CAMPARI GROUP OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED CAMPARI ACADEMY ASIA IN BANGKOK

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21 April 2023, 16:26

CAMPARI GROUP OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED CAMPARI ACADEMY ASIA IN BANGKOK WITH SPECIAL SESSION WITH “MONICA BERG” Campari Academy brings a bartender-led program of curated content to educate, connect and inspire to the thriving bar industry in Bangkok

CAMPARI GROUP officially launched CAMPARI ACADEMY, the global educational platform for the international bartending community, to provide insight and knowledge on all aspects of the industry, from skills and techniques to wider issues and topics for debate with Monica Berg, Creative Director at Paragon Cineplex, Siam Paragon.

From Left:

Calra Porter

Symphony Loo, On Premise Channel Manager SEA

Monica Barg, Creative Director

Simone Massaro, Global Trade Advocacy Director

Giulia Vedelago, Global Campari Academy Manager
Arno Schonfelder, ALCHEMY THAILAND, General Manager

Campari Group, the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry, announces the expansion of the Campari Academy, which is now launching as a global activation with drinks industry icon Monica Berg at its helm as Creative Director. A first of its kind educational platform for the international bartending community, which provides a unique blend of a globally accessible digital space with an established and successful network of physical hubs for the industry to come together, it takes inspiration from outside of the drinks industry to educate, connect and inspire bartenders at all levels of their career on a global scale in a way that’s never been seen before.

Campari Academy will now be a global digital platform complemented by an on the ground local Campari Academy network in key markets around the world, with local teams already in Italy, the US, Spain, Brazil, Austria, Jamaica, China and Australia, with more to follow. The global platform will be a space for the international bartending community to connect and discuss news and trends, share ideas and goals, and grow their own professional network. This in turn will be supported by the local Campari Academy network that will coordinate on the ground activations and networking opportunities for communities in their region.

In Thailand, Campari Academy Asia was officially launched at Paragon Cineplex, Siam Paragon, where 230 seats were filled in less than 48 hours after public announcement. Monica Berge, the program’s creative director, too centre stage and gave participants, opportunities to delve deep into the world of mixology through an introductory overview of the academy, followed by an in-dept session on raw materials and flavours.

Creative Director Monica Berg says “Being part of the Campari Academy as Creative Director is hugely important to me. The industry needs educational platforms which can impart knowledge, inspire creativity and prompt discussions which the bartending community can really engage with. By working directly with bartenders as well as leading voices from varied disciplines, we can provide the community with a network and platform which currently doesn’t exist. “At this point in my career, I’m lucky to be someone that opens the door for the new generations, because I have more experience that many of them from my 20-plus years of working as a bartender,” says Berg, Norwegian-born, London-based bar owner and digital innovator. “I know very well that we are you are young, passionate and have many new ideas, unfortunately what you sometimes miss is the power to enforce and execute those ideas. But then, when you have more years of experience, you may be lacking that youthful energy but you probably have a wider reach. You can bring the best of two worlds by blending the two together.”

At the launch event, Berg also introduced a flagship element of the Campari Academy, the docuseries “Perspectives”, that gave insight into poignant topics relating to the drinks industry and hospitality, and how they’re interpreted around the world. Two of Bangkok’s most prolific bartenders, Noppasate “Depp” Hirunwathit and Tamaryn “Makham” Cooper, then graced the bar at the Aperitivo bar, where selected cocktails from the sessions were created and served to participants.

Under the supervision of Monica Berg, a team of drinks industry experts will continue to be instrumental in shaping the Campari Academy program, applying their insights, experience, and knowledge to ensure it resonates with the bartending community. Alongside these experts, Campari Academy will work with a global network of leading voices from a range of disciplines and backgrounds that complement the spirits industry to create engaging and inspiring content which sets the academy apart from any other educational platform. It aims to engage and inspire bartenders in any bar, restaurant or hotel, in any market around the world, at any level – from junior team members just starting out in the industry to those at the peak of their career.

About Campari Group:

Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional and Local priorities.

Global Priorities, the Group’s key focus, include Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, SKYY, Wild Turkey e Grand Marnier.

The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. It has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas.

The Group’s growth strategy aims to combine organic growth through strong brand building and external growth via selective acquisitions of brands and businesses.

Headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, Campari Group owns 22 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 22 countries. The Group employs approximately 4,000 people.

The shares of the parent company, Davide Campari-Milano N.V. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM), have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001.

About Campari Academy:

Campari Academy is a first of its kind educational platform which blends a globally accessible online digital space with on the ground hubs from the physical local Campari Academy network in key markets around the world. Launched in 2010 with Campari Academy Italia, it was followed by local Campari Academies in the US, Spain, Brazil, Austria, Jamaica, China and Australia.

In May 2022 Campari Group expanded the Campari Academy by launching a global educational platform for the international bartending community, to provide insight and knowledge on all aspects of the industry, from skills and techniques to wider issues and topics for debate. With Monica Berg serving as Creative Director, Campari Academy has a unique and unrivalled connection to the drinks industry, providing an educational platform like no other.

The global platform will be a space for the international bartending community to connect and discuss news and trends, share ideas and goals, and grow their own professional network. This in turn will be supported by the local Campari Academy network that will coordinate on the ground activations and networking opportunities for communities in their region. Throughout 2022, Campari Group will expand the local Campari Academy network with launches in additional markets and with further expansion plans in the years to follow.

About Monica Berg:

Monica Berg is a London based multi – award winning bartender and entrepreneur. Her work includes Muyu liqueurs and critically acclaimed London bar(s) Tayēr + Elementary with partner Alex Kratena – recently named as the second-best bar in the world at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2021.

She continues to be recognized for her distinctive and adventurous drinks style, voted as the most influential international bartender in Drinks International’s Bar World 100 2021, and in 2019 won both the prestigious “International Bartender of The Year” at Spirited Awards, Tales of The Cocktail, and “Bartender’s Bartender” by The Worlds 50 Best Bars.

She is the co-founder of P(OUR), an industry non- profit and charity, which works to expand drinks knowledge across the bar community and supports communities producing regional ingredients for the drinks and food industry. She also launched BackOfHouse.Info, a free online resource for small businesses to get anonymous feedback from their teams, and where employees can flag harmful behaviour, discrimination and harassment.

In 2020 Monica Berg and Alex Kratena won the Bar Innovators of The Year Award by Class Magazine and during Covid19 crisis launched Tayēr RTD; a collection of ready to drink bottled cocktails, which bring together the best of classics and contemporary flavours.

Her latest project is working with Campari Academy as its Creative Director as it launches its global educational platform for the international bartending community.

CP Foods Marks Earth Day with Environmental Initiatives and a Commitment to Sustainable Practices

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Contributor

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21 April 2023, 15:37

Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) is committed to environmental stewardship and recognizes the significance of protecting natural resources. The company focuses on enhancing production efficiency through innovative technology to minimize resource consumption, safeguard and restore biodiversity, and conserve watersheds and mangrove forests. CP Foods also aims to reduce plastic waste and marine pollution.

Each year, on April 22, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) designates Earth Day to raise awareness about environmental issues. This year’s theme, “Invest in our planet,” emphasizes everyone’s responsibility to contribute to the planet’s well-being.

Kobboon Srichai, Head of Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations at CP Foods, highlighted that climate change poses a significant risk to the world and businesses. Consequently, CP Foods embraces the 3Rs principle—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—in water management and is actively involved in both short and long-term climate change initiatives to transition to a low-carbon operation. For instance, the company has eliminated coal-fired power in Thailand and Vietnam, replacing it with renewable energy sources to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

CP Foods has implemented a zero-deforestation policy, aiming for 100% traceability in the procurement of key agricultural raw materials, such as corn, fishmeal, palm oil, soybean meal, and cassava, to ensure they do not originate from deforested areas. By 2022, 100% of corn was purchased through the corn traceability system that can be traced from areas with title deeds and without invasion in forests.

Furthermore, CP Foods collaborates with government agencies, including the Forest Department and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, to implement conservation and restoration projects for watersheds and mangrove forests. The company encourages employee participation in tree-planting initiatives to increase green spaces in both domestic and international workplaces.

Mrs. Kobboon also noted that CP Foods prioritizes pilot projects that convert waste into renewable energy. Currently, all 98 pig farms and seven laying complexes utilize methane and carbon dioxide from biogas systems to generate electricity, which is then used in pig and chicken farms. This has replaced 69 million units of electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 490,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. The company plans to expand this practice to its overseas operations.

To protect marine ecosystems, CP Foods collaborates with domestic and international alliances on the Restore the Ocean project, which addresses plastic waste and marine pollution. A total of 15,973 kilograms of marine debris have been collected, including 12,823 kilograms from beach garbage trap activities and 3,150 kilograms from marine debris trap activities.

“On Earth Day, we are reminded of our collective duty and responsibility to care for and protect our planet,” said Mrs. Kobboon. “It is essential for everyone to work together to address environmental challenges.”

K-pop Star Moon Bin Found Dead At Home

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Associated Press

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21 April 2023, 01:40

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Moon Bin, a singer from South Korean boyband Astro, was found dead at his home in Seoul, his management agency said Thursday.

The 25-year-old was reportedly found by his manager who went to the singer’s home Wednesday evening because he wasn’t responding to contacts. Police are investigating his death but have so far found no signs of foul play, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. Officials at Seoul’s Gangnam district police station did not respond to calls for comment.

Moon Bin’s management agency, Fantagio, confirmed his death in a statement, saying that he “suddenly left us and became a star in the sky” and that fellow artists and company staff were mourning him with “very deep sadness and shock.”

Fantagio said Moon Bin’s funeral will be held “as quietly as possible,” with the attendance mostly limited to family, close friends and colleagues, based on the wishes of his relatives.

Moon Bin began his music career in 2016 as a member of the six-member boyband Astro, which debuted shortly after the singers appeared in a TV reality show. The group quickly found success in South Korea and Japan and was listed on Billboard’s top 10 list of new K-pop groups that year, with the magazine praising them for their “bright, synthpop sound that won over K-pop lovers from around the world.”

AP23110237405209 — Moon Bin, a member of K-Pop group ASTRO poses at a drama presentation in Seoul, South Korea, Aug. 18, 2015. (Park Young-tai/Newsis via AP)

According to Billboard, Astro had seven albums on the magazine’s World Albums Chart with Moon Bin as a member, peaking at No. 5 in 2017 with “Dream Part.02.”

Fans flooded Moon Bin’s social media accounts with comments expressing grief and shock over his death, which came months after he renewed his contract with Fantagio along with four other Astro members.

“It’s hard to believe,” radio host Jang Seong-kyu wrote on Instagram. “We only met several times over broadcasts, but whenever we met, Moon Bin was always bright and expressed immense love for his family. I can’t imagine the pain he was going through.” Moon Bin had also performed as a member of the duo Moonbin & Sanha with Astro bandmate Yoon San-ha. Indonesian event promoter Lumina Entertainment on Wednesday announced the cancellation of the duo’s performance in Jakarta due to “unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.”

Helix Publicity, a U.S.-based public relations agency that has represented Moonbin & Sanha, issued a statement on Twitter that it was “absolutely heartbroken.”

“Sending our thoughts, prayers, and deepest condolences to Moon Bin’s family, friends, loved ones, and to AROHA who always cheered for him and supported him,” it said, referring to the name that Astro’s fans call themselves.

Moon Bin entered the entertainment industry as a child actor and landed a role in the 2009 TV series “Boys Over Flowers,” which was hugely popular in Asia. His sister, Moon Sua, is also a K-pop artist, a member of the girl band Billlie.

Several South Korean singers and actors have died by suicide in recent years, which has touched off soul-searching about harsh competition in the fast-growing entertainment industry, an abusive online culture and failure by management to address the mental health problems of their stars.

Last week, 26-year-old actress Jung Chae-yull was found dead at her home. Her agency did not say what caused her sudden death.

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KIM TONG-HYUNG reported from Seoul

Vietnamese Trainee Arrested After Dead Baby Found In Western Japan

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Kyodo News

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21 April 2023, 01:09

viet japan — Photo taken on April 20, 2023, shows the area where the body of a baby was found in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture. (Kyodo)

A 19-year-old Vietnamese technical trainee was arrested Thursday after the body of a baby boy was discovered in an empty lot in western Japan, local police said.

The woman, who submitted to voluntary questioning, lived near where the body was found in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, and is suspected of abandoning it between around December and Tuesday. According to an autopsy, the baby had been dead between one and four months.

She has admitted to abandoning the body.

The 52-year-old president of the company where the woman works said, “I didn’t notice any signs of pregnancy because she was in winter outfit or work attire.”

The woman came to Japan in October and has been staying in the company’s dormitory. Six other Vietnamese women work for the company.

A local resident called the police after discovering the body of the baby lying naked and face down at around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday. There were no external wounds on the body, according to the police.

The arrest comes after another Vietnamese trainee was acquitted by the Supreme Court last month for abandoning her stillborn twins.

Japan introduced the technical internship program in 1993, aiming to transfer knowledge and skills to developing countries. But the scheme has been criticized as providing cover for companies to import cheap labor from across Asia and allowing to create a hotbed for human rights abuses.

There have also been cases in which trainees have been forced to return to their home countries after giving birth, even though Japan prohibits the mistreatment of workers by law, including firing them on the grounds that they are pregnant or have delivered a child.

Stampede in Yemen at Ramadan Charity Event Kills at Least 78

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Associated Press

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20 April 2023, 15:48

Yemen Stampede — The aftermath of a deadly stampede in Sanna, Yemen Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (ANSAR ALLAH HOUTHI MEDIA OFFICE via AP)

SANAA, Yemen (AP) — A crowd apparently panicked by gunfire and an electrical explosion stampeded at an event to distribute financial aid during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Yemen’s capital late Wednesday, killing at least 78 people and injuring at least 73 others, according to witnesses and Houthi rebel officials.

The tragedy was Yemen’s deadliest in years that was not related to the country’s long-running war, and came ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan later this week.

Armed Houthis fired into the air in an attempt at crowd control, apparently striking an electrical wire and causing it to explode, according to two witnesses, Abdel-Rahman Ahmed and Yahia Mohsen. That sparked a panic, and people, including many women and children, began stampeding, they said.

AP23110051998502 — A crowd apparently spooked by gunfire and an electrical explosion stampeded at an event to distribute financial aid during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Yemen’s capital late Wednesday. (AL-MASIRAH TV CHANNEL via AP)

Video posted on social media showed dozens of bodies, some motionless, and others screaming as people tried to help. Separate footage of the aftermath released by Houthi officials showed bloodstains, shoes and victims’ clothing scattered on the ground. Investigators were seen examining the area.

The crush took place in the Old City in the center of Sanaa, where hundreds of poor people had gathered for a charity event organized by merchants, according to the Houthi-run Interior Ministry.

People had gathered to receive about $10 each from a charity funded by local businessmen, witnesses said. Wealthy people and businessmen often hand out cash and food, especially to the poor, during Ramadan.

Interior Ministry spokesperson Brig. Abdel-Khaleq al-Aghri, blamed the crush on the “random distribution” of funds without coordination with local authorities.

Motaher al-Marouni, a senior health official, said 78 people were killed, according the rebels’ Al-Masirah satellite TV channel. At least 73 others were injured and taken to the al-Thowra Hospital in Sanaa, according to hospital deputy director Hamdan Bagheri.

The rebels quickly sealed off a school where the event was being held and barred people, including journalists, from approaching.

The Interior Ministry said it had detained two organizers and an investigation was under way.

AP23110051990901 — The aftermath of a deadly stampede in Sanaa, Yemen Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (AL-MASIRAH TV CHANNEL via AP)

The Houthis said they would pay some $2,000 in compensation to each family who lost a relative, while the injured would get around $400.

Yemen’s capital has been under the control of the Iranian-backed Houthis since they descended from their northern stronghold in 2014 and removed the internationally recognized government.

That prompted a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 to try to restore the government.

The conflict has turned in recent years into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, killing more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians and creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.

More than 21 million people in Yemen, or two-thirds of the country’s population, need help and protection, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Among those in need, more than 17 million are considered particularly vulnerable.

In February the United Nations said it had raised only $1.2 billion out of a target of $4.3 billion at a conference aimed at generating funds to ease the humanitarian crisis.

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AHMED AL-HAJ reported from Saana and SAMY MAGDY reported from Cairo

Thailand’s Tourism Tax Is Postponed Until the New Government

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Khaosod English

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20 April 2023, 15:18

Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn disclosed that the current government has postponed the tourism tax, which will charge a fee of 300 baht (8-9 U.S. dollars) per foreign tourist, from its original implementation date of June 1, 2023 due to an inability to prepare the system in time.

The new date might be in September of this year, coinciding with the formation of the new government.

Mr. Phiphat stated that the government wanted to grow total tourism income to 25% of Thailand’s GDP by 2027, or within the next five years from 2019 before the outbreak of COVID-19, which had accounted for almost 18% of GDP.

A minister from the Bhumjaithai Party also stated his desire to return to work as the Minister of Tourism as before in order to continue Thai tourism policies and aims. He will convince the new government to establish a budget for the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in order to stimulate the tourist sector and help it achieve its objectives.

“We require financial assistance.” It was no different than the men on the front lines, who were given toothpicks to go into war with, would be unable to fight and would perish.” said Phiphat.

According to Nikkei Asia report, this tax will be collected on visitors entering Thailand. This fee is waived for foreign nationals who enter Thailand using a border pass or border crossing letter; local government officials at the border, as well as those who do not have passports but have a letter of permission to work in Thailand, are exempt.

The estimated collection of 3.9 billion baht this year will be used as accident insurance for tourists, who used 300 million to 400 million baht worth of services at government hospitals from 2017 to 2019. The fees will also go toward repatriating the remains of foreign travelers who die while in the country.

The new entry fee is separate from the departure tax that has been included in airfares for decades. The exit fee varies based on the airport, with Bangkok’s main Suvarnabhumi Airport charging the most, at 700 baht.

Since the pandemic, the TAT’s focus has shifted from increasing traveler volume to attracting long-stay and high-spending tourists.

According to the Bureau of the Budget, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports received a total budget of 5,295.5 million baht in the fiscal year 2023, an increase of 4 percent compared to the fiscal year 2022, which received a budget of 5,092.9 million baht.

At the same time, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) received a budget of 3,258.9 million baht, while for the fiscal year 2022, it received a total budget of 2,871 million baht.

‘Awesome’ Solar Eclipse Wows Viewers in Australia, Indonesia

By

Associated Press

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20 April 2023, 13:19

Australia Solar Eclipse — The sun and moon are photographed near Exmouth, Australia, during a solar eclipse on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (Aaron Bunch/AAP Image via AP)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Under a cloudless sky, about 20,000 eclipse chasers watched a rare solar eclipse plunge part of Australia’s northwest coast into brief midday darkness Thursday with an accompanying temperature drop.

The remote tourist town of Exmouth, with fewer than 3,000 residents, was promoted as one of the best vantage points in Australia to see the eclipse that also crossed remote parts of Indonesia and East Timor.

An international crowd had been gathering for days, camping in tents and trailers on a red, dusty plain on the edge of town with cameras and other viewing equipment pointed skyward.

AP23110111137035 — People wear protective glasses as they look up at a solar eclipse in Exmouth, Australia, Thursday, April 20, 2023. . (Aaron Bunch/AAP Image via AP)

NASA astronomer Henry Throop was among those at Exmouth cheering loudly in the darkness.

“Isn’t it incredible? This is so fantastic. It was mind-blowing. It was so sharp and it was so bright. You could see the corona around the sun there,” the visibly excited Washington resident said.

“It’s only a minute long, but it really felt like a long time. There’s nothing else you can see which looks like that. It was just awesome. Spectacular. And then you could see Jupiter and Mercury and to be able to see those at the same time during the day — even seeing Mercury at all is pretty rare. So that was just awesome,” Throop added.

Julie Copson, who traveled more than 1,000 km (600 miles) from the Australian west coast port city of Fremantle north to Exmouth, said the phenomenon left her skin tingling.

“I feel so emotional, like I could cry. The color changed and seeing the corona and sun flares …,” Copson said.

“It was very strong and the temperature dropped so much,” she added, referring to a sudden 5 degree Celsius (9 degree Fahrenheit) fall in temperature when the moon’s shadow enveloped the region.

In Indonesia’s capital, hundreds came to the Jakarta Planetarium to see the partial eclipse that was obscured by clouds.

Azka Azzahra, 21, came with her sister and friends to get a closer look by using the telescopes with hundreds of other visitors.

AP23110156108240 — Indonesian youths wear protective glasses to watch solar eclipse in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

“I am still happy to come even though it is cloudy. It is happy to see how people with high enthusiasm come here to see the eclipse, because it is rare,” Azzahra said.

The call to prayer resounded from the city’s mosques when the eclipse phase began as Muslims said eclipse prayers as a reminder of God’s greatness.

The hybrid solar eclipse tracked from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and was mostly over water. The lucky few people in its path either saw the darkness of a total eclipse or a “ring of fire” as the sun peeked from behind the new moon.

AP23110156087566 — A partial solar eclipse is seen through the cloud over Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, April 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Such celestial events happen about once every decade: The last one was in 2013 and the next one isn’t until 2031. They occur when Earth is in the “sweet spot” so the moon and the sun are almost the exact same size in the sky, said NASA solar expert Michael Kirk.

At some points, the moon is a little closer and blocks out the sun in a total eclipse. But when the moon is a little farther away, it lets some of the sun’s light peek out in an annular eclipse.

“It’s a crazy phenomenon,” Kirk said. “You’re actually watching the moon get larger in the sky.”

Several other upcoming solar eclipses will be easier to catch. An annular eclipse in mid-October and a total eclipse next April will both cross over millions of people in the Americas.

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Burakoff reported from New York. Associated Press journalist Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

General’s Son Shot Dead His Famous Girlfriend in a Luxury Condo

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Khaosod English

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20 April 2023, 04:09

The case in which a famous net idol and an Air Force cadet were discovered shot to death inside a room in a luxury condominium in the Asoke neighbourhood of Bangkok on April 19 has been ruled domestic violence.

According to police investigation, Miss Supitcha Prechajaroen or Jijee, 19 was shot dead by her boyfriend Phumiphat Chaiwanichaya or Ikkyu, 17, the cadet at the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, and the son of a General. Ikkyu then committed suicide by self-fire. He passed away alongside Jijee on the bed on April 18.

Officers conducting the investigation discovered a 9 mm pistol at the crime site, which they believe Ikkyu used for murder.

After checking Ikkyu’s social media accounts, the authorities discovered that he was obsessed with firearms. There are numerous recordings of him engaging in carbine and rifle shooting practise.

The text messages also revealed that Ikkyu constantly threatened his girlfriend with physical harm. This is included in the message threatening to shoot the woman if she does not pick up the phone: “I will definitely shoot you.”

kill netidol13 — Miss Supitcha Prechajaroen or Jijee, 19 and Phumiphat Chaiwanichaya or Ikkyu, 19.

Jijee’s father also disclosed that his daughter ended her relationship with this man two months ago due to his violent behaviour. He questioned how Ikkyu was able to handle the firearms.

Men attacking or killing their girlfriends or spouses has become routine news at all levels of society, particularly in cases of jealousy and when a woman asks to end a relationship.

According to a survey conducted by the Foundation for the Promotion of Social Equality Together in 2021, at least seven Thai women were subjected to physical, mental, health, and social damage on a daily basis for as long as there were admitted women. On average, up to 30,000 cases of violence against women are reported each year, which is the one of highest number in worldwide.

Beijing Hospital Fire Deaths Rise To 29, Mostly Patients

By

Associated Press

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20 April 2023, 00:41

China Beijing Fire — Investigators inspect burnt out corridor following a fire at a hospital in Beijing, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. More than a dozen people have died in a fire at the Beijing hospital that forced the evacuation of dozens of patients on Tuesday, Chinese state media reported. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

BEIJING (AP) — The death toll from a fire at a Beijing hospital rose to 29, including 26 patients, authorities said Wednesday, and a dozen people had been detained including the hospital’s head and her deputy.

The fire broke out at the private Changfeng Hospital on Tuesday afternoon and forced dozens of people to evacuate. Some who were trapped had to escape from windows using bedsheets tied together.

A nurse, a medical assistant and a family member also died in the incident, said Li Zongrong, deputy head of Fengtai district.

AP23109151057948 — Police officers gather outside the barricaded building following a fire at a hospital in Beijing, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The cause of the fire is under investigation but officials say they believe it originated from welding sparks from work being done in the hospital’s inpatient wing. Among the 12 people who were detained was the head of the construction crew.

A total of 39 people are being treated for injuries, three of them in critical condition, officials said. Rescue crews and medical staff from around the city were mobilized, with squads plucking some of the 142 people who were evacuated from air conditioning units on the building’s exterior.

AP23109150976193 — More than a dozen people have died in a fire at a Beijing hospital that forced the evacuation of dozens of patients on Tuesday, Chinese state media reported. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Safety rules are frequently ignored in China, but accidents on the level of the Changfeng fire are treated with a much higher level of scrutiny. Construction accidents sometimes result from corners being cut on work hours and safety conditions, while local officials are bribed to ignore violations.

The central government has pledged stronger safety measures since an explosion in 2015 at a chemical warehouse in the northern port city of Tianjin killed 173 people, most of them firefighters and police officers.

AP23109150976007 — Police officers and security guards gather outside the barricaded hospital following a fire at a hospital in Beijing, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. More than a dozen people have died in a fire at a Beijing hospital that forced the evacuation of dozens of patients on Tuesday, Chinese state media reported. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Does the “9near” hacker Link With the Upcoming Thai election?

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Khaosod English

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19 April 2023, 22:28

An article by “Wong Tawan” in Khaosod Newspaper raised concern a possible link between the hacker “9near”, who hacked the personal data of 55 million Thais, and the Thai general election, which will be held on May 14.

The suspect is Sgt. Lt. Khemrat Boonchuay, 33, a soldier in the Royal Thai Army. It is reported that he was a member of the army’s information operation or IO and may have been involved with someone close to the government.

Khemrat chose “9near” as the pseudonym for his hack. When translated into Thai, the name means “move little,” which is a satirical name for a liberal political party “Move Forward”. The party’s main concern is to fight the coup and introduce social reformation, especially in the army.

9near hacker1 — Sgt. Lt. Khemrat Boonchuay or “9near”

He claimed to have knowledge of information technology. When he came across a website selling personal data, he bought the data of 8 million people for 8,000 baht. But the public does not believe him.

When the Minister of Digital Economy and Society and the Cybercrime Police do not openly announce the case or provide regular updates on the case, preferring to let the story fizzle out, the public thinks even more that the 9near hacker might have something to do with politics, especially the elections.

Although the suspect’s department has suspended his work and sent him to the army prison, or the Prime Minister as Minister of Defence along with senior commanders insist that Khemrat did this for his personal benefit and had nothing to do with the army, the public is still suspicious.

election prepare2 — As part of getting ready for the election, Bang Khen District put up a list of candidates for MPs in a district and a list of voters for the public to check.

The question has been raised in public whether it is possible for a low-ranking soldier to operate alone. Some say that his direct commander should also take responsibility for his actions, as safety is at stake here.

The fact that the personal data of 55 million Thais were hacked from a government health application “Mhor Phrom”, which contains comprehensive data about a person including an individual identification number, date of birth and phone number, makes the situation even more worrying.

hacker1 — “9near” turned himself in to police on April 12 after hiding to avoid arrest for weeks.

If this data is leaked to government agencies whose power could easily be manipulated to keep themselves in power, amidst numerous polls indicating that opposing parties are in the lead, it could be worrying that the information is being used in bad faith and endangering democracy.

If you look back at the history of corruption, you find that there have been many tactics. As we live in a digital age, the new corruption could also make use of these.

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