Hundreds of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Sunday against a decision by a top court that ruled calling for royal reforms amounted to a bid to overthrow Thailand’s ultra-powerful monarchy.The Constitutional Court – which critics have long said is politicised – announced on Wednesday that three prominent protest leaders had made speeches that “aim to overthrow the constitutional monarchy”.While the court’s decision does not result in criminal penalties for the protest leaders, observers say the…
Owners pay US$300,000 to release ships detained by Indonesian navy near Singapore
More than a dozen shipowners have made payments of about US$300,000 apiece to release vessels detained by the Indonesian navy, which said they were anchored illegally in the country’s waters near Singapore, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter.The dozen sources include shipowners, crew and maritime security sources all involved in the detentions and payments, which they say were either made in cash to naval officers or via bank transfer to intermediaries who told them they…
With Duterte, daughter set to vie for the Philippines’ vice-presidency, another option emerges
A whirlwind of last-minute reshuffles and changes ahead of what is shaping up to be one of the Philippines’ most bizarre presidential elections saw President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter Sara on Saturday enter the race to become vice-president on the same day her father vowed to do likewise – though some suspect not all is as it seems. A day after withdrawing her bid to run for re-election as mayor of Davao City, Sara Duterte-Carpio filed her certificate of candidacy on Saturday to run for the…
Singapore court orders halt to display of Kaws’ Companion, giant inflatable sculpture, at ‘Kaws: Holiday’ event
Rarely has there been a case of holiday blues of such monumental proportions.On Saturday, a large group of VIPs in Singapore were attending the official unveiling of a 42-metre-long inflatable outdoor sculpture, Companion, created by celebrity artist Kaws as part of a two-week, government-sponsored spectacle called “Kaws: Holiday”.But at 4.30pm, a court injunction ordering both the immediate suspension of the artwork’s display and the accompanying sale of merchandise was delivered to the event…
Sri Lanka to tax car crashes in drastic austerity budget, raising money and ‘reducing accidents’
Sri Lanka has slapped a tax on road accidents in a drastic austerity budget as the country faces a major foreign exchange crisis.“It is proposed to impose a fee on vehicles meeting with accidents,” Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa told parliament on Friday. “Through this initiative, it is expected to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents.”As Sri Lanka braces for a perfect economic storm, will China send a lifeline?Rajapaksa said accidents would be taxed under new proposals to keep the…
Fires at Indonesia’s Komodo dragon reserve spark fears over ‘Jurassic Park’ tourism revamp
A series of fires at Indonesia’s Komodo National Park have prompted safety concerns for the endangered giant lizards that live there, while also highlighting the pitfalls and confusion surrounding the government’s plan to re-brand the park as a “super-priority” tourist destination.The latest blaze on November 2 took a team of 32 park rangers and 11 residents of Rinca Island – one of three main islands that make up the park in East Nusa Tenggara Province – to put out. The source of the fire is…
Environment Act will have cross-sector and fundamental impact
The development of major infrastructure projects, the way water companies manage their networks, and the design of consumer products are just some of many aspects of life that will all be impacted by wide-ranging new environmental laws passed earlier this week by the UK parliament.
World’s largest trade deal to take effect on 1 January 2022
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal will take effect on 1 January 2022 following ratification by Asia-Pacific counties.
NEC defects dispute must go to adjudication before the court
It is possible to raise court proceedings in Scotland, to avoid losing a right to pursue money claims, under some NEC contracts even if the contractual requirement to pursue those claims in adjudication first has not been met, according to a recent ruling by a court in Edinburgh.
Armistice remembrances take place around world again, after cancelled last year due to Covid-19
Armistice remembrances took place around the world on Thursday after the coronavirus pandemic wiped out ceremonies twelve months ago to mark the 1918 end of World War I.Dignitaries and government leaders across the Western Front in Europe stood still and pondered the losses of millions during the four-year war, whose end 103 years ago harboured the seeds of an equally cruel World War II a little over two decades later.In Paris, President Emmanuel Macron was joined by US Vice-President Kamala…