Mazars and FORVIS to Form Unique New Top 10 Global Network

By

-

4 January 2024, 13:29

Mazars, the leading international audit, tax, and advisory firm and FORVIS, the eighth largest public accounting firm in the United States, today jointly announce they will create a new, top 10 global network[1], effective 1 June 2024.

The new network will position both firms for continued global growth by expanding their capabilities to serve clients, especially those with international needs.

The network will operate under a single brand worldwide, Forvis Mazars. With around €4.7bn ($5bn) in revenue[2], Forvis Mazars will be a new entrant in the top 10 global network rankings.

Uniquely formed of just two members, the network is designed to be agile, deliver consistency and have the global scale to meet clients’ needs. Both network members will remain owned by their current respective partnerships. Effective 1 June 2024, Mazars USA will join Forvis Mazars in the U.S.

“I am really delighted that Mazars and FORVIS have taken this transformational step and am excited about the opportunities it presents for both firms in serving our clients and supporting our people” says Hervé Hélias, Chairman of the Executive Board, Mazars Group.

“We’re proud to bring a pioneering new network model to our industry and are excited to continue this journey together. At Mazars, we are committed to helping our clients confidently build and grow their businesses, and forming this two-firm network with FORVIS complements our existing international integrated partnership and significantly advances Mazars’ international strategy.

We are proud to offer our clients the strength of our international integrated partnership in 100 countries and the benefits of FORVIS’ large national partnership in the U.S. that truly works as one firm across the U.S. It gives us the scale and expanded presence that we have been striving for in the U.S. and marks us out as a top 10 global network with extensive scale and coverage”.

“A two-firm network, operating under a single global brand, quickly advances our firms’ shared strategies. It’s an opportunity to better serve our clients, especially those with international needs and support our people on a path of continued growth. Our organizations know each other well, with a strong history of collaboration and very similar cultures of putting our people and clients first,” says Tom Watson, CEO, FORVIS.

“FORVIS has always been passionately committed to providing an Unmatched Client Experience® and unlocking the potential of both our clients and our people, and this opportunity allows us to do so on a strengthened global platform.”

“In Thailand Mazars is serving Accounting outsourcing, audit, taxation, legal and financial advisory services to wide range of clients active in different industries from various countries”, says Rob Hurenkamp Managing Partner at Mazars in Thailand. The formation of this network will strengthen our reach in the US market and our capabilities to service subsidiaries of US companies in Thailand. With the strong English communication skills of our teams, our strong knowledge of the local regulations, our technical capabilities and our understanding of international practices we are confident that we will service the US clients above their expectations.

Mazars, with offices in more than 100 countries and territories, has realised much success, rising in prominence and working with some of the most recognisable brands in the world. FORVIS was built on a 100-year legacy of providing an Unmatched Client Experience®, becoming a top 10[3] firm in the United States while looking toward an expanded global platform. At a time of major change for businesses worldwide and shifting market dynamics, the new global network will be agile with the scale, capacity, and coverage to support current and future clients’ needs worldwide with the highest levels of consistency and customer experience.

[1] Source: IAB World Network rankings, based on most recent rankings.

[2] 2023 revenues: FORVIS €1.6bn ($1.7bn), Mazars €2.8bn ($3bn).

[3] Source: Inside Public Accounting, based on most recent rankings.

About Mazars

Mazars is an internationally integrated partnership, specialising in audit, accountancy, advisory, tax and legal services*. Operating in over 100 countries and territories around the world, we draw on the expertise of over 30,000 professionals in Mazars’ integrated partnership to assist clients of all sizes at every stage in their development. Visit mazars.com to learn more.

*Where permitted under applicable country laws

About FORVIS

FORVIS, LLP is a professional services firm with a global reach and a passion to drive businesses forward. The firm’s 6,000 dedicated team members provide an Unmatched Client Experience® through the delivery of assurance, tax, and consulting services for clients in all 50 states and internationally. Ranked among the largest public accounting firms in the United States, FORVIS upholds an unwavering purpose to help those we serve unlock their full potential—including our people, our clients, and our communities. Visit forvis.com to learn more.

About Mazars in Thailand:

Mazars in Thailand is a leading, accounting, audit, tax, legal, and advisory practice comprised of over 350 professionals. The practice has Thai, British, Dutch, Indian, German, Japanese, Australian, Vietnamese, and Korean nationals among its senior advisers, which ensures that the company is well placed to function as a bridge between businesses operating in Thailand and related companies overseas.

For more information, visit www.mazars.co.th.

Woman Held After Allegedly Slashing Passengers On Tokyo Train

By

Khaosod English

-

4 January 2024, 11:02

japan train stab — Rescue workers attend to a train passenger believed to be injured in a stabbing incident at JR Akihabara Station in Tokyo on Jan. 3, 2024. (Kyodo)

TOKYO – A woman was arrested after allegedly slashing and stabbing other passengers with a blade on a train of Tokyo’s Yamanote loop line on Wednesday night, police said.

The woman, believed to be in her 20s, attacked passengers as the train was running between JR Okachimachi and Akihabara stations, the police said, adding that the suspect was apparently unknown to those assaulted.

Four men sustained injuries to their sides, backs and arms in the attack, the police said.

Police arrested her on suspicion of attempted murder and seized the blade, they said.

Responding to the attack, people pressed emergency buttons installed in the train and on the platform of Akihabara Station once the train arrived, and a station staffer called the police at around 10:55 p.m.

The incident led JR East to temporarily suspend part of the loop train service in the capital.

The suspect was subdued by passengers on the train and handed over to police, the police added.

ONYX Hospitality Group Showcases its Exceptional Malaysia Portfolio and Announces Expansion with Three New Properties Opening in 2024

By

Contributor

-

4 January 2024, 10:34

ONYX Hospitality Group, the prominant management company in Southeast Asia specialising in hotels & resorts, serviced apartments and luxury residences, proudly manages four distinctive properties in Malaysia. These include the well-established Amari Johor Bahru, the lively OZO Georgetown Penang, and the recently inaugurated gems, Amari SPICE Penang and Amari Kuala Lumpur.

With a variety of facilities and locations throughout the diverse and hospitable country of Malaysia, ONYX Hospitality Group is well-prepared to cater to the needs of all travellers, whether guests are checking-in for business, MICE, leisure, or the increasingly popular ‘bleisure’ stays.

As a testament to the Group’s commitment to strategic growth, ONYX Hospitality Group is excited to announce the forthcoming addition of three new properties to the Malaysian portfolio: The eagerly anticipated OZO Medini, Shama Medini and Shama Suasana Johor Bahru are set to join the esteemed collection in 2024.

This expansion will result in a total of seven properties in Malaysia by the end of 2024, making Malaysia the first country, outside of Thailand, to host all three ONYX brands: Amari, OZO and Shama.

Amari SPICE Penang:

Opened in 2022, Amari SPICE Penang is directly attached to the SPICE Convention Centre and SPICE Arena, the world’s first hybrid solar-powered MICE complex, and just 5km from Penang International Airport. This contemporary 453-key hotel is the ideal place to stay, meet, dine and unwind. Penang’s largest hotel in terms of room count, Amari SPICE Penang is also an impressive venue for functions and events.

With five naturally-lit spaces ranging from the 10-pax Peridot boardroom to the 85-guest Citrine room and the spectacular 250-guest Jadeite ballroom, every company can bring their vision to life. And of course, the adjoining 8,000-pax SPICE Convention Centre can stage the grandest of global gatherings. Amari SPICE Penang was recently awarded the title of Malaysia’s “Best MICE Hotel” at the prestigious HAPA Awards.

Amari Kuala Lumpur:

Amari Kuala Lumpur offers seamless travel experiences at the heart of KL Eco City, a vibrant business and entertainment district, conveniently situated just steps away from the Mid Valley Megamall. Surrounded by international corporate offices including Mercu 2 & 3, Aspire Tower, The Garden North Tower and South Tower, Centrepoint and Menara IGB, and only 45 minutes from KLIA, this sophisticated and refined upscale hotel ensures guests remain thoroughly connected.

Special events can be hosted in the 200-guest, light-filled Veria Ballroom, while productive meetings and training sessions are brought to life at the 65-pax Agave or Yucca Meeting Rooms. With plenty of social spaces for breakouts, networking and exhibitions, plus a sleek business lounge, Amari Kuala Lumpur can create lasting benefits for every company.

Amari Johor Bahru:

Amari Johor Bahru is perfectly positioned in the heart of Johor Bahru’s Central Business District, right next to the Persada Convention Centre and within close proximity to the Singapore border crossing. Meeting planners can stage inspiring events in inviting spaces ranging from the 220-guest Lido & Rex rooms, which can host conventions, conferences and gala dinners, to the three Amari Sky rooms, which are ideal for intimate get-togethers and strategy sessions. The 150-guest Sky Banquet area will elevate corporate dinners and receptions, and the sensory Ideas Room will stimulate the senses and ignite the imagination.

Whichever Amari hotel in Malaysia they choose, every guest – including business, leisure and the new generation of “bleisure” visitors – will be immersed in a world of gracious Asian culture, cuisine, design, architecture, wellness and fun. With signature rooms and suites, naturally-lit public spaces, a choice of modern dining options including the vibrant Amaya Food Gallery concept, shimmering outdoor swimming pools, fully-equipped FIT Centres, soothing Breeze Spas and an Executive Lounge at each hotel, every traveller is empowered to be at their best.

OZO George Town Penang:

OZO George Town Penang is located in the heart of Penang’s UNESCO World Heritage City, offering a haven of modern comfort and cultural immersion and an ideal gateway to an unforgettable experience in Penang. The stylishly designed rooms and suites provide a tranquil retreat, while the all-day dining restaurant will delight guests with an array of culinary creations.

Unwind in the outdoor swimming pool or rejuvenate at the spa, before exploring the city’s vibrant streets; discover hidden gems and immerse in Penang’s rich heritage. OZO, a vibrant and contemporary brand by ONYX Hospitality Group, is designed for the modern traveller seeking smart, fuss-free accommodations that prioritize comfort, connectivity, and a dynamic sense of local flair.

Upcoming Openings:

The company’s three Amari branded upscale hotels and one OZO hotel, will soon be complemented by an additional OZO property, and the first two Shama branded properties in the country. Shama, a distinctive brand under the ONYX Hospitality Group umbrella, redefines the concept of serviced apartments, offering a harmonious blend of contemporary design, spacious living, and personalised services for an elevated and memorable stay experience. This development showcases ONYX’s confidence in the ongoing growth of its Shama brand.

The new hotels in Malaysia form part of ONYX Hospitality Group’s strategy to drive significant expansion in the hotel, resort, and serviced apartment business in Southeast Asia. As it seeks to achieve the overall vision of establishing itself as “The Best Medium-sized Hospitality Management Company in Southeast Asia”, the company is on track to operate over 50 properties by 2025, up from 44 at present, and an even more ambitious target of 70 by 2028.

ONYX Hospitality Group is a well-established and leading hotel management company with a strong presence and reputation in the global travel market. With more than five decades of experience, ONYX Hospitality Group prides itself on its ability to bridge the best of Asian hospitality practices with global business precision – with the brand promise ‘A Tailored Approach to Hospitality’.

ONYX Hospitality Group’s commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences and providing top-notch services is at the heart of its operations. At the core of ONYX’s business model is a dedication to offering outstanding customer service, a commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism, and a focus on adapting to the ever-evolving dynamics of the global travel industry.

For more information about ONYX Hospitality Group, please visit www.onyx-hospitality.com.

Picture shows from left to right: Amari SPICE Penang, Amari Kuala Lumpur, Amari Johor Bahru, OZO Georgetown Penang

Iran Says At Least 84 Were Killed In Blasts At A Ceremony Honoring Slain General

By

Associated Press

-

4 January 2024, 01:59

This image, provided by Maxar Technologies, shows an overview of the martyr's cemetery in Kerman, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 before, according to Iranian authorities, twin bomb blasts killed at least 103 people at an event honoring a prominent Iranian general slain in a U.S. airstrike in 2020.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two bombs exploded and killed at least 84 people Wednesday at a commemoration for a prominent Iranian general slain by the U.S. in a 2020 drone strike, Iranian officials said, as the Middle East remains on edge over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The extremist Islamic State group, a battlefield foe of Soleimani, claimed responsibility Thursday for the attack to be the deadliest militant attack to target Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran’s leaders vowed to punish those responsible for the blasts, which wounded at least 284 people.

The blasts minutes apart shook the city of Kerman, about 820 kilometers (510 miles) southeast of the capital, Tehran, and sprayed shrapnel into a screaming crowd fleeing the first explosion.

The gathering marked the fourth anniversary of the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force, in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. The explosions occurred near his grave site as long lines of people gathered for the event.

Iranian state television and officials described the attacks as bombings, without immediately giving clear details of what happened.

AP24003500574827 — People take care of injured after an explosion in Kerman, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahdi Karbakhsh Ravari)

The first bomb was detonated around 3 p.m., and the other went off some 20 minutes later, the Iranian interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, told state television. He said the second blast killed and wounded the most people.

Images and video shared on social media appeared to correspond with the accounts of officials, who said the first blast happened about 700 meters (765 yards) from Soleimani’s grave in the Kerman Martyrs Cemetery near a parking lot. The crowd then rushed west along Shohada Street, where the second blast struck about 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) from the grave.

A delayed second explosion is often used by militants to inflict more casualties by targeting emergency personnel responding to an attack.

Iranian state TV and state-run IRNA news agency quoted emergency officials for the casualty figures. Authorities said Thursday would be a national day of mourning.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the attackers will face “a harsh response,” though he didn’t name any possible suspect. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi added: “Undoubtedly, the perpetrators and leaders of this cowardly act will soon be identified and punished.”

Iran has multiple foes who could be behind the assault, including exile groups, militant organizations and state actors.

While Israel has carried out attacks in Iran over its nuclear program, it has conducted targeted assassinations, not mass casualty bombings. Sunni extremist groups including the Islamic State group have conducted large-scale attacks in the past that killed civilians in Shiite-majority Iran, though not in relatively peaceful Kerman.

Iran also has seen mass protests in recent years, including those over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in 2022. The country also has been targeted by exile groups in attacks dating back to the turmoil surrounding its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Iran itself has been arming militant groups over the decades, including Hamas, the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. As Israel wages its devastating war in Gaza after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks that killed 1,200 people, both Hezbollah and the Houthis have launched attacks targeting Israel that they say come on behalf of the Palestinians.

Israel is suspected of launching an attack Tuesday that killed a deputy head of Hamas in Beirut, but that attack caused limited casualties in a densely populated neighborhood of the Lebanese capital. Last week, a suspected Israeli strike killed a Revolutionary Guard commander in Syria.

A Houthi spokesman, Mohammed Abdel-Salam, sought to link the bombings to Iran’s “support for the resistance forces in Palestine and Lebanon,” though he did not specifically blame anyone for the attack.

In Beirut, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the people who died in the attacks “martyrs who died on the same road, cause and battle that was led by” Soleimani.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attack “shocking in its cruelty and cynicism,” while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the “heinous terrorist attacks.”

Neighboring Iraq expressed condolences, and the European Union issued a statement offering “its solidarity with the Iranian people.”

Soleimani was the architect of Iran’s regional military activities and is hailed as a national icon among supporters of Iran’s theocracy. He also helped secure Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government after the 2011 Arab Spring protests against him turned into a civil, and later a regional, war that still rages today.

Soleimani had been relatively unknown in Iran until the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. His popularity and mystique grew after American officials called for his killing over his help in arming militants with penetrating roadside bombs that killed and maimed U.S. troops.

A decade and a half later, Soleimani had become Iran’s most recognizable battlefield commander. He ignored calls to enter politics but grew as powerful, if not more so, than its civilian leadership.

Ultimately, a drone strike launched by the Trump administration killed the general, part of escalating incidents that followed America’s 2018 unilateral withdrawal from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Soleimani’s death has drawn large processions in the past. At his funeral in 2020, a stampede broke out in Kerman and at least 56 people were killed and more than 200 were injured as thousands thronged the procession.

Until Wednesday, the deadliest attack to strike Iran since the revolution was the 1981 truck bombing of the Islamic Republican Party’s headquarters in Tehran. That attack killed at least 72 people, including the party’s leader, four government ministers, eight deputy ministers and 23 parliament members.

In 1978 just ahead of the revolution, an intentionally set fire at the Cinema Rex in Abadan killed hundreds of people.

___

Thailand Lowers Wine And Nightlife Taxes To Attract Tourists

By

Khaosod English

-

4 January 2024, 00:18

BANGKOK – Beginning 2024, the Cabinet has approved measures recommended by the Ministry of Finance to promote Thailand as a tourism destination, with the goal of increasing revenue from foreign tourists to 1.5 trillion baht.

They issued measures to lower taxes on wine and community spirits, as well as to reduce the tax rate on nightlife or nightlife businesses from 10 percent of revenue to 5 percent for a one-year term ending December 31, 2024

This will result in higher spending by both international tourists and Thais at all levels, therefore boosting the share of high-quality tourists in the long run.

Ekniti Nitithanprapas, director-general of Thailand’s Ministry of Finance, said the new tax structure will allow wine worth less than 1,000 baht to be cheaper, while wine worth more than 1,000 baht will have a similar price. He gave an example that in the past, a wine worth 10,000 baht had to pay a tax of 1,000 baht. Under the new policy, it will be 600 baht.

It is estimated that the total revenue from the excise tax on wine will increase by about 900 million baht after the adjustment of the tax structure. The direction in which the excise tax on wine is collected has been steadily increasing and was 2.5 billion baht last year compared to 1.8 billion baht previously.

It was also noted that the previous tax structure did not meet the international standard as it was levied based on price tiers, so it has been adjusted to be more international.

Lavaron Sangsnit, the Finance Ministry’s permanent secretary, added that the Customs Department has also implemented an improvement to the customs tax structure of wine products to be consistent with the adjustment of the excise tax structure by exempting import duties on wine products in the 22.04 and 22.05 categories, a total of 21 items, from the previous import duty rates of 54 percent and 60 percent, respectively.

The excise tax rates for household spirits and rice-based spirits with an alcohol content of not more than 7 degrees will now be based on the value at 0 percent, instead of the previous 10 percent, and a tax rate of 150 baht per liter of pure alcohol content.

As for the adjustments to the nightlife business tax and incentives, it is believed that these changes will encourage more informal businesses to formalize their operations and provide more flexibility to entrepreneurs. Before these measures, there were around 1,500 registered companies, but during the COVID-19 period, the number dropped to around 700.

With the implementation of these measures, the Ministry expects the number of registered companies to increase and approach pre-COVID-19 levels.

In addition, the criteria for checking goods for VAT refunds for tourists have been improved. This should reduce the number of tourists queuing to show their purchased goods for VAT refunds.

It is expected that the new criteria, which will come into force from December 1, 2023, will reduce the number of tourists presenting their goods from 120,000 per year to around 30,000. This corresponds to a decrease from 333 people per day to just 84, a reduction of more than 75 percent.

Phornchai Thiravetch, the director of the Office of Economic and Financial Policy, explained that an estimated 34-35 million international tourists will visit in 2024. With the promotion of Thailand as a central hub for tourism and spending, revenue from international tourists is expected to increase to 1.5 trillion baht or an additional 2.9 billion baht from the original target.

Per capita spending is expected to increase from the original 42,000 baht to 43,400 baht. At the same time, alcohol consumption is expected to increase by about 3 percent based on historical statistics.

_____

A British Tourist Arrested In Phuket For Assaulting His Friend

By

Khaosod English

-

3 January 2024, 22:49

PHUKET – The investigating police officers were able to arrest the suspected British tourist, who used a firearm to assault another foreign tourist.

The incident took place on the evening of January 1, 2024, in front of the Oasis Spa in Kamala sub-district, Kathu district. According to Chanchai Petch-in, the tuk-tuk driver, he picked up two foreign male passengers from Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong to take them to Del Mar Cafe in Kamala.

When they reached the Kamala market area, one of the passengers asked to charge his cell phone at a guesthouse in Soi Paradise, Hua Kwan, Kamala sub-district, Kathu district, Phuket province. Chanchai then turned the tuk-tuk into the alley.

At this point he heard one of the passengers, a foreign tourist in his early 30s, of muscular build, aggressive demeanor and about 165 cm tall, speaking loudly. The tourist picked up a gun and repeatedly hit the head of his companion, another foreigner with dark skin, causing the magazine to fall out of the gun and land on the ground.

Chanchai parked the tuk-tuk, notified the police at Kamala station and asked for help. After the incident, the assailant fled into the Kamala Paradise alley.

On January 2, the investigating police officers at Kamala Station contacted the Phuket Immigration Police to cooperate in checking the residences of foreigners. During the search, they found a Thai woman claiming to be the homeowner, but no suspicious persons were present. However, they discovered blood stains on white shoes and the suspect’s passport in the room.

Following the investigation, the suspect was identified as a 38-year-old British national named Mr. Jamie, who had a Thai girlfriend and was staying at the Central Gear Hotel.

Mr. Jamie confessed that after the attack, he gathered his belongings and left the rented accommodation. He then hid in his girlfriend’s hotel and disposed of the gun on the roadside in the Wichit sub-district, Phuket.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., the British tourist led police to the location where he had disposed of the firearm. The police seized the gun and a box of 36 bullets as evidence. As a result, Mr. Jamie was charged with assault and carrying a firearm in public without just cause.

Thai FM Will Sign the Visa-Free Entry Deal With China in February

By

Khaosod English

-

3 January 2024, 20:52

Thailand Chinese Tourists — Chinese tourists receive garlands from Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, right, on their arrivals at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn province, Thailand, Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

BANGKOK – Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed again on Wednesday that the permanent visa exemption agreement between Thailand and China, which will take effect on March 1, 2024, has already been discussed, and Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara will travel to China in early February to sign the agreement for mutual visa-free entry.

Tuesday’s decision to grant Chinese citizens permanent visa-free privileges was made after negotiations between Bangkok and Beijing, Srettha said. He stated China agreed to extend visa-free entry to Thai visitors in exchange for allowing Chinese nationals the permanent visa exemption.

“In fact, we have been working on conclusions and further work for a long time, since the days of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.” If reporters keep following, they will notice that there is always discussion about an improvement to Thai passports. It demonstrates that the Pheu Thai Party has not halted where we left off. And it’s a good thing; we’ll keep doing it.” I am confident that it will be an important tool in driving the two countries’ relationship, including supporting tourism,” stated the Prime Minister.

panpree visa scaled — Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara

The Associated Press reported that Thailand’s visa-exemption policy aims to give a boost to the country’s tourism industry, which was badly damaged by the coronavirus pandemic. Chinese visitors have been allowed visa-free entry since September last year, but the privilege was due to expire on Feb. 29.

China is a major source of tourists to Thailand, with almost 11 million visitors in 2019, accounting for 27.6% of all arrivals—40 million visitors—and the government estimated they spent 1.9 trillion baht ($53.2 billion) that year before the pandemic devastated the tourist market.

In 2023, Thailand saw 28 million foreign tourist arrivals, including 3.4 million from China. Chinese visitors ranked second to Malaysia, which accounted for about 4.4 million visitors.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China welcomed the Thai move, saying it was in the fundamental interest of the two countries.

“The competent authorities of both sides are currently in close communication on the specific matter, and we look forward to the relevant arrangements coming into effect as soon as possible,” he said.

thai chinese tour3 — Chinese tourists pose for photos at the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 7, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

Mr. Sistiwat Chivarattanaporn, President of the Thai Tourism Association (ATTA), revealed that the visa exemption agreement between the two countries will result in 6-7 million Chinese people visiting Thailand throughout the year, though it must be noted that Chinese people have not yet travelled abroad.

We will have to wait until Chinese New Year to discover how many Chinese tourists will visit Thailand this year. If flights are fully booked and charter flights are added, it will be a good sign that more Chinese tourists will visit Thailand throughout the year.

In this regard, visa exemptions between Thailand and China will encourage more Thais to visit China. Because visa concessions will encourage Thais to travel as well.

“Thais will no longer have to be concerned about or wait for visa applications.” This occasionally gets bounced back a little more, and you can go whenever you want. You can go as long as you have an airline ticket. “You can go even if the tour is cancelled because you don’t need a visa,” he explained.

____

Thai Smuggler Carrying Bangladeshi Workers to Malaysia Is Caught

By

Khaosod English

-

3 January 2024, 14:59

PATTANI – An immigration officer arrested Mr. Abdullah, age 56, for smuggling Myammar workers and now Bangladeshi migrants.

He was charged with the crime of “knowing that an alien has entered the Kingdom, concealing it, or helping in any way to prevent that alien from being arrested by the official”.

This arrest was a continuation of the investigation launched on October 30, 2023, by the Pattani Immigration Police, in collaboration with Sai Buri Police Station, Pattani Province, Rangers 44, after they arrested Mr. Jae-arong, 64, and charged him with “knowing that foreigners entered the Kingdom or assisting in any way so that the foreigner is free from arrest by the officials.”

Mr. Jae-arong was detained alongside seven Bangladeshi migrants accused of “entering and remaining in the Kingdom without permission.” All foreigners flew from Bangladesh to Cambodia and used Thailand as a transit on their way to work in Malaysia.

Brokers in Cambodia will assist in bringing illegal immigrants into Thailand, where they will be transported to the waiting station, a house located along the border in Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, at a cost of 100,000 to 140,000 baht per person.

Abdullah, a participant in the migrant labour smuggling ring, drove a van to transport Bangladeshis from Baan Khoi, Aranyaprathet District, Sa Kaeo Province, to Mr. Jae Arong in the Yaring District, Pattani Province, in order to transport the Bangladeshis illegally to Malaysia via natural channels.

pattani Abdullah4 — Abdullah was arrested in the area of Nong Chik District, Pattani Province.

The investigating officer has collected evidence, and the Pattani Provincial Court approved the arrest warrant for Abdullah. Therefore, they tracked Abdullah, who had travelled to the area of Nong Chik District, Pattani Province. Initially, after being arrested, he confessed to all charges.

Abdullah has also been involved in a network of smuggled Myanmar workers in the lower southern region in 2021. This network was in charge of coordinating and transporting foreigners from Pattani Province to the Thai-Malaysian border in Narathiwat Province before transitioning to smuggling Bangladeshi workers from Sa Kaeo Province to Malaysia.

The police also found that the occupant of the van had committed an offence related to a Myanmar labour smuggling network in 2021.

____

Thailand Aims To Create 200,000 Jobs In The EEC Smart City

By

Khaosod English

-

3 January 2024, 13:48

BANGKOK – The Thai government approved on January 2, 2024, the establishment of the EEC Business Center and Livable Smart City, a special economic zone in the eastern part of Thailand. The zone is expected to become a regional business and financial center by 2027 and one of the 10 most livable smart cities in the world by 2037.

Mr. Chai Watcharong, spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed on January 2, 2024, that the EEC Board, chaired by Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, has agreed with this plan.

The first phase of the development, covering an area of approximately 5,795 rai, will be located in Huay Yai sub-district in Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province. The investment value for the first phase is estimated at 534.985 billion baht (15.6 billion U.S. dollars).

The EEC Board prioritizes investment support in key sectors during the initial development phase. These include clean energy, digital technology, 5G, logistics, tourism, financial services, healthcare and international human resources development and research. The aim is to create a business ecosystem that efficiently and sustainably connects nature, people, innovation and technology.

The EEC Business Center and Livable Smart City will be a high-quality residential area that is livable, safe and has a high level of environmental quality. It is expected to be home to over 350,000 residents from all income groups.

It will also be a business city that will create jobs for more than 200,000 people with a value of over 1.2 trillion baht.

In addition, the zone will cover 150-300 startup businesses in the special target industries and related businesses. This is expected to stimulate economic growth in Thailand and increase the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2 trillion baht within 10 years.

Japan Begins Probing Cause Of JAL Jet Collision At Tokyo Airport

By

Kyodo News

-

3 January 2024, 10:30

Japan Plane Fire — This aerial photo shows the burn-out Japanese coast guard aircraft at Haneda airport on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)

TOKYO – Japan’s transport authorities on Wednesday began investigating the cause of a collision that occurred at Tokyo’s Haneda airport between a Japan Airlines Co. plane and a Japan Coast Guard aircraft the previous day.

The Japan Transport Safety Board, the government affiliated agency in charge of probing serious accidents involving airplanes, trains and ships, is examining the aircraft wreckage.

The accident forced the closure of all four runways at Japan’s busiest airport, but all except the one on which the collision occurred were reopened later Tuesday after the cancellation of many flights.

JAL — Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 3, 2024, shows a Japan Airlines plane a day after it caught fire on a runway at Haneda airport in Tokyo following a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft while landing. (Kyodo)

JAL canceled more than 40 domestic flights to and from Haneda airport on Wednesday. All Nippon Airways Co. also canceled over domestic 50 flights, with some international flights affected.

All 379 passengers and crew aboard the JAL Airbus A350 escaped without life-threatening injuries after it caught fire following the collision with the coast guard aircraft based at Haneda airport, the company said.

Five of the six coast guard members aboard were confirmed dead, but the aircraft’s captain managed to escape, police said. The fire on the JAL plane was brought under control more than eight hours after the collision around 5:49 p.m.

AP24003066650354 — The burn-out Japan Airlines plane is seen, at rear, at Haneda airport on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)

Airbus SAS said in a statement Tuesday that it will dispatch a team of specialists “to provide technical assistance” to Japan’s safety board, expressing sadness over the deaths of the five crew members.

The severely damaged JAL plane, equipped with engines produced by Britain’s Rolls-Royce plc, was received in November 2021, Airbus said.

Japan’s coast guard said its aircraft was heading to Niigata Prefecture to deliver relief supplies for people hit by the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula and surrounding areas on the Sea of Japan coast on Monday.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, meanwhile, said it has launched an investigation into the accident on suspicion of professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

____

Hot News

LATEST NEWS