Australia, Philippines discuss joint patrols in South China Sea
MANILA: The Philippines and Australia on Wednesday (Feb 22) discussed pursuing joint patrols in the South China Sea, days after the Southeast Asian country held similar talks with the United States to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the disputed waterway. Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles met with his Philippine counterpart,Continue Reading
China’s Xi calls for technological self-reliance amid tension with US
BEIJING: China must resolve issues in key technological fields from the bottom up as it deals with a growing number of mainly US export controls on advanced technology, President Xi Jinping has said. Xi told a study session of the 24-person Politburo on Tuesday (Feb 21) that China needed toContinue Reading
Philippine police hunting killers of New Zealand tourist
MANILA: A massive Philippine police search was under way on Wednesday (Feb 22) for two motorcycle-riding men who shot and killed a New Zealand man in a brazen street robbery that officials fear could scare foreign tourists away. The 34-year-old tourist, Nicholas Peter Stacey, was fatally shot once in theContinue Reading
Delivery driver makes off with B50K money bouquet
A woman wanting to surprise her boyfriend ordered a bouquet made of banknotes worth about 50,000 baht as a gift on his graduation, but the taxi driver making the delivery vanished with the cash.Continue Reading
Russia’s Red Sea plans face rough waters
The war in Ukraine has laid bare Russia’s military weaknesses, and a key area of concern for the Kremlin is the health of its navy. With the Russian Black Sea Fleet an easy target for Ukrainian anti-ship missiles, Moscow is eyeing alternatives, including a long-planned naval base in Sudan. Whether Russia has the money, or the means, […]Continue Reading
Ex-director concealed S$1.5m fee he stood to gain from owner of medical business his firm was acquiring
SINGAPORE: Despite knowing that he stood to gain S$1.5 million from the owner of a medical business if the latter was acquired by his company, a director did not disclose this conflict of interest to the board. The deal went through, with women’s and children’s healthcare group Singapore O&G (SOG)Continue Reading
Still no denying Australia’s export reliance on China
The share of Australia’s total goods exports going to China fell to 27% in June 2022, a sharp decrease from 46% just a year earlier. While some commentary has heralded this as a success for Australian diversification away from China, it is more accurately described as a redirection of trade flows. “Australia’s trade diversification away from China […]Continue Reading
Judge blocks 9/11 victims’ claim to Afghan assets
A US judge rules victims of the 2001 attacks are not entitled to $3.5bn of Afghan assets.Continue Reading
The fog – and lies – of war
‘Cry Havoc! And let slip the dogs of war.’ – Mark Antony in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar William Shakespeare fashioned these words for Mark Antony to incite the Roman populace to rise up and kill Julius Caesar’s assassins. They leave no room for doubt about Mark Antony’s objective or that he intended that there would be […]Continue Reading
THAI flight attendants penalised for not collecting food trays
Attendants on a Thai Airways flight have been slapped with a pay cut and one-month suspension from duty for leaving passengers’ food trays uncollected until after the aircraft landed.Continue Reading