‘Innovation is crucial to long-term success’: Minister

National

September 21, 2024

Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Shamhary Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha at a booth during the Brunei Innovation Lab 2nd Anniversary celebration. PHOTO: BIL

Innovation is crucial to long-term success for sustainable economic development and improved quality of life in the country, said Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Shamhary Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha on Saturday.

The minister, during a keynote address at the 2nd Anniversary Celebration of the Brunei Innovation Lab (BIL) noted the progress the country has made, reflected in the Global Innovation Index 2023, where the Sultanate recorded improvements in education, ICT access, and science and engineering graduates.

However, he also noted room for improvement in research and development expenditure and knowledge-intensive employment.

“Innovation is crucial to our long-term success. Our challenge now is to translate these strong inputs into impactful outputs that will drive economic growth and societal benefits,” said the minister.

Meanwhile, the minister also highlighted BIL’s role in the Brunei Darussalam Digital Economy Masterplan 2025.

“In just two years, BIL has grown into a hub that nurtures technopreneurs by providing access to platforms for developing, testing, and bringing to market new ideas and innovations. By fostering collaboration between startups, enterprises, academia, and government institutions, BIL is shaping the future of Brunei’s innovation landscape.”

BIL Chairperson Haji Mohammad Shahnoel bin Haji Mohammad Noeh said in his remarks that since its launch, BIL has formed eight strategic partnerships, organized over 80 innovation-related workshops, and supported more than 1,400 participants.

“These efforts have resulted in 45 new ideas being developed, with 15 startups currently moving towards commercialisation,” he said.

Haji Mohammad Shahnoel also introduced BIL’s flagship Open Digital Learning Platform, KLIQ, which aims to enhance digital literacy across all age groups in Brunei.

Brunei Innovation Lab is a strategic collaboration between Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd, Shell Livewire Brunei, Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd (DST), and Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).

Cambodia pulls out of border development deal with Vietnam, Laos

Southeast Asia

September 21, 2024

AP24132533687640 — Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet attends an inauguration ceremony of Cambodia's newest and biggest airport, Siem Reap Angkor International Airport in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, November 16, 2023. PHOTO: AP

PHNOM PENH (AFP) – Cambodia has withdrawn from a decades-old regional economic development deal with Vietnam and Laos, Prime Minister Hun Manet said, in a surprise concession to critics concerned about the kingdom losing territory to its neighbours.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. PHOTO: AP

The 25-year-old Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) agreement has been the focus of online criticism and overseas protests in recent months.

In a statement posted to his Facebook page late Friday night, Hun Manet said Cambodia had decided to pull out of the deal, and that both Vietnam and Laos had been notified of the decision.

He accused “extremists” of using the deal as “a political weapon” to attack his administration by alleging it had ceded parts of four northeastern provinces to foreign countries.

“Taking into account people’s concerns about territory… we have decided that Cambodia ends the participation in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA) from September 20, 2024 onwards,” Hun Manet said.

The deal inked in 1999 was aimed at boosting economic development and trade between Cambodia’s northeastern provinces and neighbouring ones in Laos and Vietnam.

Some opposition activists and Cambodian people living overseas had recently expressed concerns that the deal could unfairly benefit foreign interests.

Last month, Cambodians in countries including South Korea, Japan, France, Canada, Australia and the United States held protests against the deal and demanded the government withdraw.

Since July, Cambodian authorities have arrested nearly 100 people – including several children – who tried to join planned protests against the agreement in Phnom Penh, according to rights groups.

Earlier this month, Hun Manet described them as trying to topple his government.

Nine of those arrested face prosecution, while the others have been released.

Opposition activists have long accused former leader Hun Sen – Hun Manet’s father – of ceding territory to Vietnam in particular. Fears of Vietnamese encroachment have long been a political lightning rod in Cambodia, fuelled by strong anti-Vietnamese sentiment.

In a Facebook post late Friday night, Hun Sen said the decision to withdraw from the deal was “to put out the fire completely”.

Raducanu retires from Korea Open quarter-final with foot injury

Sports

September 21, 2024

SEOUL (AFP) – Emma Raducanu retired from her Korea Open quarter-final against top seed Daria Kasatkina with a foot injury on Saturday, ending her hopes of a second career title.

Britain’s Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, asked for medical advice five games into the match before bowing out after losing the first set 6-1 in Seoul. The 21-year-old had treatment on the same foot during her last-16 win over China’s Yuan Yue on Thursday.

Britain’s Emma Raducanu reacts after missing a point against Russia’s Daria Kasatkina. PHOTO: AFP

Raducanu, ranked 70th in the world, has struggled with injuries since her stunning US Open victory, and has failed to build on her success. She was looking to make an impact at the Korea Open, which was hit by a string of last-minute withdrawals, including by world number one Iga Swiatek, US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Raducanu had her serve broken four times by Russia’s world number 13 Kasatkina, whom she has never beaten in two previous meetings. “I feel sorry for Emma for retiring during the match,” said Kasatkina, who will play Russian number four seed Diana Shnaider or Ukrainian number five seed Marta Kostyuk in the semi-finals.

“It’s a pity to get injured, especially in the deeper stages of the tournament. I wish her a speedy recovery and get ready for the next tournament.” All four quarter-finals were taking place a day later than scheduled after all play was washed out on Friday.

Brazil’s number three seed Beatriz Haddad Maia booked her place in the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Russia’s Polina Kudermetova. Haddad Maia will play Veronika Kudermetova, who beat Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova 7-5, 6-3.

US city of Flint still reeling from water crisis, 10 years on

September 21, 2024

708839-01-02 — The streets of downtown Flint, Michigan, on September 17, 2024. Lead contamination of the drinking water in the US Rust Belt city of Flint began 10 years ago. In one of the worst health scandals in the country's history, the 100,000 residents of this former automaking hub were exposed to the contaminant, with consequences that will last decades. The tragedy unfolded when an unelected city manager appointed by Republican Governor Rick Snyder changed Flint's water supply in April 2014 as a cost-saving measure. (Photo by JEFF KOWALSKY / AFP)

The streets of downtown Flint, Michigan. PHOTO: AFP

FLINT (AFP) – Turning her faucet on one day in 2014, Chanel McGee watched in disgust as a brownish trickle poured out.

Today, a strong musty smell lingers. Residents of the American city of Flint are still suffering the consequences of a historic water crisis, which is fuelling a lively rejection of politics – and, by extension, the White House race.

For ten years, this mother of two from the Canadian border state of Michigan – a key swing state in the November polls – has consumed only bottled water. “I started getting a little sick… I drink bottled water now, I don’t drink out of the faucet because I don’t like the smell,” the 47-year-old said in her kitchen, pierced by the scent of mildew.

A trap blackened with insects hangs over her sink. Even to wash, she said she buys water, which she pours into pots and heats on the stove.

“I want everything to change, I want the creek to be clean, I want everything to be clean, I just want it to be decent for us and the kids, so we could go ahead and live and not worry about this water and all that stuff going on… I’m tired of it,” McGee, who is unemployed, said. “I’m not going to keep crying about it,” she added.

The Flint River in downtown Flint, Michigan. PHOTO: AFP

They can drink it
The crisis she is living through began in 2014, when Michigan decided to change the water supply to the predominantly Black city of Flint as a cost-saving measure.

Instead of drawing from the region’s lakes, one of the world’s largest freshwater reserves, officials decided to draw from a polluted, acidic river, exposing its 100,000-strong population to severely lead-contaminated water for more than a year. The health scandal had international repercussions, and – among other issues – caused learning disabilities in many children.

It saw a spike in cases of Legionnaires’ disease, leading to the death of a dozen people and widespread mistrust of public officials. Those same authorities have said that the vast majority of lead pipes have since been replaced and that the water is now safe to drink.

“They can drink it but I know I’m not going to,” McGee tells AFP.

That distrust of authorities extends right to the top: she said she has no confidence in the two presidential candidates, both of whom are eyeing Michigan – a coveted prize in the November election.

Her thoughts on Republican Donald Trump, who visited the state on Tuesday: “What is he going to do for us? Is he going to change something around here? Change the water? Change the city?”

And Democrat Kamala Harris? “I don’t even know who that is,” McGee replies with a shrug.

The City of Flint Water Department. PHOTO: AFP

Contaminated city
“No one seems to be concerned about a struggling city and the problems that they’ve had,” agreed Dennis Robinson, leaning against the table of a yellow-brick diner. The 69-year-old man, a lifelong resident of Flint, hasn’t imbibed the city’s water in years either. “You can only lie to me so long,” he told AFP.

An ex-employee of General Motors, the automaker founded in the city and for many years its main employer, Robinson says he has noticed learning problems in many of the children in his area, which he believes are linked to their exposure to lead.

The observation has been corroborated by several scientific studies. “It creates a generation of people, a group of young folks that will be facing struggles, probably their entire life,” said Robinson with a sigh.

A host of public and private initiatives have been launched to support these children and pull Flint, hit hard by the 2008 financial crisis, out of the doldrums. More than a third of the population lives below the poverty line.

The city centre, with its pretty art deco buildings, has benefited from major renovations.

But whole swathes of the city, with its condemned doorways and gutted front porches, bear witness to how far there is to go. It also has to shake off its image as a “contaminated city”.

Bri Gallinet, a waitress in an upmarket restaurant, describes the fear and panic when the crisis first hit – but now, she says, visitors to the city make jokes about the water. “Every time we cater a table, we’ll put waters in front of them and they’ll laugh and say, ‘Is it safe?'” said the 35-year-old.

“My first response is, well I’m not trying to harm you,” she said.

“It’s kind of not funny. It hurts our feelings.”

‘Far more absurd’: AI content in US presidential race

Technology

September 21, 2024

AIG-US RACE — AI generative app. Woman chatting with Artificial Intelligence software in computer laptop. Technology trends

WASHINGTON (AP) – With the 2024 election looming, the first since the mass popularisation of generative artificial intelligence, experts feared the worst: social media flooded with AI-generated deepfakes that were so realistic, baffled voters wouldn’t know what to believe.

So far, that hasn’t happened. Instead, what voters are seeing is far more absurd: A video of former President Donald Trump riding a cat while wielding an assault rifle. A mustachioed Vice President Kamala Harris dressed in communist attire. Trump and Harris sharing a passionate embrace.

AI is playing a major role in the presidential campaign, even if the greatest fears about how it could threaten the US presidential election haven’t materialised yet. Fake AI-generated images regularly ricochet around the web, but many of them are so cartoonish and absurd that even the most naïve viewer couldn’t take them seriously.

Still, even these memes can be problematic. Eye-catching AI-generated photos and videos, some striving to be funny, have become useful tools for spreading false, sometimes racist messages with a clear political bent – and candidates and their supporters are among those sharing them on social media.

For example, Trump and many of his allies not only repeatedly promoted the unfounded conspiracy theory that Haitian migrants are stealing and eating cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio, they also spread related AI-generated memes. One shared by Trump’s Truth Social account showed him on a luxury jet, surrounded by cats and white ducks. Another showed a group of kittens holding a sign that read, “DON’T LET THEM EAT US, Vote for Trump!”

Francesca Tripodi, an expert in online propaganda, said such AI-made images are new, viral vehicles to carry age-old anti-immigration narratives.

“The memes that are amplifying this claim are anything but humorous. When you have elected officials who are utilising this imagery as a way of perpetuating racism and xenophobia, that’s a huge problem,” said Tripodi, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Republicans defend the images as lighthearted jokes – and byproducts of Trump’s personality. “There is a culture of personality surrounding Donald Trump that encourages that sort of over-the-top communication style that turns things into comical memes,” said Caleb Smith, a Republican strategist. “The intent is to entertain, not to deceive. That is what it should be.”

Not just Trump supporters
Trump and his supporters aren’t the only ones creating AI memes, but they appear to be using AI image generators more than their Democratic counterparts. Some left-leaning users have posted AI images making fun of billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of X and an outspoken supporter of Trump’s campaign.

Democrats also posted AI-generated images of Trump in handcuffs and being chased by police when he was in court in Manhattan last year.

But Kamala Harris’ campaign has not leaned into amplifying AI-generated content, sticking instead to TikTok trends and other memes that don’t require AI models to create.

“Currently, the only authorized campaign use of generative AI is for productivity tools, such as data analysis and industry-standard coding assistance,” said Harris campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung did not respond to specific questions from The Associated Press but said its strategy had not changed since May, when he provided an emailed statement saying the campaign did not “engage or utilise” tools supplied by any AI company.

Using fake, entertaining, often preposterous images to score political points is hardly new. But unlike cobbled-together Photoshop images or political cartoons, AI-generated images pack a stronger punch with their hyperrealism and can draw new attention to a political message.

While some of the images related to pets in Springfield were cartoonish and silly, many felt they perpetuated a damaging conspiracy theory about a community that has since received bomb threats prompting evacuations of schools and government buildings.

“Memes that are obviously parody are one thing. It’s another where it’s obviously intended to deceive,” said Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and vocal Trump critic. “And we already see the Trump campaign really blurring the line.”
AI makes it easy

The speed and accessibility of generative AI tools make it easy to create outlandish political content that can drive clicks and likes. With AI image generators accessible to anyone with an internet connection, they are a cheap and convenient way for campaigns to respond to online trends and hammer home a message.

“Campaigns have had to deal with disinformation and misinformation for a very long time. … It’s not a new problem. But obviously what AI allows is for this stuff to do done more rapidly, perhaps more convincingly, and in a more targeted environment,” said Teddy Goff, the digital director of Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.

Paul Ingrassia, a New York-based political commentator and lawyer, said he spun up a viral image of Trump emerging from a lion’s den in seconds by prompting Grok, then dropped it into his newsletter and sent it to Trump campaign staffers. Trump’s Truth Social account posted Ingrassia’s newsletter, including the image, that day.

“I got a message from my point of contact with the president and they said: ‘The president loved the image, how did you make it? Who created it?’ And I said: ‘Oh, I did. I made that for the article,'” Ingrassia said. “And he said, ‘Keep up the great work, he loves it.'”

The use of AI for political satire and propaganda isn’t limited to the US and has been observed in elections from Indonesia to the Netherlands.

More sinister deepfakes also have sought to influence races around the world. In Slovakia last year, AI audio clips impersonated the liberal party chief talking about rigging the vote days before parliamentary elections. In New Hampshire’s primary in January, audio deepfakes of President Joe Biden were sent in robocalls to Democratic voters, urging them not to vote. The incident was quickly publicised and resulted in criminal charges.

Trump’s embrace of AI-generated images counters some of his past commentary. In an interview on Fox Business this year, Trump called artificial intelligence “very dangerous” and “so scary” because “there’s no real solution” to the issues created by the advancing technology.

And some Republicans have fretted about how Trump and the GOP are using AI to create political memes.

“I don’t engage in memes. I never have. I never will,” said Rep Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican in a competitive district outside Philadelphia. “I just don’t believe in it.”

Cards Against Humanity sues SpaceX for USD15 million

Business

September 21, 2024

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – The makers of irreverent party game Cards Against Humanity are suing Elon Musk’s SpaceX for USD15 million, claiming it dumped “gravel, tractors and space garbage” on pristine land.

A lawsuit filed in Texas on Thursday said SpaceX had invaded property owned by the game company, which sits next to its Starbase, and “treated it as its own for at least six months”.

“Elon Musk’s SpaceX was building some space thing nearby, and he figured he could just dump… all over our gorgeous plot of land without asking,” read a website detailing the lawsuit. “After we caught him, SpaceX gave us a 12-hour ultimatum to accept a lowball offer for less than half our land’s value.”

The company said it declined the offer and began legal action.

Cards Against Humanity is a game based on amusing and irreverent answers by players to topics suggested by the cards.

The company relied on crowdfunding for the game’s initial development in 2010. It uses a series of pranks and stunts highlighting what it says are injustices as part of its marketing strategy.

At the heart of the suit is a parcel of land on the US-Mexico border that Cards Against Humanity LLC bought in 2017 in an effort to stymie the construction of a border wall pledged by then-president Donald Trump, using thousands of USD15 pledges from users.

“150,000 people gave us their hard-earned money, and in exchange we vowed to protect this land from racist billionaires and their dumb vanity projects,” the website says.

“We promised we’d use every legal tool at our disposal to protect this land from bullies like Trump and Musk (who’s spending millions to get Trump elected…),” the firm said.

All original contributors stand to get up to USD100 each if the company prevails in its lawsuit, it said.

There was no immediate reply from SpaceX to an AFP request for comment.

Japan orders evacuations as heavy rains trigger floods in quake-hit region

World

September 21, 2024

Emergency siren. Shot of a siren speaker on a wall. — PHOTO: ENVATO

TOKYO (AFP) – Japanese authorities told tens of thousands of people to evacuate the quake-hit region of Ishikawa on Saturday as “unprecedented” rains triggered floods and landslides.

A dozen rivers in the region had burst their banks as of 11am, land ministry official Masaru Kojima said.

The cities of Wajima and Suzu, as well as Noto town, ordered about 44,700 residents to evacuate, local officials said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said it issued its highest level warning for Ishikawa, cautioning of a “life-threatening situation”.

The areas under the warning were seeing “heavy rain of unprecedented levels”, JMA forecaster Satoshi Sugimoto told reporters, adding “it is a situation in which you have to secure your safety immediately”.

At least one person was missing in Wajima, while many buildings were inundated, with landslides blocking parts of roadways, the Ishikawa government said in a statement.

Public broadcaster NHK aired footage showing an entire street in Wajima submerged under water.

Three rivers in Ishikawa were overflowing into nearby communities, a local official told AFP earlier.

At least one house was hit by a landslide, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said, without giving further details.

Another 16,000 residents in Niigata and Yamagata prefectures north of Ishikawa were also told to evacuate, the agency said.

Wajima and Suzu, in central Japan’s Noto peninsula, were among the areas hardest hit by a huge New Year’s Day earthquake that killed at least 236 people.

The region is still reeling from the magnitude-7.5 quake that toppled buildings, ripped up roads and sparked a major fire.

Japan has seen unprecedented rainfall in parts of the country in recent years, with floods and landslides sometimes causing casualties.

Scientists say human-driven climate change is intensifying the risk of heavy rain in the country and elsewhere because a warmer atmosphere holds more water.

New Zealand pilot freed in Indonesia after 19 months in rebel captivity

Southeast Asia

September 21, 2024

JAKARTA (AFP) – New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens has been released from captivity by rebels in Indonesia’s restive region of Papua and was in good health despite the 19-month-long ordeal, Indonesian and New Zealand authorities said Saturday.

Mehrtens was working for Indonesian airline Susi Air when he was snatched by rebels at Nduga airport in the restive region on February 7 last year.

New Zealand pilot Phillip Mehrtens, who was held hostage for more than a year in the restive Papua region, sits with a police officer after his release, in Timika, Papua province. PHOTO: AFP

“Today we have picked up pilot Phillip who is in good health and we flew him from Nduga to Timika,” Faizal Ramadhani, head of a special unit formed to handle rebels in Papua, said in a statement. A joint task force of police and military picked up Mehrtens in a village of Nduga district early Saturday, Faizal said.

The released hostage was then given medical and psychological checks before he was flown to Papua’s city of Timika. The New Zealand government said Mehrtens was doing well and had spoken to his family, which had been assisted by Wellington.

“We are pleased and relieved to confirm that Phillip Mehrtens is safe and well and has been able to talk with his family,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “This news must be an enormous relief for his friends and loved ones.”

Mehrtens was providing vital air links and supplies to remote communities at the time of his abduction by rebels from the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) insurgent group. His release came after intense diplomatic efforts by Wellington and Jakarta.

The Indonesian task force would hold a press conference later on Saturday, Faizal said.

Rebels had demanded Indonesia recognise Papuan independence in return for his freedom.

A New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said it would comment later. The TPNPB did not respond to a request for comment.

Video addresses
Last year, the independence fighters of the TPNPB set fire to the Susi Air plane, released five other passengers but held on to Mehrtens.

During his months-long ordeal in the Papuan countryside, the New Zealander made sporadic appearances on video, likely under duress, to address his family and his government.

The rebels said he was in good health throughout his captivity, but his appearance changed drastically over time, becoming gaunt, long-haired and with an unkempt beard in proof-of-life videos where he asked for medication to aid his asthma.

Indonesia maintains a heavy military presence in resource-rich but underdeveloped Papua to quell a long-running separatist insurgency.

Rebel attacks in the region have risen in recent years and flying is the only available option to reach remote mountainous areas there.

Another New Zealander pilot, 50-year-old Glen Malcolm Conning, was shot dead last month after landing in the region with two Indonesian health workers and two children, all of whom survived.

Papua’s Melanesian population shares few cultural connections with the rest of Indonesia and the military has long been accused of gross human rights abuses there.

The former Dutch colony declared independence in 1961, but neighbouring Indonesia took control two years later, promising a referendum. In 1969, a thousand Papuans voted to integrate into Indonesia in a United Nations-backed vote.

Papuan independence activists regularly criticise the vote and call for fresh polls, but Jakarta says its sovereignty over Papua is supported by the UN.

In this undated photo released by West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, Papuan separatist rebels pose for a photo with a man they said is New Zealander pilot Phillip Mark Mehrtens. PHOTO: AP

Royalty at Premier Lecture of Knowledge Convention

National

September 21, 2024

Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman on Saturday graced the Premier Lecture of the Knowledge Convention 2024 in conjunction with the 78th Birthday Celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, at the Plenary Hall, International Convention Centre, Berakas.

Also present at the Ceremony was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the event. PHOTOS: RAFI ROSLI

The Minister of Education, as the Co-Chairperson of the Executive Committee for the Knowledge Convention 2024 delivered her welcoming remarks.

The event continued with the premier lecture titled “Mindful Matters: Prioritising Mental Health in the Modern World” delivered by Ustaz Muhammad Tarmizi bin Abdul Wahid, the invited speaker.

He highlighted the mental health challenges people face today, including depression, stress, anxiety, and trauma, emphasising that these issues should not be taken lightly as they can impact anyone.

He encouraged the audience to recite the Al-Quran more frequently for peace of mind and advised against being too preoccupied with finding fault in others or being overly absorbed in social media.

Ustaz Muhd Termizzi also reminded people not to rush to judgment or focus on others’ mistakes, but rather to make an effort to understand them and be a supportive friend, especially to those struggling with mental health issues, who need our presence.

He further urged individuals facing mental health challenges to seek help from specialists and to engage in more supplication, offering hope and strength to continue life.

Her Royal Highness signed the commemorative parchment and was presented with a pesambah.

Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman at one of the exhibitions.

Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs viewing one of the exhibitions.

Prior to departure, Her Royal Highness viewed the Knowledge Convention 2024 Exhibition and took part in group photograph sessions with the members of the Premier Lecture of the Knowledge Convention 2024 Committee.

This year’s Knowledge Convention 2024 carries the theme “Addressing Mental Symptoms” and Saturday’s Premier Lecture is a continuation of the Opening Ceremony of the Knowledge Convention 2024 on 18 September 2024 and the Premier Forum of the Knowledge Convention 2024 on 19 September 2024. – AZLAN OTHMAN

Review: Katy Perry returns with the uninspired and forgettable ‘143’

Entertainment

September 21, 2024

(AP) – Katy Perry’s new album title, “143,” is code for “I love you,” based on the number of letters in each word of the phrase. She may love us, but the album is more like 144 — “I made mush.”

Perry’s first LP since 2020’s lackluster “Smile” is just as lackluster, an 11-track blur of thick electronic programming and simplistic lyrics. There’s none of her past cheeky humor, virtually no personality. Even the title is filler.

The rollout has been snakebit from the jump, with the artist under fire for collaborating with music producer Dr. Luke and the video for “Woman’s World” emerging as a sloppy, puzzling attempt at satire. Then her video shoot on a Spanish beach for “Lifetimes” was investigated for potential environmental damage.

It doesn’t help that the first three singles are just OK. “Woman’s World” is a frothy Lady Gaga-esque arena pop anthem, the techno-stomper “Lifetimes” smacks of Calvin Harris from the 2010s and “I’m His, He’s Mine,” featuring Doechii, lazily lifts Crystal Waters’ “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless)” from 1991. It’s a trio of tunes that doesn’t scream 578 (“Katy’s totally relevant”).

“Gimme Gimme,” featuring 21 Savage, just lacks bite, a nursery rhyme from a new mother masquerading as a pop song (with crib-adjacent lyrics like “Say the right thing, maybe you can be/Crawling on me, like a centipede”).

“Gorgeous” with Kim Petras is marred by what sounds like a dog’s squeaky toy repeatedly going off in the mix, undercutting the notion of two women “coming out tonight, grab your man and hold him tight.” Squeak!

“Crush” isn’t bad, but it’s built on the repetitive, unyielding synths you’d find in Eastern European discos in the ’90s. That’s a complaint for all the Dr. Luke tracks, really — Perry may rue their reunion simply based on the ugly, unsophisticated production. “All the Love” has the phrase “back to me” repeated 23 times during its 3:15 length.

“My intuition’s telling me things ain’t right,” she sings on “Truth,” a lyric that may sum up her album and a song that includes a fake voicemail at the end. Other artists are incorporating real dialogue and recorded snippets of their lives. Perry is faking it.

She has always preferred gangs of songwriters, but “143” pushes it to an insane level, with “Nirvana” credited to an even dozen. Listen to it and see if 12 songwriters were necessary for a song that sounds like a warmed-over club track from La Bouche.

If the best song on “143” is “Lifetimes,” the worst is easily the closer, a sticky-sweet, wide-eyed plea for innocence in “Wonder,” sticking out like a sore thumb. This is a cynical attempt to have moms in the audience wave their hands in unison as balloons float up, even as it decries cynicism.

“One day when we’re older/Will we still look up in wonder?” she sings, name-checking her daughter, Daisy, who also makes a cute appearance. But by this point, she’s lost our trust, with the 10 previous songs a sonic slog. “143” has no soul or emotion; it’s just a number. – MARK KENNEDY/AP

Borneo Bulletin OnlineThe Independent Newspaper in Brunei Darussalam, Sabah and Sarawak

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