Society economics

ZURICH: Swiss voters will decide on Sunday (Sep 27) whether to tear up a pact with the European Union on the free movement of people, after a referendum campaign that exposed rifts in society over foreigners who make up a quarter of the population. The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) - the biggest in parliament - is leading the charge to seize back control of immigration, echoing some of the arguments pro-Brexit politicians used in the run-up to Britain's exit from the EU. Opinion polls suggest it will not be so successful. A gfs.bern poll found 63 per cent of respondents opposed the SVP proposal and 35 per cent supported it, suggesting voters want stability at a time of economic uncertainty amid the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, the SVP has appealed to those who see their culture at risk from immigration, which by the middle of the century could swell the population to 10 million from 8.6 million now. The party says jobs are at risk as young foreigners supplant … [Read more...] about With echoes of Brexit, Swiss set to vote on immigration

Up until the mid-15th century, men's shirts tended to feature scoop or boat necklines, after which standing collars made their appearance. Since then, there’s no denying that the men’s collared shirt forms the backbone of the modern masculine wardrobe. But if you really want to go one up on the style stakes in order to impress the ladies, you’ll need to really know your shirt. First off, the collar should never fit too loosely or it will look like you borrowed an ill-fitting shirt. Too tight a collar and you could be accused of needing to go on a diet. Both of which might not go down well during a blind date. To ensure the perfect fit, you should be able to glide one or two fingers between your collar and your neck. Then, you need to know the makeup of a collar’s anatomy, such as: Collar points: The fashion tips of the collar. Spread: The distance between the collar points. Collar band: The piece of fabric that wraps around the neck. Collar height: The height of a … [Read more...] about Guys, wearing a shirt with the wrong type of collar can be a turn-off for ladies

BANGKOK: A group of garment workers in Thailand who were illegally underpaid while making products for global brands including Starbucks and Walt Disney are taking legal action to demand compensation after losing their jobs last year. A Thomson Reuters Foundation investigation in September 2019 found dozens of migrants from neighbouring Myanmar working at several factories in the western region of Mae Sot were paid less than the daily minimum wage of 310 Thai baht (US$10.15). Located 500km from the capital Bangkok, Mae Sot is the main entry point into western Thailand and a trade hub home to about 430 factories and at least 44,500 workers – mainly migrants seeking to make money to send back to their families. Following the expose, officials raided two garment factories and ordered the owners to pay wages owed to their workers. Owners of one of the factories were ordered last year to pay 18 million baht in compensation to 600-odd workers. The company that owns the factory – … [Read more...] about Migrant factory workers in Thailand launch legal action after wages expose

The 12th National Party Congress determined: “Promoting the development of the defense and security industry for both military and civilian purposes; increasing resources, creating modern material and technical foundations for the development of the People's Army and the People's Public Security Forces, meeting the requirements of protecting the Fatherland in the new situation.” While inheriting that point of view, the political draft report at the 13th National Party Congress also gives new points: “Building and developing a modern dual-use defense and security industry, both satisfying the requirements of the task of protecting the Fatherland and making an important contribution to national socio-economic development.” To clarify the new points in the political report at the 13th National Party Congress, reporters of the People's Army Online Newspaper had an interview with Major General Hoang Son, Secretary of the Party Committee and Deputy General Director of Military Industry - … [Read more...] about Viettel on the way to becoming a world leading defense industry group

SINGAPORE: Yoshihide Suga is officially now Japan’s next prime minister replacing Shinzo Abe, who resigned due to health reasons. Unlike many of his Cabinet colleagues - some of whom are potential future prime ministerial candidates - who may be scions of former cabinet ministers, prime ministers and parliamentarians, the 71-year-old son of a strawberry farmer has been branded as an “unlikely leader” by the international media. BREAKING THE ELITE MOULD Even his former boss, Abe, came from a family with a political legacy. Abe’s father was a former foreign minister and grandfather a former prime minister. Shinjiro Koizumi, the Environment Minister, is the son of former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi. Taro Kono, the Defence Minister, is the son of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yohei Kono. READ: Commentary: That uneasy feeling about Japan's frontrunner for prime minister READ: Commentary: Will replacing Abe leave Japan in limbo? Deputy Prime … [Read more...] about Commentary: We may have underestimated Japan’s new prime minister Yoshihide Suga