Hua Hin sterilising pesky macaquesA veterinarian sterilises a macaque on Tuesday in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan. (Photo: Chaiwat Satyaem)PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: The annual sterilisation programme to reduce the number of macaques pestering residents and visitors at popular tourist spots in Hua Hin began on Tuesday. Hua Hin Municipality mayor Nopporn Wuthikul said the current programme was launched in 2017 under a memorandum of understanding between the municipality and the Phetchaburi-based Conservation Administration Office 3 of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation with funding of 1.1 million baht. He said since the launch of the programme, thousands of macaques, both male and female, had been caught, sterilised and released. There were now more than 3,000 macaques in the areaEvery macaque that is steralised is marked before it is released, Mr Nopporn said.

China using Thai solar plant to circumvent US sanctions - groupFILE PHOTO: Electrical workers use a boat as they check solar panels at a photovoltaic power station built in a fishpond in Haian in China's eastern Jiangsu province. The petitions argue that this creates an obvious route to circumvent US tariffs against Chinese solar products. The call from the American companies comes amid increased US pressure against China’s solar industry as the Biden administration cracks down on alleged labour abuses in the Xinjiang region. Canadian Solar Inc warned this week that all panel imports from China risk being detained by US Customs. The petitions name several of China’s largest solar manufacturers, including Longi Green Energy Technology Co, Trina Solar Co, JinkoSolar Holding Co and JA Solar Technology Co.

'Fierce' wildfire near Saint-Tropez forces evacuations in FranceBy Tuesday morning, the fire had already covered more than 3,500 hectares of forest and scrubland. LE LUC, France: Thousands of people, including tourists in campsites, have been evacuated to escape a wildfire raging near the plush tourist resort of Saint-Tropez in southern France, the fire service said Tuesday. "This is the area covered but it is too early to estimate the area burned," the spokeswoman said. - 'Difficult battle' -Evacuations have mainly taken place around Saint-Tropez and the villages of Le Mole and Grimaud, Vienco said. "During the night we managed to prevent the fire from reaching Garde-Freinet," a village about 20 kilometres from Saint-Tropez.

Outside Din Daeng police station on Tuesday morning, after police and anti-government protesters clashed there on Monday night. (Photos by Nutthawat Wicheanbut)Police have denied firing live ammunition at protesters of the Thalu Fah group during chaotic scenes in front of Din Daeng police station on Monday night, saying only rubber bullets were used to prevent them causing much damage. Pol Col Rathachai Sriwichai, the Din Daeng police chief, on Tuesday denied his men used live rounds against the protesters. He was responding to a video clip posted on the social media with a voice-over alleging that about 8.45pm Din Daeng police opened fire at the protesters with live ammunition and some protesters were hit. According to the announcement, the young man was not breathing on arrival at the hospital.

Tonga coach and ex-Wallaby Kefu 'recovering well' after stabbingTonga coach Toutai Kefu is 'recovering well' after surgeryBRISBANE (AUSTRALIA) - Tonga coach and former Wallabies star Toutai Kefu has undergone surgery and was "recovering well" Tuesday after being stabbed during an attempted burglary at his Brisbane home, his family said. Another of Kefu's daughters, Olivia, posted an update on social media after a 15-year-old boy was charged with attempted murder. Kefu was a powerful No.8 who played 60 times for Australia over a seven-year international career, helping them win the World Cup in 1999. He was appointed head coach of the Tongan national side in 2016 and steered them to the 2019 World Cup in Japan. A second 15-year-old was arrested after attending a Brisbane hospital with injuries, while a third person remains on the run.

WASHINGTON: A decade after returning from Afghanistan, Marc Silvestri was convinced it was time for his comrades to come home too. "It's been a tough couple days," the 43-year-old head of veterans services in Revere, Massachusetts told AFP. "I was in favour of the withdrawal, I thought it was time. - 'Leaving them in the lurch' -The fate of women is a painful point of the Taliban takeover for Fross and others. For many veterans, the idea of leaving Afghans who worked side by side with them to contend with the "very real" fear of Taliban revenge is unconscionable.

Japan's 'father of Sudoku' dead at 69Maki Kaji popularised the number puzzle and came up with the name SudokuTOKYO - The man dubbed the "father of Sudoku" for his role in popularising the numerical brainteaser loved by millions, has died of cancer at 69, his Japanese publisher has announced. "Mr Kaji was known as the father of Sudoku and was loved by puzzle fans all around the world," the publisher said in a statement on its website. Sudoku, a sort of numerical crossword, was invented by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in the 18th century. The modern version is sometimes said to have been formulated in the United States, but Kaji is credited with having popularised the puzzle. Nikoli spotted a version in an American magazine in the 1980s and brought it to Japan, where Sudoku was born.

Phuket restricts workers' movementsPhuket governor Narong Woonciew at Tuesday's press conference on the latest Covid-19 prevention measures. Governor Narong Woonciew said on Tuesday the order was approved by the committee on Monday, effective from Aug 17 until futher notice. Under the order, workers must remain at one job site and not move to another. Employers are to test workers for Covid-19, using antigen test kits, once a week. Those who test negative can continue to work but are still subject to regular Covid-19 testing.

Murray returns with win over Gasquet in Cincinnati MastersGreat Britain's Andy Murray returns a shot to Richard Gasquet of France during the ATP Cincinnati Masters tournament in OhioCINCINNATI - Andy Murray returned to the ATP Tour on Monday after last competing at Wimbledon, reaching the second round of the Cincinnati Masters with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Wild card Murray and Gasquet, a longtime rival whose 53rd ranking meant he had to qualify, first played 15 years ago. Murray hammered 14 aces and broke three times in the win lasting just under two hours. Gasquet was broken in the final game of the match after saving a match point before Murray prevailed. Fognini joined the party with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win over Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in a first-time meeting.

Japan to expand virus emergency to battle surgeJapan's government will extend and expand a coronavirus state of emergency to battle a surge in infections. TOKYO: Japan's government said Tuesday it will expand a coronavirus state of emergency to seven new regions as it battles a record wave of infections a week before the Paralympic Games. Paralympic participants face virus restrictions including regular testing and limits on their movement. Some experts argue that the massive international event undermined the government's virus restrictions, encouraging people to go out and businesses to remain open. Local media reports have estimated up to 40% of bars and restaurants in some parts of Tokyo are flouting the virus rules.

Lockdown extendedPeople alight from a boat at the Nonthaburi pier, rushing to get home before the curfew is enforced at 9pm. (Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya)The lockdown of 29 provinces hardest-hit by the latest wave of Covid-19 has been extended until the end of this month. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday confirmed the lockdown will remain until at least Aug 31 in the dark-red zoned provinces due to the continuing surge in Covid infections. However, bank branches and financial offices in shopping centres will be allowed to reopen from Wednesday. Their proposal that other shops be allowed to reopen would be discussed at future meetings.

Biden defends US pullout from Afghanistan despite panic in KabulA US soldier (centre) points his gun towards an Afghan passenger at the airport in Kabul, where chaotic scenes unfolded after the Taliban took over the country. KABUL: President Joe Biden on Monday defended the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan after the Taliban's stunning military takeover that triggered panic in Kabul with thousands mobbing the airport in a desperate attempt to flee. But in the capital, panic gripped many residents who feared a repeat of the Taliban's brutal Islamist rule from 1996 to 2001. But Washington has insisted that its two decades of war in Afghanistan was a success, defined by quashing the Al-Qaeda threat. The UN Security Council said Monday the international community must ensure Afghanistan does not become a breeding ground for terrorism.

Parishioners killed in quake-damaged historic Haiti church"It was a beautiful church with very beautiful architecture," said Wilson Exantus Andre, the parish priest at the Immaculee Conception church in Les Anglais, in southwestern HaitiLES ANGLAIS (HAITI) - Its bell tower and yellow walls a sharp contrast with Haiti's blue tropical sky, the historic Immaculee Conception church was the pride of Les Anglais, until it was destroyed by an earthquake Saturday, burying several faithful inside. The massive quake killed more than 1,400 people across Haiti, according to a preliminary official toll reported on Monday. - Just seconds -"It was a beautiful church with very beautiful architecture," said the priest. "It was part of the national heritage, it was the pride of the people of Les Anglais, who never missed an opportunity to talk about it." Stunned residents of the coastal hamlet exchanged stories of what they lost in the quake outside the church ruins on Monday.

Record 239 Covid deaths, +20,128 casesA medical worker prepares Covid-19 vaccine jabs at Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang in Samut Prakan province on Sunday. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)There were record 239 new Covid-19 deaths and 20,128 new cases over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported on Tuesday morning. Since April 1, around when the third wave of Covid-19 began, there have been 919,579 Covid-19 patients, 703,011 of whom have recovered. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 948,442 Covid-19 cases, 730,437 of whom recovered. The death toll was at 7,879 the third wave and 7,973 from the beginning of the pandemic early last year.

Three in four say climate 'tipping points' closeThe survey, conducted before the release of a bombshell UN climate report last week, showed more than half of respondents in G20 nations feel very or extremely concerned about the state of the planet. PARIS: Some 73% of people now believe that Earth's climate is approaching abrupt and irreversible "tipping points" due to human activity, according to a global opinion poll released Tuesday. It said that "low likelihood, high impact" tipping points, such as the Amazon degrading from a carbon sink to source, "cannot be ruled out". Tuesday's survey showed that people in developing nations were more likely to be willing to protect nature and the climate than those in richer countries. Gaffney said the survey showed "people really want to do something to protect nature, but report that they lack information and face financial constraints to what they can do."