Moderna vaccine clinical trials set to start in January in Japan
Dec 23. 2020
By The Japan News/ANN
Clinical trials for Moderna Inc.’s novel coronavirus vaccine will begin in January in Japan, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. said Monday.
The U.S. biotech firm’s vaccine will be tested on 200 people in planned trials to see if an immune reaction occurs, according to Takeda, which is in charge of the trials and distribution of the drug in Japan.
Arrangements are already being made for the trials with the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry among others.
Takeda aims to apply for the necessary approval to manufacture and sell the vaccine in Japan. As for when the vaccine will be available in Japan, the company said, “It is still uncertain at this time.”
The government has so far agreed to receive supplies of vaccines covering a total of 145 million people from Moderna, U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. and AstraZeneca in Britain.
The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), which is in charge of the screening process, believes that data from clinical trials conducted in Japan are necessary for the maker to receive approval.
Pfizer and Astrazeneca have already started clinical trials in Japan.
On Friday, Pfizer filed an application with the health ministry for approval to manufacture and sell its vaccine in Japan.
S. Korea to control abuse of chemicals in meat, fishery products
Dec 23. 2020Meat on display at a supermarket in Seoul. (Yonhap)
By The Korea Herald/ANN
South Korea said Wednesday it plans to adopt the positive list system (PLS) to regulate the maximum residue limit of chemicals in meat and fish products in 2024.
Under the measure, South Korea will set the ceiling of 0.01 milligrams per kilogram concerning the use of any types of drugs other than those from the positive list, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
“The new rule is designed to prevent the misuse or abuse of unauthorized animal drugs and to enhance the safety control of imported meat and fish,” the ministry said in a statement.
The PLS will be adopted for beef, pork, chicken, milk and eggs in January 2024.
Concerning products of other categories, South Korea plans to continue to work on details down the road.
The country earlier adopted the PLS for all fruits and vegetables in 2019. (Yonhap)
[Vietnam] PM urges measures to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine testing
Dec 23. 2020Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc chairs the meeting on Monday. —VNA/VNS Photo
By Viet Nam News/ANN
HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Monday asked vaccine research units to take strong measures and use suitable and creative methods to speed up vaccine testing.
Chairing a Cabinet meeting, the PM asked agencies to create the best conditions for domestic units to conduct vaccine research. He assigned the Ministry of Health to work with the Ministry of Science and Technology and other agencies to determine the vaccine production capacity of domestic enterprises to offer appropriate support measures.
The Ministry of Health should learn from the experience of countries around the world in conducting COVID-19 vaccine trials to speed up the testing of NANOGEN’s Nanocovax vaccine to soon put it into use, while looking for foreign partners to co-operate in implementing the phase-three clinical trial of the domestically produced vaccine, the Government leader noted.
Under the direction and management of the Ministry of Health, the Vietnam Military Medical University will work with the Institute of Biotechnology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and other agencies to build a project to develop a vaccine research and development centre for prevention and control of human infectious diseases, including a grade 3 or 4 biosafety laboratory.
Regarding the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines from other countries, the PM said a certain volume of vaccines is needed to protect people’s health. He asked the Ministry of Health to complete a project to determine the purchase of an appropriate country’s vaccine, and search for more suppliers.
Amid the complex developments of the pandemic in the world and the region, PM Phúc said raising vigilance is still the most important measure to prevent and control the disease.
People nationwide should closely follow the message featuring the 5Ks (in Vietnamese) Khẩu trang (facemask)- Khử khuẩn (disinfection) – Khoảng cách (distance) – Không tụ tập (no gathering) – Khai báo y tế (health declaration) to live safely with the coronavirus in the new normal, he said.
Meanwhile, agencies at all levels must prevent violations of quarantine regulations and localities, especially big cities, need to enhance inspections of pandemic prevention and control. —VNS
Dec 23. 2020In the study, Malaysia is ranked ahead of other Asean countries such as the Philippines (ranked 10) and Indonesia (ranked 12). Thailand (ranked No. 1) is ahead of Malaysia in the study, while India (ranked 11) and China (ranked 17)
By The Star/ANN
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is ranked fifth among 17 other developing countries according to a Bloomberg study that gauges their outlook for 2021 based on 11 indicators of economic and financial performance.
In the study, Malaysia is ranked ahead of other Asean countries such as the Philippines (ranked 10) and Indonesia (ranked 12).
Thailand (ranked No. 1) is ahead of Malaysia in the study, while India (ranked 11) and China (ranked 17).
The study cited various data points including that Malaysia has a forecast GDP growth rate of 6.8% in 2021 and a fiscal balance of -5.4% of GDP next year.
In its note on Malaysia, the study highlighted of the undervalued current real-effective-exchange rates (REER) compared with the five-year averages compared to peers with z-scores of negative 1.4 or below.
Other countries having undervalued REER included Brazil, Turkey and Hungary.
“Many emerging market economies are poised to recoup economic losses, judging by various metrics surveyed by Bloomberg, ” the report said.
It noted that among the main factors for this is healthy foreign reserves, more so in Asia which would provide a cushion from external shocks.
However, it said that elevated debt-to-GDP readings will be worth monitoring for stability risks.
The report said that as the global recovery takes hold, and the US Federal Reserve keeps interest rates low, risk appetite should continue to strengthen in 2021.
This would be supported by favourable valuations and attractive real yields that would in turn lure foreign buyers, it pointed out.
It also highlighted other structural weakness especially worsened current account deficits, namely in Colombia and Turkey.
“These countries are vulnerable to a negative shock, ” the report said.
“Fiscal deficits, especially in Brazil, South Africa and the Philippines, have added to high government debt burdens.
“The debt burdens in South Africa, Hungary, India, and Brazil are also cause for concern, ” it added.
It also highlighted Goldman Sachs’s effective lockdown indexes which indicate that most developing economies stand to gain a lot in terms of activity catch up once the pandemic is brought under control.
“In the latest readings, Malaysia, Chile, and the Philippines have the most room to subside in 2021. Those indexes should all eventually converge close to zero, ” it said.
It noted that the surveys show that analysts are penciling in high rates of growth next year for some of the countries that have been hardest-hit in 2020.
“Each of the top five growth rates for 2021 are from Asia, led by India, China, and the Philippines, ” it said.
India, Vietnam leaders discuss South China Sea, stronger defence ties
Dec 23. 2020
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan underscored the importance of “self-restraint” and “non-militarisation” of the South China Sea.(PHOTOS: AFP)
By Nirmala Ganapathy The Straits Times/ANN
NEW DELHI – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Vietnamese counterpart, Mr Nguyen Xuan, discussed issues related to the South China Sea as well as defence links between the two countries during a virtual summit on Monday (Dec 21).
The two leaders underscored the importance of “self-restraint” and “non-militarisation” of the South China Sea while drawing up a roadmap for closer defence ties.
The South China Sea featured prominently in the talks at a time when both countries have seen a downturn in ties with China.
Mr Modi stressed that the code of conduct negotiations on the South China Sea should not prejudice the interest of other countries in the region, said Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (East) Riva Ganguly Das.
Asean and China have been seeking to resume talks on a maritime code of conduct.
Separately, the two countries released a document called India-Vietnam Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People, where two paragraphs were dedicated to the South China Sea issue.
“Both leaders underscored the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, and avoidance of actions that could further complicate the situation or escalate disputes affecting peace and stability,” said the document in the context of the territorial disputes.
India is currently embroiled in its worst border troubles with China in over four decades.
It has accused China of changing the status quo on the Ladakh border with negotiations so far failing to resolve all differences.
Vietnam has competing claims with China near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.
The country has objected to Chinese military drills in the disputed area, accused Beijing of intimidating its fishermen and of advancing territorial claims during the pandemic.
Analysts noted that there were many areas of convergence between India and Vietnam, which will also take their seats in the United Nations Security Council next month.
“Among Asean member states, convergence with Vietnam is greatest… Other Asean countries have been relatively more circumspect. Vietnam has been much more open and explicit in courting countries like India and trying to diversify the relationship bilaterally,” said Professor Harsh Pant, director of studies and head of the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
“India also wants to diversify and make sure the Indo-Pacific strategy is in sync with what important key stakeholders like Vietnam want to do in the region.”
Though India is not directly involved in the territorial dispute, China has expressed irritation with its oil exploration activities in the area. One of the oil blocks where India has been involved in partly falls under territory claimed by China.
ONGC Videsh, the overseas arm of the Indian public sector oil and gas company, has sought a two-year extension for exploring the Vietnamese oil block.
Business ties between India and Vietnam have grown over the years with bilateral trade touching US$12.34 billion (S$16.5 billion) in 2019-2020.
Vietnam is India’s 18th largest trading partner globally and the 4th largest within Asean, after Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.
On Monday, Mr Modi also invited Vietnamese companies to invest in India and highlighted the urgent need for a long-overdue review of the Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement (Aitiga) as a concrete step towards revitalising economic engagement between India and Vietnam as well as the larger Asean region.
He also highlighted the importance of ties in opening remarks at the summit.
“We see our relationship with Vietnam from a long-term and strategic view. Peace, stability and prosperity are our shared purpose in the Indo-Pacific region. Our partnership can make a significant contribution in maintaining stability and peace in the region,” said Mr Modi.
Defence, analysts said, is emerging as a key area of cooperation.
The two countries signed nine memoranda of understanding, including a framework for promoting cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries.
India also handed over the first of 10 high-speed guard boats (HSGB) which are being manufactured under a US$100 million (S$133 million) defence line of credit extended in 2014 by India to Vietnam.
Five boats are being built in the southern city of Chennai, while the rest at Hong Ha shipyard in the Vietnamese port city of Hai Phong.
“There is skill transfer and technology transfer. Manufacturing and capacity transfer. I guess that’s the harbinger for future projects,” said China expert Srikanth Kondapalli from the Jawaharlal Nehru University.
He noted that though tensions with China was a common ground, the two countries also had historical ties.
“There is the China connection, but the two countries also have a historical relationship and cultural connections too,” he added.
Thai Oil has signed a memorandum of understanding with Eastern Water Resources Development and Management (East Water), which will undertake water distribution and resource development programmes to support Thai Oil’s clean-fuel project in the Eastern region, chief executive officer and president Wirat Uanarumit said.
“Under this MOU, East Water will also be responsible for operating and maintaining water pumps and machinery under the project. We estimate that it could start operating by early 2022,” he said.
“This project will be a key effort in developing water resources for users in the Eastern region and will support Thai Oil’s future clean-fuel campaigns,” Wirat added.
Meanwhile, Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) secretary-general Somkiat Prajamwong said the ONWR board has agreed to a budget of Bt1.37 billion to build a 15-million-cubic-metre reservoir in Ban Nong Krathing, Chachoengsao, to support increasing water usage in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
“We expect the reservoir to be completed in 2025. It will help provide water to 10,000 rai of farmland in the rainy season and 3,000 rai during the dry season,” he said.
“It will also help maintain the ecosystem balance and push salt water away from Bang Pakong river during storm surges.”
Somkiat said the ONWR is studying the possibility to produce freshwater from sea water to solve the water shortage problem in EEC areas during the dry season.
“The project will be piloted in Chon Buri and Rayong and is expected to start next year,” he added.
Sakol Energy (SKE) has unveiled plans to acquire businesses related to the clean energy and the environment to boost its revenue and profits next year.
Jakkraphong Sumethchotimetha, the managing director of the gas station operator, said green and clean energy business trends are likely to grow for many years.
“Also, the company plans to expand its existing business while also seeking new opportunities, pending approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission.” Meanwhile the rapidly changing situation meant risk assessment was necessary for some SKE projects.
“The company still has sufficient funds for investment and we will consider issuing warrants based on the company’s and shareholders’ benefits,” he said
SKE would also produce and sell compressed biomethane gas (CBG) to industries in Bangkok and its vicinity rather than in other provinces where demand had dropped.
Jakkraphong expects SKE revenue and profit to increase next year, forecasting performance in the fourth quarter this year would not improve from the third quarter due to a decline in demand for CBG and Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) fuel amid the economic slowdown and falling oil prices.
“Also, we have maintained our target to boost electricity production capacity to 30 megawatts by 2022.”
He said long-term contracts with strong partners meant company operations would not be disrupted next year, while expressing confidence the government would be able to contain the spread of Covid-19.
“However, the company will make efforts to diversify risks based on the Covid-19 crisis and economic situation in order to seek opportunities for investment in other types of energy in the future,” he added.
The price of gold dropped by Bt150 per baht weight in morning trade on Wednesday after rising by Bt100 per baht weight at close on Tuesday, the Gold Traders Association reported.
As of 9.26am, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt26,550 per baht weight and selling price Bt26,650, while gold ornaments cost Bt26,075.20 and Bt27,150, respectively.
At close on Tuesday, the buying price of a gold bar was Bt26,700 per baht weight and selling price Bt26,800, while gold ornaments cost Bt26,226.80 and Bt27,300, respectively.
The spot gold price moved to US$1,863 (Bt56,295) per ounce in the morning, while the Comex (Commodity Exchange) gold price to be delivered in February next year dropped by $12.50 to $1,870.30 per ounce on Tuesday due to a dollar appreciation and the historic rise in the US gross domestic product, resulting in mass sell-offs of safe-haven assets.
The Hong Kong gold price meanwhile dropped by HK$90 to $17,210 (Bt67,082) per tael, the Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange Society reported.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) Index fell by 7.55 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 1,431.94 in the morning session on Wednesday.
An analyst at Krungsri Securities expected the day’s index to fluctuate between 1,415 and 1,435 points amid an influx of foreign funds.
“However, uncertainty over the coronavirus mutation in Britain and fears of a new Covid-19 wave in Thailand would pressure the index,” he predicted, adding that some Thai provinces have already imposed lockdown measures to curb the spread of the virus.
He recommended investors buy:
> TQM, BLA, STGT, AJ, PTL, Synex and Com7, which actually benefit from a fresh Covid-19 outbreak.
> PTTEP, PTTGC, Top and IVL, which benefit from the rising oil price, while their fourth-quarter performance is expected to improve.
The SET Index closed at 1,424.39 on Tuesday, up 22.61 points, or 1.61 per cent. Total transactions amounted to Bt87.82 billion, with an index high of 1,428.11 points and a low of 1,388.23.
By Syndication Washington Post, Bloomberg · Kamaron Leach, Cecile Gutscher
U.S. stocks fell for a third day as optimism over a covid-19 relief bill was tempered by the emergence of a new variant of the virus and a slew of lockdowns and travel curbs to contain it. The dollar advanced and Treasuries gained.
The benchmark S&P 500 fluctuated between gains and losses before closing lower, with consumer services and energy the biggest sector decliners. The Nasdaq Composite and Russell 2000 set record highs in what is a holiday shortened week. U.S. lawmakers cleared a $2.3 trillion year-end spending bill and stimulus package. President-elect Joe Biden warned the “darkest days” of the pandemic were still to come and called on Congress to be ready early next year to produce another stimulus package.
“Sometimes you get exaggerated moves in stocks due to lack of liquidity,” said Jonathan Boyar, managing director at BoyarValue Group.
Amgen Inc. was among the biggest losers in the Dow Jones industrial average, falling after a study showed an experimental drug failed to cut asthma patients’ dependence on steroids. Apple Inc. paced the gain in the Nasdaq after a report said the company is planning to make a battery-powered self-driving car as soon as 2024. Tesla Inc. fell for a second day.
In Europe, stocks rebounded from their steepest slump in almost two months Monday, with all industry groups in the green. British Airways owner IAG SA surged more than 5% as travel shares bounced back. Crude oil edged lower for a second day.
The global stock rally is looking increasingly fragile after equities touched a record high last week, as lockdowns and rising virus cases threaten to overshadow U.S. pandemic relief and the initial rollout of vaccines. The bill passed by Congress on Monday represents the second-biggest economic rescue package in American history.
“The agreed fiscal relief package will undoubtedly help mitigate some of the negatives but unfortunately, it won’t be able to fully offset the effects of people staying at home as many businesses face tighter restrictions or are even forced to close,” according to James Knightley, chief international economist at ING Groep.
In the U.K., where the virus variant has taken hold, a full lockdown came into force in London and southeast England. Europe and regions from Canada to Hong Kong have suspended travel links to the island nation, piling pressure onto the government as it tries to salvage a free-trade agreement with the European Union.
The bloc rebuffed Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s latest concessions on fishing rights, keeping the pound lower.
These are the main moves in markets:
Stocks
The S&P 500 Index decreased 0.2% to 3,687.27 as of 4:02 p.m. EST, the lowest in more than a week.
The Dow Jones industrial average sank 0.7% to 30,015.51, the lowest in more than a week on the biggest dip in more than three weeks.
The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 0.5% to 12,807.92, the highest on record.
The Stoxx Europe 600 Index surged 1.2% to 391.25, the biggest jump in five weeks.
Currencies
The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index jumped 0.6% to 1,132.18, the highest in more than a week on the largest climb in almost eight weeks.
The euro sank 0.7% to $1.2162, the weakest in a week on the biggest dip in more than four months.
The British pound fell 0.7% to $1.3368, the weakest in more than a week on the largest drop in more than a week.
The Japanese yen depreciated 0.3% to 103.66 per dollar, the weakest in a week on the biggest dip in more than two weeks.
Bonds
The yield on 10-year Treasuries declined two basis points to 0.92%, the largest drop in more than a week.
Germany’s 10-year yield declined two basis points to -0.60%, the lowest in a week on the biggest fall in more than a week.
Britain’s 10-year yield declined two basis points to 0.183%, the lowest in more than a week.
Commodities
West Texas Intermediate crude dipped 2.1% to $46.94 a barrel, the lowest in more than a week.
Gold depreciated 0.9% to $1,860.77 an ounce, the weakest in a week on the largest dip in almost two weeks.
Meat on display at a supermarket in Seoul. (Yonhap) 
Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc chairs the meeting on Monday. —VNA/VNS Photo 
In the study, Malaysia is ranked ahead of other Asean countries such as the Philippines (ranked 10) and Indonesia (ranked 12). Thailand (ranked No. 1) is ahead of Malaysia in the study, while India (ranked 11) and China (ranked 17) 
SootinClaimon.Com 