Singapore

From Parliament to Changi Prison: Singapore ex-minister Iswaran’s fall from grace

The fall from grace of S. Iswaran was spectacular – from a private plane ride and plush hotel room at the Four Seasons to a prison van and a straw mat for a bed in a jail cell.

Nation

Mum appeals to authorities to rescue daughter from alleged human trafficking in Myanmar

KUALA LUMPUR: A mother is appealing to the authorities to help rescue her daughter who has been stranded in Myanmar since last year and whom she believes is a victim of a human trafficking syndicate.

Entertainment

HK singer Anita Mui's brother to remarry, M'sian wife claims he hasn't divorced her yet

Joey, who's 16 years younger than Kai Ming, says she did not receive any letters asking for a divorce and that Kai Ming never informed her about seeking legal aid to discuss it.

Nation

Melaka latest state to be hit by floods

KUALA LUMPUR: Melaka has become the latest state to be hit by floods with 16 people from three families relocated to a relief centre in Jasin, bringing the total number of flood-hit states to five as of Monday (Oct 7) evening.

Myanmar

Over 50,000 illegal foreigners in Myanmar deported

More than 50,000 illegal foreigners in Myanmar have been deported from October 2023 to August 2024, this country’s media reported.

Nation

LRT services temporarily disrupted due to track intrusion

PETALING JAYA: Commuter train services on the Kelana Jaya Line were temporarily disrupted on Monday (Oct 7) after a track intrusion.

Singapore

Rare comet to light up Singapore’s night skies from Oct 11

Stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts can look to the skies to catch a rare comet from this weekend without using binoculars or telescopes.

Cambodia

Ancient timber: 250 million-year-old fossil unearthed in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey

PHNOM PENH (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): Researchers from the Ministry of Environment have discovered the oldest fossil found to date in Cambodia. The fossilised timber, unearthed in Banteay Meanchey province, is estimated to be between 252 and 299 million years old. Khvay Aditya, ministry spokesperson, told The Post today that a research team from the ministry, led by Lim Vanchan, head of the ministry’s Department of Heritage Areas, under the General Department of Local Communities, discovered the fossilised wood at Kang Va Mountain in Serei Saophoan town last month. He explained that acting on information received from the head of the Banteay Meanchey provincial environmental department, the team inspected a site at the foot of Kang Va Mountain. After excavating several layers of soil and rock, they found several fossilised trees. “Experts have previously studied the Kang Va Mountain site, and through comparative studies, the fossilised timber could belong to an island or landmass from a period known as the Permian era, which dates back 252 to 299 million years during the Paleozoic era,” Atiya explained. According to Aditya, the fossil is one of many discovered in 14 protected natural areas across the provinces of Ratanakkiri, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear, Koh Kong and Banteay Meanchey. He added that fossil research in Banteay Meanchey province began in 2019. Researchers have since identified 12 fossil sites in the province, which include fossils of marine animals such as mollusks, coral and snails. Excavations have been carried out in several of the province’s natural heritage areas, including Phnom Bak, Phnom Chenh Chiang, Phnom Svay, Phnom Kang Va, Phnom Khla Kon and Phnom Doung Preah. These areas are home to the largest marine fossil sites in Cambodia, as well as fossilised timber. In 2021, a ministry team also discovered a fossilised dinosaur bone in Koh Por Natural Protected Area, located in the Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary, Bak Khlang commune, Mondul Seima district, Koh Kong province. This fossil was estimated to be 65 to 190 million years old and was the first dinosaur fossil discovered in the Kingdom. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN

Books

National Reading Index is being developed to monitor Malaysian reading habits

The National Reading Index is a proposed initiative designed to assess the progress of the National Reading Decade and the National Book Policy in Malaysia

Japan

Services sector welcomes Tokyo’s ordinance targeting ‘customer harassment’

The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly’s enactment of Japan’s first ordinance banning so-called customer harassment – in which a customer harasses a worker – has been welcomed by workers plagued by customers’ unreasonable demands.

Laos

Laos receives 2.6 million foreign tourists in January-August; up 19 per cent y-o-y

Laos received 2.6 million foreign visitors in the first eight months of 2024, up 19 per cent from 2.2 million over the same period last year.

Corporate News

Aurora Mulia disposes of entire stake in Media Prima, ceases to be substantial shareholder

KUALA LUMPUR: Aurora Mulia Sdn Bhd, a company linked to tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Albukhary, has disposed of 353.81 million shares in Media Prima Bhd, ceasing to be a substantial shareholder in the company.

Brunei

Brunei receives new generation fast boat from Singapore for offshore operations

Brunei has received a new generation Fast Crew Boat (FCB) from Singapore for offshore operations, according to the Singapore-based shipbuilder Strategic Marine on Monday.

Rugby

Rugby-Assistant coach Sinfield to continue with England role

LONDON (Reuters) - England assistant coach Kevin Sinfield is to continue his involvement with the team, the RFU said on Monday, bringing some welcome stability to Twickenham after the departure of two of Steve Borthwick's key assistants.

Football

Soccer-Holders Al Ahly get tough draw in Champions League group stage

(Reuters) - Defending champions Al Ahly have been drawn in a difficult Group C in the pool stages of the 2024-25 African Champions League where they must negotiate South Africa's Orlando Pirates, CR Belouizdad from Algeria and Stade d'Abidjan of the Ivory Coast.

Fitness

Walking with a weighted backpack (aka rucking)

This new fitness trend can help you gain more health benefits without needing to run.

Entertainment

Jiyeon of K-pop girl group T-ara and baseball star Hwang Jae-gyun file for divorce

Speculation about the state of their marriage began surfacing in June 2024 when a baseball commentator suggested on radio that Hwang was getting a divorce

Living

How to make old white socks feel new, and reinvigorate your socks life

Few items of clothing divide Gen Zs from Millennials quite like the sock. While the older generation prefers invisible ankle socks, the younger has brought back the scandalous tennis sock.

South Korea

South Korean woman,70, sues government and adoption agency after her kidnapped daughter was sent abroad

A 70-year-old South Korean woman sued her government, an adoption agency, and an orphanage Monday over the adoption of her daughter, who was sent to the United States in 1976, months after she was kidnapped at age 4.

Corporate News

Uzma achieves COD for its 50MWac large-scale solar plant

PETALING JAYA: Uzma Kuala Muda Sdn Bhd, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Uzma Bhd, has achieved the commercial operation date (COD) for its 50MWac large scale solar photovoltaic plant under the Large Scale Solar (LSS) Cycle 4 project on Sept 25.