Monday, 18 Nov 2024

Asia

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McDonald's payment services involving Visa and Mastercard disrupted for an hour

SINGAPORE – Customers who tried to pay for their McDonald’s meals using Visa and Mastercard on Wednesday evening (Nov 24) could not do so due to a disruption to payment services that lasted for about an hour. At 6.18pm, the fast food giant put up a post on Facebook saying it was “encountering issues with […]

Man acquitted of molesting teen during hypnotherapy session

SINGAPORE – A man accused of molesting a 17-year-old girl during a hypnotherapy session has been acquitted following a trial. On Monday (Nov 22), District Judge John Ng granted Mr Sreekamal Asante Parambil Kalesan, now 46, a discharge amounting to an acquittal. This means Mr Sreekamal, who was represented by lawyer Kalidass Murugaiyan from Kalidass […]

SFA recalls ready-to-eat oysters from Australia due to bacteria contamination

SINGAPORE – A batch of ready-to-eat oysters harvested in South Australia has been recalled due to bacterial contamination. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Wednesday (Nov 24) it has told three importers to recall the oysters, which were harvested between Sept 4 and Nov 16. The recall has been completed by two of the […]

More S'pore residents supporting informal causes as volunteering, donations dip amid pandemic

SINGAPORE – More Singapore residents volunteered for informal community causes and donated to ground-up movements amid the Covid-19 pandemic, marking a shift in interest away from registered, established organisations. Although volunteering and donations saw an overall decline during the pandemic, the median amount donated doubled from $100 in 2018 to $200 in 2021. These were […]

Thailand plans $6.3 billion aid for farmers hit by Covid-19, floods

BANGKOK (BLOOMBERG) – Thailand plans to dole out nearly US$5 billion (S$6.83 billion) in cash to millions of farmers reeling from the impacts of Covid-19, floods, droughts and poor crop prices. The Cabinet will consider a programme to allot 155 billion baht (S$6.36 billion) to growers of rice, rubber, oil palm and other crops at […]

Evening Update: Today's headlines from The Straits Times on Nov 24

Good evening! Catch up on some of the main headlines on Wednesday, Nov 24. S’pore-Malaysia land VTL to open on Nov 29, up to 2,880 travellers each day For now, travellers must be citizens, PRs or long-term pass holders of the country they are entering. READ MORE HERE Singapore-Malaysia land VTL to start from Nov […]

Singapore-Malaysia land VTL to start from Nov 29: What you need to know

SINGAPORE – From next Monday (Nov 29), Singapore and Malaysia will allow quarantine-free travel at the Woodlands land checkpoint. This comes after nearly 20 months of border restrictions since last March. The authorities said on Wednesday that up to 2,880 people will be able to travel each day, with 1,440 travellers in each direction. Here […]

Myanmar junta firm applies to end Kirin brewery deal

YANGON (AFP) – A Myanmar military conglomerate has applied to dissolve the brewery it runs with Japanese beer giant Kirin, state media said, as its once-popular drink reels under a coup-inspired boycott. Myanmar’s economy has tanked since the military took power in February, sparking widespread protests, deadly unrest and international sanctions. Lawyers for Myanma Economic […]

Chinese officials in Afghanistan to explore lithium projects

KABUL (REUTERS) – Officials representing several Chinese companies are in Afghanistan to conduct on-site inspections of potential lithium projects, reported state-backed Chinese newspaper Global Times, adding that policy and security risks remain. Representatives of five companies obtained special visas, arriving in Afghanistan in early November, via the China Arab Economic and Trade Promotion Committee in […]