When leaders get scared

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In: Asia

While it may look like the United States is being tough and forceful in Ukraine, the reverse is true. The US is showing incredible weakness, and it is wearing it on its sleeve. Let’s start with Ukraine. The US has gone all out to try and help Ukraine win a victory over the Russians.  The Biden […]Continue Reading

Shanmugam, Leong Mun Wai have heated debate in Parliament on whether Lee Hsien Yang and wife ‘absconded’

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In: South-East Asia

Throughout his statement, Mr Shanmugam asked Mr Leong a series of pointed questions on whether Mr Leong agreed with certain points the minister made on Monday. When Mr Leong tried to elaborate while responding to the questions, Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin reminded him to answer the questions directly and to makeContinue Reading

China approves first domestic mRNA vaccine for COVID-19

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In: Asia

BEIJING: China has approved its first locally developed messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine against COVID-19, its manufacturer said Wednesday (Mar 22), months after the relaxation of strict zero-COVID regulations sparked a surge in cases. The vaccine, developed by CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd, has been approved for “emergency use” by Beijing’s healthContinue Reading

US protectionism eroding its allure in Asia

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In: Asia, Business

Protectionist trade policies and the lack of an economic agenda for East and Southeast Asia have become central themes in critiques of US policy towards the region and its approach to managing US-China “strategic competition.” According to these accounts, US protectionism undermines its economic draw in East Asia — and the political leverage stemming from it — at a time when it has […]Continue Reading

Will Widodo’s ‘city of tomorrow’ survive his rule?

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In: Asia

JAKARTA – Whether it is the crowning achievement of his already impressive legacy, or he genuinely believes it will re-balance economic development away from dominant Java, President Joko Widodo is clearly determined to do all he can to move the Indonesian capital to East Kalimantan. In the end, however, it will depend on his successor, […]Continue Reading

Rapper Subhas Nair ‘twisting facts’ to suit own narrative, says prosecutor in racially charged trial

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In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: Singaporean rapper Subhas Nair was accused by the prosecution of “twisting the facts” to suit his own narrative, in a racially charged trial on Wednesday (Mar 22). Nair, whose full name is Subhas Govin Prabhakar Nair, was cross-examined by Deputy Public Prosecutor Suhas Malhotra over four charges of attempting toContinue Reading