Thai Police Arrest Drug Trafficking Network, a Big Lot for Australia

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18 April 2023, 20:12

Pol. Gen. Chinnaphat Sarasin, the deputy commissioner of the National Police, together with the investigation team, announced the arrest of a Malaysian-Hong Kong transnational drug trafficking network at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) on April 18 , 2023. Police seized 94 kilogrammes of heroin and 162 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.

The case occurred between April 10-11, when NSB officials, together with the Seaport Interdiction Task Force (SITF), which consists of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, the Customs Department and the Armed Forces Security Centre, investigated a warehouse in Bangkok’s Bueng Kum district. They found more than 30 kilogrammes of heroin stuffed in wood-like resin sheets destined for shipment to Australia.

After further investigation, the sender turned out to be Kanda Khunthong, 33. She was later arrested at a department shop in Rama 3 Road, Chong Nonsi Sub-District, Yan Nawa District, Bangkok. She confessed that she is a heroin shipper and used another person’s identity to ship the heroin.

She explained that she got the drug from a man she called “Boss” who spoke Chinese and that she had a person called “Ti” who helped her translate and hand over the money. Ti was later arrested. It is reported that a half-Thai, half-Australian person is the intended recipient of the drug.

Officials later found some traces of this network when they planned to ship drugs before the Songkran festival. Using the NSB’s Big Data system, police arrested the “boss”, whose first name is Leung, 63. It turned out that he is a Malaysian citizen and was the boss.

He was arrested at a petrol station near Rama 3 Road, Chong Nonsi Sub-District, Yan Nawa District, Bangkok with more than 2 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden in photo frames to be shipped to Japan.

Police then arrested Jailu Loungmad or Ti, a 36-year-old Tai Yai whose job was to transfer money. He was arrested at a petrol station in Soi Sathu Pradit 15. His Rama 3 Road residence was later searched and found to be a station where drugs were hidden in various items.

Police found more than 13 kilogrammes of methamphetamine hidden in a cupboard. The team also found methamphetamine in the form of flakes mixed with 2 silicones weighing 18 kilogrammes hidden in 2 picture frames. The methamphetamine in a thick liquid form weighing 1 kilogramme was also found at the scene as well as 1,250 liquid bottles labelled as massage oil which was found to contain drugs. The police will send them for further investigation. The police then arrested Kai, 62, from Hong Kong.

The team examined 2 other rooms in a residential complex near Bangkok’s Industrial Ring Road and found 64 kilogrammes of heroin and more than 128 kilogrammes of methamphetamine.

The NSB has conducted further investigations using the Big Data system and has concluded that the suspects were involved in other cases of sending parcels to different countries. They will try to expand the investigation.

Apple Inc Bets Big on India as It Opens First Flagship Store

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Associated Press

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18 April 2023, 18:05

India Apple Store — Apple CEO Tim Cook, center, along with Senior Vice president of retail Deirdre O'Brien, left, wave to people during the opening of the first Apple Inc. flagship store in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, April 18, 2023.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

NEW DELHI (AP) — Apple Inc. opened its first flagship store in India in a much-anticipated launch Tuesday that highlights the company’s growing aspirations to expand in the country it also hopes to turn into a potential manufacturing hub.

The company’s CEO Tim Cook posed for photos with a few of the 100 or so Apple fans who had lined up outside the sprawling 20,000-square-foot store in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, its design inspired by the iconic black-and-yellow cabs unique to the city. A second store will open Thursday in the national capital, New Delhi.

AP23108254300323 — Apple CEO Tim Cook, right, reacts after seeing an old old Macintosh Classic machine brought by a visitor during the opening of the first Apple Inc. flagship store in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, April 18, 2023.(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

“India has such a beautiful culture and an incredible energy, and we’re excited to build on our long-standing history,” Cook said in a statement earlier.

The tech giant has been operating in India for more than 25 years, selling its product through authorized retailers and the website it launched a few years ago. But regulatory hurdles and the pandemic delayed its plans to open a flagship store.

The new stores are a clear signal of the company’s commitment to invest in India, the second-largest smartphone market in the world where iPhone sales have been ticking up steadily, said Jayanth Kolla, analyst at Convergence Catalyst, a tech consultancy. The stores show “how much India matters to the present and the future of the company,” he added.

AP23107325711338 — iPhones are on display during a press preview of India’s first Apple Store in Mumbai, India, Monday, April 17, 2023. Apple will open its first retail store in India in Mumbai on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

For the Cupertino, California-based company, India’s sheer size makes the market especially encouraging.

About 600 million of India’s 1.4 billion people have smartphones, “which means the market is still under-penetrated and the growth prospect is huge,” said Neil Shah, vice president of research at technology market research firm Counterpoint Research.

Between 2020 and 2022, the Silicon Valley company has gained some ground in the smartphone market in the country, going from just about 2% to capturing 6%, according to Counterpoint data.

Still, the iPhone’s hefty price tag puts it out of reach for the majority of Indians.

Instead, iPhone sales in the country have thrived among the sliver of upper-middle-class and rich Indians with disposable incomes, a segment of buyers that Shah says is rising. According to Counterpoint data, Apple has captured 65% of the “premium” smartphone market, where prices range up from 30,000 rupees ($360).

AP23107324907085 — iPhones are on display during a press preview of India’s first Apple Store in Mumbai, India, Monday, April 17, 2023. Apple will open its first retail store in India in Mumbai on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

In September, Apple announced it would start making its iPhone 14 in India. The news was hailed as a win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which has pushed for ramping up local manufacturing ever since he came to power in 2014.

Apple first began manufacturing from India in 2017 with its iPhone SE and has since continued to assemble a number of iPhone models from the country.

Most of Apple’s smartphones and tablets are assembled by contractors with factories in China, but the company started looking at potentially moving some production to Southeast Asia or other places after repeated shutdowns to fight COVID-19 disrupted its global flow of products.

AP23108198049949 — Dozens of people lined up outside for the grand opening Apple Inc. first flagship store in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

“Big companies got a jolt, they realized they needed a backup strategy outside of China — they couldn’t risk another lockdown or any geopolitical rift affecting their business,” said Kolla.

Currently, India makes close to 13 million iPhones every year, up from less than 5 million three years ago, according to Counterpoint Research. This is about 6% of iPhones made globally — and only a small slice in comparison to China, which still produces around 90% of them.

Last week, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the government was in regular touch with Apple to support their business here and that the company had plans to have 25% of their global production come out of India in the next five years.

AP23108198044067 — Dozens of people lined up outside for the grand opening Apple Inc. first flagship store in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

The challenge for Apple, according to Shah of Counterpoint, is that the raw materials are still coming from outside India so the tech company will need to either find a local supplier or bring their suppliers, based in countries like China, Japan and Taiwan, closer to drive up production.

Still, he’s optimistic this target could be met, especially with labor costs being lower in India and the government wooing companies with attractive subsidies to boost local manufacturing.

“For Apple, everything is about timing. They don’t enter a market with full flow until they feel confident about their prospects. They can see the opportunity here today — it’s a win-win situation,” Shah said.

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KRUTIKA PATHI Associated Press reported from New Delhi

J-Hope Becomes 2nd BTS Member To Join South Korean Army

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Associated Press

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18 April 2023, 17:09

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — J-Hope, a member of K-pop sensation BTS, entered a South Korean boot camp Tuesday to start his 18-month compulsory military service, becoming the group’s second member to join the country’s army.

There was heated public debate in 2022 over whether to offer special exemptions of mandatory military service for BTS members, until the group’s management agency announced in October that all seven members would fulfill their duties.

AP23108236809040 — A picture of J-Hope, a member of South Korean K-pop band BTS, is seen on a bus, prepared by his fans, near a military boot camp in Wonju, South Korea, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Yang Ji-woong/Yonhap via AP)

In December, Jin, 30 and the oldest member of BTS, became the band’s first member to enter the army after revoking his request to delay his conscription.

South Korean TV footage Tuesday afternoon showed what they called a black minivan likely carrying J-Hope moving into the boot camp in Wonju, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) east of Seoul. Hybe Corp., the parent company of BTS’ management agency Big Hit Music, later confirmed the 29-year-old singer entered the camp.

Dozens of fans showed up near the base after arriving via rented buses wrapped with large photos of J-Hope and words hoping for his safe service. Authorities mobilized soldiers and police officers to maintain order, and there were no immediate reports of safety-related accidents. Big Hit Music had pleaded with fans, who call themselves the “Army,” not to come to the site due to safety reasons.

“I love you, Army. I’ll see you again,” J-Hope, whose real name is Jung Ho-seok, said Monday in a message posted on the online fan platform Weverse, with photos of himself with a military buzz cut.

Five other younger BTS members — RM, Suga, Jimin, V and Jungkook — are to join the South Korean military one by one in the coming years. That means the world’s biggest boy band is expected to reconvene as a group again a few years later.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men are required by law to perform 18-21 months of military service under a conscription system meant to deter aggression from rival North Korea.

The law gives special exemptions to athletes, classical and traditional musicians, and ballet and other dancers if they have obtained top prizes in certain competitions and are assessed to have enhanced national prestige. K-pop stars and other entertainers aren’t subject to such privileges.

AP23108236821849 — FILE – RM, center, accompanied by other K-pop supergroup BTS members from left, V, Jungkook, Jimin, Jin, J-Hope, and Suga speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, May 31, 2022. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

That has caused an intense domestic debate over whether it was time to amend the law to expand exemptions to entertainers like BTS members. Jin, who turned 30 in December, had faced an impending conscription because the law disallows most South Korean men from further delaying their services after they turn 30.

Lawmakers bickered over the issue at the National Assembly, while a series of public surveys showed sharply split opinions over possible service exemptions for BTS members. Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup said at the time that it would be “desirable” for BTS members to implement their duties to promote fairness in the country’s military service.

AP23108236783188 — FILE – J-Hope, a member of South Korean K-pop band BTS, poses for photographers ahead of a press conference to introduce their new single “Butter” in Seoul, South Korea, May 21, 2021.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

Exemptions or dodging of military duties are a highly sensitive issue in South Korea, because the draft forces young men to suspend their studies or professional careers.

Formed in 2013, BTS expanded its popularity in the West with its 2020 megahit “Dynamite,” the band’s first all-English song that made BTS the first K-pop act to top Billboard’s Hot 100.

Hybe Corp. said in October that each member of the band for the time being would focus on individual activities scheduled around their military service plans.

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HYUNG-JIN KIM reported from Seoul, Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.

Pai Holds ‘Relax Day’ Amidst Forest Fire – Air Pollution Crisis

By

Khaosod English

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18 April 2023, 16:02

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Mae Hong Son office, together with the private sector and local authorities, organized the Pai Relax Day Festival, also known as the Post-Songkran Festival, on April 20-21, 2023, near the Pai River Bridge, Mae Hi sub-district, Pai district, Mae Hong Son province.

The main activities are a water zone, a water tunnel, a music spectacle, local sports such as beach volleyball and water boxing, and local food and souvenirs. There are also local activities and the famous tube floating on the Pai River.

pai pm4 — The famous tube floating on the Pai River

The festival will focus on environmentally friendly products and reducing waste by using containers made of natural materials or those that can be easily decomposed. The festival encourages participants to bring their own containers for food and drinks. There will be bins for segregated waste. There are no fees, no registration or MC. Participants can wear any outfit.

Pai is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist attractions, both for Thais and foreigners. According to TAT, Mae Hong Son office, the average accommodation occupancy rate between April 13-17 was 35%. There were more foreigners than Thais as due to air pollution, Thai tourists cancelled their bookings by 10 to 15 per cent.

pai pm1 — FILE – Pai, on April 13, 2023 / Khaosod

Although the number of foreign tourists decreased, there had been no cancellations. Some foreign tourists have travelled to beaches and the sea and are likely to return to Pai when the air pollution crisis improves.

Tiny particles in the air, also known as PM2.5, continue to increase in Pai. On 18 April 2023, a level of 189 micrograms per cubic metre was reported when a forest fire occurred at Doi Kio Lom Viewpoint, a popular roadside rest area in northwest Pai.

On April 17, 2023, the air pollution in Pai district is affecting locals and tourists after a severe forest fire occurred after some illegal forest fires took place. Officials had difficulty in bringing the fire under control as the location is a steep mountain. The officials could only establish a fireproof line to prevent the fire from spreading to the residential areas.

Kanokporn Kumsornyong, a local woman from Pai district in Mae Hong Son province, said the droplets in Pai are so strong that she does not want to leave her house as it affects her breathing. Even when she is in the house, she has to close all the windows and turn on the air purifier as it is getting harder to breathe.

pai pm2 — FILE – Pai on April 1, 2023 / Khaosod

She said that Pai is in this crisis and some people are illegally burning the forest around Pai district, which is obstructing the view and causing breathing problems.

Sinsamut Phromsuwan, president of the Pai Tourism Association, says dust pollution in Pai is above average and affects the health of people and tourists, especially tourists from China and Europe who have booked their trips in advance and cannot change planes.

CP-Uoriki established to bring premium fresh fish and seafood from Japan to discerning consumers in Thailand

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Contributor

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18 April 2023, 15:05

CPFGS kicks off with the establishment of a joint venture, namely CP-Uoriki Co., Ltd., with Uoriki Co., Ltd., a fish wholesaler in Japan. The joint venture will import various types of fish from fresh markets across Japan for Thai consumers. The first outlet will be opened at Lotus Sukhumvit 50 in August 2023.

CPF Global Food Solution Public Company Limited or CPFGS, a business unit of Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CPF) responsible for domestic distribution of fresh and processed food products, has reached a deal with Uoriki Co., Ltd., the No.1 fresh fish retailer in Japan, to establish a joint venture namely CP-Uoriki Co., Ltd. The joint venture will import fresh fish from Japanese markets to entice Thai consumers with typical Japanese-styled freshness. Joining the the joint venture agreement signing ceremony at CP Tower Silom in Bangkok, Thailand are Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, Chief Executive Officer of CPF; Mr. Masayuki Yamada, President of Uroriki; Mr. Sujarijt Mayalarp, President of CPFGS; and executives of both parties.

Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, Chief Executive Officer of CPF and a director of CPFGS, said that under CPF’s aspiration to deliver the best food for the good health of all Thais, fish is the first choice of protein and the world’s best fish is from Japan, a land of raw fish and the largest numbers of fish species in the world. He thanked Uoriki and Mr. Masayuki Yamada for their trust in CPFGS and let the company introduce the Japanese food culture and Japanese-standard sushi and other products to Thai consumers, so that they can enjoy the authentic Japanese taste.

“CP-Uoriki synergizes CPFGS’s strength in distribution with almost 100 years of Uoriki’s mastery in fresh fish and seafood. Through the combined strengths, Thai consumers can experience premium fish and seafood without flying to Japan, in line with our sustainability goal. And we will work together in further expanding this business in Thiland and other countries,” said Mr. Prasit.

Aspiring to achieve sustainable operations, CP-Uoriki follows the Japanese tradition. It will import seasonally available fish and the different types of fish will introduce new experiences. The tradition supports farmers by buying fish directly from them for price stability. It also promotes seasonal fish and stabilizes the balance of nature as each fish has ample time to grow.

Mr. Masayuki Yamada, President of Uoriki Co., Ltd.Uoriki Co., Ltd. – a leading supplier and wholesaler of premium fresh fish and seafood in Japan for more than 100 years with generations’ matery in the selection for the freshest and highest quality fish, said that the joint venture marks the mutual trust between Uoriki and CPFGS. The joint venture will bring fresh seafood from Japan to Thai consumers, giving them an access to fresh, clean and delicious fish from Sea of Japan. They will learn about the traditional way to eat sushi, particularly maguro or Japanese tuna. The sushi, frozen or chilled, is maintained under temperature control from the point of production to transportation, to assure Thai consumers of the freshness.

CP-Uoriki will distribute chilled and frozen seafood, sushi, sashimi, maki and seasonings as well as processed seafood products. The first outlet will be opened at Lotus Supercenter Sukhumvit 50 in August 2023. Four outlets are planned for 2023 and the number will be raised to 20 in 2024.

Putin Visits Russian Troops in Occupied Ukraine

By

Associated Press

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18 April 2023, 13:19

Russia Ukraine Putin — Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives at an undisclosed location. The Kremlin says Putin has visited headquarters of the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. (Pool Photo via AP)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin visited headquarters of the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine early Tuesday, his second trip to the Russian-held territories there since March.

A video released by the Kremlin and broadcast by Russian state television showed Putin visiting the command post for Russian forces in the southern Kherson region. It showed Putin arriving by helicopter to receive reports from the top military brass about the combat situation.

The Russian leader then moved by helicopter to the headquarters of the Russian National Guard of the eastern Luhansk region to hear report from commanders.

In both locations, Putin congratulated the military on the Orthodox Easter that was celebrated Sunday and presented them with icons.

AP23108245979569 — Russian President Vladimir Putin shows an icon prior to present at one of headquarters of the Russian troops at an undisclosed location. (Pool Photo via AP)

Russia annexed the Kherson and Luhansk regions along with the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions in September in a move that was rejected by much of the world as illegal.

It was impossible to independently verify the footage of Putin’s visits to the two regions that was released by the Kremlin. The trip marked a second visit by the Russian leader to the areas that Russia occupied in Ukraine in as many months.

Last month, Putin visited the Russian-held Sea of Azov port city of Mariupol, which was captured by Russian troops in May after two months of fierce fighting.

Putin’s trips to the military headquarters come as Ukraine is preparing for a new counteroffensive to reclaim the occupied territories.

Russia’s war in Ukraine has turned into a stalemate amid heavy fighting in the country’s east, particularly around the town of Bakhmut, which for 8 1/2 months has been the stage for the war’s longest and bloodiest fight.

AP23107497333539 — Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu shake hands during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, April 17, 2023. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Ukrainian officials have said they’re buying time by depleting Russian forces in the battle while Kyiv prepares a counteroffensive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has argued that if Russia wins the Bakhmut battle, it could allow Putin to begin building international support for a deal that would require Ukraine to make unacceptable compromises to end the war.

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told The Associated Press in an interview in Kyiv that Ukraine’s allies are helping the government to achieve the level of technical equipment necessary to launch the attack, delivering heavy armored vehicles and ammunition.

He expressed confidence that Ukraine will be able to return all its occupied territories.

“We will defeat Russia,” he said. “If you have a strong inner spirit, you will definitely win. And we always had it strong. This is something that always annoyed the Russians.”

Discover your Dream Vacation at a Phuket Beach Resort

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Contributor

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18 April 2023, 10:25

Go on Your Dream Vacation at a Phuket Beach Resort

Are you planning a tropical escape? Why not make Thavorn Palm Beach Resort your next dream vacation destination? The magnificent Phuket beach resort is nestled on the pristine shores of Karon Beach. Offering a wide array of luxurious facilities, world-class accommodations, and an unparalleled beachfront location, Thavorn Palm Beach Resort offers a truly unforgettable experience that caters to all your vacation needs.

Situated on the Idyllic Karon Beach

You will be amazed by the sight of the incredible beachfront of Karon Beach when you step into our luxurious beach resort. Our hotel enjoys spectacular views of the beach that is hard to beat. Karon Beach is loved for its soft, golden white sand and crystal clear waters, where you will have front-row seats to one of Phuket’s most incredible sunsets. Make our resort the dream getaway for your entire family! Our convenient location gives you easy access to nearby attractions at Patong Beach, Kata Beach, and the Big Buddha. There are several large shopping malls nearby that are less than 10 minutes drive away where your family can enjoy a shopping spree and pick up some souvenirs for friends and relatives.

Luxury Accomodations

We offer a total of nine accommodation types to suit every guest. We ensure that guests enjoy absolute comfort and a unique beach vacation experience. Each of our rooms and suites showcases Phuket’s rich heritage through its Sino-Portuguese architectural influences, creating a harmonious blend of modern luxury and traditional charm. Our guests can choose from various options, including spacious deluxe rooms, elegant family suites, and three-bedroom family suites for larger families, all designed to make your stay with us unforgettable.

Fun Activities for All Ages

Our beach resort takes pride in providing various fun activities for our guests of all ages. If you’re looking for thrills, you’ll love the exhilarating water park slides and the resort’s three large swimming pools. Are you looking for a more laid-back experience? You will find plenty of it on our sun-drenched beach in front of our resort. Why not go for a soothing massage at our on-site spa? Thavorn Palm Beach Resort’s family-friendly concept even has a dedicated kid’s room where children can spend the day bouncing to their heart’s content. We also have Animal Village, where your little ones can interact with our friendly resident sheep, tortoises, birds, and fluffy bunnies.

A Slew of Dining Options

No dream beach vacation is complete without a fulfilling gastronomic adventure. Our resort has no less than seven dining options for you to choose from. There are bars, cafes, and restaurants, each offering a unique culinary experience. Guests can sample delicious local Thai cuisine at our signature restaurant, Windsong Restaurant, or enjoy international favorites at our all-day dining outlet.

Take a dream vacation at our tropical sanctuary here at Thavorn Palm Beach Resort and be amazed by our 12-acre tropical, botanical, and rainforest garden. Our enviable location will give you an experience like no other. Book a romantic getaway or a solo escape with us and live that vacation you’ve always dreamed about!

Secret Chinese police outpost revealed in NY; 2 men arrested

By

Associated Press

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18 April 2023, 01:54

Chinese-Police-New-York — A six story glass facade building, center, is believed to be the site of a foreign police outpost for China in New York's Chinatown, Monday, April 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

NEW YORK (AP) — Two men have been arrested on charges that they helped establish a secret police outpost in New York City on behalf of the Chinese government, and more than three dozen officers with China’s national police force have been charged with using social media to harass dissidents inside the United States, the Justice Department said Monday.

The cases, taken together, are part of a series of Justice Department prosecutions in recent years aimed at disrupting Chinese government efforts to locate in America pro-democracy activists and others who are openly critical of Beijing’s policies.

One of the cases concerns a local branch of the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, which operated inside an office building in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood before closing last fall amid an FBI investigation. The two men charged with establishing the outpost were acting under the direction and control of a Chinese government official, and deleted communication with that official from their phones after becoming aware of the investigation, according to the Justice Department.

AP23107658578231 — A six story glass facade building, second from left, is believed to be the site of a foreign police outpost for China in New York’s Chinatown, Monday April 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

The men, identified as “Harry” Lu Jianwang, 61, of the Bronx, and Chen Jinping, 59, of Manhattan, were arrested at their homes on Monday morning. It was not immediately clear if they had lawyers who could comment on their behalf.

At no point did the men register with the Justice Department as agents of a foreign government, U.S. law enforcement officials said. And though the police outpost did perform some basic services, such as helping Chinese citizens renew their Chinese driver’s licenses, it also performed a more “sinister” function, including helping the Chinese government locate a pro-democracy activist of Chinese descent living in California, according to the officials.

“New York City is home to New York’s finest: the NYPD,” U.S. Attorney Breon Peace, the top federal prosecutor in Brooklyn, said at a news conference announcing the arrests. “We don’t need or want a secret police station in our great city.”

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LARRY NEUMEISTER reported from New York and ERIC TUCKER Tucker reported from Washington.

American Tourist Case Against Thai Security Guard Ended Well

By

Khaosod English

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18 April 2023, 01:20

american phuket1 — To wrap up the case, they shake hands and smile.

A day after Mr.Bryce Alan Terzian, 33, an American tourist, pleaded with reporters in Phuket on April 16 to help him publicise his story of being attacked by one guard in a pub in Rawai Subdistrict, Muang District, the case ended with shakehands and smiles.

Mr.Bryce reported the incident which occurred on April 8, 2023, around 4:00 a.m. to Chalong Police Station, Muang District, on April 9. Later, he was concerned that the matter would not be pursued because it had been ongoing for 7 days.

However, on April 17, Colonel Ekarat Plaidung, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, invited Mr. Bryce to the police station to meet with Mr. Prasert Madsatun, 45, the guard at the pub who had assaulted Mr. Bryce.

american phuket — At the Chalong Police Station, April 17, 2023.

The discussions proceeded well, and both sides understood what happened. Mr. Prasert admitted that Mr. Bryce was wrongfully dissuaded, causing him harm. Mr. Prasert apologised to Mr. Bryce for his error.

Mr. Bryce then dropped the case since he didn’t want to return to the police station and instead wanted to enjoy his vacation in Phuket Province before returning to America.

Finally, the two parties shook hands. The police fined Mr. Prasert, who was charged with assault, 1,000 baht, and the pub owner assisted the American tourist with medical expenses.

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Previous report:

An American Tourist Asks the Media to Help His Case in Phuket

Myanmar Army Rulers Free 3,000 Prisoners In Holiday Gesture

By

Associated Press

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17 April 2023, 23:53

Myanmar Prisoners Release — Prisoners released from Insein Prison are welcomed by their colleagues and family members in Yangon, Myanmar Monday, April 17, 2023. (AP Photo)

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military government on Monday granted amnesty to more than 3,000 prisoners to mark the traditional lunar New Year holiday, but it wasn’t immediately clear if those released included the thousands of political detainees locked up for opposing army rule.

State-run MRTV television reported that the State Administration Council, the ruling body created by the military after it seized power in 2021, had pardoned 3,113 prisoners, including 98 foreigners who will be deported. Mass prisoner releases are common on major holidays.

An official from Yangon’s Insein Prison, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release information, said the number and names of people to be freed from the country’s largest penitentiary was not yet known. The releases began Monday, but sometimes can take a few days to be completed.

AP23107259393930 — A bus carrying released prisoners leaves Insein Prison in Yangon, Myanmar Monday, April 17, 2023. (AP Photo)

Some 17,460 political detainees, including Myanmar’s former civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, were in detention as of last Wednesday, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent organization that keeps detailed tallies of arrests and casualties linked to the nation’s political conflicts.

Myanmar has been under military rule since Feb. 1, 2021, when its army ousted Suu Kyi’s elected government. The takeover was met with massive nonviolent resistance, which has since become a widespread armed struggle.

Urban guerrillas are active in major cities, and the loosely organized People’s Defense Forces, along with their allies in ethnic minority guerrilla groups, regularly strike military columns and outposts.

Civilians have borne the brunt of brutal military offensives in the countryside, including the use of artillery and airstrikes, which have displaced more than a million people, causing a humanitarian crisis.

At least 3,240 civilians have been killed by the security forces since the military takeover, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Its tally does not include all casualties from combat.

Tun Kyi, a senior member of the Former Political Prisoners Society, said it is not known how many of the political prisoners would be among those released, if any, but any such action would be taken to burnish the image of the military government.

AP23107259511427 — Myanmar’s military government on Monday granted amnesty to more than 3,000 prisoners to mark the traditional lunar New Year holiday, but it wasn’t immediately clear if those released included the thousands of political detainees locked up for opposing army rule. (AP Photo)

He said his group viewed such releases as trying to score political points, ease international pressure and seek to demonstrate the military’s legitimacy.

This year’s celebrations of Thingyan, the New Year’s holiday, drew smaller crowds than had gathered before the coronavirus pandemic and the 2021 takeover. In big cities, the merrymaking involving the playful splashing of water took place at designated high-security pavilions. Celebrations in most rural areas were muted, with many people heeding the call of opponents of military rule not to take part in the military-planned activities.

During the holiday, which officially extends for nine days but has state-sponsored gatherings for just four, the violent struggle between the army and pro-democracy forces continued. There were armed clashes in the countryside and small bombings of the official military-sponsored pavilions in several towns and cities. The number of casualties was unclear.

The country’s military leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, did not touch on the country’s extended political crisis in a New Year’s speech broadcast Monday. He said that the economy, which faced difficulties in 2021, had rebounded last year from contraction to nearly 3% growth. The manufacturing sector had showed improvement and border trade was reopened in 2022, and businesses were able to resume operations, he said.

“I fully believe that if the people work hard to export more products, this year the economic growth will be better than previous years,” he said.

____

Grant Peck reported from Bangkok.

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