Asian Legal Review

The Philippines’ defence chief said on Sunday a military resupply mission for the country’s troops stationed on an atoll in the South China Sea will resume this week, after it was aborted last week when it was blocked by Chinese coastguard.Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he had instructed the military to send its resupply vessels back to the Philippines-occupied Second Thomas Shoal, and that China “will not interfere” this time.On Thursday, the Philippines condemned “in strongest terms”…

They are shivering in barracks without heat, going hungry and have no money. They say their passports have been taken by their Chinese employer and that they are now stuck in a grim plainland in Serbia with no help from local authorities.These are the Vietnamese workers who are helping build the first Chinese car tyre factory in Europe. The Associated Press visited the construction site in the northern city of Zrenjanin where some 500 of the workers are living in harsh conditions as China’s…

Singapore will from Monday ease strict Covid-19 restrictions that were reimposed in September after its biggest outbreak of the Delta variant, though officials emphasised further reopening would be done in an incremental manner.With over 85 per cent of the country’s 5.45 million people vaccinated – and some 22 per cent having received booster shots – some citizens have taken to social media to express annoyance at the government’s cautious approach to easing the measures.Prime Minister Lee…

The case of a recruitment agency alleged to have falsely claimed furlough money from the government shows the importance of robust internal whistleblowing policies and procedures, an expert has said.

Radical change in policy, regulation and finance, as well as in the actions demanded of businesses, can be anticipated in the real estate sector following COP26.

The outcomes from COP26 will accelerate the flow of money away from businesses and projects that cannot demonstrate sustainability, increase investment in climate adaption initiatives in the developing world, and enhance transparency over the commitments businesses make to curb emissions.

In what seemed to be a thinly veiled attack on an erstwhile ally, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday claimed one of the candidates vying to succeed him was a drug user.In a rambling speech before an anti-insurgency task force, Duterte began criticising rich people who took drugs, saying there was “even a presidential candidate who takes cocaine”.While he did not go so far as to name the candidate – though he has promised to do so when the presidential campaign starts in February –…

Washington on Friday accused China of an escalation against the Philippines and warned that an armed attack would invite a US response after an incident in disputed waters.“The United States stands with our ally, the Philippines, in the face of this escalation that directly threatens regional peace and stability,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in Abuja, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken was travelling.The action “escalates regional tensions, infringes upon freedom of…

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Court has confirmed it has jurisdiction to hear a $600 million professional negligence claim.

The trial of two dozen humanitarian activists who helped migrants reach Greece three years ago was adjourned on Thursday shortly after opening and moved to an appeals court.The activists, who are accused of espionage, forgery and assisting a criminal organisation, helped migrants reach the island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused Greek authorities of “criminalising rescuers”.“The court ruled that it was not competent to judge this case,” defence lawyer…