A former commander of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Forces (MSDF) has warned that policymakers and people in the country are unprepared for conflict in the Taiwan Strait, simply because the thought is too unpalatable.In an opinion piece for the right-leaning Sankei newspaper, Yoji Koda, who retired as commander in chief of the MSDF in 2008, said there would be “devastating” consequences if Japan was unprepared for an emergency involving Taiwan.China sees the self-ruled island as part of its…
Coronavirus: record deaths test Singapore’s reopening plans; illegal home parties behind surge in Melbourne cases
Singapore posted a record eight deaths from Covid-19 on Wednesday, a potential test of the government’s resolve to reopen amid fears tied to its recent exponential increase in infections.New cases topped 2,200 for a second straight day even as the government re-implemented some domestic curbs to combat infection rates that are hitting their highest levels since the pandemic began.While officials said they are committed to reopening the island nation where four in every five residents are fully…
Government to review retained EU law in the UK
A major review announced by the UK government has the potential for significant impact on all areas of UK legislation that has its roots in EU law, ranging from intellectual property to data protection, employment law and environmental law.
LDP’s pick for Japan PM Fumio Kishida won’t ‘rock the boat’ on US and China, analysts say
The “old guard” of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Wednesday once again defied popular will by electing Fumio Kishida as the new leader of both the party and the nation, with more critical analysts suggesting that party elders wanted a “puppet” who would bend to their wishes rather than a younger maverick as prime minister.Kishida, a 64-year-old former foreign minister, was elected in a second round of voting with 257 votes from LDP politicians, after none of the initial four…
Hong Kong singer Gin Lee and Ronny Chieng of Shang-Chi film recall childhood in Malaysia after praise from Sultan of Johor
A Hong Kong-based singer-songwriter and a Malaysia-born comedian who recently appeared in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings have spoken of their delight at being praised by the Sultan of Johor.Sultan Ibrahim Ismail singled out Gin Lee and Ronny Chieng in a Facebook post earlier this month in which he said he was “very proud of two outstanding Johoreans striking success on the international entertainment scene” and thanked them for “bringing glory to Johor in their own way”.The sultan,…
Singapore’s MAS to raise S$2.6bn bonds to fund infrastructure
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced plans to raise S$2.6 billion (US$1.9bn) in its inaugural sale of bonds to fund infrastructure projects.
Philippine taxman probes 250 social media stars, seeking revenue for Covid-19 battered economy
Being the centre of attention is usually a lucrative prospect for a social media star. But scores of influencers in the Philippines may be about to find out that the spotlight can be costly too.The country’s Bureau of Internal Revenue is investigating 250 social media influencers to see if they are paying their taxes, in a development Manila has described as “clarifying” the tax obligations of influencers and “reminding” them of the consequences of tax evasion.The move, which the government…
US cryptocurrency expert Virgil Griffith pleads guilty to helping North Korea avoid sanctions
A prominent American cryptocurrency promoter and former hacker has pleaded guilty to advising North Korea on using virtual money to avoid international controls, a New York court said on Monday.Virgil Griffith, who is based in Singapore, launched projects in 2018 to provide services to individuals in North Korea by developing and financing cryptocurrency structures, including cryptocurrency mining, according to the Southern District Court of New York.Griffith worked with others to provide…
UK government proposes making flexible working the default
The UK government has launched a consultation aimed at making flexible working the default approach for employers and individuals in the future.
With Huawei all but banished from India, can Mukesh Ambani’s Jio deliver on Modi’s 5G ambitions?
During his recent visit to the United States, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the chief executive of Qualcomm, the world’s biggest semiconductor manufacturer, to discuss a potential investment in India’s 5G infrastructure – a pitch to a major Western telecoms firm that starkly contrasts with New Delhi’s policies vis-à-vis Huawei.In the past year, the Modi administration has practically banned the Chinese telecommunications giant from participating in India’s 5G network, with Huawei’s…