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Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Indonesian military's new pharma role sparks fears of expanded powers
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has expanded the powerful military's role in civic affairs since taking office in 2024. JAKARTA - Indonesia's military will begin manufacturing medicines for public distribution under a new agreement, officials said on July 22, in the latest expansion of the armed forces' role in civilian affairs since President Prabowo Subianto took office. The president, a former defence minister and special forces commander, has expanded the powerful military's role in civic affairs since taking office in 2024 – including running much of his flagship project to serve free school meals . In March, Parliament, dominated by Mr Prabowo's coalition, also passed a revision to military law that allows more civilian posts to be occupied by soldiers , sparking protests by student and activist groups. The moves have dismantled some of the safeguards put in place after authoritarian leader Suharto was overthrown in 1998 and raised fears of a return to an era when the armed forces were allowed to crush dissent and dominate public life. Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin late on July 22 signed an agreement with the food and drug agency for laboratories operated by the army, navy, and air force, which previously supplied medicines for soldiers, to begin manufacturing drugs for public use. 'We are thinking of ways to lower the price even more so we could provide free medicines,' Mr Sjafrie told reporters. Mass production will begin in October and the medicines will be distributed to villages across Indonesia at 50 per cent below the retail price, he said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore's domestic recycling rate drops to all time low of 11% Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore Youth Courts will take a new approach to cases, focused on underlying issues and supporting needs Life The Projector will resume daily screenings at Golden Mile Tower. Is its Cineleisure exit next? Singapore Ex-Tanjong Pagar United footballer charged with assault after Jurong East Stadium match Business Singapore's digital banks finding their niche in areas like SMEs as they narrow losses in 2024 Asia Japan Prime Minister Ishiba to resign by August, Mainichi newspaper reports Life New Pokemon theme park to open in Japan in early 2026 Military involvement is expected to curb the flow of illegal medicines and fight the 'mafia' in the medical industry, said the drug agency's head Taruna Ikrar. But rights groups have said that the agreement was unlawful as it brought serving military officials into civilian business positions – prohibited under military law. 'This is a symptom of how the government has shifted into authoritarianism,' said Mr Usman Hamid from Amnesty International Indonesia. The military and Mr Prabowo's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The medicines will be distributed by 80,000 state-backed cooperatives launched by Mr Prabowo on July 21, Mr Sjafrie said. Mr Prabowo's cooperatives were set up to boost economic activity and cut out middlemen by providing services directly to the general public, including giving loans and selling medicines and staple foods. The defence minister has also signed another agreement with the health ministry to build hospitals staffed by military doctors and nurses in conflict areas, including Papua province, where a low-level insurgency has battled for independence for decades. REUTERS

Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Italy to add 15,000 prison places to ease overcrowding
ROME - Italy's government has pledged to expand prison capacity by up 15,000 places and facilitate the transfer of inmates with addiction problems to treatment centres to tackle a long-standing overcrowding crisis. The plight of prisoners has attracted more attention in Italy following a record number of suicides last year and complaints about soaring summer temperatures in detention facilities that are not air-conditioned. As of July 15, the country had 62,986 inmates, and an effective capacity in prisons of 47,289, justice ministry data showed. This gives Italy an occupancy rate of around 133%, one of the worst in Europe. According to the World Prison Brief database, only Cyprus, and France fare worse. Last year the Italian parliament approved a law to improve jail conditions, but it had little practical effect. "We believe that a just state should adjust the capacity of prisons to the number of people that need to serve their sentences," Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement late on Tuesday. Her government presented a 758-million-euro ($890 million) plan to expand prison capacity by almost 10,000 by 2027, and a separate initiative for which it gave no budget to create an additional 5,000 places within five years. It also adopted a draft law - which will need parliamentary approval - to allow a sizeable portion of inmates with alcohol or drug addictions to leave prison and serve their sentences in rehab centres. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore's domestic recycling rate drops to all time low of 11% Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore Youth Courts will take a new approach to cases, focused on underlying issues and supporting needs Business Singapore's digital banks finding their niche in areas like SMEs as they narrow losses in 2024 Asia Japan Prime Minister Ishiba to resign by August, Mainichi newspaper reports World Trump says US will charge 19% tariff on goods from Philippines, down from 20% Asia New Pokemon theme park to open in Japan in early 2026 Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat "These are people who need treatment rather than criminals who need punishment," Justice Minister Carlo Nordio said, noting that inmates with addiction issues make up almost a third of the prison population. Nordio also referred to last week's announcement that up to around 10,000 inmates nearing the end of their sentencing could be eligible for house arrest or probation. His ministry has set up a taskforce to speed up the assessment of these cases. The early release of prisoners is set to be gradual, however, partly due to the political sensitivity of the move for a right-wing government such as Meloni's, known for its tough approach on law and order. REUTERS

Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Bank of Japan deputy chief signals further rate hikes
Mr Shinichi Uchida's remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump said that he has struck a 'massive' trade deal with Japan. TOKYO - One of the Bank of Japan's deputy chiefs on July 23 reiterated the bank's readiness to pursue a path toward monetary normalisation if the Japanese economy and inflation move in line with expectations, while noting uncertainties regarding US tariffs. 'Given that real interest rates are at significantly low bank, in accordance with improvement in economic activity and prices, will continue to raise the policy interest rate,' the bank's deputy governor Shinichi Uchida said in a speech in Kochi, western Japan. Saying it is not yet clear how economic activity and prices at home and abroad will develop, Mr Uchida said he will pay close attention to the economic data 'as there are extremely high uncertainties and as domestic and overseas economies seem to be at a critical juncture.' Mr Uchida's remarks came hours after US President Donald Trump said that he has struck a 'massive' trade deal with Japan , under which Tokyo has agreed to a 'reciprocal tariff' of 15 per cent, compared with the 25 per cent initially proposed. Expressing concern about the potential downward pressure on prices in Japan from US trade policy, Mr Uchida also noted upward pressure from cost-push factors, particularly in food prices. 'My attention will therefore be on how such upward and downward pressure may affect the outlook for prices through, for example, firms' wage- and price-setting behavior.' The bank has shifted from a decade of unorthodox easing, lifting its key rate three times since March last year. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore's domestic recycling rate drops to all time low of 11% Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Business Singapore's digital banks finding their niche in areas like SMEs as they narrow losses in 2024 Asia Japan Prime Minister Ishiba to resign by August, Mainichi newspaper reports World Trump says US will charge 19% tariff on goods from Philippines, down from 20% Asia New Pokemon theme park to open in Japan in early 2026 Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore 2 foreigners arrested for shop theft at Changi Airport But the central bank kept its benchmark rate unchanged at 0.5 per cent at its June policy meeting, the third straight gathering without a policy adjustment, with Mr Trump's tariffs clouding the outlook for Japan's export-oriented economy. KYODO NEWS

Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Fire still burns as Venus Williams becomes oldest WTA match-winner since 2004
Jul 22, 2025; Washington, D.C., USA; Venus Williams (USA) hits a backhand against Peyton Stearns (USA)(not pictured) in a women's singles match on day two of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Venus Williams said she still has fire in her belly after the 45-year-old became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 with her 6-3 6-4 victory over Peyton Stearns at the Washington Open on Tuesday. Having returned to competitive action on Monday in the women's doubles following a 16-month absence from the game, Williams defeated world number 35 Stearns to claim her first singles win since 2023 in Cincinnati. The seven-times Grand Slam singles champion is the oldest WTA singles match-winner since a 47-year-old Martina Navratilova won at Wimbledon in 2004. "I think I just attacked the whole time. It's just trying to find the right balance between going to hard and not enough," Williams said after the opening-round win. "It's the same because this is what I do, but at the same time, at the time it was imperative for me to do it. Now I don't have to do this, but I have the same fire and the same want to win. "In some ways, I'm still getting back into that. When you do it everyday, everything is natural. Not as natural feeling now, but I hope I can get back to that." Williams will next face Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore's domestic recycling rate drops to all time low of 11% Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Business Singapore's digital banks finding their niche in areas like SMEs as they narrow losses in 2024 Asia Japan Prime Minister Ishiba to resign by August, Mainichi newspaper reports World Trump says US will charge 19% tariff on goods from Philippines, down from 20% Asia New Pokemon theme park to open in Japan in early 2026 Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore 2 foreigners arrested for shop theft at Changi Airport "I think it was a big win for me today. Like I said, it's not easy. It won't be easy. It's not easy for anyone out here," Williams said. "So I know I'll have to fight for every match, but I'm up for that." REUTERS

Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Straits Times
Security officer who hit colleague, causing him to fall and suffer brain injury, gets 7 months' jail
Find out what's new on ST website and app. On July 22, his assailant, Mohd Razali Mohamed Sarip, 44, pleaded guilty to an assault charge. SINGAPORE – A security officer punched his colleague's face after a quarrel, causing the latter to fall backwards and hit his head on the floor. The 52-year-old victim became unconscious and was taken to hospital, where he was found with a traumatic brain injury. He also had to undergo rehabilitation with a physiotherapist and a speech therapist following the attack. On July 22, his assailant, Mohd Razali Mohamed Sarip, 44, pleaded guilty to an assault charge and was sentenced to seven months' jail. He was also ordered to pay a compensation of nearly $18,600 to the victim and will have to spend an additional 18 days behind bars if he fails to do so. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sivaranjini Pillai Eliathamby said that before the attack, the victim, who was then employed as a senior security officer, was deployed to work at Lucky Plaza shopping centre in Orchard Road on June 15, 2024. Razali was also deployed there, and the two men engaged with each other over work-related checks, before they got into a verbal dispute. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'pore's domestic recycling rate drops to all time low of 11% Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Business Singapore's digital banks finding their niche in areas like SMEs as they narrow losses in 2024 Asia Japan Prime Minister Ishiba to resign by August, Mainichi newspaper reports World Trump says US will charge 19% tariff on goods from Philippines, down from 20% Asia New Pokemon theme park to open in Japan in early 2026 Singapore Two found dead after fire in Toa Payoh flat Singapore 2 foreigners arrested for shop theft at Changi Airport Razali then challenged the victim to a fight, but the older man rejected the suggestion. The two men left work at around 8pm and Razali saw the victim, who was referred to in court documents as V1, walking towards a bus stop near Tangs Plaza. The DPP said: '(Razali), still harbouring resentment against after V1 and kicked V1's leg from behind. V1 turned around as he lost balance from the kick. '(Razali) administered a forceful punch to V1's face. The impact of the punch caused V1 to reel and fall backwards, hitting the back of his head against the concrete floor...(and he lost consciousness).' Razali waited for the victim to regain consciousness, walked him to the bus stop and left. At the bus stop, the victim fell unconscious again. A nearby motorcyclist saw him lying face down and alerted the authorities. The victim was taken to hospital and was later given 65 days of hospitalisation leave. Razali's bail was set at $10,000 on July 22, and he is expected to begin serving his sentence on Aug 5.