WASHINGTON: The United States said on Friday (May 22) it would add 33 Chinese firms and institutions to an economic blacklist for helping Beijing spy on its minority Uighur population or because of ties to weapons of mass destruction and China’s military. The US Commerce Department’s move marked the Trump […]
Month: May 2020
GENEVA: South America has become “a new epicentre” of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization said Friday (May 22), following a surge in the number of COVID-19 infections. “In a sense, South America has become a new epicentre for the disease. We have seen many South American countries […]
WASHINGTON: The U.S. Transportation Department said late Friday it had granted tentative approval to 15 airlines to temporarily halt service to 75 U.S. airports because of the coronavirus pandemic. Airlines must maintain minimum service levels in order to receive government assistance but many have petitioned to stop service to airports […]
BANGKOK: Thailand has given businesses another year to comply with a new personal data protection law due to the impact of the coronavirus crisis on their preparations. The Personal Data Protection Act became law in May last year with a one-year transition period. It was intended to imitate the European […]
WASHINGTON: A range of business groups have made an 11th-hour appeal to US President Donald Trump as he weighs whether to restrict temporary work visas, warning of negative economic consequences if he blocks the flow of skilled foreign workers into the United States. More than 300 US companies, business associations […]
PARIS: France is to allow the resumption of religious gatherings after a two-month hiatus caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, but worshippers will have to wear face masks, the French interior ministry announced. The ministry said late on Friday (May 22) that it would issue a decree setting out the new […]
LONDON: Britain, Australia and Canada on Friday (May 22) said they were “deeply concerned” at China’s plans for a new security law in Hong Kong. The foreign ministers of the three countries joined growing global opposition to the move by Beijing to reduce Hong Kong’s separate legal status. They pointed […]
SINGAPORE: Pre-school and primary school students will each be given a face shield and hand sanitisers as they prepare to head back to the classroom from Jun 2. All pre-school teachers and staff members will also receive face shields and an oximeter, as part of an initiative by Temasek Foundation […]
CHICAGO: The United States plans a massive testing effort involving more than 100,000 volunteers and a half dozen or so of the most promising vaccine candidates in an effort to deliver a safe and effective one by the end of 2020, scientists leading the program told Reuters. The project will […]
REUTERS: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd on Friday reported forecast-beating fourth-quarter revenues and profits, as more people shopped online for essentials because of the coronavirus lockdowns. As people stayed indoors and brick-and-mortar stores remained shut during the health crisis, online orders surged, with the company’s core commerce business rising nearly 19per […]