New UN report finds migrants play critical role in Asia-Pacific development (UN News 29 February 2016)
New UN report finds migrants play critical role in Asia-Pacific development (UN News 29 February 2016) Migrants from countries across Asia and the Pacific play a key role by helping to drive economic growth in their countries of destination while also supporting families in their countries of origin, but the benefits of migration remain under-acknowledged,…
Read MoreBay of Bengal ‘three times more deadly’ than Mediterranean for migrants and refugees (UN News, 23 February 2016)
Bay of Bengal ‘three times more deadly’ than Mediterranean for migrants and refugees (UN News, 23 February 2016) Refugees and migrants crossing the seas of Southeast Asia died at a rate three times higher than those in the Mediterranean last year, a new United Nations report has found, highlighting the urgency of greater life-saving cooperation…
Read MoreASEAN must step up to promote rule of law in region, experts say (Today, 15 January 2016)
ASEAN must step up to promote rule of law in region, experts say (Today, 15 January 2016) With major world powers stepping up their engagement with Southeast Asia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will have to take on a bigger role to create a robust rules-based regional order. “The Barack Obama administration has…
Read MoreReviving domestic demand key to robust and sustainable growth in Asia-Pacific – UN report (UN News, 14 January 2016)
Reviving domestic demand key to robust and sustainable growth in Asia-Pacific – UN report (UN News, 14 January 2016) Against the backdrop of a global economic slowdown, reinvigorating domestic and intra-regional demand plays a crucial role in reviving economies in Asia and the Pacific, according to a newly released-United Nations report, which also recommends a…
Read MoreSouth China Sea arbitration: What may follow (Straits Times, 23 January 2016)
South China Sea arbitration: What may follow (Straits Times, 23 January 2016) The Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague is expected to make a final decision this year on the Philippines’ maritime dispute with China in the South China Sea. Its decision will have a significant impact on China and its ties with other…
Read MorePH has legal options at WTO and ASEAN over cigarette tax case vs Thailand (Manila Bulletin, 24 January 2016)
PH has legal options at WTO and ASEAN over cigarette tax case vs Thailand (Manila Bulletin, 24 January 2016) The Philippines has legal options within the WTO and ASEAN to force Thailand to implement the multilateral trading body’s decision for a fair tax treatment on its cigarette exports. Anthony Abad, former legal counsel of the cigarette…
Read More‘Legal convergence needed in ASEAN for region to soar’ (Business Times, 25 January 2016)
‘Legal convergence needed in ASEAN for region to soar’ (Business Times, 25 January 2016) COMMON norms and practices developed by the Asian Business Law Institute can ease cross-border trade in Asia and facilitate dialogue between countries, which can lower costs and increase business flows, Minister for Law K Shanmugam has said. In his closing address…
Read More‘Imperative to pursue criminal accountability of the DPR Korea leadership’ – UN rights expert (UN News, 22 January 2016)
‘Imperative to pursue criminal accountability of the DPR Korea leadership’ – UN rights expert (UN News, 22 January 2016) The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has called on the international community to further all efforts to improve the human rights situation in…
Read MoreCambodia, Singapore Deposit Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons (ASEC Press Release, 25 January 2016)
Cambodia, Singapore Deposit Instrument of Ratification of the ASEAN Convention against Trafficking in Persons (ASEC Press Release, 25 January 2016) Cambodia and Singapore have deposited their respective Instruments of Ratification for the ASEAN Convention Against Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (ACTIP) with H.E. Le Luong Minh, Secretary-General of ASEAN. The ACTIP, which was…
Read MoreFormal establishment of ASEAN Community sees both opportunities, challenges (Xinhua, 31 December 2015)
Formal establishment of ASEAN Community sees both opportunities, challenges (Xinhua, 31 December 2015) As another significant milestone in its history and the regional integration process, Dec. 31 finally witnesses the formal establishment of theASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Community. Despite the euphoria and excitement, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman said in a statement on…
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