Valentine’s Day Spending in Thailand Reaches 2.4 Billion, First Growth in 5 Years

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9 February 2023, 11:58

Valentine’s Day spending is estimated to reach 2,389 million baht in 2023, up 15.5% year-on-year and the first growth rate in 5 years, according to the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the UTCC and advisory chairman of the Centre for Economic and Business Forecasting, said the 2023 Valentine’s Day Cost Survey with 1,255 respondents revealed that Gen Z aged 13-23 years attaches the most importance to the event. They want to spend money to buy gifts and do other activities such as flowers, dinner, going to the cinema and visiting their lover’s house. Their budget is 1,100 baht per person.

The average expenditure is 1,848 baht per person, an increase from 1,176 last year, due to price increases in food and services. Price inflation causes spending to reach 2,389 million baht, a 15.5 percent increase from the same period last year.

valentine bangkok — The “Silom of Love @Bangrak” event

This is also the first time in 5 years that Valentine’s Day spending has increased after the Thai economy slowed down in 2019 due to the trade war and the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The majority of the respondents, 48.1%, believe that the mood on Valentine’s Day will remain the same, while 29.1% think that there will be more hustle and bustle due to the resumption of travel activities, economic recovery and absence of parents.

The rest, 22.8%, see the coming Valentine’s Day being less lively as people are still saving money. They also see price inflation, economic downturn and unemployment as distributive factors.

In addition, they see that people have already spent so much money in January on many celebrations such as New Year and Chinese New Year. However, they believe that Valentine’s Day will be more lively next year due to the economic recovery.

The survey also shows that people believe university students are most likely to celebrate Valentine’s Day with sex (35.7%). They believe that working adults and students will follow with 33.8% and 30.6% respectively. The majority of the respondents think people will have sex at their apartment.

When asked if it is acceptable for their husband or wife to have had sex before marriage, the majority of respondents across all generations answered yes (70.5%) and no ( another 29.5%).

Regarding the discourse on “sex before marriage is normal for people of this generation”, the majority of respondents, 42.1%, consider it normal. When it comes to choosing a place, Gen Y, 24-43, opt for a hotel or motel. Gen X, 44-58, and Gen Z mostly choose their apartment. The survey also suggests that people’s concerns about adolescents still revolve mainly around illegal drugs, immature parents and the abandonment of children after birth.

flower valentine1 — Imported flower price has increased.

Phonvichai said the fact that inflation rose by 5.02% year-on-year in January shows that the economy is spending more and manufacturers are starting to pass on the cost of necessary products to consumers.

The scenario reflects stronger purchasing power. He expects the Bank of Thailand to raise the policy rate to 2% towards the middle of the year or around the second quarter to curb inflation.

Considering this situation, the increasing number of Chinese tourists and spending during the election campaign in the second quarter, the Thai economy will grow by 3.5 to 4% as predicted.

Several parties are expected to come up with populist measures in the election campaign, such as measures related to the tax structure in government budgets, which could affect the country’s revenue. Each party should show where the money will come from when they plan government spending. They should answer questions about how much the project will cost and whether it will be worth it when looking at tax revenues.

Other questions could be whether the project will improve the welfare of Thais. For example, if it is about giving away money, where will the government get the money back from, or if it invests in an infrastructure project, what will society get in return?

One Thai Died in Turkey Earthquake as Death Toll Tops 12,000

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Khaosod English

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9 February 2023, 09:00

People and emergency teams search for survivors in the rubble of a destroyed building, in Iskenderun town, southern Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Photo: Hussein Malla / AP

BANGKOK — A Thai national died in the earthquake in Turkey, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Wednesday, as the confirmed death toll surpassed 12,000.

The woman, who has not been identified, was found dead under the rubble in the port city of Iskenderun, according to ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke. She said the victim’s family has been notified and the Thai Embassy in Ankara is coordinating with Turkish authorities to bring her home.

Two earthquakes, registering at 7.8 and 7.5 magnitudes, struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday. The quakes have leveled countless buildings as the latest death toll across both countries has surpassed 12,000 and continues to rise.

According to the embassy, a total of 30 Thai nationals were impacted by the quakes, though none of them were reported hurt. Some of them have been displaced and are taking refuge in government shelters.

The Thai government will send 5 million baht in aid to Turkey and another 1 million baht to Syria, the foreign ministry announced Wednesday. Further aid, including supplies and rescue teams, are ready to be deployed upon request, the statement added.

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday said he is saddened by the news of the devastating earthquakes and has instructed officials to coordinate assistance.

“In the name of the Thai government and the Thai people, I am deeply saddened and ready to provide humanitarian aid,” Prayut said.

“Many people were affected by the destruction of buildings across 10 provinces, which is regrettable. However, Thailand is lucky because we don’t face incidents like this in our Land of Gold.”

turkey — Prayut Chan-o-cha said to H.E. Mrs. Serap Ersoy, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Thailand he wad deeply saddened and ready to provide humanitarian aid.

turkey2 — Prime Minister hands over the Royal Thai Government’s humanitarian assistance to the Government of the Republic of Türkiye through H.E. Mrs. Serap Ersoy, the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Thailand, for the Turkey-Syria earthquakes incident at Purple Room, Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House on February 9, 2023.

On the same day the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation prepares rescue tools on Thursday as it will dispatch 42 Thai rescuers to assist the Turkish government in handling the massive quake which killed over 12,000 people.

Death Toll Surpasses 12,000 as Quake Relief in Turkey, Syria Enters 3rd Day

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Xinhua News Agency

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9 February 2023, 06:32

ANKARA/DAMASCUS, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) — The number of fatalities from Monday’s devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria has surpassed 12,000, as chances have become smaller to find more survivors in cold weather before the golden 72 hours are over.

Rescuers and volunteers are working round the clock to locate the trapped under rubble as the survival rate without food or water drops drastically after the 72nd hour, which is rapidly approaching.

Experts have warned that the 72-hour window for rescuing those trapped by the earthquakes may be much smaller than anticipated, given the low temperatures that have swept through the earthquake-hit regions will increase the risk of hypothermia.

According to the latest statistics, Monday’s devastating earthquakes in southern Türkiye and northern Syria have killed 9,057 people in Türkiye and 3,480 in Syria.

SEARCH UNDERWAY

The search and rescue teams from more than 65 countries have arrived in the Turkish earthquake zones to offer assistance in quake-relief efforts, according to an official statement.

A plane carrying a 83-member rescue team from China and 20 metric tons of disaster relief materials and equipment arrived in the city of Adana in southern Türkiye in the early hours of Wednesday. In addition to materials and equipment for search and rescue, communication and medical treatment, they also brought with them four rescue dogs.

Volunteers flocked to southern Türkiye hit hard by the earthquakes. Photographs show terminals crowded with volunteers trying to help, while the roads leading to the affected areas were clogged with long queues of vehicles ready to transport supplies or offer assistance.

“It was good that we came. When we arrived, the area was rubble everywhere,” said a volunteer who identified himself as Kerem Okyay, a businessman from the central Turkish city of Sivas who hurried to Elbistan, a town about 200 km away.

Located in the southern Turksih province of Kahramanmaras, Elbistan was the epicenter of the 7.6-magnitude quake that rocked the region on Monday and close to the town of Pazarcik, the epicenter of a 7.7-magnitude one hours earlier.

“We formed a team with some friends as soon as we heard the news of the earthquake and came here as volunteers,” Okyay told Xinhua.

Soon after their arrival, the team saved two people from the debris. “We were focusing on areas where we could hear people,” he said.

In the heavily damaged city center of Kahramanmaras, the name-sake capital of Kahramanmaras Province, sniffer dogs equipped with small GPS-enabled harnesses were leading rescuers in the search for survivors from site to site in the winter cold.

MORE AID POURING IN

While rescue operations are taking place in Türkiye and Syria, more countries have committed to providing assistance.

A Lebanese ministerial delegation headed by Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib arrived in Damascus on Wednesday to discuss with Syrian officials more possible aid for earthquake-stricken Syria.

On Wednesday, Tunisia sent its third aircraft, which was packed with tonnes of emergency humanitarian aid including food, medication, blankets and clothing, to Syria. Two military planes from Tunisia were already sent to the two earthquake-stricken countries on Tuesday, carrying medical teams, rescue teams, and urgent humanitarian aid.

Saudi Arabia launched on Wednesday a donation campaign to help earthquake victims in Syria and Türkiye. According to local press, a total of 25 million Saudi riyals (6.7 million U.S. dollars) had been donated to the campaign so far.

Jordan announced on Wednesday that it would send aid convoys over the next few days to quake-hit areas in Syria and Türkiye, while Sudan said its Civil Defense Forces is ready to send a specialized team to Türkiye to help with rescue efforts.

David Saranga, head of the Israeli aid delegation to Türkiye, said on Wednesday that two Israeli rescue teams are searching for survivors in the country, while a field hospital complete with 15 Israeli aircraft and about 230 personnel is expected to be established by Thursday or Friday, according to the Israeli military and foreign ministry.

TURKIYE’S QUAKE RESPONSE BACK TO NORMAL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan admitted on Wednesday that there were some problems in the first-day response to the earthquakes.

Operations are currently back to normal, Erdogan said in Kahramanmaras Province, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported.

Earthquake victims can temporarily stay in hotels in the Mediterranean tourism hub of Antalya and southern province of Mersin, he added.

The Turkish president announced that each quake-stricken family would receive 10,000 Turkish liras (531 U.S. dollars), and new homes will be built in the 10 provinces affected by the disaster within a year.

Also on Wednesday, Erdogan said it was impossible to get prepared for a calamity like the earthquakes that struck the country on Monday, but he vowed to exert utmost efforts to save citizens’ lives.

“There are deficiencies … It is impossible to be prepared for such a major disaster,” Erdogan told reporters in the southern province of Hatay, which was hit hard by the earthquakes.

“We will not leave any of our citizens unattended. We will carry out disaster management by taking every necessary step so that no one will suffer,” he said.

Crews Find Survivors, Many Dead After Turkey, Syria Quake

Come See Iran Firsthand, Iranian Ambassador Invites Thai Tourists

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Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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8 February 2023, 14:00

BANGKOK — Iranian Ambassador to Thailand Seyed Reza Nobakhti has been posted in Bangkok for over two years now and he hopes his remaining time will see further deepening of ties between the two countries, particularly on trade and tourism.

Nobakhti said three big Iranian companies are eyeing to sign a contract to purchase a big lot of Thai jasmine rice on an annual basis – around 500,000 tones per year. He hopes to cement the deal in the not too distant future.

“They have had negotiations with different partners to import Thai rice to Iran,” Nobakhti told Khaosod English at his office late last month, adding that Iranian consumers do not like ordinary rice but prefer fragrant jasmine rice.

“[The companies] have paid a visit to Thailand. I think something is happening.”

The ambassador said the amount could be paid by either cash or through a barter system with the Thai government.

In another area, Nobakhti is also looking for the opportunity for Iranian cars to be exported to Thailand.

“We are producers and exporters of cars. Our market is not only 85 million people,” he said, adding that Thai businessmen will be invited to Iran to explore the possibilities of having a joint venture in Iran’s auto industry.

Then there is tourism. Prior to COVID-19 pandemic, around 100,000 Iranians visited Thailand each year. However, Nobakhti said only around 3,000 Thais visited Iran per annum before the pandemic. Nobakhti sounded excited talking about a Thai travel company arranging a group tour for 15 Thais to Iran as a positive sign of post-COVID-19 resumption of Thai tourists to Iran.

“Our biggest travel company in Iran will have an exhibition here, maybe in March.”

Nobhakti wants Thais to consider Iran as a year-round tourist destination with four seasons to enjoy and not just about skiing or seeing fabulous architectural heritage such as those found in Isfahan or Shiraz.

“People in Iran are hospitable. Everything in Iran is cheap. It’s a cheap destination for people… Iran is a safe destination for tourists.”

The Iranian Ambassador is well aware that the past many months saw numerous reports about the deadly protests in his country after a young woman, Mahsa Amini, 22, who died in police custody on Sept. 16, 2022. She was arrested by moral police for refusing to wear Islamic headscarf.

Her parents denied Amini had any health issue, but Ambassador Nobakhti insisted 90 percent of what Thais read and heard from the international media is propaganda.

“Ninety percent are propaganda and TV programs were fake [news],” the Iranian Ambassador told Khaosod English. “She had some tumors. The lady was sick,” he said, adding that Amini “fell down and hit her head [to the ground].”

As for the number of fatalities during subsequent protests, the Iranian Ambassador put it at around two hundreds. His account also differs from the international media such as Reuters, which reported around three hundred deaths.

“We’re talking about two hundred deaths – 84 were police and 120 [civilians] but they were not killed by police because police were unarmed. [Protesters] use weapons against other [protesters] to provoke. These people have been killed by themselves.”

Nobakhit insists such a dress code will continue despite waves of protests over the past many months.

“In Iran we have a dress code – like France there’s a dress code. If you wear a headscarf [in France] you cannot do official work.”

On the nuclear issue, the Iranian ambassador has this to say: “We do not need a nuclear bomb. We’re in a position that if we want [it] we can but we do not need it.”

Nobakhti said Iran needs nuclear plants to generate electricity, just like some other Western countries.

The ambassador is well aware that Thailand and Saudi Arabia have last year restored their diplomatic ties after three decades and said that is not a problem for Iran.

“We’re not their enemy. We’re ready to reestablish diplomatic relations with them,” he said, adding that five rounds of negotiations have taken place between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

As the interview was concluding, Nobhakhti said Thais can learn more about what is really happening in Iran if they visit Iran and see the country firsthand. They will realize it is different from the “propaganda against Iran” fed by Western media, he said.

Navy Divers Begin Pulling Up Chinese Spy Balloon Debris

By

Associated Press

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8 February 2023, 13:30

This image provided by the U.S. Navy shows sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 recovering a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 5, 2023. Photo: U.S. Navy via AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Navy divers began pulling pieces of the downed Chinese spy balloon from the depths of the ocean floor on Tuesday, using sophisticated reconnaissance drones dubbed the Kingfish and the Swordfish to locate the debris.

After collecting all of the balloon’s white fabric and shell structure found floating on the surface, the Navy has now shifted to an all-underwater search for the remnants of the massive balloon that a U.S. fighter jet shot down off the coast of South Carolina on Saturday, officials said.

Navy and Coast Guard personnel were using underwater drones to locate and map the debris field, and divers were in the water gathering up what they could, officials said.

The debris already collected was being hauled by small boats to a few area locations, including a Coast Guard station south of Myrtle Beach, and, depending on the size, will eventually go either to the FBI lab at Quantico, Virginia, or other sites where experts can analyze it, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of an ongoing military operation.

The head of U.S. Northern Command, Gen. Glen VanHerck, who is in charge of the recovery effort, and several Biden administration officials will brief members of Congress on the balloon on Wednesday and Thursday.

Lawmakers have raised a number of questions about whether the balloon was able to collect intelligence and transmit it back to China during the time it traveled eastward across the United States, after crossing the border from Canada into Idaho.

White House and Pentagon officials have largely avoided providing any details on the balloon’s capabilities.

Officials said Tuesday the U.S. was very aware of the sites the balloon crossed over — including nuclear missile silos and other military installations — and knows how to protect them from any intelligence collection. Even if the balloon was able to transmit, they said, it wasn’t getting any new or important information to send.

The officials were unwilling to provide any insight into what the U.S. has been able to glean about the balloon’s collection and transmission abilities.

The balloon, an estimated 200 feet (60 meters) tall, was carrying a long sensor package underneath, which VanHerck estimated was the size of a small regional jet.

U.S. counterintelligence teams hope to learn far more about the sensors and other equipment on the balloon as they retrieve it and study it.

The balloon debris is scattered in waters that are about 50 feet (15 meters) deep, but stretch across an area 15 football fields long and 15 football fields across, VanHerck said.

In new images released Tuesday morning, sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 can be seen leaning over a rigid hull inflatable boat and pulling in broad swaths of the balloon’s white outer fabric and shell structure.

VanHerck has also said the recovery teams were taking precautions to safeguard against the chance any part of the balloon was rigged with explosives or was dangerous in any way.

A Navy warship, the USS Carter Hall, is heading the recovery effort, aided by three Coast Guard cutters — the Venturous, the Richard Snyder and the Nathan Bruckenthal — as well as the USNS Pathfinder, an oceanographic survey ship. A salvage ship is expected to arrive on Wednesday.

The Pentagon said Tuesday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requested a secure call with his Chinese counterpart, Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe, on Saturday after the balloon was shot down. China declined the request, said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

“Lines between our militaries are particularly important in moments like this. … Our commitment to open lines of communication will continue,” Ryder said.

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Story: Lolita C. Baldor and Tara Copp.

Crews Find Survivors, Many Dead After Turkey, Syria Quake

By

Associated Press

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8 February 2023, 13:00

People walk past a collapsed building in Malatya, Turkey, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. Photo: Emrah Gurel / AP

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AP) — Thinly-stretched rescue teams worked through the night into Wednesday, pulling more bodies from the rubble of thousands of buildings downed in Turkey and Syria by a catastrophic earthquake that killed more than 7,700, their grim task occasionally punctuated by the joy of finding someone still alive.

Nearly two days after the magnitude 7.8 quake struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, rescuers pulled a three-year-old boy, Arif Kaan, from beneath the rubble of a collapsed apartment building in Kahramanmaras, a city not far from the epicenter.

With the boy’s lower body trapped under slabs of concrete and twisted rebar, emergency crews lay a blanket over his torso to protect him from below-freezing temperatures as they carefully cut the debris away from him, mindful of the possibility of triggering another collapse.

The boy’s father, Ertugrul Kisi, who himself had been rescued earlier, sobbed as his son was pulled free and loaded into an ambulance.

“For now, the name of hope in Kahramanmaras is Arif Kaan,” a Turkish television reporter proclaimed as the dramatic rescue was broadcast to the country.

A few hours later, rescuers pulled 10-year-old Betul Edis from the rubble of her home in the city of Adiyaman. Amid applause from onlookers, her grandfather kissed her and spoke softly to her as she was loaded on an ambulance.

But such stories were few more than two days after Monday’s pre-dawn earthquake, which hit a huge area and brought down thousands of buildings, with frigid temperatures and ongoing aftershocks complicating rescue efforts.

Search teams from more than two dozen countries joined more than 24,000 Turkish emergency personnel, and aid pledges poured in.

But with devastation spread multiple several cities and towns — some isolated by Syria’s ongoing conflict — voices crying from within mounds of rubble fell silent, and despair grew from those still waiting for help.

In Syria, the shaking toppled thousands of buildings and heaped more misery on a region wracked by the country’s 12-year civil war and refugee crisis.

On Monday afternoon in a northwestern Syrian town, residents found a crying newborn still connected by the umbilical cord to her deceased mother. The baby was the only member of her family to survive a building collapse in the small town of Jinderis, relatives told The Associated Press.

Turkey is home to millions of refugees from the war. The affected area in Syria is divided between government-controlled territory and the country’s last opposition-held enclave, where millions rely on humanitarian aid.

As many as 23 million people could be affected in the quake-hit region, according to Adelheid Marschang, a senior emergencies officer with the World Health Organization, who called it a “crisis on top of multiple crises.”

Many survivors in Turkey have had to sleep in cars, outside or in government shelters.

“We don’t have a tent, we don’t have a heating stove, we don’t have anything. Our children are in bad shape. We are all getting wet under the rain and our kids are out in the cold,” Aysan Kurt, 27, told the AP. “We did not die from hunger or the earthquake, but we will die freezing from the cold.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said 13 million of the country’s 85 million people were affected, and he declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces. More than 8,000 people have been pulled from the debris in Turkey, and some 380,000 have taken refuge in government shelters or hotels, authorities said.

In Syria, aid efforts have been hampered by the ongoing war and the isolation of the rebel-held region along the border, which is surrounded by Russia-backed government forces. Syria itself is an international pariah under Western sanctions linked to the war.

The United Nations said it was “exploring all avenues” to get supplies to the rebel-held northwest.

Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktoy said at least 5,894 people have died from the earthquake in Turkey, with another 34,810 injured.

The death toll in government-held areas of Syria has climbed to 812, with some 1,400 injured, according to the Health Ministry. At least 1,020 people have died in the rebel-held northwest, according to volunteer first responders known as the White Helmets, with more than 2,300 injured.

The region sits on top of major fault lines and is frequently shaken by earthquakes. Some 18,000 were killed in similarly powerful earthquakes that hit northwest Turkey in 1999.

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Story: Mehmet Guzel, Ghaith Alsayed, and Suzan Fraser. Alsayed reported from Azmarin, Syria. Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. David Rising in Bangkok, and Robert Badendieck in Istanbul contributed to this story.

AIS Business underlines leadership of Digital and ICT enabler for enterprises in Thailand

By

Contributor

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8 February 2023, 09:42

AIS Business underlines leadership of Digital and ICT enabler for enterprises in Thailand.Providing intelligent networks, 5G solutions, data and cloud infrastructures delivered by professional team.The most trusted smart digital partner with concepts of “Growth, Trust, and Sustainability”

AIS Business is a widely-recognized leader of digital services and comprehensive solutions among businesses in various industries from large enterprises and SMEs. As an operator with the vision to become a Cognitive Tech-Co, AIS has invested for sufficiently resilient digital infrastructure to provide great experiences and connect people and businesses in Thailand. In 2023, AIS Business is rolling out its “Growth, Trust, and Sustainability” program for organizations, businesses, and SME entrepreneurs to enable and accelerate value-for-money digital transformation. To support growth amidst the trends and situations following extreme crisis and changes in the global context. AIS Business is ready to deliver trusted and resilient digital services and solutions which meet customers’ need for sustainable growth.

Tanapong Ittisakulchai, AIS Chief Enterprise Business Officer, explained the market situation and trends of Digital Transformation for 2023. “In the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have greatly adapted to the impacts of changing business contexts to sustain business continuity in the post-COVID world. Of course, they are open to digital technologies to strengthen their business transformation. This creates competitive advantages and business innovations required for greater growth, especially in many verticals from Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics, even to Finance. In user trends this year, companies will be looking to enhance their IT infrastructures to be more secure and efficient, for the safety and security of data as defined by the law which have been effective since the last few years. There are also trends for sustainable business operations which are friendly to the environment and society, with good governance. With all of the foregoing, digital solutions have become the key factors for growth in tandem with sustainable business operations.

Tanapong explained further that this year would see the creation of a complete digital business ecosystem fulfilling the needs of every organization in every dimension. AIS keep focusing through 5 strategies which are: 1) connecting 5G ecosystem to enhance businesses, 2) enhancing secured network performance with intelligent network, 3) enhancing trusted digital infrastructure and platform of cloud and data center, 4) enhancing digital marketing and data-driven business capability, and 5) delivering solution and managed services by trusted professionals.

AIS Business is proceeding with its commitment to be the number one 5G Intelligent Network in Thailand and a trustworthy digital partner, inspiring confidence that Thai digital economy and society will develop and grow sustainably together in various aspects as follows:

Growth: Accelerating Growth Beyond Pandemic Recovery, by creating new competitive advantages with digital empowerment. The agility of all businesses is enhanced with the potential of AIS 5G and Cloud Platforms. They meet the needs of customer service with Data Insight & Lifestyle as a Service, and innovating solutions matched to vertical requirements, such as Smart Manufacturing, Smart Transportation & Logistics, Smart City & Building, and Smart Retail.

Trust: Modernizing Trusted Digital Infrastructure to Improve Efficiency, Agility and Security: This is accomplished with fully-featured Intelligent Networks, Cloud Platforms and Cyber Security Services which are compliant with the regulations aligned with best practices of each industry. This is delivered through comprehensive solutions as Sovereign Cloud, SD-WAN and Secured Connectivity. These cater to the demands of agility and flexibility to enhance data management efficiently, which earns an organization greater security and credibility.

Sustainability: Creating Sustainable Business with Digital Solutions: AIS Business aims to become a key mechanism promoting innovations for sustainable growths in every economic, social, and environmental dimensions. From the creation of an ecosystem for developing innovative solutions with various partners to the implementation of AIS 5G NEXTGen Platform to accelerate 5G use cases in Thailand. AIS also provides solutions for energy management to be more efficient while reducing carbon emissions and discharges of wastewater by using real-time data from IoT devices. This makes accurate forecasts of future energy use to enable decisions on manufacturing plans or other work as appropriate. These run together with AIS programs for society and the environment, such as e-Waste, Academy for Thai, and Aunjai Cyber.

“To align with AIS announcement to become the Cognitive Tech-Co, AIS Business’s mission is to serves Thailand’s sustainable digital economy by accelerating digital transformation for Thai businesses with a comprehensive suite of digital technologies and services delivered by highly competent and trusted professionals

“We aim to be the most trusted smart digital partner supporting enterprises and SMEs in Thailand for “Growth, Trust, and Sustainability” together.” concluded Tanapong.

Tawan and Bam Given Temporary Release but Sitthichoke Was Denied Bail

By

Khaosod English

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7 February 2023, 17:36

Thailand Hunger Strikers — Political activists Orawan Phuphong, left, and Tatawan Tuatulanon, pour red liquid over their heads in protest outside the Criminal Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023. (Ratsadon News via AP)

The Criminal Court granted one-month bail to detained political hunger strikers Tawan and Bam Tuesday afternoon per request from Thammasat University Hospital which care for the two and were concerns about their deteriorating health. The two have been on hunger strike for twenty days now.

According to AP, Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon, 21, and Orawan “Bam” Phuphong, 23, have been on hunger strike since Jan. 18 — much of that time refusing water as well as food — to back their demands for reform of the justice system, the release of political prisoners pending trial and for lawmakers to amend or abolish laws used against political dissidents.

Their lawyer, Krisadang Nutcharas, said they are in poor condition, and at risk of losing their lives.

“Their parents didn’t sleep last night and they have been here since morning,” said Krisadang at the Thammasat University Hospital in a northern suburb of Bangkok, the capital. “This is not a scripted drama to ask people for their sympathy.”

The two women agreed a few days ago to resume taking water. Refusing all liquids in addition to food can cause permanent injury and even death if carried on for an extended period.

The two activists are among at least 228 people, including 18 minors, have been charged with violating the lese majeste law, which carries a prison term of three to 15 years for insulting the monarchy. Critics say the law, also known as Article 112, is often wielded as a tool to quash political dissent.

Student-led pro-democracy protests beginning in 2020 openly criticized the monarchy, previously a taboo subject, leading to vigorous prosecutions under the law, which had previously been relatively rarely employed.

Sitthichok Sethasavet, a food delivery driver convicted in January of lese majeste, is also on a hunger strike and being kept at the same hospital.

The Criminal Court denies bail to political detainee Sitthichoke on Tuesday, said Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. The man has been on a hunger strike in prison for 22 days now. He is at Thammasat University Hospital under the supervision of the Corrections Department.

Is the Cost Worth it for Invisalign in Bangkok?

By

Contributor

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7 February 2023, 17:28

Weighing the Cost of Getting Invisalign in Bangkok

Before delving into the cost of Invisalign in Bangkok, you should decide whether or not you need braces. The explosion of social media has caused many people to seek orthodontic treatment for aesthetic reasons but there are also functional reasons why you should get treatment for your teeth. This is usually to improve your speech or your ability to eat.

Here are some other reasons why you might need orthodontic treatment:

Teeth that are misaligned or too crowded
Inability to floss or only with a lot of difficulties
Misaligned teeth cause you to bite your tongue often
The upper and lower teeth do not mesh together when your mouth is closed
Difficulty in speaking clearly due to your tongue’s position in your mouth caused by misaligned teeth
Fatigue in your jaw from chewing on food

Specific Cases Where Orthodontic Treatment is Needed

Overcrowding – When too many teeth are on the upper and lower jawline, it can cause overcrowding. This overcrowding can cause a number of dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. The lack of any accessible gaps between the teeth also makes it more difficult to keep teeth clean which further aggravates the oral health of the patient.

Underbite and Overbite – When there are discrepancies in the upper or lower jaw, a misalignment can occur which can affect speech and the ability to chew food. Orthodontics can help improve the ‘bite’ which would improve both the function and speech of the patient.

Crossbite – This occurs when the upper and lower jaws are asymmetrically misaligned causing you to bite your cheeks.

Excessive spacing between teeth – Large gaps between the teeth can occur from congenitally missing teeth, tooth decay, or an accident.

Is Invisalign Suitable for Everyone?

Invisalign is suitable for most people who have healthy teeth and gums. One big advantage of Invisalign is that thanks to its almost transparent appearance, it’s suitable for working adults to have their teeth aligned. The convenience of it being removable makes keeping your teeth clean while undergoing the alignment treatment a breeze.

When undergoing teeth alignment treatment, it’s important to keep up with the scheduled dental appointments so that your orthodontist can keep a close eye on the progress. This will allow him to make any adjustments to your treatment regime quickly when needed.

Cost of Invisalign in Bangkok

Cost is usually a prohibitive factor when it comes to deciding whether or not to seek orthodontic treatment. That’s why it’s important to weigh the pros and cons when deciding whether to go for metal braces or Invisalign.

Every patient case is different and this will have an effect on the cost of treatment but Invisalign treatments usually start at 79,000THB while the price of metal braces ranges from between 50,000 to 60,000THB.

Although Invisalign requires a slightly higher investment, the convenience and aesthetics of this teeth alignment system make it a worthwhile investment.

Established in 2015, About tooth dental clinic has a team of experienced dentists who are dedicated to helping you achieve the smile you desire. Our clinic offers a range of both aesthetic and regular dental procedures. Visit us today and be on your way to a beautiful smile.

Baby Girl Rescued After Falling Down a 15-Meter Deep Well

By

Khaosod English

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7 February 2023, 17:00

TAK — A baby girl was rescued on Tuesday morning after she fell down a 15-meter well near the Thai-Myanmar border.

Rescuers spent nearly 18 hours digging through the night to reach the 1-year-old child who fell into the 30-centimeter-wide well in Phop Phra district on Monday afternoon. The girl, a daughter of migrant workers from Myanmar, appeared to be in good health when she was taken to the surface. She was immediately taken to hospital for a medical examination.

The girl’s mother said she and her husband were harvesting cassava when she found out that her daughter went missing. She and her colleagues then searched the area without success, not until she suspected her daughter might have fallen into a nearby well. She called her daughter’s name into the hole and heard a baby crying.

More than 100 people were involved in the rescue mission. Three excavators carefully dug through the surface overnight, while an oxygen tube was lowered into the hole so the girl could breathe. Rescuers dug the rest of the way by hand and freed the child.

As the girl was brought to the surface, a crowd of onlookers cheered in relief, while her parents cried with happiness and thanked the rescuers.

“I have only one child and this incident has brought a shock to my family,” the girl’s father said. “I’d like to thank every Thai for helping my daughter. I promise I will take good care of my daughter.”

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