BANGKOK: Thailand on Thursday (Oct 22) rolled back an emergency decree aimed at ending months of protests against the government and monarchy that had only inflamed anger and brought tens of thousands of people onto Bangkok streets.
A government statement published in the official Royal Gazette said that as of 12pm (1pm Singapore time) it would mean an end to measures that include bans on political gatherings of five or more people and publishing news that could affect security.
"The current violent situation that led to the announcement of the severe situation has eased and ended to a situation in which government officials and state agencies can enforce the regular laws," the statement said.
The only specific incident given for the ban was one in which Queen Suthida's convoy was jeered by protesters, but it came after protests that are the biggest challenge in years to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Protesters who have given Prayut a three-day deadline to quit said that withdrawing the measures was not enough.
"He's still seeking to stay in power while ignoring all the people's demands. The emergency decree shouldn't have been issued in the first place," Sirawith "Ja New" Seritiwat, one of the leaders, said:
Dozens of protesters – including many of the most high profile protest leaders – were arrested during the crackdown.
Among them was Patsaravalee "Mind" Tanakitvibulpon, who was released on Thursday after being arrested a day earlier.
Patsaravalee, 25, told reporters after being freed that the court had deemed the charges were not serious and that she still needed to attend classes and exams, so bail was granted without having to submit any guarantees.
Protesters say Prayut rigged an election last year to keep hold of power he seized in a 2014 coup. He says the election was fair. Protesters accuse the monarchy of enabling years of military domination and want to curb the king's powers.
The palace has a policy of making no comment to media.
BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand's government on Thursday (Oct 22) ordered the removal of emergency measures imposed a week earlier to try to end months of protests against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the monarchy, a statement said.
The measures, which had prompted even bigger demonstrations, were lifted from 12pm (1pm Singapore time).
"The current violent situation that led to the announcement of the severe situation has eased and ended to a situation in which government officials and state agencies can enforce the regular laws," the statement published in the official Royal Gazette said.
The only specific incident given for the ban was one in which Queen Suthida’s convoy was jeered by protesters, but it came after protests that are the biggest challenge in years to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
Protesters who have given Prayuth a three day deadline to quit said that withdrawing the measures was not enough.
“He’s still seeking to stay in power while ignoring all the people’s demands. The emergency decree shouldn’t have been issued in the first place,” Sirawith “Ja New” Seritiwat, one of the leaders, said: Dozens of protesters – including many of the most high profile protest leaders – were arrested during the crackdown.
Among them was Patsaravalee “Mind” Tanakitvibulpon, who was released on Thursday after being arrested a day earlier.
Patsaravalee, 25, told reporters after being freed that the court had deemed the charges were not serious and that she still needed to attend classes and exams, so bail was granted without having to submit any guarantees.
Protesters say Prayuth rigged an election last year to keep hold of power he seized in a 2014 coup. He says the election was fair.
Protesters accuse the monarchy of enabling years of military domination and want to curb the king’s powers. The palace has a policy of making no comment to media.
TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japan will ease entry restrictions on business travellers for stays of up to three days in a bid to revive economic activity after visits from abroad ground to a halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Thursday (Oct 22).
The government is planning to relax curbs for people from 30 countries and regions with which Japan has strong business ties including China, South Korea and Taiwan, the Yomiuri said, citing unidentified government sources.
The plan will come into effect next month, the newspaper said.
Japan has agreed with 10 countries and regions to allow entry to long-term visa holders and another three for shorter-term stays of around one month.
Those are all reciprocal arrangements, but the latest plan involves only entrants to Japan, the Yomiuri said.
Under the plan, business travellers will be required to take a coronavirus test, avoid public transportation and submit an itinerary of their activities during their stay, the Yomiuri said.
They will not be required to quarantine in their hotels, the newspaper said.
PHILADELPHIA: Former president Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail on Wednesday (Oct 21), launching a blistering attack on Donald Trump with less than two weeks to go before the Republican president's Election Day face-off with Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Speaking at a drive-in rally in Philadelphia on behalf of Biden, his former vice-president, and Democratic running mate Kamala Harris, Obama offered his fiercest critique yet of his successor. He took aim at Trump's divisive rhetoric, his track record in the Oval Office and his habit of re-tweeting conspiracy theories.
"With Joe and Kamala at the helm, you’re not going to have to think about the crazy things they said every day," Obama said. "And that’s worth a lot. You’re not going to have to argue about them every day. It just won’t be so exhausting.”
Obama, who governed for two terms and remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, blasted Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the president himself had fallen victim to the virus.
"Donald Trump isn't suddenly going to protect all of us," he said. "He can't even take the basic steps to protect himself.
"This is not a reality show. This is reality," Obama said in a nod to Trump's past as a reality TV host. "And the rest of us have had to live with the consequences of him proving himself incapable of taking the job seriously.”
Former U.S. President Barack Obama speaks as he campaigns on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee and his former Vice President Joe Biden in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Obama's appearance filled a gap left by Biden, who has stayed at home in Delaware since Monday for meetings and preparation ahead of his Thursday debate with Trump in Nashville, Tennessee.
The drive-in rally was held in the parking lot of Citizens Bank Park, the baseball stadium in Philadelphia, the city's skyline visible in the distance. With nearly 280 vehicles spread throughout the lot, it was the largest event of its kind that the Biden campaign has staged during the pandemic.
EDGE
With a Reuters/Ipsos poll showing Biden with just a 4 percentage point edge in Pennsylvania, Obama warned Democrats against complacency.
"We've got to turn out like never before," he said. "We cannot leave any doubt in this election."
Americans are voting early at a record pace this year, with more than 42 million ballots cast both via mail and in person ahead of Nov 3 Election Day on concerns about the coronavirus and to make sure their votes are counted.
The early vote so far represents about 30 per cent of the total ballots cast in 2016, according to the University of Florida's US Elections Project.
Four years ago, Obama participated in a rally in Philadelphia with then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton the day before the election, only to see Trump narrowly take the state. The Biden campaign considers winning there a top priority.
In remarks at an evening rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, Trump briefly mentioned Obama, noting that he had supported Clinton in her losing effort. "It was nobody who campaigned harder for Crooked Hillary than Obama, right?"
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, U.S., October 21, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner
North Carolina is another battleground state where opinion polls show a tight race. Harris was also in the state on Wednesday to mobilise voters in Asheville and Charlotte.
Obama won North Carolina in 2008, but lost it in his 2012 campaign. Trump won it in 2016.
Trump argued that coronavirus-related restrictions were harming the state's economy and complained that Democrats and the news media were overly pre-occupied with the pandemic.
"All you hear is COVID, COVID," the president said. "That's all they put on because they want to scare the hell out of everyone."
Even though Wednesday marked Obama's 2020 campaign debut, his support has been essential for Biden. He has appeared at joint fundraisers with Biden and Harris, and his network of well-connected former aides has been instrumental in helping the campaign outpace Trump in bringing in donations.
Biden's team said Obama would campaign in Miami on Saturday for the Democratic ticket.
Former president Barack Obama speaks to volunteers outside of a Democratic Voter Activation Center as he campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden on Oct 21, 2020, in Philadelphia. (Photo: AP/ Matt Slocum)
The last days of campaigning are taking place during a surge in cases of COVID-19 and hospitalisations in battleground states, including North Carolina and Pennsylvania but also Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan.
Pennsylvania has averaged 1,500 new cases a day over the past week, a level it has not seen since April, according to a Reuters analysis. North Carolina is averaging 2,000 new cases a day over the past week, its highest level yet. The virus has killed more than 221,000 people in the United States.
Polling shows a majority of voters are disappointed in the way Trump has handled the pandemic, which he has repeatedly said would disappear on its own.
Biden and Trump are scheduled to meet in their second and final debate on Thursday night, giving the Republican an opportunity to change the trajectory of a race that Biden is leading in national opinion polls.
PHILADELPHIA (REUTERS, AFP) - Former President Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail on Wednesday (Oct 21), launching a blistering attack on Donald Trump with less than two weeks to go before the Republican president’s Election Day face-off with Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Speaking at a drive-in rally in Philadelphia on behalf of Biden, his former vice-president, Obama offered his fiercest critique yet of his successor, taking aim at Trump’s divisive rhetoric and his track record in the Oval Office.
“He hasn’t shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself,” Obama said of Trump.
Obama, who governed for two terms and remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, blasted Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the president himself had fallen victim to the virus.
“Donald Trump isn’t suddenly going to protect all of us,” he said. “He can’t even take the basic steps to protect himself.”
He said Trump had proved himself “incapable of taking the job seriously”. “This is not a reality show. This is reality,” Obama said.
“And the rest of us have had to live with the consequences of him proving himself incapable of taking the job seriously.”
Urging voters not to be complacent, he warned of the errors in opinion surveys before Trump’s shock 2016 victory.
“We can’t be complacent. I don’t care about the polls,” Obama said. “There were a whole bunch of polls last time. Didn’t work out. Because a whole bunch of folks stayed at home. And got lazy and complacent. Not this time. Not this election.”
The drive-in rally was held in the parking lot of Citizens Bank Park, the baseball stadium in Philadelphia, with the city’s skyline visible in the distance.
It was the largest event of its kind that the Biden campaign has staged amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The almost 280 vehicles were spread throughout the lot, with big screens placed to allow attendees to see the former president.
With a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showing Biden with just a 4-percentage-point edge in Pennsylvania, Obama warned Democrats against complacency.
“We’ve got to turn out like never before,” he said. “We cannot leave any doubt in this election.”
Four years ago, Obama participated in a rally in Philadelphia with then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton the day before the election, only to see Trump narrowly take the state. The Biden campaign considers winning there a top priority.
Earlier in the day, Obama, one of the Democratic Party's biggest stars and a frequent target of Trump's attacks, joined a roundtable discussion with Philadelphia Black male politicians and community and religious leaders.
"It's good to see you," Obama said, as he entered to applause from the 15 guests.
“I’ve never lost hope over these last four years,” Obama said. “I’ve been mad. I’ve been frustrated, but I haven’t lost hope, and the reason is because I never expected progress to move directly in a straight line.”
Obama followed up the roundtable with a stop at a local canvassing site.
Americans are voting early at a record pace this year, with more than 41 million ballots cast both via mail and in person ahead of Election Day on Nov 3, on concerns about the coronavirus and to make sure their votes are counted.
Trump will head to North Carolina, another battleground state where opinion polls show a tight race, for a rally on Wednesday evening.
Pennsylvania has averaged 1,500 new cases a day over the past week, a level it has not seen since April, according to a Reuters analysis. North Carolina is averaging 2,000 new cases a day over the past week, its highest level ever.
Polling shows a majority of voters are disappointed in the way Trump has handled the pandemic, which he has repeatedly said would disappear on its own.
On a call organised by the Biden campaign and Texas Democrats on Wednesday, several Texas Republicans urged fellow conservatives to vote for Biden, citing the coronavirus crisis as well as Biden's character.
"This is not a decision I took lightly. I love the GOP, and I love most GOP officials. But I love my country more," said Jacob Monty, a Republican immigration lawyer who resigned from Trump's national Hispanic advisory council in 2016.
Pennsylvania in the spotlight
Biden and Trump are scheduled to meet in their second and final debate on Thursday night, giving the Republican an opportunity to change the trajectory of a race that Biden is leading in national polls.
Biden's campaign manager, Jen O'Malley Dillon, has warned staff and supporters she sees a far closer race in the 17 states the campaign considers battlegrounds than is suggested by the national polls showing he has a wide lead.
Biden believes he must win his birth state of Pennsylvania, which Democrats narrowly lost to Trump in 2016, and has visited it more than any other state during the campaign.
Trump has gained ground in Pennsylvania, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday, which showed the challenger leading by 49% to 45%, slightly narrower than a week earlier.
Supporters watch at a drive-in rally as former US President Barack Obama campaigns on behalf of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Philadelphia on Oct 21, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS
"If we win Pennsylvania, we win the whole thing," Trump said on Tuesday at a rally in Erie, in the state's northwestern corner.
The record early vote so far represents about 30% of the total ballots cast in 2016, according to the University of Florida's US Elections Project.
Opinion polls and voting returns indicate that many of those early voters typically do not participate in elections but are coming off the sidelines this year to back Biden - or vote out Trump.
Trump, who has resumed a crowded schedule of rallies since recovering from his recent bout with Covid-19, will appear on Wednesday night at an airport rally in Gastonia, North Carolina.
Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, is also in North Carolina to mobilise voters in Asheville and Charlotte.
PHILADELPHIA: Former President Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail on Wednesday (Oct 21), launching a blistering attack on Donald Trump with less than two weeks to go before the Republican president's Election Day face-off with Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Speaking at a drive-in rally in Philadelphia on behalf of Biden, his former vice president, Obama offered his most pointed critique yet of his successor.
"He hasn't shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself," Obama said of Trump.
Obama, who governed for two terms and remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, blasted Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the president himself had fallen victim to the virus.
"Donald Trump isn't suddenly going to protect all of us," he said. "He can't even take the basic steps to protect himself."
Obama's appearance filled a gap left by Biden, who has stayed at home in Delaware since Monday for meetings and preparation ahead of his Thursday debate with Trump in Nashville, Tennessee.
The drive-in rally was held in the parking lot of Citizens Bank Park, the baseball stadium in Philadelphia, with the city's skyline visible in the distance. It was the largest event of its kind that the Biden campaign has staged amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The almost 280 vehicles were spread throughout the lot, with big screens placed to allow attendees to see the former president.
With a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showing Biden with just a 4-percentage-point edge in Pennsylvania, Obama warned Democrats against complacency.
"We've got to turn out like never before," he said. "We cannot leave any doubt in this election."
Earlier in the day, Obama spoke to Black community leaders in Philadelphia.
Former president Barack Obama speaks speaks to volunteers outside of a Democratic Voter Activation Center as he campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden on Oct 21, 2020, in Philadelphia. (Photo: AP/ Matt Slocum)
"I've never lost hope over these last four years," Obama said. "I've been mad. I've been frustrated, but I haven't lost hope, and the reason is because I never expected progress to move directly in a straight line."
Americans are voting early at a record pace this year, with 42 million ballots cast both via mail and in person ahead of the Nov 3 election, on concerns about the coronavirus and to make sure their votes are counted.
The record early vote so far represents about 30 per cent of the total ballots cast in 2016, according to the University of Florida's US Elections Project.
After Obama spoke, Trump held a rally in North Carolina, another battleground state where opinion polls show a tight race.
Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, was also in North Carolina to mobilise voters in Asheville and Charlotte.
TOP ALLY
Even though Wednesday marked Obama's 2020 campaign debut, his support has been essential for Biden. He has appeared at joint fundraisers with Biden and Harris, and his network of well-connected former aides has been instrumental in helping the campaign outpace Trump in bringing in donations.
The Biden campaign is hopeful that Obama will commit to more events before the election.
The last days of campaigning are taking place amid a surge in new cases of COVID-19 and hospitalisations in battleground states, including North Carolina and Pennsylvania but also Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan.
Pennsylvania has averaged 1,500 new cases a day over the past week, a level it has not seen since April, according to a Reuters analysis. North Carolina is averaging 2,000 new cases a day over the past week, its highest level ever. The virus has claimed the lives of more than 221,000 Americans.
Polling shows a majority of voters are disappointed in the way Trump has handled the pandemic, which he has repeatedly said would disappear on its own.
Halloween decorations and campaign signs for Democratic US presidential nominee and former US Vice President Joe Biden hang on a front porch as a man wearing a face mask waits for a ride share in the Northampton County city of Easton, Pennsylvania, on Oct 1, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
On a call organised by the Biden campaign and Texas Democrats on Wednesday, several Texas Republicans urged fellow conservatives to vote for Biden, citing the coronavirus crisis as well as Biden's character.
“This is not a decision I took lightly. I love the GOP, and I love most GOP officials. But I love my country more," said Jacob Monty, a Republican immigration lawyer who resigned from Trump’s national Hispanic advisory council in 2016.
Biden and Trump are scheduled to meet in their second and final debate on Thursday night, giving the Republican an opportunity to change the trajectory of a race that Biden is leading in national polls.
Biden believes he must win his birth state of Pennsylvania and has visited it more than any other state during the campaign. Trump narrowly won the state over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Trump has gained ground there, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday, which showed the challenger leading by 49 per cent to 45 per cent, slightly narrower than a week earlier.
"If we win Pennsylvania, we win the whole thing," Trump said on Tuesday at a rally in Erie, in the state's northwestern corner.
PHILADELPHIA: Former President Barack Obama returned to the campaign trail on Wednesday (Oct 21), launching a blistering attack on Donald Trump with less than two weeks to go before the Republican president's Election Day face-off with Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Speaking at a drive-in rally in Philadelphia on behalf of Biden, his former vice president, Obama offered his most pointed critique yet of his successor.
"He hasn't shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody but himself," Obama said of Trump.
Obama, who governed for two terms and remains one of the most popular figures in the Democratic Party, blasted Trump for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, noting that the president himself had fallen victim to the virus.
"Donald Trump isn't suddenly going to protect all of us," he said. "He can't even take the basic steps to protect himself."
Obama's appearance filled a gap left by Biden, who has stayed at home in Delaware since Monday for meetings and preparation ahead of his Thursday debate with Trump in Nashville, Tennessee.
Earlier in the day, Obama spoke to Black community leaders in Philadelphia.
Former president Barack Obama speaks speaks to volunteers outside of a Democratic Voter Activation Center as he campaigns for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden on Oct 21, 2020, in Philadelphia. (Photo: AP/ Matt Slocum)
"I've never lost hope over these last four years," Obama said. "I've been mad. I've been frustrated, but I haven't lost hope, and the reason is because I never expected progress to move directly in a straight line."
Americans are voting early at a record pace this year, with 42 million ballots cast both via mail and in person ahead of the Nov 3 election, on concerns about the coronavirus and to make sure their votes are counted.
The record early vote so far represents about 30 per cent of the total ballots cast in 2016, according to the University of Florida's US Elections Project.
While Obama was speaking, Trump headed to North Carolina, another battleground state where opinion polls show a tight race, for a rally in Gastonia on Wednesday evening.
Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, was also in North Carolina to mobilize voters in Asheville and Charlotte.
VIRUS SURGE IN FINAL WEEKS OF CAMPAIGN
The last days of campaigning are taking place amid a surge in new cases of COVID-19 and hospitalisations in battleground states, including North Carolina and Pennsylvania but also Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan.
Pennsylvania has averaged 1,500 new cases a day over the past week, a level it has not seen since April, according to a Reuters analysis. North Carolina is averaging 2,000 new cases a day over the past week, its highest level ever. The virus has claimed the lives of more than 221,000 Americans.
Polling shows a majority of voters are disappointed in the way Trump has handled the pandemic, which he has repeatedly said would disappear on its own.
Halloween decorations and campaign signs for Democratic US presidential nominee and former US Vice President Joe Biden hang on a front porch as a man wearing a face mask waits for a ride share in the Northampton County city of Easton, Pennsylvania, on Oct 1, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
On a call organised by the Biden campaign and Texas Democrats on Wednesday, several Texas Republicans urged fellow conservatives to vote for Biden, citing the coronavirus crisis as well as Biden's character.
“This is not a decision I took lightly. I love the GOP, and I love most GOP officials. But I love my country more," said Jacob Monty, a Republican immigration lawyer who resigned from Trump’s national Hispanic advisory council in 2016.
Biden and Trump are scheduled to meet in their second and final debate on Thursday night, giving the Republican an opportunity to change the trajectory of a race that Biden is leading in national polls.
Biden believes he must win his birth state of Pennsylvania and has visited it more than any other state during the campaign. Trump narrowly won the state over Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Trump has gained ground there, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday, which showed the challenger leading by 49 per cent to 45 per cent, slightly narrower than a week earlier.
"If we win Pennsylvania, we win the whole thing," Trump said on Tuesday at a rally in Erie, in the state's northwestern corner.
