The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s biggest trade deal, took effect in most countries at the start of 2021, but the Philippines and Myanmar have yet to ratify the agreement.
Pakistan appeals for more aid for 33 million affected by floods as death toll hits 1,265 amid ‘400 per cent rise in extra rain’
The authorities said areas expecting to receive 15-20 per cent additional rain this year actually received in excess of 400 per cent more; at least 1,265 people, including 441 children, are now known to have died.
Malaysia’s post-Covid economy has held up so far, but will politics be its undoing?
War in Ukraine and China’s Covid controls are expected to limit Malaysia’s economic growth, but PM Ismail Sabri Yaakob also faces friction over tax system reforms, and pressure from his Umno party for an early general election.
Typhoon Hinnamnor threatens catastrophic damage in South Korea
Nation is preparing for the strongest storm it has ever seen, forecast to be worse than 1959’s Typhoon Sarah, which killed more than 600 people; preparations also under way in China’s coastal areas.
Stricter UK cyber duties on online accounts and data explored
Stricter cybersecurity requirements could be written into UK law to address the risk of criminals gaining unauthorised access to online accounts and user data and trading the information on the internet.
Jobs summit could have major impact on Australian construction industry
A major summit convened to discuss solutions to Australia’s labour market shortages could have a significant impact on the construction industry, according to legal experts.
Experts welcome OTS review of remote worker UK tax status
A review launched by the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) into the taxation of UK employees working from home or overseas will help end “significant challenges” faced by employers since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to one legal expert.
Indonesia and Cambodia crack down on ‘aggressive’ Chinese-run job scams as more victims emerge
Jakarta and Phnom Penh to enhance cooperation between police departments, speed up handling of human trafficking cases.
Offshore wind in Australia: draft regulatory framework emerges
With the announcement on 5 August of Australia’s first ‘declared area’ for future offshore wind development, this fledgling industry is ready for take-off.
China’s population lag, not a weaker yuan, set to be key as it battles younger Asian peers for investment
The yuan’s depreciation this year is mild compared to other currencies in the Asia-Pacific, but China’s population decline could become more of a factor in the future.