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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403992

Police say ‘sorry’ to reporter hospitalised by rubber bullet

NationalMar 22. 2021Pol Maj-General Piya Tawichai

By The Nation

Police on Monday apologised to a reporter who was shot by a rubber bullet during a clash between pro-democracy protesters and police at Chaloem Wat Chat Bridge near Bangkok’s Khok Wua intersection on Saturday night.

Related stories:

20 arrested over clashes between pro-democracy protesters and police during Saturday’s rally

32 people injured as pro-democracy protesters, police clash

The Redem (Restart Democracy) group had gathered at 6pm at Sanam Luang to demand the release of eight pro-democracy protest leaders detained last week on charges of sedition and lese majeste. Clashes erupted as protesters pulled down a container barrier, and police used water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

At 8.50pm, Sanam Luang protesters retreated to Khok Wua intersection near Democracy Monument, where further clashes saw several police vehicles damaged and plant pots set on fire.

Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-General Piya Tawichai said a reporter was being treated at Kasemrad Hospital after he was shot in the head by a police rubber bullet during the fray.

He said police had warned reporters to clear the area before opening fire.

“The Royal Thai Police would like to apologise for the incident in which a reporter was hospitalised,” said Piya.

He added that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered National Police chief Pol General Suwat Chaengyodsuk to take care of all those injured during the clash and instruct police officers to perform their duties in line with international practice.

Meanwhile, Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol General Krisana Pattanacharoen urged reporters at rallies to comply with police orders by wearing protective equipment.

He added that the Metropolitan Police Bureau may organise training to instruct reporters on the meaning of police signals during operations.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403989

Co-payment scheme participants urged to spend credit by Mar 31 expiry date

NationalMar 22. 2021Kulaya Tantitemit

By THE NATION

The Finance Ministry has reminded people to spend their remaining credit from the co-payment shopping scheme before it expires on March 31.

Fiscal Policy Office director-general Kulaya Tantitemit said on Monday that over 14 million people who joined the “Khon La Khrueng” (Let’s Go Halves) scheme must spend the money by March 31, as the leftover budget will not be transferred to other economic stimulus programmes.

Under the Kon La Khreung scheme, registrants get discounts on their shopping of up to Bt150 per day at more than 1.5 million participating merchants, capped at Bt3,500.

“If you have not used up your allocated Bt3,500, you should do so before the month’s end,” Kulaya said, adding that the more registrants spend under the scheme, the more it will help boost the country’s pandemic-hit economy.

“As of March 21, a total of 14,793,502 people had been approved for the scheme. Of these, about 6.31 million people have already spent their Bt3,500,” she added.

Total spending under the scheme has reached Bt98.86 billion – Bt50.61 billion spent by the public and another Bt48.25 billion subsidised by the government.

Provinces with highest spending are Bangkok followed by Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Songkhla and Chiang Mai.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403988

GPO launches human trials for its Covid-19 vaccine

NationalMar 22. 2021

By THE NATION

The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) kicked off the first phase of human trials for its Covid-19 vaccine on Monday by delivering shots to 18 volunteers.

The trials are being conducted in cooperation with Mahidol University’s Faculty of Tropical Medicine.

The GPO has been developing its Covid-19 vaccine by cultivating the inactivated virus in hen eggs, before extracting the culture to make the vaccine.

Also present at the launch of the human trials were Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Minister Anek Laothamatas and GPO president Kiattiphum Wongrajit.

GPO said the first phase of human trials will cover 210 volunteers aged between 18 and 59, who will be given the smallest dose of the vaccine.

The second phase, which will cover 250 volunteers aged between 18 and 75, will get a slightly higher dose. Researchers hope to determine the correct dosage based on these studies.

The second phase is expected to kick off in July and the GPO expects to conclude the study before the end of the year.

All volunteers in the first and second phases are expected to have good health, no drug or vaccine allergies and should never have contracted Covid-19.

This vaccine trial is supported by the US-based Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), which has provided vaccine precursors for first and second-phase studies.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403987

73 new confirmed Covid-19 cases, one death reported

NationalMar 22. 2021

By THE NATION

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Monday reported 73 new cases and one death.

A 60-year-old Bangkok resident, who was already suffering from lung cancer, as well as diabetes and high blood pressure, succumbed to the infection on March 18. He had tested positive on March 14.

Meanwhile, seven arrivals tested positive, including three Thais and four foreign nationals.

The Thais had returned from the US, Denmark and Hungary, while the foreigners included a Kosovo national flying in from Germany, a Norwegian from Qatar and an arrival each from Poland and Belgium.

Meanwhile, 65 patients have recovered and been discharged.

As of Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 27,876. Of these, 24,892 had been contracted locally, including 15,492 who were found via proactive testing, while 2,984 were returnees.

So far, 26,663 have recovered and been discharged, 1,122 patients are being treated, and 91 have died (31 in the second outbreak).

According to Worldometer, as of 10am on Monday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 123.85 million (up by 420,507), 99.77 million of whom have recovered, 21.36 million are active cases (90,188 in severe condition) and 2.72 million have died (up by 5,914).

Thailand ranks 116th on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 30.52 million, followed by Brazil 11.99 million, India 11.64 million, Russia 4.45 million and the United Kingdom 4.29 million.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403931

Another dry Songkran for Thailand

NationalMar 22. 2021

By THE NATION

For a second year running, Thailand’s Songkran festival will be dry.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has issued a ban on all water splashing activities, though traditional practises like pouring water on Buddha statues and on elderly people are still allowed.

So far, at least two public events have been announced during the April 13-15 break that are in line with CCSA’s orders.

This year Bangkok’s famous Khaosan Road will have a “holy water” cave filled with Buddha statues instead of its usual wild, wet party, while Buriram province is planning a huge night parade/bazaar in its Chang Arena from April 6 to 15.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403986

Anutin assures vaccine supplies for Phuket, Samui before tourists return

NationalMar 22. 2021Anutin Charnvirakul

By THE NATION

There are enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine for people in Phuket and Surat Thani’s Samui Island to immunise local people before tourists return, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday morning.

The minister told the press that the new cluster found recently in Samut Prakan province was under control.

Also, he said that 800,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine, which had arrived in Thailand late Saturday, would be distributed to important areas in Phuket and Samui Island at 100,000 doses and 50,000 doses, respectively.

The rest of the vaccine would be distributed in Samut Sakhon, he said, adding that the distribution was in line with an epidemiological practice.

Anutin added that to boost Thailand’s economy, the government must distribute the vaccine in economic or tourism hubs first.

He assured that there was enough vaccine to deal with the present situation in Thailand.

Asked if it were possible to distribute 900,000 doses for people in Phuket, in order to immunise them before foreign tourists return, Anutin assured it could be arranged.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403985

Several expressways to be toll-free on Chakri Day, Songkran Festival

NationalMar 22. 2021

By THE NATION

Toll fee will be waived on several expressways during public holidays in April.

Chakri Memorial Day will be observed on April 6 and Songkran Festival celebrations from April 13-15 — which forms long holidays from April 10 to 15 — the government announced via its official Facebook page @ThaigovSpokesman on Monday.

“The move aims to eliminate congestion at toll booths and facilitate traffic flow, as well as reduce people’s financial burden,” said the post.

On April 6 and April 13-15, the following expressways will be free:

– Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway

– Sirat Expressway

– Udon Ratthaya Expressway (Bang Pa In – Pakkred)

Meanwhile, the Burapha Withi Expressway (Bangna – Chonburi) and Kanchanaphisek Expressway (Bang Phli – Suk Sawat) will be free for eight consecutive days from April 9 to 16 to facilitate travel for people in Bangkok to and from their hometowns during the Songkran Festival.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403984

‘Depressed’ man tries to set fire to Democracy Monument

NationalMar 22. 2021

By The Nation

Police officers at Samranrat Police Station and volunteers at Ruamkatanya Foundation nabbed a 59-year-old man who allegedly tried to set fire to the Democracy Monument in Bangkok’s Phra Nakhon district on Sunday evening.

A Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteer said the man parked his pickup truck on the traffic island near the monument, poured gasoline on the monument’s base and started a fire.

“Police officers managed to nab the man before he poured the gasoline on himself,” a volunteer said.

As the man reportedly suffered from depression, police decided to contact his relatives to take him to receive mental treatment.

According to a report, the incident was not linked to the country’s political situation.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403981

Baht likely to weaken as dollar rides on rise in Treasury yield

NationalMar 22. 2021

By THE NATION

The baht opened at 30.82 to the US dollar on Monday, strengthening slightly from 30.84 at close on Friday.

The Thai currency is likely to move between 30.70 and 31.20 this week and 30.75 and 30.90 on Monday, Krungthai Bank market strategist Poon Panichpibool said.

He said the baht tends to fluctuate in line with the dollar. Meanwhile, the dollar is moving in tandem with the US Ten-Year Treasury yield, which has grown from the US recovery.

The relation between the yield and the currency pressured emerging market currencies, such as the baht, to weaken, the market strategist explained.

He advised investors to monitor foreign funds in the short term, especially in stocks, as they could flow out.

Poon predicted that exporters would sell dollars when the baht moves between 30.90 and 31 per US dollar. Also, the baht would weaken to 31.25 in case it reached 31.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30403982

Higher earning ability linked to education

NationalMar 22. 2021

By THE NATION

There is a direct corelation between education and a person’s ability to earn, according to a survey by the National Statistical Office of Thailand.

The higher the education levels of Thais, the higher their earnings, the survey showed.

Disparity of income is a major problem in Thailand and it is attributed mainly to education.

“The higher the level of graduation, the higher the income,” the survey shows, linking educational level with earnings.

In 2019, people who earned the highest salary in Thailand were those with doctoral degrees. Their average salary was Bt44,078 a month.

People with no education in Thailand received only Bt6,362 a month, seven times lower than people with a PhD.