Organisations will be able to transfer personal data from the UK to the US more freely than they are able to currently under plans outlined by the UK government.
Japan and Britain send ‘symbolic message’ to China with joint naval drills near disputed islands
A Royal Navy task force headed by aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth held its first naval drill earlier this week with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force off Okinawa, as part of Britain’s bid to join the US and its allies in an expanded role in Indo-Pacific security.The exercise involved the aircraft carrier and HMS Defender and HMS Kent, accompanied by the Dutch warship HNLMS Evertsen, the USS The Sullivans and USS New Orleans as well as the Japanese destroyer Asahi.Tuesday’s exercise…
Papuans reject Covid-19 vaccines amid distrust, hatred against Indonesian army
“William” is refusing to take a coronavirus vaccine because he fears Indonesia’s military will use the country’s inoculation programme to poison him and wipe out his fellow Papuans.Decades of conflict, racism and human rights abuses are fuelling Covid-19 conspiracy theories among his neighbours at a time when their breakaway region is facing a renewed threat from the pandemic.“I won’t take a vaccine if it’s brought here by Indonesia,” said William, who asked not to use his real name.He said…
PRA remit could change for UK investment firms regime
The regulatory remit of the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) could change once a new regulatory regime for UK investment firms takes effect, an expert has said.
India’s eateries run by Afghan refugees become reminder of culinary debt to country now in crisis
A tantalising aroma of sizzling kebabs and freshly baked bread wafts from the hot clay ovens of the dozen or so eateries in what has been dubbed Little Afghanistan, a cluster of around 100 Afghan refugee families in the Lajpat Nagar neighbourhood of southern Delhi. Mutton simmers away in large vats while the local naanwais, or street bakers, do a brisk business selling doughy Afghan naans. In recent years, Little Afghanistan – also known as “Little Kabul”, has seen a proliferation of…
Death of Thai man after police extortion attempt captured on viral video, sparks public anger
A 10-minute leaked video showing a group of Thai police officers allegedly manhandling a drug suspect by putting a plastic bag over his head to extort money from him has gone viral, sparking outrage on social media.Thailand’s police chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk told reporters on Tuesday the force will build the case and press charges once ready.Suwat said a dozen officers were linked to the case and he had ordered all units to monitor border crossings to prevent the suspects from fleeing…
Banks and insurers licensed to exchange fraud data in the Netherlands
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.