#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005166

Sri Lanka faces 4 mutations of Delta variant

Sri Lanka is presently facing a rising wave of Covid-19 infections, suspected to be caused by the Delta variant with authorities declaring a nationwide quarantine curfew since August 20 which will be lifted on August 30.

Sri Lanka’s medical experts on Monday said the Delta variant of the Covid-19 which is spreading across the country has acquired four mutations due to the high transmission rate but did not have any effect on vaccine efficacy.

Head of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Sciences of the Sri Jayawardenapura University, Professor Neelika Malavige said while the four mutations were found following gene sequencing, there was no urge to panic until the implications of the mutations were established, reports Xinhua news agency.

“One of the Delta mutations (A-222V) is seen in many countries, another (A-1078S) is found in Sri Lanka and Malaysia, while the other two (A-701S and R-24C) are only found in Sri Lanka. These are just mutations in the virus and that does not make these viruses new variants,” Malavige was quoted by a local newspaper as saying.

“We had identified many other mutations in the previous Alpha variant and in our variant of the Sri Lankan lineage (responsible for the second wave), which were of no significance. Therefore, although some of the Delta variant viruses seen in Sri Lanka might have certain unique mutations, there is no reason to be alarmed,” Malavige added.

Malavige said that these mutations were highly unlikely to have any effect on vaccine efficacy and requested people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Sri Lanka is presently facing a rising wave of Covid-19 infections, suspected to be caused by the Delta variant with authorities declaring a nationwide quarantine curfew since August 20 which will be lifted on August 30.

Hospitals are exhausted with rising admissions while oxygen dependency has also risen among the patients.

The country has recorded over 7,000 deaths and 390,000 Covid-19 infections.

Published : August 24, 2021

By : The Statesman/ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005112

Free coding sessions to move Pokemon characters surges in popularity

Children have been honing their computer programming skills for free at CoderDojo, a volunteer-led club.

One of CoderDojo’s more popular training programs uses well-known characters to get users into learning about the basics of computer programming, which has recently become a compulsory subject in elementary school (see below).

As the program can be accessed from the user’s home, it has been providing valuable learning opportunities during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The program has been provided, organized and supported by the general incorporated association of CoderDojo Japan in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.

■ Fueled by donors

CoderDojo first appeared in Ireland in 2011 as a way for people to experience computer programming. The dojo has a focus on developing creativity rather than acquiring practical skills, and they provide such learning opportunities mainly to children aged 7-17.

The idea blossomed and now there are about 2,000 CoderDojo clubs across 112 countries with more than 200 in Japan. Tokyo alone has about 30, which are reportedly funded by donations from companies and volunteers.

CoderDojo Japan became incorporated in 2016 to support CoderDojo clubs nationwide.

“As the CoderDojo clubs continue to expand, it’s important to make the activities more and more enjoyable and to create an environment that keeps motivating children to join in on the activities,” said Yohei Yasukawa, 34, representative director of the organization and operator of a company in the information technology sector.

■ CoderDojo, children choose you!

An educational program that allows users to operate popular Pokemon characters caught the attention of Yasukawa and a CoderDojo Japan director Kirie Miyajima, 24. The program was created by The Pokemon Company in Minato Ward, Tokyo, whose business includes game development.

Users of the Pokemon program combine instructional blocks of code, such as “move” and “wait,” then watch as characters like Pikachu and Eevee follow their compiled commands and move about on a screen.

The Pokemon program was presented at an online experience event attended by CoderDojo clubs nationwide and was well-received by the participating children and their parents. The company provided the program free of charge for CoderDojo activities. Miyajima and others later modified it for use by CoderDojo.

■ ‘Arts and crafts’ final stepping stone’

Miyajima has served as the representative of CoderDojo Kashiwa in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, since he was in high school, and currently studies information and communication technology education at the graduate school of Gakushuin University.

Programming is ‘arts and crafts’ final stepping stone’ for children, following scissors, glue among others, said Miyajima. “It can be used more widely as a tool for thinking and expression.”

Miyajima holds Pokemon-themed workshops at the CoderDojo he heads as well. After he saw beginner-level children enjoying the programming workshops, he understood that Pokemon was massively popular with kids.

As of mid-August, the Pokemon character program has been introduced at about 40 CoderDojo clubs nationwide. Now that Miyajima and Yasukawa are aware of its popularity, they hope that many more children will be able to learn to code and experience the joy of programmable creativity.

■ Computer programming education

Computer programming education became a compulsory subject in elementary school under the revised curriculum guidelines that were fully implemented in the 2020 school year. High school students will also be required to take “Information Study I,” a new subject that includes computer programming, from the 2022 school year. The National Center for University Entrance Examinations has announced its plan to add “Information” to the Common Test for University Admissions in 2025.

Published : August 23, 2021

By : Tomoki Masuda/The Japan News/ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005110

Samsung’s new foldable phones draw strong preorders: reports

Samsung’s new smartphone models — Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 — have not been launched yet but preorder figures suggest they are likely to be a super hit.

The two models are estimated to have logged a combined 450,000 preorders as of Sunday, according to local media reports that cited unnamed industry sources. Advance orders, which began Aug. 17, are to end Monday.

Total preorders could reach at least 600,000 units, they said. If sales of unlocked phones, or phones not locked to a particular mobile carrier, are included, the figure could even hit 800,000, the media reports said.

Samsung’s previous foldable phone model, the Galaxy Z Fold2, bagged a total of 80,000 units in presales.

The Fold3 and Flip3 are flying off the shelves even faster than the latest models from Samsung’s other two popular series — the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note. Preorders for the foldable devices are twice that of Galaxy S21 and 1.5 times that of Galaxy Note20, both released last year, industry sources told local media.

Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z series was especially popular among young customers.

According to statistics from one mobile carrier, 49 percent of preorders made for Galaxy Z Fold3 was from customers in their 20s to 30s, while the same age group accounted for 57 percent of preorders logged for Galaxy Z Flip3.

This is much higher than the rate of preorders made among customers in 40s and 50s, which was 42 percent and 39 percent, respectively.

The strong preorder figures are a boon to Samsung’s strategy in popularizing foldable phones in order to defend its title as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer from challengers such as Xiaomi.

While making the latest edition of the devices lighter and more practical, and equipping them with innovative new features, the company had also slashed prices.

It’s high-end model, Galaxy Z Fold3 (256GB) is priced 16.6 percent lower than the entry model of its predecessor, Galaxy Z Fold2 at around 1.9 million won ($1,600). Its more affordable sister, Galaxy Z Flip3 is priced even lower, at under 1.3 million won.

“With the demand for new smartphone models growing (in the local market) Samsung’s discounted foldable phone lineup will quickly take over the popularity of its Galaxy Note series,” said an industry official.

Published : August 23, 2021

By : Kang Jae-eun/The Korea Herald/ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005108

HCM City firms forced to close down due to lack of workers

Many firms in HCM City – the countrys largest economic hub – have been forced to shutter operations due to a lack of workers, local media have reported.

According to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), the country’s textile manufacturing supply chain was only working at 10-15 per cent capacity.

“Thousands of workers have fled the city because of the virus outbreak. Firms will have an enormous problem finding workers to resume their operations once the virus is under control. We anticipate at least 40 per cent of our members will experience a shortage of workers in the near future,” said Vu Duc Giang, chairman of VITAS.

The situation is particularly dire in labour-intensive sectors, including footwear and wood processing.

“Even before the pandemic, our members were already having difficulty finding workers. The virus has made it even worse,” said Nguyen Chanh Phuong, general secretary of the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of Ho Chi Minh City.

Wood processing firms have reported a record-breaking number of contracts signed as demand for Vietnamese wood products has soared. Some firms said they would need to operate at full capacity until the end of the first quarter next year to meet demand.

The association said many among some 600 of its members, mostly located in Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh, were badly affected by the virus outbreak in HCM City. Many said they had lost up to 40 per cent of their workers since the virus outbreak.

To make matters worse, many among them were producing essential goods for people in parts of the city that had been put under strict social distancing.

“We simply do not have the manpower required to meet rising demand,” said Nguyen Thi Xuan Mai, director of Wepar Environmental Technology – a supplier of potable water and water filter solutions located in Tan Phu District.

“Many of our workers have been stuck in quarantined areas. Many have quit out of fear of being infected at work,” she said.

Firms have taken measures to hold on to their workers. Mai said her firm still kept workers who were furloughed on payroll, even if it could only manage to pay a part of their wage.

Female workers with newborns and babies were given small grants. In addition, all workers were made to put on PPE suits at work and had been registered in the local government vaccine priority list.

A Chau – ABC Bakery Co., has moved workers to neighbourhoods near their factories. The condiment maker has also set up living quarters and hired cooks to take care of their meals.

“We must do what we can so workers want to stay with us. Of course, such services cost us extra but it’s important to make sure our labour force remains intact for future plans,” said Kao Sieu Luc, the firm’s director-general.

Some firms even agreed to pay their workers’ wages in advance to keep them in the city.

“It’s tough for us now but we still can manage. Holding on to our skilled workers is most important to us. Once the virus is under control we can resume production right away. From our perspective, it’s way cheaper to spend to support our workers now than to hire and train new workers later,” said Ngo Minh Hong, owner of a food processing business in Nha Be District.

“From now until the end of the year, firms in the city will need to fill 150,000 jobs. Sectors whose demand have not yet been severely reduced during the pandemic, including commerce, IT, medicine, textile and footwear, will likely experience a strong bounce back and therefore must recruit additional workers,” said a report by the HCM City’s Center of Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labour. — VNS

Published : August 23, 2021

By : Viet Nam News/ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005106

US Vice-President Kamala Harris arrives in Singapore

SINGAPORE – United States Vice-President Kamala Harris touched down in Singapore on Sunday (Aug 22) and kicked off an official visit to South-east Asia – her first outside the Americas since being sworn into office in January.

Ms Harris arrived on Air Force Two at about 10.50am at Paya Lebar Air Base. She will be in Singapore until Tuesday afternoon, when she will head to Vietnam before departing the region on Thursday. 

She was received at the airbase by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

Ms Harris was accompanied by more than 20 staff and security officers.

All of them were wearing face masks, in line with Covid-19 safe management measures.

Last Thursday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said Ms Harris will be subject to regular Covid-19 testing and a controlled itinerary to keep her visit to Singapore safe.

Ms Harris, who left the US on Saturday, remained on board Air Force Two when it stopped in Anchorage, Alaska, to refuel and Japanese capital Tokyo, said the White House.

Ms Harris, 56, will begin a flurry of formal engagements on Monday with a call on President Halimah Yacob at the Istana, followed by a meeting and joint press conference with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

An orchid will be named in her honour in a ceremony at the Istana.

She will also visit Changi Naval Base and US littoral combat ship USS Tulsa, which is in port for a multilateral exercise.

On Tuesday, Ms Harris will deliver a policy speech and participate in a round-table discussion with the business community, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement last Friday. Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will take part in this discussion.

Her trip comes on the heels of US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin’s late July trip to Singapore and the region.

Published : August 23, 2021

By : Hariz Baharudin/The Straits Times/ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005104

Delhi: No death due to Covid-19 consecutively for third day

The national capital today recorded 24 positive cases of Covid-19 out of 53,624 tests done across the city. The positivity rate was 0.04 per cent, according to the Delhi government’s latest health bulletin.

There was no death due to Covid-19 consecutively for the third day. The other days besides Sunday when zero fatality was reported since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in April-May were 18 July, 24 July, 29 July, 2 August, 4 August, 8 August, 11 August, 12 August, 13 August and 16 August, 20 August and 21 August.

The health bulletin gave the number of active cases of the virus as 398 and the patients being given medication as home isolation cases numbered 129.

As many as 11,815 hospital beds remained vacant out of 12,057 beds reserved for coronavirus infected patients.

There were in all 236 containment zones in Delhi on Sunday, the bulletin added.

Published : August 23, 2021

By : The Statesman/ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005079

Official: Number of Cambodian centenarians unexpectedly high

A senior Ministry of Planning official said there are currently more than 3,000 centenarians in Cambodia, most of them residents of Phnom Penh.

Hang Lina, a government delegate in charge of the National Institute of Statistics and the 2019 General Census, said on August 20 the latest census revealed that Cambodia has a total of 3,143 people aged 100 and over.

“This statistic comes as a surprise. We have not expected that Cambodia has so many people in old age,” she said.

According to the census, Phnom Penh has the highest number of centenarians at 462, followed by Siem Reap at 267, Tbong Khmum at 250, Kampong Cham at 242 and Kandal at 220.

Kep, which has the smallest population, has only three centenarians.

Published : August 22, 2021

By : The Phnom Penh Post / ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005078

Việt Nam calls for international cooperation to deal with threat of terrorism

HÀ NỘI — Deputy head of Việt Nam’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations Ambassador Phạm Hải Anh urged international cooperation and solidarity in order to seek the most effective response to combat terrorism in the face of a serious threat posed by the so-called Islamic State’s activities in recent times.

He made the statement at a UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting held on August 19 to discuss the threat of the Islamic State (also known as Da’esh) to international peace and security. It was chaired by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of India – the council’s chair for August.

The ambassador underlined the need to promote comprehensive anti-terrorism measures and ensure joint efforts are in line with the UN Charter and international law. 

The Security Council should effectively use available tools to detect and avert new threats of terrorism, he said, calling attention to terrorists’ use of the internet and new technologies to raise money, recruit and propagate their agendas. 

ADVERTISEMENTx

Under-Secretary-General for the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov, and Director of the Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) Michele Coninsx said early this year, the social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the organisation of terrorist activities in areas without hostilities. However, the terrorist threat is increasing in war zones. Notably, IS affiliates and related organisations have shown signs of extending their presence in West Africa, the Sahel, East and Central Africa, Afghanistan and other parts of South Asia. 

The presenters also underlined the need for a definitive humanitarian solution to the thousands of people in the camps in Iraq and Syria. Most of them are women and children believed to have relations with terrorists. More counter-terrorism efforts are needed from the national, regional to global levels, they said, emphasising the central role of the Security Council on the issue.

UNSC members shared concerns about the latest developments in Afghanistan, stressing the need for comprehensive measures to prevent terrorists from using the area as a “safe haven”.

Also on August 19, the Security Council countries agreed to issue a press statement on the content exchanged at the meeting, which reaffirmed the determination of the international community in eliminating terrorism. The statement also emphasised the need to strengthen international cooperation on counter-terrorism in a comprehensive way to maintain peace, stability, and development. — VNS

Published : August 22, 2021

By : Vietnam News / ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005077

New law to safeguard personal information

Chinas top legislature on Friday adopted a law on the protection of peoples personal information－a widely anticipated item of legislation as the public has long been bothered by data misuse and privacy leakage.

The Personal Information Protection Law, passed after being reviewed three times by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, gives definitions of “personal data” and “sensitive personal data”. For example, it says biometric recognition, religious belief, medical and health information, financial accounts and movement tracks are all “sensitive” personal data.

The law, which comes into effect on Nov 1, also clarifies principles in handling personal data. For example, it stipulates that those handling personal information should inform users and get permission from data owners before collecting, storing, using, processing, transferring, disclosing, providing or deleting the data.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Personal information handlers need to let users know their principles, purposes and methods of personal data collection and usage, and not excessively collect user data.

As many people have been troubled with, and often complained about, cameras installed to record their personal information, the law stipulates that equipment for collecting people’s images or recognizing their identities should be set up in public places only for maintaining public security, and they should be given obvious signs.

As operators nowadays often send information or marketing promotions to people via automated software or programs, which has bothered many people, the law requires information processors to offer options for users to reject such automatic notifications.

It also says “no” to applications that give different prices to users, based on assessing their consumption preferences and income level by using big data.

Applications that improperly handle personal information will face suspension or termination of service.

In recent years, China has accelerated legislative measures to safeguard personal information and called for the optimization of such data after seeing that it has been widely and improperly collected and used in the internet era.

By the end of last year, China had 989 million netizens, 4.43 million websites and 3.45 million apps, according to China Internet Network Information Center.

Before the latest law, the country has adopted the Cybersecurity Law and the E-commerce Law, and amended the Criminal Law and the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests.

Since this year, government agencies have also increased their inspections of app markets.

Published : August 22, 2021

By : China Daily / ANN

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40005076

Myanmar arrests two more journalists as post-coup media crackdown continues

YANGON (REUTERS) – Myanmars military government has arrested two more local journalists, the army-owned television reported on Saturday (Aug 21), in the latest in a sweeping crackdown on the media since a Feb 1 coup.

Mr Sithu Aung Myint, a columnist for news site Frontier Myanmar and a commentator with Voice of America radio, and Ms Htet Htet Khine, a freelance who has worked for the BBC Burmese service, were arrested on Aug 15, Myawaddy TV reported.

Mr Sithu Aung Myint was charged with sedition and spreading false information in social media posts that Myawaddy said were critical of the junta and urged people to join strikes and back outlawed opposition movements.

Ms Htet Htet Khine was accused of harbouring Mr Sithu Aung Myint, a wanted criminal suspect, and for working for and supporting a shadow National Unity Government.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Saturday that the pair were being held “incommunicado” and their detention was unlawful.

“We strongly condemn the arbitrary conditions of their detention, which reflect the brutality with which the military junta treats journalists,” said Daniel Bastard, head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk.

ADVERTISEMENTx

Myanmar remains fraught with instability and opposition to army rule, under which more than 1,000 people have been killed, according to an activist group that has tracked killings by security forces.

The military, which has revoked the licenses of many news outlets, says it respects the role of media but will not tolerate the reporting of news it believes to be false or likely to create public unrest.

A report by the Committee to Protect Journalists last month said Myanmar’s rulers had effectively criminalised independent journalism.

Human Rights Watch said the army government, which has arrested 98 journalists since the coup, should stop prosecuting media staff. Of those arrested, 46 remained in custody as of the end of July.

Published : August 22, 2021

By : The Straits Times / ANN