Workshop owner fatally shot in Machang has criminal record, say cops

KOTA BARU: The man who was shot dead on Jalan Hutan Kuin in Machang, near here, on Sunday (Sept 17), was found to have a criminal record, including for drug-related offences. Kelantan police chief comm Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said the 38-year-old businessman was in a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle in front of an auto parts...

S. Korea opposition leader hospitalised after hunger strike, prosecutors seek arrest

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's main opposition leader was hospitalised on Monday, days into a hunger strike in protest against government policies, while prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for him over corruption allegations. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, began the protest on Aug. 31, citing the government's economic mismanagement, threats to media...

S’wak considering replanting degraded forest, says Premier

SIBU: Sarawak is considering replanting its degraded forest with fast-growing tree species that can be used to produce renewable energy through biomass pellets. "We can replant our degraded forest areas with new fast-growing species; that will become feedstock to produce pellets for us to produce power as an additional source for our grid," said Sarawak Premier...

North Korea’s Kim heads home after final stop in Russia’s Vladivostok -KCNA

SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was headed home after making a final stop in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok, where he visited a university, an aquarium and an animal food plant, state media KCNA reported on Monday. Kim spent two days in Vladivostok while inspecting various facilities in the fields of military,...

Senior citizen, daughter, son-in-law killed in blaze in Kedah

SUNGAI PETANI: A 90-year-old woman, her daughter and son-in-law were killed in a fire that destroyed eight semi-wooden double-storey shoplots in Kota Kuala Muda in Kedah on Monday (Sept 18) morning. The Fire and Rescue department said that the charred remains were discovered at one of the shoplots. "The fire was put under control at about 3.08am....

Soaring rice prices sow hope – and trouble – for indebted Thai farmers

CHAI NAT, Thailand (Reuters) - After finishing her latest rice harvest, Sripai Kaeo-eam hurriedly cleared her fields and planted a new crop in late August — ignoring a Thai government advisory to restrict further sowing of the grain this year to conserve water. "This crop is our hope," said the 58-year-old farmer in Thailand's central Chai...

Man killed, two homes severely damaged in early morning fire

GEORGE TOWN: A 60-year-old disabled man perished in a fire that engulfed two kampung houses in the early hours of Monday morning (Sept 18). The Fire and Rescue department in a statement said the man burnt to death in the fire at Jalan Kampung Pisang in Ayer Itam here. "We received a report at 3.44am of a...

Sticking with the current gig economy until something better comes around

PETALING JAYA: Despite the setbacks, those who joined the gig economy as food delivery riders after leaving school are planning to stick with it while they look for more stable jobs. Full-time food delivery rider Muhammad Asyraf Shah, 22, said the flexible hours gave him the time to explore other long-term career opportunities while allowing him...

Why school leavers rather join the gig economy

PETALING JAYA: Lower entry barriers into the ehailing and p-hailing industries are making the gig economy a “career” of choice for many SPM leavers. Malaysian eHailing Alliances chief activist Jose Rizal said the government’s proposal to lower the age limit for p-hailing riders from 21 to 18, as well as abolishing the Public Service Vehicle (PSV)...

The good times are over

GEORGE TOWN: The dream of making thousands of ringgit a month as a gig driver or food delivery rider is over. Higher competition, the end of Covid-19 pandemic movement restrictions as well as changes in fee structures mean that gig drivers and riders are now earning less than what they used to make during the pandemic. “The...