At UN summit, new hope for deal to save natureTop participants hope COP15 talks aimed at sealing a "peace pact for nature" will yield a major deal. MONTREAL - Top officials at high-stakes UN biodiversity negotiations said Saturday they were confident of securing a major deal to save the natural world from destruction. Observers had warned the COP15 talks aimed at sealing a "peace pact for nature" risked collapse due to disagreement over how much the rich world should pay to save ecosystems in developing countries. But the Chinese chair of the conference said Saturday he was "greatly confident" delegates would reach a deal and his Canadian counterpart said "tremendous" progress had been made. The European Union has committed seven billion euros ($7.4 billion) for the period until 2027, double its prior pledge.

2,800 passengers and crew greeted warmly as tourism to holiday island picks upMein Schiff 5, a cruise ship with more than 2,800 foreign visitors and crew members, arrives at Koh Samui on Saturday. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan)SURAT THANI: A cruise ship with more than 2,800 passengers and crew on board docked at Koh Samui on Saturday for a one-day visit. Mein Schiff 5 was the second cruise ship to visit Koh Samui of Surat Thani province for three years since the outbreak of Covid-19. On Nov 27, MV Viking Mars, operated by Viking Cruises and carrying 635 passengers, became the first European cruise ship to visit the island in three years. Visits to Koh Samui have been rising steadily in the second half of the year, with most of the foreign arrivals from Germany, Israel, the United Kingdom, France and Australia.

Their Majesties the King and Queen are greeted by people saying 'Long Live Their Majesties' as they leave King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital after visiting Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati on Friday. People flocked to the hospital to wish the princess a speedy recovery. Separately, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya also visited the princess at the hospital on the same day. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana, and Princess Ubolratana assigned their representatives to take flowers to the princess. The Sheikhul Islam Office (Chularatchamontri) issued a statement instructing provincial Islamic committees and Muslims nationwide to hold daily prayers for the princess' speedy recovery.

(Bangkok Post File Photo)Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has dropped the Thai energy conglomerate PTT Plc from its portfolio because of concerns that its activities in Myanmar could fund human-rights abuses. The executive board of the $1.3-trillion fund, the world’s largest, is also axeing PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), as well as Israel-based Cognyte Software Ltd because of an “unacceptable risk” of human rights violations. The fund cited an “unacceptable risk that the companies contribute to serious violations of individuals’ rights in situations of war or conflict”. On Cognyte, the Norwegian fund’s ethics council said several states that are said to be customers of its surveillance products and services “have been accused of extremely serious human rights violations”. The fund said the decisions were based on ethics council recommendations from May and June.

The 4.72-baht power tariff rate has been used since September this year. The ERC will increase the power tariff for the non-household sector by 20.5% to 5.69 baht per unit, up from 4.72 baht per unit. The Ft stands at 0.9343 baht per unit for households and 1.904 baht per unit for non-households. ERC secretary-general Khomgrich Tantravanich said the power tariff decision resulted from talks with the National Energy Policy Council and fuel suppliers over attempts to ameliorate the impact of expensive electricity bills. He said businesses want the government to delay consideration of Egat's financial woes in order to reduce the power tariff from 5.69 baht per unit to 5.3 baht per unit.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati in hospital with heart problemHer Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati is greeted by well-wishers outside the Grand Palace on Oct 31, 2020. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati was admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital after passing out because of a heart problem, the Royal Household Bureau announced on Thursday. The bureau said the princess passed out while she was training her pet dogs in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima at 6.20pm on Wednesday. The princess was taken to Pakchongnana Hospital in the district to receive initial treatment under the advice of royal doctors, it said. She was transported by helicopter to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital after her condition was stabilised.

Covid surge spooks Beijing residents, disrupts governmentPeople queue to buy Covid rapid antigen test kits before entering a hospital in Beijing, China, on Wednesday. Covid infections are surging in Beijing, disrupting official government work and keeping people at home after authorities made an about-turn in their policy of keeping virus cases under control. Economists expect the figures to show a worsening in the economy in November even before the current Covid surge. Analysts are increasingly turning to alternative indicators, such as online word searches for Covid-related symptoms like fever. Researchers from a medical university in Anhui province last year found a strong correlation between the word searches and the number of confirmed cases.

Consumers should not buy THANOS food supplements because they are being sold under a food registration number (24-1-09957-1-0107) that was given to another food supplement company before it was canceled on March 22, 2019, the FDA said. The FDA has not approved THANOS products and does not know the ingredients used in them, it said. The products could contain low quality or even dangerous ingredients, the FDA added. The agency advised consumers to check its online database to verify whether food products have been legally registered. The database is available on the agency’s website (www.fda.moph.go.th).

So we're trying to think of ways to utilise this 70% of vegetables. “And with this, we're trying to create a digital platform to gather farmers and build a network of those who produce organic vegetables. “So, in our role as a platform, we're trying to build a brand and trying to make consumers realise that ugly vegetables still have nutritive value. We are trying to expand the network of farmers as well, to join this platform. We plan to start first with areas in Khon Kaen province to try this business model and, right now we are in the testing phase of the platform.”

ANN news highlights: Tue, Dec 13, 2022Bringing Asia CloserClash India-China IFace-off between Indian, Chinese troops in Arunachal’s Tawang sector, few soldiers injured on both sides - The StatesmanA face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday led to minor injuries “to a few personnel” from both sides, sources said on Monday and noted that both sides immediately disengaged from the area. Clash India-China IIOver 300 Chinese soldiers clashed at Tawang flashpoint, received more injuries than Indian side - The StatesmanThe Indian troops deployed in the area of face-off on Friday in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector gave a befitting response to the Chinese troops and the number of Chinese soldiers injured in the clash is more than the Indian soldiers, sources said on Monday. Unlock ChinaChina to end use of digital travel code on Covid-19 starting Tuesday | China DailyChina announced on Monday that a digital tool to track cross-city travel will go out of service starting Tuesday. Jobs PhilippinesPH vows to save seafarers’ jobs in EU | InquirerPresident Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday night said the government was doing everything it could for the Philippines to pass the European Maritime Safety Agency’s (Emsa) evaluation, which the country has failed since 2006, to avert possible job losses for some 50,000 Filipino seafarers deployed on European Union (EU)-flagged vessels.

In a press statement, AIT said the foundation set up by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his ex-wife Melinda has funded the setting up of the Global Water & Sanitation Centre (GWSC). AIT and the foundation’s representatives launched GWSC at the AIT campus in Pathum Thani on November 30. GWSC’s aim is to provide safe, hygienic toilets and sustainable sanitary systems to developing economies in Asia, including Thailand.

Industry Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said on Tuesday that more than 140 factories have been found to use sodium cyanide, benzyl cyanide and benzyl chloride and they are required to provide details on their consumption of these chemicals. The import and export of these chemicals was suspended on November 21 to ensure all control measures are in place to ensure they are not used to make methamphetamine, he said. Jullapong Thaweesri, director-general of the Industrial Works Department, said that since import-export was suspended, his department has been working on finding the exact quantity that is available in the country.

Pol Maj Kanjira Norasan, right, arrests Natthaya Khomaram, a woman who allegedly stole her identity to commit fraud, at a rented room in Kaeng Khoi district, Saraburi, on Sunday. Pol Maj Kanjira Norasan, 42, an inspector from Crime Suppression Subdivision 2, on Sunday arrested Natthaya Khomaram, 25, at a rented room in tambon Tan Diao of Kaeng Khoi district, Saraburi, said Crime Suppression Division commander Pol Maj Gen Montree Thesakhan on Monday. According to Pol Maj Gen Montree, Ms Natthaya set up a Facebook account appearing to belong to Pol Maj Kanjira and sent Facebook messages to her friends, begging for help. Police said the suspect confessed and told them she was unaware the woman whose identity she stole was a police officer. Meanwhile, Pol Maj Kanjira learned from her friends that a fake Facebook account had been created in her name and used to defraud them.

He said the NBTC has implemented a strategy to supervise three groups of OTT streaming operators:— Operators of websites or applications for use in daily life, such as Lazada, Uber, Airbnb, Dropbox and Google Maps. — Operators of interpersonal communication platforms, covering social media (Facebook and Instagram) and instant messaging (Line, Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp). "The emergence of OTT streaming operators has resulted in cost burden for internet network operators," he said, adding that the business caused difficulties in tax collection as well. — Operators of television and video streaming platforms on the internet, such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Line TV.

Crab rice noodle soup (or banh canh cua in Vietnamese) is known as part of Southern cuisine and is famous for its flavourful red-orange broth. Banh canh (rice noodles) is a traditional dish that is typically served for breakfast. The main ingredient is white, thick and chewy noodles made from rice flour. Rice noodle is eaten with a flavourful broth made from simmering pork bones with radishes or carrots for hours. Crab, the soul of the dish, is mostly served in two styles, a whole crab and small pieces.