Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock address the United Nations General Assembly before a vote for a U.N. resolution upholding Ukraine's territorial integrity and calling for a cessation of hostilities after Russia's invasion, Thursday Feb. 23, 2023 at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution Thursday that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and withdraw its forces, sending a strong message on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion that Moscow’s aggression must end.
The resolution, drafted by Ukraine in consultation with its allies, passed 141-7, with 32 abstentions.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said it was more evidence it’s not only the West that backs his country.
“The support is much broader, and it will only continue to be consolidated and to be solidified,” Kuleba said after the vote. “This vote defies the argument that the global south does not stand on Ukraine’s side because many countries representing Latin America, Africa, Asia voted in favor today.”
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Representative of the United States to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
The General Assembly has become the most important U.N. body dealing with Ukraine because the Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, is paralyzed by Russia’s veto power. Its resolutions are not legally binding, unlike Security Council resolutions, but serve as a barometer of world opinion.
The seven countries voting against it were Belarus, Mali, Nicaragua, Russia, Syria, North Korea and Eritrea. The resolution was adopted after amendments proposed by Belarus that would have stripped much of the language were resoundingly defeated.
The vote was slightly below the highest total for the five previous resolutions approved by the 193-member world body since Russia sent troops and tanks across the border into its smaller neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022. That tally, in an October resolution against Russia’s illegal annexations, won approval by 143 countries.
Foreign ministers and diplomats from more than 75 countries addressed the assembly during two days of debate, with many urging support for the resolution that upholds Ukraine’s territorial integrity, a basic principle of the U.N. Charter that all countries must subscribe to when they join the world organization.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Representative of the United States to the United Nations, speaks during a Security Council meeting, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
The war has killed tens of thousands on both sides and has reduced entire cities to ruins and its impact has been felt worldwide in higher food and fuel costs and rising inflation.
In his own appeal, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said Ukrainians deserve “not only our compassion, but also our support and solidarity.”
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock asked countries that claim “that by arming Ukraine, we are pouring oil into the fire” why Western nations would do that.
“The West didn’t want or choose the war and would rather focus all its energy and money on fixing schools, fighting the climate crisis or strengthening social justice,” she told the assembly. “But the truth is: If Russia stops fighting, this war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends.”
FILE – Ukrainian soldiers fire at Russian positions from a U.S.-supplied M777 howitzer in Ukraine’s Kherson region on Jan. 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Libkos, File)
Venezuela’s deputy ambassador addressed the council on behalf of 16 countries that either voted against or abstained on almost all of five previous resolutions on Ukraine: Belarus, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Laos, Mali, Nicaragua, North Korea, St. Vincent, Syria, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
While other countries focused on Russia’s actions, Deputy Ambassador Joaquín Pérez Ayestarán said Wednesday that all countries without exception “must stringently comply with the United Nations Charter.”
He said the countries in his group were against what he called divisive action in the General Assembly, and for “a spirit of compromise.”
China’s deputy U.N. ambassador Dai Bing told the assembly Thursday: “We support Russia and Ukraine in moving towards each other, resuming direct dialogue as soon as possible, bringing their legitimate concerns into the negotiation, setting out feasible options, and giving a chance to an early end of the crisis and the rebuilding of peace.”
“The international community should make joint efforts to facilitate peace talks.”
An explosion is seen in an apartment building after Russian’s army tank fires in Mariupol, Ukraine, Friday, March 11, 2022. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
But European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters the aggressor and the victim can’t be put on equal terms, and Ukraine cannot be asked not to defend itself.
Unhappily, he said, “Russia has not sent any positive signal of any minimum willingness to work for a peace.”
He said “that’s reality” and everyone who went to the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin will continue with his so-called special military operation “until he gets the military objective that he has been unable to get.”
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Associated Press journalists Christopher Bodeen in Beijing, Vineeta Deepak in New Delhi and Cara Anna in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 3rd Separate Tank Iron Brigde ride on a tank during an exercise in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
The conflict and war between Ukraine and Russia has come to its first anniversary. Both sides released their own statements on the anniversary from their embassies in Bangkok.
From Ukraine, the statement was written by Dmytro Deineko, Doctoral Researcher in International Law (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv) :
“365 DAYS AND 8 YEARS OF RUSSIA`S MILITARY AGGRESSION AGAINST UKRAINE”
“Wake up, Russia has invaded Ukraine!”, were the first words of millions of Ukrainians on February 24, 2022 at around 5 o’clock in the morning when Putin declared war on Ukraine. Immediately, Russian troops began intensive shelling of armed forces units in the east of Ukraine, crossed the northeastern borders, and launched rocket-bomb attacks on civilian infrastructure, hospitals, and schools in Ukraine.
In this photo taken from video a view of destroyed barrack at a prison in Olenivka, in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces, eastern Ukraine, on July 29, 2022. Photo: AP
The Ukrainian Parliament unanimously approved the introduction of martial law. Since then, every community, every resident of Ukraine has been at war with Russia. Residential sub-districts of large cities and entire villages on the territory of Ukraine, which is 603,548 km², are under constant fire.
The events of a year ago are similar to the events of February 2014 in the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, where armed men in uniforms without identification marks suddenly appeared and seized the building of the Parliament of Crimea, the Simferopol airport, the Kerch ferry crossing, and other strategic objects.
The Russian authorities initially refused to recognize that these armed men were soldiers of the Russian army. Later, Russian president Vladimir Putin admitted that it was the Russian armed forces.
A Ukrainian soldier takes a selfie as an artillery system fires in the front line in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Photo: Kostiantyn Liberov / AP
Neither Ukraine, nor the ASEAN, nor the Kingdom of Thailand recognized the results of the “referendum” vote on accession of the Crimea to the Russian federation. International organizations referred to the occupation and annexation of Crimea as illegal and condemned Russia’s actions. Dozens of Governments, shocked by Russia’s illegal activities, immediately imposed economic sanctions against Russia.
What is really behind the term “Russian world”?
Worth paying attention to the fact that Ukraine protects its territories and the lives of its citizens from Russians, which first entered the territory of Ukraine, and then began to commit mass terror against civilians.
Over the past nine months, Russia has carried out more than 16,000 missile strikes, 97% of which on civilian targets. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies registered damage or destruction of 68,399 civilian infrastructure facilities, including 48,460 residential buildings and houses, 2,212 educational and 418 medical institutions, 407 cultural and 88 religious buildings, and 5,643 water and electricity networks.
A woman walks outside the damaged by shelling maternity hospital in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka / AP
Citizens of various states, including citizens of Thailand, were in these civil infrastructure facilities. Due to the qualified work of Ukrainian rescuers, a significant number of lives were saved.
Almost 1/3 of Ukraine’s territory (175,000 square km) requires demining. Since the start of full-scale russia’s invasion more than 270,000 explosive objects were identified and neutralized.
Ukrainian law enforcement agencies launched an investigation into 53,115 war crimes and crimes of aggression committed since 24 February. They include the killing of 8,596 (including 443 children) and the wounding of 11,620 civilians (including 855 children). These figures, growing daily, do not take into account the occupied territories, to which law enforcement officers do not have access.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy examines the site of a recent battle in Bucha close to Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, April 4, 2022. Photo: Efrem Lukatsky / AP
What rules of international law has russia violated?
“The word is always the basis of the law. This is always the basis of the contract. Conventions, statutes, declarations and, of course, memoranda. Only during russia’s war against Ukraine, which has been going on, let me remind you, not since February 24, but since 2014, russia has violated about four hundred different international treaties, to which states are parties,” said the President of Ukraine.
While you are reading this article, russia continues to violate treaties, in particular:
1. UN Charter;
2. UN Convention on Combating the Financing of Terrorism;
3. UN Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide and its Punishment;
4. corpus of conventions regulating the laws and customs of war;
5. International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance;
6. Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict;
7. UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;
8. UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and others.
New video footage of Bakhmut shot from the air with a drone for The Associated Press shows how the longest battle of the year-long Russian invasion has turned the city of salt and gypsum mines in eastern Ukraine into a ghost town.(AP Photo)
Russian troops systematically violate the norms of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine: deliberate and indiscriminate attacks on civilians; their use as hostages and human shield; execution and rapes; forceful conscription and kidnapping; attacks on medical personnel and facilities; use of banned weapons.
Russian soldiers have completely destroyed or partially damaged nearly 800 cultural objects in Ukraine. The Ukrainian authorities are actively working, in particular with UNESCO, to protect cultural facilities during the winter season.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 3rd Separate Tank Iron Brigde take part in an exercise in the Kharkiv area, Ukraine, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023, (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
How can I contribute to peace?
It must be recognized that Russia is conducting a full-scale military campaign against Ukraine with the support of its allies. The goal is to capture the territory and kill the entire Ukrainian and foreign population.
This opinion is confirmed by the mass graves of tortured Ukrainian civilians, which were discovered after the liberation of 4 regions in Ukraine from the Russian army. Ukraine will resist and defeat terror, it’s only a matter of time.
Ukrainian and Thai cultures are close, every man, if necessary, selflessly protects his wife and children, his home and his dignity. It is important to counter the news from Russia.
Video monitors show member nation vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favor of a resolution condemning Russia’s illegal referendum in Ukraine, Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022 at U.N. headquarters. Photo: Bebeto Matthews / AP
Every person who has access to the Internet and a smartphone can easily spread the truth about the events in Ukraine, for which a special website https://war.ukraine.ua/th/russia-war-crimes/ was created and, if possible, help with humanitarian support.
Ukraine urges every state to consider joining a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine as the only viable way to bring russian military and political leadership to account.
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Ukrainian conflict – explained by Western leaders
On the Russian side, Evgeny Tomikhin, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Thailand has written the article titled “Ukrainian conflict – explained by Western leaders”
He noted that one year on since February 2022, Russia still faces a lot of questions regarding the reasons that led to the special military operation in Ukraine. At the same time, we realized that the so called “international community” – meaning Western minority which controls global mass media – is not interested to listen to our arguments as all our statements are instantly discredited as the Russian propaganda.
Therefore, let us read comments from the Western politicians. Let the readers make their own conclusions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures as he gives his annual state of the nation address in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (Dmitry Astakhov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
To start with, let’s remember the ill-famous phrase of ex-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who declared in 2014 that “We [in Ukraine] will have work, they – [in the Donbas] won’t.
We will have pensions – they won’t. We will care for our children and pensioners – they won’t. Our children will go to school, to kindergartens – their children will sit in cellars. They don’t know how to organize or do anything. This, ultimately, is how we will win this war”.
President Vladimir Zelensky put it this way in 2021: “I think that if you live on the Donbass territory today, which is temporarily occupied, and you think that ‘our cause is right, we need to be with Russia, we are Russian,’ then it is a big mistake to remain living in Donbass, it will never become Russian territory. For the sake of your children and grandchildren it is already time to go find a place for yourself in the Russian Federation”.
FILE – Destroyed Russian armored vehicles sit on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, March 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)
Angela Merkel, Ex-German Chancellor, said in her recent interview on December 8, 2022: “The 2014 Minsk Agreement was an attempt to buy time for Ukraine”.
On December 28, 2022 Ex-French President François Hollande fully echoes his German colleague. “Since 2014, Ukraine has strengthened its military posture.
Indeed, the Ukrainian army was completely different from that of 2014. It was better trained and equipped. It is the merit of the Minsk agreements to have given the Ukrainian army this opportunity”
Boris Johnson, Former Prime Minister of Great Britain, confirmed on January 26, 2023: “We then applied some sanctions, launched this diplomatic imitation called the Normandy process and achieved nothing.”
Radoslaw Sikorski, former Polish foreign minister, publicly announced that the US had been responsible for exploding the Nord Stream gas pipeline by tweeting “thank you, USA”.
A woman heads to the market in Makariv, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, June 14, 2022. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko / AP
On January 24, 2023 he too confirmed that Poland studied the possibility of occupation of part of Ukraine: “There was a moment of hesitation in the first 10 days of the war, when we all didn’t know how it would go, that maybe Ukraine would fall.”
Vladimir Zelensky on October 6, 2022: “What is important, I once again appeal to the international community preventive strikes so that (the Russians) know what will happen to them if they use them (nuclear weapons).”
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, declared on November 29, 2022: “So it may sound like a paradox, but the reality is that the best way to achieve a lasting, durable peace in Ukraine is to provide military support to Ukraine”. Petr Pavel, the Czech Republic’s incoming president, said on February 3, 2023: “I believe that we shouldn’t put any cap on equipment. The only exception is nuclear weapons and direct involvement of NATO in the conflict”.
President Joe Biden, right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Mariinsky Palace on an unnanounced visit, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)
On January 25, 2023 the US President Joe Biden made the following comments: “We’ll begin to train the Ukrainian troops on these issues of sustainment, logistics, and maintenance as soon as possible. Delivering these tanks to the field is going to take time, time that we’ll see — we’ll use to make sure the Ukrainians are fully prepared to integrate the Abram tanks into their defenses”.
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, remarked on February 2, 2023: “As part of the EU military assistance mission in Poland and Germany, we plan to train 15,000 Ukrainian troops by April, and then an additional 15,000, including for the use of tanks such as the Leopard 2”.
Lloyd Austin, United States Secretary of Defense, said on February 14, 2023: “And so we expect to see them [Ukrainians] conduct an offensive sometime in the spring. And because of that, you know, we, all the partners in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, have been working hard to ensure that they have the armored capability, the fires, the sustainment to be able to be effective in creating the effects on the battlefield that they want to create”
Ukrainian soldiers watch as smoke billows during fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces in Soledar, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. Photo: Libkos / AP
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, declared on February 18, 2023 during the recent Munich Security Conference session: Because the reality is that the main reason why Ukraine has been able to repel and to push back the Russian forces is of course the bravery, the courage of Ukrainian armed forces, the political leadership, the people of Ukraine, but one important element has also been the fact that NATO Allies actually trained and helped Ukraine since 2014.
The United Kingdom, United States, Canada and others, provided significant training and capacity building and also equipment from 2014 meaning that Ukrainian army were much stronger, better equipped, better trained, better led last year than they were in 2014”.
Annalena Baerbock, German’s Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on January 24, 2023: “Arguing therefore I have said already in the last days — yes, we have to do more to defend Ukraine. Yes, we have to do more also on tanks. But the most important and crucial part is that we do it together and that we do not do the blame game in Europe, because we are fighting a war against Russia and not against each other”.
So, who is truly to blame for crisis around Ukraine?
Lydia Ko of New Zealand prepares to tee off on the 1st hole during the first round of the LPGA Honda Thailand golf tournament in Pattaya, Thailand, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan)
The Honda LPGA Thailand 2023 has officially begun and is eagerly awaited by many well-known golfers who will be competing in the tournament Feb 22–26, 2023 at Siam Country Club, Pattaya, Chonburi province.
Atthaya Thitikul, the LPGA champion, and Rolex Rookie of the Year Louise Suggs said they were ready to bring both Thai and international golfers to the start of the tournament. The prize money is US$ 1.7 million and the additional hole-in-one prize a Honda Accord e: HEV TECH, which costs nearly 1.8 million baht.
Atthaya Thitikul, the LPGA champion / photo by Matichon-KhaosodJaravee Boonchant
The Honda LPGA Thailand has been held for 16 years. This year, famous golfers such as world number one Lydia Ko, second-placed Nelly Korda from the USA and third-placed Minjee Lee from Australia are taking part.
The tournament is also joined by the world’s fifth-ranked Ko Jin-young of Korea and sixth-ranked Brooke Henderson of Canada, who won the 2023 Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV) Tournament of Champions in Florida last month.
Meanwhile, Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who won the 2022 Honda LPGA Thailand, returned to defend her title.
Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand watches her shot on the 1st hole during the first round of the LPGA Honda Thailand golf tournament in Pattaya, Thailand, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan)
The Thai women golfers participating in the tournament are Patty Tavatanakit, who won the 2021 Chevron Championship, Ariya Jutanugarn, who won the 2016 Women’s British Open and 2018 U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship, Moriya Jutanugarn, Natthakritta Vongtaveelap, who recently won the National Qualifiers in January, Pornanong Phatlum and others.
Those interested can buy a ticker at https://hondalpgathailand.com/. Anyone younger than 16 and older than 60 can take part in the tournament free of charge.
Nelly Korda from the USA / photo by KhaosodThe trophyHinako Shibuno of Japan smiles before her tee-off on the 1st hole during the first round of the LPGA Honda Thailand golf tournament in Pattaya, Thailand, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan)Saki Baba of Japan smiles before her tee-off of the 10th hole during the first round of the LPGA Honda Thailand golf tournament in Pattaya, Thailand, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan)
Keith Stewart has written on the website LPGA.com about “What to look for at the Honda LPGA Thailand” that the temperatures in Thailand will be in the 90s and extremely humid. Watch for fatigue. There’s no significant rain in the forecast, and that wind will be blowing from the west on Thursday and Friday with gusts in the low teens. It is the predicted to pick up to 20 mph when it switches sides and comes from the east on Saturday and Sunday.
Competing with those crosswinds will be challenging. The Old Course does have some elevation changes and almost 50 greenside bunkers. Driving the ball is important, but complete tee-to-green play is a tremendous factor as well.
Atthaya Thitikul, the LPGA champion / photo by Matichon-Khaosod
There are familiar names who led the LPGA Tour in 2022 in this comprehensive category and in this week’s field that includes Minjee Lee, Brooke Henderson, In Gee Chun, and Xiyu Lin. In either case, the best iron players in Thailand are Hye Jin Choi, Brooke Henderson, Minjee Lee, Xi Yu Lin, and Megan Khang.
The best par-4 players this week are Atthaya Thitikul, Brooke Henderson, Hye Jin Choi, Hyo Joo Kim, and Lydia Ko.
“The possibilities are infinite when you have a collection of players like this. We certainly don’t know who will win, but after reading this preview, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of the names mentioned multiple times in the lists above.” he commented.
The tourism industry in Pattaya, both day and night, including Walking Street and entertainment venues, is experiencing an increase in spending by tourists from Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The level reaches 100 million baht (2.9 million U.S. dollars) per night, the figure trumping the record set at the Pre-COVID-19 Business owners in the area are calling on the government to make it a free zone for entertainment until 4 a.m., like Phuket.
Tourism Authority of Thailand Pattaya Director Anoma Wongyai said Pattaya is in high season right now and many Russian tourists along with travelers from India, Indonesia and China want to visit the city, starting with private and family groups.
Anoma Wongyai
Flights from China will arrive at U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport on February 25. Once the RTPCR measure is lifted, Indian visitors may want to visit Thailand more.
In terms of attendance, Pattaya experiences most tourists from Russia. There are also some travelers from India, South Korea, Vietnam and China. However, the number of Chinese tourists is expected to trump the others.
Varinda Saeung, director of the Pattaya Floating Market, a cultural tourist attraction in Muang Pattaya, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri, told Prachachat Business that overall business has increased again to about 50 percent. More visitors are coming from India, Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea and Russia
pattayafloatingmarket.com
“The majority of foreign visitors are 50 percent Indian and 50 percent Vietnamese. They are individual travelers. However, since the beginning of February, you can also see tour groups of about 30 to 40 people. The situation should continue to be better.”
Damrongkiat Pinijkarn, managing director of Hollywood Pattaya and secretary general of the Pattaya Entertainment Association, said the entertainment business in Pattaya is recovering. The first group of tourists is from India, followed by Europeans and Asians from South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The entertainment business is now at 90 percent capacity.
Currently, about 40 percent of tourists in Pattaya are Thai and 60 percent are foreigners. Chinese tour groups are gradually returning. Damrongkiat also added that he would like the authority to allow Pattaya to operate until 4 a.m., like Phuket, so that the city can generate more revenue from tourists.
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Aumporn Kaewsaend, general manager of the Stone House and Rass Club on Walking Street, said Pattaya has recovered quickly after being open for about 4 months. New travelers from Hong Kong, South Korea and Vietnam visited the city compared to a record 2019, before COVID-19.
Revenue increased from about 100,000 baht per night before COVID-19 to about 150,000-170,000 baht per night now. On some nights, revenue increased two to three times, indicating the spending power of customers.
In Walking Street, the total revenue of individual shops is about 60 million baht per night on weekdays and reaches 100 million baht per night at weekends. Should Pattaya extend opening hours to 4 a.m., Aumporn believes the figure could reach 200 million baht per night.
Japan's Emperor Naruhito, from left, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko greet well-wishers as they appear on the balcony of the Imperial Palace during the emperor's 63rd birthday in Tokyo Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Emperor Naruhito expressed deep sorrow for the suffering of people in conflicts around the world and stressed the importance of dialogue and cooperation in remarks released for his 63rd birthday Thursday.
Naruhito did not name other countries in his carefully nuanced remarks days before the one-year anniversary of the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He said many people affected by war and conflicts have been killed, injured and forced into homelessness, sadness and fear, while others elsewhere suffer under oppression, poverty and prejudices.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito poses for a photograph with Empress Masako at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, ahead of the Emperor’s 63rd birthday on Feb. 23. (Imperial Household Agency of Japan via AP)
“I feel deep sorrow for the difficult reality that the world faces,” Naruhito said at a palace news conference for Japanese media ahead of his birthday.
For all people to live peacefully and free of sadness and pain, “I strongly feel the importance for every country to think not only about itself but to engage in dialogue to overcome differences and cooperate in solving problems,” he said. “We face a question of what each of us can do to achieve a peaceful world.”
Well-wishers are escorted to see Japan’s Emperor Naruhito during his 63rd birthday celebration at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)
On Thursday morning, Naruhito greeted well-wishers cheering and waving small Japanese flags who were allowed to gather at the palace to celebrate his birthday for the first time since he ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019 after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
“I’m truly delighted to have my birthday celebration with everyone this way for the first time (as Emperor),” he said in a short address from the palace balcony.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, with Empress Masako, waves to audience members during his birthday celebration at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
He and his family all were dressed formally and wore masks during the brief appearance. Naruhito was accompanied by Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko, now 23, as well as his younger brother, Crown Price Akishino and his family.
Naruhito, who marks his 30th wedding anniversary in June with Masako, thanked her for spending half of her life with him. “I thank her from the bottom of my heart and I’m deeply emotional.”
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, fourth left, standing next to Empress Masako, in blue, and their daughter Princess Aiko, in pink, waves to audience members during his birthday celebration at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023. Crown Prince Akishino, third left, his wife Crown Princess Kiko, second left, and their daughter Princess Kako also stand next to him. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)
“For nearly 30 years, we had many experiences together and helped each other, while sharing joy and sorrow.”
A Harvard-educated former diplomat, Masako has struggled with depression and other stress-induced symptoms she developed soon after giving birth to Aiko and facing pressure to have a son to continue Japan’s male-only imperial succession.
The Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation, under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya – and in collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and B. Grimm Group Ltd. – will present a concert on 25th February at the Thailand Cultural Centre featuring a fresh new talent on the international violin circuit.
The Romanian violinist Ioana Cristina Goicea. Born in 1992 into a family of professional violinists, she will perform Camille Saint-Saëns’ gorgeous Violin Concerto No. 3 in B minor opus 26. Dutch conductor Sander Teepen returns to conduct the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, opening the programme with Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture (Fingal’s Cave)and concluding with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 in A major opus 92.
Goicea won First Prize at the 2017 Michael Hill International Violin Competition in New Zealand, with critics praising her passionate performance and describing her as “a new star in the musical firmament.”
In 2018 she won First Prize at the German Music Competition in Bonn and was a laureate of the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. In 2019 she became a prize-winner of the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels, and is also the winner of the J. Brahms International Competition (2013) and laureate of the “Fritz Kreisler” International Violin Competition Vienna (2014).
She has performed as a soloist with countless prestigious orchestras, including the Belgian National Orchestra, Nürnberger Symphoniker, Staatskapelle Halle, the Auckland Philharmonia, the Indianapolis Symphony, the George Enescu Philharmonic Bucharest, and the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn. In October 2020, at the tender age of twenty seven, she was appointed violin professor at the renowned University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna – a major achievement for such a young artist.
Since 2020 Sander Teepen has been on the faculty of Rotterdam’s Codarts Conservatory conducting department, and has worked with numerous orchestras including the Hague Philharmonic Orchestra, South Netherlands Philharmonic, the Gelders Orchestra, the Brabants Orchestra, and the Limburg Symphonic Orchestra.
He is known and respected for his ability to connect with other musicians in a very inspirational and spontaneous manner.
A Joro spider has a colorful body and weaves a large golden orb-web. (Photo provided to Xinhua)
CHONGQING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) — A team of Chinese researchers has revealed a hierarchical mechanism under spider dragline silk spinning, which is expected to benefit spider-inspired artificial fibers.
Spider dragline silk makes up the main scaffolding of a spider’s web. Dragline silk has good mechanical properties and bionic application potential, but the amount of natural spider silk is limited. Many researchers dedicate their research to the secretion and synthesis process of dragline silk, hoping to realize artificial synthesis.
Researchers from China’s Southwest University first presented a chromosome-scale genome for the Joro spider (Trichonephila clavate), which has a colorful body and weaves a large golden orb-web, identifying 37,607 genes coding proteins.
The major ampullate gland (Ma gland), the source of dragline silk, comprises a tail, a sac, and an elongated duct. The researchers found a hierarchical biosynthesis of substances like spidroins (main proteins in spider silk), organic acids, and lipids in the different sections of the Ma gland.
The researchers reported their findings in the journal Nature Communications. They said the study provided a theoretical basis for studying the origin and evolution of spiders, dragline silk, and developing spider-inspired artificial fibers.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — An 85-year-old woman was killed by an alligator while walking her dog in a senior living community on Florida’s Atlantic Coast, officials said.
The woman was walking her dog on Monday afternoon beside a canal in Spanish Lakes Fairway near Fort Pierce when the nearly 11-foot (3.3-meters) gator attacked the dog, St. Lucie Sheriff Ken Mascara said.
A trapper from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission later tracked down the gator and deputies helped get it on a truck. It was taken from the scene.
“FWC is in charge of the investigation, however we assisted with a helicopter and manpower,” Mascara said.
The woman’s name has not been released. Officials said the dog survived the attack, but its condition wasn’t immediately known.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, between 1948 and 2021 there have been 442 unprovoked alligator bites on humans, including 26 fatalities. The chances of a person in Florida being injured in an unprovoked alligator attack is about one in 3.1 million, according to the commission.
Once on the endangered species list, the alligator has recovered to the point that wildlife officials estimate the Florida population at more than 1.3 million animals.
Officials warn people to be careful around bodies of water, as well as against feeding alligators.
“Although alligators can move quickly on land, they are not well adapted for capturing prey out of the water,” the agency’s website said. “However, they can lunge at prey within a few feet of the shoreline.”
Fort Pierce is about 70 miles (112 kilometers) north of West Palm Beach.
A 2.7 metre-long crocodile which went missing five days ago from a circus troupe was found and caught from Ping River in Nakhon Sawan province on Wednesday.
Named “Ai Bod” or “The Blind”, The crocodile was just bought with two others from Chai Nat Province to the circus “Smart Little Elephant” for showing in Nakorn Sawan. It disappeared while the group’s car was parked in the area not far from the river in Banphot Phisai District.
On February 17, the circus owner rushed to report the incident to the police, and he later apologized to the locals. People in that area were scared for five days until the officers and rescuers captured the croc. They were relieved and thanked the search team.
The crocodile was found 100 metres away from where it was last spotted. The reptile suffered injuries when it was caught and is now cared for by veterinarian and temporarily kept at Nakhon Sawan Inland Fisheries Research and Development Centre.
Matichon Group will hold five forums and operate ten strategies with its various partners to offer comprehensive coverage of the upcoming general election 2023.
The group, which includes Matichon newspaper, Matichon TV, Matichon Weekender, Prachachat business news, Khaosod Thai and Khaosod English, will partner with five organizations to offer in depth and comprehensive election coverage.
The partners are: Thailand Development and Research Institute (TDRI), Thammasat University’s Pridi Banomyong International College, Institute of Politics and Policy Analysis, MFEC, a leading tech company, and Matichon Information Centre.
Details of the activities will be formally announced at a press conference on Thursday, Feb 23, at the ground floor of Matichon Building at 10.30 a.m. to 11.45 a.m. which can be followed through the group’s various media including a live coverage in English on Khaosod English.
The press conference entitled “Election 2023 A New Chapter for Thailand” will hear Prab Boonpan, Matichon Deputy MD for Digital Media and Technology discuss the activities together with TDRI Chairman Somkiat Tangkitvanich, President/CEO, Mfec PCL Siriwat Vongjarukorn, Assoc Prof Dr Tanaporn Sriyakoon, director of the Institute of Politics and Policy Analysis and Asst Prof Akarapong Kamkoon, Dean of Pridi Banomyong International College.
On the same day, a special talks will be delivered by writer Sorakol Adulyanond, aka
Num Muangchan and Thammasat law lecturer Parinya Thewanaruemitkun on the topic “Election 2023 Analysis: Thailand’s Future”.
As for the five forums and platforms to be followed in the weeks ahead, they are:
1) Election Policies Forum. Major parties will be invited by Matichon to sell their policies on March 13 in a forum moderated by Thai Politics Group at Pullman King Power Hotel (Soi Rang Nam).
2) Election 2023 In Depth. Matichon TV will decode the upcoming election by discussing the issue with leading political scientists Tanaporn Sriyakoon and Dr Satithorn Thananitichote of King Prajadhipok Institute. The event will be made available through Matichon Live Streaming on March 20.
3) On March 31 at Thammasat University’s Minor Conference Hall, Khaosod will host a forum for young Thais to express their political aspirations and expectations. New generation of politicians will also be invited to speak and the event will be moderated by Puwanart Kunpalin.
4) On April 5, Matichon will invite representatives from diverse groups of voters to discuss the election. The event will be disseminated through all Matichon media platforms.
5) On April 19, major PM candidates will speak with Matichon to demonstrate their vision and convince voters to support them.
But that’s not all. Matichon Group will pursue ten strategies through various platforms for a better coverage of the upcoming election.
1) An ad hoc website in Thai language: www.matichon.co.th/election/2566 will be up and running to reports on the five forums and more.
2) The Thai-language websites of Matichon, Prachachat and Khaosod will pool resources and synnergize with Matichon Information Centre for a more rounded and in depth reports on the political, economic and social dimension of the election.
3) All the group’s media will utilise all platforms available, including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter for its election coverage.
4) Matichon TV will keep reporting about election both at the local and national level on TV from Monday to Friday from now until the election day.
5) Matichon TV will have a weekly in depth election programme at 9pm every Tuesday night.
6) Khaosod Thai will talk to local voters. The coverage will be led by popular field reporter Natty Tanyaluck Wannakoet and disseminated through all Khaosod media platforms.
7) Local Khaosod reporters will ask local voters what they want to see after the election.
8) Prachachat business news will interview 10 major business leaders online. Interviewees include CP Group’s Suphachai Chearavanont, Suphajee Suthumpun of Dusit Hotels and Resorts Group and Jareeporn Jarukornsakul of WHA Industrial Development.
9) Exclusive contents on key election figures on Matichon Weekender in collaboration with Sorakol Adulyanond.
10) Live reports from the fronts of voting booths nationwide on the election day.
Last but not least, Matichon Group’s media will also have special election publication with new design that will provide voters with information to help them make the important decisions on election day.
