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Belgium plans to provide €611 million ($655 million) in military assistance to Ukraine this year, as Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on 21 January following discussions with his Belgian counterpart Ludivine Dedonder. Umerov reported it on his Facebook page.
“I had a productive conversation with Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder. We discussed the latest developments at the frontline and the prospects for defense cooperation between our countries. I highly appreciate the unwavering support of our Belgian partners. This year, Belgium plans to provide 611 million euros in military assistance and has a long-term commitment to support the modernization of our Defence Forces,” Umerov wrote.
Umerov expressed appreciation for Belgium’s “unwavering support” and valued the country’s participation in the aircraft coalition to train Ukrainian pilots. Previously, it was reported that Belgium was sending two two-seat F-16 fighter jets and deploying 15 specialists to Denmark to assist in training Ukrainian pilots for these aircraft.
Last fall, Belgium committed €1.7 billion for Ukraine’s assistance, drawing from taxed frozen Russian assets as the EU and G7 were exploring taxing immobilized Russian sovereign assets, while Belgium was working on banning Russian diamonds from its markets.
Read also:
- Belgium to send F-16 jets to Denmark for Ukrainian pilots training
- Ukraine’s modernist artworks presented in the Belgian Royal Museum of Art
- Belgium commits €1.7 billion for Ukrainian aid from taxed frozen Russian assets
- Belgium to send “several” F-16s to Ukraine starting in 2025
- Defense ministers of Ukraine and Belgium discuss F-16 provision
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/22/ukrainian-defense-minister-ukraine-to-receive-e611-million-in-belgian-military-aid/
| 2024-01-22T20:39:01Z
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The Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office Andrii Yermak told Le Figaro that the world may face new wars if Putin defeats Ukraine.
Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia has been attempting to change the existing world order, taking the territories of other countries by force. The victory of Ukraine over Russia will help restore international law and prevent dictators worldwide from starting new wars, say experts.
“I’m concerned about the future of humanity if Putin succeeds. The world will face new conflicts, not only in Europe. Many existing conflicts have been provoked by Russia.
The war in Ukraine has shown that there are no more local wars. Every war affects every country in the world,” Yermak said.
The head of the Presidential Office emphasized that the West needs to increase military and technical support for Ukraine and impose more sanctions on Russia to help Kyiv win over the occupation troops.
“A few days ago, David Cameron said that the current situation reminds him of the late 1930s and that we should not appease Putin but fight. It is exactly what we are talking about.
That is why we need to urgently increase military-technical support for Ukraine and sharply strengthen economic sanctions against Russia as much as necessary, but especially when it is needed. This is the formula for effective aid to Ukraine,” Yermak stated.
He added that even the slightest delay in supplying weapons to Ukraine cost lives.
“I think all our partners understand this. We need to act quickly,” Yermak stressed.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Poland would send a new aid package to Ukraine following his meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy: Poland allocates Ukraine with new defense package
Read also:
- Cyprus becomes 30th country to join G7 declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine
- Japan: G7 stands resolute in supporting Ukraine despite Middle East turmoil
- G7 to impose sanctions on Russian diamonds by early 2024
- Meloni pledges support for Ukraine in first call to international leader, Zelenskyy, as G7 president
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/22/zelenskyys-top-aide-warns-new-wars-may-erupt-in-world-if-putin-wins-in-ukraine/
| 2024-01-22T20:39:42Z
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Goldie Hawn couldn't be more delighted about becoming a grandma once again, preparing with her famous family to welcome another boy into the legendary Hollywood brood.
Her son with longtime partner Kurt Russell, Wyatt, and his wife Meredith Hagner are expecting their second child, another baby boy, this February. They're already the proud parents of Buddy Prine Russell, who recently turned three years old.
Meredith, 36, is ringing in the final month of her pregnancy with a sweet baby shower at home surrounded by all her loved ones, and her mother-in-law Goldie, 78, was right by her.
In a photo shared by one of the attendees at the party, which Meredith posted on her Instagram as well, guests are seen holding on to a single string of yarn while posing for a selfie.
Doting grandma Goldie sat in the background as well, dressed casually in a sweatshirt and pants, while woman of the hour Meredith wore a beautiful white satin maxi dress and had tied her hair into braids.
Wyatt and Meredith's second son will mark the seventh grandchild for Hollywood royalty Goldie and Kurt, who are also the doting grandparents to Oliver Hudson and wife Erinn Bartlett's three children, and Kate Hudson's three children with fiancé Danny Fujikawa and exes Chris Robinson and Matt Bellamy.
Oliver and Erinn share son Wilder Brooks, 16, Bodhi Hawn, 13, and Rio Laura, ten. Kate and Danny share daughter Rani Rose, five, while she shares eldest son Ryder Robinson, who just recently turned 20, and son Bingham "Bing," 12, with Matt.
During a recent appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Wyatt and Kurt, who starred together in the series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, talked about the joys of parenting.
Kurt, 72, celebrated his son, 37, and Meredith as parents, saying: "It's fun to watch, it really is, with all of our kids – with Ollie and Kate's kids, and Uncle Boston comes over to everybody's house. We are very fortunate."
Wyatt also talked about the duality of celebrating his son's birthday, which happens to fall the day after Christmas, saying: "We do Christmas, 25th – we wake up, we do the Christmas. It's nuts. It's a disaster most of the day. It's great most of the day."
MORE: Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell's family share exciting baby update
But when it came to celebrate Buddy's birthday the next day, after a tiring day of holiday activities, while his parents tried to be enthusiastic, the toddler wasn't having it. "[He] goes to sleep, wakes up. Mer and I are like, 'Buddy, it's your birthday!' Like, 'Gotta get excited.
"And he goes – and he's 3 – he goes, 'Ugh! Not now!'"
As they broke down laughing, the Black Mirror star added: "We're like, 'You got it! That's the right answer! You're learning well.' Like, no one wants to celebrate your birthday."
Wyatt also added that the best part of seeing his own father as a grandfather is that he doesn't shy away from being the strict parent when the time called for it. "He's awesome, 'cause he can do all of the hard sort of lessons that sometimes I don't want to have to do."
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features, and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511828/goldie-hawn-rare-appearance-celebrate-youngest-grandson-meredith-baby-shower/
| 2024-01-22T21:22:57Z
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How does an iconic brand like Jimmy Choo, with a rich history of crafting a wealth of signature styles, choose a select few designs to attain iconic status? “They have to be well loved,” laughs creative director Sandra Choi. “Something can’t just be an icon, it has to become one.”
Established in 2023, the brand’s esteemed The Icons collection features pieces that have garnered the prestigious accolade of being iconic: the classic Love pump with a pointed toe, the Azia strappy sandal, the crystal-encrusted Bing mule and Saeda pump, which has a crystal-embellished ankle strap. And completing this stellar ensemble is the Bon Bon evening bag.
“When internally we really love a design and feel it is special, we just kind of know it,” Sandra explains. “We have collected plenty of pieces we adore over the years, they make sense because they embody everything that Jimmy Choo stands for: glamour, sexiness, uniqueness and because they are designed with integrity. Adding all of that together makes a key piece of work.” But the true test that elevates a shoe or bag to legendary status is ultimately determined by the customer.
“Absolutely, it is about popularity. I mean, we don’t send out a vote, but the client will judge and this is seen through demand. Sometimes we design something that the fashion world adores, but when that is accompanied by strong sales figures, then it becomes something amazing.”
Sandra was born on the Isle of Wight, where her parents are still based. In the 50s, her grandfather served as a cook on a boat, and when it ported in Liverpool he recognised the opportunities for immigrants to the UK; leading to him inviting her father, aunts and uncles to join him from Hong Kong. “They emigrated over here and my grandfather said, ‘Right, we can’t just be in Liverpool, or even through the western side of the country. We need to start somewhere where there are no Chinese restaurants and we will be the first’.” And so the choice was between Aberdeen or the Isle of Wight. “I could have been sitting here speaking in a Scottish accent,” she jokes. “But he picked the Isle of Wight and we were the first Chinese family on the island. My father then met my mum and I was born.”
When Sandra was eight months old she moved to Hong Kong to live with her grandparents, allowing her parents to run their fledgling restaurant. “I saw myself as lucky. People have said, ‘You grew up without your parents, how does that feel, isn’t it a bit weird?’.And I was like, ‘No, because I wouldn’t have anything to compare it to’. “And as grandchildren, you kind of get the best out of grandparents. So I lived through all the family histories and grew up seeing this exciting, vibrant city, which is amazing.
"When you talk about shoes, Jimmy Choo is definitely one of the brands that is always mentioned."
“As a teenager, I was so influenced and intrigued by Japanese pop culture. That was also the window to my eyes, seeing different things going on and I guess like most teenagers, I wanted to absorb everything I was fascinated by.” At 13, she moved back to the Isle of Wight to live with her parents, but it wasn’t long before a teenage Sandra took a train to Waterloo and headed to Hackney to live with her Auntie Rebecca and her husband Jimmy Choo, with the idea of going to fashion college.
“It is in our culture, that if a member of a family goes to stay with another set of the family you have to be productive and help out. So I worked in Jimmy’s studio and that’s how it all started.” Sandra did attend Central Saint Martins School of Design, but left the course early to continue working with her uncle. “I’ve been making things ever since I was a youngster, I would turn a pair of jeans into a bag, I would make textiles, so I’m very artistic – and my mum’s family is very artistic, so maybe that is where it comes from – but not necessarily from Mr Choo,” she laughs, pointing out that he is not a blood relative.
Jimmy Choo Yeang Keat, the son of a shoe cobbler, was born in Penang, Malaysia. He moved to London in the early 80s to study at Cordwainers, a prestigious shoe, boot-making and leather goods technical college in Hackney. He graduated with honours in 1983 and opened his first shop that year, also in Hackney.
In 1996, the shoe designer co-founded his eponymous brand with Tamara Mellon. The former accessories editor sold her share in 2004, whilst Jimmy sold his in 2001. Sandra, who became creative director upon inception, is the only original member still involved in the brand. The first Jimmy Choo boutique opened on London’s Motcomb Street a year after launch, the same year that Princess Diana was photographed on the red carpet wearing Jimmy Choo sling-backs. The first New York store opened in 1998 and today they have 228. “So, almost 30 years of hard work,” she smiles.
"I mean, literally three icons in one."
It was in 2000 that Jimmy Choo achieved a momentous milestone. “When Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw wore our shoes on Sex and the City with the tagline: ‘I lost my Choo’, I think then we really became a household name.” The shoes she wore were from the spring 98 collection.
Since that epic TV moment, so many celebrities have chosen Jimmy Choo shoes, from distinguished events to everyday life, it is almost pointless to reel them off. Some of the most notable are when the former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama wore Jimmy Choo heels to both the presidential inauguration balls in 2009 and 2013. But also Beyoncé, Victoria Beckham, Emily Blunt, Cate Blanchett and Catherine, The Princess of Wales, are seemingly all also head over heels about the brand. “I lived it, breathed it and it’s so strange now seeing some of the original designs as vintage,” she says putting her head into her hands. “Oh dear, I’ve been here too long.”
However, this successful longevity has allowed the brand itself to become pivotal in its industry. “I think we’ve gone past so many stages and now I can easily say, when you talk about shoes, Jimmy Choo is definitely one of the brands that is always mentioned.” Sandra describes herself as “pretty practical”, which includes when she is picking out a pair of shoes to wear personally. “It’s about what I’m doing that day and the weather. Is it going to be pouring down with rain? If it is, I also mustn’t wear long, long trousers,” she laughs.
“But there are days that I really want to wear a certain pair of shoes, so I need to kind of plan it to figure out whether volume or something more streamlined goes best with those shoes. I used to say that I hate pointy toes with volume pants. I need to eat my words. I actually do it myself now, so never say never. But the toe needs to be quite long, it can’t be a short point.” And being just “five-foot two-and-a-half” she tells us. that unless everyone else is wearing flats, it is hard [to carry them off]. “I have brought my flats out recently, just because they feel easy and refined. But today there are so many choices. You can be whoever you want every single morning.”
"I’ve never left Jimmy Choo to work for other brands, but I’ve always been given the incredible opportunity to collaborate with different teams."
Sandra, whose favourite era for shoes is incidentally the 60s and 70s (definitely not the 80s) and who admires the late designer Roger Vivier for his “slick and refined” designs, cannot tell us how many pairs of shoes she owns personally. “There are too many,” she stresses. “In the middle of Somerset, there’s a warehouse that nobody knows about...”
For fashion, Sandra says she loves designers that give things a twist. “Personally, I admire Alexander McQueen and [the late] Lee McQueen himself. The way he treated his art and the way that he interpreted the detailing, workmanship and craft makes me kind of tear up every time I see it. I also love Rick Owens and Sockeye. But equally, I’m very happy with Arket.”
When we speak with Sandra, she has recently returned from the launch of the Jimmy Choo and Jean Paul Gautier collection in Paris. “It was amazing. I’ve never left Jimmy Choo to work for other brands, but I’ve always been given the incredible opportunity to collaborate with different teams. And that to me is great, because sometimes you can get too comfortable. I like to challenge myself with different techniques and aesthetics. That keeps the inspiration and the momentum going as you mature.” The collection, which was described as ‘a creative conversation between two fashion houses’, includes tattoo-print pumps and over-the-knee boots – blending Jimmy Choo’s signature styles with a dose of Jean Paul Gaultier’s tongue-in-cheek attitude.
“We’ve worked on it for a year, since inception to the finish, which was Kylie Minogue fronting the campaign – it kind of sealed this brilliant conclusion. Talking of icons: Jean Paul Gaultier; Jimmy Choo and Kylie Minogue – I mean, literally three icons in one.”
This interview appears in the February/March issue of Hello! Fashion... buy your copy in stores now or subscribe here.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/hfm/fashion-trends/511827/jimmy-choo-sandra-choi-interview/
| 2024-01-22T21:23:03Z
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ASTANA – Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s national carrier, to start its initial public offering (IPO) roadshow on Jan. 29 after announcing its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange, Astana International Exchange (AIX), and Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), reported the company’s press service on Jan. 19.
“On behalf of the company, I am delighted to formally confirm our intention to bring Air Astana Group to the public markets. As the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus, we are confident that our industry standing, market position, and growth profile present a compelling investment opportunity. This is an important milestone in our long-term strategy and we look forward to welcoming new Kazakh and international investors as shareholders,” Air Astana Group President and CEO Peter Foster said, adding that the company intends to raise an additional $120 million.
The London admission and AIX admission are expected to occur in February and KASE admission is expected “to occur on or around the date of this announcement.”
In the run-up to the IPO announcement, FlyArystan low-cost airline has been separated from Air Astana as an independent legal entity. According to Dastan Adikhodzhayev, director of assets privatization and restructuring department of Samruk Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund, within a few months, FlyArystan will get its air operator certificate, necessary for regulatory and safety requirements.
Last year, Air Astana airline garnered accolades for its service, winning the Skytrax award and becoming the best airline in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for the 11th time.
Earlier this month, Air Astana received the Best Passenger Service/Product Innovation Airline of the Year award at China Civil Aviation magazine’s Sky Choice Travel Awards ceremony in Beijing.
“This is the first time we have won this award, with sincere thanks for the recognition from Civil Aviation Magazine of China and our Chinese passengers”, said Shu Wang, Country Manager China of Air Astana.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/air-astana-takes-flight-ipo-roadshow-set-for-jan-29-following-public-listing-announcement/
| 2024-01-22T21:24:05Z
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ASTANA – The 21st international meeting on Syria in the Astana format will be held in the Kazakh capital on Jan. 24-25 following the collective appeal of the guarantor countries, reported the Kazakh Foreign Ministry’s press service on Jan. 20.
Delegations from Iran, Russia, Türkiye, the government of Syria, and the Syrian opposition will participate in the negotiations. Representatives of Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon, the United Nations (UN), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and the International Committee of the Red Cross are expected to participate as observers.
“The provisional agenda includes the development of the regional situation around Syria, efforts for a comprehensive settlement in the SAR [Syrian Arab Republic], the humanitarian situation in Syria, and the mobilization of the international community’s efforts to promote post-conflict reconstruction in Syria,” the statement reads.
Accreditation of media is open until 3 p.m. on Jan. 23.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/astana-to-host-international-meeting-on-syria-this-week/
| 2024-01-22T21:24:11Z
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ASTANA – Kaspi.kz, one of the region’s leading banking and fintech companies, announced on Jan. 18 the pricing of the U.S. initial public offering (IPO) of 11.3 million American depositary shares (ADSs) for $92 per ADS.
The ADSs began trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on Jan. 19 under the symbol KSPI. Following the offering, the ADSs are traded on the Nasdaq, the London Stock Exchange, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange, and the Astana International Exchange.
“Kaspi.kz is home at Nasdaq, joining the family of the world’s most innovative and growth-oriented companies. Based in Kazakhstan, KSPI is a digital leader, transforming the way people live their lives with innovative, world-class mobile products and services. We are thrilled to welcome Kaspi.kz to the Nasdaq family as the largest IPO of 2024,” Nasdaq commented on its Jan. 19 video on Instagram.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kaspi-kz-joins-nasdaq-prices-ipo-at-92-per-share/
| 2024-01-22T21:24:18Z
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ASTANA – Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have signed a roadmap for cooperation in pilgrimage tourism, reported the Uzbek Committee on Tourism under the Ministry of Ecology and Environmental Protection on Jan.19.
The strategy outlines the development of tourist programs to boost the visitor flow between the two countries, facilitates information exchange among tourism companies, and aims to establish facilities at border crossings catering to pilgrim tourists. It also underscores efforts to increase the number of bus routes connecting the two countries.
According to the committee’s statistical data, last year, over 50% of total tourists in Uzbekistan arrived from Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Hungary, and Turkmenistan, with 40.2% representing tourists from Kazakhstan.
The committee highlighted the launch of the Tabarruk Ziyorat tourism platform, providing information about approximately 100 shrines and monuments in Uzbekistan in seven languages.
In 2023, Uzbekistan welcomed 1.4 million pilgrims, with 283,000 visitors from Kazakhstan.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakhstan-and-uzbekistan-collaborate-to-boost-pilgrimage-tourism/
| 2024-01-22T21:24:24Z
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ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s engagement in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission enhances the country’s prestige and augments its proficiency in combat, according to State Counselor Erlan Karin.
Last week, the Kazakh Parliament approved the deployment of up to 430 peacekeepers to participate in the UN missions. Starting in March, it is planned to deploy 139 military personnel with their military equipment, weapons, and property as a reserve company to the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights mission.
“Participation in UN peacekeeping activities is an important element of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy, reflecting our contribution to joint efforts to prevent the threat of wars and conflicts. Kazakhstan’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations over the past 10 years has helped raise the prestige and strengthen the country’s position in the world, as well as earn the appreciation of the UN and international partners,” wrote Karin on his Telegram channel.
“It is also important that the participation of our military personnel in UN peacekeeping missions makes it possible to effectively utilize the advantages of international cooperation and external resources to enhance the capacity and experience of the Armed Forces,” he added.
Senate deputy Alisher Satvaldiyev also supports President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s proposal to send a peacekeeping contingent of the Armed Forces to participate in UN missions.
“I believe this step contributes to increasing Kazakhstan’s role in the global arena as a full member of the UN, steadfastly fulfilling its international obligations,” said Satvaldiyev to Kazinform news agency.
“We, members of the committee on international relations, defense, and security [of the Senate], got acquainted with the activities of the Peace Operations Center last December. During our visit to the Bitimger training center, we got acquainted with the peculiarities of training the national contingent to participate in UN peacekeeping missions and inspected the weapons, military equipment, and property of the military personnel. I am confident that our peacekeepers are ready to continue to represent Kazakhstan with dignity,” added Satvaldiyev.
According to him, the Kazakh contingent’s involvement in the mission will allow the Armed Forces to gain immense experience.
“Our peacekeepers not only gain new abilities in international relations and conflict management, but because they are stationed close to conflict zones, they also become acquainted with the specifics of other militaries’ combat operations and weaponry,” said Satvaldiyev.
Since its establishment, the Kazakh peacekeeping unit participated in UN missions in Western Sahara, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Lebanon.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakhstan-boosts-prestige-and-combat-proficiency-through-un-peacekeeping-mission-deployment/
| 2024-01-22T21:24:31Z
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ASTANA – Kazakhstan is set to switch to a single fifth time zone (UTC+05.00) from March 1 according to the Jan. 19 government decree, reported the Ministry of Trade and Integration press service.
According to the document, on March 1, the cities of Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent as well as the Abai, Akmola, Almaty, Zhambyl, Zhetisu, Karagandy, Kostanai, Pavlodar, North Kazakhstan, Turkistan, Ulytau and East Kazakhstan regions will turn back the local time by one hour.
Kazakhstan uses two time zones – UTC+05.00 and UTC+06.00. Most of the country’s territory, except the western regions, uses the UTC+06.00 time zone.
According to scientists, transitioning to a single time zone UTC+05.00 will positively affect biological rhythms and human health.
Experts noted that the establishment of a single time zone will eliminate temporary barriers between residents of the country’s regions, improve the coordination of transport and other communications, and have a beneficial effect on doing business, and interaction between government agencies and emergency services.
According to scientists, 175 countries use a single time zone. Only 22 states use two or more time zones.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/kazakhstan-switches-to-utc05-00-time-zone-from-march-1/
| 2024-01-22T21:24:37Z
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ASTANA – A new international trade and logistics center opened on Jan. 19 on the Kazakh-Chinese border, near the village of Dostyk, reported the Transport Ministry’s press service.
The new facility is supposed to develop and improve cross-border logistics infrastructure and increase the capacity of the Alakol road crossing.
“We plan to open such hubs for processing and storing cargo in the future. The opened center is, in turn, the first hub on the eastern borders. Dostyk is the entry point on the East – Kazakhstan and Europe border,” Deputy Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov said at the opening ceremony.
The new storage facility will triple the capacity of the Alakol checkpoint of the Dostyk customs from 200 to 600 freight vehicles per day. This expansion will boost the daily cargo turnover from 4,000 to 12,000 tons and contribute to an overall increase in cargo turnover from 1 to 3 million tons.
The cargo volume from China to Europe through Kazakhstan has increased significantly in recent years, with China accounting for 27% of Kazakhstan’s transit traffic or 6.2 million tons, said Transport Minister Marat Karabayev in November last year.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/new-international-trade-logistics-center-opens-on-kazakh-chinese-border/
| 2024-01-22T21:24:44Z
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ASTANA – Over the last year, the authorities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) states suppressed the activities of 73 clandestine cells of international terrorist organizations and prevented 69 terrorist attacks, said Ruslan Mirzayev, the director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) executive committee, in an interview with The Astana Times.
The SCO RATS executive committee is now drafting a new cooperation program, which will be reported to its council by March this year. The measures reflected in the draft program are aimed at neutralizing challenges and threats posed to the security of the SCO region, both at the present stage and projected for the mid-term.
“International terrorist organizations based in the ‘areas of terrorist activity’ continue to endanger the security of the SCO countries. In addition, individuals radicalized by the propaganda of terrorist ideology on the web are also a threat,” he said.
The Secretariat in Beijing and the SCO RATS executive committee in Tashkent are the two standing bodies of the organization. Mirzayev took office in January 2022.
The information exchange, according to him, is the most efficient collaboration tool for the SCO states. “It allowed them to identify 507, detain 447, convict 54, and neutralize 182 leaders, members, and accomplices of terrorist groups,” he noted.
In addition, Mirzayev said that respective structures had blocked 24,536 information resources promoting terrorism and extremism on the web.
The improvement of the regulatory environment remains crucial for the joint counteraction to terrorism, extremism, and separatism for the members of the organization.
“The main benchmarks for the assessment of the new program’s effectiveness are the identification, prevention and suppression of terrorist, separatist, and extremist actions in the territories of the SCO countries,” said Mirzayev.
Speaking about the committee’s coordinating role, the head of the structure emphasized that its decisions “regulate practical cooperation in security.”
“The executive committee holds regular expert meetings of the competent authorities of the SCO countries. Besides, it carries out work aimed at increasing the anti-terrorist potential of the organization and conducts joint practical events,” he said, bringing an example of annual anti-terrorist exercises.
The baseline for the development of such an exercise, Mirzayev noted, is the principle of maximum approximation of its scenario to the real conditions of the operational situation in the SCO space and the tactics of terrorist actions.
“Joint border operations are also conducted annually. Their purpose is to identify and suppress transnational criminal activities associated with terrorism, such as illegal migration, smuggling of drugs, weapons, and explosives,” the expert said.
Education and training of specialists in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism are regulated by the agreement on training personnel for anti-terrorist formations of the SCO states.
The nine members of the international alliance include China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan.
For 23 years of its existence, the SCO has covered more than 80% of Eurasia’s territory and nearly 40% of the world’s population.
The organization is strengthening ties with international and regional organizations, as well as with the authorities of the three observer states (Afghanistan, Belarus, Mongolia) and 14 dialogue partners (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cambodia, Egypt, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and Türkiye).
The SCO has signed memorandums and cooperation agreements, particularly with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) Executive Directorate of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Anti-Terrorist Center and the Council of the Commanders of the CIS Border Guard Troops and others.
As a founding member of the SCO, Kazakhstan has consistently demonstrated unwavering support for the organization since its establishment. Kazakhstan took over the presidency in the SCO in July last year. The authorities advocate for updating the vision of global development, strengthening the organization’s potential in new geopolitical conditions. The country’s course encompasses the issues of security and stability, economic expansion, climate action and cultural enrichment.
In November last year, Uzbekistan held the ninth SCO RATS international scientific-practical conference to discuss forecasts of terrorist and extremist risks in the SCO space and the role of civil society and scientific organizations in countering terrorism.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/sco-rats-committee-director-highlights-achievements-in-security-collaboration-cooperation-program/
| 2024-01-22T21:24:50Z
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ASTANA – Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held an expanded meeting with the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Jan. 22, reported the Akorda press service.
Addressing the meeting participants, Tokayev emphasized the important role of the police in rooting the principle of law and order in the country.
“Fighting crime and maintaining public order is a critical task that requires enormous responsibility. The country must strictly comply with the requirements of the law. Anyone who breaks the law must be punished,” he said.
The President noted that low legal literacy leads to serious negative consequences.
“This ultimately hinders the development of the country and affects the image of the state. Destructive ideology poses a great threat, especially for the younger generation, led by dubious ideas who follow pseudo-heroes,” he said.
Tokayev underlined that law enforcement agencies should pay close attention to crime prevention.
“An antisocial lifestyle often leads to crime. Therefore, it is important to work precisely with persons prone to breaking the law to level out all the preconditions for their antisocial behavior. However, we must admit that today, the crime prevention system is ineffective and requires a radical update,” he said. “There is an urgent need to develop a unified law in the field of crime prevention. The bill should completely revise the list of persons subject to preventive influence”.
This, according to the President, is imperative, including in combating domestic violence. Preventive work plays no less important role than prompt response and fair punishment.
“I have already expressed my support for tightening penalties for such crimes. Corresponding amendments to the Criminal Code will be adopted shortly. (…) Also, the system for protecting the rights of minors is in dire need of updating,” the President said, urging to pay special attention to ensuring the safety of children.
Tokayev also encouraged law enforcement structures to build effective feedback channels with people. The police should also change radically along with society.
“Relying on proactive and caring citizens will ensure the observance of the principle of zero tolerance towards crimes. (…) The police should always be an example for the people. Only then will people believe in the police and count on them. Unfortunately, we cannot say that this applies to all law enforcement officers,” Tokayev said.
Fight against drug trafficking, cybercrime, and internet fraud were also addressed at the meeting.
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https://astanatimes.com/2024/01/tokayev-addresses-legal-literacy-crime-prevention-building-trust-with-public-at-interior-ministry-board-meeting/
| 2024-01-22T21:24:57Z
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SINGAPORE – Firms in sectors ranging from real estate to robotics to healthcare came up tops in a list compiling the 100 fastest-growing companies in Singapore.
The common thread running through these seemingly disparate firms is that they all used innovative technology and software to run their business, in the ranking compiled by The Straits Times and global research firm Statista that was released on Jan 23.
Multinational energy company Rex International retained the top spot it clinched in the 2023 ranking. The Singapore-listed firm has interests in exploration and production licences in Oman, Norway and Malaysia.
Liquid logistics specialist ISO Tank Management was next. Its global business revolves around the supply and transportation of ISO tanks – bulk liquid containers built to the standards of the International Organisation for Standardisation. The firm also does ocean freight forwarding and logistics management.
The top 10 also includes waste management and recycling firm SKRYA, education and services company KodeKloud, cleaning robots manufacturer LionsBot, speciality pharmaceutical company iX Biopharma and e-commerce firm Maneuver Marketing.
The Singapore’s Fastest Growing Companies list features 100 local businesses that achieved markedly high revenue growth between 2019 and 2022.
Part of the criteria to be considered is that they must be independent companies headquartered in Singapore with at least $150,000 of revenue generated in 2019 and $1.5 million in 2022.
Statista analyst Kim Seoyoung said: “The top 10 companies have indeed an interesting mixture of industries.
“Though they run their business in different sectors, the products strongly involve platforms and software tools, even in the sectors that were traditionally considered non-information technology (IT) such as real estate, healthcare and waste management.
“This trend is more pronounced in the younger firms within the top 10.”
Take LionsBot, which marries the cleaning industry with automation and technology. It develops and manufactures autonomous cleaning robots with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of professional cleaners.
The firm, which was fifth in the ranking, started in 2018 and now employs 206 staff.
The robots are designed to perform various cleaning tasks, often in commercial and industrial settings. They can be operated in different environments, including on hard surfaces and carpets.
Branding and marketing manager Sherilyn Quek said: “2023 has been a year marked by significant advancement and changes for us. In the midst of a landscape filled with challenges, we have embraced change and harnessed it as a driving force for innovation and growth.”
The firm has also expanded to establish new offices in the Netherlands and the United States, adding to its existing presence in Singapore and India.
Ms Kim observed that IT and software remains the fastest-growing sector, with a significant lead over other sectors.
Other firms that ranked high on the list include tech-enabled firms like omnichannel healthcare company Doctor Anywhere, which ranked third in 2023 but came in 11th in the 2024 list. Intelligent automation services provider SimplifyNext and digital transformation services provider Technopals also came in just outside the top 10.
The second fastest-growing sector was fintech and financial services, which has remained unchanged for the last two years, Ms Kim added. One such firm on the list is fintech operator Nium, which helps businesses simplify their expansion, streamline local payments and improve customer experiences.
A report in November 2023 showed that Singapore retained the top spot in the region for fintech funding, although such financing in Asean plunged 70 per cent.
Singapore secured US$747 million (S$1 billion) in fintech funding in the nine months to Sept 30, 2023, or 59 per cent of the Asean total, noted the report, which was compiled by UOB, PwC Singapore and the Singapore FinTech Association.
Ms Kim added that companies in the energy and utilities sector secured fewer places in the 2024 fastest-growing companies list, while those in retail have grown in number.
For instance, retailer Mighty Jaxx Group came in 33rd. It designs and produces digital and phygital collectibles in partnership with global brands such as Netflix, Hasbro, Nickelodeon, Warner Brothers and Adidas.
Phygital collectibles are physical products that can be displayed and collected digitally. The company ships such collectibles to over 80 countries.
Ms Kim also noted that the 2024 ranking features smaller and younger firms compared with 2023.
“The average size of the firms, based on staff numbers and the average operation year, based on the foundation year, have decreased this year, even when accounting for a year’s gap,” she said.
How the list was compiled
The Singapore’s Fastest-Growing Companies is a list of 100 firms here that achieved a high percentage growth in revenues between 2019 and 2022.
Firms could register with Statista or The Straits Times, while Statista itself identified more than 2,000 potential candidates through research in company databases and other public sources.
These companies were then invited to participate in the ranking. Submitted revenue figures had to be certified by the chief financial officer, chief executive or a member of the firm’s executive committee.
The companies also had to be independent, headquartered in Singapore and have at least $150,000 of revenue generated in 2019 and $1.5 million in 2022.
The calculation of company growth rates was based on revenue figures submitted by the companies in their respective national currencies. These figures were then converted into Singapore dollars for comparison.
The result is a list of companies ranked by compound annual growth rate – calculated by taking into account revenue growth over the three-year period.
The minimum average growth rate required to be included in the ranking in 2024 was 8.3 per cent.
Top 10 fastest-growing Singapore firms
1. Rex International Holding
The company has interests in exploration and production licences in Oman, Malaysia and Norway. It also has a proprietary liquid hydrocarbon indicator Rex Virtual Drilling technology, which can identify liquids in the sub-surface using seismic data.
Absolute growth rate: 126,017.78 per cent
2. ISO Tank Management
The company specialises in international ISO Tank supply, transportation, ocean freight forwarding and logistics management. ISO tanks are designed to carry bulk liquids, both hazardous and non-hazardous.
Absolute growth rate: 5,647.26 per cent
3. SKRYA
The company has created innovative sustainable solutions for recycling precious and base metals, incorporating artificial intelligence, 3D technologies and proprietary software solutions for practical adoption.
Absolute growth rate: 3,482.63 per cent
4. KodeKloud
KodeKloud offers effective, hands-on experience in DevOps education. It aims to make DevOps education practical and directly aligned with the real-world challenges of IT professionals. DevOps combines software development and operations.
Absolute growth rate: 2,936.32 per cent
5. LionsBot
LionsBot designs and develops cleaning robots. It supplies thousands of cleaning robots to 30 countries. The firm’s name also pays homage to its Singapore roots.
Absolute growth rate: 2,052.01 per cent
6. iX Biopharma
iX Biopharma is a Singapore public-listed pharmaceutical company with a focus on the development and commercialisation of therapies that improve the quality of life for those suffering pain and other health conditions.
Absolute growth rate: 2,044.56 per cent
7. Maneuver Marketing
The company builds, operates and scales hypergrowth health and wellness e-commerce brands. It aims to disrupt the traditional ways health and wellness brands are built. It eventually wants to offer advisory and consulting services in this space to help other brands grow.
Absolute growth rate: 1,924.61per cent
8. Rocketech
Rocketech is a custom software development company that helps entrepreneurs launch start-ups. It assesses their ideas, helps to build minimum viable products, raise capital, grow businesses and enter new markets.
Absolute growth rate: 1,463.25 per cent
9. MaNaDr
MaNaDr is a telehealth provider offering a one-stop, secured healthcare ecosystem that provides personalised healthcare to patients from cradle to grave. It enables a patient to connect with a doctor and the doctor’s network for each member of the patient’s family for life.
Absolute growth rate: 1,428.55 per cent
10. Propseller
Propseller is a tech-powered real estate agency that offers ways to sell, buy or rent a property. Its agents work with specialists such as professional photographers, copywriters, marketers and analysts.
Absolute growth rate: 1,051.57 per cent
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/leveraging-technology-and-software-propels-firms-to-be-the-fastest-growing-in-singapore
| 2024-01-22T22:09:27Z
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SINGAPORE – Keeping tech staff already on the cutting edge of digital developments up to speed with the rapid developments in the sector is a formidable challenge, but one readily taken on by local educational firm KodeKloud.
The company not only has to keep abreast of these seemingly bewildering changes, but also develop courses that keep staff, many of whom are already experts in their field, at the forefront of their profession.
KodeKloud’s success in this demanding field has propelled it to fourth place in a 2024 list of fastest-growing companies in Singapore.
The list compiled by The Straits Times and global research firm Statista ranks 100 local businesses that achieved markedly high revenue growth between 2019 and 2022.
KodeKloud set up here in 2019, and now has about 70 employees spread across Singapore, India, the United States, Canada, Ireland, Bosnia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Founder and chief executive Mumshad Mannambeth said 2023 had been a remarkable year for the firm.
He said: “We have seen substantial growth, not just in our revenue and team size, but also in our educational offerings.
“We successfully launched over 37 new courses, expanding our curriculum to meet the evolving needs of IT professionals.
“Despite these successes, we have navigated the usual challenges of scaling up in a dynamic industry, ensuring that we continue to deliver top-notch education while adapting to the changing landscape of tech learning.”
A key challenge is staying abreast of a rapidly evolving landscape, as technologies in domains like cloud computing and security are constantly changing, so the firm must continuously update and expand its course offerings.
“To overcome these challenges, our strategy involves a strong focus on continuous learning and development within our team.
“We plan to invest in regular training and upskilling for our instructors and curriculum developers to keep them at the forefront of their respective fields,” said Mr Mumshad.
Staying agile and prioritising quality, alongside continuous learning, are the main ingredients in ensuring success and growth, he added.
Economic and societal trends also create fertile ground for the firm, noted Mr Mumshad, who added that the market for DevOps – which refers to a combination of software development and operations – is experiencing a robust expansion of around 25 per cent annually.
“We are strategically positioned to capitalise on this opportunity. We aim to scale our offerings in line with this surging demand, focusing on high-quality, accessible online courses in DevOps and related fields,” he said.
Mr Mumshad added that KodeKloud’s approach is not just to follow the market trend, but to lead in the training segment, especially as companies trying to adopt DevOps will be investing in training.
Another key trend is the growing acceptance of remote learning and work models.
“The shift towards these models, accelerated by recent global developments, has highlighted the need for flexible, high-quality online learning platforms,” he added.
The company offers a platform that gives workers access to a library of courses to ensure their skills remain at the cutting edge of technological advancements.
Mr Mumshad said: “We are excited to broaden our horizons by venturing into new domains such as cloud computing and security (in 2024). This expansion reflects our commitment to staying at the forefront of IT education.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/training-cutting-edge-it-professionals-is-education-firm-kodekloud-s-forte
| 2024-01-22T22:09:37Z
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One key takeaway from the Covid-19 pandemic is the importance of a clean environment.
For those who want to have their home spruced up more frequently and thoroughly but cannot afford the time or energy, one solution is on-demand, part-time cleaning help – a convenient and more affordable alternative to hiring live-in helpers.
Enter Nimbus Homes, whose services include house cleaning by the hour.
Mr Daniel Thong, 35, founded Nimbus in 2017 as an online platform connecting consumers to freelance cleaners, plumbers and electricians – riding the gig economy wave that was on the rise at that time.
But he realised that such a business model was not sustainable over the long term, especially as he planned to expand and diversify the company’s range of services. To scale up and maintain the quality of service offered, he needed to invest in and hire a full-time workforce.
“We focused on two essential factors: to provide complete quality cleaning services beyond homes, as well as a win-win situation for both customers and crew,” says Mr Thong.
In 2019, the company started offering a full range of home cleaning services and expanded into office cleaning, painting, mould removal and moving services as well.
Nimbus has since gone into smart facilities management, using Internet of Things and other smart sensors to conduct automated spot checks, especially for offices.
Mr Thong says that incorporating technology into the staff’s workflow helps them with quality maintenance while reducing the need for physical manpower.
Using tech also proved to be helpful during the Covid-19 circuit breaker in 2020, when the demand for Nimbus’ office cleaning services evaporated.
Fortunately, the company could leverage its Nimbus Homes app, created in 2019, to allow customers to book housekeeping services on-demand instead.
“It turned out to be hugely popular and useful for an increasingly busy work-from-home workforce trying to juggle babysitting, household chores and work,” he says.
The company has since focused on enhancing its app, ensuring a smooth and user-friendly booking process for its services. Similar to booking a ride or ordering food with a mobile phone, Nimbus’ services can be requested on the go.
There is also an in-app chat feature that allows the Nimbus team to communicate directly with its customers.
Nimbus employs over 300 staff today, from fewer than 10 staff when it first started.
It made it to the ranking of the Fastest Growing Companies 2024 list compiled by The Straits Times and Statista.
Strong work ethic
Mr Thong’s childhood was spent with relatives who had blue-collar jobs. He recalls being babysat by his uncle, a plumber, and some of his aunties, who worked as cleaners.
“They had low salaries but a strong work ethic, and I got to see how they struggled,” he says. This inspired him to aim to foster a sense of ownership and purpose in work among his staff.
“A lot of cleaners and front-line workers feel like they don't see their bosses. They hardly see their managers – they feel alone, and they feel unsupported,” he says.
With that work ethic in mind, when he moved from his previous role as a venture builder to manage the company full-time, he did so only after ensuring that Nimbus was profitable enough to provide a “cleaner's salary” – a term he uses to denote a fair living wage – for his staff.
Today, Mr Thong can often be seen on the ground cleaning houses with his staff for moral support, to cultivate team spirit and find ways to further improve customer service.
In November 2023, Nimbus opened an office in Melbourne. Apart from its new office, the company hopes to also expand into eldercare services.
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| 2024-01-22T22:09:47Z
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When the Covid-19 pandemic hit Singapore in 2020, CBG Logistics was better prepared than many other firms.
As one of the requirements needed in the process of attaining the ISO 22301 certification for business continuity management systems, the company set up data servers in two places, trained staff to adjust to split-team arrangements, and even role-played scenarios before the pandemic.
“All this became very handy, especially during the circuit breaker, when we were allowed to keep operating as a vendor for essential businesses,” says managing director Martin Koh, 49.
Even as some competitors fared poorly during the crisis, CBG Logistics continued operating and managed to attract more clients. From 2019 to 2022, it increased its revenue by 49 per cent and headcount from 34 to 55, earning it a spot in the list of Singapore’s Fastest Growing Companies 2024, which is compiled by The Straits Times and Statista.
“We are very happy to be included in this year’s list as it is a recognition of our efforts over the years,” Mr Koh says.
Since CBG Logistics was founded in 2005, it has invested in its own trucks and warehouses, spending $3 million in the past five years to offer comprehensive and customisable logistics. It currently has a staff strength of 61, as well as 15 trucks and four warehouses, including one in Keppel Distripark’s Free Trade Zone for transshipment cargo.
In 2020, it attained the accreditation of Secure Trade Partnership (STP) by the Singapore Customs consistent with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards to secure and facilitate global trade.
Its services include preparation of import and export documents, customs clearance, general and hazardous goods transport, warehousing, management of inventory, air and sea freight forwarding. It also has a petroleum and flammable material transport licence from the Singapore Civil Defence Force so it can transport dangerous goods by road in Singapore.
In the early years, CBG Logistics relied on external vendors for goods transport and warehousing, which limited its growth.
“By having our own infrastructure, we can cater to prospective clients’ needs and adjust our service to their requirements. We can also train downline staff, such as those who work in the warehouses we rent, to follow our customer operating procedures, which was not always possible when we outsourced to vendors.”
Nurturing a strong workforce
To sustain its growth over the long term, CBG Logistics has also put in place policies to motivate staff to stay and accumulate experience.
It has created senior positions within its divisions, which include global freight, transport and warehousing, so that staff can climb the professional ladder. At least half of its employees have been with the firm for five years or more.
“We also embrace diversity. We treat all our staff the same way, regardless of whether they are Singaporean citizens or work pass holders. Everyone gets an equal opportunity at promotion, regardless of their age and gender, as long as they perform well,” says Mr Koh.
He adds that CBG does not mete out punishments for mistakes, but instead analyses the incidents and makes improvement in the work processes. He explains: “This encourages our employees to own their mistakes and be accountable for them.”
The company continues to find ways to stay ahead of the curve. With demand for sustainability on the rise, its latest and fourth warehouse uses only electric forklifts and reach trucks. It is also looking at replacing the older trucks in its fleet with electric ones in the next five years.
“Together with a greener warehouse, we plan to get the Singapore Accreditation Council’s certification for Good Distribution Practice For Medical Devices by this year, to tap the growing market for medical logistics in Singapore,” Mr Koh shares.
With these initiatives, he believes CBG will grow even more in the future. “Our vision is to be the leading logistics solutions provider for businesses in South-east Asia, by leveraging Singapore’s strategic location as a global hub.”
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| 2024-01-22T22:09:58Z
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Best friends since primary school, Mr Jordan Boo and Mr Willy Soh dreamt of running their own business together.
Both men, who came from low-income families, dropped out of school when they were in Secondary 4 and started working as full-time hawkers, selling wanton mee, laksa and fried carrot cake in Yishun.
“Times were incredibly tough as we saw little to no way out of the life we were living,” says Mr Boo.
However, their passion in wanting to start a business still burned strongly, and they did all they could to achieve that goal, from learning more about running a business to networking at events.
It was during trips to the US and Europe that they saw how big the laundromat business was overseas, giving them the idea they could replicate the concept in Singapore.
In 2006, they channelled their hard-earned savings into establishing Fresh Laundry.
Meeting a market need
Today, Fresh Laundry is an authorised distributor of self-service coin laundry machines, and leases its machines to businesses across Singapore.
It also provides turnkey services to entrepreneurs who want to set up their own laundromats. These laundromats are the self-service ones you may find at Housing Board void decks or in malls.
“We wanted to have a sustainable business with a low headcount, and that is also an essential business with a good runway. We came to a consensus that the self-service laundry business is and will somewhat be a necessity in everyone’s lives going forward,” says Mr Boo.
Mr Boo and Mr Soh see the laundromat business as evolving to meet the changing pace of modern life. As more working couples seek more time for leisure, demand for such services has increased tremendously in Singapore.
Another target market that Fresh Laundry has identified is seniors. But beyond these two demographic groups, the founders believe there will be a growing demand for “quick and effortless washing and drying of laundry”.
And the numbers seem to bear it out. Fresh Laundry’s revenue grew at a yearly rate of 37 per cent from 2019 to 2022. This resulted in the company getting ranked for the first time in the Fastest Growing Companies 2024 list compiled by The Straits Times and Statista.
Supporting customers
With the increase in demand, staff strength has also grown from two to 20. The firm had an inventory of 1,600 machines as of 2022.
Mr Boo and Mr Soh believe that providing high-quality customer service is essential for their company’s growth.
Fresh Laundry takes pride in making clients’ varied needs a priority.
“We offer specifically tailored solutions for their business depending on the laundry services they require,” says Mr Boo.
Strengthening customer relationships involves providing business advice on how to operate laundromats, and educating customers on how to use the machines, handle customer service hotlines and maintain good hygiene standards.
The technical support that Fresh Laundry provides to its customers is also important.
All its 10 technicians are trained to troubleshoot issues and attend to customer requests.
A 24-hour hotline is also available in case of malfunctions or problems with the rented machines. “We believe in providing the best service to every client – and that prompt and efficient service to rectify faulty machines within a short period of time is of utmost importance,” says Mr Boo.
As it continues to grow, Fresh Laundry has plans to venture further into up-and-coming sectors like co-living spaces, as well as secure new business from the spate of new hotels in Singapore.
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| 2024-01-22T22:10:08Z
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The decision by home-grown electrical switchboard specialist Enova Electrical to stake a claim in the renewable energy sector early on in its formation has certainly paid off.
This forward thinking in line with Singapore’s Green Plan propelled it to rank among the country’s Fastest Growing Companies in 2024, a list compiled by The Straits Times and Statista.
The groundwork for the company’s expansion was laid in 2019, when Enova moved quickly to enter the electric vehicle (EV) charging segment.
Today, it is the market leader in the supply of electrical distribution boards in both the solar and EV charging segments.
Managing director Terence Yoo, 48, explains: “We had a restructuring and refocused our sales efforts on market segments rather than the mass electrical market, which covers any installations that require electricity. From solar, we moved into EV charging. Now, we are moving into other new energy segments and also expanding our building construction segment.”
He adds that the company decided to provide customers with total solutions rather than just products.
“In solar projects, we supply and install not only the electrical distribution boards, but also the solar panels, inverters, solar structures and alternating current distribution boards (ACDBs). We ask a lot of questions, and provide consultancy in addition to sales and installation,” Mr Yoo says, adding that he believes in getting the job right the first time as revisions are a waste of time and resources.
These strategies have worked to Enova’s advantage. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the firm’s revenue climbed from $5.3 million in 2019 to $12.8 million in 2022 – a growth of 142 per cent.
This impressive revenue growth belied the company’s struggles during Covid-19.
“As physical presence in a factory is essential to producing electrical distribution boards, we faced frequent manpower shortages due to work-from-home and quarantine orders. We also faced delays in shipments and supplies, exacerbated by the shortage of electronic components required in the circuit breakers and meters that we install in the electrical switchboard,” says Mr Yoo.
But keeping its customers in mind, Enova made the decision to move to a 20,000 sq ft site and stock up on components to ensure the best delivery lead time, despite the risk of holding unsold inventory. Mr Yoo reckons Enova is the only manufacturer in Singapore that has ready stock of items like ACDBs, allowing customers to buy these off the shelf.
Doing what it knows best
Enova makes and supplies main switchboards and power distribution boards that are installed in buildings, solar installations, EV charging points and any other installations that require electricity to protect them from overloading, unexpected power surges and earth leakages.
Mr Yoo, who joined the industry after completing national service, worked for other companies including multinationals before striking out on his own in 2008. “It was my lifelong aspiration to be a business owner, and I believe in doing what I know best,” says the 26-year industry veteran.
The early years were challenging. Enova struggled to get enough orders and manage its operations, while cashflow was a perennial concern. But such issues are a thing of the past.
Since Enova started compiling its ACDB statistics for the solar segment in 2020, solar installations protected by Enova-manufactured ACDBs increased from 63.7 megawatt-peak (MWp) in 2020 to 136.7MWp in 2021 and 216.3MWp in 2022. In the first half of 2023, solar installations protected by the company’s ACDBs reached 107.1MWp. The total capacity in just these three and a half years amounted to 523.8MWp, about 52 per cent of the total solar capacity of 1,005.7MWp installed across Singapore as at the second quarter of 2023.
Enova recently completed a solar installation project in Kallang Bahru, under the third phase of government agency JTC’s SolarLand programme, an initiative that utilises vacant land to generate solar energy for the national grid. The company is currently working on another JTC solar installation project in the western part of Singapore.
Meanwhile, the number of EV charging points installed with Enova’s EV distribution boards increased from 210 in 2021 to 632 in 2022, and 676 in the first half of 2023. It is estimated that Singapore currently has over 3,800 EV charging points. The Land Transport Authority has said it aims to have 60,000 EV charging points across Singapore by 2030.
Investments to boost efficiency
Mr Yoo considers improvisation of existing work processes and investments in new equipment as the core strategies that will underpin Enova’s continued growth.
To this end, the company has introduced a ladder that can mechanically hoist objects for installation. “Instead of manual lifting, we are providing a better way to lift solar panels and other materials to rooftops for installation. This cost-effective solution is versatile, enhances safety and increases productivity,” says Mr Yoo. The company even became a distributor to supply this lifting solution to others.
Mr Yoo also believes microgrids are the way to go. These are energy management systems that integrate power generation from renewable sources such as solar, energy storage in batteries, and electricity usage.
By optimising the storage and distribution of electrical energy, microgrids can help reduce carbon footprint.
The use of microgrids onsite enabled Enova to charge its battery-powered tools overnight to speed up work processes during the day at its Kallang Bahru project. During the day, it charges its lighting fixtures and energy storage system with the use of solar installations onsite.
Mr Yoo believes such investments to boost efficiency will help accelerate Singapore’s path towards a greener future. “We’re committed to achieving a sustainable future through the supply of our products and services,” he says.
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| 2024-01-22T22:10:18Z
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Singapore will be tuning in to the Budget 2024 statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Feb 16.
There is clear indication of the social transformation it must fund after the fourth-generation (4G) leaders launched the Forward Singapore report in November 2023.
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| 2024-01-22T22:10:50Z
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| 2024-01-22T22:11:00Z
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Until recently, there was a widespread assumption among economists that in the next few years China would surpass the United States in economic might.
They made that premise on the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) calculations of gross national product (GDP) by purchasing power parity exchange rates, which had already happened in 2018. The debate was not whether but when this would also occur if the sums were done at market rates.
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| 2024-01-22T22:11:11Z
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The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) needs to balance the public interest against the expectations of sellers of insects-as-human-food (Frustrations mounting among companies selling insects as food as SFA delays approval, Jan 21).
The Government must prioritise the well-being of the majority, not those of industry stakeholders or the demands of activist groups.
Insect industry stakeholders and environmental activists provide self-serving reasons for their impatience with the SFA’s delay in approving insect consumption. These include reasons such as cricket farming being more sustainable than conventional poultry farming, as it uses less water, feed and land, and that cricket waste can be used as fertiliser for plants.
But these factual reasons fail to address the most important questions.
Is there any strong, verifiable consumer demand for insect-based food or for insect-derived ingredients like those used in snacks, sauces or meat products? We are unfamiliar with long-term health effects of insect consumption. Given that insect components like chitin can trigger allergic reactions and the potential of insects to carry disease vectors, what is the overall benefit to human health?
Then there is the question of whether there is any strong, majority-of-the-population demand for insect-based food. Does the public have any assurance that the inclusion of insect matter or insect-derived ingredients in pastas, sauces and faux-meat dishes will be clearly labelled? Consumers have as much a right to know of the presence of insect matter in their foods as they do of fats, sugars or chemical additives.
Eric J. Brooks
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-demand-for-insect-based-food-should-come-not-only-from-producers
| 2024-01-22T22:11:21Z
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I agree with Forum writer Albert Ng Ya Ken that we need a long-term plan for the storage of our ashes (National plan needed to deal with space for burial sites, Jan 20).
I attended the dialogue between the National Environment Agency and residents on the planned development of a columbarium complex in Mandai Avenue (New funeral services and columbarium complex planned in Mandai Avenue, Dec 18, 2023).
It appeared to me that, currently, we have no solution to the future demand for after-death facilities other than to replicate the ones we already have.
The proposed new location is a huge 10ha site big enough for 14 football fields. The argument at the dialogue was whether there should be multiple smaller sites spread around the island, or a single large site like the one in Choa Chu Kang.
But regardless of the final configuration, the columbarium approach is just not sustainable. How are we going to find another 10ha of land after this new site fills up?
We need to take a dispassionate look at what is basically a system to house ashes in the most space-efficient manner.
If niches can be made smaller, the current columbarium capacities can be immediately increased. And if the complexes we already have can hold more, we may not even need to build more columbaria.
Next, we need to think about the turnover of niches, that is, replacing old occupants with new ones. Maybe after a certain number of years, “old” ashes should be moved to a common storage area, freeing space for new occupants.
As things stand, Yishun Columbarium is full and cannot house any new niches, and will remain so in the future. This makes little sense when everyone recognises the scarcity of land.
Will new columbaria be like the current ones, using a large piece of land to house a relatively small number of remains? Shouldn’t we build down and up, occupying less land but having a higher gross floor area? We should come up with a model that relieves us from allocating more land for columbaria.
Objectively, this is a simple logistics problem that is not difficult to solve. But it is one that involves religion, culture and all things human, particularly our cherishing of our dearly beloved.
We need to have that national conversation that Mr Ng suggested before deciding to build the next columbarium. Otherwise, we will just be kicking the can down the road.
Goh Boon Leng
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-find-new-ways-of-optimising-space-to-house-remains-of-dead
| 2024-01-22T22:11:31Z
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We thank Madam Cheng Lai Wah for her feedback (Merge LifeSG and OneService apps into one, Jan 17).
The Municipal Services Office (MSO) introduced the OneService app in 2015 as a seamless, one-stop platform for residents to report municipal issues. Since 2021, MSO has worked with the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) to make the app even more accessible and easy to use, by hosting its popular features on platforms widely used by residents, such as the LifeSG app, and social messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram.
LifeSG’s 1.5 million users can report municipal issues, book public facilities and spaces, be notified about lift breakdowns and renovations in their blocks, refer vulnerable persons to social service agencies, and receive alerts on missing persons with dementia in their area _ without the need to download a new app.
On top of these OneService features, the LifeSG app offers residents easy access to various government e-services catering to various life stages and daily living, such as the birth or death of a family member, checking of medical appointments, and viewing of government benefits and Central Provident Fund balances.
We acknowledge the benefits of merging the two apps, which will streamline the number of digital touchpoints for residents.
We are studying this carefully, including how to ensure that our user base adapts well to such a change before we decide on the merger. We continue to welcome feedback on how we can better organise and deliver services around residents’ needs to serve them better.
Yap Yeow Chern
Senior Director (Operations),
Municipal Services Office
Gabriyel Wong
Director, LifeSG
GovTech
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-merging-of-lifesg-and-oneservice-apps-being-studied
| 2024-01-22T22:11:42Z
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The Ang Chin Moh Foundation refers to media reports on the unsettled feelings of residents in Mandai following the National Environment Agency’s announcement of a planned columbarium there (New funeral services and columbarium complex planned in Mandai Avenue, Dec 18, 2023).
These reactions from residents whenever a funerary facility _ a funeral service hall, columbarium or crematorium – is planned in their area are not new. While everyone wants to respect their dearly departed, nobody wants their resting place next to them.
People seem to be getting more intolerant of noise from pre-schools, playgrounds, and weddings and funerals at void decks.
We must change this lack of recognition of others’ needs with social intervention through government agencies, education, religious groups and community organisations if we are to remain a cohesive, friendly and empathetic society.
Singapore faces the challenge of limited land and space. Do we provide land for the living or space for the dead?
Residents near a planned funerary facility fear that it will impact negatively on the future resale prices of their properties. They also say there will be more noise and traffic congestion. Will this happen or are these reactions just part of the Nimby (Not In My Back Yard) Syndrome?
Traffic congestion and sustained noise levels can be higher at major shopping malls than at funerary facilities. There are also shopping malls and in-demand dwellings on previous cemeteries or adjacent to crematoriums and columbariums. These include Bishan, Bidadari and Orchard.
Singaporeans must decide where they want their dearly departed to rest. We must accept them within our community, and not, as suggested, have them placed on offshore islands (National plan needed to deal with space for burial sites, Jan 20), or neighbouring countries.
We all have different needs at different times. These change as we grow. We must understand the needs of everyone in our society. With understanding and acceptance, Singapore’s social fabric can continue to strengthen.
Ang Ziqian
Founder
Ang Chin Moh Foundation
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/forum/forum-recognise-that-families-of-the-dead-have-needs-too
| 2024-01-22T22:11:53Z
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If there is one thing most people seem to hate more than politics, it’s office politics. Back-stabbing, conniving, sucking up and kicking down: Being on career-enhancing manoeuvres makes people a target of derision among colleagues. This is often laced with envy if their machinations produce results.
As the band The Divine Comedy put it in their 2019 song Office Politics: “Press the flesh, do the deal/ Book your place on the hamster wheel.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/office-politics-isn-t-optional-learn-to-play-the-game-or-you-ll-be-its-victim
| 2024-01-22T22:12:04Z
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First Syria, followed by Iraq and then Pakistan: Over the past two weeks, Iran has rained missiles and drones on its neighbours. Late in 2023, the Pentagon directly accused Iran of a drone attack on a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean, just 322km off India’s Gujarat coast.
Each one of these attacks had its immediate justifications. But the fact that all these operations unfolded in a brief period and over such a wide geographic radius indicates a far more significant event: the rise of Iran as a Middle Eastern superpower, no longer content with just the use of its proxy Shi’ite militias to achieve its objectives, but ready to deploy its armed forces to achieve strategic dominance.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/the-rise-of-iran-as-a-middle-east-superpower
| 2024-01-22T22:12:24Z
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On the evening of Jan 16, shortly after Iran had fired missiles at what it alleged was an Israeli spy base in Iraq and an Islamic State in Iraq and Syria facility in Syria, Teheran also fired missiles and sent drones into a mountainous village just inside the Pakistani border in Balochistan province.
A woman and her daughter were killed in the strike, which was meant to target an anti-Iran militant group named Jaish al-Adl, or Army of Justice.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/what-s-behind-the-iran-pakistan-cross-border-strikes
| 2024-01-22T22:12:35Z
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SINGAPORE - The shelving of plans to phase out older adult public transport payment cards was met with relief by public transport users, who said they were glad their concerns were heard.
But some felt the aborted exercise was ultimately redundant, and expressed frustration at the inconvenience they had to bear to update their ez-link cards.
Observers said the shelving of plans to move towards SimplyGo, an account-based ticketing platform, on Jan 22 exposed issues with the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) communication strategy and lack of preparedness.
Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the authorities will spend an extra $40 million to allow commuters to continue using older ez-link and Nets FlashPay cards, which operate on an old card-based ticketing system.
He said LTA will allow those who updated their ez-link cards to SimplyGo between Jan 9 and 22 to exchange them for those that rely on the card-based system for free. This would allow them to view fare information and their card’s balance when they tap out from a bus or MRT stop – something SimplyGo cannot yet do.
Ms Valerie Lim, 25, will be among those making the switch back to a non-SimplyGo card.
The engineering undergraduate updated her ez-link card to be compatible with SimplyGo on Jan 21.
Ms Lim said she prefers to be able to see her card balance at fare gates and bus card readers, so she knows how much she spends.
“The Government should have thought about the public’s opinion before coming up with this type of policy, as they have to understand that some of us prefer to use normal ez-link cards or might not have access to technology,” she added.
Ms Claudine Ho, 51, a medical industry administrator, said it took her husband three tries at three locations before he could update his senior concession card so it could work with SimplyGo.
She added: “If LTA wants to roll out a new system, make sure people on the ground can manage.”
Insurance manager Madeline Tan, 51, uses a SimplyGo card, but said she does not support LTA’s transition plan as she was concerned some people would not know how to use the SimplyGo app to check their card balance.
Mr Daniel Cheng, 30, a food-and-beverage employee, said he switched to SimplyGo and has no plans to go back.
He added: “All I need to do is to check the app for the balance in my card; it is not a big deal to me. I can see why people were upset over the Government making the change compulsory. I am glad they changed it back.”
In response to queries, LTA said it carried out market testing and focus-group discussions with adult commuters and concession card holders before finalising its SimplyGo transition plan.
It said it decided to make all adult commuters switch to SimplyGo only after it found that two in three adult fare transactions were made using the platform.
In 2021, LTA issued account-based transit cards to more than 1,000 concession card holders as part of a trial.
The general feedback was supportive, and LTA said these concession card holders, including persons with disabilities, tertiary students and full-time national servicemen, did not mind that they could not immediately view fare deductions or their card balance.
Parents of students also found the account-based system useful, as it allowed them to top up their children’s cards remotely.
From its engagements, the group with the most concerns was seniors. Hence, LTA said it decided from the get-go that the card-based ticketing system would be extended for all concession card holders so they would not be affected by the broader switch to SimplyGo.
Associate Professor Walter Theseira, head of the urban transportation programme at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said the backlash against SimplyGo was the result of a policy blind spot.
While SimplyGo may be a better system for many, the mistake was to assume that all commuters would like the account-based system, he added.
LTA also did not explain thoroughly why it needed to phase out the card-based ticketing system, he said.
On the extra $40 million that will be spent so commuters may continue using older cards, Prof Theseira said it was an avoidable expense but one worth paying to ensure they do not feel excluded from the public transport system.
He said the authorities must ask themselves if they could have engaged the public better, and if there were more innovative ways to improve payments so people view account-based systems as a genuine upgrade.
Dr Carol Soon, principal research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, whose research interests include digital and public engagement, highlighted several problems with the SimplyGo roll-out.
For one thing, the lack of interoperability between SimplyGo cards and other payment systems, such as those for motoring expenses, spawned expectations of inconvenience.
There also appeared to have been a lack of user-centricity at the product-design stage, and a failure to anticipate how different public segments would react to the roll-out.
“This is not the pandemic when decisions have to be made and implemented with little time. Adequate time would or should have been put aside,” she said.
Transport analyst Terence Fan from the Singapore Management University said it is evident that the logistics of the transition were not thought through.
Assistant Professor Fan also noted that this was the second time in recent months that LTA had changed course in response to a public outcry.
The first episode was in November 2023, when it reversed its decision to withdraw bus service 167.
“Singapore’s public transport system as it stands is still world-class, but I think people are going to question the wisdom of LTA’s management going forward,” Prof Fan added.
Looking ahead, he said LTA would eventually have to move to a single ticketing system, but the authority should make tweaks to make the system more palatable.
“If they don’t show the card balance after every trip, can they at least show when your balance is low?” he asked.
MP Saktiandi Supaat, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, previously called for a longer transition and for LTA to review the SimplyGo system so card balances can be displayed.
He told The Straits Times the crux of the matter is the availability of options, noting that there will always be commuters who are not tech-savvy, and it is not easy for them to transition to something new.
Other MPs, including Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Christopher de Souza and Mr Lim Biow Chuan, said they have filed parliamentary questions on SimplyGo.
In a Facebook post, Mr Lim said LTA should maintain the card-based ticketing system until it is able to persuade commuters on the benefits of switching to SimplyGo.
“I wasn’t happy at the earlier announcement by LTA,” Mr Lim wrote. “But I am very glad that the Government is receptive to feedback and has acted promptly.”
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/passengers-happy-simplygo-move-shelved-but-observers-point-to-lta-s-lack-of-preparedness
| 2024-01-22T22:12:45Z
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RIYADH - Lautaro Martinez's last-minute goal earned Inter Milan a dramatic 1-0 win over Napoli as they claimed their third successive Italian Super Cup title on Monday.
The victory also handed Inter an eighth Supercoppa title, trailing only one behind Juventus' record haul of nine.
The match at Al-Awwal Park was the first final of the four-team Super Cup format, with the winners and runners-up of the Italian league and cup.
Martinez's winner came in stoppage time when Benjamin Pavard made a great solo run and crossed from the right to find the Argentine striker in the six-yard box for a simple finish.
Inter dominated possession throughout the match, but struggled to take advantage of having an extra man on the field after Giovanni Simeone was sent off in the 60th minute for a double yellow card following a foul on Francesco Acerbi. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/last-gasp-martinez-goal-earns-inter-italian-super-cup-title-with-win-over-napoli
| 2024-01-22T22:13:06Z
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NAZARE, Portugal - Brazilian surfer Lucas Chianca won the 2023 Nazare Big Wave Challenge on Monday as 35-foot-plus waves hit the Portuguese coast with extreme weather wreaking havoc around Europe.
After waiting for almost two months for a big swell in what has been a quiet season in Nazare, the competition started with 25-foot waves on Monday morning and wrapped up with 35-foot-plus walls late in the afternoon, but never reached the potential 50-foot swell that had been forecast.
Portugal's Nazare boasts arguably the biggest ridable waves in the world, magnified by an underwater canyon 5km (three miles) deep which ends where the North Atlantic meets the shoreline near the former fishing village.
Hawaiian Garrett McNamara put Nazare on the map in 2011 when he set a then world record for the biggest wave ever surfed at 78 feet (23.77 metres).
Brazilian Rodrigo Koxa bettered McNamara's mark in 2017, also at Nazare, and German Sebastian Steudtner broke the record again there in 2020, surfing an 86-feet (26.21-metre) wave.
On Monday, it was not the biggest Nazare can deliver, but Chianca put on a show with plenty of walls to work on and caught the best wave of the day, scoring 7.83 to become champion.
He also won the Best Team Performance alongside compatriot Pedro Scooby. Maya Gabeira beat Michelle des Bouillons to win the Women's Best Performance in another all-Brazilian showdown.
The competition is over but more waves are expected as extreme weather has been causing travel disruptions and power outages around Europe.
Hundreds of flights were delayed or cancelled in many European countries over the last few days, while snowstorms caused havoc on the roads in Spain and Austria.
Britain's rail network was disrupted, flights were cancelled and thousands of homes were left without power on Monday after the country was battered by Storm Isha overnight. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/surfers-take-on-giant-waves-in-nazare-as-extreme-weather-hits-europe
| 2024-01-22T22:13:16Z
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PARIS -French farmers will continue to protest pending government action, union representatives told reporters after a meeting with Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Farming Minister Marc Fesneau to address the reasons for the demonstrations.
"We told him (Attal) we wouldn't settle for words," Arnaud Rousseau, head of FNSEA, France's largest farm union, told reporters after the meeting. "We told (him) that, to build confidence, he needed to go into the field. He committed to meeting farmers in the field in the coming days"
Fesneau said the first proclamations for farmers would be presented this week, French news broadcast television BFM TV reported.
Farmers in France are protesting over price pressures, taxes, and green regulation - grievances shared by farmers across Europe.
Farmers blocked roads in parts of France last week in action similar to widespread protests by farmers in Germany.
They cite a government tax on tractor fuel, cheap imports, water storage issues, price pressures from retailers and government red tape among their grievances.
President Emmanuel Macron is wary of farmers' growing support for the far right ahead of the European Parliament elections in June. The government has put a draft farming law on hold, saying it wanted to hear from farming representatives first to include additional measures to support the sector.
FARMERS SAY LIVELIHOODS UNDER THREAT
Farming policy has always been a sensitive issue in France, the European Union's biggest agricultural producer, with thousands of independent producers of wine, meat and dairy. Farmers have a track record of disruptive protests.
Jordan Bardella, president of Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National, travelled to the western Gironde region to voice support for farmers and France's agricultural heritage.
"Farmers are part of our identity and I refuse to let them die," Bardella told reporters on Saturday.
Many farmers say their livelihoods are threatened as food retailers step up pressure to bring down prices after a run of high inflation.
Fearing a spillover from farmer protests in Germany, Poland, and Romania, the government withdrew a draft farming law planned for debate this week and invited farming representatives for talks.
Arnaud Gaillot, head of the Young Farmers(Jeunes Agriculteurs), and Rousseau said they would seek assurances from Attal and Fesneau that a special law aimed at keeping farming revenues stable would be better enforced.
Gaillot also called for a regulatory pause, saying bureaucracy was eating up too much of farmers' time and that regulations aimed at cutting carbon emissions were "too much."
"I think we could be on the eve of a big farmers' movement if there are no answers. Our European neighbours, with whom we are in touch, are calling us," he added.
Fesneau told newspaper Midi Libre on Monday that the draft law would remain tabled during the first half of this year, after amendments including measures to cut red tape.
The minister visited an irrigation storage project in the western Vendee department on Monday and said the government had listened to farmers' calls to ease restrictions on water use, a controversial issue as water becomes scarce in summer.
"This is also to show that we are working on things, even though this may seem like it's taking a long time. ... There certainly is a need to speed up processes," he told reporters. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/frances-farmer-lobby-turns-up-heat-on-government-says-protests-to-continue
| 2024-01-22T22:13:27Z
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Canadian film director Norman Jewison, whose eclectic array of masterpieces included the 1967 racial drama "In the Heat of the Night," the 1987 tart romantic comedy "Moonstruck" and the 1971 musical "Fiddler on the Roof," has died at the age of 97, his publicist said.
Jewison died at his home on Saturday, publicist Jeff Sanderson said on Monday.
The Toronto native, whose films also included the 1966 Cold War satire "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming" and the provocative 1973 rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar," was considered one of the most important directors for the last four decades of the 20th century. He was widely admired for his ability to craft powerful films in many different genres.
His movies won multiple Academy Awards and Jewison received a lifetime achievement Oscar in 1999. "In the Heat of the Night," starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, won the best picture Oscar for 1967.
Jewison's 1987 "Moonstruck" became one of Hollywood's most popular romantic comedies. It tells the story of a Brooklyn widow, played by Cher, who agrees to marry a man she does not love and then falls in love with his brother, played by Nicolas Cage.
After Cage passionately tells Cher he loves her, she memorably slaps his face and scolds: "Snap out of it!" Cher won the best actress Oscar for her sassy performance.
Jewison's travels as a young man in 1940s America - seeing blatant white racism against Black people in the South - influenced his films, especially his three race dramas: "In the Heat of the Night," "A Soldier's Story" (1984) and "The Hurricane" (1999).
"In the Heat of the Night" focused on the relationship between a Black police officer (Poitier) and a white sheriff (Steiger) in a racist Southern town. The sight of Poitier's character striking a rich white landowner shocked some moviegoers at that time.
Other important Jewison films included Steve McQueen entries "The Cincinnati Kid" (1965) and "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968), dystopian corporate tyranny nightmare "Rollerball" (1975) and pregnant nun saga "Agnes of God" (1985).
Jewison remembered being taunted as a boy in Toronto by people who thought he was Jewish because of his name. He came from a Christian family but the misperception persisted.
UNABASHED LIBERAL
Jewison was an unabashed liberal who took part in 1960s civil rights marches and knew former U.S. attorney general Robert Kennedy and civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr.
He drew the ire of some U.S. conservatives. Tough-guy actor John Wayne was infuriated by Jewison's 1966 "The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming," a satire that depicts comic chaos in a New England town after a Soviet submarine runs aground.
"The drunker he got, the more he wanted to punch me out," Jewison told Canada's CTV News in 2009 of Wayne, who referred to him as the "Canadian pinko," an anti-communist insult.
Jewison became disenchanted with U.S. society after the assassinations of Kennedy and King in 1968 and moved out of the country.
"I lost my political idealism. So I left, took the family back to Canada and ripped up my green cards - something the kids still haven't forgiven me for," Jewison told the Ottawa Citizen in 2004, referring to permanent U.S. residence status.
Jewison directed 12 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances, with Steiger winning for "In the Heat of the Night" and Cher and Olympia Dukakis winning for "Moonstruck." He produced most of his movies as well as some by other directors.
Jewison received an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement, the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, in March 1999.
"My parting thought to all those young filmmakers is this: Just find some good stories," Jewison told the audience.
"The biggest grossing picture is not necessarily the best picture... So just tell stories that move us to laughter and tears, and perhaps reveal a little truth about ourselves."
Norman Frederick Jewison was born in Toronto on July 21, 1926. He served in Canada's navy during World War Two, became a TV director in Canada, then moved to New York in 1958 and made TV shows with stars including Judy Garland, winning three Emmy Awards.
Actor Tony Curtis coaxed Jewison into directing films, starting with the 1962 Curtis comedy "40 Pounds of Trouble." Three more comedies followed before he got his shot at a meatier film by replacing director Sam Peckinpah on "The Cincinnati Kid." He made his last movie, "The Statement," in 2003. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/norman-jewison-director-of-in-the-heat-of-the-night-dead-at-97
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FRANKLIN, New Hampshire – Donald Trump’s last remaining Republican opponent, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, was making a final push on Jan 22 to convince New Hampshire voters to turn out and deliver her an upset victory in the state’s presidential nominating contest.
New Hampshire’s primary vote on Jan 23 will split the state’s Republican voters into two camps: those with former president Trump, and those against him. The contest became a one-on-one race on Jan 21, when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ended his struggling campaign and endorsed Trump.
Trump, who polls show leads Mrs Haley by double digits, is hoping to deliver a fatal blow to the former South Carolina governor’s campaign by notching another commanding win. He coasted to a record-setting victory in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation contest last week.
For Mrs Haley, New Hampshire represents perhaps her last chance to prove the Republican base could consider someone other than Trump, who commands the party’s faithful despite facing 91 felony counts. He has pleaded not guilty to every crime, claiming political persecution.
At the first of five planned campaign events in New Hampshire on Jan 22, Mrs Haley told a packed veterans’ hall in a working class town that Trump was hung up on vendettas and pre-occupied with court cases, keeping him from focusing on the future.
“When you go out on Tuesday, you’re gonna decide: do you want more of the same, or do you want something new?,” Mrs Haley, 52, asked voters in Franklin.
Trump, 77, is having just one event, a 9pm Eastern time (10am Singapore time on Jan 23) rally in the central town of Laconia, where he will be joined by former Republican presidential candidates, including Senator Tim Scott and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who have since endorsed him.
The state’s large number of independent voters, who are permitted to cast ballots in Tuesday’s election, make New Hampshire friendlier turf for Mrs Haley than more conservative Iowa.
Even so, Trump holds a double-digit lead in most statewide public polls. A poll released by Monmouth University on Jan 22, but conducted before Mr DeSantis dropped out, showed 52 per cent of voters would choose Trump, 34 per cent would choose Mrs Haley and 8 per cent would choose Mr DeSantis. DeSantis supporters were twice as likely to name Trump than Mrs Haley as their second choice, according to the poll.
‘Haley has a shot’
Tuesday’s result could hinge on voter turnout and the ratio of Republicans to independents, known in the state as “undeclareds,” said Mr Jim Merrill, a Republican strategist in New Hampshire.
“Nikki Haley has a shot here tomorrow and that shot is having enough Republican voters (stay home), then a large undeclared turnout,” Mr Merrill told a media roundtable.
Mr Merrill said for Mrs Haley to prevail turnout would likely need to be close to 340,000 voters. That’s higher than the projection for a record-setting 322,000 voters disclosed by the New Hampshire secretary of state’s office last week.
The current record for a New Hampshire Republican presidential primary is 287,653 voters in 2016.
A Haley victory could give her the momentum and fundraising she needs ahead of the next major nominating contest on Feb 24 in South Carolina, her home state where she served two terms as governor.
The winner of this year’s Republican nominating contests will take on President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, in November’s general election.
The national Democratic Party made South Carolina its first official primary, so Mr Biden is not on the ballot on Jan 23. Still, support for Mr Biden’s write-in campaign in New Hampshire will be closely-watched amid weak polls for the 81-year-old president.
On Monday, after a robocall using fake audio of Mr Biden urging Democrats to stay home began circulating in New Hampshire, the White House denied the president had made any such recording and said it highlights the risks of “deep fakes” and misinformation.
Trump trial postponed
Trump had been expected to spend the morning potentially testifying in a New York courtroom in a defamation case brought against him by author E. Jean Carroll, who says he raped her decades ago. Trump accuses Ms Carroll of making up the story to boost her memoir.
But the trial was postponed to Jan 23 after a juror reported feeling ill and a parent of Trump’s lead lawyer tested positive for Covid-19. The judge in the trial said he will decide later whether to let Trump testify on Jan 24, so he can be in New Hampshire for Tuesday’s vote.
As with his criminal cases, which he has frequently used in fundraising pleas, Trump has portrayed the Carroll case as part of a broader conspiracy by liberal forces to derail his candidacy.
In recent days, Mrs Haley has intensified her attacks on Trump, asserting he has suffered some cognitive decline since his time in the White House and criticising him for embracing authoritarian foreign leaders.
At a rally on Jan 21 in Rochester, New Hampshire, Trump accused Mrs Haley of relying on an “unholy alliance” of liberals, “never-Trumpers” who oppose him and RINOs, or Republicans in Name Only. He has used a version of her given first name, Nimarata, as an insult and amplified false posts on social media questioning her birthright US citizenship.
Mrs Haley is the daughter of Indian immigrants and was born in South Carolina.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/haley-makes-final-new-hampshire-push-to-slow-trump-s-momentum
| 2024-01-22T22:13:48Z
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CARACAS - Venezuela's attorney general on Monday said 14 arrest warrants were issued against civilians and former military personnel for allegedly conspiring against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.
On Jan. 15, Maduro told legislators who back the government that conspiracies against him and high ranking government figures had been dismantled between May and December.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab said he subsequently asked a court on Jan. 19 to issue arrest warrants against those involved in the conspiracies.
"The five revealed conspiracies, the five plots that I wanted to describe as a conspiracy ... are all being prosecuted as I have explained to reach a definitive, final sentence with the maximum penalty," Saab said.
Some 32 people, including civilians and members of the military, have been detained over the conspiracies, Saab added.
Maduro recently alleged the conspiracies included plans to assassinate him and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino.
The attorney general's office detailed warrants for the arrests of human rights activist Tamara Suju and journalist Sebastiana Barraez - who both live abroad - for an alleged plot at the end of last year.
"The attorney general continues to criminalize the work of lawyers and human rights defenders," Suju said via X, formerly known as Twitter.
The defense ministry alleged the plots counted on assistance from members of the military, but provided no further details. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/venezuela-issues-arrest-warrants-for-14-alleged-conspirators-attorney-general
| 2024-01-22T22:13:58Z
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SYDNEY – In a leafy waterside suburb of Sydney, a barren patch lies where, until recently, a thick cluster of native trees stood in the forest along the foreshore.
Now, the spot is peppered with rotting stumps – the remnants of an estimated 285 trees on public land that were deliberately killed, presumably as part of an attempt by a local home owner to secure a view of the harbour.
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| 2024-01-22T22:14:08Z
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NEW DELHI – The consecration of the temple for Lord Ram in Ayodhya will bolster Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image as a strong nationalist leader who fulfils the aspirations of India’s majority Hindus, giving his 2024 re-election campaign a boost, said political analysts.
Mr Modi is already seen as the front runner in the upcoming general election, due before May, as he seeks a third consecutive term in power.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/south-asia/consecration-of-ram-temple-in-ayodhya-gives-modi-re-election-campaign-a-boost-say-analysts?utm_campaign=STPicks
| 2024-01-22T22:14:19Z
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SINGAPORE – Never have I ever been given “homework” while on holiday.
A recent trip to Morocco with my best friend left us feeling harassed after fending off pushy demands from hotel staff and tour operators to write reviews.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/life/travel/reviewing-the-reviews-for-savvy-travel?utm_campaign=STPicks
| 2024-01-22T22:14:29Z
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Search by company name
Methodology
Singapore's Fastest Growing Companies is a list of 100 local businesses that achieved markedly high revenue growth between 2019 and 2022.
Companies keen to get on the league table had to register via websites created by Statista and The Straits Times from May to August 2023.
In addition, through research in company databases and other public sources, Statista identified more than 2,000 companies in Singapore as potential candidates for the ranking. These companies were invited by post, e-mail and telephone to participate in the competition.
There were strict criteria – they had to be independent companies headquartered in Singapore with at least $150,000 of revenue generated in 2019, and $1.5 million in 2022.
The calculation of growth rates was based on the revenue figures submitted by the companies in their respective national currencies. These figures were then converted into Singapore dollars for comparison.
The result is a list of companies ranked by compound annual growth rate, which is calculated by taking into account revenue growth over the three-year period.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/multimedia/graphics/2024/01/fastest-growing-companies-2024/index.html?shell
| 2024-01-22T22:14:40Z
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Singapore will be tuning in to the Budget 2024 statement by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Feb 16.
There is clear indication of the social transformation it must fund after the fourth-generation (4G) leaders launched the Forward Singapore report in November 2023.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/budget-2024-three-principles-to-strengthen-support-for-forward-singapore-initiatives?utm_campaign=STPicks
| 2024-01-22T22:14:50Z
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SINGAPORE - Twice a week, a crew of 60 people and 20 vehicles rumble onto Changi Airport’s Runway 1 in the dead of the night. The mission: to comb 4km of runway to make sure it is fit for aircraft take-offs and landings.
The frequency of maintenance depends on how heavily a runway is used. Only one runway is closed for maintenance, so there is still one runway in operation.
The maintenance team typically has between 1am and 5am to do the work, which includes fixing potholes, scraping out rubber deposits left by aircraft, securing fixtures like lighting and signage that can come loose, and trimming the grass on the side of the runway.
The first plane usually lines up to use the reopened runway within a few minutes after the last maintenance vehicles leave.
Changi Airport handled 298,000 flights in the first 11 months of 2023, with the planes using either Runway 1 or 3.
Runway 2 was reopened on Dec 1, 2023, after it was closed in December 2020 for infrastructure work, taking over from Runway 3.
Eventually, all three runways will be operational as part of the airport’s expansion plan, which includes building Terminal 5 to increase overall capacity.
The Straits Times followed Changi’s maintenance team to Runway 1, which runs parallel to the Terminal 3 building, to find out how the runways are kept in good shape.
Getting to the runway access point involves taking a minibus on a private road that runs along the airport’s perimeter. Being a controlled area, security is tight and runway access is coordinated with airport traffic control.
In addition to exchanging passes at the airport’s security office, those entering the runway are issued location trackers at the office beside the access point. This is followed by a five-minute safety briefing before work begins.
As the other teams, like the 12 grass cutters, go about their tasks on different sections of the runway, a friction tester takes up position on one end.
The tester is a modified Saab 9-5 SportCombi – an old workhorse that is due to be replaced by a new Volkswagen Transporter van. The Saab’s odometer shows that it has covered 175,157km, a comparable mileage with what a private car would clock on public roads after more than 10 years. In the 1980s, the airport used a Lamborghini Countach, which is a low-slung supercar, to do this work.
The Saab has a 550-litre water tank mounted where the rear seats would normally be. As the car is zooming down the runway, reaching speeds of between 95kmh and 97kmh, it sprays a thin film of water onto the runway surface.
A test wheel, which extends from the boot floor of the vehicle to make contact with the runway, is used to measure the grip level on the surface.
Each test lasts between 10 and 15 minutes.
From one end of the 4km runway, the Saab has 300m to get up to the target speed. The driver has to start braking by 3.6km, or there may be insufficient road space to stop safely.
There are not many landmarks to guide the driver, so it is a challenge to keep the vehicle on the correct trajectory and know exactly when to start decelerating.
Although the runway is 60m wide, the friction tester is focused on the middle portion nearer to the centre line, because this is where aircraft tyres touch the runway.
The friction tester checks a portion of the width of the runway at each maintenance session. It takes four sessions to complete the tests.
In addition to the friction tester assessing grip levels, teams in inspection rovers, which are basically minibuses, do visual checks of the runway.
There are three teams charged with repairing potholes while another team repaints any part of the centre line on the runway that has been blackened by aircraft tyres. Pilots use the centre line to guide the aircraft’s approach.
With frequent take-offs and landings, a considerable amount of rubber deposits is left on the runway by aircraft tyres. If allowed to build up, these will reduce friction and pose a safety hazard to planes that are landing.
This is where the rubber removal machine – a six-wheel truck with two rotating discs that carry high-pressure jet nozzles – comes in.
Compared with the speedy friction tester, the truck moves at a more leisurely pace of between 10kmh and 15kmh.
Its nozzles can send out jets of water at a pressure as high as 35,000 psi – enough to strip the paint markings on the runway.
Mr Jamal Juki, 63, manager for airfield systems and engineering management who oversees the work of the rubber removal machine, said the paint markings need to be stripped if they become too thick after repainting, as the thickened surface can compromise the level of grip.
In between coordinating with the other teams working on the runway over his mobile phone, the long-time employee, who has been with Changi Airport for more than 40 years, explained that the water pressure is otherwise set at between 21,000 and 25,000 psi to loosen rubber deposited by plane tyres.
The dislodged materials are then sucked into the waste tank on the back of the machine.
Rounding up the routine runway maintenance is the runway sweeper. There are two runway sweepers on duty.
The truck looks similar to a typical road sweeper except for the large bar that is mounted in front of the bumper, which is magnetised to pick up metal objects left on the runway, such as small bolts.
Under its belly, between the wheel axles, are rotating brushes to sweep the floor and a suction hood to suck up the debris. Travelling at around 25kmh, it takes around 90 minutes to finish the planned work for each maintenance session.
The sweepers are usually the last machines to leave the runway, so as to give the surface a final scrub after the other teams have completed their tasks.
When that is done and everyone is safely out of the area, the runway is then ready to receive the first flights of the day.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/how-changi-airport-keeps-its-runways-safe-for-airplanes?utm_campaign=STPicks
| 2024-01-22T22:15:00Z
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While their popularity has been divisive for decades, if not centuries, bangs are often one of the easiest styles for celebrities to rock, easily able to translate from the red carpet to a chill evening at home.
As the fashion industry awakens once again to kick off its yearly cycle of styles with Paris Fashion Week, one celebrity is taking over the internet with her viral hairdo, that being Zendaya.
Inspired by the actress' new blunt cut, here are some of the best celebrities rocking bangs, from Kelly Clarkson to Kaley Cuoco…
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/hair/511831/celebrities-rocking-chicest-bangs-kelly-clarkson-zendaya-penelope-cruz/
| 2024-01-22T22:24:22Z
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Kelly Clarkson is a much-loved star and incredibly down-to-earth, often sharing snippets of her private life on her chat show.
The Kelly Clarkson Show host got real about mental health in a recent episode of her award-winning show last week, while talking to Bridgerton star, Phoebe Dynevor. Kelly chatted with the actress about her anxiety, and how acting is a great outlet for her.
The award-winning singer agreed that in the industry "I think a lot of us [in the industry] are also like a bit ADHD so we always like to be doing stuff as well. So yeah, idle hands are not good for me."
Kelly has certainly been staying busy over the last year too, having completely transformed her family's lives by moving to the other side of the United States.
The singer, along with her two young children, River, nine, and Remi, seven, moved from Los Angeles to New York City, and they are loving every minute of it.
The family are living near a park, and Kelly's been enjoying living in a walkable city after spending years in LA, citing it as a reason behind her weight loss too.
The star has faced several changes in her family unit too, following her high-profile divorce from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
Talking to People about the split, she said: "Sometimes you don't know what life has in store for you, and you think your life is going to go one way, and it's OK that it doesn't. You never know how beautiful that might be."
The American Idol alum also spoke about writing her tenth studio album, Chemistry, and how it acted as therapy following her divorce.
"I didn’t see it other than: This is my outlet. I’m a let-go person; I don't hold grudges. So it was really delving into what happened in my life and why—and what am I going to do about it?" she explained.
"I cannot express how appreciative I feel for having that kind of healthy outlet. Because the level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard. You feel alone, and it's just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming."
She added: "Finally releasing it [was] like, 'I'm taking my power back. That sounds very therapy, but that's because I love therapy, and I think it's important to have those tools to navigate your life and relationships."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/health-and-fitness/511829/kelly-clarkson-opens-up-about-mental-health-live-on-talk-show/
| 2024-01-22T22:24:28Z
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Khloe Kardashian is considered everyone's favorite aunt in her famous family, and dotes on her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children.
The Kardashians star is particularly close with her young niece Dream, seven, who is the only child of her younger brother, Rob Kardashian.
Khloe often shares sweet photos of Dream hanging out with her and her children, True, five, and Tatum, one, and includes her in all of their family activities.
Most recently, the Good American designer took to Instagram to share a sweet tribute to the little girl.
Khloe re-shared a fan account's Instagram post, which featured two photos side-by-side. The first was of Khloe with her arm around Rob when they were young children, alongside a picture of Dream cuddling a baby Tatum.
The mom-of-two simply captioned the image with a love heart emoji. Khloe previously referred to Dream as "one of my babies" as she gushed about her young niece.
On an episode of The Kardashians, during which Khloe was helping to plan Dream's sixth birthday party in 2022, she said: "Dream is one of my babies too, just like all the rest of them, and I absolutely love being a mom to people. I love mothering people, I don't know if they like that or not but it’s in my blood just to be a mom, I wouldn’t have it any other way."
Khloe added: "I feel like I'm like a third parent for Dream. I do know how important it is for Dream to have a great maternal influence — whether that be from me or her own mom or whoever, it's important and wherever she gets it from she gets it from."
The star also praised Rob's parenting skills: "Rob does such an incredible job with her and I'm just there to help whenever he needs.
"Rob and I are crazy close to one another, we’ve always been," she said.
Khloe even has a necklace with the names of her two children and Dream, showing just how much she values the little girl. Rob is more than grateful for Khloe's close involvement in his family life and this was more than evident when he paid tribute to her on her birthday.
His message read: "Happy Birthday @khloekardashian. Wishing you nothing but good health and happiness forever my darling buttercup! I love you so much and so thankful to have u in my life and for all that U do for Dream and I. I don’t know what I would do without you."
Dream is the only child of Rob and his ex Blac Chyna. She splits her time between her mom and dad's homes in LA, following a highly-publicized custody battle.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511830/khloe-kardashian-tribute-dream-kardashian-heartfelt-post/
| 2024-01-22T22:24:29Z
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During a joint briefing with Polish PM Donald Tusk in Kyiv on 22 January, his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, outlined three key objectives for Ukraine for this year and sought Poland’s assistance in achieving them, according to Ukrinform.
Polish Prime Minister Tusk arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 22 January to meet with the Ukrainian President and the Cabinet Head:
🇵🇱 PM Donald Tusk arrives in Kyiv on his first visit to Ukraine after taking the office
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) January 22, 2024
Tusk will discuss 🇵🇱🇺🇦 issues with Ukraine's president and PM, addressing concerns from his predecessor Morawecki's tenure. https://t.co/k7pC00YjgO
“This year, Ukraine has three key tasks and is asking Poland for help,” Shmyhal said.
Ukraine’s key tasks for 2024, according to PM Schmyhal, are as follows:
- to make sure the European Council approves the multi-year funding program, the Ukraine Facility;
- to get into the negotiation process on Ukraine’s accession to the EU;
- “clear and bold decisions at the Washington NATO summit regarding Ukraine’s movement towards membership in the Alliance.”
The Ukrainian Prime Minister stressed that the government hopes for Poland’s support in fulfilling all the tasks mentioned.
“We are grateful for the support in all these issues and areas,” said Shmyhal.
Energy cooperation
During the meeting of the Ukrainian and Polish PMs, Shmyhal and Tusk discussed cooperation in the energy and oil sectors, as well as the implementation of new projects for energy market development.
They emphasized the significant potential for energy collaboration between Ukraine and Poland, including the construction of power lines like “Rivne NPP – Helm” and “Lviv – Krosno,” as well as the importance of creating a new European route for oil supply, potentially involving the “Brody – Adamova Zastava” oil pipelines as part of the Euro-Asian Oil Transport Corridor project, according to a report by Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers.
Intensifying gov’t contacts
According to Shmyhal, the Prime Ministers agreed to strengthen bilateral intergovernmental cooperation. In particular, to hold coordinating intergovernmental meetings and intensify the work of the intergovernmental commission.
“Ukraine and Poland are resetting their intergovernmental relations. The reset is taking place on the basis of equality and mutual assistance. On the terms of partnership and a common goal – the independence and prosperity of our countries,” Denys Shmyhal stressed.
Border blockades
PM Shmyhal said his Polish counterpart, Tusk, and he discussed the free movement of goods across the border, the development of border infrastructure and energy cooperation.
“We believe that today the issue has been resolved, the border has been unblocked, and our joint work is working. Ukraine has proposed a mechanism for verifying agricultural exports in line with the European Commission’s decision. This mechanism is already working effectively with Romania and Bulgaria, and we propose to use it in our mutually beneficial relations,” said Denys Shmyhal.
New military aid package
After his meeting with Donald Tusk in Kyiov on 22 January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned a new Polish military assistance package for Ukraine:
“We appreciate Poland’s unwavering support and the new military aid package for Ukraine, as well as a new form of cooperation aimed at larger-scale arms purchases for Ukrainian needs: a Polish loan for Ukraine,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.
Zelenskyy: Poland allocates Ukraine with new defense package
No details of the new aid package were disclosed, but the Ukrainian PM Shmyhal said that since the outset of the full-scale war, Poland has provided Ukraine with weapons systems and equipment worth almost $3.5 billion.
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/22/pm-shmyhal-ukraine-has-three-key-tasks-for-2024/
| 2024-01-22T22:55:32Z
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Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said Russian ombudswoman for children’s rights Maria Lvova-Belova has once again facilitated the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
According to Lubinets, Russia has illegally transferred 17 Ukrainian children with disabilities from the Russian-occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast to a rehabilitation center near Moscow.
The Ukrainian ombudsman said the children were sent to the “Ogoniok” center by a plane belonging to the Russian Defense Ministry.
“The practice of removing Ukrainian children is not a gesture of goodwill with the aim of helping, but a strategically important program of the aggressor state. Under the pretext of providing medical care, forced passportization of Ukrainian citizens by Russians takes place.
Because a mandatory condition for treatment is the possession of a Russian passport, which is issued by simplified procedure according to Putin’s order. Thus, the imposition of Russian citizenship is enforced, contradicting the norms of international law,” Dmytro Lubinets added.
He also said 150 Ukrainian children who lived in occupied territories of Kherson, Zeporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblast, called by Moscow as “in new regions of Russia,” were “rehabilitated” in this way last year.
This month, Russian leader Vladimir Putin signed a decree making it possible to confer Russian citizenship on Ukrainian children deported to Russia.
In March 2023, The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants of arrest for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova. The ICC alleged that both individuals are responsible for committing war crimes, specifically the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.
According to the ICC, there were reasonable grounds to believe that both individuals bore individual criminal responsibility for their actions, whether directly or through others. The crimes were allegedly committed in the occupied territory of Ukraine from at least 24 February 2022.
Read also:
- Russia abducts Ukrainian children under evacuation and adoption guise
- Russia to face two war crimes charges at the ICC – NYT
- How Ukraine is preparing a Tribunal for Putin
- Russia spends €8 mn to select “quality material” for adoption among Ukrainian children: report
- Ukraine returns home two more children forcibly deported to Russia – Ukraine’s Reintegration Ministry
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/22/russia-deports-17-ukrainian-children-with-disabilities-from-donetsk-oblast-ombudsman-says/
| 2024-01-22T22:56:12Z
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Riley Keough is just one of loads of celebrities who braced for the Utah cold as they descended upon ParkCity for the Sundance Film Festival.
The largest independent film festival in the United States, this year's run goes from January 19 to 29, and has so far seen attendance from the likes of Glen Powell, Alivia Silverstone, Dylan O'Brian, Lucy Liu, Chrissy Tiegen, Zack Galifianakis, Saoirse Ronan, Kristen Stewart, among others.
The Daisy Jones & the Six actress is in town celebrating her latest film Sasquatch Sunset, which also stars Jesse Eisenberg. Per IMDb, the plot reads: "A year in the life of a unique family. It captures the daily life of the Sasquatch with a level of detail and rigor that is simply unforgettable."
While at Sundance, Riley posed for photos at the annual IMDb Studio at Acura House of Energy, and was presented with the IMDb "Fan Favorite" STARmeter Award.
She looked chic as ever in Chanel blue jeans and a tweed blazer from the legacy brand, which she has been repping throughout her several awards season appearances.
Besides many Chanel looks, Riley has also been favoring jet black hair as opposed to her usual red, not unlike that of her late grandfather's Elvis Presley.
She recently publicly reunited with her grandmother Priscilla Presley at the 75th Annual Emmy Awards, for which she was nominated for her role in Daisy Jones & the Six.
After their night out, Priscilla took to X (formerly known as Twitter) with a tribute to her granddaughter, sharing a photo of the two on the red carpet and writing: "I loved being with my beautiful granddaughter at the Emmys last night. What a talented young woman," and declared: "I know Elvis would have been very proud!"
Their attendance at the awards show in Los Angeles came just days after the first year anniversary of Lisa Marie Presley's death, who died on January 12, 2023, after suffering from a cardiac arrest caused by a small bowel obstruction from a previous gastric bypass surgery.
Riley also recently announced her plans to carry on her mother's legacy by helping complete and publish her memoir, which is yet to be titled but slated to release through Random House in October.
In a statement announcing the news, she said: "Few people had the opportunity to know who my mom really was, other than being Elvis' daughter," adding: "I was lucky to have had that opportunity and working on preparing her autobiography for publication has been a privilege, albeit a bittersweet one."
"I'm so excited to share my mom now, at her most vulnerable and most honest," she continued, concluding with: "In doing so, I do hope that readers come to love my mom as much as I did."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511833/riley-keough-braves-cold-sundance-film-festival/
| 2024-01-22T23:03:49Z
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Kourtney Kardashian, at 44, showcased her meticulous planning for her hospital stay with the birth of her child Rocky Thirteen, organizing an array of essentials into three distinct bags.
In her discussion with Poosh, Kourtney revealed her methodical approach, drawing upon advice from mom friends to ensure all bases were covered.
"I asked some of my best friends who are moms what they packed," she explained, highlighting the importance of community support in preparing for such a significant event.
For herself and her husband Travis Barker, Kourtney included matching Skims pajamas, with a thoughtful consideration for postpartum needs.
"Button-up shirts for easy breastfeeding access," she noted. Her toiletry bag was packed with essentials for comfort and care, including stretch mark cream, nipple and lip balm, belly oil, and nipple butter.
A key inclusion was Arnica montana, as recommended by her nutritionist, Leona West. "Leona recommends taking arnica montana right away after delivery as it can help speed up healing and ease discomfort," Kourtney shared.
She also prepared with two nursing bras and disposable black undies, stating, "The hospital provides white mesh ones but I like black. Anything to feel your best after birth is worth it—without sacrificing comfort."
Postpartum care was a priority, with items like a peri bottle, cozy and compression socks, and high-waisted postpartum underwear.
"I’ve never tried them, but heard these are amazing after birth to help get your organs back into place," Kourtney remarked.
The bag also contained sneakers, slippers, an outfit for her return home, and a specially crafted Surya Spa Mama Baby Oil, about which Kourtney expressed, "I’m obsessed with this."
Nutritional supplements and recovery aids were not overlooked. She packed Milkmaid tea for potential milk production and colostrum, as advised by Leona.
"Leona suggests taking colostrum for around three months after giving birth, as it can be very nourishing," she mentioned.
Collagen for recovery and hair health, along with cold packs for post-delivery healing, were also included.
For the baby, Kourtney prepared items like a lovey blanket, an outfit thoughtfully chosen by Penelope, “P picked this out and bought it for the baby as a surprise for me, the sweetest,” she said.
She also packed essentials such as clean wipes, diapers, socks, and rubber pacifiers.
The Poosh founder ensured a car seat was installed in advance and packed hats with matching swaddles, carefully removing tags for the baby’s comfort. "I’m a little crazy and cut each tag out of every outfit for baby’s comfort," she confessed.
In the miscellaneous bag, Kourtney included a range of cameras, a nursing pillow, a silk pillowcase, a cozy throw blanket, and a cord blood kit. The kit is crucial for collecting the baby's umbilical cord blood, which is rich in stem cells.
"Umbilical cord blood contains tons of stem cells," she noted, recognizing the potential future health benefits.
Lastly, a placenta encapsulation kit was part of her preparation, a choice reflecting her interest in natural healing methods.
"The placenta is full of nutrients, and ingesting it is thought to help with healing after giving birth," Kourtney explained about the kit's purpose.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511832/kourtney-kardashians-insanely-detailed-hospital-bag-revealed-including-a-placenta-encapsulation-kit/
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Avowed Gets Extended Gameplay Breakdown With Developer Obsidian - News
by William D'Angelo , posted 36 minutes ago / 152 ViewsDeveloper Obsidian Entertainment speaking with the Xbox Podcast have shared an extended gameplay breakdown of its upcoming fantasy-action RPG, Avowed.
View the extended gameplay breakdown with the developers below:
Read new details on the game via Xbox Wire below:
On today’s special episode of The Official Xbox Podcast, Avowed Game Director Carrie Patel and Gameplay Director Gabe Paramo shared an extended look at the quest showcased during Developer_Direct, providing more detail on the moment-to-moment experience of the flexible combat system, and where this side quest fits in the larger narrative of Avowed.
This latest look at Avowed gives us a good idea of what to expect from Shatterscarp, one part of the ecologically diverse island of The Living Lands, all in the same universe as Obsidian’s CRPG series Pillars of Eternity. But what makes Avowed a very ‘Obsidian game’ goes far beyond the commonality of setting in the world of Eora.
“It’s really about our player-centric approach to role play,” Patel shared during this week’s Podcast. “The way we really approach consequence and choice is giving players the opportunities to define who they are in this world, how they want to behave – what fantasy, what challenges they want to undertake.”
It’s all part of Obsidian’s “your worlds, your way” approach, and players will feel the weight of their choices moment-to-moment with every slash, parry, and spell cast.
What stands out is not just the variety of ways you can tackle combat – examples include the classic ‘sword and board [shield]’, samurai-esque sword and gun, and dual-wielding wands like a wizard in the Old West – but also how you’ll frequently want to (or need to) change your loadout to best suit what you find yourself up against. These loadouts are also complemented by skills, and Obsidian had a deep well of moves to pull from out of the Pillars of Eternity universe.
“We wanted to be able to grab as many abilities from the trees as possible – and categorize them a little bit differently so that the player doesn‘t feel locked into a single choice at the start of the game,” said Gabe Paramo, Gameplay Director. “They can mix and match between different abilities to get some variety. You can commit to being a fighter, but it’s not an enforced class setup.” And if you want to try out a new suite of abilities, you can always respec your character.
We saw great examples of this in the Developer_Direct: dual-wielding wands served as effective crowd control when a group of smaller Xaurips swarmed the player. But in a more one-on-one encounter with a slightly larger enemy, using an ice-imbued wand to freeze an enemy, then shattering the newly-frozen block with a charged power attack of an off-hand sword was supremely effective.
Paramo cited another devious combo: “With ‘Into the Fray,’ you can use a fireball ability that creates an AOE [area of effect] ability on the ground, and then pull the enemy into the fire.”
It’s all part of a comprehensive elemental system that comes into play both in and out of combat. Paramo continues, “you can light guys on fire, you can freeze them, you can shock them, you have objects in the environment you can interact with. They’re not just on weapons, on wands – you might find it on swords, certain abilities might cause elemental damage. And your companions [can] as well.”
Patel shared more about those companions – your hero won’t be wandering the Living Lands alone. “They all have deep ties to different regions of the Living Lands, and they all have their own personal reasons for wanting to ally with the player and help them resolve the big conflicts that you’re encountering over the course of the game. They’re your allies – in some ways your advisors, your local guides. They provide a lot of additional commentary and context that reveals something about their character, but also about the corner of the world you’re exploring.”
They’re also your allies in battle; Kai, who we saw in the Developer_Direct, played a tanky role, drawing aggro, while Giatta, who also makes an appearance, keeps the party healed up. Expect to meet more in your journeys across the Living Lands.
‘Playing your way’ expands beyond moment-to-moment action; as demonstrated in the Developer_Direct, you’ll be making meaningful decisions that affect the story.
“For us, creating these choices, like the big ones that affect the outcome of a quest, or the wellbeing of certain characters or communities are just as important as the smaller choices that you make in navigating a dialogue and, in subtle ways, influencing your relationship with another character,” said Patel. “All of it is really centered around letting the player be the main character in this setting.”
It’s important to note that for all we’ve now seen of Avowed, there’s much, much more to explore throughout the Living Lands. In fact, the specific quest in Shatterscarp we covered “is entirely discoverable, which means it’s also entirely missable.” In terms of scope of the game, Paramo compares with another recent Obsidian title, “it’s open-zone, size comparable to The Outer Worlds areas on the larger side, and [with] multiple paths essentially to tackle combat situations, or avoid them.”
According to Patel, sharp-eyed players will have much more to seek out throughout their time with Avowed: “One of the big delights of being a developer on a game like this is creating so much for players to find, and knowing that not everybody’s going to seek it out, and not everybody’s gonna find it, but knowing that the players who do are really going to enjoy the secrets they discover.”
Avowed will launch for the Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Microsoft Store, and Xbox Game Pass this Fall.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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BOSTON - A Chinese music student went on trial on Monday on U.S. charges that he harassed an activist who posted fliers at the Berklee College of Music in Boston supporting democracy in China and threatened to report her activities to Chinese law enforcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter told a federal jury in Boston that Xiaolei Wu, 25, scared the activist, referred to only as Zooey in court, by making threats online to chop off her hands and report her to the Chinese government because of her "reactionary posters."
"She was afraid for herself, and she was afraid for her family, who was back in China," Porter said in her opening statement to a 12-person jury.
The trial comes as U.S. and Western authorities continue to warn that China's government has increasingly exerted pressure to silence its critics abroad.
Human rights groups have also complained of threats to academic freedom and monitoring of Chinese students on international university campuses.
Wu was first arrested in December 2022 and has pleaded not guilty to charges of cyberstalking and interstate transmissions of threatening communication.
Porter told jurors that his threats began after Zooey, who also attended the private music college, posted a photo on Instagram of a flier she put in a window that said "We Want Freedom," "We Want Democracy," and "Stand with Chinese People."
Wu in response in October 2022 posted on a 300-person chat of Chinese Berklee students and alumni on the social media app WeChat a demand that she tear down the fliers and said he had called in a tip to a Chinese public security agency about her.
Porter called that a serious threat, as the Chinese government does not allow the type of expression her posters contained and worked to suppress dissent against the Chinese government.
A lawyer for Wu, Michael Tumposky, countered that Wu's comments were never meant to threaten Zooey but were made as part of an "immature, online dispute between two young people," who were acquainted with each other.
He said his client "was not some agent of the Chinese government" but an "awkward, nerdy guy" who came to Boston to learn jazz and had spoken out about Zooey's posters "in his own misguided way to remind her of consequences of her activism."
"He came here to learn guitar, not to shill for the Chinese Communist Party," he said. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-22T23:41:29Z
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WASHINGTON - U.S. and British forces carried out a fresh round of strikes on Monday in Yemen, targeting a Houthi underground storage site as well as missile and surveillance capabilities used by the Iran-aligned group against Red Sea shipping, the Pentagon said.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have said their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel strikes Gaza.
The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping and stoked fears of global inflation. They have also deepened concern that fallout from the Israel-Hamas war could destabilize the Middle East.
In the latest response, U.S. and British forces carried out eight strikes, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, according to a joint statement signed by the six countries.
"These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners," the joint statement said.
British Defence Minister Grant Shapps said in a statement that the strikes were carried out in self-defense.
"This action will deal another blow to their limited stockpiles and ability to threaten global trade," Shapps said.
So far, multiple rounds of strikes over the past month have failed to stop Houthi attacks against shipping.
Container vessels have been pausing or diverting from the Red Sea that leads to the Suez Canal, the fastest freight route from Asia to Europe. Many ships have been forced to take the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope instead. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/us-british-forces-carry-out-new-strikes-in-yemen
| 2024-01-22T23:41:39Z
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NEW YORK – Bitcoin fell to a seven-week low on Jan 22, trading below US$40,000 (S$53,680) for the first time since the launch of eleven spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds on Jan 11.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency quickly recovered, and was last down 3.39 per cent at US$40,181, trading at its lowest since Dec 4. Ether, the second largest cryptocurrency, was down 5.75 per cent at US$2,343.55.
Bitcoin’s fall follows a run-up in the token on growing excitement the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would approve Bitcoin ETFs, opening up the cryptocurrency to a slew of new investors. Bitcoin gained around 70 per cent from August, when a federal court forced the SEC to review its decision to reject Grayscale Investment’s Bitcoin ETF application.
Some analysts said they had expected Bitcoin to initially pare some of those gains.
Other market-watchers said on Jan 22 that the cryptocurrency was having a tough time competing with traditional stocks after the S&P500 benchmark notched fresh record highs on Jan 22.
“It feels like Bitcoin investors are running up a descending escalator right now as traditional financial benchmarks enjoy the easier ride to record highs,” said Mr Antoni Trenchev, co-founder of crypto lender Nexo.
He noted previous major crypto events, including the initial public offering of crypto exchange Coinbase and the launch of bitcoin futures, were followed by similar bitcoin slumps.
“Spot Bitcoin ETFs are in danger of joining the... crypto hall of infamy,” he said. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/bitcoin-falls-to-us40000-lowest-level-since-bitcoin-etf-launch
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ABIDJAN -Cape Verde's Bryan Teixeira scored a 99th minute equaliser as they held record seven-time champions Egypt to a 2-2 Group B draw at the Africa Cup of Nations, with both sides reaching the last-16 after a pulsating clash on Monday.
Cape Verde had already been confirmed as group winners before a ball was kicked and took the lead against the run of play through striker Benchimol at the end of the first half.
Egypt hit back five minutes into the second period when Trezeguet produced a neat finish from a tight angle, before Mostafa Mohamed thought he had won the game in added-time after racing onto a long pass to score but Teixeira had the final say.
Cape Verde claimed Group B top spot with seven points from their three games followed by Egypt on three points in second place and Ghana third with two points.
The group phase finishes on Wednesday when Ghana, who drew 2-2 with Mozambique, will find out if they are one of the best third-place finishers to advance.
Egypt were again without striker Mohamed Salah, who could sit out the remainder of the tournament after his agent, Ramy Abbas, revealed on Monday that the Liverpool striker faces three or four weeks on the sidelines with his muscle injury.
That would take him very close to, or beyond, the Feb. 11 Cup of Nations final.
Cape Verde took the lead against the run of play with their first shot of the game on the stroke of halftime.
Kenny Rocha produced a cross from the right, Ryan Mendes touched the ball on and Benchimol struck a low shot into the net on the turn with a superb finish.
Trezeguet fired over for Egypt seconds after coming on as a halftime substitute but their early pressure in the half paid dividends as they netted an excellent equaliser.
Ahmed Hegazy’s one-two with Trezeguet was perfect for the latter to drive home a shot from a tight angle.
Mohamed should have put Egypt ahead in the final six minutes from six yards out but he ballooned the ball over the bar before making up for the miss with a goal in the 93rd minute.
However, there was still time for Cape Verde to spoil the party as Teixeira scored when the ball fell to him in the box, ensuring Egypt played to a third straight 2-2 group draw. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/cape-verde-and-egypt-seal-last-16-places-at-cup-of-nations
| 2024-01-22T23:42:00Z
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MILAN – Italian football was mourning one of its most important ever players on Jan 22 after iconic striker Luigi “Gigi” Riva died aged 79.
Nicknamed “Roar of Thunder”, Riva is Italy’s all-time top goalscorer and famous in the Mediterranean nation for firing Cagliari to their only league title in 1970.
Cagliari said “Forever GIGI RIVA” in a short post on X, formerly Twitter, which was accompanied by a picture of their hero in the prime of his career.
“Italian football is in mourning because a genuine national monument has left us today,” said Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina.
Riva’s death is of such significance that a minute’s silence was held before the start of the second half of the Italian Super Cup final, played on Jan 22 in Riyadh.
“Ciao Gigi” was displayed on the screens at Al-Awwal Park in the Saudi Arabian capital, alongside a picture of the deceased Riva.
“He will always be remembered for his play with ‘his’ Cagliari and the national team,” said Serie A in a short statement.
Matches across Italy from Monday until the end of the coming weekend will hold a pre-match “minute’s reflection” in honour of Riva, added the FIGC.
Riva had been in hospital in Sardinian capital Cagliari, where he stayed after the end of his playing career, reportedly after suffering a heart attack over the weekend.
Riva scored 35 times in just 42 appearances for his country, with whom he won the 1968 European Championship and reached the World Cup final two years later.
Italy were swept aside in that final in Mexico by Pele’s Brazil, considered one of the best teams in the history of football, but he scored a key goal in the dramatic 4-3 defeat of West Germany in the last four.
Riva’s Italy career was hampered by two serious injuries, including a broken leg in 1970 which also ended Cagliari’s bid for a second straight league title.
“It’s a huge loss for me, we had been friends for a very long time, since 1967. We did military service together,” former Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff told the AGI news agency.
Riva played almost his entire club career with Cagliari, a club more familiar with relegation then glory, despite being persistently courted by powerhouse Juventus.
He signed for Cagliari in 1963 and retiring in 1976 after topping the Serie A charts three times and netting more than 200 times for the island club.
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Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Morata netted a second-half header to secure a 1-0 win at lowly Granada despite his side's uninspiring performance on Monday, moving them up to fourth place in LaLiga.
Diego Simeone's side climbed to 41 points and are now three behind third-placed Barcelona on 44 points after 20 games.
Leaders Girona are top with 52 points, one ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, but the surprise package of the season have played one more game than all of their main rivals.
After a low key first half Atletico were more aggressive after the interval against LaLiga's second-bottom side and broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Antoine Griezmann lifted a cross for Morata to head past goalkeeper Augusto Batalla.
The referee ruled out the effort for offside but a VAR check showed Morata was marginally onside and the goal was given. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-22T23:42:21Z
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BRIGHTON, England – Brighton & Hove Albion could only muster a point in a scoreless draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Jan 22 but it was enough to lift them above Manchester United into seventh place in the Premier League table.
Roberto De Zerbi's team, unbeaten in nine home games, are ahead of United on goal difference with both teams on 32 points after 21 games.
Gary O'Neil's Wolves, who saw their three-game winning streak end, are 11th on 29 points.
Neither side generated great chances in a drab first half, but the game came to life after the interval when Matheus Cunha forced Brighton keeper Jason Steele to pull off a terrific save, and then Steele smacked the rebound over the bar.
It was the first of a flurry of chances for both teams. Cunha had an opportunity to break the deadlock when he beat Steele who was well out of his net, but the Brazilian could not finish off the move and the game ended scoreless despite the combined total of 19 shots on target. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/scoreless-draw-enough-for-brighton-to-leapfrog-man-united-into-seventh-in-premier-league
| 2024-01-22T23:42:31Z
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CHISINAU - The leader of Moldova's pro-Russian separatist Transdniestria region called on its defence and intelligence institutions on Monday to maintain a "high level of military preparedness" and hold regular drills for that purpose.
Transdniestria broke away before the 1991 Soviet collapse and fought a brief war against the newly independent state, one of Europe's poorest countries lying between Ukraine and Romania.
For more than three decades, the sliver of land has remained on Moldova's eastern fringe with little turmoil - 2,000 Russian "peacekeepers" remain on the line separating them.
But tension has been building since Moldova's government introduced a duty in the New Year on imports and exports, part of its drive to join the European Union. The region, dependent on help from Moscow, says the duties hurt its businesses and Krasnoselsky has denounced it as a "mediaeval levy".
"The Ministry of State Security and the Ministry of Defence are instructed to regularly hold drills and boost security on state borders through modern technical means," Transdniestria's president, Vadim Krasnoselsky, said in a broadcast address.
Key institutions were told to be "increasingly proactive" in countering military threats and terrorist and extremist activities.
"This is for today, right now," Krasnoselsky said. "And it concerns not only the Defence Ministry, but also the Interior Ministry and state security bodies."
Moldova's Bureau for Reintegration, the body overseeing talks with Transdniestria, said Krasnoselsky's comments were bewildering.
"The basis for Tiraspol's alarm signals is unclear," it said, referring to the main town in the region. "The impression is that these signals exist strictly in a virtual environment."
Moldova's pro-European president, Maia Sandu, has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and alleged that Moscow was plotting to remove her, while Moscow accused her of infusing an atmosphere of Russophobia in the country.
Transdniestria, in turn, says Ukraine has plotted to kill its leaders and accused Moldova of training Ukrainian fighters.
A senior Moldovan official last week said the latest round of infrequent talks with Transdniestria, focusing on the new duties, had proved "difficult".
A rally against the tax is to take place this week in Tiraspol. Small protests have taken place along the "border" separating the two sides. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/moldovan-separatist-leader-calls-for-military-readiness
| 2024-01-22T23:42:42Z
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LONDON - Tens of thousands of people across Britain and Ireland were without power on Jan 22 after Storm Isha lashed the countries with strong winds and heavy rain, leaving two people dead.
Gusts of 159kmh were recorded in north-east England as the whole of Britain was subject to weather warnings for its ninth named storm since September.
The high winds felled three trees and damaged several others at a site in Northern Ireland made famous by the hit fantasy TV series Game Of Thrones.
“This is another blow to the Dark Hedges,” said Mervyn Storey, chairman of the preservation trust at the County Antrim site, now a major tourist destination thanks to the HBO drama.
Isha follows Storm Henk, which crashed into Britain earlier this month, causing widespread flooding and disruption to train services and roads.
More strong winds and heavy rain are forecast on Jan 23 and Jan 24 as the next storm of the season, Jocelyn, barrels in.
Climatologists say climate change is causing winters in the region to be warmer and wetter, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events.
In Ireland, which was badly hit by Isha, at least 235,000 homes endured power cuts, according to energy provider ESB.
Another 45,000 people were without electricity in Northern Ireland, where a motorist died late Jan 21.
Several thousand properties went dark in north-west England and Wales, and several people had to be rescued from their cars in northern England when a swollen river broke its banks.
Felled trees in Scotland closed major roads, while debris and floods forced the cancellation of all morning rush-hour trains in the country on Jan 22.
Police said an 84-year-old man died on Jan 21 when the car he was in hit a fallen tree near the Scottish capital Edinburgh.
Dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed late on Jan 21, with some planes diverted after they were unable to land due to high winds.
A Ryanair flight to Dublin from Manchester landed in Paris while another heading to the Irish capital from the Canary Islands was re-routed to Bordeaux in south-western France after unsuccessful attempts to touch down.
Several dozen schools in the Scottish Highlands were closed on Jan 22 as flood warnings remained in place. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/storm-isha-batters-britain-cutting-power-and-diverting-flights
| 2024-01-22T23:42:53Z
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PORT-AU-PRINCE - Haiti's national police has lost nearly 3,300 officers in three years, according to data from the force's main trade union, as under-gunned security officials battle powerful gangs estimated to control most of the capital.
Nearly nine in 10 of those were sacked for abandoning their posts, according to a report which SYNAPOHA trade union's general coordinator Lionel Lazarre shared with Reuters on Monday, while 123 more resigned.
Lazarre estimated some 80 police officers were killed in action, died in accidents or disappeared last year.
Police need significantly higher incentives to justify the dangers, the report said, amid a shrinking force and lack of equipment, training and infrastructure.
It highlighted needs for armored vehicles, helicopters, guns and drones.
"The government should assume responsibility. It's not just about purchasing equipment, the police need to be supplied with the financial means to plan operations, for cops working day in, day out in areas controlled by bandits," Lazarre said.
Lazarre said the situation was difficult but police had made progress, recovering control of six neighborhoods and coming close to recovering another.
Around 200,000 people have been displaced as alliances of violent gangs expand their control beyond the capital to rural areas, bringing indiscriminate killings, sexual violence and threatening already precarious food supplies.
Last November, the United Nations estimated some 3,960 had been killed through the year and 2,951 kidnapped.
Haiti's government called for international reinforcements in October 2022 and the United Nations ratified sending a force composed of voluntary contributions late last year.
Kenya, the only country which has offered to lead the force, has sent officials to meet with Haitian security forces ahead of a court hearing this Friday set to decide whether it is legal for it to deploy to the Caribbean state.
Despite worsening humanitarian conditions, countries are wary of backing Prime Minister Ariel Henry's unelected government and repeating abuses committed by past interventions.
Haiti's armed forces were disbanded in 1995 and reinstated in 2017, but the national police remains the main security force. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/haitis-police-force-shrinks-amid-gang-crisis-union
| 2024-01-22T23:43:04Z
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WASHINGTON - US and British forces carried out a fresh round of strikes on Jan 22 against Houthi targets in Yemen.
They targeted a Houthi underground storage site as well as missile and surveillance capabilities used by the group against Red Sea shipping, the Pentagon said.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have claimed their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians under attack from Israel in Gaza.
The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping and stoked fears of global inflation. They have also deepened concern that fallout from the Israel-Hamas war could destabilise the Middle East.
In the latest response, US and British forces carried out eight strikes, with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, according to a joint statement signed by the six countries.
“These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of innocent mariners,” the joint statement said.
British Defence Minister Grant Shapps said in a statement that the strikes were carried out in self-defence.
“This action will deal another blow to their limited stockpiles and ability to threaten global trade,” Mr Shapps said.
So far, multiple rounds of strikes over the past month have failed to stop Houthi attacks against shipping.
Container vessels have been pausing or diverting from the Red Sea that leads to the Suez Canal, the fastest freight route from Asia to Europe. Many ships have been forced to take the longer route via the Cape of Good Hope instead. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-22T23:43:14Z
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Major 7.0 earthquake hits China-Kyrgyzstan border
A major 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck along the China-Kyrgyzstan border on Jan 22, the United States Geological Survey said, warning of potentially widespread damage though no casualties have been reported.
The quake was registered just after 6pm GMT (2am Singapore time) at a depth of 13km in China’s Xinjiang region, some 140km west of the city of Aksu, where Chinese media reported heavy tremors were felt.
One resident told state news agency Xinhua that people rushed outside for safety amid the shaking, despite the frigid early morning temperatures hovering around -10 deg C.
Haley makes final New Hampshire push to slow Trump’s momentum
Donald Trump’s last remaining Republican opponent, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, was making a final push on Jan 22 to convince New Hampshire voters to turn out and deliver her an upset victory in the state’s presidential nominating contest.
New Hampshire’s primary vote on Jan 23 will split the state’s Republican voters into two camps: those with former president Trump, and those against him. The contest became a one-on-one race on Jan 21, when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ended his struggling campaign and endorsed Trump.
Trump, who polls show leads Mrs Haley by double digits, is hoping to deliver a fatal blow to the former South Carolina governor’s campaign by notching another commanding win. He coasted to a record-setting victory in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation contest last week.
Wall Street smashes records as tech earnings boost confidence
Stocks moved higher on Jan 22 in the United States and Europe, with both the Dow and the S&P 500 hitting new record highs on growing optimism for the American economy.
Expectations that the Federal Reserve will not be cutting interest rates as soon as many investors hoped failed to dent the upbeat mood ahead of a heavy week of US corporate earnings.
Among businesses reporting financial results this week are United Airlines after the closing bell on Jan 22, and other prominent names like Procter & Gamble, Tesla and Netflix.
Bitcoin falls to US$40,000, lowest level since Bitcoin ETF launch
Bitcoin fell to a seven-week low on Jan 22, trading below US$40,000 (S$53,680) for the first time since the launch of eleven spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds on Jan 11.
The world’s largest cryptocurrency quickly recovered, and was last down 3.39 per cent at US$40,181, trading at its lowest since Dec 4. Ether, the second largest cryptocurrency, was down 5.75 per cent at US$2,343.55.
Bitcoin’s fall follows a run-up in the token on growing excitement the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would approve Bitcoin ETFs, opening up the cryptocurrency to a slew of new investors. Bitcoin gained around 70 per cent from August, when a federal court forced the SEC to review its decision to reject Grayscale Investment’s Bitcoin ETF application.
Italian football legend Gigi Riva dead aged 79
Italian football was mourning one of its most important ever players on Jan 22 after iconic striker Luigi “Gigi” Riva died aged 79.
Nicknamed “Roar of Thunder”, Riva is Italy’s all-time top goalscorer and famous in the Mediterranean nation for firing Cagliari to their only league title in 1970.
Cagliari said “Forever GIGI RIVA” in a short post on X, formerly Twitter, which was accompanied by a picture of their hero in the prime of his career.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/while-you-were-sleeping-5-stories-you-might-have-missed-jan-23-2024
| 2024-01-22T23:43:24Z
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Cher has recently expressed a touching tribute to the late Norman Jewison, the renowned Hollywood director who passed away at the age of 97.
The Canadian-born filmmaker was celebrated for a wide range of cinematic works, including the cherished Moonstruck, starring Cher, and socially impactful dramas like the Oscar-winning In the Heat of the Night.
In her tribute posted on platform X, Cher fondly recalled her experience working with Norman on Moonstruck a film that brought her the prestigious Academy Award.
"Farewell Sweet Prince. Thank U For One Of The Greatest, Happiest, Most Fun Experiences Of My Life. Without U, I Would Not Have My Beautiful Golden Man. Norman, U Made 'Moonstruck' The GREAT FILM. Script, Actors, Etc, NEEDED U DEAR NORMAN JEWISON LIVES ON THROUGH HIS WORK," Cher wrote, highlighting the profound impact Jewison had on her career and life.
The three-time Oscar nominee was posthumously honored with a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award in 1999. His passing was announced as "peaceful" by his publicist, Jeff Sanderson, though further details were not provided.
Throughout his distinguished career, Norman skillfully blended entertainment with significant, personally resonant themes.
His 1967 film, In the Heat of the Night, reflected his experiences traveling through the American South.
The movie, featuring Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier, delved into themes of racism and prejudice, sparking important conversations.
Norman once stated in his autobiography, "This Terrible Business Has Been Good to Me," that addressing racism is essential, despite the discomfort it might cause.
Norman's other notable works include the iconic Fiddler on the Roof and the Cold War satire The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming.
His collaboration with Denzel Washington on A Soldier’s Story and The Hurricane also stands out, though a planned biography of Malcolm X with Washington never materialized, as Jewison stepped down amidst concerns raised by Spike Lee and others about a white director helming the film. Lee eventually directed it.
Norman's personal life was marked by his long-lasting marriage to Margaret Ann Dixon, affectionately known as Dixie, with whom he had three children: Kevin, Michael, and Jennifer Ann, the latter following in her father's footsteps as an actress. After Dixie's passing in 2004, Jewison later married Lynne St. David in 2010.
Reflecting on his career, Norman once shared with The Hollywood Reporter, "I never really became as much a part of the establishment as I wanted to be... I wanted to be accepted. I wanted people to say ‘that was a great picture.’... But I never felt totally accepted — but maybe that’s good."
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511834/cher-shares-heartfelt-tribute-to-late-moonstruck-director-norman-jewison/
| 2024-01-23T00:09:35Z
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Nick Cannon recently shared a moving tribute to his late son, Zen, who tragically passed away from brain cancer in December 2021 at just five months old.
The 43-year-old artist took to social media to post an emotional video featuring Zen's mother, Alyssa Scott, 30, and their 13-month-old daughter, Halo.
In the heartfelt caption, the father of 12 wrote: "Zen’s Light and presence shining over little miss Halo and Mommy and Daddy! What a beautiful day to remind us all that there is a higher power and God’s Energy and frequency to keep us all going under his grace and mercy even in the midst of challenges."
The video captures a poignant family moment as they walked together on the beach during sunset, playfully interacting with Halo.
Zen's short life was marked by a battle with hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by fluid accumulation in the brain's cavities.
He was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and underwent urgent surgery. Despite initially surviving the operation, Zen's health declined around Thanksgiving, leading to his heartbreaking passing on December 5.
Reflecting on Zen's journey, Alyssa Scott previously shared on Instagram: "We knew since August that Zen's time on this earth would be limited.
“We knew he would not make it to see 6 months. I am eternally grateful he was in the arms of the people who loved him most."
She expressed her profound love and regret that Zen couldn't experience more of it during his time on Earth.
Nick echoed these sentiments, sharing, "One of my Spiritual Leaders recently told me that I am in the midst of one of the most challenging seasons of my life, but encouraged me to be steadfast and know that all of this will only make me stronger."
He acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, adding: "I can definitely use those prayers right now... Continue to Peacefully Rest My Son, Zen Scott Cannon. We Love You Eternally."
Nick, known for his expansive family, shares 12-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe with ex-wife Mariah Carey.
In addition to his children with Mariah and Alyssa, Nick has fathered eight other children with four different women: beauty pageant queen Brittany Bell; DJ and former radio personality Abby De La Rosa; reality star Bre Tiesi of Selling Sunset; and photographer LaNisha Cole.
With Brittany, Nick shares two sons, Golden Sagon and Rise Messiah, and a daughter, Powerful Queen.
His family with Abby includes two-year-old twin boys, Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, and their six-month-old daughter, Beautiful Zeppelin.
Bre Tiesi gave birth to their son, Legendary Love, in June 2022, and LaNisha Cole welcomed their daughter, Onyx Ice, in September 2022.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511835/nick-cannon-honors-late-son-zen-in-moving-tribute-with-daughter-halo/
| 2024-01-23T00:44:43Z
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Last month, the International Olympic Committee confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to compete at this summer’s Olympic Games. Sportsmen and women from these countries will have to compete under a neutral status, meaning their national flags will not be flown. Anthems of these countries will not be played, and the national colors of Russia and Belarus will also not be displayed. Finally, the ICO said Russian and Belarusian government and state officials will not be invited to the Olympic Games.
The announcement was seen as disappointing by many across the globe.
Over the past year, several countries in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania have opposed Russian and Belarusian participation at the 2024 Olympic Games due to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Over the past two years, the Russians have killed thousands of Ukrainians, and they have destroyed several Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, Belarus has allowed Russia to deploy Russian troops and store military equipment in its country, and Belarus has permitted Russia to fire rockets on Ukraine from its borders.
Despite the destruction and devastation caused by these two countries, athletes from Russia and Belarus will still be permitted to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games.
Given this decision, numerous countries have now toyed with the idea of boycotting the competition. For several months, these states have argued that Russians and Belarusians should be banned from the Olympic Games. Their statements were ignored, and now they have threatened the IOC with a boycott.
If countries throughout the world were not to participate in this summer’s competition, then the IOC would lose a lot of money. Television sponsors would end their broadcasting agreements and deals. This would result in a decrease in viewership, and this would generate little revenue for the IOC.
Ukrainian artists have created posters to boycott the 2024 Olympics
Now, countries must decide how they will proceed ahead of the competition. Ukraine has already publicly stated that it is considering a boycott. Ukrainian authorities have also said that the IOC cannot be neutral on the war.
To date, the IOC has supported Ukraine during the war, but the international sports organization has also decided that Russians and Belarusians would be allowed to participate in the Games.
What is more worrisome is that a large contingent of the men and women who are committing atrocities in Ukraine will also be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games.
According to Ukrainian news outlet Slidstvo, Russian Olympians have “regularly appear[ed] in public in military uniforms.” They also have received awards from the Russian military.
If these individuals are directly participating in Russia’s operations in the war against Ukraine, then why should their behavior be rewarded at the IOC? Competing with a neutral status will not limit Russian or Belarusian influence at the Olympic Games. Instead, it will be used as a propaganda point. Russian and Belarusian outlets will attempt to portray the situation as normal, and there will be a push to accept the current stage within Ukraine.
The Olympic Committee has a genocidal dictator problem – opinion
Should this summer’s competition continue as is, it could also spell a dangerous precedent. It would signal to other authoritarian rulers around the world that they can attack neighboring states without consequence. These countries could still be allowed to participate in various international organizations, trade on the global market, and engage in sporting activities. It would also cause panic in countries around the world that have neighbors who are either aggressive or who are stronger states. This could lead to further crises, and it would result in greater chaos around the world.
While it is understandable that the IOC is trying to separate sports from politics, the reality is that this cannot be done. Russia’s and Belarus’s activities in Ukraine and those participating in the war are too interwoven. Those engaged in military activities today may find themselves competing in sports activities this summer, and this comes at a time when at least 400 Ukrainian athletes have been killed during Russia’s unjust and brutal war.
Russia’s and Belarus’s activity in Ukraine is wrong, and they must be punished. The IOC still has time to make the right decision and prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in this summer’s Olympic Games. But with the competition being just six months away, time is running out.
Related:
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/23/appeasement-gets-an-olympic-gold/
| 2024-01-23T01:06:41Z
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After Polish truckers suspended their blockade of Ukraine’s border, checkpoints are restoring capacity, with about 5,000 trucks having already left for Poland, according to Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine’s Deputy PM for Recovery and the Minister of Infrastructure. He announced it on Facebook.
Farmers and truckers in Eastern European nations were holding their border-blocking protests, attempting to address local issues by disrupting imports to and exports from Ukraine, a nation currently facing the challenges of the all-out war and Russia’s genocide. The Polish truckers’ blockade lasted for two months and may resume on 1 March.
“Since the suspension of the blockade of the three crossing points Dorohusk-Yahodyn, Hrebenne – Rava-Ruska and Korczowa-Krakivets on 17 January, almost 5,000 trucks have already crossed into Poland. The largest checkpoint, Yahodyn, has already restored its capacity to 600 trucks per day. This figure is even higher than it was before the blockade. The number of trucks leaving through Krakivets and Rava-Ruska is growing,” Kubrakov wrote.
The minister says the fourth major checkpoint Nyzhankovychi – Malhovice is not operating at full capacity as it should pass 150 empty trucks daily.
- Polish truckers end Ukraine border blockade after two-month standoff
- Polish border blockade traps Ukraine’s critical military supplies, including drone components
- Over 3,700 trucks stranded amid ongoing blockade of Poland-Ukraine border
- Polish farmers halt border blockade at Medyka-Shehyni checkpoint for holidays
- Polish truckers resume Yahodyn-Dorohusk border blockade
- Third Ukrainian trucker dies due to Polish blockade of Ukraine’s border
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/23/minister-some-5000-trucks-left-for-poland-after-polish-truckers-suspended-border-blockade/
| 2024-01-23T01:06:46Z
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Exclusive
Military
Ukraine Air Force: Russian colonel, junior officers were on board of destroyed A-50 AWACS plane. The downing of Russia’s A-50 radar and command aircraft on 14 January resulted in the loss of an Air Force colonel and junior officers who were on board, per Ukraine’s Air Force spokesman.
Ukraine downs all eight Russian suicide drones in nighttime attack. Russia continues its Shahed suicide drone attacks: last night it targeted Ukraine’s center and south with eight drones, all were downed, injuring no one, according to Ukraine’s Air Force and regional authorities.
Ukrainian military deny role in deadly strike on market in Russian-occupied Donetsk. 28 people were killed and 30 more injured in a shelling attack on a market in Russian-occupied Donetsk, according to Moscow-installed authorities.
Intelligence and technology
Ukrainian Defense Minister: Ukraine to receive €611 million in Belgian military aid. Besides providing €611 million in military aid this year, Belgium has also undertaken a long-term pledge to keep supporting the modernization efforts of Ukraine’s defense forces in their fight against Russia’s invasion, per Ukraine’s Defense Minister.
Zelenskyy: Poland allocates Ukraine with new defense package. Poland will provide Ukraine with a new package of weapons, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 22 January on X (Twitter).
The Guardian: UK provides evidence of North Korea supplying arms to Russia. The UK has sent satellite images to a panel of UN experts of North Korean cargo shipments to Russia as proof that Pyongyang is violating international sanctions by providing weapons to Moscow for use in its invasion of Ukraine.
AI is key to Ukraine’s victory, says new analysis. Western experts argue that the development of AI in the Ukraine war is striking.
International
Zelenskyy’s top aide warns new wars may erupt in world if Putin wins in Ukraine. The Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office Andrii Yermak told Le Figaro that the world may face new wars if Putin defeats Ukraine.
Media: Latvian minister calls for sustained weapons supply for Ukraine. Latvian Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš said the West needs to realize Russia will not stop its war in Ukraine and take decisive steps to ensure Kyiv’s victory over the occupiers, as per The Guardian.
Political and legal developments
Zelenskyy signs decree acknowledging Russian territories historically populated by Ukrainians. According to the decree, Ukraine will make an action plan to preserve the identity of ethnic Ukrainians living in Russian territories after centuries of forced relocations and Russification policies.
Moldova accuses Russian troops in Transnistria of violations. Moldova accuses Russian peacekeepers in Transnistria of improperly operating drones and weapons during exercises, prompting a pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign claiming Moldova intends Transnistria’s forced reintegration, ISW says. Moldova sees the Russian military presence in its territory illegal
Humanitarian and social impact
Russia deports 17 Ukrainian children with disabilities from Donetsk Oblast, ombudsman says. Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said Russian ombudswoman for children’s rights Maria Lvova-Belova has once again facilitated the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.
Read our earlier daily review here.
As of 22 Jan 2024, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:
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- Personnel: 376860 (+830)
- Tanks: 6192 (+11)
- APV: 11489 (+23)
- Artillery systems: 8896 (+21)
- MLRS: 968
- Anti-aircraft systems: 657 (+2)
- Aircraft: 331
- Helicopters: 324
- UAV: 6961 (+25)
- Cruise missiles: 1819 (+1)
- Warships/boats: 23
- Submarines: 1
- Vehicles and fuel tanks: 11891 (+29)
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https://euromaidanpress.com/2024/01/23/russo-ukrainian-war-day-698-poland-announces-new-aid-package-to-bolster-ukraines-defenses/
| 2024-01-23T01:06:48Z
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NEW YORK – Tencent Holdings’ Riot Games plans to lay off 530 workers, or about 11 per cent of staff, according to a company blog and letter to employees.
“This isn’t to appease shareholders or to hit a quarterly earnings number – it’s a necessity,” the League Of Legends maker said on Jan 22 in the post, acknowledging that it had “more than doubled in headcount” over the last several years.
Chief executive officer Dylan Jadeja said in a memo that Riot Games has made “a number of big bets across the company”, including new games.
For its first 14 years, the company primarily operated League Of Legends, still one of the most popular video games of all time.
“Today, we’re a company without a sharp enough focus and, simply put, we have too many things under way,” he said.
Riot will reduce the size of the Legends Of Runeterra team, acknowledging that the game has not performed as well as it had hoped. New development work from Riot Forge, an internal game development subsidiary, will end after the February release of Bandle Tale: A League Of Legends Story.
Unity Software and Amazon.com’s Twitch have also cut jobs in recent weeks.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/league-of-legends-maker-riot-games-to-lay-off-530-or-11-of-staff
| 2024-01-23T01:14:00Z
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SYDNEY – Densely packed aircraft, little legroom and no free drinks. It is starting to look like the uncomfortable reality of global air travel for more and more passengers as airlines race to decarbonise.
The spartan cabins and fuss-free service of low-cost carriers appeared half a century ago, a makeover that made flying affordable to the masses. Since Southwest Airlines first took off from Dallas in 1971, dozens of budget peers including Ryanair Holdings, AirAsia and India’s IndiGo have emerged to take on more pricey legacy carriers.
With global air travel almost completely recovered from the pandemic, cutting emissions is once again the industry’s No. 1 challenge. The low-cost, low-luxury business model that democratised air travel in recent decades has now become an unlikely template for reducing pollution.
This is because budget airlines’ obsession with lowering weight in order to save fuel – by installing paper-thin seats, ripping out business-class thrones and ditching heavy extras like booze and blankets – also happens to produce the best emissions metrics in the skies.
The five airlines in the world that emit the fewest pollutants per passenger are all low-cost carriers, according to data from carbon-reduction advisory firm Envest Global.
Wizz Air Holdings, the Hungary-based carrier that mostly serves Europe and the Middle East, leads the pack. Major brands including Delta Air Lines, Cathay Pacific Airways and British Airways, which is owned by IAG, belch out almost twice the amount of emissions for every passenger they carry, the data shows.
It is grim news for those accustomed to turning left as they board their flights, the traditional path to roomy premium seats. With a 2050 deadline looming for aviation to reach carbon neutrality, the emissions data suggests that airlines, in fact, need to jam more passengers onto their aircraft, give them less space and cut back on food and drink to make flying sustainable.
“This low-cost model is aligned with the central elements of a low-carbon strategy,” said Envest Global chief executive officer David Wills. “Everything is designed to minimise fuel cost per passenger.”
Without an overhaul, aviation will not achieve its mid-century emissions reduction goals. Its share of carbon dioxide (CO2) output is set to balloon as other segments decarbonise – to an estimated 22 per cent by 2050 from about 2 per cent today if emissions are not cut fast enough. The aviation industry is “not on track” to hit its net-zero target, the International Energy Agency says on its website.
Looming threats
Airlines that fail to take sufficient action risk fines and tighter regulation. Fuel levies are already being rolled out in Europe, a jurisdiction that is leading efforts to make flying kinder to the environment.
Seats in the business- and first-class sections of aircraft cabins generate larger carbon footprints for their occupiers because they take up more space and are heavier than economy berths.
For example, a passenger in coach flying from Hong Kong to Singapore in an Airbus SE A350 would wrack up 170kg of emissions, according to the International Air Transport Association’s carbon calculator. The same trip in business class generates 682kg. A ride in premium economy produces 256kg.
Every extra passenger that airlines can squeeze into the plane, and every kilogram they can strip from the cabin, helps to cut each customer’s individual carbon emissions.
Budget carriers have turned this ruthless science into an art form. Ryanair in 2009 explored the idea of tearing out seats to create a standing cabin where more people could be packed in. Before the pandemic, Philippine budget carrier Cebu Air was moving kitchens and bathrooms on some of its new Airbus SE A330neos to cram in a record 460 seats. Low-cost carriers routinely fit out planes with non-reclining seats sans entertainment screens to cut down the weight of materials.
Dirty downside
It may be fuel-efficient, but the budget flight movement has also driven a boom in air travel demand because of the bargain ticket prices. Low-cost carriers were responsible for almost 90 per cent of growth in fuel use and CO2 emissions from United States airlines between 2005 and 2019, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). Fuel efficiency improvements by budget carriers just could not keep pace with their passenger growth, the ICCT said.
The task facing airlines, regulators and governments is to harness more widely the fuel efficiency of low-cost carriers and still keep a grip on demand-driven emissions, according to the ICCT. Burning smaller volumes of dirty fuel is critical because the aviation industry’s plan to switch to sustainable fuel is far from assured. Current production capacity of this cleaner-burning power source is barely 1 per cent of aviation’s global fuel requirements, and passenger numbers are projected to double from 2019 to more than eight billion in two decades.
“How can we nudge more airlines to adopt low-cost carrier efficiency measures while ensuring that lower fares don’t turbocharge demand?” said Dr Dan Rutherford, director of research at the ICCT.
It is time for more punitive measures, according to Dr Rutherford. There is “clearly” a need for policies such as a tax on frequent fliers or a price on carbon, he said. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/no-frills-flying-emerges-as-air-travel-s-painful-greener-future
| 2024-01-23T01:14:10Z
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HONG KONG – Shenzhen Gantang Mingshan Catering, the company behind popular Chinese restaurant chains including grilled fish diner Tanyu, is weighing an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong as soon as 2024, according to people familiar with the matter.
China International Capital Corp is working with the Shenzhen-based firm on preparations for a listing, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private.
GTMS, as the company is known, may seek to raise a few hundred million dollars in a share sale, the people said. It currently has a valuation of about 7 billion yuan to 8 billion yuan (S$1.3 billion to S$1.5 billion), one of the people said.
Considerations are ongoing and details of the IPO, such as the size and timeline, have not yet been finalised, the people said. Representatives for China International Capital and GTMS did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.
GTMS could be joining a handful of Chinese food and beverage companies in seeking listings in Hong Kong in 2024. Chinese hot-and-sour noodle chain Maliuji selected banks for a potential IPO, Bloomberg News reported in October. Ice cream and tea chain Mixue Group filed its pre-listing documents with the Hong Kong stock exchange earlier in January.
Founded in 2009, GTMS runs four brands, namely Chua Lam’s Dim Sum, Chua Lam’s Pho, Tanyu and Sajiao, according to its official website. It has opened more than 300 restaurants in 67 cities in China.
Tanyu has grown rapidly in recent years and now operates more than 260 outlets, including seven in Singapore, its website shows.
Mr Chua Lam is among the most famous food critics in Greater China and South-east Asia. Born in Singapore, he has spent most of his life in Hong Kong. The food critic designs the dishes at the namesake restaurant chains, according to its website. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/owner-of-grilled-fish-diner-chain-tanyu-mulling-hong-kong-ipo-sources-say
| 2024-01-23T01:14:21Z
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LOS ANGELES - Samsung Electronics is exploring the development of noninvasive glucose monitoring and continuous blood pressure checking, setting its sights on ambitious healthcare goals in a race with Apple and other tech giants.
The work is part of a broader push to put health features in a range of devices, including its just-announced Galaxy Ring, said Samsung executive Pak Hon, who is overseeing the effort. The company aims to eventually give consumers a complete picture of their well-being via sensors on different parts of the body and around the home.
Health tracking is already a key selling point of smartphones and watches, with Samsung, Apple and Alphabet’s Google using the features to attract and retain customers. Creating sensors for continuous blood pressure tracking and glucose monitoring would be particularly valuable breakthroughs. Apple has been working for years on a glucose reader that wouldn’t require users to prick their skin for blood - a potential boon for millions of diabetics.
“If we can do continuous blood pressure and glucose, we’re in a whole different ballgame,” Mr Pak, Samsung’s mobile digital health chief, said during an interview. “I think that’s where everyone is trying to get to. We’re putting significant investment toward that.”
He wouldn’t comment on a timeline for either feature, but said he hopes noninvasive glucose monitoring could come to the market in some form within five years.
The remarks follow Samsung’s announcement last week that it’s working on a ring with health sensors. The Galaxy Ring product is scheduled to be released before the end of 2024 and will come in a range of colours and sizes, Mr Pak said. The company is eyeing activity and sleep tracking for the ring, with more health features to come later.
Smart rings from companies like Oura offer an alternative for people who don’t like to wear a watch but still want to track their health metrics and sleep patterns.
Mr Pak said Samsung hasn’t finalised pricing on the Galaxy Ring, but - like the company’s Galaxy Watches - it probably won’t be compatible with Apple’s iPhone.
Developing a blood sugar monitor would be a more challenging task, but one that could have major rewards. Current products on the market typically require a blood draw or a prick in the skin. Apple has been working on a noninvasive approach since around 2010 and has since made major progress, Bloomberg News has reported. Even so, a product remains years away.
The two companies also are working to improve blood pressure monitoring. Samsung smartwatches have long offered the ability to determine a user’s blood pressure, but the monitoring isn’t constant throughout the day and requires calibration against a standalone blood pressure checker.
Mr Pak said Samsung is “evaluating all options” to improve its blood pressure features. The aim is to go longer without needing calibration. “We’ve been thinking long and hard about this,” he said.
Apple, meanwhile, is planning to add hypertension detection to its smartwatch later this year in a way that doesn’t require calibration but also doesn’t provide exact readings. Instead, the watch will inform users that they may have elevated blood pressure. Apple’s expansion into health technology hasn’t gone entirely smoothly. It recently pulled a blood oxygen feature from the Apple Watch after a legal setback in its patent dispute with Masimo Corp.
Mr Pak said traditional blood pressure readings aren’t “really that meaningful” other than showing a range of normal and abnormal. “Whether it’s Apple or others, I think we are trying to redefine blood pressure in a way that it was originally intended, which is: How much cardiovascular risk do you have?” he said.
Samsung also is exploring a range of different sensors for future versions of its earbuds. The company is studying new ways to measure body temperature and heart rates, adding that the ear is a closer pathway to the heart than the wrist. Data from the ear could be combined with wrist and ambient data to provide users with a more comprehensive picture of their health.
Mixed-reality headsets could be a new frontier for health as well, Mr Pak said. Apple is poised to release its first product in that market next week when the Vision Pro goes on sale for US$3,499 (S$4,695).
Meditation and mental health could be key areas for such devices, he said.
“We are right now looking at partnerships to address that,” Mr Pak said. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/samsung-races-apple-to-develop-blood-sugar-monitor-that-doesn-t-break-skin
| 2024-01-23T01:14:31Z
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Passengers happy SimplyGo move shelved, but observers point to LTA’s lack of preparedness
Observers say the shelving of SimplyGo plans also exposed issues with LTA's communication strategy.
Robot deliveries, unmanned 7-Eleven store at retail innovation hub
High-tech concepts at Esplanade Xchange's Hive 2.0 could eventually be rolled out to other MRT stations.
First islandwide Total Defence exercise to be held in February
Schools and public buildings will experience simulated food shortages and power cuts during the exercise.
Vizzio CEO’s fabricated credentials, inflated client list haunt start-up
Its founder and CEO Jon Lee admitted he did not have a computer science doctorate from Cambridge.
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Leveraging technology and software propels firms to be the fastest-growing in Singapore
That was the common thread in a list of 100 fastest-growing companies compiled by The Straits Times and Statista.
‘Chaotic working’ tops S’pore workplace trends in 2023, survey finds
Moonlighting came in second with 13 per cent, while 12 per cent of respondents reported being a boomerang employee.
Longer peak-hour commutes for some amid platform closures at 2 Circle Line stations
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If you have any feedback, please drop us an e-mail at st-newsletters@sph.com.sg
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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/morning-briefing-top-stories-from-the-straits-times-on-jan-23-2024
| 2024-01-23T01:14:42Z
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ABIDJAN - Egypt coach Rui Vitoria on Monday confirmed that the hamstring injury suffered by captain Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations would require a longer recovery period than first suggested as the forward prepares to return to Liverpool to undergo treatment.
The Egyptian Football Association announced on Jan 21 that Salah would go back to England to continue his recovery from the injury suffered in last week’s 2-2 draw with Ghana in Ivory Coast.
After initially ruling him out for two games, they said the hope was that the 31-year-old would return for the semi-finals, should Egypt make it that far.
However, an Egypt team source said they expected him to be out for 10 to 14 days.
Earlier, the player’s agent cast doubt even on that prospect in a post on X on Jan 22, just before the Pharaohs’ crucial final Cup of Nations group match against Cape Verde.
“Mohamed’s injury is more serious than first thought and he will be out for 21-28 days, and not two games,” Ramy Abbas Issa wrote on X.
“His best chance at participating in the current Afcon is by undergoing intensive rehabilitation in the UK and rejoining the team as soon as he is fit.”
Speaking after the Cape Verde game, which the Egyptians drew 2-2 to qualify for the last 16 with Salah in attendance, Rui Vitoria said: “I want to take this opportunity to clarify things.
“Mohamed Salah has an injury, which we learned before this game was a longer-term injury than we first thought, so we have had to prolong the amount of time before he can play again.
“Before the game we did not want to say anything. Meanwhile, everything was in the control of our excellent medical team,” he said, indicating that it made sense for Salah to go back to Liverpool given the Egyptian squad will now be leaving Abidjan in any case to play a last-16 tie in the city of San-Pedro.
“Given we were going to have to travel, given the temperatures, given that we were going to be going to a different city, maybe it makes sense that Salah should have a place he can go to recover as quickly as possible,” he said, while expressing annoyance at Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
“We didn’t want to alarm anyone. I didn’t think it was right for Liverpool, via any intermediary, to speak about this, because we had a tremendously important game today,” he said after Klopp suggested on Sunday that Salah would return to Anfield for treatment.
“Salah has always been with us. Now this game is over we will find the best solution for the treatment of the player. These are the facts. This is the situation,” said the Egypt coach. AFP
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ABIDJAN - Ghana coach Chris Hughton was again in the firing line on Monday after their participation at the Africa Cup of Nations looked to be at an end after a third group game without a win.
Ghana were on course for a top two finish in Group B with a 2-0 lead over Mozambique in their last match at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium but conceded two goals in stoppage time to draw 2-2 and finish third.
But with only two points from their matches Ghana are unlikely to take one of the berths in the last 16 and will have to wait until Wednesday to know whether they get one of the spots reserved for four of the best third-placed finishers.
“Things are very raw right now,” he said after the match as Ghana reporters demanded to know whether he would be fired or resign.
“There is a commotion outside. It’s an angry place at the moment,” he added as the Ghana players walked through a gauntlet of abuse in the media mixed zone.
“But when you are unable to see game through, it becomes very difficult. Our performances have not been good. We played three games, conceded two goals in each game and have ourselves in a difficult situation.”
Hughton, who was attacked by an angry fan last week after Ghana’s defeat in their opening group game against the Cape Verde Islands, the smallest of the 24 countries at the tournament in the Ivory Coast, said he took responsibility for the results.
“We had a group of players that really wanted to do well but the performance and results in these three games was not good enough. My impact on the team can only be judged by the results.
“This was the best opportunity we had to do well. We’ve had the players for a long period now to train together and we anticipated we would grow stronger the longer we went in the competition, but the fact is we haven’t. My assessment of my results is that they haven’t been good enough.”
Hughton said he was as angry and frustrated as any of the Ghanaian supporters.
“Anything past this moment is not for me to talk about,” he added when asked whether he thought he might be fired.
The 65-year-old former Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion manager took over as Ghana coach in March. REUTERS
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LOS ANGELES - Rising amateur star Nick Dunlap withdrew from this week’s PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines in California on Jan 22, saying he needs time to mull his future following his breakthrough professional victory at the weekend.
Dunlap became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since 1991 on Sunday when he clinched the American Express tournament in La Quinta, California.
The 20-year-old University of Alabama student said after the win he was uncertain if he would continue his amateur career or immediately jump to the PGA Tour.
In a statement on Monday, Dunlap said he was withdrawing from this week’s PGA Tour event outside San Diego to reflect on his options.
“After a life-changing last 24 hours, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Farmers Insurance Open,” Dunlap said Monday.
“I plan to return home to Alabama to be with family, friends and teammates. Thank you to Farmers Insurance and American Express for giving me these opportunities.”
Asked on Sunday about the possibility of turning professional following his one-shot win at the American Express, Dunlap said he was undecided.
“I don’t know,” Dunlap said. “I have to take a second to let what just happened sink in a little bit. That’s a decision that’s not just about me.
“It affects a lot of people, and obviously I’m going to try to enjoy this. It’s a conversation I need to have with a lot of people before I make that decision.” AFP
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BRUSSELS - Israel’s foreign minister sidestepped discussion of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a meeting with European Union counterparts on Jan 22, opting to show them aspirational videos of future infrastructure projects.
The minister, Mr Israel Katz, was in Brussels for discussions on the Middle East.
It was focused largely on the consequences of Palestinian armed group Hamas’ Oct 7 attack on Israel and Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza.
EU ministers were keen to stress their calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel as part of a comprehensive long-term peace settlement.
But the Israeli government has pushed back against such calls.
At the meeting, Mr Katz showed the ministers videos of an envisioned artificial island off the coast of Gaza and a rail network linking the Middle East to India, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and other EU diplomats said.
Mr Borrell made clear he was not impressed with the move.
“The minister showed us a couple of videos which had little or nothing to do with the issues we were discussing,” Mr Borrell told reporters, adding that he thought Mr Katz could have made better use of his time with his EU colleagues.
Diplomats said the videos were part of ideas presented by Mr Katz in a previous role and surprised others in the room.
The EU ministers also met separately with their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, as well as with Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki as they discussed both the current crisis in Gaza and the broader Middle East.
Peace paper
Ahead of the meeting, Mr Borrell sent a discussion paper to the EU’s 27 member countries, suggesting a roadmap to peace in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
At the heart of the plan is a call for a “preparatory peace conference” to be organised by the EU, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the League of Arab States, with the United States and United Nations also invited to be conveners of the gathering.
But the meeting on Jan 22 did not appear to shift Israel’s position a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed a hard line against any Palestinian state on the basis that it would pose “an existential danger” to Israel.
Nonetheless, Mr Borrell said he wanted to press ahead with international efforts to implement a two-state solution, although he did not spell out how this could be achieved if Israel continued to oppose it.
The last talks on such a solution collapsed a decade ago amid mutual mistrust and intransigence.
Israel’s massive aerial and ground offensive in small, densely populated Gaza has killed more than 25,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave’s health authorities.
Built-up areas have also been flattened and most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been made homeless.
Israel has said the war could go on for “many months” and it would not rest until Hamas was eradicated, all Israeli hostages freed and the Gaza Strip posed no more security threat.
On his way into the meeting, Mr Katz told reporters he wanted the EU to focus on efforts to crack down on Hamas’ network and to help free the hostages held by the militant group.
But Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said it was time for the international community to declare that a two-state solution was the only option and implement it.
“A moment of truth is upon us,” he said. REUTERS
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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pledged on Monday to take whatever measures were needed for the smooth operation of Ukrainian enterprises after the detention of a prominent banker caused an uproar in the business community.
In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said he had held "difficult" talks with prominent businessmen and was resolved to iron out the serious problems business people were confronting.
"The discussion was not easy. There are serious issues. There are indeed difficulties," Zelenskiy said.
"I have familiarised myself with all the details. And I have requested the necessary work be done to resolve all difficulties between government officials, businesses and law enforcement," he said.
But Zelenskiy added that Ukrainians in wartime had to remain united and committed to a common goal of thwarting Russia's invasion of their country, launched nearly two years ago.
"During wartime, we must be united by one task, the strength of Ukraine, the power of our society, our economy," he said.
All findings, he said, would be turned over to the National Security and Defence Council, which determines policy on defence matters.Business owners have expressed concern over the detention last week of Ihor Mazepa on allegations he engaged in an illegal acquisition of land north of Kyiv to proceed with construction of luxury housing.
Mazepa, whose company Concorde Capital has operated in Ukraine for some 20 years, was detained at the Polish border. His brother and other officials linked to his company were also detained.
He described his detention as an example of official pressure on Ukrainian businesses. He has been a frequent critic of law enforcement agencies and judges, accusing some of them of abusing their powers. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-23T01:15:34Z
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GAZA/DOHA - The United States on Jan 22 called for Israel to protect innocent people in hospitals, medical staff and patients as Israeli forces stormed one hospital and put another under siege as they advanced deep into western Khan Younis in Gaza.
Residents said the bombardment from air, land and sea was the most intense in southern Gaza since the war began in October.
Troops moved for the first time into Al-Mawasi district near the Mediterranean coast, west of Khan Younis, the main city in southern Gaza. There, they stormed Al-Khair hospital and arrested medical staff, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al Qidra told Reuters.
There was no word from Israel on the situation at the hospital, and the military spokesperson's office had no comment. The military said later that three Israeli soldiers were killed on Jan 22 in southern Gaza.
Mr Qidra said at least 50 people were killed on the night of Jan 21 in Khan Younis, while the sieges at medical facilities meant dozens of dead and wounded were beyond the reach of rescuers.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Jan 22 said Israel had a right to defend itself but added: "We expect them to do so in accordance with international law and to protect innocent people in hospitals, medical staff and patients as well, as much as possible."
Israel says Hamas fighters operate in and around hospitals, which Hamas and medical staff deny.
Israel launched an offensive last week to capture Khan Younis.
It now says the city is the principal headquarters of the Hamas militants responsible for the Oct 7 attacks on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas.
Israel’s offensive has killed more than 25,000 Gazans since Oct 7, the enclave’s health authorities said.
West Bank
International concern has mounted over the Palestinian death toll from Israel's assault on the densely populated enclave and a humanitarian crisis afflicting hundreds of thousands of people.
The US has urged Israel to reduce civilian harm in Gaza, called on it to stop violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and has said it still believes a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is possible.
In Brussels on Jan 22, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz sidestepped discussion of a two-state solution at a meeting with European Union counterparts, opting to show them aspirational videos of future infrastructure projects.
Israel has pushed back against calls for a Palestinian state, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed a hard line, saying any Palestinian state would pose "an existential danger" to Israel.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has circulated a discussion paper with a roadmap to peace that calls for a preparatory peace conference organised by the EU and Arab nations. The US and UN were also invited to be conveners.
Washington on Jan 22 called for an investigation and accountability "as appropriate" following the West Bank death on Jan 19 of a 17-year-old Palestinian American, who Palestinian health officials say was killed by Israeli security forces.
The Israel-occupied West Bank has seen a surge of violence in parallel to the Gaza war that erupted in October.
The American-born youth's uncle told Reuters he died during clashes with the Israeli military that included stone throwing by Palestinians. REUTERS
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WASHINGTON/WISCONSIN - US President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris on Jan 22 took aim at Republican curbs on abortion rights, a galvanising issue for Democrats that they hope will boost enthusiasm among their base, attract independent voters, and increase turnout in November.
Women in America face a new “cruel reality,” Mr Biden said, because of new laws curbing reproductive rights, ahead of a meeting on the topic at the White House on Jan 22. The day marks the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which recognised a woman’s constitutional right to abortion before that was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2022.
“Today in 2024 in America, women are turned away from emergency rooms,” forced to travel hundreds of miles to get healthcare or to plead in court for help, Mr Biden said, referring to state rules blocking women from receiving abortions when their lives could be at risk or for non-viable pregnancies.
“They turned a deeply private and painful matter into a public matter,” Mr Biden said of Republicans. “These extreme laws have no place, no place, in the United States of America.”
Ms Harris, kicking off a national tour on abortion rights in the key battleground state of Wisconsin, blamed former US president Donald Trump for helping reverse US abortion rights.
“The former president hand-picked three Supreme Court Justices because he intended for them to overturn Roe. He made a decision to take your freedoms and it is a decision he does not regret,” Ms Harris told a rally outside Milwaukee.
Trump’s picks shifted a court that had been ideologically deadlocked with four liberals and four conservatives to a solid conservative majority.
Wisconsin, which Mr Biden won by 20,600 votes over Trump in 2020, is considered crucial to Mr Biden’s reelection prospects. Trump is on track to be his top Republican rival again in 2024.
The Biden campaign is putting abortion rights front and center in 2024, and argues abortion access is a personal freedom that former Trump and Republicans are denying women. Anti-abortion advocates, with the backing of Christian evangelical groups, argue abortion ends the life of a human being and that stricter limits are needed at the state and national level.
Republicans have issued restrictive abortion laws in nearly two dozen states since the Supreme Court reversal of abortion rights.
“We are not yet done,” March for Life President Jeanne Mancini said in Washington on Friday.
On Jan 23, Mr Biden and Ms Harris, along with first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, will then make their first joint campaign appearance of 2024 at a rally for abortion rights in Virginia, where Democrats recently won control of the state legislature.
Democrats are holding events on Monday highlighting abortion rights in states that will decide the US presidential election in November, including a Phoenix, Arizona, mayor’s press conference and events with Pennsylvania’s members of Congress.
Polls show Mr Biden tied with Trump, as Mr Biden’s campaign battles voter concerns about his age, the economy and handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Democrats hope a threat of further curbs on abortion will bring voters to the polls in November.
“When candidates run on defending reproductive freedom, they win elections,” Mr Biden’s campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez said in a memo on Friday.
Linking abortion curbs to trump
A new advertising campaign, targeted at suburban women and young voters in election battleground states, focuses on the personal impact of abortion bans.
The first 60-second ad, “Forced”, features Dr Austin Dennard, an OB-GYN in Texas, who had to flee her state for an abortion.
Most opinion polls, including a Reuters/Ipsos poll in July, show a majority of US voters oppose presidential candidates who favour strict abortion limits. All seven statewide ballot initiatives to enshrine reproductive rights since 2022 have succeeded, including in conservative Ohio, Kansas and Kentucky.
Abortion rights groups are collecting signatures in Arizona, Nevada and Florida to put a reproductive rights amendment on the ballot in 2024 as well.
Republican presidential candidates are divided on proposals for a federal limit on abortion. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has urged Republicans to focus on finding consensus while Trump has changed his rhetoric on abortion as the Republican primary unfolds.
He has called for punishment for women who get abortions, saying he was “proud” of his role in overturning Roe, and has often taken credit for selecting the justices who overturned Roe, a decades-long dream of abortion opponents.
At the White House meeting, Mr Biden will “hear directly from physicians on the front lines of the fallout” and announce new steps to improve access to contraception and medical abortion, an official said.
The Department of Health and Human Services on Jan 22 said it was making it easier for health plans and sponsors to cover free contraception, as the law states, by including a broader range of Food and Drug Administration-approved contraception drugs and devices. REUTERS
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| 2024-01-23T01:15:54Z
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WASHINGTON – Nikki Haley can sustain her presidential campaign into the next round of Republican primaries even without a win in Jan 23’s contest in New Hampshire, the state’s Governor Chris Sununu said.
Mr Sununu, New Hampshire’s popular chief executive, endorsed Ms Haley for the GOP nomination and has campaigned extensively with her across the Granite State.
Ms Haley needs a strong showing there after finishing third in Iowa’s Jan 15 Republican caucus, behind former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
“Just showing a stronger performance than was in Iowa, that’s the most important piece right now and having less candidates in the race and defining it as a one-on-one race,” Mr Sununu said in an interview on Jan 21 with Bloomberg Television.
New Hampshire so far presents the strongest opportunity for Ms Haley – a former US ambassador to the UN – to upset Trump. This is due to the state’s more moderate electorate and the ability of undeclared voters to participate in the GOP primary.
Even so, a CNN poll released on Jan 21 showed Trump with 50 per cent support among likely Republican primary voters versus 39 per cent for Ms Haley.
Both candidates have seen an increase in support since a previous survey earlier in January, when Trump had the backing of 39 per cent of voters and Ms Haley registered at 32 per cent. DeSantis was at 6 per cent, the CNN poll found.
Mr Sununu dismissed characterisations that early contests in New Hampshire and Ms Haley’s home state of South Carolina were make or break for her presidential bid.
But he said she must notch wins in the Super Tuesday round of primaries on March 5.
Mr Sununu said Trump has sought to frame the early primaries as must-win contests because the former president wants to end the nomination race early.
“I don’t think any of these early states are must wins for Haley,” Mr Sununu said. “When you get to Super Tuesday, OK, now you really have to start winning states obviously. But as long as she keeps building on that momentum, I think there’s a lot of opportunity.”
Mr Sununu has long been a staunch critic of Trump. In the Bloomberg Television interview, he cited Trump’s loss in 2020 to Joe Biden and said that the former president has hurt the Republicans’ ability to win congressional races.
“Because of that Trump brand, we’ve lost in 2018 and 2020 and 2022,” he said. “We’re just tired of that brand that just drags the rest of the Republican Party down.”
Trump has begun to look ahead to the Feb 24 primary in South Carolina.
On Jan 20, in a jab at Ms Haley, Trump was joined at a New Hampshire rally by current South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and several state lawmakers, a day after announcing the endorsement of South Carolina US Senator Tim Scott.
Mr Sununu criticised Mr Scott for endorsing the former president over Ms Haley, who appointed Mr Scott to the chamber in 2012, when she was South Carolina governor.
“Tim Scott wouldn’t be a senator without Nikki Haley,” he said. “That’s why what he did was so disrespectful.” BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/haley-doesn-t-need-jan-23-win-to-sustain-presidential-bid-new-hampshire-governor-says
| 2024-01-23T01:16:05Z
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BOSTON - The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a leading Harvard Medical School-affiliated teaching centre, is seeking retractions of six studies and corrections on another 31 papers amid allegations that some of its senior researchers falsified data.
“We are committed to a culture of accountability and integrity,” Barrett Rollins, the institute’s research integrity officer, said in a statement. “Every inquiry is examined fully to ensure the soundness of the scientific literature.”
Claims of data manipulation by senior researchers were published earlier this month in a blog post on the “For Better Science” website. Sholto David, who blogs about research integrity, alleged that Dana-Farber Chief Executive Officer Laurie Glimcher as well as senior researchers William Hahn, Irene Ghobrial and Kenneth Anderson manipulated data and images across dozens of papers.
“The presence of image discrepancies in a paper is not evidence of an author’s intent to deceive,” Rollins said. “That conclusion can only be drawn after a careful, fact-based examination which is an integral part of our response. Our experience is that errors are often unintentional and do not rise to the level of misconduct.”
The authors and the institute were already reviewing some of the potential data errors before the blog was published, and have taken action in the vast majority of cases, Rollins said. In some cases, underlying data in question had been generated in other laboratories, he said, and investigations of three of the papers didn’t support the allegations of data anomalies.
Dana-Farber and its researchers have taken action on 37 of 38 manuscripts cited by David as of Jan 21, Rollins said. None of the authors responded immediately to requests for comment.
While Harvard Medical School doesn’t comment on individual circumstances, it’s fully committed to safeguarding the integrity of its research, a spokesperson said in a statement. “To that end, any concerns brought to our attention are reviewed thoroughly in accordance with our institutional policies and applicable regulations,” the spokesperson said.
The allegations add to the controversy Harvard University has been mired in for months. Accusations of plagiarism were among factors that led former president Claudine Gay to resign on Jan 2. Those claims of failing to attribute others’ work properly followed criticism of her response to antisemitism at the university.
Harvard last week said it pursued a fair and rigorous process to investigate allegations of plagiarism against Gay. The school released a description of its review process on Friday, when it was due to provide materials to a congressional committee investigating its handling of the plagiarism accusations.
More than 10,000 research articles were retracted in 2023 alone, a record, according to an analysis in the journal Nature. Attention to errors in academic work at elite institutions has increased since former Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne resigned from his post last year after questions arose about his biomedical research.
In recent years, retractions of scientific papers have escalated faster than the number of published papers. Organisations like Retraction Watch have brought increased scrutiny to the problem of misconduct in research. Technology like software that can hunt for plagiarism and image analysis using AI has also made it easier to spot fakes.
“While software advancements can reveal anomalies not previously detected, AI programs are not foolproof,” Rollins said. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/harvard-linked-cancer-centre-seeks-retractions-on-fake-data-allegations
| 2024-01-23T01:16:15Z
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WASHINGTON - The United States Supreme Court voted on Jan 22 to let the Biden administration remove concertina wire border barriers that Texas erected to fight illegal immigration from Mexico – a hot-button issue in this election year.
The barriers are the brainchild of Texas governor Greg Abbott, an outspoken supporter of former president Donald Trump, who is making immigration one of the key tools of his bid to retake the White House in November.
Mr Abbott has accused President Joe Biden of “deliberate inaction” as record numbers of Central Americans and people of other nationalities have streamed across the US-Mexico border in recent months.
In December 2023, a federal appeals court barred the Biden government from removing the concertina wire barrier from the banks of the Rio Grande near the town of Eagle Pass, except in case of a medical emergency.
In January, the Justice Department asked the Supreme Court to remove this injunction in an emergency application while the court considers the full merits of the case.
The court voted 5-4 on Jan 22, including the support of Chief Justice John Roberts, to side with the Biden administration.
Neither side gave reasons for their vote, which is common when the court decides on emergency petitions.
Mr Abbott has made national headlines by bussing immigrants to cities seen as traditionally liberal, such as New York, as part of his campaign to draw attention to what he calls Mr Biden’s failed border policy.
On Jan 11, the Texas National Guard seized control of a park in Eagle Pass that lies along the Rio Grande, a move that heightened tensions with the Biden administration.
The Justice Department has accused the governor of preventing federal border agents from doing their job by denying them access to the border, even in the event of an emergency, along a 3.7km stretch of the river. But Texas authorities refute this allegation. AFP
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| 2024-01-23T01:16:26Z
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Blake Shelton is redirecting his focus to his musical career amidst rumors of marital strife with his wife, Gwen Stefani.
The 47-year-old country music star and former The Voice coach is gearing up for his Back to the Honky Tonk Tour, which is set to commence next month.
Blake took to social media to share his excitement about the upcoming tour, highlighting his anticipation to perform alongside artists Dustin Lynch and Emily Ann Roberts.
"ONE MONTH until we go #BackToTheHonkyTonk!!! Can't wait to hit the road with @Dustin Lynch and @Emily Ann Roberts!!," he posted, alongside a promotional video for the tour.
Amidst this professional high, Blake and his wife Gwen, 54, have been noticeably spending time apart, fueling speculation about potential issues in their relationship.
The couple, known for their affectionate public appearances and collaborations, has recently been focusing on their individual business endeavors.
Gwen, a talented musician and fashion icon, is channeling her energies into her cosmetics line, GXVE Beauty.
She has made a significant move in this venture by filing a trademark application for GS Beauty Bar on November 13, 2023. Her trademark application describes a retail store dealing in professional beauty products, indicating a potential expansion of her business.
GXVE Beauty, launched in March 2022, has garnered considerable attention and is steadily growing its fan base.
However, the couple's separate focuses have raised concerns among fans about the state of their marriage.
In late December, Gwen's decision to remove all photos of Blake from her social media profiles prompted worried reactions from fans, with many inquiring about the status of their relationship.
"What happened to all the videos of you and Blake?" one fan asked, highlighting the noticeable absence of their shared content.
Adding to the speculation, Blake and Gwen spent New Year's Eve separately. While Blake performed at a pre-taped show in Nashville, Gwen hosted a party in Las Vegas.
In an interview with Access Hollywood, Gwen shared, "Well, it's funny because I was going to be at his show, and then Vegas called and wanted me to be in Vegas... Last year I did Vegas, and I was like: 'Remind me to never do Vegas again.' But you sometimes want to... not be the host."
Observations by body language expert Inbaal Honigan suggest a shift in the couple's dynamic.
Inbaal noted to HELLO! that Blake's recent tendency to keep his hands in his pockets during public appearances contrasts sharply with their earlier romantic interactions.
“For a man who formerly missed no opportunity to touch his beloved, this isn't a comforting sign,” she said.
During the CMT Awards, both Blake and Gwen's reserved body language, despite smiling, raised further questions. "Some couples are more tactile than others, and that is fine. But a couple who used to be all over each other and now aren't, are likely going through tough times romantically,” Inbaal concluded.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/511836/blake-shelton-admits-he-cant-wait-to-hit-the-road-amid-ongoing-marriage-speculation-with-gwen-stefani/
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HONG KONG – A Chinese car dealership that operated as many as 80 stores across the southern province of Guangdong went bankrupt last week, in a sign the intense competition that has roiled the world’s biggest auto market may extend into another year.
Salespeople from Guangdong Yongao Investment Group notified customers on Jan 17 that the company has collapsed and orders are suspended, while employees are waiting to be paid outstanding wages, Chinese media outlets including the National Business Daily (NBD) reported.
The dealership sold about half a dozen marques, including Honda, Volvo and Guangzhou Automobile Group’s electric vehicle brand Aion.
Photos shared on social media showed about 20 yellow tow trucks set to be dispatched on Jan 17, with users saying that these have been sent by banks to repossess vehicles.
Yongao’s ordeal shows how dealers are being squeezed on multiple fronts. High sales targets set by automakers are pressuring them to get cars out the door, while a slowing Chinese economy has seen many customers delay purchases in the hope of deeper discounts. Just over a third of the country’s car distributors were able to achieve their sales targets in 2023, according to the China Automobile Dealer Association.
The company said on Jan 19 that three years of Covid-19 curbs, changes in the auto market and insufficient risk controls have tipped it into a crisis, NetEase News reported, citing a statement.
Yongao has set up a management taskforce and will try to ensure car deliveries to customers, as well as pay outstanding wages. Some dealerships are closed and some vehicles have been moved as part of a contingency plan, according to the report.
There were signs of distress at Yongao as early as April 2023, when employees lodged complaints with the Dongguan government about the company withholding wages, NBD reported.
China’s passenger car sales have stagnated since 2017, when they reached a peak of 24 million vehicles. Deliveries for 2023 came to 21.7 million, according to the China Automotive Technology and Research Centre.
Yongao customers have been left with little information about what is going to happen to their cars. Mr Tan, who lives in the city of Dongguan and asked to be identified by only his surname due to privacy concerns, said he has not been contacted beyond a notification on Jan 17 that Yongao has gone bankrupt and the paperwork for his car will be suspended.
He bought a Lynk & Co 03 sedan in December but has been chasing the dealership for weeks to finish the registration paperwork and pay a 14,000 yuan (S$2,640) vehicle purchase tax. This has complicated plans to drive back to his home town for Chinese New Year in February, and he now needs to renew the temporary licence plate that is due to expire on Jan 28 to keep the car on the road.
He said he has been told to wait and see what possible government intervention can achieve for the situation.
“I feel angry and helpless,” he told Bloomberg News.
State broadcaster CCTV reported on Jan 19 that the Dongguan government has set up and dispatched a taskforce to Yongao’s offices to collect information. It will also follow up on vehicle delivery status and prioritise protecting the rights of consumers who have fully paid for their cars, it said. BLOOMBERG
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| 2024-01-23T02:46:19Z
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SINGAPORE – The value of China’s stock market has never been this far behind that of the United States as the losses continue to pile up in a seemingly relentless equity rout.
The market capitalisation of the US stock market is now US$38 trillion (S$51 trillion) greater than that of Hong Kong and China put together, a fresh record, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
“China offers value, but catalysts are just not there,” said Mr Michael Liang, chief investment officer at Foundation Asset Management in Hong Kong. “Meanwhile, the US market has momentum and economy on its side.”
The growing divergence comes as steep losses paint a troubling picture of global investor sentiment towards the world’s No. 2 economy. At the same time, US stocks have hit record highs, powered by a mega-cap technology rally amid optimism that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in 2024 and navigate a soft economic landing.
Chinese stocks have lost more than US$6.3 trillion in market value from a peak in February 2021. Over the same period, US equities have gained some US$5.3 trillion.
Investors have been underwhelmed by Beijing’s efforts to revive a economy struggling with deflation and an ongoing property crisis. But what began as a performance-driven exodus now risks becoming a structural shift due to doubts over Beijing’s long-term economic agenda and strategic competition with the US.
Bloomberg strategists wrote in a note that while China’s correction may seem overdone, “our simulations suggest the pain can continue”. They estimated that there is a 51 per cent probability of the MSCI China Index trading below its peak for an average of 35 months.
The rout has run for so long that some investors see potential for a technical rebound, given that valuations are now cheap. The sell-off has made the MSCI China Index 60 per cent cheaper than the US equity benchmark on earnings-based valuations, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
MSCI’s key gauge for Chinese equities is trading at about eight times of 12-month forward estimated earnings, while the same metric for the S&P 500 Index stands at 20 times.
For now, however, there is little end in sight to the dismal start to 2024 for Chinese equities. Less than a month into the new year, a gauge of Chinese stocks listed in Hong Kong has already lost 13 per cent, making it the worst-performing major benchmark global index. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/china-sell-off-leads-to-record-51-trillion-gap-with-us-stocks
| 2024-01-23T02:46:29Z
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MELBOURNE - Highlights of the 10th day of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Tuesday, all times local (GMT +11):
1308 - SINGLES QUARTER-FINALS ACTION UNDERWAY
Quarter-finals action in the singles draw got underway as scheduled on Rod Laver Arena, where U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff was taking on unseeded Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk.
It looks like being a hot day at Melbourne Park with the temperature already 25 degrees Celsius (78 Fahrenheit) and forecast to peak at 31 in the late afternoon.
Australian Open order of play on Tuesday
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https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/tennis/australian-open-day-10
| 2024-01-23T02:46:39Z
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Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his counterparts from Iran, Turkey and Lebanon ahead of the United Nations Security Council meeting on Tuesday due to discuss the Middle East, the Russian foreign ministry said.
The bilateral meetings focused on the Gaza Strip, Syria and "the tense situation" in the Red Sea, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app on Tuesday. The meetings took place in New York on Monday.
The ministry said Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian agreed on the need for a swift ceasefire in Gaza and conditions for providing humanitarian assistance to civilians.
"General concern was expressed about the tense situation in the Red Sea, which has sharply degraded," it said.
On Monday, the United States and Britain carried out an additional round of strikes against Yemen's Houthis over their targeting of Red Sea shipping, the Pentagon said.
Lavrov and Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib talked about the importance of collective efforts of countries in the region toward an immediate ceasefire, the ministry said.
Israel in recent days carried out reportedly the most intense bombardment in southern Gaza since the war began in October, prompting calls from Washington to protect innocent people in hospitals, medical staff and patients.
According to the UN agenda, the Security Council is to discuss "the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question."
Lavrov said on Thursday he will propose "collective efforts" at the meeting to solve the Middle East crisis.
With his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, Lavrov also discussed energy issues as well as "upcoming bilateral contacts."
In December, the Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin may visit Turkey in early 2024. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/russias-lavrov-talks-middle-east-with-iran-turkey-lebanon
| 2024-01-23T02:46:50Z
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Seven candidates to make a Wallabies comeback in 2024
The nightmarish memories of the Wallabies’ woeful Rugby World Cup campaign last year will live on in the minds of fans, players and coaches forever, but it can also be the catalyst for much-needed change.
The opportunity to start anew awaits Australian rugby and the Wallabies. Last week, Rugby Australia confirmed the appointment of world-class coach Joe Schmidt.
Schmidt is the Wallabies’ third head coach in as many years after both Dave Rennie and Eddie Jones, but sitting in the press conference room last Friday, something felt different about this appointment.
The former World Rugby Coach of the Year explained why he was “desperate” to help the Wallabies return to their former glory. But to do that, the Aussies need the right players.
Last year’s World Cup squad wasn’t the right mix. There were too many young players and not enough experience – the team needed to be better but was instead set up to fail.
As the Wallabies prepare to usher in a new era, there are multiple ‘candidates’ worthy of a Test recall if they can impress Joe Schmidt and the rest of the yet-to-be-announced coaching group.
These are the players that are capped Wallabies, who either didn’t feature at all last year or missed World Cup selection, that can mount international comebacks in 2024.
Darcy Swain (lock)
Darcy Swain is probably more well-known outside of Australian rugby circles for the wrong reasons. 2022 was an unforgettable year for Swain, and the lock hasn’t played for the Wallabies since.
Less than 10 Tests into his Wallabies career, Swain was shown a red card against England at Perth’s Optus Stadium in 2022. With the visitors ahead by three, the Australian was caught up in a scuffle with Jonny Hill – as the TMO promptly brought to the referees’ attention.
Swain, now 26, was seen sharing words with Hill before engaging in a bit of a scrap. But everything took a turn when it seemed to have calmed down. Swain head-butted Hill.
Months later, playing against the All Blacks at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, Swain hit New Zealander Quinn Tupaea around the knee – Tupaea is still yet to return to Super Rugby – and was shown a yellow card.
Swain returned to Test action against Italy in Florence later that year, but the second-rower hasn’t donned Wallaby gold since. Eddie Jones went in another direction.
But with a new coach, a new era awaits the Wallabies. Swain will be eager to impress after taking a backward step in 2023.
The Wallabies’ lineout was way off the pace last year. With Jones picking two big men in Will Skelton and Richie Arnold, Australia limited their options at the set-piece.
But Swain can change that. As one of the best lineout generals in the country, as well as a player who boasts an impressive work rate, the Brumby can help the Wallabies transform their set-piece into a strength.
Harry Wilson (backrow)
In 2020, then-Crusaders coach Scott Robertson professed his rugby love for rising star Harry Wilson. The Reds backrower had long been touted as a star of the future, too.
Robertson, who is now the All Blacks head coach, said he’d “officially fallen” for Wilson after Queensland’s dominant 41-17 win over the Bulls in Brisbane.
Wilson went on to play seven Test matches under former Australian coach Dave Rennie, but Eddie Jones couldn’t find a place for the youngster in his Wallabies plans.
For a player who had starred at all levels of rugby – including winning Queensland Premier Rugby’s Player of the Year and impressing with the Junior Wallabies, both in 2019 – Wilson was suddenly in the Test rugby wilderness.
Reds teammate and longtime friend Fraser McReight is now almost certain to play for the Wallabies under coach Schmidt, and Brumbies backrower Tom Hooper also impressed after debuting in Wallaby gold last year. Then you have Rob Valetini at the back who is one of Australia’s best.
Wilson is now on the outside looking in, and it’ll be tough to change that. But the Reds’ two-time Player of the Year is a special talent and that won’t go unnoticed for long.
Tom Hooper, in particular, appears to be a step ahead in the race for the Wallabies’ No. 6 jersey. But with a new coach at the helm, the chance to start again awaits.
Wilson has a big future with the Wallabies and another strong year at Super Rugby level will show why.
James O’Connor (flyhalf)
James O’Connor was supposed to be the next big thing for the Wallabies. After bursting onto the scene as a teenager, the sky was seemingly the limit for the Queenslander.
While O’Connor has had some famous moments in a Wallabies jersey – who can forget that kick to beat the All Blacks in Hong Kong – it seems that his international career may be over.
But never say never.
O’Connor, 33, has re-signed with Queensland and Australian rugby until the end of 2024, and while it’s an outside chance, the Wallabies could be a lot worse than recalling the veteran.
The Wallabies’ flyhalf situation at last year’s World Cup was shocking. That’s nothing on the players selected, but the team needed experience, leadership and poise.
James O’Connor could’ve been that guy – but better yet, he still could be.
While that may sound like a left-field suggestion, remember that O’Connor started at flyhalf during Dave Rennie’s reign in 2022. Sure, it was a big loss to Argentina away, but one bad performance shouldn’t spell the end for someone of O’Connor’s talent.
Just watch him in Super Rugby this year. Time after time, year after year, O’Connor has been a leader for the Reds and he can be that for the Wallabies – be that at No. 10 or 12.
Lachlan Lonergan (hooker)
Of all the players that were left out of Eddie Jones’ Rugby World Cup squad last year, the absence of both Lonergan brothers was among the puzzling omissions.
Ryan Lonergan was sensational as a halfback with the Brumbies in 2023, and Lachlan Lonergan had also impressed as a hooker on the rise.
The former Junior Wallabies star debuted at Test level off the bench against France in 2021, but has at least so far failed to cement his place in the national team – a turnstile of coaches will make that difficult, though.
Lonergan scored the match-winning try against Wales at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in 2022 – Dave Rennie’s final Test in charge – in what was also his last match in Wallaby gold up until this point.
Former coach Eddie Jones preferred David Porecki, Jordan Uelese and Matt Faessler. By the time the next World Cup rolls around, Lonergan could very well start ahead of all three.
Lonergan is just that good. With a reliable output at the set-piece, as well as some telling involvements around the park, the Brumby is a missing piece of the Wallabies’ puzzle to redemption.
Len Ikitau (centre)
Quade Cooper and Michael Hooper. Everyone couldn’t believe that both veterans missed out on last year’s World Cup squad – so much, that the absence of others almost went unnoticed.
Len Ikitau was injured during The Rugby Championship, but the centre was still widely considered a certainty for the Wallabies squad as he tracked towards a recovery.
But when the squad was named, there was no room for Ikitau. That selection cost the Wallabies in a big way, too, as coach Jones struggled to nail down exactly who his first-choice No. 13 was.
Queenslander Jordan Petaia had a go with mixed results, and former NRL wing Izaia Perese was also handed a start against Portugal. But neither player stood out.
There’s no question that Ikitau would’ve done a better job over in France.
As one of the best defensive centres in the world – certainly on the cusp of world-class status – Ikitau is the type of player Joe Schmidt should want to build the backline around.
If Len Ikitau doesn’t play Test rugby this year then questions will need to be asked about whether the Wallabies actually want to win. He’s just that important.
Noah Lolesio (flyhalf)
The Carter Gordon experiment failed in France. With coach Jones picking just one flyhalf, the then-five Test Wallaby couldn’t deliver what was asked of him on the sport’s biggest stage.
It was unfair to expect so much of Carter Gordon so soon. It wasn’t even a sink or swim situation, it was more like throwing a Hail Mary with a rock to a teammate 60 metres away.
Gordon is a talent, and he has a bright future in Wallaby gold, but there’s nothing wrong with the Rebels playmaker taking a backwards step to learn in 2024. That’s what Noah Lolesio did.
Just like Gordon, Lolesio experienced a similar initiation to Test rugby.
There was plenty expected of Lolesio – who has started 13 Tests – and it seemed the pressure got to him. In the end, coach Jones decided to go in another direction by overlooking the playmaker completely in 2023.
But this is Noah Lolesio we’re talking about – the same player who led the Brumbies to a drought-breaking Super Rugby AU crown a few years ago. The kid can play.
Following a stint overseas with Toulon on a Joker deal, Lolesio is back with the Brumbies ahead of Super Rugby Pacific. With the Wallabies’ No. 10 jersey very much up for grabs, another strong domestic season should propel Lolesio to international honours.
Quade Cooper (flyhalf)
The third and final flyhalf on this list is none other than Quade Cooper – New Zealand’s favourite Wallaby. Much like James O’Connor, it seemed that Cooper had played his final Test in Wallaby gold, but the playmaker has instead signalled an intent to return to the Test arena.
With three playmakers to choose from on this list – and that doesn’t include Bernard Foley, who would have to be deemed an outside chance at best – Joe Schmidt has options.
It’ll just come down to whether Schmidt wants an experienced No. 10 back in the mix. Cooper is an all-time Wallabies great and there’s no denying that he could do a reliable job once again.
At least as a way to help younger flyhalves grow leading into the British and Irish Lions Tour next year, having someone of Cooper’s calibre would be invaluable to a rebuilding national team.
But, it must be said that of all the names on this list, Quade Cooper seems the most unlikely to return to the Wallabies in 2024.
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https://www.rugbypass.com/news/seven-candidates-to-make-a-wallabies-comeback-in-2024/
| 2024-01-23T03:18:12Z
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Swimming legend Michael Phelps, celebrated as the most decorated Olympian in history, has joyously welcomed his fourth child into the world.
The 38-year-old athlete and his wife Nicole Johnson, also 38, announced the arrival of their son Nico Michael Phelps in a heartwarming Instagram post on Monday, accompanied by an endearing family photo.
In the shared image, a shirtless Michael stands proudly beside Nicole, cradling their newborn son.
The caption of the post revealed the baby's birth date: "@mrs.nicolephelps and I wanna welcome Nico Michael Phelps to the world. Born on 1/16."
Michael expressed his gratitude and joy, adding, "We're so blessed to be given a 4th child. We're now a family of 6!" along with several laughing emojis. The couple is also blessed with three sons: Boomer, aged seven, Beckett, five, and Maverick, four.
Their announcement was met with a flurry of congratulatory messages from family, friends, and followers.
Michael's sister, Hilary Phelps, expressed her excitement, commenting, "Alexander and I cannot wait to meet him sending you all so much love and blessings on the newest arrival!"
Celebrities like Travis Barker's ex Shanna Moakler and tennis legend Caroline Wozniacki joined in with heartfelt messages and emojis.
Fans also joined in the celebrations, with one admirer humorously noting, "The Phelps relay is complete!!! A whole relay team! Congrats!"
Another fan praised Michael's achievements both in and out of the pool: "He managed to win everything in the pool and now he wins it outside it too by having a lovely family of 4 little boys."
Nicole had first announced their fourth pregnancy on their seventh wedding anniversary last October, sharing a series of personal photos on Instagram.
Among these was a touching snapshot of Nicole cradling her baby bump during a Ravens vs. Arizona Cardinals game, alongside Michael.
Michael, who has openly discussed his battles with depression and anxiety, has frequently spoken about the joys and challenges of fatherhood.
He cherishes daily family dinners, a tradition he longed for as a child. "As a kid, I always wanted to have dinner as a family but with my parents separated, that didn't happen often," he shared with People in 2021.
"I love how we have dinner every night together at the same exact time."
He has also commended his sons for openly discussing their emotions, seeing it as a hopeful sign for their future. "It gives me a lot of hope. I just want them to be as prepared as they can be," he told the outlet.
Nicole revealed how the family navigates days when Michael struggles, teaching their children the importance of emotional awareness and empathy. "We don't hide from emotions. We teach them that daddy or mommy is having a moment and we need to either give them space or ask if they want a hug," she explained.
Michael reflects on parenthood as a journey that has taught him patience and admits there is no manual for it. "It is difficult, but you just figure it out and make it work," he added. "That is what you do as parents. There is no manual on how to do it. You figure it out along the way."
The couple's love story has been a journey of its own. Having met at the ESPYs in 2007, they experienced a brief separation in 2012, reconciled in 2014, and got engaged in 2015. Their first child was born a year later, followed by their marriage in 2016, celebrated with three separate ceremonies.
After Michael's participation in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, he announced his retirement from professional swimming. Their family grew with the birth of their second son, Beckett, in 2018. Michael had expressed hope for a daughter, saying, "We would love a girl. Love, love, love a girl." Despite this, they welcomed another boy, Maverick, in 2019, further expanding their joyous family.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox.
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/511837/michael-phelps-welcomes-fourth-child-and-their-name-is-adorable-photos/
| 2024-01-23T03:31:22Z
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Once upon a time, a rangy military commander told Napoleon Bonaparte that he was uncomfortable about being taller than his leader. Apparently, Napoleon replied, “You may be taller, but I am greater.”
Napoleon himself was 1.7 meters (5 foot 7 inches), while other historical dictators were also fairly wee – Stalin was 1.65 meters (5'5"), Franco was 1.62 meters (5'4"), and Hitler was 1.73 meters (5'8"). But is the so-called Napoleon complex real? Do shorter men compensate for their lack of height with aggressiveness and selfish behavior? Well, new research suggests they might in quite a subtle way.
A new study, published by the Association for Psychological Science, suggests that while they aren’t more likely to be physically aggressive face to face, small men are more likely to be indirectly aggressive when in competition for resources with taller men.
As the researchers note in their paper, previous research has shown that tall men do seem to have an advantage in life. They are generally healthier and better educated, have a higher social standing at work, are more likely to hold positions of power, and are generally seen as more attractive. It's fair enough that short men might be feeling a little inadequate.
To conduct their study, the researchers used a series of games. First, they conducted a pilot study, using both men and women. The participants filled in a questionnaire about whether they ever felt small, and then mingled with one another to get a sense of each other’s heights. They then played the Dictator Game. This involved sitting in an isolated cubicle and being given eight €1 coins in an envelope. They were told they could take as many coins as they liked, and any left behind would be given to other participants. They found that when men felt small, they took more coins, but the same effect was not found for women.
Next, 21 pairs of men played the Dictator Game against each other. They were introduced before the game and told they were each other’s opponents. They were given chips representing 10-cent coins and could decide how many they kept for themselves. They then played another game – the Ultimatum Game – which was similar to the Dictator Game except the players could see how much money their opponent had allocated to them and accept or reject the offer. Rejection led to neither participant receiving any money.
The researchers found that short men were more likely to keep more money if their opponent was taller only in the Dictator Game. The shortest men kept an average of 14 out of 18 coins for themselves, but the tallest man only kept nine.
However, smaller men weren’t greedier in the Ultimatum Game, nor were they aggressive in another game that involved spiking their opponent’s drink with hot chili sauce.
Therefore, the researchers concluded that short men are more likely to alter their behavior to secure resources when they feel physically less competitive, but only when there are no repercussions.
So, short guys might not be more aggressive to your face, but they might try and sneakily get ahead if they’re feeling a bit small.
[H/T: New Scientist]
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https://www.iflscience.com/short-men-really-are-more-aggressive-but-not-in-the-way-you-think-47613
| 2024-01-23T03:39:57Z
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The passing of David Bowie eight years ago at the age of 69 left a profound impact on the music world, leaving fans and the industry alike in a state of mourning.
Amidst the widespread sorrow, David's only daughter, Alexandria, known affectionately as Lexi Jones, faced her own personal struggles.
Now 23, Lexi, whose mother is David's widow and iconic supermodel Iman, 68, has opened up about her emotional journey following her father's death.
In a deeply personal online article, Lexi shared her experiences of coping with the immense loss.
"I confused living life with surviving life's days by filling my body's bottomless void, drowning myself in toxins and poison," she expressed.
Her words reflect a tumultuous period marked by harmful actions and a sense of isolation, as she grappled with the pain of losing her father.
"I've hurt the ones I loved most with hateful words to make them feel at least a little bit of the pain I went through every day," Lexi admitted, acknowledging the drastic change from the "sweet and gentle little girl" she once was.
Raised in New York by David Bowie and Iman, Lexi's upbringing was undoubtedly unique, being the daughter of two global icons.
However, the challenges she faced in her mental health journey are universally relatable. As an artist, Lexi has found solace and a way to navigate through dark times.
"Art has always been a coping mechanism to get out of dark places," she stated, revealing the therapeutic power of creativity in her life.
Lexi's family also includes her half-brother, Duncan Jones, 52, a film director whose mother is Angie Bowie, 74, David Bowie's first wife.
Originally named Zowie Bowie to rhyme with his father's stage name, he adopted the name Duncan at the age of 18.
Get the lowdown on the biggest, hottest celebrity news, features and profiles coming out of the U.S. Sign up to our HELLO! Hollywood newsletter and get them delivered straight to your inbox. Davi Bowie
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https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/511838/david-bowies-daughter-lexi-jones-reveals-the-personal-turmoil-she-went-through-after-her-fathers-death/
| 2024-01-23T03:57:39Z
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SYDNEY - Australia has pinned a crippling 2022 cyber attack on a Russian citizen, announcing on Jan 23 a series of “unprecedented” sanctions targeting the newly unveiled 33-year-old hacker.
Anonymous hackers carried out one of Australia’s worst data breaches in November 2022, stealing sensitive medical records from one of the country’s largest private health insurers.
Among the 9.7 million customers impacted by the high-profile cyber attack was Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Australian intelligence agencies have long suspected criminal Russian hackers were behind the breach, which has previously been linked to the notorious REvil collective.
Following an 18-month investigation, Australia has now taken the rare step of naming the individual believed responsible: Aleksandr Gennadievich Ermakov.
“This is the first time an Australian government has identified a cyber criminal and imposed cyber sanctions of this kind and it won’t be the last,” Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil told reporters.
“These people are cowards and they’re scum bags,” she added.
“They hide behind technology and today the Australian government is saying that when we put our minds to it, we’ll unveil who you are, and we’ll make sure you are accountable.”
The Medibank hackers started leaking private health records on the Dark Web after the company refused to pay a multi-million dollar ransom.
The first leaks were selected to cause maximum harm: targeting records related to drug abuse, sexually transmitted infections, or pregnancy terminations.
“Medibank in my view was the single most devastating cyber attack we have experienced as a nation,” Ms O’Neil said on Jan 23.
“We all went through it, literally millions of people having personal data about themselves, their family members, taken from them and cruelly placed online for others to see.”
‘Hack the hackers’
Australia beefed up its cyber-security laws in the wake of the Medibank attack, pledging that the country’s intelligence agencies would proactively “hack the hackers”.
In a taunting and cryptic reply posted to the Dark Web, the hackers responded: “We always keep our word.”
Ermakov, who used the online aliases blade_runner and JimJones, would now be targeted by a travel ban and strict financial sanctions, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said.
“This will mean it’s a criminal offence, punishable with up to 10 years imprisonment, to provide assets to him – or to use or deal with his assets,” she told reporters.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia’s intelligence agencies had tracked down Ermakov with the help of the National Security Agency in the United States, and GCHQ in the United Kingdom.
“Ermakov doesn’t have anonymity,” he said.
“We have named him for the first time globally. And his identity is now on display for every agency around the world.”
REvil – an amalgam of ransomware and evil – was reportedly dismantled by the Russian authorities in 2022, after extracting a US$11 million (S$14.7 million) ransom from JBS Foods, a major food conglomerate. AFP
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australian-spy-agencies-say-russian-citizen-behind-cyber-attack
| 2024-01-23T04:18:39Z
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BEIJING - The death toll from a landslide in China's Yunnan province rose to 11 on Tuesday as rescue workers battled freezing temperatures and snow to locate dozens of missing people.
Rescuers worked through the night sifting deep mounds of earth at the site of the landslide in Zhenxiong County, state-owned China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.
One rescuer said large machines cannot be used due to the unstable soil, according to a report from local media outlet The Cover, owned by the Sichuan Daily Newspaper Press Group.
"If the excavation is unloaded below, the top may continue to collapse. It is difficult to carry out large-scale mechanical operations, and it is very difficult to rescue on site," the worker was quoted as saying in the report.
After the landslide hit on Monday, at least 47 people from 18 households were reported missing, CCTV said. Eight of the missing were found dead on Monday afternoon, according to Zhaotong Daily, a local state-owned media outlet.
Another two people were hospitalized for head and body injuries, the national health commission said.
The landslide hit two villages in the southwestern city of Zhaotong at about 5:51 a.m. (2151 GMT), covering houses in brown mountain soil at the foot of a hill, CCTV reported.
"The mountain just collapsed, dozens were buried," a man surnamed Gu, who witnessed the landslide, told the state-owned TV station for the neighbouring province of Guizhou. Gu said four of his relatives were buried under the rubble.
"They were all sleeping in their homes," he said.
More than 500 people were evacuated from their homes, CCTV said.
Officials told a press conference on Tuesday the landslide was triggered at a steep cliff area at the top of a mountain slope. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/death-toll-in-china-landslide-rises-to-11-rescuers-still-search-for-missing
| 2024-01-23T04:18:50Z
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SYDNEY - New Zealand will deploy a six-member defence team to the Middle East as part of an international coalition to uphold maritime security in the Red Sea, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Tuesday.
The United States and Britain have been carrying out air strikes against the Iranian-allied Houthi group in Yemen, who have been targeting civilian ships in the Red Sea for weeks in what they say is a protest against Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
"Houthi attacks against commercial and naval shipping are illegal, unacceptable and profoundly destabilising," Luxon said during a media briefing.
"This deployment ... is a continuation of New Zealand's long history of defending freedom of navigation both in the Middle East and closer to home."
U.S. and British forces carried out a fresh round of strikes on Monday, targeting a Houthi underground storage site as well as missile and surveillance capabilities, the Pentagon said.
The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping and stoked fears of global inflation. They have also deepened concern that fallout from the Israel-Hamas war could destabilize the Middle East.
No New Zealand defence personnel will enter Yemen or get involved in any combat but will contribute to the collective self-defence of ships in the Middle East, in accordance with international law, Luxon said.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand's actions should not be conflated with its position on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
"Any suggestion our ongoing support for maritime security in the Middle East is connected to recent developments in Israel and the Gaza Strip, is wrong," Peters said.
New Zealand has been calling for a humanitarian truce, humanitarian pauses and the urgent need for further steps towards a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/new-zealand-to-send-defence-team-to-support-red-sea-security
| 2024-01-23T04:19:00Z
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MANILA - Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said the country will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into a brutal anti-narcotics campaign carried out under his predecessor, reiterating the international body has no jurisdiction.
The government is monitoring ICC investigators, and its agencies will not assist in any probe,the Inquirer newspaper posted on X social media, quoting Marcos. REUTERS
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/philippines-will-not-cooperate-with-icc-probe-into-drugs-war-president
| 2024-01-23T04:19:10Z
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KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia’s anti-graft agency on Jan 23 charged former finance minister Daim Zainuddin’s wife for not declaring her assets.
These include the 60-storey Ilham Tower building in the capital Kuala Lumpur that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) seized in December.
The court set bail at 250,000 ringgit (around S$70,850), demanding a surety and for Nai’mah Abdul Khalid to surrender her passport. The court fixed March 22 for mention.
The MACC is also investigating Daim.
On Jan 10, MACC officers summoned Naimah and the couple’s two sons to record their statements.
Naimah claimed her husband had been persecuted for his successes and that there was a plot to make it seem that he was corrupt.
The MACC had previously said the probe against Daim is based on existing laws and information from a leak of confidential financial information dubbed the Pandora Papers. BLOOMBERG, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-ex-finance-minister-s-wife-charged-in-graft-probe
| 2024-01-23T04:19:21Z
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The Indonesian authorities have advised residents living close to Mount Merapi on the island of Java to stay clear of designated danger zones as volcanic activity continues.
Mount Merapi spewed hot clouds in the early hours of Jan 23, Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said in a post on X.
Similar activity was reported on the morning of Jan 19, when six hot cloud avalanches occurred, according to the Antara news agency.
On Jan 21, Merapi erupted, sending clouds of gas into the sky.
A mixture of rock and lava travelled 2km down the volcano’s slopes, said Dr Agus Budi Santoso, head of Indonesia’s Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Centre (BPPTKG).
Ash also blanketed several nearby villages, he said.
No casualties were reported. But residents living on the slopes of the volcano were advised to stay 7km away from the crater’s mouth, media reports said.
On Jan 22, Indonesian President Joko Widodo officially inaugurated four evacuation routes for communities near Merapi.
The roads, including in Sukomakmur and Petung Pakis, “are now completed”, President Jokowi, as he is commonly known, said during his visit to the city of Magelang, as reported by Antara.
The Indonesian government set aside 14.6 trillion rupiah (S$1.25 billion) in the national budget for road repairs and construction in 2023, a Jakarta Globe report said. For Central Java, the region where Merapi is located, a total of 1.36 trillion rupiah has been set aside to repair and build 40 road segments, it added.
Mt Merapi is Indonesia’s most active volcano. The mountain, about 2,970m tall, is around 30km from Yogyakarta.
Around a quarter of a million people live within a 10km radius from the volcano, which sits on fertile soil – largely due to the ash from its eruptions.
During its last major eruption in 2010, more than 300 people were killed and 20,000 displaced.
Merapi’s alert level is currently at the second-highest, according to BPPTKG’s website.
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https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/volcanic-activity-continues-at-indonesia-s-mt-merapi-after-weekend-eruption
| 2024-01-23T04:19:31Z
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SHANGHAI - Chinese authorities are considering a package of measures to stabilise the slumping stock market, according to people familiar with the matter, after earlier attempts to restore investor confidence fell short and prompted Premier Li Qiang to call for “forceful” steps.
Policymakers are seeking to mobilise about two trillion yuan (S$377 billion), mainly from the offshore accounts of Chinese state-owned enterprises, as part of a stabilisation fund to buy shares onshore through the Hong Kong exchange link, said the people.
They have also earmarked at least 300 billion yuan of local funds to invest in onshore shares through China Securities Finance Corp. or Central Huijin Investment, the people said.
Officials are also weighing other options and may announce some of them as soon as this week if approved by the top leadership, the people said. The plans are still subject to change. The China Securities Regulatory Commission didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The deliberations underscore the elevated level sense of urgency among Chinese authorities to stem a sell-off that sent the benchmark CSI 300 Index to a five-year low this week. Calming the nation’s retail investors, many of whom have been bruised by the protracted property downturn, is also seen as key to maintaining social stability.
Whether such measures will be enough to end the rout is far from certain. The property crisis, depressed consumer sentiment, tumbling foreign investment and diminished confidence among local businesses after years of volatile policymaking are exerting strong downward pressure on both the economy and financial markets. Past efforts to shore up the stock market, most notably in 2015, proved insufficient at best and at times counterproductive. Authorities have also been reluctant to roll out major economic stimulus of the sort that many equity investors have called for.
At a State Council meeting on Jan 22, chaired by Premier Li, China’s cabinet received a briefing on the operations of the capital markets as well as considerations for related work, according to an official statement, which didn’t provide more details on what Beijing is mulling.
“It sounds like something had been readied in response to the recent equity rout,” said Neo Wang, managing director for China research at Evercore ISI in New York. “The market was poor enough to warrant such elevated attention - China cannot afford to see A-shares sinking toward the Lunar New Year holidays,” he said, referring to domestically listed Chinese stocks and the upcoming mid-February break.
More than US$6 trillion has been wiped out from the market value of Chinese and Hong Kong stocks since a peak reached in 2021, underscoring the challenge that Beijing faces as it seeks to arrest a decline in investor confidence.
Confidence in China’s markets has been hurt over the past years by President Xi Jinping’s growing control over private enterprise, which has included a crackdown on the country’s tech giants. International banks who were planning a massive expansion in the country are now tempering their ambitions to build platforms in the world’s second-largest economy.
During the 2015 rout, Beijing tapped China Securities Finance Corp. as its main stabilisation vehicle by allowing it to access as much as 3 trillion yuan of borrowed funds from sources including the central bank and commercial lenders. The money was used to buy stocks directly and provide liquidity to brokerages. Even so, the turbulence didn’t end until a year later.
This time, officials are seeking to use offshore money to minimise impact on an already weakening yuan, said the people.
China’s stock meltdown is adding pressure on so-called snowball derivatives, which are structured products that promise bond-like coupons as long as the underlying assets trade within a certain range. The CSI Smallcap 500 Index, a pricing reference for some of these products, slipped 4.7 per cent on Jan 22, taking it below an earlier estimated threshold that may trigger widespread losses on the snowballs.
The nation’s largest brokerage Citic Securities last week stopped short selling services for some clients after so-called window-guidance from regulators, Bloomberg has reported. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/china-weighs-stock-market-rescue-package-backed-by-377-billion
| 2024-01-23T04:19:41Z
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MUMBAI – India’s stock market has overtaken Hong Kong’s for the first time in another feat for the South Asian nation whose growth prospects and policy reforms have made it an investor darling.
The combined value of shares listed on Indian exchanges reached US$4.33 trillion (S$5.8 trillion) as at Jan 22’s close, versus US$4.29 trillion for Hong Kong, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. This makes India the fourth-biggest equity market globally. Its stock market capitalisation crossed US$4 trillion for the first time on Dec 5, with about half of that coming in the past four years.
Equities in India have been booming, thanks to a rapidly growing retail investor base and strong corporate earnings. The world’s most populous country has positioned itself as an alternative to China, attracting fresh capital from global investors and companies alike, thanks to its stable political set-up and a consumption-driven economy that remains among the fastest-growing of major nations.
“India has all the right ingredients in place to set the growth momentum further,” said Mr Ashish Gupta, chief investment officer at Axis Mutual Fund in Mumbai.
The relentless rally in Indian stocks has coincided with a historic slump in Hong Kong, where some of China’s most influential and innovative firms are listed.
Beijing’s stringent anti-Covid-19 curbs, regulatory crackdowns on corporations, a property sector crisis and geopolitical tensions with the West have all combined to erode China’s appeal as the world’s growth engine.
They have also triggered an equities rout that is now reaching epic proportions, with the total market value of Chinese and Hong Kong stocks having tumbled by more than US$6 trillion since their peaks in 2021. New listings have dried up in Hong Kong, with the Asian financial hub losing its status as one of the world’s busiest venues for initial public offerings.
However, some strategists expect a turnaround. UBS Group sees Chinese stocks outperforming Indian peers in 2024 as battered valuations in the former suggest significant upside potential once sentiment turns, while the latter is at “fairly extreme levels”, according to a November report.
That said, momentum seems to be on India’s side for now.
Pessimism towards China and Hong Kong has further deepened in the new year amid a lack of major economic stimulus measures. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, a gauge of Chinese shares listed in Hong Kong, is already down about 13 per cent after capping a record four-year losing streak in 2023. The measure is hurtling towards its lowest level in almost two decades, while India’s stock benchmarks are trading near record-high levels.
Foreigners who until recently were enamoured with the China narrative are sending their funds over to its South Asian rival. Global pension and sovereign wealth managers are also seen favouring India, according to a recent study by London-based think-tank Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum.
Overseas funds poured more than US$21 billion into Indian shares in 2023, helping the country’s benchmark S&P BSE Sensex Index cap an eighth consecutive year of gains.
“There is a clear consensus that India is the best long-term investment opportunity,” Goldman Sachs strategists wrote in a note on Jan 16, citing the results of a survey from the firm’s Global Strategy Conference. BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/india-overtakes-hong-kong-as-world-s-fourth-largest-stock-market
| 2024-01-23T04:19:52Z
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SINGAPORE – Singapore hedge fund Asia Genesis Asset Management is closing its macro fund after suffering an “unprecedented drawdown” following China’s stock market rout and Japan’s rally.
The Asia Genesis Macro Fund had a drawdown of 18.8 per cent in the first weeks of January, according to a letter sent to investors seen by Bloomberg News. The fund is returning money to investors after losses on long Hong Kong and China equities positions as well as short Nikkei bets, according to the letter.
“I have reached the stage whereby my confidence as a trader is lost,” founder and chief investment officer Chua Soon Hock wrote in the letter. Tough trading since October and a “disastrous” January have “proven that my past experience is no longer valid and, instead, is working against me”, he said.
Asia Genesis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr Chua said the fund made a “big mistake” in trying to pick the bottom of benchmark Hong Kong indexes. He was also “astounded” with the Nikkei-Hang Seng spread that priced Chinese and Japanese stocks at the same value as in 1991.
Japanese stocks are on a tear, rising to a 34-year high in January as the authorities and the stock exchange urge companies to boost shareholder value and corporate governance.
Meanwhile, China’s benchmark CSI 300 Index hit a five-year low on Jan 22, as the ongoing housing slump curtails economic growth.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang asked the authorities to take more “forceful” measures to stabilise the country’s slumping stock market and investor confidence on Jan 22.
The last straw for Mr Chua’s fund was hopes that China’s central bank would cut interest rates at a meeting earlier in January. But the People’s Bank of China disappointed investors by keeping the rate on its one-year policy loans unchanged.
Additionally, President Xi Jinping’s speech the day after indicated to equity investors that his focus was not on the markets, said Mr Chua. The fund then closed all the positions by Jan 18.
“I have lost my knowledge, trading and psychological edge,” he said “The principle of risk-reward for both the short term and long term has turned its head.” BLOOMBERG
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https://www.straitstimes.com/business/singapore-hedge-fund-asia-genesis-shuts-after-big-mistake-on-china-trade
| 2024-01-23T04:20:02Z
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