Author: Desk Team

Police brief panel on torture case
9Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

Police brief panel on torture case

Pol Col Thitisan Utthanaphon, centre, is taken into custody at the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok on Aug 26. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool) Pol Gen Suchart Teerasawat, deputy chief of the national police, on Thursday briefed a House committee on the legal proceedings against Pol Col Thitisan Utthanaphon, the prime suspect in the case of the fatal torture of a drug suspect at Nakhon Sawan's Muang police station last month. Pol Gen Suchart, head of the investigation team, was speaking before the House committee on legal affairs, justice and human rights, chaired by Sira Jenjaka, a Bangkok MP of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party. Pol Gen Suchart told the committee that Pol Col Thitisan, former chief of the police station, and six of his subordinates arrested Chiraphong Thanapat, a ...
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Police warn against more protests
9Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

Police warn against more protests

A car mob rally like this one on July 10, 2021 will return to Bangkok and some provinces on Sunday. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul) Anti-government protesters are planning more demonstrations for Sunday in Bangkok and some other provinces. Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen, deputy spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said on Friday that a so-called "car park" gathering planned for Sunday in Bangkok and other provinces is not only against the law, but also the emergency decree and the Disease Control Act. As usual, Pol Col Kissana said, the police will gather evidence of illegal activities during any protest and will use it as evidence in court. Shooting point: Protesters climb onto a structure during a rally near Victory Monument. Some of them were armed with sling-shots to fire objects...
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Finnoventure Fund I backs growth of local tech startups
9Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Business, Singapore, World

Finnoventure Fund I backs growth of local tech startups

Mr Sam says KFIN concentrates on three sectors for tech investment: fintech, e-commerce and automotive. Krungsri Finnovate (KFIN), a corporate venture capital arm under Bank of Ayudhya (BAY), launched a startup fund on Thursday for high net worth investors interested in tech companies. The move aims to support the growth of local tech startups in the long term, said Sam Tanskul, managing director of KFIN. Finnoventure Fund I claims to be the first startup private equity trust fund in Thailand and Asean to provide an option to institutional and high net worth investors under the regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission, he said. The size of Finnoventure Fund I is set at 3 billion baht with a 10-year maturity, with investment focused on Series A startups, said Mr Sam. Invest...
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State expedites border checkpoint talks
8Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Singapore, World

State expedites border checkpoint talks

State expedites border checkpoint talks The government pledges to accelerate talks with neighbouring countries to reopen as many border checkpoints as possible to boost cross-border trade, which has experienced robust growth the first seven months. According to Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, the Foreign Trade Department chief is teaming up with the private sector and the governors of border provinces including Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom and Mukdahan to continue negotiations with neighbouring countries. Pak Sang checkpoint in Ubon Ratchathani province is expected to be reopened soon after a joint meeting with Laos on July 30. According to Mr Jurin, responsible agencies and the private sector are also pushing for reopening the Buketa and Tak Bai border checkpoints ...
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Hong Kong-style cafés boast vast menus that reflect the steeped cultures of the region. Here’s what you should order
8Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Business, Singapore, World

Hong Kong-style cafés boast vast menus that reflect the steeped cultures of the region. Here’s what you should order

To understand the breakfast menu at a cha chang tang, often called a Hong Kong-style diner, is to understand the region’s layered history. Hong Kong’s role as a port city and former British colony has resulted in a cuisine that is a mishmash of (among others) British, Portuguese, Japanese, Malaysian, Cantonese and Singaporean flavours. It’s why the menu offers steak and eggs alongside satay beef with vermicelli, accompanied by a tall glass of ying yang, a milk tea mixed with coffee; and my personal favourite, macaroni soup with ham. It’s a no-fuss dish of elbow macaroni in a clear broth with diced luncheon meat. The soup is such a breakfast staple in Hong Kong that it is served both at luxury hotels and at McDonald’s. It’s not fusion cooking per se, but a culinary record of how cuisines
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Sudan signs deal with ICC to get justice for Darfur victims
8Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Conflict, World

Sudan signs deal with ICC to get justice for Darfur victims

CAIRO (AP) — Sudan signed an agreement with the International Criminal Court on Thursday to move forward in the cases against those accused of atrocities in the Darfur region, including the country’s former President Omar al-Bashir, a top ICC prosecutor said. Prosecutor Karim Khan said at a press conference that he would also be deploying a full-time team from his office to Sudan. The developments come as Sudan’s government continues to hold al-Bashir in prison. The ICC issued a warrant for al-Bashir on war crimes charges more than a decade ago, while he was in office. The agreement further raises the possibility of al-Bashir being tried in The Hague, where the ICC is based, an issue that remains controversial in Sudan. Khan landed in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum earlier this week a
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Hong Kong teachers’ union to disband after China pressure
8Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Politics, World

Hong Kong teachers’ union to disband after China pressure

Hong Kong teachers' union to disband after China pressure President of the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union Fung Wai-wah (right) speaks at a press conference in Hong Kong on Tuesday to announce it decided to disband citing "huge pressure" as authorities stamp out the city's democracy movement and impose political orthodoxy on the finance hub. (AFP photo) HONG KONG: Hong Kong's largest teachers' union said on Tuesday it would disband, days after it was criticised by Chinese state media and the city's Education Bureau severed ties, accusing the group of helping to infiltrate schools with politics. The move is expected to deepen concerns over a crackdown on opposition groups in the Asian financial hub after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the city last year that h
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India locks down Kashmir after top separatist leader’s death
8Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Conflict, World

India locks down Kashmir after top separatist leader’s death

SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Indian authorities cracked down on public movement and imposed a near-total communications blackout in disputed Kashmir on Thursday after the death of Syed Ali Geelani, a top separatist leader who became the emblem of the region’s defiance against New Delhi. Geelani, who died late Wednesday at age 91, was buried in a local graveyard in a quiet funeral organized by authorities under harsh restrictions, his son, Naseem Geelani, told The Associated Press. He said the family had planned to bury him at the main martyrs’ graveyard in Srinagar, the region’s main city, as specified in his will but were not allowed to do so by police. “They snatched his body and forcibly buried him. Nobody from the family was present for his burial. We tried to resist but they overpowered u
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Land of golden hues
8Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, World

Land of golden hues

A trip to the central province of Ang Thong reveals majestic temples and Buddha images from the Ayutthaya period, market communities and museums featuring works by talented locals The gigantic Buddha statue known as Luang Pho Yai rises 95m above the temple grounds at Wat Muang in Ang Thong's Wiset Chai Chan district. From afar, you can see his calm face and oval-shaped head with a flame-like halo on top of hair curls. Luang Pho Yai of Wat Muang. Touching the fingertip of the gigantic 95m-tall Buddha sculpture is how locals ask for a blessing. But when you get closer and stand in front, you will feel humbled by its size. If you look up, you will wonder if he is looking at you or perhaps aimlessly at the ground. The statue is the largest Buddha image in Thailand. Its height is similar to...
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The Latest: Russia reports daily record of 820 virus deaths
7Sep By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, World

The Latest: Russia reports daily record of 820 virus deaths

MOSCOW — Russia reported a one-day record of 820 coronavirus deaths. The national coronavirus taskforce says the number of new daily infections reached 19,630. That follows a consistent ebb since the beginning of the month when 22,800 cases were reported. The previous record for deaths was 819 on Aug. 14. Russia has reported more than 6.8 million confirmed cases and 179,243 confirmed deaths. ___ MORE ON THE PANDEMIC: — U.S. may reach 100,000 more COVID-19 deaths by Dec. 1. — AP-NORC poll: Half of US workers favor vaccine, mask mandate in workplaces — Illinois Gov. Pritzker requires educators, health workers to get vaccine — U.S. virus surge breaks hospital records amid rising toll on kids ___ — Find more AP coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apne
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