Fourth jab necessary as immunity drops even after 3rd dose: Dr Yong
Yong pointed out the necessity to possess high immunity all the time because Covid-19 has a fast incubation period. “A study on two Covid-19 jabs provided a good result, but immunity subsequently dropped as time passed,” he said, adding that the immunity provided by the third jab dropped as well. He explained that it was necessary to stimulate both B cells to prevent infections and T cells to reduce severity of the virus and boost recovery, especially among vulnerable people.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 24, 2022 09:57 UTC
Full recovery key to BoT raising policy rate
Mr Arkhom says the central bank must assess the economic recovery. If the central bank wants to raise the policy rate, it has to be confident the economy is in full recovery first, says Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith. This year the US Federal Reserve is expected to raise its policy rate to tame rising inflation, said Mr Arkhom. Mr Arkhom said the government is focused on seven missions to push for economic expansion of 4% this year. Transactions via the country's digital payment platform PromptPay increased to 9.4 billion in 2021, rising by 10 times from 2017.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2022 05:33 UTC
Laos agrees to reopen border
Laos agrees to reopen borderThailand and Laos have agreed to soon reopen cross-border checkpoints, government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Wednesday. The decision was made after Lao ambassador to Thailand Seng Soukhathivong paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to mark the occasion of his 4.5 years at Government House. The Lao ambassador thanked the government for providing assistance during the flood disaster in 2019 and in the form of Covid-19 medical supplies. Both parties agreed on key issues including a plan to reopen cross-border checkpoints to increase the value of border trade and boost economic recovery. He also asked the Lao government to consider developing the R12 route connecting the borders of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, which would benefit local communities, Mr Thanakorn said.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 24, 2022 05:13 UTC
NGOs press over trafficking
He pointed to the controversy surrounding Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin, formerly the country's lead investigator in human trafficking. The NGOs said human trafficking is a transnational form of organised crime that earns huge amounts of money. Gen Prawit wanted to know the details of all the accomplices ahead of legal proceedings, Gen Kongcheep said. Regarding the fate of Pol Maj Gen Paween, national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk said no legal charges had been pressed against him. He also guaranteed that Pol Maj Gen Paween would be safe if he returns.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 23, 2022 03:31 UTC
ThaiBev to resume work on unit’s $2bn Singapore IPO
ThaiBev to resume work on unit’s $2bn Singapore IPOA worker arranges bottles of Thai Beverage Pcl (ThaiBev) Chang beer on a conveyor system as they move along the production line at the company's Beer Thip brewery in Ayutthaya province. ThaiBev, which is traded in Bangkok and Singapore, is still seeking to raise about US$2 billion from the brewery business’s IPO, the people said, asking not to be identified as the process is private. A share sale could value the brewery arm at about $10 billion, one of the people said. Its first listing plan in May 2020 was scuppered by Thailand’s lockdown in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Apart from the brewery business, ThaiBev also runs distilleries that produce liquor including SongSam rum, Meridian brandy and Drummer whiskey.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 22, 2022 19:05 UTC
Real Christmas trees being snapped up at Baan & Beyond, Thai Watsadu
Chutiporn Kongjaroensuk, vice president of marketing at CRC Thai Watsadu, operator of home outlet Baan & Beyond and hardware retail chain Thai Watsadu, says the stores started importing fir trees from Canada three years ago and demand has soared, with this year’s pre-orders going up by 25 per cent. The trees are grown in Nova Scotia’s Lunenburg County. “The trees are available in 3 sizes - medium, large and extra large, with heights ranging from 183-280 cm. They are priced Bt4,990, Bt5,990 and Bt6,990 respectively.”Buyers of real Christmas trees will be entitled to a cash coupon valued at Bt1,500-Bt2,500 to purchase home decoration items at all branches of Baan & Beyond and 18 branches of Thai Watsadu, plus 5-per-ccent discount if they pay with Central The One credit card. “Apart from real Christmas trees, Baan & Beyond and Thai Watsadu also have fake Christmas trees, decorative lights, indoor and outdoor Christmas decorations and gifts for your needs during this holiday season,” Chutiporn added.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 22, 2022 08:29 UTC
Liquor and beer prices to go up after March 1: source
From next month, the price of rice whisky will rise by Bt120 per case of small bottles – from Bt1,242 to Bt1,362 – and by Bt54 per case of large bottles, from Bt1,158 to Bt1,212, said the source. “The price of beer will also go up by Bt2-4 per can, or Bt48 per case of large bottles [from Bt805 to Bt853],” the source added. However, the Excise Department said on Tuesday that no manufacturers have notified the department of prices rises. The law requires that manufacturers give notice if they intend to raise the price by more than five per cent of the level suggested by the department. The department insisted that the government had no policy to increase tax on alcoholic beverages, so any price hike must be due to other reasons.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 22, 2022 07:49 UTC
Prayut downplays Bhumjaithai threat to quit govt
Prayut downplays Bhumjaithai threat to quit govtPublic Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (centre) listens to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (right) at a press conference at Government House, Bangkok, on Feb 11, 2022. If the government did not support the bill, it wouldn't be where it is now," the prime minister said. When asked to respond to Mr Supachai's threat, Gen Prayut said, "Who was that threat meant for? Public Health Minister and Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said he had no problem with Mr Supachai's comment but noted that it may have gone overboard. Mr Anutin said Mr Supachai's remark does not reflect the party's stance.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 22, 2022 06:47 UTC
Instant noodles rank 1st in food output in 2020 amid pandemic
The output of instant noodles, or "ramyeon" in Korean, stood at 1.93 million tons in 2020, up a whopping 231 percent from a year earlier, according to the data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Strong exports were cited as the main reason for the spike in production of instant noodles. Instant noodles thus placed first in terms of the export value among local food products, up from second place a year earlier. Industry watchers said South Korean instant noodles became more popular abroad as the COVID-19 outbreak forced more people to stay home. Carbonated drinks ranked second in terms of output with 1.87 million tons in 2020, according to the data, followed by flour with 1.82 million tons, beer with 1.5 million tons and sugar with 1.43 million tons.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 22, 2022 02:23 UTC
Retail oil and gas minor contributors to PTT's 108-bn baht net profit
PTT reported a net profit of 108.36 billion baht for 2021, up 70.59 billion baht, or 186.9 per cent on the 37.76 billion baht in 2020. He said the net profit mainly came from natural gas, petroleum exploration and production, and its petrochemical and refining businesses, thanks to recovering demand in line with the global economy and the company's investment expansion at home and overseas. He also pointed out that net profit from PTT Oil and Retail Business (OR) accounted for only 2 per cent of total net profit as the company maintained the fuel price even though its costs had gone up due to the rising oil price.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 21, 2022 16:00 UTC
Cold War getting too hot for comfort
Cold War getting too hot for comfortHaving been brought up in the 1950s and 60s during what was known as the Cold War, I find it a bit sad that after all the ensuing decades nothing seems to have changed. The actor told the Daily Express that a friend of his met Mr Putin when he was head of the KGB. Mr Putin reportedly said: "Tell Mr Caine we used to watch those movies and laugh because he was such a clever spy." Red Square in the rainFifteen years after the Cuban crisis I found myself standing in a very wet Red Square. Leonid Brezhnev was at the helm but the Cold War was still very chilly.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2022 02:03 UTC
Last-ditch effort to avert Ukraine catastrophe
Ukraine’s military said mercenaries had arrived in separatist-held eastern Ukraine to stage provocations in collaboration with Russia’s special services. “The purpose of these provocations will, of course, be to accuse Ukraine of further escalation,” the military said in a statement. He worried about the risks of carrying out the drills at the same time that Russia’s military was focused on a massive build-up of forces around Ukraine. The central bank of the Donetsk republic has put a limit on ATM withdrawals at 10,000 roubles ($130) per day, TASS news agency reported. Meanwhile the West was ready to negotiate over Russia’s security demands “without being naive”.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 20, 2022 01:08 UTC
Confused by new M-Flow toll gates? Here’s what you need to know
Related NewsWhat is M-Flow toll collection system and how can you use it? Confusion over usage slows traffic down at M-Flow gatesNew auto toll system kicks in today on Motorway No 9M-Flow registrations doubled overnight, from 3,000 on Wednesday to 6,000 on Thursday. M-Flow is a free-flow automatic toll payment system developed by the Transport Ministry to solve traffic congestion on expressways and motorways. Users can drive through M-Flow toll gates at 120kph, meaning 2,000 to 2,500 cars per hour can flow through each gate. The M-Flow system began operating this week at four gates on Motorway No 9 (Bang Pa-in-Bang Pli ring road) – Thap Chang 1, Thap Chang 2, Thanyaburi 1 and Thanyaburi 2.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 19, 2022 05:13 UTC
Over 1 million substandard industrial products incinerated
Most of them were incinerated at the Map Ta Phut Eco-Energy Power Plant in Rayong province while the products with incombustible materials were used for road paving. Among the substandard products destroyed on Friday were crash helmets, motorcycle exhaust pipes, toys, LED bulbs, extension plugs, power banks, grill stoves, microwave ovens, convection ovens, electric fans, speakers and amplifiers, pressing irons, and hair dryers. Senior officials from the Ministry of Industry, the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI), and Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) attended a ceremony at SCG Cement’s power plant in Rayong before the incineration began.
Source:The Nation Bangkok
February 18, 2022 18:48 UTC
Prayut invokes epic myth to hammer opposition
Prayut invokes epic myth to hammer oppositionPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha stands to speak during a general debate in Parliament on Thursday. "We all know how Thotsakan met his fate," Gen Prayut told parliament. Gen Prayut said the government is working with other agencies to address numerous problems. Before the session started Gen Prayut had downplayed a warning sent by ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who mentioned in a ClubHouse session that Gen Prayut's premiership would be "hijacked" in a future House session. Observers noted that after several years in politics, Gen Prayut, who is known to have a short fuse, appeared more composed.
Source:Bangkok Post
February 18, 2022 18:20 UTC