The campaign for prime minister of Thailand is now OPEN
Anutin starts his first public campaign to succeed Prayut
The massively wealthy junta loyalist Anutin Charnvirakul has been waiting for this for four years.
On the weekend, he was in Lop Buri province asking voters and party faithful for the chance.
Anutin is the leader of the Bhumjaithai (Thai Pride) Party.
He ran for parliament in 2018 on a single-plank platform: legalisation of marijuana. Which he got. For now, he is the token 'minister of health and welfare'.
https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40018612
Thailand's token 'prime minister' Prayut had nothing to say publicly on say on Monday. He dispatched his chief No.1 spokesladyperson to announce:
Thailand is ready for Apec
The main summit will take place on November 18-19 at the expensively renovated Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (sic) (photo above).
It will be Bangkok's first international show since the beginning of the plague in November, 2017. And Prayut had a couple of messages for his spokeslady to convey.
"I would like to ask people and all sectors to support the country’s hosting of Apec as this is a large-scale economic meeting comprising 21 member countries.
"Just don't ruin the country's reputation."
He wasn't really really "asking", he was warning troublesome and troiuble-making anti-junta, anti-coup, anti-Prayut, royalty-reform people to keep it at home and bottled up.
"We should learn a lesson. Do we want a recurrence?" of the unrest that disrupted an ASEAN summit in Pattaya in 2009.
Holiday time
To be honest, there are plenty of people who would answer "Hell Yes we want a recurrence."
Junta spokespersons said that the three summit days have already been declared a public holiday in the Greater Bangkok Area - no school, government offices shut, etc. Said his spokesladyperon Traisulee Taisaranakul:
"The special holiday is intended to ease traffic and facilitate travel by attendees and better ensure security for Apec leaders."
PHOTO: Workmen are still busy with the expensive renovation of the QSNCC renovation. The center was built for the 1991 meeting of Queen Sirikit's birthday and also the annual meeting of the World Bank Group and IMF.
Thailand sells its international tourist promotion... to Huawei
The Tourism Authority of Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a digital tech partnership with Huawei Technologies (Thailand).
They call it "Digital Transformation and Innovation Development for Smart Tourism". The amount of money that changed hands is not known, but the participants assure all that it will drive tourism via digital transformation and innovation.
The agreement aims to create a new tourism ecosystem and drive tourism recovery with a V-shape prospect while helping power the country’s growth in line with the bio-circular-green economy. (Meaning ESG, meaning a road to socialism.)
Huawei (Thailand) big shot Abel Deng said:
"Huawei is committed to leveraging advanced technologies to heighten TAT’s position as the strategic leader driving Thailand towards being a world-class tourism destination."
And, oh, Yuthasak almost forgot to mention: the TAT promises to promote 5G in Thailand, for everyone including foreign tourists, which is already totally owned by Huawei.
PHOTO: This is the TAT-Huawei quadrifecta claiming credit. Shaking hands: TAT phuyai Yuthasak Supasorn and Huawei (Thailand) CEO Abel Deng (looking spiffy as he always is). On the left and not even smiling, the junta's 'deputy minister of tourism and sports Napintorn Srisanpang. On the right, Jun Zhang, vice president of Huawei Asia Pacific.
BANGKOK FIRE ALERT
A huge fire broke out inside the Ministry of Energy in Bangkok around 12.35pm local time. Authorities are rushing to the scene.
WITH VIDEO:
Heavy rain to drench most of Thailand this week
Flash floods everywhere
The Thailand Meteorological Department said on Monday that the rain is being brought by the monsoon trough lying across the upper North and upper Northeast as well as the low-pressure cell over upper Vietnam.
The department has warned people to beware of severe conditions that may bring flash floods and runoffs. Ships have been advised to proceed with caution, while small boats in the upper Andaman have been advised to stay ashore until Tuesday.
Greater Bangkok
Monday and Tuesday: Scattered to fairly widespread thundershowers and isolated heavy rain.
Wednesday to Saturday: Scattered thundershowers.
Temperature: Lows of 24-28 degrees, highs of 30-36 degrees Celsius.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2363887/
East Asia diplomatic expert and writer Kavi Chongkittavorn sees a narrow chance for Myanmar. And a wide opposition.
ASEAN hardens position on Myanmar
The Association of Southeast Nations has published and issued a 29-page set of measures for the Tatmadaw dictators.
The murderous military regime under 'Senior General' Min Aung Hlaing has roughly three months to shape up. Or ASEAN will ship it out.
THAILAND TOURISM EMPLOYMENT
Severe staff shortages reported in Thai hotels
About 68 per cent of hotels surveyed said they are short of staff to cover all departments – including maids, receptionists, cleaners, cooks, waiters and technicians.
Hotels are especially in need of workers with service and language skills, said the association’s president Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi - the former hard-hitting second baseman and utility outfielder of the champion Bangkok T-ball team, Transpo Bears.
"Most hotels are under pressure from labour shortages in almost all departments, as related businesses in their local areas have yet to reopen," Marisa said.
She was citing results of a THA survey conducted on 118 hotels between July 17 and 25.
The survey found that only 33 per cent of hotels had raised their wages in a bid to attract staff.
https://royalcoastreview.com/2022/08/severe-staff-shortages-reported-in-thai-hotels/
CORONAVIRUS THAILAND
UPDATE
Tested positive using ATK outside of hospital:
31 July -to-6 August: 235,753 - average of 33,679/day
The country’s total caseload from Covid-19 stands at 4,607,451 – 4,554,502 of whom have recovered, 21,319 are still in hospitals and 31,630 have died.
On Monday
- 1,842 new cases in hospital
- 34 deaths
- 21,319 active cases
- 953 serious cases
- 2,015 recovered
And it's just like the 2019 WuFlu lockdowns, all over again
China's Hainan expands Covid lockdowns to more areas to quell outbreak
Tourist hotspot Sanya has become a nightmare for stranded tourists
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/china-hainan-expands-covid-19-lockdowns-outbreak-2866236
Chinese 'drills' continue around Taiwan
It seems that China [aka West Taiwan] has held its very last war game and live-fire exercise against the visit to Taiwan of Nancy Pelosi.
Air traffic around Taiwan returning to normal despite new Chinese drills
except
Beijing insists it will hold 'regular' drills east of Taiwan's median line
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4619259
but
The most popular current speculation/analysis is that China's war games last week weren't about Pelosi at all. They were feints that China will use in its coming invasion of Taiwan.
Taiwan accuses China of simulating invasion
Beijing maintained some of its largest military drills around Taiwan on Saturday - exercises aimed at practising a blockade and ultimate invasion of the island, analysts say.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/taiwan-accuses-china-simulating-invasion-military-exercise-drills-nancy-pelosi-2863601
Summary
Taiwan says Chinese planes, ships carry out attack simulation exercise
Chinese aircraft and warships rehearsed an attack on Taiwan on Saturday, island officials said, in retaliation for a visit there by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that also saw Beijing halt talks on security and other issues with the United States.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4618277
Now that Pelosi is out of Taiwan, the people who know things much better than you, line up to inform you.
Victor Davis Hanson: "The Chinese have done and will do a great deal of damage to America, but not nearly as much as America has done to itself."
Malig-Nancy Pelosi's Childlike Diplomacy Mirrors America's Childlike Posture Toward China
True story
This was the Number One top News Story About Thailand in the U.S.A. on Monday. Actual headline by the CNBC business-cable show and website::
This 41-year-old left the U.S. for Bangkok and lives a 'luxurious lifestyle' on $8,000 a month
[8,000 U.S. dollars is 286,000 baht in real money.]
The hero is Jesse Schoberg, who began plotting his escape from hometown Elkhorn, Wisconsin, when he was a teenager.
["Wisconsin" is a state in the U.S.A.]
Schoberg now calls Bangkok home. He relocated to Thailand in December 2021 and shares a one-bedroom apartment with his fiancée, Janine.
Story and Video at:
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/06/this-digital-nomad-left-the-us-for-bangkok-and-lives-on-8000-per-month.html
Sit up! Pay attention! If we are not careful, this is also our future.
Europe was warned. Over and over.
America's Brand New Very Orwellian 'Inflation Reduction Act' will take the U.S.A. there, faster
Are the lights going out all over Europe?
https://www.thenewneo.com/2022/08/06/are-the-lights-going-out-all-over-europe-trump-warned-them/
So totally obsessed. Priapically excited.
The editors of The New York Times have launched a tumultuous broadside against the most degraded, pathetic, hopeless, rancid, ugly, stupid, ridiculous, doomed and offensively anti-democratic country in the entire world. That is to say, the United Kingdom.
Tiny excerpt
'economically stagnant, socially fragmented, politically adrift'. The right's 'Brexit fantasy' is now a 'nightmare'; the country is 'corroded', it is 'unravelling', its economy is 'abysmal', and its people are 'dying in hospital' in their 'tens of thousands'. And all this is just a 'familiar nightmare' of 'chaos', 'crippling strikes', 'structural problems', and 'chronic labor shortages'. What's more, whenever we Brits do manage to raise a snaggle-toothed smile - for, say, the football - we are merely 'flag-bedraggled, drunk and delirious'; we are horrible crowds 'nourished by nationalism… roaming empty commercial streets'.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-is-the-new-york-times-so-obsessed-with-loathing-britain-
Original article
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/01/opinion/britain-brexit-truss-sunak.html
The author of the 'Guest Essay' is Britophobe, Richard Seymour, an obscure ‘Northern Irish Marxist' who writes a blog called 'Leninology', whose main claim hitherto has been that he once had to issue this piquant apology, after insulting a badly-burned Falkland Islands veteran. He is the author of 'Cold War anticommunism and the defence of white supremacy in the southern United States.'
http://www.leninology.co.uk/
Israel TV's shallow, irresponsible stunt
but
Is Islam Ready To Enter The Modern World?
Gil Tamary, a journalist for Israel’s TV Channel 13, sneaked into Mecca and reported from there in a ten-minute segment. It’s hard to overstate the stupidity, arrogance and irresponsibility of both Tamary and Channel 13 in doing this.
Mecca is the holiest city in the Islamic world. It is home to the Kaaba, the most sacred site of all for Muslims and towards which they face in prayer.
Mecca is barred to non-Muslims. In his clip, Tamary visited Mount Arafat where Muslim pilgrims gather to pray during the climax of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca each year.
What Is ESG? It’s a Leveraging Tool for the Woke Communist Takeover
"They figure, if the corporate world can be pushed to go full woke, then this will trickle down to the general public and influence our behaviors and thinking. Except, it hasn’t exactly worked out that way."
https://summit.news/2022/08/07/what-is-esg-its-a-leveraging-tool-for-the-woke-communist-takeover/
TECHNOLOGY
Pretty well all decent computer chips are made in or by Taiwan. []
Taiwan tensions threaten supply of semiconductors
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is the world's largest contract semiconductor maker.
"TSMC supplies chips to many industries, including the automotive industry. If its production is disrupted, the ongoing [semiconductor] shortage will get worse," said Mr Surapong.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/news/2363551
General Motors will give you $6,000 in cash, today, if you promise not to sue just because your Volt combusted spontaneously. [Jalopnik]
7,700 loonies or 214,000 baht in real money. On the barrelhead.
Speaking of EVs, how's the "EV batteries keep catching on fire" situation coming along? [Business Insider]
Not so good. One high-flying EV startup keeps having its EV batteries catch on fire at its factory.
Lucid Had Two EV Battery Fires at Arizona Facility in Four Months
PHOTO: Electric bus that had been in operation in Connecticut for two months. Send your "Hope You Get Well Soon" cards and flowers to the transit workers and a firefighter in hospital.
https://electrek.co/2022/08/01/jaguar-i-pace-catches-fire-another-bolt-ev-battery-fire-situation/
U.S.A. CIVIL RIGHTS
NORTH CAROLINA: AR-15s put in all Madison County schools to enhance security in case of active shooter.
https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/madison/2022/08/05/madison-county-schools-add-ar-15-rifles-enhance-security/10234037002/
SPACE EXPLORATION
A decade of curiosity: What we have learned about Mars.
https://www.npr.org/2022/08/06/1115919820/curiosity-rover-mars-nasa-space-science
First-World Problems