Embassy fetes national hero on special dayThe Indian Embassy of Bangkok is celebrating its National Unity Day on Sunday, capping a week of events as it pays tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a national hero born on this day in 1875 who played a leading role in unifying the nation and was later named its first deputy prime minister. The festivities kicked off with an exhibition of a portrait of Patel, attended by Pikulkaew Krairiksh, chairwoman of the Senate committee on foreign affairs, and her husband. "Despite the separation, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was able to approach everyone of those princely states to unify into one country," the ambassador said. "He brought them together as one country (showing them how) they would benefit by being part of India," she added. Together with the key role played by the Indian constitution, Patel had taught the states a valuable lesson about living together in harmony despite their differences.

Still a chance to tweak reopeningThe final destination is ultimately the same, but the path to endemicity will vary from country to country. These factors combined left the government no choice but to move toward reopening in a much more cautious manner -- so cautious that it risks losing out on the benefits it wanted to reap from the reopening. Moving forward, the government has to understand that living with Covid-19 will require much more intervention on its part. Even before reopening, certain businesses have begun testing their employees as part of the requirement to reopen. Right now, schools can't resume in-person instruction until 85% of their staff and students are vaccinated.

Men were drilling for water in Krabi when they struck gas at 400 metresTwo workers were severely burned on Saturday in Krabi after they struck gas that caught fire while they were drilling a borehole for water. The incident took place at a rubberwood factory owned by Paradome Co Ltd in tambon Krabi Noi of Muang district in the southern province. Police and firefighters who arrived on the scene found a drilling rig in flames near the site. A worker told police the factory hired Water Group Chatnakornbadan Co Ltd to drill for groundwater to find a new water source. When the workers had drilled to about 400 metres, the well caught fire.

Back in the black: Higher oil prices lift ExxonMobil, Chevron profitsHaving returned to profitability, ExxonMobil plans to use extra cash to reduce debt and buy back sharesNEW YORK: Profits at ExxonMobil and Chevron rebounded in the third quarter on strengthening oil and natural gas prices, according to results released Friday that underscored the industry's improved financial position compared with the darkest days of the pandemic. After US oil futures sank into negative territory in spring 2020 on widespread Covid-19 restrictions, demand has returned in a big way, lifting oil prices back above $80 a barrel and driving European gas prices up more than five times their level from a year ago. The latest surge in oil and gas prices comes as the industry faces increased pressures from investors to build up low-carbon businesses amid rising worries over climate change. - More buybacks -ExxonMobil reported profits of $6.8 billion, compared with a loss of $680 million over the same period last year. At Chevron, earnings came in at $6.1 billion, compared with a loss of $207 million a year ago.

Bangkok is now designated a new tourist-oriented area with few Covid-19 restrictions along with Krabi, Phangnga and Phuket, starting Monday. Working from home in the dark-red zones will apply to at least 70% of the government workforce and the private sector can go beyond that. Gatherings will be limited to 50 people in the dark-red zones, 200 in the red zones, 500 in the orange zones and 1,000 in yellow zones. Schools can reopen and many activities can resume in the dark-red and red zones with permission from authorities. Alcohol sales and consumption will be banned in the dark-red, red and orange zones and allowed in yellow and blue zones.

9,224 new Covid cases, 88 deathsAn official monitors patients at a field hospital in Klong Toey district of Bangkok on Wednesday. (Photo: Arnun Chonmahatrakool)Thailand logged 9,224 new Covid-19 cases and 88 new fatalities on Friday, up from 8,968 cases and 64 deaths on the previous day, according to Public Health Ministry data on Saturday morning. On Friday, 8,305 Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering from the coronavirus disease. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 1,903,165 Covid-19 cases. The single-day records peaked two months ago, at 23,418 cases on Aug 13 and 312 deaths on Aug 18.

'Loan sharks' had seized 163 vehiclesPHITSANULOK: Police have arrested four men on suspicion of charging exorbitant interest on loans and impounded 163 vehicles they are said to have kept as collateral. One of the vehicles had been reported stolen in Malaysia. Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said the suspected loan shark illegally charged 10% monthly interest and kept the vehicles as collateral. The lender forced debtors to sign ownership transfer agreements, with the group having run the scam, with a turnover that had hit nearly 50 million baht, since early last year, Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop said. The 163 impounded vehicles included a car reportedly stolen in Malaysia, two vehicles with fake licence plates and two with forged ownership documents, he said.

US authorizes Pfizer Covid vaccine for children 5-11Aiden Arthurs receives the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine from Pharmacist Andrew Mac (R) at the Jewish Federation/JARC's offices in Bloomfield Hills, MichiganWASHINGTON - The United States on Friday authorized the Pfizer Covid vaccine for children aged five-to-11, paving the way for 28 million young Americans to soon get immunized. The United States follows only a handful of other countries including China, Chile, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates that are inoculating younger children with various vaccines. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech announced this week the US government had bought 50 million more doses as it works to protect children, including eventually those under five. According to the CDC, there have been 8,300 Covid hospitalizations of children aged five-to-11 since the start of the pandemic, and 146 deaths. The United States is emerging from its latest coronavirus wave, driven by the Delta-variant.

Govt bans rallies ahead of kingdom's reopeningA protester flashes a three finger salute during a memorial for Warit Somnoi, a protester who has died two months after being shot during an anti-government rally, outside Din Daeng police station on Friday. The government issued an order banning rallies and activities from Monday. (AFP photo)The government has issued a fresh order banning rallies and activities deemed at risk of spreading Covid-19 across the country ahead of the kingdom's upcoming reopening to international travellers. The new order replaces the Sept 30 announcement on the ban on mass gatherings and activities deemed at risk of spreading the virus. Under the new order, rallies and risky activities, especially in the 17 provinces designated for tourism reopening, are prohibited unless permitted by the authorities concerned.

Protesters gather to mourn teen who died after two months in coma following unsolved shootingPolice try to take a megaphone and candles from protesters at a memorial for a 15-year-old protester who died on Thursday, two months after being shot, outside the Din Daeng police station in Bangkok. (AFP Photo)Police pushed back pro-democracy supporters who had gathered at the Din Daeng police station in Bangkok on Friday to hold a candlelit vigil for a young protester who died a day earlier. Around 50 police holding riot shields cleared out about 100 protesters who had gathered at the station, where activists had gathered to lay flowers and candles on Friday. The Din Daeng intersection has become a flashpoint between protesters and security forces. Clashes have often resulted in violence, with protesters throwing rocks, and police using water cannons and firing rubber bullets.

Merck will share formula for its Covid pill with poor countriesAn undated photo provided by Merck shows Merck's experimental oral Covid-19 antiviral drug, molnupiravir. Merck has promised assistance with technology transfer to any generic licensee that requires help to make the drug. Charles Gore, director of the Medicines Patent Pool, said the new agreement with Merck is the first transparent public health license for a COVID-19 medicine. Molnupiravir was developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics of Miami, based on a molecule first studied at Emory University in Atlanta. Merck has submitted its clinical trial data to the Food and Drug Administration seeking emergency-use authorisation; a decision could come in early December.

FDA to hear proposals to vaccinate younger kidsOpas: Wants more testingMoves are afoot to seek approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to administer Covid-19 vaccines to younger children, officials said on Thursday. China's Sinopharm has been tested on sample groups of children and the manufacturer is concluding its study before meeting the FDA soon. Meanwhile, Sinovac has already been used to vaccinate children in a number of countries. As the kingdom has sufficient stocks of all three vaccines, if the FDA approves their use for younger demographics, vaccination drives could begin immediately, officials said. Thailand has also asked Pfizer to secure a new generation of their vaccine for children to safely use.

The FPO estimated an economic contraction of 3.5% in the third quarter this year, due to the resurgence of infections. It projected economic expansion of 3% in the fourth quarter this year after the country's reopening. The FPO predicted the expansion of private consumption at 0.8% this year and the growth of private investment at 4%. Next year, the government will disburse the remaining loan of 350 billion baht out of the total loan of 500 billion baht under the second emergency loan decree. Kasikorn Research Center (KResearch) on Wednesday said it had upgraded its 2021 economic growth projection for Thailand to an expansion of 0.2% from the previously forecast 0.5% contraction, and with the projection of next year's growth at 3.7%.

Govt urged to include IndiansTourists pose for pictures at Phra Tamnak Hill in Pattaya, a prime spot for enjoying panoramic views of Pattaya City and Pattaya Bay, on Jan 31, 2019. Under this plan, fully vaccinated visitors from these countries will not have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. "Indians of the Bharatas are one of the top five spenders who contribute to Thailand tourism and the world," Mr Sehgal said. "The average spending for the marriage party among Indian hosts is millions of baht per person," Mr Sehgal said. "If they do not adjust the measure, Indians will change their marriage destination," Mr Sehgal said.

Rules for travellers clarifiedA worker cleans a walkway at Patong Beach on Phuket island on Thursday. (AFP photo)The Department of Consular Affairs and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have clarified rules governing international arrivals when the country opens on Monday. The second group is fully vaccinated visitors from countries not on the list of 46. The total is 21 days, then they can fly to Thailand, Mr Naruechai said. If the result is positive, they will be sent to a hospital or a quarantine hotel, Mr Naurechai said.