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A social media post by the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia has stirred up a storm of criticism from Thais after he reaffirmed Beijing’s unwavering support for Phnom Penh in ‘safeguarding its sovereignty’.

On his official Facebook page on Wednesday, Wang Wenbin posted a picture of himself speaking at a lectern at an event in Phnom Penh, accompanied by the statement: ‘China firmly supports Cambodia in safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and will always be a reliable partner in Cambodia’s development.’

On the surface, it’s a generic statement of the type that people expect from a diplomat in the country where he is posted. But an expression like ‘safeguarding its national sovereignty’ is a red flag for the neighbours when there’s a border dispute going on.

Mr Wang’s post quickly drew strong criticism from Thai netizens, many of whom flooded his page with comments questioning Beijing’s stance amid ongoing tensions between Thailand and Cambodia.

One Facebook user asked whether President Xi Jinping himself would agree with such a statement in the context of disputes between Cambodia and Thailand.

Another suggested the ambassador was obliged to take such a line, saying: ‘If you are in Cambodia, of course you must post like this. If you don’t, Hun Sen will be upset.’

Another poster wrote sarcastically, ‘Okay, I already know who supplied weapons to the Khmer,’ referring to a recent debate over whether Beijing was arming Cambodia for a new fight. Even Thai officials acknowledged that the weapons in question were delivered long before the latest hostilities began.

Some Thai netizens went further, accusing Cambodia of harbouring call-centre scams that defraud victims worldwide of billions of baht. Others argued that Thailand has never invaded another country’s territory, but has instead defended its sovereignty without targeting civilians, hospitals or innocent lives.

One user wrote, ‘Thailand is not going to be a battlefield of a powerful country. However, Thailand has its own dignity to protect its sovereignty and land.’

‘Many Thais have lost family members in cross-border violence, and our soldiers have been maimed,’ another person wrote. ‘Meanwhile, Cambodia has become a hub for scams and illegal activities. Is this really the country that China wants to stand behind?’

‘Thailand must prioritise its own national interests and sovereignty. Any nation such as China that supports activities undermining our territorial integrity or regional peace should be approached with caution,’ said another commenter.

‘It’s time for Thailand to pursue a more balanced foreign policy, one that protects our independence, transparency and long-term security.’

The Chinese ambassador’s post unsurprisingly drew praise from Cambodian netizens. One user wrote: ‘On behalf of Cambodian citizens, I would like to extend my profound thanks and gratitude to the Chinese citizens and government for jointly seeking peace for Cambodia and still being a reliable partner in Cambodia’s development.’

Another netizen wrote, ‘Cambodia never shies away from supporting China so we hope China supports Cambodia more against the aggressive invader.’

As of 11.20am on Thursday, Mr Wang’s post had attracted about 5,100 views, 897 comments and 963 shares.

As we approach the end of 2025, the global economic outlook is characterised by slowing growth, with the US economy losing steam due to consumer fatigue and China continuing to struggle due to weak domestic demand. In contrast, Europe sits in a sweet spot of growth, inflation and monetary policy, although in our view, the effective implementation of various fiscal initiatives will be critical.

The US economy is facing challenges, including softer job growth, the impact of tariffs, and policy uncertainty, which are weighing on consumer spending. US consumers are responsible for about 70% of US GDP growth.

This backdrop, together with the growing confidence that any tariff-induced inflation spike will remain transitory, will potentially allow the Federal Reserve to respond with several interest rate cuts into the year-end and first quarter of 2026. As the yield advantage shrinks, the US dollar would thus be likely to resume its downward trend again.

Although we are likely in the later stages of the current equity bull market, we remain optimistic about the prospects for equities and believe investors should stay invested. While valuations are no longer cheap, market sentiment and investor positioning have yet to reach excessively optimistic levels.

As leadership differs across global markets, it is important to build an internationally diversified portfolio.

Within the US, the top performers are still a small group of exceptional companies with robust earnings growth, particularly those in the artificial intelligence space. Notably, the Magnificent 7 tech stocks continue to outpace the broader S and P 500 index in terms of capital expenditure growth.

We would focus on unique segments in the US that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Meanwhile, after any short-term rallies in US equities, we would use the opportunity to rebalance and diversify further into equities elsewhere with more compelling valuations and more attractive growth prospects than their US counterparts.

EUROPE IN SPOTLIGHT

Increasing exposure to Europe is one way investors can enhance portfolio diversification.

We believe European equities stand to benefit from a brighter economic outlook for the continent, supported by additional fiscal stimulus measures. We favour value- and domestically-oriented cyclical sectors, which are well positioned to gain from improving local growth prospects and are less exposed to tariff and currency risks.

German equities are particularly attractive due to their cyclical tilt, with mid-caps offering more compelling valuations and greater potential to benefit from fiscal support. Pro-growth policies from Germany’s new government further support the outlook for German share prices.

Our outlook for Japanese equities remains positive, supported by continued progress with regard to corporate reforms and heightened corporate activity this year. The gradual return to normality with interest rate hikes also supports this positive view.

Dividend growth is set to accelerate, alongside a record pace of share repurchases. While we favour high-quality Japanese stocks, some of these — particularly exporters — may face short-term headwinds due to trade tensions. We highlight three key opportunities: information technology leaders, domestic champions, and businesses undergoing significant structural transformation.

Although ongoing trade talks may cause volatility in Chinese markets, more supportive domestic policies should partly mitigate this. We remain constructive on Chinese equities, as fundamentals such as profitability, shareholders’ returns, and liquidity conditions are improving.

We continue to like high-dividend Chinese stocks and now expect A shares to catch up with H shares, as the A-share premium nears a new low and onshore market liquidity improves.

On the other hand, the new 50% tariff on imports of Indian goods to the US threatens to significantly erode the country’s export competitiveness. However, despite the near-term uncertainty regarding tariffs, equity fundamentals as well as structural drivers and resilience of the Indian economy suggest a positive long-term outlook for Indian stocks. We see tailwinds from double-digit earnings growth, monetary policy easing and consumption tax cuts.

CURRENCY PICKS

Regarding foreign exchange, we believe the beneficiaries of a weakening dollar are the euro followed by the yen due to further policy normalisation.

The British pound may also strengthen, driven by its high carry potential versus European peers. Driven by safe-haven demand, central bank buying and a weaker dollar, gold is expected to reach new highs going into 2026.

In summary, despite cyclical clouds on the horizon, our investment stance remains constructive. Momentum in global stock markets is strong and favours investors who shift gears into active participation.

Going forward, we expect any episode of weak macroeconomic data that triggers a broader sell-off will be seen as an entry point rather than an exit signal.

Ultimately, a diversified portfolio that takes into account the complexity of the global economic outlook is likely to be the best approach.

The teenager was at a new school for the new school year. But as it turned out, he was not ready: His bangs were too long.

Having failed a much-feared rite of the Thai public school system – the hair inspection – he was subjected to another: His teacher grabbed a pair of scissors and clumsily chopped his hair.

‘My classmates were all staring at me, I felt so embarrassed,’ the 15-year-old from southern Thailand said. The incident in May, he added, remains ‘a scar in my heart’. He asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal from his teachers.

For decades, public schools in Thailand have policed not only students’ manners but also their looks. In addition to uniforms, students are required to either wear crew cuts or trim their hair at their ears. Dyed hair is not allowed. Running afoul of these rules can mean an unwanted haircut in class, a humiliating experience many Thais vividly remember into adulthood.

Students have long campaigned for loosening the rules, which were introduced by a military government in 1972. It was a key demand when they took to the streets in 2020 to protest the military-backed government in power then.

Finally, in March, the Supreme Administrative Court overturned the hairstyle directive, which had been enforced by the Ministry of Education. Now schools set their own policies. But students say these rules remain oppressive, especially in rural areas.

In July, at a school in Ratchaburi province, teachers cut the hair of 50 girls. The offenders were wearing their hair past the name tags on their uniforms. Once the incident became public, the school issued an apology and vowed to review its disciplinary rules. (Story continues below)

To many, the issue is about nothing less than democracy.

‘Those in power want to turn us into citizens who are easy to rule,’ said Laponpat Wangpaisit, who started a group called Bad Student, where children can report what they consider rights violations suffered at the hands of teachers.

Thailand is a constitutional monarchy that holds regular elections. But the will of voters is often rejected by an unelected establishment. Critics of the hair policy say it is a way to make citizens compliant from an early age.

‘To them, happy citizens are not worth more than people who obey,’ said Laponpat, 22.

The Ministry of Education declined to comment.

Despite the court decision, Laponpat’s group receives at least one complaint a day, most of them about hair, he said. He shares some of them online, but most students choose to remain anonymous, fearing a backlash from teachers.

Watcharin Keawtankham, a hairdresser in the western town of Mae Sot, said that he regularly fixes botched haircuts administered at school. Chopping the hair of students, he said, is a way to humiliate them.

Last year, Watcharin posted a photo on Facebook that showed a big bald spot under the otherwise full head of hair of a young boy. It was punishment from a teacher.

‘I felt sorry for the kid,’ the barber said. ‘The only way to fix it was to give him a really short buzz cut.’

The Supreme Administrative Court said that hair regulations were harming the mental health of children. Acknowledging Thailand’s openness to LGBTQ+ people, it explicitly mentioned those with diverse gender identities.

But that did not help Auto, a 15-year-old transgender girl, who asked to be identified only by her nickname.

She used to wear a short wig to school to hide her long hair. On the monthly hair inspection day in May, teachers were measuring students’ hair with a ruler. One of them discovered her wig and threatened to burn it. Intimidated by her teachers, she went to a salon that evening for a haircut.

‘I felt lost,’ Auto said, sitting on the floor of her parents’ living room on the outskirts of Bangkok.

There are some schools, like Wat That Thong High School in the upscale Ekkamai neighbourhood of Bangkok, that are more liberal about students’ hairdos.

‘It is their head, nobody should dictate what they want to do with it,’ said Kaokorn Suksangiamkul, a teacher who was sporting a buzz cut after recently ditching his man bun.

The mullet, he said, has become a fairly popular hairstyle among students. (Story continues below)

Phatit Kalaphakdee, 16, goes by Rin and wears a middle part, curtain bangs and a pony tail. She transferred to Wat That Thong High this year because her previous school threatened to punish her if she didn’t cut her hair.

‘Hair can give you confidence, or it can ruin your day,’ said Rin, who is transgender.

On a recent Friday morning, students were crowding at the main gate of her school, where a teacher was inspecting their fingernails. Those with long or dirty nails were sent back to the end of the line and told to use clippers hanging nearby on a string.

Rin was among those told to cut their nails. She shrugged it off and complied. It is her hair, not her nails, that she wants to keep long.

Bangkok’s well-heeled and wellness-inclined urban crowd are increasingly meeting up at padel courts and setting alarms for exclusive 4am-run clubs.

Instead of making post-work plans at the nearest rooftop bar, more millennials and Gen Z are heading to Padthai Padel, a ‘lifestyle destination’ in the heart of Bangkok where people go to play but also partake in some serious people-watching and showcase athleisure gear.

Sports are no longer just about playing sports. They have evolved into social scenes and communities that are interested in meeting people, buying merch and investing in the latest ‘fit’. You have to dress well to at least feel like you are playing well.

Sports like padel are the new happy hour and are quickly replacing espresso martinis on a Thursday evening. Courts get booked up quickly, much like we once fretted over dinner reservations.

For the uninitiated, padel is a racquet sport usually played as doubles on a small, closed court.

The sport caught on quickly. Having risen to meteoric popularity in cities such as Miami, New York City, Milan and Dubai, it was actually born in Mexico and popularized in Spain and Argentina. Within just a year, we started seeing friends and friends of friends pop up at padel courts across town, even those who claimed to be non-athletic and rarely participated in group sports.

‘Tennis is hard to master, but with padel you feel very athletic very quickly,’ said a 33-year-old padel enthusiast who regularly holds court at Padthai Padel. ‘Amateurs are suddenly feeling like pros and taking it very seriously.’

While golf remains wildly popular and social, and even more so with the younger generation of Thais following the rise of night golf, it takes up significant amounts of time, requires a certain degree of commitment and demands a certain degree of skill, especially when playing together as a group. A typical game of casual padel is fast, and you can be on your way to dinner in just an hour.

‘Padel has taken off with those who missed the post-covid golf train,’ remarked another Bangkokian who frequently appears on the court. ‘It also gives Instagrammers a cultish wellness activity to post about; cute outfits and fancy courts.’

It’s a whole vibe, so to speak. Padel courts are making their way into wellness establishments and leisure destinations, and courts need to offer perks such as craft beer, natural wine and trendy collabs.

The aesthetics are right for this generation, too, and to join is to feel like you are a part of the movement. It leaves those on the sidelines thinking, ‘Wait, are all our friends playing without us?’ But beyond the hype, the glossy Instagram images and the Alo-sponsored events in Bangkok, there is a real appetite here for social communities, and the sleek facilities don’t hurt either.

We are seeing the same kind of appetite for run clubs. Before you chuckle at the cultish nature of it all, there is no denying that Bangkok’s urban set is determined to get fit and to expand their network while doing so. With the rise of highly coveted run clubs like Sabai Run Club and Cruise Control, more people are embracing the idea of putting on running shoes before the sun comes up. These clubs are attracting people with their sociable, relaxed atmosphere, free from strict gatekeeping.

Sabai’s tagline on Instagram is ‘We run a little and socialise a lot,’ which is the exact amount of athleticism that many people desire, especially with the added allure of coffee stops and the occasional sunrise rooftop party at 4.30am.

“To get hundreds of people to wake up at 3.30 a.m. to join a 4 a.m. run is incredible influence. I can barely get friends to go to coffee with me before 11!” Says a 30 year Thai entrepreneur.

All in all, there is a social shift in how the new generation is choosing to sweat. Several years ago, it may have been the high-adrenaline spin class or boutique boxing gyms. Whatever the activity, these new social sports highlight how interaction and community matter more than ever these days.

Book lovers are invited to the world of literature and music during the 30th Book Expo Thailand, which kicks off today and runs daily from 10am to 9pm until Oct 19, at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center’s Hall 5-7, LG floor, Ratchadaphisek Road.

Held under the theme “Melody Of Books – Have You Read? Have You Heard It?” by the Publishers and Booksellers Association of Thailand (Pubat), this year’s event features special prices on more than 2 million books, including 2,000 newly-released titles, across over 900 exhibition booths representing 400 publishing houses.

They are divided into six zones — Fiction and Literature; General Books; Old Books; Children’s and Educational Books; Comics and Teen Books; and Non-Book Items and Board Games.

The event is elevated from a traditional book fair into a dynamic space where reading meets rhythm, offering a multi-sensory cultural experience through a line-up of over 100 curated programmes including exhibitions, seminars and engaging activities.

Among the highlights is the “View ’til Touch” exhibition that takes visitors to explore the connection between books that have become songs and songs that have inspired books. They are invited to listen to musical interpretations of written texts and compose music from books using the AI-based program Suno.

The highly popular Author’s Salon is back with a stage for meaningful and informal dialogue between writers and readers, while the “Read For The Blind” exhibition introduces mobile applications designed for the blind. Interested visitors can record their own voice as part of an audio-book production experience.

Presented for the first time at the book expo is Chao Khun Thong And Friends, a special performance that combines live music with puppet theatre. It will be staged on Saturdays and Sundays, and on Oct 13. There are also puppet-making workshops and voice acting lessons for aspiring young performers.

A reading zone called Hiroba: The Picture Book Playground, is also open to everyone to sit, read and enjoy picture books in a relaxed atmosphere. Children and families can enjoy storytelling sessions and simple crafts, free of charge.

Also, the event features the debut of three major national competitions designed to elevate the culture of reading. The National Debate Competition is open to secondary school students to show off their critical thinking and public speaking on Oct 13 at noon.

The National Storytelling Competition will see finalists from seven regional book fairs compete to be crowned as the country’s most outstanding storyteller on Oct 14 and 16 at 10am, while the Songwriting Contest will highlight the winning song used to promote this year’s expo.

A fire broke out in a 38-storey condominium building on Somdet Phra Pin Klao Road in Bangkok Noi district of the capital on Thursday, with multiple occupants still trapped inside.

According to initial reports, dense smoke was first seen emerging from the 16th floor of the building, located opposite Pata department store.

Fire crews and rescue teams arrived at the scene at 2pm, with rescuers were deployed inside the building to assist and evacuate people trapped on various floors.

As of 2.20pm, authorities reported multiple individuals remaining inside, mainly on the 17th and 24th floors as well as the balcony of the 33rd floor, a particularly challenging area for rescue operations.

38-storey condo fire in Bangkok, multiple occupants trapped

By 2.40pm, two residents trapped in an elevator were rescued without injury, and a foreign man trapped on the 15th floor was safely guided to the ground floor.

At 3pm, officials reported that the fire was now under control. Smoke was being ventilated, and rescue personnel continued to check for anyone remaining inside the premises.

Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

The government can revoke the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU 43) signed with Cambodia without a referendum due to serious breaches by the Cambodians, said Panthep Puapongpan, chairman of the Thailand Watch Foundation.

He said such a move could be justified under Section 60 of the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which permits unilateral termination in the event of a grave violation by one party. He cited recent violent incidents — including alleged Cambodian use of military weapons and explosive devices on Thai soil — as evidence of a grave treaty breach that legitimises immediate action.

Mr Panthep said he opposed the government’s proposal to hold a public vote on the issue, arguing that conducting a referendum alongside a general election would burden the next government and yield non-binding results.

“If the government insists on a referendum, I will campaign to repeal MoU 43 to protect Thailand’s sovereignty and compel Cambodia into fair, modern negotiations,” he said.

Mr Panthep said Thai borders were already defined in the reign of King Rama V using natural watershed lines such as cliff ridges from Chong Bok in Ubon Ratchathani to the Chong Sangam area in Si Sa Ket.

“Thailand and Cambodia coexisted for more than a century without MoUs, but since MoU 43, Cambodia has repeatedly encroached on Thai territory, relying on a 1:200,000 French colonial map that disadvantages Thailand,” he said.

He dismissed concerns that cancelling MoU 43 would allow Cambodia to take Thailand to the International Court of Justice, pointing out that Thailand had withdrawn from the ICJ in 1960. Instead, he proposed using existing mechanisms — the Thai-Cambodian Joint Boundary Commission, Regional Border Committee, and General Border Committee — for future negotiations.

Mr Panthep also rejected third-party mediation.

Authorities temporarily closed two public parks in Muang district of this southern border province after eight bomb explosions on Wednesday night. No casualties were reported.

Seven bombs were apparently placed at an artificial waterfall in Khwan Mueang park and another went off on an islet at Sanam Chang Phueak park between 8.03pm and 10.51pm on Wednesday.

Yala deputy governor Kongsakul Chantharat told the Public Relations Department that the parks must be closed for safety checks after the incidents. They has been designated as venues for traditional ceremonies to mark the end of the Buddhist Lent.

The explosions followed three blasts at a youth centre in Muang district of the province on Tuesday night.

Bomb experts said timed pipe bombs weighing about one kilogramme each were used on Wednesday, like those in the explosions at the youth centre.

The incidents on Wednesday drew senior authorities to the scene. They included deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma and Lt Gen Noratip Poynok, the Fourth Army Area commander.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he planned to visit the far South to follow up on security measures there this weekend.

Artists have repaired a mural that was recently defaced with graffiti on Charoen Krung 30 Road in Bang Rak district of Bangkok.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt updated the public on the repairs in a Facebook Live video on Wednesday night. The French ambassador to Bangkok, Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, was also present to observe the restoration.

Three Thai artists from Chiang Mai joined Carolina Adán Caro, the Spanish artist who created the mural on a wall on the historical inner Bangkok road last month, according to the Bangkok governor.

The French embassy in Bangkok sponsored the murals on 15 walls in the locality. It was part of the ‘Krungthep Creative Streets’ project, a collaboration with 15 international artists to transform walls along Charoen Krung Road with permission from the property owners.

The original mural, completed on Sept 17, took Ms Adán Caro 10 days to paint.

CCTV footage captured three vandals destroying the artwork in minutes by spraying over it on Sept 27. The Bangkok governor said two of them were arrested and the other one remained at large.

He also said that City Hall was preparing more walls specifically for graffiti and street art. He encouraged interested people to use such walls instead of vandalising others.

A new 15-kilometre border road along the Thai-Cambodian frontier in Chanthaburi is expected to be completed by the end of this month, facilitating tactical troop movement if necessary.

Rear Admiral Paraj Ratanajaipan, spokesman for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), said on Wednesday the road in Pong Nam Ron district had reached 13km. The gravel-paved road will enhance military logistics and enable rapid mobilisation along the border zone.

Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Pairote Fuangchan inspected the site to assess readiness in case of renewed tensions and review progress in solving border encroachments in Chanthaburi and Trat, where 17 problem areas have been identified.

These included illegal Cambodian military outposts, man-made channels, and rubber plantations extending into Thai territory, said the spokesman. Most have already been addressed, and Adm Pairote has ordered operations to ensure all incursions are cleared from Thai soil, he added.

The road project was initiated after Thai forces detected encroachment near the Ban Laem border, where Cambodian workers dug channels to divert water and cut off sections of Thai land. Thai troops and villagers collaborated to refill the trenches and restore the terrain. Locals also raised funds and provided machinery to support the effort, he said.

The Navy chief’s visit also followed up on the National Security Council’s policy to install fencing along the frontier.

Adm Pairote surveyed areas between boundary markers 52 and 58, identified as suitable for the first phase of construction with mutual consent from both sides. The fencing aims to curb cross-border crime – particularly drug trafficking and illegal migration – while strengthening local security, said the navy spokesman.

Adm Pairote also visited border units stationed in the tense zone, praising their dedication despite limited troop rotations.

He urged officers to maintain morale and expressed gratitude to civilians who had contributed labour and resources to reclaim disputed land.

The spokesman reaffirmed the military’s commitment to defending national sovereignty, saying: ‘Not a single inch of Thai territory will be surrendered.’