Govt wants China in on key projectsThailand has invited China to enter into closer cooperation on the former's Motorway-Rail Map (MR Map) project and Southern Land Bridge scheme. The invitation was reportedly extended by Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob through Han Zhiqiang, the Chinese ambassador to Thailand during their meeting yesterday. These two projects are also aimed at connecting Thailand with its neighbours in order to build new sustainable economic, trade and investment opportunities, said Mr Saksayam after yesterday's meeting. He said he had also discussed with the Chinese ambassador progress in the Thai-Chinese railway project, among other areas of cooperation between the two nations. As for the last part of the railway to stretch from Nong Khai to Vientiane, talks are being carried out between Thailand, Laos and China to complete development of the route.

Political paralysis, Covid surge: problems pile up for BidenUS President Joe Biden returns to the White House after spending the weekend in Wilmington, DelawareWASHINGTON - A defiant rejection of his massive social spending bill by a single US senator and a surge in Covid cases are imperiling Democrat Joe Biden just a year into his presidency. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought to rally his demoralized troops, pledging to bring the bill -- the centerpiece of Biden's domestic agenda -- to the Senate floor. How they could do so without the crucial vote of the Democratic senator from West Virginia in an evenly divided Senate is not clear. Biden has attempted to impose vaccine mandates on private businesses and federal employees but has resorted in recent weeks to little more than publicly beseeching people to get their shots. He is to make a speech on Covid on Tuesday.

Test & Go entry may be suspended on Omicron concernsArriving visitors crowd Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday. The "Test and Go" entry programme is likely to be suspended, and quarantine reinstated, due to Omicron concerns. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)The Public Health Ministry will recommend the suspension of the "Test and Go" convenient entry programme for fully vaccinated air travellers because of the escalating Omicron variant situation worldwide. He said Thailand had detected more than 80 Omicron cases to date. "Most Omicron cases detected were arrivals at Suvarnabhumi airport and they formed a quarter of the Covid-19 cases found there.

Rescued turtle had gut full of trashA young green turtle defecated almost a dozen of bits of plastic and trash from its tiny stomach after being rescued in a fishing net off the coast of Argentina. - REUTERSA young green turtle defecated almost a dozen of bits of plastic and trash from its tiny stomach after being rescued in a fishing net off the coast of Argentina. The turtle, about 35 centimeters long, expelled a total of 18 grams of plastic fragments ​such as nets, plastic caps, styrofoam, nylon, and cellophane, according to vets. "When the animal was isolated in these pools, we saw that it quickly began to eliminate a large amount of plastic waste in its feces. ​Despite the turtle releasing a large amount of waste, x-rays revealed a blockage of debris in the animal's intestines.

Govt aims for 4% growthFinance Minister Arkhom TermpittayapaisithThe government will work to achieve economic growth of 4% next year despite a lacklustre recovery in tourism, according to Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith. The ministry and the Bank of Thailand will work closely to coordinate financial and fiscal policies to ramp up growth to 4% next year, Mr Arkhom told an economic seminar at Thammasat University on Sunday. This is despite the economy reporting 1.3% growth in the first nine months of this year. To offset the impact, the government has launched a raft of stimulus and relief measures financed by a combined 1.5 trillion baht in borrowing. Next year, the government is injecting into the economy an investment fund worth one trillion baht drawn mostly from the current fiscal year budget as well as from what is left of the 1.5 trillion baht loans.

State shipping company to fly 'hub' flagThe government plans to set up a national shipping line company to promote Thailand as a regional logistics hub for maritime trade. Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Sunday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed state agencies to study the possibility and cost-effectiveness of setting a shipping line company. The panel also inspected the transport of goods in the Gulf of Thailand at Chuk Samet port in Chon Buri, Mr Thanakorn said. The panel also stressed the need for state agencies to cooperate with the private sector to develop port infrastructure through automation, and improve legal regulations to support domestic marine shipping. Another aim is to improve the skills of commercial shipping personnel to push for Thailand to become a marine logistics hub, Mr Thanakorn said.

Country's representative has become one of the leading draws at World Expo 2020People watch a performance at the Thai Pavilion at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai. The World Expo 2020 was rescheduled after being postponed last year due to the pandemic, but the organisers maintained the original name for marketing and branding purposes. So far there have been 500,000 visitors, and the Thai Pavilion welcomed a good 10% of that," he said. The burgeoning medical tourism sector generated an impressive 5.4 billion baht prior to the pandemic. The agency said the country is submitting a bid to the Bureau International des Expositions in France to host a medical expo in 2028 in Phuket.

Security forces fired tear gas canisters -- leaving several wounded, witnesses said -- as activists at the presidential palace in Khartoum chanted slogans against military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who led a coup on October 25. "The people want the downfall of Burhan," the protesters shouted as additional security forces were deployed to surround the swelling crowd. The move alienated many of Hamdok's pro-democracy supporters, who dismissed it as providing a cloak of legitimacy for Burhan's coup. Nationwide, at least 45 people have been killed and scores more wounded, according to the independent Doctors' Committee. He warned that anything could happen over the next few months with the military still firmly in power.

(Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)Thailand logged 2,899 new Covid-19 cases and 22 more fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Sunday morning. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 2,191,528 Covid-19 cases, with 2,128,358 complete recoveries so far. The vast majority of the Covid cases and deaths have occurred since April 1, around when the third wave of Covid-19 began. The kingdom’s all-time 24-hour high of Covid-19 fatalities was 312 recorded on Aug 18. Global Covid-19 cases rose by 557,866 in 24 hours to 274 million.

Ex-Bangkok governor Bhijit joins Chadchart in gubernatorial raceFormer Bangkok governor Bhijit Rattakul has joined Chadchart Sittipunt as a team member in a Bangkok election expected mid-next year. (Bangkok Post file photo)Former Bangkok governor Bhijit Rattakul has joined Chadchart Sittipunt as a team member in his run for the top spot at City Hall. Mr Bhijit said he was happy to work with the former transport minister in improving the quality of life for Bangkok residents. Mr Bhijit was Bangkok governor from 1996 to 2000, when he ran as an independent candidate, and was also a Democrat Party MP. Mr Chadchart was the most popular candidate in surveys of Bangkok voters by the National Institute of Development Administration and Suan Dusit Rajabhat University.

Dense fog, cold spell hits north IndiaDense fog and a cold spell gripped parts of north India on Saturday (December 18), making it difficult for people to carry out their daily activities. - REUTERSPeople in northern Amritsar, Moradabad cities and New Delhi were also facing visibility issues due to foggy conditions. Snowfall in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh has a direct impact in other northern states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. South Asia's winters are not as cold as other regions such as North America, but the millions of poor here are hit harder because they live in the open and do not have enough warm clothes and often die.

Independent candidates preferred for Bangkok governor post: pollHeavy rain on Oct 14, 2021 causes floods and paralyses traffic on Ngam Wong Wan Road. Traffic congestion is the top issue that residents want the Bangkok governor to solve. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)According to a survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, independent candidates are preferred over those aligned with political parties for the post of Bangkok governor, and Chadchart Sittipunt still leads the race. Asked whether the Bangkok governor should be from a political party or not, 65.72% said either way is acceptable to them; 21.90% said he or she should be an independent; and 12.38% said he or she should be from a political party. Asked who among potential candidates they liked the most, 56.72% chose Chadchart Sittipunt, an independent; 29.60% Suchatvee Suwansawat of the Democrat Party; 10.62% Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang, the current Bangkok governor; 2.26% Rossana Tositrakul, an independent; and 0.80% other candidates.

Court injunction compels state cover for alternative-vaccine side effectsA medical professional gives a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot at the Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok on Saturday. The injunction stems from a petition by lawyer Ratchapol Panthongphan against the Public Health Ministry. As a consumer, he was entitled to free public health services and protection against diseases provided by the state. If recipients of such vaccines develop undesirable conditions or side effects, they should receive free emergency treatment at state hospitals, the court said. The court said the injunction should not pose an obstacle to the government's public health service management.

Fully vaccinated visitors on pre-booked tours will be able to enter from Jan 1 and visit Vientiane, the eco-tourism hotspot Vang Vieng and the Unesco World Heritage-listed Luang Prabang, state media reported on Friday. Laos was receiving about 4.7 million foreign tourists each year before the pandemic. Above Laos Ballooning Adventures, based in Vang Vieng, said it used to run two hot-air balloon flights a day during the high season. Alex Tran, owner of the Camellia Hotel in Vang Vieng, said revenue was down 95% because of the border closures. “Many hotels in Vang Vieng are empty and have closed temporarily for around two years because there are no tourists,” he told AFP.

Taliban govt resumes issuing Afghan passportsAlam Gul Haqqani, head of the passport office (C), says the Taliban will resume issuing passports after a deluge of applications had caused biometric equipment to break downKABUL: Afghanistan's Taliban authorities said Saturday they will resume issuing passports in Kabul, giving hope to citizens who feel threatened living under the Islamists' rule. Thousands of Afghans have also applied for new travel documents to escape a growing economic and humanitarian crisis described by the UN as an "avalanche of hunger". The authorities will start issuing the travel documents from Sunday at Kabul's passport office, Alam Gul Haqqani, the head of the passport department in the interior ministry, told reporters. The Taliban stopped issuing passports shortly after their August 15 return to power, as tens of thousands of people scrambled to Kabul's only airport in a bid to catch any international flight that could evacuate them. Issuing passports is seen as a test of the Taliban's commitment to the international community to allow eligible people to leave amid the growing humanitarian crisis.