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Asia’s factory demand eases amid China’s faltering recovery and global trade slump
Factories across Asia experienced a further decline in demand during May, as China‘s sluggish recovery impacted a region already grappling with a global trade downturn. Taiwan’s purchasing managers indexes (PMI) dropped to 44.3 from 47.1 in April, while Vietnam recorded its lowest reading since September 2021, according to S&P Global. South Korea’s factory gauge saw a slight increase in May,…
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Urgent call for new govt: Thai Chamber of Commerce stresses budget allocation continuity
The Thai Chamber of Commerce emphasised the urgency of forming a new government to ensure the continuity of budget allocation, following discussions with Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), and other party executives. Sanan Angubolkul, the chamber’s chairman, highlighted the need to address issues such as costly electricity bills, wages, ease of doing business, and legal reforms…
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Speeding car flips over after taxi cuts in front at Bangkok traffic light
A white Honda City car flipped over after speeding through a red light and colliding with a taxi on Local Road in Bangkok last night. The 40 year old driver was shaken but not seriously injured, as police and volunteers attended the scene to investigate. At the accident site on Local Road approaching Ngam Wong Wan Road, the white Honda…
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Cost of living crisis may fuel online child exploitation, charities warn
Children’s charities have expressed concern that the cost of living crisis may increase the risk of online exploitation for young people during the summer holidays. The NSPCC has urged that the crisis should not be allowed to “fuel another surge in abuse” as witnessed during the COVID pandemic. Barnardo’s has also warned that online interactions can escalate to real-life sexual…
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Thai armed forces plan to halve generals, save billions by 2027
Thailand‘s Defence Council has recently given the green light to a reform plan that aims to reduce the number of generals in the armed forces by 50% by 2027, as stated yesterday by Deputy Defence Ministry Spokesperson, Colonel Jittanat Punnotok. Currently, there are approximately 1,200 generals in the military, a military source told Bangkok Post. Between 2017 and 2021, the…
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Krungsri bank expects Thai government to boost Japanese investment
Krungsri, also known as the Bank of Ayudhya, believes that the new Thai government will continue to encourage Japanese investment in the country. Japan is currently Thailand’s largest foreign investor, contributing 28.6% of total investment, or 23.3 billion baht. As political parties form a coalition government, Japanese investors are closely monitoring the situation. Bunsei Okubo, the head of Japanese corporate and…
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2 Vietnamese con men swindles 65,000 baht from phone shop in Thailand
Two Vietnamese men allegedly swindled 65,000 baht from a phone shop in the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima by selling two counterfeit iPhones. The owner of the phone shop, 46 year old Ratchaphat Thoenmongkhon, filed a complaint at Mueng Nakhon Ratchasima Police Station on May 19 after learning that the two mobile phones she bought from the Vietnamese men were…
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House approves US debt ceiling raise, averting default threat
The US House of Representatives has given its approval for a deal permitting the nation to borrow more funds, mere days before the world’s largest economy is set to begin defaulting on its debt. The measure was passed in the chamber with a 314-117 vote, despite some members from both sides not supporting it. The US Senate must vote on…
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Decorated soldier loses defamation case over true war crime allegations
In a landmark defamation case, highly decorated Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has been unsuccessful in his lawsuit against three newspapers that accused him of committing war crimes in Afghanistan. The publications were sued for multiple articles that also alleged Roberts-Smith bullied his peers and assaulted a woman with whom he was involved in an extramarital affair. This is the first…
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NHS-contracted staff risk missing out on pay rise for over a million health workers
Over a million National Health Service (NHS) workers are set to receive pay increases starting today, but thousands of staff contracted by the NHS may miss out on the negotiated pay rise. These staff members, employed by social enterprises contracted to work in primary care, mental health, charities, and other health sectors, have not yet been made eligible for the…
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Man from Uthai Thani shot himself after dispute led to divorce
A 34 year old man from Uthai Thani province shot himself after an argument with his wife led to their divorce. The incident occurred just a day after his 34th birthday and followed a long line of heated disputes between the couple. Pattanapong Pomthong was found lifeless with an 11mm handgun by his side at his rental home in Nong…
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Thai textile factory ordered to pay 19 million baht in overdue wages to workers
Textile factory workers in Thailand’s central Samut Prakan province are set to receive 19.33 million baht in unpaid wages, plus 15% interest, after labour authorities intervened on their behalf. The factory operator has been ordered to expedite the payment process for approximately 109 workers who had not received their full wages between July 2020 and April this year. These workers…
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Thailand’s DDC warns of monkeypox in LGBTQ community
News about monkeypox is circling in Thailand once more. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) has issued a warning regarding the potential rise in monkeypox cases, particularly within the LGBTQ community. The DDC has advised reducing close skin contact and limiting the number of sexual partners to prevent the disease from spreading, Bangkok Post reported. Jakkarat Pittayawong-anont, the director of…
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Sherpa’s high-altitude Everest rescue saves Malaysian climber’s life
A Malaysian mountaineer was saved from near death in a rare high-altitude rescue on Mount Everest. Gelje Sherpa, a 30 year old Nepali sherpa guide, was leading a Chinese client to the summit on Thursday, May 18 when he spotted the Malaysian climber clinging to a rope in the “death zone,” where temperatures can plummet to minus 30 degrees Celsius…
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Thai entrepreneurs urge government to prioritise reducing energy costs
A recent survey by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has shown that the majority of entrepreneurs are urging the new government to fulfil its promise to lower electricity costs, as outlined in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the Move Forward Party and seven other political parties. Of the 252 executives across 45 industries surveyed, 75.8% voted for…
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Asia-Pacific markets to gain from US-Europe supply chain diversification
Asia-Pacific emerging markets are predicted to gain from the ongoing supply chain decoupling, as analysts highlight the US and Europe’s efforts to diversify risks in security-related sectors. Steven Cochrane, Moody’s Analytics chief Asia-Pacific economist, recently discussed the decoupling between the US and China within intermediate goods production during an online event. He explained that incentives, rather than government policies, are…
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Woman tumbles down China’s longest escalator while posing for photos
A woman tumbled from a 20-story escalator at the Crown Plaza in Chongqing, China. The shocking incident left her friends and fellow passengers in disbelief and raised concerns about safety measures in public spaces. The Crown Plaza escalator links two streets and a train station at a crossroads in Chongqing, Sichuan, China. At a height of almost 20 storeys, it…
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10 Thai provinces at risk as strong monsoon rains bring threat of flash floods and landslides
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) released an advisory today warning about strong monsoon rains impacting 10 provinces, urging caution against potential flash floods and landslides. The advisory will remain in effect until June 6 and impacts the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand. According to the announcement, the south-westerly monsoon rains are growing stronger, causing waves of 2-3…
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Gunman ambushes villager in South Thailand garden, personal conflict suspected
A 52 year old man was injured in a shooting in South Thailand‘s Pattani province while working near the Saiburi River at Kapho. The incident occurred around 6.30 pm yesterday. It is believed to have resulted from a personal conflict, although the unrest in the region has not been ruled out as a factor. Authorities are investigating and gathering evidence…
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North Korean missile tests threaten commercial shipping safety, says UN agency
North Korean missile tests are increasingly posing a significant threat to the safety of commercial shipping in the busy northeastern Asian sea lanes, with inadequate notice given, according to a resolution adopted by over 100 countries at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) security committee. Yesterday, May 31, saw the nuclear-armed nation’s sixth satellite launch failed and prompted emergency alerts and evacuation…
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Kyiv night-time missile attack kills three, injures four
Three individuals, including two children, tragically lost their lives while four others sustained injuries in a recent nocturnal missile strike on Kyiv, according to Ukrainian authorities. The capital city has been subjected to persistent aerial assaults involving missiles and drones, which typically occur during the night. These attacks on Kyiv and other cities have escalated in anticipation of a predicted…
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Teens die off Bournemouth beach, man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter
Tragedy struck off the coast of Bournemouth beach as a 17-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl lost their lives in a multi-agency incident. Dorset Police have initiated an investigation, arresting a man in his 40s who was on the water during the event, on suspicion of manslaughter. Ten individuals were pulled from the water after emergency services responded to the…
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Parents demand online history scrutiny in child self-harm death investigations
Parents who have lost their children to suicide are calling for authorities to consider the online histories of the deceased when determining the cause of death. Hollie Dance, mother of Archie Battersbee who passed away in August 2022, has joined other grieving families in demanding increased access to the online content their children were exposed to. Dance believes that online…
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Drunken Chinese man causes chaos at Pattaya hotel, threatens to jump from balcony
A chaotic scene unfolded at the First Pacific Hotel in Pattaya as a drunken Chinese man brought the establishment to a standstill. Perched precariously on the third-floor balcony, it seemed as though he might leap to his death. The 22 year old man was in a state of distress, alleging that a taxi driver had stolen his mobile phone. However,…
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Thailand’s MPI growth faces stagnation amid export slowdown and high costs
The Manufacturing Production Index (MPI) in Thailand is predicted to experience subdued growth of 0-1% this year, owing to a combination of domestic and international business challenges. The April MPI reading was the lowest in 34 months, with an 8.14% year-on-year drop to 83.5 points, marking the seventh consecutive decline since October last year, according to the Office of Industrial…
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Outrage in China: Mother defends son’s shocking attack on sleeping baby
A disturbing incident unfolded in Guangzhou, China, when a young boy intentionally kicked a sleeping baby, sparking widespread public outrage. Remarkably, the aggressor’s mother refused to apologise and instructed the shop owner to take legal action if she was so concerned. The boy intentionally kicked the sleeping 11 month old baby in a shop on Saturday, May 27, making the…
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Singapore luxury home rentals surge amid high net worth individual demand
Demand from high net worth individuals has driven a surge in luxury home rentals in Singapore, with landed property rents experiencing a significant 14.5% increase in the first quarter. This comes after several consecutive quarters of growth, resulting in a year-on-year jump of 39.3%. Analysts have attributed the sharp rise to a low supply of luxury homes and strong demand…
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Thai school conducts mass drug testing: Is it a violation of student rights?
A Thai school recently conducted a mass urine drug testing initiative for its entire student body, causing online debate as netizens clashed over whether this practice constituted a violation of the students’ rights. The school, local authorities, and health officials collaborated on the project to ensure a drug-free environment. The school is located in the town of Tha Rong in…
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Argentina removes prescription barrier for morning-after pill access
Argentina has recently announced that women will no longer need a prescription to access emergency contraception, in a move aimed at removing a significant obstacle for those seeking to prevent unintended pregnancies. Feminist groups have applauded this decision as a positive step forward in the predominantly Catholic nation, while opponents argue that it highlights the failure of pregnancy prevention initiatives.…
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New heat health alert system to combat climate change risks in England
England is set to introduce a new alert system this summer to warn the public about high temperatures that could adversely affect their health. The system, a collaboration between the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office, aims to reduce illnesses and fatalities among the most vulnerable populations. As climate change is expected to increase the frequency of heatwaves,…
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