Jakarta’s ambassador to Singapore has expressed scepticism about the existence of an Indonesian baby trafficking syndicate following the arrest of 12 people for smuggling infants to the city state by West Java police.
Suryopratomo claimed he had not received any reports about the alleged trafficking ring when contacted by Tempo news magazine on Tuesday. “I don’t know,” he said in a brief text message. “What is the evidence of baby sales to Singapore? I cannot comment on something unclear.”
He…
CMA doubles down on pricing transparency to protect consumers
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)’s draft guidance on pricing transparency marks an important juncture in the UK’s expanded consumer protection regime, experts have said.
Malaysia to seek lawyers’ views as anger over judge selection process mounts
Malaysia’s government on Tuesday invited the Bar Council to take part in a review of the country’s judicial appointment process, in a bid to quell public discontent over alleged executive interference that has thrown the judiciary into crisis.
The move comes just a day after nearly 1,000 lawyers marched to the Prime Minister’s Office demanding urgent reforms and greater transparency in the selection of judges amid a shortage at the top of the courts and warnings of further institutional…
Anwar’s big surprise? Malaysians sceptical over ‘tribute’ teaser post
A cryptic promise from Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has become the latest lightning rod for Malaysia’s restless public, whose patience is wearing thin after months of new taxes, political scandals and economic anxiety.
Late on Monday, Anwar posted a stylised silhouette and the words Akan Datang (Coming Soon) across his social media accounts, promising a special gesture of “extraordinary” appreciation for all Malaysians.
The post, which was met with widespread derision, appeared just hours after…
Establishing a UCITS in Ireland
Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS funds) are open-ended collective investment schemes that are established under a common EU legal and regulatory framework.
Malaysia’s judicial crisis deepens with leaked memo from classified meeting
Malaysia’s judicial crisis deepened over the weekend after a leaked memo revealed serious allegations against Federal Court Judge Terrirudin Salleh, as lawyers marched to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office on Monday to protest against alleged executive interference in the judiciary.
Anwar has come under mounting pressure over the scandal, with lawmakers from his own party breaking ranks to demand that he “clear the air”, warning that judicial integrity is now “the biggest issue” facing the…
Malaysia imposes trade permits for US-linked AI chip shipments
Malaysia said on Monday it would require trade permits for all high-performance chips meant for artificial intelligence (AI) and sourced from the United States, as Kuala Lumpur scrambles to negotiate down punitive American tariffs set to kick in on August 1.
Last week, US President Donald Trump slapped a 25 per cent tariff on Malaysia, part of a broader move by the mercurial leader to address what he described as “unsustainable trade deficits” between the world’s largest economy and its trade…
Filipino film that China wanted to cancel wins at New Zealand festival
A Filipino documentary spotlighting the daily struggles of fishermen, naval cooks and coastguard personnel in the contested South China Sea has earned international recognition, with its director telling This Week in Asia that the award was a validation of honest storytelling in the face of political pressure from Beijing to cancel its screening.
Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea took home the Tides of Change prize at the Doc Edge Festival in Auckland, New Zealand, on July 3….
Bangkok calling: Thailand’s digital nomad visa proves a runaway success
When Tim Grassin sold his fintech start-up in the Philippines, he mapped out his next move the way any good analyst would: with a spreadsheet.
After comparing the region’s top destinations for remote workers, the French-Canadian entrepreneur landed on the Thai capital.
“Bangkok won,” he told This Week in Asia.
Drawn by its affordable healthcare, robust infrastructure and vibrant lifestyle, Grassin settled in the city in 2023 and eventually qualified for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) – a…
Crypto kingdom: Bhutan goes all-in on bitcoin tourism
High in the Himalayas, the tiny kingdom of Bhutan, long known for its pursuit of “gross national happiness”, has now set its sights on a new measure of contentment: cryptocurrency.
In a move that has startled some of its neighbours and inspired global fintech champions, the “Land of the Thunder Dragon”, home to around 800,000 people, is using state-mined bitcoin to fund public salaries and lure a new wave of tourists.
Bhutan became, in May, the world’s first nation to unveil a countrywide,…