Category: Politics

Thailand’s king has officially supported Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the country’s new prime minister, a watershed event in the country’s political history. Paetongtarn, 37, becomes Thailand’s youngest prime minister and the second woman to hold the role, succeeding her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra.

Paetongtarn is the daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Thai premier deposed in a 2006 coup. Her appointment comes after the Constitutional Court ousted her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, for ethical infractions.

King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s approval was read to her during a ceremony in Bangkok. Paetongtarn paid tribute to the king’s portrait and conveyed her gratitude. She emphasised her determination to serve the country with dedication and honesty.

Paetongtarn intends to form a 35-member cabinet and prioritise programs promoting Thailand’s culture and tourism. Despite her family’s political tradition, she stated that she will lead independently; however, she may seek counsel from her father, Thaksin.

The Shinawatra family has long dominated Thai politics, with Thaksin and Yingluck being driven from office owing to coups or judicial challenges. Despite previous defeats, Paetongtarn’s ascent to prominence indicates that the family’s influence will endure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced India’s desire to host the 2036 Olympic Games in his 78th Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. This news highlights India’s increasing prominence in the global athletic arena.

Prime Minister Modi stated, “It is the dream of India to host the 2036 Olympics, and we are making preparations for that.” This is in line with the initial step of the bidding process, which is the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) ongoing dialogue with the International Olympic Committee’s Future Host Commission.

On behalf of 140 crore Indians, the prime minister congratulated the Indian athletes on their success at the Paris Olympics and lauded their efforts. He went on to say that he was rooting for the forthcoming Paralympics and that he hoped all twelve of India’s participants, including swimmers, archers, and sprinters, would do well in Paris.

PM Modi spoke from the Red Fort for the eleventh year in a row on Independence Day. ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047,’ the theme of this year’s Independence Day, echoes the government’s goal of making India a developed nation by that specific year.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, held his first cabinet meeting in the projected new capital, Nusantara, on Monday, hoping to convince investors that the $32 billion mega-project is still on schedule. This endeavour comes as Jokowi prepares to stand aside in October after serving a maximum of two terms.

Nusantara, announced years ago as a landmark infrastructure project, was expected to alleviate Jakarta’s congestion, sinking, and overpopulation problems. However, the project has encountered severe problems, such as building delays and a lack of foreign funding.

During the meeting, Jokowi emphasised that Nusantara marks a momentous new chapter for Indonesia, characterising it as a “canvas on which we can carve out our future.” The new capital, strategically positioned on the island of Borneo, 1,200 kilometers from Jakarta, aims to encourage balanced development throughout Southeast Asia’s largest economy, which has long been dominated by the island of Java, accounting for 58% of total GDP.

Almost all 34 cabinet members attended the meeting, including Defence Minister and President-elect Prabowo Subianto, who will be inaugurated on October 20th. Jokowi expressed confidence that Prabowo will continue to support the project, and Prabowo pledged to complete it if possible.

Vietnam has confirmed its support for Cambodia’s ambitious plan to build a canal connecting the Mekong River basin and the Cambodian coast. On the other hand, Vietnam is eager to work with others to mitigate potential negative consequences, according to the Vietnamese foreign ministry on Thursday, August 8.

On Monday, the Cambodian government broke ground on the Funan Techo Canal project worth US$1.7 billion. This canal proposes to divert a considerable amount of Cambodian cargo away from Vietnam, representing a significant improvement in regional infrastructure. Despite this, Vietnam remains committed to Cambodia’s sovereign decision to build the canal. “We support the project and respect the decision to build the canal,” said Doan Khac Viet, the Vietnamese foreign ministry’s spokesperson, at a regular media briefing.

Vietnam is keen to engage with Cambodia on research and impact assessments to develop effective measures for mitigating any negative consequences. While Cambodian authorities have continuously dismissed environmental concerns, conservationists and Vietnamese officials warn that the canal will worsen harm to the already vulnerable Mekong Delta, a vital rice-producing region.

As both countries manage this difficult undertaking, collaboration and thorough assessment will be critical to balancing economic gains and environmental protection.

The Philippines and Germany have agreed to sign a defence cooperation deal this year, strengthening the Indo-Pacific region’s international rules-based system. During the first visit of a German defence minister to Manila, Boris Pistorius and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, agreed to create long-term military relations to enhance training and bilateral exchanges, investigate armament cooperation, and pursue cooperative projects.

As the two countries mark 70 years of diplomatic relations, Teodoro emphasised the Philippines’ aim to modernise its military and sees Germany as a prospective supplier of sophisticated capabilities such as command and control systems, and maritime, and aerial defence assets.

The meeting takes place amid rising tensions between China and the Philippines over disputed territories in the South China Sea, where China is accused of ramming Filipino military boats and injuring sailors.

China claims the majority of the South China Sea, which conflicts with the exclusive economic zones of numerous Southeast Asian nations. Pistorius affirmed the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration verdict that invalidated China’s claims, reiterating his commitment to maintaining maritime borders.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar set a goal of Yen 5 trillion (about $42 billion) in investments between India and Japan by 2027. Speaking in Tokyo, Jaishankar emphasised the developing economic connection and cited substantial progress under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Over the last decade, India has built eight new airports per year, 1.5 to 2 new metro lines in various cities, and 28 kilometres of highways per day. Furthermore, 8 km of railway tracks are laid daily, and the number of educational institutions has doubled, supporting 1,600 global capacity centres worth more than $100 billion in exports each year.

Jaishankar emphasised the importance of Japanese enterprises in India, with 1,400 now functioning in the nation. The goal is to increase Japanese investment, particularly in semiconductors, electric vehicles, high-speed rail, and green energy.

Jaishankar spoke with Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Australia’s Penny Wong, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the Quad foreign ministers’ conference in Tokyo on July 29. The leaders reiterated their commitment to regional cooperation, naming India as the next host of the Quad Leaders’ Summit later this year, followed by the United States hosting the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at Hyderabad House in Delhi to discuss the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Vietnam. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the meeting’s goal was to strengthen bilateral relations.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said on X, “Taking India-Vietnam collaboration to new heights! PM @narendramodi welcomed PM Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam to Hyderabad House. Substantial discussions to revitalise the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership are on the agenda.”

On a three-day visit to India, Chinh also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. Earlier, he met with External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and expressed gratitude for the warm welcome.

Chinh welcomed the efforts made to arrange his visit and congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his third consecutive election victory, calling it a historic achievement. Jaishankar emphasised the strong connections between the countries and extended his condolences on the death of Secretary General Niren Fu-Chang.

The visit intends to examine bilateral relations and assess regional strategic trends, with ten agreements and three announcements scheduled to chart the route for future cooperation.

UAE-based artificial intelligence company G42 is collaborating with U.S. partners and the Emirati government to meet global AI development and deployment standards. This decision comes amid questions about the company’s possible ties to China.

A G42 spokeswoman confirmed that the company is committed to adhering to “the highest global standards” in AI. This is G42’s first official comment since discussions between the business and US Congressional officials were cancelled by the UAE in July.

Following Microsoft’s $1.5 billion investment in G42, politicians in the United States voiced concern that the business could potentially transfer advanced AI technology from the United States to China. A congressional spokeswoman expressed alarm about these issues, emphasising the importance of appropriate oversight.

G42’s significant stakeholders include Mubadala, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund, the ruling family of the UAE, and Silver Lake, a private equity firm based in the United States. Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the chairman of G42, serves as the UAE’s national security adviser and is the president’s brother.

“It is entirely understandable and appropriate for the U.S. government to be interested in how critical technology, such as artificial intelligence, evolves and is applied,” added the G42 representative, reaffirming the company’s commitment to responsible AI development.

The United States offered $500 million to strengthen the Philippines’ military and coast guard, demonstrating its support amid tensions with China in the South China Sea. This announcement was made during a meeting in Manila between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, and their Philippine counterparts, reiterating Washington’s commitment to its oldest treaty ally in Asia.

“This unprecedented funding sends a clear message of support for the Philippines from the Biden-Harris administration, the US Congress, and the American people,” Austin said during a joint press briefing after security talks. Before the discussions, Blinken and Austin met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has improved relations with Washington since succeeding Rodrigo Duterte, who is renowned for his softer stance towards China.

The Philippines has challenged China’s claim to 90% of the South China Sea, a source of escalating conflict. Although Manila and China negotiated a temporary resupply mission agreement, details have still to be addressed. Blinken emphasised the United States’ “ironclad” resolve to defend the Philippines from any armed attack, strengthening assistance amid persistent tensions. A 2016 Hague verdict declared China’s territory claims baseless under international law.

Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has taken over as CARICOM’s next rotating chairman, promising to fight for climate justice, reduce gun violence, and improve digital technologies.

Mitchell took over leadership from Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali during a summit in Grenada that had been delayed by Hurricane Beryl, the Atlantic season’s first reported Category 4 storm. He emphasised the importance of climate action, urging rich nations to honour agreements to reduce emissions and provide financial assistance to offset the effects of climate change.

The cost of reconstructing following natural catastrophes frequently leaves Caribbean countries in debt. Mitchell emphasised the existential threat of climate change, saying, “The stark reality is that we may not have a country to pass down to future generations.”

Mitchell also committed to promoting free movement inside the bloc, which just welcomed Curacao as a member.

CARICOM, a regional organisation of small island states, aims to promote economic integration and collaboration. It fights for compensation for slavery and climate change through measures such as debt cancellation and supports a lawsuit against U.S. gunmakers for firearms traded in the Caribbean.