Malaysia to hold polls in 6 states on Aug 12
KUALA LUMPUR: Polling for the upcoming six state elections in Malaysia will take place on Aug 12, the Election Commission (EC) said on Wednesday (Jul 5). Nomination day will be on Jul 29 while early voting is set to be held on Aug 8, said EC chairman Abdul Ghani SallehContinue Reading
Man charged with attempted murder by driving into cyclist
SINGAPORE: A man has been charged with attempted murder for allegedly driving his vehicle into a cyclist. Toh Sze Ee, 48, is accused of attempting to kill 32-year-old cyclist Hossen Selim at about 5pm on Mar 16 this year. According to charge sheets, Toh’s vehicle collided with the cyclist alongContinue Reading
MAS posts record net loss of S$30.8 billion amid rise in Singapore dollar, higher interest expenses
SINGAPORE: The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) recorded its largest net loss of S$30.8 billion (US$22.8 billion) in the financial year that ended Mar 31, widening from a S$7.4 billion loss in the year before that.
This was due to a rising Singapore dollar resulting in negative currency translation effects, as well as higher interest expenses incurred as part of mopping up excess liquidity in the banking system, MAS managing director Ravi Menon said on Wednesday (Jul 5) at the release of the central bank’s annual report.
MAS said it made a “small” investment gain of S$0.6 billion on the country’s official foreign reserves amid the challenging market environment where both bond and equity markets performed poorly.
But this was outweighed by the appreciation in the Sing dollar and higher interest expenses on domestic money market operations.
The Sing dollar saw a “broad appreciation” against currencies – such as the US dollar and the euro – that the official foreign reserves were held in, as the central bank tightened monetary policy three times during the financial year to tame inflation.
This resulted in “significant negative currency translation effects” as MAS’ financial results are reported in the Sing dollar, it said.
How is extreme weather testing China’s climate resilience?
BEIJING: Dramatic swings between extreme heat and intense rainfall are testing China’s ability to cope with increasingly wild weather, as high temperatures challenge power grids and water security while floods ruin crops and threaten urban populations. Officials have warned repeatedly China is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate changeContinue Reading
Shares in K-pop agencies fall after report of antitrust probe
SEOUL: Shares in K-pop management agencies fell on Wednesday (Jul 5), after South Korea’s antitrust watchdog began investigations into any potential infractions of subcontracting rules when outsourcing the production of albums and merchandise, Yonhap reported. The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) sent investigators to the offices of HYBE, SM EntertainmentContinue Reading
Taiwan presidential frontrunner says he can keep peace with China
TAIPEI: Leading Taiwan presidential candidate William Lai wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday (Jul 5) that he could keep the peace with China if elected, reiterating his willingness for talks without preconditions and a pledge to boost defences. Lai, Taiwan’s vice president and the candidate for the rulingContinue Reading
Commentary: Ridout Road debate a reminder that public perception matters
Some, concerned about income inequality in Singapore, view this as a divide between the “haves” and “have-nots” and question if ministers living in large bungalows “engender a picture of inequality”, in the words of MP Murali Pillai (PAP-Bukit Batok).
However, Mr Shanmugam argued that the empathy or ability to serve did not depend on how poor or rich one was. While that might be true, not everyone in society will necessarily view it the same way.
Yet, how our ministers and public servants conduct themselves is subject to public scrutiny, and decisions that may seem personal can be seen differently by the public. This cannot be avoided, especially when one is canvassing for votes to be an elected Member of Parliament.
Public servants should consistently exercise prudence and sensitivity in their decision-making, whether pertaining to personal matters or official responsibilities. This consideration is crucial in terms of optics and public perception.
There is a need to correct misperceptions that may undermine trust and confidence in governance. After all, these misperceptions can be maliciously used to spread unfounded rumours and speculate about the character of others.
But after the dust of proper conduct and conflict of interest settles on Ridout Road, it should also be a reminder that inequality is – and always will be – a hot-button issue for many societies.
As highlighted in the parliamentary debate, addressing inequality does not involve pulling down successful individuals; instead, it necessitates fostering social mobility and facilitating upward mobility for all.
Dr Felix Tan is a political analyst at Nanyang Technological University. He is co-author of Unmasking Singapore’s 2020 General Elections: COVID-19 And The Evolving Political Landscape, (Singapore: World Scientific, 2021).
Australia PM says Hong Kong bounty on overseas activists ‘unacceptable’
In a radio interview on Wednesday, Hui said Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade had contacted him to offer protection. Yam confirmed to Reuters he had also been offered protection. Australia suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in 2020, and a foreign interference law makes it illegal forContinue Reading
Fire size of football field engulfs Tuas factory storing chemicals
SINGAPORE: An industrial fire the size of a football field broke out in Tuas early on Wednesday (Jul 5), said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). The fire “fully engulfed the premises”, which stores and distributes chemicals, said SCDF. SCDF was alerted to the fire at 11 Tuas Link 1Continue Reading
88 temples and breathtaking views: What itâs like to go on Japanâs Shikoku pilgrimage trail
In total, over the course of my 28 days spent visiting all 88 temples, I was also given: 700 yen (about S$6), 11 candies, seven small cakes, seven car rides, six mandarin oranges, five rice balls, three cookies, three chocolates, three cups of green tea, two crackers, two mochi, two soda cans, two multipurpose cloths, two yuzu juice cartons, one yokan (a red bean jelly snack), one bicycle (lent to me for half a day), one bag of steamed chestnuts, one bag of cherry tomatoes, one lunch and one bowl of homemade udon.
The pilgrimage’s temples are scattered along the perimeter of the island – some near the coast, and some farther into the mountainous interior. Some are grouped together, and others are 50 miles apart.
As a pilgrim, I often arose early – by 5.30am in the spring – and spent a full day on the road. About 80 per cent of the route is on asphalt, mostly through open fields and small towns and past beautiful coastline. I spent a few days climbing up and down mountain peaks.
The fading of Japan’s rural population is dramatically evident on Shikoku. Young people have fled to the cities or to other islands that offer a better quality of life. My experience confirmed as much: Nearly all of the young people I saw were in the capitals of the island’s four prefectures.
For breakfast and dinner, many pilgrims take advantage of home-cooked meals provided by most minshuku, or family-operated bed-and-breakfasts, and ryokan, traditional Japanese inns. These meals usually consist of rice, miso soup, fish and pickled vegetables. For lunch, depending on one’s location, convenience stores can provide a quick bite.