Bangkok / Tribune News Servicve Thai exports slipped for a second straight month in May, with the low value attributed to a slowdown in the global economy and low prices for farm products and oil. The Commerce Ministry said that exports fell 4.4% year-on-year in May to US$17.6 billion, with imports edging up 0.5% last month to $16 billion. …

  Sydney / AFP A group of kayakers paddled to a tiny beach outside the Australian prime minister’s Sydney harbourside home on Saturday to call for action on climate change ahead of next weekend’s election. Protester Joseph Sikulu said he felt that the issue had dropped off the agenda ahead of the July 2 polls in which conservative Prime Minister …

  Shanghai / Bloomberg China’s central bank will study shadow banking activities at Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. as it tries to ensure a fair environment exists for competition in the industry, Governor Zhou Xiaochuan said. Alibaba engages in activities that fall under the Financial Stability Board’s definition of shadow banking and are subject to different capital requirements than traditional banks, …