Navy ship sinks in storm, 31 sailors missing
(Photo: Royal Thai Navy)An air and sea search continued on Monday for 31 missing sailors from HTMS Sukhothai, which sank in a storm in the Gulf of Thailand late on Sunday night. HTMS Sukhothai, a Rattanakosin class corvette, sank during a storm off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan. They were widely reported to be missing sailors from HTMS Sukhothai. HTMS Sukhothai sank off Prachuap Khiri Khan about 11.30pm on Sunday, navy spokesman Adm Pokkrong Monthatpalin said. HTMS Sukhothai was built by Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, in Tacoma, Washington, USA, and commissioned on Feb 19, 1987.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 19, 2022 09:06 UTC
TikTok's Efforts to Distance Itself From Chinese Parent Stumble Over Talent
BloombergTikTok has accelerated efforts to move workers away from China in an attempt to distance itself from its Chinese parent, but the short-video app still counts on local talent to handle some key functions and continues to recruit there. Still, some engineers working on TikTok's algorithms remain based in China, people familiar with the matter said. The parent is advertising jobs in China to work on various TikTok features, such as private messaging, live-streaming and its marketplace functions. Most of TikTok's hiring is happening in the U.S., U.K., Singapore and other markets in Southeast Asia, a company spokesperson said. It is also developing e-commerce on the app, duplicating some functions and models from TikTok's Chinese sister app Douyin.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 19, 2022 01:12 UTC
At UN summit, new hope for deal to save nature
At UN summit, new hope for deal to save natureTop participants hope COP15 talks aimed at sealing a "peace pact for nature" will yield a major deal. MONTREAL - Top officials at high-stakes UN biodiversity negotiations said Saturday they were confident of securing a major deal to save the natural world from destruction. Observers had warned the COP15 talks aimed at sealing a "peace pact for nature" risked collapse due to disagreement over how much the rich world should pay to save ecosystems in developing countries. But the Chinese chair of the conference said Saturday he was "greatly confident" delegates would reach a deal and his Canadian counterpart said "tremendous" progress had been made. The European Union has committed seven billion euros ($7.4 billion) for the period until 2027, double its prior pledge.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 17, 2022 22:04 UTC
Second cruise ship arrives at Samui
2,800 passengers and crew greeted warmly as tourism to holiday island picks upMein Schiff 5, a cruise ship with more than 2,800 foreign visitors and crew members, arrives at Koh Samui on Saturday. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan)SURAT THANI: A cruise ship with more than 2,800 passengers and crew on board docked at Koh Samui on Saturday for a one-day visit. Mein Schiff 5 was the second cruise ship to visit Koh Samui of Surat Thani province for three years since the outbreak of Covid-19. On Nov 27, MV Viking Mars, operated by Viking Cruises and carrying 635 passengers, became the first European cruise ship to visit the island in three years. Visits to Koh Samui have been rising steadily in the second half of the year, with most of the foreign arrivals from Germany, Israel, the United Kingdom, France and Australia.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 17, 2022 16:12 UTC
Nation prays for princess
Their Majesties the King and Queen are greeted by people saying 'Long Live Their Majesties' as they leave King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital after visiting Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati on Friday. People flocked to the hospital to wish the princess a speedy recovery. Separately, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya also visited the princess at the hospital on the same day. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana, and Princess Ubolratana assigned their representatives to take flowers to the princess. The Sheikhul Islam Office (Chularatchamontri) issued a statement instructing provincial Islamic committees and Muslims nationwide to hold daily prayers for the princess' speedy recovery.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 17, 2022 14:37 UTC
Norwegian fund dumps PTT over rights concerns
(Bangkok Post File Photo)Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has dropped the Thai energy conglomerate PTT Plc from its portfolio because of concerns that its activities in Myanmar could fund human-rights abuses. The executive board of the $1.3-trillion fund, the world’s largest, is also axeing PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), as well as Israel-based Cognyte Software Ltd because of an “unacceptable risk” of human rights violations. The fund cited an “unacceptable risk that the companies contribute to serious violations of individuals’ rights in situations of war or conflict”. On Cognyte, the Norwegian fund’s ethics council said several states that are said to be customers of its surveillance products and services “have been accused of extremely serious human rights violations”. The fund said the decisions were based on ethics council recommendations from May and June.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 17, 2022 01:28 UTC
Companies hit with 20% power hike
The 4.72-baht power tariff rate has been used since September this year. The ERC will increase the power tariff for the non-household sector by 20.5% to 5.69 baht per unit, up from 4.72 baht per unit. The Ft stands at 0.9343 baht per unit for households and 1.904 baht per unit for non-households. ERC secretary-general Khomgrich Tantravanich said the power tariff decision resulted from talks with the National Energy Policy Council and fuel suppliers over attempts to ameliorate the impact of expensive electricity bills. He said businesses want the government to delay consideration of Egat's financial woes in order to reduce the power tariff from 5.69 baht per unit to 5.3 baht per unit.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 16, 2022 09:40 UTC
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati in hospital with heart problem
Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati in hospital with heart problemHer Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati is greeted by well-wishers outside the Grand Palace on Oct 31, 2020. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati was admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital after passing out because of a heart problem, the Royal Household Bureau announced on Thursday. The bureau said the princess passed out while she was training her pet dogs in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima at 6.20pm on Wednesday. The princess was taken to Pakchongnana Hospital in the district to receive initial treatment under the advice of royal doctors, it said. She was transported by helicopter to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital after her condition was stabilised.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 15, 2022 18:08 UTC
Covid surge spooks Beijing residents, disrupts government
Covid surge spooks Beijing residents, disrupts governmentPeople queue to buy Covid rapid antigen test kits before entering a hospital in Beijing, China, on Wednesday. Covid infections are surging in Beijing, disrupting official government work and keeping people at home after authorities made an about-turn in their policy of keeping virus cases under control. Economists expect the figures to show a worsening in the economy in November even before the current Covid surge. Analysts are increasingly turning to alternative indicators, such as online word searches for Covid-related symptoms like fever. Researchers from a medical university in Anhui province last year found a strong correlation between the word searches and the number of confirmed cases.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 14, 2022 23:07 UTC
FDA warns consumers to avoid THANOS food supplements
Consumers should not buy THANOS food supplements because they are being sold under a food registration number (24-1-09957-1-0107) that was given to another food supplement company before it was canceled on March 22, 2019, the FDA said. The FDA has not approved THANOS products and does not know the ingredients used in them, it said. The products could contain low quality or even dangerous ingredients, the FDA added. The agency advised consumers to check its online database to verify whether food products have been legally registered. The database is available on the agency’s website (www.fda.moph.go.th).
Source:The Nation Bangkok
December 14, 2022 22:00 UTC
Online platform stands up for 'ugly veggies'
So we're trying to think of ways to utilise this 70% of vegetables. “And with this, we're trying to create a digital platform to gather farmers and build a network of those who produce organic vegetables. “So, in our role as a platform, we're trying to build a brand and trying to make consumers realise that ugly vegetables still have nutritive value. We are trying to expand the network of farmers as well, to join this platform. We plan to start first with areas in Khon Kaen province to try this business model and, right now we are in the testing phase of the platform.”
Source:The Nation Bangkok
December 14, 2022 10:01 UTC
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
ANN news highlights: Tue, Dec 13, 2022Bringing Asia CloserClash India-China IFace-off between Indian, Chinese troops in Arunachal’s Tawang sector, few soldiers injured on both sides - The StatesmanA face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday led to minor injuries “to a few personnel” from both sides, sources said on Monday and noted that both sides immediately disengaged from the area. Clash India-China IIOver 300 Chinese soldiers clashed at Tawang flashpoint, received more injuries than Indian side - The StatesmanThe Indian troops deployed in the area of face-off on Friday in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector gave a befitting response to the Chinese troops and the number of Chinese soldiers injured in the clash is more than the Indian soldiers, sources said on Monday. Unlock ChinaChina to end use of digital travel code on Covid-19 starting Tuesday | China DailyChina announced on Monday that a digital tool to track cross-city travel will go out of service starting Tuesday. Jobs PhilippinesPH vows to save seafarers’ jobs in EU | InquirerPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday night said the government was doing everything it could for the Philippines to pass the European Maritime Safety Agency’s (Emsa) evaluation, which the country has failed since 2006, to avert possible job losses for some 50,000 Filipino seafarers deployed on European Union (EU)-flagged vessels.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
December 13, 2022 21:07 UTC
Gates Foundation gives AIT $8 million to set up sanitation systems in Asia
In a press statement, AIT said the foundation set up by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda has funded the setting up of the Global Water & Sanitation Centre (GWSC). AIT and the foundation’s representatives launched GWSC at the AIT campus in Pathum Thani on November 30. GWSC’s aim is to provide safe, hygienic toilets and sustainable sanitary systems to developing economies in Asia, including Thailand.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
December 13, 2022 21:07 UTC
Factories using 3 chemicals have until Thursday to register for 2023 import quota
Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said on Tuesday that more than 140 factories have been found to use sodium cyanide, benzyl cyanide and benzyl chloride and they are required to provide details on their consumption of these chemicals. The import and export of these chemicals was suspended on November 21 to ensure all control measures are in place to ensure they are not used to make methamphetamine, he said. Jullapong Thaweesri, director-general of the Industrial Works Department, said that since import-export was suspended, his department has been working on finding the exact quantity that is available in the country.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
December 13, 2022 06:15 UTC
Scammer arrested by the policewoman she pretended to be
Pol Maj Kanjira Norasan, right, arrests Natthaya Khomaram, a woman who allegedly stole her identity to commit fraud, at a rented room in Kaeng Khoi district, Saraburi, on Sunday. Pol Maj Kanjira Norasan, 42, an inspector from Crime Suppression Subdivision 2, on Sunday arrested Natthaya Khomaram, 25, at a rented room in tambon Tan Diao of Kaeng Khoi district, Saraburi, said Crime Suppression Division commander Pol Maj Gen Montree Thesakhan on Monday. According to Pol Maj Gen Montree, Ms Natthaya set up a Facebook account appearing to belong to Pol Maj Kanjira and sent Facebook messages to her friends, begging for help. Police said the suspect confessed and told them she was unaware the woman whose identity she stole was a police officer. Meanwhile, Pol Maj Kanjira learned from her friends that a fake Facebook account had been created in her name and used to defraud them.
Source:Bangkok Post
December 13, 2022 01:46 UTC