White House mistakenly shares Yemen war plans with a journalist at The Atlantic

WASHINGTON: Top Trump administration officials mistakenly disclosed war plans in a messaging group that included a journalist shortly before the U.S. attacked Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, the White House said on Monday, following a first-hand account by The Atlantic. Democratic lawmakers swiftly blasted the misstep, saying it was a breach of U.S. national security and a violation...

Barisan chairman, not Bung, has final say on candidates, says Shahelmey

KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has the final say on the coalition's candidate for seats in any election, says Sabah's Umno embattled Tanjung Keramat assemblyman Datuk Shahelmey Yahya. The Sabah Deputy Chief Minister said that Barisan's election writ for candidacy is signed by the Barisan chairman, as such the question...

16 international flights cancelled at Bali airport due to yet another Mt. Lewotobi eruption

BALI (Vietnam News/ANN): Bali island’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport reported the cancellation of 16 international flights in a single day following the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores district, East Nusa Tenggara of Indonesia. According to General Manager of I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Ahmad Syaugi Shahab, as of 4pm on March 21...

Singapore Chinatown attack: Woman charged after she allegedly used chopper to assault victim

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): A woman was handed an assault charge on March 21 over her alleged role in an attack in Chinatown earlier this week. Chinese national He Longfeng, 36, is accused of using a chopper to attack another person at the ground floor of People’s Park Complex at around 8.45pm on March 19. In earlier...

South Korean govt approves emergency grants for wildfire-hit regions

SEOUL (Bernama-Yonhap): The South Korean government has approved special financial grants to support recovery efforts in Sancheong and two other regions affected by wildfires, acting President Choi Sang Mok announced during a disaster control meeting. "We will urgently provide a special disaster and safety grant of 2.6 billion won (US$177.4 million) to the three wildfire-affected regions,”...

TNB activates technical, disaster squads ahead of potential K’tan floods

PETALING JAYA: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has activated its technical and disaster preparedness squads ahead of potential floods hitting Kelantan. This comes after the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre issued a flood alert lasting until Monday (March 24) for the state. In a notice, TNB said the teams have been activated to ensure safe electricity supply...

Anwar saves Auntie Woon’s Permatang Pauh ancestral home a second time

BUKIT MERTAJAM: A woman caring for her two brothers, one bedridden and the other a disabled person, was filled with gratitude as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim turned his attention to her dilapidated home in Permatang Pauh town. Anwar, through Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong, who is also the Minister of Human Resources,...

Thailand drafts law to speed up US$29 billion transport link

BANGKOK: Thailand unveiled draft legislation to create a special economic zone in the south of the country that would pave the way for a multibillion-dollar transport project linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The bill would establish a commission to speed up development of the Southern Economic Corridor in the provinces of Chumphon, Ranong, Suratthani and...

Thailand repatriates 4,895 individuals of alleged job scams in Myanmar

BANGKOK/YANGON (Bernama): A total of 4,895 individuals rescued from alleged job scam syndicates in Myanmar have been repatriated to their home countries, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Director-General of the Department of Information and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nikorndej Balankura, said that according to the information received on March 11...

Heathrow Airport now ‘fully operational’ after fire shutdown, says spokesman

LONDON (AFP): Heathrow Airport is "fully operational", a spokesman says, a day after a fire at a power station shut down Europe's busiest air hub and caused travel mayhem. The electricity substation blaze closed the London airport for most of Friday (March 21) before some flights began to arrive and take-off later in the evening. "We can...