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EWC Welcomes Leadership Program Participants from 10 Pacific Island Nations

HONOLULU - (Aug 16, 2017) -- The East-West Center has welcomed 27 emerging leaders from 10 Pacific island nations to this year’s Pacific Islands Leadership Program with Taiwan, or PILP. The participants will spend close to two months in Honolulu, engaging in experiential learning exercises on such topics as applied leadership skills, future scenario planning, social entrepreneurship and risk analysis, climate change and environmental stewardship, international relations, and public health. Then they will travel to Taipei for a month of field study in at the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs.




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East-West Center Receives $2.3 Million from Hawaii Pacific Rim Society

HONOLULU (Oct. 27, 2017) – The East-West Center has received one of the largest single donations in its history from longtime institutional supporter the Hawaii Pacific Rim Society. The $2.3 million gift will establish the Hideo Murakami Fund for Scholarships and the Arts to support EWC arts programming and scholarships for participants in the Center’s Asia Pacific Leadership Program.




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EWC and US Dept. of State Convene Young Pacific Leaders in Hawai‘i

HONOLULU (Jan. 16, 2018) -- The East-West Center and United States Department of State are currently conducting a three-day regional conference for young leaders from Pacific Islands nations from January 16 to 18, 2018.

The more than 30 delegates are a diverse group of young professionals from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, Tuvalu, Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Palau, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, and Hawai’i. They were chosen from a competitive pool of over 700 applicants to participate in the conference.




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East-West Center Publishes Report on Inaugural Asia Pacific Dialogue of Women20 for the G20 Process

HONOLULU (January 19, 2018) – The East-West Center in Honolulu Hawai‘i has just published a report on the findings of the inaugural Women20 for the G20 Asia Pacific Dialogue, which was held at the Center in June. The 20-page report expands on initial policy recommendations that the participants released soon after the meeting to help the G20 address several of the most pressing areas of ongoing disparity in women’s economic status throughout the Asia Pacific region and the world.

Findings from the report will be highlighted at several upcoming international meetings on women’s empowerment:




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EWC President Vuylsteke Appointed to Hawaii Pacific Export Council

 




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EWC Announces Rejuvenation Plan for Pacific Islands Development Program

HONOLULU (May 4, 2018) -- The East-West Center’s Board of Governors has unanimously approved a forward-looking plan to substantially recast and rejuvenate the Center’s longstanding Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP).




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EWC to Oversee Close to $500,000 in NOAA Funding to Study Climate, Health, and Migration in Pacific Islands

King tide in Majuro, Marshall Islands. Photo: Pacific RISA

HONOLULU (Oct 25, 2018) -- The East-West Center has been awarded funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support the International Research and Applications Project (IRAP), which is designed to support international, decision-based research on climate-sensitive health risks in partnership with the Pacific Regional Integrated Science and Assessment (RISA) program.




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In Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands, Climate Change Means Billions of Dollars of Coastal Damage, Widespread Coral Death and Human Health Risks, Official US Assessment Finds

HONOLULU (November 23, 2018) – Strained freshwater supplies, damaged and compromised coastal infrastructure, coral reef death, and greater stresses on native biodiversity and species are among the major concerns and challenges detailed in the Hawai‘i-Pacific Islands chapter of the fourth official US National Climate Assessment, released today. In economic terms, the impacts add up to billions of dollars.

The chapter on Hawai‘i and the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands appears in Volume II of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, the most significant US report to assess the effects of climate change on the US economy and communities. The assessment finds that early action to address these impacts can lower economic, environmental, social, and cultural costs and could help to prevent conflict or displacement from lands and resources.




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US South Pacific Scholarship Program Alumni Meet in Fiji

Previous scholarship recipients from throughout the Pacific mark the program's 25th year with a conference on professional opportunities

FIJI (Dec. 10, 2018) – Over this past weekend, 29 alumni from the US South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP) attended a conference in Fiji titled ‘Connecting the Dots: Using your USSP Experience as a Path to Professional Opportunities.’ The conference held at the Outrigger Resort in Sigatoka gathered alumni from eight of the 11 countries where scholarships are awarded. The participants learned from each other’s experiences and shared how their experiences in the United States have changed their lives and helped their communities.




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East-West Center Alum David Stilwell Confirmed as Top U.S. Diplomat for Asia Pacific

HONOLULU (June 13, 2019) -- East-West Center alumnus David R. Stilwell was confirmed by 94-3 vote of the U.S. Senate today as the new U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Stilwell, a retired Air Force Brigadier General, received his master’s degree in Asian studies as an EWC grantee in the 1980s and later was an Adjunct Senior Fellow with the Center.




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The Pacific Islands Development Program at EWC: The Voyage Continues

HONOLULU (Feb 25, 2020) -- The East-West Center has rolled out a major update of its affiliated Pacific Islands Development Program, or PIDP, with the launch yesterday of the program’s new website at PIDP.EastWestCenter.org. The new site highlights refocused priorities and new projects following recent user surveys and strategy dialogues with Pacific Islands leaders and stakeholders.




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I predict a riot: What you need to consider if your building site is impacted by the recent disturbances

The current riots/disturbances in cities across England raise a number of issues in relation to construction sites. These will include fundamental health and safety issues but it also raises important considerations in relation to any damage or...




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Changes to the rules for Energy Performance Certificates in April 2012

The rules as to when Energy Performance Certificates (“EPCs”) need to be obtained will change on 6 April 2012. In relation to both sales and lettings of property, whether commercial or residential, an EPC will need to be commissioned bef...




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High Court challenge leads to the setting aside of a contract award decision on the grounds of manifest error, breach of transparency and equal treatment

In Woods Building Services v Milton Keynes Council [2015] EWHC 2011 (TCC), the High Court upheld a challenge by an unsuccessful bidder (“Woods”) of a tender process undertaken by Milton Keynes Council (the “Council”) on the g...




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Public procurement case law update: The need to clarify the consequences of failing to meet an award criterion

MLS (Overseas) Limited v The Secretary of State for Defence [2017] EWHC 3389 (TCC) Summary In a recent judgment following a challenge to a competitive procurement process run by the Ministry of Defence (“MoD”) (MLS (Overseas) Limited v T...




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Case E-16/16, Fosen-Linjen AS and AtB: An EFTA Court case clarifying key aspects of EU procurement legislation

Introduction Relevant facts The Court’s decision Whether the Remedies Directive permits the imposition of conditions for claiming damages Clarifying the burden of proof when claiming damages for loss of profit Grounds on which a contracting...




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The question of a “sufficiently serious” breach: a relevant consideration in the review of applications for the lifting of automatic suspensions?

Case comment: (1) Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust and (2) Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v Lancashire County Council [2018] EWHC 200 (TCC) Summary In a recent judgment of the new head of the TCC, Fraser J, Lancashire County ...




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Revised EU thresholds regarding public procurement and concession contracts, with Belgian specifics

The European Commission has revised the thresholds relating to the award procedures of public contracts and concession agreements by means of four separate Commission Delegated Regulations, adopted on 30 October 2019, which entered into force on 1 J...




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The Russian Supreme Court brings clarifications to the relationship between co-owners of intellectual property

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How to effectively settle a dispute – what are the options for dispute resolution and what are the differences? - webinar

Alternative forms of dispute resolution are becoming ever more common. Encouraged by the courts and increasingly favoured by parties, options such as mediation, arbitration and adjudication are becoming more widely used. But what are the differences...




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IHC HR e-briefing 104: Which way now? Employment law and the manifestos

Our recent poll sought your views on the areas of employment law you would most like to see reformed following the election. Unfair dismissal protection, employment tribunal practice and procedure and retirement age an...




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IHC HR e-briefing 105 - Age discrimination: a qualification

The Court of Appeal has today handed down an important decision in the context of age discrimination and criteria for career progression. Endorsing the earlier judgement of the Employment Appeal Tribunal, the Court has found that ...




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IHC HR e-briefing 118 - The ECJ clarifies the effect of a relevant transfer on trade union recognition

After more than 10 years of European legal protection for employees in the event of a relevant transfer, many aspects of the Transfer of Undertakings Directive 2001 (Council Directive 2001/23/EC) and its predecessor have by now been litigated over a...




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Eversheds' IHC HR e-briefing 144: Progress on public sector specific equality duties

The Government Equalities Office (GEO) is proposing to make significant changes to the planned specific equality duties that will apply to certain public bodies in England, as well as some operating across Great Britain. The Welsh Assembly Governme...




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Supreme Court brings clarification on non-party costs orders for liability insurers

Summary: The Supreme Court handed down its long anticipated judgment in the case of Travellers Insurance Company Limited v XYZ [2019] UKSC 48 on 31 October 2019. The appellant, Travelers Insurance Company Limited (“Travelers”) was succes...




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Fifth Money Laundering Directive implemented in the UK

On 20 December 2019, the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (“MLR 2019”) were laid before Parliament.  The MLR 2019 gives effect to the EU Fifth Money Laundering Directive[1]



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High Court delivers reminder that search orders are intended to preserve documents and not (without specific provision) provide early disclosure

TBD (Owen Holland) Ltd v Simons & Ors [2020] EWHC 30 (Ch) Background A search order is one of the most draconian orders that the English courts can make, allowing an applicant – where there is a real possibility that a respondent may destroy o...




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New Certificate required for the Lockdown Extension

Businesses seeking exemption to perform essential services have previously had to register on the government’s BizPortal website, but their current certificates are no longer valid as the initial 21-day lockdown period for which they applied, ...




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An Asia Pacific Guide to Force Majeure

The current COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a range of medical, social and economic consequences around the world. The effects on commerce have already been dramatic and for those of us who advise on global trade, supply chain issues and contractual...




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Serious Fraud Office clarifies its view of “cooperation”

The SFO finally issues long-awaited definitive guidance as to the expectations for corporate defendants seeking to gain cooperation credit The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), the UK authority responsible for prosecuting and investigating serious or com...




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AML compliance burden on UK financial institutions intensifies as new rules on third country local law conflicts bite

As additional EU rules come into force requiring UK credit and financial institutions with branches and subsidiaries in third countries to identify local law conflicts with group-wide AML policies and procedures, Zia Ullah and Ruth Paley of Evershed...




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Energy performance certificates

The new energy performance regime came into force on 6 April 2008 in respect of buildings with a floor area in excess of 10,000 square metres. Buildings with a floor area of over 2,500 square metres will be brought within the regime on 1 July. Howev...




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Display energy certificates

The Government has published a guidance note designed to help owners and occupiers understand how new rules requiring display energy certificates (DECs) in large public buildings will work in practice. The guidance also explains the responsibilities...




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Authorised contractual schemes and PAIFs - SDLT

The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement contained the following stamp duty land tax announcement regarding the tax-free ...




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South Africa’s carbon tax could lift its PV industry

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If a tree falls in the forest…

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Coronavirus –draft FCA guidance for the Insurance industry – customers in temporary financial difficulty and product value - UK

On 1 May, the FCA issued two sets of draft guidance which will be important reading for all firms involved in insurance arrangements and particularly insurers, intermediaries and premium finance lenders. As it considers that the delay involved in co...




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Strengthening US Relations with ASEAN: A Critical Element of the US Indo-Pacific Strategy

By East-West Center HONOLULU (October 4, 2019)—President Donald Trump first laid out a vision for a “free and open Indo-Pacific” at the November 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Vietnam. From the start, statements describing the emerging US Indo-Pacific strategy have recognized the central role of Southeast Asia. The US approach to the Indo-Pacific focuses on three vital areas: enhancing shared prosperity, championing good governance and civil society, and ensuring a peaceful and secure regional order. Two recent visitors to the East-West Center described the potential role of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the US Indo-Pacific strategy and spelled out several steps that the United States needs to take to strengthen US-ASEAN...

This is a summary only. Click the title for the full article, or visit www.EastWestCenter.org/Research-Wire for more.




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China Is Not Conducting Debt Trap Diplomacy in the Pacific—At Least Not Yet

A close look at the evidence suggests that China has not been engaged in “debt-trap diplomacy” in the Pacific, at least not so far. Nonetheless, if future Chinese lending continues on a business-as-usual basis, serious problems of debt sustainability will arise, and concerns about quality and corruption are valid. By Jonathan Pryke HONOLULU (March 2, 2020)—In an atmosphere of heightened geostrategic competition, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has raised questions about the risk of debt problems in less-developed countries. Such risks are especially worrying for the small and fragile economies of the Pacific.

This is a summary only. Click the title for the full article, or visit www.EastWestCenter.org/Research-Wire for more.





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New UK consultation on notification of uncertain tax treatment by large businesses

The UK government announced at the March Budget that they intend to introduce a requirement for large businesses to notify HMRC where they adopt an “uncertain tax treatment”.  The proposal is designed to improve HMRC’s ability...




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Eversheds' HR e-briefing 508: Significant change for European Works Councils from 5 June 2011

There are over 900 European Works Councils (EWCs) providing for pan-European workplace consultation involving cross-border restructuring, mergers and transfers. While employers with EWCs have differing views on their success and relevance to date, l...




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Shipping case update: Firodi Shipping Ltd v Griffon Shipping LLC ("The Griffon") [2013] EWCA Civ 1567

In Firodi Shipping Ltd v. Griffon Shipping LLC (“The Griffon”) the Court of Appeal considered the decision of Teare J. reported in [2013] EWHC 593 (Comm). For our e-briefing article on Teare J’s decision in the Commercial Court,



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Transport legal update: Griffon Shipping LLC v. Firodi Shipping Ltd (The Griffon) [2013] EWHC 593 (Comm)

In Griffon Shipping LLC v. Firodi Shipping Ltd (The Griffon) Teare J considered, in the context of clause 13 of the standard form Norwegian Sale Form (“NSF”) 1993, where a buyer fails to pay the deposit under a memorandum of agreement, w...




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Online registration, notification and reporting of Employee Share Plans

A new online registration, certification and reporting system was recently introduced in the UK, applying to all employee share plans and arrangements. The first major deadline for online reporting is approaching (6 July 2015) and employers should b...




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Shipping: Claim notification clauses

Reviewing the notification requirements in the InterClub Agreement in the wake of Ipsos S.A. v Dentsu Aegis Network Limited (previously Aegis Group plc) [2015] EWCH 1171 (Comm) The Background The recent decision in Ipsos S.A. v Dentsu Aegis Network ...




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Sify Technologies Limited (SIFY) CEO Kamal Nath on Q4 2020 Results - Earnings Call Transcript




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COVID-19 Donations: Lagos Assembly issues clarification, commends Sanwo-Olu

The Lagos State House of Assembly has described the efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team in the fight against the spreading COVID-19 pandemic as worthwhile. The House, which commended the Executive Arm for its cooperation and unity of purpose, said at this period of a major health crisis, it can only take a
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The post COVID-19 Donations: Lagos Assembly issues clarification, commends Sanwo-Olu appeared first on Vanguard News.




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Coronavirus: Nigerian govt reacts to alleged rift with states

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, says the PTF is not operating at variance with the state committees response on coronavirus. Mustapha is the Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. The SGF spoke at the PTF daily media briefing on Friday in Abuja. He insisted that the national response is […]

Coronavirus: Nigerian govt reacts to alleged rift with states




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COVID-19: Hold Buhari govt responsible if coronavirus escalates in Rivers – Wike cries out

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has told the people of the State and the entire Nigerians to hold the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government responsible if COVID-19 escalates in the State. Wike said this in his statewide broadcast on Friday, adding that nobody should be surprised if the coronavirus cases in the State rise […]

COVID-19: Hold Buhari govt responsible if coronavirus escalates in Rivers – Wike cries out