13,897 new Covid cases, 188 more deathsEmployees of shops at Siam Paragon queue for a temperature check when returning from lunch on Wednesday. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)There were 13,897 new Covid-19 cases and 188 more fatalities recorded during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported on Thursday morning. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 1,434,237 Covid-19 cases, with 1,290,775 complete recoveries so far. Global Covid-19 cases rose by 562,484 in 24 hours to 227,253,177. The United States had the most cases at 42,479,780, up 164,509 and the most deaths at 685,023, up 2,282.

Mexican lottery winners scoop drug lord homesThis house that belonged to Mexican cartel boss Amado Carrillo Fuentes was among the prizes in a special Mexican lottery. MEXICO CITY: A house where drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman narrowly avoided arrest was scooped by a mystery winner in a special lottery held by the Mexican government on Wednesday. Guzman escaped a manhunt in 2014 through the underground drainage system of the house, worth an estimated $184,000, but was captured six days later. The other prizes included a Mexico City mansion that belonged to former Juarez cartel leader Amado Carrillo Fuentes said to be worth about $3.8 million. Known as "The Lord of the Skies," he was considered one of Latin America's biggest drug traffickers until he died during plastic surgery in Mexico City in 1997.

Head of IS in Greater Sahara killed by French forces: MacronIn June this year, President Emmanuel Macron announced a reduction in France's anti-jihadist Barkhane force in the Sahel after more than eight years of military presencePARIS - The head of Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, has been killed by French forces, President Emmanuel Macron tweeted early Thursday. Islamic State in the Greater Sahara is blamed for most of the jihadist attacks in the Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso region. "This is another major success in our fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel," Macron said. On August 9, 2020, in Niger, the head of ISGS personally ordered the killing of six French aid workers and their Niger guides and drivers. The French military has killed several high-ranking members of ISGS under its strategy of targeting jihadist leaders.

Messi restricted in PSG draw as Man City, Liverpool win thrillersLionel Messi and PSG were held in check by Club Brugge. PARIS: Lionel Messi made his first Paris Saint-Germain start in a 1-1 draw at Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, while last season's runners-up Manchester City and Liverpool won high-scoring thrillers. "We need time for them to get to know each other," PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino said of his all-star attack. I'm happy with how Messi played, his desire and his attitude, and the way he's adjusting." Steven Berghuis added the other goal for the four-time European champions with Paulinho grabbing a consolation for the hosts.

Thai-American designer Angelys Balek's new autumn/winter collection takes inspiration from the symbol of new beginningsTwo years ago Thai-American designer Angelys Balek was ebulliently "Above The Sun" -- the title of her autumn/winter collection. Angelys Balek once again salutes the luminous celestial body. Since 2017, her eponymous label has focused on swimwear inspired by her childhood in Phuket and various disciplines such as art and architecture. Lastly, cool tones such as purple-blue and vivid prints characterise the Serene By The Sea pieces. (Photos courtesy of Angelys Balek)

Returning to the US, the Fed QE taper will be the key financial market event in the last quarter of 2021. Emerging markets in 2013 saw large corrections in their currency, bond and equity markets as well as much slower recovery period. The next question is how ready emerging markets are for tapering today. Similar to many of their peers, Asean emerging markets have a weak growth outlook. How emerging markets, including Thailand, will weather tapering this time around thus depends on how well they can convince investors about their growth and recovery outlooks.

Surging demand to propel Inter Pharma to sales goalSET-listed pharmaceutical and food supplement company Inter Pharma Plc expects to achieve its sales target of 2.5 billion baht in 2024, one year early thanks to the pandemic, which has accelerated demand for pharmaceutical and food supplements. "More people dare to spend their money on healthcare products. "We've seen an increasing growth momentum for food supplements, wellness and pharmaceutical products in the first half of this year. Apart from Covid-19, Mr Trinnawat said Thailand's ageing society will also spur demand for wellness products. The firm currently produces and markets five core product categories comprising pharmaceutical products; wellness and anti-ageing products; cosmeceuticals & aesthetic innovation products; companion animal healthcare products; and livestock animal healthcare products.

CKP moves forward with planned Laos hydro plantThe Xayaburi hydroelectric power plant, with capacity of 1,285 megawatts, in Laos. Construction of the new hydroelectric power plant was set to begin in 2020 and scheduled to finish in 2027, the website said. CKP earlier developed the Nam Ngum 2 hydroelectric power plant, with installed capacity of 615MW. The firm also built a 1,285MW Xayaburi hydroelectric power plant, which opened in October 2019. Electricity is produced by its 16 power plants, which encompass 12 solar farms and two gas-fired cogeneration power plants in Thailand, as well as two hydroelectric power plants in Laos.

"Sarus Crane Nest Adoption" compensates farmers whose rice fields are chosen by sarus cranes as a nesting site as well as supports funding for sarus crane conservation activities such as nest monitoring by volunteers in Buri Ram. The project also encourages local people and farmers to engage in sarus crane conservation that will lead to a sustainable ecosystem. After running the project for almost three years, 15 sarus cranes were born in nature and 21 nests have been adopted. To support sarus crane conservation, farmers in a Buri Ram community have changed from chemical farming to organic farming. They have named jasmine rice which grows in natural habitats where the sarus cranes live as "Sarus Rice".

SCB EIC sees recovery in mid-2023SCB Economic Intelligence Center (SCB EIC), the research house of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), has forecast Thailand's economic recovery would be delayed until mid-2023 because of the impact of the prolonged pandemic. The research house predicted Thailand's economy would return to the 2019 level in the middle of 2023, a delay from the beginning of 2023 as previously projected. Under this scenario, SCB EIC has slashed the country's GDP growth projection for 2021 from 0.9% previously to 0.7%, mainly caused by lower domestic consumption. Even though the export sector is the key engine of Thailand's growth momentum, supply chain disruption due to the pandemic has hurt the export sector. SCB EIC has maintained its export growth forecast for this year at 15%, although the sector showed strong growth at 19.4% year-to-date, on a year-on-year basis, Mr Yunyong said.

(Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The Education Ministry has laid out a timeline for vaccinating students amid reluctance by some parents and students to join the nationwide inoculation campaign. The ministry will also gather consent forms and advise students on the vaccination procedure, according to Mr Supat. On Sept 25, schools will forward the names of students to be vaccinated to their school districts. Between Sept 17-22, the schools will organise meetings with parents to educate them about safe vaccinations for students. Mr Supat said students who receive their first jab during the first week of October will get their second dose towards the end of the month.

Pundits cheered by early sale of iPhone 13 rangeThe Apple logo is seen at an Apple store at CentralWorld. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut)Early availability of the iPhone 13 line-up in Thailand will help stimulate demand for 5G-enabled smartphones and add growth to the premium device segment in the country, say industry pundits. Apple launched the new iPhone 13 line-up on Tuesday, comprising iPhone 13 mini (5.4-inch display) with a starting price of 25,900 baht, iPhone 13 (6.1-inch) with a starting price of 29,900 baht as well as the more advanced iPhone 13 Pro (6.1-inch) with a starting price of 38,900 baht and iPhone 13 Pro Max (6.7-inch) with a starting price of 42,900 baht. "In the first two weeks, iPhone 13 Pro Max is likely to see a shortage of supply, similar to what happened with the similar model last year," he said. The launch of iPhone 13 series will help drive sales volume of iPhones in Thailand in the fourth quarter, he said, noting iPhone is already in the top 5 brands in shipment volumes.

Get past the Thai-China trade deficitPeople buy durian imported from Thailand at the 'Qingdao Thai Fruits Golden Months 2021' event in Qingdao, China. First, the Thai-China trade deficit has been going on for over a decade, not just in 2019. In 2010, the Thai-China trade gap was equal to 0.9% of GDP but this gap widened to 4% of GDP in 2019. Household debt rose from 57.9% of GDP (5.6 trillion baht) in 2009 to 80.2% of GDP in 2019 (13.5 trillion baht) -- an increase of 7.9 trillion baht. I would like to suggest the country looks intensely at the Thai-China trade gap problem and adopts an "import substitution" strategy to expand domestic production.

New York says UNGA delegates must be vaccinated, angering RussiaUN delegates must provide proof of vaccination to enter the General Assembly debate hallNEW YORK - All leaders and diplomats attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week will have to provide proof of vaccination, the city government said Wednesday, sparking anger from Russia. Delegates must be vaccinated to enter the debate hall, the mayor's office told the assembly president in a letter dated September 9, but Moscow queried whether New York had the authority to enforce the mandate. - 'Clearly discriminatory measure' -But Russia's ambassador requested an urgent meeting of the General Assembly to discuss the move. The high-level week of the 76th session of the General Assembly starts on Tuesday and finishes the following Monday. It will be a combined in-person and remote event after last year's UNGA took place virtually because of the pandemic.

Thousands of Covid-like cases raise risk of future pandemicsFilipino bat ecologists Phillip Alviola and Kirk Taray set up a mist net near a bat roost at Mount Makiling in Los Banos, Laguna province, Philippines, Feb 18, 2021. Humans are continually exposed to bat coronaviruses, he said. Animal IntermediariesThat makes the risk of exposure to animal viruses in nature “far, far greater than any possible exposure in a lab,” Holmes said. Wildlife hunting, trading, farming and consumption is common across this region, increasing the risk of exposure to bat-borne viruses, Daszak said. “This isn’t about finding viruses and saying ‘this country is a high risk to the rest of the world,’” Daszak said.