23/11/2025

theSun on Sunday NOV 23, 2025

WORLD 7

Indonesian Islamic group chief told to resign

HANOI: Historic floods across central and the Central Highlands region of Vietnam have left 68 people dead, with economic losses estimated at more than US$340 million (RM1.4 billion), Vietnam News Agency reported. The economic devastation is extensive and continues to rise. Agricultural losses are severe, with 79,9ha of rice and crops affected and another 100ha of perennial and annual plants damaged. An estimated 3.24 million livestock and poultry have died or been swept away, while 1,157ha of aquaculture areas have been affected. Transport infrastructure also took a serious blow. Sixteen sites along national highways and 180 locations on provincial and inter communal roads remain flooded or blocked by landslides. Rail services have also been curtailed, with eight passenger trains halted on Friday and six more suspended yesterday. Electricity outages continue to affect 377,002 households across the region. Authorities warn that rainfall and flooding remain unpredictable and could worsen. – Bernama S’pore minister apologises for ‘idiots’ remark HONG KONG: A Singapore minister has apologised after calling the Chinese city’s football players and fans “idiots” following a 2027 Asian Cup qualifier. The remarks by David Neo, the acting minister for culture, community and youth, overshadowed Singapore’s 2-1 win in Hong Kong on Tuesday, which took them to the continent’s top competition for the first time since 1984. However, Neo has now “conveyed his apologies in an email” to sports and cultural affairs official Rosanna Law, Hong Kong’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau said in an email. Neo praised the Singapore team in the changing room after the game and said: “You (were) pressured by them, all the fans were bloody idiots, end up players ... they also played like idiots, but you all played like lions.” Neo later said he “should have been more respectful” and “I take back what I said” after his remarks sparked criticism. Law said the incident would not affect the relationship between Hong Kong and Singapore. – AFP Floods in central Vietnam leave 68 dead

Berkowitz spoke at NU seminars about the history of Western political thought in August, his website showed. Berkowitz did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment that reached him outside of office hours. Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has routinely condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza since the war broke out in 2023. It has long advocated a two-state solution and has no diplomatic relations with Israel. – Reuters

Reuters the decision was linked to his invitation to former US official and scholar Peter Berkowitz for an August training event. Yahya has apologised for the invitation and called it an oversight as he had not carefully checked Berkowitz’s background, adding that he condemns Israel’s “brutal genocidal acts in Gaza”. Berkowitz often writes in support of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, according to his website, including a piece in September aiming to refute allegations of genocide against Israel.

Nahdlatul Ulama leaders cite irregularities

DHAKA: tremor yesterday, national meterological service said, a day after a powerful earthquake struck outside the capital Dhaka and killed at least 10 people. Updating earlier tolls from Friday’s 5.5-magnitude quake, disaster management official Ishtiaqe Ahmed told AFP that “the number of casualties has reached 10, while a few hundreds were injured.” The first earthquake was felt in Dhaka and neighbouring districts, causing widespread destruction. Omar Faruq of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department said another minor jolt was recorded yesterday at 10.36am (12.36pm in Malaysia). The epicentre of the 3.3-magnitude tremor was in Ashulia, just north of the capital, the meteorologist told AFP. Aftershocks such as this are common after major earthquakes, but for some in Bangladesh, it has added to fears of an even greater disaster. “I don’t feel safe yet, as there was another jolt this morning in Ashulia. Maybe we are next,” said Shahnaj Parvin. The 44-year-old, who lives near the epicentre of Friday’s earthquake, said she had never experienced such a tremor. Cracks have developed in dozens of houses in her area, she said. “I was hanging my children’s clothes on the washing line when the tremor struck,” said Shahnaj. “I held onto a mahogany tree, the JAKARTA: Indonesia’s biggest Islamic organisation, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), has asked its chief to resign for inviting a US scholar known for his support of Israel during the Gaza war to an internal event in August, according to meeting minutes reviewed by Reuters. The leadership of NU, which is also the world’s biggest Islamic organisation with about 100 million members and affiliates, has given its chairman Yahya Cholil Staquf three days A low-magnitude Bangladesh hit

to offer his resignation or be removed from his post, according to the minutes from a meeting on Thursday. NU cited Yahya’s invitation to a person “affiliated with an International Zionism network” for an internal event and alleged financial mismanagement as reasons for his ouster. Yahya, who has been NU chairman since 2021, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NU official Najib Azca told

Aftershock rocks Bangladesh as quake toll rises to 10

Dhaka residents stand in an alley after vacating their houses next to a fallen scaffolding following an earthquake on Friday. – REUTERSPIC

as the one on Friday. “Some small tremors are expected after any major earthquake,” Rubayet said. “There has been no massive earthquake in the last 100 years or more, but Bangladesh has been vulnerable for quite some time.” – AFP

Meteorological Department Earthquake Observation and Research Centre said Bangladesh’s geography makes the country of 170 million people prone to quakes. “That’s why we experience earthquakes quite frequently, although they are not as strong

and when I returned home, I found my glassware broken.” The government has activated Bangladesh’s emergency operation centre to assess the scale of the damage and to coordinate relief and rescue operations. Rubayet Kabir of the

Cambodia rolls out early warning systems roadmap PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has taken a major step toward protecting nearly 80% of its rural population from unpredictable weather hazards by launching an early warning system roadmap. The move is crucial in protecting farming communities, that account for at least 65% of its 17 million people, from weather related disasters, such as floods and landslides. The roadmap aims to help farmers anticipate and manage weather risks. “With nearly 80% of Cambodians living in rural, weather-sensitive areas and about

allocation of US$103.2 million (RM430 million) for a regional early warning system, Cambodia still faces a shortfall of US$22.7 million, about 41% of the roadmap’s estimated cost. – Bernama

65% relying on agriculture, timely warnings for floods, droughts and storms are critical,” said the World Food Programme in a statement. However, funding gaps remain. Despite a Green Climate Fund