Asian Legal Review

Even as internal divisions and absent leaders hung over proceedings, this week’s Brics summit in Brazil delivered an unmistakable message: the world’s emerging economies are intent on shaping their own destiny, seeking consensus where once there was only Western dominance.
In a joint declaration adopted on Sunday, Brics leaders warned of the threat posed to the global economy by the “indiscriminate” use of tariffs and “proliferation of trade-restrictive actions” – thinly veiled references to US…

Thailand is poised to close most of its cannabis shops by the end of the year under sweeping new rules requiring retailers to operate as licensed medical clinics with on-site doctors – a move that could roll back much of the country’s brief experiment with decriminalised marijuana.
The new regulations – set to be enforced by the end of the year – will leave around 2,000 of Thailand’s estimated 18,000 cannabis shops in operation, a Ministry of Public Health official said on Tuesday.
That is…

The European Commission’s new EU Energy and Raw Materials Platform will enhance security of supply and support the EU’s 2030 renewable hydrogen targets, experts have said.

Singaporean politicians are leading their constituents on sold-out tours across the causeway to indulge in Malaysia’s peak durian season, with itineraries featuring all-you-can-eat buffets, shopping and multi-course dinners.
At least seven members of parliament (MPs) have organised trips this month for Singaporean citizens to get their fill of the spiky and pungent fruit in neighbouring Malaysia, where prices are expected to fall this month in light of abundant supply.
The outings, some lasting…

Indonesia’s Bali is now officially the second most crowded island in the world after neighbouring Java, as residents feel squeezed out by the influx of tourists and even their compatriots in their backyard.
Measuring 5,780 sq km (2,230 square miles) in size, Bali is home to 731 people per sq km, excluding tourists, according to national newspaper Kompas citing data from online market researcher Visual Capitalist.
More than 60,000 daily visitors arrive on the island with a population of 4.2…

The recently passed set of resolutions aimed at enhancing the arbitration ecosystem in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will further help to align the Kingdom with international standards and best practices, experts have said.

Just ahead of the July 9 deadline to reach an agreement on tariffs, US President Donald Trump announced his decision on the tariffs levels for 14 countries – including a rate of 25 per cent on Japan and South Korea – effective August 1.
Trump accused Japan of not buying enough rice and cars from the US. It’s worth noting that the American car industry is simply not competitive in Japan. Germany, Japan and China are the top three auto exporters. Those countries, along with South Korea, have…

The United States has deployed its most advanced fighter aircraft, the F-35, to the Philippines for the first time, a move analysts say signals Washington’s intent to stress-test forward combat readiness in a region increasingly shaped by China’s maritime assertiveness.
The arrival of the stealth jets for the Cope Thunder joint air drills – launched on Monday at Clark Air Base and running until July 18 – reflects a more tangible form of deterrence, experts say, as the Philippines becomes further…

Warranties, indemnities, and exemption clauses can provide contractual assurance and protection to businesses when things go wrong.

Southeast Asian nations are scrambling to recalibrate their approach to US tariffs ahead of a key diplomatic gathering that starts in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, as Washington’s preference for one-on-one trade deals casts doubt over Asean’s collective bargaining power.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday announced a delay to the next round of his sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs – pushing the deadline from July 9 to August 1 – to give time for finalising deals with 18 major trade partners,…