BANGKOK, July 3 -- The office of the Dalai Lama released a statement Tuesday apologizing for the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's controversial remarks on women during a recent interview with the BBC. "(In) responding to a question about whether his own reincarnation could be a woman, and suggesting that if she were she should be attractive, His Holiness genuinely meant no offence," the statement said. "He is deeply sorry that people have been hurt by what he said and offers his sincere apologies." In an interview the British broadcaster aired last week, the Dalai Lama said, "If female Dalai Lama comes, then (she) should be more attractive," suggesting that otherwise "people, I think, prefer not (to) see that face." His comment drew criticism from around the world on social media platforms. According to the statement, the Dalai Lama first referred to the physical appearance of a female successor in 1992 during a conversation with the editor of Vogue magazine, wherein he said a future Dalai Lama could be a woman "if that would be more helpful." At the time, he jokingly added that she should be attractive. "His Holiness consistently emphasizes the need for people to connect with each other on a deeper human level, rather than getting caught up in preconceptions based on superficial appearances," the statement said. "For all his long life, His Holiness has opposed the objectification of women, has supported women and their rights and celebrated the growing international consensus in support of gender equality and respect for women," it added. Author: Pete McGee
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BANGKOK, July 2 -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday the internal problems of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) had been resolved and his cabinet would be sworn in around the middle of the month. "I have formed my cabinet. It is done... Seats in the cabinet are the responsibility of the prime minister. It is the duty of the prime minister to work things out suitably," Gen Prayut said at Government House. He said the formation of the cabinet had not been delayed. Mid-July had been the timeframe all along. Gen Prayut said he had ordered PPRP to solve its issues and they were settled. The party would have management regulations to ensure its smooth operation, but for the time being it was still unnecessary for him to be part of the management, he said. "The party will look into what it should be in the future and whether there should be factions. Everyone should comply with the party's resolutions," he said. The problems at the party were issues arising only during a transitional period, he said. The prime minister refused to elaborate on his cabinet line-up. He neither admitted nor denied speculation he might take a concurrent position as defence minister Author: Pete McGee During an interview with local broadcaster Thairath which aired Tuesday morning, Nishino said he had watched the Thais for some time and had grown interested in coaching a team he believes has the potential to become one of Asia's best. "The strength of the Thai team, it made an impact on me. It's a team I've been interested in for a while," Nishino said. "There is some similarity to the style of Japanese players and teams. I feel there's a lot of potential for growth. Thailand had been seeking a new coach for its national team, nicknamed the War Elephants, since the resignation of interim Sirisak Yodyardthai after poor displays at the annual King's Cup tournament in Thailand, in June. According to Nishino, the team's biggest hurdle is a lack of drive. The 64-year-old said they "can definitely make an outstanding improvement" if he succeeds in motivating the side, ranked 116th by FIFA.
The Football Association of Thailand's press release said Nishino accepted the offer after talks with association chief Somyot Pumpanmuang and another executive, with Nishino requesting from the outset that he oversee both teams to build continuity and manage them in the same direction. But with expectations rising for the AFC's second round of World Cup qualification starting in September, Nishino cautioned results will take time and effort, as well as a focus on building up the country's next generation of players. "(The top team) won't become strong overnight. We have to take a steady approach...reinforce not only the top team, but also the generation in development." The association added a press conference will be held later regarding the selection of Nishino, who traveled to Thailand for negotiations. His talks with Thai soccer executives on Monday afternoon reportedly ended without a concrete outcome, but further talks in the evening led to an agreement. Author: Pete McGee PHNOM PENH, July 1 -- After years of protesting, two Cambodian farmers make their case this week in a Bangkok court against Thai sugar giant Mitr Phol, who they blame for the loss of their livelihoods. The stakes are high for the farmers and the company. The villagers from Cambodia are trying to convince the court that their claim is worthy of being treated as a class action, a rare occurrence in Thai legal history. If they succeed, their claim could open the door to hundreds more plaintiffs who also say Mitr Phol ruined their lives. If they fail, they say it would probably be too expensive for them to continue their fight. For Mitr Phol, the cost of losing the case could climb into the millions of dollars, according to a non-governmental body fighting for the farmers. But Mitr Phol denies being responsible for their plight. “They took our land,” Hoy Mai, one of the two farmers, told The Peet Journal. “I lost everything. My children did not go to school and I had no farming land … I survive by the day,” said Mai, the anger showing on her face. The 56-year old woman was arrested in October 2009 after she and other farmers protested against their land being forcibly taken to make way for sugar production by Mitr Phol’s subsidiary Angkor Sugar. Horrible conditions Earlier that month, about 100 houses, including hers, were burned down. She was arrested along with a handful of other activists on what she claims were spurious charges. Being pregnant at the time, Mai endured what she describes as “horrible conditions” and gave birth while being held. “I delivered the baby in a hospital. As soon as I delivered I was sent back to prison with my baby,” she said in an interview in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. “I was not even given a day to rest.” She and fellow farmer Smen Te, 62, have now traveled to neighboring Thailand to testify in front of a Bangkok court. In April last year, they lodged a complaint against Mitr Phol to represent 711 families in Oddar Meanchey province who had lost their land. The hearings scheduled until Friday will build the basis for a court decision that is expected in a few months. The ruling will determine whether the cases are similar enough to proceed with their class action suit. The farmers stand against an industry giant Mitr Phol says it is the world’s fifth-biggest sugar company and the largest such firm in Thailand. Last year, it recorded a revenue of 95 billion Thai baht ($3bn) and a profit of $30.5m. The two Cambodian villagers bringing the case to Bangkok are claiming damages totaling about four million Thai baht ($128,000). The land rights non-governmental organization supporting them in their fight, Equitable Cambodia, declined to give a figure for how much the 711 households that were affected by the land clearing could receive in compensation if the case was to be granted class-action status. But a representative for the NGO says it could run into the millions of dollars. After eight months in prison, Mai was released. Her husband returned from Thailand, where he and their children had worked as construction workers during her absence to make a living, she told The Peet Journal. Within a month, he was dead. Mai blames Mitr Phol for the loss of her husband: the hospital told her he had suffered a stroke due to high blood pressure. She said stress caused by the land dispute and an arrest warrant issued against him in connection to the case triggered this. Mitr Phol rejects allegations The company rejects all responsibility for the plight of the farmers. After the Thai court initially accepted the complaint - but said the two parties should attempt to settle the matter outside court - the company rejected negotiation attempts, according to human rights group Inclusive Development International. But Mitr Phol disagrees. “We've only got the temporary land concessions from the Cambodian government and never had any sugar operations there. After we investigated concession land and found it not suitable for cane planting, then we returned all the lands to the government and closed all the companies there,” said Krisda Monthienvichienchai, Vice Chairman of Mitr Phol Sugar Corporation’s Executive Committee, in an email to The Peet Journal. Eang Vuthy, director of Equitable Cambodia, said although the company did not possess the land anymore, the villagers have yet to see their land returned. “Mitr Phol has failed to respond to the claims by community members particularly after the land was deemed unfit for the purpose of growing sugar despite having been illegally taken from community members in 2008,” he told The Peet Journal in a message. “What is more, the land was returned not to the people but to the Royal Government of Cambodia in 2015.” But again, Mitr Phol’s Krisda said this was not his company’s responsibility. “We got the land from government so that’s why we had to return and got the approval from the government,” he said. Author: Pete McGee BANGKOK, June 28 -- Anti-junta activist Sirawith Seritiwat was attacked on Friday morning in Bangkok's Kannayao district – the second time he has been assaulted this month. Sirawith, also known as “Ja New”, was beaten up by four unidentified men with baseball bats. They were wearing helmets and rode on motorbikes with no licence plates. Sirawith suffered severe injuries to his head. His mother said he told her last night that he suspected he was being followed. On June 2, the activist was also assaulted while he was walking on the street in Bangkok. Sirawith is a prominent pro-democracy activist who actively campaigned against the junta rule over the past five years. According to activist Nuttaa Mahuttana, Sirawith was set to join a fundraising concert for the pro-democracy movement on Saturday before flying to India to continue his studies. BANGKOK, June 26 -- Eight of the world’s top 10 most expensive cities are located in Asia as a result of the region’s high costs for consumer goods and a dynamic housing market, with Bangkok (40) jumping 12 places, according to Mercer’s 25th annual 2019 Cost of Living Survey, which was released on Wednesday. Hong Kong tops the list as the world’s costliest city for the second consecutive year with the local housing market increasingly out of reach for many. Other cities appearing in the top 10 are Tokyo (2), Singapore (3), Seoul (4), Zurich (5), Shanghai (6), Ashgabat (7), Beijing (8), New York City (9), and Shenzhen (10). Ashgabat in Turkmenistan saw the biggest rise in rankings, jumping 36 places from 43rd in 2018, the result of the country’s shortage of currency and imported goods driving up prices. Bangkok’s rise in ranking was largely due to the movement of other cities as well as the effects of a buoyant economy, with currency fluctuation and inflation having little impact. Mario Ferraro, Mercer’s Global Mobility Practice Leader for Asia, Middle East and Africa, said Asia continued to be a major engine of global economic growth. “Despite the relatively high cost of living, many organisations still see a strong business rationale for moving talent into and within the region. At the same time, cost considerations are still an issue, and we are seeing an increased focus on having a clear business case for the assignment, as well as measuring the return on investment,” he said. This year’s ranking includes 209 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment. กรุงเทพฯ, 25 มิถุนายน - คณะกรรมการนโยบายทางเดินเศรษฐกิจตะวันออกได้รับทราบความคืบหน้าของโครงการรถไฟความเร็วสูงเพื่อเชื่อมโยงท่าอากาศยานสามแห่งกับโครงการพัฒนาท่าเรืออุตสาหกรรมมาบตาพุด สัญญาของทั้งสองโครงการคาดว่าจะลงนามระหว่างหน่วยงานของรัฐและผู้รับสัมปทานเอกชนในเดือนหน้า คณะกรรมการนโยบายทางเดินเศรษฐกิจตะวันออกนำโดยพลเอกประยุทธ์จันทร์โอชาเป็นประธานรับทราบการอนุมัติจากคณะกรรมการสิ่งแวดล้อมแห่งชาติโดยมีรองนายกรัฐมนตรีพลเอกประวิทย์วงษ์สุวรรณเป็นประธานการศึกษาประเมินผลกระทบสิ่งแวดล้อมทางรถไฟความเร็วสูง โครงการเชื่อมโยงสามสนามบินหลัก การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทยและผู้รับสัมปทานเอกชนคาดว่าจะลงนามในสัญญาก่อสร้างในเดือนหน้า นี่เป็นโครงการร่วมทุนภาครัฐและเอกชนแห่งแรกของโครงการ Eastern Economic Corridor คณะกรรมการนโยบายทางเดินเศรษฐกิจตะวันออกได้รับทราบความคืบหน้าในโครงการพัฒนาเฟส 3 ของท่าเรืออุตสาหกรรมมาบตาพุดซึ่งเป็นสัญญาที่สำนักงานอัยการสูงสุดได้ตรวจสอบแล้ว จะถูกส่งไปยังคณะกรรมการนโยบายทางเดินเศรษฐกิจตะวันออกในวันที่ 1 กรกฎาคมก่อนที่จะถูกส่งต่อไปยังคณะรัฐมนตรี การนิคมอุตสาหกรรมแห่งประเทศไทยและผู้รับสัมปทานเอกชนคาดว่าจะลงนามสัญญาในเดือนหน้า กรุงเทพฯ 25 มิถุนายน -- การให้บริการรถไฟใหม่ทุกวันระหว่างกรุงเทพฯและสถานีชายแดนบ้านคลองลูกในจังหวัดสระแก้วจะเริ่มขึ้นในวันที่ 1 กรกฎาคมการรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทยประกาศ จะมีสี่เที่ยวต่อวันสองทิศทางในแต่ละทิศทางรักษาการผู้ว่าการรัฐ SRT วรวุฒิม Mala กล่าวเมื่อวันอังคาร รถไฟโดยสารธรรมดา No 275 จะออกจากกรุงเทพฯสำหรับอรัญประเทศและคลองลูกเวลา 5.55 น. และมาถึงที่สถานีชายแดนเวลา 11.17 น. รถไฟโดยสารธรรมดาหมายเลข 279 จะให้บริการในเส้นทางเดียวกันออกจากกรุงเทพฯเวลา 1.05 น. ถึงสถานีชายแดนเวลา 5.27 น. รถไฟโดยสารธรรมดาขาเข้าหมายเลข 280 จะออกจากสถานีคลองลูก (ตลาดโรงเกลือ) เวลา 6.58 น. มาถึงกรุงเทพเวลา 12.05 น. และรถไฟโดยสารธรรมดาหมายเลข 276 จะออกจากสถานีชายแดนเวลา 15.003 น. มาถึงกรุงเทพเวลา 7.40 น นายวรวุฒิกล่าวว่าก่อนหน้านี้ประเทศไทยและกัมพูชาได้ลงนามในข้อตกลงร่วมกันในการให้บริการรถไฟเชื่อมระหว่างสองประเทศ รฟท. ได้จัดให้มีรถไฟขับเคลื่อนดีเซลสี่ขบวนและเปิดสถานีชายแดนบ้านคลองลูกเมื่อวันที่ 22 เมษายนเขาคาดการณ์ว่าบริการใหม่นี้จะช่วยอำนวยความสะดวกในการเดินทางของนักท่องเที่ยวชาวไทยและชาวต่างชาติที่ต้องการข้ามชายแดน สำหรับการจองตั๋วขั้นสูงหรือข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมผู้เดินทางสามารถติดต่อบริการศุลกากร SRT ผ่านสายด่วน 1690 ได้ตลอดเวลาหรือเว็บไซต์ www.railway.co.th หรือ @ pr.railway หน้า Facebook ไม่มีใครรู้ว่ากัมพูชาจะเริ่มปฏิบัติการรถไฟเมื่อติดกับปอยเปต บริการรถไฟระหว่างสองประเทศสิ้นสุดลงเมื่อ 45 ปีก่อนท่ามกลางความขัดแย้งที่เกิดขึ้นจากสงครามกลางเมืองในกัมพูชา The new daily train service between Bangkok and Ban Klong Luk border station in Sa Kaeo province will start running on July 1, the State Railway of Thailand announced. There will be four trips a day, two in each direction, acting SRT governor Worawut Mala said on Tuesday. Ordinary passenger train No 275 will depart Bangkok for Aranyaprathet and Klong Luk at 5.55am and arrive at the border station at 11.17am. Ordinary passenger train No 279 will operate on the same route, leaving Bangkok at 1.05pm, reaching the border station at 5.27pm. Inbound, ordinary passenger train No 280 will depart Klong Luk station (Rong Kluea market) at 6.58am, arriving in Bangkok at 12.05pm, and ordinary passenger train No 276 will depart the border station at 1.53pm, arriving in Bangkok at 7.40pm. Mr Worawut said Thailand and Cambodia earlier signed an agreement to jointly operate the train service linking the two countries. The SRT had provided four diesel-powered trains and opened the Ban Klong Luk border station on April 22. He predicted the new service would facilitate the travels of Thai and foreign tourists wanting to cross the border. For advanced ticket bookings or further information, traveller cancontact the SRT customs service via hotline 1690 around the clock or website, www.railway.co.th or @pr.railway Facebook page. It is not known when Cambodia will begin operating trains from adjoining Poi Pet. Train services between the two countries were terminated 45 years ago, amid conflict arising from the civil war in Cambodia.
BANGKOK, June 23 -- Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations want to see a clear time frame for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, Thailand's foreign minister said Saturday. Speaking after a meeting of the ministers in Bangkok, Don Pramudwinai, representing the host country, said that ASEAN wants Myanmar and Bangladesh to discuss the issue and set a timeline for the return of the refugees. Don added that Myanmar informed ASEAN about the issuance of identification cards to the refugees to identify them when they return to Rakhine State. "ASEAN recognizes the intention of Myanmar to solve this issue and will help promote the relevant process and see the repatriation begins," he said. He noted that the related parties have to build trust among the refugees, assuring them that they will live in Rakhine State with safety. Although the grouping has a policy of non-interference in members' internal affairs, the Rohingya issue has been fixed on the agenda of relevant meetings since 2017, when the Myanmar military clashed with armed Rohingya groups, drawing criticism from the international community. More than 720,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine since August last year amid allegations of atrocities committed by the security forces. Their repatriation from sprawling camps in neighboring Bangladesh has been delayed as they are not confident in their safety after returning home. At their meeting, the ministers also renamed the grouping's Indo-Pacific outlook as the "ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific." The outlook, which aims to ensure that ASEAN plays a "central and strategic role" in the evolving regional architecture, will be adopted by the leaders on Sunday. Regarding a plan to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to the 30th Commemorative Summit between ASEAN and South Korea later this year in Busan, Don said that ASEAN has no problem if South Korea extends an invitation to Kim. In the weekend summit of the ASEAN leaders, the Rohingya crisis as well as the South China Sea situation are set to figure highly in their talks. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will be attending. China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, has reclaimed a number of the disputed reefs and fortified them with military features over the past few years. Laos and Cambodia, which have strong economic ties with China, have a more pro-Beijing stance on the issue. In contrast, Vietnam, which has competing claims with China, takes a harder line on Beijing's assertiveness in regional waters. To what extent the leaders can unite against China's land reclamation and militarization activities in the South China Sea will be closely watched. On Saturday, the leaders of the 10-member grouping are scheduled to meet with representatives of various groups such as the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly and ASEAN Business Advisory Council, to be followed by a plenary session focusing on internal cooperation. A gala dinner will later be held at the Athenee Hotel, the summit venue. The opening ceremony will take place on Sunday, followed by a leaders' retreat. Also Saturday, ASEAN economic ministers agreed at a meeting on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to continue efforts toward concluding negotiations on the Asia-wide free trade deal involving 16 countries by November. "The ASEAN economic ministers urge and assign officials to exert efforts to drive the negotiations in various topics under the RCEP such as rule of origins, investment in order to find an ASEAN stance before meeting with the six partners of ASEAN," Auramon Supthaweethum, director general of the Thai Trade Negotiations Department, told Kyodo News. She was referring to upcoming RCEP Trade Negotiations Committee meetings in Australia and China. The RCEP is being negotiated among the 10-member ASEAN, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. BANGKOK, June 21 -- Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations are set to discuss at their weekend summit a planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year in South Korea, an ASEAN diplomat said. "If the leaders agree, the meeting will take place this November in Busan, South Korea," the diplomat said on the condition of anonymity, The diplomat said the topic is on the agenda at a two-day ASEAN summit that begins Saturday in Bangkok. It will also be discussed by foreign ministers ahead of the summit. ASEAN leaders have been carefully considering how to go about extending the invitation to North Korea, fearing that it may discredit the honor of ASEAN "if Kim turns it down," the diplomat said. ASEAN and South Korea will be holding a Commemorative Summit, which will mark the 30th anniversary of the Korea-ASEAN Dialogue Relations, on Nov. 25-26 in Busan. South Korean President Moon Jae In is said to be mulling a joint invitation, to be signed by ASEAN leaders and himself, while others have suggested that Moon either extend an invitation himself or that Thailand, as ASEAN chair, extend it. The main topic for discussion will be "peace and stability in the region, and the role of ASEAN," the diplomat said. If the meeting takes place, it is proposed to be a tripartite "special session" among ASEAN leaders and the leaders of North and South Korea. When asked who initiated the proposed meeting with Kim, the diplomat said Indonesia, but soon after South Korea also broached the topic. He added that if the meeting materializes, it will be a turning point in North Korea diplomacy, with the 10-member group taking a greater role in talks on Pyongyang's nuclear program. Negotiations on denuclearization have stalled since a second summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim, held in February in Hanoi, ended without an agreement due to a gap over the scope of North Korea's denuclearization and sanctions relief from the United States. ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. All 10 nations have diplomatic ties with North Korea. As chair of ASEAN, Thailand is steering the next ASEAN meeting, scheduled for the end of this year. Over 180 smaller meetings are scheduled throughout this year. Leaders of the 10 ASEAN member states are scheduled to attend the 34th ASEAN Summit at The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel in Bangkok, and at more than 10 other venues. The ASEAN flags and Summit symbol have been prepared by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while police are patrolling around the venues and rolling out security measures.
The Summit is scheduled to begin tomorrow with a meeting of the ASEAN permanent representatives followed by a meeting of senior ASEAN officials on Friday. The ASEAN leaders are scheduled to be at the Summit on Sunday. Members of the media can use the press center at Grand Center Point Hotel where computers, communication equipment and a parking lot for TV vehicles are provided. The press center opens today. Members of the media who have registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are strictly screened for security reasons. BANGKOK, June 14 -- Nok Airlines Plc, the operator of Nok Air low-cost airline, has appointed Wutthiphum Jurangkool chief executive officer and executive director. Acting CEO Pravej Ongartsittigul said the board of directors made the decision on Thursday and the appointment took effect on Friday, he added. Mr Pravej was the acting CEO since August last year. The board also appointed him as chairman of the executive committee starting Friday, he added. Mr Wutthiphum represents the Jurangkool family, the major shareholders' group of the airline. He served as director and executive at SE-Education Plc, a publisher and bookstore operator, and Aira Capital Plc, a holding company. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand on Monday renewed the operating licence for the airline for 10 years. Nok Air chairman Prasert Bunsumpun said the executive appointment and licence renewal would help ensure employees and clients the company could continue its operation. Nok Air board in April has approved the management to seek a 3-billion-baht loan to improve cash flow of the carrier. The carrier's losses deepened over the past 18 months 304.2 million baht in the first quarter of this year from 26.9 million in the same period last year and 2.8 billion baht for all of 2018 compared 1.8 billion in the previous year. Its major shareholders are the Jurangkool family (67.4%) and flag carrier Thai Airways International Plc (15.9%). NOK shares climbed 0.04 baht to 2.30 baht at 12pm on Friday in thin trade. REIMS, June 12 -- Striker Alex Morgan scored five times as holders the United States began their World Cup campaign with a record 13-0 win over Thailand on Tuesday. The Group F result was the largest margin of victory in either the men’s or women’s World Cup. When the Americans headed for the interval 3-0 up, there was little indication of what was to come in the second half. After netting four times in six minutes shortly after the restart, they then added six more goals in the last 16 minutes. Morgan opened the goal spree for the title favorites, who are in pursuit of a fourth world crown, with a header in the 12th minute and from then on there was no stopping the champions. Eight minutes later Rose Lavelle found the net with a left-footed shot while midfielder Lindsey Horan gave them a 3-0 halftime lead. Samantha Mewis opened the floodgates five minutes after the break as the U.S. made life miserable for the Thais by regularly finding the back of the net. In total seven Americans scored during the match - Morgan (5), Lavelle (2), Mewis (2), Horan, Megan Rapinoe, Mallory Pugh and Carli Lloyd all finding their way on to the scoresheet in a performance that is bound to strike fear into all of those teams hoping to end the United States’ reign as world champions. “We really wanted to showcase ourselves and what we’ve been preparing for and working on and I think we did that,” said Morgan. “Every goal matters in this tournament and so that’s what we were working on in this game. We got a lot of attacks and I think we were really clinical in the number of attacks that we did get. “I am speechless. The ball just bounced my way today and I am looking forward to the next game. “To see Rose Lavalle have the confidence to go at players, Sam Mewis taking on players and scoring from outside the box... I am really proud of them.” The result surpassed Germany’s 11-0 win over Argentina in 2007 and almost doubled the U.S. own previous record - a 7-0 success over Taiwan in 1991. “We did not do enough. They were excellent all around. We don’t have any excuse and accept they are better,” said Thailand coach Nuengrutai Srathongvian. “We have to improve in every aspect.” The last time the two teams met, the United States won 9-0. U.S. coach Jillian Ellis said the result was great confidence booster but did not want to get carried away with the emphatic nature of the win. “This only game one. It will be an incredibly hard World Cup,” she said. The U.S. will next face Chile on Sunday, while Thailand will be up against Sweden. BANGKOK, June 11 -- Southeast Asian leaders will commit to tackle the growing problem of marine debris, in particular plastics, during their summit later this month, according to a draft declaration obtained Monday. The leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations will make the vow in the Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in ASEAN Region, to be inked during their summit to be held on June 23 in Bangkok. In the draft, the leaders call for strengthening actions at the national level, as well as through international collaboration, to prevent and significantly reduce marine debris. They pledge to enhance policy dialogue and information sharing, implement partnerships between the public and private sectors, and promote innovative solutions to reducing plastic litter, including through development of a circular economy whereby plastics are kept out of the environment and instead returned to production through reuse and recycling. The leaders also commit to devote more scientific and research work to combatting marine debris and to increase public awareness and participation through advocacy and education, with the aim of changing people's behavior. The draft shows ASEAN's concern over the "high and rapidly increasing levels" of marine plastic litter and other debris, and the adverse impacts on marine biodiversity, ecosystems, animal well-being, fisheries, maritime transport, recreation, tourism, local societies and economies. It cites an "urgent need" for strengthened knowledge of the levels and effects of microplastics and nanoplastics on the marine ecosystem, food safety and human health. BANGKOK, June 11 -- In his speech, responding to His Majesty the King’s royal command formally appointing him as prime minister at the Government’s House today (June 11), General Prayut Chan-o-cha promised to perform with honesty and integrity to make Thailand prosperous and keep Thais happy and healthy. The Prime Minister said that he will listen to the voices of the people and dedicate his government to eradicating corruption, reducing inequality and elevating the welfare of the people. He also expressed his intention to provide opportunities for the younger generation to participate in national development to keep up with the digital era. General Prayut specifically emphasized his commitment to promoting a peaceful environment for a unified society based on love, unity and compassion, while safeguarding the dignity of the institutions of State, Religion and the Monarchy. The prime minister mentioned the important roles of the private sector and encouraged them to continue to support the new government. |
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