Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said protesters that stormed New Delhi’s Red Fort had caused “insult” to the country, his first public comments on a months-long farmers’ agitation that turned violent this week.Tens of thousands of farmers have camped on the outskirts of India’s capital for more than two months, protesting against new agricultural laws they say benefit private buyers at the expense of growers.A tractor parade on Tuesday’s Republic Day turned violent when some…
Vietnam re-elects Nguyen Phu Trong as Communist Party chief for third time after secretive Congress
Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong was re-elected on Sunday – a victory that makes him the country’s most powerful leader in decades – but his win was overshadowed by a serious coronavirus outbreak in the country.Trong, a 76-year-old pro-China conservative who is rumoured to be in poor health, was given the nod after a week of closed-door talks at the twice-a-decade Communist Party Congress. It will be his third term in office – a feat unprecedented in Vietnam’s modern era…
Taliban car bombing in Afghanistan leaves 14 soldiers dead
The Taliban claimed responsibility for a powerful car bombing at a military base in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province that killed at least 14 soldiers on Saturday.The bombing, in the Shirzad district of the province, wounded four other soldiers, according to a local councillor, Ajmal Omar.A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that in total 50 soldiers were among the dead and wounded.Both the Taliban and Islamic State militants are active in the province and occasionally…
Myanmar army steps back from coup threat, says it will protect constitution
Myanmar’s military on Saturday said it would protect and abide by the constitution and act according to law, in a move that could allay concerns in the country that the armed forces might attempt to seize power.The statement comes a day after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Western embassies in Myanmar expressed serious concerns about the possibility of army intervention in Myanmar, a country ruled by the military for 49 years after a 1962 coup.The military, known locally as the…
Public procurement law: the basics
Retention of title clauses
A retention of title (ROT) clause is a provision in a contract for the sale of goods which means that the seller retains legal ownership of the goods until certain obligations are fulfilled by the buyer – usually payment of the purchase price. This guide looks at ROT clauses, specifically the relationship between such clauses and the tort of conversion (see below).
Choi Suk-hyeon suicide case: South Korean triathlon coach and captain sentenced to jail over bullying, abuse
A South Korean triathlon coach and an Asian Games silver medallist have been convicted of abusing an athlete, closing a chapter on a high-profile suicide case that exposed the country’s win-at-all-costs sports culture. The Daegu District Court on Friday sentenced Kim Gyu-bong, former head coach of the triathlon team at semi-pro club Gyeongju City Hall, to seven years in prison for verbally and physically abusing triathlete Choi Suk-hyeon as well as diverting funds meant for training. Jang Yun…
Why Indonesians are turning to Jokowi’s son and other influencers for stock market insight
Gone are the days when Indonesian investors would flick through newspapers or news portals to identify investing trends, or even tune in to Bloomberg or CNBC to keep an eye on stock tickers. Now, beginners such as Rifky Adina Irawan go straight to Twitter and YouTube to get the lowdown from President Joko Widodo’s youngest son, Kaesang Pangarep, and Raditya Dika, one of the country’s top social media influencers.“To me, social media is very important, because some investors share tips on which…
Pension scheme trustees urged to act now on climate reporting
Trustees of pension schemes of all sizes should consider putting measures in place to assess climate-related risks and opportunities ahead of a new reporting regime aimed at the largest schemes, an expert has said.
In Malaysia, cancellation of Hindu holiday stokes minorities’ concerns
The cancellation of a public holiday for a Hindu festival in Malaysia’s Kedah state along with the country’s de facto Religious Affairs Ministry recently signalling that the country’s sharia law penalties could be strengthened – with the country’s LGBT community as one of the main targets – have unsettled religious minorities and some moderate Muslims who worry the country is moving towards greater conservatism. The Kedah chief minister’s decision to cancel the one-day public holiday on…