As the sun dips below the Indian Ocean waves, Ukrainian tourist Viktoria Makarenko and her daughter light incense every evening at a temple in a Sri Lankan beach resort to pray for a return home. Russia’s February invasion of the 35-year-old’s homeland has left thousands of foreign travellers from the two countries stranded on the tropical island. But Ukrainians with empty wallets, distraught over the fate of loved ones back home, say they have been overwhelmed by support from locals – despite…
Malaysia’s travel reopening cheer tainted by controversy over Covid-19 contact-tracing app
A multilayered ownership controversy over Malaysia’s Covid-19 tracking application marred what would have been a week to remember for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s government as the country allows quarantine-free travel to all vaccinated travellers. After a trying two years of the health crisis, the reopening has been highly anticipated by citizens and officials alike, with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin taking to social media to welcome foreign arrivals. At home, however, the…
EU authorities update disclosure regulation transition guidance
European financial regulators have published new guidance on how market participants should use the transition period before the EU disclosure regulation comes into force, following delay to the regulatory technical standards
Playbook to shape UK public sector digital, data and tech projects published
Public sector bodies in the UK have been issued with new guidance to help them deliver digital, data and technology projects.
Report should spur brands to develop an anti-counterfeiting strategy
Businesses need to develop and implement an effective anti-counterfeiting strategy, experts have said, after a new report from Europol and the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) highlighted increased counterfeiting risks.
Scott Morrison says Australia sending armoured vehicles to Ukraine to fight Russians
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that Australia will send armoured Bushmaster vehicles to Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky specifically asked for them while appealing to Australian lawmakers for more help in the country’s war against Russia. Zelensky addressed the Australian parliament on Thursday and asked for the Australian-made, four-wheel-drive vehicles. Morrison told reporters the vehicles will be flown over on Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport planes. He didn’t…
Cheers, fireworks as thousands cross Singapore-Malaysia land border after full reopening
Thousands of people travelled between Malaysia and Singapore in cars, motorcycles and by foot on Friday after the land border separating the two nations reopened fully for the first time in two years. The causeway links, one of the world’s busiest land crossings, opened at midnight last night, allowing vaccinated people to cross over without having to test or quarantine. People began gathering at the border checkpoint as early as 7.30pm (local time) in Singapore, according to Straits Times and…