Opinion Archives - Page 9 of 45 - The Singapore Post

Taipei hosts the opening of an international health and welfare summit.

5Nov

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Taipei hosts the opening of an international health and welfare summit.

The 2024 Global Health and Welfare Forum in Taiwan opened Nov. 5 in Taipei City as part of government promotion of health for all, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Organized by the MOHW and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, event attendees include health ministers and other high-level officials from 17 countries. The forum features 37 speakers hailing from Australia, Thailand, the U.K. and the U.S., among others. The two-day event was opened by MOHW Minister Chiu Tai-yuan and features keynote speeches by experts including Arūnas Dulkys, Lithuanian economist and former minister of health; Jozef Suvada, Slovakia’s ambassador at large for global health; and Osamu Kunii, CEO and executive director of the Japan-based Global Health Innovative Technology Fund. The event also inclu

How US elections have been affected by the Middle East throughout time

5Nov

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

How US elections have been affected by the Middle East throughout time

The Middle East has been a focal point in US foreign policy for decades, shaping American political narratives, policy decisions, and, crucially, presidential elections. While issues like domestic economics and healthcare are often seen as primary concerns for voters, foreign policy — especially concerning the Middle East — consistently emerges as a significant factor in shaping public opinion and electoral outcomes in the US. This is due to the region’s impact on multiple aspects of American life, from national security to energy prices, as well as ideological and strategic alliances. The situation in the Middle East encompasses a range of critical issues, including terrorism, oil supply, and the U.S.-Israel relationship, all of which resonate deeply with American voters and have a subst

Bangladesh increases Adani repayments to prevent a power outage.

5Nov

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Bangladesh increases Adani repayments to prevent a power outage.

Bangladesh is ramping up payments to Adani Power after the Indian conglomerate cut electricity supplies by half, reportedly over an unpaid $800m bill. Two senior government officials told the BBC they are already processing partial payments to Adani, which supplies 10% of the electricity used by Bangladesh. “We have addressed payment glitches and already issued a $170 million [£143m] letter of credit to Adani group,” a senior Bangladesh Power Development Board official told the BBC. Adani supplies Bangladesh from its 1600 megawatt coal-fired plant in eastern India. The company hasn't responded to BBC queries about cuts to its supply to Bangladesh, which suffers regular power shortages. Officials say the company has threatened to suspend all supplies if the money owed to it is

The unexpected election outcome in Japan may signal the return of “revolving door” leadership.

5Nov

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

The unexpected election outcome in Japan may signal the return of “revolving door” leadership.

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party suffered an unexpected major defeat in the October 27 Lower House election, where Prime Minister Ishiba's snap election gamble backfired. While this loss marks a potential victory for Japanese democracy by breaking the LDP's nearly 70-year dominance, it raises concerns about regional stability. The LDP, even with coalition partner Komeito, fell short of a majority with just 215 seats out of 465. While this political shift might strengthen Japan's democratic process, it could compromise Japan's crucial role as a stabilising force in the Indo-Pacific region. The Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP’s) surprisingly poor showing in Japan’s Lower House election on 27 October is at first blush a victory for democracy in Japan. The snap election called by Prime Min

A volcano explodes in Indonesia, killing at least ten people.

5Nov

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

A volcano explodes in Indonesia, killing at least ten people.

At least 10 people have been killed after a volcano erupted in eastern Indonesia in the early hours of Monday, officials have said. Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted at 23:57 local time, according to the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMG). Hadi Wijaya, a PVMG spokesperson, said fiery lava and rocks had hit the villages about 4km (two miles) from the crater, burning and damaging residents' houses. According to local officials, the eruption has affected seven villages. PVMG said fires had "occurred in residential areas due to the ejection of incandescent material" from the volcano. It has raised the status of the volcano to the highest alert level, warning that a 7km (four-mile) ...

Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore has stated that he will resign as early as next year.

5Nov

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore has stated that he will resign as early as next year.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has announced he will hand over the leadership of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) before the 2025 general elections. Lee, 71, said on Sunday that he would hand the reins to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as soon as the PAP’s 70th anniversary in November 2024. Addressing PAP members on Sunday, Lee said Wong had proved himself as head of the government’s COVID-19 task force during the pandemic and “there is no reason to delay the political transition”. “Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next general election,” Lee said. “After that, I will be at the new PM’s disposal. I will go wherever he thinks I can be useful. I will do my best to help him and his team to fight and win the next GE.” Wong, a form

Vietnam’s strategy with China is characterized by cooperation and conflict.

28Oct

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Vietnam’s strategy with China is characterized by cooperation and conflict.

Vietnam's diplomatic approach emphasises a balance between ‘cooperation and struggle’ with Beijing. Despite concerns regarding a possible alignment shift, Hanoi remains focused on strengthening economic and political ties while resisting China's encroachments in the South China Sea. This strategy includes military enhancements, close ties with regional powers and frequent political engagements. By deftly balancing relationships with great powers, Vietnam aims to safeguard its sovereignty and promote stability amid ongoing geopolitical challenges. Given Vietnam’s diplomatic status and adept manoeuvring of great power relations, new developments regarding Hanoi’s alignment attract significant attention, including Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary To Lam’s August 2024 visit to

Chinese government officials phone women and encourage them to have children.

28Oct

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Chinese government officials phone women and encourage them to have children.

Chinese grass roots government workers, who spent decades imposing strict birth control policies, are now calling up women in their neighbourhoods to urge them to get pregnant amid China’s demographic crisis. When Jane Huang picked up the phone to answer a call earlier this month, her first response to the person on the end was to laugh. “[Hello!] Is that Ms Huang? Sorry to disturb you. I am from your sub district office, are you pregnant now?” Huang, a 35-year-old working mother of one son who lives in the southeast coastal province of Fujian, said the overly enthusiastic social worker even asked about the timing of her most recent period and offered to give her a reminder call when it was “the right time” to conceive another baby. “I laughed so hard when I told my husba

Defectors from North Korea want Ukraine to be used to fight their former allies psychologically.

28Oct

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Defectors from North Korea want Ukraine to be used to fight their former allies psychologically.

A group of nearly 200 North Korean defectors living in South Korea is pushing to deploy to Ukraine so they can launch a psychological warfare campaign against their former comrades, now reportedly assembling in Russia. Drawing on their military backgrounds, this band of ex-soldiers – each with seven to 10 years of military experience – aim to leverage their insider knowledge of North Korea’s military to disrupt and demoralise the troops sent to fight in Ukraine, exploiting their psychological vulnerabilities. “We are all military veterans who understand North Korea’s military culture and psychological state better than anyone else,” Ahn Chan-il, a 69-year-old defector and member of the group, told This Week in Asia. Ahn, who leads the World Inst

Iran considers its options following an Israeli strike that reveals military weaknesses.

28Oct

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Iran considers its options following an Israeli strike that reveals military weaknesses.

As the smoke clears from Israel’s recent air strikes on Iran, cautious optimism is growing that Tehran will refrain from retaliation – at least for now. But the unprecedented military exchanges between the Middle Eastern rivals signal a precarious shift in the balance of power, heightening fears of an impending conflict that looms larger than it did before the outbreak of the Gaza war. For the moment, analysts believe both Israel and Iran will act with restraint, wary of dragging the United States and its next president into a conflict neither side desires. “Interestingly, Israel provided advance warning and cautioned Tehran against further escalation but still crossed huge red lines,” said Sanam Vakil, director of British think tank Chatham Hou