PM lauds nation's Covid index boostPrayut: Won't let guard downPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has welcomed Thailand's 18-place jump on the Bloomberg Covid Resilience Ranking index as the country yesterday resumed its quarantine-free Test & Go scheme for vaccinated international tourists. From 44th last April, Thailand placed 26th out of 53 countries in Bloomberg's latest monthly index released last Thursday, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said yesterday. The Resilience Ranking is a monthly index Bloomberg has compiled since November 2020 comparing how Covid-19 is being most effectively addressed. The country had also received positive views from many economists who foresee Thailand achieving rapid economic recovery and growth. The PM also emphasised the need for Thailand to continue living with Covid-19 by maintaining sufficient Covid-19 control measures while at the same time working towards improving the country's economy, he said.

Bank of Thailand to let banks invest more in fintechThe Bank of Thailand (BoT) plans to allow banks to invest more than a current limit of 3% of their capital funds in fintech, except in digital assets, an assistant governor said on Tuesday. The BoT also expects to issue rules on virtual banks in the first half of the year, Roong Mallikamas told a news conference. The introduction of such lenders are expected to increase competition in the system, while existing banks will also be allowed to apply, she said. The central bank on Tuesday released a consultation on the country’s financial sector and the digital economy and will seek public opinions until Feb 28. "Innovation is good... but not every innovation is useful and good, and that needs risk management," BoT Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput told the conference.

Anutin wants household cannabis registration via appPublic Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul attends an event promoting Thai cannabis at the Department of Medical Sciences in Nonthaburi province in June last year. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday he would like small cannabis growers to be able to conveniently register via an app. "We do not want it to be difficult for people," Mr Anutin said. Regarding household use of cannabis, Mr Anutin said the bill allowed the use of parts of the cannabis plant, including as food and beverage ingredients. "The bill is aimed at allowing Thai people to benefit from cannabis," Mr Anutin said.

DITP led a discussion on January 27 with representatives of international streaming services and 15 Thai content creators to further strengthen the tie-up. “Apart from introducing local digital content creators to the international market, this project will also help boost the development of other industries like food, tourism and culture,” he said. He added that Thai TV series, films and animation have caught the attention of international streaming agencies, and “this proves that our digital content industry has the potential to expand further”. However, he said, the most important factor at this point is to make locally produced digital content more internationally acceptable and change local consumer behaviour so more digital content is consumed. Ekachat added that the Commerce Ministry is providing the industry additional support by expanding opportunities both locally and overseas via exhibitions and seminars to promote knowledge exchange and create a network among creators.

Mr Chanchai, seated left, and Wu Lin, senior executive vice-president of Bank of China (Thai) Plc (BOCT), seated right, sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Jan 28. ASL has also launched a new wealth management and investment advisory service with a focus on high-net-worth and institutional investors. ASL and BOCT signed the MoU on Jan 28, with the aim of expanding their businesses and providing Thai investors with more channels to invest in foreign stocks and investment products, while also giving foreign investors more exposure to the Thai stock market. He said that through this cooperation, Thai investors will gain greater access to investment products from the fast-growing Chinese market. At present, ASL's shareholder structure consists of Government Savings Bank (25%), the Venture Cap Co (46%), Mr Chanchai (5%) and Sethiwan group (20%).

Varuth HirunyathebA Public Health Ministry sub-committee on immunity promotion has approved the use of Sinovac's Covid-19 vaccine on minors over the age of three, it was announced on Monday. Once the FDA approves it, the vaccine can be provided to minors in this age group right away, he said. In December last year, the FDA approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children between the age of five and 11. They were given Pfizer's mRNA-based vaccine for children, which requires a different preparation before administration. Thailand has 5.8 million children between the ages of 5-11, including 900,000 who are considered as vulnerable to infections.

The weather forecast for the next 24 hours is as follows:North: Cool to cold weather with fog in the morning and thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 12-17 degrees and highs of 30-36 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 4-12 degrees Celsius. Northeast: Cool to cold weather with fog in the morning and thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 13-21 degrees and highs of 28-34 degrees Celsius. Central: Cool weather with fog in the morning and thundershowers in 10 per cent of the areas; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees, highs of 32-36 degrees Celsius. Bangkok and surrounding areas: Fog in the morning and isolated light rains; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 31-35 degrees Celsius.

Pheu Thai sees by-election win as victory for 'democracy camp'Supporters of Pheu Thai candidate Surachart Thienthong at the Lak Si district office on Jan 6, when candidates registered for Sunday's by-election in Bangkok's constituency 9. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)The opposition Pheu Thai Party's win in Sunday's by-election in Bangkok's constituency 9 shows what direction Thai politics is heading, and is seen as a victory of democracy over dictatorship, Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew said. Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat congratulated Mr Surachart and the Pheu Thai Party. He said party leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon had called to console him and the team. Asked whether the by-election result was an indication that Gen Prayut was no longer sellable, Mr Sira said that decision rested with the people.

Visitors would have to show evidence of bookings for the two nights at one of the designated hotels contracted to provide testing services with partner hospitals, he said. "If they test negative in the first test, they can travel freely until the second test," Dr Taweesilp said. The revised, reopened Test & Go will be available for visitors from all countries, he said. This month, Dr Taweesilp said, 22 Test & Go visitors violated disease controls and most could not be located when their Covid-19 tests returned positive. In Canada, visitors who failed to do mandatory tests could be fined as much as C$750,000 (about 19.6 million baht), according to Dr Taweesilp, who quoted the Thai Foreign Ministry.

DLT director-general Jirut Wisanjit said inspectors checked 101,709 trucks and buses between October 1 and January 30. Of these, 483 were banned from road use after they failed emission tests. The department warned operators and owners it was against the law to use vehicles that exceed exhaust emission limits. It advised them to fix any vehicle that emitted black smoke and have it checked at a DLT office. The DLT also asked citizens to help solve the PM2.5 haze problem by sending photos of trucks or buses that emit black smoke with their plate numbers to the 1584 hotline, Line account @1584DLT, https://www.facebook.com/dlt1584, http://ins.dlt.go.th/cmpweb/, the DLT GPS app, or e-mail them to [email protected]

Royal Orchid Sheraton also plans to lure visitors with the city’s largest riverside rooftop bar, commanding unparalleled views over Bangkok and the Chao Phraya. Meanwhile, for its restaurant refurbishment, inspiration is being drawn from the hotel’s location at what was once the residence of Captain John Bush – an English mariner who served Siam during the reign of King Rama IV. The riverside restaurant is a popular viewpoint for the spectacular firework displays at IconSiam on the opposite side of the Chao Phraya.

As a leader and avid student of leadership, I find it fascinating to watch how real-life leadership is transforming in many Thai organisations. Empowerment means pushing the limits to help others reach their full potential. Your job is to make others better through your work and to build their capability to stay empowered forever. However, you are a critical part of this, and your organisation’s success. These seven areas provide a great starting point to empowering, feeling empowered and acting empowered.

RAYONG: Authorities are concerned about the massive oil leak from an underwater pipeline in the Gulf of Thailand, which is now bearing down on Prao Bay in Koh Samet. The leak from the pipeline owned by Star Petroleum Refining Plc, which was first detected last Tuesday, polluted Mae Ramphueng Beach on mainland Rayong. However, Rayong governor Charnna Ieamsang said authorities are having trouble controlling another oil slick from the pipeline which is threatening the resort island of Koh Samet. Ten ships have been sent to stop the slick from reaching the shores of Koh Samet, he said. Speaking after an inspection at Mae Ramphueng Beach, Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, director-general of the Department of Health, said the sludge had contaminated areas occupied by 15 local businesses and three fish markets.

The image makeover of the airlines, the largest among the carriers in India, is being urgently done as nearly 53 percent of air passengers is estimated to be the tech-driven millennials. This figure is expected to go up to more than 60 percent in the next 10 years, according to a senior airlines marketing executive. The executive said given India's young demographic profile, Air India in its new avatar needs to target the millennials who need a flying experience markedly different from the old one. One of the changes Air India plans in its approach is to address the passengers as "guests" who will get to hear a recorded message from iconic Tata Group patriarch Ratan Tata, reports our New Delhi correspondent. The private Air India has to work really hard to shed the tag of "late Latif" when it comes to maintaining punctuality of take-off and landing.

But before they pack their bags, one question begs an answer: "Is Saudi Arabia still a gold mine of labour opportunities as it once was?" ''Saudi Arabia is no longer ideal for unskilled workers 'digging for gold' ". Saudi Arabia has also experienced some economic doldrums, dogged by rising unemployment. Although Saudi Arabia has large construction projects in the pipeline, it needs to hire specialists to work them. The biggest employer countries for Thai workers are Taiwan (49,451 Thai workers), followed by Israel (20,044 workers), South Korea (14,310), Japan (4,347) and Singapore (1,487).