Latest news with #Nations
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
Cross Border Insolvency Bill 2025 tabled in Dewan Rakyat for first reading
KUALA LUMPUR: The Cross Border Insolvency Bill 2025, enabling local creditors to recover debts from insolvent companies within the ASEAN region, has been tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said tabled the Bill on Monday (July 28). The proposed Bill aims to promote cooperation between courts and authorities in Malaysia and foreign states involved in cross-border insolvency cases. It also seeks to provide legal certainty for trade and investment and ensure fair administration of cross-border insolvencies, protecting creditors' interests and the debtor. The Bill aims to protect and maximise the value of the debtor's property and facilitate the rescue of financially troubled businesses. Clause 3 outlines the Bill's application when assistance is sought in Malaysia or any foreign state regarding cross-border insolvency proceedings, or when foreign creditors participate in Malaysian proceedings. However, the Bill does not apply to individual insolvency, bankruptcy, those carrying on a registered business under specific Acts, or limited liability partnerships under the Limited Liability Partnership Act 2011. Some of the notable Clauses are; > Clause 4 provides that the Bill is to be read alongside existing Malaysian insolvency laws, supplementing rather than replacing them. > Clause 6 authorises Malaysian insolvency office-holders or court-appointed individuals to act in foreign states subject to local laws, while Clause 7 gives theCourt discretion to refuse recognition or grant relief if it conflicts with Malaysian public policy. > Clause 11 states that foreign representatives appointed in foreign proceedings can apply to commence proceedings under Malaysian law if conditions are met. > Clause 12 allows foreign representatives to participate in Malaysian debtor proceedings upon the recognition of foreign proceedings while Clause 13 ensures foreign creditors have the same rights as Malaysian creditors, stating their claims shall not be ranked lower solely because they are foreign. > Clause 21 provides discretionary relief upon recognising foreign proceedings, allowing the foreign representative to manage the debtor's Malaysian property, ensuring local creditors' interests are protected and > Clause 32 ensures equitable payment in concurrent proceedings, preventing creditors from receiving more than their share compared to others in Malaysia. The Bill's tabling follows Malaysia's plan to adopt the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency.
Toronto Star
7 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
B.C. Coastal First Nations write to Carney, asking him to reject any new pipeline
By Brieanna Charlebois The Canadian Press VANCOUVER - Coastal First Nations in British Columbia have issued an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, asking him to reject any new proposal for a crude oil pipeline to the northwest coast. The move comes as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pushes for a new private-sector pipeline that would send crude oil to the northern B.C. coast for export to Asia.
Toronto Star
7 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
B.C. Coastal First Nations issue open letter to Carney opposing suggested pipeline
VANCOUVER - Coastal First Nations in British Columbia have issued an open letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, asking him to reject any new proposal for a crude oil pipeline to the northwest coast. The move comes as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pushes for a new private-sector pipeline that would send crude oil to the northern B.C. coast for export to Asia.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
BBC Commissioning Report 2024/25 highlights a year of homegrown storytelling
The BBC has published its Commissioning Report 2024/25, revealing a year of strong investment in UK content and outputs of its commissioning strategy across the UK. Over the past year, we invested more than £1.6bn in original UK television content, commissioning over 300 production companies across the country. In Radio we commissioned 245 production companies with 46% of network Radio spend in the Nations and English regions. This investment helped deliver a record-breaking year for BBC iPlayer, which became the fastest-growing streaming platform in the UK, and strong performance for BBC Sounds which reached 4.77mn weekly listeners. Kate Phillips, BBC Chief Content Officer said: 'This report reflects our unwavering commitment to homegrown storytelling, regional investment, and authentic representation. We're proud to work with hundreds of production companies across the UK to deliver content that truly reflects our audiences.' For the first time, this year's report brings together the annual Supply Report and the Diversity Commissioning Code of Practice Report into a single, unified document, reflecting the content we commission, the individuals we support and the audiences we serve. At the heart of our commissioning strategy is a commitment to representing all audiences, both on and off air, to reflect and serve all of the UK. This year, we spent £140m of our existing commissioning budget on 385 titles in TV and Radio that met the BBC's creative diversity criteria. These included landmark dramas such as Mr Loverman, Reunion and Boarders. Alongside this, the BBC's Diversity Development Fund, worth over £2m, enabled placements for 135 individuals from underrepresented backgrounds across more than 100 productions, focussing on mid to senior roles. A further £1.3m was invested in accessibility on productions, marking the first year of our access funding and reporting protocols to support producers and remove financial barriers to inclusive production. The BBC's commitment across the UK remained strong, with 61.2% of network TV spend in the Nations and English regions. This helped bring distinct stories to national audiences, including Virdee from Bradford, Smoggie Queens from Middlesbrough, This Town from the West Midlands, Blue Lights from Belfast, Lost Boys and Fairies from Wales and Dinosaur from Scotland. We also had major relocations for BBC Radio this year, including Radio 3 programming relocating to Salford, BBC Asian Network to Birmingham and BBC Radio 4 programming to Salford and Glasgow, contributing to local economies and talent pipelines. We continue to invest in the development of UK talent and production – including commissioning 43 new TV producers and 42 new Radio producers – as well as supporting writers, on-air creatives, freelancers and musicians through a range of partnerships and initiatives. Over the past year, over 700 productions were certified by albert, the industry standard for environmental sustainability in film and TV, with 99% of all BBC TV productions meeting this certification. We also published the BBC's first Net Zero Transition Plan, outlining how we intend to become a Net Zero organisation by 2050. Looking ahead, we will continue to evolve our commissioning strategy in response to audience needs and a changing media landscape. We remain committed to championing and investing in the very best UK storytelling, working with the widest range of partners, producers and talent, and continue to raise our ambitions for creative excellence, inclusion and sustainability across our output. 2024/25 highlights include: £1.6 billion invested in original TV content Commissioned over 500 production companies across TV and Radio £140m spent on TV and Radio content that met the BBC's creative diversity criteria 61.2% of network TV spend and 46% of Radio spend in the Nations and English regions The full report can be viewed here. Follow for more
National Observer
22-07-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
Ontario court clears path for First Nations' land claim over Anicinabe Park
A group of northwestern Ontario First Nations can proceed with their legal attempt to reclaim Anicinabe Park after a ruling by Ontario's Superior Court cleared a key legal hurdle. The court rejected two separate motions by the City of Kenora and the Government of Canada to dismiss the case, allowing the land claim to proceed to trial. The lawsuit was filed last November by Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation, Wauzhushk Onigum Nation and Washagamis Bay First Nation. The Nations argue that the 14-acre park was set aside for their use in 1929 but was sold by Canada to the City of Kenora in 1959 without their consent. They are asking for the land to be returned or held in trust, plus damages for loss of use and for the court to recognize that Canada broke its legal and constitutional duties. Both the federal and municipal governments argued that the lawsuit was filed too late, citing the Real Property Limitations Act, which requires land claims to be made within 10 years. But the Superior Court judge rejected that argument, saying it wasn't clear the claim was too late given the circumstances of this case, so the case can go to trial. 'I cannot find that it is plain and obvious that the RLPA [Real Property Limitations Act] bars the Nations' claim. As such, I must dismiss the Defendants' motions,' wrote Justice Robin Lepere in her decision. The court rejected two separate motions by the City of Kenora and the Government of Canada to dismiss the case, allowing the land claim to proceed to trial. Luke Hildebrand, a lawyer representing the First Nations, said the case hinges on constitutional rights that don't fall under regular legal time limits. 'There are no limitation periods for constitutional rights,' said Hildebrand. 'You need to deal with things… on the merits, not on the basis of technical defenses like limitation periods. And the court agreed with us.' Hildebrand told Canada's National Observer there's hope the dispute could be resolved before trial. 'I would love to see the city come to the table, put reconciliation into action and try to resolve this outside of a courtroom,' he said. 'I think the Nations are very open to that. Everyone knows that litigation isn't the best solution, so I would be cautiously optimistic that could happen — but the ball is in the city's court.' Hildebrand says Anicinabe Park has long been an important place for local First Nations. Families stayed there while visiting children in residential schools, and the land was used for fishing, harvesting and traditional ceremonies. The First Nations have been fighting to get the land back for generations. More than 50 years ago, the Ojibway Warrior Society occupied Anicinabe Park for 38 days, calling for better living conditions, education, land access and the return of the park to nearby First Nations. 'Anicinabe Park has been, and always will be, a gathering place,' said Chief Skead of Wauzhushk Onigum. 'This case is not about excluding anyone from the park. It's about correcting a historic injustice, a blight on Kenora's history and doing what's right.' Canada's National Observer reached out to both the federal government and the City of Kenora for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication. 'The City of Kenora is at a crossroad,' said Chief Cobiness of Niisaachewan Anishinaabe Nation in a statement. 'It can continue using taxpayer dollars to fight us in court or it can work with us as partners to advance reconciliation.'
