EEC seeks to lure Japanese investorsThe Eastern Economic Corridor Office and the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) have pledged to work together to encourage Japanese firms and other companies located in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to tap more into digital manufacturing platforms to reduce production costs. Kanit Sangsubhan, secretary-general of the EEC Office, said his office and Jetro aim to promote 10,000 factories in EEC to transform their production to automation systems to reduce production costs by 30% within five years. The EEC Automation Park is scheduled to kick off next month. The automation park will offer upskilling and reskilling courses for engineers, high-skilled workers, university graduates and students to train in the automation systems. The EEC has targeted 200 factories to implement automation systems next year and all 10,000 factories will be transformed into automation systems within five years.

Local Covid-19 vaccine developers say they need support from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide a special "fast lane" to test their jabs for emergency use. Prof Kiat said the FDA should allow a dual process to conduct human trials for emergency use, together with booster vaccines. Porntip Wiwatwong, chief developer of HXP-GPOVac, an inactivated Covid vaccine from the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), backed the idea, saying the current process under the FDA's regulations will further delay local vaccine development. Ms Porntip said it would be useful for the local vaccine developers if the FDA could provide assistance to hasten the process. To date, 24.6 million doses have been delivered this year, including eight million this month.

Manny Pacquiao retires from boxingPhilippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has retired from the ring. MANILA: Philippine superstar and presidential hopeful Manny Pacquiao announced on Wednesday he is retiring from boxing after a glittering decades-long career in the ring, describing it as the "hardest decision" of his life. The eight-division world champion and national hero made the announcement weeks after losing his last professional fight, against Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, who entered politics in 2010 as a congressman before being elected to the Senate, said last week he will make a tilt for the country's highest office. Pacquiao, a married father of five, thanked his millions of fans around the world, and paid special tribute to his long-time trainer Freddie Roach who he described as "my family, a brother and a friend".

Floods killed 7, persist in 16 provincesRescue workers evacuate flood victims in Non Thai district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)The confirmed death toll from Storm Dianmu's passage through Thailand has risen to seven, with flooding persisting in 16 provinces, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Wednesday. From Sept 23 flooding caused by the storm affected 197,795 families in 30 provinces. Seven people were confirmed to have died in the floods. One person was still missing.

Pfizer vaccine shipment arrivesPublic Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul takes delivery of the first 2 million doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine ordered by the government, at Suvarnabhumi airport on Wednesday morning. Mr Anutin said the 2 million doses were the first of the government's order for 30 million doses. The prime target is children aged 12-18 years, about 5 million in total, with 10 million doses of Pfizer vaccine reserved for them. The Pfizer vaccine will also be used in cross-vaccine formulas decided by a sub-committee on immunisation - Sinovac plus AstraZeneca or AstraZeneca plus Pfizer. He expected inoculations with Pfizer vaccine to start next week.

Finance minister says monetary policy must be accommodativeFinance minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith speaks in Parliament on June 9, 2021. (Parliament photo)Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on Wednesday that monetary policy needed to be kept accommodative and be in step with fiscal policy to support the economy. Speaking to a business seminar organised by the Prachachart Thurakij business media group, the minister also said that exports should be able to underpin economic growth this year. "Monetary policy must be accommodative to allow fiscal policy to work," he said. The government will borrow domestically for now but may seek foreign loans if the economy recovers, Mr Arkhom said.

Prices soar at opium market in Taliban-ruled AfghanistanOpium vendors and buyers chat over green tea around sacks of opium and hashish at a market in Afghanistan. HOWZ-E-MADAD, Afghanistan: As the economy teeters on the brink of collapse, vendors at an opium market in southern Afghanistan say prices for their goods have skyrocketed since the Taliban takeover. Buyers are bracing for a looming shortage, "so the opium price is soaring," said Zekria, who also used a pseudonym to avoid retribution. Afghanistan's opium production has since remained high year after year, producing some 6,300 tonnes last year alone, the UN says. In his office in Kandahar, head of the province's culture department Maulvi Noor Mohammad Saeed told AFP that "opium production is haram and bad for people".

The second expert panel Step Into Her World: Engaging to Empower Online discussed key drivers of misinformation on family planning and contraception online, the need for credible voices on popular platforms and the importance of sustained dialogue. “Our diverse region has one of the highest unmet needs for contraception and the lowest contraception prevalence rate, and these statistics are concerning. They also called for wider public support to join in the pledge and give voice to women’s health needs and empowerment. “Safeguarding women’s health and preserving the progress made on access to contraception remain our top priority amidst COVID-19. Retrieved from: https://www.unfpa.org/press/new-unfpa-data-reveals-nearly-12-million-women-lost-access-contraception-due-disruptions(2) International Planned Parenthood Federation “COVID-19 pandemic cuts access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for women around the world.” https://www.ippf.org/news/covid-19-pandemic-cuts-access-sexual-and-reproductive-healthcare-women-around-worldCOR-UN-WHC-TH-0004-1 (09/21)

Japan ruling party votes on next prime ministerJapan's ruling party is choosing its new leader and the country's next prime minister in an unusually tight raceTOKYO - Japan's ruling party picks its new leader Wednesday, with a mild-mannered former foreign minister and the Twitter-savvy vaccine chief leading the race to become the country's next prime minister. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is going to the polls with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga opting not to stand, ending his tenure as premier after just a year in the role. Whoever wins will be approved as prime minister by parliament within days, and will then contest general elections in which the LDP is expected to retain power. A former defence and foreign minister, he has been considered a likely candidate for the top job for years. His main rival is Fumio Kishida, a former foreign minister and LDP policy chief who has pledged more pandemic stimulus if elected.

Vietnam's lockdown ensnares world's clothing giantsThe pandemic has hit Vietnam's textile industry and is threatening global coffee supplies. HANOI: From shoes and sweaters to car parts and coffee, Vietnam's strict and lengthy coronavirus lockdown has sparked product shortages among worldwide brands such as Nike and Gap which have grown increasingly dependent on the Southeast Asian nation's manufacturers. The snarl-ups at Vietnam's factories are part of a broader crisis around the planet that is sending inflation surging and raising concerns about the pace of recovery in the global economy. Now, "travel restrictions have jeopardised all logistics in and out... this has created long, long delays," she told AFP. "If we can allow the factories to work then I think the trust (in Vietnam) is still there."

24 dead in Ecuador prison gun battle: policeInmates walk on the roof of a wing of the main regional prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where at least 24 prisoners were killed in a gun battle among inmates. QUITO: At least 24 prisoners were killed in a battle between inmates equipped with firearms and grenades at a prison in Guayaquil, Ecuador, officials said Tuesday. Ecuador's prison system has become a battle ground between prisoners linked to Mexican drug gangs -- mainly the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels. Two weeks ago, Guayaquil's Prison Number 4 was attacked by drones, part of "a war between international cartels," prison authorities said. Ecuador's prison system has about 60 facilities designed for 29,000 inmates, but is burdened by overcrowding and staffing shortages.

10,414 new Covid cases, 122 more deathsA health worker conducts antigen tests to find Covid-19 cases in Klong Toey district, Bangkok, last Saturday. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Thailand logged 10,414 new Covid-19 cases and 122 more fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Wednesday morning. The number of new cases rose from the 9,489 announced on Tuesday when the country recorded 129 more deaths. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 1,591,829 Covid-19 cases, with 1,459,786 complete recoveries so far. The highest number of cases was 23,418 on Aug 13.Global Covid-19 cases rose by 426,535 in 24 hours (up from 371,530 on the previous day) to 233.55 million.

Canaries volcano lava reaches sea, raising toxic gas fearsLa Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted on September 19, spewing out rivers of lava that have slowly crept towards the seaMADRID - Lava from an erupting volcano in the Canary Islands has reached the ocean, volcanologists said, raising fear of toxic gases being released as the lava hits the sea water. "The lava flow has reached the sea at Playa Nueva," the Canary Islands Volcanic Institute (Involcan) said on Twitter Tuesday night. La Cumbre Vieja volcano, which straddles a southern ridge in La Palma, an island with 85,000 inhabitants, erupted on September 19, spewing out rivers of lava that have slowly crept towards the sea. Experts say the entry of lava into the seawater will send clouds of toxic gas into the air, causing explosions and a fragmentation of the molten rock like gunshots. The eruption has forced the evacuation of more than 6,000 people from their homes but has not killed or injured anyone so far.

Biden cancels trip with agenda under threat, debt crisis loomingUS President Joe Biden Biden had been meant to address his Covid-19 vaccination policy in the Midwestern cityWASHINGTON - President Joe Biden postponed a Wednesday trip to Chicago to stay in Washington and fight for his domestic agenda, which hangs from a thread in Congress, the White House said. "He will now remain at the White House tomorrow to continue working on advancing these two pieces of legislation to create jobs," an administration official said late Tuesday. McConnell has repeatedly argued that the political burden of raising or suspending it again should fall to Democrats because they control the House, Senate and White House. But Yellen told the Senate Banking Committee the debt limit increase was a "shared responsibility" that both parties should support. But the Senate shot down the plan on Monday, with Republicans objecting to a debt ceiling hike that was included in the wording.

Thailand targets Indian tourists to make up for missing ChineseTourists pose for pictures at Phra Tamnak Hill in Pattaya, a prime spot for enjoying panoramic views of Pattaya City, on June 14, 2018. (Photo: Patipat Janthong)Thailand is looking to attract Indian travellers during the traditional holiday season to boost its tourism-reliant economy that’s been hit hard by the absence of mass holidaymakers from countries including China. With the outbound Chinese travel not expected to resume anytime soon, Thailand is betting on travellers from other origins to take advantage of its relaxed rules for tourists. They were the largest group behind Chinese and Malaysians that year when the nation saw almost 40 million tourists. “Even though it will be difficult to match the number of visitors and revenue generated by Chinese travellers, Indian tourists can help support Thailand’s tourism industry during this time,” Ms Somsong said.