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Worst Thai Flood in Years Damage Crops, Risk Tourism Revival

(Bloomberg) -- Thailand is battling the worst flooding in years with a large swathe of its crop land inundated by seasonal storms and swollen rivers, threatening to fuel food prices and hinder a nascent tourism recovery.

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Popular tourism destinations such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai, and the country’s northeast have reported flooding of streets this week after heavy rains triggered by typhoon Noru saw water level in the Chao Phraya and Ping rivers rising. An estimated 1.2 million rai (160,000 hectares) of agricultural land was hit by flooding with almost 82,000 houses damaged across 510 districts in 72 provinces, according to official data.

With more storms forecast over the next few weeks, Thai officials are taking steps to minimize further damage to crops and houses with Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha making a trip to flood-hit northeastern provinces on Tuesday to oversee relief efforts. The premier vowed to shield the economy and low income households hit by the floods.

The biggest damage is to rice crop and it comes amid forecasts for smaller harvests from major producers such as India and Pakistan, which was hit by a devastating flood this year. Kasikorn Research Center estimates Thailand’s main rice harvest may drop about 9% because of the flooding, damage to the crop close to the harvest period and high fertilizer prices. Thailand received about 24% above average rainfall between Jan. 1 and Sept. 25, Kasikorn said, citing weather department data.

“The current flood impact will hit households that are already vulnerable due to low purchasing power, high costs of living and high household debt,” Kasikorn said in a report.

Tourism Impact

A lower rice output and damage to vegetable and fruits harvests may also spell bad news for a country that’s battling the highest food inflation in over a decade. The hit to agriculture adds to headwinds to growth such as high fuel and electricity prices and a weak baht, according to Tim Leelahaphan, Bangkok-based economist at Standard Chartered Bank.

“Flood impact could be a tail risk that could emerge in the next quarter or two for Thailand,” Tim said. “We need to monitor whether it will impact manufacturing or result in rate cuts. Any potential impact on tourism, which we hope would recover in the next quarter or two, will be a new lesson for Thailand this time, especially as it is the hope for next year’s economic recovery.”

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is monitoring the impact of floods in some key tourist destinations and it has seen no major disruptions yet, said governor Yuthasak Supasorn.

“Expected arrivals from Europe and the US in the winter season shouldn’t be affected,” Yuthasak said. “There hasn’t been any report about booking cancellations due to the floods.”

Thailand, also a major producer of rubber and sugar, is often ranked among the world’s most vulnerable to climate change. While the country was battered by flooding in 2019, 2017 and 2011, some regions suffered severe droughts in the past decade.

On Tuesday, Bank of Thailand Governor Sethaput Suthiwartnaruep said the revival in tourism will ensure Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy will continue to expand next year. The central bank has previously said the impact of floods needs close monitoring.

(Updates with comments from Prayuth in paragraph four and tourism authority in eighth paragraph.)

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• Environment
• Tourists Caused Too Much Damage to the Beach From Leonardo DiCaprio’s <i>The Beach</i>

Tourists Caused Too Much Damage to the Beach From Leonardo DiCaprio’s The Beach

S ad news for beach lovers everywhere today: the Thai beach made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio in the 2000 Danny Boyle film The Beach is being temporarily shut down, effective June 1, to tourists.

Maya Bay on Ko Phi Phi is a picturesque strip of white sand, backed by dramatic rock cliffs and surrounded by water that shines a turquoise blue. But thanks in part to its starring role in the DiCaprio adventure movie based on the book by Alex Garland, tourists have flocked en masse to the small space for years — and the environmental damage is beginning to show.

“We are a beautiful country but we have to protect our natural resources,” Thon Thamrongnawasawat, an advisor to Thailand’s national parks department, told the BBC. “We have significant information that all the boats that come in and out really impact the coral reef.” He added that it won’t be closed forever — they’re planning on reopening it in the fall — so that’s the good news.

DiCaprio himself is an avowed environmental advocate who has supported organizations that protect coral reefs and work to inhibit damage on natural ecosystems.

This isn’t the first time Maya Bay has struggled with degradation. Back when The Beach was filmed, Thai authorities allowed 20th Century Fox to make some cosmetic adjustments to the landscape — leveling and widening the beach, removing some native plants and adding new ones — that caused something of a controversy at the time.

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Thai efforts to protect location for DiCaprio film The Beach from tourist damage

The Thai beach has played host to Leonardo DiCaprio, but now there is "not a lot of respect" and the majority of coral has died.

By Siobhan Robbins, South East Asia Correspondent

Sunday 4 March 2018 10:38, UK

Tourist boats could be banned from entering the world famous bay where the blockbuster film The Beach was set.

Thai officials are considering enforcing the restriction in Maya Bay between June and September to protect the reef.

Up to 5,000 people a day visit the small stretch of sand on the island of Koh Phi Phi Leh, arriving on hundreds of boats which have damaged the delicate coral.

Tour guide Adam Gardener has lived and worked in the area for three years and says some tourists and operators don't respect the environment.

He told Sky News: "They throw full on trash bags off the boats here sometimes, they bring the boats right in regardless if the boats are knocking corals and destroying everything. There's just not a lot of respect for Koh Phi Phi anymore."

The powder white sands and crystal waters are some of the most famous in the world after being used as the backdrop for Danny Boyle's 2000 film The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Its popularity over the last 18 years has taken its toll on the environment with reports up to 80% of the coral in the bay has died.

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Some has been destroyed by anchors being dropped on it, people standing on it and pollution from sun cream and gasoline.

Tourism is vital to the local economy, more than two million people visited the Koh Phi Phi National Park last year generating millions of pounds.

Every visitor who steps on the beach is charged an entrance fee of 400 Thai baht (£10).

The President of Phi Phi Tourist Association, Watrapol Jantharo, rejected reports that the beach will be totally closed, instead telling Sky News that tourists would have to access it from the other side of the island.

Local conservationist and diver Andrew Hewett supports the plan to restrict access but said the area would need regular breaks if it was to recover.

His team have been growing and replanting coral a few minutes from Maya Bay where the water is now teaming with life.

He warned it was important to ensure the environment at the alternative entrance wasn't also damaged.

"My concern is with the amount of boats in Maya Bay right now is whether there's going to be enough room in this particular bay for that many the boats," he said.

This isn't the first time Thai authorities have restricted access to areas being damaged by tourism.

In 2016, Koh Tachai, an island in the famous Similan national park in southwest Thailand, was closed for an "indefinite period".

Marine experts from Bangkok are due to visit Maya Bay in the coming days before a final decision is announced.

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Thai court orders repair of The Beach location 22 years after filming

Ruling on Maya Bay, on Ko Phi Phi Leh, comes decades after local authorities filed lawsuit over environmental harm

More than two decades after the Hollywood film The Beach was shot at Thailand’s glittering Maya Bay, the kingdom’s supreme court has ordered officials to press ahead with environmental rehabilitation work.

The 2000 adventure drama , starring Leonardo DiCaprio, drew criticism for the impact of the shoot on the once pristine sands of the bay, located on the island of Ko Phi Phi Leh in southern Thailand.

The film-makers planted dozens of coconut trees to give a more “tropical” feel to Maya Bay and were accused of ripping up vegetation growing on sand dunes.

However, the US production studio 20th Century Fox insisted it left the beach exactly as it had found it and that it had removed tonnes of rubbish.

Local authorities filed a civil lawsuit in late 1999 against Thai government agencies, 20th Century Fox and a Thai film coordinator, seeking 100m baht in compensation for environmental damage.

On Tuesday, the supreme court in Bangkok upheld a previous ruling by a civil court that the royal forest department was liable for rehabilitating Maya Bay.

In a final ruling, the supreme court ordered the department to form a committee to make a rehabilitation plan within 30 days.

Environmental campaigners launched two unsuccessful legal challenges to stop filming of the movie, based on Alex Garland’s cult novel, over concerns about ecological damage.

The film put Maya Bay on the map and it fell victim to mass tourism. It was closed in October 2018 to allow it to recover from the impact of a daily influx of 6,000 visitors.

The entire Phi Phi archipelago was forced into a convalescence when the global pandemic hit and visitor numbers dwindled to virtually nil as Thailand imposed tough travel rules.

Maya Bay reopened to tourists at the start of 2022 , but visitor numbers are capped to try to limit ecological damage.

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This Popular Thai Island Is Now Ruined Because of Tourists

Ashley Rossi

Ashley Rossi is always ready for her next trip. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for travel tips, destination ideas, and off the beaten path spots.

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Ashley's stories have been featured online on USA Today, Business Insider, TripAdvisor, Huffington Post, Jetsetter, and Yahoo! Travel, as well as other publications.

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Ultimate Bucket List Experience : "A week in a bamboo beach hut on India's Andaman Islands."

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Due to fears of environmental damage caused by tourists, the popular Thai island, Koh Tachai, will close indefinitely on October 15. All marine national parks are closed in Thailand during monsoon season, from mid May to mid October, which means Koh Tachai is no longer allowing tourists. The island is in the Similan National Park and is a popular spot for both Thai and foreign tourists, especially divers.

The island is closing so that both the island and nearby dive sites can recover from the environmental damage caused by visitors. As Tunya Netithammakul, director general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation told the Bangkok Post , “We have to close it to allow the rehabilitation of the environment both on the island and in the sea without being disturbed by tourism activities before the damage is beyond repair.”

Two deep dive sites within the island chain will remain open, but popular spots Koh Adang, Koh Rawi and Koh Hinngam, as well as diving spots will be closed. Netithammakul warns that some tour operators will still try to sell foreigners packages to the island, so be aware if you’re traveling to Thailand soon.

“A beach on the island can hold up to 70 people. But sometimes the number of tourists was well over 1,000 on the beach, which was already crowded with food stalls and tour boats. This caused the island to quickly deteriorate. If it’s not closed now, we’ll lose Koh Tachai permanently,” Asst. Prof Thon Thamrongnawasawat, deputy dean of the Faculty of Fisheries of Kasetsart University, as told to the  Bangkok Post .

Koh Tachai is just one of many other tourists spots closing its doors to visitors. Here are some other famous sites around the globe that are telling tourists to stay home.

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Cinque Terre, Italy

Italy's Cinque Terre is the latest popular tourist site to limit the number of allowable visitors—in this case, to a maximum of 1.5 million people per year. More than 2.5 million tourists visited last year, mainly because of an increased number of cruises adding the picturesque 14th century fishing villages as a shore excursion. (The villages do not have the infrastructure to handle the dramatic increase in visitors.) Now, once the 1.5 million cap has been reached—which will be tracked by pedometers along the trails—access to the paths between the five villages will be closed.

RELATED: Why You May Not Be Allowed to Visit Italy's Cinque Terre This Year

The small Himalayan country of Bhutan has vowed to stick to quality over quantity when it comes to tourism in this mountain-nestled Buddhist kingdom. The nation charges a minimum tourist fee of $200 per day, with the exception of visitors holding a passport from India, Bangladesh, or the Maldives. All trips must be booked through a local tour operator or international partner, and visas are strictly enforced at entry .

RELATED: 8 Destinations Making Sure Your Future Grandkids Can Visit

Lord Howe Island, Australia

This island off the coast of Australia between Brisbane and Sydney limits daily visitors to just 400 people at any given time. Because of this, it is strongly encouraged to book accommodation before flights. Besides chartering your own boat, flying is the only way to get to the island.

RELATED: 10 Best Places to Go in Australia

Skellig Michael, Ireland

The filming location of the final scene of Star Wars: The Force Awakens caps its visitors at just 180 people per day and is only accessible via boat May to September. Few tours actually stop at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, so make sure you book the right tour if you don't want to just circle the island.

RELATED: Ireland's Most Amazing Secret

All tourism companies are required to have a permit to visit the continent as outlined in the Antarctic Treaty . There is also a limit on shore passengers from cruise ships to 100 at a time, and cruise ships with more than 500 passengers are prohibited from landing sites.

Machu Picchu, Peru

The famous Inca city in Peru caps visitors at 2,500 people per day and requires tickets be purchased in advance, especially during peak season (June to August). You'll need your passport number in order to buy a ticket, which can be purchased through the official Machu Picchu government website .

RELATED: Machu Picchu: How to Plan a Perfect Trip to the Lost City of the Incas

Mogao Grottoes, China

The famous site in Northern China limits the daily number of visitors to 6,000 and, on alternating days during peak season, to 10,000, with tickets needing to be purchased in advance.

RELATED: Walking the Great Wall of China: A Bucket-List Trip You Can Afford

Galapagos, Ecuador

The Galapagos were listed as an endangered UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, with strict tourism restrictions enacted to preserve the island's geography and wildlife. Visitors to any of the protected areas in the Galapagos National Park must be accompanied by a licensed guide. About 97 percent of the islands are designated as protected, and all visits to these sites are coordinated by the park, which also carefully monitors the islands' ecological conditions.

Venice, Italy

Venice is sinking, and seas of tourists aren't helping—at least, that's the message the Italian city seems to send when proposals surface to cap visitor numbers. The city of canals sees upwards of 80,000 tourists some days, in addition to rising sea levels and increased flooding. Some locals in Venice say the tourist traffic is threatening the ports, canals, lagoon, and streets themselves as cruise ships and tour groups take over each summer.

Venice hasn't yet imposed a limit, but the collective groan of its people reverberates in the news each time infrastructure like new rail lines and subways to handle the masses are proposed. "All this speculation is threatening the town and the lagoon itself,"€ the head of heritage group Italia Nostra has said, according to Deutsche Welle News . "They can eat Venice now, or leave it for the future."

RELATED: Best of Venice: Row Like a Venetian

Barcelona, Spain

Spain's most visited city has often sparked talk about separating itself from the rest of the nation (see Catalonia's failed separation referendum ). Barcelona's mayor furthered that sentiment in 2015 when she suggested a tourism cap and halted all hotel licensing for up to a year, until the consequences of further increased tourism could be determined.

The plans were condemned by Barca's tourism minister , who said decreasing tourism would be a huge blow to the region's economy and likened it to Germany abandoning automobile production. There's no legitimate limit imposed yet, but every summer gives rise to the debate once again.

Loved to Death: The Most Overcrowded Tourist Destinations

Santorini, Greece

The whitewashed cliff-side homes of Santorini look like something out of a storybook—but the reality of visiting this scenic Greek island is that it's usually overrun with cruise tourists. Greece's Hellenic Ports Association recently announced it will cap the number of cruise tourists allowed to enter the island at 8,000 per day, a 20 percent reduction from peak days that saw up to 10,000 entries in 2015. Santorini ports were the most trafficked by cruise ships in the country last year, according to University of the Aegean research. Reducing them year by year could "€ensure the best quality services€ and safeguard the environment," according to the association.

Like many dream destinations, Iceland's yearly tourist count is enormous in comparison to its population. Visitor numbers have doubled and even tripled in recent years, thanks in part to an increased presence by low-cost airlines like WOW and Norwegian Air Shuttle. The country's main concern is accommodating all its visitors, and a 2014 study by Iceland's tourism board concluded that it would be wise to limit visitors until infrastructure, mainly its roads, can better handle them all.

More from SmarterTravel: 

• 10 Most Overrated Tourist Traps
• 10 Natural Places You Won’t Believe Are Real
• 6 Countries That Rely on Tourism (And Why That’s Good for Your Wallet)

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Four dead as string of blasts hit Thai tourist resorts, two detained by police

HUA HIN (AFP, REUTERS, THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A string of bomb attacks hit popular tourist towns across Thailand, leaving four dead and many injured, with authorities on Friday (Aug 12) ruling out terrorism despite suspicions that insurgents in the kingdom's deep south are responsible.

Four bombs exploded in the upscale resort of Hua Hin, about 200 km south of Bangkok on Thursday evening and Friday morning, killing two people and wounding at least 24.

Other blasts hit the tourist island of Phuket, a resort town in Phang Nga province, and Surat Thani, a city that is the gateway to islands such as Koh Samui in Thailand's Gulf.

In the normally peaceful resort town of Hua Hin, blood-spattered tourists were given first aid by rescue workers as forensics teams picked through the rubble, with police in Bangkok scrambling to reassure visitors the situation was under control.

There have been no reports of Singaporeans hurt in the incidents, the Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the 11 bombings, which killed four people and wounded several dozens, and the seemingly coordinated attack across five provinces does not match common patterns of violence in the turbulent nation currently under military rule.

Thai police said the blasts were acts of local sabotage and were not linked to any international militant group.

"This is not a terrorist attack. It is just local sabotage that is restricted to limited areas and provinces," national police deputy spokesman Piyapan Pingmuang told reporters in Bangkok. "It is still unclear which group is behind the bombings," the spokesman said, though he dismissed speculation that Muslim rebels waging a rebellion in Thailand's far south were behind the recent attacks.

SEVEN ATTACKS

National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said they had intelligence an attack was imminent, but had no precise information on the location or timing. "We just didn't know which day something would happen," he said.

Since Sunday's referendum on the constitution, there have been attacks in seven provinces using improvised explosive devices and firebombs, Chakthip said.

The devices were similar to those used by separatist insurgents in southern Thailand, but that did not conclusively show they were the perpetrators, he said.

He said he personally believed it was related to the charter referendum because the attacks took place in the provinces that voted to approve the charter. "Those who had different opinions may do it to discredit the image of the country and hurt the tourism industry," he said.

The Bangkok Post reported that police have detained two men for questioning, but there were no further details.

Analysts said Muslim insurgent groups in the south could be behind the attack, but warned that coordinated bombings targeting tourists would mark an unprecedented escalation in a simmering conflict largely contained in the border region.

The two blasts on Friday morning in Hua Hin came after twin explosions on Thursday. One of those was near a bar in a narrow alley in the town late on Thursday, killing one Thai woman and wounding 21 people.

The two explosions in Hua Hin late on Thursday were detonated by a mobile device, police said. The first took place 20 minutes earlier and about 50 metres from the second, but injured nobody.

They were followed by two more explosions on Friday morning that killed another person and left injured and bleeding people lying on pavements as emergency workers rushed to the scene.

Another two blasts struck Friday at Patong Beach on the popular tourist island of Phuket while three more were reported further south - two in the southern town of Surat Thani, killing one, and one more blast in Trang, which also left one person dead.

A Thai police spokesman said a total of 10 foreign tourists were wounded, including two Italians and one Austrian. Embassies in Bangkok said four Dutch and three Germans were also among the wounded.

TRAVEL ADVISORY

Britain and Australia reacted by advising their nationals to avoid public places, while Germany said further attacks may hit Thailand and advised visitors to show "extreme caution".

Thailand's southern tip has been home to a festering insurgency for over a decade, but the violence is largely contained to the border region, which lies far from the site of the recent bombings.

Small bombings are common in the kingdom during periods of heightened political tension but there have been few such incidents in the past year and it is rare for tourists to be targeted.

A police statement ordered officers across the country to "step up security at significant government offices and symbolic places, especially the bus terminals, train stations, and airports, tourist spots, restaurants, and entertainment places where a lot of people are gathering".

QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY

Hua Hin is home to the summer palace of Thailand's revered royal family, and the first blasts came on the eve of Queen Sirikit's 84th birthday.

Junta chief Prayut Chan-o-cha called the bombings an attempt to trigger unrest in a country blighted by a decade-long political crisis.

"The bombs are an attempt to create chaos and confusion," Prayut told reporters in Bangkok. "Why have the bombs occurred as our country is heading towards stability, a better economy and tourism - and who did it? You have to find out," he said.

The first two bombs that went off in Hua Hin on Thursday were hidden in potted plants and exploded within 30 minutes of each other in the bar district of the popular beach town.

"It was very shocking. There was a loud noise and police were running everywhere, it was terrible," said Michael Edwards, an Australian tourist staying in a guest house close to where one of bombs detonated. "I was just surprised that it happened here... now I'm thinking if it's worth staying," he told AFP.

Local media have reported several fires in southern provinces over the past 24 hours but it was not immediately clear if they were connected to the bombings.

Hua Hin is popular with both local and foreign tourists and has for years been favoured as a retreat by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch.

The 88-year-old is currently hospitalised in Bangkok for a number of health issues, a source of anxiety for many Thais and a key factor in the kingdom's past decade of political turmoil. Due to the city's royal connections, "the attack on Hua Hin seems like a direct affront at the Kingdom of Thailand", said Paul Chambers, an expert on the Thai military.

He added that "the culprits are most likely Malay-Muslim insurgent groups fighting the Thai state in the deep south".

Zachary Abuza, an expert on Southeast Asian militant groups, said that while the southern insurgents had not carried out coordinated attacks for years, it was possible "a small cell" was behind this assault.

"Whoever has perpetrated these wants to do serious damage to the Thai economy. That is where the junta is the most vulnerable."

Thailand's ultra-royalist military rulers, who seized power in 2014 after a decade of at times violent political unrest, have touted an increase in stability in the kingdom as a major accomplishment of their rule. The junta on Sunday saw its new version of the constitution approved in a referendum, although the three insurgency-hit provinces rejected the controversial statute.

FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF ERAWAN SHRINE ATTACK

Thailand's reputation as the "Land of Smiles" has suffered in recent years from political unrest and a number of high-profile crimes against foreigners. But tourists continue to flock to its white, sandy beaches.

The kingdom is expecting a record 32 million visitors in 2016 - a bright spot in an otherwise lacklustre economy.

The latest blasts came just days before the first anniversary of the last major attack on tourists in Thailand - an Aug 17 bomb that killed 20 people, mostly ethnic Chinese tourists at a crowded Hindu shrine in Bangkok. Two Uighur men from western China have been accused of the attack and are due to go on trial this month. Both have denied any involvement.

NO REPORTS OF SINGAPOREANS HURT: MFA

Singapore strongly condemned the blasts. "We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

It said that it has contacted most of the registered Singaporeans in the affected areas and verified that they are safe and would continue to contact the remaining registered Singaporeans. There were no reports of Singaporeans directly affected by the attacks so far, the statement said.

The ministry urged Singaporeans in Thailand to stay vigilant and take all necessary precautions for their personal safety, as well as e-Register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/ .

It also advised Singaporeans to stay in touch with their family and friends.

Those in need of urgent consular assistance may contact the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24-hours) at:

Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Thailand 129 South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120 Tel: +66-(2) 348-6700 Duty phone: +66-(81) 844-3580 Fax: +66-(2) 348-6701 Email: [email protected]

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24-hours) Tel: 6379 8800, 6379 8855 Fax: 6476-7302 Email: [email protected]

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As Australia combats mass coral bleaching, this country issues a warning

With australia's great barrier reef undergoing its worst coral-bleaching event on record, one of thailand's top marine experts warns there are no quick fixes..

Thon Thumrongnawasawat, a marine scientist, explained how global bleaching would impact economies, marine ecology and coastal communities around the world. Credit: Supplied/SBS

• Thailand National Park authorities closed Maya Bay – one of the country’s most iconic tourism destinations – for four years to allow for ecological restoration.
• Despite successes, a leading Thai marine expert warns against ineffective short-term solutions.
• The world is currently experiencing its fourth global coral bleaching event.

The 'Phi Phi Model'

Coral reefs and tourism

Coral reefs from Australia to Florida in grip of fourth mass bleaching event, scientists say

Return to paradise? Thailand’s famous beaches improve after tourist bans

Does conservation offer a long-term solution?

Climate change bites Australia

It doesn't matter how hard we try to lock the door after the horse (has bolted); it is not a sustainable solution. We need to target the root cause of the problem. Thon Thumrongnawasawat, marine scientist

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เปิดตลาดเสื้อผ้าแฟชันแบบไทยๆ ในออสเตรเลียกับ พัทธานันท์ ตันสกุลวัฒนา

พรรคร่วมจี้รัฐบาลยกเลิกคำสั่ง 'Direction 99' แทรกแซงการเพิกถอนวีซ่า

รัฐทุ่มงบเกือบหมื่นล้าน ยกเครื่องระบบวีซ่านับแต้มแรงงานทักษะ

ข่าวไทย 6 มิถุนายน 2567: เกาะติดท่าทีก้าวไกลกรณียุบพรรค รับแป้ง นาโหนดกลับไทยขยายผลเครือข่ายยาเสพติดข้ามชาติ

รัฐหนุนโครงการสินเชื่อไม่มีดอกเบี้ย ช่วยบรรเทาวิกฤติเศรษฐกิจ

Rampaging monkey gangs terrorise Thai tourist town as cops arm themselves with slingshots and tranquiliser guns to combat 'dangerous' primates

R ampaging monkey gangs are terrorising a Thai tourist town, causing cops to arm themselves with slingshots and tranquiliser guns to combat the 'dangerous' primates. 

Officers said they have come under attack from aggressive macaques in the town of Lopburi, around 90 miles north of the capital Bangkok, which has become notorious for its out-of-control monkey population.

The local police station has now issued wooden catapults that officers can use to fire at the unruly primates, which often climb over cars and steal food from shops and tourists as well as vandalise property.

Footage shows two police officers riding around Lopburi on a motorcycle, with the one on the back drawing the slingshot and launching small stones at the 'dangerous' primates.

The move comes as Police Major General Apirak Wechkanchana, commander of Lopburi Provincial Police, ordered to establish a special unit to combat aggressive wild monkeys.

General Apirak said: 'I am aware of the potential danger from monkeys. They have started to pose a threat to tourists and locals. The slingshots now being carried by our officers will help to threaten the monkeys when necessary.

'In most cases they only need to use the slingshots as a deterrent, they don't have to use objects to strike the monkeys.'

READ MORE:  Thousands of monkeys terrorise Thai town: Rival gangs battle for supremacy as they compete for food - even climbing on humans and cars - after getting hooked on sugary drinks 

The police chief said officers were equipped with slingshots that the officers could use to scare the monkeys. 

He said they are only allowed to use rocks to fire at the creatures when there are no other ways to control them.

They have also been tasked with preventing the monkeys from stealing or vandalising items.

Staff at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation have also started catching some of the worst monkey offenders and relocating them to temporary shelters.

However, they reportedly had difficulties as the primate 'thugs' were familiar with tranquiliser guns and would scale tall buildings and houses whenever they came near.

Nathi Krutthaka, Conservation Bureau Officer No. 1, said: 'We had to hide our faces and conceal the tranquiliser guns so the monkeys wouldn't see them.'

The team managed to capture the troop's leader, 'Ai Krao', who was infamous among the local vendors and drivers due to its aggressiveness. Officers put it to sleep with a sedative dart to its bottom before hauling it inside a cage.

Authorities said seven monkeys had been captured, apart from the nine others caught a day earlier.

Lopburi has become known in recent years for its out-of-control population monkey population, leading some to like it to an apocalyptic hellscape - with monkeys even commandeering empty buildings.

They were seen engaging in a massive gang fight in the depths of the pandemic when there was a shortage of food. Attacks on cars, homes, market stalls and visitors have become increasingly frequent.

Despite the dangers, locals are keen to keep the monkeys in the town as they prove a popular draw for tourists from around the world who feed them sugary treats.

The Thai government is struggling to control its macaque problem but has taken steps to manage the monkey population across the country, including creating sanctuaries, mass sterilisation programs, educating the public on how to handle the animals properly, and relocating them to more suitable habitats.

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

British tourist ‘in coma’ after being kicked in the head by Thai bar bouncer

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A British tourist is said to be in a coma fighting for his life after a security guard at a bar in Thailand kicked him in the head.

Video shared online shows the brutal attack, which happened on Friday evening at Helicopters Bar in the red light district of Pattaya following a dispute over a drinks bill.

The bouncer, who has apologised for his actions, was working alongside two others when an argument broke out between the bar’s hostess and three British men.

The hostess said the men insulted her when she told them some of their bill hadn’t been paid and refused to hand over any money, saying they were being scammed.

She called security and CCTV shows the tourists settled their bill, but one of them then pushed one of the bouncers, causing a brawl to break out in the street.

Footage shows three bouncers knocking two of the British men to the ground.

One of the tourists is seen lying on the ground while raising his hands pleading for them to stop.

A guard then takes a run-up and kicks the man in the head at full force. The Metro has decided not to show the part where he makes impact.

The victim is seen lifeless on the ground for several minutes and witnesses claimed he was now in a coma in intensive care.

Police said the guards had been warned about their conduct but not arrested as no one had filed a complaint.

Sergeant Major Arthon from the Pattaya City police station said: ‘There’s no case open until they complain. We’ve had a look around but can’t find them.

‘Yes, we’re still checking CCTV to see what happened to them. There are rumours that he is in intensive care but we haven’t heard anything from hospitals.’

The bouncer who kicked the man in the head spoke on video saying: ‘We did not know the amount of the bill that the tourists did not pay. We arrived after being called by a cashier to protect her because she was afraid.

‘I want to apologise to society and Pattaya authorities for overdoing it by continuing to attack the tourists when they were down. I acted out of temper after being attacked first.

‘We work as part of a group of security guards. There are five of us and we are hired by 28 bars on the road.’

Bar hostess Samorn said that the three men had paid two sex workers to drink with them.

She added: ‘Two of the tourists had paid their bills, but another had not and changed his seat several times.

‘I asked them to pay the bill, but the tourist in the white shirt argued that he had already paid. I explained that the money was the payment of someone who had not paid and not his own bill.

‘They insulted me and said the bar was trying to scam them, so I called the security over and told them the tourist would not pay his bill.’

Police Colonel Nawin Thirawit, superintendent of Pattaya Police Station, said that the bouncers’ actions had tarnished the image of Pattaya.

They were invited to the police station and apologised for ‘damaging the image of the country’.

The policeman said: ‘The security guards should have prevented the incident and reported it to the police.

‘Anyone who works in this industry must keep their emotions in check and focus on preventing incidents rather than attacking people.

‘Cases like this can damage the reputation of the city and deter tourists from visiting.’

Helicopter Bar, which is understood to have British owners, did not respond to requests for comment.

Pattaya – once a quiet fishing village – is now known for its resorts, 24-hour clubs and red-light district.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

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Fierce and enraged UK tourist assaulted a Phuket Tuk Tuk driver on Saturday over a fare and change dispute

• May 1, 2024 at 8:28 pm
• by James Morris and Son Nguyen
• in Crime , Living , Personal , Thai World , Thailand
• Tweet Share Share

Outrage in Phuket as UK tourist assaults Tuk Tuk driver over fare dispute. Arrested three days later at a luxury hotel on Ko Phi Phi off Krabi. Violent altercation recorded at length on a video clip sparks another local outcry among a population whose patience is tested.

Another foreign tourist has found himself in extremely hot water in Phuket. On Tuesday, a Thai police task force arrested a visibly distressed 35-year-old UK tourist at a luxury hotel on Ko Phi Phi, off Krabi. Luke Graham was wanted on a warrant issued by Phuket Provincial Court. It came following an assault on a young Tuk Tuk driver in the early hours of Saturday morning. The fracas between the Tuk Tuk driver and the enraged UK tourist was caused by a dispute over payment of the taxi fare. At length, the UK man claimed to have paid ฿1,000 and wanted change, while the Thai man insisted he had only received ฿100.

Another egregious incident involving a Western foreigner has occurred in Phuket.

On Wednesday, 35-year-old UK national Mr Luke Alexander Graham appeared before Phuket Provincial Court. He was charged with assault causing physical and mental harm.

Arrested by police on Ko Phi Phi off Krabi on Tuesday on foot of an arrest warrant issued by Phuket Provincial Court. Rights were read to him in English

Mr Graham was arrested on Tuesday by a team of detectives at his hotel on Phi Phi island in Krabi. The UK tourist appeared shocked and anxious as a senior officer read him the arrest warrant, translated into English, informing him of his rights.

In short, the UK man was taken back to Karon Police Station in Phuket. He later appeared before Phuket Provincial Court and has been remanded in custody.

News of the incident spread rapidly on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday after the brother of the assaulted Tuk Tuk driver posted a video of it online. The incident took place at 4 am approximately in the Karon area of Phuket.

Eventually, the family member encouraged locals in Phuket to share and comment on the incident.

The UK man became violent after insisting he had paid ฿1,000 for his early moring taxi. The Tuk Tuk driver claimed it was only ฿100.

Local people in Phuket, already highly sensitive to farang misbehaviour were incensed that a  hard-working service provider to foreign tourists was abused

By and large, local people were outraged. The sentiment was that a hardworking service provider to wealthy foreign tourists had been set upon. In short, the man had rendered a service at an unseemly time of day and deserved to be paid.

Nonetheless, all he received, according to online comments, was ฿100 and a scary assault.

Certainly, the conclusion of the video shows that the young Thai Tuk Tuk driver was mentally upset after being terrified by the UK man.

At length, the video first shows a fierce UK man arguing with a young Tuk Tuk driver over the payment of a fare.

Mr Graham appears aggressive and certainly under the influence of some intoxicant. Indeed, during the incident, he appeared to be holding a beer bottle.

The British man appeared certain that the Tuk Tuk driver had taken ฿1,000 from him and demanded change. The agreed fare for the trip was ฿400.

Fierce-looking Brit insisted that the driver had taken ฿1,000 from him and his friend. The fare was ฿400 to take the pair from Patong to their Karon hotel

He was travelling with a friend. They had been in the Patong area of Phuket and were to be taken to the Woraburi Hotel in the Karon Sub District of Phuket town.

In turn, the somewhat nervous driver appeared to insist that he had only received ฿100.

‘Give me my ****** money now,’ demanded Mr Graham.

Furthermore, the UK man reached into the Tuk Tuk driver’s cab. At the same time, he slapped the Thai man. The driver has been identified as Mr Abdullah Sasahe. In short, he operates the Tuk Tuk service with his father.

In the course of the heated confrontation, the UK man repeated his demand. ‘Give me the ****** money,’ he is heard saying a number of times.

At one point, he reaches in and appears to grab the young Thai driver by the throat. The Tuk Tuk driver can be heard screaming. Afterwards, he slaps the younger man across the face.

Brit then changed tack. He asked the driver to show him the money he had paid him. However, the Tuk Tuk driver, either too terrified or confused, did not

Finally, Mr Graham changes tack. He asks the Tuk Tuk driver to produce the ฿100 note the driver claims he was paid.

‘Show me what I paid you with,’ he asks. Mr Graham repeats this request two times. However, the Tuk Tuk driver either fails to understand or refuses to cooperate any further with his attacker.

After a final assault with a slap, the UK man appears to relent. ‘****** *****,’ he taunts the Tuk Tuk driver with a vulgar derogatory term.

Meanwhile, he seems to become aware that he has broken the law by assaulting the young Thai. He tells the Tuk Tuk driver that he was lucky to only receive a little slap before further insulting him.

‘A little slap, you ****** *****,’ he said before walking off.

Tuk Tuk driver immediately reported the assault to Karon Police Station and had a checkup at Patong Hospital. Doctors there identified bruising on his face

Following the assault, Mr Abdullah, the taxi driver, went straight to Karon Police Station to report the matter. Subsequently, he attended Patong Hospital for a checkup.

Doctors identified a redness in one of the taxi man’s cheeks, but there were no serious injuries.

The assault and, more significantly, the photos and video footage have inflamed already heightened tensions in Phuket regarding foreign tourists. Currently, businesses and indeed senior officials have expressed unease at the situation.

Certainly, the situation on the island has been tense since the February 24th assault on a Thai female doctor by Swiss business owner Mr Urs Fehr.

Afterwards, there has been a relentless stream of egregious incidents.

These include sexual interference of horses by foreigners living on the island, violent street brawls and public sex displays.

The most recent incident was a foreigner over the weekend who brazenly cut a police chain and padlock on his illegally parked motorbike.

Rising problem in Phuket where local patience is now tested to the limit by the lawlessness of foreigners living there and tourists. Calls for a crackdown

Many observers attribute the deterioration of law and order to the rising number of tourists on the island. In particular, Russian nationals. However, the resort island has a history of anti-foreigner sentiment.

Popular Phuket-based Facebook page attacks foreigners and tourists in Thailand as virus tensions mount

Phuket police promise to charge a foreign man for cutting a chain put on his illegally parked bike

At the beginning of the pandemic in April 2020, a highly popular Facebook page on the island was shuttered after publishing aggressive, xenophobic posts.

Undoubtedly, the government faces a growing challenge in relation to the situation.

Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry of the Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has fiercely called on Phuket officials and law enforcement to get tough with foreigners.

Meanwhile, on a visit to the island two weeks ago, the Prime Minister warned that both Phuket and Thailand did not want foreign tourists who fail to respect Thai law.

Social media, growing cultural differences and hardships of those working in the grass root economy play a part in the rising tension seen first in 2020

However, there may be other factors at play, such as the hardships facing local people in a challenging economy.

In addition, there are also cultural differences which are amplified in today’s social media-driven environment.

Similarly, the culture of younger Western tourists is changing. At the same time, geopolitical fault lines may also be playing a part. Again,  the information age powered by the internet plays its part here.

Over the weekend, public outrage grew over the assault on the Tuk Tuk driver. Karon police stepped up their investigation.

Karon police began an investigation to track down the suspect who was arrested on Phi Phi, off Krabi on Tuesday. Now in the custody of Phuket authorities

Firstly, they discovered that Mr Graham had left his hotel in the area and relocated to Krabi. Police Lieutenant Colonel Aeksak Kwanwan, Inspector (Investigation) at Karon Police Station, applied for and was granted an arrest warrant.

A briefing was given to local media at 1 pm on Tuesday by Police Colonel Khun Det Na Nong Khai, the Superintendent of Karon Police Station. He confirmed the identity of both the attacker and the victim.

Subsequently, a police raiding party on Ko Phi Phi off Krabi arrested Mr Graham at his hotel bedroom on the paradise island.

He is now imprisoned in Phuket as the case against him is processed through the courts. 

Claims and counterclaims as UK man admits assault

A key weakness in Mr Graham’s defence is that he was seen carrying a bottle of alcohol.

At the same time, his claims regarding the fare dispute do not excuse his assault on the young Tuk Tuk driver.

In addition, police sources also note an unfortunate aspect of Mr Graham’s case. In particular, that his friend did not witness him paying over the fare.

On Wednesday, as he was escorted to prison, he expressed remorse for how events unfolded.

In short, the UK man knows he should not have resorted to violence. However, he still insisted that he was right about the payment of the taxi fare.

‘You shouldn’t steal money,’ he said.

Nevertheless, Mr Abdullah counterclaims that Mr Graham failed to pay the ฿400 fare due and attempted to deny him ฿300. In addition, he ended up being violently assaulted.

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Receive all our stories as they come out on telegram here, follow thai examiner here, further reading:.

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About the Author

James Morris and Son Nguyen

James Morris is a pename for an international writer based in Bangkok who works on various international news media. He is a sub editor with the Thai Examiner news website since it began in 2015. Son Nguyen is an international writer and news commentator specialising in Thai news and current affairs. He commenced working with the Thai Examiner News Desk in May 2018.

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Police break up a network that illegally helped foreigners stay in Thailand, arresting dozens

Foreigners, accused of operating a business without a permit, are summoned at Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 31, 2024. Thai police have broken up a large network that illegally helped foreigners, mostly Russians, to stay in Thailand long-term through the use of company nominees or shell companies, officials said Friday. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Foreigners, accused of operating a business without a permit, are summoned at Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 31, 2024. Thai police have broken up a large network that illegally helped foreigners, mostly Russians, to stay in Thailand long-term through the use of company nominees or shell companies, officials said Friday.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

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BANGKOK (AP) — Thai police have broken up a large network that illegally helped foreigners, mostly Russians, to stay in Thailand long-term through the use of company nominees or shell companies, officials said Friday.

Police said a 45-year-old Russian woman who came to Thailand in 2012 operated the scheme with a Thai woman who was listed as an executive or a shareholder of more than 270 companies in the southern province of Phuket.

Foreigners can operate a business in Thailand, but it must be a joint venture with a Thai partner except in specified cases, and they cannot own more than 49% to protect local competitiveness.

The defendants offered a service in which foreigners could be listed as a shareholder of a business with a Thai partner or be employed by a shell company owned by Thais in order to get a work permit, said Puttidej Bunkrapue, commander of the police Economic Crime Suppression Division.

A total of 98 foreigners, including 68 Russians, have been accused of operating businesses without a permit, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a million baht ($27,000) fine, police said. In addition, 37 Thais were accused of offenses related to the network.

Officials said the network is likely to have been in operation since 2016, but there had been a sharp increase in its customers since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

At least 50 of the foreigners have been officially charged as of Friday, said chief investigator Krit Woratat.

Phuket is a major tourist destination and is particularly popular among Russians. Police said more than 90,000 Russians arrived in the province from 2019 to early 2024.

They said there has also been a sharp increase in the number of company registrations by Russians in Phuket. More than 1,600 companies have been registered under Russian names from 2023 to early 2024, compared to approximately 30 companies per year in 2016-2022, they said.

Russians make Thailand a refuge as Ukraine war enters second year

Russians are buying up property in Southeast Asian country to avoid conscription and the economic ravages of the war.

Bangkok/Pattaya, Thailand – Since Russia invaded Ukraine  on February 24, 2022, a growing number of Russians have looked to Thailand as their ticket to a new life.

Tens of thousands of Russians hoping to avoid the threat of conscription and the economic ravages of the war have travelled to the kingdom in the year since the invasion, many of them seeking a new home.

Keep reading

Photos: russia’s silent calls for peace photos: russia’s silent calls for peace, russians who fled war win case to end stay at south korea airport russians who fled war win case to end ..., for many ukrainians, everyday russians are as guilty as putin for many ukrainians, everyday russians ..., ukraine warns it may boycott 2024 olympics if russians take part ukraine warns it may boycott 2024 ....

In Phuket, a popular resort island, Russians are buying off-plan condos with half a million dollars or more to facilitate their relocation or provide a landing pad for a future time when they may feel forced to leave their homeland.

Between November 1, 2022, and January 21, 2023, more than 233,000 Russians arrived in Phuket, according to data from Phuket International Airport, making them the biggest group of visitors by far.

Phuket has long been a favourite escape from the harsh Russian winter but property sales have surged since President Vladimir Putin in September ordered Moscow’s first wartime mobilisation since World War Two, suggesting many arrivals are intent on staying well beyond the length of a typical holiday.

“My clients are mostly young, 30-35… they’re wealthy, high-budget clients,” Sofia Malygaevareal, a real estate agent in Phuket who originally hails from Russia, told Al Jazeera.

“A lot of people have decided to move to Phuket from three to six months… to one year.”

To stay on the idyllic island, Russian arrivals need homes, schools, jobs and visas – which takes time in Thailand, where obtaining long-term residency rights can be difficult to achieve.

For many of the newcomers determined to swap a home on a war footing for a life in the Thai sunshine, money is not a problem. Realtors in Russian-dominated areas of the island say the influx of wealthy visitors, fuelled by the growing realisation the war has no end in sight as it enters its second year, has driven prices up to record levels.

Luxury condos that until recently were available to rent for about $1,000 a month can now go for three times that. Meanwhile, extravagant villas on the market for $6,000 or more are booked out up to a year in advance.

The buyers’ market is similarly red hot. In 2022, Russians bought nearly 40 percent of all condominiums sold to foreigners in Phuket, according to the Thai Real Estate Information Center (REIC). Russians’ purchases amounted to $25m in sales – several times the amount spent by Chinese nationals, the next largest group of buys, according to the REIC.

Some buyers have spent upwards of $500,000 on luxury off-plan homes by the sea, according to local real estate agents.

“The situation has changed at home,” Malygaevareal said, referring to the tough economic conditions in Russia. “People who have money come abroad and are ready to pay money for international school, which costs less than in Moscow.”

A Russian travel agent in Phuket, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, said some Russians have arrived on one-way tickets and tourist visas. “[They] just do not go home… they are here to get away from conscription.”

The mass influx of Russians is also reflected in other popular tourist areas such as Koh Samui, Thailand’s second-biggest island, and the eastern seaboard resort of Pattaya, where there has been a sizeable Russian community concentrated in the beach town of Jomtien for years.

“More Russians have moved to Pattaya since October. They’re mostly young couples who fear for their safety,” Mikhail Ilyin, the head priest of the All Saints Russian Orthodox Church in Pattaya, told Al Jazeera.

But the impact of Putin’s invasion works both ways.

Dar, a Thai masseuse in her 40s, said she left her job at a high-end spa in Moscow as the rouble collapsed and her salary – which was generous by Thai standards – plummeted in value. Dar has found new work in Jomtien, where her rare language skills win over repeat Russian clients.

“The women tell me they are desperate to get their husbands, boyfriends or children to come over here to stay,” she said, asking to be referred to by only her first name. “So they come over first and find houses and try to make visas for their men.”

Visas, though, are not as easy to obtain as they used to be after a major scandal was uncovered in November involving Thai immigration police helping the Chinese mafia bring thousands of people into Thailand through fake work and volunteer schemes.

That means Russians who can afford it are having to apply for expensive property ownership visas known as the “Elite Card”, which allows a long-term stay for a family for approximately $25,000.

“It’s not as easy as they think to do long-term living here,” said IIyin, the priest. “Some are thinking of returning as they run out of options.”

The flow of Russians and Russian money into Thailand is also generating resentment in some quarters.

On Phuket, which was hit especially hard by the collapse of global tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some local tourism businesses have expressed anger about Russians allegedly taking local jobs.

Tourism operators have complained about Russian taxi drivers shuttling their compatriots around the island and leading tour groups around Phuket’s historic Old Town, often without the required permits or visas.

Earlier this month, Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, complained about the prospect of Russians cutting into locals’ livelihoods.

“If it’s true they’re taking our jobs in our own home, we can’t allow this to happen,” Ruktaengam wrote on his Facebook page.

Thai embassy in Moscow issues warning to Thai citizens in Russia

PUBLISHED : 25 Jun 2023 at 09:28

WRITER: Online Reporters

The Thai embassy in Moscow on Saturday issued a warning for Thai citizens to closely monitor the current situation in Russia.

The warning was issued after it was reported Wagner mercenaries had crossed the border from Ukraine  and entered the southern city of Rostov-on-Don. The announcement said local governments in various Russian cities had stepped up security measures, suspended large-scale public gatherings and closed some roads. Thai citizens are advised to closely follow the announcements issued by the local governments. Thai people in Rostov-on-Don, in particular, should follow directions issued by the local government, the embassy said. Those living in other cities should avoid travelling to Rostov-on-Don during this time. Thai people residing in Russia who have not registered their contact details with the embassy for the year 2023 are advised to do so via the link: https://forms.gle/C4CEqMSWxcjZhBqf7 . They are also asked to follow information posted on the embassy's Telegram and Facebook channels. In emergency, they can call the embassy at +79 16939 2155.

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Georgia's controversial, Russia-like "foreign agent" bill becomes law after weeks of protests

Updated on: June 3, 2024 / 10:23 AM EDT / CBS/AP

The speaker of Georgia's parliament said he signed into law Monday a divisive measure that has drawn weeks of protests by critics — at least 20 of whom were arrested, including two U.S. nationals — who say it will curb media freedom and jeopardize the country's chances of joining the European Union.

Speaker Shalva Papuashvili acted after the legislature, controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, overrode an attempted veto of the bill by President Salome Zourabichvili.

Approved by lawmakers last month, the measure requires media, nongovernmental organizations and other nonprofit groups to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.

• What is Georgia's foreign agents" bill all about?

Zourabichvili, who is increasingly at odds with the governing party, had opposed the bill, accusing the Georgian Dream party of jeopardizing Georgia's future and "hindering the path toward becoming a full member of the free and democratic world."

The government argues the law is needed to stem what it deems to be harmful foreign actors trying to destabilize the South Caucasus nation of 3.7 million. Many journalists and activists say its true goal is to stigmatize them and restrict debate ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October.

Opponents have denounced it as " the Russian law " because it resembles measures pushed through by the Kremlin to crack down on independent news media, nonprofits and activists. They say the measure may have been driven by Moscow to thwart Georgia's chances of further integration with the West.

Last year, Zourabichvili told CBS' 60 Minutes that Russia was waging a "hybrid war" on Georgia, using online and televised disinformation campaigns.

When Russia's Vladimir Putin ordered his country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he said he was doing so to, among other things, protect Russians living there. Zourabichvili said she feared he could launch a similar campaign in Georgia, which has become home to 100,000 Russians since the Ukraine war started.

"It's very unnerving when, in your own country, you have people who are talking the language of the enemy and that believe that they're at home," she told 60 Minutes .

President Zourabichvili does not have executive power in Georgia. That lies with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who dismissed the criticism of the new law Monday as "unnecessary emotions that had only an artificial basis."

"Now the law has already come into force and we all have to act pragmatically, with a cool mind and put aside unnecessary emotions," he said.

Over the weekend, the opposition United National Movement said a crowd of masked men attacked its central offices in Tbilisi, smashing windows and damaging property. It alleged the attackers were linked to the ruling party. The Interior Ministry has opened an investigation into the property damage.

The legislation is nearly identical to a measure the ruling party was pressured to withdraw last year after massive street protests. Renewed demonstrations again gripped Georgia as the new bill made its way through parliament this time. Demonstrators scuffled with police, who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.

After signing the bill, Papuashvili reaffirmed that its main purpose was to "increase the resistance of the political, economic and social systems of Georgia to external interference."

"If nongovernmental organizations and mass media want to participate in the decision-making process and influence the life of the Georgian people with funding from foreign governments, they must meet the minimum standard of transparency - the public must know who is behind each actor," he said.

Papuashvili said that once the new law is published on Tuesday, the Justice Ministry will have 60 days to complete the necessary formalities. After that, those affected by the law must register and declare their finances for the past year.

Georgia's Civil Society Foundation, a nongovernment group, said Thursday it was preparing to challenge the legislation in Georgia's constitutional court.

The European Union's foreign policy arm has said adoption of the law "negatively impacts Georgia's progress on the EU path."

The EU offered Georgia candidate status in December, while making it clear that Tbilisi needs to implement key policy recommendations for its membership bid to progress.

Following passage of the bill last month, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that travel sanctions would be imposed on officials "who are responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia." He voiced hope Georgia's government will reverse course and "take steps to move forward with their nation's democratic and Euro-Atlantic aspirations."

The United National Movement describes the law as part of efforts by Georgian Dream to drag the country into Russia's sphere of influence - a claim the ruling party angrily rejects. Georgian Dream was founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister and billionaire who made his fortune in Russia.

Relations between the two countries have often been rocky since Georgia became independent after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.

In 2008, Russia fought a brief war with Georgia, which had made a botched attempt to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Moscow then recognized South Ossetia and another separatist province, Abkhazia, as independent states and strengthened its military presence there. Most of the world considers both regions to be parts of Georgia.

Tbilisi cut diplomatic ties with Moscow, and the status of the regions remains a key irritant even as Russia-Georgia relations have improved in recent years.

• Vladimir Putin
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As Ukraine’s Summer Starts With Blackouts, Worries Over Winter Begin

Recent rolling power outages have raised alarm about what will happen when cold weather arrives and energy consumption goes even higher.

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By Constant Méheut and Oleksandra Mykolyshyn

Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine

Skyscrapers are without electricity up to 12 hours a day. Neighborhoods are filled with the roar of gas generators installed by cafes and restaurants. And at night, streets are plunged into darkness for lack of lighting.

That is the new reality in Ukraine, where the approach of summer has offered no respite for the country’s power grid, but has instead brought a return to the kind of energy crisis experienced during its first winter at war, a year and a half ago.

In recent months, Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s power plants and substations have left the country’s energy infrastructure severely hobbled. To make matters worse, two nuclear power plant units are scheduled for repairs this week, and summer temperatures are expected to prompt people to turn on their air-conditioners.

As a result, the Ukrainian authorities have ordered nationwide rolling blackouts for this week, a more aggressive measure than the regional and irregular power cuts that parts of the country had been experiencing earlier this spring.

Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukraine’s national electricity operator, Ukrenergo, said on Sunday that the power shortage facing the country this week would be “in a rather serious volume.”

Ukrenergo said emergency blackouts were applied in seven of Ukraine’s 24 regions on Tuesday.

While power shortages in the summer can leave people uncomfortably hot in dark apartments, they pose a more deadly risk in the winter.

And already, Ukraine’s widespread blackouts have raised concerns about what will happen when the frigid weather arrives, when the use of heating devices increases the load on the energy system. Experts have warned that power plants have suffered too much damage to be repaired before subzero temperatures set in, around December, which could plunge many people into dangerously cold living conditions.

“The situation is even worst than it was last year,” Olena Lapenko, an energy security expert at DiXi Group, a Ukrainian think tank, said in an interview on Monday, referring to the winter of 2022-2023 during which Russia pummeled Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Ms. Lapenko estimated that even with moderate temperatures and no new Russian attacks on the power grid, Ukraine would be short 1.3 gigawatts, during peak consumption hours this summer. That represents about one tenth of the energy consumption during peak hours.

“Can you imagine what’s going to happen in the winter?” Ms. Lapenko asked.

Russia has targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure before. From October 2022 to March 2023, Moscow pounded it with missiles, disabling half the country’s power grid by November 2022. Residents of Kyiv, the capital, sometimes had to rely on flashlights at night and planned for a possible evacuation of the city.

Ukraine survived the assaults, thanks to both newly delivered Western air defense systems and round-the-clock work by engineers to repair vital equipment.

But Russia’s most recent campaign against the power grid, which started in late March, has been more devastating than before because Moscow has improved its tactics, firing larger and more complex missile barrages that Ukraine’s limited air defenses have struggled to intercept .

Energy experts estimate that Ukraine has lost about half its electricity generation capacity since the beginning of the war. Most of the country’s thermal and hydroelectric power plants have been destroyed, which is posing a major problem because they provide the extra generation capacity needed to meet demand during peak consumption periods.

Olha Buslavets, a former Ukrainian energy minister, said last week that Ukraine is now essentially dependent on its nuclear power plants, which supply the bulk of the country’s electricity but cannot meet peak demand.

DiXi Group says there is not enough time to rebuild sufficient generating capacity before winter sets in. Olena Pavlenko, the head of the think tank, said Ukraine needed spare equipment like transformers to rebuild substations. Kyiv is hoping it can get spare parts from decommissioned thermal power plants in Germany, Ms. Pavlenko said.

One way to help address the problem, Ms. Pavlenko added, would be for the authorities to install gas turbine mobile power plants across the country. But that option could take up to a year.

Ukraine, normally a net exporter of electricity, is now importing record amounts from its neighbors, including Romania, Slovakia and Poland. But Mr. Kudrytskyi, the head of Ukrenergo, said the imports are insufficient to offset the power losses.

That has led Ukrainian authorities to impose scheduled blackouts across the country to try to stabilize the grid. DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private electricity company, has published online timetables to let consumers know when their homes will be cut off from power, though additional emergency blackouts are sometimes required.

On Tuesday, several residents of Kyiv said the scheduled power cuts had forced them to reorganize their daily life. Anna Yatsenko, a 37-year-old film producer and the mother of four children, said that as soon as the power comes back on, she uses her electronic devices to cool her home, and iron and wash clothes.

“My husband gets up and recharges power banks,” Ms. Yatsenko said. “You can’t turn on the kettle. It’s a luxury to use a hair dryer.”

Oleksandr Kharchenko, the head of the Kyiv-based Energy Research Center, said during a news conference on Monday that the power grid would not be fully repaired for at least two years.

“We understand that for the next two years, we need to be prepared for daily outages as a norm, not as a critical situation for us,” Mr. Kharchenko said. “Honestly, all we can do is get used to this as the normal state of affairs.”

Constant Méheut reports on the war in Ukraine, including battlefield developments, attacks on civilian centers and how the war is affecting its people. More about Constant Méheut

Our Coverage of the War in Ukraine

News and Analysis

President Biden asserted that defending democracy  in Ukraine is as vital  as the day that American troops joined the allies on D-Day to begin rescuing Europe from Hitler, hours after apologizing to President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine for the delay in military aid.

President Vladimir Putin of Russia warned that Western nations supplying Ukraine with long-range missiles and allowing them to be used to attack inside Russia could prompt Moscow to reciprocate against Western targets .

The decision by the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia  with American-made weapons fulfills a long-held wish by officials in Kyiv  that they claimed was essential to level the playing field.

Zelensky Interview: In an interview with The New York Times, Zelensky challenged the West  over its reluctance to take bolder action.

Tug of War:  Fueled in part by the Ukraine war, tensions have been mounting in former Soviet states like Georgia and Moldova , pitting those favoring closer relations with Russia against those orientated more toward Europe.

Fleeing a War Zone: A 98-year-old Ukrainian grandmother stumbled past corpses and bomb craters  to escape Russia’s attacks.

How We Verify Our Reporting

Our team of visual journalists analyzes satellite images, photographs , videos and radio transmissions  to independently confirm troop movements and other details.

We monitor and authenticate reports on social media, corroborating these with eyewitness accounts and interviews. Read more about our reporting efforts .