Six locals fined for illegal entry into oilfield safety zone

National

September 22, 2024

Magistrate Qamarul Affyian bin Abdul Rahman recently handed fines to six local men after they pleaded guilty to entering a prohibited oilfield safety zone.

Haji Mohammad Yazid bin Haji Yussof was fined BND5,000, with a default sentence of five months’ imprisonment.

Mohd Rozaserdi bin Abdul Razak, Azrul Hisyam bin Haji Tasra, Haji Jalani bin Haji Kambar, Mohammad Salehudin bin Hassan and Abdul Syafiq bin Awang Rajid Osman were each fined BND3,000, with a default sentence of three months’ imprisonment.

In delivering the sentence, the Magistrate took into account the defendants’ mitigation, their guilty pleas, and the time saved for the court and prosecution. It was also noted that all six defendants were first-time offenders.

The court heard that the incident took place on July 9, 2023, when the defendants, using a fibreglass boat, entered the oilfield prohibited safety zone.

Haji Mohammad Yazid, who was the boat’s master, along with the five others who were onboard, were apprehended by the Marine Police. At around noon, Marine Police personnel spotted the boat near the oil platform, where the occupants were seen dumping traps into the sea.

Upon investigation, it was revealed that the boat itself belonged to Mohd Rozaserdi.

The other passengers, Azrul Hisyam, Haji Jalani, Mohammad Salehudin and Abdul Syafiq, were all serving members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces at the time, except for Abdul Syafiq, who was unemployed.

The Marine Police discovered fish as well as fishing and diving equipment onboard, all of which were seized. A technical report from the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam confirmed that the boat and its engines were in good condition. – Fadley Faisal

Sunday, September 22, 2024

BB Sunday Digital

September 22, 2024

Ministry warns of circulation of fake document

National

September 21, 2024

The Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) warned the public about the circulation of a fake document using the ministry’s logo.

According to a statement, the document falsely claims that cash donations to the Palestine Humanitarian Fund in Gaza can be made to the Independent Motorcycle Club/Association, Brunei Darussalam.

The MoFE reminded the public that distributing false information is a criminal offence under Section 34 of the Public Order Act, Chapter 148, that carries a penalty of a fine of BND3,000 and three years’ imprisonment. The unauthorised use of government logos is also a serious offence and the act of cheating by impersonation is punishable under Section 419 of the Penal Code, Chapter 22, carrying a penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years and fine, upon conviction. With regards to the spreading of false information, a report has been filed with the authorities for further investigation.

The public can report any suspicious information to the MoFE’s Corporate Communications Unit at 2380999 or pr@mofe.gov.bn.

200 arrested in raids on GISB premises: Malaysia

Southeast Asia

September 21, 2024

PREMIS GISB HOLDINGS DITUTUP — KUANTAN, 20 Sept -- Kedai Bakeri Ikhwan dipercayai milik Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) didapati tidak dibuka seperti biasa ketika tinjauan fotoBERNAMA kira-kira jam 11.30 pagi hari ini. Tinjauan juga mendapati beberapa premis lain milik GISBH seperti villa, dobi dan restoran di Kuantan tidak beroperasi meskipun carian di laman sesawang Google memaparkan premis perniagaan tersebut dibuka kepada pelanggan. --fotoBERNAMA (2024) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

A bakery believed to be linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd. PHOTO: BERNAMA

BERNAMA – Malaysian Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain announced that the raids on GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) since last Wednesday have led to 200 arrests so far.

He said 31 suspects are GISBH members and have been remanded for seven days to assist with investigations under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007.

He added that 17 out of these 31 suspects arrested in Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, and at the Malaysia-Thailand border in Kelantan and Kedah have been identified as holding senior positions within the organisation.

“Of the suspects arrested, 139 have had their remand extended, while 23 have been released on police bail for specific reasons,” he said in a statement today.

Earlier, Bernama reported that in raids at four different locations in Kelantan and Pahang, police arrested seven members of Remaja Pembela Ummah (RPU) under the company, including the son of a former senior al-Arqam leader.

Business premises believed to be linked to GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) in Pulau Pinang. PHOTO: BERNAMA

On Wednesday, it was reported that 24 key individuals linked to GISBH, including top management, were arrested in Kedah and Kuala Lumpur.

Razarudin stated that to date, the police have initiated 37 investigation papers, including three in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, and one in Sungai Kapar, Selangor, under Section 14 of the ATIPSOM Act 2007.

“Eight of these investigations have led to seven suspects being successfully charged on 29 counts,” he said.

He revealed that all victims aged 18 and above have been handed over to their families, while those under 18 have been placed in the care of the Social Welfare Department under Section 25(2) of the Child Act 2001.

“The police remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation of the case. The public is advised to refrain from speculations while it is ongoing.

“Anyone who has been a victim or possesses any information on the case is urged to come forward and file a report at the nearest police station to facilitate a comprehensive and accurate completion of the investigation,” he added.

During the Op Global raid on September 11, police rescued 402 children and teenagers from 20 charitable homes linked to GISBH in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, who were suspected to be victims of sexual abuse and labour exploitation.

The raid also uncovered cases of neglect and abuse, leading to the arrest of 171 individuals, including 105 women.

Man arrested in Italy over 1977 Australian double murder

World

September 21, 2024

Blue flasher light of siren of police car — PHOTO: ENVATO

SYDNEY (AFP) – A 65-year-old man has been arrested in Rome over the “horrific, frenzied” 1977 murder of two women in their home in Melbourne, Australian police said on Saturday.

The bodies of Suzanne Armstrong, 27, and Susan Bartlett, 28, were discovered at their house in Easey Street, Melbourne, on January 13, 1977, with multiple stab wounds.

Armstrong had been raped. Her then 16-month-old son was found unharmed in his cot.

The women had last been seen alive three days earlier. “It was an absolutely gruesome, horrific, frenzied homicide – multiple stabbings,” Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton told a news conference.

He described the 47-year-old crime, known as the Easey Street murders, as the state’s longest and most serious cold case.

The suspect, a dual Greek-Australian citizen, had been living in Greece where he was protected by the country’s statute of limitations, Patton said.

Police waited for him to leave the country, the chief commissioner added, and he was finally arrested on Thursday in the Italian capital’s Fiumicino airport under an Interpol red notice.

Australia will launch extradition procedures, he said.

Police had been helped by “technological advances” over the years, Patton said.

In 2017, they offered an AUD1 million (USD680,000) reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, he said, after new information had come to light.

He declined to give more details of the investigation.

Speechless
A report in Melbourne’s The Age newspaper, which police did not confirm, said police had decided to check the DNA of all 131 people named in the original police file.

The suspect was on that list and had agreed to undergo a DNA test but instead fled to Greece in 2017, the paper reported.

He was linked to the crime by the DNA of a close relative, it said.

According to The Age, the suspect had been stopped and searched on the night of the murders by local police who found a large knife on him – three days before the bodies were discovered.

It is “understood” that the man – then a teenager – was not interviewed about the killings at the time as police focused on other suspects, the paper said.

A detective senior sergeant running the investigation since 2015 broke the news of the suspect’s arrest to the victims’ families on Saturday morning, Patton said. The families were “emotional, speechless, overwhelmed, but appreciative that they hadn’t been forgotten”, he said.

“There is simply no expiry date on crimes that are as brutal as this. I think that is borne out here today.”

‘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.”

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

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