Phuket curbs visa overstays
Phuket’s acclaimed crime-free project has proved successful, with over 1,000 foreigners caught overstaying their visas.
With the cooperation of 800 accommodation providers on the resort island, the Phuket Immigration Office has endorsed crime-free measures which allow businesses to inform police of any suspicious activities involving foreign guests.
Pol Col Thanet Sukchai, the Phuket immigration chief, on Wednesday said the number of foreign guests registered at accommodation in Phuket over the last two months was over 20% higher than the number of foreign tourists who had arrived in Phuket during that period.
Pol Col Thanet said the new database helped police track down one missing foreigner recently.
He said that during May 1-25, Immigration Police raided 1,550 target locations in Phuket and arrested 11 foreigners who had overstayed their visas and another four people who had entered Thailand illegally.
According to the Immigration Bureau’s Information Technology Centre, 1,050 foreigners had overstayed their visas.
Of those, 391 were not staying at their reported accommodation and 228 had since left Thailand.
Some 331 tourists had requested to extend their visas, 109 reportedly died, one was a bedridden patient and the other had received Thai citizenship, the centre said.
Only nine overstayers were facing legal action, said Pol Col Thanet.
He said anyone with information about tourists overstaying their visas or breaching the law in other ways could submit it to the Phuket Immigration Office or the Traffy Fondue application.
North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong vows more spy satellite launches: Report
SEOUL: North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong has said her country’s military spy satellite will soon enter into orbit and vowed to ramp up military surveillance efforts, state media KCNA reported on Thursday (Jun 1). “Enemies are most afraid of the DPRK’s access to excellent reconnaissance and information means including reconnaissanceContinue Reading
North Korea promises another attempt at spy satellite launch
SEOUL: North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, said her country would soon put a military spy satellite into orbit and promised Pyongyang would increase its military surveillance capabilities, state media KCNA reported on Thursday (Jun 1). “It is certain that (North Korea’s) military reconnaissance satellite willContinue Reading
Dept on high alert for monkeypox
The Department of Disease Control is on alert for more monkeypox cases, especially among the LGBTQ community, saying the best way to prevent the disease is by reducing all close skin contact and not switching partners frequently.
Jakkarat Pittayawong-anont, director of the Department of Disease Control’s epidemiology division, said the number of patients infected with the virus seems to be stable, with only a few cases per month reported.
However he suspects there are many more unreported infections.
“Since the first case was discovered, we now have around 40 cases nationwide. Interestingly, we have seen more patients among the [homosexual] and LGBTQ group. So we would like to ask for more careful behaviour in terms of their sexual relations to help prevent the disease from spreading further,” he said.
Thailand in July of last year recorded its first case of monkeypox, diagnosed in a 27-year-old Nigerian man who travelled from his home country to Phuket.
He was admitted to hospital with a fever, cough, sore throat and runny nose. He also had rashes and lesions originating in his genital area, which had spread to other parts of his body.
The Ministry of Public Health later put out a warning about the disease and sought cooperation from hospitals and sex clinics, asking them to report any suspected cases to the ministry.
It also asked that all people arriving in the country be warned about the disease and to inform authorities if they had any of the symptoms.
Dr Jakkarat said close skin-to-skin contact is a prime cause of monkeypox infections so the best way to prevent the disease is by minimising this. Monkeypox is not an STD so wearing a condom will not prevent infection, he added.
Regarding vaccinations, he said jabs are not necessary at present because the rate of infection is so slow. Moreover, it is not a deadly virus and all of the symptoms can be treated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said recently that monkeypox is no longer a global public health emergency, but all countries should remain vigilant.
WHO reported over 87,000 cases and 140 deaths found in 111 countries last year.
Sri Lanka PM hails ties on Vesak Day
Lauds BCG on eve of Buddhism summit
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday welcomed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena on his official visit to the kingdom and congratulated the country for its speedy economic recovery, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.
Mr Gunawardena met Gen Prayut at the Thai Khu Fah Building at Government House and will attend the 18th United International Vesak Day summit today. Vesak, or Visakha Bucha Day, falls on Saturday.
More than 3,500 monks from 50 countries will participate in the event being jointly organised by Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (MCU), the Supreme Sangha Council, and the government.
Mr Anucha said regular collaboration between Thailand and Sri Lanka on Vesak Day reflects the close relations between the two countries that have been connected by Buddhism for over 700 years.
Gen Prayut also congratulated Sri Lanka on its economic recovery and expressed Thailand’s willingness to provide further assistance should there be a request from Sri Lanka.
He also thanked his guest for approving the return of “Plai Saksurin”, a male elephant bestowed to the government of Sri Lanka by its Thai counterpart some 21 years ago, for treatment.
Mr Gunawardena said he hoped the two countries would cooperate in developing their human resources and promote exchanges and visits at all levels.
The Sri Lankan leader also relayed his appreciation for Thailand’s help and commended its economic potential.
Sri Lanka would also like to enhance cooperation and learn more about good practices in food security, he said.
He also said Thailand is being adopted as a model case study for Sri Lanka, especially in areas related to the bio-circular-green (BCG) economy model.
Mr Anucha said both prime ministers were pleased with the progress being made on the Thailand-Sri Lanka FTA talks, with a final deadline of early 2024 targeted.
Mr Gunawardena also urged the private sector to invest in its Port City of Colombo and other projects.
Mr Anucha said Gen Prayut was confident Thailand’s expertise in tourism and the service sector and retail would be greatly beneficial to that.
Gen Prayut confirmed Thailand’s commitment to cooperating with Sri Lanka as a development partner.
Commentary: Homes become battlegrounds in fight against teen drug use in Singapore
A study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in 2011 found that regular teen users of popular social media outlets were twice as likely to use marijuana (13 per cent versus 7 per cent) than those who did not spend time on social media.
ONLY THE POOR TAKE DRUGS? NOT TRUE
Drug abuse doesn’t discriminate. Though research establishes that low socioeconomic status (SES) is a risk factor for drug abuse, my clinical experience working individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds has taught me to be more discerning.
We usually think that people who are from a lower SES struggle with having their basic human needs (such as food, shelter, employment, accommodation) met, and thus abuse drugs to escape the associated unpleasant feelings. This may lead to the above assumption.
However, I have worked with high SES individuals and they have a different set of struggles. They experience a different form of lack, in terms of validation and emotional support experienced in the home environment.
In fact, there is an argument to be made that someone with a high SES has more accessibility to drugs (with their resources and networks) and can possibly evade being found out. Understanding the motivations behind abusing drugs is key, as compared to being led by presumptions.
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, parents play a crucial role as guardians, responsible for providing a safe environment where the physical and emotional needs of their children are met.
Commentary: Battle of Indonesiaâs kingmakers – a rift between Jokowi and Megawati?
In this author’s view, Jokowi has implemented this strategy so that Prabowo and Ganjar would clear the first round of the presidential election and go head-to-head in a second round.
For months, various credible polls have indicated that none of the three leading candidates – Prabowo, Ganjar, or Anies – will be a dominant contender sweeping up more than 50 per cent of the national vote.
By touting Ganjar and Prabowo as a possible successor, Jokowi might be hoping that both would easily advance to the run-off. Often in third place in recent polls, former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, who is running on a campaign platform as the candidate of change and is clearly Jokowi’s least favoured, is expected to lose in a three-way race.
Given his huge popularity, Jokowi’s clear endorsement of either Ganjar or Prabowo would certainly influence the 2024 election outcome. Two prominent survey organisations, LSI and SMRC, recently reported that public approval of Jokowi has reached 82 per cent.
JOKOWI’S PERSONAL STAKE
In recent polls, increases in support for Prabowo might be attributable to Jokowi’s repeated endorsement of Prabowo as a potential candidate, while Ganjar’s popularity decreased especially after he (and PDI-P) opposed Israel’s young athletes’ participation in the under-20 FIFA World Cup (originally planned to be held in Indonesia) earlier this year.
Yellow Line to open June 3 with one-month trial run
A one-month trial run of the new Yellow Line monorail will begin on June 3, with free rides for commuters during the period, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) said yesterday.
According to MRTA governor Pakapong Sirikantaramas, the decision was reached at a meeting of the Department of Rail Transport and Eastern Bangkok Monorail (EBM), which holds the concession for the line.
Staff working along the Yellow Line will be briefed today, ahead of tomorrow’s press launch, Mr Pakapong said.
Starting on Saturday, commuters can ride for free along the Yellow Line between 9am-12pm and 1pm-5pm. If the launch goes as planned, the trial hours will be extended until midnight.
Mr Pakapong said EBM must follow the advice from a certified, independent engineer to ensure the system meets international standards before the line can begin full operations.
The new monorail links Lat Phrao in Bangkok’s north with Samrong in the city’s east. There are 23 stations along the 30.4-kilometre line.
Fares will range from 14-42 baht, as agreed in 2016.
The fares, however, will be adjusted, based on the consumer price index for the previous three months, before full service begins.
Luxury property rents soar amid demand from high net worth individuals
Ms Song also pointed to ultra-high net worth individuals and families setting up offices or businesses in Singapore, saying that they have the ability and willingness to pay top rents for GCBs or prime bungalows in these locations.
“While some foreigners might already own a non-landed private property, they are unable to purchase a landed property as they are not Singapore citizens or PRs (permanent residents). As such, they might be willing to pay a premium to rent a spacious residence to accommodate their lifestyles,” said Ms Song.
She also pointed out that landed homes are mainly owner-occupied, so landlords have been able to command higher rents due to the limited supply of homes put up for rent.
There is also scarce new supply. For new non-landed private residential units, 51,703 homes are expected to be ready by 2027; in contrast, only 887 new landed houses will be built over the same period.
“While rents for condos are likely to stabilise … rents for landed may have room to go up further,” Ms Song said.
With the recent increase of additional buyer’s stamp duty for foreigners to 60 per cent, more foreigners might have to rent instead of buy, which could spill over to landed properties.
“Nonetheless, landed rents are expected to stabilise later this year on a weaker economic outlook and growing resistance to high rents,” she added.
Chinese held over B10bn cyber fraud
A Chinese couple living in a 67-million-baht house in Bangkok were arrested yesterday for alleged multinational fraud, with damages estimated at 10 billion baht, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) said.
Shaoxian Su, 31, and his girlfriend Keyi Ye, 25, were taken into custody at their house in the Palazzo Srinakarin housing estate in Prawet district on charges of public fraud and money laundering.
Police from the CCIB impounded 1.5 million baht in cash, the title deeds for the house, ownership documents for four condo apartments in the Sukhumvit area worth a total of 128 million baht, and 14 Bearbrick dolls also found on the premises.
A CCIB spokesman quoted victims as accusing the couple of using fake online profiles to approach them via social media and enticing them into “invest in digital currencies and assets”.
Victims in Bangkok and Prachuap Khiri Khan told police they lost about 35 million baht. About 20,000 similar complaints were filed overseas, including the United States and the UK, which are believed to be linked to the suspects’ network. Total damages are estimated at 10 billion baht.