Suthep to leave monkhood and return to activism
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15
Bongino v Bondi - the first MAGA Crisis
Yeah, right. The Dems have meetings to scheme how they're going to sabotage Trump. Some public, a lot of them in secret. They're not discussing how they're going to make America better for citizens. They just discuss how they're going to sabotage Trump. Why do you figure long time Dem supporters like Carville and Dimon are telling the Dems to get back out of the weeds? -
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"Cloudflare" suddenly blocking access to website - any ideas?
Out of the blue yesterday I could not access a website I have used many times - and recently - because "Cloudflare" suddenly tells me "this content has been restricted" and puts a black screen so I can't log in to the page. Never happened before, and effectively only on the one site. I looked for actions, but moving round the world on the vpn and changing my IP, emptying caches, all the other standards did not work, neither did updating browsers or reinstalling (F/fox, Opera, google). I don't want to do data-mining or whatever, I just wanted to watch sport, like I did last week. I always thought this "Cloudflare" was just about verifying how many bicycles in a photo and the like, to prove I'm not Elton. Anyone else getting the cold shoulder from them? Or, it just occurs to me, is this some kind of virus? -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Sunday 13 July 2025
Land Bridge Falling Flat as Shipping Industry Remains Unmoved File picture for reference only. As the country navigates the current political uncertainty, one of its most ambitious infrastructure initiatives, the Land Bridge Project, is facing mounting scepticism from the very industry it aims to revolutionise. Despite government endorsements and preliminary studies, the proposed logistics corridor linking the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea is failing to win over shipping experts and investors. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1366566-land-bridge-falling-flat-as-shipping-industry-remains-unmoved/ -
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Accident Teenager Killed in High-Speed Crash with Lorry
Goodness me, it sounds like a comedy of errors. -
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Economy Trump Confirms 36% Tariff on Thai Goods via Truth Social Post
I have had worse floggings with wet lettuce leaves. -
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Transport Land Bridge Falling Flat as Shipping Industry Remains Unmoved
File picture for reference only. As the country navigates the current political uncertainty, one of its most ambitious infrastructure initiatives, the Land Bridge Project, is facing mounting scepticism from the very industry it aims to revolutionise. Despite government endorsements and preliminary studies, the proposed logistics corridor linking the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea is failing to win over shipping experts and investors. The 1.1 trillion baht project has been pitched as a game-changer, providing a strategic alternative to the congested Strait of Malacca. Plans include two deep-sea ports, one in Ranong and the other in Chumphon, a 90-kilometre dual-track railway and motorway, intermodal terminals and a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The first phase, estimated at 500 billion baht, was scheduled to begin operations in 2030, with full completion expected by 2039. The project’s appeal lies in its promise to reduce shipping times by up to five days and transform Thailand into a regional transhipment hub. However, veteran shipping operators and policy analysts warn the plan may be deeply flawed. “Numbers Don’t Add Up” Critics point to what they see as unrealistic projections and flawed logistics. Former Bangkok deputy governor Samart Ratchapolsitte dismissed the feasibility studies as overly optimistic, stating, “The numbers don’t add up. Real players in the maritime industry aren’t convinced. The Land Bridge could actually increase, not decrease, costs.” A central concern is the requirement for double handling of cargo. Ships would need to unload containers at one port, transport them 90 km by rail or truck and reload them onto another vessel on the opposite coast. “This process introduces delays and added costs,” one industry insider said. “It’s not as simple as moving boxes; it involves complex sequencing and scheduling. The supposed five-day time savings could easily be erased by cross-docking, customs and transfer delays.” Low Cargo Density, Low Enthusiasm The proposed route also lacks dense industrial clusters, making it unlikely that large volumes of cargo would justify stopovers in Ranong or Chumphon. Several ocean shipping companies have already indicated they would prefer the known challenges of the Strait of Malacca to the risks and costs of a new, untested system. Even among potential investors, enthusiasm is muted. Insiders say most of the interest is coming from foreign property developers rather than logistics firms, raising concerns that the project could devolve into a speculative real estate venture rather than the logistics powerhouse it aims to be. Legislative Roadblocks and Civil Opposition The project’s future is further clouded by political instability. Any disruption in the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition could derail progress entirely. The Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) bill, essential to the project’s legal framework, remains stalled amid vocal opposition from civil society groups. Prasitchai Nunuan, a key member of the SEC Watch group, noted that while government momentum has slowed, public scrutiny remains intense. “We will continue to monitor the legislation closely,” he said. Government Insists Project Is Alive Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has denied speculation that the project is dead in the water, insisting it remains in the design and study phase, with bidding expected by 2026. The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) has retained consultants to prepare environmental impact assessments and a business model. OTP director-general Punya Chupanit said talks were ongoing with potential investors from China and Dubai, including port developers and shipping lines. Still, no consortium has publicly committed. Vision or White Elephant? Thailand’s geographic location makes it a natural candidate for regional logistics dominance. Yet analysts warn the Land Bridge risks becoming another “white elephant”, a grand project that fails to deliver. “It resurfaces every election season, then vanishes again,” one analyst observed. “It’s more political bait than a viable logistics solution.” Whether the Land Bridge becomes a transformative infrastructure achievement or joins Thailand’s list of abandoned mega project, will depend not only on sustained political will, but on practical market demand. Adapted by Asean Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-13
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