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Privacy fears as Moscow metro rolls out facial recognition pay system

RussiaPrivacy fears as Moscow metro rolls out facial recognition pay systemCampaigners say Face Pay, launched in over 240 stations, is ‘dangerous step’ in efforts to control population Pjotr Sauer in MoscowFri 15 Oct 2021 06.53 EDTLast modified on Fri 15 Oct 2021 11.12 EDTThe Moscow metro has rolled out what authorities have lauded as the world’s first mass-scale facial recognition payment system, amid privacy concerns over the new technology.The cashless, cardless and phoneless system, named Face Pay, launched at more than 240 stations across the Russian capital on Friday.“Now all the passengers will be able to pay for travel without taking out their phone, metro or bank card,” the Moscow mayor, Sergey Sobyanin, tweeted on Thursday evening.To activate Face Pay, Sobyanin said, passengers will need to connect their photo, bank card and metro card to the service through the metro’s mobile app. “It will be enough just to look at the camera to pass through the turnstiles,” Sobyanin said.The Moscow authorities, who expect up to 15% of metro passengers will use Face Pay regularly in the next three years, said the system would quicken the flow of people, particularly at busy times.“Moscow is the first in the world to introduce Face Pay on such a scale. The technology is new and very complex, we will continue to work on improving it,” the mayor added.Authorities have said passengers’ data will be “securely encrypted”, saying the information collected will be stored in data …

15/10/2021

What is the ‘new model’ the EU is proposing for Northern Ireland?

13/10/2021 Comments Off on What is the ‘new model’ the EU is proposing for Northern Ireland?

BrexitWhat is the ‘new model’ the EU is proposing for Northern Ireland?‘Bespoke Northern Ireland-specific solution’ includes potential new rules on food, plants and medicines Jennifer Rankin and Daniel Boffey in BrusselsWed 13 Oct 2021 15.15 EDTLast modified on Wed 13 Oct 2021 15.56 EDTThe EU’s latest proposals, described as “a new model” for Northern Ireland, are a significant concession from Brussels. Having ruled out renegotiation of the protocol in July, the EU is proposing a “bespoke Northern Ireland-specific solution”.SausagesA new certificate scheme would mean that certain products that are generally prohibited for import into the EU, such as British sausages, would now be allowed to be imported. The EU would retain the right, however, to impose a ban if there is any suggestion these products are entering the wider single market.EU offers to scrap 80% of NI food checks but prepares for Johnson to reject dealRead morePlants, meat and dairyChecks would be reduced by 80% on a large range of supermarket product lines, through reinforced monitoring of supply chains and the use of specific packaging and labelling indicating that the goods are for sale only in the UK. In return the EU wants the UK to deliver on its commitment to complete the construction of permanent border control posts at Northern Irish ports for incoming trade from Great Britain.HaulageA type of haulage known as groupage, where goods from different companies for different customers are …

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EU member states to issue joint warning to UK over reduced fishing rights

11/10/2021 Comments Off on EU member states to issue joint warning to UK over reduced fishing rights

BrexitEU member states to issue joint warning to UK over reduced fishing rightsFourteen countries likely to take tough stance in future talks about fisheries if access to UK waters does not improve Daniel Boffey in Brussels and Lisa O’Carroll in DublinMon 11 Oct 2021 13.38 EDTLast modified on Mon 11 Oct 2021 17.49 EDTFourteen EU member states are preparing to issue a joint declaration accusing the British government of risking “significant economic and social damage” to their fishing communities, as wider relations appear close to breaking point.In the statement, seen by the Guardian, France, Belgium, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Cyprus, Portugal, Denmark, Italy, Lithuania, Sweden, Malta and Latvia will call for the UK to act “in the spirit and the letter” of the Brexit deal struck last Christmas Eve.The governments of the UK and Jersey, a British crown dependency, have infuriated the French government in recent weeks over the reduced numbers of licences given out to small boat owners who fish in coastal waters. In a pointed sign of solidarity, the member states will make a thinly veiled threat about the likely impact on future EU-UK fisheries negotiations if the UK does not rethink its stance.The development comes at a febrile time in the EU-UK relationship, as Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commissioner responsible for Brexit, prepares to table proposals on improving the post-Brexit arrangements for Northern Ireland.Ireland’s foreign minister, Simon Coveney, warned on Monday that the EU was close to …

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Ireland ends 12.5% tax rate in OECD global pact

07/10/2021 Comments Off on Ireland ends 12.5% tax rate in OECD global pact

IrelandIreland ends 12.5% tax rate in OECD global pactLow-tax policy of past 18 years had attracted multinationals such as Google and Facebook to Dublin What does the Irish tax deal mean for multinationals? Lisa O’Carroll in Dublin@ …

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Global deal on 15% minimum tax rate for multinationals edges closer

05/10/2021 Comments Off on Global deal on 15% minimum tax rate for multinationals edges closer

Global economyGlobal deal on 15% minimum tax rate for multinationals edges closerAlmost 140 countries understood to be in final OECD talks on measures to stop firms moving profits to tax havens Richard Partington and Lisa O’CarrollTue 5 Oct 2021 10.58 EDTLast modified on Tue 5 Oct 2021 12.17 EDTAlmost 140 countries are edging closer to a global deal on the taxation of multinationals, with agreement on a minimum 15% rate of corporation tax set to be announced as part of a landmark statement at the OECD in Paris on Friday.Governments representing more than 90% of the world economy are understood to be in the final stages of talks on a global minimum rate and other measures designed to stop multinationals shifting profits into tax havens.It is understood the accord will update several key details from an outline statement signed by 130 countries in July. Sources indicated a 15% rate was likely to be settled upon as part of the OECD’s Inclusive Framework tax negotiating forum, in a move backing down from an earlier agreement for a minimum of “at least 15%”.In a sprint to agree further details after almost a decade of negotiations, the push to issue a statement comes before a key meeting between G20 finance ministers taking place in Washington next week.Ireland, one of nine countries that declined to sign the OECD headline agreement in July, is expected to sign the landmark deal on Friday.The French economy minister, Bruno …

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‘Wine is our livelihood’: locals still recovering from German floods

14/09/2021 Comments Off on ‘Wine is our livelihood’: locals still recovering from German floods

Wine ‘Wine is our livelihood’: locals still recovering from German floods Estimated €50m worth of wine has been lost in the Ahr valley since the floods Kate Connolly in Ahrweiler Wed 15 Sep 2021 00.00 EDT Tanja Lingen barely dares to think about the night her two sons went into the family vineyard cellar to […]

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UK cancels Covid vaccine deal with French firm Valneva

13/09/2021 Comments Off on UK cancels Covid vaccine deal with French firm Valneva

CoronavirusUK cancels Covid vaccine deal with French firm ValnevaGovernment serves notice to terminate contract over allegations of a ‘breach of obligations’ Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Jamie Grierson and Rob DaviesMon 13 Sep 2021 08.35 EDTFirst published on Mon 13 Sep 2021 03.07 EDTThe UK government is to pull out of a deal with the French pharmaceutical company Valneva to buy its Covid-19 vaccination, the company has said.The move will come as a blow to the vaccine manufacturing site in Livingston, west Scotland, which was visited by the prime minister, Boris Johnson, in January.About 100m doses of the yet-to-be-approved vaccine were put on order after the UK increased its request by 40m in February. But in a U-turn, the government has served notice to terminate the contract over allegations of a breach of the agreement.Scotland’s health secretary, Humza Yousaf, told BBC Good Morning Scotland: “This is a blow for the facility in Livingston. We are very keen and will be reaching out to the company to try to get security and secure a future for that facility in Livingston; we hope that would be with Valneva.“Clearly, when it comes to their supposed alleged failure to meet their contract obligations, we obviously are looking for more information from the UK government and would expect that shortly.”The Livingston MP Hannah Bardell said: “This has come as a huge blow to my constituency, in which the facility is …

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Europe’s Pandemic Aid Is Winding Down. Is Now the Best Time?

05/08/2021 Comments Off on Europe’s Pandemic Aid Is Winding Down. Is Now the Best Time?
Europe’s Pandemic Aid Is Winding Down. Is Now the Best Time?

Governments want vaccinations and a business rebound to carry the economy now, but cutting aid too quickly could create economic aftershocks.

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