UN chief urges "maximum restraint" as Pakistan-India tensions escalate

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged "maximum restraint" from India and Pakistan as a standoff between the two countries has continued to escalate.

Tensions between India and Pakistan are at their highest in years, the UN chief said.

"I deeply respect and am profoundly grateful to the governments and people of both countries -- and their significant contributions to the work of the United Nations, not least UN peacekeeping. And so it pains me to see relations reaching a boiling point," he said.

Guterres once again strongly condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which reignited hostilities between the two countries, while extending his condolences to the families of the victims. Targeting civilians is unacceptable -- and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means, he said.

The UN chief stressed that it was essential, "especially at this critical hour, to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control," and "now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink".

"Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. That has been my message in my ongoing outreach with both countries. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution. And I offer my good offices to both governments in the service of peace. The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace," said Guterres.

UN chief urges "maximum restraint" as Pakistan-India tensions escalate

UN chief urges "maximum restraint" as Pakistan-India tensions escalate

UN chief urges "maximum restraint" as Pakistan-India tensions escalate

UN chief urges "maximum restraint" as Pakistan-India tensions escalate

UN chief urges "maximum restraint" as Pakistan-India tensions escalate

Facing record fuel price hikes triggered by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, more and more Thais are turning to new energy vehicles (NEVs) to cut transportation costs.

Since the outbreak of the war on Feb 28, the shipping crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has now become the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, accelerating high energy costs. As a result, Thais have experienced a sharp increase in fuel prices in their country and are spending much more on public transportation.

Diesel prices in Thailand have risen from 29.94 baht (nearly 0.92 U.S. dollars) per liter to 47.74 baht (about 1.46 U.S. dollars), a surge of about 59 percent.

Gasoline prices have also shot up by about 34.24 percent.

Recently, at gas stations across Thailand, people are lining up to fill up their tanks before further price rises.

"We have to pay more for the same amount of fuel now. So, we motorcycle drivers are making less money than before. This is affecting our families' livelihoods," said a motorcycle driver.

The worsening fuel crisis has prompted Thai people to take a pragmatic look at vehicle costs, and NEVs are gaining favor due to their lower operating costs.

At the Bangkok International Motor Show which concluded on Sunday, the visitors' focus had shifted from traditional gasoline-powered vehicle to NEVs.

"High fuel costs are causing increasing pressure. NEVs perfectly meet people's current mobility needs. Using electricity significantly reduces transportation costs," said a visitor at the auto show.

The event featured 37 major exhibitors, with Chinese brands accounting for 14 booths, nearly 40 percent of the total.

As many Chinese NEV manufacturers actively participated in the exhibition, Chinese brands became the top choice for many Thai consumers when purchasing vehicles.

Data released by the organizing committee of the auto show showed that in the first seven days of the event, vehicle pre-orders exceeded 40,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 68.8 percent.

Among them, NEV models including pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids accounted for as much as 80 percent of the total.

And among the top five brands by pre-order volume, Chinese brands occupied three spots.

"The selection of NEVs we are offering right now comes at a perfect time and also provides a great opportunity for Thai consumers," said Ke Yubin, a person with a Chinese NEV company.

"Rising oil prices are an unavoidable topic. The introduction of NEVs has offered Thai consumers more choices," said Cui Junyuan, local head of another Chinese NEV company.

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