With AIS’s goal of collaborating with startup entrepreneurs, the company has a clear working approach that focuses on supporting and working together with startups in all aspects under the concept of Partnership for Inclusive Growth to create sustainable growth opportunities together.
Recently, AIS The StartUp won the Prime Minister Award in the National Startup 2024 category for Best Brotherhood of the Year. This award, organized by the Thai government, is given to public and private organizations with outstanding achievements in promoting innovation and tech entrepreneurs in Thailand.
It also aims to enhance the competitive capabilities of the Thai startup ecosystem, enabling sustainable growth and effective competition on an international level.
Mr.Somchai Lertsutiwong Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS) said, “For over 10 years, AIS has been a digital service provider creating sustainable growth opportunities for startup entrepreneurs under the concept of Partnership for Inclusive Growth. This has proven our commitment to leveraging our internal capabilities, including technology platforms and knowledge from AIS and our group of companies, as well as connecting with partners and investors to provide marketing opportunities for sustainable growth of startups.
This is why we are extremely proud today to receive another prestigious award, the Prime Minister Award in the National Startup 2024 category for Best Brotherhood of the Year. It reflects our dedication and vision to drive and support startups, bringing ideas to the real business world through the creation of innovative new services that meet the needs of today’s consumers and customers.
We would like to thank the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation, through the National Innovation Agency (NIA), for recognizing the commitment of AIS The StartUp. We reaffirm our intention to continue working alongside all entrepreneurs. This not only strengthens the country’s economy but also supports the creation of innovations that add competitive value for Thai entrepreneurs to grow sustainably,” Mr. Somchai concluded.
Laos' Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, center, delivers his speech during the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
JINTAMAS SAKSORNCHAI, VIENTIANE, Laos — Southeast Asian foreign ministers and top diplomats from key partners including the United States and China were gathering in the Laotian capital on Thursday for the start of three days of talks expected to focus on the increasingly violent civil war in Myanmar, tensions in the South China Sea and other regional issues.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are expected to hold one-on-one talks on the sidelines of the meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Vientiane, which come as both Beijing and Washington are looking to expand their influence in the region.
Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith thanked ASEAN members and partners for their “unwavering collective effort” that has led to its past achievements and emphasized the importance of the bloc’s continuous work to promote peace and stability.
Laos’ Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith greets Thailand Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, left, during the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
“In light of the rapid and complex geopolitical and geoeconomic changes, we need to further enhance ASEAN centrality and unity so as to promote the relevance and resilience of ASEAN, aiming at addressing emerging challenges and seizing opportunity in the future,” he said in the opening statement.
For the ASEAN nations — Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Brunei and Laos — the violence in Myanmar is at the top of the agenda as the bloc struggles to implement its “five-point consensus” for peace.
The plan calls for the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels, and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties. The military leadership in Myanmar has so far ignored the plan and has raised questions about the bloc’s efficiency and credibility to mediate for peace.
Broader talks, including diplomats from elsewhere in the region including Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, are expected to focus on issues including the economy, security, climate and energy.
Myanmar Foreign Secretary Aung Kyaw Moe, Philippine Foreign Secretar Enrique Manalo, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Thailand Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, Vietnam Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, Laos Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith, Malaysia Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Brunei Darussalam Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof, Cambodia Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea, Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, East Timor Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn pose for a group photo during the 57th Association of southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Plenary Meeting session in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
In Myanmar, the army ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021 and suppressed widespread nonviolent protests that sought a return to democratic rule, leading to increasing violence and a humanitarian crisis.
In an effort to put pressure on Myanmar, ASEAN has prohibited it from sending any political representatives to top-level meetings, and it has sent bureaucrats instead. Aung Kyaw Moe, the permanent secretary of Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry, represents the country in this week’s meetings, which run through Saturday.
More than 5,400 people have been killed in the fighting in Myanmar and the military government has arrested more than 27,000 since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. In addition, there are now more than 3 million displaced people in the country, with the numbers growing daily as fighting intensifies between the military and Myanmar’s multiple ethnic militias as well as the so-called people’s defense forces of military opponents.
\Foreign ministers and delegates attend the plenary session of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)As the needs of civilians grow, discussions on humanitarian assistance to Myanmar will also be a focus of the ASEAN talks, Bolbongse Vangphaen, head of the Thai Foreign Ministry’s department for ASEAN, told reporters ahead of the meetings.
Thailand, which shares a long border with Myanmar, has already been heavily involved in providing humanitarian assistance, and Bolbongse said the country is ready to support the next phase of delivery being planned by the ASEAN Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.
He did not say when or where the aid delivery would be.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa attends the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Landlocked Laos is the bloc’s poorest nation and one of its smallest, and many have expressed skepticism about how much it can accomplish while the crises mount. But it is also the first ASEAN chair that shares a border with Myanmar. Laos has already sent a special envoy to Myanmar for meetings with the head of the ruling military council and other top officials in an attempt to make progress on the peace plan.
ASEAN also has introduced a mechanism of trilateral informal consultation among its current, past, and future chairs, specifically for ensuring continuity in its response to the situation in Myanmar. The troika met for the first time on Wednesday, attended by Laos, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Wednesday after the meeting that she raised concerns about increasing numbers of cross-border crimes and refugees that resulted from a crisis in Myanmar. She said she urged ASEAN to “promote trust and confidence building through a balanced and low-key approach” to foster an inclusive dialogue among all relevant stakeholders in Myanmar.
“The worsening conditions in Myanmar have a direct impact on efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” she said.
Dulyapak Preecharush, a professor of Southeast Asia Studies at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, said ASEAN is not the only stakeholder when it comes to Myanmar, with China and India also major players — and both attending the ASEAN meetings.
Progress on Myanmar “needs to start with countries that share borders with Myanmar, such as China, India and Thailand, to find a joint consensus to address the problems” before expanding to other countries, he said.
In other issues, ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei are locked in maritime disputes with China over its claims of sovereignty over virtually all of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most crucial waterways for shipping. Indonesia has also expressed concern about what it sees as Beijing’s encroachment on its exclusive economic zone.
An estimated $5 trillion in international trade passes through the South China Sea each year. China has been increasingly involved in direct confrontations, most notably with the Philippines and Vietnam.
Foreign ministers and delegates attend the plenary session of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
This year, tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated, with Chinese coast guard and other forces using powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers to prevent food and other supplies from reaching Filipino navy personnel.
The Philippines, a treaty partner with the U.S., has been critical of other ASEAN countries for not doing more to get China to back away from its increasingly assertive approach.
China and the Philippines said Sunday they have reached a deal that they hope will end the confrontations, aiming to establish a mutually acceptable arrangement at the disputed area without conceding either side’s territorial claims.
The rare deal could spark hope that similar arrangements could be forged by Beijing with other countries to avoid clashes while thorny territorial issues remain unresolved.
ASEAN has been working with China to produce a South China Sea code of conduct, which is expected to be part of the talks in Vientiane.
___
Associated Press writers David Rising in Bangkok and Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report.
Nepal army personnel cordon off a plane crash site at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. State television in Nepal says a plane has slipped off the runway and crashed while trying to take off from the Kathmandu airport. (AP Photo/Sujan Gurung)
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A plane crashed Wednesday just after taking off from Nepal’s capital, killing 18 people and injuring a pilot who was the lone survivor.
All the people aboard the Saurya Airlines flight including the co-pilot were Nepali except for one passenger, who was a Yemeni national, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal said. Authorities have pulled all 18 bodies from the wreckage, police official Basanta Rajauri said.
The Bombardier CRJ 200 plane was heading to Nepal’s second-most populous city of Pokhara for maintenance work and most of the passengers aboard were either mechanics or airline employees, airport officials said. They were speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters.
Smoke rises from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Agniia Galdanova)
The pilot has injuries to his eyes but his life is not in any danger, said a doctor at Kathmandu Medical College Hospital, where the pilot is being treated. The doctor spoke on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak to reporters.
The plane took off from the Kathmandu airport at 11:11 a.m. local time and turned right but crashed moments later in the eastern section of the airport, the Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement.
“I came out and saw a plane had crashed and there was huge smoke and fire coming out,” said Ram Kumar Khatri Chetri, who own a car parts store barely 100 meters (330 feet) from the crash site. “There was chaos and confusion.”
“It was just horrible and there was no way that anyone could just go near the plane and help out when there was so much fire and even explosions,” he said.
It is the monsoon rain season in Kathmandu but was not raining at the time of the crash. Visibility was low across the capital, however.
Nepal army personnel cordon off a plane crash site at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Sujan Gurung)
The Kathmandu airport, the main airport serving Nepal, is inside a valley surrounded by mountains that make takeoffs and landings challenging for pilots. The airport is right next to the city, and is surrounded by houses and neighborhoods.
The bodies have been taken to the T.U. Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu for autopsy. The airline manifest showed there were two pilots and 17 passengers on board.
Grieving relatives gathered at the hospital forensics department to collect the bodies of their loved ones, though they are not likely to be released for a day or two.
The co-pilot Sasant Katuwal had been flying only for the past three years after completing training in France, his uncle Dhyan Bahadur Khadka said at the hospital. He had just received a visa to go to Germany for further training and was excited about that, Khadka said.
Nepal army personnel sort through the debris after a domestic plane belonging to Saurya Airlines crashed just after taking off at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Prabin Ranabhat)
Khadka said his nephew had a bright future in aviation. “His parents are grieving the loss of their only child,” Khadka said. “He was unmarried. He was not just tall and handsome, but he was well behaved,”
Tribhuvan International Airport, the main airport in Nepal for international and domestic flights, was closed for hours as emergency crew and investigators began their work.
Saurya Airlines operates the Bombardier CRJ 200 on domestic routes.
In 2019, a Bangladeshi airliner crashed at Tribhuvan airport, killing 51 people while 20 on board survived. An investigation confirmed the plane was misaligned with the runway and its pilot was disoriented and tried to land in “sheer desperation” when the plane crashed.
In 2015, a Turkish Airlines jet landing in dense fog skidded off a slippery runway at the airport. The plane was carrying 238 people but there were no serious injuries.
The cruise ship Genting Dream, measuring 335 meters in length, docks at Phuket Deep Sea Port for the first time on July 24, 2024.
PHUKET — On July 24, around 3:00 p.m., the luxury cruise ship Genting Dream, measuring 335 meters in length, docked at Phuket Deep Sea Port for the first time this year, carrying 3,700 tourists on the Singapore-Phuket route. This is expected to stimulate the tourism economy and boost confidence in Phuket Province.
Genting Dream, a Bahamas-flagged cruise ship on the Singapore-Phuket route, is 335 meters long and has a gross tonnage of 150,695 tons. It docked at Phuket Deep Sea Port for the first time in 2024 to promote goodwill and stimulate Phuket’s tourism economy.
Adul Chuthong, Deputy Governor of Phuket, along with Nachapong Pranit, Director of the Phuket Regional Harbor Office, and other relevant agencies welcomed the tourists arriving on this ship.
The Deputy Governor of Phuket stated that after dredging and expanding the waterway, larger cruise ships will be able to dock in Phuket more frequently, bringing more tourists by sea in addition to those arriving by air and land.
Currently, about 50,000-60,000 tourists arrive daily through the airport. The occupancy rate of tourists may increase to 100,000-200,000 per day, benefiting both the public and private sectors of the tourism industry and increasing revenue.
Nachapong Pranit, Director of the Phuket Regional Harbor Office, said that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of large cruise ships visiting Phuket has increased. In the past month, about 7-8 large cruise ships docked in Phuket.
Genting Dream, a Bahamas-flagged cruise ship on the Singapore-Phuket route, is 335 meters long and has a gross tonnage of 150,695 tons.
Since January, the number has tripled to 14-17 ships per month, which is a very positive trend for the large cruise ship tourist market in Phuket. The Genting Dream’s first docking at Phuket Deep Sea Port demonstrates that large cruise ships can now access the port directly, increasing convenience for tourists who previously had to anchor offshore and use smaller boats to reach the island.
Genting Dream is scheduled to dock in Phuket twice a month until 2026. Meanwhile, the Marine Department has plans to develop this port into a hub for large cruise ships in the Andaman Sea, or a “Marina Hub,” catering to tourists who prefer to travel to Phuket on large cruise ships.
The Genting Dream docks at Phuket Deep Sea Port for the first time in 2024 to promote goodwill and stimulate Phuket’s tourism economy.
On July 18, 2024, the Marketeer Magazine held the Marketeer No.1 Brand Thailand 2024 Award Ceremony. HINO has been receiving the Marketeer No.1 Brand Thailand Award. This honorary award giving was based on brand research and popularity surveys collected from customers throughout the country; strong brands from each product category in Thailand, which can get into the customer hearts, are selected, voted, and then, they will become the brands of the year.
This year, Hino Motors Sales (Thailand) Ltd. won the Marketeer No.1 Brand Thailand 2024 Award in the Truck Category. Ms. Yumiko Kawamura, President of Hino Motors Sales (Thailand) Ltd. is the award recipient. HINO and its distributors throughout the country are proud to gain trust from HINO customers since they have voted for HINO, as a popular and strong brand. In addition, Ms. Yumiko Kawamura said.
“This award is an award of pride. It shows that our HINO products meet the standards, have good quality, and great services. The award also reflects the feedback from our customers; they always accept, trust, and choose to use HINO trucks. Thank you to all customers who believe in us and give trust to our brand, so HINO becomes a successful brand in the market of commercial vehicles and stays in Thai society for a long time. This provides HINO with strong mental support, enabling us to continuously develop and enhance our products and services in terms of quality. We strive to become the No.1 brand to meet customer needs under the policy “Lead to Change.” HINO is the leader of change. We are ready to deliver happiness and a smile to our customers and society. We have always been providing good products and services for 62 years and are still, continuing our work…”
This award and the promises that HINO and our distributors have made will lead to the development of products and services offered to all customers under the policy “Customer Smile,”
which will create happiness and make our customers smile. More Hino News interesting activities visit http://www.hinothailand.com, Facebook: Hino Thailand Fan Club, Line: @hinoth, YouTube: Hino Thailand Official, or TikTok: @hinoth.
BANGKOK — Ratchaphruek boom continues: “Enrich” teams up with “Anabuki” to launch new project “The Article North Ratchaphruek”, establishing a Luxury real estate flagship.
“Enrich Group,” a property developer known for its unique approach, has formed a significant partnership with Japan’s major real estate firm, “Anabuki Kosan Group,” to venture into Ratchaphruek, the New Luxury Hub of western Bangkok.
Together, they are developing the luxury project, The Article North Ratchaphruek, with a value of over 2.4 billion baht, catering to luxury clients with distinctive lifestyles who appreciate uniqueness within a quality community equipped with comprehensive amenities.
Mr. Anavach Chatsirikul, CEO of Enrich Group, revealed that despite the challenging real estate market this year, with high competition and consumers taking longer to decide on home purchases, the company’s business plan continues to ensure steady growth.
Targeting premium to luxury clients with high purchasing power, the company plans to launch projects in high-potential locations, focusing on developing projects with appealing features and innovative living solutions.
In the second half of this year, the company is set to launch a new project, The Article North Ratchaphruek, valued at over 2.4 billion baht, in the new luxury hub of western Bangkok. This area benefits from several transportation developments connecting Ratchaphruek, Kanchanaphisek, Chaiyapruek, and Chaeng Watthana, which are key roads, ensuring convenient and flexible travel.
The area is also surrounded by various amenities, including community malls, leading shopping centers, hospitals, and renowned international schools. Not only Enrich Group, but also major and minor real estate companies are developing residential projects here, from mass market to luxury market, with a total value of tens of billions of baht, affirming that Ratchaphruek is a potential location for continuous expansion.
“For The Article North Ratchaphruek project, Enrich Group has partnered with Anabuki Kosan Group, one of Japan’s top 10 real estate developers, with over 60 years of experience and more than 51 subsidiary companies, with a registered capital of over 5.93 million USD.
Anabuki Kosan Group operates in various sectors, including condominium development, detached house development, hotel management, asset management, security services, and cleaning services. Their real estate development business has expanded to several ASEAN countries, including Thailand. This partnership with a leading Japanese real estate developer allows Enrich to elevate its standards to a more global level,” said Mr. Anavach.
Ms. Suphicha Nutsuwanpol, Business Office Director of Enrich Group, stated that The Article North Ratchaphruek project is being developed under the concept of “Guiding You to Practical Living,” aiming to perfectly meet the residents’ needs and create the best living environment for everyone. The project also emphasizes the experience of living together as a family and values the sense of community among residents within the project and the surrounding area.
“Apart from the beauty of functionality and design, ‘the art of storage’ is central to the design, inspired by the desire to maintain the space’s beauty. We have adopted the ‘Konmari’ concept by Marie Kondo, a world-renowned tidying expert, through consultation with Konmari Masters. Enrich Group is the first in the country to incorporate this concept into real estate,” Ms. Suphicha concluded.
For The Article North Ratchaphruek project, CBRE Thailand, a leading global real estate consultancy with expertise in understanding luxury clients and experience in sales and customer care, has been appointed as the sales representative and marketing consultant for the project.
BANGKOK — At an announcement on the progress of the government’s 10,000 baht digital wallet recharge project on July 24, 2024, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin did not address the media in person as usual. Instead, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichit Chuenban, together with Deputy Finance Ministers Chulapan Amornwiwat and Paopoom Rojanasakul, chaired the press conference at Government House.
The Finance Minister reiterated the objectives of this project: to promote cash circulation in local areas, reduce the cost of living, improve the quality of life of citizens, strengthen the economic resilience of communities and promote self-sufficiency. The project also aims to create and improve jobs and support the development of digital technological innovations for economic and social benefit.
He explained that once the project is launched, it will trigger four “economic hurricanes”:
Spending between citizens and small retailers: This will boost the economy at the grassroots level, spread to all districts nationwide, ease financial burdens and reduce citizen spending.
Spending between small retailers and large retailers.
Spending between large retailers: This will improve purchasing power, consumption and investment opportunities.
The power of individual spending: This will multiply economic activities, revitalize the country’s manufacturing sector and boost overall economic confidence.
The government will open registration for interested citizens from August 1 to 15 September 2024. The start of expenditure under the project is planned for the fourth quarter of 2024.
Deputy Minister Chulapan provided further details on the project:
Eligibility criteria for citizens:
Must be registered as a resident.
Must be a Thai national.
Must be at least 16 years old by the closing date for registration (15 September 2024)
Annual income must not exceed 840,000 baht for the 2023 tax year
Must not have bank deposits of more than 500,000 baht, based on six types of deposits in baht as of 31 March 2024.
Must not currently be serving a prison sentence.
You must not have been disenfranchised or be required to repay benefits under other government measures/programs.
You must not have violated the terms of other government measures/programs.
Timetable for project participation:
General public registration: From August 1 to September 15, 2024 via the “Thang Rat” app on smartphones, with no limit on the number of participants.
Registration for people without smartphones: Plans for later registration (16 September – October 15, 2024) are in preparation, with identification and address verification similar to smartphone users. Issues may be limited to the use of ID cards.
Registration for retailers: Initially starting 1 October, more details on qualifications, application process and terms will be announced later.
Issuance will begin in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Between citizens and small retailers: Spending must occur at small local stores, not large national or regional retail chains, and must occur in the same county in which the citizen is registered, with in-person transactions.
Between retailers: All types of retailers may transact without location restriction.
Approved products: All products except those on the negative list (e.g. lottery tickets, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, energy products, electronics, etc.). Services are excluded from the project.
Registration and identification through the “Thang Rat” (ทางรัฐ) app:
Method 1: Register and verify yourself via the app from 1 August to 15 September 2024
Method 2: Verify via the app before 1 August 2024 and register from 1 August to 15 September 2024 to simplify the process.
At the end of the conference, the Minister of Finance invited citizens to download the “Thang Rat” app from the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android smartphones.
For more information, visit www.digitalwallet.go.th or www.กระเป๋าเงินดิจิทัล.รัฐบาล.ไทย, or by calling the Government Information Center (Call Center) at 1111 from July 24.
A container floats on swollen Marikina River as monsoon rains worsened by offshore typhoon Gaemi on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Joeal Capulitan)
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan shuttered offices, schools and tourist sites across the island Wednesday ahead of a powerful typhoon that already worsened seasonal rains in the Philippines, killed at least 13 people and displaced 600,000.
Typhoon Gaemi’s outer skirt was bringing heavy rain to much of Taiwan, where a direct landfall was expected Wednesday evening in the northern county of Ylan. Fishing boats were recalled to port amid turbulent seas, while air travelers were rushing to board overseas flights before the storm arrives, amid numerous cancellations.
On Wednesday morning, the typhoon was east of Taiwan moving at 18 kilometers (11 miles) per hour with maximum sustained wind speeds of 183 kilometers (113 miles) per hour, the Central Weather Administration said. In the capital Taipei, heavy rain was falling, but high winds had not yet arrived.
People wade through a flooded street following monsoon rains worsened by offshore typhoon Gaemi on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Joeal Capulitan)
Gaemi, which was called Carina in the Philippines, did not make landfall in the archipelago but enhanced its seasonal monsoon rains. The rains set off at least a dozen landslides and floods over five days, killing at least eight and displacing 600,000 people, including 35,000 who went to emergency shelters, the Philippines’ disaster risk mitigation agency said.
A landslide buried a rural shanty Tuesday in the mountainside town of Agoncillo in Batangas province, and the bodies of a pregnant woman and three children, aged 9 to 15, were dug out Wednesday morning. A rice porridge vendor was hit by a falling tree in another Batangas town Tuesday night, raising the toll in the country to 13 dead.
In the densely populated region around the Philippine capital, government work and school classes were suspended after nonstop rains flooded many areas overnight, trapping cars in rising floodwater and stranding people in their homes. Residents who ventured out of their homes waded into knee- and waist-high floodwaters with some using improvised dinghies and paddling their way alongside cars, trucks and SUVs.
CORRECTS PHOTOGRAPHER’S LAST NAME TO CALUPITAN – Streets flood from monsoon rains worsened by offshore typhoon Gaemi on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Joeal Calupitan)CORRECTS PHOTOGRAPHER’S LAST NAME TO CALUPITAN – Residents watch the Marikina river as it floods from monsoon rains worsened by offshore typhoon Gaemi on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, near Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Joeal Calupitan)
In Marikina city in the eastern fringes of the Manila region, the continuing downpour swelled a major river, prompting many residents to flee to safety. The strong currents swept away a steel cargo container, refrigerators, pieces of home furniture and tree trunks, according to Associated Press journalists at the scene.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered authorities to speed up efforts to deliver food and other aid to isolated rural villages. “People there may not have eaten for days,” Marcos said in a televised emergency meeting.
The Philippine coast guard said more than 350 passengers and cargo truck drivers and workers were stranded in seaports after ferries and cargo ships were prohibited from venturing into rough seas. It added that coast guard personnel helped more than 200 residents evacuate a coastal village in Batangas province south of Manila where storm-tossed waves have hit coastal houses.
The storm prompted the cancellation of air force drills off Taiwan’s east coast and ferry services Tuesday.
Despite occasional flooding, Taiwan has substantially improved its resiliency through early warnings and preparations. The effects of the storm were expected to continue into Friday as it moved in a northwestern direction toward mainland China.
Mr. Darren, a 55-year-old Australian man, met with a lawyer and police officers at Chalong Police Station in Mueang Phuket to request help in searching for his son on July 23. He later finds him on July 24, 2024.
PHUKET — An Australian father has come to Thailand to search for his son, fearing danger after 15 days without contact, and pleads for help. Shortly after the news was published, he received information that his son was in Bangkok.
On July 24, Mrs. Rungnapa Putkaew, President of the Phuket Lawyers Council, revealed that the pro bono lawyer at Chalong Police Station received a plea for help on July 23 from Mr. Darren, a 55-year-old Australian man who traveled to Thailand, specifically to Phuket, to search for his 28-year-old son, Mr. Kieran.
Australian man Mr. Kieran, aged 28, the person his father was searching for, is found on July 24, 2024, in Bangkok.
He stated that his son has been out of contact for over 15 days after traveling to Thailand on July 1, 2024. The last known location was in Bangkok, and according to his schedule, he should have been in Phuket by now. However, there has been no contact with the son.
The father has filed a report at Chalong Police Station in Mueang Phuket District, requesting help to locate his son, fearing for his safety.
The Phuket Lawyers Council, along with pro bono lawyers and officers from Chalong Police Station, have jointly reached out to various media outlets to help locate Mr. Kieran.
In the late Wednesday morning, the Australian man received news from officials that his son had been found safe in Bangkok, much to everyone’s relief. He thanked the officials for their assistance in this matter.
On July 21, 2024, the iRAP robot team of KMUTNB students represented Thailand and won the world championship in the World RoboCup Rescue 2024, held from July 16 to 21, 2024 in Eindhoven city in The Netherlands, making the team the 10-time world champion of the global rescue robot tournament. Besides, the team won other 2 additional awards for extraordinary performance, including the Best-in-Class Mobility and the Best-in-Class Dexterity categories.
In the final round of the competition, Thailand’s iRAP Robot team managed to secure the highest score of 1,076 points, while the first runner-up, SHINOBI team from Japan earned 921 points and the second runner-up ALERT team from Germany earned 825 points.
The well-known robotics competition, RoboCup 2024 was joined by 20 teams from 10 countries, including 1. Germany 2. Japan 3. France 4. China 5. South Korea 6. Austria 7. Switzerland 8. Mexico 9. Bangladesh and 10. Thailand. The 6 teams qualified for the final round with their represented country consisted of 1. IRAP ROBOT-Thailand 2. SHINOBI- Japan 3. SOLIDUS- Switzerland 4. ALERT- Germany 5. QUIX- Japan and 6. HECTOR- Germany.
The iRAP team got sponsored to cover the cost of the prototype creation and the trip to the competition by diverse organizations, including Thai Airways International PLC, KMUTNB Alumni Association under the Royal Patronage of HM the King, Search Entertainment Co. Ltd., different University Units within KMUTNB, and a range of Thai public and private sector organizations.
Congratulations to the entire iRAP Robot team for securing another victory at the World RoboCup Rescue 2024! Your amazing championship truly brings significant reputation, pride and international prestige to our country!
