25/02/2026

WEDNESDAY | FEB 25, 2026

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Fiery year or catalyst for peace? T HE Year of the Fire Horse is seen by some as ushering in a period of intense, fast-paced change that can spark fiery controversies landscape has been characterised by delayed geopolitical impact. Hopes are for the fiery horse to be reined in further in the world’s hotspots to produce transactional outcomes and avert the disastrous to US$100 (RM390) to US$125 per barrel; 0 market volatility as any war will upset market equilibrium and drive up global inflation; and 0 heightening of the nuclear proliferation threat as Tehran would accelerate its pursuit of a nuclear weapon as a final deterrent. O T H E R T A K

flashpoint. These launchers, capable of firing cruise missiles, now put major Chinese military facilities within range. On the critical technological front, US policy to treat Taiwan’s semiconductor dominance as a point of focus for the restructuring of the global economy that it desires has led to a dual-track strategy: bolstering Taiwan’s defence while simultaneously pressuring for “semiconductor independence” by 2028. While a war over Taiwan is not imminent, the island constitutes a grey zone pressure point for the West, and a red line point for China. New global and technology-driven war order Both feng shui and geopolitical analysts are generally in accord with the conclusion by Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney in his widely noted special address at the World Economic Forum in January. According to Carney, the Post-Cold War rules-based international order has experienced a “rupture, not a transition” and a new world order is emerging. Arguing that the old system, largely enabled by American hegemony, is finished, Carney called for a shift in strategy for “middle powers” to avoid marginalisation in a world dominated by great-power rivalry. It is not only marginalisation that is on the global order menu. The expiration of New START on Feb 5 removes the last major treaty capping US and Russian strategic nuclear weapons. This has created a dangerous and unconstrained arms race, bringing the world into a new and complex nuclear era in which integration of artificial intelligence, offensive cyber capabilities and anti-satellite weaponry into military strategies has increased the danger of rapid and accidental escalation towards Planet Earth’s destruction. LimTeck Ghee’s Another Take is aimed at demystifying social orthodoxy. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com between real suffering and digital fiction can become dangerously blurred. They become less attentive to how others feel. Guilt may no longer arise when they cause harm. Lacking the skills to regulate their own emotions, they fail to pause and reflect before acting. Instead, they react impulsively – and in some cases, those reactions can become dangerous. This is not merely a discipline issue; it reflects a deeper emotional crisis. We cannot expect teachers to resolve it alone. While schools play an important role, they cannot replace parents. Children need consistent support at home – guidance, attentive listening and clear boundaries. Even small actions, like asking about their day or limiting screen time, can make a meaningful difference. Children are not born violent, such behaviour is learned from the environments around them. If we are serious about protecting them, we must examine closely the world in which they are growing up. What is happening in our schools is a warning we cannot ignore. Silence is not an option, nor can we wait for the next tragedy. Change must begin now, and it must begin with all of us. Talk to your children. Spend time with them. Show them love and teach them kindness. Change starts with small steps. The real challenge is not just to ask what went wrong but to decide what we are willing to do right, starting today. SyedAzman Syed Ismail is a postgraduate student at the Faculty of Education, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

due to its volatile mix of the horse’s independent spirit and the fire element’s explosive nature. Traditional experts who

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impact that will hit all, including the West that has seen itself largely immune to any world disorder. The US, the main military and foreign policy power in the world, will be determined to establish and

Latin America In a significant shift of focus towards the Western hemisphere, the US has initiated a massive naval and air presence in the Caribbean to assert influence and prepare for further interventions, in addition to that secured against Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela. This heightened posture is part of a broader strategy referred to as a “might is right” approach to ensure regional dominance amid concerns over China and Russian tensions. The successful implementation of the Donroe doctrine, including its stemming of illegal migrant flow and drug trafficking, will continue to be emphasised as the highlight of Trump’s foreign policy achievement. The North An unconventional but emerging hotspot involves Greenland. As part of a broader “America First” security architecture, Trump has pressured Denmark and other European allies to grant more expansive military rights in the Arctic. Meanwhile, his intention to annex Greenland remains intact. Though not yet a “war”, it has created a significant rift in the transatlantic alliance, with the US making its military presence in Europe conditional on these strategic concessions. Asia-Pacific While the US is not currently initiating a war with China over Taiwan or in the South China Sea, its 2026 strategy has become significantly more assertive. The US recent expansion of its Asian military bases and Typhon missile systems in the Philippines could be a very dangerous

anticipate a charged year have warned that the intense “fire energy” could lead to impulsiveness and conflict if not carefully managed. This should apply not only to individuals but also to nation states in their international relations. These are some key geopolitical developments that could be affected if the predictions of feng shui masters are correlated with the expectations of geopolitical analysts for 2026. War and peace With the US and Ukraine reportedly aligned on 90% to 95% of a peace proposal, this will lead to the long-running Ukraine-Russia war grinding down to a political and military truce outcome. However, risks of clashes between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) members remain high as Nato manoeuvres in the post-war era to chip away at Vladimir Putin’s Russia and collapse it. Both combatants, Ukraine and Russia, face severe exhaustion and will welcome peace. Casualties have been horrendous and are approaching two million dead and wounded, with Russian losses reportedly worse. However, Putin will have won a victory against an expansionist Nato, seen by many as the principal catalyst to an entirely avoidable war. Ukrainians will probably endlessly debate on what and whether they have won or lost. Potential conflict zones and risks Although the doomsday clock has been moved closer to a World War III scenario, the global B Y L I CHILDREN today are growing up in a world that moves faster than ever. Surrounded by constant noise, pressure and distraction, many are finding it harder to cope. While schools continue to focus on lessons and examinations, children’s emotional and social well-being deserves equal attention. We tend to measure success by grades and academic achievement. Yet, what we are witnessing goes far beyond poor performance and disciplinary issues. These are not isolated behavioural lapses; they are serious acts of violence – committed by children against other children. This signals that something is deeply wrong and demands urgent reflection and action. Some are quick to blame schools or the education system. Before a child can succeed academically, they must first learn to manage their emotions, treat others with respect and distinguish right from wrong. These values do not begin in the classroom; they begin at home. Many children today spend more time on screens than in the company of their families. Technology itself is not the enemy; it helps us in many ways. But when children are online without limits, it becomes harmful. Some are on their phones late into the night. They do not get enough sleep, stop talking to their parents and lose interest in those around them. Over time, this isolation can manifest as sadness, irritability or even aggression. If these changes go unnoticed, the child carries them into the classroom. Emotional COMMENT by Syed Azman Syed Ismail

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reinforce its supremacy. However, its role in the Trump administration is increasingly defined by maximum pressure campaigns and the use of military posturing and calibrated action as a primary negotiating tool. The focus has shifted from long-term wars towards high-stakes, rapid-response interventions and regime change by pressure. For now, these are the primary US targeted hotspots: Iran As of February, the Middle-East is the most volatile region due to a massive US military buildup aimed at Iran. Trump recently issued a warning that Iran has until the end of February to reach a new nuclear deal or face “unspecified consequences”, which many analysts interpret as potential strikes on nuclear facilities and leadership targets. Any US military action in Iran, however surgical the strike, is likely to have profound impacts including: 0 Iranian retaliation against US bases in Iraq and Syria or allied infrastructure; 0 escalation that includes Israel, Saudi Arabia, Gulf Arab states and groups like Hezbollah, with Russia and China having warned that strikes will drag the world into a broader war; 0 energy shock with disruption to the Strait of Hormuz – through which 20% of global oil and LNG flows – causing prices to potentially spike

Protect our children: Emotional care begins at home

Children need consistent support at home - guidance, attentive listening and clear boundaries. Even small actions, like asking about their day or limiting screen time, can make a meaningful difference. – AI-GENERATED PIC BY SYED AZAHAR SYED OSMAN/THESUN

When children are repeatedly exposed to scenes of fighting, stabbing and killing in games or videos, their sensitivity can gradually diminish. Violence may start to seem like an ordinary part of life or worse, a form of entertainment. Over time, the distinction

problems do not remain at home; they surface at school and affect other students. The learning environment becomes strained and, at times, unsafe. In the most tragic cases, the consequences can be devastating, with lives permanently damaged or even lost.