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From Thai PBS World Anutin claims party was “double-crossed” in parliament over cannabis bill Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said today that his Bhumjaithai party had fulfilled its election pledge to decriminalise cannabis, but the party was double-crossed when its associated bill passed its first reading in the House, but has been blocked from further progress since. Responding to the government’s plan to reclassify cannabis as a Category 5 narcotic, Anutin insists that the party has scientific proof of the advantages of cannabis for medical and health uses, as he challenged those who are against cannabis to come up with credible information to prove the demerits of the substances. He disclosed that the problem with cannabis is that there is no law to govern its use, adding that the authority to delist cannabis from Category 5, or to relist it, rests with the Narcotic Prevention and Suppression Board and the Narcotic Control Committee, chaired by the permanent secretary of public health. Although he is no longer in charge of the Ministry of Public Health, the Bhumjaithai party leader said that he is still a member of the Narcotic Prevention and Suppression Board. In this capacity, he said he will provide scientific information to the board in defence of cannabis adding, however, that the board has the final say on the matter. Asked about existing cannabis retail outlets, of which there are now many, Anutin said that they are currently controlled by a ministerial regulation from the Public Health Ministry.

Being stupid means never having to say you’re sorry.

I’m under 20, tall, handsome and kind. Wanna’ fool around?

From Pattaya News A Russian tourist was arrested on Saturday, May 11th, after going on a reported rampage at a Pattaya hotel. The incident occurred at around 5 PM at an unidentified hotel in Soi 7 near Pattaya Beach. The tourist, who appeared to be intoxicated and in a state of mental distress, had been previously seen snatching a mobile phone from a local. After being captured and having his stolen phone returned to its rightful owner, the tourist suddenly became violent again and ran into the hotel, where he was apparently not a guest. He then barricaded himself inside a bathroom and began shouting and making a scene. Eyewitness Mr. Sitthisak Witthayaampon, 36, told The Pattaya News that the unidentified tourist was around 30-35 years old. Hotel staff called the Pattaya police who arrived and attempted to negotiate with the tourist, but he refused to cooperate. The police then decided to use pepper spray on the tourist, which successfully forced him out of a bathroom. After a brief struggle, authorities were able to take him into custody. The tourist, whose identity has not yet been released, is currently being held in police custody. He is facing charges of disorderly conduct and causing a public nuisance.

From Thai PBS World Find Thai woman's body in Taiwan The remains of a Thai woman, who is believed to have been murdered, was discovered on Friday in a wooded area in the port city of Keelung, on the north-eastern coast of Taiwan. According to a TVBS report, the victim sent a message to her boyfriend from her cell phone, asking him for help. The boyfriend and his friends managed to identify the location from where the message was sent and found the victim’s body in a ravine in a mountainous wooded area. They alerted the local police. Police found a cigarette butt at a public toilet, about 300 metres from the victim’s body. They suspect that the victim and her assailant might have engaged in a heated quarrel before the woman was stabbed several times and pushed into the 10-metre deep ravine. According to the latest Taiwanese media reports, police have already taken a suspect into custody. The victim’s aunt, Duangporn Changlek, told the media in Si That district of Udon Thani yesterday that her niece had obtained a three-month visa and travelled to Taiwan to work in a traditional massage parlour. After the expiry of the visa, she continued to work there illegally because of the good pay, enabling her to send home 4,000-7,000 baht a month for her children. She also said that her niece recently told her by phone that she had secured a new job as a domestic worker, but her employer was tough and barely allowed her to take rest. She added that she had advised her to find a new job. The victim’s mother, Pong-ampai Koptemanee, meanwhile, told the media that she talked with her daughter one day before she received a call from her daughter’s friends, informing her that her daughter had committed suicide. While shocked, she did not believe that her daughter was dead until she learned of it in the media.

From Thai PBS World Faced with modernity, makeshift barber shops along the streets of Vietnam are now dwindling in number. The few that remain, however, still continue to represent the old-world charm that regular habitués have come to love and enjoy. Along the streets in Saigon and Hanoi, many entrepreneurial barbers work day or night under the shade of a tree or an improvised canopy, snipping and shaving, often with little more than a few grooming tools, and a small mirror attached to the wall with a single rusty hook. They continue this trade that has, over the years, become part of a tradition which, by some accounts, dates back to many generations. These sidewalk barbers are not only experts in hair styling but also in entertaining their customers with their sense of humor. A haircut, both for men and women, are very important in Vietnamese culture. “Good grooming for us connotes having a nice and clean set of teeth, and a well-styled and nicely cut hair,” shared one local. Barbers operating in small makeshift salons along the streets of Vietnam are now a common sight where an assortment of daily activities happens – from eating and cooking to child rearing. In this part of the world, having a haircut out in the open is not something to be shy about. “It is part of the local tradition,” said Fritz, a long-time European customer, after having his haircut in one of these roadside salons. “I feel very relaxed, very comfortable. I keep coming back because they are my friends,” he said, referring to the barber and ladies selling foods and drinks nearby. He said that the people are very friendly and accommodating, providing relaxation and familiarity. “And the price is very affordable,” he added. Vietnam’s roadside barbershops, indeed, make up for the lack of the luxury and comfort offered in expensive salons with their friendliness and familiarity. In a spot where a lot of activities are happening, other services are also offered aside from cutting hair, such as nose hair trimming and ear waxing. Food and drinks are also available, along with the lively conversations with some locals and other customers. Continues with photos https://www.thaipbsworld.com/roadside-haircuts-and-other-street-side-treats/

Not al all sure of that.😀

From Thai PBS World Changwon, South Korea – A South Korean wanted in Thailand for his alleged involvement in the murder of a South Korean tourist in Pattaya has been arrested, the Yonhap news agency reported on Monday. The suspect was apprehended at his residence on Sunday evening and placed under emergency arrest, Yonhap cited the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency. Police had been tracing the whereabouts of the suspect, who is one of three South Koreans suspected of kidnapping and murdering a South Korean national in Pattaya. Thai police discovered the victim’s body inside a black plastic container filled with cement in a reservoir in Pattaya on May 11, after his mother received a warning from an unknown individual that her son would be killed if a ransom was not paid. South Korean police confirmed that one of the three suspects had returned to his home country from Thailand.

If only Olddaddy knew where Soi 6 is. 🙂 Keep in mind he "...has no idea."

Which route did your driver take from Tarntawan to Soi 4?

There' a very simple way to determine whether we can expect our date to be MB: ask ourselves if we'd have sex for free if our date looked like us.

I'm pissed. That's me in the orange. Wouldn't be caught dead in yellow! Don't know how the hell you missed Olddaddy in his flowing rose cape. Says there's room for at least two soccer guys under that thing.

I''d contact each one and ask them. As for marketing, One Spa has the best website in town where you can view all masseurs. https://onespa.love/

Have read several good reports on forum on this hotel. No reported problems with bringing someone to room.

You'll find numerous properties in that range by a simple Agoda search for "Silom Bangkok" hotels. The Bally Suite Silom near the Saladeang BTS station is among them. "Decent" is very subjective term when all you intend to do is indecencies.

From Malaysia Sun KATHMANDU, Nepal - Nepal has hosted its first international LGBTIQ tourism conference. Following the spectacular success of a legally recognized same-sex marriage in November, Nepal wants a piece of the multibillion-dollar pink market. "Forget about Nepal's skewed past. We now aspire to create more just and equal societies." "Let the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queer (LGBTIQ) have equal economic opportunities," urged Sunil Babu Pant, Asia's first openly homosexual former politician, at a conference in Kathmandu. A few years ago, it was typical to see police beating gay and transgender people on the streets. "After over two decades of legal fights, the law and society have finally embraced the LGBTIQ community. We're in the second phase, which requires equal economic opportunities." "For this, we need to attract LGBTIQ tourists worldwide," Pant said. The conference was announced following the successful marriage registration of Surendra Pandey and Maya Gurung, the first same-sex couple to be officially recognized in Nepal, on November 29, 2023, following years of legal battles. Their legally recognized same-sex marriage is the first of its type in South Asia and is a significant turning point for LGBTIQ rights. The decision of the court reads: "No one has the right to question how two adults perform sexual intercourse and whether this intercourse is natural or unnatural and that the way the right to privacy is secured to two heterosexual individuals in sexual intercourse, it is equally secured to the people of third gender who have a different gender identity and sexual orientation." In her presentation titled 'LGBTI Tourism Global Overview and its Contribution to the Economy,' Diane Anderson-Minshall, CEO and chief storyteller of GO Magazine, stated that LGBTIQ, or pink tourism, is a travel sector with a lot of wealth and spending power. She stated that "rainbow tourism" not only offers economic prosperity but also provides an opportunity to promote inclusiveness and empowerment within the LGBTIQ community. "By integrating them into the national economy, we create employment opportunities and contribute to the nation's overall prosperity."

From The Nation LGBTQ+ community Yellow Channel has joined hands with Bangkok Pride and ONESIAM to host “Drag Bangkok Festival 2024” for the first time in Asia. The four-day event will held at Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon, Bangkok from May 31 to June 3. "Drag Bangkok Festival 2024 would bring together over 500 drag artists from all over the world in one place, including drag icons from Thailand like Art Araya Indra, Jai Sira, M Stranger Fox, Angele Anang and Kana Warrior,” said Phatthara Lertsukittipongsa, director of Yellow Channel Co Ltd and the founder of the Drag Bangkok Festival 2024 and Bangkok Pride Festival 2024. “It is a great gathering of entrepreneurs, stores, actors and actresses who support the Thai Drag Community,” Phatthara said. He added that the event aims to reaffirm Thailand's position as a hub for LGBTQIA+ by raising awareness and understanding of drag culture and supporting Thai drag artists who have the potential to drive Thailand's economy like the other genders. Waaddao Chumaporn, the founder of Naruemit Pride and one of the event's organisers, said: "This event would be held under the concept ‘Celebration of Love’ to count down to the implementation of equal marriage laws by the end of this year." Waaddao said there would be a celebration, performances, parties and fashion shows by Thai drag artists domestically and internationally. The highlight is expected to be Thailand's biggest and most spectacular drag parade called “Drag Bangkok Pride Parade” with the theme “I've got the power” on June 1. Continues with photos https://www.nationthailand.com/life/entertainment/40037946

From The Nation Ganja growers fret over unsold stock The members of a community enterprise growing marijuana in Sakon Nakhon province said their dream of having a better life had been shattered due to stockpiling of unsold products. Even worse, they were worried about the government relisting cannabis as a drug, which would leave them in limbo. As the second anniversary of the decriminalisation of ganja approaches on June 9, members of a community enterprise growing marijuana in Sakon Nakhon said that things had not turned out as per their optimistic expectations. The community also made ganja tea from leaves and branches for sale. But members of the community enterprise found out that their products last year did not sell well anymore. They said several thousands of kilograms of their unsold ganja leaves had piled up. They said vendors no longer came to buy their products. Even if they offered to buy, they would lower the price to 1,200 baht a kilogram, the villagers complained. The members of the enterprise said the price had dropped and locally-grown ganja could not sell because some tycoons had cultivated marijuana in neighbouring countries and smuggled them into the kingdom. They said some Thai investors also had joined hands with their foreign partners to import foreign strains of ganja to grow and sell at much higher prices at the cost of the villagers who grew the Thai strain to sell. The villagers called on the government to come up with measures to help the villagers who had grown Thai marijuana instead of supporting foreign investors. They also called on the authorities to effectively prevent smuggling of ganja from neighbouring countries. The government should scan marijuana products in the market to check whether they were really cultivated in Thailand, they said. “When the government decriminalised the plant, it promised that farmers would have a better life, but now people have not even recovered their investment in greenhouses,” a villager said, asking not to be named. The members of the community enterprise said they disagreed with the government’s plan to relist marijuana as a drug, saying it would not really solve the issue and it would be a political game. They said when they started growing ganja two years ago after it was decriminalised, their ganja products sold like hot cakes. Ganja leaves fetched them 10,500 baht per kilogram and buyers had to book them months in advance. They could also sell ganja flowers to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine and a hospital in Sakon Nakhon to use as medicine. Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin said the government planned to relist marijuana as a drug as the number of youth smoking marijuana had increased by 10 times during the past two years. He said researchers at Chulalongkorn University had also found out that the IQ points of youth who smoked ganja had dropped by 8-9 points. Somsak said the Public Health Ministry also had its own figures about the side-effects of ganja smoking, but the data would not be released now. “I would like to see the Public Health Ministry remain neutral in this issue,” Somsak said. Somsak also advised those who had received permission to plant marijuana for sale, to stop planting new crops pending clarification of the government’s policy on the issue.

From Pattaya News Thai police found the body of a missing South Korean man in a plastic barrel filled with cement in a reservoir in Pattaya, following an investigation into a kidnapping and ransom case. The victim, identified by Thai police as Mr. Eui Jong Roh, 34, had been missing since May 7th after his mother received a ransom demand of 3 million baht from his kidnappers. The kidnappers threatened to kill, dismember, and sell Mr. Roh’s organs on the black market if the ransom was not paid by May 8th. Thai police began an investigation and interrogated the victim’s Thai wife (name withheld for her safety) and learned that the wife met Mr. Roh for the last time on May 2nd at a pub in the RCA area in Bangkok. After reviewing CCTV footage on May 3rd, police found two Korean men accosting and forcefully taking Mr. Roh into a car around 2 AM. It was found that the car in question was a rental car. They then headed towards Pattaya before changing to a new rental vehicle, a pickup truck, and rented accommodation near the Mapprachan Reservoir. On May 4th around 9 PM, CCTV footage captured the pickup truck leaving the accommodation with a black sheet covering its bed. Thai police found that the suspects had previously bought a plastic barrel from a local store. The truck then arrived at the Mapprachan Reservoir where the body of Mr. Roh stuffed in the barrel was abandoned in the water. The body of the victim was discovered on May 11th by Pattaya police. Authorities then interrogated a local store owner, 31-year-old Ms. Nitaya Janprung, who revealed that on May 3rd, a foreigner arrived at her shop in a four-door white pickup truck to buy a large plastic barrel, two rolls of nylon ropes, and scissors. The man did not show any signs of suspicion. CCTV cameras were able to clearly record him. An autopsy is being conducted to determine the exact cause of Mr. Roh’s death. Police are investigating and have not yet made any arrests.

Exactly, Moses. Hoping that you’d notice. I posted a ridiculous photo just as you did of a fat couple in attempt to demonize Americans. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. 🙂

Vladimir Putin has a new heavy to help lead his troops in eastern Ukraine. The Russian dictator just brought an obese general out of retirement to aid in his country’s battle in the region, after the loss of other senior officers since Russia invaded its neighbor in late February, according to a report. The beefy new military honcho, only identified as Gen. Pavel, 67, will lead Russian special forces in the region after the previous commander was seriously injured in an artillery strike, according to London’s Daily Star.

Corruption is so endemic in Thailand that the guy in charge of investigating it has now been charged with embracing it. From The Thaiger Corrupt former DSI chief’s 44.6 million baht assets seized An alleged corrupt former Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief experienced a significant blow as the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases sanctioned the confiscation of his assets worth 44.6 million baht. This development, announced yesterday by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation into Tarit Pengdit’s unaccounted wealth. NACC Secretary General Niwatchai Kasemmongkol disclosed that this is the second case of unusual wealth concerning Tarit, who has been held at Klong Prem Prison since the previous year. The initial case emerged in 2017 when the authorities confiscated a staggering 341 million baht worth of assets. These belonged not only to Tarit but also to his wife Wassamon, his nephew Piyaruek Atthakarnrat, and others linked to the company Piyathanawat Co, owned by his close circle. The current proceedings result from the NACC’s decision to delve deeper into Tarit’s abnormal wealth. The investigation revealed that Tarit possessed assets worth at least 53.5 million baht, the origins of which he failed to explain. Continues at https://thethaiger.com/news/national/corrupt-former-dsi-chiefs-44-6-million-baht-assets-seized

From https://whitepartyvietnam.com/ White Party Vietnam 2024, the premier international DJ music event, officially licensed by White Party Bangkok, promises to ignite the senses and inspire like never before. For over 8 triumphant years, White Party Bangkok has captivated audiences worldwide. Prepare to be immersed in a world of top-notch sound and lighting, meeting the highest international standards, complemented by visually stunning designs that will elevate the music experience to new heights, setting ablaze the visual senses and stirring the auditory soul. This will undoubtedly be the hottest music festival of the summer in 2024, taking place in the vibrant city of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. Mark your calendars for the nights of July 20 and July 21, 2024, as this electrifying event unfolds within the walls of Phu Tho Indoor Stadium, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City

From Pattaya News Fire Erupts at Massive Marijuana Plantation Warehouse At 10:00 AM, on May 9th, 2024, Mueang Chachoengsao police officers received a fire incident report at a massive private marijuana plantation warehouse in Mueang Chachoengsao, Chachoengsao. Mueang Chachoengsao police and relevant agencies were dispatched to the reported warehouse where four adjacent private warehouses were in an open area. The marijuana plantation and marijuana storage warehouse was where the fire first started. The firefighters were able to put the fire under control after about 50 minutes. No injuries or casualties were reported from the incident, according to the police. Initially, the Mueang Chachoengsao forensic and relevant officials would investigate the warehouses to determine the exact cause of the fire incident.

From That PBS World Following widespread complaints on social media, Thai Airways (TG) has admitted that there are faulty seats on eight of its aircraft and that they are working to resolve the problem by July this year. Representatives of the national carrier held a press conference today, after social media users posted numerous complaints about the recline facility on their TG seats being faulty. Chai Eamsiri, TG’s Chief Executive Officer, said that the eight aircraft with defective seats include four Airbus A350s and four Boeing 777-200ERs. He emphasised that the company has not been complacent about the problem and is in communication with the aircrafts’ manufacturers. As there are many airlines with the same types of planes, it is taking some timer to obtain spare parts and arrange service slots. Meanwhile, TG is implementing a temporary solution, by re-assigning the planes with defective seats to routes with lighter passenger loads, enabling them to block off the faulty seats until they are fully repaired. When asked why they did not do this sooner, the management claimed that they were not aware of which planes had this problem. For now, if more defective seats are found, the airline’s mechanics will try to service them on the spot. If they cannot be repaired and the seats cannot be swapped out, the passengers will be entitled to a compensation from TG.