Promotion is for the mass marketMr Arkhom charges an electric vehicle during Egat's launch of a 500,000-baht EV charging station at the Finance Ministry on Thursday. Mr Arkhom said the comprehensive EV promotion plan is awaiting approval from the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee. As Thailand is a major vehicle production hub, especially for one-tonne pickups, the government also wants to promote the production of electric pickups, he said. The ministry would consider an appropriate excise tax level for them, said Mr Arkhom. Thailand plans to support EV production throughout the supply chain, including the production of car bodies, batteries and spare parts.

Myanmar visit was about humanitarian aid, FM saysForeign Minister Don PramudwinaiForeign Minister Don Pramudwinai on Thursday told the House of Representatives that his recent visit to Myanmar was to oversee the delivery of humanitarian aid. Addressing Pheu Thai MP Sutin Klungsang's questions about his Nov 14 trip, Mr Don said he was there to deliver 15 tonnes of aid, including medical supplies donated by 17 private organisations, local and international, to Myanmar people in need. He said Thailand was approached to coordinate with Myanmar over the visit and the delivery of aid. Mr Don said the visit was done for humanitarian reasons and the national interest, citing Myanmar and Thailand's shared 2,400-kilometre border. Mr Don brushed aside criticism that Thailand was not invited to attend the Summit for Democracy hosted by the United States next month as a result of his visit.

Unverified claim suggests 'Boss' hiding in AustriaVorayuth 'Boss' Yoovidhya has yet to face Thai justice. Red Bull scion Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya, wanted for an infamous hit-and-run case from 2012, is believed to be in Austria, though the Royal Thai Police (RTP) have no evidence of his residency there. Mr Sanya said the search for Mr Vorayuth is still on, and that the police believe the fugitive is living in Austria. He added the investigation into 18 officials who were accused of helping Mr Vorayuth get off the hook would wrap up next month. The second charge -- reckless driving causing death -- will expire in 2027.

(Reuters photo)The National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC) has approved a plan to replace RT-PCR tests with antigen testing for visitors travelling from 63 eligible countries and territories who are allowed to enter Thailand without the mandatory 14-day quarantine. The change will apply to visitors under the "test and go" scheme, with vaccination certificates, and RT-PCR certificates issued 72 hours prior to their travel. Under the plan, visitors will be allowed to enter by boat and on land, in addition to air travel which is the only entry mode currently, Dr Opas said. However, entry by land will be limited to safe border passes, with strict health screening to be put in place, Dr Opas said. Meanwhile, there were 6,335 new Covid-19 cases and 37 more fatalities registered during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported yesterday.

Entering Thailand may get easier next monthVisitors arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province when the government reopened the country on Nov 1. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)The Public Health Ministry will on Friday propose easier access to the country including a change to Covid-19 testing requirements, according to health authorities. The relaxation would include antigen tests replacing RT-PCR tests on arrivals. The increase in immigration channels was possible because the Covid-19 infection rate among visitors who arrived through the "Test & Go" programme was very low, at 0.08%. Those visitors will not be quarantined if they test negative for Covid-19 right after arrival.

The youth unemployment rate increased by 3 percentage points for both men and women, reaching a high of 6% and 8%, respectively. Youth employment in these establishments suffered the most, falling by 18% for young men and by 24% for young women. In the third quarter, the stringency of Covid-19 restrictions was equivalent to that of the second quarter of 2020. A similar magnitude of socioeconomic shock as the one seen in the second quarter of 2020 could therefore be expected, it added. For example, wage inequality increased year-on-year in the second quarter of 2020.

The pandemic preparedness testThe Covid-19 pandemic has instilled many harsh lessons. If efforts to change that by establishing new funding and monitoring mechanisms for pandemic preparedness are to succeed, half measures won't cut it. Rather, it calls for scientific collaboration, resilient health systems, and long-term investments in global health networks. The global solution to the vaccine distribution problem is the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access (Covax) facility established last year. To avoid a repeat of Covid-19, we need more expansive pandemic preparedness mechanisms built around the model of globalised resources that COVAX pioneered.

Medical workers hit hard by bugMore than 4,000 medical workers have been infected with Covid-19 since February last year, a senior health official said yesterday. "At 198, the number of infected doctors is high. Other infected medical workers were nurses, nurse assistants, dentists, pharmacists, health academics, hospital porters, health volunteers and back office workers such as maids and people in laboratories, drug storerooms and patient registration rooms, Dr Sumanee said. Meanwhile, there were 5,857 new Covid-19 cases and 55 more fatalities registered during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported yesterday. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 2,081,992 Covid-19 cases, with 1,979,871 complete recoveries so far.

Deputy Minister of Public Health Sathit Pitutecha talks with tourists visiting the Andaman Medical Centre for an RT-PCR test. The Andaman Medical Centre has been offering RT-PCR tests for tourists who need to test negative before taking flights back home. He said the centre welcomed any walk-in tourists or registered tourists for RT-PCR tests. Chayabol Hirankanokkul, president of the Phangnga Tourism Association, hoped the tourism business will get back to normal by early next year, judging from the increase in advance room bookings. "We are confident the tourism business can live together with the disease so there is no need to shut down the country again."

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha attends the 28th AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Economic Leaders Week, a virtual event hosted by New Zealand, from Government House on Nov 12. Gen Prayut was responding to reporters' questions after chairing a meeting of the Defence Council on Wednesday. "Looking after low-income people is close to the heart of the prime minister," Gen Prayut said, referring to himself. Asked by reporters on Wednesday whether he will stay on until he completes his four-year term in March 2023, Gen Prayut nodded and said he will. Gen Prayut went on to say that he was ready to attend a banquet to be held by government coalition parties if they invite him.

CP and Telenor are the parent firms of True and DTAC, respectively. Meanwhile, the merged company will be almost three times the size of the merged firm in Malaysia, according to an investor call held recently by Telenor. According to her, the proposed merger will create a company with around 55 million customers and pro forma 2020 revenue of US$6.9 billion. The two will be asked to explain the reason for the merger and need to give details and timeline of the process as well as possible impacts and remedies for consumers and related parties from such impacts. CP and DTAC have significant differences in terms of management, decision making, operation and connections, the source added.

Man dies after Moderna jab following SinovacEmergency medical staff from Paolo Hospital Samutprakarn perform CPR on a man who developed chest pains, fell unconscious and died after receiving a second dose of Covid-19 vaccine on Tuesday. (Photo: Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)SAMUT PRAKAN: A man died at his home in Muang district late on Tuesday night shortly after receiving a second dose of Covid-19 vaccine, Moderna, following an initial dose of Sinovac in September. He had also placed an order for Moderna vaccine with Synphaet Theparak Hospital. He went to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon and was inoculated with the Moderna vaccine. However, late on Tuesday night, while playing on his phone on the second floor of the house, Sithipol began experiencing chest pain and breathing difficulties.

Contestant accused of flag abuseA picture of Miss Universe Thailand Anchilee Scott-Kemmis standing on what appears to be a Thai flag. (Photo: Miss Universe Thailand)Police action has been sought against Miss Universe Thailand Anchilee Scott-Kemmis for standing on what looks like a Thai flag in a picture featured on the pageant organiser's website. Mr Sonthiya accused Anchilee of breaching the 1979 Flag Act and the PM's Office announcement banning the use of national flags for commercial purposes. He said the reigning Miss Universe Thailand may be unaware that standing on a national flag is deemed inappropriate. He insisted he would not be seeking any jail terms, but was merely taking measures to protect the prestige of the national flag.

Shippers expect year-end orders to beef up exportsPeople browse New Year gift items at Sampeng market in Bangkok. The FTI expects new purchase orders will also help increase Thailand's capacity utilisation. From January to October, Thailand's export value increased by 15% to $222.73 million. Despite the good export prospects, high freight rates and a container shortage are still problems that affect exporters, according to the FTI. The federation is concerned about logistics costs as freight rates continue to increase.

Heavy trucks are heading for the Energy Ministry in Bangkok on Nov 16 as truck operators demanded the government cap the diesel price at 25 baht per litre. "The PM also stressed that diesel prices must be brought lower than 30 baht per litre," said Mr Anutin after the meeting. On Tuesday, Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said it would be impossible to lower the diesel price that much even though it has already fallen below 30 baht per litre. As of Tuesday, the average price of diesel nationwide was 28 baht per litre. Diesel prices globally have dropped considerably after the United States, China, India, Japan and a number of other large countries began releasing their strategic petroleum reserves in lieu of importing oil, he said.