Ailing, 53-Year-Old Female Elephant Euthanized at Los Angeles Zoo

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5 January 2024, 14:17

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 53-year-old Asian elephant has been euthanized at the Los Angeles Zoo after she was unable to stand up, the zoo announced Thursday.

Shaunzi, one of two female elephants at the zoo, was discovered unable to stand Tuesday night after she went down in the yard of her exhibit space.

“Animal care staff and zoo veterinarians responded quickly and worked through the night to help Shaunzi up. Despite the use of all resources and personnel available, the extraordinary efforts were ultimately unsuccessful,” a zoo statement said.

A “heartbreaking” decision was made to sedate and euthanize the animal on Wednesday, the statement said.

la thai elephant — Shaunzi the elephant came to the LA Zoo in 2017 after living more than 30 years at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Shaunzi was euthanized Jan. 3, 2024, after her health took a sudden turn, the LA Zoo reported. She was 53 years old. (Image courtesy of the LA Zoo)

It wasn’t clear why the elephant couldn’t stand up, and a necropsy was planned, zoo spokesman Carl Myers said.

Born in Thailand, Shaunzi spent her youth in a circus, came to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in 1983 and was sent to the Los Angeles Zoo in 2017.

The median life expectancy of female Asian elephants in human care has been estimated by various zoos, researchers and conservation groups as around 40 to 50 years. Elephants in the wild can live decades longer.

Asian elephants are considered endangered, and only about 40,000 of them remain in the wild. They are threatened by destruction of their habitat and by poachers who kill them for their tusks.

“Shaunzi lived a full life and was an ambassador for her species. She helped Angelenos learn about her wild counterparts and the challenges they face in their native range,” the zoo said. “She will be dearly missed by the Los Angeles Zoo staff, members, and the millions of visitors who come to the zoo each year.”

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Thai Seaplane to Expand Business with Flights to Andaman in 2024

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Khaosod English

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5 January 2024, 13:59

BANGKOK – Thailand’s aviation industry will see significant changes in 2024 as the industry recovers globally. Seaplane service providers intend to expand their operations, while authorities say several companies have applied for licences and imported 60 aircraft to take advantage of the 320 billion baht industry.

Kasinpoj Rodkho, CEO of Thai Seaplane Company (Avanti Air Charter), a seaplane service provider, revealed that his airline has benefited from international tourists traveling in the Andaman region. Infrastructure development projects at airports on the Andaman coast, including Phuket, Krabi and a second airport in Phang Nga, are expected to attract a significant number of passengers in the future.

“Even though the volume of business travelers is decreasing, tourists continue to travel, and there is a trend to combine travel and work known as workcation. This has prompted various airlines to increase their fleet size due to growing passenger numbers,” he explained.

Thai Seaplane sees an opportunity to meet the travel needs of tourists who want to travel between tourist areas with long travel times or difficult access. Therefore, the seaplane service will begin operations in the third quarter of 2024, offering flights in the Andaman region that take no longer than 1.30 hours. Possible routes include Phuket-Krabi (bypassing the airport), Phuket-Koh Phi Phi, Krabi-Koh Phi Phi, Phuket-Similan Islands and Phuket-Lipe.

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Siam Seaplane Company Limited is another company that expects to receive an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in the first quarter of 2024 and will begin flying routes from Phuket or Krabi to various islands such as Koh Lipe, Koh Yao Noi, Phi Phi Island, and Khao Lak in Phang Nga Province; and routes from Bangkok (Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi) to the Gulf of Thailand such as Rayong, Trat, and Pattaya.

Siam Seaplane CEO Worakanya Siripidej told Prachachat Business that her company’s goal is to carry 25,000 people each year on three aircraft. Thai premium mass tourists who desire to travel are the airline’s target market, accounting for 30-40% of total clients.

In terms of the foreign tourist market, the target customer group is a developing market group, which includes Southeast Asia, and we will seek to enter markets relevant to each location, such as the Russians in the southern zone.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), around 30% of tourists visiting Thailand are from luxury groups, or approximately 7 million individuals out of a total of 25 million foreign tourists. She is confident that there is still opportunity for growth in the Thai aviation industry.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is speeding up the approval process to allow airlines to acquire additional aircraft quickly and relax the relevant regulations. This is to enable airlines to meet the growing demand in the Thai aviation industry, which is constantly expanding despite the current lack of supply in the industry.

Eight additional airlines have recently received operating licenses (AOL). The airlines also plan to import another 60 aircraft by 2024. The Thai aviation industry is expected to return to pre-COVID-19 (2019) levels and it is predicted that Thailand will be the 9th largest passenger market in the world within the next decade.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Thursday, December 5, he has invited Airport Organisation of Thailand director and minister of Transport and the ministry’s permanent secretary to discuss improving the quality of airports in order to better attract tourists. He added Thailand has the potential to be better.

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Microsoft’s New AI Key Is First Big Change To Keyboards In Decades

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Associated Press

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4 January 2024, 23:58

Computer keyboards are making room for an artificial intelligence chatbot button as Microsoft unveils its first major keyboard redesign in three decades.

Starting this month, some new personal computers that run Microsoft’s Windows 11 operating system will have a special “Copilot key” that launches the software giant’s AI chatbot.

Getting third-party computer manufacturers to add an AI button to laptops is the latest move by Microsoft to capitalize on its close partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and make itself a gateway for applications of generative AI technology.

Although most people now connect to the internet — and many AI applications — by phone rather than computer, it’s a symbolic kickoff to what’s expected to be a competitive year as tech companies race to outdo each other in AI applications even as they haven’t yet resolved all the ethical and legal ramifications. The New York Times last month sued both OpenAI and Microsoft alleging that tools like ChatGPT and Copilot — formerly known as Bing Chat — are infringing on copyrighted news articles.

The keyboard redesign will be Microsoft’s biggest change to PC keyboards since it introduced a special Windows key in the 1990s. Microsoft’s four-squared logo design has evolved, but the key has been a fixture on Windows-oriented keyboards for about three decades.

The newest AI button will be marked by the ribbon-like Copilot logo and be located near the space bar. On some computers it will replace the right “CTRL” key, while on others it will replace a menu key.

Microsoft is not the only company with customized keys. Apple pioneered the concept in the 1980s with its “Command” key marked by a looped square design (it also sported an Apple logo for a time). Google has a search button on its Chromebooks and was first to experiment with an AI-specific key to launch its voice assistant on its now-discontinued Pixelbook.

But Microsoft has a much stronger hold on the broader PC market through its licensing agreements with third-party manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell and HP. About 82% of all desktop computers, laptops and workstations run Windows, compared to 9% for Apple’s in-house operating system and just over 6% for Google’s, according to market research firm IDC.

Microsoft hasn’t yet said which computer-makers are installing the Copilot button beyond Microsoft’s own in-house line of premium Surface devices. It said some of the companies are expected to unveil their new models at next week’s CES gadget show in Las Vegas.

South Korea Views The Young Daughter Of North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un As His Likely Successor

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Associated Press

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4 January 2024, 22:30

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The young daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is seen as her father’s likely heir apparent, South Korea’s spy agency said Thursday, its first such assessment on the preteen who was unveiled to the outside world a little more than a year ago.

There has been intense outside debate and speculation about her, reportedly about 10 years old and named Ju Ae, since she made her first public appearance in November 2022, when she watched a long-range missile test launch with her father.

The girl has since accompanied her father to a slew of major public events, with state media calling her Kim Jong Un’s “most beloved” or “respected” child and churning out footage and photos proving her rising political standing and closeness with her father.

A senior general knelt and whispered to her when she clapped while watching a military parade at a VIP observation stand in September. She was photographed standing in front of her father at one point during a visit to the air force headquarters in November, with both Kims wearing sunglasses and long leather jackets. In a New Year’s Eve celebration at a packed Pyongyang stadium Sunday, Kim Jong Un kissed her on the cheek and she did the same to her father.

AP23040145611629 — Daughter of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Most of these scenes are something that had been unimaginable in North Korea, where Kim is the subject of a strong and loyal following that treats him like a god.

South Korea’s main spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, said Thursday that it sees Kim Ju Ae as her father’s likely successor, citing a comprehensive analysis of her public activities and the state protocols provided to her.

The NIS public affairs office told The Associated Press that it still considers all possibilities regarding the North’s power succession process because Kim is still young, has no major health issues, and has at least one other child. Kim turns 40 on Monday.

Earlier Thursday, lawmaker Youn Kun-Young said the nominee for the NIS chief position, Cho Tae-yong, had given him that assessment. In phone conversations with the AP, Youn, a member of parliament’s intelligence committee, said Cho’s written responses to his questions contained no other details about Kim Ju Ae.

The NIS has a spotty record in confirming developments in North Korea, one of the world’s most secretive nations. North Korea’s state media have yet to make any direct comments on the succession plan, including whether Kim Ju Ae has any siblings.

AP23040145009995 — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with his daughter attends a military parade to mark the 75th founding anniversary of the Korean People’s Army on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

Du Hyeogn Cha, an analyst at Seoul’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said that while the NIS currently sees a high possibility of Kim Ju Ae getting primed to become her father’s successor, few can predict whether she would eventually become the North’s next leader. Cha added that Kim Ju Ae lacks political achievements that he said are essential to be formally anointed as the country’s future leader.

Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea, said that Kim Jong Un likely believes his daughter has the capacity and resolve to succeed him as leader. He said Kim Jong Un’s obesity appears so serious that “it won’t be surprising even if he collapses tomorrow.”

“By accompanying her father on major events, it’s like she’s learning kingship and building a human network at a tender age,” Cheong said.

NIS and officials from other parts of South Korea’s government earlier said it was premature to view Kim Ju Ae as her father’s heir, given Kim Jong Un’s relatively young age and North Korea’s Confucianism-influenced, male-nominated power structure. They had said the girl’s repeated appearances were more likely meant to shore up public support for Kim’s family and his plan to one day hand power over to one of his children.

Since its foundation in 1948, North Korea has been successively ruled by male members of the Kim family. Kim Jong Un inherited power upon his father Kim Jong Il’s death in late 2011. Kim Jong Il took over power after his father and state founder Kim Il Sung died in 1994.

AP23365016489007 — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un delivers a speech during a year-end plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party, which was held between Dec. 26, and Dec. 30, 2023, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

The name of Ju Ae matched what retired NBA star Dennis Rodman called Kim’s baby daughter, whom he said he saw and held during a trip to Pyongyang in 2013. The NIS told lawmakers in a private briefing last year that Kim Ju Ae has an older brother and a younger sibling whose gender the agency hadn’t confirmed.

The NIS said at the time that Kim Ju Ae had never been enrolled in an official education facility and was getting homeschooled in Pyongyang, according to some of the lawmakers who attended the briefing.

Cheong, the Sejong Institute analyst, called the NIS intelligence on the older brother inaccurate, though he agrees that Kim Ju Ae has a younger sibling.

Revealing the young Kim Ju Ae came as a huge surprise to foreign experts because neither Kim Jong Un nor Kim Jong Il were mentioned in North Korean state media before they became adults.

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North Korea’s Kim Vows To Launch 3 More Spy Satellites And Produce More Nuclear

Starbucks Thailand Raises Beverage Prices Due to Production Costs

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Khaosod English

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4 January 2024, 19:39

BANGKOK – Starbucks (Thailand) announced on Thursday that it is raising the prices of its drinks by 5 baht starting January 4, 2024. This price adjustment has been effective in all channels, including storefronts and online orders through various platforms such as Lineman and Grab. The American coffee chain cited a higher production cost.

“This price adjustment is due to the current economic situation. Operating expenses and management have continued to increase throughout the past period. The company tries to keep costs consistent so as not to affect customers,” according to its statement.

“However, beginning January 4, 2024, Starbucks Thailand is required to raise beverage pricing by 5 baht. Snacks, coffee beans, bottled drinks, drinkware, syrup, whipped cream, and various other items will retain their original prices. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused. We reiterate our commitment to provide consumers with the finest Starbucks experience possible,” it added.

Starbucks began its operation in Thailand by opening its first coffeehouse at Central Chidlom in July 1998, after its first store opened in the United States in 1971.

According to the company’s managing director, Nednapa Srisamai, the target calls for 800 Starbucks outlets in Thailand by 2030, up from 465 stores with over 4,300 employees currently.

Starbucks Thailand has noted that the company is dedicated to making the Starbucks Experience a rewarding part of the day for all its customers in Thailand while contributing positively to the community through its sponsorship of sustainable coffee production with Thai hill tribes under the name of Muan Jai® (Thai blended coffee).

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A Thai Student Almost Smuggled Hidden Heroin to Australia

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Khaosod English

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4 January 2024, 18:12

NONTHABURI – Police officers from the Rattanathibet police station in Nonthaburi province are investigating a case in which a package containing a total of 15 sheets of sofa covers was hiding heroin.

This package were delivered to a Thai student who was studying in Australia. The student had posted on Facebook that she would return to Thailand in mid-January and offered to transport the package to Australia for a fee of 3,500 baht. However, she claimed not to know the contents of the package.

Mr. Wat, 53, the student’s father, was the one who found the drug. He became suspicious when he noticed the abnormal weight of the package. The father immediately notified the police, who examined the package together.

drugs package2 — A total of 15 sheets of sofa covers containing hidden heroin.

When the police officers opened the box, they discovered that the cushion’s covers contained white powder, which was probably a narcotic drug. It was later confirmed that the substances were 7.5 kilograms of heroin, which has a market value of more than 20 million baht in Thailand. If successfully transported to Australia, this value would increase considerably.

The investigating officers established that the seized drugs were linked to international drug trafficking. The drugs were secretly imported into Australia via a special channel to circumvent the strict controls of the Australian authorities.

Later, on the night of 3 January 2024, a 30-year-old stewardess went to the police station to provide information because her name and phone number were on the box. After extensive questioning, she left the station without giving an interview to the media.

drugs package4 — Several sofa covers containing illegal drugs were hidden in the box.

The police disclosed the findings of their investigation into the bank account used for the transportation fee. The account holder, a Laotian male, has been identified and his whereabouts are being investigated in order to take further legal action and extend the investigation into the origin of the drugs.

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CP Foods Accelerates Towards Eco-Friendly Future

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Contributor

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4 January 2024, 17:53

CP Foods Accelerates Towards Eco-Friendly Future with Low-Carbon Products, Aiming for 40% Green Revenue by 2030

Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) is actively advancing the development of low-carbon and carbon-neutral products. This commitment is a pivotal part of Thailand’s progress towards sustainable living and is in line with the global aim of attaining net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

With an eye to the future, CP Foods is steadfast in its dedication to transform its product portfolio, setting an ambitious target for 40% of its revenue to be derived from these environmentally friendly products by 2030.

Oraparn Mungmisri, a director at CP Foods, highlighted the company’s focus on ensuring food security by producing high-quality, safe, and nutritious products while maintaining an environmentally responsible business model.

CP Foods has successfully developed 880 products that have undergone carbon footprint assessments by the Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (TGO), particularly in their pork, chicken, shrimp, duck, and egg product lines.

The company follows a comprehensive approach, assessing the carbon footprint across the entire value chain, such as in their shrimp products which include everything from shrimp feed to frozen shrimp and shrimp dumplings.

CP Foods boasts 56 low-carbon products that have been certified the Carbon Footprint Reduction Label, encompassing a diverse range of items like broiler feed, live poultry, and fresh meats. Notably, their Cage Free chicken eggs under the U Farm brand are Asia’s first carbon-neutral eggs, achieved through minimizing carbon emissions and offsetting the remainder with carbon credits.

In 2023, CP Foods added 62 new products to its portfolio that received the carbon footprint label from TGO, including innovative plant-based items like chicken nuggets and minced meat substitutes, further solidifying its position as a leader in sustainable product offerings in Thailand.

The company’s efforts have significantly contributed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with their certified products helping to cut down at least 2.34 million tons of carbon dioxide. CP Foods’ commitment to leveraging technology and innovation for green product development is unwavering, with a goal to have 38% of its revenue come from green products by the end of 2023, increasing to 40% by 2030.

Many of their low-carbon certified products already exhibit greenhouse gas emissions below the industry average, aligning with the growing global consumer demand for sustainable products.

Mazars and FORVIS to Form Unique New Top 10 Global Network

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Contributor

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4 January 2024, 13:29

Mazars, the leading international audit, tax, and advisory firm and FORVIS, the eighth largest public accounting firm in the United States, today jointly announce they will create a new, top 10 global network[1], effective 1 June 2024.

The new network will position both firms for continued global growth by expanding their capabilities to serve clients, especially those with international needs.

The network will operate under a single brand worldwide, Forvis Mazars. With around €4.7bn ($5bn) in revenue[2], Forvis Mazars will be a new entrant in the top 10 global network rankings.

Uniquely formed of just two members, the network is designed to be agile, deliver consistency and have the global scale to meet clients’ needs. Both network members will remain owned by their current respective partnerships. Effective 1 June 2024, Mazars USA will join Forvis Mazars in the U.S.

“I am really delighted that Mazars and FORVIS have taken this transformational step and am excited about the opportunities it presents for both firms in serving our clients and supporting our people” says Hervé Hélias, Chairman of the Executive Board, Mazars Group.

“We’re proud to bring a pioneering new network model to our industry and are excited to continue this journey together. At Mazars, we are committed to helping our clients confidently build and grow their businesses, and forming this two-firm network with FORVIS complements our existing international integrated partnership and significantly advances Mazars’ international strategy.

We are proud to offer our clients the strength of our international integrated partnership in 100 countries and the benefits of FORVIS’ large national partnership in the U.S. that truly works as one firm across the U.S. It gives us the scale and expanded presence that we have been striving for in the U.S. and marks us out as a top 10 global network with extensive scale and coverage”.

“A two-firm network, operating under a single global brand, quickly advances our firms’ shared strategies. It’s an opportunity to better serve our clients, especially those with international needs and support our people on a path of continued growth. Our organizations know each other well, with a strong history of collaboration and very similar cultures of putting our people and clients first,” says Tom Watson, CEO, FORVIS.

“FORVIS has always been passionately committed to providing an Unmatched Client Experience® and unlocking the potential of both our clients and our people, and this opportunity allows us to do so on a strengthened global platform.”

“In Thailand Mazars is serving Accounting outsourcing, audit, taxation, legal and financial advisory services to wide range of clients active in different industries from various countries”, says Rob Hurenkamp Managing Partner at Mazars in Thailand. The formation of this network will strengthen our reach in the US market and our capabilities to service subsidiaries of US companies in Thailand. With the strong English communication skills of our teams, our strong knowledge of the local regulations, our technical capabilities and our understanding of international practices we are confident that we will service the US clients above their expectations.

Mazars, with offices in more than 100 countries and territories, has realised much success, rising in prominence and working with some of the most recognisable brands in the world. FORVIS was built on a 100-year legacy of providing an Unmatched Client Experience®, becoming a top 10[3] firm in the United States while looking toward an expanded global platform. At a time of major change for businesses worldwide and shifting market dynamics, the new global network will be agile with the scale, capacity, and coverage to support current and future clients’ needs worldwide with the highest levels of consistency and customer experience.

[1] Source: IAB World Network rankings, based on most recent rankings.

[2] 2023 revenues: FORVIS €1.6bn ($1.7bn), Mazars €2.8bn ($3bn).

[3] Source: Inside Public Accounting, based on most recent rankings.

About Mazars

Mazars is an internationally integrated partnership, specialising in audit, accountancy, advisory, tax and legal services*. Operating in over 100 countries and territories around the world, we draw on the expertise of over 30,000 professionals in Mazars’ integrated partnership to assist clients of all sizes at every stage in their development. Visit mazars.com to learn more.

*Where permitted under applicable country laws

About FORVIS

FORVIS, LLP is a professional services firm with a global reach and a passion to drive businesses forward. The firm’s 6,000 dedicated team members provide an Unmatched Client Experience® through the delivery of assurance, tax, and consulting services for clients in all 50 states and internationally. Ranked among the largest public accounting firms in the United States, FORVIS upholds an unwavering purpose to help those we serve unlock their full potential—including our people, our clients, and our communities. Visit forvis.com to learn more.

About Mazars in Thailand:

Mazars in Thailand is a leading, accounting, audit, tax, legal, and advisory practice comprised of over 350 professionals. The practice has Thai, British, Dutch, Indian, German, Japanese, Australian, Vietnamese, and Korean nationals among its senior advisers, which ensures that the company is well placed to function as a bridge between businesses operating in Thailand and related companies overseas.

For more information, visit www.mazars.co.th.

Woman Held After Allegedly Slashing Passengers On Tokyo Train

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Khaosod English

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4 January 2024, 11:02

japan train stab — Rescue workers attend to a train passenger believed to be injured in a stabbing incident at JR Akihabara Station in Tokyo on Jan. 3, 2024. (Kyodo)

TOKYO – A woman was arrested after allegedly slashing and stabbing other passengers with a blade on a train of Tokyo’s Yamanote loop line on Wednesday night, police said.

The woman, believed to be in her 20s, attacked passengers as the train was running between JR Okachimachi and Akihabara stations, the police said, adding that the suspect was apparently unknown to those assaulted.

Four men sustained injuries to their sides, backs and arms in the attack, the police said.

Police arrested her on suspicion of attempted murder and seized the blade, they said.

Responding to the attack, people pressed emergency buttons installed in the train and on the platform of Akihabara Station once the train arrived, and a station staffer called the police at around 10:55 p.m.

The incident led JR East to temporarily suspend part of the loop train service in the capital.

The suspect was subdued by passengers on the train and handed over to police, the police added.

ONYX Hospitality Group Showcases its Exceptional Malaysia Portfolio and Announces Expansion with Three New Properties Opening in 2024

By

Contributor

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4 January 2024, 10:34

ONYX Hospitality Group, the prominant management company in Southeast Asia specialising in hotels & resorts, serviced apartments and luxury residences, proudly manages four distinctive properties in Malaysia. These include the well-established Amari Johor Bahru, the lively OZO Georgetown Penang, and the recently inaugurated gems, Amari SPICE Penang and Amari Kuala Lumpur.

With a variety of facilities and locations throughout the diverse and hospitable country of Malaysia, ONYX Hospitality Group is well-prepared to cater to the needs of all travellers, whether guests are checking-in for business, MICE, leisure, or the increasingly popular ‘bleisure’ stays.

As a testament to the Group’s commitment to strategic growth, ONYX Hospitality Group is excited to announce the forthcoming addition of three new properties to the Malaysian portfolio: The eagerly anticipated OZO Medini, Shama Medini and Shama Suasana Johor Bahru are set to join the esteemed collection in 2024.

This expansion will result in a total of seven properties in Malaysia by the end of 2024, making Malaysia the first country, outside of Thailand, to host all three ONYX brands: Amari, OZO and Shama.

Amari SPICE Penang:

Opened in 2022, Amari SPICE Penang is directly attached to the SPICE Convention Centre and SPICE Arena, the world’s first hybrid solar-powered MICE complex, and just 5km from Penang International Airport. This contemporary 453-key hotel is the ideal place to stay, meet, dine and unwind. Penang’s largest hotel in terms of room count, Amari SPICE Penang is also an impressive venue for functions and events.

With five naturally-lit spaces ranging from the 10-pax Peridot boardroom to the 85-guest Citrine room and the spectacular 250-guest Jadeite ballroom, every company can bring their vision to life. And of course, the adjoining 8,000-pax SPICE Convention Centre can stage the grandest of global gatherings. Amari SPICE Penang was recently awarded the title of Malaysia’s “Best MICE Hotel” at the prestigious HAPA Awards.

Amari Kuala Lumpur:

Amari Kuala Lumpur offers seamless travel experiences at the heart of KL Eco City, a vibrant business and entertainment district, conveniently situated just steps away from the Mid Valley Megamall. Surrounded by international corporate offices including Mercu 2 & 3, Aspire Tower, The Garden North Tower and South Tower, Centrepoint and Menara IGB, and only 45 minutes from KLIA, this sophisticated and refined upscale hotel ensures guests remain thoroughly connected.

Special events can be hosted in the 200-guest, light-filled Veria Ballroom, while productive meetings and training sessions are brought to life at the 65-pax Agave or Yucca Meeting Rooms. With plenty of social spaces for breakouts, networking and exhibitions, plus a sleek business lounge, Amari Kuala Lumpur can create lasting benefits for every company.

Amari Johor Bahru:

Amari Johor Bahru is perfectly positioned in the heart of Johor Bahru’s Central Business District, right next to the Persada Convention Centre and within close proximity to the Singapore border crossing. Meeting planners can stage inspiring events in inviting spaces ranging from the 220-guest Lido & Rex rooms, which can host conventions, conferences and gala dinners, to the three Amari Sky rooms, which are ideal for intimate get-togethers and strategy sessions. The 150-guest Sky Banquet area will elevate corporate dinners and receptions, and the sensory Ideas Room will stimulate the senses and ignite the imagination.

Whichever Amari hotel in Malaysia they choose, every guest – including business, leisure and the new generation of “bleisure” visitors – will be immersed in a world of gracious Asian culture, cuisine, design, architecture, wellness and fun. With signature rooms and suites, naturally-lit public spaces, a choice of modern dining options including the vibrant Amaya Food Gallery concept, shimmering outdoor swimming pools, fully-equipped FIT Centres, soothing Breeze Spas and an Executive Lounge at each hotel, every traveller is empowered to be at their best.

OZO George Town Penang:

OZO George Town Penang is located in the heart of Penang’s UNESCO World Heritage City, offering a haven of modern comfort and cultural immersion and an ideal gateway to an unforgettable experience in Penang. The stylishly designed rooms and suites provide a tranquil retreat, while the all-day dining restaurant will delight guests with an array of culinary creations.

Unwind in the outdoor swimming pool or rejuvenate at the spa, before exploring the city’s vibrant streets; discover hidden gems and immerse in Penang’s rich heritage. OZO, a vibrant and contemporary brand by ONYX Hospitality Group, is designed for the modern traveller seeking smart, fuss-free accommodations that prioritize comfort, connectivity, and a dynamic sense of local flair.

Upcoming Openings:

The company’s three Amari branded upscale hotels and one OZO hotel, will soon be complemented by an additional OZO property, and the first two Shama branded properties in the country. Shama, a distinctive brand under the ONYX Hospitality Group umbrella, redefines the concept of serviced apartments, offering a harmonious blend of contemporary design, spacious living, and personalised services for an elevated and memorable stay experience. This development showcases ONYX’s confidence in the ongoing growth of its Shama brand.

The new hotels in Malaysia form part of ONYX Hospitality Group’s strategy to drive significant expansion in the hotel, resort, and serviced apartment business in Southeast Asia. As it seeks to achieve the overall vision of establishing itself as “The Best Medium-sized Hospitality Management Company in Southeast Asia”, the company is on track to operate over 50 properties by 2025, up from 44 at present, and an even more ambitious target of 70 by 2028.

ONYX Hospitality Group is a well-established and leading hotel management company with a strong presence and reputation in the global travel market. With more than five decades of experience, ONYX Hospitality Group prides itself on its ability to bridge the best of Asian hospitality practices with global business precision – with the brand promise ‘A Tailored Approach to Hospitality’.

ONYX Hospitality Group’s commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences and providing top-notch services is at the heart of its operations. At the core of ONYX’s business model is a dedication to offering outstanding customer service, a commitment to sustainability and responsible tourism, and a focus on adapting to the ever-evolving dynamics of the global travel industry.

For more information about ONYX Hospitality Group, please visit www.onyx-hospitality.com.

Picture shows from left to right: Amari SPICE Penang, Amari Kuala Lumpur, Amari Johor Bahru, OZO Georgetown Penang

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