The Queen’s Corgis To Live With Prince Andrew And Ex Wife
MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
According To British Media Reports On Monday Prince Andrew And His Ex Wife Sarah, Duchess Of York, Will Look After The Late Queen Elizabeth’s Corgis, Following Her Passing.
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, who died peacefully at her home in Scotland on Thursday, was well known for her lifelong interest in animals and sports.
She was accompanied for most of her reign by her corgi dogs, which earned a reputation for snapping at the heels of royal retainers, and were descended from the dog called Susan she received as an 18th birthday gift from her parents.
King Charles Promises To Follow Example Set By His Mother
MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
King Charles Told Parliament On Monday He Was “Resolved Faithfully To Follow” The Example Set By His Mother, Queen Elizabeth, Addressing Lawmakers And Peers In What He Described As The “The Living And Breathing Instrument Of Our Democracy.”
New Britain’s King Charles III arrived at the Palace of Westminster with and Queen Consort Camilla for his first visit to parliament as monarch.
At a ceremony in Westminster Hall, the oldest building on the parliamentary estate, Charles used his address to the upper and lower houses of parliament to pay tribute to his mother and to pledge to uphold the principle of constitutional government.
“While very young, Her late Majesty pledged herself to serve her country and her people and to maintain the precious principles of constitutional government which lie at the heart of our nation. This vow she kept with unsurpassed devotion,” he told the assembled lawmakers and peers.
“She set an example of selfless duty which, with God’s help and your counsels, I am resolved faithfully to follow.”
The queen died at home on Thursday, triggering a period of national mourning when tens of thousands of Britons are expected to pay tribute to her.
The ceremony at Westminster Hall, when the speakers of the House of Lords and House of Commons offered their sympathies to the new king, Charles also paid tribute to parliament as “the living and breathing instrument of our democracy.”
“As I stand before you today, I cannot help but feel the weight of history which surrounds us, and which reminds us of the vital parliamentary traditions, to which members of both Houses dedicate yourselves with a such personal commitment for the betterment of us all.”
The members of parliament sang “God Save the King” to Charles in Westminster Hall before the King departed for Edinburgh for the arrival of his mother’s coffin to the St Giles cathedral.
Charles left Westminster to fly to Edinburgh to join his siblings in a solemn procession as the coffin is taken to St Giles cathedral.
Charles, 73, automatically became king of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Some Malaysian Students Avoid Eating, Drinking In School To Avoid Dirty Toilets
MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
Some Students Skip Breakfast In The Morning Just To Resist The Urge To Use The Toilets In School. Education Minister Radzi Jidin Said The Ministry Will Implement Better Toilet Designs To Ensure They Are Conducive To Students And Teachers.
“There are students who only eat after they have returned home. They refused to use the school toilets because they are dirty.
“Our toilets are always wet and students fear that they might dirty their clothes.
“Due to poor ventilation, the toilets remain wet throughout the day,” he said in a press conference after the Fuelling Education Transformation: Safe And Conducive Infrastructure event at Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah here on Monday.
Radzi said the ministry will implement better toilet designs in new schools and future maintenance projects.
“We want the focus to be on the design with better ventilation so that toilets are cleaner and don’t smell.
“We will take this approach seriously so that the whole school environment is very conducive for our students,” he said.
The Star
Asia News Network
The Fuelling Education Transformation: Safe And Conducive Infrastructure event brought together Public Works Departments (JKR), contractors and consultants to share knowledge on the planning and building process.
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives Among 97 Countries Under China’s Debt
MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
Sri Lanka, Pakistan And Maldives In South Asia Stand Neck-Deep In Debt To China. Pakistan Owes US$77.3 Billion, While Of External Debt To China While The Amount Owed By The Maldives Amounts To 31 Per Cent Of Its Gross National Income.
As of the end of 2020, Maldives’ total debt came in at $5.55 billion, $2.84 billion of which is external debt, a Forbes report said.
Citing data collected from the World Bank, Forbes said that 97 countries across the globe are under Chinese debt. Countries heavily in debt to China are mostly located in Africa, but can also be found in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
China is reaching most of the countries under the One Belt and Road scheme. The world’s low-income countries owe 37 per cent of their debt to China in 2022, compared to just 24 per cent in bilateral debt to the rest of the world. The Chinese global project to finance the construction of the port, rail and land infrastructure across the globe, has been a major source of debt to China for participating countries.
Those with the highest external debt to China are Pakistan $77.3 billion, Angola $36.3 billion, Ethiopia $7.9 billion, Kenya $7.4 billion and Sri Lanka $6.8 billion.
A newspaper in the Maldives reported that according to statistics released by the Finance Ministry, the country’s debt rose to $6.39 billion by end of Q1 2022. It made up 113 per cent of GDP. The projects in the Maldives funded with loans from China include the construction of the Sinamale Bridge and the airport development project.
Bangladesh too is a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Dhaka owes 6 per cent of its total foreign debt to Beijing, which is around $4 billion. According to a report from FT, Bangladesh is seeking a first instalment from the IMF of $1.5 billion, as part of a total package worth $4.5billion. “This amount would include a financial line to help it fund climate change resilience projects and buttress its budget,” reads the report. According to the IMF, Bangladesh had a total foreign debt of $62 billion in 2021. The majority of the debt is owed to multilateral lenders such as the World Bank.
The countries with the biggest debt burdens in relative terms were Djibouti and Angola, where debt to China exceeded 40 per cent of gross national income, an indicator similar to GDP but also including income from overseas sources. The equivalent of 30 per cent of GNI or more in Chinese debt affects the Maldives and Laos, with the latter just having opened a railway line to China which is already causing debt issues for the country.
Sri Lanka in May 2022 was the first country in two decades to default on its sovereign debt. Chinese debt to Sri Lanka was the fifth-highest overall in late 2020 and amounted to 9 per cent of the country’s GNI.
According to the Financial Times, which called the development in Sri Lanka and elsewhere China’s first overseas debt crisis, the country had to renegotiate loans worth $52 billion in 2020 and 2021 – more than three times the amount that met this fate in the two previous years.
China has provided record amounts of financing to developing countries over the past two decades, supporting both public and private sector projects. The Belt and Road Initiative is President Xi Jinping’s flagship foreign policy initiative; launched in 2013 to invest in almost 70 countries and international organisations, it has propelled China to global dominance in international development finance.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative has caused dozens of lower- and middle-income countries to accumulate $385 billion in “hidden debts” to Beijing, a new study has claimed.
AidData, an international development research lab based at Virginia’s College of William & Mary, says 13,427 Chinese development projects worth a combined $843 billion across 165 countries, over 18 years to the end of 2017.
China has faced criticism for its lending practices to poorer countries, accused of leaving them struggling to repay debts and therefore vulnerable to pressure from Beijing. China rejects this criticism and calls it as “propaganda of the vested interested countries” to tarnish its image.
Activist Gets 2 Years In Jail For Protesting ‘In Pink’
BY LINE : THE NATION
MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
A 23-Year-Old Pro-Democracy Activist Was Sentenced To Two Years In Jail For Allegedly Mocking A Member Of The Royal Family In A “Fashion Show” During A 2020 Rally.
The court on Monday found Jatuporn “New” Sae-Ung guilty of violating both Section 112 of the Criminal Code or lese majeste act and the law against public demonstration.
She was one of two protesters arrested for allegedly poking fun at a royal during a rally held by the Rassadorn Group in Silom on October 29, 2020.
As part of the demonstration, the group held a “fashion show”, which saw Jatuporn clad in a pink traditional dress, walking down the catwalk. Apart from other protesters yelling “long live, long live”, the fashion show ended without a speech.
It is believed the so-called fashion show was held to protest against the 13-million baht budget given to the Commerce Ministry to showcase the Sirivannavari brand overseas. The brand is owned by Princess Sirivannavari.
Jatuporn’s lawyer Weeranan Uadsri confirmed that the court had found her guilty of two charges and had initially sentenced her to three years for lese majeste and a 1,500 baht fine for violating the public demonstration act.
However, the court commuted the penalties by a third, to two years in jail and a fine of 1,000 baht on grounds that her testimony in court was quite useful.
Weeranan said the defence is seeking bail to appeal against the ruling. Jatuporn showed up in court dressed in pink. Accompanying her were some friends.
Before entering the court, she insisted she had joined the “fashion show” innocently.
“I was not imitating anyone. I didn’t ask anyone to bow to me or shout ‘long live’,” she said, adding she was being prosecuted over a misunderstanding.
Jatuporn and 16-year-old Noppasin Treelayapewat were indicted for lese majeste on July 15, 2021. As of press time, there were no reports on Noppasin.
According to the thaipoliticalprisoners website, a complaint had been filed against the pair by a royalist, who claimed Jatuporn “ridiculed the Queen by wearing a pink Thai traditional dress to the fashion show and walking along a red carpet under an umbrella held by another protester”.
Analysis: Govt Reeling As Anutin Switches To Thaksin’s Side Ahead Of Election
BY LINE : THE NATION
MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
The Bhumjaithai Party Last Week Broke Ranks With The Ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) By Voting For A Bill To End The Senates’ Power To Select The Prime Minister.
Pundits see Bhumjaithai’s move as a cunning power play by its leader, Deputy PM and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, ahead of the next general election. The election must be called by March when the House of Representatives’ four-year term expires.
Political analysts say Anutin has noted the waning popularity of generals Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prawit Wongsuwan and Anupong “Pok” Paochinda – the so-called 3Ps who have ruled Thailand since the 2014 coup.
The observers believe Anutin realised the trio was losing its grip on power after Gen Prayut was suspended as PM pending a Constitutional Court ruling on whether his eight-year tenure expired on August 24.
However, the so-called pro-democracy opposition parties suffered a blow when the bill to end the Senate’s power in electing the prime minister was shot down at the first reading. It failed to win the required support of 364 MPs and 84 senators during a joint sitting of Parliament on Wednesday.
Over the weekend, Anutin explained why his party had joined the Democrats and opposition parties to vote in support of the bill. The PPRP and most senators voted against the bill since the ruling party is relying on Senate support to get its prime minister candidate elected – just as it did for Gen Prayut in 2019.
Anutin questioned the fairness of allowing unelected Senators to decide who becomes PM.
“If a candidate has support from 250 MPs but senators elect another politician as the prime minister, that candidate will be the most pitiful person in the world,” he said.
Observers believe Anutin is preparing for a tenure ruling against Prayut. Hence he is distancing himself from the PPRP in expectation of forming a coalition government with the Pheu Thai Party, widely believed to be controlled by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pundits reckon Anutin was under pressure to show Thaksin that he has switched sides, so he chose to vote for the bill.
Thaksin, who was ousted by the 2006 coup and has lived overseas since a 2018 conviction for corruption, had earlier criticised Anutin during a talk on the Clubhouse platform.
“Don’t’ believe Anutin. He once said he would not elect Prayut as prime minister but eventually he elected Prayut Chan-o-cha,” Thaksin said.
Anutin then sought to explain why his party had supported Prayut for PM four years ago.
He claimed he had initially planned to join a Pheu Thai-led coalition government but it failed to gather the required majority of 375 MPs.
“I feared the country would erupt in turmoil, so I joined the PPRP-led coalition,” Anutin said.
Pundits said it was not surprising to see Anutin change colours as he is seen as “a man for all seasons”.
Under the junta led by the “3 P” generals, Anutin distanced himself from Pheu Thai by portraying his party as non-partisan and ready to work with any side. Now, however, he is playing the democratic card.
Political observers point to Anutin’s biography – “Where There is a Hole, There is a Rat” – as proof of his opportunistic nature. Anutin’s nickname is “Noo”, or rat in Thai.
Revenue Department To Come Up With Carbon Tax Plan Next Year
BY LINE : THE NATION
MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
The Revenue Department Will Next Year Come Up With Clear Measures And Rates For Carbon Taxes On Goods That Emit High Carbon Dioxide During Production, Its Chief Said On Monday.
Ekniti Nitithanprapas, director-general of the department, said clear measures and rates for collecting the so-called carbon tax would be ready by next year.
He said the department is now studying effective measures to slap carbon tax on goods and services that emit high volume of greenhouse gases as several other countries have started collecting the tax.
“Thailand cannot avoid collecting carbon tax because many other countries have already started doing it,” Ekniti said.
He said European Union nations would next year start collecting carbon taxes on five goods whose production processes cause high carbon dioxide emissions. The five goods categories are: cement, steel, aluminium, chemicals and fertilisers, and electricity.
“If Thailand does not collect carbon taxes on these goods, exporters will have to pay the tax at the destination EU nations. If we collect the tax in Thailand, we will negotiate with the EU to exempt the goods from double carbon tax,” Ekniti said.
So far, the department is contemplating two methods – collecting on the goods or collecting tax on the production process at the factories.
For the first option, the tax will vary in accordance with amount of carbon dioxide emitted when the goods are made, Ekniti said.
For the second option, the department will collect carbon tax during the manufacturing process – at the start, the midway and the end of production. He said if the department chooses the second option, it will have to consult the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organisation on the collection method and tax rates.
Ekniti said the carbon tax is being planned in accordance with the department’s goal to promote Environment, Social and Governance among businesses.
The goal is to support the government’s target of having carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero emission by 2065.
Heavy Downpours To Hit Most Of Thailand All This Week
BY LINE : THE NATION
TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
Thailand Will Be Hit With Isolated Heavy To Very Heavy Rain Until Sunday, The Thai Meteorological Department Said On Monday Evening.
A moderate monsoon trough will lie over the lower North, upper Central, East and lower Northeast as well as a low-pressure cell over Cambodia until Wednesday, the department said. A southwest monsoon will also prevail over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing heavy to very heavy rain to the North, Northeast, Central including Greater Bangkok, the East and the South.
From Thursday to Sunday, the monsoon trough across the North and Northeast, and the southwest monsoon over the rest of Thailand, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf will strengthen. This will bring continuous rain across the country, with isolated heavy rain in the North, Northeast, Central including Greater Bangkok, the East and the South. Waves in the upper Andaman and upper Gulf will be about 2 metres high, and higher under thundershowers.
The department has warned people to beware of flash floods and runoffs, especially along waterways near foothills and lowlands all this week. From Thursday to Sunday, all ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers.
The weather forecast until Sunday is as follows:
Greater Bangkok
Scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rains.
Temperature: Lows of 24-28 degrees and highs of 30-36 degrees Celsius.
North
Scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated very heavy rain on Tuesday and again on Saturday and Sunday.
Temperature: Lows of 21-26 degrees and highs of 28-34 degrees Celsius.
Northeast
Scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rain all week.
Temperature: Lows of 20-26 degrees and highs of 28-36 degrees Celsius.
Central region
Scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rain throughout the period.
Temperature: Low of 22-27 degrees and highs of 30-36 degrees Celsius.
East
Scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rain all week with isolated very heavy rain from Wednesday to Friday.
Waves until Wednesday will be about a metre high and higher in thundershowers and 2 metres high and higher in thundershowers from Thursday to Sunday.
Temperature: Low of 23-28 degrees and highs of 29-36 degrees Celsius.
South (east coast)
Scattered thundershowers with isolated heavy rain throughout the period. Waves will be a metre high on Tuesday and Wednesday and double the size from Thursday to Sunday. The waves will be higher under thundershowers.
Temperature: Low of 22-27 degrees and highs of 30-36 degrees Celsius.
South (west coast)
Scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers with isolated heavy rains all week.
Waves will be a metre high on Tuesday and Wednesday and 2 metres high from Thursday to Sunday. The waves will be higher under thundershowers.
Temperature: Low of 22-26 degrees and highs of 28-36 degrees Celsius.
Dams In Thailand Still Have Capacity To Handle Heavy Rain, While The Government Is Working Around The Clock To Drain Floods From Lowlands, Said Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda On Monday.
Anupong was answering senator Panthep Klanarongran, who asked about ongoing flooding and government’s flood-prevention plan during a senate meeting.
Anupong said total rainfall in Thailand this year is forecast to be 26 per cent higher than the annual average of 1,500 millilitres, citing Thailand Meteorological Department data.
“This year, Thailand has not been directly affected by any tropical storms, but the influence of the Southwest monsoon and strong winds in the Gulf and Andaman Sea have caused heavy rain in parts of Thailand, resulting in lowland flooding,” he said.
Recent flooding has been caused by rivers and waterways overflowing rather than the direct result of heavy rain, he added.
“Since September 1, a total of 31 provinces have been affected by floods, which are gradually subsiding as water levels in rivers and waterways return to normal,” Anupong said.
He reported that 13 provinces are still inundated but water levels are expected to fall soon. The 13 flood-hit provinces are Phayao, Nan, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phetchabun, Kalasin, Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lamphu, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Rayong and Chanthaburi.
Anupong said that dams and reservoirs nationwide are still capable of handling water from heavy rain. Water authorities were strictly adhering to the “rule curve”, which balances flood prevention with the need to conserve water.
Anupong said authorities are also working continually to accelerate drainage of floodwater through waterways into the sea so flood victims can resume normal life as soon as possible. Meanwhile, preparations are being made to protect communities along rivers from more floods.
“Provincial governors have also been tasked with monitoring the situation closely and issuing warnings to communities in flood-prone areas if waters approach critical levels,” he said. “Government agencies will continue to collaborate with military units and public and private networks to defend communities from floodwater as well as provide help and evacuation in case of emergency.”
Kanchanaburi’s Glass Skywalk Shuttered On First Day Of Opening
BY LINE : THE NATION
MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022
Kanchanaburi’s Glass Skywalk Was Temporarily Shut On Sunday, Just A Day After Being Unveiled As The Western Province’s Latest Tourist Attraction.
Muang Kanchanaburi Municipality Office explained it did not have enough special shoes for the overwhelming number of tourists that visited on the first day. The skywalk is scheduled to reopen on Thursday (September 15).
The 12-metre-high walkway runs for 150 metres alongside the Kwae Yai River in Muang district. It was officially opened on Saturday at a ceremony presided over by Kanchanaburi Governor Jirakiart Phumsawat.
Tourists are required to buy a pair of special shoes for 60 baht before being allowed onto the all-glass walkway. They can take the shoes home as a souvenir.
However, the Municipality Office said the supply of shoes ran out after the number of visitors on Sunday exceeded expectations. Officials decided to shut the attraction down at noon. The office said it was contacting the manufacturer to supply more shoes so the skywalk could reopen on Thursday.
Facebook users slammed the provincial authority for a lack of preparation that resulted in tourists having to go home without experiencing the new walk skywalk, wasting their valuable weekends.
Others complained that since the attraction was built with taxpayers’ money, the 60-baht fee is absurd and the shoes should instead be provided for free.
The skywalk offers views of the city as well as the point where the different-coloured waters of the Kwae Yai and Kwai Noi rivers meet.
Scheduled opening times are 9am to noon and 3pm to 6pm on weekdays. On weekends and public holidays the attraction is open all day without a break to accommodate more visitors. However, the number of tourists for each round is limited to 120.
The province has also built a public park along the riverbank and created a walking street below the walkway. Vendors offer their wares here from 4pm to 10pm every Saturday. The new landmark is located near the city pillar shrine and is expected to boost the local economy and tourist trade.
Weeranan said the defence is seeking bail to appeal against the ruling. Jatuporn showed up in court dressed in pink. Accompanying her were some friends.
Pundits said it was not surprising to see Anutin change colours as he is seen as “a man for all seasons”.
