HONG KONG (AFP, BLOOMBERG) - Hong Kong police deployed pepper spray to disperse protesters congregated at a shopping mall on Friday (May 1), as tensions in the city mount following a lull during the coronavirus outbreak.A group of people gathered in New Town Plaza in the Sha Tin area of the city to take part in an activity dubbed "Sing with You".The crowd of more than a hundred people, chanted slogans calling for the liberation of Hong Kong, according to footage livestreamed by local media.Police asked the crowd to leave immediately, saying that they were violating a regulation banning...…HONG KONG (AFP, BLOOMBERG) - Hong Kong police deployed pepper spray to disperse protesters congregated at a shopping mall on Friday (May 1), as tensions in the city mount following a lull during the coronavirus outbreak.A group of people gathered in New Town Plaza in the Sha Tin area of the city to take part in an activity dubbed "Sing with You".The crowd of more than a hundred people, chanted slogans calling for the liberation of Hong Kong, according to footage livestreamed by local media.Police asked the crowd to leave immediately, saying that they were violating a regulation banning...WW…

TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday (April 12) prompted an angry response from some Twitter users after sharing a video of himself lounging on a sofa with his dog, drinking tea and reading, along with a message telling people to stay at home."Who do you think you are?" became a top trend on Twitter, with users saying Mr Abe's message ignored the plight of those who were struggling to make a living amid the coronavirus outbreak.Mr Abe's video, which featured his pet dog, was a response to popular musician Gen Hoshino, who uploaded a video of himself singing about...…TOKYO (REUTERS) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday (April 12) prompted an angry response from some Twitter users after sharing a video of himself lounging on a sofa with his dog, drinking tea and reading, along with a message telling people to stay at home."Who do you think you are?" became a top trend on Twitter, with users saying Mr Abe's message ignored the plight of those who were struggling to make a living amid the coronavirus outbreak.Mr Abe's video, which featured his pet dog, was a response to popular musician Gen Hoshino, who uploaded a video of himself singing about...WW…

New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and familyThe electronics sector will need to keep an eye on opportunities emerging from the rearrangement of supply chains amid the pandemic.Many companies are likely to continue to relocate from China and may reshore some of their production facilities, given the risk of re-escalation in the US-China trade war.Already a subscriber? Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every monthNo contractST app access on 1 mobile deviceFollow and stay updated on the latest career news, insights and more.A...…New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and familyThe electronics sector will need to keep an eye on opportunities emerging from the rearrangement of supply chains amid the pandemic.Many companies are likely to continue to relocate from China and may reshore some of their production facilities, given the risk of re-escalation in the US-China trade war.Already a subscriber? Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every monthNo contractST app access on 1 mobile deviceFollow and stay updated on the latest career news, insights and more.A...WW…

WASHINGTON - Taiwanese rated the United States more favourably than mainland China by a nearly two-to-one margin, according to a survey done late last year and released on Tuesday (May 12)."Overall, just 35 per cent of adults give positive marks to mainland China, while about six in 10 hold unfavourable views," said the report by the Pew Research Centre."There is widespread support for increased economic and political ties with Washington; enthusiasm for similar relations with mainland China is much more muted," the report said.Economic ties are a different matter. "Still, even as people...…WASHINGTON - Taiwanese rated the United States more favourably than mainland China by a nearly two-to-one margin, according to a survey done late last year and released on Tuesday (May 12)."Overall, just 35 per cent of adults give positive marks to mainland China, while about six in 10 hold unfavourable views," said the report by the Pew Research Centre."There is widespread support for increased economic and political ties with Washington; enthusiasm for similar relations with mainland China is much more muted," the report said.Economic ties are a different matter. "Still, even as people...WW…

Intriguingly, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne have both used the same phrase in recent days to describe ties with China, calling for the country to approach Beijing with "eyes wide open".They were describing ties with China in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, as they each called for a global inquiry into the origins of the outbreak.But their wording had a somewhat familiar ring.Last August, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Sydney and was asked how worried Australians should be about China's rise.Sitting alongside Ms Payne, he advised:...…Intriguingly, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne have both used the same phrase in recent days to describe ties with China, calling for the country to approach Beijing with "eyes wide open".They were describing ties with China in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, as they each called for a global inquiry into the origins of the outbreak.But their wording had a somewhat familiar ring.Last August, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Sydney and was asked how worried Australians should be about China's rise.Sitting alongside Ms Payne, he advised:...WW…

, andSINGAPORE - Three new coronavirus clusters have been announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (April 20).One is linked to Jurong Apartments dormitory, the second to Woodlands Lodge II dormitory, and the third to 8 Sungei Kadut Loop which is the address of construction firm King Wan Construction.The ministry also said that 1,369 of the 1,426 new coronavirus cases on Monday are .MOH explained that it is picking up many more cases from dormitories because of extensive testing."These are not new infections as the workers are staying in their rooms and many have not reported...…, andSINGAPORE - Three new coronavirus clusters have been announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Monday (April 20).One is linked to Jurong Apartments dormitory, the second to Woodlands Lodge II dormitory, and the third to 8 Sungei Kadut Loop which is the address of construction firm King Wan Construction.The ministry also said that 1,369 of the 1,426 new coronavirus cases on Monday are .MOH explained that it is picking up many more cases from dormitories because of extensive testing."These are not new infections as the workers are staying in their rooms and many have not reported...WW…

I refer to Straits Times global affairs correspondent Jonathan Eyal's commentary about China's handling of diplomacy amid the Covid-19 pandemic (, May 4).What has happened in the past few months during the pandemic reflects the dilemma faced by many countries and corporations dealing with China, and reinforces the importance of getting the country to abide by the international system.Increasingly, China has shown no qualms about flexing its economic muscles, whether it is towards countries or companies.Woe to those who do not toe China's line or, as it has been said, to those that "hurt the...…I refer to Straits Times global affairs correspondent Jonathan Eyal's commentary about China's handling of diplomacy amid the Covid-19 pandemic (, May 4).What has happened in the past few months during the pandemic reflects the dilemma faced by many countries and corporations dealing with China, and reinforces the importance of getting the country to abide by the international system.Increasingly, China has shown no qualms about flexing its economic muscles, whether it is towards countries or companies.Woe to those who do not toe China's line or, as it has been said, to those that "hurt the...WW…

Mr Kishore Mahbubani's observations and suggestions on China are not new (, Sept 23).In fact, in the throes of the Great Depression in the 1930s, it was also fashionable to mock the failings of the liberal democracies. Similar to how China's rise has now enthralled some, authoritarianism was also then put forth as a more viable and attractive solution to the socio-economic ills of the time.Mr Mahbubani's suggestions are based on several assumptions which warrant closer examination. First, the domestic support of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been predicated on the continued delivery...…Mr Kishore Mahbubani's observations and suggestions on China are not new (, Sept 23).In fact, in the throes of the Great Depression in the 1930s, it was also fashionable to mock the failings of the liberal democracies. Similar to how China's rise has now enthralled some, authoritarianism was also then put forth as a more viable and attractive solution to the socio-economic ills of the time.Mr Mahbubani's suggestions are based on several assumptions which warrant closer examination. First, the domestic support of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been predicated on the continued delivery...WW…

DHAKA (AFP) - Bangladesh will not accept two boats carrying hundreds of reportedly starving Rohingya refugees, the country's foreign minister said on Thursday (April 23) as calls grew to rescue the Muslim outcasts.The new controversy over stranded Rohingya blew up just a week after dozens that was left at sea for two months before it could land.Activists are fearful that large numbers of Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from mostly Buddhist Myanmar, may be trapped on boats and unable to reach other countries.The two latest boats are in international waters after according to aid...…DHAKA (AFP) - Bangladesh will not accept two boats carrying hundreds of reportedly starving Rohingya refugees, the country's foreign minister said on Thursday (April 23) as calls grew to rescue the Muslim outcasts.The new controversy over stranded Rohingya blew up just a week after dozens that was left at sea for two months before it could land.Activists are fearful that large numbers of Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from mostly Buddhist Myanmar, may be trapped on boats and unable to reach other countries.The two latest boats are in international waters after according to aid...WW…

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - US President Donald Trump suspended the entry of certain foreign workers on Monday (June 22) until the end of the year, a move the White House said would help the coronavirus-battered economy, but which business groups strongly oppose.The effects of the proclamation might not be immediately felt as the issuance of work visas had already dramatically declined due to the coronavirus pandemic.The following visa categories are affected:The United States grants 85,000 H-1B visas every year to "high-skilled" workers, often in the technology industry. They are generally valid...…NEW YORK (REUTERS) - US President Donald Trump suspended the entry of certain foreign workers on Monday (June 22) until the end of the year, a move the White House said would help the coronavirus-battered economy, but which business groups strongly oppose.The effects of the proclamation might not be immediately felt as the issuance of work visas had already dramatically declined due to the coronavirus pandemic.The following visa categories are affected:The United States grants 85,000 H-1B visas every year to "high-skilled" workers, often in the technology industry. They are generally valid...WW…