Srikcir

Here's real salivation: Fifty-two countries invaded by the Soviet Union / Russia Federation 1918-2015. https://www.numbers-stations.com/articles/soviet-and-russian-invasions-since-1917/ Three African countries (not including further invasion of Ukraine) post-2015 including support from Russian allies and Russian authorized mercenaries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Russia The smell of free countries is like honey to the Russian bear.

Phuket has about 25% of its population as foreign residents and almost 50% of its visitors are foreign tourists that it might as well have embassies with ambassadors instead of consul-generals.

Because some of the current traffic will be shifted to the new highways. But the overall amount of traffic has not been reduced with regard to air quality. Air pollution has been consistently higher in the Rama 2 highway arterial areas. Being resident in the Rama 2 area for ten years, I'd prefer a low-pollution light rail system similar to the new MRT elevated system completed in Bang Khae district along the No. 4 highway to reduce traffic volume.

Thavisin needs a loan for his digital wallet scheme while planning to build the world's tallest building the Burj Khalifa at 821m high, costing US$1.5 billion. Seems like questionable priorities. Maybe use building funds for free higher education or work skills that helps the Thai citizens be self sustaining.

Digital money is spent by those who otherwise cannot to make purchases, thus increasing consumer spending, a GDP Sector.

I vote to rename plaza Latitia James or Arthur Engoron Plaza.

As usual, looking at today's US government issues under POTUS Biden, one must go back through POTUS Trump's regime as it relates to the role of Inspector Generals (IG). "Trump’s Attacks on the Inspectors General: An In-Depth Assessment," By Christopher Yukins & Jessica Tillipman, June 2020 https://publicprocurementinternational.com/trump-igs-in-depth-assessment/ In actions taken over the past few months, the Trump administration has removed a number of federal inspectors general who posed political risk (of various dimensions) to the administration. the Trump administration took actions against five inspectors general in April-May 2020, and the common theme which appears to run across these actions: in each case, the inspector general under attack apparently posed some risk of political embarrassment to the Trump administration. On April 3, 2020, President Trump gave notice to Congress that he would remove Michael Atkinson, inspector general for the U.S. intelligence community. Atkinson had passed forward to Congress a whistleblower’s “urgent concern” regarding Trump’s dealings with President Zelensky of Ukraine. POTUS Trump readily acknowledged that he had removed Atkinson because of the inspector general’s role in passing forward the whistleblower complaint related to Ukraine. Trump called the IG report a fake report. "Not a big Trump fan — that, I can tell you." Fast forward to 2020-2024 and a GOP-MAGA controlled House controls IG nominations.

This ("elected") may be inexact and/or misleading. "Over 210,000 Thais have applied to fill 200 Senate seats: EC", March 3, 2024 https://www.nationthailand.com The Senate has 250 members of which only 200 will be available for "replacement." Who are the 50 "untouchables?" Former junta members or junta appointees? Replacement will be done by a "selection process," not an entire public election process per se. "Eligible candidates will enter the self-selection process within 20 categories wherein a candidate can only qualify for one category" as per EC oversight. "Once representatives are chosen at the district level, they will proceed to self-select at the provincial level." From the provincial level the selected candidates will go through a self-selection process at the national level. Then the top scoring 10 candidates from each of 20 categories will be appointed as Senators. Do any of these "self-selection" processes look like a democratic election process by the Thai electorate at large?

Versus bipartisanship with "minority coalitions." Thainess democracy at its best.

Vote buying?

To help save lives and injury, Thailand should provide new arrivals to Thailand a list of traffic laws that should be taken with a grain of salt or rice (ie., unlikely to be enforced). So at street level pedestrian crossings, it's stop, look 360 degrees, check any pedestrian signal lights, then run like hell while continuing to look 360 degrees.

Is a citzen of Ukraine considered a Russian national?

Reality can bite. "Will hydrogen overtake batteries in the race for zero-emission cars?", by Jasper Jolly Feb. 13, 2024 https://www.theguardian.com/business/ Batteries are already the post-petrol choice for almost every manufacturer. Batteries’ domination is likely to be extended as the money pouring into research and infrastructure addresses questions of range and charging times. Compared with that flood of investment, hydrogen is a trickle. Toyota acknowledges that hydrogen in cars has so far “not been successful”, mainly because of the lack of fuel supply, according to its technical chief, Hiroki Nakajima

Any CCTV at the resort showing her movements that final day when she left? Her last call probably was made at the resort as she was staying there. Maybe interview resort personnel about men she may have meet before her disappearances. Seems plenty of sources for a police investigation.

The now tallest Burj Khalifa building, start at 1:45 "there are narratives and statistics that you may have missed." one-third empty not intended for occupation, called vanity height" 71% used by humans Does the Thailand government really need to promote how vain it is?

Why not his choice to decide instead of a military state? Is not passivity a moral action in which one is defined by what they do not do versus immoral/unethical action?

If you pay attention these wars are mana from heaven for the US Defense Industry that contributes to the US economy through sales. Plus the US cleans out its overage stored military surplus by transfers to like-kind foreign nations such as Ukraine, thus saving billions USD in storage and maintenance costs. The so-called trillions of debt was created primarily by the GOP during POTUS Trump regime in permanent tax cuts for large corporations and wealthy political donors.

Not a serious issue and certainly affordable to any tourist spending on the order of 1,500+ baht a day while in Thailand. And not uncommon. For example, tourism in the Caribbean nation of Dominican Republic generates more than 15% of GDP. Despite tourist entry fee of US$10 that may be added to the air ticket price or paid at immigration and departure fee of US$20 usually included in airfare already. Tourist are also subject to Island VAT.

Thailand is in a position to actually strong-arm the Myanmar military junta to settle its civil war sooner than later. "Thailand is home to at least 2 million Myanmar workers, not including several hundreds of thousands of workers who have entered and stayed irregularly." Oct. 26, 2023, https://eastasiaforum.org No doubt Myanmar workers earning wages in Thailand that they couldn't get in Myanmar helps boost the Myanmar economy, especially in terms of consumer spending. If Thailand closes its border with Myanmar to prevent its economic gain from its workers going into Thailand, that might well collapse the Myanmar junta government. But such approach might negatively impact the Thai economy as a price to sustainable democracy in Thailand. If one considers the new Thai government as a cut-out for the Thai military power, for PTP the price of power to oppose the Mynamar military junta might be unsustainable.

Versus the Kingdom of Thailand unable to reach a peace agreement with the Malay Muslim insurrection over the last 100 years. Thailand should have zero credibility in expressing "deep concern" over another nation's civil war. Thailand needs to mind its own House first.

Lux is an imported product. Given Thailand's ever deteriorating baht exchange rate (more baht required in foreign exchange) since the 2014 military coup, part of the Thailand price inflation is due to Thailand's failing economic policies. Thai retailers get no benefit from higher import costs. Strengthen the baht, reduce inflation.

Not just a perception by Thais. "Tuscany, Italy: 'Rude' Russian tourists offered a lesson in manners," By Nick Squires, June 26, 2014 - The Sidney Morning Herald "As the summer tourist season approaches, Italians have a message for their rich Russian visitors - you may have money, but you have no manners." "Teaching uncouth Russians how to behave in a more civil way should not be construed as Italian arrogance, he said, but a way of gently shepherding tourists towards more culturally acceptable behaviour."

This appears to have been an issue since 2014 which means the recent surge in Russian tourism in Thailand is nothing new to perceived rudeness. "Phuket: Are Russians really rude?," By Anton Makhrov, February 15, 2014 https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-are-russians-really-rude-44624.php