Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
FDA Targets Hims & Hers Over $49 Weight-Loss Pill, Raising Legal and Safety Concerns 
Tencent Shares Slide After WeChat Restricts YuanBao AI Promotional Links 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Rio Tinto Shares Hit Record High After Ending Glencore Merger Talks 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
Weight-Loss Drug Ads Take Over the Super Bowl as Pharma Embraces Direct-to-Consumer Marketing 
Toyota’s Surprise CEO Change Signals Strategic Shift Amid Global Auto Turmoil 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Global Markets Slide as AI, Crypto, and Precious Metals Face Heightened Volatility 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Thailand posted rice exports of 5.1 million tons through November 2020, down 28 percent from the same period a year earlier, and to its lowest volume in two decades in 2020 due to a global shortage of shipping containers.
Another factor that brought down rice exports was the strong baht, which gained 11 percent against the US dollar since April, making shipments uncompetitive against rivals India and Vietnam.
According to Chookiat Ophaswongse, honorary president of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, 2021 is not looking any better than last year with the container shortage problem posing as another obstacle to their continuous export struggle.
Shipping container turnaround times have lengthened globally due to Covid-19-related handling capacity cuts in Europe and the US, resulting in fewer containers returning to Asia.
Half of Thailand's rice exports rely on containers, including the premium-grade jasmine rice, last year's bright spot that has retained demand in wealthier markets such as the US and Canada.
Thailand exported 1.29 million tons of jasmine rice through November 2020, up 1.57 percent from the same period the previous year.
Ghanyapad Tantipipatpong, chairwoman of the Thai National Shippers' Council, said that the container shortage may last for six months, as China and Vietnam also vying secure containers
Thailand usually uses 10 million containers for its exports per year but will need an additional 1.5 million empty containers this year.
