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Well, they still have to shell out the $787m but get a deduction that reduces their tax liability. They still end up losing hundreds of million. Not a win by any measure and remains the largest civil penalty.

From Reuters Pita Limjaroenrat, Move Forward Party's leader and prime ministerial candidate, poses for a picture during an upcoming election campaign event in Bangkok, Thailand, April 22, 2023. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa By Juarawee Kittisilpa and Devjyot Ghoshal BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's opposition bloc should stick together to dislodge the military from politics and form a government after an election in May, the leader of a popular opposition party told Reuters on the sidelines of a packed campaign rally on Saturday. Thailand's election, on May 14, is shaping up as a contest between pro-military conservatives and the populist opposition led by Pheu Thai Party and its ally the Move Forward Party. Two governments Pheu Thai supported were overthrown by military coups, in 2006 and 2014. "It's very clear that the current opposition is the right answer for the challenges being faced by Thailand, not the military-backed party that staged the coup," Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, told Reuters backstage at the rally. Pita, whose progressive party is popular with young voters, sees the alliance with Pheu Thai as vital to beat Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha after more than eight years in office. Former army chief Prayuth first seized power in a 2014 coup and stayed prime minister after the last election in 2019. He is contesting the upcoming election but recent opinion polls put him behind both Pheu Thai and Move Forward, who maintained first and second places. Move Forward has a strong base among urban voters, including those who joined a youth-led protest movement that emerged in 2020 to challenged Prayuth. Pita said that support bases complimented compliment Pheu Thai, backed by the working class and farmers in the rural north and northeast. Pita said the alliance between pro-democracy parties was needed to overcome the outsized influence of the 250-seat upper house Senate, appointed by the military government before the last election, which will vote to pick the next prime minister along with the 500-seat elected lower house after the May 14 election.

From Forbes Fox $787 Million Dominion Settlement Tax Write Off Is No Surprise The $787 million settlement by Fox News and Fox Corporation to resolve the Dominion defamation suit made big news, but the tax news that this is a deductible business expense to Fox should be no surprise. It appeared that Fox was likely to lose the defamation suit, and likely would have had to pay much more in a verdict. That made the settlement a good business move. Some sources are expressing shock that this kind of liability could be a legitimate business expense. Compensatory settlements by businesses are clearly deductible if they arise out of the business being conducted. Fox clearly meets that test. It doesn’t matter if the conduct producing the expense is later viewed as wrongful. The only exception is for certain confidential settlements in sexual harassment cases. In fact, even punitive damages are tax deductible when paid by businesses. Tax bills have been introduced in Congress over the years to change that, but the bills never gained traction. Sometimes, even amounts paid to the government are deductible, despite corporate wrongdoing. For decades, Section 162(f) of the tax code prohibited deducting any fine or similar penalty paid to a government for the violation of any law. That includes criminal and civil penalties, as well as sums paid to settle potential liability for a fine. This sounds absolute, but the law is riddled with exceptions. To begin with, the rules cover only government payments, and some companies find ways to write off even the biggest payments.

And let us not forget the horror that is Myanmar where the profits from jade and drugs keep the powerful in control. From the BBC Children perish as bombs rain on resistance By Moe Myint, Grace Tsoi and Joel Guinto in London and Singapore "The earth shook," says cattle farmer Win Zaw, recalling the sunny morning last week when he heard a military aircraft approaching, and then an explosion. He didn't think it was his village - Pa Zi Gyi in north-east Myanmar - that had been hit. But when he phoned his wife, he learnt that the military had bombed the place where villagers had gathered for a rare feast of curried noodles, rice and pork. Their seven-year-old daughter, Soe Nandar Nwe, had been among them. He says he rushed to the site of the attack and tried looking for her among the carnage. "I searched for my daughter in the smoke, and through the charred remains. All I could think of was finding her." He was looking for any sign of her favourite outfit - a white, floral dress that she wore that day. But he says he found no trace of her, or his mother-in-law who had been with her when the bomb fell. Villagers later told the BBC that a military jet dropped a bomb where people had gathered for the meal, and then a helicopter gunship fired at the village for 20 minutes. Soe Nandar Nwe, 7, wanted to become a teacher Two years after a coup plunged Myanmar into a civil war, the country's military rulers have increasingly taken to the skies to reduce resistance literally to ashes. Last Tuesday's attack, which killed 168 men, women and children, is among the deadliest so far. Last year, the military struck a school, killing several children, and later that month, a bombing of a concert killed about 50 people. Between February 2021 and January 2023, there had been at least 600 air attacks by the military, according to a BBC analysis of data from the conflict-monitoring group Acled (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project). The civil war has claimed thousands of lives, displaced some 1.4 million people and left nearly a third of the country's population in need of humanitarian aid. The United Nations has said the regime could be liable for crimes against humanity and war crimes. Hnin Yu Wai was three years old Continues at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65295867

From AFP Cambodian leader Hun Sen's eldest son was officially promoted to the rank of four-star general on Thursday, in another sign of plans for him to succeed his father. Hun Sen has publicly backed Hun Manet to lead the kingdom in the future. Hun Manet, who is commander of the army, received the four-star rank at a ceremony attended by more than 1,000 senior military officials. Defence minister Tea Banh, who presided over the ceremony, said Hun Manet's promotion reflected his efforts "to serve the nation, military and Cambodian people". Hun Manet -- who was educated in Britain and the United States -- has been officially backed by the ruling party as a future prime minister, and has been active on social media in recent months to increase his public profile. The prime minister, who has wound back democratic freedoms and used the courts to stifle opposition, frequently characterises his children's achievements as the product of education and training, and rejects claims of nepotism. At the last general election in 2018, Hun Sen's party won every seat in parliament after the Supreme Court dissolved the main opposition, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) a year before. A court last month found Kem Sokha, a co-founder of the CNRP, guilty of conspiring with foreign entities to overthrow Hun Sen's government. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison and immediately placed under house arrest.

From Coconuts Bangkok The glory that was Pantip Plaza, circa 2008. Photo: Sergey/CC BY-SA 2.0 Zig-zagging up and down escalators to compare prices on hard drives and video cards while weaving past hawkers chanting “sexy movie, you buy.” Shopping for hardware, pirated software, and VCDs at Pantip Plaza was once a Bangkok rite of passage. That era formally ended two years ago, and now the former IT mall on Phetchaburi Road’s next chapter is reopening as a “wholesale food department store” called AEC Food Wholesale Pratunam. Pantip Plaza (really Pantip Pratunam, as there are also Pantips in Ngamwongwan, Bang Kapi and Chiang Mai) had been dead for about five years. It was wounded by the transition to online shopping and died after a THB300 million (US$8.7 million today) renovation that took two years, during which 80% of its IT tenants left and visitors fell 60%. When it fully reopened in 2016, they did not return. The owners of the 67,000sqm space have lurched between plans since. Asset World Corp. first announced in late 2020 that it had partnered with Chinese investors to turn it into the succinctly named “AEC Trade Center – Pantip Wholesale Destination,” some kind of marketplace it thought would lure online sellers looking for physical space. That plan didn’t survive the pandemic Yesterday, Asset World (AWC) announced that with its partner Yiwu (“the world’s largest wholesale market for miscellaneous goods from Yiwu, China!”) that the new AEC Food Wholesale Pratunam will be some kind of wholesale food marketplace when it opens later this year. AWC CEO Wallapa Traisora used the words “hub” and “synergy” enough times to doubt they are really sure what it will be. But with the nation’s largest corporate conglomerates signed on; from CPF and ThaiBev to Thai Union, Betagro, and Tipco; it really doesn’t have to make sense to make money. Asset World is the property arm of TCC Group, which like Chang-making megabrewer Thai Beverage, is owned by billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi. Its property portfolio includes the riverside Asiatique mall and Gateway Ekamai. ======================== From Coconuts Baangkok Thai brewfan ordered to pay massive fine for saying he liked a beer An ardent beer fan and advocate for reforming the nation’s draconian brewing laws was sentenced to jail time and a hefty fine today, all for posting a photo of a beer he tasted. The court said he “enticed” others to drink. Artie said that he negotiated the penalties reduced to six months and THB150,000. But he also must pay additional fines of THB5,000 per day for refusing to “correct” his posts as ordered. The suspended sentence means he will remain free if he abides by the court’s requirements. The police said that if he commits another offense within a two-year probationary period, his term will be enforced. Artie’s page, which has more than 70,000 followers, shows that he has continued to post similar photos of craft beer, with some of their labels blurred. He also uses his platform to promote opposition parties challenging the government in next month’s election. Artid “Artie” Sivahansaphan, who uses Facebook to talk about his love of Thai craft beer culture, announced this morning that he was originally given a sentence of eight months in prison, suspended, and a THB200,000 fine for illegally promoting beer by simply posting about one that he tried and liked. “I just posted a photo of beer,” he told Coconuts. “I made a page about craft beer, and posted a picture of this beer, and what it’s about, which is really normal. But in this country we have laws that prohibit us from talking about alcohol.”

From The Nation A 52-year-old Belgian man reportedly jumped twice from a condominium in Pattaya on Thursday morning, successfully committing suicide on his second attempt. The incident took place at 4.30am in Chonburi's Bang Lamung district. Police and rescuers found the body of Kris (surname withheld) lying on the ground next to the condominium. The victim is thought to have hit a garage roof, which was found broken, as he fell. Police cordoned off the scene for investigation while the body has been taken to the Police General Hospital Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok for an autopsy to establish the cause of death. Sombat Sasamrong, a 55-year-old security guard at the condominium, said the Belgian man attempted suicide twice. He jumped from the condo's second floor but was only injured after hitting the ground the first time, the guard said. He added that he could not stop the victim from picking himself up and returning for a second attempt.

From Tourism Authority of Thailand The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is organising the ‘Vijitr’ extravagant light-and-sound events across the five regions of Thailand between April and June 2023, in line with the strategy to promote meaningful travel experiences and the drive towards more sustainable tourism. TAT has scheduled to stage the ‘Vijitr’ extravagant light-and-sound events in the five regions of Thailand – Central, Northeastern, Northern, Southern, and Eastern Regions. Central Region: “Mu Light Experiences – Vijitr Mu-te-lu)” 29 April-7 May at ICONSIAM, Central Post Office also known as Grand Postal Building, and Wachirabenchathat Park (Rot Fai Park) in Bangkok Northeastern Region: “Vijitr Nakhon Phanom – The City of Happiness on the Mekong River” 27 May-4 June on the banks of the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanoms. Southern Region: “Vijitr – The Story of Nakhon Si Thammarat” 20-28 May at various landmarks in Nakhon Si Thammarat Northern Region: “Vijitr @ Chiang Rai: Wiang of Light” 20-28 May at various landmarks in Chiang Rai Eastern Region: “Vijitr @ Rayong: The City of Happiness in the East” 27 May-4 June at Mangrove Forest Learning Center, Phra Chedi Klang Nam, Rayong

Hard to beat LINE on the price.

If your heart's set on finding bottoms, I think you'll likely have your best results in the Saphan Kwai shops. Some shops post photos with "T" and "T&B" to help you identify bottoms. Don't hesitate to ask the mamasan (manager).

To get to Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong), take the MRT Blue line two stops from Silom station (5 minutes). This historic railway hub is worth a visit even if you're not planning to travel from it. To reach Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (aka Bang Sue station), take MRT Blue Line from Silom station to Bang Sue (about half-an-hour). As I'm not a regular Pattaya visitor, I defer to others on that question.

You already seem to have found some notable leads in your search. All of them can be easily reached by BTS and MRT. As for the Silom area where you're staying, you can simply walk around. You'll find many shops along Surawong and Silom roads. The largest concentration (six shops) is located on a short stretch of Siom Soi 6 just off Silom road after passing Bangkok Christian Hospital. My personal preference is to patronize the shops where you can view the masseurs in person. Most shops will offer clients the option of offing a masseur for an extra fee. But for the first experience with a guy of your choice I'd stick with an in-shop massage. Prices are reasonable. Some shops (especially in the outer districts like Saphan Kwai) display photos on line or by email request. And you can always use the site's search engine for more ideas.

From The Nation BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): Leading virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan warned that a new wave of Covid-19 has emerged in Thailand after the Songkran festival. Leading virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan warned on Tuesday (April 18) that a new wave of Covid-19 has emerged after the Songkran festival. Yong, who heads the Centre of Excellence at Chulalongkorn University, stressed the need to curb a resurgence of Covid, adding that it may come in the form of a new and more elusive variant. He said the new wave is expected to accelerate from mid-May before peaking in June and then declining in September, in line with seasonal patterns of respiratory diseases. Ten things to know about the new wave of Covid-19: 1. The latest outbreak is being driven partly by students after schools reopened, echoing an outbreak at the same time last year, he added. 2. The Covid virus strain has also undergone changes, Yong reported. A study of Covid variants in Thailand by the centre shows that Omicron BA.2.75 was overtaken as the dominant strain by XBB.1.5 (Kraken) in March. 3. However, the new and more transmissible XBB.1.16 strain, nicknamed Arcturus, will soon be responsible for most infections in Thailand. Arcturus infections are currently surging in India and at least 20 other countries. This strain spreads about 1.2 times faster than Kraken so will almost inevitably become dominant in Thailand. 4. Arcturus is believed to be no more lethal than previous strains of Covid-19. 5. Arcturus may cause slightly different symptoms – including conjunctivitis (red, sticky eyes) in children. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein, which increases the rate at which it spreads. 6. Care and treatment remains the same, with precautions urged for high-risk groups and children under two years of age. 7. Vaccines and resistance: All XBB strains including Arcturus are able to evade immunity given by vaccines. 8. However, vaccines still reduce the risk of severe symptoms or death from Arcturus. Long-acting antibody (LAAB) treatment is not effective in preventing XBB infections. 9. Booster shots to protect against Arcturus and other strains are recommended, especially for senior citizens and people with low immunity who received their last vaccine shot more than six months ago. Pregnant women should also get a booster. Covid vaccines will be allocated in a similar way to seasonal flu vaccines – before the rainy season and to combat rapid spread of infections. 10. The main Covid preventive measures remain the same. Hygiene and sanitation guidelines are still in place, including regular handwashing and mask-wearing in crowded areas. Covid- infected students should remain at home, and anyone infected with Covid should wear a face mask.

From Vietnam News In light of a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases over the past five days, authorities in Hà Nội have said residents must strictly adhere to mask-wearing guidelines established by the Ministry of Health. The People's Committee said there had been apparent lapses in compliance among the population, leading to higher risks of transmission, especially in crowded, indoor places. The measure covers a diverse array of locations, such as shopping centres, entertainment venues, and fitness facilities, and extends to both employees and patrons. Furthermore, it mandates mask-wearing for individuals using public transport, including drivers and passengers alike. Those attending crowded events or visiting popular tourist destinations must also adhere to the mask requirement. Over the past five days, Hà Nội has recorded the highest number of daily cases nationwide, averaging 96 infections per day. Among the hospitalised patients, 30 to 50 individuals are either elderly or have pre-existing medical conditions. At present, there are 566 documented COVID-19 patients in Hà Nội. Of these, 299 individuals with mild symptoms are being monitored at home, while two patients require mechanical ventilation. — VNS

From Richard Barrow Thai Train Guide If you are a seasoned rail traveler, you probably already know that you can pick up paper railway timetables for free at the information counter at most stations. However, there are now alternative ways of checking the timetables. You have a choice of checking online on the official website or by downloading the SRT Timetable Application for your smartphone [App Store] or [Google Play]. You not only get to see the times for the trains for each stop, but there is more information such as pictures of the seats in the carriages and also prices for each class. UPDATED: I also have copies of the printed version of the timetables released by the State Railway of Thailand in February 2023. Please note, other than the first train, only the arrival train times are shown. Some trains will stop only a minute or two at each station, but you might find that at some stations, the departure time might be ten minutes or more after the shown arrival time. SRT Timetables for Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal: Northern Line | Southern Line | Northeastern Line | Red Line | Red Line (Taling Chan) | Red Line (Rangsit) SRT Timetables for Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong): Northern Line | Southern Line | Northeastern Line | Eastern Line | Commuter Line | Nakhon Pathom Commuter Line | Other SRT Timetables: Maeklong Line NEW: You can also download a PDF of all of these timetables:. https://www.thaitrainguide.com/timetables/

From Bangkok Post

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Marine Disco at the height of its popularity. Marine Disco, which has graced Pattaya’s Walking Street for over 30 years, has finally bitten the dust according to reports by reliable gogo gurus Stickman’s Weekly Column and Dave the Rave. One of the largest music clubs on the strip, Marine Disco (pronounced Mal-ee in Thai) first opened during the 1970s Vietnam war and attracted large numbers of American servicemen on rest and recreation vacations. Some say the original location was in a different Pattaya venue. Marine Disco’s success continued into the 1990s as Walking Street appealed to newer markets of night owl travellers from Britain, mainland Europe and Australia. Columnist of the era, Bernard Trink, is believed to have coined the phrase “chicken farm” for the disco. But he was apparently describing the naive and hungry foreign customers rather than the smiling ladies on the dance floor or circulating round the seven billiard tables which were an unusual feature of the huge layout. In more recent years, Marine Disco began to lose popularity. Some said the location at the top of an escalator was a safety concern in case of fire, whilst others commented third gender persons had become too dominant under the flashing lights. But the key factor was likely the classy competition from neighboring clubs which have become more flashy and hi-tech with cream-of-the-crop DJs. The club even ceased to keep its Facebook page up to date. In the post-Covid environment, the foreign clientele of Walking Street also appears to be changing. In 2023, it appears to appeal mostly to Asian vacationers whilst the traditional customers such as holiday Brits are congregating on Soi Buakhao and Soi L.K.Metro in a different area of the city. The consequences of the awesome pandemic for evening entertainment in Pattaya are still unfolding.

Thanks for clarification. I think I was reacting more to the mention of sleazeball like Murdoch in same sentence as stand up guy like Buffett.

Agree with you about the court but I have to come to the defense of Warren Buffett. My initial small investment in Berkshire Hathaway many years back now help finance my BKK travels. Buffett, and his even older sidekick Charlie Munger, have continually displayed great acumen in finding good companies at the right price. Most readers may be surprised to learn that they have very likely flown on aircraft whose pilots were trained by Flight Safety International (a wholly owned BH subsidiary), the world's leading provider of commercial aviators in 135 aircraft types. And if you've ever enjoyed a Dairy Queen, you're helping the BH bottom line.

This photo from The Nation shows how the police managed to keep Silom Rd. open during Songkran by fencing off the traffic lane closes to sidewalk for use by pedestrians.

From Inhabitat Rainforest observatory provides a green space for Bangkok Bangkok, Thailand gained a rainforest observatory designed by HAS Design and Research. It’s called Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory. Bangkok has 6.99 square meters of green space for each person, according to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Unfortunately, this is less than the nine square meters minimum recommended by the World Health Organization. The Benchakitti Forest Park rainforest observatory aims to remedy this a bit, opening to the public in 2022 to create more green space for Bangkok residents. Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory is an architectural manifesto, according to its designers. The observatory creates more natural environment, expressing the demand of Bangkok residents for more green spaces for their city. Additionally, the project sits is in the center of Benchakitti Forest Park, surrounded by wetlands and trees. Flowers, songbirds and insects fill the park, which is already popular with locals. By creating an observatory here, designers have created a new way for people to get up close with nature in their environment while relaxing outdoors. Furthermore, the observatory is designed to blend in to its natural environment. It’s green and looks as though it is covered in leaves. The platforms extend out like a floating wetland island into the park amidst the tropical rainforest. Undulating forms guide visitors to the upper level where they can look over the park. The lower first level combines a water misting system to simulate a wetland environment with activities for people to enjoy, including yoga, meditation and family events. Nearly 100 smart boards were combined with four different green colors of sustainable paint to wrap into the forest seamlessly and with minimal impact. The light strips behind the smart boards come on at night to provide lighting while making the form of the building disappear against the background of the forest at night. HAS Design and Research says that Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory is not just a service facility, but more like a tropical rainforest itself. The structure provides shade for visitors and creates a gathering space for citizens that helps them connect with each other and nature. Lastly, we love the walkways with changing elevations that are disguised and softened by the green façade. Visitors can stand on the upper levels to walk along the park at a higher level for a beautiful view, or sit beneath the misters beneath the platforms to relax in the shade.

Good that you remembered to equip yourself with a ruler. Never thought of that 😉

From The Diplomat Yesterday saw the beginning of crossborder passenger services on the China-Laos railway, a move that presages the tighter integration of the two countries. The 1,000-kilometer rail line, which links the Lao capital Vientiane to Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province, was completed in December 2021, but crossborder services have since been limited to freight transports due to the barriers erected by Beijing’s severe “zero COVID” policies. The Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that the first train departed from Kunming South railway station for Vientiane yesterday, at the auspicious time of 8:08 a.m. According to a report in the International Rail Journal, the will be one train running in each direction per day, and the total time of the journey will take 10-and-half-hours, including two short stops for customs checks. First class tickets for the full journey are available for 760 yuan ($110) while second-class tickets are priced at 470 yuan ($68). The Laos-China Railway, which broke began construction in 2015 and marks the first extension of China’s high-speed rail system into Southeast Asia, is as a flagship of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Southeast Asia. The opening of passenger operations between Vientiane and Kunming has capped off a quarter century that has seen a remarkable demolition of distance in the borderlands between China and mainland Southeast Asia. For most of history, the rolling, emerald-green hills of southern Yunnan and northern Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar formed an almost impenetrable barrier to outsiders, closed to all but the most hardy settlers and traders, while the peoples that dwelt in these regions enjoyed virtual independence from the major lowland states. Since the end of the Cold War, and in a more intensive way since the first decade of the 2000s, transport infrastructure (mostly highways) has threaded its way through this terrain, prompting a reorientation of the region’s economy to the north. Laos, in particular, has seen significant flows of Chinese capital that have reshaped the urban landscape of Vientiane and other Lao towns, which now boast large communities of Chinese expatriates. Given the two nations’ vast asymmetries of size, the opening of passenger services between Vientiane and Kunming is likely to have a much more profound impact on Laos than on China. It will likely lead to a sharp growth Chinese tourism to northern Laos, particularly to the former royal capital of Luang Prabang, and to gradual a resumption of the Chinese expatriate presence that was partly interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All told, with the demolition of a formidable barrier that once kept Chinese economic and political influence at bay, Laos’ economy is increasingly bound to that of its large norther neighbor.

From The Thaiger The British Foreign Office issued a warning to both UK residents and expats in Thailand about a passport scam that is currently targetting British nationals in the kingdom. Fraudsters are attempting to capitalize on the recent strikes by government workers in the UK, which have caused delays in passport renewals, by promising to bypass the three-month waiting period for a fee. The scam involves fake websites such as UK-renewpassport.net and emails from similar-named sources promising to expedite the passport renewal process through international money transfer systems like Western Union, Pattaya Mail reported. The British Foreign Office is advising British nationals in Thailand who want to renew their passports not to fall into a trap and deal only with authorized application centres in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. The scams in Thailand are similar to those already identified by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) in the UK, where many Brits have been tricked into believing they can get bargain-basement air tickets or cheap foreign holidays. However, in Thailand, the scams appear to target expat Brits who specifically want to renew their passports quickly. The CTSI said… “This scam has arisen as people try to bypass the inevitable delays, but paying money online for special favours is a recipe for disaster.” The British Foreign Office website confirms that there is no fast-track service available overseas. The cost of an adult renewal is currently £127.51 (5,500 baht) for 34 pages and £138.51 for 50 pages, inclusive of courier fees. Local staff in Thailand will check the required paperwork before transferring and returning the original documentation to the applicant.

Remember the old stories about how bars in Bangkok would make up for fewer customers by raising drink prices? Well, airlines are taking a page from that tactic and raising fares and restricting capacity. Within the last 24 hours, US majors American and United announced disappointing earnings last quarter but said bookings are strong going into the summer while they are simultaneously planning to cut the number of flights. “We’re intentionally pulling back some of the capacity,” United CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC. “We want to make sure we don’t outrun our capabilities.” Nevertheless, he went on to predict that the airline should be able to get to 2019 capacity levels by the end of the year. Meanwhile, according to Reuters, "Chinese airlines undertaking the biggest hiring drives in more than three years as travel rebounds are facing a deluge of applicants for cabin crew roles as fresh university graduates turn to the relatively high-paying career in a bleak job market. In contrast to Western countries, where cabin crew roles are relatively low-paid and mostly do not require a university degree, becoming a flight attendant in China typically requires a bachelor's degree and preferably passing a challenging government-administrated English test." Excerpts from Reuters article (11 April) Carriers including Xiamen Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Spring Airlines are now on a hiring spree as domestic travel recovers and they plan to resume flights to popular international destinations. Hainan Airlines, which plans to hire more than 1,000 flight attendants this year, has already received more than 20,000 applications, it told Reuters. China Southern, which plans to hire 3,000 cabin crew this year, said it already had more than seven times as many applicants by the end of December. "There have always been a large number of young girls and boys who want to do this job, as the income is not bad, usually between 10,000 ($1,454) and 20,000 yuan a month, and it is fun, allowing you to fly around the world," said Li Hanming, an independent expert on China's aviation industry. In 2021, only 6.1% of fresh college graduates earned more than 10,000 yuan a month, the Global Times reported in February, citing education consulting and research institute MyCOS. Despite the surge in job seekers, airlines may find it difficult to deploy new hires immediately because of year-long ground training courses, which could slow their efforts to boost capacity quickly and keep airfares high, Li said. "Carriers have pretty bright forecast for 2024 so they need to hire crew members now, otherwise they will be short of hands next year," he added.