Latest news with #II
Bangkok Post
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
Unesco 'rip-offs' spur probe
The permanent secretary of the Culture Ministry has ordered a probe into allegations swirling online that Cambodia tried to nominate 22 Thai literary works as Unesco Cultural Heritage in 2008. Details shared on Thai social media claimed Cambodian authorities worked on the nomination 17 years ago, and had intended to show off aspects of the submission in Royal Ballet of Cambodia performances. The portfolio of works included royally written pieces and adaptations of local folklore taken from the Ramakien, a Thai edition of the Ramayana written during the reign of Kings Rama I and II, both the work itself and the partial alterations. They also included a collection of works by King Rama II, such as Krai Thong, Sang Thong, and I-nao, and some poets such as Chaophraya Phra Khlang (Hon) (Phra Vessantara) and Sunthorn Phu (Janthakorob). According to the submission, the Cambodian authority claimed to have revived the works during 1979-2002. The allegation has provoked criticism that no objections were made by Thai authorities against the Cambodian proposal, which led to the successful nomination.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- General
- NZ Herald
France's military pigeons race in memory of their brave predecessors
These days, French military pigeon number 193-529 is no longer needed to carry tiny messages during war-time communication blackouts. But the racing bird serves as a reminder of the brave service of its predecessors in World Wars I and II, and the 1870 siege of Paris.
Daily Tribune
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Tribune
BRICS: A New Global Regime
BRICS is shining these days in Brazil, with members coming from all parts of the world. BRICS is a new name that brings a new global regime, interestingly growing steadily and finding vast welcome in many parts of the world. In this name: B resembles Brazil R resembles Russia I resembles India C resembles China S resembles South Africa BRICS is a new economic forum formed by such countries to represent a new world for a global future. Now, BRICS has many new members joining the club. These countries collectively represent more than half of the world's population, and more are coming. Interestingly, even some European countries are knocking on the club's door for membership. As a matter of history, after World War II, certain forums were established including the UN, World Bank, IMF, etc. These international agencies were initially created to help reshape the world after the massive destruction caused by the World Wars I & II. However, over time it became clear that many countries are not happy with the performance of these 'big' international agencies. In response to the BRICS meeting in Brazil, President Trump said he would impose 10% tariffs on all products from BRICS. What is the meaning of this? Guess. BRICS advocates for immediate reformation, as the performance of such agencies clearly shows drastic failure in adopting a fair international agenda for the betterment of all countries and all people. The BRICS group loudly calls for reformation of the international arena and the enforcement of an international justice mechanism, particularly concerning the role of the mentioned agencies. They call for the involvement of all countries and the dismantling of the solo grip cemented around international agencies. This call covers all political, economic, and social affairs. To streamline this, in a new positive and clear action, BRICS formed a new financial and credit agency with very large capital. They are working towards a unified currency, unified banknote, and unified projects to help all countries and all people worldwide. This will shake up the current economic strategy and bring a new strategy with a fresh outlook. All are invited, and this invitation is finding overwhelming support from all parts of the world. Many big countries such as Japan, England, Indonesia, Egypt, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and others have expressed their desire to join hands with BRICS. The new look and new movement called for by BRICS has already started and will never stop. The train has started pedaling and is cruising slowly but steadily towards the 'new world' platform. Many countries with special locations, abundant natural resources (including water, land, livestock, gold, oil, and other precious metals), special human resource cadres, and other factors have the required eligibility to join BRICS. Moreover, the relations between such countries and BRICS seem strong and pave the way for their joining. BRICS stands for a new era of collaboration and unified harmony in all matters affecting our generation and generations to come. It is a genuine stand that will find support from all, irrespective of political, ethnic, economic, or social differences.
Observer
2 days ago
- General
- Observer
France's military pigeons race in memory of brave predecessors
MONT VALÉRIEN: These days, French military pigeon number 193-529 is no longer needed to carry tiny messages during war-time communication blackouts. But the racing bird serves as a reminder of the brave service of its predecessors in World Wars I and II; and the 1870 siege of Paris. Inside Europe's last military pigeon loft, Sergeant Sylvain cradled 193-529, an alert feathered athlete with an iridescent green neck. "He's a carrier pigeon, like the ones who served in World Wars I and II", said Sylvain, withholding his surname for security purposes. "But today he races", added the member of the armed forces, whose grandfather was also a pigeon fancier. In Mont Valerien outside Paris, Sylvain flits between dovecotes, tending to some 200 pigeons — cleaning their shelters and making sure they have enough to eat. These days, they only use their navigating skills when they are released during competitions, military ceremonies, or demonstrations for visitors, he said. Humans have been using homing pigeons since Antiquity, but the French military started using them as a communication tool during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 after the Prussians besieged Paris. In October that year, the interior minister boarded a hot-air balloon to flee the French capital. Around a month later, the French military had elaborated a messenger pigeon plan to communicate with people still in the city, according to a French government account. Patriotic Parisians donated more than 300 pigeons to the war effort, which were loaded into the wicker baskets of hot-air balloons and transported southwards to the city of Tours. Upon arrival they were fitted with small tubes containing 3 to 4 cm (1 to 1.5 inch) of microfilm on which minute messages had been inscribed, called "pigeongrams". They were then released as close to the capital as possible so they could carry them back inside. Only around 50 pigeons made it. Parisians who found the pigeons then placed the microfilm between sheets of glass and, using a magic lantern — an early type of image projector, projected it onto a large screen to read it. They transcribed the contents and delivered the message to its intended recipient. During the two world wars, pigeons were used again when "modern means of communication reached their limits", such as "bombardments ripping down telephone lines", Sylvain said. During World War II, a French pigeon helped alert Allies that six German U-boats were undergoing maintenance in the French port of Bordeaux, leading to aerial raids that destroyed four of them, Sylvain said. The pigeon, nicknamed "Maquisard" like some members of the French Resistance, received an award. A British pigeon too made headlines. Gustav, a homing pigeon in the British Royal Air Force, travelled 240 km (150 miles) back across the Channel to break the first news of the D-Day landings in June 1944, according to the Imperial War Museum. He carried a message from a war correspondent and was also awarded a medal. — AFP
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- General
- Bangkok Post
France's military pigeons race in memory of brave predecessors
MONT VALéRIEN (FRANCE) - These days, French military pigeon number 193-529 is no longer needed to carry tiny messages during war-time communication blackouts. But the racing bird serves as a reminder of the brave service of its predecessors in World Wars I and II, and the 1870 siege of Paris. Inside Europe's last military pigeon loft, Sergeant Sylvain cradled 193-529, an alert feathered athlete with an iridescent green neck. "He's a carrier pigeon, like the ones who served in World Wars I and II," said Sylvain, withholding his surname for security purposes. "But today he races," added the member of the armed forces, whose grandfather was also a pigeon fancier. In Mont Valerien outside Paris, Sylvain flits between dovecotes, tending to some 200 pigeons -- cleaning their shelters and making sure they have enough to eat. These days, they only use their navigating skills when they are released during competitions, military ceremonies, or demonstrations for visitors, he said. Humans have been using homing pigeons since Antiquity, but the French military started using them as a communication tool during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 after the Prussians besieged Paris. In October that year, the interior minister boarded a hot-air balloon to flee the French capital. Around a month later, the French military had elaborated a messenger pigeon plan to communicate with people still in the city, according to a French government account. - 'Pigeongrams' - Patriotic Parisians donated more than 300 pigeons to the war effort, which were loaded into the wicker baskets of hot-air balloons and transported southwards to the city of Tours. Upon arrival they were fitted with small tubes containing 3 to 4 cm (1 to 1.5 inch) of microfilm on which minute messages had been inscribed, called "pigeongrams". They were then released as close to the capital as possible so they could carry them back inside. Only around 50 pigeons made it. Parisians who found the pigeons then placed the microfilm between sheets of glass and, using a magic lantern -- an early type of image projector, projected it onto a large screen to read it. They transcribed the contents and delivered the message to its intended recipient. During the two world wars, pigeons were used again when "modern means of communication reached their limits", such as "bombardments ripping down telephone lines", Sylvain said. During World War II, a French pigeon helped alert Allies that six German U-boats were undergoing maintenance in the French port of Bordeaux, leading to aerial raids that destroyed four of them, Sylvain said. The pigeon, nicknamed "Maquisard" like some members of the French Resistance, received an award. - Old training manuals - A British pigeon too made headlines. Gustav, a homing pigeon in the British Royal Air Force, travelled 240 km (150 miles) back across the Channel to break the first news of the D-Day landings in June 1944, according to the Imperial War Museum. He carried a message from a war correspondent, and was also awarded a medal. The French military last relied on homing pigeons during the war in Algeria from 1954 to 1962 that led to the North African country's independence from France. In 1961, the French armed forces ended the messenger pigeon programme. Sylvain said the military continued to train the birds for a while, fearing an electromagnetic attack would bring down communications. But today there is no longer such a risk, he said, with the military having set up specialised shields to protect its communications from any such attack. Should the need for messenger pigeons however return, Sylvain says he is ready.
