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Picture: Ban Muang Surat Thani immigration in conjunction with local police in Bo Phut, Koh Samui arrested a 47 year old Russian drug dealer on Wednesday. Under the command of Pol Col Supharik Phankosol officers went to a luxury house in the Tropical Villa Eagle Nest estate in Moo 6 (name transliterated from Thai and possibly incorrect). Arrested was Konstantin S. There were twenty items of drugs found including about 15 grams of "ice" over 190 grams of cocaine, ketamine, MD, methamphetamine and Ecstacy. Scales and bags were also found. The suspect was charged with possession and dealing in Class 1 and Class 2 narcotics. Ban Muang published the standard rhetoric about this arrest being under the auspices of immigration chief Pol Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang and asked for information about illegal activity to be reported on the 1178 hotline. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-03 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News Daily News reported from Koh Samui after a nine year old child died on Koh Phangan as a result of stings from a deadly box jellyfish. Nets have been installed by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources on Lamai and Chaweng Beaches to add to signs about the danger and posts containing vinegar - a standard first response treatment for stings. At Koh Phangan itself the media said the net there at Had Rin beach had been upgraded. Various kinds of jellyfish including boy jellyfish that can kill are particularly prevalent in the area from July to October, said Krissana Phromkoh the owner of Lamai Wantha Hotel as the net was installed outside her property. Stings should be washed continually with vinegar and never touched as this can spread the toxin. Medical help must be sought immediately after a serious attack. She said that tentacles from jellyfish can stretch 5 meters from the main body of the jellyfish. It is always safest to swim in areas surrounded by nets especially at this time of the year. Daily News also published figures from Koh Samui Hospital for the number of stings from all kinds of jellyfish that were treated there: 2016 42 cases 2017 47 cases 2018 17 vases 2019 and 2020 8 cases each 2021 9 cases so far. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-09-01 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Peter Thurgood, 74, moved to Thailand around 15 years ago (Image: Trina Sanders) Peter's life came crashing down after he went into a diabetic coma Abigail Nicholson, Senior Night Reporter A desperate daughter is struggling to get her bedridden dad back to the UK from Thailand. Peter Thurgood, 74, moved to Thailand around 15 years ago and had been 'living his dream' in the sun. But his life came crashing down after being rushed to hospital in October 2020 after he went into a diabetic coma. Doctors said his heart was failing and he needed to have a pacemaker fitted. Due to him being abroad it took a few days for the family to pay £27,000 for the operation and get paperwork signed by his daughter, Trina Sanders who lives in Birkenhead. Trina said: "It [Peter becoming ill] all came completely out of the blue, when his girlfriend, Pong, rang us we were just in shock. "All went well and he started to come out of his coma. Full story: https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/heartbroken-daughter-desperate-fly-bedridden-21439771 -- © Copyright Liverpool Echo 2021-09-01 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Channel 7 Bangkok's governor Aswin Kwanmuang told the media that obstacles to opening restaurants in the Thai capital more fully had been removed. He said that from September 1st to 30th it will not be necessary that patrons will have to have been vaccinated to use restaurants. Staff will also not have to take ATK tests every 7 days. These obstacles were seen as problematic when they were mooted because only around 10% of the Thai population has been double vaxxed and restaurants complained that ATK testing would eat into their already devastated bottom line, notes ASEAN NOW. Aswin said that from Wednesday it is back to mask wearing, temperature checking and 2 meter social distancing protocols, reported Channel 7. These measures are familiar to everyone by now. He said that where 2 meter SD could not be guaranteed then screens and barriers need to be in place. Schools will also be allowed to open without restrictions from Wednesday with teaching, training and testing for large groups allowed. It remains to be seen what protocols will be in place in each school and how many will reopen but the suprise decision of the CCSA will be a mostly welcome relief to parents who have had their children at home since Songkran. Beauty salons, hairdressing shops and health massage can also reopen - the latter being foot massage only. Restaurants can open to 8 pm, the same as malls and shopping centers. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-30 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Goong Nang(GN) Pattaya – Pattaya Beach is recovering afer significant damage following heavy rains over the past weekend, especially on Friday (August 27th) which caused flooding across the city. First, a recap of Friday’s rain in Pattaya. Rain also fell throughout the weekend, although the hardest hit portion was on Friday morning. Water had flowed from higher areas in town to drain onto Pattaya beach and then into the sea. Portions of the beach were washed away, causing numerous ditches and holes on the sand. A video is also attached showing the repair work being done following this weekend’s rains. Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2021/08/29/pattaya-beach-repaired-after-heavy-rains-and-flooding-hit-the-city-over-the-past-weekend/ -- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2021-08-30 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Sanook The chief of the Royal Thai Police General Suwat Chaengyodsuk sent in Pol Maj-Gen Noppasin Phoonsawat to try and find a fugitive police colonel at the center of a murder inquiry. Instead they found luxury cars - lots of them. Pol Col Thitisan Utthanaphol was not at his Ram Inthra home in Bangkok but there were 13 sports and supercars including Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari and Mercedes Benz models. The provenance of the vehicles is being investigated. Graphic: Sanook Later Sanook discovered an inventory of all the vehicles owned by the former chief of the Muang Nakhon Sawan police in the north of Thailand. It contained the names of 29 models amounting to hundreds of millions of baht. Not bad for someone who Daily News reported yesterday as earning just 43,330 baht a month. The cop known by the nickname of "Joe Ferrari" was one of the leading lights in the fight against drugs until his abrupt removal from the force after a drug suspect died in custody. The suspect was shown on a video being tortured by placing plastic bags on his head in an alleged extortion incident involving several officers. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-26 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Reuters file photo for reference only The Tourism Authority of Thailand's newest director of Asia and the south Pacific told Bangkok Business News that tourists are clearly desperate to come to Thailand. But Thanes Petchsuwan noted that many countries have a requirement that returning tourists need to quarantine for 14 days and this is hindering matters due to its expense. Some have suggested that if Thailand paid part of their 14 day quarantine costs then they would visit. A case in point was Singapore, said Thanes, where information received has shown that if Thailand helped tourists in this regard their nationals would be prepared to visit Thailand. Discover Cigna’s range of health insurance solutions created for expats and local nationals living in Thailand - click to view -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-20 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

By Cod Satrusayang Thai police are seeking software that would help it monitor chat applications and social media private messages, a police source told Thai Enquirer on Tuesday. The Royal Thai Police have reached out to several companies selling software similar to the Pegasus software developed by an Israeli defense company. Police have approached vendors looking for technology that could be used to monitor messages sent between popular chat applications like LINE, WhatsApp, and Telegram. Police will use the application to monitor and prevent political protest as well as go after members of organized crime and drug smugglers, the source told Thai Enquirer on the condition of anonymity. Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/31061/thai-police-seeking-spyware-that-will-help-it-monitor-chat-applications/ -- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-08-10 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

FILE PHOTO: A general view of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia September 30, 2014. REUTERS/Tami Chappell By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned on Monday against travel to Israel, France, Thailand, Iceland and several other countries because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases in those nations. The CDC has been adding to its highest "Level 4: Very High" COVID-19 level as cases spread around the globe. The United States added Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, along with other places, including Aruba and French Polynesia. The U.S. State Department also issued its parallel Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisories for Iceland and France on Monday. In July, the CDC had raised concerns about Israel, the West Bank and Gaza, lifting its travel health notice by two levels to "Level 3: High." The CDC also hiked alert levels to "Level 3: High" for Austria, Croatia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan, Guam, Kenya and Jamaica. The CDC says unvaccinated travelers should avoid nonessential travel to those countries. (Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Marguerita Choy) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-10 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Sanook Thailand's Department of Health has come up with nine measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 through sexual practices. Couples and lovers should refrain from face to face contact and wear face masks. There should be no kissing or oral sex, no group sex and cleanliness should be a priority. The departmental rep responsible for sanitation and sex Dr Pheerayuth Sanugoon spoke to Daily News at the weekend after a young prostitute in Kanchanaburi tested positive raising concerns of a cluster. Picture Daily News Dr Pheerayuth said the issue of safe sex practices was especially important during the pandemic as the consequences for people, their partners and society in general can be serious. People waiting on a test result should refrain from all sex, for example, and all pay-for-play should be avoided. Indeed, sex with strangers at parties could constitute an illegal gathering and be prosecuted under Article 9 of the emergency decree. That means fines and even prison. Restrictions are in place stopping gatherings. Dr Pheerayuth said that husbands and wives and lovers could still have sex, but they needed to follow nine protocols, which included washing hands and body with lots of soap before and after sex and no kissing or sharing of saliva as this has been shown to contain the virus. Wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask covering nose and mouth securely was also advised, as practicing safe sex such as wearing a condom reported Sanook. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-09 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Daily News Daily News reported on a TikTok clip that is going viral on Thai social media that they said epitomized the battle against Covid-19 being waged in Thailand. The clip on @oomnattarat showed a female nurse in PPE gear collapsing as she attended patients who were not yet admitted to the covid ward at a facility in Samut Sakhon. Colleagues rushed to her aid and took off the protective gear before she was taken to recover in a bed of her own. This is all accompanied by Thai music. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-03 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates download.mp4

Picture: Daily News The penny has finally dropped for Thailand's billionaire tourism and sports minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan. He has had to admit that the raging pandemic in Thailand has dealt a hammer blow to his plans and that of the government to welcome millions of foreign tourists. The voices have been loud and clear online and in "letters to the editor" that his predictions and that of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) were pie in the sky nonsense. But he insisted they were going to happen nonetheless. Until now. And of course he is blaming the pandemic situation in Thailand that is worsening by the day. "Yes," he told Daily News. "We won't be seeing three million foreign tourists by the end of the year. "About 500,000 to 700,000 is the best we can hope for now". As far as the Phuket Sandbox predictions went, those too have gone out of the window though he expected the sandbox to press on regardless. "100,000 tourists in Phuket in three months will not be met," he admitted. "July went as we hoped but targets for August of 40,000 will not be happening. There will be about 15,000 - about the same as July". The first month of the sandbox saw 14,000 foreigners visit Phuket though many of these were returning expats or even Thais added to the figures, notes ASEAN NOW. Pipat told the media that if the situation in Bangkok does not improve by the last three months of the year many sporting events could be rescheduled to Phuket. These include golf, E-sports, the 7-a-side Asian Rugby championships and the King's Cup football. A big event planned by the TAT to mark the 17th anniversary of the Asian Tsunami planned for Boxing Day December 26th will also have to be reassessed. The TAT were hoping to attract many Scandinavians in particular to that. For now Pipat said that he was working with the interior ministry on coming up with some "Sky Blue Zones" where foreign tourism could take place. These would be announced in the next couple of weeks, he noted. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-08-03 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Picture: Naew Na Thailand's immigration bureau in the shape of chief Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang decided to take action after a video at the soft opening of Taco Bell in Pattaya showed a man of color arguing with a white man over wearing a mask. It was felt that the IB should act in the case as the issue of wearing a mask is very serious at this stage of the pandemic with the potential for a 20,000 baht fine, reported Naew Na. It was further felt that an example should be made especially as the man, an American national, had allegedly threatened violence in the store with staffers prepared to call the police after refusing him service. Picture: Naew Na The IB with the Chonburi provincial police went to Taco Bell where the incident occurred earlier this month and then to a condo on Pratumnak Hill where the man was residing. They arrested him outside and he admitted that he was the person in the video. He was named as Cxarence, 33, from the US, according to a board at IB HQ. He was taken to Muang Pattaya police station and charged with unhiegenic activity potentially spreading a dangerous infection, essentially not wearing a mask in public. Naew Na did not say how much he was fined - a first offence is generally considered to be 6,000 baht with the fine rising to 20,000 for a third offence notes ASEAN NOW. The media further reported that the American accepted what he did was wrong and that he intended to be the "eyes and ears" of society in future in promoting the wearing of masks. The case was reported at the IB's press conference at Suan Phlu, Bangkok yesterday with a large vinyl board erected that referred to the US man's skin color saying that he had tried to pick a fight. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-24 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updatesv

File photo for reference only By Jonathan Fairfield Plans to offer 10 year visas to “rich” foreigners, which would also enable them to own land and work without a work permit, are set to be put to Cabinet for approval. Deputy Prime Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow has said the plans were already approved in principle by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA) on June 4. The proposals, which were first mooted back in April, will go before Cabinet as part of a series of plans designed to boost investment into Thailand. Previously it had been reported that the government planned to attract one million foreigners to become expats in Thailand. The would-be expats would have healthy bank balances or pension pots and would generate up to one trillion baht for the Thai economy, it was estimated. The expats would be divided into four groups: 1. ‘Rich’ global citizens 2. ‘Wealthy’ retirees 3. Digital nomads - or professionals working from Thailand 4. Highly skilled professionals ‘Rich’ global citizens would need to be able to prove income of at least $80,000 over the last two years and have $1 million in assets. They would also need to be able to invest at least 16 million baht in property or government bonds. The ‘wealthy’ retirees are defined as those who are aged 50 or over and who can invest 8 million baht in property or government baht, while also being able to show a minimum annual income of $40,000. The digital nomads would need to be earning $80,000 for the last two years or $40,000 a year and would be self employed or employed by a company overseas but which are able to use Thailand as a location to work from. They would be able to ‘work’ in Thailand without needing a work permit. They would also need to show educational qualifications of a master’s degree or higher or at least five years experience in their field. The final group are the highly skilled professionals SET-listed companies or from a company with an annual income of more than $50 million. However, it is not clear exactly what ‘land ownership’ for foreigners would mean in reality. It had previously been suggested that laws similar to the Condo Act of 2008 would be used to allow foreigners to own land plots in housing developments. Leasehold of land upto 50 years were also being considered. Thai news site Manager reported that the proposals to lure foreigners with 10 year visas and land ownership are part of wider plans designed to boost investment into Thailand. The plans, backed by the Board of Investment, would also see Thailand become a hub for the electric vehicle industry (EV). In the report buzzwords such as “Digitalization”, “Decarbonization”, “Decentralization” and “D-risk” were used to describe the plans which would help Thailand reap the benefits of moving towards clean technology. DPM Supattanapong also touted the country’s good healthcare system as a boon in helping attract up to one million high-income foreigners to buy second homes in Thailand. -- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-17 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

Reuters file photo for reference only A meeting of 35 foreign Chambers of Commerce unanimously declared Friday the need for the Thai government to vaccinate foreign businessmen, foreign employees and their families as a matter of priority. Chairman of the JFCCT (Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce Thailand) Stanley Kang said there were 500,000 foreign businessmen an their families and 2 million foreign employees and their families. These two and a half million people need to be prioritised and vaccinated before the end of the third quarter (that's the start of October at the latest), reported Thai business media. So far the registration on the ThaiIntervac.com site had only allowed registration for those holding work permits so it did not include the families of the foreigners or people over the age of 60. Mr Kang thought a better plan would be to organise the vaccine registration utilizing passports and visas rather than work permits. It was noted at the meeting by the Thai-Chinese CoC that nationals from China are being vaccinated by their government. Mr Kang said there was agreement that Thailand is a great country to live in and invest in, but red tape experienced by foreign companies needs to be cut in order to make it more competitive with ASEAN rivals. There were calls for an upgrade of Board of Investment privileges and for talks about extending Social Security to foreigners working and residing in Thailand. -- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-06-28 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

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