The Philippines said on Monday it had summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest a Chinese navy ship’s “illegal intrusion” in archipelagic waters over which the Southeast Asian country says it has complete sovereignty.The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Ambassador Huang Xilian was summoned by the Acting Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro over the activities of a Chinese naval surveillance ship between January 29 to February 1.“Acting Undersecretary Lazaro demanded that China respect…
Asian nations in weaponry splurge as China tensions grow
Some Asian and Oceanian nations are ramping up weapons purchases as they become increasingly wary of China’s growing regional ambition, a report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute showed on Monday.The report compared weapons transactions worldwide for the five years through 2021 to the previous five years through 2016. It showed that out of the top 10 arms importers, six were from Asia and Oceania.India was the top importer, accounting for 11 per cent of the total…
Philippine election: Bongbong Marcos’ wife emerges from the shadows to talk about Imelda Marcos’ shoes and how Ant-Man influenced her husband to run
Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, 62, has been at the receiving end of unexpected gifts ever since her husband, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr filed his presidential bid in October.“People are giving me outfits and shoes and we haven’t even started,” said the daughter-in-law of former First Lady Imelda Marcos who became world famous for her shoe fetish. The term “Imeldific” was even coined after her to describe someone “ostentatiously extravagant, sometimes to the point of vulgarity.”In 2018, the…
New Hong Kong asset-backed security to boost investment in infrastructure
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China has announced a number of initiatives to boost investment in infrastructure, including a US$450 million infrastructure asset-backed security to be issued during financial year 2022-23.
Malaysia’s ruling party wins big again in state polls, in boost for national election
A scandal-plagued Malaysian political coalition won a sweeping victory in local polls in Johor state on Saturday, giving it a boost ahead of expected national elections due next year.The Barisan Nasional (BN) took 40 of 56 seats, claiming a two-thirds majority in a contest that saw 239 candidates vying for control of the southern state’s legislature.The powerful bloc has been riding strong since the fall of a reformist government led by Mahathir Mohamad in early 2020, which collapsed due to…
Climate action needs more female leaders in Asia, UN Women specialist says
More women are needed in top leadership and policymaking positions across the Asia-Pacific to help combat the threat posed by climate change, according to a senior United Nations representative for the region.Asia’s women often work on the front line managing and mitigating climate change impacts, said Sarah Knibbs, UN Women’s deputy regional director and officer-in-charge for Asia and the Pacific. But the region still has few female leaders in positions of power, such as the heads of energy…
Russian exodus puts Thailand’s tourism rebirth at risk as Asia longs for absent visitors
In the first six weeks of 2022, more than 40,000 Russians poured into Thailand – tourists craving a sun-kissed shore far away from the harsh winter of home.They were beckoned back to the beaches of Phuket, Koh Samui and Pattaya by a welcoming nation whose deflated economy was desperate for an economic lift, having felt the sting of billions of lost tourist dollars amid the pandemic.But then Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, and hopes of a quick tourist recovery for Thailand…
Singapore to simplify ‘difficult to understand’ coronavirus rules
Singapore plans to simplify Covid-19 restrictions that have built up in the city state since the start of the pandemic and intends to further ease entry rules for vaccinated travellers, with the worst of the current Omicron wave seen to be over.The island, which boasts a 95 per cent vaccination rate among the eligible population, will look to pay more attention to hospitalisations rather than daily cases to guide its strategy, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said at a briefing on Friday.Further…
Employee ownership trusts have advantages if structured right
Employee ownership trusts (EOTs) are increasingly popular ownership models that can deliver benefits to an organisation’s shareholders and its employees.
More investment needed for Japan to meet wind power installation goals
Considerable investment will be needed if Japan is to meet its ambitious wind power generation targets, a renewables expert has said.