‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ hits $1B; ‘Star Wars’ Returns Box Office

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1 May 2023, 01:00

supermario-billion1 — A scene from "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" featuring Mario (L) and Princess Peach (C).(Copyright 2023 Nintendo and Universal Studios)(Kyodo)

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s still Mario Time at the box office.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” led ticket sales for the fourth straight weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters with $40 million as the global haul for the Universal Pictures release surpassed $1 billion, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The Nintendo videogame adaptation dominated the month of April in theaters, smashing records along the way. Over the weekend, it faced little new competition, though that will change next week when Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” kicks off the summer movie calendar and is expected to move Mario to the side. Studios spent the last week at CinemaCon in Las Vegas promoting coming blockbusters and promising big returns at the summer box office.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” was estimated to easily cross $1 billion in worldwide box office Sunday, making it the 10th animated film to reach that milestone and the first since 2019. With a domestic total thus far of $490 million, international sales are even stronger. The Illumination-animated release took in $68.3 million overseas over the weekend, pushing its international haul to $532.5 million.

According to Kyodo News, in a film the video game’s creator says has given the iconic character a more human personality.

“The Mario who was puppet-like in the games has become humanized, and with his varied expressions and flashy movements, he’s become a ‘person’ now,” said Shigeru Miyamoto, representative director and fellow at Nintendo Co., in a recent interview with Kyodo News.

miyamoto — Shigeru Miyamoto, representative director and creative fellow of Nintendo Co., known as the creator of “Super Mario,” gives an interview in Kyoto on April 12, 2023. (Kyodo)

The animated film starring Mario, who made his video game debut in 1981 and appears in numerous titles, including the “Super Mario Bros.” series, has already been a huge financial success.

Devised in a collaboration between Nintendo and California-based animation studio Illumination, known for its “Minions” film series, the Super Mario movie has seen the 70-year-old Miyamoto get hands-on as one of its producers.

“It’s got a storyline that’s easy to follow, like video games usually do,” the game designer at the Kyoto-based computer gaming giant said. “We’ve made something that parents and kids alike can see at the theater without getting bored.”

It was also a moment for Miyamoto to reflect on how his character has developed.

AP23094483254991 — This image released by Nintendo and Universal Studios shows Mario, voiced by Chris Pratt, left, and Luigi, voiced by Charlie Day in Nintendo’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” (Nintendo and Universal Studios via AP)

“At first, I drew him as an eight-bit character. Then, with “Super Mario 64,” he became 3D and puppet-like. Now with this animation, he’s become much more like a real person and this great character,” he said.

The film also features scenes from action games that Miyamoto has worked on, including the “Mario Kart” racing series.

“Mario is basically an action movie, so we’ve made something for the screen that allows people to enjoy it with the kind of movements you’d see in a video game,” Miyamoto said. “We did a lot of camera work that has never been used in animation before.”

There have also been deviations from the original material. Princess Peach, a mainstay who has typically been relegated to a supporting player in need of Mario’s rescue, has been reinvented as a spear-wielding fighter.

AP23094483253321 — This image released by Nintendo and Universal Studios shows Mario, voiced by Chris Pratt, left, and Princess Peach, voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy, in Nintendo’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” (Nintendo and Universal Studios via AP)

“For the last 20 years or so, American movies have involved women in the action,” Miyamoto said. “I wanted to make Princess Peach a stronger woman,” he said, adding that he discussed with Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri about having a version of the character that fights.

The creator, also known to be behind the popular “The Legend of Zelda” series, hinted at the plumber’s future film forays, saying, “We’ve been making Mario video games for 40 years, so there’s still a lot of assets.”

“Just by constructing something from what we’ve amassed so far, we can make something new,” Miyamoto said.

One of the weekend’s biggest successes was a familiar box-office force. The Walt Disney Co.’s rerelease of “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” grossed $4.7 million in just 475 theaters. Disney put “Jedi” (the 1997 special edition version) back into theaters to commemorate the 1983 film’s 40th anniversary.

returnofjedi — “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore.

1. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” $40 million.

2. “Evil Dead Rise,” $12.2 million.

3. “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” $6.8 million.

4. “John Wick: Chapter 4,” $5 million.

5. “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi,” $4.7 million.

6. “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” $4.1 million.

7. “Air,” $4 million.

8. “Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two,” $3.6 million.

9. “The Covenant,” $3.6 million.

10. “Sisu,” $3.3 million.

Less Than 1% Of Top-listed Firms On Tokyo Bourse Led By Women

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Kyodo News

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30 April 2023, 15:40

Just 0.8 percent, or 15, of the 1,836 companies listed on the top-tier Prime Market on the Tokyo bourse were headed by women as of the end of January, according to credit research firm Teikoku Databank Ltd., reflecting the struggle among major businesses to embrace diversity in management.

The small number of women in positions with representative rights at top-tier firms compares unfavorably with a record high 8.2 percent of approximately 1.19 million businesses in Japan reporting they had a female president in 2022, the research found.

Japan is “extremely slow compared with other countries,” in promoting women to prominent positions, Shintaro Yamaguchi, a professor specializing in labor economics at the University of Tokyo, told Kyodo News.

The findings match those released by British magazine The Economist in March, which ranked Japan second-from-last among developed nations regarding the role and influence of women in the workforce.

Among the 15 female presidents leading a Prime-listed company as of the end of January were Nobuko Nakajima of food manufacturer Imuraya Group Co., who became chairman in April, Takako Suzuki of chemical manufacturer S.T. Corp., and Takayo Hasegawa of power cable maker SWCC Corp., previously known as SWCC Showa Holdings Co.

Just 51 women, or 1.3 percent, held representative-level positions in the total 3,801 listed companies including the lower-tier Standard and Growth markets, which cover midsized and up-and-coming firms, respectively. A total 22 were in Standard-listed firms, with 14 in Growth.

AP23117078351320 — Women wait for crossing a street in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm Thursday, April 27, 2023, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

From February 2023 onward, at least four women were promoted, or were expected to be promoted, to leadership positions at Prime Market-listed firms from February 2023 onward, Kyodo News found.

Shigeko Okazaki became president of bottle labeling machine maker Fuji Seal International Inc. on March 1, while Yuko Seimei will assume the role of president for financial services firm Monex Group Inc. in June.

“Companies that don’t have diverse decision-makers will not be able to innovate or meet the various demands of their customers,” Yamaguchi said.

As of April, there were a total 3,811 firms listed on the Prime, Standard and Growth markets.

Move Forward Party Overtakes Pheu Thai in Matichon’s Survey

By

Khaosod English

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30 April 2023, 15:28

Over 50 percent of respondents in the second round of general election online survey organized by Matichon Group X Daily News chose Move Forward Party as the most preferred Party that they will vote for in the party-list ballot paper.

Pheu Thai Party came second but far behind at 33.56% in the survey in which 78,583 took part between the period from April 22-28.

The survey first round, starting April 8-14, 2023, Pheu Thai received 38.89% while Move Forward Party with 32.37%, followed by United Thai Nation Party at 12.84%.

This second round, the United Thai Nation Party came third with 6.05%, Phalang Pracharath 2.46%, Chart Pattana Kla 1.6%, Democrat 1.05%, Thai Liberal Party 1.01%, Thai Sang Thai 1.01%, followed by 0.96% undecided and 0.70% for Bhumjai Thai Party.

When asked from which party will you vote for the constituency-based MP, Move Forward Party also came first with 47.97%, followed by Pheu Thai with 35.78%, United Thai Nation Party 5.75%, Phalang Pracharath 2.69%, Chart Pattana Kla 1.56%, undecided 1.33%, Democrat 1.18%, Thai Sang Thai 1.05%, Bhumjai Thai 1.02% and 0.56% saying they won’t vote for any candidate.

On who would you vote to support as the next PM, 49.17% chose Move Forward Party PM candidate Pita Limjaroenrat, followed by 19.59% for Pheu Thai’s Paetongtarn Shinawatra, 15.54% for second PM candidate from Pheu Thai Srettha Thavisin, incumbent Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha from the United Thai Nation Party with 6.52%,

Phalang Pracharath PM candidate Gen Prawit Wongsuwan with 2.35%, Chart Pattana Kla’s Korn Chatikavanij 1.74%, undecided 1.18%, Thai Sang Thai’s Sudarat Keyuraphan 1.04%, Thai Liberal Party’s Pol Gen Sererpisuth Temeeyaves 0.84% and Bhumjai Thai Party’s Anutin Charnveerakul 0.64%.

When asked if the 250-junta-appointed senators should vote to support the PM candidate from the party which gained most MP seats or not, 82.54% said yes while 17.46 said the senators can vote for whichever PM candidate.

The generational breakdown of the respondents, Gen X or those age between 42-57 were the largest group at 31.48%, followed by Gen Y or those between 26-41 at 29.85%, followed by babyboomer generation or those age between 58-76 at 22.48%, Gen Z or those between 18-25 at 15.58% and Silent Gen or those 77 and over at 0.81%.

The top 10 provinces where respondents reside are: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Chiang Mai, Samut Prakarn, Chonburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen and Chiang Rai

Opinion: Is Gen. Prayut an “Experienced Pilot” Who Has Been Flying Air Thailand for the Past 8 Years?

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

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30 April 2023, 12:00

A file photo of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha talking to passengers on an airplane.

That incumbent Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha perceives himself as an “experienced pilot” flying an airplane that is Thailand was made apparent when Prayut earlier this week asked voters to “re-elect” him because he is an experienced pilot who has been flying the Thai plane over the past eight years and not vote for “a teenager” to fly the aircraft.

“Be assured that we will arrive [at the destination] because a pilot like me is experienced and knows all the problems. If I could solve all the problems, I would have done … If you want an able pilot, get an experienced pilot,” Prayut told voters in Udon Thani province on Monday.

If you are a Prayut’s supporter, then that analogy may sound good.

“[We] have been traveling safely for eight years. Why would we risk changing the captain for some inexperienced [pilot] … when the old one still volunteers to fly?” commented one Prayut supporter on pro-Prayut media, Top News.

The same analogy led another Thai social media user to a different conclusion when the person wrote online that because of Prayut, the plane has not been flying for eight years now. To this Thai, Prayut is not even a pilot and he along with his deputy, Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, did not know how to fly so Thailand has been grounded motionless on the runway for the past eight years now.

Skeptics can spot the flaw in such a false analogy of Prayut being a pilot almost immediately, however.

First, Prayut originally came to power through an act of power seizure during the May 2014 coup that made himself junta-leader-cum-PM. He then tweaks the rules in his favor so he could return as an “elected” PM after the 2019 elections, chiefly by making sure he has 250-junta-appointed senators to vote for him as the next PM.

That’s why Prayut made it back as PM after the 2019 general election and he is counting on them again next month although he will now have to compete for the senators’ vote with his former deputy junta leader Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan (formerly a co-pilot?), who is now also competing with Prayut among others for the “pilot” post.

Yes, the 2017 junta-sponsored charter was narrowly approved through a referendum that gave junta-appointed senators the special power to vote for the PM (along with elected MPs) for a period of five years but under a restricted junta-control environment and the threat that if the public did not endorse the charter, Prayut will remain even longer in power as a dictator.

This means Prayut is no “experienced pilot” as claimed, but leader of a rogue army which seized control of the plane and kicked the legitimate pilot off the plane. Don’t even start asking me if this imposter by the name “pilot Prayut” is qualified to fly.

Enough for the flawed Prayut the “experienced pilot.” Another common analogy deployed by anti-junta Thais is that Prayut is like a chief security guard at a condominium who have forcefully seized control of the residential building against the consent of the majority of the co-owners.

This means Prayut is illegitimate from the very beginning, and he has been overstaying in power way too long. It would not be easy to boot Prayut out as he and Prawit still have the junta-appointed senate, the rogue army and the deep state (a credible source told me the deep state will not accept a government runs by Move Forward Party which seeks to amend the lese majeste law, BTW.).

Thais love analogy and metaphor, for better or worse, and it matters little to many of them whether it’s a false analogy or not as long as it suits their political agenda.

Away from the pilot and security guard analogies, yet another voter wrote on social media, comparing herself and the rest of the Thai voters to a woman. Then there are three men. The first man is the current boyfriend who has been around over the past eight years, aka Phalang Pracharath Party. “He talks about love but it’s all intangible … as I am suggesting a breakup, he then makes loads of promises.”

Pheu Thai Party is compared to an ex-boyfriend who wants to make up for past mistakes “but I would have to take all the risks because he might again go back to the other woman.”

Then comes the latest suitor, aka Move Forward Party, who is not accepted by the girl’s parents but keeps waiting for her with a solid promise and is also “actually handsome.”

Now, I do not want to waste more time debunking this last false analogy, but you can perhaps enjoy yourself.

Man Kills 5 In Texas After Family Complained About Gunfire

By

Associated Press

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30 April 2023, 01:49

Texas Mass Shooting — This image provided by KTRK shows the scene of a shooting early Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Cleveland, Texas. (KTRK via AP)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A man went next door with a rifle and began shooting his neighbors, killing an 8-year-old and four others inside a house near Houston, after the family asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, authorities said Saturday.

San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said authorities were still searching for 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza following the shooting in the town of Cleveland, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Houston. He said Oropeza used an AR-style rifle in the attack, which happened shortly before midnight Friday.

“All of his rounds were from the neck up, so basically in the head,” Capers told The Associated Press.

The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles.

AP23119466211805 — Police respond to the scene of a shooting early Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Cleveland, Texas. (KTRK via AP)

By late Saturday morning, Capers said authorities were using scent-tracking dogs and an overhead drone in the search for Oropeza, who they believe was intoxicated at the time of the shooting and then fled toward a heavily wooded forest a few miles from the scene.

Capers said there were 10 people in the house — some of whom has just moved there earlier in the week — but that that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims, all believed to be from Honduras, were found laying over two children in a bedroom.

Two other victims, a male and female, were found by the front door and the slain child was in the front room. Capers said three other “blood-covered” children were found in the home and taken to a hospital, where they were determined to be uninjured.

“The Honduran ladies that were laying over these children were doing it in such an effort as to protect the child,” Capers said.

The confrontation followed family members walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, according to Capers, and that one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle.

Three of the victims were women and one was a man. Their names were not released. Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and about 40 years old.

AP23119466211994 — This image provided by KTRK shows the scene of a shooting early Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Cleveland, Texas. (KTRK via AP)

Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza’s home at least once before and spoken with him about “shooting his gun in the yard.” It was not immediately clear whether any action was taken at the time.

Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he did not know whether they were planning to stay there.

Across the U.S. since Jan. 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings and workplace vendettas.

Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last year’s attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017.

Republican leaders in Texas have rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families who children were killed in Uvalde.

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PAUL J. WEBER reported from Austin, Ken Miller contributed to this report.

Royal Drama: King’s Fractious Family On Stage At Coronation

By

Associated Press

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29 April 2023, 23:45

Britain Coronation Family Drama — FILE - King Charles III and other members of Royal family follow the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, during a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in London, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III lives in a palace, travels in a chauffeur-driven Bentley and is one of Britain’s richest men, but he’s similar to many of his subjects in one very basic way: His family life is complicated — very complicated.

There’s a second wife, an embarrassing brother, and an angry son and daughter-in-law, all with allies who aren’t shy about whispering family secrets in the ears of friendly reporters.

The new king will hope to keep a lid on those tensions when his royally blended family joins as many as 2,800 guests for Charles’ coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. All except Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are attending.

AP23112328354340 — FILE – In this Tuesday, May 22, 2018 file photo, Britian’s Prince Charles, left, speaks with Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. (Dominic Lipinski/Pool Photo via AP, File)

How Charles manages his family drama over the coming weeks and years is crucial to the king’s efforts to preserve and protect the 1,000-year-old hereditary monarchy he now embodies. Without the respect of the public, the House of Windsor risks being lumped together with pop stars, social media influencers and reality TV contestants as fodder for the British tabloids, undermining the cachet that underpins its role in public life.

Royal historian Hugo Vickers says people should look past the sensational headlines and focus on what Charles accomplishes now that he is king.

“In a sense, he sort of becomes a new man when he becomes king,” said Vickers, author of “Coronation: The Crowning of Elizabeth II.”

“Look at him as he is now, look at him the way he is approaching everything, look at his positivity and look at how right he’s been on so many issues,” he added. “Unfortunately, he had those difficult times with his marriages and some of the other issues, but we live in a very tricky era.”

AP23112785526720 — FILE – In this Monday, March 11, 2019 file photo, the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, File)

The horror show came back to haunt Charles last week, when the king’s estranged younger son, Prince Harry, dropped a new round of allegations Tuesday about the royal family into the middle of the coronation buildup.

In written evidence for his invasion of privacy claim against a British newspaper, Harry claimed his father prevented him from filing the lawsuit a decade ago. The prince said Charles didn’t want to dredge up graphic testimony about his extramarital affair with the former Camilla Parker-Bowles when he was married to the late Princess Diana.

Diana was the mother of Harry and his elder brother and heir to the throne, William, the Prince of Wales. Camilla, now the queen consort, went on to marry Charles in 2005 and will be crowned alongside her husband at Westminster Abbey.

AP23116609263033 — FILE – Britain’s Prince Charles with his wife Princess Diana in front of Lodge Canberra, Australia, Nov. 7, 1985. (AP Photo, File)

If the past is any indication, attention will now shift to body language, seating plans and even wardrobe choices during the coronation, as royal watchers look for any signs of a thaw in the family tensions.

But Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, doesn’t expect Harry to have a lot of contact with the rest of his family. In any case, Harry won’t be in the U.K. for long, so there’s not much time for fence mending.

“The stuff that we discovered (Tuesday) is really not going to help his cause,” Little said. “But, you know, will there be time to go over all that with the king and the Prince of Wales? Unlikely.”

The royal soap opera didn’t begin with the current generation of royals. After all, Edward VIII sparked a constitutional crisis in 1936 when he abdicated the throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.

Charles’ grandfather, George VI, is credited with saving the monarchy with a life of low-key public service after he replaced his flamboyant elder brother. The late Queen Elizabeth II burnished the family’s reputation during a 70-year reign, in which she became a symbol of stability who cheered the nation’s victories and comforted it during darker times.

But Charles grew up in a different era, under the glare of media attention as deference to the monarchy faded.

He has been a controversial figure ever since the very public breakdown of his marriage to Diana, who was revered by many people for her looks and her compassion.

Diana alleged that there had been “three people” in the marriage, pointing the finger at Charles’ longtime love Camilla Parker-Bowles.

AP23112785414860 — FILE – Britain’s Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, leave the Guildhall, Windsor, Saturday, April 9, 2005. (Peter Tarry, Pool via AP, File)

Camilla, initially reviled by Diana’s fans, has worked hard to rehabilitate her image. Her ex-husband and their children are expected to attend the coronation, with her grandsons serving as pages of honor.

She supports a raft of causes, ranging from adult literacy to protecting the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. But even that effort has sparked tensions.

Harry claimed in his memoir “Spare” that the senior royals leaked unflattering stories about him to the news media in return for more favorable coverage, particularly to improve Camilla’s image.

At the time of their marriage in 2018, Harry and Meghan were celebrated as the new face of the monarchy. Meghan, a biracial American actress, brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to the royal family and many observers hoped she would help the Windsors connect with younger people in an increasingly multicultural nation.

Those hopes quickly crumbled amid allegations that palace officials were insensitive to Meghan’s mental health struggles as she adjusted to royal life.

Harry and Meghan walked away from frontline royal duties three years ago and moved to California, from which they have lobbed repeated critiques at the House of Windsor.

In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey they hinted at racism in the palace, alleging that one unidentified member of the royal family had inquired about the color of their unborn son’s skin before his birth.

AP23112811762070 — FILE – Australian newspapers report in Sydney, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, on an interview of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex by Oprah Winfrey. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

Harry, i n a Netflix series broadcast last year, said the episode was an example of unconscious bias and that the royal family needed to “learn and grow” so it could be “part of the solution rather than part of the problem.”

The repeated attacks led to months of speculation about whether the couple would be invited to the coronation. The palace finally answered that question two weeks ago when it announced that Harry would attend but Meghan would remain in California with their two children.

And then there is Charles’ brother Prince Andrew, who became a toxic time bomb inside the royal family when the world learned about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the financier’s long-time girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes in 2008, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on a second set of charges. Maxwell was convicted last year of helping procure young girls for Epstein and is serving a 20-year sentence at a federal prison in Florida.

Andrew gave up his royal duties in 2019 after a disastrous interview with the BBC in which he tried to explain away his links to Epstein and Maxwell. He was stripped of his honorary military titles and patronages as he prepared to defend a civil lawsuit filed by a woman who said she was forced to have sex with the prince when she was a teenager.

Andrew denied the allegations but settled the suit last year before it came to trial. While terms of the agreement weren’t released, The Sun newspaper reported that Charles and the late queen paid the bulk of the estimated 7 million pound ($8.7 million) settlement.

“I think it was inevitable that when Charles became king, a lot of the personal stuff would come back to haunt him,” Little said. “I think as far as the king is concerned, he just has to shrug his shoulders and get on with the job in hand.”

_____

DANICA KIRKA reported from London.

Thai Edible Insects Exporters Expand Markets to Singapore

By

Khaosod English

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29 April 2023, 22:42

The Department of International Trade Promotion also announced that the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) will allow the importation of 16 insect breeds for human consumption, such as crickets, silkworms and grasshoppers, in the second half of 2023. The approval will be in compliance with SFA food safety standards and the disinfection and packaging process to prevent any contamination.

FAO had said that edible insects provide high-quality nutrition, require less feed and emit less greenhouse gases than farmed livestock.

The SFA will also allow the import of Bombyx Mori as consumers in China, Malaysia and other countries use this plant as a source of protein.

According to the Strait Times, the move comes after the SFA held a public consultation exercise from Oct 5 to Dec 4, 2022, on the regulation of insects and insect products. It received 53 responses. These ranged from scepticism to feedback and concerns from industry players planning to bring in insect products.

The Food Authority will allow consumption of the fibroin from the cocoon as it is approved in both South Korea and Japan. It is also certified and approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

It is reported that insect food exporters are now finding a strategy to promote their products in Singapore and make insects a part of mainstream cuisine, especially in the cricket protein bar made in Thailand.

The agency said this would be a good opportunity for Thai entrepreneurs who own insect farms and insect food processing plants to expand their markets to Singapore.

French Actor Eva Green Wins $1m In Spat Over ‘B Movie’

By

Associated Press

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29 April 2023, 01:37

Britain Eva Green Lawsuit — Actress Eva Green arrives at the High Court in London, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

LONDON (AP) — Eva Green was awarded $1 million Friday by a British court in a sensational dispute over the collapse of a film project she feared was destined to become a “B movie” that could ruin her career.

The film in question was a sci-fi thriller but the case played out in court like a melodrama. The producers of “A Patriot” portrayed the French actor as a diva. She had called one of the executive producers a “devious sociopath” and “pure vomit” and said the production manager was a “moron.”

A High Court judge cut through the vitriol that he said threatened to complicate the case and deemed it “relatively straightforward,” awarding Green the fee she had been promised for the production that folded in 2019.

Green, 42, who played Vesper Lynd in the 2006 version of the James Bond thriller “Casino Royale,” said her professional reputation had been upheld after she stood up to a small group of rich men who employed “bully-boy tactics” to use her as a scapegoat for their own failures.

Her lengthy statement, however, exposed her fragility in the face of criticism and the hurt she felt from what she claimed was misreporting in the press that “has been more painful than I can say.”

“There are few things the media enjoys more than tearing a woman to pieces,” Green said. “It felt like being set upon by hounds; I found myself misrepresented, quoted out of context and my desire to make the best possible film was made to look like female hysteria. It was cruel and it was untrue.”

Justice Michael Green dismissed a countersuit brought by England-based film production company White Lantern Film that had said the actor made “excessive creative and financial demands” and torpedoed the production.

The judge said Green hadn’t renounced or breached her obligations and was entitled to her 810,000-pound fee.

White Lantern Film said Green’s claim of “gender-based bullying” was “completely unwarranted.”

“Eva Green filed a lawsuit to be paid $1 million for a film which was not made and for which she did not provide any acting services,” it said in a statement with fellow litigant SMC Specialty Finance. The firms said they were “carefully considering our options as to potential next steps, including appeal.”

AP23030371707766 — Eva Green the French actress, who played Vesper Lynd in James Bond thriller “Casino Royale,” is suing producers for a $1 million fee she says she is owed for “A Patriot.” (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Green said she “fell in love” with the script for “A Patriot” and its environmental message, but became increasingly concerned as corners were cut and production was moved from Ireland to England.

“When an actor has appeared in a B movie, they are labeled as a B actor, you never get offered quality work ever again,” she testified.

During the trial, the court was told that Green used an expletive when describing potential crew members as “peasants.” She had said executive producer Jake Seal was “evil” a “devious sociopath” and a “madman,” and dubbed production manager Terry Bird a “moron.”

She downplayed her biting words as her “Frenchness,” which the judge dismissed as inadequate and not credible.

While Justice Green found in favor of Eva Green, he gave poor reviews to both sides in his 71-page ruling.

“For such a perfectionist in her art, she was surprisingly under-prepared for her evidence,” he wrote, calling the actor “in some senses a frustrating and unsatisfactory witness.”

The judge said that the unpleasant things that Green said about Seal were out of a genuine concern that the film wouldn’t do the script justice, and he didn’t altogether disagree with her criticism.

“I have to say that, having heard him give evidence, I can see how it might be possible to take an instant dislike to him,” the judge wrote. “He was at times patronizing, sarcastic and denigrating. I found him to have an innate aggression and can understand why Ms. Green and others might have been displeased to be told that they had to make the film under his full control.”

‘Am the Cyanide’ Is Not Confirmed as a Mental Disorder

By

Khaosod English

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28 April 2023, 20:08

The possibility of 13 deaths and one survivor, with a pregnant woman labelled “Am the Cyanide” as the suspect, has shocked Thai society all week.

One of the most frequently asked issues in this case is how a woman could commit such horrific crimes. Psychology difficulties have also been considered.

Dr. Amporn Benjaponpitak, the Director-General of the Department of Mental Health, told reporters regarding the issue of continuous homicide, the “Am The Cyanide” case, which has been reported that the suspect had received treatment at the Galayani Vadhana Institute of Mental Health, a psychiatric diagnostic and treatment centre.

ampon am — Dr. Amporn Benjaponpitak, the Director-General of the Department of Mental Health

Doctor Amporn stated that there is currently no confirmed information regarding the patient’s identity, but it is not necessary for patients at the institute to have a serious mental illness.

Many patients come in for treatment for minor mental health issues, such as insomnia, and more than 50 per cent of patients have minor mental health symptoms similar to having a fever. Therefore, it is necessary to examine personal information in more depth.

“When a wrong is done, the offender must be punished according to the rules of justice. The court will weigh the appropriate punishment, but that does not mean that the offender will be treated with leniency just because the offender is mentally ill.”

am1 — Police arrested ‘Am’ on April 25, 2023.

Asked whether Am The Cyanide’s actions were characteristic of a psychopath or not, Dr. Amporn said doctors cannot look at someone and diagnose them with a mental illness. It is against medical ethics to diagnose someone without a proper history and examination, and psychiatrists would not disclose this information to the public.

“If we look at the behaviour that is reported in the media, when it comes to drug use or the pursuit of wealth without regard for the lives of others, in psychiatry that would be called a personality trait, not necessarily a disorder. But it has the characteristics of a person known as a psychopath or sociopath.

am car — The police found traces of cyanide in Am’s car.

Today, however, the term antisocial personality disorder is used to refer to a person who lacks ethics and morals, does not care about the feelings of others and puts their own desires first. For example, they get angry and destroy things to make others sad to vent their anger, or they want material possessions or sexual relations and are capable of destroying other people’s lives to fulfil their own desires,” Dr. Amphon said.

According to Dr. Amphon, although an antisocial personality is not a mental illness, it can contribute to the development of certain mental illnesses because it is difficult to change abnormal personality traits. This can further reinforce the problematic behaviour and lead to the manifestation of certain mental illnesses.

To determine whether it is a mental illness or simply a behaviour, one must consider whether the person’s emotional instability prevents them from performing everyday tasks or leading a normal life, such as working with others or having relationships. This can lead to unlawful behaviour, moral misconduct or substance abuse.

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Previous News: A Pregnant Woman Is Investigated for Possible 11 Serial Murders

Hong Kong’s Economy Is Recovering, but Its Freedoms Are Not

By

Associated Press

-

28 April 2023, 18:26

Hong Kong One City Two Tales — FILE - The "Happy Hong Kong" campaign in Hong Kong, April 24, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)

HONG KONG (AP) — Like most people in Hong Kong, taxi driver Leung Tat-chong says it feels like the city is recovering after years of protests, crackdowns and pandemic restrictions, while it also has changed forever.

He’s earning almost as much as he did before the pandemic. But, Leung said, the city has been divided since the 2019 protests, in which hundreds of thousands of people marched, and many battled police, in opposition to a government they saw as a proxy for Beijing.

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the city welcomed more than 2 million visitors in the month of March. Crowds of art collectors and dealers spilled across two floors of a convention center at the Art Basel Hong Kong fair in late March. Excited chatter returned to a dim sum shop at the high-speed rail terminus.

AP23117595602164 — FILE – Mainland Chinese tourists look at sunset from a hill in Hong Kong, April 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)

Yet Leung sometimes doesn’t turn on the radio in his cab because the news or a public affairs program could get his customers cursing. A supporter of the government, he watches what he says in front of friends to avoid starting fights.

Living in Hong Kong today means juggling contradictory feelings. In 20 interviews, many said that when they focus on business indicators and everyday life, they see a recovery gathering pace after years of travel restrictions. But when it comes to anything political, the openness and freedoms that were once hallmarks of the Chinese-ruled former British colony seem permanently gone.

Following the 2019 protests, Beijing declared “patriots must run Hong Kong,” increasing its loyalists’ control over elections and imposing a National Security Law that criminalized many forms of dissent. The government of Hong Kong used that law to arrest former opposition lawmakers and activists who participated in an unofficial primary election.

Hong Kong’s government says things are back to normal, a message delivered in a tourism-promotion campaign it calls “Hello Hong Kong.”

Economic indicators seem to support that message: retails sales are up, the country’s GDP is growing and unemployment is a low 3.1%. In the first quarter of the year, the city received 4.41 million visitors, about 12 times more than the previous quarter, and about 30% of pre-pandemic levels.

Mak Kwai-pui, co-founder of dim sum chain Tim Ho Wan, said his business is reaping some of the benefits. Foreign tourists are filling his restaurants, something he had not seen in three years, helping drive revenue to more than 80% of pre-pandemic levels.

“It’s really coming back. It’s true,” he said.

Anne Kerr, the chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said more U.K. firms are inquiring about setting up shop in Hong Kong.

A survey by The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong in the first two months of 2023 showed its members are “cautiously optimistic” about business. Among those with headquarters in Hong Kong, 61% planned to remain for the next three years, up from 48% last year. But 9% plan to move, compared to 5% last year.

AP23117595678360 — FILE – Protesters walk within a cordon line wearing number tags during a rally in Hong Kong, March 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)

Local artist Wong Ka-ying said cultural life is recovering, too. At Art Basel, she saw a rise in emerging artists, independent art spaces and cultural activities, offering her more exposure and opportunities.

But, she said, even at the glamorous art fair, she felt the chill of the National Security Law. The art felt tamer than in past years and overtly political art was rare. At the Chinese University of Hong Kong where she teaches, she advises her students to plan their work cautiously.

“Maybe it looks the same on the surface. But when you look with a magnifying glass, you’ll see the essence isn’t the same,” the 32-year-old said.

When Cyrus Chan decided to organize a protest against a proposal on land reclamation and building waste-processing facilities in March, the changes were not subtle.

Hong Kong used to have a vibrant tradition of street politics, from massive marches to local issues. But Cyrus Chan, one of the march organizers, said police told organizers that they could have just 100 people. Participants were warned against wearing all black, as many protesters did during the 2019 protests. They also discussed their slogans with police in advance.

Even with official approval, it was a nerve-wracking experience, Chan said. For a week before the march, he checked news reports, online forums and social media hourly to see if anything had changed.

AP23117595495876 — FILE – Mainland Chinese tourists ride the Star Ferry in Hong Kong, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte, File)

On the day, attendees were required to wear numbered badges around their necks and had to walk within a moving cordoned-off zone.

After the protest, Chan said he still could not let his guard down. On April 2, security minister Chris Tang said “some people” who likened the numbered tags to dog leashes or the armbands Nazis forced upon Jews were stirring hatred against the government — a red flag to many activists under the sedition law. Chan had previously made the Nazi analogy on a radio show.

“Those who say the city will go back to the old days … are lying. Everyone knows it’s impossible,” Chan said.

Weeks later, a former leader of a now-disbanded pro-democracy union withdrew his plan to hold a Labor Day march, his co-applicant said Wednesday. The National Security Law prevented disclosure of further details, he told the applicant.

Leung, the taxi driver, agreed that a part of Hong Kong will never come back. But life must go on.

“As an ordinary person, I can’t do anything about politics,” he said. “I will just keep living my simple and unadorned life.”

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KANIS LEUNG and ZEN SOO reported from Hong Kong

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