FILE - In this June 18, 2004 file photo, Brazilian composer Joao Gilberto performs at Carnegie Hall, in New York. The Brazilian singer and composer, who is considered one of the fathers of the Bossa Nova genre, has died.
His death was confirmed by his children on Saturday, July 6, 2019. Gilberto was 88 years old. Photo: Mary Altaffer / AP File
RIO DE JANEIRO — Joao Gilberto, a Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter considered one of the fathers of the bossa nova genre that gained global popularity in the 1960s and became an iconic sound of the South American nation, died on Saturday, his son said. He was 88.
Joao Marcelo said his father had been battling health issues though no official cause of his death in Rio de Janeiro was given. “His struggle was noble. He tried to maintain his dignity in the light of losing his independence,” Marcelo posted on Facebook.
A fusion of samba and jazz, bossa nova emerged in the late 1950s and gained a worldwide following in the 1960s, pioneered by Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim, who composed the iconic The Girl From Ipanema that was performed by Gilberto and others. His wife Astrud Gilberto made her vocal debut in the song.
Self-taught, Gilberto said he discovered music at age 14 when he held a guitar in his hands for the first time. With his unique playing style and modern jazz influences, he created the beat that defined bossa nova, helping launch the genre with his song “Bim-Bom.”
By 1961, Gilberto had finished the albums that would make bossa nova known around the world: “Chega de Saudade,” ”Love, A Smile and A Flower,” and “Joao Gilberto.” His 1964 album Getz/Gilberto with U.S. saxophonist Stan Getz sold millions of copies.
“It was Joao Gilberto, the greatest genius of Brazilian music, who was the definitive influence on my music,” singer Gal Costa wrote on social media. “He will be missed but his legacy is very important to Brazil and to the world.”
Born in Bahia in northeastern Brazil, Gilberto moved to Rio de Janeiro at a young age. He was influenced by U.S. jazz greats and recorded songs in the United States where he lived for much of the 1960s and 1970.
Over his career he won two Grammy awards and was nominated for six, and the U.S. jazz magazine DownBeat in 2009 named him one of the 75 great guitarists in history and one of the five top jazz singers.
An entire subsequent generation of Brazilian musicians, including Gilberto Gil, Chico Buarque and Caetano Veloso, are considered his disciples.
Journalist and bossa nova expert Ruy Castro called the death of Gilberto a “monumental” loss.
Castro wrote in his book “The Wave that Built in the Sea” that Gilberto loved soccer and was a fan of the Fluminense club, whose games he liked to watch with a guitar in his hands.
“He managed to create a mystique about him abroad, being who he was and not even speaking English,” he told the Globo television station.
The musician had spent his final years wrapped in legal troubles, debts and disputes with his children. His last live performance was in 2008 and he canceled a commemorative show to mark his 80th year because of health problems.
With little interest in giving interviews, he’d become known as the “reclusive genius” in the streets of Leblón, the neighborhood in a southern part of Rio where he lived but was seldom seen.
His funeral is to be held on Monday. He is survived by three children.
Singer Daniela Mercury called Gilberto a “genius who revolutionized popular Brazilian music. He taught us how to sing in the most beautiful way in the world.”
Cameron Boyce in "Descendants." Photo: Disney Channel
Actor Cameron Boyce, best known for his role as the teenage son of Cruella de Vil in the Disney Channel franchise “Descendants,” has died. He was 20 years old.
Boyce, who played Carlos de Vil in the “Descendants” movies, died Saturday at his home in Los Angeles, according to his spokesperson.
An official cause of death has not been announced, but his family released a statement Sunday saying Boyce “passed away in his sleep due to a seizure that was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated.
“The world is now undoubtedly without one of its brightest lights, but his spirit will live on through the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him. We are utterly heartbroken,” the family statement said.
According to his bio on the Disney Channel, Boyce was born and raised in Los Angeles. He was a dancer who got his acting start in commercials, then television and film. Boyce starred alongside Adam Sandler in “Grown Ups” and “Grown Ups 2,” and other film credits include “Mirrors,” ”Eagle Eye” and the indie feature “Runt.” He also starred in the upcoming HBO series “Mrs. Fletcher.”
“Descendants 3” is scheduled for release in August.
His spokesperson said Sunday that Boyce was also a philanthropist who used his celebrity to advocate for those without a voice, including the homeless. Last year, he was honored for his work with the Thirst Project, bringing awareness to the global water crisis and raising more than $30,000 for the organization to build two wells in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, in efforts to bring clean drinking water to the region.
In 2017, he received a Daytime Emmy Award with Disney XD for his participation in the series “Timeless Heroes_Be Inspired,” in honor of Black History Month. He appeared alongside his grandmother Jo Ann Boyce, one of 12 black teens known as the Clinton 12 who were the first to integrate into public school in Clinton, Tennessee, according to his Disney Channel biography.
A Disney Channel spokesperson released a statement Sunday saying that from a young age, Boyce dreamed of sharing his artistic talents with the world and was fueled by a desire to make a difference in peoples’ lives through his humanitarian work.
“He was an incredibly talented performer, a remarkably caring and thoughtful person and, above all else, he was a loving and dedicated son, brother, grandson and friend,” the statement said. “We offer our deepest condolences to his family, castmates and colleagues and join his many millions of fans in grieving his untimely passing. He will be dearly missed.”
Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Robert Iger tweeted Sunday: “The Walt Disney Company mourns the loss of #CameronBoyce, who was a friend to so many of us, and filled with so much talent, heart and life, and far too young to die. Our prayers go out to his family and his friends.”
Several of Boyce’s co-stars reacted to his death on social media Sunday.
Sandler tweeted : “Loved that kid. Cared so much about his family. Cared so much about the world. Thank you, Cameron, for all you gave to us. So much more was on the way. All our hearts are broken.”
From left to right, spokesman for Iran's atomic agency Behrouz Kamalvandi, Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, attend a press briefing in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, July 7, 2019. The deputy foreign minister says that his nation considers the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers to be a "valid document" and seeks its continuation. Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi / AP
TEHRAN — Iran increased its uranium enrichment Sunday beyond the limit allowed by its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, inching its program closer toward weapons-grade levels while calling for a diplomatic solution to a crisis heightening tensions with the U.S.
Iran’s move, coupled with earlier abandoning the deal’s limit on its low-enriched uranium stockpile, intensifies pressure on Europe to find any effective way around U.S. sanctions that block Tehran’s oil sales abroad.
But the future of the accord that President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled the U.S. from a year ago remains in question. While Iran’s recent measures could be easily reversed, Europe has struggled to respond, even after getting a 60-day warning that the increase was coming.
Meanwhile, experts fear a miscalculation in the crisis could explode into open conflict, as Trump already has nearly bombed Iran over Tehran shooting down a U.S. military surveillance drone.
Trump warned Tehran on Sunday that “Iran better be careful.” He didn’t elaborate on what actions the U.S. might consider, but Trump told reporters: “Iran’s doing a lot of bad things.”
International reaction to Iran’s decision came swiftly, with Britain warning Iran to “immediately stop and reverse all activities” violating the deal, Germany saying it is “extremely concerned,” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a longtime critic of the accord, urging world powers to impose so-called “snapback sanctions” on Tehran.
The European Union said parties to the deal are discussing a possible emergency meeting after Iran’s announcement, with EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic saying the bloc is “extremely concerned” about the move.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: “Iran’s latest expansion of its nuclear program will lead to further isolation and sanctions. Nations should restore the longstanding standard of no enrichment for Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s regime, armed with nuclear weapons, would pose an even greater danger to the world.”
At a news conference, Iranian officials said the new level of uranium enrichment would be reached later in the day, but did not provide the percentage they planned to hit. Under the nuclear deal, the cap for enrichment was set at 3.67%, a percentage closely monitored by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog.
“Within hours, the technical tasks will be done and enrichment above 3.67% will begin,” Iran nuclear agency spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi said. “We predict that the IAEA measurements early tomorrow morning will show that we have gone beyond 3.67%.”
The IAEA said it was aware of Iran’s comments and “inspectors in Iran will report to our headquarters as soon as they verify the announced development.”
FILE – In this April 9, 2018, file photo, released by an official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani listens to explanations on new nuclear achievements at a ceremony to mark “National Nuclear Day,” in Tehran, Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif acknowledged Monday, July 1, 2019, Iran had broken the limit set on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by the 2015 nuclear deal, marking its first major departure from the unraveling agreement a year after the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the accord. Photo: Iranian Presidency Office via AP
Ali Akbar Velayati, an aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made remarks in a video Saturday about Iran’s need for 5% enrichment. Bushehr, Iran’s only nuclear power plant, is now running on imported fuel from Russia that’s enriched to around 5%.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sent a letter to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini outlining the steps it had taken, said Abbas Araghchi, a deputy foreign minister. Discussions with European powers are continuing and ministerial-level talks are planned later this month, he said.
“We will give another 60-day period, and then we will resume the reduction of our commitments,” Araghchi said, without elaborating.
On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron told his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, in a phone call that he is trying to find a way by July 15 to resume the dialogue between Iran and Western partners. It wasn’t clear if July 15 carried any importance. The U.S. has called for a special IAEA meeting for Wednesday to discuss Iran.
Kamalvandi stressed that Iran will continue to use only slower, first-generation IR-1 centrifuges to increase enrichment, as well as keep the number of centrifuges in use under the 5,060-limit set by the nuclear deal. Iran has the technical ability to build and operate advanced centrifuges that work faster but is barred from doing so under the deal.
“For the enrichment we are using the same machines with some more pressure and some special technical work,” he said. “So we don’t have an increase in the number of centrifuges for this purpose.”
But Kamalvandi stressed that Iran is able to continue enrichment “at any speed, any amount and any level.”
Enriched uranium at the 3.67% level is enough for peaceful pursuits but is far below weapons-grade levels of 90%.
The decision to ramp up uranium enrichment came less than a week after Iran acknowledged breaking the deal’s 300-kilogram (661-pound) limit on its low-enriched uranium stockpile. Experts warn higher enrichment and a growing stockpile narrow the one-year window Iran would need to have enough material for an atomic bomb, something Iran denies it wants but the deal prevented.
The steps taken so far by Iran show it is more interested in applying political pressure than moving toward a nuclear weapon, said Daryl G. Kimball, the executive director of the Washington-based Arms Control Association. He said Iran would need at least 1,050 kilograms (2,315 pounds) of low-enriched uranium to make the core of a single nuclear bomb, then would have to enrich it to 90%.
“Iran is not racing toward the bomb as some allege but these are calibrated moves,” Kimball told The Associated Press. However, “if Iran and the United States remain on the current course, the agreement is indeed in jeopardy.”
Netanyahu urged the international community to punish Iran for its decision.
“It is a very, very dangerous step,” he said. “I’m asking you, not to provoke but out of joint knowledge of history and what happens when aggressive totalitarian regimes can cross the threshold toward things that are very dangerous to us all. Take the steps that you promised. Enact the sanctions.”
However, Kimball cautioned against that.
“Iran is clearly not going to enter negotiations for a new deal if these sanctions are in place,” he said. “This a self-made, Trump administration crisis because it has been taking drastic measures to dismantle the (deal) without a viable Plan B.”
Protesters take part in a march in Hong Kong on Sunday, July 7, 2019. Protesters in Hong Kong are taking their message to visitors from mainland China on Sunday in a march to a high-speed rail station that connects to Guangdong city and other mainland destinations. Photo: Kin Cheung / AP
HONG KONG — Tens of thousands of people, many wearing black shirts and some carrying British colonial-era flags, marched in Hong Kong on Sunday, targeting a mainland Chinese audience as a month-old protest movement showed no signs of abating.
Chanting “Free Hong Kong” and words of encouragement to their fellow citizens, wave after wave of demonstrators streamed by a shopping district popular with mainland visitors on a march to the high-speed railway station that connects the semi-autonomous Chinese territory to Guangdong and other mainland cities.
Hong Kong has been riven by huge marches and sometimes disruptive protests for the past month, sparked by proposed changes to extradition laws that would have allowed suspects to be sent to the mainland to face trial. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam suspended the bill and apologized for how it was handled, but protesters want it to be formally withdrawn and for Lam to resign.
Organizers said 230,000 people marched on Sunday, while police estimated the crowd at 56,000.
Protesters march with a flag calling for Hong Kong independence in Hong Kong on Sunday, July 7, 2019. Thousands of people, many wearing black shirts and some carrying British flags, were marching in Hong Kong on Sunday, targeting a mainland Chinese audience as a month-old protest movement showed no signs of abating. Photo: Kin Cheung / AP
“We want to show our peaceful, graceful protest to the mainland visitors because the information is rather blocked in mainland,” march organizer Ventus Lau said. “We want to show them the true image and the message of Hong Kongers.”
Chinese media have not covered the protests or their origins widely, focusing on clashes with police and damage to public property.
As the crowd broke up Sunday night, a few hundred remained and taunted police who had retreated behind huge barriers set up outside the railway station, while others moved to Canton Road, a street lined with luxury boutique stores. Around 11 p.m., police moved to disperse protesters who were blocking a road and arrested five people for assaulting or obstructing police officers, their statement said.
The march was the first major action since two simultaneous protests last Monday, the 22nd anniversary of the July 1, 1997, return of Hong Kong from Britain to China.
The march through central Hong Kong that’s held annually drew hundreds of thousands of people. It was overshadowed this year, however, by an assault on the legislative building by a few hundred demonstrators who shattered thick glass panels to enter the building and then wreaked havoc for three hours, spray-painting slogans on the chamber walls, overturning furniture and damaging electronic voting and fire prevention systems.
Sunday’s march was the first protest against the extradition legislation to take place on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong harbor. The previous ones were on Hong Kong Island, the city’s business and government center.
Many of the marchers were young and wore black shirts that have become the uniform of the protesters. The largely peaceful crowd also included older people carrying handheld fans in the muggy heat, as well as parents with children, including some in baby strollers.
Many held placards, including one that read “Extradite to China, disappear forever.” Some carried the British flag or the old Hong Kong flag from when it was a British colony.
“This is our fourth march because we think this government is not taking care of Hong Kong,” said Dan Lee, who joined with his wife and their three children. “We need to save Hong Kong and we need to come out for our future generations.”
The extradition legislation has raised concerns about an erosion of freedoms and rights in Hong Kong, which was guaranteed its own legal system for 50 years after its return to China in 1997.
Prior to the march, police put up large barricades blocking a main entrance to the railway station to prevent any attempt to enter it. Only passengers with train reservations were allowed into the station, the mass transit authority said, and Hong Kong media reported that ticket sales had been suspended for afternoon trains.
“The high-speed railway station is a connection between Hong Kong and China and this is the nearest place we can spread our message to China,” said Lau, the march organizer.
The station was a source of contention before it opened last September, because passengers pass through Chinese immigration and customs inside. Some opposition lawmakers said the fact that Chinese law applies in the immigration area violates the handover agreement under which Hong Kong maintains its own legal system.
Protesters also are demanding an independent investigation into a crackdown on June 12 demonstrations in which officers used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds blocking major streets. Police said the tactics, harsher than usual for Hong Kong, were justified after some protesters turned violent. Dozens were injured, both protesters and police.
The protesters are also calling for the direct election of Hong Kong’s leader. Lam was chosen by an elite committee of mainly pro-Beijing electors.
Protesters block a road after a march against government’s policy on the extradition bill in Hong Kong Sunday, July 7, 2019. Protesters in Hong Kong are taking their message to visitors from mainland China on Sunday in a march to a high-speed rail station that connects to Guangdong city and other mainland destinations. Photo: Vincent Yu
Story: Ken Moritsugu and Alice Fung. Johnson Lai contributed to this report.
Rum lovers are treated to a world class experience with a week-long of signature rum cocktails by international bartenders
Once again, the week of fun and joy for rum lovers is back bigger and better than before with“Thailand Rum Cocktail Week 2019”. A week that celebrates the ever-popular spirit loved by drinkers all over the world, the week aims to educate consmers through series of workshops and talks by industry experts and delight drinkers with special cocktail creations by renowned guest bartenders through venues in 5 major cities of Thailand, i.e. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Samui, Phuket and Krabi. Don’t miss the RUM Opening Party and Rum Close Party with live performance of famous DJs between July 8-15, 2019.
Ano Chuminhak, CEO of KIN+ONE, founder and organizer of Bangkok Rum Cocktail Week said that the 2019 edition of Bangkok Rum Cocktail Week aims to achieve greater purpose, that is raising and shaking up the bar scene in Thailand and strengthening the community of producers, traders, bartenders, bar owners and consumers by encouraging them to exchange knowledge and share memorable time together.
“This year, we will still have the key activity which has been a great success in the previous editions of the event, which is the rum seminars. This is a great opportunity for rum lovers to taste various different rums and indulge in decent experiences catered by top bartenders from around the world that we finely selected to participate as guest bartenders. This year, we expand the event beyond Bangkok to cover Chiang Mai, Samui, Phuket and Krabi. All of which are Thailand’s major cities that have high potential to shine in the global scene.”
In Bangkok, the seminar will take place at the Bamboo Bar, Drink World’s number 9th best bar, on July 9, 2019 with topics related to new rum. On July 10, the seminar will cover cocktail making with renowned Thai rum, Mekhong, by Luca Cinalli with Tony Pescatori heading Art and Fasion Cocktail with Praya workshop on July 11. Four more seminars are hosted as followed.
July 10 in Phuket at Dibuk House by Boo Jing Hang (Singapore) and Mari Nakano (Japan)
July 10 in Chiang Mai at Drink Smith by Jiawei Bai (Singapore)
July 13 in Krabi at Get Rad’s by Shingo Gokan (Japan)
July 14 in Samui at Tiki Box by Davide Boncimino (Singapore)
The vibrant fun that rum lovers should not miss throughout the week of Thailand Rum
Other 4 particiapting cities are also welcoming international guest bartendersincluding Shingo Gokan, Luca Cinnalli, Mari Nakano, Kentaro Satoh, Eric Adinarev and Igor Pavlov.
Thailand Rum Cocktail Week 2019 had a press conference on June 25, 2019 at Sorrento on Sathorn Road with Kayama, renowned bartender from Japan, mixing rum cocktails using top brands such as Mekhong, Phraya, Havana and Liverpool. The Rum Close Party was also announced to be held at Revolution Cocktail between 6pm to midnight, which is gaurateed to bea rum-soaked night accompanied by trendy tunes by international DJs. The story of Thailand Rum Cocktail Week 2019 from the opening party to the closing night will later be presented for everyone to enjoy.
Enjoy a week of rum and indulge in new experiences with fellow rum lovers at Thailand Rum Cocktail Week 2019 between July 8-15, 2019. For information and event updates, please visit https://web.facebook.com/ThailandRumCocktailWeek/
Bangkok, Thailand, 2 July 2019 – Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park bringsmulti-cultural culinary experiences to “Australian Festival” at Goji Kitchen + Bar. Enjoy sumptuous buffet with selected Australian highlights during 5-14 July 2019. And savor the signature dishes from celebrity chefMichael Lambie on 12 -14 July.
The buffet restaurant Goji Kitchen + Bar at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Bangkok’s largest luxury hotel, offers multi-cultural cuisine from around the world in contemporary setting and mesmerizes patrons with theatrical live cooking in the open kitchen. This time around the restaurant is hosting Australian Festival with delectable dished in the buffet line prepared from Australia’s finest ingredients that include seafood items such as Tasmanian oyster, smoky bay oyster, coffin oyster, live blue swimming crabs from Queensland, Tasmanian salmon, sashimi and smoked Hiramasa king fish from Spencer Bay as well as barramundi and King Gorge whiting that is ideal for grilling, baking and barbecuing. From Spencer Bay are also high quality black and green mussels.
Meat lovers will get to taste premium cuts and meats from renowned cattle farms Rosedale and Stockyard that will be grilled, baked, stewed and transformed into meatballs for your enjoyment. For lamb, the festival will include white stripe lambs from the natural greens by the Victorian Mountain in the Southeast of Australia. Lamb dishes include grilled lamb and strew lamb leg among many others. If you’re looking for ostrich meat, the festival serves up high quality free-range ostrich meat in grilled dish and Australian-style burgers. Last but not least is the goodies from King Island, a small island between Tasmania and the mainland that is renowned for delicious cheeses.
At the Australian Festival between 12-14 July, Chef Michael Lambie of the renowned Lucy Liu Kitchen & Bar in Melbourne will also fly in to create five Asian-inspired signature dishes. Starting with Kingfish carpaccio with coconut foam and green chili where fresh kingfish is thinly sliced then seasoned Thai-style with lime and chili and coconut cream for extra creaminess. Next up is Pacific oyster with smoked ponzu dressing, a decent match of sizeable Pacific oyster and Japanese ponzu that delights with salty and sweet palate and slight smokiness. The third dish, inspired by street food in Beijing, is soft shelled crab Jianbing pancake roll where softshell crabs are deep-fried a la tempura, wrapped with Beijing flour with Vietnamese mint leaf then seasoned with Chinese hoi sin sauce and Malaysian sambal. From Korea is Korean spiced crispy pork hock, crispy pork served with apple kimchi and spicy hoi sin sauce to be enjoyed with Peking duck pancakes. Don’t miss out on the dessert, delectable Chocolate Dulce de Leche. All five menus will be added to regular buffet with no extra charge.
Enjoy selected Australian highlights on the buffet line at Goji Kitchen + Bar, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, from 5 to 14 July 2019 at 18.00 – 22.00hrs. The dinner buffet costs
THB 1,498++ per person between Sunday – Thursday and THB 2,128++ per person on Friday and Saturday.
For more information and reservation, please contact +66 (0) 2 059 5999 or email [email protected].
1 JULY 2019, BANGKOK – Major Development, the industry’s leader in luxury real estate, was recently awarded “BCI Asia TOP 10 Developer Awards 2019”, with Dr. Suriya Poolvoralaks, Managing Director of Major Development as the firm’s representative.
The award from BCI Asia, Asia Pacific’s center of construction-related information, and FuturArc Journal, is the mark of high quality given to real estate projects recognized by both the public and private sectors for their design aesthetics, construction excellence and environmental friendliness.
As a firm that receives this award for the third time, Major Development is recognized as the leader in prime quality real estate development. Awarded projects by Major Development include MUNIQ Langsuan, METRIS Rama 9 – Ramkumhaeng and Maven Resort Huahin.The 15th BCI ASIA AWARDS 2019 recognizes leaders within the architectural and building industries in Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. The award ceremony was recently held at the Grand Ballroom of Centara Grand at CentralWorld.
NARATHIWAT — A suspected wildlife trader was arrested Saturday in Narathiwat province after authorities raided his house and found five baby hornbills, a protected and endangered bird.
Border patrol police found five baby great Indian hornbills as well as one musk in the unregistered house of Muhama Hayima, 31, in Narithiwat’s Joh Airong district, said Narongpol Muekthong, director of the Sixth Wildlife Conservation Management Office in nearby Pattani province.
The arrest was prompted by a tip off about an alleged wildlife trader in the area.
Narongpol observed that the five birds were young enough to still be without feathers, indicating they were probably taken from their nest in a process where the mother was likely killed.
June and July is hatching season for hornbills, both a protected and endangered species in Thailand, the wildlife officer added.
Narongpol suspects that the birds were taken from Budo-Sungai Padi National Park in Rueso district of Narathiwat province.
“The baby birds… are mostly sent to areas like Bangkok, Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces because people still like to raise wild birds. There is a risk that these birds may not survive, however. As for the price, they cost around 3,000 to 4,000 baht each,” said Narong, adding that more exotic types of baby hornbill could fetch 10,000 baht in the illicit market.
The five baby hornbills have been taken into care by wildlife officials and will be returned to the wild once they are mature enough.
Great Indian Hornbill or buceros homrai are known as nok nok in Thai. They can live up to 50 years, can grow up to 150cm in length, and are native to southern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia and West India. Mother birds usually lay no more than one or two eggs at a time, which take one month to hatch.
Sailors rehearse a royal barge procession on Chao Phraya River on April 30, 2019, in front of the Grand Palace. The actual procession is set to take place on Oct. 24, 2019.
Update: The procession is now postponed to Dec. 12
BANGKOK — A royal barge procession presided over by His Majesty the King will grace a Bangkok river on Oct. 24, the navy announced Friday.
The event, which will involve up to 52 elaborately crafted river barges and 2,200 seamen, is part of year-long celebrations of King Vajiralongkorn’s coronation. Navy commander Luechai Rutdit said ten rehearsals will take place on Chao Phraya River from Sunday onward.
“I’d like to invite the public to admire his majesty, and the beauty and ancient civilization of Thailand,” Admiral Luechai said at a news conference. “Let me stress that no other country in the world is like us.”
The tradition of royal river processions dates back hundreds of years; the last procession took place in 2012 though the monarch at the time, King Bhumibol, was not personally present due to his failing health.
King Vajiralongkorn’s river journey on Oct. 24 will start at Tha Wasukri royal pier in Dusit district and end at Wat Arun Wanaram, aka the Temple of Dawn, on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River.
Rowers dressed in traditional garbs at the navy’s news conference on July 5, 2019.
Lee Yeol-eum with the giant clams in Law of the Jungle.
BANGKOK — A South Korean actress has been charged in southern Thailand with catching endangered giant clams while participating in a reality TV show.
Actress Lee Yeol-eum cheered as she caught the three giant shellfish in a Thai national marine park in March on the survival TV show “The Law of the Jungle.”Participants in the show then ate the clams. The episode aired on June 30.
Lee Yeol-eum with the giant clams in Law of the Jungle.
Thai authorities say the actress has been charged with hunting the protected clams, scientifically known as tridacna gigas, and could face up to four years in prison and a fine of up to 40,000 baht .
The show places South Korean celebrities into groups that are sent out to test their survival skills in remote locations.
The show’s broadcaster has apologized for the incident.
