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SEOUL – Five South Koreans have died in the last two days after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca, sparking a presidential response and contributed to rising global concerns about the dose. The presidential spokesperson said President Moon Jae-in may well take an AstraZeneca shot before heading for the G7 summit in the United […]

In February, China’s President Xi Jinping announced a large and bold plan for a nationwide basically all-encompassing welfare system, arguing it is a crucial issue for state stability “是治国安邦的大问题.” It is a correct assessment because if there is no social security there will be a potential army with nothing to lose that will feel cast out […]

The global semiconductor shortage is starting to dent the world’s automakers where it hurts — in the pocket book. General Motors announced this week it is extending temporary shutdowns at three of its North American plants due to the ongoing chip shortage, which is expected to shed billions off automakers’ earnings in 2021, CNBC reported. The decision to extend […]

This week the United States and European Union issued sanctions on Russian individuals in response to the attempted assassination and subsequent jailing of high-profile opposition leader Alexei Navalny. These penalties aim to win the release of a bold and principled man from jail. They won’t likely work, though. For one thing, Russia has proven its […]

Candidates for Legislative Council and chief executive elections in Hong Kong will not only face high-standard national security checks but also have to fulfil complicated nomination requirements. The number of members in the Election Committee that selects the chief executive will increase to 1,500 from 1,200, several Hong Kong media reported on Friday, citing unnamed […]