Hong Kong leads equity sell-off as Evergrande fears spread
Hong Kong leads equity sell-off as Evergrande fears spreadFears about a contagion from the possible collapse of China Evergrande have sent property firms in Hong Kong plunging. HONG KONG - Asian markets sank Monday on fears about contagion from a possible collapse of teetering property giant China Evergrande, while sentiment was also dragged by the Federal Reserve's plans to taper monetary policy, surging Delta infections and signs of weakness in the global recovery. Hong Kong again led the losses with Evergrande due to pay interest on some of its loans and bonds this week, with observers expecting it to default. Uncertainty about the future of the company, which is drowning in debts of more than $300 billion, has shattered confidence on trading floors, with property companies and banks in Hong Kong taking the brunt of the selling. Hong Kong shed 4% at one point, with Evergrande down almost 19% briefly while New World Development and Henderson Land each lost more than 10%.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2021 07:30 UTC
Vietnam capital Hanoi to ease coronavirus curbs this week
Vietnam capital Hanoi to ease coronavirus curbs this weekA barrier is pictured in a quarantine area in Hanoi on Sept 6, 2021. (Reuters photo)HANOI: Vietnam's capital Hanoi will further ease its coronavirus restrictions from this week, the government said, with new cases on the decline and the majority of its adult population partially vaccinated. Hanoi has escaped the brunt of a fierce wave of coronavirus infections in Vietnam since late April, recording less than 50 of the more than 17,000 Covid-19 deaths nationwide, and just 4,414 of the country's total 687,000 cases. Hanoi became busier last week after authorities removed dozens of checkpoints and allowed restaurants to offer takeaway services. Tuan said the city's approach will be flexible and scientific, aimed at containing the virus while reviving economic activities.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2021 05:15 UTC
Germany's DAX index grows from 30 to 40 firms in revamp
At the opening of the market in Frankfurt at 9:00 am (0700 GMT), the new entrants, amongst them European aerospace giant Airbus and online shopping company Zalando, will turn the DAX 30 into a DAX 40. The newcomers make the DAX "more attractive", said Norbert Kuhn from the German Stock Institute (DAI), which represents stock market participants. Likewise, Siemens Healthineers joins parent company Siemens and spin-off Siemens Energy. As the flagship DAX index grows, the mid-tier mDAX will shrink from 60 to 50 companies, as some of its members are promoted. DAX members will be given new weightings within the overall index, with Airbus the largest among the latest arrivals.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2021 04:41 UTC
Ministry suspects more officials involved in theft of money for disabled
Ministry suspects more officials involved in theft of money for disabledPolice search the backpack belonging to Pisal Sukjaitham after he was arrested in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai on Sunday. (Supplied)The Social Development and Human Security Ministry is investigating how many officials were involved in the embezzlement of 13 million baht set aside for the disabled, a senior ministry official said. The probe follows the arrest of Pisal Sukjaitham, a C-6 official, by police in Mai Sai district of Chiang Rai on Sunday. He is accused of stealing 13 million baht between June and August of the present fiscal year. He allegedly used this access to transfer 13 million baht budgeted for disabled people affected by Covid-19 to his own accounts.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2021 04:30 UTC
Emmy winners in key categories
"The Crown" and "The Queen's Gambit" were the top winners at the Emmys. LOS ANGELES: Here is a list of the winners in key categories for the 73rd Emmy Awards, which were handed out in Los Angeles on Sunday. Netflix had a stellar night, winning its first awards for top series with British royals saga "The Crown" (best drama) and "The Queen's Gambit" (best limited series). On the comedy side, "Ted Lasso" was the big winner, taking home the Emmy for best comedy, best actor, best supporting actor and actress. The Apple TV+ series won seven Emmys overall.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2021 04:07 UTC
Yellen urges Congress to raise debt limit to avoid financial crisis
Yellen urges Congress to raise debt limit to avoid financial crisisTreasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that if the debt ceiling is not raised, the US government will run out of money to pay its bills sometime in OctoberWASHINGTON - US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen pleaded Sunday for Congress to raise the debt ceiling in order to avoid a "historic financial crisis." "Doing so would likely precipitate a historic financial crisis," Yellen wrote. The debt ceiling, which only Congress can increase, came back into force on August 1 after it had been suspended for two years. Yellen recalled the 2011 debt crisis, "debt-limit brinkmanship pushed America to the edge of crisis." In the aftermath, debt rating organization Standard and Poor's degraded the United States' debt rating to "AAA" and sent shockwaves through the markets.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2021 03:56 UTC
'Hotel Rwanda' hero to learn verdict in terror trial
'Hotel Rwanda' hero to learn verdict in terror trialRusesabagina has been on trial in Rwanda since FebruaryKIGALI - A court is set to deliver its verdict Monday against Paul Rusesabagina, the "Hotel Rwanda" hero turned government critic who is charged with terrorism in a trial supporters say is politically motivated. He is accused of supporting a rebel group blamed for deadly gun, grenade and arson attacks in Rwanda in 2018 and 2019. Kagame has in turn rejected criticism of the case, saying Rusesabagina was in the dock not because of his fame but over the lives lost "because of his actions". According to the Hotel Rwanda Foundation, which supports him, they regard the trial as a "farce from start to finish... put in place by the Rwandan government to silence critics" and discourage "future dissent". For opposition official Victoire Ingabire, who spent six years in prison for terrorism, the verdict is not in doubt.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2021 03:45 UTC
Homa cookin' for second PGA win in California
Homa cookin' for second PGA win in CaliforniaCalifornian Max Homa hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the final round of The Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa in Napa, CaliforniaSAN FRANCISCO - Max Homa roared to the finish Sunday with an eagle and three birdies on the back nine to fire a 65 and capture the PGA Tour's season-opening Fortinet Championship in Napa, California. Homa attended Valencia High School just outside of Los Angeles and then spent four years on the University of California Berkeley golf team. After a one-week break, the PGA Tour kicked off the 2021-22 season with The Fortinet Championship. Homa said failing to make the US Ryder Cup team motivated him to come from behind on Sunday and win. PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson (75) was at seven-under.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2021 03:11 UTC
Cambodia bat researchers on mission to track origin of Covid-19
Cambodia bat researchers on mission to track origin of Covid-19A researcher from the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge takes an oral swab from a bat that was captured at Chhngauk Hill, Thala Borivat district, Steung Treng Province, Cambodia, on Aug 30, 2021. (Reuters photo)STUNG TRENG, Cambodia: Researchers are collecting samples from bats in northern Cambodia in a bid to understand the coronavirus pandemic, returning to a region where a very similar virus was found in the animals a decade ago. An eight-member IPC research team has been collecting samples from bats and logging their species, sex, age and other details for a week. But Veasna Duong said humans were responsible for the devastation caused by Covid-19, due to interference and destruction of natural habitats. "If we try to be near wildlife, the chances of getting the virus carried by wildlife are more than normal.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 20, 2021 03:00 UTC
Volcano erupts on Spain's Canary Islands
Volcano erupts on Spain's Canary IslandsAn eruption September 19, 2021 was the first the Cumbre Vieja volcano has erupted in 50 yearsLA PALMA (SPAIN) - The Cumbre Vieja volcano erupted on Spain's Canary Islands Sunday, spewing out lava, ash and a huge column of smoke after days of increased seismic activity and forcing the evacuation of around 5,000 local people, authorities said. Cumbre Vieja, which last erupted 50 years ago, straddles a ridge in the south of La Palma island, home to around 80,000 people. "Given the situation (on) La Palma island, the head of government has delayed his scheduled departure today for New York," to attend the UN General Assembly, a statement said earlier. The Canaries, an archipelago of seven islands off northwestern Africa, last recorded a volcanic eruption in 2011, undersea off El Hierro island. Cumbre Vieja erupted twice in the 20th century -- in 1971 and in 1949.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2021 23:03 UTC
Flourish Harmony makes offer for KLN
A line of Kerry Express delivery vehicles parked outside one the company's logistics centres. The subsidiary making the partial offer is Flourish Harmony Holdings. KLN Logistics Thailand holds a 52.14% stake in Kerry. SF has a strong foothold in express courier services, namely SF Express in China. It also operates e-commerce parcel, freight, cold chain, international express, intra-city delivery and supply chain management in the country.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2021 22:53 UTC
Less comedy, more dhamma
Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano (left) Phra Maha Sompong Talaputto (right)A couple of weeks ago, two well-known monks -- Phra Maha Sompong Talaputto and Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano -- held a livestream talk show on social media that attracted 200,000 viewers. The chat led to several debates between their supporters and opponents since it was different from typical dhamma talks or dhamma preaching. While Phra Maha Sompong focused on delivering his own jokes like a standup comedian, Phra Maha Praiwan, who knew many teenage expressions, giggled uncontrollably throughout the show. Later, Phra Maha Sompong joined his show and it went viral. The most inappropriate show by Phra Maha Praiwan was Phra Maha Praiwan Unboxed, which involved him opening packages to show what was inside and read the names of senders or stores on packages.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2021 22:52 UTC
Helping teens through the tough times
Prachaya's classmate is one of many young people who have mental health issues. She works on several projects such as mental health, pregnancy prevention in adolescents and media literacy. Changemaker tells readers about teenage mental health issues and her experiences as an activist. How does the situation of young people's mental health issues compare with a few years ago? In the last three or four years, young people were not aware if they had mental health issues.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2021 22:52 UTC
Cardiac arrest a factor in jab death
Cardiac arrest a factor in jab deathCardiac arrest was determined to be the cause of death of the volunteer rescuer who died after receiving a third shot of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in Ratchaburi, doctors said on Sunday. Experts at the hospital found Prasong's death was caused by the complete blockage of a coronary artery, which led to a cardiac arrest. The hospital's deputy director, Thanaboon Prasarnnam, said Prasong's death was the first reported death following a Covid-19 booster shot in the province. In cases of death after a jab, the payout is limited to 400,000 baht, according to NHSO compensation regulation. Prasong's funeral rites began yesterday, and his cremation is scheduled for Thursday, a source close to the family said.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2021 22:44 UTC
Philippine boxer Pacquiao announces bid for presidency in 2022
Philippine boxer Pacquiao announces bid for presidency in 2022FILE PHOTO: Philippine Senator and boxer Manny Pacquiao speaks during the Congressional confirmation hearing of Environment Secretary Regina Lopez at the Senate in Manila, Philippines May 2, 2017. A faction of the ruling PDP-Laban party nominated Pacquiao on Sunday in a video-streamed national convention. “I’m a fighter and will always be a fighter, inside and outside of the ring,” Pacquiao said at the event. Recently, however, Pacquiao has criticised the administration for alleged corruption and its South China Sea stance, amid a split in the ruling party. “We need progress, we need to win against poverty, we need government to serve our people with integrity, compassion and transparency,” Pacquiao said.
Source:Bangkok Post
September 19, 2021 09:56 UTC