CKP moves forward with planned Laos hydro plant
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 23:37 UTC
Surging demand to propel Inter Pharma to sales goal
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 23:37 UTC
Adopt a sarus crane nest for a good cause
"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".
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 23:37 UTC
SCB EIC sees recovery in mid-2023
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 23:36 UTC
Govt devises jab plan for students
(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.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 23:34 UTC
Pundits cheered by early sale of iPhone 13 range
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 23:26 UTC
New York says UNGA delegates must be vaccinated, angering Russia
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 23:26 UTC
Get past the Thai-China trade deficit
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 23:26 UTC
Thousands of Covid-like cases raise risk of future pandemics
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.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 07:30 UTC
Phi Phi island closure extended
Phi Phi island closure extendedKRABI: The communicable disease control committee of this southern coastal province has extended the closure of Phi Phi island for another seven days from, Sept 18-24. Only tourists under the Phuket Sandbox 7+7 programmes are allowed to visit the island during the closure. The infections spread to grocery shops and Koh Phi Phi police. The additional cases prompted the provincial communicable disease committee to extend the closure from Sept 18-24, banning most visitors from the island. Only tourists under the Phuket Sandbox 7+7 programme can travel to the island, by boat on a sealed route.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 06:56 UTC
HK unions urge caution as catering businesses prod staff to get Covid-19 jabs
HK unions urge caution as catering businesses prod staff to get Covid-19 jabsOnly certain groups of people in Hong Kong must receive vaccines or face regular testing. As of Monday, 64.6% of the eligible population in Hong Kong had received the first dose of vaccine and 57% were fully inoculated. Simon Wong Ka-wo, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said 70% of staff in the catering industry had received two jabs. Yeung Wai-sing, chairman of the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management, said he also would welcome mandatory vaccination. Danny Lau Tat-pong, honorary chairman of the Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Association, said SMEs preferred to give staff the freedom to make their own decisions.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 06:11 UTC
Californians vote to keep Democratic governor: US media projections
Californians vote to keep Democratic governor: US media projectionsMask mandates and pandemic lockdowns spurred the recall vote in CaliforniaLOS ANGELES - Californians voted overwhelmingly to keep their Democratic governor Tuesday, roundly rejecting a Republican attempt to unseat him in a special recall vote spurred by mask mandates and Covid lockdowns. "'No' is not the only thing that was expressed tonight," Newsom said in Sacramento moments after the race was called. - 'Get rid' -The recall initiative, which has cost the state some $280 million, is one of 55 such efforts to depose a governor in state history. "I did the math and even if every registered voter turns out, it would cost more than $12 per vote," he said. "The Governator," who ended up running the state for more than seven years, was California's last Republican chief executive.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 04:18 UTC
Don't boycott men's cricket, former Afghan women's chief pleads
"If we don't have a male team any more, there would be no hope for cricket overall," said the 28-year-old, who was the director of women's cricket at the Afghanistan Cricket Board from 2014-2020. This time round, the hardline Islamists have shown they do not mind men playing cricket, pulling together a match in the capital Kabul shortly after foreign forces withdrew. The Afghan men's team is also scheduled to play the T20 World Cup from October 17 to November 14 in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) last week urged Australia not to punish its men's team, saying it was "powerless to change the culture and religious environment of Afghanistan". The men's team now rank in the world's top 10 for both one-day internationals and Twenty20 games.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 03:33 UTC
Digital doggies: pet influencers on the rise in Singapore
Digital doggies: pet influencers on the rise in SingaporeTerriers Sasha and Piper are pet influencers who earn thousands of dollars for product endorsementSINGAPORE - Two fluffy white terriers wearing neckerchiefs pant quietly as their owner waves a treat and snaps a photo for the dogs' tens of thousands of Instagram followers. They are among a growing number of pet influencers on social media in Singapore, a trend fuelled by a rise in online shopping and pet ownership during the coronavirus pandemic. The pair have earned thousands of dollars endorsing products ranging from vacuum cleaners to shoes -- and are even represented by an agency. - 'Can't hate them' -"It's fun -- fun for the dogs, fun for me," said Er, as she shoots pictures with her phone of the dog celebrities. "I think pet influencers generally have an advantage because we just love pets," said Peh, whose company has about 6,000 pet social media profiles in its network.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 02:48 UTC
Remote work goes 'luxury', but many may be left out
Remote work goes 'luxury', but many may be left outTech giants are pushing ahead with premium new offerings for remote work. But experts warn that while top-of-the-line features may benefit privileged Americans, millions of others can barely access remote work tools already available. Author and remote work expert Rhiannon Payne said virtual reality will become as normal a part of how people do their jobs as cell phones and laptops. She agreed the risks of excluding people cannot be ignored, but also that high tech tools can make life better. "Companies are trying to find ways to make remote work genuinely easier and to help us increase connections with our colleagues," she told AFP.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 15, 2021 02:15 UTC