Filipino singer Carmelle won the first Asian edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with a fiery performance of her dance-pop song “Sobra-Sobra”.
The 19-year-old beat 10 other acts in the grand final in Bangkok, with the winner chosen through votes from national juries in participating countries and viewers worldwide.
After her victory, Carmelle said her song celebrated female empowerment and was intended as “a tribute to all Filipino women”.
“I made history, since this was the first…
Indonesia’s commodity export U-turn: no monopoly, just all the data
Indonesia has abandoned plans to make a powerful new state-owned enterprise the “sole exporter” of its palm oil, coal and ferroalloys, in a move that has reassured some businesses, even as questions over oversight and pricing remain.
President Prabowo Subianto’s original proposal to tighten the government’s control over the three major commodities, put forward in May, had prompted speculation that state-linked companies could gain an unfair advantage through access to commercially sensitive data…
India road crash between bus, container truck kills 23
A head-on collision between a container truck and a passenger bus killed at least 23 people, including three children, in eastern India on Friday, a police official said
The crash took place on a highway bordering Kaziranga National Park in the northeastern state of Assam.
The road is a designated animal corridor, where strict speed limits are in place.
“The total number of casualties is 23,” said Swapneel Deka, the local district police chief.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said he…
HMRC’s new withholding tax claims process receives mixed reception from tax experts
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced the introduction of a new claims process for businesses that have failed to withhold tax from cross-border interest payments, providing some long-awaited clarification after pausing its previous concessionary approach while it considered a permanent solution.
Malaysia turns to Turkey for warship missiles after Norway’s export freeze
Malaysia’s decision to pivot to Turkey for anti-ship missiles after Norway cancelled a procurement deal has offered it a way out of a costly setback, though analysts warn the episode has exposed its vulnerability to foreign export controls and highlighted the need for greater defence autonomy.
The planned switch to Turkey’s Roketsan Atmaca missile system for the Malaysian navy’s littoral combat ships (LCS) reflects Kuala Lumpur’s growing defence ties with Ankara, even as questions remain over…
UK tax tribunal finds privilege does attach to internal law firm documents
The First-tier Tax tribunal (FTT) has partially upheld a taxpayer’s appeal in a dispute over whether a law firm’s internal documents requested by HMRC were protected by legal professional privilege.
Megaspeed ex-CEO Alice Huang barred from Singapore amid Nvidia saga
Former Megaspeed executive Alice Huang, accused by the US of being a Chinese spy and linked to an extramarital affair with tech giant Nvidia’s co-founder Jensen Huang, has been barred from re-entering Singapore over inaccurate information provided to police.
Alice Huang, a Hong Kong resident, was found to have downplayed her role in Megaspeed in investigations by Singapore police, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement on Thursday.
On the same day, Jensen Huang resigned as Nvidia…
Indonesia police say enough evidence for treason charges in wiretap scandal
Indonesian police said on Thursday they have enough initial evidence to pursue treason charges against four suspects in a case involving the wiretapping of President Prabowo Subianto, as lawmakers urged detectives to uncover who ordered the bugging.
Former police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who is not related to the president, and three other senior police officials were arrested last week over accusations of unauthorised monitoring of phones belonging to Prabowo, government officials,…
SIAC launches first-of-its-kind protocol for arbitration of insolvency disputes
The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has released a first of its kind framework, adapting and streamlining its rules for disputes arising in the context of insolvency proceedings.
Sheikh Hasina’s plan for return to Bangladesh fuels fears of renewed unrest
Former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s plan to return from exile in India could fuel renewed unrest and test Dhaka’s ability to maintain stability and pursue national reconciliation, analysts have warned.
The prospect of her return has raised questions about how Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would handle a potential confrontation between supporters of Hasina’s Awami League and those who backed the student-led uprising that toppled her government in 2024.
Tensions have intensified…