Islamic State group menace rebounds in Afghanistan
Islamic State group menace rebounds in AfghanistanMore than 100 Afghan civilians and 13 US servicemen were killed in the August 26 attack on Kabul airport -- the deadliest violence against US forces in Afghanistan since 2011. DOHA: The Taliban had barely completed their takeover of the Afghan capital Kabul when the local affiliate of the Islamic State group struck, sowing mayhem with a bloody airport attack. It was also the bloodiest attack against the US claimed by an IS group affiliate, namely the Islamic State in Khorasan (IS-K), coming at an acutely sensitive moment for the withdrawing forces. IS-K has become the fourth most active Islamic State group affiliate globally since the start of the year, according to an expert on the organisation known on Twitter only as Mr Q. The Kabul attack "propelled IS-K into the political and media spotlight", he told AFP.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2021 03:11 UTC
High inflation looms over European Central Bank meeting
High inflation looms over European Central Bank meetingInflation has been running high in the eurozone but the ECB has so far held off adjusting the support for the economy it introduced at the outset of the coronavirus pandemicFRANKFURT - Rising eurozone inflation provides the backdrop for the meeting of European Central Bank (ECB) governors Thursday, with markets hoping for hints when policymakers might start easing their massive pandemic-era stimulus. "We are more worried about the inflation rate being too low in the medium term rather than too high," Isabel Schnabel, a member of the ECB's executive board, said last month. The ECB will on Thursday also unveil the latest quarterly growth and inflation forecasts, but analysts expect few surprises. However, several ECB board members have recently signalled their openness to adjusting the pace of the emergency bond purchases. "If inflation and the economy recover, then there will logically be a gradual normalisation of monetary policy, and of fiscal policy too," ECB vice president Luis de Guindos told a Spanish newspaper.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2021 02:48 UTC
the skyscraper symbolising New York's resilience
'Freedom Tower' - the skyscraper symbolising New York's resilienceThe One World Trade Center seen from the Empire State Building on April 3, 2021NEW YORK: It is the skyscraper that replaced the Twin Towers in New York's skyline. Inaugurated in 2014, the One World Trade Center has become a symbol of resilience after the horror of 9/11. From its conception, the tower had to testify to New York's durability -- looking to the future despite the tragedy -- according to one of its architects, Kenneth Lewis. But if the office towers have not yet regained their pre-pandemic occupancy rate, their preeminence in New York's skyline cannot be called into question. While the 9/11 Memorial symbolises "the void" created by the attacks, the "Freedom Tower" represents "the positive", according to Lewis.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2021 02:48 UTC
R3, your partner in securing sensitive business data
One of such solutions is Confidential Computing. Confidential computing is an emerging technology that truly secures sensitive business data while it is being used — it belongs to a new generation of trusted services that enable data owners to control how their data is processed. R3 launched Conclave, a new confidential computing platform that empowers customers to bring about a new era of privacy in data sharing, processing and analysis. At its core, confidential computing is a combination of hardware and software that isolates sensitive data in a protected environment while it is being processed. R3’s Conclave will open up new business opportunities for firms looking to unlock the value of previously inaccessible data to build high-value multi-party analytics, redefining the way data is protected and used.” added Amit Ghosh.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2021 02:48 UTC
13,988 new Covid cases, 187 deaths Monday
13,988 new Covid cases, 187 deaths MondayFood vendors are back to streets in Yaowarat again after the government eased restriction measures in Bangkok. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)Thailand logged 13,988 new Covid-19 cases and 187 more fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Monday morning. Since April 1, when the third wave of Covid-19 began, Thailand has treated 1,265,659 Covid-19 patients, 1,105,432 of whom have recovered to date. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 1,294,522 Covid-19 cases, with 1,133,077 complete recoveries so far. "New cases could reach 30,000 a day next month" if people relax social distancing and other measures, the CCSA said.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2021 02:15 UTC
From lockup to landslide: meet DC's first leader elected from jail
Then, like any other local leader, he embarks on a day of solving problems for his constituents in the jail and surrounding area. "I represent every incarcerated person on the planet," Caston told AFP in a recent video interview from his makeshift office in the prison. Caston said, recalling being roused by guards at 5:00 am one day in June to be told of his election victory. - Working from prison -Caston's journey to elected office began in July last year as local lawmakers voted to grant felons the right to vote from prison. Meanwhile the younger prisoners he mentors have been getting him up to speed on technology so he can meet constituents by video call on a laptop.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2021 01:41 UTC
Extreme weather a wake-up call
Extreme weather a wake-up callWaking up last Wednesday, I was surprised to see pictures of flooding on the Facebook page of my friend, whose house is not far from my place. Chinese cities are far from ready for the extreme weather events wrought by global warming, Greenpeace researchers warned last week. In Asia Pacific, disaster-related losses are currently estimated at $780 billion. The impact of the pandemic has highlighted the urgent need to merge disaster risk reduction strategies into health preparedness systems, especially to support the most vulnerable populations. We need a regional strategy for building back better with disaster, climate and health resilience.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2021 01:41 UTC
11: Ground Zero's forgotten migrant cleaners demand recognition
For eight months after the attacks, tens of thousands of people -- many of them immigrants -- cleaned Ground Zero and nearby damaged buildings. - 'Injustice' -Gil, like all the cleaners spoken to by AFP, cannot work because of illnesses believed to be derived from the 9/11 operation. More than 2,000 cleaners, rescuers and police officers died from illnesses linked to 9/11, according to the federal victims' compensation fund. Most of the 9/11 cleaners have full medical coverage through the World Trade Center's federal health program, but many have not received compensation for their illnesses. Rosa Duque, a 56-year-old Guatemalan cleaner who has difficulty breathing, says the cleaners are "in oblivion" and must be given permanent residency.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 06, 2021 01:30 UTC
Bar-B-Q Plaza virtual eatery unveiled
Bar-B-Q Plaza on V-Avenue claims to be the world's first virtual reality restaurant. SET-listed telecom operator Advanced Info Service (AIS) and Food Passion have launched Bar-B-Q Plaza virtual restaurant on the carrier's virtual shopping mall V-Avenue to create a new customer experience. He said AIS worked in tandem with Food Passion to open the world's first virtual restaurant -- Bar-B-Q Plaza on V-Avenue -- to enable online food orders. "They bring leading brands such as Bar-B-Q Plaza to the table for us to jointly develop a virtual restaurant." The virtual shop's front has been designed with the distinctive logo of Bar-B-Q Plaza with Bar B Gon, its green dragon mascot.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 05, 2021 22:52 UTC
Last-day heroics take Thai haul to 18
The Thai pair defeated Cynthia Mathez and Karin Suter Erath of Switzerland 2-0 (21-11, 21-12) in the bronze medal match of the women's wheelchair doubles WH1-WH2 event at Yoyogi National Stadium. The 35-year-old Sujirat also won silver on Saturday in the WH1 singles event of the sport making its Paralympic debut in Tokyo. The 24-year-old wheelchair racer has so far won five gold medals and could surpass the 40-year-old Prawat, who has won seven gold medals. PRIt was 'Silver bullet' Hug's sixth Paralympic gold of his career. The US also claimed gold in men's wheelchair basketball, beating Japan 64-60 after a fourth-quarter comeback.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 05, 2021 22:52 UTC
SET recommends scrutiny of DELTA surge
Pornprom SatrabhayaThe Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) has warned investors to be cautious when trading Delta Electronics (DELTA) shares after its price spiked 33%, from 560 baht to 746 baht, over the past trading week. Pakorn Peetathawatchai, the SET president, urged investors to carefully study risks before trading DELTA as its price and trading volumes had posted unusual increases. During Friday's morning trading session, DELTA ranked second among listed companies with a trading value of 2.37 billion baht. With the surge in trading value, the company's market capitalisation rose to 931 billion baht during the same period, suggesting these are unusual movements without any changes in fundamentals. With every 1% increase in these stocks, the SET Index rose 3.8 points.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 05, 2021 22:52 UTC
Depa offers digital support for 10,000 small enterprises
Depa offers digital support for 10,000 small enterprisesOne of Depa's programmes provides digital skill training for around 10,000 people per year. A smart economy plan for micro and informal enterprises was initiated last year as a trial run, with tech support provided to small vendors on Phahon Yothin Road in Bangkok. Last year, more than 2,000 micro-enterprises and stall vendors adopted tech solutions provided by Depa- supported startups, which helped streamline their operations and sales. Depa president and chief executive Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin said the programme offers a broad range of digital solutions for small enterprises with technologies developed by local startups. Since 2018, Depa has initiated 900 development projects with financial support from its digital transformation fund, said Mr Nuttapon.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 05, 2021 22:52 UTC
Coexisting with disease
Coexisting with diseaseCustomers use the escalators at Terminal 21 mall in Bangkok, which resumed operations last Wednesday following a relaxation of rules by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Despite the factory sandbox, Mr Kriengkrai is not confident it can ensure the overall health of the industrial sector. "Now our business has two models: serving customers at restaurants and delivering ready-to-eat food to them at home via the retail business," Ms Natalie said. While many companies chose to close their restaurants or freeze their business expansion in light of periodic state measures, Mr Boonyong remains positive. He said helping both individual and business customers with debt restructuring over the longer term is the banks' key role over the next 3-5 years.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 05, 2021 22:52 UTC
Perk upgrades urged for 3 new economic corridors
Perk upgrades urged for 3 new economic corridorsThe government needs to revamp investment privileges to support the smooth development of three new economic corridors that are instrumental to increasing investment and rehabilitating the economy over the next 5-6 years, says a central planner. According to Anek Memongkol, deputy secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council, the Northern Economic Corridor (NEC), the Northeastern Economic Corridor (NEEC) and the Southern Economic Corridor are similar in form to the flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). They are scheduled to be promoted in the 13th national economic and social development plan that spans 2023-27. "The government also needs to drive more serious regional development to distribute income to provincial areas and generate economic growth after the pandemic." The NEC is designated to cover four northern provinces: Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang and Chiang Rai.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 05, 2021 22:52 UTC
BAAC boasts uptick in app usage
BAAC boasts uptick in app usageThe number of active users on the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives' (BAAC) mobile app has soared to 50% of its total 2.73 million userbase, says president Tanaratt Ngamvalairatt. He said the ratio between the bank's A-Mobile app users, who actively conduct transactions via the app, and app users who still prefer to go to branch counters rose to 50:50 as more users avoid branches because of the pandemic. Before the outbreaks, active A-Mobile users comprised 20-30% of total app users. BAAC has 5.6 million customers. They can use the lottery as collateral and borrow up to 90% of total lottery value.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 05, 2021 22:52 UTC