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If you mean is the 7/11 operations in Japan also subject to secret shopper monitoring/checking, then the answer would be yes. Many companies/business operators, pretty much all industries, all countries have some form of checking of what's happening inside their stores/premises/factories/offices... Why would this NOT happen in Japan? The reasons are obvious.

There's a number of points re the operations of 7/11 in Thailand. CP holds the master franchise for Thailand, from the actual global brand owner in Japan. It's been mentionedbefore there's a quite small number of Thai 7/11 operators who hold a ffranchise agreement direct with the master brand owner in Japan. However perhaps 99+% of the Thailand located stores are under the CP franchise. But that doesn't mean CP can change the operating regulations etc. They can't. The brand owner makes the overriding rules and regulations. The brand owner in Japan directly employs a team of 'secret shoppers' who go into all stores globally (no uniform, no badges etc) do inspections, buy things, ask obvious/stupid questions, check cleanliness etc., and this is all recorded. The secret shoppers complete online surveys etc., all goes directly back to 7/11 master owner in Japan, not through CP. It is possible some 7/11's are deliberately located to pull customers away from family mart, Lotus s etc. But also possibly true that the master brand owner insists/demands that every store must produce a certain level of revenue / margin / turnover etc. Because the master owner gets a %. It's been posted here before that nobody would be game enough to challenge CP. That's not true, the brand owner in Japan can/does cancel franchises regularly. Re Thailand there's several very large corporations who would love to get the 7/11 country franchise if it was available. Central Pattana might be an example, and Central Pattana has vast, successful, long-term retail operations in Thailand.

and/or is not an obvious lie.

'Trumped up convictions' ? He broke the law, serious laws, and the ensuing trials were fair and balanced and went through the enacted processes. In several cases the specific evidence has been made public; he was obviously guilty, and he was convicted and sentenced to jial. Your version is way less than correct and way less than truthful. And don't ask for specific examples, it's all been on these threads several times before.

And who will change tony's diapers?

... ohhh 9 posts.

Boring and way off topic, the subject is the votes for Pita to become PM.

I tend to agree, perhaps it would have been more productive to keep their mouths closed and wait until Khun Pita and MF were locked into place.

It's also their demand for the glorification of the military, they must be seen / continue to be seen as the leaders of the country regardless of any other processes. That's how they see it. Seems to me, unfortunately, there's a good chance nothing is going to change until somehow the senate is NOT a play room / a glorification facility for the military. Will it need another new constitution? And how would the new constitution be approved other than with violence - military vs the public? So sad and so disrespectful to the good citizens of Thailand.

3 hours in Rome, or 5 hours in Venice. With such limited ime I guess it would be a planned bus tour to a couple of tourist 'highlights' but nothing more, except perhaps herded into a suvenir etc., shop and quickly back on the bus and back to the ship. In reality no individual 'exploring' at all. Brain numbing.

Why do you say that? Any evidence?

Sort of reminds me of the chalerm brother who shot and killed a cop at short range then fled to Malaysia. Highly corrupt daddy made arrangements for him to return to LOS wih no charges but he didn't want to come because the Thai people weren't showing him enough respect.

But there's another service which has a good reputation and you can pay by debit or credit card online when the transport order is confirmed. Very reasonable rates. Plus customer can add further pick up/delivery details in English and the site automatically translates the message to Thai langauge then sends to the driver. Works in reverse too. It's called BOLT. Exxcellent service in Chiang Mai

And seems doubtful that anybody would want to be identified as the person who waived his convictions/jail time.

In other words, nobody replied to his application (in triplicate) for a special waiver of 12 years of jail for a six star convicted billionaire conman.

How does woke come into this event?

35 years for me, worked here over 25 years, now retired and living with my Thai son, his wife and 4 Thai grand children. My work sitution set me up for Thai Permanent Residency (PR) but without longer-term legal work PR is not available. As other have mentioned the so called Retirement Visa not all that difficult. For me best decision I ever made, but as others have said, Thailand is not for everybody and same for every country. As eluded to, good idea to use the gap years to learn Thai, some preety good web sites nowadays. Good luck.

Background: I've been looking for free short stories in English to help my young Thai granddaughter with her English reading skills. I found a large comprehensive site, developed / maintained / operated by the Philippines education ministry. Massive amounts of materials for all subjects, admin. stuff and more. All showing as free. But when I selected something and clicked download I got the message about gmail login. However just 5 minutes ago I tried again and althought the same 'g.mail' message is on the screen the downloading is now workng just fine. Sorry to bother you.

You have reminded me that DVA says they have started testing a new very secure e.mail system. If it passes the 'tests' maybe it will be used acrosss other departments. Wait and see.

Some hotels will send fax for outside persons. Did this before, hotel initially refused and wouldn't discuss, then I offered 200Baht to reception manager, fax sent 1 minute later. I had to do this letter for OZ DVA six months ago. Concernd about the return date I called DVA, got transferred quickly to correct section, DVA lady quickly said e.mail is fine. Sent it by e.mail, 2 days later an e.mail from DVA confirming they had received my scanned proof of life form and confirmied it was accepted. So maybe (repeat maybe) C'link will accept by e.mail, perhaps call then on the toll fee number to check, and if OK get a specific e.mail address.

Question: Is the guy who spent several yearsin jail in Aust. for drug offences a member of same party?

So what's the point of your rant?

Expensive way to get an i'net signal, and maybe there's an extra charge for that item?

But not in Vietnam where they are available at quite reasonable prices, but not in LOS where there's one marketing monopoly.