Exports seen up 10-12% this year - shippersThailand's exports are expected to rise 10-12% this year as the global economy recovers, but the country's coronavirus outbreak remains a negative factor, the National Shippers' Council said on Tuesday. In the third quarter, exports, a rare bright spot in the economy, are forecast to increase 8-10% from a year earlier, the group told a briefing.
Vietnam jails man for five years for spreading CovidA Vietnamese man has been sentenced to five years in jail for spreading Covid-19 after he breached home quarantine rules. Le Van Tri was convicted of "spreading dangerous infectious diseases to other people" after he travelled to his home province Ca Mau from coronavirus hotspot Ho Chi Minh City in July, according to a report on the website of the provincial People's Court. "Tri's breach of the home medical quarantine regulation led to many people becoming infected with Covid-19 and one person died on 7 August 2021," according to the court report. The vast majority of infections and deaths have been reported since the end of April, and Vietnam's capital Hanoi and commercial hub Ho Chi Minh city have been in strict lockdown for most of the past few months. Several people have been sentenced for spreading Covid-19 to others in Vietnam.
Djokovic tries to put the "Hammer" down in Slam questSerbia's Novak Djokovic reached the US Open quarter-finals and needs only three more wins to complete the first men's singles calendar-year Grand Slam in 52 yearsNEW YORK - Novak Djokovic warns his Grand Slam quest faces a tough challenge from Italian sixth seed Marco Berrettini in the US Open quarter-finals as they meet in a third consecutive Slam. The 34-year-old Serbian advanced within three matches of completing the first calendar-year Grand Slam in 52 years on Monday by fending off 99th-ranked American Jenson Brooksby 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. "If he serves well, which is his biggest weapon, he's tough. "We're going to play the third Grand Slam in a row against each other," he said. I mean, it has been now 16 years since my first center court Grand Slam match.
S. Korea successfully launches homegrown SLBM: reportSouth Korea has joined only a handful of countries to have successfully developed a submarine-launched ballistic missile. SEOUL - South Korea has test-fired a homegrown submarine-launched ballistic missile, a report said Tuesday, as it seeks to build up its forces to defend itself from the nuclear-armed North. Pyongyang has long sought to develop submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) technology, and showed off four such devices at a military parade overseen by leader Kim Jong Un in January, with state media KCNA calling them "the world's most powerful weapon". But while North Korea has released pictures of underwater launches, most recently in 2019, analysts believe that was from a fixed platform or submersible barge, rather than a submarine. South Korea joins only a handful of countries to have successfully developed an SLBM.
Afghan art activist defiant as Taliban erase Kabul muralsWithin weeks of capturing Kabul, the Taliban have started replacing many of the city's murals with propaganda slogansSEOUL - Afghan activist Omaid Sharifi's art collective spent seven years transforming stretches of Kabul's labyrinthine concrete blast walls with colourful murals -- then the Taliban marched in. - 'Everybody was running' -Sharifi co-founded ArtLords in 2014, using art to campaign for peace, social justice and accountability. The prolific group often shamed the powerful in Afghanistan with street art, including warlords and allegedly corrupt government officials. Their murals honoured Afghan heroes, called for dialogue instead of violence, and demanded rights for women. Sharifi told AFP he "vividly remembers" the public punishments at a football stadium in Kabul, including beheadings and amputations for various crimes.
Climate change fuelling surge in property insurance: Swiss ReActs of God? Climate change will drive demand for protection against rising seas and extreme weather events, says Swiss ReZURICH - Climate change will help propel a threefold surge in property insurance premiums over the coming two decades, according to a study published on Monday by Swiss Re. Swiss Re, which provides insurance for other insurance companies, set out to forecast the major trends driving the sector until 2040. Property premiums stood at around $450 billion in 2020. Motor insurance premiums are expected to double to around $1.4 trillion, from $766 billion in 2020.
Photos courtesy of Dhurakij Pundit UniversityIn today's digital age, young people learn on the internet and successfully build their careers online. Darika Lathapipat, president of Dhurakij Pundit University, said her 15-year-old son is also a self-learner who can edit videos after learning online. Of these, 34 were state universities, nine campuses of Rajamangala Universities of Technology, 38 of Rajabhat University, 40 private universities and 44 others. While state universities work on research because they have financial support, private universities concentrate on human development," said Darika. "Besides accepting international students, private universities should invest in new software and technology, so they will have more modern technology-related courses than state universities.
Funding needed to tackle life-shortening air pollution: reportThe UN cites air pollution as the world's most lethal environmental problem, blaming it for at least 7 million deaths every year. PARIS: Even as air pollution shaves years off life expectancy, fossil fuel projects get more funding than clean air initiatives, a global report said Tuesday. Deaths from air pollution in Africa meanwhile have risen 31% in 10 years. The UN blames air pollution for at least seven million deaths every year, and nine out of 10 people breathe air that WHO guidelines say is unhealthy. It estimates that improving air quality worldwide to meet WHO guidelines would extend average lifespans by 2.2 years.
AGE revenue up as coal demand growsAsia Green Energy expects a revival in coal demand this year to bolster revenue. SET-listed coal trader Asia Green Energy (AGE) maintains its revenue target of 37% growth to 11 billion baht this year, up from 8 billion in 2020, thanks to rising demand for coal. Coal demand is resuming growth and likely to return to levels seen before the pandemic, he said. Last year logistics turned into a new source of revenue as it expanded the service to other companies. Truck transport expansion is part of AGE's 2021 capital spending worth 200 million baht.
LPG prices spark optimism for SGPSET-listed Siamgas and Petrochemical (SGP), Thailand's second largest liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) trader by volume, expects its revenue to reach a new high this year despite lower sales than in 2019, thanks to high global LPG prices. Jintana Kingkaew, deputy managing director and chief financial officer of SGP, said the company based its forecast on the global prices of propane and butane, also known as Saudi Aramco reference prices. SGP maintains its target of sales growing by 15% to hit 3.73 million tonnes this year across Asian markets, up from 3.24 million tonnes last year. Before the pandemic, its sales stood at 3.83 million tonnes in 2019. SGP operates a 230-megawatt Mawlamyine gas-fired power plant and a 10MW diesel-fired power plant in Myanmar.
Osotspa eyes consumer recovery as demand risesMs Chidapa said the company is looking for partners that would be a good strategic fit. According to Ms Chidapa, Osotspa has studied the potential of cannabis and hemp beverages and personal care products since 2019. This is because we have a strong brand, a local factory and a local team over there,'' Ms Chidapa said. In the first half of this year, the company's revenue from sales totalled 13.68 billion baht, an increase of 8.7% from the same period the previous year, with net profit up 5.4% to 1.82 billion baht. "Strong growth was driven by domestic beverages and the international market,'' Ms Chidapa said.
OIC acts to ensure timely Covid paymentAround 500 people gather in front of The One Insurance Plc on Monday to push for speedier claims reimbursement for Covid-19 insurance. ARNUN CHOLMAHATRAKOOLThe Office of the Insurance Commission (OIC) has issued measures to speed up the claims process for Covid-19 insurance after payment delays were reported. The meeting is scheduled for Sept 12 to collect opinions from relevant agencies and develop guidelines to ensure compliance from insurance companies. According to Mr Suthiphon, the OIC received 1,671 complaints about Covid-19 insurance from policyholders nationwide this year, an increase from 1,305 complaints in 2020. Viriyah Insurance said it received more than 1,000 insurance claims per day, causing the system to slow.
Britain's Raducanu makes US Open history, gets tips from WadeBritain's Emma Raducanu celebrates her victory Monday over American Shelby Rogers to reach the US Open quarter-finalsNEW YORK - British teen Emma Raducanu matched the deepest run by any qualifier in US Open history on Monday, rolling into the quarter-finals and mastering the nervy atmosphere of Arthur Ashe Stadium. "I'm feeling very confident and happy with how I'm performing out here in the States," Raducanu said. I'm really excited to see what I can do on Wednesday." "To be here in the US Open quarterfinals after not playing for 18 months is absolutely just incredible." Virginia Wade, the 1968 US Open champion and most recent British woman to capture the New York title, was cheering on Raducanu on Tuesday.
Marchers walk 7,000 steps for Canadian pair detained by ChinaSupporters of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor take part in a 5-kilometre walk in Ottawa, Ontario on Sept 5, 2021, to mark the pair's 1,000 days in Chinese custody after they were charged with espionage. OTTAWA: Hundreds of supporters of two Canadian men being held on what Ottawa says are specious charges marched 7,000 steps through the Canadian capital on Sunday to mark the pair's 1,000th day of "unjust" detention in China. Similar events in support of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were held elsewhere in Canada and across the world in cities including Brussels, New York, Washington, Seoul and Singapore. "We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Canada and the international community in calling for the PRC to release, immediately and unconditionally, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig," Blinken said in a statement, referring to the People's Republic of China. "He walks in circles, 7,000 steps, often holding a book, reading, reciting songs, prayers -- five kilometres of courage and contemplation.
Philippine Airlines to return 22 planes, reassures on survivalAircraft of Philippines Airlines park beside a hangar at a runway of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila March 14, 2016. (Reuters photo)MANILA: Philippine Airlines will return 22 aircraft, mostly Airbus and Boeing jets, to lessors as it pursues a financial restructuring programme to survive after the pandemic has decimated global travel, executives said on Monday. With the company not expecting a return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024 to 2025, the carrier will return 22 aircraft to lessors, Philippine Airlines President Gilbert Santa Maria told a news conference. Philippine Airlines will end with 70 aircraft after cutting about a quarter of its fleet of 92 planes. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Philippine Airlines said on Friday it was pursuing a financial restructuring plan.
