HM King’s sons visit Siriraj hospital

HM King's sons visit Siriraj hospital
Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, right, and his younger brother Chakriwat, left, pay their respects to the image of their great-grandfather Prince Mahidol at Siriraj Hospital on Sunday morning. (Photo supplied)

Two sons of His Majesty the King visited Siriraj Hospital on Sunday morning.

Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse and his younger brother Chakriwat visited the kingdom’s very first hospital,  135-year-old Siriraj Hospital, and paid their respects to the image of their late grandfather King Rama IX and their great-grandparents there.

Mr Vacharaesorn, 42, recently visited temples and other places after returning to Thailand for the first time in about three decades.

His younger brother Chakriwat, 40, arrived later and the two planned to leave for the United States together.

The younger brother’s arrival prompted Mr Vacharaesorn to postpone his planned earlier departure on Sunday.

The brothers visited Ayutthaya province on Saturday.

The siblings are among four sons of His Majesty the King and his former consort Sujarinee Vivacharawongse. Their younger sister is Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya.

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Death toll from mudslide in China’s Xian rises to four

BEIJING: The death toll from a mudslide last week in China’s northwestern Shaanxi province has risen to four, state radio said on Sunday (Aug 13), as the country grapples with unusually high summer rainfall. State-owned China Central Television (CCTV) had earlier reported that Friday’s mudslide in the city of Xian,Continue Reading

Snap Insight: Battered at state polls, UMNO is becoming a liability for Malaysian PM Anwar’s government

INTERNAL STRIFE IN UMNO

To be sure, Mr Anwar’s position as premier and his government’s hold on power are in no threat. The weekend’s elections also very much retained the political landscape that held before the dissolution of the assemblies in late July. 

The PH coalition kept control of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Penang, while Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah went back to the right-wing Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS), which is the dominant member of the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition together with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).

PH and Anwar did alright by retaining the states they controlled, and the government can move ahead. But for UMNO, I am not so sure,” UMNO’s former treasurer Abdul Zahim Mohd Zabidi told CNA, adding that rumblings of an internal rebellion in the party have already begun.

“Unless there is some leadership change, UMNO is doomed,” he added.

UMNO, which ruled Malaysia with the leadership of the National Front (Barisan Nasional) coalition since independence, was kicked out of power in May 2018 on the back of widespread public anger over the international scandal at state-owned 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). The financial fiasco subsequently led to the conviction and jailing of former UMNO president and Malaysia prime minister Najib Razak over corruption

DOUBTS OVER AHMAD ZAHID

Mr Ahmad Zahid subsequently took over the party leadership and consolidated his power by removing his opponents and packing the leadership of the powerful 25-member supreme council body with his allies. But the party no longer endears itself to the Malay community and that, in turn, has become a serious problem for Mr Anwar, who is struggling to build his government’s own credentials with the majority Malay community.

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Man accidentally shoots himself while dancing in Hat Yai pub

Man accidentally shoots himself while dancing in Hat Yai pub
The 9mm automatic pistol recovered from a pub-goer by police after the weapon accidentally went off while the man was dancing in a Hat Yai pub, Songkhla, early on Sunday (Photo: Assawin Pakkawan)

SONGKHLA: About a hundred pub-goers ran for their lives out of a well-known entertainment venue in Hat Yai early on Sunday after a 9mm automatic pistol carried by a customer accidentally went off, sending a bullet into his left leg.

The incident occurred at about 1.30am inside Nectar Pub on Chuti-anusorn road in the Hat Yai municipal area.

Hat Yai police rushed to the pub to investigate.

Niran Suwan-in, 31, the pub-goer who accidentally triggered the shot, was injured in the left leg. He was admitted to Hat Yai Hospital for treatment.

A police investigation revealed that Mr Niran was among a large group of about 30 customers who made reservations online. Mr Niran was in a group of four men and three women at a table.

While Mr Niran was dancing to music, a 9mm automatic pistol he was carrying in his trouser pocket accidentally went off and the bullet hit him in the left leg.

The sudden blast caused all pub-goers to panic. They rushed outside the pub, which was abruptly closed for safety.

Police found the gun was properly registered. However, they were investigating how Mr Niran was able to enter the pub with the weapon.

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Singaporean dies during Mount Kilimanjaro climbing expedition

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man has died from health complications due to altitude sickness while attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Local travel agency Adventures Unlimited, in a Facebook post on early Saturday (Aug 12) morning, said it “received the sad news of a tragedy which had happened during the Kilimanjaro trek”. The climb was scheduled from Aug 3 to Aug 11.

“One of our team members, Mr Darrel Phee, lost his life during the expedition,” it added. The man was 28 years old, a friend of the climber told 8World News. 

According to the Facebook post at around 3.40am on Saturday, Mr Phee’s “readings and symptoms have been normal throughout the days of the hike”.

“However, on the morning of the summit hike, his oxygen levels dropped and his heart rate increased.”

It was then decided that he would not scale the mountain and he returned to the campsite with a guide, as per safety protocols.

At the campsite, Mr Phee was close monitored, according to Adventures Unlimited.

“Unfortunately due to the onset of altitude sickness and its serious health complications, his condition deteriorated and he passed away.”

He died of asphyxia and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), said the travel agency.

HAPE is an altitude illness condition that can turn fatal and occurs when fluid enters the lungs, inhibiting the effective exchange of oxygen to the blood.

A 2012 journal published in the United States National Library of Medicine states that HAPE is “the most common cause of death related to high altitude”.

In response to CNA’s queries, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson said on Sunday that MFA “has been extending consular assistance and support to the family of the deceased”.  

“MFA extends its deepest condolences to the family.”

At 5,895m, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak. While popular with adventure seekers, “with more than 50 per cent of climbers suffering from mountain sickness, it is an extreme altitude mountain trek”, said the Climbing Kilimanjaro website.

Fatal accidents on Mount Kilimanjaro are very rare, with a probability of less than 1 per cent, the Facebook post by Adventures Unlimited said.

But the travel agency added that high altitude, extreme weather conditions, the physical condition of the climber and the physical challenges presented could be contributory causes of death.

Adventures Unlimited said it “remains committed to transparency and accountability to our participants”.

“We hope that you can support us in this difficult time, understanding the spirit of adventure that drives us, as hikers, despite its inherent uncertainties.”

CNA has contacted Adventures Unlimited for more information.

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Most favour Abhisit for Democrat leadership: poll

Most favour Abhisit for Democrat leadership: poll
Abhisit Vejjajiva, former leader of the Democrat Party, attends a party meeting on July 9. (Photo: Varuth Hiranyatheb)

Most people are of the opinion that Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former prime minister and former leader of the Democrat Party, should be re-elected as party chief, according to a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll.

The poll was conducted on Aug 9-10 by telephone interviews with 1,310 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education, occupations and incomes throughout the country to compile their opinions on who should be the next Democrat Party leader after the resignation of Jurin Laksanawisit.

Of the 1,310 respondents, 58.63% said they had never voted for a Democrat in past elections; 31.91% said they had, but not in the May 14, 2023 poll; 9.31% said they had, including in the most recent election, and 0.15% said they had never exercised their right to vote. 

Asked who they thought was suitable to be the next leader of the Democrat Party, the mutliple-choice answers varied as follows:

• 37.48% chose Abhisit Vejjajiva, the former party leader from March 2005 to March 2019
• 24.43% Chuan Leekpai, who stepped down the the party leadership in 2003
• 9.85% Suchatvee Suwansawat
• 4.27% Watanya Bunnag (Madam Dear)
• 3.05% Jurin Laksanawisit, a former party leader
• 2.90% Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich
• 2.67% Alongkorn Polabutr
• 1.76% Banyat Bantadtan, a former party leader
• 1.60% Narapat Kaewthong
• 1.46% combined for Chalermchai Sri-on, Det-it Khaothing, Mallika Boonmeetrakul and Sathit Pitutecha

The rest, 10.53%, had no answers or were not interested.

Mr Jurin resigned as leader of the Democrat Party on May 15 after the party’s poor showing in the May 14 election, when it won only 25 House seats, about half the number it obtained in the 2019 election. His resignation necessitated an election for the new party leader and new executive committee, matters which are still unresolved.

The party twice called a general assembly for this purpose, but failed to hold the vote on both occasions due to the lack of quorum, obviously as a result of internal rifts.

The Democrat Party was founded in April 1946, and is the country’s oldest political party. The South of Thailand and Bangkok used to be the party’s main support bases, but the party’s popularity in the two areas has sharply declined over the past two decades.

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Statement of the Caux Round Table on Moral Responsibility

Overview:

The Caux Round Table for Moral Capitalism is an international network of principled business leaders and professionals working to promote a moral capitalism. The CRT advocates implementation of its ethical Principles for Business through which principled capitalism can flourish and sustainable and socially responsible prosperity can become the foundation for a fair, free and transparent global society. The Caux Round Table meets annually in dialogue to consider the current alignment of global business, governments, and civil society with its ideals of a Moral Capitalism. The 2023 Global Dialogue was convened at Mountain House, Caux, Switzerland. – Stephen B Young, Rapporteur



For too long, we have acted on the narrowest of our self-interests and focused on our disagreements, allowing differences and personal rivalries to become so toxic as to put out of mind and heart our interdependence, along with the vulnerabilities and dreams which so deeply make us human. Thus forgetful, we have forsaken our due responsibilities.

The results of this irresponsibility are right before our eyes and so openly expressed in the uncertainty and anger that are poisoning our politics and cultures and unjustly distorting our economies.

The evidence we cannot escape

Why has irresponsibility become so common? What has turned so many of us away from being good, considerate people and responsible leaders?

On all levels – international, national, regional, local, familial, individual – there is an almost irreversible lack of trust in institutions and in others.  Individual autonomy has been idolized, allowing atomistic and antagonistic self-absorption to run amok. 

The wondrous power of working together, which we call social capital, is collapsing all around us. Realizing our fullest capacities, which we call human capital, is under siege from technology and economies that all to readily use us for the benefit of others.

Today, our global community is neither prospering nor hopeful. For the first time in seventy years, there is trench warfare in Europe. In virtually all democracies, parties have become more extreme, adversarial and even dictatorial. 

Russia and China have formed an entente, insisting on a civilizational model that operates without the constraints of universal human rights. Military buildups continue around the world and even the use of nuclear weapons is casually threatened.

Minorities in France, Palestinians in Israel and African Americans in the US riot and protest a lack of inclusion in their national commonwealths. Hindus in India distance themselves from non-Hindus. Economic development disappoints in Latin America and Africa, leading to military coups and sectarian violence. 

Social media grow increasingly antisocial, fostering self-absorption, dehumanization of others and loneliness. Forest fires rage and floods devastate lives, with more such natural calamities to come. The rich get richer.

Remembering the way forward

Thousands of years of human and social development have illumined the folly of such carelessness toward others. Responsibility is a common teaching of all wisdom traditions. 

The Hebrew scriptures teach stewardship of God’s creation as our dignifying human vocation. Shinto proposes the presence of the divine in all aspects of creation from human commitments to all else that nature provides. Buddhism advocates the Middle Way of avoiding excess and seeking equilibrium with others and with nature. 

With the Beatitudes, Jesus summons the humility, mercy and hunger for justice that are at the heart of living equitably with one another. Jesus also gave us the parable of the Good Samaritan as a role model of taking responsibility. 

The Koran asks that we keep the balance (mizan).

Non-religious thinkers deduced similar principles of equilibrium for social harmony. In China, the Doctrine of the Mean proposes that to live well and happily, we thoughtfully balance our options and our emotions to avoid putting ourselves in a corner from which there is no escape. Aristotle similarly proposed living intentionally in harmony with the ups and downs of life. So did Cicero, who advised living with honor and foresight in making decisions.

What we can do together and what we must do together

How should our global community address these destabilizing conditions and the anxiety they have generated? With ethics.

Ethical wisdom restrains power and promotes prosperity.

This is not a time for blaming, for pointing fingers at others, for assuming that any one of us is exempt from changing or for making a contribution to our human destiny. As rational persons with sensibilities for empathy and compassion, each of us have inalienable responsibilities, as well as rights.

Expressing responsibility – the ability to respond to the moral demands of a moment or situation – engages our moral sense, as well as our creativity. Throughout history, only ethical imagination penetrates societal despair and inspires hope and only ethical engagement engenders reciprocities of responsibility.

Obviously, those who govern, who manage businesses and who lead social and cultural institutions must work hard, with courage and imagination, to regain the public’s trust.  But that will not be enough. Given the scale of our global problems, each of us now share similar duties to speak up for responsibility, to be responsible and so to make a difference for good.

The rich get richer, while the world confronts a hunger crisis. Wealth and income inequalities have widened markedly, creating disequilibria for societies and instability in their politics. With gross imbalance in the distribution of wealth, for some to save and others to share would responsibly promote the middle over the extremes. Gratitude for opportunity and humility in success should ethically guide our economic elites.

Although there are innumerable theories of ethics, with each religion or culture emphasizing particular features, the core of ethics is a recognition of our personal responsibility – making a commitment to others, making a whole out of individual parts, finding our place in relationship with others and by doing so, taking pride in who we are and in what difference we can make to the shared common good every day with what we say and what we do.

Responsibility comes from within us, from the quiet voice within that can speak to us at any time and in any circumstance. Responsibility works by linking us to others so that we are not alone. Irresponsibility, on the other hand, brings forth narcissism and loneliness. Narcissus died alone looking at his image reflected in the water. Relationships and responsibility bring us closer to authentic and confident happiness.

Our responsibilities more than our rights show the world who we are and what we are made of. But if we don’t know who we are, if we are at a loss for meaning and purpose, then how can we be responsible? Narcissus fixated on his image, on his superficiality, and therefore took no responsibility either for himself or for others.

Responsibility does not impinge on our rights. Rather our rights empower and require us to be responsible. Rights balanced by responsibility and responsibility balanced by rights bring us to equilibrium and a good footing in life. Such equilibrium is justice for us and for others.

Aggressive assertion of rights can easily open the door to resentments, personal and communal, to disputes small and large, and even to war. Therefore, our fundamental responsibilities must include seeking peace among persons and between nations.

In a perfect world, rights and responsibilities would be equally advocated. But in the push-and-pull of history, whenever fears and arrogance debase our natures, there are times when basic rights can be preserved or advanced only through the exercise of great responsibility.

As we ponder our rights, as we look to our freedoms, let us rigorously assume our proper responsibilities to generate the ethical balance we need so that all of us may prosper now, and in generations to come. 

Thus to bring justice to our global community, we must start with stepping up to shouldering our responsibilities.

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