About 30,000 visitors to Japan’s World Exposition in Osaka were left stranded, with some forced to spend the night inside the expo grounds, after the sole train service to the venue had to be halted due to a power outage on Wednesday.
Services on the Chuo Line, the only direct route to Yumeshima, the artificial island that hosts the expo, were halted at 9.30pm – 30 minutes before closing time – because of an electrical failure, Kyodo news agency reported.
While the Osaka Metro partially restored…
Bali gets tough: can new task force keep unruly tourists in check?
Indonesia has set up a new immigration task force to keep lawbreaking foreigners in Bali in check, but critics warn the presence of uniformed officers on the popular resort island risks putting tourists on edge.
Agus Andrianto, minister of immigration and corrections, on August 5 inaugurated the Immigration Patrol Task Force in Bali’s provincial capital Denpasar, with the mission to “suppress illegal acts by foreigners”, as well as provide rapid response to immigration violations.
“The formation…
Financial entities face contract update exercise over third-party risks
Financial institutions could have to update contracts with third-party suppliers in the coming months to adhere to guidelines the European Banking Authority (EBA) is developing, an expert has said.
India’s navy gets a double dose of stealth with twin warship launch
The grey hulls of two new Indian stealth frigates are set to slide into service side by side this month, in a rare twin commissioning that analysts say embodies India’s maritime ambitions and sends a clear message to its rivals.
The INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are set to formally join the fleet on August 26 in a ceremony at Visakhapatnam on India’s east coast. Both vessels, which were built in separate shipyards, are part of Project 17A – India’s most advanced stealth frigate programme – and…
Thailand to pay US$17,000 each to 2 Malaysians injured in fire attack
Thailand will compensate the two Malaysian tourists who were set on fire in Bangkok last week up to 550,000 baht (US$17,000) each for medical expenses and emotional distress, the tourism minister has confirmed.
Gan Xiao Zhen, 27, and Ong Yik Leong, 26, had been sitting on the steps outside the Big C shopping centre on Thursday last week when they were attacked.
Their assailant, later identified as Varakorn Pubthaisong, 30, allegedly doused them with thinner before setting them alight. He claimed…
Planning for age assurance: the challenges facing the introduction of Australia’s social media age restriction laws
Age assurance to protect children from harmful online content has come sharply into focus this year in Australia and globally.
From fishnet sales to richest Singaporean: Nippon Paint’s Goh Cheng Liang dies
Towards the end of his life, Goh Cheng Liang was known as the richest Singaporean, owning some of the world’s most luxurious superyachts, but his humble beginnings left an indelible mark on the elusive paint tycoon and spurred his philanthropic efforts. He died on Tuesday at the age of 98.
Goh, the founder of Wuthelam Group which owns close to a 60 per cent stake in Nippon Paint Holdings, and – according to Forbes – had an estimated net worth of US$13 billion (S$16.7 billion), died with family…
Singapore, US scrap plans for F-15 fighter jet training in Guam
Plans for a Singaporean fighter jet training presence in the US territory of Guam have been shelved, both governments have confirmed, despite years of preparation and investment in upgrading the US Air Force base on the Pacific island.
Singapore and the United States had agreed to “discontinue discussions” on deploying 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fighter jets to Guam, the city state’s defence ministry announced on Tuesday.
This followed an earlier statement from the US Air…
Using FIDIC construction contracts in Saudi Arabia
FIDIC is one of the most common forms of construction contract used in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Who is Singapore’s Olivia Lum? From corporate darling to criminal suspect
Singapore’s Hyflux founder Olivia Lum has gone from being an entrepreneurial darling in the 2000s – bagging numerous business awards and ranking on high-powered lists that featured mostly men – to now facing criminal charges in court over her company’s failure to disclose information to investors.
On Monday, Lum, 64, arrived at the state courts to stand trial over failure to communicate to investors and the Singapore Exchange information on Tuaspring Integrated Water and Power Project, in the…