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This Bangkok Post account shed more light on details. Victim knew his attackers and they forced him to transfer cryptocurrency. https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/2939397/turkish-man-tied-up-and-robbed-in-pattaya

In his laptop is where he apparently kept his crypto account link. If they managed to get password, the account can be emptied.

From Khaosod English PATTAYA — A Thai woman’s life was saved by an American tourist who intervened just as she attempted to jump from a pedestrian bridge in Pattaya, while authorities and other citizens were trying to talk her down. At 5:30 p.m. on January 11, the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Center in Pattaya received reports of a person attempting to jump from a pedestrian bridge near Soi Sukhumvit 53 in Pattaya, Banglamung District, Chonburi Province. Emergency responders and police quickly arrived at the scene. At the location, they found Ms. W (alias), 23, crying hysterically while climbing over the bridge’s railing. She expressed her desire to end her life, causing distress to onlookers. Despite attempts by officials and good Samaritans to persuade her, she remained unresponsive to their pleas. Joe, a 38-year-old American who was in the vicinity, made a split-second decision to lunge forward and pull the young woman back to safety on the bridge. He sustained minor injuries to his leg from hitting the concrete edge during the rescue. “I noticed her standing there crying and feared she might be in danger,” Joe explained. “I tried talking to her and offering help, but she didn’t respond and continued crying. When I saw an opportunity, I acted quickly to bring her to safety.” https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/2025/01/11/american-mans-quick-action-saves-woman-from-bridge-jump-in-pattaya/

Judging by the rumors, the owner of Pride and Circus has no plans to open new venues. The owner of Hotmale seems more interested in consolidating his interests in Moonlight and the beer bar on street level.

From VN Express Kuala Lumpur, Luzon Island, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh City, and Singapore have been named among the world's 25 top trending destinations for 2025 as voted by Tripadvisor readers. Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, ranked second on the list. Known for its iconic Petronas Twin Towers, an 88-story skyscraper standing at 451.9 meters, Kuala Lumpur also boasts the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Malaysia, with a vibrant façade resembling a colorful totem pole of iconography. The six-tiered Thean Hou Temple, dedicated to the Chinese sea goddess Mazu, is another popular spiritual attraction. A visit to the Central Market offers a delightful experience of haggling, handicrafts, and local culture. Luzon Island, the largest island in the Philippines, secured the 13th spot. Tripadvisor highlighted it as a destination where "mountain peaks and volcanoes meet miles of coastline." Visitors can unwind on the beaches of Pagudpud, hike with locals through the Batad Rice Terraces, enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride in the historic town of Vigan, or savor street food and vibrant nightlife in Manila. Phnom Penh in Cambodia ranked 17th. Known for being budget-friendly, the city offers reasonably priced accommodations and attractions. Visitors can explore its temples, royal palaces, and remnants of French colonial architecture. Ho Chi Minh City came in at 18th place. Vietnam's largest metropolis is celebrated for its French colonial landmarks, including Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Saigon Central Post Office. The War Remnants Museum, located on Vo Van Tan Street in District 3, showcases a collection of over 20,000 historical documents, artifacts, and photographs. Another must-visit site is the Jade Emperor Pagoda, which former U.S. President Barack Obama visited in 2016. Singapore ranked 19th. Tripadvisor recommended sampling the city’s diverse street food or taking a cultural cooking class for an authentic experience. Visitors can also explore the Botanic Gardens and the Gardens by the Bay, two iconic attractions that offer stunning views and lush greenery. The 2025 Travelers' Choice Awards are based on the quality and quantity of traveler reviews submitted globally on Tripadvisor between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024. These awards celebrate destinations that have captured the hearts of travelers worldwide with their exceptional appeal and hospitality. Continues with photos https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/places/5-southeast-asian-destinations-among-world-s-top-trending-for-2025-4839096.html

From The Thaiger Hotels and airlines are experiencing widespread cancellations from Chinese tour groups ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday, with independent tourist bookings also slowing due to safety concerns in Thailand. Eason Chan, a singer and actor from Hong Kong, cancelled a planned concert in Thailand last week, citing safety concerns for Chinese fans visiting the country. Additionally, Hong Kong’s Security Bureau dispatched a task force to Thailand to investigate incidents involving their citizens being enticed into job scams in Southeast Asia. Natthriya Thaweevong, Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports, stated that Hong Kong security officials confirmed that tourists from Hong Kong have not been deceived or abducted in Thailand. The individuals affected were nationals hired to transport goods to South Asia, who were subsequently lured into entering Myanmar via Thailand. Natthriya mentioned that Hong Kong officials urged their citizens to be cautious if approached with high-paying job offers. She also noted that Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports assured Hong Kong that the country is enhancing safety and security measures for tourists, with the tourist police instructed to provide 24-hour assistance.

From The Thaiger Thailand is making bold moves to attract wealthy foreigners and digital nomads by easing visa restrictions to position the country as a global hub for long-term residency. The Cabinet approved sweeping changes to its Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa programme, streamlining the application process and eliminating outdated Smart visa categories, a Government House source revealed. The revised LTR visa rules target three key groups: remote workers, wealthy global citizens, and dependents of LTR visa holders. The most significant change includes lowering the income requirement for remote workers’ employers from an annual revenue of US$150 million (approximately 5.22 billion baht) to US$50 million over three years. The Board of Investment (BOI), which spearheaded the proposal, noted the previous threshold was “unrealistically high” and excluded many qualified applicants. Additionally, the Cabinet removed the requirement for LTR visa applicants to have an annual income of at least US$80,000 for two consecutive years, although they failed to mention what annual income applicants have to meet. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-slashes-barriers-for-elite-visas-ltr-programme

From Thailand News Agency Thai cabinet has approved in principle a draft bill to establish integrated entertainment complexes, a move aimed at boosting tourism, stimulating the economy, and addressing illegal gambling. The cabinet endorsed the draft bill on integrated entertainment complexes proposed by the Ministry of Finance, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced after the cabinet meeting on Monday. The initiative aims to boost tourism and investment while tackling existing illegal gambling activities, contributing positively to society and promoting sustainable tourism, aligning with the government’s policy of creating “man-made” tourist destinations. The Prime Minister cited Singapore as a successful example, where entertainment complexes, with casinos comprising only 10% of their offerings, have significantly boosted tourism and GDP growth. She stressed that similar benefits could be achieved in Thailand if the project is implemented promptly. The Ministry of Finance will submit the bill to the Council of State for legal review to ensure consistency with existing laws and government policy statements made to parliament. It is expected to be presented to parliament within the next two to three months, followed by the Senate. The government emphasized that the integrated entertainment complexes are envisioned as world-class family entertainment destinations offering diverse experiences to attract tourists and high-spending visitors.

From Thailand News Agency Thailand’s National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has banned the sale of new OPPO and Realme smartphone models found to have pre-installed unauthorized loan applications. The move follows complaints from consumers who discovered the “Fineasy” and “Happy Loan” apps embedded in their devices without their consent and with no option to uninstall them, according to Trairat Viriyasirikul, Deputy Secretary-General and Acting Secretary-General of the NBTC. Representatives from Possefy Group Company Limited, the importer and distributor of OPPO phones, and Protha Company Limited, the importer and distributor of Realme phones, were summoned to a meeting with the NBTC to address the issue. The meeting also included representatives from the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) and the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC), and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, due to concerns over unauthorized access to personal data. As an immediate measure, the NBTC has prohibited the sale of new OPPO and Realme phone models containing the loan apps, including devices scheduled for launch on January 14. For existing users of older phone models, OPPO and Realme have requested up to one month to provide users with links to uninstall the apps. However, the PDPC deemed this timeframe too long and has requested both companies to present a revised timeline for corrective action by January 16. -819 (TNA)

From Pattaya News A Turkish tourist in Pattaya was reportedly bound and robbed by three men who fled with his laptop and cryptocurrency. At 3:36 AM on January 14th, Pattaya police received a report of a tourist being robbed. The incident occurred at a condominium in Soi Wat Boon Kanjanaram in Pattaya. Upon receiving the report, officers and The Pattaya News team rushed to the scene. At the scene, the victim, an unidentified Turkish tourist, was found visibly shaken. The condominium’s security staff had already assisted him. The victim informed police that three unknown male suspects had abducted him, tied his hands behind his back, and bound his ankles before stealing his belongings, including a laptop and a significant amount of cryptocurrency. Continues with photos https://thepattayanews.com/2025/01/14/turkish-tourist-found-bound-and-robbed-of-cryptocurrency-in-pattaya-condo/

China got what it wanted from Thailand: the returns of the Uyghurs. You'll have to ask the prime minister why she decided to acquiesce. That's above my pay grade.

Reportedly owner’s other bar (Pride) is also on the market.

Boys from countries that border Thailand seem more familiar with Thai. Others who been there a while usually pick it up. Thai is among the world's tonal languages. This explanation from Babbel provides an overview. While the many varieties of Chinese get the most coverage, there are lots of tonal languages out there. Other tonal languages include Thai, Igbo, Yòrúba, Punjabi, Zulu and Navajo. All told, there are over 1.5 billion people who speak a tonal language. There are also a number of pitch-accent languages. These include Norwegian, Serbo-Croatian, Japanese, Filipino, Swedish and Ancient Greek. These languages generally have two tone distinctions, say a high and a low. https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/tonal-languages

Watermelons don't have stomachs. Seriously, if you have acid reflux problems fruits with high fructose content like watermelon could aggravate condition, according to Cleveland Clinic. Water is about only beverage safe for everyone, regardless of ailments (full disclosure statement: Moses may not agree with this 😊).

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Agree. At the root of the problem is Congress has not allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices with suppliers (again. power of healthcare lobbyists). Last year minimal progress allowed price restrictions on handful of drugs. Insurance companies, on the other hand, can negotiate prices. I pay <$20 for 90-day supplies of blood pressure and statin prescriptions. Congress does, however, permit Veterans Administration to effectively negotiate prices. It's a dichotomy that can only be explained by politics.

From The Thaiger Tragedy on Death Island: Irish diver found dead in hotel room Royal Thai Police revealed more news on the death of Irishman Robert “Robby” Kinlan who was on a scuba diving holiday on Thailand’s infamous Death Island. An RTP spokesperson announced the 21 year old from Clare, Ireland, was found dead in a hotel room. Kinlan was discovered on January 9, lying lifeless on his bed in nothing but his boxer shorts. A friend tragically found him and despite urgent efforts, he could not be revived Police have revealed that the young Irishman was clutching his phone, which was still connected to a wall socket, although the device was locked when authorities arrived. The small police station on Koh Tao, located roughly 250 miles south of Bangkok, now faces the challenge of waiting for turbulent seas to calm before Kinlan’s body can be transported to Surat Thani province on the mainland for a post-mortem examination, reported the Daily Mirror. As the island, notorious for its mysterious deaths, faces scrutiny once again, Robby’s family mourns the loss of their beloved son who sought adventure and freedom. Continues with video https://thethaiger.com/news/national/tragedy-on-death-island-irish-diver-found-dead-in-hotel-room-video

Encouraging to hear another good report on emergency room treatment in Bangkok. You're right in assuming that ER costs would be higher in US. There's a federal rule that requires hospitals that receive government Medicare aid to provide treatment to all comers (including non citizens), regardless of their ability to pay. In major metropolitan areas, the emergency medical response systems and ER's become the manner that those without insurance access the health care system. I believe national healthcare would be a far better solution but neither Democrat or Republican controlled governments have been able to extricate themselves from the grip of healthcare lobbyists.

You'll pass by One Spa, BT House and KK Massage en route. Probably <50 baht taxi ride from station in seven minutes if traffic not heavy. Follow map and won't get lost.

Phoenix is about 25 minute walk from SK BTS stop. Turn left off Suthisan Winitchai Rd. on to Inthamara 25 and you'll come to shop on your left side in about one minute.

Good to hear that. Pulse also offers IV's but I suspect it's less costly at Bangkok Christian Hospital. I'm prone to dehydration--not uncommon from older men from cold climates. Have to keep reminding myself to drink more water. Watermelon is one of fruits with extra high water content available from street vendors almost all hours

From Pattaya Mail The government has issued a warning about fraudulent schemes on TikTok, cautioning that state-owned banks and funds do not offer loans through the platform. Authorities are urging citizens to verify website links and avoid sharing unverified information. The Royal Thai Police and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) are investigating and preparing legal action against individuals spreading false news. Officials have identified an increase in online scams, with fake advertisements posing as state-backed loan offers among the most concerning. A prominent example involves claims that the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) is offering loans through a TikTok account called “baac.thailand5.” Another scam promotes a fake investment fund, the “Thai Sustainable Fund,” which falsely claims endorsement by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and requires a 1,000-baht portfolio opening fee. The Anti-Fake News Center reported receiving over 800,000 messages in late last month and early this month. Among these, about 300 required verification, and 40 cases have been resolved. Online crime-related fake news, including fraudulent loan offers, accounted for the majority of public attention. Several other scams have been flagged, including fake Government Savings Bank (GSB) Facebook and TikTok accounts advertising quick loans, counterfeit Department of Land Transport pages offering license services, and fraudulent investment schemes claiming SEC approval with promises of high returns. Scams targeting retirees and freelance job seekers were also identified. https://www.pattayamail.com/thailandnews/thai-authorities-warn-against-fraudulent-loan-and-investment-scams-on-tiktok-486777

@phoenix25

And if you're wondering what's prompting a political kiss like the one above, consider China's sword of Damocles that hangs over nations that oppose its interests. And no one probably knows better than out-going FBI Dir. Christopher Wray. Last night he went on the record in a no holds barred interview on 60 Minutes and described the cyber threat China poses in the most candid and revealing interview ever by someone in his position. He also acknowledges why he got on the wrong side of both Trump and Biden.

+1 I've found it not unusual to have driver refuse request, especially at busy times. Just say "no, thanks" and wait for another. Although it may cost a few baht more, I've found that Grab is one way to avoid situation. And you can track location of car as you wait.