China is gearing up for an intense week of diplomacy as it finalises preparations for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin this month, followed by a grand military parade in Beijing to commemorate the end of World War II. All eyes will be on how China asserts its diplomatic clout and positions itself as…
When you Google “Maumere”, tempting photos of turquoise waters, pristine beaches and coconut palm trees set against a lush, volcanic landscape pop up. The town, the second largest on Indonesia’s Flores island, is lauded as a “best-kept secret” and a “hidden paradise” on many travel websites. Hongkonger Mandy Ma Wing-man lived in this paradise for…
On August 1, China’s state planner announced a crackdown on “herd behaviour” in emerging industries, targeting the surge of capital into hot sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs), batteries and solar. Officials warned against “blind imitation” where firms large and small pile into the same space, sparking price wars and overcapacity. This frenzy, often dubbed…
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, just ahead of a trip to Japan and Indonesia, criticized China on Sunday for its increasingly aggressive behaviour in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China Seas. “Fundamental rules of our global coexistence are at stake here,” he warned before his departure from the Hamburg Airport. This also…
A new “sentry drone” system is expected to help Hong Kong’s low-altitude economy fly high, providing early alerts about navigation signal interference to ensure flight safety and reduce accidents, the transport minister has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan offered the upbeat assessment in a post on her weekly blog on Saturday, saying…
Top Southeast Asian leaders are expected to attend China’s military parade next month to commemorate the end of World War II, in what would be a show of Beijing’s growing influence in the region. Many countries are said to be sending more senior delegations than they did a decade ago, when the first such parade…
Image for representation. India has been added to the United Kingdom’s “Deport Now, Appeal Later” scheme, which allows foreign criminals to be deported before their appeals are heard. The Home Office on Sunday said the list has expanded from eight to 23 countries in a bid to speed up removals and reduce migration. Those deported…
Taipei, Taiwan – Southeast Asia’s export-driven economies are facing new uncertainty from United States President Donald Trump’s trade war, as his administration cracks down on exports directed through third countries to avoid his tariffs on China. Under an executive order issued by Trump last week, goods imported into the US face a punitive 40 percent…
A coalition of domestic worker unions has demanded an immediate 30 per cent pay rise for Hong Kong’s 370,000 helpers to HK$6,500 (US$833) a month and for their food subsidy to be doubled. The Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions on Sunday blamed current government policy for having left many helpers in a…
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