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HONG KONG – One quick-witted opportunist bagged US$250,000 (S$333,000) worth of airline tickets for just US$17,000 after fares on an All Nippon Airways (ANA) website were listed ultra cheaply due to a currency conversion error.

Mr Herman Yip, 32, snapped up 25 tickets for a small fraction of their usual cost, including a round-trip in first class all the way from Jakarta to Aruba, via Tokyo and New York, for only US$890. Some business-class flights cost as little as US$300, he told Bloomberg News.

ANA said Wednesday that airfares were listed incorrectly on its Vietnam website due to an erroneous currency conversion. The Japanese carrier has not confirmed if the cut-price tickets will remain valid, saying it would make a decision by the end of April on how to address the issue.

Mr Yip said the low prices remained on the ANA website for at least 12 hours.

I guess ANA hasnt made clear if theyre going to honour the tickets or not, because the impact from the incident seems so huge as the bug lasted for so long, said Mr Yip, who runs a travel website from Hong Kong. I know 20 people who knew about the incident, and that of course just multiplies the impact.

Even though he did not have time to consult family and friends, Mr Yip went ahead and bought tickets for them anyway.

I didnt even bother to ask them whether they were able to make it or not, as I needed to book really quickly, he said.

Upon discovering that he could also change his flight for free after the booking was confirmed, Mr Yip rebooked his Jakarta-Aruba odyssey to instead begin in Bangkok, which is closer than the Indonesian capital to his home in Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific Airways had a similar mishap in 2019, selling seats in premium cabins for hundreds of dollars instead of thousands. The Hong Kong carrier honoured the tickets.

To take advantage of these rare moments, Mr Yip recommends reacting quickly and being flexible because there may not be a wide choice of dates or destinations.

He said that lots of other people are also likely to be pouncing on the opportunity, limiting options, hence he advised to book first and assess later.

If you see something thats probably a 10th of the original price, just book it, he said. Its very likely youll able to change or cancel, because the airline will always want to you to cancel. BLOOMBERG More On This Topic ANA blunder causes $13,000 Asia-US business class tickets to be sold for just $460 Score cheaper flights with these booking hacks

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World

South Korean authorities attempt to arrest President Yoon for second time – standoff with security service under way

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South Korean authorities attempt to arrest President Yoon for second time - standoff with security service under way

A new attempt to arrest South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is under way, six weeks after his short-lived attempt to impose martial law.

A standoff is in place outside Mr Yoon’s official residence between authorities and the president’s security service.

A previous attempt by law enforcement to arrest the impeached president failed earlier this month.

Mr Yoon’s presidential security service prevented dozens of investigators from arresting him after a standoff which lasted nearly six hours on 3 January.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials and police responded by pledging more forceful measures to detain Mr Yoon while they jointly investigate whether his martial law declaration on 3 December amounted to an attempted rebellion.

The National Police Agency convened multiple meetings of field commanders in Seoul and nearby Gyeonggi province in recent days to plan their detainment efforts, and the size of those forces fuelled speculation that more than 1,000 officers could be deployed in a possible multi-day operation.

Police officers stand in front of the gate of the presidential residence in the early hours of Wednesday 15 January local time. Pic: AP
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Police officers stand in front of the gate of the presidential residence in the early hours of Wednesday 15 January local time. Pic: AP

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From 3 January: South Korea protesters clash with police

Anti-corruption agency and police officials met representatives of the presidential security service on Tuesday morning for unspecified discussions regarding efforts to execute the detention warrant for Mr Yoon.

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It was not immediately clear at the time if any kind of compromise was reached.

What happened on 3 December?

Mr Yoon declared martial law and deployed troops around the National Assembly at the beginning of last month.

It lasted only hours before politicians managed to get through the blockade and voted to lift the measure.

His presidential powers were suspended when the opposition-dominated assembly voted to impeach him on 14 December, accusing him of rebellion.

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How six hours of martial law unfolded in South Korea

Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the presidential residence in Seoul on the day he was impeached. Pic: AP
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Yoon Suk Yeol speaks at the presidential residence in Seoul on the day he was impeached. Pic: AP

Mr Yoon has argued his declaration of martial law was a legitimate act of governance, calling it a warning to the main liberal opposition Democratic Party which he has described as “despicable pro-North Korean anti-state forces”.

He claimed the party used its legislative majority to impeach top officials and undermine the government’s budget.

Over the past two weeks, thousands of anti-Yoon and pro-Yoon protesters have gathered daily in competing rallies near his office in Seoul, in anticipation of the second detention attempt.

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Gary Gensler says the presidential election wasn’t about crypto money

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Gary Gensler says the presidential election wasn’t about crypto money

The SEC chair is set to leave office in six days, the same day Donald Trump is scheduled to be inaugurated as president in Washington, DC.

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Amprius unveils high-power SiCore cell for EVs, drones, more

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Amprius unveils high-power SiCore cell for EVs, drones, more

Amprius Technologies just unveiled a new SiCore cell built on its Silicon Anode Platform that boosts battery performance for EVs, electric aviation, and drones.

In late 2024, battery manufacturer Amprius delivered pre-production 10Ah samples to six customers for testing, and full commercialization is set for early 2025. If real-world tests deliver as promised, this battery could enable its customers to achieve superior range, speed, and reliability.

Amprius’s new SiCore cell delivers an energy density of 370 Wh/kg and a power output of over 3000 W/kg. That means it packs a ton of energy while also delivering power in bursts – ideal for scenarios where endurance and speed are equally critical.

The Fremont, California-based company says what makes its new SiCore cell unique is its flexibility. It handles high discharge rates of up to 10C without active cooling and 15C with cooling, making it a solid choice for extreme conditions. Think drones flying longer missions or electric aircraft nailing energy-draining takeoffs and landings.

According to Amprius customer Teledyne FLIR, which specializes in unmanned aerial systems, this battery could be a game-changer for its drones. Tung Ng, vice president of unmanned Systems North America at Teledyne FLIR, said, “We are eager to evaluate how this breakthrough technology can meet the rigorous needs of our defense, security, and industrial customers, enabling longer runtimes and increasing operational flexibility.”

EVs, advanced air mobility, and eVTOL aircraft also stand to benefit from the SiCore cell’s balance of high energy and high power. Dr. Ionel Stefan, Amprius’ CTO, described it as a breakthrough in the tricky trade-off between power and energy density, calling it “a new power possibility for high-demand applications.”

Read more: Amprius ships EV battery that reaches 90% charge in 15 minutes


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