A former soccer player for the Bahrain national team with Australian refugee status must remain in detention in Thailand as he awaits possible extradition, a Bangkok court said on Tuesday, despite campaigners fears he could be tortured if returned to the Gulf state.
Hakeem al-Araibi says he was arrested and beaten at the start of the Arab spring protests in Bahrain in 2012, and was granted refugee status in Australia five years later. The 25-year-old, who now plays for semi-professional club…
International expansion vital for fast-growth companies, finds research
Two thirds of the UK’s fastest growing private companies have relied on overseas expansion to boost revenue, according to a new study. The result is in line with Pinsent Masons research which found that fast-growing companies were looking to Asia and Africa for growth.
British court approves the extradition of Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya on charges of fraud and money laundering
Vijay Mallya, the fugitive Indian tycoon fighting multiple cases in the UK after defaulting on loans, has lost a bid to avoid extradition to his home country where he faces charges of fraud and money laundering. Judge Emma Arbuthnot ruled against Mallya at a hearing in London on Monday, largely rejecting his arguments that the case was politically motivated. “I do not accept the courts in India are there to do what the politicians tell them to do,” Arbuthnot told a packed…
Malaysia refuses to back down over air and sea boundary disputes with Singapore
Hopes of a speedy resolution to Malaysia and Singapore’s dispute over air and sea boundaries dissipated on Monday as Kuala Lumpur dug in its heels even as it agreed to a dialogue.
The administration of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad welcomed talks but took a tough line as it accused its southern neighbour of selectively releasing past correspondence regarding airspace issues to manipulate public opinion in its favour.
Malaysia said it did not agree with Singapore’s demands over the…
Malaysian factories accused of ‘forced labour’ make rubber gloves for Britain’s health service
Britain is launching an investigation into medical gloves used by its health service after reports of forced labour, forced overtime, debt bondage, withheld wages and passport confiscation in Malaysian factories where they were made.
“In line with the government’s policy and leadership on modern slavery, we take any allegations of this kind incredibly seriously,” said a spokeswoman for Britain’s health department, adding that the issue would investigated “as a…
New Zealand police charge man with murder of British backpacker Grace Millane
A 26-year-old man will be charged with the murder of the missing British backpacker Grace Millane, New Zealand police have said.
Millane, 22, disappeared a week ago. Police said the 26-year-old man would appear at Auckland district court on Monday morning.
Earlier on Saturday, New Zealand police said they were treating Millane’s disappearance as a murder inquiry. “Grace is no longer alive; this is now a murder investigation,” said Detective Inspector Scott Beard of Auckland…
Separatists who killed at least 16 demand Indonesia negotiate over Papuan independence
Rebels in Indonesia’s Papua province have demanded that the government hold negotiations on their territory’s self-determination and warned of more attacks following a raid on a construction site that left at least 16 dead.
An insurgency has simmered in Papua since the early 1960s, when Indonesia annexed the region that was a former Dutch colony. It was formally incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a UN-sponsored ballot that was widely regarded as a sham. Sebby Sambom,…
Muslims march to demand protection of privileges in capital of multi-ethnic Malaysia
Tens of thousands of banner-waving Muslims dressed in white rallied in the Malaysian capital on Saturday demanding protection of their rights, at a time of growing racial tensions in the multi-ethnic country.
The event was billed as a celebration of the refusal by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s government to ratify a UN convention against racial discrimination last month.
Big crowds gathered in downtown Kuala Lumpur, chanting “God is great” and waving banners that read…
UK rail sector deal centres increased use of technology
The government and rail industry have agreed a plan to increase efficiency of the UK’s railways, improve journeys and increase the capability of the sector to trade internationally, with a focus on more and better use of technology.
‘Wellbeing by design’ urged for student accommodation
Student wellbeing should be factored into the design of student accommodation, student housing charity Unipol Student Homes and the National Union of Students (NUS) have said.