Exiled Thai leader is father of the bride ahead of election

Thailand's exiled former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, won't know until Sunday whether people in his homeland are still fans of his politics, but he was happy as he hosted a wedding reception in Hong Kong for his youngest daughter.

Though ostensibly a family affair with a raft of VIP guests, the ceremony's timing Friday seemed to carry an implicit message to Thaksin's countrymen: Don't forget me and my political allies at Sunday's general election.

Thai Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, who made an abortive attempt last month to be a prime ministerial candidate for a political party allied to Thaksin, was a special guest. Although Thaksin was ousted by a 2006 military coup, the Pheu Thai Party of his loyalists is expected to capture the most seats in Sunday's polls.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, right, walks with Princess Ubolratana of Thailand as they arrive the wedding of his youngest daughter Paetongtarn "Ing" Shinawatra at a hotel in Hong Kong, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)

From left, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, his daughter Pintongtha "Aim" and her hnusband Nattapong "Pong" Kunakornwong wait for their guests at a hotel in Hong Kong, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, right, walks with Princess Ubolratana of Thailand, and followed by his daughter Pintongtha "Aim", left, and her husband Nattapong "Pong" Kunakornwong as they arrive at the wedding of Thaksin's youngest daughter Paetongtarn "Ing" Shinawatra at a hotel in Hong Kong, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra welcomes his guests for the wedding of his youngest daughter Paetongtarn "Ing" Shinawatra at a hotel in Hong Kong, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, center, chats with guests for his daughter's wedding at a hotel in Hong Kong, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra welcomes guests for the wedding of his youngest daughter Paetongtarn "Ing" Shinawatra at a hotel in Hong Kong, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at the wedding of her niece Paetongtarn "Ing" Shinawatra at a hotel in Hong Kong, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)

Daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Pintongtha "Aim", right, and her husband Nattapong "Pong" Kunakornwong welcome guests at the wedding of Thaksin's youngest daughter Paetongtarn "Ing" Shinawatra at a hotel in Hong Kong, Friday, March 22, 2019. (AP PhotoKin Cheung)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has for now denied the A's request to trademark the names “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics.”

The club, which intends to move to Nevada in 2028, has three months from when the refusals were issued Dec. 29 to ask for an extension to file a new application within a six-month period.

The A's were told the nickname “Athletics” was too generic and could be confused with other activities even if associated with Las Vegas.

That, however, has been the club's nickname since the Philadelphia Athletics began playing in 1901. The A's kept the nickname when they moved to Kansas City in 1955 and Oakland in 1968.

The Patent and Trademark Office denied the NHL's Utah team to use the nickname “Yetis” on Jan. 9 because of potential confusion with companies such as Yeti Coolers. Utah, which moved from the Phoenix area in 2024, now uses the nickname “Mammoth.”

The A's relocated to West Sacramento, California, last year to play the first of three planned seasons in the city's Triple-A ballpark. The team is going solely by “Athletics” while playing in the Northern California city.

A $2 billion, 33,000-capacity stadium on the Las Vegas Strip is under construction. Club officials told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority on Dec. 4 that the ballpark is on schedule to open in time for the 2028 season.

Nevada and Clark County have approved up to $380 million in public funds for the ballpark, and the A’s have said they will cover the remaining expenses. Owner John Fisher has been seeking investors to assist in the funding.

In preparing for the move to Las Vegas, the A's have signed some notable contracts. The most recent was an $86 million, seven-year deal for left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, the richest in team history. Soderstrom signed his contract Dec. 30 at the A's Experience Center in Las Vegas.

The A's acquired second baseman Jeff McNeil from the New York Mets on Dec. 22.

Going back to last offseason, the A's also reached agreements on a $60 million, five-year contract with designated hitter/outfielder Brent Rooker and a $65.5 million, seven-year deal with outfielder Lawrence Butler. Manager Mark Kotsay signed an extension that takes him through 2028 with a club option for 2029.

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FILE - Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom sprints towards first after hitting an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sept. 23, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall, File)