Internal Affairs

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What is Authoritarianism (in practise)?

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | May 19, 2025 |

In a real authoritarian regime – they would basically force you into (doing) things against your rights or at least it messes you in your head about what is okay or not okay… I would say long time ago, Singapore used to be considered authoritarian (under the premiership of Lee Kuan Yew) For example in…

Ukraine 2000–2022 | How to Destroy a Nation: Part 1

By Carlo Peroni | May 16, 2025 |

The Russo-Ukrainian War is a unique event in human history.It is the only recorded case of a social, political, and military event that happened without causes.It just appeared out of thin air, like magic. And even if a cause exists, it is entirely the result of a man who woke up one day with the…

Indonesia in the Spotlight: A Surge of Strategic Developments Across Sectors

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | May 16, 2025 |

Indonesia has been a hive of diplomatic activity, economic progress, and global attention over the past 24 hours, as a wave of news highlights the nation’s growing role on the international stage. From partnerships in green energy and electric vehicles to major geopolitical interactions and domestic development projects, here’s a snapshot of what’s making headlines.…

USTR Section 301 Action’s New Maritime Fee Structure against China

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | April 19, 2025

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) introduced a new maritime fee structure in April 2025 to counter China’s dominance in the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors while promoting U.S. shipbuilding. The initiative stems from a Section 301 investigation, prompted by five U.S. labor unions in March 2024, which concluded that China’s state subsidies and policies unfairly…

[ PBS ] House passes Republican bill requiring voters provide proof of U.S. citizenship

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | April 11, 2025

The House passed one of Republicans’ signature issues for the year on Thursday, approving legislation to require proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote for federal elections, one of President Donald Trump’s top election-related priorities. Nearly all Democrats lined up against the bill and warned that it risks disenfranchising millions of Americans who do…

DPA:COUNTRY STABILITY INDEX MAP

ARTICLES

[ Arab News Pakistan ] Yemeni government forces retake key district in Al-Bayda as Houthis flee

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | January 10, 2022

Yemeni government forces on Saturday recaptured substantial territory from the Houthis in the provinces of Al-Bayda and Shabwa.  Backed by air cover from Coalition warplanes, the loyalist Giants Brigades liberated several villages and mountains before storming the center of the Noaman district in Al-Bayda.  A convoy of armed vehicles and jubilant fighters entered scattered villages…

Ending Pakistan’s Forcible Occupation is the Ultimate Goal- Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF)

By Manish Rai | January 7, 2022

Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) is one of the oldest and sizeable Baloch armed separatist groups frequently carrying out armed attacks against Pakistani forces and government installations in Pakistan’s restive province of Balochistan. Recently BLF has intensified its attacks against the government forces and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Islamabad’s dream Economic project. In an exclusive…

Kazakhstan declares emergency; government resigned

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | January 6, 2022

Emergency is declared in Kazakhstan and will last until January 19 after the country’s largest city, Almaty’s airport was breached by protesters after unrest broke out across the country after the government lifted price controls on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which many cars in the country runs on due to the low cost – which…

Tablighi Jamaat a Cause For Concern

By Manish Rai | December 24, 2021

Tablighi Jamaat (TIJ) is currently grabbing the headlines for getting banned by Saudi Arabia. Saudi government official statement called Jamaat as a danger to society and one of the gates of terrorism. In a tweet on December 6, the country’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs said, His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif Al…

[ Asahi Shimbun ] Okinawa’s governor plans to reject U.S. base design change

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | November 26, 2021

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said on Nov. 25 the prefecture will reject a proposed design change in the landfill work for the construction of a planned U.S. military base when he met the ruling prefectural assembly group backing him.  He cited what prefectural officials perceive to be flaws in the measures to strengthen the weak…

Erdogan Becoming a Liability for Turkey

By Manish Rai | November 14, 2021

Last month Turkey made it into the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog headquartered in Paris. Turkey now joins its close ally Pakistan in FATF’s crosshairs. Surprisingly Turkey becomes the largest economy to be included in this list. The FATF listing for Ankara comes on the…

[ Taiwan News ] 32 countries to remove China from preferential tariff treatment on Dec. 1

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | November 5, 2021

China Customs says 32 countries will no longer provide preferential tariff treatment to the world’s largest exporter from Dec. 1, and an economic expert says labor-intensive businesses will bear the brunt of the development. According to a statement recently issued by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), 32 countries will remove China from…

[ CNA ] Tougher competition but Singapore will take it in stride: PM Lee on G20’s corporate tax deal

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | November 5, 2021

“I think it is an effort by countries to come together to be able to have a united front in improving the bargaining position against companies which have very considerable pulling power,” he said. “I think I can understand what they are trying to do, but I think the dynamic will not fundamentally change and…

Worker’s Party of Singapore reputation damaged by revelation of MP lying in Parliament

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | November 2, 2021

Raeesah Khan, Worker’s Party of Singapore Member for Parliament (MP) for Sengkang GRC had admitted to lying to the parliament on 3 separate occasions, on an issue she raised herself that she was later unable to substantiate. This unprecedented incident of dishonesty at the highest level of political forum had shocked Singaporeans and many questions…

Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) – New People’s Army (NPA)’s spokesperson/commander killed

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 31, 2021

According to the Philippine News Agency of the Filipino government, Jorge Madlos, also known as Ka Oris, is killed in an operation in Impasugong, Bukidnon, Mindanao. Madlos is the spokesperson of the New People’s Army (NPA) and is the most wanted NPA commander in Mindanao. Madlos was facing multiple cimrinal cases such as robbery with…

[ NPR ] China is removing domes from mosques as part of a push to make them more ‘Chinese’

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 27, 2021

China is removing the domes and minarets from thousands of mosques across the country. Authorities say the domes are evidence of foreign religious influence and are taking down overtly Islamic architecture as part of a push to sinicize historically Muslim ethnic groups — to make them more traditionally Chinese. The campaign comes amid rising Islamophobia…

[ Myanmar Now ] Junta turns to retired soldiers amid heavy losses and a slide in recruitment

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 25, 2021

Myanmar’s military is increasingly relying on retired soldiers to replenish its ranks, as months of conflict take a heavy toll on troops and recruitment efforts, according to military sources. In an effort to bolster its strength in restive regions, the regime has started offering incentives to former military personnel to return to uniform, one ex-soldier…

[ The Independent ] Singapore recovery stalled by 100k seniors who won’t get jabs

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 22, 2021

Chris Barnett, the South-east Asia correspondent for  The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, said this when he reported  the extension of strict social curbs here until next month which was announced by Singapore’s Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) on Wednesday. “Now, though, after setting the standard in the region with its COVID-19 immunisation drive, vaccine…

Former US President Trump launching new Social Media Network: TRUTH Social

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 21, 2021

Former US President, Donald J Trump finally made good on his promise to launch his own social media platform to compete against the Big Tech companies that had collectively censored and kick him off their respective platforms. Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) merged with Digital World Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: DWAC), to immediately fast track…

Pakistani Taliban a Cause of Concern For Islamabad

By Manish Rai | October 20, 2021

Reversal of Fortunes The attacks carried out by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) aka Pakistan Taliban have increased to the highest level in over four years as the US left Afghanistan and the Afghan Taliban took power. TTP has been emboldened by the developments in next-door Afghanistan. This has complicated the internal security scenario for Pakistan as…

China hit by flood again, 3rd time this year.

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 10, 2021

Dykes of the Yellow River breached, causing the 3rd flood of 2021 for China. Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces, that are in the Yellow River basin are hit by severe flooding. More than 120,000 people had been evacuated thus far just in Shanxi alone. It is said to be the largest flood in nearly 40 years…

[ TIME ] China, Isolated From the World, Is Now the Last Major Country Still Pursuing a ‘Zero COVID’ Strategy

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 7, 2021

Now, with the rise of the delta variant and the proliferation of vaccines, only one is still holding fast to that goal of eliminating Covid-19: China. With New Zealand preparing to shift away from the zero-tolerance strategy, China’s isolation is complete, raising the stakes on how long it can stick to a playbook that requires closed borders,…

[ OANN ] Cambodia PM Seeks Barring Of Duel Citizenship For Holders Of Top Posts

By Wyatt Mingji Lim | October 6, 2021

Cambodian leader Hun Sen on Wednesday ordered the justice ministry to amend the constitution to bar holders of the country’s top posts, including the prime minister, from being citizens of other nations. On his Facebook page, Hun Sen said the prime minister, upper and lower houses speakers and head of the constitutional council must only…