Forestry Police Halt Illegal Samui Resort Construction

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15 July 2024, 16:08

KOH SAMUI — The Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED), or so-called Forest Police, has inspected a luxury resort project on Koh Samui, discovering it to be owned by Chinese investors and constructed illegally with heights exceeding legal limits. Construction has been ordered to halt immediately.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Watcharin Poosith, the commander of the NED, under the Central Investigation Bureau, has instructed officials together with technicians from the Koh Samui City Municipality to inspect the Anzhu Seamate vacation home project in Maret sub-district, Koh Samui district, Surat Thani province, which is suspected to have been built illegally.

No workers were found on site during the inspection on July 14, indicating that the construction work had already been temporarily halted due to a municipal order because of the illegal construction work. The contractor had claimed to be unaware of the violations, but had agreed to stop work and correct the designs.

The Koh Samui City Municipality filed a complaint with the Bo Phut Police Station about the violation of government orders and the unauthorized construction work. This prompted the NED to inspect the construction site. It turned out that there were usually about 50 workers present every day except Sundays.

The investigation revealed that the buildings are connected structures that, contrary to the approved plans, are more than 10 meters high and exceed the legal height limit of 6 meters.

The project is registered under the name of Anju Cement Company, a Chinese investment group that acquired about 10 rai of land for construction in 2018. Chinese nationals applied for permission to build 34 houses and hired Anju Cement Company as the contractor. However, the construction deviated from the approved plans and was changed from individual houses to connected buildings.

The NED will therefore locate all those responsible in order to question them and take legal action, and will order an immediate halt to construction.

Earlier, on July 13, the forest police had also inspected a villa compound in Bo Phut district, which consisted of 53 houses. It was found that 6-7 houses had already been completed and sold to foreigners for about 10 million baht each, while the others were still under construction.

samui illegal resort3 — The “Anzhu Seamate” vacation home project is located in Maret sub-district, Koh Samui district, Surat Thani Province.

Pol. Col. Apisan Chairat, Superintendent of the 5th NED, stated that after a meeting with the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4 and reviewing evidence, there is confidence in prosecuting the offenders. Completed constructions were found to be rented out as hotels, targeting foreign guests.

Visible building problems included both authorized and unauthorized structures, with some authorized structures located in prohibited areas, necessitating further investigation into possible government involvement.

This continued inspection and prosecution follows recent aerial surveys by ISOC Region 4 in Koh Samui district to identify encroachments and illegal constructions in forest areas. Numerous hilltop villas were discovered, particularly in Chaweng Noi, Bo Phut Subdistrict.

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Bangkok Celebrates His Majesty the King’s 72nd Birthday on July 28

By

MC Marketing

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15 July 2024, 15:02

BMA decorates the city Join in The Celebrations on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary 28th July 2024.

Mr. Aekvarunyoo Amrapala BMA spokesperson revealed that on The Celebration on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle Vajiralongkorn’s Birthday Anniversary 28th July 2024.

And Queen Sirikit’s birthday Her Majesty the Queen Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, 12 August 2024, BMA was decorated with fresh flowers. Flowering and ornamental plants in yellow tones and various types of plants, more than 2 million plants, and various types of orchids along the route, along with improving the landscape of Ratchadamnoen Klang Road. Democracy Monument, Sanam Luang, Maha Jesadabodin Pavilion Plaza

and the area around Chitlada Park Including important roads To be beautiful To join in celebrating the auspicious occasion and express the loyalty of the Thai people. People can join in taking impressive photos. Throughout July – August 2024

5 Foreigners Arrested for Violent Robbery of British Crypto Trader in Bangkok

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Khaosod English

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15 July 2024, 07:19

robtrader1 — Khlong Tan police officers arrest 5 foreign suspects for robbing a British crypto trader.

BANGKOK — Police arrest gang of 5 foreigners for robbing British crypto trader, tying him up and assaulting him. Suspects deny charges, request to testify in court. Officials press multiple charges.

On July 14, Pol. Col. Wachirakorn Wongboon, superintendent of Khlong Tan Police Station, led the arrest of 5 foreign suspects for robbing a British crypto trader. The suspects include Mr. Abdullahi from Denmark, Ms. Shafiq from England, Mr. Ahmed from England, Mr. Hussein from England, and another foreign woman.

Evidence seized includes an Apple iPhone 14, an Apple iPhone 15, one Audemars Piguet watch, one Rolex watch, one ADCD credit card, and 24,000 baht in cash. The total value is over 3 million baht.

The victim reported that on July 12 at 4:50 AM, he went to socialize with the 5 perpetrators (3 men and 2 women) at a mansion room in Phra Khanong, Khlong Toei, Bangkok. He was then threatened, robbed, physically assaulted by punching and electric shock, and tied up with rope and tape in the room.

Investigators identified the suspects as unemployed individuals with large sums of money matching the victim’s report. None had prior criminal records. During questioning, the suspects denied the charges and requested to testify in court.

Initially, officials charged them with multiple offenses including armed robbery, assault causing bodily or mental harm, gang coercion with weapons, unlawful detention, armed extortion, document theft, and carrying weapons in public areas without reasonable cause. The suspects were sent to investigators for further legal proceedings.

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Spain Wins Record Fourth European Championship Title by Inflicting Another Painful Loss on England

By

Associated Press

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15 July 2024, 06:05

Euro 2024 Soccer Spain England — Spain's Alvaro Morata holds the trophy as he celebrates with his teammates after winning the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. Spain won 2-1. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

BERLIN (AP) — Spain is the king of European soccer for a record fourth time. For England, it’s another agonizing near-miss in the team’s decades-long tale of underachievement.

Completing a tournament the team dominated from start to finish, Spain beat England 2-1 in the European Championship final on Sunday with Mikel Oyarzabal the unlikely match-winner in the 86th minute.

Oyarzabal, a backup striker who came on as a substitute for captain Alvaro Morata, slid in to poke home a left-wing cross by Marc Cucurella, just when the game at Berlin’s Olympiastadion seemed destined for extra time.

AP24196762677193 — Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, center, scores his side’s second goal during the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

England, the birthplace of soccer, is still without a major title in men’s soccer since winning the 1966 World Cup and its players watched on forlornly as Morata raised aloft the silver trophy inside the stadium built for the 1936 Olympics.

Add 2024 to the titles won by Spain in 1964, 2008 and 2012.

“Here we are, champions of Europe,” said Nico Williams, whose opening goal for Spain in the 47th minute was canceled out by England substitute Cole Palmer in the 73rd. “We are thrilled and hope this can keep going and we can go for the (2026) World Cup.”

AP24196754099269 — Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal, front right, scores his side’s second goal during the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Lamine Yamal, the prodigy who turned 17 on Saturday and is the youngest player to have appeared at a European Championship, set up Williams’ goal with a pass across the face of the area. The two wingers have become the poster boys of an exciting, multicultural team that reflects Spain’s changing demographics.

Yamal’s mother is from Equatorial Guinea and his father is from Morocco, while the 22-year-old Williams has Ghanaian parents who made the long journey to Europe looking for a better life. To make it to Spain, they had to ride on the back of a crowded truck and walk barefoot through the Sahara desert.

“Euphoria! We are so happy. We deserved this,” said Williams, the player of the match with his darting runs and his second goal of Euro 2024. “This is for our fans and our parents, who have supported us throughout.”

AP24196727503387 — Spain’s Nico Williams, left, scores his side’s opening goal during the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Unlike his brother Inaki, who is a Ghana international, Nico chose to play for Spain and will now be regarded as a national hero there.

Spain is back as a major player in senior soccer after winning both the Women’s World Cup — also against England — and the men’s UEFA Nations League in 2023.

Since 2001, Spanish men’s teams have won 23 consecutive major finals in club and international soccer.

“I said before the tournament, nobody can hang with us,” Williams said. “We are a great team.”

Spain won all seven games at this European Championship — an unprecedented feat — and broke the record for goals scored in a single tournament with 15.

There were joyous scenes after the final whistle, with defender Dani Carvajal piled on by jubilant teammates after slumping to the ground. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was thrown into the air by his players. Both Cucurella and Yamal led Spain’s players in jumping over the advertising hoardings to reach the red-and-yellow-clad Spanish fans in the stadium’s east end.

“This is the best (birthday) gift I could have asked for,” Yamal said. “It is a dream come true.”

AP24196806909882 — King Felipe VI of Spain, left, applauds while Spain’s Lamine Yamal celebrates after receiving the Best Young Player of the tournament award after the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. Spain won 2-1. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

After getting his medal, the teenager turned and shook his fist in celebration, stuck his tongue out and showed off a beaming grin.

Meanwhile, fans who had watched the game on a big screen in Madrid celebrated wildly, chanting “champions, champions” in Spanish.

As for England, the men’s team has now lost back-to-back Euro finals — it was defeated in a penalty shootout by Italy in the final in 2021 — and this was another painful loss for a team that will have gone six decades without a major title by the next World Cup.

England’s women have been more successful, though, winning the European Championship in 2021 and reaching the World Cup final two years later.

“This time it just wasn’t meant to be,” Prince William, who attended the final alongside other dignitaries including Spain’s King Felipe, wrote on social media. “We’re all still so proud of you.”

AP24196802312473 — Britain’s Prince William greets England’s Harry Kane after the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. Spain won 2-1. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

It was the fourth straight game that the English came from behind since the group stage, but their resilience wasn’t rewarded this time.

A team that has produced big moments when it really mattered at Euro 2024 — including Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute overhead kick against Slovakia in the round of 16 — couldn’t deliver another one, with Spain midfielder Dani Olmo clearing the ball off the line at a corner in the 89th minute.

“It has been a difficult ride, we have done extremely well to get here, but ultimately we are going to be judged on this game,” England captain Harry Kane said.

“It’s extremely painful,” he added. “It’s going to hurt for a long, long time.”

England coach Gareth Southgate, who has been in charge for eight years and also led the team to the World Cup semifinals in 2018, said it wasn’t the time to make a decision on his future. His contract expires in December.

“Most of this squad are going to be around not just for the World Cup but the next Euros as well,” Southgate said. “There’s a lot to look forward to but at this moment that’s not any consolation.”

Kate, Princess of Wales, at Wimbledon to Present Trophy to Carlos Alcaraz

By

Associated Press

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14 July 2024, 23:29

LONDON (AP) — The Princess of Wales arrived at the All England Club on Sunday for the Wimbledon men’s final, only her second public appearance since announcing she was diagnosed with cancer.

Kate, wife of heir to the throne Prince William, was greeted by a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd as she took her seat in the Royal Box before the start of the championship match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz defeated Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) to collect his fourth Grand Slam title at age 21.

It was a rematch of last year’s championship match on the grass of the All England Club, which Alcaraz won in five sets.

This one — played in front of a Centre Court crowd that included Kate, the Princess of Wales, in a rare public appearance since announcing she has cancer — was much easier for Alcaraz, at least until he stumbled while holding three match points as he served for the victory at 5-4 in the third set.

Still, Alcaraz regrouped and eventually picked up a second major trophy in a row after last month’s triumph on the clay at the French Open.

The Spaniard won his first Slam title at the 2022 U.S. Open as a teenager, and no man ever has collected more Slam hardware before turning 22 than he has.

He improved to 4-0 in major finals.

AP24196565152306 — Carlos Alcaraz, left, of Spain is congratulated by Novak Djokovic of Serbia after winning the men’s singles final at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

The 37-year-old Djokovic, wearing a gray sleeve on his surgically repaired right knee, was denied in his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title and record 25th major overall. He tore his meniscus at Roland Garros on June 3 and had an operation in Paris two days later.

Less than six weeks later, Djokovic was hardly at his best on Sunday — and Alcaraz certainly had something to do with that.

It was when Alcaraz was right on the brink of victory that things finally became a tad more intriguing, as some spectators offered chants of Djokovic’s two-syllable nickname — “No-le! No-le!” — while others replied with choruses of “Let’s go, Carlos! Let’s go!”

Alcaraz was up 5-4, 40-love in the third set when the occasion got the better of him. He frittered away his first championship point with a double-fault, beginning a run of five mistakes by him that donated points — and that game — to Djokovic. There was a backhand that went awry. A forehand volley. A forehand. Another forehand. That was the only time all match that Djokovic broke Alcaraz.

Suddenly, it was 5-all. Suddenly, Alcaraz appeared rattled. Suddenly, Djokovic could hope.

But in the ensuing tiebreaker, Alcaraz earned his fourth match point and stayed cool as can be this time. Soon he was climbing through the stands to hug his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and others.

AP24196580932793 — Carlos Alcaraz, left, of Spain holds his trophy after defeating Novak Djokovic, right, of Serbia in the men’s singles final at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 14, 2024.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Just under 2 1/2 hours earlier, at the outset, the opening game appeared to portend an engrossing, back-and forth contest — and a long one, perhaps worrying some folks about getting to a pub or a couch in time to see England face Spain in the men’s soccer European Championship final in Germany on Sunday night. Alcaraz, of course, had a rooting interest.

All told, that game consisted of seven deuces and 20 points across a hair shy of 14 minutes, containing brilliant moments by both men. Sprinting, sliding, stretching defense by Djokovic. Return winners by Alcaraz. When he slapped a strong reply to a 125 mph (202 kph) serve and drew a wide forehand from Djokovic, Alcaraz cashed in his fifth break chance.

That, it turned out, was the most competitive portion of the proceedings until the third set.

Not to say there weren’t hints of brilliance the rest of the way. Just the outcome never really seemed in dispute.

In the trophy presentation ceremony, the Princess of Wales presented Novak Djokovic with his runner-up plate, followed by presenting the trophy to Alcaraz.

AP24196575891603 — The Princess of Wales presents Novak Djokovic with his runners up plate following defeat the men’s singles final at the Wimbledon tennis championships in, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (John Walton/PA via AP)

AP24196479739050 — Kate, Princess of Wales waves to the crowd from the Royal Box, with her daughter Princess Charlotte, and her sister Pippa Matthews, left, looks on ahead of the men’s singles final at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)

During the match, she was joined in the front row of the Royal Box by her 9-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte, and her sister Pippa Matthews.

Since 2016, the princess has been the patron of the All England Club, which hosts Wimbledon each year. Her ceremonial duties include handing out the winner’s trophies after the singles finals, although she was not on hand Saturday when Barbora Krejcikova defeated Jasmine Paolini for the women’s title.

Kate revealed in March that she has cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. Her lone public appearance since then was attending last month’s birthday parade for King Charles III. Before that event, she released a statement saying she was “making good progress” but still had “good days and bad days.”

Prince William has been a regular at Wimbledon finals but was not going to be there Sunday. Instead, he planned to go watch England face Spain in the final of the men’s soccer European Championship in Germany. He is the president of the English Football Association.

Thai Man Arrested for Alleged Rape of Ukrainian Woman on Koh Samui

By

Khaosod English

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14 July 2024, 23:00

KOH SAMUI — A Thai man suspected of raping a Ukrainian woman on Koh Samui was arrested on July 14. He claimed he did not force or threaten the woman in any way.

On July 13, a 32-year-old Ukrainian woman filed a complaint with the Bo Phut Police Station, stating that she was raped by a Thai man on July 8 around 9:00 a.m. at Thong Son Beach.

Subsequently, Police Colonel Den Duang Thongsrisuk, superintendent of Bo Phut Police Station, ordered the investigation team and the crime suppression unit of Bo Phut Police Station, along with Koh Samui Tourist Police, to investigate and find the perpetrator. A suspect was identified from CCTV footage, and the victim confirmed his identity.

Later, police found the suspect in front of a convenience store in Moo 5, Bo Phut sub-district, with the motorcycle he rode on the day of the incident. They identified themselves as police officers and presented an arrest warrant from the Koh Samui Provincial Court dated July 14.

The suspect, named Nattapong, 27 years old, from Khlong Wan sub-district, Mueang district, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, agreed to take the police to his room to seize the clothes he wore on the day of the incident. He was then taken to Bo Phut Police Station for questioning.

Nattapong admitted to being the perpetrator and acting alone, but claimed that the victim consented and that he did not force or threaten her in any way.

The police investigation team charged Nattapong with “raping another person by means of threats, using force while the other person is in a state unable to resist, or by causing the other person to mistake him for someone else.” He was handed over to the inquiry officer at Bo Phut Police Station for legal proceedings.

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Ransom Ruled Out, Thai Police Focus on Chinese Woman and the Suspect Affair

By

Khaosod English

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14 July 2024, 18:32

chinese abduct54 — CCTV footage from Sunthon Kosa Road (Khlong Toei Market) shows Miss Yan walking with Mr. Ma, the suspect, on July 1, 2024.

BANGKOK — The investigation team for the case of the missing Chinese woman in Bangkok has ruled out the ransom hypothesis, as it turned out to be merely a miscommunication within her family. Now, only two motives for murder remain.

On July 14, the family of 38-year-old Miss Yan, who went missing on July 2, and whose body was believed to have been found on Saturday, along with officials from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, met with investigators at Bang Rak Police Station. They filed a request for Thai authorities to transfer the case to Chinese authorities to prosecute the suspect, who has already fled Thailand. Evidence shows he traveled to Hong Kong and Macau.

Miss Yan’s family wants the case transferred to their country because murder under Chinese law carries a maximum penalty of death. However, according to legal procedures, they must wait for the results of the identity verification from the forensic department of the Police Hospital for the body believed to be Miss Yan, found in Chachoengsao Province.

chinese murder bangrak2 — The family members of 38-year-old Miss Yan, who went missing and whose body was believed to have been found on Saturday, go to meet with investigators at Bang Rak Police Station, Bangkok on July 14, 2024.

Chinese Embassy officials stated they would coordinate with Chinese authorities to determine whether they would investigate the case themselves or help arrest the suspect and extradite him back to Thailand for prosecution, as per the cooperation agreement signed between the two countries.

All parties are still waiting for detailed DNA comparison results from the Police Hospital, as the body found was in a decomposed state and couldn’t be identified from tissue samples. Therefore, they need to examine the bones found and compare them with the DNA of Miss Yan’s father.

The family confirmed they had never seen the suspect before and were unaware of the reasons for their daughter’s travel to Thailand.

chinese murder bangrak1 — The family members of 38-year-old Miss Yan, who went missing and whose body was believed to have been found on Saturday, talk with investigators at Bang Rak Police Station, Bangkok on July 14, 2024.

Police Major General Nopsilp Poonsawat, Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, provided an update on the investigation, stating that the police have ruled out the ransom motive. This was due to a misunderstanding when Mr. Cai, a 33-year-old student and friend of Miss Yan, called her family to inform them that she was missing and might have been kidnapped like other Chinese students in previous cases.

Miss Yan’s brother-in-law, who received the call, asked what should be done. Mr. Cai merely suggested preparing 1 million yuan (about 5 million baht) in case of ransom. Thus, the ransom issue was just a miscommunication. This case is not related to international criminal gangs or kidnapping for ransom.

Police Major General Nopsilp said that the police are now focusing on personal motives: a love affair and intention to steal property. Based on circumstantial evidence, Miss Yan and the suspect, Mr. Ma, knew each other. CCTV footage clearly shows the woman going with the man voluntarily, both when they met at Sukhumvit 12 and helped each other with luggage, and at Klong Toey Market where they were seen holding hands.

chinese abduct53 — Miss Yan, a 38-year-old Chinese tourist, has been missing in Bangkok since July 1, 2024.

Currently, investigators are gathering evidence to issue an arrest warrant and request a red notice for extradition.

Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Police has implemented measures to screen foreign individuals entering the country to maintain order and ensure tourist safety. They have established a center to suppress international criminals and illegal immigrants, and are coordinating with immigration police, who are the first line of defense against criminals entering Thailand.

Regarding the case, investigators are still focusing on motives related to a love conflict and intention to steal property. The ransom issue is preliminarily considered as just a precautionary measure suggested by the victim’s friend to her family after her disappearance. They will wait to question the missing person’s brother-in-law, who was told to prepare money in case of ransom, when he arrives in Thailand on July 18.

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Thai Durian First Half of 2024 Defies the Price War Crisis

By

Khaosod English

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14 July 2024, 16:44

BANGKOK — The eastern durian season closed with cumulative exports from January 1 to June 30, 2024 totaling 595,681.88 tons and worth 79.3 million baht. Prices remained strong throughout the season as more than 1,500 traders competed to buy. Even at the end of the season, prices were still between 170-190 baht per kilogram.

However, during the southern durian season in the second half of the year, prices fell sharply, averaging 140-150 baht per kilogram. The drought, the overlap of the season with the Vietnamese durian season and the summer season in China posed further challenges to pricing.

Lessons from the Fierce Eastern Competition

Mr. Wutthichai Khunjate, President of the Thai Durian Association, explained that the Thai durian market continues to grow, with new challenges arising from various factors such as drought, which is affecting production efficiency, increasing costs and causing varying degrees of damage to farmers — 30 percent, 50 percent and 100 percent. In addition, the quality of durian fruits has declined and there are more undersized fruits.

chanthaburi durian4 — Workers transfer durians at a durian processing factory in Chanthaburi, Thailand, May 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Despite higher prices, production costs have also risen. The influx of many buyers has led to intense competition, which means that the initial purchase prices on the market do not correspond to the actual prices. In order to keep Thai durian on the market in the long term, a comprehensive supply chain concept is required.

If farmers produce quality durians and professional buyers purchase and supply quality products, traders can maintain their markets without driving purchase prices above market levels, which could drive them out of business. Thai durians need real partners for long-term competition as international competition increases, giving traders more choice but ensuring that Thailand remains the market leader.

“Currently, farmers are benefiting from new traders who are driving up prices, but these inexperienced traders are selling lower quality durians, leading to falling prices. Large traders with an established customer base cannot compete, which reduces the number of traders. We need to retain key traders who maintain the quality of Thai durians,” Wutthichai emphasized.

Falling Chinese Market Causes Traders Heavy Losses

Mr. Nakarin Wanitchthanom, an exporter of “Khunnon Durian”, told Prachachat Business that the high prices in 2024 are illusory due to the presence of over 1,500 traders leading to intense price competition.

“There are two groups of traders: those who buy and sell for profit and those who buy to build a customer base for Thai durians. While importers benefit from the high prices in the short term, their profits are lower and many have stopped buying to switch to other sources.

The problem is that new traders are snapping up the quality durians and driving up prices unrealistically. They lack the experience to keep the quality durians on the market. Established dealers with a customer base can’t compete on price, so ultimately fewer dealers remain in the market,” explains Nakarin.

chanthaburi durian3 — Workers transfer durians at a durian processing factory in Chanthaburi, Thailand, May 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Mr. Sanchai Kosalwattana, owner of the site “Farming for Profit, Not Money”, told Prachachat Business that price competition among traders is unrealistically high this year. A survey at the Jiangnan market in late June 2024 revealed durian prices of 600 yuan per box (18.5 kg), about 146 baht per kilogram.

Considering that the cost of Thai durian 7-10 days earlier was 150-160 baht per kilogram plus 35 baht per kilogram export packaging cost, this comes to 185-195 baht per kilogram. Given the weak economy and low purchasing power in China, these high costs exceed the selling price and cause considerable losses for the traders. If this situation continues, fewer Chinese will get involved in the Thai durian business.

First Half Export: 80 Billion Baht

Ms. Athinan Intarapim, Agricultural Affairs Advisor at the Beijing Agricultural Affairs Bureau, reported that Thai durian remains a rising star with continuous import potential despite competition from Vietnam, the Philippines and, more recently, Malaysia. In 2023, China imported 928,645 tons of Thai durian worth 4.5 billion baht, 492,111 tons from Vietnam worth 2.1 billion baht and 3,770 tons from the Philippines worth 13 million baht.

chanthaburi durian1 — Workers pack durians at a durian processing factory in Chanthaburi, Thailand, May 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Comparing imports in 2024 (Jan-May), Thailand exported 420,537 tons (72.18 percent), Vietnam 160,284 tons (27.51 percent) and the Philippines 1,803 tons (0.31percent). In Q1 (January-March), Vietnam’s exports of 45,048 tons were higher than Thailand’s exports of 27,264 tons as there were no Thai exports. However, in April, Thailand exported 94,349 tons and Vietnam 34,207 tons, and in May, Thailand exported 299,139 tons and Vietnam 81,098 tons.

The Department of Agriculture’s Office of Plant and Agricultural Materials Control ceased export statistics reporting on 30 June 2024. Cumulative exports from 1 January to 30 June 2024 were 37,703 containers/shipments, totaling 595,681.88 tons, valued at 79.3 billion baht.

The Department of Agriculture’s Office of Plant and Agricultural Materials Control ceased reporting export statistics for the eastern region as of 30 June 2024. In comparison, the Office of Agricultural Economics Region 6 (Chonburi) reported that the eastern region’s durian production would be 782,874 tons, and the southern region’s durian production would be 558,353 tons (Region 8).

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The Secret Service Is Investigating How a Gunman Who Shot and Injured Trump Was Able To Get So Close

By

Associated Press

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14 July 2024, 14:56

APTOPIX Election 2024 Trump — Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The U.S. Secret Service is investigating how a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle was able to get close enough to shoot and injure former President Donald Trump at a rally Saturday in Pennsylvania, a monumental failure of one the agency’s core duties.

The gunman, who was killed by Secret Service personnel, fired multiple shots at the stage from an “elevated position outside of the rally venue,” the agency said.

An Associated Press analysis of more than a dozen videos and photos taken at the Trump rally, as well as satellite imagery of the site, shows the shooter was able to get astonishingly close to the stage where the former president was speaking. A video posted to social media and geolocated by the AP shows the body of a man wearing gray camouflage lying motionless on the roof of a manufacturing plant just north of the Butler Farm Show grounds, where Trump’s rally was held.

AP24196181712201 — Police snipers return fire after shots were fired while Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump was speaking at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The roof was less than 150 meters (yards) from where Trump was speaking, a distance from which a decent marksman could reasonably hit a human-sized target. For reference, 150 meters is a distance at which U.S. Army recruits must hit a scaled human-sized silhouette to qualify with the M16 assault rifle in basic training. The AR-15, like the shooter at the Trump rally had, is the semi-automatic civilian version of the military M16.

The FBI early Sunday identified the shooter as Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

The Secret Service didn’t have anybody at a late-night news conference where FBI and Pennsylvania State Police officials briefed reporters on the shooting investigation. FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said it was “surprising” that the gunman was able to fire at the stage before he was killed.

Members of the Secret Service’s counter sniper team and counter assault team were at the rally, according to two law enforcement officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss details of the investigation.

The heavily-armed counter assault team, whose Secret Service code name is “Hawkeye,” is responsible for eliminating threats so that other agents can shield and take away the person they are protecting. The counter sniper team, known by the code name “Hercules,” uses long-range binoculars and is equipped with sniper rifles to deal with long-range threats.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said his department and the Secret Service are working with law enforcement to investigate the shooting. Maintaining the security of presidential candidates and their campaign events is one of the department’s “most vital priorities,” he said.

“We condemn this violence in the strongest possible terms and commend the Secret Service for their swift action today,” Mayorkas said. “We are engaged with President Biden, former President Trump and their campaigns, and are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety and security.“

Calls for an investigation came from all sides.

AP24195806383944 — Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents at a campaign rally, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

James Comer, a Kentucky Republican who is the House Oversight Committee chairman, said he contacted the Service Service for a briefing and called on Director Kimberly Cheatle to appear for a hearing. Comer said his committee will send a formal invitation soon.

“Political violence in all forms is unamerican and unacceptable. There are many questions and Americans demand answers,” Comer said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat, called for investigating “security failures” at the rally.

“The federal government must constantly learn from security failures in order to avoid repeating them, especially when those failures have implications for the nation,” Torres said.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, posted on X that he and his staff are in contact with security planning coordinators ahead of the Republican National Convention set to begin Monday in Milwaukee. “We cannot be a country that accepts political violence of any kind — that is not who we are as Americans,” Evers said.

AP24195858410218 — Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he is helped off the stage at a campaign event in Butler, Pa., on Saturday, July 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

The FBI said it will lead the investigation into the shooting, working with the Secret Service and local and state law enforcement.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department “will bring every available resource to bear to this investigation.”

“My heart is with the former President, those injured, and the family of the spectator killed in this horrific attack,” Garland said in a statement. “We will not tolerate violence of any kind, and violence like this is an attack on our democracy.”

Opinion: Why Thailand ‘Really’ Needs to Buy More Arms from the US and China

By

Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

-

14 July 2024, 13:00

A file photo of a China's People's Liberation Army Navy submarine.

A press conference held by navy commander Admiral Adung Phan-iam earlier this week to defend the ministry’s decision to go ahead with the purchase of Chinese submarines despite long delay and key alteration where the submarines would not be equipped with the superior German engines was an eye opener.

Adung said: “China did not deceive us, and we were not deceived by China.” The navy commander added that 80 percent of the money has already been paid (during the dictatorial military regime of Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha), and “if we don’t get the submarines, it will be 10 wasted years for the navy, and we will fall to the last place in ASEAN.”

There are at least two things worth elaborating here:

First, the navy chief must have felt that the Thai public do not trust both the Thai navy and the Chinese seller – thus he felt it necessary to publicly state that China did not deceive Thailand and stressed yet again right after that Thailand was not deceived by China.

Well, if you are not convinced, then Adung followed it up by resorting to scare tactics, telling us that Thailand would have the least capable navy among the 10-member ASEAN states, never mind if the reality is that our neighbor, Laos, is a landlocked country and effectively has no more than a few small vessels on the Mekong river.

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert F. Godec has been working onerously over the past few weeks trying to sell as many F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to Thailand as possible despite the U.S. last year’s high profile turning down Thailand’s request to purchase two F-35 jets because it would take a decade to deliver, blah, blah, blah, only to see Singapore announcing this February they are buying eight and the U.S. has no problem delivering it in 2028, or just four years from now.

U.S. deceptions, or lack of sincerely to put it more diplomatically, aside, one must asks why Thailand needs to be on an arms race with its ASEAN neighbours – buying more and more expensive deadly toys from China, U.S., and other nations, particularly given the struggling economy and the World Bank just earlier this month cut GDP growth outlook from 2.8 percent to 2.4 percent, and consumer confidence very low. Who will these purchases benefit most? Can we not put on a moratorium on new arms purchase for three years given the state of the economy and good relations with our neighbours?

Unlike Singapore, being very small and perpetually feeling on the edge due to her much larger immediate neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, and dependent even on water supply on Malaysia (960 million liters per day from Johor River) and very dependent on food imports, we in Thailand are not on the edge.

The much needed budget from people’s taxes can and should be better spent on social welfare, health care, education, homeless people, and anything but perpetually buying more expensive war toys from the U.S. and China.

This is easier said than done, however. Thailand is basically a society perpetually held hostage by its own armed forces, which is a state within a state, to the point where any civilian government feels most compelled to keep on keeping the generals and admirals happy by buying more new toys for them. Never mind if the F-16 jets will be no match to Singapore’s F-35 squadron or the Chinese-made submarines will be most useful once a year, on National Children’s Day, where they could be put on display to wow kids. Keeping the rogue Thai armed forces happy is ‘necessary’ to reduce the chance of yet another military coup.

In a way, the Thai military is like a mafia. The same can be said about superpowers like the U.S. and China. Small countries like Thailand feel ‘compelled’ to keep on buying their expensive war toys, no matter how irrational it may be, to keep them happy.

Dealing with domestic and foreign mafias is no easy or happy task, particularly for ordinary Thai citizens, as we have little say while watching our precious tax money used to buy more and more expensive war toys with no end in sight.

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