BEIJING/NEW YORK – China will file a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization and take necessary countermeasures to safeguard its own rights and interests, the Ministry of Commerce said on Sunday after the United States announced it would impose a 10 percent additional tariff on goods from China. The Ministry of Commerce said this move fails to solve the problems faced by the US, and undermines normal economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. An expert from a think tank in Beijing said the decision is expected to have a significant impact on US and Chinese industries. “The unilateral…
Author: Asia News Network
MANILA – By Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega’s reckoning, the Philippines will not be severely impacted by President Donald Trump’s suspension of all United States’ foreign development assistance to countries around the world, since we have many other economic partners to count on. While acknowledging that trade with the US remains high, De Vega noted that the aid freeze is not likely “to severely affect us because aid packages from the US are small right now.” His optimistic view might be premature though as Philippine officials, and the world for that matter, have yet to see the detailed list of…
SINGAPORE – Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, star of the seminal idol drama Meteor Garden (2001), who is also known by her stage name Big S, has died at the age of 48. The news was confirmed on Feb 3 in a statement sent out to Taiwanese media by her family via the manager of her younger sister, famed Taiwanese television host Dee Hsu, 46. According to Taiwanese news outlet Star ETToday, the statement written primarily in Chinese read: “Thanks for all the concern. Over the Chinese New Year period, our entire family travelled to Japan for a holiday, and my…
SEOUL – Korea’s broadcasting industry is increasingly embracing “deepfake” technology — an application of machine learning that seamlessly merges synthetic images and audio to create hyperrealistic media. However, as these digital manipulations push the limits of what has previously been possible on the small screen, they have also ignited a firestorm of controversy. The latest flash point in this debate centers on the use of body doubles for nude scenes. While that practice has a long history, newer technology allows lead actors’ faces to be digitally superimposed on body doubles — an approach that has sparked mounting criticism. Case in…
CEBU CITY – Two Catholic bishops in the Visayas have vowed to be transparent in dealing with priests accused of sexual abuse of minors and who are either on administrative leave or cleared to return to active ministry. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma and Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos in Negros Occidental, in separate statements on Thursday, acknowledged that there were priests under their supervision who were linked to the sexual abuse of children. Palma said three of the names recently mentioned by BishopAccountability.org, a United States-based sex abuse tracking group, have been reintegrated into the archdiocese.…
NEW DELHI – Indian opposition parties have criticised the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its handling of a vast Hindu festival after more than 30 people were killed in a stampede at the event on Jan 29. The six-week Maha Kumbh Mela is being held in BJP-run Uttar Pradesh state, and opposition parties have accused the state government of mismanaging what is billed as the world’s largest gathering of humanity. An estimated 400 million visitors are expected in the city of Prayagraj for the festival, which began on Jan 13. “Half-baked arrangements, VIP movement, paying more attention to self-promotion…
PETALING JAYA – The thrill of shopping is entering a peak with malls experiencing higher foot traffic driven by the festive and holiday mood. Several popular malls in the Klang Valley are reporting up to a 10% increase in business, with the bouyant customer mood carried through from the year-end festive period. Malaysia Shopping Malls Association president Phang Sau Lian said she expects the trend to continue into the first quarter and beyond. “Christmas, the Chinese New Year and the school holidays have kept things going well. This trend will be further boosted by the coming Hari Raya period.” She…
BANGKOK – Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will make a landmark official visit to China from February 5-8, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Her meetings with President Xi Jinping are expected to strengthen ties with focus on greater cooperation, including addressing a growing issue that has become a major challenge for the Thai government: call-centre scams. Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society Prasert Chantararuangthong announced that the draft Royal Decree on Measures for Preventing and Combating Technology-Related Crimes (2023) is under review by the Council of State, with the goal of enacting the decree…
SEOUL – As US President Donald Trump has hinted at attempting a fresh summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea is likely to confront more complicated diplomatic developments concerning US relations with North Korea. When asked during a Fox News interview that aired Thursday, Trump said he would reach out to Kim again in his second term. “He liked me and I got along with him,” Trump said. “He is not a religious zealot. He happens to be a smart guy.” Trump’s comment marked the first time he explicitly expressed his willingness to resume talks with Kim since…
MANILA – The House of Representatives is set to investigate the spread of fake news and disinformation in the country, aiming to uncover a “massive information machinery.” Three House panels – committees on public order, public information, and information and communications technology – will jointly conduct the probe, which Sta. Rosa City, Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez will spearhead. On Monday, January 27, the House committees will hold their first executive briefing. “Ang mga Pilipino ay may karapatan sa katotohanan. Dapat protektahan natin ang ating mga kababayan laban sa mga maling impormasyong nagdudulot ng takot, kalituhan at pagkakawatak-watak ng ating lipunan,”…