Malaysia: hundreds of investors hit by fraudulent scam
An Indonesian woman known as Suzy has reportedly lost over RM4 million (£700,000) to a Malaysian-based foreign currency investment scheme. She began investing in 2020, and received a 20% annual return in 2021 and 2022. However, the company cited licensing issues last year and ceased dividend payments, leaving her unable to access her funds. She has now filed a police report, joining 69 others from Singapore, Indonesia, and Brunei. An expert said that the scheme had resulted in estimated losses of RM100 million (£17.5 million) for over 500 Malaysian locals. He urged authorities to take this cross-border case seriously and take action to protect the country's good name from being seen as a fraud syndicate hub.
Argentina: one dead, several missing as hotel collapses
A tragic hotel collapse in Argentina has claimed the life of an elderly man and left seven to nine individuals missing. The ten-storey building, undergoing renovations, imploded in the early hours, tilting and damaging part of an adjacent structure. Over three hundred workers are conducting a challenging search using sniffer dogs, drones, and specialised equipment to locate survivors. The collapse caused widespread concern as locals described the disaster as sounding 'like a missile’, with nearby residents feeling intense vibrations before the building fell. Rescuers managed to save a 79-year-old woman, guided by her knocking sounds. Authorities said the hotel was operating renovations illegally, prompting the arrest of the foreman and three bricklayers. Meanwhile, anxious family members wait at the site for news of their loved ones.
‘Miraculous’ path to new Christmas film
Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, has produced a new Christmas film, an adaptation of the beloved 1972 novel The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Jenkins describes the process of securing the rights to the novel as miraculous, crediting God and a fan of The Chosen for the breakthrough. The novel, which Jenkins calls ‘such a Jesus story’, tells the tale of six misfit children who unexpectedly take over their small town’s Christmas pageant, ultimately revealing the true meaning of the holiday. Jenkins and his wife have a personal tradition of reading the book every Christmas, and he spent years praying to obtain the rights to make the film. He was finally able to acquire them, partly due to the mother of one of the rights-holders being a fan of The Chosen. The film opens in US cinemas on 8 November, marking what Jenkins sees as a divinely timed calling fulfilled.
NFL star reads Proverbs 31 over his newborn
Chanen Johnson, wife of New Orleans Saints player Juwan Johnson, shared a heartwarming video of her husband reading Proverbs 31 over their newborn daughter in the hospital. The video, posted on 11 October, quickly gained nearly 100,000 likes. In the clip, Juwan reads aloud the passage praising a wife of noble character, saying, “Charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Chanen's Instagram post highlights their deep Christian faith, which is reflected in both their lives. She captioned the video, "POV: You just gave him a baby girl and this is what he does.” In a previous post, Chanen mentioned how Juwan read Scripture to her before childbirth, easing her anxiety. Juwan's faith is also visible on his social media, where he emphasises ‘Jesus over everything else’ and encourages fellow believers to seek God’s face rather than His hand. His testimony highlights the importance of faith and surrender to God’s will.
