WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is considering issuing sweeping travel restrictions for the citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters. A U.S. official speaking on the condition of anonymity cautioned there could be changes on the list and that it was yet to be approved by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups. Full visa suspension: Afghanistan Cuba Iran Libya North Korea Somalia Sudan Syria Venezuela Yemen…
Author: Asia News Network
PETALING JAYA – From April 1, tobacco products can no longer be put on open display at shops in several states. Instead, they must be kept hidden from view in closed cabinets. The move is in line with the Smoking Products Control Act for Public Health 2024 (Act 852), which prohibits point-of-sale display of smoking products at eateries and retail stores. The Act, enforced on Oct 1, 2024, covers regulations on registration, sale, packaging, labelling, and prohibition of smoking in public places. The Act also includes a display ban on all tobacco and vape products in retail outlets. Kuala Lumpur,…
SEOUL – A pair of reconnaissance drones hovered silently with their cameras scanning a facility for enemy activity. Moments later, assault drones armed with K2 rifles locked onto their targets and opened fire. After the outdoor area was confirmed to be neutralized, an uncrewed armored vehicle rolled forward, clearing a path through potential minefields. Behind it, South Korean and US troops advanced under the cover of smoke grenades, preparing to enter. This scene unfolded on Wednesday at the Mugeon-ri Training Ground in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province — some 23 kilometers from the border with North Korea — as part of this…
BANGKOK – A group of 105 senators on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), seeking a malfeasance investigation into the justice minister and the chief of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) over their probe into the senators. In the complaint, signed by 105 senators, the upper chamber members alleged that Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and DSI Director-General Yutthana Praedam had violated Article 157 of the Criminal Code. They argued that the DSI had no authority to investigate elected senators, as this power belongs solely to the Election Commission (EC). The DSI launched its investigation following…
MANILA – The flight tracker website reported that the chartered plane carrying former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague, Netherlands, was the world’s most tracked flight on Wednesday afternoon. As of 5:15 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time), flightradar24.com said that the Gulfstream 6550 jet, with tail no. RPC2519, is being monitored by 10,001 trackers worldwide. The plane left Villamor Air Base in Pasay City around 11 p.m. on Tuesday and arrived in Dubai past 8 a.m. on Wednesday for a short layover. The flight tracker also noted that the aircraft left Dubai around 3:58 p.m. and will arrive in the Netherlands…
JAKARTA – Medan District Court in North Sumatra has sentenced Ratu Thalisa, a trans influencer who is widely known as Ratu Entok, to two years and 10 months in prison for blasphemy. Presiding Judge Achmad Ukayat said that Ratu was found guilty of violating Article 45A of the 2024 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law. “The court has sentenced the defendant to two years in prison, along with a fine of Rp 100 million [US$ 6,000], which will be converted into an additional three months’ imprisonment if she fails to pay,” Achmad announced on Monday. Ratu’s sentence was lighter than…
BANGKOK – A 54-year-old German national has been arrested in Thailand for allegedly producing and distributing child pornography via the dark web, generating approximately 3.5 million baht. Pol Maj-General Athip Pongsivapai, chief of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), said the man, identified only as Steffen, was arrested on Tuesday at a condominum in Chonburi’s Bang Lamung district. The arrest was announced at a press conference at the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) headquarters. The suspect faces several charges, including possession and distribution of child pornography, production and trade of obscene materials, and importing and disseminating such content via computer systems.…
SYDNEY – Australia is quietly making contingency plans for the impact of Mr Donald Trump’s steel and aluminium tariffs even as it urgently tries to persuade the US President to provide an exemption as he did in his first term. In a sign of the fading hopes in Canberra of winning a reprieve from the proposed 25 per cent tariffs, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell has encouraged steel and aluminium exporters to look to alternative markets such as Japan, South Korea, India and countries in South-east Asia. The United States accounts for about A$1 billion (S$837 million) of purchases of…
MANILA – Government forces are on alert and ready to respond to any situation that may threaten peace and order in the country following the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing a case of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC). Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, however, said on Wednesday that the security situation in the country remains stable. At the same time, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a statement that “speculations of military action or unrest [have] no basis.” READ: Former President Rodrigo…
TOKYO – The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and is calling for Japan to increase its defense spending. The Japanese government hopes to gain the understanding of Washington by persistently explaining the benefits that their alliance brings to the United States and how Japan has made efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities. “Japan is obliged to provide bases for the United States,” said Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting on Friday. “How significant a role does it play in U.S. global strategy? We need to…