'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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Taliban push deep into Afghanistan's holdout Panjshir ValleyThe Panjshir Valley is the last major pocket of resistance in Afghanistan against the Taliban. KABUL - Taliban fighters have advanced deep into Afghanistan's holdout Panjshir Valley, with resistance fighters saying they are keeping the Islamists at bay, but analysts warned they are struggling. "The Taliban army has been hardened with 20 years of war, and make no mistake, the Taliban trained an army," Roggio tweeted Sunday, adding that "the odds were long" for the Panjshir resistance. "The Taliban army was injected with a massive amount of weapons and munitions after the US withdrawal and collapse of the ANA" (Afghan National Army), he added. "It will be quite easy to verify a video showing Taliban within the Panjshir valley," Waters said.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 05, 2021 05:37 UTC
El Salvador's Bukele gets greenlight to run for re-electionSalvadoran President Nayib Bukele enjoys broad popularity but has been accused of authoritarian tendenciesSAN SALVADOR - El Salvador's top court has said that populist President Nayib Bukele would be allowed to run for a second term, despite the country's constitution prohibiting the head of state from serving two consecutive terms in office. The Supreme Court decision on Friday will allow Bukele to run for a second term in 2024 -- potentially making him the Central American nation's first president to serve more than five years in office since the 1950s. In its ruling, the court said a sitting head of state could seek re-election for a second term as long as they have not "been president during the immediately preceding period". However, that ruling did allow the head of state to run again in a subsequent election. Last year, Bukele dispatched troops to the country's parliament in a bid to pressure lawmakers.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 05, 2021 05:03 UTC