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JAKARTA — Former military general Prabowo Subianto has officially been sworn in as Indonesia’s eighth president, marking the beginning of a new political era for Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The 73-year-old leader, long plagued by allegations of human rights abuses, took office on Sunday, succeeding former President Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, who led the nation through a decade of economic growth and infrastructure development.

Prabowo, who had previously failed twice in his bids for the presidency, secured victory in February’s elections with over 58% of the vote. His running mate, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Jokowi’s eldest son, was sworn in alongside him.

At the inauguration ceremony, attended by more than 30 global leaders and dignitaries, including British Foreign Minister David Lammy and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, Prabowo vowed to lead as a president for all Indonesians and promised to tackle major issues such as corruption and poverty.

“We must always realise that a free nation is where the people are free,” Prabowo declared in his nearly hour-long inaugural address. “They must be freed of fear, poverty, hunger, ignorance, oppression, and suffering.”

Prabowo also emphasized Indonesia’s long-held policy of non-alignment in foreign affairs, affirming the nation’s stance of not allying with any major power blocs. He pledged to support oppressed people globally, saying, “We will stand against all colonialism and defend the interests of oppressed people worldwide.”

Following his inauguration, Prabowo announced a sweeping cabinet of 48 ministers and 58 vice-ministers, the largest since the 1960s. This marks a significant increase from Jokowi’s administration, which had 34 ministers and 30 vice-ministers. The new cabinet members were officially sworn in on Monday.

Several political analysts have suggested that Prabowo’s decision to reappoint 17 ministers from Jokowi’s cabinet is a political move to reward his predecessor, whose tacit support is believed to have played a crucial role in Prabowo’s electoral victory. Key figures such as Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Chief Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto have retained their positions, signaling policy continuity in Indonesia’s economic direction.

Lina Miftahul Jannah, a public policy scholar, warned that the large size of the cabinet could complicate bureaucracy and slow down the policymaking process. “It’s resource-intensive, not just financially but in terms of time and energy,” she said.

Prabowo’s cabinet will begin their term with a three-day retreat at a military academy in central Java. The retreat, aimed at fostering unity and understanding of the president’s vision, will involve ministers and their deputies staying in tents, according to Abdul Kadir Karding, the migrant protection minister.

Prabowo is set to make his first international appearances as president at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit and the G20 summit in the coming months, further solidifying his position on the global stage.

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South Korean Man Found Guilty of Attempting to Avoid Military Service by Gaining Weight

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A South Korean court has convicted a 26-year-old man of attempting to dodge mandatory military service by deliberately gaining weight, local media reports.

The man, who was facing a required physical examination for military service, began binge eating in an attempt to qualify as obese and avoid combat duty. His actions led to his classification as obese, allowing him to serve in a non-combat role at a government agency instead of in the military’s frontlines.

The court in Seoul sentenced the defendant to a one-year suspended prison sentence, meaning he will avoid jail time unless he commits another crime within the next two years. Additionally, a friend who had recommended and helped the man follow an intensive eating regimen received a six-month suspended sentence.

In South Korea, all able-bodied men over the age of 18 are required to serve in the military for a minimum of 18 months, although certain exemptions or adjustments can be made for health reasons. The defendant’s case drew attention as it highlighted the lengths some are willing to go to avoid military conscription.

According to the Korea Herald, the defendant had been assessed as fit for combat duty during an initial medical exam. However, when he went for his final examination last year, he weighed in at over 102kg (225 lbs), a weight classification that categorized him as heavily obese.

The friend who suggested the binge-eating plan denied the charges of aiding and abetting, claiming he never believed his friend would follow through with the drastic diet changes. Despite this, the court found the recommendation and support for the weight-gain regimen to be criminally liable.

This case has raised questions about the pressures of mandatory military service in South Korea and the lengths some individuals might go to in order to avoid it. The government enforces strict regulations regarding military conscription, with exceptions made only in cases of severe health issues or other unique circumstances.

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UK Businessman Caught Selling Perfume to Russia Faces No Criminal Charges

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A British businessman who was caught on camera admitting to selling luxury perfume to Russia in violation of sanctions will not face criminal charges, the BBC has learned. David Crisp, the Surrey-based entrepreneur, confessed to an undercover investigator that he had disregarded government sanctions by selling £1,000-a-bottle “Boadicea the Victorious” perfume in Russia.

The BBC is now able to reveal exclusive footage of the conversation, which had previously only been shared in court. Crisp, who was arrested by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in 2023, was under investigation for allegedly concealing over £1.7 million in illegal sales. However, HMRC dropped the case earlier this year, despite the discovery of evidence linking him to continued trade with Russia.

Crisp denies knowingly breaching sanctions or hiding his trade with Russia. According to sources, no UK criminal convictions have been made for violating trade sanctions on Russia since the invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.

Senior Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith criticized the lack of criminal action, calling it a “bad signal” and a sign that the UK is a “soft touch” when it comes to enforcing sanctions.

The controversy began when Crisp, known for his dealings with high-end perfumes and celebrity clients, unwittingly spoke to a private investigator posing as a businessman in a Dallas hotel lift in July 2023. The investigator later filmed a conversation in which Crisp confessed to continuing his Russian sales despite the sanctions. “We’re doing really well… we ignore government edicts,” Crisp said during the exchange.

In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the UK introduced sanctions banning trade with Russia in various sectors, including perfumes. Violating these regulations can result in penalties, including up to ten years in prison. Following the imposition of sanctions, Crisp had initially agreed with his business partner, David Garofalo, to stop trading with Russia. However, Garofalo grew suspicious after a whistleblower alleged Crisp was still selling perfumes in Moscow.

Garofalo hired private investigators who uncovered evidence that Crisp had continued to ship goods to Russia, even after the sanctions were in place. The investigators discovered paperwork linking shipments to recipients in Russia and products for sale in Moscow that had been launched after the sanctions were introduced.

Garofalo reported Crisp to HMRC, which launched a criminal investigation. A High Court judge later ruled that Crisp should be removed from the company, citing the undercover video and evidence of concealed transactions.

Despite this, HMRC dropped the investigation in July 2024, stating it would take no further action. The decision has sparked anger from Garofalo, who says the evidence was irrefutable. HMRC has since indicated that while sanctions violations are serious, they have issued fines but not criminal prosecutions for such breaches since the war began.

Experts, including Sir Iain Duncan Smith, have raised concerns that the UK’s failure to prosecute violators sends the wrong message. “If we don’t prosecute, who the hell is deterred from breaching sanctions?” he asked.

Tim Ash from Chatham House also expressed concern, noting that without strong enforcement, the allure of profit from trading with Russia remains too tempting for some. “The reality is, the allure of doing business with Russia, the huge profits to be made, are too much for some people,” Ash said.

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France Pledges Unwavering Support for Ukraine Amid Growing Tensions

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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has emphasized that there are no “red lines” when it comes to supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Barrot affirmed that Ukraine has the right to fire French long-range missiles into Russian territory as part of its self-defense efforts, but he did not confirm whether French weapons had already been used in such a manner.

The comments come after a week of significant escalation in the war, which saw the first use of US and UK long-range missiles fired into Russian territory. Barrot, who was in London for talks with Foreign Secretary David Lammy, reiterated that Western allies should not impose limits on their support for Ukraine. “We will support Ukraine as intensely and as long as necessary,” he said, stressing that European security is directly at stake. Barrot further noted that any territorial gain by Russian forces brings the threat closer to Europe.

Barrot’s remarks echo earlier statements made by French President Emmanuel Macron, who had previously indicated France’s openness to allowing the use of its missiles against Russian targets. However, the Foreign Minister’s comments are particularly notable as they come amid growing international concerns over the conflict’s escalation. In his interview, Barrot also suggested that NATO could eventually extend an invitation to Ukraine, aligning with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s longstanding request for membership.

As part of a broader defense strategy, Barrot also hinted at the need for increased military spending across Western nations. “Of course we will have to spend more if we want to do more,” he remarked, underscoring the need to strengthen defenses in response to evolving global threats.

Meanwhile, the situation in Ukraine continues to intensify, with reports of Ukrainian drones hitting key Russian ammunition depots, including some supplied by North Korea. The UK government has made long-term commitments to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities, particularly in drone technology. Despite tight budgets and cautious political calculations, UK officials emphasize the importance of maintaining support for Ukraine, including through a treaty signed in July to help arm the country in the long term.

As the conflict progresses, concerns are also growing about the potential impact of future leadership in the United States, particularly with the possibility of Donald Trump returning to the White House. Sources within the UK government are focused on positioning Ukraine in the strongest possible position for any future negotiations. While official statements maintain that it is for Ukraine alone to decide if and when negotiations take place, there are private discussions about what potential compromises could be acceptable.

With the war showing no signs of abating, Western nations are bracing for a long-term geopolitical struggle, particularly as Russia deepens its alliances with countries like North Korea and Iran.

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