A fashion shoot that went viral and turned Indian slum children into celebrities

Innovation for Change A group of Indian children at a fashion show on a street, all wearing colourful red outfits and ornate jewellery including Maang Tikka, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Innovation for Change

Surprisingly, a group of poor schoolchildren were transformed into nearby celebrities after a video of a style shoot in India went viral.

The kids are depicted in red and gold clothes made of old clothes, the majority of them women, between the age of 12 and 17.

The teenagers created their own fashions, customizing the outfits, and using their creations as models to show off their creations, with the slum’s dirty walls and terraces serving as the setting for their stairway walk.

The movie was filmed and edited by a 15-year-old son.

Innovation for Change A girl models at a fashion show that has gone viral, she is walking down a street while wearing colourful red clothing, jewellery and sunglasses, and a man is sitting on the side of the street behind her putting his shoes on.Innovation for Change

The film initially appeared earlier this month on the Lucknow-based organization Innovation for Change’s Instagram website.

The charity works with about 400 babies from the city’s neighborhoods, providing them completely food, education and career skills. This NGO’s kids are the children that were featured in the photo shoot.

One of the designs in the picture, Mehak Kannojia, claimed that she and other students frequently redid their Instagram looks after seeing the stylish choices of Bollywood actresses.

” This moment, we decided to share our sources and worked as a group,” the 16-year-old said.

For their project, they chose wisely – a campaign by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, one of India’s top fashion designers who has dressed Bollywood celebrities, Hollywood actresses and billionaires. In 2018, Kim Kardashian wore his sequinned red sari for a Vogue shoot.

Mukherjee is also known as the “king of weddings” in India. He has dressed thousands of brides, including Bollywood celebrities such as Anushka Sharma and Deepika Padukone. Priyanka Chopra married Nick Jonas in a stunning red Sabyasachi outfit.

Innovation for Change Children model at a fashion show that has gone viral in India, close-up shot of seven girls in a group all wearing colourful red clothing, jewellery with Maang Tikka and sunglasses.Innovation for Change

Mehak said their project, called Yeh laal rang ( the colour red ), was inspired by the designer’s heritage bridal collection.

We sifted through all the dark things that had been donated to us. Then we began putting the clothing up and made our first choices. “

The women worked on about a hundred clothing in three days, but according to Mehak, they had “great joy doing it.”

Mehak claims that they carefully copied the concepts ‘ movements from Sabyasachi videos for the corridor move.

” Only like his types, some of us wore glasses, one drank from a spritzer with a straw, while another walked carrying a fabric bag under her arm. “

Some of it, Mehak says, came up naturally. ” At one stage in the shoot, I was supposed to grin. At that moment, someone said something amusing and I only burst out laughing. “

Innovation for Change A girl drinks from a glass with a straw at a fashion show that has gone viral wearing colourful red clothing, jewellery and sunglassesInnovation for Change

It was an ambitious job, but the effect has won hearts in India. The film, which was produced with money from a friend and included some donated clothing, became popular after Mukherjee shared it on his Instagram page with a heart icon.

The battle won popular praise, with many on social advertising comparing their function to that of professionals.

The charity’s school has been visited by many TV programs, some of the children were invited to participate in shows on well-known FM radio stations, and Bollywood artist Tamannah Bhatia visited them to give them a blanket.

The response, Mehak says, has been” totally unexpected”.

It resembles a true dream. You’ve become famous, all of my friends are saying in the video. When my parents learned how much attention we were receiving, they were thrilled.

” We are feeling wonderful. Now we have only one dream left- to meet Sabyasachi. “

Innovation for Change A girl poses for the camera wearing colourful red clothing and jewellery, she's standing outside on a street and looks directly at the camera. The scene is well lit which makes the clothing looks vibrant. Innovation for Change

Some people were critical of the shoot, though, and they wondered if showing young brides dressed as brides might encourage child marriage in a nation where millions of girls are still married off by their families before turning 18, the legal age.

In a post on Instagram, The Innovation for Change stated that they had no intention of encouraging child marriage.

Our goal is to in no way encourage child marriage. These girls are able to accomplish this by challenging such ideas and restrictions today. Please take them seriously; otherwise, these kids ‘ morale will suffer. “

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Trump squeeze coming for vulnerably sandwiched South Korea – Asia Times

The Bank of Korea is often at the center of global financial discussion.

Despite Governor Rhee Chang-yong’s leadership, the team’s focus is on the US and Chinese economies’ respected markets and their respective markets, which are the two biggest imponderables for 2025.

Of program, Donald Trump’s returning to the White House ensures these two giants may meet, maybe creating a second unknown: a massive trade conflict the likes of which the globe has never seen before.

Rhee’s BOK is already on the spot thanks to local factors in Beijing and Washington, but both are already doing so. The chances of a US Federal Reserve rate cut at its policy meeting on November 28 are fluctuating, and they are decreasing day by day.

In any case, signs that US jobs growth may be slowing and that China’s home issue is continuing to cause depreciation support the case for a Fed easing walk.

Asian prices, meanwhile, is holding well below the BOK’s 2 % destination. According to the Korea Development Institute, a state-run think tank, “it appears that easing of monetary legislation through interest rate increases has been successful in reducing high prices since 2022.”

Yet Rhee’s selection is complicated by developments at home, especially near-record home loan amounts.

According to Ashok Bhundia, an analyst at the Institute of International Finance,” the central bank is in a difficult position where domestic demand is slower and inflation is below goal.” However, the decision is influenced by concerns about economic balance caused by high household leverage.

Bhundia’s bottom line is that “delaying the second level reduce will allow more time for evaluating the approaching US administration’s policy agenda and its possible impact on global trade, which had affect&nbsp, Korea’s growth and inflation outlook for 2025”.

As Trump 2.0 launches a 60 or more taxes on China, that plan may have a significant impact. And as Trump’s group slaps 20 % cover, across-the-board taxes on all products worldwide.

Trump’s government picks — including Robert&nbsp, Lighthizer, past and possible future business king — are mulling moves to degrade the dollar. This could be accomplished unilaterally by using aggressive currency market intervention or another” Plaza Accord” maneuver.

The dollar-yen pact that was used in this case was referenced in 1985. The top industrialized nations worked together to create it at Trump’s former hotel, the Plaza Hotel. Trump also wants to reduce the Federal Reserve’s independence, giving his White House influence over interest rate decisions. &nbsp,

Trump claimed in August that the Federal Reserve had “kind of gotten it wrong” in a number of ways. He continued,” I believe the president should have at least had a say, yeah. I feel that strongly. I think that, in my case, I made a lot of money. I was very successful. And I believe I have a better sense of instinct than those who would frequently serve as the chairman of the Federal Reserve.

More than a Group of Seven central bank, this is more typical of China.

Trump has previously mentioned avoiding paying the government’s debt. In 2016, while running for president the first time, Trump said this about US government debt:” I would borrow, knowing that if the economy crashed, you could make a deal. And if the economy was good, it was good. So therefore, you ca n’t lose”.

Remember that Trump filed for bankruptcy six times as a businessman. In light of trade tensions, the Trump 1.0 White House considered robbing Beijing of its debt. It is obvious why a financial earthquake of historical magnitude could result from the US national debt being twice the size of the Chinese GDP.

China, meantime, is juggling dueling crises in property, local government finances, high youth unemployment, rising in-person protests and weak retail sales. With all of this, Beijing now has a mix of both fiscal and monetary stimulus.

It’s a concern, though, that” China’s response to deflationary challenges remains cautious”, says Jonathan Garner, an equity strategist at Morgan Stanley. Even before Trump arrives, this will restore enormous trade conflicts.

How Rhee balances Korea’s current challenges with what’s to come in 2025 — whatever that might be — is an open question. And one that goes beyond the BOK headquarters ‘ decisions in Seoul.

Korea’s sizable, open and trade-reliant economy often serves as a weathervane for global inflection points. That’s why Korea’s” sandwiched” reality these days is raising more than a few red flags.

This predicament was arguably coined in 2007 by then-Samsung Group head Lee Kun-hee. At the time, Lee described Asia’s fourth-biggest economy as sandwiched between wealthy Japan and low-cost China.

Now, though, Korea is caught in the middle of something of a quadruple-decker sandwich. It’s squeezed between a Japan that’s raising rates, a China that’s slowing and an imminent” Trump trade” causing extreme dollar volatility.

Economists who are considering policy options concur that a case could be made for the BOK to ease next week but also that it should wait until January.

Recent Korean data, according to Capital Economics economist Shivaan Tandon, “was somewhat encouraging because it suggested that the worst is probably over for domestic demand.”

Others are less sanguine. Dave Chia, an economist at Moody’s Analytics, thinks soft third-quarter GDP results are” concerning and could lead to South Korea missing the BOK’s 2024 GDP growth target of 2.4 %”.

Seoul, though, must accelerate moves to batten down the hatches as the Trump vs Xi brawl begins. Korea Inc. will suffer significant collateral damage, despite China’s immediate immediate target.

A blanket global US tariff of 20 % would be disastrous for Korea, which generates 40 % of gross domestic product ( GDP ) via exports. Then there’s how the Trump revenge tour might imperil key Korean industries, not least autos.

Trump has threatened 100 % taxes on all Mexican-made vehicles. If Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol does n’t agree to big trade concessions, Trump might widen those levies to include Korean vehicles. Japanese autos, too.

In an effort to maintain the peace, Korea Inc. might try to placate Trump in the same way Japan did in 2017.

” If tariffs get raised, the first alternative firms can consider will be raising direct investment and on-site production”, Korean Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo tells Reuters. ” There are ongoing investments already, and there is a possibility that investment could accelerate, followed by an increase in US-bound exports by small and medium-sized parts manufacturers”.

Cheong emphasized that Seoul would increase efforts to foster trade diplomacy. ” We can only respond to the new administration’s policy”, Cheong noted. ” Nevertheless, we will make efforts for trade to remain smooth, with not only the United States but also China”.

In 2023, Korea’s trade surplus with Washington hit a record$ 44.4 billion, Seoul’s biggest imbalance anywhere. That’s unlikely to go unnoticed in Trump World.

With his approval rating&nbsp, around 20 % &nbsp, at the halfway point of his five-year term, it’s not clear how much latitude Yoon has to cave in to Trump’s demands for trade concessions.

And what if, as many believe, Trump’s real goal with tariffs is to force China into a “grand bargain” trade deal? On the one hand, if Korea can avoid the financial havoc that will come with a new trade war, that could be good for the country. A US-China deal might, on the other hand, leave Korea with no one to watch out for.

Politically, being left out of a US-China deal could be just as bad for Yoon’s support rate as the economic hit from Trump’s tariffs.

Then there are the ways China might retaliate, including driving the yuan lower. Apple, Walmart, and other important US companies could always be subject to a manufacturing tax from Xi.

Beijing could also dump&nbsp, large blocks &nbsp, of its$ 770 billion of US Treasury securities. Yes, China would be reborn as a result of the US debt yield surge. However, Xi might speculate that as Washington’s borrowing costs soar as the dollar falls, the US would lose more.

Korea— and the Kospi stock index — would be in the crossfire more than most export-driven economies. These dangers and other factors contribute to Rhee’s BOK staff’s potential dread of 2025. Yoon’s administration, too, as its lack of urgency in implementing vital reforms comes back to haunt it.

Unfortunately, Yoon is but the latest Korean leader to win power pledging a supply-side Big Bang only to fall short. &nbsp,

Over the last 15-plus years, Korean government after government got sidetracked by political squabbling and short-term concerns. Leader after leader turned to the BOK to repair economic flaws rather than rebalancing growth engines to increase competition and productivity.

If only Yoon’s predecessor Moon Jae-in had put some notable wins on the scoreboard to rein in the family-owned conglomerates, or chaebols, towering over the economy. Moon talked a great game of pivoting toward” trickle-up economics”, but achieved little.

The same went for Park Geun-hye, president from 2013 to 2017. Korea’s first female leader promised to build a more” creative economy” and reduce the economic power of chaebols.

She made a promise to make room for startups to start generating their own economic energy instead of going the way of the top. Park, too, achieved little.

Before her, Lee Myung-bak, president from 2008 to 2013, had his own bold plan to generate 7 % growth and make Korea one of the&nbsp, seven largest economies&nbsp, via disruptive reforms. It was all talk.

Korea ca n’t bring bold policies to level playing fields, boost productivity, empower women, and inspire young entrepreneurs to take bold risks in the last 15 years.

Despite all the excitement surrounding Korea’s startup scene, the chaebol-heavy business climate provides only limited economic support for businesses to grow.

Korea is currently dealing with an issue with its economy’s speed at the same time. China, for all its troubles, has been speeding up Asia’s economic clock — and increasingly so.

China continues to invest big in dominating the future of semiconductors, electric vehicles, aerospace, renewable energy, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, robotics and green infrastructure. &nbsp,

As China’s production capabilities increase, Korea is having a harder and harder time keeping pace with the region’s top export power and revamping its policy mix accordingly.

It’s not saying or articulating a precise plan for the moment if the Yoon administration understands this challenge.

Why Japan Inc. has such a difficult time adapting to rapidly changing global dynamics is if we overlook the fact that things are moving more quickly outside of its walls. Korea must do a better&nbsp, job keeping an eye on the time.

Seoul wo n’t waste a second when Trump and China are scheduled to invade Asia in two months.

Follow William Pesek on X at @WilliamPesek

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Palestine’s outlook dark to bleak under Trump 2.0 – Asia Times

According to Jewish estimates, the amount of help reaching Gaza has fallen to a low in 11 months. And the kidnapping, by an military Arab group, of a fleet of 109 cars on November 16 has exacerbated the situation. Food costs are rising, and it is thought that Hamas soldiers are currently battling Israeli troops in some areas of the area.

Israel’s leadership, led by former US president Joe Biden, has consistently supported Israel in its political and military operations against Hezbollah, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and of course Israel’s hostile attacks against Iran. But all the while Biden has urged restraint.

After the worst murder of Jews since the Holocaust, Israel has the right to support itself, according to Biden, who addressed the G20 this year.

The US’s position on Israel is likely to change, based on the initial consultations made by President-elect Donald Trump to his foreign policy group.

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, Trump’s choice for Israeli adviser, has long been associated with the Christian christian right, which fervently opposes Israeli control of the West Bank.

Huckabee made his position apparent in a 2017 interview with CNN, saying:” There is no such thing as a West Bank. It’s Judea and Samaria]the republic’s bible name]. There’s no such item as a lawsuit. They’re areas, they’re districts, they’re cities. There’s no such item as an job”.

Democratic senator Marco Rubio, the man who would be the secretary of state, has publicly opposed a peace in Gaza. He just stated to reporters that he wanted Israel to “destroy every aspect of Hamas they could get their hands on.” These individuals committed vile acts.

A month out from the election, on October 5, Biden appeared at a White House press briefing and commented on speculation that Netanyahu’s apparent unwillingness to agree a ceasefire was motivated by US politics:” Whether he’s trying to influence the election, I do n’t know– but I’m not counting on that”, he said, adding that:” No administration has helped Israel more than I have. Nothing, none, none”, he said. ” And I think]Netanyahu] may consider that”.

Netanyahu must accept that the election results and Trump’s choice of steadfast supporters of his government as confirmation of a strategy that, at least today, has Israel in ascendancy. Israel’s unpleasant in northwestern Gaza shows no sign of slowing.

A new motivation for the ongoing defense activity appears to be emerging as more and more people are being forced southward.

Stress from the appropriate

Some political right-wingers, including members of Netanyahu’s administration, are currently calling for Jewish settlers to retake control of the northern Gaza Strip. These colonists see the Gaza Strip evacuation of 2005 as a “hillul hashem,” a blasphemy against God, as opposed to a tactical error.

Many now believe a similar style may be repeated in at least the northern half of the Gaza Strip as its 2 million Arab residents are squeezed even more into a shrinking space, just as IDF outposts in the West Bank have frequently been used as settlement building sites.

For the two most notable Catholic Zionists in Netanyahu’s state, Interior Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the vote of Trump is the product that will keep on giving. Full conquest of what they refer to as” Judea and Samaria” is still a celebration for them and their power base if the long-awaited prophecy time is to be ushered in and their perception of Zionism realized.

Regardless of the wider repercussions Israel’s state to be both Jewish and democratic, Smotrich and Ben Gvir believe they have the global support to accomplish this.

Full conquest, according to the majority of observers, would effectively declare Israel an apartheid state unless all Palestinians received full citizenship and political rights. This is doubtful.

Netanyahu’s equations

Netanyahu knows this. However, he is no longer so dependent on Smotrich and Ben-Gvir because of the dynamic nature of his local elections. He now has a wider base of support thanks to the addition of a little bloc to his alliance under Gideon Sa’ar.

His approval rating has also increased significantly since Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in response to Hezbollah, according to recent elections. Netanyahu appears to be in an unafraid status despite a new boost in his ballot scores and a divided opposition.

He is also aware that Trump was elected as a transactional leader with a goal of reducing US involvement in international conflicts. Netanyahu is also aware that Trump’s first administration’s efforts to normalize relationships with Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries have been undermined by the Gaza issue, at least for the time being.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has conditioned any measures being taken by the Israeli state and its alliance, the US, toward Israeli sovereignty by calling Israel’s military activities in Gaza a murderous.

Netanyahu may be aware that any change in that direction had fracther his coalition. He will also have a suspicion that Trump did try to use their own political influence to pressure Saudi Arabia and other Gulf kingdoms.

Reading Trump’s purposes is not for the uninitiated. Even so, Netanyahu did believe that the approaching US president will likely grant him political joy to come to an end to his wars. Many, of course, remains questionable. The Palestinians, however, will continue to bear the most of the load.

They can anticipate little assistance from the Arab globe, despite the fact that they lack effective management in Gaza or the West Bank. They now face a victory-seeking Jewish leading and the possibility of a US leader who will help him in every way.

Clive Jones is professor of local stability, Durham University

The Conversation has republished this essay under a Creative Commons license. Read the original post.

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Australia wants to ban kids from social media. Will it work?

Getty Images A young boy looks at a smartphone Getty Images

James describes a Snap affair that made him wonder about safety after describing how he felt “really scared to be honest.”

The Australian boy, 12, had had a disagreement with a friend, and one night before bed the boy added him to a group chat with two older teenagers.

Nearly instantly, his telephone” started blowing off” with a string of violent information.

According to James, “one of them sounded like he was likely 17.” ” He sent me videos of him with a machete… he was waving it about. Next, there were messages threatening to stab me and get me.

James, who is not named as he is, first became a Snap user when he was 10 years old when a student recommended that everyone in their companionship group get the app. But after telling his kids about his bullying experience, which was finally resolved by his class, James deleted his account.

His expertise is a cautionary tale that shows why the American government’s proposed social internet ban on children under 16 is important, says his family Emma, who is also using a pseudonym.

The legislation, which were tabled in parliament’s lower apartment on Thursday, have been billed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “world-leading”.

While some parents have praised the decision, some experts have questioned whether children should be prevented from using social advertising and what potential negative effects might be.

What is Australia proposing?

According to Albanese, the restrictions, which will apply to websites like X, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, is intended to shield children from “harms” of social media.

” This one is for the parents and fathers… They, like me, are worried tired about the health of our children online”, he said.

The innovative policy provides a “framework” for the ban. But the 17-page report, which is expected to mind to the Senate next month, is sparse on information.

Instead, the eSafety Commissioner, the country’s internet regulator, will decide how to implement and enforce the regulations, which wo n’t take effect for at least 12 months after the legislation is passed.

The act states that the ban will apply to all under-16s, and that existing users and those who have parental consent will not be exempt.

Tech companies will face penalties of up to A$ 50m ($ 32.5m, £25.7 ) if they do not comply, but there will be exemptions for platforms which are able to create “low-risk services” deemed suitable for kids. This level standards are still pending.

Messaging services and gaming sites, however, will not be restricted, which has prompted questions over how regulators will determine what is and is n’t a social media platform in a fast-moving landscape.

The ban was described as” a 20th Century response to 21st Century challenges,” according to a group representing the interests of Australian tech companies like Meta, Snapchat, and X.

Such legislation may force kids into “dangerous, illegal parts of the internet”, Digital Industry Group Inc says- a fear even expressed by some experts.

EPA Prime Minister Anthony AlbaneseEPA

Given that “technology change often outweighs plan,” safety director Julie Inman Grant has acknowledged the enormous job her business will have to carry out in enforcing the restrictions.

” It will always be smooth, and this is why authorities like eSafety have to be nimble”, she told BBC Radio 5 Survive.

However, Ms. Inman Grant has also raised questions about the underlying theory behind the president’s plan, which is that social media is linked to declining mental health.

According to her own company study, which found that some of the most vulnerable organizations, such as LGBTQ or First Nations youth, “feel more self-assured online than they do in the real world,” she said,” the data center is not settled at all.”

Lucas Lane, 15, who sells nail polish to guys, shares this view. ” This]ban ] destroys … my friendships and the ability to make people feel seen”, the Perth teenager tells the BBC.

Ms. Inman Grant favors more funding for education tools to help younger people stay safe online as well as technical companies’ programs ‘ clean up. Instead of enforcing a ban on swimming in babies, she uses the metaphor of teaching them.

She told parliament earlier this year,” We do n’t fence the ocean, but we do create protected swimming environments that provide safeguards and teach crucial lessons from a young age.”

Matthew Abbott Australia's eSafety commissioner Julie Inman GrantMatthew Abbott

But families like Emma see it differently.

When tech companies always want kids to use these challenging methods, should we really been wasting our time trying to help them do so? she says.

Or if we start these discussions later on by allowing them to get kids and learning to be social outside of one another?

The Rush Mate activity, which encourages parents to delay giving their children smartphones, is led by mother-of-three Amy Friedlander, who agrees.

” We ca n’t ignore the advantages that technology has to us.” There are many benefits, but what we do n’t really consider is how it might affect those who are n’t prepared for it.

Also sarcastic of an instrument, to be honest?

Over 100 Australian academics have criticised the ban as “too blunt an instrument” and argued that it goes against UN advice which calls on governments to ensure young people have “safe access” to digital environments.

A bipartisan political committee that has been looking into the effects of social media on children has also been unsuccessful in backing it. Otherwise, the committee recommended that software giant face tougher laws.

The government says it will eventually pass “digital duty of care” regulations, which will require tech companies to prioritize consumer safety in order to solve some of those concerns.

Joanne Orlando, a researcher in digital behaviour, argues that while a ban” could be part of a strategy, it absolutely ca n’t be the whole strategy”.

She believes that teaching children to thoroughly evaluate the information they see on their feeds and how they use social advertising should be the “most important piece of the puzzle.”

The government has already spent A$6m since 2022 to develop free “digital literacy tools” to try and do just that. However, research suggests that many young Australians aren’t receiving regular lessons.

Given the “enormous threats” that might accompany the potential to house every Australian’s identification documents online, Ms. Orlando and other professionals warn that there are also significant challenges in making the age-verification technology necessary to enforce the ban.

Getty Images A child holds a smartphone Getty Images

The government has stated that it intends to use age-verification methods to address that issue and expects to submit a report by the middle of next month. It has promised that privacy issues may be top of mind, but it provided much information about the technology that will truly get tested.

In its guidance, the eSafety Commissioner has floated the idea of using a third-party support to anonymise a person’s ID before it is passed on to any age verification places, to “preserve” their protection.

Yet, Ms Orlando remains wary. She tells the BBC,” I ca n’t think of any technology that can pull this off right now.”

Does Australia succeed?

Australia is not the first nation to attempt to restrict young people’s online access to particular websites or programs.

South Korea passed a” closure rules” in 2011 that forbids children under the age of 16 from accessing online games between 22:30 and 6:00, but the regulations, which faced opposition, were later dropped because they “require the respect of youths.”

France recently passed a law mandating parental consent before social media platforms to prevent exposure to minors under 15 years old. According to research, nearly half of users could bypass the ban with the aid of a straightforward VPN.

A regulation in the US condition of Utah- which was related to Australia’s- ran into a unique problem: it was blocked by a federal judge who found it illegal.

Albanese has conceded that Australia’s proposal may not be foolproof, and if it passes the parliament, it would be subject to a review.

” We are aware that technology is evolving quickly. No one government will be able to defend every child from every threat, but it must take all possible steps, he said in announcing the measure.

But for parents like Emma and Ms Friedlander – who have lobbied for the changes – it’s the message that the ban sends which matters most.

Parents have had to make the difficult choice between giving in to their child’s addiction or seeing them isolated and socially excluded, according to Ms. Friedlander.

” We’ve been ensnared in a culture of which no one wants to be a part.”

James claims that he has started spending more time with friends outside since quitting Snapchat.

And he hopes that more children like him wo n’t feel pressured to be online because of the new laws, which will make it easier for them to “get out and do the things they love.”

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Govt moves to ease debt burden

Curiosity wait on debt of B1.31trn

People seek consultations about how to settle their debts at an event jointly organised by the Justice Ministry and 23 financial institutes at Suan Dusit University in Bangkok in January (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
At a meeting held in January at Suan Dusit University in Bangkok in collaboration with the Justice Ministry and 23 financial institutions ( Photo: Apichart Jinakul ) people seek consultations about how to resolve their debts.

As part of efforts to reduce household debt, the Finance Ministry has revealed details about the government’s plan to halt interest payments for three different debtor parties.

The strategy for borrowers with debt up to a year premature was approved by the financial stimulus committee headed by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Tuesday.

The three-year attention suspension system will support late home loans not exceeding 3 million baht, car loans not exceeding 800, 000 baht, and tiny- and medium-sized enterprises ‘ loans of up to 3 million baht, Paopoom Rojanasakul, deputy finance minister, said.

Of the payments totalling 1.31 trillion baht, home mortgage lenders owe 480 billion baht, auto loan lenders owe 370 billion rmb, and SMEs owe 454 billion baht, Mr Paopoom said.

Because we believe the debt will be able to clear their debt and getting back on their feet rapidly if they receive assistance from the government, the government has decided to suspend interest payments for the debt.

The Finance Ministry will allow banks to reduce their fee contributions to the Financial Institution Development Fund ( FIDF) from the current level of 0.46 %, according to Mr. Paopoom, in order to make up for the bank’s interest rate reduction caused by the measure.

The Thai Bankers ‘ Association ( TBA ) confirmed that banks will be able to finance the interest suspension program by lowering their FIDF fee contribution.

Consumers who receive a expulsion may follow a debt restructuring plan and refrain from applying for additional money over the course of three years to prevent moral hazard and guarantee the efficient reduction of household debt.

According to bill data as of October 31, eligible borrowers must have completed their payment agreements with banks by January 1 of this year and be facing difficulties making their mortgage payments.

According to the TBA, the initiative aims to assist targeted borrowers in reducing their debt and encouraging economic discipline throughout the restructuring process. As of June, Thailand’s household-to-GDP ratio was 89.6 %, and household debt was 16.3 trillion baht, among the highest levels in Asia.

However, deputy finance secretary Julapun Amornvivat announced on Wednesday that the state security committee would join on Thursday to evaluate the requirements for state welfare cards.

According to Mr. Julapun, fresh registration will start for applicants in March of next year.

According to the Finance Ministry, some individuals may have earned enough to leave a resilient type without losing their ability to receive benefits because of the need to reprocess data to determine eligibility for vulnerable groups.

Every two decades, the department reviews the registration of people with state security cards. The 2022 assessment was the last one, and this year’s assessment was supposed to start.

The innovative registration review was delayed until early 2025 due to efforts to address the country’s flood problems in some areas.

The main requirements for receiving the state security card is having a child’s and family’s annual salary hardly reach 100, 000 ringgit. Based on a daily minimum salary of 300 rmb, this number has been determined. In the most recent membership large for the express welfare card, there were 13.5 million less eligible recipients than there were in the previous round, down from 14.9 million.

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Japan’s exports rebound, the Middle East market topping the list – Asia Times

Japan’s new trade achievement offers a glimmer of hope amid broader financial difficulties. In October 2024, Japan’s exports rose by 3.1 % compared with the same month a year earlier, marking a significant rebound after the sharp 1.7 % fall in September that had set a 43-month low. &nbsp,

This sudden increase exceeded economics ‘ anticipation of a 2.2 % fall, suggesting that Japan’s export-driven market is on a healing journey. &nbsp,

Despite these encouraging developments, the nation still faces a number of difficulties and dangers that may affect its 2025 monetary path. &nbsp,

For international investors, Japan offers a convincing argument for growth in some sectors as well as a nuanced set of risks, particularly in light of domestic demographic trends, domestic economic trends, and fiscal policy.

While Japan’s trade figures have improved, the broader business harmony presents a more concerning image. &nbsp,

The country’s imports also saw a modest rise of 0.4 %, defying expectations of a 0.3 % decline, pushing Japan’s trade deficit to 461.2 billion yen ($ 2.98 billion ) in October. This marks an rise from the previous month’s updated gap of 294.1 billion renminbi, and a wider difference than the 360.4 billion japanese forecasted by economists. &nbsp,

The trade deficit highlights the country’s ongoing fundamental challenges, as the nation heavily relies on exporting finished products while importing raw materials and energy, despite the increase in imports.

Japan’s strong performance in the Middle East, where exports increased by 35.4 % in October 2023, was a key positive factor in the export data. &nbsp,

Although Japan’s exports are also largely dependent on markets in Asia and North America, this suggests a possible growth of its trading partners. &nbsp,

However, Japan’s ability to respond to global demand and its ability to deal with international trade risks, especially US policies, will depend largely on the global economy’s ability to weather growing uncertainties.

Trade dangers: US procedures under Trump

The potential impact of US policies under President-elect Donald Trump is one of the biggest physical risks. If the new leadership imposes more tariffs or launches a wider trade war with China, the country’s profoundly integrated and highly reliant on imports could experience significant problems.

Japan’s business relationship with the US is crucial, particularly in sectors such as automobiles, electronics, and machine, where Japan holds a competitive edge. &nbsp,

But, Japan could experience slower export growth and higher natural materials costs if Washington adopts more interventionist policies or if US-China tensions escalate further. &nbsp,

Any additional deterioration in relations between the country’s two largest economies, particularly given Japan’s dependence on China as a major trading partner, was considerably deteriorate Japan’s supply chains and lower the need for its goods in both areas.

For international investors this, of course, creates an ambiguous setting. &nbsp,

Socioeconomic and labour market problems

Japan’s internal problems possible reduce its ability to grow economically. Japan’s aging populace and declining beginning price have been well-documented, and by 2025, these changes are expected to increase more. &nbsp,

The country’s labor is shrinking, leading to concerns over labour shortages and a rising dominance amount. As the population ages, the need for healthcare and pension solutions will increase, placing more pressure on Japan’s fiscal plans.

The Chinese government has taken some steps to help address these issues, including easing immigration regulations to encourage older staff and women to work. &nbsp,

But, to time, these methods have had limited success in reversing the demographic collapse. For owners, this means that Japan’s ability for robust private consumption and labor-driven progress is constrained. Alternatively, investors are going to look to businesses that can alleviate labor shortages, such as robotics, technology and AI, which Japan has been at the forefront of developing.

In addition to socioeconomic forces, Japan’s usage habits have been influenced by an aging population, with a growing desire for products and services tailored to older people. Sectors such as healthcare, biotech, and elder care technologies are likely to see growth, while traditional consumer goods may face stagnation as Japan’s population decreases and ages.

The BoJ’s role

In 2025, the Bank of Japan ( BoJ) will continue to play a significant role in the country’s economic landscape. &nbsp,

In an effort to encourage inflation and boost economic growth, the central bank has been using ultra-loose monetary policies for years, including massive asset purchases and negative interest rates. With Japan still struggling with low inflation and slow growth, these measures have not produced the desired outcomes.

The BoJ’s accommodative stance will likely stay in place in 2025, with low interest rates and ongoing asset purchases. &nbsp,

Japan’s financial markets could experience volatility, especially in the bond market, despite the fact that this supports short-term economic activity.

For global investors, the BoJ’s policies will have a significant impact on the yen. A weak yen generally benefits Japan’s exporters, making their products more competitive abroad.

As global investors look to 2025, Japan presents both considerable risks and significant opportunities. &nbsp,

The key will be to keep an eye on the BoJ’s monetary policy actions, including those relating to global trade policies, domestic labor market reforms, and other developments.

deVere Group was founded by Nigel Green, its CEO.

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South Korea is no patriarchy, despite 4B charges of misogyny – Asia Times

In 2019, Naksungdae scholar and former Seoul National University doctor Rhee Young-hoon published Anti-Japan Tribalism. The book’s argument is that South Korea should examine its colonial past more nuancedly under Chinese rule. Hatred for Japan, Professor Rhee and his co-authors argue, is not a ideal foundation on which to build the modern, democratic state of South Korea.

We regret noting a phenomenon like this in recent studies about the existence of cruel South Koreans. We are uneasy about the accusations made by some North Korean women that South Korea is a “patriarchy,” because they appear to reflect a novel form of politics, which blinds both inside and outside the Korean coast to the difficulty of South Korea.

One of us, Morgan, spent a month in Gyeongsangbuk-do, in southeast South Korea, some twenty years ago. While that, he met some strong, smart, independent people. He had opened discussions with them about their opinions on any number of items, from politics and religion to history, culture, and social problems. He never understood that those people were the subjects of any sexism. To the contrary, many of the people Morgan met in Gyeongsangbuk-do and throughout South Korea were welcoming, helpful, and style. Many of them were interested in serving women’s requirements. Some were a little quiet. No one in his memory has ever had bad opinions of people as individuals. South Korea as a “patriarchy” does not match with any of Morgan’s activities in or with that state.

The other of us, Yoshida, has lived and worked in South Korea for over a century, spending the past four decades as a blogger covering the government’s social relationships, among other subjects. He has firsthand knowledge of the raging gender divide that he witnessed during the Moon Jae-in administration ( 2017-20 ) and how tensions have evolved as a result. Although anti-feminist activities have gained popularity among young Vietnamese men and gender-motivated crimes against women, these styles do not apply to all men. Also, he believes that people with radical ideologies—whether rooted in sexism or misandry—exist within both genders but make up just a small fraction of the entire North Korean people. In summary, neither of us agree with the statements made in aggressive hit articles about South Korea.

The proof given above is subjective, but much more reliable empirical data and much bigger trends verify our knowing. For instance, South Korea has gained notoriety for child bands due to their graceful dance moves and love of makeup and hairstyles, among other things. Additionally, South Korea is currently experiencing a boom in professional sports, or “women’s professional sports.” Moreover, South Korea’s demographics, in certain its low fertility, would seem to indicate that ladies control decisions about friendship with men. The “incel” sensation, although also, however, often associated with South Korean community, also hints clearly at sexual autonomy. The fact that North Korean women appear free to make such decisions does not support South Korea’s existence as a sexism in which people are ruled, even if it is claimed that North Korean women usually find them impractical as intimate partners. If anything, the “pro-natalist” laws which some in South Korea condemn as evidence of sexism are tacit admittance of feminine freedom. ( It is also jarring that those who criticize such policies seem to forget that men also of course fall under such policies ‘ purview, reproductive-biologically speaking. )

There is another, albeit indirect, discussion against the cost of sexism. Specifically, the universal military service condition in South Korea, which, far from being really common, applies only to able-bodied people. An army of mainly young males, mostly from a angry, nuclear-armed state with a propensity for foolish ICBM launches and global terrorism, stands along the border with the accusations of sexism. We make no suggestion at all that women may be forced to join the military alongside people. But in saying this, we do not think that we perpetuate a sexism. In addition, we think that the men who guard the South Korean border actually do their duty because they are n’t trying to subjugate South Korean women. To put it simply, if South Korea is a sexism, one would never know it if the lives of female soldiers and sailors were comparatively unharmed.

South Korea may never have always had the same level of progress as it does now. Before the Republic of Korea was established, the yangban class of aristcratic literati kept other women as virtual sex slaves, including kisaeng ( courtesans akin to Japanese geisha ). American service members were given comfort women by the Korean authorities, which was a state-run trafficking practice during the Korean War, which suffered horribly for the ladies. Even now, some people are still living in the vicinity of British military installations.

However, Park Geun-hye, Park Chung-hee’s daughter, is still the only adult leader in East Asia to have been elected president. It is correct that President Park Geun-hye was removed from office by female lawyers. She was not, however, the first North Korean leader to face legal repression after taking business. In facing a severe post-presidential death, Park joined a portfolio of different fell rulers, all of them males. And the latest president, Yoon Seok-yeol, is beset with difficulties caused by none other than the First Lady, his wife. Apart from the typical cutthroat politics that may befall every would-be ruler, whether male or female, South Korea seems to be filled with optimistic people who face much resistance or discrimination in the exercise of power.

We hope that the portrait of South Korea that the expanding 4B global movement may paint is much more complex in the details provided above. We believe that South Korea, which has worked hard to join the rates of contemporary governments, is disregarded and unfairly treated when compared to this extraordinary and compressing philosophy. We also believe that it violates cultural richness in an excessive way because it will never be true that all X are Y in any society. Human life is noisy, human knowledge is varied, and each individual lives his or her career as an entity, not as a copy in a flock. Instead of indicting whole nations for the actions of a terrible few, we should treat people as like.

Or more than a few. Well, in recent North Korean actions have been outrageously disrespectful to women’s dignity. We aspire that the government may learn who the crimes against women are committed and to put all possible punishment on those who violate the law. We also hope that commentators wo n’t make South Korea’s reputation look bad by insisting that such reprobates represent the entire country. They are n’t. Additionally, all South Asian women are represented by those who accuse all South Korean people of sexism.

North Korean culture is complicated. It and its citizens deserve to be treated with dignity and not to be subjected to widespread condemnation. Politics, whether democratic or sex, does not do justice to a position as rich and vibrant as modern-day South Korea.

Jason Morgan, a researcher and writer based in Chiba, Japan, is co-author of The Comfort Women Hoax: A Fake Memoir, North Korean Scouts, and Strike Teams in the Academic Swamp.

For JAPAN Forward, Kenji Yoshida is an interact journalist in Seoul and a speaker.

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All Singapore mainstream schools to have programmes for students to experience disability sports

” FOCAL POINTS” ISLANDWIDE

Separately, SportSG even did set up&nbsp, Para Sports Community Hubs to&nbsp, grow the foundation of aspiring par players.

By the end of this year, the island does have piloted five of these centers, with additional ones set up by 2030.

These hubs will be at&nbsp, Pasir Ris Sport Centre ( boccia ), &nbsp, Heartbeat@Bedok ( swimming and table tennis ), Jurong West Sport Centre ( swimming and para cycling ), Yio Chu Kang Sport Centre (athletics and badminton ) and Delta Sport Centre ( goalball ).

Boccia, which means to plate in Roman, is a specific game sport played by players in chairs. Since golf was developed specifically for those who are blind or have small vision, it almost exclusively relies on audio.

These “focal factors” will be used as “focal points,” according to MCCY, to draw in sports fans and visitors to the disabled sports scene.

By the end of 2030, all ActiveSG sports centers may have a captain quiet room, with a pilot quiet space in each zone until 2025.

Available sports facilities enable people with disabilities to participate in and participate in activities there, according to MCCY.

” SportSG may continue to improve accessibility for people with various disabilities to the amenities and facilities at ActiveSG.”

There are also plans to increase the number of instructors who are registered as instructors for people with disabilities from currently around 120 to 300 by 2030.

Additionally, MCCY mentioned Team Singapore’s upcoming Kallang location as the location of a federal para-sports education facility.

The National Training Center for Para Sport, as well as dedicated training facilities to accommodate the needs of particular para sports, will be located in the “HTSG ( Home of Team Singapore ).” The government added that this ability will help foster a more vibrant TeamSG soul and promote the development of disabled sports in Singapore.

The strategic decisions show Singapore’s devotion to inclusive gymnastics, according to Dr. Teo-Koh Sock Miang, chairman of the SDSC, Singapore National Paralympic Council, and Special Olympics Singapore,” and represent a major step in expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to teach, sing, and thrive up in sports,” he added.

We think that sport can help us create a more welcoming society that fosters empathy and enhances people’s well-being. We will work together to create a sports ecosystem in which everyone’s abilities can thrive and participate.

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From local ice cream parlour to global food behemoth: What’s next after Jollibee’s acquisition of Tim Ho Wan?

Mr Jose Antonio Cipres, a research scientist at the AP Securities trading, said Jollibee’s most remarkable acquisitions were of Chinese-Filipino fast-food network Chowking and cooking restaurant team Mang Inasal.

Chowking had 162 trees when it was acquired in 2000, and that amount has now grown to 566, he said. And Mang Inasal has 573 businesses, away from 303 when Jollibee took over in 2010.

” Since its founding, Jollibee’s quest is testament to successful brand, resilience and a strong understanding of consumer choices”, said Mr Jonathan Ravelas, managing director of eMBM, which provides expert service.

He continued,” It is remarkable that Jollibee has grown from a small local business to a global player in the foods business.”

CONCERNS OVER Value

However Jollibee’s method of acquiring companies has never come without censure. &nbsp,

According to Banderlipe, Banderlipe of De La Salle University, several customers believe that Jollibee’s companies may experience a decline in their food and service standards with a focus on generating higher profits.

” When the bread firm Red Ribbon was acquired, some loyal users complained about losing the’ liqueur-ish’ taste of the Black Forest pie that made Red Ribbon famous”, he said.

A tie-up with a major mall operator in the Philippines will allow the coffee beans and tea leaves to appear in 89 malls as shops, which Mr. Banderlipe described as a drop for devoted customers.

On CNA’s Instagram post about Jollibee’s merger of Tim Ho Wan, one person posted:” Good luck with the high-quality”!

Another responded:” Agree. Costs fluctuate, while food and service quality fluctuates.

According to Mr. Banderlipe,” Jollibee must concern itself to increase or maintain the quality of the products and service of the models it purchases.”

As Jollibee expands its brand portfolio, Jollibee did not respond to CNA’s issues immediately. &nbsp,

STILL ON THE Fall

However, experts who spoke to CNA were convinced of Jollibee’s continuing progress, as it pushes towards its owner’s purpose to have 50 per cent of system-wide sales, which include owned and franchised stores, to travel from international company.

For the first nine months of the year, global operations made up 40.3 per share of system-wide income.

According to AP Securities ‘ Cipres, Jollibee was making corporate moves to expand its market share in various industries.

He pointed to another&nbsp, new acquisition- of Compose Coffee Company in South Korea- which he said would soon increase Jollibee’s earnings, since the chain is successful. &nbsp,

According to Prof. Gutierrez of the University of the Philippines, Jollibee could acquire Chinese, fast-food, or coffee shops.

Jollibee CFO Shin made a point during the media conference on Tuesday that the company had not yet entered some Southeast Asian markets like Indonesia and Thailand. &nbsp,

Those remain opportunities for growth, he said.

The fried chicken restaurant chain, which saw an increase in same-store sales of 8.2 % in the first three quarters of 2024 compared to the same period last year, is still a major success.

” Jollibee… will always be the’ nightmare’ of the’ M ‘ brand”, said&nbsp, Mr Banderlipe. ” (McDonald’s is ) the world’s number one, but not in the Philippines” .&nbsp,

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What game theory predicts Trump will and won’t do – Asia Times

Many people around the world are confused about what Donald Trump might do in his second term and whether some of the threats he made about foreign policy will be realized as a result of his success in the US presidential election.

The president-elect has threatened to make a number of significant policy changes after in office.

One of the most important issues with foreign policy is how the Trump administration may approach ending the conflict in Ukraine, in the opinion of some. Trump claimed that he could halt the conflict in a day. Different nations on Russia’s edges are concerned that any agreement that ends in a victory could lead to ideas for further military brutality, according to Vladimir Putin.

Also, if Trump abandons the US’s traditional support for the self-governing area of Taiwan, it may enable China into an invasion. The island’s status as a separatist state and its inclusion in China are seen by Beijing. But generally, US assistance of Taiwan has been a component in China holding up.

Mao Zedong’s failure after the civil war prevented Xi Jinping from establishing his reputation as the one who brought China together. In recent years, the Chinese leader has increased the pressure on Taiwan, and there are clear indications that he wants to advance.

However, neither Xi nor Putin is ensure that Trump did follow his own advice. How’s why.

A training from match idea, the scientific study of cooperation and competition, may be appropriate here – in particular, the scenario referred to as the” chicken game” or the “hawk-dove” game, which provides a model of conflict between two actors.

Because it follows the same reasoning as 1950s and 1960s contests between American teenagers, it is known as the” chicken activity.” They may drive their vehicles at high speeds, and the first to veer off to avoid a collision that might turn dangerous would be called” meat” and lose the game.

We can use a payoff matrix ( see below ) to explain the logic of this game. The speculative payoffs that could be produced by person A and player B are shown in this table. In each pair of result, person B’s return from their combined behavior is given first, followed by person A’s.

Paul Whiteley, &nbsp, Author provided ( no reuse )

A fall is the worst possible result for both people, so this pays a total of 0 for both. When player B swerves, player A should continue driving, with the payoffs visible in the top-right cell ( 1, 3 ). In the middle left body, player B experiences the same outcome. If both turn, the reward is 2 for each person.

Swerving is preferable to colliding, but the winner is the one who drives right at his or her backwards.

Nuclear punishment can be modelled using the hen game. In this situation, striking the player first before they can drive when they swerve is equivalent to striking them first. Needless to say, when both people launch attacks together, the result is a lot worse than the zero depicted in the structure.

The trick to winning the game is to persuade your rival to keep driving at all costs. For instance, some American teenagers would pretend to throw the steering wheel out of the car to warn their rival that they could not swerve in the middle of the road if they wanted to. This basically means that you must persuade your opponent to take that risk in order to win.

This is similar to what Trump does in some circumstances. He makes significant statements about what he will do, which might include what his rivals will do after they concede defeat.

Trump also has the advantage of unpredictability. The gap between what he says and does is significant, as Michael Wolff, the biographer of his first term in office, has detailed. Wolff said in an interview:” Donald Trump is deeply unpredictable, irrational, at times bordering on incoherent, self-obsessed in a disconcerting way, and displays all those kinds of traits that anyone would reasonably say: ‘ What’s going on here, is something wrong?'”

A couple of examples from Trump’s first term make the point that the president-elect often chooses moves that, historically, other US leaders have ruled out. Sometimes these moves are successful, in other cases, they are n’t.

In 2019, Trump made a historic visit to North Korea, the first US leader to do so. Trump made the suggestion that he was the only one who could bring about a new era of friendship between the countries at this meeting. However, he made a failed attempt to form a deal with North Korea and stop the country’s nuclear program. In this case, Trump’s unpredictability did not work.

However, his unpredictability provided another example of how the US had been longing for a solution. Trump aimed to “insult and alienate US allies” in his first term, attempting to stifle the NATO alliance.

And his threats to reduce US support helped him achieve his goal of persuading NATO member nations to increase their defense spending. He had hoped exactly that.

So, Trump’s unpredictability could be a deterrent to opponents such as Putin and Xi, as they do n’t know how he is likely to react, or when he might take offence. The US president has the potential to take this personally and even have an opinion against Putin if Trump rejects a peace agreement offered by Trump to Ukraine or accepts it after starting the war in his place.

Unpredictability and carelessness can pay off in conflict and negotiation situations, according to game theory. No one is yet to decide what Trump will do next, as a result.

Paul Whiteley is professor, Department of Government, University of Essex

The Conversation has republished this article under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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