Asia Pacific
Headlines
Hong Kong Voted as Top International Financial Centre by Global Corporate Services Industry: Vistra 2020 Report
Trend toward onshore and mid-shore jurisdictions continues The latest report on the Corporate Services industry conducted by Vistra, a leading global trust, fund administration and corporate services provider, reveals that the trend toward onshore and mid-shore jurisdiction for doing business is continuing with Hong Kong topping the list, being...
Is China about to change the shape of global trade… again?
For much of 2018, China’s tariff wars with the US dominated media headlines. In 2019 so far, investors are also witnessing increasing signs of a Chinese slowdown, and with it a new approach to economic stimulus by Chinese policymakers. What does this mean for global trade and investment? A potted history: China’s role in the world economy After...
Cabe Malaysia Conference addresses shared global challenges
A number of issues facing the construction industry – the impact of the Hackitt report and future directives of UK legislation; the true value of sustainable buildings and standardisation of contracts – have been debated at a conference in Malaysia, illustrating the fact that many issues are not restricted by geography, but indeed are shared...
Vistra appoints Michael Sheahan as Alternative Investments Global Lead for Real Estate
Vistra, a leading global fund administration, trust and corporate services provider, today announced the appointment of Michael Sheahan as Alternative Investments Global Lead for Real Estate, effective immediately. In this role, Michael will lead the company’s global real estate (RE) business with responsibility for the development and execution...
HSA Advocates expands its Regulatory & Policy and Disputes Practice with new additions in the partnership collegium
HSA Advocates (“HSA”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Apoorva Misra as Partner and Shreshth Sharma and Nitish Gupta as Associate Partners in the Regulatory & Policy and Disputes practice. While the three partners will be based out of the firm’s New Delhi office, however, their responsibilities will not be restricted by geography. Apoorva...
Finance
Australian voters are increasingly concerned about climate change
WHENEVER HE FLIES out of Melbourne, Steve Stefanopoulos gets a view of wilting grass. The reservoirs supplying the city’s water are low. It relies on a desalination plant to meet its needs. This worries Mr Stefanopoulos, the mayor of an affluent eastern suburb. In a federal election on May 18th, he wants someone “to stand up and do something about...
Why Afghanistan’s government is losing the war with the Taliban
SITTING ON A dusty rug beside their lorries at the edge of Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second city, a group of middle-aged drivers explain the difference between the Taliban and the government. Both groups take money from drivers on the road, says Muhammad Akram, leaning forward in a black kurta; both are violent. But when the Taliban stop him at a checkpoint,...
Police in Kazakhstan inadvertently become conceptual artists
ASLAN SAGUTDINOV had a hunch. The authorities in Kazakhstan are so intolerant of dissent, he reasoned, that it does not really matter what protesters write on their placards. Simply holding up a sign of any sort is considered subversive enough to merit arrest. After all, two democracy activists, Asya Tulesova and Beybaris Tolymbekov, had been arrested...
Cheap solar panels boost the Afghan poppy crop
IN HIS FIELD in Zhari district, about ten miles outside Kandahar city, Abdul Samad, a farmer of uncertain age, tends to his onion crop. Sitting on his haunches, a blanket on his shoulders to protect him from the dusty wind, he points to his latest investment: an array of solar panels at the end of the field. They are connected to a pump which pulls...
Why dowries persist in South Asia
THE WORD for dowry in Bangladesh is an English one: “demand”. It is the price, in other words, that the groom’s family demands in order to admit the bride to their household. In theory, such transactions are illegal in both Bangladesh and India, and limited in value by law in Pakistan. The legislators who enacted these rules (in 1961 in the case...
Legal
After Fintech, Singapore eyes Legaltech status
Singapore, a haven for disruptive fintech firms, is aiming to shake up Asia's legal sector next The Lion City will host Southeast Asia's first legaltech accelerator from April. The city-state's initiative aims to groom legaltech startups as well as incubate new business models or services conceived by law firms. Singapore's law academy has launched...
China updates New Industry Catalogue
PRC reduces regulatory procedures for foreign investments following its 2016 reforms. China creates a nationally applicable “negative list” for foreign investment, which opens up more industries for multi-national companies.Foreign Investments Filing Administrative Rules will be updated and published soon by the Ministry of Commerce to clarify...
Proposals to make free movement of data a principle of EU law expected this autumn
Ansip said proposed new EU legislation to tackle unnecessary restrictions on where data can be stored are likely to be published this autumn.The proposals will also look to make it easier for businesses to move their data between rival cloud providers and ensure that public sector bodies can access data held by authorities in another EU country to help...
New advertising standards in the UK to take tougher stance on gender stereotypes
The new standards will be drawn up by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), according to a new report on gender stereotypes in advertising (64-page / 5.4MB PDF) published by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the watchdog that oversees compliance with UK advertising rules.The CAP will also look to "clarify standards that reflect the ASA‘s...
UK government urged to avoid data transfers 'cliff edge' at point of Brexit
In a new report, a House of Lords committee warned that trade and security could be impacted if the flow of data is disrupted at the point of Brexit.To enable data to flow between the UK and EU post-Brexit, the EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee urged the UK government to seek a so-called 'adequacy' decision from the European Commission, which would recognise...
Deals
HSA Advocates advised a consortium of four ports in relation to strategic sale of Dredging Corporation of India by Government of India
HSA Advocates represented a consortium of four ports Vishakapatnam Port Trust, Paradeep Port Trust, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Deendayal Port Trust in relation to strategic sale of Dredging Corporation of India concluded by Government of India (GoI). The four ports have acquired 100% of GoI's shares in Dredging Corporation of India (i.e. 73.47%...
Duff & Phelps enhances restructuring and dispute offering with acquisition of Zolfo Cooper Asia
Expands Footprint in Greater China Region Duff & Phelps, the global advisor that protects, restores and maximizes value for clients, today announced the acquisition of Zolfo Cooper Asia, a leading independent provider of restructuring, insolvency, litigation support and forensic accounting services. The combination of Duff & Phelps and Zolfo...
Investcorp launches in India with acquisition of IDFC Alternative’s Private Equity and Realty Businesses
Entry in to India expands footprint of direct investments into Asia Investcorp a leading global provider and manager of alternative investment products, today announced the launch of its operations in India with the imminent completion of its first deal, the acquisition of the Private Equity and Real Estate investment management businesses of IDFC...
China, Japan overseas M&A push to extend in 2019
China’s economic growth slowdown to drive dealmaking abroadJapanese companies may continue to seek large foreign dealsCompanies in China and Japan will continue their pursuit of overseas acquisitions this year amid the economic growth slowdown and geopolitical uncertainty, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. Ready availability of capital will...
Japanese groups invest £4.2bn in the UK and Ireland between 2013 and 2017, reveals new M&A report by Livingstone
Transaction values in UK and Ireland reached £978m from Japanese group acquisitions in 2017230 middle market companies acquired across the globe by Japanese groups – up 13% from 2016 Global increase in total transaction values globally to £15.9bn in 2017 –up 15% Europe continued to experience high buyer interest from Japan in 2017, with average...
Acq Lite
Sammy Shore, Comedy Store co-founder, dead at 92
May 19 (UPI) -- Comedian, Friars Club member and animal advocate Sammy Shore has died of natural causes in Las Vegas, a post on The Comedy Store's Facebook page said Saturday. He was 92. "Sammy's almost 70-year career as a stand-up began in the Catskills when he and Shecky Greene were thrown together as a comedy team," the message said. "However,...
'John Wick' tops the North American box office with $57M
May 19 (UPI) -- Keanu Reeves' latest action movie John Wick: Chapter 3 -- Parabellum is No. 1 in North America this weekend, earning $57 million in receipts, BoxOfficeMojo.com announced Sunday. Coming in at No. 2 is Avengers: Endgame with $29.4 million, followed by Pokemon Detective Pikachu at No. 3, A Dog's Journey at No. 4 with $8 million and The...
Arnold Schwarzenegger assures: 'Nothing to worry about' after he is kicked in South Africa
May 19 (UPI) -- Film star and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is assuring fans he was unharmed when someone jump kicked him in the back during a sporting event in South Africa. "Thanks for your concerns, but there is nothing to worry about. I thought I was just jostled by the crowd, which happens a lot. I only realized I was kicked when...
Watch: Woody Allen shares trailer for 'Rainy Day in New York'
May 19 (UPI) -- Filmmaker Woody Allen has released on social media a trailer for his romantic comedy A Rainy Day in New York, starring Timothee Chalamet and Selena Gomez. Also featuring Elle Fanning, Jude Law, Diego Luna and Liev Schreiber, the film was completed in 2017, but its U.S. release was canceled by Amazon following intense media and industry...
Watch: Pete Davidson raps about 'Game of Thrones,' 'Grace and Frankie' on 'SNL'
May 19 (UPI) -- The Season 44 finale of Saturday Night Live featured a music video with Pete Davidson rapping about how much he loves Game of Thrones. Just as Davidson gets going, his cast mate Kenan Thompson arrives with Game of Thrones star Jacob Anderson, a musician who plays Greyworm. Davidson clearly has no idea who he is. Thompson and Anderson...