Indian authorities are struggling to figure out how to recover the body of an American killed after wading ashore on an isolated island cut off from the modern world.
John Allen Chau was killed last week by North Sentinel islanders who apparently shot him with arrows and then buried his body on the beach.
But even officials do not travel to North Sentinel, where people live as their ancestors did thousands of years ago, and where outsiders are seen with suspicion and attacked.
“It’s…
Nuisance calls: new UK law provides for director liability
UK law will be updated next month to make it possible to hold company directors personally liable for nuisance calls made by their businesses.
Picture imperfect: did Xi and Duterte agree to a ‘Blood Compact’ in Manila?
When Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte posed for an official photograph with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the ceremonial hall of Malacanang Palace on Tuesday, their choice of a backdrop could hardly have been less auspicious.
The leaders, who witnessed the signing of 29 bilateral agreements during Xi’s two-day official visit to Manila were pictured in front of El Pacto de Sangre – or The Blood Compact – a 19th-century painting by internationally known artist Juan…
Jho Low’s gone, but Malaysia is still paying for his US$250m yacht Equanimity. Here’s how much
Even in hiding, disgraced financier Low Taek Jho is costing the Malaysian public dearly.
His seized superyacht, the Equanimity, has cost Malaysian taxpayers RM3.5 million (US$835,000) – and counting – in maintenance costs, port services, crew and legal fees since it was seized by the government in August.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng disclosed the figure – which does not include costs incurred since October 10 – in an answer to a parliamentary question on Wednesday. He…
Cathay Pacific case shows data breach reporting challenges
ANALYSIS: Multinational companies experiencing a major data breach face significant challenges in co-ordinating co-operation with investigating authorities around the world.
Thai minister defends controversial cybersecurity bill that would allow the wholesale seizure of private computers
A Thai government official on Wednesday defended a sweeping cybersecurity bill which experts have decried for allowing the wholesale seizure of private computers and property, saying that “every country has a need” to protect itself.
The bill has drawn widespread criticism for authorising a newly created committee to access and seize computers and hard drives of individuals and private companies without a court order in cases of “reasonable suspicion” and “…
Dead whale washes ashore in Indonesia with 115 plastic cups, 25 carrier bags and a pair of flip-flops in its stomach
A dead whale that washed ashore in eastern Indonesia had a large lump of plastic waste in its stomach, including drinking cups and flip-flops – causing concern among environmentalists and government officials in one of the world’s largest plastic polluting countries.
Rescuers from Wakatobi National Park found the 9.5-metre sperm whale late on Monday in waters near Kapota Island, southeast of Sulawesi, after receiving a report from environmentalists that villagers had surrounded the…
Fast wi-fi, more e-commerce: Asean cities experiment with ways to crack challenges of rising urbanisation
Most residents of Banyuwangi’s 189 villages, in Indonesia’s east Java, have access to free internet as part of a government initiative to boost local economic development.
Under the “Smart Kampung” – or “smart village” – scheme started two years ago, the population of about 1 million has been able to access public services online and get technical training so entrepreneurs can sell products over the internet.
Banyuwangi is an example of how…
MAS outlines new regulatory sandbox for fintech
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has proposed the creation of a new ‘express’ regulatory sandbox to aid innovation in financial services.
Sri Lankan police chief investigating family and associates of disputed prime minister removed from post
Sri Lanka’s president ordered the removal of a police chief investigating alleged crimes by the family and associates of his preferred candidate for prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse, officials said Monday.
The Indian Ocean nation has been paralysed since October 26 when President Maithripala Sirisena controversially sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former rival Rajapakse.
Wickremesinghe insists he is still prime minister and has refused to step down,…