THAILAND – Thailand’s king has officially endorsed Paetongtarn Shinawatra, a scion of the country’s most famed and divisive political dynasty, to become the country’s new prime minister. Her appointment follows a series of twists and turns in Thai politics over the past week, during which the Constitutional Court ousted Srettha Thavisin, her predecessor from the same Pheu Thai party.

The country’s youngest ever prime minister at 37 years old, Paetongtarn is the daughter of ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. She becomes Thailand’s second woman prime minister, after her aunt – and Thaksin’s sister – Yingluck Shinawatra. On Sunday, King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s approval was read to her by the secretary of the House of Representatives at Pheu Thai headquarters in the capital Bangkok.

Paetongtarn got down on her knees and paid homage to a portrait of the king, before giving a short speech thanking him. “This is the highest honor and pride in my life,” she said after the endorsement. “I, my family and the Pheu Thai party greatly appreciate His Majesty’s kindness. I am determined to perform my duties with my loyalty and honesty for the benefit of the nation and the people,” she added.

She is expected to appoint her 35-member cabinet and will lead the ministers in swearing an oath before the king. The new government will, she said, continue to push a soft-power initiative that taps the country’s historic and contemporary cultures, as well as tourism. (CNN) …[+]

BEIJING – China continues to face a complex and severe flood-control situation, with heavy rainfall still posing risks of secondary disasters in different regions, Vice Minister of Water Resources Wang Bao’en said Monday.

At a press briefing, Wang said the country remains in the main flood season despite the end of a critical flood-control period from mid-July to mid-August. Currently, the Wusuli River is witnessing an ongoing surge, exceeding safety levels, while the risks of secondary disasters caused by heavy rain remain, and the impact of looming typhoons still persists, Wang said.

In a Monday alert, the Ministry of Emergency Management said that heavy rainstorms are anticipated in Guangdong’s eastern coast and southwestern Liaoning from Monday to Tuesday, and that an emergency response has been activated for the two provinces.

Since July, torrential rains and floods have affected both the north and south of China, with the country recording a 120 percent increase in rivers issuing warnings for high water levels compared to the same period in previous years. Meanwhile, 30 rivers have reported their biggest floods in history. To cope with the floods, over 1,000 large and medium-sized reservoirs across multiple river basins have been mobilized for flood control to significantly alleviate the flood-control pressure in downstream regions, according to the Ministry of Water Resources. (Xinhua) …[+]

GUYANA – Legendary Guyanese singer, David Martins died Sunday afternoon after a period of illness. His wife, Annette Arjoon in a Facebook post said Eternally grateful to have shared fifteen years of unconditional love, support and especially shared passions for everything Guyanese with my soulmate. Known for his many hit songs including Not a blade a grass which resonated across the Caribbean, the singer’s work was however not limited to English and Caribbean style genres but is also rooted in Latin Culture something inherently intertwined in his lineage. Guyanese on social media last night celebrated his life’s work and expressed condolences to his wife and other relatives.

In a statement, President Irfaan Ali said he is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of “a true Caribbean icon, Dave Martins, whose music was the heartbeat of our region.” Ali said as the leader of the Tradewinds band, Dave captured the essence of the Caribbean spirit and its identity, blending upbeat rhythms with biting satire that spoke to our hearts and minds. The President said his music not only invited “us to laugh at ourselves but also encouraged us to stand tall and be proud of our Guyanese and Caribbean heritage. The Guyanese leader said Not a Blade of Grass his timeless anthem, stands as a powerful statement to our nation’s collective resistance against threats to our sovereignty and territorial integrity. “In our moments of challenges, it was Dave’s music that lifted our spirits, reminding us of the strength and resilience we hold as a people and our duty never to surrender an inch of our territory.

Ali said Dave Martin was more than just a musician; he was a true Caribbean person whose influence extended beyond borders, touching the lives of countless individuals across the region. “His loss is deeply felt, not only in Guyana but throughout the entire Caribbean and in our diaspora.

Whenever his music plays, no matter where you are, it stirs a deep sense of pride in being a Caribbean person. The rhythms and melodies carry the essence of our shared heritage, reminding us of who we are and where we come from,” the President said. (Kaieteur News)

Photo: David Martins. …[+]

PARAMARIBO – The Ministry of Health is currently busy placing orders for the material needed to test people for monkeypox. It will also discuss the precautionary measures with the Public Health Bureau (BOG), Immigration Services and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Health Minister Amar Ramadhin pointed out that steps must be taken in response to the fact that WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has determined that the upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR). He also pointed out that he had a talk with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). Health officials must determine the rules for choosing the people who must be tested for monkeypox.

Committee Chair Professor Dimie  Ogoina said, “The current upsurge of mpox in parts of Africa, along with the spread of a new sexually transmissible strain of the monkeypox virus, is an emergency, not only for Africa,  but for the entire globe. Mpox, originating in Africa, was neglected there, and later caused a global outbreak in 2022. It is time to act decisively to prevent history from repeating itself.”

The two vaccines currently in use for mpox are recommended by WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, and are also approved by WHO-listed national regulatory authorities, as well as by individual countries including Nigeria and the DRC. Last week, the Director-General triggered the process for Emergency Use Listing for mpox vaccines, which will accelerate vaccine access for lower-income countries which have not yet issued their own national regulatory approval. Emergency Use Listing also enables partners including Gavi and UNICEF to procure vaccines for distribution…[+]