(Photo: ITTIKORN PANATKOOL)To boost local tourism and the economy, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is holding "Thailand SHA: The Memory @ Phuket, Phang-nga and Krabi" from today until Oct 3. The goal of the event is to promote tourism among local travellers and expats who can travel safely within secure tourist-friendly destinations. This will help to bring back confidence in tourism and national healthcare, as well as assisting businesses affected by Covid-19. Thailand Sha Sha Sha (Photo © Tourism Authority of Thailand)Accor, a world leading hospitality group, has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, a global organisation that brings engaged hospitality companies together and uses the industry's collective power to address key challenges affecting the planet and its people. The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance drives collaborative action and develops free practical resources and programmes to enable the wider industry with leading hospitality companies and strategic partners to operate responsibly and grow sustainably.

(Photo © The Workshoppers by Empathy Sauce)More than ever, society plays a role in mental health. Yet to succeed in a complicated society requires stability and balance to enable us to release stress as we receive it. Our systems of stress management and mental release need an upgrade for the world of 2021. Today's workshop focuses on "Mind Detoxification And Hatha For Breath". Topics for the next classes include "Self Empowerment And Mindfulness Flow Yoga" on Oct 7; "Energising Flow And Let Go" on Oct 14; "Deep Inspiring Vinyasa For Inner Thoughts" on Oct 21; "Dynamic Yoga For Inner Strength" on Oct 28; "Yin Yoga For Self-Love" on Nov 4; and "Mindfulness Flow Yoga For Self-Empathy" on Nov 11.

Uniqlo remains committed to expansionMr Tomoyoshi says the company plans to open two new Uniqlo stores this year at CentralPlaza Sri Racha and Central Ayutthaya. Uniqlo Thailand, a Thai unit of the global casual apparel retailer, remains committed to continuing its business expansion in the country despite lingering uncertainties brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Mr Tomoyoshi, the company plans to open two new Uniqlo stores this year at CentralPlaza Sri Racha and Central Ayutthaya. Mr Tomoyoshi said the provision of a drive-thru service at Uniqlo roadside stores, the Uniqlo app and website were generated in order to meet new normal lifestyles. Currently, there are 54 Uniqlo stores in Thailand with sales of 10 billion baht, recording a profit of 2 billion baht in 2020.

Solar module maker opts for Amata City HalongRepresentatives from Amata City Halong congratulate Jinko Solar Vietnam on receiving the investment registration certificate. Amata VN Plc, a subsidiary of SET-listed Amata Corporation, Thailand's biggest industrial estate developer, predicts bright business prospects in Vietnam after the company's Amata City Halong industrial estate was selected by solar module manufacturer Jinko Solar Hongkong as its production base with an investment valued at US$866 million. The new factory, located on a 52.7-hectare plot, is Jinko Solar Hongkong's third manufacturing plant. Amata City Halong officially opened in 2018. The industrial estate, located in an economic zone of Quang Ninh, is one of the region's largest industrial parks.

SET-listed Ratch Group is on its way to hitting a target of 10,000 megawatts in total electricity generation capacity, as it expects to have additional capacity of 1,000MW from three domestic and overseas power plant projects worth 31 billion baht by the end of this year. Its current capacity stands at 8,292MW from power plants in Thailand and countries overseas, including Laos, Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam. "If all projects become successful, the company will be able to achieve the power generation capacity target," said Mr Kijja. At present, 63% of Ratch's power generation capacity is produced in Thailand and 37% is produced overseas. The company wants to increase its overseas investment proportion to 50% by 2025.

El Salvador's Bitcoin bet is a dangerous follyEl Salvador this month became the first country to adopt a cryptocurrency -- in this case, Bitcoin -- as legal tender. But adopting Bitcoin as legal tender makes little sense for El Salvador. El Salvador already accepted this when it adopted the dollar. And at least half of El Salvador's population have no internet access. But El Salvador's adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender is perhaps the strangest and potentially most worrying example of all.

Agriculture agencies put under PrawitDeputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has been assigned to oversee four agencies under the Agriculture and Cooperative Ministry, which were previously handled by former deputy agriculture minister Capt Thamanat Prompow. Deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Taisaranakul said the cabinet acknowledged an order by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for Gen Prawit to oversee the four agencies temporarily. Under the order, the work of the four agencies will be screened by the agriculture minister and any submissions to the cabinet will be made via Gen Prawit, instead of Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, the spokeswoman said. Asked if Gen Prawit, who is the PPRP leader, will retake the Agriculture and Cooperative Ministry from the Democrat Party, Mr Jurin only said the matter has not been raised. Last month, Capt Thamanat was sacked as deputy agriculture minister, as was Narumon Pinyosinwat, who was dismissed as a deputy labour minister.

Reinvigorating multilateralismLast year, the United Nations conducted a worldwide consultation involving more than one million people from 193 countries. Especially encouraging is that young people worldwide clearly want more international cooperation. We, therefore, welcome the secretary-general's suggestions for how to strengthen global foresight and risk-management capacity, including the proposal for a new global "Emergency Platform." Lastly, we welcome the proposal for a Summit of the Future in 2023, and we should use that opportunity to step up our efforts to strengthen international cooperation. Together, we must reinvigorate rules-based multilateralism, with a stronger and more inclusive UN at its core.

Alcohol ban in Phuket restaurants gets liftedTourists visiting the resort island of Phuket will be able to order alcoholic beverages from tomorrow at restaurants that used to serve alcohol before it was prohibited as part of the government's Covid-19 control measures. Dated Sept 28, the announcement deals with a range of changes to Covid-19 restrictions, which are due to take effect tomorrow. While night entertainment venues and business establishments including cock-fighting rings and boxing stadiums will remain closed, shopping malls and restaurants will be allowed to resume almost-normal operations, according the announcement. Live music will be allowed at restaurants while at most five members will be allowed per band, said the announcement. Aphisit Ubonkomut, director of Hua Hin airport in Prachuap Khiri Khan, said Air Asia will resume flights between Hua Hin and Chiang Mai every Friday and Sunday from Oct 15.

SC looks to low-rise demandAn artist's rendition of a single detached house at Bangkok Boulevard Signature Phetkasem-Pin Klao project with 59 units priced from 20-30 million baht. Chief financial officer Pradthana Patsaman said low-rise houses priced 10 million baht and above per unit saw high growth in the first half as demand had less impact from the economic slump. About 83% or 9.4 billion baht derived from low-rise houses, while 17% or 1.95 billion baht came from condos. Revenue in the first six months rose 11% to 8.71 billion baht with the largest share from low-rise houses at 6.82 billion baht. "We still maintain revenue and presales target of 19 billion baht and 20 billion baht, respectively, by the end of 2021."

Govt approves land grab for new bridgeThe cabinet has given approval for land expropriation in five districts in northern Bangkok to make way for the construction of a new six-lane bridge crossing the Chao Phraya River. The cabinet agreed to expropriate land in Bang O area of Bang Phlat district, along Nakhon Chai Si Road in Dusit district and the Bang Sue area. Land in Phaya Thai district's Samsen Nai area and Chatuchak's Chomphon and Chatuchak sub-districts will also be acquired for the bridge construction project. Ms Ratchada said the bridge will help ease chronic traffic congestion in the northern part of Bangkok. When the bridge is completed, it will be able to handle about 100,000 cars each day, which will ease traffic congestion in the northern part of the capital, she added.

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.