Major to launch low-rise projects aimed at the rich
Major to launch low-rise projects aimed at the richSET-listed developer Major Development Plc plans to launch low-rise housing projects in the super-luxury segment this year as high net worth Thais are still spending despite the virus crisis. The Ari plot is slated for July 18 with eight units priced between 62 and 85 million baht. "It is not the right time to launch new condo projects, so we delayed two projects worth a combined 9 billion baht to launch next year from the second half this year," Ms Petrada said. Revenue from real estate was 1.82 billion baht, up 41% year-on-year, while the debt-to-equity ratio fell from 2.5 in 2019 to lower than 2 times. It expects flat revenue or slightly higher than last year, when it posted 6.28 billion baht.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 16, 2020 00:00 UTC
A place where time stands still
From Samsen to Si Yan and Bang Krabue, you’ll find decades-old homes from different architectural styles in various neighbourhoods. Si Yan, Samsen and Bang Krabue overlap traditional zoning practices as there is no official demarcation. Hope you now have some idea where Samsen, Si Yan and Bang Krabue are located. Some of the most prominent, such as Wat Ratchaphatikaram, Wat Bot Samsen, Wat Sawat Wari and Wat Amphawan are featured in this piece. With so much good and inexpensive food, Si Yan is an ideal place to start your tour of Dusit district.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 23:32 UTC
FTI: Tyre probe stems from spat
Kriangkrai Tiannukul, FTI vice-chairman, believes the latest probe is related to the trade war. "The US is watching this movement and allegedly trying to use a trade barrier on Chinese products," Mr Kriangkrai said. The 2019 imports of PVLT tyres from Thailand were valued at $1.96 billion. The FTI said the US will start investigating this case on July 26 and those countries will be allowed to clarify their allegations. The FTI said Chinese companies use Thailand as an export base for products ranging from tyres, processed food and other rubber products.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 23:15 UTC
Infection keeps visitors from Rayong
Infection keeps visitors from RayongSaeng Chan Beach in Rayong faces a tourist drought. Arnun ChonmahatrakoolTourism in the eastern region of the country has been slowed by local panic over a new uncontrolled case of infection in Rayong, with operators asking the government to take serious action to stop further damage. Despite a stagnant tourist market, many hotels in Chon Buri reopened after the cash aid from the Social Security Fund expired in June. "The new case in the province sparked concern over the situation in Rayong and nearby provinces," he said. To build confidence, the government should encourage government officers to hold meetings in Rayong and other nearby provinces when the area is clear from panic, he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 23:15 UTC
Govt open to political amnesty
Govt open to political amnestyA suggestion to grant an amnesty to political offenders in the colour-coded conflicts "might warrant serious attention if it is properly submitted to the government", Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam says. Mr Kamnoon said the key to dismantling the political and social divides was for offenders charged for instigating political unrest and protests to be forgiven under the law. His proposal calls for an amnesty law to be enacted to absolve offences which occurred as a result of political protests in the past 15 years. The beneficiaries would be everyone "no matter what political shirts they wear". "The opposition is ready to support the proposed amnesty for everyone wearing red or yellow shirts.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
PM's green policies a boon to the grassroots
PM's green policies a boon to the grassrootsPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha looks at exhibitions at a forum on bio, circular and green economies in Nonthaburi on Wednesday. Pattarapong ChatpattarasillThe government is returning to a secure and sustainable economy through the adoption of green economic policies which benefit grassroots communities, according Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The work will be spearheaded by the BCG model which stresses the forging of economic security in grassroots communities. Gen Prayut said he believed the BCG model would lead to sustainable economic development and pull the country out of the middle-income trap. "The key here is to reinforce economic strength from within and enable the grassroots economy to connect with the rest of the world," he said.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
No more SSO payout for jobless subscribers
No more SSO payout for jobless subscribersThe board of the Social Security Office (SSO) has opposed extending its relief compensation scheme to subscribers made jobless as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a board member. The members of the board, chaired by labour permanent secretary Suthee Sukosol, voiced their opposition at a meeting on Tuesday. They did not want the compensation, drawn from the Social Security Fund (SSF), extended to assist jobless subscribers until the end of the year, as requested by Labour Minister MR Chatu Mongol Sonakul. The SSO had sought additional financial assistance for its 86,128 members who worked less than 26 days before losing jobs. One of them was a woman, 48, who arrived from the US on Saturday and was quarantined in Bangkok.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
Cops nab 'migrant trafficker'
Cops nab 'migrant trafficker'Sa Kaeo immigration police chief Pol Col Arthit Yakaew on Wednesday tells the press how his team managed to arrest a woman who allegedly smuggled migrant workers into the country. Varuth HirunyathebThe Immigration Bureau (IB) has arrested a 55-year-old employment agent who allegedly trafficked illegal migrant workers from neighboring countries into Thailand. IB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang only identified the suspect as Petcharat Sathon, at a press briefing on Wednesday. Officers caught her at a hotel in Sa Kaeo's Aranyaprathet district on Tuesday and she has been charged with smuggling migrant workers into the kingdom by bypassing checkpoints, he said. He said police were trying to find out who else was involved in her human trafficking network.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
The need for big data to prevent a second wave
The need for big data to prevent a second waveThe recent detection of Covid-19 infecting a member of an Egyptian military group who visited the kingdom and a diplomat's daughter in the kingdom has heightened fears that a second wave of the disease will occur. A second wave of the outbreak is likely to occur if we "allow the enemy behind friendly lines," as we welcome the return of tourists, investors and other foreigners. The second wave will be a game of cat and mouse, where each new cluster of infections will have to be dealt with individually. Only with smart management can Thailand win the fight against a second wave of Covid-19 and put the economy back on track. Tracking app developers must provide consistent feature updates to boost monitoring.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
Nats will miss Zimmerman
Nats will miss ZimmermanThe Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman will not play in the upcoming season. It's likely, though, that his decision was at least a tad easier after the Nationals' World Series win. Often the winners of the National League East over the last decade, the Nats had never even won a postseason series after that. Of the Nats' previous lack of postseason success, Zimmerman said: "It's not that we played bad. Now his teammates -- if they are to repeat as World Series champs -- must do so without the services of the veteran Zimmerman.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
Toxic seesaw not helping
Toxic seesaw not helpingLocal farmers are protesting at the Ministry of Agriculture's plan to reclassify 13 herbs and plants, commonly used by local farmers as "green pesticides", as Type-1 toxic substances. Because the department should remove these herbs and plants -- some of which are key ingredients in popular Thai dishes -- from the toxic substances list altogether. The 13 herbs and plants (which include neem, galangal, ginger, turmeric, citronella grass -- all familiar kitchen ingredients -- and marigold) are now considered Type-2 toxic substances. Besides, putting galangal and chillies on the list of toxic substances could prove to be detrimental to the famous tom yam soup, our so-called national dish. Such efforts are necessary, so green pesticides can be a part of mainstream farming.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
MAN expands to deal with pandemic
MAN expands to deal with pandemicMr Schuf, left, and Mr Jakkrapong say MAN targets sales of at least 50 buses and 120 trucks in 2021. Germany-based MAN Truck & Bus Thailand has encountered a rough patch, with weak bus and truck sales in the Thai market during the pandemic, but remains optimistic about its future business here. According to MAN, new bus registrations with the Land Transport Department have decreased since early 2020 by 62%, from 1,090 vehicles last year. Jakkrapong Santirat, the country head who oversees truck sales, said MAN will continue to push ahead with marketing plans next year by promoting products and increasing the number of showrooms and dealers. However, Mr Jakkrapong said, whether MAN can achieve its targets will depend on how the pandemic proceeds going forward.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
Pay full fees, champs tell TrueVisions
Thai League 1 champions Chiang Rai United have called on TrueVisions to pay full broadcast rights fees for the sake of the country's football. "[TrueVisions] is acting like we [Thai football and the company] have never loved each other," Chiang Rai chief adviser Miti Tiyapairat said in a Facebook post. "I am very worried about what is going to happen to Thai football." His remarks came after TrueVisions, the official broadcaster of all domestic leagues, demanded that the Thai League 1 season finish on Oct 25 as stipulated in the contract. And it is not much to make Thai football fans stay home and be happy.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
This could get worse before it improves
This could get worse before it improvesLockdown measures result in a severe contraction and bleak economic outlook for the rest of the year. I have a feeling that it could beat the legendary 1930s Great Depression. I mean that by adopting lockdowns to control the spread of diseases, one has to accept their great economic consequences. It was not the magic of war but the 100% of GDP spending on war budgets that did the trick. Economic growth is likely to be much worse in the second half of this year for three reasons.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC
Somkid quits before reshuffle
The government's economic team led by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak resigned on Wednesday. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak and three ministers working for him have resigned from the cabinet, paving the way for the reshuffle of the government's economic ministerial team. All four have been part of the economic team led by Mr Somkid and recently resigned from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). A source in the government said Mr Somkid informed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha of his resignation on Wednesday, citing his health problems. Mr Somkid on Wednesday went to Chumphon, where he is due to address village fund operators in the southern province this morning.
Source:Bangkok Post
July 15, 2020 22:41 UTC