[Bangkok] – Siraj Holding, a leading investment fund in the UAE, is pleased to announce the successful acquisition of a controlling and largest stake of 10.58% in Global Consumer Public Company Limited. The transaction, finalized on 21st October 2023, marks a significant milestone in Siraj Holding’s expansion strategy.
Siraj Holding, led by the “Al Otaiba” family, is recognized as one of the most reputable and influential funds in the UAE. With diverse business interests in oil and gas, food trading, healthcare, financial sector, and technology, the Al Otaiba family has consistently demonstrated expertise and success in their ventures, making them a prominent name among the top richest families in the UAE.
The acquisition of this controlling stake in Global Consumer Public Company Limited not only solidifies Siraj Holding’s influence in the market but also grants them a management stake in the renowned food conglomerate. Global Consumer Public Company Limited holds an esteemed reputation in the industry, with a diverse portfolio ranging from packaging and frozen food to dried fruit. Most notably, it is known for its highly regarded brand, Lookchin Tip – the porkball factory.
This strategic investment by Siraj Holding signifies their commitment to expanding their presence in the consumer goods sector. It enables them to capitalize on Global Consumer Public Company Limited’s strong market position and leverage their expertise to drive growth, innovation, and operational excellence within the corporation.
Siraj Holding is excited to collaborate with Global Consumer Public Company Limited’s management team and their dedicated workforce to unlock new opportunities, enhance product offerings, and deliver exceptional value to their customers. The acquisition aligns with Siraj Holding’s long-term vision of fostering sustainable growth and contributing to the overall advancement of the UAE’s economy.
Both Siraj Holding and Global Consumer Public Company Limited express their shared enthusiasm for the future and their commitment to creating synergistic partnerships that will further strengthen their respective positions in the market.
The timing of this acquisition could not be more favorable for GloCon Consumer. The company had recently completed the relocation of two major factories, one for frozen meals and the other for dried fruit, due to reaching maximum capacity in 2022. With an additional 200% increase in capacity now available, GloCon Consumers is well-positioned to pursue new market expansions and meet growing consumer demand.
Global Consumer Public Company Limited is excited about the prospects that lie ahead with Siraj Holding as the new largest stakeholder. Together, both companies aim to drive innovation, explore new avenues for growth, and deliver exceptional products and services to consumers.
About Global Consumer Public Company Limited:
Global Consumer Public Company Limited is a leading global consumer goods company specializing in packaging, frozen ready-to-eat meals and seafood, dried fruit exports, and the renowned Lookchintip pork ball business. With a focus on quality and innovation, GloCon Consumers strives to meet the evolving needs of consumers worldwide through its diverse product portfolio.
About Siraj Holding:
Siraj Holding is a highly reputable UAE fund led by the Al Otaiba family, known for their investments in sectors such as oil and gas, healthcare, consumer goods, and the financial industry. With a long history of successful investments, Siraj Holding brings valuable expertise and resources to its portfolio companies, driving growth and creating value.
In this image taken from video released by the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office, an unidentified gunman points a gun while entering Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Maine State (Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office via AP)
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — A man shot and killed at least 16 people at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine, and then fled into the night, sparking a massive search by hundreds of officers while frightened residents in multiple communities stayed locked in their homes Thursday under a shelter-in-place advisory.
A police bulletin identified Robert Card, 40, as a person of interest in the attack that sent panicked bowlers scrambling behind pins when shots rang out around 7 p.m. Wednesday. Card was described as a firearms instructor believed to be in the Army Reserve and assigned to a training facility in Saco, Maine.
The document, circulated to law enforcement officials, said Card had been committed to a mental health facility for two weeks in the summer of 2023. It did not provide details about his treatment or condition but said Card had reported “hearing voices and threats to shoot up” the military base. A telephone number listed for Card in public records was not in service.
This photo released by the Lewiston, Maine, Police Department on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, shows a vehicle police are seeking information on in connection to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine. (Lewiston Maine Police Department via AP)
Lewiston Police said in an earlier Facebook post that they were dealing with an active shooter incident at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Sparetime Recreation, a bowling alley about 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away. A number of parents and children were at Sparetime as part of a children’s bowling league.
Ten-year-old Zoey Levesque, who was there with her mother, told WMTW-TV she was grazed by a bullet.
“It’s scary,” she said. “I had never thought I’d grow up and get a bullet in my leg. And it’s just like, why? Why do people do this?”
One bowler, who identified himself only as Brandon, said he heard about 10 shots, thinking the first was a balloon popping.
“I had my back turned to the door. And as soon as I turned and saw it was not a balloon — he was holding a weapon — I just booked it,” he told The Associated Press.
This photo released by the Lewiston Maine Police Department shows Robert Card, who police have identified as a person of interest in connection to mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. ( Lewiston Maine Police Department via AP)
Brandon said he scrambled down the length of the alley, sliding into the pin area and climbing up to hide in the machinery. He was among a busload of survivors who were driven to a middle school in the neighboring city of Auburn to be reunited with family and friends.
“I was putting on my bowling shoes when when it started. I’ve been barefoot for five hours,” he said.
The bowling alley is home to traditional tenpin bowling as well as candlepin, a variant of bowling found in New England. It’s located about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) north of the Bates College campus, on the outskirts of downtown. The alley has a small bar and is popular for local bowling leagues and children’s parties.
Melinda Small, the owner of Legends Sports Bar and Grill, said her staff immediately locked their doors and moved all 25 customers and employees away from the doors after a customer reported hearing about the shooting at the bowling alley less than a quarter-mile away. Soon, the police flooded the roadway and a police officer eventually escorted everyone out of the building.
A member of security, center right, stands at an emergency department entrance at Central Maine Medical Center during an active shooter situation, in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
“I am honestly in a state of shock. I am blessed that my team responded quickly and everyone is safe,” Small said. “But at the same time, my heart is broken for this area and for what everyone is dealing with. I just feel numb.”
After the shooting, police, many armed with rifles, took up positions while the city descended into eerie quiet — punctuated by occasional sirens — as people hunkered down at home. Schools as far away as Kennebunk, more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Lewiston, closed out of caution on Thursday. And schools were closed Portland, the state’s largest city.
The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office released two photos of the suspect on its Facebook page that showed the shooter walking into an establishment with a weapon raised to his shoulder.
Two law enforcement officials told The AP that at least 16 people were killed and the toll was expected to rise. However, Michael Sauschuck, commissioner of the Maine Department of Public Safety, declined to provide a specific estimate at a news conference, calling it a “fluid situation.” State police planned to hold a midmorning news conference Thursday.
Police respond to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
It’s the 36th mass killing in the United States this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
The two law enforcement officials said dozens of people also had been wounded. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
On its website, Central Maine Medical Center said staff were “reacting to a mass casualty, mass shooter event” and were coordinating with area hospitals to take in patients. The hospital was locked down and police, some armed with rifles, stood by the entrances.
Meanwhile, hospitals as far away as Portland, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the south, were on alert to potentially receive victims.
Lewiston, the second largest city in Maine with a population of 37,000, emerged as a major center for African immigration into Maine. The Somali population, which numbers in the thousands, has changed the demographics of the once overwhelmingly white mill city into one of the most diverse in northern New England.
A shelter-in-place advisory was issued Wednesday night for Androscoggin County. That included the community of Lisbon, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) away, after a “vehicle of interest” was found there, authorities said. It was extended Thursday to Bowdoin, which is in Sagadachoc County.
Gov. Janet Mills released a statement echoing instructions for people to shelter. President Joe Biden spoke by phone to Mills and the state’s Senate and House members, offering “full federal support in the wake of this horrific attack,” a White House statement said.
Wednesday’s death toll was staggering for a state that in 2022 had 29 homicides the entire year.
Maine doesn’t require permits to carry guns, and the state has a longstanding culture of gun ownership that is tied to its traditions of hunting and sport shooting.
Some recent attempts by gun control advocates to tighten the state’s gun laws have failed. Proposals to require background checks for private gun sales and create a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases failed earlier this year. Proposals that focused on school security and banning bump stocks failed in 2019.
State residents have also voted down some attempts to tighten gun laws in Maine. A proposal to require background checks for gun sales failed in a 2016 public vote.
The new uniform for Thai Airways will be implemented on January 1, 2024. (photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
THAI Airways International Public Company Limited, a state-owned airline, has introduced a new uniform concept for female flight attendants called “FROM PURPLE TO PURPOSE” This initiative is in line with the Zero Waste Living sustainable development policy and will be implemented from January 1, 2024.
(photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
Piyasvasti Amranand, Chairman of the Company’s Business Rehabilitation Plan Management Committee, announced this news together with Chansin Treenuchakorn, Director of the Business Rehabilitation Plan, and Chai Iamsiri, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and the management team on October 25.
(photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
Thai Airways’ new uniform for female flight attendants is made from a blend of traditional Thai silk and fibers derived from recycled materials, specifically PET plastic bottles left on planes. One uniform uses 54 PET plastic bottles. The fabric is made of 70% recycled plastic fibers and 30% Thai silk, which makes it more sustainable without significantly increasing production costs.
The new uniforms are designed to be distinctive, easy to maintain and flexible for practical use. They have also undergone safety testing to meet international standards.
Thai Airways’ new uniforms for female flight attendants is made from a blend of traditional Thai silk and fibers derived from recycled materials. (photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)(photo by Chavalit Panyong, Khaosod)
In a significant change, the company now allows its employees to wear the Thai uniform directly from home. This eliminates the previous practice of only being allowed to wear the Thai uniform on the plane.
This change represents a new dimension for Thai Airways as a national airline and offers people the opportunity to see Thai uniforms as part of soft power. Currently, 80 percent of Thai Airways’ passengers are international travelers and 20 percent are Thai nationals.
Aside from uniforms, the company has begun sustainable development in a wide range of sectors, including increasing efficiency and reducing the use of aviation fuel by providing services on modern aeroplanes and engines with low fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions, using the Single Engine Taxi technique, reducing load weight, and planning for the use of SAF-Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
An injured Palestinian man hugs an injured relative after being rescued following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops and tanks launched an hourslong ground raid into northern Gaza overnight into Thursday, the military said, striking several militant targets in order to “prepare the battlefield” ahead of a widely expected ground invasion after more than two weeks of devastating air raids.
The raid came after the U.N. warned it is on the verge of running out of fuel in the Gaza Strip, forcing it to sharply curtail relief efforts in the territory, which has also been under a complete siege since Hamas’ bloody rampage across southern Israel ignited the war earlier this month.
The rising death tolls in Gaza are unprecedented in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Even greater loss of life could come if Israel launches an expected ground offensive aimed at crushing Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and survived four previous wars with Israel.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said Wednesday that more than 750 people were killed over the past 24 hours, higher than the 704 killed the previous day. The Associated Press could not independently verify the death toll, and the ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. By comparison, 2,251 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed in the entire six-week-long war in 2014, according to U.N. figures.
On Wednesday, the wife, son and daughter of Wael Dahdouh, a veteran Al-Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, were killed in an Israeli strike. The Qatar-based satellite channel broadcast footage of his grief upon entering a hospital and peering over the body of his dead son.
The Israeli military says it only strikes militant targets and accuses Hamas of operating among civilians in densely-populated Gaza. Palestinian militants have fired rocket barrages into Israel since the war began.
During the overnight raid, soldiers killed fighters and destroyed militant infrastructure and anti-tank missile launching positions, the military said. It said no Israeli were wounded. There was no immediate confirmation of any Palestinian casualties.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a military spokesman, said the limited incursion was “part of our preparations for the next stages of the war.”
Israel also said it had also carried out some 250 airstrikes across Gaza in the last 24 hours, targeting tunnel shafts, rocket launchers and other militant infrastructure.
Palestinians evacuate two wounded boys out of the destruction following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
An airstrike on the southern town of Khan Younis hit a residential building where 75 people were staying, according to family members, including 25 who had fled other parts of Gaza. Ambulances streamed into the nearby Nasser Hospital, but there was no official word on casualties.
The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed in the war. That figure includes the disputed toll from an explosion at a hospital last week.
The fighting has killed more than 1,400 people in Israel, mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack, according to the Israeli government. Hamas also holds at least 224 hostages in Gaza.
The warning by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, over depleting fuel supplies raised alarm that the humanitarian crisis could quickly worsen.
Palestinians inspect the damage of destroyed buildings following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
Gaza’s population has also been running out of food, water and medicine. About 1.4 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have fled their homes, with nearly half of them crowded into U.N. shelters. Hundreds of thousands remain in northern Gaza, despite Israel ordering them to evacuate to the south, saying those who remain might be considered “accomplices” of Hamas.
In recent days, Israel let more than 60 trucks with aid enter from Egypt, which aid workers say is insufficient and only a tiny fraction of what was being brought in before the war. Israel is still barring deliveries of fuel — needed to power generators — saying it believes Hamas will take it.
An official with the International Committee of the Red Cross said it hopes to bring in eight trucks filled with vital medical supplies.
“This is a small amount of what is required, a drop in the ocean,” said William Schomburg, head of the sub-delegation in Gaza. “We are trying to establish a pipeline.”
UNRWA has been sharing its own fuel supplies so that trucks can distribute aid, bakeries can feed people in shelters, water can be desalinated, and hospitals can keep incubators, life support machines and other vital equipment working.
A Palestinian firefighter extinguishes a fire in a destroyed building following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled)
If it continues doing all of that, fuel will run out by Thursday, so the agency is deciding how to ration its supply, UNRWA spokeswoman Tamara Alrifai told The Associated Press.
“Do we give for the incubators or the bakeries?” she said. “It is an excruciating decision.”
More than half of Gaza’s primary health care facilities and roughly a third of its hospitals have stopped functioning, the World Health Organization said.
At Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, the lack of medicine and clean water have led to “alarming” infection rates, the group Doctors Without Borders said. Amputations are often required to prevent infection from spreading in the wounded, it said.
One surgeon with the group described amputating half the foot of a 9-year-old boy with only “slight sedation” on a hallway floor as his mother and sister watched.
Palestinian children wait in line for a food distribution in a displaced tent camp, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
The conflict has also threatened to spread across the region. The Israeli military said Wednesday it struck military sites in Syria in response to rocket launches from the country. Syrian state media said eight soldiers were killed and seven wounded.
Strikes in Syria also hit the airports of Aleppo and Damascus, in an apparent attempt to prevent arms shipments from Iran to militant groups, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Israel has been exchanging near daily fire with Iranian-backed Hezbollah across the Lebanese border.
Israeli airstrikes and drone attacks early Thursday caused fires in open land in the southern Lebanon border town of Aita al Shaab, where clashes have intensified, Lebanon’s state-run news agency said. It reported strikes late Wednesday on towns in the Tyre district, saying a mattress factory was hit.
Hamas’ surprise rampage on Oct. 7 in southern Israel stunned the country with its brutality, its unprecedented toll and the failure of intelligence agencies to know it was coming. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a speech Wednesday night that he will be held accountable, but only after Hamas was defeated.
“We will get to the bottom of what happened,” he said. “This debacle will be investigated. Everyone will have to give answers, including me.”
___
Sami Magdy reported from Cairo and Amy Teibel from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.
The four suspects are members of one family from Jordan.
On October 26, the police officers of Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, announced the arrest of four foreign nationals involved in a joint theft of a gold necklace at the Aurora gold store located inside Pantip Plaza Ngamwongwan branch on Ngamwongwan Road, Bang Khen District, Nonthaburi, which occurred on October 21 at 2:30 PM. The stolen property was a gold necklace worth approximately 290,000 Thai Baht.
The four suspects, all of whom are Jordanian citizens, are as follows:
1. Mr. Fahmi Jamal Fareed Hussein, 55 years old
2. Mrs. Thurayya Sharif Abdel-Khaleq Alabsi, 68 years old
3. Miss. Mariam Fathi Jamal Hussein, 40 years old
4. Mr. Mohammad Fathi Jamal Hussein, 24 years old
Police at Rattanathibet Police Station in Nonthaburi Province, Thailand, announced the arrest of four foreign nationals involved in a joint theft of a gold necklace at the Aurora gold store.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Jirasan Kaewsangaek, Acting Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 1, said the suspects entered the jewellery shop and inquired with the staff in English about the price of the gold chain to divert their attention. Meanwhile, the members of the group stole two gold chains weighing 3 baht and one gold chain weighing 2 baht. The person who was talking to the staff claimed that they wanted to exchange dollars to buy gold. Eventually, all four suspects fled together in a taxi.
The evidence that police seized from Jordanian suspects
Ms Sudarat Rachasak, a 24-year-old employee of the shop, stated that after noticing the theft, she checked the shop’s CCTV cameras and observed the group of foreigners committing the crime for about half an hour.
During the police investigation, it turned out that the suspects sold the 8-baht gold chain in a second-hand shop for about 190,000 Thai baht after the theft. They then exchanged the proceeds into US dollars, totalling $5,400, before being arrested by police at a rental flat in the Bang Sue area. Various currencies and clothing they had been wearing during the incident were found in their possession. As a result, all four suspects were charged with robbery and face a prison sentence of over 5 years.
Baht is a unit of weight measurement for Gold in Thailand where 1 Baht is equal to 15.244 grams in raw bullion form or 15.16 grams when it is sold as jewellery.
Bangkok October 25th 2023 – The power of shoppers can help make our world sustainable. Just by littering e-waste in the right place and in the right way, such as recycling one unused mobile phone can help reduce 12.6 kilograms of carbon dioxide and save five large trees.
Lately, True Corporation Plc. joins hands with Lotus’s for the 2nd consecutive year, forging ahead the “e-Waste TinkTookTee DTorJai” project, expanding e-Waste points available at 20 Lotus’s branches throughout Bangkok and the vicinity area.
All customers and the public are invited to litter their unused micro electrical devices which will be collected for recycling under an international standard. This reflects the common determination of two organizations aiming to manage waste in align with the circular economy policy and to achieve True Corporation’s Zero e-Waste to Landfill goal within 2030.
Mr. Chakkrit Urairat, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer (Acting), True Corporation Plc said that as a private sector being aware of conducting business sustainably and as one of Telecom-Tech Company’s missions, True Corporation emphasizes the importance on managing the environmental impacts from e-waste that must be disposed of correctly and according to the international standard.
True Corporation is, therefore, forging ahead to expand the “e-Waste TinkTookTee DTorJai” project, joining hands with leading partners continuously and this time with Lotus’s to invite customers and the public to be part of the mission in creating a sustainable world together.
“All can participate in reducing e-waste in a simple way and also access to the littering points more conveniently. Every piece of e-waste can be ensured that it will be recycled in a proper manner and 100% safe.”
Dr. Apiruk Detwarasiti, Sr. Director of Strategy and Business Support, Lotus’s said that “As Lotus’s conducts its retail business based on sustainability under the strategy “Vision 2030. Actions every day.”, covering all dimensions in the environmental, social and governance aspects (ESG). For the environmental aspect, we are pleased to continue the collaboration with True Corporation for the 2nd consecutive year in the “e-Waste TinkTookTee DTorJai” project.
This year, more littering points are available at 20 branches of Lotus’s in Bangkok and the vicinity area. Lotus’s is ready to be a medium in connecting people in the communities and support separating and recycling e-waste process under the international standard.”
The 20 e-waste littering points at Lotus’s branches comprise:
Bangkok: Fortune Town, Lat Phrao, Bang Kapi, Wang Hin, Sukhumvit 50, Ramindra, Sukhapiban 1, Seacon Square, Prachachuen, Lak Si, Liap Khlong 2, Pinklao, Bang Khae, Rama 2, Rama 3 and Rama 4, and Lotus’s Nawamin Head Office.
Nonthaburi: Rattanathibet, Bang Yai and Bang Kruai-Sai Noi.
In addition, customers and the public can join the “e-Waste TinkTookTee DTorJai” project by littering e-waste at 154 branches of True Shop, TrueSphere and dtac shop nationwide as well as at NBTC office on the 1st floor of Meeting Hall, Building 2 and Building 3.
Wittawat Kulwong, a 34-year-old Thai worker, still has scars from being stabbed in the head and slashed with a knife.
The Thai workers who survived and fled the conflict between Israel and Hamas have continuously recounted their harrowing experiences and the impact of the conflict on their lives, even though they were not on either side.
Wittawat Kulwong, a 34-year-old Thai worker, tells the story of his miraculous survival after a life-threatening encounter with Hamas militants. Wittawat had worked in Israel for over four years, and his wife’s hometown in Udon Thani province welcomed him back with a traditional celebration.
He told of the moment he faced death in battle against Hamas fighters. On that fateful morning, October 7, Hamas fighters entered the camp where both Israeli soldiers and civilians were staying. They began searching for Thai workers in the offices and chicken coops and shot at them indiscriminately.
Wittawat expressed his immense joy and relief upon returning to his family in Udon Thani.
Wittawat managed to hide in a small hut but was discovered when another group of Hamas fighters entered the scene. He was ordered to lie face down and put his hands behind the back of his head.
“At that moment I thought, ‘ fight back or not, I will die,’ so I decided to fight back. He had a knife, I had nothing. We fought for about 20 to 30 minutes. I was stabbed in the head. I pulled the knife off and continued to hit. I lost so much blood that I finally lost consciousness. Before I passed out, Hamas cut my throat. I guess he thought I was dead,” Wittawat recounted the incident.
He added that he regained consciousness around 5 p.m. and crawled into a safe room with his face covered in blood. When he crawled into the office of a fellow labourer, he knocked and asked for help. At that moment, he did not think he would survive.
A friend of Wittawat Kulwong, a Thai worker, filmed the video after he was attacked and treated in Israel.
Wittawat expressed his immense joy and relief upon returning to his wife and home in Udon Thani. He now plans to take some time to rest and spend time with his family before temporarily going into monkhood for his parents in Ubon Ratchathani.
He highlighted the importance of the Thai government assisting labourers with debt and offering guidance on various options for their future, as the risks associated with working in a war zone are substantial.
“I would advise the Thai workers who are still in Israel to return home first. They can then decide later whether they want to return or not. If the employers increase the wages for the workers, that is good, but if something happens, life in a war is not worth it,” Wittawat said.
According to the Ministry of Labour on October 25, 2023, Thai workers have returned to Thailand by 26 flights, totaling 4,296 people out of 8,478 people who requested to return.
Sririta Jensen Narongdej, a famous Thai-Danish actress, cried with joy on October 25 when she won a case against the person who manipulated and shared a fake video of her online.
Sririta Jensen Narongdej, a Thai-Danish actress, expressed her joy at winning a case against a person who had edited a misleading video of her and distributed it online. This incident had damaged her reputation and caused her considerable harm. After a legal battle that lasted two years, three months and 18 days and began on 7 July 2021, the court handed down its verdict.
The Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court read out the sentence on 25 October. The defendant was sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of 121,000 baht for various offenses related to computer laws, defamation by advertisement and other offenses. However, due to the defendant’s cooperation, the prison sentence was reduced to one year and the fine to 60,500 baht. The accused was also placed on probation for two years as he had not committed any previous offenses.
Sririta Jensen and Korn Narongdej, her husband, come to the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court on October 25, 2023.
After the court’s decision, Sririta thanked the court and her lawyer Saranya Wangsukcharoen for helping her get her rights. She mentioned that she had no intention of seeking revenge or causing trouble for anyone. Her main aim was to protect her own reputation and that of her family, especially that of her child. She did not want anyone to misunderstand the truth about her life because of false information and the resulting damage.
“I would like this case to serve as an example and lesson that actions like this can really affect people’s lives and should be carefully considered, whether they are intentional or not. I want people to realize that cybercrime affects people’s lives and destroys many people. This should not happen. I want society to know that there are laws and courts in our country,” she explained.
“I’d like this case to serve as an example and a lesson that actions like this can have a significant impact on people’s life,” said Sririta Jensen.
Her husband, Korn Narongdej, who was present at the trial, expressed relief and thanked the court process. He mentioned that his wife had suffered a lot during that time and the incident coincided with her pregnancy, causing considerable emotional distress. He was glad that it was finally clarified that the person in the video was not his wife and her name was completely cleared.
Sririta Jensen, 41, began her modelling and acting career when she was 13 years old. She gained stardom in Thailand as a Channel 3 television drama actress. She got more international attention after appearing in Split Second, a 2004 Hong Kong criminal thriller television drama produced by TVB and Thailand’s TV3.
In 2020, she married Korn Narongdej, a member of a prominent business family, and they have one son. Sririta is also a member of the Leading Women Fund of the UNHCR Thailand.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Drum Festival launched by Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, the most sought-after event of the programme presented by Chinachem Group was held with the aim of spreading the positive spirit through the power of drumming, and re- establishing the reputation of Hong Kong as the “events capital”.
Professor Yan Huichang, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Life, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, said: “HKCO will continue to bring musical feasts to the public and promoting fine Chinese and Hong Kong stories.”
“One Beat, One World: Connecting Through The Drum” Drum Carnival and 5G Live Music Concert took place grandly at the cultural landmark, West Kowloon Cultural District Art Park!
This signature event featured various exciting activities, like the setup of a giant 3.47-metre-tall Peace Drum for everyone to play, the stage performance made by the winning teams of the Hong Kong Synergy 24 Drum Competition, the parade performed by the drumming teams recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage of China, including Yan’anCity An’sai Waist Drum Troupe from Shaanxi province, Chengnan Zhongjing Yingge Team from Shantou, Guangdong province and Shanxi Jiangzhou Drum Troupe.
As an event of free admission, visitors also participated in and enjoyed a wide range of activities like drumming workshops, game booths, food and drink counters, for spending a happy weekend with friends and families.
The not-to-be-missed grand finale 5G live concert also showcased outstanding drum performances from around the world. Artistic Director Yan Huichang led the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in collaboration with renowned virtousi from all over the world, including Dori from the Republic of Korea, Yosuke Oda from Japan, Azaguno from Africa, Abbos Group from Uzbekistan and the world-famous Anthony Fernandes.
Each performance was a testament to the rich tapestry of drumming traditions from around the world, creating an unforgettable symphony of sound and cultural exchange. Taiko, the Japanese drumming ensemble, brought a powerful and emotive performance that resonated with the audience on a profound level; Samul nori, a captivating traditional Korean percussion genre.
The distinctive features of Samul nori lie in its powerful rhythms, energetic body movements, and spirited performance; and the Abbos Percussion Group from Uzbekistan, engaged with the audience, elevating the overall atmosphere. Among them, the erhu player performed a segment of Cantonese Opera – ‘The Floral Princess,’ much to the delight and surprise of the audience.
The concert was live-streamed worldwide through 5G technology, attracted 16,000 of both the live audience and online viewers to immerse themselves in the passionate and thrilling world of percussion.
The pulsating beats on stage uplifted spirits, creating an exhilarating atmosphere. Live audience members received Brown Drums for interactive play with the orchestra and percussionists, marking the concert with the most passionate and dynamic finale.
In this aerial photo, responders are seen near wreckage in the aftermath of a multi-vehicle pileup on I-55 in Manchac, La., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Crews worked into Tuesday morning clearing the wreckage of more than 150 vehicles involved in a series of crashes the day before on Interstate 55 near New Orleans caused by a “super fog” of marsh fire smoke and dense fog that killed at least seven people and injured another 25.
Lance Scott was among the many drivers caught in the wreckage. The 51-year-old had been driving his daughter to the airport when the fog thickened, as if a “white-out on a ski slope.” He slammed on his brakes, narrowly, avoiding the cars in front of him — but from behind he heard “the most horrendous clank of metal.”
In this aerial photo, responders are seen near wreckage in the aftermath of a multi-vehicle pileup on I-55 in Manchac, La., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
“It was, ’Bang. Bang. Bang.’ It just went on… for probably 45 seconds,” Scott said. “As every second went by the clanking of the metal got a little bit fainter, which told me it was backing up — so I knew there was layers and layers of collisions.”
Scott turned to his 24-year-old daughter, an intensive care unit nurse, and said to her, “There’s going to be a lot of people who need help and I need you to go out and do what you do.”
With the ominous sounds of crackling fire in the background and the fog slowly lifting to reveal the extent of the crash, Scott and his daughter helped people out of their cars, some of whom noticeably had broken collarbones and one had to wait for first responders to bring the Jaws of Life.
An estimated 158 vehicles were involved in Monday morning’s crashes, according to the Louisiana State Police, who warned Monday night the death toll could climb as first responders looked for victims, the smell of burnt wreckage still heavy in the air.
In this aerial photo, responders are seen near wreckage in the aftermath of a multi-vehicle pileup on I-55 in Manchac, La., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The crashes began before 9 a.m. Monday along a one-mile span of the elevated interstate, which passes over swamp and open water between Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, Louisiana State Police Sgt. Kate Stegall said in a news briefing. Parts of the highway reopened Tuesday afternoon.
The crashes left a long stretch of mangled and scorched cars, trucks and tractor-trailers. Vehicles were crushed, piled atop each other and engulfed by flames. Some people got out of their vehicles and stood on the side of the road or on the roofs of their cars looking in disbelief at the disaster, while others cried out for help.
Scott said there was “great camaraderie” as people sprang into action to help others. With drivers warning others about a nearby fire from the crash, people moved away from the wreckage as they waited for 45 minutes for paramedics to reach them and for transportation off the bridge.
Clarencia Patterson Reed, 46, was driving to Manchac with her wife and niece and saw people waving for her to stop, but once she stopped, two other vehicles hit her car from behind and the side, she told The Associated Press. Patterson Reed escaped from her side of the car, but her wife was pinned inside with an injured leg and side. Others stepped in to help, she said.
“I just thank God,” she said. “There was a casualty a few cars ahead of us.”
Another driver Christopher Coll, said he was already braking when a pickup truck “drove up on top of my work trailer and took me for a ride.”
Workers remove heavily damaged vehicles from Interstate 55 near Manchac, La., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. (Brett Duke/The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate via AP)
Coll could smell smoke as he heard the sounds of crashing cars and popping tires. He was able to kick open his passenger door to escape and then helped others — pulling out one person through a car window.
School buses were summoned to transport stranded motorists from the accident sites. Additionally, at least 25 people were brought to the hospital, with injuries ranging from minor to critical, others sought medical aid on their own, authorities said.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards asked for prayers “for those hurt and killed” Monday and issued a call for blood donors to replenish dwindling supplies.
A “superfog” of smoke from south Louisiana marsh fires and dense morning fog caused multiple traffic crashes involving scores of cars. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Monday afternoon, state troopers were still working “to notify families, investigate the exact causes of the crashes,” Louisiana State Police said.
By Tuesday morning, crews were removing the final group of vehicles and began a surface cleanup of the area, authorities said. State Police were coordinating with the state’s transportation department to have the bridge inspected.
The National Weather Service said there were multiple wetland fires in the region Monday and smoke from the fires mixed with fog to create a “super fog.”
Hazardous driving conditions Tuesday morning prompted several schools in the area to close or delay, as tow trucks continued to haul debris off of the interstate.
