Six Japanese ministers will attend high-level economic talks in Beijing planned for mid-April, underscoring a recent improvement in relations between the two countries.It is a larger delegation than last year, when four members of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet attended the so-called high-level economic dialogue in Tokyo.Foreign Minister Taro Kono, who will head the delegation, plans to meet his counterpart Wang Yi as well as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, laying the groundwork for President…
Maldives president seeks to investigate China deals that left the country with debts worth US$3 billion
The Maldives heads for a parliamentary election on Saturday with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih seeking a majority for his party to investigate debts to China, which it fears could run as high as US$3 billion and risk sinking the economy.Since he unseated pro-China leader Abdulla Yameen in September, Solih’s Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which has governed in a coalition with three other parties, has warned that a building boom has left huge debts to Chinese lenders.The Maldives, a…
Jeweller wins trade mark case over rival’s sale of its bracelet links
An Italian company that makes bracelets has successfully enforced its trade mark rights against a rival business that sold individual links from those bracelets to go with links it made itself.
Social media executives could be jailed for failure to remove extremist content under Australia’s new laws
Social media executives could be jailed if they fail to remove extremist material from their platforms quickly, under controversial Australian laws adopted on Thursday, in the wake of the live-streamed mosque shootings in Christchurch.Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favour of the laws, which make it illegal not to remove footage of “a terrorist act”, murder, torture, rape and kidnapping, and spell out that internet service, content and hosting providers will be held culpable.Platforms like…
US plans to send second aircraft carrier to Vietnam, highlighting concerns about China’s regional influence
The United States hopes to reach agreement for another aircraft carrier visit to Vietnam this year and for such port stops to become a regular feature of the increasingly close relationship between the former Vietnam war enemies, a senior US defence official said on Wednesday.The USS Carl Vinson stopped in Vietnam in March last year in the first such visit since the end of the Vietnam war in 1975, underscoring the growing strategic ties between the former foes at a time when China’s regional…
Court finds repudiation in software customer’s non-co-operation’
A recent ruling has highlighted how businesses might be said to be responsible for a repudiatory breach of contract through the indications they give in their words or conduct, an expert in the resolution of technology contract disputes has said.
1MDB scandal: former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak’s corruption trial begins
The long-awaited trial of former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak over his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption scandal began on Wednesday.Najib, who arrived at court in a blue suit and white shirt, faces seven charges arising from 42 million ringgit (US$10.3 million) siphoned from 1MDB subsidiary SRC International that wound up in Najib’s personal accounts. He faces three counts of criminal breach of trust, one count of abuse of power, and three counts of money…
Sultan insists Brunei is ‘fair and happy’ country despite stoning coming into effect for gay sex and adultery
Brunei’s sultan called for Islamic teachings in the country to be strengthened as strict new sharia punishments, including death by stoning for gay sex and adultery, were due to come into force on Wednesday.The tough penal code in the tiny country on tropical Borneo island – ruled by the all-powerful Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah – is set to be fully implemented following years of delays.The laws, which also include amputation of hands and feet for thieves, will make Brunei the first place in East or…
Geo-blocking: businesses must act to ensure compliance
ANALYSIS: Businesses should check whether they need to make changes to their online sales methods to account for new ‘geo-blocking’ rules that came into force late last year.
Teenage maid Uzma Bibi was found murdered and dumped in a canal, forcing Pakistan to confront brutality of child labour
The battered body of 16-year-old servant Uzma Bibi was found dumped in a canal and her wealthy employer charged with murder, the latest case highlighting the dangers domestic workers – especially children – face in Pakistan.Police said Uzma died after blows to the head with a kitchen utensil. She had been working for the family in Lahore for eight months when she was killed in January this year.Her employer and two other women remain in custody as a police investigation into the murder and…