Thailand’s Delegates Attend Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Ministerial Meeting In The US

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Thailand’s delegates attend Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Ministerial Meeting in the US

Thailand’s Delegates Attend Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Ministerial Meeting In The US

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Pornpimol Kanchanalak, Advisor To The Minister Of Foreign Affairs, In Her Capacity As The Special Envoy Of The Deputy Prime Minister And Minister Of Foreign Affairs Of Thailand, Attended The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Ministerial Meeting In Los Angeles Between September 8-9, 2022.

The Meeting was hosted by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. Attending the Meeting were the Ministers and high-level representatives from other IPEF partner countries, namely Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. The Thai delegation also comprised Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chulamanee Chartsuwan as Thailand’s Senior Official Leader, together with representatives of relevant lead agencies, namely the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Ministry of Finance.

Thailand’s delegates attend Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Ministerial Meeting in the US

The Meeting discussed ways to drive forward IPEF cooperation and announced 4 IPEF Ministerial Statements, covering important cooperation issues under 4 pillars, namely trade, supply chain, clean energy/decarbonization/infrastructure, and tax and anti-corruption. The Statements will guide IPEF Partner Countries toward concrete cooperation for sustainable and inclusive growth in the region, which will be further discussed in more detail. The Special Envoy reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment and readiness to work closely with other Partner Countries to steer IPEF cooperation toward tangible benefits for the people. The Special Envoy highlighted Thailand’s role and agenda as APEC Host of this year and emphasized that IPEF and APEC cooperation can be complementary in our pursuit toward sustainable economic growth in the region, particularly as the U.S. will be the APEC Host in 2023.

Thailand’s delegates attend Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Ministerial Meeting in the US

On this occasion, the Special Envoy attended the launch event of IPEF Upskilling Initiative, which will provide more than 7 million education and training opportunities, using digital tools, for women and girls in 8 IPEF economies, namely Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, within the period of 10 years up until 2032. The training opportunities will be provided by 14 leading U.S. companies. This initiative is the first concrete project under IPEF toward tangible outcomes for the peoples in the region. In this regard, Thailand looks forward to actively engaging in this initiative and can also take a proactive role as a potential contributor to human capital development projects under IPEF in the future.

Thailand’s delegates attend Indo-Pacific Economic Framework Ministerial Meeting in the US

The Meeting was the first in-person Ministerial Meeting since the launch of IPEF on May 23, 2022 in Tokyo. IPEF serves as a constructive, innovative, and flexible platform of cooperation for the mutual interest and tangible benefit of IPEF partner countries and their peoples.   

Queen’s Coffin Arrives In Edinburgh As Mourners Line Streets

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Queen's coffin arrives in Edinburgh as mourners line streets

Queen’s Coffin Arrives In Edinburgh As Mourners Line Streets

BY LINE : REUTERS

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Queen Elizabeth’s Coffin Arrived In Edinburgh On Sunday After A Six-Hour Journey From Her Summer Home In The Scottish Highlands, Past Tens Of Thousands Of Mourners Lining The Route, Many In Sombre Silence, Some Applauding And Others In Tears.

Shortly after 10 a.m. (0900 GMT), a hearse carrying Elizabeth’s oak coffin emerged from the gates of Balmoral Castle, where she died on Thursday aged 96, at the start of a slow drive to the Scottish capital.

The coffin was draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland with a wreath on top made of flowers taken from the Balmoral estate including sweet peas, one of Elizabeth’s favourites.

Crowds, fifteen deep in places, massed in the centre of Edinburgh to greet the cortege, as it made its way to the Palace of Holyroodhouse where it was met by a military guard of honour.

Princess Anne, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth, performed a curtsy as her mother’s coffin entered the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on Sunday.

Soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland then carried the coffin to the throne room of the palace where it will remain overnight.

Energy Ministry Lines Up Diesel Tax Cut, Power Bill Discounts As Fuel Crisis Deepens

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Energy Ministry lines up diesel tax cut, power bill discounts as fuel crisis deepens

Energy Ministry Lines Up Diesel Tax Cut, Power Bill Discounts As Fuel Crisis Deepens

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

The Energy Ministry Will Propose Two Measures To The Cabinet Tomorrow Aimed At Alleviating People’s Financial Burdens As Energy Prices Soar.

Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said he will propose extending the excise tax cut for diesel, currently set at 5 baht per litre but due to expire on September 20. He did not say how long the measure will last or whether the tax cut will remain at 5 baht.

The other proposal is for discounts on electricity bills for households. This measure is expected to last from September to December and will see households that use 301-500 units per month receive discounts of between 15 and 75 per cent off their bills.

Households using less than 300 units per month will get a discounted per-unit rate of 0.9204 baht.

The ministry estimates that the power-bill discounts will cost the government around 2 billion baht per month or 8 billion for four months. The discounts will be funded by the 2022-2023 central and emergency government budgets.

Supattanapong added that the Energy Ministry is also in talks with the Finance Ministry to issue tax benefits for households that install solar rooftop panels. This move is aimed at getting more people to use renewable energy.

He added that since the start of the global energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, the government has spent over 200 billion baht in energy subsidies to soften impacts on the general public. Of this, 120 billion baht has been spent on the Oil Fuel Fund to subsidise prices at the pump, while about 80 billion was used by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) to suppress fuel tariff rises.

Supattanapong said subsidy to Egat could soon exceed 100 billion baht if the price of natural gas in the global market continues to rise.

Apec Lays Out Path For Sustainable Growth Of MSMEs

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Apec lays out path for sustainable growth of MSMEs

Apec Lays Out Path For Sustainable Growth Of MSMEs

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

The 28th Apec Ministerial Meeting Focused On Using The BCG Model, Digital Transformation And Financial Policies To Boost The Capacity Of Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Deputy PM Suppattanapong Punmeehaow, who chaired the meeting, pointed out that MSMEs make up more than 98 per cent of the region’s businesses and contribute 40 to 60 per cent of the GDP in most Apec economies.

“Promoting a more resilient, inclusive and dynamic trade and investment environment that strengthens the role of Apec MSMEs in the global economy is critical to economic recovery and sustainability of the region,” he said.

Apec lays out path for sustainable growth of MSMEs

The Apec Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting, held on Friday and Saturday in Phuket, was attended by ministers responsible for MSMEs from 21 economies. Also present were delegates from the Apec Business Advisory Council and Asean countries.

The theme of the meeting was “Inclusive Recovery of Apec MSMEs through the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) Model and High Impact Ecosystem”.

Apec lays out path for sustainable growth of MSMEs

Supattanapong said the meeting focused on an inclusive, high-impact recovery plan in four priority areas, namely:

• BCG adoption: Promoting the BCG model to add value to MSME products and services, boost business opportunities and reinforce ongoing global efforts to address climate change.

• Digital transformation: Digitalisation to accelerate comprehensive development of MSMEs, boost recovery from the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic and move closer towards the Apec Putrajaya Vision 2040, which targets strong, balanced, secure, sustainable and inclusive growth. The aim is to equip MSMEs with digital skills and tools, so they can reach more markets and customers. MSMEs will also require more consultation, digital skills training and digital solutions.

Apec lays out path for sustainable growth of MSMEs

• Financing and debt restructuring for MSMEs: Apec countries are encouraged to address traditional lending constraints by introducing a credit enhancement scheme, credit mediation, alternative funding options like venture capital, sustainable finance, angel investment, private equity and promoting financial literacy. The aim should be to give MSMEs, especially those owned or led by women, greater and easier access to capital market financing.

• Coping with an evolving market landscape: The meeting embraced efforts to strengthen MSMEs’ competitiveness by improving the business environment for start-ups, fostering innovation, promoting participation in regional and global value chains and collaborating with large enterprises.

Apec lays out path for sustainable growth of MSMEs

Supattanapong said he hoped the meeting would result in greater cooperation among Apec countries to encourage MSMEs and start-ups to adopt the BCG model as well as new technology to compete in the global market and contribute to the sustainable growth of regional economies.

Apec lays out path for sustainable growth of MSMEs

Four Bangkok Districts Face Worse Floods As Sluice Gates Opened

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Four Bangkok districts face worse floods as sluice gates opened

Four Bangkok Districts Face Worse Floods As Sluice Gates Opened

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Four Districts In Eastern Bangkok Have Been Warned Of The Flood Situation Worsening As The City Administration Has Opened Two Flood Sluice Gates On Monday.

The public relations office of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced that the Lat Krabang and Wat Krathum Sua Pa sluice gates were being opened.

The opening of the two gates would further raise the water level in the already brimming Klong Prawet, the PR office said.

The four districts are Lat Krabang, Prawet Suan Luang and Phra Khanong.

Earlier, the BMA was taken to task by failed Bangkok governor candidate of the Democrat Party, Suchatchavee Suwansawat, for taking no action to lower the water level in Klong Prawet, the main canal in eastern Bangkok. Suchatchavee said the BMA should speed up draining of water in Klong Prawet via the Phra Khanong sluice gate.

The PR office of the BMA also warned residents of Don Muang, Sai Mai, Sam Wa, Lak Si, Bang Khen, Chatuchak and Lat Phrao districts to brace for more rains from 5pm to 8pm on Monday.

Also on Monday, BMA Governor Chadchart Sittipunt told a press conference that the flood situation in most Bangkok areas was improving because the water levels in several Bangkok canals were going down on Monday morning.

He said that monitoring by the BMA found that the water in Klong Lat Phrao had dropped by 50 centimetres and in Klong Prem Prachakorn by 30cm.

He said Klong Lat Krabang and Klong Prawet were worrying because the water levels had not gone down, and there had been additional 60mm of rains in the areas on Sunday night.

Chadchart said he had instructed officials to open more sluice gates in Lat Krabang and Phra Khanong districts to speed up the water flow.

“We can’t open all gates 100 per cent but we have to do it gradually and observe the result first,” Chadchart said.

He said the BMA would try to improve the floodwater draining system in the next few years.

The governor added that the floods on several main roads were improving, including the roads in Lat Krabang district and Pattanakarn Road, and Phaholyothin Road at the Lak Si roundabout.

He said the Thepparak and Chang Uthit roads still had some water but the BMA might be able to drain out all the floodwater if there were no more rains on Monday.

Speaking at the same press conference, Chadchart’s deputy, Wissanu Supsomphol, said the BMA has borrowed water pumps from the Royal Irrigation Department to install at flood-prone spots to speed up water draining.

He said the BMA was trying to improve water flow in the Lat Phrao canal and Saen Saeb canal and would channel some water through the flood tunnel. He said the tunnel would be used to drain floodwater in Lat Krabang district as well.

BMA city clerk Khachit Chatwanit told the press conference that inner Bangkok was still safe from floods.

He said the BMA has received help from the Royal Thai Navy to deploy boats to speed up water flow on major canals and speed up water channelling to the flood tunnel.

Khachit said the water level was below the critical point and more water could be received from Suan Luang and Prawet districts.

“If there is a speedy outflow of water from Suan Luang and Prawet to Phra Khanong, the water from Lat Krabang will be drained faster as well,” Khachit said.

He warned people living near canals to try to erect sandbag barriers outside their houses.

“We have prepared sandbags, medicine, and mobile toilets to serve such areas. The Royal Irrigation Department has done its best to help us but the downstream areas have high water,” Khachit said.

“We cannot drain floodwater via Samut Prakan, so we must channel water out via the eastern and southern sides, which already have a lot of water. Some water must also be channelled through the western side.”

Google Crowing About Lampang’s Iconic Rooster Bowl Today

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Google crowing about Lampang’s iconic rooster bowl today

Google Crowing About Lampang’s Iconic Rooster Bowl Today

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

The Lampang Rooster Bowl Is Crowing On Thai Google Today As The Search Engine Honours The Iconic Tableware’s Ninth Birthday As A Globally Recognised Product.

The cockerel-adorned bowls – which are popular across Asia – were registered as a Geographical Indication (GI) product of the northern province on this day in 2013.

Google Thailand is marking the occasion with a Google Doodle featuring an animated rooster running across the surface of the bowl.

Previous Thai events celebrated with a unique Google Doodle include Songkran, National Teachers’ Day, Loy Krathong, and Thai Language Day.

The Thai Intellectual Property Department has so far registered 152 Geographical Indication patents for products nationwide. They include 18 rice varieties, 30 local dishes, 73 fruits or vegetables, 11 types of cloth, 18 handicrafts and industrial products, and two liquors.

The first recorded producer of Lampang rooster bowls was Simyu sae Chin, who discovered white kaolin clay at Ban Pang Kha village in Lampang’s Chae Hom district.

He noticed that the clay was the same type used in China to make bowls.

As a result, Simyu set up the first ceramics factory in Lampang, making bowls with the same techniques as used in China.

He decorated the products with rooster and flower patterns and sold the ceramic bowls in Lampang and other provinces.

With their traditional design of a rooster with black tail and legs walking on green fields, the Lampang bowls quickly spread to all corners of the country.

Google crowing about Lampang’s iconic rooster bowl todayBut as the years passed, people began using other types of bowls, prompting ceramic factories to shut down in the northern province.

The few remaining factories formed an association of Lampang ceramic makers to ensure that the famed rooster bowls strut on into the future.

Bad Weather Forces Chiang Mai National Park To Close

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Bad weather forces Chiang Mai national park to close

Bad Weather Forces Chiang Mai National Park To Close

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Chiang Mai’s Ob Khan National Park Closed Its Doors To Tourists On Monday In Response To Fears Of Flash Floods And Landslides.

The national park, which spans 484 square kilometres across the districts of Samoeng, San Pa Tong, Hang Dong and Mae Wang, announced that it was closing until the situation returns to normal.

The Thai Meteorological Department has announced that most of Thailand will be hit by heavy rain on Monday and warned people to beware of flash floods and overflows, especially along the foothills near waterways and lowlands.

One of the famous attractions in Ob Khan National Park is Khun Tian, the highest peak at 1,550 metres above sea level that features panoramic views of the park, the adjacent Doi Suthep-Pui National Park to the east, and Mae Wang National Park and Doi Inthanon National Park to the west.

Bad weather forces Chiang Mai national park to close
Bad weather forces Chiang Mai national park to close

Covid-19 Shortened Life Expectancy By Two Years: UN Report

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Covid-19 shortened life expectancy by two years: UN report

Covid-19 Shortened Life Expectancy By Two Years: UN Report

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Human Life Expectancy Was Shortened By Two Years Mainly Because Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, A Respiratory Disease Expert Said, Citing A UN Study.

Dr Manoon Leechawengwongs, a respiratory and critical care specialist at Bangkok’s Vichaiyut Hospital, cited the report titled “Uncertain times and unsettled lives”, which is part of the Human Development Index (HDI) 2021 report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Manoon said the report, which was presented by the UN on September 8, found that human life expectancy had dropped from 73 in 2019 to 71.4 in 2021.

The report also pointed out that the average educational level and average standard of living had also deteriorated because of the pandemic.

The report found that global GDP had dropped during 2020 to 2021, causing the global HDI to decline by five years, Manoon said.

He said the HDI scores had been improving for 30 consecutive years but the 2021 report showed a drop for the first time in 30 years.

Manoon said Covid had a more severe impact on human life than PM2.5 pollutants. As a result, he said people should get Covid vaccines or booster doses and always protect themselves by wearing flu masks and frequently wash their hands.

Heavy Rain Forecast For Most Of Thailand Today

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Heavy rain forecast for most of Thailand today

Heavy Rain Forecast For Most Of Thailand Today

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

Heavy To Very Heavy Rain Will Hit Most Of Thailand On Monday Thanks To The Moderate Monsoon Trough Lying Across The North, Upper Central And The East.

The low-pressure cell over southern Vietnam and southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, the South and the Gulf of Thailand will also contribute to the wet weather, the Meteorological Department said.

Continuous rain can be expected across the country, while isolated heavy to very heavy rain is possible in the North, Northeast, Central region including Bangkok and its vicinity, the East and the east coast of the South.

People have been warned of flash floods and runoffs, especially along the foothills, near waterways and lowlands.

Temperature is expected to vary from lows of 22 to 26 degrees Celsius and highs of 28 to 34 degrees Celsius.

The east coast of the South will also be battered by metre-high waves, which will get higher in thundershowers. On the west coast, waves are expected to be above 2-metres high from Phuket upwards but will drop in size from Krabi downwards.

20 Navy Boats Sent To Rayong To Help Redirect Floods

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20 Navy boats sent to Rayong to help redirect floods

20 Navy Boats Sent To Rayong To Help Redirect Floods

BY LINE : THE NATION

MON, SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

The Royal Thai Navy Has Deployed A Fleet Of 20 Boats To Help Push Water From Prasae River Into The Gulf Of Thailand To Ease Flooding In Rayong’s Klaeng District.

Provincial governor Charnna Iamsaeng said the river had overflowed due to continuous heavy rain since Saturday and flooded several parts of the district.

The operation of pushing water towards the sea kicks off on Monday initially in Ban Na, Thung Khwai Kin and Thang Kwian subdistricts, which have been the worst hit.

20 Navy boats sent to Rayong to help redirect floods

Charnna added that as of Sunday evening, flooding on the Pho Thong-Ban Na Road, which connects the three subdistricts, had mostly subsided, allowing officials to distribute basic necessities among affected communities. So far, more than 2,000 survival kits have been distributed.

20 Navy boats sent to Rayong to help redirect floods

On Sunday, Thai Red Cross volunteers also arrived in Rayong’s Muang district and set up a cooking station to provide for flood victims evacuated from Klaeng district.

20 Navy boats sent to Rayong to help redirect floods
20 Navy boats sent to Rayong to help redirect floods

The Navy had also dispatched some 80 boats on Friday to push water from the Chao Phraya River into the sea to ease flooding in Greater Bangkok.

Vice Admiral Pokkrong Monthatpalin, Royal Thai Navy spokesman, said provincial governors can turn to the Navy for help by calling its 24-hour flood relief centre at 1696.