Rush to close ‘mule’ bank accounts
NAKHON PHANOM: Police report many people rushing to close “mule” bank accounts they say were opened without their knowledge by scammers who fooled them into handing over their personal data.Continue Reading
Chip war and censorship hobble Chinese tech giants in chatbot race
The strict restrictions on the Chinese internet mean companies have “significantly less data resources for training purposes compared to Western competitors”, Lauren Hurcombe, a technology lawyer at DLA Piper, told AFP. Ernie Bot has not yet been launched for public use. China has announced ambitious plans to become a globalContinue Reading
Sri Lanka receives first tranche of IMF bailout
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has received the first tranche of an IMF bailout programme, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament on Wednesday (Mar 22). The crisis-ridden island nation was scheduled to receive a US$330 million tranche, the first part of a nearly US$3 billion bailout approved by the International Monetary Fund onContinue Reading
Singapore property tech firm Ohmyhome lists on Nasdaq stock exchange, eyes Southeast Asia expansion
The listing comes as the global initial public offerings (IPO) market last year plunged from a record-breaking 2021.Continue Reading
ISIS-K resurgence rocks Taliban and rattles US
Since returning to power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have struggled to contain the Islamic State Khorasan province, or ISIS-K – the official Islamic State group affiliate operating in Afghanistan. Now, a fresh wave of assassination attempts on top Taliban officials has rocked multiple regions across the country and prompted fears of the group’s […]Continue Reading
Korea and Japan try and try again for a reset
TOKYO – South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s recent visit to Japan took an often backward-facing relationship and reset it looking forward, at least for the time being. The US was pleased to see its two allies working together rather than arguing about history. Yoon spent two days in Japan, meeting with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida […]Continue Reading
Asia tracks Wall Street rally as Fed decision replaces bank worries
“FEAR INDEX” DROPS The US and European rally filtered through to Asia, where banks were among the big gainers with tech firms. Hong Kong led the way, riding more than 2 per cent thanks to a bump in lenders HSBC and Standard Chartered as well as e-commerce titans Alibaba andContinue Reading
Bookings cancelled, 200 ActiveSG accounts suspended for suspected bot use and reselling since 2021
SINGAPORE: About 200 ActiveSG accounts have been suspended since 2021 over the suspected use of bots to book sports facilities. In addition, more than 600 bookings have been cancelled for “on-selling activities”, said Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo in a written parliamentary reply on Tuesday (Mar 21). Mrs TeoContinue Reading
At least 12 dead after earthquake hits Pakistan and Afghanistan
The 6.5 magnitude quake was centred in Afghanistan’s remote Jurm valley which is prone to seismic activity.Continue Reading
China’s diplomatic offensive lays down new challenge for US
But Daly said Xi casting himself as a mediator could help at the margins in Europe, and especially in developing nations which share little of the US enthusiasm for preserving an “international rules-based order”. Xi “doesn’t actually have to move the needle on peace or a ceasefire in Ukraine”, heContinue Reading