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Two Thai protesters held under the kingdom's tough royal insult laws are growing extremely weak after nearly three weeks on hunger strike, a hospital statement said Monday. Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phupong have refused food and most liquids for the past 20 days to urge political parties to support the abolition of Thailand's lese majeste laws, as well as other justice reforms. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his close family are protected by some of the world's strictest royal defamation laws, with each charge carrying a possible 15-year jail term, but rights groups say they are misused to suppress public debate. Tantawan, 21, and Orawan, 23, were still conscious but weak, Thammasat University Hospital said in a statement posted on Facebook early on Monday. "Key organs such as the kidneys are starting to work more slowly," Paruhat Tor-udom, the hospital director, told reporters on Monday. "They can communicate with doctors and visitors, and while their condition is getting … [Read more...] about Thai protesters weak after three weeks on hunger strike

Trung Hoang, partner at VinaCapital Ventures, and Thi Nguyen, co-founder and chairman of Koina, shake hands at the investment signing ceremony in HCM City last week. — Photo courtesy of VinaCapital VinaCapital Ventures, the technology investment vehicle of VinaCapital Group, on Monday announced that it is investing US$1 million in Koina, a Viet Nam-based data-driven farm-to-business agriculture technology platform. VinaCapital Ventures’ investment comes as part of a seed extension round of fundraising by Koina. Koina Investment Group was founded in 2021 by a talented and accomplished team with experience in established startups. Its vision is to build Viet Nam’s most extensive and efficient agri-ecosystem by working side-by-side with Vietnamese farmers and connecting them directly with financial institutions, input suppliers, and commercial retailers. Koina’s “Farmer Platform” aims to help communities with financing, provide transparent and fair prices, and guide farmers on … [Read more...] about VinaCapital Ventures invests in Koina

Many business exchange activities have been organised to effectively support local firms in exporting their products to foreign markets. — Photo courtesy of MoIT The Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will collaborate with relevant agencies in carrying out measures to help enterprises expand their shares in foreign markets, said Vu Ba Phu, head of the agency. Localities will get support relating to trade promotion activities in key markets, the official told Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper. Support programmes will be devised, aiming to improve the capacity for enterprises to meet the trend of green trade, he said, adding the MoIT will also facilitate the connection between businesses and localities. Attention will be paid to enhancing the effectiveness of the National Brand Programme, thus helping enterprises’ products go deeper into global supply chains. According to the MoIT, the total import-export turnover of Viet Nam … [Read more...] about Trade ministry to support enterprises in boosting exports