Oliver Jones, head of Biosciences and Food Technology at RMIT University, told the Science Media Centre that the claim “belongs purely in the realm of science fiction”. Jones told the South China Morning Post via email that humans are so genetically similar that a weapon targeting one group was likelyContinue Reading
SEOUL: South Korean authorities on Tuesday (Oct 31) detained a man after two police officers were stabbed outside the compound housing the presidential office in the capital Seoul, news agency Yonhap reported. Yonhap reported that one officer was stabbed in the stomach and another in the left arm and wereContinue Reading
They will be processed at “holding centres” and then deported, he told reporters, adding that women, children and the elderly would be treated “respectfully.” Reuters could not determine how long they might be detained in the centers. Pakistani citizens who help undocumented migrants obtain false identities or employment will faceContinue Reading
JAKARTA: Indonesia’s counter-terrorism unit has arrested 59 suspected militants including some loyalists of the Islamic State-inspired Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) suspected of planning to disrupt an upcoming election, a unit spokesperson said on Tuesday (Oct 31). Nineteen of those arrested were from the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) network, which has tiesContinue Reading
“POLITICAL WILL” A World Bank case study on SZBG, the city’s largest public transport operator, found emissions from an e-bus over its service time were 52 per cent that of a diesel bus. The analysis takes into account the fact that the local grid generates about half its electricity fromContinue Reading
BANGKOK: Thailand will waive visa requirements for arrivals from India and Taiwan from next month to May 2024, a government official said on Tuesday (Oct 31), in a bid to draw in more tourists as high season approaches. Thailand in September scrapped visa requirements for Chinese tourists, the country’s topContinue Reading
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Communications and Digital Ministry (KKD) on Monday (Oct 30) instructed organisers of concerts by foreign artists to create a ‘kill switch’ in order to avoid a repeat incident of that involving UK band The 1975 at this year’s Good Vibes Festival.
Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said that the kill switch would stop the concert by cutting the power supply so that the event could not go on.
“These are the guidelines from the incident (involving The 1975) and we (KKD) hope that with stricter guidelines, we can ensure that performances by foreign artists can adhere to the culture in Malaysia,” she said during the question and answer session in parliament.
She said this in response to a supplementary question by Jasin Member of Parliament (MP) Zulkifli Ismail who wanted to know the government’s steps in improving the censorship and blacklisting of The 1975.
Mr Ismail also asked about the government’s action against the group who had continued criticising Malaysia in their concerts abroad.
Meanwhile, Ms Teo said that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) always assisted her ministry in checking the background of foreign artists so as to ensure that they do not promote negative elements in Malaysia.
“Furthermore, in organising concerts, PUSPAL (Central Agency for Filming and Performance by Foreign Artistes) will ensure that the PUSPAL committee is stationed at the location (of the concert) together with PDRM and PBT (local authorities) to monitor the concert,” she said.
On Jul 22, local media reported that The 1975’s performance at Good Vibes Festival 2023 was stopped after its vocalist Matty Healy held a bottle of alcohol on stage and criticised the country’s anti-LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders) laws.
Mr Healy also kissed a male bandmate onstage. Homosexuality is a crime in Muslim-majority Malaysia.
The 1975 has since been banned from performing in Malaysia, according to PUSPAL.
TOKYO: The Bank of Japan announced a minor tweak to its unconventional policy of controlling government bond yields on Tuesday (Oct 31), stopping short of expectations and sending the yen lower. While most other major central banks have hiked interest rates in a bid to tame prices, the BoJ hasContinue Reading
BEIJING: China will cremate the remains of former premier Li Keqiang on Thursday (Oct 31), when flags will fly at half mast across the country in mourning for an “outstanding” leader, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Li, a former economist and pro-reform leader who served as the premier forContinue Reading
BEIJING: Authorities issued their highest warnings for fog and haze on Tuesday (Oct 31) as smog enveloped major cities in northern China, warning the public that visibility could drop to less than 50m. Northern province Hebei launched an anti-pollution emergency response, listing traffic safety controls for when necessary including suspendingContinue Reading