The publicist of Taiwanese influencer Iris Hsieh, who was found dead in a Kuala Lumpur hotel room shared with Malaysian rapper Namewee, has paid tribute to his friend, hitting back at a cascade of “outrageous” rumours about the former nurse that have filled the information gap left by Kuala Lumpur police.
Hsieh, 31, who shot to fame over TikTok and OnlyFans, was found dead in a bathroom of the Banyan Tree Hotel on October 22. She had arrived two days earlier in Malaysia to reportedly work on a…
Deadly Typhoon Kalmaegi in Philippines raises more disaster readiness questions
The latest deadly typhoon to tear through the Philippines has killed more than 100 people, raising fears among experts that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, and harder to prepare for.
Typhoon Kalmaegi – the most recent in a string of late-season cyclones to batter the country in recent years – left a trail of devastation across the central Visayas region this week.
The storm follows a worrying pattern of high-impact tropical cyclones that have struck the Philippines…
UK restructuring: is the CVA staging a comeback?
The use of company voluntary arrangements (CVAs) by companies in financial distress has fallen out of favour since the introduction of restructuring plans in 2020. However, for some companies and practitioners, they offer a straightforward and well-tested route to restructuring.
Mali licence change sparks more uncertainty for African mining industry
A decision by the Mali government to revoke more than 90 mining licences will create further uncertainty for international firms looking to invest in the region, experts have warned.
Malaysia to appeal against damages ruling for families of abducted activists
The Malaysian government will appeal against landmark high court rulings ordering authorities to pay millions of ringgit in damages to the families of missing activists Pastor Raymond Koh and Amri Che Mat.
In two statements on Thursday, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) said it would challenge rulings that found the government and police liable for the enforced disappearances of Koh and Amri, two notorious cases which campaigners claim reflect Malaysia’s embedded culture of impunity.
Koh, a…
‘Badhai!’ In India, a celebration for Mamdani’s New York mayoral win
Indians lit up social media on Wednesday to celebrate Zohran Mamdani’s election win as New York mayor after he thanked his Indian-born parents, quoted a historic speech by India’s first prime minister and turned the victory rally into a Bollywood-style street party.
“We are proud of him. He has done a great job,” Mamdani’s maternal uncle Vikram Nair said. He said he was flooded with requests from friends and family to throw celebratory parties.
“We will plan it soon,” he said, adding that the…
UK seizes US$15 million in dinosaur bones from Chinese money-laundering suspect
British police have seized more than £12 million (US$15.6 million) of dinosaur skeletons after agreeing to a settlement with a Chinese national suspected of being part of a huge money-laundering scandal.
Su Binghai agreed to forfeit three complete fossilised skeletons, along with nine London apartments, bought for around £15 million, but he will be able to keep 25 per cent of all the sale proceeds, a lawyer for the National Crime Agency said at a court hearing on Tuesday.
Su was previously…
Targets, transition and tree protection among issues to watch for at COP30
The opportunities to drive the international response to climate change against a backdrop of political uncertainty should be increasingly unlocked at the United Nations’ global climate conference this year, according to experts.
US targets Chinese in North Korea-related sanctions over money laundering
The US Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned eight individuals and two entities who it said were involved in a variety of North Korean cyber-related money-laundering schemes.
The Treasury said the move was aimed at cutting off funding for North Korea’s weapons programmes.
“By generating revenue for Pyongyang’s weapons development, these actors directly threaten US and global security,” John Hurley, Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a…
Singapore’s caning of scammers reaffirms ‘moral’ severity of crime
Singapore’s parliament on Tuesday passed a law that introduced caning as a punishment for scammers and money mules, as the country battles a scourge of fraud cases.
Under the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, scammers as well as members and recruiters of scam syndicates will be punished with six to 24 strokes of the cane.
The harsher penalties aim to enhance deterrence against scams, which are the most prevalent form of crime in Singapore, according to Senior Minister of State for…