reader

From Pattaya News Authorities raided a Pattaya nightclub early this morning, detaining 39 patrons for alleged drug use after a violent incident allegedly involving the club’s staff attacking a Chinese tourist. At 3:36 AM on January 5th, 2025, Chonburi Governor Mr. Thawatchai Sritong, along with over 100 officers from the Pattaya Police Station and several other agencies, raided the Panda Club, located in the heart of Walking Street, following an incident over the New Year holidays when the club’s security staff allegedly assaulted a Chinese tourist, leaving the victim severely injured and still seeking medical care. Upon arrival, the team found the venue still open. Over 300 patrons, mainly Chinese nationals alongside Thai and other international tourists, were found drinking and dancing to the music. Authorities immediately halted all activities, turned on the lights, and stopped the music. Many patrons, unaware of the raid, continued enjoying themselves until officers stopped them and separated them into male and female groups for identity verification. The patrons’ identification cards and personal documents were checked, and urine samples were collected to test for drug use. Governor Mr. Thawatchai revealed to the media that the tests discovered over 39 individuals with positive results for drug use, though no illegal substances were found on the premises. There were no reports of any foreigners on overstay of their visa, which is also regularly checked during similar raids. The 39 individuals, including 19 men and 20 women, were taken into custody and transferred to the Pattaya Police Station for further legal proceedings. The police did not reveal their nationalities or the exact drugs the detainees were tested positive for. TPN media notes that the most common drugs tested for during similar raids is methamphetamine, ketamine, and cocaine. Cannabis is decriminalized in Thailand and not tested for. ======================= From Khaosod English Stranded at Sea: Tourists Forced to Pay Midway Through Trip KOH PHANGAN — Tourist safety concerns have emerged on the popular Thai island of Koh Phangan following social media reports of water taxi operators demanding payments from passengers in the middle of the sea. A social media post on January 4 detailed an incident where tourists were allegedly forced to make payments under duress during a late-night boat ride. According to the report, around 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, a group of approximately 20 passengers boarded a boat taxi to visit a local pub. The boat operator, who hadn’t disclosed the fare beforehand, stopped the vessel in open waters and demanded 400 baht per person for a one-way journey, refusing to continue until everyone paid. “The waves were strong, and we couldn’t turn back. Remembering the recent tragic incident where a Korean tourist died in a longtail boat accident, everyone felt compelled to pay,” the post stated. The post garnered widespread reactions, with commenters saying things like “Typical behavior,” “Are the police turning a blind eye again?” “This is practically piracy,” “These scammers are destroying our tourism reputation – they’ll be the ones complaining when tourists stop coming. Continues at https://www.khaosodenglish.com/life/socialmedia/2025/01/04/stranded-at-sea-tourists-forced-to-pay-on-koh-phangan-boats/

From Bangkok Post The temperature in Bangkok is expected to drop to a low of 15°C on Monday, lasting until Tuesday. Seree Supharathit, director of the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster at Rangsit University, on Sunday said temperatures were expected to drop over the next couple of days. Temperatures will fall by an additional 2-3°C, with the lowest in Bangkok and its adjacent areas possibly reaching 15°C. In the upper northern and northeastern regions, temperatures could drop to around 12°C. This cool weather is expected to last until around Jan 20, before starting to warm up. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2933371/bangkok-temperatures-expected-to-fall-to-15-c

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

From Associated Press Military-ruled Myanmar, already notorious for cracking down on free speech, has enacted a new cybersecurity law with wide-ranging controls on the flow of information, according to a text of the measure published Friday in state-run newspapers. Existing restrictions on freedom of expression under the ruling military have generally involved charges under broadly defined national security laws concerning online content. There have also been actions to block websites and apps at the network level, keeping end-users from accessing content the army doesn’t want them to see. Technology from China and Russia, the ruling military’s top allies, is used for monitoring and censorship purposes. The new law, which came into effect on Wednesday, has extensive provisions mainly targeting means of communications and providers of services such as virtual private networks — VPNs — that can help evade network blockages. VPNs connect users to their desired sites through third-party computers, effectively masking from internet service providers and snooping governments what content they are accessing.

Yes, and Dreamboy before that.

From CBS News Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared more than $400 million in assets on Friday, her party said, including more than 200 designer handbags worth over $2 million and at least 75 luxury watches valued at almost $5 million. Paetongtarn, the youngest daughter of telecom billionaire and ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, took office in September as the fourth member of the clan to lead a Thai government in 20 years. Paetongtarn, now 38, also became Thailand's youngest leader at age 37 when she took office. Paetongtarn was obliged to declare her assets and liabilities to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). She identified 13.8 billion baht ($400 million) in assets, a document posted on media websites showed. Her investments were worth 11 billion baht and she had another billion baht in deposits and cash, her declaration said. Her other assets included 75 watches valued at 162 million baht and 39 more timepieces, plus 217 handbags worth 76 million baht, as well as property in London and Japan among other holdings. She also declared liabilities of nearly five billion baht, according to the NACC document posted by local media, giving her a net worth of 8.9 billion baht ($258 million). A representative from the Pheu Thai Party confirmed to AFP that the figures reported by Thai media were accurate. Her father and predecessor Thaksin -- who once owned Manchester City football club -- has a net worth of $2.1 billion, according to Forbes, making him the 10th-richest person in Thailand.

Fourth victim dies From Japan Daily News A Japanese man in his 30s who was taken to a hospital after being injured in a recent fire at a hotel in Bangkok has died, the Japanese Embassy in Thailand said Wednesday. The man was staying at the Ember Hotel near the popular tourism spot Khaosan Road when the fire broke out on the night of Dec. 29, Thai authorities said, adding he had been unconscious since inhaling smoke in the incident. A Japanese woman in her 30s who stayed in the same room with him has also been treated at a hospital after she inhaled smoke, they said. The fire, which started in a room on the fifth floor of the six-story building, left three others dead -- a Brazilian woman, a Ukrainian man and an American man -- and several injured, according to local media reports.

Former Thaksin aide to marry LT partner From Bangkok Post Former red-shirt core member Jakrapob Penkair has invited former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to witness his marriage registration this month, an event planned to celebrate the enactment of the Marriage Equality Bill. Mr Jakrapob, who served as an MP and spokesman for Thaksin from 2003-05, said he and his partner, Supraipol Chuaychoo, met Thaksin on Friday at the latter’s home in Bangkok to personally extend the invitation. “Thaksin was kind and gave me advice on the matter, including the auspicious timing for the event. He emphasised the importance of respecting traditional customs when selecting an auspicious time,” said Mr Jakrapob, who returned to Thailand in March after 15 years He and his partner have been together for over 23 years, a period that mirrors the prolonged push for legal recognition of same-sex marriage in Thailand. He also credited Thaksin for initiating the idea of recognising same-sex marriage in 2001, though the effort did not materialise due to opposition. A bill to recognise the LGBTQ+ community was proposed in 2013 during the Yingluck Shinawatra administration but ultimately failed. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2932897/jakrapob-invites-thaksin-to-his-same-sex-marriage-registration

Since they are from ASEAN countries, hope it has none.

From Thai PBS World The Thai navy is ready to retaliate against Myanmar’s navy if they intrude into Thai waters and attack Thai fishing boats, according to naval commander-in-chief Admiral Jirapol Wongwit today. In response to a report that Myanmar’s patrol boats attacked a group of Thai fishing vessels, in waters off Ranong province, seizing one boat and 31 crew on Saturday, Admiral Jirapol said that the Royal Thai Navy will have to ask Myanmar about the incident, to determine where exactly the attack took place and whether the attack was an overreaction, adding however that, if the Thai vessels were fishing in the Thai waters and were attacked, the Thai navy could respond in kind. Spokesman for the Thai Foreign Ministry, Nikorndej Balankura, said that the Thai Embassy in Myanmar has been instructed to ask Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry for an explanation of the incident. According to Thai fisheries officials, the incident took place at about 1am on Saturday, when three Myanmar patrol boats approached the Thai fishing flotilla near Phayam Island in Thai waters and opened fire. Two crewmen were killed, a Thai and a Burmese. One fishing boat was impounded, along with its 31 crew.

Find the face masks distracting.

It's been successfully used for more than a decade. Have posted about it in the past.

I'm always surprised that more venue operators of all stripes don't appreciate how efective an English language version of their site can be can be. I chock it up to the fact that English is not routinely taught in public school system.

From Bangkok Post Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is working with the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation on adapting rainmaking techniques to combat the PM2.5 dust problem in the city. PM2.5 refers to dust particles 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter, long-term exposure to which is linked with chronic diseases including lung and heart problems. Experts with the department explained that rainmaking techniques, also known as cloud-seeding, can be adapted to create and maintain clouds, as well as create an inversion layer in the atmosphere at low altitudes to help absorb PM2.5 dust. An inversion layer is a layer of the atmosphere where the temperature increases with altitude, rather than decreasing as it normally does, which can be created by spraying water droplets as well as dry ice in target areas. Chadchart said that because of the high volume of commercial flights over Bangkok, it is necessary to coordinate with relevant agencies such as the Royal Thai Air Force and the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand to establish safe flight routes. While there are still limitations in certain areas, this is considered an important starting point, he said. The governor said a pilot operation on December 2 over Bangkok yielded a positive result in pollution reduction, adding that the city is planning to expand operational areas in the future, as well as explore new innovations to tackle the dust problem. “PM2.5 is everyone’s problem that requires cooperation from all parties. I would like to thank the rainmaking team and all the agencies that have selflessly worked with BMA on this issue,” Chadchart said. On Saturday morning, the BMA’s Air Quality Information Centre reported that air quality in 17 districts of Bangkok was below the safety standard. The centre reported the average PM2.5 levels throughout the city on Saturday at 34.9 micrograms per cubic metre, slightly under the country’s standard of 37.5 mcg over a three-hour average (5am to 7am). Five districts that reported the highest levels of PM2.5 were Nong Khaem (43.5 mcg), Khlong Sam Wa (43.4 mcg), Samphanthawong (42.2 mcg), Phasi Charoen (41.7), and Thonburi (41.1 mcg). The centre urged Bangkokians to wear facemasks when leaving home and avoid staying outdoors for extended periods. It also recommended city dwellers to reduce the use of personal cars and plant trees at home, which will serve in pollution absorption. Major sources of PM2.5 include traffic emissions, industrial factories, forest fires, and burning of harvest leftovers. Air quality can be checked daily on the AirBKK application, and www.airbkk.com, Line Alert, as well as the Facebook page of the BMA’s Environment Department. https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40044809

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Entry Travel Authorization (ETA) This will apply to the tourists from 93 countries currently taking advantage of the visa exempt, no-charge category: 60 days on entry plus, if needed, a further 30 days extension at local immigration for a fee of 1,900 baht (US$55). Currently, the only registration procedure is the post-arrival form TM30 submitted to local immigration by the hotel, condo owner, house master or tourist in person. Enforcement of TM 30 is selective and is a paper-driven bureaucracy. The new ETA will require a pre-flight or pre-entry submission by e-portal, but the Thai Cabinet has yet to endorse fully the details. If the Cambodian equivalent is any clue, these tourists will need to upload the ID page of their passport and provide details of the proposed Thai address, proof of entry and exit tickets and a phone number. A key advantage of the new system, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be possible use of electronic gates at Thai airports by using the ETA’s QR code thus bypassing an immigration counter. ETA is free but requires a new submission on every entry. The latest starting date for most tourists is June 2025, but that is still provisional. Tourist fee of 300 baht In spite of many announcements, the fee for stepping onto Thai soil (Kha Yeap Pan Din) has not yet been introduced. The 300 baht (US$8) fee would pay for limited insurance for short-stay tourists – mostly compensation for death or serious injury – and provide funds for improving tourist sites, e.g. installing or upgrading toilets. Some versions of the proposal reduce the fee to 150 baht if entering by land or sea, but a common charge is thought more likely. The delay in implementation is the difficulty of collecting the fee and deciding who is or is not a “tourist”. The most likely outcome later this year will be a pre-entry electronic payment linked to Krungthai Bank. Another possibility is linking payment to the “free” ETA. Critics say the whole fee exercise isn’t worth the effort and will lead to unnecessary confusion. Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) This five-year validity “Activity” visa was the brainchild of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, inaugurated in July 2024. More than 70,000 have been issued in many dozens of Thai embassies abroad. The ambiguity arises because the actual admission of visitors, together with extensions, is the responsibility of the immigration bureau which is part of the Ministry of the Interior which has never uttered a single word about DTV. Immigration officers individually have the right to challenge or refuse entry or extension irrespective of the visa category. The prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is known to be a firm supporter of DTV. Any significant changes to DTV policy is most unlikely to affect existing visa holders. The rest is guesswork at present. There will be feedback from late January onwards as early-bird DTV holders request extensions at local immigration Annually renewable retirement and marriage The “O” non-immigrant retirement visa and annual extension of stay is by far the most popular long-stay permit for those over 50 years. A former top police general Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn promised to reform the process by ending the scam practice of applicants using third party funds to maintain a bank account minimum, but nothing has been heard of late. Nor has there been any rumored change in the situation whereby the retiree OA visa (awarded at embassies abroad) requires ongoing medical insurance, whereas the O version (awarded at immigration offices in Thailand) does not. The “O” non-immigrant marriage visa for a longstay foreigner with a Thai spouse is used mainly by married men under 50. This is likely because the retirement alternative is available from that age and has a less onerous application and extension bureaucracy. An early change may be the admission of same sex marriages, available from late January 2025, into the visa system. However, the government has said that while the marriage ceremony becomes a legal entity very soon, there may be a delay before the regulations covering adoption, pensions and hospital care in terminal cases come into play. Elite and Long Term Residence Elite or Privilege visa lasts from 5-20 years with limitless multiple entries, if needed, and has perks such as fast-track immigration and discounts on shopping, sports and hotels. It has had a checkered history and has been threatened with closure on a couple of occasions. Until the end of 2024, the initial checking fee of 50,000 baht (US$1,500) had been temporarily cancelled. A new five year Bronze Elite visa is available until June 2025 at a knock-down cost of 650,000 baht (US$20,000). The majority of new subscribers to Elite are Chinese citizens according to the Ministry of Tourism and, with a grand total of over 40,000 customers, the future in 2025 looks safe enough. LTR is a ten year multiple entry which has several application routes including wealthy retirees (minimum annual income US$80,000) and business people and executives. The visa is sponsored by the Board of Investment. One of the attractions of LTV is apparent exemption from income tax due on overseas transfers of cash to Thailand. People in business can receive tax incentives whilst freedom from regular address reporting to immigration is a perk. No statistics have been issued as regards LTR applications, but an early report stated that the majority of successful applications were from the retirement category. Tax identification number (TIN) There has been ongoing speculation in social media that, starting in 2025, renewal of longterm visas will require holders to show that they have a TIN issued by the Thai Revenue Department. This is a very unlikely scenario. Many “tax resident” foreigners in Thailand for six months or more in a calendar year have no requirement to obtain a tax number based on remittances from overseas. They include foreigners who did not transfer any overseas cash in the calendar year 2024, or those who are (or will be) transferring savings in foreign bank accounts held there before on December 31 2023. Many Elite holders live in Thailand for far less than 180 days in a year but enjoy the travel flexibility given by the visa. For these and many other reasons, Thai immigration cannot equate visa eligibility with tax status. Nor will officers want to get involved. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/the-changes-to-be-expected-in-thai-immigration-during-2025-485839

https://bk.asia-city.com/events/news/best-events-bangkok-january https://www.eventbrite.com/d/thailand/bangkok/

From Korea Times Plane flew relentlessly before tragedy with minimal maintenance The Jeju Air flight 2216, which crashed in the catastrophic tragedy, completed its pre-departure maintenance in just 28 minutes, the official minimum time mandated for B737 aircraft by the Korean government. The tight maintenance schedule has raised concerns over whether the low-cost carrier (LCC) prioritized operational efficiency over safety, as the plane underwent an intense itinerary the day before the accident, connecting four international cities without significant downtime. The ill-fated aircraft operated flights between Muan and Kota Kinabalu, Nagasaki, Taipei and Bangkok, executing a total of eight departures within a single day, multiple sources said Monday. According to industry standards, planes require time for maintenance, cleaning and refueling between flights. However, on Nov. 27, the flight spent just 62 minutes on the ground at Muan International Airport before departing for Kota Kinabalu, suggesting that only 28 to 30 minutes were allocated for maintenance. One veteran mechanic with over a decade of experience working with B737 aircraft at LCCs said, “The 28-minute maintenance time is barely enough to check for cockpit warning lights and visually inspect the exterior for obvious damage. It’s essentially a walkthrough, not a detailed inspection.” https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2025/01/281_389392.html?utm_source=taboola

From Laotian Times Laos’s inflation rate dropped in 2024 to 21,3 percent, down from 31,2 percent in 2023, according to official reports. Despite this decline, the cost of living remained high throughout the year, with data from the National Statistics Bureau showing a surge in the Consumer Price Index, which rose from 208,3 in 2023 to 243,5 in 2024. This has highly impacted household expenses, particularly in areas like healthcare and food. In 2023, spending on basic needs like food and non-alcoholic beverages, the most commonly purchased items for Lao people, had the greatest impact on household budgets. A significant portion of income was allocated to this category. Other expenses, such as dining out, staying in hotels, purchasing healthcare items like medical supplies, and buying household goods, clothing, and shoes, were also notably high. In 2024, food and non-alcoholic beverages experienced a smaller price increase, while healthcare and medicine became the largest contributors to rising costs due to higher prices for imported medical supplies. Prices for restaurants and hotels saw a significant decrease, but costs for accommodation, water, electricity, and cooking gas rose compared to the previous year. The decline in inflation was primarily driven by reduced pressure from exchange rate fluctuations in Laos. However, despite the slowdown in inflation, the high costs of healthcare and basic utilities continued to strain household budgets. Consumers, especially those with lower incomes, still faced financial difficulties, as a large portion of their income went toward essential goods and services. Although inflation eased in 2024, the cost of living remains a major concern, according to authorities.

From Pattaya News On January 3rd, 2025, Ms. Traisulee Traisoranakul, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, announced preparations to implement the Equal Marriage Law, which takes effect nationwide on January 23rd, 2025. Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul tasked the Department of Provincial Administration with ensuring readiness, including procedural training, service systems, and other operational adjustments to facilitate smooth registration for all couples under the new law. The Department has collaborated with relevant agencies to amend regulations and draft updated guidelines for family registration to align with the law. Trial runs of the computer systems and forms were successfully conducted in December 2024. On January 23rd, district offices nationwide will be ready to provide equal marriage registration services, with all necessary legal and procedural adjustments finalized, according to Traisulee.

I'm helping all of your would-be partners. There is no need to thank me.

NOTE -- In a plodding investigation that took over 15 years, more evidence of inept--and possibly corrupt-- leadership brought down the national carrier. From Bangkok Post Two former executives of Thai Airways International (THAI) have been found in the wrong in a probe related to a freight business that caused the airline more than 360 million baht in damages, according to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). In an NACC statement released yesterday, the anti-graft body said it completed its investigation into irregularities in the airline's deal with Southern Air Inc (SAI) from 2009 to 2011. In an NACC statement released yesterday, the anti-graft body said it completed its investigation into irregularities in the airline's deal with Southern Air Inc (SAI) from 2009 to 2011. Under the deal, THAI would acquire all the cargo space available on two B777-200 long-range freighters operated by SAI for two years under what is known as an Aircraft Block Space Agreement (BSA). Pruet Boobphakam, a former THAI executive vice-president for commerce, and Poonsak Chumchuay, a former director of the airline's cargo and commercial mail, were found to be involved in the irregularities. The NACC has decided to formally charge them under Section 8 and Section 11 of the Offences of Officials in State Organisations or Agencies Act, and the case will be forwarded to the attorney-general to take further action. The NACC said it will also forward the findings to the airline to take disciplinary action against the pair and demand they pay for the damages. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2931886/2-thai-execs-cost-airline-b360m-in-losses-nacc

I have fantasies about spritzers.

Legit. https://www.thailandprivilege.co.th/home

At Phoeinix, they're all of the above. Fixed tip is 1200.