Reinvigorating multilateralismLast year, the United Nations conducted a worldwide consultation involving more than one million people from 193 countries. Especially encouraging is that young people worldwide clearly want more international cooperation. We, therefore, welcome the secretary-general's suggestions for how to strengthen global foresight and risk-management capacity, including the proposal for a new global "Emergency Platform." Lastly, we welcome the proposal for a Summit of the Future in 2023, and we should use that opportunity to step up our efforts to strengthen international cooperation. Together, we must reinvigorate rules-based multilateralism, with a stronger and more inclusive UN at its core.

Agriculture agencies put under PrawitDeputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has been assigned to oversee four agencies under the Agriculture and Cooperative Ministry, which were previously handled by former deputy agriculture minister Capt Thamanat Prompow. Deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Taisaranakul said the cabinet acknowledged an order by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for Gen Prawit to oversee the four agencies temporarily. Under the order, the work of the four agencies will be screened by the agriculture minister and any submissions to the cabinet will be made via Gen Prawit, instead of Deputy Prime Minister Jurin Laksanawisit, the spokeswoman said. Asked if Gen Prawit, who is the PPRP leader, will retake the Agriculture and Cooperative Ministry from the Democrat Party, Mr Jurin only said the matter has not been raised. Last month, Capt Thamanat was sacked as deputy agriculture minister, as was Narumon Pinyosinwat, who was dismissed as a deputy labour minister.

Alcohol ban in Phuket restaurants gets liftedTourists visiting the resort island of Phuket will be able to order alcoholic beverages from tomorrow at restaurants that used to serve alcohol before it was prohibited as part of the government's Covid-19 control measures. Dated Sept 28, the announcement deals with a range of changes to Covid-19 restrictions, which are due to take effect tomorrow. While night entertainment venues and business establishments including cock-fighting rings and boxing stadiums will remain closed, shopping malls and restaurants will be allowed to resume almost-normal operations, according the announcement. Live music will be allowed at restaurants while at most five members will be allowed per band, said the announcement. Aphisit Ubonkomut, director of Hua Hin airport in Prachuap Khiri Khan, said Air Asia will resume flights between Hua Hin and Chiang Mai every Friday and Sunday from Oct 15.

SC looks to low-rise demandAn artist's rendition of a single detached house at Bangkok Boulevard Signature Phetkasem-Pin Klao project with 59 units priced from 20-30 million baht. Chief financial officer Pradthana Patsaman said low-rise houses priced 10 million baht and above per unit saw high growth in the first half as demand had less impact from the economic slump. About 83% or 9.4 billion baht derived from low-rise houses, while 17% or 1.95 billion baht came from condos. Revenue in the first six months rose 11% to 8.71 billion baht with the largest share from low-rise houses at 6.82 billion baht. "We still maintain revenue and presales target of 19 billion baht and 20 billion baht, respectively, by the end of 2021."

EEC seeks to lure Japanese investorsThe Eastern Economic Corridor Office and the Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) have pledged to work together to encourage Japanese firms and other companies located in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) to tap more into digital manufacturing platforms to reduce production costs. Kanit Sangsubhan, secretary-general of the EEC Office, said his office and Jetro aim to promote 10,000 factories in EEC to transform their production to automation systems to reduce production costs by 30% within five years. The EEC Automation Park is scheduled to kick off next month. The automation park will offer upskilling and reskilling courses for engineers, high-skilled workers, university graduates and students to train in the automation systems. The EEC has targeted 200 factories to implement automation systems next year and all 10,000 factories will be transformed into automation systems within five years.

Local Covid-19 vaccine developers say they need support from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide a special "fast lane" to test their jabs for emergency use. Prof Kiat said the FDA should allow a dual process to conduct human trials for emergency use, together with booster vaccines. Porntip Wiwatwong, chief developer of HXP-GPOVac, an inactivated Covid vaccine from the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), backed the idea, saying the current process under the FDA's regulations will further delay local vaccine development. Ms Porntip said it would be useful for the local vaccine developers if the FDA could provide assistance to hasten the process. To date, 24.6 million doses have been delivered this year, including eight million this month.

Govt approves land grab for new bridgeThe cabinet has given approval for land expropriation in five districts in northern Bangkok to make way for the construction of a new six-lane bridge crossing the Chao Phraya River. The cabinet agreed to expropriate land in Bang O area of Bang Phlat district, along Nakhon Chai Si Road in Dusit district and the Bang Sue area. Land in Phaya Thai district's Samsen Nai area and Chatuchak's Chomphon and Chatuchak sub-districts will also be acquired for the bridge construction project. Ms Ratchada said the bridge will help ease chronic traffic congestion in the northern part of Bangkok. When the bridge is completed, it will be able to handle about 100,000 cars each day, which will ease traffic congestion in the northern part of the capital, she added.

Manny Pacquiao retires from boxingPhilippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has retired from the ring. MANILA: Philippine superstar and presidential hopeful Manny Pacquiao announced on Wednesday he is retiring from boxing after a glittering decades-long career in the ring, describing it as the "hardest decision" of his life. The eight-division world champion and national hero made the announcement weeks after losing his last professional fight, against Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, who entered politics in 2010 as a congressman before being elected to the Senate, said last week he will make a tilt for the country's highest office. Pacquiao, a married father of five, thanked his millions of fans around the world, and paid special tribute to his long-time trainer Freddie Roach who he described as "my family, a brother and a friend".

Floods killed 7, persist in 16 provincesRescue workers evacuate flood victims in Non Thai district of Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday. (Photo: Prasit Tangprasert)The confirmed death toll from Storm Dianmu's passage through Thailand has risen to seven, with flooding persisting in 16 provinces, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Wednesday. From Sept 23 flooding caused by the storm affected 197,795 families in 30 provinces. Seven people were confirmed to have died in the floods. One person was still missing.

Pfizer vaccine shipment arrivesPublic Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul takes delivery of the first 2 million doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine ordered by the government, at Suvarnabhumi airport on Wednesday morning. Mr Anutin said the 2 million doses were the first of the government's order for 30 million doses. The prime target is children aged 12-18 years, about 5 million in total, with 10 million doses of Pfizer vaccine reserved for them. The Pfizer vaccine will also be used in cross-vaccine formulas decided by a sub-committee on immunisation - Sinovac plus AstraZeneca or AstraZeneca plus Pfizer. He expected inoculations with Pfizer vaccine to start next week.

Finance minister says monetary policy must be accommodativeFinance minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith speaks in Parliament on June 9, 2021. (Parliament photo)Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said on Wednesday that monetary policy needed to be kept accommodative and be in step with fiscal policy to support the economy. Speaking to a business seminar organised by the Prachachart Thurakij business media group, the minister also said that exports should be able to underpin economic growth this year. "Monetary policy must be accommodative to allow fiscal policy to work," he said. The government will borrow domestically for now but may seek foreign loans if the economy recovers, Mr Arkhom said.

Prices soar at opium market in Taliban-ruled AfghanistanOpium vendors and buyers chat over green tea around sacks of opium and hashish at a market in Afghanistan. HOWZ-E-MADAD, Afghanistan: As the economy teeters on the brink of collapse, vendors at an opium market in southern Afghanistan say prices for their goods have skyrocketed since the Taliban takeover. Buyers are bracing for a looming shortage, "so the opium price is soaring," said Zekria, who also used a pseudonym to avoid retribution. Afghanistan's opium production has since remained high year after year, producing some 6,300 tonnes last year alone, the UN says. In his office in Kandahar, head of the province's culture department Maulvi Noor Mohammad Saeed told AFP that "opium production is haram and bad for people".

Vietnam's lockdown ensnares world's clothing giantsThe pandemic has hit Vietnam's textile industry and is threatening global coffee supplies. HANOI: From shoes and sweaters to car parts and coffee, Vietnam's strict and lengthy coronavirus lockdown has sparked product shortages among worldwide brands such as Nike and Gap which have grown increasingly dependent on the Southeast Asian nation's manufacturers. The snarl-ups at Vietnam's factories are part of a broader crisis around the planet that is sending inflation surging and raising concerns about the pace of recovery in the global economy. Now, "travel restrictions have jeopardised all logistics in and out... this has created long, long delays," she told AFP. "If we can allow the factories to work then I think the trust (in Vietnam) is still there."

The second expert panel Step Into Her World: Engaging to Empower Online discussed key drivers of misinformation on family planning and contraception online, the need for credible voices on popular platforms and the importance of sustained dialogue. “Our diverse region has one of the highest unmet needs for contraception and the lowest contraception prevalence rate, and these statistics are concerning. They also called for wider public support to join in the pledge and give voice to women’s health needs and empowerment. “Safeguarding women’s health and preserving the progress made on access to contraception remain our top priority amidst COVID-19. Retrieved from: https://www.unfpa.org/press/new-unfpa-data-reveals-nearly-12-million-women-lost-access-contraception-due-disruptions(2) International Planned Parenthood Federation “COVID-19 pandemic cuts access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for women around the world.” https://www.ippf.org/news/covid-19-pandemic-cuts-access-sexual-and-reproductive-healthcare-women-around-worldCOR-UN-WHC-TH-0004-1 (09/21)

Japan ruling party votes on next prime ministerJapan's ruling party is choosing its new leader and the country's next prime minister in an unusually tight raceTOKYO - Japan's ruling party picks its new leader Wednesday, with a mild-mannered former foreign minister and the Twitter-savvy vaccine chief leading the race to become the country's next prime minister. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is going to the polls with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga opting not to stand, ending his tenure as premier after just a year in the role. Whoever wins will be approved as prime minister by parliament within days, and will then contest general elections in which the LDP is expected to retain power. A former defence and foreign minister, he has been considered a likely candidate for the top job for years. His main rival is Fumio Kishida, a former foreign minister and LDP policy chief who has pledged more pandemic stimulus if elected.