Yamato

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transportation/Indonesia-high-speed-railway-still-beset-by-problems?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20230213123000&seq_num=6&si=44594 Indonesia high-speed railway still beset by problems Safety, profitability and accessibility issues haunt $6bn China-led project Trials of Indonesia's high-speed railway, which can operate at speeds of up to 360 kph, are scheduled to begin at the end of May. © Reuters KOYA JIBIKI, Nikkei staff writerFebruary 11, 2023 12:01 JST JAKARTA -- Indonesia's planned high-speed rail project, an integral part of China's Belt and Road initiative, is raising fresh concerns about its safety, profitability and accessibility. Scheduled to start service in July, a month later than planned, the 142-kilometer-long railway will connect the capital Jakarta with Bandung in West Java province. In mid-December, a maintenance train and locomotive derailed at a construction site near Bandung, killing two Chinese workers and spurring concerns about the safety of high-speed rail in the country. It was the first fatal accident involving the line. A senior Indonesian government official said there was a problem with the locomotive's brake and that human error could also have played a part in the accident. Both Jakarta and Beijing said that the accident poses no threat to the safety of high-speed rail in Indonesia. Both governments stressed that the accident was caused by the maintenance vehicle and that the locomotive imported from China escaped major damage. Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) -- the consortium running the project, which is funded by state-owned railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) and other organizations -- resumed construction before findings of the government investigation into the accident were released. The president of KAI told reporters on Jan. 28 that the railway's opening will be postponed until July. Some have voiced doubts that the line will open in July. Construction work is only 84% complete with some railway track still not laid, according to KAI. Trial runs of the high-speed line, which will operate at up to 360 kilometers per hour, are scheduled to start around the end of May. But even if all goes well, meeting the July deadline will be difficult, based on Japanese standards. An executive of a Japanese trading house who has experience in overseas railway projects said that data collected during the trials will be important. Trials must run at maximum speed after which the positions of tracks are adjusted -- sometimes in millimeters. Testing and verifying overseas rail projects backed by Japan takes at least a year, according to a Japanese government official. Billboards at construction sites in Bandung, West Java are often written in Indonesian and Chinese. (Photo by Koya Jibiki) Another concern is profitability. The Indonesian government initially tried to adopt Japan's bullet train for the project, but in 2015 switched to a Chinese proposal that did not involve funding by the Indonesian government. It was decided that 75% of the construction cost would be funded by loans from China Development Bank with the remainder coming from KCIC. Construction began in January 2016 with completion set for 2018. But overly optimistic estimates about acquiring land needed for construction pushed the finish date back. In addition, construction costs have swelled well past the initial estimate of $5.5 billion, forcing the Indonesian government to inject more than 7 trillion rupiah ($462.1 million) into the project. A KCIC official in December told parliament that the consortium has requested the government to extend its operating rights to 80 years from the initial 50. The group plans to eventually transfer all rights to the government but said that it will take more time to recoup investment due to the delays and ballooning costs. KCIC has set the Jakarta-Bandung fare at 250,000 rupiah, saying that the price strikes a fair balance between profitability and usability. The company plans to keep fares for the line only about 20% higher than that of KAI limited express trains to attract riders. Meanwhile, some observers think the project does not align with President Joko Widodo's plan to relocate the nation's capital to East Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo. Others raise the question of the new line's accessibility in Bandung, noting that the terminal is too far from the city center. Passengers will have to board a different train when traveling between the Bandung terminal and the central district -- adding nearly 20 minutes to the 36-minute ride from Jakarta. It still shaves considerable time off existing train service, but the inconvenience may irk some passengers. Despite the problems, the government is rumored to be thinking about converting all existing KAI lines between Jakarta and Bandung into high-speed rail. But some users have already voiced opposition, saying that speed is not the most important aspect of travel between the two cities, as they prefer more leisurely journeys to enjoy the view along the route. The Indonesian government has floated the idea of extending the new railway to the country's second-largest city Surabaya in East Java province. Japan plans to help Indonesia make existing medium-speed trains between Jakarta and Surabaya faster through official development assistance, but some Japanese government officials remain skeptical of the plan. Additional reporting by Bobby Nugroho

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Comment/Deaths-in-Russia-s-top-brass-unnerve-India-and-China?utm_campaign=GL_one_time&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=3&pub_date=20230212093000&seq_num=8&si=44594 Deaths in Russia's top brass unnerve India and China Military inadequacies in Ukraine raise questions for security relationships Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, delivers a New Year address with troops in Rostov-on-Don, not far from the Ukrainian border. (Photo from Kremlin via Tass/Kyodo) NAOYA YOSHINO, Nikkei political editorFebruary 9, 2023 06:58 JST TOKYO -- Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly a full year ago, attacks against military and civilian targets alike have caused numerous deaths, with no end to the fighting in sight. Intelligence analysts, however, have taken interest in one specific part of the death toll: the number of Russian generals killed in the conflict. Generals command hundreds or thousands of soldiers. A larger number of general deaths thus signals a weak military. British media reported in June that over 10 generals had been killed. Japan estimates the total at more than 20, based on intelligence gathered in cooperation with the U.S. and Europe. That tally would be "unbelievably high," said retired Gen. Kiyofumi Iwata, former chief of staff of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force. The U.S., for example, has seen almost no combat deaths of officers at that high a rank. A popular theory holds that Ukraine was able to target these commanders by tracking cellphone signals -- a communication method that Russian troops were forced to use due to struggles on the electronic warfare front. Moscow has since banned use of the devices. Iwata attributes the unusually high number of generals killed to the Ukrainian military's cyber warfare superiority enabling Kyiv to learn their locations, as well as Russia's tactic of sending generals into the field. "The death of a general weakens troop morale," he said. A senior Japanese intelligence official raised another possibility. "There may be informants in the two eastern regions giving information to Ukraine," the official said, referring to Donetsk and Luhansk, much of which are controlled by Russia. Such intelligence can be invaluable. In interviews, officials said a lack of inside sources was among the main reasons why it took the U.S. 10 years to find and kill Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, in Pakistan. Recruitment of local informants depends on a variety of factors, including systems of government, religion and ethnicity. It should come as no surprise if the regions of Ukraine invaded by Russia have sources furnishing Kyiv with intelligence. A destroyed Russian tank sits outside a monastery in the town of Sviatohirsk in eastern Ukraine. (Getty/Kyodo) Another point made clear over the past year is the inferiority of the Russian military's weaponry -- something that may well be worrying India, which gets half its weapons from Russia. Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval met with American counterpart Jake Sullivan at the White House on Jan. 31 to discuss topics including broader cooperation on military technology, along with joint development and production. New Delhi has relied on weapons from Moscow since the Soviet era, while the U.S. has provided military aid to Pakistan, with which India has been locked in a border conflict over the Kashmir region. Over 20% of Russia's weapon exports go to India. India has not participated in the Western-led economic sanctions campaign against Russia. Military support gives the U.S. a bargaining chip to help pull New Delhi closer to its orbit. Washington also hopes to draw India closer as a core member of the Quad security grouping -- which also includes Japan and Australia -- aimed at deterring China in the Indo-Pacific. The military inadequacies shown by the deaths of Russian generals may be rattling Beijing as well. "China appears to have quietly begun providing military support to Russia," the Japanese intelligence official said.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Datawatch/Diabetes-ravages-emerging-nations-in-Asia-Africa?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20230213123000&seq_num=12&si=44594 Diabetes patients in Asia and Africa are projected to total 560 million by 2045 as affluence and urbanization lead to changes in Diabetes ravages emerging nations in Asia, Africa Number of patients projected to jump 50% by 2045 as dietary habits change RYOSUKE HANADA and KOSUKE INOUE, Nikkei staff writersFebruary 11, 2023 16:10 JST MUMBAI/BANGKOK -- The number of diabetes patients is surging in Asia and Africa as more people become obese due to COVID-related curbs on outdoor activities and their dietary habits change amid economic growth. In Pakistan, there were 5.2 times more diabetes patients in 2021 than a decade earlier. Of the population from ages 20 to 79, 30% have developed diabetes. "Earlier in Pakistan, diabetes would affect people of 40 years of age, but gradually [came to affect those] in 30s, then 20s, and now we can find in teenagers type two of diabetes," said Matiullah Khan, an endocrinologist at the Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as heart disease, strokes and blindness. "There is widespread lack of education and awareness among general masses in Pakistan about diabetes. People [tend] to take it less serious as compared to heart ailments," said an official at the nonprofit Diabetes Center in Islamabad. "At government level, there is no education and awareness policy to tackle soaring number of diabetic patients in Pakistan." Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body cannot use the hormone well. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the insulin-producing cells fail to work, while Type 2 diabetes results when the body cannot keep blood sugar at normal levels due to obesity or a lack of physical activity. Type 2 accounts for 90% of the world's diabetes patients. Diabetes by itself is the ninth-leading cause of death globally, according to the World Health Organization. But if sugar in the bloodstream remains high, it can damage blood vessels, increasing the risk of developing such complications as ischemic heart disease, the leading cause of death. Treating diabetes is expensive because it requires regular medications, and some patients also find it difficult to make the lifestyle changes needed for treatment. People in emerging nations are particularly vulnerable to diabetes. The total number of diabetes patients in Asia and Africa is forecast to reach 560 million by 2045, up 50% from 2021, according to the International Diabetes Federation. The number is projected to rise 70% to 220 million in South Asia, while sub-Saharan Africa is expected to see a 2.3-fold jump to 55 million. In contrast, increases in Europe and North America are expected to be slight at 1.1 to 1.2 times. The number of patients suffering from Type 2 diabetes is growing in emerging countries as their diets improve with economic development. Daily calorie intake per capita rose 43% in Vietnam and 39% in Ethiopia over the 20 years through 2018, compared to a global average of 8%. The number of diabetes patients rose 130% in Vietnam and 40% in Ethiopia in the decade through 2021. Traditional staple foods in Asia and Africa are low in calories and fat, but foods high in both categories have become available with the globalization of Western diets. As the number of fast-food restaurants increases in urban areas, people have more opportunities to eat foods rich in carbohydrates and fat, leading to an increase in obesity and diabetes. Half of Pakistan's adult population is now considered obese, according to one study. The spread of the novel coronavirus made the situation worse as various restrictions were imposed on people's daily activities. The global average of steps that a person walked daily was 4,997 from May to November in 2021, down 10% from the pre-pandemic level, according to a study by Geoffrey H. Tison, a cardiologist and assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco and other researchers who analyzed data from the Azumio Argus smartphone app. In Asia, the number fell 30%. "Even North America and Europe, which were among the first countries to lift restrictions relevant to COVID-19, have not [seen the level of exercise] recovered to pre-COVID-19 level," Tison said. Unless people engage in more physical activity, the number of diabetes patients will likely increase and the condition of existing patients will worsen. Along with exercise, dietary control is the key to preventing diabetes or staying healthy after the onset of the disease. Some emerging countries have adopted measures to discourage the excessive drinking of sweetened beverages. Thailand plans to raise its sugar tax by 1.6 to 3.3 times, depending on the level of sugar in beverages, effective as of April. South Africa is also considering raising its sugar tax. Still, education can make people aware of the importance of daily diet. "Government should do campaign to [tell] people, as well as children in the school, about how [important] diets are for their healthy life," said Ruchirek Thamcharoen, an endocrinologist at the Royal Thai Navy's Somdejphranangchaosirikit Hospital.

One of the mornings this week I had to leave home very early for a long drive to Rayong for work. I had to make a quick stop at a nearby 7Eleven for drinking water. Coming out of the store I saw people buying breakfast from street hawkers so I decided to take a video to show a typical morning scene at a 7Eleven store in Thailand. For breakfast I stopped at the highway rest point along the highway between Bangkok and Pattaya I had breakfast at Starbucks Breakfast

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Tesla-earns-5-times-more-per-car-than-Toyota-earnings-show?utm_campaign=GL_JP_update&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=4&pub_date=20230210085958&seq_num=6&si=44594 Tesla earns 5 times more per car than Toyota, earnings show EV maker catching up to Japan's top automaker in net profit Tesla electric vehicles at a sales and service center in California. The U.S. EV maker has a limited lineup of just four high-end models. © Reuters KEI MIYATA and YUKI FUKUMOTO, Nikkei staff writersFebruary 10, 2023 05:20 JST NAGOYA, Japan -- Toyota Motor earned less than a fifth in per-vehicle earnings compared with Tesla during the April-December period as Japan's giant automaker struggles to absorb rising costs. Toyota earned 240,000 yen ($1,820) in net profit per unit during that time span last year. In contrast, Tesla raked in the equivalent of 1.26 million yen per vehicle during the same period. This discrepancy shows the limits of Toyota's "multi-solution" strategy that puts out gasoline vehicles alongside fuel cell and electric vehicles. The wide-ranging approach has exposed Toyota to a costlier business environment while Tesla has remained more insulated by its EV-focused lineup. During the nine months ended December 2022, Toyota's raw material costs increased 1.1 trillion yen compared with a year earlier. Toyota expects 210 billion yen in groupwide cost savings for the financial year ending March, but that number falls well short of offsetting the extra costs. The trend is particularly conspicuous in Toyota's North American operations, where it is normally easier to pass on higher costs to sticker prices compared with Japan. In the three quarters through December, Toyota earned 49.2 billion yen in operating profit in North America, a decline of roughly 450 billion yen from the year-earlier period. The company suffered an operating loss in that region during the October-December quarter. "The price hikes on vehicles haven't kept up" with increased material costs, said a manager. In Japan, an executive at a parts supplier in Aichi prefecture that works with Toyota expressed a sense of relief despite facing rising fuel expenses. "It looks like Toyota will pay for 70%-80% of it," said the executive. Toyota has been partly covering energy bills and material costs for suppliers since summer last year. The parts supplier in Aichi has successfully negotiated a deal with Toyota in which the automaker will shoulder most of the extra fuel costs. "There's no other automaker that takes care of electricity and gas bills like Toyota," said a senior manager at another parts supplier. A Toyota dealership in Michigan. Toyota Motor's North American operation has been unable to cover cost increases through price hikes. © Reuters Globally, Toyota does business with roughly 400 first-tier suppliers alone. Covering fuel and material outlays for that number of suppliers is a highly cost intensive endeavor. Toyota looks to maintain its supply chain so that it can realize cost savings jointly with suppliers, though much of the scale comes from the fact that Toyota, the world's top-selling automaker, has adopted a strategy that spans roughly 50 models from gasoline vehicles to EVs. Because of that full-lineup business model, the higher costs have started to weigh on Toyota. The company's per-vehicle profit in April-December is down by 56,000 yen from a year earlier, while Tesla is up by the equivalent of 500,000 yen. Unlike Toyota's wide-ranging lineup, Tesla fields just four high-end models. Since 2021, Tesla has significantly expanded its production and sales volume, which improved the company's earning capacity. For the three quarters through December, Tesla earned the equivalent of 1.26 trillion yen in net profit, which is closing in on the 1.9 trillion yen Toyota generated during the same period. BYD, the Chinese maker of mass-market EVs, is earning between 190,000 yen to 200,000 yen per vehicle and is gaining on Toyota. Last year, BYD sold 1.86 million electrics, including plug-in hybrids, a volume that is up by a factor of 3.1. This momentum comes courtesy of BYD's vertical integration. The company manufactures automotive batteries in-house and controls a subsidiary that makes semiconductors. BYD is quickly expanding operations worldwide, the latest move being the launch of EV sales in Japan this January. Along with Tesla, BYD is steadily making a name for itself through its strong earning capacity. For Toyota to stage a comeback against the rivals, the company faces the immediate challenge of boosting production volume. Toyota plans to sell up to 10.6 million units this calendar year under the Toyota and Lexus brands. If Toyota achieves its production goals, it would be able to use its economy of scale to bring costs down while not missing out on sale opportunities. Raising prices on vehicles would likely become easier under this scenario. However, ramping up production is easier said than done. Toyota on Thursday said it plans to only make 9.1 million units this fiscal year, a downgrade of 100,000 units due to a semiconductor shortage. Toyota looks to respond by minimizing the number of semiconductors used per vehicle. For example, if each Lexus vehicle comes with just one keyless fob instead of two, that would free Toyota to manufacture roughly 100,000 extra vehicles. In addition, Toyota group company Aisin is redesigning transmissions and other components it produces. Aisin is adopting designs that can accommodate off-the-shelf semiconductors. This spring, Lexus will add the fully electric RZ to its lineup. Koji Sato, Toyota's incoming president, oversaw the development of the model. Toyota plans to expand its EV lineup, an approach that had been delayed by the company's multi-solution strategy.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Travel-Leisure/Thai-Airways-on-track-to-exit-rehabilitation-early-CEO?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20230210123000&seq_num=12&si=44594 Thai Airways on track to exit rehabilitation early: CEO Carrier eyes increased service to China and Japan as travel recovers Thai Airways plans to launch new flights to five Chinese cities this year, including Beijing and Shanghai. © Reuters YOHEI MURAMATSU, Nikkei staff writerFebruary 10, 2023 03:50 JST BANGKOK -- Thai Airways is expected to conclude a restructuring plan ahead of schedule, new CEO Chai Eamsiri told reporters Thursday, as a worldwide relaxation of pandemic restrictions spurs travel demand. The Thai flag carrier filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 amid headwinds from COVID-19. In plans announced last year, it aims to complete restructuring in 2024 through a debt-for-equity swap, and is looking to resume trading on the stock market in 2025. The restructuring plan is 70% complete, said Chai, who took the top post effective Feb. 1. Thai Airways will officially announce its 2022 results by the end of the month. Revenue increased nearly fourfold last year to about 90 billion baht ($2.69 billion), Chai said. The carrier predicts another 40% increase in 2023, which would bring revenue to about 70% of the pre-pandemic figure from 2019. It also aims to expand its fleet to 58 aircraft from the current 49. Chai said he wanted to expand service to China, Japan and Europe. Thai Airways plans to launch new flights to five Chinese cities this year, including Beijing and Shanghai. In Japan, Chai is more focused on increasing the frequency on existing routes than establishing new ones. He is considering more flights to and from the Haneda and Narita airports serving Tokyo, as well as Kansai International Airport serving Osaka. Overall, Thai Airways expects to resume 65% of pre-COVID routes this year and 85% in 2025. Chai is Thai Airways' first permanent CEO since Sumeth Damrongchaitham stepped down in April 2020. He served as chief financial officer until taking the top post.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Finance/Thai-pandemic-borrowing-binge-prompts-calls-for-repayment-delays?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20230208190000&seq_num=15&si=44594 Thai pandemic borrowing binge prompts calls for repayment delays Household debt emerges as campaign issue with general election looming As Thailand draws closer to general elections, the second largest party in the ruling coalition is promising stressed-out households a three-year debt holiday. © Getty Images FRANCESCA REGALADO, Nikkei staff writerFebruary 8, 2023 13:35 JST BANGKOK -- The surge in Thai consumer borrowing during the pandemic has become a campaign issue in the Southeast Asian country, with populist politicians pushing for a multi-year debt holiday. Thai households owe more as a percentage of gross domestic product than any other country in the region, according to the latest Bank of Thailand figures, reflecting a jump in borrowing that occurred as COVID dealt a blow to an economy that relies heavily on tourist revenues. Thai consumer debt stood last September at 14.9 trillion baht, or 86.8% of GDP, up from 70% in early 2020. Between 2019 and 2020, consumer loan delinquencies of up to 90 days tripled to more than 1 trillion baht -- and have stayed above that level ever since, the central bank says. "COVID has turned people with good discipline into ones with severe debt in just two years," Surapol Opasatien, chief executive of the National Credit Bureau, which tracks millions of debtors for the country's banks, told reporters in December. Government forbearance programs have helped cushion the blow for borrowers. But many of these efforts are due to expire in the next few months, and with general elections looming, some Thai politicians are calling for further repayment delays. The second-largest party in the governing coalition, the Bhumjaithai Party, has proposed a three-year consumer-debt holiday financed by the issuance of new government bonds. "COVID has put us through tough times for three years. So, whoever has lawful debt, Bhumjaithai will give you a debt holiday of up to 1 million baht for three years," said Anutin Charnvirakul, the party's leader and Thailand's health minister. Chartthaipattanakla, a party led by a former finance minister, has called for replacing the National Credit Bureau's debtor list with a formal credit scoring system. The Bank of Thailand and commercial banks have opposed the proposal, arguing it would undermine the credibility of the Thai banking system and make it harder to make loans. The debt burden on individuals factored into the central bank's hesitance last year to raise interest rates in line with the U.S. Federal Reserve and neighboring countries. The bank finally bowed to inflation in August, and the policy rate now stands at 1.5% after four rate hikes. The policy change will increase the burdens on borrowers of limited means who have taken on floating-rate loans, said Thitima Chucherd, head of economic and financial market research at SCB Economic Intelligence Center. "Although the impact of interest rate hikes may be limited to some certain types of debt, a higher debt burden could make those low-income households become more vulnerable." Since 2017, the central bank has been working with lenders to restructure consumer debts of up to 2 million baht. More than 30,000 debtors with a combined 6.85 billion baht in principal were in the program as of August. One of those participants, Mam, a single mother in northern Thailand, said she found herself struggling with debt since she shut down her part-time flea-market business four years ago after having a child. She owed money on her business credit card, a personal loan from her employer on another job and on loans for two cars, both of which were eventually seized. Last year, she applied to the Bank of Thailand's debt mediation program. The clinic took on 60% of her 163,000 baht credit-card debt and reduced her monthly payment to 750 baht. "I used to feel that I had nowhere to turn, but I decided to participate in the debt clinic," Mam said. Monitoring Thailand's consumer debt burden is tricky for the central bank because the commercial banks it oversees only account for 43% of household loans. The rest are made by other kinds of financial companies, such as specialized lenders and savings cooperatives. The impact on banks depends on their customer mix. Profits at Bangkok Bank, the largest Thai bank by assets, rose 10.6% last year, reflecting strong returns from corporate customers. By contrast, Thailand's second-largest bank, Kasikornbank, which lends mainly to consumers and smaller businesses, reported a 6% fall in profits in 2022 as provisions for bad loans increased 28.73% to 51.9 billion baht.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/09/asia/japan-zoo-gibbon-pregnancy-mystery-intl-hnk/index.html A gibbon who lived alone in her cage had a baby. Japanese zookeepers finally know how By Xiaofei Xu, Philip Wang and Junko Ogura, CNN Updated 2:36 AM EST, Fri February 10, 2023 CNN — Japanese zookeepers believe they have solved the mystery of how a gibbon became pregnant despite living alone in her cage. Momo, a 12-year-old white-handed gibbon, shocked her keepers at the Kujukushima Zoo and Botanical Garden in Nagasaki in February 2021 when she gave birth despite having no male companionship. Now two years later, following a DNA test on her baby, the zoo has worked out who the father is – and even has a theory about how the gibbons mated. The test showed the father to be Itō, a 34-year-old agile gibbon, who was in an adjacent enclosure to Momo around the time she became pregnant. The zoo told CNN on Friday it believed that Momo and Itō had managed to mate through a small hole in a steel plate between their enclosures. The hole measured about 9 millimeters (0.3 inch) in diameter. Momo the gibbon and her baby at the Kujukushima Zoo. The baby ape – who is yet to be named – now weighs around 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) and is “growing healthily” under Momo’s loving attention, the zoo said. “It is a precious life born into the world, we will continue to take good care of him and hope that he will live a healthy long life,” said Hideki Hisano, deputy director of the zoo. Gibbons are among the smallest apes, but they have loud singing voices that have developed into an elaborate language, and can swing from branch to branch at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. There are dozens of gibbon species that are native to parts of Asia, ranging from northeastern India to China and all the way to the Borneo archipelago. The population of agile gibbons in the wild has been decreasing and they have been listed as an endangered species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature, because their habitat is threatened by human activities such as deforestation, mining and road construction.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Thailand-scrambles-to-control-cannabis-sales-and-curb-abuse?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20230207123000&seq_num=9&si=44594 Thailand scrambles to control cannabis sales and curb abuse Buyers must show ID under new measures following decriminalization A customer holds a piece of cannabis at a dispensary in Bangkok following its legalization last year. © Reuters KOSUKE INOUE, Nikkei staff writerFebruary 7, 2023 05:54 JST BANGKOK -- Thailand is tightening the country's marijuana regulations, issuing new guidance and measures intended to curb a rapid rise in recreational use of the drug since its decriminalization last year. The topic is likely to be a major issue in general elections scheduled to happen by May. The government said last month that showing identification will be required when buying cannabis flower buds, which are rich in hallucinogenic compounds. Bangkok aims to incorporate buyer information into a national database to track and analyze cannabis sales and purchases. Businesses that fail to comply risk having their sales license revoked. Authorities also have intensified surveillance of dealers, arresting more than 30 people by January in places like Bangkok and the resort city of Pattaya for selling without a license, local media report. Efforts to prevent abuse by foreign tourists also have been strengthened. The Public Health Ministry last month released 10 guidelines for travelers on using marijuana in Thailand, including conditions for purchasing and growing. The guidelines also warn that people who smoke marijuana in a public place can be jailed for up to three months or fined 25,000 baht ($740). In June, Thailand struck medical marijuana from a list of narcotics banned for use or distribution and made cannabis legal for medical and culinary uses. Recreation is not included in the permitted uses, but the country's laws have been unable to handle the spread in its use. Weed dispensaries are not allowed to display signage advertising their wares, said Anutin Charnvirakul, the public health minister who pushed for the decriminalization. Despite that declaration, several shops continue to display signs featuring cannabis leaves. Some sellers in Bangkok give purchasers information on nearby smoking areas. The average monthly number of cases involving impaired consciousness and other issues due to marijuana use has quadrupled since the legalization, the health ministry said. The regulation of marijuana is stoking tensions within Thailand's ruling coalition. The Bhumjaithai Party advocated for decriminalization, but a bill to tighten control of the drug's use failed to pass in September after opposition from a coalition member, the Democrat Party, which said it had too many loopholes. Relations are fraying between the two parties with the elections on the horizon.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Science/Southeast-Asia-warned-of-insecticide-resistant-dengue-mosquitoes?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20230207123000&seq_num=24&si=44594 Southeast Asia warned of insecticide-resistant dengue mosquitoes Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases finds new genetic mutation Aedes aegypti mosquitos are known as a vector of the Zika virus, as well as yellow fever and dengue fever. (Photo courtesy of Shinji Kasai) NORIAKI KOSHIKAWA, Nikkei staff writerFebruary 5, 2023 09:30 JST TOKYO -- A team of researchers led by Shinji Kasai, director of the Department of Medical Entomology at Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases, has warned about an increasing number of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes in Southeast Asia. The warning comes after the team found a new genetic mutation that makes Aedes aegypti mosquitoes -- also known as yellow fever or dengue mosquitoes -- more resistant to common insecticides. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are known as a vector of the Zika virus, as well as yellow fever and dengue fever. More than 80% of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Vietnam and Cambodia were found to have this genetic mutation, necessitating review of mosquito control methods and increased caution about a proliferation of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes. The team led by Kasai collected mosquitoes in Vietnam and elsewhere and examined how they were resistant to commonly used "pyrethroid" insecticides. The study showed that even when the concentration of insecticides was raised to 10 times the level that can kill ordinary mosquitoes, about 80% of mosquitoes collected in Hanoi survived. Kasai's team identified a new genetic mutation called L982W, which makes mosquitoes more resistant to common insecticides. Between 78% and 99% of mosquitoes in three cities -- Hanoi in the north of Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in the south, as well as the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh across the border -- had this genetic mutation. Including L982W, four genetic mutations have so far been found to show resistance to insecticides. The percentage of mosquitoes with two of the four genetic mutations reached 91% in Phnom Penh, showing how resistance is strengthening there. According to Kasai's team, there is a possibility that insecticide-resistant mosquitoes spread from Cambodia to neighboring Vietnam. Although no mosquitoes with the L982W genetic mutation were found in Laos, Thailand and China, the mosquitoes might be gradually spreading across Indochina and to other regions in Asia. Even in Japan, there are concerns about Aedes aegypti mosquitoes taking hold, as regions in the country where they can survive winter are expanding due to warming temperatures. Kasai stressed the need to closely examine how insecticide-resistant mosquitoes are spreading across Indochina and how to reduce the use of pyrethroid insecticides, or use them with other mosquito control methods.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Travel-Leisure/Thai-tourism-struggles-to-find-workers-as-visitor-numbers-swell?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20230206190000&seq_num=18&si=44594 Thai tourism struggles to find workers as visitor numbers swell Labor shortage creates headwind in sector that once comprised 18% of GDP Since Thailand fully reopened for tourism in July 2022, the country has welcomed more than 11 million foreign visitors. © Reuters APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writerFebruary 6, 2023 12:00 JST BANGKOK -- Thailand's tourism industry is struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the sector now facing a labor shortage that could hinder a quick bounce back. Since the government reopened the country in July 2022, Thailand has welcomed more than 11 millionforeign tourists, well above the target of 10 million forecast by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). However, it is still unclear whether the surge in arrivals will be able to effect a quick turnaround in the industry, which once accounted for about 18% of Thailand's gross domestic product due to a shortage of workers. Data from the Labor Ministry shows that the frequently visited southern beach town of Phuket is facing the most serious labor crunch. The tourism sector there needs to fill more than 17,000 positions, while the northern city of Chiangmai is about 9,000 workers short. Chonburi, just south of the capital Bangkok, is still trying to fill about 3,000 jobs. "It's getting worse as more tourists come, and we don't have a large enough workforce to serve them," said Krisda Tansakul, adviser to the Thai Hotel Association. "We badly need more workers, from bellboys and cashiers to hotel managers." TAT expected the number of foreign tourists to reach 25 million in 2023. However, the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) -- a grouping of hotel operators and other related businesses -- was more optimistic, expecting up to 30 million foreign tourists this year, with total tourism revenue hitting three trillion baht ($91 billion). "If this problem drags on, we may not be able to meet the demands of those 25 to 30 million tourists coming into Thailand," said TCT President Chamnan Srisawat in comments to Nikkei Asia. "This means we would miss tourism-based revenue targets." But even if the industry finds enough workers, profits could be smaller than expected due to rising costs. "Hotels need to pay higher electricity bills and find more manpower, resulting in higher labor costs. Even our bus drivers need to pay higher fuel prices," Ekkasit Ngamphichet, president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, told Nikkei. "[Both] are unlikely to profit much." The COVID pandemic adversely affected around 3.9 million employees in the tourism sector, according to a study by the National Institute of Development Administration. © Reuters Thai tourism peaked in 2019, when the country welcomed nearly 40 million foreign tourists. Then COVID struck, plunging the number of foreign tourists to 6.7 million in 2020, which dwindled to 427,869 in 2021. Since then, the number has jumped to 11 million as of the second half of 2022 after the country reopened. But the steep drop-off in tourism hammered some 3.9 million workers in the sector, according to a study by the National Institute of Development Administration. Data from the Labor Ministry indicates that around 7.7 million workers were in the tourism industry before the pandemic. Around 60% of people laid off returned to hometowns to work in the agriculture sector. Another 20% looked for new jobs in other industries while the remaining 20% started their own business. "Those who found new jobs with higher incomes -- and particularly those who started their own business -- are feeling much safer after having moved on, and will most likely not go back to previous [tourism-related] jobs," said Vacharee Prashyanusorn, TCT president of Nakhonratchasima province. Vacharee, who operates a hotel in Khao Yai, 130 kilometers northeast of Bangkok, said hotel operators were suffering the most, as they need to quickly staff positions to meet expected demand from millions of Chinese tourists after Beijing recently reopened borders. "Big hotel chains are fleshing out their workforces by offering larger salaries, but small and midsized hotels still have liquidity issues, making it harder for them to spend on attracting new employees," said Chamnan of TCT. To capitalize on the resurgence in Thai tourism, Chamnan said the TCT is working with educational institutions nationwide to find workers willing to fill open positions. The TCT is bringing in trainees from schools devoted to tourism and hotel management from several universities. "It is a win-win measure because the trainees will get the jobs they are studying for, while operators can finally get the workforce at the right time," said Chamnan. Moreover, the TCT has also received support from the Government Savings Bank, which offered a 5-billion baht loan for small and midsized hotels to help tackle liquidity problems. "With this kind of help, we expect the tourism industry to get back to pre-COVID levels by the end of the year," Chamnan said.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Toyota-targets-the-rich-with-new-Century-Lexus-models-in-Japan?del_type=4&pub_date=20230204090000&seq_num=3 Toyota targets the rich with new Century, Lexus models in Japan Automaker hopes to take on luxury heavyweights like Rolls-Royce and Bentley An SUV version of Toyota's Century luxury car will go on sale later this year. (Photo courtesy of Toyota) KAZUHIRO NOGUCHI, Nikkei staff writerFebruary 4, 2023 06:01 JST NAGOYA, Japan -- Toyota Motor plans to flesh out its lineup of large ultraluxury vehicles in Japan, in a bid to capture a downturn-resilient market and upgrade its brand image. The company plans to release an SUV version of the Century luxury model focused on the Japanese market, as well as a minivan under the Lexus brand that has sold well in China. Both are likely to be priced in the mid-10 million yen range to over 20 million yen (10 million yen equals $76,300). The Century SUV, which will be positioned above Toyota's current top-of-the-line SUV -- Land Cruiser -- will be launched in August or later. It is expected to be a hybrid vehicle based on the midsized Highlander series sold in North America. Production will be handled at the company's Tahara Plant in Aichi prefecture where Lexus vehicles are manufactured. The Century, launched in 1967, has been popular as a chauffeured car for Japan's imperial family, politicians and business owners. The price of the current Century, which was completely redesigned in 2018, is about 20 million yen. The new Century SUV is expected to be in at least the mid-10 million yen range. Toyota is likely to aim for sales to wealthy people overseas and for use as official vehicles. Lexus' first minivan, dubbed the LM, is likely to go on sale in Japan in the latter half of the fiscal year. The hybrid vehicle has been sold in China since 2020, where it is priced at about 1.16 million yuan to 1.46 million yuan ($171,000 to $215,000). The Lexus LM carries a price tag of over $170,000 in China. (Photo courtesy of Toyota) The LM is so popular in China that has sold for more on the used car market than its base price. Production of the LM will be transferred from subsidiary Toyota Auto Body's Inabe Plant in Mie prefecture to Toyota's Tahara Plant, as the company seems to want to refine product quality by relying on a plant that regularly handles Lexus. Behind Toyota's ultraluxury push is a desire to capture some of the global market dominated by British companies such as Rolls-Royce and Bentley, as well as to boost brand power. In the past, Toyota sold a limited run of the Lexus LFA sports car for 37.5 million yen, but the Century is currently its highest-grade offering among mass-produced cars for the Japanese market. Despite concerns about a global economic slowdown, appetite for luxury brands among the wealthy is strong, as evidenced by the recent earnings of French luxury brand LVMH. Rolls-Royce, which mainly sells cars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, sold a record 6,021 units in 2022, up 8% from 2021. A Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV is priced at over $300,000. Downturn proof: Rolls-Royce sold a record 6,021 units in 2022. (Photo by Soma Kawakami) Bentley sold 11,000 vehicles in the January-September period. Its operating profit during those nine months was 575 million euros ($621 million at current rates), exceeding in just nine months the record profit of 389 million euros for the full year of 2021. The automaker's operating profit margin was 23%, and sales per unit was about 30 million yen. Operating profit per unit was just under 7 million yen, more than 30 times Toyota's figure of 200,000 yen during the same period. Although Toyota has a full lineup that includes everything from minivehicles to luxury cars, it believes it still has room to expand at the high end. As the cost of raw materials and wages go up, increasing gross profit per unit is likely to be an important strategy.

Moon tonight - Last day of Chinese New Year

Monday felt like having mutton curry so went to the supermarket bought 1.5kg of lamb to cook I ate with roti prata

Just for comparison and general knowledge, over here in Thailand BYD and Tesla just launched recently. BYD Atto 3 (top model with 480km range) is selling for 1.2 mil baht (S$47.8k) Tesla Model Y has 3 models prices - 1.96 mil, 2.26 mil and 2.51 mil baht (S$78.1k ; S$90k ; S$100k)

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/China-s-BYD-starts-EV-sales-in-Japan-as-it-chases-Tesla?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20230131190000&seq_num=9&si=44594 China's BYD starts EV sales in Japan as it chases Tesla Elon Musk's company has global lead but affordable option has entered the race BYD, which has made a big name for itself in China, intends to catch up with Tesla in global electric vehicle sales. (Source photos courtesy of BYD and Getty Images) SAYUMI TAKE, Nikkei staff writerJanuary 31, 2023 18:15 JST YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Chinese automaker BYD began selling electric vehicles in Japan on Tuesday as it pursues its global ambitions to overtake more established nameplates. BYD's debut in the world's fourth largest auto market comes with it having secured its place as China's top EV seller and nipping at the heels of American EV giant Tesla in global EV sales. BYD also sells electric vehicles in Australia and Thailand, and has production plants in South America. "We're very excited to be bringing our cars to Japanese customers," said Atsuki Tofukuji, president of BYD Auto Japan, a marketing subsidiary. Tofukuji talked to reporters at BYD's first Japanese sales location, due to open on Thursday in Yokohama, the big port city south of Tokyo. While the Chinese automaker is gaining fame as an EV battery seller, its car sales remain largely dependent on domestic demand. This puts it considerably behind Elon Musk's top-running Tesla, which has penetrated many more global markets. BYD has been eager to close the gap and recently began exporting to India, home to a fledgling EV market, and to Thailand, where it plans its first ASEAN production hub. The Atto 3, which went on sale on Jan. 31 in Japan, has already attracted a "fair amount" of test-drive reservations from prospective buyers. (Photo by Sayumi Take) BYD is entering Japan with a key strength against Tesla, affordability, backed by its roots as a battery maker. The company's flagship Atto 3 midsize SUV, which today went on sale in Japan, goes for 4.4 million yen ($33,800), cheaper than Tesla and Nissan EVs. Government EV subsidies, if they continue, will lower the price. Deliveries are to begin around March. The Yokohama store is also "a good way to present new brands to Japanese customers" as they can actually familiarize themselves with EVs and consult professional dealers about purchases on the spot, Tofukuji said. It is the first of over 20 showrooms that BYD plans to establish across Japan this year. The company aspires to have over 100 dealerships in the country by the end of 2025. This contrasts with Tesla, which largely relies on internet sales. BYD's showroom in Yokohama only has the Atto 3 on display but later this year will exhibit two additional models. Visitors can also take the SUV out for test drives, and the store is already receiving a "fair amount" of reservations. Each BYD dealer in Japan will be equipped with 50-kilowatt quick chargers that can juice up the Atto 3 in about 60 minutes. Japan's EV market has been expanding, though notably slower than other countries. Domestic EV sales in 2022 came to about 59,000 units, a record and almost triple the previous year's total, according to industry groups. They accounted for 1.7% of Japan's passenger car market, surpassing 1% for the first time. But most of the growth is due to vehicles that fall into the kei car category. These microcars are considered to be easy to drive around crowded cities and require relatively low maintenance. And since they need little power, their makers have been able to more easily transition to electric drivetrains. The rest of the industry faces a relatively large obstacle: Many chargers in the country operate on such low power that it takes hours to sufficiently juice up a regular EV. BYD's strategy is to "introduce products that fit each country's charging environment," Tofukuji said, "unlike Tesla, which distributes chargers exclusive to its models." Despite Japan's slowly developing EV market, BYD faces a raft of competitors. Foreign luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz, Tesla and Audi are eager to take big shares of the young market. And although Japan's storied auto industry is filled with EV laggards, those dawdlers are moving to catch up. Toyota recently named a new president and CEO, tasking the relatively young executive with adapting to today's industry trends. "The Japanese EV market overall is getting bigger, and this is a good time to be entering [the competition]," Tofukuji said. "We hope to provide a rich EV life along with the development of Japan's EV environment."

This is crazy. Unbelievable. It’s almost February and tomorrow morning expect to be 17 degC 😂

Night landing in Bangkok, beautiful

Taking off Changi Airport for Bangkok Fish curry with rice meal Fish was really good Salad Cheeses Dessert

Finally it was time to go home. At Changi Airport SQ lounge Very nice nasi lemak and laksa

On my last day in Singapore I had roast duck for lunch at a coffeeshop stall Tha stall Beautiful roasts My $15.50 lunch Delicious roasts Big wantons

Dinner on second day of Chinese New Year Clams so fresh Crab fried rice Steamed crab with glass noodles Goby steamed in green Thai sauce Meat is so smooth and fresh Tiger

On second day of Chinese New Year I took a chance to have bnreakfast at Redhill market and was surprised to see some good stalls opened This is the popular vegetarian beehoon in Redhill who happened to have the same name as the one in Tanglin Halt (now in Margaret Drive) I'll say its so-so only This fishball noodle is much better

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Food-Beverage/Underwater-aging-adds-deep-taste-to-Japanese-sake?utm_campaign=GL_asia_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=NA_newsletter&utm_content=article_link&del_type=1&pub_date=20230126120000&seq_num=24&si=44594 Underwater aging adds deep taste to Japanese sake Drinkers gulp up sake matured in the ocean in search of luxury, uniqueness Shiraki Brewery's underwater-aged Daruma Masamune is kept submerged long enough for shellfish to attach themselves to the bottles. (Photo courtesy of Shiraki Brewery) HAYATO SAWA, Nikkei staff writerJanuary 22, 2023 14:30 JST TOKYO -- Sake aged underwater is drawing the attention of drinkers, with fans saying the waves and stable temperatures of the ocean environment give the brews a unique flavor compared with those aged aboveground. Despite a steady decline in Japan's overall sake consumption, those made with unique aging methods sell well. Sake matured beneath the waves, for one, is a popular gift that offers a sense of luxury and rarity. Last month, Forbul, a Tokyo-based sake maker, began selling a product aged for about two years called Takanome: Underwater Aging. The brewer submerges its bottled Takanome premium sake 15 meters underwater off the coast of Minami Izu, in Shizuoka prefecture southwest of Tokyo for six months. It then ages it in a warehouse at -5 C for another 18 months. It is said that sake matures more quickly and tastes milder than conventional brews. Among the various theories for why this is so, the most plausible is that certain vibration frequencies occur due to the wave action, affecting the chemical composition of the sake. There is also less variation in temperature when sake is aged underwater versus aboveground. The submarine environment also provides "natural storage," and an ideal place for the maturation process, as seawater temperatures are lower in winter and the currents stronger than in other seasons. Forbul sells only 300 bottles of underwater-aged sake, which have five different flavor profiles. The company says even brews that are aged on the same seabed or for the same amount of time taste different, depending on the waves at the time. A 720 ml bottle ranges in price from 33,000 to 60,000 yen ($257 to $468), including tax and shipping. All five sakes are touted as complementing various foods. Unkai ("Sea of Clouds"), for example, has pineapple hints, with a refreshing acidity and sweetness. It goes well with salty white fish dishes, according to the company. Forbul sinks its Takanome premium sake 15 meters beneath the waves off the coast of Minami Izu, in Shizuoka prefecture, maturing the brew underwater for six months. (Photo courtesy of Forbul) The two products introduced in December have already sold out and the remaining three will go on sale later this month. A 180 ml bottle of Takanome, the same sake minus the undersea aging, will be sold as a package with the aged brew, allowing customers to compare. Takanome, which Forbul introduced in 2019, is known as a rare brew and typically sells out within five minutes after it goes up for sale every Wednesday on the company's website. Seiya Hirano, Forbul's representative director, said the company is a pioneer when it comes to aging, adding that it plans to do research on aging in barrels and other methods. Japan's sake market has been shrinking due the country's declining population and shifting tastes. About 400,000 kiloliters of sake were shipped in 2021 in Japan, less than a fourth of the peak figure in 1973. As it is becoming harder to sell sake in large volumes, breweries across Japan are competing to add value to their products with unique aging methods, such as Forbul's underwater maturation. Shiraki Brewery in the central Japanese city of Gifu, also goes for submarine maturation and has been making such brews since 2013. The brewery ages its bottled Masamune sake 15 to 20 meters underwater in Minami Izu from November until June. Daruma Masamune, the underwater-aged version of the brew, which features bottles naturally encrusted with seashells, goes on sale around July every year. A 720 ml bottle is priced at 8,250 yen. Daruma Masamune is popular with men in their 30s and 40s, with many customers buying it for its unique flavor and the look of the bottle. "Underwater-aged Daruma Masamune sells out every year and many customers continue to buy it," CEO Shigeri Shiraki said, adding that there are also inquiries from Taiwan and elsewhere. "Breweries are making efforts to age sake utilizing the characteristics of each region, such as underwater and in snow rooms," said Yasuyuki Kishi, a professor at Niigata University who specializes in the craft. Such unique twists on the ancient art may be the key to stirring an industry caught in the doldrums.