CNA938 Rewind - How did Thai PM Paetongtarn come back on the brink of collapse?
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra says her government coalition remains strong, following a Cabinet reshuffle. But can her government survive as territorial tensions escalate? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak with CNA correspondent Saksith Saiyasombut.
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Independent Singapore
6 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
‘It's a systemic problem': WP NCMPs invite Singapore's fresh grads to share their job search experiences
SINGAPORE: If you're a fresh graduate struggling to land a job, the Workers' Party's (WP) newly minted Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP), Eileen Chong and Andre Low, want to hear from you. In video messages released over the weekend, Mr Low reassured the youth who find themselves in this boat that 'It's a systemic problem, and not yours to find alone.' Ms Chong, meanwhile, said, 'We hope to help you amplify your voices.' @thehammertok CALLING ALL FRESH GRADS 🎓🗣️📣 ARE YOU 🫵 facing challenges 😩 in securing a job? 🧑💻 let us know your thoughts about this issue! 🤔🩵 #wpsg #singapore #youth #unemployment #jobmarket @Andre Low ♬ original sound – The Workers' Party 🔨 – The Workers' Party 🔨 Mr Low noted the four gaps that make the job search hard for new graduates—skills, experience, opportunities, and expectations—and added that the latest generation to enter the workforce faces 'enormous' challenges, including economic volatility, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology. For her part, Ms Chong, who is the president of the WP's Youth Wing, asked fresh grads who have been able to find employment about the nature of their jobs: whether they're actually underemployed and if they've been able to secure full-time permanent roles or temporary contractual ones. 'Whether you're a recent graduate, a current student, or a parent of someone navigating today's job market, we want to hear from you,' said Mr Low. He and Ms Chong are inviting people to share their job search experiences, creative solutions, and the challenges they still face. Those who are interested in doing so may send either of the two NCMPs a direct message on Instagram via @ or @eileenchongps. They may also email Mr Low at [email protected] or Ms Chong at [email protected]. In another video, the two noted that while it has been reported that graduate employment is up by 4% year on year, this may not be the experience of some young Singaporeans. @thehammertok hear from our youths about what they have to say about the job market 🥲 i think we are cooked – struggling admin trying to find a job too #wpsg #singapore #youth #unemployment #jobmarket ♬ original sound – The Workers' Party 🔨 – The Workers' Party 🔨 The clip featured a young woman who said that her friends who have just graduated 'have not been able to find a job for months.' A young man, meanwhile, talked about people he knows who want a certain job but end up taking another, just to make a living. Last month, the WP MP Louis Chua (Sengkang GRC) highlighted the growing trend of companies hiring interns instead of fresh graduates, saying he had been hearing from residents who have recently graduated about how difficult it is to secure a job at the moment. The young residents who spoke to him said that some of their peers have been looking for jobs for several months or even more than a year and have been unsuccessful in securing an offer for a full-time job. /TISG Read also: WP MP Louis Chua highlights increasing trend of companies hiring interns instead of fresh graduates See also Tech salaries climb slowly after turbulent 2024
Business Times
7 hours ago
- Business Times
Thailand claims Cambodia planted land mines, escalating dispute
[BANGKOK] Thailand accused Cambodia of planting new land mines on the Thai side of the shared border, in an escalation of a bitter territorial dispute between the two countries. Three Thai soldiers were injured when they stepped on a land mine during a routine patrol along an established route within Thai territory on Jul 16, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement late on Sunday (Jul 30). The mines were not of a type used by Thailand and were recently laid in a 'blatant violation of international law,' it said. 'The Royal Thai government condemns in the strongest terms the use of anti-personnel mines,' the ministry said, adding that it planned to take action against Cambodia under the United Nations' Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention as a state party while pursuing bilateral channels to resolve the ongoing dispute. 'Thailand calls on Cambodia to cooperate on humanitarian demining efforts along the border of the two countries as bilaterally agreed by both Prime Ministers.' A spokesperson for the Cambodian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The border dispute between the two countries has blown up into a major point of contention, especially since a May 28 exchange of gunfire which killed a Cambodian soldier. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra subsequently sought to calm tensions in a call with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen, but the conversation was leaked, triggering an uproar at home and the Thai leader's suspension as premier by a court. The foreign ministry's statement on the mines represents some of its strongest language towards Cambodia since the Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn pending an ethics probe into her handling of the dispute. The mines were found in Chong Bok, site of the May exchange of fire. Thai officials said that incident occurred because Cambodian soldiers were digging a trench in the border area and opened fire on Thai soldiers, while Cambodia said its troops have long been stationed there and blamed the Thai side for shooting first. Both countries have a history of clashes over land disputes but have largely maintained cordial relations since a deadly conflict in 2011 left dozens dead. But since May, both sides have massed troops along the frontier and limited land crossings that act as vital trade links. Cambodia has said it wants the International Court of Justice in the Hague to help settle the disputed status of Chong Bok and three other disputed border areas. Thailand does not recognise the court's jurisdiction. BLOOMBERG
CNA
9 hours ago
- CNA
Rift between Cambodia, Thailand deepens over landmine blast as ex-leaders Hun Sen, Thaksin trade barbs
SINGAPORE: The rift between Thailand and Cambodia has deepened after the Thai government on Sunday (Jul 20) condemned its neighbour for allegedly laying anti-personnel landmines along their shared border that resulted in three Thai soldiers being injured in a blast last week. This comes even as the former leaders of the two countries continue a squabbling match, with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen saying that he has no desire to communicate with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The two were once seen as close allies when they were in power. But the latest salvo by Hun Sen on Sunday appeared to take a jibe at the legal troubles facing Thaksin after the latter over the weekend told Thai media that he has stopped communicating with his former ally. In a Facebook post, Hun Sen said that it should be him who stopped communicating with Thaksin after the latter's daughter 'was arrogant and looked down on me', referring to former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. 'Moreover, I have no interest in speaking with someone who has been convicted and is preparing to face additional charges. So, don't think too highly of yourself - talking to you only brings me trouble!' Hun Sen wrote, as reported by Thai news outlet The Nation. Thaksin had earlier on Saturday told Thai media that he was determined to stop communicating with Hun Sen, citing fears that his conversations were being secretly recorded. The former Cambodian leader also criticised Thaksin for calling him 'immoral' earlier. 'I want to ask you, if I lack morality, why did you rely on me for 19 years, from 2006 to 2025, constantly listening to my advice and even calling me 'Leader Number One'?' Hun Sen said. He also said that since Thaksin became involved in Thai politics, 'Thailand has been in great turmoil', adding that he did not want to bring up 'vile' insults Thaksin allegedly made against the Thai monarchy. Thaksin was twice elected as Thailand's prime minister, but he was toppled in a military coup in 2006. He fled in 2008 to avoid a jail sentence for corruption that he claimed was politically motivated and returned to Thailand in August 2023. And just last week, Thaksin testified in court seeking to defend himself against royal defamation charges in a watershed case for his faltering political dynasty. His daughter, Paetongtarn, is also facing political struggles of her own after being suspended as prime minister following a leaked phone call between her and Hun Sen after a row over border territory. THREE THAI SOLDIERS INJURED IN LATEST INCIDENT On the issue of border skirmishes, the Thai foreign ministry on Sunday said that the landmines were a serious violation of international law and an infringement of Thai sovereignty. The statement by foreign ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura came after three Thai soldiers were injured following a blast near the Chong Bok border area in Ubon Ratchathani province on Jul 16, The Nation reported. It added inspections by Thai authorities found that the landmines used in the incident were newly planted and not part of Thailand's arsenal or inventory. 'The Thai government condemns in the strongest terms the use of anti-personnel landmines. Such actions violate Thailand's sovereignty and territorial integrity and are in direct contravention of the fundamental principles of international law as stated in the United Nations Charter,' Nikorndej was quoted as saying by The Nation. Meanwhile, the Bangkok Post reported that the Thai military has begun mine-clearing operations in the Chong Bok border area, also known as Mom Bei in Cambodia. Combat engineers from the Suranaree Task Force – a unit of the Royal Thai Army that is responsible for border security and operations along the Thai-Cambodian border – carried out operations from Sunday morning in response to a report that about 100 landmines were found there after Cambodian soldiers had retreated. The landmine blast on Jul 16 saw three Thai soldiers injured, including one who lost a foot. It is the latest incident after Cambodian and Thai armies on May 28 exchanged fire near Mom Bei - also known as the Emerald Triangle - that resulted in the death of a Cambodian soldier.
