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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Online vape sales in Malaysia thrive despite ban
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A simple search will bring up at least eight results on the first three pages, all leading to individual online vape stores. PETALING JAYA - The law in Malaysia bans the sale of vape-related products online, yet they remain widely available through Internet search engines. Almost a year after the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act (Act 852) came into force, effectively banning the sale of vapes and e-liquids, purchasing these items remains just a few clicks away. While these products are no longer found on e-commerce platforms when the term 'vape' is searched, keying in the name of specific brands reveals that these items are still being sold. On Internet search engines, sales are even more rampant. A simple search will bring up at least eight results on the first three pages, all leading to individual online vape stores. The only age verification process is on the landing page, where users are required to state if they are over 18. Users can easily bypass this by selecting 'yes' and can then freely browse and purchase products, as there is no further verification. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sengkang-Punggol LRT line back to full service: SBS Transit World AI eroded doctors' ability to spot cancer within months in study Singapore From survivable to liveable: The making of a green city World US trade team will meet Chinese officials in two or three months, Bessent says Multimedia World Photography Day: Celebrating the art of image-making Asia DPM Gan kicks off India visit in Mumbai as Singapore firms ink investment agreements Business CDL H1 profit rises 3.9% to $91.2 million; board proposes special dividend of 3 cents per share Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story There is also no requirement to verify one's age when making a purchase. Purchasing is straightforward and can be done through e-wallet and card payments. A quick search on Internet search engines also leads to multiple public groups on social media openly advertising vape devices and e-liquids. In these groups, photos, prices and product descriptions fill the media tab, creating a bustling online marketplace accessible to anyone. Here, buyers can contact the group admin, provide their details and make payment. The product will then be delivered to the buyer's preferred address. 'There is an extreme lack of enforcement for vape sales online. There seems to be no serious efforts in tackling this,' said anti-smoking activist NV Subbarow. The Consumers Association of Penang senior education officer said the lack of a detailed age verification required raises concerns, noting that anyone could just lie about being over 18. 'Some students even get these items from middlemen, who buy the devices online.' He reiterated the need for a total ban on vapes, urging for heavy penalties against lawbreakers. 'We can have hundreds of pages on regulations, but if there is no enforcement, it will all be wasted,' he said. Act 852 was enforced in phases from Oct 1, 2024. The first phase, which was enforced with immediate effect, covers regulations including the prohibition of smoking products from being sold in educational institutions, online platforms, markets and vending machines. The second phase of enforcement, which includes a display ban on smoking products, was revised to Oct 1, 2025. Under Regulation 6, the display ban at counters was scheduled to come into effect on April 1, 2025, involving some 51,000 retailers. Phase three, meanwhile, regulates how smoking products are packaged. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Straits Times
Southern Taiwan shuts down ahead of arrival of Typhoon Podul
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox TAIPEI - A large swathe of southern and eastern Taiwan shut down on Aug 13 and hundreds of flights were cancelled ahead of the arrival later in the day of Typhoon Podul, with thousands of people evacuated. Taiwan is regularly hit by typhoons, generally along its mountainous, sparsely populated east coast facing the Pacific. The mid-strength Typhoon Podul, packing wind gusts as strong as 191kmh, was heading for the south-eastern city of Taitung as it intensifies and was expected to make landfall nearby on the afternoon of Aug 13, weather officials said. "Destructive winds from typhoon expected. Take shelter as soon as possible," read a text message alert issued to cellphone users in parts of Taitung early on Aug 13. The alert warned people of gusts above 150kmh in the coming hours. Nine cities and counties announced the suspension of work and school for Aug 13, including the southern metropolises of Kaohsiung and Tainan. In the capital Taipei, home to Taiwan's financial markets, there was no impact. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sengkang-Punggol LRT line back to full service: SBS Transit World US trade team will meet Chinese officials in two or three months, Bessent says Singapore From survivable to liveable: The making of a green city Asia DPM Gan kicks off India visit in Mumbai as Singapore firms ink investment agreements Multimedia World Photography Day: Celebrating the art of image-making World Ukraine, sidelined in Trump-Putin summit, fights Russian grab for more territory Opinion Singpass use in dating apps raises difficult questions Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story Authorities are also working to evacuate those whose homes were damaged by a July typhoon that brought record winds and damaged the electricity grid in a rare direct hit to Taiwan's west coast. The government said almost 5,000 people had been evacuated ahead of the typhoon's arrival. All domestic flights were cancelled on Aug 13, while Taiwan's two main international carriers China Airlines and EVA Air cancelled a handful of international flights as well. After making landfall, the storm is expected to hit Taiwan's much more densely populated western coast before heading for China's southern province of Fujian later this week. As much as 600mm of rain was forecast in southern mountainous areas over the next few days, the Central Weather Administration said. More than a year's rainfall fell in a single week in August in some southern areas, unleashing widespread landslides and flooding, with four deaths. REUTERS
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
China cuts ties with Czech president over Dalai Lama visit
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Czech government said Mr Pavel's meeting with the Dalai Lama had been private, and called on China to treat it as such. BEIJING – China said it will cease engagement with Czech President Petr Pavel over his meeting with the Dalai Lama, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Mr Pavel met the 14th Dalai Lama in India in July despite strong opposition from Beijing, which considers the Tibetan spiritual leader a separatist. The Czech presidential office said the meeting with the Dalai Lama, who celebrated his 90th birthday in July, took place in a private capacity. 'China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and has lodged serious protests with the Czech side,' Beijing's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in written remarks on Aug 12. 'In light of the severity of Pavel's provocative action, China decides to cease all engagement with him.' The central European country's vocal criticism of human-rights violations in China, as well as active diplomatic and business ties with Taiwan, have repeatedly angered the government in Beijing. In May, Czechs blamed state-linked Chinese hackers for cyber attack against Foreign Ministry's unclassified networks. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sengkang-Punggol LRT line back to full service: SBS Transit World US trade team will meet Chinese officials in two or three months, Bessent says Singapore From survivable to liveable: The making of a green city Asia DPM Gan kicks off India visit in Mumbai as Singapore firms ink investment agreements Multimedia World Photography Day: Celebrating the art of image-making World Ukraine, sidelined in Trump-Putin summit, fights Russian grab for more territory Opinion Singpass use in dating apps raises difficult questions Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story The Chinese Embassy in Prague then rejected the allegations as 'unsubstantiated.' Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky told reporters that Mr Pavel's meeting with the Dalai Lama had been private, and he called on China to treat it as such, CTK newswire reported on Aug 12. Mr Pavel, a former high-ranking Czech military and Nato official, won the presidency two years ago. He replaced Mr Milos Zeman, a strong advocate for closer economic ties with China. The Dalai Lama had a close relationship with the first Czech post-communist President Vaclav Havel, who repeatedly hosted him in Prague. BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Alcaraz eases past Medjedovic in Cincinnati for 50th win of the season
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Aug 12, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) serves against Hamad Medjedovic (SRB) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Carlos Alcaraz eased past Serbia's Hamad Medjedovic 6-4 6-4 to reach the Cincinnati Open last 16 on Tuesday, battling the sweltering Ohio heat to notch his tour-leading 50th victory of the season. The Spanish second seed also secured his 13th consecutive win at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament, converting three of seven break points in a deliberate, slow-paced contest. Treated for neck pain after the first set, Medjedovic ramped up in the second to shorten rallies, out-hitting Alcaraz 25–16 on winners but committing 38 unforced errors to the Spaniard's 18. "I know he's a really powerful player," Alcaraz said. "His shots are incredibly hard to return. He has a big serve also. I know he doesn't like to run too much from side to side, so my plan was to make him run as much as I could." Monte Carlo and Rome champion Alcaraz next faces Italian Luca Nardi as he continues his bid for an eight Masters 1000 title. Earlier, Andrey Rublev rallied from a set down to edge Alexei Popyrin 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 7-5 in a fierce 3-1/2-hour battle. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Sengkang-Punggol LRT line back to full service: SBS Transit World US trade team will meet Chinese officials in two or three months, Bessent says Singapore From survivable to liveable: The making of a green city Asia DPM Gan kicks off India visit in Mumbai as Singapore firms ink investment agreements Multimedia World Photography Day: Celebrating the art of image-making World Ukraine, sidelined in Trump-Putin summit, fights Russian grab for more territory Opinion Singpass use in dating apps raises difficult questions Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story The Russian ninth seed will play against Argentine Franciso Comesana, who claimed a stunning 6-7(4) 6-4 7-5 win over American Reilly Opelka. In the women's draw, second seed Coco Gauff advanced after Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska withdrew from their third-round clash due to illness. The American will face Lucia Bronzetti, who beat 23rd seed Jelena Ostapenko 1-6 6-3 6-4. It marked the second third-round walkover, following fellow Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk's withdrawal before her match against Polish third seed Iga Swiatek. The Wimbledon champion will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the round of 16. REUTERS
