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MANILA: Security issues in the disputed South China Sea helped convince the Philippines to delay quitting a key military pact with the United States, the nation's envoy to Washington said Wednesday (Jun 3). The government of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced Tuesday it had suspended plans to cancel the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), a deal that is important to Washington's moves to counter Beijing's rising regional power. Duterte has cosied up to China in search of trade and investment, sparking US concern that its long-time ally and former colony would change sides in a strategic boost to Beijing. "Because of security issues ... in that part of the world (South China Sea), both our governments have seen it would be prudent for us to simply suspend any implementation ...

related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. 2 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. SINGAPORE: The economic challenges Singapore faces underscore the need for the country to strengthen its social compact and make sure no one is left behind, said Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday (Jun 17). While the COVID-19 pandemic has hit economies hard around the world, it also has “the makings of a profound social crisis”, Mr Tharman said in a televised speech. “The economic dangers we now face compel us to fortify our society, and reinforce the strengths that we have developed over many years,” he said. “Singapore cannot defy the global economic downturn. But we must absolutely defy the loss of social cohe...

BEIJING: Four people were killed and another 23 injured when an earthquake shook southwestern China's Yunnan province, local authorities said on Tuesday (May 19). The shallow quake in Qiaojia county struck late on Monday evening, the Yunnan government said in a statement on its social media account. Advertisement Advertisement Video clips on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo showed shoppers taking cover in a store as boxes flew off the shelves, while students in a classroom elsewhere scrambled to hide under their desks before covering their heads with textbooks. The quake hit near the city of Zhaotong, with a population of over six million, and registered 5.0-magnitude, according to China's government seismology authority. Around 600 rescue workers have been sent to the disaster ...

related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. 3 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. In the eastern Chinese city of Yuyao, a group of five face-masked workers at a Geely auto plant, stood almost shoulder to shoulder behind an SUV as they conducted paint and other quality checks. YUYAO, China/SHANGHAI: In the eastern Chinese city of Yuyao, a group of five face-masked workers at a Geely auto plant, stood almost shoulder to shoulder behind an SUV as they conducted paint and other quality checks. That scene would not have been possible a month ago. Advertisement Advertisement But Reuters visits to six factories including those operated by Daimler AG's China venture and Japanese chipmaker Renesas Electronics showed manu...

With the current economic downturn casting wide uncertainty about the future, it's no secret that banks are becoming more strict about who they approve for new credit cards. If you have recently applied for a credit card, you might have been asked to submit additional employment verification or show more documentation of your income. "Applying for new credit today is different than it was just a short time ago," says Jim Triggs, president and CEO of nonprofit credit counseling agency Money Management International, Inc (MMI). With lenders scrutinizing potential borrowers more than they did before the pandemic, he suggests being ready. "Consumers need to be prepared to be declined for new credit if they show any risk at all — like late payments, maxed out credit cards or potentially the fac...