CNA Correspondent Podcast: Refugees and former gangsters find a new lease of life in Hong Kong and Japan

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Here’s an extract from the radio: &nbsp,

Teresa Tang:
You mentioned that some Yakuza members have left. They’ve tried to start a new career, but there are obstacles, not least of which is the shame of their history, right? &nbsp,

Michiyo Ishida:
Yes, allow me clarify what Tatsuya Shindo said to me. He was detained numerous times, three times for improper drugs, and was in prison. Actually though he completed his name in jail, Chinese culture, he said, was cruel. If he wanted to find a good work, he had to keep any remnants of his Yakuza past a secret. So he had to, for example, cover his tattoo. 20 years ago, when he was ( in the ) Yakuza, the law was not as tough as today towards crime syndicates. Still, there were major hurdles for him to ( integrate ) into society. Tatsuya Shindo explained this to me, exactly. &nbsp,

Tatsuya Shindo:
” For five decades after you are released from prison, deals may be signed. You may get a credit card, book a location, apply for a loan for a vehicle or opened a bank account. Today, if you ca n’t open an account, you ca n’t work. If your money may be remitted, they know why”.

Teresa Tang:
Some refugees, asylum applicants in Hong Kong, Deb, they’re living in purgatory actually, as they wait to get processed. They’re handcuffed, so to speak. What is the atmosphere like in Hong Kong when it is all about them? Are they usually accepted? Are they shunned, or are they ignored? &nbsp,

Deborah Wong: &nbsp,
You know, it’s exciting that you use the term lock, because that’s exactly what happened to Aimé Girimana, the person that we heard at the start of this radio, and he was talking about how no one plans to become a refugee. Then, Aimé’s history was very intriguing. He was a Burundi-based human rights lawyer when he learned that he was a target of death in the time, and he only learned this two days before the document was scheduled to take place. Therefore, he emigrated to Hong Kong with just a single suitcase, and that is where he was actually the only person who may enter the country without a visa 20 years earlier. But upon getting in Hong Kong, he was handcuffed. And Aimé told me that he was shocked, because he thought that Hong Kong was an international capital, and so… with that notion in mind, he was quite surprised you know, that he was being handcuffed without ( be ) given the chance to discuss his position. That is how it was twenty-five years before. Aimé is still awaiting relocation to a host nation, and he claims that over the past 20 years, public conversation has definitely improved. Hong Kong does include Charities like the Justice Centre and the Christian Action Centre for Refugees, both of whom advocate for refugees, but by and large, the migrant society is still largely unidentified.

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CNA Explains: Why is China engaging Myanmar’s former and current leaders?

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Myanmar’s junta-appointed ministries have been frequently invited to China on several official visits. &nbsp,

However, it was former president Thein Sein’s visit in late June that caused global attention. &nbsp,

Soe Win, the Little 2 man in the Myanmar military leadership, made an official trip to enter a conference in Qingdao in Shandong province just over a week later.

He became the highest-ranking defense head to travel to China since the coup of 2021 in an official capacity. &nbsp,

What’s behind the schedule of the sessions?

According to the course of events, China seems to prefer the former president of Myanmar to any of the recent military leaders. Or that Thein Sein’s visit made Soe Win, who is now the State Administration Council’s assistant army commander and deputy prime minister, a success.

But neither is the event, according to sources close to the Myanmar government. &nbsp,

CNA is aware that Beijing has a plan of inviting junta-appointed officials via bilateral rather than unique, diplomatic systems since the military coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi and her democratically elected government. &nbsp,

This may explain why dictatorship ministers have just traveled to China for conferences, forums, and other-country-related events. &nbsp,

Beijing increased engagements with Myanmar in the second half of last year, especially two months after the start of Operation 1027.

The name” Oct 27,” the day a group of powerful ethnic tolerance armies launched extensive, coordinated assaults that caught the Myanmar military off guard, is used in the nickname. The ethnic forces have since seized control of several junta-held areas of the country. &nbsp,

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Maldives’ delicate balancing act in geopolitical tug-of-war between India and China

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Muizzu has visited both China and India this month, as well as the US, according to Einar Tangen, a senior fellow at the Chinese think container Taihe Institute. This indicates that the country wants to balance relations on all fronts.

” China would like to see it ( Island ) remain negative… And the Islands have very wisely decided that they’re going to be no- aligned”, he said.

According to ISAS ‘ Palit, Muizzu’s administration is likely beginning to realize that” India out” and its significant dependence on China is not a viable long-term decision for the country. Months after taking office, the organization is likely beginning to realize this.

There are drawbacks to China’s extreme proximity. He said it’s important to fence and maintain as much balance as possible between the competing corporate interests in the area.

He added that while a possible free trade agreement between the Islands and China might raise hospitality, it might also eliminate a lot of practice responsibilities, which are another major source of income.

” Tourism is not an totally responsible statement. According to him, it is crucial for the Maldives to ensure that their heavy tourism reliance does not reduce ( other income )

” I’d venture to say that the Maldives is starting to notice that a more balanced approach is statistically, carefully, and financially possible, and it’s probably going to stick with it.”

As the Islands continues to evolve in its role in global politics as a result of its commitment to bilateral cooperation and safeguarding its self-reliance.

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CNA Explains: Bird flu is spreading globally. How worried should we be?

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Had bird flu trigger the next pandemic?

If the bird flu could become more effective in transmitting from animals to people, and then from individuals to individuals, then it would start to spread, said Prof. Ooi.

He noted that there have been three pandemics in the last decade, the largest of which was in 1918, which caused the death of about 60 million individuals.

In a Reuters report from July 1st, a leading scientist expressed concern that bird flu monitoring and testing gaps may put the world in a significant step backwards in a new pandemic.

Singapore should not be taking things for granted and should be prepared with plans in place that can be immediately ramped up, according to Prof. Ooi, even though it is currently free of the bird flu. &nbsp,

For one, he noted that Singapore and its neighbors may build up such capabilities so there is no need to “queue up” buying jabs from Europe or North America as the COVID- 19 pandemic demonstrated that vaccines can be produced immediately.

The scholar also emphasized the value of making first firefighters and disease control experts informed of what they need to do rather than “make it up” as and when a crisis occurs.

He argued that we must keep talking to the populace to make sure they are informed of what they need to do when it does occur.

He has observed that people are “more or less slowly sliding back” to pre-COVID days, when they did n’t care as much about getting sick or taking time off from work.

If the bird flu turns out to be a major public health issue, according to Prof. Ooi, one may wish that the affected people” can very quickly move up to some of those precautions.”

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Singapore Aquatics rejects Quah Ting Wen’s Paris Olympics appeal

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As a team, Quah, with girl Jing Wen and regional colleagues Letitia Sim and Levenia Sim, &nbsp, met the Olympic qualifying conditions for the&nbsp, 4x100m mix switch at the&nbsp, world finals in February.

Of the four rowers, Letitia was the only one who met the&nbsp,” A” cut, in the 100m swimming. &nbsp, Unlike the personal events, there are no Olympian” A” cut days for relay certification.

As a result, the world’s governing figure, World Aquatics, granted Singapore an exemption that limited the number of athletes who could engage in a circuit to three instead of the maximum of two.

But, World Aquatics afterwards offered Gan an invitation to participate in the children’s 1, 500m function based on her Olympian thought time– or Olympic” B” cut – of 16: 10.61 clocked earlier this month.

Swimmers who meet the Olympic qualifying time, or” A” cut, will automatically be admitted to the Games and will be invited to compete if they do so in the” B” cut.

Finally, World Aquatics gave Singapore the option of sending Quah or Gan, who both have the right to engage in separate occasions. &nbsp,

SAQ chose Gan, a choice that led to Quah’s charm. &nbsp,

Quah noted that it was humorous that she helped Singapore achieve its goal of the switch but will not participate as it stands. &nbsp,

” I was the one of the four to get Singapore’s first relay team to the Olympics, but the same group will likely not get competing at Paris”, she said. &nbsp,

Quah claimed that SAQ had informed her on Sunday that it was pursuing a separate elegance with World Aquatics to allow both Gan and Quah to compete in the Olympics. &nbsp,

NOT THE FIRST TIME&nbsp,

Quah claimed that the latest collection row had already occurred in 2021, when she and Gan were also competing for Olympic spots that year. &nbsp,

There was a debate over whether to give Quah or Gan up next. Gan was originally chosen by a committee of the Singapore Swimming Association ( as SAQ was then known ), but Quah was chosen after an appeal. &nbsp,

Quah told CNA that her issue was not with who goes to the Olympics, but rather with how she had been given a confirmation of her location only to have it taken apart. &nbsp,

The most upsetting aspect of this is how this is not the first day this is occurring, she said. &nbsp,

She argued that SAQ could have been more specific and precise about who it would send to the Games despite the way the world’s governing body allocates Olympic locations. &nbsp,

She said,” I do not want this to ever have an impact on people again,” and that’s what I said three years ago. &nbsp,

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Indonesia takes swing at boosting golf tourism as Singapore loses last 18-hole public golf course

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Indonesia is attempting to increase golf hospitality as it looks to complete the local gap left by Singapore, which is shuttering golf training as it looks at how to make the most of its limited area.

According to Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno on July 1, the Riau Islands have the most options because there are already 10 golf courses it and more are being built.

” We support the growth of golf hospitality because in Singapore it is becoming more expensive and unaffordable,” Mr. Sandiaga was quoted as saying during his weekly briefing.

From three, property- limited Singapore is then down to its last open golf course, a 9- hole venue. The last 18-hole public golf course in the country closed about a week ago ( Jun 30 ), and experts have told CNA that they anticipate more golf courses to be built.

Mr. Sandiaga expressed hope that the Batam Golf Challenge 2024, which would launch a two-day golf competition at a Batam nation club on June 29, will make the Riau Islands a top golfer tourism place in Indonesia.

He noted that there are now three golf courses in Bintan Regency, with another under development. In the town of Batam, there are already seven golfing training, with plans to add more in the future.

” This is a really excellent golf tourism destination in Indonesia”, Mr Sandiaga said. The Riau Islands are strategically close to Singapore, according to the commerce minister, adding that Singaporean golfers can travel by boat to the islands. &nbsp,

Mr. Sandiaga also cited the advancements made in various areas, revealing how Jakarta, West Java, and nearby areas now have a number of golf training.

According to him,” We have mapped out every” super priority” tourist place that we want to promote as well,” referring to the company’s earlier plans in March 2022 to build 25 new golf courses in five” super priority” locations by 2025.

These five places are: Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in Lombok, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

At least five golf courses of global conventional are encouraged. Golf has both quantitative and competitive strengths. Our proximity to golf training and kindness are advantageous for both visitors and golfers, according to Mr. Sandiaga at the time.

The Indonesian Golf Association ( PGI )’s ( PGI ) head of international relations, Bernardino Moningka Vega, claimed the sport’s popularity has increased.

He noted that Indonesians ‘ participation rates have increased by 20 % since the COVID- 19 pandemic in 2020. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Bernardino, who spoke to the Jakarta Post, the pandemic’s restrictions on outdoor activities accidentally thrust sport into the forefront because it remained one of the few pleasure options at the time.

However, Antara media firm, citing data from golf store purchases, reported that the number of golf in Indonesia has reached nearly 170, 000, away from around 50, 000 before the pandemic.

Despite this, research suggests that golfing tourism in Indonesia is still considerably lower than that in other Southeast Asian nations and beyond.

In a CNBC Indonesia report earlier this month, it was reported that Indonesia would have 170 golf courses by 2022, trailing only behind neighbors like Malaysia ( 244 ), Thailand ( 319 ), and India ( 296 ).

According to President Commissioner of Intra GolfLink Resorts ( IGR ) Darma Mangkuluhur Hutomo, Indonesia receives around 250, 000 golf tourists annually.

The figure is considerably lower than that of its neighbors. Thailand often attracts 6 million, Vietnam 1.5 million, and Malaysia 500, 000 sport visitors each month, said Mr Dharma as quoted by media outlet Detik. &nbsp,

According to Mr. Bernardino, as reported in the Jakarta Post, property shortage in some Asian cities impedes the entry of more golf courses and drives up prices.

This provides a “golden opportunity” for Indonesia to promote its golf courses, which are” also affordable”, he added.

Mr. Bernardino suggested that the Indonesian sport organization propose to work with its South Asian counterparts to promote local golf tourism and promote cross-country golfing excursions to bridge the gap. &nbsp,

” My program is aiming in that direction”, Mr Bernardino said. ” We may also work with local airlines like AirAsia or Singapore Airlines to incorporate flight schedule with golf trips.”

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Silicone mask-wearing criminals in China spark security concerns; e-commerce platforms censor product searches

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SINGAPORE: They’re often used in Hollywood, and are a recurring and perhaps properly- worn essence of the Mission Impossible movie.

Realistic silicone face masks are now in the spotlight in China in response to recent capers committed by criminals while wearing them, causing calls for tighter oversight as a result of concerns that they could become the inmates ‘ routine, particularly given how accessible they are.

Foreign e-commerce platforms like Taobao and Pinduduo have stepped up the search for these masks as analysts warn that the products may help criminals escape verification or even make identification fraud or imitation by bypassing facial reputation systems.

CNA conducted tests to discover that rubber face masks may be quickly delivered from China to other Asian locations, such as Singapore. But experts say there is n’t cause for alarm.

” I think that if ( like a mask is purchased and used to commit a crime, or to attempt to commit a crime, then that is definitely going to be an offence,” said Mr. Chung Ting Fai, the leader of an namesake law firm with a focus on intellectual property and business regulation in both China and Singapore.

But at present there have been no such cases ( in Singapore ), so this has not been an issue, “he told CNA.

UNMASKING Thieves

Silicone faces have recently been the subject of controversy and public concern in China, as a result of local media reports on many thefts where the perpetrators used them.

In March, four homes in Shanghai were broken into and over 100, 000 yuan ( US$ 13, 760 ) in valuables stolen. When police apprehended the suspect, they learned that it was a gentleman in his 40s who had used a silicone mask to disguise himself as an elder person.

Final month, a burglar broke into five rural communities in southeast Jiangsu state, stealing 30, 000 chinese price of goods. He reportedly used a rubber mask on hand to fend off the police if necessary while posing as an electronic worker.

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A ‘source of inspiration and strength’: Raising Singapore world champ and Olympic medal hope Maximilian Maeder

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” I made the choice then and I may complete it over and over again, no problem”.

Max’s parents likewise encouraged him, while not still a student, to talk to people about National Service, which would be part and parcel of taking up Singapore membership. &nbsp,

He claimed that it now shows him how he helped the country in a small approach while gaining from the experience.

” It can drive you, it can help you, it can give you a new perspective, whatever that may be”, said Max. ” I think I do like it, at least from what I heard.

He added that when he discussed NS with other Singapore sailing children staff members, they joked that he would be a “wayang king,” a Singlish expression for being adept at putting on a show.

Max would have had to wait until September to enlist in the NS. But on Saturday, Singapore’s Defence Ministry announced that he’d been granted postponement up to August 2028, to educate and compete at the Los Angeles Olympics that year.

The government noted that “deferment may be granted to outstanding golfers who are suspected of being potential medal victors for Singapore at top-tier international competitions like the Olympic Games.”

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Orangutans in their midst: How Malaysia’s wildlife centres and plantations are ensuring the great apes’ survival

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CARING FOR Children, THEN SETTING THEM Independent

CNA learned about the difficult job of rehabilitating animals while on a trip to Sepilok last month, as well as some promising protection initiatives.

In the last three times, the center has never received any reports of animals being kept as pets. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

” Sometimes it’s also because people are aware that animals are protected,” she adds. They let the orangutan roam freely and do n’t keep them as pets. There is less people and animals conflict”, said Dr Nabila Sarkawi, the council’s native specialist.

Over time, she claimed, the number of animal children being delivered to the center has decreased. This pattern has existed since 2021. We are unsure of the cause because no empirical studies have been done to examine the factors.

One animal was born last year at the center, but Dr. Nabila did not disclose data for earlier years.

Children typically arrive at the center after their moms are alleged to have been hurt or passed away. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

” Baby orangutans reside with their mother until the age of six or seven. If they were found ( alone ) below that age, we have to take care of them and teach them how to survive”, said Dr Nabila.

Children are cared for in an enclosed hospital round the clock until they are old enough to learn fundamental skills like climbing and foraging. This portion of the center is never accessible to the general public.

Once they are bigger, they “graduate” to an outside daycare where they can interact with older animals and practice building homes.

Although there is a seeing place behind a glass window, people contact is kept to a minimum. In the near forest, the apes are even free to roam. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

Once they have settled in to jungle life and demonstrated adequate survival abilities, they are allowed to leave. &nbsp,

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3 reasons to watch CNA’s 3-part series on dying alone in Singapore

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Authorities believe more cases remain unidentified. For example, when Bobby Tan’s uncle, 77, died in her house, it was time afterwards when her mates, alerted by an uncommon taste, called the police. By therefore, her figure had begun decomposing on her seat.

Just two of the many elderly people who live or have lived alone are Heng and Tan’s uncle.

The community of people aged 65 and above has nearly doubled, from 378, 640 in 2012 to 678, 130 in 2022. Of these, the proportion of those living alone has risen from 17.6 per share to 23.1 per share during that time.

Who are the people who pass ahead only and unobserved? What happens after these tragic incidents?

Dead Single in Singapore, a new sequence from CNA’s new series, examines the subtle realities of dying alone from the perspectives of those who are at danger and those who witness these heartfelt events. There are three justifications for watching it.

Watch Part 1: Living alone and dying alone in Singapore ( 45 :41 )

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