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Foreigners Are Prohibited From Working as Tour Guides in Thailand

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Ministry of Labour and the Royal Thai Police have joined forces in a field operation to arrest illegal foreign tour guides, as people have reported the misconduct of illegal foreign tour guides working in Thailand and taking jobs away from local tour guides.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed foreigners that the profession of a tour guide is protected under Thai law and only allows Thai nationals to work in the Kingdom.

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Chinese tourists visit the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

According to the Emergency Decree on the Administration of Foreigners’ Work B.E. 2017, foreigners who do not have a work permit or work beyond their rights will have to pay a fee between THB 5,000 and THB 50,000 and will be sent back to their home country. They will not be allowed to apply for a work permit for 2 years.

An employer or business that allows illegal aliens to work without a work permit, or allows them to work beyond their rights, must pay a fee of THB 10,000 to THB 100,000 per illegal worker. In case of a repeat offence, they face a prison sentence of 1 year or the payment of a fee of THB 50,000 to THB 200,000 per illegal worker. They will also be banned from hiring foreign workers for 3 years.

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The Department of Tourism recommends that travellers obtain information via https://www.dot.go.th before purchasing package tours to avoid fraud by illegal travel agents.

Tour guides without a license or a company operating during a license suspension shall be punished by imprisonment for 2 years or a fine of not more than THB 500,000 or both.

You can complain about a tour guide company, tour guide package purchase and tour guide service through the Department of Tourism Call Centre: 02-401-1111 24 hours.

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Gwyneth Paltrow’s Ski Trial Defense Leans Heavily on Experts

Terry Sanderson, the Utah man suing Gwyneth Paltrow, answers question about his extensive post-crash international travel behind an image of him visiting Thailand, as he testifies Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Park City, Utah. Sanderson accuses Paltrow of crashing into him on a beginner run at Deer Valley Resort, leaving him with brain damage and four broken ribs. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow’s attorneys came close to wrapping up their case on Wednesday by relying on more experts to mount their defense on the seventh day of trial over her 2016 ski collision with a 76-year-old retired optometrist.

Paltrow’s defense team called to the stand a radiologist, a neurologist, a neuropsychologist and a forensic psychologist, leaning on medical analysis rather than the testimony of the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer’s friends or husband in order to make their case. In the final hour of their last full day to call witnesses though, they called Terry Sanderson, the man suing Paltrow, back to the witness stand.

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Gwyneth Paltrow sits in court during an objection by her attorney during her trial, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

The eight-person jury is expected to get the case Thursday to deliberate after closing arguments.

More than just a display of their financial investment in the case, Paltrow’s team allotting most of their time to expert testimony is a gamble. Throughout the trial, bombshell testimony from Paltrow and Sanderson has engaged the jury, while hours of jargon-dense medical testimony has tested their endurance.

Experts called by Paltrow’s side testified that brain scans suggest Sanderson’s cognitive abilities began to decline years before the crash with Paltrow. They challenged claims made last week by his doctors, who attributed his disorientation and memory loss to post-concussion syndrome.

“Aging can result in this,” radiologist Carl Black said, pointing to Sanderson’s brain scan, which he said showed microvascular ischemic disease of white matter, “because we’re all deteriorating to some degree or other everyday we live.”

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Paltrow attorney Steve Owens displays a poster showing a brain scan in the courtroom on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Park City, Utah.. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool)

Members of the jury sat transfixed — with some on the edge of their seats — on Friday when Paltrow said on the stand that she initially thought she was being “violated” when the collision happened. Three days later Sanderson gave an entirely different account, saying she ran into him and sent him “absolutely flying.”

Time constraints have challenged both sides throughout the eight-day trial and forced difficult decisions about who to call to testify from their lengthy roster of witnesses. The judge presiding over the trial in Park City has made it clear that he wants both sides to give their closing arguments by Thursday afternoon — in order to give the jury enough time to deliberate and come to a consensus.

The trial is taking place in the city that annually hosts the Sundance Film Festival, where early in her career Paltrow would appear for the premieres of her movies, including 1998’s “Sliding Doors,” at a time when she was known primarily as an actor, not a celebrity wellness entrepreneur.

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Terry Sanderson, the Utah man suing Gwyneth Paltrow, testifies, Wednesday, March 29, 2023., Pool)

Sanderson is asking for more than $300,000, saying that Paltrow’s recklessness on the slope caused the crash, leaving him with four broken ribs and years of post-concussion symptoms including confusion, memory loss and irritability. Paltrow has countersued for a symbolic $1 and attorney fees, alleging that Sanderson veered into her from behind.

The amount of money at stake for both sides pales in comparison to the typical legal costs of a multiyear lawsuit, private security detail and expert witness-heavy trial.

The second week of trial has made clear that attorneys have spared little expense on making their case.

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Gwyneth Paltrow leaves the courtroom, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Sanderson’s attorney told the jury last week that, for him, the trial was about “value, not cost.”

To accompany their expert witnesses — many who have testified to being paid more than $10,000 — Paltrow’s defense team has played multiple high-resolution animations depicting their side’s version of the events that took place in February 2016 on a beginner run at Utah’s Deer Valley Resort.

Late on Wednesday afternoon, Paltrow’s attorneys called Sanderson back to the stand to cast doubt on his claims of life-altering injuries. Instead of revisiting his medical history or expert testimonies, they asked questions about Sanderson’s luxury and adventure travel after the crash.

They introduced photos into evidence of Sanderson riding a camel in Morocco, trekking up to Machu Picchu in Peru, and taking a continent-wide loop around Europe with stops in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France and Belgium.

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SAM METZ Associated Press reported from PARK CITY, Utah

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Graffiti on the Grand Palace Wall, Controversial Lese Majeste Law

The anti-lese majeste Law graffiti and anarchy symbol painted on the Grand Palace/Emerald Buddha Temple wall by a 25-year-old man was cleaned up by March 29, at 5:30 p.m., but this law remains a contentious issue in Thai society, including in the upcoming election.

The graffiti expression of this law, also known as Criminal Code Article 112, was shocking. Nobody expects something like that to happen on the wall of the Grand Palace. The palace is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist attractions, and many Thais regard it as a sacred site.

According to iLaw, Article 112 is a legal provision in Thailand’s Penal Code which states that; “Whoever defames, insults, or threatens the King, the Queen, the Heir-apparent, or the Regent, shall be punished with imprisonment of three to fifteen years.”

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At 5:30 p.m., March 29, 2023 (Photos by Pravit Rojanaphruk.)
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On March 28, 2023

 

The 25-year-old graffiti protester was charged with violation of the Protection of Historic Sites Act and could face a maximum imprisonment term of 7 years if found guilty and/or a 700,000 baht fine.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, he was granted bail at 5 p.m. on March 29. The court ordered him not to repeat the same act, and 50,000 baht was posted as bail surety through the Ratchaprasong Fund for Politically Charged Individuals.

Another 15-year-old girl was also arrested on Tuesday afternoon when she was found close to the graffiti protester who spray-painted the wall of the Grand Palace. The teenage girl was wanted for a separate lese majeste arrest warrant issued on February 28.

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The 15-year-old girl was also arrested.

PM Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday the graffiti protester did it without thorough consideration of his actions or clear thinking. Prayut said police retrain themselves by not lodging many charges of the 25-year-old protester to avoid being accused of being heavy-handed but had to also charge the man to avoid being accused of not doing anything.

“Was it appropriate? Will you let someone spray painted in front of your house?” Prayut asks reporters. He added the conflicting issue is protracted and cannot be resolved no matter how many prime ministers Thailand have.

Lese majeste also known as Article 112 of the Criminal Code, has been an ongoing controversy in Thailand long before the recent arrest of a graffiti case, along with several people involved in the incident, painted the wall of the royal palace as an expression of royal reformation.

The implementation of the law has intensified after the 2014 coup, as several youth protests in 2020 touched on the royal reformation.

The most recent case involves a 26-year-old man who was sentenced to two years in prison on March 8 for selling calendars featuring satirical caricatures of yellow ducks, which the court found mocked the country’s monarch.

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FILE – Inflatable yellow ducks, which have become good-humored symbols of resistance during anti-government rallies, are lifted over a crowd of protesters in Bangkok, Thailand, Nov. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File)

The law has become one of the key issues that activist groups are taking to the political parties in this election campaign. Recently, two former hunger strikers: Tawan, 21, and Bam, 23, went to events organised by Phue Thai and Move Forward to ask politicians about their stance on amending or repealing Article 112.

On a Chanel 3 debate programme, presenter Sorayuth Suthassanachinda also asked participants about the incident of a graffiti artist painting the Grand Palace.

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Photos by Pravit Rojanaphruk.

Move Forward representative Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn replied that his party would amend the law, while Nattawut Saikua of the Pheu Thai Party said the party would not change anything for now, but would first look at enforcement the law to prevent people from using it to harm others.

Other parties: United Thai Nation Party, Palang Pracharath Party, and Bhumjaithai Party said they would not touch Article 112.

This issue is expected to be raised repeatedly during the election campaign.

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Luxury Car Rental Bangkok With the Best Service

Bangkok is well-known for its most chaotic traffic. Will it be better to drive a premium car on this road? A luxury car rental agency will be the one that provides a comfortable and luxurious driving experience for you.

The luxury car rental Bangkok will help you relax and enjoy yourself before reaching your destination. However, it is not limited to just driving, you will find more ways and purposes to rent a luxury car and the advantages of luxury car rental Bangkok instead of buying. 

What Brands Are There for Luxury Car Rental Bangkok? 

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Luxury car rental Bangkok agency is one of the most outstanding luxury rental car companies that provide various brands and models for the best driving experience of your journey in Bangkok. The following are the luxury car for rental services in Bangkok to complete your travel.

  • Alphard Car Rental
    • New Toyota Alphard
  • Audi Car Rental 
    • Audi TT 2018
  • Mercedes Benz Car Rental
    • Mercedes Benz C Class
    • Mercedes Benz C Coupe
    • Mercedes Benz CLS Class 2020
    • Mercedes Benz E Class Sedan
    • Mercedes Benz E200 Cabriolet AMG
    • Mercedes Benz E Coupe 300E 2019
    • Mercedes Benz S Class
    • Mercedes Benz S Class 2017 
  • BMW Car Rental
    • BMW I8 Roadster
    • BMW Z4 Roadster
    • BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe 2021
    • BMW 3 Series G20 2020
    • BMW 3 Series
    • BMW 4 Series G22 2021
    • New BMW 5 Series
    • BMW 7 Series 730d
    • BMW X4
  • Maserati Car Rental
    • Maserati Ghibi 2017
  • Porsche Car Rental
    • New Porsche 718 Boxster
    • Porsche 981 Cayman
    • Porsche Panamera 971
    • Porsche Cayenne 2014

Advantages of a Luxury Car Rental Bangkok

To have a quality driving experience in Bangkok, luxury car rental Bangkok is one of the options which enhances your drive to pleasure the atmosphere. Here are some advantages of a luxury car rental Bangkok that might help your decision. 

  1. Luxury Car Driving Experience: To enjoy your journey, a luxury car rental will provide comfort and space while driving on the road. Elevating your diving atmosphere and journey with luxury car rental Bangkok at an affordable price.
  2. Elevating the Atmosphere: Not only driving but the luxury car can make the surrounding atmosphere more remarkable and gratuity. You can rent it for your wedding, business meeting or even a photoshoot to enhance the overall outlook and atmosphere to be more luxurious. 
  3. Safety and Privacy: Luxury car rental Bangkok agencies must always be concerned about the safety and privacy of our customers. It can be guaranteed that privacy is one of the policies that will be prioritized, and no customer information will be disclosed.  Likewise, every car in our care will always be sent for a check-up before delivering to our customers. The engine or tire is not the only thing that is checked up, there is also the check-up for the suspension and safety system of the luxury car that will be rented.
  4. Daily Variety: We offer various brands of luxury cars rental. Customers can choose their wanted world-class brands of cars such as FERRARI, MASERATI, PORSCHE, BMW and many others, to drive as they desire.

What occasions can a Luxury car rental Bangkok be used?

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Luxury car rental Bangkok will help you to elevate the atmosphere of your driving. However, it is not the only occasion that allows you to enjoy a luxury car. Here are some other occasions for which you can rent a luxury car.

  • Business Meeting

A rental luxury car instead of buying one will save your funds and allow you to invest in another thing for your business. With the affordable price, you can rent for driving to your appointment day to boost your overall image to look distinguished.

  • Vacation

If you want to spend your precious vacation time in tourism or some amazing trip, a luxury car rental Bangkok for driving is also fascinating. You can enjoy the voyage both on the way and destination via the comforts of the driving experience that luxury car rentals provide.

  • Wedding

A wedding is recognized as one of the most important days in life, so it should be remarkable and memorable for everyone. On the wedding day or pre-wedding shooting, you can rent a luxury car for the groom and bride and make it an unforgettable memory for them.  

  • Photoshoot

Enhancing the image of your products or brand by renting a luxury car is one of the strategies in commercial photoshoots. Moreover, it can be used in dramas or music videos as people tend to feel that something luxurious will be related to something premium and valuable. 

Service for Luxury car rental By Richcars

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  • Convenient rental process

Richcars Rental is well-known for the convenient luxury car rental Bangkok because there is no need for any other document except a driver’s license. The customer can decide where to take the car and can drive it with unlimited mileage. 

  • Affordable price without additional costs

The maintenance and repair costs of luxury cars will be higher than the normal ones. Richcars will be the ones who take care of these costs instead of our customers. Luxury car rental Bangkok can meet all your needs. Whether you want to drive for your journey or rent for decoration or the atmosphere, it all starts at only 7,900 baht per day.It is available for both daily and monthly rentals. Each car focuses on the top model. It is a new car, in good condition, with little use. Good periodic maintenance without any additional cost.

  • Additional service from Richcars Rental

There is a care service throughout the luxury car rental period for the customer. We also have a support team which ready to help 24 hrs. a day, no matter what problems during the luxury car rental process, such as accidents, flat tires or a blow-out. Moreover, we have a spare car for customers to use while the car has problems or waiting to be repaired.

Summarize

Richcars Rental contains many brands and models of luxury cars for our customers to choose as much as they desire at an affordable price. Moreover, Richcars is also convenient and deliver luxury car to customers in a short time. With the best driving experience of luxury car rental Bangkok from Richcars and the additional services that will always stand by for 24 hours, the customer can reassure and enjoy their journey comfortably. 

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Thai Central Bank Raises Policy Rate for 5th Time

photo by Matichon

A 0.25-percentage-point rate hike announced by Thailand’s central bank on Wednesday, in line with market expectations, has brought the key policy rate to its highest level since mid-2019.

BANGKOK, March 30 (Xinhua) — Thailand’s central bank on Wednesday decided to raise its key policy rate for a fifth consecutive meeting, by another 0.25 percentage point, to ease inflation growth while supporting economic growth.

The Bank of Thailand (BOT) monetary policy committee voted unanimously to raise the policy rate from 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent, effective immediately.

The move came after a 0.25-percentage-point rate hike announced at the monetary policy committee meeting on Jan. 25.

Wednesday’s rate hike, in line with market expectations, has brought the key policy rate to its highest level since mid-2019.

Thailand’s economic recovery continued to gain traction, driven by tourism and private consumption, while exports are expected to gather steam in the second half of this year, the BOT said in a statement on its website.

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Chinese tourists visit the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

The statement said a gradual and measured policy normalization remains an appropriate course for monetary policy towards long-term sustainable growth, adding that the size and timing of policy normalization will be adjusted if needed.

The central bank expected the headline inflation to return to the target range of 1 percent to 3 percent in the middle of this year, given easing supply-side pressures. It projected headline inflation growth to fall to 2.9 percent year-on-year in 2023 before declining to 2.4 percent in 2024.

The BOT expected the country’s economy to expand 3.6 percent year on year in 2023 and 3.8 percent next year, according to the statement.

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Thai Authorities Battle Spread of Mountain Wildfires

Fire and smoke rise from a forest fire at Nakhon Nayok province province, 114 kilometers (70 miles) northeast of Bangkok. Thailand, Thursday, March 30, 2023. The fire had engulfed large areas of two mountains by Thursday, and the authorities were trying to contain its spread. (AP Photo/Nava Sangthong)

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai authorities on Thursday ordered urgent action to stop the spread of a fire that overnight engulfed forests on two mountains in a province northeast of the capital Bangkok.

Firefighting vehicles had been deployed to extinguish the blaze, which broke out Wednesday night in Nakhon Nayok province, 114 kilometers (70 miles) northeast of Bangkok, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said, adding that helicopters would be sent to provide further assistance.

The fire began on a high part of Khao Chaplu mountain, where safe access for firefighters was impossible, Anucha said. It then spread to the adjacent Khao Laem mountain. Local media said high winds fanned the flames.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was closely monitoring the situation and had ordered officials and the army to mobilize to stop the fire’s spread, Anucha said.

He added that Prayuth ordered officials to watch for anyone deliberately lighting fires to clear land for farming and other purposes, a practice that has been blamed for past fires. The cause of the fire in Nakorn Nayok was not yet clear, though some local media reports said it was set off by lightning.

Separate forest fires have been raging farther north, Anucha noted, including in Chiang Mai province, where water was dumped from the air Wednesday in an effort the dowse the flames.

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A thick layer of smog covers the city of Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Wichai Taprieu)
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AIS Ready To Overcome Boundaries To Build the ECOSYSTEM ECONOMY

ECOSYSTEM ECONOMY underlines AIS leadership to break free of limitations Next-level digital experiences in combination with partners of every level from local to global Grass-roots economies powering mutual growth of the Digital Economy

AIS has set yet another milestone with its 2023 operations plan, aiming to turbocharge economic growth with the ECOSYSTEM ECONOMY of inclusive cross-sector integration. Thai potential is being built up with Intelligence Infrastructure powered by the nation’s biggest 5G and home internet network, to deliver the best experiences to customers and the Thai public.

  • Digital Intelligence Infrastructure of 5G networks, home internet and 5G platforms for industry with investment budgets for this year of 27,000 – 30,000 MB.
  • Cross-industry: Connections and collaborations with 1.8 million small merchants nationwide, building mutual growth for customer benefit. 
  • Human Capital & Sustainability: Levelling up Digital Talent capabilities for Thai people through Education Platforms to build digital skills and promote cyber-immunity.

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Somchai Lertsutiwong, Chief Executive of AIS, noted, “Last year’s operations generated growth in profits, revenues and customer numbers, despite fierce competition. As of today, AIS is able to deliver the fastest 5G network speeds to provide digital service, with number one coverage nationwide of over 87%, as well as high speed AIS Fibre broadband Internet reaches every location in Thailand with 8.8 million Thai households.

“All of this demonstrates the AIS can always overcome its challenges in the changing face of competition. This is how we came up with the concept of AIS BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES, to take our customers and the Thai public beyond boundaries while building the ECOSYSTEM ECONOMY for mutual growth, when  every user should get the best experience from AIS at any time of the day.”

Somchai explained further that the Cognitive Tech-co vision was to provide the best products and services for customers and the Thai public, by pushing past boundaries to create the ECOSYSTEM ECONOMY.

Today AIS regards every sector as a combined ECOSYSTEM with new capabilities of inclusive growth for the economy. Networks must be interactive and constantly engage with customers. They should be providing Personalization services for customers, matching what they want, as well as giving the speed to deliver customers’ desires in real time.

Autonomous Network Monitoring technology constantly monitors customer usage in real time to allocate network capacity automatically. Customers are looked after with Intelligent Service from AIs, which are assistants to detect issues and troubleshoot with Smart Diagnostics.

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AIS is setting new standards for industry by levelling up Digital Intelligence Infrastructure, by holding the most wave bands of spectra, in the low, middle and high frequency ranges totalling 1460 MHz. It is also partnering with NT to develop a resilient national digital infrastructure deploying frequency bands for Thai people’s greatest benefit, as intended by both operators at auction.

This also enables NT to provide efficient service to customers as a national telecom organization, while AIS customers receive improved service from additional 700 MHz frequency bands (Downlink 5 MHz and Uplink 5 MHz), giving AIS a total of 40 MHz (Downlink 20 MHz and Uplink 20 MHz) to provide service on the 700 MHz band to cover every use case.

AIS is now the first operator to have rolled out the energy-saving 5G SA (Stand Alone) service to all 77 provinces, with 92% coverage in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Most recently this has been upgraded to support high-frequency Millimeter Wave for the first time. This blew away the 5G standard by achieving 3 Gbps on the 5G Millimeter wave network in the 26 GHz spectrum for the first time in Thailand on an advanced smartphone. 

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As well as this, AIS Fibre home Internet reaches every location in Thailand with 8.8 million Thai households. and market share subscribers of 16%. At latest, AIS has been setting new standards with Transparent Fiber Optic technology. This connects to equipment to project the signal, and sets up a home Internet network supporting Gigabit transfer speeds in every room of the house simultaneously, while also providing Seamless Roaming on WiFi for the best home internet experience.

The company is also upgrading the industrial sector with AIS PARAGON  (Next Generation Orchestration Platform). This is a One Stop 5G Platform for industry to efficiently manage its resources through the Cloud and Edge Computing. In terms of infrastructure, the Green Data Centre is under construction and will be the biggest Data Center in the country on completion.

The AIS CEO also highlighted cross-industry collaborations with partners in every sector from local to global. This year, the company has been working with shops in the Tungngern network, Blue Flag stores, independent retailers, mom and pop stores, and street food vendors, totalling over 1.8 million merchants covering the entire country, using the PromptPay system of Krung Thai Bank (KTB).

There have also been partnerships with Thailand’s leading retailers such as Central, including over 20,000 shops under famous national brands. This powers and supports local economies by enabling customers to redeem their AIS points for a range of exclusive privileges such as dining, travel and shopping.

At the same time, the company has been working with Bangkok Bank (BBL) in converting debit card services to apply Be1st Digital AIS POINTS. This program enables the collection and accumulation of points from partners, as well as directly from AIS services, expanding online shopping to support the digital economy.

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AIS is also working with global partners to deliver exceptional digital experiences, such as SAMSUNG TV providing privileges to home net and Smart TV users for a full menu of home entertainment. ZTE’s Nubia Pad 3D tablet is the first of its kind to be powered with artificial intelligence. It provides a virtual experience of communication, streaming, gaming and sharing 3D data with no peripheral devices.

There are also financial services being offered through financial institutions such as UOB and the UOB Best Buy service, which enables customers to access financial services on their 5G smartphone more easily than ever before.

Even better, AIS has now gone beyond the boundary to make partnerships with both local and global content providers, to provide Thai people with amazing content from the likes of Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, 3Plus and MONOMAX. Top international sports content includes tennis, and football, which includes The UEFA Champions League, the Europa League and many leading European leagues on the beIN Sports channel. Today, AIS is offering the exclusive privilege for its customers to watch every match on every channel for free until 11 April, 2023.

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In terms of education, the AIS CEO explained that one policy to unlock potential which can power the economy and society, is leveling up the quality of education for Thai people by creating value and giving every user access to digital education. To further enlarge educational opportunities, AIS Academy has now partnered with the Canadian Embassy in Thailand and Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan).

This collaboration offers syllabi from leading Canadian educational institutions. It is another case of bringing the borderless world to Thai people’s doorsteps, enabling customers to learn and enjoy self-development.

Today, we are also leveraging our digital networks as tools for cyber-security, while also promoting skills among Thai users to be aware of scams, so they can enjoy their digital worlds securely and responsibly through the AIS “Aunjai CYBER” program.

Somchai concluded, “Our ongoing investment, which is the biggest in the industry, has made AIS the telecom brand ready to overcome boundaries to build the ECOSYSTEM ECONOMY for inclusive growth and provide digital experiences with intelligent networks, the biggest home internet network in Thailand, the most exclusive privileges, and the very best services from our collaborations with partners in every sector. They are working together to synergize their strengths for customers, the Thai public and the nation as a whole.”

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Pope To Be Hospitalized for Days With Respiratory Infection

Pope Francis talks with Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis was hospitalized with a respiratory infection Wednesday after experiencing difficulty breathing in recent days and will remain in the Rome hospital for several days of treatment, the Vatican said.

The 86-year-old pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, doesn’t have COVID-19, spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement late Wednesday.

The hospitalization was the first since Francis spent 10 days at the Gemelli hospital in July 2021 to have 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed.

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Pope Francis meets children at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

It immediately raised questions about Francis’ overall health, and his ability to celebrate the busy Holy Week events that are due to begin this weekend with Palm Sunday.

Bruni said Francis had had trouble breathing in recent days and went to the Gemelli hospital Wednesday for tests.

“The tests showed a respiratory infection (COVID-19 infection excluded) that will require some days of medical treatment in the hospital,” Bruni’s statement said.

Francis appeared in relatively good form during his regularly scheduled general audience earlier Wednesday, though he grimaced strongly while getting in and out of the “popemobile.” He nevertheless rode around the square as usual, kissing babies and greeting the faithful.

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Pope Francis helped to get on his car at the end of weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Bruni said Francis, an Argentine Jesuit, was grateful for the prayers and messages wishing him a speedy recovery, including from the Italian bishops conference.

President Joe Biden, at the start of an Oval Office meeting with President Alberto Fernández of Argentina, told reporters he had just learned of Francis’s health problems and said he was concerned about his dear “friend.”

Francis had part of one lung removed when he was a young man due to a respiratory infection, and he often speaks in a whisper. But he got through the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic without at least any public word of ever testing positive.

Francis was scheduled to celebrate Palm Sunday this weekend, kicking off the Vatican’s Holy Week observances: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil and finally Easter Sunday on April 9. He has canceled all audiences through Friday, but it wasn’t clear whether he could keep the Holy Week plans.

Francis has used a wheelchair for over a year due to strained ligaments in his right knee and a small knee fracture. He has said the injury was healing and been walking more with a cane of late.

Francis also has said he resisted having surgery for the knee problems because he didn’t respond well to general anesthesia during the 2021 intestinal surgery.

He said soon after the surgery that he had recovered fully and could eat normally. But in a Jan. 24 interview with The Associated Press, Francis said his diverticulosis, or bulges in the intestinal wall, had “returned.”

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Japan High Schooler Excluded From Grad Ceremony for Cornrow Hairstyle

File photo shows a graduation ceremony at a high school in northeastern Japan in March 2023. (Kyodo)

NAGOYA – A high school in western Japan refused to allow a student to formally attend his graduation ceremony for wearing his hair in cornrows, a popular African American hairstyle, local educational authorities said Tuesday.

The public high school in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, instead made the 18-year-old boy sit alone in a balcony at the back of the venue and told him not to respond even if his name was called at the Feb. 27 ceremony, according to the prefectural board of education.

The school told the board of education that the student had not explained “his ethnic background and the reason for wearing cornrows.”

The student was born to an African American father and a Japanese mother, according to the Mainichi newspaper’s report.

The school had earlier told the student to cut his hair as it was too long and in violation of school rules that called for “tidy and student-like” hairstyles.

“The response could have been different had there been prior consultation,” an education board official said, adding the decision to exclude the student “lacked a supportive attitude and educational consideration.”

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Chiang Mai’s Songkran Tourism Is Being Harmed by Air Pollution

Pallop Saejew, president of the Chaing Mai Chamber of Commerce, told reporters on Wednesday that according to a survey of business owners in the province prior to the Songkran festival in April, there has been an impact on tourism as many Thai tourists have stopped coming to the region due to heavy PM2.5 pollution, inhalable particles 2.5 micrometres in diameter or less pollute the air.

According to the survey, the number of bookings varies by location. While in the Tha Phae area, bookings rise to 50 per cent, in the polluted areas, only 20 to 30 per cent of vacancies are booked.

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Foreign tourists, unlike the Thais who are afraid of the dust and haze, still come to the region because they have spent a lot of money and are not willing to cancel their plans, like those who have already booked a travel package. Tourists from China, Vietnam, Europe and the United States still come to Thailand for Songkran, especially Chiang Mai.

Pallop said they would not take advantage of foreign tourists and provided them with information about pollution and alternative travel options in Chiang Mai to gain trust. He believed that April, the time of high winds, could help with the situation.

chiangmai pollute1

 

Chiang Mai reclaims the top spot again on Wednesday morning, March 29, 2023, as the most polluted city on earth when it comes to the level of PM2.5 microdust particles in the air.

A fire also broke out at Baan Hua Kaek community forest in the province’s Mae Wang district on Tuesday but was extinguished by 9 p.m. last night.

chiangmai fire
A fire broke out in the Baan Hua Kaek community forest.

The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) detected 600 hotspots in Chiang Mai, it is the highest daily record. Mostly are located inside reserved forests and various national parks. Hotspots accumulated from January 1, 2023 to the present, a total of 6,151 points.

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