In a controversial move by the Hong Kong Education Bureau, the city’s senior high school students will be required to participate in mainland China “study tour” programs, raising concerns about potential indoctrination. Failure to comply with this requirement could jeopardize their graduation prospects. The Education Bureau issued a formal notice on Aug. 30, outlining the schedule for next year’s mainland study programs. Of particular concern are two items on the list that involve “experiencing the daily life of soldiers” and “participating in military training,” both categorized under “national defense education.” A Hong Kong resident who has undergone military training as a high school student and a college student in Beijing said that similar activities were used for brainwashing in Beijing in the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre. She believes that the CCP sees the 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition protests as similar to the June 4 incident, and is trying to use the same tactics to brainwash students....Read more https://www.theepochtimes.com/china/hong-kong-students-required-to-participate-in-the-mainland-study-tour-programs-including-military-training-5487963
NEW DELHI, India—Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Friday that the United States is keeping a careful eye on the economic situation in China, but there is no reason to worry that it will have a significant impact on the United States. Speaking at a press briefing on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in India, Ms. Yellen said China faces a variety of short- and long-term economic challenges. She highlighted low consumer spending and long-standing problems in the property sector of China. “We’ve been monitoring carefully, including the less of a pickup in consumer spending than had been anticipated in the aftermath of the COVID restrictions, as well as long-standing issues with respect to the property sector and debt related to that,” Ms. Yellen said....
The Business Council of Canada is calling on the government to address the economic security threats posed by malign state actors, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. It also advised Ottawa to grant its intelligence agency the authority to share crucial information with private firms facing foreign interference. Composed of Canada’s foremost business leaders, the council issued a stark warning through a report published on Sept. 7. The report noted that successive Canadian governments have either overlooked, underestimated, or outright neglected this principle that economic security is national security. “The current narrative surrounding malign foreign influence is rightly focused on the integrity of democratic processes and the safety and security of targeted ethnic or cultural groups,” the report said....
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will look to continue ramping up ties with the Philippines with direct talks with the country’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sept. 8. This follows the announcement in August that Australia would look to work more closely with the Philippines on defence and security-related issues. “The Philippines is a critical nation for Australia’s interest,” Mr. Albanese said on Sept. 7. “We have strong economic relations with the Philippines. We also have strong cooperation when it comes to defence arrangements, and in addition to that, we have a strong diaspora in Australia.” Mr. Albanese noted that he will be the first Australian prime minister in 20 years to hold formal bilateral talks with the Philippines’ leader....