Latest : Residents told to remain indoors after 'dangerous chemical' scare at Laem Chabang Port
The director of Thailand Port Authority, Kamolsak Phromprayoon, later said that the incident was under control but advised anyone who lived downwind of the port who had inhaled smoke and felt ill to go to hospital. Containers carrying toxic chemicals are required to identify any dangerous cargo under Port Authority of Thailand regulations. Initial reports said at least 25 port workers were injured and local people were evacuated following the explosion. Port director Vice Admiral Yutthana Mokkhao said the ship was docked at A2 port. The explosion sent clouds of white power into the air as well as black smoke from the fire.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 25, 2019 04:27 UTC
Urgent : At least 25 workers injured after explosion on ship at Laem Chabang Port
Laem Chabang port director Vice Admiral Yutthana Mokkhao said an urgent investigation was being undertaken to determine the contents of the container. At the time of explosion, about 8am, scores of port employees were working in the area. The explosion sent clouds of an unknown white power into the air as well as black smoke from the fire. It was reported that at least 25 of the workers were sent to a nearby hospital after being exposed to the white powder. Workers remaining at the scene were seen dousing their faces with water to wipe off the powder.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 25, 2019 04:18 UTC
Myanmar signs deal with UNHCR on humanitarian aid
Officials on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on collaboration in disaster management and humanitarian works with Grandi. While driving in northern Rakhine, Grandi saw stretches of empty land once occupied by Rohingya villages now covered by overgrown vegetation. The Rakhine State Government currently estimates that around 29,000 people, mostly from the Rakhine community, are displaced in seven townships in Rakhine state due to this conflict. More than 900,000 stateless Rohingya refugees currently live in crowded settlements in Cox’s Bazar, of whom an estimated 741,000 fled from Myanmar since August 2017, according to UNHCR. Prior to his visit to Myanmar, Grandi visited refugee camps in Bangladesh in late April.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 25, 2019 04:07 UTC
US judge deals blow to Trump's border wall plans | Bangkok Post: news
Trump declared an emergency in a bid to bypass Congress to obtain money for border wall construction after a standoff over funding for the project led to the longest government shutdown in US history. About 20 states, including Democratic strongholds New York and California, along with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), environmental groups and border communities are involved in suits that claim the emergency declaration violates the constitution. "We've seen the damage that the ever-expanding border wall has inflicted on communities and the environment for decades. "Yet again, the American people have had to look to our courts for a check on President Trump's unlawful power grabs." Trump made the construction of a wall to stem illegal immigration from Latin America central to his successful 2016 campaign for the presidency.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 25, 2019 03:56 UTC
Global court to rule on Russia's detention of Ukrainian sailors | Bangkok Post: news
Judge Jin-Hyun Paik of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in the German port city of Hamburg was scheduled to announce its decision at noon (1000 GMT). Kiev on May 10 asked the international tribunal to order Russia to release the sailors and the Berdyansk, Nikopol and Yani Kapu vessels. Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Kremlin's International Relations Committee, said recently on Sputnik Radio that "Russia has not violated international law; Russia has reacted to an aggression against it." - Stalemate -Earlier this month Ukraine's deputy foreign minister Olena Zerkal, addressing the tribunal, described the sailors' detention as "an additional illustration of Russia's continued disrespect for international law". Russia has argued that the rights of the Ukrainian sailors have been strictly observed, including access to legal aid and medical attention.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 25, 2019 03:45 UTC
Madrid's bullfighting 'ritual' acclaimed and contested | Bangkok Post: news
Around 500,000 enthusiasts are expected to descend on Madrid's Las Ventas arena during the month-long Feria de San Isidro, the Spanish capital's biggest bullfighting festival. "I don't know anyone who loves the fighting bull more than the torero," says Casas, a 71-year-old former matador, as he strolls through Las Ventas, built in 1929. - 'He killed it badly' -On this spring day, the Las Ventas ring is teeming with close to 24,000 people. Onlookers whistle with disapproval at another matador as "the bull suffers too much," adds his wife, Paqui Fernandez, pulling a face. It is a poster that appealed to Eladio Galan, a 25-year-old pharmacist who wonders whether bullfighting will still exist in 30 years.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 25, 2019 03:33 UTC
EU votes as populists seek historic breakthrough | Bangkok Post: news
More than 400 million people are eligible to elect 751 members of the European Parliament with the first official results to be announced late Sunday once voting in all EU countries is over. Turnout is a major concern in the EU elections, with voters in Slovakia historically the least interested, having just 13 percent show up for the last polls five years ago. Polls give her RN party a slight edge, with around 25 percent support against Macron's 22.5 percent. "It is hard to overstate the importance of this week's European Parliament elections," said Mujtaba Rahman of the Eurasia Group. The EU has also expressed concern about disinformation campaigns on social media by outside actors -- notably Russia -- trying to influence the election outcome.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 25, 2019 01:52 UTC
Trump, Abe to burnish ties over golf, sumo and steak | Bangkok Post: news
Japanese and US officials hail as "unprecedented" the relationship between Trump and his "golf buddy", Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the pair will again find time for a round to cement their diplomatic bromance. "With all the countries of the world, I'm the guest of honour at the biggest event that they've had in over 200 years," said Trump before his departure. Abe has just recently returned from Washington and Trump himself will be returning to Japan in just over a month for the Group of 20 leaders' summit in the western city of Osaka. A Japanese diplomat said the frequency of contact "demonstrates the unprecedented level of close personal relations between the Japanese and US leaders". Some observers suspect Abe is rolling out the red carpet to present Japan as the most favourable of the countries currently engaged in trade disputes with Washington.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 25, 2019 01:41 UTC
Full STREAM ahead to add viewers
IN ITS drive to become the leading online TV player in Thailand, Line TV will this year target people upcountry, most of whom are now mainly watching traditional offline TV. Those urbanites are the core base audience of Line TV, while another 40 million Thais are viewed as a largely untapped opportunity. Line TV has strong partnerships with many content producers and benefits from having the core Line platform to drive marketing for Line TV. People can watch Line TV on Apple TV, and it will soon be on Android TV and Chromecast. It is on air every Friday, on Line TV first at 8pm and at Workpoint TV channel at 9pm.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 25, 2019 01:30 UTC
Facebook to boost SMEs’ digital skills
The digital economy accounted for 19 per cent of Thailand’s GDP in 2018 and is expected to contribute Bt282 billion by 2021. The programme is focused on upskilling the enterprises, in line with the company’s commitment to help catalyse digital transformation, support inclusion and accelerate Thailand as a digital economy. We are delighted to be partnering with Kenan Foundation Asia and our government and community partners to expand digital skills in Thailand,” said Lim. Strengthening small businesses to better succeed in the global economy is a core pillar of Kenan’s programming to help micro and small businesses along with empowering them to achieve their dreams. Meanwhile, Ajarin Pattanapanchai, permanent secretary of Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, said the government must act as a facilitator for success, creating an ecosystem that nurtures the growth of our digital economy.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 25, 2019 01:18 UTC
SCB wants developers on board
SCB is confident that API access will propel SCB to full open bank status. “Developers can access SCB's API via the developer web portal, which will allow them to read documents and methods for linking their applications with SCB's. The portal also provides SCB with simulator apps to allow application developers to conduct tests covering all scenarios instantly in a sandbox environment.”The bank is holding an "Open Banking API Hackathon event by SCB", offering opportunities for new generation application developers to freely link with the bank's API. “Therefore, the bank is allowing developers to make use of its open banking API to develop products. “What SCB would like to see from the Open Banking Hackathon event is the dissemination of information to create mechanism for the futureof our country’s financial ecosystem using open banking API.”
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 25, 2019 01:18 UTC
Novartis gets US approval for $2.1 million gene therapy | Bangkok Post: news
Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis has received US regulatory approval for a gene therapy that has a price tag of $2.1 millionWASHINGTON - Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis on Friday announced it had received US regulatory approval for a gene therapy that treats a rare childhood disorder and has a price tag of $2.1 million, making it the most expensive drug in history. But the announcement comes as the administration of US President Donald Trump has vowed to tackle soaring drug costs. Novartis defended the pricing by saying that gene therapy was a transformative new type of treatment and was 50 percent cheaper than current treatments. "Zolgensma is a historic advance for the treatment of SMA and a landmark one-time gene therapy," Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan said in a statement, which added that the company was working with government and insurers to accelerate coverage. Gene and cell therapies leverage the biology to reverse diseases ranging from congenital blindness to pediatric leukemia.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 25, 2019 01:18 UTC
US judge suspended for anti-Trump comments
"Judge Kwan's behavior denigrates his reputation as an impartial, independent, dignified, and courteous jurist who takes no advantage of the office in which he serves," the court said in a 19-page opinion. In one posting on January 20, 2017, when Trump was inaugurated president, Kwan wrote: "Welcome to governing. In another posting a month later, Kwan wrote: "Welcome to the beginning of the fascist takeover." The defendant told Kwan that he planned to pay all of his court fines when he got his tax returns. Kwan told the defendant"Prayer might be the answer," Kwan added.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 25, 2019 00:45 UTC
Federer, Nadal threaten Djokovic bid for historic Slam | Bangkok Post: news
World number one Djokovic completed his first private stranglehold of all four Slams with victory at Roland Garros in 2016. Federer and Nadal, with 20 and 17 career Grand Slam titles each respectively, may be ahead of 15-time major winner Djokovic in total hauls. Federer is returning to Roland Garros for the first time since 2015 having turned his back on clay court tennis to focus on Wimbledon. "I don't care if I'm the favourite," said Nadal who starts against German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann, the world 184 who has never won a Grand Slam match. Thiem, the 2018 runner-up to Nadal at Roland Garros, has defeated the Spaniard four times on clay.
Source:Bangkok Post
May 25, 2019 00:22 UTC
Jutatip makes hat-trick in Tour of Trat 1st stage
Thai sprinter passed the finishing line in 1.57:50 hours, followed by Kajihara Yumi of Japan National Team and Kim Hyunji from Korea National Team. The national cyclist who earlier this year won her first ever Tour of Thailand in Chiang Mai earned the yellow jersey as the leader of the 73.05km first stage which ran from Trat City Hall – Ban Laem Klat – Trat City Hall. The former Asian Games gold medallist Jutatip also dominated the spring leader and the best Asean rider categories which awarded her the blue and green jerseys respectively. The 2nd stage on Saturday will cover a distance of 92.60 kilometers and will start and finish at the Trat City Hall.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
May 25, 2019 00:11 UTC