Indonesia sacks national football coach Shin Tae-yong, citing World Cup target
The head of Indonesia’s sports organization, Shin Tae-yong, criticized the country on Monday ( Jan 6), citing the need for better management as the nation competes to win the 2026 World Cup. Tens of millions of people in the East Asian island are devoted sports enthusiasts, but Indonesia’s only WorldContinue Reading
Transport Ministry to push priority projects
Red Line, double-track work to begin’ rapidly’
PUBLISHED: 7 Jan 2025 at 08: 11
The Transport Ministry is aiming to establish some essential public transport projects at the start of this year, pending the cabinet’s approval, in a bid to boost the nation’s connectivity.
According to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, these projects include the expansion of the State Railway of Thailand’s ( SRT ) Dark Red and Light Red lines and the second phase of double-track upgrades on key stretches in the North, Northeast and South.
Altogether, these tasks require 319 billion ringgit in assets to carry out.
The SRT wants the funds to increase from the latest 6.4 billion ringgit, he said, even though the first one, which would see Rangsit and Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus connected by an 8.84 kilometer extension of the Dark Red energy commuter rail line, had already been approved in December.
The next project, which may depart from the main Light Red Line, is the building of a 20-kilometer drive line connecting Siriraj Hospital to Salaya.
According to Mr. Suriya, the project will begin once it has received final approval from the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council ( NESDC ) and the Budget Bureau.
The next job, the second phase of double-track updates on important extends in the North, Northeast and South, may cost about 297 billion ringgit to complete.
It will see the one record on six routes– At Nam Pho-Den Chai, Den Chai-Chiang Mai, Jira Junction-Ubon Ratchathani, Hat Yai Junction-Padang Besar, Chumphon-Surat Thani, and Surat Thani-Hat Yai-Songkhla– upgraded to two tracks to increase efficiency.
Veeris Ammarapala, SRT chancellor, said the double-track switch project may be proposed to the case maybe this month.
Once it receives the commission’s assent, the SRT will start the buying process for purchasing and building, starting with the Pak Nam Po-Den Chai and Jira Junction-Ubon Ratchathani sections.
The last to be upgraded will be the Den Chai-Chiang Mai section, as its Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) is still being reviewed, Mr Veeris said.
Indonesia joins BRICS bloc as full member, Brazil says
SAO PAULO: Brazil’s government announced in a statement on Monday ( Jan 6 ) that Indonesia is officially a full member of the BRICS, further extending the group of important emerging economies that includes Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Indonesia, the fourth-largest country in the world, had recently indicatedContinue Reading
Ukraine’s renewed Kursk push flops as talk of negotiation swirls – Asia Times
On January 9th, a gathering in the Ramstein style, which is an informal name for the Ukraine Defense Contact Group made up of Kyiv and friends, will take place in Germany. The conference format names Ukraine’s security requirements. Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, will be there, and Lloyd Austin, the defence minister, will lead the US side.
In two months Donald Trump will be the US leader. Although it’s not clear whether the gathering is intended to defy Trump and his administration, Austin and Zelensky are optimistic that they will implement decisions that Trump won’t be able to change.
This is not surprising because the incoming Biden presidency is essentially conducting a destroy campaign to try to destroy Trump before he enters the White House. Therefore, the presidency has dumped additional billions into Ukraine, including cash for the authorities and weapons, and the meeting is likely to lead to even more difficult decisions.
It is unlikely that any Trump camp associates would want to speak at the Ramstein gathering, as there are no reports that they were.
Zelensky has been preparing for Ramstein by depositing his reserve in Kursk in an effort to keep onto the country Ukraine seized on August 4th, starting next month. The Russians claim they are anticipating at least one more significant effort before the Ramstein meet, despite the fact that the most recent assaults launched by Ukraine failed.
According to the Russians, between January 5th and 6th, the Ukrainians tried 10 individual attacks and suffered heavy losses. Around 480 Russian troops were reported to have been killed or injured in Kursk by the Russians. Russian costs have not been disclosed in any detail. However, reports from the area suggest that the Russians are reversing Kursk’s previous regional losses and repressuring Ukraine’s forces.
The Russians have taken control of Kurakhovo in Donetsk in the interim. The Russians say the Russians committed 15, 000 soldiers it, made up of “elite products, republican structures and international mercenaries”. Russian military observers claim that around 40 Russian tanks were destroyed and that as many as 12 000 Ukrainians were killed or wounded despite the release of no figures from the Russian defence ministry. Krukhovo served as a crucial operational hotspot for the Russian army acting in Donetsk.
Separately, Russian forces continue to advance toward Pokrovsk, a crucial railroad bridge that supplies weapons for Ukraine’s southeast front. The Russians ‘ command of almost the entire city and the battle being conducted in an industrial neighborhood are both about to end. The Russian side has published many reports claiming to have reversive the Russian offensive, but there hasn’t been any confirmation of these claims.
Ukraine also attacked the , Zaphorize Nuclear Power Plant , ( ZNPP ) with eight fixed wing drones. All were intercepted, but elements of one helicopter crashed into the ceiling of the ZNPP Training Center. Ukraine’s fixed aircraft robots are larger and bring more bombs than quadcopters.
No energy leaks or serious damage to the ZNPP have been reported by the Russians. But, Ukrainian attempts to subdue or destruction nuclear power plants are difficult to explain because Ukrainians are the most probable victims. According to debate, Ukraine wants to provoke or provoke an event that will entice NATO to defend Ukraine. If this is accurate, it would be a wonderfully jaded and dangerous move, and it would likely result in the outcome Ukraine desired.
There are a lot of contradictory reports about the efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. Russia’s UN Ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya said that the Trump administration proposed “nothing of attention” to the Russian area. Nebenzya spoke to Rossiya-1 TV network on January 3rd, which confirmed the December 26 gathering at Dulles Airport entirely reported by , Weapons and Strategy. Nebenzya went on to remark that the Trump propositions were “unformed, obscure signs”.
The Trump administration has kept silent about its upcoming negotiations, suggesting that Ukraine was not the only touch the Dulles” route” had with them.
There are at least three more possible channels: China ( where Trump has signaled that , he and Chinese President Xi , “have been talking” through aides ), France, where Trump visited on December 7th and where Macron now says that Ukraine needs to take a “more realistic stand” on territorial issues ( as reported by , Reuters ), and Germany and Hungary where both leaders, Scholtz , and , Orbán, have been talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Due to the fact that Biden and his team had rejected any discussions with Russia or agreements regarding Ukraine, none of these activities have anything to do with Biden.
The Russian military speed is gaining rate after a very slow time, and the different gambits of the Zelensky plan, no question with Washington’s complete backing, remain ineffective, unrealistic and expensive. Any offer may appear, if one does, after Trump is sworn in.
Stephen Bryen is a correspondent for Asia Times and previously held the positions of assistant secretary of protection for policy and staff director of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee.  ,
This , article was first published , on his , Substack newsletter , Weapons and Strategy and is republished with authority.
Govt to begin talks on online gambling
PUBLISHED: 7 Jan 2025 at 07: 09
According to Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, the government will initiate discussions on the drive to legalize online gaming.
He urged authorities from all ministries concerned to start synchronizing their discussions and efforts because several constitutional amendments will need to be passed for online betting to be legal.
According to Mr. Prasert, who is also minister of the Digital Economy and Society ( DES ) on Monday, a formal study of the plan is scheduled to be finished in a few months.
The former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra made the announcement after saying in Chiang Rai on Sunday that regulating online gambling may benefit society as well as the business.
Mr. Prasert acknowledged that Thai students ‘ attitudes toward online gaming have been linked to a number of social issues as well as criminal behavior.
Directly, online gaming has also been tied to the increase of “mules” opening substitute bank records and schemes.
But, he added, online betting platforms see huge amounts of money go through them every moment, which, if taxed effectively, “would be great for the economy”.
When asked about Thaksin’s plan to ban people under the age of 20 from accessing online gambling sites, Mr. Prasert responded that there haven’t been any debate on this.
Money Talks Podcast: How to take control of your finances in 2025
The second thing… is cutting up the only way? No, it’s no. And in truth, I think that cutting up is actually getting harder. The cost of life has increased. If you dine out a bit specifically, food prices are away by around 30 per cent. So, for those who dine out frequently, you now need to decide whether to start preparing your own meals more difficultly or to stick to what you already know about various aspects of life.
However, I often feel that there’s always a control ( to cutting back ) because the maximum you can go is just how much you spend. There is a second way to increase your earnings, which is to do it.  ,
Andrea:
Okay, talk to me about that.  ,
Dawn:
Therefore, you can actually receive a lot more money from increasing your earned income, whether from passive or active resources, than from spending.
There will also be this point when you save until you’re just miserable and ( thinking ) what’s the point of life when you increase that while still keeping your spending moderate.
Andrea:
Simply. Then it becomes apparent that” Oh my God, I’m working so hard to save, and little emerges.” Is this really the only solution”?
Dawn:
How well do you know your mandarin oranges? We break down 5 popular varieties for you
You’d probably already been stocking up on Mandarin Oranges if you celebrated Taiwanese New Year. Even if you don’t, it’s also very hard to miss containers of them in supermarket corridors, such as FairPrice’s, and sitting in groups next to the cash register in Taiwanese shops and restaurants.
Other than sounding auspicious ( gum in Cantonese sounds like gold, while” ju” in Mandarin sounds like a homophone for togetherness ), mandarin oranges are also a sweet, healthy treat, or at least make you feel more virtuous after eating bak kwa and pineapple tarts.
Just how good are mandarin fruits? Every 100g of the citrus fruits has about 53 energy, 13g carbs and 1.8g fabric, according to Jaclyn Reutens, a , medical and sports nutritionist with Aptima Nutrition and Sports Consultants.  ,
However, if you’re hoping to increase your Vitamin C intake with mandarin oranges, you’ll do better with other varieties like the madrid and belly varieties.
“ To get your recommended Acid C diet, you will need to have about three mandarin lemons“, said Reutens. That’s because the mandarin selection solely has 27mg compared to valencia rose’s 48mg and naval rose’s 59mg for every 100g of fruits.
BMA ends vending in 2 key locations
PUBLISHED: 7 Jan 2025 at 06: 16
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) has cancelled street vending at two key locations in Pathumwan district to ensure the capital’s pavements remain safe, clean, and accessible.
One of them is located in Ton Son on Ploenchit Road, which recently hosted 17 suppliers, and the other is in front of the Siam Scape tower, where nine sellers operated.
Since Jan 1, the BMA has forbid the contractors from conducting business at these two areas.
In order to reorganize the open area and reduce the impact on customers in the area, the BMA will also speak with three flower vendors close to the Ratchaprasong intersection’s Erawan Shrine.
In Pathumwan area, there are now 13 places where 222 sellers are permitted to operate.
Originally, the city company had set up two hawker areas that could provide 122 sellers at Lumpini Park Gate 5 and at Ratchadamri crossing.
Deputy Bangkok government Jakkapan Phiewngam, accompanied by Supakrit Boonkhan, the BMA’s assistant continuous minister, on Monday inspected the two locations and visited vending areas in Bang Rak area to ensure compliance with regulations.
The BMA moved the sellers to Silom Soi 10 in place of the city vending on a bend of Silom Road in October of last year, starting at Silom Soi 12 and ending at the Shangarila cafe.
In Bang Rak area, there are already 32 locations where 618 city sellers are permitted to operate.
Mr. Jakkapan directed local authorities to completely enact laws requiring the enforcement of bans on selling in prohibited areas and requiring vendors to adhere to standards in accordance with the law governing public order and hygiene.
Turkey’s carrier battlegroup takes shape – Asia Times
Turkey’s optimistic maritime projects, including a destroyer, a submarine, and an aircraft carrier, signal a brave bid for both political prestige and naval power.
This month, Naval News reported that the  , Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the resumption of three major naval jobs: the MUGEM plane ship, the TF-2000 battleship and the MILDEN underwater.
Naval News mentions that the steel-cutting rites for MUGEM and TF-2000 were held at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard, while the MILDEN ceremony took place at the Gölcük Naval Shipyard.
In terms of dimensions, Naval News states in a separate October 2024 report that the MUGEM ship features an optimized hull shape for superior ship, balance and flexibility, with a spear layout that reduces energy intake by 1.5 % and improves underwater noise propagation.
MUGEM will have three runways, two for takeoff and one for landing, at the time of the announcement, according to Naval News, without a catapult system. A modular ramp design will be used until a domestic catapult system is developed, according to the report.
For its air wing, the report says the carrier can house up to 50 aircraft, including manned and unmanned systems, with space for 20 aircraft on the deck and 30 in the hangar.
In terms of armament, Naval News says the MUGEM will be armed with a 32-cell MIDLAS Vertical Launch System, four Gökdeniz Close-in Weapon Systems ( CIWS ) and six Aselsan 25-millimeter STOP Remote Weapon Systems.
Naval News says that the MUGEM carrier’s dimensions include a length of 285 meters, a beam of 72 meters, a draft of 10.1 meters, a displacement of 60, 000 tons, a maximum speed of over 25 knots, a cruising speed of 14 knots and a range of 10, 000 nautical miles at cruising speed.
Alongside the MUGEM carrier, Naval News mentions that the TF-2000 destroyer, part of the MILGEM program, will be equipped with a 96-cell vertical launch system and advanced radar systems. This warship may be used as the MUGEM carrier’s escort. Naval News says that the MILDEN submarine, developed by the Turkish Naval Research Center Command, will feature an Air-Independent Propulsion ( AIP ) system, enhancing its stealth and operational endurance.
According to the report, the projects are anticipated to significantly improve Turkey’s maritime defense capabilities.
Turkey was forced to convert its TCG Anadolu landing helicopter dock ( LHD ) into a drone carrier in 2019 after being expelled from the US F-35 program for its controversial purchase of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles ( SAM ) despite being a NATO member. The S-400 is incompatible with NATO defense architecture, and Turkey operating the S-400 SAM alongside F-35s could compromise the latter’s stealth features, allowing Russia to detect the aircraft better.
However, drone carriers may be a less-than-ideal solution for Turkey’s capability requirements and great power ambitions.
Fatih Yurtsever claims in a Turkish Minute article from August 2021 that the TCG Anadolu was designed with 8-10 F-35Bs in mind, making that type the only viable aircraft for the ship. According to Yurtsever, it is unrealistic to hope that drones can effectively replace manned aircraft altogether while Turkey is trying to make up for the loss of the F-35Bs by turning the TCG Anadolu into a drone carrier.
He claims that the concept of drone carriers has not been thoroughly tested. He also points out that since drones don’t have air-to-air combat capability yet and have limited survivability against even rudimentary air defenses, they are confined to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ( ISR ) operations and small-scale strikes.
Sinan Ciddi further mentions that Turkey has begun discussions with the US to reinstate the F-35 program in an article from September 2024. According to Ciddi, the S-400 issue is the only obstacle to Turkey’s reinstatement and that the US would not accept anything less than the S-400 system’s complete removal from Turkish territory.
Determined to replace the F-35, Turkey, as Asia Times reported in February 2024, had test-flown its domestically built KAAN 4.5-generation fighter, which features 85 % indigenous parts. However, the KAAN still uses two US-made General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan engines and falls short of being a true 5th-generation fighter like the F-35.
Also, Turkey’s poor economic performance could result in cost overruns for KAAN production. Turkey could spread out production costs over several years, but that could lead to an outdated product on delivery.
But even if the US reinstates Turkey into the F-35B program and gets KAAN production up to speed, the TCG Anadolu’s small air wing can present an offense-defense dilemma. While deploying more aircraft in an attack may make the carrier vulnerable, avoiding one for fleet air defense may reduce the force of the attack.
Yurtsever suggests that Turkey should consider manned-unmanned teaming, wherein F-35Bs can control devoted wingman drones that act as “missile trucks” rather than trying to find out how to control untested and untested solutions like drone carriers. In that network-centric configuration, he mentions that the F-35B could launch the drone’s missiles against land or surface targets, effectively increasing the aircraft’s ammunition capacity while keeping it out of reach from enemy air defenses.  ,
Power projection and prestige appear to be significant components of Turkey’s carrier program. Turkey’s current fleet of F-16s and F-4 fighter jets is insufficient for power projection over the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Seas. Turkey also has a significant role in the ongoing conflicts in Libya and Syria and is setting up an extra-regional presence with military installations in Qatar and Somalia.
Turkey would have a floating airbase to cover areas that are beyond the reach of its land-based aircraft by using an aircraft carrier.
Turkey would also be included in the elite group of nations that operate such complex and expensive warships, according to an aircraft carrier. The prestige and symbolism of aircraft carriers align with Turkish President Recep Erdogan’s neo-Ottomanism, which seeks to bolster Turkish influence in regions once under the Ottoman Empire. However, Erdogan’s neo-Ottomanism faces significant challenges, such as increasing authoritarianism and political polarization in Turkey, economic woes, complicated relations with Europe and NATO, and costly military interventions abroad.
Commentary: A Xi appearance at Trump’s inauguration would give China the upper hand
IF CHINA AND THE US REALLY WANTED TO COMBINE?
Following the end of the war of resistance against Japanese aggression in 1945, Chiang Kai-shek, mind of the KMT-led republican government, invited Mao, mind of the Marxist forces, to the military funds of Chongqing to explore China’s future and the relationship between the two rival parties.
Mao traveled to Chongqing for 43 days of discussions, known as the Chongqing Agreements, under the supervision of the US and encouraged by the next Soviet Union, which led to a peace agreement known as the Double Tenth Agreement. Mao’s image of a sensible man seeking peace was captured in the eyes of the international community as a result of the two long-standing opponents ‘ failure to honor the contract and the civil war that ended with the success of the Communists and the establishment of the People’s Republic in 1949.
Today, the US-China connection is at a critical juncture, with both nations confronting each other on issues ranging from industry and technologies to place, Taiwan, Hong Kong and human rights. Xi’s acceptance of Trump’s invitation presents an opportunity that should not be missed in light of growing concerns that the bilateral relationship will further deteriorate. As China’s top leader has repeatedly said, both countries stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.
Interesting is how Trump asserted to reporters on December 17 that Beijing and Washington could” solve all of the problems of the world” together. Given Trump’s impulsive and unpredictable nature, it is hard to know if he means what he says.
However, his sweeping statement focuses on the most important factor to ensure global peace: Beijing and Washington should reevaluate a G2 relationship model, which will allow them to create a competitive and cooperative relationship to address bilateral issues and address global issues.
In response to his recent trip to China, Thomas Friedman, a columnist for the New York Times, suggested that Beijing and Washington should work together to combat a much bigger issue: disorder. I could not agree more.
Friedman suggested that Trump should look into a” Nixon goes to China” strategy in order to achieve the desperately needed rapprochement between the two nations for a stable 21st century.
Drawing from history and given the high stakes, China’s leadership should seriously consider a move of” Xi goes to Washington”, to gain the upper hand.
Wang Xiangwei is a former Editor-In-Chief of South China Morning Post. He is currently a journalist at Hong Kong Baptist University.