Xi meets Belarusian president
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Beijing, capital of China, June 4, 2025. – Xinhua photo
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong charged under Beijing-imposed security law for second time
Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong did not apply for bail, and the case was adjourned to Aug 8. - Reuters HONG KONG: Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong on Friday (June 6) was charged with conspiracy to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security under a Beijing-imposed law that critics say has crushed Hong Kong's once-thriving pro-democracy movement. The prosecution was the second time Wong has been charged under the sweeping national security law. He was already convicted in a separate subversion case linked to an unofficial primary election and was sentenced last year to four years and eight months in jail for that charge. The prosecution accused Wong, 28, of conspiring with fellow activist Nathan Law and others to ask foreign countries, institutions, organisations or individuals outside of China to impose sanctions or blockades, or engage in other hostile actions, against Hong Kong and China. They also said he disrupted the formulation and implementation of laws and policies by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, and that the act was likely to have serious consequences. The alleged offences occurred between July 2020 and November 2020. The prosecution didn't elaborate on the accusations in court. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. After hearing the charge in court, Wong, who wore a blue shirt and was visibly thinner, said he "understood' the charge. The case was adjourned to August. National security police arrested Wong in Stanley, an area in southern Hong Kong, over the national security charge and also on suspicion of "dealing with property known or believed to represent proceeds of indictable offence," police said in a statement. Wong rose to fame in Hong Kong in 2012 as a high school student leading protests against the introduction of national education in the city's schools. Two years later, he became world famous as a leader of the Occupy Movement. In 2016, Wong co-founded a political party named Demosisto with fellow young activists Law and Agnes Chow In the 2019 pro-democracy movement, Wong helped seek overseas support for the protests. His activism led Beijing to label him an advocate of Hong Kong's independence who "begged for interference' by foreign forces. Demosisto disbanded when Beijing imposed the security law in 2020. The Chinese and Hong Kong governments said the law brought back stability to the city. In 2023, Hong Kong authorities offered rewards of one million Hong Kong dollars (US$127,600) for information leading to the arrests of Law, who moved to Britain, and some other overseas-based activists. - AP
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Vietnam trade surplus with US surges, clouding tariff talks
HANOI: Vietnam's trade surplus with the US expanded sharply in May as exports swelled and its imports from China also jumped, exacerbating sore points with Washington that could hurt Hanoi's efforts to avoid crippling tariffs. Separate trade data from the US also showed Vietnam's surplus overtook Mexico's in April, lagging only China and the European Union. US President Donald Trump has vowed to bring down the US trade deficit and the Southeast Asian country faces one of his highest 'reciprocal' tariffs at 46% if a deal cannot be negotiated before a pause on the levies ends in early July. Despite Hanoi's efforts and pledges to meet Washington's demands, the surplus keeps growing, particularly as exporters rush to get their goods to the US before the tariffs go into effect. The new figures 'may put some clouds in the sky of these negotiations and put pressure on Vietnam to make additional concessions to reach an agreement,' said Leif Schneider, vice-chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam's legal sector committee. The surplus with the US surged to US$12.2 billion (RM52 billion) in May, up nearly 42% from a year earlier and 17% higher than April, Vietnamese government data showed yesterday. Exports to the US also climbed roughly 42% from a year earlier to a post-pandemic high of US$13.8 billion. That stands in contrast to signs that other countries are reining in their exports to the US with the US trade deficit narrowing sharply in April. Schneider noted that while Vietnam's spike in exports was largely due to front-loading ahead of possible tariffs, and represents a short-term inflation of the surplus, Vietnam is in a particularly hard spot because of its limited imports from the US. In the first five months of the year, the surplus hit nearly US$50 billion, up 28.5% and putting Vietnam on track to exceed last year's record surplus. The country's imports from China also posted a post-pandemic record of US$16.2 billion in May, up 21% from a year earlier. Vietnam is home to large manufacturing operations of US multinationals such as Apple, Intel and Nike , and it also hosts numerous Chinese companies, often suppliers to US firms. US officials have repeatedly accused Vietnam of being used as a waypoint for Chinese goods destined for the US. They allege that some goods have 'Made in Vietnam' labels despite having received no or insufficient added value in the country – allowing Chinese exporters to avoid high US duties on their goods. The US has sent a 'long' list of 'tough' requests to Vietnam in its tariff negotiations including demands that could force the country to cut its reliance on Chinese industrial goods imports, two people briefed about the matter have said. Under US pressure, Hanoi has launched a crackdown on illegal transshipments of goods, mostly from China. It has also repeatedly shown its willingness to reduce non-tariff barriers and to import more US goods including US planes, farm products and energy, although no purchase contracts have been announced yet. Vietnam's overall trade figures with the world showed exports in May rose 17% from a year earlier to US$39.6 billion, while imports were up 14% at US$39 billion. Separate government data also out yesterday showed industrial production in May shot up 9.4% from a year earlier, while consumer prices rose 3.24% and retail sales were up 10.2%. Foreign investment inflows for January-May climbed 7.9% to US$8.9 billion. Foreign investment pledges over the period soared 51.2% to US$18.4 billion. – Reuters
Malaysiakini
an hour ago
- Malaysiakini
Dr M's 'leaky umbrella' will not save Malays
COMMENT | For several decades, Malaysians have been bombarded with messages that they are the 'supreme race' (ketuanan Melayu), that they are the rightful owners of this land. And if we are not careful, Malaysia will be 'sold' to the Chinese - not just any old Chinese, but the Singaporean Chinese, as if that was the benchmark for the worst form of Chinese. When the occasion suits the bigots, the Malay population will be told of the threat that Christianity or the Communists will have on them. Their lands will be re-colonised, their language will be banned, and their way of life will be changed beyond recognition. These insecure Malays, whose ages range from their teens to their seventies, and who come from both the rural and urban communities, firmly believe that 'the Chinese will overrun this country'. Somehow, the Indians are not perceived as a threat. When will the Malays understand that the stories about the Chinese taking over are just lies by manipulating leaders?
