ronnie50

Correct as the article in the OP explained. It's military 250 anniversary - but Trump gets an add-in because it's his birthday - or at least that's what is being considered. Also correct about Memorial Day. Of course, in any case, few Americans reallize the WW2 D-Day involved many countries' forces. US landed at Omaha and one other beach, Canadians landed at Juneau Beach (famous video from inside landing craft and of the landing craft door dropping open), and British at Sword Beach. Few others realize that, in WW1, the US entered the war at almost the very end. The British and allied forces had fought to a stalemate with the German forces and its allies. Both sides exhausted and little military gains. The fresh arrival of allied (US) forces simply tipped the balance and that was the end of WW1.

Just to confirm, if on an O visa 12 month retirement extension, we can choose THA as the country of residence is that still correct?

Sort of an 'il Duce' moment, right?

This abuse of international student visas goes on in many countries. The Chinese are not the only abusers, the Indians are bad and so are applicants from many African countries. It's a big problem in USA, Canada, UK and probably Australia. They are facilitated however by dodgy 'schools' and 'colleges' in those countries that know full-well the tuition they get won't match the student attendance. The 'student' goes in once a month to a class and spends the rest of the time flipping burgers or doing cleaning jobs all of it is to send money home - not study.

According to plans seen by the Associated Press and picked up by CNN, the Independant and others, the US Military is seriously considering adding an extra element to its long-planned 250th anniversary parade next month that could now include a tribute to President Trump (thousands of extra soldiers, weapons and hardware on display) that also coincides with Trump's 79th birthday (has there ever been a parade in honor of a sitting president in the past? Maybe WW2?). The plans have not been made public yet according to AP. https://apnews.com/article/army-parade-trump-birthday-96bb9c8e9af1ef285c56fdc3d1ba4b35

I thought it said 24 years for the billionnaire head of the family. But really, this is, almost certainly, just the latest move by the Establishment Trinity vs the Thaksin group of outsider billionnaires. It's showing the Thaksin group that the trinity is still well in charge.

Didn't take long to confirm my hunch. Billionaires in Thailand like this guy and his family are either on the 'right' side (like the most prominant billionnaire oligarchs that run all the retail, food, booze, hotel) - or on the 'wrong' side of Thailand's 'Loyalty Scheme'. This guy's family (his scion in particular) are on the 'wrong' side - in other words the competition side - the 'Thaksin side'. The other side - the 'right' side - would never be facing a court decision like that. Never. This also (IMO) answers what seemed like a bewildering move for Thai authorities to side with Neslte, an outside foreign conglomerate, over the cherished and obligatory 'Thai majority partner' (let John Lewis and Waitrose try the same move against Central/Tops and see what happens). BTW, Forbes did a gush-umentary on the scion some time ago.. https://www.forbes.com/global/2012/0507/feature-next-tycoons-tta-prayudh-chalermchai-mahagitsiri-troubled-waters/

I'm actually surprised this topic was 'allowed' into World News..

Yes prices of many things are increasing. Coffee prices up worldwide. The hiccup with Nestle in Thailand. Those probably affected coffee prices here. Also, the US dollar has fallen 8% since the beginning of the year thanks to the D-bag in Washington. As USD is Thailand and the world's trading currency, that should mean it's cheaper for Thailand to import products and commodities (from any country) for cheaper, so, really, prices in Thailand should be reducing if anything. Doesn't make sense. Could be an advance money grab by the oligarchs fearing what's next to come - tariffs and recession? Get the money now before it's gone?

Build the wall as high as you like - maybe you're not paying attention. Canada is in the process of ignoring the United States, not buying its sh!t, not visiting there, and finding other trading partners. Finding other trading parrtners and increasing those that exist is easy enough. Will there be a hit on the Canadian (and US) economy over the next year? Yes, of course. And if Trump wants to completely back out of the US Canada Mexico FTA, that's already been factored in too by Carney. Remember, this guy was the head of the Bank of Canada AND the Bank of England. Sitting in the same room across from Trump is like an Oxford Don sitting opposite a kindergarden child with crayons (and bone spurs).

She's not. I was clear that I don't condone what the tenant did. Two wrongs don't make a right. But if the landlady is a serial swindler who has never returned deposits, then she just had her cummupance.

There was a similar case where an older tourist fell down a short flight of stairs (like tep steps) leading to a hotel ground/lobby level. I forget where exactly - a resort area I think (2 years ago?). Deemed an accidental death - banged his head on some ornaments next to the foot of the stairs as I recall.

As I posted earlier, and as someone above has proved, there is a legal route in Thailand through the courts who will order the repayment. But what do you do if you're in a position where you need to leave the country soon and don't have the luxury of time to take the landlord/lady to court? This could be the case here and in many other cases - and the landlords bank on that time pressure to hang on to the money. If this owner has done this before, then she had it coming - Som Nam Na. (looked her up BTW, she's a minor internet influencer 'princess' with lots of followers but follows no one back.)

At least we know who NOT to rent from in Phuket.

Caught for what? Did she commit a criminal offence - or a civil offence? Scribbling on the walls and throwing ripped feather fillows around in a private property is hardly a criminal offence. Do you think the local police or Immigration should hunt her down for this?

When they're not suing the foreigner for libel at every turn...

While I get your point, in principle (about trashing the place), I disagree with your statement: "If it was a deposit problem, then it´s single fault for the tenant.." How do you figure it's the 'single fault of the tenant' if she made the deposit in good faith and is now being denied a return of the money upon departure (pre-trashing)? The way it's supposed to work - and the Thai law backs this very well as I recall - is that upon vacating day, the owner or agent inspects the property together with the tenant to look for any damages (2 copies), and if none is required, by law, the owner is to refund the deposit (immediately or promptly - can't remember the exact words). If there is any damage it is carefully noted and (3?) quotations for repairs are required in name of owner. The repair cannot be an 'improvement' to the original state when the tenant moved in. This is all spelled out in Thai law, and is in line with many western countries and their laws on tenancy, rights and oblications. Thre's also a time limit for all this. The fact the tenant went to such extremes remaining in the condo, waiting a few days for her deposit to be returned, suggests the owner or agent told her she was not getting any deposit returned and they wanted her to leave. So then she trashed it. Not condoning her action. Most foreigners don't pursue their rights, and many (not all) Thai landlords just ignore/deny them and wait for them to leave the country (or so they hope). My understanding is the Thai judges will actually side with the tenant in court - foreign or otherwise - if the owner is unfairly retaining the deposit (Note: if you use an agent to find a place and a lease, I've heard the agent usually gets one month of the deposit as their fee-for-service (eg. owner pays the agent one month).

Exactly. Tipping is not really the core issue in the US. The real problem is a country whose culture is revolted by any social regulations in the workplace (or anywhere else for that matter). If the waiters were paid $15 an hour - the bare minimum wage in most western countries - and then a discretionary 10% tip was left up to the customer then that would make much more sense. But it won't happen because that would be "socialist".

If the service is good and the food is brought hot to the table, and the waiter follows up to see if all ok, then I don't have a problem with 20%, but I'm not going to pay 20-25% tip on a $100 bottle of wine if the waiter just opened it and left it on the table up to us to fill our glasses.

No I'm not blaming the victim, who was plying their trade like everypone else and in the same place as everyone else. My thinking was simply to make it safer for them and end some of the needless fighting and BS that goes on in relation to it on walking street, etc. Look, years ago there was 'boyz town' on the soi near the entrance to walking street. That was pretty "straight"forward. If you went into those bars, you'd know what to expect. I don't think many tourists these days can tell the difference between a well turned out ladyboy/postop (like the victim) or a woman (who are now everywhere mixed in with the female sex workers). It wasn't like that 20 years ago. So my point is segregate so everyone understands where to go and what they can expect to find, and make it safer. Hope that's clearer.

That's quite an increase. It would backfire as others have said. Expats would clean out (most) of their Thai baht accounts and come in and out on visa exemptions or tourist visas - with a break in between them long enough to hang out in Vietnam (for cheap) for several months. More difficult for families of course. Still, it could drain millions of baht out of the economy.

Correct. I was told by BOI that, in order to be considered for the 80K, you have to show minimum of 12 months passive income (e.g. pensions, inerest payments, investment yieds, etc.) in excess of 80k

Not condoning the deadly reaction at all, but again, I think they need to move all the transgenders and ladyboys to an area on the very edge of Pattaya, clearly marked in various languages, and not mixed in with female sex workers on walking street or adjacent sois. That way, whomever wants that kind of kink, knows where to go. As is, at the very least, it can create confusion for some naive tourist like this Chinese guy, at worst it can lead to violence when they go back the hotel and the punter learns the 'lady' has a bigger st1ffy than him. Then there's all the fights with the transvestites and drunk punters on walking street (and Soi Bangla in Phuket).

Lowest minimum wage in the western world..in the world's biggest economy.

I've noticed more places add a service charge automatically to the bottom of the bill - usually 10% - and THEN another 7% VAT on top of it all. They are in the minority, but I mean should a waitress at FUJI or Greyhound (as examples) automatically get 150 or 200 baht tip, when in other places I leave maybe 40 baht?