ALL TREATS, NO TRICKS! RAISE YOUR SPIRITS AT THE STANDARD, HUA HIN THIS HALLOWEEN

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5 October 2022, 10:03

Couples and families invited to celebrate the spooky season with culinary events, tarot readings, kids’ activities, scary movies and beach parties on the pure shores of Hua Hin

HUA HIN, THAILAND This Halloween, get ready for ghostly and ghoulish encounters at The Standard, Hua Hin, which is rolling out the black carpet for groups of friends, families and couples with plenty of tempting treats – and no tricks – to celebrate this spooky time of the year!

From 28th to 31st October 2022, this stylish Thai resort will be dressed up in its creepiest Halloween costume, with atmospheric black and red lighting and eerie installations in the lush, tropical gardens. In these supernatural surroundings (which are still fun and festive), kids can get in the spirit of the season with traditional “trick & treat” activities all around the resort.

As a special culinary treat, Chef Ox from The Banana Ketchup Restaurant, one of Hua Hin’s most exciting and innovative dining destinations, will bring his original style of Caribbean tapas to guests at The Lido. These epicurean evenings will be hosted on 28th and 29th October, and world-class guest mixologist Khun Mac, Diageo’s Best Bartender for Thailand 2022, will be dropping in to shake things up and concoct chilling cocktails.

The Standard, Hua Hin will also uncover the ancient art of tarot at Praça on 29th and 30th October. Often mistakenly believed to be a dark art, tarot is actually a highly spiritual practice that involves meditation and creative visualization. Khun Bia, our tarot expert will show travellers how to use the cards to build self-awareness and achieve personal healing. Alternatively, Teaspoon Studio will be staging craft workshops at The Lido on 29th October, and a Halloween tattoo machine will be in the lobby for friends who want a lasting reminder of the occasion.

Then, as the sun sets, guests can cuddle up with their loved ones on the hotel’s Beach Lawn for three nights of scary movies! From 28th to 30th October, these outdoor cinema sessions will let all ages enjoy the spooky ambiance with family-friendly flicks such as Sleepy Hollow, Ghostbusters and The Adams Family, accompanied by tasty treats such as popcorn and mini hotdogs. Then, once the little ones are safely tucked up in bed, adults can dance the night away in the moonlight with an upbeat party – Halloween Beach Vinyls x Durian Radio – as three top DJs hit the decks and spin upbeat tunes.

The Standard, Hua Hin has crafted a series of rewarding packages for every type of vacation this Halloween, including “Are You Kidding” for fun-filled family holidays, and “Stowaway” for inspiring extended stays. Finally, “Go Big for Bubbles” is an indulgent option for adults who want to unwind with sparkling wine and a soothing bubble bath.

“At The Standard, Hua Hin, we want to celebrate the lighter side of Halloween. This is a fun time of year for all ages, from youngsters playing ‘trick or treat’ to grown-ups who love to dress up, scare each other and watch horror movies. From 28th to 31st October, we’ll be blending all of these timeless traditions with the upbeat vibe of our Hua Hin beach resort. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, we’ll try to raise your spirits this Halloween!” said Mai Vejjajiva Timblick, Chief Creative & Culture Officer for Standard Asia.

Nestled directly on the beach, The Standard, Hua Hin offers 199 rooms, suites and villas, the mid-century design Lido pool and bar, Praça, the restored beachside heritage house and Thai izakaya restaurant, The Juice Café and seafront Surf Club. The resort has also elevated the social scene in Hua Hin with a series of cultural “Happenings”, from wellness weekends and artistic escapes to pool parties, live concerts and more.

The Standard hotels are present in the most desirable of destinations, from Miami Beach to the Maldives, London to New York, Hua Hin to Bangkok. A haven for curious explorers, The Standard, Hua Hin was named on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Hot List” for 2022, a highly exclusive selection of the world’s most exciting new hotels.

Connect with the hotel via:
Facebook: The Standard Hua Hin
Instagram/Line: @thestandardhuahin
Web: www.standardhotels.com/hua-hin

Heavy Rain Swells Rivers, Causing Floods in Much of Thailand

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Associated Press

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4 October 2022, 11:30

Residents paddle through floodwaters in Ubon Ratchathani province, northeastern Thailand, Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. Photo: Nava Sangthong / AP

BANGKOK (AP) — Heavy rain in northern, northeastern and central Thailand worsened severe flooding in many parts of the country on Monday, as authorities ordered the release of water into already overflowing rivers from dams that were filled to capacity.

Many areas were already flooded from seasonal monsoon rains when the remnants of Tropical Storm Noru, which earlier tore through the Philippines and Vietnam, swept through parts of the country last week.

Among the areas hit by flooding were Chiang Mai, a large city and tourist center in the north, and Sukhothai, an ancient capital and archaeological site that draws many visitors.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that floods had impacted at least 45,000 households in 35 provinces.

In Chiang Mai, provincial disaster officials warned people with homes near the Ping River to move their property to higher ground, even as some areas were already inundated.

Officials also issued urgent flood warnings to residents of the north-central provinces of Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and Phichit after the Yom River spilled over its banks.

In Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast, more than 7,000 people were moved into 60 shelters after the Moon River overflowed, as rescue workers waded through waist-high water to help residents evacuate.

In Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok, provincial authorities constructed a flood wall with more than 300,000 sand bags along about 10 kilometers (six miles) of the Chao Phraya River to try to prevent flooding from reaching key areas, Thai PBS public television reported on its website.

N. Korea Sends Missile Soaring Over Japan in Escalation

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Associated Press

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4 October 2022, 11:00

A TV screen showing a news program reporting about North Korea's missile launch with file footage, is seen at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022. Photo: Lee Jin-man / AP

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Tuesday fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile over Japan for the first time in five years, forcing Japan to issue evacuation notices and suspend trains during the flight of the weapon that is capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam.

The launch was the most provocative weapons demonstration by North Korea this year as it ramps up missile tests to a record pace. Two intercontinental ballistic missiles tested earlier this year were launched at high angles and short of their full range and so didn’t fly over other nations’ territories.

Tuesday’s test, the North’s fifth round of missile launches in 10 days, comes as North Korea uses a diplomatic standstill with the U.S. to build up a full-fledged nuclear weapons program that viably threatens regional U.S. allies and the American homeland.

The Japanese prime minister’s office said at least one missile fired from North Korea flew over Japan and was believed to have landed into the Pacific Ocean.

Japanese authorities alerted residents in northeastern regions to evacuate to shelters, in the first “J-alert” alert since 2017, when North Korea fired an intermediate-range Hwasong-12 missile twice over Japan in a span of weeks during its previous torrid run of weapons tests.

Trains were suspended in the Hokkaido and Aomori regions until the government issued a subsequent notice that the North Korean missile appeared to have landed into the Pacific.

The United States condemned the launch as “dangerous and reckless” and said national security adviser Jake Sullivan had consulted with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts on their appropriate and robust responses.

“The United States will continue its efforts to limit the DPRK’s ability to advance its prohibited ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs, including with allies and U.N. partners,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that “the firing, which followed a recent series of launches by North Korea, is a reckless act and I strongly condemn it.” Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said no damage was immediately reported from the missile that flew 22 minutes.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement it detected the missile being fired from the inland north in North Korea. It warned the North’s repeated missile launches would only deepen its international isolation and prompt Seoul and Washington to bolster their deterrence capacities.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol also said the North’s “reckless nuclear provocations” would meet the stern response of the South and the broader international community.

Both South Korea and Japan convened emergency national security council meeting to discuss the launch.

According to South Korean and Japanese estimates, the missile travelled about 4,500-4,600 kilometers (2,800-2,860 miles) at a maximum altitude of 970-1,000 kilometers (600-620 miles) before landing in the waters outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone.

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said the missile’s estimated flight distance is believed to be “the longest” among the past North Korea-launched missiles.

The flight distance shows the missile’s range is enough to hit Guam, home to U.S. military bases that sent advanced warplanes to the Korean Peninsula in shows of force in past tensions with North Korea. In 2017, North Korea threatened to make “an enveloping fire” near Guam with Hwasong-12 missiles amid rising animosities with the then-Trump administration.

North Korea last test-fired a Hwasong-12 missile in January. At the time, the North’s state media said the launch was meant to verify the overall accuracy of the weapon that was being deployed in its military. But it said the missile was launched on a lofted angle to prevent it from flying over other countries.

Kim Dong-yub, a professor at Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies, said the North likely tested the Hwasong-12 again on Tuesday.

The recent spate of weapons tests are an apparent response to bilateral military drills between South Korea and the United States and other training among the allies including Japan last week.

The missiles fired during the past four rounds of launches were short-range and fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. Those missiles are capable of hitting targets in South Korea.

North Korea has test-fired about 40 missiles over about 20 different launch events this year as its leader Kim Jong Un vows to expand his nuclear arsenal and refuses to return to nuclear diplomacy with the United States.

Some experts say Kim eventually would try to use his enlarged arsenal to pressure Washington to accept his country as a nuclear state, a recognition that he thinks is necessary to win the lifting of international sanctions and other concessions.

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Story: Hyung-jin Kim, Kim Tong-hyung, and Mari Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo.

9 NATO Members Urge Support for Ukraine After Annexation

By

Associated Press

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3 October 2022, 11:30

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, alongside Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, right, and the head of Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council of Ukraine) Ruslan Stefanchuk, holds an application for ''accelerated accession to NATO'' in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday Sept. 30, 2022. Photo: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

PRAGUE (AP) — The heads of nine European NATO members on Sunday issued a joint statement backing a path to membership for Ukraine in the U.S.-led security alliance, and calling on all 30 NATO nations to ramp up military aid for Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise move Friday to apply for fast-track NATO membership, in response to Russia’s annexation of four regions of Ukraine.

NATO membership needs approval from all 30 members and Ukraine is unlikely to join anytime soon. Being a country already at war complicates the request.

The nine NATO countries in Central and Eastern Europe fearful that Russia could target them next if it isn’t stopped in Ukraine urged a response to the annexation.

The leaders of Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania and Slovakia published a statement on their websites Sunday saying: “We support Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion, demand (that Russia) immediately withdraw from all the occupied territories and encourage all allies to substantially increase their military aid to Ukraine.”

It said the leaders “firmly stood behind the 2008 Bucharest NATO Summit decision concerning Ukraine’s future membership.” At the 2008 summit, NATO members welcomed Ukraine and Georgia’s aspirations to join, but declined to provide a clear timeline for the two countries’ possible ascension. Sunday’s letter didn’t mention a timeline, either.

Asked Friday about Zelenskyy’s application for accelerated NATO membership, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the application process in Brussels “should be taken up at a different time.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was noncommittal when asked about Zelenskyy’s appeal to join.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council chaired by Putin, derided the move, saying that Zelenskyy’s request amounts to “begging NATO to accelerate the start of World War III.”

Spurred into action by security concerns over Russia’s invasion, Finland and Sweden officially applied to join NATO in May using an accelerated procedure. Most member countries have already ratified their applications and the two Nordic nations are on track to join in record time.

CP Foods wins HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2022 Award

By

Contributor

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3 October 2022, 11:25

Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC (CP Foods) has been awarded “HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2022” for the second year in a row, reflecting its excellence in human resource management and concrete employee engagement initiatives. The award was bestowed by HR Asia Magazine, Asia’s leading publication for HR professionals.

Ms. Pimonrat Reephattanavijitkul, Chief People Officer at CP Foods, said that the award brought pride to all executives and employees as it affirmed the Company’s outstanding human resource management and recognized CP Foods as one of the best companies to work for. CP Foods has demonstrated a strong corporate culture and continually implemented employee engagement activities, holding these practices a significant mechanism towards sustainable growth and business resilience.

“CP Foods is honored and proud to win the HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2022 Award for two consecutive years. It affirms our commitment in caring for our human resources, to ensure a favorable work environment that can accommodate diversity,” Ms. Pimonrat said.

CP Foods realizes the importance of “employees”. They are the organization’s heart that enables the delivery of high-quality and safe food products to consumers. CP Foods thus strives to excel in human resource management and this is driven by HR Digitalization Strategy. Digital tools have been applied in improving the human resource management, to drive the organization towards goals and efficiently enhance competitiveness in the Era of Society 5.0. Data Analytics are promoted to support strategic operations, for an in-depth analysis on manpower planning, recruitment and job assignments that match individual capabilities.

Aside, the decentralized organizational structure allows flexibility to quickly address business preferences. Actions are executed by compact business units that promote efficient cross-functional operations and flexibility in adapting and innovating. On its path towards High Performance Organization, CPF has also fostered the Leadership 5.0 that values leaders who are effective, specialized in their jobs, ready for new business challenges and innovative.

Another focus is placed on the development of “good and smart” employees and executives, who execute business actions for national and social benefits and sustainability. CP Foods’s employees have been encouraged to broaden their knowledge in various fields and climb the career ladder. The remuneration is structured to entice talents along with the succession plan to get the future leaders equipped with future skills. To search for the right persons, CP Foods also highlights the development of advanced skills through Technical Academy and leading educational institutes.

CP Foods has strengthened and emphasized actions in alignment with the Diversity and Inclusion Policy (D&I) out of respect for individual employees’ diversity in terms of sex, nationality, religion and beliefs as

CP Foods believes in employees’ capabilities regardless of their differences. In shaping their work attitude accordingly to the CP Foods Way corporate culture, the Company has promoted their understanding in the corporate value and the group’s businesses through “LOVE” online communication platform. Through the two-way communication platform, employees can express their appreciation for colleagues. Employees that effectively execute their tasks accordingly to the corporate culture are rewarded. The “CPF@Heart” Project has been implemented to strengthen employees’ well-being in different dimensions via club and recreational activities, including Sport Club, Family Club and LGBTQ+ Club. The project also seeks to equip employees with knowledge in vital areas like financial management. These efforts that promote employees’ health and happiness culminate in the overall efficiency, sustainability and employee engagement.

“HR Asia’s Best Companies to work for in Asia 2022” recognizes companies that have executed exemplary human resource management practices, while showing strong corporate culture and strong employee engagement. The results are based on the survey of those companies’ employees.

Soccer World Reacts to Disaster at Indonesia Stadium

By

Associated Press

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3 October 2022, 11:00

Indonesian soccer fans chant slogans during a candle light vigil for the victims of Saturday's soccer riots, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022. Photo: Dita Alangkara / AP

MADRID (AP) — A minute of silence was observed before soccer matches around the world on Sunday in honor of victims of the disaster at a stadium in Indonesia that claimed at least 125 lives, and top players, coaches and leagues sent condolences and messages of support.

Most of the victims were trampled upon or suffocated as chaos erupted following a game between host Arema FC of East Java’s Malang city and Persebaya Surabaya on Saturday night. Witnesses described police officers beating fans with sticks and shields before shooting tear gas canisters directly into the crowds to stop violence but instead triggering a deadly crush.

Indonesia’s soccer association suspended the top-tier Liga 1 indefinitely and banned Arema from hosting soccer matches for the remainder of the season, after one of the biggest tragedies globally at a sporting event.

Soccer leagues observing a minute of silence in honor of victims included Spain, Israel and the Netherlands.

In England, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola talked about the disaster following the Manchester derby in England.

“Terrible. Absolutely terrible. The world is crazy,” he said. “The best thoughts for the family and everything.”

Manchester United coach Ten Hag said it was “really a disaster … We are sad about it and our thoughts are with all the persons and the families and people of Indonesia.”

Some fans reacted to the news before kickoff in Manchester.

“We’ve been going to games for 50-odd years,” said Ray Booth, a Man City fan. “We don’t think about these things, but it could quite easily happen. You have a panic with thousands of people all together. It could happen. It is frightening to think about.”

Both Manchester clubs said they were “deeply saddened” by the tragedy in Indonesia.

“We send our sincere condolences to the victims, their families, and everyone affected,” Man United said.

In Spain, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez called for a minute of silence during the club’s general assembly.

Barcelona said it was “pained by the tragic events” and rejected “all acts of violence both on and off the field.” Ajax said “there should never be violence at a football match.”

Among the players who reacted was veteran PSG defender Sergio Ramos, who called the tragedy “heartbreaking.”

“Our thoughts are with the victims and their families,” he said on Twitter.

Soccer leagues also expressed their sadness, including the Premier League, the Italian league and the Spanish league.

In a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino offered condolences on behalf of the global soccer community, saying “the football world is in a state of shock.”

FIFA did not mention in its statement the under-20 World Cup that Indonesia is set to host next year.

UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin spoke on behalf of European soccer.

“I would like to express our profound shock and sadness at last night’s appalling events in East Java’s Kanjuruhan stadium,” he said. “Our community sends its sympathy and solidarity to everyone affected by this tragedy.”

The president of the Asian soccer confederation, Shaikh Salman, said he was “deeply shocked and saddened to hear such tragic news coming out of football-loving Indonesia.”

The Spanish soccer federation lamented the tragedy and said it “condemns any act of violence, especially those in a festive setting such as a football match.

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Story: Tales Azzoni. AP Sports Writer James Robson in Manchester, England, contributed to this report.

Opinion: Prayut’s Return as PM Comes With Many Unanswered Questions

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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2 October 2022, 10:00

In this July 16, 2019, file photo, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha gestures after a group photo with his Cabinet members at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand. Prayuth said Friday, Aug. 9, 2019 he is not quitting despite facing mounting criticism for failing to properly take his oath of office. Prayuth led members of his Cabinet to be inaugurated in a ceremony presided over by the Thai king on July 16. However, he omitted a phrase while taking the oath where he was supposed to pledge that he will uphold every aspect of the constitution. The omission has raised questions over whether the inauguration was legally valid. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / AP — In this July 16, 2019, file photo, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha gestures after a group photo with his Cabinet members at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand. Prayuth said Friday, Aug. 9, 2019 he is not quitting despite facing mounting criticism for failing to properly take his oath of office. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / AP

Less than twenty minutes after he was let off the hook by the Constitutional Court, which ruled on Friday that he can still be PM for two and a half more years because the eight-year limit stipulated under the charter should only be counted when the junta-sponsored constitution came into effect in April 2017, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha made it clear he is planning to stay on to do more ‘great things’ for Thailand.

Prayut posted on his official Facebook page promising to lead the Thai people toward a “new golden-era” of progressive and development by pushing for major transports and infrastructural projects.

Prayut did not go into the details whether it means hi-speed train connecting Thailand to China in the north or more expressways and subways, but it is clear the former coup leader who first became PM by force back in 2014 is not going to step down or return the mandate to the people.

Whether Prayut will manage to hold on to power after and return as PM after the general election next year or not will largely depend on whether he could still convince the powers that be that he is still the sole viable face to represent the conservative elites who have supported him over the past eight years or not.

The five weeks Prayut was temporarily suspended from PM duties until the Friday’s ruling, his first deputy, Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, became PM and managed to run the country as caretaker PM rather smoothly despite occasionally telling reporters “I don’t know” when asked about a number of issues related to the state.

Prawit is the leader of the ruling Phalang Pracharath Party and the party will now have to ask themselves if they want to still support Prayut as their PM candidate in the next general election which the Election Commission recently said can take place in May 2023.

Another key figure, Bhumjai Thai Party leader and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnveerakul is already packaging himself as the next PM candidate, betting on his controversial achievement in decriminalizing marijuana for medical purposes.

The conservative camp will basically have to wait and see if Prayut’s real shelf life as PM has in fact expired or not or whether they should wheel out someone else as his replacement, particularly considering the fact that even if Prayut managed to return as PM after next year’s election, he will still have to step down after two years, or in April 2025 because of the term limit.

The calculation as to whether Prayut is still worth investing on or more of a liability depends on how unpopular he will be in the coming weeks and months. Angry anti-Prayut protests at two separate spots occurred on Friday soon after the ruling was heard and another one on Saturday in Bangkok.

Will there be enough angry protesters to convince the conservatives to offer an alternative face to Prayut? It may be too early to tell as of press time.

One thing for certain is the two main opposition parties are cashing in on the growing anti-Prayut sentiment, hoping to turn it into more votes and MPs. The main opposition Pheu Thai Party in particular is hoping for a landslide victory and is now presenting itself as the only true viable way to oust Prayut.

A few weeks before the ruling, Pheu Thai Party vice chairman of strategic committee Pichai Naripthaphan told me he prefers the Constitutional Court to allow Prayut to stay on as PM because this will rally more angry voters to support his party and it may lead the party to gaining a landslide victory next year.

Meanwhile, the second-biggest opposition party, Move Forward, is also in full election campaign mode. After the ruling, the party asked the public to support a proposal to push for a referendum to draft a new constitution, to be decided on the same day as the general election day.

It is clear now that the two major parties want to compete in elections and are not aiming to oust Prayut outright through supporting street protests. And that is where the theatre of the next real political battle shall be.

Constitutional Court Rules Prayut Can Stay, Did Not Exceed Term Limit

By

Associated Press

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30 September 2022, 18:00

FILE - Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha reacts after a no-confidence vote against him was defeated at Parliament, Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / AP File

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled Friday that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha can remain in his job and did not violate a constitutional provision limiting him to eight years in office.

Opposition lawmakers had petitioned the court to decide on their contention that Prayuth, who took power as army commander in a 2014 coup, had violated the eight-year limit for prime ministers that was included for the first time in Thailand’s 2017 Constitution.

Prayuth officially became prime minister in a military government in August 2014, and was named prime minister again after a 2019 election. Using 2014 as a starting date, he would have reached his legal limit last month.

He and his supporters argued that the countdown for the term limit should begin when the current constitution came into effect in April 2017, which would allow him to serve until 2025 if he is returned to office after the next general election.

The nine-member court ruled in a 6-3 vote that because the constitution came into effect after Prayuth had already taken power, the term limit did not apply to the time he had previously served, since the constitution did not specify it could be applied retroactively.

The court’s decision had been widely expected, since it has generally ruled in the government’s favor in a series of political cases. The judiciary, especially the Constitutional Court, and the military are strong defenders of the country’s conservative establishment, whose most important pillar they consider to be the monarchy,

Prayuth will still face a political reckoning early next year when Parliament’s four-year term expires and a new election must be called. His popularity ratings are low, with critics saying he has mishandled the economy and botched Thailand’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to demand that Prayuth and his Cabinet resign, while also calling for the constitution to be amended and the monarchy to be reformed. Several confrontations between the student-driven protest movement and authorities turned violent. Activists threatened new protests if the court favored Prayuth, raising fears of more unrest.

The protest movement was weakened by COVID-19 restrictions and repression from the government, and only about 30 people answered a call to demonstrate Friday in central Bangkok, shouting insults as they listed to the court’s verdict over a loudspeaker.

Chai-amorn Kaewwiboonpan, a musician and veteran activist also known as Ammy, said the ruling was no surprise.

“I think tomorrow the people will come out on the streets, and hopefully we will have a lot of people,” he said.

Prayuth paid his respects to the court on his Facebook page and thanked those Thais whom he said had given him good wishes and encouragement since the court took up the case.

“It was the opportunity for me to realize that I must spend the government’s limited remaining time to follow up and push several important projects that I have initiated, and complete them for the country’s progress and our children’s future,” he said, highlighting infrastructure development.

Last month, the Constitutional Court temporarily suspended Prayuth from carrying out the prime minister’s duties pending its ruling. The senior deputy prime minister in his Cabinet, Prawit Wongsuwan, became acting prime minister while Prayuth retained his concurrent position of defense minister.

Had Prayuth been forced out Friday, power would have been ceded to a caretaker government with limited executive powers, assembled from the current Cabinet, that would have sat until Parliament elected a new prime minister.

The eight-year term limit was meant to target former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist billionaire who was ousted by a 2006 military coup but whose political machine remains powerful. The army in 2014 also ousted the government of Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who was forced from office shortly before the takeover by a controversial court decision.

Thailand’s traditional conservative ruling class, including the military, felt that Thaksin’s popularity posed a threat to the country’s monarchy as well as their own influence. The courts have been stalwart defenders of the established order and ruled consistently against Thaksin and other challengers.

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Story: Grant Peck and Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul. Associated Press journalists Jerry Harmer and Tassanee Vejpongsa contributed to this report.

AIS partners ZTE to open the first “5G A-Z Center” in Thailand Announcement of strategic partnership to develop the smart 5G network Becoming a Cognitive Tech-Co to power the national digital economy

By

Contributor

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30 September 2022, 16:01

27 September 2022, Bangkok: AIS, the number one smart digital network provider in Thailand, and ZTE Corporation, a world-class developer of digital tech from China, have partnered to create the A-Z Centre, Thailand’s first ever hub for 5G innovation. The two parties signed an MOU of strategic partnership to develop 5G tech, with the goal of fostering innovation and in particular, leveling up digital infrastructure to be resilient and furnish solutions which support the industrial sector. They in turn provide the experience of tangible benefits to the people of Thailand, while giving the country a significant competitive edge.

Somchai Lertsutiwong, Chief Executive Officer of AIS said, “We are here because 5G is a technology to power the country. As the network service provider with the most frequency spectra and the best network coverage in Thailand, we give top priority to innovating for the country sustainably. This is why we have strategically partnered with ZTE in three components:

– Upgrading Thailand’s 5G network to world-class digital infrastructure, not only in the matter of speed, but also intelligence, controlling itself in real time (5G Smart Autonomous Network)

– Jointly developing solutions for the business sector, for industry and for the wider public, and enhancing competitive capabilities under Thailand 4.0.

– Delivering a vast range of 5G services to improve Thai people’s lives sustainably. The first 5G A-Z Center in Thailand is at the crux of working towards this goal. It is a transformative moment to unlock Thailand’s potential and take the country to the next level, focussing on business and industry. We have inaugurated Digital Transformation in productivity and management, which will directly power the country’s digital economy.”

Mr. Xu Ziyang, President of ZTE Corporation said, “Our strategic partnership to develop digital tech, resulting in the establishment of A-Z Center, will usher in a diverse range of technological innovation. Most particularly, taking the 5G network as a basis for research and development has resulted in brand-new use cases of the future which will cater to both customer demand and increasing business opportunities.”

5G A-Z Center is the most complete hub for innovation and solutions, having installed base stations providing every radio frequency spectrum for the purposes of experimentation and trial. It is prototyping network tech which will transform development of the 5G network in Thailand, alongside 5G vertical industry applications and Smart Terminals. A pipeline of trials and demonstrations in the first phase comprise:

1. Next Generation Products for 5G Capability Growth: ZTE’s 5G-compatible network tech powers innovation through the concept,“1+2+3”. 1. Infrastructure, 2. Prototyping genetic foundations, and 3. The three components to Upgrade, Extend and Expand for maximum productivity. Use cases include:

Radio Composer: A world’s first coming from the partnership with AIS is development of the AAU (Active Antenna Unit) for 5G mmWave bandwidth, supporting 1.2GHz, and AAU 5G 2.6GHz, which are economical with electrical power. This new 5G radio equipment has been tailored to demand, and delivers the best possible experience to AIS customers, while being friendly to nature and encouraging energy sustainability.
RIS (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface) is equipment showcasing capabilities of the 26GHz or mmWave spectrum to provide greater coverage for the 5G network.

2. 5G Use Cases connecting the 5G network to the industrial sector , such as:

5G Natural Navigation AGV, an autonomous vehicle with embedded 5G module accepting a 5G SIM card. Easy to use, and unlimited with respect to location, with no need of installed Wi-Fi.
5G Machine Vision: A system for physical product inspection using 5G. Its processing system works similarly to humans, to make decisions and transmit the required results as determined by its algorithm.

5G XR Explorer: Extended reality, or XR systems applied to integrate many dimensions of display, whether a real-world environment or the digital environment. This includes interactions between humans and machines with computers, or through wearables, which can be used in Training or Guidance.
5G Holographic is a technology to create 3D images which has been widely applied and adapted. Applications include remote meetings, education, large events or the Metaverse. It is appropriate for large-bandwidth applications such as AR or VR, and breaks down the barriers between the real and virtual worlds to connect them seamlessly with 5G.

3. Diversified 5G Terminal Devices: AIS has partnered with ZTE to launch the new 5G ZTE Blade A72 handset. It is a highly efficient 5G-enabled smartphone offering the greatest value in the current Thai smartphone market. It is expected to hit the market in October 2022, alongside other Smart Terminals such as 5G CPE and 5G Router. All of these highlights ZTE’s capabilities as the only End-to-End service provider working with AIS, who is the service provider offering the best experience to consumers.

This cooperation between AIS and ZTE is a crucial step in achieving the goal of becoming a Cognitive Tech-Co by developing 5G into the 5G Smart Autonomous Network. This will deliver new experiences and give opportunities to the industrial sector, all the while creating innovations and solutions which cater nimbly to behaviour which has changed in social contexts. It will build Thailand’s digital economy of the future.

Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University distributed “Sawasdee Nursing Robot” to the hospitals

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30 September 2022, 12:19

Ms. Ajarin Pattanapanchai (9th from the left), the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, presided over the ceremony of distributing “Sawasdee Nursing Robot” to support the medical professionals in the Ministry of Health’s hospitals network. Assistant Professor Dr. Tanapol Kortana (6th from the left) and Assistant Professor Dr. Natnaporn Aeknarajindawat (8th from the left), Head of Sawasdee Nursing Robot Project, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, gave a warm welcome at the University Council Meeting Room.

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