'Guiding force for good': World mourns loss of Kofi Annan
"In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. "Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor." Kofi Annan is high among them. EUEuropean Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the "greatest recognition we can give Kofi Annan is to keep his legacy and his spirit alive". "Kofi Annan was a great diplomat, a true statesman and a wonderful colleague who was widely respected and will be greatly missed," Blair said via his institute's Twitter page.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 13:18 UTC
Kofi Annan: key dates
- 1972: Annan obtained a master's degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). - October 12, 2001: Annan and the United Nations were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He also set up the Kofi Annan Foundation which says it aims to promote better global governance and work for peace. - February 2012: Annan is chosen by the United Nations and the Arab League to mediate in the Syrian war, but he throws in the towel five moths later. - August 18, 2018: Annan dies in Switzerland after a short illness.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 12:33 UTC
Former UN chief and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan dies
"It is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce that Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August after a short illness," the foundation said in a statement. Current UN chief Antonio Guterres voiced deep sadness at the news, describing his predecessor as "a guiding force for good". "In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations," he said. "Like so many, I was proud to call Kofi Annan a good friend and mentor." After ending his second term as UN chief, Annan went on to take high-profile mediation roles in Kenya and in Syria.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 10:06 UTC
Love triangle results in triple deaths in Sakon Nakhon university staff residence
The Muang Sakon Nakhon police station was alerted of the three deaths at a staff residence at 6pm on Friday. Police found the body of Thawatchai Wilachai, 49, at the front door of his house. The man lying beside her was identified as Thawatchai Wiphawin, 61, a former driver at the university. Police said the older Thawatchai had apparently had an affair with the woman and had come to talk to her. When the conflict was not settled, police believe he shot Pawinee on the bed.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 09:11 UTC
N. Korea urges Trump to be 'bold' on denuclearisation
Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong Un held a groundbreaking summit in Singapore in June, which the US leader touted as a historic breakthrough. At the meeting the pair struck a vague agreement to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, but there has been little movement since. North Korea has demanded that America agree to declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, accusing the US of failing to reciprocate a series of its "goodwill measures". These include ending its nuclear and missile testing, the destruction of a nuclear testing site and handing over the remains of US troops killed in the Korean War. It also urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to brush aside speculation from opponents over the North's intentions.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 09:00 UTC
Joint Korean march to get Asian Games party started
The weeks and months leading up to the tournament have been dogged by worries over poor air quality, terrorism and Jakarta's notorious traffic. But organisers insist they are ready, and 4,000 dancers and a 100-piece orchestra will get the party started in Jakarta at a ceremony which organisers say will be watched by billions of people across Asia and beyond. The Games website says the ceremony will show the world Indonesia is capable of hosting an international event -- but the jury is still out. Around 50,000 people are expected inside the stadium, Games organising committee INASGOC said Saturday, adding that tickets -- which range in price from to $50-$350 -- had sold out. "You can see people are decorating their neighbourhoods with the Games' logos."
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 08:26 UTC
Crocs and rays no problem for unsung Asian swim heroes
"We see jellyfish and stingrays mostly and sometimes eels so I get pretty scared," 14-year-old Hulva Khulail told AFP. "The seawater is easier to swim in, but sometimes practice gets cancelled because of the water pollution. - Croc-infested waters -Another swimmer poised to become one of the unsung heroes of the Games is East Timor's Imelda Felycita Ximenes Belo, who only learned to swim five years ago. Many beaches in East Timor are unswimmable and communities live in fear of crocodile attacks -- but it does not stop Belo. My parents worry that I might get eaten but I just pray to God to protect me from the crocs."
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 08:26 UTC
Senior BMA officials park illegally, see vehicles locked by traffic police
The 10 vehicles were parked on Phaholyothin Road on the side that leads to the Victory Monument in front of the 2nd Calvary Division, causing traffic congestion in the area. The vehicles included an official van of the BMA that carried the city administration’s logo. Phayathai police station’s deputy traffic police chief Pol Lt-Colonel Borwornpop Sunthornrekha said the parked vehicles took up an entire lane of the road, causing traffic congestion. That action brought BMA officials to appear and tell the police that they had accompanied BMA Governor Aswin Kwanmuang to attend the Thai Niyom Yungyuen event at the division's compound. Police then lectured BMA officials against breaking the law, unlocked the vehicles and let the officials drive into the compound.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 08:26 UTC
Fears mount for stranded villages in India flood crisis
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced late Friday that the monsoon death toll had dramatically risen to 324. Helicopters have been dropping emergency food and water supplies across Kerala, while special trains carrying drinking water have been sent to the state. Dozens of dam and reservoir gates across the state have had to be opened as water levels reach danger levels, inundating many villages. Prime Minister Modi arrived in Kerala on Friday night and held meetings with state leaders and went on a brief air inspection tour. "I took stock of the situation arising in the wake of the devastating floods across the state," Modi said in a Twitter statement.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 08:15 UTC
Ranong keeps road to Chumphon closed after repeated landslides
The road remained unsafe on Saturday morning, as the mountain soil above the location of a recent repeated landslide is saturated with rainwater and could slide down, said Ranong Governor Jatupoj Piyumputra. The viewpoint area near the Pulyabal Waterfall about four kilometres from the Ranong downtown saw the first landslide on Tuesday. A second landslide at the same spot occurred on Friday. On Saturday, officials used a drone to survey the mountain soil at the same spot and could see that it was saturated and vulnerable to yet more sliding. Motorists were told to use a bypass from Ban Hin Chang to Tha Rua and then on to Ban Khao Nang Hong until further notice.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 07:52 UTC
Radio sports commentator ‘Hia Nos’ dies
The radio programme said Hia Nos or Apisit Apisuksiri, best known for his football commentary, died after collapsing and losing consciousness. The FM99 Active Radio Facebook page said efforts to resuscitate him failed.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 07:18 UTC
PM misreported over 3-month solution to Bangkok traffic woes, says spokesman
The PM was just issuing an order to government agencies to come up with measures within three months to deal with road congestion, he said. Sansern said Prayut did not mean that the city’s notorious traffic woes could be tackled in three months as reported. There are several issues making up the traffic problem, Sansern said, including an inadequate city plan, the on-going construction of mass transit systems and the high number of vehicles and motorcycles at 9.7 million. Sansern said the number of vehicles and motorcycles is eight times higher than can be properly accommodated on the available road space. The spokesman said Prayut simply ordered related government agencies to within three months come up with measures to reduce traffic congestion as much as possible.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 07:18 UTC
Japan delegation chief: Good competition between China, Japan beneficial
Yamashita reiterated that Japan has not set a medal target for the Asian Games here but hopes to use this opportunity to evaluate their athletes and learn to prepare for the 2020 Olympic Games. "We have set a target for 30 gold medals at the 2020 Olympics. The Asian Games are the last big games before 2020 and are thus very important for us," he said. "We have many good athletes in these new events and hope they have a good performance," he said. Yamashita also said that currently there are fierce competition in Japan for the opportunities to participate in the Olympic Games two years later.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 06:45 UTC
30 more villages in Phayao hit by floods
Pong district chief Sit Wongman said the Khuan and Ngim rivers in his districts had overflowed, triggering floods in 30 villages in six tambon – Tambon Ngim, Oil, Pong, Na Plung, Khuan and Khun Khuan. The floods damaged some 2,500 rai (400 hectares)of farmlands, he added. He said district officials have visited the villagers to survey damages with an eye to future compensation.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 06:45 UTC
PM says monitor weather reports, avoid waterfalls
Sansern quoted Prayut as expressing concern that many parts of the country could be hit by floods under the influence of Bebinca tropical storm, which is expected to unleash heavy rains on much of Thailand. The PM advises people to closely monitor weather forecasts and warnings from the Meteorological Department. The spokesman said Prayut is especially concerned about tourists visiting waterfalls and wants them to be aware of possible runs-off. The prime minister had also instructed park officials to monitor and warn tourists of the dangers posed by mountain runoffs at waterfalls and of high waves at the seaside.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 18, 2018 06:22 UTC