Macau 888: Benz Daemon Has Been Imprisoned; Dew Will Return in March

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15 February 2023, 18:38

After being arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 9.30 p.m. on February 14, Chaiwat Kachornboonthaworn, also known as Benz Daemon, was taken to the 3rd Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCID3) and interrogated for 4 hours overnight along with his lawyer, Pisit Chutipornpongchai.

Benz Daemon denied all the accusations and asked to testify in court. At the conclusion of the interrogation, Pol. Maj. Gen. Satit Promumai, the commander of CCID3, instructed an investigating officer to have him committed to Thung Song Hong Police Station at 3 a.m. on February 15.

benz at station — Benz Daemon was taken out of Thung Song Hong Police Station. / photo by Khaosod

At Thung Song Hong Police Station, investigating officers took Benz Daemon into custody for the first round in criminal court and asked the court to deny bail because the case had a high penalty and could affect the evidence.

Later, the criminal court denied bail, despite his brother posting 12 million baht in assets as surety. The police took the accused to Bangkok Remand Prison.

SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION

During the day, Benz appeared to be very stressed. The lawyer revealed that he had never been confronted with such a situation before and that he was suffering from depression.

When reporters asked Benz if he denied all the accusations, he nodded and said, “I want justice.”

benz at station2 — Benz Daemon said “I want justice”.

He refused to talk about the allegation of assault by his ex-girlfriend, Dew Arisara Thongborisut, the whistleblower in the case Macau 888, saying, “I do not want to talk about it.” When asked by a reporter if he was suffering from depression, he nodded.

The public has been following this case closely since Dew Arisara published a report on January 15 about a family of four brothers whose nick names all begin with “B” and who are involved in a gambling website called Macau 888.

At the time, the Thai police were the focus of constant scandals such as corruption by the Chinese mafia, abuse of power for personal gain in the motorcade on female Chinese tourist, and extortion of money from a Taiwanese actress.

benz arrested5 — At Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCID3)

For Macau 888, there has been public criticism that the site would not have lasted as long if the police were not involved or benefiting. In addition, Benz Daemon’s youngest brother, Capt. Bright, Pol. Capt. Kunakorn Kachornboonthaworn, also holds a high-ranking position as Deputy Inspector of the Immigration Police. Capt. Bright has already tendered his resignation to take care of his old father.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Pol. Gen. Damrongsak Kittiprapas, the head of the Thai National Police, has instructed the cyber investigation team to request more information from Dew Arisara, who has disclosed all evidence in Taiwan since February 13, and the team has returned to Thailand.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat Kamchamnan, deputy chief of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, told reporters on February 15 that police received useful information for further investigation after the interrogation of Dew Arisara in Taiwan, and some of the information is consistent with the current plan.

dew in taiwan6 — Dew gave useful information to the police for further investigation.

“Dew Arisara stated that she was aware of Benz Daemon’s online gambling website while they were dating.Benz has been in business for more than 10 years, starting as a small family business. “After making more sales, he opened a business and nightclubs.”

Arisa also plans to return to Thailand next March and hand over more videos and pictures to the police that provide evidence of the assault. She will also file a complaint of assault and attempted murder with investigators at Thong Lor Police Station together with her lawyer.

dew in taiwan — Dew said she will return to Thailand in March.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat added that investigators are examining the connections between the evidence to see if they can seek an additional warrant, particularly against the “B” brothers, who have been shown to have an obvious connection, including Capt. Bright, who had previously denied wrongdoing. If found guilty, they will all be prosecuted, including Big and Boss, who live aboard.

To date, a total of 55 people face arrest warrant, eight of whom are the main accused.

Macau 888: Alleged Online Gambling Kingpin Benz Daemon Was Arrested

CPF Philippines joins hands with DA and DBP to finance bio-secure farms

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Contributor

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15 February 2023, 17:37

Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corporation (CPF Philippines), the Department of Agriculture (DA), Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), has set a plan to finance livestock and aquaculture farms nationwide to help small and medium scale farmers strengthen biosecurity, sustainability, and productivity, while assuring the nation’s food security.

The joint effort is an expansion of Swine Rehabilitation, Repopulation and Recovery Credit” or Swine R3 program launched by CPF Philippines, DA and DBP in 2021 to revive the pig industry from the outbreak of AFS. The program provides financial aid to the SMEs to make infrastructure development. Also, the project provides farmers with marketing and technical support.

CPF Philippines’ President Udomsak Aksornphakdee said the company, DA and DBP are planning to extend a helping hand to other livestock, poultry, and aquaculture farms across the country. The effort will help smallholder and medium farmers to transform their farms to equip them with a higher level of biosecurity system. This program will assure food security in the Philippines.

He added that CPF Philippines will use its expertise in contract farming implementation, hi-tech farming, and biosecurity to supports the smallholder farmers. He says “This project allows small scale farmers to access funding. The project’s assistance included financial support, marketing channels and technical knowledge from experts. Ultimately, Filipino farmers will be able to produce safe, high-quality food, resulting a sustainable growth of the livestock sector, enabling the country to achieve self-sufficiency and food security.”

The project is in line with the principle of “3 benefits” towards sustainability, putting interests of the country and its people interest before the benefits of the organization. This is a philosophy that the Company adheres to and applies in every country where CP Foods operates.

Report: 8,468 Perished Trying To Reach Europe Since 2019

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Associated Press

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15 February 2023, 15:10

migrant europe1 — FILE - Migrants swim next to their overturned wooden boat during a rescue operation by Spanish NGO Open Arms at south of the Italian Lampedusa island at the Mediterranean sea, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File)

CAIRO (AP) — More than 8,400 Europe-bound migrants perished at sea while attempting to cross the Mediterranean over the past four years, a charity said Tuesday.

Save the Children said in a report that about a half million people crossed or attempted to cross the Mediterranean to Europe since 2019. Of those, 8,468 people died or went missing in the Mediterranean, the charity added.

Analyzing data from the U.N. refugee agency, the charity said deaths at European borders were partly blamed on “the increasing trend of European governments forcibly, illegally and often violently stopping refugees from entering their territory and even abducting and expelling those who have arrived.”

5262AC6A 8547 4D7E 8FE1 3EA972906D2F — Migrants on a blue rubber boat wait to be rescued some 14 nautical miles from the coast of Libya in Mediterranean Sea, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. (AP Photo/Renata Brito)

The 40-page report cited a 2021 warning by the U.N. refugee agency that “asylum was under attack at Europe’s borders” and that pushbacks were being “carried out in a violent and apparently systematic way.”

The report mentioned pushbacks of migrants trying to reach Spain from Morocco; Greece from Turkey; and Italy from Libya and Tunisia.

Pushbacks are unlawful under international and European Union law, as they violate the right to seek asylum and the legal principle that prohibits the return of anyone to a place where they would risk persecution, torture or deadly threat.

In its report titled “Safe for Some,” the charity accused European countries of having “double standards” in dealing with Middle Eastern and African migrants and those who fled Ukraine over the past year.

Save the Children said over 8 million migrants — 40% of them children — from Ukraine were allowed into Europe since Russia’s invasion of the country last February.

“It doesn’t need to be this way,” said Daniel Gorevan, senior advocacy advider at the charity and the report’s author. “A new European approach — one which puts the rights of all children at the heart of asylum policies — is possible.”

migrant europe2 — Migrants aboard a rubber boat end up in the water while others cling on to a centifloat before being rescued by a team of the Sea Watch-3, around 35 miles away from Libya, in Libyan SAR zone, Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Valeria Mongelli, File)

Tens of thousands have attempted to cross the Mediterranean to Europe from North African countries that have become hubs for migrants fleeing poverty and wars in Arica and the Middle East, seeking better lives in Europe.

Libya has been a major transit point for migrants since the country descended into chaos following a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.

Human traffickers have benefited from the chaos in Libya, smuggling in migrants across the country’s lengthy borders with six nations. The migrants are then packed into ill-equipped rubber boats and other vessels and set off on risky sea voyages.

European countries have in recent years pushed Libyan authorities and the coast guard to detain and intercept migrants attempting to cross to European shores.

More than 24,680 were intercepted and returned to Libya, where they were held in detention centers rife with abuses, according to the U.N. migration agency. Such abuses include forced labor, beatings, rapes and torture — practices that amount to crimes against humanity, according to U.N.-commissioned investigators.

Grand Palace Attracts Limited Chinese Tourists, Vendors Wait for Songkran

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Khaosod English

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15 February 2023, 12:33

grand palace2 — Chinese tourists visit the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

They are coming more but not so many.

Vendors and local entrepreneurs around The Grand Palace, one of Thailand’s most famous tourist attractions, told ‘Prachachat Business’ that the number of Chinese tourists and foreign travelers is still limited. Visitor numbers and spending were not as high as expected.

Monchai Kittirattanasakul, owner of a gift shop ‘Prod Pran’ opposite the Grand Palace, admitted that despite the increase in tourist numbers, visitor numbers still do not reach the level of before COVID-19. He added that recent festivals such as the New Year and Chinese New Year could hamper spending.

grand palace4 — Chinese tourists visit the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

Still waiting to see how the situation would develop, he added that most of the travelers in the area were Europeans, while a few were Chinese, but not as many as before. He also saw Thais who came to visit on weekends.

“There are fewer Chinese tourist groups. I saw one group of about 10 and that was it. Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists were one of the main sources of income. Even after China opened up its country. I still can not assess their purchasing power, but I suspect it’s not as good as it used to be,” Monchai said.

grand palace — Tourist visit Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, June 17, 2022.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

As for purchasing power, he added that travelers are now more reluctant to spend money. In the past, they would just come to a shop, buy and leave. In contrast, after COVID-19, they think longer, even if the price is 50 baht.

He estimated that tourists will be coming to Thailand more between March and April when the Songkran festival takes place, which could extend to May. He said that everything takes time and there is no guarantee that you can sell a product even if it is on the weekend. He also admitted that he got used to it.

grand palace3 — Chinese tourists visit the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, Feb. 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

He wished that the Tourism Authority of Thailand will help promote the country and attract more tourists as this will boost the economy.

Tour guides and local Tuk Tuk drivers said China’s policy of opening up the country is leading to more individual tourists visiting Thailand, which is improving income, but there are still not as many as in the past.

Despite the increase in Chinese tourists, most travelers to the area are Europeans. Chinese group tours are hardly seen in the area, as more travelers come as individuals.

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Macau 888: Alleged Online gambling Kingpin Benz Daemon Was Arrested

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Khaosod English

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15 February 2023, 00:48

Alleged online gambling kingpin Chaiwat Kachornboonthaworn, aka Benz Daemon, 37, arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Tuesday night at 9.30pm on a Thai Airways flight from Hong Kong to face charges of running illegal online gambling business.

benz arrested3 — At Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Initial report had informed that Benz Daemon would accompany by his two younger brothers who were also accused of being involved in the so-called Macau 888 online gambling website. However reporters have seen only Benz Daemon being taken outside the terminal.

The Immigrant police later send him to the Cyber police to investigate and press charges against him at the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau. He kept silence, just said “thank you”, and “I had nothing to say” when was asked by the reporters.

Benz Daemon is a car racer and owns Thailand’s only Lamborgini Aventador Liberty Walk V.2 limited edition supercar with price estimated at around 40 million baht. (There only 50 in the world.) He also owns a string of pubs, bars and Japanese restaurants as well as import car business.

The latest development came as Benz Daemon’s assets worth several hundred million baht, including a limited edition Lamborgini Aventador Liberty Walk V.2 were impound last week.

benz lambo1 — Lamborgini Aventador Liberty Walk V.2

On February 5, 2023 police raid at Benz Daemon’s 40-million-baht condo in Klongtan area of Bangkok. CCTV cameras show the alleged big brother of the four-member of Macao 888 had left on Thursday 2nd and emptied all three safety boxes at his condo.

benz condo — Benz Daemont’s 40-million-baht condo

After that, police carried out raids at 30 spots throughout the kingdom. Thirty three people were arrested and 539 million baht of assets seized.

One suspect, Pol Captain Kunakorn “Bright” Kachornboonthaworn, a youngest brother of Benz Daemon, denies being part of the ring and said he’s not aware that his brother was involved and hasn’t been in contact with him for a long while.

daemon2 — Kunakorn “Bright” Kachornboonthaworn

Kunakorn remains free as not enough evidence have been gathered. Later he resigned from the police by giving reason that he wanted to look after his father.

Macau 888 became news in mid January after famous actress Dew Arisara Thongborisut alerted the public on social media. Dew later claims she was also a victim of physical assault by Benz Daemon.

dew cried — Dew Arisara Thongborisut said she was the victim of domestic violence that Benz Daemon did to her.

Twilight Over Burma: The Memory of an Unforgettable Love Story

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Khaosod English

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14 February 2023, 16:17

The love story between a European woman from Austria and a Shan prince from Southeast Asia, told to the world through the film Twilight over Burma, has come back into the conversation after the death of Inge Sargent, the Austrian Shan princess.

The Irrawaddy, a news magazine covering Myanmar and Southeast Asia, reports the death of Inge Sargent, also known as Sao Nang Thu Sandi, who passed away on 5 February 2023 at her home in Boulder, Colorado, United States. She was born in Kärtnen in Carinthia, Austria, and would have been 91 years old on 23 February.

Local Thai people in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, which are in the north of Thailand and share a border with Myanmar, held a mourning ceremony in honor of “Jao Nang Thusandi”, the queen consort of Hsipaw, a town in Shan State, Myanmar.

Jamtong, a Tai Yai person who has a close relationship with Jao Nang Thusandi’s family, told reporters that many people attended the ceremony, including Tai Yai monks from several temples. Some of those present had to take time off work to attend the ceremony. She said that this phenomenon illustrated the great spirit, adding that Tai Yai people around the world were interested in attending the ceremony but faced a travel barrier.

According to the Royal Project Foundation, the Thai call the people of Shan State “Tai Yai”, while the Shan call themselves “Tai”. People in Myanmar also call the people of Shan State “Shan”.

“Shan State is a state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China to the north, Laos to the east, Thailand to the south and five Burmese administrative divisions to the west,” according to the Shan State Investment Committee (SSIC)

Jaileang, another Tai Yai from La Siew town in northern Shan State, said he felt sorry for Jao Nang Thusandi’s family. He first learned about their story when he was a teenager from his mother. The love story of Jao Nabg Thusandi and the Hsipaw Prince is a well-known story not only in Shan State. He attended the ceremony to pay his last respects to the late Queen Consort of Hsipaw.

“Everyone in Shan State knows the two royals either from a tale told by an older generation or from our history. I do not know her personally, but I want to support the ceremony as much as I can, also to pay my respects and remember her one last time as our Queen. The story of her life and of Prince Hsipaw, from whom she had to part, is known to all. We have all felt the pain,” said Jaileang.

Sao Nang Thu Sandi met and fell in love with Sao Kya Seng in Colorado, United States when the two were studying there. Unaware that he was a prince of Shan State, she married him in 1953.

Sargent was crowned queen when they were back in the Shan State. The royal couple belonged to a new-generation of thinkers who developed the state at that time.

After moving to Shan State, she studied the Tai Yai language and became fluent in it. She also focused on the development of education and health care for the people of Hsipaw City.

However, after General Ne Win and the Myanmar Army took power in 1962, all the princes were imprisoned, including Sao Kya Seng, who was abducted by the Myanmar Army and has disappeared to this day. He was last seen at an army checkpoint near Taunggyi town and no one has seen him since.

Inge Sargent was under house arrest until 1964, when she decided to bring her two daughters from Myanmar to her hometown. She then moved to the USA. Until her retirement, she worked at a high school and founded the organisation Burma Lifeline, which cares for ethnic groups on the borders. She also founded the Sao Thusandi Leadership Award for young people working for civil society, culture, peace and democracy in Shan State.

Inge Sargent6 — The book “Twilight Over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess” has been translated into Thai and printed by Matichon Book Publishing.

According to the Irraway, her second husband Tad, a scientist and expert on Antarctica – and always very supportive of his wife’s work, died a year ago.

Two days after her death, SWAN issued a letter of condolence saying that “she touched many lives in meaningful ways and no one will forget her legacy and the impact she had on them and Shan communities.”

Sao Nang Thu Sandi was born Austrian but, as Aage Krarup-Nielsen wrote more than sixty years ago, people in Hsipaw and elsewhere regarded her as one of their own, and Shans and others will continue to do so. She is gone, but definitely not forgotten.

Siam Paragon invests THB 3,000 million to transform the global landmark to the next level

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Contributor

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14 February 2023, 15:55

Siam Paragon has launched a transformation project to redefine the ‘global legendary landmark in the heart of Bangkok’, taking it to new heights of excellence to meet new lifestyle needs of the future.
Siam Paragon will create a global prototype of a platform where the best of the best from every field can come together and co-create world-class projects and experiences that exceed all expectations.
The transformation will seamlessly bridge the physical world, the digital world, and the Metaverse to present the incredible and exciting lifestyles of the future.
Siam Paragon generated record-high revenue in 2022, with over 50 percent growth from the previous year, surpassing its pre-covid market value in 2019 despite a significantly smaller number of international visitors. Luxury brands also earned the world’s top ranking in sales. The success reinforces Siam Paragon’s strong leadership in the affluent shopper segment.

Bangkok (14 February, 2023) – Siam Paragon, a world-class destination, has officially launched a transformation project to redefine the ‘global landmark in the heart of Bangkok’ and take it new heights of excellence to meet all the lifestyle needs of the future, reinforcing its positioning as one of the most-visited ‘global landmark destinations’.

Commenced towards the end of 2022, the 3,000-million-baht investment project will take 18 months to complete, with a projected completion date in mid-2024. The transformation project is unveiled together with the achievement of the soaring revenue in 2022, which exceeded the target and surpassed the pre-covid sales in 2019, with the luxury segment pushing the jump in sales and achieving world’s top ranking. The roaring success amplifies Siam Paragon’s strong leadership in the high-net-worth shopper segment.

Ms. Caroline Murphy, President – Sales and Business Relations of Siam Piwat Co., Ltd., stated, “Over the past 17 years, Siam Paragon has established itself as a global destination that has earned the top-of-mind position among Thai and international visitors alike. As a vital part of Bangkok’s DNA, Siam Paragon has been meshed into every heartbeat of the metropolis and has breathed vibrancy into the daily life of people in Bangkok. It is also the ultimate microcosm where visitors from across the globe can come and experience the latest lifestyle trends of Bangkokians.”

“Siam Paragon has been a platform for retailers, including luxury brands and local entrepreneurs, to showcase the best of the best. As reception for luxury products has been phenomenal and some of the world’s highest growth in sales has been achieved here, Siam Paragon has established itself as a bona fide destination for luxury items. In addition, many brands have opened pop-up stores in our venue to offer limited collections, thus generating buzz and experience beyond expectations for customers, reinforcing Siam Paragon’s leadership in the affluent customer segment in Thailand. Siam Paragon has also been ranked as the world’s 6th most checked-in destination and the only venue in Thailand and Asia to place on Facebook Review’s list of top-ten global destinations, making it truly a global legendary landmark.”

“Siam Paragon had an exceptional year in 2022, as the revenue not only exceeded the target but showed an astonishing growth of over 50 percent compared to a year earlier and surpassed the pre-Covid-19 figures in 2019 despite the limited presence of international tourists. The leap in sales was driven primarily by the luxury segment, which reported soaring profits and three consecutive years of world-class performance.

This success has led luxury brands to prioritize Thailand as their key target in Southeast Asia and Asia for launching special concept stores or unveiling their latest collections, thus boosting demand for space for additional store locations. Siam Paragon’s new investment plan will enable it to meet this demand and accommodate more luxury brands and new brands out of the over 100 names currently on the waiting list.

Newcomers will include brands that will be making their debut in Thailand and brands that will be available exclusively at Siam Paragon. These factors all reinforce Siam Paragon’s position as the true global ‘luxury destination.’

Ms. Murphy added, “We will build a new global prototype of a platform where the crème de la crème from every field can come together and co-create world-class projects and experiences that exceed all expectations.

This new project is called “The Next Level Evolution,” in which we will create yet another phenomenon in the retail business as we transform Siam Paragon, a world-class landmark in the heart of Bangkok, to redefine excellence and cater to all lifestyle needs of the future. The game-changing transformation of the 500,000 sq.m. destination in the middle of Siam will also place Thailand firmly on the global stage once again and enable it to win over the world.”

Beginning in 2022, Siam Paragon’s ‘Paragon Department Store” has been undergoing a revamp, scheduled to be completed in 2023. Alongside this overhaul, Siam Paragon is investing THB 3,000 billion more in the transformation of the ‘global landmark in the heart of Bangkok’. Renovation has been ongoing in sections since the end of 2022 and is expected to reach completion in the mid of 2024, or 18 months from now.

Vision for the Transformation of Siam Paragon

Ms. Mayuree Chaipromprasith, President of Corporate Affairs and Communications, Siam Piwat Co., Ltd, described the vision for the transformation of Siam Paragon. “We believe in the ecosystem that we have created and in its the boundless potential. Through the collaboration of various industries, we will co-create new phenomena. We are putting away traditional real estate development playbooks.

Siam Paragon will no longer be a shopping center but a global platform where experts from all fields, including architects, engineers, interior designers, art and tech gurus, as well as luxury brands across the world and Thai entrepreneurs can engage in co-creation.

The platform will also seamlessly connect the physical world and the digital world through OneSiam SuperApp and the Metaverse to fulfill lifestyle needs for all visitors and deliver world-class experiences beyond expectations in all dimensions.”

“Siam Paragon is highlighting the idea of co-creation on this platform to bring about sustainable development and business growth. This is where everyone will collaborate to redefine excellence. Many entrepreneurs have already launched highly successful flagship stores, and for this next level, we will work with them to bring to life one-and-only ultimate iconic stores in Thailand.”

“Each day, Siam Paragon welcomes visitors from all over the world. We are placing a strong emphasis on shaping Siam Paragon into an ideal community for citizens of the world. We have been conducting our most in-depth and broadest study on the largest group of customers to obtain insights, which will be utilized to enable us to better resonate with their needs and wants, their passions, and a broad spectrum of interests in order to deliver distinctive and engaging experience.

As part of this major transformation, we will create an immersive community where customers will be a part of this key milestone. We will soon introduce ‘The Wall of Wonders’ campaign, which features a shared community space where locals and international customers can share on interactive walls their ideas and what they would like to see and experience at Siam Paragon. We will integrate those ideas from people from around the globe into our space with cutting-edge technology to cater to each community and all lifestyles in a fascinating way. More details on the ‘Wall of Wonders” campaign will soon be announced,” said Mayuree.

The Pillars of Siam Paragon – The Next Evolution

To rise to new heights of excellence and meet all lifestyle needs of the future, Siam Paragon – The Next Evolution will be built upon five pillars as follows:

Universe of the World’s Excellence

To complete this ultimate transformation, Siam Paragon is relying on co-creation and collaboration with visionaries from every industry to bring about the greatest phenomenon of the 21st century, deliver groundbreaking innovations never before seen in the retail industry, and ultimately elevate Siam Paragon to a global legendary destination, thus setting a new benchmark of excellence.

Gateway to the Next Frontier Where the Digital World Meets the Physical World

Siam Paragon will become a new global prototype of a co-creative platform that seamlessly bridges all the five physical senses with the imaginative power of the digital and virtual world to present lifestyles of the future in a way that goes above and beyond all expectations and deliver physical experiences that mesh perfectly with the eye-popping wonder of the virtual world – a new key magnet that will draw visitors from across the globe to Siam Paragon.

Celebration of Inclusive Luxury

Over the past 17 years of operation, Siam Paragon has established itself as the leader in Thailand’s highest spending consumer segment and as a destination that boasts the most comprehensive range of luxury brands. The new historic transformation of Siam Paragon will redefine luxury for all, regardless of age, gender, or walks of life, across every sphere, from fashion, lifestyle, dining, travel all the way to technology, finance, and other personalized experiences. This will mark the first time ever in the world that everyone can access and experience luxury in every facet of life and reward themselves.

Pioneering Quality Life Experience

As an integral part of this transformation and prototype development for future lifestyles, Siam Paragon will be co-creating a large space with its partners to bring art, technology, and nature into the venue to contribute to a cleaner world, improve energy efficiency, cater to sustainability-minded lifestyles, and ultimately enhance the well-being and the way of life for communities and the world, all this in a way that goes beyond the bounds of imagination. Visitors will be able to spend their time in Siam Paragon as their second home where they can take in nature, in an environment with excellent temperature and hygiene management and one of the best greenhouse gas management systems in Asia.

The Paragon Community of Global Citizens

Siam Paragon strives to rise to new heights and deliver both in-store and digital experience beyond expectations, which will further strengthen Siam Paragon’s capability to expand its customer base to global citizens and achieve sustainable growth. Siam Paragon is creating new ‘cluster’ spaces to offer products, services and activities that serve the needs of different communities. By engaging customers and fostering a sense of ownership in their communities, customers can share ideas and interests, create opportunities, and discover new technologies and business opportunities from whereever they are.

Siam Paragon is also in the process of considering more world-class concepts to feature for the first time in Thailand and the world and concluding all the exciting highlights of Siam Paragon – The Next Evolution.

“Research has shown time and again that Siam Paragon has always been the number one destination for Thai and international visitors and has become a familiar part of the lives of Bangkokians of all generations. Through the long-standing and close relationships with its customers, fostered through billions of visits, Siam Paragon has developed a truly unique character.

Therefore, while we are going ahead with a major transformation to rise to the next level of excellence and meet all lifestyle needs of the future, which is full of promise of so many exciting offerings, we recognize the necessity of preserving our essence, which gives Siam Paragon its distinctive identity and has earned Siam Paragon a special place in the hearts of all visitors that cannot be replaced by any other development project,” concluded Ms. Murphy.

Man Got Married on Valentine’s Day After Walking 1200 km to Meet His Bride

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Khaosod English

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14 February 2023, 13:08

They finally got married on Valentine’s Day.

A 52-year-old man walked a distant of 1,200 kilometres to marry the love he first met online. Suthep Promjit walked from Nakhon Nayok province in central Thailand to Satun province to marry Thanapa Kiew-on, 56, on Saint Valentine’s Day on Tuesday. The journey took a month.

walk to marry5 — Suthep Promjit was on his way.

walk to marry4 — Suthep Promjit took a selfie with his supporters.

The bridegroom arrived a day earlier and during the wedding ceremony today, the local authorities organized a parade including traditional drummers while the bride surprises her future husband by having her best friends all dressed in pink like herself to see if Suthep could identify her as they have never met in real life before until today.

Suthep managed to identify his wife-to-be correctly and when asked by others if Thanapa looks identical to her online photos he said yes.

Suthep, originally from the northeastern province of Yasothon, was given a car by a group of his supporters as a wedding gift. He also said their love mission has just begun. They will take care of each other.

The parents of the bride also wish the newly wed couple a happy life together.

Senator Wanchai Insisted the Power of Senate to Co-Electing PM

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Khaosod English

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14 February 2023, 12:47

Prominent junta-appointed senator Wanchai Sornsiri insisted the power of the senate again when he said on Monday 13th February that majority of the senate may not support the opposition Pheu Thai Party PM candidate Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra after the general election even if the party wins most seats because she’s “immature” and could cause political rift.

“If [Ung Ing] becomes PM the country may not be peaceful even if they manage to get majority of MP seats. The senate may reject… and Pheu Thai may not be able to form a government.” Sornsiri said.

Kittisak Rattanawaraha, another prominent senator also said that Miss Paetongtarn has to adjust her looks to be more mature, because prime minister cannot be childish.

Thai Senate is stacked with members of the armed forces, bureaucrats, and those with close connection to the junta that ruled Thailand from 2014 to 2019. Gen. Prayut’s brother, Preecha Chan-o-cha, also serves as a Senator.

The current constitution gives the Senate and the MPs a role in co-electing a prime minister in parliament. After the previous 2019 general election, the 250-seat Senate overwhelmingly voted for Gen Prayuth to be prime minister.

Anti-government protest leaders said the Upper House, which effectively acts a rubber stamp for the government, is detrimental to the democratic principles and should be removed in the new charter.

Pheu Thai voted on August 27, 2020 that it will not touch the Senate, prompted criticism from the pro-democracy camp, who saw it as a sign that Pheu Thai is wavering in its opposition to the government.

“This charter has been designed to make any amendment very difficult. Rely on reasoning more than emotions. The situation requires us to move step by step. We are aware that those in powers have near absolute power and it would be difficult to have everything at the same time.” A spokesman for the Pheu Thai Party said in that time.

Dubai Boom Sees Russian Cash, High Rents and Reborn Projects

By

Associated Press

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14 February 2023, 11:23

UAE Dubai New Boom Same Worries — Bikers ride along the Dubai Water Canal while passing by an advertising billboard and a residential project in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Fourteen years after a financial crisis nearly brought Dubai to its knees, several major abandoned real estate projects are finally showing signs of life as part of a new economic boom in the city-state.

As with previous upturns in Dubai, war is a driving force. But this time it’s Russian investors fleeing Moscow’s war on Ukraine, rather than people escaping Mideast battlefields.

AP23043298970715 — A woman rides a scooter while passing by the advertising billboards of a new residential project in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

“There’s lots of parts of the world where there are real challenges and people looking for a safe haven,” said Richard Waind, group managing director for Betterhomes, a real estate brokerage in the emirate. “I think that’s a safe haven both for the capital but also for their families.”

While there’s no sign the market could be in similar trouble as in 2009, some concerns have started to surface. Skyrocketing rental costs are worsening a cost-of-living squeeze for the foreign workforce that powers the emirate.

AP23043299356059 — This satellite image provided by Planet Labs PBC shows the manmade Palm Jebel Ali archipelago off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Jan. 16, 2023. (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury is worried about the amount of Russian money flowing into the real estate market of the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates.

“In theory, there should be significant reputational risk with the UAE apparently acting as a willing bridge, enabling Russian oligarchs to use the Emirates as a waystation between the Russian financial system and that of the West,” said Jodi Vittori, a nonresident scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace who has written extensively on Dubai being a money-laundering haven.

“But the reality seems to point otherwise,” she said.

Dubai’s government and the UAE’s Foreign Ministry did not respond to detailed questions from The Associated Press.

AP23043299073586 — Towers in the Dubai Marina district and Jumeirah Lake Towers rise behind the advertising billboards of a new development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

It’s hard to overstate just how much the Emirates has changed over the last half century. Since 1968, the seven sheikdoms that make up the UAE have grown from a British protectorate of some 180,000 people to a federation that’s home to more than 9.2 million.

Government statisticians say 3.5 million people live in Dubai alone, with an additional 1.1 million who temporarily live in the city or commute there for work each day.

Oil, much of it from Abu Dhabi’s vast reserves, fueled the UAE’s initial modernization. After Dubai began allowing foreign ownership of “freehold” properties in 2002, the world’s tallest building, cavernous malls and sprawling subdivisions emerged from what once were uninterrupted stretches of windblown sand dunes.

AP23043299364324 — Workers demolish the abandoned Dubai Pearl high-rise project in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

Real estate now represents some 10% of Dubai’s overall gross domestic product. After a slump due to COVID-19 restrictions, Dubai saw 86,849 residential sales in 2022, beating a previous record of 80,831 set in 2009.

Buyers and renters have filled exclusive neighborhoods such as the Palm Jumeirah, a man-made archipelago in the shape of a palm tree that juts into the Persian Gulf.

The average asking rent for an apartment there is over $67,600 per year, with a villa renting for $276,000 annually, according to real estate firm CBRE. Analysts attribute growth in the luxury market to the wealthy fleeing pandemic restrictions elsewhere.

That pressure has grown even outside the world of the ultra-wealthy. Rents on average across Dubai are up 26.9% year-on-year, even with anti-price-gouging protections. Families living in villas can expect to pay median rents of $76,000 a year.

AP23043299357562 — A construction worker walks through an under-construction building with the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, seen in the distance in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

The sudden increase in rent prompted Gavin Hill, a 34-year-old car salesman from Essex, England, to move with his partner from a villa in the Dubai Hills neighborhood near downtown to a smaller apartment some 20 kilometers (12 miles) south.

“In terms of looking for a new place, previously it was reasonably easy,” said Hill, who has moved four times in the six years he has lived in Dubai. “This time it’s a minefield”

Russian money has helped fuel this.

Betterhomes, which has operated here since 1986, saw Russians lead all other nationalities in purchases by non-residents for the first time last year. Other real estate brokers have also acknowledged anecdotally the influence Russians have had.

“Since the crisis in Eastern Europe, we have seen a lot of Russians, a lot of Ukrainians as well, looking to both move their family and and money out there,” Waind said.

Dubai has a history of seeking a business advantage in crises like the Arab Spring, COVID-19 and now Russia’s war on Ukraine. During the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, its new Jebel Ali port repaired ships damaged by explosions and gunfire in the Persian Gulf. The U.S.-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq saw wealthy émigrés arrive in Dubai and the wider UAE.

AP23043299149213 — A car passes by a giant billboard, advertising a new development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Those booms included what the West would consider dirty money as well. Some of the nearly $1 billion embezzled in the 2010 Kabul Bank scandal in Afghanistan went toward luxury homes on Palm Jumeirah. A cousin of Syrian President Bashar Assad tied to Assad’s sanctioned business dealings also owned property there.

It remains unclear how many Russians have bought in Dubai — and whether the purchases involve people fleeing potential conscription into the Russian army or mass purchases that can be the work of money launderers. Unlike in the U.S., where property records are public, Dubai does not offer an easily accessible database of transactions.

A team from the U.S. Treasury stopped in the UAE on a Mideast tour in January.

A senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that the agency is concerned about the Russian money coming into the Dubai real estate market. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity about discussing sanctions.

Already, the Treasury has issued an alert aimed at U.S. commercial real estate stating that Russian oligarchs and their intermediaries could use “highly complex financing methods and opaque ownership structures” to hide illicit funds.

But it remains unclear what, if any, action Treasury would take, considering the defense and economic ties the U.S. has with the Emirates. A global body focused on fighting money laundering put the UAE on its “gray list” over concerns it isn’t doing enough to stop criminals and militants from hiding wealth there.

Once-abandoned projects that are showing new life include the Dubai Pearl, a planned $4 billion luxury development that was supposed to host multiple hotels and apartments in four, 73-story towers. Those plans collapsed during the 2009 financial crisis, brought on by the Great Recession, that forced Abu Dhabi to provide the city-state a $20 billion bailout.

Demolition crews are now bringing down the concrete husk of the Dubai Pearl, though plans for the site remain unclear.

Plans for the development of Palm Jumeirah’s forgotten twin, the Palm Jebel Ali, are also being relaunched.

One practice that helped fuel Dubai’s 2009 crisis involved speculators buying yet-to-be built properties. “Off-plan” flipping is growing again as initial buyers “are capitalizing on the current market upswing and cashing out with a premium in hand,” local firm Property Monitor said.

That company and others warn that speculative purchasing could lead to another bubble.

“This does suggest a rise in speculative activity, which is a feature of any market that is seeing price rises,” said Scott Livermore, the chief economist at Oxford Economics Middle East.

Hill — the renter from England — would like to buy a place if the market comes down again. But he’s cautious after what he’s seen in this boomtown.

Dubai “can eat people out and spit them out quite quickly,” Hill said. “I’ve seen too many people go crazy and then go bust very, very fast.”

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Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.

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