Pepper Labs collaborates with Microsoft to empower Malaysians with AI fluency

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  • Aims to deploy 800,000 people with AI information by 2025
  • Initiative supports excellent secretary Anwar Ibrahim’s AI-driven online vision

Training session with the Ministry of Transport Malaysia

Pepper Labs has embarked on a collaboration with Microsoft to expand the AI for Malaysia’s Future ( AIForMYFuture ) initiative, a skilling programme designed to democratise artificial intelligence ( AI ) fluency across Malaysia. In a statement, the business said this marriage underscores a shared responsibility to generate AI leveling opportunities, contributing to the programme’s total target of equipping 800,000 individuals with AI knowledge by 2025.

As AI continues to change business and markets, Malaysia stands at a critical stage where Artificial knowledge is key to unlocking future prospects. AIForMYFuture aims to bridge the Artificial information space, ensuring Malaysians from all walks of life – civil servants, students, children, teachers, grassroots communities, entrepreneurs, professionals in major industries, and corporate leaders– are prepared to liquidity AI for growth, innovation, and societal advancement.

This program aligns with prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’s perception, which underscores the importance of AI implementation in government services and community to generate Malaysia’s modern transformation agenda.

The initiative provides accessible AI education, focusing on foundational knowledge, ethical AI use, and practical applications. Designed to reach diverse audiences, the programme integrates hands-on training and self-paced digital learning modules to make AI knowledge easily understandable and widely available.

Through this collaboration, Microsoft brings its world-class AI modules and expertise, while Pepper Labs activates its extensive and diverse strategic network to ensure maximum outreach and impact. By working closely with stakeholders across various sectors, Pepper Labs will drive nationwide adoption of AI fluency.

According to Pepper Labs, collaboration with key government agencies and community groups has already begun delivering impactful results. These include AI skilling for officials from the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of National Unity, National Audit Department, Prime Minister’s Department, Department of Federal Territories, Fire and Rescue Department, Bank Simpanan Nasional, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, as well as community organisations such as Komuniti Rukun Tetangga and teacher networks throughout Malaysia. These efforts reflect Pepper Labs ’ continued dedication to empowering Malaysians through inclusive and accessible learning opportunities.

“Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index shows that 84 % of Malaysian knowledge workers are already using AI at work. This demonstrates that AI fluency is no longer a luxury – it ’s a necessity, ” said Adilah Junid, director of legal and government affairs at Microsoft Malaysia. “We are working with Pepper Labs to expand AIForMYFuture to provide inclusive opportunities for AI skilling to an even larger group of people, ensuring that Malaysians, regardless of their background, are equipped with the knowledge to thrive in an AI-driven future. ”

Echoing this sentiment, Ir. Kuhan Pathy, founder of Pepper Labs, stated: “At Pepper Labs, we believe in harnessing technology for good. By leveraging our deep-rooted networks and commitment to social impact, we aim to empower communities, educators, and businesses to embrace AI with confidence. ”

As Malaysia moves towards becoming a digitally progressive nation, AIForMYFuture invites organisations, educators, and individuals to be part of this transformative journey. Together, we can build a future where AI is an enabler for all. Malaysians can get started on their AI fluency learning pathways for free today by visiting: https ://microsoft. pepperlabs. my.

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When Pope Francis spoke to Asia Times on China – Asia Times

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Pope Francis gave his first-ever meeting on China and the Chinese people on January 28, 2016, to then-Asia Times journalist and China Renmin University senior scientist Francesco Sisci. The Pope urged the world not to worry China ’s rapid rise in a traditional one-hour appointment at the Vatican.

He said the Taiwanese people are in a good time and delivered a message of hope, peace and reconciliation as an alternative to battle, hot or cold. The pope even sent Foreign New Year’s welcome to the Chinese people and President Xi Jinping, the first extended by a Pope to a Chinese president for the Lunar New Year in 2,000 years.

Sisci’s special interview took place in a Vatican house decorated with a mural of the Holy Mary Undoer of Knots, in which she performs the mystery of untying difficult twists. It is republished here on the situation of the Pope’s departure.

ROME– He felt it quickly, or but I sensed, and he tried to put me at ease. He was best. I was in fact frightened. I had spent long periods hammering down every aspect of the questions I was going to ask, and he had wanted time to think and churned them over.

I asked for an appointment on broad social and intellectual issues concerning all Taiwanese, of which over 99 % are no Catholic. I did n’t like to touch on religious or political concerns, of which another Popes, at other times had spoken.

I hoped he could present to frequent Chinese his enormous animal emotion by speaking for the first time ever on issues that worry them regularly – the rupture of the classic relatives, their difficulties in being understood and understanding the western world, their sense of guilt from earlier experiences such as the Cultural Revolution, etc. He did it and gave the Chinese and citizens concerned about China ’s hard fall motives for hope, peace and mediation with each other.

The Pope believes the Chinese are in a good action. He says they should not be scared of this, nor does the rest of the world. He also believes the Chinese have a wonderful legacy of knowledge that will strengthen them and everyone and will support all to find a quiet way ahead. This appointment is, in some respect, the Pope’s manner of blessing China.

Sisci: What is China for you? How did you think China to become as a young man, given that China, for Argentina, is not the East but the far West? What does Matteo Ricci mean to you?

Pope Francis :  For me, China has always been a research point of glory. A wonderful country. But more than a state, a wonderful culture, with an unlimited wisdom. For me, as a child, whenever I read something about China, it had the ability to persuade my enthusiasm. I have enthusiasm for China.

Eventually, I looked into Matteo Ricci’s career and I saw how this man felt the same thing in the specific method I did, admiration, and how he was able to enter into speech with this wonderful society, with this age-old knowledge. He was able to “encounter ” it.

When I was young, and China was spoken of, we thought of the Great Wall. The rest was not known in my homeland. But as I looked more and more into the matter, I had an experience of encounter which was very different, in time and manner, to that experienced by Ricci.

Yet I came across something I had not expected. Ricci’s experience teaches us that it is necessary to enter into dialogue with China, because it is an accumulation of wisdom and history. It is a land blessed with many things. And the Catholic Church, one of whose duties is to respect all civilizations, before  this  civilization, I would say, has the duty to respect it with a capital “R. ” The Church has great potential to receive culture.

The other day I had the opportunity to see the paintings of another great Jesuit, Giuseppe Castiglione– who also had the Jesuit virus ( laughs ). Castiglione knew how to express beauty, the experience of openness in dialogue: receiving from others and giving of one’s self on a wavelength that is “civilized ” of civilizations.

When I say “civilized”, I do not mean only “educated ” civilizations, but also civilizations that encounter one another. Also, I don’t know whether it is true but they say that Marco Polo was the one who brought pasta noodles to Italy ( laughs ).   So it was the Chinese who invented them. I don’t know if this is true. But I say this in passing.

This is the impression I have, great respect.   And more than this,   when I crossed China for the first time, I was told in the aircraft: “Within ten minutes we will enter Chinese airspace, and send your greeting”. I confess that I felt very emotional, something that does not usually happen to me. I was moved  to be flying over this great richness of culture and wisdom.

Sisci:  China, for the first time in its thousands of years of history, is emerging from its own environment and opening to the world, creating unprecedented challenges for itself and for the world. You have spoken of a third world war that is furtively advancing: what challenges does this present in the quest for peace?

Pope Francis :  Being afraid is never a good counselor.   Fear is not a good counselor. If a father and a mother are fearful when they have an adolescent son, they will not know how to deal with him well.

In other words, we must not fear challenges of any kind, since everyone, male and female, has within them the capacity to find ways of co-existing, of respect and mutual admiration. And it is obvious that so much culture and so much wisdom, and in addition, so much technical knowledge – we have only to think of age-old medicinal techniques– cannot remain enclosed within a country; they tend to expand, to spread, to communicate.

Man tends to communicate, a civilization tends to communicate. It is evident that when communication happens in an aggressive tone to defend oneself, then wars result. But I would not be fearful. It is a great challenge to keep the balance of peace. Here we have Grandmother Europe, as I said in Strasbourg. It appears that she is no longer Mother Europe. I hope she will be able to reclaim that role again.

And she receives from this age-old country an increasingly rich contribution. And so it is necessary to accept the challenge and to run the risk of balancing this exchange for peace. The Western world, the Eastern world and China all have the capacity to maintain the balance of peace and the strength to do so. We must find the way, always through dialogue; there is no other way. ( He opens his arms as if extending an embrace. )

Encounter is achieved through dialogue. The true balance of peace is realized through dialogue. Dialogue does not mean that we end up with a compromise, half the cake for you and the other half for me. This is what happened in Yalta and we saw the results. No, dialogue means: look, we have got to this point, I may or may not agree, but let us walk together; this is what it means to build. And the cake stays whole, walking together.

The cake belongs to everyone, it is humanity, culture. Carving up the cake, as in Yalta, means dividing humanity and culture into small pieces. And culture and humanity cannot be carved into small pieces. When I speak about this large cake I mean it in a positive sense. Everyone has an influence to bear on the common good of all. ( The Pope smiles and asks: “ I don’t know if the example of the cake is clear for the Chinese? ”, I nod: “ I think so. ” )

Sisci: China has experienced over the last few decades tragedies without comparison. Since 1980, the Chinese have sacrificed that which has always been most dear to them, their children.

For the Chinese, these are very serious wounds. Among other things, this has left enormous emptiness in their consciences and, somehow, an extremely deep need to be reconciled with themselves and to forgive themselves. In the Year of Mercy, what message can you offer the Chinese people?

Francesco Sisci interviewing Pope Francis in a 2016 photo. Image: Author Supplied.

Pope Francis :  The aging of a population and of humanity is happening in many places. Here in Italy the birth rate is almost below zero, and in Spain too, more or less. The situation in France, with its policy of assistance to families, is improving. And it is obvious that populations age.

They age and they do not have children. In Africa, for example, it was a pleasure to see children in the streets.   Here in Rome, if you walk around, you will see very few children. Perhaps behind this there is the fear you are alluding to, the mistaken perception, not that we will simply fall behind, but that we will fall into misery, so therefore, let’s not have children.

There are other societies that have opted for the contrary. For example, during my trip to Albania, I was astonished to discover that the average age of the population is approximately 40 years. There exist young countries; I think Bosnia and Herzegovina is the same. Countries that have suffered and opt for youth. Then there is the problem of work. Something that China does not have, because it has the capacity to offer work both in the countryside and in the city.

And it is true, the problem for China of not having children must be very painful; because the pyramid is then inverted and a child has to bear the burden of his father, mother, grandfather and grandmother. And this is exhausting, demanding, disorientating. It is not the natural way. I understand that China has opened up possibilities on this front.

Sisci: How should these challenges of families in China be faced, given that they find themselves in a process of profound change and no longer correspond to the traditional Chinese model of the family?

Pope Francis :  Taking up the theme, in the Year of Mercy, what message can I give to the Chinese people? The history of a people is always a path. A people at times walks more quickly, at times more slowly, at times it pauses, at times it makes a mistake and goes backwards a little, or takes the wrong path and has to retrace its steps to follow the right way.

But when a people moves forward, this does not worry me because it means they are making history. And I believe that the Chinese people are moving forward and this is their greatness. It walks, like all populations, through lights and shadows.

Looking at this past – and perhaps the fact of not having children creates a complex – it is healthy to take responsibility for one’s own path. Well, we have taken this route, something here did not work at all, so now other possibilities are opened up.

Other issues come into play: the selfishness of some of the wealthy sectors who prefer not to have children, and so forth. They have to take responsibility for their own path. And I would go further: do not be bitter, but be at peace with your own path, even if you have made mistakes. I cannot say my history was bad, that I hate my history. ( The Pope gives me a penetrating look. )

No, every people must be reconciled with its history as its own path, with its successes and its mistakes. And this reconciliation with one’s own history brings much maturity, much growth. Here I would use the word mentioned in the question: mercy. It is healthy for a person to have mercy towards himself, not to be sadistic or masochistic.

That is wrong. And I would say the same for a people: it is healthy for a population to be merciful towards itself. And this nobility of soul … I don’t know whether or not to use the word forgiveness, I don’t know.

But to accept that this was my path, to smile, and to keep going. If one gets tired and stops, one can become bitter and corrupt. And so, when one takes responsibility for one’s own path, accepting it for what it was, this allows one’s historical and cultural richness to emerge, even in difficult moments.

And how can it be allowed to emerge? Here we return to the first question: in dialogue with today’s world. To dialogue does not mean that I surrender myself, because at times there is the danger, in the dialogue between different countries, of hidden agendas, namely, cultural colonizations.

It is necessary to recognize the greatness of the Chinese people, who have always maintained their culture. And their culture – I am not speaking about ideologies that there may have been in the past – their culture was not imposed.

Sisci: The country ’s economic growth proceeded at an overwhelming pace but this has also brought with it human and environmental disasters, which Beijing is striving to confront and resolve.

At the same time, the pursuit of work efficiency is burdening families with new costs: sometimes children and parents are separated due to the demands of work. What message can you give them?

Pope Francis :  I feel rather like a “mother-in-law ” giving advice on what should be done ( laughs ). I would suggest a healthy realism; reality must be accepted from wherever it comes. This is our reality; as in football, the goalkeeper must catch the ball from wherever it comes. Reality must be accepted for what it is. Be realistic. This is our reality.

First, I must be reconciled with reality. I don’t like it, I am against it, it makes me suffer, but if I don’t come to terms with it, I won’t be able to do anything. The second step is to work to improve reality and to change its direction.

Now, you see that these are simple suggestions, somewhat commonplace. But to be like an ostrich, that hides its head in the sand so as not to see reality, nor accept it, is no solution.   Well then, let us discuss, let us keep searching, let us continue walking, always on the path, on the move. The water of a river is pure because it flows ahead; still water becomes stagnant. It is necessary to accept reality as it is, without disguising it, without refining it, and to find ways of improving it.  

Well, here is something that is very important. If this happens to a company which has worked for twenty years and there is a business crisis, then there are few avenues of creativity to improve it. On the contrary, when it happens in an age-old country, with its age-old history, its age-old wisdom, its age-old creativity, then tension is created between the present problem and this past of ancient richness.

And this tension brings fruitfulness as it looks to the future. I believe that the great richness of China today lies in looking to the future from a present that is sustained by the memory of its cultural past. Living in tension, not in anguish, and the tension is between its very rich past and the challenge of the present which has to be carried forth into the future; that is, the story does n’t end here.

Sisci: On the occasion of the upcoming Chinese New Year of the Monkey, would you like to send a greeting to the Chinese people, to the Authorities and to President Xi Jinping?

Pope Francis :  On the eve of the New Year, I wish to convey my best wishes and greetings to President Xi Jinping and to all the Chinese people. And I wish to express my hope that they never lose their historical awareness of being a great people, with a great history of wisdom, and that they have much to offer to the world.

The world looks to this great wisdom of yours. In this New Year, with this awareness, may you continue to go forward in order to help and cooperate with everyone in caring for our common home and our common peoples. Thank you!

Francesco Sisci  is currently director of the Appia Institute think tank.

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China’s first robot marathon runners trip, emit smoke, fall apart

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Some of China ’s best human computers took on the issue of racing against individual marathon runners on April 19. One fell at the starting line. Another’s brain fell down and rolled on the ground. And one collapsed and broke into sections.

In what was billed as the world’s second half-marathon for devices, only four out of 21 mechanical athletes completed the race in Beijing’s southern technology hub of E-Town within the allotted four time. The win was five-foot-ten Tiangong Ultra, who made it to the finish line in two days and 40 days, far behind the hourlong efficiency of the individual gold medalists. It took more than three days for the other three algorithms that managed to complete the 13 km ( 20. 9 mile ) program to come in.

The man-versus-machine opposition was presented as a display for China ’s passion in regions from AI to technology to electronics. President Xi Jinping’s government has made the development of the key technology a goal, ratcheting up business strain with the US.

But the result was generally comical, with incidents and students throughout the race. While Tiangong paced around five miles per hour and looked like a proper performer, many of its mechanical peers weren’t designed to run fast enough to complete the competition within the day.

The Tiangong Ultra type was tailor-made for the competition by Beijing-based X-Humanoid, a government-backed research institute that also has money from Xiaomi Corp. and automation american UBTech Robotics Corp Ltd.

” I’m very happy with the results, and everything met my expectations, ” X-Humanoid’s Chief Technology Officer Tang Jian said in an interview. ” This has been an extreme test of the robots ’ resilience and stability. Our hope is that, whatever duties drones perform in the future, they will be capable of operating around the clock, 24/7. ”

However, it took one drop and three batteries for Tiangong to report the win, with the jersey-sporting system leading the machine contestants throughout the contest. A human professor – wearing a signaling gadget on his lower back – ran ahead of the scammer for it to imitate his moves. Most of the other devices were controlled with controller by mortal technicians running alongside them. Some also had collars. Two hundred team crossed the starting range in succession, followed by small flight cars with competitors and technicians on stand-by.

To count for the competition, the computers had to have a human appearance and work on two legs. They were allowed to change batteries mid-race or even have a supplement take over, though with moment sanctions for each supplement used. Spectators, including families with child, cheered them on, and even some of the people candidates paused near the start to get photos of their electrical counterparts.  

The robots varied in appearance, height and weight. One giant contestant resembled Japanese fictional anime bot Gundam, with fans attached around its arms. It lost control and crashed onto the barricade separating the human and robot runners. The only female-looking robot, Huan Huan – equipped with mannequinesque head and Storm Trooper-style armor – collapsed shortly after the start, scattering body armor on the track. Neither recovered to continue the race.

Little Giant, developed by local college students, was the shortest contestant at a mere 75 centimeters ( 30 inches ) high. It paced around 1. 4 miles per hour and supported voice control, one of its engineers said in a live broadcast on national television. At one point, the machine paused briefly after smoke spewed out of its head. The team only intended for Little Giant to run the first three miles as it ’s too slow, the engineer said.  

Jiang Zheyuan, 27-year-old founder of Noetix Robotics, stood on a stool and chanted slogans as he watched his N2 robot come second. Despite many sleepless nights, the race paid off for the Tsinghua dropout’s startup as it helped clients discover the firm, he told reporters at the finishing line. His firm is slated to deliver 700 robots next month at US$ 6,000 ( RM26,444 ) apiece, a below-market rate.

Another Noetix N2 robot, using a different algorithm, was third to cross the finishing line, but was demoted to fourth having used three substitutes and incurring more than an hour penalty. The team grumbled that the rule had been changed to their disadvantage and said they planned to lodge a complaint.

Some of China ’s most promising robotics firms did n’t sign up for the race. Hangzhou-based Unitree put out a statement after its G1 bot fell at the starting line that a client had used the machine without deploying Unitree’s algorithms. The company – whose founder was among Xi’s guests of honor at a prominent meeting with entrepreneurs in February – is busy prepping for a fighting bout, according to the statement.   – Bloomberg

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Superpower chess: Is India the next pawn to fall? – Asia Times

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It has become clear that a trend has been present throughout history as a result of years of observing international events and choices. &nbsp,

America embodies the spirit of motion, which is sharp and courageous and frequently preceding idea. For , better or worse, it is a state of behavior, even if the action is erroneous. The US moves initially and decides it out afterward, from the Iraq invasion of 2003&nbsp to the current price wars.

On the other hand, India is full of ideas, but it frequently gets bogged down in conversation and analysis, which causes delays or no action. Grand initiatives like Smart Cities, Industrial Corridor, Startup India, and Make in India are greeted with awe before quietly hidden beneath administrative dust.

China, on the other hand, thinks in years. It develops gradually and effectively. Then, when it moves, it shocks the world, whether it’s creating a DeepSeek AI app that shakes Wall Street and causes a$ 1 trillion drop in US tech valuations overnight. &nbsp,

A style, a deeper fact about how societies choose to interact with the world: through urge, introspection, or integration, can be found in their differences. America is known for taking daring actions, but it never evaluates At What Cost? India has a lot of potential and intellect, but widespread gravity stifles progress. China has a powerful advantage because of its ability to think and act harmoniously.

Terribing indications of submissive behavior

Durability is frequently gauged in the global balance of power by the determination to withstand pressure as well as by military might or economic performance.

India demonstrated for leadership in 2008 with Manmohan Singh’s stance on the US-Indian Civil Nuclear Agreement. Despite leading a tense alliance, Singh held his ground. He negotiated a traditional Union cancellation without compromising India’s nuclear independence under the auspices of international strain to signal the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Despite fierce home opposition, including a no-confidence movement, Singh successfully persuaded the Indian Parliament to pass the deal without compromising India’s nuclear autonomy. He also secured a landmark waiver from the NSG in 2008, without signing the NPT or putting in jeopardizing its nuclear autonomy. The agreement brought India’s post-colonial isolation to an end and demonstrated corporate clarity, political will, and firm diplomacy.

Russia and China both have shown bravery in the present, which is unprecedented. Moscow reacted swiftly when the US imposed sanctions on Russia by adapting, adjusting, and revising its foreign policy to withstand stress from the West. China reacted quickly to Trump’s aggressive tariffs, retaliating both financially and politely and signaling that it wouldn’t be bullied into submission.

In contrast, India charted a more subdued lessons. It appeared to pacify Washington rather than argue its royal interests. The Modi administration’s handling of tariffs from the Trump administration lacked both conviction and confidence. Yet the fundamental proper independence that was present in 2008 now seems to be a mystery. India has shown the earth that despite its size and ability, it still hesitates when courage is most needed, despite its size and possible. &nbsp,

Under Trump, India’s reaction to US force was marked by submitting rather than strength, in contrast to Russia and China.

From aspiring for global energy to serving as a client state?

Despite Modi’s repeated calling him a” near friend,” despite Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, he invited Xi Jinping to his inauguration. Modi was later invited in February, but the visit was a low-key, business-first event, which is typical of a working attend.

Trump continued to use his harsh language, frequently calling India a” business abuser” and “tariff king.” Prior to the visit, the Modi government made a number of economic concessions, including lowering average tariffs from 13 % to 11 % and lowering customs duties from 50 % to 30 % on high-end motorcycles like Harley-Davidson. After Trump threatened sanctions, India reversed its 2024 BRICS press for de-dollarization.

Trump continued to work on reducing the US trade deficit, calling it$ 100 billion, twice what it was at$ 45.7 billion, despite these objections. During their mutual press conference, Modi somewhat did not object to this exaggeration. Trump also announced increased military revenue, including F-35 planes, and increased oil and gas imports to India. &nbsp,

However, the images deteriorated fast. Two American navy plane carrying 228 jailed Indians, including women, children, and babies, made an overnight landing in Amritsar only two weeks after Modi’s U.S. visit. India’s economy is failing to produce enough jobs for its youth ( 10 million annually, new labor market entrants ), and Washington offers no special treatment to its so-called allies. This is reflected in widely circulated images of Indians in chains.

Trump has imposed tariffs and imposed restrictions on trade and immigration while offering much in return. His strategy has been interpersonal and condescending. India is less of a strategic partner and more of a superior expected to agree.

India was once perceived as a developing world power with ability to outmatch China in terms of politics, resources, and possible. However, its standing on a global scale has declined under Modi’s decade-long authority. India’s current path is beginning to resemble those of countries like Ukraine and Pakistan, which struggled to realize true global effect.

Is India at risk of degenerating into a failed state?

The erosion of India’s political bases is a crucial component of its fall from grace. The Modi state has shifted toward dictatorship over the past ten years. India’s uniqueness, which was a lively democracy where mistakes may be made and corrected, has been completely destroyed.

Although China and India’s democratic model allowed for steady, sustainable growth, India rarely was destined to grow as quickly. India’s politics excelled because of its capacity to adapt, grow, and learn from errors. However, this basic durability has been undermined over the past ten years. Essential organizations have been hampered by the government’s inability to hold accountable and its growing centralization of power.

The government continues to ignore pressing issues like poverty, fraud, and poverty, leaving the public feeling disconnected today. While China was preparing for the fourth industrial revolution and the age of synthetic knowledge, India was occupied finding ancient temples, according to popular belief. &nbsp,

India’s international policy, which was once thought to be healthy and sensible, presently appears misguided. The nation has failed to exercise its influence in significant international agreements. India’s decision to continue importing oil from Russia, despite American sanctions, has sparked condemnation in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. &nbsp,

While making this choice has short-term, financially wise outcomes. India’s democratic values and non-aligned position have been undermined, which are the very things that made it special. &nbsp,

India’s reputation suffers as a result of its increasingly being seen as buying rules for short-term gains, lowering the viability of its international strategy. Its growing reliance on Russian strength and its lack of alternative resources make it vulnerable. Given that Russia is a major simplistic supplier to India, President Trump’s subsequent warning about possible secondary tariffs on Russian oil only makes things worse. This emphasis on energy exposes India to external stress, with world powers using its requirements as a leverage.

The problem is significant. Modi’s fusion of powerful speech and subpar outcomes has given India a competitive advantage. If India is unable to assert itself as a powerful, independent country as the world shifts, it may quickly find itself a pawn in a sport it cannot control, much like Ukraine. The moment has come for significant change to occur before the path has been established and catastrophic. &nbsp,

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Signs not good for US-Iran nuke deal badly needed for stability – Asia Times

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Older Egyptian and American officials will join forces for the next week in a row to discuss the Persian nuclear programme. The most recent round of conversations has begun in Oman on April 12; the first round was held there on April 12.

However, recent claims from senior Iranian officers, including those that differ on the location of the talks, suggest that quick political victories might not be possible.

Donald Trump’s attitude toward Iran has been understandably hostile. The Trump administration for the first time withdrew from the 2015 atomic agreement and put the plan of “maximum force” on Iran. Trump has reintroduced this scheme of greatest force since his return to the Oval Office.

Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy to the Middle East, stated in a post on X that” Iran may quit and remove its nuclear advancement and weaponization program.” Additionally, he demanded that any weapons that were stored in the Islamic Republic be checked.

Iranian officials and Abbas Araghchi, the foreign secretary, have vehemently rejected these US requirements, with Iran’s officials claiming that the missile system is not up for discussion.

Tehran wants a settlement.

Iran is undoubtedly looking for a bargain, or perhaps needs one. Restrictions that have severely damaged the government’s middle school over the past ten years have hit it hard.

Israel’s military actions against Iran and its supporters over the past year have eroded the Islamic Republic’s intellectual and military strength and the wider” plane of weight.” Iran’s weapons have even greater significance as a deterrent as the strengthening of many of its friends.

The Trump administration’s powerful position leaves little room for manoeuvre. It raises the possibility of more enticing hardline groups in Iran, who may be less inclined to speak out politely. However, any hostile language from Iranian voices could add more to an already obscene situation.

The Islamic Republic also experiences a number of severe domestic stresses, including those portrayed in the Woman, Life, Freedom activity. The self-declared Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, the Shah’s child, who was ousted in 1979, is also facing an increasingly vocal criticism from overseas.

Iran may need a deal, but it cannot give up, especially given the recent events. Nor ought it.

US evaluates its plan

Hawks in the US, Israel, and other countries have, of course, applauded the Trump administration’s position. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s steps are still influenced by worries about an Iranian nuclear programme, despite recent reports that Trump vetoed Jewish strikes on Iranian targets in favor of further negotiations.

The situation is different now than it was when the Gulf state would have celebrated a hard stance on Iran. Saudi Arabia, Iran’s long-standing adversary, has put a stop to decades of enmity in the hope of a more prosperous future together.

Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore relationships, reopen offices, and engage in a number of planned military exercises under a 2023 deal mediated by China. Regional security is crucial to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision2030 program, which greatly relies on global investor confidence and trust, and in particular its crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.

In response, the kingdom began a rational shift in its local affairs, initiating a political reunification process that surprised many observers. Even though the continuing loss of Gaza has slowed these efforts, at least for the moment, Riyadh has even taken steps toward normalization with Israel.

Jewish strikes on targets in Syria continue at the same time as the nuclear agreements are taking place. The social environment of Syria has been dramatically altered by the Assad regime’s collapse at the end of 2024 and the support for Russia, one of its long-standing supporters.

Moscow has taken a cautious stance despite the country’s previous president, Bashar al-Assad, who has found shelter in Russia, out of concern that Syria’s fresh regime will attack and threaten its effectively crucial military installations along the Mediterranean coast. Members of groups that the Assad regime had formerly supported, particularly the Alawi societies, have eluded the Russian naval base in Latakia in search of safety.

However, thousands of others have been killed as a result of the rise in crime as the forces of the new government, led by Ahmad al-Shara, attempt to eradicate all remnants of the Assad government. This is a series of events that resemble what happened in Iraq 20 years ago when the “de-Ba’athification” process attempted to remove all vestiges of Saddam Hussein’s government from public career.

local get ambiguous

The situation in the entire region is perilous, and the world powers ‘ actions are still having an impact. The threat of Taiwanese influence in the region grows as Washington presses Tehran and Moscow.

Unfortunately, Trump’s tariffs on China does drive Beijing further into the Middle East as it tries to make the most of the options that are present. The Middle East is securely positioned within China’s corporate interests thanks to its Belt and Road Initiative. This is likely to give the conflict between Washington and Beijing a new lease of life.

The people of the Middle East are still paying the heaviest rate all the while. A combination of rising food prices, uncertainty, fears of a regional turmoil, and precarious political conditions is what is creating the perfect storm that makes everyday life more difficult and challenging.

At Lancaster University, Simon Mabon is a teacher of international relations.

The Conversation has republished this essay under a Creative Commons license. Read the text of the content.

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Trade war has caught Wall Street between a rock and a hard place – Asia Times

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The trade war between China and the US has spiraled into uncharted territory. On April 10, the Trump administration imposed a tariff of 125% on all Chinese imports. China called the actions unfair and responded with similar measures.

Within the broader debate around unravelling economic ties between the US and China, where economic interdependence has increasingly been viewed as a threat to US national security, this escalation raises questions about whether global finance is also reducing its presence in China.

After all, the risks of financial connectivity with China have been discussed prominently by US policymakers in recent years. And many financial analysts have spent much of the past year discussing whether China has become “uninvestable” due to rising geopolitical tensions.

However, as I show in a recently published study, most global financial firms have continued to expand their presence in Chinese markets over the last decade, even as tensions have intensified.

Crucially, they have done so on China’s terms, operating within a system that prioritizes government oversight and policy goals over liberal market norms. This pragmatic accommodation is quietly reshaping the global financial order.

China’s capital markets, which have historically been sealed off from the rest of the world, have been opening up in recent decades. This has prompted global financial firms to expand their footprint in China.

Investment banks such as Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan have taken full ownership of local joint ventures. And asset managers like BlackRock or Invesco have established fund management operations on the Chinese mainland.

Yet China has not liberalized in the way many in the west expected. Rather than conforming to global norms of open, lightly regulated markets, China’s financial system remains largely guided by the state.

Markets there operate within a framework shaped by the policy priorities of the central government, capital controls remain in place, and foreign firms are expected to play by a different set of rules than they would in New York or London.

Foreign investors have been allowed to buy into mainland markets, but through infrastructure that limits capital outflows and preserves regulatory oversight.

Rather than adapting China to the global financial order, Wall Street has accommodated China’s distinct model. The motivation behind this is clear: China is simply too big to ignore.

Take China’s pension system as an example. Whereas pension assets in the US amount to 136.2% of GDP in 2019, in China these only amounted to 1.6%. The growth potential in this market is enormous, representing a trillion-dollar opportunity for global firms.

Consequently, index providers such as MSCI, FTSE Russell, and S&P Dow Jones – key gatekeepers of global investment – have included Chinese stocks and bonds in major benchmark indices.

These decisions, taken between 2017 and 2020, effectively declared Chinese markets “investment grade” for institutional investors around the world. This has helped legitimize China’s market model within the architecture of global finance.

America strikes back

In recent years, Washington has sought to curtail US financial exposure to China through a growing set of measures. These include investment restrictions, entity blacklists, and forced delisting for Chinese firms on US stock exchanges. Such actions signal a broader effort to use finance as a tool of strategic leverage.

The moves have had some effect. Some US institutional investors and pension funds have declared China “uninvestable” and are reducing their exposure. American investments in China have roughly halved since their US$1.4 trillion peak in 2020.

But attributing this solely to geopolitical pressure overlooks another key factor: China’s underwhelming market performance. A protracted property crisis, a government crackdown on tech companies and a weak post-pandemic economic recovery have made Chinese markets less attractive to investors in purely financial terms.

More strategically oriented investors from Asia, Europe and the Middle East have invested more into Chinese markets, filling gaps left by US investors. Sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East, especially, have engaged in more long-term investments as part of broader efforts to strengthen economic cooperation with China.

And at the same time, many Western financial firms have doubled down on their presence in China, expanding their onshore footprint. Since 2020, institutions such as JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and BlackRock have opened new offices, increased their staff, acquired new licences and bought out their joint venture partners to operate independently as investment banks, asset managers or futures brokers.

It has become more difficult to invest foreign capital in China. But Western financial firms are positioning themselves to tap into China’s huge domestic capital pools and capture its long-term growth opportunities – even as they tread carefully around geopolitical sensitivities.

Fragmenting financial order

It is too early to predict the long-term effects of the current geopolitical tensions. But Wall Street is trying to placate both sides. On the one hand, it is adapting to capital markets with Chinese characteristics. And on the other, it is trying not to antagonize an increasingly interventionist America.

However, while holding its breath amid further escalation and having scaled back some of its activities, Wall Street has not left China. It is instead learning how to work within the constraints of a system shaped by a different set of priorities.

This does not necessarily signal a new global consensus. But it does suggest that the liberal financial order, once defined by Anglo-American norms, is becoming more pluralistic. China’s rise is showing that alternative models – in which the state retains a strong hand in markets – can coexist with, and even shape, global finance.

As tensions between the US and China continue to rise, financial firms are learning to navigate a world in which existing relationships between states and markets are being reconfigured. This process may well define the future of global finance.

Johannes Petry is CSGR research fellow at the University of Warwick.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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BMA moves to amend city rules

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PUBLISHED: 18 Apr 2025 at 03: 30

According to the BMA, the state’s 40-year-old BMA Act will be updated to modernize urban management while increasing the city’s operational efficiency.

Aekwaranyu Amrapal, a BMA official, stated yesterday that the organization is proposing changes to the BMA Act 1985 to increase efficiency in response to the difficulties that confront a contemporary city.

It has become apparent that Bangkok also struggles with structural issues, such as frequent road construction, significant traffic congestion, under-used areas beneath expressways, and untidy overhead cables, after nearly three years of work and gathering common feedback from various communities, he said.

These issues, he said, generally stem from restrictions within the existing administrative system, which has been in place for more than 40 years.

He stated that the proposed BMA Act amendments will concentrate on three main points: duties and powers, revenue and budget, and operational structure.

The BMA’s authority may be strengthened with the passage of the article, including enforcing emission standards for cars and all kinds of factories, providing extensive care to the most vulnerable in Bangkok, and taking more effective steps to combat illegal businesses in the city.

With the new legislation, the BMA will be able to generate extra revenue through innovative fees or taxes, such as a pollution tax, hotel tax, and a surcharge on used vehicles.

At 2528. thailand, the BMA invites people to attend an online hear. come. which will be available for input until May 18th.

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South Korea’s strategic autonomy and India – Asia Times

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In today’s rapidly evolving international landscape, the concept of a “pivotal state” is gaining renewed attention. As the global order transitions into a phase of intensified great-power rivalry, particularly between the United States and China, countries that can maintain strategic autonomy while influencing regional and global power dynamics are emerging as vital players.

South Korea has, with its advanced economy, vibrant democracy, strategic geographic position, and growing soft power, all the essential ingredients to play such a role. Yet, under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, Korea has drifted from this potential, becoming overly reliant on one side of the geopolitical spectrum.

Now, however, with the political tide turning and the possibility of Lee Jae-myung ascending to the presidency, Korea has a real opportunity to reset its course and finally step into the role of a true pivotal state.

A pivotal state is not merely a middle power, but a country that actively shapes the balance in great-power politics. Unlike satellite states that gravitate around dominant powers, a pivotal state maintains a strategic center of gravity of its own. It responds flexibly to shifting international dynamics, refuses to become a vassal of larger powers and uses diplomacy and autonomy to enhance its national interests.

Examples of such countries include India and Brazil – states that pursue independent foreign policies and often play both sides when necessary, leveraging their positions for national gain without being fully subsumed into any alliance system. These nations do not just survive the global power competition – they shape it.

Missed opportunity under Yoon

When President Yoon Suk-yeol came to power in 2022, he proclaimed Korea’s ambition to become a “global pivotal state.” At face value, this was a welcome shift from past administrations that often wavered between great powers. Yoon promised bold, principled diplomacy that would elevate Korea’s standing on the global stage.

However, in execution, this vision became more rhetoric than reality. Instead of striking a balance between competing powers, the Yoon administration veered sharply toward unconditional alignment with the United States.

It enthusiastically embraced the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, tightened security and intelligence cooperation with Washington and Tokyo, and made highly visible moves such as hosting extended deterrence dialogues and participating in anti-China rhetoric.

This foreign policy posture, while arguably addressing immediate security concerns, came at the expense of Korea’s strategic autonomy. Moreover, by choosing clear alignment in a world that is increasingly multipolar, Korea forfeited its ability to mediate, influence or act as a bridge between diverging global interests. In doing so, it reduced itself from a potential rule-shaper to a rule-follower.

It alienated not only China – its largest trading partner – but also developing nations that value non-alignment and autonomy. The Yoon administration’s vision of a pivotal Korea turned out to be a paradox: how can a nation claim the mantle of a global pivot while acting as a strategic extension of another great power?

Why now is the time

There are several reasons why now is the right moment for South Korea to have a true strategic autonomy. The global power structure is fragmenting. The Cold War’s rigid bipolarity is long gone. Even the current US–China rivalry is increasingly complicated by the rise of influential players like India, Russia, Turkey, and Brazil.

This emerging multipolarity offers middle powers like Korea a rare and valuable space to maneuver – provided they have the strategic vision and political will to seize it. At the same time, cooperation among great powers is proving unstable and unpredictable.

The shifting dynamics of the war in Ukraine and the behind-the-scenes bargaining between the US and China reveal a hard truth: Smaller nations can be easily sidelined or sacrificed in the name of strategic compromise. South Korea must not allow itself to remain a passive observer while others decide its fate.

Meanwhile, the world’s attention is increasingly focused on Asia. As the geopolitical center of gravity shifts toward the Indo-Pacific, Korea finds itself at a unique crossroads. But to wield influence, it must move beyond the role of a subordinate within a US-led axis and stand as a confident, self-defining actor. India’s example proves this is not only possible – it is necessary.

A balanced approach under Lee Jae-myung?

As South Korea heads toward another electoral shift, the political winds are changing. The opposition Democratic Party, led by Lee Jae-myung, is gaining momentum. Should Lee win the presidency, Korea may finally find the political leadership necessary to realize the true meaning of a pivotal state.

Lee’s foreign policy signals indicate a desire to rebalance Korea’s diplomacy – not by abandoning its alliance with the United States, but by supplementing it with greater strategic flexibility, economic pragmatism and a non-ideological approach to China and the Global South.

In his public speeches, Lee has emphasized cooperation over confrontation, economic sovereignty, and diplomatic pragmatism – principles that align well with the idea of a pivotal state.

Rather than choosing between Washington and Beijing, a Lee-led administration would likely pursue a “both-and” strategy. This includes maintaining the security alliance with the US while re-engaging China diplomatically and economically, expanding relations with ASEAN, Middle Eastern countries, and Eurasian nations and strengthening South Korea’s voice in multilateral forums such as the G20, APEC, BRICS+ and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Lee’s foreign policy is also expected to prioritize technological sovereignty, green diplomacy, and economic diversification – all key areas where Korea can assert its influence globally without taking sides. Under such a strategy, Korea could begin to function as a connector, not just a consumer, of international norms.

Learning from India

India presents a timely and practical example as South Korea seeks to redefine its role in the global order. While maintaining strong strategic ties with the United States, India has consistently upheld its strategic autonomy, refusing to be drawn into any single power bloc.

Instead, it pursues a pragmatic, issue-based diplomacy rooted in national interest and guided by values – without becoming subordinate to any major power.

South Korea can draw important lessons from India’s approach. India’s “Non-Alignment 2.0” strategy allows it to engage deeply with the US while simultaneously participating in multilateral platforms like BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the G20 alongside countries such as China and Russia.

This flexible, multi-vector diplomacy enables India to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape without being locked into rigid alliances. Korea, too, can adopt such a strategy to avoid the risks of bloc-based alignment and preserve its strategic space.

India’s growing engagement with the Global South – particularly in Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia – has significantly boosted its international standing. Korea can work with India to develop closer ties with these regions, allowing it to diversify its foreign policy engagements without undermining its existing relationships with rising power blocs.

Both countries can co-invest in development projects, technology transfer, and sustainable infrastructure, thereby expanding Korea’s global footprint and building partnerships that go beyond the traditional US–China binary.

Beyond the pursuit of strategic autonomy, India’s focus on technological and trade sovereignty offers another valuable blueprint for South Korea to consider in strengthening its position as a sovereign and globally autonomous power.

In critical sectors such as semiconductors, clean energy, and digital infrastructure, India has launched initiatives aimed at reducing external dependency and building resilient domestic capabilities. South Korea, facing its own challenges due to overdependence on select global supply chains, can benefit by following a similar path – strengthening self-reliance while remaining globally competitive.

By aligning more closely with India and embracing a broader, multidimensional strategic vision, South Korea can overcome its current limitations and emerge as a more independent, respected actor in both regional and global affairs. Thus, through strategic learning and enhanced cooperation with India in both economic and geopolitical domains, South Korea can strengthen its capacity to emerge as a genuinely global pivotal state.

This growing partnership is not about choosing sides, but about standing together – confidently and collaboratively. Through deeper cooperation and shared leadership, Korea and India can shape a more inclusive, balanced, and multipolar international order, reinforcing one another’s journey toward genuine strategic autonomy.

By following India’s lead, South Korea can reclaim a more self-directed, balanced foreign policy – one that protects its national interests while contributing meaningfully to a more stable world.

The strategic identity Korea urgently needs

To become a true pivotal state and have strategic autonomy , Korea must craft a foreign policy identity grounded in self-determination rather than alignment. This doesn’t mean taking an anti-American or pro-Chinese stance – it means being unequivocally pro-Korea.

At the core of this identity lies the principle of strategic autonomy: South Korea makes decisions based on its own national interests, not according to the expectations or pressures of its allies.

Such an approach requires balanced engagement, meaning South Korea should actively pursue diplomacy with all major powers – especially those in Asia and the Global South – while also playing a constructive role in multilateral forums. At the same time, Korea’s  new diplomacy must be guided by value-based pragmatism. This involves upholding principles like democracy, peace, and the rule of law, while also acknowledging the realities of a diverse international system.

Korea today stands at a historical crossroads. The failures of the Yoon administration to fulfill the promise of a global pivotal state have shown what happens when rhetoric is not matched by strategic independence. But this failure also provides a valuable lesson – that true leadership on the global stage requires courage, balance, and the will to chart one’s own path.

With Lee Jae-myung poised as a serious contender for Korea’s next presidency, the country may have its first real opportunity in decades to shift from alignment to autonomy, from reactive diplomacy to strategic leadership.

The world does not need another follower in the US-China rivalry. It needs a Korea that stands firm, speaks clearly, and acts wisely – a Korea that can finally become the true pivotal state it was always destined to be.

Korea’s moment to reclaim its strategic autonomy has finally arrived – and by looking to India as both a partner and a model, it may discover its clearest path forward and its closest ally in these challenging times.

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‘Sanity will have to prevail’: Malaysia’s key exporters in limbo, fear but some hopeful over Trump’s tariffs

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Wong Siew Hai, leader of the Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association, stated to CNA that businesses in the industry are anticipating the worst while hoping for the best. &nbsp,

” We are waiting to see how much… we get hit ( in tariffs ),” Wong said.” It’s not business as usual right now.” &nbsp,

” If you hope for the best, it will be 10 %. However, he continued,” I guess it’s 24 % ( same as Malaysia’s reciprocal tariff rate ), and hopefully not more,” he said. &nbsp,

Wong claimed there was no current end to the semiconductor chip industry’s exports to the US, but that the doubt is not beneficial for the sector. &nbsp,

According to business analyst Samuel Tan, who is also the president of the Johor-Indonesian Business Chamber, the 90-day purgatory is likely to have a ripple effect on the semiconductor supply chain.

The uncertainty-filled culture is bad for manufacturers, even with the 90-day relief. They won’t be able to purchase parts for upcoming output, which will inevitably destroy the entire supply chain, Tan said. &nbsp,

Trade professional Deborah Elms predicted that semiconductor taxes could become higher than the 24 % reciprocal tariffs imposed on Malaysia.

Semiconductors and electronics are “at special risk,” she said, because they will be subject to a different kind of tariff program. Even if reciprocal taxes are eliminated or reduced, it is less likely that something similar will be applied to items sold under Section 232.

Elms noted that hardwood is being looked into under Section 232 and, consequently, this could have an impact on furniture goods. &nbsp,

The Trump staff enjoys taking a very broad definition of a field, even though I do not believe this will get furniture. Elms, the founder of the Asian Trade Center and head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation, said it is” something worth watching ( out for )”.

In the fifth-highest exports to the US, a figure released by Trading Economics shows that furniture made up about 3.6 % of all total imports from Malaysia to the US in 2024, trailing only semiconductors, equipment, medical equipment, and plastic.

Some Muar furniture manufacturers are involved that forest and furniture may develop into a separate tariff category, according to KS Design’s Ng.

” We are a little involved… that timber could be subject to a separate tariff and that it would be more than the 24 % ( reciprocal tariff for Malaysia ),” he said.

RUBBER GLOVE COMPANIES AND PALM OIL MAY BENEFIT.

Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz acknowledged at a media conference on Monday that some” was yet benefit” from Trump’s taxes.

Business players and observers claim rubber, palm oil, and even semiconductors was benefit, but he did not specify which industries. However, the caveat is that US laws was quickly alter, making long-term estimates challenging.

Although the tariffs are not ideal, Nivas Ragavan, vice-chairman of the Federation of Malaysian Business Associations ( FMBA ), claimed that having a lower rate than its regional neighbors gives Malaysia a competitive advantage.

It might provide enough motivation for some US consumers and investors to purchase from Malaysia, he said, especially in those in industries like manufacturing, gadgets, and medical supplies.

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Malaysia PM set to meet Myanmar junta chief amid opposition to talks

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Anti-Juta organizations express concern about the appointment.

PUBLISHED: 17 Apr 2025 at 10: 32

An activist holds a picture of Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing during a protest against his visit to Thailand and attending the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, April 4, 2025. (Reuters photo)
During a rally against Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Thailand and his participation in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok on April 4, 2025, an advocate holds a photo of Myanmar’s coup leader in a photo. ( Photo Reuters )

Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia, and Anwar Ibrahim, the coup chief of Myanmar, are scheduled to meet in Bangkok on Thursday to discuss a peace extension. Some groups have criticized the meeting, which is scheduled to include some meetings to discuss the military conflict in the earthquake-ravaged nation.

Anwar has stated that he will join Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on humanitarian grounds despite the South Eastern bloc’s longstanding rejection of the junta leadership.

Sai Kyi Zin Soe, an independent political analyst based in Bangkok, said,” There’s a chance that the coup will use these opportunities to establish legitimacy within the Asean framework.”

Asean barred the ruling generals from its meetings because they failed to adhere to the bloc’s peace plan after Myanmar’s defense deposed an elected civilian government in a 2021 revolt and sparked a civil war.

However, a strong earthquake of magnitude 7.7, which hit Myanmar on March 28 and killed more than 3,600, gave Min Aung Hlaing a eminently unique diplomatic opening, including a trip to Bangkok for important meetings in early April.

Min Aung Hlaing and Anwar will join in the Thai capital within a fortnight, according to two political solutions in Bangkok.

One of the resources added that in his capacity as Asean chair, Anwar has appointed a specific adviser for Thailand’s former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Malaysia’s Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand’s Embassy, and the Thai foreign government did not respond to inquiries about the Thai government’s and Thaksin’s daughter’s daughter’s, paetongtarn Shinawatra, meeting in Bangkok.

Effortless judgment

A number of anti-junta organizations, including the Karen National Union and the dark National Unity Government, urged “utmost prudence” regarding the meeting, which they claimed was being held under the pretext of providing humanitarian support.

According to a statement released on Wednesday,” The military coup led by Min Aung Hlaing is a culprit of apparent breaches of the Asean five-point consensus.” They referenced the group’s peace plan for&nbsp, Myanmar.

” Any coercive engagement with the martial leader- who is regarded as a criminal in general- must be approached with the greatest caution.”

Anwar stated due to his explore that a peace had been sought since the earthquake, which was the country’s deadliest normal disaster in years. It occurred during a civil war that left more than 3.5 million people homeless and destroyed the business.

Following similar goes by insurgent groups and the NUG, the defense declared a 20-day peace on April 2, but it has continued to launch attacks, according to the United Nations and other organizations.

According to the scientist Sai Kyi Zin Soe,” They have boycotted the involvement of the coup since 2021.” But this meeting right now could actually destroy that position.

Asian groups include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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