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Picture: Daily News Thai media Daily News reported from Government House yesterday where a cabinet video-conference meeting chaired by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha took place. In the light of decisions to re-open the country to the Phuket Sandbox scheme on July 1st - and subsequent opening of three islands in Surat Thani - the PM accepted that the economy in Thailand was in a mess. It was therefore necessary to re-open the country before it was completely ruined. In order to do this he admitted that some risks must be taken. He based his comments on the state of the economy on his Digital Economy and Science ministry analysis. He said that all his ministries were pulling together. In comments related to possible amendments to the constitution he ruled out the possibility of a referendum. He said that amendments must be reasonable. The issue is being debated today and tomorrow. -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-06-23 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Pear Maneechote Seven people infected with Covid-19 who made headlines around the country for camping outside their flats in Din Daeng due to the lack of hospital beds has been given help, an official told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday. “They have now been transferred to the Hospitel at Baiyoke Tower II,” Wan Uthaisri, the Head of Environment and Sanitation of the Din Daeng District Office told Thai Enquirer. The District worked with the National Housing Authority of Thailand in relocating the patients and the tents have been removed. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/28850/covid-19-patients-who-had-to-live-in-tents-due-to-lack-of-hospital-beds-finally-finds-care/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-06-23 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Erich Parpart Doctors on Thursday slammed the government’s plan to reopen Thailand within the next 120 days. “To reopen while knowing that people inside the country have yet to comprehensively receive good vaccines is like climbing a mountain at night without a light,” Dr Thira Woratanarat, Chulalongkorn University’s professor of medicine, wrote on his social media page on Thursday. According to the Health Ministry’s Immunization Center, 4.95 million people have received their first dose as of June 15. Thailand’s population is 69 million. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/28676/doctors-sound-alarm-over-plan-to-reopen-borders-by-october/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-06-17 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News Daily News reported that "Big Police" descended on the area of the pool at the five star resort in Koh Tao yesterday where two Thai/Indian billionaires died on Friday. And now it has emerged that the couple and their son decided to change hotels because one they had previously booked had a swimming pool that was too small. In addition the husband was found first and only some time later was the wife discovered under the water in a different location. Rakeswar, 59, and Anshoo Sachathamakul, 55, were found dead at the pool on Friday. They had earlier arrived with their 34 year old son Ratich for a holiday. Yesterday, Region 8 chief Lt-Gen Kitrat Phanpetch and his entourage carried out investigations and reenactments at the scene of what staff found. Daily News Daily News had pictures of a man apparently playing the part of Rakeswar in the pool while in another top cops and local police looked in the pool while media observed. Daily News said that originally the parents and their son had arrived at room P3 in another resort. But they decided to change after finding that the pool was too small unlike what had been advertised on the website and there was construction work going on. The son contacted the resort where the incident occurred by phone to change their plans and driver Pheerathorn Janthao went to pick them all up at 11 am. They were now given what the media called a "pool villa" to stay in. At this point the son and his mother enjoyed a bottle of beer each and some food before they went to their room at 12.17. Hotel staff then got a call from the son who wanted to rent a kayak. They took his phone and bag for safekeeping. The parents then asked for the direction to the pool. Later the son asked for his possessions to be returned to him. At 3.49 pm hotel staffer Airadar Jaimen heard the son calling in a panic four or five times from the pool area. She looked out but didn't see anyone. At 4.01 pm she heard cries for help and went there and then alerted others to retrieve the body of the father who was lying unconscious on the steps leading into the pool. He was unconscious. Two fellow staffers from Myanmar came to help and rescue calls were made to a foundation. Hospital staff over the phone gave basic instructions on how to perform CPR. Then the son enquired as to the location of his mother. She was then found under the water on another side of the pool. Both were taken to hospital but had died. -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-06-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Ban Muang Ban Muang reported that the Korat Hall on the fourth floor of Central Nakhon Ratchasima was lively yesterday as Thai nationals and foreigners turned up to register and receive their first doses of vaccine for Covid-19. The media talked to two British people, an American and a Swede who expressed their thanks and confidence in the Thai rollout saying "it didn't hurt at all - like an ant bite". They were married to Thais or language teachers. Drinks company Ososapha had a booth and ten employees handing out tonic drink M-150 and vitamin supplement beverages for free. Picture: Ban Muang The event came as the province that is the gateway to Thailand's north eastern region reported one new death bringing the total from Covid-19 to 9. The latest case was a 39 year old male in Muang district who was not overweight or suffering from underlying health conditions and had contracted the virus from a friend in Rayong. There have now been 898 cases in Korat. -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-05-24 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Pear Maneechote Influential star Araya “Chompoo” A. Hargate was going viral again Tuesday, this time for sharing her experience of receiving the government-approved Sinovac vaccine. Prompted by fans, Araya’s review came amid countrywide doubts and conspiracies regarding the vaccine against the Covid-19 virus produced by Beijing-based biopharmaceutical Sinovac, and as the country is facing its third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Many Thais have sworn off the Sinovac jab and vowed to wait for the arrival of other vaccines, such as Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson. However, experts, doctors, and health professionals have encouraged citizens to get whatever inoculation is available and confirmed their safety, stressing that getting immunized is the only means for the country to get out of this pandemic. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/27643/sinovac-review-by-thai-superstar-chompoo-araya-goes-viral/ -- © Copyright Thai Inquirer 2021-05-19 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Illustration only - Credit: pichitstocker/AdobeStock By OE Staff Offshore drilling company Valaris, which last week emerged from bankruptcy, has won a contract extension for its Valaris JU-115 jack-up rig offshore Thailand. Valaris said Monday that the oil and gas company Mubadala Petroleum had extended the jack-up rig charter by around 240 days. The extension will begin in the first quarter of 2022, and the heavy-duty jack-up rig will remain with Mubadala off the coast of Thailand until September 2022. Full story: https://www.oedigital.com/news/487509-valaris-ju-115-jack-up-rig-to-stay-off-thailand-until-sept-2022 -- © Copyright Offshore Engineer 2021-05-11 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

A man passes a Citibank bank branch in San Francisco on Tuesday//Photo: Bloomberg Citigroup Inc plans to exit retail banking in 13 markets across Asia, and the region of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The bank would instead operate its consumer-banking franchise in both regions from four wealth centers in Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and London, it said yesterday in a statement. The move is part of an ongoing review of the company’s strategy by chief executive officer Jane Fraser, who took over last month. Full story: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2021/04/16/2003755788 -- © Copyright Taipe Times 2021-04-17 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Vehicles emitting black smoke to face fine up to Bt5,000, department warns By THE NATION In an attempt to reduce PM2.5 pollution, the Department of Land Transport will impose heavy fines on the owners of vehicles that emit black smoke exceeding the safety standard. Department director-general Jirut Wisanjit said on Sunday that the maximum would be Bt5,000 and suspension of vehicle use until it was fixed. Jirut said that his department had been implementing the Ministry of Transport’s policy to reduce dust particles less than 2.5 micrometres in the air in Bangkok. “Since the beginning of fiscal year 2019 until January 2021, the department has inspected 689,333 vehicles in Bangkok areas and has suspended 8,762 vehicles from usage until they have their emission system fixed,” he said. “As for vehicles that emit high volume of black smoke but do not exceed the safety limit, the department issues warnings to the owners and urges them to inspect their vehicle condition and make sure they were properly maintained. “The department has opened vehicle inspection centres that also accept motor-vehicle tax payment at Phutthamonthon, Romklao and Khlong Luang product distribution centres, in a bid to help reduce the number of large vehicles entering inner Bangkok to have their vehicle inspected and pay tax,” he added. “Motorists can help reduce air pollution caused by black smoke and PM2.5 dust particles by having their vehicles regularly serviced at department-certified vehicle inspection centres nationwide,” said Jirut. “Alternately, they can switch to using electric or NGV-powered vehicles which have low to zero emission. The department has promoted the latter approach by reducing the annual motor-vehicle tax on low-emission vehicles under the Vehicle Act BE 2522.” People who witness vehicles emitting black smoke, can contact hotline 1584, Line: @1584DLT or via DLT GPS mobile application. Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401750 -- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-25 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

OBITUARY Legendary nightlife columnist Bernard Trink dead at 89 A legendary Thailand based journalist and columnist of a bygone era, Bernard Trink, has died aged 89. For many decades from the 1960s to 2003 Mr Trink was a columnist commenting on the nightlife in Bangkok and Pattaya in the Bangkok World and when that publication closed in the mid 1980s in the Bangkok Post. Mr Trink was a controversial figure with strident views that delighted and irked in equal measure. But it was fair to say that most expats who followed his column would always read it even if they disagreed with him or didn't appreciate his content. A New Yorker born in 1931, Mr Trink served in the Korean war and later was a journalist in India, Hong Kong and Japan before settling in Bangkok in 1962. He started his famous "Nite Owl" column in the now defunct Bangkok World in 1966. Every Friday evening there would be news about the bar scene usually accompanied by gyrating go-go dancers whom he might describe as "comely lasses". His lack of political correctness - in an era when that expression had not yet been coined - angered many and ultimately led to the end of the column. After the Bangkok World closed his column moved to the Bangkok Post first as a full page then just a half page. In the late 1999's the management of the post cut the column but there was a public outcry and it was restored until it was finally shelved in 2003. Mr Trink was well known in the bars and clubs of Bangkok and Pattaya, famous for "doing his rounds" with pants hitched high up and a medallion on his chest. He was often accompanied by his wife Aree Trink. Despite promoting the bar scene he always warned foreigners not to hitch up with Thai "demimondaines" (his word for bar girls and hostesses) whom he invariably described as untrustworthy. He was famous for what could be described as "Trinkisms" - words and expressions that are still used by many expats today. One was "T.I.T." (This Is Thailand) that explained away baffling occurrences in the kingdom. He always signed off his column with "And I don't give a hoot". The Bangkok Post management eventually did give a hoot and he was sidelined though he continued to go to the office to work on book and film reviews. One controversial thing that angered people and the Post management was his oddball claim that HIV did not lead to AIDS. But he also campaigned fervently for the removal of the Patpong night market saying that fire engines would not be able to gain access if there was a "conflagration" in one of the bars or discos of what was Thailand's leading red light area of the time. A close associate of the legendary columnist told Thaivisa that it was always hard to pin down Mr Trink because he had no phone or computer. Mr Trink, who passed away at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital from a blood infection, is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. Rooster -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-10-12 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

What can you buy for 1,000 baht in Thailand? By Dan Cheeseman Let’s start this blog with some exchange rate conversions for you, 1,000 baht converts to £22.68 and US$32. So, just as a bit of fun initially, I posted on my Twitter and Facebook pages asking people what they buy for 1,000 baht. It must have hit a nerve with people as the answers kept coming and coming. Some were silly, others a tad rude (well, I had to expect that) and others were altogether quite insightful and interesting. There was also some differentiation in the answers between platforms, with Facebook proving far more cheeky in it replies gathered than Twitter (so much so I deleted the post afterwards in the name of clean moderation!). So what can you buy? One expat on Twitter from Surin said 1,000 baht is his daily budget. Whereas one of my Thai followers said it would equate to 2 bottles of Australian Shiraz from Wine Connection. Hotel accommodation in Thailand can be great value so many commented that this can a cheap room for the night. Simon from Pattaya said a 1,000 baht gets him a Thai green curry, coconut rice and some beer whilst he can watch the sunset along Pattaya beach. Full story: https://danaboutthailand.com/2018/04/10/what-can-you-buy-for-1000-baht-in-thailand/ -- DAN ABOUT THAILAND 2018-04-12

Lawyer in "farang body in the freezer case" tells how he is going to get lead suspect off multiple rap - claims police irregularities video screenshot BANGKOK: -- The Thai lawyer who will appear for the lead suspect in the sensational "body in the freezer case" that gripped the nation last September has gone online to talk about the case. Bangkok lawyer "Adul" was speaking in a twenty minute "live" video on his Facebook page outlining the evidence against his US client "Peter" who is facing 11 charges including attempted murder. It was filmed on a beach and presents many details of the case including photos and court documents in Thai. The case was originally a raid on a Sukhumvit Soi 56 premises concerning fake passports. But a policeman was shot and a cut up corpse believed to belong to a Hungarian born US national was found in a deep freeze. Adul refers to his client as "Peter" throughout mentioning him as holding a passport under the name of William Peter Johnson. The name Herbert Craig La Fon also appears in documents. Adul looks at all the 11 charges in detail saying how he will defend his client at the upcoming trial next Wednesday October 18th. A judge's decision is then expected to follow within 30 to 45 days. The charges include weapons possession, having fake passports, forging stamps, possessing drugs, visa irregularities and attempted murder. Adul called the charges "heavy" as he outlined what he intended to argue in court. In the video he claims extra evidence including a bullet was planted by police. He questions the moving of a saw in photo evidence. He questions whether people with just 7 passports were really involved in forgery when another case had many more. He talks about irregularities in the appearance of Peter as he is led away from the premises where the raid occurred. Essentially he is suggesting his client was beaten up. He talks about the state of his hair from one picture to the next as he is led away and talks of injuries on his clients body on his head and forehead. He dismisses as nonsense police claims that his client made some "handcuff" injuries himself. It is not until the last few minutes of the video until he mentions the body in the freezer and the fingerprint evidence that points to another suspect. He questions evidence about a plastic bag containing a head and continues to suggest that Peter had nothing to do with the body in the freezer. On drugs he says that "Peter hates drugs" and suggests he only had a bit of Ketamine "left over from the Vietnam war". He suggests that gunshot residue evidence will prove that his client did not shoot the cop, who later recovered after being hit. Mentioning that it is an "honor" to defend his client in such an important case he ends the video by appealing for comments that may yet help the case saying it is not too late to make a difference. Three men were arrested on September 23rd 2016 with former police chief Sanit Mahathavorn leading a high profile case that dominated the news for weeks. -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-10-12