The Indonesian government is considering house arrest or other forms of clemency for the ailing radical cleric who was the ideological leader of the Bali bombers and is now in prison for helping to fund an extremist training camp.
Wiranto, the government’s top security minister, said on Friday that a meeting of security ministers and police will make a recommendation on Abu Bakar Bashir’s treatment to President Joko Widodo.
“Clemency, pardon, house arrest or just hospital…
Carney: UK central bank digital currency not likely in short term
The Bank of England is not likely to issue a central digital currency for the UK in the short term, according to the Bank’s governor, Mark Carney.
All workers to benefit from SAYE contribution break plans
All employees who contribute to a save as you earn (SAYE) employee share plan will be able to benefit from the planned 12-month contribution break, not just those on maternity or parental leave, the government has announced.
Supreme Court backs solicitor in careless misrepresentation case
A Glasgow solicitor who made an incorrect statement about her client’s affairs in an email to a lender is not liable for any loss suffered by the lender, the UK’s highest court has ruled.
Australian prosecutor drops a sex charge against Cardinal George Pell after alleged victim dies
Prosecutors on Friday withdrew one of several historical sexual offence charges against Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell before his committal hearing next week.
The 76-year-old, a top adviser to Pope Francis, has taken leave to fight the allegations which relate to incidents that allegedly occurred long ago.
The exact details and nature of the accusations have not been made public, other than they involve “multiple complainants”.
A preliminary hearing at Melbourne…
Dozens of new political parties register for Thai election
More than 30 new Thai political parties submitted names and logos on the opening day of party registration in Bangkok on Friday, an early step in the junta-ruled kingdom’s halting return to democracy.
Thailand has been under army rule since a 2014 coup toppled an elected government that was accused of corruption and installed a military government.
The generals have banned all political activity and repeatedly postponed a promised return to democracy.
Yet this week the junta chief vowed…
Open Banking: banks need to rethink product distribution
ANALYSIS: Banks need to reconsider how best to provide their products to customers as a result of the changes anticipated in the age of Open Banking.
Australia has ‘difficult issues’ with China, but it’s no cold war
A top Australian diplomat told a Senate committee Thursday that the bilateral relationship with China was going through “complex and difficult issues”, but rejected a media report of a diplomatic deep freeze.
Frances Adamson, secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, described The Australian newspaper’s headline: “Cold war: China’s freeze on ties” as “just wrong.”
“We’re going through a period where there are some…
Bali bombers’ spiritual leader Abu Bakar Bashir hospitalised in Indonesia
A radical Islamic cleric who was the spiritual leader of the Bali bombers and a force behind a jihadist training camp raided in 2010 has been transferred from prison to a Jakarta hospital.
Guarded by four paramilitary police officers, the ailing white-bearded Abu Bakar Bashir arrived at the hospital in Indonesia’s capital on Thursday morning.
He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2011 for supporting a military-style training camp for militants that was uncovered the year before.
The…
Six qualify for UK’s 4G and 5G spectrum auctions
Six telecoms companies have qualified for the right to bid to win spectrum being made available in the UK for the delivery of 4G and 5G services.