The $ 50,000 dollar a night Las Vegas hotel on Boxing night

Hi

Short video clip of the Las Vegas hotel that charges $ 50,000 a night for the upcoming boxing match between  Floyd Mayweather  and Manny Pacquiao


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32492666

Interesting article re. Danang Vietnam

Hi

An interesting article detailing the progress made at Danang.
A mix of sun, sand and software as the article states :

A brief extract

"“It is ambitious,” said Palazzo, who lives 10 blocks from China Beach, now called East Sea Beach. “They are welcoming of foreigners. In terms of process and getting things done, Danang is by far much more friendly to businesses than Ho Chi Minh City,” the country’s commercial center, formerly known as Saigon.

In Danang, you might be forgiven for wondering how the war ended. Tourists sun themselves on the white sand in front of the Hyatt Regency resort, a few blocks up the coast from the Greg Norman-designed Danang Golf Club. Downtown, outside the Big C supermarket, which sells French baguettes and bottles of Bordeaux, traffic directed by International Business Machines Corp. software flows on toward the airport and the Coca-Cola Co. factory. "

Link to full article

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-28/surf-sand-and-software-turn-danang-into-vietnam-s-it-city

Thailand scrambles to avert global new flight ban

Hi

This has been kept very quiet, food for thought.

Thailand failed a recent United Nations aviation safety audit.

" The country's airline industry was branded a "significant safety concern" in an alert issued to governments on March 20 by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. agency. Thailand is understood to have failed all but 11 of 100 points in the audit, according to regional industry analysts.

   Thailand's failing of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Program review prompted Japan, South Korea and, as some unconfirmed reports have suggested, China, to stop allowing new charter and scheduled flights from the country. The bans came just ahead of the peak travel season around the Songkran, or Thai New Year, holiday in mid-April."

http://asia.nikkei.com/magazine/20150409-The-big-tax-squeeze/Politics-Economy/Thailand-scrambles-to-avert-global-new-flight-ban

Link to some stunning Myanmar photos

Hi

I have not yet visited, it`s in my plans.

The photos within the link encourage me even more, although I personally would avoid April 13th.

There is a similar water festival in Thailand and it holds no appeal to me.


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/photo-essays/2015-04-13/why-you-need-to-go-to-myanmar-in-15-photos

New EU rules threaten overseas holiday homes

Hi

From next year it may well become more difficult for UK residents to acquire  a mortgage for a holiday home in Europe, due to the Mortgage Credit Directive.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/mortgages/11542721/New-EU-rules-threaten-overseas-holiday-homes.html

Rogue financial advisers

Hi

Obviously one has to be careful, particularly near or at retirement age, as there is less chance of a recovery from loss but it is somewhat sad to hear of people being misled.

Even if naivety and perhaps greed on the part of the victim was there.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/11544344/How-rogue-financial-advisers-in-Spain-stung-British-pensioners-for-millions.html

Suggested change to Thai political constitution

Hi

There is quite a mistrust of politicians here and the draft constitution would act in a way to curb these.
After last year`s coup there has been military rule here for nearly one year with an election predicted not to happen until next year.



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-16/new-thai-charter-to-curb-party-powers-while-paving-way-for-polls

Dubai property

After the Dubai property crash of some 7 years ago, buying property in Dubai  seems to be growing in popularity again despite some people having lost their deposits in the crash.

One can see the attractions, Dubai well connected from a travelling point of view and with no personal tax on income, it has it`s appeal.


http://www.bbc.com/news/business-31988871

The Apple watch - You can look but cannot take away

An interesting and effective piece of marketing.
Have the watches available to view in Apple shops but not available to buy at the store.
Online ordering with the waiting list already growing longer.


http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-04-10/opening-day-demand-for-apple-watch-could-be-more-hype-than-real

Australia plans to stop welfare payments to parents who do not have their children vaccinated

An interesting decision.
 Who should be responsible for children, parents or the state ?

Although not entirely forcing parents to have their children vaccinated, it certainly puts pressure on those who object to it in denying welfare benefits if they do not do do.


http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-32274107

Thailand corruption - Will it ever end ?

Hi

Unfortunately corruption seems almost a way of life and it would take something incredible to change that.
Whoever is in power it seems lining pockets is just accepted as a way of life.

Very hard to change that, words are cheap, action can be very costly.

Some who benefit from the system do not want it to change and many ordinary people remain unaware & oblivious of what goes on.

A shame for ordinary hard working people


http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-01/thai-graft-buster-laments-losing-battle-with-corruption-culture

Vietnam on the rise as a manufacturing base

Hi

Out of the 10 Asean/South  East Asian countries it is Vietnam that is growing strongly.

Low labour costs, almost half that of Thailand and a third of China helping it to secure more orders.

Nice country and nice people.

More here :

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-01/meet-asia-s-new-manufacturing-powerhouse-vietnam