internationalism

that's put in bad light commander of this ship, who had newly refurbished boat and sunk in just mild storm. She sunk 30km from shore, not 3km, as this article states. Looks, like he was underqualified or neglected his duties. Instead of engaging in taking care of his boat and crew, properly training them, he was specialising on fb in selling protective talismans. That post is from 2.12.22, but there are many more similar posts. https://www.facebook.com/pichitchai.kittyman/posts/pfbid02Mku4kbn7baPUWGKvqSmmTNEXNVnQ3gesbtKwHroWvuA5wwVUVDqP85GHWSsiR9jgl November https://www.facebook.com/pichitchai.kittyman/posts/pfbid0272mPqXzkpZGSByRH3KxvLazuhoBG6L16oGQGKKUj8csE3YteLWNLZfayM5nTPzadl

for the first few months only some 100k monthly are expected. Only 15 direct flights daily. With planned restrictions on travel those projestions would be reduced now

"Peter's" friend followed him or mistaken identity. Phra Tamnak looks like not the shortest way home, he likely meet somebody there/gave lift to Peter's home or somebody else he had met in the pub

"Although it’s true the health minister talked about a plan for vaccination certificates, he didn’t say when this would be brought it. Bloomberg picked up the phone and got this quote from the TAT: “Visitors won’t be required to produce proof of vaccination at this time”. that is from Richard Barrow fb published 2h ago. Nothing certain at that time

In 2019 thailand medical tourism was around $9bln so this 25bln thb is a small fraction Somehow they have missed to mention how many those tourists they do expect More likely figure 25 bln is from a thin air, random figure. Especially, if not compared to 2022 and 2019. some article I have just looked at mentions 2022 at $5.8bln. So projection for 2023 looks like only a small increase.

8th January is exactly 3rd anniversary the first covid case have entered thailand, that chinese patient was confirmed positive on 13th January. History repeating itself. I would think that once chinese plan their holidays and get airfare, they would comply with any thai rules which would happen of time they travel. PCR tests are $50, that is small in comparison to cost of invested in that travel. Just matter of timing with doing pcr tests, but can be also done at the airport just before departure - just matter of around $200 for fast test result.

open from plastic, put on sunshine for a few hours

move to the nearest governmental hospital. That's 10 minutes drive by ambulance with oxygen.

thai government might be taking some protective steps within near future - possible pre-testing, as some other countries already done. So those 300k prospective travellers from china in the first 3 month might be less than 100k per month. Too early to know now if and what scale of infection there might be. Local health authorities will be the best aware of infection and take action. I think it's too early to go into panicking mode. There might be coming better quality the second generation vax

"He also said that the captain of the ship, whose name has also not been disclosed" foreign press have disclosed already his name - Lieutenant Colonel Pichitchai Tuannadee. Bangkok Post spells his surname Tuennadee. But certainly it's not easy to find out his name, as it was a military secret. Why his commanders still do so? his fb is https://www.facebook.com/pichitchai.kittyman/ but there is nothing there since this tragedy. Looks, like his was specialising on fb in selling protective talismans. Part of profits were going to charities, underprivileged children and temples. But only part of those profits. That one is from 2.12.22, but there are many more similar posts. https://www.facebook.com/pichitchai.kittyman/posts/pfbid02Mku4kbn7baPUWGKvqSmmTNEXNVnQ3gesbtKwHroWvuA5wwVUVDqP85GHWSsiR9jgl November https://www.facebook.com/pichitchai.kittyman/posts/pfbid0272mPqXzkpZGSByRH3KxvLazuhoBG6L16oGQGKKUj8csE3YteLWNLZfayM5nTPzadl So he was more occupied with spiritual protection, than the real one for him and his subordinates. Possibly he was a religious nut, just looking at this fb page

"He mentioned Japan and South Korea where there are large numbers of infections but avoided mentioning China by name. ... He stopped short of jumping on the bandwagon in demanding PCR tests for incoming tourists from China. " As he hasn't mentioned china at all, he couldn't stop short of demanding PCR for chinese. Dr Yong does always follows the official governmental line on covid, he is a mouthpiece for their policies and their propaganda. He is always a yellow shirt supporting military rule. Wearing white medical uniform has nothing to do with following science in his case. I don't think he is related to china in any way, certainly is not payed by chinese embassy. He is just happy that his social media posts are enhanced by the governmental news agencies. I think that the link below refers to his social media post, but looks like it was google translated, so it's unclear in some parts. Yep, he didn't mention china at all, even as his post was about incoming tourists. https://newsdirectory3.com/mo-yong-reveals-5-things-that-should-be-considered-when-receiving-tourists-reiterating-that-thai-people-must-be-protected-from-vaccination/

"These are 15 day visas that cost 2,500 baht." That is not true. Visa on arrival is now 30 days since 1st October 2022. It costs 2000b.

parasite test should be done multiple times, minimum 3x. Chances of detection are low, 10-15%. Also occult blood 3x over time. No harm trying several different antiparasitic medicines. If there would be strong reaction it would indicate you do have them.

it was the very same environment minister who nominated DPN chief several years ago. That minister is the son of Banharn Silpa-Archa, godfather of one of the most corrupted clans in thai politics. In yesterday's Bangkok Post there is editorial "Root out DNP corruption" with details of alleged proof of bribery in range of 18-30% of different budgets. Audits of this department were tempered for years. Sure, that minister would be aware of corruption on that scale. So there are hundreds of officials implicated in this case, up to top of ministry. As to that whistleblower - he is charged with premeditated murder of Billy, Karen community activist in kraeng krachan park in 2014. So he is not clean as a whistle and likely just revange on his department boss, which let him down. Despite being charged with murder (the first charge in 2020 was dropped quickly), he is stil working at DNP as a civil servant, that against the governmental rules.

not all vax are available in some countries. That move is towards chinese tourists who have limited access to mrna vaxxes. Thailand is making astra zeneca and probably by now has a large surplus. I think china hasn't contracted that one as well. some countries started to charge for boosters. As I recall the moderna will start charging for mrna for over $100 from January, if the government won't cover that cost, so each patient will have to pay.

not related to this topic. looks like indian broadcast. They would try to attack chinese for anything, they are in an open war. I find all arguments in this broadcast exagerated

good PR move and way of getting rid of expiring stocks of vax. But at the same time encouraging tourists who are not vaccinated and without boosters, who are more likely to bring virus. As well as getting sick and hospitalised in thailand. If they are poor and don't have insurance and money to pay for treatment, they will burden hospital resources. Consulates and embassies usually refuse their citizens medical financial support, with exception of helping children. In effect healthy and wealthy tourists will skip thailand until covid situation is clear

overreaction on indian side. Unless they believe, that chinese will circumvent indian testing by using thailand for a short stopover.

it was the very same environment minister who nominated DPN chief several years ago. That minister is the son of Banharn Silpa-Archa, godfather of one of the most corrupted clans in thai politics. In today's Bangkok Post there is editorial "Root out DNP corruption" with details of alleged proof of bribery in range of 18-30% of different budgets. Audits of this department were tempered for years. Sure, that minister would be aware of corruption on that scale. So there are hundreds of officials implicated in this case, up to top of ministry.

in the latest poll they got 18% and pheu thai 42% (they gained 8% within the last few months). If that trend continues, move forward will benefit from voters switching from pheu thai, who voted now tactically (against prayuth and establishment ruling coalition). The problem might be with attempts to disband them just before or after election. The last time an off shoot of pheu thai was disbanded just a week before election for nominating princess Ubol as their PM candidate. Move Forward benefited from it as they were the only anti-establishment party left. Shortly after election Future Forward was banned for a 200mln loan from Thanathorn. After dissolution they lost some 20 parliamentarians - some banned from politics, some just switched parties. There also will be cases of article 116 sedition and similar articles charges thrown at Move Forward the most prominent candidates. That is planned for long time and likely to go. At censure debates they spoke about the corruption of vaccination program, elephant tickets at police, military involvement in rohinga mass graves and the other sensitive issues.

There are very few tourists from china to europe or usa, as it's a winter time. Majority are also not in mood to travel just for leisure now. I would think they are businessmen, traders, students, also family visits. So they have a real purpose to travel now, after almost 3 years border lock down. As chinese new year is in a week time, those travellers took extended leave. Some more wealthy are trying to escape wave of infections in china. Possibly to also get vaccinated with mrna, which suppose to be more effective, but not widely available in china.

That increase is seen in 22 countries and likely contained to their territories, that because they scaled down vaccination programs. Doctors should spot this trend within weeks and react. There is surplus of those vaccines in most countries, so they can be easily imported. That judging from my measles and the other vaccinations which i had the last year in thailand - most were very close to expiry date, as if, indeed, demand was lower then in the previous years. WHO had also a chance to step in earlier to mitigate this situation. All vaccinations temporarily boost an immune system, so they also give partial protection to covid. But most importantly prevent coinfection with covid. In some countries in Europe parents do organise measles parties, where kids are infected on purpose. That instead of vaccination, to give them lifetime protection.

"Jason (family name witheld) jumped from the smoking area after he decided not to wait for a loan from the US Embassy, which would take a week to be approved, to enable him to buy a return ticket home. He told Thai tourism officials at the airport he will ask for money from his sister instead but end up committing suicide. Jason earlier told Airport staff he suffers from depression and was given medicine, food and drinks." https://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish/posts/pfbid02a4arCrmoJ9CoinRBENCdYxQKGKf5NK8LvsGfJNZkLWdpgdaP8x16W5Ev1GeXCqyvl

very unusual this year was weather-wise. What is worrying more than cold weather is pollution, which cold weather traps during night and well into morning. Dangerous levels of pollutants are now from 8 pm to noon, so 16h closed windows and air purifier on full power

you don't have to have treatment at the top private hospital. You can do all at the governmental hospital where you were diagnosed.