#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Moderna vaccine clinical trials set to start in January in Japan (nationthailand.com)

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.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

S. Korea to control abuse of chemicals in meat, fishery products (nationthailand.com)

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)

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

[Vietnam] PM urges measures to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine testing (nationthailand.com)

[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

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

Malaysia ranks highly among emerging markets (nationthailand.com)

Malaysia ranks highly among emerging markets

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.

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

India, Vietnam leaders discuss South China Sea, stronger defence ties (nationthailand.com)

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.