India’s recent military clash with Pakistan has underscored its accelerating push to expand its drone capabilities, which experts say could serve as a cost-effective interim solution while the country waits for its fifth-generation fighter jets.
The cross-border operation – launched in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam – saw Indian forces deploy a mix of locally made and imported drones to destroy nine militant camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Analysts say the campaign,…
Indonesia’s wiretap pact could create digital dragnet for dissent, critics warn
A wiretapping agreement between Indonesia’s prosecutors and the country’s biggest telecoms firms has drawn criticism from rights groups warning it could enable mass unchecked surveillance, even as officials defend the deal as a crucial tool for law enforcement.
The memorandum of understanding, signed last month between the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and four major telecommunications providers, allows prosecutors to access user data and intercept communications for investigative…
Workers outside Australia can access unfair dismissal protections, according to FWC
Foreign nationals employed to work overseas for Australian businesses can be entitled to the benefits and protection of Australian employment law, including unfair dismissal protections, a recent Fair Work Commission decision has confirmed.
Fukuoka station deploys mirror to fight rising voyeurism in Japan
Authorities in the Japanese city of Fukuoka have installed an “anti-voyeurism” mirror in a subway station in a bid to stop the rising number of cases in the bustling Tenjin entertainment area.
The mirror, affixed beside an escalator at the Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) station, has a wide field of view to enable commuters to spot voyeurs or those taking upskirt photos, according to the online News on Japan. It was donated by the We Love Tenjin Council, a community group made up of local…
A knockout idea? Philippines police chief accepts boxing challenge from Duterte’s son
Philippine National Police chief General Nicolas Torre III has accepted a challenge to a fist-fight from the son of former president Rodrigo Duterte, proposing that the clash be held this weekend as a charity event to raise funds for typhoon and flood victims.
The dramatic exchange, which has captivated Filipinos online, is the latest escalation in an increasingly personal feud between the Duterte family and the country’s top police officer.
Tensions have simmered since Torre oversaw the March…
Indonesian ex-minister’s jail term: corruption or ‘politically’ motivated?
A recent prison sentence for a former Indonesian trade minister has raised eyebrows over alleged political motivations, given the defendant’s loyalty to an opposition politician.
Last Friday, judges at a corruption court in Jakarta sentenced Thomas Trikasih Lembong to 4½ years in jail and a fine of 750 million rupiah (US$46,000) for improperly granting sugar import permits, during what the prosecutor said was a surplus of local production, when he was trade minister in 2015-16. Prosecutors…
South Korean, Filipino officials rebuked for poor flood response and misjudgment
As floods devastate communities across South Korea and the Philippines, their presidents have rebuked officials for indulging in merrymaking and political publicity instead of focusing on disaster management.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Tuesday ordered a “strict crackdown on the careless public officials who went about drinking and dancing or acted thoughtlessly” during a recent devastating rainfall, which claimed at least 19 lives nationwide.
Lee said it was important to punish…
‘Upsetting’: dancing Jeju Air crew stir backlash in South Korea
A video of dancing crew members from South Korean airline Jeju Air has led to online criticisms of tone deafness, with social media users noting that it is too soon for such lighthearted clips after the crash that killed 179 people in December.
The 10-second video, titled “Feisty Flight Attendants” and uploaded on the airline’s official social media channel on July 11, showed three smiling crew members dancing, jumping and flashing V-signs. By Tuesday afternoon, it had garnered 2.2 million views…
Indonesia’s recurring tragedy: deadly boat fire fuels urgent reform calls
A deadly ferry fire in Indonesia has reignited calls for sweeping reform of its maritime transport sector, with analysts blaming overcapacity, ageing fleets and weak enforcement for a string of recent boat disasters across the sprawling archipelago nation of over 17,000 islands.
On Sunday afternoon, a ferry was carrying more than double its declared passenger capacity when it caught fire off Talise Island, off the coast of Sulawesi, forcing dozens to jump into the sea and killing at least five…
Malaysia’s top court to hear Anwar’s immunity bid in sexual harassment case
Malaysia’s highest court said on Monday that it would consider Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s application for legal immunity from a civil sexual harassment suit, amid long-standing allegations against the veteran leader.
The Court of Appeal ruled that proceedings must be postponed to allow Anwar to pursue a constitutional challenge over whether a sitting prime minister should be shielded from such lawsuits, particularly those related to events before he took office that might be politically…