Latest news with #localjobs
CNA
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Jurassic World: Rebirth was filmed in Thailand. Here are the featured locations you can visit
If the sweeping landscapes in Jurassic World: Rebirth – the seventh and latest instalment in the Jurassic Park franchise – left you captivated, here's some good news: You can head to some of these places yourselves. Jurassic World: Rebirth was filmed at locations across three southern provinces in the country: Krabi, Phang Nga and Trang. Filming took place from Jun 13 to Jul 16, 2024, with a budget exceeding 650 million Thai baht (US$20 million), reported local newspaper The Nation. The making of the movie also involved over 500 Thai crew members and created jobs and income streams for 2,245 Thai individuals. Here are the key places you can visit to be transported right into the heart of the film: 1. HUAI TO WATERFALL AT KHAO PHANOM BENCHA NATIONAL PARK, KRABI The Khao Phanom Bencha National Park is a popular destination for its waterfalls, caves and trails through montane forests, according to the Thai National Parks website. Located in the park is Huai To Waterfall, a multi-tiered waterfall amidst the dense jungle. It is also one of the smallest parks in the country, covering around 50 sq km of area between Maung, Ao Luek and Khao Phanom districts of Krabi Province. 2. KO KRADAN, TRANG PROVINCE An island surrounded by white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water, Ko Kradan is situated to the west of Ko Muk and is the location of the Hat Chao Mai National Park Protection Unit, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. It is also a must visit for snorkelling to see the coral reefs around its coast and a popular venue for wedding ceremonies. 3. PHANG-NGA BAY (AO PHANG NGA NATIONAL PARK), PHANG NGA Ao Phang Nga National Park is a 400 sq km marine national park that features long beaches and houses the biggest native mangrove forests in Thailand along the mainland and many islands. Its compound frames about 40 islands on the east of Phuket Island, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. It is best known for the popular attraction, Khao Tapu, otherwise known as the James Bond Island, whose name stems from when it was used as a filming location for the 1974 Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun. There are also other limestone karst islands, a number of white sandy beaches and a few caves at the park, according to the Thai National Parks website. The turquoise waters surrounding the islands are also consistently calm, which makes it ideal for canoeing, especially to spots that are sea level caves, leading to inland lagoons. The nearest popular towns and tourist destinations are Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, Krabi, Khao Lak and Ko Lanta. 4. THAM MORAKOT (EMERALD CAVE), TRANG PROVINCE Located in the Hat Chao Mai National Park, Emerald Cave is a must visit in Thailand. From the cave mouth, tourists must float in groups passing through an 80m-long narrow tunnel. The name Emerald Cave is derived from when the sunlight reflects on the water of the cave, causing the water and the cave walls to appear emerald green. This can only be seen between 10am and 2pm. Jurassic World: Rebirth is out in cinemas from Thursday (Jul 3). The film follows Zora Bennett, played by Scarlett Johansson, who leads a team of skilled operatives to the dangerous island research facility for the original Jurassic Park to secure DNA from dinosaurs which can provide life-saving benefits to mankind. The movie also stars actors Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali and Rupert Friend. It is a sequel to the 2022 movie Jurassic World Dominion.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
PHOTO ESSAY: In rural Alaska, collecting driftwood saves time, money and brings jobs
GALENA, Alaska (AP) — As ice breaks on the Yukon River, Jake Pogrebinsky looks at the water from shore, searching for a large log floating downstream. When he spots one, he hops into his wooden motorboat and roars toward it, chainsawing any roots or branches that might still be attached, a hand-rolled cigarette never far from his lips. Then he drags the log with a rope toward shore, where eventually it will be used in the community here in central Alaska. Pogrebinsky, 59, has been collecting driftwood in this remote, sprawling village of Galena for as long as he can remember. It's part of his job, but it also brings him great joy. 'Doing this, it's the greatest time,' he said. Plucking logs from the river provides jobs and heating Naturally felled and chopped trees and logs have long journeyed down rivers and oceans, transported by winds, waves, currents and ice, some eventually swooped up by people for building, heating, tools and more. Indigenous people have done the practice for millennia and it continues today. Rather than paying to barge or fly in wood, Galena residents say gathering floating logs not only saves money and energy, but also allows people to connect with their environment. 'It provides local jobs. We're using local materials, we're using local labor,' said Brooke Sanderson, tribal administrator for the local Louden Tribe. Most of the collected driftwood becomes firewood for heating during bone-chilling winters, but it is also transformed into sidings for new energy efficient homes being built for members of the Louden Tribe. Collecting large floating logs is just one of the village's sustainable practices: For nearly a decade, locally harvested trees have been shredded into wood chips that heat a bustling boarding school. And soon, a nearly-completed solar farm will curb the town's reliance on expensive, imported diesel. In the summer of 2024, the tribe set up a sawmill — which Pogrebinsky operates — to process driftwood and trees into lumber. They had tried to harvest trees off the land but it was too time consuming and labor intensive, said Sanderson. Collecting driftwood, she said, was more worth people's time. Pogrebinsky can tell you all the reasons why. For one, the river carries a lot of good wood the village generally wouldn't have. 'The quality of material is very high. ... They can be permanent materials that would last decades." And by the time he catches a driftwood, most of the logging and branch removal has been done, and the bark has washed away. 'It's amazing. It saves so much energy,' said Pogrebinsky. A good season brings in so much driftwood that you can hardly see the water, he added, and a boat is nearly impossible to use. Pulling out driftwood also has environmental benefits Enda Murphy, assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of British Columbia who has researched coastal driftwood, said too much can smother vegetation in sensitive ecosystems and consume oxygen that fish and other species need. But these floating logs can also transport seeds, plants and serve as perches for birds and hiding spots for fish. A big question researchers are still working to answer is: How much is too much? And when does it start having adverse impacts on the environment? 'This is something that we don't really fully understand,' said Murphy. With Pogrebinsky's help, the Louden Tribe is working to get more people to collect driftwood from the river and sell it to the sawmill, and in the process reap all the benefits of being in nature. 'A big part of the idea is to encourage people to go out and do this. To see the value of this. To experience all the marvelous things that I have experienced,' said Pogrebinsky. ___ Pineda reported from Los Angeles. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit
Associated Press
30-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
PHOTO ESSAY: In rural Alaska, collecting driftwood saves time, money and brings jobs
GALENA, Alaska (AP) — As ice breaks on the Yukon River, Jake Pogrebinsky looks at the water from shore, searching for a large log floating downstream. When he spots one, he hops into his wooden motorboat and roars toward it, chainsawing any roots or branches that might still be attached, a hand-rolled cigarette never far from his lips. Then he drags the log with a rope toward shore, where eventually it will be used in the community here in central Alaska. Pogrebinsky, 59, has been collecting driftwood in this remote, sprawling village of Galena for as long as he can remember. It's part of his job, but it also brings him great joy. 'Doing this, it's the greatest time,' he said. Plucking logs from the river provides jobs and heating Naturally felled and chopped trees and logs have long journeyed down rivers and oceans, transported by winds, waves, currents and ice, some eventually swooped up by people for building, heating, tools and more. Indigenous people have done the practice for millennia and it continues today. Rather than paying to barge or fly in wood, Galena residents say gathering floating logs not only saves money and energy, but also allows people to connect with their environment. 'It provides local jobs. We're using local materials, we're using local labor,' said Brooke Sanderson, tribal administrator for the local Louden Tribe. Most of the collected driftwood becomes firewood for heating during bone-chilling winters, but it is also transformed into sidings for new energy efficient homes being built for members of the Louden Tribe. Collecting large floating logs is just one of the village's sustainable practices: For nearly a decade, locally harvested trees have been shredded into wood chips that heat a bustling boarding school. And soon, a nearly-completed solar farm will curb the town's reliance on expensive, imported diesel. In the summer of 2024, the tribe set up a sawmill — which Pogrebinsky operates — to process driftwood and trees into lumber. They had tried to harvest trees off the land but it was too time consuming and labor intensive, said Sanderson. Collecting driftwood, she said, was more worth people's time. Pogrebinsky can tell you all the reasons why. For one, the river carries a lot of good wood the village generally wouldn't have. 'The quality of material is very high. ... They can be permanent materials that would last decades.' And by the time he catches a driftwood, most of the logging and branch removal has been done, and the bark has washed away. 'It's amazing. It saves so much energy,' said Pogrebinsky. A good season brings in so much driftwood that you can hardly see the water, he added, and a boat is nearly impossible to use. Pulling out driftwood also has environmental benefits Enda Murphy, assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of British Columbia who has researched coastal driftwood, said too much can smother vegetation in sensitive ecosystems and consume oxygen that fish and other species need. But these floating logs can also transport seeds, plants and serve as perches for birds and hiding spots for fish. A big question researchers are still working to answer is: How much is too much? And when does it start having adverse impacts on the environment? 'This is something that we don't really fully understand,' said Murphy. With Pogrebinsky's help, the Louden Tribe is working to get more people to collect driftwood from the river and sell it to the sawmill, and in the process reap all the benefits of being in nature. 'A big part of the idea is to encourage people to go out and do this. To see the value of this. To experience all the marvelous things that I have experienced,' said Pogrebinsky. ___ Pineda reported from Los Angeles. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP's environmental coverage, visit
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Victoria eases gas ban but keeps reforms that ‘will save lives'
Victoria has softened its gas phase-out plan, allowing owner-occupiers to continue using gas heaters and confirming that businesses can keep gas running in existing commercial buildings. The state will still push ahead with reforms that will make all new homes and most new commercial buildings electric only from 2027. Premier Jacinta Allan said the updated plan will help households save on energy bills, protect local jobs and secure gas supplies for industries that still rely on it. 'Families will pay less on their energy bills, industry will get the gas it needs – and Victorian jobs are protected,' she said. 'It's good for industry, workers, renters and families – we're on their side.' The Victorian government introduced a range of measures in 2023 aimed at phasing out gas.' Ms Allan said the revised approach was shaped by consultation with industry and other stakeholders. Under the revised rules, gas heating remains allowed for owner-occupiers, and gas hot water systems can still be repaired if they break down or reinstalled during renovations. But from March 2027, when a gas hot water system reaches the end of its life, it must be replaced with an electric version. Gas cooking in existing homes is also staying for now. From January 2027, all new residential and most commercial buildings will be required to go electric, including granny flats, sheds and other structures that previously didn't need a planning permit. Buildings used for industrial, manufacturing or agricultural purposes will be exempt. Victoria's plan is also targeting rental homes, which have some of the state's worst energy efficiency. New minimum standards will require landlords to install reverse-cycle air conditioners to replace broken gas heaters, upgrade ceiling insulation where it's missing, seal draughts and install water efficient showerheads. Consumer Affairs Minister Nick Staikos said the changes will make rental homes safer and cheaper to run. 'This is an important step towards making rental properties safer, more comfortable and more energy efficient – giving renters peace of mind for both winter and summer and driving down their bills,' he said. The Victorian Council of Social Service welcomed the announcement, saying it would bring relief to renters facing high energy costs. 'This is a major win for renters in Victoria at a time when they really need it,' said VCOSS CEO Juanita Pope. 'We know that the rental market includes some of the worst quality homes in Victoria, which compounds the effects of other challenges faced by renters during a cost-of-living crisis,' 'We also know there is a direct connection between poor quality rental properties and poor health outcomes,' 'These standards will literally save lives.' Climate groups also praised the move away from gas, pointing to both cost and health benefits. 'Gas is enormously expensive and polluting,' said Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie. 'This policy showcases sensible leadership from the Victorian government to both cut Victorian household's energy bills and tackle climate pollution. 'Victorian houses will become cleaner and healthier under this policy.' McKenzie said the decision confirmed that 'gas is on the way out in Victoria' and urged other states to follow suit. She also acknowledged the Victorian Greens role in supporting the reforms. The Energy Users' Association of Australia, which represents commercial and industrial energy users, said the announcement reflected a more realistic path to net zero. 'Navigating the road to net zero is proving to be harder and more expensive than initially thought,' said EUAA CEO Andrew Richards. 'We thank the Victorian government for listening to stakeholders and being responsive to the challenges being faced by energy users that have led to today's pragmatic announcement.'
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Dream' Cornish bookshop bucking national industry decline
An independent bookshop has been providing a community and economic boost to one Cornish town, despite a national decline in the Bookshop in Helston, the southern-most bookshop on mainland Britain, opened in November 2023, giving the town a bookshop for the first time in 40 years. The shop, run by Ginny Sealey, has been telling a story of continued resilience as the Booksellers Association (BA) revealed the number of independent bookshops has been on a downward trend over the last two Sealey, for whom owning a bookshop was a long-held dream, said Helston's high street had had its ups and downs but was "on its way back up again now". 'Enrich local communities' Ms Sealey said: "We're not a supermarket - you're not coming every day to buy a book - so we work closely with the library."There's a balance there for special treats, birthday presents."The latest membership numbers released by the BA showed the number of independent bookshops had fallen in 2024 from 1,063 to 1, said independent bookshops were, however, outperforming the wider retail sector , which saw about 37 shop closures per day in Halls, managing director of the Booksellers Association said: "Bookshops provide local jobs, enrich local communities and fuel local economies; they bring social cohesion and cultural capital to their towns and villages; they bring authors to schools, readers to high streets, donations to charities and support to literacy programmes. "They should be celebrated by us all but not to the point of complacency or at the cost of action."The BA said bookshops such as Helston's were having to show resilience and innovation in the face of economic uncertainty.A survey by the association revealed the top five concerns of independent bookshops for 2025 related to financial pressure via increasing overheads and softening consumer confidence. Melanie Young, who attends a book group at the Bookshop in Helston, said having it on the high street was "good for the economy"."You come to the bookshop, you maybe go down the road to the deli, you see a poster in the window for something that's happening at the new little theatre space and everything starts to snowball," she group member Margaret Logan said Ms Sealey had "added something to the town" and ran lots of additional events for Matthews, another poetry group member, added: "It's something the town has needed for a long time and this has fulfilled every expectation of having an independent bookshop in town. "I spend a lot of money in this bookshop, but I think it invites you to and I think that's for the good of the book trade as well as for the readers."
