Phuket beach properties demolished as land worth THB50bn reclaimed from encroachers
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2022
THE NATION
Beachfront buildings on 178 rai in Phuket were demolished on Friday as a four-decade encroachment case ended with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) reclaiming the land.
The prime real estate on Le Phang and Layan beaches was seized from four private companies after the Supreme Court ruled that the land is public property.
The encroachment case was filed by the Thalang district office in 1984. Four private companies who established restaurants, coffee shops and shophouses along Le Phang and Layan beaches in Cherngtalay subdistrict have been fighting the case ever since.
On September 12, the Supreme Court ruled that the 178 rai, estimated to be worth 50 billion baht, is state land and can only be used for public benefit. The court issued a demolition order to remove illegally encroaching buildings from September 30.
On Friday, the DSI and Cherngtalay officials deployed a bulldozer and trucks to remove remaining buildings and debris from the land. The demolition finished on Friday evening with no opposition from the owners.
Manoch Phanchalad, chief of Cherngtalay subdistrict administration organisation, said a budget of 90 million baht has been set aside to turn the land into a beachside public park for locals and tourists.
Ticket to the MARS: The Special NFT on Bitkub Chain
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 01, 2022
THE NATION
Bangkok, September 27 – Bitkub Chain announced KUB to the MARS, the Lock & Drop package on September 1, 2022.
It is the first time on Bitkub Chain to distribute the reward as KUB Coin. Lock & Drop is one of the main utilities of KUB Coin as provided on Bitkub Chain White Paper. The exclusive NFT airdrop called “Ticket to the MARS’’ will be airdropped according to the total value of KUB locking.
The schedule of KUB to the MARS locking package is concluded as follows:
1. From the 1st of September 2022, 12.00 pm. to the 7th of September 2022, 23.59 pm. (estimated 13% of annual percentage yield) 2. From the 8th of September 2022, 12.00 pm. to the 14th of September 2022, 23.59 pm. (estimated 12% of annual percentage yield) 3. From the 15th of September 2022, 12.00 pm. to the 21st of September 2022, 23.59 pm. (estimated 11% of annual percentage yield) 4. From the 22nd of September 2022, 12.00 pm. to the 5th of October 2022, 23.59 pm. (estimated 10% of annual percentage yield)
Ticket to the MARS NFT will be airdropped to the users according to the total value of KUB locking. You can see more detail about the special privileges as follows:
1. For the users who lock from 1 to 1,000 KUB ● Ticket to the MARS NFT Airdrop: Normal rarity ● Special Activities on Bitkub Chain ● Free Training Creator Studio Class ● Creator Studio Fee Credit: 10 BCS ● Free Access to Bitkub M Social 5 times per year ● Social DAO Voting 100 Power ● Bitkub Academy 5% Store Discount (Participating Items)
2. For the users who lock from 1,001 to 10,000 KUB ● Ticket to the MARS NFT Airdrop: Rare rarity ● Special Activities on Bitkub Chain ● Free Training Creator Studio Class ● Creator Studio Fee Credit: 50 BCS ● Free Access to Bitkub M Social 10 times per year ● Social DAO Voting 1,000 Power ● Bitkub Academy 5% Store Discount (Participating Items)
3. For the users who lock from 10,001 to 50,000 KUB ● Ticket to the MARS NFT Airdrop: Super Rare rarity ● Special Activities on Bitkub Chain ● Free Training Creator Studio Class ● Creator Studio Fee Credit: 100 BCS ● Free Access to Bitkub M Social 15 times per year ● Social DAO Voting 5,000 Power ● Bitkub Academy 5% Store Discount (Participating Items) ● Free Meeting Room Booking at Bitkub M Social 1 time per year ● Space Rental Discount for 30% at Bitkub M Social
4. For the users who lock from 50,001 KUB or above ● Ticket to the MARS NFT Airdrop: Ultra Rare rarity ● Special Activities on Bitkub Chain ● Free Training Creator Studio Class ● Creator Studio Fee Credit: 1,000 BCS ● Free Access to Bitkub M Social 30 times per year ● Social DAO Voting 10,000 Power ● Bitkub Academy 10% Store Discount (Participating Items) ● Free Meeting Room Booking at Bitkub M Social 2 times per year ● Space Rental Discount for 50% at Bitkub M Social ● Fast lane to buy NFT (Participating Stores)
The exclusive NFT Airdrop will be distributed on the 17th of October 2022 (12:00 pm onwards).
Disclaimer*: 1. The price of digital assets is highly volatile. Please examine the details carefully before participating. 2. KUB TO THE MARS is a long-term locking. 3. Reward distribution will be on a daily basis, and the users can claim the reward 1 time per day. 4. The first reward distribution date is on the 7th of October 2022 (12.00 pm onwards). 5. Exclusive NFT will be airdropped on the 17th of October 2022, 12 pm onwards (1 wallet address per 1 NFT airdrop). For more detail, please visit Bitkub Chain Official Facebook Page. 6. The company reserves the right to change the conditions for the product. Please consider the risks before participating in this activity. Lock KUB and Get Bonus feature was announced on the 1st of September 2021, and it is one of the main utilities of KUB Coin as provided on Bitkub Chain White Paper. It is the first activity on Bitkub Chain to allow users to lock KUB and earn rewards as digital tokens.
Caroline Link honoured ‘outstanding female leader’ for doing business with social responsibility and environmental friendliness
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
THE NATION
Caroline Link, the fourth-generation heir to B.Grimm, Thailand’s oldest business institutions founded in 1878, was named “Outstanding Women Leaders for Green Growth Awards 2022” by the Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Associations of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of H.M. the Queen.
The 2022 award recognises Caroline for conducting business with social responsibility and environmental friendliness. The award presentation ceremony was held at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok recently.
Caroline carried her family’s 144-year tradition of “doing business with compassion in harmony with nature.” She has long been known for her commitment to sustainable business practices in all dimensions, and her philanthropy both with B.Grimm and other organisations.
Caroline is President of B.Grimm Joint Venture Holding Ltd and Director of B.Grimm Power Public Co Ltd. She plays a crucial role in driving B.Grimm’s businesses, especially in energy, industrial systems and healthcare, by adhering to good corporate governance and sustainable business practices. High on B.Grimm’s agenda is becoming a net-zero carbon emissions organisation by 2050.
“With global warming and climate change issues becoming more critical, B.Grimm has dedicated efforts to find ways to reduce greenhouse gas and carbon dioxide emissions as much as possible,” said Caroline.
“We started by presenting information on global warming issues to educate and increase awareness among our employees. We also promote clean energy at our facilities such as installing solar panels on roof-tops of various buildings at B.Grimm’s headquarters as well as setting up EV charging stations for use by employees.”
In terms of innovation, Caroline prioritises adopting digital and IoT technologies for developing renewable or clean energy and for securing new solutions to help save B.Grimm’s energy usage.
After closely surveying across B.Grimm’s joint ventures, Caroline identified and pulled together various best practices in energy efficiency innovations and launched a new comprehensive industrial energy efficiency enterprise. The new business aimed to provide a one-stop solution for industries and companies looking to increase energy savings in power and air quality management.
Caroline attached great importance to the conservation of nature and the environment. She plays a pivotal role in driving B.Grimm’s comprehensive forest conservation, by initiating a continuous reforestation project to restore forests and the environment in Chon Buri province together with the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club. This included planting of economic trees over 250 rai of land in 2020.
B.Grimm has worked with the WWF-Thailand and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation to restore the forest ecosystem through “Save the Tiger” project to conserve and rehabilitating the tiger population — a mission which has continued unabated for more than eight years.
Like her father, Dr Harald Link, Caroline also believes that, with compassion, a business can exist in harmony with nature and community. Tigers are one of the top predators that maintain the balance of the ecosystem. When the top species are endangered, the ecosystem in which they live is endangered as well. There are only approximately 150 tigers remaining in the wild in Thailand, so strong actions are needed to increase the population.
The cooperation calls for the provisions of equipment and welfare for rangers who help protecting resources and the land as well as campaigning and educating about tiger conservation among students and communities living in areas near the forest reserves.
The Outstanding Women Leaders for Green Growth Awards 2022 event is a collaboration of the Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Associations of Thailand under the Royal Patronage of HM the Queen, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
They seek to honour exemplary female executives who conceptually developed businesses to grow with an environmentally friendly approach along with improving the quality of life and well-being for employees, customers, communities and society in a sustainable way. Four other awardees for this year are Supatra Chirathivat, Lalana Srikram, Tippaporn Ariyawararom and Peerada Patitat.
Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University distributes “Sawasdee Nursing Robot” to hospitals
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
THE NATION
Ms Ajarin Pattanapanchai (9th from the left), permanent secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, presided over the distribution ceremony of “Sawasdee Nursing Robot” to support medical professionals at hospitals under the Public Health Ministry’s network.
Assistant Professor Dr Tanapol Kortana (6th from the left) and Assistant Professor Dr Natnaporn Aeknarajindawat (8th from the left), Head of Sawasdee Nursing Robot Project, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, gave a warm welcome at the University Council Meeting Room.
COVID-19 vaccines continue to protect against death and hospitalization worldwide while boosters can help top up immunity for vulnerable
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
THE NATION
Special interview with Professor Sir Andrew J. Pollard, FMedSci, Director of Oxford Vaccine Group and Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford
It has been two and a half years since the COVID-19 virus was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. After multiple lockdowns, social-distancing protocols, vaccines, and debates over how to move forward and live with this virus, the world finally recognized the COVID-19 vaccines’ critical significance as a prophylactic measure against death and hospital pressures. Despite the heightened infectiousness of the new Omicron variants, infection rates have finally declined globally. However, the World Health Organization recently issued a warning: “Although reported cases and deaths are decreasing internationally, and several countries have eased restrictions, the epidemic is far from over—and it will not be over anywhere until it’s over everywhere.”
A number of world-class experts in the field of epidemic immunisation say that after the primary shots, the world population should continue to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. Professor Sir Andrew J. Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, expressed his thoughts on the subject:
Vaccines are highly effective against severe COVID-19 infection, and vaccinated populations with the first two primary doses had relatively few hospital admissions or deaths from the severe lung disease prevalent in the pre-vaccine period in 2020-21. However, many patients with underlying health issues or age-related frailty feel poorly with any viral disease and may require hospitalization. We now know that immunizations, while effective in avoiding severe COVID-19, are less effective in preventing infection. Boosters, on the other hand, play an essential role in preventing infection and keeping these people safe, he revealed.
New findings from Chiang Mai University in Thailand suggest that when given as a fourth dose booster on top of any previous primary or booster vaccine, the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine successfully prevented COVID-19 infections caused by the Omicron variants, Professor Pollard noted.
“This shows the potential of boosters to be used to top up immunity for vulnerable individuals and help defend health. We don’t yet know how best to use boosters in future years, but careful monitoring of the virus will help determine the future frequency and timing of boosters. If we can get this right, boosters will help protect people and health systems,” he said.
When asked about the trial results for Oxford-COVID-19 AZ’s vaccine, which showed overall vaccine efficacy of 70.4% versus the reported 90% efficacy of other mRNA vaccines. Professor Pollard explained that such a difference could lead to misconceptions and that viral-vector vaccines yield similar efficacy in protecting against death and severe symptoms related to COVID-19:
“Differences in licensure trial design and clinical goals make a direct comparison of trial efficacy of different vaccines tested in different nations in two very distinct studies extremely challenging. Indeed, neither research was large enough to measure the impact of severe COVID-19, the outcome that matters the most. However, we now know that both the Oxford-AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccines had a significant influence in preventing deaths and relieving demands on hospitals and health systems during the pandemic. According to a recent AirFinity estimate, the Oxford vaccine spared 6.3 million fatalities while the Pfizer vaccine averted 5.8 million deaths in their analysis of lives saved in 2021. The remarkable global reach of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, with its ease of distribution and the developers’ devotion to low cost, has saved so many lives.”
“COVID-19 will be with us for decades to come, but it is difficult to be sure at the moment exactly what the future patterns of infection will look like. We don’t know how often, how big, or how long future peaks will be. Most experts think that we will need to continue to use boosters to protect the most vulnerable in society, and perhaps the virus behaves a bit like influenza with winter peaks,” he added.
The major issue is that the virus evolves quicker than we can develop and license updated vaccines. Given the recent global outbreak of Omicron variants, the following cases this year will likely to be caused by a new variant. Fortunately, the original vaccines continue to provide significant protection against severe COVID-19, and we can utilise them to protect people who require it. In the future, we anticipate that COVID-19 seasons will be more predictable, similar to flu seasons, and that we will be able to provide updated vaccines for each “season”.
“The fight against the pandemic is a complex mix of vaccine coverage and effectiveness, and timeliness. A highly effective vaccine that comes late, or doesn’t reach people who need it, is no good to anyone,” he said.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca operation was successful because dosages were provided early in the pandemic, beginning in January 2021, and reached hundreds of millions of people before they were infected with COVID-19, Professor Pollard remarked.
Somkiat to have stand named after him at this weekend’s OR Thailand Grand Prix
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
THE NATION
Moto2 rider Somkiat Chantra has become the first Thai in motorcycle world championship history to have a stand named after him.
Somkiat will be cheered on during this weekend’s OR Thailand Grand Prix 2022 by Thai fans watching from the Chantra Stand at Chang International Circuit in Buriram.
The race organiser made the move to mark Somkiat’s return to Thailand after scoring one win and four podium places so far this season.
The Idemitsu Honda Team rider said he was honoured and looking forward to seeing his home supporters gathered together in the stand wearing his No 35 shirt to cheer him on.
“I want to thank all my fans and I will celebrate my success with everyone in the stand,” he added.
In March, Somkiat became the first Thai rider in history to win a Moto2 race when he took the chequered flag at the Indonesian Grand Prix. He is currently ninth in the championship standings on 120 points.
“I am very nervous but happy to be competing in my home country again after two years,” he said. This time, I will do my best. My goal is to give maximum effort and put on a show in front of all the Thai fans.”
On Wednesday, Idemitsu Honda announced that Somkiat and Japanese rider Ai Ogura will have their contracts renewed to race with the team next season.
Tawanchai claims featherweight Muay Thai world title with unanimous verdict against Petchmorakot
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
THE NATION
In one of the most eagerly watched contests at the ONE 161, Tawanchai PK Saenchai managed to defeat Petchmorakot Petchyindee to claim the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Title.
The matchup between the two Thais was a dream battle for fans on Thursday at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
After battling five tough rounds, Tawanchai did enough to stay ahead on the scorecards and earn a unanimous decision.
Earlier on the card, Thailand’s Ferrari Fairtex came into the limelight by beating Han Zi Hao from China.
He picked apart Han to leave the Circle with a unanimous decision in his promotional debut.
Sangmanee PK Saenchai also made a strong impression in his comeback fight. He regained his composure in the second round to win the latter stanzas against Zhang Chenglong and earn a split-decision victory.
In the two ONE Heavyweight Kickboxing World Grand Prix semi-finals, Roman Kryklia astonished with his first-round demolition of Guto Inocente, while Iraj Azizpour defeated Bruno Chaves to set up a final clash.
A shy showing from Chaves allowed Azizpour to put on a confident performance to solidify his place in the Grand Prix final against old foe Kryklia.
Rodrigo Marello had a record-breaking performance against Ruslan Bagdasarian, as he trapped the Russian with an ankle lock in just 15 seconds, making history for scoring the fastest finish in ONE submission grappling history.
Mouawad may have become a celebrated brand in high-end jewellery, but the story began in the 19th century, when David Mouawad (1865-1951) left his native Lebanon in 1890. He spent almost two decades in New York and Mexico, honing his skills as a watchmaker, goldsmith and jeweller.
Brand Mouawad started a new era at the turn of the second decade of the 21st century. Fred Mouawad is currently the fourth-generation of Mouawad’s “co-guardians”.
“Five generations of the Mouawad family have contributed to the company’s legacy of innovative jewellery designs and timepiece craftsmanship spanning more than a century,” says Fred Mouawad, “co-guardian” and CEO of Synergia One Group .
Since its origin in Lebanon in 1890, the brand’s storied ideals have been revitalised to provide genuine elegance and sophisticated jewellery masterpieces to an increasingly global market.
Mouawad is headquartered in Thailand, and uses highly skilled Thai craftsmen at the jewellery hub where their products are crafted with care and exported around the world.
Watch the interview on the Business Story Programme on October 1, 10am, at www.nationthailand.com.
Floods and landslides kill two in Vietnam following Typhoon Noru
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2022
Landslides and flooding in Vietnam’s central provinces triggered by Typhoon Noru have killed two people in Nghe An province and disrupted the livelihoods of thousands of people.
Communities and roads in Ha Tinh province were cut off by severe flooding, while rapidly rising levels of water in rivers were threatening hydropower dams in the region.
Checkpoints were set up by police at flooded bridges and collapsed roads to prevent people from crossing. The authorities also evacuated people in areas prone to landslides and flooding. Footage on state media showed soldiers pushing boats loaded with supplies to families that were stranded by the flood waters, as excavators worked to clear debris and boulders on roads blocked by landslides.
Noru was the most powerful typhoon to hit Vietnam in 20 years, according to Vietnam’s national weather service.
The country is vulnerable to destructive storms and flooding because of its long coastline. Natural disasters – predominantly floods and landslides triggered by storms – killed 139 people and injured 150 others nationwide last year, official data showed.
