APEC forestry ministers’ Chiang Mai meeting hailed a success Warawut puts forward BCG model for sustainable forest management

By

-

26 August 2022, 15:01

Ministers Responsible for forestry from Asia – Pacific Economy Cooperation (APEC) have successfully concluded their meeting in Thailand which called for the inclusion of Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) model to support the region’s operative framework.

H.E.Warawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said he has spearheaded the BCG concept at the Fifth Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to drive the goal of sustainable forest management through building relationships to strike a balance through by means of ‘Open. Connect. Balance,’ the theme adopted for 2022 APEC meetings being hosted by Thailand.

“I have stated unequivocally to my counterparts from 21 economies that the BCG is the way to go and asked them to adopt the Thai brainchild,” he said.

The Fifth APEC Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Forestry, known under the acronym of MMRF5, was held in Chiang Mai from 23 to 25 August, hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE). The MMRF5 is about promoting cooperation in sustainable forest management especially in the fight against illegal logging, and most importantly, encouraging stakeholders from all sectors, particularly local communities, to contribute to sustainable forest management leading to the increase of green areas in order to response to climate change.

“The forest sector indeed plays a very crucial role in tackling problems of climate change and enhancing biological diversity to bring about the well-being of the APEC people in our generation and the next,” Mr Warawut noted.

In his speech at the opening of MMRF5’s conference on 24 August at the Le Meridien Chiang Mai Hotel, the Thai minister congratulated the APEC members economies in achieving a collective effort that surpasses forestation target. That means boosting the region’s forest area to 174.38 million rai or 27.9 million hectares,” he pointed out. He has thanked the APEC forestry ministers and representatives for working constructively together to ensure fruitful deliberations

The MMRF5 is all about promoting, developing cooperation and enhancing the conservation, restoration and preservation of forest areas to raise green areas as well as promoting trade in wood products in accordance with relevant guidelines and criteria. Holding the MMRF5 meeting showed that forests play an important role in driving and promoting opportunities for the legal trade in timber and related products. Meanwhile, it helps to increase income for the economic zone and local people which will drive the balance among economy, environment and society under the theme of APEC 2022 meetings hosted by Thailand

Mr Warawut explained the BCG Model will be instrumental to the sustainable forest management by leveraging on modern technology and innovation to create value and promoting a sustainable business model together with the endeavours to solve climate change problems. That envisions the absorption of greenhouse gases by the forest sector which will support the missions towards achieving carbon neutrality goals and net-zero emissions.

The MMRF5 conference in Chiang Mai meeting was also held under a greenhouse gas reduction format. After the morning session on 24 August, delegations from all APEC economic zones were taken on a tour to the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden at Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai Province. There, they observed the conservation of Thai plant resources, indigenous plants and rare floras.

The Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden is the first international botanical garden in Thailand named after The Queen Mother. It is a large garden under the supervision of the Botanic Garden Organisation with a world-class management. MMRF5 delegates also visited Thung Kwian Forest Plantation, Lampang Province, which is a forest plantation under the supervision of the Forest Industry Organisation, which shows the potential of Thailand in sustainable forest management according to international yardsticks.

Ukrainian Fears Run High Over Fighting Near Nuclear Plant

By

Associated Press

-

25 August 2022, 13:30

FILE - A Russian serviceman guards an area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in territory under Russian military control, southeastern Ukraine, May 1, 2022. Photo: AP File

NIKOPOL, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainians are once again anxious and alarmed about the fate of a nuclear power plant in a land that was home to the world’s worst atomic accident in 1986 at Chernobyl.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, has been occupied by Russian forces since the early days of the war, and continued fighting near the facility has heightened fears of a catastrophe that could affect nearby towns in southern Ukraine — or potentially an even wider region.

The government in Kyiv alleges Russia is essentially holding the Soviet-era nuclear plant hostage, storing weapons there and launching attacks from around it, while Moscow accuses Ukraine of recklessly firing on the facility, which is located in the city of Enerhodar.

“Anybody who understands nuclear safety issues has been trembling for the last six months,” said Mycle Schneider, an independent policy consultant and coordinator of the World Nuclear Industry Status Report.

Ukraine cannot simply shut down its nuclear plants during the war because it is heavily reliant on them, and its 15 reactors at four stations provide about half of its electricity. Still, an ongoing conflict near a working atomic plant is troubling for many experts who fear that a damaged facility could lead to a disaster.

That fear is palpable just across the Dnieper River in Nikopol, where residents have been under nearly constant Russian shelling since July 12, with eight people killed, 850 buildings damaged and over the half the population of 100,000 fleeing the city.

Liudmyla Shyshkina, a 74-year-old widow who lived within sight of the Zaporizhzhia plant before her apartment was bombarded and her husband killed, said she believes the Russians are capable of intentionally causing a nuclear disaster.

Fighting in early March caused a brief fire at the plant’s training complex, which officials said did not result in the release of any radiation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia’s military actions there amount to “nuclear blackmail.”

No civilian nuclear plant is designed for a wartime situation, although the buildings housing Zaporizhzhia’s six reactors are protected by reinforced concrete that could withstand an errant shell, experts say.

The more immediate concern is that a disruption of electricity supply to the plant could knock out cooling systems that are essential for the safe operation of the reactors, and emergency diesel generators are sometimes unreliable. The pools where spent fuel rods are kept to be cooled also are vulnerable to shelling, which could cause the release of radioactive material.

Kyiv told the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, that shelling earlier this week damaged transformers at a nearby conventional power plant, disrupting electricity supplies to the Zaporizhzhia plant for several hours.

“These incidents show why the IAEA must be able to send a mission to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant very soon,” said the agency’s head, Rafael Mariano Grossi, adding that he expected that to happen “within the next few days, if ongoing negotiations succeed.”

At a U.N. Security Council meeting Tuesday, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo urged the withdrawal of all military personnel and equipment from the plant and an agreement on a demilitarized zone around it.

Currently only one of the plant’s four power lines connecting it to the grid is operational, the agency said. External power is essential not just to cool the two reactors still in operation but also the spent radioactive fuel stored in special facilities onsite.

“If we lose the last one, we are at the total mercy of emergency power generators,” said Najmedin Meshkati, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Southern California.

He and Schneider expressed concern that the occupation of the plant by Russian forces is also hampering safety inspections and the replacement of critical parts, and is putting severe strain on hundreds of Ukrainian staff who operate the facility.

“Human error probability will be increased manifold by fatigue,” said Meshkati, who was part of a committee appointed by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences to identify lessons from the 2011 nuclear disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant. “Fatigue and stress are unfortunately two big safety factors.”

If an incident at the Zaporizhzhia plant were to release significant amounts of radiation, the scale and location of the contamination would be determined largely by the weather, said Paul Dorfman, a nuclear safety expert at the University of Sussex who has advised the British and Irish governments.

The massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the Fukushima plant destroyed cooling systems which triggered meltdowns in three of its reactors. Much of the contaminated material was blown out to sea, limiting the damage.

The April 26, 1986, explosion and fire at one of four reactors at the Chernobyl nuclear plant north of Kyiv sent a cloud of radioactive material across a wide swath of Europe and beyond. In addition to fueling anti-nuclear sentiment in many countries, the disaster left deep psychological scars on Ukrainians.

Zaporizhzhia’s reactors are of a different model than those at Chernobyl, but unfavorable winds could still spread radioactive contamination in any direction, Dorfman said.

“If something really went wrong, then we have a full-scale radiological catastrophe that could reach Europe, go as far as the Middle East, and certainly could reach Russia, but the most significant contamination would be in the immediate area,” he said.

That’s why Nikopol’s emergency services department takes radiation measurements every hour since the Russian invasion began. Before that, it was every four hours.

___

Story: Frank Jordans and Hanna Arhirova. Jordans reported from Berlin. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

CP Foods ranked in the ESG100 Company in 2022 for the 6th Year

By

Contributor

-

25 August 2022, 13:03

Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) has been selected by Thaipat Institute as one of the ESG100 Company, demonstrating promising performance in the area of Environment, social and governance (ESG). This is the 6th time that the company is included in the prestigious list.

Prasit Boondoungprasert, Chief Executive Office at CP Foods, received the certificate from Dr. Pipat Yodprudtikan, Director at the Thaipat Institute. From 851 listed companies that were reviewed by Thaipat, CP Foods has been selected as one of 100 outstanding ESG performers,

He said that CP Foods integrates ESG into its business strategy. This is also in line with CP Group’s “3 Benefits” philosophy, to create positive impacts to the country where it is operated. This can be done by producing high quality food products that are hygiene, safe, delicious, and nutritious while, taking good care of the environment and society. At the same time, it also encourages farmers, partners and society to grow together. These impacts will eventually lead to the benefit of the company.

“I am very pleased and would like to thank Thaipat Institute for recognizing the company’s commitment to ESG in its business operations,” said Mr. Prasit.

Also, the company announced its sustainability strategy and goals, CPF 2030 Sustainability in Action, aiming to create a better change and directly support 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Dr. Pipat Yodprudtikan said that being listed in the ESG100 for the sixth year reflects the company’s commitment in ESG and it is a good role model in the food industry. He added that ESG principle is important to all the parties in supply chain, including SME businesses. Driving business with ESG principle is the duty of every organization.

He also praised for its continuous commitment as one of business leaders to drive Thailand’s economy forward while taking ESG principle into account.

Following this session, CP Foods also launched “CPF Restore the Ocean” program to collaborate with partners and its employees to take actions to raise awareness about ocean conservation. The project aiming reduce of solid waste into the sea and proper waste management according to the Circular Economy principle. The project concludes key activities namely Trap the Sea Trash, Coastal Waste Collection activity, Catch the Trash….Waste to Value, etc.

N. Korea Sees Suspected COVID-19 Cases After Victory Claim

By

Associated Press

-

25 August 2022, 13:00

FILE - In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a "maximum emergency anti-epidemic campaign meeting" in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Photo: Korean Central News Agency / Korea News Service via AP File

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Thursday said it found four new fever cases in its border region with China that may have been caused by coronavirus infections, two weeks after leader Kim Jong Un declared a widely disputed victory over COVID-19.

North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency said health workers were conducting genetic tests on the samples taken from four people in Ryanggang province who exhibited fevers to confirm whether they were caused by the “malignant epidemic.” The North often uses that term, along with “malignant virus,” to describe COVID-19 and the coronavirus.

Authorities immediately locked down the areas where the fever cases emerged and plan to maintain tight restrictions and quarantines until health workers determine the cause of the illness.

KCNA said health authorities were giving extra attention to the cases because none of the four patients had a history of coronavirus infections.

The country’s emergency anti-virus headquarters dispatched “talented epidemiological, virology and test experts to the area” and is taking steps to “trace all persons … connected with the suspect cases, and persons going to and from the relevant area and keep them under strict medical observation,” KCNA said.

North Korea said there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases in any part of the country since Aug. 10 when Kim declared victory over the virus, just three months after the country acknowledged an outbreak.

Even as he ordered preventive measures eased, Kim called for vigilance and the maintaining of tight border controls to prevent the virus from reentering the country. Ryanggang province is one of the border areas where North Korean officials for years struggled to clamp down smuggling activities with China.

An official from South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, said Seoul isn’t ruling out the possibility that the virus could reemerge in the North.

“North Korea may additionally report on the situation, including whether the fevers were confirmed as COVID-19, and we would need to wait for that before making judgements,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity during a background briefing.

While Kim claimed that the country’s success against the virus would be recognized as a global health miracle, experts believe the North has manipulated disclosures on its outbreak to help him maintain absolute control. The victory statement signals Kim’s aim to move to other priorities, including a possible nuclear test, experts say.

After admitting to an omicron outbreak of the virus in May, North Korea reported about 4.8 million “fever cases” across its mostly unvaccinated population of 26 million but only identified a fraction of them as COVID-19. It claimed just 74 people have died, which experts see as an abnormally small number considering the country’s lack of public health tools.

Kim’s declaration of victory over COVID-19 during a national meeting in Pyongyang was followed by a combative speech from his powerful sister, who said Kim had suffered a fever himself while steering the anti-virus campaign and laid dubious blame against South Korea while vowing deadly retaliation.

North Korea claims that its initial infections were caused by anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets and other items carried across the border by balloons launched by South Korean activists, a claim the South has described as “ridiculous” and unscientific.

Outside experts believe it’s more likely that the virus spread when the North briefly reopened its border with China to freight traffic in January and surged further following a military parade and other large-scale events in its capital, Pyongyang, in April.

There are concerns that the threats by Kim’s sister portend a provocation, possibly a nuclear or missile test or even border skirmishes.

Some experts say the North may try to stir up tensions as South Korea and the United States hold their biggest combined military training in years to counter the growing North Korean nuclear threat. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which involves aircraft, tanks and warships, continues in South Korea through Sept. 1.

Diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang to defuse the nuclear standoff has stalled since 2019 over disagreements in exchanging crippling U.S.-led sanctions against the North for the North’s denuclearization steps.

___

Story: Kim Tong-hyung.

Constitutional Court Orders Prayut Suspended From Duties

By

Associated Press

-

24 August 2022, 15:00

FILE - Thailand Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha attends a no-confidence debate at the Parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 19, 2022. Photo: Sakchai Lalit / AP File

BANGKOK (AP) — The Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha must suspend his active duties while the court decides whether he has overstayed his legal term in office.

It was not immediately announced who would assume his duties as acting prime minister. Under law, it would be Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who is ranked first among several deputies . He is a close political ally of Prayuth and part of the same military clique that that staged the 2014 coup that initially brought him to power.

The court’s decision was announced in a statement after the news was leaked to Thai media.

The court agreed unanimously there was reason to consider the petition arguing he has exceeded his term limit. By a vote of 5 to 4, the court members agreed to suspend Prayuth from his duties effective Wednesday until it reached a decision.

The court did not say when it would issue its decision on whether Prayuth has breached the clause in the constitution on the eight-year limit. If it rules that he did, he would lose his post right away.

Jailed Najib Fell Mightily From Peak of Malaysian Politics

By

Associated Press

-

24 August 2022, 14:30

FILE - In this April 7, 2018, file photo, then Malaysia's Prime Minister and President of the ruling party coalition "National Front," Najib Razak, center, prays during launching event for upcoming general elections in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. April 7, 2018. Photo: Vincent Thian / AP File

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Najib Razak is Malaysia’s first former prime minister to go to prison — a mighty fall for a British-educated politician whose father and uncle were the country’s second and third prime ministers, respectively.

The enormous 1MDB financial scandal tied directly to him was not just a personal blow but also shook — temporarily at least — the stranglehold his party, the United Malays National Organization, had over Malaysian politics. UMNO had traditionally been assured the support of the country’s ethnic Malay majority and had headed the National Front coalition government since the country became independent of Britain in 1957.

Najib set up the 1MDB state investment fund shortly after taking power in 2009. The U.S. Justice Department and other investigators alleged that at least $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB by associates of Najib between 2009 and 2014, and laundered through layers of bank accounts in the U.S. and other countries to finance Hollywood films and extravagant purchases that included hotels, a luxury yacht, art works and jewelry. Then-U.S. Attorney-General Jeff Sessions described the scandal as “kleptocracy at its worst.”

The Justice Department’s civil case filings also alleged $700 million was transferred from bank accounts used in the money laundering to the bank account of “Malaysian Official 1.” It didn’t name the official, but corroborating details made clear it was Najib.

Najib in July 2020 was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment by Malaysia’s High Court after being found guilty of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering for illegally receiving 42 million ringgit ($9.4 million) from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB.

Najib, 69, has maintained his innocence and had been out on bail pending his appeals.

The Court of Appeal upheld his conviction and sentence in December, describing the case as a “national embarrassment.” On Tuesday, the Federal Court affirmed the lower court’s decision, sending Najib straight to prison to begin his sentence.

Najib had once cast himself as a liberal and reforming leader of the predominantly Muslim country of over 33 million people. He speaks impeccable English with a posh accent, has his own blog and has a strong social media following.

At the same time, he often seemed far removed from the concerns of ordinary Malaysians and the poor rural Malays who are the bedrock of UMNO. He was mocked by the opposition for once saying he prefers eating quinoa, an expensive imported South American grain, to rice, a staple of the Malaysian diet.

Revelations after his downfall unveiled a serious taste for luxury, particularly on the part of his wife, Rosmah Mansor, who has also faced criminal charges. The total value of cash, jewelry, watches and handbags seized in 2018 from properties linked to Najib amounted to at least $273 million, police said. The haul included 12,000 pieces of jewelry — 2,200 rings, 1,400 necklaces, 2,100 bracelets, 2,800 pairs of earrings, 1,600 brooches and 14 tiaras along with 567 handbags, 423 watches and 234 pairs of sunglasses.

Malalysia has long been beset by corruption, but generally it had been associated with money politics designed to help keep UMNO in power.

Najib was thrust into politics in 1976 after his father died, becoming Malaysia’s youngest lawmaker at age 22, and the youngest ever deputy minister two years later. He became prime minister in 2009, replacing Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was blamed for the National Front’s reduced majority in an election the previous year.

As both finance minister and prime minister, Najib guided his country through the global financial crisis of 2009, abolished draconian colonial-era security laws and reached out to ethnic minorities with a “1Malaysia” campaign. Then-President Barack Obama praised him as a “reformer with much to do.”

However, his National Front coalition suffered a further loss of support in 2013, losing the popular vote to the opposition for the first time though still winning 133 of 222 parliamentary seats.

In response, Najib imposed new repressive security measures and increasingly pandered to Islamists and ethnic chauvinism to shore up his Malay support base. Opposition leader and former Deputy Premier Anwar Ibrahim was convicted of sodomy for a second time in 2015 and imprisoned in a case he said was fabricated by the government to crush the opposition.

As he came under more and more pressure over the 1MDB scandal, Najib sacked critics in his government including an attorney-general and deputy prime minister, and muzzled the media.

The new attorney-general cleared Najib in 2016, saying the money was a political donation from the Saudi royal family and that most of it was returned.

A 2018 election tested the damage done to Najib by the 1MDB scandal. Crucial to an alliance formed to bring down Najib was the leadership of Mahathir Mohamad, a former prime minister who quit UNMO and ran a vigorous campaign despite being in his 90s. Mahathir, popular among his fellow Malays, led the country from 1981 to 2003, during which was credited for the country’s rocketing economic growth.

Najib’s coalition won just 79 of Parliament’s 222 seats, its worst-ever showing, while Mahathir’s Alliance of Hope won 121 seats.

Despite the election debacle and his graft conviction, Najib remained politically influential. His UMNO party leads the current government after defections of lawmakers caused the collapse of Mahathir’s reformist government.

“I think the guilty verdict is a very, very good outcome for Malaysia. The Malaysian public has been waiting for a very long time to see the ex-prime minister go to jail,” James Chin, professor of Asian studies at Australia’s University of Tasmania, told The Associated Press. “So with today’s verdict, it is quite clear, at least in the Malaysian case, that even if you hold the No. 1 political position and you did something wrong, you will have to pay the price for it.”

___

Story: Eileen Ng and Grant Peck. Peck reported from Bangkok.

Ukraine Marks Independence Day Six Months After Start of War

By

Associated Press

-

24 August 2022, 14:00

The sun sets behind the Independence Monument overlooking Maidan Square on the country's National Flag Day, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photo: David Goldman / AP

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Residents of Kyiv woke up to air raid sirens as Ukraine observed its Independence Day on Wednesday, six months since the start of the Russian invasion.

Authorities in the capital banned large-scale gatherings until Thursday, fearing the national holiday might bring particularly heavy Russian missile attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the public to be vigilant.

“Russian provocations and brutal strikes are a possibility,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Please strictly follow the safety rules. Please observe the curfew. Pay attention to the air sirens. Pay attention to official announcements. And remember: we must all achieve victory together.”

A small number of residents gathered at Kyiv’s central square, where destroyed Russian tanks and mobile artillery were put on display over the weekend, and the national anthem is played every day at 7 a.m. local time.

“I can’t sleep at night because of what I see and hear about what is being done in Ukraine,” a retiree who identified herself only by her first name, Tetyana, said, her voice shaking with emotion.

“This is not a war. It is the destruction of the Ukrainian people,” she said.

Wednesday’s holiday commemorates Ukraine’s 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.

A car bombing outside Moscow that killed the 29-year-old daughter of right-wing Russian political theorist Alexander Dugin on Saturday heightened fears that Russia might intensify attacks on Ukraine this week.

Russian officials have blamed Ukraine for the death of Darya Dugina, a nationalist Russian TV commentator. The car bomb exploded after she had attended a patriotic festival with her father, whom was widely believed to have been the intended target.

The Ukrainian government has denied any involvement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Moscow’s military encountered unexpectedly stiff Ukrainian resistance, and the six months of fighting has upended life in Ukraine and sent shock waves through the world economy.

Ecotopia named in Asia’s 20 Coolest Retailers 2022 by Inside Retail, reaffirming its sustainability-oriented business concept

By

Contributor

-

24 August 2022, 14:00

Pioneering revolutionary new style of retail format to foster a retail ecosystem that brings nature lovers together to co-create a better world.

Bangkok (August 23, 2022) – Siam Piwat Group, a leading real estate and retail developer, the owner and operator of Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery, and a joint venture partner of ICONSIAM and Siam Premium Outlets, has marked another milestone of success in its sustainability-led business operations as Ecotopia has been ranked among Asia’s 20 Coolest Retailers by Inside Retail, Asia’s leading retail publication that honors inspiring, distinctive, and innovative brands, in the sustainability/department store category. As a mecca for eco-conscious customers, Ecotopia highlights Siam Piwat’s business model under the strategy of co-creating shared value to bring mutual benefits for all parties.

Ms. Usara Yongpiyakul, Chief Executive Officer – Retail Business Group, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., said, “We are extremely proud that Ecotopia has made the list of Asia’s 20 Coolest Retailers by Inside Retailers. It’s another achievement of Ecotopia for receiving an international recognition.

Ecotopia was created with the intention to build a green community and make a difference in the world (Together, We Co-Create a Better World) with various methods and approaches, including reducing waste generation, increasing reuse, looking at nature from a fresh angle, and restoring value to waste. Ecotopia offers a truly comprehensive range of eco-friendly products that can easily find in one place. This ranking marks a vital step in accomplishing our mission to drive sustainability under the concept of co-creating shared value for all, which has been integrated into our business models and daily operations in every project.”

Inside Retail states that Ecotopia is a revolutionary new style of department store which focuses entirely on fostering a retail ecosystem that promotes eco-friendly products designed specifically to address the lifestyle needs of sustainability-minded consumers. Ecotopia not only offers products that are safe for the environment but also shows its customers how to make the most out of them. This includes allowing customers to bring their own containers for refills, educating them on a waste-free kitchen, and providing a venue for eco-workshops where consumers can transform waste into art or materials for organic gardening. As such, Ecotopia has created a community for the eco-conscious that empowers creative minds and promotes resource efficiency in order to ensure sustainable co-existence with nature and make a difference every day.

Located on the 3rd floor of Siam Discovery, Ecotopia boasts products from over 300 eco-friendly brands and is divided into eight major zones: 1) Hygiene – the hub of cleaning products made from natural ingredients or biodegradable materials; 2) Zero Waste – a refill station where customers can bring containers to get their refills; 3) Green – the center of air-filtering plants and gardening equipment; 4) Healthy – the zone featuring healthy food made with organic ingredients; 5) Beautiful – an area where customers can find organic beauty and personal care products with natural essence; 6) Up-cycled – the section featuring products made from recycled materials; 7) Stylish – the hub of organic cotton fashion; and 8) Kind – the zone that offers handicrafts and products made with natural ingredients by local artisans to generate revenue for communities. Ecotopia is also home to exclusive concept stores featured on Asia’s 20 Coolest Retailers list from various countries, including Pop Mart and I Do from China, Musinsa and Gentle Monster from South Korea, Seeson from Vietnam, and Ambush, a Japanese brand that just launched a boutique shop in Shanghai.

Ecotopia’s inclusion on the list of Asia’s 20 Coolest Retailers by Inside Retail testifies to Siam Piwat’s success in driving its business development strategies that focus on being the leader in catering ever-shifting lifestyle needs of new generation and on enabling its businesses to create value to people, communities, society, and the world, in line with the concept of business operations towards sustainability.

SEE THAI POPSTAR J JETRIN PERFORM LIVE IN HUA HIN WITH MARRIOTT BONVOY MOMENTS™

By

Contributor

-

24 August 2022, 13:20

Members invited to bid on an exclusive package including two tickets to this one-off concert, drinks, a serene stay at Sheraton Hua Hin and complimentary breakfast

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s award-winning travel program and marketplace, will bring even more memorable Moments to its members in Thailand this September, as it hosts an exclusive concert by Thai pop superstar J Jetrin at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa.

Fans of this popular singer-songwriter can enjoy an unforgettable night of high-energy music with a live performance at the resort’s Chandelier Ballroom. Having toured the USA, J Jetrin is now back to delight his many fans and followers in Thailand with this one-off show on 10th September 2022.

To celebrate this exciting event, Marriott Bonvoy Moments is inviting its members to bid for a special concert package at Sheraton Hua Hin Resort & Spa! This includes a one-night stay in the resort’s stunning Lagoon View Room, two tickets to the J Jetrin live show, including an opening performance by Sangrawee Live Band, plus two complimentary drinks at the event and breakfast the following morning. Bids start from just 35,000 points!

Perfect for couples and friends who love J Jetrin and want to combine their upbeat evening with a stylish seaside stay, this package is available for stays on 10th September 2022 only, checking out on 11th September.

For more information and to see J Jetrin live at Sheraton Hua Hin with Marriott Bonvoy Moments, please visit https://moments.marriottbonvoy.com/en-us/moments/13541

Thai PM grants ‘Thailand Cybersecurity Excellence Award 2022’ to Huawei Thailand’s CEO

By

Contributor

-

23 August 2022, 17:30

[Bangkok, Thailand/August 23, 2022] – Thai Prime Minister H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha bestows the prestigious “Prime Minister Awards – Thailand Cybersecurity Excellence Award 2022” from the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) to Mr. Abel Deng, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd., at a ceremony event held at Santi Maitri Building Government House. The event was chaired by officials and representatives from both public and private organizations.

At the award ceremony, Thai Prime Minister Prayut congratulated several organizations, including Huawei, on winning the award. He expressed his appreciation for Huawei’s work in cultivating cybersecurity talent, sharing cybersecurity knowledge and skills, and promoting cybersecurity awareness and capabilities in Thailand.

This prestigious distinction reflects Huawei Thailand’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and leadership in information security, as well as raising awareness on cybersecurity and data protection across the country. Over the past 12 months, Huawei Thailand joined a series of cybersecurity-related initiatives, such as ‘Thailand National Cyber Week’ and the ‘Cyber Defense Initiative Conference’, and collaborated with the NCSA for the ‘Thailand Cyber Top Talents 2021’, the first cyber defense competition of its kind in Thailand that gathered together 800 outstanding IT students and personnel. To reinforce the skills of Thailand’s cybersecurity human resources, Huawei also sent a team of Thai representatives to the ‘Cyber SEA Game 2021’ competition that gathered teams from across ASEAN countries. The Thai team was able to achieve first place and was named the best cybersecurity team in ASEAN.

Earlier this year, the Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) at Huawei Thailand was selected for an executive-level cybersecurity training course. Last March, prior to the implementation of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), the company shared its knowledge with various government agencies as well as the private sector. On August 5, 2022, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NCSA to develop and accelerate cybersecurity skills for Thai IT personnel. Plans are underway for 4,000 trainees to benefit from practice-based learning through Huawei’s e-Lab online learning platform, including real infrastructure and hands-on cybersecurity workshops spread out over 3 years, covering the four cyber workforce levels: basic, intermediate, advanced, and expert level.

Thailand’s Cyber Security Awards were created to honor individuals and organizations who make a profound impact on improving the country’s cybersecurity. They are conferred in recognition of their commitment, leadership in their field, and sound business practices and strategies. Huawei Thailand has been recognized for its continuous efforts to address the challenges of new technologies and for updating and sharing its innovative cybersecurity solutions with academic and governmental organizations, as well as private partners.

Mr. Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn, Minister of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), congratulated Huawei Thailand and commented on the current cooperation with the IT leader on its latest award: “In today’s digital world, cybersecurity and data protection are vital to Thailand’s development and ensure our country’s journey towards Thailand 4.0. Huawei has been a reliable and dedicated partner, sharing the experience, technologies, and talent cultivation standards it has gained over years of operations.” he said.

General Prachya Chalermwat, Secretary General of the NCSA, said: “Our collaboration with Huawei Thailand, a public-private partnership, is critical in order to establish a globally trusted cyberspace in the country. We are honored to present the ‘Prime Minister Awards – Thailand Cybersecurity Excellence Awards’ to five excellent private companies, including Huawei, as a leading global ICT company and solutions provider. Collaborating with all stakeholders in an open, transparent, and responsible manner will enable everyone to enjoy all the benefits brought by technological advances.”

“It is a great honor and privilege to accept the ‘Prime Minister Awards – Thailand Cybersecurity Excellence Award 2022’ on behalf of Huawei Technologies,” said Mr. Abel Deng, CEO of Huawei Thailand, during the award ceremony. “At Huawei, we value long-term partnerships. We continue to collaborate with government organizations, academic institutions, and partners who share our vision of bringing Thailand to the forefront of the digital age while ensuring the highest possible cybersecurity protection levels. We will continue to help raise awareness and share best security practices and procedures through initiatives such as the ‘Thailand Cyber Top Talents’ and the ‘Cyber SEA Game’ competitions. In line with our policy ‘Grow in Thailand, Contribute to Thailand”, we will make every effort possible and use all available resources to help the country move forward to Thailand 4.0 and become a secure digital hub in the Asia Pacific region.”

Hot News

LATEST NEWS