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I took three Viagra and it wasn't enough

From The Nation Aswin Kwanmuang spoke after inspecting the Bueng Nong Bon drainage tunnel project, which stretches from Nong Bon in southeastern Bangkok to the Chao Phraya River. The 5-metre-wide tunnel runs west for 9.4 kilometres at a depth of 30 metres. Starting from Rama IX Park in Nong Bon, the tunnel links with Bang Ao Canal and features seven drainage stations along the route to Bangkok’s main river. The project launched in January 2016 and is scheduled for completion on February 15 before opening a month later. “Bueng Nong Bon drainage tunnel will help prevent flooding on On Nut Road, Udom Suk Road and Sukhumvit Road,” said Aswin. The tunnel would increase drainage efficiency over an area of about 85 square kilometres, covering the districts of Prawet, Suan Luang, Phra Khanong, Bang Na, he added. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40006292

From Pattaya Mail / NNT The Thai government aims to promote employment for Thais in industries facing labor shortages and is preparing to recruit Thais to fill more than 400,000 jobs left vacant by migrant workers due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Labor Minister Suchart Chomklin said on Saturday that several industries are in need of laborers, as migrant workers have been prohibited from returning to Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Imports of migrant workers were suspended in March last year when the pandemic worsened, resulting in labor shortages, and employing Thai workers was one way of dealing with the problem. He said that Thais aged up to 35 with high school level or lower education should be considered. Thai laborers will get salaries based on their educational level, as well as overtime and other welfare schemes. Mr. Suchart said there is strong demand for both Thai and migrant workers in several industries, including apparel, canned food and electronics. The Department of Employment (DoE) will survey employment demands among business operators who want to hire Thais as substitutes for migrant workers. So far, 112,759 Thais have registered for jobs with the department. (NNT) https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thais-to-fill-jobs-left-vacant-by-migrant-workers-372546

Car mob rallies against tanks, troops and Prayut From Bangkok Post Cars and motorcyles kick off an anti-coup and anti-government rally at Asoke intersetion on Sunday. (Photo: Apichit Jinakul) More than 1,000 cars, motorcycles and other vehicles set off from Asoke intersection in heavy rain, the beginning of a "car mob" rally set to wind through the streets of the capital in another bid to oust Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The demonstration was held in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of the Sept 19, 2006 coup that ousted then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. That was followed by the May 22, 2014 coup that marked the beginning of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's long premiership. The two coups were closely connected, red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar said before the rally kick-off. "The 2014 coup was staged to show that the one in 2006 was not a waste of effort (by the army)," he said. Red-shirt activist Sombat Boonngam-anong said the armed forces justified military coups as a way to resolve political conflicts, but in reality military intervention was used to open the doors for generals to enter politics. A long procession of about 500 cars and more than 1,000 motorcycles began the political convoy set to head over the Krungthep Bridge to Thon Buri and then recross the Chao Phraya river to end at Democracy Monument. The rally kicked off with a piece of dramatic symbolism. Mr Nattawut, who donned a taxi uniform, rammed a taxi into a cardboard mockup of a tank while demonstrators chanted for Gen Prayut's ouster. The stunt was a reminder of taxi driver Nuamthong Praiwan, who spray painted his vehicle with an anti-coup message and smashed into an army tank on Sept 30, 2006 to show his opposition to the coup. The rally kicked off with a piece of dramatic symbolism. Mr Nattawut, who donned a taxi uniform, rammed a taxi into a cardboard mockup of a tank while demonstrators chanted for Gen Prayut's ouster. The stunt was a reminder of taxi driver Nuamthong Praiwan, who spray painted his vehicle with an anti-coup message and smashed into an army tank on Sept 30, 2006 to show his opposition to the coup. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2184319/car-mob-rallies-against-tanks-troops-and-prayut

From Bangkok Post Bangkok hurries for more jabs Bangkok residents queue at food stalls on Yaowarat Road after the CCSA relaxed dine-in restrictions on Sept 1. A political tug of war may be the key factor determining when Bangkok is allowed to reopen to fully vaccinated tourists. Bangkok is scheduled to reopen on Oct 15, while Chon Buri (Pattaya), Phetchaburi (Cha-am), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin) and Chiang Mai (Mueang, Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and Doi Tao) are slated for Oct 1. The proposal is expected to be submitted at the next Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting on Sept 24, followed by the Center for Economic Situation Administration on Sept 29. On Wednesday, the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) held a meeting with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Bangkok governor Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang. Directly after this meeting Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn insisted the Bangkok reopening date be set for Oct 15. However, on Friday the Bangkok governor asserted the city should not be reopened until residents have a 70% vaccination rate in order to ensure sufficient immunity. According to a source who requested anonymity, during the meeting on Wednesday Pol Gen Aswin said both he and Bangkok residents agree with the reopening plan, but the city might have to wait until Oct 22-24 for 70% of residents receive their second jabs. Pol Gen Aswin raised the possibility of accelerating the interval for the second shot to open the city earlier than Oct 22, which the BMA's health authority representative said was possible if the BMA can procure more vaccines through the support of the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The reopening proposal requires approval from the CCSA to obtain more vaccines to reach the 70% threshold for the metropolitan area, said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn. Mr Yuthasak said the TAT will have a discussion with tourism-related operators on Sept 22 to prepare for Bangkok's reopening. Thanet Supornsahasrungsi, acting president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council, said Bangkok's reopening could support tourism in Pattaya through more direct flights. Most tourists enter the country via Suvarnabhumi airport. Asian tourists normally combine visits to Bangkok and nearby areas such as Pattaya, so reopening the capital could be a complement for other destinations, he said. "Reopening more areas definitely benefits the tourism industry as it shows the readiness of the country to welcome back tourists," Mr Thanet said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2183739/bangkok-hurries-for-more-jabs

From Channel News Asia HANOI: Vietnam has approved Cuba's Abdala vaccine for use against the coronavirus, the government said on Saturday (Sep 18), as the Southeast Asian country is battling its worst outbreak. Abdala becomes the eighth COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Vietnam, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the region, with only 6.3 per cent of its 98 million people having received at least two shots. The announcement came hours after President Nguyen Xuan Phuc left Hanoi for an official visit to Havana. Vietnam has recorded 667,650 coronavirus infections and 16,637 deaths, the vast majority in the Delta-driven outbreak from late April. "The ministry of health has approved Abdala vaccine, based on the country's urgent need for its COVID-19 fight," the government said in a statement. The ministry last month said Cuba would supply large quantities of Abdala to Vietnam and transfer the production technology by the end of the year. In June, Cuba said its three-shot Abdala vaccine had proved 92.28 per cent effective in last-stage clinical trials. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/vietnam-approves-cubas-abdala-covid-19-vaccine-2186871

From Thompson Reuters By Matt Blomberg PHNOM PENH, Sept 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Foreign workers and tourists stranded in Cambodia during the COVID-19 pandemic have been trafficked and forced to work in sophisticated Chinese-run online scams, a Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation has found. In interviews, nine trafficking victims said they were lured by social media adverts promising well-paid jobs in call centres. Instead, they ended up in shuttered hotel casinos and guarded compounds where they had their passports confiscated before being put to work online. The victims, mainly from Africa and Asia, said they were ordered to create fake profiles on Tinder, WhatsApp and Facebook to entice people into fraudulent investment schemes involving cryptocurrencies, foreign exchange and shares. Those who objected or performed poorly were subjected to violence and threats, victims said. Mary, a teacher from the Philippines, said she miscarried while locked in a room without food and water for three days. "We were desperate," said Mary, who was three months pregnant and four months out of work when she responded in July to a Facebook post offering call centre jobs to English-speaking foreigners. "We thought it was real work but it became a living nightmare," said the 26-year-old, whose name has been changed to protect her identity. Approached for comment on the nine trafficking cases that the Thomson Reuters Foundation uncovered, a spokesperson for the Cambodian interior ministry said, "We also have heard about this before but until now we still do not have any evidence." Continues at https://news.trust.org/item/20210916120210-olp4a

From The Diplomat The government of Laos has authorized six companies to trial mining and trading cryptocurrencies, the Laotian Times reported yesterday, despite its stated concerns that such currencies could be used to facilitate illegal activity. According to a report in the Laotian Times, the trial will proceed while a host of ministries work with the Bank of Laos and the state power supply company Electricite du Laos (presumably because of the immense power required to mine cryptocurrencies) to research and decide upon regulations governing the use of these pseudo-currencies in Laos. The findings of the research and consultation between ministries and relevant organizations will then be discussed at a meeting this week. With prices based on nothing beyond speculation on their future value, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin are known for being highly volatile. It is therefore hard to see how opening Laos’ $18 billion to the borderless and inflammable crypto markets will bring any benefit to the country’s population, especially given the host of other pressing problems facing the country. The anonymity of cryptocurrencies – mooted as a major advantage by their boosters – have also unsurprisingly led them to be associated with all manner of criminal activity, from online scams to drug trafficking operations. This suggests that at best, Bitcoin and its counterparts have been vastly oversold. At worst, they are an environmental hazard and a giant fraud. For these reasons, the Chinese government has recently launched a fierce crackdown on the technology, on the reasonable grounds that its lurching price fluctuations posed a threat to the nation’s financial stability. It has banned crypto mining operations and ordering major banks not to do business with crypto companies. In June, the State Council’s Financial Stability and Development Committee stated that it would “resolutely prevent the transmission of individual risks to the wider society.” Continues at https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/despite-crime-concerns-laos-authorizes-cryptocurrency-trial/

It was 29 years ago when James Carville, Bill Clinton's campaign manager, posted a sign in campaign headquarters in Little Rock. Those four words became the mantra that propelled the governor of Arkansas to the White House. Somehow I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Thai PM doesn't have an aide whisper those words in his ear just before he makes a speech. It's not because he learned this in university or through vast business experience. But the people he does listen most carefully to are Thailand's movers and shakers who put him where he is today. They are all too aware that how much is at stake for the economy if it fails to open its doors to the world--the world that had delivered the country from the depths of the '97 banking and real estate crisis. That's why I believe that the decision has been made to move forward despite the Covid situation. I'm not predicting that it will necessarily be a smooth transition. However, it can no longer be resisted.

From Phuket News Expat Phi Phi GM found dead PHUKET: Search teams on Phi Phi Island found the body of Florian Hallermann, the 56-year-old General Manager of the Zeavola Resort, yesterday (Sept 15). The discovery came after a days-long search involving more than 50 people after Mr Hallermann failed to return to the resort last Saturday (Sept 11). Mr Hallermann’s body was found about 200 metres from a path leading over the hills in the centre of the island, on a steep slope overlooking Ao Plaew (Flame Bay), reports state news agency TNA. The cause of death is still unknown, the agency reported. Mr Hallermann’s body has been recovered from the remote site and officers are in the process of investigating his death, the agency report added. https://www.thephuketnews.com/expat-phi-phi-gm-found-dead-81420.php

I'm shocked....shocked! From Bangkok Post Bangkok's reopening to be postponed Bangkok's reopening for inoculated tourists will be delayed by two weeks as most of the city's residents are still waiting for their second jabs, while the tourism ministry has pledged to open the city to bring at least 1 million international tourists this year. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, the tourism and sports minister, said the appropriate timeline for Bangkok should be postponed from Oct 1 to Oct 15 as the capital city is expected to have administered Covid-19 vaccines to 70% of its residents by then. At present, 37% of population is fully vaccinated, while another 33% are in the 8-12 week interval following their first AstraZeneca shot. The revised plan came up after a discussion between the minister and Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang yesterday regarding the readiness of the city, which should be the gateway for inbound tourism. Mr Phiphat said the ministry and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) had proposed a plan to open just 21 inner districts, but due to possible inconvenience for tourists who might have to travel across districts, the Bangkok governor said the city should wait until the whole conurbation is ready to take part in the programme. "The quarantine-free entry via Bangkok will benefit the whole country as tourists usually visit Bangkok as their first destination before travelling to other provinces. With the 7+7 extension plan which will be enabled at the same time, tourists can stay in the capital city for just seven days and choose another 8 provinces in the pilot reopening programme as their second choice," Mr Phiphat said. Besides Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin and Cha-am in the pipeline, Thailand already has Phuket and Koh Samui as the first two destinations for its sandbox programme, while Krabi and Phang Nga were added in the extension programme. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2182455/bangkoks-reopening-to-be-postponed

Although this has nothing to do with the aircraft mentioned above, it does reflect on the places they land. The current issue of Barron's looked at the economy and investment prospects in Thailand. One of only a few stocks it liked was Airports of Thailand (AOT). The other was KASIKORNBANK bank. ====================================== From Phuket News AoT to take over three more airports ‘to boost tourism’ BANGKOK: Thailand’s Transport Ministry has revealed that three airports currently run by the Department of Airports (DoA) will soon come under the control of Airports of Thailand (AoT) to help drive tourism growth. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said the ministry has resolved to shift the management of Udon Thani, Krabi and Buri Ram airports to the AoT, which can help expand their capacities and turn them into regional air transport hubs that are well-positioned to handle more tourists, reports state news agency NNT. https://www.thephuketnews.com/aot-to-take-over-three-more-airports-to-boost-tourism-81424.php

From Phuket News Well known and well liked Florian Hallermann, GM of the Zeavola Resort on Phi Phi Island, was last seen on Saturday (Sept 11). Photo: Zeavola Resort The search parties, separated into four teams comprising regular police and tourist police officers, rescue volunteers and members of the public, scoured the island today (Sept 14) and came across a startling discovery, the body of a Thai man found among mangroves on the island, reported Thai-language daily Thai Rath. The Thai man is believed to have died at least three days ago, said the report. Mr Hallermann, an Austrian national, was last seen walking through the Laem Thong area in Moo 8, Phi Phi Island, on Saturday. https://www.thephuketnews.com/search-for-missing-expat-phi-phi-resort-gm-continues-81402.php

Having flown in the 350 and 787 many times, I, too, enjoyed the ride in both types. But by far my longest flights (nearly 18 hours) have been in the 350 Ultra Long Range (ULR) version. While on the subject of Boeing, last night Frontline, the PBS documentary series, aired Boeing's Fatal Flaw, an investigation with The New York Times that examines the commercial pressures, flawed design and failed oversight behind Boeing’s 737 Max jet. https://www.pbs.org/video/boeings-fatal-flaw-xenaq0/

From Thai Enquirer The Ratchaphreuk Taxi Cooperatives are turning abandoned taxis into vegetable gardens and frog ponds over the roofs and hoods of the cars, and converting them into a way to help their employees who are suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result of the lack of tourists and lockdown measures, taxi drivers have returned their rentals since February, leaving more than 300 taxis in the lot. Continues with photos https://www.thaienquirer.com/32706/abandoned-taxis-turned-into-vegetable-gardens-and-frog-ponds-to-support-workers/

China's government seems bent on expounding on the virtues of virile, manly men, wholly devoid of the slightest bit of effeminacy. Such men, they say, are better prepared to defend against any enemy of the state and better suited to lead the economy to new heights. It was about 90 years ago that the brash Ernst Rohm was pushing an even more sinister view on homosexuality in pre-war Germany. As commander of the Sturmabteilung (the Nazi party's storm troopers), he charged that that homosexuals were widespread within the party and should be purged. Many suspects were castrated and imprisoned. But Rohm's fate eventually caught up with him when even Hitler had to acknowledge what was already widely known: Rohm himself was gay. And that wouldn't look good on a resume of the man who commanded a force of over two million of those manly men. What course China's fledgling campaign against the signs and symptoms of gayness will take remains unknown. Proponents, however, would be well served to be reminded that history frequently repeats itself. ================================ From The Diplomat Is the CCP About to Rehabilitate the Cultural Revolution? The official historical narrative – as defined by Xi Jinping – is set to feature prominently at the CCP plenum in November. There are claims that a new “Resolution on History” may be on the horizon in China. This would revise a previous “Resolution on History” issued under Deng Xiaoping in 1981 criticizing the Cultural Revolution. “Questions of the party’s historical experience and major successes” and “summarizing the 100-year struggle” will be the focus of the Sixth Plenum of the 19th Party Congress scheduled for November, according to a Xinhua report on August 31. Following Xinhua, on September 1 privately owned New York-based media company Duowei News claimed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a third “Resolution on History” in the works, citing unnamed sources “closely involved in party governance.” Deng Yuwen, who formerly edited the CCP newspaper Study Times but is now frequently critical of the party, argued that a “Third Resolution on History” is likely in an op-ed for Deutsche Welle Chinese last week. According to Deng, proposing a “Resolution on History” would be a risky move for Xi, revealing his insecurity, but if successful could help to reinforce his power and address lingering dissatisfaction over his removal of term limits. “Although Xi could completely ignore these questions [over his abolition of term limits] … to do so would undermine him among skeptics in the party, of whom there are more than a few, including at an elite level.” The backdrop to the announcement of the Sixth Plenum’s focus on history and “struggle” includes a firebrand essay published in official media earlier in the month, titled “Everyone can sense that a profound transformation is underway.” The piece, written by ultra-leftist Li Guangman, praised the CCP’s crackdown on what Li described as “capitalist cliques” and “sissyboy celebrities.” It first appeared on an obscure blog but was republished in edited form by outlets including The People’s Daily, the CCP’s official mouthpiece. Talk of a “Cultural Revolution 2.0” is underway on Chinese discussion forums beyond the reach of China’s censors. According to Deng Yuwen, a “New Cultural Revolution” is the wrong label for Xi’s program as it ignores the fact that the maintenance of stability remains a high priority. “A more appropriate description for what Xi thinks he is doing is ‘Creating a Clean Society’,” said Deng in a YouTube broadcast on Tuesday. “He doesn’t want to hand over an ‘unclean’ society to the next generation of the CCP.” https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/is-the-ccp-about-to-rehabilitate-the-cultural-revolution/

From Business Mirror Blued hosts new platform for gay talents with ‘Super Idol’ This September, the gay social networking and dating app Blued is launching “Super Idol,” a talent competition to showcase LGBTQ+ talents from around the globe. “The year 2021 is shaping up to be a promising year for LGBTQ+ talents despite limitations set by the pandemic. Recently, famous drag personalities announced the premiere of two drag shows in the Philippines,” said Liam Lu, Head of Blued International. “This time, Blued is proud to host a new platform for even more gay talents with ‘Super Idol’.” Blued is the world’s first LGBTQ+ app to introduce a live streaming feature in 2016. It also introduced Voice Chat Rooms and Quick Chat—functions for live audio conversations and video call speed dating, respectively. Recently, the app launched its global #LiveYourPride campaign in celebration of this year’s Pride Month. Additionally, Blued Philippines celebrated gays of all shapes and stories through “Living My Gay Life,” a local campaign which featured notable personalities such as viral content creators Sassa Gurl and Pipay Kipay, along with filmmaker and HIV advocate Wanggo Gallaga. “Filipinos are known to be a pageant and talent show-loving people. This is evident in their active participation in both local and international competitions,” said Lu. “With ‘Super Idol,’ we hope that the next big Filipino LGBTQ+ talent will be able to showcase their unique brand of star power and charisma on a larger, global stage.” From the colorful gay pageants of small barrios to the anticipated “Drag Cartel” shows of popular bars, LGBTQ+ talents have long been carving their own niche in the local scene. With the boom of more competitions like this both on television and online, Blued is also out to create and redefine its own safe space for talented Filipino gays—even in the time of the pandemic. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2021/09/13/blued-hosts-new-platform-for-gay-talents-with-super-idol/

He says "sure." He'll meet you a week from Friday in front of the tacos shop on Soi 4 at 8 straight up. He'll be the guy with the bulge in his pants and you'll be guy with the lecherous grin on your face.

From Thai Enquirer The cabinet on Tuesday approved measures to attract foreign investors and experts to Thailand for a long-term stay with a 10-year visa. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the government’s spokesman, said that the measures should attract more than one million foreign investors and experts within five years, which should increase the amount of money spent in the economy by more than one trillion baht. “This includes 800 billion baht from the expected increase in investment and 270 billion baht from the expected increase in tax collections,” he said. The measures include: A 10-year “long-term resident visa,” also for spouse and children A work permit Exemption from foreign income tax Land and real estate ownership and rentership rights 90 days report not required No quota of hiring four Thais for every one foreign employee The four groups that can apply for the visa include: Wealthy global citizen: People with a high income of at least US$80,000 in income over the past two years and a minimum asset of $1 million Wealthy pensioner: Pensioners, age 50 and above, with a stable pension of at least $80,000 over the past two years Work-from-Thailand professional: Foreign workers with employers outside of Thailand, more than five years of working experience and make at least $80,000 over the past two years High-skilled professional: Professionals working in targeted industries such as future services, infrastructure buildings, logistical systems and digital systems who make at least $80,000 over the past two years https://www.thaienquirer.com/32668/cabinet-approves-long-term-10-year-visa-to-attract-foreigners/

The Bangkok Post's lead this morning is about the Oct. 1 re-opening but--unsurprisingly--it's woefully short on details. Nothing about what tourists (domestic, international), nothing about entry requirements, nothing about movement restrictions, nothing about insurance requirements. What is there a lot about? Phetchaburi . Tourism to reopen despite Covid, minister says Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn has confirmed Bangkok, Chon Buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chiang Mai will begin implementing their tourism reopening plans on Oct 1 as planned. The 21 other provinces will follow suit on Oct 15, he said on Tuesday, dispelling doubts over whether the government would be able to proceed with its plan in the face of the ongoing pandemic. Mr Phiphat admitted the high number of new Covid-19 infections is a major hindrance but said the ministry is fully prepared for the reopening. Asked about the 200 plus new cases of Covid-19 recorded daily in Phuket, he said these high figures stem from the province’s active case finding in every community, including migrant workers. Phuket was the first province to pilot the tourism reopening programme. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the ministry is fully prepared for the Oct 1 reopening. Phetchaburi is ready to reopen to tourists on Oct 1, with effective Covid-19 controls to reduce the threat of new infections, deputy provincial governor Natthawut Phetpromsorn said on Tuesday. Strict disease control measures remain in place to contain infection clusters, said Mr Natthawut. Bubble and seal measures applied at factories and markets have reduced the incidence of the disease, he said. Now that infections have dropped, Phetchaburi can prepare to reopen for tourism on Oct 1, in line with the government’s plan, he said. All sectors are well-prepared, he said, adding that tourists can have confidence that popular destinations such as Cha-am district are safe and free from the virus. Visitors could enjoy their stay in the province, said Mr Natthawut. Phetchaburi public health office chief Phetchakit Thaensawat said that 54% of targetted groups in the province have been vaccinated, comprising mainly people aged 60 years and over, and people with any of seven underlying conditions, and pregnant women. Vaccination would reach 70% when more vaccines arrive, Dr Phetchakit said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2181731/tourism-to-reopen-despite-covid-minister-says

If there's any upside, the outlook bodes well for continued strong job prospects for constructions workers.

It has to be a good omen.... ...that Jupiter is advertising for staff on Facebook.

From Pattaya Mail The inferno on Pattaya Walking Street, which consumed the entire structure, could be seen from kilometers away, with a towering plume of smoke visible in nearby subdistricts. A ferocious fire destroyed an Indian nightclub on Pattaya’s Walking Street, injuring no one, but taking 10 fire companies to extinguish. Flames broke out at the Nashaa Club around 9:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and spread rapidly through the four-story shophouse and damaging two adjacent structures. Nashaa, along with the rest of Walking Street’s nightlife businesses, have been closed since April and the blaze broke out after Pattaya’s 9 p.m., so the building and the street were vacant, save for a lone security guard. No firefighter injuries also were reported. The inferno, which consumed the entire structure, sending flames shooting out on to Walking Street, could be seen from kilometers away, with a towering plume of smoke visible in nearby subdistricts. Security guard Patvioda Srisuk, 32, said his first hint at trouble began with the sound of an explosion, suspected to be a gas cannister. That would trigger a serious of dangerous explosions over the next hour that made it extremely dangerous for firefighters to enter and battle the fames from inside. Pattaya Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department officials classified the fire as nearly a Category 7, one of the worst on record, with heat the made it nearly impossible to approach. They feared the building’s metal roof would collapse, but the blaze was controlled fast enough to prevent any parts of the shophouse from falling. Based on the number of “for sale” and “for rent” signs across Pattaya during the coronavirus pandemic, nearly all bars in the city have gone, or are close to going, bankrupt. Owners have been deprived any sort of compensation for the government, leaving owners few options to recover their losses. Continues with photos https://www.pattayamail.com/news/massive-fire-destroys-indian-nightclub-on-pattayas-walking-street-371714

From The Thaiger / BP Developments in next 2 weeks to decide next steps An advisor to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says what happens in the next 2 weeks is crucial to determining any further easing of restrictions. According to a Bangkok Post report, Dr Udom Kachintorn says there is unlikely to be any further relaxing of measures until officials are sure the situation is under control. Udom says the easing of restrictions on September 1 could have caused a surge in news infections, adding that the recent decline in infections is because of the lockdown introduced from July, coupled with more people being vaccinated. He says that in order to keep infections trending downward, people must continue being careful. “The lockdown easing from September 1 has flattened the downward trend and cases will begin to rise, so we must rely on the public’s precautions and universal prevention measures. State agencies and the private sector must conduct random spot tests every week.” Udom adds that having people fully vaccinated might not always translate to falling infection rates, as can be seen in the US and Europe. In Thailand, the predominant Covid-19 strain is the highly contagious Delta variant. Thailand has reported 132 Covid-related fatalities and 12,583 new infections in the last 24 hours. 1,177 were detected as a result of mass testing, while 163 were found in prisons. There are currently 132,113 patients undergoing treatment for Covid-19 in Thailand. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/ccsa-monitoring-developments-in-next-2-weeks-to-decide-next-steps