US Navy searching for overboard marine off Philippines
The US 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit said a member, who was not named, may have gone overboard Thursday morning. Aircraft on board the USS Essex are searching waters off the Sulu Sea and the Surigao Strait while multiple searches are also being made inside the ship itself, the unit said. "We remain committed to searching for and finding our marine," the statement quoted its commander, Colonel Chandler Nelms as saying. "As of now there has been no update on whether the marine has been recovered," Lorenzana added. Sulu Sea sprawls over the central and southern sections of the Asian archipelago, a US military ally.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
August 11, 2018 07:30 UTC
Presidential debate showcases divided Brazil | Bangkok Post: news
SAO PAULO - Brazil's top presidential candidates -- minus imprisoned frontrunner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva -- have clashed in the first debate of the campaign, showcasing sharp divides in Latin America's biggest nation. Lula, who has a stunning lead in the polls despite serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, was absent. With deeply unpopular President Michel Temer not seeking a new term, it is the least predictable election in decades. Instead, party leaders organized what they called an alternative debate in Sao Paulo, which was broadcast on social media, featuring Haddad and other allies. Other polls point to between 33 and 41 percent of the electorate defying the law to skip voting.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 07:41 UTC
Cables detail CIA waterboarding at secret prison run by Gina Haspel | Bangkok Post: news
(Reuters photo)WASHINGTON: In late November 2002, CIA interrogators at a secret prison in Thailand warned a Qaeda suspect that he had to "suffer the consequences of his deception". Like those documents, the new cables describe the waterboarding of Mr Nashiri, as well as the use of other torture techniques. The cables describe interrogators shaving Mr Nashiri, locking him in a box and slamming him against the wall. "Ultimately, the public will be horrified by the level of brutality employed by the CIA," Mr Kammen said. Mr Nashiri is being held at the wartime prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 07:18 UTC
Close watch on new substance in weight-loss products | Bangkok Post: news
A lab official at the Department of Medical Sciences conducts a test on samples of food supplements. Desoxy-D2PM, which remains an uncontrolled stimulant psychoactive substance, has been found in four slimming products so far. (Photo courtesy of Department of Medical Sciences)The Department of Medical Sciences has kept a close watch on a new psychoactive substance detected in weight loss products in Thailand. The department has since monitored the use of the substance closely and detected the presence of desoxy-D2PM in another four slimming products. Desoxy-D2PM is banned in the UK and Sweden, though it remains uncontrolled in Thailand.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 07:07 UTC
Thai budget carriers' losses mount, shares tumble | Bangkok Post: business
(Bangkok Post file photo)Low-cost carriers saw share prices falling nearly 7% in morning trade in Bangkok on Friday after they reported losses due to tough competition and higher fuel costs. Asia Aviation Plc, AirAsia Group Bhd's partner in Thai AirAsia, reported a loss of 306 million baht for its April-June period versus a profit of 170 million baht a year ago, sending its shares down over 4%. Losses at rival Nok Air Plc widened to 830 million baht in the quarter versus losses of 650 million baht a year ago. "Higher fuel costs have been a challenge with fuel being a major operating cost for any airlines," Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya said in a statement. Analysts say tourist seasonality next quarter should help recovery and that plans to introduce a fuel surcharge could partly offset higher jet fuel prices.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 06:56 UTC
Foreign divers rescued after pickup swept into canal | Bangkok Post: news
The pickup truck carrying two foreign divers, one a Danish national involved in the dramatic rescue at Tham Luang cave last month, sits partially submerged in Sinpun canal, Nakhon Si Thammarat, late Thursday afternoon. (continues below)Rescuers rush to help the two foreigners whose vehicle was swept into a canal by forest runoff in Nakhon Si Thammarat. (Photo by Nujaree Raekrun)Police said the two men were returning from instructing at a cave diving course in tambon Krungyan of Thung Yai district and were on their way to Phuket. It directed them to a secondary road, by-passing another flooded road, when they were hit by forest runoff . They were not aware there was also forest runoff flooding that road.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 06:49 UTC
Nationwide probe after Tokyo med school excludes women | Bangkok Post: news
A man walks past the Tokyo Medical University building in Tokyo on Wednesday. The Education Ministry has asked all 81 private and public medical schools to check their admission procedures for possible discrimination against female applicants. The probe came after Tokyo Medical University admitted it routinely altered entrance test scores for female applicants to keep women out, in a scandal that has sparked outrage in Japan. Tokyo Medical University deliberately cut women's entry exam scores to stop them getting in. According to local media, other instances had been discovered where individual entrance test scores were revised upwards, suggesting potential favouritism.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 06:49 UTC
Taliban launch major attack on Afghan city, casualties: officials | Bangkok Post: news
The Taliban began the attack late Thursday from several positions around the city, provincial police chief Farid Ahmad Mashal told AFP. Police special forces have been deployed to help block the Taliban advance on the city, an Afghan security official said. Afghan forces have been struggling to hold back the resurgent militant group since the withdrawal of NATO combat forces at the end of 2014. After a day of intense fighting, Afghan commandos and US air strikes drove the group to the outskirts of the city. The attack on Ghazni comes as the Taliban faces growing pressure to agree to peace talks with the Afghan government to end the 17-year war.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 05:26 UTC
Prawit suffered 'serious infection' | Bangkok Post: news
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon receives birthday gifts at his residence in the 1st Infantry Regiment barracks in Bangkok on Friday. (Photo by Wassana Nanuam)Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said on Friday he recently suffered not only food poisoning but also sepsis and needed antibiotic injections for two weeks. He was escorted out of the meeting by a medical team and left for Bangkok immediately. Gen Prawit said on Friday that he had suffered from a dangerous bacterial infection that harmed him beyond food poisoning. He spent three days in hospital and discharged himself early so he could return to work,Gen Prawit, also defence minister, will be 73 years old on Saturday.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 05:17 UTC
China's new online cosmetics stars: men | Bangkok Post: news
Jiang Cheng preparing for a male beauty video at his home in BeijingNow he is among hundreds of Chinese men sharing beauty tips online and cashing in on the booming male cosmetics industry. "Women may not fully grasp the concept of male make-up. Online beauty stars form an enormous industry in China, with internet celebrities known as wang hong, or online stars, blurring the line between entertainment and e-commerce. These are some of messages I get," Mr Lan says, adding he has been called a "sissy" and other slurs. Now the beauty company sells a wide variety of cosmetics ranging from foundation to lipstick solely for men and has moved the entire business online.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 05:15 UTC
'X-Ray Outlaw' nets 72 more | Bangkok Post: news
Tourist Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn speaks to some of the foreigners arrested during the "X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner" raids, on Friday. Most of them face immigration charges, Tourist Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn said on Friday. The 15 others (10 from Myanmar, three Thais and one Nigerian) were charged with other offences, Pol Maj Gen Surachate said. The string of the raids were the 20th in the ongoing crackdown dubbed ''X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner''. Pol Maj Gen Surachate said the crackdown also focuses on Nigerian nationals, with several having been arrested in connection with online romance scams.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 05:03 UTC
Jokowi picks cleric as running mate in 2019 | Bangkok Post: news
Indonesian President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, centre left, and his running mate Ma'ruf Amin, centre right, greet their supporters prior to formal registration as candidates for the 2019 presidential election in Jakarta on Friday. (AP photo)JAKARTA: The battle lines for Indonesia's 2019 presidential election were drawn Friday as President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo formally registered as a candidate after choosing a conservative Islamic cleric as his running mate. Jokowi, the first Indonesian president from outside the military and political elite, announced his vice-presidential candidate, Ma'ruf Amin, on Thursday after weeks of fevered speculation in local media. There was a celebratory atmosphere and snarled traffic outside the election commission in central Jakarta as Jokowi and Amin arrived. "Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno are the best sons of the nation like me and Mr Ma'ruf Amin.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 05:03 UTC
Saudi effort to punish Canada seems to have little effect | Bangkok Post: news
But that doesn't mean the school's director wants his government to abandon its advocacy of civil rights in Saudi Arabia, which prompted the worst diplomatic rift in history between the two countries. "I am very much with my government to stand up for human rights,'' the head of Techno Canada, Basu Mukherjee, said as he conceded the loss of Saudi students will hurt his bottom line. Brian Hodges, who oversees about 94 from Saudi Arabia including 58 or 59 trained specialists or fellows at Toronto's University Health Network, said patient care won't be affected. Canada does get 10% of its imported crude oil from Saudi Arabia, but even if the dispute escalates further, Saudi oil could potentially be replaced with US shale oil or oil from Canada's oil sands region -- the third largest oil reserves in the world. The worst potential impact on Canada would be if Saudi Arabia cancelled Canada's largest arms deal, a $15-billion deal with Saudi Arabia in 2014 to export its light-armoured vehicles to the kingdom.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 04:41 UTC
Japan economy rebounds in April-June on strong domestic demand | Bangkok Post: news
(EPA-EFE photo)TOKYO: Japan's economy returned to a growth path in the April-June quarter, avoiding a lapse into recession thanks to a pick-up in domestic demand, government data showed Friday. Quarter-on-quarter, the world's third-largest economy grew 0.5%. Meanwhile, exports, a major driver of economic growth in past quarters, only grew 0.2% amid a fall in outgoing services such as shipping. Unadjusted for inflation, the economy grew an annualised 1.7%. The nominal growth rate, which corresponds to a 0.4% expansion from the preceding quarter, fell below the real growth rate reflecting weak price gains.
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 03:35 UTC
Drive to curb salt intake should focus on China: study | Bangkok Post: news
Individuals with a daily salt intake of at least 12/5 grammes (about two-and-a-half teaspoons) have been associated with increased blood pressure and a greater risk of strokeOnly individuals with a daily salt intake of at least 12.5 grammes -- about two-and-a-half teaspoons -- were associated with increased blood pressure and a greater risk of stroke, they reported in The Lancet, a medical journal. One gramme of sodium equals 2.5 grammes of salt. Four-fifths of the groups examined in China had average daily salt intake of 12.5 grammes, whereas in other countries 84 percent ingested between 7.5 and 12.5 grammes. Most controversial was the suggestion that low sodium intake may, in fact, provoke heart disease. "Sodium is an essential nutrient but the requirement is very low at about 0.5 grammes (1.25 grammes of salt) per day."
Source:Bangkok Post
August 10, 2018 02:48 UTC