Hyatt saying hello to Chinese | Bangkok Post: business
Edouard DemptosEdouard Demptos, newly appointed general manager of Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, said the US chain started the scheme at Grand Hyatt Erawan earlier this year. "Hyatt started the programme in Thailand because the country is the No.1 destination for Chinese tourists," Mr Demptos said. In the programme, Grand Hyatt Erawan hired a special team of 10 Chinese speakers headed by a Chinese national. Grand Hyatt Erawan is set to maintain its strength as a venue for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice). "For guests who do not have time to enjoy the locale pre- or post-meeting, Grand Hyatt Erawan can arrange to bring the local experience into the meeting," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 23:26 UTC
Beating back debt beasties | Bangkok Post: business
Moreover, there are severe consequences for defaulting on student loans, including potential lawsuits, asset foreclosure and a bad credit record. The KVC Strong team also took part in the Bank of Thailand's financial planning contest, Fin D, and won the competition. Under the programme, participants are required to report income accounts on a weekly basis via email for five straight weeks. "Hopefully, all students who join the programme will be good borrowers and are willing to repay debt," Mr Thanabut said. This rule was essential for Chorpaka Trisjanmas (nickname Nan), a participant in KVC Strong's financial planning programme.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:52 UTC
Free for all | Bangkok Post: news
What it means to be a writer for − and a reader of − fiction websites like Joylada and Dek-DJoylada's top stories. Each month, 400,000 young novelists create stories on Joylada and 300,000 post their work on Dek-D.With that many writers, they also reach an even larger number of readers. But with dialogue, the Joylada format can make readers get into the stories as well," Chantacha said. Siros Mahawattanaungkoon, 26, regularly reads stories on Joylada and Dek-D, and thinks the chat format can make for good stories. "Some young writers don't have adequate knowledge," said Varoonrak.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:52 UTC
New taxi service for elderly rolled out | Bangkok Post: news
Senior Taxi Thailand founder Rosalie Sanjuan says all drivers get training in special care and even CPR. (FB/SeniorTaxiThailand)Elderly people in Bangkok are being introduced to a new taxi service tailored to match their needs. In October, Ms Rosalie has rolled out Senior Taxi Thailand, a service in which the drivers receive a training course dedicated to the needs of those in their later years. ''Our taxi drivers are taught to do CPR," Ms Rosalie said, referring to a lifesaving technique called cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which is useful in emergency cases like a heart attack. At present, there are 10 specially-trained drivers working for Senior Taxi Thailand.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:18 UTC
SCB cutting spendthrift credit | Bangkok Post: business
SCB has been monitoring just how small and medium-sized businesses have used the loans the bank provided - and is cutting off those who repeatedly misstate the purpose of their borrowing. The bank has instructed relationship managers to monitor SME borrowers' behaviour in using working capital loans and examine whether credit facility draw-downs match the needs of inventory accumulation, the production cycle and sales. SCB initially delegated risk management officials to alert those who misuse loans, and the bank will reduce SMEs' credit lines if they continue to misuse the loans, Mrs Pikun said. "SMEs find that credit lines being offered to them are high because banks are vying to provide loans, so they use the funds for other purposes," she said. She said SCB's SME non-performing loans are expected not to surpass 10% of loans outstanding next year.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:18 UTC
Blood is thicker than water | Bangkok Post: news
The 54-year-old was nabbed by a team led by Pol Col Phumin Phumphanmuang of the Crime Suppression Division (CSD). "I started by asking older police officers and relatives about the case," L/Cpl Atsadawut said. To ensure the arrest of Mr Bunyarit by Dec 2, the young lance corporal went to the CSD for help. The team eventually learned that Mr Bunyarit was living in a village in Chumphon's tambon Song Phi Nong, where he was arrested. While the arrest was made possible by the work of CSD investigators, L/Cpl Atsadawut admitted that luck also played a role.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:18 UTC
Old phones may pose a 'security risk' | Bangkok Post: opinion
To prevent that from happening, the Department of Commerce proposes to severely restrict the export of used electronics. Then and now, developing-country markets for affordable used devices and parts -- working or not -- are what draw e-waste offshore. In Shenzhen, China's high-tech hub, the Huaqiangbei neighbourhood is home to thousands of companies buying and selling secondhand devices and parts, many sourced from the country's recycling zones. Export controls on used electronics weren't among the recommendations, and that's for a good reason. Who, then, would benefit from restrictions on used electronics exports from the US?
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:07 UTC
Opening the gates to salvage tourism | Bangkok Post: business
Chinese arrivals grew 13.3% in the same period, but they dropped 8.8% in the third quarter. The offer will definitely boost tourists from India, Mrs Supawan said, but it could fail to tip the balance for the Chinese. While having an incentive to boost tourist arrivals is better than nothing, such a measure is unlikely to enhance tourist arrivals as much as some might expect, Mrs Supawan said. The THA predicts that the Chinese tourism market will see an uptick next year, especially during the Chinese New year period. But slower economic growth in China and the ongoing Sino-US trade row are complicating factors keeping a lid on Chinese arrivals to Thailand.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:07 UTC
Abhisit vows to address income gap | Bangkok Post: news
Mr Abhisit, speaking after winning the party leadership for the fifth time, also promised to push for elections of provincial governors as part of administrative reforms. Mr Abhisit also pledged tax reform to restore fairness to middle-income families as he says the country's current tax system mainly benefits the rich. Mr Abhisit, a former prime minister, was re-elected leader of the Democrat Party at the party's general assembly Sunday. The re-election of Mr Abhisit was the result of the party's primary vote held on Saturday in which three candidates stood -- Mr Abhisit, former Phitsanulok MP Warong Dechgitvigrom and former deputy party leader Alongkorn Ponlaboot. Mr Abhisit came first with 67,505 votes, followed by Dr Warong who received 57,689 votes and Mr Alongkorn who polled 2,285 votes.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:07 UTC
Law makes PM's return bid trickier | Bangkok Post: news
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, seen here briefing the media after last Tuesday's cabinet meeting will run afoul of his own constitution if he runs for prime minister in the election while also serving as caretaker prime minister. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha cannot canvass for votes if he wants to stage a comeback as a prime ministerial candidate on the ticket of any party, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said. "All he can do is to invite the people to go to the polls," Mr Wissanu said. "Gen Prayut cannot tell the people to vote for a party which is supporting him to be the next prime minister. On Sunday, Suthep Thaugsuban, co-founder of the Action Coalition for Thailand Party (ACT), pressed on with a campaign to recruit party members in Sungai Kolok district of the southern border province of Narathiwat.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:07 UTC
Traffic project tipped to cause chaos | Bangkok Post: news
The overpasses, he said, could be a solution to help address traffic jams at Na Ranong intersection and nearby areas. "The real affected group is cargo trucks that need to take this route to the Klong Toey Port," she said. The construction work will be handled by Sahakarn Wisavakorn, at a cost of 1.34 billion baht. To speed up traffic flow to Klong Toey Port, the new 600m overpass will be built across Na Ranong intersection. He said the construction work will take 900 days because the BMA needed to reduce traffic impact.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:07 UTC
Suu Kyi seeks support over Rakhine crisis | Bangkok Post: opinion
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during a lecture in Singapore in August. Ms Suu Kyi will attend the Asean summits this week in Singapore. (Bloomberg photo)Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi is attending the Asean meetings in Singapore this week, in which she will seek support from her Asian allies in dealing with the country's Rakhine crisis. But in the end, Asean will want to find a compromise that allows them to admonish Myanmar, while maintaining their support. What is needed is a permanent international presence in Rakhine, according to many diplomats based in Yangon.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:07 UTC
Monitors can help election | Bangkok Post: opinion
This government is not the first to reject a chance to welcome election monitors. According to him, the presence of election monitors would mean the country needs help in holding a vote. The purpose and mission of election observers and monitors is exactly the opposite of "helping" with an election. One of the world's most respected election monitors is based in Bangkok, and led by Thais as well as foreigners. Instead of accepting the foreign minister's claim that election monitors are "inappropriate", the government should approve or even invite observers.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 22:07 UTC
US tells Saudi prince Khashoggi killers to be held accountable | Bangkok Post: news
WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday the US will hold accountable all involved in the killing of a dissident Saudi journalist in a wide-ranging telephone call that also took in the conflict in Yemen. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by telephoneJamal Khashoggi, a US resident, was murdered in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on October 2 and the crown prince has been accused of orchestrating the killing, which has strained the decades-old alliance between Washington and Riyadh. But Pompeo and Trump have also both emphasized America's important commercial, strategic and national security relationships with the petro-state. Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post, was critical of Prince Mohammed and the country's intervention in Yemen, a conflict which also came up during the call, said Nauert. Prince Mohammed has overseen Saudi Arabia's Yemen war effort, a highly controversial intervention to bolster President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government in the face of an insurgency by Huthi rebels.
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 21:33 UTC
Verstappen threatens to 'punch' Ocon as Hamilton wins Brazilian GP | Bangkok Post: news
SAO PAULO - Dutch driver Max Verstappen was accused of trying to punch French rival Esteban Ocon after a controversial clash at Sundaya's Brazilian Grand Prix which was won by five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Lewis Hamilton celebrates as a rueful Max Verstappen looks onRed Bull star Verstappen was seen on TV pushing Force India's Ocon three times and accused of threatening to hit him, after the pair had collided on track. Ocon added that his rivalry with Verstappen "goes back a few years" and said he "has always been the same". "On the first lap, I was a lot faster and, on the second lap, I was a lot faster. You can say, 'Max, you should have given room', but we were not racing and you don't expect that."
Source:Bangkok Post
November 11, 2018 20:37 UTC