KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Malaysia’s highest court reduced the sentences of seven death row inmates to life in prison on Tuesday, four months after the country abolished mandatory capital punishment.
Under a new law, which took effect in July, judges have the option to impose lengthy prison sentences of up to 30 years.
Previously, convictions for several offences, including murder and drug trafficking, came with automatic death penalties.
Since then, the Federal Court has been reviewing previous death penalty decisions.
Lawyers for more than 860 death row inmates have applied to have their clients’ sentences downgraded.
The first batch of rulings was handed down on Tuesday.
Seven inmates, including five Malaysians and two Thai nationals, had their death sentences for drug trafficking commuted to life in prison.
Life imprisonment in Malaysia is defined as 30 years in jail and prisoners can be freed for good behaviour after serving one-third of their sentence.
The seven inmates had been in prison for more than 20 years each. It is not clear if any of them will be immediately freed.
Malaysia has had a moratorium on executions since 2018, but courts have continued to send inmates to death row.
Azalina Othman Said, a minister in the prime minister’s office, described the sentence reductions by the Federal Court as a “historic day” for the country.
“This proves that the principle of restorative justice in the criminal justice system in Malaysia is always maintained,” she said in a statement.
“This success also reflects the government’s commitment in promoting and defending universal human rights.”
In reaching its decision, the Federal Court took into account “various factors” including the inmate’s age, health and number of years already served, Azalina said.
The Google sign is shown over an entrance to the company's new building in New York on Wednesday, September 6. PHOTO: AP
CALIFORNIA (BLOOMBERG) – Alphabet Inc’s Google is suing five unidentified scammers who tricked people looking for Google’s artificial intelligence chatbot Bard into downloading malware onto their computers.
In a lawsuit filed in the Northern District of California, Google claimed the scammers set up social media accounts encouraging people to download a fake version of Bard. When users downloaded the file, it installed malicious software onto their devices, allowing the scammers to access their social media accounts.
Google’s lawsuit is the first of its kind from a major tech company, highlighting how new legal issues will arise as the artificial intelligence craze continues to sweep countries around the world.
“As public excitement in new generative AI tools has increased, scammers are increasingly taking advantage of unsuspecting users,” said Google’s general counsel Halimah DeLaine Prado in a blog post published on Monday morning.
Google does not know the identities of the scammers, who are behind Facebook profiles called “Google AI,” “AIGoogle,” “AiGoogle,” “AIGoogle.Plus,” “AIGoogle Bard FB,” and “AIGoogleBard.” It is common practice in the cybersecurity field to sue unidentified individuals with a commitment to amend the complaint to add the names of the defendants when they are identified during discovery.
The company is suing the scammers for trademark infringement because they used Google’s logo to promote their scheme. They’re also suing for breach of contract.
Google on Monday also filed another lawsuit against fraudsters, who they allege set up dozens of Google accounts and used them to submit thousands of false copyright claims against their competitors. That suit, also filed in the Northern District of California, claims that two individuals have created at least 65 Google accounts to submit thousands of fraudulent notices of copyright infringement against more than 117,000 websites.
DeLaine Prado in the blog post said the actions are part of Google’s efforts to “establish needed legal precedents in emerging fields of innovation.”
“Clear rules against frauds, scams, and harassment are important – no matter how novel the setting,” she said.
The Google sign is shown over an entrance to the company’s new building in New York on Wednesday, September 6. PHOTO: AP
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah on Tuesday consented to grace the handover ceremony for the proceeds from the Charity Polo 2023.
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah on Tuesday consented to grace the handover ceremony for the proceeds from the Charity Polo 2023.
The ceremony at Istana Nurul Izzah in Jerudong also saw the attendance of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar; as well as Executive Board Trustee of Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, Pengiran Datin Hajah Noraini binti Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin.
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah during the ceremony at Istana Nurul Izzah. Also in the picture is Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar, Dato Jack Ting and Jenny LO.
Also present were Managing Director of Cityneon Displays & Construction Sdn Bhd, Dato Jack Ting and Sales Executive Jenny LO.
HRH Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and HRH Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah received the proceeds totaling BND141,685 from Dato Jack Ting. The proceeds were later handed over to Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam.
The Charity Polo Day 2023 was organised in July 2023 by the Brunei Polo Team, in collaboration with the Royal Brunei Polo Association and Pusat Ehsan.
John Kerry during the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore on November 10. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
SINGAPORE (BLOOMBERG) – A US offer of several million dollars to address losses and damages caused by global warming is raising the ire of activists as some nations contend with flooding and other consequences of climate change.
US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change John Kerry made the offer at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore last week, promising – without specifics – that the US would contribute to the new Loss and Damage Fund at the upcoming COP28 summit in Dubai.
The formal decision to create that initiative was seen as a significant victory for climate-vulnerable countries at last year’s summit in Egypt, but it’s proved tricky to set up, with lingering questions over who will pay into it, as well as the nature and scale of that support.
Civil-society groups and activists in developing nations called Kerry’s pledge far from adequate – especially coming from the country responsible for so much of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere today.
It’s “almost an insult,” said Brandon Wu, director of policy and campaigns at ActionAid USA. If the US responsibility for about a quarter of historical greenhouse gas emissions were equated with a fair share of loss-and-damage finance “that would mean the US should be providing USD70 billion per year” by 2030, he added.
“Several million dollars is better than nothing, but it’s an order of magnitude short of being truly meaningful,” Wu said.
Developing countries have requested about USD100 billion annually to counter already mounting losses tied to climate change. Last year’s floods in Pakistan caused an estimated USD30 billion in damage alone.
Though projections of future climate-related damages vary widely, they generally reach hundreds of billions of dollars per year by 2030 – and trillions by mid-century.
Kerry’s commitment “falls short of the urgent and substantial action required,” said Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy at Climate Action Network International. It’s especially concerning because the US “has consistently shirked its responsibilities” to combat climate change and has a history defaulting on prior climate-finance commitments.
The US is seen as one of the biggest offenders in the failure of rich nations to collectively marshal a promised USD100 billion in climate finance for developing countries annually by 2020. The nation also has yet to provide the final $USD1 billion installment of its 2014 pledge to supply USD3 billion to the UN Green Climate Fund, and President Joe Biden’s vow to deliver USD11.4 billion in annual climate finance by 2024 has met opposition on Capitol Hill.
The US “has a lot of ground to make up in terms of meeting its past climate-finance commitments,” said Rachel Cleetus, policy director of the Union of Concerned Scientists’ climate-and-energy program. “Low- and middle-income countries that have contributed the least to the climate crisis are already bearing billions of dollars of economic losses and a catastrophic human toll from rapidly worsening climate impacts.”
The European Union also is preparing to deliver an infusion into the new Loss and Damage Fund.
Those promised contributions could help fulfill requirements to establish the initiative as a financial-intermediary fund under the World Bank, said Liane Schalatek, associate director of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Three contributors must collectively provide USD200 million for the World Bank to even start establishing the program, she said.
The fund “could be set up and still be a largely empty shell,” Schalatek said. “It will take the United States to step up to their historic responsibility and provide tens if not hundreds of billions – not millions.”
John Kerry during the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore on November 10. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Godzilla’s “footprint” is seen in an expressway service area in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. PHOTO: THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN
The footprint at the Hamanako Service Area of the Tomei Expressway measures 15.2 metres long and 11.1 metres wide, based on the perceived dimensions of the creature.
Godzilla’s “footprint” is seen in an expressway service area in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. PHOTO: ANN/JAPAN NEWS
TOKYO (ANN/JAPAN NEWS) – Godzilla has returned to the silver screen, and there is a clue that he might have stopped for gas and a coffee along the way.
A “footprint” of the movie monster has been created in the park of an expressway service area in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, where parts of the latest film in the series, “Godzilla Minus One,” were filmed.
The footprint at the Hamanako Service Area of the Tomei Expressway measures 15.2 meters long and 11.1 meters wide, based on the perceived dimensions of the creature.
While seeing the footprint, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Hamanako lake from the observation deck in the service area. The lake was used as a location for Godzilla’s emergence from the sea. There are also old posters of Godzilla movies on display in the restaurant.
The footprint will remain in the area until January 31 next year.
This photo taken on November 9, 2023 shows a fighter of the ethnic rebel group Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) standing guard in the town of Namhkam in northern Shan state. A surprise offensive by Myanmar ethnic armed groups has blocked two strategically vital roads to the country's biggest trading partner China, choking cross-border commerce and denying the cash-strapped junta taxes and foreign exchange. (Photo by Mai Nyi / AFP)
DHAKA (ANN/THE DAILY STAR) – Over 2,000 Myanmar nationals entered India through the border in Mizoram state, India, in the last 24 hours following a gun battle between Myanmar’s ruling junta forces and rebels in Chin province, an official said on Monday.
James Lalrinchhana, deputy commissioner of Champhai district which shares a border with Myanmar’s Chin state, said an intense gunfight broke out between Myanmar’s ruling junta-backed forces and militia group People’s Defence Force (PDF) on Sunday evening, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
This photo taken on November 9, 2023 shows a fighter of the ethnic rebel group Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) standing guard in the town of Namhkam in northern Shan state. PHOTO: AFP
Six districts of the northeastern Indian state of Mizoram, Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai, Serchhip, Hnahthial, and Saitual share a 510-km-long border with Myanmar’s Chin state.
The fighting started after the PDF attacked two military bases at Khawmawi and Rihkhawdar in Chin state near the Indian border, he said, adding the fighting continued till today.
Over 2,000 people from Khawmawi, Rihkhawdar and neighbouring villages in Chin crossed over to India and took shelter in Zokhawthar in Champhai district, Lalrinchhana said.
The Myanmar military base at Rihkhawdar was taken over by the militia early today and the base at Khawmawi was also taken over by them this afternoon, he said.
In retaliation, the Myanmar army launched airstrikes on Khawimawi and Rihkhawdar villages today, the official said.
At least 17 people injured in the gunfight were brought to Champhai for treatment, Lalrinchhana said.
A 51-year-old civilian from Myanmar who was already living in Zokhawthar died when the gunfight was raging on the other side of the border, the DC said.
Zokhawthar Village Council president Lalmuanpuia told PTI that five personnel of the Chin National Army (CNA), which was a part of the PDF, were killed in the gunfight.
Lalmuanpuia said more than 6,000 people from Myanmar were already living in Zokhawthar before the gunfight started.
(ANN/KOREA HERALD) — JYP Entertainment has forged a global strategic partnership with Live Nation, the renowned live entertainment company, the company announced on Tuesday.
This collaboration aims to bring the electrifying performances of K-pop acts, including Twice, Stray Kids, Itzy, Xdinary Heroes, Nmixx, and emerging talents, to audiences worldwide.
Live Nation, operating in over 45 countries, has a proven track record, having previously collaborated with JYP Entertainment on successful North American tours for Twice and Stray Kids. The partnership marks a pivotal step in expanding the global reach of K-pop concerts.
Twice became the first K-pop girl group to headline at both NFL and MLB stadiums this year and also had sold-out shows at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and MetLife Stadium in New York.
JYP Entertainment has inked a global strategic partnership with Live Nation to produce tours for its K-pop acts. PHOTO: JYP Entertainment via ANN/KOREA HERALD
Stray Kids also proved its popularity as a global K-pop sensation, becoming the second K-pop boy group in history to perform at a stadium in North America with two sold-out shows at BMO Stadium.
JYP Entertainment aims to increase its global reach through this partnership by producing world tours of its K-pop artists.
“This deal puts JYP Entertainment and Live Nation at the forefront of K-pop’s growing global expansion,” said the K-pop powerhouse.
In June, JYP Entertainment inked a strategic partnership with Republic Records to form a company-wide global alliance to further enhance its global success.
(ANN/KOREA HERALD) — The K-pop artist embroiled in a drug scandal, G-Dragon, reiterated his innocence in allegations of illegal drug use, during an exclusive interview with local media on Monday.
At the outset of the interview, he explained that he agreed to the interview to deliver the right information to the public and to prove his innocence.
“I did not use drugs. The results of the drug test (conducted by the drug crime investigation unit) have to be negative because let me tell you again, I have never used drugs, received drugs from anyone, or given a drug to anyone. It would make no sense if I were to test positive,” said G-Dragon.
G-Dragon. PHOTO: Herald DB via ANN/KOREA HERALD
The 35-year-old artist broke his silence early last week by voluntarily showing up at the police for questioning over alleged illegal drug use.
“I volunteered for police questioning to prove that I’m innocent as soon as possible because I have not used drugs illegally,” he explained.
G-Dragon insisted that he does not know the hostess working at a high-end bar in Seoul’s Gangnam district nor the drug-distributing doctor involved in the drug scandal.
“I do not have any relationship with them and I’ve never received drugs from a doctor. I don’t know who they are. I’ve learned from reports that the hostess has a record of illegal drug use in the past so I question the credibility of her statement,” said the artist.
In terms of reports that he had removed all his body hair before showing up for a drug test, G-Dragon reiterated that he has not bleached nor dyed his hair for more than a year and a half.
“I was the one to voluntarily submit my hair and nail samples for the drug test even when the police did not have any warrant to do so because I wanted to prove my innocence as soon as possible,” added G-Dragon.
“I’ve been active since I was six years old as a child actor. Since I learned that every word that I say could be misinterpreted and that it can influence others, I have been careful in what I say publicly. This has led me to think longer and be extra careful of what I say. I’ve always wanted to be honest and truthful in all interviews but it’s sad to see people relating my efforts to drug use,” G-Dragon said.
Sarah Bernstein appears on screen after winning the Scotiabank Giller Prize for her novel 'Study For Obedience' in Toronto on Monday. PHOTO: AP
TORONTO (AP) — Author Sarah Bernstein won the Scotiabank Giller Prize on Monday for her novel “Study for Obedience.”
The Montreal-born, Scotland-based author accepted the CAD100,000 award remotely from Scotland, where she had a baby just 10 days ago.
Her novel is about a young woman moving to the remote north where after her arrival, a series of inexplicable events occur.
The CAD100,000 Giller prize honours the best in Canadian fiction. Past winners have included Margaret Atwood, Mordecai Richler and Alice Munro.
Just as Bernstein’s name was called at the gala, a protester interrupted the live telecast with anti-Israel war slogans, forcing organisers to repeat the announcement.
The celebrations were also interrupted early in the broadcast when several anti-Israel protesters jumped onstage.
The Giller was created in 1994 by late businessman Jack Rabinovitch in memory of his late wife, literary journalist Doris Giller.
Sarah Bernstein appears on screen after winning the Scotiabank Giller Prize for her novel ‘Study For Obedience’ in Toronto on Monday. PHOTO: AP
