Dams burst in Brazil as region hit by floodsTwo dams gave way in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia after weeks of heavy rains, swamping already swollen local rivers as flooding hit towns across the region, authorities said on Sunday. A second dam gave way to rising water levels in Jussiape, 100 kilometers to the north, on Sunday morning, bringing more alerts for residents to move to safer ground. Rescuers rowed dinghies along flooded streets to reach trapped families or take them supplies. One man paddled on an inflatable mattress to reach a home. Bahia Governor Rui Castro said at least 400,000 people have been impacted by the heavy rains and thousands evacuated from some 67 towns facing emergency situations due to floods caused by heavy rainfall for almost two months.

Car exports increased by 28.6% from January to November this year. From January to November this year, car exports rose by 28.6% year-on-year to 857,887 units, worth 500 billion baht in value, according to the club. Car manufacturers with production facilities in Thailand do not want the government to reinstate lockdown measures to fight Omicron if the variant triggers a fourth outbreak, said the FTI. "Previous lockdown measures affected people's confidence and purchasing power. "Car manufacturers will wait and see what EV packages are approved by the cabinet to grow the domestic market," said Mr Suparat.

Before 2021 ends, let me share five key economic and investment trends that SCB CIO foresees in 2022. These lingering effects will likely be a smaller factor in the uneven economic recovery, compared with their impact in 2019 and 2020. FISCAL CHALLENGESMeanwhile, the Bank of Thailand is likely to maintain its policy rate at 0.5% for another year to support the economic recovery. SCB CIO expects the baht exchange rate will remain in the range of 32-33 to the dollar by the end of 2022. Thailand's economic recovery and the return of foreign tourists are likely to occur in the second half of 2022.

REUTERSAdvertisers are treading carefully when it comes to peddling their products and services during February's Beijing Winter Olympics, which have been shrouded by criticism over China's human-rights record. The Olympic Games are typically a chance for the world's biggest brands to pitch their products and services to a large global audience. Companies spent more than $920 million on national TV ads that aired on Comcast Corp.'s NBCUniversal during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. During the meeting, brands were asked to use their influence to insist on improvement in human rights in China. "Intel's sponsorship of the Beijing Games does not negate or undermine the chip maker's commitment or respect for human rights,'' he added.

For me, the best learning often comes from an unexpected source. They figure out the people and community they can learn from most effectively and get up to speed. My company organises a very inspiring 7,000-strong learning community, but your community can be your team, company or network. You arrange a meeting with another team in your community, and you take the time to explore and learn about their work and world. If you have a new success, breakthrough or insight, and you know enough about your community members, then arrange to go and tell them about it.

No trips for Afghan women unless escorted by male relative: TalibanThe Taliban have imposed various restrictions on women and girls, despite pledging a softer rule compared with their first stint in power in the 1990s. KABUL: Afghanistan's Taliban authorities said Sunday that women seeking to travel anything other than short distances should not be offered transport unless they are accompanied by a close male relative. Since taking power in August, the Taliban have imposed various restrictions on women and girls, despite pledging a softer rule compared with their first stint in power in the 1990s. In several provinces, local Taliban authorities have been persuaded to reopen schools -- but many girls still remain cut off from secondary education. Women's rights were severely curtailed during the Taliban's previous stint in power.

Anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu dead at 90Tutu was famously outspoken, even after the fall of the racist apartheid regime. JOHANNESBURG: South African anti-apartheid icon Desmond Tutu, described as the country's moral compass, died on Sunday aged 90, President Cyril Ramaphosa said. "The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is another chapter of bereavement in our nation's farewell to a generation of outstanding South Africans who have bequeathed us a liberated South Africa," he said in a statement. "Desmond Tutu was a patriot without equal; a leader of principle and pragmatism who gave meaning to the biblical insight that faith without works is dead," he said. It was Tutu who coined and popularised the term "Rainbow Nation" to describe South Africa when Nelson Mandela became the country's first black president.

There have probably been better yearsWell we've just about scraped through the Year of the Ox. Anyway, it is customary at this time of the year to take a not-too-serious look back on the last 12 months. There are only a couple of Covid-influenced items as I reckon we've all had enough of reading about that. One suspects that the kingdom might have more urgent matters to tackle than embarking on a space odyssey. Happiness is a warm Finn: Finland once again ranked first in the UN-sponsored World Happiness Report.

Cummins takes three to leave England reeling in 3rd Ashes TestPat Cummins took two early wickets for Australia agaunst EnglandMELBOURNE - A relentless Pat Cummins snared three wickets as England's openers flopped again Sunday, leaving captain Joe Root to steer his team to 61 for three at lunch on day one of the third Ashes Test. After heavy defeats in the first two Tests, at Brisbane and Adelaide, England must win to keep the series alive, with Australia only needing a draw to retain the urn as holders. Wearing black armbands to mourn former England captain Ray Illingworth, who died aged 89, Crawley confidently drove Cummins for three in his opening over. But the ever-dangerous Australian skipper, back after missing the second Adelaide Test because he was in Covid isolation, struck three balls later with Haseeb Hameed's torrid tour continuing, out for a duck after nicking to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. But disaster hit once more for England just before the break when Malan got an edge off Cummins that carried to David Warner at slip.

(Nasa Photo via AFP)The world’s most powerful space telescope on Saturday blasted off into orbit, headed to an outpost 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, after years of delays caused by technical hitches. (Story continues below)An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket, with the James Webb Space Telescope onboard, launches from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana on Saturday. Once James Webb reaches its final position, the challenge will be to fully deploy the mirror and a tennis-court-sized sun shield. Astronomical operation of the telescope, to be managed from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, is expected to begin in June 2022, following about six months of alignment and calibration of the mirrors and instruments. The telescope is an international collaboration led by Nasa in partnership with the European and Canadian space agencies.

Mr Uttama was the finance minister while Mr Sontirat was the energy minister when Mr Somkid was a deputy prime minister in charge of the economy. “Our policy is to fight poverty and help people and we’ll nominate Mr Somkid as the PM candidate,” he told Matichon Online. Mr Uttama and Mr Sontirat were part of a group of four young technocrats loyal to Mr Somkid, dubbed the “Four Lads” by the Thai media. A few days later, the four men also resigned from the cabinet along with Mr Somkid, forcing a major reshuffle and ending a phase of cooperation between Mr Somkid and Gen Prayut. The initiative was viewed by some as testing the waters before the group set up a new party to back Mr Somkid as prime minister.

US became 'arrogant' after fall of Soviet Union: GorbachevGorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991, days after the leaders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine said the USSR no longer existedMOSCOW - The United States grew "arrogant and self-confident" after the collapse of the Soviet Union, leading to the expansion of the NATO military alliance, former leader Mikhail Gorbachev said on Friday. Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991, days after the leaders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine said the USSR no longer existed. He said there was a "triumphant mood in the West, especially in the United States" after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. "Gorbachev destroyed the Soviet Union and the drunkard Yeltsin helped," said the 84-year-old. "I was born and grew up in the Soviet Union and I liked living then.

The Bank of Thailand said on Friday it expects to test its retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) for the public in late 2022, later than planned, as an alternative payment option. The retail CBDC is not to compete with cryptocurrency or stable coins but aimed at reducing financial costs, he added. A retail CBDC is a digital form of money issued by a central bank comparable to physical banknotes. It can be used in financial transactions both online and offline. The central bank, however, has said it does not support use of digital assets, such as bitcoin and ether, as payment for goods and services due to risks.

Cambodia's ruling party endorses PM Hun Sen's son as future leaderThen arrmy chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong and Cambodian army chief Gen Hun Manet review the honour guards during the welcome ceremony at the Royal Thai Army headquarters on April 2, 2019. Prime Minister Hun Sen's son was endorsed by the Cambodia People's Party on Friday to be a future prime ministerial candidate. (Reuters photo)PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's longtime ruling party voted to endorse Prime Minister Hun Sen's eldest son as "future prime minister", local media reported on Friday, but did not specify a time frame for when he might succeed his father, who has been in power for 36 years. The Central Committee of the Cambodia People's Party unanimously voted Hun Munet, 44, to be a future prime ministerial candidate, local outlet Freshnews reported.

Sarana expected to be named new chairman of NBTCDr Sarana: Tipped for prized postSarana Boonbaichaiyapruck, a medical specialist and former member of the defunct National Legislative Assembly (NLA), is expected to be chosen as chairman of the new National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) board. Somchai PoomlardHe is among five candidates approved as NBTC board members by Senate voting on Monday. A source at the existing NBTC board who requested anonymity said Dr Sarana is most likely to be voted by the five to become the board chairman. The vote for the chairman is expected to be held during the first meeting of the new NBTC board, which will happen after the new commissioners receive royal endorsement. The six existing board members are not expected to make any policy decisions during this period, stepping down as soon as the new members have been royally endorsed.