The era of anti-Covid pills begins
The era of anti-Covid pills beginsMerck's molnupiravir works by decreasing the ability of a virus to replicate, thereby slowing down the diseasePARIS - What if a simple pill could help heal from Covid-19? -They are pills taken orally as soon as the first symptoms of Covid-19 appear, to avoid serious forms of the illness, and therefore hospitalisation. After months of research, Merck and Pfizer say they have reached that elusive goal. Early October, Merck said it was seeking authorisation in the United States for its pill molnupiravir, and Pfizer followed suit on Friday with paxlovid. Several countries have already ordered stocks of molnupiravir, such as the United States, with 1.7 million courses of the drug.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 07, 2021 02:23 UTC
7,960 new Covid cases, 53 new deaths
7,960 new Covid cases, 53 new deathsA nurse administers the Pfizer vaccine to a youngster at Bang Sue Grand Station on Saturday. (Photo: Apichit JinakulThailand logged 7,960 new Covid-19 cases and 53 new fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Sunday morning. On Saturday, 6,950 Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovering from the coronavirus. Since April 1, when the third wave of Covid-19 began, Thailand has treated 1,939,136 Covid-19 patients, 1,822,542 of whom have recovered to date. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 1,967,999 Covid-19 cases, with 1,849,968 complete recoveries so far.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 07, 2021 01:31 UTC
Covid grips Europe again as winter nears
Despite an abundance of Covid-19 shots, countries from Germany to Greece have reported record infections in recent days, while Romania and Bulgaria are experiencing horrific levels of fatalities and overwhelmed hospitals. Last month, the country kicked off its largest-ever flu shot drive to address concerns over a spike in Covid cases coinciding with a resurgent flu. “We are working to extend the booster dose to new age groups starting next week,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Friday at a press conference in Rome. HungaryHungary’s slow vaccine campaign and lack of Covid measures has helped fuel one of the world’s fastest growth rates in infections. Croatia on Friday tightened measures after reporting record infections.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2021 22:08 UTC
Pattaya tour operators don't expect immediate turnaround
Pattaya tour operators don't expect immediate turnaroundPattaya Music Festival 2021 kicks off on Friday and it is the country’s first concert in months. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)Pattaya saw no new international visitors during the first few days of the country's tourism reopening programme, but the local tourism community expects things to pick up in the second half of the month. Mr Sinchai said Pattaya also faced transport problems due to a limited number of SHA Plus-certificated taxis, particularly those which would normally bring tourists from the airport to Pattaya. On a more positive note, he said this month would see more Thai tourists visiting. The Pattaya Music Festival will be followed by the Dern Kin Tin Na Klua (Na Klua Walk & Eat festival) food and culture festival and Pattaya Countdown to entertain mostly Thai crowds.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2021 17:44 UTC
Royal insult law repeal draws over 100,000 supporters
(Photo by Apichart Jinakul)More than 120,000 people have signed up to submit a bill calling for the repeal of the royal defamation law to Parliament. Launched on Oct 31 during a rally at the Ratchaprasong intersection in Bangkok, the “Time’s up 112” campaign attracted 3,760 signatures in favour of scrapping the law. To ensure checks and accountability of the tax-funded institution, the bill proposes that the lese majeste law be repealed. Among the opposition, Move Forward, the most progressive party, supports amending the problematic parts of the law. Seri Ruam Thai disagrees with repeal but supports changes of some details and penalties under the law.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2021 15:48 UTC
B938m loan secured for solar energy project in Cambodia
B938m loan secured for solar energy project in CambodiaFrom left are Ms Niraman, Mr Link, Mr Rak and Mr Tipakorn at the signing. B.Grimm Power Plc (BGRIM), Thailand's leading industrial power producer, has secured US$28.1 million (938 million baht) in a syndicated loan from three top Thai banks to finance its solar energy project in Cambodia. "RPS's ground-mounted solar power facility is considered a success for being completed on schedule amid many restrictions, including the pandemic's effects and severe floods in the construction area throughout 2020," Mr Link added. RPS is the first solar energy project in Cambodia which has secured a firm power supply guarantee from the Cambodian government. Rak Vorrakitpokatorn, president of Exim Thailand, said the RPS project fits well with the bank's drive to support the overseas investment of Thai outfits.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2021 11:34 UTC
China pours cash into river studies
The Chinese government has set aside a budget of US$2.39 million (about 80 million baht) for the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) to support seven Thai university projects related to the Mekong River, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek says. Ms Rachada on Friday revealed that the cabinet on Thursday gave the green light to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation on Mekong projects: the Lancang Cooperation Special Fund 2021 conducted between MHESI and the Chinese embassy in Thailand. In steering the project, the Chinese government has decided to subsidise the projects under the MoU this year, Ms Rachada said. Just under $340,000 was injected into a breeding development project for aquatic animals of Suranaree University of Technology. The Chinese government also gave $479,000 to Geo-Informatics and Space Technology to develop a tracking system and assess the amounts of productivity of the cash crops in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, she said.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2021 09:43 UTC
Healthcare data leaks a major problem, warns cyber expert
Healthcare data leaks a major problem, warns cyber expertThe National Cyber Security Agency has found at least 20 cases in which hackers used web servers used by state agencies to create fake websites to lure victims into filing important data. A cybersecurity expert has expressed concern about data leakage in the healthcare sector, from local hospitals to the ministerial level, following a series of major data leaks. "In Thailand, we may try to make things quiet and let it disappear," Dr Sutee said. Meanwhile, the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) indicated that the Oct 7 case concerns data leaked from the Sisaket Provincial Public Health Office. "We need to have guidelines to assist public hospitals," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2021 04:30 UTC
Teen dies from blood clots after second jab
A 16-year-old vocational student in Lampang has died as a result of blood clots blocking blood vessels in both lungs a few days after receiving her second shot of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, according to her death certificate. Specimens have been collected for testing and are being examined to decide whether she died as a result of side effects of the vaccination. However, her father said only one day after she received her second shot of the same vaccine on Oct 27, she began experiencing a fever. On the third day her vomiting became more severe, which resulted in stomach pain and more severe fatigue, he said. As of Oct 24, 1,296 deaths suspected to be linked to Covid vaccinations have been recorded and investigated by medical experts, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2021 02:22 UTC
10 action points for you to take to save the world
10 action points for you to take to save the worldPeople choose second-hand items at a flea market operated by the Lutheran-run Home of Grace. This shade reduces the need to cool your house or apartment, lowering your electricity bill and impact on the climate. Except that one is made locally and the other (if it's true pasta) has travelled halfway around the world to get here. For everyone, buying local also usually means buying cheaper -- and of course creating jobs here rather than at a spaghetti factory in Europe. When you choose a rooftop restaurant, the climate impact is lower than if you sit inside – nature does the cooling.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 06, 2021 00:33 UTC
Pfizer says Covid pill 89% effective
The Pfizer drug called Paxlovid achieved an 89% reduction in risk of hospitalisation or death, the company said. (AFP Photo)WASHINGTON: Pfizer said on Friday that a clinical trial of its pill to treat Covid-19 had shown it is highly effective. The drug called Paxlovid is the second anti-Covid pill after that of Merck, which is actually an influenza medicine rebranded to fight the coronavirus. Pfizer said its medication had been created specifically to fight Covid. A simple pill to treat the coronavirus has been sought since the start of the pandemic.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 05, 2021 23:21 UTC
US Congress set to pass $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill
US Congress set to pass $1.2 trillion infrastructure billThe US Senate passed the massive infrastructure package with the support of one-third of RepublicansWASHINGTON: US lawmakers were set to vote Friday on a landmark $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that would transform America's crumbling transport network and boost internet coverage on the biggest day so far of Joe Biden's presidency. "American families want historic investments in infrastructure... in competitiveness, and addressing the climate crisis. Biden originally proposed some $2 trillion in infrastructure spending over eight years, including funding for some of his priorities like climate change mitigation, child care, schools and social services. Major investmentsCongressional Democrats are still haggling over the Build Back Better package that includes major investments in health, education, tackling climate change and expanding social welfare programs. Friday's effort marks a reversal from a long-established plan by House progressives to pass infrastructure only after receiving assurances of support on Build Back Better from their Senate colleagues.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 05, 2021 23:09 UTC
Expanded money-laundering law to cover more offences
Expanded money-laundering law to cover more offencesThe cabinet has approved a draft amendment to the Money Laundering Act to cover more offences including pornography, tax dodging and loan sharking, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said yesterday. The proposal, submitted by the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), was to rectify the law to ensure it stays in line with international standards on fighting money-laundering and the financing of terrorism, after a suggestion by the Financial Action Task Force. The definition of a "predicate offence" will be rectified to cover the child pornography trade, tax evasion, document forgery, the digital asset trade, bid rigging and loan sharks. A new provision will be added to cover identity fraud in transactions including where corrupt operators conceal their own identity in the act of defrauding customers. An annual budget summary must be provided and Amlo will be able to stop suspicious transactions when it comes across them.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 05, 2021 04:01 UTC
Farmers call for rice price fix
(Photo: Pattanapong Chatpattarasill)Oversupply of rice, the stronger baht, and a shortage of shipping containers are to blame for the falling price of Thai rice which has prompted farmers to demand the government step in to fix the problem urgently. Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said the falling price of Thai rice was the result of a prediction that the production of milled rice would reach up to 20 million tonnes in the 2021/2022 harvest season due to plentiful water supplies, compared to the 2020/2021 output which was 16.5-17 million tonnes. Every increase in the baht's strength will make Thai rice exports more expensive by $16 per tonne. "Therefore, we hope the export figures will improve during the remaining months of the year, which will help release the remaining rice stocks," Mr Jurin said. Meanwhile, Pichet Chueamuangpan, a Pheu Thai Party MP for Chiang Rai, scattered rice during a parliament session to protest against the commerce minister for failing to answer his questions about falling price prices affecting farmers.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 05, 2021 03:34 UTC
ICI for Thai stocks hits record high
ICI for Thai stocks hits record highThe Investor Confidence Index (ICI) for stocks over the next three months surged to a record high, spurred by strong prospects of a tourism rebound after the country's reopening and progress in vaccine rollouts that will attract foreign fund inflows to the Thai stock market next year. The Thai stock market has risen by only about 3% since the country's reopening on Nov 1, so the bourse still has plenty of room for upsides. "With these prospects, we still expect the SET Index to reach 1,800 points next year", said Mr Paiboon. He said if everything goes as planned, GDP will rise to 3.5% next year, assuming the number of foreign tourists will reach 10 million. If the number of tourists exceeds 10 million, GDP may reach 4% and attract more funds into the Thai bourse.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 05, 2021 02:42 UTC