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From Pattaya Mail The Pattaya City Council disbanded after half its members resigned in apparent protest over a 200-million-baht contract for closed-circuit TV cameras. Council Chairman Anan Ankanawisan announced the panel’s dissolution on Aug. 11 following the resignations of Wasan Naowniew, Chakorn Kanjawattana, Saksit Yaemsri and Choluek Chotekamjorn who comprised half of the eight remaining members of the council, which originally had 12 members appointed by the previous junta in 2016. With fewer than the six required members, the council was automatically dissolved. Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome said he will send a letter to Chonburi’s governor asking for either new members to be appointed or a special election called. None of the city council members running Pattaya for the past five years ever stood for a public vote. The four who resigned didn’t give a reason for stepping down, but they quit a day after a furious city council debate over spending another 200 million baht on more CCTV cameras. The city council project was proposed after the Royal Thai Police last year said it would pay for the installation of 9,000 more cameras after Pattaya City Hall spent hundreds of millions of baht over the past decade to buy cameras and practically nothing to maintain them, leaving most CCTV units in Pattaya inoperable. Police officials said last year that the 9,000 cameras would cost 30 million baht. But the contact put before the council was for an undisclosed number of cameras. Half of the council protested, claiming they believed the city was wasting money and that they needed more information before voting. The matter finally was put to a secret ballot, with the vote split 4-4. Anan then tabled the measure and held it over for more discussion at a scheduled Aug. 13 council meeting. That meeting now will not happen. The city council was appointed by an Interior Ministry committee chaired by then-Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai on June 30, 2016, to replace the elected 24-member panel, which was disbanded when their members’ terms expired two weeks before. Under the junta, which seized power in May 2014, no new local or national elections were allowed until 2019, and the National Council for Peace and Order steadily replaced elected governments throughout the country with their own people. Continues at https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattaya-city-council-disbands-after-fight-over-pricey-cctv-cameras-367583

From The Nation The plant-based vaccine project is a collaboration between Chulalongkorn University and Baiya Phytopharm Ltd. It uses a subunit protein extracted from tobacco leaves to mimic Covid-19 and trigger an immune response in recipients. The project launched in February 2020 and has since produced successful results in rats and monkeys. “The Public Health Ministry and National Vaccine Institute have handed a budget of 160 million baht to Chula and Baiya to establish a pilot plant to produce plant-based vaccines and biologics by transforming the 11th floor of Chulaphat 14 building [at Chula] into a 1,200 square metre manufacturing facility,” said Anutin. “The Food and Drug Administration also helped in improving the vaccine manufacturing process. We expect phase one of human trials to start next month on 100 volunteers.” Anutin said that if the trial is successful, the plant could start manufacturing Covid-19 vaccine in the third quarter of 2022 at up to 5 million doses per month, or 60 million doses per year. “The advantage of plant-based vaccine is that it can be modified and improved to tackle new variants of the virus,” he added. “Currently we have researched up to 10 variants of Covid-19. In the future we could improve the formula in the same way as influenza vaccine, to protect against various strains with just one dose.” https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004626

From Japan Times A Myanmar national soccer goalkeeper who refused to return home after protesting against the February military coup in his country has been granted refugee status in Japan, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday. The government approved Pyae Lyan Aung's application for refugee status because he could face persecution if he returns home, according to the person. He will be formally notified by authorities of his new status on Aug. 20. Pyae Lyan Aung expressed joy at hearing the "good news" and said he had relayed it to his family in Myanmar, adding he misses his country but cannot return home. Refugee status will now allow Pyae Lyan Aung, who joined a J. League third division team in Yokohama as a trainee in late July, to stay in Japan as a long-term resident. The substitute goalie flashed a three-finger salute in protest at the military junta at a match between Japan and Myanmar in late May. He entered Japan earlier the same month month as a member of the national soccer team on a short-term visa allowing a stay of up to 90 days. When the team was about to leave Japan on June 16 after playing two more World Cup qualifiers, Pyae Lyan Aung told immigration authorities at Kansai Airport in Osaka Prefecture, he wanted to remain in the country. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/08/13/national/myanmar-soccer-refugee/

Among America's mistake was pursuing the absurd notion that it could bring about a permanent change in Afghan culture, particularly as it pertains to the rule of law and the role of women that has existed for millennia. It was not lack of good intentions, it was lack of having a clearly defined exit policy (in crude terms, a "you come, I go" understanding. Instead it became party a save face, partly a political football in a game that never ends well. If you distill all the above comments, there's one common theme that repeats itself. The biggest error was boots-on-the-ground 20 years ago that emerged after the attacks of 9/11 on American soil. We all have to ask--regardless of where we come from--how we think our government should have responded to such an event? Few countries, I believe, would have allowed it to go unchallenged. Emotions and national pride considerations were just too high. A group of neo-cons had the ear of the president and the rest is history. In retrospect, it proved unfair to the long-suffering women of Afghanistan to lead them to believe that their role in society was to abruptly change forever. Just about everyone knew--but remained reluctant to admit--that the tenure of that change would cease when allied forced withdrew and local customs would be restored. That's how it has always been in recorded history. There was also no good reason to believe that Afghans could govern themselves based on a western system of nation-wide elections. But western leaders found it politically unacceptable to let go of the idea. Warlords had run most of the land and Islam was the method of settling criminal and civil disputes. The official national government existed at the collective will of those warlords. Last night I watched a an interview with the author of a new book, "The American War in Afghanistan," who was for many years in a unique position to observe the situation from the ground. Carter Malkasian earned a doctorate in military history from the University of Oxford. After completing his studies, he became a teacher at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. He then worked at the Center for Naval Analyses before spending time in Iraq conducting research in 2004 and 2006. In 2007, he worked with a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kunar Province in Afghanistan. He returned to Afghanistan in 2009 and spent two years in Garmsir District in Helmand Province as a State Department representative to the district. In Garsmir, he was known for his ability to speak Pashto and his rejection of typical personal security precautions. From May 2013 to August 2014, he worked as a political adviser to General Joseph Dunford, the commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan. What impressed me about the interview was his precise yet dispassionate analysis of those years. It wasn't that the issues that confront us today were unknown, it seems that leaders--military and political (foreign and local) couldn't give up the ideal solutions they cultivated over time. The risk of doing to was too great because it could involve loss of face. They listened carefully to what he said but then defaulted to the original goals in a style so acceptable to diplomats. So here's that interview. Take from it what you will. Hopefully it will help all of us put this in a context that allows us to move beyond blame and instead to a greater understanding and appreciation of the world we all inhabit today. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-did-the-us-lose-in-afghanistan-a-new-book-explores-decades-of-mistakes

Again, you fail to acknowledge that all of those other NATO partners also utilized interpreters. And it's not as if the US hasn't already extricated thousands of them and their families, as did some of their NATO allies. Should more have been removed earlier? By all means. But the picture you paint misleads readers into believing that none were withdrawn. Perhaps you function under the notion that if the allies remained for another year or maybe another decade things would turn out better. But that's sheer nonsense and you know it. Afghanistan is governed by an ancient culture. The Russians believed that they could turn it to their advantage but eventually learned that it was an exercise in futility. It was a mistake for the US to believe it could succeed and that error will forever be measured in blood and treasure. Lies may have indeed been told but you make a practice of telling half-lies.

There's worst things you can lose than face. And none is more important than hope.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse another anti-government protest in Bangkok on Wednesday. Bangkok Post photographers captured the scenes. (Photos by Nutthawat Wicheanbut, Arnun Chonmahatrakool, Wichan Charoenkiatpakul & Pornprom Satrabhaya) Additional photos at https://www.bangkokpost.com/photo/2163835/police-fire-tear-gas-rubber-bullets-at-victory-monument-protest

There's no escaping the fact that the Taliban's rapid advances are a disheartening backdrop to the exit for American military forces. But you've conveniently omitted an important fact: the US isn't the only nation whose forces have been exiting Afghanistan. The US may have had the lion's share of assets, but this was a NATO effort. Other countries that have pulled out include the UK, Germany, Italy, Turkey, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, Netherlands, Romania, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Norway, Armenia and Mongolia. You can heap as much blame on the US as you wish but at least tell the whole story and not just the side that fits your purpose. The US may indeed be guilty of telling lies, but it certainly isn't alone in the deception. Perhaps you no longer see the necessity for maintaining The North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The all-or-one and one-for-all concept of mutual military support may be an outdated concept. But we'll have to wait for the future to find out.

From Coconuts Bangkok A scene from ‘School Town King.’ The makers of a film about rappers in Bangkok’s sprawling Khlong Toei slum are asking the public to help get their documentary onto streaming platform Netflix. Director Wattanapume Laisuwanchai and the folks behind production studio Eyedropper Fill are asking people to urge Netflix to add School Town King to its roster. The film, which took three years to create, follows young Khlong Toei rappers Thanayuth “Book” Na Ayutthaya, aka Eleven Finger, and Nontawat “Non” Toma, aka Crazy Kids, as they work to break into the music scene and out of poverty. Interspersed with studio shots and rap performances, the film also lays bare the reality of life in Bangkok’s notorious riverside community. School Town King premiered at at last year’s Busan International Film Festival alongside Come and See, a Thai documentary chronicling the controversial Buddhist sect Dhammakaya now available on Netflix. School Town King enjoyed a limited December release in theaters and was briefly available for on-demand viewing on Vimeo, where a portion of the proceeds were donated to the Duang Prateep Foundation. But Wattanapume and company feel it could have more of an impact. The film’s promo page last week called on followers “to help the film’s message reach an audience that may not have had the opportunity to watch it in theaters.” “Through the real-life story of Book and Non, the movie might expand your perspective and lead to social change,” it said. The two rappers share the same hope. Throughout the film, the two talk about the high bar they must clear just to get out of the slums, as well as some of the deeper issues plaguing Thailand, from deepening inequality to widespread injustices. But they add that they want their music to help erase negative perceptions about Klong Toey and someday change society for the better. Sometimes, their lyrics are imbued with anger, which would seem to undermine their message of hope. In a song called Slum Khlong Toei, which has notched over four million views on YouTube, teenager Crazy Kids expresses outrage over the discrimination he and his neighbors experience. Bars like “I’m a kid from the slum / the one you looked down on like scum” leave little room for interpretation. Continues with photos and videos https://coconuts.co/bangkok/lifestyle/filmmakers-recruit-public-to-bring-story-of-bangkoks-young-slum-rappers-to-netflix/

From The Nation Thailand will have over 32 million doses of Pfizer jabs before yearend Thailand will receive 32.5 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine within the fourth quarter of this year, the Public Health Ministry announced on Wednesday. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the ministry had placed an order for 20 million doses with Pfizer as part of its vaccine procurement plan. In addition, he said, Pfizer has also offered to send another 10 million doses to the country within this year. “This, combined with the 2.5 million doses donated by the US – 1.5 million doses of which have already been delivered – will bring the total of Pfizer vaccines up to 32.5 million doses,” Anutin said. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40004572

From Pattaya Mail For the few still holding out hope, it’s now official: Pattaya is not reopening to foreign tourists Sept. 1. In truth, it never was. No matter how much Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome and tourism-industry associations talked up the “Pattaya Move On” plan, Sept. 1 was never a realistic date and the plan was never approved by anyone. The Tourism Authority of Thailand – which, in fact, can’t open a noodle stand on its own, let alone a city – said Aug. 10 there was no way Pattaya could start welcoming fully vaccinated foreigners in three weeks and wouldn’t even predict when Pattaya will be. Pattaya Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome, however, admitted defeat, saying that, without TAT’s backing, Pattaya cannot continue to lobby for reopening. Pattaya is not alone. TAT also pulled its support for reopening of Hua Hin. https://www.pattayamail.com/news/its-official-pattaya-not-reopening-sept-1-367286 =================================== Covid-19 sinks Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry The Pattaya-Hua Hin ferry survived summer storms, pier renovations and mechanical issues, but Covid-19 finally sunk the service. Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome announced Aug. 10 that Royal Passenger Line Ltd. had requested that its contract for Pier 3 at the Bali Hai jetty not be renewed and that it was suspending its catamaran service to Prachuap Khiri Khan, probably forever. https://www.pattayamail.com/news/covid-19-sinks-pattaya-hua-hin-ferry-367278 ===================================== 92% of Covid-19 patients in Thailand are infected by Delta variant Thailand’s Department of Medical Science (DMS) has revealed that more than 90% of COVID-19 patients have been infected by the Delta variant of the virus. DMS Director-General Dr. Supakit Sirilak said the department has been studying new infections each week and, of the 1,632 samples surveyed last week, 1,499, or 91.9%, had been infected by the Delta variant, while 129, or 7.9%, had picked up the Alpha variant and 4, or 0.2%, had the Beta strain. No other strains of COVID-19 have been detected in Thailand so far. He said the trend of infections in Thailand shows that the Delta variant is fast becoming the mainstream and can be found in every province, while the Alpha variant will eventually cease to exist. As for the Beta variant, it will remain in southern provinces and not spread to other regions. https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/92-of-covid-19-patients-in-thailand-are-infected-by-delta-variant-367402

From Reuters /. BP PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has administered at least one coronavirus vaccine dose to half of its population, among the highest rates in Asia, official data showed on Wednesday, with vaccine diplomacy playing a key part in its success. Cambodia, an ally of China and one of Asia's poorest countries, started inoculations with Chinese-made vaccines in February, while millions of doses provided by the United States, Japan and Britain have arrived in recent weeks. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday said Cambodia should reach the 10 million people targeted for vaccination about seven or eight months earlier than planned. The rate is similar to Malaysia's 49.4% receiving a first dose, but higher than the 25% of the population in neighbouring Thailand and 12% of people in Vietnam. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2163827/inoculations-reach-half-of-cambodians-amid-vaccine-diplomacy

The ingredients discussed above are indeed bad for the coral reefs, but the stuff they'll never take off the shelves are the highly lucrative skin lighteners that can pose significant dangers to humans. Very popular among the hi-so crowd whose greatest fear is to have the bronzed complexion of Thais who work outdoors, these cosmetics frequently have one ingredient in common: mercury. The US Food and Drug administration warns you can frequently find the chemical in "anti-aging" and skin lightening products. In an advisory titled Mercury Poisoning Linked to Skin Products, the FDA states:: If the words “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury” are listed on the label, mercury’s in it—and you should stop using the product immediately. Signs and Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning irritability shyness tremors changes in vision or hearing memory problems depression numbness and tingling in hands, feet or around mouth

You can't spend that much time in the batmobile and not be seduced.

You make a persuasive case but I think you should take it to the horses' ears. Without their participation, after all, the equestrian events couldn't go on. There's a very good chance that they don't particularly enjoy the sport, like this one who finally had enough and refused to jump at the Tokyo competition this year. I wouldn't want some rider whipping my butt and urging me to just get on with it (at least I don't think I would). If more horses became aware of the courage this horse displayed, perhaps others would join in a jumping boycott. Another approach would be to encourage fans not to buy tickets to the events. Or start a campaign to get those who donate to stipulate that they didn't want any part of their contribution to go to flying horses to the next games.

As interesting as it is to contemplate on how the IOC could go about democratizing the basis on how medals are awarded, it's more suited for an on-line Fantasy Olympics. Imagine trying to explain to Brazilians that their World Cup victory has been re-gifted to Slovenia on the grounds of political correctness. Or to Russian hockey fans that their Olympic title has been re-assigned to Hungary. Or to British Open winner who has to surrender his trophy to a player from Burundi who shot 10 over par. The truth is that fans attend and watch the Olympics to see the best of the best, not the rest of the rest. They want to see the big boys--and girls. NBC and other networks aren't about to pony up the billions they do to see the actual results set aside by even the best of intentions. For better or worse, to the winner goes the spoils. If it was any other way, why would anyone work their butt off for four years in preparation.

From Pattaya Mail From August 11, the maximum deposit protection in individual Thai bank accounts is reduced from 5 million to one million baht, or about 22,000 British pounds. Inevitably, this has set off a wave of social media frenzy with foreign retirees and others alarmed that their cash deposits might disappear overnight or even that the whole of the Thai banking system is in danger of disintegration. Best to calm down. The Deposit Protection Act of 2008 was introduced in the wake of the world financial crisis of that era. The amounts protected have been regularly reduced over the years until they reached five million baht. Then, in April 2020, the Thai Cabinet announced the one million limit would come into force in August 2021. But this still covers 98.03 percent of total depositors investing in 35 financial institutions, according to Kasikorn Research Center. Comparisons have to be made with other countries. There is no common pattern. Cambodia has no regulatory deposit protection yet in force, whereas the Philippines guarantees most accounts for 500,000 peso or about 7,000 pounds. The UK mainland has an upper limit of 85,000 pounds, which falls to 50,000 pounds in the Isle of Man and the Channel Isles where most British expats have been forced in recent years to lodge their accounts. The EU protection limit is 100,000 euros. As usual, the devil is in the detail. Refunds are not automatic in every case. As the online Moneyfacts reports, the Halifax and the Bank of Scotland in UK are under the same banking licence, so investors’ protection is limited to one account and not two. In Thailand, foreign currency accounts are not covered. In almost all countries, temporary surges in funds (such as receiving an inheritance or a bonus) will not count in the deposit protection scheme. Bloomberg, the international business and media company, says that the economic ramifications of Covid are far from clear. But its list of most likely banking failures internationally doesn’t even mention Thailand – but does list the USA! Kasikorn Research Center reports that the main intention of the forthcoming depositor reduction in Thailand is to encourage fiscal responsibility in businesses and consumers alike. Even so, there is no denying that Thai banks are overly dependent on unpaid loans and repossessed properties whose notional value may be much higher than reality. Money and risk can never be separated. The best advice for foreigners in Thailand who maintain millions of baht in Thai banks, a very small number of expats, is to spread their cash around more than one financial institution or even to make use of banks in other Asean countries. In reality, in any country, the government is the security for investors. If one bank goes bust, the central authority can bail it out as the UK did in the case of Northern Rock in 2008 which was saved by nationalization. If all banks go bust, your currency will be worthless in any case. Hello the Weimar Republic. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/thailands-cut-in-bank-deposit-protection-doesnt-mean-a-collapse-is-imminent-367181

From Coconuts Bangkok Marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, an online exhibition launched today that dives into the rich diversity of ethnicities in Thailand ranging from the Dubbed ‘You Me We Us,’ the website kicked off with information and stories related to the kingdom’s 60 known groups. The platform includes a map, quiz, interviews, articles and videos where audiences can learn about the groups’ histories, citizenship, legal rights, culture, traditions and more. On the website is also a chance to see Becoming Home, a documentary chronicling six stateless youths who hold onto hope and dreams as they struggle against social prejudice and lack of legal recognition. Although the movie hasn’t been released on the site as of the publication time, audiences can check out the trailer below. The exhibition, available from today onward, is organized by the U.N. Development Program, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Inter Mountain Peoples Education and Culture in Thailand Association and Council of Indigenous Peoples in Thailand, with the support from the European Union. Before the exhibition, the UNDP and Thai film production studio Realframe organized a series of workshops to teach filmmaking, photography, and infographic skills to people from different ethnic groups. Some of the work they produced can be found in the exhibition. The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples falls on Aug. 9 every year. In 2016, more than 2,600 indigenous languages were reported to be in danger and at risk of becoming extinct. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/you-me-we-us-online-exhibit-tells-thailands-unheard-ethnic-stories/

From Chanel News Asia The Lower Sesan 2 dam has sparked controversy since long before its December 2018 launch. (File photo: Ly Lay/AFP) PHNOM PENH: A massive China-financed dam in Cambodia has "washed away the livelihoods" of tens of thousands of villagers while falling short of promised energy production, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday (Aug 10). The 400-megawatt Lower Sesan 2 dam in the kingdom's north-east has sparked controversy since long before its December 2018 launch. Fisheries experts had warned that damming the confluence of the Sesan and Srepok rivers - two major tributaries of the resource-rich Mekong River - would threaten fish stocks crucial to millions living along the Mekong's flood plains. Tens of thousands of villagers living upstream and downstream have suffered steep losses to their incomes, HRW said in Tuesday's report, citing interviews conducted over two years with some 60 people from various communities. "The Lower Sesan 2 dam washed away the livelihoods of indigenous and ethnic minority communities who previously lived communally and mostly self-sufficiently from fishing, forest-gathering and agriculture," John Sifton, Human Rights Watch's Asia advocacy director and the report's author, said on Tuesday. "Cambodian authorities need to urgently revisit this project's compensation, resettlement, and livelihood-restoration methods." "There's no doubt at all that (the dam) contributed significantly to the larger problems the Mekong is facing right now," said Mekong energy and water expert Brian Eyler, while adding that more research was needed on the exact losses. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/cambodia-dam-destroyed-livelihoods-tens-thousands-human-rights-watch-2103306

From Thai Enquirer Police seeking spyware that will help it monitor chat applications Thai police are seeking software that would help it monitor chat applications and social media private messages, a police source told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday. The Royal Thai Police have reached out to several companies selling software similar to the Pegasus software developed by an Israeli defense company. Police have approached vendors looking for technology that could be used to monitor messages sent between popular chat applications like LINE, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Police will use the application to monitor and prevent political protest as well as go after members of organized crime and drug smugglers, the source told Thai Enquirer on the condition of anonymity. The news will worry rights groups and dissidents especially after a “watchlist” of protest leaders and opposition politicians was revealed on Monday. (Read more here) https://www.thaienquirer.com/31061/thai-police-seeking-spyware-that-will-help-it-monitor-chat-applications/

From Thai Examiner Anutin defends amnesty bill, says necessary to protect doctors Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul came out on Monday to defend proposed legislation that would grant amnesty to doctors and policy makers in charge of the country’s vaccination plan by saying it was necessary to give doctors ease-of-mind as they deal with the pandemic. According to a leaked document secured by the Move Forward Party and released on Sunday night, the government aims on passing legislation that would exempt from criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits those that decided the country’s vaccination plan. In essence that would mean that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha and Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul, as well as the doctors that advised them, would be exempt from any future prosecution. The government’s languid vaccination program has been criticized by the public and politicians alike for contributing to a mounting death toll and an uncontrolled third wave of the pandemic. https://www.thaienquirer.com/31014/anutin-defends-amnesty-bill-says-necessary-to-protect-doctors/

I admit that I'm not a big follower of the Thai BL series. However, the news a few days ago that a popular Thai actor by the name of Thanapat “Toy Toy” Chanakulpisan had been arrested for the stabbing murder of his girlfriend caught my attention because he looked like a guy in one of the videos posted in this thread. Here's a trailer from the BL Why R U series featuring an actor identified as Toy Thanapat Thanachakulphisan. This is the latest article about the killing from the Bangkok Post: Court turns down actor's bail request The Appeal Court turned down a request for TV actor Thanapat "Toy Toy" Chanakulpisan to be released on bail, confirming the Min Buri Court's decision yesterday. Police said Thanapat, 21, had confessed to killing his girlfriend Chatsaran Suwannakit, 25, at a townhouse in Bangkok's Khlong Sam Wa on Friday. According to police, the actor said he and Chatsaran quarrelled over his work and she told him to pack up and leave the house. He said she went to the kitchen and came back with a knife. They fought over the possession of the knife and he stabbed her in a blind rage, killing her on the spot. When Thanapat was taken to the Min Buri Court on Saturday, his lawyer filed for his release on bail while police asked the court to reject the request. The court denied the request on the ground that the crime carries severe penalties and the suspect could take flight if released. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2162091/court-turns-down-actors-bail-request

Thank goodness no one practices M4M sex in Thailand. From The Thaiger Wear a condom… and a face mask. Find a sex position that is not face-to-face. Don’t kiss. Avoid saliva… and other secretions. And make it short. That’s what Thailand’s Department of Health is advising. After a prostitute in Western Thailand contracted Covid-19, the department announced nine safe sex guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus. Along with no kissing, no oral sex, and no anal sex, the department says to shower before sex and to use disinfectant to clean the bed or other areas where sex is performed. Positions should maintain a safe distance between faces. (Don’t worry, we have a so-called “Coronasutra” graphic below.) Safe sex guidelines by Thailand’s Department of Health… Wash your hands and shower before and after having sex. Avoid kissing because the Covid-19 virus can be spread through saliva. Refrain from doing oral sex or having anal sex as Covid-19 virus can be contaminated in faeces Use condoms, dental dams, and rubber gloves to reduce contact with saliva or other types of secretions. Wear masks to cover your nose and mouth during sex to prevent the spread of infection through heavy breathing. Favour positions where you are not face-to-face while having sex to avoid contact with saliva or other secretions and spend as little time as possible (Basically, have a quickie.) Avoid group sex or swapping sex partners. Use disinfectants such as 70% alcohol, detergent, bleach to clean the sleeping area or the surface where sex was performed. Condoms, disposable tampons, dental dams, and rubber gloves infected with secretions should be thrown away in a covered bin. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/wear-a-condom-and-a-mask-health-department-advises-covid-safe-sex

Today's Bangkok Post carries a piece in the business section that calls for replacing travel-related portals with a government run site! It seems that these hi-so money gurus think by turning over the reins of what was one of the nation's greatest provider of foreign currency to the the same government that managed the vaccine acquisition and roll out is a sure road to success. You cant make these things up. If that's not enough, the same group believes that they can eliminate the need for migrant labor by concocting "ecosystems"--whatever the hell that means. I've been traveling to Thailand for a long time. I've probably used most Thai booking sites and many international ones and never had a problem finding what I was looking. for. In the end you have to ask, "who'll benefit from these changes?" Not to worry, it's the venture capitalists who stress the need for "tax incentives" for those who do the investing--of course. The best reason for not following their advice: don't fix something that's not broken. Thailand's tourism sector has been functioning very well on its own for decades without the help of big brother. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2162323/uncertainty-continues

Airbnb may--or may not--be banned, but you'll find hundreds on offer as I write.