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From Bloomberg News QAnon’s days as a solely U.S. phenomenon are over. The conspiracy theory’s foothold in Japan -- home to one of its most active networks outside the U.S. -- demonstrates how the movement can be made palatable in a range of countries as it gains popularity from Europe to Brazil. Research by social media analytics firm Graphika Inc. shows the Japan-based QAnon community is among the most developed international chapters, with distinct terminology, influencers, and behaviors -- such as idolizing Michael Flynn, a former U.S. national security adviser in the Trump administration. “What we’re seeing now is an adaptation of U.S. QAnon taking root in European countries, whereas in Japan and Brazil, it does seem to be slightly more independent and self-sustaining as an ideology,” said Melanie Smith, head of analysis at Graphika. She attributes the increasing prominence of QAnon to the U.S. election and the pandemic. This internationalization presents an uphill battle for social media companies already facing increased pressure from governments to combat disinformation on their platforms in English, let alone myriad other languages. President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede the election to Joe Biden has prompted many of his supporters to say without proof that the election was stolen. Lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign and its GOP allies have failed in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Nevada and Arizona as the legal team has failed to produce any evidence of widespread fraud that would change the results. However Trump supporters’ accusations continue, potentially giving fresh life to conspiracy theories such as QAnon after the president leaves office. Japan’s community is perhaps most notable for its reverence of Flynn. He only served in the Trump administration for 24 days and resigned after acknowledging he had misled Vice President Mike Pence over communications with the Russian ambassador; he later pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents about their conversation and was pardoned by Trump last week. The Japanese group even styles itself QArmyJapanFlynn after the former general who popularized “digital soldiers,” a term many Q supporters use to describe themselves. Flynn follows several Japanese QAnon accounts, including @okabaeri9111 -- the Twitter linchpin of the community. The handle run by Eri Okabayashi has more than 80,000 followers, and says it is both the founder of QArmyJapanFlynn and sole official translator of Q content into Japanese. The most popular video translation of Q content on an associated Youtube account had more than 200,000 views before it was removed for violating the site’s content policy. By comparison, two Brazilian accounts Graphika described as “highly followed” in its August report had 54,400 followers and 16,800 followers at that time. The U.K. Facebook groups highlighted in the report had 10,000 to 11,000 members. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-29/qanon-s-rise-in-japan-shows-conspiracy-theory-s-global-spread

A somewhat disjointed Bangkok Post article that starts out discussing gay rights in the Trump administration and prospects in the Biden administration quickly morphs into a discussion of current gay cinema. Found a takeaway about gay male films that my be of interest. Nadao Bangkok's I Told Sunset About You, a romantic drama series that centers on the relationship between two high school boys. The five-episode series has completed its run and can now be binge-watched in one go on Line TV. What was initially perceived as the studio's attempt to hop on the popular Boys' Love bandwagon impressively turned out to be much more. At times sensual, at times heartbreaking, Sunset was a well-rounded, coming-of-age drama with good writing, and beautiful cinematography to match. The story dives into the struggle of defining and exploring one's identity and sexual orientation. The performance of two lead actors, Putthipong Assaratanakul and Krit Amnuaydechkorn, were also praised. Following a successful run, it was announced that a sequel is in the making and will follow the two protagonists as they go on to study at universities. This is set to be released in March 2021. https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/2027507/light-flickers-in-us-fades-in-thailand

From Bangkok Post Twitter suspends royalist account linked to influence campaign Twitter has suspended a pro-royalist account linked to the palace that a Reuters analysis found was connected to thousands of others created in recent weeks spreading posts in favour of His Majesty the King and the monarchy. The Reuters review found tens of thousands of tweets that an expert said appeared to be from accounts amplifying royalist messaging in a push to counter a months-long protest movement that has swelled from opposing the government to breaking a longstanding taboo by challenging the monarchy. Internal army training documents reviewed by Reuters showed evidence of a coordinated information campaign designed to spread favourable information and discredit opponents. The pro-monarchy @jitarsa_school account was suspended after Reuters sought comment on Wednesday from Twitter on the recent royalist campaign on the social media platform, where protesters have long had a strong presence. Created in September, the @jitarsa_school account had more than 48,000 followers before its suspension. "The account in question was suspended for violating our rules on spam and platform manipulation," a Twitter representative said on Sunday. She said the suspension was in line with the company's policies and not a result of the Reuters request for comment.

From The Thaiger Ron Howard to direct cave rescue feature film ‘Thirteen Lives’ in Australia The Australian Government is putting up A$13 million to Imagine Entertainment and film giant MGM to shoot a live-action feature film called Thirteen Lives, based on the Chiang Rai Tham Luang cave rescue story. The film will be shot in Queensland, Australia in the hinterland areas behind the Gold Coast. The film will be directed by Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13, The Da Vince Code, Cocoon, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Splash, Frost/Nixon), and start filming in March 2021. The state’s Gold Coast hinterland will double for Thailand with a similar hot, humid climate. The Australian Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, Paul Fletcher MP, says the production ishould inject more than A$96 million into the Australian economy, “directly creating around 435 jobs for cast and crew”.

From The Nation No end in sight as both sides refuse to shift their stance Thai politics has arrived at a dead end as neither side shows any sign of stepping away from the tug-of-war they have been playing for nearly five months. Analysts say the dispute between the powers-that-be and the anti-establishment movement will be prolonged, with no reconciliation in sight. Some don’t rule out the possibility of a coup as the last resort, though others predict that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will stay in power until his term ends in 2023. The anti-establishment movement has been rallying since July, demanding that Prayut and his government step down, the junta-endorsed Constitution be rewritten and the monarchy reformed. They are escalating their protests to a point of no return and “shattering the ceiling” by challenging the monarchy, observers say. Analysts have proposed non-violent routes out of the conflict, such as peace talks, but each side has refused because the stakes are too high for both. Moves to set up a reconciliation committee are also likely to fail, as protesters have boycotted the panel. Many observers now warn of possible clashes and violence if the student-led protesters refuse to lower their demands, especially their call for monarchy reforms. There is also concern that if things get out of control, the government will impose martial law or even be ousted by the Army. Yuthaporn Issarachai, a political scientist from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, says the escalation of protests brings an increasing likelihood of violent clashes and bloodshed. The potential for serious violence was seen soon after protesters began dispersing on Wednesday (November 25), when two men were shot and critically wounded, though the shooting’s connection to the rally remains unclear. The rally for monarchy reform was being held outside the headquarters of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. His Majesty the King is the major shareholder in the bank. A week earlier, more than 50 demonstrators sustained injuries, including six with gunshot wounds, during a rally outside Parliament on November 17, when police directed water cannon and tear gas at protesters and skirmishes broke out between royalists and pro-democracy protesters – the first major clash between the two rival sides. Yuthaporn fears that clashes and the PM’s vow to enforce “all pertaining laws” may lead to a “severe” state of emergency, followed by martial law and finally a military coup. He said a coup would be a last resort if clashes between royalists and anti-establishment protesters cause massive injuries and even deaths. The pundit believes a military takeover is a real possibility, given Thailand does not have an established democracy and the Army’s structure leaves the door open for a putsch. However, it would only make things worse, he added. “Staging a coup may be the last resort [to solve the stalemate], but it won’t end the political crisis. Instead it will intensify the situation, as protesters have made it clear they won’t accept a coup or national unity government,” Yuthaporn said.

From The Nation Quarantine stays can now be booked on Agoda The Public Health Ministry is joining forces with online hotel booking platform Agoda to help Thais and foreigners book their stay at an alternative state quarantine facility. The Public Health Ministry is joining forces with online hotel booking platform Agoda to help Thais and foreigners book their stay at an alternative state quarantine facility. Under the new link up, people wanting to return to Thailand can conveniently look for and book quarantine packages that are suitable to their needs. This cuts down on time required for booking a hotel room under the Public Health Ministry’s regulations. The platform works in 39 languages, with 24/7 support and customer care provided in 21 tongues, including English and Chinese, as well as a quick and easy payment process. Dr Tares said 113 ASQ-certified hotels are now able to generate more than Bt1.2 billion in revenue for the country. The number of hotels providing alternative quarantine stays has expanded from 37 to 100, and are expected to attract at least 30,000 tourists and generate more than Bt1 billion in revenue.

From the BBC Culture / Books Section Yukio Mishima: The strange tale of Japan’s infamous novelist This photograph – taken a few days before his death – shows Mishima with his loyal cadets (Credit: Getty Images) By Thomas Graham Standing on a balcony, as if on stage, the small, immaculate figure appeals to the army assembled below. The figure is Yukio Mishima, real name Kimitake Hiraoka. He was Japan’s most famous living novelist when, on 25 November 1970, he went to an army base in Tokyo, kidnapped the commander, had him assemble the garrison, then tried to start a coup. He railed against the US-backed state and constitution, berated the soldiers for their submissiveness and challenged them to return the Emperor to his pre-war position as living god and national leader. The audience, at first politely quiet, or just stunned into silence, soon drowned him out with jeers. Mishima stepped back inside and said: “I don’t think they heard me.” Then he knelt down and killed himself by seppuku, the Samurai’s ritual suicide. Mishima’s death shocked the Japanese public. He was a literary celebrity, a macho and provocative but also rather ridiculous character, perhaps akin to Norman Mailer in the US, or Michel Houellebecq in today’s France. But what had seemed to be posturing had suddenly become very real. It was the morning of the opening of the 64th session of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, and the Emperor himself was present. The prime minister’s speech on the government agenda for the coming year was somewhat overshadowed. No one had died by seppuku since the last days of World War Two. In 1949, Mishima arrived on Japan’s literary scene with Confessions of a Mask, a kind of autobiography, thinly veiled as a novel, that made him famous in his early twenties. It tells the story of a delicate, sensitive boy who is all but held captive by his grandmother. She is ill and he is made to nurse her. Rather than playing outside with other boys, he is confined with her for years in the sickly-sweet smelling darkness of her bedroom. The boy’s mind develops in that room. Fantasy and reality are never quite separated; fantasy, the stronger twin, grows dominant. By the time the grandmother dies and the boy emerges, he has developed a fixation with roleplaying, with life as theatre. He cannot resist layering fantasies over life around him. Men and boys, especially muscular, straightforward ones, are assigned roles in his vivid, often violent daydreams. Meanwhile he obsesses over his own deviance and appearing normal. He learns how to play his own role: “The reluctant masquerade had begun.” Confessions of a Mask continues up to the end of the boy’s adolescence, detailing the entwined evolution of his internal and external lives and his homosexual awakening. In many ways, it is the key to understanding Mishima’s later life and works. It reveals the roots of the aesthetic sensibility, so tied to his sexuality, which proved to be Mishima’s steering obsession. The narrator writes that he “sensuously accepted the creed of death that was popular during the war”, when conscription and self-sacrifice seemed certain and imminent, and indeed Mishima was forever fixated on the idea that beauty is most beautiful when it is transient – and above all on the cusp of destruction. This creed mingles with admiration for the male form, a form the frail narrator lacks, to produce fantasies of brave warriors and their bloody demises. This private world of “Night and Blood and Death” was filled with the “most sophisticated of cruelties and the most exquisite of crimes”, all recounted with a cool detachment. Continues with photos https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20201124-yukio-mishima-the-strange-tale-of-japans-infamous-novelist

From Bangkok Post Thais to get 1st Covid shots by mid-2021 Thai people will get their first jabs of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford by mid-2021 at the earliest, said Dr Nakhon Premsri, director of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI). The vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford will be produced locally at the manufacturing plant of Siam Bioscience Group, located in Pathum Thani. The Thai government is working with AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford to jointly produce the vaccine at a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant of Siam Bioscience Group near Bangkok. Siam Bioscience Group was selected by the UK-based pharmaceutical firm as its regional partner to produce the vaccine for the Southeast Asian region. The vaccine-makers announced that while the vaccine showed an average of 70% effectiveness, the level jumped to 90% depending on dosage. With the raw materials directly shipped from the company, the vaccine will be produced made-to-order by the Department of Disease Control (DDC). The department says that it requires two million doses per month from the plant, which can, at full capacity, produce 15 million doses per month. Dr Opas Kankawinphong, acting director of the DDC, said that the government would spend 3.7 billion baht to prepare for the vaccine's transportation and storage, and its monitoring system as well as on a far-reaching campaign to raise public awareness about how to get the vaccine. He said the Covid-19 vaccine will be the most extensive vaccination programme ever in Thailand. "Giving 26 million doses of vaccine to over 13 million people is unprecedented in Thailand. The largest we ever provided were five million doses of a flu vaccine. So we need to make everything work, especially when it comes to creating awareness among the public," he said.

From The Nation The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has tested seven electric boats on Monday before they go into service from Friday. These e-boats will run along Bangkok’s Phadung Krung Kasem Canal in line with the project of improving the capital’s water transportation systeThese boats, run completely by power generated from solar cells installed on the roof, will be monitored by the authorities via the pre-installed GPS system. The new boats can seat 30 passengers and has space for one wheelchair. Canal boats run along the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal from 6am to 7pm on weekdays and 8am to 7pm on weekends. The 9.9-metre long and 2.9-metre wide boats can run at a maximum speed of 17 kilometres per hour, compared to the 15kmph speed of ordinary canal boats.

From Bloomberg News / Bangkok Post Covid passports seen as key to resuming international travel Global airline lobby IATA is working on a mobile app that will help travellers demonstrate their coronavirus-free status, joining a push to introduce so-called Covid passports to speed up the revival of international travel. The Travel Pass will display test results together with proof of inoculation, as well as listing national entry rules and details on the nearest labs, according to the International Air Transport Association. The app will also link to an electronic copy of the holder’s passport to prove their identity. A test programme will begin with British Airways parent IAG SA this year before arriving on Apple Inc devices in the first quarter of 2021 and Android from April, IATA said. Travellers will be able to share their status with border authorities or present a QR code for scanning. “We need to have global rules and standards” on measures like rapid testing and vaccination so there can be a “step forward” for the industry, Pieter Elbers, the head of the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM, said in a Bloomberg TV interview Tuesday. The health advances “will definitely help to restore confidence in travel.” Qantas Airways Ltd said a Covid-19 vaccination will be a necessity for its international passengers when approved and distributed. Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce told Channel 9 in Australia he has discussed the idea with other airlines, and it’s likely to become a pre-boarding requirement around the world. “It’s going to be a common theme across the board,” Joyce said. Travel Pass will be free to travellers and governments, with airlines paying a small fee per passenger to use the service. It will be based on the existing IATA Timatic system long used to verify documents. The app will use block-chain technology and won’t store data, Murray Hayden said. The industry group has had positive discussions with one government around using the software and expects other nations to get on board, he said. Though IATA’s plan remains in development, the CommonPass app developed by the World Economic Forum and non-profit Commons Project Foundation has been tested on flights between London and New York, while the AOKpass from travel security firm International SOS is in use between Abu Dhabi and Pakistan. Both are in the running for the pending travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore, according to the companies. United Airlines, which is conducting the US-UK. trials, said Monday it would extend Covid-19 testing to flights from Houston to destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Passengers can take a self-collected, mail-in test, allowing them to start their vacation or meetings immediately on arrival.

Maybe it's because I'm disheartened from reading a lot of disappointing news both at home and abroad. In any case I find that this feel good story provided some comfort and a welcomed break. From Reuters / Bangkok Post British musician Paul Barton plays the piano for monkeys that occupy abandoned historical areas in Lop Buri province on Saturday. (Reuters photo) LOP BURI: While on tour in central Thailand, British musician Paul Barton has been mobbed by unruly audiences that tug his hair, steal his music and climb over his piano. Barton is a rock star to hundreds of hungry wild monkeys that he hopes his music can calm, at a time when Thailand's coronavirus-induced tourism hiatus means fewer visitors to feed them, and less funds for their welfare. "We need to make an effort to make sure that they eat properly. And when they eat properly, they will be calmer and will not be aggressive," said Barton, 59, a long-time Thailand resident. Barton has played at four venues in Lop Buri, a province famous for its marauding monkeys, including at an ancient Hindu temple, a hardware store and a derelict cinema. The macaques are instantly drawn as he plays Greensleeves, Beethoven's Fur Elise and Michael Nyman's Diary of Love, some sharing his stool, others climbing onto his shoulders and touching his head. Continues with video https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2024207/pianists-velvety-tones-soothe-hungry-monkeys

From The Thaiger / Thai PBS World New Thailand Plus app for tourists will help officials track their whereabouts A new app, named Thailand Plus, for tourists has been created to help officials track their whereabouts more precisely once they have arrived in Thailand. The app was developed by Sompote Arhunai, the CEO of the Energy Absolute Company, which also developed the “Mor Chana” application. Sompote says the app will send information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will function similarily to a GPS. Such information will include certificate of entries, as well as screening and tracing. He says officials will know the whereabouts of tourists during their stays in case any of them are found to have contracted the virus. Such precise whereabouts will reportedly help authorities to take immediate action to prevent the spread of the virus in the areas in which the tourists visited. So far, he says 600,000 Thais have downloaded the Mor Chana app and he urges more Thais to do the same. But following the controversial app, which some say is an invasion of privacy, he says their privacy will not be compromised.

From The Nation BOT must cut policy rate close to zero to rein in baht’s appreciation The latest measures by the Bank of Thailand (BOT) designed to encourage capital outflows would have some impact on the value of the baht but they would not be effective in controlling the Thai currency's rise, said Anusorn Tamajai, a former BOT director and ex-dean of Rangsit University’s Faculty of Economics. The BOT on Friday liberalised the foreign exchange rate market, allowing residents to freely deposit funds in foreign currency deposit (FCD) accounts, raised the limit for investment in foreign securities and required investors to make bond pre-trade registration. Anusorn said these measures may not be adequate in stopping the baht from appreciating further, as foreign investors had still bought Thai bonds on Friday after the central bank had introduced the new measures. He predicted that the baht would rise beyond Bt30 to the dollar to between Bt28 and Bt29 by the end of this year or in the first quarter of next year. He suggested that the central bank introduce the yield curb control (YCC) measure in dealing with the exchange rate market. The BOT should target the yield of Thai bonds, for example set the target yield rate of the bond with 1-2 years maturity at 0.5 per cent, 3-4 years maturity at 0.75 per cent and 7-10 years maturity at 1.4 per cent.

From Chiang Rai Times / The Thaiger 60 day Tourist Visa stiff income requirement being wound back The hefty income requirement for Thailand’s Tourist Visas look like they’re being wound back following online backlash and low uptake. Previously, travellers were excited to learn they could visit a “Covid-free” Thailand, but their moods dipped after learning of the steep financial proof they needed in order to be granted under the revised Tourist Visa provisions. Now, some embassies and consulates worldwide have have dropped the stipulation on their websites that had once listed a 500,000 baht bank account balance as a requirement for obtaining the visas. Such consulates as Los Angeles now list the requirements as being US$ 700 per person and US$ 1,500. The London and Berlin embassies show no requirement on the websites which has signaled the news of a reversal. Such a change is expected to see more applicants for the visa, with Thailand set to see more tourists over the next few months, just in time for high season. The hefty income requirement for Thailand’s Tourist Visas look like they’re being wound back following online backlash and low uptake. Previously, travellers were excited to learn they could visit a “Covid-free” Thailand, but their moods dipped after learning of the steep financial proof they needed in order to be granted under the revised Tourist Visa provisions. Now, some embassies and consulates worldwide have have dropped the stipulation on their websites that had once listed a 500,000 baht bank account balance as a requirement for obtaining the visas. Such consulates as Los Angeles now list the requirements as being US$ 700 per person and US$ 1,500. The London and Berlin embassies show no requirement on the websites which has signaled the news of a reversal. Such a change is expected to see more applicants for the visa, with Thailand set to see more tourists over the next few months, just in time for high season. The income requirements are not uniform at this stage with different embassies listing different requirements around the world. However, despite the perceived reversal of the bank account required balance, tourists must still obtain a US$100,000 Covid travel insurance policy, a Certificate of Entry, and a confirmed booking at one of Thailand’s quarantine hotels. Furthermore, such a stay at an approved hotel can average 40,000 baht. There are plenty more expensive, and a few as low as 25,000 baht. In response, Thailand has been considering reducing the 14 day quarantine requirement to 10 days, citing that most Covid cases are detected within the first 5 days. That proposals will be discussed, again, this Wednesday.

This is the most encouraging report yet. Very happy to learn that the beer bars on ground level are being populated by new--male--faces. The street level view should prove popular because that's where you can make eye contact with passers by. I'd like to think that Thailand and Vietnam could soon work out a travel bubble, given that they're two of the countries that have best managed their respective Covid situations.

From MSN / BBC Vietnam has minimised the economic damage from Covid-19 and is the only country in South East Asia on track for growth this year. Its economy is expected to grow 2.4% this year, according to latest figures from the International Monetary Fund. The IMF credited “decisive steps to contain the health and economic fallout from COVID-19” for the country’s success. Vietnam has had only 1,288 Covid-19 cases and 35 deaths. The IMF is predicting a strong economic recovery in 2021, with growth projected to strengthen to 6.5% “as normalisation of domestic and foreign economic activity continues.” Although Vietnam lacks the health infrastructure of many wealthier countries, it has been widely praised for its public health measures, which quickly brought numbers under control. It was quick to develop testing kits, and used a combination of strategic testing, aggressive contact tracing to help control numbers. The country has seen slower growth this year and its once-thriving tourism sector has taken a particularly bad hit, but it has avoided the worst economic effects of the pandemic. A number of factors have cushioned the blow, according to Michael Kokalari, chief economist for Vinacapital, a Vietnam-focused investment company. Perhaps the most unexpected windfall has come from the huge increase in the number of people working from home globally. “People have bought a new laptop computer or they’ve bought new office furniture, for both working and spending more time at home. Well, a lot of those products are made in Vietnam,” he told the BBC. Vietnam’s exports to the US have increased by 23% in the first three quarters compared to the same period in 2019, with electronics exports up 26%. Vietnam’s manufacturing sector has grown enormously over the past decade because businesses have started to look elsewhere as labour costs in China increased. The ongoing US-China trade war has also made China a less attractive place to manufacture, with a number of tariffs in place on exports. Many multinationals have started operating in Vietnam, including global technology leaders like Apple and Samsung.

From The Thaiger Rejoice Thailand. 681 tourists will arrive in November! Rejoice, roll out the red carpet and sound the bells. Here they come! Thailand is about to be flooded with 681 tourists who have applied for, and received, the Special Tourist Visa. Ok, we’ll admit that’s the number is a bit down on last year’s monthly 3.3 million tourist arrivals (average). But, twisting the numbers like only the Tourist Authority of Thailand can, that’s more than DOUBLE last months’ total tourist intake. The perpetually optimistic governor of the TAT announced the 681 tourists will be visiting Thailand during this month under the much-discussed Special Tourist Visa (STV) program. 263 of those ‘special’ tourists had already completed the 14 day mandatory quarantine, 134 were currently in quarantine and 284 would arrive before the end of November. The TAT governor says that the TAT, Thai Airways and hotels associations had been working on what he called the “Amazing Thailand Plus Special Package”. This was a one-stop-shop service to make it easier for the tourists to get their air tickets, apply for their visa, find out about where to quarantine and book trips around the country once they finish their quarantine period. Thailand would have normally be welcoming around 3.5 million tourists during November (according to 2019 data) but this year’s ‘disruption’, and the Thai government’s response to it, has all but closed down Thailand’s international tourism industry. ================================================= From The Thaiger Coming to Thailand? Check your insurance and ASQ fine print A concerned reader sent us this information, based on his experiences in the ASQ when he arrived in Thailand. We publish them with good faith but would urge everyone to check their insurance situation, whether they’re currently in ASQ or might be in the near future, to check your individual circumstances. The comments made about the ‘system’ are those of the writer… “Under current Thai ASQ rules, anyone who fails the RT-PCR test in quarantine is sent to hospital, even if they have no symptoms. The ASQ quarantine fee (paid in advance to the hotel) does not cover the hospital costs. So insurance is required. 1. I checked with AXA Thailand, as they offer an insurance policy for US$100,000 to meet the Covid-19 insurance laws. They told me this does NOT cover hospitalisation without symptoms, even after failing the covid-19 tests that are required in quarantine. I believe the odds of anyone who fails the test in quarantine having no symptoms are at least 50% and in this case their insurance will be invalid. The policy is not fit for purpose! 2. Most UK insurers offer travel insurance cover for “Emergency Medical Care”. As being sent to hospital merely for failing a test is not an emergency, then they do not cover being sent to hospital from ASQ. 3. Some UK insurers invalidate all of the medical cover, as any visitor to Thailand is “awaiting tests for an undiagnosed condition”, because they require RT-PCR tests.” The bottomline on all this is ask questions, check your insurance coverage and get everything in writing.

From The Nation Solution fired at protesters contained 4 types of tear gas A sample of the solution police fired at pro-democracy protesters on Tuesday has tested positive for four different chemicals which burn the eyes and skin. Riot police fired the solution from water cannons at Kiak Kai Intersection, during a confrontation with protesters who were seeking to rally outside Parliament on the first day of charter-change deliberations. Protesters and journalists hit by the solution suffered stinging eyes and skin, as well as breathing problems. Many needed hospital treatment. On Friday, Weerachai Phutdhawong, a Kasetsart University chemistry professor, announced results of his analysis of a sample of the solution used on Tuesday. The results showed five chemicals, as well as a dye that turned the solution purple. The five substances were dimethyl sulfoxide, 2-Chlorobenzaldehyde, 2-Chlorobenzyl alcohol, 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile, and o-Chlorobenzylmalononitrile. The first in the list was a solvent for the chemical mixture, said Weerachai. The other four all belong to the tear gas group of chemicals, he said. ====================================================== From Bangkok Post 'Bad Students' gather at Siam BTS Protesters wearing dinosaur costumes try to flee from an approaching inflatable asteroid at the Bad Student rally at the Siam BTS station on Saturday. (Photo: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul) Young “Bad Student” activists gathered on Saturday beneath the Siam BTS skytrain station, a day after it was revealed that two of their teenaged leaders were facing charges for taking part in protests. The demonstrators sheltered under the skytrain platform in front of the Siam Paragon shopping centre after rain forced them to change the rally venue from the nearby Ratchaprasong intersection. Police confirmed that organisers of the rally had informed them about their activity, which was given permission to go ahead. It was expected to end around 9pm. “#Bye bye dinosaurs” was the theme of the event that was publicised on the Bad Student Facebook page. “If parliament cast in the role of ‘dinosaur’ rejects and refuses changes, students like us will be the meteorite that collides with the backwardness of senior figures in society,” another message read. “As our calls for educational reforms are being ignored, see us at the Ratchaprasong intersection on Nov 21. Students will talk about all the things the dinosaurs don’t want to hear!” In keeping with the theme, participants dressed in dinosaur costumes were being pelted by inflatable meteorites launched at them from the crowd.

From Coconuts Bangkok Thailand has ordered more than 100 drugs including cocaine, morphine and opium decriminalized for medical and research use. The sale and possession of 102 substances classified as Category 2 drugs by the 1979 Narcotics Act may be sold or used under very specific limitations, according to a proclamation in yesterday’s Royal Gazette. The new regulations will come into effect in July 2021. Category 2 narcotics include cocaine, opium, morphine oxycodone, fentanyl and codeine. Possession and use will be granted to governmental organizations, approved pharmacies and health workers such as pharmacists, dentists and veterinarians. They can only be sold for medical treatments, research or “government benefit,” according to the proclamation. The regulatory shift is similar to that made in the wake of December 2018 legislation that cleared the way for medical marijuana. Possession is allowed for the purpose of manufacturing approved medical formulas and approved research programs. Notably, much as was approved for cannabis to clear the way for eventual cannabis tourism, it will be allowed aboard registered commercial vessels and airplanes for “emergency medical use.”

From The Thaiger Bangkok taxis can now start charging passengers extra for large luggage items with handling fees ranging from 20 to 100 baht per item. Under the new regulations, taxi drivers are required to tell passengers about the extra costs before the ride. Bags larger than 26 inches will be 20 baht and items larger than 50 inches will be no more than 100 baht. Other large items like sports equipment, bicycles, surfboards or musical instruments will be no more than 100 baht. After the first 2 items, additional bags will be 20 baht each. The Transport Ministry says people will not be charged extra for handicap equipment like wheelchairs and walking sticks. Passengers will also not be charged extra for small personal belongings like handbags, computer cases or backpacks.

As I surveyed the many media reports of pro-democracy demonstrations, I was awed how the Thai media has evolved in the face of the crisis. Even traditional conservative outlets have recognized their obligation to cover events that would have once been seen as "off-limits". Further, I've come to accept that events are unfolding so rapidly that my singular efforts can no longer adequately give them the justice they deserve. If members are interested in keeping up to date of the subjects raised here they can easily find coverage by going to the following websites that I've often cited in entries above. The Bangkok Post has been trying to provide objective coverage of both sides of the debate. It has even dispatched a video team to the scene of some demonstrations. https://www.bangkokpost.com Perhaps the most conservative of the mainstream media, The Nation (Nation Multimedia) has spread its wings as it attempts to provide broader coverage. It also operates the Thai Visa website. https://www.nationthailand.com The Thaiger covers events by including snippets from other media in a daily digest of news but occasionally adds its own version. If something happened in Thailand overnight, the Thaiger is good source to quickly come up to speed. https://thethaiger.com The Thai Enquirer, a publication of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT), presents a Monday-Friday daily news summary that covers all aspects of Thai news in detail. For news junkies like myself, this is a must read. https://www.thaienquirer.com/category/main-news/ Channel News Asia (out of Singapore) has a correspondent on the ground in Bangkok who provides objective and insightful coverage. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/international Khaosod English has distinguished itself not only through its website, but via the live Facebook coverage of the demonstrations by a team of two reporters. In my opinion, their work is unmatched by their dedication--and personal risks they take--to keep their viewers informed. https://www.khaosodenglish.com https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish It's my hope that interested readers will access their choice of the above sites for updates news about the country that has become close to our hearts. Better yet, maybe you'll recommend articles going forward. It has been my honor to contribute to this thread since it began its run four months ago.

From Bangkok Post Eighteen hurt in Thailand's most violent protests since movement began Thai police fired water cannon and teargas at protesters marching on parliament on Tuesday, and at least 18 people were hurt in the most violent confrontation since a youth-led protest movement emerged in July. The protests have become the biggest challenge to Thailand's establishment in years. Demonstrators converged on parliament to put pressure on lawmakers discussing changes to the constitution. Protesters also want the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army ruler, and to curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Police sprayed water cannon at protesters who cut through razor-wire barricades and removed concrete barriers outside parliament. Officers then fired teargas. Thousands of protesters gathered at different points and the number grew into the evening. Ambulances ferried the injured to hospital. Bangkok's Erawan Medical Centre said 18 people were hurt, 12 of them suffering as a result of teargas. It said one of those hurt was a police officer. "This is brutal," said a 31-year-old volunteer with the FreeYouth protest group, who gave his name as Oh. Protesters pushed forward behind makeshift shields - including inflatable pool ducks. The deputy head of Bangkok police, Piya Tavichai, told Reuters: "Police had to use teargas and water cannon because protesters were trying to break through the barriers." Lawmakers were discussing several proposals for constitutional changes, some of which would exclude the possibility of altering the monarchy's role. There is also discussion of the role of the upper house Senate, which was entirely selected by Prayuth's former junta and helped ensure that he kept power with a parliamentary majority after last year's disputed vote. Some protesters scuffled with dozens of yellow-shirted royalists who had remained behind after an earlier demonstration by hundreds of right-wing Thais calling on lawmakers not to make changes to the constitution.

That's the general idea for which we can thank the ancient Greeks. In the US, it's been modified over time by the courts but the intent remains unchanged. I don't think you'd get an argument from Thailand's elites who've been prescribing these concepts since the protests began. The problem, of course, is who decides what "accepted societal norms" are. Well, the platforms themselves have begun to introduce some curbs but I don't think they've much changed the tenor of the debate. Personally, I believe that it falls to the media itself to exercise some restraint. People may be free to express themselves and Americans--and other democracies--highly value a free press. But having a free press doesn't mean that press is obliged to publish every utterance. Individual media can decide to be more selective. It has, in fact, recently started doing so by cutting away from the biggest liar when he begins lying, and calling attention to false claims as they are being made. Democracies recognize, however, in curbing the speech of citizens is something not to be undertaken lightly. In the end, a better informed citizenry is probably is a nation's last best hope of remaining a democracy.

I believe it's been reported by more than one member that he is disproportionately large.

Extracted from South China Morning Post The bell at Siam Inter Auto (SIA) rings frantically, marking more than US$1 million in sales of second-hand cars – most sent to auction by banks clawing back what they can from Thais unable to make their repayments in an economy floored by Covid-19 . From condominiums and cars, credit cards to mobile phones, bad debt is rushing through Thailand and experts fear worse is to come for Southeast Asia’s second largest economy after the government ended a repayment holiday for struggling individuals and small businesses. Some of the consequences of this unprecedented economic collapse are parked in rows in the vast lot of SIA’s suburban Bangkok warehouse, where potential buyers do a high-speed triage of repossessed cars as fast-talking auctioneers whip up bidding wars from two podiums. SIA has its finger on the pulse of the Thai economy, according to Gai Nanthana, its genial executive vice-president, and the prognosis isn’t good. “We feel the economy. When things are good, our business is good as people sell their old cars and upgrade,” said the 57-year-old. “When the economy is bad – we do better. It’s very sad but bad debt forces people to sell … or downgrade, especially the middle class. Right now they are facing punishment. They can’t make their payments.” Official data released on Monday showed that Thailand’s economy shrank 6.4 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter, an improvement from the previous quarter’s contraction of 12.1 per cent at the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak. The better-than-expected came as global lockdowns eased and the government’s 1.9 trillion baht (US$62.9 billion) stimulus package began to feed into the economy, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). “These GDP statistics don’t really mean anything to the real economy,” said Virot Ali, international political economy lecturer at Thammasat University in Bangkok, “as they represent only those able to join government schemes and not the poor. If you look at the household debt, credit card debt, personal loans and all defaulted loans, they’ve risen to a record high.” Household debt hit nearly 84 per cent of GDP in the second quarter, according to the Bank of Thailand. Against this backdrop, banks and smaller lenders are still in a rush to repossess, while their fear of defaults on repayments have led to nearly half of all mortgage applications being rejected amid the pandemic, according to the central bank. That has left up to US$30 billion of unsold properties across Bangkok alone, according to Thailand’s Real Estate Information Centre. xacerbating the situation is the Bank of Thailand’s decision late last month to end its blanket debt holiday for “the stability of the financial institution system” after 1 million small businesses deferred payments on around US$44 billion worth of loans – which experts say is likely to wipe out many small businesses that have staggered through to this point. “Given the end of the debt moratorium, [small and medium-sized enterprises] – particularly in sectors that face an abrupt disruption, like tourism – are unlikely to have the financial resources to sustain their operations,” said Pavida Pananond, associate professor of International Business at Thammasat Business School. Thailand is also a split-screen economy, with the gap between rich and poor among the widest in Asia. That is set to get a lot worse, experts say, as major conglomerates – and the business clans who own them – scoop up distressed assets while small businesses are decimated.