Day: 24 May 2023

Murakami wins top Spain books prize

JAPANESE author Haruki Murakami, whose surreal works peppered with references to pop culture have earned him a cult following, won one of Spain’s top literary prizes today.  The 74-year-old best-selling author of “Norwegian Wood” and “Kafka on the Shore” is known for his intricate tales of the absurdity and loneliness of modern life, which have […]

IMF chief calls US debt battle ‘unnecessary’ for world economy

INTERNATIONAL Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said today that protracted domestic wrangling over the US debt ceiling was “unnecessary” for the world economy but should be settled. Georgieva also told the Qatar Economic Forum that central banks must keep interest rates high to tame inflation but there should be improvement in 2024.

Ringgit continues downtrend against greenback

THE ringgit depreciated further against the US dollar and other currencies due to looming concerns over the global financial sector’s health as well as potential global recession, US debt ceiling risks, an impending decline in energy demand in the West and a deflationary stagnation in China. At 6pm, the local note stood at 4.5920/5950 against […]

Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan acquitted in Swiss rape trial

A SWISS court today acquitted Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan on charges of rape and sexual coercion, finding no evidence against the former Oxford University professor. The academic was also awarded around CHF151,000 (RM765,000) in compensation from the Swiss canton of Geneva over the case.

Study implications of withdrawing ‘Allah’ appeal, Johor ruler tells govt

SULTAN of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar today said the federal government should carefully assess the implications of its recent decision to withdraw the appeal in the court case relating to the use of the word “Allah’. In a statement posted on the sultan’s Facebook page, he said this is because the decision is closely […]