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Thailand New Premier to Woo Investment from Google, Microsoft, and Tesla

Thailand’s Newly elected Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said he will try to entice investment from some of the world’s largest corporations during his travel to the United States for the UN General Assembly next week.

Prime Minister Srettha stated that he intends to negotiate investing with the CEOs or deputy CEOs of Google, Microsoft, and Tesla. According to him, the discussions would centre on Thailand’s competitiveness, investment prospects, and legal issues.

He believes that investment from such significant firms will boost Thailand’s industry and create more jobs.

The United Nations General Assembly will meet this year from September 18 to September 24 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

Mr Srettha will lead the Thai delegation and participate in a variety of activities, including UN meetings, meetings with private sector organisations such as the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-Asean Business Council, meetings with key US business leaders, and engagements with Thai communities and businesses in the US.

He will also make a national statement during the General Assembly’s general discussion and attend the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit, as achieving the 17 SDGs is one of the country’s top goals. In addition, the Prime Minister will attend the Climate Action Summit.

Among his other engagements are high-level bilateral discussions and a meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres.

Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, will accompany Mr Srettha.

Mr. Parnpree stated during a media reception at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday that the new foreign policy direction would focus on three areas: security, the economy, and technology in order to address current global concerns.

He stated that he intends to use public diplomacy to involve Thais so that foreign policy under this government can be used to benefit the general populace’s livelihoods.

When he returns to Thailand from the United States, he plans to visit residents in Prachin Buri province, where security along the border with Cambodia is a worry. He plans to discuss how trade and immigration issues affect people and seek answers, he says.

“I believe that under the prime minister’s administration, we will be able to restore Thailand’s role on the international stage,” he stated.

Thailand’s economic growth

Now Thailand’s new government, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai Party, is officially in place, Thai business leaders are hoping for a quick economic rebound.

In a recent interview with Thai PBS, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Sanan Angubolkul stated that tourism is critical to the Thai economy. He asked the government to ease visa requirements for tourists, particularly those from China, who now face a lengthy visa application process.

“The new government must encourage more tourists to visit Thailand.” We have established a target of 28 to 30 million tourists this year, including 5 million from China. Only 1.8 million Chinese visitors have arrived so far.

Because the existing approach is inconvenient for Chinese tourists and takes too long, the incoming government should make it easier to obtain electronic visas. Another difficulty is that there aren’t enough aircraft for Chinese tourists to arrive,” he explained.

Beyond visa issues, he claims that misconceptions and misinformation regarding safety in Thailand have deterred potential visitors.

Some Chinese people’s social media posts on the popular video-sharing app TikTok portray Thailand as a dangerous location. The videos depict a variety of illicit operations, including online fraud and human trafficking aimed at Chinese tourists.

Sanan stressed that the incoming government should reassure tourists about their safety in Thailand and take steps to combat misconceptions about the country on social media.

The Thai economy expanded 1.8% in the April to June quarter from a year earlier, according to data released by the National Economic and Social Development Council.

Thailand’s gross domestic product grew at a slower pace than the 2.6% expansion in January to March and fell short of the median forecast for 3.1% growth in the second quarter in a Reuters poll of economists.

“The economy was mainly driven by the acceleration of private consumption despite the slowdown of private investment and export of services,” the NESDC said in a statement. Private consumption rose 7.8% in the April to June quarter, up from 5.8% in the previous quarter.

However, exports, which account for around 60% of the GDP, continued to suffer from weak global demand, particularly from China, Thailand’s biggest trading partner. Exports of goods contracted 5.7% in the April to June quarter, extending a 6.4% fall in the previous quarter due to anemic global demand.

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PepsiCo Reduces Revenue Projections As North American Snacks And Key International Markets Underperform.

Pepsi

(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

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

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Old National Bank And Infosys Broaden Their Strategic Partnership.

Infosys

(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

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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

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American Water, The Largest Water Utility In US, Is Targeted By A Cyberattack

water

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.

water

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.

water

The corporation stated that it has alerted legal enforcement and is cooperating with them. It also stated that consumers will not be charged late fees while its systems are unavailable.

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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