Photo taken on June 18, 2023, shows a bus (R) and a truck damaged in a crash that killed five people in Yakumo, Hokkaido, northern Japan. (Kyodo)
SUPPORO – There were no skid marks at the scene of a fatal collision between a truck and a bus in Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, suggesting the truck’s driver may not have hit the brakes, police said Tuesday, as they investigate whether the goods vehicle was the cause of the crash.
The police are investigating the truck’s owner, pig farming company Nippon Clean Farm Ltd., on suspicion of negligence over the accident, which killed the drivers of both vehicles and three bus passengers.
They searched an office in Hokkaido used by the Aomori Prefecture-based company on Monday, seizing documents related to working conditions.
The collision is believed to have occurred after the 4-ton truck strayed into oncoming traffic, hitting the bus head-on at a light bend on a two-way road in Yakumo, southern Hokkaido, around noon on Sunday.
The police on Monday checked the conditions on the road and found that there were no skid marks at the scene of the accident, suggesting that the truck driver did not attempt to stop the vehicle, or was unable to, and hit the bus at speed.
According to Nippon Clean Farm, the 65-year-old truck driver Makoto Kajiya was an experienced delivery driver with a clean record, who had stayed with the company past its retirement age of 60.
He began work at around 6:30 a.m. on the day of the accident and vehicle checkups were also carried out. Records of Kajiya’s work over the last three months did not show he was overworked, and the company was not aware of any health issues Kajiya had, President Hiroaki Yoshihara told reporters on Monday.
Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a bus and truck after a collision that killed five people in Yakumo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on June 18, 2023. Pigs were thrown from the truck in the incident that occurred as they were being transported to a slaughterhouse in Yakumo. (Kyodo)
Acknowledging that the dashcam footage showed the truck crossing the road’s centerline before hitting the bus, Yoshihara also apologized for the accident.
The three passengers who died were all believed to have been sitting in the front area of the bus, which was smashed in the collision. The bus operated by Hokuto Kotsu Inc. was heading from the prefectural capital Sapporo to Hakodate and was carrying 15 passengers at the time of the accident.
The scene of the accident, Route 5, is where the local government had warned of risks of head-on collisions and other fatal accidents. Its website has also cautioned drivers to be careful about dozing off on the road, as Route 5 continues in a straight line for long periods.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Monday, June 19, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)
BEIJING (MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met on Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping and said they agreed to “stabilize” badly deteriorated U.S.-China ties, but America’s top diplomat left Beijing with his biggest ask rebuffed: better communications between their militaries.
After meeting Xi, Blinken said China is not ready to resume military-to-military contacts, something the U.S. considers crucial to avoid miscalculation and conflict, particularly over Taiwan.
Yet Blinken and Xi pronounced themselves satisfied with progress made during the two days of talks, without pointing to specific areas of agreement beyond a mutual decision to return to a broad agenda for cooperation and competition endorsed last year year by Xi and President Joe Biden at a summit in Bali.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Monday, June 19, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)
And, it remained unclear if those understandings can resolve their most important disagreements, many of which have international implications. Still, both men said they were pleased with the outcome of the highest-level U.S. visit to China in five years.
The two sides expressed a willingness to hold more talks, but there was little indication that either is prepared to bend from positions on issues including trade, Taiwan, human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong, Chinese military assertiveness in the South China Sea, and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Blinken said later that the U.S. set limited objectives for the trip and achieved them. He told reporters before leaving for a Ukraine reconstruction conference in London that he had raised the issue of military to military communications “repeatedly.”
“It is absolutely vital that we have these kinds of communications,” he said. “This is something we’re going to keep working on.”
The U.S. has said that, since 2021, China has declined or failed to respond to over a dozen requests from the Department of Defense for top-level dialogues.
According to a transcript of the meeting with Blinken, Xi said he was pleased with the outcome of Blinken’s earlier meetings with top Chinese diplomats and said restarting the Bali agenda were of great importance.
“The Chinese side has made our position clear, and the two sides have agreed to follow through the common understandings President Biden and I had reached in Bali,” Xi said.
That agenda had been thrown into jeopardy in recent months, notably after the U.S. shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon over its airspace in February, and amid escalated military activity in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. Combined with other disputes over human rights, trade and opiate production, the list of problem areas is daunting.
But Xi suggested the worst could be over.
“The two sides have also made progress and reached agreement on some specific issues,” Xi said without elaborating, according to a transcript of the remarks released by the State Department. “This is very good.”
In his remarks to Xi during the 35-minute session at the Great Hall of the People, a meeting that was expected but not announced until an hour before it started, Blinken said “the United States and China have an obligation and responsibility to manage our relationship.”
“The United States is committed to doing that,” Blinken said. “It’s in the interest of the United States, in the interests of China, and in the interest of the world.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Monday, June 19, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)
Blinken described his earlier discussions with senior Chinese officials as “candid and constructive.”
Despite the symbolism of his presence in China, Blinken and other U.S. officials had played down the prospects for any significant breakthroughs on the most vexing issues facing the planet’s two largest economies.
Instead, these officials have emphasized the importance of the two countries establishing and maintaining better lines of communication.
Thus, China’s refusal to resume the military-to-military contacts was a hitch.
“Progress is hard,” Blinken told reporters. “It takes time, it takes more than one visit.”
Blinken’s trip is expected to herald a new round of visits by senior U.S. and Chinese officials to each other’s countries, possibly including a meeting between Xi and Biden in India or the U.S in the coming months.
Before meeting with Xi, Blinken met earlier Monday with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi for about three hours, an encounter that produced a harsh assessment of the talks.
China’s foreign ministry said “it is necessary to make a choice between dialogue or confrontation, cooperation or conflict.” It blamed the “U.S. side’s erroneous perception of China, leading to incorrect policies towards China” for the current “low point” in relations.
And, it said the U.S. bore responsibility for halting “the spiraling decline of China-U.S. relations to push it back to a healthy and stable track.” It added that Wang had “demanded that the U.S. stop hyping up the ‘China threat theory,’ lift illegal unilateral sanctions against China, abandon suppression of China’s technological development, and refrain from arbitrary interference in China’s internal affairs.”
In it’s readout of the meeting, the State Department said Blinken “underscored the importance of responsibly managing the competition between the United States and the PRC through open channels of communication to ensure competition does not veer into conflict,” using the acronym for the People’s Republic of China.
In the first round of talks on Sunday, Blinken met for nearly six hours with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, after which both countries said they had agreed to continue high-level discussions.
Both the U.S. and China said Qin had accepted an invitation from Blinken to visit Washington but Beijing made clear that “the China-U.S. relationship is at the lowest point since its establishment.” That sentiment is widely shared by U.S. officials.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, second left, meets with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, second right, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, Monday, June 19, 2023. (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)
Blinken’s visit came after his initial plans to travel to China were postponed in February after the shootdown of a Chinese surveillance balloon over the U.S.
In his meetings, Blinken also pressed the Chinese to release detained American citizens and to take steps to curb the production and export of fentanyl precursors that are fueling the opioid crisis in the United States.
Since the cancellation of Blinken’s trip in February, there have been some high-level engagements. CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while China’s commerce minister traveled to the U.S. And Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with senior Chinese foreign policy adviser Wang Yi in Vienna in May.
But those have been punctuated by bursts of angry rhetoric from both countries over the Taiwan Strait, their broader intentions in the Indo-Pacific, China’s refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and U.S. allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.
And, earlier this month, China’s defense minister rebuffed a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore, a sign of continuing discontent.
People visit the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, June 7, 2023. Datong, with a history of over 2,000 years, is one of China's ancient capitals. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)
DATONG, Shanxi, (Xinhua) – From a frontier land between agricultural communities and nomadic tribes to a major city in north China bearing the name “Great Harmony;” and from a coal-polluted industrial hub to a pristine tourist magnet with countless historical treasures, Datong spins a yarn of openness, resilience, and innovation.
Present-day Datong is a city in north China’s Shanxi Province that once powered China’s economic take-off with a huge output of coal.
It is now blazing new trails for growth by tapping into its 2,000-plus-year history and over 3,000 pieces of immovable cultural relics, amid a nationwide renewed interest in traditional culture. The changes have also impacted many locals’ lives.
Riding a tourist boom of Datong, Lu Xin (stage name A Lang), a 36-year-old electrician-turned-singer, can afford to make writing and singing songs about the city his full-time job. Day in and day out, he draws inspiration from tidbits of his life in Datong, and more importantly, from the rich cultural heritage of the city.
Sandwiched between two winding sections of the Great Wall, and situated at the easternmost tip of the Silk Road during the 5th century, Datong is destined to be a hub where diverse ethnic groups from north China, as well as Chinese and foreigners, can engage in cultural interactions.
Its distinct geography and history have contributed to the unique ethos of the city — openness and inclusivity. Yao Zijin, a local culture specialist, said Datong stands as an epitome of the history of the multi-ethnic and unified Chinese nation coming into shape.
Two historical events set monumental examples for generations to come.
As early as 2,330 years ago, King Wuling, ruler of Zhao State where the modern-day Datong was located during China’s Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC), feared that the flapping robes Zhao commanders and soldiers wore could be a hindrance to military forces. The ruler initiated a military reform that is now encapsulated in a four-character idiom namely “Wearing the Hu-styled attire and shooting from horseback.”
By adopting a much tighter attire that suited the horse-riding needs of nomadic ethnic groups (generally categorized as Hu back then) and training the calvary horseback archery, King Wuling’s reforms greatly improved the fighting capabilities of the Zhao military. However, this change came with a fair share of pushback.
The event served as a curtain-raiser for greater interaction and mutual learning between different ethnic groups inhabiting the ancient Datong region. King Wuling’s mausoleum is now a cultural heritage site in Datong.
Datong’s ancient glory reached its apex when Pingcheng (an ancient name of the city) became the capital of the Xianbei-founded Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). Rulers of the Xianbei ethnic group settled in the Datong region and decided to learn from Han Chinese by adopting their family names, speaking their language, and wearing Han-style clothing.
Nowhere are the signs of such mutual learning, blending and mixing more visible than in the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site featuring over 50,000 pieces of stone Buddhist sculptures in Datong, built largely during the Northern Wei Dynasty.
A technician with the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute maintains a piece of relics at the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, north China’s Shanxi Province, May 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)
Architectures encompassing not only Chinese style but also featuring elements of Indian and even Greek design are found in the caves of Yungang. Sculptures that feature musical scenes in 24 caves offer a kaleidoscope of musical instruments ranging from Han Chinese style Zithers and flutes, horns of the Xianbei ethnic group, waist-affixed drums of the Qiuci State, to Persian style harps.
Yuan Xiaozhong, 55, has witnessed the vicissitudes the Grottoes survived in half a century. Born in the Yungang Village adjacent to the Grottoes, Yuan now heads the monitoring department of the research institute of Yungang Grottoes.
“By delving deeper into the Grottoes, I became increasingly convinced that the splendid Chinese civilization was jointly created by people from various ethnic groups. It was the mutual learning between different cultures that sustained and invigorated Chinese culture, and that is also the wellspring of our cultural confidence,” he said.
TRANSFORMATION
Fast-forward to the modern era. Datong, a city once heavily-reliant on coal mining, has diversified its industrial mix by embracing cleaner industries including modern medicines, general aviation, new materials, new energy, and above all, the cultural and tourism industry.
Since the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, Datong has contributed a total output of over three billion tonnes of coal, however, heavy pollution has been an inconvenient by-product of coal production.
Yuan Xiaozhong recalled the city was once woefully polluted to the point that Buddha sculptures in Yungang Grottoes were joked about by locals as draped with black cassocks.
The city then embarked on protection and renovation projects on its cultural heritage sites, as well as an environmental face-lift. Over the past decade, the share of the non-coal industry in the city’s industrial mix rose by 10 percentage points.
From 2012 to 2019, the aggregate revenue of Datong’s tourism industry skyrocketed from about 16.28 billion yuan (about 2.28 billion U.S. dollars) to 76.21 billion yuan, and the number of tourist visits from about 18.9 million to 83.97 million.
Today, a coal mine across a river from the Yungang Grottoes was retrofitted into a coal-themed national park, where visitors are shuttled in mine carts down to below 150 meters underground, clad in miners’ uniforms, to learn closely about the 140-million-year-old fossil fuel.
Wei Min, 23, a daughter of a coal miner, now works here as an in-house tour guide. “I am working with my father in the same place, but for totally different industries,” she said.
The restoration of Datong ancient city, which commenced in 2008, provided another tourist attraction. The city wall inspired the local singer Lu Xin. Watching the sunset from the city wall and listening to wind chimes tinkling, Lu found himself in dialogue with the city, past and present.
Thanks to the boom of local tourism, Lu’s band managed to stage scores of shows every year, vis-a-vis only a little more than a dozen of shows a year in the past. Going forward, Lu said, “I plan to launch the immersive kind of street shows on a regular basis, telling my Datong stories to a greater audience.”
The boom came amid burgeoning interest in traditional Chinese culture across the country, particularly among young folks. Overcrowded cultural venues are everywhere to be seen in the city.
Visitors take photos on the ancient city wall in Datong, north China’s Shanxi Province, June 8, 2023. (Xinhua/Yang Chenguang)
A Great-Wall-themed photography exhibition held in Datong’s Nianxia arts center drew long lines of visitors. Stores selling creative souvenirs are packed with tourists. The dance performance that tries to capture the beauty of a smiling Buddha sculpture in the Huayan Monastery, another cultural heritage site in Datong, also gained popularity.
Tourists flocked to Datong and shared on social media how they were marveled by this previously “underrated” city. In a video uploaded by a woman from Beijing who called herself yuanxiaozhuAndy on lifestyle-sharing social media platform Xiaohongshu, the narrator said, “Datong is a living history of Chinese architecture and a rare feast to the eyes.”
Expressing his affection for the city with singing, Lu Xin hums, “In the moonlight of Datong, past and present meet and drift apart, numerous heroes come and go, the aroma of spirit wafting in breeze and dreams.
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Tian Ying, Wang Xuetao, Chai Hailiang reported from Datong.
A card printing, which asked participants for their thoughts on Patani's legal independence.
On June 19, the eight coalition parties met for the second time at the Prachachat Party headquarters to discuss the 100-day roadmap plan of the new government for the three southern border provinces.
Building peace in the three southern border provinces is one of the new government’s major priorities after a lengthy conflict that has raged constantly since 2004.
A lengthy conflict that has raged in the deep south provinces of Thailand.
The meeting took place after Thai security authorities stepped up and sought to legally prosecute a group of university students under the name “National Student Movement” who had organized a keynote speech on the theme: Determining our own future with the peace of Patani on June 7 at the Faculty of Political Science, Pattani University.
At this event, there was an academic discussion in which politicians from the government-forming party took part. The contentious activity was card printing, which asked participants for their thoughts on Patani’s legal independence.
As a result, Lt. Gen. Santi Sakultanak, Commander of the 4th Army and Director of Internal Security in Region 4, said all authorities agreed that the incident had the potential to violate the law. He then instructed the authorities involved to search for witnesses and evidence to prosecute all suspects with thorough and transparent procedures.
Lt. Gen. Santi Sakultanak,
Some academics and the media, however, see the attempt to reintroduce secession from the old power as an attempt to erase the real problems. They pointed out that the eight parties involved in forming a new government have a clear common policy to reduce the role of the army in the three southern border provinces and restore peaceful negotiations.
“The Thai authorities have refused to accept racial and linguistic diversity in the past. The Thai authorities also blamed separatist guerrillas for the unrest in the region. It has been shown that an aggressive policy of putting state budgets into the front line of soldiers and weapons has so far achieved nothing,” an article in Khaosod daily newspaper pointed out.
The 24th Yarang District Relations Tadika was held on June 17, 2023, in Pattani Province.
The new coalition government has insisted that they want the authorities to accept the diversity of races, religions, languages and cultures that make up the identity of the people in the area. They want to apply the existing approach of special administration, not that of secession.
When asked if the coalition was concerned about this issue that would derail the new administration, Ramadon Panjor, the incoming Move Forward Party MP, said it was not surprising because there are numerous issues, not just in the south, with such intent right now.
Ramadon Panjor, the incoming Move Forward Party MP,
“We are told to be cautious, but while we are entirely focused on preparing for the new government, we must listen to all parties,” Ramadan said.
Thawee Sodsong, general secretary of the Prachachat Party, which won the elections in the region, said all political parties involved in the new government formation will send people to the areas to find a peaceful and sustainable way to respond to the real problems of the people in the region.
Thai police have again come under suspicion of taking bribes from illegal businesses. This time, the suspect is the provincial police commander. He was alleged to say, “How Deep Is Your Love? Write it down” (the amount of money).
This new case stems from 6 members of an online gambling website called Foxbet 168 complaining to police officers at Khu Khot police station in Pathum Thani province that Chonburi police chief Pol. Maj. Gen. Kumpol Leelaprapaporn together with his other police officers and allies, a total of 10 people, were demanding their money amounting to 140 million baht.
The police searched the home of Thaninwat Udomchate, or Pae at Sento Village, Soi Nong Rahaeng 4, Sam Wa West Subdistrict, Khlong Sam Wa District, Bangkok.
Consequently, Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, deputy national police chief in charge of the case, said that a total of 9 suspects have acknowledged the allegations, including the Chonburi police commander. Of these suspects, all the lower-ranking police officers have confessed to the allegations and revealed important information.
The investigation shows suspicious behaviour by the arrest team. It was found that the police did not take the suspects to the local police station after their arrest, but to the Chonburi police chief’s room for interrogation.
As for the arrest warrant, it was noted that the application for the warrant was withdrawn after receiving the bribe: It was claimed to the court that the spy had given false information.
Maj. Gen. Kumpol Leelaprapaporn
Thaninwat Udomchate, or Pae, the owner of the gambling website, claimed that Maj. Gen. Kumpol handed over the piece of paper while speaking to him: “How much do you love the boss, Pae? Write it down, Pae.” But he did not write or answer.
Maj. Gen. Kumpol, on the other hand, denied saying the words.
All suspects are charged with 3 counts: Section 157, failing to perform duties or performing duties dishonestly; Section 149, unlawfully demanding, accepting or agreeing to property or other benefits; and Section 309, coercing another person to do or refrain from doing something by causing the person to fear that there is danger to the life, body, liberty, reputation or property of the person oppressed.
A clip recorded by the police from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau while inspecting Pae’s house in the Khan Na Yao area.
This week, the investigation team of Pol. Lt. Gen. Surachate will investigate the financial transactions of “Boy” Veera Nasub, the online gambling website suspect who transferred money to the police. The team will work closely with the Anti-Money Laundering Bureau to seize Boy’s assets, which are known to be more than 1 billion baht, including houses, land, boats, cars, with a short sum of 200 to 300 million baht. Boy has to explain how he got the money.
However, it is reported that Boy has fled out of the country through the immigration checkpoint, Suvarnabhumi Airport with the destination of Singapore.
Maurice Lacroix is pleased to unveil the new PONTOS S Diver, a watch that’s not afraid of getting its hair wet. Revisiting the first generation model of 2013, the Jura-based brand has created a divers’ watch incorporating numerous enhancements while still retaining the spirit of the inaugural model, especially its iconic design.
During the development phase, the Swiss marque turned to ML Crew member, Lidija Lijić, a world champion freediver who holds the record for staying underwater for 5 minutes and 43 seconds. Lidija inhabits a world of extremes, exploring the limits of human performance, which made her the ideal person to put the watch through its paces.
In 2013, Maurice Lacroix released its first generation PONTOS S Diver. However, a few years later, the Jura-based brand ceased producing the model in order to focus its attention on making the highly successful AIKON. Subsequently, the company received numerous requests for the divers’ watch to be reissued. Acceding to these requests, Maurice Lacroix is pleased to unveil a new version of the PONTOS S Diver that incorporates a number of improvements while still retaining the spirit of the inaugural model.
Indeed, while this model is new, it subscribes to the same proven design language and perpetuates the brand’s fondness for urban-inspired styling. Moreover, consistent with other Maurice Lacroix creations, the new PONTOS S Diver is expertly crafted in the company’s Swiss Manufacture and delivers high perceived value: Maurice Lacroix believes that some things should never change!
The Swiss watch firm turned to ML Crew member and world champion freediver Lidija Lijić for her input when developing the latest PONTOS S Diver. This versatile athlete regularly ventures into warm seas but also enjoys diving beneath the ice in the Himalayas. Her life is one of courage and enduring commitment to tough, consistent training, and more, as you also have to work on your mental strength to keep pushing boundaries. Self-control, concentration and confidence… Freediving is not without its risks and it requires great aplomb.
Stéphane Waser, Managing Director of Maurice Lacroix remarks, “When developing this latest PONTOS S Diver, we were keen to retain the spirit of the first generation model, but push the performance envelope with various product enhancements. As an ML Crew member, it seemed logical to ask Lidija Lijić to test the new model…exploring its full potential, deep underwater. While I was already aware of her achievements and immense talent, I was struck by her sheer dedication, not only to her sport, but in everything she does. She proved the perfect test pilot for this divers’ watch which is water resistant to 30 ATM. Lidija also informs us that the watch makes a strong statement on dry land too!”
Housed in a 42mm case, the watch is available in a choice of stainless steel or, for the first time, bronze. The hour and minute hands are facetted and lined with Super-LumiNova®. Moreover, the minute hand is endued with a coloured border. The hours are denoted with applied indexes and, once again, lined with luminescent treatment. Subtle changes to the original dial design include making the indexes and minute markings crisper and more prominent. Likewise, the date is framed with a raised border, making it stand out from the rest of the dial. Each detail is optimised to deliver peerless readability.
A dedicated crown, positioned at 2 o’clock, provides the wearer with the means to adjust the internal rotating bezel. Featuring a count-up scale, the rotating bezel is a useful way of measuring the elapsed time spent underwater. The watch also features a centre seconds hand and a date display at 6 o’clock. A second crown, located at 3 o’clock, adjusts the various indications and can also be used to manually wind the movement.
This latest PONTOS S Diver is offered in a number of variants. Steel models come with a choice of black grained or white lacquered dial options. The bronze model, limited to just 500 pieces, is paired with a sumptuous blue grained dial. The aforementioned crown at 2 o’clock is enlivened with a colour-coordinating circlet, ensuring it remains visible when underwater.
The automatic ML115 calibre sits at the heart of the PONTOS S Diver, obviating the need for manual winding when worn. The bronze version comes supplied with two straps, one in vintage dark blue leather, incorporating the company’s M-logo, and a second in dark blue rubber embossed with ‘Maurice Lacroix’.
For the launch, the steel models are supplied with three colour-coordinating straps: an M-branded fabric strap and two rubber straps incorporating Maurice Lacroix branding, presented in relief. The watch is equipped with the company’s Easy Strap Exchange System, providing a simple, user-friendly means of swapping the strap for an alternative without the need for tools.
The PONTOS S Diver is back and it’s better than ever! The model is the product of teamwork, inspired by Lidija’s search for improved performance, and has been tested in the most extreme conditions. It’s ideally suited to underwater exploration while also being the perfect accompaniment to city life.
For more information and pre-order, contact Maurice Lacroix Boutique 02-853-9742 or LINE Official Account @MauriceLacroixTH https://lin.ee/TYO5J3F
In this April 22, 2021, file photo, flags of some of the ASEAN member countries fly at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Tatan Syuflana / AP File
BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand on Monday will host a meeting of neighboring countries to discuss the violent political deadlock in Myanmar, an initiative that has been criticized for potentially undermining regional peace efforts and for being carried out by a caretaker government.
A statement released Sunday by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the purpose of its informal dialogue, being hosted by Thailand for the third time, is to discuss a range of topics to complement the efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to resolve the situation in Myanmar.
It said it will be attended by representatives from Laos, Cambodia, India, China, Brunei and Vietnam, as well as Myanmar — a highly contentious issue because ASEAN leaders had agreed to exclude the ruling generals from their meetings.
Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore are among ASEAN members not attending the meeting. They’re among those pushing hardest for more pressure on Myanmar’s military government to implement moves toward peace.
Myanmar’s crisis began after its military in February 2021 seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The takeover prompted widespread public protests, whose violent suppression by security forces triggered an armed resistance that now spans much of the country.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo, whose country chairs ASEAN this year, acknowledged to his fellow leaders at a summit last month that no progress had been made to end the civil strife, and renewed a call for an end to the violence.
ASEAN, of which Myanmar is a member, two years ago agreed on a five-point plan that includes a call for an immediate stop to killings and other violence and the start of a national dialogue. However, the country’s military rulers, though initially accepting the plan, have made little effort to implement it.
ASEAN subsequently declared that Myanmar was not welcome to send senior members of its military government to regional meetings because of its failure to cooperate with the plan. However, at Thailand’s invitation, its foreign minister is due to attend Monday’s meeting.
A Malaysian government statement Sunday said its foreign minister, Zambry Abdul Kadir, would not be able to attend “due to prior commitments,” but went on to emphasize that ASEAN’s peace plan “remained ASEAN’s valid reference and mandate in addressing the Myanmar issue.”
It said it was “important that ASEAN demonstrates its unity in support of the ASEAN Chair and ASEAN processes which are in line with the mandate and decisions made by the ASEAN leaders.”
Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai in media interviews on Sunday defended the meeting, saying it aims to give Myanmar an opportunity to provide an update on its situation. Thailand did not organize it on behalf of ASEAN, and an open invitation was sent out to all nations that might be interested in hearing from Myanmar, Don said.
“Dialogue is a fundamental requirement of diplomacy in seeking out peaceful solutions. As a neighboring country that shares a 2,400 km long border with Myanmar, Thailand wants to see cessation of violence which will eventually lead to peace and stability inside Myanmar,” the Thai foreign ministry statement said.
The foreign ministry statement did not say where the meeting would be held, but the Bangkok Post newspaper cited Don as saying it would be held in the eastern seaboard resort city of Pattaya.
Myanmar groups opposed to military rule blasted the meeting plans.
A statement signed by representatives of more than 300 civil society organizations called it ”a complete affront to the people of Myanmar who have sacrificed their lives to resist the Myanmar military’s attempt to seize power through years-long terror campaign against the whole nation.”
“We demand the caretaker Thai Government cancels this meeting immediately,” said the statement, also calling on other representatives to stay away.
Some Thai critics also questioned why the meeting was suddenly called, even as the current caretaker government would likely be replaced by August by opposition parties that won May elections.
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of progressive Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in Parliament, has suggested that his government would take a tougher stance on Myanmar than the current administration of retired general Prayuth Chan-ocha. Prayuth, who has been in power since he led a coup to seize power from an elected civilian government in 2014, has been criticized for his friendly position towards Myanmar’s military leaders.
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Jintamas Saksornchai reported from Bangkok. Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia contributed to this report.
BANGKOK (AP) — An earthquake was recorded off the southern coast of Myanmar on Monday with tremors also felt in Thailand, but there were no immediate reports of major damage.
The 5.1 magnitude quake was recorded about 152 kilometers (95 miles) south of Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, at 10 kilometers (6 miles) below the surface at 8:10 a.m., according to Myanmar’s meteorology department.
Thailand’s meteorological department reported the earthquake as 6.0 magnitude at 8:40 a.m. and said tremors were felt in the capital Bangkok and nearby Nonthaburi province, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) from the epicenter.
The United States Geological Survey measured the earthquake at 5.6 magnitude.
Different agencies often have different preliminary measurements for earthquakes.
Many people in high-rise buildings in Bangkok reported feeling the tremors for 15 to 30 seconds, according to the public report section of the Thai government’s Earthquake Observation Division website.
There were no immediate reports of any significant damage or casualties.
The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) launches a major project through Business Development System (BDS) “SME WoW! Cash Return!” released the campaign “Pay Ten Thousand, Get Nine Thousand Back”
From now until 30th November 20233, the OSMEP accelerated additional subsidies for MSMEs under the BDS project or “SME WoW! Cash Return” and organized the “Pay Ten Thousand, Get Nine Thousand Back” campaign for MSMEs of all sizes, proportionally subsidized at 90% or with a limit of up to 10,000 baht for the first 5,000 MSMEs.
Mr. Veerapong Malai, Director General of the OSMEP, revealed that the mission is to integrate and promote MSMEs in public and private sectors so that MSMEs can grow and compete internationally. One of the ways to promote entrepreneurship is through the BDS system or ” SME WoW! Cash Return”. To offer a competitive edge for MSMEs, the government’s continuous project is in line with the campaign so that they can compete in various sectors.
The Director General of the OSMEP also stated that the BDS project originally subsidized micro enterprises that are juristic persons or natural persons who are registered to do business with government agencies. SME-GPs with the income not exceeding 1.8 million baht per year at 80% but not exceeding 50,000 baht, while small enterprises in the manufacturing sector with the annual income not exceeding 100 million baht and other sectors not exceeding 50 million baht per year receive subsidies at 80 % but not exceeding 100,000 baht. Medium-sized Enterprises, which are juristic persons, in the manufacturing sector, those with the income not exceeding 500 million baht per year and other sectors not exceeding 300 million baht per year receive subsidies at 50%, but not more than 200,000 baht.
Mr. Malai added that MSMEs of all sizes, juristic persons or individuals registered to do business with government agencies (SME-GP), both micro enterprises with the income not exceeding 1.8 million baht per year, small enterprises in the manufacturing sector with the income not exceeding 100 million baht per year and other sectors not exceeding 50 million baht per year, and medium-sized enterprises in the manufacturing sector with the income not exceeding 500 million baht per year and other sectors not exceeding 300 million baht per year will receive subsidies at 90% but not exceeding 10,000 baht under the “Pay Ten Thousand, Get Nine Thousand Back ” campaign, which provides subsidies for the first 5,000 MSMEs from now until September 30th, 2023 in the amount of 50 million baht. All the information of the latest income data obtained from the OSMEP itself, Department of Business Development, or the Revenue Department will be cross-checked.
“The OSMEP continues to work with partner agencies such as the SME Thai Association and the Thai Accounting Firms Association to find ways to support as many MSMEs as possible. It is amazing that the “Pay Ten Thousand, Get Nine Thousand Back ” campaign could subsidize 5,000 additional entrepreneurs in the technology application services business such as Cloud, AI, ERP, POS and financial accounting services such as accounting systems and management. Such a privilege is an additional privilege on top of twice a year/person/fiscal year with a total limit not exceeding 500,000 baht/person.” added Mr. Malai.
“Currently, BDS has 131 Business Service Providers (BDSPs) providing 220 services on its website, while 5,475 entrepreneurs have applied for services. 660 customers have been selected and 40.96 million baht has been spent on subsidizing entrepreneurs. Therefore, interested entrepreneurs are invited to register for the service online at bds.sme.go.th and follow more news and benefits at www.sme.go.th” said the Director General of the OSMEP.
Spain players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Nations League final soccer match between Croatia and Spain at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — Spain’s 11-year trophy drought is over. Croatia and its veteran captain Luka Modric are still waiting for their first international title.
Goalkeeper Unai Simon saved two shots as Spain beat Croatia in a penalty shootout after their tense Nations League final had finished 0-0 Sunday.
The Bilbao goalkeeper used his feet to save a penalty by Lovro Majer when the shootout was level at 3-3 and then dived full-length to tip Bruno Petković’s spot kick around the post.
Dani Carvajal converted his penalty — with a “Panenka” chip — to seal the victory.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon stops a penalty shot from Croatia’s Bruno Petkovic during a penalty shootout at the end of the Nations League final soccer match between Croatia and Spain at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, June 18, 2023. Spain won 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 0-0. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Spain coach Luis De La Fuente said Carvajal had taken penalties well in practice ahead of the final.
“He has a fantastic personality and that’s the way he decided to take it,” he said. “We have total confidence in his ability to take penalties.”
Spain’s other previous titles came in the 2010 World Cup and the European Championships in 1964, 2008 and 2012.
Midfielder Rodri, who punched the air after scoring his penalty, has four titles this season after also winning a historic treble with his club, Manchester City. He was named the player of the Nations League tournament to cap his memorable year.
Croatia’s Luka Modric walks past the trophy after the Nations League final soccer match between Croatia and Spain at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Spain did not manage a shot on target until the 84th minute of the match and when substitute Ansu Fati finally looked like breaking the stalemate, Ivan Perišić was on the goal line to block his effort. It was Spain’s only goal-bound attempt, compared to five by Croatia.
In the first period of extra time, Majer broke through and fell in the penalty area under a challenge by Nacho, but German referee Felix Zwayer ruled that the Spain defender had played the ball and waved off Croatia’s appeals for a penalty.
“I think it makes the win even more epic doing it this way,” De La Fuente said.
Croatia’s fans – many wearing shirts with Modric’s name and No. 10 on the back — far outnumbered their Spanish counterparts at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam.
But they were forced to leave disappointed as their nation and the 37-year-old Modric continued their wait for a first international title.
Croatia finished second at the World Cup in 2018 and third in Qatar last year. Modric, meanwhile, has won the Champions League five times with Real Madrid and was named FIFA’s world player of the year in 2018, breaking the decade-long dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the title. But he has not been able to cap his glittering career with international honors.
Whether he will have another try at next year’s European Championships remains to be seen.
“I’d love Luka to stay,” Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic said. “He’s a very important player for us.”
De La Fuente agreed.
“I hope he carries on because we never want great players to leave the game,” he said.
Spain went a step better than the last Nations League final in 2021, when it lost to France. Not bad for a team with a coach, Luis De La Fuente, who only took charge after the World Cup in Qatar and came in for criticism when his team lost 2-0 to Scotland in European Championship qualifying.
Spain’s players went to a small section of their fans in one corner of the stadium to celebrate their victory.
Both sides came close in the first half.
Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković fumbled an innocuous shot by Fabián Ruiz and the ball bounced off the post in the ninth minute, but Livaković recovered quickly to block an attempt by Álvaro Morata, who was flagged offside. Three minutes later, Gavi dragged a shot just wide.
Croatia players greet supporters after the Nations League final soccer match between Croatia and Spain at De Kuip stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
But after weathering the early storm, Croatia — with Modric directing the action from midfield — then created the best chances.
Twice, Modric curled crosses to find Ivan Perišić at the far post but both times Simon in the Spain goal saved. But he saved his two best saves for the penalty shootout.
ITALY THIRD — AGAIN
Federico Dimarco scored in the sixth minute and Davide Frattesi poked home a rebound to double the lead in the 20th to put Italy on course to beating the Netherlands 3-2 to secure third place in the Nations League for the second time in two attempts.
Netherlands’ Teun Koopmeiners, right, takes a free kick during the Nations League third place soccer match between the Netherlands and Italy at De Grolsch Veste stadium in Enschede, Netherlands, Sunday, June 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Steven Bergwijn put the Netherlands back in contention in the 68th minute only for Federico Chiesa to restore the Azzurri’s two-goal lead four minutes later. Substitute Georginio Wijnaldum completed the scoring with one minute of regulation time to go as Italy held on.
The defeat in Enschede meant that Ronald Koeman’s team conceded seven goals in two matches as hosts of the Nations League final four, after losing 4-2 to Croatia after extra time on Wednesday. Spain beat Italy 2-1 to set up the final.
