Asia

Canada unveils new Asia-Pacific strategy with eye on China

Canada on Sunday unveiled its new economic and diplomatic strategy for the Asia-Pacific region, allocating 2.3 billion Canadian dollars (US$1.7 billion) over the next five years to the plan aimed at mitigating risks posed by China. The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has based its strategy on five major planks: promoting peace and security, notably by sending a warship to the region; bolstering trade and investment; boosting “feminist international assistance”; financing sustainable infrastructure; and […]

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‘Long live the people!’ Beijingers gather for frigid anti-lockdown rally

Beijing, China (AFP) by Laurie CHEN One by one Beijingers braved the cold Sunday night after word of a rally spread on social media — a RALLYfor the victims of a deadly fire as well as a protest against China’s harsh Covid-19 restrictions. Within hours, hundreds had gathered on the banks of Liangma river in near freezing temperatures, an AFP journalist at the scene saw, many holding blank white papers — a symbolic protest against […]

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China arrests BBC journalist covering Covid protests

London, United Kingdom (AFP) The BBC said on Sunday one of its journalists in China had been arrested and beaten by police while covering protests against the country’s zero-Covid policy. Hundreds of people took to the streets in China’s major cities on Sunday in a rare outpouring of public anger against the state. “The BBC is extremely concerned about the treatment of our journalist Ed Lawrence, who was arrested and handcuffed while covering the protests […]

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Taiwan leader Tsai quits as ruling party chief after local elections loss

Taipei, Taiwan (AFP) Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has stepped down as head of her ruling party after it suffered defeat in Saturday’s local elections, while the Beijing-friendly main opposition held its ground. “The election results were not as expected…. I should shoulder all the responsibility and I resign as DPP chairwoman immediately,” Tsai, who will stay on as president of the self-ruled island, told reporters. Voters turned out Saturday to cast ballots for mayors, magistrates […]

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Indonesian girl, 7, found dead after day-long quake rescue effort

CIANJUR, Indonesia (AFP) – A seven-year-old Indonesian girl who was the subject of a day-long rescue effort after an earthquake killed 272 people in West Java has been found dead, rescuers told AFP on Friday. Emergency workers found the body of Ashika Nur Fauziah, also known as Cika, under rubble in the worst-hit district of Cianjur town, epicenter of the quake that triggered landslides, collapsed roofs, walls and buried victims in mounds of earth Monday. “The […]

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Malaysia’s new PM Anwar: from prison to power, a dream fulfilled

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (AFP) by Martin ABBUGAO / M JEGATHESAN It has been a bumpy road to the pinnacle of power for Anwar Ibrahim, who on Thursday achieved his dream of the Malaysian premiership. In his decades-long quest for the top job, the 75-year-old has tasted political triumph and defeat, led street protests for democratic reforms and strung together a multi-ethnic opposition coalition while behind bars. He was named prime minister by Malaysia’s king after […]

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South Korea truckers strike again, threatening supply chains

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) – South Korean truckers staged their second major strike in less than six months Thursday, in an action that could disrupt critical global supply chains in sectors from cars to steel. All 25,000 members of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union stopped working, as part of a long-running protest against the ending of a minimum wage guarantee, Park Yeon-su of the organization told AFP. With fuel prices rising, the drivers have been demanding […]

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China’s ‘iPhone city’ tightens Covid rules after violent protests

  Beijing, China  (AFP) China has ordered six million people into lockdown in a city where violent protests broke out at an iPhone factory over Covid isolation policies and working conditions. Hundreds of workers took to the streets around the vast iPhone factory in Zhengzhou on Wednesday, confronting hazmat-clad personnel wielding batons in a rare display of public anger in China. In the wake of the unrest, Zhengzhou authorities ordered mass testing and an effective […]

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Opposition leader Anwar named Malaysia PM: palace

  Malaysia’s perennial opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was named prime minister on Thursday, ending a days-long political impasse after inconclusive polls. His ascension — making him the country’s fourth leader in as many years — caps a turbulent political life for Anwar, during which he served jail time on corruption and sodomy charges. “After taking into consideration the views of Their Royal Highnesses the Malay Rulers, His Majesty has given consent to appoint Anwar Ibrahim […]

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China’s ‘iPhone city’ tightens Covid rules after violent protests

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China has ordered six million people into lockdown in a city where violent protests broke out at an iPhone factory over Covid isolation policies and working conditions. Hundreds of workers took to the streets around the vast iPhone factory in Zhengzhou on Wednesday, confronting hazmat-clad personnel wielding batons in a rare display of public anger in China. In the wake of the unrest, Zhengzhou authorities ordered mass testing and an effective […]

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Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

SINGAPORE, Singapore (AFP) – Singapore warned on Wednesday that economic growth could slow to a trickle next year owing to weakness in key export markets including the United States, Europe and China, as rising interest rates and the Ukraine war cause headwinds. The city-state’s economic performance is often seen as a useful barometer of the global environment because of its reliance on trade with the rest of the world. The trade ministry said it expected growth […]

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Protests erupt at largest iPhone factory in China

BEIJING, China (AFP) – Large-scale protests broke out at Foxconn’s vast iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, central China, images circulating on Weibo and Twitter on Wednesday showed. Videos showed hundreds of workers marching on a road in daylight, with some being confronted by a row of people in hazmat suits and riot police. Another clip from a livestream video showed dozens of workers at night confronting a row of police officers and a police vehicle with flashing […]

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