Surge in EV Demand Boosts Thailand's Auto Sales, Amazon Layoffs, Gold Prices, and More: Global Business News

EXCERPT: Thailand's auto sales reached a two-year high in 2025, electric vehicle demand drove growth, Amazon accidentally announced layoffs, and gold prices surged. Other global business news includes record-setting debuts, hiked silver margins, and a warning on AI's impact.

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Thailand's automobile sales saw a significant surge in 2025, reaching a two-year high despite lackluster economic growth. The demand was driven mainly by electric vehicles (EVs), as the market for these vehicles continues to grow exponentially. This trend mirrors global EV sales, which are expected to increase by 20% this year.

Elsewhere, an unexpected announcement from Amazon caused concern for thousands of employees. The tech giant mistakenly sent out an email confirming job cuts hours before the official announcement. Amazon has not yet commented on the matter.

In the financial world, CME Group raised margins on Comex silver futures as prices hit record highs during a wild rally. Meanwhile, Chinese snack retailer Busy Ming Group Co. saw its shares surge in Hong Kong's trading debut after raising HK$3.67 billion ($470 million) in an offering.

A former World Bank chief economist, Paul Romer, warned that the current AI boom could lead to both winners and casualties, comparing it to the dotcom bubble of the early 2000s.

The price of gold held steady after seven consecutive days of gains, fueled by a weaker US dollar and a flight from sovereign bonds and currencies.

Singapore's CEO, Ravinder Sajwan, shared his early career experiences in Silicon Valley, where he blew through his monthly credit card limit every two days while hustling on various tech startups. Today, his family boasts a $1.2 billion fortune thanks to a blockbuster IPO.

In Hong Kong, Deutsche Bank's offices were inspected by law enforcement officials, but no further details have been released. Ecuador filed a complaint after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent attempted to enter its Minneapolis consulate.

China cleared an initial Australian canola cargo for import, raising hopes that trade volumes could pick up after a lengthy halt in flows.

In the UK, a woman named Jane Grandon shared her experience with scabies, warning of the "really bad impact" it can have on people's lives as reports of parasitic infestations rise.

Investment firm Gordon Brothers bought British fashion brand LK Bennett out of administration, the latest shakeup among ailing UK retailers.

South Korean automaker Kia Corp. reported that US tariffs cost it 3.3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) last year, and the company plans to roll out incentives to boost sales as competition intensifies.

Five IPP prisoners in the UK will be referred to the Court of Appeal, as new IPP sentences were scrapped in 2012 but remain in place for around 2,800 people.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' support package for British pubs made headlines, while a woman pondered the question, "What if I just started shouting?" to help understand when to seek help for intrusive thoughts.

EasyJet faced criticism for its "misleading" £5.99 cabin bag fee, while the euro climbed above the 1.20 level against the dollar for the first time since June 2021 after President Donald Trump said he was not concerned with the US currency’s decline.

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