Dugongs ‘may decline 70%’
PUBLISHED: 7 Nov 2024 at 05: 50
A marine biologist has warned that due to the diminishing source of grass, which is their main source of food, habitat groups in the Andaman Sea are expected to decline by 70 % over the next four years.
More action should be taken to protect and preserve the extremely rare species, according to Thon Thamrongnawasawat, who told the Bangkok Post on Wednesday. A crisis of diminishing grass resources is contributing to the drop of this aquatic animal.
Diverse organizations have been collaborating to enhance the grass resources that have been impacted by climate change.
Mr Thon, who is also the lieutenant dean of the Faculty of Fish at Kasetsart University, said 72 alligators died in 2023-2024 from a full community of 250 recorded in 2022 in the Andaman Sea.
Now, there are around 120 but that amount could rise to 70 in four decades, he said.
If we do n’t take more aggressive action to protect their food source, he said,” We will have less and less dugong populations.”
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources ( DMCR ) has developed an urgent plan to address the crisis by providing Chinese cabbage to dugongs at a pilot site in Phuket’s Rawai beach.
The beach’s player page, which dugongs frequently visit to eat the seagrass there, was just launched by the DMCR.
The DMCR today offers four one-square-metre websites with four types of vegetables: day glory, bok choy, spinach and broccoli.
Unmanned aerial vehicles are also being used to gather information. So far only one dugong has approached one of the sites, but never eaten everything.
The DMCR is even researching other dugong products.
Despite reports of dugong observations in Penang, Mr. Thon stated that his team is collaborating with Malaysian experts.
He claimed that some people may have relocated from the Andaman Sea to a fresh food source in the neighboring nation.
Jatuporn Buruspat, continuous director at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said their declining statistics are disturbing. He claimed that he has instructed his staff to take more serious measures to improve the region’s grass ovulation.
The DMCR and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives are collaborating to acquire their seeds for future plantations.
A plan to travel the alligators in the Andaman to the Gulf of Thailand, where grass is more abundant, was rejected by Mr. Jatuporn. He claimed that since the varieties is known to be extremely vulnerable to new environments, more research is needed before making such judgments.
Maris allays concerns on Overlapping Claims Area in Gulf
Thailand, Cambodia may agree on term
PUBLISHED: 7 Nov 2024 at 05: 46
Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa addressed concerns over upcoming discussions with Cambodia regarding issues relating to the Overlapping Claims Area ( OCA ) in the Gulf of Thailand, arguing that both countries must accept them in order for the negotiations to succeed.
According to the law, he said on Wednesday that any subsequent deal would need the government’s support and approval before it could be reached.
He also refuted claims made by some as impossible that one side would win the negotiations, which would be based on the contentious Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) from 2001.
He claimed negotiations must be concluded before natural resources in the Gulf of Thailand can be exploited. Additionally, the MoU directly mandates that discussions on maritime boundaries and shared development take place at the same time.
Mr Maris said Thailand’s interests may be prioritised, with perks expected for Thai people, including clearly defined sea edges and more cheap energy assets.
According to the minister, Cambodia wo n’t lose its territorial title as a result of the MoU of 2001.
The image included in the MoU only depicts each nation’s claimed continental shelves area and does not imply a maritime boundary line. He added that the MoU encourages parallel discussions on sea borders and joint development, which is useful for Thailand.
PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who left on Wednesday for two regional conferences in Kunming, China, declined to comment on the discussions.
She did mention on Tuesday that the government is preparing to form a Joint Technical Committee (JTC ) in the upcoming two weeks to discuss issues relating to the OCA, and that the proposal is expected to be presented to the cabinet soon.
However, advocate Thaikorn Polsuwan wrote on Twitter that, following the 2019 votes, the Palang Pracharath Party-led state and Cambodia agreed to continue discussions under the 2001 MoU, although just one meeting was held.
Citing sources close to the issue, he said that during the meeting, Cambodia presented two proposals: for Thailand to recognise its 1972 territorial claim over half ofKoh Kutin Trat province, and designateKoh Kutas a joint economic development area.
The Thai committee requested an injunction upon learning of Cambodia’s ideas, and no further discussions have been held since.
Key members of the PPRP’s organization urge the Pheu Thai-led authorities to withdraw the 2001 MoU, arguing that it puts Thailand at a risk and risks regional loss.
However, Wichit Sukasuyanon, chairman of the Trat Tourism Association, expressed issue that concerns related to the 2001 MoU are affecting hospitality.
He claimed that some of the videos that are available on social media about the Gulf of Thailand’s maritime boundary are false and may have damaged viewers ‘ trust.
Maris allays concerns on OCA in Gulf
Thailand, Cambodia may agree on term
PUBLISHED: 7 Nov 2024 at 05: 46
Concerns about upcoming discussions with Cambodia regarding the Overlapping Claims Area ( OCA ) in the Gulf of Thailand must be addressed by foreign affairs minister Maris Sangiampongsa, who emphasized that both countries must accept them in order for the negotiations to succeed.
According to the law, he said on Wednesday, any ensuing agreement would need the approval of each nation’s cabinet and political support.
He also refuted claims made by some as impossible that one side would win the negotiations, which would be based on the contentious Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) from 2001.
He claimed negotiations must be concluded before natural resources in the Gulf of Thailand can be exploited. Additionally, the MoU directly mandates that discussions on maritime boundaries and combined development take place at the same time.
Mr Maris said Thailand’s interests may be prioritised, with perks expected for Thai people, including clearly defined sea edges and more cheap energy assets.
According to the secretary, Cambodia’s territory is not affected by the 2001 MoU.
The image included in the MoU only depicts each nation’s claimed continental shelves area and does not imply a maritime boundary line. He added that the MoU encourages parallel discussions on sea borders and joint development, which is useful for Thailand.
PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who left on Wednesday for two regional sessions in Kunming, China, declined to comment on the discussions.
However, she mentioned on Tuesday that the government is preparing to form a Joint Technical Committee (JTC ) in the upcoming two weeks to discuss issues relating to the OCA, with the proposal set to be presented to the cabinet soon.
However, advocate Thaikorn Polsuwan wrote on Twitter that, following the 2019 votes, the Palang Pracharath Party-led state and Cambodia agreed to continue discussions under the 2001 MoU, although just one meeting was held.
Citing sources close to the issue, he said that during the meeting, Cambodia presented two proposals: for Thailand to recognise its 1972 territorial claim over half ofKoh Kutin Trat province, and designateKoh Kutas a joint economic development area.
The Thai committee requested an injunction upon learning of Cambodia’s ideas, and no further discussions have been held since.
Key members of the PPRP’s organization urge the Pheu Thai-led authorities to rescind the 2001 MoU, arguing that it puts Thailand at a risk and risks regional loss.
However, Wichit Sukasuyanon, chairman of the Trat Tourism Association, expressed issue that concerns related to the 2001 MoU are affecting hospitality.
He claimed that some of the videos that are available on social media about the Gulf of Thailand’s maritime boundary are false and may have damaged viewers ‘ trust.
Minister confirms stable Thai-US ties in post-election outcome
Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, Thailand’s connection with the US will continue to be powerful, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa.
Mr. Maris made an emphasis on the impact of the poll results on Thailand’s longstanding diplomatic relations with the US during a speech on Wednesday at Wing 6’s Military Terminal 2 in Bangkok’s Don Muang area.
” Our relation with the US is powerful, consistent, and historic. Irrespective of who becomes the next US senator, our common goals and assistance remain steadfast”, he said.
The minister added that Thailand prioritizes healthy global partnerships that bring just outcomes for both parties under the leadership of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
He expressed confidence that this fundamental approach may help to maintain balance and fairness in US-Thai relations.
Regarding possible alterations to Thailand’s political stance, Mr. Maris stated that any adjustments would be based on open discussion between authorities and different sectors.
He highlighted various forms of collaboration, including government-to-government ( G2G), private-sector partnerships, and citizen-led initiatives.
However, the US consulate on Wednesday held” The 2024 Election Watch” welcome at the US president’s house, providing participants with a chance to see the US national vote and learn more about the American political process.
US Ambassador Robert F Godec, in his comment, said that regardless of the vote results, bilateral relations would be solid.
He acknowledged that the dignity of the political process is what counts the most, even though some may doubt when the results will be announced.
By January 2025, he claimed, the US may have a fresh leader elect.
Whatever the outcome, I can tell you that the United States ‘ collaboration with Thailand will continue to be strong.
” Our serious and important relationship is woven from relationships in business, investment, safety, education, and our people-to-people contacts.
” Thailand was America’s first companion in Asia, and our diplomatic relations stretch over 190 times. None of that will change”, he said.
When asked how a possible Donald Trump victory may impact the Thai-US marriage, Mr. Godec once more stated that the relationship may continue to be strong despite the election results ‘ impact.
He said that while little is said during election activities, it is essential to observe the exact guidelines once the leader is in business, as Congress, including the Senate, plays a significant role in shaping American plan.
But we’ll see who the American people elect and what specific programs and plans are put into place. However, he continues,” I believe the relationship between Thailand and the US may be strong,” he continued. Thailand is an incredibly critical state for the US.
Meanwhile, People’s Party ( PP ) list-MP and spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu commented on the possible implications of a Trump victory, cautioning that heightened US-China tensions under Mr Trump’s leadership could affect Thailand, creating both challenges and opportunities.
For instance, if the US imposes higher taxes on Chinese products, some of those items may be redirected to Thailand, possibly affecting Thai items.
But, he said, if production bases in China were to travel to Thailand, it may get investors and increase employment.
Mr. Parit added that Mr. Trump faces a problem because of his confined attention to climate change.
With recent severe weather events, such as landslides in northeastern Thailand, weather tenacity is an immediate concern.
He urged Thailand to develop international cooperation to successfully combat climate change.
Godec: ‘ Partnership will remain sturdy’
Commentary: The million-dollar flat narrative only serves to play games on the minds of people
A HOME And ASSET?
In August, Mr Lee cautioned against a “psychological powerful” that has contributed to rising straight pricing, with news of million-dollar offers prompting sellers to increase their asking prices.
This psychological factor suggests that supply-and-demand dynamics of enclosure offer are not the only factors driving our expectations of public housing. They are not merely affected by the natural conditions or characteristics of our common housing lands.
Instead, there is a second socio-cultural part that is shaped by our wider societal discussion regarding social aspirations as well as public casing. Urban thinkers frequently refer to this socio-cultural surface of a town as an “urban hypothetical.”
Urban imaginaries are frequently referred to as the metaphorical realm of a city, which is shaped by the public conversation that frequently swirls around these ideas and views and is shaped by the social values and perceptions held by the state’s citizens.
Singapore’s public discourse seems to be dominated by the idea that HDB flats represent quickly-acquired assets that can ( and should ) be monetized for significant financial gains.
These viewpoints could have been expressed following the 2007 Global Financial Crisis, with Singapore’s swift recovery from the turmoil strengthening home demand. Late in 2008, HDB resale prices started rising steadily and have n’t stopped.
Property providers have exacerbated the issue by pursuing home users in new estates to promote their apartments, a move that has been motivated by commissions from high-value transactions. Over 200 homes have resorted to putting up “do not disturb” symptoms in the Bidadari house to protect themselves from these real estate agents, many of whom have just passed their maximum occupancy periods.
This is in line with growing expectations that HDB flats should fetch a high transaction value once they hit the resale market, especially with home owners ‘ desire to “upgrade” to a private property once they are able to sell their apartments.
Additionally, according to the ERA survey, 35 % of millennials want to own a private condominium, compared to 59 % of Gen Z respondents.
A transactional view of home ownership contradicts the rules of public housing, which is fundamentally focused on making sure all Singaporeans can afford to live comfortably. The operative words here are “affordable” and ‘ home”.
For affordability, it is necessary for young families and those with limited financial resources to not be priced out of the HDB resale market. At the very least, a house should n’t be sold to the highest bidder.
More importantly, intentional efforts are required to reshape Singapore’s urban imaginary to become more inclusive and less transactional in nature. This means cutting back on resale transactions and focusing instead on less important aspects of home ownership, like building relationships and encouraging family relationships in our homes.
So, do n’t share a million-dollar flat post that you’ve made on social media or let it affect how you view your own, built-up home, wherever it may be.
Dr. Woo Jun Jie is a Senior Lecturer at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
With falling interest rates, have T-bills and savings bonds lost their allure?
Additionally, Mr. Thum cited items from online banks and financial institutions like Stashaway, GXS, Singlife, and Syfe, which have interest charges that are close to 3 %.
” The biggest beneficial is that these are all incredibly low risk purchases”, he said, adding that the minimum sum is as low as S$ 100 for some items.
According to Mr. Ray Zheng, a client advisor at Providend, owners should find out where their money is actually going with fixed payments or several money. The earnings on products offered by financial institutions may be attractive.
Alfred Chia, the CEO of SingCapital, noted that some businesses may use this technique to generate higher profits. Buyers need to be aware of what the long-term results may actually get.
ALTERNATIVES WITH HIGHER LIQUIDITY
For buyers looking for items without lock-in intervals, fixed income resources and money market funds are two possible solutions, according to Mr Zheng of Providend.
The first is a collection of investment-grade ties, while the second is a collection of short-term fixed payments managed by a fund manager.
Both are extremely wet, so buyers can typically withdraw their money as needed.
A least BBB rating on investment grade bonds indicates that the lender is financially positioned to pay attention to investors.
” Ties and fixed income are generally considered to be low-risk equipment”, said Mr Zheng, noting that they are less dangerous than other asset classes like stocks.
” When businesses are over, bonds or fixed income lose less than securities”, he said.
Comparing strong bonds or fixed payments to set money funds and money market funds, maximum investment amounts are usually lower.
But, Mr. Zheng noted that these funds may be more difficult to understand and less clear than bonds or fixed payments, which are both more difficult to buy and understand.
Mr Alfred Chia, CEO of SingCapital, said there is potential for capital gains when owners buy a set salary account.
When interest rates fall, bond rates generally rise. Selling the tie for a higher price may have a positive impact on the investor.
He even said traders should consider shares in building a healthy, long-term investment.
” Come state for low-risk buyers, they may consider an investment portfolio made up of 80 per cent ties and 20 per cent equity”, he said.
When interest rates fall, the saving cost for firms is lowered. ” Companies that can handle well, they will be able to boost their profit, but finally, equity markets did do well”.
Trump’s comeback looks a lot like Andrew Jackson’s in 1828 – Asia Times
Some history-minded people may seek understanding in the idea that it was n’t until Richard Nixon’s second term that the serious consequences began to emerge as the nation prepares for a second Donald Trump presidency.
But as a scholar of American politics, I do n’t think that’s the right parallel.
Trump has already been subject to the majority of the events that led to Nixon’s downfall, including federal prosecutor inquiries and parliamentary investigations.
Trump has survived by – deliberately or no – acing Andrew Jackson, a former US president who established a political party in his own picture and used it to rule about unchecked, in his Oval Office during his first word.
Unlike Nixon, Trump outlasted examinations
In the midst of the Watergate scandal, in which members of Nixon’s election campaign broke into the Democratic National Committee’s offices and next sought to conceal their deeds, Richard Nixon won a landslide victory over the Electoral College in 1972. Although Nixon started off his next word with sky-high acceptance, his fate soon followed.
Only 18 days after his inauguration in January 1973, a Senate specific committee was established to investigate the Watergate hack-in. By the summer of 1974, data of Nixon’s role in the Watergate acts had become enormous. Republican legislative leaders demanded the president step down during a White House attend on August 7, 1974. He announced his decision to retire the following morning, Aug. 8, 1974.
Trump, nevertheless, has already eroded many legal fights, investigations and controversies. Trump’s political career has been marred by numerous conflicts with legal and political organizations, including two House impeaches, both of which the Senate rejected. These include special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations and the Mar-a-Lago documents event.
Many in the GOP urged Trump to move aside to allow for a new generation of leaders following the Republican Party’s defeat in the finals in 2020 and its disappointing performance in the 2022 midterms. But Trump held company.
Studies stalled or were delayed, giving him breathing space through to the 2024 election. Then, with his his returning to the White House, Trump will almost certainly finish the provincial investigations, and there’s little indication that state cases may press forward quickly.
In recent years, Tucker Carlson has made historical sophistry a top topic in some Republican Party members. In this perspective, Nixon was the victim of a program geared against him more than his ouster for his role in Watergate. But where Nixon stepped apart, Trump has fought again.
Like Jackson, Trump reshaped his group
In many ways, if, Trump more closely resembles Jackson than the scandal-plagued Nixon.
Following his thin battle in the contentious 1824 election, Jackson, much like Trump had two centuries later, claimed the vote had been stolen.
Jackson seized on his followers ‘ emotions, reorganizing the Democratic-Republican Party, which eventually rebranded itself as the Democratic Party, in his own picture. His supporters fought for his cause, establishing state and local Political parties and establishing a potent grassroots action.
As a result, the Political Party democratized its election process, moving from elite-driven legislative primaries that chose prospects behind closed doors to well-attended group standards. Citizens could now take part in the candidate selection process through this change.
His views were echoed by the new Jacksonian Democratic Party, which also sparked a rise in democratic activism. Through what became known as the” rewards system,” Jackson rewarded hardliners by appointing them to positions in the government and keeping his friends in top positions in state and federal organizations. This strategy allowed Jackson to efficiently implement his plan while also mobilizing his followers at all levels of government, bringing them into American politicians in unprecedented numbers.
Jackson’s efforts, which included bypassing administrative controls, helped him establish a political environment that gave him a lot of power when he won the 1828 election.
The” Trail of Tears” by Jackson, for instance, exemplified the dangers of having a president with a lot of unilateral power.
Jackson used executive power that appeared unrestrained and disregarded administrative decisions and public outcry. Although Jackson refused to carry out the ruling in Worcester v. Georgia, the Supreme Court’s decision in 1832 led to the continuation of Cherokee people’s movement.
His restructured group and access to visits gave him the appearance of almost complete impunity. Johnson reaffirmed his authority by vetoing the Second Bank of the United States ‘ contract registration, and formally ordering the removal of national reserves despite the support of the bank from the Congress.
Furthermore, Trump has reshaped the Republican Party. His impact has been evident in Republican primary prizes, where individuals aligned with Trump’s perspective succeeded, and competitors – the so-called” Not Trumpers” and” RINOs” – found themselves pushed to the profits.
This change has not been limited to speech; it is manifested in the structure of state legislature and in Congress, establishing a pro-Trump philosophy that extends to party priorities and policies. Trump is now establish a solid groundwork on which to base his campaign promises.
However, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has, in effect, be a caretaker of the social revolution Trump has spearheaded, granting the senior considerable powers and legal protection.
What to look for future
But there are limitations to what Trump does achieve, yet with his enhanced position.
Unlike in Jackson’s time, today’s federal bureaucracy is a huge, rooted institution, with checks in place that does concern or hinder professional overreach. Some of Trump’s promises, particularly those relating to immigration reform, social welfare reform, and trade, are likely to face opposition from both civil servants and federal agency legal systems.
Trump has stated that he wants to completely reform that federal bureaucracy, replacing experienced career public servants with political appointees whose backgrounds align with Trump’s own.
Donald Trump’s re-election likely signals the end of at least some of the years-long inquiries into his past actions and ensures his dominance of the Republican Party is unbroken. Trump is in a position to further reshape the American political system with a devoted base of voters and supportive institutions.
Auburn University’s assistant professor of political science is Spencer Goidel.
This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
‘Trump trade’ wins, Asia loses as risk factors surge – Asia Times
It’s obvious Donald Trump’s big gain is a game-changer of epic sizes, from the harsh effect in Asian economies to the frantic press speculation about what lies ahead.
The declines in Chinese securities and the yuan only demonstrate how investors are quickly rearranging their strategies for addressing global financial risks and opportunities. The money surged on the news Trump scored a , next term. US companies jumped, as did crypto prices. Provides on US Treasury securities shot higher, also.
The” Trump trade” that Asia has in mind is to take cover. A Trump 2.0 White House may certainly be more inward-looking, putting Asia’s export-oriented economy in harm’s way.
A large fire radius is present. Though aimed at China, Trump’s designed 60 % tariffs will destroy Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and another trade-driven markets. The aftermath on shipping flows could be unimaginable.
According to Dubravko Lakos-Bujas, a planner at JPMorgan,” a significant increase in tariffs would reflect the most significant departure in policy from the latest administration and possibly the largest source of volatility.” The current macro environment is significantly different from what it was eight years ago, when the business cycle was in its mid-cycle, when the Fed did n’t care about inflation, and when pro-growth 1.0 policies were simpler to implement and had a greater impact on the bottom line.
Trump’s win over Kamala Harris is more of a “black swans” occasion for Asia than a “gray one.” Unlike the past, the latter is a repetitive but doubtful results. A “gray swan”, though, does have its own , serious consequences, too.
Unexpected effects might be a way to strengthen Xi Jinping’s influence in China. Trump may effectively strengthen it by attacking Beijing with such an aggressiveness that he essentially strengthens by compulsion to integrate with an Eastern economy with China at its core and not an America led by an uneven, mercantilist president who blames Asia for many of his country’s failings.
For Asia, the best-case situation is that Trump’s tax risks are more a negotiating strategy than a real accompli. In fact, Goldman Sachs economists predict that Trump may only establish 20 % tariffs on China and resist the urge to impose blanket charges on other countries.
Trump may turn the other means and impose taxes he has previously threatened to impose. Trump has already stated that there will be 100 % taxes on Mexican car exports.
How much is manufacturers in Japan and Korea hope to avoid such restrictions, especially given that Tesla’s CEO has Trump’s ear? At the very least, electronic vehicle charges will be stacked confidently against non-US manufacturers.
The , financial challenges  , may be even greater. One is that a penny march that has already irritated Asia will take a turn. For years, the economy’s “wasteball” impulses have shook international markets. It has lured enormous waves of global capital west, disadvantaging emerging-market markets in specific.
The difficulty, explains Tom Dunleavy, a companion at MV Capital, is that emerging markets “rely strongly on assets and have debts in money”. The majority of business and debt is also based in dollars, along with fuel. And he says that” the ratio of everything is going up.”
Regardless of the dubious reasoning behind it, the more packed a continued-dollar-strength business becomes as the result of the global fallout when depressed punters flee for their exits. And Trump was serve up some such situations.
Though Trump’s tariffs get the headlines, Asia is extremely worried about what his next president may mean for the Federal Reserve, the keeper of the world’s top supply money.
Trump put the techniques on the Fed during his 2017-2021 stay in the White House. Jerome Powell sabotaged his hand-picked Fed chair, and he went after him frequently. In 2019, Powell bowed to unrelenting force from , Trump, who also threatened to fire him.
That’s how the world’s most powerful economic authority added liquidity to a flourishing business that did n’t need new substances. Trump’s Fed meddling set the stage for the post-Covid-19 price surge to come. It also tarnished the Fed’s credibility in global markets.
For Asia, Trump’s Fed policies are especially worrisome. The region’s central banks are armed with the largest stocks of US Treasury securities. Japan alone holds$ 1.1 trillion of US debt, China$ 770 billion.
Together, Asia’s largest holders of dollars own about$ 3 trillion worth. Trump 2.0 would put at risk vast amounts of Asian state wealth if his fiscal policies push Washington’s debt far above today’s US$ 35 trillion.
Not to mention the ways China might retaliate, leading to cycle of tit-for-tat trade curbs. Or might Beijing make a move to dump sizable amounts of Treasuries to punish the Trump 2.0 gang?
Or what if Trump’s designs on altering the Fed’s mandate come to pass? A key plank of the” Project 2025″ strategy that the Heritage Foundation devised for a , second Trump term , is watering down Fed independence.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Trump took shots at Powell and his fellow policymakers. ” I think it’s the greatest job in government”, Trump said. Everybody talks about you like a god when you say,” Let’s say flip a coin,” and you show up to the office once a month.
Trump also contends that the White House has every right to compel the Fed to do its bidding.
Trump once remarked in August that the Federal Reserve had “kind of got it wrong” ( very interesting ). He went on to say that” I feel the president should have at least ]some ] say in there, yeah. I feel that strongly. I think that, in my case, I made a lot of money. I was very successful. And I believe I have a better instinct than those who, in many cases, would be chairman of the Federal Reserve.
This could put the Fed’s economic role closer to that of the People’s Bank of China.
To be sure, the concept of central bank independence has been muddied. Take the , Bank of Japan, which has held interest rates at or near zero for 25 years. What truly self-governing central bank would do that?
Yet the Fed is a different story. The dollar serves as the foundation of global finance and trade. Trump frequently discussed using a weaker dollar to gain a competitive advantage during his first term. Any policy change that undermines confidence in the US government and the dollar makes the world system shakier.
A weaker dollar could fan inflation. That, on top of Trump’s tariffs, could put the Fed in a very tough spot as Trump looks over Powell’s shoulder. Economists are frantically debating how all of this might turn out.
” On the US dollar, Trump wants to revitalize US manufacturing and exports”, says Will Denyer, an analyst at Gavekal Research. He may try to manipulate the dollar lower because he recognizes that the strength of the US dollar is an obstacle to these goals.
However, Denyer says, “he has few good options. Given how dependent the US government and companies are on foreign capital today, it is difficult to use capital controls to deter foreign inflows. And if Fed chair Jay Powell persists until the end of his term in May 2026, leaning on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates wo n’t be simple in the near future.
Trump might try to use the threat of tariffs as a negotiating tactic in an effort to revalue their currencies, Denyer adds. However, it is doubtful whether multilateral or even broader economic policy changes will significantly weaken the US dollar in the absence of broader economic policy shifts.
This, Denyer concludes,” will leave Trump to hope that continued disinflation allows the Fed to cut rates, weakening the US dollar. However, there is a sizable probability that loose fiscal policy and sticky inflation will keep , monetary policy , relatively tight, supporting the US dollar and confounding Trump’s aim of weakening the currency”.
Another irrational possibility: whether Trump will continue to flirt with defaulting on US debt. He declared to CNBC in 2016 that he would “know that you could make a deal” if the economy crashed. And if the economy was good, it was good. So, therefore, you ca n’t lose”.
Trump considered canceling Beijing’s debt while serving as president for the first time in light of trade tensions. With the US national debt twice the size of Chinese gross domestic product, it’s easy to see how that would make the 2008″ Lehman shock” seem quaint by comparison.
Asian assets are also weighed by the threat of geopolitical conflict. One example is what a Trump 2.0 foreign policy team might have for Taiwan.
Trump’s return is music to Vladimir Putin’s ears, giving the Russian leader greater scope to commandeer , Ukraine , once and for all. Compared with US President Joe Biden’s administration, Trump also seems less likely to come to Taipei’s defense if China moved against the island of , 23 million people.
Asia investors will also keep their bets guessing about the direction US policies in the Middle East will take. Trump, for instance, might give Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu more freedom to fight the conflict in Gaza. He’s also likely to tighten sanctions on Iran, adding fresh uncertainty to oil supply dynamics and, by extension, energy prices.
” Conceptually, the impact of a potential second Trump term on oil prices is ambiguous”, says commodity researcher Yulia Zhestkova Grigsby at Goldman Sachs.
As Trump 2.0 assumes power, other issues will concern Asian governments. Japan and Korea are concerned that Trump’s “grand bargain” trade agreement with Xi leaves other top Asian nations staring in from the distance.
All that’s clear, though, is that there will be fewer guardrails or inhibitions as Trump seeks to “make America great again” at Asia’s expense.
Breaking away from commission-based fees, Mereka opts for subscription model for its talent marketplace of experts
- Charging regular cost of US$ 20 for piano,  , US$ 40 for team
- Model is expected to remove the need for skill to keep the platform ,  ,
” You are the one delivering the job, you should get paid the full amount for that work”, said Rashvin Pal Singh, team CEO of Mereka, an education tech company.  ,
He refers to knowledge-based gig workers rather than delivery and rideshare, where the business models of platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are set to take a cut, ranging from 10 % to 20 % from each job the workers receive through the platforms. One platform, Toptal which connects businesses with software engineers, designers, finance experts, product managers, and project managers, charges up to 40 %.  ,
With the launch of its subscription-based skill marketplace platform in June, where talent do not have to give the platform for the number of work they get, Rashvin found this to be fundamentally unjust because” the person delivering the service is the expert, but the system as an entity takes a big slice of their income.” Rather users pay a US$ 20 ( RM88 ) monthly fee for individuals or US$ 40 ( RM176 ) for teams. ” You pay us for access, versus the other way around where you come on board the platforms for free, but they keep taking 20 % to 40 % of what you earn” . ,
Mereka has launched an ownership fundraising strategy on pitchIN with the aim of raising RM1.5 million in addition to the launch of the skills system. As of 6 Nov, it has reached RM800, 700, primarily from existing owners from its 2018 battle that raised over RM1.6 million.  ,
]RM1 = US$ 0.227]
The money will solve Rashvin’s two main issues. Finding the balance between having an impact and being equitable while simultaneously addressing its individual business needs is a high wire work, like all socially-driven effect companies. If the money is depleted, it will work as a security net.
The second is that a seven-person software team requires ongoing investment in software development in order to achieve long-term results as opposed to balancing cash circulation for the current year.  ,
” We want to improve our technical advancement”, Rashvin said.
Having said that, Mereka has had a positive cash flow for the past three decades.
changing the subscriber type
To be sure, when the program initially launched in 2021, it did not begin with the subscription model. Although it provided career matching and training programs, it primarily served as a resource management platform that made it possible for users to book both the Mereka training programs and the huge makerspace’s rental facilities. Additionally, it partnered with Taylor’s University and a few TVET/vocational center in Kuala Lumpur to record their services for rent.  ,
Because it posed the least obstacle to entrance and was the norm in the market, it decided to adopt the commission model.  ,
Despite seeing 220, 000 learners access various courses ( from 2021 to 2023 ), 80 % of those who attended the Skills for Jobs Indonesia program with Mereka serving as implementing partners had a bad year.
Rashvin even noticed the problem with all programs that match gig workers to jobs, with employees leaving the platforms to deal with clients immediately. ” There was no commitment to the systems, but I understood this”, said Rashvin. The problem with transaction-based models is that once you start finding a few projects on the program, you will typically find a way to keep because you would like to avoid paying the fee per job.
The subscription design, which allows ability to retain all of their earnings, not only generates good publicity, but it also helps to foster loyalty and lessens the likelihood of talent wanting to deal with clients outside of their own country.
” We will also continue to add value to our customers by providing them with access to our university courses and putting them in work via our work board. We can stick to our motto, “Skills to Income,” by strengthening our brand and making the system more equal, said Rashvin.
The phrase “expert” is used to describe the skills is intentional because the market does not only target knowledge employees but also those who are experts in their fields, ex-craftsmen, even though this group only accounts for 5 % of the ability.
With the job market in Southeast Asia valued at US$ 3 billion, said Rashvin, Mereka is targeting to sign-up 50, 000 authorities on the software over the next eight years.
The discrimination in compensation between workers and knowledge-based job
Rashvin, a co-founder and CEO of Biji-Biji Initiative, was first exposed to the unfairness of compensating skills. Biji-Biji, a social organization founded in 2013 by some companions, focuses on sustainable development through education and technology in Malaysia.
During the first three years of Biji-Biji, although they were doing production work like woodworking, metal fabrication, handmade bags for women, the challenge faced was being valued as mere’ labor’ work. They were not being compensated fairly for what Rashvin claims was skilled labor that was being paid between RM100 and RM150 per day.
He only realized this when Biji-Biji began providing educational programs in 2015 and this realization only hit him. We realized that customers who were learning from instructors were receiving RM150 to RM200 per hour, as opposed to the same rate per day for any production work, according to Rushvin.
Mereka, a division of Biji-Biji Initiative, established as a result of this glaring pay gap in 2017, which aims to provide higher-quality education and coaching to businesses.  ,
Seven years later, Mereka has evolved into a talent development ecosystem that trains artists, professionals, and businesspeople for the future of the workforce. Through our talent marketplace, Rashvin stated,” We give our learners access to digital entrepreneurship content and opportunities to make money,”
He anticipates a positive response from the market for the model. Because the money is yours, there is no incentive for you to transact off-platform. ”  ,
He anticipates the business to be viable because Mereka will earn recurring income while talent who joins the platform will have access to two things: ongoing income-generating opportunities and job opportunities ( which they have to pay for ).
Mereka will launch a free tier in January, where users can access the platform’s digital content but not its income-generating opportunities.
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