Azerbaijan’s Little Men Theatre performance dedicated to Victory Day

The Azerbaijan State National Young Spectators Theatre has staged a special performance of Little Men (Balaca Kisil?r) to commemorate Victory Day, honouring the memory and sacrifices of those who lost their lives defending the country.

The event was attended by mothers of fallen Azerbaijani servicemen and war veterans, making the occasion particularly meaningful.

Before the performance, Honoured Artist Nicat Kazimov and playwright and poet Ilgar Fahmi addressed the audience, highlighting the historical significance of Victory Day and the sense of national pride associated with Azerbaijan’s victory.

They also spoke about the importance of preserving the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s freedom and future.

The audience subsequently observed a minute of silence in tribute to the fallen servicemen who gave their lives in defence of Azerbaijan.

Little Men is a patriotic theatrical production featuring emotionally powerful scenes and themes of courage, sacrifice and devotion to the homeland. The play is based on the work of the same name by Azerbaijani poet and playwright Ilgar Fahmi.

The production was directed and staged by Honoured Artist Nicat Kazimov, bringing Fahmi’s literary work to the theatre stage.

The performance formed part of the cultural commemorations marking Victory Day, using theatre as a means of remembering the country’s wartime experiences and honouring the people whose sacrifices remain an important part of Azerbaijan’s national memory.

Stronger maritime connectivity supports growing Tanzania-India trade

Trade and economic relations between Tanzania and India con¬tinue to deepen, supported by historical ties, shared cultural values, longstanding commercial exchanges, growing investment and expanding opportunities for businesses in both countries.

Bilateral trade reached US$9.02 billion in 2025/26, according to Indian Government trade statistics, underscoring the growing impor¬tance of the economic relationship between the two countries.

The relationship extends well beyond merchandise trade, and today spans investment, manufac¬turing, agriculture, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, transport, energy and other sectors. The relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partner¬ship in 2023, reflecting the breadth of cooperation between the two countries.

While Tanzania’s exports to India include gold, cashew nuts, pulses, timber, spices, ores and gemstones, India’s exports to Tanzania include petroleum products, pharmaceu-ticals and chemicals, motor vehi¬cles, electrical goods, iron and steel products, sugar and machinery.

For Tanzania, India is a major market for agricultural, mineral and other exports, whereas Indi¬an products cater to Tanzanian consumer and industrial require¬ments. Besides, Indian companies are active in several sectors of the Tanzanian economy, adding to the growing commercial relationship.

The continued expansion of bilateral trade also underscores the importance of transport and logistics networks that can efficiently accommodate growing cargo volumes. This requires not only reliable maritime services, but also efficient ports and strong connections between maritime gateways and inland transport networks.

Government commitment to strengthening transport connectivity

The Government of Tanzania continues to expand and modernise transport infrastructure to support growing trade and facilitate the efficient movement of goods. At Dar es Salaam Port, a major seaport in Tanzania, ongoing improvements in infrastructure, cargo-handling capacity and operational systems are complemented by stronger inland transport connections.

Hinterland connectivity is also being strengthened through the development and improvement of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) and TAZARA network, which connect Dar es Salaam Port with domestic and regional markets.

‘Strong and reliable maritime connectivity is essential to Tanzania’s ambition to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen its position as a regional transport and logistics hub. The growing trade between Tanzania and India underscores the importance of efficient and competitive maritime links between our two countries.

Our ambition extends beyond Tanzania’s own trade. We are strengthening Dar es Salaam Port as a competitive gateway to East and Central Africa, supported by efficient port operations and seamless rail and road connectivity to regional markets.

We therefore, welcome stronger maritime links with India to facilitate trade and investment, strengthen regional connectivity and build a long-term strategic trade partnership between Tanzania, India and the wider region.’

The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is central to this effort, overseeing the development of the country’s maritime sector.

As the Director General of TPA, Mr. Plasduce Mkeli Mbossa said:

‘The growth in trade between Tanzania and India highlights the importance of continued investment in modern port infrastructure. Dar es Salaam Port is committed to providing reliable services, improving operational efficiency and strengthening connectivity with regional markets. As Tanzania’s principal maritime gateway, the port plays an important role in facilitating both bilateral trade and transit cargo for neighbouring countries. We welcome deeper cooperation with Indian businesses and maritime stakeholders to build resilient supply chains and support the long-term growth of trade between our two countries.’

H.E. Bishwadip Dey, High Commissioner of India to Tanzania, explains:

‘India and Tanzania share a deep and enduring relationship founded on historical ties, mutual trust and strong people-to-people connections. The elevation of our relationship to a Strategic Partnership reflects our shared ambition to translate these longstanding bonds into greater trade, investment and economic cooperation.

With bilateral trade now exceeding US$9 billion, the economic relationship has entered an exciting phase. Our focus must be on creating the connectivity, partnerships and enabling infrastructure that allow businesses in both countries to access new markets and opportunities.

Maritime connectivity is particularly important in this journey. Stronger links between Indian ports and Dar es Salaam can facilitate Tanzania’s growing trade with India while also connecting Indian businesses with the wider East and Central African region.

We see considerable potential for the private sector on both sides to build upon this momentum across manufacturing, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, logistics, energy and other emerging sectors. India remains committed to working closely with Tanzania to further deepen this partnership and create sustainable economic opportunities for our two countries and our people.’

Trade connectivity

Since the bulk of cargo between the two markets is transported by sea, reliable maritime connectivity is vital to supporting this growing trade.

Shipping services between India’s west coast and Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania have expanded accordingly. Two years ago, Container Terminal 2 had only one India-Tanzania service. This has now increased to four direct services, all connecting the Adani Mundra port in India with Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania.

These additional services support growing trade by providing greater shipping capacity and more options for moving cargo between the two markets. For importers and exporters, reliable and regular services are crucial to designing agile supply chains.

At the Tanzanian end of this corridor, Tanzania East Africa Gateway Terminal Limited (TEAGTL) operates Container Terminal 2 at Dar es Salaam Port, where it has been investing in infrastructure, equipment, technology and people as part of wider efforts to enhance the port’s operational capacity and efficiency.

TEAGTL is thus supporting Tanzania’s ambition to position Dar es Salaam as a leading East African gateway, strengthening trade connectivity across the Indian Ocean and serving the growing economies of East and Central Africa.

Investing in operational capability

TEAGTL has strengthened terminal productivity and service reliability by building local skills, transferring knowledge and developing its workforce. In 2025, the terminal handled close to one million TEUs, contributing to an increase of more than 21 percent in Dar es Salaam Port’s volumes, over the past 2 years.

‘The Indian Ocean connects some of the world’s most dynamic markets, with significant potential to deepen trade between India, Tanzania and the wider African continent.

We are committed to supporting the Government of Tanzania’s vision to establish Dar es Salaam as a competitive and reliable gateway for East Africa, enabling Tanzania and its neighbouring countries to participate more fully in global trade. Adani Mundra Port’s scale, capacity and integrated logistics capabilities complement Dar es Salaam’s strategic location and regional reach. Together, these gateways can strengthen the India-East Africa trade corridor, expand opportunities for businesses on both sides, and support long-term economic growth.’

A wider gateway to regional trade

The importance of Dar es Salaam’s container infrastructure extends beyond bilateral trade with India. Dar es Salaam Port serves not only Tanzania but also neighboring landlocked countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia and Malawi.

Continued improvement of port capacity, railway connectivity and cargo evacuation systems will therefore be important in supporting the growth of both Tanzania’s international trade and regional transit traffic.

New joint venture looking to revive Robinhood

The SET-listed tech company SKY ICT and the shipping conglomerate Thoresen Thai Agencies (TTA) are joining forces to secure the intellectual property of the homegrown food delivery app Robinhood in a 100-million-baht deal.

The unexpected joint venture comes at a time when the platform’s multi-billion-baht transition to a consortium led by the 100-year-old trading firm Yip In Tsoi has reached an abrupt standstill.

The deal includes the platform’s software and brand logo, a source close to the deal told the Bangkok Post.

SKY ICT and Thoresen will each hold a 45% stake in the entity, while Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) will hold the remaining 10%.

The SCB board has already approved the deal, which is expected to be signed by the end of November, with operations under the new group beginning in December, the source added.

Purple Ventures, the SCB subsidiary that operates Robinhood, was sold to a group of investors led by Yip In Tsoi Group in September 2024 for 2 billion baht.

The deal comprised an upfront payment of 400 million baht and performance-based payments of up to 1.6 billion baht.

However, Yip In Tsoi in recent months has refrained from actively marketing the platform due to concerns over sustaining its heavy capital burn, according to the source.

The new consortium led by SKY ICT and Thoresen will acquire the core IP and platform software directly from SCB, while keeping the operational platform active without interruption.

Deal differences

Yip In Tsoi initially entered into an agreement to acquire and operate the entire Robinhood delivery platform under the Robinhood brand.

The agreement stipulated that if the platform turned a profit, earnings would be shared with SCB. If its losses reached a critical threshold, the business could be returned to SCB.

Yip In Tsoi’s cumulative spending – including acquisition costs and ongoing platform operating losses – has exceeded 500 million baht.

Due to sustained financial losses, Yip In Tsoi will return all Robinhood operations to SCB.

‘The new consortium projects initial operational losses and has planned a financial runway capable of sustaining losses of up to 1 billion baht during the platform’s initial relaunch phase,’ the source added.

Despite previous operational challenges, Robinhood has maintained continuous delivery operations.

The management of the new consortium has confirmed that it will retain all 82 existing employees to preserve stability, the source added.

The new owners aim to reposition Robinhood as a home-grown Thai ‘super app’ capable of competing directly against multinational delivery giants.

Market competition

To revitalise platform activity, Robinhood is preparing to launch a competitive pricing strategy to address a key concern among merchants in Thailand’s delivery sector.

Foreign-owned delivery platforms currently levy gross profit (GP) fees of approximately 30%, while Robinhood will cap its GP fee at between 5% and 10.5%.

Under the platform’s merchant contracts, vendors accepting the GP rate must guarantee storefront price parity, ensuring online consumers pay the same menu prices as walk-in diners.

While Robinhood has 100,000 registered merchants on its system, the number of active vendors has declined to the tens of thousands.

The consortium plans an immediate ‘quick-win’ campaign following the official announcement to rebuild merchant confidence and restore active listings, the source said.

Break-even goal

The source said the platform is targeting financial break-even within three years.

The consortium has allocated an operational budget of 300 million baht for its first year, to be spent directly on consumer promotional discounts and driver incentives.

The platform is expanding Robinhood Express, its dedicated messenger and document delivery service, to broaden its revenue channels.

Management has also retained the Robinhood brand name.

The source added that the delivery service would bring direct added value to SKY Group’s business roadmap in the near future, including through taxi drones.

SKY Group is studying the technology and plans to launch the service at Phuket Airport in 2027-28, targeting existing demand from foreign tourists.

Losses narrowing

According to the business data provider Creden.co, Purple Ventures’ revenue fell by about 51% to 305 million baht in 2025, from 622 million a year earlier.

Nevertheless, its financial performance improved significantly, with net losses narrowing by 97% to 90 million baht.

Earlier, Yip In Tsoi aimed to make Robinhood break even and achieve profitability by 2026, with ambitions to pursue an initial public offering within 3-4 years.

Robinhood in September introduced a gross profit fee of just 10.5%, with no additional charges, for restaurants participating in its ‘Same Price as In-Store’ campaign. The aim was to attract merchants through lower fees and transparent pricing rather than relying heavily on consumer discounts.

The platform faces fierce competition from dominant players Line Man Wongnai and Grab, which benefit from larger customer bases, established delivery networks and stronger promotional capabilities.

Meanwhile, ShopeeFood has emerged as another challenger, taking advantage of Shopee’s e-commerce customer base and buy now, pay later services to attract price-sensitive consumers.

According to the Singapore-based research firm Momentum Works, Thailand’s food delivery market recorded a gross merchandise value (GMV) of US$5.1 billion in 2025, making it the second-largest market in Southeast Asia.

The market became increasingly concentrated in 2025 following Foodpanda’s withdrawal in May that year, leaving Grab and Line Man controlling a combined market share of close to 90%.

In 2025, Grab maintained its market leadership with a 47% share of GMV, followed by Line Man with 41% and ShopeeFood with 10%, according to Momentum Works.

Fifteen suspects charged over killing of six people in Tabora

Tabora. Fifteen suspects have been arraigned over the alleged killing of six people, including a wildlife officer, and the injuring of five others at Iswagala Wildlife Reserve in Sikonge District, Tabora Region.

Speaking to journalists at his office on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Tabora Regional Police Commander Twaha Lulengelule said the killings occurred after a group of people, allegedly from a pastoralist community, raided a patrol officers’ camp at the reserve in Itimile Village.

‘The group, believed to be members of a pastoralist community, attacked the officers’ camp with the intention of recovering their livestock, which had been seized after being found grazing inside the reserve. They used traditional weapons to carry out the killings,’ the commander said.

Mr Lulengelule said six people were killed in the attack, including a wildlife officer, a Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (Tawa) officer, a driver, a civilian and two Village Game Scouts (VGS).

Five others were injured when the camp was raided at around midnight.

He said the incident followed an operation to seize livestock found grazing inside the reserve.

The group allegedly attacked the camp at night in an attempt to recover the impounded animals.

The operation involved Tawa officers, personnel from the ADAP organisation, members of the Ipole Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Village Game Scouts and employees of Sikonge District Council.

‘After entering the reserve, the group began attacking the officers using traditional weapons in an attempt to recover their livestock,’ he said.

Those killed were identified as Daniel Mshama, 35, and Charles Msabaha, 36, both village game scouts; Gift Eliaika, 34, a Tawa officer; Praygod Lyalo, 38, a wildlife officer; James Maganga, 35, a resident of Ipole; and a driver, Mathew Damas, 35.

The injured were identified as Endru Charles, 35; Gerald Malongo, 34; Wilgence Eljohn, 33; and Vita Mengo, 26, all village game scouts; and a Tawa officer, Joseph Mwaipola, 43.

The Tabora Regional Police Force urged members of the public not to take the law into their own hands and to respect laws, regulations and procedures, particularly those governing protected areas.

Commenting on the incident, a Tabora resident, Ms Hawa Juma, said the killings should serve as a lesson to all parties that no one is above the law.

‘Often, when conservation officers are injured, we witness swift arrests and strong action. However, when pastoralists are harmed, the situation is usually met with silence,’ she said.

Another resident, Mr Mahamudi Majidi, said that if the suspects were found guilty, the court should impose severe penalties to discourage others from taking the law into their own hands and harming fellow citizens.

‘If they were sentenced to death by hanging, it would be appropriate because you cannot simply fire a gun or use your muzzleloader to kill another person as if they were an animal. This is unacceptable. Human life is not something to be treated as an experiment,’ he said.

Georgia deports 91 foreign nationals, including Azerbaijani citizens

Georgia has deported 91 foreign nationals, including citizens of Azerbaijan, as part of immigration enforcement operations conducted in recent days, the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) announced.

According to the ministry, the deportations were carried out by officers of the Migration Department in coordination with other relevant units of the Interior Ministry.

The individuals expelled from Georgia included citizens of Trkiye, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Pakistan, Jordan, Armenia, Thailand, Tajikistan, Egypt, India, the Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, the Philippines, China and Iraq.

The ministry did not specify how many Azerbaijani citizens were among those deported or provide a breakdown of deportations by nationality.

Under Georgian legislation, individuals subject to deportation are prohibited from re-entering the country.

The Interior Ministry also reported that more than 3,700 foreign nationals have been deported from Georgia since the beginning of 2026, reflecting the scale of immigration enforcement activities conducted by the Migration Department this year.

The latest operations form part of the department’s ongoing efforts to enforce the country’s migration regulations.

New duties approved on goods imported via e-commerce

The ?cabinet has approved import duties of up to 30% for goods purchased via e-commerce platforms, Finance Minister Ekniti ?Nitithanprapas said ?on Tuesday.

The taxes are expected to take effect next year, said Phantong Loykulnanta, director-general of the Customs Department.

He said the revised collection regime would apply to goods entering Thailand through express delivery services and international post.

Duties on purchases made through e-commerce platforms would follow the applicable customs tariff classifications, with rates not exceeding 30%.

The new collection regime does not violate the terms of a free-trade agreement between Asean and China, he said.

The changes would effectively revoke a Customs Department notification that reduced or exempted import tariffs on goods entering Thailand in parcel form via online platforms. The applicable tariff rates would instead revert to the standard rates for each category.

For example, import tariffs on plastic products would increase from 20% to 30%; headphones and microphones from 10% to 30%; women’s handbags from 20% to 30%; fitness equipment from 10% to 30%; clothing would remain at 30%; jewellery from zero to 30%; and sunglasses from 5% to 30%, among other products.

Price competition

Mr Ekniti said the rapid growth in e-commerce had made foreign goods more accessible to Thai consumers and intensified price competition.

As a result, he said, it was harder for Thai businesses to compete, and the government wanted to ensure that all sellers could compete on a level playing field.

It is ?expected that the tax collection would boost Customs Department revenue by 6.3 billion baht in fiscal 2027, more than doubling from the 4.8 billion collected in fiscal 2026 that ended on Sept 30, Mr Phantong

The measure is aimed at supporting Thai small- ?and medium-sized ?businesses, he added.

The government on Jan 1 this year began collecting 7% value-added tax and customs duties on previously exempt imports valued at less than 1,500 baht to help Thai SMEs.

Some other products that were ?exempt from customs duty would be covered by the new taxes, Mr Phantong said.

Level playing field

Thanawat Malabuppha, honorary president of the Thailand E-Commerce Association, told the Bangkok Post that Thailand’s proposed import tariff rates are expected to be comparable to Indonesia’s and could help level the playing field for domestic businesses.

Cross-border products are currently estimated to account for 10-20% of total sales value on Thailand’s e-commerce platforms.

‘Import duties and taxes should be incorporated directly into product prices on e-commerce platforms to simplify tax collection and avoid placing the responsibility for collecting duties and taxes on logistics providers,’ he said.

The Customs Department said it works directly with major e-commerce platforms and express/postal services to automatically collect and manage taxes at checkout or upon arrival.

Mwinyi cautions against overreliance on AI in public service

Unguja. Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has urged African governments to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to improve public administration without surrendering human judgement, wisdom or accountability to technology.

Dr Mwinyi made the remarks on Monday, November 9, 2026, in a speech read on his behalf by First Vice-President Othman Masoud Othman, during the opening of the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Africa Public Service Human Resource Managers Network (APS-HRMNET) in Unguja.

The four-day conference brought together 1,140 participants from 21 African countries to discuss the theme: ‘Enabling Strategic Human Resource Transformation in Public Service Using Artificial Intelligence.’

‘We cannot have an efficient government without having efficient employees. Nor can we have institutions providing quality services without having people with professionalism, discipline, integrity, and commitment to serving citizens,’ said Dr Mwinyi.

He said that while AI was rapidly transforming administrative operations, data analysis, document preparation and records management, it should remain an operational tool rather than a substitute for human judgement.

‘Artificial Intelligence should serve as a tool to help public servants work more efficiently and not replace the thought, wisdom, professionalism, and accountability of leaders and employees in decision-making,’ he stressed.

Dr Mwinyi warned that the integration of AI into public administration must comply with existing legal frameworks, protect citizens’ rights and uphold cybersecurity and transparency standards.

He urged human resource managers across the continent to move beyond routine administrative duties, including recruitment, payroll processing and leave management, and become strategic partners in institutional planning and skills forecasting.

Highlighting Africa’s demographic advantage, the Zanzibar leader said the continent had a large pool of technology-savvy young people whose innovative potential should be harnessed to advance the development targets of Agenda 2063.

‘The main objective of digital transformation is not merely having abundant technology, but building governments that operate more efficiently and deliver quality services promptly,’ added Dr Mwinyi, urging delegates to develop practical and measurable regional resolutions.

Echoing the President’s position, Minister of State in the President’s Office (Public Service Management and Good Governance) in the Union government, Mr Ridhiwani Kikwete, said AI could simplify service delivery but should not override statutory regulations or human oversight.

‘While machines can assist, final decisions and accountability remain with human beings,’ said Mr Kikwete.

Similarly, African Association for Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) President John Nakabago said technology could not replicate human empathy and institutional ethics.

‘AI is changing institutional performance, but it cannot and will never replace human beings because it lacks emotions,’ said Dr Nakabago, urging human resource executives to maintain a people-centred approach that prioritises data protection and public accountability.

US monthly inflation slows to 0.4% in October

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers in the United States increased by 0.4% in October on a monthly basis, decelerating from a 0.6% rise in September, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said in a report on Tuesday.

The release did not contain the standard 12-month inflation rate for the reported month, as last year’s federal government shutdown prevented the BLS from collecting price data during October 2025. The index for all items less food and energy advanced by 0.3% from the previous month. The energy index rose by 0.7%, while the food index added 0.5% month-on-month.

The shelter index accounted for over 30% of the overall advance, rising by 0.3% compared to the prior month. Prices for recreation, medical care, and motor vehicle insurance also increased, while the indexes for used cars and trucks and communication decreased in October.

Lissu family hands funeral arrangements to Chadema

Ikungi. Chadema has taken charge of coordinating the burial arrangements for Alute Mughwai Lissu, the elder brother of the party’s national chairman, Mr Tundu Lissu.

Alute died Sunday night, November 1, 2026. However, his family postponed the funeral arrangements to await the verdict in Tundu Lissu’s court case, which concluded on November 6, 2026, with a four-year prison sentence.

The deceased’s body arrived overnight at his family home in Mahambe Village, Ikungi District, Singida Region, from his residence in Arusha.

The Lissu family formally handed over the management of the funeral to Chadema during a night meeting, appointing the party’s Deputy Secretary-General (Mainland), Mr Aman Golugwa, as the overall coordinator.

Religious services, however, remain under the responsibility of clergy members.

Accepting the responsibility, Mr Golugwa, who kept vigil at the venue until morning, assured mourners that the party would ensure a smooth and dignified send-off.

“We have accepted this responsibility with great honour and will ensure our elder receives a proper send-off,” said Mr Golugwa.

“We have established a committee to coordinate every activity, and arriving leaders will be given equal opportunity without partiality,’ he added.

Furthermore, he said Chadema leaders from all zones had confirmed their attendance, while national executives would deliver official party condolences.

Chadema Central Zone Secretary Ashura Masoud announced the formation of committees responsible for security, reception and catering.

The teams, comprising mainly party youth and local leaders, will work with residents and the Police Force to manage the proceedings.

By Tuesday morning, November 10, 2026, preparations were complete, including the slaughter of 12 cattle to provide meals for mourners.

The funeral has triggered a surge in commercial activity across Ikungi and Mahambe.

Motorcycle taxi (bodaboda) fares from Sheli station in Ikungi to Mahambe increased from Sh5,000 to Sh8,000, while the price of a standard meal rose from Sh3,000 to Sh5,000 per plate.

Local lodges were reportedly fully booked, forcing visitors to seek accommodation in neighbouring towns.

Although official government representation had yet to be confirmed, uniformed police officers inspected entry and exit routes and directed vehicle parking arrangements.

A family coordinator said the Court Registrar, alongside judges and advocates, was expected to attend the ceremony, and legal practitioners were allocated a specific slot to carry the casket to the service area.

Grad who gave three-finger salute cleared of lese-majeste

The Khon Kaen Provincial Court has dismissed a royal defamation charge filed against an activist who delivered a three-finger salute during a graduation ceremony at Khon Kaen University.

The incident took place after law graduate Songpol ‘Yajai’ Sonthirak received his degree from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at a ceremony on Dec 20, 2022, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

The Court ruled on Tuesday that although Mr Songpol’s gesture could be seen as anti-monarchy and disrespectful, Princess Sirindhorn is not covered by the royal defamation law.

Section 112 of the Criminal Code covers only the King, the Queen, the heir to the throne and the regent.

The court said that while Princess Sirindhorn was acting on behalf of the King at the ceremony, the King’s representative is not a person protected under Section 112, which requires a strict literal interpretation.

The three-finger salute, from the Hunger Games movies, was adopted by the youth-led protest movement that staged a number of large demonstrations in Thailand between 2020 and 2023.

More than 280 people, including 20 under age 18, have been charged under Section 112 for various acts committed during the protests. Many cases are still pending, while 33 people remain in detention awaiting trial or the outcome of appeals.

The complaint against Mr Songpol was filed by Kamon Kitkasiwat, the leader of a royalist group in Khon Kaen, who was an MP candidate for the royalist Thai Pakdee Party at the time.

Mr Songpol also faced two computer crime charges for giving interviews to two online news outlets about the graduation ceremony incident. Those charges were also dismissed.