The UK tax tribunal has found that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) acted unreasonably in revoking certain approvals of an excise warehousekeeper, in a case concerning logistics provider Kammac plc and ordered HMRC to conduct a further review of its decision.
Redundancy and restructuring in the UAE
Redundancy is a sensitive and challenging topic in any jurisdiction. For companies operating in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the issue is particularly complex as the UAE Labour Law (Law No. 8 of 1980) does not set out any express statutory definition of redundancy or redundancy procedure.
Banking survey shows culture change is an ongoing process
Employee perception of banks’ culture, behaviour and competence has changed little in the past 12 months, showing that embedding cultural change will be an ongoing process for firms, an expert has said.
ASEAN green infrastructure gets $1 billion boost
A $1 billion finance facility to support investment in ‘green’ infrastructure across southeast Asia was announced last week in Thailand.
Pilot promised for new EU ethical guidelines for AI
Businesses in Europe exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) will be given a chance this summer to pilot the use of new ethical guidelines, the European Commission has said.
Japanese teen who traded uranium online and even processed it into yellowcake was just a ‘chemistry geek’, analyst says
A 16-year-old Japanese boy is being investigated for dealing uranium online and even processing uranium ore into yellowcake. However, he was likely not a terrorist but rather a “chemistry geek” fascinated by the challenge, according to one security analyst. Kyodo news agency on Wednesday reported the high school student – who was initially referred to prosecutors on Monday on charges of violating the gunpowder control law by creating 2.4 grams of the explosive penthrite at his home last year –…
Rosmah Mansor, Malaysia’s former first lady, charged with corruption over solar energy deal
The wife of Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak was hit on Wednesday with a new corruption charge over a solar energy contract.Rosmah Mansor pleaded not guilty to accepting a 5 million ringgit (US$1.22 million) bribe through her aide from a manager at Jepak Holdings as a kickback for helping secure a contract from the Education Ministry. She has also been charged with laundering illegal proceeds and tax evasion in a massive corruption scandal that led to Najib’s electoral loss last May…
Review shows police ‘short changing’ fraud victims
A critical review of the way in which UK law enforcement responds to reports of fraud underlines the importance of civil recovery routes for victims, an expert has said.
Japanese Catholic Church opens investigation into child sex abuse allegations
The Catholic Church in Japan said on Tuesday it will launch an internal probe into claims of sexual abuse against children by its clergy, after a wave of paedophilia revelations worldwide.The standing committee of the bishops’ conference last week decided to investigate all 16 dioceses in Japan, a spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan said.Japan is home to a small community of Roman Catholics, believed to number around 450,000.What the George Pell conviction reveals about Pope…
Tourists taking Phuket airport runway selfies could face death penalty
For selfie seekers, it’s the perfect Instagram-ready shot: standing on a beach with outstretched arms as a massive airliner soars overhead.Few places in the world can offer such a vantage point, which is why Mai Khao beach in Thailand’s Phuket province has proved so popular. But recent changes to the law mean tourists hoping for their very own “runway selfie” now risk life and limb – and not just because of the aeroplanes.Concerns over aviation safety have led to the introduction of a 9km-long…