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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 18 February 2025
Thailand Faces Severe Air Pollution Crisis as PM2.5 Levels Soar Picture courtesy of Thai Health Northern and northeastern Thailand are grappling with a significant air pollution crisis, as hazardous PM2.5 levels have surpassed safety standards in 42 provinces. With deteriorating air quality expected to worsen from 18th to 24th February, especially in the north, concerns are mounting. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1352041-thailand-faces-severe-air-pollution-crisis-as-pm25-levels-soar/ -
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Russian Man and Three Thai Nationals Arrested in Phuket for Financial Crimes
Nice job Thai police! -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Monday 17 February 2025
to continue: Thailand Live Tuesday 18 February 2025 https://aseannow.com/topic/1352046-thailand-live-tuesday-18-february-2025/ -
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UK Becoming a Hub for Radical Islam Amid Government Inaction, Analyst Warns
The United Kingdom is at risk of becoming a "global powerbase" for radical Islam due to the failure of Sir Keir Starmer’s government to take decisive action, according to counter-extremism analyst Amjad Taha. While countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been rolling back ultra-conservatism, the UK finds itself in an "extraordinary position" where militant Islam is spreading within its borders. Taha, who has 1.6 million followers on X and Instagram, has voiced concerns about harmful teachings in schools and local communities. He points to instances where children in London, Birmingham, and Manchester are reportedly being taught about global jihad against Jews and Christians, with Holocaust denial included in some curriculums. "The things that some of the Islamists say in various mosques, and we have been seeing it online—the terminology they use, the analysis they make, the statements they actually make—they wouldn't be able to say it all the way in Afghanistan or Iraq," he said. His comments come as Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner launches a new council on Islamophobia, which aims to define the term officially. Some critics argue that this could lead to the introduction of a "blasphemy law" in the UK. The Home Office has responded to concerns by stating that the government is increasing training for officials to "spot terrorist ideologies, explicitly Islamist extremism." The new Islamophobia council, set to be chaired by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, will make recommendations that could criminalize certain criticisms of Islam, raising concerns about potential restrictions on free speech. Historian and founder of the Oxford Institute for British Islam, Dr. Taj Hargey, criticized the move, stating, "It is astounding that an unpopular Labour Party is seeking to sacrifice free expression just to placate Islamic fundamentalists." Taha echoes these concerns, suggesting that radical elements in the UK are growing unchecked while Middle Eastern countries are curbing ultra-conservatism. According to Taha, the Muslim Brotherhood exerts significant influence over press narratives in the UK’s Muslim communities. "The Muslim Brotherhood and the Islamists are radical Islamists, and they use freedom of speech in a manner where they will be anti-Semite in the name of freedom of speech. I absolutely stand against that, as I think anti-Semitism is not an opinion but a crime, and a crime against humanity," he stated. He further warned that extremists in the UK openly supported Hamas following the October 7 attacks against Israel. "What I saw and what we witnessed is the fact that some Islamists from all the way over here, we saw their voices—it was for Hamas," he said. He described Hamas as "the armed forces of the Muslim Brotherhood," pointing out that while the organization is banned in the UAE, it remains legal in the UK. He called for an immediate ban, arguing that "they use freedom of speech to censor your right to speak against them." Taha also raised concerns about Islamic Relief, a UK-registered charity that has been banned in Saudi Arabia and the UAE due to alleged ties to terrorist groups. "The fact that Islamic Relief, for instance, is registered as a charity here but all the way in Saudi Arabia, in the UAE, and other countries, it is banned because of the investigation that showed that this charity is sending money all the way to some terrorist groups in the Middle East—it tells you a lot," he said. He warned that "once-alien" ideologies are now deeply embedded in British society. "On London’s streets, the flags of terrorist groups are flown to protest against the war in Gaza, the Met Police happily explain on social media that 'jihad' on a flag means struggle, not war, and thousands of people are prepared to stand alongside Hamas terrorists and those sympathetic to ISIS and Al-Qaeda," he said. Meanwhile, Gulf nations are moving in the opposite direction, banning religious police, promoting arts and live music, and encouraging English-language education to create more global opportunities for their youth. Taha, who led the first independent youth delegation to Israel after the 2020 Abraham Accords, sees the rise in independent Muslim candidates in UK elections as a strategy to exert increasing influence. "We are seeing the realization of a radical Islamic strategy to exert increasing influence in the UK, emboldened by the lack of forceful pushback from the authorities," he said. "Keir Starmer sounds confident when he talks of this great democracy that values free speech and respect for international human rights. But the plan by extremists is to eradicate democracy while pretending to participate in it." He criticizes the UK government for failing to take strong action, allowing Islamist groups to operate freely under the guise of community organizations, advocacy groups, and charities. The Home Office has rejected these criticisms, stating that "Islamist extremism has no place in our society, and the government is committed to tackling the threat it poses to communities and individuals." A spokesperson emphasized that the government is working across departments to combat extremism, including radical Islamist ideologies. Meanwhile, Mr. Grieve, the former Attorney General, has been recommended to chair a committee defining anti-Muslim prejudice. In 2018, he wrote the foreword to a report on Islamophobia by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims, which defined Islamophobia as "rooted in racism" and targeting "expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness." Some critics argue that this definition is overly broad and could suppress legitimate criticism of Islam. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has called it a "Trojan horse for a blasphemy law" and "deeply flawed." The new council will consist of 16 members, potentially including Leeds Imam Qari Asim, who was previously dropped as a government adviser after supporting a ban on The Lady of Heaven, a historical drama about the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. It remains uncertain whether the government will adopt the all-party group’s definition of Islamophobia. At the same time, the government is forming a separate council to address anti-Semitism. Some within the Jewish community argue that existing institutions already monitor the issue effectively. Additionally, the Home Office has announced plans to track more non-crime hate incidents related to both Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. A spokesperson for Angela Rayner's Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government has stated that the government aims to take a "more integrated and cohesive" approach to tackling religious and racial hatred. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has denied that the government is using the all-party group’s definition of Islamophobia and has reassured the public that authorities will pursue offenders "regardless of their race or religion." The government has firmly denied that it is considering any form of blasphemy law. "No blasphemy laws will be introduced by this government. We are firmly committed to tackling all forms of hatred and division, including the unacceptable rise in anti-Muslim hatred," a spokesperson confirmed. Based on a report by Daily Mail 2025-02-18 -
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Reform UK Seen as Stronger and More Trustworthy Than Conservatives, Poll Suggests
Reform UK is gaining ground against the struggling Conservative Party, with new polling indicating that Nigel Farage's party is now viewed as a serious competitor to the Tories. An exclusive YouGov poll for Sky News reveals that Reform UK is performing at least as well as the Conservatives in key areas, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing Kemi Badenoch. The survey suggests that the Conservative brand has suffered significant damage, while Reform UK is increasingly resonating with voters. Despite the early stage of this parliamentary term, with most parties yet to outline detailed policy platforms, the poll provides insight into how the electorate perceives both parties. Only 10% of voters currently see the Tories as strong, while 61% view them as weak. By contrast, Reform UK fares much better, with 31% of respondents calling the party strong and just 27% considering it weak. This means that three times as many voters perceive Reform UK as strong compared to the Conservatives. A similar trend is evident when assessing whether each party has a clear sense of direction. Just 18% of voters believe the Conservatives have a clear purpose, while 59% say their direction is unclear. Reform UK, however, scores significantly higher, with 49% believing the party has a clear sense of purpose and only 24% unsure about what it stands for. Voters are thus more than twice as likely to see Reform UK as having a clear direction compared to the Tories. The gap is narrower when it comes to trust, but Reform UK still leads. Only 11% of voters see the Tories as trustworthy, while 65% consider them untrustworthy. For Reform UK, 19% say they are trustworthy, with 52% holding the opposite view. Ten years ago, when Nigel Farage led UKIP, some believed that his leadership or the party’s brand was too controversial for mainstream success. There was speculation that Farage had a lower potential ceiling of support compared to the Conservatives. However, the latest polling suggests that this perception may have changed now that he leads Reform UK. One way to gauge this is by examining the proportion of voters who say they would never support each party. According to the poll, 56% of respondents say they would never vote for Reform UK, leaving a potential voter base of 44%. An almost identical figure—55%—say they would never vote Tory, leaving them with a 45% pool of potential voters. This indicates that Reform UK does not face a lower ceiling of support than the Conservatives. Further analysis shows that right-leaning voters are more likely to switch from the Conservatives to Reform UK than the other way around. Among those who voted for Reform UK in the general election, 46% say they would never vote Tory. However, among Conservative voters from last year’s election, only 36% rule out voting for Reform UK. Additionally, 24% of those who voted Conservative in the last election now say they "will" or "might" vote for Reform UK, while only 8% of Reform UK voters indicate they "will" or "might" switch to the Conservatives. These figures suggest that Reform UK is emerging as a serious alternative for right-leaning voters, further challenging the Conservative Party’s position. Based on a report by Sky News 2025-02-18 -
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US Taxpayers Fund $24,000 for Irish College's DEI Film Initiative
The Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, has confirmed to Sky News that it received $24,000 (£19,000) from the US State Department to support a film project centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The funds were allocated to facilitate storytelling from marginalized communities through film. This revelation follows criticism of a separate $70,000 (£56,000) grant for a "DEI musical" in Ireland, which the Trump administration recently described as "crap" and a waste of taxpayer money. The administration is in the process of dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been involved in funding international cultural projects. However, spending records indicate that the $24,000 grant given to IADT in October 2021 was not through USAID but rather via the US Embassy in Dublin. The Irish college used the funding, along with additional support from Screen Skills Ireland, to produce four short documentaries created by individuals from marginalized backgrounds. These films premiered at a Galway film festival in July 2023. Project lead lecturer and filmmaker Vanessa Gildea expressed her strong belief in the importance of diversity and inclusion in the film industry. "I believe passionately that the future of film and television must be based on diversity, inclusion, and gender parity. This belief is the reason we created this film project," she said. "We are all incredibly proud of these beautiful and moving films, and of each and every filmmaker." Among the four short films was Falling, a poetic portrayal of a courageous young Afghan woman seeking a better life. Another, Cultural Medium, directed by Britney Madondo, offered a vibrant and lyrical exploration of the Black and Irish experience through the artistic lens of Yomi Attention. What is Freedom?, directed by Mohadesa Shojaee, took viewers on a journey of navigating freedom in a new land, while Sticks & Stones delved into experiences of discrimination and the significance of language. The revelation of the funding came amid a broader scrutiny of US government expenditures on DEI projects abroad. Two weeks ago, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted what she described as "insane priorities" funded by USAID, including $1.5 million (£1.2m) for workplace DEI initiatives in Serbia, $47,000 (£37,000) for a "transgender opera" in Colombia, and the previously mentioned $70,000 (£56,000) grant for the "DEI musical" in Ireland. "I don't know about you, but as an American taxpayer, I don't want my dollars going towards this crap, and the American people don't either," Leavitt stated. "And that's exactly what Elon Musk has been tasked by President Trump to do." The funding revelations have provoked strong reactions from conservative commentators in the US. However, it appears that both the $70,000 grant and the IADT funding were awarded by the State Department, not USAID. Reports suggest the $70,000 grant was used for an event in Dublin rather than a musical, though repeated attempts to contact the event's organizer have been unsuccessful. Based on a report by Sky News 2025-02-18
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