As the conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt businesses in the region and beyond, force majeure clauses are increasingly being tested across a wide variety of commercial arrangements.
Indonesia’s Prabowo tightens state grip on palm oil, coal amid monopolistic fears
Indonesia will require exports of key commodities to pass through a state-appointed enterprise in a sweeping effort to curb revenue leaks, tighten oversight of natural resources and keep more foreign exchange earnings at home.
The policy, announced by President Prabowo Subianto in a rare address to parliament on Wednesday, would apply to palm oil, coal and ferroalloys – three major export earners for Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
Under the new regulation, producers would have to sell their…
Thai Singha beer heir dismissed from family firm amid brother’s sexual abuse claims
One of Thailand’s richest men dismissed his cousin from the Singha beer business empire on Tuesday, the company said, after days of controversy over allegations the man had sexually abused his own brother.
Environmental activist Siranudh Scott, a scion of the Bhirombhakdi family who control the beer brand ubiquitous in Thailand, posted an emotional video on his social media page this month accusing his elder brother of repeatedly abusing him in his teenage years.
“Everyone in my family knows it…
CBI defends capital easing calls amid competition debate
New research by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) challenges competition concerns and reinforces the regulator’s stance on stability and consumer protection, an expert has said.
Philippine Senate guards investigated for firing shots as fugitive senator fled
Security officers from the Philippine Senate are being investigated for firing their weapons without provocation as a senator wanted by the International Criminal Court sought refuge in the building, officials said on Tuesday.
Senator Ronald dela Rosa briefly sought refuge in the Senate last week while asking the Philippine Supreme Court to stop an attempt by government agents to arrest him.
The fugitive senator, the former national police chief in the early years of Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-drug…
WHO kicks off annual assembly amid Ebola, hantavirus, US withdrawal, funding cuts
The World Health Organization opened a meeting of global health ministers on Monday amid concern over deadly hantavirus and Ebola outbreaks and uncertainty over announced US and Argentinian withdrawals.
While the rare hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that has gripped global attention is not officially on the agenda, it is expected to feature prominently in discussions, alongside the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The two outbreaks “are just the latest crises in…
How fight for Philippine Senate presidency will shape Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial
The Philippine Senate convened on Monday as an impeachment court for Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, even as a fresh battle for control of the chamber threatens to shape the direction of her trial and the fallout from the crimes-against-humanity case against her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, in The Hague.
Duterte-Carpio was impeached by the House of Representatives last week on allegations including corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violations of the constitution…
South Korea weighs arbitration to avoid Samsung semiconductor plant strike
South Korea will pursue all options, including emergency arbitration, to avoid a labour strike at the country’s biggest employer Samsung Electronics and to minimise any damage if one does occur, its prime minister said on Sunday.
The world’s largest memory chipmaker and its South Korean labour union will resume pay talks on Monday with a government mediator, in a move that could ease concerns over a potentially disruptive strike at the tech giant that accounts for nearly a quarter of the…
Malaysian ex-ministers resign from Anwar’s party, snap election rumoured
Two prominent former Malaysian ministers said on Sunday they would vacate their parliamentary seats and resign from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition party to join a small party that they would take over.
The move by Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who resigned from cabinet last year after losing leadership posts in internal party elections, could create a challenge for Anwar, amid speculation of an early election this year. The next general election is not due until…
Maldivian military diver dies in search of bodies of 4 Italian divers
A Maldivian military diver died Saturday while searching for the bodies of four Italian divers believed to be deep inside an underwater cave.
The group of five Italian divers is believed to have died while exploring a cave at a depth of about 50 meters (160 feet) in Vaavu Atoll on Thursday, according to Italy’s Foreign Ministry. The recreational diving limit in the Maldives is 30 meters (98 feet).
Maldives presidential spokesman Mohammed Hussain Shareef said that Mohamed Mahudhee, a member of…