Rashford double downs Wales to send England into last 16
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
Reuters
Marcus Rashford’s second-half double propelled England to a 3-0 win over rivals Wales on Tuesday (November 29) that sent the Three Lions into the World Cup last 16 as Group B winners and ended Welsh hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
The encounter came to life when Rashford curled home a free kick from the edge of the area in the 50th minute before Phil Foden arrived unmarked at the far post to sidefoot Harry Kane’s cross into the net a minute later.
Rashford then inflicted a final blow when he cut inside and somehow managed to find the net with a shot that went through the legs of goalkeeper Danny Ward in the 68th.
The win moved England to seven points and set up a tie against Senegal in the next round, while Wales finished bottom with one point as their first World Cup in 64 years ended without a victory and only one goal scored in three games
EnglandEngland fans celebrate at boxpark Wembley after the match
Financial transaction tax is poorly timed, industry group warns
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
Now is not a good time to impose a financial transaction tax on stock trades, according to the Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations (Fetco).
Fetco chairman Kobsak Pootrakool made the comment on Tuesday after the Cabinet approved a Finance Ministry proposal to levy a financial transaction tax on trades on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
Calls to tax SET traders have been made for decades, but governments have downplayed them and cited the need to support market development.
The Cabinet’s move, which stipulates that SET investors have to pay a tax equivalent to 0.1% of share sales, will come into effect 90 days after the draft royal decree issued under the revenue code is announced – likely, sometime in the second quarter of next year.
However, during the first year, the tax will be only 0.055% of share sales.
In a Facebook post, Kobsak said Fetco had submitted an open letter to Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith on May 5 arguing against the move.
He said that volatility in stock, bond, gold, currency and cryptocurrency markets since last year was discouraging investors and that this volatility would likely remain for some time.
Kobsak also argued that the possibility of a global economic crisis should be considered and that some countries are already experiencing economic distress.
The SET’s liquidity has dropped sharply, he added.
“I would like to confirm that it is not [the right] time to impose a financial transaction tax for stock trades,” he wrote.
Fetco’s open letter argued that a financial transaction tax for stock trades would severely damage the market by discouraging investment.
The letter cited studies from other countries that said such taxes resulted in delaying retirement by two to three years as investors waited to reach their retirement threshold.
Fetco said the new tax would raise costs for market makers, typically large brokers, on issuing or developing new products, which would weaken the competitiveness of the SET.
“Stock markets in developed countries prefer taxation exemptions because they reduce impacts on savings and encourage wider public investment and innovative development,” Fetco said.
Fetco said the tax would significantly dampen investment decisions, especially at a time when volatility was affecting capital markets globally due to the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and rising interest rates.
The cost of raising capital will rise when market liquidity decreases, causing listed companies to slow or reduce their investments in business expansion, resulting in lower profits, reduced productivity and lower gross domestic product.
“Corporate tax will also decrease accordingly because these companies will have less money to pay,” Fetco said, adding: “The downside will be especially severe for smaller companies with very limited funding options.”
AWS launches “WeloveNFT”, the first NFT ticketing system in Thailand
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
Consumers will be assured of no fraud and fairness when a new NFT is applied to ticket system for travel, entertainment, etc.
Thailand’s leading IT solution and digital technology provider Advance Web Service Plc (AWS) recently introduced the country’s first Non-Fungible Token (NFT) ticketing system, aiming to raise the bar for booking tickets and promote the tourism and entertainment industries.
The company’s NFT ticketing system was launched under the brand “WeloveNFT” at the Thailand Software Fair 2022, held at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) in Bangna district from November 24-27.
AWS’s CEO Wiroj Sirirattanarak said the company has harnessed its 15-year experience as an IT solution provider to develop a blockchain ticketing system that can be used across several industries. “By combining our existing brand of “WeloveBooking” with blockchain and NFT technology, our new “WeloveNFT” platform is utilising NFT in verifying ticket ownership and preventing problems such as counterfeiting, ticket lost, damaged or stolen,” he said. “NFT ticketing system also enables businesses to provide exclusive rights and benefits to ticket buyers such as the use of VIP lounges and other private services, as well as access to NFT collections, which can be traded or exchanged via NFT marketplaces.”
Highlights of NFT ticketing that uses blockchain technology are as follows:
Enable businesses to design their NFT collection to add value to existing products and services, especially for tickets to special or exclusive events.
Allow users to buy, sell, and exchange NFT collections and tickets on global NFT marketplaces, such as Opensea.
Businesses can choose to grant either lifetime or one-time rights to VIP customers.
Allow hybrid use with other e-ticketing systems under one unified platform.
Combine total ticketing solutions in one platform, from creating, selling, verifying and delivering tickets.
Can verify ticket ownership using the reliable blockchain system.
Wiroj added that NFT ticketing system will help businesses connect to the world of Web 3.0 by building an ecosystem for NFT products and services, and help owners create brand loyalty among VIP clients and NFT collectors. Businesses such as hotels, concert organisers, museums, learning centres, travel and related services will greatly benefit from the NFT ticketing system.
Crypto domino effect pending as FTX brings down BlockFi: Thai expert
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
Cryptocurrency lender BlockFi, which filed for bankruptcy protection this week, is among the first victims of a domino effect caused by the collapse of Bahamian cryptocurrency exchange FTX earlier this month, according to a Thai crypto expert.
Sanchai Popli, CEO of Cryptomind Advisory Ltd, said on Tuesday it remained to be seen whether the domino effect would cause a catastrophic impact on the cryptocurrency market.
“I believe several crypto operators are at risk of bankruptcy, especially those who have been borrowing digital assets at a ratio far higher than their own assets,” he said. “Also, investors affected by these collapses will have to wait a long time for the debt settlement process before they can get their money back.”
Thailand has become a major crypto-trading hub in Asia, logging over US$100 billion in transactions per year. Thai crypto traders lured by the high-risk asset were badly burned when local exchange Zipmex froze withdrawals after being caught in the market meltdown earlier this year.
BlockFi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday, becoming the latest industry casualty after being hurt by exposure to the collapse of FTX, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
The filing in a New Jersey court comes as crypto prices plummet. The price of bitcoin, the most popular digital currency by far, is down more than 70% from its 2021 peak.
FTX filed for protection in the US earlier this month after traders pulled $6 billion from the platform in three days and rival exchange Binance abandoned a rescue deal.
FTX bought BlockFi in June this year for $25 million, 99% lower than the company’s estimated value of $4.8 billion.
BlockFi said its liquidity crisis was due to its exposure to FTX via loans to Alameda, a crypto trading firm affiliated with FTX, as well as cryptocurrencies held on FTX’s platform that became trapped there. BlockFi listed assets and liabilities of between $1 billion and $10 billion, Reuters reported.
BlockFi now has $256.5 million in cash on hand. The company insisted that it would continue paying employees’ salaries and would employ a cost-reduction strategy to maintain the company’s stability.
CHIC designs award-winning super luxury interiors of Anil Sathorn 12 condo
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
CHIC has joined developer Grand Unity Development Co Ltd to design the interiors of Anil Sathorn 12 – a super luxury condominium in the heart of Bangkok.
The specially designed interior meets all seven definitions of luxury set by the United States’ Well Building Standard and is Thailand’s first condo to win the Well Gold certification.
Kijja Patamasatayasonthi, Managing Director of Chic Republic Public Company Limited, a distributor of furniture, home furnishing products, and household items in the form of a large single store under the main brands “Chic Republic” and “Rina Hey” and imported products from abroad under the brand “Ashley” revealed that the company cooperated with Grand Unity Development Co., Ltd., the developer of Anil Sathorn 12, a super-luxury condominium in the heart of Sathorn area by providing furniture design-decorating services in the common areas, kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, which will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022.
This project meets the needs of the health and well-being of the residents including social and environmental responsibility, starting from the design, selection of materials in furniture production that complies with CRAB (California Air Resource Board) standards that contain hazardous chemicals such as Formaldehyde and Volatile organic compounds, as well as an installation that is environmentally friendly according to the WELL Building Standard, a world-class building standard for health.
He said that the company is very pleased to be entrusted with designing and decorating furniture. Grand Unity has expertise in developing real estate projects. The quality is internationally recognized. This collaboration with leading real estate developers in the country is another important step in promoting growth potential and helps drive to add value to the company significantly.
In addition, the company continues to strive to develop standardized products and services. Minimize the impact on humans and the environment, leading to a better quality of life, meeting the various needs of today’s consumers, and also being part of pushing all sectors to realize the importance of indoor health especially residential projects that enhance the quality of life of residents and the environment sustainably, and is in the process of negotiating for other projects under the operation of Grand Unity to be added in the future,” Kijja added.
Thaddao Jirasawat, Acting Managing Director of Grand Unity said that Anil Sathorn 12 project is a super luxury condominium project, next to Sathorn Road and St. Louis BTS Station, with the privacy, It has only 222 units and serves the needs of young residents and large families under the concept of “Luxury Redefined”.
Thaddao Jirasawat Acting Managing Director of Grand Unity Development Co., Ltd and Kijja Patamasatayasonthi Managing Director of Chic Republic Public Company Limited
The new definition of living – good quality of life internationally, means good health that stays with us throughout life. The company, therefore, provide good living conditions with the WELL Building Standard. Raise the quality of life of residents sustainably. It consists of taking into account 7 important health factors: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind.
“Collaborating with a business alliance with Chic Republic, which is famous for the quality of furniture design and decoration services for a long time, as well as product development, and residential design and decoration services, the standard is in line with the concept and policy of the Grand Unity according to the WELL Building Standard to improve the quality of life of residents in a healthy indoor environment at the same level as the world’s leading residential buildings
Grand Unity has always been a great pleasure to work with CHIC Republic, and CHIC has been a great partner. Ready to fully support us in every aspect. In the future, we are confident that we will be able to work together and help drive both companies to grow in a better direction for sure.”
Kumpol Poonsonee, President ofUniventures Public Company Limitedor UV, added that With the potential and business stability of Grand Unity, a subsidiary of Univentures and CHIC Republic will be able to create confidence and satisfaction for the best customers, including elevating the quality of life of the residents in every project that can continue to work together in the future.
Eternal Energy to grow cannabis and hemp using greenhouse technology
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
Eternal Energy Plc, a company committed to producing clean energy, and its partners are developing precision farming techniques to grow medical-grade and food-grade hemp and marijuana in greenhouses that could generate 100 million baht next year.
EE Plc president Worasak Kriengkomol said the company has been working with its subsidiary, Cannabiz Way Co Ltd, and partners AgrowLab Co Ltd andAgrowPlus Co Ltd to develop greenhouse planting technology for growing hemp and marijuana.
The indoor planting will use precision farming technologies and the planting will be carried out at greenhouses at the Cannabiz Way Valley in Wiharn Daeng district of Saraburi province.
Worasak said EE realises the potential growth of cannabis and hemp product businesses with growing demands in the country and abroad so the company had decided to invest in product quality marijuana and hemp buds for use as material.
Worasak said EE has decided to cooperate with Agrow Group to develop a greenhouse planting technique. Agrow Group in turn assigned its subsidiary AgrowLab to design greenhouses for growing hemp and marijuana.
Worasak Kriengkomol, Eternal Energy Plc president
AgrowLab, which has advanced agricultural technologies, will use its precision farming knowledge and AI and Internet of Things technologies to control the environment in the greenhouses and to monitor and track the marijuana and hemp plants to water and put fertilizer for the plants.
Worasak added that the project has been advised by Kasetsart University to ensure that the hemp and cannabis leaves and buds would meet medical-grade and food-grade quality.
He said that AgrowPlus, which is an expert in developing comprehensive agricultural product businesses, will help market the products from the farm.
EE expects to be able to grow about 16,000 hemp and cannabis plants within one year and it would make about 5 tonnes of dried buds.
During the first phase, the company expects to earn about 100 million baht and the income would be realised next year, Worasak said.
He said he is confident that the cooperation with Agrow Group would allow EE to realise its goal of upgrading its businesses to the new S-Curve industries.
The Aspen Tree and PIM launch training for residential care of older adults
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
November 29, Bangkok – The Aspen Tree The Forestias, together with Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM) and Canada’s Baycrest have launched the “Care Angel Program” to introduce training for Thai healthcare professionals of top global standards, supporting the community’s new concept of “Holistic Lifetime Care”.
The Aspen Tree’s President, Ms Hye June Park, said: “The Aspen Tree aims to lead in ‘Holistic Lifetime Care’ in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific, working with PIM and Baycrest to launch the ‘Care Angel Program’ for outstanding care. This important step reinforces The Aspen Tree’s leadership in residences with full lifelong care for planning long-term well-being after 50.”
Care Angel Program is an advanced healthcare and nursing certification. The collaboration will develop staff who can provide superior service at The Aspen Tree, with specialized expertise in caring for older adults from Canada’s Baycrest Centre, a global leader in healthcare, housing, research, innovation, and brain health for older adults.
“The Care Angel Program is another key element for The Aspen Tree to become a national and regional leader in ‘Holistic Lifetime Care’, so residents can be confident of physical and mental well-being and quality of life,” said Ms Park.
Dr Anna Ballon, Vice President of Baycrest Global Solutions, said strong synergies between The Aspen Tree, PIM, and Baycrest would create a dedicated Care Angel team to look after The Aspen Tree’s future residents.
“We believe the Care Angel course can produce high-quality staff. The program will create employment opportunities and help raise care standards.”
Dr Ballon added that PIM has worked with Baycrest on a comprehensive Care Angel curriculum to meet the needs of clients and develop necessary skills. The course will build confidence in PIM’s specialists in holistic healthcare services for older adults.
Ms Wipada Kunaviktikul, Ph.D.RN, FAAN and Professor & Vice President of Health Science Affairs and Interim Dean of School of Nursing Panyapiwat Institute of Management (PIM), said: “Many countries have rapidly rising older populations, largely because people are living longer. The global economy will be driven by the silver economy so it’s important to understand the needs of older adults in areas such as food, tourism, health, and wellness. Educational institutions must speed up the development of professionals to serve this economy.”
The Care Angel Program will welcome applications for its 42 initial places from December 1, 2022 until March 24, 2023. The course will run from June 12 until December 8, 2023 with 830 hours of teaching and over 300 hours of theory and practical training on care for older adults and specialist skills for professional service.
The Care Angel course will offer further opportunities through scholarships for both training and living expenses. Students will have a chance to work with a world-class real estate company through The Aspen Tree and to join a Residency Training Program with Baycrest in Canada.
Jiang Zemin passed away due to leukemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai at 12:13 pm on Nov 30, 2022, at the age of 96.
The announcement was made by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, the State Council of the PRC, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commissions of the CPC and the PRC.
It was announced in a letter addressing the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups.
The letter says they proclaim with profound grief to the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups that our beloved Comrade Jiang Zemin died of leukaemia and multiple organ failure after all medical treatments had failed.
The letter says that Comrade Jiang Zemin was an outstanding leader enjoying high prestige acknowledged by the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist and diplomat, a long-tested communist fighter, and an outstanding leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
He was the core of the CPC’s third generation of central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents.
Born in July 1926, Jiang began his working life as deputy chief mechanic at the Number One Car Plant in Changchun, in China’s northeast, before being plucked from obscurity to head the Communist Party after the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989.
Jiang gave up the job of Communist Party chief to Hu Jintao in November 2002, and the presidency in March 2003, and retired from his final post, as chairman of the Central Military Commission in September 2004, thus completing a historic leadership succession to a younger generation of leaders headed by Hu.
Rumours periodically circulated in leadership and diplomatic circles about Jiang, especially about arguments between him and current President Xi Jinping over policy which, with China’s political system being as opaque and secretive as it is, are impossible to verify.
Amid growing energy needs, Philippines considers building nuclear power plants
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2022
The Philippines is looking into possible nuclear deals with South Korea, France and China, as President Marcos considers the construction of nuclear power plants to supply the country’s growing energy needs, according to the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI).
Marcos, during his State of the Nation Address last July, said he believed now was the right time to re-examine the country’s approach and policy towards using nuclear energy, noting that with modern technology, safeguards have been placed against possible accidents.
PNRI director Carlo Arcilla on Tuesday said at the Laging Handa briefing that there was a “revival” on the use of nuclear power plants “because the whole world is concerned with carbon dioxide reduction”.
“The nuclear power plant has no [carbon dioxide] emission, so it is important in the climate change moves of the countries,” he pointed out.
During her visit to the Philippines last week, US Vice President Kamala Harris said Manila and Washington were in negotiations on possible nuclear energy cooperation, citing the need for the so-called 123 Agreement to provide the legal basis for the United States to export nuclear equipment and materials to the country.
Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act requires the conclusion of a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement before any transfer of nuclear material or equipment from the United States to another country.
For the Philippines to enter into a 123 Agreement with the United States, it must adhere to a set of stringent nuclear nonproliferation requirements. As of November 2, 2022, the United States has 24 such agreements in force with such countries as China and Russia.
“So this agreement is important because, without it, those American companies that have nuclear technology or those expert consultants will not be able to export to the Philippines,” Arcilla said.
Marcos had also met with executives of NuScale Power, an American energy company offering advanced nuclear technology such as small modular reactors (SMRs), during his official visit to the United States last September.
Most promising
Asked if there were other countries that were interested in having nuclear negotiations with the Philippines, Arcilla mentioned South Korea, France and China.
“Actually what I can say is that the most important thing there is South Korea, because South Korea is one of the countries that has built a new nuclear plant,” he said.
South Korea had earlier offered to rehabilitate the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) for $1 billion.
Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corp, conducted a prefeasibility study on the rehabilitation of the BNPP in 2017 at the request of the Philippine Department of Energy. This updated an earlier prefeasibility study in 2008 which the Korean company conducted together with state-owned National Power Corp.
The $2.3-billion 620-megawatt BNPP, which was built by Westinghouse Electric of the United States in the mid-1970s during the regime of Marcos’ father and namesake, was never operated due to corruption allegations and safety concerns.
Arcilla said the decision on whether or not to accept South Korea’s offer lies with the president.
Arcilla allayed public fears on the possible revival of the BNPP, saying South Korea has the exact model of the power plant that has been operating for 40 years now.
“They have an offer for us to revive the plant, they say they can operate our plant within five years. That is the fastest way to have nuclear power in the country even if it is [only] 620 megawatts,” he said.
He noted that the electricity cost in South Korea was only half that of the Philippines.
Extensive experience
As for China, Arcilla noted that it was also “advanced” in terms of nuclear energy production.
Marcos, during his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Bangkok, said he wanted to partner with France to develop nuclear energy in the Philippines.
The president cited France’s extensive experience in nuclear power production, pointing out that 67% of its power production was from nuclear energy.
The European nation, which has 56 nuclear power plants, is Europe’s biggest net exporter of electricity.
Alberto Dalusung III of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities said nuclear energy was “a power supply source that addresses carbon emissions and is perceived to have potentially lower costs and high reliability”.
“However, commercially available nuclear technologies have inflexible generation, making them less applicable given our local demand variability, and come in large unit capacities of at least 1,000MW, which is too big for our grid,” Dalusung told the Inquirer in a Viber message.
SMRs could be a good alternative source of power in off-grid areas, according to the DOE. SMRs can be built in a factory and then transported to a site for installation.
England fans celebrate at boxpark Wembley after the match
Thaddao Jirasawat Acting Managing Director of Grand Unity Development Co., Ltd and Kijja Patamasatayasonthi Managing Director of Chic Republic Public Company Limited
Worasak Kriengkomol, Eternal Energy Plc president
SootinClaimon.Com 