China slams US over reported ‘spy base’ in Cuba

CHINA warned the United States today against “interfering in Cuba’s internal affairs”, in response to reports Beijing is planning to set up a spy base on the island just off American shores. The media reports, based on comments by anonymous US officials to The Wall Street Journal and CNN, were dismissed by Cuba’s deputy foreign […]

Ban Jocelyn Chia from entering Malaysia, says Umno Youth

THE government must take stern action against controversial stand-up comedian Jocelyn Chia, including banning her from entering Malaysia, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said. He said the woman’s joke on the missing Malaysia Airlines flight was clearly insensitive to Malaysians’ feelings.

20 students in Pitas get methanol poisoning

TWENTY students of a secondary boarding school in Pitas were treated for suspected methanol poisoning at Pitas Hospital after they consumed carbonated drinks laced with spirit on Tuesday. Sabah deputy health director Dr Asits Sanna said of the 20 students, aged 13 to 17, eight of them suffered stomachaches, vomiting, blurred vision and headaches, and […]

Greta Thunberg marks last ‘school’ strike as she graduates

“school strike” as she graduated high school, but said she will continue partaking in weekly protests. “Today, I graduate from school, which means I’ll no longer be able to school strike for the climate. This is then the last school strike for me,” Thunberg said in a post on social media.

Govt extends stamp duty exemption for first-time homebuyers

FIRST-TIME homebuyers will continue to enjoy a 100% stamp duty exemption for purchases not exceeding RM500,000 via the Malaysian Home Ownership Initiative, as provided for under Budget 2023, the Finance Ministry said. It said a 75% stamp duty exemption will also be given for first-time buyers for houses priced at between RM500,000 and RM1 million.

Indonesian indigenous group requests internet blackout

AN indigenous community in Indonesia has requested an internet blackout in their area to minimise the “negative impact” of the online world, officials said today. The Baduy, a community of 26,000 people in Banten province on Java island, divide themselves into an outer group that partly adopts technology, and a sacred inner group that shuns […]

Sudan declares UN envoy ‘persona non grata’

SUDANESE authorities loyal to the regular army have declared United Nations envoy Volker Perthes “persona non grata”, accusing him of taking sides in nearly two months of devastating fighting with rival paramilitaries. Fighting has raged in the north African country since mid-April, when army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, […]