Ingredion Celebrates 40 years of Innovation In Thailand

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6 December 2023, 14:30

Ingredion, a world-leading food and beverage ingredient solution provider, celebrates 40 successful years of doing business in Thailand by reaffirming its commitment to environment, social and governance (ESG) objectives for local communities.

The company has launched the “All Life” program, aiming to achieve zero-waste at its manufacturing plants by 2030, installed solar panels for renewable energy source this year, and continued support for student development at Wat Thoong Kwai Kin in Rayong province.

Ingredion has been a global food ingredient and texture solutions company, providing sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients and biomaterials to food and beverage, paper, textile and construction industries in more than 120 countries for over 120 years.

It has accumulated expertise in developing related products, such as texturiser, sweetener and food system solutions, to serve specific needs of its customers. Its products and food solutions have empowered food producers to develop and bring innovative products to the market and drive business growth faster.

Raymond Deidrick, Vice President and General Manager ASEAN, said, “Since our establishment in Thailand in 1983, Ingredion (Thailand) has continued our commitment to business excellence and working closely with its partners to develop and deliver the right innovations and products that best serve consumers. It is our ability to deliver high quality products and innovations that has enabled Ingredion to successfully achieve sustainable growth throughout these years and beyond.”

ESG is one of the key pillars at Ingredion, in addition to developing the innovative products to directly address consumers’ health concern, preferred textures and needs for nutrition, health and wellness.

One of the key driving forces to Ingredion Thailand’s dedication to sustainability is the organization’s goal in our 2023 All Life plan through Everyday Life, Planet Life and Connected Life. In Thailand, Ingredion will focus on driving environmental sustainability through zero waste and renewable energy. The zero-waste initiative includes eliminating waste at plant, reducing landfill and eliminating absolute GHG emissions. Meanwhile, the company is committed to creating renewable energy source by installing solar cells, starting at the Bank Khao Din in Rayong in November 2023.

Ingredion (Thailand) is the first company certified for sustainable tapioca farming with Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI). Today, 100% of our waxy tapioca is sourced sustainably, and we are committing to source all tapioca sustainably by 2025.

Ingredion is driven by high standard and commitment as well as Code of Ethics. Thailand is a major agricultural hub and agricultural products, such as tapioca, rice and sugar, are strategic exports of the country. We are very proud to be a part in driving agricultural sector growth in Thailand and to grow with the society, our business partners, clients, and, most importantly, consumers,” said Deidrick.

Prioritising living harmoniously in Thailand, Ingredion actively participated in social and community development throughout these years. Social responsibility activities, educational supports, helps given in times of crisis, and many more are among activities the company has taken to promote better quality of life of the people and communities.

Manoch Kulnapaeng, Principle of Wat Thoong Kwai Kin School, said, “We strongly appreciate Ingredion’s continuous support for our school development and activities. In the past two years, the company has supported our Children’s Day activity. And, as our playground was too old and not safe for our students, Ingredion recently helped us build a new one. So, now our students can enjoy running, exercising and playing in this playground.

Ingredion’s root began back in 1900 in the US and later expanded its business worldwide. It entered into Thailand via acquisition of Thai Tapioca in Rayong province in 1983. It currently operates tapioca flour and food ingredient manufacturing plants in Kalasin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Pathom and Rayong, has over 800 employees and a nationwide network of tapioca farmers.

In 2017, Ingredion became the first manufacturer of clean-label functional starches and flours in Thailand. This move directly addresses the growing consumer calls for simpler ingredient lists and cleaner labels by producing NOVATION® functional native starches for clean label food and beverage formulation.

Ingredion Thailand has been working closely with the Thai Tapioca Development Institute to support the advancement of specialty tapioca research and development. Such initiative includes the promotion of waxy tapioca, which Ingredion Thailand uses to develop locally sourced consumer-preferred ingredients.

Ingredion has placed high importance to doing business with commitment to sustainable development of people and the environment in parallel with enhancing technology capability to drive quality of life improvement.

“We are grateful for our amazing 40-year journey in Thailand and look forward to many more years of serving our customers and thriving together with the community in Thailand,” said Deidrick

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2 Boats Adrift In The Andaman Sea With 400 Rohingya Aboard Desperately Need Rescue, Un Says

By

Associated Press

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6 December 2023, 09:17

Bangladesh Rohingya Refugees — FILE - Ethnic Rohingya disembark from their boat upon landing on a beach in Ulee Madon, North Aceh, Indonesia, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Rahmat Mirza, File)

BANGKOK (AP) — An estimated 400 Rohingya Muslims believed to be aboard two boats adrift in the Andaman Sea without adequate supplies could die if more is not done to rescue them, according to the U.N. refugee agency and aid workers.

The number of Rohingya Muslims fleeing by boats in a seasonal exodus — usually from squalid, overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh — has been rising since last year due to cuts to food rations and a spike in gang violence.

“There are about 400 children, women and men looking death in the eye if there are no moves to save these desperate souls,” Babar Baloch, the agency’s Bangkok-based regional spokesperson, told The Associated Press.

The whereabouts of the other boat were unclear.

AP23338520779937 1 — FILE – Ethnic Rohingya men sit on a beach after they landed in Sabang, Aceh province, Indonesia, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Reza Saifullah, File)

The boats apparently embarked from Bangladesh and are reported to have been at sea for about two weeks, he said.

The captain of one of the boats, contacted by the AP, said he had 180 to 190 people on board. They were out of food and water and the engine was damaged. The captain, who gave his name as Maan Nokim, said he feared all on board will die if they do not receive help.

On Sunday, Nokim said the boat was 320 kilometers (200 miles) from Thailand’s west coast. A Thai navy spokesperson, contacted Monday, said he had no information about the boats.

The location is about the same distance from Indonesia’s northernmost province of Aceh, where another boat with 139 people landed Saturday on Sabang Island, off the tip of Sumatra, Baloch said. Those on the ship included 58 children, 45 women and 36 men — the typical balance of those making the sea journey, he said. Hundreds more arrived in Aceh last month.

About 740,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Buddhist-majority Myanmar to the camps in Bangladesh since August 2017, after a brutal counterinsurgency campaign tore through their communities. Myanmar security forces have been accused of mass rapes, killings and the burning of thousands of Rohingya homes, and international courts are considering whether their actions constituted genocide.

Most of the refugees leaving the camps by sea attempt to reach Muslim-dominated Malaysia, hoping to find work there. Thailand turns them away or detains them. Indonesia, another Muslim-dominated country where many end up, also puts them in detention.

AP23338490837376 — FILE – Newly-arrived ethnic Rohingya women, part of a group who was denied landing a few times by local residents, rest at a temporary shelter in Bireun, Aceh province, Indonesia on Nov. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafka Zaidan, File)

Baloch said if the two boats adrift are not given assistance, the world “may witness another tragedy such as in December 2022, when a boat with 180 aboard went missing in one of the darkest such incidents in the region.”

The aid group Save the Children said in a Nov. 22 report that 465 Rohingya children had arrived in Indonesia by boat over the previous week and the the number of refugees taking to the seas had increased by more than 80%.

It said more than 3,570 Rohingya Muslims had left Bangladesh and Myanmar this year, up from nearly 2,000 in the same period of 2022. Of those who left this year, 225 are known to have died or were missing, with many others not accounted for.

“The desperate situation of Rohingya families is forcing them to take unacceptable risks in search of a better life. These perilous journeys show that many Rohingya refugees have lost all hope,” Sultana Begum, the group’s manager for humanitarian policy and advocacy, said in a statement.

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Grant Peck reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writer Kristen Gelineau in Sydney, Australia, contributed to this report.

A Thai Policeman Explains Why A Chinese Tourist Wears His Uniform

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Khaosod English

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6 December 2023, 03:46

BANGKOK – The Educational Command has investigated the issue of the social media site Tiktok, which displayed a video clip of a Chinese tourist dressed in Thai police uniform and talking about Thailand’s soft power.

According to an inquiry, a Thai man who appears in the video is a police officer at the Central Police Tactical Training Centre. As a result, he was summoned for questioning.

He admitted that the video was a photograph of him and a Chinese tourist who had taken his uniform shirt from the car and put it on.

As a result, the Educational Command has formed a committee to determine whether this activity constitutes a criminal offence or a disciplinary issue. They also advised police officers to be cautious and severe in adhering to police laws and regulations in order to avoid a repeat of this kind of situation.

Later, the officer in the video, Pol. Capt. Chamrun Chaisri, deputy inspector of training control at the Central Police Tactical Training Centre Educational Headquarters, told the media that everything was a misunderstanding.

On December 3, he stated he met two Chinese tourists while shooting behind the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, where the general public can walk into and practice shooting. The shooting range closed at 5:00 p.m., leaving these two men with no automobiles to return to. He realised that walking out onto Vibhavadi Rangsit Road would take roughly one kilometre, so he took his personal car out to call a taxi along the major road.

“There was a uniform shirt hanging in the car.” A Chinese tourist picked it up and put it on, claiming to have taken the photograph as a a souvenir. He praised my outfit and service mind. There is only this one narrative. I let him do it after he put it on. And I’m not sure how he uploaded it and misrepresented it to cause confusion,” said Pol. Capt. Chamrun.

He confirmed that he did not receive any money or deliver any VVIP services to Chinese tourists. With tourists, he simply has a service mind.

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The Father Is Shocked That His Daughter Died In The Bus Tragedy That Killed 14

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Khaosod English

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6 December 2023, 00:38

PRACHUAB KHIRI KHAN – Fourteen passengers were killed and 35 injured when a double-decker bus from Bangkok to Songkhla province’s Na Thawi district rammed into a tree in front of Hat Wanakorn National Park at 1 a.m. Tuesday in Prachuab Kiri Khan province.

The Sawang Rungrueang Rescue Foundation brought 35 individuals to local hospitals. The bus was transferred and parked at Huai Yang Police Station for inspection by relevant agencies. to the accident cause.

On December 5, the forensic police could identify of 10 people, but the other 4 have not. Further investigation is needed. The police revealed that most victims were Thai and a few were Burmese.

The relatives of ten of the deceased have contacted the officers to transport the bodies to their hometowns; the remaining four bodies are being held temporarily at the Sawang Rungruang Thammasathan Thap Sakae Foundation.

prachuab crash5 — Rescue workers and volunteers work at the site of a bus accident Tuesday, Dec 5, 2023, at the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

prachuan crash4 — Police suspected that the driver who survived the accident might have fallen asleep.

According to Air Chief Marshal Chatchai Sawiyanon, head of the Huai Yang Subdistrict Administrative Organization’s Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Unit, the majority of the dead are on the car’s left side. Seven people died on the top floor, three on the lower level, and four more were thrown from the car.

Furthermore, two people were discovered to have good fortune: a 4-year-old toddler and a 17-year-old male teenager in the front seat who unexpectedly slid out of the vehicle; neither was hurt.

prachuab — A tree was hit by the double-decker travelling at 90 kilometres per hour.

Ms. Suparatana Hueantong, or Fern, a final-year Liberal Arts major at Srinakharinwirot University Prasarnmit in Bangkok, was among those killed on this tour bus.

According to Fern’s father, Mr. Damrat Huentong, his daughter called her brother to come pick her up at the bus terminal in Phatthalung Province, so he and his son went out to meet her but never saw a tour bus arrive. He called his daughter numerous times, but no one answered.

prachuab crash2 — The tour bus was transferred and parked at Huai Yang Police Station for inspection.

“I inquired about other tour buses until I learned that there was a tour bus down the road in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, which was the car that my daughter rode in,” Damrat recounted with tears in his eyes.

Ms. Thamonwan Lakchai, 54, aunt of Ms. Kanlayakon Pool-iad, or Dok Khem, 17, who died in the accident with her mother, claimed Dok Khem and her mother, Ms. Lamai, 54, went in this bus. Dok Khem and her mother were on their way home to Nakhon Si Thammarat Province after reporting to Silpakorn University in Nakhon Pathom Province.

“Dok Khem’s father was shocked to learn that he had lost both his wife and his only daughter at the same time.” He was unable to communicate with anyone. So I organised this for him to transport the bodies back to their hometown in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province for merit-making,” Thamonwan explained.

prachuab crash11 — Dok Khem’s father was shocked to learn that he had lost both his wife and his only daughter at the same time.

The tour bus was traveling from Bangkok, to Songkhla province, southern Thailand. It was carrying 49 people when it ran off the road and hit a tree near Hat Wanakorn National Park, Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Pol. Col. Weerapat Ketesa, the superintendent of the Huay Yang Police Station, stated that the driver who survived the accident might have fallen asleep. The officials were waiting for the result of a blood test on him.

Police said the double-decker bus was not going beyond the speed limit. The speed measured at the time of the accident was 90 kms per hour.

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Thai Lawyer Rejects German Child Sex Suspect’s Claim

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Khaosod English

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5 December 2023, 22:18

thai lawyer — Parinya Promsak (centre), the lawyer for the German suspect involved in child prostitution, stated that her client's claim is not true.

CHONBURI – After the Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Justice and the Royal Thai Police to thoroughly investigate the details in the DW documentary that claimed a German suspect involved in child prostitution paid Thai officers a million baht bribe and escaped, a Thai lawyer who previously worked for the German told a different story.

Parinya Promsak, lawyer for the German man named Mr. Jens stated on Tuesday in Chonburi Province that his former client’s claim not true. That one million baht bribe was probably the same amount that was used to pay for the legal team. Part of which was used as bail money as the court had set, 500,000 baht, and another part was used as expenses for the legal team.

At the time, Jens claimed he had to return to Germany for a meeting about his clothing business with shareholders and that he had to deal with money in an account that had been frozen. He said he had to show his face to confirm his identity.

german accused2 — The German man gave an interview to the German media, saying that he paid 1 million baht to be able to escape from Thailand.

Therefore, he filed a petition with the Pattaya Provincial Court to request temporary travel. In submitting this request, the Pattaya Provincial Court demanded additional bail money.

“I confirm that the 1 million baht that the German man claimed in the video to be paid as a bribe to government officials is incorrect. Definitely not true. The provision of information by foreign media makes Thailand and government officials are greatly discredited Therefore, I have to come out and explain today,” Parinya said.

Mr. Jens was arrested on September 10, 2022 at approximately 11:45 p.m. while administrative officials along with police officers Pattaya City Police Station Together they raided the Cobra Beer Bar shop, Soi Buakhao, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, after receiving information that it was a center for child prostitution.

DW pattaya — A documentary titled “Sex Tourism in Thailand of DW

At that time, there were 3 Thai suspects arrested for the crime of human trafficking and the results of gathering evidence were extended to submit a petition to the Pattaya Provincial Court to issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Jens. The Pattaya Provincial Court approved the arrest warrant on July 24.

The German man was then caught inside the room of a hotel on the edge of Pattaya Second Road, Village No. 10, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.

Mr. Jens was later released on bail in court, including permission to travel out of the Kingdom on November 7. The Pattaya Provincial Court imposed bail conditions of 500,000 baht and ordered him to return to report on November 14, 2022.

The accused did not show up as scheduled. He later gave an interview to the German media, saying that he paid 1 million baht to be able to escape from Thailand.

Police Catch A Drug Gang In The Water And Seize ICE For Australia

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Khaosod English

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5 December 2023, 13:39

ICE — The Marine Police Division worked with the Narcotics Suppression Bureau to launch a large operation to raid and arrest an international drug smuggling gang.

CHACHOENGSAO – Police had to hunt down 13 Thai drug traffickers who went into the water to escape on Monday night in Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao Province, before confiscating the drugs. ICE, or crystal methamphetamine, weighs more than 2,000 kilogrammes.

The Marine Police Division worked with the Narcotics Suppression Bureau to launch a large operation to raid and arrest an international drug smuggling gang while preparing to bring the ship out to international waters to distribute drugs and send them on boats of various sizes to target countries such as the Philippines and Australia.

During this operation, police officers worked alongside the Matchanu Special Operations Team to keep an eye out for suspicious activity at the TNS Bangpakong jetty port in Bang Pakong District.

On December 4, around 9:30 p.m., it was discovered that drugs were being brought to board the Srimongkolsap, a huge tugboat. The police officers launched an instant operation to apprehend the smugglers. At the time, the drug smuggling crew leaped into the water and fled, but special operations officers pursued them and apprehended a total of 13 Thai individuals.

Police confiscate ICE, or crystal methamphetamine, weighs more than 2,000 kilogrammes.

A search of the boat revealed 90 boxes of crystal meth stashed beneath it, totaling 2,000 kilogrammes, all hidden and wrapped in bags of dried fruit. They turned over all of the suspects, as well as the seized items, to Narcotics Suppression Bureau detectives, and they will continue to extend the results to all parties concerned.

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US Is Running Out Of Money For Ukraine, White House Warns

By

Associated Press

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5 December 2023, 01:33

President Joe Biden pauses as he speaks to reporters in Nantucket, Mass., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Monday sent Congress an urgent warning about the need to approve tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Ukraine, saying Kyiv’s war effort to defend itself from Russia’s invasion may grind to a halt without it.

In a letter to House and Senate leaders and released publicly, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young warned the U.S. will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year, saying that would “kneecap” Ukraine on the battlefield.

She added that the U.S. already has run out of money that it has used to prop up Ukraine’s economy, and “if Ukraine’s economy collapses, they will not be able to keep fighting, full stop.”

“We are out of money — and nearly out of time,” she wrote.

AP23334594512048 — A Ukrainian MSLR BM-21 “Grad” rocket launcher of the 95 Air Assault brigade fires toward Russian positions at the frontline near Kreminna, Ukraine, on March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

President Joe Biden has sought a nearly $106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other needs, but it has faced a difficult reception on Capitol Hill, where there is growing skepticism about the magnitude of assistance for Ukraine and where even Republicans supportive of the funding are insisting on U.S.-Mexico border policy changes to halt the flow of migrants as a condition for the assistance.

Meanwhile, the GOP-controlled House has passed a standalone assistance package for Israel, which is fighting a war with Hamas in Gaza, while the White House has maintained that all of the priorities must be met.

AP23338134439794 — FILE – A man uses plastic to cover a broken window in his apartment following a Russian drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

Congress already has allocated $111 billion to assist Ukraine, including $67 billion in military procurement funding, $27 billion for economic and civil assistance and $10 billion for humanitarian aid. Young wrote that all of it, other than about 3% of the military funding, had been depleted by mid-November.

The Biden administration has said it has slowed the pace of some military assistance to Kyiv in recent weeks to try to stretch supplies until Congress approves more funding.

“We are out of money to support Ukraine in this fight,” Young wrote. “This isn’t a next year problem. The time to help a democratic Ukraine fight against Russian aggression is right now. It is time for Congress to act.”

AP23334830599138 — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits to the front-line city of Kupiansk, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

House Speaker Mike Johnson reiterated in a statement Monday that House Republicans will insist on border policy changes as part of a Ukraine assistance bill, and he argued Biden has “failed to substantively address any of my conference’s legitimate concerns about the lack of a clear strategy in Ukraine, a path to resolving the conflict, or a plan for adequately ensuring accountability for aid provided by American taxpayers.”

The letter followed a classified Capitol Hill briefing on Nov. 29 for the top House and Senate leaders on the need for the assistance. Defense and other national security officials briefed the “big four” congressional leaders as Congress is debating Biden’s nearly $106 billion funding package, which includes $61 billion for Ukraine but has become snared by Republican demands for U.S.-Mexico border security changes.

“They were clear that Ukraine needs the aid soon — and so does our military need the aid soon,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told The Associated Press in an interview.

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How Wealthy Is The Trio “3P” General Who Led The Thailand Coup?

By

Khaosod English

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5 December 2023, 00:48

trio 3p-2 — The Trio - Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and Gen Anupong Paojinda

BANGKOK – The former leaders of the “3P” military group in the 2014 coup era, Prayut-Prawit-Pok, who inherited a long 9-year government before they quit the government in the May 14, 2023 general election, were found to have substantial assets.

Prayut, the leader of the 3P group, was identified as the richest man with 130 million baht. Prawit came in second with 89 million baht, and Pok was third with 34 million baht.

NACC asset — The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) disclosed the assets and liabilities register of former political individuals in the former government.

In accordance with the Former Political Office Holders Act, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on December 4 disclosed the assets and liabilities register of General Anupong Paojinda, or Big Pok, who was formerly Interior Minister together with his wife Kulya’s assets, the total amounted to 34 million baht with no debt.

Excluding the assets of General Anupong’s wife, he had assets of 23.7 million baht. This amount included memberships and shares in 3 golf courses totaling 1.71 million baht. Other assets included Patek Philippe and DateJust watches as well as short and long guns totaling 21 guns.

trio 3p 3 — The Trio leader “3P” – Pok-Prawit-Prayut

Big Pok does not currently hold a consultancy position and enjoys his free time playing golf with friends.

Earlier, on November 24, the NACC revealed that General Prayut Chan-o-cha and his wife are worth 130 million baht. Prayut owns nine guns, five cars, including a Porsche Panamera and a Mercedes Benz, and has deposited 13 million baht in cash.

He owns land in the provinces of Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Phetchaburi. Prayut’s nine wristwatches are worth three million baht.

At present, General Prayut Chan-ocha has taken over as Prime Minister. On December 2, Their Majesties the King and Queen granted him an audience to take the oath of allegiance before he took office in the Amporn Sathan Throne Room at Dusit Palace.

trio 3p 1 — The 3P leaders, when they are the junta government

General Prawit Wongsuwan, also known as “Big Pom,” the former deputy junta chief, who is single, has total assets of 89 million baht, including five cars, nine rings, three properties in Bangkok and Pathum Thani province and debts of 757 baht.

However, what has caused much laughter and ridicule on social media is the alleged fortune. He only owns a TW Steel brand watch worth 15,000 baht, having previously been criticized and asked to investigate his ownership of a luxury watch, the Richard Mille, when he took office after the 2014 coup. The cheapest Richard Mille watch available in Bangkok costs around 3 million baht.

1 e1546057100152 — Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan raises a hand to shield his eyes from sunlight Dec. 4, 2017, in a cabinet photoshoot at the Government House which launched a scandal over the many multi-million baht, ultra-luxury timepieces he often wears.

He had insisted that the watch was borrowed from a business associate and the diamond ring was a gift from his mother.

At present, General Prawit is the only person in the group who still holds a political position as chairman of the Phalang Pracharath Party. However, he does not hold a position in the government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. .

He appears in public in a private capacity, such as presiding over the ordination ceremony at Wat Khao Samrong in Nakhon Phanom province and attending the Loy Krathong festival.

big pom — General Prawit Wongsuwan attended the Loy Krathong festival 2023.

However, he has not participated in any activities of the current government. Even when Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin invited the leaders of all coalition parties to a dinner at the Spider Collection NW303 restaurant on November 8, he did not show up. Instead, he sent his younger brother, Patcharawat Wongsuwan, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and the party’s general secretary, Thammanat Prompao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives as his representatives.

The media suspect that he was disappointed not to have been appointed prime minister at the last election.

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After the Fire, Project Artisan Phuket’s Owner Closes the Restaurant Temporarily

By

Khaosod English

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4 December 2023, 20:28

PHUKET – The owners of Project Artisan, a famous restaurant in Layan, Phuket, issued a statement on December 4, the day after a fire incident that destroyed the restaurant, saying they would close it temporarily and thank everyone for their moral support.

“Yesterday we were at the mercy of forces bigger than us. We are totally devastated as there is a significant amount of fire damage, but the main thing is that everyone is safe. It’s going to take us some considerable time to get back up and running, but we have the best team and we will be back stronger than ever!”

Michaela and Martin, and all the team at Project Artisan, also added, “Thank you for all the messages we have received and the help from our island community; it means so much. As you can imagine, we might not be able to respond straight away, but please know that we really appreciate the outpouring of love and support for us and Project Artisan.”

A fire broke out at the Project Artisan restaurant opposite Soi Khok Tanod Soi 6, Choeng Thale Subdistrict, Thalang District, on December 3, about 1.30 p.m. Eyewitnesses said they saw lights and smoke coming from the roof of the restaurant, so they rushed to see and saw fire burning inside.

There were foreign guests at several tables at the time. People panicked and fled the restaurant, while employees attempted to put out the fire. But the fire was raging. Consequently, the entire store was damaged.

The restaurant is built on a steel structure that stands roughly 15 metres tall. The fire burned the roof and spilled down onto the table, damaging different pieces of equipment and catching fire throughout the restaurant. Firefighters raced in to pour water and could control the fire in about 30 minutes. The initial impact is expected to be around 15 million baht.

Choeng Thale Police Station officials have cordoned off the area and coordinate with Phuket Forensic Police in order to thoroughly examine the cause of the fire. Initially, they had suspected the heat from the pizza oven started the fire, which quickly spread to the insulation and up the roof.

However on December 4, the police revealed that Mr. Martin Marlik, the Slovakian owner of Project Artisan, and Mr. Wachara Chandra, the restaurant’s chef, noticed smoke coming from a ceiling-mounted range hood motor. Then there was a spark, and the fire had spread throughout the restaurant’s roof in less than 2 minutes.

Project Artisan9 — Mr. Wachara Chandra, the restaurant’s chef, said he noticed smoke coming from a ceiling-mounted range hood motor.

This range hood normally gets used between 11:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and may be damaged or generate heat prior to sparking. Furthermore, the shop’s roof is composed of easily flammable materials, causing fires to burn and spread. The police concluded that the fire was not started by any individual, and the shop does not have fire insurance.

Project Artisan is built in an area of approximately 3–4 rai. The land is leased for an annual fee of one million baht from the owner in accordance with a long-term lease contract.

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11 Bodies Recovered After Volcanic Eruption in Indonesia, and 12 Climbers Are Still Missing

By

Associated Press

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4 December 2023, 13:51

Indonesia Volcano Eruption — Motorists ride past by as Mount Marapi spews volcanic materials during its eruption in Agam, West Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Ardhy Fernando)

PADANG, Indonesia (AP) — The bodies of 11 climbers were recovered Monday a day after a furious eruption of the Mount Marapi volcano as Indonesian rescuers searched for 12 apparently still missing.

Marapi has stayed at the third highest of four alert levels since 2011, a level indicating above normal volcanic activity and prohibiting climbers or villagers within 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) of the peak, said Hendra Gunawan, the head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation.

“This means that there should be no climbing to the peak,” Gunawan said, adding that climbers were only allowed below the danger zone, “but sometimes many of them broke the rules to fulfill their satisfaction to climb further.”

AP23338199040559 — Mount Marapi spews thick columns of ash as high as 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) into the sky. (AP Photo/Ardhy Fernando)

About 75 climbers had started their way up the nearly 2,900-meter (9,480-foot) mountain on Saturday and became stranded. Eight of those rescued Sunday were rushed to hospitals with burns and one also had a broken limb, said Hari Agustian, an official at the local Search and Rescue Agency in Padang, the West Sumatra provincial capital.

All of the climbers had registered at two command posts or online through West Sumatra’s conservation agency before they climbed, Agustian said. It was possible others took illegal roads or local residents were active in the area, but it couldn’t be confirmed, he said.

Marapi spewed thick columns of ash as high as 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) in Sunday’s eruption and hot ash clouds spread several miles (kilometers). Nearby villages and towns were blanketed by tons of volcanic debris. Volcanic dust and rain smeared the faces and hair of evacuated climbers, according to video on social media.

Falling ash blanketed several villages and blocked sunlight, and authorities distributed masks and urged residents to wear eyeglasses to protect them from volcanic ash. About 1,400 people live on Marapi’s slopes in Rubai and Gobah Cumantiang, the nearest villages about 5 to 6 kilometers (3.1 to 3.7 miles) from the peak.

AP23338199052968 — A woman sits outside a house as Mount Marapi spews volcanic materials during its eruption in Agam, West Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Ardhy Fernando)

Gunawan said that Sunday’s eruption was not preceded by a significant increase in volcanic earthquakes. Deep volcanic earthquakes were only recorded three times between Nov. 16 and on Sunday, while the deformation equipment or tiltmeter on the peak showed a horizontal pattern on the radial axis and a slight inflation on the tangential axis.

“This shows that the eruption process is taking place quickly and the center of pressure is very shallow, around the peak,” he said.

Marapi has been observed regularly erupting since 2004 with a gap of 2 to 4 years, Gunawan said.

“Marapi eruptions are always sudden and difficult to detect using equipment because the source is near the surface,” Gunawan said, “This eruption was not caused by the movement of magma.”

AP23338198475172 — Motorists ride past by as Mount Marapi spews volcanic materials during its eruption in Agam, West Sumatra, Indonesia, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Ardhy Fernando)

West Sumatra’s Search and Rescue Agency head Abdul Malik said rescuers found 11 bodies of climbers as they searched for those who still missing and rescued three others Monday morning.

“The evacuation process of the bodies and survivors are still ongoing,” he said, adding that rescuers are still searching for 12 climbers reportedly still missing.

Marapi has been active since a January eruption that caused no casualties. It is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

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RAHMA NURJANA reported from PADANG. Karmini reported from Jakarta, Indonesia.

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