Chinese scour Thailand for homes, looking to offset risks after pandemic

Shanghai resident Daniel Bian drank in the sweeping views over the Thai capital as he lay on a deckchair beside a swimming pool on the 19th floor of a luxury condominium.

"I feel alive. I feel free," said an excited Bian, dapper in tinted sunglasses, flat-topped navy blue hat and a wraparound tunic cinched at the waist, his hair hanging loosely to his shoulders. "This is my dream."

Cooped up in China for three years under some of the world's toughest curbs against COVID-19, Bian is among a flood of mainland Chinese hunting for property buys in the southeast Asian nation since Beijing opened its borders this year.

Many Chinese are eager to invest in a residence overseas, keen for a safety net in case of a similar disease outbreak, and also to hedge against economic risks at home.

Thailand was the most popular outbound destination for Chinese travelers during the May labour day holiday, data from website Trip.com showed, followed by Japan and South Korea.

And the Southeast Asian nation's good international schools and quality medical facilities are drawing increasing numbers keen to acquire a second home.

Thailand expects at least 5 million Chinese visitors this year, some set to buy property, although the figure is still a far cry from the era before COVID, when they made up nearly a third of the 40 million arrivals.

"There is definitely demand from China for properties in Thailand," said Mesak Chunharakchot, the president of the Thai Real Estate Association.

Topping buyers' lists are locations in major cities such as the capital, Bangkok, along with Chiang Mai in the mountainous north, the east coast beach resort of Pattaya and the northeastern region of Isan, he added.

"Chinese are buying houses, sending their children to international schools and having their parents come stay in Thailand to take care of the grandkids."

Nearly 270,000 Chinese tourists visited Thailand in March, government data shows, a three-year high, though well below the figure of 985,227 in March 2019, before the pandemic took hold.

Daniel Bian, a Chinese potential property buyer from Shanghai, visits a luxury condominium in Bangkok, Thailand, April 20, 2023. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

The share of Chinese students at Singapore International School Bangkok (SISB.BK) rose to 12% to 13% early this year, or 400 from a student body of 3,100 on four campuses, outstripping the figure of 6% during pre-pandemic 2019.

"In China, when things are closed - it's overnight, nobody can go out," the school's chief executive, Kelvin Koh, told Reuters. "This affected the behaviour of Chinese families."

Despite Thai rules that limit foreign ownership to just 49% of the units in any condominium development, prospective buyers are pouring in, bringing business to real estate agents who target Chinese buyers.

One such agent is Owen Zhu, who escorted Bian, 50, and his 70-year-old mother, fashionable in close-fitting white dress topped off with matching hat and veil, through viewings of three high-end apartments in Bangkok during a day-long property tour.

"It has changed a lot after the pandemic. Most of the Chinese choose to buy luxury apartments to live in," said Zhu.

Many clients who earlier bought for investment purposes have now zeroed in on property typically costing more than 2 million yuan ($290,000), he added.

"The budget can only buy a simple home in China's first-tier cities, and its location might not be good," Zhu said.

"But with that money they can buy a luxury apartment in the heart of Bangkok. Therefore some would sell one of the houses in China and buy a property here for retirement."

Bian, who organises cultural exchanges between China and other countries, also sees fewer constraints in Thailand.

"The freedom to enter or leave the country, to travel back and forth. As well as the freedom of society, and life. Freedom is very important," Bian said.

($1=6.9110 Chinese yuan renminbi)

Driver arrested after 7, including migrants, killed in Brownsville, Texas

Law enforcement officers investigate the scene after a deadly incident where a car ran into pedestrians near Ozanam Center, a shelter for migrants and homeless, in Brownsville, Texas, U.S. May 7, 2023. REUTERS/John Faulk

At least seven pedestrians were killed and several others injured on Sunday when an SUV mowed down people near a homeless shelter that attends to migrants in Brownsville, Texas, police said.

The male driver was in custody, Lieutenant Martin Sandoval of the Brownsville Police Department said, adding he was charged with reckless driving and could face additional charges.

Sandoval said the victims in the morning crash were waiting at a bus stop near Ozanam Center, a shelter for the homeless used by migrants. He said some migrants were among the dead.

"We are doing an investigation in forms of intoxication to see if he was intoxicated at the time of the accident," said Sandoval on Fox News.

It was not clear if the driver had crashed into the group intentionally or lost control of the vehicle, Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. of Cameron County was quoted as telling the New York Times.

There no immediate details on how many people were injured or their condition.

The city of Brownsville, on the border with Mexico, is one of the places expecting an influx of migrants when COVID-era restrictions under Title 42 expire on Thursday.

A video circulating online purporting to show the crash shows a speeding SUV plowing into a row of people sitting on the curb. A second video of the aftermath appears to show victims lying on the ground, some bloodied and writhing, while others lay motionless.

We were not able to independently verify the authenticity of the videos.

The driver, identified as a Hispanic man, is being "uncooperative" with authorities, according to Sandoval. He has given authorities multiple names, and police have had to fingerprint him in hopes of finding his identity -- which takes more time, Sandoval said.

Authorities have a blood sample from the driver and a toxicology test will be ordered, Sandoval said. It's unclear how long it will take for authorities to get those results, he said.

Brownsville police are investigating with the help of Border Patrol, he added.

Sandoval said authorities are still investigating whether the crash was intentional or accidental. He said witnesses described seeing the driver ignore a red light, drive up on a curb and run over a group of people waiting at the bus stop.

The shelter has been housing immigrants while they wait for more permanent housing, he said.

Brownsville is located on the southern tip of Texas, just across the Rio Grande River. The city's population is nearly 95% Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2022 census.

Brownsville declared a state of emergency after receiving an influx of thousands of migrants, many from Venezuela, in the past several weeks, CNN media previously reported.

The crash happened just days before a Trump-era immigration restriction dubbed Title 42 is set to expire. The pandemic-era policy allowed immigration agents to swiftly return migrants to their home countries. Officials have predicted a rise in immigration in coming weeks when the restrictions are lifted Thursday.

Shelter director says surveillance footage captured horrific crash Victor Maldonado, the director of the Ozanam Center, told CNN that about 20 to 25 migrants were sitting on the curb waiting for a bus across the street from the shelter. He said surveillance video captured the deadly wreck with footage showing a vehicle driving very quickly, crashing about 30 feet from where the migrants were sitting and then losing control.

Police took Maldonado's copy of the surveillance video, he said.

The migrants were from Venezuela and had arrived at the shelter about two or three days ago, Maldonado said.

Maldonado said after the crash, he and a staff member at the shelter ran outside to find a very graphic scene, with body parts spread across the area.

"I've got a staff [member] who is in shock," Maldonado said, adding that he, too, was in shock

Bus Enters Abyss In Guci Tegal, Police Investigate Alleged Children The Handbreak Prison

The chronology of the parked tourism bus suddenly plunged into the river in the tourist area of an jars in Tegal Regency, Central Java, Sunday afternoon, May 7, 2023, is still speculation. The police also investigated the alleged child who played and accidentally took off the handbrake.

A passenger named Muhammad Alwi (52) revealed that the bus was parked in a condition where the engine was on and the car was on the brakes. At that time the passengers had not fully boarded the bus because at that time it was just preparation to return to Tangerang.

However, he saw leaving the bus while heating the engine to return to Tangerang. "At the time of the incident I was behind the bus and the bus was braked, including blocking the bus tires," he said.

The bus suddenly plunged into the river which was right under the parking area until the final position rolled over on the river. According to witnesses, at that time some of the passengers were about twenty people already on the bus.

The police tell the chronology accident the bus fell into the river in the tourist area JarTegal, Central Java, on Sunday morning, May 7.

The bus was carrying a group of passengers originating from Jakarta.

Central Java Regional Police Traffic Director, Kombes Pol Agus Suryo, said the group was staying at the Guci tourist area and wanted to travel home in the morning.

Agus said the driver or kernet managed to start the bus engine.

The bus was also blocked because the road contour went down. Not all passengers got on the bus when the unfortunate incident occurred.

“When they wanted to return, several passengers had already gotten into the car and then turned on the car, then the brakes were working or not working, of course in the investigation process, they were blocked. Then they were left behind, the position of the bus was blocked, the driver and the driver were left. Then he drove without the driver, he continued to enter into the abyss,” Agus told CNNIndonesia TV, Sunday (7/5).

Two passenger was reported dead, while the other was injured in the incident.

Agus stated that his party immediately coordinated with a number of related parties after receiving the report. The passengers were rushed to the nearest health center to be referred to the Hospital (RS) in Tegal.

“Indeed, while we rushed to the nearest health center, so at that time there were already two ambulances. Later they will also be sent from [Polres] We will immediately evacuate Slawi from the puskesmas and we will take him to the hospital,” he added.

Agus added that currently his party is conducting a crime scene (TKP) process. In parallel, the bus driver was also secured for examination.

Bus masuk jurang ..
Minggu 7 mei 2023. Wilayah obyek wisata guci tegal....
Kejadian sekitar pkul 11 siang...
Sllu ttap waspada dalam berkendara... 💪💪💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/C9Br0CvYeN

— langitan99 (@langitan99) May 7, 2023

“We are securing the driver, later we will ask for his statement, events and chronology, of course also what kind of accountability,” said Agus.

“This is still processing the TKP. Our main priority is securing the victim, then we will evacuate, then we will carry out investigations and investigations as well,” he concluded.

Initially, there was one victim who died in this accident, namely Maja (58).

Maja’s body was taken by ambulance from Dr. Soeselo Slawi Hospital, Tegal Regency, Central Java, to the funeral home in Serpong.

South Tangerang Mayor Benyamin Davnie and Tegal Regent Umi Azizah let go of the ambulance.

“The bodies were brought home for burial, while those who still needed treatment, we handed them over here,” said Benyamin, who immediately left for Tegal after receiving news that the bus of pilgrims from Serpong had an accident.

Meanwhile, Maja and his wife joined this pilgrimage group. Maja was declared dead after receiving help at a health center in Tegal.

The victim’s daughter, Linda (33), admitted that she received news that her father had died at 09.30 WIB.

“(Received the news that my father was gone) around 09.30 WIB. Thank God I was aware at that time,” said Linda at the funeral home, Sunday on May 7, 2023.

Maja’s body arrived at the funeral home on Monday morning, May 8,2023. The body was then immediately washed and buried on the spot.

Meanwhile, the victim named Ibin breathed his last on Monday morning.

Deputy Mayor of South Tangerang, Pilar Saga Ichsan said, Ibin, as the victim of serious injuries, died at around 02.00 WIB.

“The information we just got, on behalf of Mr. Ibin, died around 02.00 WIB,” said Pilar.

Pilar said, Ibin had received treatment at Dr Soeselo Hospital. Ibin’s body is currently being delivered to Serpong, to be buried at the funeral home.

The Mayor of South Tangerang, Benyamin Davnie, visited the victims of a pilgrim bus accident that fell into the river at the Guci Tourism Object, who are being treated at RSUD dr. Soeselo Slawi, Tegal Regency, on Sunday Evening, May 7, 2023.

Apart from the death toll, currently there are two critical victims being treated at Dr Soeselo Slawi Hospital.

“Two injured victims are still critical and are being treated in the ICU,” said Mayor Benyamin Davnie.

Meanwhile, 23 victims who suffered minor, moderate and severe injuries have been brought to South Tangerang. The 23 victims were treated at two hospitals in South Tangerang.

They were taken using dozens of ambulances that had been prepared by the South Tangerang City Government.

Pilar Saga said, 11 victims with moderate-severe injuries would be treated at the South Tangerang General Hospital, while the rest who suffered minor injuries would be treated at the North Serpong Regional Hospital.

“Because (at the South Tangerang Hospital) the equipment and health workers are more complete,” said Pilar Saga.

Testimony of surviving bus passengers

One of the pilgrims who survived, Herman (40), said dozens of passengers panicked and screamed hysterically when the parked bus suddenly started without a driver and a driver in it.

“I was in the car, seat number 4. My wife and I. More or less 45 people have entered,” said Herman at the emergency room of Dr. Soeselo Slawi Hospital, Sunday afternoon.

Herman said, after the bus was started, the doors immediately closed.

“When it was turned on, the door was closed, the car immediately went down by itself. It hit a river rock or barrier,” said Herman.

“(All) people have all made istighfar, Allahu Akbar, panicked,” he added.

Herman at that time immediately embraced his wife and cornered himself into the passenger seat.

“Thank God I’m safe. My wife is also healthy,” said Herman.

Police investigate cause of accident The Tegal Police is currently

investigating the cause of the pilgrim bus falling into the river.

“The cause is still being sought, whether it was negligence, intentionality, or vehicle factors, including the condition factor due to the decreased location,” said Tegal Police Chief AKBP Mochammad Sajarod Zakun.

Sajarod said that his party received information that there were small children playing on the bus and had time to apply the bus’ handbrake.

“We are currently investigating this information, is it true or not that a small child used the handbrake, because the bus was still downstairs and had not been evacuated, still waiting for the crane to lift it,” said Sajarod.

Sajarod said that the results of the preliminary investigation found that the bus slid about 100 meters from the parking lot and fell into the river as deep as five meters from the road.

“Initially the bus parked in the Guci parking area. It was blocked and stopped using the handbrake, unable to move,” said Sajarod.

Klasemen Sementara SEA Games 2023, Indonesia Lampaui Malaysia

Foto: Atlet marathon putri Indonesia Odekta Elvina Naibaho usai meraih medali emas dalam SEA Games 2023 di Kamboja, Sabtu (6/5/2023). (REUTERS/Jeremy Lee)

Hari kedua kompetisi olahraga se-Asia Tenggara SEA Games 2023 digelar pada hari Sabtu, 06/05/2023 di Kamboja. Sejauh ini, kontingen Indonesia menempati posisi kedua dalam klasemen perolehan medali. Hanya kalah dari tuan rumah, Kamboja.

Tim merah-putih sejauh ini telah mengumpulkan 27 medali, dengan raihan delapan medali emas dari empat cabang berbeda, seperti dikutip dari CNN.

Tiga dari delapan medali emas Indonesia datang dari cabang olahraga atletik. Ketiga emas tersebut didapat oleh Agus Prayogo dari nomor maraton putra, Odekta Elvina dari nomor maraton putri, dan Hendro dari nomor 20 km jalan cepat.

Atlet dari cabang olahraga lain yang juga menyumbang emas adalah Feri Yudoyono dari nomor atlet sepeda gunung putra dan Sayu Bella Sukma Dewi dari atlet sepeda gunung putri

Selain itu atlet karate putra Indonesia Ahmad Zigi Zaresta Yuda juga berhasil menyumbang medali emas. Kemudian dari cabor Triathlon, atlet putra Rashif Amila Yaqin juga meraih medali emas dan atlet putri vovinam Indonesia Manik Trisna Dewi Wetan juga sukses menyumbang medali emas.

Kontingen Indonesia tetap berada di peringkat kedua klasemen medali SEA Games 2023 hingga Minggu malam, 07/05/2023. Berikut klasemen medali SEA Games 2023 berdasarkan rilis Komite Olimpiade (NOC) Indonesia pada hari Minggu malam, 07/05/2023, pukul 23.00 WIB.

Indonesia berhasil menambah delapan medali emas, tiga medali perak, dan 17 medali perunggu pada pertandingan SEA Games 2023 yang digelar pada Minggu, 07/05/2023.

Hasil tersebut membuat Indonesia tetap berada di posisi kedua membuntuti Kamboja yang berada di urutan pertama.

Kamboja sendiri berhasil menambah 10 medali emas, 10 medali perak, dan 10 medali perunggu pada pertandingan SEA Games 2023, Minggu (7/5).

Kini Kamboja memimpin klasemen sementara perolehan medali SEA Games 2023 dengan koleksi 29 medali emas, 21 perak, dan 21 perunggu.

Sementara di posisi ketiga kini ditempati Vietnam. Vietnam tampil gemilang dengan menambah sembilan medali emas, delapan medali perak, dan delapan medali perunggu

Kini Vietnam berada di peringkat ketiga dengan mengemas 15 medali emas, 19 medali perak, dan 27 medali perunggu. Di bawah Vietnam ada Thailand yang mengemas 15 medali emas, 17 medali perak, dan 26 medali perunggu.

Klasemen Medali SEA Games 2023 hingga hari Sabtu malam, 06-Mei-2002

No	Negara	Emas	Perak	Perunggu	Jumlah
1	Kamboja	19	11	11	41
2	Indonesia	8	7	12	27
3	Thailand	7	10	16	33
4	Filipina	7	10	13	30
5	Vietnam	6	11	19	36
6	Singapura	5	2	3	10
7	Myanmar	3	0	11	14
8	Laos	2	4	7	13
9	Malaysia	2	2	9	13
10	Brunei Darussalam	0	0	1	1
11	Timor Leste	0	0	1	1

Watch Russian Su-25 Aircraft Destroy Ukrainian Armored Vehicles

The Su-25 is a ground-attack aircraft that is mainly used for close air support, counter-insurgency, and air interdiction operations. The aircraft is heavily armored, making it resistant to ground fire, and can carry a wide range of weapons, including bombs, missiles, and a 30mm cannon.

The Russian Defense Ministry has released a video of Su-25 attack aircraft destroying camouflaged fortified field positions and armored vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the special military operation.

The ministry added that the Su-25s carried out missile strikes, performed a maneuver by releasing decoy flares, after which they returned to their departure airfield.

Kiev Loses Over 340 Soldiers, Mercenaries in Donetsk Direction in Past 24 Hours - Moscow

The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 340 soldiers and mercenaries, as well as 13 units of military equipment in the Donetsk direction in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

"In the past 24 hours, over 340 Ukrainian soldiers and mercenaries, two armored fighting vehicles, eight cars and a D-20 howitzer were eliminated in the Donetsk direction," the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Earlier in the day, the press office of the Vostok battalion said that Russian kamikaze drone Lancet has destroyed US air defense system Avenger intended for the protection from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the special operation zone.

Russian military suppresses 22 Ukrainian drones over Black Sea last night

The Russian military suppressed and destroyed 22 Ukrainian drones over the Black Sea last night, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday.

©Sergey Malgavko/TASS

"Air defenses detected 22 Ukrainian attack unmanned aerial vehicles over the Black Sea last night. All the drones were suppressed by electronic warfare and destroyed by missile systems," he said.