Thousands of UK small businesses ‘can’t repay Covid loans’ August 10, 2021 Thousands of SMEs that received government Covid loans and the furlough scheme can now not make repayments amid limited cash flow, a survey of small businesses out today shows. The survey projected 59 per cent of SMEs in the UK, amounting to around 3.5m businesses, used government loans or furlough schemes during the pandemic. The [...]
Chinese social media giant Weibo’s ex-PR director arrested on bribery charge August 10, 2021 Chinese authorities have arrested today a top communications director at Chinese social media giant Weibo accused of taking bribes. Mao Taotao, former senior public relations director at Weibo, was detained by police on suspicion of accepting bribes and committing fraud. Weibo, part-owned by e-commerce giant Alibaba Groups, said the company had fired Mao and will [...]
Hong Kong leader backs to adopt China anti-sanctions law August 10, 2021 Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said today she supports implementing China’s anti-foreign sanctions law in the city through local legislation. At her weekly press conference, Lam said she supports Beijing’s law to be listed in the annex of Hong Kong’s mini-constitution known as the Basic Law. “We will do its utmost to fulfil its [...]
Long Covid cure? Researchers to trial traditional Indian herb treatment August 10, 2021 The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will work with the All India Institute of Ayurveda to determine whether a traditional Indian herb can help people recover from long Covid. Ashwagandha, commonly known as Indian winter cherry, is traditionally used in the Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine to boost energy, reduce stress and strengthen [...]
China court rejects Canadian citizen’s death sentence appeal August 10, 2021 A Chinese court has upheld today a death sentence against Canadian citizen Robert Schellenberg for drug smuggling. Schellenberg has been detained in China since 2014 after he was accused of drug smuggling. In December 2018, he was sentenced to 15 years in jail and he appealed for a retrial. But the Dalian intermediate people’s court [...]
Alibaba fires manager accused of sexual assault August 9, 2021 Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group said today it had fired a manager over suspected sexual assault. The firm has also promised policies to prevent sexual harassment in the office but was criticised by state media for no action until the accuser went public. Over the weekend, a female staff posted an 11-page account on Alibaba’s [...]
Chinese dairy manufacturer shares tumbled amid Beijing’s crackdown fears August 9, 2021 Infant formula milk makers have joined the growing list of stocks hurt by Beijing’s regulatory risk after state media urged supervision of milk powder marketing. Chinese state-run Xinhua Agency reported last Thursday that some experts have been concerned about the marketing of infant formula milk that made mothers choose milk powder over breastfeeding, urging the [...]
Chinese spies ‘try to enter UK’ via Hong Kong visa scheme August 9, 2021 UK security officials are reportedly concerned China is sending spies to enter the UK through the British National (Overseas) visa scheme designed for Hong Kong residents. Chinese spies are trying to take advantage of the scheme and posing as refugees in an attempt to enter Britain, according to a report in the Times. Government sources [...]
China blasts US over ‘safe haven’ scheme for Hong Kong residents August 9, 2021 China has condemned the Biden administration for offering temporary “safe haven” status to Hong Kong residents in the US. China’s foreign ministry and the Hong Kong and Macau affairs office both issued statements on Sunday, which was the second time Beijing has criticised the move in two days. US President Joe Biden signed a memorandum [...]
China tech crackdown: From Jack Ma’s disappearance to online tutoring debacle August 5, 2021 Chinese technology giants once seemed untouchable, with billions of profits through aggressive expansion. But that status is now more uncertain after a year of Beijing’s sweeping regulatory crackdowns that have spread like wildfire across sectors. The saga started last October when Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, who founded e-commerce behemoth Alibaba, criticised China for lacking a [...]