Thai airlines impose restrictions on in-flight use of power banks

BANGKOK: Thai Airways and AirAsia have introduced new restrictions on the use of power banks (portable chargers) onboard their flights, following a rise in cabin fire incidents. Thai Airways International has announced a complete ban on the use or charging with power banks during flights, effective from March 15. Passengers will still be permitted to carry power...

Impeachment trial unaffected by court’s order to release South Korean President Yoon: opposition

SEOUL: The responses from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea and the ruling People Power Party showed sharp contrast after the Seoul Central District Court approved a request by President Yoon Suk Yeol’s legal team to cancel his detention on Friday (March 7). The Democratic Party argued that the ruling should be kept separate from...

‘Desperate’ son of Hong Kong’s jailed Jimmy Lai asks to meet UK PM

LONDON: The son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai has called for an urgent meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying he was “desperate” as his father’s defence drew to a close in a high-profile trial. Sebastien Lai said a fresh diplomatic push was now needed to free the 77-year-old pro-democracy activist, who...

QuickCheck : Did the word ketchup originate from the Hokkien word ‘ke-tsiap’?

EVEN the most empty fridge has a bottle of ketchup, beloved by all ages for its tangy kick, it’s the world’s most popular condiment. Ketchup is a vital part of American history, closely associated with diners and burger joints. However, can it actually be true that they originated from asian roots? Could the word ketchup originate from...

36 men in China buy ‘love nest’ with US$140,000 mortgage, then realise they have same lover

BEIJING: A total of 36 men in Shenzhen are alleged to have been swindled by the same woman who pretended to date them before luring them into buying flats in a nearby city. The woman behind the scam identified herself as Liu Jia to each of the men while the houses she asked them to buy...

Indonesia anti-graft panel waits for Singapore court ruling on Paulus Tannos extradition

JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is still waiting for a Singaporean court to finish an ongoing legal process that implicates businessman and graft suspect Paulus Tannos (pic) before taking the next step in returning him to Indonesia. The antigraft body chairman Setyo Budiyanto said that the legal proceedings in Singapore were different from those in...

China loses private jets as other Asian growth spots emerge; Singapore and India among front runners now

SINGAPORE (Reuters): A sharp fall in the number of private jets based in China in recent years shows the impact a weakening domestic economy, anti-corruption drives and the pandemic have had on the country's wealthiest, according to business aviation industry data and experts. At the end of last year there were a third fewer private jets...

Singapore PM warns of scammers using his deepfake images to promote products and services

SINGAPORE (Bernama): Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has warned the public about the existence of deepfake images of him being used by scammers to promote products and services, including money-making schemes and permanent residence application services. He reminded the public to stay vigilant online and not fall victim to the scams. "Some of you have written in to report them, and...

Chinese Foreign Minister calls for building South China Sea into an area of peace, friendship and cooperation

BEIJING, March 7 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with Asean countries to step up communication, stay clear of disturbances, and build consensus for an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), so as to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, Chinese...

Cops hunt four suspects in alleged murder of restaurant worker

TASEK GELUGOR: Police are tracking down four local men to assist in the investigation into a fatal attack on a Myanmar national which led to his death at a restaurant in Taman Sepadu Jaya early Friday morning. Seberang Perai Utara OCPD ACP Anuar Abdul Rahman said authorities were alerted to the incident at 3.20am by a local man who...