Author: viking

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung agreed on Saturday to closer security and economic ties ahead of Lee’s planned summit with US President Donald Trump on Monday.
On his first official visit since taking office in June, Lee met Ishiba at the premier’s residence in Tokyo to discuss bilateral ties between the East Asian neighbours, including closer security coordination with the United States under a trilateral pact signed by their predecessors.
“As the…

Record heatwaves, blazing wildfires and oppressive humidity are transforming the world’s tourism industry as holidaymakers struggle to deal with the havoc wrought by climate change.
A growing number of travellers are seeking “coolcations” – destinations with milder climates – looking beyond traditional hotspots like Greece and Portugal, according to luxury travel advisers who say their clients are altering plans due to climate change.
Heatwaves in Europe saw tourist sites including the Acropolis…

As America retreats from clean energy investment around the world, with US President Donald Trump labelling wind and solar power “the scam of the century” on Wednesday, Chinese “cleantech” firms have been striding into emerging markets in Southeast and Central Asia and Latin America.
Mabill Technologies, a Malaysian cleantech start-up developing a predictive AI algorithm that will connect energy efficiency analytics and sustainable cooling solutions, said Chinese investors had been showing…

The Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI) has released its annual report for 2024. The statistics outlined in the report demonstrate Ireland’s continued importance as a hub for innovation and creativity, with both patent and trade mark filings on the rise.

JPMorgan Chase will pay the Malaysian government US$330 million as part of a settlement to resolve all matters related to its role in the multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1MDB, both parties said on Friday.
Malaysian and US investigators say at least US$4.5 billion was stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in a globe-spanning scheme between 2009 and 2014.
In 2021, 1MDB sued a unit of JPMorgan, along with those of Deutsche Bank and Coutts & Co, to recover alleged losses from the…

The Employment Rights Bill is nearing the final stages of the UK parliamentary process, meaning significant changes to employment law in England, Scotland and Wales are close to being enacted.

Proposed changes to the rules of the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) will bring the institution in line with other major arbitral institutions in Asia and internationally.

India’s parliament on Thursday passed a bill to ban online games played with money in a move that threatens the survival of the popular fantasy gaming sector, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government flagged the high risk of financial harm.
The sudden ban has shocked an industry backed by venture capital firms like Tiger Global and Peak XV Partners and which was set to be worth US$3.6 billion in India by 2029.
Executives fear imminent job losses and a complete shutdown of many app-based…

Qatar’s abundant solar resource, combined with its national strategy to diversify energy sources, is creating a favourable environment for rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) businesses.

Myanmar’s military regime wants to hold the first election since it seized power in 2021, but opponents have decried the idea as senseless amid the country’s civil war, as they warn of more bloodshed while the junta embarks on a doomed attempt at a reset.
The country has announced that the first phase of the general election is scheduled to begin on December 28, with additional stages to follow. The statement offers the clearest timeline yet after months of vague promises by the junta’s leader,…