Transport
Thai Airways delays resumption of domestic flights due to local Covid-19 cases

Thai Airways flights to Phuket and Chiang Mai were supposed to start back up on Christmas day, but the recent Covid-19 local transmissions have led the airline to push the relaunch date back. Now the flights from Bangkok will take off on January 1, but if the virus continues to spread, the airline might decide to delay the flights indefinitely.
At least 17 Thais tested positive for Covid-19 after illegally entering Thailand from Myanmar’s border district Tachileik. They evaded the mandatory quarantine and some travelled to Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other provinces before testing positive. There have been 2 local transmissions related to those cases.
In a recent, but unrelated spread of the virus in Bangkok, 6 nurses tested positive for Covid-19. Health officials suspect a nurse did not wear protective gear correctly, contracting the virus while working at an alternative state quarantine facility and then spreading it to her colleagues.
As long as infections don’t escalate, the flights will start back up on January 1. The flights from Bangkok to Chiang Mai as well as flights from Bangkok to Phuket will be on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Customers who booked flights before January 1 are entitled to a refund.
The flights will be the first since the airline suspended its international and domestic services in April due to the coronavirus pandemic. Things haven’t been easy for the Thai Airways this year. Along with being buried in a debt of nearly 300 billion baht, more than 20 people are suspected of being involved in corruption and mismanagement at the airline.
And with no planes in the air, Thai Airways tried doing business on the ground. They opened a pop-up restaurant selling airline food and started offering packages for their flight simulator, which is typically only used to train pilots.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Bangkok
Courteous thief apologises to Bangkok convenience store: Sorry I’ve a kid

A young man armed with a knife allegedly robbed a convenience store in Ladprao district of Bangkok, stealing 1,800 baht. Before fleeing on a motorcycle, he apologised to the staff, saying “Sorry. I’ve a kid”.
It’s really hard to find a thief with good manners these days.
The female staff who was in the store when the man came in told the reporter that she saw the man in a cream shirt with short sleeves, walking in the store and carrying a bag. He suddenly pointed the knife to threaten the staff for money. The terrified staff walked to the cashier counter and gave him money.
After checking CCTV cameras, police say the thief is between 25-30 of his age, and was not wearing a face mask. He was seen parking his motorcycle in front of the store before entering. He appeared to be carrying what looked like a fruit packing knife. The police are now tracking him down.
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Thailand
Efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines will drop during mass inoculations: Thai virologist

Thai virologist Dr. Yong Poovorawan from Chulalongkorn University, has spoken about claims that the efficacy of every vaccine available today, including Covid-19 vaccines, tend to lower after being used in mass inoculations, compared to the findings from the laboratory during human testing trials.
He recommends that people should not rely solely on the vaccines alone because uncertainty will remain during the roll out phase of the new inoculations.
“The best way to protect themselves is to practice basic safety standards as we usually do today… wearing face masks all the time when going outside and in crowded venues, regularly washing hands, and maintain social distancing.”
On his Facebook page, Dr. Young cited the case of Hepatitis B vaccines that claimed between 94-95% efficacy. But after use on mass populations, its efficacy dropped to about 80%. He believes this trend will be the same as Covid-19 vaccines.
“Although the manufacturers claim the vaccines’ high efficacy, that is just the laboratory results. In practice, several variables may cause lower effectiveness of the vaccines.”
He also says that the real effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines, both the American from Pfizer and the Chinese from Sinopharm will be known soon after the populations of Israel and UAE have been inoculated in large numbers already.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
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Election
Education minister’s wife plans to run for governor of Bangkok

The education minister of Thailand’s wife is planning to run for the governor of Bangkok when the city poll is called, in a move that puts her in direct competition with others for the backing of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party.
Nataphol Teepsuwan confirmed on Friday that his wife Taya Teepsuwan, a former core member of the now-defunct Peoples’ Democratic Reform Committee, would contest the unscheduled gubernatorial election.
Natapol met briefly with PM Prayut, with some speculating that the Government House meeting was centred around his wife’s future political career. But Natapol denied that was the focus of the meeting.
Her decision to run could be problematic as Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang or former police chief Chakthip Chaijinda are expected to run under the Palang Pracharath banner. Both of those candidates were close to the party back when PM Prayut was the junta leader.
Chakthip has given signs of his intentions to run as he set up a Facebook page this month, while Aswin has not officially made up his mind whether to run or stand aside for the former national police chief.
But Natapol says his wife, who is a former deputy Bangkok governor, plans to a run as an independent if she is passed over by Palang Pracharath. The education minister said he had informed party leader Prawit Wongsuwon of his wife’s intention.
Taya is the youngest child and only daughter of the late business tycoon Chalermbhand and Khunying Sasima Srivikorn. Along with her husband, she co-founded the Rugby International School in Chonburi.
Taya was also the managing director of Srivikorn School and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University as well as a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration at Chulalongkorn University. She also has a Master’s in Analysis, Design and Management of Information Systems from The London School of Economics & Political Science.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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matteus
Friday, December 11, 2020 at 11:37 am
What!? Thai Airways is still a thing? Seriously?
jesus MOnroe
Friday, December 11, 2020 at 2:29 pm
Pet mouse found with covid, close the airline down…..they haven’t got a chance
Toby Andrews
Friday, December 11, 2020 at 10:39 pm
They are still selling tickets, yet owe 24 billion in unpaid ticket refunds.
Amazing Thailand – scum!
Mr cynic
Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 8:08 am
they owe way more than the ticket sales money,they have huge unpaid bills globally to all sorts of people.
the main share holder appears to have reduced their holding from a majority in the company and it looks to be in some sort of bankruptcy protection type scheme.
many people outside los are watching proceedings with great interest.