Is coal trade entering a turning point? Summary Global coal consumption hit a record 8.79 billion tonnes in 2024. The IEA’s Coal Mid‑Year Update 2025 indicates consumption should plateau in 2025 and may start to fall in 2026. China and India showed weaker first‑half 2025 demand as renewables and efficiency gains take share, while the […]
VLCC Market Firing on All Cylinders Summary The VLCC tanker market has surged in September, according to shipbroker Xclusiv. The Baltic benchmark climbed from about USD 45,155/day on 1 September to USD 87,532/day on 18 September — a 94% rise in under three weeks. The intra-September average sits around USD 65,300/day, and current levels are […]
Japan Rolls Out New Anti-Online Gambling Laws Summary Japan has enacted a stricter set of laws targeting online casinos and related promotional activity, which come into effect on 25 September 2025. The measures — first voted on in June — are designed to give authorities greater power to pursue platforms and individuals that promote, administer […]
Decoding the skills-first pay model: Why skills and performance must coexist Summary This article summarises a fireside chat from the Total Rewards Asia Summit Malaysia, 2025, where two rewards leaders — Mohd Ifran Md Nor (Boost Holdings) and M Nazrul Effendy M Isa (PETRONAS) — argue that pay-for-skills and pay-for-performance must coexist. They outline how […]
Ruling expected soon in cases challenging Nevada U.S. attorney’s appointment Summary A federal judge told attorneys he expects to issue a ruling by the end of the month in challenges to Sigal Chattah’s appointment as Nevada’s acting U.S. attorney. The federal public defender’s office has moved to disqualify Chattah and to dismiss indictments against several […]
Q&A: Jeff Tafel, President of the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones Summary Jeff Tafel, president of the National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones (NAFTZ), explains the role of the NAFTZ and how recent policy shifts — notably the removal of the de minimis exemption — are reshaping warehousing and e-commerce supply chains. He describes NAFTZ’s […]
Vietnam Sentences 43 People in Massive $3.8B Illegal Crypto Gambling Case Summary A Vietnamese court has handed prison terms to 43 people involved in an illegal crypto-based gambling ring engineered by four siblings. The operation processed around $3.8 billion in transactions between early 2020 and late 2021 and reportedly reached some 20,000 customers at its […]
Source: Controversial Las Vegas judge nominated self for grand jury before suspension Summary District Court Judge Erika Ballou reportedly nominated herself to serve on a grand jury at a judges’ meeting on Sept. 10, weeks before the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline suspended her from the bench for six months without pay. The episode has […]
Judge orders release of teen accused in Las Vegas casino cyberattacks Summary A 17-year-old who turned himself in over alleged involvement in 2023 cyberattacks on major Las Vegas casino operators was released to his parents after an initial Family Court hearing in Las Vegas on 24 September 2025. Family Court Judge Dee Smart Butler placed […]
Merkur Completes Acquisition of Gaming Arts, Cementing US Re-Entry Summary German developer Merkur has finalised its takeover of Las Vegas‑based Gaming Arts, LLC, with the deal closing on 15 September 2025 and endorsed by the Nevada Gaming Commission. The acquisition gives Merkur immediate access to Gaming Arts’ US market experience and licences in around 155 […]
