Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) has been awarded carbon footprint and global warming reduction labels for 48 of its products, including the Cheeva Pork” under the U-Farm brand, Kurobuta pork, and a range of land animal feed products, by the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization) or TGO. The recognition highlights CP Foods’ ongoing commitment to sustainability and reducing global warming.
Since 2008, CP Foods has collected data throughout its supply chain, from feed to processed products, to develop low-carbon products. As of today, 890 of CP Foods’ products bear the carbon footprint label, and 88 products carry the carbon footprint reduction label. In this latest recognition, the swine and land animal feed product groups have been awarded 48 labels in total, comprising 27 feed products and 21 pork products.
The swine business has received carbon footprint certification for the 9th consecutive year, with products ranging from weaned piglets to slaughter pigs, pork halves, and fresh pork cuts, including the Cheeva Pork under the U-Farm brand. Additionally, five products have been awarded the global warming reduction label. The land animal feed business has received global warming reduction certification for 27 products across seven categories, including feed for breeding pigs, fattening pigs, breeder chickens, broiler chickens, layer chickens, breeder ducks, and meat ducks.
CP Foods is intensifying its focus on environmentally friendly products, branded as “CP Foods Green Products,” as part of its commitment to reducing carbon emissions and engaging consumers in the pursuit of net-zero targets.
The Company has set a target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Initiatives include utilizing AI-driven Smart Feed mill automation for efficient animal feed production, promoting low-carbon feed, implementing Smart Soft Farm systems for health tracking and loss reduction in accordance with animal welfare principles, increasing the use of renewable energy like solar power and biogas, expanding green areas at production sites, developing sustainable packaging, and implementing waste management strategies to enhance resource efficiency.
People gather outside the American University hospital after the arrival of several men who were wounded by exploded handheld pagers, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Bassam Masri)
BEIRUT (AP) — Explosions went off in Beirut and multiple parts of Lebanon in an apparent second wave of detonations of electronic devices, Hezbollah officials and state media said Wednesday, reporting walkie-talkies and even solar equipment detonating a day after hundreds of pagers blew up. At least one person was killed and more than 100 people wounded, the Health Ministry said.
Several blasts were heard at the funeral in Beirut for three Hezbollah members and a child killed by exploding pagers the day before, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene. An AP photographer in the southern coastal city of Sidon saw a car and a mobile phone shop damaged after devices exploded inside of them.
A Hezbollah official told the AP that walkie-talkies used by the group exploded. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Lebanon’s official news agency reports that solar energy systems exploded in homes in several areas of Beirut and in southern Lebanon, wounding at least one girl.
The new blasts hit a country still thrown into confusion and anger after Tuesday’s pager bombings, which appeared to be a complex Israeli attack targeting Hezbollah members that caused civilian casualties, too. At least 12 people were killed, including two children, and some 2,800 people wounded as hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members began detonating wherever they happened to be — in homes, cars, at grocery stores and in cafes.
Civil Defense first-responders carry a man who was wounded after his handheld pager exploded, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024.(AP Photo)
In the first wave of bombings, it appeared that small amounts of explosives had been hidden in the thousands of pagers delivered to Hezbollah and remotely detonated. The reports of further electronic devices exploding suggested even greater infiltration of boobytraps into Lebanon’s supply chain. It also deepens concerns over the attacks in which hundreds of blasts went off in public areas, often with many bystanders, with no certainty of who was holding the rigged devices.
The attacks, which Israel has not commented on, renewed fears that the simmering conflict between Israel and Hezbollah could escalate into all-out war. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday the U.S. is still assessing how the attack could affect efforts to negotiate a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Israel began moving more troops to its border with Lebanon on Wednesday as a precautionary measure, according to an official with knowledge of the movements who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Hezbollah and Israeli forces have exchanged fire almost daily since Oct. 8, the day after a deadly Hamas-led assault in southern Israel triggered the war. Since then, hundreds have been killed in the strikes in Lebanon and dozens in Israel, while tens of thousands on each side of the border have been displaced. Hamas and Hezbollah are allies and both are supported by Iran. Israeli leaders have issued a series of warnings in recent weeks that they might increase operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying they must put a stop to the exchanges to allow people to return to homes near the border.
Lebanese security officers stand next of a partly damaged car after what is believed to be the result of a walkie-talkie exploding inside it, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
New details on the operation began to emerge. An American official said Israel briefed the United States after the attack, in which small amounts of explosive had been hidden in the pagers. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the information publicly.
The pagers were made by a company based in Hungary, another firm said Wednesday.
The AR-924 pagers used in Tuesday’s attack were manufactured by BAC Consulting KFT, which is based in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, according to a statement released by Gold Apollo, a Taiwanese firm that authorized the use of its brand on the pagers.
Gold Apollo’s chair, Hsu Ching-kuang, told journalists Wednesday the firm has had a licensing agreement with BAC for the past three years.
“According to the cooperation agreement, we authorize BAC to use our brand trademark for product sales in designated regions, but the design and manufacturing of the products are solely the responsibility of BAC,” Gold Apollo said in a statement.
BAC Consulting Kft. was registered as a limited liability company in May 2022, according to its records. It has 7,840 euros in standing capital, the records showed, and had revenue of $725,768 in 2022 and $593,972 in 2023.
At the headquarters of a building in a residential neighborhood of Budapest, the names of multiple companies, including BAC Consulting, are posted on pieces of paper on a window.
A woman who emerged from the building and declined to give her name said the site provides headquarter addresses to various companies.
BAC’s parent company is registered to Cristiana Rosaria Bársony-Arcidiacono, whose describes herself on her LinkedIn page as a strategic advisor and business developer. Among other positions, Bársony-Arcidiacono says on the page that she has served on the board of directors of the Earth Child Institute, a sustainability group. The group does not list Bársony-Arcidiacono as among its board members on its website.
The Associated Press has attempted to reach Bársony-Arcidiacono via the LinkedIn page and has been unable to establish a connection between her or BAC and the exploding pagers.
The attack in Lebanon started Tuesday afternoon, when pagers in their owners’ hands or pockets started heating up and then exploding — leaving blood-splattered scenes and panicking bystanders.
It appeared that most of those hit were members or linked to members of Hezbollah — whether fighters or civilians — but it was not immediately clear if people with no ties to Hezbollah were also hit.
The Health Ministry said health care workers and two children were among those killed. In the village of Nadi Sheet in the Bekaa Valley, dozens gathered to mourn the death of one of the children, 9-year-old Fatima Abdullah.
Her mother, wearing black and donning a yellow Hezbollah scarf, wept alongside other women and children as they gathered around the little girl’s coffin before her burial.
Hezbollah said in a statement Wednesday morning that it would continue its normal strikes against Israel as part of what it describes as a support front for its ally, Hamas, and Palestinians in Gaza.
Lebanese soldiers stand guard at a street that leads to the American University hospital where they bring wounded people whose handheld pager exploded, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
“This path is continuous and separate from the difficult reckoning that the criminal enemy must await for its massacre on Tuesday,” it said. “This is another reckoning that will come, God willing.”
At hospitals in Beirut on Wednesday, the chaos of the night before had largely subsided, but relatives of the wounded continued to wait.
Lebanon Health Minister Firas Abiad told journalists during a tour of hospitals Wednesday morning that many of the wounded had severe injuries to the eyes, and others had limbs amputated. Journalists were not allowed to enter hospital rooms or film patients.
Abiad said the wounded had been sent to various area hospitals to avoid any single facility being overloaded and added that Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Egypt offered to help treat the patients.
Earlier Wednesday, an Iraqi military plane landed in Beirut carrying 15 tons of medicine and medical equipment, he said.
Experts believe explosive material was put into the pagers prior to their delivery.
The AR-924 pager, advertised as being “rugged,” contains a rechargeable lithium battery, according to specifications advertised on Gold Apollo’s website before they were removed after the attack.
It claimed to have up to 85 days of battery life. That would be crucial in Lebanon, where electricity outages have been common after years of economic collapse. Pagers also run on a different wireless network than mobile phones, making them more resilient in emergencies — one of the reasons why many hospitals worldwide still rely on them.
For Hezbollah, the pagers also provided a means to sidestep what’s believed to be intensive Israeli electronic surveillance on mobile phone networks in Lebanon.
“The phone that we have in our hands — I do not have a phone in my hand — is a listening device,” warned Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a February speech.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs said from the beginning of 2022 until August 2024, Gold Apollo has exported 260,000 sets of pagers, including more than 40,000 sets between January and August of this year. The ministry said that it had no records of direct exports of Gold Apollo pagers to Lebanon.
FILE - Thai-Muslim rioters lie on the ground after they were arrested and forced to take off their shirts by Thai security forces after rioting at Takbai district of Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, Oct. 25, 2004. (AP Photo, File)
JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI, BANGKOK — Eight former state security personnel accused of responsibility for the deaths of 78 Muslim protesters who were arrested in southern Thailand in 2004 will be indicted on murder charges, the prosecutor’s office announced Wednesday.
The case earned special notoriety because of the manner in which the victims died. They were arrested, had their hands tied, and were loaded onto trucks, stacked like firewood. By the time the vehicles reached an army base where they were taken to be detained, 78 had died of crushing or suffocation.
The long-delayed legal action in connection with what is known as the Tak Bai massacre came just over a month before the statute of limitations expires on the case. Even though the suspects have been indicted, the charges can still expire if none of those named appears in court before an Oct. 25 deadline.
The deaths occurred shortly after a Muslim separatist insurgency erupted in Thailand’s southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, the only ones with Muslim majorities in the Buddhist-dominated nation.
Muslim residents have long complained they are treated like second-class citizens in Thailand, and separatist movements have been periodically active for decades. Heavy-handed crackdowns have fueled the discontent. Fighting continues to this day, but at a lower level.
FILE – Thai security forces arrest Thai muslim protesters after rioting at Takbai district of Narathiwat province, southern Thailand, Oct. 25, 2004. (Matichon Photo, File)
On Oct. 25, 2004, thousands of protesters gathered at the police station in Narathiwat’s Tak Bai district to demand the immediate release of six Muslim men who had been detained several days earlier. The detainees, members of an official village defense force, were accused by police of handing over weapons to insurgents, but reporting them stolen.
After the protest turned violent, around 1,300 protesters were rounded up by soldiers and forced to lie on top of each other in 25 trucks before they were transported to a military camp in neighboring Pattani province, two hours’ drive away. When they reached the destination, officials reported 78 people had died. Autopsy results revealed suffocation was the cause of death. Seven others had been shot dead during the protest.
The officials facing murder charges are mostly the drivers of the trucks, but also the commander of the 5th Infantry Division, Chalermchai Wirunphet, said Prayuth Bejraguna, a spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General.
Narathiwat Provincial Court
“Although the eight suspects … did not wish the victims to have died, getting only 25 trucks to transport more than 1,000 protesters is too crowded to be an appropriate way to transport people,” Prayuth told a news conference. “The defendants’ action could be expected to result in the victims being suffocated to death.”
The case does not involve the seven shot dead during the protest.
In a related legal proceeding in April, the victims’ families filed a lawsuit accusing seven soldiers and officials of murder, attempted murder and unlawful detention. One of those indicted was Pisal Wattanawongkiri, commander of the 4th Army Region at the time of the incident and now a lawmaker for the ruling Pheu Thai Party, who enjoys parliamentary immunity from arrest.
The Narathiwat Criminal Court has already accepted that case but none of the accused have yet shown up to hear the charges, which would likewise expire on Oct. 25 under the statute of limitations.
Prayuth said the Attorney General’s Office received the case from police investigators in April this year, and had done their best to expedite the process, resulting in the indictment decision last week. When asked why there was such a delay before the case was handed to them, Prayuth declined to comment, saying it was a police affair.
British Trade Minister Douglas Alexander and Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan sign the MOU on the Enhanced Trade Partnership at the Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok on September 18, 2024.
BANGKOK — Thailand and the UK have officially signed an Enhanced Trade Partnership to strengthen trade and investment ties. Both sides discussed the possibility of FTA negotiations, which has been continuously supported by the business sectors of both countries.
Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan and British Trade Minister Douglas Alexander signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Enhanced Trade Partnership at the Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok on September 18, 2024. This marks Alexander’s first visit to Asia since his appointment in July.
“Minister Douglas and I have signed the MOU on the Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP) and approved an action plan outlining collaborative activities that both parties will undertake in 20 key sectors, such as agriculture, food, digital, education, and tourism,” said Pichai.
He added that today’s signing demonstrates the political commitment of both sides to expand comprehensive cooperation in trade and investment, both bilaterally and in international forums. It will also facilitate trade and investment for the business sector and serve as an important foundation for future FTA negotiations between our countries.
The United Kingdom is Thailand’s 22nd largest trading partner globally and 4th largest in Europe (after Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands). In 2023, the total trade value between the two countries was 6,740.61 million US dollars, with Thailand having a trade surplus of 1,405.68 million US dollars.
British Trade Minister Douglas Alexander and Thai Commerce Minister Pichai Naripthaphan speak at the press conference after signing the MOU on the Enhanced Trade Partnership at the Courtyard by Marriott Bangkok on September 18, 2024.
Thailand’s exports totaled 4,073.15 million US dollars, with key export products including processed chicken, automobiles and parts, gems and jewelry, motorcycles and parts, and aircraft, spacecraft, and components.
Meanwhile, according to the British Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, with its population of 70 million and an estimated 45 million middle-class consumers, represents the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia.
Current bilateral trade between the UK and Thailand is valued at £6 billion annually. As an ASEAN market with an economy exceeding $500 billion, Thailand offers significant opportunities for UK businesses.
Minister of State for Trade Policy Douglas Alexander stated that Thailand’s economic growth presents opportunities that the UK should capitalize on. This Partnership will strengthen ties between our countries and help British businesses expand into Thailand, supporting jobs and growth across the UK.
Mark Gooding, British Ambassador to Thailand added that UK-Thailand relations are rapidly developing in many areas, following the signing of the UK-Thailand Strategic Partnership Roadmap earlier this year. The Enhanced Trade Partnership launched today is a crucial component of this broader relationship, which will further boost trade and investment, fostering growth and prosperity in both nations.
Minister Alexander will also travel to Laos to attend the 56th ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting. He plans to discuss the new government’s trade strategies with partners from across the region, emphasizing how these plans will support the government’s mission to drive economic growth.
Singapore – The Luxury Group by Marriott International, with an unrivaled portfolio of eight hotel brands including The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, and W Hotels, today announces Luxury Group Dining Series, a multi-city regional dining series commencing from September to November featuring six handpicked hotels including The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo, The St. Regis Bali, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok, The St. Regis Mumbai, and JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach. The series offers specially designed gastronomic experiences at each property, presented by an incredible line up of culinary and mixology talents across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. In conjunction with Marriott Bonvoy Moments, the series also presents discerning travelers an opportunity to discover an unprecedented culinary journey where members can also bid for these exceptional experiences using loyalty points.
“The Luxury Group is always striving to anticipate and exceed the evolving needs and preferences of global luxury travelers,” says Oriol Montal, Managing Director, Luxury, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International. “The Luxury Group Dining Series caters to the growing appetite for immersive gastronomic experiences among affluent travelers, a finding uncovered in our New Luxe Landscapes report. The series encapsulates and celebrates our highly contextualized brand experiences curated for our guests in these most desired destinations.”
Capturing the essence of extraordinary food and drink, the Luxury Group Dining Series takes place in six destinations, activating 23 restaurants and bars, with participation from over 25 hotels and resorts, and showcases the skills of over 55 culinary and beverage talents.
The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo: September 27 – 29
A stellar lineup of talent from The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo’s restaurants will participate, including Executive Chef Teruki Murashima of Héritage by Kei Kobayashi, Chef de Cuisine Hisao Ishida from Hinokizaka, and Chef Takuji Nakano, Head Chef of Towers. Expect sublime experiences including bespoke menus paired with exquisite wines from Château Haut-Brion, or a crafted menu pairing fresh fish with sake at Hinokizaka. Chef Vladmir Veiga, Resident Chef at Arola and One-Michelin-starred LAB by Sergio Arola at Penha Longa Resort (part of The Ritz-Carlton portfolio of hotels and resorts), will collaborate with Chef Takuji Nakano in a matcha themed brunch at Towers. In addition, Kentaro Wada, Head Bartender at The Bar, who won the Chivas Masters 2018 cocktail competition, and Yosuke Asano from The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, winner of Bacardi Legacy in Japan in 2020, will be creating cocktails inspired by the Nakasendo route based on the microclimates linking the different seasons of Japan and the ingredients native to the country. As well as a cocktail masterclass focusing on Japanese products, the hotel will be unveiling their new curated Afternoon Tea in collaboration with SUGI BEE GARDEN in Lobby Lounge.
The St. Regis Bali: October 4 – 6
Guests can look forward to indulging in a variety of Balinese delights created by renowned chefs and bartenders. To kick things off, Arne Riehn, who leads the culinary brigade at the Michelin-starred IGNIV at The St. Regis Bangkok will be taking over Kayuputi for two nights to bring their signature concept to Bali. Kayuputi will also be elevating their already popular Brunch with signature dishes from participating chefs. For a truly Balinese experience, guests are invited to join Spencer Patrick, who was once the youngest chef to ever receive a Michelin star and has two decades of Michelin star experience. He oversees the culinary execution at Harrisons Restaurant, the One Hat restaurant in the Australian Good Food Guide, for an elevated beachside barbecue dinner incorporating Australian techniques using the finest Balinese ingredients. A talented trio of mixologists from The St. Regis hotels in Singapore, Jakarta and Bali, will join forces to showcase The St. Regis rituals and present guests with exceptionally crafted cocktails including bespoke pairings and guest shift bar takeovers.
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne: October 17 – 19
Launching the Melbourne leg of the Luxury Group Dining Series, Chef Angelo Aglianó of Michelin-starred Tosca di Angelo at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong will be bringing his signature dishes to a bespoke lunch at Atria, the One Hat restaurant in the Australian Good Food Guide. Situated on the 80th floor, Cameo was recently listed as Australia’s Best Hotel Bar. It will spotlight a takeover from The Tokyo Toranomon EDITION’s Gold Bar, included for the past few years in Asia’s 50 Best Bars’ extended list. It is helmed by Head Bartender Hideyuki Saito, who placed in the top eight at the Bacardi Legacy 2017 Global Final cocktail competition in Berlin. Focusing on locally sourced ingredients, Chef Angelo will also be creating distinct canapés for ‘Indulgence Hour’ at the Lobby Lounge, elevating after-work drinks for the ultimate luxury interpretation of happy hour.
The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok: October 31 – November 3
An exhilarating array of Thai culinary experiences await guests at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok. Chef Christian Herrgesell who is the Executive Chef at Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, who previously represented various awarded restaurants (Two Michelin-starred Tim Raue, Two Michelin-starred Landhaus Bacher in Austria, One Michelin-starred Schwabenstube in the Hotel Adler Asperg), will be taking over The Allium Bangkok creating an elevated tasting menu incorporating signature dishes from Lae Lay restaurant. Giovanni Graziadei, Director of Beverage at The Singapore EDITION’s Punch Room will be elevating the beverage experience by bringing Punch Room Signature serves to The Allium Bangkok. Giovanni previously headed up Jigger & Pony, which ranked 2nd in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 and 14th in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 as Principal Bartender. At Hashiri where the ancient artform complements gastronomy, discover an interactive experience with a contemporary artist, and a four-handed collaboration with Chef de Cuisine Alvin Chew and Chef Fujisawa Nobuhiro from Mizuki The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto. Executive Chef Montri Jiratitankit, a veteran of fine Thai cuisine with 20 years of global experience, will be partnering with Chef Sasha Yodying Phoomcharoen, owner of Hybrid Restaurant & Wine Bar in a Four Hands collaboration at The House of Smooth Curry. Last but not least, an elevated menu at The Silk Road Cantonese restaurant prepared by Executive Chinese Chef de Cuisine Cheng Kam Sing awaits discerning diners.
The St. Regis Mumbai: November 15 – 17
The incredible lineup of culinary masters in Mumbai includes a sophisticated infusion of cultures. To start, Spanish Chef Miguel Navarro representing Es Fum, One Michelin-starred venue at The St. Regis, Mallorca, will take over Koishii, alongside other culinary talents from The St. Regis Mumbai, for an elevated fine dining experience. Bar experiences will be led by Cassandra and Karina from Republic at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, a bar presented on Asia’s 50 Best Bars since 2022. Seven Kitchens will showcase various head chefs coming together for an extravagant Brunch affair. Alessandro Piso from JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, Chow Chee Meng from The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, Bhaskar Chakraborty from the JW Marriott Kolkata, Sahil Sharma from JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity, Chef Paul Kinny from The St. Regis Mumbai and Chef Golpin Sianipar from The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake. The Sahib Room & Kipling Bar, the hotel’s destination Indian venue will host an exquisite Four-Hands Dinner with talented Chef Asif Qureshi from the JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. Diners with a penchant for sweets can delight in the patisserie masterclass by Guest Chef Vinesh Johny, or indulge in an haute couture themed Champagne afternoon tea at The Drawing Room.
JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach: November 29 – December 1
The series concludes in Singapore with an extraordinary line-up at JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach. At the renowned Madame Fan, Executive Chinese Chef Pak Chee Yit, will be joined by Executive Chef Paul Lau Ping-Lui of the Two Michelin-starred Tin Lung Heen at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong to offer guests an exquisite Chinese dinner. Meanwhile, Madame Fan’s Head Bartender Chew Qing Ting will be collaborating with the team from Bar Sathorn at the W Bangkok. Marco Dognini, who has received several accolades including the 6th Best Under 30 Italian Bartender in 2018. Complimenting the activations at Madame Fan and Madame Fan Bar, be captivated by live Chinese themed performances at Cool Cats by talented musicians at the forefront of the jazz scene. The NCO Club is set to be the ideal destination with the robust programming across the various venues during the series. At the namesake restaurant of celebrity Chef Akira Back, discover the Akira Back Brunch Club (A.B.C); an aspiring social affair of freshly harvested sashimi, and classic signatures blending modern Japanese cuisine with Korean accents.
A 64-year-old woman is found with a giant python constricting her right leg and midsection on Tuesday night, September 17, 2024.
SAMUT PRAKAN — A 64-year-old woman in Samut Prakan Province narrowly escaped death by strangulation from a large python late Tuesday night after being ambushed from behind while washing dishes in her home.
This shocking incident occurred shortly after 10 PM on September 17, in a rented room of a five-unit house in Soi Suksawat 84, Soi Song Phi Nong, Moo 1, Pak Klong Bang Pla Kot Subdistrict, Phra Samut Chedi District, Samut Prakan Province. Ms. Arom Arunrot, 64, was nearly exhausted when rescue workers broke down her door to reach her.
Everyone was stunned to see the woman being constricted around her midsection by a giant python. It took great effort to pry the snake off her, taking more than 30 minutes before it loosened its grip. Once released, the snake quickly slithered away into the forest area behind the house, evading capture as rescuers focused on providing first aid to Ms. Arom and rushing her to the hospital.
A 64-year-old woman was found with a giant python constricting her right leg and midsection on Tuesday night, September 17, 2024.
Police Sergeant Anusorn Wongmalee from the Phra Samut Chedi Police Station recounted that when they arrived, they called out to Ms. Arom and knocked on the door, but received no response. After hearing faint groans, they decided to break down the door, only to find the shocking scene of the python constricting the woman, who appeared weak with pale hands and feet.
Later, when Ms. Arom’s condition improved, she explained that she works as a housekeeper at a children’s hospital in Bangkok and had been renting this room for many years, living with her husband until his death in November 2023, after which she lived alone. The area behind her room is a bamboo forest with a pond.
On the night of the incident, she returned from work, ate dinner, and around 8:30 PM went to wash dishes at the back of the room. While standing there, she felt something bite her thigh. Initially thinking it was a water monitor, she looked down to find a giant python. She tried to grab its head to remove it, but the snake wrapped around her, causing her to fall and roll on the floor. She struggled with the snake for over two hours to no avail.
Rescuers take Ms. Arom to the hospital after freeing her from the python on September 17, 2024.
“I tried calling out to my neighbors and anyone nearby, but no one heard me. I thought I wouldn’t survive and would surely become the snake’s meal. In a final attempt, I shouted as loud as I could until someone passing by heard me and quickly called the police and rescue unit for help. I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life,” Arom said.
Rescue workers estimated that this enormous python was likely over 4 meters long and weighed no less than 20 kilograms. Its escape has left residents in the area fearful, especially after seeing how this 64-year-old woman nearly became its prey, reminiscent of news reports about two women in Indonesia’s Sulawesi province who were consumed by pythons in June and July of this year.
In another incident in 2018 reported by BBC News, a woman in Sulawesi also fell victim to a reticulated python. These massive serpents, known to reach lengths exceeding 10 meters (32 feet), are formidable predators with incredible strength.
Wound inflicted by the python during its surprise attack
Reticulated pythons employ an ambush strategy, coiling around their prey and applying crushing force. As the victim exhales, the python tightens its grip, leading to death by suffocation or cardiac arrest within minutes.
These snakes consume their prey whole, aided by extremely flexible jaw ligaments that allow them to engulf large animals. However, when it comes to humans, our shoulder blades pose a challenge due to their rigid structure, as noted by Mary-Ruth Low, a reticulated python expert from Wildlife Reserves Singapore.
While pythons primarily target mammals, they occasionally devour reptiles, including crocodiles. Their diet evolves with their size; smaller pythons feed on rats, but larger specimens seek more substantial prey for better caloric payoff. This can include animals as large as pigs or even cows.
Pythons occasionally misjudge their prey’s size, sometimes with fatal consequences. In 2005, a Burmese python in Florida attempted to swallow an alligator whole, resulting in a gruesome scene where both animals perished.
Despite their voracious nature, these snakes can be surprisingly selective. When suitable prey is scarce, they can endure extended periods with minimal food, patiently waiting for an appropriately sized meal to cross their path.
KAMPONG GLAM, SINGAPORE — F 1 Singapore Night Race is well-established and world famous with the current one being its 14th edition but a local organisation in Kampong Glam is doing more to make this annual highlight even more interesting and accessible to locals and foreigners.
Enter ‘The Glam Circuit Festival’ which runs now until September 22 at Kampong Gelam and overlaps with Grand Prix night races on Sept 21 to 22.
Those familiar with Singapore may know that Kampong Gelam (also known as Kampong Glam) has been the centre of Malays and Muslims in Singapore since the British colonial time in 1819 when Sultan of Johor agreed to Sir Stamford Raffles’ allocations of 23 hectares of land between Rocher River and the sea for the use by the Sultan.
Khaosod Photo/Pravit Rojanaphruk
A major mosque, Masjid Sultan, was soon erected, only to be demolished and rebuilt into the present form in 1924 with its picturesque main dome standing tall over nearby vernacular shophouses and reminding us why non-Muslims like us find animation movies like Aladdin exotic.
Today the district or village, (kampong being a Malay word for village) is one of Singapore’s most important and vibrant tourist destinations even without this special festival, which is in its fourth year this year. It’s where people come for good Malay and Turkish food, specialty coffee, saffron milk tea, souvenir shoppings and drinks in the evening.
Khaosod Photo/Pravit Rojanaphruk
With the Glam Circuit Festival this week, visitors are spoiled for more choice as food stalls, live music, singing competition, interactive arts, and special activities have been set up at three zones around the ‘village’.
At one of the booths, there’s not just a race car simulator but F1 Singapore race car simulator where you can drive (and crash) along the realistic simulated route dotted with iconic Singapore landmarks such as the Marina Bay Sands Hotel building and Singapore Flyer, which is one of the largest observation wheels in the world.
Khaosod Photo/Pravit Rojanaphruk
I gave it a try, crashed my race car several times at high speed, survived, and wasn’t jailed by Singaporean traffic police. You can drink while driving your F1 as well (but no marijuana please, it’s still illegal there).
There’s also a scream booth next to it. You can try to scream as loud as you could for tokens that can be exchanged for free passes to other activities or dining vouchers to the nearby Cappadocia Turkish & Mediterranean Restaurant at Bussorah Street. (The restaurant’s proprietor, Ms Lynette Lee, is a gregarious host, matched only by the delicious mezze and kebab prepared by her Turkish chef.)
I reckon the screaming booth should be popular among Chinese tourists as well as local Singaporeans, the latter mostly live inside relatively small flats where loud noise making is a taboo.
Colin Peh, Managing Director of GoRental SG
Food, music and other entertainments aside, the festival’s many booths boast the use of clean battery generators which are 100 percent powered by solar energy. GoRental SG, the Singaporean company, showcases Singapore’s path towards a green future by ensuring the festival emits zero air and noise pollution (except air pollution induced by food preparation and noise from the screaming booth, that is.)
Colin Peh, Managing Director of GoRental SG, told us the firm which is 5 years old, utilised Chinese and Singaporean technology, and is not just about profit making. Those attending the festival can select ‘impact’ initiatives offered by the firm, such as providing one day of “life-saving clean water to families” in an impoverished community in a neighbouring country.
“We are not just about profiting,” Peh told me last Friday. His firm will assist a remote village in Chiang Mai province, as part of their CSR, by installing solar cells next year.
Muhammad Zaki Maarof, chairman of One Kampong Gelam (OKG)
For a local community leader, Muhammad Zaki Maarof, chairman of One Kampong Gelam (OKG), a community association that aims to “enliven and establish Kampong Gelam as a vibrant arts and cultural district”, the more visitors to the village, the better.
He added that the F 1 Grand Prix helps put Singapore on the global map even among foreigners who may not be familiar with the island nation state or our part of the world and is effectively a “good ambassador” for Singapore.
He is proud to be part of a festival that widens the attraction of the race through the festival, which runs until this Sunday, September 22, and said “the more [visitors] the merrier” as it “compliment” this month’s F 1 race.
(The writer would like to thank One Kampong Gelam, and the team at Muse & Motif, for their kind hospitality.)
Following the launch of AIS Open API, a platform offering standardized connectivity services from GSMA for application developers in various enterprises to access network provider resources and create innovative services, AIS remains committed to enhancing convenience for enterprise users by extending services to the regional level. This is achieved by furthering partnerships to strengthen networks and accelerate global API adoption.
In this effort, AIS has collaborated with Bridge Alliance to connect AIS Open API with the Bridge Alliance’s API Exchange (BAEx) platform. This platform is supported by 12 leading telecom providers, including Airtel, China Unicom, CSL, CTM, Globe, Maxis, Mobifone, Optus, Singtel, SK Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and Telkomsel. This collaboration enables AIS to offer APIs through BAEx, providing access to telecom services from various providers and expanding service coverage. This will accelerate the adoption of these APIs, allowing developers, solution providers, and businesses to seamlessly access telecom services across multiple markets, fostering co-innovation and the development of new applications.
Mr. Phupa Akavipat, Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer, AIS, stated, “This collaboration marks a new milestone in enhancing the competitive capabilities of Thai businesses at a regional level through advanced telecommunications services. By forming a technological partnership with members of the Bridge Alliance, we are driving the sharing and development of new innovations at an accelerated pace. This collaboration reduces complexity while enhancing security and user experience through BAEx, a unified API standard. It allows businesses to easily access the technologies of AIS and our partner telecom providers via a single connection.
AIS is now offering seamless access to and utilization of these telecommunications services through the AIS Open API platform, which operates and connects through BAEx. As of today, we are providing services such as the Number Verify API, which enhances convenience and security for mobile number-based identity verification; the SIM Swap API, which ensures proper SIM usage according to specific conditions; and the Device Location API, which allows for easy and accurate verification of equipment installation locations. These technologies will strengthen businesses and digital platform providers both in Thailand and across the region.”
Dr Ong Geok Chwee, CEO of Bridge Alliance said, “We’re excited to have so many operators join us and help grow BAEx from strength to strength. This truly demonstrates the spirit of partnership and collaboration that Bridge Alliance stands for. Through BAEx as a single interface enabling regional consumption of telco APIs, we will continue to accelerate telco API exposure for operators. Enterprise customers will be able to consume telco APIs for their regional business with ease. More importantly, all parties benefit from our streamlined technical and commercial framework when working with BAEx. We welcome more operators, and commercial customers to connect with BAEx for co-innovation.”
Powered by Singtel’s Paragon orchestration platform, BAEx offers customers a single integration and contract, which reduces the complexity of them working with multiple operators unilaterally. It builds on the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative and Project CAMARA, which are working on a framework of common network APIs to provide universal access to operator networks for developers. Among these, BAEx is now providing Silent Network Authentication APIs[1] such as Number Verify and SIM Swap, which tap on telco real-time data for use cases with mobile authentication and fraud prevention needs. These APIs serve enterprises in sectors such as FinTech, e-commerce and over-the-top media services, enabling a seamless mobile authentication process for a positive user experience.
BAEx will subsequently introduce more APIs such as eKYC (electronic know your customer) and QoD (Quality-of-service on Demand) APIs. By simplifying the commercial model and technical workflow for API consumption, BAEx will unleash new opportunities and revenue streams for operators and enterprise customers seeking to enable telco capabilities in their business.
“The GSMA welcomes and supports BAEx. We believe it will play a major role in helping enterprise developers across the world develop new mobile services and features for businesses and consumers. Initiatives like BAEx are needed to bring together and highlight the rich set of innovative capabilities that are available for developers, in mobile networks. By aligning to a standard framework, and through CAMARA APIs, this initiative can help enterprise developers accelerate time to market for new services, and provide more secure and productive applications to society,” said Henry Calvert, Head of Networks, GSMA.
The first enterprise to leverage BAEx for validating its use case is V-Key, whose security solutions are used widely by government, banking and mega app clients that deploy large-scale applications across the region. Another BAEx early adopter is Unmanned Life, a British company with a tech office in Barcelona that offers a software platform for the seamless orchestration of autonomous robotics.
Joseph Gan, CEO and co-founder at V-Key said, ”V-Key is excited to be at the forefront of the digital security landscape, collaborating with Bridge Alliance on the revolutionary BAEx platform. Silent Network Authentication APIs will undoubtedly redefine the standards for secure and seamless user experiences. By integrating V-Key ID, our revolutionary privacy-preserving universal digital identity solution with the API, we are not only enhancing security but also unlocking a fresh set of possibilities for businesses.”
Jorge Muñoz, Chief Commercial Officer at Unmanned Life said,” I am excited about our strategic partnership with Bridge Alliance in BAEx, marking a transformative leap in the autonomous robotics space. This collaboration will deploy our advanced technology across Asia, enhancing operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability in logistics, security, and infrastructure. Leveraging key CAMARA APIs like QoD, we are poised to drive innovation and expand our operations, revolutionizing autonomous robotic solutions in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.”
AIS, in collaboration with Bridge Alliance and the telecom providers participating in BAEx, will engage in joint marketing and business development activities to promote awareness, understanding, and the use of APIs among businesses, telecom providers, and enterprises worldwide. For more information about BAEx, please visit https://www.bridgealliance.com/baex/, and to learn more about AIS Open API, visit https://www.ais.th/business/enterprise/technology-and-solution/communication/ais-open-api.
The PARQ, Thailand’s first mixed-use development with LEED GOLD® and WELL CERTIFIED™ CORE GOLD, continues to foster a sustainable future through its “Life Well Balanced” mission by hosting SWAP UP FESTIVAL Vol.2 in partnership with Swoop Buddy and Go Green Girls. Enjoy swapping beloved items like clothes, collectibles, books, and pet supplies while participating in eco-friendly activities in a warm, inspiring atmosphere from September 12th-15th, 2024.
This event offers various activitiesthat are not only enjoyable but also help reduce waste and inspire a sustainable lifestyle. Highlights include the Conscious Market with over 50 eco-friendly vendors offering recycled, upcycled and natural products, such as Circular, One More Thing, Zayan, Hako and Co, Ira Natural andGood Cha. As well as recycled and upcycled craft workshops led by Yibdin studio, Wamp Co. & Reviv and Eventide and lilac. Wishulada Panthanuvong’s art showcase highlights the beauty of recycled materials, raising awareness about waste and inspiring upcycling. Additionally, Community Talks on the topic “SWAP for ALL,” featuring experts from Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Frasers Property Management Services, Swoop Buddy, Punpromotion and Decathlon to encourage the circular lifestyle to improve environmental footprint.
Mr. Pornphrom Vikitsreth, Advisor to the Governor of Bangkok and the first Chief Sustainability Officer of the BMA, said,“In 2023, Thailand generated over 26.95 million tons of waste, but only 30% was recycled due to improper disposal methods. We aim to reduce waste through our campaign which encourages everyone to separate waste correctly. This aligns with The PARQ’s excellent waste management system, including creative activities that engage younger generations in valuing their belongings. The SWAP UP event is an exciting initiative that not only helps reduce textile waste but also fosters a community that embraces a circular lifestyle, creating lasting environmental change that we are working to achieve.”
Mrs. Nuttanee Virochpoka, Vice President, Sustainability Development, Frasers Property Management Services (Thailand), shared, “Thank you for the overwhelming support for SWAP UP FESTIVAL Vol.2. As daily waste problems each year, The PARQ is dedicated to promoting sustainability and achieving a balance between humans and the environment. We have implemented proper waste separation, food waste composting, and eco-friendly activities that invite everyone to continuously reduce waste. Similarly, this event’s purpose is to encourage participants to understand the importance of reducing waste, and enjoy contributing to a sustainable lifestyle, aligning with our ‘Life Well Balanced’ vision.”
Ms. Tina Sudjiadi, Co-Founder of Swoop Buddy, stated, “Swoop Buddy emerged from our passion for fashion and environmental awareness. The rapid turnover in the fashion industry, driven by technology, has lowered production costs but increased environmental harm. Over 53 million tons of fibers are used to produce clothing worldwide, yet the lifespan of garments keeps shrinking. We aim to extend the life cycle of clothing through swaps and are grateful to The PARQ for supporting a space to connect with consumers and promote circular fashion. We believe everyone can embrace fashion without harming the planet—just swap and repeat!”
Ms. Oravan Kittithananiran, Chief Marketing Officer at Punpromotion Co., Ltd., added, “When people think of environmental protection, they may find it challenging or not know where to start. Today, we have various tools and platforms that make eco-friendly living easier, including communities that offer diverse lifestyle options. This aligns with Go Green Girls’ mission to connect environmental awareness with the modern lifestyle, presenting accessible content that encourages people to take small steps toward sustainability in their everyday lives.”
Extending the festival’s positive impact on the community, a portion of the event proceeds will be donated to Teach For Thailand and items that are not exchanged will be donated to The Mirror Foundation and Pankan shop by Yuvabadhana Foundation.
In addition, SWAP UP FESTIVAL Vol.2is another proud achievement for The PARQ, driving balanced living and fostering a real circular lifestyle. It serves as a hub for Thailand’s eco-conscious community, promoting sustainable living practices throughout society.
For the latest updates and more information about “SWAP UP FESTIVAL Vol.2”, please visit Facebook: The PARQ Instagram: @THEPARQBKK Website: www.theparq.com Tel. 02-080-5700 #SwapUpFestivalVol2 #ThePARQ #LifeWellBalanced
Thai authorities arrest Benny, an international drug trafficker from Singapore, at his residence in Samut Prakan on September 17, 2024.
SAMUT PRAKAN — An international drug trafficker from Singapore hiding in Thailand, was arrested by Thai officers in cooperation with Singaporean authorities who traveled to Thailand to assist in the investigation.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat Lhakboon, Secretary General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), together with Mr. Parin Mekhanan, Director of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau gave details of this case at a press conference on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat told that the arrest stemmed from a tip-off from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) in Singapore on August 12, 2024. The CNB reported that Benny Kee Soon Chuan, a high-level international drug trafficker wanted by the Singaporean government, had fled a Singaporean arrest warrant and was in Thailand.
The suspect played an important role in drug trafficking and used Thailand as a transit hub for shipping drugs such as ice, ketamine and ecstasy in international parcels, mainly to Singapore and Australia.
The ONCB counter-narcotics team tracked the suspect to a residence in Bangkaew, Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province. Benny was living there without legitimate employment but had an unusually affluent lifestyle. The ONCB worked with the Immigration Police and the CNB sent officers to Thailand to assist with the investigation and arrest.
The ONCB informed the Immigration Police that Benny was an undesirable person as he was involved in drug-related activities that jeopardized national security. His visa was revoked and he was arrested at his home in Samut Prakan on September 17.
Luxury watches and gold jewelry found in a safe at Benny’s, the Singaporean drug trafficking suspect, luxurious house in Samut Prakan Province.
Further investigation revealed that Benny was involved in two other cases. The first occurred on March 26, 2021, when the Thai AITF Task Force seized packages of ice, ecstasy and ketamine destined for Singapore. The sender was identified as Teo Zhi Jie, a Singaporean, who was arrested on June 3, 2021. Teo was found to be linked to Benny and two other individuals believed to be part of the same drug trafficking network.
The second case took place on 10 November 2021, when AITF intercepted packages containing ice bound for Australia. Investigations traced the sender to Mr. Wee Ping Adrian Peh, another Singaporean, who was arrested on March 2, 2022 in Samut Prakan while dealing with Immigration authorities. Wee was also connected to Benny’s network.
Officers examine evidence at Benny’s residence, the Singaporean drug trafficking suspect, in Samut Prakan province on September 17, 2024.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat emphasized that drug trafficking networks are spreading nationwide and using Thailand as a transit hub for shipments to third countries by air and sea as well as for international parcels.
The ONCB works continuously with the CNB and the Singapore Immigration Police and has coordinated closely with international agencies such as those in Singapore, Vietnam, China, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and others to investigate and dismantle cross-border crime networks.
The ONCB will extradite Benny to Singapore where he will face trial. Singapore is known for having some of the strictest anti-drug laws in the world. Drug offenses in Singapore are punishable by death.
