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It was a poorly conceived and executed project from the start.

From VN Express The Hanoi-HCMC, Da Nang-HCMC, and Da Nang-Hanoi routes have been ranked among the 10 busiest domestic routes in Southeast Asia, according to British aviation data provider OAG. Over 949,000 passengers flew on the two-hour route between Hanoi and HCMC in August, making it the busiest in the region, surpassing other routes such as Jakarta-Makassar with 569,500, Jakarta-Bali with over 473,000, and Cebu-Manila with a little more than 450,000. The Da Nang-HCMC route ranked fifth, with more than 427,700 passengers, while the Da Nang-Hanoi route ranked seventh, serving over 410,000 passengers.

From Bangkok Post Mpox vaccines are necessary only for at-risk groups, not the general population, as the disease is less contagious than Covid-19, according to a prominent virologist. Dr Yong Poovorawan of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine posted Facebook on Saturday that vaccination against the disease -- which the World Health Organisation declared on Aug 14 now constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) due to the increase in cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its expansion to neighbouring countries -- is unnecessary for those who are not in high-risk groups. The high-risk groups include homosexual men, individuals engaging in casual sex, and those who have travelled to countries where the disease is prevalent. He noted that mpox does not spread as easily as Covid-19. It is usually only transmitted through physical or sexual contact and the sharing of a bed, for example. Additionally, he said the disease is less severe than Covid-19 during the initial stages of infection. Adults and the elderly who were vaccinated against smallpox (typically those born before 1980) are already partially immune to mpox, Dr Yong added. The currently available mpox vaccine is expensive but can be reduced by splitting one dose between up to five people, with each receiving an intramuscular injection. Dr Opass Putcharoen, acting deputy director of the Thai Red Cross Aids Research Centre (Anonymous Clinic), said the research centre administered 400 doses of the mpox vaccine to people between March 1 and Aug 22. More people are actively registering for vaccinations. He agreed with Dr Yong, saying not everyone needs the mpox vaccine. However, those in risk groups should receive two doses of the vaccine, with the second dose administered 28 days after the first. As for those who received the smallpox vaccine, he said they do not need the mpox vaccine unless they have been in close contact with a patient. In that case, they would be advised to receive one dose to boost their immunity. Dr Opass said people can receive one dose of the mpox vaccine via a subcutaneous injection for 8,500 baht or via an intramuscular injection for 2,200 baht.

A tip pf the cap for diligently doing your research.

From NY Times By Anton L. Delgado Reporting from Phnom Penh and Kampong Speu, Cambodia Aug. 24, 2024, 12:01 a.m. ET The brand-new bus gleamed as it weaved through rush-hour traffic in Cambodia’s capital. It was headed to a school, bearing a lesson about the country’s darkest period. About two-thirds of Cambodia’s population is under 30, born a generation or more after the genocidal rule of the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s. Many of those young people have only a general awareness of its atrocities, which left at least 1.7 million Cambodians dead. That horrific history has been thoroughly documented, in court documents and at places like the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the killing field in Choeung Ek. But both of these are in the capital, Phnom Penh, and most Cambodians live in the countryside. The bus’s mission is to bring the history to them. An international effort, it is outfitted with touch screens, laptops and projectors and connected to a vast digital record of the Khmer Rouge’s crimes against humanity, including executions, enslavement, torture, starvation and forced separations. Its destination on a recent morning was Kampong Speu High School, an hour west of Phnom Penh. There, seven survivors of the Khmer Rouge met the bus at the school to share their stories with students. Tuch Sakun, 82, wiped tears away with a leopard-print krama, a traditional scarf, as she described the killings of her father and her husband. “As elders, we need to keep reminding everyone about what happened,” Ms. Tuch Sakun told the students. “You all are so lucky. You have nice clothes. You go to school. You have enough to eat. All we had back then was a black outfit and a red krama.” The Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975 after a devastating civil war, during which the United States carried out a brutal bombing campaign in Cambodia as part of its war in neighboring Vietnam. Led by Pol Pot, the Communist regime banished people to the countryside, closed schools and ordered everyone, including children, to work toward its stated goal: an agrarian utopia. (Khmer Rouge means Red Khmer; the name refers to the Khmer people, Cambodia’s dominant ethnic group.) It eviscerated minorities, outlawed money, closed all markets and killed people with skills and education — like doctors and merchants — whom it saw as threats. The Khmer Rouge was toppled by an invading Vietnamese force in 1979, but it continued a guerrilla war from Cambodia’s borderlands into the 1990s. After years of wrangling, a United Nations-backed court was set up in Phnom Penh in 2006 with a mandate to prosecute top officials from the Khmer Rouge and those most responsible for its crimes. The tribunal, whose official name is the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, has spent more than $330 million, but it convicted only three people. Having completed its prosecutions, the tribunal is now declassifying and digitizing decades’ worth of documents. On the bus, which is an outreach initiative of the tribunal, roughly 975,000 scanned pages, audio records and video files from the tribunal’s 16 years of litigation are accessible. Perhaps just as important, it brings students together with survivors like Ms. Tuch Sakun. “If the bus didn’t exist, it would be hard for me to reach students and even harder for them to reach me,” she said, touring the interior of the bus with students and other survivors. Continues with photos https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/24/world/asia/cambodia-khmer-rouge-museum-bus.html

From The Nation The amendment of the contract for the high-speed rail project linking three airports has been put on hold pending the appointment of a new chairman of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee, which will require approval from the new Cabinet that has yet to be formed, the EEC Office said on Friday. The 276.5-billion-baht rail project will link Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and U-Tapao international airports and form a high-speed connection between Bangkok and EEC areas. The office secretary-general, Chula Sukmanop, said the EECO believed the new board chairman will be appointed within this year, and the construction could start soon after and finish within five years as per schedule. The route is expected to open in 2029. He added that all the construction areas under state’s responsibility are now 100% ready to be delivered to the contractor, Asia Era One, which is an affiliate of Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group. Chula said that the State Railway of Thailand had discussed with the CP Group-led consortium about amending contract requirements that would allow the much-delayed project to start. The move to amend the contract was approved by the Cabinet on October 19, 2021. Continues at https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40040853

While business leaders were arguing yesterday for more foreign laborers, across town immigration cops were busy rounding up over 100 foreign workers at a construction site. From Pattaya News The Pattaya Chonburi Business and Tourism Association (PCBTA), led by its President, Mr. Boon-anan Pattanasin, hosted a seminar titled “Changing ‘Illegal’ to ‘Cheap’ for Sustainability” at the Shambala Hotel in Pattaya. The event aimed to provide entrepreneurs with new perspectives on managing foreign labor effectively. The PCBTA, in collaboration with the Chonburi Chamber of Commerce and the Cambodian Embassy, organized this seminar to tackle the pressing issue of labor shortages in the private business sector, particularly in tourism. The event aimed to equip entrepreneurs and executives with knowledge on effective foreign labor management, covering legal aspects, employment processes, and sustainable practices. https://thepattayanews.com/2024/08/24/seminar-on-legal-foreign-labor-management-organized-by-pattaya-chonburi-business-and-tourism-association/ ================== Chonburi Immigration Police have apprehended over 100 migrant workers in a dramatic raid on a construction site today, leaving many in tears as they are likely to face deportation amid ongoing conflicts in their home country. The raid was carried out today, August 23rd, 2024, under the direction of Pol Col Napaspong Khositasuriyamanee, Chief of Chonburi Immigration. The operation targeted a construction site in Soi Takhian Tia 20, Takhian Tia sub-district, Banglamung district, Chonburi province. Upon inspection, a large number of migrant workers, mostly from Cambodia and Myanmar, were found working. However, as soon as they saw the authorities, they panicked and fled in all directions. The officers had to chase the workers down, and eventually over 100 workers were arrested. https://thepattayanews.com/2024/08/23/chonburi-immigration-police-raid-construction-site-and-arrest-100-migrants/

Double taxation was at the root of that scuffle the north America colonists had with the British circa 1776. I pay taxes to my town, my state and my country. That seems enough.

They already have perfect defense: years of Thai case law. 🙂

From The Nation The former commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, Pol General Somyot Poompanmoung, and former deputy attorney-general Nate Naksuk as well as six others will be indicted in the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on August 29, the Office of the Attorney-General said. In a letter to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the prosecutors have informed the NACC to bring the eight suspects before the court on August 29. The action against the eight stems from their controversial decision not to prosecute Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, who was allegedly involved in a fatal car accident that killed a police officer in 2012. The NACC report on February 27 had found grounds to charge them. The case relates to a decision not to prosecute Vorayuth for his alleged involvement in the death of Pol Sen Sgt-Major Wichian Klanprasert in 2012, where evidence regarding the vehicle's speed was allegedly tampered with. Continues at https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/news/general/40040834

From The Nation Thai Health Pass Introduced for African Travelers On August 23, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) and the Division of International Disease Control and Quarantine, Ministry of Public Health, jointly discussed before issuing international guidelines and measures to support the surveillance of Mpox (Monkeypox) in Thailand through an online system. This system is a collaboration between airline operators, medical departments, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited, International Air Transport Association, Thai Airways Ground Customer Services Co., Ltd., and Phuket International Airport to determine measures and guidelines for screening travelers from risk areas. Initially, it was found that areas with high infection rates are the same as Yellow Fever areas in Africa. Therefore, there has been continuous monitoring for signs of Monkeypox in passengers on direct flights from these areas. To manage the situation more effectively, the Division has added measures requesting airlines to cooperate by having passengers traveling from risk areas register in the Thai Health Pass system. This system will record entry and exit dates and times, making it easier to track and manage cases if infected individuals are found. Passengers who haven’t registered before travel can also register at Thai airports. Before implementation, CAAT and the Division rehearsed understanding with all airlines at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phuket Airport on August 22, and announced it to all remaining airlines on August 23. Continues at https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2024/08/23/thai-health-pass-introduced-for-african-travelers-for-mpox-prevention/

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon If foreigners are wondering about the detail of DTV applications, embassies of Thailand worldwide will likely understand. Several of those already showing DTV registration fees, such as Laos and Sri Lanka, have yet to publish any information. The more prominent, such as Washington DC and London, have published the guidelines of the original Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT), but add discreetly that further information could be required. Others, such as the Thai embassy in Cambodia, are waiting for the latest online technology before they can even begin processing DTV. The most detailed checklist of requirements for the DTV is provided by the embassy in Kuala Lumpur. It goes beyond the TAT-released information. For example, applicants are required to show proof they have a Thai condominium rental agreement or Thai property lease for at least six months ahead. Digital nomads must show a copy of their employment contract or business licence authenticated by the embassy of the country where the company is located. The bank statement to be shown must be at least three months old before concluding, as per the regulations, with a 500,000 baht (US$14,000) or more balance. The route to DTV via soft power, such as cookery classes or Muay Thai, is also evolving. The TAT regulations specify a letter of acceptance from the sponsoring company but, according to several reports, that company should be registered with the Department of Education in Thailand. This is presumably to prevent “fly-by-night” groups cobbling together a training program to get round the rules. Some embassies require proof of income over the past six months, not just a bank statement showing 500,000 baht here and now. The notional cost of DTV is 10,000 baht (just under US$300) but all embassies currently operating the visa impose an inclusive service surcharge. For example, the Thai embassies in the USA quote a total of US$400, the London one 300 pounds and the New Zealand diplomatic post the equivalent of 1,000 pounds. (For reasons unknown, the New Zealand Thai embassy is always an outlier on visa fees). Once paid at registration, the fee cannot be returned. Those applicants with a history of significant overstay in Thailand had best think carefully as they can be refused on their past immigration record. The immigration bureau, not the foreign embassies or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is responsible for actual entries and extensions. In an interview, the spokesman for MFA said that Thai immigration officers at airports and borders could ask for updated information throughout the five year period, even though the Ministry was unlikely to do so. The immigration bureau has not commented publicly to date on that issue and officer discretion is the most likely outcome. In the meantime, the best advice is to review carefully the requirements of the DTV in your home-based country or one where you can prove beyond doubt you are temporarily resident. Each embassy is uniquely responsible for the detail within the broad framework agreed by the Thai Cabinet.

From Pattaya News At least nine people have been found dead including two Russians while two people are believed to be still missing after a landslide in Karon on Friday early in the morning (August 23rd).The Phuket City District Chief Mr. Worasit Putjeep told the Phuket Express that at 5:30 A.M. they were notified of the landslide and flash flood from the Nark Kerd Hill after many hours of rain had taken place since Thursday night. The rainfall has been measured at 200 mm. The flash flood also washed down large rocks and trees to the Patak 2 Road in the Karon sub-district, Mueang Phuket district. As of 3:35 P.M. the district chief has confirmed to the Phuket Express that nine people were found dead in their accommodations after a comprehensive search was launched at four points in the area. Of those two were a Russian couple, three were males from Myanmar, three were females from Myanmar and one was a female Thai from Sakhon Nakhon. Two people are believed to be still missing. Continues with photos and video https://thepattayanews.com/2024/08/23/at-least-nine-people-dead-including-two-russians-after-landslide-in-phuket-video/

I believe that anyone 75 or over is considered elderly in this case.

Agree with conclusion about colonization. However, China has never given up on it's intent to make Thailand a client state by any means possible, much in the same way it has Cambodia and Myanmar. Its methods are diverse but the goal doesn't waiver. As you say, Thailand is well aware of the efforts. I, too, do not believe it's xenophobia but a necessary paranoia.

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — The free visa policy for 53 countries/territories has led to a continuous increase in the number of tourists entering Thailand, with Chinese tourists ranking first. However, there are growing concerns that money is not flowing into Thailand as it should because Chinese zero-dollar tours have returned. According to Tourism and Sports Economic Division, from January 1 to August 18, 2024, Thailand received a total of 22,474,172 foreign tourists who generated revenue of 1.05 trillion baht through their spending. The five countries with the highest number of tourists are China (4,555,262), Malaysia (3,104,092), India (1,294,076), South Korea (1,193,255) and Russia (1,053,724). Although Chinese tourists top the list, Thailand faces challenges related to market-disrupting tours [The practice of foreign tour companies using Thai nominees to bring foreign tour groups to Thailand involves offering the lowest possible prices — “underbidding with a willingness to take a loss” — to put Thai tour companies out of business and drive them out of the market).

NOTE -- If you're planning a trip and trying to figure out what the exchange rate will be when you arrive, I wouldn't waste a lot of time or effort. Rates fluctuate by the minute. You can get a clue on what direction they may be moving bythe action of your home country's central bank on interest rates. If they are raising rates, your currency will likely appreciate against the baht. If they are lowering rates, it will likely depreciate. Cross currency rates at 0700 today: Dollar 34.35 Euro 38.28 Pound 45.07 CAN dollar 25.29 From The Thaiger The baht is poised to strengthen further, potentially reaching 34 per US dollar or even higher, following a 13-month peak attained yesterday. This surge occurred as the Bank of Thailand opted to keep the policy rate steady at 2.5%, encouraging potential inflows ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s upcoming September meeting. Closing at 34.21 on August 20, the Thai currency rallied to 34.06 against the dollar early yesterday, marking its highest level since July 2023, before settling at around 34.13-15. The appreciation of the baht mirrored movements in other Asian currencies, driven by a drop in the dollar index to its lowest point since December last year. Market expectations suggest the US central bank might ease its policy stance as early as next month. Over the past two days, the baht appreciated by over 2%, coinciding with the Bank of Thailand’s decision to maintain the policy rate at 2.5%, a decade-high level, said Kanjana Chockpisansina head of research, banking, and the financial sector at Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research).

acquire /ə-kwīr′/ transitive verb To gain possession of. "acquire 100 shares of stock." To get by one's own efforts. "acquire proficiency in math." To gain through experience; come by. "acquired a growing dislike of television sitcoms." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

From CNBC Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to drop out of the presidential race on Friday and endorse Republican nominee Donald Trump, NBC News reported Wednesday, citing two sources familiar with the independent candidate’s plans.

I don't believe it was Londoner's intent to mock or slur any people or their language. If anything, he was acknowledging his inability to acquire foreign language and how it affected his attempt to communicate. .

Like increasing the compensation for general practitioners. The shortage of GP's is the cause of emergency room overcrowding and lack of care to those who've fallen between the cracks of the health insurance dilemma.

Since the criticism is coming from well-established colleagues, he may give a bit more of a damn today. Even Rhett Butler's life ended in scandal and disillusion.

From The Nation Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader and prime minister candidate of the now-defunct Move Forward Party, posted a message on Medium website on August 20 that he had taken up a visiting role at Harvard University. The party-list MP was disqualified from running for office for 10 years following the dissolution of his party by the Constitutional Court for undermining the constitutional monarchy system of government. Pita said that his next chapter will begin at Harvard University this semester as a Visiting Democracy Fellow. He expressed his excitement about this opportunity to further his commitment to promoting leadership and democratic principles in the ASEAN region. "Returning to Harvard this time is deeply meaningful to me because, during my previous studies here, I was greatly inspired by several former leaders who served as visiting fellows at the university. They played crucial roles in transforming their countries and lived in Boston to nurture new leaders regardless of race," he wrote. Pita also outlined two main goals for his time at Harvard: Sharing: He intends to share his experiences in leadership, political struggles, democratic systems, public policy, and citizen engagement with young people across ASEAN studying at Harvard, not just Thai students. Learning: He aims to gather knowledge to enhance his ability to address issues in Thailand and beyond. As his political tenure ends, Pita says he is fully committed to using this opportunity to reflect on his experiences and the challenges faced during his term. His work at Harvard will involve a deep exchange of political knowledge and meeting with global leaders to return as a better political leader when the time comes, he said. "I will continue to travel between Bangkok and Boston almost every month, without leaving my hometown for too long. This approach will help me apply the insights and strategies gained from Harvard to my ongoing efforts to develop Thailand and the ASEAN region. I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity and the support I have received. Let's work together to create a brighter future for our next generation of leaders," Pita said.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Thailand offers a multiplicity of long-term visas for women and men well past the first bloom of youth. They include annual extensions of stay, the 5-20 years Elite visa and the 10 years Long Term Residence (LTR), each of which has its own scale of charges with assorted pluses and minuses. None of them allows direct ownership of land by foreigners, nor guarantees a path to permanent residency or citizenship. Purchase of condominiums is allowed but does not generally result in visa concessions. Since January 2024, anyone spending six months or more in the kingdom may be liable to personal income tax on remitted income. Malaysia has had a 5-20 years My Second Home program since 2002 but there have been a succession of changes, including the requirement to purchase and retain a property and associated land (100 percent in their name) in order to spur growth in the local market. Perks include obtaining visas for spouses, parents and children under 34 years. Unlike Thailand, Malaysia imposes the requirement to live in the country for at least three months per year, although a dependant relative can substitute where the visa holder is still of working age. Malaysia is not currently insisting on foreign tax residents paying tax on remitted income from abroad. Cambodia seems to have abandoned an earlier second home campaign, but the Retirement ER visa gives one year which is annually renewable. Retirees aged at least 55 years do not need to provide written proof of status or finances. Property ownership laws are strict and similar to Thailand’s. In theory, Cambodia requires foreign residents to file and pay taxes on their foreign income, but there are few signs of enforcement for this kind of visa. Cambodia allows foreigners to purchase citizenship provided they invest or donate US$300,000, an offer taken up with alacrity by rich Chinese in particular. The Philippines offers a Special Resident Retirement Visa (SRRV) which offers a renewable two-year permanent residence ID card. Those over 35 years must deposit US$50,000 in a Philippine bank (less for pensioners), which can later be used to help buy a condominium unit, and show proof of a monthly income. Remitted cash from sources outside the Philippines is not subject to tax. Foreigners can lease land for 50 years with extensions for 25 years more. The Philippines are unique in the region for granting a notional permanent residency from day one of the SRRV. It follows that the issues for longstay retirees in the region vary country by country. None offers the kind of dual citizenship or second passport which are common in permanent residence visas throughout the Caribbean for instance. Malaysia and the Philippines offer favorable tax conditions for foreign retirees, although Thailand offers a range of tax privileges in the Long Term Residence detail. Property ownership remains problematical across the region, although the purchase of condominiums or long-term leases is common. Use of local nominees to buy property or to conduct business is extremely risky throughout south east Asia. Cambodia probably offers the easiest bureaucratic route to longstay retirees, but the country lacks the kind of infrastructure westerners are used to. There are no sure answers, just individual preferences and priorities.

From The Thaiger Thailand will launch a new train service linking Bang Sue in Bangkok to Penang, Malaysia, within the next two to three months. The initial phase will be a six-month trial period, marking a significant step in cross-border transportation. The announcement was made yesterday, August 20, by Ekarat Sriarayapong, head of the Governor’s Office of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). Awirut Thongnet, Deputy Governor of the SRT, attended the 42nd KTMB – SRT Joint Conference in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, from August 13 to 16 to discuss expanding railway cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia. The meeting approved the principle of operating a train service from Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Padang Besar and Butterworth in Penang, Malaysia.