Singaporean triggered FBI probe with fake boat repair firm that was used to launder US$580,000

SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man who owed a loan shark S$2,500 set up a fictitious boat repair company with two corporate bank accounts to repay his debt, and ended up sparking a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe. The court heard that the accounts were used to launder US$580,000 (S$794,000). Muhammad Ibrahim was on Wednesday (Jan 8) sentenced...

‘Gulf of Mexico’ name internationally recognized, Mexico president says

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The "Gulf of Mexico" name is internationally recognized, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday in response to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's comments about renaming the body of water. Trump on Tuesday had argued in favor of renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America." Sheinbaum then took jabs at Trump, saying...

Philippines arrests 400 foreigners in scam centre raid

MANILA: Around 400 foreign nationals were arrested on Wednesday (Jan 8) in a "large-scale" raid on a suspected online scam farm in Manila, the national immigration agency said. Authorities raided a building and found workers allegedly engaged in online scam operations targeting victims abroad. International concern has grown in recent years over similar scam operations in Asia...

Strong ties, cooperation in many areas as Singapore and Malaysia mark 60 years of diplomatic links

PUTRAJAYA: Singapore aims to open consulates in Sabah and Sarawak to deepen economic links with East Malaysia and strengthen ties between people on both sides. Singapore and Malaysia will also start a programme for volunteers from Singapore to help teach English in some Malaysian schools. It will be known as the Malaysia-Singapore English Volunteers Programme, with a...

Dutch football legends Louis van Gaal and Patrick Kluivert shortlisted for Indonesia national team coach

JAKARTA: The search for the next coach of Indonesia’s national football team is underway following the dismissal of Shin Tae-yong. Football federation PSSI Chairman Erick Thohir confirmed that the federation has interviewed three candidates, including Dutch legends Louis van Gaal and Patrick Kluivert, with the official announcement set for Jan 12, reports Jakarta Globe. "One of the candidates...

Dollar slumps 1% on report of narrower Trump tariffs

LONDON: The dollar slumped 1% on Monday after a report said President-elect Donald Trump was mulling tariffs that would only be applied to critical imports, potentially a relief for countries that were expecting broader levies. The Washington Post reported that Trump's aides were exploring plans that would apply tariffs to every country - but only on...

Arrest deadline for impeached South Korea’s President Yoon enters final day but he aims to avoid arrest by warrant deadline

SEOUL (AFP): Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared set to evade arrest ahead of a Monday night deadline after anti-graft investigators asked for more time to enforce a warrant. The former star prosecutor has defiantly refused questioning three times over a bungled martial law decree last month and remained holed up in his residence...

Explainer-The child rape scandal dominating UK politics after Musk criticism

LONDON (Reuters) - A child sexual abuse scandal that revealed how gangs of mostly Pakistani men had groomed, trafficked and raped young white girls more than a decade ago, has returned to the political agenda in Britain following criticism from Elon Musk. Musk, a close ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has called for Prime Minister...

Briton killed in New Orleans attack was stepson of former royal nanny

LONDON (Reuters) - British police have named one of the victims of the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans as Edward Pettifer, a 31-year-old from London whose stepmother was a nanny to Prince William and Prince Harry. He was among 14 people killed by a U.S. Army veteran who had pledged allegiance to Islamic State...