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Travel Rising Prices, Broken Systems Dim Thailand’s Tourist Charm
Most Thais are too busy with day to day life, looking after family, work etc to even think about tourists, most do not see tourists on a day to day basis. Probably 99% of Thais are married to Thais, I think it might be much lower in Issan for example which seem to attract the lower income farangs like flies. Most tourists are in just a few tourist area and not evenly distributed across the nation. Tourism is 12% of that economy not 80% as many expat farangs imagine. -
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Tentative Thaw: US and China Begin Talks to Ease Trade War Tensions
Tentative Thaw: US and China Begin Talks to Ease Trade War Tensions Top officials from the United States and China are set to meet this week in Switzerland in a bid to ease hostilities in the ongoing trade war that has rattled global markets and strained diplomatic relations. The talks, scheduled from May 9 to 12, will mark the first major interaction between the two economic giants since the start of the year and come at a critical juncture for international trade. Representing China will be Vice Premier He Lifeng, a senior economic policymaker, while the United States will be represented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Both U.S. officials confirmed their attendance through formal statements released by their respective offices. The trade conflict between Washington and Beijing reignited after President Donald Trump returned to office, enacting sweeping import tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods. China responded with countermeasures, imposing its own set of tariffs reaching up to 125% on American imports. These tit-for-tat actions have destabilized financial markets and raised concerns about prolonged disruption to global supply chains. Speaking to Fox News ahead of the meeting, Bessent said the primary goal was to stabilize relations. “My sense is that this will be about de-escalation, not about the big trade deal, but we've got to de-escalate before we can move forward,” he explained. He also emphasized the importance of rebalancing the international economic system to better align with U.S. interests. China, meanwhile, has signaled a cautious but open stance. A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce remarked, “If the United States wants to resolve the issue through negotiations, it must face up to the serious negative impact of unilateral tariff measures on itself and the world.” Chinese state media echoed this sentiment, stating that the decision to engage with Washington was made after weighing global expectations, national interest, and the concerns of American businesses. However, the same reports warned that if hostilities persist, China is prepared to “fight to the end.” Despite the diplomatic activity, global trade analysts are not expecting immediate breakthroughs. Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation, noted to the BBC, “You have to start somewhere, so I'm not saying it isn't worthwhile. Just unlikely to be the launch event people are hoping to see.” Echoing that view, Henry Gao, a law professor at Singapore Management University and former WTO legal officer, predicted a protracted process. “We should expect to see a lot of back and forth, just like what happened last time in 2018. I would expect the talks to drag on for several months or even more than a year,” he said. In response to the announcement of the talks and new economic support measures by Chinese authorities, financial markets in mainland China and Hong Kong saw modest gains on Wednesday. U.S. stock futures also edged higher, offering a tentative sign of investor optimism. Futures, which reflect expected market trends, suggested a positive opening for American markets. The upcoming decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve on interest rates, expected later on Wednesday, adds another layer of uncertainty to the week’s economic developments. As trade talks commence, global markets and political observers alike will be watching closely for any signs of progress in what remains a deeply complex and high-stakes dispute. Adpated by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-05-08 -
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Federal Probe Launched After Violent Protest Rocks University of Washington
Federal Probe Launched After Violent Protest Rocks University of Washington A turbulent protest at the University of Washington has triggered a federal antisemitism investigation, after a group of anti-Israel activists vandalized a campus building, causing more than $1 million in damages and prompting strong condemnation from university and government officials alike. Complete chaos is ensuing at the University of Washington after pro-Palestinians took over a building and began committing arson on campus. Enough of the violence—this is not free speech, it’s criminal behavior. The federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which is spearheading the review, said the demonstration went far beyond political expression. “Pro-terror protestors demanded that the university divest from Boeing due to the company’s military contracts linked to the Gaza conflict,” the task force stated. “The ‘protestors’ actions included barricading and occupying an engineering building on campus for hours, setting property on fire, and shouting death threats to law enforcement.” While acknowledging the university’s swift condemnation and the actions taken by campus security, the task force emphasized that more robust measures are needed. “While these are good first steps, the university must do more to deter future violence and guarantee that Jewish students have a safe and productive learning environment,” the statement read. “The Task Force expects the institution to follow up with enforcement actions and policy changes that are clearly necessary to prevent these uprisings moving forward.” Education Secretary Linda McMahon echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that such behavior would not be tolerated. “The Task Force will not allow these so-called ‘protesters’ to disrupt campus life and deprive students, especially Jewish students who live in fear on campus, of their equal opportunity protections and civil rights,” she said. Her statement was joined by remarks from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum, signaling the broad federal attention the incident has drawn. President Cauce also condemned a statement from the protest group that praised the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, calling it abhorrent and disqualifying. “I also condemn in the strongest terms the group’s statement celebrating the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians,” she said. “The University will not be intimidated by this sort of horrific and destructive behavior and will not engage in dialogue with any group using or condoning such destructive tactics.” Related Topics: Democrats Face Backlash for Supporting Arrested Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Trump Administration Freezes Billions in Federal Funds at Cornell and Northwestern Adpated by ASEAN Now from Independent | X 2025-05-08 -
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Michelle Obama Embraces Therapy and a New Chapter in Life
Michelle Obama Embraces Therapy and a New Chapter in Life Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, has opened up about her personal journey of transition as she navigates a significant life shift. With both of her daughters now out of the house, she’s embracing her new role as an “empty nester” and has turned to therapy to guide her through this emotionally complex period. “I’m in therapy right now because I’m transitioning,” Obama, 61, revealed during a candid conversation on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast. “I’ve finished a really hard thing in my life with my family intact, I’m an empty nester, my girls … they’ve been launched.” Her daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23, have both graduated from university and moved out, prompting Obama to reflect deeply on what the next stage of her life will look like. After years spent in the public eye, first as the wife of then-Senator Barack Obama and later as First Lady during his two-term presidency, Michelle Obama is now prioritizing her own choices and well-being. “For the first time, every choice that I’m making is completely mine,” she explained to Shetty. “I now don’t have the excuse of, ‘My kids need this, my husband needs that, or the country needs that.’ So how do I think about this next phase? Let me get some help, let me unwind some old habits, let me sort through some old guilt. So, I’m getting that tune-up for this next phase because I believe this is a whole other phase in life for me.” Though she remains engaged with political causes—most recently showing support for Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention—Obama has made it clear she has no interest in seeking public office herself. She has consistently rejected calls to run for president, noting the toll that political life has taken on her family. Now, her focus lies on healing, introspection, and reclaiming personal autonomy after years of making decisions in the context of national duty and family obligations. During the podcast, Obama also voiced deep concerns about the political landscape, particularly regarding immigration under former President Donald Trump’s administration. “My fears are for what I know is happening out there in the streets,” she said. “And now we have leadership that is indiscriminately determining who belongs and who doesn’t, and we know those decisions aren’t being made with courts and due process.” Her criticism extended to the racial motivations she believes underpin such policies. “Knowing that there’s so much bias and so much racism and so much ignorance that fuels those kinds of choices, I worry for people of colour all over this country … that frightens me, it keeps me up at night.” While the podcast ranged across topics from her childhood in Chicago to the challenges of parenting, it notably steered clear of addressing rumors of marital tension that surfaced earlier in the year. However, Obama addressed those claims in a separate interview released last week with British entrepreneur Steven Bartlett. “If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it. I would be problem-solving in public, like, ‘Let me tell you what he did.’” As Michelle Obama steps into this next chapter of her life, she does so with characteristic openness and determination, seeking clarity and strength through therapy, and continuing to speak candidly on issues that matter deeply to her. Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-05-08 -
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Supreme Court Grants Trump Administration Power to Enforce Transgender Military Ban
Supreme Court Grants Trump Administration Power to Enforce Transgender Military Ban The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared the way for former President Donald Trump’s administration to begin enforcing its controversial ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, even as legal battles over the policy continue to unfold. On Tuesday, the court approved an emergency request to lift a lower court injunction that had temporarily blocked the ban, thereby allowing the executive order to take effect while challenges to its legality are heard in federal courts. The decision permits the government to begin discharging military personnel who identify as transgender, aligning with a directive Trump signed in January. The White House swiftly celebrated the ruling. “This is a massive victory,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, who praised the Supreme Court’s move. “President Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are restoring a military that is focused on readiness and lethality – not DEI or woke gender ideology.” The order has been met with fierce opposition from both advocacy groups and those directly affected. Seven transgender service members, along with one aspiring recruit, filed a lawsuit against the administration, contending that the ban violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. In March, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Seattle issued a preliminary injunction against the policy, condemning it as “unsupported, dramatic and facially unfair.” Judge Settle’s ruling was initially upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, based in San Francisco. That panel allowed the injunction to remain in place while the administration’s appeal proceeded. The Trump administration then turned to the Supreme Court, seeking immediate relief that would enable the policy to be enacted without waiting for a final judicial ruling. Though the Supreme Court’s order is not a definitive judgment on the constitutionality of the policy, it does permit enforcement of the ban while the appellate process continues—a process expected to take several more months as the 9th Circuit considers the government’s arguments. The policy marks a stark reversal of the more inclusive stance adopted during Barack Obama’s presidency. In 2016, the Obama administration officially lifted the longstanding ban on transgender individuals in the military. Under that policy, transgender service members could serve openly, and new recruits were scheduled to be accepted beginning July 1, 2017. However, upon taking office, the Trump administration postponed the implementation date to 2018 before ultimately moving to dismantle the policy altogether. The administration’s position has been that allowing transgender individuals to serve openly could harm military cohesion and readiness. However, critics have strongly disputed that rationale, pointing to studies, including one commissioned by the Department of Defense itself during the Obama era, which found no adverse effects from transgender military service. While the legal battle continues in the federal courts, the Supreme Court’s decision effectively places the Trump-era policy back into operation, at least temporarily, raising concerns among civil rights groups and service members about the message it sends to those who serve. Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph 2025-05-08 -
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UK and India Seal Major Trade Agreement Amid Political Firestorm
UK and India Seal Major Trade Agreement Amid Political Firestorm The United Kingdom has secured a historic trade agreement with India, marking the most significant post-Brexit economic deal to date. Under the terms of the new free trade pact, tariffs on British exports to India—including whisky and cars—will be slashed by up to 90 percent, potentially injecting £5 billion into the UK economy and driving a modest 0.1 percent increase in GDP. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the agreement as a “historic milestone,” emphasizing its potential to deepen the UK-India strategic partnership and spur “trade, investment, growth, job creation, and innovation in both our economies.” UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer echoed those sentiments, stating: “Today we have agreed a landmark deal with India – one of the fastest growing economies in the world, which will grow the economy and deliver for British people and business.” However, the announcement has sparked heated political debate in Britain. A provision within the deal allowing Indian workers and their UK-based employers to be exempt from paying National Insurance for up to three years has triggered accusations of a “two-tier” tax system. Critics argue the exemption—designed to prevent workers from paying contributions in both countries—gives Indian migrants an unfair financial edge over British workers. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader and former business secretary, refused to endorse the deal during her tenure, stating, “This is two-tier taxes from two-tier Keir. I refused to sign this deal because: Tax refunds for Indians not available to us. Visa requests too high. Ceramics and aluminium industries would be screwed... When Labour negotiates Britain loses.” Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform Party, also condemned the deal. “This Government doesn’t give a damn about working people,” he said in a video posted on X. “The Labour Party have this time in a big, big way betrayed working Britain.” He warned that Starmer’s poll ratings could suffer further, declaring, “Reform UK are the party of British workers.” Robert Jenrick, the Tory shadow justice secretary, added fuel to the fire, saying: “Starmer has hiked National Insurance on Brits while giving an exemption to Indian migrants. British workers come last in Starmer’s Britain.” Despite the uproar, Labour defended the deal and denied claims that it would result in a surge of Indian immigration. The government insisted the exemption is part of a standard “double contribution convention” also seen in deals with countries such as the US, South Korea, and members of the EU. British workers posted to India would similarly benefit from the exemption. Jonathan Reynolds, the Trade Secretary who led the negotiations, said critics were exaggerating the implications. “Obviously, if people were in the UK, they will still be paying income tax, they would still be paying, for instance, the health surcharge, and they wouldn’t be eligible for benefits from the National Insurance system,” he explained. The deal also includes major reductions in Indian import duties on UK whisky and gin, with rates dropping from 150 percent to 75 percent and eventually down to 40 percent within a decade. Automotive tariffs will also fall dramatically, from 100 percent to 10 percent, with a quota. On the UK side, tariffs on Indian textiles, food products like prawns, and footwear will be scrapped, a move the government claims will help lower costs for British consumers. While the formal signing and parliamentary scrutiny of the deal are still pending, the framework has been finalized after three years of negotiations. Indian officials described the National Insurance exemption as a “huge win” likely to lead to more job opportunities for its citizens in the UK. However, the UK Government has so far declined to publish internal estimates of how many workers will benefit from the exemption, though it emphasized that the overall migration framework remains unchanged. Indian nationals are now eligible to apply for work in 33 different sectors under the Global Business Mobility Visa, up from 15, though the total number of approvals for certain roles such as chefs, musicians, and yoga instructors will be capped at 1,800 annually. Meanwhile, a separate trade pact between the UK and the United States may be on the horizon, potentially shielding British car and steel exporters from harsh tariffs under a future Trump presidency. For now, the UK-India deal remains a focal point of both economic optimism and political controversy. Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-05-08
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