Live: South Korea court set to deliver long-awaited ruling on Yoon’s impeachment
<!–/*–><![CDATA[/* ><!–*/ #block-plasterarticleadsoverflowfix { display: none; } .block-ad-displayside01-display .ad-entity-container .advertisement__container .celtra-ad-inline-host .celtra-banner { overflow: unset !important; } .block-ad-displayside01-display .ad-entity-container .advertisement__container .celtra-ad-inline-host .celtra-banner iframe { margin-top: 0; } /*–><!]]>*/Continue Reading
Her fashion shows hit different: Meet the Singaporean empowering youths with special needs on the runway
She was especially touched by Leah, a cancer person in the late stages of her illness.
“Every time we met, I would tell her about fashion – colors, textures, design, beauty. And despite her situation, she participated in some of the shows I hosted, ” Yap recalled.
“She walked the airport with trust. The subsequent year, she also asked if she could rapper the shows and fashion with her brother, ” Yap said. “No another could tell she was in the last stage of cancer. She had so much optimism despite battling a critical condition. ”
THE START OF A Cultural ENTERPRISE
Moved by these encounters, Yap decided in 2016 to rename SG50 Singapore Fashion Runway to focus on poor groups like cancers patients, as well as severely ill and particular needs youths who were enthusiastic about clothing.
She shuttered Noel Caleb, transforming the company into Singapore Fashion Runway.
She also launched the Fashion for a Social Cause motion, which showcases designs from these poor groups, teaching them fashion-related knowledge to help SFR’s shows.
“Everyone may be entitled to clothing, in my opinion, ” she said. “Seeing their clothing items come to life and watching them wear these items in their daily life or on the tarmac – it makes my vision so much more deliberate. ”
But not everyone understood Yap’s transition to become a social organization.
“Many folks thought the displays used to be so beautiful in 2015,” she said. “ But in 2016 when we started including more people with conditions ( such as Down syndrome and autism ) on stage, it was not easy to explain what inclusive fashion shows were.
“Some people actually thought, ‘If I stand next to a person with a problem on level, won’t I be mistaken for one also? ’” she added, admitting that many of her initial supporters and models from 2015 left.
But that did n’t shake Yap’s resolve – it only made her more certain of Singapore Fashion Runway’s mission.
“We remained focused on the underprivileged groups I wanted to help. And along the way, I found many youths, families, caregivers, partners, and organisations who believed in us and stayed with us till today, ” she said.
Yap focused on teaching her beneficiaries fashion skills like sewing, pattern making and apparel design, while still using Singapore as an inspiration for their designs.
“We use the youths ‘ love for Singapore as an anchor for our designs; whether it is a particular food, flora, fauna or place in Singapore that sparks their interest, we lay that story out into the merchandise. ”
FTI pushes for tougher steel checks
Poor goods ‘ need to be stopped’
PUBLISHED: 4 Apr 2025 at 06: 16
The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI ) has put forth suggestions to address the issue of poor material in Thailand in the midst of the decline of the 30-storey State Audit Office, following fears that substandard metal played a part in the crisis.
Bantoon Juicharern, president of the FTI’s Iron and Steel Industry Group, said that, first, generation must adhere to strict quality requirements, and governmental oversight should become reinforced.
Customers, he said, should become educated on finding quality-certified items over cheaper, poor alternatives. Also, imported goods, like as prefabricated steel buildings, of which 700, 000 kilograms were imported in 2024, may have mandatory quality inspections.
He said enhancing accountability in quality control is among the vital tips.
Measures should be implemented to monitor and evaluate material value from generation to last use, he said. This includes stricter enforcement of industrial certification standards and traceability of steel in the marketplace.
Bantoon: Industry faces challenges
Public awareness campaigns should also educate consumers on selecting high-quality steel, he added.
The chairman said that Thailand’s steel demand this year is expected to remain in the range of 16.0-16.3 million tonnes, down from the pre-Covid-19 level of 18-19 million tonnes.
He said the Thai steel industry faces significant challenges due to China’s production surplus. China currently produces 1.1 billion tonnes of steel annually, with domestic demand at approximately 900 million tonnes. This leads to an excess of 200 million tonnes being exported, particularly to Thailand and other Asean countries. This influx, including substandard steel, remains a major concern.
According to the FTI, credible information also indicates that approximately 30, 000 tonnes of substandard steel products have been imported, with additional shipments continuing to arrive. These products include aluminium-zinc coated steel, commonly known as SZACC. However, they have been misclassified under the tariff code for magnesium-coated steel to evade mandatory standards and anti-dumping ( AD ) duties.
These imports are entering Thailand through Laem Chabang Port. Mr Bantoon said legal action must follow if the Customs Department finds discrepancies between the declared and actual product classifications.
Additionally, since 2017, when the Chinese government banned steel mills utilising induction furnace technology due to environmental and quality concerns, many of those steel producers have relocated to Thailand and contributed to issues such as overcapacity, aggressive price-cutting, and, most critically, concerns over steel quality and environmental impact, he said. To tackle these challenges, he said the FTI has proposed its recommendations to enhance steel quality standards and ensure fair competition in Thailand’s steel industry.
The FTI has also requested that fair competition be ensured. Domestic steel producers must be able to compete fairly against imports and relocated factories. Authorities should enforce regulations ensuring equal compliance with labour laws, environmental protection, taxation, and product quality standards for all manufacturers.
The FTI also said the government should set procurement targets to ensure that at least 50 % of public sector projects use domestically manufactured steel to promote” Made in Thailand” initiatives. Expanding this policy to Public-Private Partnership projects exceeding 1 trillion baht annually would further boost the local industry and economy.
More broadly, the FTI has suggested that the government promote “green steel” development.
Sri Lankan premier courts investors
Says area will be’ future success story ‘
PUBLISHED: 4 Apr 2025 at 05: 57
Sri Lanka’s social balance and sense of hope will force it to become” the world’s second success account”, and buyers are “invited to be a part of it”, the country’s prime minister, Harini Amarasuriya, said on Thursday at an expense conference in Bangkok.
She presented investment options to a room full of local and international organization people willing to learn more about the island’s possible.
The event was held on the sidelines of the 6th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation ( Bimstec), which Bangkok will be hosting from April 2-4.
Ms Harini, who was installed in business last September, said her state has overseen evidence of economic recovery, especially in the aftermath of the political difficulties in 2022 triggered by an economic issue.
The region has seen a boom in international arrivals since the launch of this year and hopes 2025 may see a record number of tourists, said Ms Harini.
Sri Lanka is the only country to have free trade agreements with both India and Pakistan, giving duty-free access to over 1.5 billion client businesses, she noted.
” We are looking to improve our relationships with colleagues in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. We are even looking to non-traditional companions, looking frontward”, she said.
Thailand and Sri Lanka discuss such heavy social roots, somewhat in Buddhism, even though Sri Lanka is a democratic society and house to all the world’s major religions, Ms Harini said.
From 2008 to 2024, Thailand contributed US$ 97 million to Sri Lanka’s foreign direct investment.
The two nations have an FTA that covers investments and services beyond trade in goods.
Dilan Samarakoon, president of the Thai-Sri Lanka chamber of commerce, said this is the start of Sri Lanka’s “new era” as the country is pursuing robust infrastructure development along with a more highly skilled workforce.
Sri Lanka is also building a strategic economic project dubbed” Port City Colombo”, the first multi-services special economic zone, Mr Dilan said, with top sectors for investors including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and automobiles and parts.
Substandard steel suspected in tragedy
PUBLISHED: 4 Apr 2025 at 05: 52
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra acknowledged that substandard steel may have been used in the construction of the State Audit Office ( SAO ) building that collapsed during the earthquake on Friday.
” Progress updates have been continuously reported, and the issue of]sub-standard ] steel is one of the clearer aspects”, she said on Thursday.
She said that the president’s research has focused on the quality of metal used in the building, with the Ministry of Industry inspecting numerous metal samples taken from the crashed site.
Seven sorts of material were tested, and preliminary findings revealed that there were two poor ones– 20mm and 32mm in width– sourced from the same company, she said.
She next called for a conference to be held either now or Monday to explain the research into the fatal decline further.
Industry Minister Akanat Promphan, however, confirmed that further checks may be carried out in partnership with a government-appointed fact-finding council that includes people of the Department of Public Works and Town Planning, as well as the officers.
This analysis will precisely target structural components and areas identified as probable causes of the decline based on the company’s blueprints, he said.
Separately, Teerajchai Phunthumas, an MP with the opposition People’s Party and deputy chairman of the House Committee on Corruption and Misconduct Prevention and Suppression, has announced that the Auditor-General will be summoned on Thursday to clarify how compensation for the families of the victims of the collapse would be dispensed and explain the project’s perceived bloated budget.
The official tally shows a total of 15 people have been confirmed dead, while scores of others are still missing.
Mr Teerajchai said that the Council of Engineers would be called upon to provide information on the materials and technologies used in the building’s construction to help establish the cause of the collapse.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry will also be required to explain the procurement procedures, design and materials used, he said.
The SAO building’s construction project, which was approved in 2020 with a budget of over 2 billion baht, was initially scheduled for completion in 2023 but faced delays of more than a year, he said.
The collapse has raised public concerns about why the building failed to withstand the earthquake impact despite the high budget, he noted.
Commentary: As Trump’s tariffs roil markets, can Singapore seize the moment?
SMALL-CAP STRENGTH
The three big businesses in Singapore- DBS, OCBC, and UOB- dominate the market, accounting for about 25 per share of daily trading volume. Their powerful functionality has led to a substantial boost in their combined weight in the Straits Times Index (STI), from 40 per cent in 2019 to 54 per share now.
But, over 80 per share of the listed businesses on the SGX have a market capitalisation of under US$ 1 billion, positioning the trade as a small-cap business. This section, especially small and mid-cap companies, remains undervalued despite being well-run, prosperous, and offering attractive income. Revitalising this industry sector may provide much-needed cash and power to the SGX.
Rather than forcing fund managers to invest in individual stocks, a more effective strategy could be to create indices and exchange-traded funds ( ETFs ) based on small and mid-cap companies- perhaps an SGX50, SGX100, and SGX200.
These funds would make it easier for institutional investors, including home offices, to get exposure to smaller- and mid-caps, therefore enhancing cash. Such a move could drastically affect the buying dynamics of the local marketplace by bringing administrative wealth into formerly neglected parts.
While the EMRG’s S$ 5 billion action appears to be a step in the right direction, some business watchers argue that more could be done to support the SGX. For example, it is worth considering if government-backed funds like the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation ( GIC ) should invest in SGX-listed stocks.
If the SGX succeeds in attracting local companies to record here, it makes little sense if the GIC does not participate in them, especially when it does so on other markets like Hong Kong. Such an technique may further enhance the attractiveness of the SGX as a list destination.
The issue of blacklisting, which has been a growing problem with around 20 firms delisting last year and five so far this year, may also be alleviated if the S$ 5 billion program introduces enough liquidity into the business. In addition, the tax incentives already announced will serve as an attractive catalyst for companies to consider the Singapore market for their IPOs.
However, there is room for further improvement. One potential area is investor education. Retail investors, particularly the younger demographic, tend to gravitate towards overseas markets and more volatile assets like cryptocurrencies. Given that the current SGX retail base is largely aged 55 and above, efforts to engage younger investors could help diversify the investor base and encourage more participation in the local market.
Analyst coverage of mid- and small-cap stocks could also be enhanced. Analysts should be encouraged to identify and promote undervalued stocks with growth potential, rather than focusing primarily on large-cap companies. Brokers, too, should be more willing to engage with clients and promote growth and value stocks, aligning with investors ‘ risk appetites.
Lastly, attracting large, well-known companies to list on the SGX, such as PSA, Changi Airport, and NTUC, could serve as a powerful signal of the exchange’s competitiveness. Waiving or reducing some transaction fees and taxes could further reduce costs and make the SGX one of the most attractive trading platforms in Asia.
Trump tariffs: How will India navigate a world on the brink of a trade war?
Donald Trump’s cover taxes have put the world on the verge of a possible international trade war. The European Union has vowed a united answer, and China has threatened measures.
Scores agencies like Fitch have warned that the large price hikes could result in lower development, higher prices and possibly a crisis in some parts of the world.
How may India- Asia’s second largest market- navigate these global tremors?
Trump has dealt the most brutal blow to Asian countries, slapping 34 % tariffs on China in addition to the 20 % previously levied. Vietnam and Cambodia will have to give 46 % and 49 % respectively.
In relative terms, at 27 % India has fared better.
But the price is still rough and will greatly influence big “labour intense exports”, says Priyanka Kishore of the consultancy Asia Decoded. ” That will probably have a knock-on impact on domestic desire and title gross domestic product at a time when progress is now stuttering”, said Ms Kishore.
But the new trade realities also throw up opportunities for India.
Its new price divergent with Asian peers may possibly guide to some trade re-routing. ” We can bring the shoes and clothing company from Asiatic peers if we get our work up”, says Nilesh Shah, a senior fund manager.
This may take time nevertheless.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state will therefore have to be strategic in how it navigates the situation.
Foremost, the news really “give the state a greater sense of urgency in wrapping up a business deal with the US”, says Rahul Ahluwalia, a public policy expert who previously worked for a government office. ” The US is our largest export business, so this is significant stuff”.
India exports some$ 91bn ( £69bn ) in goods to the US, which account for 18 % of its overall exports. Hectic trade negotiations have been under approach with a drop date for finish. Ahluwalia says that date could now be compressed and brought forth.
While doing that, India may even develop export markets beyond the US and concentrate on regions where tariffs remain low, such as Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa, recommends American business research agency GTRI.
In the last couple of years, India has shown a renewed appetite for trade deals, launching free trade agreement (FTA ) talks with a range of countries and blocs, including the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Last year, Delhi signed a$ 100bn free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association ( EFTA )- a group of four European countries that are not members of the European Union.
Experts say talks with other partners could now be expedited as cracks deepen between the US and many other global economies over Trump’s actions.
But even as trade negotiations carry on with global partners, the government will need a plan on how it deals with the domestic fallout of Trump’s decision.
Impact on sectors that employ millions of people- like gems and jewellery and textiles- is likely to be significant. The government will need to extend support through means like expanding production-linked subsidies to ensure that India’s domestic industry stays globally competitive and can leverage the new opportunities this has thrown up, according to the consultancy, Ernst &, Young
The tariffs are “fundamentally reshaping the global trading system”, says Agneshwar Sen, a trade policy expert at Ernst &, Young India. This will require a “fundamental revaluation of trading strategies” as new supply chains emerge, he adds.
India will also have to be mindful of other risk factors that emerge from this- such as” Chinese dumping”, says Mr Shah.
As it becomes more difficult for Chinese goods to enter the US, these will have to find other markets. And there are few others that are as large as India.
“The global South accounts for more than 20% of global consumption and is where the new middle class is being created. This is where China will attempt to sell,” according to Akash Prakash of Amansa Capital, an investment management company in Singapore.
For the moment there’s little clarity and no official word from the government on what its plans are.
India has already reduced tariffs on some goods including high-end motorbikes and bourbon whiskey. Unlike Canada, Mexico or the European Union, Modi’s government has adopted a conciliatory approach to Trump and these announcements are unlikely to trigger a retaliation, say experts.
Indian businesses will now most likely face a period of uncertainty which is unlikely to go away anytime soon.
” Clearly, the ( Trump ) administration wants even broader and deeper tariff cuts. The question is what, if anything, will satisfy the Trump administration”?, Milan Vaishnav, a senior fellow at Carnegie Endowment told the BBC.
It is a million dollar question, for which there are no immediate answers.
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook.
‘I just felt helpless’: Parents of children with autism call for more understanding and empathy
SINGAPORE: It was a Friday four years ago, and Singapore’s national football team commander Hariss Harun and his son were seated in the middle of a crowded dome.
The parents sensed that Naufal Hariss was getting anxious, and handed him his cellphone to watch movies on mute. But Naufal,  , who was diagnosed with mild autism at time seven, turned the volume up much to harm others.
Soon after, a brother worshipper approached Mr Hariss and angrily asked why his son was playing with a telephone in a mosque.  ,
” He merely kept going on and on. I felt but over. I didn’t think protective, I only felt helpless”, the player, 34, told CNA.
” As a Muslim, it’s critical that I introduce my children to the belief from a young age. Although items didn’t go as planned, it’s crucial that we don’t give up”.
Now 11 years old, Naufal usually struggles to get through another events like sports matches, holiday parties and bridal dinners, which you leave him confused and overstimulated.
It can lead to circumstances such as a collapse in common- which, in turn, may be difficult and overwhelming for families, said Mr Hariss.
” The fact that autism is an invisible illness makes it harder to go out there and reveal the same thing every single time. It gets a little exhausting after a while”, his family, 33-year-old Syahirah Mohamad, added.
During the discussion, both parents do delay mid-sentence now and then, to tell Naufal to take deep breaths to quiet down.  ,
These methods, coupled with years of first treatment, have helped the child feel more comfortable in cultural options.
But some challenges remain.
Majesties set to pay state visit
PUBLISHED: 4 Apr 2025 at 04: 45
His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana may pay a state visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan from April 25 to 28, the second formal international state visit of His Majesty the King’s era.
The visit follows an offer from His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan.
Upon their arrival, Their Highnesses will be welcomed by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Third Prince of Bhutan and Her Majesty the Queen of Bhutan.
The visit does contain a considerable religious service at Buddha Dordenma, where 74 Thai and 74 Bhutanese priests will conduct Buddhist chants to give gifts to the imperial couple.
In addition to these royal activities, Their Majesties will become immersed in Bhutanese society through traditional archer, standard matches, and displays of Bhutanese woven textiles and garments.
Their Majesties will also visit prominent development projects and exhibitions, including a collaboration between the Royal Projects of Thailand and Bhutan, as well as the One Gewog, One Product ( Ogop ) initiative.
The future state attend aims to strengthen the already near and well-established relations between the two royal families, as well as to develop goodwill and shared understanding between the peoples of both kingdoms.
To commemorate the historic occasion, the government of Thailand will organise a series of cultural events ahead of the state visit, featuring traditional Thai performing arts, Thai boxing, Thai cuisine, and a friendly football match.
These activities are designed to further deepen people-to-people ties between Thailand and Bhutan.
US tourist arrested after visit to restricted North Sentinel island
Social media influencers pose a “new and increasing risk” for uncontacted indigenous folks, a generosity has warned after the imprisonment of a US holiday who travelled to a restricted Indian Ocean area.
Mykhailo Viktorovych Polyakov, 24, reportedly landed on North Sentinel Island in an obvious attempt to make contact with the isolated Sentinelese community, filming his attend and leaving a can of soda and a palm on the beach.
Survival International, a group that advocates for the right of cultural people, said the alleged action endangered the man’s personal life and the lives of the community, calling it “deeply disturbing”.
The US said it was conscious and “monitoring the position”.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands ‘ police chief HGS Dhaliwal told news agency Agency that” an British member” had been presented before the local court and was remanded for three weeks for “further questioning”.
AFP, citing Mr Dhaliwal, said Mr Polyakov blew a bell off the shore of the island in a bid to attract the attention of the community for about an hour.
He finally landed for about five days, leaving his services, collecting samples and recording a picture.
The police captain told AFP:” A review of his GoPro cameras images showed his access and getting into the limited North Sentinel Island”.
It is illegal for foreigners or Indians to travel within 5km ( three miles ) of the islands in order to protect the people living there.
According to police, Mr Polyakov has visited the place half before- including using an inflatable kayak in October last season before he was stopped by hotel personnel.
On his arrest earlier this year, the gentleman told officers he was a” fun seeker”, Indian media reported.
Survival International said the Sentinelese have made their wish to avoid outsiders clear over many years and underlined that such visits pose a threat to a community which has no immunity to outside diseases.
Jonathan Mazower, director for Survival International, told the BBC they feared cultural press was adding to the list of challenges for tribal tribal people. Some media studies have linked Mr Polyakov to a YouTube account, which features video of a recent excursion to Afghanistan.
” As well as all the significantly more established threats to like peoples- from things like checking and mine in the Amazon where most tribal peoples live- there are now an increasing amount of… influencers who are trying to do this kind of point for followers”, Mr Mazower said.
” There’s a growing social media fascination with this whole idea”.
Survival International describes the Sentinelese as” the most secluded Aboriginal people in the world” living on an island around the size of Manhattan.
Mr Mazower told the BBC an estimated 200 folks belong to the community, before adding it was “impossible” to understand its real number.
Some details are known about the team, other than they are a hunter-gatherer society who live in smaller towns and are “extremely healthy”, he said.
He added that the event highlighted why federal protections for areas such as the Sentinelese are but essential.
The UN’s Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention sets out obligations for governments to protect the rights. India’s government has an initiative focusing on tribal welfare, but the country has come under criticism in recent years for failing to protect against evictions.