BANGKOK – Royal Thai Navy Spokesperson Rear Admiral Veerudome Muangchean provideson February 16 an update on the joint Royal Thai Navy (RTN) and United States Navy (USN) light salvage operation of the HTMS Sukhothai which will commence on February 22, 2024.
The operation is not a full recovery of the HTMS Sukhothai, but an underwater exploration in search for investigation evidence; a search for the missing five personnel; making U.S. materiel inoperable; and retrieving some of the equipment and materiel.
The main objective of this operation is to confirm the reason of the HTMS Sukhothai’s sinking and find any physical evidence for the conclusion, as well as search for the missing personnel which may be inside the ship.
In this photo provided by the Royal Thai Navy, the HTMS Sukhothai corvette warship lists off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Photo: Royal Thai Navy via AP
The United States will provide support in the disposal of weapons, which will be beneficial for both Thailand and the U.S. as the U.S. is experienced and has special tools which will make this operation successful. The RTN will use the HTMS Rattanakosin, two mine countermeasures ships, two patrol vessels, one mechanized landing craft, and 40 explosive ordnance disposal personnel.
The USN will send Ocean Valor with 17 personnel from a Mobile Dive and Salvage Unit homeported in Hawaii in the operation.The Ocean Valor will depart on February 19 to the site of HTMS Sukhothai and start its mission on February 22.
The involved USN personnel were previously scheduled to be in Thailand for this year’s Cobra Gold exercises, now in its 43rd iteration. This operation will include training elements for the exercise as well as the light salvage of the HTMS Sukhothai.
This operation is emblematic of the long-term friendship between the U.S. and Thai navies which are committed to conducting a safe and thorough salvage. The recordings of the inside and outside of the HTMS Sukhothai, in particularly, will be used along with previous investigations to find the real cause of its sinking. To ensure the safety of personnel, the RTN will enforce a no-sail zone around the site.
The RTN will provide a report on the outcomes of this operation in the future.
FILE - Alexei Navalny is seen behind the bars in the police van after he was detained during protests in Moscow, on May 8, 2012 a day after Putin's inauguration. (AP Photo/Sergey Ponomarev, File)
Alexei Navalny, the fiercest foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests, died in prison Friday, Russia’s prison agency said. He was 47.
The Federal Prison Service said in a statement that Navalny felt unwell after a walk on Friday and lost consciousness. An ambulance arrived to try to rehabilitate him, but he died.
Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the politician’s team had no confirmation of his death so far and that his lawyer was traveling to the town where he was held.
Navalny, who was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism, was moved in December from his former prison in the Vladimir region of central Russia to to a “special regime” penal colony — the highest security level of prisons in Russia — above the Artic Circle.
His allies decried the transfer to a colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenets region about 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow, as yet another attempt to force Navalny into silence.
The remote region is notorious for long and severe winters. Kharp is about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Vorkuta, whose coal mines were part of the Soviet gulag prison-camp system.
Navalny had been behind bars since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. Before his arrest, he campaigned against official corruption, organized major anti-Kremlin protests and ran for public office.
He had since received three prison sentences, all of which he rejected as politically motivated.
In Putin’s Russia, political opponents often faded amid factional disputes or went into exile after imprisonment, suspected poisonings or other heavy repression. But Navalny grew consistently stronger and reached the apex of the opposition through grit, bravado and an acute understanding of how social media could circumvent the Kremlin’s suffocation of independent news outlets.
FILE – Police officers detain Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, left, in Moscow on July 10, 2013. Russia’s prison agency says that imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny has died. He was 47. The Federal Prison Service said in a statement that Navalny felt unwell after a walk on Friday Feb. 16, 2024 and lost consciousness. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)
He faced each setback — whether it was a physical assault or imprisonment — with an intense devotion, confronting dangers with a sardonic wit. That drove him to the bold and fateful move of returning from Germany to Russia and certain arrest.
Navalny was born in Butyn, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) outside Moscow. He received a law degree from People’s Friendship University in 1998 and did a fellowship at Yale in 2010.
He gained attention by focusing on corruption in Russia’s murky mix of politicians and businesses; one of his early moves was to buy a stake in Russian oil and gas companies to become an activist shareholder and push for transparency. By concentrating on corruption, Navalny’s work had a pocketbook appeal to Russians’ widespread sense of being cheated, and he carried stronger resonance than more abstract and philosophical concerns about democratic ideals and human rights.
He was convicted in 2013 of embezzlement on what he called a politically motivated prosecution and was sentenced to five years in prison, but the prosecutor’s office later surprisingly demanded his release pending appeal. A higher court later gave him a suspended sentence.
The day before the sentence, Navalny had registered as a candidate for Moscow mayor. The opposition saw his release as the result of large protests in the capital of his sentence, but many observers attributed it to a desire by authorities to add a tinge of legitimacy to the mayoral election.
Navalny finished second, an impressive performance against the incumbent who had the backing of Putin’s political machine and was popular for improving the capital’s infrastructure and aesthetics.
Navalny’s popularity increased after the leading charismatic politician, Boris Nemtsov, was shot and killed in 2015 on a bridge near the Kremlin.
Whenever Putin spoke about Navalny, he made it a point to never mention the activist by name, referring to him as “that person” or similar wording, in an apparent effort to diminish his importance.
Undated photo shows a confiscated bird. (Photo courtesy of Tokyo Customs Haneda branch via Kyodo)
TOKYO – A pet shop owner in Tokyo was arrested for allegedly smuggling multiple birds and mangosteen fruits into Japan from Thailand, local police said Friday.
Masayuki Sekiguchi, 69, is suspected of violating the infectious diseases control law and the plant quarantine law, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. He was arrested on Wednesday and has admitted to the allegations.
He “wanted to breed the birds as they were pretty and adorable,” and brought the mangosteens “as gifts because they taste good,” he was quoted as telling police.
The pet shop owner is believed to have smuggled seven birds and 33 mangosteens in a suitcase and tote bag in a flight from Thailand to Tokyo’s Haneda airport last August.
The birds of four different species, including the Pacific parrotlet, require permission from the Japanese government to import due to being potential carriers of bird flu.
Fresh mangosteens from Thailand, excluding those produced at designated farms and meeting the government’s quality standard, are barred as they may be carrying bugs.
The birds, which were placed in a cardboard box for alcohol, were found when customs officials became suspicious of the weight of the container.
Sekiguchi is reported by the customs to have said the birds could be “thrown away if they are not allowed,” according to the police.
Huang Min, a 32-year-old Chinese and Cambodian national, was arrested at his residence in Thung Maha Mek Subdistrict, Sathorn District, Bangkok on February 12, 2024.
BANGKOK – Thai Immigration police have announced on February 16 the arrest of Huang Min, a 32-year-old Chinese and Cambodian national, after Chinese authorities requested extradition.
Huang was arrested on a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on February 8, 2024, for jointly defrauding the property of the state and the people, a crime that carries the possibility of extradition. He has been taken to the Foreign Affairs Office of the Office of the Attorney General for further processing.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Department, said the Chinese embassy in Thailand has asked Thai authorities to arrest Huang Min and extradite him to China.
According to the Chinese authorities, Huang and his accomplices used a platform called “WANHE Soccer” to lure victims into their system. They promised investors high returns, but instead used the money to fund their own lavish lifestyles. The scheme ran from March 2022 to April 2023 and is estimated to have caused 500 million yuan in losses. (around 2.5 billion baht)
After collecting evidence, on December 9, 2023, the Nankai District People’s Procuratorate in Tianjin approved the arrest of Huang Min.
According to the investigation by the Chinese authorities, Huang Min fled the country after the case and used a Cambodian passport to enter Thailand. Therefore, the Chinese authorities requested that the Thai authorities temporarily arrest Huang Min and extradite him to China for prosecution.
South Korea's head coach Jurgen Klinsmann reacts during the semi-final soccer match between Jordan and South Korea at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Jurgen Klinsmann has been fired as head coach of the South Korean national team after an Asian Cup semifinal exit and reports of infighting among star players, ending a turbulent 12 months for the German coach.
The Korean Football Association made the announcement on Friday.
Klinsmann was already under heavy criticism after South Korea’s upset 2-0 semifinal loss to Jordan last week and pressure intensified following media reports of a spat between captain Son Heung-min and young star Lee Kang-in during the tournament.
On Thursday at an Asian Cup campaign review at KFA headquarters in Seoul, the eight-member National Team Committee talked to Klinsmann via video conference from his home in the United States, before reaching its findings.
“For a number of reasons, we concluded that Klinsmann would no longer be able to show his leadership as head coach of the national team,” the KFA’s technical director Hwangbo Kwan said. “We will report our conclusion to the KFA.”
The final decision was made by KFA chairman Chung Mong-gyu.
South Korean men’s football head coach Jurgen Klinsmann remotely attends a meeting of the National Team Committee of the Korea Football Association (KFA) to assess South Korea’s men’s national team’s performance at the recent Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup at the KFA headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (Korea Pool via AP)
“After a comprehensive review, the KFA has decided to change the head coach,” Chung told media in Seoul on Friday. “When it comes to bringing out the best in the national team, managing players and his work habits, Klinsmann did not live up to our expectations of a national team head coach, nor did he demonstrate leadership,.”
“We decided that Klinsmann was unlikely to improve as head coach, in terms of his abilities and work ethic.”
Klinsmann, head coach of the United States national team from 2011 to 2016, thanked his players in a social media post.
“To all players, my coaching staff and all Korean football fans with sincere gratitude!” he wrote. “Thank you so much for all your support taking us to the semifinal of the Asian Cup and an incredible journey over the last 12 months with not losing 13 games in a row before the semifinal!”
The incident involving the players resulted in Son facing Jordan and then returning to England to play for Tottenham Hotspur with a dislocated finger. Lee, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, apologized on Wednesday on social media.
“I have caused great disappointment to fans who always support our national team. I am really sorry,” Lee wrote on Instagram . “I should have set an example and listened to older teammates. I’d like to apologize to many people who must be disappointed in me.”
Hwangbo added during the meeting that Klinsmann, who had refused to stand down ahead of World Cup qualifying games next month, had said that the infighting affected the performance of the players against Jordan.
“There were opinions that Klinsmann failed to show his resolve to find new talent and that he failed to grasp internal conflict or mood among squad members,” Hwangbo said.
Soccer fans unfurl a banner demanding the dismissal of the South Korean men’s football head coach Jurgen Klinsmann in front of the headquarters of the Korean Football Association (KFA) in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
As well as his leadership and tactical skills, Klinsmann has been unpopular with fans for refusing to base himself in South Korea, in contrast to previous foreign coaches. Klinsmann won the World Cup as a player and had success as coach of the German and U.S. teams before taking on the role in South Korea.
“Some committee members said the coach has not shown willingness to watch players in person and identify talent,” Hwangbo said. “Also, there were opinions that Klinsmann has been disrespectful toward the Korean public by not spending enough time in the country.”
Chung, the KFA chairman, had also been criticized for the performance of the national team, his hiring of Klinsmann in February of last year and for his leadership. There were protestors outside KFA House in Seoul on Thursday holding banners calling for Chung also to go.
Chung said Friday the Korean association was not ready to announce a replacement for Klinsmann, whose contract was set to run until the end of the 2026 World Cup. South Korea’s qualification campaign for that tournament continues in March with back-to-back games against Thailand.
A thick layer of smog covers central in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
BANGKOK (AP) — City employees in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, were ordered Thursday to work from home for two days, and those in the private sector were encouraged to do so as well, as air pollution soared to unhealthy levels.
Air pollution has been a problem for many years in Thailand’s north, where the burning of forests and agricultural waste are major contributing factors. But in recent years Bangkok has also begun to suffer greatly with extended periods of high pollution that have led to school closings and other disruptions.
The Department of Pollution Control declared last month that Bangkok had officially entered its annual smog season, but the region has suffered from deteriorating air quality since late last year. For Chiang Mai and other northern provinces which experience prolonged high levels of microscopic dust, the season usually begins in late February, when dry weather and an atmospheric inversion layer cause airborne particles to accumulate.
A thick layer of smog covers central in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Bangkok’s Air Quality Index measured an unhealthy 156 on Thursday, with readings of over 163 in some areas, prompting the stay-at-home order, according to the city government.
Since Monday, Bangkok’s AQI has ranged from 121 to 160.
The microscopic particles can penetrate deeply into the lungs and then move further into the body, causing both short-term bronchial problems and serious long-term health issues. The World Health Organization’s guidelines say levels of fine particulate matter equal to AQI 56 should not be exceeded for 24-hour average exposures.
The Thai government last year revised its maximum level of fine particulate matter considered safe from an equivalent of AQI 136 down to 105 to be more in line with international standards.
The Department of Pollution Control predicted that air pollution levels in Bangkok will remain unhealthy until Saturday, and that most regions of the country, especially the north and northeast, will experience high levels through the weekend.
The government’s Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, which uses satellites for remote sensing, declared that 66 of Thailand’s 77 provinces are suffering unhealthy air quality, with 44 of them considered very unhealthy.
Air pollution is increasingly becoming a political issue in Bangkok, with the middle class growing more unhappy and vocal.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that about 25% of Bangkok’s pollution comes from vehicle emissions, adding that working from home is a short-term measure. He did not specify the remaining sources.
He said the next step could be a temporary suspension of construction work and a limit on the number of diesel cars in the inner city.
PHUKET – Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort is preparing to transform Phuket province into a world-class destination for swimming training.
By attaining the prestigious World Aquatics Training Center standard, the resort has become the only facility in Asia to hold this distinction for seven consecutive years. Its goal is to establish Phuket as a sanctuary for athletes from all over the world, providing optimal training conditions in preparation for the Olympic Games.
Thanyapura and Phuket Province have recently been chosen as the training hub for elite athletes from different countries who are preparing for major international competitions like the World Aquatic Championships in Doha and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Notable swimmers, such as Adam Peaty, a three-time Olympic gold medalist from the United Kingdom, and Ariarne Titmus, an impressive athlete from Australia, have selected Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort Phuket as their training and preparation base.
This choice not only establishes a motivating environment for sports fans but also aids in the progress and advancement of aspiring local swimmers.
Ms. Marisa Yenbamroong, the Executive Director of Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort, has revealed that for over a decade, Thanyapura has been devoted to supporting and advocating national sports and health policies.
Additionally, their aim is to promote sports tourism in partnership with the Sports Authority of Thailand, turning Phuket into a prominent sports tourism destination and elevating Thailand’s reputation and tourism industry worldwide.
Thanyapura’s unwavering commitment to establishing and maintaining exceptional standards has led to its continuous selection as a World Aquatics Training Center for seven years.
To prepare for the upcoming World Aquatic Championships in February in Doha, Thanyapura, supported by the Thailand Swimming Association and the Sports Authority of Thailand, is sponsoring more than 27 swimmers from various countries across the world.
These swimmers will compete in the championships and represent their respective nations. This is a significant accomplishment as it demonstrates that Thailand now boasts a record number of fully trained swimmers who are actively participating in high-level international competitions. Swimmers from around the globe are eagerly competing for the opportunity to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris, set to take place in July.
Thanyapura has been specifically designed to accommodate athletes at every skill level, whether they are beginners or professionals. It boasts a wide array of extensive facilities, including an Olympic standard swimming pool, state-of-the-art gyms, tennis courts, and comprehensive health centers, among many others.
Through partnerships with renowned sports associations, the resort offers access to experienced coaches who can cater to athletes of all ages and abilities, offering valuable expertise and personalized guidance for each sport.
The van of Prempracha Transport Company Limited, carrying 13 foreign tourists from Chiang Mai, lost control and overturned on a sharp bend near Mae Ya-Mae Ping checkpoint in Mae Hi sub-district, Pai district, Mae Hong Son province on February 8, 2024.
BANGKOK – Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Minister of Tourism and Sports, revealed that Mr. Srettha Thavisin, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, has approved in principle the use of a budget of 50 million baht from the Emergency and Necessary Expenditure Reserve Fund to help and compensate foreign tourists who have accidents in Thailand between January 1 to August 31, 2024.
The scheme excludes incidents caused by their own negligence, wrongdoing, or risky behavior.
In the event of death, compensation is up to 1 million baht. In the event of permanent loss of limbs, eyes or permanent disability, the lump sum compensation is 300,000 baht.
Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Minister of Tourism and Sports
Medical expenses are reimbursed up to 500,000 baht. To apply, one must have a passport with a tourist visa and not be working or earning an income in Thailand. Applications can be submitted to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, provincial tourism and sports offices, tourist information centers at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, by post or by email.
The policy of charging foreign tourists a “landing fee” of 300 baht per person for air travel and 150 baht per person for land and sea travel has not been abolished. However, it is currently not levied as the market for foreign tourists is still recovering.
“The tourism sector is a key engine for generating income for the Thai economy. Therefore, we want to stimulate foreign tourists to travel and spend money back to normal levels before anything else. Because this will help create jobs and generate income for Thai people as well,” the minister said.
Koh Larn, Pattaya
The government has set a target for 2024 to generate 3.5 trillion baht in revenue from 35 million foreign tourists and 205 million domestic tourists. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has emphasized the importance of taking care of foreign tourists, both in terms of convenience and safety, in order to create a positive impression throughout their trip to Thailand.
Dr. Atchariya Phaengma, secretary general of the National Institute of Emergency Medicine, said the institute has proposed the establishment of an emergency medical center for tourists to provide assistance to tourists in case of emergency illness. The center will work in collaboration with the Tourist Assistance Center (TAC).
If a tourist has an accident or emergency illness, they can contact the TAC at 1155, the Tourist Police at 1155 or 1669.
The tourist’s eligibility is checked and they are taken to a hospital for treatment. This ensures that they receive fast and high-quality emergency medical care. It also promotes the development of an efficient and standardized medical emergency system at national and international level, which is of great benefit to tourists.
The Facebook page "Sichon Animal Hospital" published reels to show the king cobra "Bunrod" was better on February 14 after the operation.
NAKHON SI THAMMARAT – Soldiers from Sichon Special Forces Training Camp in Sichon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, brought a large male king cobra over 4 meters long and weighing nearly 10 kilograms to Sichon Animal Hospital in Sichon District after it was bitten by a dog, then slithed up onto the mangosteen tree.
Veterinarian Dr. Piyaphorn Wattanapan said on February 14 that she anesthetized the snake to operate on a large wound on its abdomen near the anus as internal organs were protruding.
At the same time, she had to castrate the snake – the first king cobra to be forcibly neutered – to treat the wound, which had begun to rot. Otherwise, the snake might have died in a few days.
Lt. Pornpitak Chimkaraburi, an instructor, said the veterinarian did not charge for the treatment because the snake was a wild animal and would not be a burden to the soldiers. After treatment, the snake had to be taken back to Sichon Special Forces Training Camp, where it was further treated, its wounds cleaned and injected with antibiotics until it recovered. The king cobra was christened “Bunrod” (meaning lucky to survive). He will later be released back into the wild.
The king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake. The species has diversified colouration across habitats, from black with white stripes to unbroken brownish grey.
A phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA showed that specimens from Surattani and Nakhon Si Thammarat Provinces in southern Thailand form a deeply divergent clade from those from northern Thailand, which grouped with specimens from Myanmar and Guangdong in southern China
The king cobra is not considered aggressive. It usually avoids humans and slinks off when disturbed, but is known to aggressively defend incubating eggs and attack intruders rapidly.
Bunrod is the first king cobra to be forcibly neutered in Thailand.
Commuters walk in a passageway during a rush hour at Shinagawa Station Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
TOKYO – Japan lost its status as the world’s third-largest economy to Germany in 2023 and it unexpectedly slipped into recession in the last quarter of last year due to weak domestic demand, the government said Thursday.
Japan’s nominal gross domestic product, not adjusted for inflation, totaled $4.21 trillion, the world’s fourth-largest after Germany’s $4.46 trillion, largely because of the yen’s sharp drop.
For the October-December quarter, the economy shrank 0.1 percent from the previous quarter, or at an annual rate of 0.4 percent, with spending by both households and businesses lacking vigor amid entrenched inflation, according to the Cabinet Office.
Two straight quarters of contraction meant the economy was in a technical recession, posing a challenge for the government and the Bank of Japan as they seek to achieve domestic demand-led growth accompanied by rising wages.
People walk along a pedestrian crossing at Ginza shopping street on March 31, 2023, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Private-sector economists polled by the Japan Center for Economic Research had forecast an annualized 1.28 percent expansion. GDP is the total value of goods and services produced in a country.
“The problem is not just that Japan reported negative growth. Domestic demand also collapsed and the data was extremely bad,” said Toru Suehiro, chief economist at Daiwa Securities Co., calling the outcome a “negative surprise” for markets.
“It came despite (support from) COVID-related pent-up demand last year. By the time real wages start to recover, there won’t be euphoria,” he said, adding that the BOJ will still move to end its negative rate policy this spring as expected by financial markets.
Private consumption, which makes up more than half of the economy, dropped 0.2 percent, marking the third straight quarter of decline, as households have been grappling with the rising cost of living and falling real wages.
FILE – A sushi chef prepares a plate at the Toyosu Market Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
Capital spending also lacked strength, down 0.1 percent, in a worrying sign that Japanese firms remain cautious about ramping up investment despite their robust plans.
Nominal GDP increased 0.3 percent in the October-December quarter, or at an annual rate of 1.2 percent.
“Germany overtaking Japan shows it is imperative for us to promote structural reforms and create a new stage for growth,” economy revitalization minister Yoshitaka Shindo told a press conference.
“We will deploy all policy steps to support pay hikes” to clear the way for sustainable, demand-driven economic growth, he added.
Despite soft domestic demand, exports continued to grow, up 2.6 percent, helped by a revival of inbound tourism. Spending by foreign visitors to Japan is treated as exports in the GDP data.
While concerns about a global slowdown have persisted, the U.S. economy has been resilient despite the Federal Reserve aggressively raising interest rates. Increased U.S.-bound auto shipments lent support to the Japanese economy last year.
Public investment decreased 0.7 percent, down for the second straight quarter, the data showed.
On a yearly basis, Japan’s economy grew 1.9 percent in real terms and 5.7 percent in nominal terms.
