Nation

Exempt food industry from paying EPF for foreign workers, urges association

KUALA LUMPUR: Exempt food industry employers from the mandatory monthly Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for foreign workers, said the Malaysian Food Manufacturers Association.

Nation

Airasia’s hijab uniform option a progressive, commendable move, says Mohd Na’im

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia's decision to allow female cabin crew the option to wear the hijab while on duty across all flight routes starting next year is a progressive and highly commendable move, says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.

Nation

Diploma student dies from high blood pressure complications in Melaka

MELAKA: A Politeknik Merlimau student was found dead at his rented home in Taman Merlimau Emas, Merlimau on Friday (Dec 6).

Myanmar

Chinese embassy donates funds to four Myanmar sports federations

YANGON: The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar on Friday (Dec 5) donated funds to four Myanmar sports federations in Yangon as part of China-Myanmar friendly sports exchanges.

Nation

More flood victims return home in Perak, Selangor

KUALA LUMPUR: The flood situation in Perak and Selangor continued to improve on Saturday (Dec 6) morning, with a further decline in the number of evacuees, while figures in Perlis and Pahang remained unchanged.

Asia & Oceania

China’s spectacular paradise of lakes, Jiuzhaigou, comes in many colours

Although the Jiuzhai Valley National Park is always packed with tourists, it is still worth a visit.

AI

'Stealing from a thief': How ChatGPT helped Delhi man outsmart scammer, make him 'beg' for forgiveness

A Delhi man outsmarted a scammer impersonating his college senior and tracked him down using ChatGPT to ruin his "Army transfer/cheap goods" scam.

Cambodia

Hun Sen posts video of 2023 SEA Games closing ceremony amid criticism of this year’s event

PHNOM PENH: Senate president Hun Sen posted a short video clip of Cambodia's 32nd SEA Games closing ceremony, reviving national pride just days before Thailand prepares to host the opening of the 33rd Games on Tuesday (Dec 9) — an event which is already drawing international and domestic criticism over its preparations and organisation.

Analysis

DAP presses panic button after Sabah debacle

THE past week saw a number of DAP leaders start to speak up on issues the way they did when they were the opposition.

Laos

Laos prepares to lead international review of Convention on Cluster Munitions

VIENTIANE: More than 60 Lao and international partners gathered in Vientiane on Nov 28 to discuss the Lausanne Action Plan, in preparation for Laos to lead the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, scheduled for September next year.

Football

Soccer-Bayern's Diaz gets Champions League ban reduced to two games

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich forward Luis Diaz's three-game Champions League ban for a violent tackle on PSG's Achraf Hakimi was reduced to two, the European soccer body UEFA said on Friday.

Nation

Thunderstorm warning for four states, Labuan until 1pm

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm warning for four states and the Federal Territory of Labuan, effective until 1pm on Saturday (Dec 6)

Philippines

Tremors observed within Philippines' Taal Volcano in the last 13 hours – Phivolcs

MANILA: The ongoing volcanic tremors being observed at the Taal Volcano on Saturday (Dec 6) may lead to an eruption, according to a specialist from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

World

UN agency says Chornobyl nuclear plant's protective shield damaged

Dec 5 (Reuters) - A protective shield at the Chornobyl nuclear plant in war-torn Ukraine, built to contain radioactive material from the 1986 disaster, can no longer perform its main safety function due to drone damage, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday, a strike Ukraine has attributed to Russia.

China

Flu positivity hits 51% in China as school clusters rise

BEIJING: China's flu activity has surged to high levels, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sri Lanka

IMF considers Sri Lanka's US$200mil emergency aid request after cyclone disaster

ANKARA, (Bernama-Anadolu): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday (Dec 5) that it is reviewing a request by Sri Lanka for US$200 million in emergency financing following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

Football

From Batman to believers: World Cup minnows dream big

Dec 5 (Reuters) - A caped crusader danced in Glasgow, a tiny Caribbean island vowed to conquer the world and a Haitian fan predicted a semi-final run, as the 2026 World Cup draw delivered equal measures of euphoria and ambition for football's underdogs on Friday.

Movie Review

'Five Nights At Freddy's 2' review: Messy, un-scary, insipid nonsense

The sequel builds on the un-scary, un-funny bones of the 2023 original by expanding the Freddy's Cinematic Universe with an even more head-scratching outing.

AI

A US man was indicted for allegedly cyberstalking women. He says he took advice from ChatGPT.

On his podcast, Mr Dadig called the AI chatbot his "therapist" and "best friend," the indictment says.

Wellness

My first urologist’s visit: What to expect

Men should visit this specialist to get checked for any disorders related to their reproductive and urinary systems.