Social groups help to resell and give away leftover Chinese New Year festive foods

In comparison to the previous Chinese New Year, she has generated 20 % more earnings this year from sales of Mandarin Oranges alone.  ,
More than half of the sales are made by pre-orders from places like Choa Chu Kang, Bishan, and Sengkang. The WhatsApp teams she has established for these suburbs have grown to thousands of members over the years.
“( This is ) partly because the cost of living has increased, so embracing ugly or surplus food no longer becomes just because of sustainability reasons, but also because it’s very practical”, she said.
Mandarin oranges that did not sell at her Mandai store are used in different ways, such as turning them into berry jams.  ,
” These marmalades are ( then ) either sold in (our ) store, or … we incorporate into our salad dressings and we serve them in our cafe”, she added.  ,  ,
Accused Russian ransomware hackers arrested in Phuket
Experience extradition to US, Switzerland in$ 16m event

Four Russians who reside in Phuket are wanted in Switzerland and the United States on suspicion of using ransom to demand payment worth US$ 16 million.  ,
The people aged 27 to 39 were taken into custody on Sunday from individual apartments, villas with swimming pools, in Muang and Thalang regions of the southern island state, Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwpan, mind of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, said on Monday.
Police also seized about 40 things as facts, including laptop computers and cellular phones.  , Police withheld the four people’s titles
Between April 30 and October 26, 2024, according to Pol Lt. Gen. Trairong, the four suspects reportedly used ransomware to strike 17 businesses in Switzerland. In change for the code needed to unlock the stolen computer systems, they demanded money.
Additionally, they allegedly threatened survivors who refused to pay via email and phone calls. Threats to introduce or offer stolen data were among the messages.
Pol Lt Gen Trairong said the four suspects reportedly attacked about 1, 000 events global and caused about US$ 16 million in restitution, more than 500 million baht, in full.
Officials in the US and Switzerland requested that the attacks and prosecutions be carried out. The four people will be required to appear in court in the two nations to answer the costs.  ,
US tried ‘America First’ tariffs in 1930s – guess what happened next? – Asia Times
Donald Trump has hit the 30-day pause button to impose 25 % tariffs on Mexico and Canada, but he is still planning to impose 10 % tariffs on Chinese imports. Tariffs on the EU are also on his agenda.
Trump has declared that “tariff” is” the most beautiful word in the dictionary”. The president might want to get a record book and put out the dictionary as he weighs up the broad repercussions of his tariff fixation.
The US Smoot-Hawley Tax Act, which was passed in 1930, is referenced in terms of their scale and scope.
For instance, Paul Krugman, a Nobel Laureate scholar, stated to Bloomberg that” we’re actually talking about taxes on a level that we’ve never seen,” adding that” we’re talking about a reversal of actually 90 years of US plan.”
The Smoot-Hawley taxes were originally intended to support the greatly obliged US agricultural field at the end of the 1920s and shield them from foreign rivals, which are both well-known themes in the anti-free-trade speech being smuggled out by Trump supporters today.
The introduction of the Great Depression had generated common, albeit not general, demands for security from imports, and Smoot-Hawley increased now considerable tariffs on international goods. Members of Congress were keen to protect their constituents ‘ industries by trading votes in exchange for assistance.
Although, at the time, more than , 1, 000 economics implored , President Herbert Hoover to reject Smoot-Hawley, the act was signed into law. On 20, 000 or consequently different types of imported goods, income amounted to nearly 40 % as a result of the resulting price action.

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The culmination resulted in a dramatic decrease in US trade with other nations, especially those that retaliated, which is now widely acknowledged to have significantly worsened the Great Depression. According to one estimate, the sum of US imports plummeted by almost half.
What’s more, the consequences were felt worldwide. Around half of the 25 % decline in global business is thought to have been caused by protectionism, which in turn contributed to the development of the economic factors that led to the second world war.
The impact on Capitol Hill was significant, as well: due to the optics of the tax act’s vote-trading, Congress delegated power of business plan to the leader just four years later because the behavior was viewed as being so careless.
All of this was set against the landscape of American political protectionism in the 1930s, which is similar to many of Trump’s present attempts to veer away from or even harm multilateral institutions.
For instance, the US previously joined the United States despite receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919 for his contributions to founding the League of Nations, a precursor of the United Nations.
In this time, the phrase” America First” was also frequently used to refer to a target on local legislation and high taxes.
Fast forward to the day.
Trump has stated that his levies will” produce some problems,” but that they are “worth the amount that must be paid.” Trump’s taxes may increase fees for the common US home by more than US$ 1,200 annually, according to new estimates from the non-partisan Peterson Institute for International Economics.
When actual prices start to rise, it’s still up to US voters to decide whether or not they will support Trump.
However, many Republicans on Capitol Hill have rushed to Trump’s defense. New York’s congressional representative Claudia Tenney expressed gratitude to the United States for “projecting strength for once on the world stage.”
Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri argued that tariffs were” not a surprise,” pointing out that Trump had campaigned tirelessly for “enhancing our standing in the world.”
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who described the tariffs as a “bad idea,” was perhaps the Republican’s most severe rebuke.
According to public opinion data, tariffs are fraught with controversy, with partisanship influencing both general opinions of tariffs and those of specific national targets.
According to a January 2025 Harvard CAPS/Harris poll, 52 % of Americans overall approve of placing new tariffs on China, with 74 % of Republicans in favor, but just 34 % of Democrats.
Support is more modest for imposing tariffs on America’s neighbors. Only 40 % of voters think tariffs on Canada and Mexico are a good idea, including 59 % of Republicans and 24 % of Democrats.
Tariffs rank low on a list of national priorities. Only 3 % of Americans believe that Trump should prioritize tariffs on Mexico and Canada, while only 11 % view China as top priority.
a potential for a more extensive trade war
What seems clear is that Trump’s proposed tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China could be just the opening salvos in a broader tit-for-tat that may extend to Europe, and beyond.
The political challenge for Trump is to maintain what is increasingly looking like a fragile coalition at home, balancing the needs of hardline Maga supporters who oppose free trade and tech titans who believe tariffs are stumbling down crucial supply chains, especially in Asia.
After Trump’s election, former adviser and populist nationalist Steve Bannon warned that America would no longer be “abused” by “unbalanced trade deals”. ” Yes, tariffs are coming”, he said. You will have to pay to enter the US market. It is no longer free, the free market is over”.
Meanwhile, Silicon Valley has been mostly silent on the tariffs. Tech moguls have been assured that the tariffs are about leverage and will be eliminated soon enough, despite doubtlessly trying to win their favor for tariff exemptions or total tariff reductions.
Trump is showing that tariffs are a significant component of his” America First” foreign policy, a kind of belligerent unilateralism that treats allies and adversaries alike as pieces that can be moved around a chessboard.
Under Trump, the” art of the deal” means throwing America’s weight around as the world’s economic superpower, and waiting for the leaders of other nations to fold. His resolve may depend on whether American voters will bear the economic costs associated with his plans.
Trump might believe that the word “tariff” is a beautiful one at this time. However, its economic shadow might soon appear gloomy if even a hint of the 1930s is repeated.
Michael Plouffe is a lecturer in international political economy at UCL, and Thomas Gift is associate professor and director of the Center on US Politics.
This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Most Asian markets drop as traders weigh Trump’s latest tariff salvo
After Donald Trump stomped on steel and aluminum imports and warned that all nations would face “reciprocal” levies, stocks were largely down in Asia on Monday ( Feb 10 ). Following deficits on Wall Street as a result of data showing US consumers are becoming more concerned about inflation andContinue Reading
Court orders seizure of Iris Koh, Raymond Ng’s possessions over unpaid defamation suit costs

Koh and Ng missed their Dec. 30 date, according to Mr. Cheng, while the other applicants, past Progress Singapore Party members Bradley Bowyer, Bevan Tey, and Chan Swee Cheong, have paid their communicate.  ,
CNA saw a warning in an email sent to the couple from Mr. Cheng’s attorneys that if transaction wasn’t received by the deadline, contempt and enforcement proceedings could start.  ,
According to the Singapore Courts website, if police fails due to a borrower’s rejection, judges may push access on the first try. But, for subsequent efforts, they may employ a plumber to gain exposure.  ,
” I will push on. Costs of living are great, and every share matters”, Mr Cheng wrote in a Facebook post.  ,
Koh, responding to CNA, said she was surprised by the unexpected explore by the court judge, Mr Cheng’s attorney and users of the press without notice from Mr Cheng’s legal staff.  ,
She claimed to have requested a change to the court order, a legal procedure that allows the court to change or modify the words of an already-existing purchase.  ,
” We expected the court order to be varied first then ( we ) pay”, she told CNA.  ,
9 die from alcohol poisoning after drinking event in West Java

CIANJUR, West Java: Nine people have died from drinking poison after attending a consuming function in Cianjur, West Java, regional authorities said.
According to Head of Cianjur Police Narcotics Unit Septian Pratama, the most recent target passed away on January 10 at around midnight due to his worsening situation.
” There were a total of 12 victims, nine have died and for the other three, one is still being treated ( at the hospital ) while the other two have been discharged”, he said on Monday, as quoted by local news outlet Detik.
Local media had previously reported that the 12 of them, who are Pademangan Village residents between the ages of 29 and 55, had consumed extremely large drinking at a consuming function last Thursday.
According to the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Mande District Police Helmi, they had apparently mixed their own coffee using 96 % alcohol, which they had purchased from an online retailer.  ,
One of the five-liter containers of alcohol arrived on Thursday night, and one of them combined it with drink and bottled beverages before consuming the beverages at one of their homes, according to Kompas.  ,
The majority of them, according to the officers, started experiencing serious drinking intoxication symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headaches, muscle loss, and a chest burning sensation the day after drinking.  ,
Three of the 12 had passed away at home after coworkers from nearby found their body.  ,
” Some of them died at the hospital, and some even died at home because they did not receive health care in day”, Septian earlier said on Saturday, as quoted by Kompas.  ,
According to Kompas, the police likewise discovered the jack can vessel at one of the victims ‘ homes, which is thought to be the location of the consuming event.  ,
Septian told investigators on Saturday that when other villagers discovered the liquor remnants and attempted to lose it, the water caused an explosion.  ,
He added that initial studies found that they had consumed “non-food-grade alcohol”, commonly used for outside reasons like antiseptics.
If there were any other people at the having occurrence, the authorities are also looking into it.  ,
Individually, four people died at another eating event on Friday in Central Bogor, West Java.
One another remains in critical situation, Kompas reported.  ,
Central Bogor Police Chief Commissioner Agustinus Manurung said on Sunday that they had supposedly consumed adult mixed drink, though it is still unclear what kind of beer was consumed.  ,
At the Central Bogor Police Station on Sunday night, two individuals at the site and the alcohol retailer have been questioned.  ,
Bangkok University expels students who attacked LGTBQ+ peer with hot soup

Two LGBTQ learners were suspended from Bangkok University on Monday for pouring hot soup on another pupil from Pathum Thani state next week. A protest march was sparked by the event on Saturday night.
The school, which claimed the assault on February 6 was against the law and its student control rules, announced the ejection on its Facebook page.
On Thursday next week, the incident occurred at a soup shop in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district. The target suffered burns on the chest, back and arms. Additionally, it was reported that the attackers had demanded money from the target to prevent these attacks.
Both students between the ages of 19 and 22 were accused of physical abuse and bribery, according to Khlong Luang officers, who have already received five issues from victims.
At the Khlong Luang train, they were detained and detained.
On Saturday evening, hundreds of LGBT residents gathered at a property in the Rangsit area of Pathum Thani to require that the attackers apologize for their aggressive deed.
Bangkok University expels students who attacked LGBTQ+ peer with hot soup

Two LGBTQ pupils were suspended from Bangkok University on Monday after one pupil in Pathum Thani state was covered in hot soup next year. On Saturday evening, the affair sparked a protest rally.
The school apologised for the expulsion on its Facebook page, claiming that the assault on February 6 was in contravention with the laws and its rules for student control.
On Thursday next week, an incident occurred at a pasta shop in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district. The victim suffered burn on the chest, back and arms. Additionally, it was reported that the attackers had demanded money from the target to prevent these attacks.
Both students between the ages of 19 and 22 were accused of physical abuse and bribery, according to Khlong Luang authorities, who had already received five issues from victims.
At the Khlong Luang place, they were detained and detained.
On Saturday evening, hundreds of LGBTQ people gathered at a property in the Rangsit area of Pathum Thani to require that the attackers apologize for their aggressive deed.
IT help desk engineer who sold stolen Apple devices gets jail

SINGAPORE: An IT help desk engineer stole 49 Apple devices from the school where he worked and sold them for profit, making S$ 13, 200 ( US$ 9, 700 ) in total.
Lim Poh Heng Andrew, 29, was sentenced to nine months ‘ jail and fined S$ 1, 200 on Monday ( Feb 10 ).
He admitted guilt on a single criminal breach of trust cost.
The prosecutor was informed that Lim had worked at the IT help desk at Stamford American International School since June 2023.
His task was to support the school’s around 3, 250 students and 660 staff with IT issues, and maintain the inventory for the school’s electrical devices.
In its IT agencies, the university kept the products that students and staff may borrow. When a student or employee was loaned out, the serial number for each unit was attached to the system.
Lim had the ability to assign products to students and staff as part of his job by using a two-factor verification process on his cellular phone or email.
Lim logged into the university’s computer program in November 2023, giving himself a MacBook Air computer.
To hinder the features on the devices, all the products used an Apple School Manager site for the institution.
Lim so reprogrammed the computer by removing it from the university’s client, restoring its full functionality.
After using the computer himself, he sold it on Carousell.
Till February 2024, Lim misappropriated a full of 13 MacBook Air devices and 33 tablets. The 46 tools were valued at S$ 31, 772 in full.
He also removed any batteries and charging cables that had been spared along with the equipment, so his actions would not be noticed.
He sold 39 of the stolen devices at the rate of S$ 600 to S$ 800 for a MacBook Air, and S$ 100 to S$ 200 for an iPad.
In March 2024, the university’s managing director of businesses discovered another individual had stolen brand-new devices.
Consequently, to reduce the risk of such incidents reoccurring, the university limited access to the system for allocating loaned products to three individuals in the IT department.
Lim remained anonymous despite being one of the three survivors.
The IT department brain noticed that some electronic gadgets were missing around April 2024, and asked Lim about two of the items.
Lim claimed that Lim had canceled the two involved.
The ministry head and managing director conducted further investigation because the industry’s standard operating procedures for scrapping equipment had not been followed.
They discovered that 46 products could not be accounted for, as these were never released to employees or pupils, but were also not in the school’s IT practices.
When Lim was confronted, he admitted to the crimes. Additionally, authorities searched his apartment and discovered unsellable items he had stolen.
The class suffered a complete loss of S$ 25, 622. Lim made a gain of S$ 13, 200. After the crimes came to light, he made limited restitution of S$ 12, 000 to the class.
The prosecutor argued for the release of the remaining illegal income Lim made that were not returned, and for nine to ten months in jail and a S$ 1,200 great.
In his prevention, Lim, who did certainly have a solicitor, apologised to his former coworkers and boss for his wrongdoing.  ,
He said,” I committed this crime with the intention of at least having a better future, but my greed and desire stifled my wisdom and I made a pretty poor decision.”
According to the judge, Lim’s partial compensation accounted for about 40 % of the school’s overall reduction.
He even noted that Lim pleaded guilty first, worked with studies, and had no previous beliefs.
Up to 15 years in prison and a good are possible for a criminal breach of trust. As Lim’s command was amalgamated, he could have been given up to two times the maximum sentence.
Canadian found dead in car with a farewell letter

A French man was discovered dead in a parked car at a beach in Muang Disciple on Monday night, along with a letter expressing his last hopes.  ,
At the gate to Nui Beach in Tambon Karon, the secured car was parked. According to Karon police commander Pol Col Khunnadet Na Nongkhai, it was reported to the officers around 9.15am.
Officers and criminal authorities unlocked the car. A French card and an English letter were also discovered along with the man’s body.  ,
The gentleman was identified in the card as Ian Macaulay, 53, a native of Montreal.
The text was addressed to Naz and was dated February 9. He mentioned his family’s monetary strain and his health issues. One of his intentions was for one moment of religious observances to occur before his remains would be buried in the Andaman Sea off Kamala shore.
According to Pol Col. Khunnadet, Macaulay operated an virtual marketplace for lodging. He reportedly committed suicide due to his own health and firm issues.  ,
The precise cause of death was determined at Vachira Phuket Hospital.  , The American consulate-general in Phuket had been informed and the boy’s relatives abroad had been contacted, he said.