Govt will ensure all communities continue to be partners in nation building: Najib

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on Saturday said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government would not waiver from its purpose to ensure that all communities could stand on their own feet and be counted as equal partners in nation building.

In his message to the Indian community in conjunction with their New Year (Putthandu, celebrated by the Tamils, Vishu by Malayalees, Ugadhi by Telugus and Vaisakhi by Sikhs) celebration, which falls on Sunday, the prime minister said the government would double its efforts and continue to be a real partner of the Indian community.

He said the government had constantly engaged directly with the Indian community and implemented various special programmes to transform the community.

"The government is also committed to...

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Malaysian Prime Minister Najib shares a message of good will and unity for the New Year celebration. The New Year is called  Putthandu by the Tamils, Vishu by Malayalees, Ugadhi by Telugus and Vaisakhi by Sikhs.

China's first lady steals the spotlight

China's glamorous first lady has become a media and Internet sensation as she accompanies husband President Xi Jinping on his first state visit to Russia.

Photographs of Ms Peng and Mr Xi have been plastered across the front pages of state media, which usually do not focus on the country's first ladies.

Ms Peng was even shown briefly arm-in-arm with Mr Xi in a public display of affection rare among the communist leadership.

"Since yesterday this has become the main topic of discussion for people," said Li Jun, a commentator with a...

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The wife of the new Chinese president, Xi Jinping, is getting a lot of media attention  and has many fans. Some believe she may change the image people have of the country.

Ankara continues efforts to join EU

Ankara has issued a strong attack on the European Union (EU) for what it calls a "bigoted" assessment of Turkey in its report on EU membership requirements published in October. In response, Turkey drew up its own report released this week to counter Brussels'. Despite the current acrimony, Ankara is expressing hopes its membership bid will get back on track with Ireland taking over the EU presidency.

In an unprecedented step, Ankara, earlier this week, published its own assessment of its progress to join the ranks of the European Union in reponse to Brussels' critical assessment which raised concerns over deteriorating human rights in the country.

Turkey's EU Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis in Istanbul, June 26, 2012. ​​In the 270-page report, Turkey's Minister for EU membership, Ergemen Bagis, claimed such...

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Turkey has been trying to join the European Union since 2005. We can learn a little bit about the process behind becoming a member nation of the EU from this report.

China tightens internet rules

China has approved strict new rules that require internet users nationwide to provide real-name identification, state media reported.

The National People's Congress (NPC), the country's legislature, adopted the measures at a meeting on Friday, the official Xinhua news agency and other media said.

According to Xinhua, the decision, which came at the end of a five-day session of the NPC Standing Committee, requires internet users to offer their...

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Do you think access to the Internet should be monitored? Governments around the world are trying to manage the use citizens make of this technology. In China, there are more than 500,000,000 Internet users and the Chinese government has approved a new system of identification for Internet use.

Japan's incoming PM pledges to mend ties with China

Japan's incoming premier on Saturday pledged to seek a thaw in ties with China after a report said he will send a special envoy on a fence-mending mission to Beijing.

Ties between Japan and China have become increasingly strained over a disputed island chain -- the Tokyo-controlled Senkakus, which Beijing calls the Diaoyus -- with neither side willing to budge after months of bitter wrangling.

"I want to make efforts to return to the starting point of developing the mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests," Shinzo Abe told reporters.

"The Japan-China relationship is one of extremely important bilateral ties," he said.

The comments came after the business daily Nikkei reported Abe will...

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Shinzo Abe has become the Prime Minister of Japan, again. One of his priorities is to promote relations with China. A special group from the Japanese government will visit Beijing with the hopes of reopening mutually beneficial dialogue.

China's economic targets

Judging by China's recent performance, Hu Jintao's target might be seen as easily achievable. It implies economic growth of about 9.6% a year, which is rather less than the average over the last three decades. But that growth was based on some elements that can't last indefinitely.

In common with many emerging countries, China's economic success has involved a rapid increase in the number of industrial workers, many of them moving from rural to urban areas. There is a limit to that process, and China might be close to it already. Very high levels of investment have also been important, but they are not seen as sustainable.

There is also the central role that exports have played in China's growth. The uncertain outlook in many rich country markets casts a shadow over that too. Most economists think the transition that's needed is to an economy driven much more by...

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An important government meeting is taking place in Beijing. Leaders are trying to make plans that will improve the living standard for the population. What do you think it would take to improve your life? More money? A secure future?

Social pressure can help deal with littering habits: PM Lee

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said putting social pressure on litterbugs is one way to deal with the problem.

Mr Lee though did not rule out the possibility of adjusting the penalties for littering.

He was speaking to reporters at the launch of the Clean and Green campaign at Ang Mo Kio constituency on Sunday morning.

Statistics from the National Environment Agency (NEA) showed there are about 3,500 complaints about littering in public places every year.

Since August, surveillance cameras have been installed to catch high-rise litterbugs.

PM Lee said it's not easy to nab people who litter. And, he hopes the public can pitch in, to promote good social habits.

He said: "Members of the public will look at you and...

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Japan to develop missile-detecting drone

Japan is planning to develop an unmanned drone that could help detect a North Korean nuclear missile attack and to counter China's military buildup, a report said Sunday.

The defence ministry has demanded 3 billion yen ($372 million) over the next four years to develop the aircraft, which would come into operation in 2020, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported without citing sources.

The development of the drone, which will be equipped with an infrared sensor to seek out low-altitude missiles, comes after Japan failed to detect North Korea's failed rocket launch in April.

The launch, described by Pyongyang as an attempt go put a satellite into orbit but

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The Japanese government has decided to spend 3 billion yen developing technology that will make it possible to detect low flying missiles. Do you think this is a good way to spend the money?

Tunisia's youth bitter at revolution fallout

Young Tunisians were at the forefront of the country's 2011 revolution. But today, many are unemployed and bitter about its fallout.

Twenty-five-year old Tarek Zeid wants to become a computer engineer. But his only job prospects right now are wrapping up Tunisian carpets at a tourist shop.

Like tens of thousands of Tunisians, Zeid was on the streets in early 2011, in demonstrations that ousted former strongman Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. But today he says, the revolution hasn’t brought many benefits.

Zeid says unemployment is too high. Hopes for democracy aren't panning out.

Nor is Zeid alone. Among many youth here, there is a...

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The young people in Tunisia are facing difficult times. What would you do if you were in their place?

Aung San Suu Kyi urges cooperation among Burma’s leaders

Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi urged cooperation among leaders in her country to work for its good. Speaking briefly during a visit to the United Nations Friday, she said the time has come for the Burmese people to take responsibility for democratizing their own country.

Aung San Suu Kyi is making her first visit to the United States in decades, just days ahead of a visit by her president, Thein Sein, who will be making his international debut at the U.N. General Assembly’s annual debate on Thursday morning.

Asked if she worried about stealing his spotlight, she said she did not think people should think about it in terms of personalities.

“I think we should think about it as a...

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Aung San Suu Kyi is one of the world's most famous political activists. She was recently at the UN urging her people to get actively involved in democratizing Burma.

Japan slams brakes on $79 billion in spending

Japan said Friday it would delay 5.0 trillion yen (S$79 billion) in spending as the government faces a severe cash crunch that could see it run out of money within months.

Officials warned there would not be enough money to cover its expenses as political gridlock ties up passage of a bond-issuance bill needed to help pay for some 40 per cent of Tokyo's spending in the fiscal year to March.

Finance Minister Jun Azumi warned Friday that public reserves would "mostly dry up at the end of November" if the opposition-led stalemate continued, with the current parliament due to end on Saturday. They are expected to restart in October.

"There is a high possibility that we will have to...

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The Japanese government might run out of money. How do you think that would affect your life?