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5
Report Bangkok Japanese Restaurant Criticised Over Misleading Birthday Promotion
Sorta like those big beautiful beef-on-a-bun products which normally don't look anything like their advertisements (names not to be mentioned due to defamation laws as we're not in Kansas anymore Toto) -
7
Crime Man Caught Smuggling Nearly 18 Million Baht in Cash from Myanmar
The weapons trade is quite lucrative, thats a possibility -
21
Politics Thai PM Paetongtarn Faces Dilemma Over Compensation Order
Rich Thais tend to stick their kids into International schools. It means they have good enough English to go to Universities in the UK, USA or Australia. It also means they have qualifications to enter without having to do a foundation year (required for students with a Thai education). -
30
The "rudest" social security reform proposal yet
I really wouldn't worry about that. It probably won't happen and even if it does we have no idea what the rules would be or level of wealth they would decide to target. On the other hand a real thing to worry about niow are automatically triggered deep benefit cuts for all unless the government can make reforms in time. The most likely fix is probably just raising the payroll cap on SS taxes. -
20
Crime Drunken American Throws Rock through Window in Pattaya Over E-Cigarette Dispute
Poor fella my Arzzzze. More like a stupid idiot who couldn't or wouldn't take no foe an answer. Fine him the maximum amount, make sure he pays for ALL the damage he has caused, give him a month in jail and then deport him back to MAGAland, with a label tattooed on his forehead stating that he is a drug abuser and not wanted in Thailand. -
35
VISA AGENTS - is it a dodgy industry?
After working with agents for a while, you get pretty good at spotting and chasing down the dishonest ones. Honestly, I haven’t met any yet—once they mess up, they’re out of business faster than you can say “visa denied.” I know reading and understanding all those written texts here on Asean Now can be tricky too—maybe I should get a bot agent to do that for me. By the way, some visa types actually require the use of an approved agent. I haven’t tried those agencies yet. I’m not Australian, but I’ve gone through the visa process many times. Once, I had to hire a very expensive agent because I made a mistake—I was in a hurry and didn’t fully explore the official websites. I also didn’t have time to visit all the ministries for legalization in The Hague—unaware they must be visited in a specific order, and clueless about their exact locations or opening hours. What I realized: An agent doesn’t just handle paperwork—they buy you time. While they chase documents, you can focus on preparing, learning, and managing what matters most. The real delays come from rigid planning systems. When time is tight, it’s not the visa itself that slows you down—it’s the chain of appointments, legalizations, stamps, and tight deadlines. You quickly learn that planning ahead isn’t a luxury—it’s a survival skill. It would be much easier if every applicant had a unique ID number—but even then, operators can still press the wrong buttons. A good agent, if managed well, makes you sharper. Stay involved, ask questions, and you’ll walk away confident and ready to handle it yourself next time. And when legalized Thai translators are involved—like those near Leiden University, in Udon Thani, or by Victory Monument in Bangkok—I don’t mind paying a bit extra. It supports their families, and I respect the care and detail they bring to a process often hinging on a single word or stamp. Speaking of which… I have four Catholic surnames. After 25 years of forms, I’ve seen them spelled every possible way by legalized Thai translators. I’ve learned to closely interact with them, laugh, and live with it.
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