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☆ $100 million New Jersey deli fugitive Peter Coker Jr. agrees to extradition to U.S. from Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A former fugitive wanted on criminal stock manipulation charges related to a money-losing New Jersey deli once valued at $100 million has agreed to be extradited from Thailand to the United States, Thai authorities said. Peter Coker Jr., 54, was arrested last week by Thai police in the resort area of Phuket, less than four months after he, his father, Peter Coker Sr., and an associate, James Patten, were indicted in New Jersey federal court. Coker Jr., who most recently was known to be living and working as a businessman in Hong Kong, is being held in a Bangkok jail for the next several weeks before his expected extradition, the Associated Press reported Friday. Thai police, in a statement, said Coker Jr., who is an American most recently known to be living in Hong Kong, had entered the country with a passport issued by the Caribbean island of St. Kitts and Nevis. "Mr. Coker Jr. voluntarily consented to be extradited to the U.S., which has simplified the court's legal process," Teerat Limpayaraya, a prosecutor in Thailand's Attorney General's office, told the AP.

But retailers in popular Asian destinations are desperate to take advantage of the return of a first wave of Chinese tourists as the country reopens borders after three long years of COVID-19 curbs. And robust demand for destinations like Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand has boosted prospects for the battered travel industry, Ctrip booking data shows. Still, destinations elsewhere show that the return of Chinese tourists remains at a very early stage. Fresh COVID testing requirements for Chinese tourists in some locations may be acting as a barrier, while some countries also require visas that take time to process. Retailers in South Korea are also not seeing a huge influx in Chinese tourists yet, citing the suspension of short-term visas for travellers between both countries.

☆ Police in Thailand arrested an American man in connection with an alleged fraud that left a New Jersey deli worth $100 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Thai police arrested a man over an alleged fraud involving a firm that owned a New Jersey deli. Peter Coker Jr. was detained on January 11 at a hotel in Phuket, the Bangkok Post reported. His father, Peter Coker Sr., and James Patten were arrested in September and have pleaded not guilty. Coker Jr was the subject of arrest warrants issued by Interpol, per the Post, after being accused of stock market manipulation and fraud in September. The Post reported that Coker Jr. admitted he was the man wanted on the Interpol register.

☆ Fugitive $100 million New Jersey deli defendant Peter Coker Jr. arrested in Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Peter Coker Jr., who last was known to be living in Hong Kong, is one of three people charged in the case involving the deli owner, Hometown International , and a related shell company, E-Waste . The Bangkok Post reported that the 54-year-old Coker Jr. was arrested on Jan. 11 in a hotel room in the Thalang district of Phuket province, Thailand. The newspaper said Coker Jr. was arrested pursuant to so-called red and black notices issued by the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol. Local Thai police, working with the FBI, arrested Coker, after tracking him to the hotel, The Post reported. Coker Jr. had served as chairman of Hometown International, whose sole asset for years was the Your Hometown Deli in Paulsboro, New Jersey.

Bangkok/Hong Kong CNN —For years, Thailand welcomed legions of Chinese tourists to its golden beaches, shopping districts and striking temples. Three government ministers headed to Bangkok’s international airport earlier this week to personally greet the first group of Chinese tourists to arrive after China lifted travel restrictions. Amazing Thailand always warmly welcomes our Chinese family.”Travelers from a Xiamen Airlines flight being welcomed by Thai officials upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on Jan. 9, 2023. “The arrival of tourists from China, as well as from countries around the world, to Thailand is expected to increase continually. In Thailand, that’s been no exception, with travel companies beginning to reactivate Chinese social marketing campaigns and increase staffing, according to Barnett.

One of Asia's most popular travel destinations, Thailand is seeing a much-needed tourism boom, with 1.75 million visitors in November, quadruple the number received for the whole of last year when flights and foreign arrivals were limited by the pandemic. Russian arrivals in November represented about 60% of the number who visited in the same month in 2019. A top destination for Russians is Phuket, where they account for about a quarter of the island's visitors, helped by direct flights to there and Bangkok, according to Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). "In the evening you'll see Russian families strolling in the park along with locals," he said, adding some were staying until March. ($1 = 34.6200 baht)Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng and Orathai Siring; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thai power price hike to hurt business, competitiveness - business group
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BANGKOK, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Thailand's decision to hike electricity prices by 20% in early 2023 will push up inflation and undermine the country's competitiveness as the economy recovers gradually from the pandemic, a leading joint business group said on Friday. The business group urged the government to delay the price hike as manufacturers would be forced to increase the price of goods, said the group, which includes representatives from industry, banking and commerce. Surong Bulakul, vice chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said higher power prices could increase inflation to 3.5% next year, from 3% currently forecast, with interest rates on the rise. On Monday, the central bank said it would continue to raise rates for a while to help the economy and curb inflation. ($1 = 34.70 baht)Reporting by Orathai Sriring, Kitiphong Thaichareon Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ A Three-Week Vacation in 2023? Yes, You Can
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Rachel Feintzeig | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In August, Shane Sloan did something he’d never done before. He packed his bags, got on a plane and didn’t work for 21 days. “It was almost disconcerting at first,” the 43-year-old from Nashville, Tenn., says of the trip to Thailand with his wife and daughter. He spent time with extended family, hit hotel pools high above Bangkok and relaxed beachside in Phuket. Then he realized he still had a week left.

☆ Aeroflot tells passengers to read a book or take a nap after sanctions end in-flight entertainment on some services
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian airline Aeroflot has been forced to remove in-flight entertainment on some services. The airline suggested passengers read, meditate, or take a nap while it works on a "domestic solution." Aeroflot has managed to keep flying despite western sanctions increasingly hobbling operations. Aeroflot didn't say why it couldn't offer entertainment, and it doesn't appear to have affected the airline's larger aircraft. After halting flights to several international destinations because of flight path restrictions, Aeroflot resumed flights to Thailand, India, and the Maldives in October.

☆ Bitcoin Family is moving more than $1 million into decentralized exchanges after Sam Bankman-Fried's FTX disaster
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

The Taihuttu family in November, days after moving back to Phuket. Didi TaihuttuZoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards The Taihuttu family in Lagos, Portugal on the day they adopted Teddy, their Pomeranian puppy. Thumb drive-size devices like a Trezor or Ledger offer a way to secure crypto tokens "cold." When asked why he is going all in on DEXs instead of keeping his crypto cold, Didi pointed to ease of access. Under it all, the Bitcoin Family still believes that the original cryptocurrency is a solid bet.

☆ Thailand still wants Russian tourists – and direct flights are making it easy to get to Phuket
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Direct flights between Russia and Thailand's largest island, Phuket, resumed on October 30. On the same day, the Russian state-owned airline Aeroflot restarted direct flights to Thailand, India, and the Maldives. In January, 24,000 Russian tourists arrived in Phuket. Now that direct flights have returned, Russian airlines are fast expanding their routes to Thailand, according to The Thaiger. The country aims to welcome 1 million Russian tourists in 2022, per DW, with numbers forecast to peak in the coming winter as Russians trade cold for tropical beaches.

☆ Thailand's floating basket festival
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Dave Lucas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A boy swims in a fountain at Saphan Hin park as he helps to place a Krathong, or a "floating basket", in the water amid a yearly festival during which rafts of neatly folded banana leaves, decorated with flowers, candles and incense, are offered to...moreA boy swims in a fountain at Saphan Hin park as he helps to place a Krathong, or a "floating basket", in the water amid a yearly festival during which rafts of neatly folded banana leaves, decorated with flowers, candles and incense, are offered to thank the water goddess for good luck and for using her water to grow crops and support all life, in Phuket, Thailand November 8, 2022. REUTERS/Jorge Silva TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYClose

☆ Luxury hotel booking programs from Amex, Capital One, Visa, and more can get you free elite benefits like room upgrades and on-property credits — here's how
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Eric Rosen | Tessa Campbell | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +39 min

David Slotnick/Business InsiderMany travel rewards cards offer elite-like hotel benefits when you book with their online portals. The prices through credit card travel portals are often on par with booking directly through hotels. However, it's only available to Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Travel Elite cardholders. Bottom lineYou might not have a premium hotel credit card or elite status with one of the major loyalty programs. However, that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of credit card booking portals to enjoy perks like room upgrades, free breakfast, and on-property credits.

☆ The Chase Sapphire Reserve's 80K bonus is effectively a blank airline ticket — here's how to use it to get (almost) anywhere in the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Credit Cards Reporter | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

By transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to airline partners, you can fly just about anywhere on earth. Show more Regular APR 19.99% - 26.99% Variable Editor's Rating 4.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. By transferring 80,000 Chase points to Southwest, you can expect an average value of $1,120 in free flights. You can save quite a few Chase points if you're willing to pay a bit in taxes, however. Bottom lineThe 84,000 Chase points you'll have after opening the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and meeting its minimum spending requirement is basically a blank airline ticket to nearly anywhere on earth's surface.

☆ Extreme piercings put devotees in soul-cleansing trance at Thai festival
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Jeremy Schultz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A medium woman with her mouth pierced is portrayed while in trance at the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket Town, Thailand, October 2. Worshippers on Thailand's Phuket island have celebrated a nine-day Taoist festival, with many piercing their...moreA medium woman with her mouth pierced is portrayed while in trance at the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket Town, Thailand, October 2. Worshippers on Thailand's Phuket island have celebrated a nine-day Taoist festival, with many piercing their faces with metal spikes and walking on hot coals to show devotion to deities. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaClose

☆ Ritual piercings mark annual Taoist festival in Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A medium man with his mouth pierced is portrayed while in trance during the Kathu Shrine procession amidst celebrations of the annual vegetarian festival, observed by Taoist devotees from the Thai-Chinese community in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, in Phuket Town, Thailand October 3, 2022. REUTERS/Jorge SilvaPHUKET, Thailand Oct 4 (Reuters) - Worshippers on Thailand's Phuket island have celebrated a nine-day Taoist festival, with many piercing their faces with metal spikes and walking on hot coals to show devotion to deities. The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, which was suspended during the coronavirus pandemic, drew thousands of people from the ethnic Chinese community, who marched from a temple in traditional costume. Devotees, who abstain from sex, alcohol, and meat during the festival, say the piercings symbolise repentance for sins and is meant to ward off evil spirits. The piercing is believed to have been influenced by the Indian Thaipusam festival.

☆ Piercings and prayers
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Dave Lucas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A man walks at the Sapam shrine with piercings on his tongue as a purification ritual during the annual vegetarian festival observed by Taoist devotees from the Thai-Chinese community in the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, in Phuket,...more

The prices through credit card travel portals are often on par with booking directly through hotels. Depending on the issuer and type of credit card you carry, you might have access to special online booking portals where reservations include these sorts of freebies, too. Although you won't earn hotel points or credit toward elite status by booking through this portal, the $100 credit will likely make up for it. More Information Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

☆ „Principalul lucru e să ai cu tine pașaportul, rucsacul și capul pe umeri”. Care sunt regulile de urmat ale unei călătorii libere
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-13 | by ( Jardan Cristian | ) www.zdg.md time to read: +13 min

E o dependență – cu cât mai puține trenuri sunt, cu atât mai puțini și vânzători. O călătorie lungă de la Moscova la Vladivostok nici nu-ți vine în minte. Cât privește rutele, ei bine, Rusia e o țară mare. Mii de tinerii activi ajung pe jos în Libia pentru a se urca într-o barcă și a ajunge în Europa. Iar dacă țara este scumpă, atunci e mai bine să gătești singur – acolo unde dormi.

Persons: Anton Krotov, El, Anton, Soții, Nesin, Misyurenko, Anya, Președintele, El Sheikh, Hurghada Organizations: Camerunului, Președintele Ugandei Locations: Africii, Rusia, Moscova, Chelyabinsk, Africa de Vest, fierbătorul, Tver, Vladivostok, Europa, America, Africa, Asia, Caucaz, Cecenia, Daghestan, China, Tadjikistan, Regiunea Primorsc, Peninsula Kola, Ural, Hmelnițki, Vest, Mauritania, Guineea Ecuatorială, Togo, Paris, Mali, Libia, India, Goa, Turcia, Antalya, Thailanda, Egipt

☆ Туристка в Таиланде заразилась коронавирусом через подносы с едой
▼ + stars: | 2020-10-09 | by ( ) point.md time to read: 1 min

Гражданка Франции, которая была на отдыхе в Бангкоке, заразилась коронавирусом через подносы с едой. Причём произошло это в отеле, куда её отправили на двухнедельный карантин, сообщает The Phuket News. По данным издания, 57-летняя француженка прилетела в Бангкок здоровой — тесты на коронавирус были отрицательными. Согласно правилам, её отправили на двухнедельный карантин в специальный отель. В итоге выяснилось, что все они заразились через подносы, которые персонал гостиницы выставлял перед комнатами постояльцев.

Organizations: Департамент по контролю за заболеваниями Locations: Phuket, Франция, Бангкок, Самуи

☆ Redefining retirement: How I quit my career to travel the world
▼ + stars: | 2019-11-14 | by ( Verne Maree | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A year later, we sailed her across the Channel to Calais, down rivers and canals to the south of France — an unforgettably wonderful experience. Then we fly south — like migrating geese — to spend yet another summer between Durban and Perth. The nomadic retirementNow meet South Africans Gail and Neil Greenfield, the epitome of retired nomads. Rather than slowing down, nomadic retirees quit work to travel the world. When it comes to the planning, big events like this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan are anchored in first, Gail explained.

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