China’s second-richest man demands apology from ByteDance founder over online attacks

BEIJING (SCMP): China’s second-wealthiest man on Wednesday made a surprise demand that the country’s richest man, founder of ByteDance, apologise for the perceived role that TikTok’s Chinese sibling Douyin has played in “spreading rumours and misinformation”. Zhong Shanshan, 69 – founder and chairman of China’s largest packaged drinks company Nongfu Spring and the country’s second-richest person,...

Cops probe Chef Wan over comment on Aishwarya Rai’s Cannes outfit

PETALING JAYA: Police have confirmed that Bukit Aman CID's Special Investigation Unit (USJT) is investigating celebrity chef Datuk Redzuawan Ismail, better known as Chef Wan (pic), over a social media post involving Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai. Chef Wan had commented on an outfit worn by the Indian actress on the red carpet at the Cannes Film...

Xi Jinping tells Blinken US and China must be ‘partners, not rivals’

BEIJING (Reuters): Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 26 told the United States’ top diplomat Antony Blinken that the world’s two biggest economies should be “partners, not rivals”, adding that there were a “number of issues” to be resolved in their relations. “The two countries should be partners, not rivals,” Xi said, according to state broadcaster...

Aidilfitri Madani events allow PM to address issues faced by Malaysians

MELAKA: The organising of Aidilfitri Madani events at various levels, especially in states, can serve as closure to various recent issue and boost the muhibbah spirit among the multiracial society in the country. The Prime Minister’s senior political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said it included the Aidilfitri Madani events in six states that...

Emerging Markets – Indonesian rupiah hit by political woes as Asian currencies mostly subdued

JAKARTA (Reuters): Asian currencies were subdued on Monday, with the Indonesian rupiah extending losses on concerns the country's finance minister may resign, while Singapore's dollar was largely flat after monetary policy was left unchanged, as expected. The Indonesian rupiah, among one of the worst performing currencies so far in 2024 after falling nearly 3%, slipped 0.2%...

Don’t play ‘blame game’ over local rice supply issues, says Mat Sabu

JOHOR BARU: Do not play the "blame game" regarding the country's local rice supply issues, as it was inherited from previous governments, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said the ministry had recently introduced the Local White Rice Special Programme as a short-term measure to ensure sufficient local rice in the...