Seventy-six Myanmar civil society groups called on Tuesday for the release of two jailed Reuters reporters, denouncing their conviction as unfair and an assault on the right to freedom of information.
A court found the two journalists guilty on Monday of breaching a law on state secrets and jailed them for seven years in a landmark case seen as a test of progress towards democracy in Myanmar, which was ruled by a military junta until 2011.
Myanmar hudge jails Reuters journalists for seven years…
No-deal Brexit would ’cause chaos for just-in-time supply chains’
A new report analysing a no-deal Brexit has predicted a slowdown in the economy and a significant impact for supermarkets, online retail and medical suppliers.
Overtime endemic in Japanese ministry leading fight against death from overwork
The latest Rei Nakagawa has had to stay at her desk in the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Tokyo was half-past midnight, but she definitely considers herself lucky because she is usually able to turn off her computer before 7pm. More than one in four of her colleagues, however, do not leave the ministry in the Kasumigaseki district of the city before 11pm, a new study has revealed, which is ironic given that it is at the forefront of the government’s campaign to eliminate the…
Two Malaysian women caned under Islamic law for lesbian sex
Two Malaysian women were caned on Monday for having lesbian sex in violation of strict Islamic laws, despite an outcry from activists at the “cruel and unjust” punishment. The case has sparked widespread condemnation and focused attention on what rights groups say is a deteriorating climate for the gay community in the Muslim-majority country. Campaigners said it was the first time that women in Malaysia have been caned for violating a sharia regulation which forbids same-sex…
Money talks: Bangkok hosts crunch climate meeting to bring Paris treaty back to life
As the pace of global warming races ahead of efforts to tame it, diplomats from more than 190 nations begin crunch UN climate talks in Bangkok Tuesday to breathe life into the Paris Agreement.
This year is the deadline to finalise the “rule book” for the 2015 treaty, which calls for capping the rise in global temperatures at “well below” two degrees Celsius, and 1.5 degrees if possible.
The pact also promises US$100 billion annually from 2020 to poor nations already…
And the winner of the Asian Games is … Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s re-election campaign
Indonesia’s hosting of the Asian Games and a record haul of gold medals has swelled national pride, providing a boost to the re-election campaign of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The two-week-long games ended Saturday with Indonesia fourth on the medal table behind China, Japan and South Korea.
A good chunk of its 30 gold medals were in obscure sports held only at the Asian Games, and none was from swimming or athletics.
But for Indonesia, which has won only seven Olympic…
‘Who am I?’: Mahathir’s right-hand man Daim Zainuddin on claims he is blocking Anwar
Alternate power centre, me? In an interview with This Week in Asia, Daim Zainuddin, the influential adviser to Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, poured scorn on growing talk that he is emerging as an unelected political force trying to stop Anwar Ibrahim from succeeding as the country’s next leader. The current opposition – from the Barisan Nasional coalition defeated in the May 9 election – say Daim and the Council of Eminent Persons he heads wield too much…
‘This is history’: Bangkok mall opens Thai cave rescue display, featuring plastic tunnel
In Bangkok’s upmarket Siam Paragon shopping centre, a young man crawls through a small, dank-looking tunnel.
The sound of dripping water can be heard as he disappears into the shadows, mixed with a blast of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky from the shopping centre speakers.
“This tunnel is great for children,” said Supira Pungkanok, 78, as the man tumbles out of a tunnel entrance nearby. “It’ll warn them to not do anything adventurous.” The 10-metre plastic…
Social Care Compliance Scheme to continue despite Mencap decision
A national minimum wage (NMW) back pay compliance scheme for care sector employers will continue to operate in its current form despite a recent court judgment on how staff should be compensated for overnight ‘sleep-in’ shifts.
Singapore and Dubai to collaborate on fintech
Financial regulators in Singapore and Dubai have signed an agreement to work more closely together on fintech, including a mechanism which will allow each authority to refer innovative businesses to the other.