Bar Assoc. says Hong Kong introduced equivalent of ‘political screening behind closed doors’ for election candidates

Currently, under the Hong Kong electoral process, Legco candidates are required to fulfill a screening process through election officials. What they are screening for is not clear and the only explanation given to the public is that they are making sure that they are “upholding Basic Law,” Hong Kong’s constitution. The Hong Kong Bar Association asserts that this is the “equivalent to the introduction of a political screening process.” Recently, Agnes Chow (see previous news post for further details), was barred from running under one of these closed door interview.

Agnes Chow

“This regrettably is equivalent to the introduction of a political screening process for any prospective candidate, and there is no fair, open, certain and clear procedure to regulate this process; nor any timely remedy against an adverse decision of the Returning Officer, resulting in an indefinite duration of disqualification of the persons concerned.”

“It is particularly worrying that the requirement of ‘upholding the Basic Law’ is a vague and imprecise political concept, which has now to be interpreted and administered by a civil servant under a closed door inquiry.” – HKBA

It is currently within the rules to assess a candidate on issues outside of the nomination form as well as respond to any other materials requested by the election officer.

Within the article the HKBA is cited repeatedly, additionally other Hong Kong Free Press articles are cited. HKFP is considered more liberal of the two leading Hong Kong English language news papers (the other being South China Morning Post) and is not owned by a Beijing conglomerate as SCMP is.

Bar associations are not politically motivated, as such, it is interesting to hear perspectives from “outside sources” concerned with Hong Kong rights. As China lays more pressure upon Hong Kong, issues such as these are especially sensitive to the population. The HKBA is concerned with the legal rights of its people, being that people under democracy should have the right to run for office, but any opinion beyond that is not clear.

Cheng, Kris. “Bar Assoc. says Hong Kong introduced equivalent of ‘political screening behind closed doors’ for election candidates.” Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, 14 Feb. 2018, www.hongkongfp.com/2018/02/14/bar-assoc-says-hong-kong-introduced-equivalent-political-screening-behind-closed-doors-election-candidates/.

Read the full story in “The Korea Herald”

GM Korea is in dire straits. The American automaker is only continuing its downward trend, as the Korea Development Bank is set to begin a full review of the company’s finances.  According to the latest account, GM’s market share in the region is only 7% – a number deemed too low by those in the industry. This is apparently stemming from a “misallocation of cars,” rather than an inferiority of the vehicles themselves. Following the falling prices of oil in South Korea, consumers are erring towards luxury and larger vehicles, yet GM Korea has continued to increase the production of smaller cars.

The Korean government will decide wether to give GM Korea a subsidy depending on the findings of the financial review. This decision will have a large impact on future of GM’s business in Korea. Amidst these troubles, the upper management has announced it will cut certain employee benefits and possibly shut down an entire plant, something that has been met severe pushback from the labor unions: “We cannot accept the responsibility made by the poor management.”

Ji-hye, Shin. “KDB to Start Review of GM’s Financial Records This Week.” The Korea Herald , 25 Feb. 2018, www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20180225000205.

The article I read is from National Geographic Russia. It is titled Abnormal frosts in Russia: the forecast of the Ministry of Emergency Situations as translated into English. The article goes into detail about the upcoming temperatures in several different cities in Russia from February 23rd-28th, including Moscow and St. Petersburg. It stated that the temperatures for the last week of winter in Russia were predicted to be 7-13 degrees Celsius lower than average. The Ministry of Emergency Measures started doing broadcasts and sending out texts to warn people about how to best handle the upcoming frosts, including how to properly treat frostbite and warm up after being outside.

Vom_but. “National Geographic Russia.” National Geographic Russia, National Geographic, Moscow, 21 Feb. 2018, www.nat-geo.ru/planet/1183339-anomalnye-morozy-v-rossii-prognoz-mchs/.

The article had highlighted words that were links to other articles and newscasts that backed up the statement that the author was making. For example, when stated that citizens had been warned about the upcoming dangers of the dropping temperatures, you could click on the hyperlink and be taken to the website of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry where they make all their announcements and warnings. At the very end of the article there is also a hyperlink to see how these types of record-low temperatures do not contradict current popular global warming views. This shows the stance on this issue of the author. Overall, the article was more informative and a way into other issues that viewers could continue to read about. The information shared about the instructions and warnings about the upcoming frosts can be used by people anywhere that deal with cold weather and not just in Russia.

“In Sweeping War on Obesity, Chile Slays Tony the Tiger”

This article from the New York Times examines Chile’s fight against rising obesity rates through government campaigns and new legislation. With some of the highest obesity rates in the world, the Chilean government has been very busy battling major food corporations such as Kellogs, PepsiCo, Nestle, and Ferrero. These major food corporations feel threatened by the new marketing legislation aimed at restricting their product reach to the younger Chilean demographic in television commercials, schools, and product labelings. As a means to quell the selling power of unhealthy products such as potato chips, soda, and candy, the government began to place black warning labels on the products in the shape of a stop sign telling the buyer to be aware of high levels of fat, sugar, calories, and salt. In addition, any food label deemed too influential on children such as Tony the Tiger and the Trix rabbit have been removed from all packaging. Although the government has faced a great deal of backlash from food corporations and marketing officials, more legislation needs to be put into place to ensure that Chile has a chance to improve obesity rates. It is important to note that in March Chile will swear in their new president who has previously vetoed legislation efforts to ban unhealthful marketing practices as a means of protecting corporate interests in Chile.

The perspective of this article is international and fairly objective. The author clearly details the obesity problem occurring in Chile and incorporates relevant statistics such as rising obesity levels in children and adults, medical costs for obesity, as well as quotes from Chile’s health ministry and other governmental institutions. In addition, the article provides a gallery of photos displaying the black food labels, altered brand images, and obese individuals. Ultimately, when considering all of the data and details included in the article, the article suggests that the Chilean government is in the right and the major food corporations in the wrong. Although the overall perspective is an objective one, the article is structured so that the reader agrees with the Chilean government because obesity is a major issue and all efforts aimed to diminish should be supported efforts.

Source:

Jacobs, Andrew. “In Sweeping War on Obesity, Chile Slays Tony the Tiger.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Feb. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/health/obesity-chile-sugar-regulations.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld&action=click&contentCollection=world®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=9&pgtype=sectionfront.

Jacobs, Andrew. “In Sweeping War on Obesity, Chile Slays Tony the Tiger.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 Feb. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/health/obesity-chile-sugar-regulations.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld&action=click&contentCollection=world®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=9&pgtype=sectionfront.

From Pakistan to Dubai: Behind a migrant worker’s dream

https://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/asia/2016/05/pakistan-dubai-migrant-worker-dream-160501152116788.html

Syed Owais Ali (2 May 2016)

The glistening city of Dubai and many other large Metropoli that can be found within the Persian Gulf Arab states are the products of massive investment of fortune/finance and migrant workers from surrounding areas. Syed Owais Ali, a filmmaker from the region, gives his perspective of the life of a migrant worker, Sharif. Sharif had spent a great deal of time working within the region of Qatar, attempting to provide for his family. During this period, Syed acknowledges his perspectives and on occasion misinterpretation of the village migrant workers upon visitation of their villages.

This cinematography project is an excerpt from a larger film project of Syed’s, “No Place Like Home” . The entire project covers a larger scope of regions and migrant workers. This excerpt gives an insightful glance into the world of these migrant workers that come to these regions seeking opportunity within areas that seek expansion and further development. Without money there is no opportunity and without those in need of opportunity there can be no development/progress. Theoretically this constitutes a paradigm of equality, however reality doesn’t reflect such equality. It is important to understand the different experiences that contribute toward these ‘glistening’ empires found within the Persian Gulf. Human Rights violations and infractions of fair trade are a constant issue within these regions and to better understand people is to participate in their reality. In the words of Syed…

“Far from being a faceless, nameless number in a report, Sharif is a knowledgeable, informed participant in his own story; one driven by dreams and ambitions, just like the many other “migrant workers” whose stories, for now, remain untold.”

Citations:

From Pakistan to Dubai: A migrant Worker’s Dream, Syed Owais Ali (2 May 2016)Aljazeera – https://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/asia/2016/05/pakistan-dubai-migrant-worker-dream-160501152116788.html

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/24/national/media-national/whats-become-humanity-ai-replaces-us/ by Michael Hoffman

 (Image Credit: Japan Times)

This article discusses the technological shift that is currently taking place and focuses on how Japan is adapting to change. Last month, at the large electronics convention CES , one of Japan’s major electronics and entertainment companies unveiled a new product called “Aibo”. Aibo’s close translation in English is “partner” or “pal” and that is exactly what this artificial companion is programmed to be . In the article the author writes ” Sony, its maker, gave it cameras and sensors to tell it who’s who and what’s what. It can find a bone, go after a ball, recognize you and yours, negotiate your living room full of furniture. Had enough of it? Turn it off. Try doing that to a real dog.” This is an important point to make as the article segues into how technology might further affect Japan’s economy specifically the working class. Aibo was presented as something that is just as lovable and likable as a dog but you do not have any of the potential negatives of actually owning a dog such as buying food, cleaning up after it, or trips to the veterinary. This form of automation can be observed throughout Japan and also the rest of the world in many areas such as banking, online consumption, and customer service. The article also cites a 2015 study by Nomura Research stating it “foresees 49 percent of current jobs being taken over by AI.” meaning companies are pushing towards more and more automation.

I found this article interesting because Japan is seen as a technologically savvy country but this particular issue can be presented to every country because of technology’s uses in many different fields. However, specifically in how Japanese companies incorporate more automation and how the Japanese working class will respond is where my interest lay.

Citation:

Michael Hoffman. “What’s to become of humanity when AI replaces us all?” The Japan Times, The Japan Times LTD. 24 Feb 2018. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/24/national/media-national/whats-become-humanity-ai-replaces-us/.

http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2018/01/24/photos-cartel-gunmen-engage-military-hiding-behind-mexican-border-city-factory-workers/

(Image Credit: Brietbart News)

Reynosa, Tamaulipas is a city in Mexico that shares a common border with the US state of Texas. Having a border with the US has been considered a benefit and a curse to the state of Tamaulipas, many American plants are located in Reynosa. This gives Mexican workers employment but the border is a wanted territory by numerous Mexican drug cartels. This gives access to the United States, where they sell their illegal drugs. To hold this territory cartels use extreme violence to battle it out with each other. The death toll was so high that it rivaled the war in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. The Mexican central government sent in military units into the state and more specifically Reynosa to eradicate the drug cartels and fix corruption in the area. This move has not stopped these drug cartels. Two cartels are still at war but one cartel has split into different factions. This increases the violence within cartels and then there has been constant military operation on top of it. Last month an incident occurred between a faction of the Gulf Cartel and the military left a military vehicle rolled over where on soldier ending up dying. Another incident lead to a shootout where cartel members hid inside a manufacturing plant. The chaos has only risen in past years with zero solutions in sight.