reader

The games may be over but the memoirs will linger.... Japan's Daiki Hashimoto competes in the floor event of the artistic gymnastics men's all-around final at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre on Jul 28, 2021. He won gold, succeeding his compatriot Kohei Uchimura. (Photo: AFP/Lionel Bonaventure) Malaysia's Soh Wooi Yik and Aaron Chia (top) celebrate as they win the men's doubles badminton bronze medal match against Indonesia's Mohammad Ahsan (left) and Hendra Setiawan. (Photo: AFP/Pedro Pardo)

At one time you could possibly make a clear distinction between amateur and professional athletes but I don't believe that it's any longer possible, especially when it comes to the wealthier nations. The IOC has time again demonstrated that it's wholly incapable of policing itself of corruption to the point where it's a case of "move along...nothing to see here." Better they allow one and all to compete because no one would give any credence to anything they say now, anyway. I admit that watching only athletes who are competing for the "love of the game" on an ideal Olympian plane is an attractive concept but one that's impossible to regulate. Adopting a single venue, or a limited number of venues, would greatly reduce the financial and environmental impact of the games--summer and winter. But since it would severely reduce the opportunity for IOC committee members to profit, I doubt they're eager to pursue it. As for takraw (kick volleyball), bring it on! It would certainly keep me glued to the screen. This article from Slate, published several days ago, addresses the often stunning inequities in athlete compensation. Some Countries Offer Their Olympic Medalists More Than Glory Few feats in sports earn athletes as much glory and respect as winning an Olympic medal. But what else does it earn them? The International Olympic Committee’s Rule 40 severely limits which sponsors and partners athletes can promote at the Games, and many athletes have had a difficult time profiting off their Olympic experience. Several have actually gone into debt competing in the Olympics—like former UFC star Ronda Rousey, who became homeless a few months after winning a judo bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Games. As a result, some countries have instituted government-backed incentives for medal winners, to encourage greater participation and, in turn, the drive to win national bragging rights. Unfortunately, this exacerbates the inequality of the Olympics—only some countries have enough disposable athletic funding to dole out payments to anyone who trains or wins medals. Some international leaders have taken the prizes to new levels. In 2016, along with straight cash, the Russian government gave away luxury cars, apartments, and a literal racehorse to various winners for the country at the Rio Games. (Ironically, most Olympians couldn’t afford to own and maintain such cars. So, they sold ’em—which while totally understandable, feels a little like kicking a gift horse in the mouth.) At the same Olympiad, German medalists got a lifetime supply of beer, and Belarusian winners received a stockpile of sausage. Yahoo Finance reports that those delicious prizes remain on offer in Tokyo. Making the podium isn’t always the financial—or gustatory—windfall you might expect, especially if you compete in a rather niche sport, like say, race walking. Or steeplechase. Or those athletes in 1908 who competed in pistol dueling. (Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton neglected to mention you could go pro in that.) But some nations have made sure that their athletes will get paid handsomely for capturing Olympic glory, in cash and otherwise. Here’s what winners around the world can take home—along with their gold, silver, or bronze. Some countries absolutely pile on the cash. Take Singapore, one of the richest nations in the world as measured by GDP per capita, which doles out massive payments to medal winners. Gold medalists for the island nation make around $737,000, and payouts even for bronze medals top $180,000. Italy has also adopted a model of massive payouts—although a little less than Singapore. For the Tokyo Olympics, Italian gold medalists receive €180,000 for their victory, with smaller prizes for silver and bronze. Ecuador set a $100,000 reward for any athlete who could win gold—so congrats to champion road cyclist Ricard Carapáz on his new stacks. The Philippines promised roughly $200,000 in prize money to any gold medal winner on top of additional allowances that the government approved ahead of these Games. And the San Miguel Corporation—a large Filipino conglomerate—announced in mid-July that it would match the government’s donation amount for every gold medalist. Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz will benefit from this match, as she won the country’s first gold medal ever last week—a feat the country has chased since its first Olympic delegation attended the 1924 Paris Games. But Diaz isn’t just getting this payday. Other Filipino companies are giving her thousands more in cash to go along with it. She’s also receiving free lifetime flights on AirAsia Philippines, a house courtesy of President Rodrigo Duterte—plus at least three more homes that companies and benefactors have promised her. Phoenix Petroleum is also honoring her medal with free fuel for life. Not a bad haul! These totals absolutely dwarf payments from Olympic committees like that of the United States. The U.S. only pays out $37,500 to gold medal winners, $22,500 for silver, and $15,000 for bronze. The U.S. payout structure is similar to other countries in the Americas like Brazil and Chile, which offer financial incentives in the tens-of-thousands range. And instead of a onetime jackpot, Malaysia, Estonia, and Indonesia promise their winning athletes decades of subsidies. Malaysian gold medalists receive roughly $1,200 in monthly payments for life, Estonian winners receive €4,600 a year, and Indonesian champions get an $18,000-a-year retirement plan. South Korea’s podium prize might be the most practical: The country enforces one of the world’s longest forced military service conscription policies in the world. All males in South Korea are drafted into 18 months of mandatory military service following their training. Written into Article 39 of the Korean constitution, this provision is hard to avoid—unless, say, you’re a K-pop star specially recommended for exemption by the Ministry of Culture. For elite athletes, there’s a loophole: win a medal at the Olympics or the Asian Games. Some of the Korean public wonder if too many athletes are gaining exemptions—skepticism that the Washington Post found was even more marked when the program was extended to specific finishes in the World Cup and other athletic events. Continues at https://slate.com/culture/2021/08/country-incentives-olympic-medalists-tokyo.html

From Coconuts Bangkok The Patpong red-light district in October 2020, when many venues were open as Bangkok enjoyed a calm in the eye of the pandemic storm. Photo: Chayanit Itthipongmaetee / Coconuts Bangkok Weeks after sex workers grabbed attention with their high heels and panties to demand a piece of the government safety net, their means of survival – even access to much-needed vaccines – remain ignored. Not only does social stigma make sex workers convenient pandemic scapegoats for the authorities, but the fact that prostitution enjoys no legal protections leaves sex workers forgotten in the margins, despite being among the most at-risk groups for COVID-19. “What we do generates a lot of income for the country, yet, we are often overlooked by the authorities,” Siriprapa “May” Sukcharoensri, a 32-year-old sex worker employed by Patpong’s Barbar Fetish Club, told Coconuts Bangkok. “We’re always the first place to close and the last to reopen.” Months of closure for Patpong’s red-light venues, May said, forced many sex workers back to their hometowns to save on living costs and care for their families. And despite the risks coming into intimate contact brings for disease transmission, their young age puts them near the back of the line for vaccines. May’s boss, Barbar owner Michael Messner, used business channels to secure 100 doses of Chinese-made Sinopharm doses, enough to sponsor the inoculation of 50 workers. “This wave has increased the suffering of the Patpong workers and community, and nobody is talking about it anymore,” said Messner, whose entertainment group also owns the Patpong Museum and Candle Light Studio art gallery. “There is zero help from the government, it almost seems that this sector could be designated ‘collateral damage.’” That’s led sex workers remaining in the famed red-light district, which has been dark since April, to band together to find any means to survive. Those who have remained in the capital have had to shift online to channels such as OnlyFans or rebrand themselves for a domestic audience instead of foreign tourists. “Although we’re affected directly, 100%, we cannot stop moving,” May said. “Like other people, we have expenses and families to take care of. There was one woman who had to pay her own university tuition, and I admired her so much for that.” “Survival mode is a key to staying afloat,” Messner said. “This means canceling their rented flats, and 3-4 moving in together into one flat sharing the expenses, selling their gold and liquidating other assets, like motorcycles, TVs and other possessions that can quickly be turned into cash.” Continues at https://coconuts.co/bangkok/features/failed-by-govt-that-scorns-sex-workers-patpong-looks-after-its-own/

From Bangkok Post Demonstrators react to tear gas during a clash with police in Bangkok's Din Daeng area on Saturday. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiartpakun) Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon on anti-government protesters on Saturday, the culmination of a running battle in which demonstrators were forced to change their destination three times. Redem demonstrators had arranged originally to meet at Democracy Monument at 2pm on Saturday, with a plan to march to the Grand Palace. Redem (Restart Democracy) has no official leaders but still has guards. Created by the Free Youth group in February, it can consist of different pro-democracy groups that share common goals at any given time. The group on Saturday was looking to push three demands — Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha must unconditionally resign as prime minister, the budgets for the palace and armed forces must be cut and allocated to Covid-19 relief efforts, and the "tycoon" Covid-19 vaccine must be changed to the mRNA type. A few hundred people arrived at Democracy Monument around noon. Police closed the area to traffic at 12.20pm and told them to disperse. In front of the Grand Palace nearby, the usual wall of containers was seen, fortified this time with decommissioned tanker cars obtained from the State Railway of Thailand. At 1pm, police started clearing the area. Rubber bullets were reportedly used and at least two people were arrested. The demonstrators were pushed back to the Phan Fa Bridge. Some threw firecrackers and fired catapults at the police. Free Youth then posted on Facebook that the destination was being changed to Government House. As container walls were also set up there, a loudspeaker truck announced another change of destination to Victory Monument, with a planned march to the 11th Infantry Regiment, where Prime Minister Prayut resides. As the demonstrators arrived at Victory Monument and were heading for Vibhavadi Road, which leads to the army base, police blocked traffic using stacked containers and barbed wire, with crowd control police lining up behind the barriers. Police told them to go back to Victory Monument. As some of the protesters tried to remove the containers, several tear gas canisters were fired at them at Din Daeng intersection at 3.30pm. Police said they would use rubber bullets if the protesters still tried to move forward. At 5.30pm, police pushed them further back to Victory Monument using water cannon. Video taken at the scene also showed tear gas and muzzle flashes — possibly from firing of rubber bullets — being used by officers positioned on the skywalk overlooking the roundabout. Free Youth called off the rally around 5.30 but sporadic clashes were continuing into the evening between small groups of protesters and police. The Victory Monument BTS station was temporarily closed as the police operation continued. Dozens of protesters were seen being carried away on motorcycles and in ambulances. The Erawan Emergency Medical Centre said at least two civilians and three officers had been injured. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2161607/police-crack-down-on-protesters

I doubt there are many purely amateur athletes participating in the Olympics at this point. Taking part on that level requires--for most events--full time training and competition during the off years that has to be paid for some way. I have no problem with those athletes being supported in order to provide fans with the best of the best every four years. The biggest hurdle the Olympics face in the future will be the skyrocketing costs of staging them. It was recently announced that Brisbane was the lone bidder to "win" the 2032 slot. The addition of skateboarding has been good for viewership. I think the more sports the better. The water, track and field and gymnastics may be the most headlined events, but the Olympics as a whole provide a welcomed break when there's so much lousy news out there. I hope you get your wish for squash getting included in the future. But have a little mercy for the beloved baseball teams from Malaysia. 🙂

From the BBC Two arrested over plot to kill Myanmar UN ambassador Two Myanmar citizens have been arrested in the US for allegedly plotting to kill or injure Myanmar's UN ambassador. The US attorney's office in New York said Phyo Hein Htut and Ye Hein Zaw had planned to hire attackers to force Kyaw Moe Tun to step down. He is a vocal critic of Myanmar's military rulers, who seized power in a coup on 1 February. The junta later fired him - but he continues to represent the country's civilian government at the world body. "Phyo Hein Htut and Ye Hein Zaw plotted to seriously injure or kill Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations in a planned attack on a foreign official that was to take place on American soil," US Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement on Friday. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58088866

The following news about the once celebrated account surplus may give the hi-so minority that wants to do away with mass tourism in favor of a wealthy eco tourists a moment of pause. From Pattaya Mail Prior to the pandemic, the Thai baht was the strongest currency performer in Asia. It is now the worst, after a third wave of virus infections has quashed all hopes of a quick revival because of the loss of international tourist dollars. The Japanese Mizuho bank noted that the underperformance of the baht was “uncharacteristic”: the Thai currency has plunged 10 percent against the US dollar in the last twelve months. Even more against the UK pound. The huge current account surplus of US$40bn reported before the pandemic has now turned into a US$2.2bn deficit which Asia research for ANZ bank in Singapore described as “unprecedented.” Fueled by the more dangerous Delta variant, known cases of infection are already 20,000 plus daily with no sign the spike is ending. There are semi-lockdown restrictions on work, travel and entertainment in Bangkok and a swath of other dark-red provinces including Chonburi – which includes Pattaya. Of course, Thailand hasn’t given up. After a poor start, the government is at last managing to buy large stocks of vaccines even though the registration bureaucracies are often a minefield of confusion. The aim is to vaccinate fully 70 percent of the population by the end of the year, a goal which looks unlikely but not impossible. The pilot Sandbox scheme, designed to admit vaccinated foreign tourists without quarantine, is still alive but is unlikely to spread nationally in October as originally planned. Next year is a more likely scenario. Continues at https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/thailand-is-pinning-its-hopes-on-a-tourist-recovery-next-year-366601

From Bangkok Post PHUKET: Police had no suspect yet in the murder of a Swiss woman tourist by a waterfall in Phuket, national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk said on Friday afternoon. Pol Gen Suwat went to the southern island province on Friday with a large team of experienced detectives and forensic experts from Bangkok to head the investigation. Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, 57, deputy protocol chief of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, was found murdered at Ao Yon waterfall in tambon Vichit of Muang district in Phuket on Thursday afternoon. Police said she had been dead for about two days. The police chief said he brought forensic science and forensic medicine experts from Bangkok, as well as experienced detectives from the Central Investigation Bureau, the Crime Suppression Division, Provincial Police Region 8, the Tourist Police and the Immigration Bureau. "Big teams have been deployed for a thorough investigation. We have lots of homework to do. We will open an operations centre here at Vichit police station and work around the clock until the culprit is arrested," Pol Gen Suwat said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2161243/no-suspect-in-swiss-womans-murder ============================ Excerpt from The Thai Enquirer Personal documents revealed that Sauvian-Weisskopf arrived in Phuket on a flight from Singapore on July 13, as part of the Phuket Sandbox, and was traveling alone. Swiss media reported that she was a member of the country’s diplomatic service.

From Bangkok Post Civil Court blocks PM's gag on free speech The Civil Court on Friday ruled in favour of the media by issuing an injunction suspending Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s regulation restricting freedom of speech and threatening internet censorship. The court said it went against the law. The court also issued an English-language announcement of its decision. “Considering that Section 9 of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations B.E. 2548 (2005) (No. 29) provides Prime Minister no authorization to suspend internet services provision, Article 2 of the Regulation authorizing the suspension of internet services provision against the Internet Protocol address (IP address) of which the user has disseminated the information not compatible with the Regulation is in contrary to the law,’’ the announcement said. “It is in the view of the Court that, considering the existence of several legal instruments establishing the measures concerning illegal dissemination of information and the government’s capability to educate people, develop a public better understanding and examine false information, the suspension of the enforcement of such Regulation does not pose any obstacle to public administration in emergency situations and public interest,’’ the the statement said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2161247/civil-court-blocks-pms-gag-on-free-speech

Take the chance and don't look back. Most of us here are getting too old to pass on opportunities like that Don't concern yourself with being naive. That's something for the young to worry about. No matter the outcome, you won't have to regret not having trusted your feelings more.

Adopted from Cambodia at 18 months of age by his new dad in Florida, Jordan Windle will compete in Friday's 110m platform competition. From MSN / NBC He was adopted and raised by a gay dad. Now he's an Olympian and symbol for LGBTQ rights Watching Jordan Windle execute a perfect dive from the 10-meter platform — analogous to jumping headfirst from a three-story building — you’d never know he was scared of anything. “I’m afraid of heights,” he told NBC Asian America, “but I love putting on a show. Being able to fall from 10 meters and create such a little splash — the reaction is incredible.” After placing second at the Olympic trials in June, the University of Texas at Austin senior will compete in the men’s 10-meter platform preliminary at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. The 22-year-old diver, who was adopted at 18 months old from Cambodia by a single gay American man, has spent the last 15 years preparing for this moment. Windle, who was the youngest person to ever qualify for the Olympic diving trials at age 12, has made waves in the sport since he started diving at age 7 at an aquatics summer camp in South Florida. Tim O’Brien, the son of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame diving coach Ron O’Brien, immediately spotted how Windle naturally pointed his toes and positioned his shoulders behind his neck. He believed Windle could be a national champion one day. Windle went on to be a six-time junior national individual champion, a seven-time senior national champion and a two-time NCAA champion, setting a men’s platform diving record at the Big 12 Championships in 2018. Since the start of his diving career, he’s been compared to the Olympic legend and activist Greg Louganis, who is also adopted and has served as a mentor to Windle for many years. When Windle and his father co-authored the children’s book, “An Orphan No More: The True Story of a Boy,” Louganis wrote the foreword. As a transracial adoptee, Windle said, he was bullied as a child for having a gay father “and just being different in general.” A longtime ally to the LGBTQ community, Windle uses his platform to educate and encourage others to support marginalized people and was part of the “It Gets Better” anti-bullying campaign when he was younger. While millions of Americans will root for Windle as he competes this week, he’s also something of a hero in his homeland, and the first diver of Cambodian descent to compete in the Games. When Windle first returned to Cambodia in 2016 as a national champion, his arrival caused a media storm. His diving exhibition in Phnom Penh was attended by hundreds of local schoolchildren and orphans, he said, to whom he spoke via a translator. Since making the U.S. Olympic diving team, Windle said, he has seen an influx of Cambodian fans following him on social media. The Olympian plans to return to Cambodia in the future and hopes to start a nonprofit diving program in the Southeast Asian country one day. “Once I visited, it showed me that there are people out there looking for opportunity,” he said. “I can share my story and give them that opportunity to take a chance and live a great life in the future.” But for now, his focus is on enjoying the remaining days of his Olympics journey and performing the exceptional dives he’s worked toward since childhood. Continues with photos and video https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/olympics/he-was-adopted-and-raised-by-a-gay-dad-now-hes-an-olympian-and-symbol-for-lgbtq-rights/ar-AAMWl1W

From CNN Hong Kong (CNN)Countries across Asia are grappling with their worst coronavirus outbreaks of the pandemic, spurred by low vaccine rates and the highly-contagious Delta variant. While nations such as China, Japan and South Korea are seeing growing outbreaks, the sharp edge of the Delta wave is being keenly felt in Southeast Asia, with countries seeing rapid rises in case numbers and deaths. Southeast Asian nations that managed to contain outbreaks last year are now struggling with overwhelmed health services, a lack of hospital beds, equipment, and oxygen. They have also reimposed lockdowns, shuttering factories in crucial manufacturing hubs and restricting the movement of citizens already suffering financially. Frustrations among citizens forced to endure yet more curbs on their freedoms and ability to work are reaching boiling point -- and protests against their governments' handling of the outbreaks have broken out in Malaysia and Thailand. Meanwhile, Myanmar is on the verge of collapse as a February military coup and ensuing bloody crackdown has shattered the health system and vaccinations have completely stalled. While wealthier countries, like the United Kingdom and Singapore, are seeing renewed outbreaks, they have fully vaccinated more than half of their populations. Comparatively, Vietnam has fully vaccinated less than 1% of its population, Thailand around 5%, the Philippines 7.2%, and virus epicenter Indonesia 7.6%, according to Our World in Data. More than a year and a half into the pandemic, the more contagious Delta variant is exposing the weaknesses of nations with low vaccine rates, even if they previously had control of the virus. Vietnam Perhaps nowhere in Southeast Asia is that flip more evident than in Vietnam. Last year, the country was held up as a leading example in containing the virus thanks to an aggressive strategy of early screening of passengers at airports and a strict quarantine and monitoring program. For the past year and a half, residents have been able to live a relatively normal life and the economy actually grew by 2.9% in 2020, according to the World Bank. But since late April, Vietnam has reported a sharp increase in Covid-19 infections. On Wednesday, Vietnam reported 7,623 new cases, down from 8,620 on Sunday with most new infections in Ho Chi Minh City, the Health Ministry said. In total, Vietnam has confirmed 177,813 cases, more than 85% of those were reported in the past month alone, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Of Vietnam's 2,327 deaths, about half were reported in the past month. The government has imposed strict lockdowns in the capital, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City to try to curb further spread and Covid treatment centers have been set up to accommodate more patients. But the outbreak has put pressure on the government to increase its vaccine supply and ramp up inoculations. So far, only 0.6% of Vietnam's 96 million population has been fully vaccinated, according to JHU. Indonesia The world's fourth most populous nation, Indonesia, recently overtook India as Asia's Covid epicenter, and the outbreak has been devastating with a high of more than 50,000 cases a day. Of its 354 million reported cases since the pandemic began, 1.2 million were recorded in the past month, according to JHU. On Wednesday, Indonesia surpassed 100,000 coronavirus deaths, becoming only the second country in Asia to do so. On Wednesday, 1,747 fatalities were reported by the Health Ministry and 35,867 cases. If the spread continues unabated, experts say it could push Indonesia's health care system to the brink of disaster. Some fear the situation may be worse than the numbers show, because not enough people are getting tested for the virus. One local survey found that nearly half of the 10.6 million residents of the capital, Jakarta, may have contracted Covid-19. The country is suffering a health crisis, with hospitals stretched to their limits, full cemeteries expanded to hold the Covid dead, and exhausted health care workers. Experts say Indonesia is now reaping the costs of not implementing strict lockdowns nor investing enough in efficient contact-tracing systems. On Monday, the government announced an extension of the highest Level 4 restrictions in several cities and areas, including the capital, and the islands of Java and Bali for another week. Meanwhile the country's health minister said the devastating wave had peaked in some areas, and authorities were aiming to start gradually reopening its economy in September, according to Reuters. Malaysia Despite a national lockdown, Malaysia has also seen an exponential rise in cases and deaths, with the outbreak forcing a month-long suspension of Parliament. Anger among the people is mounting. Hundreds broke coronavirus restrictions to protest in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, over the weekend against the government's handling of the outbreak and called on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to resign. Following the suspension of a special sitting of the legislature on Monday due to Covid, opposition lawmakers marched toward the Parliament building also demanding Muhyiddin's resignation. Frustration over the mounting deaths, vaccine rates and economic pain is exacerbated by Malaysia's current political crisis, in which Muhyiddin's government appears on the verge of collapse after taking control of the ruling coalition following elections last year. Last week, thousands of overworked Malaysian doctors went on strike over conditions in hospitals, saying they have been pushed to the brink, as beds and ventilators run low. The protest came as total Covid cases in Malaysia surpassed 1 million with the country reporting its highest number of daily infections. On Wednesday, Malaysia reported a new record number of cases, with 19,819 new infections, according to the Health Ministry, up from about 7,000 a month ago. Covid deaths are also at record levels, with 257 reported on Wednesday. Thailand Although it was the first country to report a Covid-19 case outside of China in January last year, Thailand kept its infection numbers low in 2020 thanks to successful containment measures. This year, however, it is facing a much bigger challenge. After containing a second wave that started last December, Thailand is struggling to curb a third wave of infections that has pushed daily caseloads and death tolls to unprecedented levels. On Wednesday, Thailand reported a record high in daily confirmed cases, with 20,920 infections -- the second day of reporting over 20,000 cases, according to the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Thailand also recorded 160 deaths, bringing the total death toll to 5,663. Hospitals in the capital, Bangkok, have become overwhelmed by the surge in cases and demand for beds has greatly outstripped capacity. Authorities are racing to lessen the burden on the health care system. Bangkok is dispatching more than 400 doctors and nurses from provincial areas to the city's slums and densely populated areas to test and isolate 250,000 residents, said Dr. Supat Hasuwannakit, president of the Rural Doctor Society. "We may be unable to reduce the rate of infection just yet, but we hope to ease the bed situation in Bangkok and slow down the death rate," Supat said. On Tuesday, Thailand extended its national lockdown until the end of the month to slow the rising cases. Now, 29 provinces have been placed under the strictest protocol, meaning 40% of the country's population will be under lockdown, according to CNN's calculation of data from the CCSA. Myanmar On Thailand's border, Myanmar is collapsing under the double crisis of pandemic and military coup. There is a desperate oxygen shortage in the country, with families of the seriously ill queuing for oxygen or frantically searching online for Covid treatments. Residents are choosing to self-treat at home, doctors say. If they do go to hospital they are often turned away as the facilities are running out of oxygen, treatments and beds, and there's not enough staff to care for patients, they said. The United Nations estimates only 40% of the country's health care facilities are still able to function. Reported daily cases in Myanmar have risen from about 100 in early June to about 5,000 a day, with the total confirmed infections at 315,118, according to the World Health Organization. Myanmar has also reported 10,373 deaths. Continues with graphs and photos https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/04/asia/southeast-asia-delta-covid-explainer-intl-hnk/index.html

Japan's Daiki Hashimoto earned his second gold medal in men's gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics with a first-place finish on the horizontal bar. The 19-year-old had already won gold in the individual all-around, and he closed his week in style with another gold Tuesday at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre. He also won silver with Japan in the team final.

From Nikkei Asia TOKYO -- Central banks across the world are rushing to develop their own digital currencies in a bid to provide safe and convenient payment systems as digitalization rapidly expands to many segments of the economy. China has been testing its digital yuan in multiple cities while the European Central Bank announced last month plans to proceed with its digital euro project and launch a two-year investigation that will look into the development and impacts of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The Southeast Asian country launched its "Bakong" digital currency in October 2020, ahead of launch plans from the world's major economies, and is currently the only live CBDC project aside from the Bahamas' Sand Dollar. Bakong was developed by the National Bank of Cambodia, with help from Japanese blockchain technology company Soramitsu, in a bid to increase the presence of its own currency, the riel, and gradually shift away from use of the U.S. dollar. NBC's director general, Chea Serey, who leads the project, told Nikkei Asia that "Bakong started sort of as a willingness to connect up the fragmented payment systems in Cambodia." Unlike cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, CBDCs are digital forms of fiat money backed and issued by central banks. Bakong allows Cambodian citizens to pay at stores or send money through a mobile app, without the use of cash, and allows for settlements and remittances to be made in riel or U.S. dollars. Cambodia runs a dual-currency system, with the U.S. dollar widely circulating in its economy. The country's dollarization began in the 1980s and 90s, following years of civil war and unrest. Although the use of the riel has increased in terms of digital transactions since Bakong's launch, Chea Serey explains that the digital currency alone will not be able to switch Cambodia from a U.S. dollar-based economy to one based around its local currency. "There are other policies that need to be in place, like having a stable exchange rate and inflation rate, as well as [economic] growth prospects," she said. https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Markets/Currencies/Cambodia-aims-to-wean-off-US-dollar-dependence-with-digital-currency

From Channel News Asia ASEAN ministers pick Brunei diplomat as envoy to Myanmar KUALA LUMPUR: Southeast Asian foreign ministers on Wednesday (Aug 4) picked Brunei Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof as their special envoy to Myanmar, in a breakthrough after months of delay for regional mediation to help end the country's deepening crisis. Erywan has been tasked with ending violence in Myanmar, opening dialogue between the military rulers and their opponents in the crisis-torn country, according to a communique released after meetings on Monday and Wednesday by foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asians. Erywan will begin his work in Myanmar to “build trust and confidence with full access to all parties concerned", according to a joint statement. He will also oversee a humanitarian aid package, although no details of the assistance were announced, according to Reuters. Instead, the statement called for the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance to start work on "policy guidance". The ministers reiterated their concerns, including reports of fatalities and violence. But they stopped short of calling for the release of political detainees, saying only they “heard calls” for their freedom, in a reflection of the sensitivity over the issue. Erywan was among at least four candidates proposed by the grouping, and Myanmar was believed to have preferred a former Thai diplomat. Its decision to cave in to the grouping’s demands indicated the military rulers are still hoping to rely on ASEAN support as they face international condemnation. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/asean-appoints-brunei-diplomat-erywan-yusof-myanmar-envoy-15379594

From Channel News Asia Thai hospital tycoon who promised Pfizer vaccine says deal now unlikely BANGKOK: The chair of Thailand's Thonburi Healthcare Group (THG) said on Wednesday (Aug 4) that a deal to import 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was unlikely to happen, despite his earlier claims that a deal was close. Thailand is battling its biggest COVID-19 outbreak yet, and has been racing to secure vaccines. Last month, THG Chairman Boon Vanasin said talks to clinch a deal with BioNTech was nearing conclusion, but both Pfizer and BioNTech said they were not in talks with THG. "Our problem is that we are unable to import it because it has to come through a government agency," Boon said during a televised interview with the MCOT television station on Wednesday. "I think we won't be able to do it," he added. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/thailand-hospital-tycoon-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-deal-unlikely-15379240

From The Thaiger Health Ministry to distribute 10 million vaccine doses this month The Public Health Ministry has confirmed that 10 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines will be distributed across the country in August. Thai PBS World reports that the vaccine doses will primarily be AstraZeneca and Sinovac, but also include the 1.5 million Pfizer doses donated by the US. Bangkok will receive 1.23 million vaccine doses, with priority being given to elderly residents in the capital and in neighbouring or “dark red” provinces who have yet to be vaccinated. 750,000 vaccine doses will be distributed to the capital’s 25 vaccination centres outside of hospitals. It’s understood each site can expect to receive 1,000 vaccine doses a day, without the involvement of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. However, the BMA will be given 500,000 vaccine doses to distribute, with a separate allocation for the vaccination centre at Bang Sue Grand Station, which will vaccinate around 20,000 people a day between now and the end of the month. The UK has also donated over 415,000 AstraZeneca doses, which will be distributed across the high-risk “dark red” provinces. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca Thailand has confirmed that 5.3 million vaccine doses have been delivered to the government, significantly fewer than the 10 million promised. To date, 11.3 million doses of locally-produced AstraZeneca have been delivered. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/cv19-vaccines/health-ministry-to-distribute-10-million-vaccine-doses-across-thailand-this-month ===================================== 20,200 new cases and 188 deaths A record high of 20,200 new Covid-19 cases and another high of 188 coronavirus-related deaths were reported today by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. Thailand now has 211,076 active Covid-19 cases. In the latest and most severe wave of the virus, first recorded on April 1, the CCSA has recorded 643,522 Covid-19 cases. In 24 hours, the CCSA says 17,975 Covid-19 patients were released from medical care and confirmed as “recovered.” Over the past week, the daily case counts have been in the 17,000s and 18,000s. The CCSA had earlier predicted that the daily infection rate would exceed 20,000 due to the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/wednesday-covid-update-record-high-of-20200-new-cases-and-188-deaths

From The Thaiger Hospital extends hours to accelerate expat vaccinations In an effort to accelerate the rollout of vaccines and prevent overcrowding at inculcation centres, MedPark Hospital in Bangkok is opening up vaccination appointments after business hours until August 9 as part of its “Going the Extra Mile, Extra Hours” campaign. The extended hours are from 6pm to 10pm. MedPark Hospital is participating in the ThailandIntervac project by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Public Health Ministry, an immunisation programme focused on incolucating priority groups in high-risk areas. The priority groups include foreign residents who are 60 years old and above, those with one of the specified underlying conditions, and women who are at least 12 weeks pregnant. At MedPark Hospital, health officials are administering the Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines. To register for a vaccination at the MedPark Hospital, click HERE. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/vaccine-updates-for-expats-hospital-extends-hours-to-accelerate-vaccinations

From The Thaiger Inter provincial bus services suspended until Aug. 31 The state-run Transport Company announced that all interprovincial bus services will be suspended until the end of the month. Under the recent order imposed by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, interprovincial public transportation out of the 29 “dark red” zones, including Bangkok, is not allowed. The CCSA’s order is in effect until August 16, but a spokesperson says the restrictions are likely to be extended until the end of the month if the Covid-19 situation does not improve. The CCSA will review the disease control measures and zoning in about two weeks. The Transport Company’s suspensions include bus routes in the North, Northeast, East and South. Those who purchased tickets in advance can contact the company for a refund, or to reschedule their trip. The restrictions on interprovincial travel from “dark red” provinces were put in place due to the number of Covid-19 cases involving those who had travelled. While public transportation services from “dark red” provinces are temporarily banned, people can still travel by private car, van or mini-bus. The CCSA has urged the public to stay at home and to only leave the province if travel is essential. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transport/transport-company-announces-bus-services-are-suspended-until-august-31 ======================================== 'Pattaya Move On' reopening likely to be postponed as Covid cases surge With Chon Buri ranking as one of the top provinces with the highest number of daily Covid-19 infections, the “Pattaya Move On” reopening plan will likely be delayed due to the rise in cases and slow rollout of vaccines. September was the eyed start date for the reopening plan for specified areas in Chon Buri. The project is similar to the “Phuket Sandbox” model allowing travellers from overseas, who are vaccinated against Covid-19, to enter without undergoing a 14-day quarantine. But that start date is likely to be pushed back, according to the acting president of the Chon Buri Tourism Council, Thanet Supornsahasrungsi. “We might not be able to open as scheduled if the province cannot build herd immunity by the deadline. Even if we did reopen, no tourists would visit us if there’s a widespread pandemic or poor tourist sentiment.” https://thethaiger.com/news/pattaya/pattaya-move-on-reopening-likely-to-be-postponed-as-covid-cases-surge

From The Toronto Star By Jennifer SizelandSpecial to the Star The thin stern of a pastel-blue-painted boat barely created ripples as the driver propelled us to the moss-fringed mouth of the river cave. We glided past plumes of pale green butterflies, which had gathered to lick salt from the muddy banks, before the damp dark of being inside a karst jolted our senses. My partner and I were midway through a yearlong overland whirl through Asia, and after seven months of life on the road, sailing along a river in Laos felt like the antidote to travel exhaustion. Until then, I had been trying to see and do it all — a hard-to-resist temptation in a continent as vast and fascinating as Asia — and it wasn’t until Laos that I learned to slow down. As I stood on the banks of Nong Khai, looking over the Mekong River that forms the natural border with Thailand, I could see lush trees and bushes after the choking dryness of my preceding weeks in Northern Thailand. Laos was an enigma to me, a departure from the well-beaten paths through places like India and Thailand. There was something so intriguing about a country I’d rarely heard about. As soon as we arrived, I could see that the capital, Vientiane, was unlike any other in Southeast Asia, a relaxed city with tree-lined streets, an easy café culture and palpable history, reflected in ancient, gilded Buddhist monuments and French-colonial architecture. It felt right to sip our first Beerlao by the banks of the Mekong as the sun went down, with fireflies flitting over the water. The whole city seemed to be out on the expansive promenade, taking an exercise class, having manicures and pedicures, shopping or playing cards. I watched as a Ferris wheel spun at a snail’s pace, and it struck me that Laos had a patience I didn’t yet possess. I had to know what the countryside had to offer. The drier season meant that the ex-party town of Vang Vieng was much quieter than normal. Its prime attraction was traversing the Nam Song River in the inner tubes of old truck tires. With the river so low, tubing meant drifting past cows taking a drink, and gazing upon the emerald-covered karsts that line the bank. It was so relaxing that some in our group actually fell asleep. Rivers are the open veins of Laos as they criss-cross the country, and swimming is a beloved national pastime as a result. It’s considered the ultimate way to recharge, so we took ourselves as close to it as possible by staying on a stilt lodge on the Nam Ou River in Nong Khiaw. The river barely moves due to a dam upstream and the limestone crags surrounding it, creating a small oasis we revelled in. Once we travelled past the charming yet sleepy city of Luang Prabang, the already-tiny tourist trail dissipated completely. This meant we had to learn to slow down even more, as public transport became barely existent. Continues with more photos https://www.thestar.com/life/travel/2021/07/31/in-laos-southeast-asias-antidote-to-travel-exhaustion-i-finally-learned-the-art-of-slowing-down.html

From Bangkok Post Weekend city jab shutdown A shortage in supplies of Covid-19 vaccines led to the weekend closure of 25 vaccination centres in Bangkok, while the "Mor Prom" app also cancelled all bookings scheduled for Friday and Saturday and has yet to resume offering new appointments. Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) Sanan Angubolkul said on Sunday that supplies had not arrived as scheduled, forcing all 25 vaccination centres operated by the TCC and private sector in Bangkok to suspend operations until new deliveries are made. "We have no choice but to close our vaccination centres from tomorrow [today] onward until we get more vaccines; we hope there will be spare vaccines allocated by the centre at Bang Sue Grand Station to help ease congestion there," he said. At the same time, the account for the "Mor Prom" application announced yesterday that due to a technical error, all bookings made for Friday and Saturday were cancelled and no further bookings would be taken until the app is fixed. "People can still register directly on hospital websites. The Mor Prom team would like to apologise for the inconvenience," it said. It was unclear what caused the problem with the app or how long the repairs will take. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2158215/weekend-city-jab-shutdown

To be fair, the Post has not been shy about acknowledging the existence of corruption and cronyism in the past. And in an opinion piece in today's Thai Enquirer, you'll find the following excerpt: "Do our politicians even have political beliefs? Or is it a pu pu platter of electoral promises designed to get them elected so they can reap the most rewards from corruption and cronyism."

The Bangkok Post, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, thought it would be fitting to invite several "visionary leaders" to tell us how they imagine the Thailand of 2031 in all its potential guises, from the economic and political to the technological, environmental and social. Here's a few takeaways: "Mass tourism will give way to small groups of eco-conscious travellers, he said. National park regulations will be updated with sustainability in mind." The wet dream of hi-so bigwigs for several years, this portends the great advantage of leaving behind what has made Thailand one of the world's most visited destinations and instead catering to small groups of wealthy eco tourists. Why they think it's necessary to wait a decade to see how that plays out in reality when the evidence is available today in the streets of Bangkok and Pattaya. "The pandemic also triggered a big gap in income disparity because poor people are less able to cope with the crisis due to low education levels and lack of access to digital technology." No argument there. Unfortunately, nothing follows about changing the public education system that perpetuates those levels. "The private sector will continue to play a vital role in propelling growth and development in the next decade, but the country's stumbling block remains the bureaucracy, says Somkiat Tangkitvanich, president of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI)." He's surely got that right. In regard to the political landscape over the next 10 years, Mr Stithorn predicts deep-seated divisions in society and politics will remain at least five years from now. The ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) is staying loyal to the "three Por" clique led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon and Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda. At the same time, opposition parties, made up mainly of large parties — Pheu Thai and Move Forward — vary in the way they operate in parliament, even as they are described as the mainstay of the "pro-democracy" camp. "A turning point will come after the senators lose their power to co-elect a prime minister along with MPs in 2023. That is when the progressive party will gain an upper hand in parliament as it draws on support from younger voters. The base of older voters captured by the PPRP will dwindle while most first-time voters are likely to cast their ballots for the MFP and Pheu Thai. "But the majority of votes from younger voters will go to the pro-democracy bloc. They won't switch sides," he said. If he's right, those deep seated divisions he cites could resolve themselves by about 2026. At least it's something to look forward to. You can read the article in its entirety at https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/2158083/thailand-2031-a-glimpse-into-the-future

From Bangkok Post Daily records 178 Covid deaths, 18,912 new cases Covid-19 numbers continue to set records, with 178 deaths and 18,912 cases over the past 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry reported on Saturday morning. Of the new cases, 18,102 cases were in the general population and 810 among prison inmates. Over the past 24 hours, 10,750 Covid-19 patients were discharged from hospitals. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2157651/daily-records-178-covid-deaths-18-912-new-cases =============================== From Pattaya Mail US Senator says 2.5m more Pfizer vaccine doses to Thailand A donation of 1.5 million Pfizer brand COVID-19 vaccines by the United States is set to arrive in Thailand today (July 29, 2021) while Voice of America (VOA) has reported a US Senator of Thai heritage claims another 2.5 million doses are to be made available to the Kingdom. US Senator Lt. Col. Ladda Tammy Duckworth (a native of Thailand) reportedly indicated the US has prepared another 2.5 million doses of Pfizer brand vaccine for Thailand after dispatching an initial donation of 1.5 million doses. The senator remarked that the provision was in light of the US’s acknowledgement that the COVID-19 pandemic is borderless and that a public health crisis in one region would inevitably expand to others. ttps://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/us-senator-indicates-donation-of-additional-2-5m-pfizer-vaccine-doses-to-thailand-365474

Anyone of us who's traveled to Hanoi has walked around Hoan Kiem Lake. I always stayed in the old Quarter and made the loop every evening. Today, Hanoi is in lockdown. The Vietnam Express published a series a deserted, eerie scenes from the city that remind us that this time it's sadly different. Continues with more photos https://e.vnexpress.net/photo/news/hanoi-calls-it-a-night-after-sundown-amid-covid-restrictions-4332945.html