Singapore will start a new travel lane for “business, official and high economic value travellers” that will allow people to come to the city state without quarantine for short-term visits and stay in a dedicated “bubble” facility near the airport.The segregated travel lane, announced by Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday, builds on Singapore’s efforts to reopen its borders in a controlled manner. The Southeast Asian nation, which has largely beaten back the coronavirus,…
Mastercard ruling: ‘new era’ for UK collective actions
The Supreme Court’s judgment in favour of the claimants in an opt-out mass action against payments provider Mastercard “heralds a new era” for the UK’s fledgling collective redress regime, according to a competition law expert at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law.
Malaysian women, children bear brunt of coronavirus lockdown
Women and children have been hardest-hit by coronavirus restrictions in Malaysia, experts say, with domestic violence and calls to abortion helplines both increasing during lockdown.Women’s groups reported a threefold increase in distress calls over the past year, while a reproductive rights group said calls from women seeking access to safe abortions increased nearly 50 per cent over 2020 compared to 2019.The Women’s Aid Organisation reported a 150 per cent increase in calls to its hotline and…
Coronavirus Malaysia: Top Glove put profits before people, say migrant workers
Bangladeshi migrant worker Sheikh Kibria recalls with horror the filthy, overcrowded dormitory where he was housed by the world’s biggest rubber glove manufacturer when a coronavirus outbreak erupted and infected thousands.Malaysia’s Top Glove saw profits soar, and its stock price jump as much as 400 per cent this year as countries worldwide rushed to buy protective gear as the pandemic intensified.But the South Asian migrants working flat out to make the gloves – who typically earn around US…
Young South Korean women are turning to suicide in ever greater numbers. Covid-19 is just the start of their problems
When Jin-ah quit her job as a hotel cook she had hoped for relief from the bullying and sexual discrimination that was making her life a misery. But having nothing to do only made her inner demons louder, so she tried to hang herself with the cord of her hair dryer. Jin-ah, 31, did not succeed. Deep within, a survival instinct stirred and she stopped herself before it was too late. Since that day a few months ago the Jeju Island resident has been trying to understand her motivations for…
Can Thailand save its rice bowl, or will China, India and Vietnam eat it for lunch?
Thailand’s famous jasmine rice claimed yet another top prize on the world stage this month, marking the sixth such honour the World Rice Conference has bestowed on the fluffy, fragrant and full-bodied grain since 2009. The “Khao Dawk Mali 105” – a code name for the most renowned Thai jasmine rice variety – defeated rivals from Cambodia, China, the United States and Vietnam with “its combination of aroma, texture, and flavour”, said the judging panel at the annual forum for rice suppliers and…
Coronavirus: South Korea reports highest daily cases; New Zealand eyes travel bubble with Cook Islands
South Korea has reported 950 new coronavirus cases, its largest daily increase since the emergence of the pandemic, as fears grow about overwhelmed hospitals in the greater capital area.The latest figures released on Saturday brought the country’s caseload to 41,736, after health officials added more than 8,900 cases in the last 15 days alone. The death toll rose by six in the past day to reach 578.Nearly 680 of the new cases came from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health…
Southeast Asia braces for trash dump as China enacts waste import ban
China, which used to be the world’s salvage king, is shutting its door to all waste imports starting the first day of the new year. The recent announcement triggered the same kind of anxiety among waste-exporting countries as in 2018, when China enacted its “Operation National Sword” policy, which banned the import of 24 types of solid waste, including plastic waste.The 2018 policy switch caused the world’s major waste-exporting countries – Europe, Britain, the US and Australia – to scramble…
ILPA launches ‘diversity in action’ initiative
The ‘diversity in action’ initiative, launched by influential US-based organisation the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA), highlights support for advancing diversity and inclusion amongst both fund managers and institutional investors, encourages actions to be taken now, and provides a platform for shaping and adopting best practice over time.
UK taskforce makes recommendations on digital markets regulation
The UK government is to consult on proposed changes to the regulation of digital markets in early 2021 after a major overhaul was recommended by regulators.