SEOUL: South Korea’s fertility rate, already the world’s lowest, continued its dramatic decline in 2023, as women concerned about their career advancement and the financial cost of raising children decided to delay childbirth or to not have babies. The average number of expected babies for a South Korean woman duringContinue Reading
SEOUL: South Korea’s fertility rate, already the world’s lowest, dropped to a fresh record low in 2023, defying the billions of dollars spent by the country to try to reverse the trend as the population shrank for a fourth straight year. The average number of expected babies for a SouthContinue Reading
Hong Kong authorities, however, say the new law is necessary as “threats posed by external forces and local terrorism remain”, adding that national security is the “fundamental prerequisite for the survival and development of a state”. The government also said Article 23 would give “full and prudent consideration” to theContinue Reading
SYDNEY: Tuvalu’s new government has reaffirmed its relations with Taiwan after last month’s election, Tuvalu’s government said in a statement, adding that it wants dialogue with Australia over a security pact signed last year. “The new government wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the long-term and lasting special relationship betweenContinue Reading
Cheng told Taiwanese news reporters the following day, Feb 10, that she had reported the incident to the police. The Kaohsiung police said on Feb 11 that this was not the case and that Cheng had not filed any reports.
Police investigations then found that the attacker was Cheng’s 32-year-old Singaporean male assistant, who had worked with Cheng to garner attention with the staged attack, according to Taiwanese media.
Cheng admitted in a livestream on Feb 24 that the video was a prank and apologised for her actions, after Kaohsiung police asked her to issue a public apology as the incident “had impacted negatively on the image of the southern port city”, reported Focus Taiwan.
On Tuesday, Taiwan’s Central News Agency, citing the immigration department, said that Cheng and her assistant had left the island and would not be allowed to enter Taiwan for up to five years.
The immigration department stated that foreigners were welcome in Taiwan as tourists but would not be allowed to engage in illegal activities.
“If cases similar to those that undermine social harmony and stability are found to be true after investigation, law enforcement will be implemented and severe punishment will be imposed,” read the statement.
CNA has approached Cheng for comment.
CRIME, POVERTY Modi’s government however has a mixed record in tackling the horrible rate of crime against women – the latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau shows that on average 88 women are raped in India every day. Still, only five of the women Reuters interviewed referred to suchContinue Reading
Hong Kong’s housing prices, once among the most expensive in the world, have plunged 20 per cent since their 2021 peak, dragged down by fragile market sentiment and a rise in interest rates. Some analysts expect a further 10 per cent drop this year. Hong Kong had already reduced stampContinue Reading
When Madam Chung returns home from school, for instance, she takes her books out and continues studying.
Her son Park Yeong-bok, who also attended the same elementary school when he was young, told CNA she has been very happy since starting lessons there.
Back in his time, there were about 40 to 50 students in one class, he shared.
“She couldn’t write before. But since she went to school in the last three years, she has gotten so much better. She is able to write anything she wants now. And so I’m happy for her,” said Mr Park.
Madam Chung’s fellow senior learner Madam Yoon said she hopes that she can continue to study and at least complete her elementary school journey.
Meanwhile, the Senior Model Association of South Korea has been providing modelling and catwalk training for those in their 70s and 80s, letting them grace the runways at fashion shows.
For two hours every week, the elderly runway aspirants meet at the non-profit body, which was set up about seven years ago.
The minimum age for membership is 45 years old, and participants are given proper catwalk training, although many do it as a hobby to stay active and healthy.
China has long been home to the largest population on the planet, but that’s starting to change. Fewer babies and a super-aged society could spell trouble for the country’s economy.
China correspondents Olivia Siong and Low Minmin talk about the potential items on the agenda for the nation’s most important political event of the year – the upcoming “Two Sessions” meetings.
On a technical level, acquiring and maintaining nuclear-powered submarines involves a big and very costly technological leap for Australia. AUKUS will be done in three complicated stages.
First, Australia will overhaul its current conventional submarines. Then, in the early 2030s, it will take delivery of some second-hand Virginia-class nuclear subs from the US. A decade later, the first AUKUS-class subs – designed in Britain, featuring US technology and built in the UK and Australia – will be deployed.
There is some quiet dismay in the Australian defence establishment at the large British role in the building of SSN-AUKUS. There is much less confidence in the UK’s military-industrial base than in US capabilities.
Those doubts will have grown following the difficulties of British aircraft carriers and the failure of a recent test of a UK Trident nuclear missile. Elizabeth Buchanan of West Point Military Academy argues bluntly that: “SSN-AUKUS probably won’t materialise.” Australian critics of AUKUS fear the country is setting off down a long and costly road to nowhere.
The strategic arguments against AUKUS are the weakest ones. The Australian government, like the Japanese and the Indians, is justifiably concerned by China’s military and territorial ambitions. It understands that if Beijing successfully invaded Taiwan – or managed to enforce its claims over the South China Sea – China would become the dominant power in the Indo-Pacific, with profound consequences for Australian security.
AUKUS is a classic effort to strengthen deterrence by increasing the risks to China of any potential aggression. As one Australian security official puts it: “The goal is to prevent a war, not to fight one.”