ANALYSIS: Conducting internal investigations in Germany requires thorough preparation and execution by experts to avoid pitfalls in connection with the lawyer-client privilege, as recent court rulings in the country highlight.
China tips the scales away from the US in push for Cambodian influence
Nowhere else in Southeast Asia is China and the West’s battle for political and economic influence more evident than in Cambodia, where strongman leader Hun Sen is poised to clinch an almost uncontested election victory.
During what is the 60th year of bilateral ties between the two countries, China has ramped-up aid to Cambodia, pledging millions in military funding, infrastructure projects and election support. And according to some, the recent display of closeness combined with Hun Sen…
Malaysian 1MDB fund investigators will ‘meet with US officials in Washington’
Malaysian officials investigating a multibillion-dollar corruption scheme linked to a Malaysian state fund and former Prime Minister Najib Razak plan to meet with US officials in Washington, US and Malaysian sources familiar with the plans said.
The visit, including discussions with US Justice Department officials, could take place before the end of July, the sources said. The plans have not been finalised.
Malaysian officials could include representatives of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption…
Opposition against an EU trade mark application
Once a trade mark application has successfully passed the examination of the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), it is published in the Trade Marks Bulletin. The application is then open for others to oppose its registration. This brief summary explains the procedures for opposing trade mark applications in the EU and for defending an opposition. The proceedings are largely the same for EU trade mark filings as well as for international registrations designated to the EU.
Southeast Asian ride hailing firm Grab aims to become ‘superapp’ platform
Southeast Asia’s dominant ride-hailing company Grab has launched an open-platform strategy, allowing third party services including content providers to operate within its app as it aims to become an “everyday superapp”.
The open-platform, dubbed GrabPlatform, will allow more “highly used everyday services” to be incorporated into the Grab app via a suite of application program interfaces (APIs), the company said. The home screen has also been redesigned to give…
Elon Musk visits Thai cave where boys are trapped, delivers kid-size submarine – just in case
American space entrepreneur Elon Musk tweeted that he was in Thailand on Tuesday with a prototype mini-sub, at the flooded cave where five members of a youth football team remained trapped.
“Just returned from Cave 3,” Musk said.
“Mini-sub is ready if needed. It is made of rocket parts & named Wild Boar after kids’ soccer team. Leaving here in case it may be useful in the future.”
On Instagram, he published video of a flooded cave, with rescuers.
Cave Three is…
Financial services register will be complemented by new directory of staff
A new directory of those working in financial services will be introduced alongside the existing financial services register, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced.
Executed cult founder Shoko Asahara is cremated in Tokyo, as family feuds over his remains
The body of executed Aum Shinrikyo cult founder Shoko Asahara was cremated in Tokyo on Monday, a source familiar with the matter said.
To whom the remains will be handed over has been a focus of concern following Friday’s executions of Asahara and six former senior members of the cult for crimes including the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, which resulted in the deaths of 29 people and sickened over 6,000 people.
A different source close to the matter has said that Asahara told a…
Four Thai boys have been freed from cave – but rest remain trapped as dramatic rescue is paused
Rescuers have freed four boys who were trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand for more than two weeks, but have had to pause the operation, leaving eight other boys and their 25-year-old coach underground. The fourth boy left Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai Province shortly before 8pm local time on Sunday, the Thai navy Seals Facebook page announced. How a young ex-monk kept the Thai cave boys alive – and won locals’ hearts Efforts to rescue the others – who…
Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal: a Razak family affair?
The big question in post-election Malaysia right up to this week was when the defeated prime minister Najib Razak would be arrested and charged for his alleged involvement in the 1MDB financial scandal.
With charges formally filed against him and a “not guilty” plea entered on Wednesday, the focus is now on whether attorney general Tommy Thomas’s dragnet will extend to others close to the leader. One person who has faced intense scrutiny in recent days is Riza Aziz, the son…