BANGKOK, Thailand – The Bureau of the Royal Household has announced that Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother passed away on October 24, 2025 (B.E. 2568), at the age of 93.

BANGKOK, Thailand&nbsp;&ndash; The Bureau of the Royal Household has announced that Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother passed away on October 24, 2025 (B.E. 2568), at the age of 93.

According to the official statement, Her Majesty had been under close medical supervision at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital of the Thai Red Cross Society since September 7, 2019, where she was admitted for continuous monitoring and treatment of multiple health conditions.

Beginning on October 17, 2025, Her Majesty developed a bloodstream infection (sepsis). Despite the devoted efforts of her medical team, her condition gradually deteriorated. On Friday, October 24, 2025, at 9:21 p.m., Her Majesty passed away peacefully at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

In honour of her lifelong service and devotion to the Thai nation, His Majesty the King has graciously commanded that the Royal Household Bureau arrange the royal funeral with the highest honours and in accordance with royal traditions. The royal remains will be enshrined at the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace for the public and members of the royal family to pay their respects.

His Majesty has also decreed that members of the royal family and the royal household officers shall observe a mourning period of one year from the date of Her Majesty&rsquo;s passing.

Issued by&nbsp;The Bureau of the Royal Household 
October 24, 2025

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Source:

<a href="https://www.royaloffice.th/%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%96%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93-%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%9E/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%87/">www.royaloffice.th</a>

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother passes away at 93

Geneva, 24 October 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that an isolate of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) — one of three high-impact coronaviruses with pandemic potential — has been officially added to the WHO BioHub System.

Geneva, 24 October 2025 &ndash; The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that an isolate of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) &mdash; one of three high-impact coronaviruses with pandemic potential &mdash; has been officially added to the WHO BioHub System.

The WHO BioHub System enables countries to voluntarily share and request biological materials that have epidemic or pandemic potential. Established by the WHO Director-General during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative supports global pathogen characterization, research, surveillance, and risk assessment. In the future, it will further contribute to developing medical countermeasures such as diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics by ensuring rapid access to verified biological materials and essential data for scientific advancement and product development.

MERS-CoV, a zoonotic virus transmitted between dromedary camels and humans, can cause severe respiratory illness and death, with a fatality rate of approximately 37% of reported cases. Currently, no licensed vaccines or therapeutics are available for MERS.

&ldquo;Since its identification, MERS-CoV outbreaks have been sporadic. Access to MERS-CoV isolates has therefore been limited, making it all the more important that the WHO BioHub System provides researchers with access to this virus isolate,&rdquo; said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, Acting Director of WHO&rsquo;s Epidemic and Pandemic Management Department. &ldquo;By supporting timely and transparent sharing of biological materials such as the MERS-CoV isolate, the BioHub is helping the world prepare for future epidemics and, potentially, pandemics.&rdquo;

Most MERS research to date has used clade A isolates, which are believed to have become extinct since 2015. The newly added isolate, derived from a camel, belongs to clade C, which is known to be widely circulating in African camel populations.

Recent pandemics and health emergencies have underscored the critical need for faster, fairer, and more reliable sharing of pathogens to accelerate global responses. In an interconnected world where infectious threats continue to emerge, timely access to biological materials is essential for scientific research and public health action.

The WHO BioHub System serves as a trusted and scalable mechanism that simplifies pathogen sharing through standardized agreements and procedures, ensuring rapid exchange while maintaining biosafety, transparency, and equity. Since its establishment, 76 laboratories from 30 countries across all WHO regions have participated in sharing and requesting biological materials through the system.

The BioHub has already played a key role in supporting the global response to major public health events &mdash; including facilitating the sharing of SARS-CoV-2 variants during the COVID-19 pandemic and enabling access to mpox materials during the 2023&ndash;2024 outbreak, which supported diagnostic validation and basic research worldwide.

In line with its guiding principles, the BioHub also fosters scientific collaboration and equitable partnerships between providers and requestors, ensuring inclusion in joint research projects, publications, and co-authorships. This reinforces the BioHub&rsquo;s core values of transparency, fairness, and shared benefits across the global health community.

As of today, the BioHub collection includes 33 variants of SARS-CoV-2, mpox clades Ia, Ib, IIb, the Oropouche virus, and now MERS-CoV &mdash; marking a significant step forward in the system&rsquo;s capacity to support preparedness for both known and emerging pathogens.

Currently, the Spiez Laboratory in Switzerland serves as the central WHO BioHub Facility, responsible for storing, characterizing, and distributing materials. Looking ahead, WHO aims to expand the BioHub network by establishing regional facilities in every WHO region, ensuring equitable access and rapid response capabilities worldwide.

This next phase will build upon the BioHub&rsquo;s strong foundation by advancing regional scientific collaboration, strengthening biosafety and biosecurity, and enhancing global health security to better prepare the world for future threats.

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Source:

<a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/23-10-2025-mers-cov-virus-isolate-added-to-the-who-biohub-system-enabling-further-research-and-pandemic-preparedness">World Health Organization</a>

MERS-CoV Virus Isolate Added to the WHO BioHub System, Enabling Further Research and Pandemic Preparedness

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) proudly announces that global superstar “LISA” Lalisa Manoban has officially accepted the role of Amazing Thailand Ambassador, representing Thailand to the world and showcasing the country’s beauty, charm, and cultural richness as a world-class travel destination.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) proudly announces that global superstar &ldquo;LISA&rdquo; Lalisa Manoban has officially accepted the role of Amazing Thailand Ambassador, representing Thailand to the world and showcasing the country&rsquo;s beauty, charm, and cultural richness as a world-class travel destination.

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<img alt="" src="backend.arokago.com/media/uploads/2025/10/24/01k7k4vtqp5fn702gy06at3vgc_YW3f8SG.jpg" style="width:100%" />

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Miss Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of TAT, stated,&nbsp; &ldquo;Collaborating with LISA as the Amazing Thailand Ambassador marks a significant milestone in presenting the diversity, uniqueness, and magic of Thailand from a new perspective. This partnership will inspire both Thais and international travelers to rediscover the wonders of Amazing Thailand together. 
TAT is committed to positioning Thailand as a world-class, high-quality, and safe tourism destination&mdash;welcoming visitors from all over the world with the warmth and hospitality that define Thai culture. Through this campaign, we aim to build traveler confidence and create meaningful, unforgettable travel experiences in every journey.&rdquo;

As the Amazing Thailand Ambassador, LISA will play a key role in telling the story of Thailand&rsquo;s beauty and cultural identity through her global influence and recognition. Her appointment represents the pride of the Thai people and amplifies Thailand&rsquo;s presence on the international stage.

The collaboration between TAT and LISA, under the world-renowned brand &ldquo;Amazing Thailand,&rdquo; not only highlights Thailand&rsquo;s tourism appeal but also reinforces the enduring value of Thai heritage, traditions, and the country&rsquo;s world-famous hospitality &mdash; underscoring Thailand&rsquo;s readiness to deliver memorable and inspiring travel experiences for every visitor.

TAT invites all Thais to explore Thailand and act as proud hosts, joining hands with LISA, the Amazing Thailand Ambassador, in sharing the beauty, warmth, and pride of Thai culture with the world.

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Source:

<a href="https://www.tatnewsthai.org/index.php/article-infos/6104">www.tatnewsthai.org</a>

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Thailand Tourism Shines Bright! TAT Announces “LISA” as the New Amazing Thailand Ambassador to Boost 2026 Tourism Campaign

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a comprehensive new guide titled the “National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework”, designed to help countries enhance their preparedness and capacity to respond effectively to public health emergencies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a comprehensive new guide titled the &ldquo;National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework&rdquo;, designed to help countries enhance their preparedness and capacity to respond effectively to public health emergencies.

Developed in collaboration with international experts and organizations, and informed by real-world experiences including the COVID-19 pandemic, this framework provides a consistent and evidence-based approach to health emergency management.

Health emergencies are becoming increasingly frequent and complex, driven by factors such as climate change, rapid urbanization, geopolitical shifts, and greater global mobility. The new guidance equips both national and subnational authorities with practical tools and strategies to ensure a rapid, coordinated, and multi-sectoral response, aimed at minimizing human suffering and loss of life during crises.

The framework consolidates the core components of the Health Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (HEPR) architecture, incorporating over 300 recommendations derived from lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is intended for government authorities and all stakeholders involved in emergency response, offering practical instruments such as checklists and flowcharts, with references to existing WHO and partner guidance.

It also outlines the various stages of emergency management&mdash;from detection and notification, risk assessment, and activation of emergency procedures, to response operations and performance review. Furthermore, it integrates performance evaluation into emergency response across different types of hazards, introducing specific timelines for key activities in both outbreaks and disasters. The framework builds on the &ldquo;7-1-7 Evaluation Model&rdquo;, which sets performance goals of 7 days to detect an outbreak, 1 day to notify public health authorities, and 7 days to complete early response actions.

This new guidance is part of WHO&rsquo;s ongoing efforts to strengthen national and local capacity for emergency response. By establishing a unified and standardized framework, WHO aims to help all countries respond more effectively to any public health emergency, at any scale.

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Source:

<a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/23-10-2025-who-launches-new-country-guidance-for-health-emergency-coordination">World Health Organization</a>

Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother passes away at 93

The ArokaGO Reporter

MERS-CoV Virus Isolate Added to the WHO BioHub System, Enabling Further Research and Pandemic Preparedness