Jay Shine

A longtime expat in Asia with a degree in journalism and creative writing. Highlights include writing for Condé Nast Traveller and Apple Music. In his spare time, Jay enjoys writing poetry, brewing traditional Chinese tea and lounging with his calico soi cat, Almond.
  • Crime NewsUPDATE: What really happened to Tangmo? All we know (and the stuff we don’t)

    UPDATE: What really happened to Tangmo? All we know (and the stuff we don’t)

    What really happened to Thailand’s Nida Patcharaveerapong, known lovingly by her fans as “Tangmo” (pronounced Daeng-moo) or “Watermelon,” who died last Thursday night after reportedly “falling” from a speedboat into the Chao Phraya River? The Thai TV actress had starred in countless dramas and advertisements in her nearly 20 year career, living in the limelight since childhood. In 2007, a…

  • World NewsChina straddles diplomatic tightrope on Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s sovereignty

    China straddles diplomatic tightrope on Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s sovereignty

    China has refused to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine, insisting it is not an invasion, and is standing by its biggest alley — without condoning its actions of unprovoked aggression on a sovereign nation. But its diplomatic ambiguity is forcing it to straddle an awkward line between Russia and the West. Like it or not, China’s Xi Jingping has become…

  • World NewsThailand to evacuate citizens from Ukraine, supports diplomatic peace talks

    Thailand to evacuate citizens from Ukraine, supports diplomatic peace talks

    Thailand’s permanent representative to the United Nations has voiced support for a diplomatic solution regarding the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Speaking during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly, Suriya Chindawongse says Thailand has been following developments in Ukraine closely, especially the escalation of tension that is threating international peace and security. Chindawongse says his delegation agrees with the Secretary-General’s method…

  • World NewsThailand’s vehicle exports affected by world chip shortage, Russia-Ukraine conflict

    Thailand’s vehicle exports affected by world chip shortage, Russia-Ukraine conflict

    The Automotive Industry Club have reported a decline in Thailand car production for January, citing the Russia-Ukraine conflict and a global shortage of semiconductors (microchips). Last month’s car production reached around 151,700 vehicles nationwide, a 2.45% increase year-on-year, but a 1.7% decline since last December, according to AIC spokesperson Surapong Pisitpattanapong. About 74,700 of the vehicles were produced for the…

  • World NewsAsian stocks rise with new Russian sanctions, market volatility increases worldwide

    Asian stocks rise with new Russian sanctions, market volatility increases worldwide

    Asia markets ticked higher at opening on Friday, encouraged by a rebound of the US stock market, after Russia was struck with a flurry of international sanctions. US President Joe Biden has announced a new round of sanctions against Russia, crippling its ability to conduct business in major currencies. Many indexes were in the green on Friday morning, including Tokyo’s…

  • World NewsLATEST: Russia invades Ukraine, attacks in major cities, more than 40 dead

    LATEST: Russia invades Ukraine, attacks in major cities, more than 40 dead

    UPDATE: Ukraine’s President Volodymr Zelensky says his nation’s armed forces are trying to repel the Russian advance in several areas of the country, including eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region. But Russia claims it has met weak resistance, with Ukrainian border guards reportedly surrendering, as the two countries further engage in an information war to control the narrative. Russian state media has…

  • World NewsIs Russia invading Ukraine? Biden says so

    Is Russia invading Ukraine? Biden says so

    US President Joe Biden has called out Russia’s Vladimir Putin for claiming two sections of land in eastern Ukraine under the guise of new “sovereign” states and for sending so called peacekeeping troops to the region. In a televised statement on Monday, Putin confirmed his recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk — 2 breakaway areas in the Donbas region of eastern…

  • World NewsPutin sends ‘peacekeeping’ troops to Ukraine after recognising breakaway provinces

    Putin sends ‘peacekeeping’ troops to Ukraine after recognising breakaway provinces

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent troops to eastern Ukraine, after recognising two breakaway regions as independent entities on Monday. The move against Ukraine’s sovereignty puts the region one step closer to the brink of conflict, which the West has urgently tried to avoid in recent weeks through diplomatic talks and threats of sanctions. After Putin ordered the defense ministry…

  • World NewsRussia enters war games with Belarus as NATO nations rush to defuse conflict in Ukraine

    Russia enters war games with Belarus as NATO nations rush to defuse conflict in Ukraine

    Russia has entered war games with ally Belarus, after amassing more than 100 thousand troops on its border with Ukraine in recent days, while NATO leaders are scrambling for diplomatic talks in hopes of avoiding potential conflict in Europe. Russia has sent an estimated 30 thousand troops, including missile launchers, armoured vehicles and fighter jets, for 10 days of joint…

  • World NewsBTS promotes Samsung’s ocean cleanup campaign in ‘Galaxy for the Future’ MV

    BTS promotes Samsung’s ocean cleanup campaign in ‘Galaxy for the Future’ MV

    In a new music video, South Korea’s BTS is promoting the recycling of ocean-bound plastics and the use of eco-conscious packaging for the new Samsung Galaxy S22 Series smartphones. The MV capped off last night’s Galaxy Unpacked 2022 event, which saw the release of Samsung’s newest devices, with an eco-friendly emphasis on their Galaxy for the Planet initiative and the…

  • Technology NewsSamsung builds phones with old fishing nets, bets you’ll pay premium prices

    Samsung builds phones with old fishing nets, bets you’ll pay premium prices

    Your next Samsung smartphone will certainly come with a hefty price tag, despite presumably less premium materials. But you can feel good about it because, who knows, you might be saving the whales. In a Sunday press release on their website, Samsung announced it has created a new material “made with repurposed ocean-bound discarded fishing nets,” which it plans to…