Politics Archives - Page 17 of 59

Bangladesh is in a strong position to establish a new political region. Is It Able to Grab the Moment?

16Oct

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Bangladesh is in a strong position to establish a new political region. Is It Able to Grab the Moment?

The dramatic collapse of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has created extraordinary churn and uncertainty at home, in the region, and geopolitically. A student-driven movement led to widespread demonstrations that triggered a crisis within the regime, most notably the military’s refusal to repress the protests. Hasina is now in India, and an interim government is in place in Dhaka, advised by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. External observers are watching developments carefully to understand what trajectory Bangladesh might take. The most important questions are domestic. The aftermath of political revolutions can go in numerous directions, from civil war to the consolidation of a new and broadly accepted political system, and everything in between.

A bill was enacted to combat deepfakes and digitally altered content during elections.

15Oct

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

A bill was enacted to combat deepfakes and digitally altered content during elections.

SINGAPORE – Deepfakes and other digitally manipulated content of candidates will be barred during the election period, under a new law to provide an additional safeguard against misinformation. Parliament on Oct 15 passed the Elections (Integrity of Online Advertising) (Amendment) Bill to put in place the new measure. Presenting the Bill for debate, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo said it is a carefully calibrated response to augment Singapore’s election laws under the Parliamentary Elections Act and the Presidential Elections Act. The new measure will prohibit the publication of online content that realistically depicts a candidate saying or doing something that he did not. This includes misinformation generated using artificial intelligence (AI),

China’s strategic interests in the midst of the political unrest in Bangladesh

15Oct

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China’s strategic interests in the midst of the political unrest in Bangladesh

China closely observed the high-level courtesies extended to Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government of Bangladesh, by the United States (US), during the former’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly from 24–27 September. There was considerable resentment in Beijing as a high-level US official delegation visited Bangladesh from 14–15 September and pledged to provide US$200 million in aid. Speculations have been rife on the Chinese internet questioning whether Bangladesh, under the “pro-American” interim government, will now choose to side with the US camp, threatening China's interests. What is the “US support” being exchanged for—is it the sovereignty of St. Martin island or the overall close China-Bangladesh ties? Suspicion of American intervention in Bangladesh affair

Fallout by Salman Masood immerses readers in the political unrest in Pakistan.

13Oct

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Fallout by Salman Masood immerses readers in the political unrest in Pakistan.

This reviewer went to several well-known and well-stocked bookshops but could not find a copy of Fallout: Power, Intrigue and Political Upheaval in Pakistan. More shockingly, there are hardly any non-fiction books or fiction, for that matter, on Pakistan to be found. And Pakistan’s literary fiction, some claim, is superior to India’s. Then I realised that one hardly reads about Pakistan in the newspapers either; there is the same brain-dead parroting by the usual right-wing foghorns, but no update on our largest neighbour, from whom we are actually “separated-at-birth”. It all no doubt has to do with the government and its policy of deep-freezing relations with Pakistan. When I did get this book, I was fascinated. The book is a recapping of Pakistan’s past decade with a focus on t

China is prepared to modernize alongside Singapore, according to the Chinese prime

11Oct

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

China is prepared to modernize alongside Singapore, according to the Chinese prime

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Friday that China stands ready to work with Singapore to jointly advance their respective modernization process. Li made the remarks during his meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on the sidelines of the leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation held in Vientiane. Li said that for a long time, China and Singapore have maintained close and good high-level exchanges, the leaders of the two countries have exchanged in-depth views on strategic issues related to the long-term interests of both sides and discussed development plans. "This is a unique advantage and important guarantee for China and Singapore to promote the development of bilateral relations," Li said, noting China is willing to continue this fine tradition with the S...

DBS strengthens its assistance for Chinese businesses entering ASEAN by collaborating with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

7Oct

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

DBS strengthens its assistance for Chinese businesses entering ASEAN by collaborating with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

DBS and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), one of China’s largest trade bodies, have signed a memorandum of understanding to boost foreign investment and trade between China, Singapore and the ASEAN region. Together, the partners aim to help Chinese enterprises internationalise their businesses, strengthen supply chains in the region, enable job creation and accelerate sustainable development. DBS’ regional clients will also be able to tap the trade body’s network to expand into China.The collaboration brings together DBS – with its strong financial capabilities and extensive Asian presence as Southeast Asia’s largest bank – and CCPIT, which has an large network comprising China’s business and trade communities. Through DBS’ Foreign Direct Investment un

Mauritius will gain control over the Chagos Islands from the UK.

4Oct

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

Mauritius will gain control over the Chagos Islands from the UK.

The UK has announced it is giving up sovereignty of a remote but strategically important cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean after more than half a century. The deal – reached after years of negotiations - will see the UK hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a historic move. This includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, used by the US government as a military base for its navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft. The announcement, made in a joint statement by the UK and Mauritian Prime Ministers, ends decades of often fractious negotiations between the two countries. The US-UK base will remain on Diego Garcia – a key factor enabling the deal to go forward at a time of growing geopolitical rivalries in the region between Western countries, India, and China. T

In a rare instance, a former Singaporean minister is imprisoned.

3Oct

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

In a rare instance, a former Singaporean minister is imprisoned.

Subramaniam Iswaran, a senior cabinet minister in Singapore's government, has been sentenced to 12 months in prison in a high-profile trial that has gripped the wealthy nation. Iswaran, 62, pleaded guilty to accepting gifts worth more than S$403,000 ($311,882; £234,586) while in public office, as well as obstructing the course of justice. The gifts included tickets to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, a Brompton T-line bicycle, alcohol and a ride on a private jet. Justice Vincent Hoong, who oversaw the case in Singapore's High Court, emphasised that the former transport minister's crimes were an abuse of power and jeopardised people’s trust in public institutions. He also noted that Iswaran seemed to think he would be acquitted. "In his letter to the prime minister, he stated he re

30Sep

By Online DeskNo Comments

The strategy underlying China’s financial transactions and the reasons behind its desire for increased involvement in Africa

China’s relationship with Africa is set to deepen. At a summit in Beijing in early September, China’s president, Xi Jinping, pledged to deliver US$51 billion (£39 billion) in loans, investment and aid to the continent over the next three years, as well as upgrading diplomatic ties. Beijing’s close engagement with Africa is not new. Since 1950, the first overseas trip of the year for Chinese foreign ministers has almost always been to one or more African countries. But Xi’s commitments are still sure to raise concerns in the US and other western countries, which are competing with China for global influence. They may well also bring back fears of China using “debt-trap diplomacy” to push African countries into default and thereby gain leverage over them. Such is the st

Opinion | Don’t despise people for the wars and crimes committed by their political leaders

30Sep

By Online DeskNo Comments

Opinion | Don’t despise people for the wars and crimes committed by their political leaders

This year, I attended a seminar on the 918 Incident. On that fateful day of September 18, 1931, an explosion destroyed a section of railway track near the Manchurian city of Mukden, now Shenyang. The Japanese used the incident as a pretext for retaliation against China and an invasion of Manchuria. That was the prelude to the fully fledged invasion of China, following the Lugou Bridge Incident on July 7, 1937. The war dragged on until September 2, 1945 when the Imperial Japanese Army surrendered unconditionally. The Japanese invasion had caused untold suffering, with an estimated death toll of over 10 million Chinese. We sorely need to learn from history. Although wars in the past led to conquests, expansion of political power, exploitation of resources and peoples, a...