Police seize on COVID-19 tech to expand global surveillance
Majd Ramlawi was serving coffee in Jerusalem’s Old City when a chilling text message appeared on his phone. Ramlawi, then 19, was among hundreds of people whom civil rights attorneys estimate got the text last year at the height of one of the most turbulent recent periods in the Holy Land. What he didn’t know was that the feared internal security agency, the Shin Bet, was using mass surveillance technology mobilized for coronavirus contact tracing against Israeli residents and citizens for purposes entirely unrelated to COVID-19.
news.yahoo.comWhy Nigeria Is Clamping Down on Its Vast Cash Economy
Nigerians have until the end of January to exchange their highest-value banknotes for freshly-issued bills. The aim is to bring an estimated 2.7 trillion naira ($6 billion) that circulates in informal channels into the regular banking system. But cash is the lifeblood of Africa’s biggest economy and there’s concern that the switchover could trigger the kind of chaos that broke out when India tried something similar in 2016.
washingtonpost.com12 Asian countries ranked in top 25 deadliest popular travel destinations
In a list of the 50 most visited countries in the world ranked for their safety, 12 of the 25 deadliest destinations were Asian countries. Despite dominating various guides and lists of must-visit travel destinations, Asian countries did not fare well in a recent safety index published by insurance comparison website The Swiftest. The ranking was determined through seven factors: homicide rate, road traffic death rate, poisoning death rate, unsanitary conditions mortality rate, life years lost due to communicable diseases, life years lost due to injury and natural disaster risk.
news.yahoo.comIndia signals it will continue to buy oil from Russia
India will prioritize its own energy needs and continue to buy oil from Russia, its foreign minister signaled Monday, as Western governments press Moscow with a price cap to squeeze its earnings from oil exports. Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar made the comments after holding talks with his visiting German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, in which they discussed bilateral relations and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
news.yahoo.comSaudi Arabia now the only bidder for soccer's 2027 Asian Cup
Saudi Arabia is now the only candidate to host the 2027 Asian Cup after India’s soccer federation withdrew its bid on Monday. Preparing for the month-long tournament can let Saudi Arabia show its soccer hosting ambitions to FIFA, which is seeking bidders for the 2030 World Cup and future editions of a revamped Club World Cup. The Asian Football Confederation said the Saudi Arabian bid will be the only one presented to congress members for approval.
news.yahoo.comLivestreamer who filmed Mumbai harassment calls out negative generalizations about India
A South Korean streamer is recounting her experience to the media after the two men who harassed her on the streets of Khar in Mumbai, India, were arrested by police. The culprits were identified as Mobeen Chand Mohammad Shaikh and Mohammad Naqeeb Sadrealam Ansari, according to Mumbai Police. Hyojeong Park, also known on the internet as Mhyochi, was livestreaming on Twitch while she was on her way back to her hotel in Khar at around 11:50 p.m. on Tuesday.
news.yahoo.comS. Korean Twitch streamer calls for action after being harassed while livestreaming in India
A South Korean Twitch streamer known online as Mhyochi is calling for Mumbai Police to take action after she was harassed by two men while livestreaming in Khar, India. Mhyochi, a content creator and model whose real name is Hyojeong Park, was livestreaming in Khar on Tuesday night when one of the men grabbed her arm and pulled her toward a parked motorbike he was riding with his friend. “I tried my best not to escalate the situation and leave because he was with his friend,” the streamer shared on Twitter.
news.yahoo.comWhy India’s World-Beating Growth Isn’t Creating Jobs
Few major economies have been growing as fast as India’s. Beyond the relatively strong figures, though, lies the grim reality of rising unemployment. The nation of 1.4 billion people isn’t creating enough jobs for its expanding population, a problem that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to prioritize. That’s proved tough, though, especially as the private sector has balked at making major new investments, deterred by dim business conditions. Tensions boiled over last June when angry you
washingtonpost.comNew this week: 'Halloween Ends,' 'Rosaline' and The 1975
This week’s new entertainment releases include albums from The 1975 and Red Hot Chili Peppers, some sort of conclusion to the Michael Myers saga with the arrival of the horror thriller “Halloween Ends” and a new TV spin-off from the “Supernatural” franchise.”.
Indian woman condemns release of her convicted rapists
A Muslim woman who was gang raped while pregnant during India’s devastating 2002 religious riots has appealed to the government to rescind its decision to free 11 men who had been jailed for life for committing the crime, after they were released on suspended sentences.