Candid jumbocam: 12 wild elephants bathe in Buri Ram forest
PUBLISHED : 13 Aug 2023 at 15:45
BURI RAM: Twelve wild elephants were seen roaming in a forest inside Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary in Non Din Daeng district of this northeastern province in video clips taken by automatic cameras installed by wildlife officials.
Somsuan Raksat, chief of the sanctuary, said the videos were captured by the network-centric anti-poaching system (NCAPS) cameras at 6.25pm on Aug 10.
He said the footage, which shows the elephants playing in water and walking past the cameras in the Dong Yai forest, indicates the sanctuary is rich with wildlife and other resources.
Based on the footage, forest rangers and volunteers would be assigned to patrol the area to prevent the elephants straying out of the sanctuary, Mr Somsuan said.
HM King’s sons visit Siriraj hospital
PUBLISHED : 13 Aug 2023 at 14:49
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.
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 Anwarâs 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.
China condemns visit of ‘troublemaker’ Taiwan vice president to US
BEIJING: China’s foreign ministry on Sunday (Aug 13) condemned a brief visit by Taiwan Vice President William Lai to the United States, saying he was a separatist and “troublemaker through and through”, and Beijing would take strong steps to protect its sovereignty. Lai, front-runner to be Taiwan’s next president atContinue Reading
Man accidentally shoots himself while dancing in Hat Yai pub
PUBLISHED : 13 Aug 2023 at 13:05
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.
‘A reminder I should always count my blessings’: Minister Edwin Tong discharged from hospital
SINGAPORE: Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong has been discharged from hospital after he underwent angioplasty and had a stent inserted on Tuesday (Aug 8). In a Facebook post on Sunday, Mr Tong reflected on how he had just turned 54 and it was “a reminder that I shouldContinue Reading
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.
Singaporean climber dies during climbing exhibition to Mount Kilimanjaro
SINGAPORE: A Singaporean climber has died while attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. In response to CNA’s queries, an Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesperson said on Sunday (Aug 13) that “it has been extending consular assistance and support to the family of the deceased”. “MFA extends itsContinue Reading
Most favour Abhisit for Democrat leadership: poll
PUBLISHED : 13 Aug 2023 at 11:01
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.