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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40015918

21 people were shot dead in a slum on the north side of Rio de Janeiro early on Tuesday during a police raid to capture heads of a drug-trafficking organization, police said.

The deaths included a woman who was hit in the exchange of gunfire between gang members and police in the Vila Cruzeiro favela, as Rio slums are called. Police said the other dead were suspected gang members who resisted the enforcement operation and opened fire on police with automatic weapons.

Residents said on social media that heavy shooting began in darkness at 4 a.m. in a wooded area next to Vila Cruzeiro, causing fear and panic in the slum.

The police operation, backed by a helicopter, targeted leaders of Rio’s largest organized crime gang, the Comando Vermelho, who were hiding in Vila Cruzeiro according to police intelligence.

Police seized assault rifles, pistols and a grenade, as well as cars and motorbikes used by the criminals, he said.

The dead woman was identified as 41-year-old Gabriele Cunha, hit by a stray bullet even though she lived in a neighbouring slum called Chatuba. Schools did not open for classes.

Last year, 28 people died in violence in Rio slums, mostly in clashes between drug traffickers and police.

Published : May 25, 2022

By : Reuters

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40015909

Texas police told media on Tuesday (May 24) that the shooter at a Texas school that killed 14 students and one teacher likely acted alone.

Official details on the circumstances of the midday shooting remained sketchy in the immediate aftermath of the violence, which unfolded at Robb Elementary School in the town of Uvalde, Texas, about 80 miles west of San Antonio.

Governor Greg Abbott told reporters the gunman, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, apparently was killed by police officers responding to the scene, and that two of those officers were struck by gunfire, though the governor said their injuries were not serious.

In a statement, Uvalde Medical Hospital said it was treating 15 students in its emergency department following the shooting.

San Antonio hospital University Health said it had two patients from the incident — a child and an adult woman, who is in critical condition. The condition of the child is unknown.

The Children’s Hospital in San Antonio said it is also treating patients from the shooting.

Published : May 25, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40015898

During May 16-17, Chettaphan Maksamphan, Director-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, led a Thai delegation consisting of representatives from the Royal Thai Police, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Ministry of Labour, and non-governmental organisations to Washington D.C., to meet with relevant U.S. agencies in order to exchange information and share experiences on anti-human trafficking efforts, as well as discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Thailand and the U.S. on anti-human trafficking, combatting forced labour and child labour, and promoting human security.

The Thai delegation met with representatives from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Labour, U.S. Congress and U.S.-based non-governmental organisation to exchange views on potential collaboration in elevating and increasing anti-human trafficking and forced labour efforts’ efficiency. They also discussed about potential measures that could help tackle new obstacles and challenges deriving from the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly ways to curb human trafficking’s transgressive operation and its transformation to online platforms, as well as the importance of regional cooperation in prosecuting transnational crime syndicates.

Both sides had an opportunity to exchange views and information and share their experiences and best practices on how to enhance their relevant agencies’ operations and promote capacity-building among related officials, with primary focus on victim-centred approach and trauma-informed care. The Thai delegation also proposed ways to strengthen the existing partnerships with all related sectors and explore possible areas for future cooperation, including the application of emerging technologies and innovations in the anti-human trafficking operations.

Furthermore, the Thai delegation paid a visit to the U.S. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), one of the U.S. partners working together with Thai agencies, to study its operations and discuss ways to broaden their collaboration.

The Royal Thai Government remains fully committed to the prevention and suppression of human trafficking in all its forms to promote a better quality of life for all Thais and foreign nationals residing in Thailand, and reinforce sustainable social development in the country. The Government stands ready to collaborate with all relevant sectors, including our partner countries, in order to achieve the national agenda of sustained eradication of human trafficking.

Published : May 24, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40015879

Starbucks Corp said on Monday it will exit the Russian market after nearly 15 years as the coffee company joins McDonald’s Corp marking the end of the presence of some of the top Western brands in the country.

Seattle-based Starbucks has 130 stores in Russia, operated by its licensee Alshaya Group, with nearly 2,000 employees in the country.

Starbucks’ decision to wind down its operation in Russia is different to the approach some other foreign companies have taken.

McDonald’s last week said it was selling its restaurants in Russia to its local licensee Alexander Govor to be rebranded under a new name, but will retain its trademarks, while France’s Renault is selling its majority stake in Russia’s biggest carmaker with an option to buy back the stake.

A slew of other Western companies, including Imperial Brands and Shell, are cutting ties with the Russia market by agreeing to sell their assets in the country or handing them over to local managers.

In March, Starbucks shuttered its stores and suspended all business activity in Russia, including the shipment of its products to the country, following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The company, which opened its first outlet in Russia in 2007, said it will continue to support its employees there, including paying them for six months.

Starbucks did not provide details on the financial impact of the exit. McDonald’s had said it would take a primarily non-cash charge of up to $1.4 billion.

Published : May 24, 2022

By : Reuters

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40015877

Argentine researchers have discovered a new species of pterosaur, a flying reptile that coexisted with dinosaurs during the Cretaceous, a finding that provides information about these predatory vertebrates that could measure nine metres.

The palaeontological team discovered the remains of the so-called Thanatosdrakon amaru in sedimentary rocks from the Cretaceous period, at the end of the Mesozoic era – 86 million years ago – in the province of Mendoza, about 1,000 kilometres from Buenos Aires in the Andes Mountains.

“We are dealing with a new species of pterosaur. Why? Because all the characteristics we were able to see, many of them were new, they had not been recorded for any other pterosaur worldwide,” Leonardo Ortiz David, leader of the research project, told Reuters Television on Zoom.

“We then proceeded to give it a new genus name and a new species name. We chose the genus Thanatosdrakon (…) It is the conjunction of two words. Thanatos is death and drakon is dragon. We thought it was appropriate to name it this way, since we are talking about a giant flying animal that was a predator. So it is the dragon of death,” he added.

According to the researchers, the Thanatosdrakon is notable for the size of its bones, which shows that it is a giant specimen and is the largest pterosaur in South America and one of the largest in the world.

David said that pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to acquire the capacity for active flight, long before birds, as these had not appeared when this species of reptile was already flying, hunting, eating and reproducing.

“Pterosaurs offer us two possibilities when it comes to interpreting the faunas of the past. On the one hand, we can interpret that there are animals that were amazing. We don’t have a current record of any close relative that has even a similar body modification to these beasts,” said David.

Bernardo González Riga, the co-author of the research, said the Thanatosdrakon fossil bones were found in outcrops located in the south of Mendoza province, in rocks from the late Cretaceous Period, estimated to be 86 million years old.

The study on the new pterosaur was published in the prestigious scientific journal Cretaceous Research.

Published : May 24, 2022

By : Reuters

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40015859

Singapore has invited Thailand to join its Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), which aims to promote six aspects of the digital economy between the two countries.

After attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) trade ministers’ meeting in Bangkok, Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Gan Kim Yong, on Sunday invited Thai Minister of Digital Economy and Society Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to promote the DEPA between Singapore and Thailand.

The DEPA will cover six aspects: Facilitating seamless end-to-end digital trade, enabling trusted data flows, use of fintech and e-payments, developing safe and secure digital identities, improving confidence of businesses and consumers, and introducing digital economy standards.

The DEPA will also pave the way to future collaborations over emerging technologies such as AI or blockchain, which can be used to promote international digital economy.

After discussions, Chaiwut said the signing of the MoU is a significant step that requires thorough a study of the subjects, and the ministry will host a sounding session from experts in related fields before deciding to enter the deal with Singapore.

Thailand hosted this year’s Apec trade ministers’ meeting on Saturday and Sunday in Bangkok, although the forum was disrupted on Saturday when representatives of the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand walked out as the Russian representative stood up to make a speech. The walkout was in protest over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, who chaired the meeting, insisted the walkout would have no impact on progress made at the forum.

Published : May 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40015853

A military cargo plane carrying the first shipment of infant formula from Europe to help address a critical shortage in the United States landed in Indianapolis on Sunday.

“They’re life-savers to so many children and so many parents,” said Megan Gendig, mother of a seven-month-old infant with a dairy-allergy.

“I’m sure that… babies are going to be able to go sleep comfortably tonight because their parents are going to know that they actually have food to be able to provide to them for the next few days.”

A February 17 recall by top baby formula maker Abbott Laboratories and the closing of its manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan has created one of the biggest infant formula shortages in recent history for US families.

“It is a terrifying feeling to not know where the next meal is going to come from,” said Gendig. “I’m able to provide breastmilk for her sometimes, which is great, but I just don’t, I can only imagine if we were solely formula.”

“This is an important step, but it is by no means the only step that must take place. We will continue to work as the president has instructed us to look for every opportunity to increase supply,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who greeted the plane on its arrival.

US President Joe Biden’s administration is seeking to stock empty shelves with 1.5 million containers of Nestle specialty infant formulas.

Biden last week invoked the Cold War-era Defence Production Act to help increase supplies.

Nestle said more shipments would arrive in the coming days.

Troops used forklifts to unload boxes of formula from the plane, which the White House said carried 78,000 pounds (35,000 kg) of specialty infant formula, enough for 500,000 bottles, and onto trucks heading to distribution centres.

The transport plane took off early on Sunday from the US military’s Ramstein Air base in Germany.

“These families and these children need these formulas to grow and thrive just for every day,” said Dr. Emily Weber, Chief Medical Information Officer for Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“To see this kind of urgency and action is really, really special. We wanted to be here to see it all coming off the plane knowing that we’re going to be working with our community partners to get it into the hands of families, it’s just really uplifting.”

Published : May 23, 2022

By : Reuters

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40015848

U.S. President Joe Biden met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan on Monday, and said he hoped to discuss how U.S and Japan relations could be a positive force around the region and beyond.

“It’s great to be with you again and continue our discussions on how Japan and the United States can harness our alliance as a positive force not only in the region but in the world,” said Biden in talks with Kishida at the Akasaka Palace in central Tokyo.

The cornerstone of Biden’s two-day visit, which includes meetings with the leaders of Japan, India and Australia, in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue group, will be the launch of an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a broad plan providing an economic pillar for U.S. engagement with Asia.

“Your visit to Japan this time demonstrates that whatever the situation may be, the United States will continue to strengthen its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Kishida as he addressed Biden.

Earlier, Biden met Emperor Naruhito, talking briefly at the palace entrance before being ushered inside. The White House said Biden offered greetings on behalf of the American people, highlighting the strength of the U.S.-Japan relationship anchored by deep people-to-people ties.

Published : May 23, 2022

By : Reuters

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40015847

Seven people have died after a high-speed Philippine ferry carrying 134 people caught fire on Monday, with seven passengers still missing, the coast guard said.

The ship caught fire just before reaching the port of Real in Quezon province, about 60 km (37.28 miles) east of the capital Manila. It had left Polilio Island at 5:00 a.m. local time (2100 GMT Sunday) and made a distress call at 6:30 a.m.

Five women and two men had died, while 120 passengers had been rescued, with 23 of them treated for injuries, the coast guard said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear the cause of the fire, but the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, has a poor record for maritime safety, with vessels often overcrowded and many vessels ageing.

Published : May 23, 2022

By : Reuters