World press freedom

Antony J. Blinken of New York speaks during his confirmation hearing to be Secretary of State before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S. Jan. 19, 2021. (Pool via REUTERS / File Photo) WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Sunday the United States is concerned about China’s aggressive actions against Taiwan and warned it would be a “serious mistake” for anyone to try to change the status quo in the Western Pacific by force. “What we’ve seen, and what is of real concern to us, is increasingly aggressive actions by the government in Beijing directed at Taiwan, raising tensions in the Straits,” Blinken said in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Beijing on Thursday blamed the United States for tensions after a U.S. warship sailed close to Taiwan. The United States has a longstanding commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to ensure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself and to sustain peace and ... » Learn More about Blinken warns of China’s ‘increasingly aggressive actions’ against Taiwan

As President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration moves closer to beginning its second year in October, a new Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) poll indicates more Indonesians are satisfied with the government’s performance as they see improvements in four sectors, namely the economy, law, politics and maritime affairs. The number of Indonesians who reported they were satisfied with President Jokowi’s administration climbed from 50.6 percent in 2015 to 66.5 percent in 2016, the findings showed. “The economic sector remains a challenge for the government,” CSIS researcher Arya Fernandes told a press conference on Tuesday. Despite these positive results, confidence in the Indonesian economy is still lacking, with citizens unsure whether the government has managed to boost Indonesia’s economic growth and enhance the country’s investment climate. The number of Indonesians who reported that they were satisfied with the current economic situation stood only at ... » Learn More about Indonesians ‘satisfied’ with govt’s performance: Survey

AUGUSTA, Ga.: Japan's Hideki Matsuyama stormed home in style to put himself in position to become the first Asian golfer to win the Masters as he held a four-shot lead after the rain-interrupted third round at Augusta National on Saturday. Matsuyama, who began the day three shots behind overnight leader Justin Rose, played eight holes after a 78-minute weather delay and went a sizzling six under over that stretch for a seven-under-par 65 that brought him to 11 under. "Before the horn blew I didn't hit a very good drive, but after the horn blew for the restart I hit practically every shot exactly how I wanted to," Matsuyama, whose last PGA Tour win came in 2017, said through an interpreter. "This will be a new experience for me being a leader going into the final round in a major. I guess all I can do is just relax tonight, prepare well and just do my best tomorrow." Rose (72), seeking his first Green Jacket after a pair of close calls, was in a four-way share of second ... » Learn More about Japan’s Matsuyama in control of Masters, leads by four shots

The gender pay gap in Singapore will remain an issue unless social mindsets change, said Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills). "There is still a gap in pay, in the amount of household work that men and women do, and the proportion of senior positions going to men," he said. "I am not sure if those gaps will ever close, unless there is a shift in social norms and in the expectations placed on women." Mr Ong was speaking at Snow (Say No to the Oppression of Women), the Singapore Committee for UN Women's annual gala fund-raising dinner at Capella Singapore yesterday. The organisation launched the #stoptherobbery campaign, which will raise awareness of the gender pay gap here through various events. For instance, it hopes to work with the Singapore Exchange on the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality initiative. The Straits Times had reported last month that the median gross monthly income of women was 19 per cent lower than men's in 2006. ... » Learn More about Mindsets must shift to close gender pay gap

In the last four years, the proportion of women on the boards of Singapore's top 100 listed companies doubled to 15 per cent. While a "good achievement", it is hardly enough, President Halimah Yacob said at the Istana yesterday, as she announced the formation of a new council to get more women on the boards of organisations. Madam Halimah will be the patron of the Council for Board Diversity, which will be co-chaired by Mr Loh Boon Chye, chief executive officer of the Singapore Exchange (SGX), and Mrs Mildred Tan, chairman of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). The council consisting of 20 members - nine men and 11 women - used to be known as the Diversity Action Committee (DAC), which was formed in 2014 and focused on SGX-listed companies. It will have an expanded scope to look into female representation on the boards of organisations in the public sector and people sector, which includes non-governmental organisations, voluntary welfare organisations and ... » Learn More about New council aims to get more women on boards

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said Thursday (Friday in Manila) she is confident the United States will soon reach an agreement to provide another cash infusion to the ailing economy. “Let’s see how quickly it would be deployed, but I have no doubt it will be deployed, because it is necessary before the end of the year,” Georgieva said during a debate on the global economy. The comments came amid the persistent gridlock in Washington between President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders over how much to spend and where to direct resources to boost the world’s largest economy. Treasury Secreatary Steven Mnuchin said again Thursday that a deal is unlikely before the November 3 presidential election, but that negotiations would continue with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The stakes are high, with implications both for the global economy and millions of Americans facing job losses and bankruptcy. As the pandemic took hold, the US Congress in late March passed a $2.2 trillion rescue ... » Learn More about US to impose more stimulus soon – IMF

IT is journalistically difficult to avoid remarking on the hospitalization for Covid of Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. and its statics. On the one hand, we want to leave the man and his family in equanimity as he battles to recover from his infection with SARS CoV-2. The ordeal will keep him busy enough. On other hand, he has insisted on being the one to announce to the nation the new round of classifications and restrictions under community quarantine during the pandemic. He won’t let go. To Roque’s credit, it was he and not a government factotum who announced the news of his illness and hospitalization. He held an online press briefing while on self-quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19 to announce the news. He said, “I am now admitted in a hospital for Covid treatment. This is to say that Covid-19 is more transmissible now so we have to [take] extra precaution.” “I am asking for your sincerest prayers to all afflicted with Covid- 19 in the country and around ... » Learn More about The bizarre saga of Secretary Harry Roque’s hospitalization

NUNHEAD: Consultant Rachel Watson enjoys being based at her home that looks onto the London skyline but misses the office vibe. She will soon get the best of both worlds as Britain’s coronavirus lockdown eases. United Kingdom businesses are planning for a hybrid or flexible workplace, splitting time between home and offices when the latest restrictions are finally relaxed in June. Watson worked mostly in London’s City finance district, for corporate procurement specialists Proxima, until the Covid-19 pandemic erupted one year ago and turned the area into a ghost town. The 34-year-old Scot now works for Proxima from the apartment she shares with pet beagle Kobe in the south London suburb of Nunhead, six miles (9.6 kilometers) from the office, with a window view of London’s Shard skyscraper. “I do enjoy working from home in terms of having more of a work-life balance — being able to spend more time in my community, being able to switch off work and be in your home — and I don’t ... » Learn More about Post-Covid era of hybrid work beckons in the United Kingdom