A plan to bring in unskilled workers from Sri Lanka is not the right solution to the exodus of Cambodian labourers and it will backfire on Thailand in the long run, a prominent labour expert warned on Monday.

Two Chinese ships collided while pursuing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea on Monday, with one of them sustaining “substantial damage”, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

A teacher in Uthai Thani is preparing to file an assault complaint against a Grade 11 student who punched her in the face because he did not receive a perfect score on a midterm exam, according to local reports.

The Commerce Ministry has announced a plan to increase rice exports to China, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Hong Kong.

Although Thai businesses are relieved the US has reduced its import tariff on Thai goods to 19%, on par with other countries in the region, improving long-term competitiveness remains a challenge for domestic firms, in addition to attracting foreign investment.

Tourist activity was a contrast in opposites on the first day the four-day Mother’s Day holiday from Aug 9 to 12, with Koh Kut in Trat bustling while Pattaya in Chon Buri experienced unexpectedly low visitor numbers.