The UN said on Tuesday that Myanmar’s junta was using violence and intimidation to force people to vote in upcoming military-controlled elections, while armed opposition groups were using similar tactics to keep people away.
“The military authorities in Myanmar must stop using brutal violence to compel people to vote and stop arresting people for expressing any dissenting views,” United Nations rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement.
Myanmar’s junta is set to preside over voting starting…
Qatar Financial Centre-seated arbitration open to global businesses
A new ruling brings clarity for international businesses hoping to resolve their disputes by arbitration seated in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), according to an expert.
Saudi Arabia tightens beneficial ownership rules
Saudi Arabia has given the go-ahead to stricter rules on company ownership regulation in a bid to increase transparency over who is in charge of firms in the Kingdom.
Gaming sector brought into UAE’s rigorous new AML laws
Commercial games and gaming operators will now be required to align with stringent new anti-money laundering laws being brought into effect in the United Arab Emirates.
BHP-GIP power deal sparks WA’s energy transition
On 9 December, BHP announced its entry into a binding agreement with BlackRock-owned, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), in relation to BHP’s share of Western Australia Iron Ore’s (WAIO) inland power network.
How North Koreans use ‘laptop farms’ in US to land tech jobs abroad
US tech giant Amazon said it has blocked over 1,800 North Koreans from joining the company, as Pyongyang sends large numbers of IT workers overseas to earn and launder funds.
In a post on LinkedIn, Amazon’s Chief Security Officer Stephen Schmidt said last week that North Korean workers “have been attempting to secure remote IT jobs with companies worldwide, particularly in the US”.
He said the firm had seen nearly a one-third rise in applications by North Koreans in the past year.
The North…
China’s steel export licensing plan shows will to curb trade frictions
China recently announced it would impose an export licensing regime on around 300 steel products starting January 1. The move, while seemingly technical, sends a clear signal Beijing is attempting to address a key source of trade friction with its emerging market partners.
To understand the policy’s intent, it needs to be placed in the broader context of China’s trade position this year.
As global trade protectionism intensifies, China’s exports have shown remarkable resilience. Even as…
Why 2026 may bring better days for the UK construction industry
There are indications that the UK construction sector could grow in 2026, notwithstanding the challenges that the industry faces, in what the industry will hope signals better days ahead.
HKIAC makes competitive updates to fees and expedited procedures
The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) has significantly expanded the scope of its expedited procedures schedule to meet client demands for greater control and efficiency, as well as slightly increased its fee schedule in an effort to keep costs low, an expert has said.
Liability, mitigation and communication: the big lessons for UK construction from 2025’s court rulings
2025 was a particularly notable one in terms of impactful court judgments, which will have a significant effect on the construction sector into next year and beyond.