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☆ Thailand drops joint patrols with Chinese police after public backlash
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Thailand rolled back on Tuesday plans of joint patrols with Chinese police in popular tourist spots after public backlash. Tourism officials on Sunday floated the idea of having Chinese and Thai police patrol much-visited areas to build confidence among tourists, including Chinese nationals. "There are many alternative ways to build confidence for tourists in Thailand ... but we will not have joint patrols," Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol told reporters on Tuesday. "The Thai police force is already adequate and are working hard to restore confidence," Sudawan said. Restoring confidence is critical for Thailand's tourism industry, especially among Chinese visitors.

Persons: Helen Yi, Jorge Silva, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Sudawan, Chayut Setboonsarng, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Tourism, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Siam, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

☆ Thailand approves new, scaled down EV subsidy package - industry official
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An electric car is seen while being charged during the opening of a PTT Pcl energy firm's commercial EV (Electric Vehicle) charging station, in Bangkok, Thailand, August 15, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Thailand on Wednesday approved a new subsidy package for electric vehicles, an industry official said, in a move to support EV sales in a top regional auto hub where battery-powered cars are steadily gaining traction. The new package approved by the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee includes a lower subsidy than the current scheme ending this year, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, Kriengkrai Theinnukul, told reporters. EVs have enjoyed strong sales in Thailand this year, accounting for about half of all EV sales in Southeast Asia in the second quarter. Thailand currently offers a government subsidy of up to 150,000 baht ($4,100) per vehicle, but the amount could be brought down to 100,000 baht, a government official said last month.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Kriengkrai Theinnukul, EVs, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Orathai Sriring, Martin Petty Organizations: PTT, REUTERS, Rights, National Electric Vehicle, Federation of Thai Industries, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Southeast Asia, BYD

☆ Company that managed NZ White Island volcano, where 22 died in eruption, found guilty of safety breaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial view of the Whakaari, also known as White Island volcano, in New Zealand, December 12, 2019. Following the explosion on White Island, also known as Whakaari, the workplace regulator charged 13 parties in November 2020. Whakaari Management Ltd and the other entities, excluding Inflight Charters which had already been sentenced, are expected to be sentenced next year. Lawyers for Whakaari Management Ltd did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication. White Island is an active volcano, which lies around 50 km (31 miles) offshore from the town of Whakatane on the east coast of North Island.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Evangelos Thomas, Thomas, WML, Lucy Craymer, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Whakaari Management Ltd, Whakaari Management, Zealand, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, White, Whakatane, North, Australia, U.S, Malaysia

☆ Thai mall shooting victim's mother bids emotional farewell at cremation
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Mourners attend the cremation ceremony of Moe Myint, a 31-year-old Burmese victim of the Thailand mall shooting, at a temple in Nonthaburi, Thailand, October 8, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Silva Acquire Licensing RightsNONTHABURI, Thailand, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Among the hundreds mourning Moe Myint on Sunday was the mother of the Burmese victim of last week's shooting rampage at a Bangkok mall, seeming dazed at the cremation ceremony on the outskirts of the Thai capital. Tears streaking her face, Khin Win was revived with smelling salts as she sat at the Buddhist ceremony. Moe Myint was one of two killed when a 14-year-old boy went on a shooting spree at the luxury Siam Paragon shopping centre in Bangkok's bustling commercial area on Tuesday. Moe Myint's employer, Aksorn Chantarojvanich, who attended the funeral, said she would provide the family 10,000 baht ($270) a month, matching the remittances Moe Myint had sent home.

Persons: Moe Myint, Jorge Silva, Win, Khin Win, Moe Myint's, Aksorn Chantarojvanich, Tawee Sodsong, Napat Weshasartar, Panu, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, Siam Paragon, Thai, Thomson Locations: Thailand, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Thai, Siam, Myanmar

☆ Thai police arrest four suspected of selling modified gun to mall shooter
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Thai police arrested on Thursday four men suspected of illegally selling modified firearms to the teenager who opened fire in a luxury mall in Bangkok this week, killing two and wounding five. Two of the four were arrested in the Thai capital and two in the southern province of Yala on suspicion of selling a modified blank gun to the 14-year-old, who has been charged with premeditated murder and illegal possession of a firearm. Mass shootings are rare in Thailand, but gun violence and gun ownership is common. "The digital ministry will be shutting down websites selling blank guns," Jakkapong Sangmanee, the deputy foreign minister, told a separate briefing. The government plans to ban imports of blank guns, BB guns and imitation firearms, its deputy spokesperson, Karom Phonphonklang, said in a statement.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Samran Nuanma, Karom Phonphonklang, Chayut Setboonsarng, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thai, Thomson Locations: Siam, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Thai, Yala

☆ Suspected Thai mall shooter modified handgun designed to fire blanks - police
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] A general view shows the outside of the luxury Siam Paragon shopping mall after Thai police arrested a teenage gunman who is suspected of killing foreigners and wounding other people in a shooting spree, in Bangkok, Thailand, October 3, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Silva Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Oct 4 (Reuters) - A teenager suspected of killing two foreign nationals and wounding five others in a Thai shopping mall shooting had modified a handgun that was designed to fire only blanks, a senior police official said on Wednesday. Chaos erupted at the Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok close to peak hours on Tuesday, with hundreds fleeing as gunshots rang out. Major General Samran Nuanma said he modified a gun designed to fire blank rounds, to enable it to use live ammunition. Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Samran Nuanma, Torsak Sukvimol, Torsak, Panarat Thepgumpanat, Panu, Martin Petty, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Siam Paragon, Police, National, Thomson Locations: Siam, Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK, Thai, China, Myanmar

☆ Ukraine aid left out of the shutdown funding package as MAGA wing moves GOP toward a more isolationist stance
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A new US bill to prevent a government shutdown omits further aid for Ukraine. Ukraine's President Zelenskyy told US politicans, "If we don't get aid, we will lose the war." AdvertisementAdvertisementUS Congress passed a bill to fund government services temporarily but suspended aid to Ukraine, The Associated Press reported. The funding was later approved, but Ukraine aid opponents are growing in numbers. Yesterday, Joe Biden urged Congress to continue aid provisions to Ukraine, Sky News reports.

Persons: Zelenskyy, —, forestalling, Mitch McConnell, Marienko Andrew, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, J.D, Vance, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, JORGE SILVA, Marjorie Taylor Greene, MAGA, baselessly, Trump, Vladimir Putin's, Biden Organizations: Ukraine, US, Service, Associated Press, Republican Party, Trump MAGA, White House, Eastern, Bloomberg, Republicans, Trump, Economic Cooperation, Getty, Times, Georgia Rep, Republican, Sky News, Sky Locations: Ukraine, China, Kharkiv, America, Asia, Danang, Russia

[1/2] Thailand's central bank is seen at the Bank of Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand April 26, 2016. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 27 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. But another day of curve steepening, and 10-year nominal and real yields rising to new multi-year highs crushed stocks. U.S. bond market volatility - a key driver of global market stability and liquidity - had its biggest rise since early July. Investors in Asia will also note the significance of U.S. crude oil's rise on Tuesday after a few days of consolidation, not for the 1% rise in itself, but because it lifts the year-on-year price rise to almost 20%.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Jamie McGeever, Dow Jones, Josie Kao Organizations: Bank of, REUTERS, Bank, Dow, Nasdaq, Investors, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Bank of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand, Treasuries, Asia, Thailand's, Australia, China

Thailand's central bank is seen at the Bank of Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand April 26, 2016. Despite inflation in Thailand edging up slightly to 0.88% in August, it remained below the central bank's 1-3% target range for a fourth consecutive month, suggesting little need for the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to continue hiking. A strong majority of economists in a Sept. 18-22 poll, 21 of 27, expected the BOT to keep its benchmark one-day repurchase rate (THCBIR=ECI) at 2.25% on Wednesday. None expected the central bank to raise interest rates at the following meeting in November. Median forecasts showed interest rates remaining at 2.25% through next year.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, Lavanya Venkateswaran, Aris, Anant Chandak, Susobhan Sarkar, Devayani Sathyan, Jonathan Cable, Kim Coghill Organizations: Bank of, REUTERS, Bank of Thailand, Aris Dacanay, HSBC, Thomson Locations: Bank of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand, BENGALURU, China, ASEAN

☆ Thai economy may grow as forecast this year - deputy finmin
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Colorful umbrellas are seen in a restaurant as tourists enjoy a beach in the island of Phuket in Thailand January 19, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Thailand's economy may grow as forecast this year, helped by public consumption and investment after the formation of a new government, Deputy Finance Minister Krisada Chinavicharana said on Friday. The ministry has forecast economic growth of 3.5% this year. The new government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who is also finance minister, is seeking to revive Southeast Asia's second-largest economy and deliver on key campaign promises after an election in May. Reporting by Kitiphong Thaichareon; Writing by Orathai Sriring; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Krisada Chinavicharana, Srettha Thavisin, Kitiphong Thaichareon, Orathai Sriring, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Southeast, Thomson Locations: Phuket, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

☆ New Zealand pushes back start date for price on farm emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

New Zealand, home to 5 million people, has about 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep and nearly half its total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane. It is one of the first countries to announce it will price agricultural emissions, but the government has faced criticism from parts of the farming community which is concerned about the cost. “It’s important the system to manage and price agricultural emissions is workable, effective, fiscally responsible and set up to last. Scientifically validated carbon sequestration such as tree planting around waterways and indigenous forestry would be recognised in the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, he added. National, the largest opposition party, says it will only look to price farm emissions by 2030.

Persons: Noel Womersley, Canterbury Homekill, Jorge Silva, Damien O’Connor, ” Kate Acland, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Labour, Agriculture, Zealand, National, Thomson Locations: Canterbury, Christchurch , New Zealand, New Zealand, Zealand

REUTERS/Jorge SilvaBANGKOK/NEW DELHI, July 17 (Reuters) - Indian tourists are streaming into Southeast Asia, cementing the world most populous country's position as a key growth market for a travel and tourism sector that is feeling the pinch of China's slower-than-expected re-opening. "Southeast Asia is obviously very well positioned for a lot of the growth that is inevitably going to come from India," aviation analyst Brendan Sobie told an industry conference last month. Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said 1.6 million Indians were expected to visit the kingdom this year. Indians are helping to sustain a post-pandemic rebound for hospitality chains, including Minor Hotels, which has 45 properties in Southeast Asia with more than 6,000 rooms. Thailand's central bank expects 29 million visitors this year and 35.5 million in 2024.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Brendan Sobie, Tanes Petsuwan, Chai Eamsiri, Chai, Vinay Malhotra, IndiGo's, Sobie, Dillip, Pratyush Tripathy, That's, Somsong Sachaphimukh, Somsong, Pasit, Stefanno Sulaiman, Neil Jerome Morales, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Jorge Silva BANGKOK, Thai Airways, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Reuters, Asian Development Bank, Tourism Authority, IndiGo, Airbus, Minor, Bank of, Tourism Council of, Thomson Locations: India, Thailand, Patong, Phuket, DELHI, Asia, China, Thai, Singapore, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kolkata, Pattaya, Europe, United States, Thailand's, Bank of Thailand, Tourism Council of Thailand, BANGKOK, JAKARTA, MANILA

☆ New Zealand begins criminal trial over White Island volcanic eruption that killed 22
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Lucy Craymer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view of the Whakaari, also known as White Island volcano, in New Zealand, December 12, 2019. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File PhotoWELLINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - Tour booking agents and the managers of an island in New Zealand where a volcanic eruption killed 22 people, mostly tourists, in 2019 failed to properly prepare and warn visitors of the risks, prosecutors said at the start of a criminal trial on Tuesday. There were 47 people on the island when the volcano erupted, many of whom were badly burnt by searing gas and ash. Defence lawyers said their clients were not responsible for the health and safety of those on the island as that was the responsibility of others. The judge-only trial is scheduled to take 16 weeks with a number of victims from the eruption due to provide evidence.

Persons: Jorge Silva, Kristy McDonald, ” McDonald, “, Lucy Craymer, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, National Emergency Management Agency, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Australia, U.S, Malaysia, White, Whakaari, Whakatane, North

☆ Trump said Putin told him he was the most 'vicious' president ever but they still got along
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump boasted about his relationship with Vladimir Putin at a South Carolina rally. Trump said Putin described him as "vicious," but they still got along. "As Putin said, 'You are the most vicious president ever.' President Donald Trump (R) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin talk as they make their way to take the "family photo" during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit in the central Vietnamese city of Danang on November 11, 2017. Fiona Hill, who served as the top Russia advisor on the National Security Council under Trump, previously said that Putin often became frustrated with Trump over his lack of knowledge on big issues.

Persons: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Trump, Putin, —, There's, MAGA, JORGE SILVA, Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping, Trump's, Fiona Hill Organizations: Service, Putin, Economic Cooperation, Getty, North, Washington, National Security Council, Trump Locations: South Carolina, Pickens, Russia, Ukraine, Asia, Danang

☆ House swaps and dog walks: Travelers find cheaper alternatives to lodging
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Doyinsola Oladipo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

About one night in a hotel, along with the time she spent walking dogs, watering plants and changing litter boxes. Some are taking road trips instead of flying or booking a budget hotel room. Travelers in March booked 21 million short-term rental nights, the highest number of future nights booked on record, according to AirDNA. MORE TRAVELERS ON A BUDGETU.S. travel companies have taken notice, beefing up economy-level options to draw in growing numbers of cost-conscious travelers. Hotel operator Hilton (HLT.N) in January announced a new economy hotel brand, Spark, aimed at budget travelers and told investors in April it was working on a lower-end extended stay brand.

☆ Deals to be done as Thai opposition parties look to form government
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Chayut Setboonsarng | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sunday's election showcased an extraordinary surge by the progressive Move Forward party that almost had a clean sweep of the capital Bangkok, followed closely by the populist Pheu Thai party, which had been the dominant force in every Thai election this century. Between them the two opposition parties decimated parties with ties to the royalist army but it is far from certain the opposition will form the next government, with parliamentary rules drafted by the military after a 2014 coup skewed in favour of its allies. To govern, agreements may need to be struck with multiple camps, including rival parties and members of a junta-appointed Senate with a record of favouring conservative parties led by generals. [1/2] Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, looks up at the crowd during the general election in Bangkok, Thailand, May 14, 2023. Pita said on Sunday he was ready to partner with Pheu Thai but Paetongtarn Shinawatra, one of her party's prime ministerial candidates, said it was too soon to discuss.

[1/2] Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, looks up at the crowd during the general election in Bangkok, Thailand, May 14, 2023. Move Forward has shaken the political landscape, long dominated by military-backed parties or the opposition Pheu Thai party driven by the billionaire Shinawatra family. Move Forward's charismatic prime ministerial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat was jubilant. A chunk of Move Forward's support has come from young voters, including 3.3 million eligible to vote for the first time. "I feel like my vote has improved the country," she said, dressed in orange, Move Forward's colour, at party headquarters.

☆ Factbox: Preliminary results of Thailand's election
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Move Forward Party leader and prime ministerial candidate, Pita Limjaroenrat, meets with the media members on the day of the general election in Bangkok, Thailand, May 14, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaBANGKOK, May 14 (Reuters) - Thailand's opposition parties Move Forward and Pheu Thai won the most seats in Sunday's election, paving the way for a challenge to the military-backed government, which has been in power for nearly a decade. Parliamentary seats are distributed based on 400 open constituency seats and 100 'party-list' seats - or seats won by parties based on their share of national votes. Below are preliminary results of Sunday's ballot, according to the Election Commission of Thailand, with 97% of the vote counted. The tabulation of party-list seats is based on a Reuters tally of voting data made available by the election commission.

☆ Taliban ban on Afghan women working for U.N. an 'internal' issue
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A group of women wearing burqas crosses the street as members of the Taliban drive past in Kabul, Afghanistan October 9, 2021. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File PhotoKABUL, April 12 (Reuters) - Afghanistan's Taliban administration has said forbidding Afghan women from working for the United Nations was an "internal issue," after the global organisation expressed alarm at the decision and said it would review its operations there. On Tuesday, the U.N. Mission to Afghanistan said the Taliban administration would be responsible for any negative humanitarian impacts stemming from the ban. Taliban authorities in December said most Afghan female NGO workers would not be allowed to work. The U.N. humanitarian agency has said a huge funding plan for Afghanistan for 2023 is less than 5% funded.

☆ The High Seas Treaty, Explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Haphazard Authority On Ocean Resources | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Global News Changing Tides The first international agreement to protect the world's oceans aims to create “international parks” in the high seas. The high seas represent 95% of the world’s total habitat by volume, but the nautical world remains largely unexplored. “A sentiment we often encountered was that there’s not much in terms of biodiversity out there in the high seas,” he said. MPAs that already exist mostly occupy exclusive economic zones and only make up about 3% of the high seas. A 2016 Pew study on mapping governance in the high seas showed 19 governing bodies with a high seas mandate.

MAYA BAY, Thailand, March 27 (Reuters) - On any given day in Thailand's Maya Bay, up to 40 blacktip reef sharks cruise in the cyan shallows while about 4,000 tourists visit its white-sand beach flanked by towering cliffs. Marine researcher Metavee Chuangcharoendee said that thanks to the pause in tourism the island was once again functioning as a nursery for young sharks. A number of factors affect the sharks around Phi Phi Leh Island, including seasonal movement patterns and human activity like fishing, Metavee said. For Phi Phi Island National Park, annual revenue was almost halved from 638.3 million baht ($18.7 million) in 2018 to 373.6 million baht in 2019 after authorities closed the beach. "If you can create a new image of Maya Bay as a nature reserve ...

☆ Ready, set, roll! Thai man wins fastest joint rolling in Phuket
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Jorge Silva | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PHUKET, Thailand, March 26 (Reuters) - With nimble fingers and years of practice, Ativat Janmuangthai beat other cannabis enthusiasts to roll a perfect, one-gramme joint in 43 seconds on Saturday, becoming the fastest joint-roller in Thailand's Phuket. "He's been rolling joints for five years, he can even roll joints blindfolded. He's very fast," said Saksorn Sotornkittirat, friend of Ativat who accompanied him at the first Phuket Cannabis Cup competition. Cannabis advocates in Phuket recently formed the Phuket Cannabis Association to create a stronger voice for the industry, with over 1,000 licensed dispensaries now on the island. Poonwarit Wangpatravanich, the group president, hopes laws to regulate cannabis use will be hastened after the election.

☆ COVID curbs over, China's tourists hit Thai beaches for first time in 3 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Kwang Jirapornkuhakan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Colorful umbrellas are seen in a restaurant as tourists enjoy a beach in the island of Phuket in Thailand January 19, 2023. Previously, when I was here, I ate mango sticky rice, which was delicious. Back in China I kept thinking about the mango sticky rice here. The Chinese return was welcomed by businesses, despite some wariness about a huge spike in COVID infections in China after Beijing ended its zero-COVID policy. The Thai government is expecting at least five million Chinese tourist arrivals this year, with some 300,000 coming in the first quarter.

☆ Thai elephant camp adds more jumbos as Chinese tourists return
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Kwang Jirapornkuhakan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A Chinese tourist rides on an elephant in a jungle park ahead of Lunar New Year in Phuket, Thailand January 20, 2023. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaPHUKET, Thailand, Jan 21 (Reuters) - An elephant camp in Thailand has purchased six new jumbos to welcome tourists and returning Chinese visitors, offering activities from elephant rides to elephant showers, the owner said. Pang Chang Kamala Elephant Camp on the resort island of Phuket is also adding programmes such as elephant care due to a rise in bookings after the Lunar New Year, camp owner Wittaya Taweeros told Reuters. With 25 elephants now, the camp can receive 300 tourists per day, up from 200, he added. China's reopening raises hopes for the return of Chinese visitors, who accounted for nearly a third of Thailand's 40 million foreign tourist arrivals in pre-pandemic 2019.

REUTERS/Jorge Silva/HOUSTON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Venezuela's oil exports last year declined due to infrastructure outages, U.S. sanctions and rising competition in its key Asia market despite assistance from ally Iran, according to shipping data and documents. Iran expanded its role in Venezuela last year, sending supplies to boost exports and technicians to repair a refinery. Venezuela's crude production averaged some 721,000 bpd according to a preliminary data for December and OPEC reports. A U.S. license granted to Chevron Corp (CVX.N) to recover output and exports in Venezuela will take effect this year. A global appetite for fuel alternatives boosted its oil byproducts exports, which added millions of dollars last year.

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