Man United thrash Liverpool in opening Premier League exhibition opener in Bangkok
Good morning everyone, on this quite balmy Hump Day Number 121 of this pesky SARS Cov-2 lockdown.
No typo. This is Week 121 of the two-week lockdown to flatten the curve.
If you are not reading this, this is probably why:
 Giant sunspot threatens Earth as solar flare may cause blackouts.
https://www.space.com/giant-sunspot-size-3-earths-our-direction
Also
Today is National French Fry Day!
Just about every fast-food joint will give you FREE fries today, but most of them will have some sort of condition attached. Like, Red Robin has free fries, but you need to buy a burger first.
It is just 77 almost chilly U.S.A. degrees and a forecast of heavy afternoon rain in the Far East suburbs of Bangkok city.
But all fun and games and vaycay plans aside for the long-long weekend, no one has a successful plan to oppose the dread of Ms. Rona.
As you see in the graphic below, every day in Thailand has become just the same as yesterday.
'Health authorities' continue to yammer about getting another one of those booster shots because of all the virus variants and mutations. There are long lines at every vax-centre in every one of 77 provinces - but it's the virus that prevails.
Thailand ranks 26th in the global list of most coronavirus cases.
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017616
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2344527/
It's so big, they've given it a dinosaur name.
Gentle reminder: India is the biggest source of tourists to Thailand.
 And now: New coronavirus mutant raises concerns in India and beyond.
 "Scientists say the variant - called BA.2.75 - may be able to spread rapidly and get around immunity from vaccines and previous infection.
 It's unclear whether it could cause more serious disease than other omicron mutations, including the globally prominent BA.5."
Centaurus has recently risen to prominence in India, competing with the BA.5 Omicron subvariant that is sweeping the globe.
BA.2.75 has been reported in "about 10 other countries" and has not been declared a variant of concern, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, WHO's chief scientist, said.
https://fortune.com/2022/07/07/what-is-centaurus-ba275-new-stealth-omicron-covid-subvariant-cdc/
Aside from India, the mutation has been detected in Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and the U.K.
Masks, booster shots still best protection
Most Covid-19 patients in Bangkok this month have been infected with the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.
Just FYI, 78% of those victims are foreign tourists who carried it into Thailand. Thanks, guys.
Supakit said 164 patients infected with BA.4/5 subvariants in Bangkok have shown mild symptoms, while 10 patients have developed severe symptoms.
"It is clear that Omicron BA.4/5 infections in Thailand are likely to surge," he said.
PHOTO: Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the department of medical sciences, smiles behind his mask.
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40017620
'Get yer shots,' they said. Well okay. I guess.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has demonstrated that people who are triple-vaccinated (boosted) against COVID recover significantly more slowly from COVID infection and remain contagious for longer than people who are not vaccinated at all.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/356245
Heckuva good question. Heckuva good.
Why isn't this a bigger story? A much, Much bigger story?
Protests Rage As Chinese Banks Won't Let People Withdraw Their Funds
... Demonstrators were then escorted to numerous sites where they were forced to sign letters vowing that they would no longer protest at the bank.
https://dailycaller.com/2022/07/11/protests-rage-chinese-banks-wont-let-people-withdraw-funds/
[ASSOCIATED PRESS]
https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-china-beijing-bad852e21bc4c5fbbbcc3996ab4bce91
Also China
 China's lockdowns to contain Omicron snarled the global economy.
 Lockdowns to contain subvariant BA.5 could be even worse.
https://fortune.com/2022/07/11/china-covid-lockdowns-omicron-ba-5-subvariant-economy-shanghai/
We are told this morning of the fabulous advantage of being in a country with uncontrollable inflation:
 Weaker baht means a cheaper holiday in Thailand, says ATTA
That is the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), whose boosters believe and broadcast that much-needed foreign tourists are about to "flock to Thailand in coming weeks" because they get more baht for their dollar, euro, ringgit, whatever.
 "weaker baht will bring back foreign visitors as they need to spend less for the same amount of products and services," ATTA president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn.
Sure. One can hope the Chinese will return.
And apparently there are windfalls to be had by many hotels within walking distance of the Rajamangala National Stadium are booked out by fans of Manchester United and Liverpool FC, keen to watch the pre-season friendly match on Tuesday evening.
https://aseannow.com/topic/1265651-bangkok-businesses-enjoy-windfall-from-manchester-u-v-liverpool-soccer-match/
A trillion here, a trillion there...
Thailand's ruling junta held a secret meeting on Tuesday and voted to build a 'smart city' at Huai Yai, a sub-district of Chon Buri province southeast of Bangkok - near Pattaya City.
Prayut and other junta generals and supporters said the smart city will cost 1.34 trillion with-a-t Thai baht in real money, about US$36.9 billion - 48 billion loonies.
Huai Yai is massively under-developed, and popular with local tourists. Prayut and Company believe their Smart City will be the centre of the Eastern Economic Corridor, still under development.
PHOTO: The decidedly un-smart city of Bangkok.
https://www.businesslive.co.za/bloomberg/news/2022-07-11-thailand-gives-nod-for-37bn-smart-city/
BLOOMBERG: https://bityl.co/DCaz
[Joke of the Day for Wednesday]
Movie director disappears - in Myanmar
Well-known cinema director  Ramai "Danny" Moriphan has been abducted and disappeared inside the territory of the world's largest meth cartel.
Ramai's mother told police she has got notes and video via the United Wa State Army (UESA), demanding 24 million baht in ransom payment.
Junta officials including loyalist foreign minister Don Pramudvinai have also received the ransom demand.
Ramai was disappeared last month when he met cartel members at the Myanmar border town of Tichilek.
PHOTO: A picture and note sent to Ramai's mother, the film director pleaded for his freedom. (Photo via Facebook)
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2344257/
Man U 4-0 Liverpool
Manchester United thrashed arch-rivals Liverpool in their pre-season friendly
There were four goal scorers as Erik ten Hag got a perfect start to the exhibition season, in his first match in charge of United - Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial, Facundo Pellistri - and a brilliant chip from Fred!
Liverpool (in white) looked jaded and on the back foot for much of the match against a United team with superior fitness.
"I'm satisfied today," Ten Hag told MUTV. "It was a team with a great spirit and we know we are just getting started."
https://bityl.co/DCRU
Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok was packed for the match - 65,000 fans.
Meanwhile, the junta warned against close contact and demanded social distancing. Which were impossible.
Well, it's about bloody time. This is the 21st century, you know!
First Laser Weapon For A Fighter Delivered To The U.S. Air Force.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/first-laser-weapon-for-a-fighter-delivered-to-the-air-force
So, kind of like 'you can vote before you're educated', right?
U.S.A. - Arizona says you can start teaching before you earn a degree.
https://www.joannejacobs.com/post/arizona-you-can-start-teaching-before-you-earn-a-degree
Canadian citizens, and the nation of Canada itself, are frequently libeled and slandered as 'NICE'.
But in Canada's little (damned cold) town of Sudbury (pop. 165,000, slightly larger than Pattaya)...
https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/protesters-scream-obscenities-at-trudeau-goodall-5560327
BREAKING Exclusive
Confirmed: Justin Trudeau is not Chinese.
