Krabi Prison Inmates Riot to Demand Better COVID-19 Care
BANGKOK (AP) — Hundreds of inmates set fire at a prison in southern Thailand in a riot over demands for better medical care for those suffering from COVID-19, officials said Friday.
Pope at 85: No More Mr Nice Guy, as Reform Hits Stride
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis celebrates his 85th birthday on Friday, a milestone made even more remarkable given the coronavirus pandemic, his summertime intestinal surgery and the weight of history: His predecessor retired at this age and the last pope to have lived any longer was Leo XIII over a century ago.
Afghanistan’s Health Care System on the Brink of Collapse
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The diesel fuel needed to produce oxygen for coronavirus patients has run out. So have supplies of dozens of essential drugs. The staff, unpaid for months, still shows up for work, but they are struggling to make ends meet at home.
Nearly A Third of Bangkok Faces Unhealthy Microdust
BANGKOK — Eighteen out of 50 Bangkok districts experienced unhealthy air quality Thursday morning as the micro-dust PM 2.5 returns.
Omicron Slated To Be Dominant Variant in EU by Mid-January
BRUSSELS (AP) — Omicron is expected to be the dominant coronavirus variant in the European Union’s 27 nations by mid-January, the bloc’s top official said Wednesday amid concerns that a dramatic rise in infections will leave Europe shrouded in gloom during the holiday season.
Limited Reopening Approved for Iconic Maya Bay
KRABI — National park officials have agreed to the return of tourists to the scenic Maya Bay after more than three years of closure for the sake of ecological rehabilitation, media reports say.
Data in South Africa Indicate Omicron is Better at Evading Vaccines
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The omicron variant appears to cause less severe disease than previous versions of the coronavirus, and the Pfizer vaccine seems to offer less defense against infection from it but still good protection from hospitalization, according to an analysis of data from South Africa, where the new variant is driving a surge in infections.
NYE Bashes Can Take Place, With Some Conditions, Gov’t Says
BANGKOK — The Center for COVID-19 Situation Admistration has issued a directive on Tuesday following its decision to allow each province to permit holding of New Year Countdown Parties until 1am of Jan 1.
No Troops Disciplined in US Strike Killing Afghan Civilians
WASHINGTON (AP) — No U.S. troops involved in the August drone strike that killed innocent Kabul civilians and children will face disciplinary action, U.S. defense officials said Monday.
Anutin Pushes for Wider Legalization of Cannabis Substances
BANGKOK — The government is aiming to loosen more laws on the use of marijuana plants, including a proposal to decriminalize the THC-rich flowers and buds, health minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters.
