Iran Fires Air Defense Batteries in Provinces as Explosions Heard Near Isfahan

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19 April 2024, 10:39

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning as explosions could be heard near a major air base near Isfahan, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike following Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.

It remained unclear if the country was under attack, as no Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility and Israel’s military did not respond to a request for comment. However, tensions have remained high in the days since the early Saturday assault on Israel amid its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip and its own strikes targeting Iran in Syria.

One Iranian government official suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.

IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.

AP24092466153492 — This is a locator map for Iran with its capital, Tehran. (AP Photo)

In particular, IRNA said air defenses fired at a major air base in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran’s fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies also reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise” in the area.

Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks. However, state television described all sites in the area as “fully safe.”

Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.

Iran later announced it grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Loudspeakers informed customers of the incident at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, online videos purported to show.

Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.

Hossein Dalirian, a spokesman for Iran’s civilian space program, said on the X social media platform that several small “quadcopter” drones had been shot down. It wasn’t immediately clear where that happened or if it was part of the ongoing incident in Iran.

Meanwhile in Iraq, where a number of Iranian-backed militias are based, residents of Baghdad reported hearing sounds of explosions, but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.

AP24109532474420 — Lebanese villagers check their house which was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike, in Kfar Kila, a Lebanese border village with Israel, south Lebanon, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

FLIGHTS DIVERT AROUND WESTERN IRAN AS ‘EXPLOSIONS’ REPORTED OVER ISFAHAN

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Commercial planes began diverting their routes early Friday morning over western Iran without explanation as one semiofficial news agency in the Islamic Republic said “explosions” had been heard over the city of Isfahan. State television acknowledged the sound.

The incident comes as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.

Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai offered no explanation for diverting around western Iran, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace might have been closed.

The semiofficial Fars news agency reported the sound of explosions over Isfahan near its international airport. It offered no explanation for the blast. Isfahan, some 350 kilometers (215 miles) south of Tehran. is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.

Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.

IRAN SAYS IT WILL RESPOND TO ANY ISRAELI ATTACK

UNITED NATIONS – Iran’s foreign minister is again warning Israel that any use of force in response to his country’s recent drone and missile attacks will be “decisive” and “make the regime regret its actions.”

Hossein Amirabdollahian told a ministerial meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday that Iran’s attack over the weekend was a legitimate response to a suspected Israeli missile strike on its embassy compound in Syria on April 1 has concluded. Therefore, he said, Israel “must be compelled to stop any further military adventurism against our interests.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will retaliate.

Amirabdollahian warned, “Certainly, in case of any use of force by the Israeli regime, and violating our sovereignty, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not hesitate a bit to assert its inherent rights to give a decisive and proper response to make the regime regret its actions.”

Iran and its allies fired more than 300 drones and missiles toward Israel, and 99% were blocked by Israeli air defenses with help from the U.S., Britain, France and Jordan. A 7-year-old girl was hurt, and an Israeli base suffered minor damage.

“Hong Kong Ghost” Photo of Thai Influencer Sparks Debate

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Khaosod English

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18 April 2024, 23:59

Hong Kong Ghost — A photo posted by ANNDAY, the Youtuber, while travelling in Hong Kong shows a mysterious woman in a dark red shirt clutching her back. It has since gone viral on the internet.

BANGKOK – When a YouTuber named ANNDAY posted a photo while traveling in Hong Kong, showing a mysterious woman in a dark red shirt clutching her back, it has become viral on the internet, making the hashtag #HongKongGhost the number one trend on social media X.

hongkong ghost3 — “You just have to adjust the light to be brighter. A ghost becomes a human, haha,” wrote Dr. Jessada Denduangboripant.

The caption suggests that it could be a ghost picture, as she did not see the woman at all when the picture was taken, which sparked a lot of criticism, both from believers and non-believers.

This includes a comment by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jessada Denduangboripant, lecturer at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, who frequently publishes messages explaining various beliefs as scientific findings rather than supernatural phenomena: “You just have to the light to be brighter. A ghost becomes a human, haha”

On April 18, he said in an interview with Matichon Online that the woman in the red shirt in the picture is clearly a person from the beginning. And when the light is adjusted and the image is enlarged, it can be clearly seen that it is a person and not a ghost.

“It is possible that people focus on the screen when taking pictures or selfies and do not pay attention to what is happening behind them, such as whether someone is walking by or something is passing by. This needs to be verified through the store’s security cameras,” he added.

When asked how he sees this story going viral, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jessada said that he sees it as a normal thing that happens in other countries as well. Because the story immediately becomes interesting when there is an image of something mysterious, and the more opinions are divided into two sides, both believers and non-believers, the more likely it becomes a trend and goes viral.

“I’m not talking about this case, but I think what is worrying is that society is starting to create more and more content that could cause panic. Some countries, like China, have even passed laws banning the creation of content that misleads the public. For example, reporting that a wallet has been found and the owner is being sought. It later turns out that the story is not true, but just a hoax. This will be punished immediately,” he stated.

ANNDAY hongkong fashion 04 — Netizens noticed that “the Hong Kong Ghost” wears designer brands totaling over 30,000 baht from head to toe, making her a modern ghost.

Rachapol Sirisakorn, a lawyer, agrees that the “Hong Kong ghost” story could land people in jail if a camera check reveals it is a person and not a ghost, but tells others it is a ghost. Causing public panic can be punishable under Article 384 of the Penal Code with up to one month’s imprisonment or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, or both imprisonment and a fine.

In addition to serious legal opinions, netizens have also taken issue with the Hong Kong ghost’s fashion look, poking fun at the fact that she wears designer brands totaling over 30,000 baht from head to toe, making her a modern ghost.

“Be it a famous shirt from the British brand Turnbull & Asser worth around 21,330 baht, pants from ZARA worth 1,290 baht or shoes from the American sneaker brand AUTRY worth around 6,800 baht,” it stated.

At the same time, The Parallel, the place where the YouTuber took the picture, posted a message on Instagram theparallel_hk that its staff were working on recovering various clips as the incident happened a while ago, so it’s taking time to find them.

ANNDAY hongkong 09 — The Parallel, the place where the YouTuber took the picture, posted a message “The team at our bar is currently working on recovering various clips as the incident happened.

The bar also posted a message asking people to comment on the issue, “Did our bar just get a little more spirited? Recently, a famous Thai influencer captured something unexpected in our mirror – and it‘s gone viral! We’re diving deep into the mystery of the #SohoGhost. Stay tuned as we uncover the stories hidden within our walls. What do you think? Ghost, illusion, or just a trick of the light? Share your thoughts.”

However, later on Thursday night, it posted an update message saying, “We’re on a mission to recover the CCTV footage that has mysteriously gone missing! But fear not; we’re not giving up. We’re determined to crack the case and unravel the mystery behind it.

While we’re at it, we’re contacting the responsible individuals at nearby stores to score their CCTV footage and play detective to identify the car owner in those snapshots. 🔍

We’re just as curious as you are to uncover the truth! So, stay tuned for updates on #SOHOGHOST.”

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Prominent Baptist Pastor in Military-Ruled Myanmar Detained Again Hours After Release From Prison

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Associated Press

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18 April 2024, 23:41

Myanmar Suu Kyi — Hkalam Samson, second from right, poses for photography together with his family members, relatives and friends after his release from the prison in Myintkyina township in Kachin state, Myanmar on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo)

BANGKOK (AP) — A prominent Christian church leader and human rights advocate from Myanmar’s Kachin ethnic minority was detained by the authorities just hours after he was released from prison under an amnesty by the military government, a relative, a colleague and local media said Thursday.

The Rev. Hkalam Samson, former head of the Kachin Baptist Convention and chairman of the Kachin National Consultative Assembly, was among the 3,300 prisoners released nationwide on Wednesday to mark the traditional Thingyan New Year holiday. The assembly is an umbrella organization uniting religious and civil society groups with political organizations promoting Kachin rights, including autonomy from Myanmar’s central government.

Kachin state, in northern Myanmar, has been the scene of intermittent warfare for decades between the army and well-organized and -armed Kachin guerrillas.

Samson had been warmly welcomed by family and friends outside the gate of the prison in the Kachin state capital, Myitkyina, when he was released early Wednesday afternoon.

At around 10 p.m. Wednesday night, however, security forces and officials came to his home in the city and took him away, said one of his relatives, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she feared arrest by the authorities.

She said members of his family were told by the authorities that they were taking him temporarily for his safety. She added that his family, friends and members of other local Christian communities were seeking updated information and to get him released.

AP24109446776833 — Hkalam Samson poses for photography together with his wife after his release from the prison in Myintkyina township in Kachin state, Myanmar on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo)

A member of the Kachin Baptist Convention told The Associated Press that Samson’s wife, Zung Nyaw, and a member of the Kachin-based Peace-talk Creation Group were taken together with him to Myitkyina prison, where Samson had been held for 16 months.

The Baptist Convention member, who also spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, said that the three were taken after being told they needed to answer a few questions. No further explanation was given.

Samson is a prominent advocate of the human rights of the ethnic and religious minorities in Myanmar and in 2019 was part of a delegation that met the U.S. President Trump at the White House to discuss the military’s abuse of ethnic minorities. He was detained in December 2022 while preparing to fly to Thailand for a health checkup, and in April last year was handed a six-year prison term after being convicted of violating laws on unlawful association, incitement and counter-terrorism.

Christians make up about 6% of Myanmar’s overwhelmingly Buddhist population, but about 34% of Kachin’s estimated 1.7 million population.

Human rights groups said minority religions including Christians have been significantly persecuted in Myanmar since an army takeover in 2021, when the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and suppressed nonviolent protests, triggering armed resistance that has led to civil war.

Kachin guerrillas have played a large role in the resistance movemen t uniting armed ethnic minority groups with pro-democracy fighters who organized against military rule.

In March, another Baptist pastor was shot dead at the computer shop where he worked in Mogaung township, in Kachin, U.S. Government funded Radio Free Asia reported last month.

Its report said 47-year-old Nammye Hkun Jaw Li, also from the Kachin Baptist Convention, had been active in protests against the military, and as a local community religious leader.

A former township executive of the KBC, he was also active with a grassroots anti-drug organization called Pat Jasan, which is controversial for allegedly employing violence as part of its drug eradication activities.

Frontier areas in Myanmar have historically been major areas for drug production, especially the region where its borders meet with those of Laos and Thailand, known as the Golden Triangle. Opium, used to make heroin, used to be the major illicit product. In recent decades it has been supplanted by methamphetamine, trafficked all over Asia and beyond, but as war in Myanmar has disrupted law enforcement and farmers’ abilities to grow food crops, opium and heroin production have rebounded.

The military government also announced this week that Myanmar’s jailed former leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved from prison to house arrest as a health measure due to a heat wave, Suu Kyi, 78, and Win Myint, the 72-year-old former president of her ousted government, were among the elderly and infirm prisoners moved to house arrest because of the severe heat, military spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun told foreign media representatives.

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Aung San Suu Kyi Has Been Moved From Prison to House Arrest Due to Heat Wave, Myanmar Military Says

ASEAN Foreign Ministers Issue a Statement on the Escalation of Conflicts in Myanmar

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Khaosod English

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18 April 2024, 22:30

myanmar 79th Armed Forces Day — Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, head of the military council, salutes on stage during a parade to commemorate Myanmar's 79th Armed Forces Day, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Wednesday, March 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Aung Shine Oo)

BANGKOK – On April 18, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared a statement of ASEAN foreign ministers on the escalation of conflicts in Myanmar as follows:

We, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), are deeply concerned over the recent escalation of conflicts, including in the area of Myawaddy, Kayin State, along the border area between Myanmar and Thailand and in Rakhine State of Myanmar, which have caused displacement of civilians.

To avoid further humanitarian impacts of such escalation of all forms of conflicts, we urge all parties for an immediate cessation of violence and to exercise utmost restraint, to uphold international humanitarian law, and to take all the necessary measures to defuse tensions and to ensure the protection and safety of all civilians, including foreign nationals and citizens of ASEAN Member States.

AP24029091568877 — Representatives pose for a group photo during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers retreat meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

We call on all parties to take urgent steps towards mitigating the impact of conflicts on the civilians, including creating a safe and conducive environment to ensure the timely and safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need in Myanmar without discrimination.

We support the continued efforts of the AHA Centre, as well as Thailand’s humanitarian cross-border initiative, which are in line with the Five-Point Consensus and coordinated with the ASEAN Chair through the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar.

We call for the mobilisation of support on efforts towards humanitarian talks in addressing the humanitarian consequences in Myanmar and for an inclusive national dialogue toward a durable and comprehensive political solution in Myanmar.

We reaffirm our commitment to assisting Myanmar in finding a solution by helping to create a conducive environment through the full and swift implementation of the Five-Point Consensus in its entirety, as it remains critical in helping the people of Myanmar to achieve an inclusive and durable peaceful resolution to the crisis that is Myanmar- owned and led, for peace, security, and stability in the region.

We also reaffirm that a peaceful and unified Myanmar is in the interest of ASEAN. In this regard, we reiterate our support to 2024 ASEAN Chair and its Special Envoy on Myanmar, including its continued engagements with all stakeholders in Myanmar.

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Thailand Urges Myanmar To Take More Positive Steps by Releasing Aung San Suu Kyi

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Khaosod English

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18 April 2024, 20:33

thailand myanmar — A large image of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is illustrated at the façade of Mandalay Food House in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

BANGKOK – Noppadon Pattama, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the House of Representatives, issued the committee statement on April 18, stating that the situation in Myanmar is gradually changing. The committee viewed the transfer of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the former State Counsellor of Myanmar, and Mr. Win Myint, the former President of Myanmar, from prison to housing as a positive steps. Consequently, they propose the following demands:

noppadol — Noppadon Pattama, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission

1. Allow the release of all political prisoners, including Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi and Mr. Win Myint, in accordance with ASEAN Five-Point Consensus to promote reconciliation in Myanmar.

2. The Thai and ASEAN countries should provide more humanitarian assistance to Myanmar’s people and other ethnic groups affected by the conflict. To give equal and comprehensive help to all people, it is critical to strengthen the role of private organisations and local community networks. Furthermore, the government should transfer humanitarian aid from all sectors to those affected as soon as possible.

3. The government’s foreign labour policy should be adjusted to reflect the current circumstances in Myanmar. We expect an increase in refugee numbers due to the violence and military recruitment in Myanmar. It should consider new foreign worker registrations, etc.

4. Thailand, in collaboration with ASEAN, China, and India, should lead the way in promoting serious, ongoing, and systematic peace talks through the Troika Plus framework in order to achieve long-term peace, unity, and political stability in Myanmar.

suu prison — (FILES) This file handout photo taken on May 24, 2021 and released by Myanmar’s Ministry of Information on May 26 shows detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi (L) and detained president Win Myint (R) during their first court appearance in Naypyidaw, since the military detained them in a coup on February 1.

Earlier, on April 17, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin posted a message on X “Welcome reports that former Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and former President Win Myint have been moved from prison to their homes. Look forward to further positive steps soon.”

He also shared the statement of Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Deputy Prime Minister as follows:

“The Thai Government welcomes reports that former State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, and former President Win Myint have been moved from prison to their homes as a positive step in responding to the concerns of the international community. The Thai Government calls for further positive steps in this direction leading to their immediate full release in order to advance the implementation of the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus.

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PM Will Consider Whether Phuket Should Become A Special City

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Khaosod English

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18 April 2024, 16:28

phuket special city3 — Can Phuket turn into a metropolis in the form of a special administrative region?

PHUKET – One of Thailand’s most important tourist cities, Phuket generates over 300 billion baht in tourism revenue and has set itself a target of 400 billion baht for this year. However, it is unable to address numerous issues in the city because of inconsistent regulations.

With more than 70 percent of tourists coming from abroad and 30 percent inside the country the large influx of people to Phuket, including more than 10 million tourists and a transient population, has put a strain on the province’s basic infrastructure.

Phuket Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas told Prachachat Business that Phuket Municipality has sent a letter to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin requesting to become a special administrative organization or “special city”, initially only for the Phuket Municipality area, not for the entire province.

The reason is that the current administrative system applies the same regulations and laws nationwide, making Phuket inflexible, delaying the resolution of problems and lacking opportunities for urban development to compete with major tourist cities around the world.

“Tourist cities in many countries are far ahead in their development, so Phuket will lose its competitive edge if it continues to use the same administrative system,” Sarot said. “Decentralization is also one of the policies of this government that has been announced in Parliament,” he said.

On April 18, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin indicated that he had not received that proposal yet. Once he receives it, he will consider it and take additional steps to gather opinions from all sectors. He currently believes that the government recognises Phuket’s importance as a significant province in terms of economic development.

phuket special city1 — A bird’s-eye view of Phuket Island

According to Phuket Mayor Saroj, the government currently allocates funds based on the number of people registered in the house register, which is over 70,000 people, or about 50 million baht per year. There is also an additional subsidy of about 9-10 million baht, which is not enough to solve the various problems in the province.

In addition, Phuket Municipality has a transient population of 2-3 times the registered population, and there are also a large number of tourists, which leads to various problems such as waste, wastewater treatment, traffic congestion, and flooding.

The new draft law, the Phuket City Administration Act B.E. …, consists of 156 articles and outlines the key points of establishing Phuket City as follows:vChange Phuket Municipality to a special administrative organization called “Phuket City” with a mayor elected directly by the people.

phuket special city2 — Residents and tourists attended Songkran Phuket 2024.

It also calls for additional duties and powers by enacting 17 more laws to manage the city in an integrated manner. Phuket City will not be under any authority of the ministry, similar to the Eastern Special Economic Zone Act B.E. 2561 (EEC Act 2018), which gives the EEC Committee the power to manage the three provinces of Chonburi, Rayong and Chachoengsao without the constraints of other authorities.

The 17 additional laws cover:

Promotion and investment
Foreign workers
Foreign companies
Immigration
Tourism and travel guides
Environmental promotion and quality
Urban planning
Factories
Land transportation
Land transportation (without vehicle registration)
Water management
Disaster management
Management of the old city
Public transportation system
Traffic management
Residential population management
Land use management

The structure and administration of Phuket City will be under the supervision of the Phuket Special City Supervisory Committee, which reports directly to the Cabinet. The Mayor of Phuket City will be directly elected by the people for a term of 4 years.

If Phuket Special City has a budget and regulations that allow for easier and faster management in various areas, Phuket City will be a city that can compete with cities around the world. Phuket Municipality has already worked out various strategies and plans to support this.

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Tsunami Alert After a Volcano in Indonesia Has Several Big Eruptions and Thousands Are Told To Leave

By

Associated Press

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18 April 2024, 11:16

Indonesia Volcano Eruptions — Hot molten lava glows at the crater of Mount Ruang as it erupts in Sanguine Islands, Indonesia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami alert Wednesday after eruptions at Ruang mountain sent ash thousands of feet high. Officials ordered more than 11,000 people to leave the area. (BPBD Sitaro via AP)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami alert Wednesday after eruptions at Ruang mountain sent ash thousands of feet high. Officials ordered more than 11,000 people to leave the area.

The volcano on the northern side of Sulawesi island had at least five large eruptions in the past 24 hours, Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation said. Authorities raised their volcano alert to its highest level.

At least 800 residents left the area earlier Wednesday.

AP24109094813969 — In this photo released by Sitaro Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD Sitaro), hot molten lava glows at the crater of Mount Ruang as it erupts in Sanguine Islands, Indonesia, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (BPBD Sitaro via AP)

Indonesia, an archipelago of 270 million people, has 120 active volcanoes. It is prone to volcanic activity because it sits along the “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the Pacific Ocean.

Authorities urged tourists and others to stay at least 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from the 725-meter (2,378 foot) Ruang volcano.

Officials worry that part of the volcano could collapse into the sea and cause a tsunami as in a 1871 eruption there.

Tagulandang island to the volcano’s northeast is again at risk, and its residents are among those being told to evacuate.

Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said residents will be relocated to Manado, the nearest city, on Sulawesi island, a journey of six hours by boat.

In 2018, the eruption of Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano caused a tsunami along the coasts of Sumatra and Java after parts of the mountain fell into the ocean, killing 430 people.

Chinese Couple Departs Thailand After Stealing a Diamond Bracelet in 4 Minutes

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Khaosod English

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18 April 2024, 00:28

BANGKOK – According to police, the Chinese woman and man who stole a diamond and gold bracelet worth 1.04 million baht (28,245 USD) from a downtown Bangkok jewelry store have already left Thailand.

On April 17, Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasin Poolsawat stated that the investigators had stopped tracking the two suspects after they fled Thailand.

According to the investigation, on April 16, they entered the store at 5:29 p.m. and left at 5:32 p.m., for a total of 4 minutes. CCTV footage from the store showed the Chinese woman asking to try on the item, and while the staff was busy, she slipped it beneath her long-sleeved blouse and quickly fled.

At 5:36 p.m., the couple boarded a green-yellow Toyota taxi and arrived at Chatrium Hotel Phetchaburi within 10 minutes.

At 5:54 p.m., the pair called a grey Toyota Altis Grab taxi to take them carrying baggage from the hotel to Suvarnabhumi Airport. At 7:11 p.m., the two Chinese passengers passed through the immigration gate at Suvarnabhumi Airport Departure to return to China. The incident took over 2.30 hours to complete.

The investigating officer at Pathumwan Police Station is to quickly collect evidence in order to obtain approval for an arrest warrant for the accused on theft charges.

The Criminal Code 335 states that “whoever dishonestly takes away any property of another person or causes the other person to be the co-owner to be said to commit the theft by having two persons or more participate shall be punished with imprisonment of one to seven years and a fine of 20,000 to 140,000 Baht. The offender must also pay compensation for any damaged or lost property.”

“We will arrest and prosecute the two immediately if they return,” stated Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasin.

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Thai Police Seize 80 Million Baht in Cash Sent to Myawaddy by Scammers

By

Khaosod English

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17 April 2024, 20:08

scam-80mil-7 — The police officers and the AMLO officer take the stacks of money out of the bag that they seized in Tak Province on April 17, 2024.

BANGKOK – The operation “The Purge” of the cyber police resulted in the arrest of foreign nationals behind the hybrid fraud gang and the seizure of assets worth over 250 million baht (6.79 million USD). Among this amount was 80 million baht (2.17 million USD) in cash, which was nearly sent across the border to Myanmar.

On Wednesday, Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert Chantararuangthong, Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen.Worawat Watnakornbancha, and Mr. Akbar Akhtar, Head of Investigation, APAC, Binance, held a press conference on this operation at the Technology Crime Investigation Division headquarters in Muang Thong Thani.

Thai authorities show the cash of 80 million baht they seized in a press conference on this operation at the Technology Crime Investigation Division headquarters in Muang Thong Thani on April 17, 2024.

Scammers tricked victims into investing in cryptocurrency through fake platforms. Then, they instructed the victims to buy USDT currency and transfer it to a specific digital wallet address. Investigators traced the money to Mr. Su Shaoxian, a Chinese citizen, and his associates. They also discovered a network of Thai nominees used to hide transactions by purchasing real estate and other assets.

Authorities then launched “Trust No One” operations EP.1-5, searching over 72 locations across the country. They arrested three Chinese suspects and confiscated luxury condos, cars, brand-name goods, cash, and other evidence worth more than 1.9 billion baht (51.6 million USD). The case was forwarded to the Attorney General’s Office, which indicted all suspects.

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) ordered the seizure and freeze of assets connected to the crime, totaling 15 items valued at approximately 600 million baht (16.3 million USD). A notice was issued for victims to file claims to get their money back, which could take over a year.

The cyber police continued their investigation and found victims in the Din Daeng police station area who were scammed using the same method. They identified the same group of scammers and obtained arrest warrants for 26 people. Search warrants were also obtained for four key targets. This led to “The Purge Operation”, which resulted in the arrest of four key suspects.

The suspects include two Thai nationals: Mr. Wasis, 31, arrested at the Chaengwattana Government Complex for laundering money through digital assets; and Ms. Sirapat, 25, the account owner, was arrested at the Mae Sot immigration checkpoint in Tak province.

The other two suspects are Mr. Dong Jian, a 45-year-old Chinese national and beneficiary, arrested at his residence in Chiang Mai; and Mr. Wei King Keck, a 41-year-old Singaporean national who hired nominees to open corporate accounts and manage assets, arrested in a parking lot in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.

All suspects were charged with: Fraud by false pretenses, membership of a secret society, membership of a gang, entering false or misleading computer data into a computer system to the detriment of the public, participation in a transnational criminal organization and money laundering.

scam 80mil 5 — Mr. Wei King Keck, a 41-year-old Singaporean was arrested in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.

scam 80mil 4 — Mr. Dong Jian, a 45-year-old Chinese national and beneficiary, was arrested at his residence in Chiang Mai.

Authorities froze bank accounts and seized assets and digital accounts of the suspects and people involved in the case totaling around 252.5 million baht. Some of the money was on its way to a neighboring country, but officers set up a checkpoint and stopped a suspicious vehicle in Mae Ra Moe Subdistrict, Mae Sot District, Tak Province. They found 80 million baht in cash in four cloth bags and detained two people in the vehicle, a man and a woman, for questioning.

scam 80mil 8 — The authorities confiscated 80 million baht in cash and transported it by helicopter to display it at the press conference.

The two claimed they were hired to transport the money from Bang Pa In district in Ayutthaya province to Mae Sot district in Tak province before smuggling it out of the country through unofficial channels to Myawaddy. They were paid 5,000 baht. The authorities confiscated all the money and transported it by helicopter to display it at the press conference.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Worawat said that based on their investigation of the entire financial trail, they believe the network had a turnover of up to 30 billion baht a year. The authorities will continue their investigation and expand the operation.

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Thailand and New Zealand Trade Will Increase as Strategic Partners

By

Khaosod English

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17 April 2024, 17:18

thai newzealand4 — Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon join the press conference at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, on April 17, 2024. (Khaosod Photo/Chalatip Roongbour)

BANGKOK – Christopher Luxon is the first New Zealand Prime Minister to pay an official visit to Thailand in 11 years. The visit also marks 68 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Thailand and almost 20 years of the Thailand-New Zealand Closer Economic Partnership. They will become strategic partners in 2026

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin officially welcomed him at the Government House in Bangkok on April 17 before the two leaders have a bilateral meeting where they will discuss cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Following that, they witnessed the signing of agreements between the relevant agencies of the two countries in the wide range of bilateral cooperation on political, security, economic, cultural, educational, people-to-people connections, science and technology, and development issues.

thai newzealand3 — Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon review an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, on April 17, 2024. (Khaosod Photo/Chalatip Roongbour)

PM Srettha posted on X social media Wednesday afternoon, saying Thailand and New Zealand will sign an agreement to become strategic partners in 2026. That year will mark 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

At the same time, the two countries will boost their trade, with the goal of achieving 11 billion baht of annual trade by 2045, or a three-fold increase from the present.

New Zealand has also pledged to support Thailand’s applications to become a member of the OECD and the UN Human Rights Council.

thai newzealand2 — Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his delegation welcome New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the government house in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Khaosod Photo/Chalatip Roongbour)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a joint statement by the two prime ministers on April 17, 2024, on the topics:

Thailand-New Zealand Strategic Partnership
Defence and Security
Economic Cooperation
Renewable energy and climate change
People-to-people links
Regional cooperation
Global developments

The two Prime Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the situation in Myanmar, Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine and the South China Sea.

thai newzealand1 — Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witnessed the signing of agreements between the relevant agencies of the two countries in the wide range of bilateral cooperation at the government house on April 17, 2024. (Khaosod Photo/Chalatip Roongbour)

On the situation in Myanmar, the Prime Ministers emphasised the importance of a peaceful, stable and unified Myanmar and affirmed their strong support for ASEAN-led efforts in line with the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus and encouraged the international community to work together in a pragmatic and constructive way to support peace and stability in Myanmar.

The Prime Ministers expressed grave concern at the dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza and tragic loss of civilian life following the October 7 attacks. Prime Minister Luxon offered his condolences for the Thai migrant workers who lost their lives, and expressed sympathy for those that remain captive.

The Prime Ministers reaffirmed their calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for those in need in Gaza and also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.

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