Trade minister Muhammad Lutfi, under pressure amid rising palm oil prices, complained ‘mafia’ practices included smuggling oil intended for households to industries or overseas. His recent export ban led to arrests in Indonesia for alleged corruption and shocked global markets.
Hong Kong to reform workplace health and safety regime
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) administration has published a bill to amend the existing occupational health and safety regime.
Are India’s billion-dollar trade ties with Gulf states in ‘peril’ amid Prophet Mohammed row?
While some analysts say the storm will blow over, opposition lawmaker Shashi Tharoor warns India’s international reputation is in ‘peril’ and the time has come for Modi to choose between ‘polarisation and prosperity’.
Thai cat with Covid suspected to have infected human
Scientists describe a case in which a female veterinary surgeon was infected with the virus while treating a cat in the southern city of Songkhla, which underscores the need to isolate animals at home in the event of an infection.
Employee-owned businesses on the rise post-pandemic
Fleur Benns tells HRNews about the advantages of Employee Ownership Trusts for both employees and companies
UN human rights chief Bachelet says no to second term, ‘no relationship’ to China trip
Michelle Bachelet, 70, said she will spend more time with her family in Chile. She was criticised by rights groups and some governments over her visit last month to China; they said she did not do enough to act against alleged abuses against Uygurs in Xinjiang.
Singapore’s Lawrence Wong serves as acting PM as Lee Hsien Loong takes a week-long break
During Lee’s week-long local leave, Wong will have a chance to chair his first Cabinet meeting.
Philippines: Tunnel drilling for first subway set to start, with Japanese machine and cash
A machine to drill tunnels has been unveiled in Manila. President Duterte called it a gift from the Japanese people to the Philippines; the nation was occupied by Japan during World War II.
Japan’s Fukushima village residents allowed to return 11 years after nuclear disaster – but do they want to?
Evacuation orders have been lifted for some residents in Fukushima Prefecture, first time people allowed to live again in ‘difficult-to-return’ zone, but many are still worried.
Asean should have a ‘full-time’ Myanmar special envoy with added powers, Malaysia’s Saifuddin Abdullah says
Saifuddin Abdullah said Asean needed to find new ways to de-escalate Myanmar’s violence or risk the junta writing off the bloc’s resolve to take firm action.