The UK government has apologised for mistakenly leaking the personal data of nearly 18,000 Afghans who applied under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) in 2022. It also revealed a secret relocation scheme, the Afghan Response Route (ARR), set up to protect many of those affected.
Defence Secretary John Healey told Parliament that an official mistakenly sent an email containing the full list of more than 18,000 applicants’ names. Fearing Taliban reprisals, the previous government established the ARR, through which around 3,000 individuals underwent strict security checks and were relocated.
A court order had kept details of the breach and the secret programme under wraps for nearly two years. After this injunction was lifted, the government disclosed the incident.
Healey offered a formal apology, stating that while the breach occurred under the previous administration, he was sorry on behalf of the UK government. He added that the Ministry of Defence attempted to contact those affected but faced difficulties due to outdated records.
He described the prolonged secrecy surrounding the issue as “deeply uncomfortable” and called for greater transparency going forward. Healey also urged opposition parties to join in offering an apology.
Plastic waste leakage in Southeast Asia, plus China, Japan and South Korea, could rise by nearly 70% by 2050 without stronger policies, according to a...
More than 100,000 people filled the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to expand the nearly tw...
One person was killed and homes and an industrial site were damaged in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Saratov region, the governor ...
In a joint statement, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission said Ukraine alone must decide its future. Their dec...
Two wildfires in Türkiye’s northwestern Canakkale province destroyed dozens of homes and forced around 1,000 people to evacuate, officials said....
Plastic waste leakage in Southeast Asia, plus China, Japan and South Korea, could rise by nearly 70% by 2050 without stronger policies, according to a new OECD report.
More than 100,000 people filled the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to expand the nearly two-year Gaza war, demanding an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.
One person was killed and homes and an industrial site were damaged in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Saratov region, the governor said. Moscow reported 121 drones downed nationwide and briefly halted flights in Saratov.
Two wildfires in Türkiye’s northwestern Canakkale province destroyed dozens of homes and forced around 1,000 people to evacuate, officials said.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
One person was killed and homes and an industrial site were damaged in an overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Saratov region, the governor said. Moscow reported 121 drones downed nationwide and briefly halted flights in Saratov.
In a joint statement, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission said Ukraine alone must decide its future. Their declaration came ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.
Two wildfires in Türkiye’s northwestern Canakkale province destroyed dozens of homes and forced around 1,000 people to evacuate, officials said.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
Tonight, the Sturgeon Moon illuminated the night sky, casting a magical glow over landmarks worldwide.
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