SINGAPORE, May 15 — A victim has lost at least S$4.9 million (RM15.3 million) in a stunningly sophisticated scam that used deepfake AI technology to impersonate Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during a Zoom video conference.

The Singapore Police Force disclosed this in a public advisory yesterday, warning that scammers are now targeting business professionals with elaborate ruses involving the impersonation of senior government officials.

In this particular case, the elaborate deception began when the victim received a WhatsApp message from someone posing as the Secretary to the Cabinet, Wong Hong Kuan, instructing him to attend a meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

The victim was then sent an email from a fraudulent address (WongHongKuan.secretarycabinet@proton.me) containing what appeared to be an official letter of guarantee.

The letter, bearing a forged signature of PM Wong, requested urgent funding assistance related to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and promised reimbursement by the Singapore Government within 15 days.

To further cement the illusion of legitimacy, the victim was required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and provide a copy of his identification card.

The scam culminated in the victim being invited to a Zoom video conference, where he saw what appeared to be PM Wong and other local and overseas officials, their likenesses generated using deepfake technology.

Convinced by the meeting, the victim was contacted again via WhatsApp and proceeded to transfer the massive sum through a series of transactions to a corporate bank account provided by the scammers.

He only realised he had been scammed after feeling something was amiss and contacting the real Wong Hong Kuan.

Police noted that this modus operandi appears to specifically target business professionals who may have had prior interactions with government officials, making the initial contact seem more plausible.

In relation to earlier cases, three individuals have already been arrested and charged for their suspected involvement in related SIM card offences.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — In January, Astro Shaw's Cinematic Universe: The Beginning was unveiled.

The three-minute and 44-second concept video showcased a glimpse of how a large-scale crossover within the Astro Shaw Cinematic Universe (ASCU) could take shape.

The local production house has now released another teaser, Astro Shaw Cinematic Universe: Kitab Kataha, introducing a mysterious new figure linked to magic and mysticism within the expanding universe.

Much like the first concept video, the latest one-minute and 52-second short is not tied to any specific film or series.

Instead, it serves as a broader prologue to the ASCU, setting the tone for an interconnected mythology while allowing each story to stand independently.

The teaser centres on a hooded figure carrying a lantern as he journeys through a dense forest towards a secluded house, hinting at darker supernatural elements that may shape future stories in the franchise.

Back in December 2024, the Keluang Man cinematic universe — which forms part of the wider ASCU — revealed several upcoming titles, including Baling, Patani, Besut and Kataha.

This Kitab Kataha video serves as the first official introduction to elements from the previously announced Kataha film.

While Astro Shaw has yet to reveal details about the mysterious character, the figure is set to play a significant role in the overarching ASCU story.

Astro Shaw head Raja Jastina Raja Arshad said the earlier Astro Shaw Cinematic Universe: The Beginning received an overwhelming response that amassed more than 26 million views across digital platforms.

“More interestingly, viewers began approaching it like a puzzle, driving conversations and theories around the clues presented,” she said.

“With Kitab Kataha, we want to build on that curiosity by introducing more questions rather than answers.

“This approach transforms audiences from passive viewers into active participants who analyse, interpret, and connect the dots within the ASCU.”

Kitab Kataha had its first audience yesterday at Immersify Kuala Lumpur.

It was released online later that day, with its YouTube upload already surpassing 9,000 views.

The project was co-directed by acclaimed filmmaker M Shaffuan alongside renowned VFX specialist Sofyank, with cinematography by award-winning director of photography Nicholas Chin.

It was also developed under the creative leadership of Astro Shaw’s Creative Director, Alfie Palermo.

Jastina confirmed that additional teaser videos will be rolled out in the near future to build excitement and gradually connect the entire ASCU.

Astro Shaw Spill The Beans — a short discussion-based clip that explores character links, fan theories, conspiracies and behind-the-scenes details related to the ASCU — continues to deepen the universe’s lore as well.

Baling is the next film to be released under the Keluang Man cinematic universe, while Kudrat 1968, scheduled to premiere on October 22, is expected to become the first major project to officially bridge and expand the broader ASCU lore.

BEIJING, May 15 — US President Donald Trump ‌said his patience with Iran was running out after he discussed the costly and unpopular war with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday and a ​ship was reported seized by Iranian personnel off the United Arab Emirates.

The White House said Trump and Xi had agreed during talks in Beijing on the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane open.

Iran effectively shut the waterway in response to US-Israeli attacks which began on February 28, causing an unprecedented disruption to global energy supplies.

China is close to Iran ‌and the main buyer of its oil.

The US paused its attacks on Iran last month but began a blockade of the country’s ports. Talks aimed at ending the conflict have stalled ​with Iran refusing to end its nuclear program or relinquish its stockpile of enriched uranium.

“I am not going to be much more patient,” Trump said in an interview aired on Thursday night on Fox News’ “Hannity” program. “They should make a deal.”

On the key issue of Iran’s hidden stockpile of enriched uranium, Trump suggested it only needed to be secured by the US for public relations purposes.

“I don’t think it’s necessary except from a public relations standpoint,” Trump said in the interview.

“I just feel better if I got it, actually. But it’s, ​I think, it’s more for public relations than it is for anything else.”

In the latest incidents on the trade route, an Indian cargo vessel carrying livestock from Africa to the UAE was sunk on Wednesday in waters off the coast of Oman.

India condemned the attack and said all 14 crew members had been rescued by the Omani coast guard.

Vanguard, a British maritime security advisory firm, said the vessel was believed to have been hit by a missile or drone which caused an explosion.

Separately, British maritime security agency UKMTO reported on Thursday that “unauthorised personnel” had boarded a ship anchored off the coast of the UAE port of Fujairah, and were steering it towards Iran.

Vanguard said a company security officer had reported that “the vessel was taken by Iranian personnel while at anchor.”

After talks between Trump and Xi on Thursday, the White House said the leaders had ‌agreed that the strait should be open and that Xi made clear China’s opposition to the militarisation of the strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use.

Trump said Xi also promised not to send ⁠Iran military equipment. “He said he’s not going to give military equipment, that’s a big statement,” Trump said on “Hannity”.

Xi also expressed ⁠interest in purchasing more American oil to reduce China’s future dependence on the strait and the leaders agreed that Iran should never obtain nuclear weapons, the White House ⁠readout said. Tehran has denied seeking such weapons.

Diplomacy on hold

Trump is ⁠keen to elicit Chinese support to end a ⁠war that has become an electoral liability as it drags on towards key US midterm elections in November. But analysts doubt Xi will be willing to push Iran hard or end support for its military, given its value as a strategic counterweight to the US

In an interview with CNBC from Beijing, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he believed China would “do what they can” to help open the strait, something “very much in their interest.” Before the war, about a fifth of global ⁠oil and liquefied natural gas supplies passed through the waterway.

But diplomacy has been on hold since last week when Iran and the US each rejected the other’s most recent proposals.

Fujairah is the UAE’s sole oil port, on the Gulf of Oman just outside the Strait of Hormuz, and enables some shipments to reach markets without passing through the chokepoint.

Iran appears to be making more deals with countries to allow some ships to pass through the strait – if they accept Tehran’s terms. A Japanese tanker crossed on Wednesday after Japan’s prime minister announced that she had requested help from the Iranian president. A huge Chinese tanker also crossed on Wednesday, and Iran’s Fars news agency reported on Thursday that an agreement had been reached to let some Chinese ships pass.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said 30 vessels had passed through the strait since Wednesday evening, still far short of the 140 on a typical day before the war, ⁠but a substantial increase if confirmed.

According to shipping analytics firm Kpler, some 10 ships had sailed through the strait in the past 24 hours, against five to seven that have crossed daily in recent weeks.

Iran’s threat ‘significantly degraded’

Thousands of Iranians were killed in the US and Israeli airstrikes in the first weeks of the war, and thousands more have been killed in Lebanon since the war ⁠reignited fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

Talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials on Thursday in Washington were productive and positive, according to a senior State Department official, who said they were set to continue on Friday.

Trump said his aims ⁠in starting the war were ⁠to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, end its ability to attack neighbours and make it easier for Iranians to overthrow their government.

A senior US admiral told a US Senate committee on Thursday Iran’s ability to threaten its neighbours and US regional interests had been “significantly degraded”. “They no longer ​threaten regional partners, or the United States, in ways that they were able to do before, across every domain,” Admiral Brad Cooper said.

But Cooper ​declined to directly address reports by Reuters and other news organisations that Iran had retained significant missile and drone ‌capabilities.

Iran’s rulers, who used force to put down anti-government protests at the start of the year, have faced no organised opposition since the war began. ​And their closure of the strait has given them additional leverage in ​negotiations. Washington wants Tehran to hand over the uranium and forgo further enrichment. Iran is seeking the lifting of sanctions, reparations for war damage and acknowledgment of its control over the strait. — Reuters

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 15 — A female civil servant in Terengganu lost RM99,276 after falling victim to two fraudulent online investment schemes.

Kuala Terengganu district police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor said the 38-year-old victim responded to a ‘’Webull investment scheme’’ advertisement on the Telegram application on May 1, which promised lucrative returns within just six hours.

“She chose a starter package worth RM1,000 and was asked to make several additional payments on the pretext of enabling the withdrawal of investment profits.

“The deceived victim made 12 payments totalling RM48,965 into four different accounts between May 1 and 7,” he said in a statement today.

Azli said that on May 11, the victim invested in another scheme known as Sunway Trade through the same application, making bank transfers totalling RM50,311 over three days after being promised substantial returns within 30 minutes.

“The victim suspected she had been cheated after being asked to make an additional payment of RM38,527 purportedly for extra costs.

“She lodged a police report at 2.40 pm yesterday. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code,” he said. — Bernama

MADRID, May 15 — Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday said Barcelona star Lamine Yamal had made Spain “proud” for waving a Palestinian flag at a victory parade that sparked Israeli accusations of “inciting hatred”.

The 18-year-old forward drew attention for brandishing a Palestinian flag during an open-top bus parade through Barcelona on Monday as the Catalan giants celebrated their second straight La Liga title.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz lashed out at the Spain star on Thursday, saying he chose to “incite hatred” against his country.

“I hope a great and respected club like Barcelona distances itself from these remarks and makes it unambiguously clear that there is no place for incitement or support for terrorism,” Katz said on X in Spanish.

Sanchez, an outspoken critic of Israel who has called its devastating two-year war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza a “genocide”, hit back in defence of Yamal.

“Those who think that waving the flag of a state is ‘inciting hatred’, they have either lost their minds or they have been blinded by their own disgrace,” he wrote on X.

“Lamine just expressed the solidarity with Palestine that millions of Spaniards feel. Yet another reason to be proud of him,” Sanchez added.

Yamal’s support for the Palestinian cause – which enjoys widespread popularity in Spain – has not gone unnoticed in Gaza.

Artists at a refugee camp in the mostly destroyed territory have painted a mural on rubble depicting Yamal waving a Palestinian flag, an AFP journalist saw.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he “didn’t like” Yamal’s actions, but accepted that “if he wants to do it, it’s his decision.”

Relations between Spain and Israel have plummeted since the start of the Gaza war, sparked by the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel recalled its ambassador after Madrid recognised a Palestinian state in 2024, while Spain formally dismissed its own top envoy in Tel Aviv in March. — AFP

LONDON, May 15 — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was struggling to ​hold on to power after his main rival in the government resigned on Thursday, accusing him of political drift, and others positioned themselves for potential challenges to his leadership.

Disastrous results for the governing Labour Party in local elections last week have plunged Britain into a new crisis, just under two years ‌after Starmer won a large majority on a vow to bring stability and end a decade of political chaos.

After days of calls by Labour lawmakers ​for Starmer to quit or set out a timetable for his departure, Wes Streeting resigned as health minister, the first senior minister to break cover. He said he was standing down because “it is now clear you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election”.

While Streeting did not trigger a formal contest, potential rivals to the prime minister, such as Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, started positioning themselves for a possible leadership ​challenge that Starmer has said he will fight.

Streeting criticised his former boss in a resignation letter which said he was standing down to allow a wide debate about what comes next, one which the Labour movement wanted to focus on ideas rather than personalities or factions.

“It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates,” Streeting wrote.

British Health Secretary Wes Streeting walks after attending a cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London, Britain on May 12, 2026. — Reuters pic

Streeting says Britain needs vision

“Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift,” Streeting said in pointed remarks about Starmer. “Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords.”

A source close to Streeting said the former health minister had enough support to mount a formal ‌leadership challenge but had not triggered an immediate contest because he felt it would be preferable for Starmer to set out an orderly timetable.

Starmer responded with a letter expressing regret ⁠Streeting had stepped down, saying “it is incumbent on all of us to rise to what I ⁠see as a battle for the soul of our nation” and “turn the page on the chaos”.

He swiftly appointed one of his ⁠supporters, James Murray, as Streeting’s replacement.

The British leader has ⁠said he will battle to keep his ⁠job, and sources close to him say he is determined to fight any leadership contest.

The pound edged lower after Streeting’s resignation and news that Burnham would seek to return to parliament.

A Union Jack flag flutters near the Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben, in London on May 14, 2026, following the resignation of British Health Secretary Wes Streeting. — Reuters pic

Potential candidates face off against Starmer loyalists

Another possible candidate in any leadership contest, Starmer’s former deputy, Angela Rayner, said earlier on Thursday that she had been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing over her tax affairs, an impediment ⁠to challenging the prime minister. But she would not say whether she wanted to launch a formal bid.

Burnham also was offered a path for a possible leadership challenge. After a Labour lawmaker in Greater Manchester said he would resign from his parliamentary seat, Burnham said he would seek permission to stand as Labour’s candidate.

He would have to win an election for that seat to be able to challenge Starmer – an aim he stopped short of voicing.

“Much bigger change is needed at a national level if everyday life is to be made more affordable again. This is why I now seek people’s support to return to parliament,” he said on X.

Another potential candidate is armed forces minister Al Carns, a former Royal Marine ⁠seen by some in Labour as a new face who could freshen up the party.

But Starmer still enjoys some support. Education Minister Bridget Phillipson repeated her backing for Starmer and suggested the rest of his cabinet team of top ministers were also supportive.

“This is now a chance for us to pause, take a ⁠breath as a party and try and draw a line under all of this,” she said.

Starmer, 63, has adopted a “business-as-usual” approach and finance minister Rachel Reeves warned lawmakers against plunging Britain into chaos ⁠when its anaemic economy ⁠was turning a corner. The economy grew unexpectedly in March.

Business leaders fear another leadership race to choose what would be Britain’s seventh prime minister in about a decade would deter investment – something the Labour government has said ​must improve to turn around Britain’s fortunes.

The political instability has pushed borrowing costs higher, with some investors nervous about ​the possible election of a more left-wing, tax-and-spend Labour prime minister.

“There have been too many ‌changes of government strategy, leadership, just in my six years of being CEO,” Amanda Blanc, boss of insurance company Aviva, ​told Reuters. “And I think that is harmful to a major ​economy such as the UK and how we are perceived abroad.” — Reuters

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are expected to prevail until noon today in six states, according to the Meteorological Department.

It said in a statement that the adverse weather will affect Perlis, Kedah (Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena, Yan, Pendang and Kuala Muda) as well as Penang.

Similar conditions are expected in Kuala Selangor and Klang in Selangor; Batu Pahat, Pontian, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru in Johor and Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu (Tatau and Bintulu) and Miri (Subis) in Sarawak. — Bernama

GEORGE TOWN, May 15 — The canteen of a school here has been ordered to close after a health inspection found rat droppings on the premises.

Penang Education director Mohd Dziauddin Mat Saad said the closure order took immediate effect for fourteen days from noon yesterday until May 27.

“Investigations and monitoring at the canteen found rat droppings on the floor behind an unused refrigerator, and a closure order for unsanitary food premises under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983 was issued,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

He said that, so far, no cases of food poisoning involving pupils or teachers have been reported at the school.

He added that the school has arranged for food to be supplied to pupils by a vendor throughout the closure period. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Award-winning Malaysian singer Yuna has reached a new career milestone after surpassing one billion streams across all credits on Spotify, becoming the first Malaysian artist to do so.

Speaking to local media, the 40-year-old singer said the achievement came as a surprise after she first learned about it through a fan page earlier this month.

“The news actually came from my fans who congratulated me and I was like, ‘Huh? Really?’ and it turns out to be true after we checked it.

“It’s not even a target (for me) and it came indirectly because I just want to make music for fun with friends and for myself — this is kind of a nice bonus for my career.

“And it is also for Malaysians too — I’m just grateful and happy to know that I have listeners who stream my materials,” she said.

Yuna added that the milestone proved independent artists could also achieve major success and said it marked the beginning of a new chapter in her career.

However, she declined to reveal details about her upcoming projects, saying she was taking things “day by day” for now.

Aizat Amdan, Yuna and Sekumpulan Orang Gila performing Aizat’s latest single ‘Ajar Aku’ for the first time at The Campus, Ampang.

Yuna against AI in music

The ‘Crush’ singer also spoke out against the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in music-making, saying it could affect local artists and songwriters who rely on such work for a living.

She said songs generated by AI still lacked the emotional depth and authenticity that come from human experience.

“So for me, the human touch is very important.

“The humanity in the song is also very important, so we try to avoid using all of that (AI) in our songs,” she said.

Yuna said she had experimented with AI music tools during her time in the United States when the technology first emerged, but was unimpressed with the results.

“I asked AI to write a song and it generated these bombastic words that even we don’t use in our daily conversations.

“It seems so over the top and a bit too desperate to make a song.

“As I said, it’s the human touch (that matters) because human touch all comes from God, no? So it’s all from experience, and only we have that,” she said.

She added that she was also concerned about the environmental impact of AI data centres.

Yuna’s comments came after she lent her vocals to Aizat Amdan’s latest single ‘Ajar Aku’, which also features local post-hardcore band Sekumpulan Orang Gila.

She said she agreed to join the track after hearing its demo, which included an AI-generated female version of Aizat’s vocals.

‘Amateur hour is over’

Aside from contributing vocals to the track, Yuna also handled the art direction for the music video, which was directed by her husband and longtime collaborator Adam Sinclair.

During the ‘Ajar Aku’ press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Aizat revealed that Yuna was the one who pushed for a music video after recognising the song’s potential.

“I think when you are a songwriter and when you produce your song, sometimes you don’t realise the potential of the song yourself — you are often in doubt about your work.

“So you need someone else to come in and listen to your song and tell you that it has the potential.

“For me, I was that person for them,” Yuna said.

Yuna, who has worked with Aizat previously, said she also told the singer that “amateur hour is over” and encouraged him to fully commit to the project.

“Let’s move past the mindset of ‘just settle for this’ or ‘just use AI for that’.

“You have to give it your absolute all — you (already) have this platform and a community here supporting you, so keep pushing the boundaries,” she said.

Aizat Amdan’s ‘Ajar Aku’ featuring SOG and Yuna will be available on all music streaming platforms from May 15, while the official music video is set to premiere the same day at 9 pm.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The ringgit snapped a seven-trading-day rally to ease against the US dollar as traders turned cautious ahead of Malaysia’s first-quarter (1Q) 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) announcement later today.

At 8 am, the ringgit opened easier at 3.9320/9370 against the greenback from Thursday’s close of 3.9300/9330, although it traded firmer against other major currencies.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said today’s focus will be on Malaysia’s 1Q 2026 GDP, with most economists pencilling in growth of 5.3 per cent.

“As such, traders are expected to trade the ringgit cautiously,” he told Bernama amid expectations that the data could boost the local currency.

Meanwhile, Mohd Afzanizam said the US Dollar Index rose 0.36 per cent to 98.874 points after April 2026 US retail sales data indicated consumer spending remained fairly resilient.

At the opening, the ringgit traded higher against a basket of major currencies.

It appreciated against the Japanese yen to 2.4823/4856 from 2.4886/4907, strengthened versus the British pound to 5.2646/2712 from 5.3094/3135, and rose against the euro to 4.5855/5913 from 4.6009/6044 at Thursday’s close.

The local note traded mixed against regional peers.

It climbed against the Singapore dollar to 3.0798/0842 from Thursday’s close of 3.0867/0893 and strengthened against the Thai baht to 12.1171/1392 from 12.1506/1652 previously.

However, the ringgit weakened against the Indonesian rupiah to 224.3/224.7 from yesterday’s close of 224.1/224.4 and slipped against the Philippine peso to 6.38/6.39 from 6.37/6.38. — Bernama

NEW YORK, May 15 — The US Justice Department on Thursday accused Yale medical school of discriminating against white and Asian applicants following a year-long probe into diversity practices at the elite university.

It is the latest chapter in President Donald Trump’s campaign against US colleges, which he accuses of promoting “woke” anti-conservative ideologies and of pushing unfair diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies.

“Yale’s documents show that its leadership intentionally selected applicants based on their race,” the Justice Department said in a statement.

With the move, the agency said it was seeking a voluntary agreement with Yale to bring the university’s admissions practices into compliance with federal law.

It specifically alleged that, based on admissions data, “Black and Hispanic students have a much higher chance of admission to Yale than White or Asian students with the same test scores.”

Yale School of Medicine responded to the allegation by saying it was “confident in the rigorous admissions process.”

Admitted students “demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and personal commitment” and “graduates go on to become leaders in clinical care, research, and public service. We will carefully review the Department of Justice’s letter.”

The Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that affirmative action by universities on the basis of race was unlawful but said that they could use statements about the racial experiences of candidates in admissions decisions.

The Justice Department cited that ruling in its findings Thursday, alleging that Yale had failed to comply.

Last week, the Trump administration issued a similar finding against the medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles, alleging that it had unfairly favoured Black and Hispanic applicants with lower qualifications.

As part of his wider push to bring higher education to heel, Trump has wielded federal funds as a negotiating tool for universities that he says are too liberal, insisting that they submit to curriculum, enrolment and other changes.

The Republican’s administration has also decreased or placed holds on spending for university research as part of wider budget cuts since taking office in January 2025. — AFP

IPOH, May 15 — Another body from the boat carrying Indonesian migrants that sank off Pulau Pangkor was recovered last night, bringing the death toll to 10.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said in a statement that the man’s body was found by fishermen at about 7.40pm yesterday, around 3.6 nautical miles northeast of the location where the boat sank.

“The body was transferred from the local fishing boat that discovered the victim to a Marine Police Force vessel, PSC 16, before being brought to the jetty,” he said, adding that the vessel arrived at the Kampung Acheh jetty at about 9.35pm.

The search and rescue (SAR) operation, now in its fifth day, resumed at 7 am this morning, with efforts focused on locating the four missing victims.

In an incident on May 11, a boat believed to be carrying 37 Indonesian migrants sank about 8.2 nautical miles off Pulau Pangkor while travelling to several destinations in Malaysia.

Twenty-three people have been rescued so far. — Bernama