Asian Legal Review

Indonesia went to Washington to negotiate a trade deal and came home with more than 200 obligations to America’s nine.
A day after the signing, the US Supreme Court struck down the legal basis for the tariff threat that had driven the whole exercise – for a time, at least.
Detractors have likened this “agreement on reciprocal trade” to a blank cheque and a surrender of Indonesia’s sovereignty. The government, for its part, calls it a win-win.
The deal was signed by President Prabowo Subianto on…

Plans by a UK regulator to provide support to legitimate financial influencers and develop a stronger investment culture in the country, highlight its increased commitment to smarter regulation, according to an expert.

UK lawmakers have called on the government to rule out writing a new text and data mining (TDM) exception to copyright, to support AI training and development, into UK law.

The UK’s lead competition authority has opened a review of the way the private dentistry market operates.

Indonesia could face a sharp fiscal squeeze if the US-Israel war on Iran pushes oil prices higher, analysts warn, as this could inflate the country’s fuel subsidy bill at a time when global ratings agencies and investors are already scrutinising Jakarta’s monetary discipline.
A prolonged war could force policymakers into a difficult choice: maintain fuel subsidies and risk breaching the legal deficit ceiling – potentially unsettling investors further – or cut funding to keep the budget within…

A Malaysian mother who allowed her underage son to drive her car, which later got into an accident claiming three lives, was fined 1,500 ringgit (US$379) by the Magistrate’s Court in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan state.
Magistrate Nurul Azuin Mohd Talhah also ordered 40-year-old Nur Farahidayah A Rahman to be jailed for three months in the event she was unable to pay the fine.
“After considering the guilty plea by the accused, mitigating factors and submissions by parties and the aggravating…

The NSW Supreme Court recently clarified when a previous concession in the Building Code of Australia (BCA) could have permitted the installation of aluminium composite panels on the outside of buildings which require the most fire-resistant type of construction.

A new consultation on how artificial intelligence should be used in preparing civil court documents should help produce sensible guardrails for procedures in future, but precision is needed, according to an expert.

Singapore police have announced arrests of three Singaporeans as part of investigations into ⁠alleged transnational scam syndicate Prince Group and its founder and chairman, Chen Zhi, who is in Chinese detention.
Police said the three men were arrested between November 2025 and January for their suspected involvement in money laundering and fraud offences in relation to the case.
Each offence is punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine or both.
Assets frozen include three properties,…

Asian carriers like Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines (SIA) are among the best positioned airlines to weather the war in the Middle East as travellers scramble for flights – and pay huge premiums – to escape the conflict.
Asian airlines have emerged as one of the go-to choices for people leaving the Middle East in the wake of US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Extensive airspace closures mean carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways have essentially ground to a halt, creating opportunities for…