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From Channel News Asia AKARTA: Indonesia will reopen Bali's airport to some international travellers on Oct 14, said Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan on Monday (Oct 4). Speaking at a virtual press conference, Mr Pandjaitan said that the airport on the popular tourist island will be open for travellers from some countries such as South Korea, China, Japan, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. “Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport will be opened internationally on Oct 14, 2021, as long as it fulfils the provisions and requirements regarding quarantine, testing, and the readiness of the (COVID-19) task force. "Every international arrival passenger must have proof of hotel booking for a minimum of eight days for quarantine at his own expense,” said the minister. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/bali-airport-reopen-travellers-some-countries-oct-14-indonesian-coordinating-minister-2220486

From Coconuts Bangkok Where to buy 40 baht COVID test kits in Bangkok COVID home test kits will soon be sold for a fraction of the price through government pharmacies, but Bangkok has to wait a couple weeks for them to show up. Two million SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Test Kit (ATK) will be sold starting Oct. 18 by the Government Pharmaceutical Organization at a price below market: THB40 (US$1.20). While the tests aren’t as reliable as traditional PCR tests, they are still relatively accurate – and very fast. The following link locations eight locations (with maps) where home test kits will be sold at eight organization pharmacies around metro Bangkok: https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/where-to-buy-40-baht-covid-test-kits-in-bangkok/

From Bangkok Post The Tourism and Sports Ministry is poised to start collecting a 500-baht tourism fee for a "tourism transformation fund" next year, with the budget following a co-payment model. The Centre for Economic Situation Administration last week approved the creation of the fund, which is expected to subsidise projects that transform the industry, focusing on high-value and sustainable tourism. Yuthasak Supasorn, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, said the fee collection of 500 baht per person should start next year, with the aim of collecting 5 billion within the first year, assuming 10 million foreign arrivals in 20 Mr Yuthasak said the additional 200 baht will be earmarked for: projects initiated by the private sector, community enterprises, or social enterprises that would like to transform their business to meet the fund's strategy; helping the country restructure from mass tourism to high-value or a bio-, circular and green economic model; and environmentally concerned tourism. "The projects should be co-creations and the government should use the fund to support projects that can create an economic impact. The proportion of public-private financial support could be 50:50, 60:40 or 70:30, depending on how much we want to make those projects happen," he said. The fund is also meant to budget insurance and development projects for foreign visitors that require government initiatives rather than the private sector, including those needing matching grants from local administrations, said Mr Yuthasak. After the concept is approved, the Tourism and Sports Ministry and TAT are required to have discussions with related authorities about setting up the fund committee and funding mechanisms, such as how to collect the fee from tourists, he said. "The additional cost won't have an impact on tourists as we want to focus on the quality market," said Mr Yuthasak. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2191883/collection-of-b500-fee-from-foreigners-starts-next-year

From Thai Enquirer This article was originally published on The Third Pole. (Original story can be found here) About a year ago, the Boon Rueang Wetland Forest Conservation Group began a survey of wildlife in the 483-hectare community forest in northern Thailand. “We have recorded some leopards, otters and other animals,” says Songpol Chanruang, chair of the group. Though only around 130 kilometres long, the Ing River that feeds the Boon Rueang wetlands is the second most important habitat for the Eurasian otter in Thailand, according to the Living River Association, an NGO that promotes community-based conservation in the Mekong basin. The Eurasian otter – a species listed as globally Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature – is known to occur at at least 10 locations along the banks of the Lower Ing River. The Ing River is a tributary of the Mekong. The stretch where the Ing and other tributaries like it in northern Thailand flow into the Mekong is sandwiched between a huge number of dams. There are 11 hydropower dams upstream on China’s section of the Upper Mekong – known as the Lancang – and 11 more in various stages of planning and completion on the Lower Mekong in Laos and Cambodia, most with some level of Chinese involvement in development or construction. The effects of upstream dams on the ecology of downstream tributaries are largely unknown. Major dams along the Mekong River, including those which are under construction or in the planning stages (Graphic: The Third Pole) “The seasonal cycle has changed over the years, and this was noticed after dams were built… especially during the past 10 years,” Chanruang says. “The Mekong hardly floods into the Ing River, or if it floods it no longer lasts for a few months, but a week, or even just a few days.” “We just hope [the otters] can adjust to the changing environment by using their wild instincts to find a safe place to breed and feed,” says Chanruang, stressing the need for more study and public engagement. The Mekong floods during the wet season between June and October, filling the Ing and other tributaries. This soaks the wetland forests of Thailand’s north. The natural flooding of the Mekong provides this region of Thailand with the water, fish and nutrients needed to support the Ing River forests and wetlands. The fish nursery this creates sustains both wildlife, such as otters, and communities downstream. But in the past decade, a spate of dam projects on the Mekong mainstream have resulted in the flooding process becoming unnaturally intense and rapid. “The water now comes and goes quickly, not lingering in the forest like it did in the past,” says Chanruang, describing the seasonal floodwaters of the Ing River. “It’s clear that [water levels] have dropped significantly during the rainy season over the past few years. Its colour has also changed, from muddy water to clear.” Continues with photos https://www.thaienquirer.com/33444/untold-impact-on-northern-thailands-wildlife-from-mekong-dams/

Seems more like TIT 😉

From Pattaya Mail Locanation.com, a new hotel reservation platform backed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), made its debut on 1 October 2021 to help boost country reopening. This newly-launched platform is an alternative to other online travel agencies like Agoda and Traveloka. It is part of the TAT Travel Tech Startup Season 2. TAT Deputy Governor of Domestic Marketing Thapanee Kiatpaiboon said the agency is keen to support startups, specifically Thai-bound TravelTechs, helping to maneuver them through international competition. What makes this platform different from the rest is that it does not collect any commission fees from participating hotels, as well as allows businesses to communicate directly with actual users on the platform through posts and direct messages. Proceeds from the revenue spared can then translate to privileges or extra benefits provided to hotel guests, such as airport shuttles or free minibars. The platform also supports the government’s Phase 3 of the ‘We Travel Together’ or ‘Rao Tiew Duay Gun’ scheme with 2 million eligible accounts. It began accepting reservations from 1 October 2021. Here is the link to the platform: https://locanation.com/ https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thailand-launches-new-hotel-reservation-platform-as-cities-reopen-to-foreigners-374284

From The Thaiger Taxi hailing apps legalised Taxi hailing apps, with fares starting at 40 baht, have now been officially approved for use in Thailand, having received the sign off by Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob. The new ruling allows companies to apply for permissions to operate using mobile apps, subject to a 30-day trial period. The Minister expects 10,000 taxis of up to 7 passenger capacity to be signed up for the programme and available in Bangkok. Taxis will be categorised into 3 different vehicle types from small taxi cars to large taxi vans with travel rates priced accordingly. For the cheapest taxi option, rates will start at 40 to 45 baht for the first 2 kilometres and then will charge between 6 and 10 baht for each additional kilometre. Midrange taxis will start at 45 to 50 baht with 7 to 12 baht per kilometres after the first 2 kilometres. The largest taxi size will have pickup fees that include the first 2 kilometres priced at 100 to 150 baht, with additional kilometres costing 12 to 16 baht each. To avoid price gouging, hailing charges to order or flag down the taxi has been limited to 20 baht maximum. Waiting or idling in traffic will be charged at a rate of 2 baht per minute as well. The plan says that when a user orders a ride through a taxi hailing app, first priority will be given to public taxis followed by second priority to environmentally-friendly vehicles. Motorbike taxis are hoped to be added to the programme in the near future. In order for companies to join, they must have registered capital of more than 5 million baht, a qualified business within Thailand, operate 24 hours a day, and must have never had GPS permissions revoked by providers. Companies that have expressed interest already and qualify for these restrictions include GrabTaxi, Robinhood (Purpil Venture Co), Delivery Hero/Food Panda, Velox Digital (Gojek) and Lineman. https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/transport/taxi-hailing-apps-legalised-fares-from-40-baht-10000-in-bangkok

From Channel News Asia BTS fan ads in New York (left), Singapore (top right) and South Korea (bottom right) (Photos: Twitter @BTSNewYorkCity, @Once_Russ, @Fan_club_ad) SINGAPORE: The United Nations General Assembly is probably not on most people’s must-watch list. But on Monday (Sep 20), more than one million people tuned in to the meeting of world leaders in New York. More precisely, they watched K-pop sensation BTS deliver a message about the resilience of youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We believe that every choice we make is the beginning to change, not the end,” said band leader Kim Nam-joon better known as RM. This was the third time BTS attended the UN meeting. Having skyrocketed to the top of global pop charts, it’s little wonder these international superstars were appointed South Korea’s special presidential envoys mere weeks ago. Of course, people want a piece of the BTS action. The group commands the attention of millions in the BTS Army everywhere they go. Just look at how their supporters have taken celebrity worship to whole new levels. It is not uncommon to see big, splashy pictures of BTS and other K-pop idols on New York City Times Square advertising billboards, the Nashville sign and even on the Urban Deca Towers in Metro Manilla - purchased not by the music companies or sponsors, but crowdfunded by fans to celebrate their idols’ birthdays and milestones. In Singapore, local fans splurged on a panel advertisement at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station to celebrate BTS’ sixth anniversary in 2019. And in April this year, a Chinese fan club raised 2.3 million yuan (US$356,000) in one hour and used the money to customise the exterior of a Jeju Air plane to celebrate BTS member Jimin’s birthday. The US$5 billion K-pop industry has gone global. The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimates there are about 1,835 K-pop fan clubs across 98 countries - with 104 million members. The Hallyu wave has gotten so out of hand, just this month, Chinese social media accounts of some 20-something K-pop fan groups have been suspended or shut down to curb obsession and excessive spending. Continues with photo https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/why-kpop-fans-spend-money-bts-united-nations-2208521

From Bangkok Post Sandbox now open to everyone ully vaccinated travellers from “any country in the world” can now book holidays in Phuket and other provinces taking part in the sandbox scheme, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says. The change will allow previously excluded Indonesians and Malaysians, among many others, to travel to the southern resort island and some of its neighbours. Before the pandemic, Malaysia was the country’s second biggest source of tourists, with more than 4 million arrivals or 10% of the global total in 2019. The announcement by the TAT late Friday is part of an expanded push to revive tourism, after authorities halved the mandatory quarantine period to seven days for vaccinated travellers from abroad. The agency said authorities would no longer follow a list of eligible countries — estimated to be around 80 — based on Covid transmission risk. “This means Thailand is now welcoming travellers from any country in the world to the Sandbox programme,” it said in a statement on its website. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2191359/sandbox-now-open-to-everyone ============================= From Pattaya Mail Decline of Covid-19 patients closes Bangkok field hospital The country’s largest field hospital in Nonthaburi Province closed its doors on Thursday after a decline in new daily caseloads. Busarakham treated 20,436 Covid-19 patients during its operation which started on May 14. According to Dr Kiatiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for health, it took only seven days to set up “the country’s biggest and best field hospital.” Dr. Kiatiphum said it opened with 1,000 beds with contributions from the government, as well as the private and civil sectors, and later expanded to 3,700 beds. With intensive care and semi-intensive care units, the facility helped free up beds for critically ill patients at conventional hospitals.

From Philstar Global In shock announcement, Duterte says to retire from politics MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte made a shock announcement Saturday, saying that he would retire from politics and no longer pursue a vice presidential run, in deference to popular opinion that this runs counter to the intent of the Constitution. Duterte initially said he would run for vice president for continutiy of his administration's programs and to get immunity from suit,a privilege that that office does not enjoy. "The overwhelming sentiment of the Filipino is that I am not qualified, and it would be a violation of the Constitution to circumvent the law, the spirit of the Constitution," Duterte said after his long-time aide turned senator, Bong Go, announced that the president withdrew his acceptance of nomination as the vice presidential candidate of the PDP-Laban faction controlled by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. "In obedience to the will of the people, who after all placed me in the presidency many years ago, I now say sa mga kababayan ko, sundin ko ang gusto ninyo (I will follow what you want,)" Duterte added. "Today, I announce my retirement from politics." In a surprising turn of events, Go filed a certificate of candidacy for vice president instead of Duterte. Go was previously the faction's chosen standard bearer, but he had repeatedly refused to accept the nomination. It is now unclear who the PDP-Laban's presidential candidate would be. While unexpected, it is not the first time that Duterte said he was retiring from politics. He made the same overture in 2015, only for him to eventually run for president. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/10/02/2131104/shock-announcement-duterte-says-retire-politics ============================= From Channel News Asia Philippines loosens coronavirus curbs in capital region MANILA: The Philippines further loosened coronavirus restrictions in the capital region on Friday (Oct 1), allowing restaurants to accept more guests and gyms to reopen after recording a decline in daily COVID-19 cases. The Philippines, which is battling one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in Asia, is gradually relaxing curbs to allow the recovery of the economy. Restaurants and personal care services were permitted to double their allowable operating capacity to 20 per cent, while fitness studios and gyms were allowed to reopen their doors, but only to fully vaccinated clients. "This is one step towards the recovery of the economy. People are enthusiastic about opening up," Benjamin Abalos, chairperson of the capital's council of mayors, told Reuters. The capital region, an urban sprawl of 16 cities that is home to 13 million people, is the country's coronavirus epicentre, accounting for a third of confirmed infections and one in every four deaths. Nearly four-fifths of the area's population has already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, government data showed. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/philippines-covid-19-restrictions-eased-cases-fall-2214671

I've read and heard nothing but good things about this venue on Silom Soi 4. Although it's not business as usual (pre-covid), this place has attracted a loyal following of expats and locals. The food gets high marks as does the staff. This photo from a current post on its Facebook site shows some local entertainment that adds some class to an already classy affair. Check it out. I don't think you'll be disappointed. https://www.facebook.com/PrideBarAndRestaurant

From Thai PBS World Thailand’s new tourism promotional slogan for next year unveiled The Thai government plans to promote tourism next year under the new slogan “Visit Thailand 2022, Now Even More Amazing Thailand Has It All”, together with investments as well as the setting up of a tourism promotional fund to transform Phuket into a world class destination. The ambitious plan for Phuket and the tourism sector was approved during an online meeting today (Thursday) of the Centre for Economic Situation Administration, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. A tourism promotion fund, with the support of the private sector and civil society, will be set up, not just to promote tourism but also to effect changes in the tourism industry for sustainable growth, as well as reducing as much red tape as possible to promote tourism. According to the NESDC, various lockdown restrictions have been eased to make travel easier, such as the shortening quarantine from 14 to 7 days, issuance of visa on arrival and the granting of permission for Russian passenger aircraft to land in Phuket. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thailands-new-tourism-promotional-slogan-for-next-year-unveiled/

From Channel News Asia There’s a reason why China exists inside its own bubble but how long can it hold out as the rest of the world slowly open their borders, asks an observer. HONG KONG: What is normal in a post-pandemic world? How can the idea of a return to a normal state of affairs be articulated and realised by a state? The answers to these questions depends what country you are talking about. At present China equates a return to normal with zero COVID-19 cases, where China is safe from imported cases of the virus and where its population is protected from local transmissions. To achieve this, China has locked itself away from most of the world and put its population through an extensive campaign of vaccinations. According to China’s National Health Commission, by the first week of September, Chinese authorities had administered over 2 billion doses of the three Chinese vaccines currently available. Although it is unclear how many people have received both doses, it is an impressive effort. But this does not mean that China has successfully returned to normal. The efficacy of local vaccines is the biggest hurdle the government faces in moving towards a post-pandemic normal. China has undertaken a massive inoculation campaign and any vaccine is a good vaccine if it prevents the onset of severe symptoms or death but not all vaccines are equal. Chinese vaccine manufacturers Sinopharm and Sinovac have not released comprehensive phase three data for their vaccines for peer review. There was a May study on Sinopharm’s two vaccines, but it was notable for not including certain vulnerable populations nor those beyond the West Asian countries. Sinovac is yet to release its phase three vaccine data, but World Health Organization (WHO) estimates — released when it was given emergency approval — stated that it prevents symptomatic disease in only 51 per cent of the inoculated population. Both the efficacy of the vaccines and the transparency of the data supporting them is well below that offered by other vaccine producers. This is a problem because most of the world has chosen a different pathway to post-pandemic normal. Whether through conscious policy decisions to prioritise economic security over health security, political choices, access to more efficacious vaccines or simply because countries could not access sufficient vaccines for their populations, most of the world is living with the virus and its consequences. As a result, COVID-19 is going to be globally endemic rather than eradicated. The difference between these pathways presents major hurdles for China, medically, economically and politically. If China is to shift towards a post-pandemic normal, it will have to accept a greater likelihood of community transmissions than is presently the case. There is no indication that such a scenario is presently acceptable to the Chinese government. Given this reality, the Chinese government is unlikely to seek a new post-pandemic normal of opening up anytime soon. It first needs to deal with or significantly mitigate the medical, economic, and most importantly, the political threats posed by opening its borders and returning to the world. For now, China exists inside its own bubble. It is a safe but unsustainable option for any country seeking to return to normal. Nicholas Thomas is Associate Professor at the Department of Asian and International Studies at the City University of Hong Kong. This commentary first appeared on The East Asia Forum. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/china-covid-19-vaccine-travel-borders-economy-2209486

Prime Massage on Soi 6 and Adam Massage on Soi 4 are reportedly open according to their FB sites.

From Coconuts Bangkok A Dutch national said today he will appeal a court ruling against his lawsuit challenging dual-pricing at Thailand’s public hospitals as unconstitutional. Erwin Buse said the Administrative Court in Phetchaburi province relied on incorrect information provided by the health ministry in its Tuesday decision. “I am very disappointed that the court mainly follows and repeat statements of the defendant without fact check,” Buse said Wednesday afternoon in a message. He noted that the ministry had changed how it defined labor costs, a key factor in determining hospital fees. Erwin had asked the court to strike down the pricing structure in place since 2019 for violating the constitution’s equal protection guarantee, as by the ministry’s own regulations, the fees should be determined by actual costs. In its judgment, the court said that it did not see that as discriminatory – because the higher rates charged of foreigners, who it presumes earn more than Thais, is good for the nation. “The pricing was set on an appropriate basis of socioeconomic status, and it benefits Thailand, so it therefore doesn’t count as discrimination,” the court ruling said. His lawsuit named the ministry and its head, who is now Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. It asked the court to annul the rate structure and order the ministry to revert to unified rates in place since 2004. Buse first took on overcharging on a personal level several years ago when he was traveling 100 kilometers from his rural residence for cancer treatments at Hua Hin Hospital. He described being charged hundreds of baht in “additional fees” each time. Under new rules enacted in September 2019, public hospitals were instructed to charge patients at what amounts to four tiers based on their legal status: Thai nationals, citizens of neighboring countries and working foreigners on non-immigrant visas. The fourth group consists of tourists, retirees and included foreigners married to Thai nationals. Fees are much higher for the third group – which includes most expats – while those in the fourth pay much more, often double. For example, according to a ministry fee structure published at the time, simple antibody screenings cost Thais and ASEAN residents THB130 and expats THB190. Retirees and tourists pay double – THB260. On the higher end, a spinal MRI that costs citizens and their neighbors THB18,700 jumps up to THB23,375 for working expats and THB28,050 for retirees/tourists. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/dutch-expat-to-appeal-after-thai-court-sides-with-higher-hospital-fees-for-foreigners/

From Thai Enquirer Bangkok releases list of venues and businesses allowed to reopen in October he Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Thursday revealed a list of businesses and activities that will be allowed to reopen, and which ones will still be closed starting on October 1. Bangkok is also set to reduce its curfew from the current 9 pm – 4 am to 10 pm – 4 am starting on October 1. The venues, businesses and activities that will be allowed to reopen in Bangkok include: Schools (based on permission and regulations from related agencies) Children daycares (based on permission and regulations from Bangkok’s Health Department) Restaurants (closing time 9 pm, no alcohol sales, 50 per cent capacity limit for air-conditioned venues, 75 per cent capacity limit for outdoor venues and live bands will be allowed but no more than five musicians per band) Convenience stores and markets (closing time 9 pm) Libraries and museums (75 per cent capacity limit, no food and no drink) Cinemas (closing time 9 pm, 50 per cent capacity limit, no food and no drink) Beauty and nail parlors (closing time 9 pm and advance booking only) Tattoo parlors (closing time 9 pm, advance booking and customers must be fully vaccinated or tested negative for Covid via ATK or RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to service) Thai massage parlors and spas (advance booking, customers must be fully vaccinated or tested negative for Covid within 72 hours prior to service and no more than two hours service per person) Public parks, sports stadiums, open-air swimming pools or indoor swimming pools with proper airflow (closing time 9 pm) Gyms (closing time 9 pm, no sauna) Sports matches and competitions (based on permission and regulations from related agencies) Malls (closing time 9 pm) Productions of movies and television shows Theaters (based on permission and regulations from Bangkok’s Health Department, closing time 9 pm) Martial arts and dancing schools Weight loss facilities Amulets centers Zoos Venues that organize meeting rooms and ballrooms (only for traditional purposes such as weddings and no buffets) Hotels (no seminar) Venues, businesses and activities that will continue to be close include: Pubs, bars and karaoke lounges Bathing parlors Sauna activities Fun parks and water parks Playgrounds and children’s play equipment Sit-and-play gaming shops, internet shops and gaming arcades Exhibition halls and large meeting centers All indoor sports venues (except for the ones with proper airflow) Eldercare centers (except for overnight facilities) Cock-fighting, bull-fighting and horse racing venues The government is planning to reopen the capital to vaccinated tourists under the “Bangkok Sandbox” program on November 1. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2190251/man-held-for-allegedly-shooting-din-daeng-protester

From Reuters / MSN DUBAI, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Qatar Airways will resume flights with Airbus A380s earlier than planned to make up for capacity lost in the regulator grounding of some of its A350s, according to a report published on Wednesday. The airline last year indefinitely parked its 10 A380s after the COVID-19 collapse in long-haul travel, and said it would only ever use five of them once they returned to service. Executive Traveller, quoting the airline's chief executive, said Qatar Airways would operate flights with five of its parked A380s from November, with all 10 possibly returning next year. “We have to find capacity for our passengers who need airlines to take them to their loved ones for Christmas,” Akbar Al Baker was quoted as saying. A Qatar Airways representative confirmed the report was accurate. The five A380s would give the Gulf carrier more than half the 4,000-seat capacity it had lost in the Qatari regulatory grounding of 13 A350s in August. The grounding followed Qatar Airways allegations that the fuselage surface below the paint on each of the jets was deteriorating. The airline has been locked in a months-long public dispute with Airbus over the allegations, insisting it would not take any A350 deliveries until the problem was resolved. Al Baker in January said the A380s - the world's biggest passenger jet - was the "worst aircraft" with regards to emissions. Executive Traveller also reported that Qatar Airways was looking to hire "additional" Boeing 777 pilots from British Airways for "at least the next six months." Qatar Airways is a minority owner of British Airways-owner IAG . https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/qatar-airways-to-fly-unwanted-a380s-after-a350-grounding-report/ar-AAOXWac

From Channel News Asia Myanmar's currency has lost more than 60 per cent of its value since the beginning of September in a collapse that has driven up food and fuel prices in an economy that has tanked since a military coup eight months ago. "This will rattle the generals as they are quite obsessed with the kyat rate as a broader barometer of the economy, and therefore a reflection on them," said Richard Horsey, a Myanmar expert at the International Crisis Group. In August, the Central Bank of Myanmar tried tethering the kyat 0.8 per cent either side of its reference rate against the US dollar, but gave up on Sep 10 as pressure on the exchange rate mounted. The shortage of dollars has become so bad that some money changers have pulled down their shutters. "Due to the currency price instability at the moment ... all Northern Breeze Exchange Service branches are temporarily closed," the money changer said on Facebook. Those still operating were quoting a rate of 2,700 kyat per US dollar on Tuesday (Sep 28), compared to 1,695 kyat on Sep 1 and 1,395 kyat back on Feb1, when the military overthrew a democratically elected government led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. In a report published on Monday, the World Bank predicted that the economy would slump by 18 per cent this year, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and said that Myanmar would see the biggest contraction in employment in the region and a rise in the number of poor in the country. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmars-junta-powerless-currency-drops-60-four-weeks-economy-tanks-2209931

From Thai Enquirer The tale of Sudarat the Elephant made international headlines earlier this month when a global fundraising campaign managed to save the 45-year-old elephant from being forced back into the tourism industry by raising 47,000 USD to purchase her from her owner. “Our hope to rescue Sudarat and have her stay at Samui Elephant Haven forever, with her family and friends is a reality!” the sanctuary posted on Facebook on Monday. While netizens from all over the world celebrated the good news, the story of Sudarat’s rescue has raised questions about the state of animal welfare, in particular elephants, in Thailand and the intersections of culture, animal rights, and tourism. Sudarat, like most tamed and commercialized working elephants in Thailand, has had a long and tragic life. She began life as a logging elephant based in the north of Thailand, where she was forced to sleep standing up. Later, she was sold to a family of mahouts in Pattaya, where she was used for the tourism industry, carrying tourists up to 60 times a day and walking on hot concrete for almost a decade, as a means for the family to generate income. When Sudarat’s mahout got into a life-threatening accident, his family sent her to the sanctuary. But after three years of living freely as a retired elephant with her newfound family and herd of 4 elephants, the family want her back. “[The Mahout] has decided that now is the time to take her back and as he is her legal owner we, unfortunately, have no right to keep Sudarat,” the sanctuary announced on their Facebook page. “Over the past few years, we have tried many times to negotiate with her owner in the hope of buying Sudarat to ensure that she could stay with us and her herd forever. However, he has no desire to sell Sudarat to us but we thank everyone for their kind offer of raising funds and helping in any way they could.” Sudarat’s fate to retire at the sanctuary, just a week ago, seemed far-fetched. The owner demanded $47,000 dollars for her outright purchase – not a small sum in a country decimated economically by the pandemic. “We only have until the end of the month to raise the funds since he has already organized the truck and team to collect her,” said the sanctuary. What happened next has gone viral. Through the kindness of internet strangers, a global fundraising campaign managed to get enough money to buy Sudarat her freedom. Continues with photos and video https://www.thaienquirer.com/33295/the-curious-tale-of-sudarat-the-elephant/

From Bangkok Post THAI to start flying to high-jab rate countries Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced it will start selling tickets on select international flights to destinations with high vaccination rates, from Oct 1. The airline will re-commence flights to lucrative markets in Europe such as Britain, France and Germany as well as some cities in Japan and Australia. The decision to resume flights came after these countries reported high rates of vaccination at around 70% of their populations. China, another highly profitable destination, is expected to be back on THAI's scheduled passenger flight network next year, according to Chai Eamsiri, acting executive vice president of THAI's Finance and Accounting Department. The company has set a target of cutting back up to 53 billion baht in investment costs by the end of next year. So far, it has saved 44 billion baht towards the goal. The cutbacks have resulted from continued implementation of more than 600 retrenchment and austerity programmes of all sizes. Among them is the downsizing of the workforce achieved by shedding 48% of employees to 15,300 from 29,500 two years ago. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2189343/thai-to-start-flying-to-high-jab-rate-countries

Having flown the New York to Singapore non-stop four times in each direction, I appreciate the flexibility that very long haul service offers. But there's a more important back story in the Bamboo news. Just last month,Vietnam Airlines took a step closer in establishing service between HCMC and the US west coast with a refueling stop in Hong Kong. Once these two carriers begin scheduled operations, Vietnam will be on its way to making the country another hub for southeast Asia air travel with frequent connecting service throughout the region. It's a long-term strategy for that lucrative positioning that can boost the nation's economy well into the future.

Real airplane. But I can fully understand how you were so easily fooled, Z. Both have wings and some green paint in the back. Don't worry, easy mistake.

From VN Express Bamboo Airways and SFO sign agreement to promote nonstop Vietnam-US flights Bamboo Airways has signed an MoU with San Francisco International Airport (SFO), aiming to bridge the gap between the two aviation markets and countries through nonstop commercial flights. On Sept. 24 (local time), a welcome ceremony for Bamboo Airways's first nonstop flight connecting Vietnam and the United States was held at San Francisco International Airport, California, U.S. Within the framework of the event, Bamboo Airways and SFO signed a Memorandum of Understanding. On the basis of the MoU, Bamboo Airways and SFO would deploy regular nonstop flights from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to SFO subject to U.S. government approval. Dang Tat Thang, CEO of Bamboo Airways said: "Active cooperation between BAV and SFO in promoting regular nonstop flights between Vietnam and the United States marks a turning point in the airline's history, proving a successful partnership between both sides. We expect this movement would bring direct benefits to both aviation markets, making a substantial contribution to the development of bilateral and multilateral trade, tourism, and economics, especially in the post-epidemic period." "We are truly proud to be the first airport in the United States to offer nonstop flights to Vietnam," said SFO Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. "This decision reinforces SFO as the premier U.S. gateway of choice, offering a world-class airport experience with seamless access throughout San Francisco Bay Area. We thank BAV for choosing San Francisco for their U.S. expansion, and we are committed to making this new service a success for both BAV and the customers they serve. Bamboo Airways' wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight QH9149 landed at San Francisco International Airport on the evening of Sept. 23. The flight took approximately 13 hours and 30 minutes, significantly shorter compared to current connecting flights between Vietnam and the U.S. The Quy Nhon Town aircraft has surpassed seven countries and territories, covering one of the longest routes in the world at nearly 12,500 kilometers. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/bamboo-airways-and-sfo-sign-agreement-to-promote-nonstop-vietnam-us-flights-4362767.html

From Coconuts Bangkok Postponed time and again, a ruling on the legality of same-sex civil unions was again punted today by the court. The Constitutional Court this morning postponed its ruling on a challenge that the legal definition of marriage – man and woman – violates the constitution’s equal protection clause. It now plans to render judgment on Dec. 14. The case was brought by Permsub Sae-ung and Puangphey Hengkham – who were together over 12 years when their marriage registration was rejected at Bangkok’s Phasi Charoen District Office on the basis that they were “a woman and a woman.” The couple filed a complaint at the Central Juvenile and Family Court to Section 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code – which specifies that marriage is between heterosexuals – because it contravenes the constitutional guarantee that every Thai is entitled to equal rights. The court’s ruling has been delayed many times since it was first on the docket, from December 2020 to April, June and then today. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/court-once-again-delays-ruling-on-same-sex-thai-marriage/

From Bangkok Post Special tourist visa programme extended The cabinet resolved on Tuesday to extend the Special Tourist Visa (STV) programme for one year until Sept 30 next year to woo well-to-do visitors. Deputy government spokesperson Traisuree Taisaranakul said the cabinet approved the proposal from the Tourism and Sports Ministry to extend the special visa programme for visitors' long stays from its original end this Thursday. The extended programme was intended to attract foreigners with high purchasing power to visit the country with their families and stay for 90-270 days. The visits would bring in money and support tourism and related business, Ms Traisuree said. The Tourism and Sports Ministry told the cabinet that over the past year the STV programme brought 5,609 visitors to Thailand and their stay caused at least 1.24 billion baht to be circulated. The long-stay visitors came from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Croatia. Their favourite destinations after their quarantine were Bangkok, Surat Thani (Koh Samui), Phuket, Udon Thani, Chon Buri (Pattaya), Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai and Rayong. Their stays averaged 90 days, Ms Traisuree said. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2189067/special-tourist-visa-programme-extended