A Fire In China’s Jiangxi Province Kills 39 People Caused by Improper Renovation

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25 January 2024, 12:57

China Fire — Firefighters work at the site of a building fire in Xinyu City, east China's Jiangxi Province, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (Zhou Mi, Xinhua via AP)

BEIJING (AP) — A fire broke out in a commercial building in China’s southeastern Jiangxi province on Wednesday, killing at least 39 people and injuring nine others, state media said.

Officials for the Yushui district of Jiangxi province said that the fire broke out in the basement of a shopping area in the afternoon. In addition to rescue workers, firefighters and police, local government officials were deployed to the scene.

State broadcaster CCTV later reported that rescue operations were complete and that no people remained trapped in the building, which it said housed an internet cafe in the basement and tutoring centers on upper floors.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a statement about the blaze, noting that it was yet another safety tragedy. He called on the government and Communist Party to “resolutely curb the frequent occurrence of various safety accidents, and ensure the safety of people’s lives and property and overall social stability.”

The statement included orders for the State Council’s Work Safety Committee to close any gaps in safety measures.

AP24024547069470 — Firefighters work at the site of a building fire in Xinyu City, east China’s Jiangxi Province, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (Zhou Mi, Xinhua via AP)

A preliminary investigation found the blaze was caused during an improper renovation of a cold storage facility in the basement, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. Twelve people have been detained, the agency said.

The tragedy came days after another fire broke out in the dormitory of a boarding school in the central province of Henan late on Friday night, killing 13 children in third grade. Authorities have not disclosed the cause of that blaze.

Bravo BKK Unveils Bangkok’s Newest Entertainment Hub With Concept “Fit by Day, Fun by Night”

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Contributor

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25 January 2024, 10:27

The establishment emerges as a landmark for hosting events and concerts, featuring a modern and fully equipped space that promises to deliver an unparalleled experience and redefine the Thai retail industry landscape.

Bravo BKK: Fit and Fun Mall is positioned as the ultimate lively entertainment center, destined to become the go-to destination for crafting unforgettable moments in the heart of the Rama 9 neighborhood in Bangkok. Launched on November 20, 2023, it is poised to be the most distinctive and vibrant place in the area.

Bravo BKK strategically occupies a prime location in the Rama 9 district, renowned as a prominent residential and real estate investment hub easily accessible via MRT, Airport Link, and Si Rat Expressway. Boasting a comprehensive array of shops, restaurants, and fitness facilities, it is designed to cater to the dynamic needs of individuals. Embracing the concept of “Fit by Day, Fun by Night,” Bravo BKK is poised to generate unique experiences and opportunities for all.

Bravo BKK is overseen by Goh Soo Sing, CEO of Bravo BKK Mall and CEO of BON GROUP. With a wealth of expertise spanning finance, real estate, and department store management, Goh Soo Sing brings boundless energy and creativity to his role. Committed to enhancing the customer experience, he persistently upholds the principles of innovation and growth, positioning Bravo BKK for a promising and vibrant future under his leadership.

According to Goh Soo Sing, Bravo BKK is strategically situated in the prime location of Bangkok, offering unparalleled convenience for travel. Encompassing an area of approximately 180,000 square meters, the mall provides over 70,000 square meters of rental space across six floors.

With parking facilities capable of accommodating up to 1,200 cars, Bravo BKK is well-equipped to offer an exclusive experience for customers. This ensures that both residents and travelers can seamlessly immerse themselves in the unique offerings that await within the mall.

It seamlessly integrates shops, restaurants, and exercise facilities in a single place, embodying a clear mission: to fulfill the dynamic needs of individuals through the innovative concept of “Fit by Day, Fun by Night.”

Goh Soo Sing emphasizes, “Bravo BKK is dedicated to fostering a sustainable community by offering an unparalleled shopping and entertainment experience. Visitors can discover unique shops and indulge in a variety of delicious food, all while immersing themselves in a lifestyle that prioritizes quality, fun, and happiness.”

The concept of “Fit by Day, Fun by Night” starts with Fit by Day, a space dedicated to adding balance to your well-being. It inspires individuals to both look and feel good, promoting a dynamic lifestyle that encourages everyone to embark on their journey to good health.

The fully equipped health-oriented space and fitness facilities ensure that you can enhance both your appearance and well-being simultaneously. Designed to evoke inspiration, laughter, and happiness, Bravo BKK caters to the diverse lifestyles and well-being of its customers.

Additionally, it provides a range of Halal food and beverages, addressing the needs of the broader community. This ensures that everyone can come together, enjoy quality time, and experience the utmost comfort and convenience at Bravo BKK.

Fun by Night at Bravo BKK is set to transform your evenings into great adventures. This exciting destination offers delectable food, endless activities, and entertainment that leaves an unforgettable impression. From early evening until late at night, the venue comes alive with vibrant, gentle lights, beckoning people of all ages to partake in the joy, laughter, and conversations mingling with the rhythm of music. The atmosphere becomes warm and lively, creating a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.

Key highlights of Bravo BKK: Fit and Fun Mall that set it apart as a unique destination include its role as a premier “events hosting venue.” It stands ready to transform every idea into reality, supporting a diverse range of events such as seminars, parties, meetings, and more. The design is tailored to facilitate the creation of remarkable memories. Beyond being a mere space, it serves as a canvas for creativity and special performances, ensuring the creation of unforgettable moments. Noteworthy features include:

The Ultra Arena Hall on the 5th floor occupies an area of 4,190 sq m. This versatile space accommodates up to 987 attendees with its spacious capacity. The Ultra Arena Hall is ideal for a wide range of gatherings, whether it’s fan meetings, product launches, concerts, or engaging booth events.

The Atrium Hall, located on the 1st floor, stands as an ideal venue for fan meetings, product launches, concerts, and booth events. Spanning 527 sq m, this multi-purpose and visually appealing space caters to a variety of creative needs and boasts a capacity of accommodating 1,200 attendees (standing).

The MGI Hall, situated on the 6th floor, has the largest capacity among other venues at Bravo BKK. This expansive space with an area size of 4,165.23 sq m is perfect for a wide range of social gatherings, including fan meetings, product launches, concerts, and interactive booth shows.

Experience something truly extraordinary as Bravo BKK ARENA enables everyone to step into a world where the vast sky unfolds, revealing limitless possibilities. This outdoor space goes beyond the ordinary, igniting countless special moments with an area of 21,336 sq m.

Bravo BKK is gearing up to present a Chinese New Year celebration between February 9 and 11, 2024, featuring an array of special activities. Attendees can enjoy a blend of educational and entertainment offerings, including a spectacular lion and dragon dance, aerial yoga shows, a Drag Queen Chinese New Year costume contest, engaging discussions with a “Talk to Feng Shui Master” session for insights into 2024 trends, and an evening filled with a mini concert to immerse yourself in the enchanting music.

The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for February 2, 2024, at the Atrium Hall, 1st floor. The event will feature diverse activities, including a captivating sky-stage performance by Au-Tannatonn Palakawong Na Ayudhaya and the “On Lights of Best of Asia Food Street” event, among other attractions.

Bravo BKK is part of the BON Group, which stands as the preeminent company in the real estate industry and has an outstanding three-decade track record of delivering comprehensive solutions with a strong presence in key strategic locations, including Abu Dhabi, Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.

The BON Group has demonstrated its dedication to addressing a wide range of real estate requirements. As a significant pillar within the BON Group, Bravo BKK is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing the group’s operations and fulfilling its ambitions with the backing of Bravo BKK. The BON Group remains unwavering in its pursuit of opportunities for business expansion, both within its domestic market and on an international scale.

“Bravo BKK is a space for everyone, welcoming customers and diverse partners to join and become part of this vibrant community. Each moment is seen as an opportunity for success, from retail to innovative concepts. We encourage everyone to come together, discover, enjoy, and embrace life in the heart of the Rama 9 area,” expressed Goh Soo Sing.

ONYX Hospitality Group Collaborates With airasia rewards

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Contributor

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25 January 2024, 10:24

ONYX Hospitality Group Continues to Expand Partner Network, has launched a historic collaboration with airasia rewards. In addition to offering 30% room discounts and special privileges for points collection, the partnership reinforces ONYX Hospitality Group’s leadership position in Southeast Asia.

ONYX Hospitality Group, Thailand’s leading company specializing in the management of hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, and luxury residences, featuring renowned brands such as Amari, OZO, Shama, and Oriental Residence, has an exceptional track record in managing hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments across diverse countries in the Asia Pacific region.

The company is committed to fostering robust and accelerated growth in Southeast Asia while expanding the member base and cultivating new, enriching experiences through collaborations with reputable partners.

In its latest collaboration, the company joined forces with airasia rewards, a renowned loyalty program operating under the airasia Superapp (soon to be rebranded as airasia MOVE).

Together, they aim to craft an unforgettable travel and stay experience tailored for airasia members. Within this collaboration, airasia members are entitled to enjoy up to a 30% discount on hotel rooms affiliated with ONYX Hospitality Group. Additionally, airasia members will have the exclusive privilege of earning 500 airasia points. This promotional offer is applicable during the period from January 15 to December 20, 2024.

This exclusive offer featuring a distinctive stay experience for airasia members encompasses a wide array of hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments affiliated with ONYX Hospitality Group, both within Thailand and internationally. Participating locations include Amari Bangkok, Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok, Amari Pattaya, Amari Hua Hin, Amari Phuket, Amari Koh Samui, Amari Vogue Krabi, Amari Buriram United, Amari Vang Vieng, Amari Johor Bahru, Amari SPICE Penang, Amari Raaya Maldives, OZO North Pattaya, OZO Phuket, OZO Chaweng Samui, OZO George Town Penang, Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok, Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok, Shama Yen-Akat Bangkok, Shama Luxe Sukhumvit Bangkok, Shama Petchburi 47. The offer further extends to Hotel 108 Hong Kong, Y Hotel Hong Kong, and Oriental Residence Bangkok.

In addition to the perks associated with airasia rewards, ONYX Rewards members are entitled to exclusive discounts on rooms, restaurants, and spas. Furthermore, they can enjoy various benefits such as room upgrades, flexible check-in and late check-out options, and a host of other privileges, varying according to their membership type. The range of benefits extends to include special privileges from participating partners, ensuring a unique and highly rewarding experience for all members.

Niwat Vaitayamongkol, Senior Director of Brand and Marketing Communications at ONYX Hospitality Group, expressed, “This collaboration represents a fusion of the strengths from two renowned and trusted partners, each excelling in delivering exceptional travel experiences and top-notch accommodation services, encompassing hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments on a global scale. We aim to offer a truly superior, all-encompassing experience, providing a diverse range of accommodation styles catering to all types of travellers.”

“ONYX Hospitality Group is committed to collaborating with esteemed partners across diverse industries. Upcoming plans include strategic partnerships with credit card service providers, mobile network operators, airlines, restaurants, shopping centres, and many more. These initiatives aim to curate the most exclusive experiences for travellers and guests staying at our hotels, particularly those who are ONYX Rewards members. Our focus is on ensuring their needs are met with exceptional quality, delivering the utmost satisfaction through a wide array of our services and benefits.”

Bawornpak Siripanich, Country Head of airasia rewards Thailand, expressed, “We are thrilled to unveil our collaboration with ONYX Hospitality Group. It aligns seamlessly with our mission to establish exclusive partnerships that uninterruptedly deliver benefits and privileges to our valued members. This partnership enables our members to enjoy discounted rooms accompanied by world-class service while simultaneously accumulating airasia points. These points can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and cash vouchers from numerous renowned brands through the airasia Superapp. This represents one of the most distinctive experiences we provide to our members.”

The exclusive benefits for airasia members include:

A 30% discount on rooms at ONYX Hospitality Group hotels, available for both domestic and international locations*. Members can access this discount by entering the code PAA2324 during the booking process.
A special privilege to earn 500 airasia points by using the code PAA2324 when booking a room through the ONYX Hospitality Group website.

Note: For airasia membership, to avail the 30% room discount, guests are required to provide their airasia members ID along with their first and last name in the ‘Additional details’ box. On the day of arrival, guests must inform the hotel of their airasia member ID during check-in to confirm their identity.

For more details about ONYX Hospitality Group, please visit the official website at www.ONYX-hospitality.com.

A Young Lioness Showing in a Bentley Is Owned by a Thai Woman

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Khaosod English

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25 January 2024, 02:38

PATTAYA – Following the viral video of a young lioness sitting next to a foreign driver in an open-top Bentley limousine going through a road in Pattaya, police tourist officials have discovered her actual owner.

Miss Pupe, a 38-year-old woman from Ratchaburi Province, came to inform the officers on January 24 that she was the young lioness’s owner. She took officials physically inspect the lion and examine the possession documents at her friend’s Pattaya residence.

The officers inspected it for 30 minutes and concluded that the lion cub was in perfect shape. A microchip was also discovered on the lion’s right shoulder.

Kongkiat Temtamnan, Director of the Office of Conservation Area 2 (Sriracha), stated that lions are controlled wild animals of type A that can be possessed, but only with a licence. The lion’s identity microchip was deemed to be accurate, consistent with papers at the Ban Pong Administrative Office in Ratchaburi Province, and legal.

However, Ms. Pupe was not permitted to relocate the lion. If the procedures are followed, the administrative office in Sriracha must be alerted to inspect the location where the lioness will be housed to ensure that it meets the government’s requirements.

Furthermore, it is inappropriate to transport the lioness cub in an open-top car visible throughout Pattaya City. Lions are dangerous animals that must be kept under control; otherwise, those around them may be in danger.

lion cub3 — The VDO footage shows a young lioness and a dog sitting in the Bentley limousine.

Ms. Pupe stated that she works in real estate. During this time, her work has been extremely busy. So she contacted a foreign friend who was close to her and enjoyed keeping animals. On the date that the video appears to have been shared on the internet, she had requested a foreign friend to take the lioness to the doctor because the cub did not appear to be comfortable.

The foreign friend took the lion to a vet. She didn’t expect him to take such action, though. She also disapproved of him, claiming that he would bring her problems as she hadn’t finished the paperwork to own the lion; the farm labelled it the wrong gender, which needed to be corrected. His driving with pets also emerged as a video clip, which was widely circulated.

lion microchip2 — The lioness, who should be a wild animal, was kept as a pet.

Even though she was confident that she would be able to obtain a licence soon, she was now accused of breaching or failing to comply with the possession reporting requirements. This offence is punished by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both.

In addition, she is suspected of having violated the possession regulations, which could penalise her with a six-month prison sentence, a fine of little more than 50,000 baht, or both.

The police revealed that the foreigner shown driving the Bentley limousine while taking a lioness on a sightseeing tour of Pattaya in the video is a 53-year-old Sri Lankan businessman. He returned to his own country on January 22.

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19 Bangladeshis Paid High Price for Fake Visa Stamps Are Arrested

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Khaosod English

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24 January 2024, 17:26

NARATHIWAT – Immigration Police has arrested 19 Bangladeshis after receiving a tip-off from the public that a person resembling a foreigner was seen at Taba Market in Che He sub-district of Tak Bai district, Narathiwat Province.

When the officers approached the man, he said that his passport was in a commercial bank and that there were 18 other Bangladeshis in the building.

Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Pantana Nuch-cha-nart, said that the inspection of the passports of all 19 people found that they were all Bangladeshi passports. The passports had entry stamps from the Immigration Bureau on January, 8, 2024, for 15 of the passports, and January 9, 2024, for 2 of the passports.

However, all 19 passports had visa stickers that were irregular. When the officers checked the Immigration Bureau’s information technology system, no travel records were found for any of the passports.

The 19 Bangladeshis said they had come from Bangladesh and were in Cambodia. Bangladeshis in Cambodia had arranged accommodation for them and taken their passports to have them stamped with Thai entry stamps so they could travel to Malaysia.

The cost of stamping their passports with Thai entry stamps and paying the agents in Bangladesh amounted to 400,000 to 500,000 taka per person, or around 145,000 baht.

The arresting officers detained the 19 Bangladeshis and took them to Tak Bai police station for trial. The Narathiwat Provincial Immigration Police and Tak Bai Police Station will continue to investigate to find more perpetrators of the smuggling network.

Since the beginning of 2023, there has been a trend of Bangladeshis being smuggled into Thailand via Cambodia. They cross the border into Thailand from Sa Kaeo province by plane and then transfer to cars. They are then taken in stages from the Cambodian border to Bangkok and the surrounding area before being taken to the southern region.

The crimes of the perpetrators of this network continue, and they have changed their modus operandi and methods of movement. Recently, there have been cases where fake Thai Immigration Department stamps and visa stickers have been used to deceive the authorities when traveling to Malaysia.

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Thai Court Says Popular Politician Pita Limjaroenrat Didn’t Violate Law, Can Remain a Lawmaker

By

Associated Press

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24 January 2024, 16:52

JUTARAT SKULPICHETRAT, BANGKOK — Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday that popular progressive politician Pita Limjaroenrat, who was blocked from becoming prime minister even though his party placed first in last year’s election, did not violate the election law and can retain his seat in Parliament.

Pita had been suspended from the legislature pending the court ruling on whether he violated the law by owning shares in a media company. He was the executor of his father’s estate which included stock in ITV, a company that is the inactive operator of a defunct independent television station.

The court agreed with Pita’s contention that ITV was not an operator of a media business.

By law, political candidates are prohibited from owning shares in any media company when they register to contest an election.

AP24024323785603 — Supporters of Pita Limjaroenrat celebrate at Constitutional Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Pita was forced to step down as leader of the progressive Move Forward Party when he was suspended from Parliament.

The party’s election victory last year reflected a surprisingly strong mandate for change among Thai voters after nearly a decade of military-controlled government. But the party was denied power by members of the conservative unelected Senate.

The Senate, whose members were appointed by the military, joined the elected lower house in casting votes to choose a prime minister under a constitution that was adopted in 2017 under a military government. The Move Forward Party now heads the opposition in Parliament.

The nine-member panel of judges ruled 8-1 in Pita’s favor on Wednesday.

“ITV did not operate any newspapers or media businesses, therefore, the shareholding didn’t violate the Constitution’s Article 98. According to the above reasoning, the accused member’s parliamentary status isn’t suspended,” the ruling said.

“I’m happy and will keep working as planned,” Pita said after the verdict.

About 40 supporters who had gathered outside the court with signs and flowers cheered Pita as he walked out.

“There is justice for the people. At first, I didn’t trust the court but now I see justice,” said Jiraporn Bussawaket, 76.

Pita still faces another serious legal challenge this month.

AP24024311925914 — Former leader of Move Forward Party Pita Limjaroenrat, center, waves to his supporters as he leaves Constitutional Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

On Jan. 31, he is to appear again in the Constitutional Court in another case in which he and his party are accused of attempting to overthrow Thailand’s system of government by proposing an amendment to a law that makes it illegal to defame Thailand’s royal family, an offense known as lese majeste.

Critics say the law, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, is often abused as a political weapon.

The monarchy is considered by many people to be central to Thai identity, and conservative Thais insist that it must be protected.

While the complaint only calls on the party to stop promoting an amendment, its current leader, Chaithawat Tulathon, has said an unfavorable ruling could be used in future cases against the party that could lead to its dissolution. Move Forward’s predecessor, the Future Forward Party, was dissolved by a Constitutional Court ruling in 2020.

Move Forward’s supporters have criticized the cases as dirty tricks similar to ones that have long been used by the ruling conservative establishment to oust political rivals using the courts and nominally independent state agencies such as the Election Commission as legal weapons.

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Unfazed By Political Blows, Pita Limjaroenrat Resolves To Come Back To Lead ‘Alternative Thailand’

A French Man Arrested In Thailand and France for Selling Fake ID Cards

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Khaosod English

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24 January 2024, 14:48

CHIANG MAI – The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) of the Royal Thai Police announced the arrest of two French men who were members of a gang producing and selling fake IDs across the continent.

The TCSD received a tip-off from the French embassy that fake French ID cards were being sold on the dark web, causing a loss of over 90 million euros, or around 4 billion baht.It was found that the fake ID cards were being sent from Thailand under the name of Mr. Francois, a 51-year-old French citizen who has been living in Chiang Mai with his Thai wife and daughter for about 15 years.

The authorities of the two countries then worked together to investigate the case under the International Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. The TCSD obtained search warrants for two locations.

The first site was a house in the Hang Dong district of Chiang Mai, where Mr. Francois lived. The TCSD found only his Thai wife, Mrs. Wichiraphan, and her daughter in the house. Mr. Francois had already returned to France.

french id fake3 — The authorities of Thailand and France worked together to investigate the case under the International Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

Mrs. Wichiraphan said that her husband had no regular job, but he taught languages to children in a local foundation. She said that he always had money to support the family, but she did not know where he got it from.

During the search, the TCSD seized evidence of counterfeit ID card manufacturing, including computers, laminators, printers, paper cutters, corner cutters, logo stamps, passbooks, cryptocurrency documents, data storage devices, and other evidence, totaling nearly 30 items. They sent the seized evidence for further examination and will report the results to the French authorities, who will use the evidence to prosecute Mr. Francois.

Mr. Francois was arrested in France at the end of 2023.

Siam Piwat Unveils ONESIAM Experience

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Contributor

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24 January 2024, 13:32

Siam Piwat unveils ONESIAM Experience, a collective of extraordinary experiences that combine the exceptional strengths of global destinations,kicking off 2024 with iconic Chinese New Year events

To further solidify its position as the premier developer of global destinations, Siam Piwat, a leading real estate and retail developer, introduces the ONESIAM Experience – a collective of extraordinary experiences from world-class destinations in the heart of Bangkok, namely Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery; ICONSIAM, the world-class landmark by the Chao Phraya River; ICS; and Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, the only world-class luxury outlet in Thailand; as well as ONESIAM SuperApp.

The ONESIAM Experience will dazzle and awe like never before through mega-phenomena (Be Amazed), inspire like never before through world-class lifestyle hubs (Be Inspired), and shift the paradigm like never before through pioneering ideas (Be Revolutionized).

The ONESIAM Experience will kick off with a series of grand Chinese New Year celebrations and events to welcome the prosperous Year of the Dragon from today until February 29, 2024.

The ONESIAM Experience does not only combine the strengths of six must-visit destinations in Bangkok for Thai and international visitors worldwide but also testifies to Siam Piwat’s ultimate leadership in delivering a diverse and remarkable array of extraordinary experiences in all spheres, from shopping and dining to entertainment and travels.

We bring to life unprecedented phenomena in collaboration with over 20,000 domestic and international partners in distinctive, innovatively designed spaces with a combined floorspace of over 2 million square meters.

In addition, we have created a global ecosystem consisting of various partners from more than 13 industries, including airlines, hotels, banks, tourism, insurance, automobile, medical, real estate, telecommunications, entertainment, technology, digital assets, advertising and luxury brands, with the goal of organizing over 500 mega-events annually. Thanks to the global ecosystem, Siam Piwat drew a combined traffic of over 100 million visitors in 2023.

For the year 2024, to reinforce and maintain its top-of-mind position among Thai and international visitors, Siam Piwat Group is ready to deliver the unparalleled ONESIAM Experience,

beginning with iconic mega-events in celebration of the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Dragon.

Discover the marvelous dragons that Siam Paragon, Siam Center, and Siam Discovery have co-created with globally renowned artist Ken Kelleher to capture the unique positioning of the three shopping centers. This marks the first collaboration of the American artist, who is celebrated for his outstanding work in placemaking, with shopping centers in Thailand. Each mall will also feature special activities, as detailed below.

Siam Paragon hosts Siam Paragon Golden Prosperous Chinese New Year 2024 to showcase the Eight Wonders in celebration of the Year of the Dragon from February 8 to 11, 2024. The highlight includes a magnificent 72-meter-long dragon tunnel entitled “Tunnel of Prosperity,” brought to life to mark the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 72nd Birthday Anniversary.

As part of the grand celebration, the Che Kung Miu statue will be brought from Hong Kong by the famed astrologist Katha Chinabunchorn and housed within Siam Paragon for all visitors to pray for blessings. The event will also feature a dragon installation art by world-class artists, Chinese acrobatic shows, Chinese art exhibitions, Chinese astrology consultations, and more.

Siam Center presents “Siam Center Year of the Dragon: A Celebration of Luck, Love & Prosperity.” To celebrate the Year of the Dragon with the power of love and vibrant colors, Siam Center will transform its space into the land of merriment, prosperity, and love through a collaboration with Ken Kelleher, the illustrious American artist known for his work in sculptural design, who will co-create the key decorative element that will be featured across the shopping mall to usher in the festivities in celebration of the upcoming Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. The grand celebration will include “luck improvement” activities, exclusive shows, and many other activities, held at Atrium 1 on G Floor.

Siam Discovery, the Exploratorium, organizes the Love of Discovery event as part of the Year of the Dragon campaign from February 5 to 29, 2024, featuring various activities and

installations, including the Dragon Stairs, where visitors can take stunning photos to their heart’s content, and online kau chim fortune reading at Discovery Plaza, Siam Discovery.

ICONSIAM, the global landmark by the Chao Phraya River, presents The ICONSIAM Eternal Prosperity Chinese New Year 2024 to welcome the Year of the Dragon. Visitors can boost their luck by worshipping the statue of the “Change of Heart” deity hailing all the way from Hong Kong and enjoy Thailand’s first-ever dragon dance show by the Hunan Acrobatic Troupe, an international acrobatic champion from the People’s Republic of China, as well as Chinese cultural performances and many other activities from February 7 to 11, 2024.

ONESIAM members will also stand a chance to participate in the grand promotion and win a trip to Hong Kong to participate in the Kwun Yum Treasury Opening Festival, which takes place only once a year, with Katha Chinabunchorn. Also featured as part of the celebration is the Magic Dragon 2024 by Miguel Chevalier Software Cyrille Henry & Antoine Villeret, the first-ever 55-meter-long digital sculpture dragon composed of LED panels showcasing interactive patterns, brought to life by globally acclaimed French artist and digital tech pioneer Miguel Chevalier. The installation art will be on display from today to January 31, 2024 at River Park, G Floor, ICONSIAM.

Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok launches the Celebrate Lunar New Year 2024 Campaign, offering up to 70% discounts on products from top brands for ONESIAM members with the ONESIAM SuperApp when shopping at Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok. Eligible ONESIAM members will receive an Auspicious Word card upon a purchase of 10,000 baht (limited availability) and 200 ONESIAM Coins upon a purchase of 20,000 baht from January 18 February 29, 2024.

ONESIAM SuperApp offers an exclusive promotion for ONESIAM members in celebration of the Chinese New Year from January 26 to February 26, 2024, with a ONESIAM Coin giveaway worth as much as 2.1 million baht. The first 30 lucky ONESIAM members stand a chance to win a luxurious trip from Bangkok to Taiwan with Starlux Airlines and tickets to the TAIPEI 101 Observatory – the World’s Highest Secret Garden on the 89th and 101st floors, amounting to a total value of over 1.3 million baht.

Additionally, ONESIAM members can utilize ONESIAM Coins through ONESIAM SuperApp to receive cash coupons for discounts at participating shops and restaurants within all four shopping centers from February 9 to March 13, 2024.

Siam Piwat strives to consistently deliver the ONESIAM Experience to Thai customers, international visitors and collaborate with leading partners both domestically and internationally to exponentially expand and elevate its business potential beyond all limits, with the overarching goal of establishing Thailand as the world’s No.1 destination.

Trump Wins New Hampshire Primary As Rematch With Biden Appears Increasingly Likely

By

Associated Press

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24 January 2024, 09:46

Election 2024 Trump — Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump waves to supporters as he arrives at a campaign stop in Londonderry, N.H., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump easily won New Hampshire’s primary on Tuesday, seizing command of the race for the Republican nomination and making a November rematch against President Joe Biden feel all the more inevitable.

The result was a setback for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who finished second despite investing significant time and financial resources in a state famous for its independent streak. She’s the last major challenger after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ended his presidential bid over the weekend, allowing her to campaign as the sole alternative to Trump.

Trump’s allies ramped up pressure on Haley to leave the race before the polls had closed, but Haley vowed after the results were announced to continue her campaign. Speaking to supporters, she intensified her criticism of the former president, questioning his mental acuity and pitching herself as a unifying candidate who would usher in generational change.

AP24023710763865 — Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump addresses members of the press during a campaign stop in Londonderry, N.H., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

“This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go,” Haley said, while some in the crowd cried, “It’s not over!”

Trump, meanwhile, can now boast of being the first Republican presidential candidate to win open races in Iowa and New Hampshire since both states began leading the election calendar in 1976, a striking sign of how rapidly Republicans have rallied around him to make him their nominee for the third consecutive time.

He posted especially strong results in the state’s most conservative areas, while Haley won more liberal parts. The only areas in which Haley was leading Trump in early returns were in Democratic-leaning cities and towns such as Concord, Keene and Portsmouth.

With easy wins in both early states, Trump is demonstrating an ability to unite the GOP’s factions firmly behind him. But about half of GOP primary voters in New Hampshire said they are very or somewhat concerned that Trump is too extreme to win the general election, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of the state’s electorate. Only about one-third say the same about Haley.

Pat Sheridan, a 63-year-old engineer from Hampton, voted for Trump “because he did a really good job the first time.”

“We need a businessman, not bureaucrats,” Sheridan said.

AP24023573132735 — Levi Canon, 5, of Chesterfield, N.H., watches his mother, Bethany, fill out her ballot in the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (Kristopher Radder /The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)

Haley’s path to becoming the GOP standard-bearer is narrowing quickly. She won’t compete in a contest that awards delegates until South Carolina’s Feb. 24 primary, bypassing the Feb. 8 Nevada caucuses that are widely seen as favoring Trump.

As South Carolina’s former governor, Haley is hoping a strong showing there could propel her into the March 5 Super Tuesday contests. But in a deeply conservative state where Trump is exceedingly popular, those ambitions may be tough to realize and a home-state loss could prove politically devastating.

“This is just the beginning; we’ve got the rest of the nation,” said Sandy Adams, 66, an independent from Bow who supported Haley. “I think we’ve got a strong candidate, and the first time we have just two candidates, and that’s a great thing.”

On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden won his party’s primary but had to do so via a write-in effort. The Democratic National Committee voted to start its primary next month in South Carolina, but New Hampshire pushed ahead with its own contest. Biden didn’t campaign or appear on the ballot but topped a series of little-known challengers.

Trump’s early sweep through the Republican primary is remarkable considering he faces 91 criminal charges related to everything from seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election to mishandling classified documents and arranging payoffs to a porn actress. He left the White House in 2021 in the grim aftermath of an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol led by his supporters who sought to stop the certification of Biden’s win. And Trump was the first president to be impeached twice.

AP24023190258122 — Les Otten, far right, has his vote inserted into the ballot box by town moderator Tom Tillotson shortly after midnight in the presidential primary election, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, in Dixville Notch, N.H. All six voters selected Nikki Haley. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Beyond the political vulnerabilities associated with the criminal cases, Trump faces a logistical challenge in balancing trials and campaigning. He has frequently appeared voluntarily at a New York courtroom where a jury is considering whether he should pay additional damages to a columnist who last year won a $5 million jury award against Trump for sex abuse and defamation. He has turned these appearances into campaign events, holding televised news conferences that give him an opportunity to spread his message to a large audience.

But Trump has turned those vulnerabilities into an advantage among GOP voters. He has argued that the criminal prosecutions reflect a politicized Justice Department, though there’s no evidence that officials there were pressured by Biden or anyone else in the White House to file charges.

Trump has also repeatedly told his supporters that he’s being prosecuted on their behalf, an argument that appears to have further strengthened his bond with the GOP base.

As Trump begins to pivot his attention to Biden and a general election campaign, the question is whether the former president’s framing of the legal cases will persuade voters beyond the GOP base. Trump lost the popular vote in the 2016 and 2020 elections and has faced particular struggles in suburban communities from Georgia to Pennsylvania to Arizona that could prove decisive in the fall campaign.

AP24023700587841 — Sarah Sigel, right, embraces fellow supporter of President Joe Biden, Carol Czaja, as they campaign for his write-in ballot in the New Hampshire presidential primary outside a polling site in Manchester, N.H., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Trump traveled frequently to New Hampshire in the months leading up to the primary but didn’t spend as much time in the state as many of his rivals. Rather than the traditional approach of greeting voters personally or in small groups, Trump has staged large rallies. He has spent much of his time complaining about the past — including the lie that the 2020 election was stolen due to widespread voter fraud.

If he returns to the White House, the former president has promised to enact a hardline immigration agenda that includes stopping migrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and reimposing his first-term travel ban that originally targeted seven Muslim-majority countries. He’s also said the rising number of immigrants entering the United States are “poisoning the blood of our country,” echoing Adolf Hitler’s language.

Biden faces his own challenges. There are widespread concerns about his age at 81 years old. Dissent is also building within his party over Biden’s alliance with Israel in its war against Hamas, putting the president’s standing at risk in swing states like Michigan. A rally he held in northern Virginia on Tuesday to promote abortion rights — an issue his party sees as critical to success in November — was disrupted repeatedly by protests over U.S. military support for Israel. One person shouted “shame on you!”

But he avoided potential embarrassment in New Hampshire even as rivals like Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips compared him in advertising to Bigfoot — since both were hard to find.

Durwood Sargent, 79, of Bow, cast a write-in vote for Biden and said he wasn’t offended that the president kept his name off the ballot.

“It’s not a big deal. They’ve made a big deal out of it. The president’s got a country to run,” he said.

___

Pattaya Police Inspect A House With A lion Cub Displayed On Limousine

By

Khaosod English

-

24 January 2024, 03:28

PATTAYA – Authorities in Pattaya uncovered the house of a foreign open-top Bentley driver and his lion cub on Tuesday.

This inspection followed netizens have shared widely a video clip of a foreigner driving an open top Bentley limousine with a young pet lioness next to him a he drives through a traffic-choke road in Pattaya.

Locals say the man would drive pass Soi Phra Tamnak 5 with his ‘pet’ daily. Some expressed concerns about potential danger and whether the wild animal is protected from being kept as a pet.

On January 23, around 5:30 p.m., Tourist Police officers, Immigration Police, Forestry Police, and National Park Department officials conducted an inspection of a residence in Soi Khao Pratumnak 5, Village No. 10, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.

This is a two-story detached house with a fence around its perimeter. The house was kept quiet, and no one came out to open the door. According to examination, the Bentley limousine is a rental vehicle from Phuket province.

lion cub14 — Netizens have shared widely a video clip of a foreigner driving an open top Bentley limousine with a young pet lioness next to him in Pattaya.

Later, at 7:00 p.m., the lion’s owner’s lawyer arrived to meet with the officials, informing them that he had been authorised by the lion’s owner to come and negotiate with them. He then opened the door so the cops could enter and check in.

There were two animal cages: the first kept a lion, while the second held three dogs. The lion is a female lion cub, about nine months old. She is registered in Ratchaburi province, central Thailand, and owned by a Thai woman. Police officers then contacted this woman to come give more information about the lion.

A foreigner seen in the video is believed to be Sri Lankan. He asked for a meeting with officials to show lion possession documents on January 24 at Conservation Area Administration Office 2 (Sriracha).

Ms. Rita, 50, who lives in a condo next to this house, claimed she observed a foreigner keep this lion for over a month. Every evening, he would take the lion and the dogs in the Bentley limousine for a drive down the Dongtan-Jomtien beach.

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