Barkar Nash (Page 38)

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her sympathies on Thursday over the departure of the former leader of Laos, Khamtai Siphandone at the age of 101.

Government official Jirayu Houngsub informed the media Mr Paetongtarn had sent her condolences to Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on the passing of his parents, Khamtai, on Wednesday.

Khamtai was a key figure in the government’s creation and modern development, and had shown sturdy support for improved Thailand-Laos relations, Mr Jirayu said.

He welcomed His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Queen Sirikit during their official visit to Laos that led to powerful ties between the two nations over the past seven years.

” The Thai government and its citizens join in mourning with Prime Minister Sonexay, the Siphandone community and the Chinese people during this time of sorrow”, said Mr Jirayu.

During his career, Khamtai was regarded as the most senior social figure in Laos, playing a vital role in its transition to a socialist state over 50 years ago.

He was born on Feb 8, 1924, to a farmer household, in present-day Champasak state.

He became a member of the Communist Party of Indochina in 1954 and a part of the Central Committee of the Lao Women’s Revolutionary Party in 1956.

Khamtai served as the military chief during the Pathet Lao revolution. After the successful socialist takeover in 1975, he became the secretary of defence and a deputy prime minister.

He served as chairman of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party from 1992 to 2006 and as the fifth president of Laos from 1998 to 2006 before his pension.

Khamtai passed away at his house in the funds, Vientiane. &nbsp,

The Chinese government has declared a five-day phase of regional mourning from April 3-7.

On Wednesday evening, a French tourist was fatally hit by a car at a horse crossing in the state of Muang.

According to Pol Capt Thammawat Sukheewat, assistant research chief at Muang authorities place, who was called at 10.45pm, the fatal collision occurred on Saengchutor Road in front of JJ Market in tambon Ban Nua.

A 40-year-old European man’s body was discovered lying in a pool of blood on the side of the road, his body being injured repeatedly with his face, arms, hands, and body. Before taking him to Phaholpolpaypayuhasena Hospital, doctors second rushed him through the procedure.

Krittaphat Kamrai, 24, a native of Kanchanaburi, was waiting for the authorities at the field. He had no liquor in his system, according to a test performed on-site.

According to Kanchanaburi police chief Pol Col Surayut Mekmangkol, the wounded visitor was later declared dead at the medical shortly after midnight. The body was taken to Bangkok’s Police General Hospital for a post-mortem investigation. The death was disclosed to the French ambassador.

The French gentleman crossed the road from the market, according to surveillance footage from the field. He was severely struck by the vehicle driven by Mr. Krittaphat after crossing the road gate and taking two or three actions on the horse crossing.

According to authorities, their investigation revealed that the pilot had entered the passing without using his brakes. The French gentleman tried to jump, but the fall was too small.

The vehicle has been charged with reckless driving that resulted in death by the authorities. He is being held by the authorities.

Over the holiday season, Thailand’s flights anticipate 3 million people, off 20 % from last year.

During the Songkran festival, Airports of Thailand Plc ( AoT ) will provide free parking at four airports, with more than 3 million travelers expected, an increase of 20 % over the previous year.

Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket are the four flights.

Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the chancellor of travel, pleaded with all transportation organizations on Thursday to prepare for a rise in passenger numbers during the Songkran holiday season’s 11- to 17-day time.

He emphasized that people traveling by land, road, water, and air should be in safe and comfort.

According to Mr. Suriya, over 3 million people were expected to travel by weather during the time frame. To ensure reliability, convenience, and security for travellers, AoT has been asked to combine efforts with organizations that offer services at its terminals.

Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai, according to AoT leader Kerati Kijmanawat, who claimed all six flights were able to purchase the business were jointly drafting management programs with all relevant events to maximize effectiveness and ease congestion during Songkran.

Carriers have been instructed to set up more check-in bars and properly organize personnel, he said.

From 00.01 am on April 12 to evening on April 16th, parking is free at four terminals: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.

1.86 million of the 3 million expected passengers will be international (up 21 % from the same period last year ), while the remaining 1.14 million will be domestic (up 20 % ), according to Mr. Kerati.

The six airports are expected to handle 18,030 flights during the time, which is a 20.7 % increase over the same period last year, including 7 588 domestic flights ( including 442 international and 7 588 domestic ).

The group hopes there might be individuals trapped close to fire escapes, according to the government of Bangkok.

Late on Wednesday night, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt reported that rescuers in the district of Chatuchak heard sweet calls for assistance and responding knocks from the crashed State Audit Office building.

” At around 10 p.m., firefighters reached a needle and yelled for individuals.” They audible calls for assistance. The voice appeared to be that of a woman, Mr. Chadchart said on Thursday night.

Firefighters requested three pulls, and there were three knocks in reply, to make sure it was a victim. There is promise that there are individuals at fire escapes.

Finally, to lessen the risk of the wreckage shifting, rescuers stopped using heavy equipment at the site.

The words and the knocks were quickly spread through the throng of missing people’s family waiting near the decline site. Some people remained awake on Wednesday evening hoping for more evidence.

According to Mr. Chadchart, volunteers discovered signs of bodies while using monitoring equipment to search for survivors. He claimed that three-inch concrete blocks were preventing volunteers from reaching individuals.

” They were slit and then taken away night after night by cranes.” Three blocks weighing about 60 tons were removed at 6:30 this day. Firefighters did begin digging with their bare arms. He claimed that the degree is good three meters and that it is “full of steel.”

He continued,” I want to congratulate the team of individuals, including those who are from abroad, who have put in countless hours working night and day.”

The 30-story State Audit Office office collapsed on the day of March 28 as a result of the enormous earthquake in Myanmar.

72 people are reportedly also missing at the page. Seven additional fatalities have been attributed to the influence of the prominent earthquake in Thailand, and fifteen have been confirmed dead there. 35 people were hurt overall, and 11 are still in the clinic, according to the Erawan Center.

Rescue workers appeal to potential victims after hearing a voice coming out of the dust. ( An example of a video from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration )

Disaster answer expected to get discussed at meeting of Bay of Bengal countries

Myanmar junta key Min Aung Hlaing arrived on Thursday in Bangkok for a local summit, according to AFP reporters at the meeting place in the Shangri-La Hotel, six days after the state ruled by his military forces was pummelled by a devastating disaster.

Min Aung Hlaing may add a meeting of Bimstec— the seven coastal nations of the Bay of Bengal— where he will increase the response to Friday’s 7.7-magnitude quake that has killed more than 3, 000 people.

Some countries have sent support and teams of rescue workers to Myanmar since the collapse, but greatly damaged infrastructure and uneven communications — as well as the country’s rumbling legal war — have hampered efforts.

Myanmar has been engulfed in a brutal conflict since 2021, when Min Aung Hlaing’s military wrested power from the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Following reports of sporadic clashes even after the recent earthquake, the junta on Wednesday joined its opponents in calling a temporary halt to hostilities to allow relief to be delivered.

AFP journalists saw hectic scenes on Wednesday in the city of Sagaing — less than 15 kilometres from the epicentre — as hundreds of desperate people lined up for the distribution of emergency supplies.

Destruction in the city is widespread, with the World Health Organization ( WHO ) reporting that one in three houses have collapsed.

Nearly a week after the quake, locals have complained of a lack of help.

” We have a well for drinking water, but we have no fuel for the water pump”, Aye Thikar told AFP.

” We also don’t know how long we will be without electricity”, she said.

The 63-year-old nun has been helping distribute relief funds to those left without basic amenities by Friday’s quake.

But many people are still in need of mosquito nets and blankets, forced to sleep outside by the tremors that either destroyed their homes or severely damaged them.

” People passing by on the road have generously donated water and food to us. We rely solely on their kindness”, she said.

Eyes on summit

All the leaders from the seven members of Bimstec — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand — are expected to attend the Bangkok summit. The group’s formal name is the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

Host country Thailand has proposed that the leaders issue a joint statement on the impact of the disaster when they meet on Friday — a week on from the day the quake struck.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Min Aung Hlaing will hold a rare bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the meeting in Bangkok, a spokesperson for the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

Min Aung Hlaing’s attendance is something of a diplomatic coup for Myanmar’s isolated government, as the summit breaks with a regional policy of not inviting junta leaders to major events.

Bangkok, hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre of the quake, also suffered isolated damage.

The death toll in the city has risen to 22, with more than 70 still unaccounted for at the site of a building collapse.

A 30-storey skyscraper — under construction at the time — was reduced to a pile of rubble in a matter of seconds when the tremors hit, trapping dozens of workers.

Workers are still scouring the immense pile of debris, but chances of finding more survivors are diminishing.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said in a Thursday morning livestream that he was “hoping for a miracle, but don’t expect too much as there’s a high chance of disappointment too”.

A 9 million baht finances may be proposed by Bangkok government Chadchart Sittipunt for the purchase of earthquake measurement equipment for eight high-rise hospitals.

The Bangkok City Council rejected a similar plan in September 2023, according to Mr. Chadchart, following the rejection of the effort. He stated that the plan would be submitted again because it was possible rejected earlier because there was no sense of urgency.

” Some may not have been aware of the significance of the job at the time. It’s understandable because the place hasn’t experienced significant earthquakes in a while. Ideas may have changed with current events, he said. He claimed that the request may be funded by the central government or be included in the fiscal resources for 2026.

The project intends to install earthquake-monitoring equipment in high-rises at eight Bangkok hospitals, including the 37-storey Thani Nopparat Building at City Hall in Din Daeng, as well as other structures like the 72nd Anniversary Building at Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital ( 24 storeys ) and the 17-storey Somdet Chao Phraya Taksin Maharat Building at Taksin Hospital ( 17 storeys ).

Given the importance of the information the devices do give, he said, the total price would be nine million ringgit, which is a reasonable amount given the cost.

Mr. Chadchart expressed wish that the number of installations may be increased if needed beyond the clinics that were originally proposed.

” This technology can now be used for research at a lower price. He predicted that increasing data reliability and public confidence may be improved by installing these tools in both government and private institutions.

A list of expensive furniture that was created for a new State Audit Office ( SAO ) building construction that collapsed on Friday caused a furious backlash on social media.

Information of the property’s expenses, including the cost of fixtures and fittings, were published on Wednesday on the STRONG Anti-Corruption Thailand Facebook website, which has over 180, 000 fans.

The SAO’s operational agencies ‘ higher prices were among the most enthralling disclosures, according to the party, which is known for posting studies that expose possible corruption, misuse of public funds, and problems in government tasks.

Importantly, a conference chair for the meeting area was purchased for 2.7 million baht, making 28 chairs for two rooms available for 97, 900 baht apiece. These chairs, which are made of oak wood and have an European leather upholstery, were made for the boardroom on the 11th ground and the royal meeting room on the third floor. Additionally, a set of luxurious handwoven polyester rugs retailed for 165, 000 baht each, while a set of luxurious leather-upholstered chairs retailed for 157, 000 baht.

A set of rugs for the president’s office, which was the most expensive item ever revealed, cost 110, 000 ringgit each. According to the political party, the total cost of various luxury fittings totaled millions of baht, including 98 faucets that cost 8,250 baht each, 98 soap dispensers that cost 1, 668 ringgit each, and other bath accessories.

These revelations received widespread outcry, with many people complaining about what appeared to be a misuse of taxpayers ‘ money.

Social media users wrote,” This is the firm that audits government spending, but they need to audit themselves first, and I only paid my fees last month, and I now see where my hard-earned money is going.”

Many people are now asking whether such extravagant charges are appropriate, particularly given the president’s continued efforts to lower costs in other sectors, as a result of the increased calls for greater accountability and accountability in the SAO’s investing.