reader

Just ask yourself how much you'd charge to provide the same service to others.

Suspended sentence due to age and health?

From VN Express The upcoming Tan Son Nhat T3 Terminal, backed by an investment of more than US$450 million, will showcase a design inspired by Vietnam's traditional dress ao dai and a green commercial complex. Continues with video https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/traffic/this-is-how-tan-son-nhat-s-new-terminal-will-look-like-4637485.html

From Pattaya Mail Pattaya’s tourism landscape shifts as Chinese visitor numbers decline Pattaya is facing new challenges as the flow of Chinese tourists, once a dominant force, dwindles. The President of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA) Boonanan Pattanasin, has highlighted the evolving dynamics of this popular travel hub on August 28. For years, Pattaya has drawn in millions of Chinese tourists, acting as a substantial economic contributor. However, recent stringent visa regulations and concerns about potentially unaccounted Chinese funds have triggered a notable drop in these figures. In the interest of curbing gray-market financial activities, tighter regulations and meticulous vetting procedures have been implemented, leading to a decline in tourist numbers. Boonanan recognized that this downturn can be attributed to a combination of factors, including decreased flight availability and rising airfares. This trend, affecting the broader Thai tourism landscape, is also influencing Pattaya. To combat these challenges, collaborative strategies have been launched involving public and private sectors, along with airlines, to boost flight capacity at U-Tapao International Airport and promote tourism during the upcoming high season. The shifting behavior of Chinese visitors is evident, with a growing preference for independent travel (FIT) over group tours. Nonetheless, group tours still constitute a considerable 40% of the total Chinese visitors. Despite this, Pattaya has witnessed a noticeable decline in Chinese tourist arrivals, which has left a mark on hotel occupancy rates. Pattaya’s situation is further complicated by its airport’s limitations. While U-Tapao International Airport serves as a gateway, its flight options are limited. Nevertheless, Chinese tourists remain pivotal to Pattaya’s economic fabric, supporting local businesses both as FIT travelers and group tourists. Recent tourism trends in Thailand suggest encouraging growth, with a steady stream of foreign visitors. Notably, Vietnamese tourists have spearheaded this trend, contributing to a 14.40% increase, followed by South Korean and Indian tourists at 9.27% and 7.17% respectively. These statistics bode well for the remainder of 2023, hinting at a robust visitor turnout primarily from the ASEAN, East Asian, and South Asian regions.

From Thailand News Agency BANGKOK, Sept 1 (TNA) – His Majesty the King has granted a royal pardon to ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, reducing his prison sentence from eight years to one year. The 74-year-old Thaksin returned to Thailand from 15 years of self-imposed exile on Aug 22. He was sent to Bangkok Remand Prison on the same day to serve an eight-year prison sentence for abuse of power and conflicts of interest. He was transferred to the Police General Hospital on the first night in jail due to his illnesses including chest pain and hypertension and has remained hospitalized since then. Outgoing deputy prime minister and justice minister Wissanu Krea-ngam yesterday disclosed that Thaksin’s formal application for a royal pardon had been filed. (TNA)

You might try: 1. Use a different browser 2. Clear your cache (depending on browser but usually found in "settings" under privacy and security options).

+1 Don't know how I missed that first time around.

Although it's indeed technically feasible, it's not practical. To accomplish it, each train has to return to the location where out-of-service cars are kept in order to add the extra cars. That means reduced frequency (or head time) as the schedule adjusts for the absence of those trains on the line. It also involves additional personnel costs to facilitate the change. The solution (as PeterRS says above) is to acquire additional carriages.

No doubt that the new PM got the idea for the 90-day visa from Vietnam which began offering it as an option Aug. 15. Since then, applications for e-visas have risen 70% with most coming from South Korea, Japan and the UK. https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/new-visa-policy-helping-facilitate-tourism-development-authority-4647925.html

From Pattaya Mail British consul reassures Pattaya expats His Majesty’s British embassy consul, Joanne Finnamore-Crorkin who is in charge of welfare work with Brits across Thailand, gave a well-received talk about her work to over 100 members and guests of the Pattaya City Expats Club. She pulled no punches and said she would not offer dishonestly to look into matters that were not the embassy’s concern. For example, the hot topic of British state pensions being frozen in many countries, including Thailand, was a political issue that could be settled only in the British parliament. The consul explained that all initial enquiries to the embassy are now transferred automatically – at local rates – to the London call center whose staff decide which to refer to consular staff in Bangkok. This is a worldwide system and is meant to ensure that all callers, no matter which country they are in, receive the same advice. She gave last June as a typical month: the London center received 823 calls about Thailand and referred many of them to the Bangkok British embassy’s consular section. Joanne emphasized that consular responsibilities have evolved over the last 15 years or so. For example, there are now many more British deaths here as the expat community ages and more cases concerning child welfare than in the past. The other main areas of welfare are hospitalizations, victims of crime including rape, missing and trafficked persons, sentenced prisoners and those awaiting deportation. She said that dealing with these cases was now the priority in consular work. Conversely, there was now less emphasis on notarial and documentary services, although the embassy did issue emergency passports, certification of passports for visa or other purposes and counter-signed affidavits for Brits wishing to marry in Thailand. She noted that applications for British passports and visas are no longer the responsibility of the embassy but are handled by VFS Global. In a busy question and answer session, Joanne confirmed that the embassy was very concerned about Brits with unpaid medical bills and there was a general discussion about the pros and cons of compulsory medical insurance. She also confirmed that consular staff were now in regular contact with city, tourist and immigration police as well as hospitals. A visit to a mortuary was now part of the training. In the afternoon, the consul visited the international law offices adjoining the Jomtien headquarters of Chonburi immigration bureau, led by Dr Jessataporn Bunnag. She met staff responsible for visa advice, training for driving licences and heard about the wide variety of civil and criminal cases being handled by attorneys. She was also introduced to the Foreign Workers Registration Center, housed in the law offices, which is responsible for the paperwork of thousands of guest workers from neighboring countries in Chonburi province. Appointed to her current post almost a year ago, Joanne expects to be Bangkok consul for the next few years. The appointment of a new honorary consul in Pattaya, to replace Bert Elson who has retired, is currently awaiting confirmation from London.

From Thai PBS World Thaksin submits application for royal clemency Convicted former prime minister Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who recently began serving an 8-year prison term and is currently receiving medical treatment in the Police General Hospital in Bangkok, has already submitted a petition for royal clemency. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said today (Thursday) that he has already received the request and will examine the details before forwarding it to the prime minister. Wissanu added that he does not know if it will be handled by this administration or the next. Procedurally, a prime minister will forward such petitions to the King. On August 28, however, the Thai Pakdee party submitted a petition to Corrections Department’s director general, opposing any attempt by Thaksin to seek a royal pardon. Anand Sakorncharoen, treasurer of Thai Pakdee, said that, the petition is based on the fact that Thaksin has four convictions for corruption, which gravely damaged the country’s governance and reputation. “Thaksin also evaded punishment for long time by fleeing abroad, clearly showing that he does not respect the country’s justice system. “Therefore, Thaksin’s petition for a royal pardon would “bother” the King,” Anand said. Thaksin’s petition, if granted, would be unjust and emphasise legal and social inequality in the country, he said. It would also confirm the axiom that, in Thailand, prison is just for the poor. Furthermore, the party noted that there are two pending charges against Thaksin in court, so Thaksin should be tried on those charges before being able to seek Royal clemency.

The government has to shoulder the blame for inept management. It appointed a succession of CEO's as political rewards. It wasn't that those leaders didn't realize the bad judgements they were making because they were all were also aware that they'd face no consequences for their actions. From CH-Aviation NACC ends Thai Airways A340 corruption case, drops charges 18.07.2023 - 02:00 UTC Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has cleared three former politicians of graft over the procurement of ten A340s for Thai Airways International (TG, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi) during 2003-2004. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, former deputy transport minister Pichet Sathitchawan, former chairman of the Thai Airways board Thanong Pittaya, and former Thai Airways president Kanok Apiradee all faced dereliction of duty charges relating to the aircraft's acquisition process, which was found to be corrupt and to have substantially contributed to the state-owned carrier's ongoing financial woes. Between 2002 and 2004, the then Thaksin-led Thai cabinet approved a plan by Thai Airways to buy four A340-500s and six A340-600 for THB53.5 billion baht (USD1.54 billion). The ten aircraft arrived between 2005 and 2008 and exited between 2012 and 2015. However, the quadjets accumulated losses of THB7 billion (USD202.1 million) in the first three years of operations on just two routes. However, in a July 12 media interview, Pichet said the NACC had told him it would discontinue the charges against all four men. Notably, the NACC's decision comes ahead of Thaksin's planned return to Thailand later this month after several years in exile abroad. Despite Thai Airways retiring the A340s between eight and 11 years ago, it has only managed to shift one of the planes - an A340-500 (HS-TYV (msn 698)) that went to the Royal Thai Air Force (Bangkok Don Mueang) in 2016 to serve as a VIP aircraft. Thai Airways has parked the three remaining A340-500s at Bangkok Don Mueang and the six A340-600s are at UATA!UTP. However, Thailand-based news outlet The Nation reported last year that the airline managed to sell an additional A340-500 and four A340-600s to an undisclosed buyer for THB350 million (USD10.01 million). Citing Thai Airways chief technical officer Cherdphan Chotikhun, the outlet said the price was above the aircraft's assessed value, the contract had been signed, and the parties were now awaiting Thai Ministry of Transport approval to transfer ownership. Cherdphan added that talks were underway with prospective buyers concerning the remaining four A340s. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/129786-nacc-ends-thai-airways-a340-corruption-case-drops-charges

That was the reason I suggested Heaven Sauna. It attracts mature Asians who'd probably find a man of your friend's description quite attractive. It's clientele isn't necessarily youngish guys.

From Thai PBS World Pheu Thai party leader quits Cholnan Srikaew quit as leader of the Pheu Thai party today (Wednesday), with immediate effect, to keep his pre-election promise to resign if Pheu Thai were to partner with Palang Pracharath, United Thai Nation or both in the formation of the government. Chousak Sirinil, one of the deputy leaders, is now acting party leader, until a general meeting is held in the next 60 days to choose a new leader and executive committee. Speaking at a press conference today, Cholnan said that, since the party has achieved its goal of forming a coalition government of 11 parties, it was the right time for him to quit, as he had pledged to do during a debate on April 28th. He said that he has no regrets, nor does he harbour any grudges for having to quit, claiming that he had done his job to the best of his ability since he was appointed the party leader on October 18th, 2011. Cholnan said that his resignation had nothing to do with his cabinet post or his status as a party-list MP. He was tipped to become public health minister, to succeed Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai party.

Saudia Airlines is looking to emulate it Mideast neighbors and get into the international hub business so they might be a potential buyer. But if the equipment is deteriorating, its main value to a prospective buyer like Emirates may be the value of its parts since Airbus has stopped making them. The ideal time to sell them was when Thai realized they didn't want them in their inventory which was years before covid hit. The carrier has always waited way too long to unload unloved equipment, deferring offers that didn't meet their elevated expectations. When they did sell, it was always at a price well below previous bids.

This 2017 article from the Bangkok Post describes what was suppose to be the solution to the problem: a $1 billion baht project to widen the bridge and rebuild the station with a dual track system by 2019. Inability to find a suitable contractor has been offered as the reason for the ongoing delay. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1303859/b1bn-for-saphan-taksin-boost

For sex, it sounds like he'd be at home at Heaven Sauna. Lots of Asian daddies and their admirers. https://gaytravelr.com/thailand/bangkok/saunas/heaven-sauna For a different vibe (if he likes this sort of thing) is Maggie Choo's. Every Sunday, Maggie Choo’s hosts a huge, elaborate gay party. From lip-synching shows, fancy costumes, and tons of dancing, Those who do not want to dance can instead opt to sit on the vintage leather sofas or simply lounge while surrounded by the 1930s Shanghai-themed décor. Open until 2 a.m. on Sundays. Maggie Choo’s, 320 Silom Rd, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok, Thailand, +66 91 772 2144 https://www.instagram.com/p/BQw07iFB3Mn/?tagged=maggiechoos&hl=en

From VN Express Vietnam has received 7.8 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of this year, putting the country on track to fulfil its this year's 8 million target. In August alone, international visitors to Vietnam reached 1.2 million, up 17.2% against the previous month, marking the second consecutive month when foreign tourist arrivals exceeded a million, according to the General Statistics Office. Vietnam has received 7.8 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of this year, putting the country on track to fulfil its this year's 8 million target. So far, South Korea sent the highest number of visitors to Vietnam at 2.27 million, followed by China (almost 950,000) and the U.S. (502,000). Nguyen Trung Khanh, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said the new visa policy from Aug. 15 will help Vietnam attract more foreign visitors and enhance the competitiveness of the tourism industry. There remains a lot of room for the tourism industry to spur its growth when it enters the peak international tourism season at the end of the year, he added. The peak season of international tourism season typically lasts from September until April next year as Western tourists flock to Vietnam for a winter holiday break. Vietnam's new immigration policy accepts e-visa registration from citizens from all countries and territories, with the visa valid for multiple entries and for 90 days. In addition to grating e-visas to all countries, the government also extended the duration of stays in Vietnam from 15 to 45 days for citizens of 13 countries unilaterally exempted from visas.

From Pattaya Mail A 27-year-old individual, known by the alias “Lee,” bravely recounted his unsettling encounter as both a young transvestite and an online sex worker in hopes of alerting others about potential dangers. Lee’s intention in sharing his story is to caution individuals against falling victim to a similar scam. Lee, who supplements his income by engaging with foreigners on a mobile application, shared his cautionary tale after an unsettling incident. Connecting with a foreigner through a dating app, he agreed to meet the individual at a hotel for a night. Initially, Lee did not detect anything amiss upon entering the hotel room. However, as the interaction progressed and clothes were shed, he noticed hidden cameras discreetly placed around the room. One was protruding from an unzipped bag, while another was positioned atop the television frame. Feeling uncomfortable, Lee moved to a sofa in an effort to avoid being caught on camera. Despite his objections and reluctance to engage in any sexual activity, the foreigner persisted in recording him. Lee clarified that his purpose was solely to secure financial stability and support himself. He made efforts to communicate expectations prior to meetings to preclude misunderstandings or conflicts with clients or hotel staff. Lee also indicated his reluctance to comply with certain requests and maintained discretion about his online work to sidestep potential customer conflicts. To safeguard himself, Lee covertly employed his phone to gather evidence of the hidden cameras. His primary concern is for others who might find themselves in comparable predicaments, and he urges them to remain cautious and prioritize their safety. While he acknowledges the limitations of legal protection in cases like his, he aims to heighten societal awareness to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

From Thai Enquirer Thai Airways International Plc (THAI) has announced that it was selling its fleet of A380 as it would cost more than a billion Baht each to fix the aircraft that has been lying idle for more than 2-years. The fleet of A380 were grounded after the outbreak of Covid-19 and THAI has a fleet of 8 aircraft. Globally A380 are being retired as A350 and Boeing’s 787 are starting to replace the 4 engine A380 that consumes a lot more fuel than the A350 and 787 that can fly the same distance but just on 2 engines.

The factors that most affect congestion are fully staffed immigration stations, ground staff responsible for servicing in arriving and departing aircraft, and, of course, additional gates. The latter may see some improvement next month when BKK's satellite terminal is scheduled for a soft opening. Rumor has it that Qatar has already started notifying some passengers departing late in the fourth quarter that they plan to use the new facility. This is a pre-construction view of cross section: From The Nation The Foreign Ministry is set to overhaul the visa system to boost tourism revenue from Thailand’s main markets, especially China and India. The move comes after Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met with the airports authority and airlines on Monday for talks on how to attract more foreign visitors. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is targeting revenue of 3 trillion baht from foreign visitors next year. However, Thai tourism operators have complained that lengthy and sometimes costly visa application processes are deterring travellers from Thailand’s top two overseas markets – China and India. Although the e-visa online application process is now available in nine countries – China, the UK, France, the United States, South Korea, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark – Thai operators say it needs to be streamlined as it is putting off Chinese tourists from visiting Thailand. Visitors from China accounted for about 28% of the 40 million pre-pandemic arrivals in 2019. Meanwhile Indian tourists still have to pay 2,000 baht for a 15-day visa on arrival. However, this restriction could soon be lifted after the prime minister signalled he wants to expand the list of visa-exempt countries. The Foreign Ministry recently held an online meeting with Thai consular officials around the globe to develop new strategies for tourism and other areas to boost the economy. The visa overhaul will also extend to Thais living abroad. This includes an upgrade of consular data, an e-Help consular app to assist Thai citizens, and the development of e-visa and e-passport systems, as well as a system to monitor overseas voting during future Thai general elections.

From Reuters BEIJING, Aug 28 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said on Monday that inbound travellers to the country no longer need a pre-departure antigen test for COVID-19 from Aug. 30.

From The Nation Phuket International Airport will begin welcoming taxis from all ride–hailing applications as of Friday, September 1, according to the Phuket Info Center managed by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior. The policy revision has been confirmed by Kirati Kitmanawat, President of Airports of Thailand (AoT). However, the new allowance comes with specific regulations and designated zones, the details of which are yet to be explained. This policy shift is a notable change from just 12 days prior when the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) publicized that ride-hailing apps Maxim and inDriver were still unapproved by the Department of Land Transport. The PLTO had also issued a notice outlining the requirements for app taxis to operate legally in Thailand. The AoT’s change in policy marks the end of the PLTO’s aggressive campaign against illegal app taxi drivers at the airport, a campaign supported by local police that began in February and continued until at least June. Since then, the PLTO has not commented on its crackdown against illegal taxi drivers. he announcement by the AoT President, as shared by the Phuket Info Center, has generated discussion among both tourists and taxi drivers stationed at the airport. Monchai Tanode, General Manager of Phuket International Airport under the Phuket branch of Airports of Thailand (AoT Phuket), confirmed that the airport was set to have an all taxi area but this was not expected to be realized until 2024.

From The Nation Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met with representatives of eight key airlines as well as Airports of Thailand (AOT) and Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) representatives to discuss the future of Thailand’s tourism industry. The meeting on Monday discussed the air traffic situation in Thailand and schemes to promote tourism during high season later this year. The airlines present in the meeting were Thai Airways, Thai VietJet Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Smile Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai Lion Air and Nok Air. The proposals presented to the premier and his economic team by the airlines, AOT and CAAT, were: • Boosting flights by at least 20% • Enhancing aircraft capacity to accommodate a higher number of passengers • Expanding efforts to attract tourists from large markets like China and India • Adjusting aircraft fleet to match tourism promotion. The government’s aim is to launch more travel campaigns next year, and the first step will be getting the airlines ready. Each airline said it would improve flights and routes if the government can boost domestic demand. The airlines are also willing to make tickets more reasonable.

According to the BBC, the popular Only Fans website earned a tidy profit of $525m, up from $432m the previous year. In the past year alone the number of creators on OnlyFans jumped by 47% to almost 3.2 million, while the number of users rose by 27% to close to 239 million. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66615008