USA

Trump blasts proposed U.S. restrictions on sale of jet parts to China

Editorial Bureau February 19, 2020

WASHINGTON- President Donald Trump objected on Tuesday to U.S. proposals that would prevent companies from supplying jet engines and other components to China’s aviation industry and suggested he had instructed his administration not to implement them. In a series of tweets and in

Asia

China races to contain job losses as coronavirus batters economy

Editorial Bureau February 19, 2020

BEIJING- When cameraman Mark Xia returned to his job this month after holidays, the Shanghai video production house where he worked told him to take three months of leave with no pay, as a coronavirus epidemic takes a toll of China’s businesses. Now Xia is looking for a part-time job after the company, with a […]

UK

Johnson on call with China’s Xi; offers sympathies over coronavirus

Editorial Bureau February 19, 2020

LONDON – On Tuesday, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a call with China’s President Xi Jinping and extended his sympathy to the coronavirus outbreak affected. “He offered his sympathies for those affected by the outbreak of coronavirus in China. President Xi thanked the UK for its support and in particular welcomed the donation of vital

Asia

China legal activist who called on Xi to ‘give way’ arrested

Editorial Bureau February 18, 2020

BEIJING- Chinese authorities have arrested a prominent rights activist and legal scholar who had called on President Xi Jinping to step down over his handling of crises including the coronavirus outbreak, two fellow activists said on Monday. Xu Zhiyong had been on the run since December after attending a gathering in the southern city of […]

Finance

China to grant tariff exemptions on additional U.S. goods

Editorial Bureau February 18, 2020

BEIJING – China said on Tuesday it would accept applications for new tariff exemptions for 696 products imported from the United States including key agricultural and energy products such as pork, beef, soybeans, liquefied natural gas and crude oil. The exemptions, the third and the most substantial set to be granted to date by China […]

USA

Americans disembark from virus-hit cruise; China says new cases slow

Editorial Bureau February 17, 2020

SHANGHAI/BEIJING- American passengers were taken off a cruise liner on Sunday to fly home after being quarantined for two weeks off Japan, while China said the rate of new coronavirus cases had slowed, calling that proof its steps to fight the outbreak were working. An announcement aboard the Diamond Princess, where 3,700 passengers and crew […]

Finance

European shares edge higher amid China support measures

Editorial Bureau February 17, 2020

European shares inched higher on Monday as fresh attempts by China to limit the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak helped calm investor nerves. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.3% in early trade, staying slightly below a record high of 432.26 touched last week. Market activity is expected to be light through the rest […]

Asia

Virus deals new blow to Cambodian city bound to China

Editorial Bureau February 17, 2020

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia- An influx of Chinese that some Cambodians resented for bringing noise, dust and chaos to the port of Sihanoukville, is the cause of more pain now that it has gone into reverse. The new coronavirus has meant yet another setback for Sihanoukville after the government last year banned the online gambling that had […]

Business

Oyo says annual loss grew over six-fold on China expansion

Editorial Bureau February 17, 2020

BENGALURU- SoftBank-backed Oyo Hotels and Homes said on Monday losses widened more than six-fold in the year to March 2019, as the India-based hotel chain spent heavily to expand into China. The news comes weeks after Oyo began laying off roughly 2,000 employees in India, as it inches towards profitability, and days after its major […]

Asia

Chinese fast-food companies step up ‘contactless’ pickup, delivery as coronavirus rages

Editorial Bureau February 17, 2020

NEW YORK/BEIJING – With the coronavirus outbreak in China continuing to spread, McDonald’s Corp, Starbucks Corp and other fast-food companies are ramping up “contactless” pickup and delivery services to keep their workers and customers safe, the companies said. McDonald’s has implemented contactless pickup and delivery of Big Macs, fries and