thais prepare to head to the polls in an election coming at a pivotal time for the polarised south east asian country. new york city passes a law banning weight discrimination in housing and hiring. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm karishma vaswani. we start the programme in thailand where this weekend tens of millions of voters are heading to the polls to cast their vote in the general election. nearly 70 political parties are contesting the election. the front runner is paetongtarn shinawatra — she's the leader of the country's largest

opposition party and the daughter of former prime minister thaksin shinawatra. the winning candidate, and their party will have to grapple with a slew of domestic issues — including polarised politics and a slowing economy. for more on this, i spoke to syetarn hansakul of the economist intelligence unit, who told me thailand is slowly recovering from the pandemic. economic situation has improved from last year. it is in the middle of a cyclical rebound because coming out of the pandemic recession a lick later than others, but finally, after the country opened in late 2022, the tourism sector, which has been a key part of the countries gdp, is recovering slowly. shabbat is to improve jobs and income, and we are seeing the rebound unfolding. but having said that, there are plenty of structural issues

that are hurting thailand's long—term competitiveness, and thatis long—term competitiveness, and that is something the new government will need to look into and correct. [30 government will need to look into and correct.— government will need to look into and correct. do you get a sense that — into and correct. do you get a sense that whoever _ into and correct. do you get a sense that whoever makes i into and correct. do you get a sense that whoever makes it| sense that whoever makes it into power is looking to address those issues, or have political priorities or sort of domestic infighting, does not stand to distract which government comes in next? i think political infighting will always be distracting, but judging by the economic platform that the manifesto that the countries are putting out, we think they know that they need to look into an area of education. and the ability of education. and the ability of thailand to compete in the international arena, and to prepare for more technology goal driven world. so that is comforting. what i'm a little bit concerned is the populace to tilt that is being used as political pledges ahead of the

election. that may encourage the direction into less fiscal discipline, and that is concerning.— discipline, and that is concerninu. , , concerning. given everything that ou concerning. given everything that you have _ concerning. given everything that you have described, - concerning. given everything. that you have described, what is your outlook for growth and for trial that's where? we think that _ for trial that's where? - think that thailand this year will still see the foot of the signatory rebound. so the economy will probably grow faster compared to last year. we expected gdp to go up 8% for 2023. we expected gdp to go up 896 for 2023. �* ., , ., , ., we expected gdp to go up 896 for 2023.~ ., ,., , a, 2023. and other stories for you toda ... and other stories for you today... shares in the american bank pacwest have plunged more than 20% after its deposits fell by one and a half billion dollars last week. there was a run on deposits following reports the bank was considering a sale to bolster its finance. pacwest is one of several us regional lenders whose shares have been hit by concerns over the health of the banking sector, following the collapses of silicon valley bank, signature bank and first repbulic.

banks have been told they will need to bear the 16 billion dollar cost of a us regulator replenishing its deposit insurance fund hit by the recent failures. elon musk says that he has found a new chief executive to lead twitter. mr musk did not name the platform's new boss but said "she" would start in six weeks at which point he would become executive chairman and chief technology officer. our silicon valley correspondentjames clayton has more. will first of all, i think it is important to mention that just because elon musk has tweeted something doesn't necessarily mean it is actually true. you may remember i interviewed elon musk last month and i asked him who is going to the next chief executive and he told me he had already made a dog chief executive. so it is sometimes difficult to know whether he is joking or not. i don't seem like he is actually being serious this time. that would be a really significant moment

for twitter. be a really significant moment fortwitter. first be a really significant moment for twitter. first of all, he said that the new chief executive is a she. i think thatis executive is a she. i think that is really important, because the vast majority of tech bosses in silicon valley and elsewhere are men. so, that would be a very interesting development. and, it will be very interesting to know exactly what the chief executive, what power the chief executive, what power the chief executive will have, because elon musk will still own the company, so this is more of a rule where you are basically doing elon musk bidding or will they actually have genuine power? that's really interesting question. i think if you look at his other companies that he already has to run it does seem i've got elon musk would like to run everything. there may well be that the new chief executive actually does have real power. and then the markets too, and the market reaction to the street, wealth, they think he's being serious because tesla

shares average prices have shot up shares average prices have shot up at this news. tesla shareholders were worried that elon musk would be spending too much time on twitter, and not enough time working on how to make tesla be better and bigger. so, there's lots to unpack here, but worth mentioning once again, this is elon musk we are talking about. we don't know whether he is being serious, we don't know whether there will be a chief executive and a few weeks' time because you never quite know with elon musk. in because you never quite know with elon musk.— because you never quite know with elon musk. in the last two minutes, with elon musk. in the last two minutes. a _ with elon musk. in the last two minutes, a number— with elon musk. in the last two minutes, a number of- with elon musk. in the last two minutes, a number of media i minutes, a number of media reports are suggesting the person who might be the ceo. she's currently a chairman that universal. we are working to confirm this at the bbc and we will bring you that information as and when we get it, so do to stay tuned for more development on that story. stay tuned for more development on that story. economic crimes continue to be a major challenge for indian companies with nearly 70% of them being affected

by some form of fraud in the last two years. this is according to a latest report by pwc in india. the bbc�*s arunoday mukharji has more details from new delhi. well this was over across a hundred organisations from diverse backgrounds, from banking, hospitality, manufacturing, and many others. the survey also found that this kind of platform font on social media had become even more common and risen ever since the start of the pandemic. that is because of the simultaneous rise of people working from home, growth in e—commerce activity, delivery applications. exposing nice new set of challenges for companies, so the report. in fact, the survey has found that 26% of indian organisations have suffered losses to the tune of over $1 million due to platform fraud. one of the key findings was that four out of every ten instances of fraud in

india were conducted by internal perpetrators. so in terms of corrective measures, the report recommended but if companies had strong internal monitoring over two thirds of all platform frauds can be mitigated. but the report also recognised the need for companies to have a robust risk strategy in place. ever since the pandemic, india has seen a huge boom in e—commerce transactions, as well as digital payments as well, and also the number of smartphone users has increased to nearly 800 million, and that's why we become even more prone to such attacks. ., ~' , become even more prone to such attacks. ., ~ , ., , attacks. new york city has osted attacks. new york city has posted new _ attacks. new york city has posted new regulation - attacks. new york city has - posted new regulation banning weight this termination. award winnin: weight this termination. award winning rapper— weight this termination. award winning rapper lives _ weight this termination. award winning rapper lives those - winning rapper lives those things about it. life is short. british activist, and model talks about it.— british activist, and model talks about it. essentially i

was dismissed _ talks about it. essentially i was dismissed because - talks about it. essentially i was dismissed because i l talks about it. essentially i l was dismissed because i was talks about it. essentially i - was dismissed because i was a larger— was dismissed because i was a larger woman now so therefore my opinion didn't count as much because — my opinion didn't count as much because i— my opinion didn't count as much because i was too lazy to do the work_ because i was too lazy to do the work to be slim.- because i was too lazy to do the work to be slim. more than 2 million people _ the work to be slim. more than 2 million people in _ the work to be slim. more than 2 million people in new- the work to be slim. more than 2 million people in new york. 2 million people in new york city have been victims of weight discrimination. it is notjust weight discrimination. it is not just societal stigma. one study shows that weight discrimination costs new york city $6.4 billion in 2019. the e es city $6.4 billion in 2019. the eyes have _ city $6.4 billion in 2019. the eyes have it. _ city $6.4 billion in 2019. the eyes have it. now _ city $6.4 billion in 2019. the eyes have it. now the - city $6.4 billion in 2019. the eyes have it. now the city i city $6.4 billion in 2019. the | eyes have it. now the city has well added — eyes have it. now the city has well added height _ eyes have it. now the city has well added height and - eyes have it. now the city has well added height and weight| eyes have it. now the city has l well added height and weight as protected classes alongside race, age, and gender. this bill was introduced to the city legislator after this man's personal experience of having someone packed his belly. i have known in the past few years — have known in the past few years that i have been gaining weight — years that i have been gaining weight. and sojust to have someone _ weight. and sojust to have someone else, someone that i considered a close friend, told me that, — considered a close friend, told me that, it was very hurtful. but — me that, it was very hurtful. but i — me that, it was very hurtful. but i also _ me that, it was very hurtful. but i also spoke to a societal problem. _ but i also spoke to a societal problem, just the way folks normally think about weight as being — normally think about weight as being lazy, being less productive.— being lazy, being less productive. being lazy, being less roductive. �* . productive. and then, there are the beauty _ productive. and then, there are

the beauty standards, - productive. and then, there are the beauty standards, which - productive. and then, there are the beauty standards, which forj the beauty standards, which for decades have said skinny is beautiful, fact is not. notions that the likes of liz so have outright rejected. for so many people, the fight against body shaming is fundamental to their well—being. i5 shaming is fundamental to their well-being-_ well-being. is not a health issue, well-being. is not a health issue. it's _ well-being. is not a health issue, it's a _ well-being. is not a health issue, it's a civil— well-being. is not a health issue, it's a civil rights - issue, it's a civil rights issue _ issue, it's a civil rights issue. , ., . , issue. this woman is with the national association - issue. this woman is with the national association to - issue. this woman is with the l national association to advance fat acceptance. and works closely with city lawmakers on the bill. ., , , _ the bill. the hope is by talkint the bill. the hope is by talking about - the bill. the hope is by talking about weight i talking about weight discrimination and body size discrimination, and by changing policies — discrimination, and by changing policies about this type of discoloration, that we can bring _ discoloration, that we can bring about cultural change. new— bring about cultural change. new york is the largest city to pass this kind of legislation. so far, michigan is the only state in the country that has laws banning weight this termination. advocates want new york state to be next. that brints york state to be next. that brings us — york state to be next. that brings us to _ york state to be next. that brings us to the _ york state to be next. that brings us to the end - york state to be next. that brings us to the end of- york state to be next. that | brings us to the end of asia business report at this hour.

thanks so much forjoining me. tuesday would bbc news for the latest global headlines and analysis. ronnie's passion has always been sneakers. he initially opened this shop to provide an expert shoe—cleaning service just as the pandemic hit. our business was affected massively. nobody was going out, so no—one wanted their shoes cleaned, right? so i started reselling again, i started selling shoes. i started customising just little cartoon sort of things. it just sort of spiralled

into mejust watching loads and loads and loads of youtube, just learning how to do it. his viral social media posts of his one—of—a—kind designs have brought in customers from around the world, including famous rappers. they send in their shoes and ronnie works his magic. this is a pair here, which i'm doing a custom piece for the singer popcaan. he'll be coming to bristol in the next couple of weeks. these are super, super detailed, so i probably say they're probably going to be ready in about four or five days' time. and from now on, the process becomes very secretive. he won't reveal the finished sneakers until he's handed them over. with international rapper digga d, he got to do that in person backstage at one of his concerts. other clients drop off their trainers for cleaning and repair. hi there. i'm harris with the catch up.

tonight, race across the world finale, trains nationalised, and a snappy situation. but first, the borrowing costs for things like mortgages and student loans, also known as interest rates, have gone up today. the bank of england has increased rates to 4.5% from 4.25%. this is in an effort to try to curb the spiralling cost of living. business reporter peter ruddick has more. the decision today could make it more expensive for homeowners who are repaying their mortgage. it could even put off wannabe first time buyers. might also impact your credit card and loan repayments. good news for savers. although with prices rising so high, any money you've got put away just doesn't go as far. race across the world has reached the finish line. the show sees people compete in pairs to travel across canada without any phones, planes or credit cards. just a spoiler alert

if you haven't seen it yet... but last night, trisha and kathy won for £20,000 cash prize for finishing first. train company transpennine express, which mostly runs services in northern england and some bits of scotland, is to be taken over by the government. customers have complained of bad service and cancelled trains. time now to leave you with ten seconds of alligators! imagine enjoying an island in alabama and then spotting a massive alligator in the shallow part of the ocean while you're bathing. a snappy situation. you're all caught up. bye for now. have a good evening.

hello. i'm mark edwards from the bbc sports centre. coming up on our programme... late drama from the old lady juventus equalise at the death in their europa league semifinal. first leg clash with syria. record breaking for the rajasthan royals. 21—year—old yashasvi jaiswal hits the fastest half century in ipl history. shocking the eternal city as sofia kenin stunned second