Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jnr, the 64-year-old son of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, faces several petitions seeking to stop him from running to become the Philippines’ next president. One says he’s a convicted tax cheat, another that he’s morally unfit. But surely the most unusual charge is that he’s dead.That allegation was filed by a man who also has presidential aspirations. Tiburcio Villamor Marcos, who refers to himself as TVM, claims that Bongbong Marcos is an “impostor” and that…
Latest on R&D tax changes ‘reassuring’ to UK life sciences
Further details on new territoriality restrictions on the availability of research and development (R&D) tax reliefs provide some reassurance for the life sciences sector, a tax expert has said.
South China Sea: Beijing demanded Indonesia stop oil and natural gas drilling during stand-off
China told Indonesia to stop drilling for oil and natural gas in maritime territory that both countries regard as their own during a months-long stand-off in the South China Sea earlier this year, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters.The unprecedented demand, which has not previously been reported, elevated tensions over natural resources between the two countries in a volatile area of global strategic and economic importance.One letter from Chinese diplomats to Indonesia’s foreign…
Former Maldives president Abdulla Yameen walks free after corruption conviction overturned
The former president of the Maldives, Abdulla Yameen, was freed from house arrest on Tuesday after a top court overturned a money-laundering and embezzlement conviction, allowing him to potentially make a return to politics.Yameen was sentenced to five years in jail and fined US$5 million in 2019 for embezzling US$1 million in state funds, allegedly acquired through the lease of resort development rights, and laundering the proceeds. Because of Covid-19, his jail term was shifted to house…
Is Philippine senator’s sudden exit from presidential race all part of ‘wily’ Duterte’s plan?
A deal struck between Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and the Marcos family could be behind the sudden withdrawal of his loyal ally Senator Christopher “Bong” Go from the presidential race, politicians and analysts said on Tuesday.Go on Tuesday told reporters that he was exiting the race just 17 days after filing his candidacy for president, accompanied by Duterte himself.“I am withdrawing from the race,” Go said. “In the past few days, I realised my heart and my mind are contradicting my…
European scrutiny of non-compete and no-poach clauses grows
HR professionals across Europe should closely track developments in employment and competition law that could restrict their ability to enforce non-compete clauses in employment contracts and implement no-poach agreements with competitors in future.
HSE employers safe home working obligations
The British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued updated guidance on working from home, underlining employers’ responsibilities to their staff outside the office.
India’s parliament repeals agriculture reform laws, but farmers vow to keep up the fight
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government moved to repeal controversial farm laws as parliament reconvened on Monday, to quell protests from a crucial vote bank that show little sign of abating with key state elections due next year.The lower house of parliament approved the scrapping of the legislation in a rushed voice vote even as the opposition parties demanded a debate. The upper house of parliament has to follow suit for the formal rollback to be complete.As lawmakers consider this…
Cambodian prince and politician Norodom Ranariddh dies at 77
Cambodia’s Prince Norodom Ranariddh, former prime minister and the son of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, died on Sunday in France, Information Minister Khieu Kanharith announced on his Facebook page. He was 77.Khieu Kanharith, who said he learned of the death from Um Daravuth, a minor member of Cambodia’s royal family, did not give the cause of death.Ranariddh had been in poor health since a car accident in Cambodia in 2018. An aide to Ranariddh, who spoke on condition of anonymity because who…
Solomon Islands PM defies calls to resign, says riots orchestrated to topple him
The prime minister of the riot-hit Solomon Islands defied pressure to resign on Sunday, saying a wave of torching and looting that swept through the capital had been orchestrated by a few people with “evil intention” to topple him.Shattered glass and rubble still lined the streets of Honiara as Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare addressed the nation, a reminder of the three-day eruption in violence blamed partly on poverty, hunger and frustration with his policies.“It is very clear that the…