'Quite frightening': Malaysia's former leader Mahathir Mohamad turns 100 without slowing down
A towering figure in Malaysian politics, Mahathir is known for his transformative and at times controversial leadership. First serving as the nation's fourth prime minister from 1981 to 2003, and then returning as its seventh from 2018 to 2020, Mahathir has been the country's longest-serving and oldest-serving prime minister.
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22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
China opposes Czech president's visit to Dalai Lama
HONG KONG (Reuters) -China said it "resolutely opposed" Czech President Petr Pavel's meeting in India with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and urged the Czech side to "abide by its one-China political commitment" and maintain healthy and stable relations. China's embassy in the Czech Republic posted the notice late on Sunday and said China firmly opposes any form of contact between officials of any country and the Dalai "clique". Pavel met with the Dalai Lama on July 27, it said. "China urges the Czech side to abide by its one-China political commitment, take immediate and effective measures to eliminate the bad influence," the statement said. It added that the Czech side should stop sending "any wrong signals to 'Tibetan independence' separatist forces." The Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India since 1959 following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, and Indian foreign relations experts say his presence gives New Delhi leverage against China. India is also home to about 70,000 Tibetans and a Tibetan government-in-exile.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
North Korea's Insta-Fail: Cringe-Worthy Propaganda
A flood of propaganda videos targeting American users has hit Instagram and X over the past year, many featuring stiff dialogue, clumsy editing, and bizarre rhetorical questions that attempt — and often fail — to portray North Korea as a thriving, free society. One of the more prominent accounts in this wave is @MoveToNorthKorea, a mysterious Instagram page that posts upbeat propaganda targeting English-speaking audiences. It is unclear whether the account is state-run, operated by a private contractor, or simply run by a sympathizer. The effect, however, is the same: a stream of overly rosy portrayals of life inside one of the world's most repressive regimes. The propaganda clips tend to follow a pattern. Many are scored to Hundred Miles by Yall featuring Gabriela Richardson and begin with a rhetorical question starting with 'Who said…' The videos are often narrated in broken English by an AI voice that occasionally refers to North Koreans not by nationality but as 'esteemed citizens of the DPRK.' The editing is rudimentary, and the messaging leans on crude reversals of common criticisms — often to surreal effect. Here are four recent examples that highlight just how far some of these efforts miss the mark: 'Action!': The Dinner Scene That Spoils Itself In one widely shared clip, a girl named Zin-Mai sits down for dinner with a man implied to be her father. The premise is simple — a wholesome family meal — but the guise is subverted in the first second when someone audibly shouts a word translated as 'Action!' revealing the scene to be staged. The father's dialogue is stilted and repetitive, as he aggressively insists they have plenty of food and repeatedly urges his daughter to eat more soup and kimchi. The pacing and conversation do not suggest that dialogue is spontaneous. However, North Korea is not alone in staging dining scenes. It's not just North Korean propagandists who stage mealtime settings to shape public perception. During the 2024 campaign, then-Vice President Kamala Harris was criticized for allegedly clearing out diners from a Pittsburgh restaurant so that campaign staff and supporters could pose as patrons during a campaign stop, as reported by the Daily Mail. Google? Maybe — If You Don't Touch the Keyboard 'Who says Google doesn't work in North Korea?' asks another clip, as a man sits at a desktop computer with Google's homepage open. Yet at no point does he type anything, click a link, or interact with the browser. He merely stares at the screen. No attempt is made to demonstrate actual use of Google or internet access. Instead, the scene appears constructed solely to suggest a normalcy that contradicts what human rights experts have long confirmed: the vast majority of North Koreans lack access to the global internet. North Korea's intranet system, called Kwangmyong, offers only limited, state-approved content, and real internet use is typically restricted to a tiny ruling elite and tightly controlled government entities. A 'Fair Trial' in the Hostage Confession Room 'Who said North Korea doesn't have a fair judicial system?' another video asks, before cutting to footage of a crying man in what appears to be a press conference, flanked by guards. A reverse image search identifies this man as Kim Tong Chol — a South Korean-American preacher reportedly imprisoned in North Korea on espionage charges — speaking inside a wood-paneled room infamous for its use in forced public confessions. Chol's name is sometimes spelled as Kim Dong Chul, depending on the news outlet. This appears to be the same setting where Otto Warmbier, another detained American, was paraded before cameras in 2016. Warmbier died soon after being returned to the United States in a vegetative state. Chul was released in 2018. He has kept a low profile since returning to the United States. 'I Have… Always Exciting!' 'Who said North Koreans don't speak English?' This clip opens with a young man struggling to form a sentence. After a long pause, he declares, 'I have… I am … always exciting!' A young woman follows, more fluent, and says she studies at Kim Il Sung University — but when asked about her major, she appears confused and unable to answer. The clip then ends before the woman names a major. Behind these awkward social media posts lies a country where information is tightly controlled and dissent is met with brutality. According to Human Rights Watch, North Korea continues to its own citizens in labor camps, restrict movement, ban free expression, and enforce loyalty to the ruling Kim dynasty through surveillance and repression. A 2021 United Nations report found that more than 40% of the population suffers from food insecurity. The Korean Peninsula was split after World War II, with the U.S. supporting the South and the Soviet Union backing the North. After a bloody civil war in the 1950s, the North remained under communist rule. Over decades, the Kim regime has relied on isolation, propaganda, and militarism to hold power, while neighboring South Korea has embraced a more Western-style government and economic growth. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, North Korea's state media strategy has undergone significant evolution in recent years. YouTube vloggers like 'YuMi' and 'Song A' have tried to humanize the country by posting cheerful, English-language videos that depict life in Pyongyang as modern and upbeat, often in stark contrast to reports from defectors and human rights organizations. 'They are exploiting the social media environment where it is increasingly difficult to ascertain what is real and what is not,' Irina Tsukerman, a national security lawyer, told The Dallas Express. Whether these influencers are state agents or merely sympathetic amplifiers, the outcome is the same: a disjointed, heavily curated vision of a regime that remains one of the most closed and repressive on Earth. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
SM Lee: Electing more opposition MPs to check Govt is 'wrong direction'; More teen births in 2024, gradual increase from 2022: Singapore live news
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged on 26 July that the opposition is now a permanent feature of Singapore politics. He said the growing number of opposition Members of Parliament (MP) reflects a growing public desire for alternative voices in Parliament, a sentiment he described as "quite natural" and "quite understandable." He cautioned that this shift could lower the quality of governance and jeopardise Singapore's future. SM Lee said, "You can elect more opposition MPs to check the Government... but once you are set on that path, you are heading in the wrong direction." More teenagers in Singapore are becoming mothers, marking a reversal of a steady decline in teen births in the past 20 years, according to the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2024 released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. In 2024, 244 babies were born to teens aged 19 or younger, up 7 per cent from 228 in 2023. There were 218 teen births in 2022. The Health Ministry also noted that in the past five years, the average age of pregnant teens was 18. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. More teen births in 2024, gradual increase from 2022 More teenagers in Singapore are becoming mothers, marking a reversal of a steady decline in teen births in the past 20 years, according to the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2024 released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. In 2024, 244 babies were born to teens aged 19 or younger, up 7 per cent from 228 in 2023. There were 218 teen births in 2022. The Health Ministry also noted that in the past five years, the average age of pregnant teens was 18. Ms Melisa Wong, executive director at Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support, cited multiple factors behind the rise. She said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, many teens felt isolated or struggled with other negative emotions, and some may have engaged in unprotected sex to seek connection or to cope with whatever they were going through. Ms Wong added that while teens are exploring relationships at younger age, some may not use contraceptives for various reasons. She also pointed out that part of the increase in teen births may also be due to a decline in abortions. For more on Singapore's teen pregnancy stats, read here. SM Lee: Electing more opposition MPs to check Govt is 'wrong direction' Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged on 26 July that the opposition is now a permanent feature of Singapore politics. He said the growing number of opposition Members of Parliament (MP) reflects a growing public desire for alternative voices in Parliament, a sentiment he described as "quite natural" and "quite understandable." Despite the rise in opposition presence, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) must continue to perform well and earn voter support to ensure the country's continued success, he said at a National Day dinner in Serangoon. Following the 2025 General Election, the 15th Parliament will have 12 opposition MPs, including two Non-Constituency MPs – the same number as in the 2020 General Election. SM Lee stated, "The opposition is here to stay in Singapore politics. But in order for Singapore to keep on doing well, the Government has to continue to hold its own, and to win votes and to win seats in elections." If the ruling party weakens, it could become more difficult to form teams, govern well, and garner support for policies, he warned. He cautioned that this shift could lower the quality of governance and jeopardise Singapore's future. SM Lee said, "You can elect more opposition MPs to check the Government... but once you are set on that path, you are heading in the wrong direction." SM Lee urged called for striking the right balance between having stronger alternative voices in government, and supporting and electing an effective government that can make tough, long-term decisions in the nation's interest. He stressed that the country needs a capable government to maintain high standards and navigate challenges, especially given global uncertainties. SM Lee concluded by saying he was heartened that Singaporeans recognised the importance of strong leadership and had given the PAP a firm mandate in the May election, where it received 65.57 per cent of the popular vote – up from 61.24 per cent in 2020. For more on SM Lee's National Day dinner remarks, read here. More teen births in 2024, gradual increase from 2022 More teenagers in Singapore are becoming mothers, marking a reversal of a steady decline in teen births in the past 20 years, according to the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2024 released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. In 2024, 244 babies were born to teens aged 19 or younger, up 7 per cent from 228 in 2023. There were 218 teen births in 2022. The Health Ministry also noted that in the past five years, the average age of pregnant teens was 18. Ms Melisa Wong, executive director at Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support, cited multiple factors behind the rise. She said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, many teens felt isolated or struggled with other negative emotions, and some may have engaged in unprotected sex to seek connection or to cope with whatever they were going through. Ms Wong added that while teens are exploring relationships at younger age, some may not use contraceptives for various reasons. She also pointed out that part of the increase in teen births may also be due to a decline in abortions. For more on Singapore's teen pregnancy stats, read here. More teenagers in Singapore are becoming mothers, marking a reversal of a steady decline in teen births in the past 20 years, according to the Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2024 released by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. In 2024, 244 babies were born to teens aged 19 or younger, up 7 per cent from 228 in 2023. There were 218 teen births in 2022. The Health Ministry also noted that in the past five years, the average age of pregnant teens was 18. Ms Melisa Wong, executive director at Babes Pregnancy Crisis Support, cited multiple factors behind the rise. She said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, many teens felt isolated or struggled with other negative emotions, and some may have engaged in unprotected sex to seek connection or to cope with whatever they were going through. Ms Wong added that while teens are exploring relationships at younger age, some may not use contraceptives for various reasons. She also pointed out that part of the increase in teen births may also be due to a decline in abortions. For more on Singapore's teen pregnancy stats, read here. SM Lee: Electing more opposition MPs to check Govt is 'wrong direction' Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged on 26 July that the opposition is now a permanent feature of Singapore politics. He said the growing number of opposition Members of Parliament (MP) reflects a growing public desire for alternative voices in Parliament, a sentiment he described as "quite natural" and "quite understandable." Despite the rise in opposition presence, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) must continue to perform well and earn voter support to ensure the country's continued success, he said at a National Day dinner in Serangoon. Following the 2025 General Election, the 15th Parliament will have 12 opposition MPs, including two Non-Constituency MPs – the same number as in the 2020 General Election. SM Lee stated, "The opposition is here to stay in Singapore politics. But in order for Singapore to keep on doing well, the Government has to continue to hold its own, and to win votes and to win seats in elections." If the ruling party weakens, it could become more difficult to form teams, govern well, and garner support for policies, he warned. He cautioned that this shift could lower the quality of governance and jeopardise Singapore's future. SM Lee said, "You can elect more opposition MPs to check the Government... but once you are set on that path, you are heading in the wrong direction." SM Lee urged called for striking the right balance between having stronger alternative voices in government, and supporting and electing an effective government that can make tough, long-term decisions in the nation's interest. He stressed that the country needs a capable government to maintain high standards and navigate challenges, especially given global uncertainties. SM Lee concluded by saying he was heartened that Singaporeans recognised the importance of strong leadership and had given the PAP a firm mandate in the May election, where it received 65.57 per cent of the popular vote – up from 61.24 per cent in 2020. For more on SM Lee's National Day dinner remarks, read here. Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged on 26 July that the opposition is now a permanent feature of Singapore politics. He said the growing number of opposition Members of Parliament (MP) reflects a growing public desire for alternative voices in Parliament, a sentiment he described as "quite natural" and "quite understandable." Despite the rise in opposition presence, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) must continue to perform well and earn voter support to ensure the country's continued success, he said at a National Day dinner in Serangoon. Following the 2025 General Election, the 15th Parliament will have 12 opposition MPs, including two Non-Constituency MPs – the same number as in the 2020 General Election. SM Lee stated, "The opposition is here to stay in Singapore politics. But in order for Singapore to keep on doing well, the Government has to continue to hold its own, and to win votes and to win seats in elections." If the ruling party weakens, it could become more difficult to form teams, govern well, and garner support for policies, he warned. He cautioned that this shift could lower the quality of governance and jeopardise Singapore's future. SM Lee said, "You can elect more opposition MPs to check the Government... but once you are set on that path, you are heading in the wrong direction." SM Lee urged called for striking the right balance between having stronger alternative voices in government, and supporting and electing an effective government that can make tough, long-term decisions in the nation's interest. He stressed that the country needs a capable government to maintain high standards and navigate challenges, especially given global uncertainties. SM Lee concluded by saying he was heartened that Singaporeans recognised the importance of strong leadership and had given the PAP a firm mandate in the May election, where it received 65.57 per cent of the popular vote – up from 61.24 per cent in 2020. For more on SM Lee's National Day dinner remarks, read here.
