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August
Australia PM focussed on workplace reform as he marks 100 days in office
Written by Nur Yasmin
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government was focussed on jobs and workplace reform as the country faces economic challenges in the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a speech in Canberra to mark 100 days of Labor government, Albanese said his government had a growth agenda that was pro-business and pro-worker.
A government-hosted jobs summit this week will bring together key employer and union groups to discuss wages growth, productivity, migration and workplace reform.
"The biggest single outcome I am hoping for is the beginning of a culture of cooperation," Albanese told the National Press Club on Monday.
Albanese said widespread skills shortages were acting as a handbrake on the economy, and it was unwise for the previous government to tell temporary visa holders to leave Australia during the pandemic as borders closed.
In addition to discussions on lifting Australia's migration intake, the government would look at creating "more paths to permanent migration" to attract foreign workers back in areas including nursing and engineering, he said.
The government's immediate priority is shoring up the economy to give families and businesses security and certainty, he said.
"Australia is already in the 'recovery' phase - and that's presenting its own economic challenges. Including significant and unpredictable supply and demand imbalances which are driving up costs, for businesses and families."
The pandemic was a race that Australia wasn't ready for, he said.
"We were left vulnerable – not just by complacency and a failure to plan, but by years of cuts and wilful neglect to the very services and skills we needed most. We found ourselves economically exposed, hanging on the end of the global supply chain."
Nurses, teachers and aged care workers were exhausted by the pandemic and there was a need to boost employment in these sectors for the decade ahead, he said.
Many industries and small businesses in hospitality, tourism and education were also struggling to reboot.
Albanese criticised the record of the conservative former government's nine years in power, including "chaos" in energy policy and stagnant wages.
He highlighted the action his government had already taken on climate change, its decision to hold a national referendum seeking approval to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution, and its support for raising the minimum wage.
Australia's central bank warned this month inflation was heading to three-decade highs requiring further hikes in interest rates that would slow growth sharply. (Reuters)
August
Singapore introduces new work visa rules to woo foreign talent
Written by Nur Yasmin
Singapore on Monday announced new work visa rules to woo foreign talent as the Asian financial hub looks to bolster its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The measures include a new five-year visa for people earning at least S$30,000 ($21,445.42) a month that allows holders to job for multiple companies at one time and grants their spouses eligibility to work.
The new visa will be available from January.
Singapore, a popular location for foreign firms to base their regional headquarters, tightly controlled its borders during the pandemic, leading many expatriates to leave and its population to drop for the first time in nearly two decades.
"We cannot leave any room for investors to doubt or have questions as to whether Singapore remains open," Tan See Leng, the city-state's manpower minister, told a news conference.
"As a country with little or no resources, talent is our only resource and talent acquisition is an offensive strategy for us," he added.
Among the other measures, some tech professionals whose skills are in short supply will from September 2023 be eligible for five-year visas, up from a two- to three-years currently. The processing time for employment passes - typically granted to high-paid professionals - will be also be immediately reduced to 10 days. (Reuters)
August
Sri Lanka's president to cut spending in interim budget
Written by Nur Yasmin
Sri Lanka's president is set to slash expenditure when he presents an interim budget on Tuesday to see the crisis-ridden country through the rest of the year, amid discussions with the International Monetary Fund on a bailout package.
The tourism-dependent nation of 22 million is facing its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, with foreign exchange reserves crashing, public finances in a mess and the costs of basic goods rocketing.
Having become president after his predecessor was ousted in a popular uprising in July, Ranil Wickremesinghe told Reuters earlier this month that the interim budget would focus on fiscal consolidation measures agreed with the IMF.
He said that expenditure would be slashed by a "few hundred billion" rupees, including on defence, to channel funds for welfare and to repay interest on loans. Sri Lanka aimed for 3.9 trillion rupees ($10.99 billion) expenditure in its last budget, presented in November.
Wickremesinghe, who is also the finance minister, is expected to outline measures to support low income communities worst hit by the financial crisis and announce fresh taxes to shrink a double digit deficit.
A full-year budget for 2023 is likely to be presented in November, where a broader recovery plan will be outlined.
"The interim budget will likely aim for a 9.9% deficit for 2022, which is lower than the earlier 12%," said Lakshini Fernando, macroeconomist at investment firm Asia Securities.
"But expenditure and revenue targets will be difficult to achieve given the cooling economy and welfare demands."
The island nation missed interest payments due on June 3, June 28, and July 18, and a principal payment due on July 25, according to rating agency S&P Global.
An IMF team that arrived in the country last week concludes its visit on Wednesday, with Sri Lankan officials saying they expect to have a staff-level agreement in place to advance talks for an emergency loan of around $3 billion.
The IMF team has also discussed restructuring Sri Lanka's debt of about $29 billion. (Reuters)
August
Russia says it hopes IAEA mission to Ukraine nuclear plant will dispel misconceptions -RIA
Written by Nur Yasmin
A top Russian diplomat said on Monday that Moscow hoped that a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine would dispel misconceptions about its allegedly poor state.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog said earlier on Monday that it would inspect the plant this week and that an IAEA team was en route to the facility which has become the focus of international concern with both Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of imperilling its safety.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to the international organisations in Vienna, was quoted by the RIA news agency as saying that Russia had worked hard to help make the visit possible and understood that the IAEA wanted to leave some of its staff at the plant on a permanent basis.
"We hope that the visit of the IAEA mission to the station will dispel numerous speculation about the (allegedly) unfavourable state of affairs at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," Ulyanov was cited as saying.
Russia seized the plant, Europe's biggest, in early March as part of what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainian staff continue to work there to keep things going.
Russia and Ukraine have for weeks traded accusations of shelling in the plant's vicinity, fuelling fears of a radiation disaster.
Kyiv, which says it is defending itself from an imperial-style war of aggression, has accused Russian forces of using it as a military base and as a location from which to strike Ukrainian towns with artillery, knowing it will be hard for Kyiv to return fire.
Russia has rejected those allegations, while confirming it does have a military presence at the power plant which it says is to safeguard its security.
Russia has in turn accused Ukraine of intensifying shelling near the facility in recent days, something Kyiv denies.
A Russian-installed official in the Zaporizhzhia region said earlier on Monday that Moscow would ensure the safety of the IAEA inspectors, who are expected to arrive later this week. (Reuters)
August
China's Shenzhen shuts electronics market to fight COVID outbreak
Written by Nur Yasmin
Authorities in China's southern city of Shenzhen shut the world's largest electronics market of Huaqiangbei and suspended service at 24 subway stations on Monday in a bid to curb an outbreak of COVID-19.
Three key buildings in the sprawling area, comprised of thousands of stalls selling microchips, telephone parts, and other components to manufacturers, will stay closed until Sept 2.
Local community officials confirmed Monday's closure to Reuters, while three people working there said building managers had told them to work from home.
Subway services at 24 stations in the central districts of Futian and Luohu were also halted, according to official local media.
In Futian, the seat of the city government, officials announced that cinemas, karaoke bars and parks would be closed and large public events cancelled until Sept 2.
COVID-19-related border closures have hurt Huaqiangbei, which before the pandemic bustled with foreign entrepreneurs looking to source components in China.
On Monday, the tech hub of nearly 18 million people reported nine symptomatic and two asymptomatic cases from testing the previous day.
COVID-19 testing has become a feature of daily life in the city, with most public spaces and offices needing proof of a test within 48 hours for entry, or within 24 hours in areas deemed high risk.
While the city has avoided a blanket closures since a week-long lockdown in March, residents of individual compounds have undergone week-long quarantines when positive cases have been detected.
On Monday morning Wanxia urban village, which provides cheap accommodation to thousands of low-wage workers like delivery drivers and labourers, was sealed off as a COVID-19 prevention measure, though no positive cases were reported there.
China reported 1,696 new COVID-19 infections on Aug. 28, of which 352 were symptomatic and 1,344 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Monday. (Reuters)
August
Russia says it shot down Ukrainian drone near Zaporizhzhia nuclear station
Written by Nur Yasmin
Russia's defence ministry said on Monday Russian forces shot down a Ukrainian drone which was trying to attack the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
The defence ministry said the drone was shot down by Russian troops placed on the roof of one of the buildings of the nuclear plant on Sunday. It said there was no serious damage and radiation levels were normal.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the report.
Both Russia and Ukraine have denied shelling the Zaporizhzhia plant in recent weeks, while each accusing the other of doing so.
The United Nations nuclear watchdog on Monday sent a mission of inspectors to the plant, which has been under Russian control since March. (Reuters)
August
Germany's Scholz backs EU enlargement to include Ukraine, others
Written by Nur Yasmin
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Monday for an enlargement of the European Union to eventually include Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and said a gradual transition to majority voting was a stepping stone to growing the bloc.
Faced with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Scholz urged the EU's 27 members to "close ranks, resolve old conflicts and find new solutions" and said Germany would keep up its support for Kyiv "for as long as it takes".
PRAGUE, Aug 29 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Monday for an enlargement of the European Union to eventually include Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, and said a gradual transition to majority voting was a stepping stone to growing the bloc.
Faced with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Scholz urged the EU's 27 members to "close ranks, resolve old conflicts and find new solutions" and said Germany would keep up its support for Kyiv "for as long as it takes".
In a speech entitled "Europe is our future", he said "we must bring the clout of our united Europe much more strongly to bear ... Europe is our future. And that future is in our hands."
Scholz underlined Germany's commitment to EU enlargement, stressing that the countries of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and eventually also Georgia should join the bloc.
However, "in this expanded Union, the differences between the member states will grow as far as political interests, economic clout and social security systems are concerned", he said.
"Where unanimity is required today, the risk of an individual country using its veto and preventing all the others from forging ahead increases with each additional member state," Scholz added.
"I have therefore proposed a gradual transition to majority voting in common foreign policy, but also in other areas, such as tax policy – knowing full well that this would also have repercussions for Germany," he said.
Germany will send weapons to Kyiv in the coming weeks, Scholz added in his speech to the Charles University.
Apart from sending advanced air defence, radar systems or drones, Germany could assume special responsibility in terms of building up Ukraine's artillery and air defence capacities, Scholz said. (Reuters)
August
Taliban accuses Pakistan of allowing U.S. drones to use its airspace
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Taliban's acting defence minister said on Sunday that Pakistan had allowed U.S. drones to use its airspace to access Afghanistan, which Pakistan's foreign minister denied.
Pakistani authorities have previously denied involvement in or advanced knowledge of a drone strike the United States said it carried out in Kabul in July that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Afghan Acting Minister of Defence Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob told a news conference in Kabul that American drones had been entering Afghanistan via Pakistan.
"According to our information the drones are entering through Pakistan to Afghanistan, they use Pakistan's airspace, we ask Pakistan, don't use your airspace against us," he said.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment.
Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari told Reuters he had made checks after the air strike and had been told that Pakistani airspace was not used. He said he would check again after Sunday's allegations but expected the position to be the same.
"I really don't believe that this is a time that I wish to get into a debate with anyone or to have accusations ... frankly, I'm focused on the flood relief efforts," Bhutto-Zardari said in an interview, referring to deadly floods in Pakistan that have left millions of people homeless.
"The Afghan regime has promised not only to its own people, but to the international community, that they will not allow their soil to be used for terrorists," he said.
Pakistan's foreign ministry released a statement saying it noted Yaqoob's comments with "deep concern".
"In the absence of any evidence, as acknowledged by the Afghan Minister himself, such conjectural allegations are highly regrettable and defy the norms of responsible diplomatic conduct," the statement said.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said the Taliban "grossly violated" a 2020 agreement on the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces from Afghanistan by hosting and sheltering Zawahiri.
The Taliban said it is investigating the July air strike and that it has not found the al Qaeda leader's body.
Yaqoob's comments could exacerbate tension between Afghanistan and its neighbour at a time when the Afghan Taliban is mediating talks between Pakistan and a Pakistani Taliban militant group.
Afghanistan, which is undergoing an acute economic crisis, also relies heavily on trade with Pakistan. (Reuters)
August
France's Macron: Meeting soon to discuss new European political community
Written by Nur Yasmin
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said there will be a first meeting in Prague in coming weeks to discuss creating a new European political community to address political and security-related challenges facing the continent. (Reuters)
August
Kremlin says world needs to pressure Ukraine over Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Written by Nur Yasmin
The Kremlin called on the international community on Monday to put pressure on Ukraine to reduce military tension at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, accusing Kyiv of endangering Europe ahead of a visit to the facility by the U.N. nuclear watchdog.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said earlier on Monday that it would inspect the plant this week and that an IAEA team was en route to the facility, which has become the focus of international concern with both Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of imperilling its safety.
The facility, Europe's largest, is manned by Ukrainian staff and connected to Ukraine's power grid. Russian forces took control of it in early March as part of what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Both Russia and Ukraine have denied shelling the Zaporizhzhia plant in recent weeks, while each accusing the other of doing so.
"Pressure on the Ukrainian side to stop shelling can reduce military tension," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a conference call with reporters when asked what Moscow would like to see done to de-escalate the situation at the power station.
"All countries are obliged to put pressure on Ukraine so that it stops exposing the European continent to danger," he added.
Peskov said Moscow welcomed the upcoming mission and was ready to cooperate with the IAEA.
However, he said Russia was not talking about the possibility of creating a demilitarised zone at the plant - something the United States has urged it to do. (Reuters)