#1 Don’t go chasin’ planes no more!
Where: Mai Khao Beach, Phuket
What: Phuket International Airport is sick and tired of people taking photos with low-flying planes as they try to land at the airport. Airport officials have concluded that the photos being taken from Mai Khao Beach as planes land are distracting pilots from doing their job. As a result, authorities are developing a new safety zone near the runway so that tourists can no longer get close enough to get the coveted photos.
Fines for those who defy the new safety zone range between 40,000 baht, a jail sentence of up to 20 years, and the death penalty(!).
Read also: Girl’s guide: Planning a weekend in Phuket
#2 Calculator bits found in hot cross buns
Where: Adelaide, Australia
What: We know that microplastics is a problem with our food. What we didn’t realise was that calculators might be a problem in our food too! A favourite snack of Commonwealthers during the Easter Holidays had to be pulled off the shelves in Australia after an unsuspecting customer discovered plastic bits in their buns. It was later determined that the plastic came from a calculator. Pieces are slowly being returned to the distributor; however, at last count, a battery is still missing.
Be careful about what you eat this Easter!
Read also: Creating a Plastic-less World with Bye Bye Plastic Bags’ Melati and Isabel Wijsen
#3 China don’t want none of your bad behaviour
Where: Beijing Parks
What: In time for the Qingming Festival aka Tomb Sweeping Day, tourism authorities in Beijing are looking to create a list of unruly visitors and blacklist them from entering certain areas around the city. Through facial recognition technology and artificial intelligence, not only will bad citizens be kept out of certain areas, but authorities will be able to monitor guests and keep note of who is causing problems.
Previous examples of bad behaviour include climbing trees, picking flowers, fishing in lakes and selling items privately in the park.
#4 How would you like to be a Hunger Games-style Game Maker?
Where: An unnamed private island
What: Proving that the super wealthy are not like the rest of us, some secret millionaire has decided to create a three-day, 100-person battle royale event where the winner receives a £100,000 prize. Think The Hunger Games, except no one dies. Said millionaire is offering up a £45,000, six-week contract to an individual who can help design the arena on a private island. Think you have what it takes? You can apply for the role here.
May the odds be ever in your favour.
