Public urged to get booster shot amid Covid spike. The Public Health Ministry urged people to quickly get a Covid booster shot as a weekly count shows a jump to 4,284 hospitalized patients. - Thai Newsroom

Public urged to get booster shot amid Covid spike

December 5, 2022  TNR staff

THE Public Health Ministry urged people to get a Covid booster jab as there is a jump in the number of cases with this reaching 4,284 hospitalised patients during Nov. 27-Dec. 3 or an average of 612 a day, Matichon newspaper said.

Dr. Tharesakorn Rawiwong, head of the Disease Control Department, added that 105 people died during the week or an average of 15 a day,

Nationwide cumulative confirmed total from Jan. 1 this year has now reached 2,488,093 cases and 11,587 deaths.

Updated total till Sunday Dec. 4 shows there were 632 pneumonia patients with 349 requiring respirators.

So far 143,250,945 doses of vaccines have been administered with 57.09 million being the first dose covering 82.09% of the population, 53.57 million second dose covering 77.03% and 32.57 million third dose.

Dr. Tharesakorn added that the ministry had expected a rise in Covid cases because the weather is getting cooler and there are long holidays with people travelling and undertaking various activities.

People in the 608 risk group, that is the elderly over sixty years of age, those suffering from chronic diseases and pregnant women, were told to urgently get a booster shot to prevent severe illness or death with this applying to both those who have not been vaccinated or were vaccinated over four months ago.

Vaccines are available nationwide with provincial authorities told to arrange convenient vaccination stations for the public.





High season has arrived in Phuket, as the airport schedule lists 6,730 flights this month. The average number of flights per day throughout the month of December will reach 217, up from about 200 in November. | Thaiger

Phuket welcomes 6,730 flights in December

By 

Neill Fronde 

Saturday, December 3, 2022 15:33

FILE PHOTO: Phuket International Airport welcomes over 6700 flight this month.

High season has arrived in Phuket, as the airport schedule lists 6,730 flights this month. The average number of flights per day throughout the month of December will reach 217, up from about 200 in November. (The busiest day in November saw 219 flight land with 10,467 passengers arriving.) Some 3,000 of those flights are international arrivals, while 3,730 flights are scheduled from domestic carriers within Thailand.

Over the last 7 months, the Phuket International Airport has welcomed just under one million travellers. Between May and November, 959,217 people landed on the island. Just shy of 250,000 passengers arrived on international flights last month alone, averaging about 8,165 people each day. And that number does not include people who had a layover in Bangkok where they went through the immigration Control process before connecting on flights to Phuket.

Qatar Airways has the most number of flights arriving in Phuket followed by Singapore Airlines. But Russian airlines have the highest total number of flights arriving on the island. India and Kazakhstan are tied for second place. In November, 63,357 people landed from Russia, compared with 29,263 from India, and 10,659 from Kazakhstan.

A total of 38 different foreign airlines are operating flights into Phuket this month according to The Phuket News. The top 11 are listed below, as well as six domestic airlines:

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
	AIRLINE	NUMBER OF FLIGHTS	ORIGINATION CITY
1	Qatar Airways	70	Doha, Bangkok
2	Singapore Airlines	56	Singapore
3	Go First Airlines	52	Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata
4	Aeroflot Russian Airlines	48	Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk
5	Scat Airlines	44	Astana, Almaty, Taraz, Shymkent
6	Air Asia Berhad	42	Kuala Lumpur
7	Azur Air	40	Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Kazan
8	Scoot Tiger Airways	32	Singapore
9	Etihad Airways	28	Abu Dhabi, BKK
9	Emirates Airlines	28	Dubai
9	Indigo Airlines	28	Mumbai, Delhi
DOMESTIC FLIGHTS
	AIRLINE	NUMBER OF FLIGHTS	ORIGINATION CITY
1	Thai AirAsia	252	Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani
2	Bangkok Airways	169	Bangkok, Samui, Hat Yai, U-Tapao
3	Thai Smile Airways	154	Bangkok
4	Thai VietJet	152	Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai
5	Nok Air	56	Bangkok, Ubon Ratchathani
6	Thai Lion Air	42	Bangkok



Kids doing marijuana down at the beach. They are pictures no one wants to see - especially proponents of Thailand's still relatively new free marijuana laws who want no bad press leading to a step back to re-criminalization. ASEAN NOW

77kaoded Thai caption: Kids doing marijuana down at the beach 

 

They are pictures no one wants to see - especially proponents of Thailand's still relatively new free marijuana laws who want no bad press leading to a step back to re-criminalization. 

 

And there could be fears that people who are still "anti-weed" will seize on such alarming pictures and say "we told you so", notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Recreational use of the drug has been widespread for ever and a day, not just since June 9th when the drug was taken off the Class 5 narcotics list. But even now there are laws in place to stop anyone under 20 buying what the Thais call ganja. 

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

77kaoded said that 2/3 kids apparently smoking a bong at a Pattaya beach location were featured on a local social media page.

 

Comment was understandably widespread causing reporters to go and find the poster.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

Krittiwat Matrong, 35, said he was in Pattaya for last week's fireworks' festival and was preparing a boat trip.

 

He saw two kids at Saphan Pla with a bamboo bong.

 

He thought they were just messing about but then realised they were actually smoking.

 

Picture: 77kaoded

 

He went up and told them to stop and discovered they were just 9 and 10 years old.

 

He asked if their parents knew what they were doing. They said they didn't have parents.

 

Then one said he wasn't scared - his dad was in the military.

 

Krittiwat turned to an older child with them saying why didn't you stop them - he said nothing. 

 

Krittiwat called on the authorities to look into the matter that he considered damaging not just for the children and youth but for the Thai tourism industry as a whole. 

 

At the least he considered it  inappropriate. 

 

Other media picked up on the story.

 

Naew Na said the pictures were shocking.

 

Thai Rath, the biggest media in Thailand, said it was in full view of tourists, damaging to tourism and something needed to be done.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-12-02

Tourism making gradual recovery. Rate below those seen in US, Europe. The recovery rate of Thai tourism was slower than in neighbouring countries because of a shortage of flights and the absence of key markets such as China, according to leading regional travel tech companies. Bangkok Post

Tourism making gradual recovery

Passengers throng the arrival hall at Suvarnabhumi airport. Mr Fan believes Thailand's tourism recovery pace will quicken after Christmas this year. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)

The recovery rate of Thai tourism was slower than in neighbouring countries because of a shortage of flights and the absence of key markets such as China, according to leading regional travel tech companies.

Wilfred Fan, chief commercial officer at Klook, a travel and experiences platform, said there was a strong recovery for cross-border travel in Asia-Pacific, but the overall pace for the region still lagged behind the recovery rate in the US and Europe by 12 months.

He said the number of tourism arrivals in October in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan -- key markets for Klook -- recorded the lowest rate of recovery, at just 10% of the corresponding period in 2019. Arrivals to South Korea and Southeast Asia recorded a stronger rate of recovery, reaching 40% of the level in 2019, but still remained a far cry from some Western nations that fully recovered.

However, there was a dramatic surge in domestic tourism activities in some countries, such as Taiwan, where the number of bookings via its platform rose by 397% in the third quarter this year.

Mr Fan said Thailand's tourism recovery is expected to quicken greatly after Christmas, after recording only tepid growth because of the lack of key markets such as China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

He said the recovery rate in Singapore has been among the most outstanding, reaching 85% in October as the country reopened earlier than Thailand, while the recovery rate in Malaysia reached 90%.

Key to Singapore's rebound is the country has a larger number of flight connections to cater to tourism demand, whereas Thailand still doesn't have enough long-haul flights serving the country, said Mr Fan.

According to Klook's business outlook, the number of visitors booking experiences in Thailand during the third quarter this year was still 61% lower than the corresponding period prior to the pandemic, as most bookings prior to Covid-19 came from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. These countries have been severely affected by border restrictions since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Speaking at the first edition of "Thailand Travelution 2022", a travel tech trade event, Mr Fan said travellers must pay attention to travel restrictions, practices and rules of the countries they visit while Covid variants continue to spread.

He said clear communication should be targeted towards travellers, including information about the country's public health system or medical services, as well as guidance on how to receive treatment for Covid infections during their travel.

Michelle Gao, regional manager for partner services at Booking.com, said its survey of 24,000 respondents in 32 countries found that travel trends in 2023 would shift towards group travel, including family members and friends, with 70% saying they would prefer to share their trips with loved ones.

Moreover, 75% of respondents, who were mostly younger people, plan to seek authentic local experiences. Spending on this kind of trip this year was 34% higher than during the corresponding period in 2019.

Ms Gao said 60% of respondents already use a mobile app to book travel services and this trend would continue next year. Respondents prefer to have more time to prepare for each trip because of concerns about travel restrictions.

Meanwhile, budget remains a vital component in terms of decision-making as people see value as the key factor for their upcoming trips.

A new passenger terminal (Satelite 1) at Suvarnabhumi Airport will be open in 2023, said Transport Minister Saksiam Chidchob. Thai Enquirer



More than 50,000 Russian tourists have visited Phuket this month, number one tourist market. Phuket tourism officials say Russia is by far the biggest tourist market now, with India second, as Russians continue to pour into Thailand.- The Phuket Express

More than 50,000 Russian tourists have visited Phuket this month, number one tourist market

Goongnang SuksawatTuesday, 29 November 2022, 11:59

Phuket –

Russian tourists have hit the top of Phuket visitors with more than 50,000 visiting this month, November.

Our previous story:

Russian tourists have hit the top of Phuket visitors in the past ten days.

Now for the update:

The Phuket Immigration Chief Colonel Thanet Sukchai told the Phuket Express that Russian nationals are leading tourists in Phuket this month with more than 55,097 followed by Indians with 26,525, Australians with 13,868, British with 12,340, and Germans with 11,097."

The Director of the Tourism of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office, Nanthasiri Ronnasiri told the Phuket Express. "From January to October this year Phuket generated more than 119 billion baht. This number shows Phuket tourism has been increased 80 percent even if we don't have Chinese tourists."

Chinese tourists had previously been the top market for Phuket but due to China's ongoing Covid Zero strategy Chinese visitors have still not returned to Thailand due to strict quarantine rules on China's end.

Meanwhile, although Russians are limited in travel to many nations due to sanctions incurred from the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Thailand is officially neutral in this conflict and therefore is one of the easiest, most accessible, and most desirable countries for Russian visitors to come t

Raise your guard against dangerous new Covid wave, govt warns. Health authorities are urging people to raise their guard against Covid-19 as infections rise sharply and new strains multiply amid gatherings and an influx of foreign arrivals. Bangkok Post

Raise your guard against dangerous new Covid wave, govt warns

A nurse vaccinates an elderly woman against Covid-19 at the already-closed Central Vaccination Centre at Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok in July. Health authorities are urging people to receive Covid-19 booster jabs as the disease is spreading faster. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

Health authorities are urging people to raise their guard against Covid-19 as infections rise sharply and new strains multiply amid gatherings and an influx of foreign arrivals.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, permanent secretary for public health, said on Monday the number of Covid-19 inpatients had risen, but most of them had mild symptoms. The number of fatalities was also increasing, he said, although the average number of daily deaths was still 10 or below.

"We anticipate a rising number of small waves that will gradually fall in the New Year," Dr Opas said.

The growing Covid-19 count has prompted more people to seek vaccinations, and he ordered hospitals nationwide to administer vaccines to walk-ins as well as those with appointments.

Dr Chakrarat Pitayawong-anont, epidemiology director of the Department of Disease Control, said Covid-19 cases were rising again because people were resuming activities and many had not been inoculated reccently.

"Those who were vaccinated or infected more than three months ago should receive a booster shot to prevent severe illness. They should also reduce risks from activities such as sharing meals... especially with elderly family members, who should currently refrain from going out," he said.

Elderly people who contracted Covid-19 or had not been vaccinated in the past three months ago should see a doctor immediately to receive remdesivir or Paxlovid injections, because oral medications alone might not be sufficiently effective for them, Dr Chakarat said.

"During the long holiday period in December, people should protect themselves by wearing face masks in public places and avoiding risky activities," he said.

According to the Thai News Agency, Dr Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences, said the BA.2.75 sub-variant of Covid-19 had caused 58% of new cases, fuelled by higher numbers of visitors arriving from India.

He said that as Europeans arrive in the next few months to escape their cold winters, cases of the XBB subtype could go up.

Dr Supakit also said that worldwide the disease was mutating to avoid antibodies and thus spreading faster. Previous cases could fall ill again, and vaccines might not be as effective in protecting recipients as they were before.

Under the present circumstances, people need at least four vaccine jabs, not three as previously advised, he said.

COVID surge just a "new wave" which will gradually fade after the New Year. Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has instructed all state hospitals to provide free vaccinations to members of the public, in the wake of a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, which they describe as a predictable “new wave.” | Thai PBS World

COVID surge just a "new wave" which will gradually fade after the New Year

views  285

Thailand's Ministry of Public Health has instructed all state hospitals to provide free vaccinations to members of the public, in the wake of a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, which they describe as a predictable "new wave."

Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong said today (Friday) that the increase in infections will gradually subside after the New Year and most of the cases are not serious and do not require hospitalisation.

Additional measures are not necessary at this stage, he said, adding that the number of patients requiring hospital admission has only increased slightly, while the fatality rate averages not more than ten a day, which was anticipated.

Dr. Opart said, however, that all state hospitals have been instructed to provide free inoculations to the public, including a walk-in service, and to publicise the times of the service. Mobile vaccination services should also be considered in case there is a large response, especially among the elderly in a community, so they don't have to travel to the hospital, he added.

He said that doctors should not be worried about unused vaccine having to be discarded because only a few people show up to be inoculated, noting that it is better to save a few lives than none at all.

THAI & Bangkok Airways ordered to fix chaotic delayed luggage, or else! Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob warned Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways to swiftly deal with the delayed luggage problem at the kingdom’s airports within one month otherwise he will replace their baggage handlers with another company. | Thaiger

THAI & Bangkok Airways ordered to fix chaotic delayed luggage, or else!

By 

Petch Petpailin

Friday, November 25, 2022 12:13

Photo by Rach Teo on Unsplash

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob warned Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways to swiftly deal with the delayed luggage problem at the kingdom's airports within one month otherwise he will replace their baggage handlers with another company.

Saksayam visited Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday to follow up on complaints of crowded terminals, long queues at the taxi service counter, passport check-in counter lines, and the chaos caused by delayed luggage.

The 60 year old minister announced yesterday, November 24, that the problems involving crowded terminals and long lines at the passport check-in counters have been resolved. The average waiting time is 15 minutes per passenger with an officer spending about 60 seconds checking a passenger's passport.

Saksayam reported that the long queue at the taxi service counter at the terminal was also fixed. Suvarnabhumi Airport expanded its waiting area and opened more parking lots for taxi drivers. The waiting time was recorded at 10 minutes per passenger.

The delayed luggage, on the other hand, has yet to be fixed.

Saksayam acknowledged that the ground operation teams of each airline lack human resources. He identified that the nation's ailing tourism industry is still recovering from the pandemic, that all airlines reduced their staff and resized their businesses to cope with the consequential economic downturn, and need a bit of time to recruit more staff.

Saksayam revealed that Thai Airways (THAI) and Bangkok Airways were the worst offenders regarding the delayed luggage problem. THAI take over one and a half hours to get luggage back to their customers whereas Bangkok Airways take about 30 minutes.

The two airlines have been invited to a meeting with the permanent secretary of the Transport Ministry next week.

Saksayam said…

"Each airline will have one month to create an action plan and solve the delay issue. If they cannot solve the problem, the airport will allow other service providers to manage the baggage carousel.

Saksayam says he expects Suvarnabhumi Airport to welcome about 130,000 travellers per day in December, up 13% from November. The arrival process takes about 40 minutes per person.

Domestic car sales in Thailand, in the first ten months of 2022, were 698,305 vehicles, representing a 17.09% increase, compared to the same period last year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). 1,496,591 motorcycles were sold, an increase of 13.68% over the same period last year. PBS World

Domestic car sales in Thailand, in the first ten months of 2022, were 698,305 vehicles, representing a 17.09% increase, compared to the same period last year, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

1,496,591 motorcycles were sold, an increase of 13.68% over the same period last year.

800,672 completely-built cars, worth about 497 billion baht, were exported during the January-October period, an increase of 12.40% over the same period last year.

The export value of cars, accessories and spare parts for the same period is estimated at 727 billion baht, an increase of 9.6%.

In October alone, 64,618 cars were sold, which is in line with the economic recovery, driven by increased foreign arrivals and economic stimulus packages, according to the FTI.

1,534,754 cars were produced in the first ten months of this year, which is an increase of 12.36% compared to the same period last year.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-car-sales-for-the-first-ten-months-jump-17/

Cannabis flower trade to be reined in - but no chance for marijuana to go back on narcotics list. From Thursday buds will be controlled herbs. ASEAN NOW





Picture: INN

 

Deputy prime minister Wissanu Krea-ngam spoke to the press yesterday after presiding over a meeting with heads of the Narcotics Control Board.

 

Wissanu said that the issue of marijuana being put back on the Class 5 narcotics list wasn't even discussed.

 

Such a matter is not their brief and it was clear this is not going to happen.

 

What is going to happen is that after an official announcement today in the Government Gazette the issue of what to do about marijuana flowers is being addressed, reported INN.

 

New rules will mean that this part of the plant that contains by far the major amount of THF will be considered a controlled herb.

 

From Thursday buds will be controlled herbs.

 

What this means for the recreational marijuana industry in Thailand remains to be seen. Such an industry undoubtedly already exists.

 

Wissanu was swift to point out that the trade in the flowers was something of a loophole that the Cannabis Act next year would address but needs to be tackled now.

 

He stresses that other parts of the marijuana plant like roots, leaves and stems are all 0.2% THC or less so can be grown freely.

 

File photo: Wikipedia

 

He said that the meeting with the NCB was held after new rules were proposed by the MoPH in relation to the flowers being declared a controlled herb. 

 

The meeting lasted 3 hours. 

 

ASEAN NOW notes that the latest moves can be seen as making life more awkward for people wishing to trade in marijuana flowers.

 

Some have seen this as overt acceptance on the streets of recreational use of marijuana, something politicians were keen to keep under wraps.

 

Until the genie came out of the bottle on June 9th.

 

The rampant sale of flowers on the streets that has grown ever more prevalent since decriminalization in June has forced the hand of politicians.

 

However it is unlikely to change much and might be seen more as a typical Thai process of compromise on a thorny issue.

 

A kind of washing of dirty laundry in public until you come up with a nice clean pair of Thai made socks.

 

Critics have said that Thailand's marijuana policy was ill thought through which has resulted in these interim teething issues.

 

A lot is at stake. Big players whose interests will be protected have invested fortunes while many have invested in smaller scale start-ups such as shops and will want to continue trading in flowers to maximise profits.

 

Further clarity will come with the Cannabis Act due next year though that is unlikely to have many surprises.

 

Cannabis is set to stay legal and available in Thailand - though watch this space as to what you can and can't do with weed. And watch out for how the RTP interpret the law. 

 

The two have been shown to be divergent in the past. 

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-11-23

COVID Cases Up as Thailand Expects Seasonal Wave. According to Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, Permanent Secretary of Public Health, the number of COVID hospitalizations in the week of November 13-19 reached nearly 4,000 cases for a daily average of 565 cases. This was higher than the figure from the previous week, during which about 3,200 patients were hospitalized. ASEAN NOW

 

by Paul Rujopakarn
    
BANGKOK (NNT) - The number of severe COVID-19 cases and related deaths in Thailand is on the rise, reflecting the global situation as Thai health authorities expect a small wave of infections during this year's colder season.

 

According to Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, Permanent Secretary of Public Health, the number of COVID hospitalizations in the week of November 13-19 reached nearly 4,000 cases for a daily average of 565 cases. This was higher than the figure from the previous week, during which about 3,200 patients were hospitalized.

 

69 fatalities were recorded in the same period, which was higher than the 49 reported for the previous week. 432 pneumonia cases were reported last week, along with 252 cases that required mechanical ventilation. These figures were also higher than the previous week, which recorded 329 pneumonia cases and 178 intubations.

 

Dr Opas said many countries around the world are now reporting higher cases, signaling the start of a new wave of infections.

 

Health authorities in Thailand had been expecting a small wave towards the end of the year as more people engage in group activities and events. Respiratory viruses also tend to spread faster during colder seasons when they can remain in the environment for longer periods.

 

The Ministry of Public Health is encouraging the general public to keep up with their COVID-19 vaccinations, as the majority of severe cases and deaths occur among the unvaccinated and those who did not get their boosters.

 

Concerning newer COVID variants, Dr Opas said more time is needed to determine if the strains are more transmissible or virulent. Newer variants tend to be more transmissible due to their ability to evade immune responses, though there is so far no evidence to suggest they can cause more serious symptoms.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221123060736428

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2022-11-23

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Deputy Governor at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), revealed that many large Russian airlines have resumed their charter flights to Thailand, which will result in an increase in Russian tourists in tourist areas like Pattaya and Phuket. Pattaya News

Russian tourists pack charter flights to Pattaya and Phuket

Tanakorn PanyadeeMonday, 21 November 2022, 17:44

PHOTO: Prachachat

National —Russian tourists pack charter flights to Pattaya and Phuket

  Russian tourists packed Azur Airline and Ikar Airline flights to Pattaya and Phuket, with the expected number of Russian tourists flying to Thailand to reach one million people next year.

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, Deputy Governor at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), revealed that many large Russian airlines have resumed their charter flights to Thailand, which will result in an increase in Russian tourists in tourist areas like Pattaya and Phuket.

The tourism atmosphere will become busier at the end of this year, according to Siripakorn, with the number of Russian tourists heading for Thailand expected to reach the pre-Covid-19 level at one million people next year.

Thanet Suparashasrangsi, chairman of the Chonburi Council of Tourism Industry, said Pattaya tourism will greatly benefit from the Russian charter flights to the U-Tapao International Airport.

He expected the hotel occupancy rate in the city will increase to 60% over its current average rate of 40-50%.

"The Azur Airline will start bringing in charter flights from November 26th on B757 carriers, which can hold about 202 passengers and will improve the number of tourists in Pattaya significantly," Thanet stated.

The Meteorological Department has advised those living in 50 provinces to brace for heavy rain until Thursday. PBS World

An intensifying low pressure cell is expected to hit the southern tip of the Vietnam peninsula today (Sunday) or tomorrow, before moving into the Gulf of Thailand. This will bring heavy to very heavy rainfall to most of Thailand, including the capital.

The Meteorological Department has advised those living in 50 provinces to brace for heavy rain until Thursday.

Bangkok and its peripherals, as well as Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Ayutthaya, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi and Trang will see downpours from Tuesday.

North-eastern provinces, such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram and Surin, will face heavy rain on Wednesday and Thursday.
People living at mountain bases and close to rivers and canals are warned of possible flash floods and overflows.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/heavy-rain-forecast-for-most-of-thailand-this-week/

APEC ministers have agreed a joint statement, described by a senior Thai official as the first such document issued for an APEC Summit with Thailand as the host. PBS World

APEC ministers have agreed a joint statement, described by a senior Thai official as the first such document issued for an APEC Summit with Thailand as the host.

Cherdchai Chaivaivid, director-general of the Department of International Economic Affairs, said today (Saturday) that APEC economic ministers and senior officials worked very hard on the draft joint statement, until it was agreed and released late last night.

The statement incorporates a post-COVID pandemic economic growth strategy, which addresses environmental and climate issues, the war in Ukraine and the cooperation between APEC's 21 economies in pushing for the creation of a free trade area for the Asia-Pacific region, or FTA-AP, to replace the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

On the war in Ukraine, the joint statement reads:

"Most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and stressed it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy, constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity and elevating financial stability risks."

It also says, however:

"There were other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions."

North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile on Friday drew the attention of the leaders at the summit, with Japan, US, South Korea, Canada, Australia and New Zealand publically deploring the action by Pyongyang. An emergency meeting was held yesterday, at the request of US Vice President Kamala Harris.

APEC leaders met for the last time for this summit today and it is expected that a leaders' declaration will be issued at the summit's conclusion.

The Thai government expects that its "Bangkok Goals" on the Bio-Circular-Green economy concept will be adopted and incorporated in the leaders' declaration today.

According to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Bangkok Goals constitute a post-COVID pandemic growth strategy to move APEC economies towards balanced, sustainable and inclusive development and growth.
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/apec-ministers-agree-on-a-joint-statement/

US to help Thailand develop small nuclear reactors | Thai PBS World

US to help Thailand develop small nuclear reactors

views  354

The United States will help Thailand develop nuclear power through a new class of small reactors, part of a programme aimed at fighting climate change, Vice President Kamala Harris announced on a visit Saturday.

The White House said the assistance was part of its Net Zero World Initiative, a project launched at last year's Glasgow climate summit in which the US partners with the private sector and philanthropists to promote clean energy.

Thailand does not have nuclear power, with the public mood on the issue souring after the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.

The White House said it would offer technical assistance to the Southeast Asian country to deploy the developing technology of small modular reactors, which are factory-built and portable. Such reactors are generally considered safer as they do not need human intervention to shut down in emergencies.

"We really look forward to working with Thailand to take advantage of the benefits of small modular reactors and reliable clean energy sources," said a senior US official travelling with Harris, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A White House statement said that US experts would work with Thailand on deploying the reactors, which will have the "highest standards of safety, security and nonproliferation" and boast a smaller land footprint than alternatives.

US rivals China and Russia, as well as Argentina, are also developing small modular reactors, the prototypes of which are in the design phase.

The White House did not give a timeline but said it would support Thailand, which is highly vulnerable to climate change, in its goal of going carbon neutral by 2065.

Harris, who is visiting the US ally for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, will discuss the nuclear power initiative in a meeting later Saturday with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha.

The White House also announced an initiative with Thailand to boost the safety of fifth-generation internet and a project to build a "world-class" cancer treatment centre in eastern Chonburi province.

By AFP