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BANGKOK (NNT) - Following the tourism industry’s recovery, Thai Airways International (THAI) has reported that its monthly income is almost back to pre-pandemic levels. Suvadhana Sibunruang, the airline’s interim CEO, stated that THAI had so far resumed around 70% of its international flights with a cabin factor (passenger load factor) of 85%. Suvadhana reported that the better load factors contribute to the airline’s current monthly income of around 12 billion baht, down from 15 billion baht before the pandemic. The THAI acting CEO highlighted that the airline has returned to profitability since May this year by decreasing costs and expenses, obtaining additional revenue sources, and shrinking its fleet from 103 to 61 aircraft following its bankruptcy filing in 2020. In 2021, THAI declared a debt of approximately 400 billion baht. However, creditors accepted a revised rehabilitation plan in September this year due to a faster-than-anticipated recovery of the country’s tourism industry. The amended rehabilitation plan permits THAI to borrow only 25 billion baht by 2024, as opposed to 50 billion baht under the original plan. Suvadhana added that THAI is also on track to resume trading on the stock market in 2025 or sooner, following the return to profitability. Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG221223111815083 -- © Copyright NNT 2022-12-23 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Thailand launches third phase of GPO’s inactivated COVID vaccine trials Thailand’s Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) launched the third phase of human trials of its COVID HXP-GPOVac on 4,000 volunteers today (Friday), after the success of the second phase involving 300 volunteers. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281450-thailand-launches-third-phase-of-gpo’s-inactivated-covid-vaccine-trials/

Thailand’s Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) launched the third phase of human trials of its COVID HXP-GPOVac on 4,000 volunteers today (Friday), after the success of the second phase involving 300 volunteers. Each volunteer will be given two doses of vaccine, of 10 micrograms each at least 14 days apart, after which their blood will be taken for tests, to check the level of immunity. Doctors will also assess the safety of the vaccine in humans and compare its efficacy against that of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is also an inactivated vaccine. The vaccine will be used as booster. Volunteers must be at least 18-years-old, physically healthy, without underlying diseases and not infected with COVID-19 in the past three months. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailand-launches-third-phase-of-gpos-inactivated-covid-vaccine-trials/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-12-23 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Another empty life raft washes ashore in Lang Suan district A second empty life raft, possibly from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai, was found washed ashore in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Thursday, as the search for the 23 missing crew continues. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281384-another-empty-life-raft-washes-ashore-in-lang-suan-district/

A second empty life raft, possibly from the sunken HTMS Sukhothai, was found washed ashore in Lang Suan district of Chumphon province on Thursday, as the search for the 23 missing crew continues. The first empty life raft was found drifting at sea about 30km off the coast of Lamae district yesterday (Wednesday) by the crew of a trawler. After an extensive search of coastal areas, which continued late into the night, volunteers from the Reporters Association of Pathio district found a pair of dark blue tracksuit bottoms with red stripe and a black cap with a sun shade washed ashore on Thung Chang Beach in Pathio district. The two items were collected and sent to the provincial office. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/another-empty-life-raft-washes-ashore-in-lang-suan-district/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-12-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Trucker Spills Dozens of Boxes of Beer on Pattaya Road A six-wheeler truck spilled hundreds of cans of beer and soft drinks all over Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya a little past noon today, December 22nd. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281380-trucker-spills-dozens-of-boxes-of-beer-on-pattaya-road/

A six-wheeler truck spilled hundreds of cans of beer and soft drinks all over Sukhumvit Road in Pattaya a little past noon today, December 22nd. The truck overturned and blocked one lane of one of the busiest routes in Pattaya in the Naklua subdistrict. The driver, 50-year-old Mr. Tossakorn Kullawanich, sustained no injuries, but his two unidentified coworkers were slightly injured by the accident. Tossakorn told The Pattaya News his truck’s wooden bed carrying many packages of soft drinks, water, and beer somehow fell off of his truck and spilled the cargo all over the road. It also caused his truck to overturn, Tossakorn stated. After examining the truck’s bed, Tossakorn found that the part that attached the bed to the truck was slightly bent and damaged. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/12/22/trucker-spills-dozens-of-boxes-of-beer-on-pattaya-road/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-12-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Transport Co. buses already 90% booked for next Wednesday and Thursday More than 90% of advance bus tickets, for travel from Bangkok to other provinces on December 28th and 29th, have been sold. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281379-transport-co-buses-already-90-booked-for-next-wednesday-and-thursday/

More than 90% of advance bus tickets, for travel from Bangkok to other provinces on December 28th and 29th, have been sold. Managing Director of the state-run Transport Company, Sanlak Panwatanalikit, said Thursday that he estimates that about 55,000 people will use the company’s buses and passenger vans for travel from Bangkok each day on December 28th and 29th, an increase of about 5% over last New Year. On the return trips to Bangkok on January 2nd and 3rd, about 53,000 passengers will use the company’s services each day. Altogether, there will be 3,300 bus trips per day for the return trips and 3,500 trips for the travel from Bangkok. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/transport-co-buses-already-90-booked-for-next-wednesday-and-thursday/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-12-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

People patrol a forest in Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Tao Several foreign businesses find it difficult to purchase carbon credits from Vietnam due to a lack of clear legal frameworks. On the sidelines of a conference on Tuesday, Pham Thu Thuy, director of the Climate Change, Energy and Low-Carbon Development team at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry, said there are several energy companies, finance and banking institutions and other foreign entities that would like to purchase carbon credits in Vietnam, but are hesitant to do so due to a lack of a clear legal framework. Carbon credits are permits that allow the owner of such credits to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. One credit represents the right to emit one ton of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/purchasing-carbon-credits-from-vietnam-difficult-without-clear-legal-frameworks-4551033.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-12-22

Vietnamese board a repatriation flight by Vietnam Airlines from San Francisco, June 8, 2020. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Airlines The Central Inspection Committee has proposed that the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat discipline the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his misconduct in the Covid-19 repatriation flight scandal. It recommended disciplinary action against the ministry's Party Civil Affairs Committee in the terms of 2016-2021 and 2021-2026, and former Vietnam Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam for their involvement in the same scandal. The inspectors also reprimanded the standing board of the ministry's Party Committee and issued a warning to the ministry's Consular Department Party Committee. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/foreign-ministry-s-leaders-should-be-punished-for-repatriation-scandal-investigators-4551130.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-12-22

Passengers wait at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi to board a flight to Japan's Tokyo, September 19, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy A group of 20 Vietnamese students and trainees in Japan have formed a labor union to help other compatriots in the country. Nguyen Van Bao, 24, deputy head of the managing committee of the Tomoiki Union, said there are many Vietnamese in Japan who cannot speak Japanese and have no one to support them. "As such, we would like to help those in such circumstances and spread useful information so that Vietnamese know their rights if they encounter issues in Japan," he said at a ceremony commemorating the formation of the union last week. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/vietnamese-in-japan-form-union-to-support-compatriots-4551156.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-12-22

A sex worker waits for customers, as seen in a file photo by Reuters. Eleven women, one as young as 14, who were forced into sex work by a husband-wife business couple, were rescued by the police in HCMC's District 12. The police raided a hotel owned by Le Thanh Doan, 36, and Le Thi Hue, 32, where they found the girls being guarded by Vu Duc Hoang, 42, Vu Hoang Tan, 18, Pham Hoang Em, 34, and Vu Van Tuan, 28. The latter four were arrested for trafficking people under 16 and the illegal arrest, detention or imprisonment of a person, the police said Wednesday. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/11-girls-forced-to-become-prostitutes-in-saigon-to-pay-off-debts-4551315.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-12-22

Fishing boats on the Tien River, a Mekong tributary in southern Vietnam, December 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Tai Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia have been asked to adopt stronger solutions to deal with plastic pollution in the Mekong River and its tributaries. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) said in a Wednesday report that the four member countries should establish a "joint, permanent mechanism to monitor and clean up pollutants that seep into the soil, air and fisheries and can affect both the ecosystem and human health." In its first ever report on "riverine plastic pollution" in the Lower Mekong River Basin (LMB), the MRC recommends that Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam pass and enforce new rules and regulations on waste littering, as well as the so-called "3Rs" model of reduce, reuse, recycle. The four were also urged to improve riverine plastics waste management. Full Story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/mekong-countries-urged-to-fight-plastic-pollution-in-rivers-4551469.html -- © Copyright VN Express 2022-12-22

MANILA, Philippines — A low pressure area located east of Mindanao is expected to bring rains over the eastern parts of the Philippines, state weather bureau PAGASA said Thursday. Residents of Bicol region, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas and CARAGA will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the LPA. The weather disturbance was last seen 215 kilometers east northeast of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur or 280 km east of Surigao City in Surigao del Norte. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/22/2232587/lpa-bring-rains-over-bicol-visayas-caraga -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-22

Suspended Bureau of Corrections director general Gerald Bantag. STAR / Russell Palma MANILA, Philippines — Suspended Bureau of Corrections Director General Gerald Bantag denied through his lawyer claims that he stabbed and abused inmates during his time as prisons chief. Bantag’s lawyer, Rocky Balisong, told CNN Philippines’ “The Source” on Thursday that “not one PDL (person deprived of liberty)” was hurt by the suspended prisons chief. Two New Bilibid Prison inmates had claimed that a drunken and furious Bantag stabbed them in February over a jailbreak that happened the month prior. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/22/2232584/suspended-bucor-chief-bantag-denies-stabbing-abuse-inmates -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-22

Undated file photo released by the United Nations Children's Fund shows children playing together outdoors. UNICEF / Joshua Estey, File MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights on Thursday highlighted the need for separate centers for children who are victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation. The commission also called attention to the lack of special training of prosecutors in handling child sexual abuse cases. To recall, Mama Fatima Singhateh — the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, including child prostitution, child pornography, and other child sexual abuse material — said that the Philippines remains a source and destination country for child trafficking, forced marriage, labor and sexual exploitation. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/22/2232599/chr-bats-centers-training-help-victims-child-sexual-abuse-and-exploitation -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-22

Officers pose as they inspect a shipment of refined sugar from a smuggled shipment worth 3.86 million USD seized by the Philippine Bureau of Customs at the Manila International Container Terminal in Tondo, Metro Manila on October 17, 2022. AFP / Jam Sta. Rosa MANILA, Philippines — An organization of sugar workers on Thursday said it opposes a government order fast tracking the importation of refined sugar, adding it is the peak harvest season and that there is enough for domestic consumption. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Agriculture to speed up the importation of 64,050 metric tons of refined sugar to stabilize prices. He said he was concerned with the "very high" November inflation rate for sugars, confectionery, and desserts at 38%. National Federation of Sugar Workers secretary general John Milton Lozande said the government should instead subsidize farmers' fertilizer and fuel costs if it wants to lower the price of sugar. He said this would help small planters lower their cost of production. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/22/2232612/sugar-workers-subsidies-sweeter-solution-importing-during-harvest-season -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-22

This handout video grab taken on April 27, 2021 and received from the Philippine Coastguard on May 5, 2021 shows the Philippine coastguard ship BRP Cabra (front) monitoring Chinese vessels at Sabina Shoal, a South China Sea outcrop claimed by Manila located about 135 kilometres (73 nautical miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan. Handout / Philippine Coastguard / AFP MANILA, Philippines — The Department of National Defense ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ramp up its presence in the West Philippine Sea to defend the country’s territory amid reports of encroachment. The DND gave the marching orders on Thursday following Bloomberg’s report, citing unnamed Western officials, earlier this week that detailed how Beijing is reclaiming more land in Spratly Islands, particularly over Eldad Reef (Malvar Reef), Lankiam Cay (Panata Island), Whitsun Reef (Julian Felipe Reef), and Sandy Cay. The activities were monitored close to Pag-asa Island. “Any encroachment in the West Philippine Sea or reclamation on features therein is a threat to the security of Pag-asa Island, which is part of Philippine sovereign territory,” the Defense department said in a statement. Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/22/2232610/armed-forces-ordered-increase-presence-west-philippine-sea -- © Copyright Philstar 2022-12-22

Angry ex-conscript shoots and injures two men over land sale dispute Two men were shot and injured by an ex-conscript over a land sale dispute in Chonburi’s Banglamung district, an eyewitness said. One sustained a gunshot to his head and was in a life-or-death situation. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281361-angry-ex-conscript-shoots-and-injures-two-men-over-land-sale-dispute/

Two men were shot and injured by an ex-conscript over a land sale dispute in Chonburi’s Banglamung district, an eyewitness said. One sustained a gunshot to his head and was in a life-or-death situation. Shots were fired at two victims, Mr. Sanae Hok-on, 58, and Mr. Komsan Khollek, 37, around 11:30 PM yesterday, December 21st. The bullets grazed Komsan’s left cheek and hit his left arm. However, another four bullets directly hit Sanae in the head, left chest, left arm, and right arm, putting him in critical condition. The incident occurred at a house in Soi Khao Makok 8 in the Huay Yai subdistrict. The first eyewitness, only identified as Tukkhata, told The Pattaya News the suspect was an ex-conscript, and he had run away after shooting the two victims. Before the shooting, the suspect had a verbal altercation with the victims before picking up a gun and spraying shots at them. Tukkhata said she ran away and did not get hit. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/12/22/angry-ex-conscript-shoots-and-injures-two-men-over-land-sale-dispute-in-pattaya-area/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-12-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Pattaya Police and Immigration Give New Year’s gifts to Tourists Pattaya police and immigration patrolled the city to greet tourists and ensure safety to welcome the coming Christmas and New Year’s Day. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281360-pattaya-police-and-immigration-give-new-year’s-gifts-to-tourists/

Pattaya police and immigration patrolled the city to greet tourists and ensure safety to welcome the coming Christmas and New Year’s Day. Pol. Lt. General Sukun Phrommai, commander-in-chief of the Tourist Police, dispatched more than 600 legal officers to inspect tourist spots around Pattaya. He said all officers had been instructed to ensure the safety of the public and tourists during the upcoming Christmas and New Year holiday seasons. The Tourist Police will be responsible for directly caring for tourists in the Pattaya area, according to Pol. Lt. Gen. Sukun. An influx of visitors both domestic and international is expected to flood the city during these next two holiday weekends. Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/12/22/pattaya-police-and-immigration-give-new-years-gifts-to-tourists/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-12-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!

Escape attempt from Bangkok Criminal Court foiled A criminal suspect’s attempt to escape from the Criminal Court today (Thursday), with the help of someone who arranged a change of clothes for him, was foiled by police and corrections officials who captured him after he left the court building in disguise. Full Story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1281359-escape-attempt-from-bangkok-criminal-court-foiled/

A criminal suspect’s attempt to escape from the Criminal Court today (Thursday), with the help of someone who arranged a change of clothes for him, was foiled by police and corrections officials who captured him after he left the court building in disguise. The suspect, Prasit Jiewkok, is on trial with eight accomplices on charges of public fraud and violations of Computer Crime Act, for allegedly operating gold futures investment, package tour and savings cooperatives schemes which promised unusually high returns. Most investors were not paid as promised, to the tune of several hundred million baht. During the trial today, Prasit asked the court’s permission to go to the toilet on the 9th floor, where clothes had been hidden for him to change into, and out of his prison garb. Full Story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/escape-attempt-from-bangkok-criminal-court-foiled/ -- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-12-22 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Monthly car subscription with first-class insurance, 24x7 assistance and more in one price - click here to find out more!