Category: Asia

Singapore

Singapore’s Air Turned Unhealthy — Now Hundreds of Vulnerable Residents Are Getting Emergency Support

SINGAPORE — As heat and haze raise fresh concerns across Singapore, the Singapore Red Cross is expanding its support for vulnerable residents, with air purifiers, care packs and electricity bill assistance expected to reach about 700 people in the first phase of its enhanced response. The move comes after Singapore's air quality recently entered the unhealthy range in several areas — the first time the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index, or PSI, crossed that threshold since October 2023. Authori

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Business

Thailand’s Inflation Jumps to 2.53% in August, Beating Forecasts as Fuel and Food Prices Rise

BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand’s headline inflation accelerated sharply in August, rising 2.53% from a year earlier and exceeding market expectations as higher fuel and food prices added fresh pressure to household budgets. The August reading marked a significant increase from 1.95% in July and came in above the 2.37% median forecast in a Reuters poll. Despite the acceleration, inflation remained within the Bank of Thailand’s target range of 1% to 3%. The latest figures signal that Thailand's pe

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Entertainment

Thailand’s Senate Rebuked as MPs Reject Changes That Could Weaken Landmark Clean Air Bill

BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand's long-awaited Clean Air Bill has entered a new and critical stage after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly rejected Senate amendments that lawmakers and environmental advocates warned could weaken public protections and strip key enforcement powers from the proposed law. In a near-unanimous vote, MPs rejected the Senate's revised version of the Clean Air Management Bill by 414 votes to two, sending the legislation to a joint committee of both chambers for

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Business

Thailand’s High-Income Dream Faces Its Toughest Test Yet

BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand wants to become a high-income country within the next decade. It is an ambitious goal that promises better jobs, higher wages, stronger industries and a more competitive economy. But as the government pushes its vision for Thailand's economic future, a growing question is emerging: Can the country move fast enough to escape years of slow growth before demographic and structural problems make the challenge even harder? Thailand's ambition has received renewed atten

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Business

USS Abraham Lincoln Crew Leaves Thailand Delighted After Long-Awaited Break From Record Deployment

CHON BURI, Thailand — After months at sea and one of the longest uninterrupted deployments in modern U.S. Navy history, thousands of American sailors and Marines have left Thailand following a five-day visit that offered the exhausted crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln a long-awaited chance to rest, recharge and experience life on land again. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its approximately 5,000 personnel departed Thailand on Sunday, ending a port visit that brought sailors and Marines

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Entertainment

Natalie Portman Is Now a Mom of Three—but Her New Baby’s Details Remain a Mystery

Natalie Portman has reportedly welcomed her third child, marking her first baby with French musician and producer Tanguy Destable. According to PEOPLE, a source confirmed that the Oscar-winning actress gave birth in Paris last month. The news was subsequently reported by several entertainment outlets, including Entertainment Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, Vogue and The Independent. However, Portman and Destable have not publicly announced the baby's arrival themselves, and details such as the

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Business

Three Students Lose Millions in Fake Police and Scholarship Scam as Thai Authorities Warn of Sophisticated New Tactics

BANGKOK, Thailand — Three students have lost more than 2.7 million baht after falling victim to sophisticated scams involving criminals posing as police officers and scholarship representatives, highlighting the growing threat facing young people in Thailand. The cases were reported to Thailand's Anti Cyber Scam Centre, where investigators found that the fraudsters used different stories but relied on the same strategy: create fear, gain the victim's trust and pressure them into handing over mo

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Politics

Thailand Set for Government Spokesman Shake-Up as ‘Dr Ek’ Tipped for Top Communications Role

BANGKOK, Thailand — Thailand’s government is preparing for a shake-up in its communications team, with Ekkapob Pianpises, widely known as “Dr Ek,” tipped to become the new government spokesman. The expected appointment would see Ekkapob take over a high-profile role responsible for communicating Cabinet decisions, government policies and official positions to the public and media. The move comes as Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s administration seeks to strengthen and streamline its publi

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Politics

Kim Jong Un’s New Nuclear Navy Warning Raises Alarms — But What Is North Korea Preparing Next?

SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to transform his country’s navy into a nuclear-armed force, escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula as the United States, South Korea and Japan launch fresh trilateral military drills. Kim made the remarks while commissioning the Kang Kon, a new 5,000-ton-class destroyer that North Korea says will play a role in strengthening the country’s nuclear deterrence and maritime combat capabilities. The development marks one of Pyongyang’s stronges

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Entertainment

Bangkok’s Fast-Paced Life Is Taking a Mental Toll on Young People

BANGKOK, Thailand — Bangkok never seems to stop. The alarms ring before sunrise. Commutes can take hours. Roads are packed. Trains are crowded. School and work deadlines pile up. By the time many young people return home, there is often little energy left for rest. For a growing number of Bangkok's younger residents, the pressure of city life is becoming more than an ordinary source of stress. It is raising serious concerns about mental health. New figures and recent discussions among health

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