New Zealand is gravely concerned about the possible militarisation of the Pacific following a decision by the Solomon Islands government to form a security partnership with China, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday.Confirmation on Friday by the Solomon Islands government that it was “diversifying” its security relationships beyond Canberra has prompted alarm in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.“We see such acts as a potential militarisation of the region and also see very…
Malaysia’s divisive smoking debate a sign of what’s to come for Singapore, New Zealand and other countries mulling age-based bans
Anti-tobacco advocates have for years pushed for a “tobacco endgame”, where young people will be banned from ever buying cigarettes in their lifetimes. New Zealand got the ball rolling when it announced its intention to gradually raise the minimum smoking age, so that it would be illegal for anyone born after 2008 to buy cigarettes. Singapore said New Zealand’s proposal was “attractive”, while Malaysia said it was mulling a plan to ban the sale of tobacco products to people born after 2005. In…
Myanmar junta threatens to ‘annihilate’ coup opponents on crackdown anniversary
Myanmar’s junta will “annihilate” opponents, army chief Min Aung Hlaing said on Sunday as the military staged a show of force on the anniversary of its bloodiest crackdown so far on democracy protests.The Southeast Asian country has been in chaos since a coup in February 2021, with more than 1,700 people killed in crackdowns on dissent, according to a local monitoring group.Anti-coup “People’s Defence Force” fighters clash regularly with junta troops, while fighting has also flared in border…
Filipino women share stresses of being the firstborn daughter who ‘parents rely on the most’
Majann Lazo used to hate doing the dishes as a child. But she had to overcome her aversion and soon learned to handle a multitude of chores considered the responsibility of firstborn children, especially those who are female, in many Asian societies including the Philippines.In Majann’s family, in Manila, she is the áte (elder sister), the captain of their ship, managing and overseeing everything that happens on deck. For years, she balanced her schoolwork with duties at home including tutoring…
Food fight resumes: excitement and eye rolling as Malaysia, Singapore reopen Asia’s busiest land crossing from April 1
Since last year, tens of thousands of Singapore residents have resumed their passion for international travel via the city state’s vaccinated travel lanes, after putting their globetrotting ways on pause for nearly two years.Many went as far afield as Britain and the United States during last year’s holiday season.Yet, news on Thursday of a fuller reopening of the land border with Malaysia, unleashed an explosion of memes and excited messages across social media and WhatsApp groups.To an…
Malaysia 1MDB scandal: lawyers for ex-PM Najib’s wife deny she got US$23 million pink diamond necklace
Rosmah Mansor, the wife of the former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, didn’t receive or buy a US$23 million pink diamond necklace, according to her lawyers.“Our client and her husband only knew that a United Arab Emirates prince, Sheikh Mansour Zayed, had wanted to give as gift a pink diamond necklace” to Rosmah, lawyers Geethan Ram Vincent, Rajivan Nambiar and Reza Rahim said in a statement on Friday.“Our client and her husband did not at any time demand, request and/or intend to…
Court of Appeal issues reminder that funding arrangements need to comply with strict rules
The English and Welsh Court of Appeal has handed down a judgment which should act as a reminder for law firms that any innovative funding arrangements must comply with statutory rules or risk being declared void.
UK homeowners ‘need more support’ to install energy efficient tech
The UK government must offer UK homeowners more support to cover the cost of installing energy efficient technologies in their houses if it is to successfully decarbonise the country’s housing stock, according to one legal expert.
Mandatory retirement ages across Europe
The retirement landscape is changing across Europe, as more employees choose to work longer and employers seek to retain skills and knowledge.
New Zealand wants foreign tourists to ‘pay their way’ to safeguard environment
New Zealand may ask international visitors to pay more to access some of the nation’s natural attractions as the government seeks ways to limit the impact of tourism on the environment.Tourism Minister Stuart Nash told a University of Otago conference on Friday he is “planning ways now to ensure that our future visitors pay their way.”Before the pandemic, tourism generated more foreign income for New Zealand than the dairy industry, but there were concerns about overcrowding and poor…