Crafted from a centuries-old design, three identical wooden boats set off from the Philippine capital for China on Saturday, to retrace a historic trip by a Filipino sultan and showcase long-standing maritime ties.
The 29 crew members on the three vessels – two propelled by engines and the third by sail – hope to make it across the South China Sea, a nearly 1,000km (620-mile) voyage, to the eastern city of Xiamen by May 2. The 18-metre (60-foot) boats are replicas of a “…
PPF pension compensation caps ‘could breach EU law’
The cap on pension compensation payable to employees of insolvent businesses by the UK’s Pension Protection Fund (PPF) may breach EU law, according to a legal adviser to the Court of Justice (CJEU).
HKIAC announces dedicated ‘belt and road’ resources
The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) has announced two new initiatives to support businesses seeking opportunities related to China’s ‘belt and road’ initiative (BRI).
Duterte ‘not abandoning’ court victory against Beijing over South China Sea areas, says spokesman
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xhan Phuc on Friday he is not abandoning Manila’s 2016 arbitral award against China over features in the South China Sea, his official spokesman said.
According to Harry Roque, Duterte assured Phuc during a bilateral meeting in Singapore ahead of their participation in a regional summit this weekend that the International Court of Arbitration’s decision “will be addressed at the proper time”….
Thais sends Cambodian wanted by Phnom Penh back to Denmark
The leader of a Cambodian anti-government group who was at risk of being extradited to his homeland for imprisonment says he is safely back in Denmark where he has had political asylum for seven years.
Sam Serey, head of a fringe opposition group called the Khmer National Liberation Front, said by message that he was deported from Thailand on Friday morning after being arrested on Wednesday for overstaying his visa. Cambodian authorities had said they would seek his extradition, but apparently…
EU issues raft of new data-related proposals
The value of Europe’s data economy could more than double by 2020 if new measures are implemented to harness the potential of information, the European Commission has said.
Kim Jong-un’s sister to join North Korea’s delegates for peace talks with South Korea
Kim Jong-un’s younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, and senior aides are to join the North Korean leader at his historic summit meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday, with peace in the Korean peninsula hanging in the balance. North Korea confirmed its delegates list only on Thursday. After learning who Kim intended to bring with him to the inter-Korean parley, South Korea then expanded its list in a last-minute move. Kim will use nuclear weapons to push for…
EHRC to begin gender pay gap investigations in June
Formal investigations into companies that have not complied with their gender pay gap reporting obligations will begin in June, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has announced.
Philippines demands explanation after Kuwait expels envoy as diplomatic crisis deepens over mistreatment of maids
Manila demanded an explanation on Thursday after its ambassador to Kuwait was expelled, shocking Philippine authorities and deepening a diplomatic row over the treatment of domestic workers in the Gulf state.
The two nations had been working to resolve differences sparked by the murder of a Philippine maid, whose body was found stuffed in her employer’s freezer in Kuwait earlier this year.
But relations plunged after the Philippines released videos last week of…
Draft trade secrets laws leaked in Germany
Businesses should check immediately whether information they hold will be eligible for protection as a trade secret and whether it is properly protected, intellectual property law experts have said.