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Thailand Urged Not To Deport Trans Woman Charged in Malaysia

Photos of Nur Sajat from Instagram.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A human rights group urged Thailand not to deport a transgender businesswoman to her home country of Malaysia, where she is charged under Islamic laws for insulting Islam by cross-dressing.

Malaysian police are seeking to extradite Nur Sajat, 36, who left the country after she was charged in an Islamic court in January for bringing contempt to Islam by dressing in feminine clothing at a religious event in 2018. Sajat, who runs a cosmetics business, faces up to three years in jail for the offense.

Sajat failed to appear for a February court hearing and reportedly received death threats after she mulled renouncing Islam in a video on social media that has now been removed.

Malaysian police said in a statement late Monday that Sajat was detained by Thai authorities on Sept 8 for having an invalid passport. She was charged with immigration offenses and released on bail. The statement didn’t say why her passport was canceled. Police said she is wanted in Malaysia for other offenses, including obstructing authorities in carrying out their duties.

Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch deputy Asia director, said the U.N. Refugee Agency has granted Sajat refugee status and that she shouldn’t be sent back under any circumstances.

“She needs to be sent to a country that will offer rights protections, not persecuted for being #LGBT which is what will happen if she is sent to Malaysia,” he tweeted late Monday. Local media reported that Sajat plans to seek refuge in Australia.

The UNHCR agency couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

Malaysia has a dual-track legal system. Shariah laws govern Muslims, who account for two-thirds of Malaysia’s 32 million people, in family, marriage and personal issues. Ethnic Chinese, Indian and other minorities are covered by civil laws.

Rights activists say the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has faced increasing harassment with the rise of conservative Islam.

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FBI Searches Florida Home of Gabby Petito’s Boyfriend

Law enforcement officials investigate home of a young man wanted for questioning in the disappearance of his girlfriend, Gabby Petito, on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021 in North Port, Fla. Photo: Curt Anderson / AP

NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — FBI agents and police Monday searched the home of the boyfriend wanted for questioning in the death of 22-year-old Gabby Petito, whose body was discovered over the weekend at a Wyoming national park months after the couple set out on a cross-country road trip.

The FBI gave no details on the search by at least a dozen law enforcement officers, but agents removed several boxes and towed away a car that neighbors said was typically used by 23-year-old Brian Laundrie’s mother. Local media said Laundrie’s parents were seen getting into a police vehicle.

Laundrie and Petito had been living with his parents at the North Port home before the road trip on which she died.

The young couple had set out in July in a converted van to visit national parks in the West. They got into a fight along the way, and Laundrie was alone when he returned in the van to his parents’ home on Sept. 1, police said.

In Wyoming, the FBI announced on Sunday that agents had discovered a body on the edge of Grand Teton National Park, which the couple had visited. No details on the cause of death were released. An autopsy was set for Tuesday.

“Full forensic identification has not been completed to confirm 100% that we found Gabby, but her family has been notified,” FBI agent Charles Jones said.

Laundrie has been named a person of interest in the case, but his whereabouts in recent days were unknown.

Petito’s father, Joseph, posted on social media an image of a broken heart above a picture of his daughter, with the message: “She touched the world.”

In an interview broadcast Monday on TV’s “Dr. Phil” show, Joseph Petito said Laundrie and his daughter had dated for 2 1/2 years, and Laundrie was “always respectful.” During the interview, which was recorded before his daughter’s body was found, Petito said the couple had taken a previous road trip to California in her car and there were no problems.

“If there were, I would have discouraged going on the trip,” Petito said.

Petito said his family began worrying after several days without hearing from their daughter.

“We called Brian, we called the mom, we called the dad, we called the sister, we called every number that we could find,” Petito said. “No phone calls were picked up, no text messages were returned.”

Petito said he wants Laundrie to be held accountable for whatever part he played in Gabby’s disappearance, along with his family for protecting him.

“I hope they get what’s coming, and that includes his folks,” Petito said. “Because I’ll tell you, right now, they are just as complicit, in my book.”

The FBI said investigators are seeking information from anyone who may have seen the couple around Grand Teton.

Police looking for Laundrie searched a 24,000-acre Florida nature preserve over the weekend without success. Investigators had focused intently on the area after Laundrie’s parents told police he may have gone there.

Petito and Laundrie were childhood sweethearts who met while growing up on New York’s Long Island. His parents later moved to North Port, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) south of Sarasota.

A man who saw Petito and Laundrie fighting in Moab, Utah, on Aug. 12 called 911 to report a domestic violence incident, according to a recording of the call obtained from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office. The man said that he saw Laundrie slap Petito while walking through the town and proceeded to hit her before the two got in their van and drove off.

Video released by the Moab police showed that an officer pulled the couple’s van over on the same day after it was seen speeding and hitting a curb near Arches National Park. The body-camera footage showed an upset Petito.

Laundrie said on the video that the couple had gotten into a scuffle after he climbed into the van with dirty feet. He said he did not want to pursue a domestic violence charge against Petito, who officers decided was the aggressor.

Moab police separated the couple for the night, with Laundrie checking into a motel and Petito remaining with the van.

In the footage, Gabby Petito cried as she told the officer that she and Laundrie had been arguing over her excessive cleaning of the van. She told the officer she has OCD — obsessive compulsive disorder.

On “Dr. Phil,” her father said that wasn’t literally true. She just likes to keep her living area orderly and was using slang, he said.

Story: Curt Anderson

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K-Pop Stars BTS Dip Into Global Diplomacy at UN Gathering

Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, from left, V, Suga and Jin appear at the Sustainable Development Goals meeting during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Photo: John Angelillo / Pool via AP

It was a United Nations speech that got attention like few others — a plug for vaccines, young people and the earth’s well being from superstar K-pop band BTS.

Addressing the stage for a sustainability event, the seven-member musical juggernaut appeared before the renowned green-marbled backdrop in the General Assembly hall on Monday to help promote U.N. goals for 2030 including ending extreme poverty, preserving the planet and achieving gender equality.

“Every choice we make is the beginning of change, not the end,” said RM, the band’s leader.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in introduced the pop stars as special presidential envoys and an “exceptionally outstanding group of young men who are connecting with the youth across the world.”

The gravity of the moment wasn’t lost on the musicians standing before world leaders and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Nerves were evident when band member Jimin stumbled over his words while talking about young people trying to navigate the pandemic. Jimin apologized before taking a breath to recollect himself. It was a moment that prompted the “BTS ARMY” of fans to rally behind him in a show of support on social media. The artists took turns on stage during their seven-minute speech.

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Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS watch a music video on the General Assembly Hall monitors during a meeting on Sustainable Development Goals at the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Photo: John Angelillo / Pool Photo via AP

But it wasn’t all about U.N. goals. The group also unveiled a new music video for its current hit single “Permission to Dance,” which was filmed at U.N. Headquarters in New York. The singers crooned, “Don’t need to talk the talk, just walk the walk,” while dancing their way from the General Assembly hall to the garden overlooking the East River.

Since its debut in 2013, BTS has garnered global recognition for its self-produced music and activism, which also includes publicly calling out anti-Asian racism. The band topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart three times in 2020, and was nominated for prominent music awards like Billboard Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards.

Monday’s speech marked the group’s second appearance at the U.N. The band took part in an event in 2018, when RM spoke about its work with UNICEF.

Story: Sally Ho 

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Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, RM, left, and Jung Kook appear at the Sustainable Development Goals meeting during the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the United Nations Headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Photo: John Angelillo / Pool via AP
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Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, from left, V, Suga, Jin, RM, Jung Kook, Jimin and J-Hope appear at the United Nations meeting on Sustainable Development Goals during the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters on Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Photo: John Angelillo / Pool via AP
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OnlyFans Creator Arrested, Charged for Porn Content

Police arrest OnlyFans creator "Kainaoa" and her boyfriend in Samut Prakan on Sept. 20, 2021.

BANGKOK — Police on Monday night arrested a 19-year-old adult video creator on pornography charges, following a threat to crack down on online materials considered to be obscene.

The suspect, known by her OnlyFans account name “Kainaoa,” was arrested at a hotel in Samut Prakan province. She was charged with making and distributing pornographic content for commercial purposes.

Her 20-year-old boyfriend, who also appeared in some of the explicit videos she posted online, was arrested on similar charges. They face up to three years in prison if found guilty.

The arrests came after senior police officials warned over the weekend that people who make obscene videos and photos in exchange for membership fees on websites like OnlyFans are liable to be prosecuted under pornography laws.

Deputy police spokesman Siriwat Deepor told reporters Monday that violators may also be charged with the Computer Crime Act, which outlaws distribution of pornographic materials on the internet.

Thai laws do not ban the possession of pornography that depicts individuals over the age of 18, though the creation, dissemination and monetizing of such materials is considered illegal.

Kainaoa was initially summoned to be questioned by police, but officers instead applied for an arrest warrant and apprehended her at the hotel she was staying.

Col. Siriwat said cybercrime police are investigating other OnlyFans creators, though he did not mention any individual by name.

The spokesman also encouraged any concerned citizens with information on people breaking the pornography laws to alert the police by dialing 199 or 1599, 24 hours a day.

In August, OnlyFans said it would ban sexually explicit content on its platform, but it soon reversed its policy following an outcry from creators and advocates for sex workers.

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MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL AND KTC MAKE THAILAND TRAVEL MORE AFFORDABLE WITH INSTALLMENT-BASED PAYMENTS AND 0% INTEREST

Under an extended and expanded partnership, up to 2.58 million KTC cardholders in the Kingdom can stay and celebrate in style, then spread their payments over three, six or ten months, interest-free

Marriott International has extended its exciting partnership with Krungthai Card PCL (KTC), one of Thailand’s largest and most respected payment providers, to give local guests with even more affordable ways to stay and celebrate in style throughout the Kingdom.

Through this innovative agreement, Marriott’s guests will benefit from installment-based payment plans and 0% interest on their purchases, when they pay using any KTC credit card. Guests can book their dream staycation, dining experience or special occasion at 28 participating Marriott hotels and resorts across Thailand, then spread their payments over three, six or ten months, with zero interest installments. A minimum spend of just THB 3,000 and a maximum of THB 200,000 is required. Visit www.ktc.co.th/marriott to learn more. 

This affordable arrangement will make it even easier for KTC’s 2.58 million card members in Thailand to travel domestically and experience the many wonders of their home nation. It can also be used at hotel restaurants and bars, and even to pay for events such as weddings, so everyone can make their wishes come true with Marriott and KTC. This program will play an important role in supporting domestic tourism and stimulating the Kingdom’s travel and hospitality industries.

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And that’s not all! From July 2021 onwards, KTC credit card holders will be able to exchange their KTC FOREVER points for Marriott Bonvoy points, giving members additional options when they want to stay and spend at Marriott hotels and resorts in Thailand. Under this arrangement, 240 Marriott Bonvoy points can be purchased for 600 KTC FOREVER.

“We are delighted to extend this promotion with KTC, one of Thailand’s leading payment providers. During this challenging time, it is vital that we work closely together with our esteemed partners to find original ways of driving demand and helping our customers. This attractive agreement will enable guests to travel in a highly cost-effective way, while creating broader benefits for the entire economy,” said Jakob Helgen, Area Vice President, Marriott International – Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

image3 8“KTC is very pleased to announce its latest collaboration with Marriott International – our 30th joint marketing campaign in the last five years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, KTC has adjusted its marketing strategy to support and promote business alliances. As a result, we are delighted to offer KTC credit card members the opportunity to ‘Stay Now, Pay Later’ at Marriott’s renowned hotels before anyone else. We sincerely hope that the launch of this campaign will help to stimulate a rise in domestic spending and support KTC card members when travelling in Thailand,” stated Ms. Prym Panyasereeporn, Vice President – Credit Card Business (Hotel Marketing), KTC.

 

 

By booking with Marriott International, KTC’s cardholders will be able to discover a wide range of desirable destinations. Guests can book an energizing urban staycation in Bangkok, an idyllic island escape in Phuket, Koh Samui or Krabi, a blissful beachfront break in Rayong or Khao Lak, a fun-filled family holiday in Hua Hin or Pattaya, or a captivating cultural retreat in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. With 13 distinct brands ranging from modern midscale hotels to ultra-luxury resorts, every guest can find their perfect property.

Marriott International will also raise awareness of this initiative among its Marriott Bonvoy members, who can earn points when they book and pay using their KTC card. Not a member yet? CLICK HERE to sign-up for free!

KTC card members can register online via www.ktc.co.th/marriott every time a transaction is made between now and 31 December 2021.

For more information about these two forward-thinking partners, please visit www.marriott.com or www.ktc.co.th.

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CP Group announced as Global Compact LEAD, recognized for ongoing commitment to the UN Global Compact and its Ten Principles

UNITED NATIONS, 20 September 2021 —Charoen Pokphand Group Company Limited or (C.P. Group) has today been announced as a Global Compact LEAD participant for its ongoing commitment to the United Nations Global Compact and its Ten Principles for responsible business.image3 7

C.P. Group was identified as being among the most highly-engaged participants of the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative.

Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, said, “LEAD companies represent the highest level of engagement with the UN Global Compact. More than ever before, the world needs businesses of all sizes — like the ones announced as LEAD today — that continuously work to improve their sustainability performance and take action to build a better world.”

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Mr. Suphachai Chearavanont, Chief Executive Officer Charoen Pokphand Group (C.P. Group) and President of the Global Compact Network Association of Thailand, said, “This recognition affirms C.P. Group’s commitment to our partnership with the UN Global Compact to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals Agenda. We are committed to make sure our value chains reach the highest standards of transparency as well as sustainability by becoming carbon neutral by 2030. With our deep commitment to create benefits for the countries and communities in which we operate, we will continue to take a proactive role and intensify our efforts in key areas across climate change, biodiversity, health and well-being, and job creation.”

To be eligible for LEAD, a company must:

  1. Be a participant in at least two UN Global Compact Action Platforms to demonstrate its engagement with the UN Global Compact and commitment to defining and fostering leadership practices in line with the Ten Principles and the Global Goals
  2. Submit or commit to submitting an Advanced Communication on Progress — an annual sustainability report detailing progress on implementing the Ten Principles.

C.P. Group has demonstrated its commitment to the UN Global Compact this year by participating in Action Platforms on the Decent Work in Global Supply Chains and Climate Ambition. Each UN Global Compact Action Platform convenes business, Global Compact Local Networks, leading experts, civil society, Governments and UN partners to solve complex and interconnected issues and innovate around the Sustainable Development Goals. C.P. Group’s Communication on Progress (CoP) and other related information is available in its Participant profile on the UN Global Compact website https://www.unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/participants/2022-Charoen-Pokphand-Group-Co-Ltd-C-P-Group-

Since joining the UN Global Compact in 2016, C.P. Group has been proud to be part of a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders. By adopting a principles-based approach to sustainability, C.P. Group is taking shared responsibility for building a better world.

More Information https://www.unglobalcompact.org/news/4785-09-19-2021

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About Charoen Pokphand Group Company Limited

For a century, the Charoen Pokphand Group (or C.P. Group) has been producing quality products and services not only to serve rising demand but to operate its businesses through professional, ethical, and moral practices that have been well received throughout the world.  The C.P. Group’s strong commitment to the ‘3-Benefits’ principle has contributed to the organization’s sustainable growth which is to be of benefit to all countries it has invested in, to be of benefit to the people of those societies and to be of benefit to the company that consists of shareholders, executives, and employees. 

Currently, the C.P. Group’s core businesses cover agri-food-industry, retail, and telecommunication. It operates and has offices in more than 21 countries, with the engagement of over 400,000 employees worldwide. The C.P. Group is recognized as a major contributor in the development of the Thai economy and society as well as those of all countries it has invested in.

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Body Found in Wyoming Believed To Be Gabrielle Petito

This combo of photos provided by FBI Denver via @FBIDenver shows missing person Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito. Photo: Courtesy of FBI Denver via AP

MOOSE, Wyo. (AP) — Authorities say a body discovered Sunday in Wyoming is believed to be Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, who disappeared while on a cross-country trek with a boyfriend who has been identified by authorities as a person of interest and is now being sought within a Florida nature preserve.

The FBI said the body was found by law enforcement agents who had spent the past two days searching campgrounds.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Charles Jones.

“Full forensic identification has not been completed to confirm 100% that we found Gabby, but her family has been notified,” Jones said. “This is an incredibly difficult time for (Petito’s) family and friends.”

An attorney who has been acting as a spokesman for Petito’s family asked in a statement that the family be given room to grieve.

Attorney Richard Benson Stafford indicated that the family would make a public statement at a later date, and he thanked officials with the FBI, Grand Teton Search and Rescue and other agencies that participated in the search for Petito.

“The family and I will be forever grateful,” Stafford said in a statement.

An undeveloped camping area on the east side of Grand Teton bordering national forest land will remain closed until further notice while the investigation continues, Jones said.

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This photo provided by North Port Police Department, law enforcement officials conduct a search of the vast Carlton Reserve in the Sarasota, Fla., area for Brian Laundrie on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. Photo: North Port Police Department via AP

Jones said investigators are still seeking information from anyone who may have seen Petito or Brian Laundrie around the camp sites, the same area that was the subject of law enforcement search efforts over the weekend.

Petito and her boyfriend, Laundrie, left in July on a cross-country trek in a converted van to visit national parks in the U.S. West. Police said Laundrie was alone when he drove the van back to his parents’ home in North Port, Florida, on Sept. 1.

Laundrie has been identified as a person of interest in the case. He was last seen Tuesday by family members in Florida.

More than 50 law enforcement officers on Sunday started a second day of searching for Laundrie at the more than 24,000-acre (9,712-hectare) Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida, a wildlife area with more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) of trails, as well as campgrounds.

Petito’s family filed a missing persons report Sept. 11 with police in Suffolk County, New York.

Petito’s family had been pleading for the Laundrie family to tell them where their son last saw her. Petito and Laundrie were childhood sweethearts who met while growing up on Long Island, New York. His parents later moved to North Port, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) south of Sarasota.

The couple’s trek in the Ford Transit van began in July from Long Island. They intended to reach Oregon by the end of October, according to their social media accounts, but Petito vanished after her last known contact with family in late August from Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, authorities said.

Police video released by the Moab Police Department in Utah showed that an officer pulled the van over on Aug. 12 after it was seen speeding and hitting a curb near the entrance to Arches National Park. The body cam video showed an emotional Petito, who sat inside a police cruiser while officers also questioned Laundrie.

Moab police ultimately decided not file any charges and instead separated the couple for the night, with Laundrie checking into a motel and Petito remaining with the converted sleeper van.

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Emmys: ‘Crown,’ ‘Lasso,’ ‘Queen’s Gambit,’ Streaming Triumph

This combination of photos shows, from left, Pedro Pascal in "The Mandalorian," Olivia Colman in "The Crown," Jason Sudeikis in "Ted Lasso" and Jean Smart in "Hacks." Photo: Disney+/Netflix/Apple TV+/HBO Max via AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Netflix’s “The Crown” and “The Queen’s Gambit” combined with Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” to win top series honors at the Sunday’s Emmy Awards, a first for streaming services that cemented their rise to prominence in the television industry.

“I’m at a loss for words,” said Peter Morgan, the creator and writer of the British royal saga “The Crown,” which collected acting, writing and directing awards in addition to four acting honors.

His comment may also apply to the premium cable channels that once dominated the Emmy Awards and to the broadcast networks — including Sunday’s ceremony host, CBS — that have long grown accustomed to being largely also-rans.

Netflix won a leading total of 44 awards, equaling the broadcast network record set back in 1974, by CBS. The streaming service, which fielded the first drama series nominee, “House of Cards” in 2007, finally won the category.

Newcomer Apple TV+’s first top series came less than two years after it launched.

“The Crown” and “The Queen’s Gambit” tied as leaders with 11 awards each, with “Ted Lasso” topping the comedy side with seven trophies.

There was a bright spot for HBO with its limited series “Mare of Easttown,” the crime drama that earned four Emmys, including a lead acting award for star Kate Winslet. For broadcaster NBC, “Saturday Night Live” again came through with variety honors.

The ceremony proved disappointing as well to those scrutinizing diversity in Hollywood. The record number of nominees of color yielded only two Black winners, including RuPaul for “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and star-creator Michaela Coel’s writing award for “I May Destroy You.”

Cedric the Entertainer proved a game host, moving from a hip-hop opening number to gags and sketches, but the relatively small crowd — a result of pandemic precautions — was fairly muted in their response to him and others’ one-liners.

There was a feeling of personal sadness that pervaded the night, with a number of winners recounting the loss of loved ones.

“The Crown” stars Olivia Colman and Josh O’Connor won the top drama acting honors Sunday, with Jason Sudeikis, star of the warm-hearted “Ted Lasso,” and Jean Smart of the generation-gap story “Hacks,” winners on the comedy side.

Colman and O’Connor were a winning fictional mother-son duo: She plays Queen Elizabeth II, with O’Connor as Prince Charles in the British royal family saga that combines gravitas and soap opera.

“I’d have put money on that not happening,” Colman said of the award, calling it “a lovely end to the most extraordinary journey” with the show’s cast and creators. She cut her remarks short, explaining why she was growing tearful.

“I lost my daddy during COVID, and he would have loved all of this.” she said.

O’Connor gave a shoutout to Emma Corwin, who played opposite him as Princess Diana and was also a nominee Sunday, as a “force of nature.”

He also offered thanks to his grandparents, including his grandmother who died a few months ago, and his grandfather, Peter O’Connor, for the “greatest gifts” of kindness and loyalty.

Sudeikis, who co-created the series that many viewers found a balm for tough pandemic times, gave a speech that evoked the chipper, upbeat character he plays in the series about a U.K. soccer team and its unlikely American coach.

“This show’s about families and mentors and teammates, and I wouldn’t be here without those things in my life,” said Sudeikis. He also thanked his fellow castmates, saying, “I’m only as good as you guys make me look.”

Smart, who received a standing ovation, began her acceptance speech on a somber note: Her husband actor, Richard Gilliland, died six months ago.

“I would not be here without him” and his willingness to put her career first, said Smart. She also praised their two children as “courageous individuals in their own right.”

Earlier in the evening, ebullient “Ted Lasso” castmate Hannah Waddingham, winner of the best supporting actress award for a comedy, said Sudeikis “changed my life with this, and more importantly my baby girl’s.”

Brett Goldstein, who won the counterpart award for supporting actor for playing a retired soccer star, said he had promised not to swear and either mimed or was muted for a few seconds, then called the show the “privilege and pleasure” of his life.

Gillian Anderson and Tobias Menzies were honored for their supporting performances on “The Crown.”

Anderson, who played British political leader Margaret Thatcher, was one of numerous cast members to accept from a “Crown” gathering in London. Menzies who plays Prince Philip, didn’t attend either ceremony.

Before announcing the winner in his category, presenter Kerry Washington saluted another nominee, Michael K. Williams of “Lovecraft County.” Williams died Sept. 6 at age 54.

“Michael was a brilliantly talented actor and a generous human being who has left us far too soon,” Washington said.

Another lost star was remembered by John Oliver of “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”

“No one was funnier in the last 20 years than Norm Macdonald on late-night comedy,” Oliver said in accepting the Emmy for best variety talk show, suggesting people spend time checking out clips of Macdonald, as he did after Macdonald died Sept. 14 at age 61.

Kate Winslet, who played the title character in “Mare of Easttown,” and Ewan McGregor, who starred in the fashion biopic “Halston,” were honored as top actors for a limited series.

Winslet saluted her sister nominees in “this decade that has to be about women having each other’s back.”

Julianne Nicholson and Evan Peters claimed best supporting acting honors for “Mare of Easttown,” about crime and family dysfunction.

“The script was “true to the horror and beauty of ordinary people’s lives,” particularly the lives of women, said Nicholson. Both she and Peters saluted star Winslet.

“Man, you’re good at acting. But turns out you’re good at caring for a whole production,” Nicholson said.

Debbie Allen received the Governors Award for a long and acclaimed career as an actor, dancer, choreographer and activist.

“I am trembling with gratitude and grace and trying not to cry … it’s been many years in the making, taken a lot of courage to be the only woman in the room most of the time. Courage and creative and fight and faith to believe I could keep going, and I have,” she said.

The show opened with a musical number that featured Cedric the Entertainer rapping a modified version of the Biz Markie hip-hop hit “Just a Friend” with lyrics like “TV, you got what I need.” LL Cool J bounded from the audience as stars including Rita Wilson, Mandy Moore and more dropped verses celebrating the breadth of television.

Seth Rogen presented the first award, throwing some cold water on the celebratory vibe by noting that the Emmys were being held in a giant tent. “There’s way too many of us in this little room,” he exclaimed in what seemed to be an attempt to be funny that fell flat.

In the cumulative awards handed out Sunday and at the previously-held creative arts events, the outlets that followed Netflix included HBO and HBO Max with 19 combined awards; Disney+ with 14; Apple TV+, 10; NBC, 8.

Story: Lynn Elber

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Gov’t Aims to Vaccinate 1 Million People, Starting on Mahidol Day

Bangkok residents are vaccinated against COVID-19 at a mobile vaccine station in Bangkok on Sept. 20, 2021.

BANGKOK — The government said it will administer up to 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines per day from Friday onward, in honor of King Rama X’s grandfather.

Friday, or Sept. 24, marks this year’s Mahidol Day. The occasion celebrates the life of Prince Mahidol, who worked as a doctor prior to his death in 1929. The government also declared it a special public holiday for 2021.

Department of Disease Control director Opas Karnkawinpong said the initiative is intended to speed up the reopening efforts and revive the economy, just in time before the high tourism season of November and December.

The number of doses administered daily has fallen short of the government’s goal due to production delays and shortage of supplies. On some days, as many as 900,000 doses were given out, while on days they were as low as 180,000 shots.

Less than half of the population received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or 43.7 percent, according to data published on Sunday. Opas said the health authorities are planning to fix that. He said they want to have at least 50 percent of the national population vaccinated with one dose by the end of September.

According to the government, only 37 percent of Bangkok residents have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as of Thursday. As many as 90 percent of the capital city’s population has received at least one dose so far.

The main vaccine to be used in the drive is the shots produced by Sinovac and AstraZeneca, Opas said.

Phuket Sees Virus Surge

Some communities are said to be struggling with the high infection rates in recent days, a development that could threaten the “Phuket Sandbox” program.

Local government is organizing mass testing in the southern island. Provincial chief health officer Kusak Kukiattikun said the COVID response teams will use antigen test kits in an active case-finding operation over 3 days.

Kusak also said officials on the island are concerned about the surge in cases, with daily new infections over 200 and fears that the tourism reopening drive could be affected. Yesterday, Phuket logged at least 242 new cases.

The proactive mass testing will target around 25,000 people on the island, officials said.

According to the government’s published data, Phuket has seen over 30,000 tourists and visitors since it launched the sandbox re-opening programme on July 1. Only 96 of those arrivals tested positive for the coronavirus during their stay on the island, the health ministry said.

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CPF invites Global Start-Ups to Create Healthy Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF) and the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit 2021 have announced “The CPF Innovation Challenge”, inviting startups from all over the world to create delicious, juicy and sustainable plant-based meat for tomorrow. The entries will be closed on September 22, 2021. 

CPF Head of Innovation, Dr. Lalana Thiranusornkij, said the company, as the world’s leading food producer, recognizes that plant-based protein trends are growing rapidly. Moreover, the demands of today’s consumers are becoming more complex. They require products that resemble meat in all aspects such as texture, taste and nutritional value.

As a result, the company has joined hands with the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit to find enterpreneurs/start-ups with solutions and technologies that meet such demands to work together with them to push innovation to commercial plant-based meat products. The cooperation will also help start-ups to expand capacity into the global market arena.

Participating in this challenge is an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to work with a world-class food producer like CPF. They will have the chance to be coached by our executives and co-create the menu with our experienced chefs as well as having the opportunity to do Proof of Concept with CPF to upscale the production for commercial purpose,” said Dr. Lalana.

The committee will select three teams to present their innovation via online to attendees of the Asia-Pacific Agri-Food Innovation Summit from around the world, during November 16-18. More information on how to participate and submit entries can be found at https://agrifoodinnovation.com/innovation-challenges-2021/ from today onwards.

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