Asia in 3 minutes: Indonesia scolded for dog meat trade, Cambodia grilled for North Korean fare
Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibu and Sirul Azhar Umar. Photos: Interpol, EPA
Former Malaysian hitman Sirul Azhar Umar, who is being held in Australia's Villawood detention centre, offered to return home and reveal details about a murder that dogged Malaysia's former leader Najib Razak. He said he would help the new Pakatan Harapan government by saying what transpired in the case of Altantuya Shaariibuu - a Mongolian model murdered in 2009 - provided he was given a full pardon. Sirul, a former commando, and a fellow officer were found guilty of the 2006 murder of Altantuya, who was the lover of, and translator for, one of Najib's close associates. She was killed after allegedly demanding payment for her role in securing a French submarine deal. Sirul was convicted and sentenced to death, but fled to Australia.
North Korean performers entertain customers at the Okryugwan restaurant in Beijing. Cambodia is still hosting a number of North Korean restaurants despite UN sanctions banning the businesses. Photo: AP
At least three North Korean restaurants are operating in Cambodia's capital in apparent violation of United Nations sanctions that took effect earlier this year. The restaurants in Phnom Penh, which all have names that include the word "Pyongyang" are staffed by North Korean workers and offer products from that country, including blueberry wine and ginseng. They are part of a well-documented global network of businesses that have been generating cash for the North Korean regime for years. All three Phnom Penh restaurants have waitresses wearing name tags in the red and blue colours of North Korea's flag. The women have similar shoes and hair styles, and they sing songs, play music and dance as well as serve food.
Friends of Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki bring his dead body to the Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Photo: EPA
Two Sherpa guides working on Everest were confirmed dead on Tuesday, bringing the death toll on the world's highest peak this spring climbing season to five. The two experienced guides were working on opposite sides of the mountain, which straddles the border between Nepal and Tibet. One fell more than 60 metres into a crevasse on Monday while helping a foreign climber to a rescue helicopter, and the other died just below the summit from a suspected heart attack. It came after a third guide went missing near Everest's summit earlier this month and two climbers also perished. One of the two climbers, Nobukazu Kuriki of Japan, died during his eighth attempt to reach the summit.
Two Sherpa guides working on Everest were confirmed dead on Tuesday, bringing the death toll on the world's highest peak this spring climbing season to five. Photo: AFP
The Singapore passport is no longer the most powerful in the world, according to the Henley Passport Index. Japan now occupies the top spot and its passport can be used to travel visa-free to a record 189 destinations. Singapore is tied with Germany in second place as the passports of both countries allow visa-free travel to 188 destinations. Third place is shared by six countries: one Asian (South Korea) and the rest European (Finland, France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden). The US and the UK are tied in 4th place with Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal.
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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