On Wednesday, members nations of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) officially agreed to allow the United Kingdom to start the process of joining the pact, said Japan’s economy minister in a statement. Welcoming the start of… Read More ›
New Zealand
Australia-New Zealand quarantine free travel bubble to start on April 19
A quarantine-free travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand which is expected to start on April 19, is likely to be a world-first, said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday. She went on to add, the conditions… Read More ›
Australia’s Westpack Banking Corp to sell its Lenders mortgage insurance business to Arch Capital Group
On Thursday, in a statement Australia’s Westpac Banking Corp said, it has decided to sell its lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) business to Arch Capital Group; the deal sees Arch Westpac becoming an exclusive LMI supplier for the next decade. The… Read More ›
Britain applies for Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership
In the coming week Britain is set to apply for a membership to the trans-Pacific trading bloc of 11 countries. Ever since it left the European Union, Britain has made its desire to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for… Read More ›
Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble signals return to near-normal for travel industry
In a development that marks the re-establishment of overseas travel links between countries, Hong Kong and Singapore have announced that they will lift quarantine requirements for visiting foreigners. In a statement Singapore’s Transport Minister and Hong Kong’s Commerce Secretary said,… Read More ›
Japan to lift travel ban to 12 countries from November 2020
On Thursday, in a report, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri stated, from November 2020, Japan plans on removing the ban on overseas travel 12 countries including China, from where the coronavirus emerged. The 11 other countries and regions include Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia,… Read More ›
Seattle-based Starbucks Corp adds plant based food & beverages to Asian menus, includes products from Beyond Meat Inc, Impossible Foods, and Oatly
On Tuesday, in a statement Starbucks Corp said, it will add plant-based food and beverages to its menus across Asia starting from September 2020; this will include products from Beyond Meat Inc, Impossible Foods, and Oatly. The move is aimed… Read More ›
China’s Great Wall Motor to purchase General Motors’ Thailand car plant
On Monday, China’s Great Wall Motor stated it had signed a binding agreement to purchase General Motors’ car plant in Thailand. General Motors is retreating from markets outside of the United States and China and is winding down designs, sales… Read More ›
NZ’s PM Jacinda Ardern does a volte face against capital gains tax
It is not clear what events and knowledge has prompted her change of stance vis-a-vis CGT. On Wednesday, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated, her coalition government will not go ahead with a proposal for a capital gains tax… Read More ›
New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern likely to discuss Huawei on her 1-day China tour
Among the things she is likely to discuss with China’s President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang are, potential upgrade to the 2008 FTA and NZ’s transparency on blocking Huawei Technology’s bid to create a 5G network in the country…. Read More ›