Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee pledged to strengthen the city’s economy, raise living standards, and reinforce its status as an international hub. His plans include launching a gold trading market. Lee, a former senior police official, maintained the city’s 2025 growth forecast of 2 to 3 per cent and emphasized Hong Kong’s role as a gateway for mainland Chinese companies expanding overseas. This was his fourth policy address. He described his main goal as improving people’s lives — with better housing, higher wages, stronger elderly care, and greater opportunities for young people.

Hong Kong’s open economy continues to feel the impact of China’s slowdown and trade frictions with the U.S. His speech, delivered over nearly three hours, offered few new large-scale housing policies but focused on government accountability and national security. Lee outlined efforts to develop “new growth areas” such as an international gold market, fintech, and sustainable finance. He said the Hong Kong Monetary Authority would encourage Chinese banks to set up regional headquarters in the city and expand into Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Plans also include expanding the aviation sector through recycling and trading high-value parts and building a sustainable aviation fuel supply chain.

Hong Kong will also seek to attract pharmaceutical companies for clinical trials and advanced medical treatments, including rare disease drugs, high-end cancer therapies, and innovative therapies. On integration, Lee said the government would speed up the Northern Metropolis project, designed to house 2.5 million people and establish a new business hub near Shenzhen. Originally announced by former leader Carrie Lam in 2021, the project aims to become a hub for technology and innovation within the Greater Bay Area.

Lee also announced education reforms, increasing the cap on non-local student admissions to 50 per cent from 40 per cent. Other initiatives include licensing restaurants to allow pets, tapping into a market of 400,000 pet owners, which he said could unlock new business opportunities. To address falling birth rates, Lee said parents would be able to claim a tax allowance of HK$260,000 (about S$42,666) for each child during the first two years after birth.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

A military airstrike on a school in Myanmar last week killed at least 19 students, according to an ethnic militia, as the ruling junta intensifies efforts to reclaim territory ahead of a December election. The attack targeted a boarding school in Kyauktaw Township in Rakhine state, where children were reported killed and injured, the UN children’s agency UNICEF said. While UNICEF did not provide a death toll, the Arakan Army, a militia opposing the military, confirmed that at least 19 students aged 15 to 21 had died.

Reuters could not independently verify the claims, as internet and mobile services have been disrupted in parts of Rakhine by the military, and attempts to contact residents in Kyauktaw were unsuccessful. The military did not respond to requests for comment. “The attack is part of a growing pattern of deadly violence in Rakhine, with children and families bearing the brunt,” UNICEF stated.

Rakhine, which borders Bangladesh, has seen months of heavy fighting between the military and the Arakan Army, which seeks greater autonomy for the coastal region. The state has long faced instability, with the World Food Programme warning of rising hunger and malnutrition, particularly affecting the persecuted Muslim Rohingya minority.

Over the past month, the military has conducted nearly 500 airstrikes nationwide, killing more than 40 children and striking 15 schools, according to the shadow National Unity Government. The military’s use of air power has surged, with 1,134 airstrikes reported between January and May, compared with 197 and 640 in the same periods in 2023 and 2024, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

Myanmar, one of Southeast Asia’s poorest nations, has been engulfed in violence since the 2021 military coup that removed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. Nationwide protests against the junta were violently suppressed, and the opposition has since evolved into an armed resistance, bolstered by both established ethnic armies and new militias.

After four years of emergency rule, the military formed an interim government last month and announced a multi-phase election beginning on December 28, with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing continuing as acting president. The election, widely criticized by Western governments and human rights organizations as illegitimate, is expected to be dominated by military-aligned parties, as opposition groups are largely barred or have opted out.

The military-backed election commission recently announced that voting would not take place in 56 lower house and nine upper house constituencies due to unfavorable conditions, according to state media Global New Light of Myanmar. These areas are largely under rebel control, including parts of Kachin, Chin, Shan, and Rakhine states.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Around 300 South Korean workers arrived back home on Friday (Sept 12) to tearful reunions with their families, a week after being caught up in a large-scale U.S. immigration raid that left many uncertain if they would ever be able to work there again. Wearing masks, the workers stepped off a chartered plane at Incheon Airport, where they were welcomed with cheers from officials, including the presidential chief of staff, before being taken by bus to meet their relatives. Their return followed days of intense negotiations by Seoul to secure their release, after images of them being taken away in handcuffs and shackles sparked outrage in South Korea, a close ally of the U.S.

Push for U.S. visa changes: South Korean companies have long faced challenges in securing proper visas for specialized workers on long-term projects in the U.S., forcing some to rely on loopholes in visa rules. To address this, both countries are considering setting up a joint working group to explore creating a new visa category for Korean workers, according to South Korea’s foreign minister, who was in Washington this week.

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, who greeted the workers at the airport, said his presence underscored how seriously President Lee Jae Myung viewed the matter, which he said had affected “innocent people of Korea.” “We are living in a new era in our dealings with the United States,” Kang told reporters. “The rules keep changing, and constant negotiations are needed, not just on tariffs but also on security issues.”

The workers were reunited with their families and officials from LG Energy Solution (LGES) and its subcontractors. LGES, together with Hyundai Motor, is building a battery plant in Georgia, where the raid took place. The incident risks straining U.S.-South Korea relations at a sensitive time, as both sides work to finalize a trade agreement involving a US$350 billion (S$450 billion) fund to bolster key U.S. industries.

At the arrival hall, one protester displayed a large poster of U.S. President Donald Trump dressed in an outfit marked with the initials of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, carrying a bag of cash and a machine gun. The caption read: “We’re friends!” Police later forced the protester to move away from the area.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday, September 12, summoned the Israeli ambassador following Israel’s targeted strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar, earlier this week. The development was reported by Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN. As of now, neither the UAE nor Israeli foreign ministries have issued official statements, leaving the diplomatic response largely unspoken but highly significant.

The attack has prompted Qatar to call for an emergency Arab-Islamic summit, scheduled for Sunday and Monday in Doha. Leaders from across the Middle East are expected to attend, discussing the Israeli operation, evaluating regional security concerns, and coordinating a unified response. Analysts suggest the summit will serve as a crucial platform for Arab and Islamic nations to articulate their stance and strategize on how to address escalating tensions between Israel and Palestinian factions.

UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been touring Gulf countries this week, engaging with regional leaders to align positions in response to the strike. According to his diplomatic adviser, these visits reflect the UAE’s proactive approach in managing regional security and highlight its role as a key mediator in Middle Eastern diplomacy.

The Israeli strike and subsequent diplomatic fallout underscore the fragile security situation in the region and the potential for wider political repercussions. The upcoming summit and the UAE’s diplomatic efforts indicate that Gulf countries are taking the attack seriously and are seeking to coordinate a measured yet firm response. As events unfold, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, recognizing the potential implications for regional stability and broader geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Nepal has named its first female Prime Minister, 73-year-old Sushila Karki, who previously served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Her appointment follows weeks of protests that started over a social media ban and escalated into broader demonstrations against corruption and inequality. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman explore the role of this new interim PM and the challenges facing the transitional government, speaking with Dr. Jacob Rinck, Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute, NUS.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Speaking at the opening of the 15th Parliament, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam laid out the government's priorities in order for the country to thrive amid turbulent times. That includes having a strong defence and economy to secure Singapore and its place in the world. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman delve deeper into the address with Terence Ho, Associate Professor in Practice at Singapore University of Social Sciences.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

The removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as prime minister marks the third time a member of the Shinawatra family has been ousted, after her father Thaksin in 2006 and her aunt Yingluck in 2014. Who might step in next, and what does the future hold for the Shinawatra dynasty? Hairianto Diman and Genevieve Woo discuss these questions with Jay Harriman, a political and business advisor based in Bangkok.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

A 60-year journey of cultural exchange between Singapore and Thailand will take center stage at this year’s Thailand Week, happening from July 31st to August 3rd. Ahead of the event, Hui Wong speaks with Ms. Natama Koonpol, Director of the Thai Trade Center in Singapore (DITP), to reflect on the trade relationship between the two nations and share highlights of what visitors can look forward to at Thailand Week.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.