NEC4 Alliance Contract: the basics

The NEC4 Alliance Contract was published in June 2018. The much-anticipated new standard form contract allows parties to construction projects to more closely collaborate and equally share in that project’s risks and rewards.

Saudi truth on Khashoggi killing the key to stability

The silencing of a critic of a Middle Eastern government would not usually grab international attention. But Jamal Khashoggi was a prominent journalist from Saudi Arabia and his murder at his country’s consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul was repugnant and raises questions about regional stability and promised Saudi reforms. Pressure on Riyadh to provide an account of what happened have not been convincing in the face of alleged evidence presented and leaked by Turkey. Despite all…

Leaders of Singapore’s only opposition party plea for funds to stave off bankruptcy in civil case

Leaders of Singapore’s only parliamentary opposition party have appealed to supporters for financial help, saying they face the risk of bankruptcy as costs mount in civil cases they are fighting.
The three officials of the Workers’ Party are being sued by two town councils controlled by the party between 2011 and 2015 for more than S$30 million (US$21.7 million) in damages. The councils say the trio failed in their fiduciary duties – claims the defendants say are unfounded….

Malaysia’s Anwar underlines ‘serious’ bid to strengthen ties after meeting China’s Wang Yi

Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim, the reformist politician to whom Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will hand power in two years, on Wednesday met with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in the latest signal both sides are conscientiously consolidating bilateral ties.
While there has been some talk that Beijing is unhappy Malaysia has been sending mixed signals over the future of billions of dollars worth of infrastructure projects linked to the “Belt and Road Initiative”, Anwar’s…

Philippines to reopen Boracay after President Rodrigo Duterte wraps up 6-month campaign to clean up ‘cesspool’ resort

The Philippines reopens its crown jewel resort island Boracay to holidaymakers on Friday, after a six-month clean up aimed at repairing the damage inflicted by years of unrestrained mass tourism.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the island closed in April for a major effort to fortify weak infrastructure and crack down on the rampant overdevelopment that had left it, what he termed, a “cesspool”.
When the government throws open the doors, Boracay will have fewer hotels…

Reassuring message for China economy despite challenges

Amid a slowing economy, faltering stock markets and an ongoing trade war with the United States, Liu He, President Xi Jinping’s mastermind on economic policy, gave a high-profile interview last week with the state media to boost domestic confidence and send a positive signal to the Americans. Published by Xinhua and People’s Daily just after a rare joint pep talk given by the country’s top financial officials on the same day, the interview with Liu, a member of the powerful…

Singapore launches regional investment agency to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Singapore launched a government agency on Tuesday to support infrastructure projects across Asia, which need billions of dollars in funding, and make them more appealing to financial institutions and private investors.
The global financial hub’s decision to position itself as a broker for regional infrastructure investment comes as China ramps up efforts to fund and build transport and trade links in dozens of countries as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
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