PM mourns Thai dead
The most fatalities in the Hamas-Israel battle
After returning from his trip abroad on Thursday, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated that the number of Thais killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict is among the highest in terms of citizenship.
Although the Siamese people are not involved in the conflict, our nation has suffered the most casualties, he claimed.
Repatriating Thais who want to go home is our top priority, he said, adding that any business flights with available airplane should get in touch with the Foreign Affairs Ministry for assistance.
He added that at the current rate of evacuation — about 200 Thais per day— it will take a month to repatriate all 6, 000 Thai workers who have asked to return home.
We’ve considered using land transportation for evacuation, but the route must go through the Gaza Strip, which is an impractical action, he said.
We considered sending Thais to nearby nations like Egypt, but some of the Vietnamese people lost their visas, he said. However, there shouldn’t be a concern with this. The Foreign Affairs Ministry did receive assistance from local officials, the state may ensure.
Thailand has the second-highest fatality rate, at 21, after the United States, with 22 mortality, according to an AFP statement released on Thursday.
According to the department, there were 14 Thais who were hurt in Israel, and as of Thursday, 5,990 Thai people had expressed a desire to return home.
According to federal statistics, there are about 30,000 Thai people living in Israel, the majority of whom are employed in agriculture.
At least three airlines — Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways International, and Nok Air — have agreed to arrange repatriation flights in three days, the Ministry of Transport announced on Thursday.
The PM claimed that Gen Songwit Noonpakdi, the head of the defense forces, was requesting assistance from his Jewish rival in gathering and transporting Thais to the Thai consulate in Tel Aviv.
As Thais wait for return planes to take them home afterwards, Dubai, the UAE, or India are now being considered as potential centres, according to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit.
Following a Thursday meet with the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was speaking.
In addition to these nations, the state has asked Jordan and other nations close to Israel for permission to operate relocation flights as well, if necessary, according to Mr. Suriya.
The only way to guarantee that all Thais who intend to return back arrive at the airport properly is to go in an Israeli military aircraft, according to Mr. Srettha. Traveling in Israel is now difficult because many streets are closed.
The possibility that Israeli aircraft will soon be shut down presents another issue, he said, and it’s possible that the repatriation flights to Israel won’t be able to transport people back to their homes as intended.
The situation in Israel is getting worse, and rocket attacks are virtually happening nonstop, so we must take that. We will still have wish if Israeli aircraft is kept available and the conflict situation gets better, said Mr. Srettha.
About 120 Thais from Israel will be repatriated by the air pressure on Sunday morning, and another 100 will do so later in the day. On October 18, the air pressure will launch its subsequent relocation flight.
In the meantime, deputy foreign affairs minister Jakkapong Sangmanee stated that the government was coordinating negotiations with Hamas to free 16 Thai victims.
The government was looking for assistance from Asean and other global organizations while also attempting to communicate with Hamas through global offices in Thailand that have good relationships with the Palestinians.
Stage 3 breast cancer kicked her out of her comfort zone: ‘I am bolder and more willing to live my life well’
The first thing Gemma Foo thought of when she first learned she had breast cancer in February 2018 was this heartbreaking question:” Did I work too hard?”
Then came a storm of inquiries, including,” Why me?” Which level is this? My children are still very fresh. I am the only baby. Who does look after my parents and children? May I be able to make it? Do I require chemotherapy? Can cancer be used?
She therefore collected herself, bounced back, and did what she often does: she found a solution.
TIME WAS OF THE ESSENCE, they said.
Foo, 41, experienced a lump in her left shoulder just weeks after her niece was given the diagnosis of breast cancer. The general practitioner ( GP ) she saw immediately ordered a mammogram and an ultrasound of her breasts.
A colonoscopy confirmed that the tumor was cancerous after the testing revealed it to be random. Foo made the decision,” My goal is to find good ,” as he recovered from the shock. But I’ll concentrate on that and take care of whatever needs to be done.
Ministry seeks venues to open until 4am
13 October 2023 at 6:14 p.m.
The Interior Ministry is collaborating with relevant parties to identify suitable locations to serve as test sites for the government’s proposal to permit nighttime entertainment venues to remain open until 4 a.m.
Anutin Charnvirakul, a deputy prime minister and inside minister, stated on Thursday and nbsp that the interior ministry is prepared to abide by the new rule that would increase the running hours of night entertainment venues from 2am to 4am as set by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Captain locations will be made public once related parties, such as the police and business owners, have developed operating manuals and security protocols, according to Mr. Anutin.
Mr. Anutin responded that night entertainment venue operators had totally screen their patrons and work with officers when asked how the authorities may ensure tourist safety.
Even though finalized details have not yet been made public, federal police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol stated that the police are willing to support the new rules. All locations, both inside and outside the captain locations, had totally abide by the law if the expansion of operating hours is approved, he said.
The Khao San Road Business Association’s chair, Sanga Ruangwattanakul, stated that he supports the expansion to sell alcohol and venue operating hours. The association will meet the following week before asking the prime minister to lift the ban on alcohol sales and take into account lowering the excise tax rate for business owners from 10 % to 3 %. Taxing business owners is double tax because excise tax has already been collected from companies.
Analysis: Malaysiaâs spat with Goldman Sachs over 1MDB settlement deal could get ugly soon
Today, the bank’s potentially embarrassing dealings in the matter, such as how it reached the settlement agreement with Mr. Muhyiddin, may be reopened as a result of the force to have the dispute arbitrated in London courts. & nbsp,
Details of the contentious settlement, which required a US$ 2.5 billion upfront payment and the remaining$ 1.4 billion in stumbling milestones, are now beginning to leak out.
Mr. Johari Abdul Ghani, the head of the 1MDB Asset Recovery Taskforce established by the Anwar state, stated in a speech that the US$ 1.4 billion settlement offer did not call for outright cash towns as formerly believed days after the bank announced that it had started legal action against Malaysia.
A complex agreement with a Goldman Sachs promise on the treatment of 1MDB-related assets, including opulent properties, exorbitantly expensive paintings, jewelry, and watches, was used for the stumbling milestone payments.
SURFACE & nbsp, PART OF THE SETTLEMENT DETAILS
According to Mr. Johari, the US bank would be required to give Malaysia$ 250 million as an interim payment if the Malaysian government did not recover assets worth$ 500 million two years after signing the August 2020 agreement.
According to Mr. Johari, the Malaysian authorities informed Goldman Sachs in August 2022 that it had not recovered US$ 500 million and was therefore entitled to the time payment.
However, Goldman Sachs disagreed with Malaysia’s place and soon after relied on a clause in the settlement agreement that allowed parties to join in an” Amicable Good Faith Discussion” clause to settle the dispute. & nbsp,
The US bank asked for a three-month extension to honor the$ 250 million payment in early September. Goldman Sachs requested three additional additions after it expired, and the final another is scheduled to go on November 8.
The bank stated in a speech in its lawsuit against Malaysia that it had requested arbitration against the Malaysian government for failing to properly funds assets in accordance with the guarantee offered by Goldman Sachs in our arrangement agreement and to restore other assets.
Officials from the Malaysian authorities informed CNA last week that Kuala Lumpur had been thinking about filing an adjudication to resolve the dispute if Goldman Sachs missed the deadline.
In his declaration, Mr. Johari called Goldman Sachs’ actions” early and without due consideration of the important prerequisites.”
He continued,” Goldman Sachs’ action of starting arbitration proceedings even appears to be an attempt to interfere and divert attention away from their duty to adhere to the Interim Payment of US$ 250 million requirement under the settlement agreement.”
When contacted by CNA, Mr. Johari declined to comment.
The Anwar leadership, however, was forced to drive for a higher settlement, according to another state official involved in the resource recovery.
” We lost a significant amount of money, and Goldman Sachs received US$ 600 million in expenses.” He said,” It’s a sad Malay story.”
‘Feels like a fan’: Tengah home owners raise more issues with new centralised cooling system
No QUIET ENOUGH
The flow of the cooling system was not as warm as regular air conditioning, which was a frequent complaint from locals CNA spoke with. & nbsp,
Manny, the owner of the Plantation Grange apartment, claimed that the cooling system wasn’t” regular cold.” & nbsp,
It’s awesome. Although it is undoubtedly better than if you don’t switch it on, the temperature inside is not as warm as what is typical for air conditioning.
He claimed to have reduced the temperature to 16 degrees Celsius, but he believed that this was close to temperatures of 23 to 24 degrees with standard air conditioning.
The 34-year-old Ms. Lim claimed that the heating system felt more like a lover yet at 16 degree Celsius when using boost mode and complete fan speed. & nbsp,
Ms. Lim has turned on the heating system at least five times for a minimum of 30 minutes each time since receiving her locks on August 29.
The system has a cooling capacity of 9, 000 British Thermal Units( BTU ), which is the industry standard for air conditioning cooling capability. & nbsp,
Since it isn’t normal air conditioning, I’m not sure if it has a flaw or is simply designed to be that way, but I do know that my present air conditioner at my parents’ house is 10,000 BTU and it’s extremely cold.
It’s therefore dissimilar from what I’m going through.
Others claimed that their program later cooled down or that they were content with the coldness. & nbsp,
When she first used the heating system months ago, Ms. Nurul Atiqah, who is assisting her fiancé with the Plantation Grange apartment repairs, claimed to have run into the same flow issue. & nbsp,
When using the heating system, SP Group team advised the 33-year-old finance professional to shut all the doors and windows in the apartment. Over the following several weeks, the air grew colder. & nbsp,
In her Plantation Acres apartment, nurse boss Mary Ann, 47, compared the structure to a lover but said she didn’t mind it. The program would need around two days to become colder, she was informed. & nbsp,
The air from her bedroom’s cooling unit was colder than that of the living room, probably because the latter space was larger, according to a homemaker who wanted to go by the name Ms Tan.
” But way, the few occasions I visited before the renovation, I felt like my cooling system was working well, and I was even able to take a nap inside.” The 37-year-old said,” I may spend hours there because the house was warm and the outside was hot and dusty.
Analysis: Gloves come off as Malaysia, Goldman Sachs step up wrangle over controversial 1MDB settlement deal
Today, the bank’s potentially embarrassing relations in the matter, including how it reached the settlement offer with Mr. Muhyiddin, may be reopened as a result of the drive to have the debate arbitrated in London courts. & nbsp,
Details of the contentious settlement, which required a$ 2.5 billion upfront payment and the remaining$ 1.4 billion in staggered milestones, are now beginning to surface.
Mr. Johari Abdul Ghani, the head of the 1MDB Asset Recovery Taskforce established by the Anwar state, stated in a speech that the US$ 1.4 billion settlement offer did not call for outright cash towns as formerly believed days after the bank announced that it had started legal action against Malaysia.
A complex agreement with a Goldman Sachs promise on the treatment of 1MDB-related assets, including opulent properties, exorbitantly expensive paintings, jewelry, and watches, was used for the stumbling milestone payments.
SURFACE & nbsp, A PART OF THE SETTLEMENT DETAILS
According to Mr. Johari, the US banks may be required to give US$ 250 million as time pay to Malaysia if the Indonesian government did not recover assets totaling US$ 500 million two years after signing the Aug 2020 contract.
According to Mr. Johari, the Malaysian authorities informed Goldman Sachs in August 2022 that it had not recovered USD$ 500 million and was therefore entitled to the time payment.
However, Goldman Sachs disputed Malaysia’s place and, soon after, relied on a clause in the settlement agreement that allowed parties to join in an” Amicable Good Faith Discussion” clause to settle the dispute. & nbsp,
The US bank requested a three-month extension to honor the$ 250 million payment in early September. Goldman Sachs requested three additional extensions after it expired, and the final one is scheduled to go on November 8.
The bank stated in a speech that it had filed an lawsuit against Malaysia,” We filed for mediation against the Malaysian government for violating its obligations to properly funds assets in accordance with the guarantee provided by Goldman Sachs in our settlement agreement and to return another assets.”
Officials from the Malaysian authorities informed CNA last week that Kuala Lumpur had been thinking about filing an arbitration to resolve the dispute if Goldman Sachs missed the deadline.
In his declaration, Mr. Johari called Goldman Sachs’ actions” early and without due consideration of the important prerequisites.”
According to him, Goldman Sachs’ decision to start arbitration proceedings also seems to be an effort to downplay and distract attention from their commitment to uphold the lawsuit agreement’s Interim Payment of US$ 250 million condition.
Mr. Johari declined to comment when contacted by CNA.
The Anwar leadership, however, had little choice but to drive for a higher settlement, according to another federal official involved in the resource recovery.
” Goldman Sachs received expenses of US$ 600 million, and we lost a significant sum of money.” It is a tragic Indonesian tale, he claimed.
Commentary: Why Taiwan’s defence priorities might need a rethink
The conflict in Ukraine has taught us that asymmetrical actions are crucial in an effort to win over an even larger, more powerful adversary. Little drones, transportable missile systems, and electronic war have all proven useful against the powerful Russian troops.
Another compelling case is maritime helicopter warfare. The Soviet army in the Black Sea was surrounded by autonomous ships and innovative strategies. Taiwan insists on attempting to compete with a competitor who is far ahead of the competition despite the fact that symmetry at lake offers crucial rewards.
Taiwan unveiled its first homemade submarine on September 28. It was once thought to be” mission impossible ,” but it won’t go into service for another two years. Taiwan intends to construct eight of these ships, but also when they are all completed, China’s estimated 60 submarines will outnumber them.
Top defense researcher Michael Lostumbo at Washington-based think tank RAND Corporation thinks Taiwan needs to concentrate its security efforts more specifically. He contends that Taiwan must create a better purchasing record than the one it sent to the US in order to live an assault. & nbsp,
The 108 M1A2T Abrams tanks Taipei ordered in 2019 were a mistake, but the late requested Reaper robots imply that the country may be revising its military strategy. However, some people find it difficult to observe.
Taiwan’s military resources will be used for items that will either be destroyed or spent very fast today and for many years to come, according to Lostumbo in a report.
This is made worse by the fact that technology issues may delay the distribution of 66 US-made F-16 soldiers until 2026.
New airport expressway on horizon
PUBLISHED : 13 Oct 2023 at 04:00
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) recently held its first public hearing on the Srinakarin-Suvarnabhumi airport elevated expressway construction project, which is expected to be finished in 2030.
Exat governor Surachet Laophulsuk said yesterday that the project aims to ease traffic congestion on Motorway No.7, especially the section close to the airport.
He said the first hearing was held on Wednesday, which focused on the project’s engineering, economics, finance, and environmental impact assessment (EIA).
The public has so far agreed on building ground columns for the new expressway in the middle of Motorway No.7, as building the columns on the street side might affect the locals’ well-being.
The new expressway will be 18 kilometres long and link the Si Rat Expressway in the Rama IX area to Lad Krabang district.
Mr Surachet said that Exat needed to negotiate with King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Lat Krabang, regarding the project’s impact as the new expressway’s entrance and exit will be built in the Lat Krabang community.
After those issues are settled, Exat will move ahead with the construction design. The Department of Highways (DoH) initiated the expressway project before transferring it to be overseen by Exat last July.
At that time, DoH estimated the project investment would be about 29.5 billion baht. Exat plans to lessen the budget investment, he said.
Exat will conduct four more public hearings before starting the design and study stages. The project design is expected to take about one year or might be completed by next September.
The project will be submitted for cabinet approval in 2025, Mr Surachet said.
The bidding is expected to start in 2026 before construction begins in 2027. Construction is expected to take at least three years, he added.
Stiff term set for govt car ‘abuse’
PUBLISHED : 13 Oct 2023 at 04:00
A 50-year jail term has been handed to a Yasothon Provincial Administration Office (PAO) official who used a government vehicle for personal use, Adul Wandee, director of the Yasothorn Provincial Anti-Corruption Commission, said yesterday.
He said the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 3 handed the sentence on Aug 24 to Roongrak Lukbua, director of the PAO’s education, religion and culture department.
He was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 21 separate cases for violating Section 151 of the Criminal Code, Mr Adul said, adding Roongrak had mismanaged state property, thus damaging the PAO.
Mr Adul told reporters yesterday that the case is expected to serve as a case study to prevent officials from using government items for personal purposes.
Apart from Roongrak, Satiraphorn Naksuk, PAO chief executive, and Phongsiri Muanchart, PAO deputy chief, have also been convicted, he said.
Mr Adul said Roongrak had requested Satiraphorn, PAO chief at the time, to use a government car from July 2014–June 2015 before doing so again for July 2015–March 2016.
Roongrak kept the car at his house in Sai Mun district’s tambon Sai Mun in Yasothorn, Mr Adul said. Roongrak was seen using the car for personal use, including golf trips, he said.
Roongrak was expected to serve 50 years in prison — the maximum jail term. Satiraphorn faces 12 years and a 240,000-baht fine, while Phongsiri faces 16 years and a 320,000-baht fine.
However, the court suspended the jail terms for both Roongrak and Satiraphorn because they did not have priors. The court has ordered them to pay the fines and do 36 hours of community service. They are required to report to the court every four months.
RTP probes death of cadet during training session
PUBLISHED : 13 Oct 2023 at 04:00
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) office has launched a fact-finding probe into the death of a non-commissioned officer cadet who died after a training session in Songkhla on Tuesday.
The investigation into the death of Pakorn ‘Bright’ Niamrat, 26, who died during cadet training at the Than Muk camp in Sadao district of Songkhla was now underway, said national police chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol yesterday.
Pol Gen Torsak said he had ordered a thorough inquiry and remedial assistance to be made available to the family of the dead cadet.
The probe was necessary to ensure fair treatment for all sides. The Border Patrol Police (BPP), to which Pakorn was attached, have offered their condolences to his family.
Pakorn first arrived at the camp for basic training on Oct 1.
According to the RTP, Pakorn joined 99 other cadets in the training. Cadets were asked beforehand if they suffered from any underlying illnesses.
The training began at 5.30am on Tuesday with the stretching of muscles for 20 minutes, followed by a 7-kilometre walk-and-run session.
Six kilometres into the session, Pakorn was visibly disoriented and collapsed and became unresponsive. According to paramedics, he had a temperature of 37.5C.
Pakorn was rushed to Sadao Hospital, where doctors established he had developed a severe case of sepsis. He was then referred to Hat Yai Hospital, where his heart stopped beating.
Pavitra, who is Pakorn’s sister, said she had been told her brother was too weak to run the entire circuit. However, he had to be carried by friends to complete the running course on the trainer’s instructions. She asked if the training was excessive.