Over the limit: Relentless work is India’s new noxious normal – Asia Times

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The untimely demise of 26-year-old certified officer Anna Sebastian Perayil, only four weeks into her career at Ernst &amp, Young, is a devastating warning of the dangerous and untenable work tradition that permeates India’s white-collar industries.

What started out as a promising occupation for Anna ended tragically. Her departure is more than just a loss for her family and friends; it also reflects a widespread problem that is bringing many young experts to the precipice.

Business India fosters an environment where stress is celebrated as dedication without regard for its detrimental results on mental and physical health in its glory of continuous work. The outcome: a silent outbreaks of stress has reached a breaking point.

Many professionals employed by India’s multinational corporations ( MNCs ) are all too familiar with Anna’s tragic experience. Studies suggest that she was overwhelmed by force, which led to extreme anxiety, sleepless nights, and, finally, a fatal collapse in her wellness.

In a heart-wrenching email, Anna’s family, Anita Augustine, shared that her child was frequently assigned tasks beyond her power, often during the night, with the justification:” that’s what we all do”.

This mentality—that exhaustion is just part of the job—has become entrenched in business India. The standardization of long working hours and bad working conditions, especially in high-stressed settings like those in IT and consulting, is accepted as the price of victory.

However, the cost is far too great. According to a 2021 Deloitte study, 80 % of American workers report feeling stressed at work, with around 60 % citing overwhelming tasks and a lack of work-life stability. Employers can no longer afford to overlook this as a cost of running a business.

India has some of the world’s longest working hours, and this overwork culture is harming employees ‘ mental well-being. According to a survey conducted for LinkedIn in 2022, 77 % of employees believe their workplaces lack adequate mental health care, leaving employees to deal with their struggles in silence.

Employees are unable to seek help because of this culture of silence, which is made worse by the stigma surrounding mental health. Many people continue until it’s too late because they worry that accepting their vulnerabilities will hurt their professional prospects.

India’s labor ministry launched an investigation, vowing to take action on this issue. However, this inquiry must go beyond token gestures or promises of change.

India’s current labor laws, such as the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code ( 2020 ), primarily focus on physical safety and fail to address the mental health strains that white-collar employees endure.

This oversight is dangerous, especially as mental health issues become increasingly prevalent. Without comprehensive legal protections, corporations will continue to exploit the lack of regulation, perpetuating a work culture that values output over well-being.

A significant part of the problem lies in the fact that MNCs and IT firms, like Ernst &amp, Young, fall under the Shops and Establishments Act, which offers limited safeguards. This legal flaw allows businesses to demand excessive hours without receiving proper compensation, pushing employees to the point of burnout.

A 2022 KPMG report found that 70 % of white-collar professionals in India work beyond the legally mandated 48-hour workweek, with 75 % receiving no compensation for overtime. This is a direct threat to the health and safety of workers as well as a violation of labor rights.

In response to Anna’s death, Ernst &amp, Young issued a statement expressing sadness but downplayed her workload, claiming it was no heavier than that of her peers.

This, however, raises an even more troubling question. What does the fact that Anna’s situation was deemed “normal” say about the typical corporate culture in India?

It suggests that the system, which is fundamentally broken, is endemic to the employees ‘ excessive demands rather than exceptional. &nbsp,

Indian labor laws must enforce clear limits on overtime, with mandatory compensation and stringent enforcement. Overwork must be eradicated, and businesses should no longer be able to exploit employees under the guise of professional dedication.

Beyond legal reforms, India’s corporate culture must change. Overwork should no longer be viewed as a badge of honor, but as a perilous habit that threatens lives.

Anna Sebastian’s death is a heartbreaking reminder of the cracks in India’s work culture. Her passing has highlighted the need for reform to enforce reasonable work hours, hold employers accountable for their actions, and protect employees ‘ mental health.

According to a study conducted in 2021 by the World Health Organization ( WHO ), each dollar spent on mental health care generates a productivity return of US$ 4, which highlights the financial and human value of these reforms.

India needs to change so that ambition is no longer contagious with mental health and that employees ‘ well-being is seen as essential and not disposable.

Sachi Satapathy is the director of AF Development Care, and may be reached at [email protected]

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Indonesia: Prabowo hints at defunding Widodo’s new capital – Asia Times

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NUSANTARA – The only thing that was visible was a practical skull on a barren plot of land, which the hot May sun had whipped up against. This, I was safely informed by my guide, may be a state-of-the-art clinic for Indonesia’s fresh funds Nusantara, in East Kalimantan.

When would it be prepared? Only in time for the anticipated transfer of the leader and a second wave of civil servants from Jakarta, they claimed, in August, just in time for the Independence Day ceremony scheduled for August 17.

People are now questioning whether the upcoming leadership transition in Indonesia’s government will put the$ 30 billion megaproject in the trash bin of history just four months later.

Due to a lack of infrastructure, the transport of civil servants was delayed, and President Joko Widodo left after a dozen symbolic days of work it. The doctor, however, is apparently still under development.

President-elect Prabowo Subianto has officially stated that he is committed to carrying out the transport and construction of the new investment.

However, there are first indications that he may be reluctant to commit such large sums of money to a legacy project once he becomes in charge, especially given his own extravagant saving strategies.

In a file photo, Indonesian President Joko Widodo ( R ) and incoming leader Prabowo Subianto ( L ) are seen in a photo.

” ]Widodo ] I believe has taken on a historic role in initiating this, at the very least I will continue, and if possible I will complete it”, declared Prabowo, as he visited the building site of the new capital last month.

As part of his vote plan, Prabowo presented himself as the successor to Widodo and enjoyed his silent, if not explicit, backing by tapping Widodo’s boy as his running mate. Both sides have made arduous efforts to keep their alliance together, yet with his victory now secured.

However, the current state and representatives of the approaching Prabowo leadership worked closely with the funds allocated for the new money in the August outline of the budget for 2025. Just 143.1 billion rupiah ($ 9.4 million ) has been budgeted for the capital next year, compared to the 2.5 trillion rupiah ($ 2.8 billion ) allocated in 2024.

Sri Mulyani Indrawati, the country’s current finance minister, has since explained that the 143.1 billion ringgit mark did not always indicate the total amount of the new investment in 2025.

The incoming government can simply choose its own paying interests when it takes office thanks to the federal budget design. ” Everything has been baselined in order to provide the president-elect the authority to determine, to change, according to the interests of his case”.

However, some suspect that Prabowo’s individual wide spending plans may leave small space for Nusantara. Prabowo repeatedly promised free meals to all Indonesian students and health assistance for pregnant women on the plan path.

To begin implementing that social program the government has allocated an initial$ 71 trillion rupiah ($ 4.7 billion ) budget. According to Prabowoo, the annual total cost could eventually increase to 400 trillion rupiah ($ 26 billion ).

Different policy priorities, such as the costs of Indonesia’s military and national food house projects, are also heavily influenced by the new funds.

However, Nusantara may already be nearing a expenditure crunch. With an estimated total cost of around 466 trillion rupiah ($ 30 billion ), the Indonesian government initially projected that only 20 % – 93.2 trillion rupiah ($ 6 billion ) – of the funding would come from the state, with the other 80 % &nbsp, – 372.8 trillion rupiah ($ 24 billion ) – ponied up by private investors.

Map: X Screengrab

The government has already sunk 80 trillion rupiah ($ 5.3 billion ) of investment into Nusantara, according to Minister for National Development Planning Suharso Monoarfa, leaving only a slim 13 trillion rupiah ($ 855 million ) left to spend if the original plans are honored.

However, private investment has certainly turned up on the size required. Although precise images are unknown, Indonesian conglomerates ‘ only apparent key commitments come from a small number of them. Despite the government’s conscious efforts to lure them, foreign investors have remained silent.

A key issue seems to be uncertainty – and not just about Prabowo’s purposes. In particular, area consolidation problems continue to plague the mega-development. The government announced plans to address payment and relocation issues affecting masters of 2, 086 hectares of “unclear position” in May.

A shake-up in the site’s management has never helped matters. Former Secretariat heads and deputy heads Bambang Susantono and Dhony Rahajoe both resigned in June, apparently as a result of the president’s dissatisfaction with the site’s slow development.

However, sources within the organization claim that decision-making is still slow and that they are unsure whether the newly appointed standing head and assistant brain will continue to do so after October 20 when Prabowo takes office.

Users of the Jakarta tea leaf are watching closely for evidence of the approaching Prabowo government’s curiosity, or lack of, in Nusantara. Many people took note of the fact that Prabowo’s article in Newsweek did not mention the new capital when articulating his governing priorities, which prompted several surrogates to hastily assure the press that their employer remained determined to Widodo’s vision.

One factor apparently weighing in the site’s pursuit is Prabowo’s nephew, Hashim Djojohadikusumo. Hashim owns a significant tract of land in the area that is close to the proposed new cash through a company called PT ITCI Kartika Utama.

Hashim does not appear to be directly involved in the construction of the capital, but if the project is successful, he could profit from rising property prices there.

Businesses under Hashim’s power are also considering constructing a dam on property owned by Hashim’s business to supply Nusantara with clean water.

Hashim, who reportedly owes Switzerland 139 million European Francs in returning taxes, would certainly benefit from for developments. He helped finance his friend’s election campaigns.

Nusantara is regarded as the Widodo era’s last bold endeavor, a president’s final achievement that included the ambitious reconstruction of Indonesia’s infrastructure into his brand.

Joko Widodo, the president of Indonesia, indicates the location of Nusantara, the fresh money. Photo: Flyer

Some people have long acknowledged that the location of the mega-city money helps strengthen the dangerous Java-centrism of Indonesia. The issues of the current investment Jakarta are well known.

However, the president was always the main force behind the project – with apparently limited enthusiasm, even within his own government, for the idea initially. This, many now speculate, makes it vulnerable to political change.

Indonesia has twice looked into moving the capital. Sukarno began construction on Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan in the 1960s, just a few hundred kilometers from Nusanatra, but the work was put on hold after Suharto threw himself in a coup.

Plans were shelved when protests toppled his dictatorship in 1998, but the Suharto government considered building a new administrative capital in West Java in the 1990s. Widodo’s Nusantara may be just the most recent capital-imaging dream project to fail in a power transition.

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Kakitangan.com signs MoU with Talentvis Academy 

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  • allows businesses to bridge the skill space and thrive in a market where competition is fierce.
  • Aims to offer Business coaching solutions, enable employees with in-demand abilities

Left to right: Zetty from Kakitangan, Effon Khoo, co-founder & CEO, Kakitangan.com and Joen Cheong, commercial manager of Talentvis Academy Malaysia

The Malaysian HR and payment structure Kakitangan.com has partnered with Talentvis Academy, a premier education company in Southeast Asia, to address the growing need for upskilled laborers. This partnership aims to give SMEs with a one-stop option for high-quality training programs, empowering employees with in-demand knowledge, the company said in a statement.

Leveraging over ten years of experience in Malaysian HR and payment requirements, with a customer base exceeding 150, 000, Kakitangan.com stated that it is well-positioned to know the unique requirements of SMEs. This collaboration creates a comprehensive learning experience that bridges the skills space and thrives in today’s competitive market by combining with Talentvis Academy’s carefully selected selection of specialized courses led by industry experts.

The modern program, known as” Up and Up Training Academy,” rightly proclaims that “UP! is the only way to success.” offers a wide range of teaching options to help businesses achieve their objectives.

Talentvis Academy was established by Talentvis, a leading HR answers service. The company also introduced Talentvis Academy, which it claims to be the first one-stop education market in Southeast Asia to choose an “e-commerce” company model, in addition to its recruitment and outsourced services. The company claims that its system simplifies and digitalizes the whole training approval process for organizations, enabling clients to access over 200 coaching providers from five SEA countries in one click. Moreover, the software provides a reliable payment method with a secure gate and extensive support for HRDC-claimable courses in Malaysia. &nbsp,

Addressing the key challenges faced by HR professionals, Kakitangan.com said it has recognised four key areas to focus on: hiring strategies for best skills, successful people administration, streamlined employee exit processes, and SME-specific skillset development. &nbsp,

Effon Khoo, co-founder and CEO of Kakitangan.com, said the firm is glad to be the first Malaysian-centric Human program offering included education options tailored to Malay SMEs. Employees can discover and enroll in relevant training programs while managing another HR activities from a single system, facilitating the growth of businesses within the Kakitangan.com neighborhood.

According to Ben Chew, Managing Director of Talentvis Academy,” The partnership between Kakitangan.com and Talentvis Academy is expected to significantly contribute to the success of organizations in the modern change.” This sentiment was echoed by Joen Cheong, Commercial Manager of Talentvis Academy Malaysia, who stated:” Our goal is to digitalise education control for organisations, simplifying expert growth, enhancing skill-building, and fostering talent career growth”.

To celebrate this start, Kakitangan.com and Talentvis Academy are offering a particular campaign from September to October. Kakitangan.com customers can enjoy a 5 % discount on all sign-ups. Check out the training page: https ://kakitangan.talentvisacademy .com/

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Cambodia’s Mu Sochua cries out against China – Asia Times

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In an exclusive interview with Asia Times, important exiled opposition lawmaker Mu Sochua said that without a real democracy and a functioning anti-graft program, Cambodia is destined for high debt, utilized lands, utilized lands, and depleted natural resources.

Mu Sochua, president of the Khmer Movement For Democracy&nbsp, ( KMD), a United States-based activist group, was vice president of the nation’s largest opposition party, the Cambodian National Rescue Party ( CNRP ), when the Supreme Court banned and dissolved it in October 2017.

After CNRP leaders Kem Sokha was arrested on crime charges, including unsubstantiated claims that he was working with the United States, the group has consistently maintained that these allegations were false, she and another CNRP members fled the country.

Mu Sochua continues to challenge the democratic legitimacy of the currently dominant Cambodian People’s Party ( CPP)-dominated political order, which was established through recent stage-managed elections, which the CNRP claims were neither fair nor free.

In particular, she says the West should review the application of the Paris Peace Agreements, signed in October 1993, to maintain Cambodia’s independence, self-determination through free and fair elections, and human right after years of painful legal war fueled by competing fantastic and regional power. &nbsp,

That freedom, Mu Suchua asserts, is under rising risk from China’s growing power and influence over the decision CPP.

She noted that China’s influence has grown rapidly in recent years, as evidenced by the expansion of China’s military, cybercrime, and human trafficking operations led by the Chinese mafia, the availability of loans through the Belt and Road Initiative ( BRI), and the influx of Chinese mining and construction companies. &nbsp,

As relationships with the West deteriorated on issues relating to democracy and human rights, former prime minister Hun Sen gave priority to China relations toward the end of his decades-long law. And there is no indication of a change in the royal dispatch to his brother Hun Manet, who became prime secretary in 2023.

” Cambodia is in arrears about US$ 11 billion, 40 % of which is owed to China”, she said. When we discuss the BRI, the income is not provided to us for free. It’s a loan and it has no conditions on rule of law, democracy, independent media and independent judiciary in Cambodia” .&nbsp,

” It is also a loan to force the plan of Chinese President Xi Jinping to get dominance, not just in a state or a place, but worldwide dominance”.

She said, under the Public model, Beijing offers loans to assist Cambodia develop its infrastructure, including airports, roads, dams and a new corporate canal. In return, Mu Sochua claims, China is allowed to boost its military presence in the country. &nbsp,

” It is a secret agreement made by Hun Sen and China. It is not transparent at all”, she said. Cambodia is intended to serve as a proxy power to China’s ability to influence ASEAN, the European Union, and the UN.

She asserts that with heavy debts owed to Beijing and China’s growing military presence in the country, Cambodia’s sovereignty is at stake. &nbsp,

” Our country is in debt, our people are in debt”, she said. ” Hun Sen is removing Cambodia from the West,” he said. We do n’t want to be with the West, either. We want our country to be a part of the world where people are governed by law and the people rule our country. We want the people to freely and fairly elect our leaders. We want to prioritize both human rights and freedoms.

An impoverished rural village in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. China’s wealth has not done much to help ordinary Cambodians escape poverty. Photo: Jeff Pao / Asia Times

On August 5, Xinhua reported that Cambodia began to build the US$ 1.7 billion Funan Techo Canal, designed to link the nation’s capital, Phnom Penh, to its coast.

The 180-kilometer-long canal, which was funded by China, will reduce Cambodia’s current dependence on Vietnamese ports for trade and give it access to the Gulf of Thailand.

However, the US, Vietnam and others are &nbsp, worried&nbsp, that the canal, as well as the newly expanded&nbsp, Ream Naval Base, will ultimately be co-opted by China’s military, giving Beijing a strategic southern flank in the South China Sea and pressure points on mainland Southeast Asia. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Mu Sochua said Cambodia’s strategic geography could reinforce China’s position in any invasion of Taiwan. She claimed that Cambodia would have a democratic government with the authority to overthrow the Chinese military presence, thereby preventing a potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait.

Foreign troops cannot be deployed on Cambodian soil under the law. Hun Sen has consistently refuted claims that his previous administration had entered any” secret” agreements that would permit China to establish a permanent military presence in the nation.

Chinese mafia hub

Hun Sen was willing to look the other way, however, as Chinese crime groups established operations in the country, often under the guise of casinos.

In a report published in August 2023, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ( OHCHR ) estimated that there are at least 100, 000 and 120, 000 people forcibly involved in online scam centers in Cambodia and Myanmar, respectively. &nbsp,

It said victims are mostly men who are “well-educated, sometimes coming from professional jobs or with graduate or even post-graduate degrees, computer-literate and multilingual”.

According to OHCHR’s report, they were lured by phony online jobs for high-tech jobs before being illegally trafficked into scam areas where they are held by armed gangs in prison-like conditions and forced to conduct online scams. &nbsp,

In a report released in May 2024, the independent US Institute of Peace ( USIP), which was established by the US Congress in 1984, stated that Southeast Asia’s China-origin criminal networks and their online scamming operations are putting more pressure on human security globally and pose a growing threat to the US and its allies and partners around the world. &nbsp,

In a slew of elite-protected criminality spread across Cambodia, it claimed that casinos and hotels that were left vacant by the Covid pandemic’s suppression of tourism have been fortified and repurposed for online scamming. &nbsp,

The report said the return on cyber scamming in Cambodia is estimated to exceed US$ 12.5 billion annually, which was about 39 % of the country’s gross domestic product ( US$ 31.77 billion ) in 2023.

According to Mu Suchua, Chinese criminal organizations are now using Cambodia as a hub for cybercrimes, and that billions of dollars made by online con artists from Cambodia are going straight into the pockets of local tycoons under the protection of Hun Sen.

She continued,” What the international community needs to do right now is coordinate its efforts to push for targeted sanctions against the high-ranking officials in Hun Sen’s regime who are engaged in cybercrimes,” making an apparent reference to Hun Manet’s successor regime.

Deep-rooted corruption&nbsp,

The non-governmental organization Transparency International released its annual Corruption Perceptions Index ( CPI ) in January of this year, which ranks 180 nations on a scale of zero ( highly corrupt ) to 100 ( very clean ). Cambodia scored 22 while ranking 158th among 180 surveyed countries.

” Cambodia is ruled by one man, one family. Look at the amount of money they possess. A watch costs$ 3 million and Hun Sen has five of those”, Mu Suchua claimed. ” All this ill-gotten wealth is coming from cybercrimes, the extraction of natural resources and the deforestation of Cambodia” .&nbsp,

” And why are the people in Cambodia and China now in such great debt to the micro-finance institutions”? she said. In Thailand, there are two million unskilled Cambodian workers. Why did they leave Cambodia? Because of their lack of education and land,

There are about 50, 970 Cambodian migrant workers in South Korea, 22, 262 in Malaysia and 20, 056 in Japan, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training in Cambodia said earlier this year.

A woman working at a money exchange shows 500 Cambodian riel notes to photographer in central Phnom Penh March 12, 2011. The much delayed stock exchange regulator Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia (SECC) said that all prices of securities will be quoted in local currency riel. Cambodia is highly dollarized and that many foreign investors want to see US dollars quoted in the upcoming bourse. REUTERS/Samrang Pring (CAMBODIA - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR2JSDU
According to Mu Suchua, corruption is deeply ingrained in Cambodian society as a result of the CPP. Image: Asia Times Files / Agencies

More than 2.2 million hectares of land in Cambodia, according to the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights ( Licadho ), are controlled by economic land concessions ( ELCs ), a program that has resulted in numerous land disputes and environmental issues since 2022. &nbsp,

Concerning Mu Suchua’s accusations and criticizing, Asia Times reached the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia, but they did not receive any responses. &nbsp,

KMD on a mission

Mu Suchua’s KMD was registered in the US state of Massachusetts in December and set foot in California in March 2024. Its main goal is to bring together Cambodian citizens by adhering to the terms of the Paris Peace Agreements of 1991.

” We want to create a platform where everyone who lives outside of Cambodia and is inside of it can come together to advance democracy, rule of law, and human rights,” she said. &nbsp,

She claimed that the KMD can communicate with local partners and users in Cambodia despite the country’s ban on social media. &nbsp,

Mu Sochua stated that the KMD will continue to lobby Western governments, chambers of commerce, and industry organizations to raise awareness of Cambodia’s deeply ingrained forced labor, political activist persecution, and general lack of democracy, rights, and freedoms. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Read: Chinese campaign blames US for Dhaka regime change

Follow Jeff Pao on X: &nbsp, @jeffpao3

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MCMC and MIDA collaborate to develop 5G readiness assessment framework for SMEs in Malaysia

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  • Sectors preparation include place, investment, skills/talent, services
  • Collaboration to market and promote the implementation of 5G technology

Participants at the workshop on the Implementation of the Industry Readiness Assessment Framework for 5G Services in Malaysia, held in Putrajaya.

A Workshop on the Application of the Industry Readiness Assessment Framework for 5G Services was held in cooperation with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Following the MoU between MCMC and MIDA on July 4 to implement programs and initiatives leveraging the 5G network for vertical sectors in Small and Medium Enterprises ( SMEs ), the workshop was held yesterday.

Held by over 100 participants, the one-day factory aimed to build a framework for assessing the preparation of vital sectors in the national economy, particularly manufacturing, services, construction, and agriculture, to embrace 5G technology.

The guidelines that will be used to determine key sectors ‘ preparation include area, expense, skills/talent, digital infrastructure, and services.

Valuable feedback was gathered from the agencies involved, including the Land Public Transport Agency ( APAD), the Malaysian Palm Oil Board ( MPOB), the Malaysia Productivity Corporation ( MPC ), SIRIM Berhad, the SME Corporation Malaysia ( SME Corp), Digital Nasional Berhad ( DNB), telecommunications companies, and relevant industry associations.

The input will then be used, according to MCMC, to create a thorough assessment framework for the use of 5G technologies by numerous Malaysian industries, including SMEs.

MCMC regards this workshop as a major step towards ensuring market readiness in adapting to 5G systems which has the potential to boost productivity and efficiency in the manufacturing, service, construction, agriculture, and mining industries.

MIDA also emphasized its responsibility to creating a conducive atmosphere for the use of this revolutionary technology. The deployment of 5G systems will increase efficiency in vital industries and establish Malaysia as a regional leader in digital innovation. This will, in turn, generate economic growth and enhance the world’s profitability on a worldwide level”, said a MIDA spokeswoman.

This strategic partnership is anticipated to more strengthen efforts to promote and facilitate the implementation of 5G systems in Malaysia’s important business.

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SX 2024 underpinned by late King’s belief in SEP

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The Sustainability Expo (SX) 2024 returns to Thailand in its fifth year as Asean's largest platform for sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. The event, running from Friday to Oct 6 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, is organised under the theme 'Sufficiency for Sustainability', drawn from King Rama IX's Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and King Rama X's commitment to continuing his father's legacy. Supported by five leading corporations — Frasers Property (Thailand) Public Co, Ltd, PTT Public Co, Ltd, SCG, ThaiBev, and Thai Union Group Public Co., Ltd — SX 2024 aims to inspire businesses, governments, and individuals to work together toward a sustainable future. Photos courtesy of SUSTAINABILITY EXPO 2024
The Sustainability Expo ( SX ) 2024 returns to Thailand in its fifth year as Asean’s largest platform for sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. The event, running from Friday to Oct 6 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, is organised under the theme ‘ Sufficiency for Sustainability ‘, drawn from King Rama IX’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy ( SEP ) and King Rama X’s commitment to continuing his father’s legacy. Supported by five leading corporations — Frasers Property ( Thailand ) Public Co, Ltd, PTT Public Co, Ltd, SCG, ThaiBev, and Thai Union Group Public Co., Ltd — SX 2024 aims to inspire businesses, governments, and individuals to work together toward a sustainable future. Photos decency of SUSTAINABILITY EXPO 2024

The Sustainability Expo ( SX ) 2024 is set to return as Asean’s largest sustainability event, taking place from Sept 27 to Oct 6 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center ( QSNCC ) in Bangkok.

Now in its second consecutive time, SX has grown into a local platform for conservation, innovation, and cooperation. Supported by five leading companies– Extends Property ( Thailand ) Public Co, Ltd, PTT Public Co, Ltd, SCG, ThaiBev, and Thai Union Group Public Co, Ltd– SX 2024 aims to inspire corporations, governments, and individuals to work jointly towards a sustainable future.

SX 2024 is to be held under the theme” Sufficiency for Sustainability”, drawing from King Rama IX’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy ( SEP ) and King Rama X’s commitment to continuing his father’s legacy.

This philosophy emphasises balance, moderation, and responsible consumption, aligning with the global United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( UNSDGs ).

Through its numerous actions, SX 2024 brings the SEP to career, merging it with cutting-edge techniques to sustainable development under the show’s overall design,” Great Balance, Better World”.

SX 2024 may function over 270 vendors from Thailand and worldwide, representing industries pioneering green innovations. The event may also sponsor more than 600 professional speakers from around the globe, sharing insight on sustainable development, emerging technology, and creative options to mitigate climate change.

SX 2024 underpinned by late King's belief in SEP

Tourists can join in seminars, workshops, and hands-on routines designed to provide them with tools and information to reduce their environmental impact. With its varied selection of products, SX 2024 is not just a knowledge base but also a launchpad for actions and collaboration.

Tongjai Thanachanan, SX director, announced that the Sustainability Expo ( SX ) has entered its fifth year, having even continued during the Covid-19 pandemic with a hybrid online-offline format.

The event follows a B2C2B ( business-to-consumer-to-business ) model, which centres on the consumer in driving sustainability efforts, creating a feedback loop between businesses and consumers, she said.

” The fair serves as a regional software for sustainability, connecting various industries and showcasing information, inventions, and systems that inspire action and change.

According to Ms. Tongjai,” SX has attracted more than 800, 000 participants over the past four occasions and generated more than 60 million baht in income for local areas and participating vendors.”

More than 600 international experts and speakers, plus over 270 top businesses and organizations from Thailand and worldwide, may be present, according to her.

She emphasized the value of working together across industries, noting that this year’s seminars and business network will concentrate on fostering dialogue and learning within the social organization area, with a goal to achieve economic, social, and economic sustainability under the heading” Sufficiency for Sustainability.”

SX 2024 underpinned by late King's belief in SEP

Five SX 2024 Highlights Areas

SX 2024 may remain divided into 10 different areas, each offering a unique view on sustainability. Five of these regions stand out for their creative strategies and engaging activities:

1 ) SEP Inspiration Zone: The Spirit of Conservation

Using the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy ( SEP ) as its guiding principle, this zone, which is located on the G Floor, raises awareness of natural crises. The area explores how rising world conditions are having significant effects on communities and areas under the style” The World Has Changed.” This region has three specific areas:

A pipe showcasing the frightful realities of climate shift through introspective imagery is” Reflection of Impact” in Zone A: Mirror Walkway.

Zone B: Immersive Theatre –” Point of No Return! ” A theatrical knowledge that highlights the inevitable changes brought on by human actions.

Zone C: Hope &amp, Helps —” Adaptation”: A area dedicated to exploring how we can adapt to the new realities of a changing universe.

2 ) Better Me Zone: Health and Well-being

The Better Me Zone focuses on responsible life, starting with specific health and well-being. This section provides advice on how to keep our physical and mental health up as we get older. Shows include:

Healthy & Happy Living: Professional guidance from organizations like Nestle, Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital, the Heart Association of Thailand, and the Food Institute and the Heart Association of Thailand.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention: New inventions like Chulalongkorn Hospital’s i-Exc Game Interaction Exercise and Cognition aim to stop mental decline and promote mental wellbeing. Visitors may also discover life planning equipment from Cheevamitr, including” Life Well-Die Well”, designed to support systematic well-being.

3 ) Better Life Area: Environmental Innovations

The Better Living Zone emphasizes steps that can be taken to reduce economic harm and is focused on addressing climate change brought on by greenhouse gas emissions. Among the included activities and displays are:

Thai Beverage Public Co, Ltd’s” Water of Life”: This reflect emphasises water protection from origin to sea, highlighting the importance of water quality and inventory.

Thai Union Group’s SeaChange ® 2030 strategy: Demonstrating how sustainable seafood practices can be implemented across the supply chain, from source to consumer.

HINO DUTRO Z EV: A fully electric truck is a part of the transition toward more sustainable transportation options.

SX 2024 underpinned by late King's belief in SEP

4 ) Better Community Zone: Building Social Resilience

This zone explores successful social, environmental, and economic projects that have helped create better communities.

Visitors can learn from ongoing initiatives and participate in small group discussions, workshops, and interactive exhibits, such as:

Learning Society: A group of individuals who work together to advance youth development and lifelong learning.

Caring City: exhibiting designs that promote inclusive and secure urban environments and improve the quality of life for all residents.

Through art festivals and managed spaces to support creative industries, this space demonstrates how art and culture can support economic growth and community development.

5 ) Better World Zone: Art and Environmental Awareness

This area honors art as a tool for spreading environmental awareness. Visitors can explore a variety of artistic expressions, including photography, paintings, and sculptures that focus on sustainability. Highlights include:

The ASEAN SX Photo Contest 2024, which features photographers from ten Asean nations, explores the theme of biodiversity and environmental conservation.

TRASH to TREASURE Art & Design Contest: Art pieces that explore biodiversity and sustainable practices are created using recycled materials.

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SX 2024 underpinned by late King’s belief in sufficiency economy

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The Sustainability Expo (SX) 2024 returns to Thailand in its fifth year as Asean's largest platform for sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. The event, running from Friday to Oct 6 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, is organised under the theme 'Sufficiency for Sustainability', drawn from King Rama IX's Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and King Rama X's commitment to continuing his father's legacy. Supported by five leading corporations — Frasers Property (Thailand) Public Co, Ltd, PTT Public Co, Ltd, SCG, ThaiBev, and Thai Union Group Public Co., Ltd — SX 2024 aims to inspire businesses, governments, and individuals to work together toward a sustainable future. Photos courtesy of SUSTAINABILITY EXPO 2024
The Sustainability Expo ( SX ) 2024 returns to Thailand in its fifth year as Asean’s largest platform for sustainability, innovation, and collaboration. The event, running from Friday to Oct 6 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, is organised under the theme ‘ Sufficiency for Sustainability ‘, drawn from King Rama IX’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy ( SEP ) and King Rama X’s commitment to continuing his father’s legacy. Supported by five leading corporations — Frasers Property ( Thailand ) Public Co, Ltd, PTT Public Co, Ltd, SCG, ThaiBev, and Thai Union Group Public Co., Ltd — SX 2024 aims to inspire businesses, governments, and individuals to work together toward a sustainable future. Sustainable EXPO 2024 pictures courtesy of

The Sustainability Expo ( SX ) 2024 is set to return as Asean’s largest sustainability event, taking place from Sept 27 to Oct 6 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre ( QSNCC ) in Bangkok.

Now in its second consecutive time, SX has grown into a local platform for conservation, innovation, and cooperation. Supported by five leading businesses– Extends Property ( Thailand ) Public Co Ltd, PTT Public Co Ltd, SCG, ThaiBev, and Thai Union Group Public Co Ltd– SX 2024 aims to inspire corporations, governments, and individuals to work together towards a sustainable future.

SX 2024 is to be held under the theme” Sufficiency for Sustainability”, drawing from King Rama IX’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy ( SEP ) and King Rama X’s commitment to continuing his father’s legacy.

This philosophy emphasises balance, moderation, and responsible consumption, aligning with the global United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( UNSDGs ).

Through its numerous actions, SX 2024 brings the SEP to career, merging it with cutting-edge techniques to sustainable development under the show’s overall design,” Great Balance, Better World”.

SX 2024 may function over 270 vendors from Thailand and worldwide, representing industries pioneering green innovations. The event may also sponsor more than 600 professional speakers from around the globe, sharing insight on sustainable development, emerging technology, and creative options to mitigate climate change.

SX 2024 underpinned by late King's belief in SEP

Tourists can join in seminars, workshops, and hands-on routines designed to provide them with tools and information to reduce their environmental impact. SX 2024 is not just a knowledge gateway but also a rocket for collaboration and behavior due to its wide range of options.

Tongjai Thanachanan, SX director, announced that the Sustainability Expo ( SX ) has entered its fifth year, having even continued during the Covid-19 pandemic with a hybrid online-offline format.

The event follows a B2C2B ( business-to-consumer-to-business ) model, which centres on the consumer in driving sustainability efforts, creating a feedback loop between businesses and consumers, she said.

” The fair serves as a regional software for sustainability, connecting various industries and showcasing information, inventions, and systems that inspire action and change.

” SX has attracted more than 800, 000 participants over the past four events and generated more than 60 million ringgit in income for local populations and participating vendors,” Ms. Tongjai said.

More than 600 international experts and lecturers, plus over 270 top businesses and organizations from Thailand and worldwide, may be present, she continued.

She emphasized the value of working together across fields, noting that this year’s seminars and business network will concentrate on fostering dialogue and learning within the social organization area, with a goal to achieve economic, social, and economic sustainability under the heading” Sufficiency for Sustainability.”

SX 2024 underpinned by late King's belief in SEP

Five SX 2024 Highlight Areas

SX 2024 may remain divided into 10 different areas, each offering a unique view on sustainability. Five of these regions stand out for their creative techniques and engaging activities:

1 ) SEP Inspiration Zone: The Spirit of Conservation

Using the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy ( SEP ) as its guiding principle, this zone, which is located on the G Floor, raises awareness of natural crises. The area explores how rising world conditions are having significant effects on communities and areas under the style” The World Has Changed.” This region has three different sections:

A pipe displaying the ominous realities of climate change through reflective pictures is” Reflection of Impact” in Zone A.

Zone B: Immersive Theatre –” Point of No Return! ” A theatrical knowledge that highlights the unreversible effects of human behavior.

Zone C: Hope &amp, Helps —” Adaptation”: A area dedicated to exploring how we can adapt to the new realities of a changing universe.

2 ) Better Me Zone: Health and Well-being

The Better Me Zone focuses on responsible life, starting with specific health and well-being. This location offers advice on how to keep our bodies in good health as we get older. Features include:

Healthy & Happy Living: Professional guidance from organizations like Nestle, the Bhumirajanagarindra Kidney Institute Hospital, the Food Institute, and the Heart Association of Thailand.

Innovations like Chulalongkorn Hospital’s i-Exc Game Interaction Exercise and Cognition aim to slow mental decline and promote mental wellbeing. Visitors may also discover life planning equipment from Cheevamitr, including” Life Well-Die Well”, designed to support systematic well-being.

3 ) Better Living Area: Environmental Innovations

The Better Living Zone emphasizes actions that can be taken to reduce economic harm and is focused on addressing climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Among the included actions and expresses are:

Thai Beverage Public Co, Ltd’s” Water of Life”: This reflect emphasises water protection from origin to sea, highlighting the importance of water quality and inventory.

Thai Union Group’s SeaChange ® 2030 strategy: Demonstrating how sustainable seafood practices can be implemented across the supply chain, from source to consumer.

HINO DUTRO Z EV: A fully electric truck is being promoted as a step toward more sustainable transportation options.

SX 2024 underpinned by late King's belief in SEP

4 ) Better Community Zone: Building Social Resilience

This zone explores successful social, environmental, and economic projects that have helped create better communities.

Visitors can learn from ongoing initiatives and participate in small group discussions, workshops, and interactive exhibits, such as:

Learning Society: A group of individuals who work together to advance youth development and lifelong learning.

Caring City: exhibiting designs that promote inclusive and secure urban environments and improve the quality of life for all residents.

Art-Driven City: This space uses art festivals and managed spaces to promote creative industries and how art and culture can stimulate economic growth and community development.

5 ) Better World Zone: Art and Environmental Awareness

This area honors the use of art as a tool for raising environmental awareness. Visitors can explore a variety of artistic expressions, including photography, paintings, and sculptures that focus on sustainability. Highlights include:

The ASEAN SX Photo Contest 2024, which features photographers from ten Asean nations, explores the theme of biodiversity and environmental conservation.

Art pieces created from recycled materials that explore biodiversity and sustainable practices are featured in the design competition TRASH to TREASURE Art &.

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China probes Calvin Klein over Xinjiang cotton

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China has announced that it is looking into the US clothing line Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein for alleged “discriminatory methods” taken against Xinjiang fabric businesses.

Beijing’s response to allegations made by western leaders and human rights activists that cotton and other products in the area were produced using forced labor by the Uyghur ethnic class is being challenged by the new initiative.

The US banned exports from the place in 2021, citing those problems.

The company was accused of “boycotting Xinjiang cotton and other materials without any scientific base” by China’s Ministry of Commerce.

The two companies ‘ owners, PVH, which has a significant reputation in both China and the US, did not respond to a request for comment.

It has previously said it complies with laws in the regions where it does business, including the US Xinjiang law.

It has 30 days to respond to the Chinese government, at which point it could be added to the government’s “unreliable companies” list, raising the possibility of more punishment.

It’s unclear exactly what prompted the research into PVH then, according to Cullen Hendrix, a senior colleague at the Peterson Institute of International Economics.

He added that the statement was likely to hurt the company’s standing among Chinese consumers and send a wider warning to international businesses about the dangers of bowing to Western concerns.

” China is, to a certain extent, flexing its muscles and telling, never actually western governments, but western companies… that deeds have effects”, he said.

” This same kind of naming-and-shaming strategy, that human rights organisations in the west have used, may be weaponised here”.

The research into PVH comes as China and the west have been tense over a number of problems, including manufacturing and electric cars.

On Monday, the US proposed rules to ban the use of certain technology in Chinese and Russian cars, citing security threats.

Prior to the start of the trade war between Beijing and Washington, China had previously listed US companies on its list of unreliable companies.

Those businesses were big military companies, quite as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, over their company in Taiwan.

The decision to target PVH, a consumer-facing company with a clearly identifiable US company, was cited by Mr. Hendrix, demonstrated that the two nations ‘ issues were extending beyond areas like defense and advanced technologies.

” These items have a way of spilling over”, he said. A growing number of source stores across various economic businesses are being affected by it.

In its quarterly review, PVH cautioned owners about the repercussions of the conflict in Xinjiang on both revenue and reputation.

It stated that the situation had been” subject to significant attention and argument in China, the United States, and elsewhere, which has led to censure against foreign firms, including us.”

The company was named in a 2020 report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute that identified dozens of firms that were allegedly benefiting from labour abuses in Xinjiang.

PVH stated at the time that it would continue to work on the issue and that it took the reports significantly.

PVH employs more than 29, 000 people worldwide, and it makes more than 65 % of its sales outside of the US.

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Prosecution and defence clash in arguing for jail term of months versus weeks for S Iswaran

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DEFENCE ANSWERS WHY GUILTY PLEAS ONLY NOW.

Before the trial indicated it would no more get proceeding with the bribery charges, defense counsel Davinder Singh asked the judge to take into account what was” the state of play and the color of the case” before he indicated that he would no longer be proceeding with the corruption charges.

CPIB began conducting studies in July 2023.

” At that time, my customer had been an MP since 1997, and had served as a minister since 2006. It’s crucial to comprehend what was being interpreted as being at the heart of the case against my client at the time,” said Mr. Singh.

He cited claims by companies, many news reports about Iswaran’s imprisonment, and debates in parliament, focusing on the two corruption costs when the bulk of Iswaran’s costs were under Section 165.

Mr. Singh read out the headlines from The Straits Times, CNA, and the BBC, as well as the names of the liveblogs that were published on Tuesday night.

” Mr Iswaran’s position from day one has been that the ( corruption ) charges were baseless. He denied the charges from the very first, and has consistently maintained that placement”, said Mr Singh.

” He was put in the position where he had to contest the case against him in light of the ( corruption ) charges. As your dignity will recollect, to that end he requested an early test. He was the one who wanted the test to start as soon as possible, despite the fact that he was the accused.

He claimed Iswaran was the one who requested a combined test.

According to Mr. Singh,” He did not want the trial of the Ong Beng Seng charges, which included the two ( corruption ) charges, to be delayed because he claimed it would be unfair and prejudicial to him because Mr. Ong is 78 and that it would be unfair to him if Mr. Ong is unable to testify because of his age or health,” he said. ” In other words, it was important for him to be acquitted in court in relation to the charges involving Mr Ong Beng Seng, which included the ( corruption ) charges”.

Mr Singh said his lawyer’s case was understood to be a case involving bribery charges, while the other crimes were described as “other crimes” or “lesser fees”.

” Why is that pertinent”? he asked. ” It is relevant because if the reality in Singapore is that- that is how the ( corruption ) charges are understood, and given how Singaporeans view the ( corruption ) charges as evidenced by these reports, it was not only reasonable but entirely necessary for my client to contest the ( corruption ) charges”.

He claimed that Iswaran did that until the trial changed the allegations to those made under Section 165.

” That event, on account of the further representations, changed the complexion of the entire case and of course changed the seriousness of the allegation under the ( corruption ) charges”, said Mr Singh.

He explained that the disgorgement could not have been done sooner because it would have” colored the view taken on those charges” and would have had an impact on the defense on all other expenses as well.

According to Mr. Singh, Part 165 allows him to acknowledge that accepting the things from the two men was bad.

When CPIB initially interviewed him, he claimed that the gifts were given to him as a result of his friends with Mr. Ong and Mr. Lum.

Mr. Iswaran also argued that while he was unaware of Segment 165 of the Penal Code at the time, he entirely comprehends that being ignorant of the law is a justification, according to Mr. Singh.

Iswaran believes that accepting that what he did was wrong under Section 165 is the right thing to do, according to the attorney, who supported the act of the costs.

Mr. Iswaran is also conscious of not allowing his home, the people he loves the most, to continue to bear the brunt of what has happened.

Iswaran’s woman, who was in the open exhibition supporting him, bore no expression on her face as this was said.

Mr. Singh argued that the ex-minister’s crimes under Section 165 resulted in no harm or little hurt, with no loss of revenue as a result of the products being given either as a gift or on the giver’s own authority.

He noted that Iswaran’s appointment as the transport minister was merely effective between May 2021 and January 2024. Before this time, Mr. Lum had an interest in the agreement that he was interested in, and LTA did no honor any contracts to his companies while Iswaran was the transport minister.

Additionally, Mr. Singh argued that there was no evidence that Iswaran’s commitment to the government was always questioned.

The most effective message that can be sent is” the fact that there is a prosecutors against my client under 165,” said Mr. Singh. ” And if you ask someone in Singapore, however outside Singapore nowadays, about whether that transmission has already been sent… the answer is indeed”!

He claimed that there is no evidence to suggest that the public’s trust in the government’s fairness and integrity has been eroded.

” The authorities sent the message that that is undesirable the time the government learned about these things having been given to my customer.” Therefore, we’re not talking about a situation where these items have been given; instead, the general public is discussing it. It’s eroded trust in the government as it is perceived as permissible. That’s not the event”, said Mr Singh.

He cited Iswaran’s accusations and inquired where there was evidence that the minister’s department or authority had been used, “much less misused or abused.”

” The people became aware that my customer had accepted the goods both while he was being charged and because of that.” When the people in the society and the earth learn about the things my customer is charged with on the day of his arrest and because of him, what does that do is uphold and deliver the strongest indication that the state is upholding its historic commitment to honesty and integrity. In other words, it may cost one of its own ministries”, said Mr Singh.

Taking problem with the prosecution’s submission that Iswaran was more than a quiet receiver of the products, the prosecutor said:” No contempt. I do n’t follow this. If you look at the Doha charge, he was asked whether he’d like to go, and he said yes, and he had his reasons for going”.

” He wanted to see how a small city like Doha organises world-class events, which is relevant to Singapore. Where is the active? He was a public servant at the time, and whether or not he actually capitalized on it, according to Mr. Singh.

He claimed that Iswaran’s claim that he had compromised his position as the government’s chief negotiator in terms of the F1 race had no factual support for the prosecution.

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