Taliban talks to Malaysia, Indonesia ‘to create engagement perception’

The Taliban is reaching out to Muslim-majority nations far from Afghanistan, like Malaysia and Indonesia, to create the perception that an increasing number of countries are interested in engaging with the regime to “strengthen their case for international recognition”, say analysts. On Sunday (July 24), the Taliban’s acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Malaysia’s special...

Tugboat crew of Hong Kong’s troubled Jumbo Floating Restaurant in ‘dire situation’ under confinement at mainland Chinese port

Crewmen of the tugboat that towed Hong Kong’s Jumbo Floating Restaurant are in a “dire situation” and running out of food and water after being held at a mainland Chinese port for weeks over a probe into the ill-fated journey of the iconic vessel, according to operators. A senior official of shipping company S&P Marine, which...

Rights group seeks arrest of former Sri Lanka president Rajapaksa in Singapore

A rights group documenting alleged abuses in Sri Lanka has filed a criminal complaint with Singapore's attorney general, seeking the arrest of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for his role in the South Asian nation's decades-long civil war. The International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) said Rajapaksa committed grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions during the civil...

Singapore-registered Porsche convoy spotted driving dangerously on Johor highway wanted by Malaysian police

Malaysian police are tracking down the drivers of seven luxury cars with Singapore registration numbers that were caught being driven in a dangerous manner on a highway near Kota Tinggi on Sunday (July 17). Kota Tinggi police chief Superintendent Hussin Zamora said police detected video footage of the luxury cars travelling in a convoy on a...

Singaporean’s $220k Honda Civic Type-R found in Selangor 5 days after it went missing in Genting

Five days after the car went missing in Genting, Malaysian police recovered it from a condominium in Selangor. To avoid detection, the thief allegedly pasted large stickers on the car and also removed the Singapore-registered car plate, Sin Chew Daily reported on Wednesday (July 20). The police also commended the sharp-eyed security guard who alerted the authorities after...

South Korea prosecutors raid crypto exchanges, offices for Luna investigation

South Korean prosecutors carried out search and seizure operations at local cryptocurrency exchanges and related offices, looking for evidence of illegal practice involved in the collapse of cryptocurrency Luna in May. "A total of 15 places, including crypto-currency exchanges and related offices, were searched on Wednesday for proof of allegations," a spokesperson told Reuters on Thursday...

Ukrainian first lady appeals to US Congress for more weapons against Russia’s ‘Hunger Games’

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska appealed to US lawmakers on Tuesday (July 19) to provide more help to her country as it struggles against a five-month-long Russian invasion, saying weapons could help assure a "joint great victory." "We remain completely broken when our world is destroyed by war. Tens of thousands of such worlds have been...

Woman orders giant leg ayam penyet from Hillion Mall store but gets an ‘half-eaten’ chicken instead

A woman ordered a 'giant leg' ayam penyet dish from Ayam Penyet President via Foodpanda on July 17 and was more than disappointed with the chicken that she received. In fact, Stomp contributor Cyra told Stomp the chicken looked like it had been 'half-eaten'. She shared that she had spent a total of $24.80 on five items from Ayam...

China to fine Didi more than $1.4 billion for data breaches, sources say

Chinese authorities are preparing to impose a fine of more than $1 billion (S$1.4 billion) on ride-hailing firm Didi Global, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday (July 19), a move that could bring an end to a probe into the firm's cybersecurity practices. The people said the fine would be more than 8 billion yuan,...

Sri Lanka could tip back to chaos if 6-time PM voted president

Sri Lanka's parliament will choose between three candidates for president on Wednesday (July 20), hoping the new leader will be able to pull the island out of its worst economic and political crisis since independence in 1948. But a win for acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, one of the main two contenders but opposed by many ordinary...