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) via AP)

HONG KONG (AP) — Singapore on Wednesday executed a man accused of coordinating a cannabis delivery, despite pleas for clemency from his family and protests from activists that he was convicted on weak evidence.

Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, was sentenced to death in 2018 for abetting the trafficking of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cannabis. Under Singapore laws, trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis may result in the death penalty.

Tangaraju was hanged Wednesday morning and his family was given the death certificate, according to a tweet from activist Kirsten Han of the Transformative Justice Collective, which advocates for abolishing the death penalty in Singapore.

Although Tangaraju was not caught with the cannabis, prosecutors said phone numbers traced him as the person responsible for coordinating the delivery of the drugs. Tangaraju had maintained that he was not the one communicating with the others connected to the case.

At a United Nations Human Rights briefing Tuesday, spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani called on the Singapore government to adopt a “formal moratorium” on executions for drug-related offenses.

“Imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards,” said Shamdasani, who added that increasing evidence shows the death penalty is ineffective as a deterrent.

Singapore authorities say there is a deterrent effect, citing studies that traffickers carry amounts below the threshold that would bring a death penalty.

The island-state’s imposition of the death penalty for drugs is in contrast with its neighbors. In Thailand, cannabis has essentially been legalized, and Malaysia has ended the mandatory death penalty for serious crimes.

Singapore executed 11 people last year for drug offenses. One case that spurred international concern involved a Malaysian man whose lawyers said he was mentally disabled.

The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network condemned Tangaraju’s execution as “reprehensible.”

AP23116192927108 — Singapore Prison Service main entrance is seen Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Lionel Ng)

“The continued use of the death penalty by the Singaporean government is an act of flagrant disregard for international human rights norms and casts aspersion on the legitimacy of Singapore’s criminal justice system,” the statement said.

Relatives and activists had sent letters to Singapore’s President Halimah Yacob to plead for clemency. In a video posted by the Transformative Justice Collective, Tangaraju’s niece and nephew appealed to the public to raise concerns to the government over Tangaraju’s impending execution.

An application filed by Tangaraju on Monday for a stay of execution was dismissed without a hearing Tuesday.

“Singapore claims it affords people on death row ‘due process’, but in reality fair trial violations in capital punishment cases are the norm: Defendants are being left without legal representation when faced with imminent execution, as lawyers who take such cases are intimidated and harassed,” said Maya Foa, director of non-profit human rights organization Reprieve.

Critics say Singapore’s death penalty has mostly snared low-level mules and done little to stop drug traffickers and organized syndicates. But Singapore’s government says that all those executed have been accorded full due process under the law and that the death penalty is necessary to protect its citizens.

British billionaire Richard Branson, who is outspoken against the death penalty, had also called for a halt of the execution in a blog post, saying that “Singapore may be about to kill an innocent man.”

Singapore authorities criticized Branson’s allegations, stating that he had shown disrespect for the Singaporean judicial system as evidence had shown that Tangaraju was guilty.

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ZEN SOO reported from Hong Kong

King Power Revamps Its E-commerce Platform, Kingpower.com

By

Khaosod English

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26 April 2023, 00:14

King Power Revamps Its E-commerce Platform, Kingpower.com, Under the Concept of “SHOP ALL POSSIBILITIES IN ONE CLICK!” Launching “THE POSSIBILITIES MAKERS!” –JJ, Thanaerng, 4EVE and Jeff Satur to Encourage People to Never Stop Seeking Possibilities in Life

April 25, 2023 – Mr. Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, CEO of King Power Group, has taken a significant step forward in revamping the KINGPOWER.COM platform to cater to the needs of modern shoppers in Thailand and abroad.

This is aimed at enhancing the online shopping experience for products at King Power and FIRSTER under the concept extended from the main theme of “THE POWER OF POSSIBILITIES.”

The goal is to provide an extensive range of products, not just duty-free items but much more. It is also launching “THE POSSIBILITIES MAKERS,” represented by JJ, Thanaerng, 4EVE and Jeff Satur, as part of a new marketing campaign called “POSSIBLE” to expand the customer base beyond existing customers and reach a new generation of customers of all ages. The goal is to achieve a 20% increase in customer growth.

Mr. Aiyawatt reveals that “in the past 2-3 years, King Power has overcome the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a severe impact on society and the global economy, affecting businesses, entrepreneurs, and the public.

During this time, the group had to pivot and rise to the challenge of adapting business strategy to cope with the impact of the COVID-19, in a way that had never been done before.

This involved collaborating with partners and employees to launch several online-specific campaigns, such as “SHOP SAVE STAY SAFE”, which provided a means for both partners and consumers to sell and purchase various products and have them delivered straight to their doorstep, even when flights were unavailable; “KING POWER TEAM POWER,” which has transformed over 12,000 employees into professional online sellers; and the “THAILAND SMILES WITH YOU” campaign (#ยิ้มให้โลกให้โลกยิ้ม) to promote Thailand to the world.

In addition, the group has taken the opportunity to prepare for the return of tourism in various dimensions. This includes an investment in major renovation at King Power Duty Free Suvarnabhumi Airport under the concept of “World Junction”, aimed at creating a phenomenon of Duty Free World Class Shopping Destination to elevate the airport to be a world-class aviation hub that highlights the image of the complete flagship store of global brands.

The group also launched a new service at the airport called “KING POWER CLICK & COLLECT” through an online system, allowing for 24-hour online duty-free shopping that is easy to access and pick up both on arrival and departure.

Additionally, the group has expanded its business to embrace the trend of online shopping behaviour of the new generation by launching ‘FIRSTER,’ a multi-platform for beauty and lifestyle shopping in the form of O2O (Online to Offline) through both website and application.

Moreover, the group has opened a flagship store of “FIRSTER” at King Power Mahanakhon and Siam Square, covering an area of more than 2,800 square metre, and launched the trendy hotel, The Standard Bangkok Mahanakhon, at King Power Mahanakhon, which is Asia’ s flagship of The Standard brand.

This hotel reflects all of The Standard’s distinctive features from design, fashion, art, music, to its renowned restaurants like OJO, MOTT32, and TEASE ROOM. Lastly, the group has fully launched King Power Mahanakhon as Central Bangkok’s landmark destination which fulfils the needs of Thai and international tourists by showcasing the identity of Bangkok, the vibrant capital city that blends all cultures and lifestyles together. All of these are just a part of a business plan aimed at stimulating the tourism atmosphere and driving the future of the Thai tourism industry.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic slowdown has resulted in a complete change in everything. The crisis has turned into an opportunity, allowing online businesses to reach consumers worldwide, especially the E-commerce market and consumer behaviour trends during the New Normal era. Therefore, it has become the driving force for the organisation to transform and adjust product and service offerings towards digital transformation, aligning with the new trends.

This has led to the concept of “THE POWER OF POSSIBILITIES”, where life does not stop searching for possibilities, leading the kingdom of King Power towards internationalisation through 8 business pillars, comprising Travel Retail, Retail, Dining, Hospitality, Consumer Products, Travel Experiences, Sports and CSR using the 4E strategy (4Es) – Enable, Encourage, Explore and Empower.

The goal is to provide excellent products and services, focus on creating added value for customers, and create new, seamless travel experiences for people around the world.

Currently, consumers demand more diverse and specific products. King Power has adjusted its online marketing strategy with the system “SHOP ALL POSSIBILITIES IN ONE CLICK!” by integrating the FIRSTER.COM application into KINGPOWER.COM to enhance competitiveness and deliver even better shopping experiences for all customers, whether they have a flight or not.

King Power has developed and expanded into Seamless Customer Journey that connects all shopping possibilities smoothly and quickly. In addition, King Power has added non-duty free products, such as travel-related items and household appliances, to FIRSTER.COM, which previously only had beauty and lifestyle products, bringing the total number of products on KINGPOWER.COM to over 250,000. These products can be accessed through the KINGPOWER.COM website and the KINGPOWER application.

Customers who purchase products through KINGPOWER.COM can choose from the following types of delivery services: 1. Airport Pick-up Service: Receive products at the airport, both on arrival and departure, from King Power Duty Free Online; and 2. Home and Hotel Delivery Service in Thailand by FIRSTER: Receive products at home or hotel in Thailand for international customers travelling to Thailand and general customers without flights. They can choose from a wide range of leading global brands of various types of products.

In addition, King Power launches “THE POSSIBILITIES MAKERS”–JJ, Thanaerng, 4 EVE and Jeff Satur, who are new generation ambassadors with exceptional qualities such as vibrancy, approachability and a passion for travelling.

They join forces to spread the diversity of lifestyle in living a life that never stops searching for possibilities in their own way, presented through the 8 core business pillars of King Power as mentioned above in an interactive marketing format covering 360 degrees across various media throughout the year, including digital campaigns, on-ground and online activities, to create a personalised customer experience and provide new travel experiences for consumers and travellers.

The goal is to expand the customer base to the new generation, especially Gen Y and Gen Z, who have buying power, in addition to the existing customer base, which is mostly Gen X and Baby Boomers. This is to create long-term loyalty and experiences with the brand.

On the occasion of the launch of the new KINGPOWER.COM, King Power will offer an exclusive deal in the Click and Collect campaign from April 25-30, 2023. Simply shop for a minimum of 6,000 Baht and receive up to 15% discount, with an additional instant discount of 500 Baht (maximum 1,500 Baht) for every 2,000 Baht spent (terms and conditions apply).

In addition, to celebrate FIRSTER’s anniversary, it is offering a variety of products with discounts of up to 30% during April 29-May 7, 2023 at King Power Mahanakhon at Siam Square Soi 7 branches.

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