ORTORKOR invites you to participate in the high-quality agricultural products trade fair between 11 – 15 August 2023 at the Thailand Best Agricultural Showroom center
Marketing Organization for Farmers (ORTORKOR) invites you to participate in the high-quality agricultural products distribution event “ORTORKOR Select Thailand Best Agricultural” to promote and support farmers to bring their produce or agricultural products and household industrial products to publicize and sell without going through middlemen and to be the center of the best quality food and agricultural products in the country for both Thai and foreign customers.
At the event, there will be activities to sell high quality agricultural products and quality products that meet the standards of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, “Golden Minute” product promotions, demonstration activities. Meanwhile, you will enjoy the music and consume good quality products.
The event is held between 11 – 15 August 2023, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, at the Thailand Best Agricultural Showroom,Kamphaeng Phet Road, before the Si Rat Expressway, located in the vicinity of the ORTORKOR Market, Chatuchak district.
FILE - This combo of file images shows Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, left, and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, Stephan Savoia, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk says his potential in-person fight with Mark Zuckerberg would be streamed on his social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.
The two tech billionaires seemingly agreed to a “cage match” face-off in late June. Zuckerberg is actually trained in mixed martial arts, and the CEO of Facebook’s parent company Meta posted about completing his first jiu jitsu tournament earlier this year.
“Zuck v Musk fight will be live-streamed on X,” Musk wrote in a post Sunday on the platform. “All proceeds will go to charity for veterans.”
On his Threads social media account, Zuckerberg responded: “Shouldn’t we use a more reliable platform that can actually raise money for charity?”
Musk said earlier Sunday he was training for the fight by lifting weights.
“Don’t have time to work out, so I just bring them to work,” Musk wrote.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks in a April 12, 2016, file photo at an event in San Francisco. Photo: Eric Risberg / Associated Press
Zuckerberg replied on Threads: “I’m ready today. I suggested Aug 26 when he first challenged, but he hasn’t confirmed. Not holding my breath. I love this sport and will continue competing with people who train no matter what happens here.”
Whether or not Musk and Zuckerberg actually make it to the ring in Las Vegas has yet to be seen — especially as Musk often tweets about action prematurely or without following through. But even if their cage match agreement is all a joke, the banter has gained attention.
It all started when Musk, who owns X, responded to a tweet about Meta preparing to release a new Twitter rival called Threads. He took a dig about the world becoming “exclusively under Zuck’s thumb with no other options” — but then one Twitter user jokingly warned Musk of Zuckerberg’s jiu jitsu training.
“I’m up for a cage match if he is lol,” Musk wrote.
FILE – Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk arrives on the red carpet for the Axel Springer media award in Berlin on Dec. 1, 2020. Photo: Hannibal Hanschke / Pool Photo via AP File
Representatives of X, Meta and Ultimate Fighting Championship, which owns the venue where the fight might take place, didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
Musk’s push to stream the video live on X comes as he aims to turn the platform into a “digital town square.” However, his much-publicized Twitter Spaces kickoff event in May with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announcing his run for president struggled with technical glitches and a near half-hour delay.
Musk had said the problems were due to “straining” servers because so many people were trying to listen to the audio-only event. But even at their highest, the number of listeners listed topped out at around 420,000, far from the millions of viewers that televised presidential announcements attract.
BMA and AIS expand Aunjai Cyber to BMA-affiliated schools 437 BMA schools help promote good digital citizenship Educators, youth and students in Bangkok keeping up with cyber-threats.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has partnered with AIS and other state networks in the Department of Mental Health, the Ministry of Public Health and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, to expand the curriculum of digital skills with the “Aunjai Cyber Syllabus”.
Education in the digital age is being upgraded to inoculate for cyber-immunity, as well as giving knowledge to teachers, educators and educational staff, and students at 437 schools affiliated with the BMA, counting over 250,000 target students and educational personnel.
Targets have been set to produce digital citizens and a high score in Thailand Cyber Wellness Index among students in Bangkok. They should become cyber-literate with digital skills to safely negotiate social media and other technology, and use them responsibly.
This is accomplished by making the Aunjai Cyber Syllabus part of the standard school curriculum, as well as the focus of extra-curricular activities such as after-school clubs, student development activities, guideline activities or even teaching customised to the needs of a particular institution. The whole program will be initiated throughout the educational year of 2023.
Mr.Sanon Wangsrangboon, Deputy Governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration commented, “Education policy is part of the BMA’s remit policies have been outlined by BMA Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. The critical target is to upgrade educational standards and teaching in BMA-affiliated schools to be in step with rapidly ongoing changes in the world of digital technology.
In particular, we want to provide kids with the relevant digital content and skills to negotiate the online world safely and responsibly, while not falling victim to scammers. This cooperation with AIS, the Department of Mental Health and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi is another key step in upgrading BMA’s educational policies and taking them to the next level.
“The syllabus we shall use is Aunjai Cyber, which has been certified by the Ministry of Education as meeting the standards of curricula for schools. It will be integrated with teaching materials in the subjects of Computing Science and Social Studies. Students will be involved from BMA schools at Kindergarten, Primary, and upper/lower Secondary levels in 437 schools. The course will enable educators, students, parents and the general public in communities numbering over 250,000 people to access new knowledge, improve their digital skills and give themselves cyber-immunity, while not falling victim to scammers and enjoying the digital world safely.”
Mrs.Saichon Submakudom, Acting Head of Public Relations and Business Relations Business Unit at AIS, said the latest studies of the Thailand Cyber Wellness Index looked at the common assumption that the younger generation is more expert at using digital media. In actual fact, they are another vulnerable group who must improve their skills and understanding of using digital correctly, so that they should not fall victim to cyber scams. This statistic has been a driver for us working with the BMA to bring the principles of Aunjai Cyber into the classrooms of Bangkok’s schools.
“We have previously introduced the course for educators, school staff and students in 29,000 schools around the country affiliated to the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC). The program has also been extended to universities including Chiang Mai Rajabhat University and Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna.
We are even able to bring it to the general public through organizations such as the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA). We have great expectations that this collaboration with the BMA will enable young people, educators and other personnel to have knowledge and understanding about using digital safely and responsibly. It is a key part of ongoing efforts to improve scores on the Thailand Cyber Wellness Index.”
Note: “Aunjai Cyber Syllabus” is presented in 4 Professional Skill Modules (4P4), which approach digital skills in the following framework:
Practice, knowledge and understanding of using tech correctly and appropriately
Personality, recommendations for personal protection online
Protection, learning how to protect against cyber threats online
Participation, interacting with appropriate skills and behavior for social media.
Kim or Dinh Kim Le, a 25-year-old Vietnamese, has survived the Mountain B pub fire, but she is still in a nightmare.
Kim or Dinh Kim Le, a 25-year-old Vietnamese lady, used to travel between Thailand and Vietnam while working for four years in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province. On August 5, 2022, there was a terrible fire at the Mountain B pub. Since then, her life has been a nightmare.
On the first anniversary of the man-made Mountain B pub fire tragedy, which killed at least 26 people and hurt at least 50, the victims’ families made merit at the Soi Yen Ruedi Meditation Centre in Sattahip District. They did this in the middle of sadness.
The Mountain B pub on August 5, 2022.
People who were upset and sad talked about how hard their lives were and how frustrated they were waiting for pay that hadn’t been covered yet. Kim and her family have felt the same.
Kim has been in the hospital for approximately a year, and the doctor had to give her morphine to relieve his pain for the first three months. Approximately 80% of her body was burned, which cost 600,000 baht at Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital and 3 million baht at Somdet Phra Ratchathewi Na Sriracha Hospital.
Kim has been in the hospital for approximately a year.
Now she owes nearly 4 million baht for her severe injuries. Kim had to sign a debt repayment agreement with the hospital before being discharged three days ago.
The owner of the Mountain B pub used to pay compensation for her about 100,000 baht, which was not enough to cover all the expenses.
Kim is very upset that once she used to be the one earning money to take care of the family, but now she cannot do anything, even walk. Her older brother had to leave his job in Vietnam and borrow money to take care of her.
Kim’s brother has asked if anyone want to help, can transfer the money to his account at Ayutthaya 628-1-195973, named Long Van Dinh.
A Vietnamese website reported that on August 26, a representative of the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand visited and encouraged Kim’s family at the hospital.
The Man-Made Tragedy
The Mountain B Tragedy occurred on August 5, 2022, at 1:00 a.m., while tourists were drinking and eating. There was a spark on the ceiling, and the fire swiftly spread since the roof is made of sound-absorbing wind foam that is extremely flammable. Tourists panicked and rushed to the only exit door, crowding and collapsing. Some were burned to death or seriously injured.
Following the incident, five police officers at Chonburi’s Saphlutaluang Station were removed, while Pongsiri Panprasong, or Bee, 27, the owner of Pub Mountain B, was charged with negligence causing the deaths of others and operating a entertainment spot without licence.
The Pattaya Provincial Court is presently hearing the compensation complaint, which seeks damages for the deceased’s family and the injured.
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat and Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew make a heart gesture during a press conference to affirm the eight-party coalition at Prachachart Party Headquarters on May 30, 2023.
A “political marriage” between the Move Forward and Pheu Thai Party gone wrong leading to a divorce? Unfortunately for many Thais, this is how they perceive the current acrimonious political situation – and they could not have chosen a worse analogy because the political alliance has very little, if nothing to do with romantic love and matrimonial union.
Most mainstream Thai media were partly responsible. They repeatedly framed the alliance like a love story. Not satisfied with their written headlines or verbal descriptions on TV and online, when the now defunct eight-party coalition met at Prachachart Party Headquarters at the northern outskirt of Bangkok two weeks after the May 14 general election, some reporters and photographers asked Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat and Pheu Thai Party chief Cholnan Srikaew do make a joined heart shape a la K Pop by joining hands for news consumers at the end of their press conference. It was “love actually” – or was it?
Such romanticization, combined with die-hard supporters of each respective parties adoring their leaders, hyped up so much expectations over the following weeks until Pheu Thai Party eventually decided to ditch MFP weeks following the failure of MFP PM candidate Pita gaining enough votes from the junta-appointed senators in order to become PM.
Acrimonious? That is an understatement. The adoration of the two respective political party and their leaders means Wednesday’s unilateral “divorce” announcement did not go down well with MFP supporters who were on that very same day launching a mock procession for the two parties “to tie the knots,” complete with a new car strapped with large red ribbon as some Thai-Chinese would do as a gift to the newly wed.
Minutes before they arrived at the Pheu Thai Headquarters, they learned of Pheu Thai’s unilateral “divorce” announcement and instead staged an angry protest in front of party splashing red paint at the building and burning effigies.
Someone needs to remind these people that political alliance is transactional and conditional – always subject to change if the conditions are not met. It has nothing to do with love or romance. The wrong analogy sets the stage for a very hostile and toxic political environment, however.
One of my Facebook friends posted that he had lost numerous friends since Wednesday as some of the over-passionate supporters of one of the two parties could no longer bear his views and unfriended him.
The wrong analogy has led to unnecessary toxic feelings and inaccurate assessment of the current political situation. Instead of seeing what might be best for Thailand in general, these red and orange political supporters think of their party first. We need a more precise and applicable analogy to describe and perceive what’s happening in Thai politics today. Alas, some continue to stick to the analogy.
On Friday, the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (who organized Wednesday procession to the Pheu Thai Headquarters that had gone wrong) launched a new campaign. They are now urging people to call for the renewal of the coalition pack between Pheu Thai and Move Forward, amidst growing concerns that if the two parties remain separated, former deputy junta leader Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, who is the leader of Phalang Pracharath Party and a PM candidate, may eventually become PM instead of Pheu Thai’s candidate Srettha Thavisin.
In the campaign poster disseminated online, the same ubiquitous photo of Pita and Cholnan forming a joined heart with their hands was used anew.
Visitors pay in front of the cenotaph dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Hiroshima marked the 78th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing of the city. (Kyodo News via AP)
TOKYO (AP) — Hiroshima officials criticized growing support for nuclear weapons as a detterent resulting from uneasiness over Russia’s war in Ukraine and tensions in the Koreas, commenting Sunday as the city remembered the atomic bombing of 78 years ago.
The observance came two months after Hiroshima hosted a summit of the Group of 7 major industrial nations, at which G7 leaders visited the city’s peace park and a museum dedicated to those who died in the word’s first atomic attack.
The leaders issued a joint statement calling for the continued non-use of nuclear weapons, but they also justified having such arms to “serve defensive purposes, deter aggression and prevent war and coercion.”
Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui rejected that position in his peace address at the commemoration.
“Leaders around the world must confront the reality that nuclear threats now being voiced by certain policymakers reveal the folly of nuclear deterrence theory,” he said. “They must immediately take concrete steps to lead us from the dangerous present toward our ideal world.”
A ceremony to mark the 78th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing is held at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Kyodo News via AP)
Hiroshima Gov. Hidehiko Yuzai questioned the growing calls for reinforced nuclear deterrence around the world, including in Japan, since Russia invaded Ukraine and warned of possible nuclear weapons use, while North Korea advances its missile and nuclear development.
“Believers of proactive nuclear deterrence, who say nuclear weapons are indispensable to maintain peace, are only delaying the progress toward nuclear disarmament,” Yuzai said.
The atomic bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroyed the city, killing 140,000 people, and a second bomb dropped three days later on Nagasaki killed an additional 70,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and Japan’s nearly half century of aggression in Asia.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents Hiroshima in parliament, has sought to highlight the G7 commitment to nuclear disarmament and a condemnation of Russia’s threats to use atomic weapons. But he has been faulted by survivors for refusing to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapon.
Arguing the pact is unworkable because no nuclear-armed state has signed, Kishida has pledged to serve as a bridge between nuclear and non-nuclear states and work for nuclear disarmament. His critics say it is a hollow promise because Japan relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for protection and has been rapidly expanding its military.
Japan, the United States and South Korea are stepping up security cooperation in response to a more assertive China and the growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. Washington and Seoul have agreed to strengthen their nuclear deterrence cooperation, and Japan also wants stronger protection by U.S. nuclear weapons.
Kishida, who also attended Sunday’s ceremony, said the path toward a nuclear-free world has grown tougher because of rising tensions and conflicts. “But the situation makes it even more important for the world to regain the momentum,” he said.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, front right, observes a moment of silence during a ceremony marking the 78th anniversary of the world’s first atomic bombing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. (Kyodo News via AP)
People at the ceremony observed a moment of silence with the sound of a peace bell at 8:15 a.m., the time when a U.S. B-29 dropped the bomb on the city. Hundreds of white doves, considered symbols of peace, were released.
Many survivors of the bombings have lasting injuries and illnesses resulting from the explosions and radiation exposure and face discrimination in Japan.
As of March, 113,649 survivors, whose average age is now 85, are certified as eligible for government medical support, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry. But many others, including those who say they were victims of the “black rain” that fell outside the initially designated areas, are still without support.
The mayor urged Kishida’s government to provide stronger support and address their wishes.
Aging survivors, known in Japan as hibakusha, continue to push for a nuclear arms ban and hope to persuade younger generations to join the movement. A group led by a number of young supporters, including those from Hiroshima, is seeking to have Japan’s government sign the nuclear weapons ban treaty by 2030.
After the police cracked down on the fake licence plate gang, which involved more than 65 luxury cars, it was found that a popular star with the initials M is one of the customers who will be called in for questioning.
On August 5, Mario Maurer, a well-known Thai-German actor, stated in an interview that he is the star known as M, whom the police will question as a victim in the coming days.
He stated that he purchased a car from a trustworthy elderly buddy around two months ago but never received it. As a result, his friend returned his money, but the licence plate was already registered in his name. As a result, the police contacted him to inform him that this car had a problem and that they wanted to interview him about the car’s origin.
Mario Maurer, a Thai actor, gives an interview on August 5 when he attends the event.
“At first, I was confused and shocked, but when I spoke with the police officer in charge of this case, he told me not to worry because I am the victim.” “They want me as a witness for the sake of the case,” Mario explained.
The Thai superstar stated that he was only deceived by this car, one of many he owns. His elder friend, from whom he bought the car, had also been deceived.
In this case, the Motorcycle Theft Suppression Centre National Police Agency, in collaboration with the Department of Land Transport and the Technology Crime Investigation Bureau, launched the operation “Turn the Road to Hunt for Theft Code” and apprehended two suspects, Sathien, 38, and Srisorn, 44, a member of the gang that managed the fake licence plates.
In a news conference held on August 3, 2023, at the Technology Crime Investigation Bureau, police personnel displayed cars involved in the case.
They secretly got into transport system data to change car data through Wi-Fi before sending these cars to be sold again.
Police searched 35 suspected sites and seized 65 vehicles involved in the crime, worth a total of 77,350,000 baht, including the Audi Q8, Mercedes-Benz G300, Austin Mini Van, and Wreck Car B. BMW 3.0 CSL, BMW E3. They also confiscated car number plates, plate moulds and a large number of car registration booklets.
Police also confiscated car number plates, plate moulds and a large number of car registration booklets.
In this case, customers who collect vintage cars—antique cars—in addition to Mario are celebrities. As a result, the police will contact them to question them.
A truck turned on its side is seen as flood waters flowing across roads and fields in Kaiyuan Town of Shulan in northeastern China's Jilin Province on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023. (Yan Linyun/Xinhua via AP)
Rain continued to pelt northeastern China in the wake of Typhoon Doksuri Saturday, as authorities reported more fatalities and missing people while evacuating thousands more.
One person died and five went missing in the city of Shulan in Jilin province, which has seen five straight days of rainfall, according to state media.
Over 14,300 people were evacuated from the city of more than 700,000, according to the local disaster relief agency. State news agency China News Service showed images of waterlogged streets around homes and factories. The average precipitation in the city had reached 111.7 mm (4.4 inches) by Friday afternoon.
Firefighters operate a drainage machine near Dawan Village of Dong’an District, Mudanjiang in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 5, 2023. (Zhang Tao/Xinhua via AP)
China is struggling with record-breaking rainfall in some areas while others suffer scorching summer heat and drought that threatens crops. The heavy rains – remnants of Typhoon Doksuri – have battered northern China since late July, disrupting the lives of millions. Flooding near Beijing and in neighboring Hebei province this week killed at least 22 people.
In northeastern Heilongjiang province, which is known as China’s “great northern granary,” rain inundated farms and flooded streets, leading to the evacuation of thousands.
In the city of Shangzhi, heavy rainfall turned roads into rivers and inundated thousands of households.
National emergency management authorities said 25 rivers across Heilongjiang threatened to burst their banks, while disaster relief groups have been dispatched to the province.
In Heilongjiang’s capital of Harbin, more than 53,000 people had to be evacuated as multiple reservoirs and rivers exceeded safety levels while some 41,600 hectares (103,000 acres) of crops were damaged.
Flood waters cover Yanshou County of Harbin in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang Province on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. (Gu Jingkun/Xinhua via AP)
In the city of Yushu in Jilin province, about 120 kilometers south of Harbin, flooding forced the evacuation of around 19,000 people.
Meanwhile, in Hebei province around Beijing, which saw some of the region’s worst flooding in the past few weeks, authorities issued fresh alerts for rainstorms on Saturday.
Floodwaters in Zhuozhou, southwest of Beijing started to recede Saturday, state media reported, allowing some of the 125,000 evacuated residents to return to their homes.
The death toll in the 11 million-strong city of Baoding reached 10 while another 18 people are still missing, local authorities said Saturday.
Floods damaged roads and washed away bridges in the city’s Yesanpo Scenic Area, a national park known for its gorges and mountains.
Firefighters use rocks to build a barrier against flood waters near Dawan Village of Dong’an District, Mudanjiang in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 5, 2023. (Zhang Tao/Xinhua via AP)
Customs Department spokesman Phanthong Loykunlanan shows the seized heroin during a press conference at the customs headquarters on Aug. 4, 2023.
BANGKOK — The customs department on Friday said they seized 3.5 kilograms of heroin concealed inside a shipment of pain-relief patches.
Department spokesman Phanthong Loykunlanan said the drugs worth up to 10 million baht were stuffed inside boxes of pain-relief patches headed for Australia, South Korea, and Hong Kong. The drugs were discovered on Thursday at Suvarnabhumi Airport after customs officials noticed that the packets containing the patches had been tampered with, he said.
The latest seizure brought the department’s total confiscated so far this year to a billion baht worth of drugs, Phanthong said.
Authorities have yet to identify the person who sent the packages, which were sent from Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district.
A similar seizure was made in June at Bangkok Port, where 32 kilograms of heroin were discovered inside a shipment of pain-relief patches bound for Melbourne, Australia.
Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu performs his free skate at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, on Feb. 17, 2018. (Kyodo)
TOKYO – Fans and people in the hometown of Japanese figure skating star Yuzuru Hanyu celebrated his marriage on Saturday, a day after he broke the news on social media. thanked fans and vowed to keep performing on the ice.
“The strength I’ve drawn from everyone’s support, expectations and attention cannot be measured. I really thank you,” the 28-year-old wrote.
“Together with everyone who has been supporting me, and with figure skating, I will continue to give my all and live the rest of my life facing forward.”
The two-time Olympic champion has retired from competitive figure skating and turned pro but still has passionate fans around the world, including China where the news quickly became the top trending topic on social media.
“That’s a cause for celebration. I hope he will have time to relax with his family when he is away from work,” said a 46-year-old resident of Hanyu’s hometown Sendai in Japan’s northeast.
“He has given us a lot of courage. I will continue to root for him,” said Akihiko Shibuya, 63, who runs a restaurant in Ishinomaki where Hanyu once visited as part of his charity activities to support northeastern regions severely affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Photo shows an “ema” votive tablet with a message congratulating Japanese figure skating icon Yuzuru Hanyu on his marriage at Yuzuruha Shrine in Kobe, western Japan, on Aug. 5, 2023. (Kyodo)
A 16-year-old student from China who is visiting Japan on vacation was also happy to hear the news.
“I prayed for his and his loved one’s happiness,” she said as she visited Yuzuruha Shrine in Kobe, a place well-known among Hanyu’s fans.
The Shinto shrine became popular for having a name similar to Hanyu’s first name.
According to the shrine’s priest, Masayasu Sawada, Hanyu himself visited the shrine for the first time when he was a junior skater.
KYODO
“I have watched him grow as a skater. I would be delighted if he and his wife visit here together one day,” Sawada said.
Hanyu was the first figure skater not from Europe or the United States to win gold in the men’s singles competition at the Olympics when he got his first title at the Sochi Winter Games in 2014.
In 2018, he achieved a historic repeat at the Pyeongchang Games, becoming the first skater to successfully defend his gold medal in the event since American Dick Button, 66 years earlier. Hanyu became the youngest recipient of the Japanese gove
