DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ The Western auto industry is now locked in a 'Darwinian' make-or-break battle with China, the chiefs of 2 major automakers warn
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius says automakers need to hunker down if they want to beat the Chinese. Ford's CEO, meanwhile, called the Chinese auto industry an "existential threat" after a visit to the country in May. When it comes to competing in the EV market, Western automakers have been left playing a game of catch-up with the Chinese. Chinese automakers like BYD have been expanding into Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, as well as developing markets like Brazil and Mexico. The crippling trade restrictions effectively shut them out of the US auto market.

Persons: Ola Källenius, Källenius, —, Mercedes, isn't, Jim Farley, Farley wasn't, Farley, John Lawler, Lawler Organizations: Mercedes, Benz, Service, Ford, Berlin Global, EV, Källenius, Business Insider, Wall Street, Changan Automobile, Research, BI, European Union, Financial Times Locations: China, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Western

☆ She’s obsessed with baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng. So she flew across the world to see her
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-06 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng appeared on Molly Swindall’s social media feed for the first time, it was love at first sight. Soon, the baby hippo was an internet sensation, a status cemented last week when Moo Deng became the subject of a skit on Saturday Night Live. Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty ImagesOnce Swindall committed to flying to Thailand to see Moo Deng, she knew she had to go ASAP. Others were confused, assuming Moo Deng was a music artist or a long-distance partner. It’s been very, very fun to be able to connect with all these different people over it.”Since her Moo Deng adventure, Swindall’s follower count has ballooned, with one Moo Deng TikTok garnering over 5 million views.

Persons: Deng, Molly, Swindall, She’s, Moo Deng, Moo, “, ”, I’m, Lillian Suwanrumpha, Swindell, ’ Swindall, Molly Swindall Swindall, Taylor Swift, Taylor, “ They’re, Swift, Moo Deng ” –, ” Swindall, Moo Dang, it’d, Swindall’s, she’s, it’s, It’s, Moo Deng TikTok, that’s, Molly Swindall, “ I’m, There’s Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Getty, Swindall, Washington Post, Melbourne Locations: Khao, Thailand, New, AFP, New York, London, Amsterdam, Bangkok, TikTok, Melbourne, Australia

BANGKOK — A well-known elephant sanctuary in Thailand appealed for help on Friday after torrential flash floods forced the evacuation of about 100 elephants. Elephants wading through floodwaters at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The flooded Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand. In recent weeks, northern Thailand has suffered severe flooding and landslides due to Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia this year. Elephant Nature Park was established in 2003 as a permanent sanctuary for elephants rescued from the logging and tourism industries by Saengduean.

Persons: Chiang Mai, Saengduean, Pitsuda Masith, Masith, Yagi, Nat Sumon, Peter Guo Organizations: Staff, NBC, Saengduean Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Chiang Mai, Asia, Southeast Asia, Bangkok, Hong Kong

☆ Chiang Mai: About 100 rescued elephants escape flash floods at popular sanctuary in northern Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Helen Regan | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Dramatic video and images from the Elephant Nature Park near the city of Chiang Mai showed dozens of elephants wading through belly-deep water to find safety on higher ground. A view of the flooded elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Elephant Nature ParkThe Elephant Nature Park is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation center in the Chiang Mai countryside that has rescued more than 200 elephants from the tourism and logging industries since its inception in the 1990s. Rescue workers evacuate animals to higher ground at Elephant Nature Park after severe flooding caused the nearby river to overflow in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Elephant Nature ParkSeveral villages in Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim district have been inundated by water from upstream runoffs, local media reported Thursday.

Persons: Chiang Mai, Chailert, “, Saengduean, ”, Typhoon Yagi, ” Saengduean Organizations: Bangkok CNN, CNN, Facebook Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, Chaing Mai, Chiang, Mae Rim

☆ 25 feared dead after school bus catches fire in Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

BANGKOK — About 25 people were feared dead in Thailand on Tuesday when a school bus carrying students and teachers on a field trip caught fire on the outskirts of the capital, Bangkok, with 16 passengers hospitalized, the government said. Police could not immediately confirm the number of injuries or deaths, but Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters about 25 people were believed to have been killed, without elaborating. Rescue workers gathered around the bus, which is believed to have been carrying students and teachers on a field trip before it caught fire. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the students were on a field trip from the province of Uthai Thani, about 155 miles north of the capital. “As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families,” she said in a post on X.

Persons: Anutin Charnvirakul, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Manan Vatsyayana, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, ” Organizations: BANGKOK —, Police, Getty, Reuters Locations: BANGKOK, Thailand, Bangkok, AFP, Uthai Thani

☆ Thailand bus fire: At least 20 children and teachers feared dead in Bangkok
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Story The Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Bangkok AP —A bus carrying young students and their teachers on a school trip caught fire in suburban Bangkok on Tuesday, leaving more than 20 feared dead, officials and rescuers said. Police were still working to identify the dead but three teachers and 20 students remain unaccounted for, Kitrat said. The bus caught fire as it was carrying young students with their teachers in suburban Bangkok. Videos posted on social media showed the entire bus engulfed in a fire with black smoke pouring out of the bus. A woman seen crying after the bus accident that was carrying students and teachers on Vibhavadi Rangsit road at the outskirts of Bangkok.

Persons: Kitrat Phanphet, Kitrat, Sakchai Lalit, ”, Anocha Takham, Peerapon Boonyakiat, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Paetongtarn Organizations: Bangkok AP, Acting, Police, patRangsit Hospital, Government, World Health Organization Locations: Bangkok, Uthai Thani, Pathum Thani, Thailand’s, Peerapon, Thailand

☆ There's a Moo Deng crypto token that has a market value of $200 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Moo Deng crypto token on the Solana network has soared 463%, and is now valued at $201 million. AdvertisementThe viral baby hippo sensation that is Moo Deng has a crypto token attached to her likeness that is now worth $200 million. At its peak on Saturday, the crypto token had a market value of $336 million, the same day Saturday Night Live addressed the Moo Deng topic in its Weekend Update segment. The Zoo even set up a 24/7 livestream camera to watch Moo Deng at all times of the day. AdvertisementBusiness Insider contacted various crypto experts for comment on the Moo Deng crypto token but has yet to receive a response.

Persons: Moo Deng, that's, Moo, — Organizations: Solana, Service Locations: CoinMarketCap, New York, Thailand

☆ How 14 instruments from around the world are made
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Chris Snyder | Amelia Kosciulek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

From American-made Martin acoustic guitars in Pennsylvania to handcrafted ceremonial gongs in Thailand, we traveled the world to uncover the stories behind how different musical instruments are made.

Locations: Pennsylvania, Thailand

☆ Google to invest $1 billion in Thailand to build data center and accelerate AI growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Google announced Monday it is investing 36 billion Thai baht, or $1 billion, into Thailand for the creation of a new data center and expansion of the country's cloud infrastructure. The investment would see the company create its first data center in Thailand, Google said in a post on its Thailand blog Monday. Google said its debut Thai data center will be located in Chonburi, an eastern province of Thailand. The facility will "help support the growing demand for Google Cloud and AI innovations, as well as popular Google services such as Google Search, Google Maps and Google Workspace" in Thailand, Jackie Wang, Google's Thailand country lead, said in the blog post, according to an English translation taken via Google Translate. But the firm has increasingly come under threat from the surge of generative AI tools such as OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Persons: Jackie Wang, Wang, Thais Organizations: Google, Microsoft, Temasek, Bain & Company, Conomy SEA, Commission Locations: Zurich, Switzerland, Thailand, Asia, Chonburi, Southeast Asia

☆ Young Chinese are looking for dupes and cheaper substitutes for everything from Hermès to travel
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Huileng Tan | Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Chinese consumers are opting for affordable alternatives across various categories to save money. The trend, known as pingti, is driven by economic challenges and is popular among young people. Consumers are finding cheaper substitutes for luxury goods, everyday items, and even healthcare. It's now become a trend in China to save on nearly every consumer category, from luxury goods to everyday consumables to travel, with cheaper substitutes. A Bank of America survey of 1,052 adult Chinese consumers showed weakening consumer sentiment, with 30% of respondents planning to spend more — down from 45% in June.

Persons: —, It's, Bobbi Brown, Estée Lauder, MingYii Lai, it's, Lindy, Hermes Lindy, Lai, Ruth Jin, Xiaohongshu Cleo Xie, they've, She's, Xie, Jin, Yves Saint Laurent, Keith, she's Organizations: Service, Daxue Consulting, Bottega, Prada, University, Dai, PPI, Bank of America Locations: China, Xiaohongshu, Beijing, Ili, Xinjiang, Provence, France, Xishuangbanna, Laos, Myanmar, Bangkok, Thailand, Chengdu, Europe, Asia

☆ Thai farmer forced to kill more than 100 crocodiles after a typhoon damaged their enclosure
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Lex Harvey | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

More than 100 were killed at a crocodile farm in Lamphun, northern Thailand, after a typhoon damaged their enclosure. More than 100 crocodiles were killed to prevent them from escaping after a typhoon damaged their enclosure in Lamphun, northern Thailand. Among the crocodiles killed was one named Ai Harn, the eldest male breeder and leader of the pack, at 4 meters (13 feet) long. Earlier this year, 60 Siamese crocodile eggs hatched in Cambodia, the largest recorded breeding event for the species this century. Thai crocodile farmer Natthapak Khumkad owns the biggest crocodile farm in the province of Lamphun, northern Thailand.

Persons: ”, Khumkad, Natthapak, “, Yagi, Benjamin Horton, Hurricane Ian, CrocodileLamphun Natthapak, ” Natthapak, Pornthip Nualanong, Ai Harn, Pornthip, suckling, Natthapak Khumkad Organizations: Bangkok CNN, CNN, Observatory of, International Fund for Animal Welfare Locations: Bangkok, Lamphun, Thailand, China, Southeast Asia, Thailand’s, Observatory of Singapore ., Florida, Punta Gorda, Cambodia, Hong Kong

☆ Hong Kong’s first transgender singer-songwriter seeks voice through music
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG — Xavian Wu, Hong Kong’s first high-profile transgender singer-songwriter, sought to use the city’s annual LGBTQ Pink Dot HK carnival on Sunday to share his story through music. I don’t want to hide,” Wu told Reuters. He started enjoying music and performing when he was a teenager. After seeking medical advice, he started taking testosterone in 2018 and finished top surgery in Thailand in 2020. Wu said he was incredibly fortunate to have his mother accompany him to Thailand and support him.

Persons: Xavian Wu, Hong Kong’s, Wu, ” Wu, “, women’s, Music Organizations: Dot, Reuters Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Thailand

☆ 'The White Lotus' star Natasha Rothwell was used to playing the funny sidekick. So she wrote herself a starring role.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Marissa Evans | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The most painful scene for Natasha Rothwell to write in her new Hulu series "How to Die Alone" was the most personal one. And now, finally, Rothwell is in a starring role — one she wrote herself, that weaves hard-won lessons from her personal life into her character's story. Natasha Rothwell with Jennifer Coolidge in season one of "The White Lotus." I'm supposed to help a white protagonist get theirs and you know very little about me," Rothwell tells BI. I think that is one option for sure, but I think life is less rich and there's less joy that you have access to if you don't allow yourself to risk being vulnerable.

Persons: Natasha Rothwell, Mel, she's, It's, Rothwell, Issa Rae's, —, Kelli Prenny —, Jennifer Coolidge, Mario Perez, I'm, Marissa Evans, aloneness, it's, we're, Ian Watson, We've, Nancy Meyers, Nora Ephron, Kamala, unapologetically, you've, let's, I've, pleaser Organizations: Service, HBO, Peabody, Hulu Locations: Bronx, Japan, Thailand

☆ The vaccines you need to know about before you travel
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Lisa Kjellsson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Norlys Perez/ReutersUntil recently, there wasn’t a widely available dengue vaccine for travelers. But according to Dr. Nicky Longley, consultant in infectious diseases and travel medicine at The Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HTD) at University College London Hospitals, dengue vaccination is not quite the silver bullet travelers had hoped for. One traveler who welcomes the arrival of the new Qdenga vaccine is UK-based travel writer Chris Dwyer. Which vaccines do you need? Adults are advised to keep a record of their immunizations and when they need to be boosted.

Persons: Yasuyoshi Chiba, Norlys Perez, Dengvaxia, Nicky Longley, haven’t, “, ” Longley, Chris Dwyer, Dwyer, Qdenga, ” Dwyer, vaccinates, Sia Kambou, ”, Longley, “ It’s, Anniina Sandberg, Sandberg, didn’t, Martin Harvey, HTD’s Longley, wasn’t, Tick Organizations: CNN, Hatta International Airport, Getty, Health Organization, WHO, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Reuters, European Union, The, University College London Hospitals, Malaria, Natives, TBE, CDC Locations: Sweden, Asia, Thailand, Pakistan, Philippines, Soekarno, Tangerang, Indonesia, AFP, Cuba, Europe, United States, Malaysia, Abidjan, West Africa, South Sudan, Ivory, Finnish, Africa, Tanzania, Tanzanian, South Africa, Helsinki, Finland, Americas

The 2-month-old female pygmy hippo has become an internet star. A bakery in Bangkok said Sunday on Facebook that it would have to limit orders for its Moo Deng look-alike cakes because demand was so high. Other videos of Moo Deng on the TikTok account also have millions of views. Pygmy hippos have been classified as an endangered species, with their numbers dwindling from poaching and just 2,000 of them believed to be alive in the wild, according to the Pygmy Hippo Foundation. An adult pygmy hippo can live up to 50 years and reach half the height of a full-size hippo.

Persons: Moo Deng, ”, Athit Perawongmetha, Moo Deng’s, Moo Deng chomping, veggies, Narongwit Chodchoi Organizations: Thai Embassy, Facebook Locations: Thailand, Chonburi, Tokyo, Bangkok

☆ Typhoon Yagi leaves at least 74 dead in Myanmar after flooding and landslides
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( Isaac Yee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —At least 74 people have died and scores more are still missing in Myanmar following heavy flooding and landslides caused by Typhoon Yagi, state media reported on Sunday. The flooding across the civil war-torn country has impacted more than 450 villages and wards, according to Myanmar News Agency (MNA). Images from news agency AFP showed submerged homes and vehicles in the city of Taungoo, an hour south of the capital Naypyidaw. Flood-affected residents line up for food at a temporary camp in Taungoo, Myanmar, on September 14, 2024. While developed nations bear a greater historical responsibility for the human-induced climate crisis, developing nations and small-island states are suffering the worst impacts.

Persons: Typhoon Yagi, Sai Aung, Yagi Organizations: CNN, Myanmar News Agency, AFP, Getty, Reuters, Thai Locations: Myanmar, Taungoo, Sai, AFP, Southeast Asia, China, Vietnam, Thailand

☆ Slain Ugandan Olympian buried with full military honors
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Ugandan Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who died after allegedly being doused in petrol and set alight by her former partner, was due to be buried on Saturday with full military honors. Three weeks later her former boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, allegedly attacked Cheptegei as she returned from church with her two daughters and younger sister in the village of Kinyoro, Kenya police and her family said. “I don’t think I am going to make it,” she told her father while being treated in hospital, he said. Born in eastern Uganda in 1991, she met Marangach during a training visit to Kenya, later moving to the country to pursue her dream of becoming an elite runner. Marangach died a few days after Cheptegei, from burns allegedly sustained during the attack, dividing opinion among the local running community.

Persons: Rebecca Cheptegei, Cheptegei, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, Ferenc Isza, Joseph Cheptegei, ”, “, ” Andrew Kasuku, Marangach, marathoner Viola Cheptoo, Anne Hidalgo Organizations: Paris Olympics, Kenya police, Getty, Reuters, Kenyan, Tirop’s Locations: Kenya, Kinyoro, Budapest, Paris, AFP, Uganda, Thailand, Italy, “ Paris

☆ Same-sex marriage was on a roll in Asia. Not anymore
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The winning formulaMore than 30 jurisdictions worldwide now recognize same-sex marriage, according to the Pew Research Center. Since the first same-sex marriage law was passed in the Netherlands in 2001, progress has been made mostly in Europe, the Americas and Australasia. Gay couples cut a wedding cake in Amsterdam on April 1, 2001 after the first same-sex marriage law was passed in the Netherlands. But on the national level, Japan does not recognize same-sex marriage and local courts have returned conflicting verdicts on the issue. Up to 68% of Japan’s adults support same-sex marriage, the highest share in Asia, according to the Pew Research Center.

Persons: Pokpong Jitjaiyai, ”, Pokpong, Watit Benjamonkolchai, Suen, Nadia Rahman, Marcel Antonisse, Kangwan Fongkaew, ” Kangwan, Jennifer Lu, ” Lu, Taiwan’s, Tsai Ing, Sanjit, Chanakarn Laosarakham, Carl Court, Asia’s, Anish Gawande, Narendra Modi, Gawande, Kazuhiro Nogi, –, Hiroshima’s, Scuffles, Andrew Kim, Roslan Rahman, Shawna Tang, Hong Kong’s, Peter Newman, ” Suen, CNN’s Samra, Yoonjung Seo, Aishwarya Iyer Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Thailand’s Senate, CNN, Chinese University of Hong, Pew Research, Amnesty, Racial Justice, Refugees, Migrants, Getty, Burapha University, Presidential, List, Court, Japan, Seoul Queer Culture, Christian, Korea University’s College of International Studies, University of Sydney, Appeal, University of Toronto’s, Inwentash, Social Locations: Hong Kong, Bangkok’s, Siam, Thailand’s, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Nepal, Asia, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Netherlands, Europe, Americas, Australasia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Bangladesh, Indonesia’s ultraconservative, Aceh, United Kingdom, Amsterdam, China, Kathmandu, AFP, Taiwan's, Taipei, India, List India, India’s, Delhi, Tokyo, Japan, South Korea, Daegu, Seoul, Korea, Singapore, aren’t, –, Beijing, Indonesia

☆ Gold rallies to record high on U.S. rate-cut optimism
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

One kilogram gold bars are displayed for a photograph at the YLG Bullion International headquarters in Thailand on January 13, 2016. Gold prices soared to an all-time high on Friday as the dollar weakened amid prospects of a U.S. interest rate cut next week, while palladium has gained 15% so far this week. Spot gold was up 0.2% at $2,565 per ounce, as of 0258 GMT, after hitting a record high of $2,567.93 earlier in the session. The dollar fell to a one-week low, making gold less expensive for other currency holders. Palladium climbed 0.16% to $1,048.06 and was headed for the best week since Dec. 11, 2023, fueled by export curb concerns.

Persons: Bullion, Tim Waterer, Vladimir Putin Organizations: KCM, Monetary Fund, Fed, West Locations: Thailand, U.S, Moscow

☆ I've been a digital nomad for 11 years. The hardest part of this lifestyle is dating.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Cait Charles | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In 2013, I took my first step into the digital nomad lifestyle by becoming an online English teacher. The author, with a camel on Mount Sinai, has made friends while dating as a digital nomad. Related storiesWe met on Nomad Soulmates, a dating app for digital nomads under the most surreal of circumstances. Go with your gutI was just getting out of another failed relationship when I went on my first Tinder date. When you're dating on the road, the temptation to do so is strong, and connecting at a speed that would seem crazy in the "real world" is commonplace.

Persons: —, I've, Buddha, Cait Charles, Nomad Soulmates, Moishe, bode Organizations: Service, Business, Central Locations: Thailand, Nepal, Mount Sinai, South Korea, Pennsylvania, Florida, Mexico, Central America

☆ A Gen Z left a $70,000 salary in the US and moved to Thailand without a job. He says he's better off financially and happier in Bangkok.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-06 | by ( John Towfighi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewMyles Simms-Aur had a $70,000 salary, a nice car, and a stable routine living in Maryland. But he wanted to experience the world and felt financially restrained by the cost of living in the US. As of 2022, 132 US Navy veterans lived in Thailand, according to a Department of Defense report published in October 2023. He hopes to save and build wealth by living abroad before eventually returning to the US to further his career in cybersecurity. Given the low cost of living, he can afford to explore more of the world while still saving.

Persons: —, Myles Simms, Aur, Simms, " Simms, Aur Simms Organizations: Service, Business, Navy, Department of Defense, US, US Navy, Facebook, University of Maryland Global, Thai Locations: Maryland, Mexico, Brazil, Portugal, Bangkok, Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, St Mary's County , Maryland, cybersecurity, Malaysia, Singapore, American

☆ A boomer who worried about retiring in the US and Canada moved to Mexico, which he said is much cheaper and safer
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-05 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewRon Allanach, 74, and his partner Ben Lorgeranon moved to Vancouver from New England in 2005, thinking they would stay there for their retirements. The city is safer than he imagined, prices for nearly everything are much lower, and healthcare is more reliable. Allanach said they felt safer in Mérida than in the US or Canada, and prices were lower. They stayed there between trips back to Vancouver, and they moved to Mérida fully in 2020. AdvertisementA street in Mérida, Mexico.

Persons: —, Ron Allanach, Ben Lorgeranon, Allanach, Mérida, they've, Mexico Allanach, Lorgeranon, couldn't, it's, Allanach's, that's, he's, Mercado Lucas de Gálvez Organizations: Service, Business, US Postal Inspection Service, Costco Locations: Vancouver from New England, Mérida, Mexico, Vancouver, Canada, Portland , Maine, Portland, Thailand, France, Yucatán, Angeles, expat, they're

☆ Glory days for automakers like Ford, General Motors in China are over
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

London CNN —Foreign automakers have dominated China’s car market for decades, selling millions of vehicles and raking in enormous profits. Ford (F) and General Motors (GM) are also among firms seeing sales and market share vanish in China as local consumers spurn overseas brands to buy Chinese instead. The American automaker’s sales in China have halved from a peak of above 4 million in 2017 to 2.1 million last year. Last year, BYD sold a record 3.02 million vehicles globally, including plug-in hybrids, up 62% from 2022. Months later, Stellantis (STLA), which makes Citroen, Fiat, and Peugeot cars, bought a 20% stake in Chinese EV maker Leapmotor for about €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion).

Persons: Arno Antlitz, GM’s, Mary Barra, ”, Michael Dunne, Dunne, Xi Jinping’s, Tesla, Yilei Sun, Reuters Tesla, Li, Tu Le, Le, BYD, ” Dunne, Raul Bravo, Stellantis, “ Organizations: London CNN — Foreign, Volkswagen, Wolfsburg, Toyota, General Motors, China Passenger Car Association, Foreign, Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Ford, GM, EV, Tesla, Yilei, Reuters, International Energy Agency, “, CNN, Visitors, Automotive, Xinhua, Shutterstock, Auto, “ Global, UBS, Port, Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot, Leapmotor, Hedin Locations: China, London, Germany, Europe, American, Shanghai, Tesla's Shanghai, Beijing, EVs, Japan, North America, San Antonio, Chile, Chilean, AFP, Xpeng, Thailand, Hungary

☆ Macao did it. Singapore too. Now Thailand looks to build casinos to attract tourist dollars
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-02 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Thailand is working on a new game plan to boost foreigner arrivals and increase tourism spending: casinos. The strategy has worked for Macao — which has overtaken Las Vegas as the world's largest gambling hub — and Singapore, with two successful 14-year-old casinos. If Thailand's draft bill gets passed into law, the country could be Macao and Singapore's largest competitor by the end of the decade, industry watchers told CNBC. If the law gets passed, Thailand's casinos could generate 187 billion Thai baht ($5.5 billion) in revenues, or 1% of the country's GDP, according to Maybank research. The Thai economy grew 1.9% in 2023, and is expected to grow 2.7% this year, the finance ministry said.

Persons: Ben Lee, —, Lee, Srettha Thavisin, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Yin Shao Yang Organizations: Macao, Las Vegas, CNBC, IGamiX Management, Consulting, Tourism, Thai, Investment Bank Locations: Pattaya, Thailand, Singapore, Macao, Macau

☆ She got back in touch with a vacation fling from over 15 years ago. What happened next was unexpected
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Alex and Ola met in a crowded bar and stayed up all night together on the island. Alex didn’t even know Ola was married – he didn’t post much, and he wasn’t on her radar anymore. To their mutual surprise, the connection Alex and Ola felt that night on the beach in Ko Phi Phi returned right away. In the fall, Alex met Ola’s children, who she immediately loved. Alexandra NelkeA year after she moved to Sweden, Alex and Ola bought a house together in Malmö, Sweden.

Persons: Alex Nelke, Ola Forsmark, he’s, ” Alex, you’re, Alex, ” Ola, Ola, kickstarted, ”, didn’t, Alex reconnecting, “, Alexandra Nelke, Alex didn’t, –, She’d, ’, Berlin Ola, Alexandra Nelke Alex, ‘ Life’s, Ola’s, Wolfgang —, “ I’ve, I’ve, she’s, they’ve Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Ko Phi Phi, Phi Phi, Facebook Locations: Thailand, Ola, Ko, Germany, London, Swedish, Asia, Bali, America, Sweden, Berlin, “, Malmö

Search resuls for: "In Thailand"

25 mentions found