ANALYSIS: The documents issued alongside the UK chancellor of the exchequer’s Spring Statement had a particular focus on the ‘new’ economy and showed a continuing trend to use large businesses to be HMRC’s unpaid tax inspectors.
5G will be revolutionary for consumers and providers, says telecoms lawyer
The way in which content is consumed and provided will be revolutionised by the introduction of ‘5G’ technology, a telecoms expert has said.
Australia’s spy chief says journalists are ‘ideal cover’ for foreign agents, cites Chinese attempt to recruit local reporter
Australia’s intelligence agency has warned that media organisations should not be exempt from foreign interference laws because spy agencies would recruit journalists to exploit the loophole.
The director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Duncan Lewis, told a parliamentary committee on Friday that journalism provided an “ideal cover” for foreign spies to seek information that harmed Australia’s interests.
Asio’s evidence to the…
Changes to boost Scottish licensing engagement proposed
Changes aimed at improving community engagement during the alcohol licence application, objection and hearing process have been proposed by the Scottish government.
‘Embrace free trade, not retreat from it’: Australia, Asean leaders vow to reject trade protectionism on first day of summit
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Australia reject protectionism, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his Singapore counterpart said on Friday, amid fears about a possible trade war sparked by US plans to raise tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.
“You don’t grow stronger by closing the door to other markets. Protectionism is a dead end. It is not a ladder to get you out of the low growth trap, it is a shovel to dig it much deeper,” Turnbull…
Bali to halt flights, shut shops and turn off internet for ‘Day of Silence’
Indonesia’s bustling tourist island Bali is set to go quiet with internet service and flights temporarily halted for a “Day of Silence”, while young people get ready to pucker up.
Residents of the Hindu-dominated island stop regular daily activities for a day of meditation, fasting and introspection, an annual rite that includes elaborate beachside ceremonies and demon-like effigies.
Known locally as Nyepi, Hindus on the island are expected to stop all work and play and remain…
Indonesia enacts law that makes criticising politicians a crime, and Widodo can’t do anything about it
Indonesians could be jailed for criticising national politicians under a new law that came into force on Thursday, in what critics slammed as a major step back for the world’s third-biggest democracy.
The vaguely worded bill passed the 560-member house last month but has just become official, over the objections of President Joko Widodo who refused to sign off on the controversial legislation.
Widodo does not have veto power over the bill, although it can be challenged at the…
PSD2: communication standards written into EU law
Regulatory technical standards on ‘strong customer authentication and common and secure open standards of communication’ for payment services businesses have been formally written into EU law.
Japan relocates 13 former members of deadly Aum cult to new jail cells ahead of execution
The Justice Ministry began transferring seven of 13 former Aum Shinrikyo cult members on death row from the Tokyo detention centre to other facilities across the country, government sources said Wednesday, likely moving them one step closer to execution.
With the Aum-related trials wrapping up in January, the ministry is considering when they should be hanged for the series of crimes they committed that left 29 people dead. The transfer is expected to be completed on Thursday, according to the…
Barclays becomes first UK bank to receive ring-fencing approval
A UK High Court judge has given Barclays the go-ahead to complete the ring-fencing of its retail banking activities into a new entity.