The rapid construction of two buildings at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, just north of where United States-funded facilities were demolished by Phnom Penh last year, has raised concerns that China stands to benefit from the upgrades, according to a Washington-based think tank.The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), which is part of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said in a report released on May 21 and updated on May 28 that the new buildings appeared to have been…
US, China regulators have a problem with bitcoin. Hong Kong, Singapore may have solutions
China’s warning earlier this month that it intended to curb bitcoin trading and mining was the latest indication that the world’s growing army of cryptocurrency backers face bigger headaches than Elon Musk changing his tune and saying Tesla would no longer accept it as payment.The Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He and the State Council said it was necessary to crack down on bitcoin mining and trading behaviour to “resolutely prevent the transmission of individual risks to the social field”.Bitcoin…
Coronavirus: Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City to test entire population of 13 million
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s most populous city, is preparing to test all of its 13 million residents for the coronavirus after a steep rise in community transmissions, state media said on Sunday.The southern metropolis is expecting to carry out a mass testing programme that will see 100,000 tests each day, city chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong said during an emergency meeting on Sunday, according to online newspaper VnExpress.The news follows an announcement made earlier on Sunday that Ho Chi Minh…
China and Covid-19 on minds as Australian, New Zealand leaders meet
The prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand will meet face-to-face for the first time in 15 months on Sunday, amid signs of division between the neighbours on how to manage relations with China.Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern will meet in Queenstown for discussions that are expected to touch on their differing approaches to China as Western countries including the United States ramp up coordination to pressure Beijing on human rights and security concerns.Ardern said earlier this month…
Philippines lodges protest over China’s ‘illegal’ South China Sea presence and activities
The Philippines has lodged a protest over China’s continuing “illegal presence and activities” near an island in the South China Sea held by the Southeast Asian nation, the foreign ministry said on Saturday.Manila lodged the diplomatic protest on Friday over the “incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels” in the vicinity of Thitu island. It demanded that China withdraw the vessels.The Chinese embassy in Manila did not…
Coronavirus: Antony Blinken says US and India united in tackling pandemic
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday the United States and India are united in trying to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic together and Washington wants to make sure it takes action to help India with its current coronavirus crisis.Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who has spent the past week in the United States seeking help amid a devastating second wave of infections at home, told reporters while standing with Blinken at the State Department that India is grateful to…
Western Australia security of payment reforms set to create subcontractor uncertainty
A proposed new security of payment regime in Western Australia would not improve on existing legislation designed to ensure construction subcontractors are paid in a timely fashion for the work they carry out and protect them in the event of an insolvency higher up the supply chain.
Singapore court clarifies conditions for granting post-judgment Mareva injunction
The Singapore Court of Appeal has confirmed for the first time the conditions required to grant a freezing injunction after a judgment has been made against the subject of the injunction. The clarification came in the recent case of JTrust Asia Pte Ltd v Group Lease Holdings Pte Ltd and others.
Dutch court orders Shell to speed up emissions cuts
Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) must cut its global carbon emissions by 45% compared to 2019 levels by 2030, a court in the Netherlands has ruled.
‘Midnight deadline’ decision highlights need to file court claims in time
The UK Supreme Court has clarified that the six-year period for filing a professional negligence action against a defendant which had negligently missed a midnight deadline includes the day immediately following that deadline.