Chiang Mai Police Rescue Another Chinese Student Based in Australia, Lured by Scammers

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3 May 2024, 17:46

chinese student-may1 — Police officers found Ms. Xu at the Thapae Inn Hotel in Chang Moi sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai district, Chiang Mai province on May 2, 2024.

CHIANG MAI – Police in Thailand’s northern region 5 have found a Chinese student who was lured to Chiang Mai by a call center gang and extorted for 7 million baht. The student had flown to Thailand from Australia, where she was studying, to seek help. This case is similar to that of a Chinese female student who was lured to Bangkok in April.

On May 3, Pol. Maj. Gen. Worapong Kamlue, commander of Investigation Region 5, that the Chinese student surnamed Xu, 23, was threatened and deceived by a call center gang to travel to Thailand from Australia, where she was studying. She arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10.30pm on 30 April 2024 at 10:30 p.m. On Thursday, the Bangkok Metropolitan Police contacted the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center, Region 5 Police, asking for help in locating the student.

At around 11.50 p.m. on May 2, officers found Ms. Xu at the Thapae Inn Hotel in Chang Moi sub-district, Mueang Chiang Mai district, Chiang Mai province. She was on the phone with the call center gang at the time. Police officers immediately intervened and rescued her. She was then invited to the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center of Region 5 Police for questioning.

chinese student may2 — Police in Thailand’s northern region 5 have found a Chinese student who was lured to Chiang Mai by a call center gang and extorted for 7 million baht.

Miss Xu said that around March 30, someone called her, posing as a Chinese police officer, and told her that her bank account had been opened using her identity card to transfer money obtained by fraud. She was told that her Australian visa would be revoked if she did not follow the instructions.

The scammers then got her to travel to Thailand and then to Chiang Mai province. She was told that the next day she would have to travel to Chiang Rai province to cross the border to a neighboring country.

On May 3, police from the Royal Thai Police and Miss Xu’s family traveled to Chiang Mai to pick her up and report the incident to the Chinese embassy and provide additional information for the investigation.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Thanathat Kangruambutr, deputy chief of staff of Special Analysis and Tools Division 1, stated that such cases mostly occur overseas, as wealthy Chinese families often send their children to study abroad, notably in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.

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Former Thai Police Officer Arrested for Extorting Chinese Group

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Khaosod English

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3 May 2024, 16:19

extort chinese1 — Mr. Athravut Sumanratthakul, or Mr. Boss, a former police officer, denied the accusation of extorting Chinese visitors.

BANGKOK – After officers from Din Daeng Police Station investigated a tourist robbery at a hotel in Soi Sutthiporn, Din Daeng District, Bangkok, on April 25 at around 8:30 p.m., they found that it was related to the abduction and extortion of Mr. Wang Zhen, 37, a Chinese national, and his four Chinese friends.

The investigation revealed that three men had entered the room, claiming to be Thai police officers. They took the five Chinese individuals into custody, alleging that they had violated the law of having a card skimmer and needed to be taken to the police station. Two cars were waiting outside the hotel.

On the way, the three men persuaded the victims to pay money in exchange for not being prosecuted. Mr. Wang’s group then contacted their Chinese friend in Cambodia to transfer money to a digital wallet account as instructed by the perpetrators, amounting to 65,000 USDT or approximately 2,500,000 Thai Baht. After the payment was made, the perpetrators released them.

Police officers at Din Daeng Police Station held a meeting to discuss the case of a group of Chinese people being extorted for over 65,000 US dollars.

Following the incident, the victims met with the investigating officers to file a complaint and hand over the case to the investigators to proceed with legal action against all the suspects in this case, ensuring they are punished.

On May 3, the Metropolitan Police gathered evidence and requested the court to issue arrest warrants for three suspects: Mr. Attawut Sumanrattanakul, 52 years old, Mr. Theerachai Chalermpanpen, 36 years old, and Mr. Naphasin Nummak, 39 years old, on charges of “jointly extorting property, jointly impersonating an official and acting as an official without authority, jointly detaining or confining others or depriving them of their physical freedom.”

Mr. Athravut , or Mr. Boss, was arrested at his residence in the Khu Bon 33 area, Ram Inthra Subdistrict, Khan Na Yao District. He is the person who claimed to be a police officer, but it was found that he was a former police officer who had already been dismissed from the service in 2022.

During the intimidation of the Chinese visitors, Boss claimed that they had to pay 4 million baht in exchange for not being prosecuted. However, the Chinese group did not have that moch money to pay, so Mr. Boss reduced it to 3 million baht.

Mr. Boss gave a brief interview to the media, confirming that he was not involved in the incident. He did not participate in the gang’s extortion of a Chinese businessman and did not know Mr. Wang, the Chinese businessman. Importantly, he was not present at the scene of the incident.

When reporters tried to inquire about where was him on the day of the incident, he only replied that he would give his statement in court. When further asked if Mr. Boss had actually served as a police officer, he did not respond at all before being escorted into the investigation room at Din Daeng Police Station.

Tech Enablement as a Critical Development Factor for Thailand

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Contributor

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3 May 2024, 14:36

By Manat Manavutiveth, Chief Executive Officer, True Corporation Plc

Thai society’s long-term prospects face growing risks from skill gaps, lagging technological adoption, and the impact of climate change. Leading players from industries of strategic importance, such as telecom and tech, should play a pivotal role in contributing to the country’s ability to progress rapidly. True is responding to this challenge by driving systemic change in education, nurturing digital innovation, and enabling climate action.

Skills for Tomorrow

Thailand needs human capital investment to improve labor skills and productivity in the long term. Future economic development requires talents trained in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, automotive robotics, nano- and biotech. These skills are both an economic necessity and a societal one, as they can lead to developing solutions to build climate resilience and support Thailand’s aging population despite a shrinking workforce.

True leverages our tech expertise for the positive development of Thai society by providing digital skills training for professionals and students. True Digital Academy has trained 30,000 talents in business digital skills such as cyber security, data analytics, and online marketing. For students, True Plookpanya has delivered online courses to over 34 million users. The website (trueplookpanya.com) has been Thailand’s number one educational website every year since 2019.

Our experience has been that supporting students online, although effective, is not a replacement for the systemic changes needed in Thailand’s education system. This includes enhancing the transparency of school assessments, improving the quality of teachers and principals, building a culture of engagement, increasing digital readiness, and promoting the adoption of child-centric curriculums.

To this end, True launched the CONNEXT ED Foundation with the Ministry of Education and public and private partners in 2020. Results are encouraging: Of the 5,000 schools that have joined the program, 72% have already achieved scores ranging from good to excellent. Technology has played a pivotal role in these achievements. In addition to providing schools with 6,000 laptops, CONNEXT ED has trained 5,000 ICT talents to ensure schools have the necessary skills to utilize them. We also connected nearly 1,300 schools to high-speed internet.

More importantly, we hope CONNEXT ED will serve as an incubator for the urgently needed reforms to Thailand’s education system. Support from ecosystem partners and collaboration with the government will be crucial to replicate these promising developments and rapidly achieve positive impact at a national scale.

Climate Action

If we succeed in nurturing a new generation of fast-thinking, creative, and confident Thais, the next challenge is to ensure they inherit a resilient planet. Nearly a third of the country’s workforce is in agriculture, but increasing temperatures and extreme weather threaten the ecosystems we depend on. As a result, Thailand is one of the countries most at risk from climate change.

True’s ambition is to enable climate action for the whole country. Research by GSMA Intelligence shows that mobile connectivity could facilitate 40% of the required carbon reduction across transport, energy, building, and manufacturing sectors by 2030. With 99% population coverage on 4G and 90% 5G coverage, our technology infrastructure is enabling the development of smarter vehicles, cities, and factories, thereby reducing emissions nationwide.

In addition to the enablement effect of mobile connectivity, True has worked on energy saving solutions based on artificial intelligence and IoT. These solutions achieved energy savings of up to 15% both in our operations and in the retail industry. In farming, they also reduce the need for pesticides, antibiotics, and fertilizer.

These energy savings are significant but not sufficient to meet carbon neutrality by 2030—much more must be done. This is why True continues to push for a national grid with cleaner energy. We are also encouraging our suppliers to establish science-based emissions targets while providing training on the process and benefits of effective climate action. As a founding member of the UN Global Compact, True seeks to encourage decisive climate action among decision makers and critical stakeholders in the private and public domains.

Investing in Innovation

In addition to education and the environment, the other major challenge for Thailand is the need to “reboot productivity for resilient growth” (to quote the World Bank). The combination of AI, IoT, and 5G represents a unique opportunity for a new wave of development. But this requires upgrading Thailand from a consumer of technology to a producer.

Huge investments will be required to achieve this. Thailand’s Board of Investment targets 2 trillion baht (US$57 billion) by 2030 in sectors such as electric vehicles, smart electronics and green technologies. And even if this target is reached, investment from global tech players and manufacturers setting up operations in Thailand does not always translate to developing local tech champions.

This why we feel True should play a critical role in building up Thai tech, both as a visionary telecom-tech leader and as an orchestrator of Thailand’s innovation ecosystem. Our innovation initiatives total 120 patents and we have partnerships with 50 universities to support their research. In addition, we established True Digital Park, the largest tech and startup hub in Southeast Asia, spanning over 230,000 sq meters, bringing local entrepreneurs, global tech companies, venture investors, startup accelerators, and government agencies under one roof.

Today, nearly 3,000 startups have already joined this ecosystem. And our startup incubator, True Incube, has raised US$100 million in investment from venture capital (VC) funds to Thai startups. But we see that much more investment is still needed; and we plan to establish strategic partnerships to launch a VC fund of US$300 million or more. We hope this will inspire others to join us or set up their own funds to accelerate the growth of digital Thailand.

Although Thailand faces serious challenges in education, climate action, and the digital transformation of its economy, these can be overcome through collaboration between public and private partners as well as civil society. Together, we can build innovative solutions for a safer, healthier, and more productive future. True Corporation is committed to being an ambitious enabler of this process.

Manat Manavutiveth is chief executive officer of True Corporation, Thailand’s leading telecom-tech company. A veteran of the mobile communications industry, he is driven by connectivity’s power to accelerate the sustainable development of Thai society.

This piece is part of a series by the Sasin School of Management inviting thought leaders and practitioners from around the world to share their visions and insights on the reinvention of the systems that they are part of.

Taiwan’s Indispensability in Preparing for Future Pandemics

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3 May 2024, 14:13

This article is written by Mr. Chang Chun-Fu, Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand.

According to the media reports, COVID-19 cases in Thailand have surged once again after this Songkran Festival, reminding us that the threat of the pandemic persists. Although COVID-19 is no longer classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the World Health Organization continues to warn about the threat of a Disease X pandemic. Therefore, enhancing global health governance becomes an important issue that Thailand, Taiwan, and governments worldwide cannot afford to overlook.

WHO and many countries began reviewing response strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weaknesses in the International Health Regulations (2005) as concerns managing this crisis were revealed. As a result, changes are afoot. Proposed revisions include enhanced surveillance, reporting, and information sharing; improved response readiness; and revised criteria for declaring PHEICs.

At the same time, there is vigorous debate around a new pandemic agreement, which aims to craft a robust global pandemic governance framework grounded in accountability, transparency, and equity. This agreement is expected to be approved at the upcoming 77th World Health Assembly scheduled from May 27 to June 1 this year.

Chang Chun Fu — Mr. Chang Chun-Fu, Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand

Taiwan strongly supports the revision of the International Health Regulations (2005) and the approval of the new pandemic agreement. However, as Taiwan is not a member of the WHO, we cannot directly influence revisions to the IHR (2005) or drafting the new pandemic agreement is not possible. We call on WHO to include Taiwan as a signatory to these documents.

This inclusion would facilitate collaborative efforts in monitoring emerging virus strains, reporting and exchanging pathogen diagnosis data, and sharing novel vaccine and antiviral research or clinical trial results. By fostering collective global action against future pandemics, we could build a more resilient global society with effective disease prevention measures.

We urge WHO to support Taiwan’s inclusion in overseeing global health. Taiwan remains committed to participating based on the principles of professionalism, pragmatism, and making contributions. Taiwan seeks to cooperate with WHO to remedy geographic gaps in global health security and to construct a comprehensive global health framework.

The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All has found that at least 140 countries recognize health as a fundamental human right in their constitutions. Despite this, many nations have not passed and implemented relevant laws to ensure that their citizens have access to healthcare services. Taiwan has worked hard to reach universal health coverage and has consistently improved the quality of health care over the past few decades in line with WHO recommendations.

Taiwan has effectively integrated and allocated social welfare resources to enhance primary and oral health care for all, implement mental health programs, and strengthen the social safety net. Taiwan has put in place an agile and resilient healthcare system able to combat both communicable and noncommunicable diseases. We are improving health for all individuals over the course of their entire lives. Moreover, Taiwan is working to share its experience and expertise in achieving universal health coverage to help the international community realize health for all.

The theme for World Health Day 2024 is “My health, my right.” This is a way to advocate for every individual, everywhere, to have access to quality health services, education, and information, as well as enjoy safe drinking water, clean air, good nutrition, quality housing, decent working and environmental conditions, and freedom from discrimination.

Through a public-private partnership, Taiwan has been contributing to global efforts to realize the right to health in collaboration with partner countries and international organizations. We have improved medical care in South Pacific island nations, enhanced nutrition for women and children affected by an earthquake in Haiti, provided psychological support to Ukrainian refugee women and children in Romania as well as aid workers; bolstered climate change adaptability in the Caribbean; and improved access to water, sanitation, and hygiene at healthcare facilities in Kenya.

Taiwan is committed to supporting the World Health Organization in implementing the principle of “ health as a human right “. Yet the rights of Taiwan’s 23 million people are disregarded by WHO for political reasons. We urge WHO and all relevant parties to recognize Taiwan’s considerable contributions to global public health and the human right to health. It is imperative for WHO to adopt a more open-minded approach and demonstrate flexibility, adhering to the principles of professionalism and inclusivity.

Taiwan should be included, as a matter of pragmatism, in the World Health Assembly and all WHO meetings, activities, and mechanisms, particularly those related to the WHO pandemic agreement. This would better empower Taiwan to collaborate with global partners to uphold the fundamental human right to health stipulated in the WHO Constitution and the vision of leaving no one behind espoused in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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CP Foods Wins Three International Awards for Innovative Vegan Cheese

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Contributor

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3 May 2024, 13:42

Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) announces its recent international recognition at the 49th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland. The company garnered three prestigious awards, highlighting its innovative prowess in the food technology sector. Among the award-winning innovations was the groundbreaking “Just-Cheese” made from Fermented Broken-Milled Rice, an exceptional vegan cheese alternative.

“Just-Cheese” is celebrated for its low-fat composition and high nutritional value, boasting a flavor profile comparable to traditional milk-based cheeses. This product serves as an excellent option for cheese enthusiasts and vegetarians alike, offering a viable alternative for those sensitive to cow’s milk.

Dr. Sudarat Ledlod, Alternative Protein Researcher at CP Foods’ R&D Center, spoke about the company’s dedication to integrating advanced technology and scientific research to produce food solutions that are beneficial for health and gentle on the environment. The development of the Vegan Cheese from Fermented Broken-Milled Rice is a result of collaborative efforts with culinary experts and various specialists, aiming to craft a product that is not only healthier with its low fat and lactose-free attributes but also rich in proteins, minerals, and vitamins.

The Vegan Cheese innovation was recognized with the NRCT Honorable Mention Award by the National Research Council of Thailand and received two additional honors in Geneva: a Bronze award and a Special Prize from Portuguese Delegation. The International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, renowned as the largest event of its kind worldwide, draws inventors and researchers from over 45 countries. This marks the second consecutive year CP Foods has been acknowledged on this global stage, reinforcing its role as a leader in sustainable and innovative food solutions that also support Thai agriculture.

Westin Hotels & Resorts Bolsters its ‘Best in Bed’

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3 May 2024, 10:12

Westin Hotels & Resorts Bolsters its ‘Best in Bed’ Reputation with the Global Debut of the Next Generation Heavenly® Bed

With sleep leading the broader health and wellness movement, Westin doubles down on the sleep conversation with its refreshed product, enhanced modern design and globally acclaimed wellness programming

Building upon its legacy of delivering deep, restorative sleep for guests, Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of more than 30 extraordinary brands, is unveiling its next generation Heavenly® Bed. Developed in collaboration with leading sleep experts, Westin associates and guests, the next generation Heavenly Bed fortifies the brand’s mission and 360-degree wellness approach, empowering discerning travelers to not only maintain but enhance their well-being while traveling.

As the preeminent wellness brand in hospitality, Westin has long recognized sleep as a cornerstone of well-being. Many travelers are now considering a restorative night’s sleep as a pivotal part of their overall travel experience, a subject in which Westin has served as an authoritative source for decades. This new prioritization in sleep quality has individuals seeking out new ways to optimize their sleep experience while traveling, as evidenced by the booming sleep sector which is expected to grow by over $400 billion through 2028. The legacy Heavenly Bed has not only paved the path for providing unparalleled comfort for travelers, but spurred consumers’ interest in bringing their sleep experience home, with more than 500,000 Heavenly Beds sold since its official launch on the Westin Store.

Energized by its enduring success and prestigious reputation, Westin embarked on a multi-year journey to invigorate guests’ sleep experience and enhance travelers’ well-being at its 240+ hotels and resorts globally.

“An industry benchmark was set with the launch of our legacy Heavenly Bed in 1999, and it now serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to provide the very best sleep experiences for guests around the world. In a culture that has long glorified busyness and productivity, Westin knows that a good night’s sleep is paramount to guests’ overall well-being, which is why our iconic Heavenly Bed has resonated with travelers for decades,” said Brian Povinelli, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Marketing and Brand, Marriott International. “Understanding the devoted fanbase the legacy bed has garnered over the years; our goal was to listen and carefully review every aspect of the guest and associate experience, ensuring each update was both intentional and impactful. We are confident that it will exceed the expectations of both loyal and future Westin guests across the globe and again raise the bar for the comfort of our guests.”

Aiming to set the new standard of excellence for restorative sleep on the road, Westin’s significant development process included testing thousands of products, hosting consumer focus groups and property listening sessions, and researching the evolution of sleep comfort and technology. It culminated in a new, top-of-the-line product with a modernized design and a wider commitment to continue to evolve and improve the Westin Sleep Well experience.

From the plush-top mattress and its innovative silver fiber weave to the added layers of temperature-regulating gel-infused memory foam, the next generation Heavenly Bed mattress offers a superior sleep experience further enhanced by the significant upgrades to bedding design and materials. All bedding components have been upgraded to hypoallergenic materials and the blended duvet insert was created with a unique mix of materials and wrapped in smooth cotton, which is designed to regulate temperature and keep guests cool for a better night’s sleep. Replacing the previous all-white aesthetic of the legacy bed with Westin’s new, modern design ethos, the next generation Heavenly Bed now includes a new charcoal blanket and full-frame piping on pillowcases to provide a warm residential feel and cloud-like appearance. The richly woven blanket features a tone-on-tone pattern inspired by the brand’s biophilic design principle and serves as both an added layer of warmth and a beautiful residentially inspired coverlet. Additional design updates include sateen linens with natural matte finish and the removal of the bed skirt and bolster pillow, reflecting a more modern sleep experience and guest input.

To learn more about The Westin Heavenly Bed and the brand’s 360-degree wellness experience, please visit www.westin.marriott.com.

Thai Housekeeper Inherits $2.7million and 3 Cats from French Woman in Koh Samui

By

Khaosod English

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2 May 2024, 19:46

Pa Tim (Aunty Tim), a Thai housekeeper, tearfully said on May 2, 2024, that she was shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Madame Catherine, who left her fortune and three cats to her.

KOH SAMUI – A French businesswoman, Madame Catherine, 59, who lived in a luxurious villa on Koh Samui in Thailand’s Surat Thani province, committed suicide by shooting herself. She left her 100 million baht, or about 2.7 million USD, fortune and three cats to her Thai housekeeper, known as “Pa Tim,” in her will.

Pa Tim (Aunty Tim), from Wanorn Niwas district in Sakon Nakhon province, tearfully said on Thursday she was shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Madame Catherine.

The Thai housekeeper said she had known Madame Catherine for over 17 years. She was introduced to Madame Catherine by a friend and started working as a housekeeper at Madame Catherine’s rental property. Mrs. Catherine then expanded her business from a rental property to a resort and villas, and Pa Tim continued to work for her throughout her career. She receives a salary of 22,000 baht per month.

thaimaid french2 — A villa of a French businesswoman, Madame Catherine, who committed suicide, is left to Pa Tim, her housekeeper.

Before the incident occurred, on April 28, Pa Tim went to clean the house as usual. During the afternoon, she informed Madame Catherine that she was going to take leave to go to the temple, as it was her birthday. Madame Catherine allowed her and then said “Happy Birthday to you”.

The next day, the pool cleaner called Pa Tim and told her that Madame Catherine was lying on the ground next to the pool, covered in blood. Pa Tim said she was so shocked and rushed to the house. When she got there, she found that her boss had died with a gunshot wound to her temple.

After checking her LINE messages, Pa Tim found a message from Madame Catherine indicating that there was a farewell letter in the safebox. She and Madame Catherine’s friend then opened the safe and read the letter together.

It starts with the word “Au revoir” or “Goodbye,” and says, “My journey ends here. I very sincerely believe that you are a person of integrity. That’s why I leave you my safe. The second copy is for Tim. I wish to be cremated and my ashes scattered, if possible, in Saparot.”

The letter stated that Madame Catherine was bequeathing her villa, along with the surrounding land, two additional acres of vacant land, luxury cars, jewelry, rings, diamonds stored in the safe, and all cash in the bank to Pa Tim. She was also giving two other villas to Mr. Vincent, Madame Catherine’s ex-husband. Additionally, the Frenchwoman requested that Pa Tim take care of her three beloved cats.

“I want her to stay with me. I didn’t want that to happen. I received so much from her, but I lost her. I’m heartbroken and miss her so much. I don’t want her to leave me. She was like a mother to me, taking care of me all these years. I promise I’ll do my best,” said Pa Tim.

The Thai housekeeper, who has four children, also revealed that Madame Catherine had transferred her salary, internet fees, water and electricity bills in full before her death. She had also transferred 500,000 baht to Pa Tim to cover her funeral expenses. Pa Tim promised to hold a proper funeral and never forget Madame Catherine’s kindness.

She still does not know what she will do with the villa in the future, but she is sure that she will not sell it. This also applies to the luxury cars that Madame Catherine left her, even though she can not drive.

Pa Tim believes that Madame Catherine’s decision to commit suicide may have been due to stress from her illness. She had hemorrhoids that eventually turned into cancer. She may have wanted to pass away peacefully.

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Death Toll Jumps to at Least 48 as a Search Continues in Southern China Highway Collapse

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Associated Press

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2 May 2024, 18:06

China Highway — In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, an aerial photo shows rescuers work at the site of a collapsed road section of the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in Meizhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Xinhua News Agency via AP)

BEIJING (AP) — The death toll from a collapsed highway in southeastern China climbed to 48 on Thursday as searchers dug for a second day through a treacherous and mountainous area.

One side of the four-lane highway in the city of Meizhou gave way about 2 a.m. on Wednesday after a month of heavy rains in Guangdong province. Twenty-three vehicles fell down a steep slope, some sending up flames as they caught fire. Construction cranes were used to lift out the burnt-out and mutilated vehicles.

Officials in Meizhou said three other people were unidentified, pending DNA testing. It wasn’t immediately clear if they had died, which would bring the death toll to 51. Another 30 people had non-life-threatening injuries.

AP24123306246100 — A firefighter sprays water on the remains of a car in the aftermath of the collapse of a highway section on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in Meizhou, south China’s Guangdong Province on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Xinhua via AP)

The search was still ongoing, Meizhou city Mayor Wang Hui said at a late-afternoon news conference. No foreigners have been found among the victims, he said.

Search work has been hampered by rain and land and gravel sliding down the slope. The disaster left a curving earth-colored gash in the otherwise verdant forest landscape. Excavators dug out a wider area on the slope.

“Because some of the vehicles involved caught fire, the difficulty of the rescue operation has increased,” said Wen Yongdeng, the Communist Party secretary for the Meizhou emergency management bureau.

“Most of the vehicles were buried in soil during the collapse, with a large volume of soil covering them,” he said.

AP24123306246962 — Rescuers and excavators working at the site of a highway section that collapsed on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway in Meizhou, south China’s Guangdong Province. (Wang Ruiping/Xinhua via AP)

AP24122502493673 — A section of a highway collapsed early Wednesday in southern China, sending cars tumbling and leaving more than a dozen of people dead, according to state media. (Xinhua News Agency via AP)

He added that the prolonged heavy rainfall has saturated soil in the area, “making it prone to secondary disasters during the rescue process.”

Over 56 centimeters (22 inches) of rain has fallen in the past four weeks in the county where the roadway collapsed, more than four times as much as last year. Some villages in Meizhou flooded in early April, and the city has seen more rain in recent days.

Parts of Guangdong province have seen record rains and flooding in the past two weeks, as well as hail. A tornado killed five people in Guangzhou, the provincial capital, during rain and hail storms last weekend.

The highway section collapsed on the first day of a five-day May Day holiday, when many Chinese are traveling at home and abroad.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping said that all of China’s regions should improve their monitoring and early warning measures and investigate any risks to ensure the safety of the public and social stability, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Utah Cat With a Fondness for Cardboard Takes Surprise Trip to California in an Amazon Box

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Associated Press

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2 May 2024, 17:42

Cat Found Amazon Box — In this photo provided by Carrie Clark of Lehi, Utah, is Galena, a 6-year-old house cat. Clark says Galena went missing after jumping into a box being returned to Amazon without its owners noticing. (Carrie Clark via AP Photo)

Galena, a 6-year-old house cat from Utah, likes hiding and playing with cardboard.

Earlier this month, the combination of the two made for a stressful trip in an Amazon package, a feverish search, a California rescue and a tearful reunion.

Her family is still waiting to “reintroduce cardboard to her again,” owner Carrie Clark said Tuesday, because they don’t want to stress her out.

Clark got Galena as a kitten after her aunt rescued a pregnant feral cat. The American short hair with calico and Siamese coloring has been a constant companion and source of emotional support.

“I’ve been through a bunch of health things and she and I have gone through all of that together. And she’s she just has this extra great part about her personality that’s very loving. And she can tell when you don’t feel well,” Clark said. “And she’s just really, really special to me.”

So when Galena disappeared on April 10, Clark was beside herself.

AP24122020668681 — In this photo provided by Carrie Clark of Lehi, Utah, Carrie poses with Galena, a 6-year-old house cat. Clark says Galena went missing after jumping into a box being returned to Amazon without its owners noticing. (Carrie Clark via AP Photo)

They searched the neighborhood, put up flyers and posted notices on Facebook lost pet pages in Lehi, Utah.

“Not knowing what had happened to her was pretty excruciating,” Clark said, “I cried my eyes out for seven days trying to figure out what had happened.” Clark also ran through all the worst-case scenarios, wondering if the cat could have gotten out of the house and been nabbed by a predator or run over by a vehicle.

Clark said she received a “text that changed my life” on April 17, saying that Galena’s microchip had been scanned, so Clark knew she had been found somewhere. Soon after, she got a call saying her cat was near Riverside, California, after being found in a box along with steel-toed boots that had been returned to an Amazon warehouse.

Clark’s husband had ordered several pairs of boots, kept one and returned the rest in a large box on April 10.

“We realized that that our sweet kitty must have jumped into that box without us knowing,” she said.

Amazon employees knew just who to call when they found the feline — co-worker Brandy Hunter, who rescues cats, Clark said.

Hunter took the cat home and to the vet the next day, where the microchip was scanned.

Clark spoke with Hunter who “calmed me down and told me that my kitty was OK,” despite having spent six days in a cardboard box without food or water.

AP24121859160313 — In this photo provided by Carrie Clark of Lehi, Utah, is Galena, a 6-year-old house cat. Clark says Galena went missing after jumping into a box being returned to Amazon without its owners noticing. (Carrie Clark via AP Photo)

“I wanted desperately to be with her,” Clark said. She and her husband flew to California the next day, reunited with Galena at the veterinarian’s office and rented a car to drive home.

“We did what we needed to do because I just adore her,” Clark said.

It was an intensely emotional week.

“I went from hysterically laughing that she was stuck like that — we mailed our cat — you know … just the humor part of that, to hysterically crying all within like five seconds,” Clark said.

The family was lucky to get Galena back, Clark said, in part because the weather was not harsh during the time the cat was missing, the box was torn at a seam, allowing her to get more air, and because Hunter who took her to a vet and had her scanned for a microchip.

Since word got out, Clark has been sharing her cat’s story, with advice to microchip your pets and to double-check your Amazon boxes before returning them.

Galena is a quiet cat, Clark said.

“She didn’t meow,” Clark said. “We would have loved for her to meow so we knew that she was,” in the box.

B.Grimm Power Invests $3.39 Million to Enter the Middle East Renewable Energy Market

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2 May 2024, 17:40

B.Grimm Power Public Company Limited announced a new investment to penetrate the clean energy market in the Middle East by investing over $3.39 million to acquire a 40% shareholding in ThreeEightSix Holdings Ltd, an independent power producer focused on Commercial & Industrial solar assets in the GCC region. This investment aims to meet the growing demand for renewable energy in the region.

This investment is driven by the potential seen in the Middle Eastern renewable energy industry, which aligns with various countries’ policies. For example, the UAE has plans to increase its renewable energy capacity from 3.7 gigawatts in 2023 to 19.8 gigawatts by 2030. Similarly, Saudi Arabia has committed to expand its renewable capacity from less than 1 gigawatt in 2022 to 58 gigawatts by 2030. Bahrain, although a smaller market, has set a clear renewable energy policy aiming to increase its capacity to 710 megawatts by 2035.

ThreeEightSix Holdings Ltd. Ltd has solar rooftop assets and solar energy sale agreements for a total capacity of 33.7 megawatts in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. The projects include five operating projects with a combined capacity of 4.1 megawatts and another ten projects in development and construction stages, aiming for an additional capacity of 29.6 megawatts. All projects are targeted for commercial operation (COD) during 2024 – 2025, meeting the increasing demand for renewable energy and marking B.Grimm Power’s new investment in the clean energy market of the Middle East through this Joint Venture. B.Grimm Power expects it as a small start to significant investments in the Middle East in the future.

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