reader

From Khaosod English BANGKOK — The free visa policy for 53 countries/territories has led to a continuous increase in the number of tourists entering Thailand, with Chinese tourists ranking first. However, there are growing concerns that money is not flowing into Thailand as it should because Chinese zero-dollar tours have returned. According to Tourism and Sports Economic Division, from January 1 to August 18, 2024, Thailand received a total of 22,474,172 foreign tourists who generated revenue of 1.05 trillion baht through their spending. The five countries with the highest number of tourists are China (4,555,262), Malaysia (3,104,092), India (1,294,076), South Korea (1,193,255) and Russia (1,053,724). Although Chinese tourists top the list, Thailand faces challenges related to market-disrupting tours [The practice of foreign tour companies using Thai nominees to bring foreign tour groups to Thailand involves offering the lowest possible prices — “underbidding with a willingness to take a loss” — to put Thai tour companies out of business and drive them out of the market).

NOTE -- If you're planning a trip and trying to figure out what the exchange rate will be when you arrive, I wouldn't waste a lot of time or effort. Rates fluctuate by the minute. You can get a clue on what direction they may be moving bythe action of your home country's central bank on interest rates. If they are raising rates, your currency will likely appreciate against the baht. If they are lowering rates, it will likely depreciate. Cross currency rates at 0700 today: Dollar 34.35 Euro 38.28 Pound 45.07 CAN dollar 25.29 From The Thaiger The baht is poised to strengthen further, potentially reaching 34 per US dollar or even higher, following a 13-month peak attained yesterday. This surge occurred as the Bank of Thailand opted to keep the policy rate steady at 2.5%, encouraging potential inflows ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s upcoming September meeting. Closing at 34.21 on August 20, the Thai currency rallied to 34.06 against the dollar early yesterday, marking its highest level since July 2023, before settling at around 34.13-15. The appreciation of the baht mirrored movements in other Asian currencies, driven by a drop in the dollar index to its lowest point since December last year. Market expectations suggest the US central bank might ease its policy stance as early as next month. Over the past two days, the baht appreciated by over 2%, coinciding with the Bank of Thailand’s decision to maintain the policy rate at 2.5%, a decade-high level, said Kanjana Chockpisansina head of research, banking, and the financial sector at Kasikorn Research Centre (K-Research).

acquire /ə-kwīr′/ transitive verb To gain possession of. "acquire 100 shares of stock." To get by one's own efforts. "acquire proficiency in math." To gain through experience; come by. "acquired a growing dislike of television sitcoms." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

From CNBC Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to drop out of the presidential race on Friday and endorse Republican nominee Donald Trump, NBC News reported Wednesday, citing two sources familiar with the independent candidate’s plans.

I don't believe it was Londoner's intent to mock or slur any people or their language. If anything, he was acknowledging his inability to acquire foreign language and how it affected his attempt to communicate. .

Like increasing the compensation for general practitioners. The shortage of GP's is the cause of emergency room overcrowding and lack of care to those who've fallen between the cracks of the health insurance dilemma.

Since the criticism is coming from well-established colleagues, he may give a bit more of a damn today. Even Rhett Butler's life ended in scandal and disillusion.

From The Nation Pita Limjaroenrat, the former leader and prime minister candidate of the now-defunct Move Forward Party, posted a message on Medium website on August 20 that he had taken up a visiting role at Harvard University. The party-list MP was disqualified from running for office for 10 years following the dissolution of his party by the Constitutional Court for undermining the constitutional monarchy system of government. Pita said that his next chapter will begin at Harvard University this semester as a Visiting Democracy Fellow. He expressed his excitement about this opportunity to further his commitment to promoting leadership and democratic principles in the ASEAN region. "Returning to Harvard this time is deeply meaningful to me because, during my previous studies here, I was greatly inspired by several former leaders who served as visiting fellows at the university. They played crucial roles in transforming their countries and lived in Boston to nurture new leaders regardless of race," he wrote. Pita also outlined two main goals for his time at Harvard: Sharing: He intends to share his experiences in leadership, political struggles, democratic systems, public policy, and citizen engagement with young people across ASEAN studying at Harvard, not just Thai students. Learning: He aims to gather knowledge to enhance his ability to address issues in Thailand and beyond. As his political tenure ends, Pita says he is fully committed to using this opportunity to reflect on his experiences and the challenges faced during his term. His work at Harvard will involve a deep exchange of political knowledge and meeting with global leaders to return as a better political leader when the time comes, he said. "I will continue to travel between Bangkok and Boston almost every month, without leaving my hometown for too long. This approach will help me apply the insights and strategies gained from Harvard to my ongoing efforts to develop Thailand and the ASEAN region. I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity and the support I have received. Let's work together to create a brighter future for our next generation of leaders," Pita said.

From Pattaya Mail By Barry Kenyon Thailand offers a multiplicity of long-term visas for women and men well past the first bloom of youth. They include annual extensions of stay, the 5-20 years Elite visa and the 10 years Long Term Residence (LTR), each of which has its own scale of charges with assorted pluses and minuses. None of them allows direct ownership of land by foreigners, nor guarantees a path to permanent residency or citizenship. Purchase of condominiums is allowed but does not generally result in visa concessions. Since January 2024, anyone spending six months or more in the kingdom may be liable to personal income tax on remitted income. Malaysia has had a 5-20 years My Second Home program since 2002 but there have been a succession of changes, including the requirement to purchase and retain a property and associated land (100 percent in their name) in order to spur growth in the local market. Perks include obtaining visas for spouses, parents and children under 34 years. Unlike Thailand, Malaysia imposes the requirement to live in the country for at least three months per year, although a dependant relative can substitute where the visa holder is still of working age. Malaysia is not currently insisting on foreign tax residents paying tax on remitted income from abroad. Cambodia seems to have abandoned an earlier second home campaign, but the Retirement ER visa gives one year which is annually renewable. Retirees aged at least 55 years do not need to provide written proof of status or finances. Property ownership laws are strict and similar to Thailand’s. In theory, Cambodia requires foreign residents to file and pay taxes on their foreign income, but there are few signs of enforcement for this kind of visa. Cambodia allows foreigners to purchase citizenship provided they invest or donate US$300,000, an offer taken up with alacrity by rich Chinese in particular. The Philippines offers a Special Resident Retirement Visa (SRRV) which offers a renewable two-year permanent residence ID card. Those over 35 years must deposit US$50,000 in a Philippine bank (less for pensioners), which can later be used to help buy a condominium unit, and show proof of a monthly income. Remitted cash from sources outside the Philippines is not subject to tax. Foreigners can lease land for 50 years with extensions for 25 years more. The Philippines are unique in the region for granting a notional permanent residency from day one of the SRRV. It follows that the issues for longstay retirees in the region vary country by country. None offers the kind of dual citizenship or second passport which are common in permanent residence visas throughout the Caribbean for instance. Malaysia and the Philippines offer favorable tax conditions for foreign retirees, although Thailand offers a range of tax privileges in the Long Term Residence detail. Property ownership remains problematical across the region, although the purchase of condominiums or long-term leases is common. Use of local nominees to buy property or to conduct business is extremely risky throughout south east Asia. Cambodia probably offers the easiest bureaucratic route to longstay retirees, but the country lacks the kind of infrastructure westerners are used to. There are no sure answers, just individual preferences and priorities.

From The Thaiger Thailand will launch a new train service linking Bang Sue in Bangkok to Penang, Malaysia, within the next two to three months. The initial phase will be a six-month trial period, marking a significant step in cross-border transportation. The announcement was made yesterday, August 20, by Ekarat Sriarayapong, head of the Governor’s Office of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT). Awirut Thongnet, Deputy Governor of the SRT, attended the 42nd KTMB – SRT Joint Conference in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, from August 13 to 16 to discuss expanding railway cooperation between Thailand and Malaysia. The meeting approved the principle of operating a train service from Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Padang Besar and Butterworth in Penang, Malaysia.

From Bangkok Post The Department of Disease Control said on Wednesday that Thailand may have its first case of a new, more transmissible strain of mpox. The patient had arrived from Africa and the health of 43 passengers seated near him on the plane was being closely monitored. DDC director-general Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn said the patient was a 66-year-old European man who had a residence in Thailand and worked in Africa, where mpox is endemic. He had arrived back in Thailand from Africa at 6pm on Aug 14 on a connecting flight from the Middle East. The following morning, last Thursday, he had a fever and noticed he had a number of small rashes. He quickly went to a hospital for an examination. He was diagnosed with mpox, a viral disease. The initial examination found it was not the previously found Clade 2 strain, which was not easily transmissible. Health officials were awaiting the results of in-depth genetic tests. They would confirm if it was a Clade 1b-type infection. This was a more transmissible strain.

LGBTQIAS+ ?

You're creating an international incident, Olddaddy. Scores of ambassadors to the UN are at this moment preparing a joint protest. The claim it was clearly understood that you love big cocks from all continents. To cite just a single country is discriminatory diplomacy. Please rephrase your post before it reaches the Security Council.

From Bangkok Post A group of lawyers and university law lecturers have criticised the Constitutional Court's recent rulings to dissolve the Move Forward Party (MFP) and dismiss Srettha Thavisin as prime minister. The group, comprising 134 law experts, released a statement critical of the court for allegedly overstepping its power, which could potentially undermine the country's system of checks and balances. The statement refers to the two rulings: one made on Aug 7, in which the Constitutional Court ordered the MFP to be disbanded for attempting to subvert the constitutional monarchy and 11 party executives to be banned from politics for ten years. The other was passed on Aug 14 against Mr Srettha for appointing ex-convict Pichit Chuenban as a cabinet minister. The experts said they disagreed with both rulings, which they attributed to the court's interpretation of related laws. This interpretation is inconsistent with the laws' basic principle and could endanger the rule of democracy. The legal experts outlined four reasons to counter the rulings. First, they maintained that the court may have overstretched its authority, which resulted in the MFP being dissolved, its executives facing a political ban, and Mr Srettha being removed from the premiership. They insisted that if the law was applied to curtail a person's rights, it must be done restrictively and cautiously. In the MFP case, the court determined its authority goes so far as covering its judgement of crucial issues such as the party's policy administration and legislative amendment power. In the Srettha case, the court insisted the scope of a prime minister's dishonest and unethical acts extend over their reckless nomination of a person with questionable qualifications, a reference to Mr Pichit, as a cabinet minister. Second, the Constitutional Court did not permit the accused to fully and fairly present evidence and witnesses in their own defence. The court accepted certain pieces of evidence and witnesses in the MFP case. However, the court did not allow the party to testify or counter accusations during the proceedings. Third, by judging the MFP guilty of acting to undermine the constitutional monarchy, the court has expanded its authority beyond its limit and may be deemed to be asserting a role of keeping the lawmakers in check, which obstructs the checks and balances between the legislative, executive and the judicial branches. Disrupted checks and balances could imperil the protection of people's rights and freedom and the independence of lawmakers in doing their duty, according to the statement. Lastly, the experts felt the rulings have dented public confidence, both at home and abroad, in the country's legal system and democratic rule.

You're a better man than me, Gunga Din.

From CNBC RFK Jr. campaign ‘looking at’ joining forces with Trump The independent presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is considering abandoning his quest for the White House to “join forces” with Republican nominee Donald Trump, Kennedy’s running mate Nicole Shanahan says in a new interview posted online Tuesday. Shanahan also said the campaign also is considering remaining in the contest to try to win more than 5% of the popular vote and “establish ourselves” as a third-party alternative to the Republican and Democratic parties, and build on that ballot. “There’s two options that we’re looking at and one is staying in, forming that new party, but we run the risk of a Kamala Harris and Walz presidency because we draw votes from Trump, or we draw somehow more votes from Trump,” Shanahan said in the interview on the Impact Theory podcast. “Or we walk away right now and join forces with ... Donald Trump and you know, we walk away from that and explain to our base why we’re making this decision,” Shanahan told interviewer Tom Bilyeu.

From Pattaya News By Aim Tanakorn Local residents in Pattaya are calling for action from police after repeated violent clashes between students from two local schools have left the community in fear. Local residents in Pattaya’s Soi Nern Plubwan lodged complaints to police following a series of violent clashes between middle school students from a private school and a government school, both located in the same alley. The residents provided video clips to the police, which show the students engaging in brawls using knives, sticks, and other weapons. The fights typically occurred after school hours, and eyewitnesses also reported seeing some teenagers, who might not be students, join the altercations as well. These teenagers were seen brandishing firearms to intimidate the opposing group, posing fear in the community. The residents urgently call on relevant law enforcement authorities to address this issue as it is causing great distress in the community.

From The Nation The new cabinet under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is still a Pheu Thai-led government and will seamlessly continue ongoing programmes started by former PM Srettha Thavisin, a Pheu Thai Party source said on Monday. Paetongtarn, who was sworn in as 31st PM on Sunday, called a meeting with party executives and strategy teams at Pheu Thai headquarters on Monday, with Srettha also attending the session. Srettha last week was removed as PM by the Constitutional Court’s order, citing a lack of integrity after he had appointed an unqualified person to the Cabinet. The source said the meeting explored the progress of projects that the government under Srettha has carried out in the past year, with focus on flagship campaigns like the digital wallet that aim to stimulate the economy. The source added that Paetongtarn is working to make sure that the scheme’s framework is within the fiscal discipline, and is considering suggestions made by several parties. The meeting discussed risks raised by concerned parties over the 450-billion-baht handout scheme, which include: 1. Legal risks: The scheme could violate the Currency Act of 1958, which stipulates that the campaign must have adequate funds to support it when it starts. 2. Fiscal risks: The loans to fund the scheme could drive public debt per GDP ratio to exceed the limit of 70%, as stipulated by the State Fiscal and Financial Disciplines Act of 2018. 3. Risks of corruption. 4. Risks from lack of system’s readiness, as the scheme will use a new payment platform that links with participating banks via the open loop system, which is a complicated technology. The source added that Pheu Thai is also looking at candidates outside the party to help strengthen its economic team to tackle current economic problems, which are the party’s top priority.

From The Thaiger The Palang Pracharath Party’s (PPP) embattled secretary-general is set to drop a political bombshell in a press conference this afternoon. The caretaker agriculture minister is widely expected to renounce his loyalty to the party leader, General Prawit Wongsuwan, in a dramatic turn of events that could shake the party to its core. Thamanat Prompow announced the press conference, scheduled for 2pm at the Agriculture Ministry, a location that has left many political observers speculating about his intentions. His choice of venue, rather than the PPP head office, fuelled speculation that this is not just another routine briefing but a deliberate move to signal his growing rift with Prawit. The tension between the two heavyweights has been escalating, especially after Prawit’s recent declaration that the PPP would remain a partner in the Pheu Thai-led coalition government. However, in a move that stunned many, Prawit excluded Thamanat from the list of PPP ministers in Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s new Cabinet. The exclusion came amid rumours that Paetongtarn’s father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was pushing Thamanat to lead a revolt against Prawit. Thamanat, reportedly commanding fewer than 20 MPs, is now at a crossroads. If he turns against Prawit, he could approach the Pheu Thai Party for a quota of Cabinet seats, potentially at the expense of Prawit’s faction. However, if Prawit acts swiftly and orders the PPP executive board to expel Thamanat and his allies, they could find a new political home with the Kla Tham Party, reported The Nation.

From The Thaiger Russian airline Aeroflot resumes direct flights to popular holiday destinations in Thailand, India, and Seychelles. This news will thrill jet-setters and sun-seekers looking to escape the chill. Starting September 13, Aeroflot will kick off its twice-weekly flights from Yekaterinburg’s Koltsovo Airport to Phuket. These flights, operating every Monday and Friday, will be followed by a new route from Yekaterinburg to Bangkok, set to launch on September 15. Passengers can expect a comfortable journey aboard Airbus A330 aircraft, which features a two-class cabin layout, including 28 business class seats and 268 economy seats. The Bangkok route will also operate twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Sundays—though the September 18 flight is an exception. Come October 2, Aeroflot will extend its reach to Goa, India, with thrice-weekly flights from Yekaterinburg. These flights will take off every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, using Boeing 737-800 aircraft equipped with 20 business class seats and 138 economy seats.

From The Thaiger A recent incident involving the well-known Thai actor QP has resurfaced a previous case in which he was accused of causing a serious accident. QP, who recently garnered attention for a jet ski collision that resulted in two fatalities, was previously involved in a car accident that left a woman with fractured ribs. The woman, who was involved in the earlier incident, shared her story on a popular news page yesterday. She recounted how QP, driving a white Mercedes-Benz, collided with her motorcycle near the Huamark intersection on May 31 last year. The collision occurred when QP turned into a condominium without signalling, causing the woman to be thrown from her motorcycle and sustain injuries. She was admitted to the hospital with fractured ribs and her motorcycle was severely damaged. The 31 year old woman revealed that QP initially apologised and offered to pay 5,000 baht for the damages, hoping to resolve the matter quickly. However, complications arose when it was discovered that QP’s driving licence had expired on March 8 and the car was uninsured. The situation escalated when QP refused to sign any documents and denied responsibility, even threatening to involve a lawyer.

Isn't what's good for goose good for gander? From The Thaiger IMPACT Arena Exhibition and Convention Centre in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok will play host to at least 15 Japanese porn stars at the adult video (AV) expo, organised by AACF International Exhibition, between November 22 and 24. Even though one of the most popular porn platforms, PornHub, is banned in Thailand, Thai AV fans can still look forward to seeing their favourite adult film stars in the flesh at the major AV event at the end of this year. The General Manager of AACF International Exhibition, Mario Su, joined forces with the Chief Executive Officer of Blesstar Industrial to introduce the AV expo under the name Asia Amazing Cultural Festival (AACF) and Asia Entertainment Expo (AEE) 2024. The objective of the expo is to create a communication platform for the entertainment industry and promote the development of the industry in Asia. Multiple entertainment products and services, both online and offline, from 200 exhibitors around the world will be presented across over 20,000 square metres of space, along with many interesting activities. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-to-welcome-more-than-15-porn-stars-for-av-expo-video

From The Star / The Nation BANGKOK: Two people were killed and two injured when a jet ski collided with a long-tail boat on Saturday (Aug 17) night in the Chao Phraya River. The accident occurred between Rama III and the Phra Pradaeng shore, near the Bang Kra Jao Pier. Rescuers found a damaged jet ski, and two injured women, identified as a 17-year-old girl and a 41-year-old woman, who were taken to Bangpakok Samut Prakan Hospital with bruises and pain. The bodies of a 44-year-old woman, who was a passenger on the long-tail boat, and the 64-year-old boat driver were retrieved later by divers. The jet ski was driven by actor Chindanai Sae-Lim, known as QP from the series "Wun Rak Nak Bid", who expressed his shock and regret over the accident. He said that his jet ski also had his girlfriend and her mother on board, and they were travelling from Chom Thong, Bangkok to Phra Pradaeng for dinner. They were among 11 people using five jet skis. After dinner, he and a friend were heading back home when his jet ski collided with the long-tail boat in dark conditions. He said he could not avoid the boat in time as it did have any lights or signals. Mongkol Sawat, the husband of the missing woman, said they were crossing the river on a small long-tail boat when the jet ski collided, throwing overboard both the boat driver and his wife. Mongkol said he was lucky to survive. At 1.30am, naval police, Navy personnel, and divers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation began searching for the two missing people in challenging conditions due to strong currents and heavy rains. By 3am, the rescue team from the foundation brought sonar equipment, which helped find the two bodies near the long-tail boat engine. - The Nation/ANN

https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/2791477/smoggy-bangkok-gets-a-badly-needed-breath-of-fresh-air