FILE - Children hold up masks of the face of fictional character Greg Heffley during a gathering with the US cartoonist Jeff Kinney, at the publishing house Gyldendal in Oslo, Norway, on Nov. 29, 2018. (Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB scanpix via AP)
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norway has tightened controls over adoptions from abroad but will allow them to continue as it conducts an investigation into the legality and ethics of past adoptions, the government said Wednesday.
The move to keep allowing international adoptions for now contradicted Norway’s top regulatory body, the Norwegian Child Welfare Services, a government agency known as Bufdir, which in January recommended a pause while the investigation takes place.
“As the situation is now, I do not see the need for a general interim suspension while the investigation committee works,” Minister for Children and Families Kjersti Toppe said.
“The overall goal is to get answers to whether — and possibly to what extent — there have been illegal or unethical situations in connection with foreign adoptions to Norway,” Toppe said.
In December, the government set up an independent investigative committee to assess whether Norwegian authorities have enough control over adoptions from abroad, and whether illegal or unethical circumstances have occurred in adoptions to Norway. The committee is expected to conclude its investigation in late 2025.
The inquiry was launched after media reports in Norway pointed to alleged illegal adoptions, claiming that some children in the Philippines were sold and given false birth certificates.
The government said it had implemented ”risk-reducing measures” for adoptions from abroad, including an official review of all documents for each case transferred from adoption organizations to Bufdir. There are three adoptions agencies in Norway.
Last year, Bufdir was also tasked with reviewing agreements with different countries to ensure the legality of adoptions with each of them.
Following the reviews, agreements with Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Madagascar, the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Peru were terminated. Only the accords with Colombia and Bulgaria have continued, while South Korea has received a limited permit, the Norwegian government said.
In neighboring Denmark, the only overseas adoption agency in January said it was winding down international adoptions after a government agency there raised concerns over falsified documents and procedures that obscured children’s biological origins abroad.
Sweden’s only adoption agency said in November that it was halting adoptions from South Korea after claims of falsified papers on the origins of children adopted from the country.
PHUKET – Phuket’s real estate market is booming more than ever, surpassing pre-COVID levels. According to a survey by the Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA) in the first quarter of 2024, there are 500 active projects on the island with a total value of 470 billion baht (12.8 billion USD).
Particularly popular are “vacation homes and condominiums”, which are bought by foreign buyers at prices between 20 and 100 million baht each.
500 Projects Worth 470 Billion Baht
Dr. Sopon Pornchokchai, Chairman of AREA, told “Prachachat Business” that the latest survey of Phuket’s real estate market recorded 54 billion baht (1.47 billion USD) of new investment in both low-rise houses and condominiums in the first quarter of 2024 alone. As a result, there are 500 active projects on the island with a total value of 470 billion baht, which is higher than the pre-COVID period in 2020.
Of these, 72,000 units are available for sale. 62,000 units have already been sold, 10,000 units are still on the market.
The gross product of Phuket Province (GPP) is estimated at 110.648 billion baht (3 billion USD) in 2023. The island welcomed 8.37 million tourists, an increase of 152.29 percent year-on-year, compared to 5.27 million tourists in Bali, Indonesia (144.61 percent growth), and 1.8 million tourists in the Maldives. This cements Phuket as a world-class destination favored by international travelers.
Thalang District: A Hub for Foreign Buyers
The survey reveals that 50 percent of the residential projects are concentrated in Thalang District, with 32,000 units, 25,000 of which are already sold, leaving 7,000 units. In Mueang District, there are 190 projects with 28,000 units, 26,000 of which are sold, leaving 1,200 units. Kathu District has 70 projects with 12,000 units, with 700 units remaining. These include single-detached houses, twin houses, townhouses, shophouses, condos, and vacation homes or villas.
A bird’s-eye view of Phuket Island
Dr. Sopon notes that:
Of the 470 billion baht worth of active projects, two-thirds (320 billion baht) are vacation homes and condominiums, leaving only one-third as regular residential properties for Thai buyers.
There are 130 vacation condominium projects with 27,000 units worth 210 billion baht, costing an average of 7.7 million baht per unit, with 4,500 units remaining. The monthly sales rate is 7.2 percent and the market is expected to be sold out in 14 months if no new projects are launched.
There are 149 vacation home projects with 3,300 units, averaging 36 million baht per unit, with 1,200 units remaining. The monthly sales rate is 7 percent, expected to sell out in 14 months.
There are 50 projects for general condos with 17,000 units worth 40 billion baht, costing an average of 2.4 million baht per unit, with 1,300 units remaining. The monthly sales rate is 7 percent and is expected to be sold out in 15 months.
Single-detached houses have 85 projects with 6,700 units worth 39 billion baht, averaging 5.7 million baht per unit, with 1,100 units remaining. The monthly sales rate is 2.2 percent, expected to sell out in 4 years.
Twin houses have a similar quantity to single-detached houses but with a total value of 23 billion baht, averaging 3.5 million baht per unit, with 500 units remaining. The monthly sales rate is expected to sell out in 3.5 years.
Townhouses have 100 projects with 10,000 units worth 27 billion baht, with 700 units remaining, averaging 2.7 million baht per unit. The monthly sales rate is 3.1 percent, expected to sell out in 2.5 years.
The average price for houses and condominiums in Phuket is 6.4 million baht per unit. Regular residential properties cost an average of 3.5 million baht per unit, while vacation properties cost an average of 10.7 million baht per unit.
The cheapest project is “Baan Ekachai Villa” on Thepkrasattri Road in the Lipon area, a single-storey townhouse priced at 0.999 million baht, which is already sold out. The most expensive project is “The Estates at Mont Azure” in Kamala Beach, priced at 262 million baht per unit.
Vacation Homes Boom from 20 to 100 Million Baht
Dr. Sopon states that the prices for the different types of properties are as follows:
Single-storey houses: most units are priced at 5-7 million baht, followed by 7-10 million baht per unit.
Semi-detached houses: Most units are priced at 3-5 million baht, followed by 2-3 million baht.
Townhouses: Most units are priced at 2-3 million baht, followed by 3-5 million baht.
Shophouses: Most units are priced at 3-5 million baht, followed by 5-7 million baht and 7-10 million baht.
General condominiums: Most units are priced at 2-3 million baht, followed by 1-2 million baht.
Vacation condominiums: Most units are priced at 5-7 million baht, followed by 3-5 million baht and 7-10 million baht.
Villas or vacation homes: Most units are priced at 20-40 million baht, followed by 40-60 million baht and more than 100 million baht. Most buyers are foreigners purchasing long-term leasehold properties. The government should support this group to buy more properties in Thailand.
H2 Purchase Power Surge Anticipated
The Mueang Phuket district is where most condominiums are sold to Thai buyers, with 10,000 units worth 26 billion baht, an average of 2.6 million baht per unit, with 500 units remaining. The monthly sales rate is 8.1 percent and is expected to be sold out within a year.
In Kathu district, vacation condominiums are the main product, with 4,000 units worth 28 billion baht, of which less than 100 units remain and are expected to sell out quickly.
In Thalang district, the total value of projects is 290 billion baht, with vacation condominiums and houses being the most popular at 86 percent of the total value. Vacation condominiums are worth 150 billion baht and villas are worth 100 billion baht. The monthly sales rate is 8 percent and is expected to sell out within a year.
New projects coming to market in Q1 2024 include 25 projects with 4,000 units worth 54 billion baht, an average of 13 million baht per unit. Most (83 percent) are vacation condominiums worth 45 billion baht, mainly in Thalang district.
Last year (Q2 2023 – Q1 2024), 10,000 units worth 90 billion baht were sold, averaging 9 million baht per unit, mainly in Thalang district.
Patong Beach Holds Title for Most Expensive Land
Dr. Sopon reports that land prices have risen by an average of 7.47 times or 10.7 percent per year over the last 20 years (2004-2024), significantly more than in other regions of Thailand.
Land prices in Rawai Beach have increased the most, by 14 times, followed by Bang Tao Beach (10.67 times) and Mai Khao Beach (9 times). The slowest increase was in Saphan Beach, Karon Beach and Koh Sirey.
The highest land prices on the market are in Patong Beach with an estimated 350 million baht per rai or 875,000 baht per square meter, followed by Bang Tao Beach, Surin Beach and Karon Beach with an estimated 80 million baht per rai or 200,000 baht per square meter. The market prices are significantly higher than the government’s estimates.
Sansiri and Origin Compete for Investment
Ongart Suwankul, Senior Vice President of Condominium Development at Sansiri Public Company Limited, mentioned that the year 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of Sansiri. The company has been investing in Phuket for 15 years, with 21 projects worth a total of 21 billion baht, making Phuket its second investment center after Bangkok and its surrounding areas.
In the next five years (2023-2027), Sansiri is planning 16 new projects worth 15 billion baht in Phuket, bringing its total investment to 36 billion baht. These include nine low-rise and seven high-rise projects.
Sansiri is preparing to pre-sell a new brand, “Canvas Cherng Talay”, in Bang Tao, Phuket, with a project value of 1.6 billion baht. This area is very popular with foreign buyers and the project is expected to be well received.
Krit Tachasamma, Managing Director of Origin Nationwide Company under Origin Property Public Company Limited, announced that the group has successfully invested in Phuket. Earlier this year, the “Origin Resort World Phuket Bang Tao Beach” was pre-sold with a project value of 8 billion baht on a 25-rai plot of land, part of which is beachfront. The company plans to invest a total of 13.75 billion baht in Phuket this year, including 11.25 billion baht in residential projects and 2.5 billion baht in hotels.
“Origin Resort World” is a mega project development model offering tourism and leisure products and services. The project includes contributions from Origin Nationwide, Britannia Public Company Limited, One Origin Public Company Limited and Origin Healthcare and offers comprehensive mixed-use developments in tourist cities,” Mr. Krit said.
The SCAT Airlines flight VSV5357 arrived directly from Almaty, Kazakhstan, with 219 passengers to U-Tapao Airport on June 17, 2024.
CHONBURI — U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport has welcomed two new direct airlines to help boost Thailand’s tourism industry by expanding its market base to Central Asian and ASEAN tourists.
Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Jirawat Leenakanit, stated that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has integrated marketing collaboration with U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport to increase the number of international flights, scheduled and charter flights from countries such as India, Vietnam, and China to Pattaya, as well as to increase domestic flights from other regions.
“This is a great opportunity for Thailand to attract tourists from these two countries, enhancing the tourism atmosphere during Thailand’s low season,” he said.
AirAsia flight AK840 arrived directly from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 189 passengers to U-Tapao Airport on June 17, 2024.
TAT has special offers for commercial flights interested in conducting operations at U-Tapao Airport, such as exempting landing fees and offering reductions on parking charges. This accomplishment is the outcome of cooperation across various sectors, including KOMPAS, a prominent travel company from Kazakhstan, and SCAT Airlines, which has initiated a direct charter flight route from Almaty, Kazakhstan, to U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport using a Boeing 737-Max that can accommodate 219 passengers.
On June 17, 2024, the inaugural flights of the two airlines arrived at U-Tapao Airport. SCAT Airlines flight VSV5357 arrived directly from Almaty, Kazakhstan, with 219 passengers, and AirAsia flight AK840 arrived directly from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with 189 passengers.
U-Tapao Airport officials, TAT, and government and private agencies in the area, including the tourist police, provincial sports officials, and local tourism associations, joined in welcoming tourists to show friendship. They are ready to reinforce Pattaya as a popular destination.
U-Tapao Airport officials, TAT, and government and private agencies in the area joined in welcoming tourists.U-Tapao Airport officials, TAT, and government and private agencies in the area, including the tourist police, provincial sports officials, and local tourism associations, joined in welcoming tourists
The Deputy Governor for the European, Americas, Middle Eastern, and African markets of TAT, Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, stated that expanding SCAT Airlines’ routes is crucial in promoting travel to Thailand for Kazakh tourists. In 2023, 172,282 Kazakh tourists visited Thailand. From January 1 to April 30, 2024, 95,789 Kazakh tourists have already traveled to Thailand, marking an increase of 19.39% due to the Visa Exemption policy extended until August 31.
In the year 2023, Thailand welcomed 4,626,422 tourists from Malaysia, and during the period spanning January 1 to April 30, 2024, Thailand received 1,569,856 Malaysian tourists, showing a 15.64% increase.
“Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sermsak Pongpanich, revealed that from June 10 to 16, 2024, Thailand welcomed 16 million foreign tourists. The short-haul and long-haul market segments increased by 9.61% and 4.90%, respectively, from the previous week.
The ongoing Islamic religious holidays, including Eid al-Adha or Hari Raya Haji, greatly boosted tourist numbers from the Middle East by 97.82%, as well as increases from Malaysia (32.99%), Indonesia (37.70%), and Singapore (17.94%).”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo after the official welcome ceremony in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership during a summit in Pyongyang, in a bid to expand their economic and military cooperation and cement a united front against Washington.
Putin’s visit comes amid growing concerns over an arms arrangement in which North Korea provides Russia with badly needed munitions for Moscow’s war in Ukraine in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers that could enhance the threat posed by Kim’s nuclear weapons and missile program.
Russian state media said Putin and Kim spoke face-to-face for about two hours in a meeting that was originally planned for one hour.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, second right, attend the talks in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Kristina Kormilitsyna, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
Speaking at the start of Wednesday’s talks, Putin thanked Kim for North Korea’s support for his war in Ukraine, part of what he said was a “fight against the imperialist hegemonistic policies of the U.S. and its satellites against the Russian Federation.”
He called the agreement a “new fundamental document (that) will form the basis of our ties for the long term,” hailing ties that he traced back to the Soviet army fighting the Japanese military on the Korean Peninsula in the closing moments of World War II, and Moscow’s support for Pyongyang during the Korean War.
Kim said Moscow and Pyongyang’s “fiery friendship” is now even closer than during Soviet times, and promised “full support and solidarity to the Russian government, army and people in carrying out the special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity.”
Kim has used similar language in the past, consistently saying North Korea supports what he describes as a just action to protect Russia’s interests and blaming the crisis on the U.S.-led West’s “hegemonic policy.”
People, holding portraits of Russian President Vladimir Putin, greet and applaud as a motorcade with Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un move past in a street in Pyongyang, North Korea, Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
It wasn’t immediately clear what that support might look like, and no details of the agreement were intially made public.
North Korea is under heavy U.N. Security Council sanctions over its weapons program, while Russia also faces sanctions by the United States and its Western partners over its aggression in Ukraine.
Russia media said earlier that Kim will host a reception, and Putin is expected to leave Wednesday evening for Vietnam.
Before the talks, Kim welcomed Putin with a lavish ceremony in the city’s main square, where he introduced key members of the North Korean leadership including Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui; top aide and ruling party secretary Jo Yong Won; and the leader’s powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong.
Huge crowds lined up on the streets to greet Putin’s motorcade, chanting “Welcome Putin” and waving flowers and North Korean and Russian flags.
Putin was accompanied by several top officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Denis Mantrurov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, according to his foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov.
U.S. and South Korean officials accuse the North of providing Russia with artillery, missiles and other military equipment for use in Ukraine, possibly in return for key military technologies and aid. Both Pyongyang and Moscow deny accusations about North Korean weapons transfers, which would violate multiple U.N. Security Council sanctions that Russia previously endorsed.
Along with China, Russia has provided political cover for Kim’s continuing efforts to advance his nuclear arsenal, repeatedly blocking U.S.-led efforts to impose fresh U.N. sanctions on the North over its weapons tests.
In March, a Russian veto at the United Nations ended monitoring of U.N. sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program, prompting Western accusations that Moscow is seeking to avoid scrutiny as it buys weapons from Pyongyang for use in Ukraine. U.S. and South Korean officials have said they are discussing options for a new mechanism for monitoring the North.
South Korean analysts say that Kim will likely seek stronger economic benefits and more advanced military technologies from Russia, although his more sensitive discussions with Putin aren’t likely to be made public.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, second left, and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, second right, greet each other during the official welcome ceremony in the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
While Kim’s military nuclear program now includes developmental intercontinental ballistic missiles that can potentially reach the U.S. mainland, he may need outside technology help to meaningfully advance his program further. There are already possible signs that Russia is assisting North Korea with technologies related to space rockets and military reconnaissance satellites, which Kim has described as crucial for monitoring South Korea and enhancing the threat of his nuclear-capable missiles.
The North may also seek to increase labor exports to Russia and other illicit activities to gain foreign currency in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions, according to a recent report by the Institute for National Security Strategy, a think tank run by South Korea’s main spy agency. There will likely be talks about expanding cooperation in agriculture, fisheries and mining and further promoting Russian tourism to North Korea, the institute said.
In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Putin’s visit to North Korea illustrates how Russia tries, “in desperation, to develop and to strengthen relations with countries that can provide it with what it needs to continue the war of aggression that it started against Ukraine.”
“North Korea is providing significant munitions to Russia … and other weapons for use in Ukraine. Iran has been providing weaponry, including drones, that have been used against civilians and civilian infrastructure,” Blinken told reporters following a meeting with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years, with the pace of both Kim’s weapons tests and combined military exercises involving the United States, South Korea and Japan intensifying in a tit-for-tat cycle.
The Koreas also have engaged in Cold War-style psychological warfare that involved North Korea dropping tons of trash on the South with balloons, and the South broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda with its loudspeakers.
OZO also Partners with Other Thai Brands to Redefine Joy in the Hotel Experience
OZO, the fun and vibrant concept hotel brand managed by ONYX Hospitality Group, is ready to provide unlimited happiness and smiles with its refreshed and brighter look. OZO is thrilled to unveil chic new staff uniforms through a special collaboration project, OZO HOTELS x GREYHOUND ORIGINAL, breaking all the stereotypes of traditional uniforms.
Additionally, OZO plans to enhance its vibrancy by partnering with other Thai lifestyle brands, creating unique experiences and moments that bring smiles to every guest.
For over a decade, OZO has been committed to providing happiness and vibrant fun to its guests, since opening its first branch on Koh Samui. OZO caters to everyone’s unique needs for fun with its simple yet bright design and convenient locations, connected to major tourist attractions. These features allow guests to engage in a variety of activities, meeting every lifestyle need and creating lasting impressions, ensuring OZO is a top option for accommodation, to suit a range of travellers.
Today, the OZO brand is unveiling a vibrant new look under the concept of ‘Unpack. Good. Vibes.’ This refreshed design and decor cater to practical needs while infusing fun into every detail, creating an atmosphere that feels like a playground where guests can fully express themselves. The OZO brand is prepared to spark happiness under three main ideas: ensuring guests enjoy a restful night’s sleep, quickly connecting them to the world of technology, and inspiring them to find their unique happiness. Through these brand promises, every day at OZO promises a good time.
Yuthachai Charanachitta, CEO of ONYX Hospitality Group, which manages the OZO hotel brand, said that “OZO’s highlight lies in its strategic locations and unwavering focus on the guest experience. We continuously strive to elevate and enhance this aspect. The launch not only unveils a brighter and more lively atmosphere but also emphasises services unique to the OZO brand. Through OZO, we are committed to ensuring every guest has the best and most enjoyably memorable experience on every trip.”
In addition to the new vibrant decorations, the re-launch of OZO introduces new employee uniforms that vividly reflect the brand’s character. These uniforms convey the bright, fun essence of the OZO brand through a special collaboration with Thailand’s leading fashion brand, OZO HOTELS x GREYHOUND ORIGINAL, designed by Bordin Aphimarn himself.
The new uniform design, combining the cheerfulness of the OZO brand with GREYHOUND ORIGINAL’s design features, has resulted in a very chic uniform that breaks all the rules of traditional hotel uniforms. The new employee uniform will be a key element in emphasising the brand’s character. By having hotel employees wear fun uniforms and serve guests with the spirit of the OZO brand, the aim is to enhance the blissful experience for every guest.
“OZO can indeed be described as a Lifestyle Hotel, as it consistently thinks outside the box. Its collaboration with GREYHOUND ORIGINAL, a renowned Thai fashion brand with similar personalities and viewpoints, not only creates a clear brand image for OZO but also strengthens both brands.
This collaboration allows them to reach a wider target audience. The new staff uniform designed by GREYHOUND ORIGINAL for OZO perfectly embodies the fun essence of OZO’s ‘Unpack. Good. Vibes.’ concept. As guests arrive and see employees wearing these colourful uniforms, it immediately creates a fun and energetic atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. This emphasis on creativity and brightness underscores OZO’s identity as a brand that thinks outside the box, setting it apart from others in the industry,” said Yuthachai.
The newly designed uniform seamlessly blends the fashion style of GREYHOUND ORIGINAL with the personality and unique colours of OZO, effectively reflecting the brand DNA. The new uniform design also prioritises practicality, ensuring suitability for various functions within the hotel, including management, reception, housekeeping, and technical staff.
Bordin Aphimarn, the uniform designer representing GREYHOUND ORIGINAL, discusses the design process for OZO’s employee uniforms, stating, “This uniform design merges the shared brand characteristics of OZO and GREYHOUND, such as being lifestyle brands with a cool edge. It combines these similarities with differences in specific dimensions, like the bright colours of the OZO brand, to create new chemistry. The result is something different yet still distinctly OZO—a fun brand full of positive energy, brightness, and surprises, in line with the ‘Unpack. Good. Vibes.’ concept.”
“OZO’s strong identity and clear needs from the outset made the design process very smooth. There may have been initial hesitation about using bright colours as they are not typical of GREYHOUND’s style. However, incorporating fresh colours that truly reflect OZO’s character finally resulted in a uniform that now exudes a sense of joyfulness and modernity.
In terms of style, we focused on an oversized design to create a relaxed look that conveys the message that OZO is a hotel brand that thinks outside the box. Additionally, the uniforms are designed to be unisex, ensuring that employees of all genders, ages, and body types can wear them and look good, cool, and be flexible in their work. The uniforms are made from a blend of cotton and polyester, making them durable, wrinkle-resistant, and breathable. This makes them suitable for regular use and comfortable to wear in hot weather zones or locations near the sea.”
In addition to the OZO HOTEL x GREYHOUND ORIGINAL project, ONYX Hospitality Group plans to collaborate with many leading Thai brands to further enhance the OZO brand. One of these collaborations is with Guss Damn Good, a premium ice cream brand loved by ice cream enthusiasts.
The brands have collaborated to create two unique ice cream flavours for the OZO brand: Good Vibes and Cheat Day. These flavours promise freshness in the OZO style right from the first bite, using the concept of ‘Unpack. Good. Vibes.’ in their creation.
For example, the Good Vibes flavour takes the refreshing taste of popular tropical fruits like watermelon and creates a sorbet that is light, delicious, and conveys Good Vibes in every bite. Cheat Day, on the other hand, is Banoffee ice cream that hides a fun surprise in each mouthful.
These two ice cream flavours will be available soon in all Guss Damn Good stores, as well as in all three OZO hotels in Thailand: OZO North Pattaya, OZO Chaweng Samui, and OZO Phuket. Additionally, ice cream lovers can enjoy seven other popular flavours of Guss Damn Good’s original ice cream at these locations.
“We aim to create a distinct brand personality and culture, which OZO has further emphasised through collaborations with other Thai lifestyle brands in the form of collaborative marketing. There is an abundance of excellent design work stemming from the skills of many Thai individuals who deserve to be recognised and supported. In the future, we may explore collaborations with specific brands to develop products related to beach lifestyle and marine activities. This direction aligns with the fact that many locations of OZO hotels are renowned for their beaches, including Pattaya, Samui, and Phuket.”
“Promoting Thai products is also of high importance. Thai artists have high skills and potential, as mentioned above. But it must be done gradually to ensure partnerships are authentic and create natural synergy with the OZO identity,” said Yuthachai, expressing his intentions. He envisions that each future collaboration will enable Thai brands, including the OZO brand, to grow collectively and achieve new heights beyond previous accomplishments.
OZO aims for every guest to experience a vibrant energy that is full of fun and liveliness. This is achieved through various functions, both in the rooms and in the hotel’s facilities, that prioritise comfort, practicality in real-life usage, and responsiveness to every need. With these offerings, OZO has established itself as a brand with a distinct character, setting it apart from its competitors and bringing smiles wider than ever before. The ultimate goal is to become the top-quality hotel brand in Asia.
The escaped monkeys invaded Tha Hin Police Station on Tuesday evening, June 19, 2024.
LOPBURI — Anti-Monkey Unit Police and local officials tried to catch about 30 monkeys back after they have escaped from a government cage in Lopburi province. Locals expressed concerns and urged officials to capture all them.
On June 19, 2024, over 50 officers from the municipality tried to capture the escaped monkeys, following an incident where over 30 macaques broke out of Cage 1 and wandered onto the streets, climbing into homes, with some even invading Tha Hin Police Station since Tuesday evening.
They brought cages and food, placing them at 4 main points: across from the animal nursery park, Tha Hin Police Station, and Pho Kao Ton Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO), where monkeys were still scattered within a 500-meter radius.
Officers from the municipality tried to capture the escaped monkeys on June 19, 2024.
The monkey-capturing operation faced difficulties. Officers from Pho Kao Ton SAO had to use air guns to shoot tranquilizers and use a boom lift to bring the monkeys down. The codes on their left arms confirmed that they were monkeys from the Manora Market zone.
Later, a report from the Department of National Parks stated that by midday on Wednesday, over 20 monkeys had been returned to their cages. It is expected that all the escaped monkeys will be captured by the evening of the same day.
The monkeys that escaped climbed up and sat on the house roofs.
According to police officers, during the incident on Tuesday, they had to quickly close doors and windows. Officials from the Department of National Parks and the municipality placed food-filled cages at various points. The situation quickly stabilized as the monkeys returned to their cages at feeding time, although a few remained on rooftops and around homes, searching for food.
Meanwhile, reporters visited the Pho Kaeton Animal Nursery Center, also known as Lopburi Monkey Park An inspection of Cage 1, Phase 3, where over 300 monkeys from Manora Market are housed, revealed a 20 centimeters gap between the wire and metal cage. A strong and large lead monkey is believed to have shaken the wire until the connection broke, allowing the group to escape and causing panic among locals and police.
Officials have since repaired the wire. Locals near the animal nursery center are advised to close their doors and windows tightly to prevent the monkeys from hiding inside. Authorities are confident they will recapture all the escaped monkeys.
The Department of National Parks and municipal officers are expected to capture all the escaped monkeys on Wednesday.A strong and large lead monkey is believed to have shaken the wire until the connection broke, allowing the group to escape and causing panic among locals and police.
A fire set by members of the Pakanyo tribe in protected forest land at Chiang Mai province, Thailand, Monday, April 22, 2024. AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
SAMOENG, Thailand (AP) — When the haze season comes, village chief Nanthawat Tiengtrongsakun and his tribesmen start preparing the land for fire.
They cut shrubs and trees on their small parcels of land, then set controlled burns that will clear their fields for planting — and send up plumes of smoke that add to some of the worst air in the world. It’s a slightly sweet gray haze that blurs the mountains in this part of northern Thailand to a faint outline, makes the air itself feel solid and turns breathing and swallowing painful for some.
The Pakanyo, who have carried out the practice as long as they have lived in these hills about 90 minutes from Chiang Mai, a top tourist destination, say they get blamed by city dwellers for fouling the air and damaging forest land.
A member of the Pakanyo tribe stands near a fire set in protected forest land at Chiang Mai province, Thailand, Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
“We are the ethnic group that preserves the forest, but other people have the concern that we are destroying the forest,” Tiengtrongsakun said. “My argument to them is that we have been living (here) for generations. If we are the cause of the damage, the forest around us would have to be all gone.”
The Pakanyo are just a small part of a cluster of factors that show how deeply fire is ingrained in local practices and why Thailand’s air pollution issue is so intractable.
During the haze season, from February to April, Chiang Mai city regularly tops the list of the world’s worst cities for air pollution. In March and April, its levels of fine particulate matter — things like dust, dirt, soot and smoke that get into lungs and even bloodstreams — are on average about 20 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit for exposure.
A thick layer of smoke covers the city of Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand, Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
The city is at the forefront of the air pollution fight in Thailand in part because of its toxic air quality index readings, but also because it is home to a strong civil society and a meaningful local government effort to tackle the issue. And that effort has been reinforced by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who has visited Chiang Mai four times since taking office last summer. He’s called Chiang Mai a “model” that other places in Thailand should learn from, and last fall pledged to push through clean air legislation to “ensure that access to clean air is a basic human right for all.”
Dirty air has become a fixture for public discussion in Thailand over the past two decades, but despite significant research and advocacy, the problem persists.
Air pollution in northern Thailand has been traditionally blamed on farmers who grow corn and sell it to big agro-food companies like CP Foods to be used as animal feed. There are other ways to deal with stubble, like biochar, which involves burning in a low-oxygen environment that means lower particulate emissions. But that requires significant labor in highland areas. And tilling the stubble into the soil, even if the mostly subsistence farmers had the equipment, would be difficult on the mostly hilly terrain.
CP said in March it had set up a tracing system to avoid buying corn produced on deforested or burned land. The same month, Srettha said he plans to ban imports of corn grown on land cleared by burning.
But the problem is wider than northern Thailand. Researchers say corn cultivation has mostly shifted into neighboring Myanmar and Laos, where stubble-burning is also practiced. Srettha has set up a working group with those countries aimed at cutting down the practice, and invited Cambodia to join, too.
Professor Wan Wiriya at Chiang Mai University who studies pollution, talks to The Associated Press beside a dust measuring tool in the Chiang Mai province, Thailand, Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Researchers at Chiang Mai University traced the sources of air pollution affecting the city, and in a paper published in April in the journal Atmospheric Environment, reported that more than 51% of the haze came from biomass burning — material like leaves or crop stubble. The second-largest share, about 23%, was long-range pollution from other countries, most likely India, they said.
Fire is a deep part of the culture in northern Thailand, featured in local sayings that signal the coming of a period of growth and renewal. In people’s day-to-day lives, it’s used in clearing the forest floor to manage wildfires, or to clear space for an expensive mushroom to grow that will bring in better income, or to clear the ground of noisy leaves as part of hunting practices.
Fire is often used as a form of protest in Thailand, too, said Olivier Evrard, a Thailand-based senior researcher at French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD). In 2018, a national controversy erupted when locals discovered that a branch of the judiciary had built a housing and residential complex in protected forest land at the base of a sacred mountain outside Chiang Mai. They eventually vacated the premises owing to the backlash, but fires are still set near the site every year, likely in protest.
There’s been no shortage of policies attempting to regulate the burning. Thailand issued a national zero-burning directive starting in 2013, with different provinces implementing a blanket ban on burning at different times.
Village chief Nanthawat Tiengtrongsakun talks to The Associated Press about the Pakanyo’s tribes controlled burns during interview at Chiang Mai province, Thailand, Monday, April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
But people responded by burning before and after the zero-burn period, extending the haze season’s duration, said Mary Mostafanezhad, a professor at the University of Hawaii who has studied air pollution in Chiang Mai. After seeing that the zero-burning policy did not work, Chiang Mai province adopted a newer policy: Fires could be set, as long as you applied beforehand.
The fires are to be submitted via FireD, an app developed by Chiang Mai university professor Chakrit Chotamonsak. The app uses weather and satellite data to predict if a fire on a particular day will cause more pollution or whether conditions will blow away the smoke and pollutants.
The researchers estimate that as many as half the fires in the province aren’t registered, but they still consider the app a positive step. Even the decision to use FireD, which is the transliteration of “good fire” in Thai, in 2021 was an important shift, said Chaya Vaddhanaphuti, an independent researcher who had worked with the FireD team.
“This changes the perspective that fire was seen as a bad image, fire was seen as savage,” he said, noting that many in rural northern Thailand depend on fire.
Yet, to the villagers, it’s strange being asked to fill out paperwork for permission to do what they already know how to do — set a prescribed burn in good weather so they can clear a patch of land for the coming year’s crops.
Tiengtrongsakun, the Pakanyo chief in the village of Ban Mae Lan Kham, this year did paperwork for 100 households who needed to start a fire to clear their fields. Not everyone in the village speaks Thai or understands the latest government policy.
“If we hand them the document or registration form, they don’t know what to do with it,” he said. “Often they just throw the papers away.”
Researchers say policymakers need to look at the conditions of people’s lives and consider the details of which land is being burned and why. But it’s difficult because of politics and economics. Many of the people living in the hills surrounding Chiang Mai belong to various tribal groups not formally recognized by the Thai government. Others struggle with access to good education and jobs. For now, burning remains the most efficient and cheapest way for people to do what they need to do, whether it’s farming, hunting or clearing the forest floor.
“If burning is the easiest and most cost-efficient way to grow your crops, or to make a living, until that is not true, it’s going to continue to happen,” said Mostafanezhad.
The bar employee (left) states that she tried to walk away, but the foreign man walked up and pushed her, causing her to fall and injure her ankle.
PATTAYA — A bar employee in Pattaya is pleading for a foreign man to be brought in to compensate for the damage caused by his assault that left her injured.
According to a clip shared on social media, a female employee of an entertainment venue on Walking Street, Pattaya, was pushed and knocked down by a burly foreign man. A reporter from Khaosod Online in Pattaya has tracked down this woman.
Ms. Saichon, 32 years old, said that at 4:30 a.m. on June 16, after finishing work and about to go to another entertainment venue on Walking Street, Pattaya, she saw a foreigner in a frenzied state. She tried to walk away, but the foreign man, whom she had never met before, walked up and pushed her, causing her to fall and injure her ankle.
After that, the police officers intervened to settle the incident and brought them to discuss further at Pattaya City Police Station. She asked for 10,000 baht for medical treatment. The foreign man offered to pay 8,000 baht, and she didn’t want to make a fuss, so she agreed to end the matter peacefully to avoid escalating problems.
However, the woman who came with the foreigner refused, saying she would only give 3,000 baht and would bring more on another day before a daily record was made.
But since the day of the incident until now, the other party has not contacted her. She, therefore, wants to ask for justice for herself because she cannot work to support herself. She pleads with the police to urgently track down the perpetrator to be held accountable according to the law as soon as possible.
BANGKOK — Prasert Taedulyasatit, president of the Thai Condominium Association, said on June 18, that the Myanmar government’s strict control over condominium purchases in Thailand has affected sales.
Currently, Myanmar nationals are the second largest group of buyers after Chinese nationals.
It is expected that this restriction will further worsen the real estate market in the second quarter and continue the negative trend from the first quarter. Foreign demand is crucial, especially when domestic purchasing power is weak due to high household debt and the continued refusal to borrow. Nevertheless, customers from Myanmar still make up a small proportion compared to Chinese buyers, who remain the largest customer group.
Kajonsit Singsansern, CEO of Siamese Asset Public Company Limited, mentioned that the company has recently expanded its market to Myanmar customers, selling about 10 units priced between 5 and 10 million baht in the Rama 9 area. The main customers are still from China and Taiwan. Due to the weak domestic market, with a rejection rate of up to 50% for properties under 3 million baht, the company relies heavily on foreign buyers.
“We have to admit that the Thai economy is in a bad state due to various factors. The main problem is high household debt, which affects purchasing power in all sectors, including the real estate sector. It will be a challenge for the government to achieve 3% GDP growth this year, as only the tourism sector seems to be a supporting factor. If the digital currency project is launched by the end of the year, it could help, but that is still uncertain,” Kajornsit said.
Piya Prayong, CEO of Pruksa Real Estate Public Company Limited, explained that Pruksa does not yet have many customers in Myanmar as the company is just entering the market. Therefore, the company is not significantly affected and is exploring other markets such as Taiwan and China.
The real estate market has seen weak purchasing power over the last five months due to the sluggish economy and the same old problems with high loan rejection rates of up to 40 percent. The government’s measures have not helped significantly, with the result that sales have fallen slightly short of expectations.
“We have therefore expanded our portfolio to include high-quality properties priced between 30 and 40 million baht. For the Thai economy as a whole, the government will have to work very hard if it wants to achieve GDP growth of 3 percent, as growth in the first quarter was only 1.5 percent. More cash injections and stimulus measures are needed as exports are still not doing well. Relying on tourism alone will not be enough,” said Piya.
Apisith Sunthornchukeat, Co-CEO of Origin Vertical Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of Origin Property Public Company Limited, noted that the market is still performing well overall for foreign buyers, especially as Chinese buyers continue to invest. However, the Myanmar market has slowed down due to strict control by the Myanmar government.
The company has suspended its operations in Myanmar and expanded into new markets such as Taiwan, India, Europe and America, where most customers prefer condominiums in prime locations such as Thonglor, Phrom Phong and Sukhumvit.
A fragment of a pilaster with Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana
BANGKOK — The Thai government has received the good news on June 18, from the Art Institute of Chicago in the United States, that it will return one ancient artifact of the Phanom Rung temple in Buriram Province, to the Fine Arts Department of Thailand.
The artifact is a “Fragment of a Pilaster with Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana,” which is an architectural component of a stone castle dating back to around the 17th Buddhist century, or approximately 900 years ago.
Phanom Rung Temple, Buriram Province
Panombut Chanthrachot, the Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, said that he has informed the Minister of Culture, Sudawan Wangsupakitkoson, about this good news. She believes that although the artifact is not on the list of Thai ancient objects being tracked in foreign countries, the offer to return it by the Art Institute of Chicago is a delightful matter. Thailand will receive an important ancient object back, which can be used to complete the missing parts of ancient sites, making them more complete.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Culture of Thailand, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to the Art Institute of Chicago for recognizing the ethics of possessing ancient objects with proper origins and the good relationship between Thailand and the United States, especially for giving importance to combating the illegal trade of ancient objects.”
Mr. Panombut also said that the return of this ancient object is an important step in extending the cooperation between the two countries, and we hope that this will inspire cooperation that will further promote the exchange of knowledge and cultural collaboration.
“This act serves as a model for ethical collecting practices and strengthens the bonds of cultural respect and collaboration between Thailand and the Art Institute of Chicago,” said Mr. Phnombootra Chandrajoti, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department. “This valuable artifact is from one of the most significant archeological sites in Thailand and we are glad it is returning to its motherland,” he said.
According to the press release of the Art Institute of Chicago, the museum is committed to ongoing provenance research of this collection, and after conducting new research on this object, the museum proactively reached out to the Thai government to initiate the process to return it.
The object is a 12th-century fragment of a pilaster, which is a rectangular architectural column in the side of a doorframe. The pilaster was previously attributed to Cambodia, and new research identified that it originated at the Phanom Rung temple in northeast Thailand, a temple that the museum had previously returned an object to in the 1980s.
A fragment of a pilaster with Krishna lifting Mount Govardhana
With the confirmation of the pilaster’s origins, the museum reached out to the government of Thailand to share these new findings; this collaboration has led to today’s return.
“We are grateful for our close collaboration with the Fine Arts Department in Thailand and are honored to take this step in what I hope is a long and productive partnership,” said James Rondeau, President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute of Chicago. “We are deeply committed to fostering an ongoing relationship and continuing to learn from each other.”
The Phanom Rung temple is the place of origin of another object—known as the Vishnu lintel—that was previously in the museum’s collection and that was returned to Thailand in 1988. Since that time, the lintel has been restored to the structure; it is the Art Institute’s hope that the pilaster fragment is able to be restored to the same temple and these objects can be reunited.
On May 21 this year, Thailand’s National Museum received two ancient statues that were illegally trafficked from Thailand by a British collector of antiquities. The statues, a tall bronze figure called the Standing Shiva or Golden Boy and a smaller sculpture called Kneeling Female, are thought to be around 1,000 years old and were returned from the collection of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
