- A + A (May 26): The last time a top Chinese leader impromptu addressed thousands of officials in February 2020, President Xi Jinping called for a “people’s war” against Covid-19 at the outset of the pandemic. On Wednesday, Premier Li Keqiang held a similarly rare video call with thousands of cadres across the nation to warn of an even worse economic crisis than two years ago, calling on them to better balance Covid controls and economic growth. Yet many government officials charged with implementing policy at the ground level aren’t quite sure who to listen to: Xi continues to emphasize the need for officials to push for zero Covid-19 cases, even as Li continuously urges them to bolster the economy and hit preordained growth targets. That dilemma is leading to paralysis within a nation normally hailed for speedy implementation of diktats from above, according to eight senior local government officials and financial bureaucrats who requested not to be named … [Read more...] about Xi-Li discord paralyzes officials responsible for China economy
Resigned government officials
Government firm on telcos having equal stake in Digital Nasional Bhd
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 26): Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said his Ministry and the Ministry of Finance have yet to study the requests of telecommunication companies (telcos) on the shareholding structure of Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), the special purpose vehicle set up for the nationwide rollout of the 5G network. However, he added that the government is firm on not allowing any telco having a higher stake in DNB. “We have received their request, but the government has not made any firm decision. Both Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and I were away,” Annuar told the media in a press conference at the offical launch of YES’ 5G service on Thursday (May 26). “I will sit down with the Minister of Finance, we will look at the request and the government will give our response as soon as possible,” he added. He confirmed that the big four telcos (Celcom Axiata Bhd, DiGi Telecommunications, Maxis Bhd, U Mobile Sdn Bhd) … [Read more...] about Government firm on telcos having equal stake in Digital Nasional Bhd
Live updates | US military officer back at embassy in Kyiv
By The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The move to reopen the U.S. embassy in Ukraine has brought one American military officer back into the country as part of the diplomatic team. But the Pentagon said Thursday that no other troops are going into Ukraine at this point. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said the defense attache, a colonel, has gone back to Kyiv with other embassy staff. The defense attache, while a military officer, reports to the chief of mission and is there for diplomatic work, not security. There have been ongoing questions about whether the U.S. will send a Marine security detachment back to the embassy. Kirby said that so far, the State Department is handling embassy protection with diplomatic security personnel and has not asked for Marines. “Nothing has changed about the president’s direction that US troops will not be fighting in this war in Ukraine,” Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon. He said active discussions about security are ongoing with … [Read more...] about Live updates | US military officer back at embassy in Kyiv
U.S. seizes Iranian oil cargo near Greek island – sources
ATHENS/LONDON (Reuters) -The United States has confiscated an Iranian oil cargo held on a Russian-operated ship near Greece and will send the cargo to the United States aboard another vessel, three sources familiar with the matter said. Greek authorities last month impounded the Iranian-flagged Pegas, with 19 Russian crew members on board, near the coast of the southern island of Evia due to EU sanctions. They said the ship was impounded as part of EU sanctions on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine. However the vessel was later released due to confusion about sanctions over its owners. The tanker, renamed Lana on March 1 and flying the Iranian flag since May 1, has remained near Greek waters since then. It was previously Russian-flagged. A source at Greece's shipping ministry said on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Justice had "informed Greece that the cargo on the vessel is Iranian oil". "The cargo has been transferred to another ship that was hired by the U.S.," the … [Read more...] about U.S. seizes Iranian oil cargo near Greek island – sources
Things looking up in Phuket following return of international tourism
Provincial officials on the southern island of Phuket say the return of tourists has raised income levels and created more jobs. According to a Bangkok Post report, the return of international tourists has started to revive the island’s economy and reduced unemployment across Phuket. Data shared by Phuket governor, Narong Wunciew, reveals that since the launch of the Phuket sandbox scheme on July 1 last year, the island has welcomed 503,468 visitors in the 304 days to April 30. The tourists stayed an average of 8 nights, spending around 55,000 baht each. This means a total spend of 28.19 billion baht, with 66.82 billion baht circulating in the island’s economy. In 2019 Phuket was averaging nearly 1 million travellers per month. According to academic Chayanon Phucharoen, from the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism at Prince of Songkla University, the unemployment rate in Phuket was 11% during the second quarter of 2021, with around 40,000 people unemployed. During the third … [Read more...] about Things looking up in Phuket following return of international tourism
More UK Conservatives pull support from Boris Johnson over ‘partygate’
LONDON (Reuters) -Three lawmakers from Britain's governing Conservatives pulled their support for Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday over a damning report that detailed a series of alcohol-fuelled parties at 10 Downing Street that broke COVID-19 lockdown rules. A day after the report was published, describing a boozy culture at his Downing Street office during lockdowns, Conservative lawmakers John Baron, David Simmonds and Stephen Hammond said they could no longer support the prime minister. Their voices add to a growing list of Conservative lawmakers who have called for Johnson to resign over what has been dubbed 'partygate', despite the prime minister's repeated apologies, although there are still not enough to prompt a confidence vote. Baron, first elected in 2001, said he was withdrawing his support because he believed Johnson had "knowingly" misled parliament -- a charge the prime minister denies but which is being investigated by a parliamentary committee. "Given … [Read more...] about More UK Conservatives pull support from Boris Johnson over ‘partygate’
Bribery Scandal To Cost Glencore $1.1 Billion, While Billionaire Execs Avoid Blame—For Now
Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Marc Rich, the legendary commodities trader, fled the United States for Europe in 1983 after being indicted for trading Iranian oil during the 1979 hostage crisis and evading $50 million in taxes. From Switzerland, Rich continued to operate Marc Rich & Co. until selling the trading house to his protégés in 1994. By the time President Bill Clinton pardoned Rich on his last day in office in 2001, the company had been renamed Glencore International. Rich died in 2013, age 79, a billionaire and a free man—an example that Glencore’s next generation of fat cats now seek to follow. Including Rich (and his longtime right hand Pincus Green, now retired with an estimated $900 million) the company has birthed at least nine billion-dollar fortunes. The richest of the Glencore gang is former CEO Ivan Glasenberg, at $8.9 billion, according to the Forbes Real-Time Billionaire rankings. Others include Daniel Maté, 58, a metals trader … [Read more...] about Bribery Scandal To Cost Glencore $1.1 Billion, While Billionaire Execs Avoid Blame—For Now
India’s protectionist moves spark concern that rice may be next
- A + A (May 26): Rice may be India’s next food protectionism target after it restricted wheat and sugar exports, analysts say, a move that could have a devastating impact on global food security as it’s an important staple. India’s curbs on wheat and sugar exports sent shock waves through global markets, as it marked an escalation in food protectionism that’s seen countries choke off flows of locally-grown supplies to the world. A similar move on rice by the No. 1 exporter at a time when crops like wheat and corn are soaring would threaten to plunge millions more into hunger and boost inflation risks. “The government has already imposed restrictions on wheat exports; it’s a matter of time when restrictions on rice exports might be considered,” said Radhika Piplani, an economist at Yes Bank Ltd. The challenge will be to see if such curbs will lower food prices and within what time frame, she added. A spokesman who represents both the food and trade ministries … [Read more...] about India’s protectionist moves spark concern that rice may be next
Live updates | Finland’s prime minister visits Ukraine
By The Associated Press KYIV — Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin has become the latest European leader to visit Ukraine. Marin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday in Kyiv. Finnish public broadcaster YLE says she also visited the towns of Bucha and Irpin where Russian soldiers are alleged to have killed civilians. Zelenskyy thanked Marin for Finland’s weapons deliveries and its support for sanctions against Russia. Jolted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland recently broke with its policy of non-alignment and applied for membership in NATO, together with neighboring Sweden. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: — As Ukraine war grinds on, world pushes for way to get grain out — Scars of war seem to be everywhere in Ukraine after 3 months — War Crimes Watch: Hard path to justice in Bucha atrocities — US aims to leverage Russia-Ukraine bloc against China — Russia takes steps to bolster army, offer some Ukrainians … [Read more...] about Live updates | Finland’s prime minister visits Ukraine
New Year’s Eve stampede kills 35 on Shanghai’s Bund tourist strip
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New Year’s Eve stampede kills 35 on Shanghai’s Bund tourist strip Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A stampede killed at least 35 people during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Shanghai, authorities said, possibly caused by people rushing to pick up fake money thrown from a building overlooking the city’s famed Bund waterfront district. The Shanghai government said that large crowds started to stampede in Chen Yi Square on the Bund just before midnight, with authorities working to rescue and aid the wounded. The trigger for the stampede has still to be confirmed, but state media and a witness said the incident was caused when people tried picking up fake money thrown from a building. A man who brought one of the 43 injured to a local hospital for treatment said fake money had been thrown down from a bar above the street as part of the New Year’s Eve celebrations. People … [Read more...] about New Year’s Eve stampede kills 35 on Shanghai’s Bund tourist strip