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CANBERRA/AMSTERDAM: A global sting in which organised crime gangs were sold encrypted phones that law enforcement officials could monitor has led to more than 800 arrests and the confiscation of drugs, weapons, cash and luxury cars, officials said on Tuesday (Jun 8). The operation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Australian and European police ensnared suspects in Australia, Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East involved in the global narcotics trade, the officials said. Millions of dollars in cash were seized in raids around the world, along with 30 tonnes of drugs including more than eight tonnes of cocaine. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the operation had "struck a heavy blow against organised crime - not just in this country, but ... around the...

related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. 4 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. Place your bets! The race to find the next Tesla is on but the search is turning up plenty of clunkers as well as potential superstars. REUTERS: Place your bets! The race to find the next Tesla is on but the search is turning up plenty of clunkers as well as potential superstars. Fidelity Investments, BlackRock Inc, T. Rowe Price Group Inc and Scotland's Baillie Gifford are among the fund houses helping to bankroll the shift from fossil-fueled transportation with investments in one or more of 32 electric vehicle industry companies which they believe will be long-term winners in the electrification movement. In the short-term, the...

CANBERRA: US and Australian authorities hacked into an app used by criminals to read millions of encrypted messages, leading to hundreds of arrests of suspected organised crime figures in 18 countries, Australian officials said on Tuesday (Jun 8). "Operation Ironside" by Australian police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation ensnared suspects in Australia, Asia, South America and the Middle East involved in the global narcotics trade, the officials said. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the operation "struck a heavy blow against organised crime – not just in this country, but one that will echo around organised crime around the world". "This is a watershed moment in Australian law enforcement history," Morrison told reporters in Sydney. Australian Federal Police ...

SINGAPORE: Nearly 30 locations - most of them eateries and supermarkets - were on Saturday (May 22) added to a list of public places visited by COVID-19 community cases during their infectious period. The eateries include Foresta Restaurant at The Grandstand, S-11 Taman Jurong Food House, Saizeriya at Changi City Point and McDonald's at Sengkang Sports Complex. NTUC FairPrice at Tekka Place and Jem, and Giant outlets at 260 Kim Keat Avenue, Tampines Mart, 376 Bukit Batok Street 31 and IMM are also among the supermarkets. Hijabville - a clothing store at Golden Landmark Shopping Centre and the workplace of a 20-year-old National University of Singapore student who is a part-time retail staff member there - was also on the list. The student was reported by MOH as a COVID-19 case ...

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian health authorities have raised concerns about a growing number of coronavirus deaths and serious cases involving children, after a surge in overall infections forced the Southeast Asian nation into a strict lockdown. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin declared a two-week "total lockdown" from Jun 1-14, as daily COVID-19 cases and deaths hit record numbers, with the government warning the outbreak may be linked to more contagious variants. Malaysia recorded the deaths of three children aged below five due to the coronavirus in the first five months of this year, the same number recorded over the whole of 2020, according to Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah. A total of 27 children, including 19 below the age of five, also had to be treated in i...

Coinbase's rough start to life as a public company shouldn't scare investors away from betting on one of the leaders in the booming cryptocurrency industry, according to investment firm Piper Sandler. Coinbase joined the public markets through a direct listing one month ago, first trading at $381 per share and rising to nearly $430 per share during that initial session. That pop dissipated quickly, however, and the stock has traded below $300 per share for most of the past two weeks. However, long-time Wall Street analyst Rich Repetto initiated coverage of the stock on Friday with an overweight rating, saying in a note to clients that the company was still set to be a leader in fast-growing industry.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition on Wednesday (Jun 2) urged the government to develop a “clear action plan”, after Chinese military transport planes were detected heading towards Malaysian airspace and threatened the country’s sovereignty. In a statement, PH’s Security Committee said: “This incident is a threat to flight safety, challenges national sovereignty and affects international ties." “Therefore, the government should present a clear action plan and also allow parliamentarians to discuss this crucial incident, in the interest of the country.” The opposition coalition also asked Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to conduct a special bipartisan briefing involving the government and the opposition to clarify the next steps and the current requirements of the ...