One too many Sultans of Sulu

LAST week I visited Sulu and Zamboanga City in southern Philippines, and guess who kept popping up during my trip? The Sultan of Sulu. Two and a half of them, in fact. On Wednesday, I was introduced to a man related to the late Jamalul Kiram III – the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu – at a fish marke …

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George Clooney engaged!

LOS ANGELES, April 27, 2014 (AFP) – Oscar-winning heartthrob George Clooney, one of Hollywood’s most coveted bachelors, has got engaged to his British lawyer girlfriend Amal Alamuddin, People magazine reported Saturday. “George and Amal are trying to keep things very low-key but th …

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Pope declares John Paul II, John XXIII saints

VATICAN CITY, April 27, 2014 (AFP) – Pope Francis on Sunday proclaimed as saints his influential predecessors John Paul II and John XXIII at an historic ceremony attended by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims in St Peter’s Square. “We declare and define as saints the blessed John XX …

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Will he go like a gentleman?

Speculation is rife that Terengganu will have a new Mentri Besar by May amid claims that Datuk Seri Ahmad Said had promised to stay on for only a year after the general election. DATUK Seri Ahmad Said is quite a talkative man but the Terengganu Mentri Besar’s lips seem to be sealed with super glue i …

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South Korean PM resigns over ferry disaster

JINDO, South Korea, April 27, 2014 (AFP) – South Korea’s prime minister resigned Sunday over the sinking of a passenger ferry that left more than 300 people dead or missing, amid huge public anger over what is seen as a bungled response to the tragedy. Chung Hong-Won admitted he had not …

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Hudud slowly getting a foot in

Many of us, particularly non-Muslim voters, never took seriously what PAS’ ultimate plan is. But now, we’re faced with the dreaded reality. IF there’s one thing that PAS is consistent about, it has to be its ambition to set up an Islamic state and to implement hudud. This is the basis of the Islamis …

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Chinese who wear their badges proudly

The police officers who helped make the Chinese constable drive a success share their personal stories with Sunday Star. ACP Gan Choon Hong comes from a proud family of police officers. The 58-year-old former temporary teacher jumped at the chance to be a cop 38 years ago, thanks to a suggestion fro …

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Obama arrives, Welcome Mr President

KUALA LUMPUR: President Barack Obama arrived at the RMAF base in Subang on Saturday for the much-awaited three-day visit. The Air Force One jet carrying the American leader touched down at the base at 4.50pm after a six-hour flight from South Korea.  Obama was greeted by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri …

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Obama lashes North Korea as weak 'pariah state'

Seoul (AFP) – North Korea is a weak “pariah state” whose heavily militarised border with the South marks “freedom’s frontier”, US President Barack Obama told American troops in Seoul on Saturday. The meeting place of the two countries is a division between a ̶ …

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Former Barca coach Vilanova, 45, dies of cancer

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova has died aged 45 following a battle with cancer that forced him to stand down at the end of last season, the club announced on Friday. He took over at the Nou Camp ahead of the 2012-13 season having been Pep Guardiola’s assistant …

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