Business groups see economy shrinking 5%-8% this year
Business groups see economy shrinking 5%-8% this yearThailand's economy is expected to contract between 5%-8% this year, deeper than the 3%-5% contraction projected in May, due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, a group of the country's leading business associations said on Wednesday. "The economy is not good yet and job losses will increase," Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, told a briefing. The business group now predicts exports will drop by 7%-10% this year, rather than a 5%-10% declined forecast earlier. The group said it was still pushing the government to take part in Asia-Pacific trade agreement talks to boost the economy, amid widespread opposition. The group plans to hold a seminar on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on Thursday.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 07:41 UTC
Chinese police say Tencent likely swindled by chilli sauce impostors
Chinese police say Tencent likely swindled by chilli sauce impostorsA Tencent sign is seen at the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, China, Oct 20, 2019. (Reuters file photo)SHANGHAI: Chinese police on Wednesday said Tencent appears to have been duped by a group of people masquerading as representatives of China's best-known chilli oil maker, Lao Gan Ma, after the internet giant accused the latter of breaching a contract. Lao Gan Ma in a statement said it never signed such a contract and had reported the matter to police. Tencent, China's biggest video game and social media firm, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The topic has become one of most discussed issues on China's Twitter-like Weibo, with over 230 million views.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 07:07 UTC
Fire guts Pattaya's Sukhawadee House
Fire guts Pattaya's Sukhawadee HouseSmoke and flames billow from Sukhawadee House in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, on Wendesday morning. The building suffered major internal fire damage, with cracks to the building structure. She turned on the electrical system in the morning and went about her normal cleaning chores. About two hours later she heard a loud noise and saw flames coming from the stage area and spreading quickly through the building. Earlier report: Sukhawadee House owner 'encroached'
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 06:33 UTC
More returnees from Kuwait found infected with coronavirus
More returnees from Kuwait found infected with coronavirusStudents return to their classroom at Pracha Niwet School in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, on Wednesday, when the government announced two new Covid-19 cases among quarantined returnees - both workers returning from Kuwait. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)The government on Wednesday reported two new cases of coronavirus disease infection, workers returning from Kuwait, raising the total to 3,173. "Kuwait is the country from which returnees show the highest infection rate, at 12.29%. More business and other activities resumed on Wednesday as the government further relaxed restrictions that have help keep the community infection rate down. Thailand ranked 96th by the number of accumulated Covid-19 cases, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 05:22 UTC
Ruff deal: Animal shelter braces for surge as expats abandon Qatar
We've had a few of those already," Paws animal shelter co-founder Alison Caldwell said. Major employers including Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Airways have warned of sweeping cuts to staff numbers as the global economy slows. Caldwell said the Paws shelter had already seen an uptick in the number of animals needing help. There are no statistics on stray animals in Qatar, but Paws estimates they number in the tens of thousands. "We have a huge backlog of animals waiting to fly out to their 'forever homes'," Drewry said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 04:18 UTC
Chasing the virus: How India's largest slum beat back a pandemic
Chasing the virus: How India's largest slum beat back a pandemicMumbai's Dharavi slum offers a rare glimmer of hope, as new infections shrink thanks to an aggressive strategy of 'chasing' the virus. But three months on, Mumbai's Dharavi offers a rare glimmer of hope with new infections shrinking, thanks to an aggressive strategy that focused on "chasing the virus, instead of waiting for disaster", according to city official Kiran Dighavkar. Each day, medical workers set up a "fever camp" in a different part of the slum, so residents could be screened for symptoms and tested for coronavirus if needed. - 'No escape next time' -With Mumbai and Delhi struggling to accommodate coronavirus patients as India's cases surge past half a million officials are also wary of celebrating too soon. "I felt like Dharavi would be destroyed, and nothing would be left," he told AFP, describing the near impossibility of avoiding infection in the slum.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 04:07 UTC
French state, Sanofi face ruling in birth defects case
French state, Sanofi face ruling in birth defects caseSanofi has denied any wrongdoing, saying it warned health authorities of the drug's risks from the 1980sPARIS - A French court is scheduled to rule Wednesday on the responsibility of the French state in birth defects linked to an anti-epilepsy drug produced by pharmaceutical giant Sanofi. Sanofi has sold the drug valproate -- marketed as Depakine, Depakote and Stavzor, amongst other trade names -- since 1967. On Wednesday judges will decide on compensation in these three cases and the extent to which the state, its health authorities and Sanofi are responsible. During the hearing last Wednesday, the court's advisory expert said that responsibility was split three ways between the state, Sanofi and doctors who prescribed the drug. The pharmaceutical company has denied any wrongdoing, saying it warned health authorities of the drug's risks from the 1980s.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 03:56 UTC
Japan business confidence worst since 2009 crisis
Japan business confidence worst since 2009 crisisJapanese manufacturers are feeling particularly gloomy about the future, with few seeing much chance of a post-coronavirus bounceback. TOKYO: Confidence among major Japanese manufacturers has plunged to its worst level since the global financial crisis, a key survey showed Wednesday, as the coronavirus dries up global demand. The coronavirus has hit Japan less hard than many advanced nations, with fewer than 1,000 deaths and about 19,000 cases. Confidence among big non-manufacturers nosedived to minus 17 from plus 8 in March, also the worst since 2009. Among large companies in the accommodation and food industries, the confidence survey showed an eye-watering minus 91, the worst since comparative data became available in 2004.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 03:45 UTC
Real Madrid get set to make history by ending wait for women's team
Real Madrid get set to make history by ending wait for women's teamReal Madrid, the best team of the 20th century according to FIFA, has so far been one of the only elite clubs to resist the creation of a female teamMADRID - After 118 years, Real Madrid will launch a professional women's team on Wednesday by absorbing CD Tacon and launching a fresh Galactico project at the club. By taking over Tacon, the women's club based in Madrid and created in 2014, 'Real Madrid Femenino' will become a reality. They signed Swedish internationals Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson, who was nominated for the 2019 Women's Ballon d'Or and who joined last year after finishing third in the Women's World Cup. "The time has come to build a team that you will all be very proud of," said Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. And it sends out a message to other clubs, it keeps everyone on their toes when a club like Real Madrid creates a team.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 01:30 UTC
EU opens borders to 'safe' countries including Thailand
EU opens borders to 'safe' countries including ThailandA passenger wearing a protective face mask walks at Fiumicino Airport in Rome on the day EU governments agreed a "safe list" of countries for which they will allow non-essential travel starting from July. Those on the list are Algeria, Australia, Canada, Japan, Georgia, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. Travellers from China, where the virus first emerged late last year, will be allowed on the condition that Beijing reciprocates and opens the door to EU residents. But with some 10.3 million known infections worldwide, the pandemic is "not even close to being over", the World Health Organization has warned. "Although many countries have made some progress, globally the pandemic is actually speeding up," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 01:07 UTC
Parks prepare for busy holiday weekend
Khao Yai National Park tests a booking system using another app called QueQ, so visitors can book visits in advance in June 20, 2020. (Photo by Arnun Chonmahatrakool)National parks, especially Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima province, are expected to be crowded this upcoming long weekend, the first since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. They will be visiting national parks from July 4-6, according to Chongklai Voraphongston, deputy director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). For instances, Khao Yai National Park will have a maximum 5,000 visitors per day, compared with a daily average of more than 10,000 in the past. Visitors to national parks are required to check in and out by using the state-developed Thai Chana website and follow other health measures.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 01, 2020 00:45 UTC
Messi scores 700th goal but Atletico draw hurts Barca's title hopes
Messi scores 700th goal but Atletico draw hurts Barca's title hopesLionel Messi's 700th career goal was not enough for Barca as they drew with Atletico. MADRID: Lionel Messi scored his 700th career goal but Barcelona suffered another blow to their La Liga title hopes after a 2-2 draw with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. Messi chipped in a penalty to reach another astonishing milestone at Camp Nou but twice Atletico hit back with spot-kicks of their own, Saul Niguez converting both after Barca took an early lead through Diego Costa's own goal. Atletico stay third, two points ahead of Sevilla, who won 3-0 at Leganes. Felipe clipped Nelson Semedo and Messi, with the 700th in sight, chipped the ball delicately down the middle.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 23:48 UTC
Crisis shutters 404 factories
The country has lost an estimated 25.4 billion baht in investment value from the closures. "During the same period in 2019, 666 factories closed permanently in Thailand, so the DIW is actually not very concerned about the factory closures because they are relatively normal," he said. "What the full impact of the pandemic will be on factories so far in the first half of the year is difficult to gauge," Mr Prakob said. Mr Prakob said the DIW has proposed to the Industry Ministry an economic rehabilitation plan of five projects worth a total of 148 billion baht to support domestic factories. "The government wants to support factories with access to soft loans at low interest rates," Mr Prakob said.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 23:41 UTC
World Bank sees return to prior growth by 2022
The coronavirus crisis has put many jobs, in particularly those related to tourism and services, at risk, said Birgit Hansl, country manager for Thailand at the World Bank. "As the recovery phase begins, a key challenge will be how to help people who lost their jobs reconnect with the labour market," Ms Hansl said. "Active labour market measures, such as wage subsidies targeted at individuals in the most vulnerable sectors, and for on-the-job training to promote re-employment, should be explored." Thailand will also need to invest in labour market policies and programs that can meet the changing needs of the economy, according to the World Bank. Training and employment services programmes need to be reformed to reflect shifting demand in the labour market, towards more socio-emotional skills as well as higher-order cognitive and technical skills.
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 23:37 UTC
Confidence index plummets, jobs lost
Confidence index plummets, jobs lostForeigners check out tour service offerings at a Suvarnabhumi airport counter. Mr Chairat said the negative impact from the outbreak will continue to haunt Thai tourism if operators cannot access soft loans while Thailand's borders remain closed. "These groups are not enough for the industry, as 95% of international tourists come here for leisure purposes," he said. Mr Vichit said Thailand can only get 8 million tourists this year, with 400 billion baht revenue, or down 1.66 trillion baht compared with 2.2 trillion baht last year. "Without soft loans and international tourists, we have to exit before the end of this year."
Source:Bangkok Post
June 30, 2020 23:37 UTC