A recent ruling by South Africa’s High Court highlights the application of the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration on enforcing an award against an unsuccessful party to an arbitration.
From Malaysia to the Philippines, what are the most serious terror threats in Southeast Asia 20 years after 9/11?
A senior Malaysian counterterrorism official has warned that religious and ethnically motivated violent extremism is the most significant terrorism-related danger the country faces, while Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore are most concerned by groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State (Isis).The comments from officials and analysts came as This Week in Asia asked security agencies in the region about the most serious terror threats they faced 20 years after September 11.The response…
As South Korea, US discuss ‘creative’ ways to engage with Pyongyang, does Moon have a shot at ending the Korean war?
South Korea’s foreign minister and his US counterpart have discussed “creative” ways to engage with North Korea, Seoul’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, as the South’s President Moon Jae-in repeated calls for a declaration to officially end the Korean war.Foreign minister Chung Eui-yong and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York amid a renewed focus on Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear weapons activities.The North…
Australia proposes ‘patent box’ to boost life sciences innovation
The Australian government is intending to introduce a ‘patent box’ regime with the objective of boosting life sciences innovation across the region and incentivising investment in the sector in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pakistan enlists Afghan Taliban to rein in group accused of bombing Chinese dam workers
Afghanistan’s Taliban regime is playing a pivotal role in backchannel talks between Pakistan’s government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan insurgents (TTP), top officials indicated, after Islamabad offered a conditional amnesty for surrendering militants. While the prospects of a peace deal remain remote, officials said Pakistan hopes the Taliban’s involvement will help it to contain the resurgent threat posed by the TTP’s estimated 5,000 fighters based in neighbouring Afghanistan. Since May,…
In India, calls for a caste census grow as more seek to benefit from affirmative action policies
Delhi-based journalist Meena Kotwal knows all about how the ancient prejudices surrounding caste continue to affect the lives of people in modern India.The 32-year-old, who runs a YouTube channel called The Mooknayak, or “leader of the voiceless”, belongs to the “untouchable” caste of Dalits.As a reporter with a leading international media agency in India’s capital, she found that editors were from the upper castes “while the marginalised castes, if they are represented at all, occupy the…
Employers’ work-related road risk obligations updated in bid to cut accidents
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in conjunction with the UK Department of Transport (DfT), has updated its guidance on work-related road safety to make it clear that employers are responsible for privately-owned vehicles used for work.
Singapore arrests 18 suspects for importing staff on fake work permits
Singapore’s Manpower Ministry on Tuesday said 18 people had been arrested over the past week on suspicion “of bringing foreigners” to the city state “on work passes obtained through false declarations”.The ministry last week mounted a 12-hour operation at 22 locations across the country after uncovering a “potential syndicate suspected of setting up several shell companies to apply for work passes”.“Such syndicates typically recruit Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents to…
Japan’s ‘Iron Lady’ Sanae Takaichi focuses on Taiwan, US in appeal to China hawks before LDP vote
Sanae Takaichi – the most hawkish candidate running to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party in next week’s election, the winner of which will be the country’s next prime minister – has attempted to burnish her credentials with like-minded conservatives by speaking with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. During their 30-minute conversation on Monday afternoon, former internal affairs minister Takaichi, 60, emphasised that she hoped to enhance security ties between Taipei and Tokyo, and…
‘Utility scale’ solar backed in revised UK planning regime
Proposed changes to UK planning policy remove uncertainty about the priority given to the development of major solar power plants and will spur a greater number of ‘utility scale’ projects in the years ahead.