MILESTONES

Denied: By the US Embassy and recent travellers, rumours on social media of new restrictions on visas and visa applications to the United States. An uninformed Facebook post on Feb 13 (SJC-Inter-Studies-byP’Koi) claimed travellers must apply a year ahead of travel and could be arrested if they made any changes to their travel itinerary. Bottom line: The post is #fakenews.

Jailed: By the Supreme Court, 79 low-ranking members of the security team of the defunct People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

During the PAD’s anti-Voldemort protests and random violence of August, 2008, the accused members of

PAD’s “Srivichai Warriors” invaded, terrorised and tore up the government-run (still) National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, or NBT. The jail terms range from three to eight months.

Released: By New Zealand, the final version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). We know, right? But the 11 countries without Mr Trump have gone and revised it as a “Comprehensive and Progressive” agreement and it’s called the CPTPP. It will be signed on March 8 and Thailand, officially, after six years, is “on the fence”.

Healing: In a natural recovery once proclaimed impossible by every expert, the bleached and “dead” coral of Mu Koh Surin Marine Park off Phangnga. The scene underwater does indeed look like a coral graveyard. But the park warden says the coral is coming back to life. Within four years, the marine park will be beautiful once again.

Selected: As new president of the Stock Exchange of Thailand effective June 1, Pakorn Peetathawatchai. While billed as a search for the top executive, Mr Pakorn’s selection was actually just an internal promotion from his current position as SET senior executive vice-president. Current president Kesara Manchusree is to end her four-year stint at the top at the end of May.