Stories you might’ve missed, Nov 18

Malaysian minister: ‘Where is Jho Low?’ Singapore, US also in the dark

The global guessing game goes on over the whereabouts of international fugitive Jho Low, 40, wanted in Singapore and Malaysia among other countries over his role in siphoning off billions from Malaysia’s multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal.

  The countries where he is wanted are all in the same boat, said Malaysia’s   Home Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin. He said this on Tuesday (Nov 16) at the conclusion of his Budget 2022 speech. 

Read more here.

Good news on the pandemic: Covid-19 virus mutations may be slowing

The virus causing the Covid-19  pandemic may not be done mutating yet, but an American research scientist thinks that mutations could be slowing down.

The scientific name of the virus is SARS-CoV-2.

Read more here. 

With less than three months to PM Lee’s 70th birthday, netizens re-circulate survey results pushing for Tharman as PM

Singapore — In the middle of the 15-day Chinese New Year celebrations next year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will celebrate his 70th birthday on Feb 10.

Mr Lee has been expressing his wish to step down by the age of 70 since at least 2017.

Read more here. 

Toa Payoh Central turns COVID-19 hotspot with visits by over 316 confirmed cases

Singapore — Toa Payoh Central has become a Covid-19 hotspot, with foot traffic by known Covid cases reaching 316 in a single day.

In October this year, the Ministry Of Health (MOH) began mapping the areas in Singapore in terms of the number of visits by confirmed Covid-19 patients to inform the public and limit more visits.

Read more here. 

Wayang is from where? Adidas Singapore riles Indonesians by calling wayang kulit ‘Malaysian’

Singapore — Indonesia and Malaysia share a long intertwined history, but Indonesians did not take it kindly when adidas Singapore described wayang kulit as a “significant part of Malaysia’s cultural identity and heritage”.

In a promotional campaign on Instagram last week, adidas showed a wayang kulit figure on a pair of athletic shoes designed by Jaemy Choong, who is from Malaysia.

Read more here.