South Korea’s acting president faces impeachment as Yoon set for trial

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's acting president faces an impeachment vote on Friday, intensifying a political crisis as the Constitutional Court meets for its first hearing on suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declared on Dec. 3. The push to impeach Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who has been acting president since Yoon was impeached on...

Chiang Mai police arrest magic mushroom vendor after British tourist’s death

CHIANG MAI: Police and public health officials in Chiang Mai conducted a sting operation on Tuesday (Dec 24), using a foreign undercover agent to purchase magic mushrooms from a shop on Tha Pae Road in Muang district. The undercover agent purchased a bag of mushrooms for 500 baht (S$20), prompting authorities to raid the shop and...

3 interior design trends set to be popular in 2025, according to Malaysians

Biophilic design, minimalism and earth tones: These are three home interior trends that are set to be sought-after next year. The shift towards these particular trends reflects a growing desire among local homeowners and decor lovers to create living spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally friendly. Architect and designer Edric Choo Poo...

Ringgit opens higher against greenback

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit maintained its upward momentum and opened higher against the US dollar on Friday, despite the greenback's strength driven by expectations about the United States (US) administration’s trade policy. At 8 am, the ringgit was trading at 4.4665/4715 against the greenback, up from 4.4670/4715 at Thursday's close. In anticipation of pre-trade conditions, a dealer...

Tiger tracks found near Orang Asli village in Perak

IPOH: The Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) has confirmed receiving a report of a tiger attack on livestock near Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Choh in Ulu Kinta on Wednesday (Dec 25). Perak Perhilitan director Yusoff Shariff said its personnel discovered tiger paw prints near the scene, along with injuries on cattle. "Based on observations, we are...

Anwar sends warm birthday wishes to Timor Leste president

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim extended warm birthday wishes to Timor-Leste President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta. In his Facebook post, Anwar described Ramos-Horta as a good friend and a true champion for freedom and justice. "My warmest wishes to you and the people of Timor-Leste for a joyful year ahead. May the friendship between our...

UM lecturer, students among seven questioned over cat deaths

KUALA LUMPUR: A lecturer, students from Universiti Malaya (UM), and an animal rights activist are among seven individuals questioned in connection with the recent cat deaths at the university. City police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said that the carcass of a cat, found on Dec 21, was handed over to the police by the activist...

Vietnam likely to experience intense heatwaves in 2025

HANOI (Xinhua): Vietnam will likely experience intense heatwaves and scorching weather in 2025, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned. Vietnam News quoted Mai Van Khiem, the centre's director, as saying that localised heavy rains, flash floods, landslides and an increased frequency of large storms were also predicted next year. He described 2024 as a challenging...

SSPA: Avoid excessive, unnecessary loans following salary increase, says Cuepacs

PUTRAJAYA: Civil servants are reminded to not make unnecessary excessive or overlapping loans following salary increases under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA). Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public Service (Cuepacs) secretary-general Abdul Rahman Mohd Nordin said the SSPA should not be an incentive or excuse for civil servants to increase loans, which will...

MACC to focus on grand corruption battle, national asset recovery in 2025

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) aims to focus on eradicating corruption in procurement, enforcement and grand corruption to help the country's economy, reduce leakages and return misappropriated national assets and money next year. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the MACC will also carry out a transformation of the MACC structure, namely improving...