Skip to main content

Law and Policy Database

Navigate the legal landscape of the Asia and the Pacific region. Our database provides a central repository for legal and policy information, including international instruments, national laws and regulations, and court judgments.

Displaying 1 - 10 of 1408 results.
International Law Instruments | UN Reports |

Resourcing the Energy Transition: Principles to Guide Critical Energy Transition Minerals Towards Equity and Justice

The acceleration of a global energy transition to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement goals is anticipated to increase the demand for critical energy transition minerals. ‘Critical energy transition minerals’ (CETMs) to refer to the mineral commodities that are necessary for the construction, production, distribution and storage of renewable energy and associated infrastructure.
Topics: Climate Change, Environmental Law, Energy and Renewables
Policies and Regulations
Domestic Law | Policies and Regulations | Philippines |

Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 081-2024, Tax Treatment of Sukuk (Islamic Bond) as Islamic Banking Arrangement Pursuant to the Tax Neutrality Provision of Republic Act No. 11439 as Implemented by Revenue Regulations No. 17-2020

Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 081-2024 provides for the tax treatment of Sukuk pursuant to the tax neutrality provisions of Republic Act No. 11439. Sukuk are interest-free bonds that generate returns to investors without infringing the principles of Shari'ah which prohibit the payment of interest (riba).
Topics: Banking, Insolvency, and Insurance Law, Islamic Banking and Finance, Commercial Law
Policies and Regulations
Domestic Law | Policies and Regulations | Philippines |

Consolidated Guidelines for Takaful Window Operators, Insurance Commission Circular Letter No. 2024-13 (Philippines)

The Consolidated Guidelines expand the baseline regulatory framework under Circular Letter No. 2022-04. It also provides the licensing and documentary requirements, as well as other guidelines, for takaful window operators in the Philippines.
Topics: Commercial Law
Laws
Domestic Law | Laws | Philippines |

Republic Act No. 11995, Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System Act

Republic Act No. 11995, the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System (PENCAS) Act, establishes an internationally recognized environmental and economic accounting framework. The law's accounting framework includes official statistics on natural capital depletion, degradation and restoration; environmental protection expenditures; land, air and water pollution and quality; and environmental damages.
Topics: Environmental Law, Biodiversity and Conservation, Government and Administrative Law, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
International Law Instruments | Treaties and Other International Agreements |

WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge

The WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge aims to promote the efficacy, transparency and quality of the patent system with regard to genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources. It also aims to prevent patents from being granted erroneously for inventions that are not novel or inventive with regard to genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.

Topics: Biodiversity and Conservation, International Law, Intellectual Property, Technology, and Telecommunications, Rights of Indigenous People
Case Decisions
Domestic Law | Case Decisions | Hong Kong, People's Republic of China |

Re Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Limited [2024] HKCA 352 (Hong Kong)

The principal question arising in the case is whether or not the approach adopted in Re Guy Kwok Hung Lam [2023] HKCFA 9 (“Guy Lam CFA”) should be applied in this case. In Guy Lam CFA, the court dismissed a bankruptcy petition on the ground that the dispute over the petition debt should be determined in the New York court in accordance with the exclusive jurisdiction agreement between the parties. On the other hand, the company in this case raised a cross-claim against the petitioner which is being arbitrated pursuant to an arbitration agreement between the parties.
Topics: Banking, Insolvency, and Insurance Law, Arbitration, Mediation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Procedural Law, Commercial Law
Case Decisions
Domestic Law | Case Decisions | Hong Kong, People's Republic of China |

Re Simplicity & Vogue Retailing (HK) Co., Limited [2024] HKCA 299 (Hong Kong)

At issue is the approach that should be adopted by the court in winding up proceedings where there is an agreement between the parties to refer their dispute relating to the petition debt to arbitration. It is contended by the Company that the approach regarding exclusive jurisdiction clauses in bankruptcy proceedings laid down by the Court of Final Appeal in Re Guy Kwok Hung Lam [2023] HKCFA 9 should be applied by analogy to this situation.
Topics: Banking, Insolvency, and Insurance Law, Arbitration, Mediation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Procedural Law, Commercial Law
Case Decisions
Domestic Law | Case Decisions | India |

State of Telangana vs. Mohd. Abdul Qasim (India)

The decision affirmed the status of the subject property as forest land, emphasizing the obligations of the Indian state towards its forests. The decision also cited environmental and climate justice, the economic value of forests, the rights of nature and ecocentrism.
Topics: Adaptation and Mitigation, Forestry and Protected Areas, Climate Change
Case Decisions
Domestic Law | Case Decisions | India |

M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 838 of 2019

The judgment stemmed from a writ of petition seeking protection for the Great Indian Bustard, a critically endangered avian species, found primarily in the state of Rajasthan. The attrition of the endangered birds has been partly attributed to collisions with overhead transmission lines. In a decision on 19 April 2021, the court imposed restrictions in setting up of overhead transmission lines in a large are of about 99,000 square kilometers. The court appointed a committee for assessing the feasibility of laying high voltage underground power lines.

Topics: Climate Change, Energy and Renewables, Biodiversity and Conservation
Laws
Domestic Law | Laws | Papua New Guinea |

Domestic Arbitration Act, Papua New Guinea

The Domestic Arbitration Act, 2024 of Papua New Guinea repeals the country's Arbitration Act, 1951 (Chapter 46). The Act applies to all domestic arbitration which is defined as arbitration that does not fall under the International Arbitration Act.
Topics: Commercial Law, Arbitration, Mediation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution