Thailand is getting a new international airport
Fishwrap does not permit use of the term Happy Holidays.
Fishwrap, speaking generally wish all of you a Happy Chanukah, or Merry Christmas as is your custom.
It's cool that once again the this First Night of Chanukah falls on Christmas. Or lack thereof, but Happy and Merry in any case.
A good rule to remember for life is that when it comes to plastic surgery and sushi, never be attracted by a bargain.
I just have to take a step back from anything that makes me feel bad, because hating someone is tiresome.
-- Paethongtarn Shinawatra, prime minister, mingling with the Government House press gaggle.
FOLLOW-UP THAILAND POLITICS THAKSIN
Ung-Ing came out to the cluster and mingled and said that Paethongphoey doesn't bother her, why the heck should it?
But you could have done better than Paethongphoey!
Paethongpad
You even noted that I'm always read that phoey (script) off my iPad!
Joking, snacking and (apparently) adult bevs ensued.
Original story
Govt House reporters highlight PM's reliance on her father
FISHWRAP NOTES by Experience
This was a 'back to the future' moment for the Government House -- but a magnitude greater.
It was the first time since the May, 2014 military coup that any notion appeared of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
THAILAND TRAFFIC BANGKOK
Thai capital gets a new set of speed limits
Just noting: There's still no sign of less traffic or fewer jams.
In any case, there's a seriously confusing set of new speed limits -- effectively immediately, except on 13 "major roads" where the old 45kph speed limits are just fine.
The new driving regulations were brought in without public notice or hearings. They will -- and we quote on accounta we don't believe -- they will "improve traffic discipline and reduce road accidents in residential areas."
Upon careful review, these "new" limits are
- 60kph on all streets and roads, except
- 50kph anywhere Wat Phra Kaew (aka Grand Palace)
- No excessive horn-honking around the Grand Palace. [In a city of 15 million where there is approximately exactly no horn-honking.]
Thai minimum wage to rise next year
Which is just seven (7) days away, but workers will have to wait a bit longer
The permanent secretary for labour, Boonsong Thapchaiyut, laid out the basics:
Phuket and Koh Samui will have the highest minimum wage in the country -- 400 baht per day, about 10 U.S. bucks -- because they're simply tourist destinations with Thailand's highest cost of living. Chachoengsao, Rayong and Chon Buri provinces all Bangkok-adjacent, are part of the military dictator's Eastern Economic Corridor and workers deservc the 400 baht-per-day minimum.
The minimum wage of Chiang Mai and Hat Yai cities in the far North and South will be 380 baht, while Bangkok minimum-wage workers will be dur 372 baht. These also are close to 14.40 loonies.
Everyone on minimum wage will get a 2% rise starting January 1, or so.
Saigon has its first Metro
Well, sort of... it's mostly elevated, with 14 stations, and took 12 years to built. At one point the Japanese Sumitomoi workers downed tools to protest against the slow decisions of the city government.
For now, the 10 million residents of the country's biggest city are thrilled -- or at least they don't complain publicly.
Trips are free until mid-January when students and commuters will pay according to the length of their trips -- so, much like the Bangkok system which is being phased out.
The 19.7-km line (English translation 12 actual miles) runs between the venerable city-centre central market, and the weird administrative city-with-a-city Thu Duc, to the northeast, site of the city's main university and teaching hospital.
Thank goodness there was absolutely no corruption but the original price estimate of 17.4 trillion dong bloated to the opening-day estimate of 43.7 trillion -- call it, about 60 billion baht, about a billion-eight loonies.
Meanwhile... The Plan is For Hua Hin International Airport
It may open as soon as two years but there's much work pending, including even a proper runway.
Hua Hin currently enjoys four (4) incoming flights a week, all from Chiang Mai, all by Thai Air Asia.
You didn't ask, but "yes" major traffickers from Malaysia and the Golden Triangle will be delighted to fit Hua Hin International into their tangled methamphetamine, ice and heroin-trafficking methods.
THAILAND POLITICS PROGRESSIVE ANALYSIS
Allegedly 'progressive' party suffers setbacks
The young orange supporters have been battered black and blue by resounding defeats on their two favourite issues.
It has been a crucial lesson but will this People's Party learn?
By Saritdet Marukatat, columnist and ex-digital media editor, Bangkok Post.
The next general election is now the only way that the leftists can form a government.
Thais as world stars
The American soap-serial is about to begin Season 3
It will re-start in mid-February.
White Lotus 3 was -- as the band Carabao sang -- Made In Thailand, mostly at Samui and it has a couple of Really Big Thai stars:
Lisa Lalisa the K-pop Idol, in her first acting role, and
Lex (correctly spelt) Patravadi Mejudhon, who has starred in more movies than most people have even seen.
(Photos courtesy HBO/People mag)
USA CANADA MEDIA EUROPE
They can't help it! Their Narrative is Persistent
Cars. Flames. We should ban them, eh?
At least 2 dead and 60 hurt after a car drires into a German Christmas market
-- Also AP 'News', El Lay Times. ABC (U.S.) 'News', NPR, Youtube...
Well, it's not all about cars that are as malevolent as Christine because up there in the Great White North they have Flames that kill and burn, and we're not talking about Calgary hockey.
Flames target place of worship on Montreal's West Island.
Flames, we say! Spontaneous Flames and their blasted plots! Those Flames!
Did you guess that it wasn't actually Flames, it was arsonists who attacked a Montreal synagogue?
You probably did but only because you're smart enough...
Did you see that,
Beginning in September 2023, the Saudi Arabian government, its embassy in Berlin and a personal acquaintance Dr. Taleh Jawad repeatedly warned German security about (so-called) Taleb Al Abdulmohsen -- a hard-core Shi'ite terrorist, as well as a self-exiled Saudi rapist.
Since at least September 2023 [in reality, much longer] Germany police and security agencies have been far to busy than to deal with such reports.
