Politics Archives - Page 9 of 59

Musk’s political remarks raise new worries in Europe.

7Jan

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Musk’s political remarks raise new worries in Europe.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has become the latest politician to express concern about billionaire businessman Elon Musk commenting on the internal affairs of countries in Europe. South African-born Musk, who has been a United States citizen since 2002, is a close ally of US president-elect Donald Trump and is the owner of companies including social media platform X, on which he has 210 million followers. With increasing frequency, he has been posting his opinions on European politics, including endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, and running a poll on Monday entitled "America should liberate the people of Britain from their tyrannical government. Yes/No". Store told Norwegian national public broadcaster NRK: "I find it worrying that a m...

If the anti-corruption campaign loosens, China might make disastrous mistakes, Xi Jinping cautions.

6Jan

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

If the anti-corruption campaign loosens, China might make disastrous mistakes, Xi Jinping cautions.

More tenacity needed in fighting the biggest threat to the Communist Party, Xi tells disciplinary body Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned of “catastrophic” risks for the country if there is any let-up in the decade-old anti-corruption crackdown, adding that the fight remained “grave and complex”.Addressing a gathering of the elite of China’s top anti-corruption agency on Monday, Xi said China’s anti-corruption efforts had yielded clear results but officials should “maintain tenacity and perseverance in the fight against corruption … and resolutely fight this tough, protracted and all-out battle”. “Corruption is the biggest threat facing the [Communist] Party, and countering corruption is the most thorough form of self-revolution,” Xi told a plenary session of the Central Co

China’s top political advisor meets president of the Peruvian Congress

6Jan

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

China’s top political advisor meets president of the Peruvian Congress

China's top political advisor Wang Huning met with President of the Congress of Peru, Eduardo Salhuana in Beijing on Monday. Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, said China is willing to make joint efforts with Peru to push for more achievements in China-Peru relations and bring more benefits to the two peoples. He said the CPPCC is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Peru to make contributions to promoting the joint advance of the two countries on the road of national modernization. Salhuana said Peru is willing to work with China to further promote cooperation in various fields, jointly promote the development of the Chancay Port, and continue to deepen cooperation in building the Belt and Road, and...

On NYE, the China-Singapore free trade agreement update process is scheduled to begin.

31Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

On NYE, the China-Singapore free trade agreement update process is scheduled to begin.

SINGAPORE: China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced that the Further Upgrade Protocol for the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (CSFTA) will officially take effect on Dec 31, 2024. The upgraded agreement aims to deepen economic ties by significantly expanding market access and fostering cooperation in emerging sectors. The protocol aligns with high-standard international economic and trade principles, providing enhanced opportunities in the services trade and investment sectors between the two nations, according to a ministry statement released on Monday. China and Singapore have pledged greater openness in their services and investment markets using a “negative list” approach. This model specifies the sectors where restrictions remain, allowing all other areas to be open fo

2024 is over: The year’s top political headlines and what comes next

30Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

2024 is over: The year’s top political headlines and what comes next

SINGAPORE – A once-in-a-generation handover of power, court cases involving two prominent politicians, and a refresh by the ruling party ahead of its 70th anniversary – it was an eventful year for politics here, even as a much-anticipated general election has to wait for the new year. Here are six of the top political stories of 2024, and what can be expected in 2025: 4G leadership handoverMr Lawrence Wong was sworn in as Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15, with the transition to the fourth-generation (4G) leadership completed on Dec 4 when he was elected secretary-general of the People’s Action Party (PAP) by the party’s top body. He named his first Cabinet on May 13 with key portfolios largely unchanged, save the appointment of Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim

Asia saw a revolution, elections, and the birth of a baby hippo this year.

24Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Asia saw a revolution, elections, and the birth of a baby hippo this year.

A student revolution in Bangladesh. A stunning electoral rebuke for India’s once unassailable Narendra Modi. A rare corruption conviction in Singapore and political chaos in Japan and South Korea. Asia in 2024 was characterised by turbulence and surprises.Some developments were easier to predict. Asia’s tycoons grew richer even as ordinary people struggled under rising living costs. Scammers kept on hammering the Asian public, North Korea’s nuclear-armed leader Kim Jong-un continued provoking his southern neighbour and Myanmar’s junta refused to yield power – although its losses are mounting as the country’s civil war grinds on.It was another year of superlatives for Asia’s environment – but the ones no nation wants to hear: the hottest on record, the heaviest rain ever, the most powerful

24Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

2024 is over: The year’s top political headlines and what comes next

A once-in-a-generation handover of power, court cases involving two prominent politicians, and a refresh by the ruling party ahead of its 70th anniversary – it was an eventful year for politics here, even as a much-anticipated general election has to wait for the new year. Here are six of the top political stories of 2024, and what can be expected in 2025: 4G leadership handoverMr Lawrence Wong was sworn in as Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15, with the transition to the fourth-generation (4G) leadership completed on Dec 4 when he was elected secretary-general of the People’s Action Party (PAP) by the party’s top body. He named his first Cabinet on May 13 with key portfolios largely unchanged, save the appointment of Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong to dep

China suddenly replaces the army general in charge of political allegiance

24Dec

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China suddenly replaces the army general in charge of political allegiance

(Dec 24): China named a new political commissar for its large ground forces, an unexpected move that signals President Xi Jinping is tightening military discipline. General Chen Hui has been appointed to instill political loyalty and manage manpower in the ground forces of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday. The 61-year-old previously served in the Air Force, and in April was named the political commissar of the new PLA Aerospace Force. Chen’s appointment is surprising because he had only been at the Aerospace Force for less than a year and has no experience in the ground forces. He replaces the 61-year-old Qin Shutong. No official reason was given for Qin’s departure, and his next posting wasn’t announced. Qin’s predecessor steppe

Trump denies that Elon Musk is the true force driving the US president-elect.

22Dec

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Trump denies that Elon Musk is the true force driving the US president-elect.

United States President-elect Donald Trump has pushed back on the notion that he has “ceded the presidency” to billionaire Elon Musk, who has taken an outsized role in the president-elect’s transition into the White House. Trump made the comments during a speech in Arizona on Sunday, days after the Tesla and SpaceX owner intervened alongside the president-elect to scuttle a budget bill negotiated in Congress. The incident was the latest in which Musk has taken an atypically large role in the incoming Trump administration, prompting criticism from Democrats and from within Trump’s own Republican party. Directly addressing those criticisms for the first time, Trump praised Musk, before adding: “And no, he’s not taking the presidency.” Trump further called the suggestion that he

Sheikh Hasina’s flight to Delhi has worsened relations between Bangladesh and India.

20Dec

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Sheikh Hasina’s flight to Delhi has worsened relations between Bangladesh and India.

For decades, Muslim-majority Bangladesh and Hindu-majority India enjoyed close ties. But earlier this year, the relationship began to fray. What started as peaceful student protests against civil service job quotas morphed into a nationwide movement to force out Bangladesh's authoritarian prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The protests, which have been described as the "world's first Gen Z revolution", resulted in her fleeing in a helicopter — and into exile in Delhi. In the following months, the arrest of a revered Hindu leader in Bangladesh and a mob attack on a consulate in India have fuelled anger between the two countries. Now, the relationship between these South Asian giants is at a low ebb and religious tensions are high. 'Violence is our enemy'Under the heavy-handed