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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Monday 30 June 2025
Mother Carrying Baby, Killed by Taxi on Zebra Crossing in Pathum Thani Picture courtesy of Khaosod. A 34-year-old Laotian woman was killed and her five-month-old baby injured after they were struck by a taxi while crossing a pedestrian crossing on Lam Luk Ka Road on the night of 28 June. The incident occurred near Soi Lam Luk Ka 69, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1365181-mother-carrying-baby-killed-by-taxi-on-zebra-crossing-in-pathum-thani/ -
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Middle East ChatGPT Blocks Iranian Influence Campaign Exploiting Scottish Independence Debate
ChatGPT Blocks Iranian Influence Campaign Exploiting Scottish Independence Debate A covert Iranian influence operation using artificial intelligence to stoke division in the UK and US has been disrupted by OpenAI. The company behind ChatGPT confirmed that it had cut off access to its tools for a network of propagandists operating under the alias "Storm-2035," which had been generating persuasive political posts in English and Spanish using prompts written in Persian. According to OpenAI’s June threat report, the Storm-2035 network was likely controlled by Iranian operatives posing as ordinary citizens from the UK, US, Ireland, and Venezuela. These accounts sought to inflame already contentious political issues, with a particular focus on Scottish independence and Irish unification. The campaign aimed to deepen divisions by aligning these causes with support for the Iranian regime, raising concerns about foreign manipulation of Western political discourse. The crackdown came amid claims that a sudden disappearance of pro-independence social media accounts followed Israeli strikes on Tehran earlier this month. During a heated exchange in the Scottish Parliament, Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser challenged SNP cabinet secretary Angus Robertson about the potential foreign backing of the independence movement. “Are you concerned that your central policy objective is being actively backed by the terrorist state of Iran, as part of its campaign to weaken this United Kingdom?” Fraser asked. Robertson responded sharply, cautioning against political smearing. “Fraser should be very careful about seeking to smear people in this country who believe that this country should be a sovereign state,” he said. Despite the OpenAI intervention, some fake accounts linked to the Storm-2035 operation remain active. These accounts continue to promote pro-independence messages while praising the Iranian government. One such post, from a user with a stereotypical Scottish name and a generic avatar, declared: “The Iranian people triumphed through unity and resilience against two nuclear superpowers. Why shouldn’t we follow their example to win our independence from the British monarchy?” Cybersecurity experts have long warned that state-sponsored disinformation networks often focus on wedge issues to attract followers and later introduce unrelated political narratives. The sudden appearance of pro-Tehran content among Scottish nationalist accounts, which rarely express interest in Middle Eastern geopolitics, appears to be an effort to blend unrelated ideologies for propaganda purposes. The Storm-2035 campaign did not restrict itself to Scotland. OpenAI’s investigation found that the network also pushed narratives supporting Irish unity, Palestinian statehood, and Latino rights in the US, while echoing Iranian propaganda. These accounts typically displayed suspicious behavior, including following hundreds of users while having few followers, and using profile pictures lifted from websites like Pinterest — often showing young women with their faces obscured by phones. In its report, OpenAI stated: “The threat actor was prompting ChatGPT in Persian and generating batches of short comments in English and Spanish. The short comments were then posted on X by a series of likely inauthentic accounts that posed as residents of the target countries.” It noted the growing difficulty of distinguishing real from fake users online, particularly when large language models like ChatGPT are exploited to create content that sounds convincingly native. By blocking Storm-2035’s access, OpenAI hopes to reduce the spread of this type of AI-assisted disinformation. While artificial intelligence can help users communicate across languages and cultures, its misuse by hostile states remains a growing challenge for tech firms, governments, and civil society alike. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-30 -
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USA Trump Halts Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Tax, Threatens New Tariffs
Trump Halts Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Tax, Threatens New Tariffs President Donald Trump has abruptly ended all ongoing trade negotiations with Canada, lashing out at the country’s newly implemented digital services tax, which he labeled “egregious” and “a direct and blatant attack on our Country.” The decision was announced via Trump’s Truth Social platform and sent shockwaves through global markets and diplomatic circles. The U.S. president accused Canada of mimicking the European Union in targeting American tech companies, stating, “They are obviously copying the European Union, which has done the same thing, and is currently under discussion with us, also.” The tax, which was passed by the Canadian government last year and is set to be collected starting Monday, applies retroactively to 2022 and targets major U.S. firms such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta. “Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately,” Trump declared. “We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, has acknowledged the U.S. announcement but has yet to issue a formal response. Carney’s office told CNN that officials are currently reviewing the situation. The fallout is expected to be significant, as Canada remains one of America’s most crucial economic partners, with two-way goods trade totaling $762 billion last year. The timing of Trump’s decision is particularly dramatic, as both nations had been working toward finalizing a renewed trade agreement by mid-July. That effort followed a tit-for-tat tariff exchange earlier in the year, sparked by disputes over dairy and other agricultural products. Trump reiterated his long-standing frustrations on this front, calling Canada “a very difficult country” to do business with and referencing tariffs on American dairy exports. The markets reacted swiftly and negatively to the news. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq, which had both touched record highs earlier in the day, plummeted following Trump’s statement. The uncertainty surrounding potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods has rattled investors already concerned about global trade tensions. Canadian officials have consistently defended the digital services tax, arguing that multinational tech giants should pay their fair share for revenue earned within Canada. Earlier this month, they reaffirmed that the tax would not be withdrawn, even under mounting pressure from Washington. The tax has become politically sensitive, especially after Trump’s previous inflammatory suggestion that the U.S. might annex Canada and make it America’s 51st state—an outlandish claim that outraged Canadians and played a role in Mark Carney’s rise to power. Trump’s abrupt move marks a major disruption in one of the world’s most integrated trade relationships. As Canadian firms prepare for a potential wave of tariffs, and American tech giants brace for millions in retroactive tax bills, the coming days may determine whether this rift deepens or a new diplomatic channel opens to prevent further escalation. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-30 -
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UK ‘Damage as much as possible’ Undercover with Palestine Action
Just a day after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group, the organisation launched its latest online training session — a “crash course in direct action” — on Zoom. Hosted by a masked activist wrapped in a keffiyeh, the two-and-a-half-hour session brought together a dozen new recruits and one undercover journalist from The Times, all eager to learn how to take part in the group’s campaign of sabotage against companies allegedly complicit in Israel’s military actions. “This is a critical moment in every sense,” the host declared. She admitted that the group was “flummoxed” by the looming terror designation and acknowledged tensions were high. Still, she insisted the campaign of vandalism and criminal damage would “continue as normal.” The training revealed an organisation both highly secretive and brazenly committed to causing significant financial harm — with £5,000 of damage encouraged as a minimum threshold. “We hope you’ll be causing damage of over £5,000,” she told attendees. The more serious the charges, the greater the praise: “My favourite case of all time” involved a lone activist who caused £500,000 of damage at the Arconic aerospace factory in Birmingham — and was acquitted. Legal risks were downplayed. “Don’t be put off” by the potential ten-year sentences, the host said. She claimed most serious charges were often dropped or diluted by prosecutors and pointed to recent jury acquittals of activists accused of criminal damage, including the so-called “Leicester two.” In her view, “the public is on our side.” Even prison time was reframed as a badge of honour. “The resistance continues right the way through to the trial. If you end up in prison, on remand, you can take the resistance into prisons,” the host explained, quoting one jailed member who said, “I am bringing the intifada into the prison.” Nineteen Palestine Action activists are currently incarcerated and referred to as “political prisoners” by the group. Francesca Nadin, one of those celebrated for serving time, told Glastonbury Festival attendees that “everyone who goes to prison becomes more radicalised,” insisting it was “not the end of the world.” Concerns about the personal consequences of activism — criminal records, visa issues, mental health — were acknowledged but ultimately brushed aside. One activist said a conviction had not harmed her career working with vulnerable people, and in fact had improved her job prospects. “As soon as I’ve told them why it is that I’ve got a conviction, they’re like, ‘Please come work for us more,’” she said. Throughout the session, the host stressed the belief that Palestine Action members are morally right. “We are literally the people that are upholding international law,” she said. “We’re not guilty and that’s why we plead not guilty.” Legal advice was informal and offered without liability, with attendees advised to exploit legal aid or crowdfund. One example cited was a book smuggled into prison titled How to Blow Up a Pipeline, which promotes militant climate activism. Beyond its militant messaging, the group offers what it calls a tight-knit support network. Volunteers wait at police stations to assist released members, help recover their property, and attend court hearings. “It’s a really beautiful community,” said the host. “They wave flags, show support, and knit you little Palestine flag hearts.” Financially, Palestine Action insists it does not pay anyone. It accepts donations via its website and claims all legal costs are covered through online crowdfunding. One campaign to oppose the terror proscription raised £150,000 in just four days. In a statement responding to the government’s decision, the group said: “This is an unhinged reaction to an action spraying paint in protest at the UK government arming Israel’s slaughter of the Palestinian people. It is plainly preposterous to rank us with terrorist groups like Isis, National Action and Boko Haram.” Despite the looming ban, the group remains defiant and increasingly emboldened. Its recent break-in at RAF Brize Norton has been followed by plans to target three other military bases. “We’ve actually seen support go through the roof,” the host claimed, thanking attendees for “putting your finger up against the government who are trying to silence us.” Related Topics: How in Just 5 Years The Corbynista Huda Ammori Steered Palestine Action's Militant Campaign Watch: Activists Claim Damage to RAF Military Aircraft in Protest Against Gaza Operations Sabotage Campaign Targets UK Defence Suppliers in Unrelenting Attacks Activists Vandalize Trump’s Turnberry Golf Course in Pro-Palestinian Protest Pro-Palestinian Students Vandalize Cambridge University's Senate House in Gaza Protest Pro-Palestine Activists Vandalize Barclays and JP Morgan Buildings in Leeds Pro-Palestine Mobs Wreck Barclays Banks Across the UK 7 Activists Face Court Alleged Terrorist-Related Actions at Israeli Defence Firm UK Site Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-30 -
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UK Lord Hermer’s Blind Eye to two-tier justice Deepens Public Distrust
Lord Hermer, the Attorney General, has once again landed himself in hot water with a deeply out-of-touch response to concerns about unequal treatment under the British justice system. Speaking to the BBC this week, Hermer dismissed the notion of “two-tier justice”—the belief that ethnic minorities are treated more favourably than the white working class—as “frankly disgusting” and “offensive” to police, prosecutors, and courts. According to him, politicians “need to get behind” the justice system rather than “seek to undermine it.” Such a sweeping dismissal only serves to reinforce the public’s belief that their legitimate concerns are being ignored. The perception of unfairness has grown especially strong since the government’s heavy-handed response to last summer’s Southport unrest. Hermer appears blind to the widespread anger and frustration over what many see as stark disparities in how the state handles civil unrest depending on the community involved. In defending the apparent inconsistency, Hermer attempted to draw a distinction between the Southport unrest, where officers were attacked, and London’s Gaza marches, which he claimed were “not producing violence” despite being “awash with anti-Semitism.” But his argument completely misses the point. No one is suggesting violent offenders should escape justice. The real issue lies in how the state appears far more aggressive in confronting unrest in white working-class areas than in others. Just weeks before Southport erupted, the streets of Harehills, Leeds, saw a police car overturned and a bus set ablaze. Rather than confront the violence, officers reportedly retreated. And while Southport saw swift and aggressive policing, other groups appeared to operate with near impunity. In Birmingham on August 5, armed Muslim mobs took to the streets, ostensibly to “protect their communities.” The result? A pub was attacked, and a man outside suffered a lacerated liver. Yet these incidents did not trigger the same zero-tolerance approach. What has most inflamed public outrage, however, is the crackdown on online speech. One of the most notable cases is that of Lucy Connolly, who was sentenced to 31 months in prison for a single, nasty tweet posted on the night of the Southport murders—a message she deleted soon after. As revealed by the Telegraph, Lord Hermer personally approved her prosecution for stirring up racial hatred, even though he had the constitutional authority to withhold consent. At the same time, he declined to review lenient sentences for grooming gang members, raising questions about his priorities. Former Attorney General Suella Braverman has stated that she would not have brought the charge against Connolly. “We don’t have a two-tiered justice system,” Hermer insisted. “We have an independent justice system.” But that claim rings hollow to many. Prime Ministerial hopeful Sir Keir Starmer himself politicised the matter by branding those involved in the Southport unrest as “far-Right thugs” from outside the area. Arrest data and a recent report from the police inspectorate have since cast doubt on that assertion. Hermer and other officials also targeted online speech, asserting that it had played a central role in inciting the violence. “You cannot hide behind your keyboard,” Hermer declared. Yet many locals were already enraged by the brutal murders of three children, without any prompting from social media. For Connolly, the state’s heavy-handedness continues. She has been denied temporary release to care for her daughter and her ailing husband—privileges that even convicted murderers have received. “Their intention was always to hammer me,” she told the Telegraph earlier this year. She now alleges cruel treatment behind bars. If Lord Hermer truly believes it's “disgusting” to view such treatment as unfair, he is dangerously out of touch. The public is not convinced by blanket denials of injustice. In fact, as awareness of cases like Connolly’s grows, so does the belief that the system is rigged. A recent YouGov poll shows public confidence in the judiciary at an all-time low, with a four percent rise in those expressing “no confidence at all” since last June. Dismissing these concerns will only deepen the divide. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph 2025-06-30 -
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Ukraine Russia Presses Toward Pokrovsk with 110,000 Troops Amid Stalemate, Kyiv Warns
Russia Presses Toward Pokrovsk with 110,000 Troops Amid Stalemate, Kyiv Warns Russia has concentrated a formidable force of 110,000 troops near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, according to Ukraine’s top military commander, as Moscow continues its drawn-out campaign to seize full control of the Donetsk region. General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Ukraine’s military chief, described Pokrovsk as the “hottest spot” along the 1,200-kilometre front line stretching across eastern Ukraine. Despite a year of continuous offensives, Russian forces have yet to break through and claim the city. “The enemy’s capture of Pokrovsk, announced back in September 2024, has not yet taken place, thanks in part to our Kursk operation,” Syrskyi said. Pokrovsk holds strategic significance for both sides in the war. Though not a major urban center, its location on a key supply road and rail line makes it critical for logistics and military coordination. Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Pokrovsk had a population of approximately 60,000. Most residents have since fled, particularly after Ukraine’s last functioning coking coal mine in the city was shut down earlier this year. Its closure prompted even more departures, as the workers who had remained to keep the mine running also left. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that a primary objective of the war is to fully capture the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where Russian forces already hold significant territory. Kyiv and Western allies believe Moscow is intentionally dragging out negotiations in an attempt to seize more land through military force. “[The Russians] want to do this not only to achieve some operational results, but primarily for demonstrative purposes,” Syrskyi said. “To achieve a psychological effect: to put the infamous ‘foot of the Russian soldier’ there, plant a flag and trumpet another pseudo-‘victory.’” According to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine’s resistance in Pokrovsk has forced Moscow to revise its original strategy. A planned frontal assault on the city was abandoned in favor of a gradual encirclement from the south and northeast. The ISW attributed this shift to the increasing effectiveness of Ukrainian drone warfare, noting that Kyiv’s forces have integrated drone operators directly with infantry units to strengthen their defensive posture. While Russian troops possess numerical and equipment advantages, they have faced logistical limits in increasing their presence around Pokrovsk. One factor cited was Ukraine’s surprise cross-border incursion into Russia’s southern Kursk region, which temporarily diverted some 63,000 Russian troops and 7,000 North Korean fighters away from eastern Ukraine. “This allowed us to weaken the enemy’s pressure on the main fronts and regroup our troops,” Syrskyi explained. In their latest analysis, ISW reported that Russian assaults continue in the region, often executed by small fireteams—sometimes only one or two soldiers—using unconventional vehicles such as motorcycles, buggies, and all-terrain vehicles. These tactics suggest a shift toward more mobile, flexible attacks in an attempt to find vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s layered defenses. Despite mounting pressure, Pokrovsk remains under Ukrainian control, a symbol of resistance in a grinding conflict where victories are measured in meters rather than miles. Whether Russia can maintain its current level of troop concentration, or Ukraine can continue to hold out amid a prolonged war of attrition, remains uncertain. Adapted by ASEAN Now from CNN 2025-06-30
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