A string of hitmen who repeatedly subcontracted a murder to each other — then failed to go through with the job have been jailed in China.
AFP
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TikTok App Removes ISIS Related Videos
Social media app TikTok has taken down accounts that were posting propaganda videos for the Islamic State group, a company employee said Tuesday, in the latest scandal to hit the popular platform.
Flying Taxis Taking Flight over Singapore
A drone-like flying taxi whirred over Singapore’s waterfront Tuesday, with the firm behind the test hoping the aircraft will revolutionise travel in traffic-choked Asian cities.
Orange Beard is Trending in Bangladesh
From shades of startling red to hues of vivid tangerine, brightly coloured beards have become a fashion statement on the streets of Bangladesh capital Dhaka.
China’s ‘Great Firewall’ Blocks Almost a Quarter of Global News Sources
China’s “Great Firewall” system of online censorship blocks domestic access to nearly a quarter of the foreign news organisations accredited to report in the country, a press watchdog said Tuesday.
Thai Royal Stripped of All Titles for ‘Disloyalty’
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn has stripped his 34-year-old consort of all titles for “disloyalty” and apparent “ambition” to match the Queen’s position, a royal command issued late Monday said, less than three months after she was bestowed with the honour.
Australian Media Protests Against Government with Redacted Front Pages
Newspapers across Australia ran heavily redacted front pages on Monday in protest against government secrecy and a crackdown on press freedom, a rare show of unity in a fractious media landscape.
Frenchman May Face Firing Squad for Smuggling Drugs into Bali
Two Thai women and a Frenchman could face the death penalty after they were caught smuggling drugs into Bali, the Indonesian holiday island’s customs agency said Monday.
$20 Million Worth of Meth Found Floating in Myanmar
Sacks of crystal meth scooped from the sea by Myanmar fishermen who mistook it for a deodorant substance had a street value of $20 million, an official told AFP Sunday, in a country believed to be the world’s largest methamphetamine producer.
The Murderer who Ignited the Historic Hong Kong Protest will Return to Taiwan
A man who inadvertently triggered Hong Kong’s huge protests after he murdered his girlfriend in Taiwan has agreed to return to the island to face justice, a clergyman who has visited him in prison said on Friday.
Charming Thai Billionaire Accused of Breaching Election Rules
The charismatic frontman of Thailand’s anti-military parliamentary bloc appeared in court Friday accused of breaching election rules by holding media shares, a case which could see him barred from politics and jailed for up to 10 years.
China: Universal Studios Park will Use Facial Recognition
The Universal Studios amusement park under construction in Beijing will admit visitors without a ticket thanks to cameras that will scan their faces to determine if they’ve paid for entry.
Luxury Brand Dior Adding to China’s Apology List
Luxury brand Dior has become the latest company to apologise to China over a perceived insult to national sovereignty, saying Thursday it “cherishes the feelings of the Chinese people”.
Kim Jong-un’s Horseback Riding Signals New Policy Shift
New pictures of Kim Jong Un riding a white horse through a winter landscape to the summit of Mount Paektu, a sacred peak for North Koreans, have fuelled speculation that the young leader may be set for a major policy announcement.
Myanmar’s First Surfing Team to Take Off at SEAsia Games
Competitive surfing was barely known in Myanmar a few years ago but one local beach town is riding a wave of enthusiasm to the Southeast Asia Games for the first time ever.
One Third of the World’s Young Children are Malnourished
A third of the world’s nearly 700 million children under five years old are undernourished or overweight and face lifelong health problems as a consequence, according to a grim UN assessment of childhood nutrition released Tuesday.
A Heavy Jail Sentence of 16 Years Set for Thai Meth Swallowers
Two Thai men were sentenced to heavy 16-year jail terms in Indonesia on Wednesday after swallowing a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of methamphetamine in a foiled drug smuggling bid.
Britain’s William and Kate Begin ‘Complex’ Tour of Pakistan
Prince William and his wife Kate arrived in Pakistan to a red carpet welcome late Monday for their “most complex” tour to date, with Islamabad eager to tout improved security after years of violent militancy.
Four-Meter King Cobra Rescued From Sewer in Thailand
A feisty four-meter king cobra was pulled from a sewer in southern Thailand in an hour-long operation, a rescue foundation said Tuesday, describing the reptile as one of the largest they had ever captured.
Philippines Begins Mass Vaccinations After Polio Returns
Parents lined up from sunrise holding sleeping infants as the Philippines launched a campaign on Monday to vaccinate millions of children against polio, which has re-emerged nearly two decades after the nation’s last cases.