Entertainment

‘Pulp Fiction’ actor Peter Greene died of accidental gunshot wound to his armpit

A neighbour found Greene in the actor's ground-floor apartment Dec 12 after tenants there reported hearing Christmas music playing inside the unit for several days.

AI

Google Gemini, Apple add music-focused generative AI features

Alphabet Inc's Google and Apple Inc are adding music-focused generative artificial intelligence features to their core consumer apps, underscoring how advanced AI tools are moving into mainstream use.

AseanPlus News

New Zealand seeks to abolish dedicated environment ministry

WELLINGTON: New Zealand's right-wing government is seeking to abolish the country's dedicated environment ministry, a broad cost-cutting measure in a country highly susceptible to climate change.

Laos

Luang Namtha prepares to receive 1.4 million tourists

VIENTIANE: Authorities in Luang Namtha province have set a target of attracting 1,441,568 tourists during this year in order to earn about US$45 million from the tourism sector, according to Socio-Economic News.

Indonesia

Indonesia, US sign trade deal, finalising 19 per cent tariff rate and no levy on goods like coffee

JAKARTA: Indonesia and the United States signed a trade pact on Thursday (Feb 19), finalising a tariff of 19 per cent on most Indonesian exports to the US, as well as a pledge for the South-East Asian country to purchase about US$33 billion worth of American goods.

Rugby

Rugby-Evergreen Slipper packs down for 200th Super Rugby match

MELBOURNE, Feb 20 (Reuters) - More than 16 ⁠years after first packing down for Ewen McKenzie's Queensland Reds, prop James Slipper will run out with the ACT Brumbies for ⁠his 200th Super Rugby match on Sunday, ticking off another milestone in a career of incredible longevity.

Nation

Unemployed man charged with murder ordered to undergo psychiatric assessment

KUALA LUMPUR: The Magistrate's Court on Friday (Feb 20) ordered an unemployed man accused of killing a homeless woman in Sentul to undergo a psychiatric assessment at Hospital Bahagia Tanjong Rambutan in Ulu Kinta, Perak.

Letters

Presumption of innocence must guide MACC probe over alleged share ownership

A letter from PROF DATUK DR KASSIM NOOR MOHAMED, Criminologist and Vice-Chancellor, Enforcement Leadership and Management University (ELMU)

World

Journalist with Germany's Deutsche Welle detained in Turkey

FRANKFURT, Feb 20 (Reuters) - ⁠Turkish authorities have detained a veteran correspondent ⁠of German state-backed international broadcaster Deutsche Welle ‌in Ankara, accusing him of "disseminating misleading information" and "insulting the president".

Nation

Over 37 tonnes of e-waste seized in Port Klang by AKPS

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) has intercepted 37,028kg of electronic waste (e-waste) at West Port, Port Klang, after two shipping containers were found to have entered the country using false customs declarations.

Philippines

Philippine Palace not accepting apologies over fake President Marcos medical report

MANILA: Malacanang Palace said it would not accept apologies or excuses from persons who recently spread online a fake hospital report on President Marcos' medical condition, including a vlogger who owned up to the deed when he appeared before investigators on Wednesday (Feb 18).

Football

Soccer-Turkey detains 32 suspects in widening betting probe, prosecutor's office says

ISTANBUL, Feb 20 (Reuters) - ⁠Turkish authorities detained 32 suspects, including ⁠executives of football clubs, on Friday as ‌part of a widening investigation into alleged match-fixing and illegal betting in the country's professional leagues, the prosecutor's ​office in Istanbul said.

Nation

Over 350 landowners appeal Penang’s revised land tax, says Chow

GEORGE TOWN: State land administrators are currently reviewing more than 350 appeals from landowners seeking reductions following this year's land tax revision, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Thailand

Thai court extends sentence for lawyer who called for monarchy reform

BANGKOK: A Thai court has sentenced a jailed activist lawyer to an additional two years and eight months in prison for insulting the monarchy at a rally in November 2020, a rights group said on Friday (Feb 20), bringing his combined sentence to more than 30 years.

Sabah & Sarawak

Sabah floods: Victims told to prioritise safety as Paitan, Kota Marudu, Pitas declared disaster zones

KOTA KINABALU: Flood victims statewide, especially in the worst-hit areas of Paitan, Kota Marudu, Pitas and Sandakan, are urged to refrain from taking unnecessary risks and to prioritise their safety.

Badminton

Sze Fei-Izzuddin agree to Thomas Cup, Asian Games, says Rexy

PETALING JAYA: Former world No. 1 men's doubles pair Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have agreed to help strengthen the national squad for the Thomas Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark from April 24-May 3.

World

Ukrainians mourn missing homes and loved ones after four years of war

DZENZELIVKA, Ukraine, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Sixty-five-year-old Halyna Popriadukhina has fled her ⁠home three times as Russian troops have marched deeper into eastern Ukraine during four years of war. Tired of running, she hopes Ukraine can somehow hold ⁠them back.

Vietnam

Ministry proposes restructuring Vietnam Railways Corp into national railway group to spearhead North–South mega project

HANOI: The Ministry of Finance has proposed upgrading Vietnam Railways (VNR) Corporation into the Vietnam National Railway Group to advance the domestic railway industry with the focus on implementing the North-South high-speed railway mega project.

AI

ByteDance building out artificial intelligence team in US

Chinese tech giant ByteDance Ltd is hiring in the US for nearly 100 open roles within its artificial intelligence division, an effort to compete with the world's leading US-based AI companies despite years of national security concerns from American lawmakers and regulators.

Fashion

King Charles makes surprising front-row appearance at London Fashion Week opener

London Fashion Week launched with a rare visit from King Charles III only hours after his brother Andrew's sensational arrest, overshadowing an event traditionally focused on highlighting new talent.