Prayut to soldiers - No Ganja Here!
Hello kids. It's the last Saturday morning of the sixth month of 2022 - June 25. And only exactly precisely 6 months to Christmas.
Work continued on Friday to weaken, mitigate and defeat the Chinese SARS Cov2 novel coronavirus but nothing much happened.
It is going to kill us all again.
CORONAVIRUS BANGKOK
Two important developments in the Thai capital city:
1. The junta has shut down all greater Bangkok offices of its Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
2. The last edict of the CCSA: If you're in Bangkok, and you're outdoors and you are fully vaccinated and carrying your vaxxport: Take off your damned masks!
That is official.
As of today, the CCSA has no authority in Bangkok and its closest four provinces: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2333183/
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016976
New (popular) Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt on Friday banned all spontaneous public protests and demonstrations within the entire Greater Bangkok Area (GBA).
The only out is for protest organisers to apply at least 24 hours in advance to demonstrate at one of 7 sites chosen by Chadchart and civil servants.
"There is a need to clearly designate areas for public demonstrations so they can be peaceful and not affect national stability and public safety," the order read.
All such applications to stage a demonstration must include full detaila and ID particulars of organizers and expected attendees.
Police will marshal and control such demonstrations.
Chadchart claimed the new and unexpected restrictions as an addition to the unconstitutional ban on protests enacted by the eight-year-old ruling junta in 2016.
Mass public protests have overthrown Thai dictatorships since 1973.
https://bityl.co/CtBG
The newest ban on demonstrations came hours after anti-junta groups staged 're-enactments' of the 1932 coup against absolute monarchy.
Groups included Ratsadon, Thalu Fah, and We Volunteer.
Future demonstrations will require at least a 24-hour notification to the local district office so that related agencies could prepare for them.
Covid-19 strains spur fears
Sub-variants 'have spread from Europe'
The government is monitoring two new Omicron subvariants in Europe as Thailand prepares for an influx of international arrivals from next month when entry rules are eased further.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Wednesday Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed the Public Health Ministry to monitor the Covid-19 situation in Europe after cases of the two subvariants -- BA.4 and BA.5 -- were detected in countries such as Portugal, the UK, Austria, the Netherlands, France and Germany.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2331933/
WORLD LIVEABLE CITIES
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has issued a new, and extremely revised list of the worl's most liveable cities.
None was Bangkok or any Thai town, and the U.S.A. wasn't in the Top Ten, but Canada scored three.
And forget about New Zealand, where cities have (allegedly) gone TU.
CNN has a well-done summary and links to the full EIU report.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/economist-world-most-liveable-cities-2022/index.html
https://www.eiu.com/n/campaigns/global-liveability-index-2022/
No biggie.
The Rand Corporation stands firmly behind its surveys which show that the healthiest workplaces in Asia are in - Thailand.
https://www.rand.org/randeurope/research/projects/asia-s-healthiest-workplace.html
Prayut orders to the army: No ganja
Thailand's self-appointed 'minister of defence' signed an order to all the Royal Thai Armed Forces on Friday not to use cannabis. Ever.
It is basically the same regulation that Prayut lived with during his entire career as a soldier.
Separately but related, Prayut's sometimes-flaky coalition partner pleaded with the Speaker of the Lower House of parliament to ban weed and make parliament a pot-free zone.
THAILAND CANNABIS DEEP SOUTH INSURGENCY
A political branch of the Thai Muslim communitry issued a harsh rejection on Friday of the Prayut 'goverment's' promotion of cannabis and hemp.
The League of Islamic Council of Southern Thailand has issued a statement opposing three draft laws being promoted by the junta.
The council also rejected the Prayut junta's support for a 'Marriage Equality Act' - considered by many to be a forerunner to an inevitable legalisation of same-sex marriage.
Sugarno Matha, the Prachachat Party’s MP for Yala, said it has already informed other political parties that practising Muslims should not have to follow any laws contrary to their religious or other beliefs.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2333328/
Turkey, Israel act to nab Iranian cells planning attacks inside Turkey.
So, just about the same as Thailand.
At least 8 Iranians and 'friendly Turks' were taken down in dramatic raids at the Beyoglu district of Istanbul.
An Israeli ex-diplomat and his wife were at the top of the Iranian hit list, but escaped.
The Iranian plot was to assassinate or snatch Israeli tourists in Istanbul.
Israel had issued a series of repeated harsh warnings to Israeli travelers in recent weeks to avoid visiting Turkey.
Early this month, Tel Aviv recommended that all Israeli tourists leave Istanbul immediately. That warning stated there was an imminent Iranian attack plot targeting Israelis in Turkey.
Pistols and silencers were seized from the accused Iranian-led force.
PHOTO: Part of dramatic video and photos taken during Turkey's raids on the Iranian groups.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/members-of-iranian-cell-planning-attacks-on-israelis-arrested-turkish-media/
RUSSIA UKRAINE GERMANY
Germany declares gas crisis
Statement accuses Moscoe of 'economic attack' on Europe
[REUTERS]
• German minister warns of 'rocky road' ahead
• Minister does not rule out gas rationing
• German government banned utilities from passing on soaring energy costs to customers.
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-enter-phase-2-emergency-gas-plan-says-source-2022-06-23/
U.S.A. CIVIL RIGHTS
The U.S. Supreme Court smacked down a New York law trying to restirct the right to carry guns.
 The ruling expands gun rights in states like California that have tried to ban them.
 The court said: Americans have a right to carry "commonly used" firearms in public for personal defence.
 PHOTO: The U.S. Concealed Carry and Home Defence sponsored a show of weapons for home defence.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61915237
https://www.city-journal.org/sizing-up-the-gun-bill
To be fair, there have always been a clutch of U.S.A. states opposed to civil rights for citizens. The U.S.A. fought a horrendously viscious civil war over the matter. And here they go again.
States with strict gun-permitting laws consider next steps.
https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-gun-politics-new-york-violence-kathy-hochul-ebe58ea297c154a25a62650dec935529
CHINA RUSSIA DIPLOMACY
Read now or wait for the weekend for better absorption.
China floats BRICS free-trade deal, while Russia's Vladimir Putin calls for an alternative to US dollar.
 Earlier at the forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the countries were exploring the creation of an international reserve currency based on a basket made up of real, roubles, rupees, yuan and rand, as an effort to develop an alternative for international settlements dominated by the US dollar.
https://www.scmp.com/economy/article/3182816/china-floats-brics-free-trade-deal-while-russias-putin-calls-alternative-us
THAILAND INFLUENZA
But this is new
Thai hospitals which are part of the National Health Security Office now have free flu shots for just about everyone.
That includes people who have suffered Covid infection - and show no symptoms after two weeks or more.
The free-shot programme will last until at least August 31.
Lots of details on who is elegible and who is at most risk, at
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40016983
Prayut skips parliament (again), nothing happens (again)
Exactly 8 years and one month after Prayut led a military coup, one of his faithful members of parliament tried to shame him. And (see photo below) it didn't work well.
The background: Prayut was scheduled, Prayur promised to show up and answer questions by the political opposition. And once again, he laughed it off.
Progressives were outraged or pretended to be outraged and demanded that Acting House Speaker Suchart Tancharoen to reprimand Thaksin.
Fat chance of that.
Suchart said that he had previously reminded the government, including the prime minister, that they should show respect to parliament and should respond to MPs' queries.
Case closed.
PHOTO: Prayut shows what he thinks of threats by parliament - as he discusses gender equality.
https://bityl.co/CsGv
Junta promotes gender equality
The official explanation for the above was that Prayut was extremely busy attending to details of gender equality.
For a start, Prayut promised that he would allow women (of all types) to help with economic recovery from Covid.
Because then, "women can realise their full potential as leaders."
The motto of the so-called summit: "Women Creating Opportunities In The New Reality"
IRONY ALERT: Prayut's coup in 2014 overthrew Thailand first elected female prime minister.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2332838/
https://www.facebook.com/GlobeSummit/
Womyn should be strong but not too strong
Today's Challenge: Who sponsors the Global Summit of Women?
Drugs are bad, kids. Don't do drugs. Also don't do tobaccy.
Because The Establishment gives people reasons to drink heavily. But now do Thailand. Please.
 U.S. death rate from alcoholic cirrhosis has tripled since 1999.
https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2022/06/20/alcoholic-cirrhosis-death-rates/4051655742156/
Related
We've seen The Lockdowns and the damage done: We asked teachers how their year went. They warned of an exodus to come.
 "I feel like at the beginning of the school year, I basically got second graders, because that's the point where they were in school full time," she said.
 "Though you're a fourth grade teacher, you're teaching kids who are emotionally at the second grade level."
https://www.npr.org/2022/06/18/1105655954/classroom-in-person-burnout-teachers-school-shooting-zoom-student-depression
CRISIS BY DESIGN: Biden's Cigarette Crackdown a Boon for Drug Dealers, Experts Warn.
https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/bidens-cigarette-crackdown-a-boon-for-drug-dealers-experts-warn/
You write that like it's a bad thing.
New Book: The End of the World is Just the Beginning: Mapping the Collapse of Globalization.
Review: Peter Zeihan is the Nostradamus of the twenty-first century.
https://amzn.to/3xTNnfO
Extremely related
Peter Zeihan: China's Rise Will Be Short-Lived
https://www.barrons.com/articles/china-xi-jinping-economics-rise-51655929850
DIPLOMACY
Now do Thailand
Step 1. Joe Biden nominates Elizabeth Bagley as ambassador to Brazil.
Step 2: U.S. Senate laughs pretty hard at the political nepotism.
Setp 3. Elizabeth Bagley is looking for a job, perhaps in the fast-food or housekeeping industry.
https://freebeacon.com/biden-administration/senate-shoots-down-bidens-anti-semitic-ambassador-pick/
Weird??? I have been assured for six years that this never happens. So what happened?
Woman Pleads Guilty to 26 Felony Counts of Voter Fraud in South Texas.
She didn't 'take part'; she was the boss.
Charges: three counts of illegal voting, seven counts of unlawful voter assistance, eight counts of returning marked ballots without consent and eight counts of election fraud - and assault of a rider on a bus last month..
https://slaynews.com/news/texas-cracks-down-women-pleads-guilty-to-26-felony-counts-of-voter-fraud-in-south-texas/
37-year-old Monica Renee Mendez, of Port Lavaca confessed to running a "voter harvesting operation" for the Democratic Party during a May 2018 Bloomington water board election.
PYRAMIDS STONEHENGE CONSTRUCTION
Wally Wallington of Michigan can life 20-tonne blocks. And he figures maybe this was the way prehistoric builders did it.
'I've used sticks and stones for my equipment.'
VIDEO 6 and a half minutes.
