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The Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced 11 former red-shirt protesters to jail over their role in the 2010 anti-government demonstrations in Bangkok that culminated in an army crackdown that left scores of people dead.

The supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra were found guilty of violating state of emergency rules imposed during the protests, which sought to oust then-prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The court sentenced five protest leaders, including Jatuporn Prompan, to four years and four months in prison, while six others received four-month sentences and two were acquitted.

Originally there were 13 defendants in the case but one has died and one has fled abroad.

All 11 defendants were granted bail pending appeals, with the five leaders released on a surety of 200,000 baht each and told not to leave the country. The others were released on bail of 50,000 baht each.

‘We respect the court’s verdict,’ Jatuporn said, adding that appeals were being planned.

Jatuporn in recent years has become a vocal critic of Thaksin and participated in rallies held earlier this year to call for the ouster of the Pheu Thai-led government.

The other four leaders sentenced along with Jatuporn were Weerakarn Musikapong, Nattawut Saikuar, Dr Weng Tojirakarn and Adisorn Piangket. Mr Adisorn is currently protected by parliamentary immunity.

All five had been sentenced to 6 years for inciting unrest and violating the emergency decree, but received a one-third sentence reduction due to partial cooperation during the trial.

Tens of thousands of protesters, known by the colour of their attire, took over key intersections in the capital in 2010, with some hunkering down in fortified protest camps and clashing with authorities.

The protests shut down government complexes for more than two months, and ended when soldiers used live rounds to disperse demonstrators from downtown Bangkok.

Human Rights Watch said at least 90 people were killed during the unrest, and more than 2,000 were injured.

Authorities announced murder charges in 2012 against Abhisit and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban over the deadly crackdown, but they were later acquitted.

A former chief of the Department of Special Investigation, Tarit Pengdit, who had sought to charge the pair, was instead prosecuted himself and sentenced to two years in prison for malfeasance in 2023.

Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and fled the country in 2008 prior to being sentenced for conflict of interest and abuse of power while in office earlier. He returned to Thailand in August 2023 and was brought straight to court and then to prison to serve the sentence.

He is now serving a one-year term in a Bangkok prison, after the Supreme Court ruled last month that his 2023 sentence was not properly carried out. Thaksin spent six months in a VIP hospital suite after complaining of chest pains on his first night behind bars in 2023.

Artificial intelligence (AI) creators are expected to make decisions using other AI agents, while human influencers will still survive by creatively coexisting with AI, says influencer agency Tellscore.

This might involve influencers crafting their own AI avatars to create short-form content, or harnessing AI as a powerful tool to enhance brand development, noted the agency.

According to statistics sourced from “Influencer Economy Worldwide” by Statista.com, the value of the global creator and influencer market posted an average annual growth rate of 20-30%.

In 2024, the market value reached US$24 billion, and it is projected to soar to $32.5 billion this year, reflecting a strong upward trend worldwide.

One trend this year is the rise of AI in creator-led branding, said Suvita Charanwong, chief executive and co-founder of Tellscore, at Thailand Influencer Awards 2025 held by Tellscore recently.

This approach goes beyond simple differentiation, focusing instead on “telling stories with a human connection,” according to Ms Suvita. It communicates what the brand represents, the value it delivers to consumers, and highlights the influencers and creators involved and how they engage with their communities, she noted.

She added that to strengthen branding and deepen audience engagement, it is vital to integrate online-to-offline marketing strategies through real-world initiatives such as events, workshops, and concerts.

Ms Suvita said the industry is expecting autonomous AI creators to make decisions together with other agents in the future.

For example, they could conduct live selling, take live questions from the crowd, make decisions on logistics and marketing promotion, and set adaptive pricing strategies.

The path to survival for influencers is to “coexist with AI” in creative ways. This includes influencers developing their own AI avatars to produce short-form content once or twice a week, or using AI as a tool to strengthen brand building.

She added that influencers still exist and have not been replaced by AI, but they need to embrace change.

However, this would require transparency, making it clear when content is AI-generated in order to avoid confusing consumers. This form of openness enhances the value and credibility of creators in the eyes of both brands and their audiences.

Ms Suvita noted that TikTok continues to build strong momentum, while YouTube is reshaping its strategy with long-form content and partnerships with e-commerce platforms to push further into social commerce.

Instagram remains a key space for trendsetters, particularly through its “Stories” feature, which generates a high level of engagement.

Among emerging platforms, Lemon8 is gaining popularity among Gen Z with its simple, fast content formats, while XiaoHongShu is rapidly expanding its market presence in Thailand and across Southeast Asia, creating strong opportunities for bilingual creators fluent in both English and Chinese.

She said one of the most promising opportunities lies with LGBTQ+ creators within the context of the rainbow economy, underscoring Thailand’s openness and willingness to embrace diversity as a key strength.

Brands collaborating with these creators not only gain commercial benefits but also build emotional connections and trust with Gen Z and millennial consumers, who place a premium on trust, authenticity, and inclusion.

The creator market will certainly continue to grow despite global economic volatility, but the path ahead will not be easy.

Ms Suvita said creators and brands must adapt quickly, paying close attention to global geopolitics and opportunities, particularly within the region.

They should also begin producing content in English or Chinese to tap international markets, said Ms Suvita.

Future scenarios

Ms Suvita outlined future scenarios for content creators, comprising three distinct categories: “Want to Be”, “Today”, and “Want to Avoid”.

An ideal future, labelled the “Want to Be” scenario, is characterised by unlimited creativity for global success. This path envisions Asian content creators participating in setting global standards and exporting high-quality content abroad, supported by sufficient talent, funding, and content series.

There is a self-made Thai creator economy, where the profession is officially recognised with structured professional standards, financial backing and support.

The “Today” refers to the current reality that consists of growth on an unstable path, where creators are building understanding and community, but are constantly undermined by platform misuse, referring to issues such as fraud, the exploitation of sensitive topics, fake news, and call centres.

The crisis of trust in Thailand’s content industry has arisen as Thailand continues to rely on foreign platforms, whose algorithms influence the quality of content and shape the values of people in the country.

The future described as “Want to Avoid” represents the industry’s collapse, characterised by widespread fraud, a significant decline in people’s wealth and income, and constant attacks on the industry, all of which necessitate an urgent restoration of public confidence.

Thailand’s headline consumer price index fell for a sixth consecutive month in September, declining by 0.72% year-on-year, but the country has yet to encounter a recession, says the Commerce Ministry.

The index stood at 100.11 last month, compared with 100.14 in August.

The main contributing factor was the decrease in energy prices, including electricity and fuel, driven by the government’s cost of living relief measures as well as falling energy prices in the global market.

The prices of fresh food items, especially chicken eggs, fresh vegetables and fresh fruits, were still lower than those of last year. Other goods and services did not have a significant impact on the rate of inflation.

The government wants to ease the cost of living, so it has lowered the power tariff to 3.94 baht per kilowatt-hour for the September-December period, down from 3.98 baht, while farm produce prices remained cheap due to the high quantity of supplies in the market.

“Though headline inflation was in negative territory for six months, it does not signify we are entering a recession,” said Nantapong Chiralerspong, director-general of the Commerce Ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office.

“This is because the core inflation continued to rise, supported by domestic demand as well as employment in the country which did not decrease.”

Core inflation, which does not include goods in the energy and fresh food categories, rose by 0.65% year-on-year in September.

From January to September, core inflation increased by 0.9%.

Mr Nantapong is aware GDP growth has so far been lower than projections for this year, but the economy has still managed to grow slightly.

“This is not a sign of recession. It is an economic slowdown,” he said.

However, authorities are not being complacent with regard to the current situation. They remain cautious and are closely monitoring changes in economic circumstances, he noted.

Mr Nantapong said the government’s “Khon La Khrueng Plus” co-payment scheme, scheduled to be launched by the end of October, may have a limited impact on inflation.

The scheme would only be able to help increase inflation slightly because it is a short-term measure, he said.

To increase inflation more significantly, the government should speed up budget spending in order to inject more money into the economy, Mr Nantapong.

He expects Thailand’s inflation in the final quarter of this year to get close to zero, attributed mainly to the lower Dubai crude oil reference price as Opec and its allies continue to increase oil production.

For the whole year, headline inflation should stand at 0%, down from an earlier projection of 0-1%.

Young players aged 4-14 are invited to the 4th Royal Cliff Junior Tennis Thailand Championship at Fitz Club, Pattaya, on 8-9 November 2025, with national ranking points on offer, a pre-tournament clinic, and family activities throughout the weekend.

Pattaya will serve up a festival of youth tennis as the Royal Cliff Junior Tennis Thailand Championship returns for its 4th edition-its second staging this year due to popular demand. Hosted at Fitz Club – Racquet, Health and Fitness, the tournament welcomes boys and girls aged 4-14 of every skill level, offering a friendly yet competitive environment to sharpen match craft, meet peers and collect valuable points towards Thailand’s national rankings.

Subhead: Pre-tournament clinic and CEO challenge

On Friday, 7 November from 6pm, certified tennis and fitness coaches will lead a Tennis Clinic and Challenge to help participants warm up and build confidence ahead of match play. A special lucky draw will select 10 kids to face Royal Cliff CEO Vitanart Vathanakul; any challenger who can beat the CEO 10-0 will receive a THB 10,000 cash prize. Places are limited and advance booking is required (details via the clinic registration link).

Subhead: A weekend for the whole family

Beyond the baseline, the championship doubles as a family day out. Expect fun activity booths from Funtasea – Kids Club, recovery and sports massage for players by Vitala, relaxing treatments from Cliff Spa therapists, live food stations, a buffet dinner and live music. Every entrant receives a welcome pack sponsored by Supersports and K-Swiss, with Tecnifibre supplying high-quality competition balls and Carabao providing refreshments.

Subhead: Registration and special rates

Registration is open now until 24 October 2025 at royalcliff.com/rcjt. Special room rates are available for tournament families. For bookings or enquiries, call 038-250-421 ext. 2820-24, email reservations@royalcliff.com, or contact LINE: @RoyalCliff. Early registration is encouraged to avoid disappointment.

Subhead: About Fitz Club

Fitz Club, Royal Cliff’s elite sports centre, is a premier training destination whose hard courts are designed to mirror Australian Open conditions. Renowned ATP names-including Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny, Dmitry Tursunov, Paradorn Srichaphan, Danai Udomchoke and Denis Istomin-have trained here. The venue regularly hosts junior and senior tennis events alongside squash and table-tennis competitions, and now adds new facilities for pickleball, futsal, basketball and badminton, further cementing its status as a hub for both aspiring and recreational athletes.

Partners

This edition is supported by Supersports, K-Swiss, Carabao, Tecnifibre, Vitala and Tennis-10, whose backing helps deliver a professionally run, family-friendly tournament that inspires the next generation of Thai tennis.

Hylife Group, led by Mr. Dhanush R. Nair, Co-Group CEO, announced a landmark collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with distinguished international partners. The signatories included the Grenada Investment Development Corporation, represented by Ambassador Dr. Richard A. Nixon, Chairman; K Wave Media, represented by Mr. Pyeungho Choi, Chairman; and Solaire Partners, represented by Mr. Youngjae Lee, Chief Executive Officer. The agreement seeks to advance and promote the creative industry by strengthening human capital development and accelerating the growth of the film sector in the Caribbean. This initiative is designed to foster sustainable progress by building a robust creative network between Asia and the Caribbean.

Mr. Shubhodeep Prasanta Das, Chairman of Hylife Group, remarked ‘This collaboration stands as clear evidence that the creative industry can serve as a true bridge-uniting people, cultures, and economic opportunities across diverse regions. Hylife Group is committed to driving the film and creative media industries forward, empowering them to step onto the global stage with pride, resilience, and sustainability.’

The signing represents a significant milestone in expanding international cooperation and underscores Hylife Group’s role as a leader in connecting global creative networks. The framework of collaboration emphasises people, creative media, and investment as core pillars to empower creators, facilitate cross-continental co-productions, and establish new gateways for Caribbean cinema to access global audiences through solid and sustainable partnerships.

Hylife Group believes that with strong partnerships and a shared vision, this MOU will mark the beginning of a transformative journey that propels the film and creative industries onto the international stage while generating enduring value for both regions.

A taskforce set up to enhance the attractiveness of the Thai capital market has launched a sweeping reform package, seeking to deliver quick results within the next four months while laying the foundations for long-term competitiveness.

The Taskforce for a Competitive and Attractive Market, which consists of representatives from the Ministry of Finance’s Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organizations (Fetco) on Monday unveiled the Thai Capital Market Attractiveness Initiative.

The reforms are built around four pillars, comprising quality demand, attractive supply, trusted market and a supportive ecosystem. Together, they aim to restore investor confidence, expand fundraising opportunities and reposition Thailand as a regional fundraising hub.

The first set of measures focuses on simplifying initial public offering (IPO) rules to streamline listing procedures, reduce regulatory barriers and make the Thai market more competitive compared with regional peers.

The taskforce will also propose regulatory changes to the Ministry of Finance to eliminate outdated restrictions on fundraising, particularly for small and medium enterprises and “new economy” companies.

Thailand’s benchmark index has dropped more than 7% this year, the worst performer among Asia’s major stock markets, as international funds withdrew about US$2.9 billion.

“We need urgent action to restore the appeal of the [Thai] stock market among the international investors,” said SET president Asadej Kongsiri.

Tax incentives are being considered for technology firms endorsed by the Board of Investment, aiming to draw more innovative businesses to the Thai bourse.

The initiative also calls for expanding retail investor participation through individual investment accounts and providing greater access to wealth management tools and diverse financial products.

Under the attractive supply pillar, authorities plan to lure more high-potential new economy firms to list in Thailand, upgrade existing companies through programmes such as Jump+ and Value Up, and promote ESG disclosure aligned with the International Sustainability Standards Board framework.

The Trusted Market component emphasises reinforcing corporate governance, tightening oversight of market professionals and leveraging technology to boost transparency, particularly for small listed firms.

The supportive ecosystem pillar seeks to diversify investment products, accelerate digital transformation and update trading rules in line with evolving investor behaviour.

Warothai Kosolpisitkul, international economic advisor at the FPO, said the measures serve as quick win initiatives that will generate tangible short-term results while catalysing long-term economic restructuring.

By attracting high-potential businesses to raise funds, the market creates greater opportunities to drive growth across various sectors and broaden the investor base. This will make the Thai capital market a more efficient fundraising platform for national development, he added.

While global volatility and domestic structural challenges remain, regulators view that quick reforms in IPO rules, tax incentives and digitalisation, alongside structural measures to enhance governance and supply can restore inflows, strengthen resilience and secure Thailand’s standing in the global capital market.

SEC secretary-general Pornanong Budsaratragoon said in the next phase, the regulator will proceed with developing other areas of the capital market, including bond markets, investment units and a digital capital market.

FETCO chairman Kobsak Pootrakool said the collective effort to strengthen the stock market’s competitiveness helps address the country’s emerging challenges while maintaining the SET’s pivotal role in supporting the economy.

Establishing tangible quality demand, in particular, will serve as a key foundation for cultivating a long-term investment culture. This includes the development of individual investment accounts which will empower investors to transform their savings into sustainable long-term investments, preparing for the country’s transition towards an ageing society, he said.

OpenAI has introduced new parental controls for ChatGPT, responding to growing concerns over teen safety and the chatbot’s influence on young users in both Thailand and around the world.

The move comes amid rising use of the artificial intelligence tool by Thai teenagers seeking help with homework, personal issues and even mental health struggles.

The update follows a tragic case in the United States, where the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against OpenAI. They claim ChatGPT provided Adam with information about suicide methods in the months leading up to his death in April.

In early September, OpenAI announced the new safety features, developed in partnership with Common Sense Media, a nonprofit known for its age-based tech ratings. The controls aim to give parents more oversight while encouraging responsible AI use among teens, which Thai schools rarely provide.

Parents can now link their child’s ChatGPT account to their own, unlocking tools to limit sensitive content, restrict usage times, and toggle features like voice mode, memory saving and image generation. There’s also an option to prevent ChatGPT from using teens’ conversations to train its models.

One of the most critical additions is a notification system. If ChatGPT detects signs of potential self-harm, parents will receive alerts via email, text or push notification – unless they opt out. These alerts won’t include specific conversation details but will flag a possible safety risk.

OpenAI says a small, specially trained team will review flagged cases. If a parent cannot be reached and a threat is detected, the company is working on protocols to contact emergency services. ‘No system is perfect,’ OpenAI said, ‘but we believe it’s better to act than to stay silent.’

Despite the safeguards, teens can still bypass the controls. OpenAI admits that its age prediction system is still in development. If a teen disconnects their account from a parent’s, the parent will be notified – but the teen can continue using ChatGPT without an account.

Adam Raine reportedly circumvented ChatGPT’s filters by claiming he needed the information for a fictional story. OpenAI acknowledged that ‘guardrails help, but they’re not foolproof’.

Good parenting by being there for your children and giving them guidance on how to use AI responsibly is still the best way to give them immunity to AI misinformation and bad advice.

Pattaya Night-Business Entrepreneurs Association has petitioned the Senate to review the new Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, citing the law’s harmful impact on tourism and local livelihoods.

The petition was submitted by the association’s chairwoman, Lisa Hamilton, to parliament on Monday. It was received by the spokesman of the Senate Affairs Committee, Pisit Apiwattanapong, and Senator Prathum Wongsawat.

The petition focuses on Section 32 of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which prohibits the sale of alcohol by unlicensed vendors. Under the new rule, tourists who drink alcohol on the beach risk being fined or arrested. Ms Lisa said the rule risks damaging Thailand’s image as a tourist destination, especially ahead of the high season.

According to Ms Lisa, the act opens opportunities for corrupt officials to demand bribes from businesses or tourists caught drinking in prohibited areas.

“We urge the government to reconsider before [the rule] ruins the country’s reputation,” she said.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned of continued rainfall until Oct 15, although the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) has expressed confidence that there is no risk of flooding reaching 2011 levels.

The TMD on Monday warned of widespread heavy rainfall across the country from Oct 6 to 15, with particular concern for flood-prone areas.

According to the warning, the weakened Typhoon Matmo is expected to affect Vietnam, Laos, and northern and upper northeastern provinces of Thailand.

Meanwhile, the southwest monsoon is intensifying over the Andaman coast and the eastern region, affecting provinces such as Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Chanthaburi and Trat. Accumulated rain could lead to flash floods and overflowing rivers.

Between Oct 9-15, the monsoon trough is forecast to shift southward, spreading rain over the lower parts of the country, especially Bangkok and surrounding provinces, where thunderstorms are expected in 60-70% of the area from Wednesday to Sunday.

The TMD stated that Thailand will transition to winter after Oct 12, with less rainfall in the North and Northeast and wind directions shifting eastwards and northeastwards, a sign that a cold air mass is approaching.

According to ONWR secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan, although rainfall has increased in the north, overall water levels remain manageable, with major dams like Bhumibol Dam and Sirikit Dam likely to increase water releases to maintain balance and prevent downstream overflow.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday emphasised, after chairing the meeting of the Committee for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, that the government places the well-being and livelihoods of the people as its top priority.

“I urge provincial governors to work closely with central authorities to ensure assistance reaches affected residents as quickly as possible,” Mr Anutin said.

Deputy PM Sophon Zarum echoed Mr Danucha’s stance, reassuring the public that water management measures are under control and that this year’s floods will not be as disastrous as those in 2011, though constant monitoring and adjustments are ongoing.

SET-listed Bangchak Corporation is seeking partners to conduct e-fuel research and development in a move to replace fossil-derived fuels, which are blamed for increasing carbon dioxide emissions.

E-fuel, also known as electrofuel, is a type of synthetic fuel created by using electricity from renewable sources to combine hydrogen and carbon dioxide in order to produce synthetic hydrocarbon fuel.

The new fuel could be used with internal combustion engine-powered vehicles.

“We do not want to do R and D from scratch but prefer to join hands with energy firms to speed up work in this field,” said Chaiwat Kovavisarach, chief executive and president of Bangchak.

Bangchak is planning to have its own research centre to facilitate the development of e-fuel projects.

The company will spend part of its US$30-milion budget, allocated for new businesses and innovation, to fund the construction, said Mr Chaiwat.

It also plans to ask for financial support from the Office of National Higher Education, Science Research and Innovation to help translate its research facility project into action.

Mr Chaiwat was speaking as he led a team of executives to study e-fuel projects at ENEOS Corporation in Yokohama, Japan.

ENEOS currently produces 1 barrel, or 159 litres, of e-fuel a day, at its prototype plant, supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation.

The company is testing the new fuel with a shuttle bus service at the Expo 2025 in Osaka.

The event, which started on April 13, will run through Oct 13.

Synthetic hydrocarbon is a promising fuel that can support campaigns aimed at achieving carbon neutrality, a balance between carbon dioxide emission and absorption.

Though vehicles using synthetic hydrocarbon emit carbon dioxide, the process of making this e-fuel requires a manufacturer to capture carbon dioxide to combine it with green hydrogen.

Green hydrogen is produced by using electricity made from renewable energy to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.

Mr Chaiwat sees the potential of synthetic hydrocarbon but noted that the development of e-fuel is four times as costly as fossil-derived fuels.

The price of e-fuel is expected to decrease and become more competitive with conventional oil prices after 2040, he said, citing an estimate from ENEOS experts.

A good point is that it can be used with oil-powered vehicles without the need to adapt their engines.

The push for alternative fuels is part of Bangchak’s business development plan. The company is making a test run at its factory to produce sustainable aviation fuel, a biofuel for aircraft, which is also aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions.