More Omicron on the way
Stop sleeping and resume living, comrade kids.
It's Wednesday yet again, September 14.
New Border Dispute
The infamously long, drawn-out border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand is back on the top of the "Must Do" inbox.
 Extremely quick summary:
A new study of New Energy Sources claims there's a huge reservoir of potential fuel under a 6.5-million acre territory at the Gulf of Thailand junction between Thailand and Cambodia.
The ownership of the area has been argued for more than 40 years, without any progress. Since the Khmer Rouge left in 1979, "suggestions" by Thailand to continue border talks has left the potentially rich area without an owner.
[A similar dispute with Malaysia was "solved" in the 1980s with an agreement to share the underground riches.]
Cambodian energy ministry director-general for petroleum Cheap Sour said yesterday he's ready for more talks with Thailand on the territory.
Overlapping territory in the Gulf of Thailand claimed by Thailand and Cambodia.
The overlapping claims area (OCA) measures roughly 26,000 square kilometres.
BRIEFLY
26000 square kilometres equals
6,424,740 acres
10,039 square miles
THAILAND CORONAVIRUS
Highly contagious new variant detected
[In other words, the novel coronavirus continues to do what all viruses do.]
Thailand's junta-controlled Centre for Medical Genomics at Ramathibodi Hospital claims it has confirmed a case of a highly contagious, third generation of Covid-19.
 They are calling the mutation BA.2.75.2, a subvariant of Omicron.
 The CMD has officially warned of the need to prepare for a possible new wave of Omicron infections.
WATCH OUT!. It is super-contagious.
The Begpackers: Gimme one baht please...
https://thepattayanews.com/2022/09/13/viral-begpacker-photos-from-pattaya-beach-road-cause-polarizing-debate-on-social-media
Thailand's junta insists that within a year, every person of every nationality of every age will pay a 300-baht entry fee to enter Thailand.
Almost no one agrees with the concept or the programme, an open invitation to even more government corruption.
Bangkok Post editorial stages a rare confrontation with the junta:
Rethink tourist levy
After plenty of debate, soul-searching and warnings from the private sector, the Minister of Sports and Tourism has decided to go ahead with its plan to collect "Kha Yeap Pan Din" -- the 300-baht fee to be levied on foreign tourists.
 If five million foreign visitors come to visit Thailand once levy collection begins, then the government can expect to receive some 1.5 billion baht in revenue.
300 Thai baht is US$8.25, 10.75 loonies - or a combination.
Asian and Southeast Asian specialist Kavi Chongkittavorn writes a scene-setter for an upcoming summit and dozens of sideshow meetings.
Southeast Asia to host big powers in November
 For a 10-day period in the second week of November, the world's attention will be focused singularly on Southeast Asia. Current global chasms, big and small, will play out in Phnom Penh, Bali as well as the newly renovated Queen Sirikit Convention Center in Bangkok.
 Plenty of positive headlines as well as vitriol will be generated, as leaders of powerful countries and economies descend on the region.
