Heavy rains, flooding leave more than 20 dead in South Korea
SEOUL: At least 22 people have died and 14 are missing after heavy rain caused flooding and landslides in South Korea, officials said on Saturday (Jul 15), with thousands more ordered to evacuate their homes. South Korea is at the peak of its summer monsoon season and there has been heavyContinue Reading
South Korea landslides, floods kill 7, over 1,000 evacuated
SEOUL: Seven people have died, three were missing, seven injured and thousands evacuated in South Korea on Saturday (Jul 15), officials said, as a third day of torrential rains caused landslides and the overflow of a dam. As of 11am local time, 1,567 people had been evacuated nationwide, according to theContinue Reading
Malaysia state polls: Selangor expected to be most fiercely fought; outcome will be closely scrutinised
‘ECONOMY NOT IN SHAMBLES’
“The economy is not in shambles. Our growth rate of between 4 to 5 per cent is among the highest in the region and inflation is trending down at 2.8 per cent,” he said, adding that the problem lies in low wage growth.
The government has clear economic policy and solutions, which will be unveiled in the lead up to the Aug 12 state polls to win over fence sitters, he said.
His ministry will be releasing the renewable energy transition plan on Jul 27 that will attract RM25 billion (US$5.45 billion) in investments and create some 23,000 high-paying jobs.
“For the last six, seven months, the governing parties have focused very much on running the country. Everything was about policies, while there was a lot of build up of opposition content against us which we now have to neutralise,” said Mr Rafizi, who insisted there is still time to counter the opposition narrative.
Meanwhile, Mr Anwar has promised to unveil the Madani Economic Narrative next month to put the country on a stronger economic growth path.
Observers said he needs a strong win in Selangor to inject public confidence in his administration and ensure the stability of his unity government.
Why McDonald’s dropped tomatoes from Indian menus
ReutersThe conundrum over the tomato in India right now is not whether it’s a fruit or a vegetable – it’s that it has become expensive, and ridiculously so.
The price of the everyday staple has been climbing steeply for the past couple of weeks, and now stands at almost 200 rupees (£2; $3) a kilo in certain parts of India – a sharp shift from the usual 40-50 rupees.
The costly tomato has wreaked havoc on wallets, in kitchens and even on the streets.
McDonald’s recently made news – not for adding a new dish – but dropping tomatoes from its menu in most of its outlets in northern and eastern India. It cited the unavailability of quality tomatoes “due to seasonal crop issues” as the reason.
The skyrocketing prices have been particularly hard on India’s middle and lower classes, who make up the bulk of the population.
In the western city of Pune, a vegetable seller allegedly smacked a customer in the face with a weighing scale for bickering over the price of 250g of tomatoes.
In India’s holiest city Varanasi, a politician reportedly hired two bouncers to prevent people from haggling over tomato prices at his shop.
There have been reports of people stealing tomatoes from fields and hijacking tomato-laden trucks.
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Experts say that bad weather conditions have damaged crops, fuelling shortages in the market and a mismatch between demand and supply. The government has said that the soaring prices are a “temporary problem” and that they will drop in the coming months.
Some states have started selling tomatoes at reduced prices at government-run or farmer-backed outlets to help consumers. On 30 June, the Indian government launched a Tomato Grand Challenge Hackathon in Delhi to encourage the public to share ideas to combat the escalating prices.
The tomato holds a surprising amount of sway over Indian cooking – it’s added to almost every dish. So when it becomes scarce and expensive, it becomes the subject of headlines and even political rows.
Economists say the steep price rise could disrupt India’s delicate inflation balance, pushing retail inflation towards 5.5% in July-September from 4-5% in April and May.
Ironically, close to two months ago, farmers in India dumped crates of tomatoes on the road after prices crashed to 2-3 rupees a kilo in the wholesale market as supply exceeded demand.
Farmers resorted to the same measure last year to draw attention to their plight and, in March, farmers in Maharashtra state took out a protest march to demand higher prices for onions.
India often faces supply-demand challenges when it comes to perishable, but essential, vegetables like the onion and tomato. Both crops are grown almost around the year and produce from different states hits the market during different months.
This year, a bumper crop of tomato was followed by a poor harvest season.
“The current bout of tomato prices is actually a result of unseasonal rains during March-April-May in tomato-growing areas, particularly Kolar belt [in southern Karnataka state], which has the largest tomato market of the country,” says, Ashok Gulati, farm economist.
“From mid-June, the supplies have shrunk, while demand pressures have mounted, leading to spikes in fresh tomato prices,” he adds.
Mr Gulati says the excessive rains in north-western India are likely to put further pressures on supply.
“Significant areas are also reeling under floods, especially Himachal and Uttarakhand states. Supply lines during heavy rains often get displaced,” he says.
Anil Malhotra, an Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) member, told PTI news agency that though tomato prices escalate every monsoon, he had never seen them this high.
“There is a major dip in supply due to rains. Around half our stock, which we get from Himachal Pradesh, got damaged,” he said.
Arvind Malik, a tomato farmer from Haryana state, told the Guardian newspaper that while he usually sold 30,000kg of tomatoes every year, this year he could only harvest half of that as his crops had been destroyed by pests.
“Experts told us that irregular weather – sudden rise and decline in temperatures – is the reason behind the diseases in our tomatoes,” he said.
So how does India overcome this supply-demand gap? A straightforward solution would be to just store excess produce for the proverbial – and in this case, literal – rainy day.
But experts say that this is easier said than done because tomatoes are highly perishable and tend to go bad after a few weeks even in cold storage.
Mr Gulati says that one way to stabilise supply is to incentivise protected cultivation of tomatoes to save the crop from extreme heat or unseasonal heavy showers.
Another step is to process tomatoes into puree, which can help consumers shift to processed tomatoes when prices of fresh tomatoes are running high. “But to promote processing of tomatoes, the government has to incentivise the processing and lower GST [general sales tax] on tomato puree from 12% – 5%,” says Mr Gulati.
“Overall, a value chain approach has to be adopted to de-risk the vegetable from production to consumption, but the framework is absent right now.”
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Pheu Thai looms large as potential coalition leader
Party is ‘weighing up’ its options
The Pheu Thai Party has a good chance to become the leader of a new coalition if the Move Forward Party (MFP) and its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, can’t win the parliamentary selection of the new prime minister, a political science academic said on Friday.
As the party with the second-highest number of House seats, Pheu Thai will be able to justify a move to take over from the MFP and form a new coalition, possibly together with some other major parties outside the MFP-led alliance, Olarn Thinbangtieo from Burapha University, told the Bangkok Post.
The current alliance comprises eight parties, including Pheu Thai, he pointed out.
“All Pheu Thai has to do is wait and see what its best option is — its own prime ministerial candidate or that of another party [that it will form a new political alliance with],” said Mr Olarn.
If Mr Pita repeatedly fails to win the prime minister vote, Pheu Thai might have to decide if it should stay with the MFP-led alliance or switch sides to form a new alliance with parties such as Bhumjaithai or Palang Pracharath, he said.
If Pheu Thai chooses to remain in the same political alliance but grabs the opportunity to nominate its prime ministerial candidate in a new prime ministerial vote, the party might fail to garner sufficient votes from the Senate as well, Mr Olarn said.
As for the possibility of MFP’s supporters taking to the street after Mr Pita failed Thursday’s vote, Mr Olarn said that appeared remote at this point as Mr Pita has the chance to again contend for the premiership.
Thursday’s debate before MPs and senators voted on Mr Pita — the sole nominee for the parliamentary selection for the role — actually served no use as those who voted had already seemingly made their mind up, he said.
Other political science academics echoed Mr Olarn’s view, including Wanwichit Boonprong of Rangsit University, Stithorn Thananithichot of King Prajadhipok’s Institute and Thanaporn Sriyakul of Kasetsart University.
They shared a similar view that senators who either abstained or voted no in Thursday’s vote claimed MFP’s stance against Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, was the reason why they would not support Mr Pita as the country’s new prime minister.
Additionally, the academics thought Mr Pita and the MFP had no room to back down on their Section 112 stance after making it a key part of their electioneering.
âStories I can tell my grandchildrenâ: Meet the couple driving from London to Singapore in a convoy of 12 cars
As the season of revenge travel unfolds, Jeremy See and his wife Sharleen Lim are eagerly joining the ranks of those whose pandemic-born holiday dreams are now becoming a reality. Except their upcoming road trip has been in the works for three years.
In August, they will embark on a journey to London, where their Singapore-registered 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser 4.6L V8 was transported a month prior. Over the course of 100 days, they are prepared to cover 25,000km, passing through 23 countries as they make their way back to Singapore.
Their route includes the following countries: UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Turkiye, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, China, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and finally, Singapore. With a budget of S$110,000 for two people, it’s no wonder that none of their five children will be accompanying them.
MFP stands firm on S112 amendment
Fresh vote for PM to be held Wednesday
The Move Forward Party (MFP) has insisted that it will not back down from its plan to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, also known as the lese majeste law, saying the party does not want to fall into a trap laid by the senators.
MFP secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon said on Friday that he had met key Pheu Thai figures for talks on how to push for MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat to become the new prime minister.
They agreed that they would still nominate Mr Pita in a second round of voting in parliament scheduled for Wednesday, he said, adding that efforts will be made to gather more support for Mr Pita from senators.
Mr Pita failed to gather enough support for his nomination for prime minister in parliament on Thursday.
Section 112 was cited as the main reason why several senators refused to back his nomination.
However, Mr Pita insisted that the party would press ahead with its plan to amend the law, and said that he would try to gather the required support before the next round of voting.
Mr Chaithawat on Friday also reiterated the party’s stance on an amended bid, saying it was one of the pledges it made before the May 14 election.
“Moreover, I don’t think the senators will vote for Mr Pita even if we announce that we will back down.
“The senators have fixed opinions about us. Even if they do not criticise us over the issue [Section 112], they will still find other excuses to attack us.
“There are reports that old power groups are trying to pressure and control the senators in the hope of forming an alternative coalition government.
“Old power groups and major business establishments do not want Move Forward to become the new government,” Mr Chaithawat said.
Senator Kittisak Rattanawaraha said on Friday that if Mr Pita is nominated for a second round of voting next Wednesday, the outcome will be no different from Thursday’s vote.
Moreover, last Wednesday the Election Commission asked the Constitutional Court to rule on Mr Pita’s eligibility in light of the iTV shareholding scandal.
The constitution prohibits a stakeholder in a media organisation from running in a general election.
The same court also accepted for deliberation a petition filed by lawyer Theerayut Suwankesorn who claimed the MFP’s policy to amend Section 112 breaches Section 49 of the constitution, which prohibits people from using their rights and freedoms to overthrow the constitutional monarchy.
“If Mr Pita is nominated again on July 19, he will not receive the votes of senators, maybe not even from the 13 who voted for him on Thursday, either,” Mr Kittisak said.
”The runner-up party should be given a chance to nominate its prime ministerial candidate for the vote instead,” Mr Kittisak said, referring to the Pheu Thai Party.
He went on to say that even if the MFP promised to back down from its bid to amend Section 112, he would still not trust it considering that the party has been adamant about amendment over the past few years.
Prapan Koonme, another senator, said he believed that Mr Pita could not be nominated for a PM vote on Wednesday after he failed to gather enough support in Thursday’s vote.
Mr Prapan cited the parliamentary regulation No.41, which stipulates that “any motion that is dropped cannot be resubmitted to parliament during the same parliamentary session, except for a motion that parliament has yet to vote on or a motion which is allowed by the parliament president who decides that the circumstances have changed.”
In light of this, the regulation also applies to the motion regarding Mr Pita’s nomination for a vote on Thursday, Mr Prapan said.
Southeast Asian countries expect the US and China to responsibly manage their relationship, says Blinken
JAKARTA: Southeast Asian countries expect the United States and China to “responsibly manage” their relationship, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday (Jul 14).
“We have an obligation … both the US and China, to responsibly manage our relationship,” he said.
“We want to make sure the competition that we are in does not veer into conflict. And that starts with good communication. It starts with making sure there are no misunderstandings or misperceptions.”
He emphasised that dialogue with China is of importance to US President Joe Biden, who has sent a flurry of diplomats to Beijing to engage with Chinese counterparts in recent weeks.
This includes US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last week, climate envoy John Kerry in the coming days, and Mr Blinken himself last month.
“We have profound differences that we are trying to manage responsibly. There are areas where we should be able to cooperate because it’s in our mutual interest, and in the interests of other countries as well,” he added.
“I have heard from countries throughout Southeast Asia that there is an expectation that both the US and China will responsibly manage our relationship. That is what we are intent on doing.”
Mr Blinken made the remarks during a wide-ranging interview with CNA’s Indonesia correspondent Saifulbahri Ismail.
The Secretary of State was visiting Jakarta to attend meetings with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the regional bloc held its annual meeting.
Aside from Washington’s ties with Beijing, the wide-ranging interview also touched on US engagement with Southeast Asia, tensions in the South China Sea, as well as the worsening Myanmar crisis.
ASEAN AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA
Mr Blinken avoided a question on whether the US means to increase its military presence in the region, especially in the South China Sea.
Instead, he spoke about the US’ economic engagement in the region and stressed the need for freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
“We are focused intensely on an affirmative agenda that answers the needs of people in the region, as well as our own citizens,” he said
“We are the single largest provider of foreign direct investment (in ASEAN). That’s tremendously beneficial to the region, and also to us … On an economic basis alone, we see so much of the future being written here in the Indo-Pacific broadly, and in Southeast Asia as well.”
Mr Blinken emphasised it is “very important” to have a shared vision with the bloc and a “free and open” Indo-Pacific.
“We, as do all of our partners in ASEAN, share a commitment to freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and to making sure that we preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific that includes the ability of people, goods and ideas to move lawfully and freely throughout this region.”
He added that the US is keen on deepening its engagement with Southeast Asia on issues of shared interests including climate change, energy, economic growth, infrastructure and health.
MYANMAR CHALLENGE
Mr Blinken praised Indonesia’s leadership as ASEAN Chair, despite a deteriorating crisis in Myanmar.
“Indonesia has been leading very strongly and insisting on upholding the Five-Point Consensus and trying to (get) the military junta … to re-engage in dialogue and to move the country back on the track of democracy,” he said.
“But unfortunately, we’ve not seen any kind of positive response from the regime.”
He cited a worsening situation with deadly violence perpetrated by the junta, the continued detention of political prisoners, and the difficulty in getting humanitarian assistance to those affected by the crisis.
Mr Blinken said diplomats have discussed Myanmar extensively during the meetings and ASEAN is united in its approach of resolutely standing behind the Five-Point Consensus, a peace plan adopted in April 2021 between the bloc and Myanmar’s military leaders.
He acknowledged that while sanctions have not deterred the junta from bloodshed, there is a collective need to continue putting pressure on the regime.
“It is important to deny the military regime the resources that it needs to continue to repress the people of Myanmar … It is also very important that countries do not provide weapons, or support the military regime, because that will only add fuel to the fire of its own making.”
Dig uncovers four stone lintels at Hindu temple
NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Four stone lintels carved in the Old Khmer style dating back to the 11th or 12th century have been found at an archaeological site in Prasat Ban Bu Yai in this northeastern province.
The 10th Regional Office of Fine Arts in Nakhon Ratchasima found the stone lintels featuring delicately carved scenes from Hindu mythology at an archaeological dig at Prasat Ban Bu Yai, which is undergoing restoration in tambon Sung Noen of Sung Noen district, said Rakchart Kiriwattanasak, president of Nakhon Ratchasima’s Provincial Administrative Organisation Council.
Mr Rakchart said on Friday that the stone pieces were found scattered around the site.
The 10th Regional Office of Fine Arts will turn the stone temple into a tourist attraction, he said.
Prasat Ban Bu Yai was originally a Hindu temple in ancient Khmer culture. Built with sandstone, some of the architectural features such as lintels, door frames and tympanums (a triangular decorative wall surface) were carved in decorative patterns.
Judging by the artistic style of the sandstone carvings, the Hindu temple was built in the 11th or 12th century in the Baphuon and Angkor Wat style.
Mr Rakchart said archaeologists found all four stone lintels which had been installed above the gates, however only one is still intact. The intact lintel depicts a mythical lion holding a long garland.
Before the archaeological excavation, it was found that looters had dug up precious items including various metal artefacts and small bronze Buddha images.
“This was the theft of our national treasures. I would ask the looters to return everything they took rather than sell the artefacts in foreign markets,” Mr Rakchart said.
Commentary: FAS needs to provide clear solutions, not superficial band-aids for Singapore football
The FAS also – perhaps unwittingly – admitted to this when it revealed that one of the reasons the Young Lions faltered at the SEA Games was because the tournament was played at an intensity that was higher than that of the SPL.
As such, will the FAS be doing anything to raise the level of intensity and competitiveness of the SPL? Could increasing the number of teams in the league work? Could the return of uniformed clubs like SAFFC and Home United to the SPL do wonders in driving up the league standard?
But instead of addressing this issue and coming up with suggestions on how the league can be improved, one of the recommendations listed is to tweak SPL regulations to allow U23/22 players to have more game time in the league.
Yes, increasing game time would certainly help players. But what is the point of having extra minutes on the field when the overall intensity of the SPL still lags far behind our regional counterparts?
Another pertinent issue that the FAS did not address is the future of the Young Lions, which has performed dismally in the SPL over the past few seasons. Should they stay? Or should they go?
Many believe the outfit should be disbanded and that the players would be better off honing their craft at the clubs. I beg to differ. Like Singapore footballing legend Fandi Ahmad and former FAS technical director Michel Sablon, I see the value in keeping the Young Lions together and having them train together as a unit.