Playlist

Turkmenistan and Iraq discuss cooperation growth in Ashgabat

07 Apr. 01:47

Source

Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan hosted a high-level meeting between Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and the Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Turkmenistan, Jassim Mohammed Al-Attar. The discussions focused on reviewing the current state of bilateral ties and exploring future prospects in the political, diplomatic, economic, and cultural-humanitarian sectors.

The diplomats highlighted that the official opening of the Iraqi Embassy in Ashgabat in March this year marks a milestone in the diplomatic history of the two nations. This step is expected to provide significant impetus for broadening the multifaceted cooperation and fostering more dynamic engagement between the government agencies and business circles of both countries.

The meeting also served as a platform for exchanging views on several regional security issues and international developments. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to supporting each other within international organizations, particularly the United Nations. On the economic front, they discussed strategies to boost bilateral trade and identified key areas for potential joint investment projects.

Strengthening ties with the Republic of Iraq aligns with Turkmenistan's foreign policy objective of enhancing friendly and mutually beneficial partnerships with countries in the Middle East. At the conclusion of the talks, the officials agreed to maintain regular diplomatic contact to ensure the successful implementation of the discussed initiatives and to further solidify the fraternal bond between the two nations.

















Singapore Pledges Up to $55,000 Per Child to Boost Falling Birth Rates

24 Aug. 12:48

Source

Facing a record drop in fertility rates, Singapore is significantly expanding its family support framework. According to Bloomberg, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced increases in direct financial assistance alongside enhanced housing benefits for young families.

Under the updated policy, every Singaporean child up to the age of 17 will be eligible to receive up to 70,000 Singapore dollars (approximately $55,000 USD) in total support, which includes cash payouts, educational grants, and related benefits. The government is also expanding paid parental leave and capping monthly out-of-pocket costs for government-subsidized childcare at 150 Singapore dollars.

These interventions aim to reverse a severe demographic decline, marked by last year's fertility rate drop to 0.87 children per woman, while over 20% of the country's population is currently aged 65 or older.