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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 6 June 2025
Mobile Liquor Labs Roll Out for Safer Thai Booze Picture courtesy of MCI The Excise Department is revolutionising local liquor production by launching "Community Liquor Lab on Wheels", a programme introducing free alcohol quality testing across three Thai provinces. Announced by Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul, the unique initiative aims to elevate standards of locally crafted spirits, ensuring they are both safe and high-quality for consumers. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1362829-mobile-liquor-labs-roll-out-for-safer-thai-booze/ -
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Future UK Demographics Could See White British Minority by 2063, Study Suggests
Future UK Demographics Could See White British Minority by 2063, Study Suggests White British people could become a minority in the United Kingdom within the next 40 years, according to new research that forecasts sweeping demographic changes driven by migration and differing birth rates. The study, led by Buckingham University professor Matt Goodwin, projects a steady decline in the White British share of the population, which currently stands at 73 per cent, dropping to 57 per cent by 2050 and falling below 50 per cent by 2063. Professor Goodwin’s analysis, based on data from the Office for National Statistics and national census figures, considers trends in birth, death, and migration rates through to the end of the 21st century. His findings indicate that, by 2100, just four in ten people living in the UK will have been born in the country to two UK-born parents. “By the end of the current century, most of the people on these islands will not be able to trace their roots in this country back more than one or two generations,” Goodwin said. The report also predicts a significant demographic shift in terms of ethnicity and religion. It estimates that the proportion of foreign-born and second-generation immigrants in the UK will grow from under 20 per cent to 33.5 per cent in the next 25 years. By the year 2100, around 60 per cent of the UK population is expected to either be immigrants themselves or have at least one immigrant parent. Religious identity is also expected to change. The Muslim population, currently at around seven per cent, is projected to rise to 19.2 per cent by the end of the century. Goodwin emphasized that these transformations pose fundamental questions for the UK’s political and social structures. “This raises enormous questions about the capacity of our country and leaders to unify people around a shared sense of identity, values, ways of life, and culture,” he said. He warned that without adequate attention to public concern, the nation could face significant division, adding, “There is a very real risk of us becoming what Sir Keir Starmer referred to in May as ‘an island of strangers’.” The analysis suggests that the overall white population in the UK, including both White British and other white groups, would become a minority by the year 2079. Goodwin stressed the need for political leaders to acknowledge and engage with the concerns of voters who are uneasy about the pace of demographic change. “Their concerns will need to be recognised, respected and addressed,” he said. Some of these changes are already evident in urban centres. The 2022 census revealed that cities like London and Birmingham are now minority White British. A 2023 report by the Office for National Statistics stated that 46 per cent of Londoners were from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds. Similarly, data from the Birmingham City Observatory showed that the white population in the city fell from 57.9 per cent in 2011 to 48.6 per cent by 2021. The report concludes that the UK is undergoing a profound demographic transformation that will require thoughtful leadership and policy responses. Whether the country can successfully navigate this change without fragmenting socially or politically remains an open question—one that, according to Goodwin, must be confronted in the years to come. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph 2025-06-06 -
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Old Bailey hears Wagner Group Accused of Orchestrating Arson Attack on London Business
Wagner Group Accused of Orchestrating Arson Attack on London Business with Ukraine Links A high-profile terrorism trial has begun at London’s Old Bailey, centering on a group of six men accused of carrying out an arson attack in east London at the behest of Russia’s notorious Wagner Group. Prosecutors allege the plot targeted a business that supplied StarLink satellite equipment to Ukraine — a direct link to the ongoing war effort against Russia. The attack, they claim, was designed to serve the interests of the Wagner mercenary group, which the UK designated as a terrorist organization in September 2023. The fire occurred on March 20, 2024, when two units at the Cromwell Industrial Estate in Leyton were deliberately set ablaze. According to prosecutors, the operation was no random act of vandalism but a coordinated strike ordered by Wagner operatives. “Earl was knowingly acting at the behest of the Wagner Group,” said Duncan Penny KC, the lead prosecutor, as he addressed the jury. He added that Earl “commissioned the arson attack on the warehouses,” describing the act as part of a larger campaign orchestrated by the Russian-linked military contractor. Four men — Jakeem Rose, 23, Ugnius Asmena, 20, Nii Mensah, 23, and Paul English, 61 — stand accused of carrying out the arson. They allegedly livestreamed the attack, an act prosecutors say was intended both to intimidate and to showcase Wagner’s reach. The court heard how the inferno required the intervention of eight fire engines and sixty firefighters to extinguish. Two other individuals, Ashton Evans, 20, and Dmitrijus Paulauskas, 23, are also on trial. They are charged with failing to disclose information about terrorist activity. The prosecution claims they not only had knowledge of the arson but were planning additional attacks, including arson on a restaurant and a wine shop in Mayfair. Even more alarmingly, they allegedly plotted the kidnapping of the businesses’ owner, a multi-millionaire Russian dissident. These charges mark the first case brought under the UK’s recently introduced counter-espionage laws, which were enacted to address increasing concerns about foreign interference and state-sponsored terrorism. The Crown argues that the evidence linking the defendants to the Wagner Group is "overwhelming," and reflects a broader effort by Russian actors to disrupt support for Ukraine from within the UK. All six men have pleaded not guilty to the charges, which include aggravated arson and withholding information regarding terrorist acts. The trial is expected to examine the defendants’ communications, online activities, and the nature of their connections with Wagner operatives. As the case unfolds, it underscores the British government’s concern about hybrid warfare and the use of unconventional tactics — like cyberattacks and sabotage — to undermine Western efforts to support Ukraine. The outcome of the trial could set a precedent for how the UK handles future threats involving foreign state-linked entities and domestic collaborators. Adapted by ASEAN Now from Sky News | AP 2025-06-06 -
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French Efforts to Curb Illegal Crossings Come Too Late for British Politics
French Efforts to Curb Illegal Crossings Come Too Late for British Politics As the tide of small boat crossings across the English Channel shows little sign of slowing, the latest French promises to step up enforcement offer scant reassurance to British politicians weathering growing public anger. Despite repeated agreements and millions of euros in bilateral funding, the Channel remains an open route for people smugglers and migrants seeking to enter the UK illegally. The French authorities are now reportedly considering more assertive tactics, with officials in Paris debating whether officers should be “armed and wearing body armour when they engage the boats,” a move that would be unthinkable in the British context. “Imagine the furore if that were suggested here,” the author notes, highlighting the political and cultural sensitivities surrounding enforcement on British shores. The reality is that the UK has long leaned on French cooperation in trying to stem the flow of illegal migration. If given the choice, the author admits, “I would choose the French police” over Britain’s Border Force when it comes to facing down the criminal networks facilitating the crossings. Yet this pragmatic endorsement is laced with skepticism. While France does make efforts to intercept and prevent some boats from launching, footage of French officers apparently doing nothing as vessels depart has infuriated UK observers. British governments of both stripes have, time and again, unveiled bilateral agreements with Paris in the hope of halting the crossings. The latest of these, covering 2023 to 2025, carries a price tag of €541 million — roughly £476 million at the time of the deal. “We pay a lot for the privilege too,” the author dryly observes. Still, the return on that investment has been minimal in terms of visible, sustained impact. Even acknowledging that the crossings might be worse without French action, this is “cold comfort to British politicians facing mounting public anger at a completely unacceptable level of crossings.” The problem, in part, is that France lacks much incentive beyond British funding to prevent the migrants from continuing their journey. Their destination, after all, is not Calais but Dover. Paris has long argued that the UK itself fuels the problem by maintaining a system that draws migrants — a “poorly-policed black economy,” for instance — which acts as a magnet and turns France’s northern coast into a de facto staging ground. Without addressing such pull factors, the Channel crossings are unlikely to end, no matter how many deals are signed. There is some suggestion that the latest agreement could mark a turning point. France has now agreed, at least on paper, to engage boats at sea — a shift from previous refusals. However, the practical enforcement of this change remains uncertain. Much, as always, will depend on how French authorities interpret the need to “respect the law of the sea.” The UK Conservatives, having spent years and millions securing French cooperation, now learn from this deal that it is “for the first time” that both governments have acknowledged “the need for action to prevent irregular crossings of the Channel.” The belatedness of that realization speaks volumes. And even now, questions remain about French political will. As President Emmanuel Macron faces growing pressure from the Rassemblement National, how likely is he to prioritize British concerns? “Is he really going to want Sir Keir Starmer boasting of his strenuous efforts to keep illegal migrants in France, all for the benefit of Les Rosbifs?” the author asks. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph 2025-06-06 -
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Biden-Appointed Judge Halts Deportation of Terror Suspect's Family Amid Legal Battle
Biden-Appointed Judge Halts Deportation of Terror Suspect's Family Amid Legal Battle The wife and five children of Colorado terror suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman have been granted a temporary reprieve from deportation after a federal judge appointed by President Joe Biden intervened in their case. The decision came just as the family, who had been detained by immigration authorities, faced swift removal from the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Gordon Gallagher issued an emergency order on Wednesday, halting the deportation process for Soliman’s wife, 41-year-old Hayam Salah Alsaid Ahmed Elgamal, and their five children — including 18-year-old daughter Habiba Mohamed Sabry Farag Soliman, two additional daughters, and two sons. The family had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Tuesday. In his ruling, Gallagher stated, “Defendants SHALL NOT REMOVE Hayem El Gamal and her five children from … the United States unless and until this Court or Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit vacates this Order.” He emphasized that deporting the family without due process could result in "irreparable harm," adding that the emergency nature of the situation warranted action without notice. The Soliman family originally arrived in the United States from Kuwait in August 2022. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), they were permitted to stay only until February 2023. Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, filed for asylum a month after entering the country and listed his wife and children as dependents in Denver. He was granted a temporary work permit in March 2023, which expired this past March, and his asylum request remains unresolved. Homeland Security officials detained the family as federal prosecutors pursue a major criminal case against Soliman. He has been charged with committing a hate crime and faces 16 counts of attempted first-degree murder. Authorities allege he attacked participants in a peaceful march advocating for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Twelve individuals were injured in what investigators described as an antisemitic assault. Witnesses reported that a shirtless Soliman shouted “Free Palestine” before allegedly carrying out the attack. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that investigators would examine whether Soliman’s family members had any knowledge of his alleged plan. Prosecutors claim Soliman had been plotting the attack for over a year and had waited until his eldest daughter completed high school before acting. Judge Gallagher’s ruling has temporarily paused the deportation proceedings, but a hearing to determine the future of the family’s immigration status is scheduled for June 13. Gallagher, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a 53-43 vote in March 2023, will oversee further deliberations in the case. If convicted on all charges, Soliman could spend the remainder of his life behind bars. As the legal battles continue, the fate of his wife and children remains uncertain, pending the court's final decision. Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP 2025-06-06 -
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Haley Slams Trump’s Call with Putin as Undermining U.S. Allies
Haley Slams Trump’s Call with Putin as Undermining U.S. Allies Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley issued a sharp rebuke of former President Donald Trump’s recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it “a backhanded slap to all of our allies.” Her condemnation highlights the deepening divisions within the Republican Party over foreign policy and the future of U.S. engagement with adversarial nations like Russia and Iran. Trump, who described the hour-and-fifteen-minute call on his social media platform Truth Social, said that the discussion with Putin included both the ongoing war in Ukraine and the growing urgency around Iran’s nuclear ambitions. While he characterized the conversation as “a good one,” Trump acknowledged it was unlikely to bring “immediate Peace.” He also quoted Putin as saying “very strongly” that Russia would have to respond to a recent drone strike on its airfields, attributed to Ukraine. What drew particular ire from Haley was Trump’s suggestion that Putin might act as a mediator in discussions with Iran over its nuclear program. “It is ludicrous to think we would allow Putin to be chief negotiator between the U.S. and Iran on the Iran deal in exchange for the U.S. helping Russia with Ukraine,” she wrote on X. “This is a backhanded slap to all of our allies.” Haley pointed to the existing military alliance between Russia and Iran as proof that Putin cannot be trusted in any diplomatic role involving Tehran. “Russia has been receiving drones and ballistic missiles from Iran to use in its kidnapping of Ukraine. Iran and Russia are partners,” she emphasized, reinforcing her long-standing position that the United States should exert maximum pressure on the Iranian regime rather than pursue new negotiations. “The only way to deal with Iran,” Haley wrote in a follow-up post, “is to apply maximum pressure. If Iran fears it will be attacked before it can create a weapon, it has an incentive to give up its nuclear program for good. That makes us all safer.” Trump, however, suggested that Putin might have a role to play in accelerating diplomatic progress with Iran. “I stated to President Putin that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and, on this, I believe that we were in agreement,” he said. Trump added that Putin had offered to “participate in the discussions with Iran” and might “be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion.” Still, he acknowledged that Iran is “slow-walking their decision on this very important matter,” stressing that time was running out. Haley, a staunch critic of Iran throughout her diplomatic career, helped pass UN Security Council Resolution 2370 in 2017 to curb weapons access by terrorists—citing Iran’s involvement in destabilizing the region. “As long as we allow the Iranian regime to violate this Council’s prohibitions with impunity, it will be a source of weapons to terrorist groups that will only grow in volume and destructive capability,” she said at the time, warning about Iran’s preparations for conflict in Lebanon. Trump withdrew from the original Iran nuclear agreement in 2018, a move Haley supported. However, his current efforts to build a new deal with Tehran have drawn skepticism, especially given Iran’s dismissive labeling of the new proposal as “nonsense.” Haley’s stance has remained firm. As recently as April, she reiterated her distrust of the Iranian regime. “Iran has violated every agreement they have ever been a part of. We can’t trust them to have any amount of nuclear production. Iran should not have a nuclear program, period,” she declared on X. As Trump flirts with a new diplomatic approach involving adversaries like Putin and Iran, Haley’s critique reflects a broader Republican tension over the direction of U.S. foreign policy—one that pits hardline skepticism against risky overtures for negotiation. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Daily Beast 2025-06-06
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