Foreign manpower tightening up a notch

Higher qualifying salary for those on employment permits seen adding to labour costs

Hotel-style prison awaits China's Bo Xilai: inmates

Fallen high-flyer Bo Xilai can expect hotel-style treatment at a jail for China's political elite, where he will enjoy comfortable surroundings but be constantly monitored by government agents, former prisoners say.
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Both sides were ruthless and cruel, says former communist party member

Chin Peng has been accused of being cruel and ruthless by the Malaysian government, but his actions were no worse than that of the Malayan soldiers, said a former Communist Party of Malaya member.
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Bo Xilai sentenced to life in prison

Fallen Chinese political star Bo Xilai was sentenced by a court to life in prison Sunday, following a sensational scandal that culminated in the country's highest-profile trial in decades.
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Singapore paper examines Malaysian divide over Chin Peng

Even in death, Chin Peng remains a deeply divisive figure. Putrajaya remains firm that his remains cannot be brought back to Malaysia, the opposition and MCA have urged the government to show clemency and allow bygones to be bygones.
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Arabs target Israel at U.N. nuclear meet despite U.S. warning

Arab states will push ahead with a bid to single out Israel for criticism over its assumed atomic arsenal at this week's U.N. nuclear agency meeting, despite Western pressure to refrain, a senior representative said on Friday.
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US National Security Agency linked to hacking of telecoms giant in Belgium

Belgium has denounced the “substantial and invasive” hacking of its biggest telecommunications company, saying a foreign state may have been responsible, as media pointed the finger at the US National Security Agency.

Brazil's Rousseff calls off state visit to U.S. over spying

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has called off plans for a state visit to Washington in October because of revelations that the United States spied on her personal communications and those of other Brazilians.
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Chin Peng dies in Bangkok hospital

 

 

The Malay Mail

Bangkok Post

Mr Clean catches China's graft tigers by the tail

Behind China's aggressive drive to root out corruption is Wang Qishan, a historian-turned-economist who once felt so bad about getting free parking that he reportedly sent a colleague back to pay the fee.
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NSA passes unsifted intelligence to Israel

The U.S. National Security Agency routinely passes raw intelligence to Israel without first removing details about U.S. citizens, Britain's Guardian newspaper said on Thursday, citing documents obtained by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
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NSA spying on Petrobras, if proven, is industrial espionage: Rousseff

Reports that the United States spied on Brazilian oil company Petrobras, if proven, would be tantamount to industrial espionage and have no security justification, Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff said on Monday.
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Longer wait for China residency permits irk foreign firms

Foreign executives in China are upset at a new rule that allows authorities to hold passports for up to 15 working days when processing and renewing residency permits, saying it could disrupt essential business travel within China and abroad.
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New Snowden documents say NSA can break common Internet encryption

The United States (US) National Security Agency (NSA) has secretly developed the ability to crack or circumvent commonplace Internet encryption used to protect everything from email to financial transactions, according to media reports citing documents obtained by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

Obama unlikely to win support on Syria

His consensus-building strategy is akin to Bush the First's, but the US, Mid-East and world today are different from 1990

Action on CNPC signals Beijing’s resolve to hit corruption hard

Hu Shuli says the Politburo’s launch of a new five-year plan to tackle corruption, just ahead of a key meeting on reform, is significant

New visa and residence regulations for China

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Kerry portrait of Syria rebels at odds with intelligence reports

Secretary of State John Kerry's public assertions that moderate Syrian opposition groups are growing in influence appear to be at odds with estimates by U.S. and European intelligence sources and nongovernmental experts, who say Islamic extremists remain by far the fiercest and best-organized rebel elements.
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American jailed for offences in hostels

An American tourist was sentenced to nine months in jail yesterday for insulting and outraging the modesty of five women at backpacker hostels.

China hunts tigers in corruption crackdown

The ultimate test for the ongoing crackdown on corruption by China President Xi Jinping is aptly captured in his own campaign phrase: “Hitting tigers as well as flies.” One year on, what tigers could he catch?

Russia's Putin calls John Kerry a liar on Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday called U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry a liar, claiming he had denied that al-Qaida was fighting with the Syrian opposition in that country's civil war.
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Brazil's Rousseff wants U.S. apology for NSA spying

Furious about a report that the U.S. government spied on her private communications, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff may cancel a planned White House visit and downgrade commercial ties unless she receives a public apology, a senior Brazilian official told Reuters on Wednesday.
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What Japan really needs to learn from the Nazis

Any attempt to amend the Constitution would trigger vast international opposition

Anti-graft agency website lets public file complaints

People can fill out online form anonymously, detailing their suspicions about officials

US launched 231 cyberattacks in 2011

Spy services hacked computer networks, mostly of adversaries Iran, Russia, China and N Korea

Russia gives Snowden asylum

Russia rejected U.S. pleas and granted American fugitive Edward Snowden a year's asylum on Thursday, letting the former spy agency contractor slip out of a Moscow airport after more than five weeks in limbo while angering the United States and putting in doubt a planned summit between the two nations' presidents.
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What your favourite ice cream flavour says about you

Thrown to the wolves: China's children at the mercy of foreign predators

Children across China are at the mercy of foreign sexual predators who take advantage of lax background checks and inaction by schools

Local government debt to be exposed by Li’s survey

Audit likely to reveal up to US$3 trillion of debt, with any austerity measures hitting demand

Xi shaping up to be an influential PLA commander

The son of a revolutionary hero may have more chance than predecessors of winning the trust and political backing of the top brass, analysts say

Shenzhen introduces Good Samaritan law

New regulation will protect people who render assistance to those in need and deter dishonest ‘victims’ who see a chance for easy money

Supercar membership club now open

Singapore’s first supercar membership club was launched yesterday and it will offer 100 high-net worth individuals the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a super sports car for a fee. Gran Superdrive is founded by Henry Goh and his associates - a group of car enthusiasts who are also veterans of the car industry.

Thrown to the wolves: China's children at the mercy of foreign predators

Children across China are at the mercy of foreign sexual predators who take advantage of lax background checks and inaction by schools

Travelling? Activate your credit cards first

The next time you travel overseas and plan to use your credit or debit card to buy something, be sure to activate it before leaving Singapore.

Truth behind tragic secret execution of businessman Zeng Chengjie

Pressure mounts for the real facts in the case of Zeng Chengjie, accused of fraud and killed by firing squad without his family being notified

A Charity Aims to Bring Buddhist Studies Into the Modern World

Robert Y.C. Ho, a scion of a historic Hong Kong family, is the chairman of the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, which supports study in the fields of Buddhism, Chinese art and culture. The charity is named after Mr. Ho’s father, who founded it in 2005.

Game of thorns

The insider’s guide to artisanal durians.

Hong Kong gongfu masters fight back

English-language manual among ways to revive interest in Chinese martial art

Property cooling measures give foreign buyers cold feet

Singapore permanent residents (PRs) and other foreigners are buying fewer private homes. The number slipped for the second consecutive quarter in Q2 2013, according to a caveats analysis by DTZ.

Russia Cites Extradition as Sore Point With U.S.

Russian officials complained on Monday that the United States routinely disregards extradition requests by the Russian government, the latest in a series of public statements that seem aimed at laying the groundwork for granting asylum to Edward J. Snowden, the former intelligence contractor on the run from the American authorities.

30m tons of silt released from Yellow River dam

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Legco chief insists on answers to Snowden spy claims

Legco chief Tsang Yok-sing says city’s residents are ‘appalled’ at possible privacy violations and demand details of surveillance

Lawmakers vote to condemn US spying in Hong Kong

Security secretary ‘very disappointed’ there has been no solid explanation of the hacking saga

Hong Kong still waiting for US reply on Snowden hacking allegations

Hong Kong is still waiting for a reply from the United States on claims made by whistle-blower Edward Snowden that US agencies had hacked into the city’s computers, Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok told legislators on Thursday.

'Dirty' GSK inflated China prices with bribes

A Chinese state newspaper on Wednesday called GlaxoSmithKline, which is under investigation for bribery in China, "dirty and devious", accusing the British drug firm of inflating its prices.
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Expat teacher from Hong Kong charged with child sex abuse in Cebu

Munro, a 45-year-old Australian, is being detained in the holiday resort of Cebu.

Spain apologizes to Bolivia for presidential plane delay

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Edward Snowden has 'blueprints' to NSA

Edward Snowden has highly sensitive documents on how the National Security Agency is structured and operates that could harm the U.S. government, but has insisted that they not be made public, a journalist close to the NSA leaker said.
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Snowden documents could be 'worst nightmare' for U.S.

Fugitive former U.S. spy contractor Edward Snowden controls dangerous information that could become the United States' "worst nightmare" if revealed, a journalist familiar with the data said in a newspaper interview.
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Hong Kong lawmakers slam Washington for Snowden censure

The US is like a villain suing the victim before the victim could prosecute him. It’s completely disrespectful of Hong Kong and its citizens.

Formula makers facing an end to plump profits

Chinese mothers’ fears of contaminated milk powder may no longer benefit foreign producers

Probe puts foreign milk powder prices in spotlight

Price-fixing investigation forces overseas baby formula manufacturers to cut prices in China after brands have steadily become more expensive

Microsoft helped NSA, FBI access user info: Guardian

Microsoft Corp worked closely with United States (US) intelligence services to help them intercept users’ communications, including letting the National Security Agency (NSA) circumvent email encryption, the Guardian reported on Thursday.

NSA, Israel created Stuxnet worm together to attack Iran, says Snowden

America’s National Security Agency helped Israel code the Stuxnet computer worm used to attack Iranian nuclear facilities several years ago, according to former NSA contractor and whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

Snowden tells of ‘5 eyes’ spy network

US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada have deep intelligence connection that goes beyond sharing data, whistle-blower says

Latin American nations fuming over NSA spying allegations

Irate Latin American nations are demanding explanations from the United States about new allegations that it spied on both allies and foes in the region with secret surveillance programs.
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NSA 'spied' on most Latin American nations

The U.S. National Security Agency has targeted most Latin American countries in its spying programs, with Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Mexico ranking among those of highest priority for the U.S. intelligence agency, a leading Brazilian newspaper reported on Tuesday.
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How to leak and not get caught

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Xi issues new rules to rein in PLA excesses

President moves to consolidate control over army and says military must take the lead to protect authority of the Communist Party

Has Xi's graft crackdown run out of steam?

Analysts say candid coverage of 'consultations' may indicate leadership lacks will to take action

Singapore’s open door to billionaires shuts out logic

Brigadier general calls the shots but his top brass will struggle with his wonky economics

Samsung Still Asia’s Most Popular Brand, Beats Apple

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Brazil to probe local telecom operators over alleged U.S. spying

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Snowden affair clouds U.S. attempts to press China to curb cyber theft

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Brazil was target of U.S. signals spying

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Fung shui masters hit out at former colleague Peter Chan

Under fire in the courts, pursued by creditors and the taxman, Peter Chan Chun-chuen is also in trouble with leaders of his former profession.

Peter Chan gets 12 years’ jail for forging late tycoon Nina Wang’s will

Former fung shui master granted individual cell in Stanley Prison after judge describes him as ‘shameless, cruel and extremely greedy’

Peter Chan: reinvention of a nobody with a big smile

He was just married, living in a public housing flat, when he met the woman who made him her HK$2.7b penthouse lover

In Okinawa, Talk of Break From Japan Turns Serious

In a windowless room in a corner of a bustling market where stalls displayed severed pigs’ heads and bolts of kimono silk, Okinawans gathered to learn about a political idea that until recently few had dared to take seriously: declaring their island chain’s political independence from Japan.

Xi Jinping seeks changes in way party cadres are selected

A slew of high-profile scandals involving senior Communist Party officials in recent months prompted President Xi Jinping to call for a fundamental overhaul of the appointment and promotion regime for cadres during a recent national conference on the promotion of meritocracy.

Merkel says EU must not forget U.S. spying in push for free trade

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Three Latin American leftist leaders offer asylum to Snowden

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BRICS emerging economies to expand co-operation on internet security

The cyber snooping saga pushes the major emerging economies, including China, to reduce reliance on American technology

Venezuela offers asylum to U.S. fugitive Snowden

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South American leftist leaders rally for Bolivia in Snowden saga

South America's most outspoken leftist leaders demanded an explanation and public apology from four European countries on Thursday after Bolivian President Evo Morales' plane was diverted this week on suspicions that fugitive U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden was aboard.
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Evo Morales threatens to close Bolivia's US embassy as leaders lend support

Anger at US and EU from Bolivia's left-leaning South American allies at meeting to discuss rerouting of Morales' plane
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Bolivia complains to UN after Evo Morales' plane 'kidnapped'

US refuses to comment on Morales plane but admits contact with other nations over potential Snowden flights
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Protest at French embassy over Morales jet diversion

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France apologises in Bolivia plane row

France has apologised to Bolivia for refusing to allow President Evo Morales' jet into its airspace, blaming "conflicting information".

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Latin America fumes over Bolivia incident in Snowden saga

Latin American leaders slammed European governments on Wednesday for diverting Bolivian President Evo Morales' plane on rumors it was carrying a wanted former U.S. spy agency contractor, adding a new diplomatic twist to the Edward Snowden saga.

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US spy chief apologises over 'erroneous' remark

US National Intelligence Director James Clapper has apologised for telling lawmakers the National Security Agency does not collect data from Americans' phone records and Internet use.

Strong ties bind spy agencies and Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley has tried to distance itself from the controversial US surveillance programmes exposed by Edward Snowden, but there is a long history of close cooperation between technology companies and the intelligence community.

Bolivia says Morales' plane diverted, apparently over Snowden

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Hints surface that NSA building massive, pervasive surveillance capability

Despite U.S. intelligence officials’ repeated denials that the National Security Agency is collecting the content of domestic emails and phone calls, evidence is mounting that the agency’s vast surveillance network can and may already be preserving billions of those communications in powerful digital databases.

Edward Snowden given possible lifeline as Bolivia hints it would grant asylum

Evo Morales says his country is keen to 'shield the denounced' as Snowden's father Lon compares son to Paul Revere

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Reporter endures painful medical procedures to expose private hospital scam

An undercover reporter subjects himself to prostate examinations and urethra swabbing to unveil the costly diagnoses of three Beijing hospitals

Countries' reactions to Snowden's asylum applications

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France calls for common EU stand on US spy claims

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Whistle-blower Snowden seeks asylum in China, among other nations, says Wikileaks

Fugitive whistle-blower also releases a statement, criticising the US and saying he remains ‘unbowed’ in his convictions

US bugged 38 embassies, including allies, latest Snowden leak indicates

US intelligence services spied on at least 38 foreign embassies and missions, including those of allies, according to the latest secret documents leaked by National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

John Kerry on defensive at Brunei conference over spying claims

Allegations that US targeted European and Asian allies put secretary of state in awkward position at security conference

Edward Snowden's letter to Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa

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Snowden blames Obama for trying to block his efforts to find asylum

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Snowden applies for political asylum in Russia

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Edward Snowden: Obama guilty of deceit over extradition

US president pledged to avoid 'wheeling and dealing' while bullying countries that might grant asylum, says whistleblower

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Barack Obama seeks to limit EU fallout over US spying claims

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France warns US spying claims threaten trade talks

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Edward Snowden threatens new US leaks, applies for Russian asylum

Former US spy agency contractor Edward Snowden broke his silence on Monday for the first time since fleeing to Moscow to say he remains free to make new disclosures about US spying activity.

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New NSA spying allegations rile European allies

The Obama administration faced a breakdown in confidence Sunday from key foreign allies who threatened investigations and sanctions against the U.S. over secret surveillance programs that reportedly installed covert listening devices in European Union offices.

US intelligence targeted Italy and France embassies

France, Italy and Greece were among 38 "targets" of spying operations conducted by US intelligence services, according to documents leaked to the Guardian newspaper by fugitive former CIA operative Edward Snowden.