Singapore authorities warned on Tuesday that involvement in organisations linked to the Israeli military, such as Sar-El, would not be acceptable under current conditions and could attract action under the law.
In a joint media release, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Defence (Mindef) noted that Sar-El’s website states that it is “deeply committed to supporting the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces)”, and its volunteers “work side-by-side with soldiers on IDF bases”.
“Being involved…
UK AI copyright plans align – and diverge – with the EU position
The UK government’s decision not to extend the text and data mining exception in copyright law to facilitate AI training differs from the approach EU policymakers have taken on the issue, an expert has said.
Malaysia’s Rohingya spend another Eid torn from their families
In a quiet suburb of the Malaysian city of Klang, Farouk* scrolls through his phone, replaying videos of a toddler learning to walk, laugh and reach out to steady himself – milestone moments of a son whom he is forced to love through a screen.
“He is now two years old, but I have never held him,” the 26-year-old Rohingya man said. “I have only seen him twice from afar at the gate.”
Farouk’s wife gave birth in a Malaysian immigration detention centre a day after the family were arrested in early…
US eyes a Philippine ammo facility as opposition warns of ‘warmongering’
Washington and its allies are drawing up plans to establish an ammunition production facility in the Philippines, a move critics warn would turn the Southeast Asian nation into a logistics arm of US “warmongering”.
The proposal emerged last week from the Partnership for Indo-Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPIR), a US-led initiative founded in 2024 to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities and help allies produce and sustain military equipment closer to potential flashpoints.
Members agreed to…
Why India faces dilemma over Iran war while seeking ‘diplomatic flexibility’
As the world reels from the fallout of the Iran war, India is seeking to manage its risks and interests in the Middle East and beyond while maintaining its neutrality in the widening conflict.
This can be seen in New Delhi engaging with combatants US and Iran, as well as other nations caught in the crossfire of the war, according to political analysts.
In the past two weeks, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has spoken four times with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, while Prime…
Philippine military uncovers alleged new Beijing spy tactics in South China Sea row
At least three Filipinos with ties to the country’s military have been arrested on suspicion of spying for Beijing, allegedly leaking information that sparked maritime confrontations in the disputed South China Sea.
The case, which came to light last year during an ongoing multi-agency counter-intelligence effort, marks a new strategy of recruiting Filipinos for espionage instead of planting individuals with fake local identities in the country, according to Philippine Navy Rear Admiral Roy…
Trump’s war is uniting the world, just not how he might have expected
Before his first term as US president began in 2017, Donald Trump was probably best known for his book, The Art of the Deal. But by launching, together with Israel, a widely unpopular war on Iran, Trump has arguably dealt himself a very weak hand. There is little “art” in it.
The headline splashed across the front page of the Financial Times on March 17 – “Allies reject Trump’s call for warships” (to force open the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has partially closed after US and Israeli attacks) –…
Philippine fuel prices hit record highs as food inflation fears grow
Mario Orain used to earn his living on the road. Now, the 51-year-old driver spends most of his time parked up, waiting for bookings that rarely come.
“It’s really bad,” he told This Week in Asia. “There are very few bookings. And fuel prices have gone up a lot. It’s very expensive now.”
With diesel prices in the Philippines shattering record highs amid the war on Iran, transport workers like Orain are being forced off the road as they face a stark choice between filling their tanks or feeding…
Impersonation fraud risk flagged by pensions regulator
Pension scheme administrators and trustees in the UK have been advised to review and, if necessary, update processes around data security and identity verification amidst concerns over impersonation fraud.
Companies should get ahead of mandatory gender pay gap and menopause action plans
UK companies need to start preparing now for the introduction of gender equality and menopause action plans, ensuring they are ready to comply when new legal requirements take effect on a mandatory basis, experts have warned.