Construction and engineering companies will be looking to the UK chancellor to provide sufficient upfront funding to enable them to support the government’s plans to drive the country’s economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis through new infrastructure projects.
German radio station apologises after host compares K-pop’s BTS to coronavirus
A Bavarian radio station apologised on Friday for a host’s comments comparing popular South Korean K-pop band BTS to the coronavirus, saying his choice of words had gone too far but was in no way meant to be “hurtful or racist.”The statement came after legions of fans accused the station’s Matthias Matuschik of racism for his comments on the band’s cover of Coldplay’s Fix You, taking to social media using the hashtags #Bayern3Racist, #Bayern3Apologise and #RassismusBeiBayern3 which translates…
South Korea’s Exim bank to invest in green energies
South Korea’s state-owned Exim bank has announced a KRW$200 billion ($180 million) environmental, social and governance related (ESG) fund to invest in green energy projects.
Solar Philippines to build 2GW solar power project
Solar Philippines Biga Corporation is planning to build a 2 gigawatts (GW) solar plant, combining with 6GW battery energy storage system and 600 megawatts (MW) diesel backup in Nasugbu, Batangas, 115 kilometres south west of Metro Manila, Philippines.
Hong Kong government to issue $175.5bn green bonds in next five years
The Hong Kong government will issue green bonds worth $175.5 billion in the next five years, according to financial secretary Paul Chan of the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (HKSAR).
Philippines set to roll out Sinovac Covid-19 jabs, but some businesses can’t wait
The Philippines will receive its first batch of Covid-19 vaccines this weekend from China’s Sinovac Biotech, allowing it to start its inoculation programme next week and lifting hopes for an economic revival after lengthy lockdowns that have fuelled job losses and substantially cut consumer spending.Harry Roque, spokesman for President Rodrigo Duterte, said 600,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine would arrive on Sunday out of the 25 million doses that have been ordered, while 10,000 doses of a…
Japan could fire at foreign official vessels aiming to enter waters near Senkakus
The Japan Coast Guard could directly fire a weapon against foreign official vessels aiming to land on the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, ruling party members said on Thursday, citing government officials.The government officials told a panel of the Liberal Democratic Party they have confirmed their interpretation of existing laws. China implemented a new law earlier this month that allows its coastguard to use weapons against foreign ships that Beijing sees as illegally entering its…
Is Sinovac’s early shipment to Singapore ‘unusual’ or just part of China’s vaccine diplomacy?
When the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccines arrived in Singapore in December, the moment was cheered by residents and politicians alike. Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung received the shipment with much fanfare and oversaw its delivery to a cold-chain warehouse, while Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called the arrival of the vaccines a “welcome present that we’ve all been looking forward to”. It was a similar story two months later, when the city state received its first batch of Moderna shots…
Complying with directors’ remuneration report disclosures
UK-registered quoted companies need to make a number of new disclosures in their directors’ remuneration report for financial years ending 31 December 2020 onwards.
Russian fugitive on the run for two weeks after fleeing deportation arrested in Bali
A Russian fugitive whose dramatic sprint out of an Indonesian immigration office was captured on CCTV has been caught again after two weeks on the run, authorities said on Wednesday.Andrey Kovalenko fled the office on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali to avoid deportation, with the surveillance footage showing him keeping pace on foot with a motorcycle as he escaped.Authorities fanned out across the island in the hunt for Kovalenko, who was arrested early Wednesday at a villa in tourist hub…