Uber said on Tuesday it had appealed to Philippine authorities to reconsider a one-month suspension handed to the ride-hailing firm a day earlier, and would resuming services as it waits for a decision.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) decided late on Monday to halt the service over Uber’s defiance of an order to cease accepting new driver applications.
Uber is hugely popular in the Philippines, regarded by its users as more reliable and competitive than…
Data sharing in travel sector could spur new liabilities for businesses under new UK package holiday laws
Airline operators that help smooth the process of booking other travel services, such as hotels or car hire, by sharing customer payment data with those businesses could be held liable for ensuring those services are delivered, under new proposals set out by the UK government.
Malaysian princess marries Dutchman in lavish ceremony
The daughter of one of Malaysia’s most powerful sultans married her Dutch fiancé on Monday in a lavish ceremony steeped in centuries of tradition. Princess Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim, 31, the only daughter of the Sultan of Johor, tied the knot with Dennis Muhammad Abdullah, 28, following a three-year romance. The Dutchman, who has converted to Islam, and the princess were married according to Muslim Malay custom at the Serene Hill Palace, the royal family’s…
Thai police’s joke mistress memo goes viral
By Prasit Tangprasert and Wassayog Ngamkham Police in a Thai city have said that a sergeant’s memo saying he had to miss a daily national anthem session in order to take his mistress on a business trip was a practical joke played by his colleagues. The memo, dated Sunday and written by Pol Sen Sgt Maj Amnuay Waifah of Soeng Sang police station in Nakhon Ratchasima to his boss, has been widely circulated on social media. It says he decided not to attend the morning gathering…
Accused Islamic State recruiter Neil Prakash is getting consular help from Australia
Australia is giving consular help to the suspected senior Islamic State recruiter and conspirator Neil Prakash, with hopes he will share intelligence on the terrorist group, a federal minister has said.
Australia’s most wanted man, who has been held in Turkey on terrorism charges since his arrest last October, has received “basic” help from consular officials, the foreign affairs minister, Julie Bishop, has confirmed.
News Corp reported the help came at the request of the…
How Chinese traders – and war over an aphrodisiac – led to a multicultural Indonesia
Much of Indonesia’s history and ideology can be traced back to the Banda Islands, a group of remote, small volcanic islets some 4,000km from the capital of Jakarta.
At 180 sq km, the islands are small compared to the archipelago’s main islands of Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. Banda’s position also makes it isolated; the islands consist of 11 islets, four of which are unpopulated, spread out in the middle of the Banda Sea, about six hours sailing from Maluku’s mainland….
Laos, Cambodia to withdraw troops from disputed border area
The leaders of Cambodia and Laos vowed on Saturday to recall troops from a disputed border area where tensions have been flaring for months, after the prime ministers held an emergency meeting.
Some 30 Laos soldiers have been stationed in Cambodia’s northern Stung Treng province since April to halt the construction of a road, according to Cambodian leader Hun Sen.
The spat escalated on Friday when Hun Sen started sending military vehicles up to the area, giving Laos an ultimatum to…
Myanmar ramps up troops and imposes curfews in violence-wracked Rakhine State
Myanmar is imposing new curfews and deploying another round of troops to Rakhine state, the government confirmed on Saturday, after the UN expressed alarm at reports of a military build-up in the region where authorities have been accused of widespread rights abuses.
News of the army battalion being flown into Rakhine this week to boost security was met with criticism from UN special rapporteur Yanghee Lee on Friday, who warned it was “cause for major concern”.
Rakhine has been…
Court of Justice asked to consider German anti-treaty shopping rules
The Tax Court of Cologne has asked the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to consider whether the current version of Germany’s anti- ‘treaty shopping’ rules is compatible with EU law.
New figures reveal extent of UK modern slavery and human trafficking
The extent to which modern slavery and human trafficking are taking place in the UK is far wider than previously thought, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).