Asian markets were mixed Monday with traders increasingly pessimistic that US lawmakers will pass a new stimulus package before next week’s election, while spiking virus cases fanned worries about the economic impact of new containment measures. Despite months of arduous talks in Washington, there appears to be little chance Republicans and Democrats will hammer out […]
As many business leaders look to close the skills gap and cultivate a sustainable workforce amid COVID-19, a new IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) study reveals less than 4 in 10 human resources (HR) executives surveyed report they have the skills needed to achieve their enterprise strategy. Pre-pandemic IBM (NYSE: IBM) research in 2018 found as […]
China’s economic recovery gathered pace in the third quarter, according to an AFP poll of analysts, with consumer spending gradually picking up as coronavirus fears eased, helping a wider rebound spurred by investment and exports. Growth in July-September is expected to come in at 5.2 percent when official data is released Monday, bringing the world’s […]
Asian investors moved cautiously Friday on uncertainty about the chances of a fresh US stimulus package as talks for a broader agreement appeared to be back on. The flip comes just days after Donald Trump shut negotiations down and as rising virus infections continue to sap confidence. Global markets were jolted after the president on […]
Asian markets rallied Monday following reports suggesting Donald Trump’s health is improving after he tested positive for the coronavirus last week, with traders also cheered by signs that US lawmakers were edging towards agreement on a new stimulus package. World equities went into reverse Friday after the White House announced the president and his wife’s […]
#PresidentTrump #policies #economic #growth #security #liberty #vote #China The President’s primary responsibilities are to protect national security and enable prosperity. His record and Slow Joe Biden’s superficial vision make Donald Trump the better choice. China is more than an economic rival. China’s authoritarian approaches to economics and personal liberty permitted better containment of C-19 coronavirus […]
$HSI #HongKong #Index #HangSeng #Trading #Markets #Asia HANG SENG INDEXTicker: .HSIPrice: 24972.26 Hong Kong News A surge in technology stocks failed to boost markets in Hong Kong and China on Wednesday, as sentiment remained under pressure from lingering US-China tensions and delays in the development of a vaccine candidate. The Hang Seng Index fell 0.3 […]
Japanese shares bounced back Friday, tracking overnight Wall Street gains, with banks leading the rally in both markets, after US regulators’ decision to ease some rules allayed fears over a spike in fresh virus cases. The benchmark Nikkei average rose 1.1% at 22,512.08, on the wk, the index gained 0.1%. The broader Topix rose 1% […]
Welcome to World War III Despite increasing personal financial hardship, most people remain unaware of the economic war presently unfolding, many people are convinced a Race War is upon us, they are so terribly wrong. This is about the power of the State, their wealthy donors and their enforcers. George Floyd, Eric Garner and a […]
Investors in China seemed content with existing government measures to support the country’s slumping economy. But they are now calling for more stimulus. Judging by the lack of conviction in Chinese financial markets, the outcome of this month’s key policy meetings may be the deciding factor for investors. While volatility in stocks and the yuan […]
Here is a list of things I think we should be demanding from our Governments after the Coronavirus. 1 Decriminalize Cash If Governments do have the power to lock us down, imagine what would happen if you are in that situation and your bank collapses, or the Government wants to restrict your financial transaction. This […]
“We are doing a very thorough examination of this horrible situation that happened.” President Trump refused to comment about reports the the US intel has a high level of confidence the coronavirus pandemic emanated from a Wuhan, China, virology lab. The intel suggests that a Wuhan laboratory with lax safety protocols infected an intern with […]
Wednesday, President Trump said he did not mind Philippines President Duterte’s decision to end a decades-old military agreement with the United States President Duterte Tuesday announced termination of the 20 yr old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). Defense Secretary Mark Esper called the decision “unfortunate” as Washington and its allies press China to abide by “international […]
Strife-torn Hong Kong has suffered a record slump in retail sales, data showed Wednesday, as the city reels from four months of increasingly violent pro-democracy protests. The international finance hub is a major international tourist destination and especially popular with mainland Chinese shoppers hoping to snap up bargains in a city with no sales tax. […]
Singapore’s new law to combat “fake news” came into effect Wednesday despite criticism from tech giants and activists, who labelled the tough rules a “chilling” attempt to stifle dissent. The law gives government ministers powers to order social media sites to put warnings next to posts authorities deem to be false, and in extreme cases […]
Equities rose in Asian trade Friday after the European Central Bank unveiled a fresh round of useless economic stimulus and another interest rate cut while a report said the US was considering a short-term trade agreement with China. Global markets have been buoyed this week by a growing sense that central banks are on the […]
Malaysia’s ex-prime minister Najib Razak played a pivotal role in plundering the state’s 1MDB fund and channelled hundreds of millions of dollars into his own bank account, a prosecutor said Wednesday at the opening of his most significant graft trial. Claims that Najib and his cronies pilfered massive sums from the fund and spent it […]
President Trump emerges from the G-7 Summit in France as the unchallenged Leader of the free world. Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, praised President Donald Trump’s accomplishments, and said under his leadership, “America is finally leading again.” Her comments came in a Tweet Monday night She wrote: “Under @realDonaldTrump “We are standing up to China. […]
President Trump said the United States would not imminently impose new tariffs on autos imported from Japan as the largest and 3rd-largest economies continue negotiations to firm up a preliminary trade agreement. At a press conference during a G-7 Summit in Biarritz, France, President Trump was asked if he was still considering the levies, which […]
South Korea’s decision to scrap a key intelligence-sharing pact with Japan has far-reaching geopolitical implications and shows the two neighbours are still struggling to come to terms with a bloody history. Here are five things to know about the decision: – What happened? – To general surprise, South Korea announced late Thursday it would not […]
South Korea said yesterday it will scrap an intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, drawing a swift protest from Tokyo and deepening a decades-old dispute over history that has hit trade and undercut security co-operation over North Korea. Seoul’s decision not to extend the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) shows how the political and trade […]
Climate change and bad policies have pushed India into a recurring cycle of floods and droughts which is threatening the country’s economic stability and environmental wellbeing. The current floods have so far killed around 250 people and displaced at least a million across four states in southern and western India. About half of the deaths […]
Beijing, August 18: Anti-China forces in the West have colluded with local anti-China elements to cause the prolonged unrest in Hong Kong, the Chinese official news agency Xinhua says in a detailed report. ‘Foreign nationals were seen meeting and talking with radical protesters. Recently, leaders of “Hong Kong independence” groups secretly met with officials of […]
Japan’s politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States grew more than 15 percent in July, data showed Monday, as negotiators from the two economic powerhouses prepare to restart talks over a free trade deal. According to Japanese finance ministry statistics, the trade surplus with Washington climbed to 579.4 billion yen ($5.5 billion) last month, […]
Asian markets rallied Monday following a strong lead from Wall Street and comments from Donald Trump’s top economic adviser hailing “positive” trade talks with top Chinese negotiators. Optimism that central banks will provide fresh support to head off a global economic recession has also lent much-needed support to regional equities after last week’s sell-off, with […]
Hong Kong democracy activists kicked off a weekend of fresh rallies yesterday in a major test for the movement following criticism over an airport protest earlier this week and as concerns mount over Beijing’s next move. The new marches came as thousands of pro-government supporters many waving Chinese flags gathered in a park to condemn […]
It was meant to be an unabashed celebration of the triumph of Communism in China, and of President Xi Jinping’s authority as the country’s undisputed leader for years to come. But as the People’s Republic of China approaches its 70th anniversary on October 1st, Xi finds himself battling threats on multiple fronts. From a biting […]
Kung fu film star Jackie Chan has joined Mulan actress Liu Yifei in stoking outrage over pro-Beijing comments amid heated protests in Hong Kong, his birthplace, and calling for peace. The torches and pitchforks came out online. After a video appeared online earlier this month showing protesters defacing the Chinese flag, a number of Chinese […]
China’s economy has grown to dwarf Hong Kong’s since 1997, but the mainland remains deeply dependent on the crisis-stricken city as its primary economic gateway to the world. The global financial hub has been shaken by 10 weeks of pro-democracy protests which could have an impact worse than the 2008 global economic crisis, Hong Kong […]
Foreign government officials and experts are expressing their condemnation of the violence perpetrated by radical demonstrators in Hong Kong. Emphasizing the significance of “1 country, 2 systems” for the development of Hong Kong, they also voiced their support for the legitimate actions taken by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and Hong Kong […]
Violent protesters staged a shameful episode of real violence and brutality in full view and broadcast on live television at the Hong Kong International Airport Tuesday. At about 8:00p local time, a group of protesters detained a traveler they claimed to be an undercover police officer from the Chinese Mainland. In lynch mob-style assaults, they […]
Hong Kong’s airport resumed operations Wednesday, rescheduling hundreds of flights that had been disrupted over the past 2 days as protesters clashed with riot police in a deepening crisis in the Chinese-controlled city. And rumors of China’s troops assembling at the Mainland border. Police condemned violent acts by protesters overnight and said on Wednesday a […]
Tuesday, President Trump Tweeted that US intelligence believes that the Chinese government is moving troops to its border with Hong Kong. President Trump also Tweeted that “Everyone should be calm and safe!” Riot police clashed with pro-democracy protesters outside the Hong Kong Airport for the 2nd day running Tuesday though calm returned to the airport in […]
Singapore further cut its annual growth forecast on Tuesday as the escalating US-China trade war hammers exports, in another ominous sign for Asia’s trade-reliant economies. The government said it expected growth of 0.0-1.0 percent this year, sharply down from the 1.5-2.5 percent previously estimated, marking the second downward revision this year. The economy expanded 3.2 […]
Asian markets were mixed Monday with investors gripped by concerns about the US-China trade war after Donald Trump said he was prepared to walk away from next month’s planned talks. The president’s comments spooked US investors and added to the sense of pessimism across world trading floors after the White House last week announced fresh […]
Luxury fashion brands Versace and Coach have apologised for making perceived affronts to China’s national sovereignty on T-shirts, mistakes that cost them their high-profile Chinese brand ambassadors. Italy’s Dolce & Gabbana also apologised in November after its products were pulled from lucrative Chinese e-commerce platforms over an Instagram post seen by very few in China […]
President resident Donald Trump said Saturday that Chairman Kim Jong Un told him he was ready to resume talks on NKorea’s nuclear and missile programs and would stop missile testing as soon as US-SKorea military exercises end. Trump and Kim have met twice since their first summit in Singapore last year, but little progress has […]
Empty hotel rooms, struggling shops and even disruption at Disneyland: months of protests in Hong Kong have taken a major toll on the city’s economy, with no end in sight. City leader Carrie Lam has warned that the international financial hub is facing an economic crisis worse than either the 2003 SARS outbreak that paralysed […]
Asian markets slumped in morning trade Tuesday, tracking global losses after Wall Street suffered its worst sell-off of the year as investors fretted over US-China trade war fears. A sharp fall in the Chinese yuan’s value against the dollar — breaching the 7.0 level seen as a key threshold by investors — prompted US President […]
Peak-hour morning train travel and international flights in Hong Kong were thrown into chaos on Monday as pro-democracy protesters launched an attempted city-wide strike to ramp up pressure on the financial hub’s embattled leaders. Activists descended on key subway stations during the morning rush hour, deliberately keeping open doors to stop trains departing, causing long […]
Big US companies are accelerating efforts to move more of their supply chains from China to neighboring countries in light of Trump administration tariffs. Companies in sectors such as technology, clothing and footwear are exporting more goods from emerging giants including Vietnam and Malaysia, data show. At the same time, the shift has exposed the […]
Thursday, President Trump began his overseas trip of the year with dinner with the Prime Minister of Australia, a friendly opening act before the impending gauntlet of negotiations on international crises, trade wars and a growing global To-Do list. President Trump is in Osaka, Japan, for the annual G-20 Summit. As his re-election bid heats […]
Monday, President Trump said he sent NKorean leader Kim Jong Un a “very friendly letter” in response to Birthday greetings he received last week from Chairman Kim. The exchange of letters comes as the 2 countries negotiate the future of NKorea’s nuclear program and before President Trump leaves Wednesday for an Asia trip that will […]
President Trump’s tough talk to Iran is not warmongering, but a return to the United States acting from a position of strength. “This is what American Presidents used to do talk tough, before President Obama. They used to talk about American strength and the desire for peace over war, but war if necessary. We are returning […]
President Trump is proving himself as a “genuine world leader” with his reception in England and during other recent trips, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Tuesday. “There is something pathetic about the American news media who end up in Japan or end up in Great Britain, end up in France,” Speaker Gingrich said. “Half […]
Thailand’s Prime Minister, who took power in a military coup 5 years ago, is set to win a parliamentary vote Wednesday that will give him a 2nd term in office. The Democrat Party, the country’s oldest, announced Tuesday that it will vote to join a coalition government led by Prayuth Chan-ocha, candidate of the military-backed […]
Saturday, President Donald brushed off noise of a possible weapons test by NKorea, vowing that leader Kim Jong Un “will do nothing to interfere” and that a denuclearization deal with the US “will happen.” The Tweet, posted while President Trump was in route to the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia, was the President’s 1st […]
Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway Monday criticized Hillary Clinton and former President Barack Hussein Obama for referring on Twitter to Victims in Sri Lanka’s Easter church bombing attacks as “Easter worshipers” rather than as Christians. “You have to ask them about that,” she said in a TV interview about the wording Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Hussein Obama used. “There […]
The Easter massacre of Christians by radical Muslim jihadists in Sri Lanka is but the bloody tip of a genocidal crusade which has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of Christian innocents since 9/11. In Iraq, massacres by the most violent and extreme Islamics have wiped out the oldest Christian community in the world, […]
FLASH: The brutal Easter Sunday church bombing attack that has more than 1000 missing, injured and dead in Sri Lanka is now 1 of the most deadly terrorist strikes since 9/ll. The bomb attacks on churches and hotels is puzzling in that it seemed to reflect what has been said of terrorism; lots of people […]
FLASH: Hundreds more injured and are being treated in hospitals; Casualties include foreigners, government minister says. By Israel Hayom Seven people were arrested and three police officers were killed during a raid on a house in Colombo on Sunday as the death toll from a rash of bombings at churches and hotels in Sri Lanka […]
Thursday, President Trump said, “…not the right time to lift economic sanctions on NKorea” “At the right time I would have great support. This is not the right time,” President Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with SKorean President Moon Jae-In, after he was asked about re-opening the industrial park. President Moon has advocated […]
President Trump Friday did not yet reverse NKorea-related sanctions on 2 Chinese shipping companies, a Trump Administration source familiar with the matter said. The source was responding to queries about a tweet sent by Trump earlier in the day that said he had ordered the withdrawal of sanctions announced by the Treasury Department, a statement […]
UPDATE: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Says Chairman Kim Told Him Several Times that He will Denuclearize US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said NKorea’s Chairman Kim Jong Un has promised to eliminate his nuclear weapons program on at least 6 occasions and that now “we need to figure out how to do it.” “The […]
FLASH: Reports from commercial satellite images reveal that NKorea is rebuilding nuclear weapons testing site. President Trump’s NSA John Bolton knows the score, knows the mistakes of prior administrations with NKorea, is working to make real progress, and finally, the leverage is on our side right now. “The President has been very clear he is […]
FLASH: Members of the media should read President Trump’s “Art of the Deal” to understand President Trump’s decision to end negotiations with NKorean Chairman Kim Jong Un The Big Q: What does he say in that book? The Big A: If you want to be a great businessperson, up to the last sec in any deal, you […]
FLASH: President Trump said he is fully committed to his personal diplomacy with Chairman Kim. US President Trump and NKorean leader Kim Jong Un meet Wednesday for their 2nd Summit, betting that their personal relationship can break a stalemate over the North’s nuclear weapons and end more than 70 years of hostility. Despite little know […]
At SKorea’s northernmost train station, the tracks stop abruptly ahead of the demilitarized zone that marks the NKorean border. A sign reads: “The steel horse wants to run.” That may soon become a reality as US President Trump and NKorea’s Chairman Kim Jong Un prepare for a @nd summit next week in Vietnam. The outcome […]
The head of Australia’s competition watchdog warned Monday that tough new regulation of tech giants like Google and Facebook was needed to protect the future of independent journalism. Rod Sims, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), said the market power wielded by Google and Facebook has had a devastating impact on Australian […]
Malaysia’s toppled leader Najib Razak will go on trial this week over an extraordinary financial scandal that contributed to the downfall of his long-ruling coalition and reverberated around the world. The former prime minister and his cronies are accused of stealing $4.5 billion from Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB in a mind-boggling fraud that stretched […]
The choice of Vietnam as the venue for a 2nd US-NKorea Summit this month shows the possibility of moving beyond conflict and division toward a thriving partnership, the US State Department said Thursday. State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told a news briefing that US Special Representative for NKorea Stephen Biegun was in Pyongyang to prepare […]
Stephen Biegun, the US special representative for NKorea, arrived in SKorea Sunday for working-level talks on a proposed 2nd Summit between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un. Mr. Biegun plans to meet his NKorean counterpart Kim Hyok Chol to discuss the agenda and other issues ahead of the Summit slated for later this […]
$DIA, $SPY, $QQQ, $RUTX, $VXX The US Jobs Report for January provided reminder that US labor market remained strong despite growth worries, market volatility, and partial government shutdown. Plus, January ISM Manufacturing Index up higher than expected at 56.6 (consensus 53.6), business is good too. Foxconn Technology Group (2454:TW) said Friday that after its Chairman […]
A once senior NKorean official was reportedly banished to a labor camp after Chairman Kim Jong Un accused him of “breaching doctrine” in a proposal for US-NKorean talks. Han Song Ryol, once the North Korean vice foreign minister, was sent to a “re-education camp” after he was removed from his position last year, a SKorean […]
High-level diplomatic talks to finalize a 2nd summit between President Trump and NKorean leader Kim Jong Un are happening this week in Washington. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to meet former NKorean chief diplomat Kim Yong Chol at a Washington hotel Friday. The meeting will likely be followed by Chairman Kim’s visit to […]
Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn said Tuesday he had been “wrongly accused and unfairly detained” at a high-profile court hearing in Japan, his first appearance since his arrest in November rocked the business world. In a statement prepared for the hearing and issued by a spokesperson, Ghosn was expected to conclude his remarks by saying: […]
NKorea’s leader Kim Jong Un said Tuesday he want to extend his Summitry with President Trump into Y 2019. During his televised New Year’s speech, Chairman Kim said he is ready to meet with President Trump at any time to produce an outcome “welcomed by the international community.” He told his countrymen that the North […]
President Donald Trump wants to a trade deal that will be good for the United States, China, and global growth, White House Council of Economic Advisers Kevin Hassett said Monday. The stock market responded, bouncing off its lows. “If a country came to the US right now and offered Zero tariffs, Zero non-tariff barriers, full […]
Indonesian Budi Ahmad used to live openly as a gay man without fear of becoming a target for violence in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation. Not any more. The country of 260 million is in the grip of a moral panic, with critics saying the vulnerable LGBT minority is being used as a political punching […]
President Trump, NKorea’s Chairman Kim to Meet in 2019 President Donald Trump plans to meet NKorean leader Kim Jong Un in the New Year. The United States and NKorea have been discussing a 2nd meeting between their leaders to follow up the Singapore Summit in June and lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear stand-off. […]
NY-T’s Story on Secret NKorean Missile Sites is ‘Fake News’ Tune out the Noise! US President Donald Trump lashed out at The New York Times calling its report about NKorean secret missile bases “inaccurate.” “The story in the New York Times concerning NKorea developing missile bases is inaccurate,” President Trump posted on Twitter. “We fully know about the sites […]
Goldman Sachs “cheated” Malaysia, leader Mahathir Mohamad said, after two former bankers from the Wall Street titan were charged over a scandal that allegedly saw billions looted from state coffers. The US Justice Department unveiled criminal charges this month against ex-Goldman bankers Tim Leissner and Ng Chong Hwa, accusing them of working with a Malaysian […]
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced today initiatives to enhance private markets financing channels, including a programme to place up to US$5 billion for management with private equity (PE) and infrastructure fund managers. 2 Mr Peter Ong, MAS Board Member and Chairman of Enterprise Singapore, highlighted the new initiatives at the Global Investor Summit […]
A China-backed bid to complete the world’s largest trade deal — without the United States — was pushed back to next year after Asia-Pacific trade ministers failed to agree key terms at a Singapore summit. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), covering half the world’s population, is billed as an antidote to Donald Trump’s “America […]
Japan Joins the Global Shakedown of US Tech Giants Japan’s anti-trust authorities will probe whether tech giants such as Google and Amazon are using their market-leader positions to exploit contractors or obstruct competition, the country’s fair trade chief said Thursday. In an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, the head of Japan’s Fair Trade Commission […]
The trade spat between the world’s two largest economies — China and the United States — is imperiling the entire Asia-Pacific, regional finance ministers have warned. In a statement, finance ministers meeting in Port Moresby said risks to the global economy had increased thanks to “heightened trade and geopolitical tensions”, a veiled reference to the […]
SKorea Defers to President Trump on SKorea Sanctions US President Donald Trump warned SKorea could “do nothing” on lifting NKorea sanctions without his approval, leading to SKorea to walk back a proposal to do so. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha had said Wednesday that Seoul was considering lifting measures applied after a deadly attack in 2010 that killed […]
The head of the IMF Thursday called for an overhaul of Japan’s economic policy, as the world’s third-biggest economy battles stubborn low inflation, sluggish growth and a rapidly ageing population despite the fact that she was active in shaping Abenomics, and encouraged the printing of money at record rates. The hypocrite Christine Lagarde called for […]
Confidence among Japan’s biggest manufacturers has slipped for the third straight quarter, a key central bank survey showed on Monday, reflecting concern about trade wars and a string of natural disasters. The Bank of Japan’s Tankan report — a quarterly survey of about 10,000 companies — showed a reading of 19 among major manufacturers in […]
Asian markets were mixed Tuesday following the latest tit-for-tat tariffs in the China-US trade row, while investors are now looking ahead to the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting. While the levies had been widely expected, there are concerns about how long the spat will go on for after China cancelled planned talks between the two […]
China is the last bulwark against a deep crisis in emerging economies going fully global, analysts say, although a prolonged trade war could sap Beijing’s defences. Emerging countries — loosely defined as having fast growing but volatile economies — have seen their currencies battered in recent weeks, plunging their finances into turmoil, and raising fears […]
NKorea’s 70th Anni Parade “a big and very positive statement” Sunday, US President Donald Trump saluted NKorean leader Kim Jong Un Sunday for holding a massive military parade “without the customary display of nuclear missiles” to celebrate his country’s 70th Anniversary. “This is a big and very positive statement from NKorea. Thank you To Chairman […]
President Trump Approaches His ‘Reagan Moment Economist Mohamed El-Erian predicts that President Donald Trump sees a 60% chance that President Donald Trump’s hard line with China and Europe yields “fairer trade.” The chief economic adviser to Allianz SE also set some other odds in a recent TV interview. El-Erian puts a 15% chance on a “Reagan moment” […]
Japan Hit with Trade War Losses Japan’s politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States shrank sharply in July, according to official data published Thursday, as the two allies continue to cross swords over US trade policy. The surplus with the US shrank 22.1 percent with reduced shipments of motor vehicles and microchip-making equipment dragging […]
Japan bounced back to growth following its first contraction in two years, official figures showed Friday, but fears of US trade wars clouded the outlook for the world’s third-largest economy. The economy grew 0.5 percent quarter-on-quarter in the April-June period, compared with a 0.2-percent decline in January-March, according to data from the Cabinet Office. The […]
Philippine economic growth slowed sharply in the second quarter and fell well short of expectations as a result of policy decisions that included the shutdown of holiday island Boracay, officials said Thursday. The six percent expansion in April-June was the weakest in three years and ended a run of 10 consecutive quarters in which the […]
North Korea’s media on Sunday reported leader Kim Jong-un’s aggressive on-site inspections of key sites for economic reconstruction amid lackluster progress in denuclearization talks with the United States. The Rodong Sinmun, the daily of the North’s ruling Workers’ Party, said that since late June, Kim has traveled to some 20 sites in North Pyongan Province, […]
Asian countries have voiced concern about the potentially devastating impact of a US-China trade war, with ministers calling for the acceleration of talks for a gigantic Beijing-backed free-trade deal that excludes the United States. Fear that a simmering trade spat between the world’s top two economies could spiral into a full-blown trade war — with […]
This week, this city-state will again become a stage for major diplomacy on the Korea peace process. The top diplomats of more than two dozen nations, mostly from the Asia-Pacific region, are descending on Singapore for the annual ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), at which North Korea has been traditionally a key issue. The ARF, slated […]
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370: Still No Answers A detailed report on the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014, released by a safety investigation team Monday, failed to determine the cause behind the mishap and left many questions unanswered due to lack of evidence. “It should be recognized that due to the significant lack […]
Our Plane is Headed to NKorea for US ‘Korean Conflict’ Remains A US aircraft flew to NKorea Friday to collect the remains of American troops killed in the Korean Conflict, the latest step in ongoing diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang. NKorea is expected to hand over the remains of a number of US service members […]
Asian stocks erased early gains and slipped back Thursday as investor relief at US President Donald Trump and the European Commission chief’s plan to ease trade tensions was offset by disappointing US earnings. Trump and Jean-Claude Juncker announced the agreement after talks Wednesday at the White House, as the two major economies sought to end […]
BRICS Prepare for Trade War Leaders of the BRICS emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — will gather in Johannesburg on Wednesday for a three-day meeting focused on the threat of a US-led global trade war. US President Donald Trump’s hardening stance has compounded fears of an all-out trade war after […]
President Trump’s Foreign Policy, “So Far, So Good” Thursday, Senator Tim Scott (R:SC) characterized President Donald Trump’s foreign policy chops as “so far, so good.” In an afternoon TV interview the South Carolina Republican insisted that “we have to have confidence in the President of the United States when he says what he says.” “The […]
Trump Remains Committed to North Korea U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that there is “no time limit” on dismantling North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, appearing to take a step back from earlier demands for immediate denuclearization. Trump’s remarks came a month after his historic summit with Kim Jong-un, during which the North Korean leader […]
South Korea plans to revise a law to foster inter-Korean exchanges and support companies doing business with the North, the unification ministry said Tuesday. The law revision would oblige the government to put any restrictions and bans on economic projects with North Korea to a Cabinet review and provide support to help normalize the operations […]
Travel Warning: Indonesia is Anti-Gay Don’t be fooled in to thinking Bali is some special Buddhist Island, Bali is part of Indonesia and it is an increasingly dangerous place to be Gay. If you are Gay it is probably best to skip Bali, if you do not like a regime that deliberately oppresses Gay people, […]
Mahathir Arrests Najib, Saudi Royal Family May Face Tough Questions Malaysia’s disgraced former prime minister Najib Razak, who is to be charged in court on Wednesday in connection with the multibillion-dollar financial scandal at the 1MDB state fund he helped set up, is facing the prospect of a lengthy jail term. The involvement of the […]
Asian investors were on course to end a tumultuous week with more losses on Friday as the prospect of a debilitating global trade war hung over regional markets. As European Union tariffs on key US goods — including jeans, bourbon and motorcycles — came into effect, there were fears China and the US will carry […]
At a casino school in Tokyo, croupier-in-training Takuto Saito settles behind a green table and reaches for the roulette wheel, addressing a group of imaginary punters: “Spin up. Place your bets.” The 24-year-old has never set foot in a casino, but he is gambling that new laws opening up the lucrative sector will soon create […]