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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
New S. Korean President's call for public to suggest Cabinet members ‘more than a populist move'
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung mooted the crowdsourcing idea as a 'meaningful first step towards the people becoming the main actors in running the state'. PHOTO: AFP SEOUL - K-pop singer IU for Cultural Minister? How about Oscar-winning director Bong Joon-ho of the Parasite movie fame or even popular show host Yoo Jae-suk? A crowdsourcing exercise by the administration of the new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, seeking public inputs towards the forming of its new Cabinet, has yielded these amusing results, along with more considered suggestions. Mr Lee, who took office on June 4, had mooted the crowdsourcing idea as a 'meaningful first step towards the people becoming the main actors in running the state'. The 62-year-old former human rights lawyer was elected on June 3 in a snap election after the ouster of former president Yoon Suk Yeol over the botched martial law attempt of Dec 3, 2024. Given the lack of a transition period unlike usual elections, Mr Lee has been working with the old Cabinet of his predecessor Yoon, while taking steps to form his own Cabinet. While the unusual crowdsourcing exercise is widely seen as a populist move, observers say that it is a shrewd decision by Mr Lee in more ways than one. 'Through this public nomination system, Mr Lee is able to not only cater to his supporters by giving them a voice, but also buy time to vet nominations thoroughly before formalising his Cabinet,' said Kyonggi University political science and law lecturer Hahm Sung-deuk. In his social media post on June 10 promoting the initiative, President Lee said that the process marks the beginning of a 'national sovereign government' and pledged transparency and fairness in ensuring that only 'truly qualified people' are selected. The public nominations were open from June 10 to 16, allowing South Koreans to submit their choice of Cabinet ministers, vice-ministers or heads of public institutions along with supporting reasons, via a dedicated website, a dedicated e-mail account and even through direct messages to Mr Lee's social media accounts. Self-nominations were accepted. By the closing date of the public nomination exercise, some 74,000 suggestions had been received, with the posts of health minister, justice minister and prosecutor-general receiving the most number of nominations. South Korean media reported that while there were throwaway nominations like suggestions that ex-president Yoon, a former prosecutor-general, return to the top prosecutor job, there were more considered nominations too. These included one for former director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Jeong Eun-kyeong, who had led the nation through the Covid-19 pandemic, to be considered for the health minister position. The tight-knit medical community, in particular, had called for doctors to actively nominate medical field experts with good understanding of medical issues for the health minister position, in order to resolve the fall-out from the mass doctors' walk-out in February 2024 when the previous Yoon administration tried to unilaterally increase medical school admissions. This would be an example of political figures or influential people in various sectors of South Korean society mobilising their support bases to influence the outcome, said Sogang University's Associate Professor Hannah Kim. She also pointed out that there would inevitably be concerns that the selection process 'prioritises popularity over competence' although the public nomination process may appeal to voters 'frustrated by elite-driven decision-making and the revolving-door of establishment politics'. Such a nomination process many also deepen existing divisions, given the country's political polarisation driven in part by extreme fandom in both the opposing conservative and liberal camps, said Prof Kim. 'Moreover, President Lee is likely to face backlash regardless of which decision he makes – whether he goes with popular suggestions or ignores them and appoints allies or controversial figures . And with the latter, this could increase cynicism about democratic participation itself ,' she added. At a press briefing on June 16, a presidential spokesperson gave the assurance that the public nomination system is 'not a popularity contest', so the recommendations would only be for reference. The presidential office has said that the received nominations will be put through rigorous vetting first, with final nominations to be released later at an unspecified date. Prof Hahm says such a time-buying tactic is a smart political move by Mr Lee, who has already faced roadblocks in the formation of his government in his first week of office. 'It allows him to further scrutinise his future nominations, to make sure there are no more controversies to trip them up,' he said. A senior presidential aide was forced to resign four days after his appointment, after allegations surfaced of his undisclosed real estate holdings and a hefty 1.5 billion won (S$1.4 million) loan he allegedly took out using a friend's name. Mr Lee's pick for the prime ministerial position, Mr Kim Min-seok, has also come under intense scrutiny over his past conviction for accepting illegal political funds and his significant increase in assets over the last five years. Mr Kim, a seasoned lawmaker from Mr Lee's ruling Democractic Party (DP) who had warned about Yoon's possible martial law attempt as early as August 2024 and was a key strategist in Mr Lee's presidential campaign, has refuted the allegations and called them politically motivated attacks by the erstwhile ruling People Power Party (PPP) . The PPP, now the main opposition party, had staged a rally in Seoul on June 20 calling for the withdrawal of Mr Kim's nomination. Referring to Mr Lee's legal woe s that have been temporarily put on hold because of his presidency, a PPP spokesperson said: 'If both the president and the prime minister have moral issues and a history of criminal offences, we cannot expect proper appointments of public officials below them!' Mr Kim, who met the foreign press corps in Seoul on June 17, said that he understands the reasons behind the attacks and is optimistic that he will win the opposition over with his patience. 'However, even if I understand their opposition, that doesn't mean that the legal allegations that are untrue, are true. I would definitely address all of the issues and do my best to clear the nomination hearing,' said Mr Kim, whose parliamentary confirmation hearings will take place on June 24-25. Mr Lee himself has expressed confidence that Mr Kim would be able to 'explain himself sufficiently' . Pointing out Mr Kim's contributions during the martial law crisis and the ruling Democratic Party's majority in the Parliament, Prof Hahm said it was unlikely that Mr Kim's nomination would fail. He said: 'Do not forget that this is still the 'honeymoon' period for the president. His popularity is running high and people would not want anything to obstruct his presidency at this moment.' Wendy Teo is The Straits Times' South Korea correspondent based in Seoul. She covers issues concerning the two Koreas. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Tom's Guide
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix's new thriller movie with Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson already sounds intense — and we have a release date
Netflix seems to be doubling down on political thrillers lately. Just days after dropping the first look at its upcoming series 'Hostage,' the streamer has now revealed some juicy details on an original movie that sounds just as intense. 'A House of Dynamite,' a new dramatic thriller from Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow, is officially coming to Netflix (and in select theaters) on October 24, 2025, and it already sounds like a gripping watch. The movie stars Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson, which is reason enough to pay attention, but throw in Bigelow (whose work on 'Zero Dark Thirty' and 'The Hurt Locker' basically defined the modern political thriller) and this project immediately feels like something worth watching on the biggest screen possible. From Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow comes A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE, in select theaters October and on Netflix October 24. 18, 2025 Netflix hasn't released a trailer or any first-look images yet, but we do have an intriguing poster showing the outline of a soldier, with the title printed just below. It's not much to go on, but with this announcement out in the world, hopefully more details will follow in the coming weeks. The newly confirmed plot details line up with what The Hollywood Reporter revealed a few months ago, which also mentioned that the movie's standout element is its real-time format — following government officials in a race against the clock to prevent catastrophe. I love a ticking-clock setup when it's done right, and so I'm hopeful about this one. 'A House of Dynamite' certainly sounds intriguing, and I'm glad Netflix is putting this movie in theaters too. Honestly, any excuse to support your local theater is a win in my book! While details for 'A House of Dynamite' are scarce right now, we do have a small synopsis: 'When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond.' Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. That one-line synopsis might be brief, but you can't deny that it sounds compelling. And with Noah Oppenheim, known for 'Jackie' and 'The Maze Runner,' behind the script, there's a good chance this story will be both smart and sharply paced. In fact, Netflix Tudum described it as 'a sharp and visceral new story.' Alongside Elba and Ferguson, the cast includes Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Moses Ingram, Jonah Hauer-King, Greta Lee, and Jason Clarke. They're joined by Malachi Beasley, Brian Tee, Brittany O'Grady, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Willa Fitzgerald, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Kyle Allen, and Kaitlyn Dever. Bigelow is officially making her return, and it sounds like she's diving straight into high-stakes territory with a tension-filled missile crisis thriller. The cast is stacked, the premise is juicy, and if early hints are anything to go by, we could be in for a tense ride. 'A House of Dynamite' hits select theaters this October and lands on Netflix on October 24.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Australia's Super Netball goes global in deal with Whoopi Goldberg's AWSN
FILE PHOTO: Whoopi Goldberg poses during the Met Gala, an annual fundraising gala held for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute with this year's theme 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,' in New York City, New York, U.S., May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo SYDNEY - Australia's Super Netball league will be broadcast to more than 65 countries over the next three years after Netball Australia struck a deal with Whoopi Goldberg's All Women's Sports Network (AWSN), the governing body said on Friday. Netball, one of a few sports created exclusively for women and girls, is the most popular participation sport for females in Australia with Netball Australia estimating there are up to a million players across the country. The professional Super Netball league, which was launched in 2017, has eight teams and 41 of its games, including the playoffs and finals, will now be broadcast on AWSN. "This breakthrough deal puts netball on screens across the globe and cements our place at the forefront of women's sport," Netball Australia chief executive Stacey West said in a statement. "AWSN shares our vision of taking women's sport to new heights. Together, we're creating a platform for our athletes and game to shine like never before." Co-founded by Oscar-winning actor and comedian Goldberg, AWSN was launched late last year as the first global media channel dedicated exclusively to showcasing women's sports. "I am so proud to be thanking you for joining us on AWSN," Goldberg said in a video message to Super Netball released by Netball Australia. "I see that your fans are really loving you, so we want to make sure that we put you everywhere in the world so that everybody knows about you." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Australia's Super Netball goes global in deal with Whoopi Goldberg's AWSN
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia's Super Netball league will be broadcast to more than 65 countries over the next three years after Netball Australia struck a deal with Whoopi Goldberg's All Women's Sports Network (AWSN), the governing body said on Friday. Netball, one of a few sports created exclusively for women and girls, is the most popular participation sport for females in Australia with Netball Australia estimating there are up to a million players across the country. The professional Super Netball league, which was launched in 2017, has eight teams and 41 of its games, including the playoffs and finals, will now be broadcast on AWSN. "This breakthrough deal puts netball on screens across the globe and cements our place at the forefront of women's sport," Netball Australia chief executive Stacey West said in a statement. "AWSN shares our vision of taking women's sport to new heights. Together, we're creating a platform for our athletes and game to shine like never before." Co-founded by Oscar-winning actor and comedian Goldberg, AWSN was launched late last year as the first global media channel dedicated exclusively to showcasing women's sports. "I am so proud to be thanking you for joining us on AWSN," Goldberg said in a video message to Super Netball released by Netball Australia. "I see that your fans are really loving you, so we want to make sure that we put you everywhere in the world so that everybody knows about you." (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Mint
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Oscar winner Robert De Niro attends Anupam Khers Tanvi The Great gala screening in at New York Indian Festival
New York [US], June 20 (ANI): Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro attended the premiere of Anupam Kher directorial 'Tanvi The Great' in New York on Thursday. Taking to his Instagram handle, Anupam Kher shared the photos and videos from the gala screening of his upcoming film 'Tanvi The Great' at the New York Indian Film Festival. The 'Raging Bull' actor was joined by his longtime girlfriend Tiffany Chen for the premiere. In the videos, Anupam Kher welcomes De Niro to the premiere, which is followed by a photo session with the actor and the movie's lead actress, Shubhangi Dutt. Kher expressed his gratitude to Robert De Niro and his girlfriend Tiffany Chen for attending the premiere. While sharing the photos and videos, the actor wrote, "WORLD'S BEST ACTOR ATTENDS THE PREMIERE OF "TANVI THE GREAT" IN NEW YORK! What else can an actor/director ask from the God! Thank you dearest #Tiffany and Mr. #RobertDeNiro for attending the premiere! It easily is the highlight of my entire career. I am still in shock. But then I also say na 'KUCH BHI HO SAKTA HAI' ! Jai Mata Ki!" The two actors were last seen together on the big screens for the movie 'Silver Linings Playbook' in 2012. It also starred Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence in the lead roles. Before the gala screening at the New York Indian Film Festival 2025, the film was screened at Cannes 2025 where Anupam Kher met Robert De Niro after a long time. As per the press note by the team of Anupam Kher, the two long-time friends took the opportunity to catch up during the festival, where Kher spoke about his film with him. He also introduced debutante Shubhangi to Robert De Niro, who graciously offered her his best wishes. Their warm interaction highlighted the spirit of mutual admiration and cross-cultural support that festivals like Cannes continue to inspire. As for the film debut at Cannes, Kher recently opened up about the reaction received by the audience at the film festival on the world premiere of his 'Tanvi The Great'. While speaking to ANI about the reaction at Cannes, Kher said he was "overwhelmed" by how deeply the crowd connected with the film. The actor also shared how people in the theatre clapped, laughed, cried, and stayed back to ask questions after the screening. "I was very overwhelmed by the reaction of people. They were clapping in between because the theme of the film resonated with them. They were crying, laughing at the end of the film. They didn't want to leave. They were asking questions. It's a beautiful feeling." When asked what the recognition means to him and his team, especially after the struggles the film faced during its making, Kher said, "The success of the film on an international platform like Cannes and then in London proves that if you do something with conviction against all odds, it is the most gratifying feeling, and it will reach people's hearts. The film was made with great difficulty because people who were supposed to finance the film backed out at the last minute, but then I said, 'I have to make it because it's my conviction." 'Tanvi The Great' follows 21-year-old Tanvi Raina, a woman with autism who discovers her late Indian Army officer father's unfulfilled dream--to stand at Siachen, the world's highest battlefield, and salute the Indian flag. Despite societal pushback and institutional barriers against autistic recruits in the military, she becomes determined to fulfil this mission, according to Variety. The film stars debutant Subhangi Dutt in the lead role. Karan Tacker, Boman Irani and Anupam Kher also plays a prominent roles in the film. The movie is set to release on July 18. (ANI)
