HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Wednesday ordered the removal of scaffolding nets used in all building maintenance projects across Hong Kong within three days for fire safety checks in the aftermath of the deadly fire in the housing complex Wang Fuk Court.
Removed materials will be returned to use after approval under new safety rubrics to be issued by the government next week, said Bernadette Linn, secretary for development of the HKSAR government. (Hong Kong-Fire)
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TOKYO -- A criminal complaint was filed against Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday, alleging that she has received a political donation from a company that exceeded the legal maximum.
The complaint, sent by Hiroshi Kamiwaki, a constitutional law professor at Kobe Gakuin University, said a local chapter of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Nara Prefecture, represented by Takaichi, received in August 2024 a 10 million yen (64,400 U.S. dollars) donation, above a 7.5 million yen limit stipulated in the political funds control law for a donor of that size. (Japan-Takaichi-Complaint)
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KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia is moving to block children under 16 years old from accessing social media platforms and to tighten content controls for teenagers under 18, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on Thursday.
These new controls are part of 10 subsidiary laws being drafted under the Online Safety Act 2025, with a specific focus on protecting children online and ensuring age-appropriate content for young users, Fahmi said in a written parliamentary reply on the government's efforts to create a safer digital environment. (Malaysia-Social media-Restrictions)
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BANGKOK/JAKARTA/COLOMBO -- Parts of South and Southeast Asia have witnessed the most devastating flooding in years as a result of relentless downpours compounded by a tropical cyclone, with Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand reporting a combined death toll exceeding 1,400, with nearly 900 people still missing.
It is believed that human-induced vulnerabilities have amplified the flood impact despite the heavy rainfalls, with experts appealing to strengthen early warning systems, shelter facilities, and disaster management plans. (Thailand-Floods-Risks) ■
