Asia – Page 2501 – Sure A Not

New move to control urban macaques in Lop Buri

On: February 7, 2024

PUBLISHED: 14: 19 on February 7, 2024.

LOP BURI: On Wednesday, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation joined local authorities in an effort to control industrial lemurs by taming, euthanizing them.

At the historic Phra Prang Sam Yot sanctuary in the Muang district on Wednesday, the office, Lop Buri city, and the provincial cattle development workplace signed a memorandum of understanding on marsupial control.

The church from the 13th century is home to an excessively large marsupial population that terrorizes tourists and raids nearby areas.

The macaques were troublemakers, according to division director-general Athapol Charoenshunsa, and the intended engagement was intended to protect people.

Macaques may be trained in cages to respond. The monkeys may be sterilized, taken to a monkey center in the tambon Pho Kao Ton, and then let out into their natural habitats.

” Property growth and agricultural expansion are causing the marsupial inhabitants to soar while the area available to them to shrink.” The availability of natural food and water is even declining as a result of the warm weather.

Conflict between people and chimps is therefore getting worse, according to Mr. Athapol.

According to him, there were 5, 709 chimps counted in Lop Buri last season, including 2, 206 in the city.

Ukraine-born Miss Japan gives up crown amid affair scandal

By: Jing Write

On: February 7, 2024

In: Asia

Japan: After rumors of an occasion she had with a married physician surfaced, the Ukraine-born Miss Japan show winner gave up her throne.

After some right-wingers questioned the name being given to a naturalized Chinese citizen, Karolina Shiino’s candidacy in January sparked debate.

When weekly newspaper Shukan Bunshun reported on her extramarital connection, which is forbidden for beauty pageant contestants who are held to squeaky-clean moral standards, a scandal over her personal life next broke out.

Chinese entertainment figures who have matters, use drugs, or engage in various scandals frequently experience rejection from both their fans and employers.

The Miss Japan Association announced on Monday that it had granted Shiino’s request to return the throne for “personal reasons,” and it also stated that there would n’t be a miss Japan in 2024.

On the same day that her administration agency claimed she had confirmed the matter, Shiino said she wanted to “deeply apologize” to those involved, including the boy’s family.

” I could n’t speak the truth at first because of the chaos and fear… The 26-year-old posted on Instagram,” I apologise to those who supported and believed in me.”

The model, who immigrated to Japan around the age of five, wrote,” I take the situation seriously and have given up the Miss Japan Grand Prix name.”

Shiino’s firm claimed in a statement released on Monday that she had started dating the person under the mistaken belief that he was divorced but had since remarried.

According to its site, Miss Japan, which was first held in 1950, is recognized for” Asian- type beauty” that includes “inner charm, elegance in appearance, and beauty of actions.”

People quickly voiced their opinions on social media after Shiino’s candidacy garnered attention online.

Why is she Miss Japan, regardless of whether she is Jewish or Ukrainian?” I ca n’t accept her character.” On X, previously Online, one user wrote.

On her Instagram post, Shiino received help from other writers.

You possess a Chinese nature. I do n’t believe that such ( a ) personal, private matter should be a cause for you to resign, but this is Japan,” the reply reads, receiving almost 350 likes.

Jailed Malaysian ex-PM Najib considering new request for a full pardon: Lawyer

By: Jing Write

On: February 7, 2024

In: Asia

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who was imprisoned, is thinking about submitting a new petition for full pardon, according to his attorney on Wednesday ( Feb 7 ). This is less than one week after the special panel decided to reduce his sentence to half.

Najib had previously requested clemency after being found guilty in a case connected to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad&nbsp, ( 1MDB) scandal and given the death penalty of 12 years in prison.

But last week, the pardons table, which is presided over by the king of Malaysia, decided to lighten his word.

Shafee Abdullah, Najib’s attorney, stated that a new plea was being taken into account because his customer had not been given an impartial trial. Najib has constantly refuted wrong.

The attorney also voiced concerns about the pardons procedure overseen by Al-Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, who abdicated his five-year throne on January 30 not long after imposing the word lowering for Najib.

Shafee remarked,” I do n’t believe the pardons board operated in accordance with how the constitution requires it to.”

Manpower Minister rejects suggestion to change how CPF interest payments are computed

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 7, 2024

In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: The CPF monthly interest payments will remain the same, according to Manpower Minister Tan See Leng on Wednesday ( Feb 7 ).

He was responding to a question about whether the CPF Board had looked into how monthly interest payments are calculated from Member of Parliament Louis Chua ( WP-Sengkang ).

According to Mr. Tan, all members now profit from the game’s higher interest rates, even though changes may result in significantly increased interest payments for those making CPF transactions.

Now, CPF withdrawals and deductions made in a single month do not accrue interest from that month; only contributions made to the fund earn interest in the following month.

Mr. Chua questioned whether the table would take CPF achievements made throughout the month into account when calculating the monthly interest payment.

Additionally, he inquired about the pro-rating of the monthly interest payment to the number of times a sum is held in the balances prior to departure.

Mr. Chua explained in the House that the Singapore government’s Treasury bills and banks ‘ fixed deposits have been offering competitive interest rates, above the 2.5 percent minimum interest rate on CPF Ordinary Account ( OA ) savings.

However, due to the method used to calculate the CPF monthly interest payment, members who invest in such investments run the risk of losing up to two months ‘ worth of potential interest payments, according to him.

Mr. Tan retorted that it is important to consider the CPF system’s features that do not apply to banks deposits when calculating the latest method of computing regular interest payments.

He emphasized that despite a protracted low interest rate environment over the past 20 years, the government has continued to pay the Special, Medisave, and Retirement Accounts ( SMRA ) 2.5 percent minimum interest and 4 % floor rate.

He continued by saying that the CPF system offers 1 % additional interest to all members on the initial S$ 60, 000 of combined balances. On the first S$ 30, 000 of combined CPF balances, members 55 and older receive an additional 1 % in interest.

Additionally, he stated that consumers frequently lose any potential interest earned if they early withdraw money from banks ‘ set deposits.

The minister stated that while altering the computation method may result in slightly higher CPF interest payments, the features I’ve just outlined now offer our members significantly higher interest rates and a greater increase in their savings.

Seen as eyesore, Kim blows up Arch of Reunification – Asia Times

By: Bolen C

On: February 7, 2024

In: Asia

The Arch of Reunification, a statue that represented hope for peace with the South, has been destroyed by North Korea. The monument was destroyed not long after Kim Jong UN, the head of the regime, referred to it as an “eyesore” in a statement.

In the same conversation, Kim called for a change to the North Korean law to represent South Korea’s position as his nations ‘ “principal enemy” and declared that the two Koreas, which have been divided since August 1945, could no longer be peacefully united.

Two Korean women were depicted in the Arch of Reunification, which was unveiled in 2001, wearing traditional attire known as hanbok ( “Korean clothes” ) in South Korea and chosn- ot (‘KOREAN clothes ‘ ) in North Korea. Together, the women displayed a picture of the united Korean peninsula, which at the time accurately reflected the North Korean administration’s desire to bring the two nations back together.

This is not the first time that North Korea has destroyed images of Asian assistance, speech, and unity. A joint contact office with South Korea was destroyed near the border city of Kaesong in June 2020, and images of it was captured and made public by North Korea. To facilitate communication between the two nations, the website was opened.

The Inter-Korean line, a network of more than 40 phone lines that connect North and South Korea, was severed by North Korea the following month, in August 2021, as retaliation for military training carried out jointly by South and the US. Kim did, nevertheless, restart the alerts two months later and urged Seoul to intensify relations-building work.

The destruction of the Arch of Reunification is a sign of North Korea’s resolve to portray reconciliation as being impractical. However, despite the monument’s real erasure, the fact that it is depicted on five established postage stamps helps to preserve the structure and what it stood for.

A postage stamp depicting the Arch of Reunification against a clear blue sky. — On May 30, 2002, a shipping mark from North Korea was issued to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Joint Declaration of Reunification between North and South Korea. David Hall, CC BY, NC, SA, via The Talk

Mail stamps for promotional materials

Postage stamps serve as small carriers of advertising messages in addition to serving as items that show how much mail has been paid. They have previously been referred to as “ambassadors” expressing standard opinions and “windows of the state” showing how the government wants to be perceived by both its own citizens and those outside of it.

Revisions to formal party narratives in the majority of authoritarian states call for the modification and erasure of symbols connected to the earlier narrative. The removal of Joseph Stalin’s brand from numerous places and monuments after his death in 1953 is the most egregious instance of this.

This was a component of the late 1950s de-Stalonization action, which destroyed Stalin’s” cult of personality.” Stalin had enhanced his reputation as a leader and sparked commitment by using art and popular culture.

Similar to this, the official North Korean postage stamp library eliminated five postcards that showed the Arch of Reunification from its ads. Seal directories offer details on the date, creator, size, and color of the stamps as well as their design. It’s crucial to have this knowledge when gathering and analyzing them.

A postage stamp depicting the Arch of Reunification against red background. — The Worker’s Party of Korea held its 7th Congress on July 25, 2016, and a North Korean shipping stamp was issued to commemorate the event. David Hall, CC BY, NC, and SA from The Talk

The exact date that the postcards were taken out is unknown. However, according to Wayback Machine, a online library of the World Wide Web, the web changed on January 19, right around the time Kim gave his speech and the monument was reportedly demolished. The website no longer makes any physical or textual recommendations to the stamps.

Around this time, NK News furthermore reported that North Korea was removing outdated information from propaganda websites, suggesting a revision of the formal tale.

There is a history behind this. Listings that run counter to novel state narratives have recently been removed from North Korea’s official stamp catalogs.

For instance, North Korea released a set of five stamps in 1960 honoring Pyongyang’s reconstruction following the Korean War ( 1950–1953 ). Mao Zedong Square and Stalin Street, two of the place names depicted on the stamps, were afterwards renamed” Triumph Arc Square” and” Victory Street.”

However, because the original names were on the postcards that were issued in 1960, their physical representations in later published mark catalogs were excluded.

The vision of reconciliation endures.

Nearly a year after its debut, in May 2002, The Arch of Reunification was initially depicted on an North Korean mail mark. However, the monument has just been featured on two stamps, one from 2015 and two more from 2016 and 2021, both.

North Korea is attempting to remove all traces of the Arch of Reunification’s image. However for North Korea, however, these passports are in the personal series of foreign stamp collectors.

A North Korean postage stamp issued in 2021. — To commemorate the 8th Congress of the Worker’s Party of Korea, North Korean shipping passports were issued on February 20, 2021. David Hall, CC BY, NC, and SA from The Talk

At the time of the stamps ‘ issuance, Korea Stamp Corporation ( North Korea’s state-run postal authority ) offices in China and Russia were open to the public. On websites like eBay, it is still simple to purchase these postcards from stamp dealers.

Because it does n’t have complete control over how its state narrative is presented and could be changed, North Korea will never be able to completely eradicate these depictions of the unification dream.

David Hall is a University of Central Lancashire PhD candidate in Asian reports.

Under a Creative Commons license, this article is republished from The Conversation. read the article in its entirety.

Standardising ‘use by’, ‘best before’ dates of food may result in additional packaging costs: Koh Poh Koon

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 7, 2024

In: South-East Asia

These are dates that are entirely marked on prepackaged food in accordance with Singapore’s Sales of Food Act, denoting that item is past its expiration date. &nbsp,

In this instance, the expiration date prevents food from “retaining its ordinary wholesomeness, nature, material, and quality” past the date when stored as directed. &nbsp,

This can be classified as&nbsp, “use by”, “best before,” “expiry time,” or” offer by.” According to the site of the Singapore Food Agency, selling food that has passed these dates is prohibited.

According to Dr. Koh,” standardizing the use of time marks to a particular name may require the business to tailor their packaging to the Singapore market, adding to compliance burden.”

” This may lead to higher presentation expenses, which the business may then move on to consumers.”

According to Dr. Koh, given Singapore’s little market, foreign food producers may decide not to alter their packaging to meet standards, which had cut down on the amount of food that the nation imports.

In response, Ms. He reaffirmed that confusion over like labels had been expressed in comments and enquired as to what else could be done to lessen it.

Given that supermarkets have control over the container in these situations, she questioned whether the government would think about pilot partnerships with them to encourage a more standardized approach to food products under house brands. &nbsp,

But, Dr. Koh asserted that given that Singapore imports the vast majority of its meals from various supply nations, some of which have different methods of labeling expiration dates, it is obvious that there will be a variety of brands.

Asking house brands to adhere to a single standard wo n’t solve the issue, he continued.

According to Dr. Koh,” consumers must take both” use by” and “best before” at the end of the day, which is equivalent to saying that anything after that date is improbable to be clean or may not be in its original state that is fit for consumption.

China leaks a blueprint for drone war dominance – Asia Times

By: Bolen C

On: February 7, 2024

In: Asia

A proper shift toward drone-led special operations in battle scenarios, including a possible issue with the US over Taiwan, has been revealed by China in an ambitious strategy to change its military operations through the integration of more sophisticated robotic systems.

In order to lessen the high risks of such missions, China’s military intends to replace humans with machines in special operations abroad, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP ) this month.

According to the SCMP report, scientists are collaborating with the People’s Liberation Army ( PLA ) to create unmanned aerial vehicles ( UAVs ) that can travel great distances, dive deep underwater, and wait for extended periods of time.

In order to assist Chinese businesses, engineers, and scientists in better understanding the needs and strategic objectives of the military, the PLA’s 78092 system has provided information about a speculative overseas special operations plan that was published in the Fire Control &amp, Command Control journal.

According to the PLA’s plan, the fictional operation will take place in 2035, when China and an unknown neighboring country engage in a small-scale conflict. Both sides must agree to restrict their use of small arms, such as small boats, drones, and anti-aircraft guns.

The Army is tasked with attacking crucial enemy installations, such as crucial control and supply hubs heavy behind enemy lines, quickly and covertly in that 2035 scenario.

According to the SCMP report, the UAVs designed for specific operations must be able to fly at really low altitudes, navigate obstacles, engage beyond visual range, and pursue and eliminate enemy forces.

It emphasizes that after an initial attack, sophisticated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ( ISR ) systems must be able to hover over the battlefield, assess the damage, or decide whether additional action is necessary. According to the report, the PLA group drew inspiration from US military strategy.

The Fire Control &amp, Command Control blog content provides a unique glimpse into China’s drone war ambitions and intentions because the country has been somewhat secretive about how it plans to use drones in any potential regional conflicts.

The Xxi- 4 drone from China is one of its more sophisticated models. Social Screengrab image

President Xi Jinping, the Chinese security equipment, and the PLA have n’t made much public mention of China’s aircraft swarm systems, strategy, research and development, or potential use of the techniques in a fight, according to Emilie Stewart in an article published in October 2023 for the China Aerospace Studies Institute.

Stewart notes that while the majority of Chinese articles widely describe helicopter swarms, they omit any distinctive Foreign traits that might distinguish the study from those of other drone researchers.

In those posts, aircraft swarms are defined similarly to how the US Air Force defines them, according to Stewart, while also stressing the importance of freedom and networking connectivity.

Stewart also notes that the majority of those papers discuss US drone swarming capabilities and exaggerated reports about China’s capabilities, which she claims are unsubstantiated and should be viewed with suspicion.

However, there may be two trends in China’s aircraft development. The second, developed by the US, focuses on creating long-range, high-end UAVs for precise strikes and proper reconnaissance outside of polite lands.

The MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk, two reasonably cheap US drones created in accordance with this philosophy, are not typically regarded as expendable. China has been using robots in the East China Sea that adhere to that theory as a result of this trend.

The CH-family of drones, according to Wonjune Hwang in a June 2020 article for the International Journal of China Studies, are ideal for maintaining maritime situation awareness and ISR, and they are likely to become the PLA Navy’s ( PLA-N) most valuable assets in ongoing and future maritime disputes.

China’s UAVs, according to Hwang, have the potential to be strategic weapons because of their range and heavy payload, making them perfect for putting an anti-access/area denial ( A2/AD ) strategy into practice.

The continuous Ukraine war has sparked the next trend in drone development, which involves mass-producing low-cost, deployable military drones using commercial dual-use technology. This trend is the complete opposite of the earlier trend of creating high-end, pricey aircraft. In comparison to India, China’s aircraft use in the Himalayas is more pronounced.

China has been using smaller military UAVs for administrative travel, border security, combat damage assessment, artillery observation, hero support, own clearance, search and rescue, and communication support in the Himalayas, according to Antoine Bondaz and Simon Berthault in a report published in July 2023 by the Foundation for Strategic Research.

Bondaz and Berthault point out that the majority of China’s drones in the Himalayas are professional, demonstrating the unique civil-military integration strategy of the country.

Unmanned ground vehicles ( UGV ) and unmanned surface vessels ( USV), however, may also be included in China’s future drone development for quick, decisive, and covert wars, as the SCMP report suggests.

Janes announced that the Sharp Claw I UGV had started operating in the Army in April 2020. The Sharp Claw I, according to Janes, can be transported in the larger Sharp Curve II UGV and weighs 120 tons, is 60 centimeters tall, and has a 1-kilometer operating variety.

I’m the Sharp Claw in motion. Screenshot taken by Video

At the World Defense Show 2022 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the China State Shipbuilding Corporation ( CSSC ) unveiled a prototype of an unmanned combat surface vehicle (UCSV ) weighing 340 tons, according to Janes.

According to the report, the UCSV has a thick deck of 6.2 meters, is 58 meters long, and is 18.1 meters wide total. According to Janes, the USCV may go up to 4, 000 nautical miles and has a maximum speed of 42 twists.

The main bridge has an 8-cell vertical launching system (VLS ) for surface-to-air ( SAM ) missiles, and the port and starboard sides have lightweight torpedo tube launchers. It also mentions that the UCSV has a front remote weapon station for two 20mm or 30mm cannons.

China may be a little evasive about its aircraft growth trajectory, but the PLA is unquestionably aware that potential conflicts will be more and more decided by drones.

Hun Manet thanks Thailand for preventing ‘interference’ in Cambodia affairs

By: Barkar Nash

On: February 7, 2024

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 7 February 2024 at 12:26

Hun Manet, the prime minister of Cambodia, thanked his Thai equivalent Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday for forbidding Thailand from being used as a base for people to “interfere” in his nation’s affairs.

The comments came weeks after Thai authorities detained two human rights activists from Cambodia and a former political prisoner. These actions have been denounced by protesters who have consistently charged Cambodia with persecuting political opponents.

The three, who are connected to the Cambodia Youth Network, had lately fled to Thailand in search of prison and had been given refugee status.

On Wednesday, when Prime Minister Hun Manet is expected to arrive for an established browse in Bangkok, they had planned to hold a protest rally.

As the ruling Cambodian People’s Party ( CPP ) has used intimidation and the legal system to neutralize the political opposition, dozens of pro-democracy activists have fled to Thailand in recent years to seek asylum.

Thai authorities detained 10 Vietnamese migrants on December 29 while they were in Bangkok for a Paris Peace Agreement training. According to CamboJA News, a company run by the Thai Journalists Federation, three were eventually released but seven people were still being held in immigration confinement two weeks later. Their present situation is unknown.

The course had 40 participants in total, including Khmer Krom immigrants, Candlelight Party adherents, and protesters of the now-defunct Cambodian National Rescue Party.

Ten people who had identification cards issued by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees ( UNHCR ) were detained by police when they showed up at the meeting and requested a document check, according to CamboJa News.

Thai authorities have charged them with entering the country illegally, while the Thai government has accused them of trying to topple the state.

Taxi drivers will be compensated for time spent installing new ERP 2.0 units

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 7, 2024

In: South-East Asia

Beginning on November 1 of last year, setup began with company vehicles like buses, products vehicles, and taxis.

Some taxi companies intend to schedule OBU installation and vehicle maintenance at the same time to cut down on the amount of time needed so that drivers wo n’t have to drop off their taxis twice to the workshop. &nbsp,

When seminars have more time, another operators intend to recall taxis for OBU setup so that the waiting period will be shortened.

ERP 2.0 products may be installed on private-hire cars at a later time, according to Dr. Khor.

According to her, “LTA may involve the pertinent participants closer to the planned time.”

Starting with new cars in the first quarter of this year, additional vehicles may be gradually outfitted with the OBU. Based on the time of the cars, the assembly for existing vehicles will be scheduled in batches.

Motorists may have two months to fit the OBU without charge.

According to LTA, the practice should be finished by the end of 2025. Due to a global chip shortage brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, installation was delayed.

MOE will investigate any allegations of unfair practices in direct school admission exercise: Chan Chun Sing

By: Marcus Ching

On: February 7, 2024

In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: On Wednesday ( Feb 7 ), Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing stated that the Ministry of Education ( MOE ) will thoroughly look into any claims of unfair practices in the direct school admission ( DSA ) exercise. &nbsp,

In response to a query from Member of Parliament Jamus Lim ( WP- Sengkang ) about unfair practices in the DSA process, he added that over the previous five years, an average of seven sets of parents have questioned the results of their child’s selection.

According to the Education Minister,” Based on MOE’s evaluation of each situation, we have found the schools to have carried out their selection processes thoroughly, honestly and professionally.” &nbsp,

Assoc Prof. Lim explained that the problem was motivated by “anecdotal proof” on potential instances of unfair practices in a secondary question. &nbsp,

For instance, the coach’s recommendation perhaps “hold a particular undue weight” when it comes to the selection criteria for applicants, particularly in the case of sports, he said. &nbsp,

According to Assoc Prof. Lim,” there is a problem that some coaches, possibly within the program, are making inherent promises that exposure to specific spots in specific schools would be favorable because they also happen to be the coaches for those schools.” &nbsp,

He added that he was” not making any charges” of fraud and demanded greater accountability in the DSA practice. &nbsp,

Additionally, Assoc Prof. Lim questioned whether MOE intends to survey the entire DSA approach in greater detail rather than just each individual case. &nbsp,

In his reply, Mr. Chan said,” We welcome you to move it to MOE and we’ll take a look at it if we believe that the program is correct and you have empirical data that you think requires our attention. &nbsp,

However, if you believe that the entire program is malfunctioning, I would also advise you to let us know where your areas of concern are so that we can look into this. nbsp

Mr. Chan noted that this percentage is actually lower than that of PSLE pertains with seven cases out of 4, 000 programs, emphasizing the distinction between anecdotal information or isolated instances and a systemic issue. &nbsp,

He continued,” There may also be instances where the parents and students “did not getting their selection” of schools, which would raise concerns about unethical behavior. &nbsp,

But please let us know if there are any such items. And I can assure you that MOE may carefully examine each and every one of these situations.

Mr. Darryl David ( PAP- Ang Mo Kio ) enquired as to whether MOE would think about expanding the range of DSA-applicable areas into secondary schools.

In his response, Mr. Chan stated that some schools have suggested to Dick the DSA selection areas they would like to concentrate on. &nbsp,

He continued,” For instance, some schools have strong beliefs in some locations.” And we permit the institution to have the variety of subjects that we want our students to excel in.

According to the Education Minister, these topics may be openly communicated to anyone, and a method must exist for evaluating the potential of each child in that field objectively. &nbsp,

Asia (Page 2,501)

Mail stamps for promotional materials

The vision of reconciliation endures.