Commentary ,Asia (Page 17)

REFORMS A WORK IN PROGRESS

In his writings and speeches, Abdul Hadi has been critical of secularism and liberalism. PAS is arguably the strongest party in the country after solid victories in the November 2022 general election (GE15) and August 2023 state elections.

It now holds the largest party block in Parliament with 42 seats out of 222 (originally 43, before Election Commission nullified the Kemaman seat in Terengganu). Its presence in Parliament is even bigger than Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Parti Keadlian Rakyat (PKR), the Democratic Action Party (DAP), and the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the other older and bigger parties in Malaysia.

In the state elections in August, PAS won 126 out of 245 seats it contested, making it the best performing party. It is now in control of Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, and Perlis. However, it struggled to garner votes from non-Malays and urban Malays.

As solid as PAS’ recent political gains, the question is whether an old warhorse like Abdul Hadi would be the stumbling block for PAS to make further electoral gains. To be sure, he may have put in place the ingredients for a progressive-Islamist PAS in future.

In his speech, Abdul Hadi reiterated his right to articulate the so-called 3R issues: Race, religion and royalty. On the other hand, the unity government has signalled it would not tolerate those who polarises the country. Abdul Hadi has been questioned several times by the police for sedition.

His recent comments on the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza may further alienate the more moderate Muslims (or Malaysians). It is understandable that he sympathises with the Palestinians in Gaza, given Malaysia’s political climate and that Kuala Lumpur does not have any diplomatic ties with Israel.

But he has inaccurately described the militant Hamas’ behaviour against Israel as legitimate in the eyes of Islam. He could have unequivocally condemned the loss of any innocent lives, both Palestinians and Israelis, while being more sympathetic to the former in the name of Muslim solidarity.

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The longtime Japan watcher and economist Jesper Koll sees the shortage leading to a new “golden age” in which full-time jobs replace irregular youth employment, with wage increases and opportunities accruing to the younger generation. 

Junichi Makino, the chief economist at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc, expects the higher labour costs that will inevitably result to spur company investment in raising Japan’s unusually low labour productivity and lift economic growth. 

“Over the past 20 years, economic actors in Japan have moved to reduce wages and employment and curb capex amid a deflationary environment,” Makino writes. “From here though, Japan is set for a macro environment of insufficient supply, which will require more capex to bridge the gap, and we expect this to be an engine for economic growth to accelerate again.”

SUPPLEMENTING WITH FOREIGN WORKERS AND TECH

That optimistic outcome depends on the country finding solutions.

One of the most pressing issues is what’s being referred to as the “2024 Problem” – a looming logistics crisis that could hit next year, when regulations limiting overtime hours in the already stretched trucking industry will come into effect. Estimates say it could result in a 14 per cent drop in transportable cargo by 2025, ballooning to 34 per cent by 2030.

The government is scrambling for solutions, including cutting wasteful journeys by encouraging customers to avoid deliveries when no one is home.

Everything is on the table: The types of jobs that the country’s increasing number of foreign workers can take are being expanded, with bus drivers possibly next to be added. Self-driving cars and other automated solutions are being proposed.

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ACTIVITIES OF PERFORMING Elections IN INDONESIA

how the world has changed. It definitely helps to get related to Jokowi if you want to succeed in Indonesian politics.

Look at the family trees, please. Mr. Raka, 36, is not only running for evil political office; in 2020, he was also elected mayor of Solo, his hometown. Due in large part to Jokowi’s popularity and social wealth, the young politician won with a landslide & nbsp. & nbsp,

Then there is Kaesang Pangarep, a younger child who is 28 years old and is better known for his YouTuber charm than his political background. Last month, the Indonesia Solidarity Party( PSI) was founded to support younger voters.

Finally, in 2020, son-in-law Bobby Nasution, & nbsp, was elected mayor of Medan. His campaign heavily relied on family ties, giving the impression that the central government would give him special consideration because of his wealthy place. & nbsp,

Any claim that his household benefits because he is the head of state has been dismissed by Jokowi. He told me in an appointment in 2020 that I didn’t stop Indonesians if they want to vote them in. The general public decides. & nbsp,

However, even the charismatic leader The & nbsp, with his consistently high approval ratings, won’t be immune to the public’s displeasure with what seems to be dynastic politics re-emerging in the archipelago. & nbsp,

According to Alexander Arifianto, top fellow at the Institute for Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore, a vote for Gibran as vice president may guarantee that Jokowi can continue to exert influence in the background during the Prabowo management. Social kingdoms are not uncommon but not particularly successful in Indonesia. Additionally, they invite open criticism after being publicly declared”& nbsp,

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WELLINGTON: On Tuesday, October 24, Li Shangfu was suddenly fired as China’s defense secretary after being conspicuously absent for more than two weeks. It puts an end to weeks of intense rumors about his whereabouts but brings up new concerns about the management staff of President Xi Jinping.

This is the second high-profile dismissal in three weeks; Qin Gang was abruptly removed from his position as foreign minister in July following a likewise enigmatic presence. In these assets, both people are currently China’s leaders with the shortest tenures.

NO INSURANCE IS Democratic LOYALTY.

There is no proof that General Li was fired as a result of his social loyalty. He was one of Mr. Xi’s most dependable generals and a defense” prince” whose father took part in the Long March. He advanced quickly through the ranks.

He oversaw the purchase and design of arms and led Mr. Xi’s effort to modernize the government. He oversaw many space missions and was a seasoned head of China’s ambitious space program. He took over for Wei Fenghe as position councilor and defense secretary in March.

He showed social allegiance to Mr. Xi as the military’s outward experience. General Li reportedly referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as an” extraordinary” leader who made” important contributions to promoting world peace” during his visit to Moscow in April, reiterating Mr. Xi’s commitment to the” no-limits” partnership with Russia.

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” GHOST Cannons” IN 3D – PRINTED

A three-dimensional object is created using a 3D printing and digital design document as part of the engineering process known as” 3D printing.” While 3D printers has several architectural uses, malicious actors have also used it to create weapons.

The technology has become more affordable and simple to use since the earliest 3D-printed piece was produced in 2013.

Australia, North America, and Europe have seen the greatest growth in the use and production of 3D-printed firearms. Legal and terrorist organizations, especially right-wing cells, have made an effort to produce, usage, and trade 3D-printed firearms.

Right-wing extremist Stephan Balliet attacked a Hebrew synagogue in Halle, Germany, in 2019 while brandishing an assault weapon with 3D-printed parts. Since then, a number of far-right sites in the UK, Finland, Iceland, Spain, and Australia have made an effort to employ 3D-printed weapons.

While producing destructive 3D-printed weapons requires a lot of skill and work, it provides operating security for criminals and terrorists. It minimizes contact with the outside earth and lowers the likelihood of government surveillance by enabling offenders to build weapon in the health of their homes.

The weapon are unregulated and therefore challenging to identify, giving rise to the term” touch guns.”

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NO Close CAN BE SEEN.

The global society frequently sees the conflict in Myanmar as a civil war between rival political parties. For example, the objectives of the Myanmar people are not mentioned in a 2021 Chinese foreign ministry speech.

However, a sizable portion of Myanmar’s community sees the ongoing and, in some areas, fierce resistance to military rule as sparked by an uprising within the nation. Peaceful demonstrations against the military government continue in countless urban and rural areas.

According to the NUG’s Ministry of Defense, there are more than 400 metropolitan rebel forces and on 259 PDF units that have been set up globally, operating in 250 township-based units. Although the Ministry of Defense at NUG makes an effort to impose a code of conduct for PDF employees, many local PDFs sometimes break it.

The NUG and its PDFs are seen by some ethnic resistance organizations more as allies in the fight against the federal government( or in this case, the SAC ) than as the head of their coalition. The NUG finds it challenging to control the distinct resistance forces because conflicts within ethnic resistance organizations have resulted in unintended civilian casualties. The NUG essentially lacks the ability to enforce its principles regarding the treatment of” dalan”( informants ) or its code of conduct for armed resistance personnel without an efficient chain of command.

Despite providing incentives to soldiers such as promises of advertising and allowing the plundering of villages, the SAC even appears unable to keep an efficient chain of command. According to reports of abandonment, desertion, and small mutinies, the SAC is unable to fully control its security forces.

It is important to note that abandonment rates in the Myanmar war have previously been high, despite the NUG’s assertion that more than 13, 000 soldiers and police officers have defected since the coup’d start. 4, 701 deserters were recorded in one military place alone in 2005, during a time of better army control, but since 2022, military defections appear to have decreased.

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BRILLIANCES IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM

There is a disconnect between school curriculum and work market needs despite the rapid growth of higher education.

Programs frequently prioritize principle over practical abilities, leaving graduates unprepared for the workforce. For instance, engineering students may concentrate on theories and equations but neglect practical applications like internships.

Furthermore, the market is flooded with overqualified applicants, particularly in the engineering, finance, and healthcare industries. This disparity encourages many people to pursue more education.

A remarkable 135 percent increase over the 2.01 million test-takers in 2017 resulted in a full of 4.74 million students taking the graduate entrance exam in 2023. This pattern makes youth poverty and poverty worse.

Effect ON THE WIDER

The youth employment issue in China has a ripple effect that should not be understated. High unemployment rates can cause civil unrest, especially in countries with a sizable adolescent population, according to UNICEF warnings.

The Chinese Communist Party has long upheld its autocratic stance by securing a sociable license based on prosperity and economic stability.

China may undergo a major internal energy shift if rising youth unemployment undermines this license by encouraging political radicalization or disengagement.

For unrest could spill over into international relations in a world that is interconnected worldwide. Particularly among countries with nearby financial ties to China, civil unrest can make a country less firm and thus less appealing to foreign investment.

Given China’s crucial role in global supply stores, such an inner turmoil also poses a threat to destabilize supply chain worldwide.

Domestic strife and social unrest can have an impact on a nation’s foreign relations, as demonstrated by historic examples like the Arab Spring and Brexit.

The Arab Spring resulted in the overthrow of numerous governments, local unrest, an impact on world oil prices, and the need for European nations to reevaluate their overseas policies.

Similar to how Brexit affected international trade agreements, caused democratic restructuring, and forced the European Union to reevaluate its foreign policy as a whole.

Although youth unemployment is a worldwide issue, we cannot afford to ignore it given the scope of the issue in China and its potential wider effects on connected markets.

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In recent years, Taiwanese tourists have been crucial to the Thai tourism sector. Prior to the pandemic, there had been a sharp increase in the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Thailand, reaching an astounding 11.14 million in 2019 and generating about US$ 17 billion in hospitality revenue.

However, China’s zero-COVID scheme resulted in a sharp drop in visitor immigrants. In 2020( almost all in January ), the number dropped to 1.25 million, and in 2021, it was just 13, 043.

The Thai hospitality sector sought to fill this void by diversifying its tourist publications.

TRAVELING Hindu VISITORS TO THAILAND

India became a more effective and tempting source of tourists for Thailand during the crisis.

In 2022, the relief of travel restrictions for international visitors signaled a turning point. For the first time, the number of Indian arrivals( 444, 136 ) overtook that of Chinese immigrants( 105, 860 ) during the initial eight months of that year.

Importantly, Thailand developed into a desirable location for Hindu weddings held abroad. These extravagant celebrations, which were frequently held at opulent resorts and cost between 10 million and 30 million baht( US$ 274, 000 to US$ 823,000 ), significantly increased tourism revenue.

The Thailand Indian Wedding Association’s leader, Ram Sachdev, expressed worries to the Nikkei newspaper in 2022 about concentrating only on the quantity of weddings for American tourists more than their caliber. He has argued that Thailand may attract more American wedding guests by offering crucial assistance and subsidies given the number of such events taking place around the world.

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