TOKYO: On Monday, October 23, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed to provide subsidies and payouts to households to make up for the rising cost of living, emphasizing his administration’s determination to completely lift the economy out of stagnation. For more than a year, inflation has remained above the centralContinue Reading
As assaults by the dictatorship leave the most vulnerable at risk of confusion, movement, and death, the human rights situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate quickly. As life becomes more challenging, fear has engulfed nearby communities across the country.
The international community has made a number of controversial decisions that go against the people’s can and run the risk of putting them in greater danger as the world comes to terms with the harsh realities of the ongoing civil war in Myanmar, which includes constant underwater and floor bombardments throughout the nation. Engaging with the coup on a global and regional level is extremely concerning.
The UN International Organization for Migration ( IOM ), United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ), Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO ), and UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs ( OCHA) have all signed new agreements with the junta and given them credentials.
Martin Griffiths, the mind of OCHA, most recently met with the junta to request assistance exposure to areas impacted by Cyclone Mocha in August. Documents that were leaked last month showed that UNICEF had signed a$ 3 million USD agreement with the regime.
What proof is there that the coup will use this money wisely? These are some obvious questions that this raises. We ask,” Why is the global community giving millions of dollars to the perpetrators of the large atrocities?” and receive a zero response. What historical proof do we have that the junta will immediately use these funds to make amends for the crimes they committed? & nbsp,
The obvious response to these questions from civil society organizations is a quiet and resounding” No.” The willingness to play politics with one of the most aggressive regimes in the world actually outrages and astounds local teams.
More than 400 civil society organizations urged UN General Assembly members to act swiftly to keep the military coup responsible for the crimes in Myanmar on October 17.
Contrary to popular belief, after presenting their credentials and signing memoranda of understanding( MoUs ), many international relief organizations continue to work through the junta on issues pertaining to humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, UN agencies are frequently denied access to resources or have their options significantly constrained.
Additionally, OCHA continues to” vastly underestimate the total number of IDPs ] internally displaced persons ] in southeast Burma ,” as stated in a recent report by the Karen Peace Support Network( KPSN ).
OCHA claims there are fewer than 400, 000 IDPs in Karen position since the coup, despite the KPSN, the largest Karen civil society system, which includes more than 30 companies in Myanmar and Thailand. While local organizations like the KPSN have a much more dependable approach, these discrepancies are caused by the UN’s restricted access.
This is further emphasized in the most recent report from the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar’s & nbsp,” How the UN is Failing Myanmar ,” which states that” the UN does not provide development assistance to the network of actors that carry out government functions within the vast territory held and run by the resistance.”
Millions of people have lost their fundamental freedoms and rights to life as a result of common movement since the February 2021 revolt. A terrible regime that seeks legitimacy and energy at the expense of human lives has targeted villages that were once tranquil, turning them into battlefields as clinics, schools, places of worship, and also displacement sites.
Opposition makes don’t budge from their position. However, more than heeding the military junta’s calling for transparency and humanitarian aid, civilians frequently feel abandoned by international actors who have recently become more involved with them.
The majority of affected civilians and IDPs in Karen state, within Karen National Union( KNU) administrative areas, continue to receive assistance through cross-border humanitarian aid provided by neighborhood organizations, according to the KPSN.
In actuality, cross-border support is the most dependable and safe way to offer life-saving assistance to local communities. Since there are no deals to be made with the coup, migrants and IDPs, including the most vulnerable ones, are aware that they can rely on local actors to provide humanitarian aid and that assets will arrive quickly, effectively, and— perhaps most importantly— with respect.
It’s crucial to take note of the skills and ability of regional groups. More than three decades of experience delivering aid in crisis situations have been accumulated by cultural, directly run organizations operating along the Thai-Myanmar border.
The question of whether they can effectively provide help shouldn’t even be a problem, as it is frequently posed by administrators and ambassadors. They have repeatedly demonstrated that they are more than ready, but they still require the money to maintain consistent support.
Yangon was listed as the region in Myanmar with the most people in need of support, at 2.7 million, according to the Myanmar Humanitarian Response Plan, which was released in January. This is in contrast to conflict-affected places like Karen, Chin, and Rakhine state, where an intended approach of fewer than 1 million was noted.
However, the document also states that Yangon does not have any Citizens. This brings up the issue of how these numbers are calculated and where data are gathered once more. These kinds of reports lack trust and clarity. Support sent through the junta, especially Yangon, where there is no need to disperse it, runs the risk of legitimizing the army itself, which is the cause of this humanitarian crisis.
Cross-border assist must also be considered seriously as a practical means of providing humanitarian assistance to those in need. The international community should sanction state-owned businesses, joint venture Myanmar military companies like Mytel, and Myanmar crony businesses with military business relationships, as stated in a recent Karen Women’s Organization ( KWO ) statement.
Failure to enact these sanctions results in increased profits, which is used to cover the cost of the bombs dropped on human villages. & nbsp,
The Myanmar Army attacks any given area, and regional players on the ground are constantly attending to the needs of those impacted by war, despite troubling assumptions that suggest regional organizations lack potential.
Community-based companies, like the KWO, even follow up with displaced populations to determine what they most desperately need.
Given how many trauma and loss affect IDPs on a daily basis, local groups go beyond financial and material responses. Civil society makes sure that those who have lost anything feel heard in addition to providing physician, mental, health, and meals relief for the horrors they have experienced.
Through dependable relationships with networks along the boundary and inside conflict-affected communities, such as cultural revolution organizations, racial health organizations. The Border Emergency Response Team and the Karen Emergency Relief Team, which uses mutual funds to respond quickly, cross-border aid systems that are already in place ensure that emergency responses are fast and secure.
Financial and product assistance are used to provide cross-border assistance. Once more, these procedures are finished without any compromise with the terrorist group or at the expense of Myanmar’s faltering sector, which has suffered since the coup. The coup receives at least one-third of every penny spent in Myanmar. & nbsp,
Let’s assume that the UN and the rest of the world are committed to addressing the numerous problems that are developing in Myanmar. If this is the case, they may collaborate with civil society groups to make sure support reaches those who are most in need.
Usually, fresh moral dilemmas arise: How can a group or organization treat war criminals with good faith while also condemning them for their atrocities? In the past, we’ve seen that the coup simply acts with impunity when relationship with them is normalized. & nbsp,
Beyond condemning the regime’s horrors, those engaged in conflict-prone rural areas are more than capable of responding quickly to emergencies. Additionally, unlike the contracts made with the coup, regional groups are exempt from having to deal with oppressive red tape or shake hands with a despot.
The most vulnerable people will undoubtedly receive assistance that passes through local players, as it has for years. And it’s past time for the global society to accept this reality. In addition to & nbsp,
SINGAPORE: Four alleged victims of a multi-million dollar luxury goods scam have been unsuccessful in getting the Commercial Affairs Department ( CAD ) of the Singapore Police Force to release up to S 2.84 million( US$ 2.07 million ) in their seized properties.
Customers of Tradenation and Tradeluxury include Tan Jen Sen Hermen, Chang Khang Lee, Lee Boon Ping, and Chng Zhun Teck Jackson.
The two businesses are run by Thai woman Siriwipa Pansuk and Singaporean Pi Jiapeng. The couple, who are both 28 years old, are reportedly involved in a luxury items fraud involving at least S$ 20 million, and their two businesses have been the target of more than 180 police reports.
The police reports claimed that the companies failed to fulfill orders for luxury watches and luxury luggage after receiving whole settlement, according to a view made accessible over the weekend.
Before being arrested in Malaysia and turned over to Singapore police & nbsp on August 11 of last year, the couple had been on the run for about five weeks.
Later, they were remanded and given each over a hundred charges, including dishonesty and false investing.
In this legal case, the four candidates had won default assessments against the accused partners and their two businesses.
Armed with the verdicts, they went to a judge’s court to request the launch of up to S$ 2.84 million from CAD-seized properties in order to meet the legal decisions they were able to get.
They sought the money from four bank accounts that CAD had seized, as well as the remaining sales proceeds from Pi’s purchase of a Chevrolet Corvette V8.
The trial opposed the software, saying they should not be accepted because they are” not needed in the interests of justice” and that CAD should be allowed to concentrate on investigations, despite acknowledging that the applicants have the right to take them.
Other applications would probably be submitted by other serious parties” anxious to secure a share of the seized money” if the apps were accepted, according to the prosecution.
The four banks records were also seized prior to the candidates receiving their decisions.
The customers’ request for financial discharge was denied by District Judge Cheng Yuxi.
She claimed to understand the applicants’ desire to carry out the decisions they had made.
The line between the police’s authority to seize property in order to expedite studies and the pain experienced by those who are unable to handle the house has been drawn by Parliament, she said. & nbsp,
The court’s sole function is to carry out the explicit congressional rules. The candidates do not fall under the limited instances where the transfer of seized money is anticipated based on the specific facts of this case.
SINGAPORE: The Singapore government may establish an organization to centralize the procurement and supply of oil for the energy sector in an effort to prevent erratic swings in electricity prices brought on by energy shortages.
The organization, Gasco, will combine gas demand from power generation companies( gencos ), which currently choose the quantity and tenure of gas to purchase based on their individual commercial factors. & nbsp,
A stable and secure power system was essential for the transition to net zero emissions, according to Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, who unveiled the centralized gas procurement framework in his opening speech on Monday( Oct 23 ) at Singapore International Energy Week( SIEW ).
Mr. Gan stated that decarbonization efforts were in jeopardy in his discourse to industry experts and decision-makers. & nbsp,
The minister said,” We noticed this during the current global energy crisis, when some nations had to use coal refiring to lower energy rates.” & nbsp,
As the electricity shift advanced, he said, there would probably be more instances of uncertainty in the world. & nbsp,
Our present fuel procurement platform, which relies on the procurement strategies of personal power generation companies, does not guarantee that the system will have enough gas to meet our needs during a crisis when market conditions are ambiguous, according to recent experience.
We need to reconsider how we approach fuel procurement because the energy transition is expected to make the world gas market more dangerous.
Given that 95 % of Singapore’s electricity is produced using organic oil, Mr. Gan emphasized the need for safe and dependable oil products.
Singapore International Energy Week & nbsp is an annual event that is in its 16th iteration this year. At the Marina Bay Sands Sand Expo and Convention Center, it will be open through Friday.
TAIPEI: According to two sources close to Foxconn, a significant supplier of Apple’s handsets, the company is being investigated for tax evasion in China. They claimed that the investigation was made public for political reasons related to the approaching elections in Taiwan. The state-backed Global Times newspaper in China reportedContinue Reading
SHANGHAI / HONG KONG: According to an environmental organization, three publicly traded Chinese drugmakers have used endangered animal parts as ingredients in their products. These companies are investors in major international banks like UBS and HSBC. The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency urged international buyers in the three companies, Beijing TongContinue Reading
SINGAPORE: According to Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, Asia continues to be a beautiful spot for the globe despite political unrest, continued wars, and China’s slowing economy.
According to her, the company moves US$ 4 trillion( S$ 5.5 trillion ), or the gross domestic product of Germany, every day for 5,000 foreign corporations, with the majority of that movement and activity occurring in Asia. & nbsp,
” Asia is merely the shining star of the universe.” She continued,” There are so many different regions where the changing dynamics are playing into the longer-term flavor and gain these, get it what we see in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. & nbsp,
China is currently facing difficulties, but she noted that the technological advancements the nation has made are” remarkable.”
In Singapore, where” a lot of different innovative paths” are emerging, there are also a number of growth opportunities, she told CNA. Ms. Fraser attended a Citigroup committee meeting in Singapore.
Every day I see them, innovative users in this region of the world astound me. They’re so creative and inventive, and that’s going to create a ton of money as well as economic growth over the medium to long phrase, she said.
She said,” I think you can tell I’m an idealist, especially in this region of the world.” & nbsp,
Ms. Fraser described the financial situation in different markets and stated that both consumer and corporate clients have been in great health in the United States despite the possibility of a crisis there next time.
She pointed out that the labor market and electricity prices in Europe are facing longer-term structural issues.
Ms. Fraser said it was time to position Citigroup for the growth that may occur, especially in Asia, as she leads the company through its most extreme transformation in decades, which includes streamlining the organization and eliminating jobs.
Ms. Fraser also discussed how the Wall Street behemoth maintains its regulation and risk management framework in a time when big banks may occasionally draw bad actors during the extensive appointment.
Citigroup, which has offices in 96 nations, is selective in the users it chooses, she claimed.
The advantage of being on the ground is that you’re not just( based ) on data.” We put a lot of rigor into it. You have a great grasp, she said.
Through its cyber capabilities and forgery recognition, the company has monitoring capabilities to assist clients in protecting against risks or negative actors, she said.
” It’s a great investment that we make, but it does start with being quite picky about who we do business with, making sure we are working with people with good reputations, and keeping them safe ,” Ms. Fraser said.
ReutersRobots, which were used in large numbers by both sides, have had a significant impact on the war in Ukraine. Nonetheless, worries that there might be a supply issue have been raised by China’s decision to impose export regulations.
Due to the significant figures lost in the battle, many of them are economically produced in China and purchased off the shelf, and fresh products are essential.
However, there are signs that the number of Taiwanese drones and pieces that are accessible to both Russia and Ukraine has decreased.
Ukraine is losing about 10,000 drones per month, according to the Royal United Services Institute( Rusi ), a London-based think tank.
The Russian army has restocked its supplies with the help of various volunteer organizations and donations.
Professional drones coexist with specially designed military aircraft, like the Iranian Shaheds used by Russia and the Turkish Bayraktar used in Ukraine.
On September 1, the Chinese government’s most recent regulations went into effect. They are applicable to longer-range robots weighing more than 4 kg as well as drone-related tools like some camcorders and radio components.
The government in Beijing, which has not denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, says professional Chinese uavs must not be used for military reasons. Taiwanese manufacturers of such products are then required to apply for export licenses and provide end-user certificates.
According to Ukrainian volunteers and soldiers, the most recent Chinese restrictions haven’t had much of an effect on the supply of drones, particularly the common, light Mavics produced by the Chinese firm DJI.
But, they claim that the lack of parts has been impacted and express concern that things could get worse.
The only change for the time being, according to Lyuba Shypovych, head of Dignitas, one of the biggest Ukrainian volunteer organizations providing drones to the war,” is that we’re more positively buying whatever property is left in European stores.” However, it’s vague what we’ll be doing in the future.
She is especially concerned about the accessibility of components like thermal imaging cameras.
We don’t have as many thermo imaging drones, which is certainly having an effect on our military’s products and how war is generally conducted. Days are getting shorter and nights longer. She claims that at night, our models go blind. Both off-the-shelf robots with thermal imaging cameras and elements are impacted by this.
For those who build their own robots or upgrade pre-purchased models, the presence of parts is especially crucial.
” The effect is being felt. According to a top helicopter operator from the Kastus Kalinouski army who uses the call Oddr, the licenses required by China today restrict Ukraine’s access to aircraft parts. However, we’re looking for substitutes to ensure that our robots continue to function as they did in the past.
This is merely the most recent obstacle participants must overcome in order to obtain drones for the armies of Russia and Ukraine.
Two weeks after the full-scale war began in February 2022, DJI, the largest professional helicopter manufacturer in the world, halted direct sales to both nations. Additionally, it forbade its producers from selling DJI products to clients in Russia or Ukraine on a global scale.
The number of Chinese robots made accessible to producers in Europe decreased significantly between August and September 2022, according to Ms. Shypovych.
It’s doubtful that chance played a role in it. Ukrainians import robots from Europe, she claims.
DJI was unable to confirm or deny any changes in the quantity of robots offered to European distributors when contacted by the BBC.
None of the 10 DJI product sellers in the UK that the BBC contacted were willing to comment on the situation.
According to a New York Times research, Chinese businesses have recently reduced sales of drones and their parts to Ukrainians.
But not only Ukraine is impacted.
The Chinese government’s restrictions on drone exports have significantly complicated their materials to Russia and resulted in a lack of some parts, such as thermal imaging cameras, according to the Russian newspapers Kommersant, which published the curbs that went into effect on September 1.
Clients from Russia frequently shop for Chinese robots in nations like Kazakhstan in the absence of direct materials, and, according to Kommersant, the Central Asian state has made matters more difficult for them by tightening its own helicopter import restrictions.
Russian individuals have been active looking for choices made in other nations, both in the West and Ukraine itself, in order to lessen the effects of the Chinese limits.
According to Anatoly Polkovnikov, who assists in the acquisition of drones, a Russian start-up is getting ready to begin producing aircraft motors.
” I don’t think these Chinese restrictions will have any impact on the general situation ,” he says, sounding upbeat about the future. I have a sense that they will increase production in Ukraine over the long term.
Both of the warring edges are determined to keep the use of robots in Ukraine, which is the first military conflict in which they have been used so heavily and in such large quantities.
22 October 2023 at 05:48 PUBLISHED
42 batches of high blood pressure medications from five manufacturers are being recalled by the Food and Drug Administration( FDA ) due to contamination that could lead to cancer.
Acting secretary-general of the FDA Dr. Narong Aphikulvanich announced that some irbesartan models containing the azidomethyl biphenyl tetrazole ( AZBT ) impurities would be withdrawn, increasing patients’ risk of developing cancer.
But, Dr. Narong said that other irbesartan concepts that have been approved by the FDA are safe to consume.
The FDA has mandated that irbesartan producers examine these impurities, switch out AZBT-containing ingredients for non-AZB ones, and reevaluate the market’s substance supply.
Irbesartan ingredient examples were gathered by the FDA from all manufacturers, and the news came after that.
According to tests conducted by the Department of Medical Sciences, some irbesartan types contain contaminants that raise cancer risk at a level higher than international standards.
According to Dr. Narong, the FDA ordered a contraction of irbesartan from pharmacies, hospitals, and medicine manufacturers.
Patients with high blood pressure are not advised to stop taking irbesartan suddenly, according to the FDA, as hypotension necessitates regular medication use.
But, he added, patients are advised to carefully consider their medication.
The nine batches of irbesartan containing AZBT impurities are distributed by five pharmaceutical companies: Sriprasit Pharmacy Co Ltd., Government Pharmaceutical Organization, M & amp, H Manufacturing Co.
22 October 2023 at 05:13 PUBLISHED
After the Department of Special Investigation ( DSI ) implicated at least five firms in the smuggling, three people have been detained in connection with a recent significant seizure of contraband meat.
Witthawat: The countenance was approved on October 19.
The collar of the group, who were only identified as Manee, Ran, and Mon, was announced on Saturday by the DSI’s center for exploration and intelligence. Ms. Manee and Mr. Ran were apprehended at a residence in Bangkok’s Prawet neighborhood, and Mme. Mon was detained in the city of Lat Prao.
The center producer, Witthawat Sukhontharos, claimed that their arrests were made on court-approved permits on October 19.
They have been accused of violating the Animal Disease Act by evading transfer taxes and importing goods without authorization, in this case meat.
An official from the Department of Livestock was shot dead and another was hurt on October 11 after a warm storage space was searched in the province of Phetchabun. A local business owner who was shot and arrested was disturbed when authorities discovered a ton of illegal beef in his coolers.
The storage area had been in use for years and had no force, according to the authorities.
The group is among six individuals in five businesses that served as intermediaries for businessmen based in Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, and Nakhon Pathom, according to Pol Maj Nathapol Ditsayatham, brain researcher in the smuggling case, on Saturday and Monday.
According to investigators, up to 10 businesses may be connected to the meats’ improper goods.
