Japan, Cambodia to help remove landmines from Ukraine - CNA

PHNOM PENH: Japan will work with Cambodia to remove landmines from Ukraine and other war-torn countries, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said during a visit to Phnom Penh on Saturday (Jul 6).

Millions of landmines were laid in Cambodia during the nearly three decades of conflict that ended in 1998, with tens of thousands of people killed or maimed over the years.

The Southeast Asian country is widely regarded as a world leader in landmine countermeasures and has been working with Japan to clear the weapons since 1998.

"Cambodia is an essential partner in Japan's global landmine removal efforts," Kamikawa said at a press conference.

"I am confident Cambodia will contribute greatly to raising awareness of the inhumanity of anti-personnel landmines as a country that suffered from them."

The minister said Japan would provide Ukraine with a large demining machine next week, and in August would train Ukrainian agencies in Cambodia on how to use the equipment.

Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), told reporters his organisation and local deminers were "proud of this important initiative and strongly support the new strategy of the cooperation".

"We are glad to take part in sharing experiences with countries that have problems with landmines and remnants of war in accordance with the policy of the (Cambodian) government," he added.

Deaths caused by landmines occur frequently among civilians and soldiers in Ukraine, which has been littered with mines and explosive remnants since it was invaded by Russia in 2022.

According to Human Rights Watch, landmines have been documented in 11 of Ukraine's 27 regions.

Russian forces are known to have used at least 13 types of anti-personnel mines since February 2022, the organisation said.

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2024-07-06 12:44:07Z
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Senior citizen arrives early to vote for son - theSun

NIBONG TEBAL: Seventy-nine-year-old Che Rifiah Zakaria did not allow her age to deter her from going to the polls and went to fulfil her responsibility in the Sungai Bakap state election in a wheelchair.

Accompanied by her daughter, Zalina Ismail, 58, she left her house at 7.30 am and was the first to vote at the polling station at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Duri here.

“She knows today is polling day and woke up early, very eager to vote and wanted to leave early although our house is only 500 metres away,” said Zalina, adding that her mother had voted five times for the general election.

Che Rifiah, whose hearing is impaired and has high blood pressure, is the mother of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate, Abidin Ismail, in the by-election.

Abidin, 56, arrived to cast his vote at the same polling station at about 8.15 am and was overwhelmed with emotions upon seeing his mother and sister, who had then cast their votes, there.

Met by reporters after casting his vote, Abidin said he was satisfied with the running of the by-election and hoped voters would come to exercise their rights.

Another senior citizen, Heng Siew Cheng, 67, who lost his leg due to diabetes and now using prosthetic legs, went to the polls in crutches.

Heng, of Sungai Duri and living in Taman Seruling Emas, said his daughter Heng Siang Woon, 38, sent him to the polling centre and from then on was assisted by EC workers.

“I have voted since I was 28 years old. If in this condition, I can go to the polls, I hope those who are fit and in good health should do the same,” he said.

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2024-07-06 04:50:00Z
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Defiant Biden tells Democrats he is 'staying in the race' - CNA

DONORS, BUSINESS LEADERS, ALLIES

A handful of donors and business leaders are making their displeasure with Biden's candidacy known loudly, halting funding or looking at possible Democratic alternatives.

Even some of Biden's closest political allies, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have raised questions about his health.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued a statement on Friday asking Biden to weigh the decision carefully, the rare Democratic governor not to issue a statement of support in recent days.

"President Biden saved our democracy in 2020 and has done an outstanding job over the last four years," she said.

"The best way forward right now is a decision for the president to make. Over the coming days, I urge him to listen to the American people and carefully evaluate whether he remains our best hope to defeat Donald Trump."

Some public opinion polls have shown Trump widening a lead since the debate, while a Reuters/Ipsos poll found one in three Democrats want Biden to quit the race.

A group of business and civic leaders urged Biden to end his reelection bid in a letter to the White House on Friday, a day after its CEO said members would still back him if he continued to run, the Washington Post reported.

The White House has blamed a cold for Biden's shaky performance and Biden himself cited jet lag from back-to-back trips to Europe.

Biden's former chief of staff, Ron Klain, who led his preparation process ahead of the debate, pushed back against donors' complaints.

"We are the Democratic Party!" he wrote on X. Donors "don't get to decide to oust a pro-labor pro-people President".

Trump's campaign and some of his allies have launched a pre-emptive political strike on Harris, moving swiftly to try to discredit her amid talk that she could eventually replace Biden as the Democrats' nominee.

The Biden campaign has shown no signs of changing course, although the Trump team has overtaken it on fundraising.

The campaign announced it would spend US$50 million on a media blitz for July, "including strategic investments around key events that draw in large and politically diverse audiences like the 2024 Olympic Games and the Republican National Convention".

Trump, 78, who made multiple false statements during the debate in Atlanta, falsely claimed in a video that was circulated on social media that he had driven Biden out of the race. He made disparaging comments about Harris in the same video, which the Trump campaign stood by.

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2024-07-05 21:46:00Z
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PM Wong congratulates Keir Starmer, Labour Party on UK general election victory - CNA

"Our steadfast partnership is built on a mutual commitment to economic progress, and a shared respect for international norms and a rules-based multilateral order," said Mr Wong to Mr Starmer. 

In his letter, Mr Wong also talked about the launch of the Singapore-UK "strategic partnership" in September 2023, calling it a "key milestone" in bilateral relations. 

As part of the partnership, Singapore is seeking to strengthen cooperation in areas like artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, renewable energy and sustainability. 

"These initiatives will create new opportunities for our businesses and peoples," said Mr Wong. 

"We can work together to advance our countries’ shared interests and address common challenges." 

"I look forward to working with Mr Starmer and his team to strengthen our strategic partnership," Mr Wong also wrote on Facebook.

He added that Singapore values the UK’s continued engagement of the region, including as a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and as fellow members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements.

The UK was accorded the status of ASEAN dialogue partner in August 2021.

Mr Wong wished Mr Starmer good health and success, adding that he looked forward to meeting him soon.

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2024-07-05 13:02:00Z
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'Change begins now': Keir Starmer officially appointed UK PM after Labour's landslide election win - CNA

Starmer is facing a daunting to-do list.

Britain's tax burden is set to hit its highest since just after World War II, net debt is almost equivalent to annual economic output and living standards have fallen.

Public services are creaking, especially the much cherished National Health Service which has been dogged by strikes.

Starmer has already had to scale back some of Labour's more ambitious plans such as its flagship green spending pledges, while promising not to raise taxes for "working people".

He has also promised a return of political integrity, after a chaotic period of five Tory prime ministers, including three in four months, scandal and sleaze.

Much of the heavy damage to the Conservative support was inflicted by the right-wing populist Reform UK party, headed by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, who had campaigned strongly on curbing immigration.

"There is a massive gap on the centre-right of British politics and my job is to fill it, and that's exactly what I'm going to do," a triumphant Farage said after finally being elected to parliament at his eighth attempt.

"Believe me, folks, this is just the first step of something that is going to stun all of you."

POPULIST ALTERNATIVE

The rise in support for a populist alternative echoed recent similar results in Europe, where the far right has been surging.

But, unlike France where Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party made historic gains in an election last Sunday, overall the British public has plumped for a centre-left party to bring about change.

Starmer has promised to improve relations with the European Union to resolve issues created by Brexit, just as far-right politicians are enjoying success. However, despite opposing Brexit, rejoining the European Union is not on the table.

He may also have to work with Donald Trump in the United States if he wins November's presidential election, but he has vowed to continue London's unequivocal support for Ukraine.

Sunak stunned Westminster and many in his own party by calling the election earlier than he needed to in May with the Conservatives trailing Labour by some 20 points in opinion polls, and his campaign then proved a disaster.

"We deserved to lose. The Conservative Party just appears exhausted and out of ideas," Ed Costello, the chairman of the Grassroots Conservatives organisation, which represents rank-and-file members, told Reuters.

"But it is not all Rishi Sunak’s fault. It is Boris Johnson and Liz Truss that have led the party to disaster. Rishi Sunak is just the fall guy."

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2024-07-05 12:25:42Z
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Palau's diplomatic ties with Taiwan to be tested in election year as tourism falters - CNA

WHAT DO LOCALS WANT?

While Mr Polycarp said he does not think Palau should switch ties to Beijing just for tourism income, he hopes his country would establish closer economic ties with China.

“I support both China and Taiwan… I hope in the future both can work their differences out, and the US (as well),” he added.

“(China) is a huge market and I think Palau can tap into it. But having these differences really limit us from moving forward (in) developing our country.”

His sentiment is shared by other business owners, including 29-year-old Iked, another local who also runs a diving centre.

“From a tourism perspective, we’re open to the Chinese market, but we’re also open to the Taiwan market,” he said.

“Palau has strong ties with Taiwan, and that’s a good thing. But I don’t think we should discriminate on what kind of tourism we bring into Palau, because Palau is a very international country.”

“WEAPONISING” TOURISM

China considers countries that still maintain official relations with Taiwan as interfering in its internal affairs.

Beijing has dangled promises of economic and development aid in efforts to entice Taiwan's remaining diplomatic allies to switch sides.

Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr has accused China of economic coercion and “weaponising” tourism to force his country to cut ties with Taiwan.

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2024-07-05 09:08:49Z
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'Change begins now': Keir Starmer to be new UK PM after Labour's landslide election win - CNA

Starmer is facing a daunting to-do list.

Britain's tax burden is set to hit its highest since just after World War II, net debt is almost equivalent to annual economic output and living standards have fallen.

Public services are creaking, especially the much cherished National Health Service which has been dogged by strikes.

Starmer has already had to scale back some of Labour's more ambitious plans such as its flagship green spending pledges, while promising not to raise taxes for "working people".

He has also promised a return of political integrity, after a chaotic period of five Tory prime ministers, including three in four months, scandal and sleaze.

Much of the heavy damage to the Conservative support was inflicted by the right-wing populist Reform UK party, headed by Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, who had campaigned strongly on curbing immigration.

"There is a massive gap on the centre-right of British politics and my job is to fill it, and that's exactly what I'm going to do," a triumphant Farage said after finally being elected to parliament at his eighth attempt.

"Believe me, folks, this is just the first step of something that is going to stun all of you."

POPULIST ALTERNATIVE

The rise in support for a populist alternative echoed recent similar results in Europe, where the far right has been surging.

But, unlike France where Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party made historic gains in an election last Sunday, overall the British public has plumped for a centre-left party to bring about change.

Starmer has promised to improve relations with the European Union to resolve issues created by Brexit, just as far-right politicians are enjoying success. However, despite opposing Brexit, rejoining the European Union is not on the table.

He may also have to work with Donald Trump in the United States if he wins November's presidential election, but he has vowed to continue London's unequivocal support for Ukraine.

Sunak stunned Westminster and many in his own party by calling the election earlier than he needed to in May with the Conservatives trailing Labour by some 20 points in opinion polls, and his campaign then proved a disaster.

"We deserved to lose. The Conservative Party just appears exhausted and out of ideas," Ed Costello, the chairman of the Grassroots Conservatives organisation, which represents rank-and-file members, told Reuters.

"But it is not all Rishi Sunak’s fault. It is Boris Johnson and Liz Truss that have led the party to disaster. Rishi Sunak is just the fall guy."

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2024-07-05 08:15:00Z
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