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TAT supports WWF-Thailand’s no ivory Campaign

Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is supporting the World Wildlife Federation-Thailand (WWF-Thailand) on the implementation of its ongoing ‘Travel Ivory Free’ campaign in Thailand to change tourists’ buying behaviour.

“I urge tourists to stop buying ivory in Thailand and be a part of putting an end to the ivory trade,” TAT Governor Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, said. “Instead opt for alternative souvenir choices; such as, handicrafts made by local communities in line with the global trend on sustainable tourism. And in the process become a partner in helping to improve the standard of living in local Thai communities.”

Mr. Yuthasak reiterated that buying ivory in Thailand is against the law, and any tourists caught with ivory items could face a potential penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment or fines of up to one million Baht or both.

The WWF launched the ‘Travel Ivory Free’ campaign in Thailand in early 2019, working to dissuade potential buyers via social media in real time as they travel around active ivory markets in Thailand emphasising that it is illegal to buy ivory.

WWF-Thailand works with travel industry companies and the tech sector to spread awareness and create a more sustainable travel culture.

Groups as diverse as the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), airlines and TAT are asking visitors to travel ivory free. The campaign is more frequent during the high tourist season.

WWF-Thailand ‘Travel Ivory Free’ campaign via social media (series 1)

TAT supports WWF-Thailand’s no ivory Campaign TAT supports WWF-Thailand’s no ivory Campaign TAT supports WWF-Thailand’s no ivory Campaign

WWF-Thailand ‘Travel Ivory Free’ campaign via social media (series 2)

TAT supports WWF-Thailand’s no ivory Campaign TAT supports WWF-Thailand’s no ivory Campaign TAT supports WWF-Thailand’s no ivory Campaign TAT supports WWF-Thailand’s no ivory Campaign

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ASEAN, US announce winner of ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women 2019

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ASEAN, US announce winner of ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women 2019

SINGAPORE, 10 October 2019 – Today Dr. Zhou Yan of Singapore of the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore won the 2019 ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women sponsored by UL for her extensive research and work on energy efficient water treatment and reclamation (or recycling) for industrial and daily use, which has benefited several communities around Asia.

Additionally, Dr. Mary Donabelle Balela from the Philippines received an honorable mention for her research on homegrown technology that promotes the circular economy—utilising locally available raw materials for electronics, environmental, and energy applications, and finding ways to use agricultural waste in developing water treatment absorbents.

The Prize recipients were announced at a ceremony earlier today in conjunction with the 77th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI-77) and ASEAN 18th Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-18) in Singapore.

The ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women sponsored by UL is an annual contest organized by ASEAN, through COSTI, the U.S. Government, through USAID and UL, a global safety certification company with 46 world-wide offices and headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, USA.

“Congratulations to Dr. Zhou Yan and Dr. Mary Donabelle Balela for their well-deserved achievements,” said Dr. Raj. Thampuran, Singapore COSTI Chairman and Senior Advisor of A*STAR. “The ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women underscores the importance of talent in advancing science and technology, that will tackle global sustainability challenges, and contribute to the growth of the region. Dr. Zhou and Dr. Balela are role models for all, and will inspire next-generation female talent into careers in STEM,” added Dr. Raj.

The two regional finalists were selected from a pool of national finalists from seven ASEAN Member States, who represent the best and the brightest young women scientists focusing on the circular economy, this year’s theme of the Prize. COSTI chose the ‘CircularEconomy’ as this year’s theme to highlight the need for innovative management of the ASEAN’s natural resources to meet the growing demands of the region’s rapid population growth. As the winner, Dr. Zhou Yan received an award of USD 20,000, whereas honorable mention, Dr. Mary Donabelle Balela, received a USD 5,000 award.

Catherine Sheehy, head of UL Advisory Solutions, Environment and Sustainability congratulated Dr. Zhou Yan “for winning this year’s Science Prize. It is our hope that these regional finalists’ will inspire the next generation of young women in ASEAN in thefields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to find more opportunities to showcase their work and develop new innovations that will further benefit the region.”

Melissa A. Brown, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. of the U.S. Mission to ASEAN, said “the United States is proud to support efforts that help realize the potential of women scientists, and we offer our congratulations to Dr. Zhou Yan on winning this year’s prize. Empowering women scientists is necessary to find the most innovative, sustainable solutions to drive economic growth and protect the region’s natural resources.”

The ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women sponsored by UL awards promising, ASEAN-based, early- to mid-career female scientists with recognition from ASEAN and the US Government for their academic and professional achievements. The Prize competition will continue in 2020 with the theme preventive healthcare. More detailed information on this year’s winner, honorable mention and other national finalists as well as information on the 2020 competition can be found at https://scienceprize4women.asean.org. ​

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Thailand’s Energy Plan under Disruptive Technology

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BANGKOK (NNT) – For national energy development, especially in the industrial sector to cope with fast-paced technological changes, the Institute of Industrial Energy has joined hands with the Federation of Thai Industries and the Ministry of Energy to hold this year’s Energy Symposium, preparing the industrial sector to adopt energy cost-saving technologies.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Energy Soomboon Nhookeaw delivered a lecture on Thailand’s Energy Plan in the age of Disruptive Technology at the Energy Symposium 2019. He elaborated on the Ministry of Energy’s efforts to adjust policies to be in keeping with changes in the energy sector, and to implement technologies which help increase efficient energy consumption, leading to lower operating costs for businesses.

The Energy Ministry is encouraging power generation from alternative energy sources and support for the operation of community power plants through amendment of the law, which now allows the general public to sell the electricity they generate to energy authorities. [NOTE: unverifiable if its MEA, PEA, EGAT, or all of them] This measure will help increase competition and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thailand intendeds to cut down such emissions by 20-25 percent by 2030.

The Energy Policy and Planning Office Director General Wattanapong Kurovat said the office is considering adjustments to its 2018 power generation development plan to increase, by 400 megawatts, power generation by community power plants, waste to energy plants, biomass power plants and solar power.

The office ordered the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency to assess the capacities and preparedness of communities across the nation. It is expected some 1,000 communities will join the new power generating plan.

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China’s lack of ‘policy pragmatism’ biggest threat to long-t…

The biggest threat to the future of China’s economy is not the trade war with the United States or its rapidly ageing population, but rather a loss of pragmatism in policymaking, a veteran China watcher said.Andy Rothman, a San Francisco-based strategist for investment fund Matthews Asia, said that Beijing needed to overcome its vested interests […]

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Ubon Ratchathani to recover from floods this month

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UBON RATCHATHANI(NNT) – The water level in Ubon Ratchathani has now receded to 1.5 meters below the top of the riverbank, after the city was faced with severe flooding for a month. The Prime Minister has thanked all officials, private companies, and volunteers who assisted disaster victims, urging that compensation be given to cover all losses, while the situation is expected to have returned to normal by the end of this month.

The Governor of Ubon Ratchathani has surveyed the current water situation in the Mun river by boarding a boat at Wat Supattanaram Temple pier in Ban Khu Duea village to go to the M7 water level measuring station, where the river’s water level was recorded at 1.5 meters below the banks.

The province’s latest damage survey shows a total of 16,166 houses damaged by the floods, about 1,395 of which have minor damage, and 13,338 of which are partially damaged. Local authorities and the military have already started helping affected villagers with repairs to their properties, to help them save on the cost of rebuilding. It is expected the situation will return to normal by the end of October.

The Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has thanked officials from government agencies, the police, and the military, as well as private companies and volunteers who have helped assist victims of the floods caused by storms Podul and Kajiki from start to finish, especially in Ubon Ratchathani where the situation was considered the most severe due to its location downstream.

He commented that the situation is much improved, and praised the Governor of Ubon Ratchathani for his ability to organize assistance to help the general public.

A Deputy Government Spokesperson, Traisuree Taisaranakul said today the Cabinet has approved compensation protocols for flood victims in the northeastern region, offering 5,000 baht per household, allocated from the Ministry of the Interior’s central budget. Local officials and village headmen are now collecting the names of eligible persons to help respective local administrative organizations make further assessments. A list of eligible persons passing the assessment will be sent to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation through district offices and provincial halls to process payments from the Government Savings Bank. Flood victims are encouraged to register for the PromptPay service which will be the preferred payment method in distributing the compensation.

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EEC opens one-stop service system for investors

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BANGKOK (NNT) – In an attempt to attract more investors to Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), the government has launched the EEC One-Stop Service (EEC-OSS) system to speed up the investment application process.

The EEC-OSS is an online system that operates around the clock and acts as a service center for investors seeking approval to do business in the EEC.

The Secretary-General of the EEC Office, Kanit Sangsubhan, said today that the EEC-OSS system was developed with the support of the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning, the Department of Industrial Works, the Department of Health, the Department of Business Development, the Department of Lands, the Immigration Bureau and the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission. The new system has improved the service by reducing paperwork and simplifying procedures. The number of required licences and permits has dropped from 60 to 40. The online process has also reduced the application period to 70 days from the previous 150. The operating cost has also decreased.

“Speaking of the cost, the private sector can reduce it too because the online system connects with the database of other government agencies. Take the company registration as an example, they don’t have to submit the documents, physically. The system will get the information and they don’t have to do much. But this is the first phase that we’re implementing. If you ask for 50%, you’ll get 50%. In the future, it should be faster than this.”

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Taste Shop Spend Campaign Phase 2 not offering free money

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BANGKOK(NNT) – After overwhelming feedback from the Taste Shop Spend campaign, the Minister of Finance has confirmed the campaign will be extended into Phase 2 with criteria and regulations adjusted to attract more persons with purchasing power to spend their own money, without offering a 1,000 per person allowance as in the first phase.

The Minister of Finance Uttama Savanayana, has confirmed that the government will pursue the second phase of Taste Shop Spend campaign, by refining the work process for better efficiency and convenience for the general public.

He said there have been 1.3 million persons so far directing their spending in this campaign to some 170,000 participating shops, generating more then 1 billion baht in circulation.

The second phase of the campaign will be introduced with adjustments to the conditions to encourage campaign participants to spend their own money to generate additional cash flow. The criteria will be discussed by the Fiscal Policy Office and related agencies, before being submitted to the Cabinet next week.

The campaign’s second phase is expected to commence this month, with 1-2 million more sign-ups, who will no longer receive the 1,000 baht per person allowance, but will have higher caps on the 15 percent cashback rebate from a 4,500 baht limit to 5,500-6,000 baht.

The Minister of Finance has admitted most people signed up for the campaign intending mainly to receive and spend their 1,000 baht allownace, as seen in the relevant data showing a total spending figure from the free allowance of more than 1 billion baht, while spending of participants’ own money only reached about 10 million baht, which does not fulfill the government’s goal of encouraging people to spend their own money.

The campaign’s second phase will also end at the end of November. Further details and an announcement will be made after further consideration by related sides on the policies, outcomes from the campaign’s initial phase, and the remaining budget.

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Canada–China relations remain on the rocks

Author: John Kirton, University of Toronto The deepening diplomatic dispute between China and Canada that began in December 2018 marks a fundamental change in their longstanding and relatively benign relationship. The conflict is having a damaging effect on both countries. The dispute also compromises China’s claim to be the new champion of the open, rules-based […]

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