Business

What made ‘Pakistan’s Independence Day’ the most controversial day for its people
31Aug By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Business, Opinion

What made ‘Pakistan’s Independence Day’ the most controversial day for its people

Certain nationalist groups in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Gilgit Baltistan have announced that they will not celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day on August 14. Instead, they will be observing a Black Day.Since righteous voices are usually met with brutal repression and it is too risky to have such observance in Pakistan, it has been decided that the discontent be demonstrated through a series of car rallies across Europe, America and Canada highlighting forced disappearance, extrajudicial killings and ongoing persecution and manhunt of nationalists and political as well as human right activists in Pakistan.The decision to mark August 14 as a Black Day comes as a shock to many as it is in stark contrast to the perceived mindset of people who had previously claimed to be bound toget
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Walmart joins Microsoft in bid for video app TikTok
31Aug By desk teamNo Comments
Business, World

Walmart joins Microsoft in bid for video app TikTok

Walmart is the latest company to want a piece of TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned video app that has come under fire from the Trump administration. The world’s largest retailer made a joint bid with tech giant Microsoft to buy TikTok’s U.S. business, according to a person close to the deal who isn’t authorized to discuss the terms publicly. It may seem like an unlikely combination, but Microsoft and Walmart are already business partners. Microsoft provides cloud computing services that help run the retailer’s stores and online shopping. The two companies signed a 5-year partnership in 2018, enabling them to join forces against a shared rival: online shopping giant Amazon. Walmart said in a statement Thursday that a deal with Microsoft and TikTok could help it expand its advertising bus
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Alibaba shares leap after Ant Group IPO filing
31Aug By desk teamNo Comments
Business, World

Alibaba shares leap after Ant Group IPO filing

Alibaba shares leap after Ant Group IPO filing Alibaba's Ant Group, which is planning a Hong Kong and Shanghai listing, operates Alipay, one of China's two dominant online payment systems. HONG KONG: Shares in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba jumped to a new record Wednesday morning, a day after the group's financial arm filed paperwork for a joint Shanghai and Hong Kong listing. The IPO for Ant Group, the financial technology arm of Alibaba, is being billed as one of the world's largest listings, potentially eclipsing the record US$29 billion raised by Saudi Aramco last year. The company filed paperwork on Tuesday evening for a joint listing closer to home as tensions spiral between the United States and China. It did not detail a timetable for its public offering or how much money i...
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MRT urged to rethink Korat trams
30Aug By desk teamNo Comments
Business, Opinion, World

MRT urged to rethink Korat trams

MRT urged to rethink Korat trams Businesses and investors in Nakhon Ratchasima have asked the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRT) to review the electric tram blueprint for the province over concerns about cost-efficiency. The chairman of Nakhon Ratchasima Chamber of Commerce, Chatchawal Wongjorn, said the MRT would be better off using rubber-tyred people-movers rather than conventional trams which run on fixed tracks, as it would significantly cut down on construction costs. The savings would allow the MRT to build three lines simultaneously, as opposed to just one, which would not be enough to spur the province's economic growth, said Mr Chatchawal. Over 600 representatives of government units, the private sector, academic institutions as well as community leaders yesterday...
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US moves against Chinese officials over South China Sea
30Aug By desk teamNo Comments
Business, World

US moves against Chinese officials over South China Sea

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration said Wednesday it is imposing sanctions on Chinese officials responsible for Beijing’s military build-up in the South China Sea. The move is the latest salvo in the U.S. pressure campaign against China that has picked up steam ahead of November’s presidential election over a variety of contentious issues. The State Department announced it had hit an unspecified number of Chinese officials and business executives responsible for the militarization of disputed South China Sea areas with travel bans. Immediate family members of those targeted may also be barred from travel to the United States, the department said. At the same time, the Commerce Department said it had added 24 state-owned Chinese enterprises, including subsidiaries of the China Communic
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Asia Today: Manila back under lockdown as virus cases surge
30Aug By desk teamNo Comments
Asia, Business, World

Asia Today: Manila back under lockdown as virus cases surge

MANILA, Philippines - Commuter trains, buses and other public vehicles stayed off the main roads of the Philippine capital Tuesday and police were again staffing checkpoints to restrict public travel as surging virus cases forced another lockdown. Officials deployed dozens of shuttle buses, along with army trucks, to ferry stranded medical personnel and workers of authorized businesses. Most domestic flights to and from the capital were cancelled, and night curfews will return in places. Crowds trooped to some supermarkets Monday to stock up on food after the hasty return to a lockdown sparked panic-buying. The lockdown is milder than was first one imposed, which largely confined most people to their homes for months, but is more severe than the quarantine restrictions the capital had b...
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TAT: Health, safety key to revival
29Aug By desk teamNo Comments
Business, World

TAT: Health, safety key to revival

Mr Yuthasak gives the keynote speech at the '5 First S-Curve High-Value Tourism' webinar. (Photo by Varuth Hirunyatheb) Tourism needs to adopt lessons learned from the outbreak to enhance safety and health competitiveness as the industry's priorities shift from volume to value, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said effective risk management will be the key to overcoming challenges next year if the world is hit by a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. He said most tourism-related operators are on the brink of bankruptcy, especially airlines, while local residents have developed a negative attitude towards foreigners. Under the TAT's best-case scenario for 2021 -- with a vaccine available at the start of the year and international tourists retur...
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Singapore to allow general travel to Brunei, New Zealand; travellers to take heed of border measures in these countries
29Aug By desk teamNo Comments
Business, Singapore, World

Singapore to allow general travel to Brunei, New Zealand; travellers to take heed of border measures in these countries

SINGAPORE - Singapore will allow general travel to Brunei and New Zealand, as well as for students studying overseas from Sept 1. However, those intending to visit Brunei and New Zealand are advised to check the entry requirements imposed by these countries, and take the necessary precautionary measures, the multi-ministry task force tackling Covid-19 said on Friday (Aug 21). Students studying overseas at institutions where distance-learning is not offered as an option by the school will also be allowed to travel, said Education Minister Lawrence Wong. Singapore is also relaxing its border controls, so that visitors from Brunei or New Zealand, who have remained in the country in the last consecutive 14 days prior to their visit to Singapore, will not have to serve a stay-home notice whe...
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More European nations tighten virus curbs as global deaths top 700,000
29Aug By desk teamNo Comments
Business, World

More European nations tighten virus curbs as global deaths top 700,000

More European nations tighten virus curbs as global deaths top 700,000 Masks and other virus measures are increasing in parts of Europe as fears grow over a second wave of cases. BERLIN - More countries across Europe imposed new travel restrictions and containment measures on Thursday with fears growing over a second wave of coronavirus infections as global deaths from the pandemic climbed over 700,000. Europe remains the hardest-hit region worldwide with more than 200,000 fatalities since the virus first emerged in China late last year, but the number of deaths is rising fast elsewhere especially in Latin America and India. Even as governments across the globe struggle to salvage economies ravaged by months of lockdown, many have been forced to look at new measures to curb outbreaks o...
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Beyond exceptional
28Aug By desk teamNo Comments
Business, Singapore, World

Beyond exceptional

Piaget's latest flights of fancy are inspired by the tropics and overseen by Asiaphile Christophe Bourrié Christophe Bourrié had long been interested in luxury watches and jewellery as he did a thesis on this industry for a master's degree in corporate finance at Paris Dauphine University. The white gold Secret Cenote cuff watch is set with diamonds and sapphires that echo the blues and greens of tropical vegetation. Last summer, he eventually landed in the business at Piaget, where he's a member of its executive committee and global director for high-jewellery and exceptional creations. Bourrié's previous experiences included working for his family's wine company and private banking. He's actually very familiar with the Asian market since he was based in China, Singapore and Hong Kong
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