Month: September 2019

Saudi Arabia has accused the Australian government of racism and of supporting anti-Islamic terrorists like the alleged Christchurch shooter, in an extraordinary dispute that has erupted at the United Nations.Earlier this week, Australia led a coalition of countries condemning Saudi Arabia over a raft of human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances and the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.Australia’s ambassador to the UN, Sally Mansfield, delivered a statement…

A hug, a hand on her knee, a kiss on the cheek: teenage waitress Pim would not allow the customers to go any further at a karaoke bar in northern Thailand where she was found in a police raid.The 16-year-old was one of four teenage bar staff who were uncovered earlier this month in an anti-trafficking operation in Chiang Mai, a tourist hotspot with a well-established sex trade.The four girls, all under the age of 18, told social workers after the raid on two bars that they were not forced to…

The renewal of a three-decade old pact between the United States and Singapore that grants US forces access to the Lion City’s naval and air bases signals that Washington views the city state as a vital part of its Asia strategy for a long time to come, analysts have said.One maritime observer said the renewal of the 1990 agreement – which was all but a formality – was likely to be viewed by China with some trepidation, as it comes amid US efforts to enhance its forward presence in the Asia…

The defence team of Najib Razak on Tuesday called for fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, to be produced as soon as possible in the former Malaysian premier’s corruption trial stemming from the 1MDB scandal.Counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said Jho Low should quickly be brought in so the court could determine the truth in Najib’s case.“The Inspector-General of police (IGP) has said not more than a month ago that they [the police] got Jho Low and they know exactly…

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe embarks Monday on a trip to New York with two deals in mind – an envisaged Japan-US trade agreement and the strained Iran nuclear accord at the centre of rising tensions in the Middle East.Abe is scheduled to attend the UN General Assembly for the seventh straight year, giving a speech on Tuesday that will emphasise Japan’s support for a multilateral approach to tackling global issues ranging from climate change to marine plastic debris.One major highlight of…

In 2015, the shares of Indonesia’s largest taxi company were soaring, while its revenue reached a record high. Then came Uber, followed by Grab and Gojek, Southeast Asia’s answer to the revolutionary ride-hailing app.Competition from the technology titans wiped out US$1.7 billion, or almost 80 per cent, of PT Blue Bird’s market value from a peak. Revenue plunged 23 per cent in three years and the latest quarterly earnings fell to a record low. But rather than give up, the 54-year-old cab…

Perched on the foothills of the Zabarwan mountains and overlooking the scenic Dal Lake, the lavish Centaur Lake View Hotel seems an unlikely place to find political prisoners. Until recently, the four-star establishment offered luxurious rooms with panoramic views, including executive, deluxe and presidential suites costing up to US$357 a night. The hotel, spread across 13 acres of land in the Kashmir Valley, also boasted round-the-clock protection with “three tiers” of security, including the…

Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s relationship with China goes back almost four decades. Over that time, her work to promote Sino-Thai relations – particularly in diplomacy and the arts – has earned her much recognition on the mainland. In 2009, the princess was voted one of the “Ten Best International Friends of China” for her contribution towards cultural exchanges and friendly ties between the two countries. Next month, as the People’s Republic of China celebrates its 70th…

Mitsubishi Corp said a rogue oil trader at its Singapore unit lost US$320 million in unauthorised transactions disguised as legitimate hedges for customers.The employee, a Chinese national working at Petro-Diamond Singapore, has been fired and reported to the police, Mitsubishi said in a statement, declining to name him.The trader, hired in November 2018 to handle oil business with China, “repeatedly” engaged in the unauthorised deals since January, disguising them to “look like hedge…

Singapore’s prime minister-designate Heng Swee Keat on Friday said divides along class, generational and political lines posed the biggest risk to the city state’s vaunted prosperity and stability, amid rising talk that his ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) could call snap polls in months.Heng, the deputy prime minister and finance minister, was speaking to top business leaders attending the Singapore Summit, an annual business forum usually held in conjunction with the country’s Formula One…