China drops GDP target mention, aims for 'best possible' results instead - CNA

BEIJING: China will try hard to achieve the best possible results for the economy this year, state media said on Thursday (Jul 28) after a high-level meeting of the ruling Communist Party, in contrast to previous calls to meet its full-year economic growth target.

In the second half of 2022, China should "stabilise employment and prices, maintain economic operations within a reasonable range, and strive to achieve the best possible results", state-run Xinhua news agency reported, after the 25-member Politburo chaired by President Xi Jinping met to assess the economy.

China is widely expected by analysts to miss its 2022 economic growth target of around 5.5 per cent for the first time since 2015, with its US$18 trillion economy battered this year by extensive COVID-19 curbs including full lockdowns of cities like Shanghai.

Gross domestic product in the first half grew 2.5 per cent from a year earlier, pointing to huge pressure in the second half, amid fears of a global recession, uncertainties from the Ukraine war and worries of any recurring COVID-19 lockdowns.

Xi, at the opening of a BRICS forum on Jun 22, said China would take more measures to achieve its annual economic goals while minimising the impact of its COVID-19 prevention and control as much as possible.

But during an inspection tour in the central city of Wuhan on Jun 28, he said China will "strive to reach a relatively good level of the economic development this year".

Similarly, last week, Premier Li Keqiang said at the World Economic Forum that China will "strive for relatively good results in economic development for the whole year".

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2022-07-28 10:38:08Z
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China Covid: Beijing Reopens for International Flights, First Time in Two Years - Bloomberg

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1. China Covid: Beijing Reopens for International Flights, First Time in Two Years  Bloomberg
2. China Reopens Beijing For International Flights  Simple Flying
3. International Air Routes to S.Korean Airports Opened For 1st Time Since Pandemic  News18
4. Lofty Expectations After Tokyo-Seoul Flights Return  NHK WORLD
5. Korean carriers resume direct flights from Cebu| SUNSTAR  SunStar Philippines
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2022-07-27 10:24:35Z
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CNA Explains: What do Indonesia's new licensing rules mean for tech companies? - CNA

JAKARTA: Indonesia has asked technology companies, both at home and overseas, to register themselves by Wednesday midnight (Jul 27) if they want to continue to operate in the country. 

The government has warned that companies that do not sign up in time would be blocked.

As of Wednesday afternoon, just under 9,000 entities – 8,500 of which are local firms – have registered themselves via a website run by the Indonesian Communication and Information Technology Ministry. Among those that have signed up include tech giants Alphabet Inc, Meta Inc and Twitter Inc.

But there are many other technology companies that have not registered and are therefore at risk of being banned from offering their services in the archipelago. Among these companies are some of the world’s biggest e-commerce services, web browsers and social media platforms.

The new licensing regulation applies to local and foreign companies which offer services ranging from search engines, social media, streaming services and fintech to email providers, messaging applications and online games.

Observers are worried that the ministerial regulation on Electronic System Operators will stifle innovation as companies first have to be licensed by the communications ministry before they can start offering their services to users in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, critics warned that the regulation poses a threat to freedom of expression and privacy as it allows law enforcers and government agencies to monitor the platforms and order tech firms to remove content deemed as unlawful.

WHAT THE REGULATION IS ABOUT 

Passed in November 2020, the ministerial regulation on Electronic System Operators, known in Indonesia by its abbreviation PSE, requires technology firms to provide a general outline of how their systems work. Companies also need to disclose the type of user personal information that they are storing and processing.

However, the government did not start enforcing this requirement until recently because of the pandemic. 

The communications ministry argues that the regulation is just administrative in nature.

“This is just so that we know who is operating digitally in Indonesia and the type of services they provide. Unless (these companies) are committing a corporate crime, they have nothing to fear,” the ministry’s director general for applied information sciences, Semuel Pangerapan said during a press conference last week.

But the regulation also stipulates that technology firms must provide access to law enforcement and government agencies so they can better monitor their platforms.

Government agencies can also order companies to take down content that is violating Indonesian law or deemed to be “disturbing public order”. Such content needs to be removed between four and 24 hours.

Companies must also agree to provide law enforcement and government agencies with the personal data of specific users on the platforms.

WHY THERE ARE CONCERNS

There have been concerns over the impacts of the regulation.

“We feel that the term ‘disturbing public order’ is too broad … and can be used by government agencies to curb peaceful criticisms directed at the authorities,” advocacy group Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) said in a statement last month.

Technology experts have also expressed the same concerns, saying that the regulation allows the government to invade people’s privacy as it enables enforcement agencies to look at private e-mails, messages and even documents stored on cloud platforms.

“Accessing such information must be done for investigation purposes only and the decision has to be made by a court of law,” Pratama Dahlian Persadha, chairman of research firm Communication and Information System Security Research Center, told CNA on Tuesday.

Currently, the regulation states that such access can be given for “monitoring and law enforcement purposes”. It does not mention the need to secure a court order.

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2022-07-27 10:14:00Z
CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9pbmRvbmVzaWEtdGVjaC1jb21wYW5pZXMtbGljZW5zaW5nLXJlZ3VsYXRpb24tZmFjZWJvb2stZ29vZ2xlLXR3aXR0ZXItMjgzODg4NtIBAA

China Economy Strengthens Despite Housing Mortgage Boycott, Covid Outbreaks - Bloomberg

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1. China Economy Strengthens Despite Housing Mortgage Boycott, Covid Outbreaks  Bloomberg
2. China's economy strengthens in July despite housing,...  Daily Maverick
3. Chinas economy strengthens in July despite housing crisis, covid woes  Business Standard
4. China’s Economy Strengthens in July Despite Housing, Covid Woes  BNN
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2022-07-26 02:23:00Z
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What are those tiny, flaky balls that sometimes form on the skin when you're putting on skincare products? - Channel NewsAsia

If you find your skincare often pilling, perhaps you’re using more products than your skin can handle, and using too much of each type of skincare.

Try paring down your regimen, and using skincare with the same kind of base, like only water-based products or only oils, for example, to reduce chances of flaking. Gently pat in a small amount at a time and put it on in layers, waiting for each layer to absorb, instead of rubbing large portions of it on your skin at one time.

It may also be worth exploring using tools that help in absorption, such as skincare devices and massage tools such as the newly launched Est.Lab LumiGlow SmartSkin Buddy. 

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2022-07-25 22:42:00Z
CBMiUmh0dHBzOi8vY25hbGlmZXN0eWxlLmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vc3R5bGUtYmVhdXR5L3NraW5jYXJlLXRpcHMtcGlsbGluZy0zMTc4NDbSAQA

UK PM hopeful Liz Truss pledges to crack down on Chinese firms like TikTok - The Straits Times

LONDON (BLOOMBERG) - Foreign Secretary Liz Truss pledged to crack down on Chinese-owned companies such as social-media giant TikTok as she traded blows with Rishi Sunak in their first head-to-head debate of the race to succeed Boris Johnson as British prime minister.

"We absolutely should be cracking down on those types of companies, and we should be limiting the amount of technology exports we do to authoritarian regimes," Truss said on Monday (July 25) during the debate on BBC TV.

Truss's comments on TikTok, the popular video-sharing app owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, builds on Sunday's back-and-forth between the two contenders on how to deal with China, with both politicians criticizing each other for their past approaches.

The pair are locked in a six-week runoff to replace Johnson as Conservative Party leader, and spent Monday attacking each other's policy pledges.

The Tory grassroots membership is set to select a winner, with the result due to be announced on Sept 5.

Sunak, who previously served as chancellor, earlier described China as the "biggest long-term threat to Britain and the world's economic and national security," and promised to limit its influence in the UK.

But Truss said Monday that as recently as a month ago, Sunak was pushing for closer trade relationships with China while serving as chancellor.

She said the tougher stance was actually driven by her Foreign Office. "I'm delighted that you've come round to my way of thinking," Truss said.

"Whether it's taking the alternative to the Chinese Belt and Road with our G-7 colleagues, whether it's being clear that Taiwan should be able to defend itself in the face of Chinese aggression - we have led on that, and frankly, what we've heard from the Treasury is a desire for closer economic relations with China."

Sunak countered, pointing to a time when Truss talked about having a "golden era" of relationships with China, with a desire for deeper collaboration on issues like food security and technology.

He cited his work on the National Security and Investment Act, a law which came into force this year and enables the UK government to unpick or block deals deemed to be a national security risk.

But the former chancellor also said he and Truss share more views in common than disagreements, and on China it was clear that whoever becomes the next leader will temper Britain’s previous enthusiasm for links with the world’s most populous nation.

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2022-07-25 21:59:37Z
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Malaysia warns of weaker Q3 palm oil price as Indonesia scraps export levy - CNA

Indonesia this month scrapped its export levy for all palm oil products until Aug 31 following a series of attempt to boost exports and ease high inventories, and is also considering removing a domestic sales rule for exporters.

As a result, average crude palm oil prices for the third quarter are projected to range between 4,800 ringgit (US$1,078.41) and 5,200 ringgit (US$1,168.28) a tonne, also weighed by better production in Malaysia, Zuraida Kamaruddin said.

Prices are expected to rise to 5,000-5,500 ringgit per tonne in the fourth quarter with the resumption of the export levy in Indonesia and an expected decline in production, she added.

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2022-07-25 04:48:00Z
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