Why German reunification is still a good idea – Asia Times

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When asked what I think of European reconciliation, I typically respond that I believe it is a good idea and that we should pursue it. This is, of course, a prank, as Germany is today united with no formal inside edges.

However, 35&nbsp, years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the division between West and East Germany remains clearly visible, with the victory of the far-right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) in the state of Thuringia in Sunday’s state parliamentary elections a case in point. These schisms show no sign of fading in the near future, according to a quick look at economic and social records.

Now, compared with the East, West Germany has higher income degrees, lower unemployment rates, more firms, fewer hours worked, more millionaires, higher vehicle equity, higher voter membership, less inclination for serious political parties, higher share of younger citizens, higher proportion of immigrants, higher number of religious affiliations and more spend produced.

Historical significance

The former border between West and East Germany, now known as the Former Federal Republic’s and the New Länder, respectively, is where the differences clearly intersect. After World War II, Germany’s historical division caused two nations with opposing economic and social systems that diverged for more than 40 years.

The reasons behind the current differences are more complicated than just this shocking shock, though. In fact, a trio of authors has demonstrated that the same regional disparities existed prior to the founding of the German Democratic Republic ( GDR). For example, in 1925, the” West” already had a lower share of working-class workers, more self-employment, lower voting shares in extreme parties, higher church attendance and lower female labor participation. Additionally, World War II had a larger destructive impact in the East, and there was a limited migration from the East to the West just before the wall was raised.

Approximation but no lasting convergence

Reunification’s claim that it would lead to long-term convergence was probably overstated.

It is accurate to say that West Germany inherited well-functioning institutions. Additionally, it underwent a better than initially anticipated privatization process and received significant financial transfers from the West to finance social expenditure and investment.

However, after an initial improvement in living standards in the East, economic conditions quickly deteriorated, and the population shrank. Although fiscal transfers may have reduced the divergence between the two regions, they failed to produce sustained convergence.

This is hardly surprising, given that disintegration was a much more significant shock than reunification. After more than four decades of separation, the production infrastructure did not revert to its original spatial arrangement following reunification. Furthermore, the manner in which reunification was conducted likely exacerbated these disparities.

Unanticipated psychological impacts

Convergence is not just about money; it also involves psychology, which is a crucial and challenging task in economic affairs, and some measures that may have seemed justified from a strictly economic perspective have had unexpected effects.

For example, job losses related to the privatization of state-owned enterprises in the East decreased individual trust, reduced political engagement and increased support for radical parties, as Kellermann’s work has shown. These fears of distrust have now become deeply ingrained.

Support for extreme parties is not diminishing, and many of these voters oppose the European project. On September 1, the AfD won the state election in Thuringia, marking its first-ever victory in a state election, and came a close second in Saxony. A recently formed populist left-wing party, BSW, came third in these elections.

Thirty-five years after reunification, there is no clear path back to convergence for the former East German states. On the contrary, we are currently experiencing political and policy paralysis. This has been made worse by significant geoeconomic shocks that have affected Germany in recent years, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which boosted inflation, and the Fortress China strategy, which slammed German exports to China.

Political, economic and social fragmentation is back.

European inequalities

Even worse, German reunification occurred in a context of more general divergence between European regions. The German situation is not a singular case within the European Union, which is worrying as it may be.

Around the same time, another unification took place in Europe. The Maastricht Treaty, which went into effect on November&nbsp, 1, 1993, marked the foundation of the European Union ( EU). It paved the way for the development of a common currency, the euro, and a stronger cooperation between member states and the development of European institutions. However, much like German reunification, it did not lead to regional convergence within the European Union, as one might have expected.

Similar divides to those between West and East Germany exist in other European countries, such as the urban-rural divide in France, but also within the European Union, where peripheral regions have struggled, with a few exceptions. These peripheries ‘ paths to a sustainable recovery are unsure.

Instead, as the recent Brexit-related experience shows, several factors make us worry that we are moving in the direction of political and economic disintegration within European countries and Europe.

Better allocation of funds

I would like to suggest two options for further investigation, despite the fact that these issues cannot be resolved quickly. The effectiveness of EU funds is a promising area. Beyond just setting future climate change goals, there is a pressing need to significantly alter the level and use of EU funds, as discussed in my joint article with Jérôme Creel” ThisGenEU.”

We now have much more information about how to use EU funds effectively. Some local governments may be persuaded to reduce public spending in response to these funds, which could undermine their intended effects. Therefore, it is crucial to target funds that foster medium-term growth and to combine them with policies that enable peripheral regions to use them more productively, in order to avoid a” Dutch disease” type of situation.

Dutch disease

This phrase describes a situation where financial inflows cause economic distortions, such as rising wage costs, overheating the real estate market, or excessive concentration of investments in low-productivity sectors, which ultimately result in a country’s economy being negatively impacted over the long run. Politically, it can also lead to an institutional” Dutch disease”, where excessive reliance on external funds weakens incentives to reform local institutions, creating institutional blockages and ineffective governance.

For example, European funds should be supervised by Europeans and not by local authorities. It is crucial to disengage their management and use from local political authorities. In order to balance competition and coordination among various regions, industrial policy should be put in place at the European level. Regional governments could also be given more authority over the supply of public goods to promote healthy regional competition.

More free trade?

Second, the European Union is still far from being fully integrated. There are too many trade restrictions, despite the EU’s commitment to free trade and a single market. Even in terms of trade in goods, the reality is far from a real single European market. Services are a much bigger untapped market. From the current EU version of “free trade,” it is essential to free trade.

For example, reducing regulatory differences, labor market restrictions, infrastructure asymmetries and improving cross-border connections, as well as strengthening capital market integration, would allow EU economies and regions to specialize more in the production of goods and services for which they have a genuine comparative advantage.

This would lead to a more efficient allocation of resources within the EU and a greater convergence of prices across Europe, according to the factor price equalization ( FPE ) theorem found in many economics textbooks. Wages and other sources of income are likely to be a part of the convergence.

Of course, more research and discussion are required to explore these and other options for resolving the current problems of economic divergence. These are existential concerns for both Germany and the EU, particularly in the current state of heightened geopolitical uncertainty.

The answer to the problem of German reunification may not be in Germany, but rather within the European Union. Effective European funding and greater European integration have the potential to bring about economic convergence and strengthen both Germany and the EU’s political and social fabric. We all stand to gain from the fact that Germany’s reunification is still a good idea.

Gonçalo Pina is a visiting associate professor for global economics at the ESCP Business School.

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Chinese, Russian anti-US disinformation flourishing in Africa – Asia Times

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One of the biggest dangers to cultures is the spread of propaganda. Current examples include conspiracies about Covid-19 treatments and false promises about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The conflict between the earth powers, which is also occurring in Africa, is a contributing factor.

Across the globe, many foreign powers, including China, France, Russia, the US and people, are competing to shape public opinion. States typically communicate their ideas through reasonable means. However, there have been numerous new instances in which foreign powers have propagated false or misleading information about current affairs.

For instance, Meta revealed in 2020 that the French army was behind a Russian-Centre online strategy. And in 2022, the US was accused of leading a propaganda campaign targeting Arab-speaking areas.

Russian employees are effective spreaders of misleading information throughout the Sahel, according to evidence. China has also used state-controlled internet to provide its own proper stories on the continent of Africa.

Social actors use proper narratives, some real or false, to advance their goals and values and influence how people perceive worldwide events. They are basically stories that political actors use to shape their perceptions and behaviors. The question then arises: what elements influence the success of corporate stories?

We examined the prevalence of Russian and Chinese corporate stories in a lengthy published research. We even describe their appeal. Our results are based on a study of 4, 600 citizens in four American nations– Angola, Ethiopia, South Africa and Zambia – at the end of 2022.

These four nations have very distinct political scenery, differing degrees of cooperation with China and Russia, and distinct traditional contexts with international influence.

Most people, in our opinion, thought the popular Russian and Chinese proper disinformation stories to be accurate. The main reason they did but was anti-US mood. That is, the more people believed that the US was an army or that they had a negative impact on their nation, the more likely they were to accept that the Chinese and Russian stories were real.

These studies also matter for counter-disinformation methods. Simple disinformation debunking using fact-checking or media education campaigns is unlikely to succeed on its own when tactical narratives make use of deep-seated attitudes, political histories, and alliances.

Soviet propaganda is popular

Our research builds on earlier studies on propaganda and its impact on global South public opinion.

We have recently identified the causes of some people sharing deception, what people from various backgrounds do when they encounter social disinformation, and what can be done to stop the spread of false information.

In our most recent research, we discovered that Western media outlets frequently portrayed Russia as a proponent of autonomy and traditional beliefs while dishonest or imperialist.

Also, Chinese internet – CGTN, China Daily and Xinhua – emphasized China’s position as a companion in Africa’s development while dismissing or denying bad aspects of Chinese influence.

We discovered that Russian tales were more broadly accepted in all nations than Chinese people. We questioned the validity of two remarks that exemplified Russia’s propaganda theory. The comments were:

  • The conflict in Ukraine is a consequence of NATO’s expansion in Eastern Europe, and
  • The main reason for the latest food and energy crises is Russia’s use of restrictions.

More than 70 % of poll respondents responded to the question, saying they believed the claims to be accurate with certainty.

These claims are not true, but they are frequently used by Moscow to improve its own corporate interests, according to several fact-checking organizations.

Foreign stories were more controversial and revealed the most egregious regional differences. When asked about the speech,” If a war breaks out in Taiwan, it would be the United States ‘ problem”, only 3 in 10 Zambians said that it was real, compared with 6 in 10 Africans.

When we examined this speech,” European causes organized anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2019,” differences between nations were significantly smaller.

More than 50 % of people in South Africa and Ethiopia found this to be real, which is only true.

Screenshot

Looking at the wider political position in each nation at the time the survey was conducted is one way to view these distinctions.

Russian narratives found significant support in South Africa despite Russia Today (RT ) being blocked on the satellite television service provider DStv in March 2022. This was likely influenced by the country’s participation in the BRICS ( Brazil, Russia, India, China South Africa ) gathering, and the president’s unwillingness to part with the West in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Russia also draws on “memory politics” by reminding American consumers of its previous support for American independence movements, such as the African National Congress, to raise support for its battle on Ukraine.

South Africa appears to have shifted from its neutrality toward greater assistance for China and Russia.

By opening a commission in Johannesburg, the Russian media intends to capitalize on this mood.

In comparison, Zambia and Angola displayed more weight to international tales. Angola’s traditional ties with Russia, dating back to the Cold War, did not translate into solid support for Russian narratives, probably due to the country’s continued efforts to expand its international partnerships.

Anti-US attitude a major factor

In Ethiopia, a key drivers of the benefits appears to be anti-US attitude. We found that 33 % of Ethiopians believed the US to be an “enemy” ( compared to 4 % in Angola or 8 % in Zambia ), and 65 % thought that US influence in their country was negative ( compared to 17 % in Angola or 22 % in Zambia ).

Anti-US speech has been especially prevalent in African internet and the political landscape in common in recent years, especially after Washington ‘s&nbsp, censure of the conflict in Tigray.

We came to the conclusion that anti-US mood was the most reliable indicator of believing Russian and Chinese proper narratives after considering various possible factors.

In other words, those who perceived the US negatively were much more likely to accept these accounts as accurate.

Additionally, we discovered that those who watched Russian or Chinese advertising did not have an impact on those who supported these stories. This implies that those who regularly watched Chinese and Russian media were not more likely to believe these stories than those who did n’t.

China and Russia have made significant investments in continent-wide distribution of their media content, but both countries ‘ people and their understanding of their messages are unmet.

Complex image

Our research reveals the subtle and intricate ways in which public opinion spreads throughout Africa. Deception does not work in a vacuum. It is influenced by regional social landscapes, historical ties, and economic dependence.

So, counterstrategies should place an emphasis on fostering positive behaviour and strengthening political ties in order to lessen the vulnerability to disinformation narratives.

Herman Wasserman is a professor and chair of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Journalism. Dani Madrid-Morales is a teacher in media and international communication. Nanyang Technological University‘s associate professor of communication and information is Saifuddin Ahmed.

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The case for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition from India – Asia Times

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Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, fled to India in earlier August after being forced to step down by a large revolt. Her departure came after days of unrest that resulted in the deaths of nearly 650 people and numerous more injuries.

Since then, at least 94 legal situations have been lodged against Hasina and her case users, fans and assistants. The claims against them range from murder, rape, enforced disappearance and violence, to crimes against humanity and genocide.

Authorities do have the authority to hold a test in Hasina’s presence. However, this is unlikely to be successful because there will be questions about credited process, justice, and the purpose of the test. At the same time, implementing the judge’s purchases may be difficult if Hasina not been present.

But, there have been requests to surrender her to a test for the acts that took place under her command since the time she fled Bangladesh. However, it’s still a mystery whether India did arrest her if Bangladesh requested her abduction.

Bangladesh can, in theory, demand the transfer of Hasina from India. An abduction treaty was signed between New Delhi and Dhaka in 2013 that was later amended to make things simpler.

Both nations were excited to see a treaty of this nature. Two of the criminals involved in the 1975 death of Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was also the second leader of Bangladesh, were at the moment hiding in India. Hasina’s state wanted to surrender the gentlemen to Bangladesh for implementation.

Some states, like Canada, refuse to apprehend captives if there is a chance that they will be executed. But, because India still has the death penalty, abduction was granted regardless of whether the prisoners were scheduled to receive execution upon their return. In 2020, the two gentlemen were handed over to Bangladesh.

India, on the other hand, sought the transfer of Anup Chetia, the general director of the banned United Liberation Front of Assam violent business. Chetia, who had spent 18 years in prison in Dhaka, was returned to India in 2015.

Just crimes that are punishable by a minimum of one time in prison can be extradited acts, according to the agreement. The offense had been punished in both places. Hasina can be extradited on these grounds because the charges against her are prosecuted in India, and the punishments she allegedly underwent are even severe.

The treaty’s content 10 makes it even simpler for the requesting state. It states that a court of law arrest warrant may suffice for the repatriation of the offender without providing any specific material evidence against the criminal. That being said, Hasina is not currently on an arrest warrant for her.

Never a simple task

However, the convention itself also contains many provisions that may enable India to fail an attractiveness for Hasina’s repatriation. It may, for instance, decline to transfer her on the grounds that the acts are political in nature.

It is accepted that political or military acts will not be eligible for abduction. This is justified because states must maintain their social unrest while also safeguarding a state’s right to offer political refugees asylum.

The convention does dictate that an effort to commit murder, murder, kidnap, false incarceration or incitement to murder may not be regarded as a social offense. And the majority of the charges brought against Hasina thus much fall under these umbrella terms.

Even so, the agreement guarantees that a ask may still be rejected if Indian courts find that the accusation was made in the interests of justice. If Hasina is suspected of facing political oppression, unfair trials, or cruel therapy upon her return to Bangladesh, judges may reject extradition.

This will not be simple for Bengal to refute. Some of the Hasina’s government officials who have been detained in recent weeks were allegedly physically assaulted by bystanders in court, and apparently did not have the option of having their cases represented by a lawyer.

There are also reports that a number of death circumstances were connected to out of anger and resentment. When it’s unclear whether the real criminals have been charged or no, some individuals, including batsman Shakib Al Hasan and ousted senator Shakib Al Hasan, have been charged as conspirators or abettors.

As a result, there are plenty of problems over Hasina’s surveillance and the justice of any trial should she be returned to Bangladesh.

Protesters gather in front of a picture of Sheikh Hasina that has been covered in red paint.
Bangladeshi demonstrators demanding Sheikh Hasina step down. Photo: MDSABBIR / Shutterstock via The Talk

If Hasina’s health is not guaranteed, then there is a possibility she may be granted political asylum in India or abroad. Asylum may make it pointless to discuss her extradition because those who have refugee status may be extradited did lose their minds. Hasina has previously properly sought political hospital from India following the death of her father.

However, her remain in India has changed over the years. The time authorities in Bangladesh has revoked political documents, including Hasina’s.

She is now apparently trying to request asylum in one of the UK, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia or Finland. But, her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, has told the media that Hasina has not yet sought hospital anywhere and will “certainly get up” to Bangladesh when votes are declared.

The convention itself don’t always appoint an extraditioner. In practice, it basically provides a legal model for mutual assistance. Legitimate claims may be more important than political discussions and the political will of both governments in making the final decision.

Raisul Islam Sourav is PhD Member in lawful analysis, University of Galway

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Israel’s economy battered and bruised by 11 months of war – Asia Times

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Israel is now facing its biggest financial challenge in a long time after 11 times of war. According to data, Israel’s economy is experiencing the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD )’s wealthiest nation’s economy’s slowest contraction.

Its GDP contracted by 4.1 % in the months after the October 7 Hamas-led problems. And the slump continued into 2024, falling by an additional 1.1 % and 1.4 % in the first two rooms.

A nationwide attack on September 1 that, albeit for a brief period of time, brought the nation’s economy to a halt in the midst of popular public outcry over the government’s handling of the war will not have helped this situation.

A graph showing the quarterly GDP growth for several OECD countries alongside the OECD average.
A graph illustrating the OECD average and the monthly GDP growth of various OECD nations. Between October and December 2023, Israel experiences the most severe fluctuation. Amr Saber Algarhi &amp, Konstantinos Lagos / OECD, CC BY-ND

Israel’s financial challenges, of training, pale in comparison to the total destruction of the market in Gaza. But the protracted war is also hurting Zionist finances, company investments and consumer confidence.

Prior to the start of the war, Israel’s business was rapidly expanding, mainly thanks to its technology sector. The country’s annual GDP per capita rose by 6.8 % in 2021 and 4.8 % in 2022, much more than in most Western countries.

But things have since changed significantly. In its July 2024 forecast, the Bank of Israel revised its growth predictions to 1.5 % for 2024, down from the 2.8 % it had predicted earlier in the year.

The Bank of Israel has predicted that the battle’s price may reach US$ 67 billion by 2025 as the battle in Gaza continues to rage on and the Hezbollah conflict growing in Lebanon. Even with a$ 14.5 billion military aid package from the US, Israel’s finances may not be enough to cover these expenses.

Israel will have to make difficult decisions regarding how to manage its assets. It may, for example, need to cut spending in some regions of the business or take on more debt. In the future, more loans will increase the amount of money borrowed and make it more expensive to support.

Due to the country’s deteriorating governmental position, major credit rating organizations have been asked to lower Israel’s position. In August, Fitch cut Israel’s credit score from A to A on the grounds that a rise in its military spending had resulted in a rise in the fiscal deficit to 7.8 % of GDP in 2024, an increase from 4.1 % the previous year.

Additionally, it has the potential to undermine Israel’s ability to carry out its latest defense strategy. Boots on the ground, advanced weapons, and regular logistical support are necessary for this technique, which involves long-range operations in Gaza in an effort to annihilate Hamas. All of these things cost a lot financially.

A figure showing how Israel's military expenditure compares to other countries in the Middle East.
Israel’s military spending has regularly been the Middle East region’s highest. Amr Saber Alarhi &amp, Konstantinos Lagos / SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, CC BY-NC-ND

Apart from economic indicators, the conflict has had a tremendous impact on certain sectors of Israel’s market. The construction market, for instance, slowed down by almost a fourth in the first two months of the war. Additionally, crops has suffered a quarter-percentage decline in some industries.

At the start of the war, about 360, 000 conscripts were called up, but many of them have since returned house. More than 120 000 Israelis have been forced to leave their homes in frontier regions. Additionally, since the October 7 strikes, 140 000 Palestinians from the West Bank have been denied entry to Israel.

The Jewish government has attempted to bridge the gap by bringing in staff from Sri Lanka and India. However, some important work are bound to remain empty.

It is estimated that up to 60, 000 Jewish companies may have to close in 2024 according to staff shortages, supply chain disruptions and waning business confidence, while some companies are postponing new jobs.

Tourism, although certainly a crucial part of Israel’s market, has also been greatly affected. Tourist bookings have drastically decreased since the start of the war, with one in ten resorts across the nation now facing the possibility of closing down.

How this conflict impacts the place as a whole

The war does had battered Israel’s business. However, the impact has been much worse for the Arab business, and it will take decades to recover.

Some Palestinians who reside in the West Bank have lost their jobs in Israel. The Palestinian Authority is now in short supply of cash as a result of Israel’s determination to reduce the majority of its revenue revenue collected by Palestinians.

Palestinian workers queuing in a line in front of a fence.
Palestinian workers entering Israel for job in September 2023. Anas-Mohammed / Shutterstock via The Talk

Many Palestinians today rely on help because trade in Gaza has stopped. While simultaneously, essential equipment and communication programs have been destroyed and shut down.

The effects of the conflict extend far beyond Israel and Palestine. In April, the International Monetary Fund said it expected rise in the Middle East to become “lackluster” in 2024, at only 2.6 %. The conflict in Gaza and the possibility of a full-fledged local fight were both cited as the causes.

Economic destruction has been caused by a recent uprising in crime in Gaza, which has already caused even more damage. Israel’s assault of Gaza in 2008, for instance, pushed up the price of petrol by roughly 8 % and caused issue for businesses all over the world.

Israel’s battle in Gaza, which is quickly approaching its second anniversary, is taking a big financial toll. Just a permanent peace can repair the damage and open the door for healing in Israel, Palestine, and the region as a whole.

Amr Saber Algarhi is senior lecturer in finance, Sheffield Hallam University and Konstantinos Lagos, top teacher in Business and Economics, Sheffield Hallam University

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China halts foreign adoptions of its children

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Beijing: The Chinese government announced on Thursday ( Sep. 5 ) that it will no longer permit foreigners to adopt its children. According to foreign government spokesman Mao Ning, the only exceptions will be for blood friends who adopt children or stepchildren. The Taiwanese government has modified its adoption policyContinue Reading

Kim’s Convenience: Play creator says it’s a love letter to immigrant parents

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Mark Douet Ins Choi performing in Kim's Convenience, holding up a business cardMark Douet

Kim’s Convenience, a heart-warming comedy-drama perform about a Asian immigrant community running a corner store in Toronto, inspired a hit show and is now on level in London.

” This is a love letter to my parents and all first-generation immigrants who have made the country they have settled in their home”, says the movie’s creator, Ins Choi.

He wrote the play, which centers on the daily activities of a Vietnamese family-run business, and he played the role of the child when it was first staged in Toronto in 2011.

He therefore co-wrote the Screen series, which premiered in Canada in 2016 and gained acclaim international after being picked up by Netflix in the following year.

Choi is now back on the stage playing the lead role in Appa ( Dad in Korean ), this time in the lead role.

A community play

In the perform, the mother’s happy, hard-working father grapples with the changing village and the growing split between his first-generation expat ideals and those of his children.

For instance, Appa tries to convince daughter Janet ( Jennifer Kim ) to take over the shop, instead of pursuing her dream of becoming a photographer.

He also warns that her “expiration date is over,” noting that she is a 30-year-old single woman who does n’t intend to marry.

Although this all-Asian head cast gives an insight into the lives of one East Asian family, Choi claims that it also appeals to people of all ages and cultures.

” In the end, it’s a sitcom. It’s a tale about a home.

” Irrespective of your history, I think people can relate to kids who they feel they disappointed. Or if you’re a parent, kids who do n’t appreciate you.

” So it’s both sides of that dynamic”.

Mark Douet One male and one female cast member in a convenience store set on stage surrounded by sweets on shelves and the wallsMark Douet

When it was first on step, a display with an all-Asian direct put was unique.

” When I played ]son ] Jung 14 years ago, there were n’t many Asian actors”, Choi says.

” But then, when we do a cast call, there are many Janets that we can choose from. I was so pleased to learn that we now have choices.

In fact, Choi’s lack of opportunities as a young artist contributed to Kim’s Convenience.

He auditioned for numerous jobs after graduating from play school, but he never lost out. Finally, he decided to write his own account, which became his debut perform- and after a Netflix hit.

While he is aware that today’s managers are looking for fresh Asian voices, he believes that some theater companies have a” white programme,” which also helps plays like Kim’s Convenience stand out.

” I think it’s still kind of a unique item in an English-speaking area to have an Asian-led sing on phase”, he says. Therefore, that’s undoubtedly been a compelling reason to watch because it’s still the most interesting thing to watch.

” It’s a small unique, not a light family’s living space. How often do you acquire that?”

Getty Images Kim's Convenience TV series cast pose at the CBC World Premiere VIP ScreeningGetty Images

Offensive voices?

Throughout the play, Appa and Umma ( Mum, played by Namju Go ) speak in a fairly strong Korean accent. This was also the situation with the TV show, and some people have argued that large tones are a product of stereotype perpetuation.

Choi strongly disagrees”. Perhaps because they do n’t want people to be perceived as offensive, producers do n’t want them to speak accents. But next they’re really dismissing and erasing]it], which, in my opinion, is more insulting.”

He has put both charaters center phase, celebrating their three-dimensional characteristics.

There is a large segment of society that is underrepresented in the media, whether or not people want to confess it or not. For dread of reaction, they are not seen and heard, “adds Choi.

He claims that he is doing his best to imitate what he was raised reading and his own kids. And he says he is, in truth, pulling back from the dialect, but a” American ear” you know him much.

” When my kids watched the play, they could n’t stop laughing. They loved it. They said I was just like Halabeoji]Grandad]. And I was like,’ Congratulate you.’ “

Mark Douet A man and a woman are behind a convenience store counter looking at a business cardMark Douet

The game’s theatrical debut in the UK comes one year before its beloved Toronto Soulpepper Theatre’s praised return. That will be 14 times since it won the Patron’s Pick honor at the Toronto Fringe Festival, where it premiered.

Choi first appeared in Jung, but it has been a while since the first move that he has been playing Appa.

” Going back to Soulpepper Theatre did feel almost like a natural, geographic whole group, in terms of the child becoming the parent, “he says.

He acknowledges that his first performance as the father was a” sequel but normal feeling” as his real-life children have matured and he has since developed into the role. He continues to practice as a father for the past ten years.

” I love the sound of Appa- it’s so warm and conjures great feelings, “he says.

” So now, when I get called Appa by Janet and Jung, I already respond to that name.”

My family is exactly like yours.

What else does he hope the audience will take away from the play besides laughter and tears?

” This is me being idealistic but I hope a play like this brings communities together, where it’s like,’ Yeah, my family’s just like your family, guys. My father resembles exactly like your father.

” It can actually build bridges and people realise we’re all dysfunctional. Yeah, I think it has that power- art, in general”.

And having helped out at his uncle’s corner shop as a child, he has one more wish.

” I hope that when people visit this store and see the show, they will run into this family.

And that when they enter an off-licence the next time, they can tell if the person has spent their entire life working behind the counter. And ideally, you treat them with more compassion or understanding.

Kim’s Convenience is at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, London, until 26 October.

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Super Typhoon Yagi drenches southern China ahead of landfall

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As one of the strongest storms to hit Asia this year and heading for ashore along Hainan’s tropical beach, strong winds and heavy rainfall from Super Typhoon Yagi drained southwestern China on Friday ( Sep 6), forcing schools to close for a second time and cancelling flights.

Packing maximum sustained winds of 245kmh near its attention, Yagi files as the country’s second-most strong tropical storm in 2024 so much, after the Category 5 Atlantic storms Beryl.

Yagi is expected to make land along China’s beach from Wenchang in Hainan to Leizhou, Guangdong on Friday evening, more than double its durability since it earlier this year destroyed the northern Philippines.

Immediately and on Friday night, the area experienced strong thunder and lightning and wind throughout the region.

On Friday, some flights in Hainan, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao were canceled, with the majority of southern China’s transportation links being closed. The country’s longest ocean crossing, the major bridge linking Hong Kong with Macao and Zhuhai in Guangdong, was likewise closed.

The stock exchange was shut down while universities remained shut in Hong Kong’s financial hub.

The storms 8 signal, the next highest, would be in place until at least 12pm on Friday, Hong Kong’s observatory said, meaning some businesses may be opened and transport will be drastically reduced.

Residents are being advised to stay away from the shoreline by the statement,” Intense rainbands associated with Yagi will bring heavy squally showers to the territory”.

According to the official news agency Xinhua, China’s government sent task forces to Guangdong and Hainan to provide advice on preventing floods and typhoons.

Super Typhoon Yagi’s projected landfall in Hainan is uncommon, as the majority of typhoons landing on the duty-free island are categorized as weak. From 1949 to 2023, 106 typhoons landed in Hainan but only nine were classified as super typhoons.

Typhoons are becoming stronger, fuelled by warmer oceans, amid climate change, scientists say. Typhoon Shanshan slammed into southwest Japan last week, making it the strongest storm to hit the nation in decades.

Yagi, which strengthened into a super typhoon on Wednesday night, is the Japanese word for goat and for the constellation of Capricornus, a mythical creature that is half goat, half fish.

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The Italian town that banned cricket

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BBC Miah BappyBBC

A group of Bangladeshi friends are practicing their baseball skills on a small piece of masonry while the sun is scorching on the Adriatic coast of Italy.

They are playing on the fringes of Monfalcone, near to Trieste Airport, because the president has in effect forbid them from doing so in the city itself.

They say those who try can face fines of up to €100 ( £84 ).

” If we were playing inside Monfalcone, the officers would have already got around to stop us”, says staff captain Miah Bappy.

He mentions a group of Bengali teenagers who were” caught” playing their country’s national sport in a nearby park. Their game was ended by a police patrol who fined them because they were n’t aware that security cameras were being used to record them.

” They say bowling is not for Italy. But I’ll tell you the truth: it’s because we are europeans”, Miah says.

The restrictions on baseball serves as a metaphor for the deep seated conflicts that are roiling in Monfalcone.

The city has an cultural make-up distinct in Italy: of a population of just over 30, 000, almost a third are immigrants. The majority of them are Muslims from Bangladesh who started building massive cruise ships in the late 1990s.

In effect, according to president Anna Maria Cisint, who is a member of the far-right League group, the social nature of Monfalcone is in risk.

She seized the opportunity to “protect” her city and uphold Christian values after winning the election for president due to anti-immigration attitude.

” Our story is being erased”, she tells me. ” It’s like it does n’t matter anymore. All is deteriorating in a negative way.

Italians in American clothing interact with Bangladeshis wearing shalwar kameez and veils in Monfalcone. A network of cycle paths, which are mostly used by the South Eastern society, is present, along with Bangladeshi restaurants and kosher stores.

Ms. Cisint has rebuffed what Muslim women wearing at the beach and removed the seats in the village square where Bangladeshis used to relax during her two terms in office.

” There’s a very powerful method of Islamic fundamentalism around”, she says. ” A society where people oppress and treat people badly.”

The president claims there is no money or space to create a new ball and that cricket balls pose a threat when it comes to her restrictions on cricket.

She claimed that Bangladeshis are denied the right to execute their country’s national sport and that they offer “nothing in return.”

” They’ve given nothing to this town, to our society. Zero”, she says. ” They are free to go and play cricket anywhere else … outside of Monfalcone”.

The Fincantieri shipyard

The president has received death threats because of her opinions on Muslims- and that’s why she’s then under 24-hour police security.

Miah Bappy and his brother batsmen have relocated to Italy to construct boats at the Fincantieri factory, which is one of the largest in the world and one of the biggest in Europe.

The mayor accuses the business of “wage dumping,” which is the practice of paying wages lower than the market, frequently to foreign workers, while claiming that because the company’s salaries are so small no Roman may want to do the same amount of work for the same amount of money.

However, the shipyard’s director, Cristiano Bazzarra, insists that the company’s and its architects ‘ salaries are in compliance with Roman law.

” We are not able to get trained staff. He claims that it’s very hard for young people in Europe to operate in shipyards.

Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe. Last year just 379, 000 babies were born in Italy with an average of 1.2 children per woman.

Italy is also experiencing labor shortfalls, and according to experts, it will need 280, 000 overseas staff annually until 2050 to make up for a declining labor force.

Anna Maria Cisint

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who leads the far-right Brothers of Italy, has increased the number of grants for non-EU staff despite previously saying she wanted to reduce emigration.

But Anna Maria Cisint firmly believes that the way of living of the Bangladeshi Muslim community is “incompatible” with the existence of native-born Italians.

The tensions in Monfalcone reached a brain when the president in effect forbade group prayer at the two Islamist centers in the city.

The president claims that” a large number of folks are praying in the two Islamist centers in just one building” after “people from the city started sending me stunning photos and videos.

” There are so many scooters left on the road, and loud prayers five days a moment- even at day”.

Mayor Cisint claims that this was cruel to the area’s residents and that the city’s ban on social prayer is related to industrial planning regulations. She claims it’s certainly her job to provide the Muslim centers because they are not intended for religious worship.

Due to the difficulty of constructing places of worship, Islam is not one of the 13 official religions that are recognized by European law.

Bangladeshis in Monfalcone claim that the president’s choice has had a significant influence on the Sunni population.

” The president thinks that Bengalis are trying to Islamify Italy- but we are really minding our own company”, says 19-year-old Meheli. She was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, but raised in Italy and grew up in Western clothing. She speaks Italian fluently.

She claims that her Bengali identity has caused her to face harassment and swear swearing in public.

Miah Bappy is hopeful that his Roman card will be issued this year, but he is unsure whether he will stay in Monfalcone.

” We do n’t cause any trouble. We pay fees”, says the port employee. ” But they do n’t want us here”.

The president believes the way of living of the Bangladeshi area is “incompatible” with the existence of local born Italians.

However, Miah Bappy points out that if they all left their respective countries tomorrow, “it would consider the port five years to build a second ship.”

A local court overturned the town council’s decision to forbid shared prayer over the summer.

But Monfalcone’s president has vowed to continue her campaign against what she calls” the Islamisation of Europe” beyond Italy.

She has now been chosen to represent the EU in a debate in Brussels.

Bob Howard provided further monitoring.

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Midstream tech firms to move out of China, S&P says – Asia Times

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According to an S&amp, P report, some global downstream systems technology companies have started emigrating from China or adding new capacity abroad, evoking the example of their clients. &nbsp,

In phase one of the relocation, many downstream electronic manufacturing services ( EMS ) firms, including Taiwan’s Foxconn Industrial Internet, had moved to diversify their investment from China to other countries such as Vietnam and India. This step has been mostly completed. &nbsp,

Phase two of the emigration, which refers to the removal of downstream power from China, will result in higher paying, higher operating expenses, and the possibility of shoddy executions.

Over the next two to three years, tech firms may continue to diversify their supply chains away from China, with a focus shifting to the middle of the tech value chain, according to Clifford Kurtz, a major record analyst at S&amp, P.

Tech companies could maintain geopolitical risks, including the loss of important supply lines, the emergence of punishing taxes, or any other events brought on by US-China tensions, thanks to a more geographically distributed production footprint, he claims. &nbsp,

He adds that because of the significant funding in moving-related plants and equipment, phase two relocation will be challenging to change. &nbsp,

According to the S&amp, P report, technology hardware producers are suppliers of quiet components, energy electronics and motors, connectors and sensors, printed circuit boards, and contracted silicon council and check services that are likely to accelerate investment outside of China in 2024 and 2026. &nbsp,

S&amp, P has found that the exposure of 14 midstream technology firms it tracks by fixed-assets dropped to 26 % in 2023 from a peak of 30 % in 2021. Over half of these companies ‘ new investments over the past two years were spread across Asia, the European Union, or the Americas, such as Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, and India. &nbsp,

Over the next two years, Foxconn is anticipated to increase its annual capex to 13 billion yuan, according to the report. This will be used to build factories outside of China in large part. &nbsp,

Another case is Vishay Intertechnology, an American semiconductor maker, which is going to spend more than US$ 1 billion in total to expand production in Mexico, Taiwan and Europe over the next two years. The company’s capex was US$ 300 million last year. &nbsp,

Vishay currently has seven factories in Chinese cities including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Huizhou and Xi’an.

According to the S&amp, P report, global technology hardware firms will continue to move out of China despite higher costs, operational disruptions, and lower efficiency as a result of some push and pull forces.

The push factors include Washington’s restrictions on imported technology from China and export controls on expensive semiconductors and artificial intelligence technologies. The pull factors include foreign governments ‘ new incentives to grow their technology sectors. &nbsp,

Since the US-China trade war broke out in 2018, China has seen its share of imported US technology hardware decline in favor of Mexico and ASEAN nations. &nbsp,

China’s share of US imports of electronic computers fell to 44 % last year from 66 % in 2017. China’s share of US imports of other electronic components decreased from 61 % during the same time to 16 %. &nbsp,

FDI and unemployment&nbsp,

On August 17, China’s Ministry of Commerce said the country’s foreign direct investment fell 29.6 % to 539.5 billion yuan ($ 76.11 billion ) from a year earlier. Without providing a full geographical breakdown, it said FDI from Germany and Singapore increased 26.4 % and 11 % year-on-year, respectively. &nbsp,

Due to the departure of numerous foreign manufacturers, Chinese factory workers have said it is now very difficult to find employment in Guangdong. Some said they are now offered a monthly salary of about 3000 to 4, 000 yuan, compared with 8, 000 to 10, 000 yuan per month in the past. &nbsp,

According to the National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ), China’s youth unemployment rate increased to 17.1 % in July, the highest level since the new system of record-keeping began last December. In June this year, the figure was only 13.2 %. &nbsp,

Overall, the unemployment rate in urban areas was 5.1 % during the first seven months of this year. According to economists, these figures may have understated how unemployed people in China are because they do not qualify as unemployed. For example, someone who works more than one hour per week is not considered unemployed.

” Goodbye, Guangdong”! has recently become the most popular search term in China as thousands of skilled workers decided to leave their homes in Guangdong, Hubei, Guangxi, and Sichuan provinces because they were unable to find employment or make ends meet there. &nbsp,

These workers, who have resided in Guangdong for more than ten years, typically only returned home once a year during the Lunar New Year holiday in January or February. Some of them had endured months of homelessness because they could not afford rent. &nbsp,

According to Chinese media reports from 2022, many Shenzhen and Dongguan, Guangdong, companies that manufacture electronic components, were shut down because of insufficient orders. &nbsp,

R&amp, D investment: the German factor

While many American, Japanese, and Taiwanese companies are diversifying their supply chains outside China, some German companies are increasing their R&D investment in mainland China. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Germany’s FDI in China grew 12.3 % to 7.3 billion euros ( US$ 8.1 billion ) in the first half of this year from 6.5 billion euros in the same period of last year, the Financial Times reported, citing the Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank. &nbsp,

The investment growth was mainly driven by big German carmakers, according to the report. According to experts, German businesses made about 19 billion euros in profits in China last year and made the decision to reinvest more than half of it domestically.

Germany’s FDI into China represented about 11.5 % of China’s total FDI of 498.9 billion yuan in the first half of this year, assuming both figures are calculated with similar methods. &nbsp,

In a press release released on Monday, Martin Klose, executive director and board member of the German Chamber of Commerce in South &amp, Southwest China, stated that” German companies are investing in local innovation and strategic partnerships with Chinese customers and suppliers to stay competitive in an intense and dynamic market environment.” &nbsp,

The German Chamber of Commerce in China, in cooperation with BearingPoint, conducted the Innovation Survey 2024 from February 19 to March 13 this year, with 324 German Chamber member companies participating. &nbsp,

About 19 % of the surveyed companies are automakers, while about 31 % are manufacturers of machinery and industrial equipment. The remaining are engaged in services ( 12 % ), electronics ( 8 % ) and chemicals ( 5 % ) businesses. &nbsp,

According to the survey report released on Monday, 63 % of respondents said they conducted research in China, an increase of 6 percentage points from 2022. About 69 % say they do development in China, up 4 percentage points from 2022. &nbsp, &nbsp,

In addition, according to the report, 29 % of German businesses conduct research in China for global markets, up from 25 % a year ago, indicating China’s rise as a hub for global innovation. &nbsp,

Read: Beijing rips Canada’s 100 % tariffs on China-made

Follow Jeff Pao on X: &nbsp, @jeffpao3

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