Minister Anutin expects Thailand to have COVID-19 vaccine in 9 months

14 Sept 15:19 Key points summarised by AI

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced Thailand could develop its own COVID-19 vaccine within nine months, contingent on smooth development.
The DNA-type vaccine, a joint effort by Bionate Asia and the National Vaccine Institute, has successfully induced immunity in mice.
The next crucial step involves seeking Thai FDA approval to bypass primate testing and move directly to human trials, with strict adherence to safety and ethical standards.
If approved, human trials are projected to begin in July or August, backed by a 3 billion baht government allocation for vaccine development.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

Today 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.