China warns proposed TikTok ban will 'come back to bite' US - CNA

BEIJING: Beijing warned on Wednesday (Mar 13) that a proposed ban on Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok would "inevitably come back to bite the United States".

The US House of Representatives is set to vote later Wednesday on a Bill that would force the app to cut ties with its Chinese owner or get banned in the United States.

The legislation is the biggest threat yet to the video-sharing app, which has surged to huge popularity across the world while raising fears among governments and security officials over its Chinese ownership and potential subservience to the Communist Party in Beijing.

Ahead of the vote, foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin condemned the proposed ban.

"Although the United States has never found evidence that TikTok threatens US national security, it has not stopped suppressing TikTok," he said.

"This kind of bullying behaviour that cannot win in fair competition disrupts companies' normal business activity, damages the confidence of international investors in the investment environment, and damages the normal international economic and trade order," he added.

"In the end, this will inevitably come back to bite the United States itself," Wang said.

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2024-03-13 08:42:00Z
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Biden, Trump clinch nominations, kicking off bruising presidential rematch - The Straits Times

This will be the first US presidential election rematch in nearly 70 years. PHOTOS: AFP, REUTERS

WASHINGTON - United States President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump both clinched their parties’ nomination on March 12, kicking off the first US presidential election rematch in nearly 70 years.

Mr Biden needed 1,968 delegates to win the nomination, and he passed that number on the night of March 12 as results began to come in from the primary contest in Georgia, Edison Research said.

Results were also coming in from Mississippi, Washington state, the Northern Mariana Islands and Democrats living abroad.

Hours later, Trump clinched the 1,215 delegates required to secure the Republican presidential nomination as four states held contests, including Georgia, the battleground where Trump faces criminal charges for his efforts to overturn the state’s 2020 results.

There were 161 delegates at stake on March 12 in Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington state.

Mr Biden, 81, issued a statement after he sealed the Democratic nomination, taking aim at what he called Trump’s “campaign of resentment, revenge, and retribution that threatens the very idea of America”.

“Voters now have a choice to make about the future of this country. Are we going to stand up and defend our democracy or let others tear it down? Will we restore the right to choose and protect our freedoms or let extremists take them away?” he said.

The outcome of March 12’s voting was essentially predetermined, after Trump’s last remaining rival for the Republican nomination, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, ended her presidential campaign following Trump’s dominant performance last week on Super Tuesday, when he won 14 of 15 state contests.

In a video posted on social media, Trump said there was no time to celebrate, and instead put the focus on beating Mr Biden, whom he called the “worst” president in US history.

“We’re going to drill, baby, drill. We’re going to close our borders. We’re going to do things like nobody has ever seen before. And we’re going to make our nation’s economy be the best ever in the world,” said Trump.

Mr Biden, meanwhile, faced only token opposition in the Democratic primary campaign, though liberal activists frustrated by his support for Israel’s war in Gaza have convinced a sizeable minority of Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in protest.

Both men have already turned their attention to the Nov 5 general election, holding duelling rallies in Georgia on March 16.

In Rome, Georgia, Trump, 77, again repeated his false claim that the 2020 election was fraudulent and accused the Fulton County attorney, Ms Fani Willis, of prosecuting him for political reasons.

He also attacked Mr Biden for failing to stem the flow of migrants at the US southern border, an issue he intends to keep front and centre throughout the campaign, as he did in 2020.

The Biden campaign launched a more aggressive phase on March 8, announcing Mr Biden would tour several battleground states amid a US$30 million (S$40 million) ad buy.

The campaign said it raised US$10 million in the 24 hours after Mr Biden’s State of the Union speech, adding to Democrats’ financial edge over Republicans.

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Trump wins Michigan, Missouri and Idaho caucuses in dominant show of force

Voters unenthusiastic

The last repeat presidential match-up took place in 1956, when Republican President Dwight Eisenhower defeated former Illinois governor Adlai Stevenson, a Democrat, for the second time.

In 2024, voters have expressed little enthusiasm for a repeat of the bitter 2020 election, with Reuters/Ipsos public polls showing both Mr Biden and Trump are unpopular with the majority of voters.

Trump’s myriad criminal charges – he faces 91 felony counts across four separate indictments – could harm his standing among the suburban, well-educated voters whose support he has historically struggled to garner.

He is scheduled to become the first former American president to go on trial in a criminal case on March 25 in New York, where he faces charges he falsified business records to hide hush money payments to a porn star.

The most serious case against him is generally thought to be the federal indictment in Washington DC, accusing him of plotting to reverse the 2020 election.

But the case is on hold after the US Supreme Court agreed to hear Trump’s claim of presidential immunity, and it is unclear whether a trial can take place before Election Day.

Mr Biden has been dogged by the perception among a majority of voters that he is too old to serve a second four-year term, though allies believe his fiery State of the Union address may serve to counter that notion.

The ongoing crisis at the US-Mexico border, where an influx of migrants has overwhelmed the system, is another weakness for Mr Biden.

He has sought to transfer the blame to Trump after the former president urged congressional Republicans to kill a bipartisan border security Bill that would have stepped up enforcement.

The economy, as always, will be a central campaign issue.

Mr Biden has presided over an expanding economy, with inflationary pressure easing and stocks hitting all-time highs.

But polls show Americans unwilling to credit the president and frustrated about high prices of items like food in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. REUTERS

More On This Topic

Biden takes on Trump over Russia, democracy in fiery State of the Union address

Trump challenges Biden to debate ‘any time, anywhere’

• Joe Biden
• Donald Trump
• US presidential election 2024
• United States
• US politics

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2024-03-13 04:36:00Z
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Indonesia's Anies plans to contest presidential poll result in top court - CNA

Anies, former governor of Jakarta, said he plans to file a complaint after official results are announced but did not provide other details.

"We plan to file to (the Constitutional Court) for sure but the content is not something that we can disclose," he told reporters.

The move comes as parties supporting Anies and Pranowo gear up to launch a parliamentary investigation into the government's conduct in the lead-up to voting day and alleged election violations.

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2024-03-13 06:17:00Z
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Chinese nationals make up about 44% of active pass holders for Malaysia's retirement residency visa scheme: Minister - CNA

SINGAPORE: There are over 56,000 active pass holders – comprising principals and dependents - under Malaysia’s retirement residency visa scheme as of Jan 31 of this year, with Chinese nationals forming the bulk of them.

Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Tiong King Sing on Monday (Mar 11) said that Chinese nationals form the largest number of active pass holders under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) scheme at 24,765. This accounts for about 44 per cent of the total number of active pass holders.

This was then followed by those from Australia (9,265), South Korea (4,940), Japan (4,733), Bangladesh (3,604) and the United Kingdom (2,234), reported the Malay Mail.

Separately, there are over 1,000 active MM2H pass holders from Taiwan, the United States, Singapore as well as India.

Mr Tiong was responding to a parliamentary question from Mr Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah, who had asked the minister on the latest MM2H figures as well as the Malaysian government’s plan to improve the programme.

“(The Tourism Ministry), together with the Home Ministry and the Immigration Department, are in the midst of refining and detailing each proposal to improve the requirements of the programme taking into account input and feedback from stakeholders and industry players, so that the number of participants can be increased, encouraging the arrival of tourists and foreign investors to Malaysia,” said Mr Tiong, according to The Star.

In December last year, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture unveiled a revamped version of the MM2H programme, introducing a three-tiered structure along with updated financial requirements.

The revised guideline outlined several changes to the eligibility criteria, including the fixed deposit amount needed for the lowest-tier category as well as the minimum age of applicants.

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2024-03-12 09:51:00Z
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UK government ramps up efforts to curb immigration numbers ahead of upcoming general election - CNA

A WAITING GAME

Applying for asylum is a waiting game, and many refugees who arrive in the UK live in uncertainty for years. 

For instance, one Ethiopian asylum seeker, known only as Abiwot, told CNA that although his asylum claim was recently approved, he is unable to find a job until he receives an identity card.

He currently lives off a government handout.

Abiwot had fled civil war in his home country back in 2021, making his way to France before travelling by a small boat to the UK.

“I get like £48 (US$61.53) to £49 weekly. I just prepare myself, I just cook myself and I serve out my life. That’s good, but it’s really boring, because you always sit, you are not allowed to work, you cannot go anywhere,” he told CNA.

“But it’s fine. I don’t blame this government, because so many asylums are coming, I know.”

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2024-03-12 03:48:28Z
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Singaporeans among those killed, injured in Sabah crash - CNA

The tour van driver, a 42-year-old Malaysian man, and four Singaporean passengers were seriously injured and taken to Tawau Hospital, said Mohd Farhan. 

Semporna Fire and Rescue Station chief Mazlan Sarman said in an earlier statement that an 11-year-old girl was among the injured passengers. 

The trailer driver, a 29-year-old Malaysian man, was unhurt. He was later arrested to assist with investigations. 

Photos released by the Semporna fire and rescue department show the overturned tour van, with its windscreen shattered and roof partially crushed. 

The impact of the collision also caused debris to fly into the glass screen of a box truck that was travelling behind the trailer.

CNA has contacted Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information.

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2024-03-12 00:22:00Z
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Chinese Man in Sarawak Marries 2 Women at the Same Time & M'sians are Wondering, Can Meh? - WORLD OF BUZZ

Polygamy, or more accurately polygyny (where a man can take up to 4 wives), is legal in Malaysia. Though, this is more so legal for the Muslim community in our country.

But, what if a Malaysian from the non-Muslim community wants to marry more than 1 woman?

Netizen, 小安娜, took to her Facebook page to showcase a Chinese wedding celebration between a man and 2 women in Kuching, Sarawak, which has left Malaysians baffled.

She wrote, “Congratulations to the groom and the 2 brides! I wish you 3 to have love forever as you grow old together.”

In the images showcased, the groom and his 2 brides could be seen as they celebrated their wedding ceremony together.

From pouring the champagne tower to cutting the wedding cake, the trio did it all together.

While many congratulated the newly married trio, others have since taken to the post to simply question, can meh? 

“In Malaysia, a Chinese person can marry 2 (wives)?”

“Is it legal in Malaysia? I am curious to know, is the wedding room at night for a group of 3, isn’t that too much?”

“They’re filming a movie, right? It’s impossible to be allowed to have 2 wives, the law doesn’t allow it.”

“The law allows for 2 (wives)?”

Many have also speculated that the groom and his brides might not have registered their marriage or might not be Malaysians, which then could allow them to be together as they please.

Either way, we wish them a happy married life!

What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.

Also read: M’sians are Allegedly Marrying 4 Wives Just to Use Their Names as Proxies for Govt Tender Bids

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2024-03-12 02:22:24Z
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