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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 10 June 2025
Crane Collapse at 67-Storey Condo Site in Pattaya, Construction Halted Immediately Pictures courtesy of Matichon. A construction incident occurred on the afternoon of 10 June, when a large crane collapsed at the site of a 67-storey condominium in Pattaya, sending workers fleeing in panic. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries or fatalities. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1363155-crane-collapse-at-67-storey-condo-site-in-pattaya-construction-halted-immediately/ -
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Accident Crane Collapse at 67-Storey Condo Site in Pattaya, Construction Halted Immediately
Pictures courtesy of Matichon. A construction incident occurred on the afternoon of 10 June, when a large crane collapsed at the site of a 67-storey condominium in Pattaya, sending workers fleeing in panic. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries or fatalities. The incident took place around 13:00 on Soi Thap Phraya 15. The crane’s boom, which was lifting a cement bucket, buckled and collapsed during the operation. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos as construction workers scrambled to safety. In response, Pattaya City Mayor Poramet Ngampichet ordered an immediate suspension of all construction activities at the site, citing urgent safety concerns. “Our first priority is to ensure the safety of all workers and nearby residents,” said the mayor. “An investigation is already underway to determine the cause of the collapse.” Preliminary findings suggest that over 30 storeys of the building had already been constructed. During the operation, the crane’s boom reportedly bent and gave way, causing steel cables to snap. The crane then fell against the structure of the building itself. Engineers from the Pattaya City Engineering Office are now tasked with examining the equipment in detail to determine whether the crane failed due to structural weakness or because it was overloaded beyond standard limits. Construction will remain suspended until a full safety assessment is completed and authorities are satisfied that the site is secure. Adapted by Asean Now from Matichon 2025-06-10 -
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Trump’s New Travel Ban Takes Effect for 12 Countries
President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban, which prohibits citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, took effect at midnight Eastern Time on Monday, igniting a storm of international criticism and domestic political debate. The executive order, signed last week, bars entry to nationals from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. An additional seven countries—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela—face partial restrictions. The White House defended the move as a national security measure. In a statement, officials said the “common sense restrictions” were implemented “to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors.” President Trump indicated that the list of restricted countries could change based on future security developments or if affected nations make “material improvements” in governance and vetting practices. “Threats emerge around the world,” he stated, leaving open the possibility of further additions. This marks the second major travel ban imposed by Trump during his presidency. A similar executive order in 2017, widely referred to as the "Muslim ban," faced intense legal scrutiny and prompted widespread protests. Like its predecessor, the new order is expected to face legal challenges. Despite the sweeping nature of the ban, several exemptions were included. Lawful permanent residents, their immediate family members with immigrant visas, U.S. government employees with Special Immigrant Visas, and individuals adopted from the listed countries are not affected. Dual nationals traveling on passports from non-restricted countries are also exempt. Afghan nationals with Special Immigrant Visas and Iranians with immigrant visas granted due to persecution based on ethnicity or religion will still be allowed entry. Additionally, certain non-immigrant visa holders, athletes and their teams participating in major global sporting events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, and individuals who could serve the national interest may be granted entry on a case-by-case basis by the Secretary of State. The ban was announced shortly after a suspected terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an Egyptian national injured 12 people using a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails during a demonstration in support of Israeli hostages. In a video posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump cited the incident as evidence of the dangers posed by inadequately vetted foreign nationals. Despite this, Egypt was notably absent from the list of banned countries. The reaction to the ban has been swift and polarized. Chad responded by halting all visa services for U.S. citizens, while Somalia stated its willingness to cooperate with Washington on security issues. The African Union condemned the order and urged the United States to “engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned.” Domestically, Democratic lawmakers were quick to denounce the policy. “This ban, expanded from Trump's Muslim ban in his first term, will only further isolate us on the world stage,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on social media. In contrast, supporters of the ban, like Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana, defended it as a matter of sovereignty and security. “Travel to the US is a privilege, not a right,” Higgins told the BBC. As the ban begins to reshape America’s immigration landscape once again, legal experts and civil rights groups are preparing for what promises to be another round of courtroom battles over the scope and constitutionality of the president’s authority on immigration. Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-06-10 -
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Partisan Firestorm Erupts Over Boulder Attack Condemnation Vote
Partisan Firestorm Erupts Over Boulder Attack Condemnation Vote What began as a seemingly straightforward move to condemn a violent incident in Boulder, Colorado, has spiraled into a deeply divisive political battle in Congress, as Republicans and Democrats clash over the language of the resolution and its broader implications. The dispute centers on a measure introduced by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.) and other Colorado Republicans to denounce the recent Molotov cocktail attack that injured 15 people and one dog during a pro-Israel demonstration. The suspect reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” while launching the attack, prompting Republicans to frame the resolution in terms that many Democrats now see as politically charged. The resolution, which spans three pages, doesn’t simply condemn the violence. It goes further, labeling the slogan “Free Palestine” as antisemitic and equating it with calls for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. “It’s sheer politics,” said one senior House Democrat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter freely. “It’s unfortunate that they’re using a serious antisemitic terrorist attack as a wedge opportunity to divide Democrats,” another senior House Democrat told Axios. “They knew what they were doing adding something like that in there.” A third Democrat was more direct, saying, “Nice little catch to put Democrats on the board.” Some Democrats argue that the inclusion of polarizing language is a calculated attempt to force them into a no-win situation—either support a resolution that aligns with values they find objectionable, or oppose a measure that condemns a clearly violent, antisemitic attack. One of the most controversial lines in the resolution explicitly states that “Free Palestine” is “an antisemitic slogan that calls for the destruction of the state of Israel and the Jewish people.” “It’s more than unfortunate,” the second senior House Democrat said. “It’s very f***ed up.” While some progressive Democrats are still deliberating how to vote, others are expected to support the measure despite their reservations. “If there’s a resolution condemning Boulder, I’m going to vote for that,” said one House Democrat who spoke anonymously. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) offered a nuanced view, saying, “‘Free Palestine’ should mean liberating Palestinians from the oppression of Hamas. Instead, it has come to signify something far more sinister: the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state.” Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), a Jewish progressive, was more blunt: “‘Free Palestine’ certainly isn’t good Shabbos.” But the controversy doesn’t end with the slogan. Another sticking point for Democrats is the resolution’s expression of “gratitude” to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for “protecting the homeland.” For a number of Democratic lawmakers and their aides, this line raises additional red flags, especially amid ongoing criticism of ICE’s actions under Trump-era immigration policies. “Democrats have faced rising tensions with ICE in recent months,” one source told Axios, citing the agency’s aggressive deportation tactics. Despite the discord, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said on Friday he had not yet seen the resolution, but internal discussions were ongoing. “It’s being worked,” said the first senior House Democrat. Meanwhile, Republicans remain steadfast. “Condemning antisemitism and condemning sanctuary state policies shouldn’t be hard, but Democrats twisting themselves into a pretzel over this shows how bad their party has gotten,” said a spokesperson for Rep. Evans. “This is a solutions-oriented resolution, and it will be disappointing if folks vote against it because they support pro-Hamas slogans and violent illegal immigrants.” As the House prepares to vote, what should have been a unified stance against violence and hatred has instead exposed deep ideological rifts—once again highlighting the intense polarization gripping Congress. Related Topic: Molotov Attack at Pro-Israel Rally in Boulder Deemed 'Targeted Terror Attack' Adapted by ASEAN Now from AXIOS 2025-06-10 -
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Labour Set to Miss Ambitious Housing Target by Nearly Half, Says Savills
Labour Set to Miss Ambitious Housing Target by Nearly Half, Says Savills The Labour government is on course to fall significantly short of its pledge to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029, according to research by property firm Savills. The forecast indicates that only around 840,000 homes will be completed during Labour's first five years in power, just over half of the promised total, due to dwindling demand and a marked decline in planning approvals. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) revealed that only 39,170 new homes were granted planning permission in England during the first quarter of 2025, marking the lowest quarterly figure since 2012. While the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government insists that the 1.5 million homes target remains intact, it concedes that the figure represents “a stretching target.” Developers have long expressed skepticism about the feasibility of building that many homes within five years. “All indicators for housing supply continue to stagnate or go backwards,” said Neil Jefferson, chief executive of the HBF. Dan Hill, a researcher at Savills, emphasized that the ambitious goal could only be achieved through robust government support to boost demand. “Very significant demand support” is required, he said, likely in the form of a new Help to Buy scheme or similar initiative. “Developers will only build what they can sell,” Hill noted. The Help to Buy scheme, which was instrumental in assisting first-time buyers for years, ended in March 2023. Its absence has left prospective homeowners without any form of government-backed assistance for the first time in six decades, compounding challenges for both buyers and developers. There is also growing concern that the upcoming spending review may introduce cuts to the housing budget. Such a move, industry leaders warn, could further tighten the already constrained supply of homes. A coalition of housing providers recently penned a letter to Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook, warning that many social housing providers “are struggling to fund required improvements to current housing portfolios, let alone deliver new homes” due to rent control restrictions. Even if demand were to rebound, Hill warned that “building volumes will be constrained by the speed at which the housebuilding sector can expand its supply chains and labour force.” Labour’s target would require annual housing completions to reach an average of 300,000 homes — a considerable leap from recent figures. Between 2019 and 2024, during the five years prior to Labour’s election victory, an average of 207,000 homes were completed each year in England, according to Savills. The most recent government statistics show that 198,600 homes were built in the year leading up to March 2024. Based on current trends, Savills now expects home completions to average just 167,000 per year from 2024 to 2029 — a figure that, if accurate, leaves the government far short of fulfilling one of its most high-profile promises. As developers hold back amid uncertain market conditions and planning approvals continue to decline, the prospect of hitting Labour’s housing target appears increasingly remote. Without substantial policy shifts or renewed financial support for homebuyers, the UK’s housing shortage looks set to deepen in the coming years. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-10 -
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ITV Accused of Censoring Martina Navratilova for claiming boxer Imane Khelif was male
ITV is under fire for allegedly censoring tennis legend Martina Navratilova and numerous other users after they commented on the biological sex of boxer Imane Khelif. The controversy erupted after World Boxing banned Khelif from participating in women’s boxing due to a leaked blood test revealing the athlete has XY chromosomes, typically associated with biological males. The backlash began when ITV shared a story on its social media account X (formerly Twitter) reporting that naming Khelif had caused “immeasurable psychological damage,” a claim made by the Algerian Boxing Federation following World Boxing’s decision to name the athlete publicly. In response, Martina Navratilova, a nine-time Wimbledon singles champion and long-time LGBTQ+ rights advocate, posted: “But a male beating the crap out of women is not too bad, apparently.” ITV initially hid her comment from view, only reinstating it after users criticized the move. While Navratilova's comment eventually returned to public view, dozens of other remarks remained hidden, many of which simply stated that Khelif is male. Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at the women’s rights organization Sex Matters, demanded accountability from ITV. “It’s shocking that the UK’s largest commercial broadcast network has censored hundreds of gender-critical comments on social media, many of them simply referring to Imane Khelif as male,” she said. “Hiding a simple truth about a major news story is a remarkable failure by a journalistic organisation.” McAnena also expressed disbelief that a figure as prominent as Navratilova was targeted. “It’s scandalous that ITV hid a reply from tennis legend Martina Navratilova, which they reinstated after an outcry. But what of the hundreds of other replies that remain censored, some of which do nothing but quote JK Rowling about the boxing row?” she continued. “ITV cannot simply dismiss this as a social media storm. Unless ITV’s leadership apologises for hiding factual comments from the public, it will damage its credibility as a respected news organisation.” The controversy traces back to last year’s Olympic Games, where Khelif won a gold medal in the women’s boxing event. The boxer had previously been disqualified from the 2023 World Championships after testing suggested the presence of male chromosomes. Most recently, World Boxing banned Khelif from competing in the Eindhoven World Cup unless a sex test was taken, which Khelif refused. X allows users to hide replies they dislike, preventing them from appearing automatically on the platform. However, these comments are not deleted and can still be viewed by those who choose to dig into the hidden replies. Among the many hidden responses were statements that strongly criticized Khelif’s participation in women’s sports. One user, Hatkeshiator, commented: “It’s hardly worse than pretending to be a chick so you can beat chicks up while they fear a ban if they complain. Get a grip.” Another, Kyle Reese, wrote: “I think the damage his mentally-ill man inflicted on women was far greater.” Florence Jeffries added: “He punches women. What about the harm, physical and mental, suffered by them? He knows tests have shown him to have XY chromosomes.” The growing debate continues to draw attention to questions of fairness, transparency, and the role of media in reporting biological and gender-related facts in elite sports. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph 2025-06-10
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