Malaysian police make child porn raids ahead of social media deadline
By Joseph Sipalan
Malaysian authorities have arrested 13 men across the country for alleged possession of material containing child sex abuse, one week before a deadline for social media giants to sign up for a licence the government says is essential to stem rampant online paedophilia content.
The suspects were held on Monday in raids carried out concurrently in the states of Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor and Terengganu and in capital Kuala Lumpur.
“Checks on the devices used by the suspects in their homes found an estimated 40,000 pieces of CSAM and adult pornography,” Malaysia’s police chief Razarudin Husain said in a statement, using the acronym for child sex abuse material.
Officers also confiscated seven computers, one laptop, 11 mobile phones and 16 modems and routers during the raids, which were jointly conducted with a team from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
The suspects are being investigated for allegedly having child pornography in their possession, which carries a penalty of not more than five years in jail, a maximum fine of 10,000 ringgit (US$2,273) or both.
They also face possible penalties of up to three years’ jail, a fine or both for alleged possession of obscene material, according to the police.
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By Joseph Sipalan
Malaysian authorities have arrested 13 men across the country for alleged possession of material containing child sex abuse, one week before a deadline for social media giants to sign up for a licence the government says is essential to stem rampant online paedophilia content.
The suspects were held on Monday in raids carried out concurrently in the states of Selangor, Penang, Perak, Johor and Terengganu and in capital Kuala Lumpur.
“Checks on the devices used by the suspects in their homes found an estimated 40,000 pieces of CSAM and adult pornography,” Malaysia’s police chief Razarudin Husain said in a statement, using the acronym for child sex abuse material.
Officers also confiscated seven computers, one laptop, 11 mobile phones and 16 modems and routers during the raids, which were jointly conducted with a team from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
The suspects are being investigated for allegedly having child pornography in their possession, which carries a penalty of not more than five years in jail, a maximum fine of 10,000 ringgit (US$2,273) or both.
They also face possible penalties of up to three years’ jail, a fine or both for alleged possession of obscene material, according to the police.
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207 Haitians massacred for practising voodoo were abducted, hacked to death: UN
By Agence France-Presse
A massacre of more than 200 people in Haiti this month followed a gang-ordered manhunt that saw victims, many of them elderly, pulled from their homes and shot or killed with machetes, the UN said on Monday.
The victims were suspected of involvement in voodoo and accused by a gang leader of poisoning his child, with the suspects taken to a “training centre” where many were dismembered or burned after being killed.
A civil society organisation had said at the time that the gang leader was convinced his son’s illness was caused by followers of the religion.
“On the evening of December 6, (Micanor Altes) ordered the members of his gang – around 300 – to carry out a brutal ‘manhunt.’ They stormed into about 10 alleys of the (Port-au-Prince) neighbourhood and forcibly dragged the victims out of their homes,” said the report, wrote jointly by the UN office in Haiti, BINUH, and the UN Human Rights Commissioner (OCHR).
In the days that followed, the gang returned to the neighbourhood, abducting adherents from a voodoo temple, targeting individuals suspected of tipping off local media and slaughtering people seeking to escape.
Some of the bodies “were then burned with petrol, or dismembered and dumped into the sea,” the report concluded.
A total of 134 men and 73 women were killed in total over six days, the report said.
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By Agence France-Presse
A massacre of more than 200 people in Haiti this month followed a gang-ordered manhunt that saw victims, many of them elderly, pulled from their homes and shot or killed with machetes, the UN said on Monday.
The victims were suspected of involvement in voodoo and accused by a gang leader of poisoning his child, with the suspects taken to a “training centre” where many were dismembered or burned after being killed.
A civil society organisation had said at the time that the gang leader was convinced his son’s illness was caused by followers of the religion.
“On the evening of December 6, (Micanor Altes) ordered the members of his gang – around 300 – to carry out a brutal ‘manhunt.’ They stormed into about 10 alleys of the (Port-au-Prince) neighbourhood and forcibly dragged the victims out of their homes,” said the report, wrote jointly by the UN office in Haiti, BINUH, and the UN Human Rights Commissioner (OCHR).
In the days that followed, the gang returned to the neighbourhood, abducting adherents from a voodoo temple, targeting individuals suspected of tipping off local media and slaughtering people seeking to escape.
Some of the bodies “were then burned with petrol, or dismembered and dumped into the sea,” the report concluded.
A total of 134 men and 73 women were killed in total over six days, the report said.
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China wife sets sex worker trap for sham husband in bid to divorce him, pocket bride price
By Alice Yan
A woman and her accomplices in China have been handed jail terms after they set a visiting-a-prostitute trap for her husband.
According to the crime ring’s meticulously planned marriage scam, if the groom was detained for doing so, the woman could file a divorce and would not be required to return the bride price.
In China, the bride price is given by the man prior to their marriage as a traditional wedding ritual.
However, the vigilant groom did not fall into the trap and called in the police, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.
The case was heard earlier this month by a court in Longli county, Guizhou province, southwestern China.
The woman, surnamed Xiong, and her boyfriend, surnamed Li, were in debt at the beginning of this year.
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By Alice Yan
A woman and her accomplices in China have been handed jail terms after they set a visiting-a-prostitute trap for her husband.
According to the crime ring’s meticulously planned marriage scam, if the groom was detained for doing so, the woman could file a divorce and would not be required to return the bride price.
In China, the bride price is given by the man prior to their marriage as a traditional wedding ritual.
However, the vigilant groom did not fall into the trap and called in the police, the Shanghai Morning Post reported.
The case was heard earlier this month by a court in Longli county, Guizhou province, southwestern China.
The woman, surnamed Xiong, and her boyfriend, surnamed Li, were in debt at the beginning of this year.
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50% more footfall at Hong Kong malls over festive season so far
By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong shopping centres have recorded a growth of up to 50 per cent in footfall, with a 15 per cent bump in business projected for the festive season, aided by a revived multiple-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents.
Alan Chan Chung-yee, chief operations officer of Miramar Group, told a radio programme on Tuesday that there been had a 50 per cent increase in foot traffic in the past two weeks at the company’s shopping malls in Tsim Sha Tsui.
“This year is much better. Especially on the shopping centre side where we have changed our tenant … installed many large-scale Christmas decorations, and done a number of promotions involving key opinion leaders and key opinion consumers on the mainland,” he said.
“The footfall of our shopping malls has increased by 50 per cent, which is astonishing … For our tenants, I believe the increase in footfall can be converted to a minimum 15 per cent rise in consumption.”
The visa scheme, which enables Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of trips to Hong Kong within a year, was implemented this month as one of several measures rolled out by the central government to help stimulate the city’s economy.
First introduced in 2009, it was replaced by a “one-trip-per-week” arrangement in 2015 before being relaunched in its current form.
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By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong shopping centres have recorded a growth of up to 50 per cent in footfall, with a 15 per cent bump in business projected for the festive season, aided by a revived multiple-entry visa scheme for Shenzhen residents.
Alan Chan Chung-yee, chief operations officer of Miramar Group, told a radio programme on Tuesday that there been had a 50 per cent increase in foot traffic in the past two weeks at the company’s shopping malls in Tsim Sha Tsui.
“This year is much better. Especially on the shopping centre side where we have changed our tenant … installed many large-scale Christmas decorations, and done a number of promotions involving key opinion leaders and key opinion consumers on the mainland,” he said.
“The footfall of our shopping malls has increased by 50 per cent, which is astonishing … For our tenants, I believe the increase in footfall can be converted to a minimum 15 per cent rise in consumption.”
The visa scheme, which enables Shenzhen residents to make an unlimited number of trips to Hong Kong within a year, was implemented this month as one of several measures rolled out by the central government to help stimulate the city’s economy.
First introduced in 2009, it was replaced by a “one-trip-per-week” arrangement in 2015 before being relaunched in its current form.
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Chinese court delivers suspended death sentence for SUV primary school attack
By Xinlu Liang
The man who drove into a group of parents and school kids in China’s central Hunan province in November has been handed a suspended death sentence just one month after the incident.
The announcement on Monday included confirmation of Huang Wen’s motivation when his white SUV rammed into the group outside a primary school injuring 30, including 18 children, at around 7.37am on November 19.
The speed of the judgment was notably rare and comes amid rising public safety concerns after a spate of violent episodes in China this year. It is also unusual for motivation to be included in the short notices which appear after such cases.
According to a notice published by the Changde Intermediate People’s Court on Monday, Huang, 39, was sentenced to death, with a two-year reprieve, and deprived of political rights for life, for his reckless act.
The court found that he was “seeking to vent his personal emotions due to investment losses and family disputes” when he carried out the attack, “accelerating and continuously ramming into a crowd of elementary school students and others”.
When his car stalled, Huang got out of the vehicle and continued his attack with a weapon. Seven individuals were seriously wounded, 16 had moderate injuries and a further seven sustained minor injuries, among them 18 schoolchildren, it said.
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By Xinlu Liang
The man who drove into a group of parents and school kids in China’s central Hunan province in November has been handed a suspended death sentence just one month after the incident.
The announcement on Monday included confirmation of Huang Wen’s motivation when his white SUV rammed into the group outside a primary school injuring 30, including 18 children, at around 7.37am on November 19.
The speed of the judgment was notably rare and comes amid rising public safety concerns after a spate of violent episodes in China this year. It is also unusual for motivation to be included in the short notices which appear after such cases.
According to a notice published by the Changde Intermediate People’s Court on Monday, Huang, 39, was sentenced to death, with a two-year reprieve, and deprived of political rights for life, for his reckless act.
The court found that he was “seeking to vent his personal emotions due to investment losses and family disputes” when he carried out the attack, “accelerating and continuously ramming into a crowd of elementary school students and others”.
When his car stalled, Huang got out of the vehicle and continued his attack with a weapon. Seven individuals were seriously wounded, 16 had moderate injuries and a further seven sustained minor injuries, among them 18 schoolchildren, it said.
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Lawyer denies rumour Yoon’s wife visited plastic surgery clinic before martial law order
By The Korea Times
Seok Dong-hyun, suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s lawyer, dismissed allegations by lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea that first lady Kim Keon-hee visited a plastic surgery clinic on December 3, the day martial law was declared, calling it a “groundless rumour”.
Seok, spokesperson for Yoon’s legal team, criticised Jang’s claims on Facebook.
He compared them to a previous rumour spread by broadcaster Kim Ou-joon, who alleged that Han Dong-hoon, the former leader of the ruling People Power Party, was targeted for assassination by martial law troops, accusing Jang of “manufacturing a similarly baseless claim”.
Earlier that day, Jang held a press conference at the National Assembly, alleging that Kim entered a plastic surgery clinic at 6:25pm on December 3 and stayed there for three hours, leaving at 9:30pm – just an hour before the martial law declaration.
The basis of his claim was an anonymous tip from a self-proclaimed witness. Jang suggested Kim’s timing indicated prior knowledge of the martial law declaration.
Jang said, “How could a civilian leave the clinic exactly an hour before martial law was declared unless she knew about it in advance?” He also pointed out that the clinic’s director had been appointed as a presidential adviser in July 2022.
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By The Korea Times
Seok Dong-hyun, suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s lawyer, dismissed allegations by lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea that first lady Kim Keon-hee visited a plastic surgery clinic on December 3, the day martial law was declared, calling it a “groundless rumour”.
Seok, spokesperson for Yoon’s legal team, criticised Jang’s claims on Facebook.
He compared them to a previous rumour spread by broadcaster Kim Ou-joon, who alleged that Han Dong-hoon, the former leader of the ruling People Power Party, was targeted for assassination by martial law troops, accusing Jang of “manufacturing a similarly baseless claim”.
Earlier that day, Jang held a press conference at the National Assembly, alleging that Kim entered a plastic surgery clinic at 6:25pm on December 3 and stayed there for three hours, leaving at 9:30pm – just an hour before the martial law declaration.
The basis of his claim was an anonymous tip from a self-proclaimed witness. Jang suggested Kim’s timing indicated prior knowledge of the martial law declaration.
Jang said, “How could a civilian leave the clinic exactly an hour before martial law was declared unless she knew about it in advance?” He also pointed out that the clinic’s director had been appointed as a presidential adviser in July 2022.
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Malaysian university suspends professor over sexual harassment claims
By Joseph Sipalan
The Universiti Malaya (UM) has suspended a professor over allegations of unsolicited nude pictures sent to several students, in the latest issue to rock the campus at Malaysia’s top public university.
Students led by UM’s Feminism Club staged a protest last Friday demanding swift action by the university after a complaint was lodged with campus management over the alleged sexual harassment by a member of its academic staff.
UM on Monday said the professor was suspended in line with its commitment to upholding its zero-tolerance policy on misconduct within its walls.
“Universiti Malaya will continue to ensure that its campus environment remains safe and conducive, including taking firm action against any party involved in misconduct, regardless of their position or status,” the university said in a statement.
Earlier, the higher education ministry said UM had taken immediate action to launch an investigation after receiving the complaint.
The ministry assured the public that university management had followed necessary procedures and guidelines on handling sexual harassment cases to ensure that the rights of all parties involved were protected.
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By Joseph Sipalan
The Universiti Malaya (UM) has suspended a professor over allegations of unsolicited nude pictures sent to several students, in the latest issue to rock the campus at Malaysia’s top public university.
Students led by UM’s Feminism Club staged a protest last Friday demanding swift action by the university after a complaint was lodged with campus management over the alleged sexual harassment by a member of its academic staff.
UM on Monday said the professor was suspended in line with its commitment to upholding its zero-tolerance policy on misconduct within its walls.
“Universiti Malaya will continue to ensure that its campus environment remains safe and conducive, including taking firm action against any party involved in misconduct, regardless of their position or status,” the university said in a statement.
Earlier, the higher education ministry said UM had taken immediate action to launch an investigation after receiving the complaint.
The ministry assured the public that university management had followed necessary procedures and guidelines on handling sexual harassment cases to ensure that the rights of all parties involved were protected.
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Baby girl among 7 killed in three-vehicle crash on Malaysia highway
By Hadi Azmi
A baby girl was among seven people killed in a horrific three-vehicle crash in Melaka state on Monday as 2 million cars packed Malaysia’s highway for the long Christmas break.
The accident near the town of Ayer Keroh, south of Kuala Lumpur, involved a tour bus carrying 27 passengers colliding with a minivan with five passengers and a trailer.
All five in the minivan died, alongside the drivers of the coach and trailer.
Melaka fire and rescue chief Mohd Pisar Aziz said 33 other people were also injured in the crash and they had been sent to three hospitals for treatment.
“We took almost four hours [to clear the crash]. The process of clearing the bus, trailer and minivan … is being carried out,” Mohd Pisar told reporters on the site at midnight.
Traffic was completely stalled for more than 10km, resulting in a flurry of videos on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook from motorists who were caught in the gridlock.
Malaysia ranks third globally for road fatalities, with 22.48 deaths per 100,000 people, according to a 2023 research by German-based car subscription company FINN.
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By Hadi Azmi
A baby girl was among seven people killed in a horrific three-vehicle crash in Melaka state on Monday as 2 million cars packed Malaysia’s highway for the long Christmas break.
The accident near the town of Ayer Keroh, south of Kuala Lumpur, involved a tour bus carrying 27 passengers colliding with a minivan with five passengers and a trailer.
All five in the minivan died, alongside the drivers of the coach and trailer.
Melaka fire and rescue chief Mohd Pisar Aziz said 33 other people were also injured in the crash and they had been sent to three hospitals for treatment.
“We took almost four hours [to clear the crash]. The process of clearing the bus, trailer and minivan … is being carried out,” Mohd Pisar told reporters on the site at midnight.
Traffic was completely stalled for more than 10km, resulting in a flurry of videos on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook from motorists who were caught in the gridlock.
Malaysia ranks third globally for road fatalities, with 22.48 deaths per 100,000 people, according to a 2023 research by German-based car subscription company FINN.
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China’s small businesses gasp for air as consumption slump deepens
By He Huifeng
Two years ago, as China began to roll back its pandemic restrictions, Ella Chen spotted a tasty opportunity. Having lost her office job, she took the bold decision to go into business herself – investing more than 100,000 yuan (US$13,800) to open a milk tea shop in Guangzhou.
Since then, Chen has poured her heart into making the business a success. She works 13 hours a day, can make 30 kinds of tea drinks, and has saved on rent by opening in a residential neighbourhood rather than the downtown business district.
But, like many small-business owners in China, Chen is still struggling to make ends meet. Consumption has not recovered as expected since the pandemic – instead, growth has slowed. And that is forcing companies nationwide to scale back operations or even shut down.
“In the beginning, daily profits were over 200 yuan. Now they’re often less than 100 yuan,” Chen said. “Those regular customers who used to buy a 15-yuan milk tea on weekends or evenings have gradually disappeared. They still pass by my store, they just rarely make a purchase.”
Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) have long been the backbone of China’s private economy in terms of job creation, providing 300 to 400 million roles, but the sector is now facing a raft of severe challenges amid a wider economic slowdown.
Insufficient demand, high tax burdens, and rising labour and utility costs are just some of the issues facing MSEs, with the situation deteriorating further in recent months, according to a nationwide survey of 7,500 MSE operators by Peking University’s Centre for Enterprise Research.
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By He Huifeng
Two years ago, as China began to roll back its pandemic restrictions, Ella Chen spotted a tasty opportunity. Having lost her office job, she took the bold decision to go into business herself – investing more than 100,000 yuan (US$13,800) to open a milk tea shop in Guangzhou.
Since then, Chen has poured her heart into making the business a success. She works 13 hours a day, can make 30 kinds of tea drinks, and has saved on rent by opening in a residential neighbourhood rather than the downtown business district.
But, like many small-business owners in China, Chen is still struggling to make ends meet. Consumption has not recovered as expected since the pandemic – instead, growth has slowed. And that is forcing companies nationwide to scale back operations or even shut down.
“In the beginning, daily profits were over 200 yuan. Now they’re often less than 100 yuan,” Chen said. “Those regular customers who used to buy a 15-yuan milk tea on weekends or evenings have gradually disappeared. They still pass by my store, they just rarely make a purchase.”
Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) have long been the backbone of China’s private economy in terms of job creation, providing 300 to 400 million roles, but the sector is now facing a raft of severe challenges amid a wider economic slowdown.
Insufficient demand, high tax burdens, and rising labour and utility costs are just some of the issues facing MSEs, with the situation deteriorating further in recent months, according to a nationwide survey of 7,500 MSE operators by Peking University’s Centre for Enterprise Research.
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Philippine army wants to buy Typhon system, China slams ‘extremely irresponsible choice’
By Raissa Robles
The Philippine army said on Monday that it planned to acquire the Typhon missile system as the weapon could be deployed to expand the country’s defence perimeter, even as concerns linger over its modernisation programme being weighed down by budget cuts.
Lieutenant General Roy Galido, the army’s commanding general, confirmed the plan during his year-end media briefing.
The decision arose after the Typhon was adapted from a ship-based to a land-based platform and tested during the Balikatan multilateral military exercises from April to May this year, Galido said.
“There are negotiations [to acquire the Typhon] because we see its visibility and adaptability,” he added
The use of defence platforms such as the Typhon would be in line with the army’s role in the country’s new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence (CAD) strategy, which calls for a shift towards protecting the Philippines’ maritime borders, according to Galido.
He said the Typhon could help protect the country’s “floating assets” of up to 200 nautical miles (370.4km) from the country’s shores within its exclusive economic zone.
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By Raissa Robles
The Philippine army said on Monday that it planned to acquire the Typhon missile system as the weapon could be deployed to expand the country’s defence perimeter, even as concerns linger over its modernisation programme being weighed down by budget cuts.
Lieutenant General Roy Galido, the army’s commanding general, confirmed the plan during his year-end media briefing.
The decision arose after the Typhon was adapted from a ship-based to a land-based platform and tested during the Balikatan multilateral military exercises from April to May this year, Galido said.
“There are negotiations [to acquire the Typhon] because we see its visibility and adaptability,” he added
The use of defence platforms such as the Typhon would be in line with the army’s role in the country’s new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defence (CAD) strategy, which calls for a shift towards protecting the Philippines’ maritime borders, according to Galido.
He said the Typhon could help protect the country’s “floating assets” of up to 200 nautical miles (370.4km) from the country’s shores within its exclusive economic zone.
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Guatemalan who set woman on fire in New York subway charged with murder, arson
By Reuters
A 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen was charged with murder and arson on Monday after allegedly lighting a woman on fire and watching her burn to death on a New York City subway train over the weekend, police and federal officials said.
Sebastian Zapeta was arrested about six hours after police say he used a lighter to ignite the clothes of a woman who appeared to be dozing on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn.
On Monday, he was charged with murder and arson, police said.
The suspect entered the US without authorisation in 2018 and was deported to Guatemala a few days later. It was unclear when he unlawfully re-entered, the US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
Police said there appeared to have been no prior interaction between the assailant, a Brooklyn man, and the victim, who has not been identified.
Zapeta is in custody and it was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer. He was arrested on a subway train on Sunday afternoon and had a lighter in his pocket, police said. He was due to appear in court to face charges on Monday or Tuesday.
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By Reuters
A 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen was charged with murder and arson on Monday after allegedly lighting a woman on fire and watching her burn to death on a New York City subway train over the weekend, police and federal officials said.
Sebastian Zapeta was arrested about six hours after police say he used a lighter to ignite the clothes of a woman who appeared to be dozing on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn.
On Monday, he was charged with murder and arson, police said.
The suspect entered the US without authorisation in 2018 and was deported to Guatemala a few days later. It was unclear when he unlawfully re-entered, the US Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
Police said there appeared to have been no prior interaction between the assailant, a Brooklyn man, and the victim, who has not been identified.
Zapeta is in custody and it was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer. He was arrested on a subway train on Sunday afternoon and had a lighter in his pocket, police said. He was due to appear in court to face charges on Monday or Tuesday.
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Luckin Coffee’s entry into Hong Kong a sign of mainland Chinese brands’ growing dominance
By Cheryl Arcibal
Mainland Chinese brands are ramping up their presence in Hong Kong, using the city to test the waters before foraying overseas, according to analysts.
The debut of Luckin Coffee, which bills itself as the “Starbucks of China” for having the most number of outlets on the mainland, is a sign of things to come for Hong Kong’s retail segment, they said.
Luckin recently opened its first branch at Mira Place in Tsim Sha Tsui, marking its entry into a market that is currently dominated by Starbucks, the US coffee chain. The Chinese coffee chain is set to open another outlet in Tseung Kwan O, according to local media reports.
“We foresee mainland brands continuing their interest to expand to Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and even European markets,” said Lawrence Wan, head of advisory and transaction services for retail at CBRE Hong Kong.
“Hong Kong would be an interesting and strategic market for these mainland brands, especially when high street shop rents have fallen significantly from a peak over the past few years.”
Hong Kong’s retail sales declined for the eighth consecutive month in October, dropping 2.9 per cent year on year, according to government data. Retail sales in the first 10 months of the year fell 7.1 per cent to about HK$312.3 billion (US$40.2 billion), compared with the same period in 2023.
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By Cheryl Arcibal
Mainland Chinese brands are ramping up their presence in Hong Kong, using the city to test the waters before foraying overseas, according to analysts.
The debut of Luckin Coffee, which bills itself as the “Starbucks of China” for having the most number of outlets on the mainland, is a sign of things to come for Hong Kong’s retail segment, they said.
Luckin recently opened its first branch at Mira Place in Tsim Sha Tsui, marking its entry into a market that is currently dominated by Starbucks, the US coffee chain. The Chinese coffee chain is set to open another outlet in Tseung Kwan O, according to local media reports.
“We foresee mainland brands continuing their interest to expand to Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and even European markets,” said Lawrence Wan, head of advisory and transaction services for retail at CBRE Hong Kong.
“Hong Kong would be an interesting and strategic market for these mainland brands, especially when high street shop rents have fallen significantly from a peak over the past few years.”
Hong Kong’s retail sales declined for the eighth consecutive month in October, dropping 2.9 per cent year on year, according to government data. Retail sales in the first 10 months of the year fell 7.1 per cent to about HK$312.3 billion (US$40.2 billion), compared with the same period in 2023.
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Apple’s US$1 billion investment: a win for Indonesia but also a ‘double-edged sword’?
By Amy Sood
Indonesia’s strategy of pressuring Apple into increasing its investments in the country to be able to sell its latest phone appears to have paid off with a US$1 billion pledge, but analysts warn that the country’s strict local content rules could prove to be a “double-edged sword”.
Southeast Asia’s largest economy banned the sale of the new iPhone 16 in October, citing Apple’s failure to meet local content requirements that mandate that a percentage of components or production processes originate within the country. In response, Apple initially proposed US$10 million in new investments to Indonesia, later increasing the offer to US$100 million.
When officials in Jakarta were still not satisfied, Apple last week said it would invest US$1 billion in the country – an amount Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto deemed acceptable, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.
Apple also said one of its suppliers would set up a plant on Batam island to produce AirTags, employing about 1,000 workers. The tech giant is also expected to set up a manufacturing plant in Bandung, as well as fund more developer academies across the country for research and development and to train workers.
Dedi Dinarto, lead Indonesia analyst at public policy advisory firm Global Counsel in Singapore, said Apple’s offer showed that “Indonesia’s push for local content rules and onshore manufacturing is starting to pay off”.
The government’s hope is that Indonesia is seen as more than just a market for foreign goods, and instead is incorporated into the manufacturing process, according to Dedi.
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By Amy Sood
Indonesia’s strategy of pressuring Apple into increasing its investments in the country to be able to sell its latest phone appears to have paid off with a US$1 billion pledge, but analysts warn that the country’s strict local content rules could prove to be a “double-edged sword”.
Southeast Asia’s largest economy banned the sale of the new iPhone 16 in October, citing Apple’s failure to meet local content requirements that mandate that a percentage of components or production processes originate within the country. In response, Apple initially proposed US$10 million in new investments to Indonesia, later increasing the offer to US$100 million.
When officials in Jakarta were still not satisfied, Apple last week said it would invest US$1 billion in the country – an amount Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto deemed acceptable, according to sources cited by Bloomberg.
Apple also said one of its suppliers would set up a plant on Batam island to produce AirTags, employing about 1,000 workers. The tech giant is also expected to set up a manufacturing plant in Bandung, as well as fund more developer academies across the country for research and development and to train workers.
Dedi Dinarto, lead Indonesia analyst at public policy advisory firm Global Counsel in Singapore, said Apple’s offer showed that “Indonesia’s push for local content rules and onshore manufacturing is starting to pay off”.
The government’s hope is that Indonesia is seen as more than just a market for foreign goods, and instead is incorporated into the manufacturing process, according to Dedi.
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‘It’s hard to tell’: is Trump serious about Greenland, Panama Canal?
By Agence France-Presse
Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada – leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not.
By challenging the sovereignty of some of Washington’s closest allies four weeks before he even returns to the Oval Office, the US-president elect has underscored his credentials as global disrupter-in-chief.
His comments have renewed fears from his first term that Trump will end up being harsher on US friends than he is on adversaries like Russia and China.
But there are also suspicions that billionaire tycoon Trump is looking for leverage as part of the “art of the deal” – and that the former reality television star is grabbing headlines to look strong at home and abroad.
“It’s hard to tell how much of this he really wants, and how much is the latest sound bite that will be heard around the world,” said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former White House correspondent.
“He puts other leaders in position of having to figure out what is literal and what is not,” he said.
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By Agence France-Presse
Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada – leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not.
By challenging the sovereignty of some of Washington’s closest allies four weeks before he even returns to the Oval Office, the US-president elect has underscored his credentials as global disrupter-in-chief.
His comments have renewed fears from his first term that Trump will end up being harsher on US friends than he is on adversaries like Russia and China.
But there are also suspicions that billionaire tycoon Trump is looking for leverage as part of the “art of the deal” – and that the former reality television star is grabbing headlines to look strong at home and abroad.
“It’s hard to tell how much of this he really wants, and how much is the latest sound bite that will be heard around the world,” said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former White House correspondent.
“He puts other leaders in position of having to figure out what is literal and what is not,” he said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Experts gather in Hong Kong to tackle liver cancer together
By Advertising partner
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]
The LEAD event brings together top liver disease experts across APAC, providing a vital platform for advancing liver disease diagnosis and management. By discussing the latest clinical evidence, emerging trends, innovative solutions, and health policy issues, the event addresses unmet medical needs and promotes end-to-end patient care in the region.
In collaboration with the Hong Kong Association for the Study of Liver Disease (HKASLD) and Hong Kong Liver Cancer and Gastrointestinal Cancer Foundation (HKLCF), LEAD APAC 2024 brought together 160 international experts from diverse disciplines in liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to discuss the clinical use of comprehensive liver disease solutions to facilitate early detection and collaborative care.
Opening the event, Lance Little, Head of Region for Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific, spoke to the challenges of HCC in the region.
“Patients with HCC are often diagnosed at a late stage, and this significantly reduces the treatment options and prognosis for them,” he remarked, adding that the five-year survival rate is just 18 per cent, compared to 91 per cent for cancers such as breast cancer.
“There’s a lot of work ahead, especially since the Asia Pacific region has the highest incidence of HCC globally, with rates in countries like China and Vietnam two to three times above the world average,” he said, adding that early detection and cross-disciplinary collaboration are both highly important.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Advertising partner
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]
The LEAD event brings together top liver disease experts across APAC, providing a vital platform for advancing liver disease diagnosis and management. By discussing the latest clinical evidence, emerging trends, innovative solutions, and health policy issues, the event addresses unmet medical needs and promotes end-to-end patient care in the region.
In collaboration with the Hong Kong Association for the Study of Liver Disease (HKASLD) and Hong Kong Liver Cancer and Gastrointestinal Cancer Foundation (HKLCF), LEAD APAC 2024 brought together 160 international experts from diverse disciplines in liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to discuss the clinical use of comprehensive liver disease solutions to facilitate early detection and collaborative care.
Opening the event, Lance Little, Head of Region for Roche Diagnostics Asia Pacific, spoke to the challenges of HCC in the region.
“Patients with HCC are often diagnosed at a late stage, and this significantly reduces the treatment options and prognosis for them,” he remarked, adding that the five-year survival rate is just 18 per cent, compared to 91 per cent for cancers such as breast cancer.
“There’s a lot of work ahead, especially since the Asia Pacific region has the highest incidence of HCC globally, with rates in countries like China and Vietnam two to three times above the world average,” he said, adding that early detection and cross-disciplinary collaboration are both highly important.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
