More than 160 banks and insurers in the Netherlands have been granted a licence to exchange details of individuals’ fraudulent behavior by the country’s data protection authority.
Coronavirus: Asia’s economic recovery losing momentum as Delta variant knocks wind out growth
Asia’s robust economic recovery from last year’s coronavirus low is losing momentum as a surge in Covid-19 cases sees shops empty again and factories close, dimming prospects for corporate profit growth after a blockbuster half year.The rapid spread of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus and low vaccination rates have caught much of the region off guard, especially in emerging markets, even as economies in Europe and North America reopen.“It’s clear that economies across the…
Over 1,000 inmates linked to kratom offences to be freed after Thailand legalises herbal drug
Thailand on Tuesday decriminalised kratom, a tropical leaf long used as a herbal remedy but which some health regulators around the world have criticised as potentially unsafe.Kratom – scientific name Mitragyna speciosa – is part of the coffee family, used for centuries in Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea for its pain-relieving and mildly stimulating effects.It has become increasingly popular in the United States, where the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against its use,…
Mastercard faces competition ‘opt out’ class action damages trial
Mastercard is set to face class action proceedings in a UK trial where billions of pounds of damages are at stake after a tribunal said it is willing to grant a collective proceedings order (CPO) against it.
South Korea wary of US plan to use military bases to process Afghan evacuees as withdrawal ignites debate
The US plan to use overseas military bases to accommodate evacuees from Afghanistan has divided opinion among South Korean politicians and prompted discussion about the strength and scale of the security ties between the two countries.South Korea hosts 28,500 US troops but Washington’s withdrawal from Afghanistan has led to calls for Seoul to regain operational control over its troops. The debate coincides with the visit of Washington’s special envoy for North Korea, who arrived in Seoul on…
Coronavirus: Singaporeans eye savings with bulk-shopping groups on WhatsApp, Telegram
Every week, Singapore health care worker Toh Lixin offers about 4,000 of her neighbours the chance to get discounts on items such as fruit tarts, bottled coffee and baby lobsters.Toh, 26, is the organiser of an informal network of consumers who use Telegram, WhatsApp and Instagram to organise group purchases. She started the group last October and usually gets around 50 weekly orders.Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Singaporeans like her have launched at least 20 group-buying…
How India’s tiffin went from British colonial legacy to everyday lunch in a box
Driving through South India, it is common to come across small eateries with boards outside saying ‘Tiffin ready’. In the region, tiffin means any light snack or finger foods eaten between breakfast and dinner. These include cutlets, idlis (rice dumplings), vadas, bajjis (vegetable fritters) dosas (crisp lentil crepes) or upma (a snack made from cream of wheat). The name tiffin has a complex history. It was derived from “tiffing”, an English term for having a little swig of diluted liquor. The…
Japan ‘won’t issue’ visas for Myanmar envoys appointed by military
Japan has effectively refused to issue visas for two Myanmar military-appointed diplomats the junta seeks to send to Tokyo in place of two it fired in March, according to Japanese government sources.Japan allowing the two replacements to be posted to the Myanmar embassy in Tokyo would be tantamount to recognising the February 1 military coup that ousted the country’s elected government under civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.Myanmar’s military has requested that Japan issue diplomatic visas for…
‘Isis bride’ returns to New Zealand after Australia strips her of citizenship
An Islamic State-linked woman arrived in New Zealand with her children on Saturday, local media reported, in a repatriation that was forced upon the country after Australia stripped her of her citizenship.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced last month that Suhayra Aden, 26, and her two children would return to New Zealand from Turkey, where they were held by authorities after crossing the border from Syria.Suhayra, who previously had dual Australian and New Zealand passports, became the…
Defence, digital trade, Covid-19 in focus as Kamala Harris joins Biden administration’s convoy to Southeast Asia
United States Vice-President Kamala Harris’ upcoming visits to Vietnam and Singapore will offer clues on how Washington plans to “get its game up” to match China’s dominant economic and trade status in Southeast Asia, analysts say.The choice of Singapore and Vietnam, both non-allies but key trading and strategic partners, speaks to the major role the Biden administration hopes the two countries will play in its Asia policy, according to the observers.Harris’ trip, her first to Southeast Asia…