When software entrepreneur Tom Coyne moved to Malta from Hong Kong with his family last summer, he imagined he’d be taking a temporary break from pandemic life in the city. But after spending nearly a year in the small European country with his wife and three children, the 47-year-old Irishman is almost certain he will not return.Before Covid-19, Coyne – who asked for his real name not to be used due to privacy concerns – would typically make several international trips for business each week…
Myanmar rejects UN resolution that calls for arms embargo and condemns takeover by military junta
Myanmar’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday rejected a UN General Assembly resolution calling for an arms embargo against the Southeast Asian nation and condemning the military’s February seizure of power.Myanmar described the resolution, which passed on Friday and is not legally binding, as being “based on one-sided sweeping allegations and false assumptions.” The statement issued in the capital Naypyidaw said the Foreign Ministry had sent letters of objection to the UN Secretary-General Antonio…
Racist episodes sparks soul-searching in Singapore: ‘Why is this still happening?’
When a Singaporean woman of Indian descent was struck by a flying kick from an ethnic Chinese man spouting racial slurs last month, the attack was so alarming that it prompted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to call it a moment of national embarrassment. Racially motivated assaults are rare in Singapore, which is known for its laws aimed at maintaining peace among the majority Chinese and minority Malay and Indian communities, but the multi-ethnic city state of 5.7 million has long had to…
UN calls for halt of weapons to Myanmar after 119 countries vote to support resolution
The United Nations General Assembly on Friday called for a stop to the flow of arms to Myanmar and urged the military to respect November election results and release political detainees, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi.The General Assembly adopted a resolution with the support of 119 countries some four months after the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in a coup. Belarus requested the text be put to a vote and was the only country to oppose it, while 36 abstained,…
ICO gets powers to conduct financial investigations
The UK government is handing authorities, including data protection authority the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), new powers that will give them the power to conduct their own financial investigations.
Coronavirus: immigration implications for UK employers
Restrictions on global movement imposed by various countries in response to the coronavirus pandemic are creating significant immigration law challenges for UK employers and sponsoring universities.
North Korea must prepare for ‘dialogue and confrontation’ with US, Kim Jong-un says
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country needs to prepare for “both dialogue and confrontation” with the United States under President Joe Biden, state media reported on Friday.At a plenary meeting of the central committee of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea on Thursday, Kim outlined his strategy for relations with Washington, and the “policy tendency of the newly emerged US administration”, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.Kim “stressed the need to get prepared for both…
Asia has wary welcome for G7’s answer to China’s Belt and Road Initiative
A plan by the Group of Seven (G7) nations to counter Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative has been welcomed by countries in China’s immediate orbit of influence, but will need to overcome doubts about Western commitment to emerging market projects.The Build Back Better World initiative, or (B3W), was promoted at last week’s G7 summit in Britain but remains light on details and is not expected to become a reality for some years.The push, however, is seen as a challenge by the world’s richest…
Forstater ruling has ‘wider implications’ for belief cases
Anne Sammon tells HRNews how the EAT has lowered the bar for philosophical belief cases
Compulsory vaccination for care home workers in England
People working in care homes in England must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 from October, unless they have a medical exemption, the government has announced.