Top Stories
Deadly Cargo Plane Accident Closes Hong Kong Runway
One person was killed early Monday morning after an Emirates cargo plane (flight EK9788 from Dubai) slid off the north runway of Hong Kong International Airport, reportedly striking and knocking a ground service vehicle into the sea. The aircraft, a Boeing 777 freighter, partly landed in the waters off the northern perimeter. As a result of the incident, the airport’s north runway has been temporarily closed.
Experian Fined $3.2 Million for Mass-Collecting Personal Data in Netherlands
Experian Netherlands has been fined EUR 2.7 million ($3.2 million) by the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) for multiple violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The company was found to have unlawfully used personal data collected from various public and private sources, including the Chamber of Commerce and energy companies, and failed to inform customers that credit checks were being performed. The firm has acknowledged the unlawful nature of its activities, will not appeal the decision, and has ceased all operations in the country, promising to delete its entire database of personal data before the end of the year.
World & National Security
China Alleges ‘Irrefutable Evidence’ of U.S. Cyber Attack
China claims to have uncovered “irrefutable evidence” of U.S. government cyber attacks on the country’s main timekeeping agency, the National Time Service Center (NTSC) in Xi’an. According to China’s Ministry of State Security, the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has been exploiting mobile phone vulnerabilities and using stolen login credentials to hack into the NTSC’s devices and computers since March 25, 2022.
Europol Busts Massive SIM Farm Network Powering 49 Million Fake Accounts
Europol announced the disruption of a sophisticated cybercrime-as-a-service platform in an effort dubbed Operation SIMCARTEL, which enabled customers to create over 49 million fake online accounts. The network was used to conduct a broad range of crimes, including phishing, smishing attacks, investment fraud, extortion, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The operation saw 26 searches, seven arrests, and the seizure of 1,200 SIM box devices with 40,000 active SIM cards.
Business & Policy
Bangladesh Airport Fire Destroys $1 Billion in Exports
Bangladeshi traders are assessing heavy losses after a massive fire tore through the cargo complex of the country’s main international airport. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) gave an initial assessment of direct and indirect costs reaching as much as $1 billion. The cargo complex, which stored fabrics, garment accessories, and pharmaceuticals, was left in ruins, though flight operations have since resumed.
Hong Kong Police to Expand CCTV Coverage and Link with More Departments
Hong Kong police will expand their surveillance camera coverage to public housing estates, cross-harbour tunnels, and venues hosting the National Games by the end of the year. The force is gradually integrating over 5,000 existing closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera feeds from other government departments into its SmartView system. The surveillance system has already aided the investigation of more than 480 cases and the arrest of over 840 individuals.
Mexico Considers Eight Percent Tax on Violent Video Games
Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies has approved a comprehensive financial package that includes a proposed eight percent tax on video games with mature content (C or D rating). The proposed tax would apply to physical copies, digital downloads, and any in-game purchases or microtransactions. The Treasury Department cited a relationship between violent video games and higher levels of aggression among adolescents as a reason for the new tax. The proposal now heads to the Senate for debate.
Health & Science
Asia’s Flu Spread Prompts Vaccination Appeal
Medical organizations and politicians in Hong Kong, Macau, and other parts of Asia have issued a joint appeal for residents to take preventive steps against the spread of influenza. A local expert noted that the flu is spreading in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore, calling on residents to get vaccinated early.
- Query successful
This is tomorrow’s edition of the ohmbudsman publication, based on the attached files.
THE OHMBUMDSMAN
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Top Stories
Deadly Cargo Plane Accident Closes Hong Kong Runway
One person was killed early Monday morning after an Emirates cargo plane (flight EK9788 from Dubai) slid off the north runway of Hong Kong International Airport, reportedly striking and knocking a ground service vehicle into the sea. The aircraft, a Boeing 777 freighter, partly landed in the waters off the northern perimeter. As a result of the incident, the airport’s north runway has been temporarily closed.
Experian Fined $3.2 Million for Mass-Collecting Personal Data in Netherlands
Experian Netherlands has been fined EUR 2.7 million ($3.2 million) by the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) for multiple violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The company was found to have unlawfully used personal data collected from various public and private sources, including the Chamber of Commerce and energy companies, and failed to inform customers that credit checks were being performed. The firm has acknowledged the unlawful nature of its activities, will not appeal the decision, and has ceased all operations in the country, promising to delete its entire database of personal data before the end of the year.
World & National Security
China Alleges ‘Irrefutable Evidence’ of U.S. Cyber Attack
China claims to have uncovered “irrefutable evidence” of U.S. government cyber attacks on the country’s main timekeeping agency, the National Time Service Center (NTSC) in Xi’an. According to China’s Ministry of State Security, the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has been exploiting mobile phone vulnerabilities and using stolen login credentials to hack into the NTSC’s devices and computers since March 25, 2022.
Europol Busts Massive SIM Farm Network Powering 49 Million Fake Accounts
Europol announced the disruption of a sophisticated cybercrime-as-a-service platform in an effort dubbed Operation SIMCARTEL, which enabled customers to create over 49 million fake online accounts. The network was used to conduct a broad range of crimes, including phishing, smishing attacks, investment fraud, extortion, and the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The operation saw 26 searches, seven arrests, and the seizure of 1,200 SIM box devices with 40,000 active SIM cards.
Business & Policy
Bangladesh Airport Fire Destroys $1 Billion in Exports
Bangladeshi traders are assessing heavy losses after a massive fire tore through the cargo complex of the country’s main international airport. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) gave an initial assessment of direct and indirect costs reaching as much as $1 billion. The cargo complex, which stored fabrics, garment accessories, and pharmaceuticals, was left in ruins, though flight operations have since resumed.
Hong Kong Police to Expand CCTV Coverage and Link with More Departments
Hong Kong police will expand their surveillance camera coverage to public housing estates, cross-harbour tunnels, and venues hosting the National Games by the end of the year. The force is gradually integrating over 5,000 existing closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera feeds from other government departments into its SmartView system. The surveillance system has already aided the investigation of more than 480 cases and the arrest of over 840 individuals.
Mexico Considers Eight Percent Tax on Violent Video Games
Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies has approved a comprehensive financial package that includes a proposed eight percent tax on video games with mature content (C or D rating). The proposed tax would apply to physical copies, digital downloads, and any in-game purchases or microtransactions. The Treasury Department cited a relationship between violent video games and higher levels of aggression among adolescents as a reason for the new tax. The proposal now heads to the Senate for debate.
Health & Science
Asia’s Flu Spread Prompts Vaccination Appeal
Medical organizations and politicians in Hong Kong, Macau, and other parts of Asia have issued a joint appeal for residents to take preventive steps against the spread of influenza. A local expert noted that the flu is spreading in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Singapore, calling on residents to get vaccinated early.
Australia Ramps Up Preparations for Deadly H5 Bird Flu Strain
The federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is investing more than $100 million to increase Australia’s preparedness against the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu strain. Though Australia is the only continent not to have reported the virus, experts warn it is only one mutation away from pandemic potential. Farmers who suffered losses from the earlier H7N3 strain are calling for a rethink on plans to phase out caged egg farming by 2036, arguing free-range hens are more susceptible to contact with diseased wild birds.
DR Congo Set to Declare Ebola Outbreak Over
The last Ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been discharged from a treatment center in Kasai province, the WHO announced on Sunday. If no new cases are discovered in the next 42 days, the outbreak, which recorded 64 total cases and 45 deaths, will be declared over. More than 35,000 people have received vaccinations in the Bulape area.