THAI to recruit 300 cabin crew from Jan 1-10 as travel demand takes off
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022
Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced it will recruit another 300 cabin crew from January 1 to 10 amid steady recovery for Thailand’s aviation industry.
The recruitment drive comes after travel demand increased significantly in the fourth quarter of this year, the national carrier said. It expects demand to rise further next year. Demand from China, Thailand’s biggest pre-pandemic tourism market, is expected to soar from January 8 when the country lifts its quarantine requirement for travellers.
“The airline plans to expand flight routes and increase the number of flights from the first quarter next year,” THAI said.
THAI listed the following requirements for applicants:
Must be a Thai national
Single with no children
Bachelor’s degree in any field
Not over 27 years old (born after January 1, 1996)
Height over 160cm for women and 165cm for men
Body mass index of 18.5 to 21 for women and 19-24.5 for men
Healthy with no need for eyeglasses
Able to swim for 50 metres
No tattoos visible while wearing uniform
Male applicants must have passed or have been exempted from military service
EGCO divests its entire shares in Star Energy’s Geothermal Power Plants in Indonesia
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022
Electricity Generating Public Company Limited or EGCO Group announced the successful disposal of its entire shares in three geothermal power plants in Indonesia to Star Energy Group Holdings Pte. Ltd.
EGCO Group will use the proceeds from the divestment transaction for new investment opportunities in the future, especially in renewable and clean energy projects with superior growth potential.
Thepparat Theppitak, EGCO Group’s President, said, “Phoenix Power B.V. a wholly owned subsidiary of EGCO, entered into the Sales and Purchase of Shares Agreement with Star Energy Group Holdings to dispose of 20% of issued and paid up ordinary shares in Star Energy Geothermal Pte. Ltd.(“SEG”) and 30.25% of issued and paid-up ordinary shares in Star Phoenix Geothermal JV B.V.(“SPG”), on 16 November 2022.
Subsequently, the transaction was successfully completed on 22 December 2022 with total consideration of USD 485 million (equivalent to approximately THB 16,780 million).”
EGCO Group started its investment in Indonesia in 2014 through investment in SEG and SPG, owning 20% and 20.07% effective stakes in SEG Wayang Windu (“SEGWW”) and SEG Salak-Darajat B.V. (“SEGSD”).
SEGWW owns and operates “Wayang Windu” geothermal power plant with a total installed capacity of 227MW situated in West Java, Indonesia.
SEGSD owns and operates two geothermal power plants entitled “Salak” and “Darajat” located in West Java, Indonesia.
The “Salak” geothermal power plant has a total installed capacity of 376.8MW (Steam 180MW and Power 196.8MW). The “Darajat” geothermal power plant has a total installed capacity of 271MW (Steam 55MW and Power 216MW).
These geothermal power plants supply electricity to PT PLN (Persero), a state-owned enterprise and sole off-taker and distributor of the Indonesian power market, on a long-term take-or-pay basis.
“The decision to sell shareholding in those geothermal power plants is part of EGCO Group’s strategy to rationalize the company’s asset portfolio.
EGCO Group will be able to gain profit from the share disposal and strengthen its financial position to support new investment opportunities in the future, especially in renewable and clean energy projects with superior growth potential”, added Thepparat.
BMA sets up new film fest in hopes to creatively present Bangkok
In January, The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will be holding a film festival in hopes to push the capital’s soft power through films and hopes that this can help support the local film industry and economy.
South Korea’s former president Lee granted special pardon
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022
President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday granted special pardons to 1,373 people ahead of the upcoming New Year, including former President Lee Myung-bak and several key political aides to both of his conservative and liberal predecessors.
Among the list, former South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyung-soo was included but without reinstatement. Several aides to former President Park Geun-hye, including former chief of staff Kim Ki-chun and former senior secretary for civil affairs Woo Byung-woo, were also pardoned.
Of the 1,373 people granted amnesty, nine were politicians, including former President Lee, and 66 were public officials, including former governor Kim, said Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon after the Cabinet meeting.
During the meeting, Yoon said he “carefully decided on the subject and scope of the pardon after considering opinions from all walks of life,” adding he hopes this serves as an opportunity to “unite” the national power.
Former President Lee was pardoned and reinstated amid his deteriorating health in prison.
In October 2020, Lee was sentenced to 17 years in prison, a fine of 13 billion won ($9.9 million) and an additional penalty of 5.7 billion won for bribery and embezzlement charges related to auto parts maker DAS.
Lee’s term was suspended due to treatment of chronic disease on June 28 this year at a hospital. After the pardon, the remaining sentence of about 15 years and fines were waived.
Former South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim was pardoned without reinstatement. His original sentence expires in May next year, but he will be released as of Tuesday midnight upon the pardon. As he was not reinstated, Kim will not be able to run for election until May 2028.
He was sentenced to two years in prison in July last year on charges of manipulating online opinions in favour of former President Moon Jae-in ahead of the 2017 presidential election.
The Korea Herald
Asia News Network
Among those for special pardon, many figures from the former Park Geun-hye administration were included, such as former chief of staff Kim Ki-chun and former senior secretary for civil affairs Woo Byung-woo.
In 2020, Kim was sentenced to one year for illegally supporting conservative groups during the former Park administration. Last year, Woo was sentenced to one year in prison for aiding and abetting illegal inspections during the Park administration.
Other close aides to Park, Lee Jae-man, Ahn Bong-geun and Jeong Ho-seong, who were involved in the political scandal that led to the impeachment of Park, were also pardoned. Ahn was sentenced to two years and six months in prison with a fine of 100 million won and an additional penalty of 13.5 million won for participating in the repayment of special activity expenses of the National Intelligence Service during the Park administration. Former secretary Lee was sentenced to one year and six months in prison, and former secretary Jeong was sentenced to one year and six months in jail with three years of probation.
Reiterating Yoon’s remark earlier in the day, Justice Minister Han said the pardon has taken place to “resolve confrontation and conflict in our society and clear up the past” for the nation’s development.
Korean dies from ‘brain-eating amoeba’ after returning from Thailand
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022
South Korea reported its first case of infection from Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as “brain-eating amoeba”, health authorities said on Monday.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency confirmed that a Korean national in his 50s had died after returning from Thailand. The man returned to South Korea on December 10 after a four-month stint there. He was admitted to a hospital the next day and died on Wednesday last week.
The KDCA said it had conducted genetic tests on three types of pathogens causing Naegleria fowleri to confirm the cause of his death. The testing confirmed the gene in the man’s body was 99.6% similar to that found in a meningitis patient reported abroad.
This is the first known infection from the disease in South Korea. The first case was reported in the US state of Virginia in 1937.
Naegleria fowleri is an amoeba, or a single-celled living organism, that lives in soil and warm freshwater, such as hot springs, lakes and rivers, across the globe. The amoeba enters the body by inhalation through the nose and travels to the brain.
Initial symptoms might include headache, fever, nausea or vomiting, and later symptoms can be severe headaches, fever, vomiting and a stiff neck, according to the KDCA. The incubation period for Naegleria fowleri is usually two to three days and up to 15 days at most.
Although human-to-human transmission of Naegleria fowleri is impossible, the KDCA asked residents to refrain from swimming in regions and neighbourhoods where the disease broke out. It added that the risk of infection was not high, but most cases start through swimming.
“To prevent the infection of Naegleria fowleri, we recommend avoiding swimming and leisure-related activities and using clean water when travelling to areas where cases have been reported,” said Jee Young-mee, who heads the KDCA.
The KDCA said clean water refers to any type of water that has not been contaminated, but people cannot be infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking contaminated water. It added that the highest risk is when the water temperature rises during the summer.
A total of 381 cases of Naegleria fowleri have been reported around the globe as of 2018, including in India, Thailand, the US, China and Japan.
The United States alone reported 154 infections from 1962 through 2021. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only four people survived, with a death rate over 97%.
Rescue efforts ongoing after Christmas storm kills 13 in Philippines
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022
The death toll from Christmas day rains in southern Philippines has risen to 13, authorities said on Tuesday, with the search still on for 23 people as floods started to recede.
Thirteen persons have so far been reported dead, six others were injured, while 23 remain missing due to heavy rains and massive floods triggered by the shear line in the Visayas, Mindanao and parts of Southern Luzon, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
In its 5 a.m. situation report on Tuesday, the NDRRMC said at least 44,282 families or 166,357 individuals in the Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao regions were affected by shear line-induced rainfall.
The NDRRMC pegged the damage to infrastructure at P14.58 million ( 9 million baht ), while damage to agriculture was estimated to be around P59.83 million ( 37 million baht ).
The shear line, or the point where warm and cold air meet, will continue to dump rain over Palawan, Visayas and Mindanao on Tuesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Pagasa likewise warned of possible flash floods and landslides due to intense rain caused by the said weather system.
‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ blizzard in US kills at least 60 people nationwide
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022
At least 60 lives have been lost in weather-related incidents across the United States, according to an NBC News tally, from an arctic deep freeze and sprawling storm front that extended over most of the country for days, as far south as the Mexican border.
The greater Buffalo region, on the edge of Lake Erie near the Canadian border, was hardest hit.
With snow continuing to fall on top of more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) dumped on Buffalo since the blizzard took shape on Friday (December 23), New York‘s second-largest city stood as ground zero for a storm the governor called an “epic, once-in-a-lifetime” weather disaster.
Although blinding winds that created white-out conditions for more than two days had abated by Monday, the snow kept falling, with additional accumulations of up to a foot (30 cm) forecast through Tuesday in areas south of Buffalo and north of Syracuse.
Roadways remained littered with cars, buses, ambulances, tow trucks, and even plows buried beneath towering drifts, complicating efforts to clear snow-blanketed streets and reach stranded residents in need of medical care. Authorities deployed high-lift tractors as hospital transports.
Despite a countywide ban on personal road travel that remained in effect on Monday, hundreds of motorists had to be rescued from their vehicles over the weekend.
The severity of the storm, notable for a region accustomed to harsh winter weather, grew out of a combination of meteorological factors that supercharged one another.
Howling winds, numbing cold, and “lake-effect” snow – the result of moisture picked up by frigid air moving over warmer lake waters – produced a storm that New York Governor Kathy Hochul said would go down in history as “the Blizzard of ’22.”
Thai tourism stocks soar as China scraps quarantine measure from Jan 8
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022
China will scrap quarantine measures for overseas arrivals starting January 8, in what is seen as a gamechanger for Thailand’s tourism industry.
Chinese health authorities announced the move on Monday after nearly three years of strict pandemic border restrictions effectively prevented tourists from leaving the country. China was Thai tourism’s largest overseas market before the pandemic struck in 2020.
China’s National Health Commission (NHC) added that travellers would only need a PCR test taken 48 hours pre-flight to enter China.
“According to the national health quarantine law, infectious disease quarantine measures will no longer be taken against inbound travellers and goods,” the NHC said.
Restrictions limiting the number of international flights will also be abolished, it added.
The measures will take effect from January 8, when Covid-19 will be downgraded from a top-tier Class A infectious disease to Class B.
Monday’s announcement triggered a spike in China-related shares on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) while searches for Chinese international flights also soared seven times.
“This is good news for Thailand’s tourism industry, which relies heavily on Chinese tourists,” said a SET source. “In 2019, before the pandemic, around 11 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand, or 27% of nearly 40 million total foreign arrivals.”
Thailand can now expect an influx of tourists from China over Chinese New Year on January 22.
North Korea’s Kim kicks off key party meeting ahead of New Year
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2022
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un kicked off a key meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party, state media reported on Tuesday, at a venue he has often used to announce major policy decisions marking the New Year.
The Sixth Enlarged Plenary Meeting of the 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) was convened on Monday (December 26), the official KCNA news agency said.
The days-long gathering of party and government officials caps a year when the isolated country fired an unprecedented number of missiles, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).
A new round of tension flared on Monday as five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea, prompting Seoul to scramble fighter jets and attack helicopters, and open fire to try to shoot them down.
Kim also faces mounting economic challenges amid international sanctions over its weapons programs, the fallout from an anti-coronavirus lockdown and natural disasters.
At the meeting, the participants approved five big agenda items including a review of the implementation of major policies and the budget for 2022, as well as the work plan and a draft budget for 2023.
South Korean plane crashes while intercepting North Korean drones
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2022
Five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea on Monday and South Korea responded by scrambling jets and attack helicopters and opening fire to try to shoot down the North Korean aircraft, the South Korean military said.
South Korea tracked the drones crossing from North Korea over what is known as the Military Demarcation Line between the two countries after detecting them in the skies of the western city of Gimpo at around 10:25 a.m. (0125 GMT), the military said.
The border intrusion by North Korean drones is a clear act of provocation, a South Korean military official said. He did not say if any drones had been shot down but the Yonhap news agency later said South Korea’s military fired about 100 shots but failed to shoot any down. As part of its response, the South Korea military also sent surveillance aircraft into the North to photograph its military installations, the official added.
South Korea’s transport ministry said earlier that flights departing from its Incheon and Gimpo airports were suspended for about an hour following a request from the military.
While scrambling to counter the drones, a South Korean KA-1 light attack aircraft crashed shortly after departing its Wonju base in the country’s east, a defence ministry official said. Its two pilots were able to escape before the crash and are in the hospital.
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