Malaysia’s Sultan Muhammad V has denied claims by his ex-wife, Russian beauty queen Oksana Voevodina, that he abandoned her and did not offer help towards the end of her difficult pregnancy when she was in need of cash.The clarifications, made by the Kelantan Sultan’s Singapore-based lawyer Koh Tien Hua, came after the news website MailOnline ran a report on Monday in which Oksana claimed she had pawned her £203,000 (US$250,000) wedding ring to cover medical bills when she was “at risk of…
For India, diplomacy with China flows through the barrel of a gun
As Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepare for their second informal summit in the southeastern coastal town of Mamallapuram this weekend, the Indian Army has begun a massive military exercise 100km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) – the de facto border between India and China – in India’s northeast.Code-named “Him Vijay”, this multiphase exercise will test the battle-readiness of the Indian Army’s newly minted Mountain Strike Corps (MSC) at an altitude…
Indonesian security minister Wiranto injured in stabbing by suspected IS radical: police
Indonesia’s security minister was stabbed on Thursday after being attacked by a knife-wielding man with suspected links to a domestic radical group aligned with Islamic State.The noontime incident happened when Wiranto, who goes by one name, emerged from his car after officiating at a ceremony to open a new building at a university in Pandeglang, West Java.Wiranto was about to walk to a helipad to catch a helicopter to return to Jakarta after the event.“The incident occurred very quickly…
Three scientists win Nobel Chemistry prize for lithium-ion battery
Three researchers on Wednesday won the 2019 Nobel Chemistry Prize for the development of lithium-ion batteries, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.John Goodenough of the United States – who at 97 is the oldest person to be awarded a Nobel Prize – Britain’s Stanley Whittingham, and Japan’s Akira Yoshino will share the prize sum of nine million Swedish kronor (US$914,000) equally.“This lightweight, rechargeable and powerful battery is now used in everything from mobile phones to laptops…
Umno-linked Utusan Malaysia newspaper shuts down after 80 years
Utusan Malaysia, the 80-year-old Malay-language newspaper with close ties to the country’s former ruling party, on Wednesday said it was immediately ceasing operations after failing to find a way out of its financial problems. The newspaper’s shutdown has been the subject of speculation for months as its troubles rapidly mounted following the fall of its political benefactor, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), in last year’s watershed general election. The closure of the Utusan…
Singapore poets have a few choice words as minister Ong Ye Kung criticises Alfian Sa’at
Singapore’s education minister Ong Ye Kung is facing criticism from the city state’s arts and literary community – and even a leading establishment figure – after quoting a poem by Alfian Sa’at to suggest the playwright was disloyal to the Lion City.Ong, during a speech in parliament on Monday, quoted parts of Alfian’s 1998 poem Singapore You Are Not My Country – filled with wry and withering observations about life in Singapore – and suggested the playwright continued “this attitude…
The Philippines has 7,000 islands. So why is it not attracting more cruise ships?
The Philippines, a country of 7,000 islands where you’re rarely more than a few miles from the sea, wants a bigger slice of Asia’s growing cruise tourism industry.For years the Southeast Asian nation has lagged behind its neighbours in attracting cruise visitors, partly because of spotty infrastructure. That is bound to change as more ports are built and officials look at cruise tourism as a key source of arrivals.With the economy in danger of notching its slowest expansion since 2011, tourism…
Fears over Singapore Yale-NUS College’s course on dissent ‘not unfounded’: minister
Singaporean universities should not be “misused” for partisan politics, education minister Ong Ye Kung on Monday said as the government addressed the controversy over a course on dissent and disobedience at the city state’s Yale-NUS College that was axed at the eleventh hour.Speaking in parliament, Ong took aim at several vocal critics of his ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) who were meant to have featured as speakers in the course, including the module’s convening instructor, well-known…
1MDB scandal: Malaysia wants Najib Razak’s brother, along with more than 70 others, to repay misappropriated funds
Malaysia has asked the brother of former premier Najib Razak and former cabinet ministers to return funds believed to have come from 1MDB or risk being prosecuted. Malaysia has taken similar action against 80 individuals and entities for allegedly receiving money from the state fund, the country’s anti-corruption chief said on Monday.Malaysian and US investigators say about US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, set up in 2009 by Najib.Najib, who lost a general election last year, is…
China, North Korea vow to strengthen ties hours after US nuclear talks collapse
China and North Korea on Sunday vowed to continue strengthening their ties that have “stood the test of time”, hours after another squabble broke out between Pyongyang and Washington over the breakdown of their first nuclear talks in eight months.Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties, according to state media in both countries, amid speculation that Kim will soon pay another visit to China…