Russia Invites Paetongtarn To Attend BRICS Parliamentary Forum

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21 January 2024, 01:28

russia ing1 — Pheu Thai Party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her party members attended a teleconference with Mr. Dmitry Medvedev on January 19.

BANGKOK – The Thai government’s main political party, the Pheu Thai Party, has been invited to observe the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, in July 2024.

To strengthen Thai-Russian relations, the Pheu Thai Party, led by Miss Paetongtarn Shinawatra, had a teleconference on January 19 with the United Russia Party, led by Mr. Dmitry Medvedev. They believe that political party cooperation can boost economic tourism, education, and cultural exchange.

Thailand has received more than 1 million Russian tourists each year. The Srettha Thavisin government has issued measures to temporarily extend Russian visitors’ visa exemption from 30 to 90 days, beginning November 1, 2023, and ending April 30, 2024.

As the two parties also agreed that the world is rapidly evolving in terms of geopolitics, geoeconomics, technology, COVID-19, and climate change, Mr. Dmitry noted that all of these are regarded as essential for the New World Order to exist.

During the bilateral talk, the former president of the Russian Federation invited Miss Paetongtarn to attend the BRICS forum this year.

russia ing3 scaled — The teleconference between the two parties was held on January 19, 2024.

AP24019674874576 — Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman and the head of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev (Ekaterina Shtukina, Sputnik, Pool Photo via AP)

The BRICS bloc of developing countries, which originally comprised Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is in the process of expanding to admit other nations for emerging economies.

More than 40 countries, including Thailand, expressed an interest in joining BRICS as an alternative to global bodies viewed as dominated by the traditional Western powers and hoped membership would unlock benefits including development finance and increased trade and investment.

Ms. Paetongtarn indicated that the Pheu Thai Party and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin seek Thailand to join BRICS, a cooperation framework that serves as an important mechanism for developing countries. This would strengthen Thailand’s global position while also protecting ASEAN member countries’ interests.

russia ing2 scaled — Pheu Thai Party members, including party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Sorawong Thianthong, secretary-general of the Pheu Thai Party, Khon Kaen MP Sarasanan Annopphon, party executive committee Phonchacha Chakrapetch, and advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Chayika Wongnapachant, participated in a teleconference with Mr. Dmitry Medvedev on January 19.

The bloc last August agreed to admit Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates in a move aimed at accelerating its push to reshuffle a Western-dominated world order.

Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates joined the organisation on January 1, 2024, while Saudi Arabia is still hesitant. The Kremlin stated on Wednesday, January 17, that it regarded the work to integrate Saudi Arabia into the BRICS bloc of developing countries as very important. However, it is not sure that such work will be finished before Russia hosts the BRICS summit in Kazan in October.

According to the BBC report, the expanded group has a combined population of about 3.5 billion, or 45% of the world’s population. Its combined economy is worth over $28.5 trillion, or about 28% of the global economy. BRICS countries will also be producing about 44% of the world’s crude oil.

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Credit Card Fraud Ring Busted, 3 Arrested

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Khaosod English

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20 January 2024, 16:00

Police officers show credit card machines and other evidence seized during an arrest at a hotel in Bangkok's Ratchada area on Jan. 19, 2024.

BANGKOK — Three people were arrested in an alleged scheme to use stolen credit cards to get cash, police said Saturday.

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13 Students Dead In Central China School Dormitory Fire

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Xinhua News Agency

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20 January 2024, 15:26

ZHENGZHOU — Thirteen students were killed and another one injured in a fire that took place in a school dormitory in the county of Fangcheng, Nanyang City, central China’s Henan Province, on Friday night, according to local authorities Saturday.

At 11 p.m. on Friday, the local fire department received an alarm about a fire in a male dormitory of Yingcai School in Yanshanpu Village, Dushu Town. Rescuers arrived at the scene quickly, and the flames were extinguished at 11:38 p.m.

The dormitory room housed approximately 30 boarding students when the fire broke out. Except for the 14 who suffered casualties, the remaining students were safely evacuated.

The injured individual is currently receiving treatment at the hospital and is in stable condition.

Yingcai School is a private school with a history of more than 10 years. It primarily enrolls students from nearby rural areas, including some left-behind children.

AP24020339375944 — The dormitory with charred windows is seen after a fire at the Yingcai School in Dushu Town, Fangcheng County, Nanyang city in central China’s Henan province on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (Xinhua via AP)

According to a parent of a student at the school, after the incident, her child was brought home by village officials around 6 a.m. on Saturday, and the return-to-school date is unknown.

She said that female students reside on the second floor of the dormitory, while male students stay on the third floor.

The school has an affiliated kindergarten. Before the incident occurred, the kindergarten’s children had already returned home for the weekend.

Investigation into the incident has been launched by local authorities, and the person in charge of the school has been brought under control by police.

A Thai Man Is Arrested For Attacking A Foreign Tourist In Pattaya

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Khaosod English

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20 January 2024, 10:03

PATTAYA – Police officers from Na Jomtien Police Station in Chonburi Province and Pattaya Tourist Police identified the man in CCTV footage after someone reported that he used a firearm to intimidate a foreign tourist because he got upset that the foreigner was not interested in the beer he had for sale.

On January 19, police officers apprehended Mr. Bunsuk, 52, of Chiang Mai Province, near the scene of the incident, Soi Na Jomtien 20, Village No. 2, Na Jomtien Subdistrict, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province, with evidence including a weapon, a fruit peeling knife, and seized clothing worn on the day of the incident and a digital camera. Officers brought him to the police station for questioning.

threaten1 — Mr. Bunsuk, 52, was arrested for threatening a tourist with a knife in Pattaya on January 19, 2024.

Mr. Bunsuk admitted that he is the person shown in the CCTV footage but maintained that on the night of the event, a young woman came to seek assistance after being harassed by a foreigner, so he carried out the attack, punching the foreigner. He stated that the beer offering was a mistake.

However, officials noted that this man spoke in a confused manner and playfully stated that he had no regrets about his acts. Later, an eyewitness identified Mr. Bunsuk, but he said he didn’t recall her.

Ms. B, 21 years old, is a witness who confirms the information reported in the media. On the night of the incident, approximately 1:40 on Friday, a foreigner approached and asked as to where he might purchase alcohol. Her friend offered to go buy it for him.

While the foreigner waited for beer, the suspect circled back and stopped at the same spot. Then he stepped in and argued with the foreigner before pulling out a little knife and tickling the foreigner’s neck. The Western man then went away, but the Thai man pursued and attacked him, according to CCTV.

Bunsuk was then charged with causing physical harm to others and carrying a knife in public without a valid justification.

ASEAN Needs The Urgency Of Sustainability Goals For Green

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CHAYAPON PONLAWAT freelance reporter

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20 January 2024, 01:46

CHAYAPON PONLAWAT, BANGKOK – “Don’t let anyone impede the sustainability of society, whether in the United States or China,” said the world’s leading economist, empowering green ASEAN.

Amidst a surprising temperature spike of 34 degrees in early January, coupled with gloomy weather and pervasive PM2.5 pollution across central Bangkok, the region is grappling with unprecedented climatic challenges. The stark environmental impact prompts reflection on the urgent need for sustainable practices to counterbalance abnormal weather conditions.

In a pivotal seminar organized by the Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, in collaboration with the ASEAN Center for Study and Dialogue on Sustainable Development, Thai Beverage Public Company Limited, and the C asean Center, Professor Jeffrey Sachs from Harvard University led discussions on “Sustainability Talks: Towards a Green ASEAN” at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on January 19, 2024.

As the chairman of the United Nations Academic Network for Sustainable Development (SDSN), Sachs emphasized the imperative to build a green ASEAN for a sustainable future.

Addressing the seminar, Prof. Sachs acknowledged the contemporary opportunity to foster sustainability, leveraging available technology and resources. However, he emphasized the pressing need for serious policy implementation and international cooperation to achieve the desired goals.

Despite the global focus on sustainability, 2024 is anticipated to be one of the hottest years in decades, marked not only by climatic challenges but also geopolitical tensions. Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and strained relations between China and the United States underscore the insufficient attention given to climate change by major powers.

Dr. Sachs expressed concern about the United States preoccupation and obsession with geopolitical issues “Apart from war, we have environmental problems, poverty, and food shortages. The question is, how will we live together? How can we cooperate? How do we act? How do we respect each other? That is a question we should be obsessed with.”

The ASEAN Way

In a compelling discourse, world-class economist Dr. Jeffrey Sachs extols ASEAN as a region synonymous with peace and cooperation, asserting its standing as one of the world’s most harmonious areas. Contrasting it with many other regions, Dr. Sachs identifies these characteristics as the bedrock of success. Despite facing historical challenges like food shortages and poverty, he notes a remarkable reduction in these issues over the past few decades, positioning ASEAN among the fastest-growing regions globally.

Proximity to clean energy leaders, including China, South Korea, and Japan, further underscores ASEAN’s potential for sustainable development.

Dr. Sachs emphasizes the positive economic indicators within ASEAN, highlighting lower inflation rates compared to the United States and rapid industrial growth. He commends the region for possessing its own technology, expertise, and know-how.

In a resolute tone, he warns against external interference that could jeopardize ASEAN’s sustainability goals, urging unity and resilience. “Don’t let anyone destroy your goal of sustainability. Don’t let anyone divide you. Don’t let anyone dictate which countries you can talk to or cooperate with.”

Drawing inspiration from Dwight D. Eisenhower’s renowned statement, “Plan is useless but planning is success,” Dr. Sachs discusses the imperative of having a clear plan to achieve sustainability goals. While acknowledging ASEAN’s richness and potential for development, he underscores the need for common ideas and environmental awareness.

Dr. Sachs cautions against inconsistencies, such as a country championing environmental policies while relying on coal-fired power for its energy security.

Highlighting the urgency of collaboration towards the 2050 sustainability goal, Dr. Sachs identifies 6 factors that will influence the achievement of shared sustainability goals in the ASEAN region as Prove the quality of education and access to education, Improvement of public health, encompassing both physical and mental well-being, Transition to clean energy sources, Adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, Implementation of sustainable urban planning for all, including green spaces and robust infrastructure and Establishment of a 5G-level digital platform, creating an ecosystem for sustainable cooperation across all sectors.

Year of destabilization

In a concluding segment of the discussion, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, known for his critical stance on US government policies, was posed with a question about the upcoming 2024 US presidential election, specifically regarding the potential return of Donald Trump to leadership. Addressing the potential impact on sustainability policies both within the United States and globally, Dr. Sachs provided a thought-provoking response.

He foresees 2024 as a year marked by chaos and destabilization, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the selection of the next US leader. Despite acknowledging the unpredictability of the political landscape.

The Harvard University academic issued a heartfelt plea to the audience: “Please, everyone, take good care of yourself. Try to have access to the supplies you need.” Importantly, he cautioned against external influences attempting to sow division, stressing unity as a paramount priority.

Dr. Sachs extended this plea beyond national boundaries, advising against letting any external, including the United States, dictate terms to sovereign nations. In the realm of environmental concerns, he specifically addressed the ASEAN region, emphasizing, “Don’t let anyone dictate to ASEAN about the environment.”

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Japan Becomes The Fifth Country To Reach The Moon After Spacecraft Lands On The Lunar Surface

By

Associated Press

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20 January 2024, 00:58

Japan Lunar Launch A Closer Look — FILE - This time exposure photo shows a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a payload including two lunar rovers from Japan and the United Arab Emirates, launching from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Dec. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese spacecraft touched down on the moon early Saturday, making Japan the fifth country to reach the lunar surface. But officials said they still needed to analyze the pinpoint accuracy of the landing.

Hitoshi Kuninaka, head of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, said they believe that rovers were launched and data were being transmitted back to Earth. But there could an issue with the power supply.

The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM, landed at about 12:20 a.m. Tokyo time on Saturday (1520 GMT Friday). Japan follows the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India in reaching the moon.

AP24019637379232 — Representatives of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) attend a press conference on the pinpoint moon landing operation by the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft at JAXA’s Sagamihara Campus Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Sagamihara near Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

As the spacecraft descended, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s mission control said that everything was going as planned and later said that SLIM was on the lunar surface. But there was no mention of whether the landing was successful.

Mission control kept repeating that it was “checking its status” and that more information would be given at a news conference. It wasn’t immediately clear when the news conference would start.

SLIM, nicknamed “the Moon Sniper,” started its descent at midnight Saturday, and within 15 minutes it was down to about 10 kilometers (six miles) above the lunar surface, according to the space agency, which is known as JAXA.

At an altitude of five kilometers (three miles), the lander was in a vertical descent mode, then at 50 meters (165 feet) above the surface, SLIM was supposed to make a parallel movement to find a safe landing spot, JAXA said.

AP24019343738022 — FILE – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Dec. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)

About a half-hour after its presumed landing, JAXA said that it was still checking the status of the lander.

SLIM, which was aiming to hit a very small target, is a lightweight spacecraft about the size of a passenger vehicle. It was using “pinpoint landing” technology that promises far greater control than any previous moon landing.

While most previous probes have used landing zones about 10 kilometers (six miles) wide, SLIM was aiming at a target of just 100 meters (330 feet).

The project was the fruit of two decades of work on precision technology by JAXA.

The mission’s main goal is to test new landing technology that would allow moon missions to land “where we want to, rather than where it is easy to land,” JAXA has said. If the landing was a success, the spacecraft will seek clues about the origin of the moon, including analyzing minerals with a special camera.

The SLIM, equipped with a pad to cushion impact, was aiming to land near the Shioli crater, near a region covered in volcanic rock.

AP24019493815381 — A member of staff shows a real size model of the palm-sized Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2) at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Sagamihara Campus, in Sagamihara near Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

The closely watched mission came only 10 days after a moon mission by a U.S. private company failed when the spacecraft developed a fuel leak hours after the launch.

SLIM was launched on a Mitsubishi Heavy H2A rocket in September. It initially orbited Earth and entered lunar orbit on Dec. 25.

Japan hopes a success will help regain confidence for its space technology after a number of failures. A spacecraft designed by a Japanese company crashed during a lunar landing attempt in April, and a new flagship rocket failed its debut launch in March.

JAXA has a track record with difficult landings. Its Hayabusa2 spacecraft, launched in 2014, touched down twice on the 900-meter-long (3,000-foot-long) asteroid Ryugu, collecting samples that were returned to Earth.

Experts say a success of SLIM’s pinpoint landing, especially on the moon, would raise Japan’s profile in the global space technology race.

Takeshi Tsuchiya, aeronautics professor at the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, said it was important to confirm the accuracy of landing on a targeted area for the future of moon explorations.

“It is necessary to show the world that Japan has the appropriate technology in order to be able to properly assert Japan’s position in lunar development,” he said. The moon is important from the perspective of explorations of resources, and it can also be used as a base to go to other planets, like Mars, he said.

SLIM is carrying two small autonomous probes — lunar excursion vehicles LEV-1 and LEV-2, which will be released just before landing.

LEV-1, equipped with an antenna and a camera, is tasked with recording SLIM’s landing. LEV-2, is a ball-shaped rover equipped with two cameras, developed by JAXA together with Sony, toymaker Tomy and Doshisha University.

JAXA will broadcast a livestream of the landing, while space fans will gather to watch the historic moment on a big screen at the agency’s Sagamihara campus southwest of Tokyo.

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Foreign Gangs Lure Thai Women Into Drug Trafficking for Tourists

By

Khaosod English

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19 January 2024, 18:27

Police arrested Mr. Fabian, a 40-year-old Nigerian national linked to drug trafficking activities.

BANGKOK – Officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) and Immigration Police arrested Mr. Fabian, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, and other suspects from various African countries linked to drug trafficking activities at Pavilion Mansion, Udomsuk 49 Alley, Bangjak District, Phra Khanong, Bangkok at 11:00 am on January 19, 2024.

A total of 9 people were arrested and a considerable amount of US dollars and counterfeit money were confiscated, which are still being investigated.

The charges are conspiracy to traffic in type 1 narcotics (cocaine) and manufacturing counterfeit foreign currency. The maximum penalty for these offenses is life imprisonment and a fine of between 200,000 and 400,000 Thai baht.

african drug1 — A considerable amount of US dollars and counterfeit money were confiscated.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Kirisak Tantivachai, commissioner of the NSB, announced that the NSB had conducted “Operation Mouse Hunt 2” to track down and arrest 100 drug trafficking networks. The investigation focused on individual black men who were distributing drugs and causing disturbances on a small scale in tourist areas along Sukhumvit Road. Police are planning to extend the investigation to arrest more offenders.

These African drug traffickers smuggle drugs from neighboring countries, with the cocaine coming from South America. For drug trafficking, they use Thai women whom they had lured to be in love with them. In some cases, Thai women have been involved in the transportation of ice (crystal meth) to third countries.

Authorities warned Thai women who might be targeted by these international drug trafficking networks to exercise caution and avoid becoming victims.

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Tree That Saved Lives From 2011 Tsunami Feted Through Storytelling

By

Kyodo News

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19 January 2024, 17:49

SENDAI – Disaster, has written a story that frames the life-saving Japanese zelkova tree as a hero to teach people about the tsunami, triggered by the mega earthquake, which wrought destruction on the community.

The tree is said to have been planted on a bluff that juts out over the Pacific Ocean called Asahizaki in the wake of the 1896 Sanriku earthquake, which occurred off the country’s Pacific coast in the Tohoku region and resulted in two huge tsunami waves decimating thousands of homes, causing over 20,000 deaths.

While its exact height and age are not known, the zelkova, a deciduous tree related to the elm, has gained popularity among locals owing to its folklore as a “protector of the people.”

tree tsunami 1 — Photo taken on Dec. 18, 2023, shows a zelkova tree that withstood the tsunami triggered by the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake and saved the lives of eight residents in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, in northeastern Japan. (Kyodo)

On March 11, 2011, a tsunami with a height of over 10 meters engulfed the local village in the wake of the 9.0 magnitude quake that ravaged the region. Figures from the National Police Agency have put the death toll from the disaster at 15,900 people, while 2,523 people remain unaccounted for.

Onodera took refuge in an area near the cape where the incident transpired, but her father died. The eight locals who had evacuated to the bluff were able to escape the tsunami due to what appeared to be a stroke of luck — a ladder drifting by their location that they used to scramble up the zelkova tree. All eight of them narrowly escaped death.

Several years later, Onodera learned that the tree was dying due to salt damage, and thought of telling the story of the heroic tree before it was too late. She began writing her tale, titled “Keyaki no Omoi” (“Thoughts of Zelkova”), in the winter of 2020 and completed it in three months.

“I wanted to give a shape to (the tree) before it disappears,” she said.

tree tsunam 2 — Supplied photo shows an illustration depicting people gathered under a zelkova tree. (Kyodo)

In the story, the tree is personified, narrating the approaching tsunami and its role as savior of the people.

“I have made a wish that none of those clinging on to me fall off,” Zelkova, the tree’s name in the story, says.

The tale tries to remain close to the hearts of residents still grappling with the loss of family and friends today.

“People work on the beach and go out to fish, bearing the sorrow of losing their family members and friends,” Zelkova says in one part. “I am pleased and encouraged when I see them,” it continues.

In May 2023, Onodera began thinking about how to pass on the story of the zelkova tree to children born after the earthquake and tsunami disaster. Coincidentally, she ran into Misato Kikuta, a 22-year-old senior student at the Tohoku University of Art and Design, a local whom she had known from the village.

tree tsunam 4 — Keiko Onodera (L), who wrote “Thoughts of a Zelkova,” and Misato Kikuta, who illustrated the short story, are pictured in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, in October 2023. (Kyodo)

Born and raised in Kesennuma, the Kikuta family home near the zelkova tree was completely destroyed by the tsunami. Kikuta was just nine, and her grandparents were among the eight who climbed the tree.

Kikuta, who enjoys painting as a hobby, willingly accepted an offer from Onodera to draw the illustrations for the story. “I wanted to contribute in any way I could,” Kikuta said.

She made a series of sketches while recalling her grandparents’ experience and the scenes of life in the district before the disaster struck. Her illustrations, seven of which are rendered in color, depict the eight people gathered beneath the zelkova tree among other images.

tree tsunam 3 — Supplied photo shows an illustration depicting residents clinging to a zelkova tree after a massive tsunami struck following the March 2011 Tohoku earthquake. (Kyodo)

The drawings were unveiled at a recital held by Onodera in late October, where she read her story in front of elementary school children in Kesennuma, who attentively listened to the story.

Kikuta said that at first, she was afraid her elderly relatives would be reminded of their bitter experience, but they were both pleased with her illustrations.

Onodera and Kikuta aim to introduce a story recital and the illustrations on YouTube, with plans to add eight more drawings to the work by the end of March this year.

“We would like to keep telling people (regardless of age) about not only those who lost their lives but also the people who survived the disaster, and the actions of the people in our hometown,” Onodera said.

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The Bangkok Real Estate Oversupply Indicator Has Begun

By

Khaosod English

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19 January 2024, 16:59

townhouse prachachat — Prachachat Business

BANGKOK – Many real estate properties below the price of 3 million baht in Bangkok and surrounding provinces in 10 locations are not selling well and an expert predicts it will take 30 to 78 months to clear the stocks.

Wichai Wiratkapan, an Ombudsman for Government Housing Bank and caretaker director of Real Estate Information Centre (REIC) said on Wednesday the oversupply sign is beginning. In Nonthaburi province’s Pak Kred district, 6,220 such units are left unsold.

Meanwhile, in Bangkok’s Bang Na, Suan Luang, Prawes, and Phra Kanong districts, a total of 5,929 units went unsold last year. Thonburi, Khlong San, Bangkok Noi, Bangkok Yai, and Bang Phlat all have 5,044 units that have not yet sold.

4,175 units are yet to be sold in Muang Samut Prakan, Phra Pradaeng, and Phra Samut Chedi in Samut Prakan Province, while 3,653 units remain unsold in Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka and Thanyaburi.

In a related development, Kesara Tanyalakphak, president of Sena Properties, said the bank loan rejection rate for prospect buyer at below 3 million baht property is now as high as 50 percent.

At the same time, according to Darunee Rungruangphon, managing director of Darvid Property Service, there are now more resale houses for sale on the market, including townhouses, single-family homes, condominiums, commercial structures, and other properties. This is because owners are struggling financially as a result of the economy.

Her information is consistent with knowing that the Government Housing Bank (GHB) is organizing the GHB GHB ALL HOME EXPO 2024 used home expo at Future Park Rangsit from January 19 to 21, presenting 924 second-hand homes for sale and 500 real estate items in the region, including single houses, semi-detached houses, townhouses, and condominiums, with discounts of up to 50% off current prices.

The property with the lowest price is a condominium type with an area of 26.25 square meters in the Plathong 111 project, Pathum Thani Province, priced at 45,000 baht, while the condo Golden Condo Town Rangsit 1, Thanyaburi District, priced at 75,000 baht.

The bank stated that foreigners living in Thailand can only buy condominiums, not houses.

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UOB Thailand and Singapore Airlines launch UOB KrisFlyer Credit Cards

By

Contributor

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19 January 2024, 16:26

BANGKOK – UOB Thailand and Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced on January 19, 2024 the launch of the UOB KrisFlyer World and World Elite Credit Cards. The new cobranded credit cards expand UOB’s partnership with SIA, riding on the success of the KrisFlyer UOB Credit and Debit Cards in Singapore.

The collaboration is a testament to UOB and SIA’s shared ambition to extend rewards and privileges to customers across the region. Packed with travel and lifestyle perks, UOB KrisFlyer Credit Cardmembers can earn KrisFlyer miles directly with their spend, in addition to a plethora of exclusive benefits.

Mr Tearavath Trirutdilokkul, Managing Director, Head of Card Payment and Unsecured Products, UOB Thailand said, “We saw a significant jump in our customers’ travel-related spending in 2023, with an increase of 51 per cent from 2022. We constantly review and refine the Bank’s offerings based on our customers’ spending trends, tailoring our products to meet their evolving needs and preferences.

We are pleased to expand our partnership with one of the world’s best airlines. The UOB KrisFlyer Credit Card underscores our commitment of delivering exceptional products and services to our customers and to work with like-minded partners, as we serve our aspiring customers in fulfilling their lifestyle needs in the region.”

Mr Ryan Pua, Divisional Vice President Loyalty Marketing, Singapore Airlines, said: “UOB is a leading bank in Asia and has a strong presence in Thailand. We are pleased to have worked closely with UOB Thailand to curate new card offerings for our Thai customers. With the new UOB KrisFlyer World and World Elite Credit Cards, we remain committed to the KrisFlyer brand promise of delivering exceptional value and making travel more convenient, enjoyable, and rewarding for our members.”

Travellers to enjoy greater travel benefits with SIA Group

Cardmembers of UOB KrisFlyer World Elite Credit Card can earn one KrisFlyer mile for every 12.50 baht spent on SIA Group-related transactions and every 20 baht spent on other categories . Cardmembers will also receive 20,000 KrisFlyer miles as a welcome bonus upon spending 50,000 baht within 60 days from the approval of the card. Additionally, cardmembers can enjoy travel perks including three complimentary limousine services to and from airports across the world, and up to six visits to Dragon Pass Lounges annually.

Cardmembers of UOB KrisFlyer World Credit Card can earn one KrisFlyer mile for every 15 baht spent on SIA Group-related transactions and every 20 baht spent on other categories . Cardmembers will also receive 5,000 KrisFlyer miles as a welcome bonus upon spending 20,000 baht within 60 days from the approval of the card.

Additionally, cardmembers can enjoy travel perks including complimentary limousine service to and from Suvarnabhumi Airport when booking air ticket with Flying Orange, and up to two visits to Miracle airport lounges annually when spending 100,000 baht per quarter.

In addition to a boosted KrisFlyer miles earn rate, customers will also be able to enjoy an exclusive suite of privileges and benefits when flying on Singapore Airlines and Scoot. These include accelerated KrisFlyer membership status upgrades when customers spend on SIA Group, and Scoot travel benefits such as priority check-in and boarding, additional baggage allowance and complimentary seat selection.

As part of launch celebrations, new cardholders whose applications are approved by 31 March 2024 can also stand a chance to win a pair of Singapore Airlines Business Class tickets to London or Melbourne when they spend with their UOB KrisFlyer Credit Cards.

For more information about UOB KrisFlyer credit card, please visit the UOB KrisFlyer World Elite and UOB KrisFlyer World websites.

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Year of destabilization

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