Business
Thaksin Shinawatra Steps Up, From Afar
Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra (L), Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (C), and former Thai foreign minister Noppadon Pattama pose for photos during the Medal Decoration Ceremony at the Council of Ministers in Phnom Penh
CHIANGRAI TIMES – Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra is taking a more visible role for Thailand and across Asia, stirring renewed tensions between the country’s powerful military and a new government led by the populist tycoon’s sister.
During the run-up to July’s national elections, Mr. Thaksin, 64 years old, repeatedly said he would avoid intervening in political decisions if his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, were elected prime minister. At most, he said, he would help guide Ms. Yingluck—who took office last month—on economic policy.
Political analysts said that was a carefully scripted strategy to tamp down tension between the Shinawatra clan’s populist supporters and Thailand’s powerful armed forces, which ousted Mr. Thaksin in a bloodless coup five years ago and still retain considerable power.
Supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra rallied last week on the fifth anniversary of the coup that toppled him.
Thailand's fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra answers questions during a press conference after a courtesy call to Miyagi governor Yoshihiro Murai at the prefectural office in Sendai
Mr. Thaksin recently has taken heavily publicized trips from his base in Dubai to Japan and Cambodia while his supporters push for a new amnesty law that would enable him to return to Thailand a free man. He has been living overseas to avoid imprisonment on a 2008 corruption conviction.
His sister’s government is now exploring whether it should give him his passport back, arguing that Mr. Thaksin was convicted for political reasons; he currently travels on a passport issued by Montenegro.
Stock investors, meanwhile, are turning against Ms. Yingluck’s plans to raise Thailand’s minimum wage as the local stock market slumps amid a global downturn. The Federation of Thai Capital Market Associations Monday urged the government to defer the wage rises, set for January, that could nearly double the minimum wage in some places to 300 baht, or $9.60, a day.
Last week, Mr. Thaksin summoned cabinet ministers from the ruling Puea Thai, or For Thais, party to a lengthy videoconference, instructing them how to handle severe flooding in Thailand’s rice-growing heartland, among other topics.
Ms. Yingluck, a 44-year-old former business executive, tried to play down Mr. Thaksin’s lecture, saying he was just offering support. Neither Mr. Thaksin nor his legal representatives responded to requests to comment.
For many observers the implication is clear. “A couple of months ago, I’d say there were two prime ministers in Thailand—Ms. Yingluck and her brother,” said Pavin Chachavalpongpun at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. “Now there is one—Mr. Thaksin.”
The question is how Thailand’s conservative power brokers, particularly the army, will react to Mr. Thaksin’s newfound assertiveness, and whether it will reignite the battle between populist politicians such as the Shinawatras and the country’s conservative, royalist bureaucrats and army chiefs.
Saudi Arabia has invited Thaksin Shinawatra to sit on a board overseeing King Abdullah's gigantic "new city" project
Thailand’s top generals appear determined to prevent Mr. Thaksin or his sister from interfering with the military. People familiar with the situation say an annual army leadership shuffle this month will likely leave hawkish army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha at the helm and many of his key lieutenants in their jobs.
Paul Chambers, an expert on the Thai military and a lecturer at Payap University in northern Thailand, notes that after the 2006 coup, a military-appointed government introduced a new seven-member panel to decide on army appointments. Four members of this panel must be serving military officers, a safeguard that effectively vetoes any civilian influence over the shuffle.
Even if the government tries to remove Gen. Prayuth, it wouldn’t be able to choose his successor—so he would likely stay as acting chief.
“The conservative forces have found a way of preventing Mr. Thaksin from controlling the military, even if they allow him and his followers to win election,” Mr. Chambers said.
Besides looking for a way to help bring Mr. Thaksin back to Thailand through a possible amnesty, some lawmakers are pushing to amend laws introduced since the 2006 coup that reduce civilian control over the army. Analysts say this could further ratchet up tensions, as does a continuing wrestling match between the government and Gen. Prayuth for control of a powerful army-dominated security agency known as the Internal Security Operations Command.
“Mr. Thaksin wants to legitimize himself as a political leader, but the other side doesn’t want to give ground either,” said Somchai Phagapasvivat, a political-science professor at Bangkok’s Thammasat University. “There’s a looming conflict, and in the long run we don’t know how it will play out.”
Business
PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.
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(VOR News) – In the third quarter of this year, Pepsi’s net income was $2.93 billion, which is equivalent to $2.13 per share. This was attributed to the company.
This is in stark contrast to net income of $3.09 billion, which is equivalent to $2.24 per share, during the same period in the previous year. The company’s earnings per share were $2.31 when expenses were excluded.
Net sales decreased by 0.6%, totaling $23.32 billion. Organic sales increased by 1.3% during the quarter when the effects of acquisitions, divestitures, and currency changes are excluded.
Pepsi’s beverage sales fell this quarter.
The most recent report indicates that the beverage and food sectors of the organization experienced a 2% decline in volume. Consumers of all income levels are demonstrating a change in their purchasing habits, as indicated by CEOs’ statements from the previous quarter.
Pepsi’s entire volume was adversely affected by the lackluster demand they encountered in North America. An increasing number of Americans are becoming more frugal, reducing the number of snacks they ingest, and reducing the number of times they purchase at convenience stores.
Furthermore, Laguarta observed that the increase in sales was partially attributed to the election that occurred in Mexico during the month of June.
The most significant decrease in volume was experienced by Quaker Foods North America, which was 13%. In December, the company announced its initial recall in response to a potential salmonella infection.
Due to the probability of an illness, the recall was extended in January. Pepsi officially closed a plant that was implicated in the recalls in June, despite the fact that manufacturing had already been halted.
Jamie Caulfield, the Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi and Laguarta, has indicated that the recalls are beginning to have a lessening effect.
Frito-Lay experienced a 1.5% decline in volume in North America. The company has been striving to improve the value it offers to consumers and the accessibility of its snack line, which includes SunChips, Cheetos, and Stacy’s pita chips, in the retail establishments where it is sold.
Despite the fact that the category as a whole has slowed down in comparison to the results of previous years, the level of activity within the division is progressively increasing.
Pepsi executives issued a statement in which they stated that “Salty and savory snacks have underperformed year-to-date after outperforming packaged food categories in previous years.”
Pepsi will spend more on Doritos and Tostitos in the fall and winter before football season.
The company is currently promoting incentive packets for Tostitos and Ruffles, which contain twenty percent more chips than the standard package.
Pepsi is expanding its product line in order to more effectively target individuals who are health-conscious. The business announced its intention to acquire Siete Foods for a total of $1.2 billion approximately one week ago. The restaurant serves Mexican-American cuisine, which is typically modified to meet the dietary needs of a diverse clientele.
The beverage segment of Pepsi in North America experienced a three percent decrease in volume. Despite the fact that the demand for energy drinks, such as Pepsi’s Rockstar, has decreased as a result of consumers visiting convenience stores, the sales of well-known brands such as Gatorade and Pepsi have seen an increase throughout the quarter.
Laguarta expressed his opinion to the analysts during the company’s conference call, asserting, “I am of the opinion that it is a component of the economic cycle that we are currently experiencing, and that it will reverse itself in the future, once consumers feel better.”
Additionally, it has been noted that the food and beverage markets of South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa have experienced a decline in sales volume. The company cut its forecast for organic revenue for the entire year on Tuesday due to the business’s second consecutive quarter of lower-than-anticipated sales.
The company’s performance during the quarter was adversely affected by the Quaker Foods North America recalls, the decrease in demand in the United States, and the interruptions that occurred in specific international markets, as per the statements made by Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta.
Pepsi has revised its forecast for organic sales in 2024, shifting from a 4% growth rate to a low single-digit growth rate. The company reiterated its expectation that the core constant currency profitability per share will increase by a minimum of 8% in comparison to the previous year.
The company’s shares declined by less than one percent during premarket trading. The following discrepancies between the company’s report and the projections of Wall Street were identified by LSEG in a survey of analysts:
SOURCE: CNBC
SEE ALSO:
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
Business
Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.
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(VOR News) – Old National Bank, a commercial bank with its headquarters in the Midwest, and Infosys, a firm that specializes in information technology, have recently entered into a strategic expansion of their link, which has been in place for the past four years.
This expansion is more likely to take place sooner rather than later, with the likelihood being higher.
For the purpose of making it possible for Old National Bank to make use of the services, solutions, and platforms that are offered by Infosys, the objective of this expansion is to make it possible for the bank to transform its operations and processes through the application of automation and GenAI, as well as to change significant business areas.
This lets the bank leverage Infosys’ services, solutions, and platforms.
Old National Bank Chairman and CEO Jim Ryan said, “At Old National, we are committed to creating exceptional experiences for both our customers and our fellow employees.”
This statement is applicable to Old National Bank. Infosys is carefully managing the business process innovations that it is putting us through, putting a strong emphasis on efficiency and value growth throughout the process to ensure that it is carried out efficiently.
This is a routine occurrence throughout the entire operation. Because of Infosys’ dedication to our development and success, we are incredibly appreciative of the assistance they have provided.
Old National has been receiving assistance from Infosys in the process of updating its digital environment since the year 2020, according to the aforementioned company.
Ever since that time, the company has been providing assistance. The provision of this assistance has been accomplished through the utilization of a model that is not only powerful but also capable of functioning on its own power.
Infosys currently ranks Old National thirty-first out of the top thirty US banks.
This ranking is based on the fact that Old National is the nation’s largest banking corporation.
It is estimated that the total value of the company’s assets is approximately fifty-three billion dollars, while the assets that are currently being managed by the organization are valued at thirty billion dollars.
Dennis Gada, the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Banking and Financial Services, stated that “Old National Bank and Infosys possess a robust cultural and strategic alignment in the development, management, and enhancement of enterprise-scale solutions to transform the bank’s operations and facilitate growth.”
This remark referenced the exceptional cultural and strategic synergy between the two organizations. Dennis Gada is the one who asserted this claim. This was articulated explicitly concerning the exceptional cultural congruence and strategy alignment of the two organizations.
We are pleased to announce that the implementation of Infosys Topaz will substantially expedite the transformation of Old National Bank’s business processes and customer service protocols. We are exceedingly enthusiastic about this matter. We are quite thrilled about this specific component of the scenario.
Medium-sized banks operating regionally will continue to benefit from our substantial expertise in the sector, technology, and operations. This specific market segment of Infosys will persist in benefiting from our extensive experience. This phenomenon will enable this market sector to sustain substantial growth and efficiency benefits.
SOURCE: THBL
SEE ALSO:
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
States Sue TikTok, Claiming Its Platform Is Addictive And Harms The Mental Health Of Children
Qantas Airways Apologizes After R-Rated Film Reportedly Airs On Every Screen During Flight
Business
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
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The largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States stated Monday that it had been the target of a cyberattack, forcing the company to halt invoicing to consumers.
American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack
American Water, based in New Jersey and serving over 14 million people in 14 states and 18 military facilities, said it learned of the unauthorized activity on Thursday and quickly took precautions, including shutting down certain systems. The business does not believe the attack had an impact on its facilities or operations and said employees were working “around the clock” to determine the origin and scale of the attack.
According to their website, American Water operates over 500 water and wastewater systems in around 1,700 communities across California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
SOURCE | AP
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