CPF Special Accounts for those 55 and above closed on Jan 19; members to be notified from Jan 20
ENGAGEMENT MATCHED RETIREMENT SCHEME In order to increase top Singaporeans ‘ retirement benefits, the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme was established in 2021 to assist them in growing their savings and increasing their superannuation benefits.  , ” The authorities had matched every dollar of income top-ups made to the Retirement AccountsContinue Reading
Frightened elephant tramples on fair visitors in NE Thailand
PUBLISHED: 19 Jan 2025 at 12: 53
NONG BUA LAM PHU: No one was really upset when an elephant threw a five persons at a fair during the opening ceremony in this northern territory on Saturday evening.
The incident occurred at the Red Cross good in Nong Bua Lam Phu’s Muang area on Saturday at around 7.30pm, according to disaster elimination and prevention officials.
The 10-year-old female elephant and its Surin provincial mahout made their way to the good to buy sugarcane to fairgoers who were feeding the pachyderm.
When lights were lit during the event’s opening ceremony, the startled rhino ran over five persons, causing minor injury.  ,
A few kilometers from the fairgrounds, animal development officials were spotted with the rhino and the mahout. The mahout claimed that he had never requested permission to travel to the fair or to relocate the elephant from Surin, the country’s capital, to Nong Bua Lam Phu.
Irawati Karve: India’s trailblazing female anthropologist who challenged Nazi race theories
Urmilla DeshpandeIrawati Karve lived a lifestyle unlike those around her.
Born in British-ruled India, and at a time when people didn’t have some rights or freedoms, Karve did the inevitable: she pursued higher reports in a foreign land, became a university professor and India’s first female archaeologist.
She also had the honor of marrying a man of her choosing, swam in a bathing suit, drove a scooter, and even dared to refute a racist theory from her doctoral advisor, a well-known German anthropologist named Eugen Fischer.
She is a pioneer in the development of Indian culture, civilization, and its caste system, and her writings are included in Indian colleges ‘ curriculum. She continues to be a mysterious figure in history, and much of her life’s history is still unknown.
Urmilla Deshpande and Thiago Pinto Barbosa, the author of the new book Iru: The Remarkable Life of Irawati Karve, sheds light on her fascinating life and the many odds she braved to set a trail for the women and men who followed her.
Born in 1905 in Burma ( now Myanmar ), Irawati was named after the Irrawaddy river. She was cared on by her family and raised in peace, the only girl out of six siblings.
However, the young girl’s life unexpectedly turned around, giving her experiences that would influence her. Irawati’s life also crossed paths with strong women, along with strong, progressive, empathic men who helped her overcome obstacles and cheered her on along the way.
Irawati was accepted to boarding school in Pune at the age of seven, a rare opportunity given to her father when most girls were forced to marry. She met RP Paranjpye, a well-known educator from Pune, whose family unofficially adopted Irawati and raised her as their own.
Irawati was given a way of life in the Paranjpye household that promoted critical thinking and upright living, even if that meant going against the grain of Indian society. Paranjpye, who Irawati fondly called “appa” or her” second father”, was a man far ahead of his times.
Urmilla DeshpandeA college principal and staunch supporter of women’s education, he was also an atheist. Irawati helped him discover the fascinating social science field and its implications for society.
When Irawati decided to pursue a doctorate in anthropology in Berlin, despite her biological father’s objections, she found support in Paranjpye and her husband, Dinkar Karve, a professor of science.
After a day-long shipwreck in 1927, she arrived in the German city and began studying with Fischer, a renowned professor of anthropology and eugenics, as her mentor.
Hitler had not yet come to power, and at the time, Germany was still suffering from World War One’s effects. However, the spectre of anti-Semitism had begun to rear its ugly head. When Irawati learned one day that a Jewish student had been murdered, she was the one who bore witness to this hatred.
The authors of the book describe Irawati’s fear, shock, and disgust when she saw the man’s body strewn across the concrete as blood poured down from her building.
Irawati struggled with these feelings while completing Fischer’s thesis, which was intended to demonstrate that white Europeans were more logical and reasonable and, consequently, racially superior to non-white Europeans. This involved meticulously studying and measuring 149 human skulls.
Fischer posited that white Europeans had asymmetrical skulls to accommodate larger right frontal lobes, a supposedly sign of higher intelligence. However, Irawati’s research found no correlation between race and skull asymmetry.
” She had contradicted Fischer’s hypothesis, of course, but also the theories of that institute and the mainstream theories of the time”, the authors write in the book.
She boldly presented her findings, risking her mentor’s ire and her degree. Although Fischer gave her the lowest grade, her research critically and scientifically rejected the use of differences to justify discrimination. ( Fischer would join the Nazi party in the future and use Fischer’s theories of racial superiority to advance their agenda. )
Urmilla DeshpandeIrawati would display this streak of gumption and unending empathy throughout her life, especially for the women she encountered.
After returning to India, Irawati went on field trips to remote villages in India, sometimes with her male coworkers, occasionally with her students and even her children, to study the lives of various tribespeople. At the same time, it was unthinkable for a woman to travel too far away from home.
She joined archaeological expeditions to recover 15, 000-year-old bones, bridging the past and present. The book describes her sleeping in barns or truck beds and frequently going days with little food while these brutal journeys took her deep into forests and rugged terrain for weeks or months.
Irawati also bravely confronted societal and societal prejudices while engaging with people from all walks of life.
The authors describe how Irawati, a Chitpavan Brahmin from an traditionally vegetarian upper-caste Hindu community, bravely consumed partially raw meat from a tribal leader she wanted to study. She responded with openness and curiosity as a test of loyalty and a gesture of friendship.
Her studies fostered deep empathy for humanity, leading her to later criticise fundamentalism across religions, including Hinduism. She argued that everyone who called India home should do it.
The book describes a time when Irawati’s mind wandered to a startling realization that would forever alter her view of humanity as she contemplated the horrors the Nazis had inflicted on the Jews.
” In these reflections, Irawati learned the most difficult of lessons from Hindu philosophy: all that is you, too”, the authors write.
Irawati passed away in 1970, but her legacy lives on in the people she continues to inspire.
Beijing hails Nanning city as a new gateway to Asean region
Beijing is promoting Nanning, the investment of southwestern China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as a new doorway between China and Asean.
A group of 17 local and international media members and website content creators just received an explanation of the shift from Jiang Xuelin, deputy director of the Guangxi Branch of the China News Service.
The media staff were invited to visit Nanning and the Pingxiang border passing in Pingxiang area, also known as the” South Gate of China”, to practice Pingxiang’s growth.
The Publicity Department of the CPC Pingxiang Municipal Committee and the Guangxi Branch of China News Service organized the press tour under the slogan” Path to Nanning, Unlimited Options.”
” Nanning serves as a vital connection point between China and Asean officials and traders from the 10 Asian places”, Jiang told the group during the trip, referring to Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
While north China is being blanketed in winter, Nanning enjoys a spring-like environment with charms of culture, cuisine and a strong manufacturing industry, especially its potassium mining for electric vehicle batteries, he said.
” Over the past years, Nanning, under the instruction of]Chinese ] President Xi Jinping, has been transformed into a gateway for Asean countries with an aim to expand both land and maritime connectivity between China and this region”, Jiang said.
Despite his broad travels across the country, Mongkol Bangprapa, a consultant to the Thai Journalists Association and a Thai advertising rep who was present at Nanning, claimed he rarely considered Nanning to be one of his journey targets in China.
He claimed that his first visit had altered his opinion of the city’s significance in terms of tourism, culture, and economy because China has been working hard to promote trade and tourist routes through its southwestern region with Asean nations, specifically Vietnam.
The potential growth of these routes, particularly land-based cross-border hospitality, will have a significant impact on boosting trade and commerce between the Asean area and China, according to Mongkol. This will open up new opportunities for the tourism industries of Asean nations and southern China.
A high-speed train can travel between Nanning and Guilin, which is about 388 kilometers north of the city, in just two hours, according to Chinese authorities, making it a great choice for those who want to take in Guilin’s gastronomic delights and historical attractions after taking in the beauty of Guilin’s healthy beauty.
Nanning’s food offers special local specialties, such as lemon bird and Lao You Fen pasta, alongside other delicacies with forces from nearby regions like Yunnan, and ethnic minority food, such as You Cha, they say.
Additionally, the city offers Cantonese and Chaozhou cuisines, which, according to them, give the city a unique experience in comparison to Thai Chinese cuisine.
In addition, the Youyiguan Friendship Pass on the China-Vietnam border, once a key military site, is now a hub for trade and cross-border commerce between China and Asean, with Vietnam serving as a key transit point.
According to Chinese authorities, Pingxiang has made its doors more accessible to the outside world in recent years, promoted easier customs clearance at ports, expanded the port economy, and provided significant support for people’s lives.
According to some, the Friendship Pass is the biggest land port in China for fruit imports and exports. To adapt to the rapidly increasing customs clearance demands, the pass has implemented measures, such as peak-hour staggered customs clearance, and extended customs clearance hours.
By improving the ports ‘ operations, the city hopes to create a higher-quality business environment.
It has promoted the expansion of the China-Vietnam Friendship International Port at Friendship Pass in favor of the official operation of the Puzhai-Xinqing and Nongyao-Gunan passages this year.
A millennial learns to drive a bus in Singapore – on Roblox. What could go wrong?
During a new training program to be a bus drivers, I mounted many pavements, including when I reversed in the middle of a circle … onto another slope.
At a customers junction, I likewise overheated the brakes, and I stopped at a few meters past the stop line before turning the bus around. Rest, there were no cars behind me.
Therefore I did a three-point change that can only be described as a 12-point aberration. ( Demerit points, that is. ) I backed the vehicle into some trees. In my army, what were the trees doing there, anyway?  ,
About the only thing I did right was to always remember to use my sign signals when I entered and exited the vehicle harbor at vehicle stops. That compensated for the fact that I often forgot to shut the front and rear entrances before I attempted to drive off.
Luckily, all of this happened in Roblox, an online game room where players can create their own and others ‘ creations.  ,
In particular, I was learning to operate a bus in the fictional town of Bosham, which was created by the Tower Transit Singapore Roblox ( TTSR ) community and recreates real streets, traffic regulations, and even a bus depot in Singapore.
But, except for my self, there were no fatalities.
ROBLOX BUS COMMUNICATIONS SIMULATING REAL LIFE
I’ve cut my smile playing the popular restaurant moment control game Diner Dash, so I’m no stranger to video games that simulate daily tasks.  ,
Forum split on contraceptive jabs for Thailand’s wild elephants
PUBLISHED: 19 Jan 2025 at 07: 17
A forum on the use of contraceptives to reduce the number of wild elephants and address the problem of the animals wandering outside conservation areas was held by the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation ( DNP ).
The conference was attended by about 300 individuals, including affected populations, scientists, rhinoceros conservation groups and Members. Landscapes were split. Some favored contraceptive immunizations, while others believed that preventing wild elephants from eroding on nearby communities may require vaccinations.
DNP director-general Athapol Charoenshunsa said about 4, 013–4, 422 wild animals live in 91 protection locations statewide. The issue of wild animals wandering outside their designated environments affects populations in five forest structures: the Western Forest, the Eastern Forest, the Dong Phaya Yen–Khao Yai Forest, the Phu Khieo–Nam Nao Forest and the Kaeng Krachan Forest.
In more than 41 protection areas spread across 42 regions, conflicts between people and wild animals have been reported.
According to Mr. Athapol, wild animals that roam outside of trees have damaged both agricultural and domestic areas, sometimes causing fatalities. Since 2012, crazy animals have caused 240 incidents and 208 deaths, he said. According to Mr. Athapol, the need to solve the problem was immediate.
A committee on national elephant protection and administration has established guidelines for six different areas: protection for wild elephants, barriers to the movement of wild elephants, a monitoring and society system, aid for those who are impacted, responsible management of areas to handle wild elephants, and reducing wild elephant populations through birth control vaccines.
The use of vaccines as a tool to reduce the elephant population is supported by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on.  ,
The department has collaborated with Chiang Mai University’s Elephant and Wildlife Health Centre to conduct research into the use of SpayVac contraceptives. These vaccines, previously used on African elephants, were tested in April 2024 on seven adult female elephants. According to Mr. Athapol, each vaccine dose was shown to suppress hormone levels for carrying babies for up to seven years and was shown to not have an impact on elephant behavior.
The high cost of importing vaccines and the logistical difficulties of using them, according to Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, head of the National Park Office. Elephants and people are at risk from vaccinations in wild animals, and it takes skilled teams to carry them.
Mr Chaiwat said the vaccination project should be cancelled, and other options pursued, such as reclaiming habitats for these animals.
Forum split on jabs for wild elephants
PUBLISHED: 19 Jan 2025 at 07: 17
A forum on the use of contraceptives to reduce the number of wild elephants and address the problem of the animals wandering outside conservation areas was held by the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation ( DNP ).
The conference was attended by about 300 individuals, including affected populations, scientists, rhino conservation groups and Members. Opinions were split. Some favored contraceptive vaccinations, while others believed that preventing wild elephants from eroding on nearby communities may require vaccinations.
DNP director-general Athapol Charoenshunsa said about 4, 013–4, 422 wild animals live in 91 protection locations nationwide. The issue of wild animals wandering outside their designated environments affects populations in five forest structures: the Western Forest, the Eastern Forest, the Dong Phaya Yen–Khao Yai Forest, the Phu Khieo–Nam Nao Forest and the Kaeng Krachan Forest.
In more than 41 protection areas spread across 42 regions, conflicts between people and wild animals have been reported.
According to Mr. Athapol, wild animals that roam outside of forests have damaged both agricultural and domestic areas, sometimes causing fatalities for people. Since 2012, crazy animals have caused 240 incidents and 208 deaths, he said. According to Mr. Athapol, the need to solve the problem was serious.
A committee on national elephant protection and administration has established guidelines for six different areas, including controlling wild elephant communities with birth control vaccines, barriers to access to wild elephants, a tracking and area network, and support for those who are impacted.
The use of vaccines to reduce the rhino community is supported by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Chalermchai Sri-on.  ,
The ministry collaborated with Chiang Mai University’s Elephant and Wildlife Health Centre to conduct research on the use of SpayVac contraceptives. These vaccines, formerly used on American elephant, were tested in April 2024 on seven mature female animals. According to Mr. Athapol, each vaccine dose was shown to inhibit hormone production for up to seven years and never interfere with elephant behavior.
The high cost of importing vaccinations and the operational difficulties of using them, according to Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, head of the National Park Office. Elephants and people are at risk from vaccinations in wild animals, and it takes experienced teams to carry them out.
Mr Chaiwat said the vaccination job may be cancelled, and various options pursued, such as recovering environments for these species.
Father Thaksin’s busy agenda could be Paetongtarn’s undoing
Common concerns grow about Pheu Thai policies ‘ stuff.
Given her social experience and age, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra‘s ascendancy to power is a little early. However, her choice as one of the three Pheu Thai Party prime minister prospects suggested she was prepared to take the position.
Following the removal of Srettha Thavisin by a court ruling in August of last year, the People’s Party ( PP )’s growing popularity significantly contributed to the party’s decision to support her as prime minister.
This is a crucial chance for Pheu Thai to demonstrate its leadership abilities given the current political climate, where opportunities for doing so may be constrained. Mr Paetongtarn also is the group’s most practical member, with the support of her parents, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Ms. Paetongtarn has unveiled a scheme plan that aims to create opportunities and accomplish different objectives since taking office.
Many of the initiatives of the Paetongtarn government are based on those taken from the Srettha case and earlier initiatives taken into place under the Thaksin management. Some of the visions Thaksin outlined in several forums are similar to one another.
The implementation of the government’s premier digital wallet program, for instance, followed Thaksin’s notes at a” Vision for Thailand 2024″ statement at the Siam Paragon buying complex.
According to Thaksin, the committee responsible for the initiative stated that an initial budget of 145 billion baht would be distributed to vulnerable people by September ( last year ).
The government’s first cabinet meeting saw the adoption of an economic trigger plan for 2024 that aimed to reach the 12.4 million first-time recipients of the money flyer, which included 2.15 million people with disabilities and 12.4 million with state security accounts. Bills started on September 25.
Thaksin made the hints that the elderly would be the next target group to receive the handout during a campaign rally for a Pheu Thai candidate running for chairman in Udon Thani during a rally for the provincial administrative organization ( PAO ) chairman election.
The second phase of the electric pocket plan is set to be released soon after this month’s announcement by the state.
Different schemes set to move out this year such as the” One District, One Award” and the” One District, One June Camp” plans to increase training opportunities for underprivileged kids are modelled on the Thaksin president’s” One District, One Scholarship” initiative.
Following Thaksin’s speech in Udon Thani, where he promised the crowd that those who wanted to own homes would soon see their dreams come true, the” Home for Thais” housing project, presided over by Ms. Paetongtarn on Friday, also took place.
The state also pushed forward plans to legalise casino-entertainment structures. The Entertainment Complex Bill was approved by the government on January 5th, according to a battle speech delivered in Chiang Rai.
This led to criticism and the expression” What the father sees, the girl does” in the media, which led to the perception that Thaksin had greater influence over the government.
This is similar to the tagline” Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does”, adopted by the group when Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s younger girl, was prime minister.
The Yingluck state faced criticism for a number of guidelines, especially the rice-pledging system, which caused significant financial losses, and the cover asylum law, which sparked street protests and led to the 2014 revolution.
According to Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a lecturer in political science at the National Institute of Development Administration ( NIDA ), the level of opposition to Thaksin’s vision will determine whether the Paetongtarn cabinet will face a situation similar to the Yingluck government.
The casino-entertainment complex project, which he claimed is considered Thaksin’s brainchild, has the potential to sway opposition because it did not fulfill its promises during the 2023 general election campaign.
He claimed the Pheu Thai Party has responded quickly to the issue and that it is likely to pique the interest of a large audience, adding that the casino-entertainment complex project is generating” What the father envisions, the daughter does” sentiment.
The outline of the” Home for Thais” housing project is similar to the corruption-plagued Baan Eua Arthorn housing project. Watana Muangsook, a former Pheu Thai member and former minister of social development and human security, received a 50-year prison sentence from the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for his role in the scheme.
The 2001 memorandum of understanding ( MoU) on maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand, which is being revived, is also apparently part of Thaksin’s agenda and has sparked opposition, Mr Phichai said.
” These three issues and the possible return of Yingluck are a political timebomb”, he said, referring to Thaksin’s remarks that his sister might return right around this year’s Songkran festival.
Other risks, according to Mr. Phichai, include internal rifts within the coalition government that could lead to a House collapse and pending cases against the Pheu Thai Party filed with independent public agencies.
Phichai: A political timebomb
South Korea court extends Yoon’s detention, protesters storm court
Seok Dong-hyeon, one of Yoon’s doctors, said the prosecutor’s decision was “really hard to understand” but asked for quiet.
” For expressions of anger are natural, but if they go too far and continue to be aggressive, they could be caught up in precise problems or counter-attacks by leftist makes”, he said. ” We need to be calm”, he said in a Facebook post.
So far, denying the claims that he masterminded rebellion, Yoon has stonewalled work by the CIO to examine him, refusing to attend questioning. Yoon’s position in the lengthy detention was uncertain.
One of the few crimes against which a South Korean president does not have immunity is the rebellion, which Yoon may be accused of.
Yoon’s political forces were suspended on December 14 when politicians impeached him. The Constitutional Court is deliberating whether to support the impeachment, remove him entirely, or restore his powers, separate from the judicial investigation that caused Sunday’s chaos.  ,
Father’s busy agenda could be Paetongtarn’s undoing
Common concerns grow about Pheu Thai policies ‘ stuff.
Given her age and social experience, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra‘s ascendancy to power is a little early. However, her choice as one of the three Pheu Thai Party prime minister prospects suggested that she was prepared to take the position.
Following the removal of Srettha Thavisin by a court ruling in August of last year, the People’s Party ( PP )’s growing popularity significantly contributed to the party’s decision to support her as prime minister.
This is a crucial chance for Pheu Thai to demonstrate its management abilities given the current political climate, where opportunities for doing so may be constrained. Mr Paetongtarn also is the group’s most practical member, with the support of her parents, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Since taking office, Ms. Paetongtarn has unveiled a scheme agenda that aims to create opportunities and accomplish different objectives.
Many of the initiatives of the Paetongtarn government are based on those taken from the Srettha case and earlier initiatives taken into place under the Thaksin management. Some of the ideas Thaksin outlined in several forums are similar to one another.
The implementation of the government’s premier digital wallet program, for instance, followed Thaksin’s notes at a” Vision for Thailand 2024″ statement at the Siam Paragon buying complex.
According to Thaksin, who cited the committee responsible for the program, an initial expenditure of 145 billion ringgit may be distributed to vulnerable citizens by September ( last year ).
An economic stimulus plan for 2024 was approved by the government’s first government conference, which included 2.15 million people with disabilities and 12.4 million people with state security cards as the first beneficiaries of the money flyer. On September 25, the payment started.
Thaksin made hints that the elderly would be the next target group to receive the handout during a campaign rally for a Pheu Thai candidate running for chairman in Udon Thani during a rally for the provincial administrative organization ( PAO ) chairman election.
The government made the second phase of the digital wallet structure soon after, with distribution scheduled to start later this month.
Different schemes set to move out this year such as the” One District, One Award” and the” One District, One June Camp” plans to increase training opportunities for underprivileged kids are modelled on the Thaksin president’s” One District, One Scholarship” initiative.
Following Thaksin’s speech in Udon Thani, where he promised the crowd that those who wanted to own homes would soon see their dreams come true, the” Home for Thais” housing project, presided over by Ms. Paetongtarn on Friday, also took place.
The state also pushed forward plans to legalise casino-entertainment compounds. The Entertainment Complex Bill was approved by the government on January 5th, and Thaksin backed the plan during a promotion conversation in Chiang Rai.
This led to criticism and the expression “what the father anticipates, the princess does” in the media, which the public now sees as having greater influence over the government.
This is similar to the credo” Thaksin thinks, Pheu Thai does”, adopted by the group when Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s younger girl, was prime minister.
The Yingluck state faced criticism for a number of policies, especially the rice-pledging system, which caused significant financial losses, and the cover amnesty law, which sparked street protests and led to the coup in 2014, among others.
According to Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a lecturer in political science at the National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ), whether the Paetongtarn cabinet will face a situation akin to the Yingluck government will depend on the level of opposition to Thaksin’s vision.
Because it was not among its vows during the 2023 general election campaign, he claimed, and because it is considered Thaksin’s founder, the casino-entertainment complicated project has the potential to sway opposition.
He claimed the Pheu Thai Party responded quickly to the issue and that it is likely to pique the interest of a large audience. The casino-entertainment complex project is also contributing to the” What the father envisions, the daughter does” proverb.
The design of the” Home for Thais” housing project is similar to the corruption-plagued Baan Eua Arthorn cover job. Watana Muangsook, a previous Pheu Thai part and former minister of social development and human security, was given a 50-year sentence by the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions for his role in the program.
The 2001 memorandum of understanding ( MoU) on maritime claims in the Gulf of Thailand, which is being revived, is also apparently part of Thaksin’s agenda and has sparked opposition, Mr Phichai said.
” These three problems and the possible gain of Yingluck are a democratic timebomb”, he said, referring to Thaksin’s comment that his sister might gain right around this month’s Songkran event.
Other risks, according to Mr. Phichai, include domestic disagreements within the coalition government that could lead to the collapse of the House, as well as pending Pheu Thai Party legal proceedings that have been filed with separate public authorities.
Phichai: A social timebomb