Month: June 2023
- World News
Sarawak deputy minister proposes film academy to boost local talent
The possibility of establishing a film academy in Sarawak has been proposed by the deputy minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Sebastian Ting. The idea aims to encourage skilled Sarawakians to venture into the film industry and provide them with diplomas or certificates upon graduation. During a press conference on the Sixth Asean International Film Festival and…
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Family slams police inaction before daughter’s murder by ex-partner
The family of Nurul Ain Silien, who was tragically killed by her ex-partner in a shopping mall in Kota Kinabalu, has expressed their disappointment with the police’s handling of the case prior to the murder. Nurul’s mother, Siti Aminah Jabar Khan, a Warisan supreme council member, reported that they had lodged a complaint at the Alamesra police station on May…
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Hay fever advice page visits triple as UK pollen count soars
A surge in hay fever sufferers seeking advice on the NHS website has been recorded, with over 122,650 visitors last week as pollen counts reached some of the highest levels this year. According to NHS England, the number of weekly visitors to the hay fever advice pages has tripled in the past five weeks, with the site receiving one visit…
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COVID inquiry begins: Baroness Hallett vows to focus on 226,000 victims
The COVID inquiry is set to commence its initial public hearings today, with Baroness Hallett, a retired judge and the inquiry’s chair, delivering an opening statement. The hearings will also feature a film containing testimonies from grieving families, which has been deemed challenging to view. Baroness Hallett has pledged to centre the investigation around the 226,000 pandemic victims when examining…
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Mother jailed for illegal 32-week abortion using lockdown postal pills
A 44-year-old mother of three has been sentenced to over two years in prison for inducing an abortion beyond the legal limit. Carla Foster obtained medication through a “pills by post” scheme introduced during the lockdown, which allows pregnancies up to 10 weeks to be terminated at home. Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard that Foster was between 32-34 weeks pregnant when…
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Malaysia ranks second worst globally for transgender rights, study reveals
A recent Global Trans Rights Index revealed that Malaysia is ranked as the second worst country in the world for transgender rights. The study, conducted by researchers Asher and Lyric Fergusson, gave Malaysia a score of -105 and a danger rating of F, highlighting that transgender individuals face significant obstacles and are often targeted by the police. The report stated,…
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Taliban bans music at weddings, Kabul halls face religious police scrutiny
Kabul’s wedding halls are set to be monitored by the Taliban’s religious police as they enforce a ban on playing music at such celebrations, claiming it goes against Islamic rulings. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice issued an online statement on Sunday, stating that hall owners were informed that music would no longer be…
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Youth-led climate case in Montana could set precedent for US government
A groundbreaking youth-led climate case is set to commence on Monday in Helena, Montana, marking the first time such a case has reached trial in the United States. Held v State of Montana involves 16 plaintiffs, aged between five and 22 years old, who claim that Montana’s promotion of a fossil fuel-reliant energy system breaches their right to a clean…
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I-95 highway collapse disrupts US East Coast traffic, delays repairs
A major highway collapse has led to severe traffic congestion, potentially affecting transportation throughout the eastern United States. On Monday, commuters faced lengthy delays after a tanker truck caught fire and damaged a section of the I-95 Interstate in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, causing temporary closure of one of the busiest routes in the area. Jana Tidwell, a spokesperson for the American…
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Blinken addresses alleged Chinese spy operation in Cuba
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has addressed an alleged Chinese spying operation based in Cuba, claiming it is part of a broader effort by Beijing to expand its overseas logistics and intelligence infrastructure. This comes after a US official confirmed that China has been operating an intelligence unit in Cuba for years, which was upgraded in 2019. Blinken stated…
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Trump faces federal charges in Miami amid cautious calm
A sense of cautious calm enveloped the area around the Miami courthouse where former US President Donald Trump is due to face federal charges. Residents and tourists mingled with journalists and law enforcement agents preparing for Tuesday’s arraignment. Although local officials expect pro-Trump protesters and potential counter-demonstrations, the size of these gatherings remains uncertain. Trump, who is running for the…
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UBS acquires Credit Suisse for $1.6tn, creating Swiss banking giant
UBS has finalised its emergency acquisition of struggling rival Credit Suisse, marking the largest banking deal since the 2008 global financial crisis and creating a Swiss banking behemoth with a balance sheet of US$1.6 trillion. The merger, which sees UBS overseeing US$5 trillion of assets, brings an end to Credit Suisse’s 167-year history, tainted in recent years by scandals and…
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Ukraine reclaims seven villages in counteroffensive against Russian forces
Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces in the south and east of the country has reportedly made progress, with seven villages reclaimed since the weekend. Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar confirmed the recapture of these settlements, encompassing a total area of 90 square kilometres (35 sq miles) along the front line. However, these gains represent only a small portion of the…
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Canadian judge quits over misconduct claims from Arizona resort incident
A Canadian Supreme Court justice has resigned from his position following allegations of misconduct, according to the Canadian Justice Council. Justice Russel Brown was accused of being involved in a drunken altercation at an Arizona resort in January, where he allegedly harassed a female guest. Brown, who has denied the allegations, has been on leave since February. The retirement concludes…
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Biden undergoes root canal, postpones meeting with Nato Secretary General
US President Joe Biden, 80 years old, is set to undergo a root canal procedure at the White House following complaints of dental pain. On Sunday, White House physician Dr Kevin O’Connor examined Biden and conducted an initial root canal procedure after X-rays were taken. The president continued to experience pain on Monday, leading to the decision to complete the…
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I-95 collapse: Body found, Philadelphia motorway repairs to take months
A body has been recovered from the wreckage of a section of the I-95 motorway in Philadelphia, which collapsed following a petrol lorry fire on Sunday, according to Pennsylvania State Police. The identity of the body, handed over to the Philadelphia County Medical Examiner on Monday, remains unknown. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has declared a state of emergency to speed…
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JP Morgan to pay $290m in Epstein lawsuit settlement
JP Morgan is set to pay approximately US$290m to settle a lawsuit involving alleged victims of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bank’s lawyers stated that the settlement was in the best interests of all parties, particularly the survivors who suffered from Epstein’s appalling abuse. The lawsuit claimed that JP Morgan, the largest US bank, overlooked red flags about…
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Trump faces court over mishandling nuclear secrets, Miami braces for crowds
Former US President Donald Trump has landed in Miami, Florida, where he is set to appear in court on Tuesday facing charges of mishandling national security files. Trump travelled from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on Monday morning. He is accused of illegally retaining classified information, including nuclear secrets, in dozens of charges. This marks the second time…
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Wedding guests killed in Hunter Valley bus crash, driver charged
A tragic accident in the Hunter Valley wine region, north of Sydney, has left at least ten people dead and 15 others hospitalised. The victims were returning from a wedding celebration at a winery on Sunday night when their bus overturned near the town of Greta. Authorities have charged the 58-year-old driver with ten counts of dangerous driving resulting in…
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Ukraine aims to sever Russia-Crimea link, faces fortified defences
Ukrainian forces are determined to drive out the Russian army from their land, focusing on the strategic area between the city of Zaporizhzhia and the Sea of Azov. This “land corridor” connects Russia to the illegally annexed Crimea, and if Ukraine can successfully split it, it would cut off Russian troops in the west and make it difficult to resupply…
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Ex-Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi dies at 86, national mourning declared
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who held office four times despite numerous scandals, has passed away at the age of 86. He was being treated at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan for a lung infection related to leukaemia. Italy’s defence minister announced that Berlusconi’s death leaves a “huge void” in the country, with a national day of mourning…
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Heathrow security strike postponed amid new pay deal offer
Heathrow airport security workers have postponed their initial two days of strike action, set for June 24 and 25, after being presented with an enhanced pay offer. Over 2,000 staff members agreed to delay the industrial action while Unite, the union representing them, holds a vote on the new pay deal in the coming days. If the proposal is rejected,…
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UK flash floods disrupt travel, Manchester City parade delayed
Torrential rain and thunderstorms swept across parts of the UK on Monday, causing flash floods and travel disruptions. North-west London experienced significant flooding, while Manchester City’s victory parade was delayed by 30 minutes due to lightning. Though official weather warnings for Monday have passed, Northern Ireland and Scotland face two storm warnings on Tuesday. Yellow storm warnings, indicating possible disruption,…
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Sunak and Johnson clash over blocked peerage nominations amid resignations
A heated exchange has unfolded between Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson regarding the latter’s attempt to award peerages to several close allies. Sunak accused his predecessor of requesting him to “overrule” the vetting advice on his House of Lords nominations. In response, Johnson accused Sunak of “talking rubbish.” The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) disclosed that it had rejected…
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Stoke-on-Trent community mourns siblings’ tragic deaths, woman arrested
The tragic deaths of two young siblings in Stoke-on-Trent have left their community in shock. 11-year-old Ethan John and his seven-year-old sister Elizabeth were found unresponsive with severe injuries in a house on Flax Street. A woman, 49 years old and known to the children, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. The police initially responded to a stabbing incident…
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Manchester City fans celebrate treble win in rain-soaked parade
Manchester City supporters came together in droves to revel in their team’s remarkable Treble achievement, as an open-top bus parade made its way through the city. Fans set off blue flares and tossed inflatable bananas into the air, while several players removed their shirts in the pouring rain. Manager Pep Guardiola enjoyed a cigar as fans scaled lamp-posts. Despite delays…
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Elderly man investigated for fatally shooting British girl, 11, in France
A 71-year-old man, Dirk Raats, is being investigated for murder after the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old British girl, Solaine Thornton, in France. The incident took place on Saturday evening while Solaine was playing on a swing in her garden. Raats, a neighbour, reportedly opened fire through a hedge after approaching within 10m of the girl’s father. The suspect had…
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Police gain power to halt slow-walk protests, sparking authoritarianism fears
The UK House of Commons has granted police additional authority to address slow-walking protests, a decision that has sparked concerns about the government’s shift towards authoritarianism. The new measures, which redefine “serious disruption,” were approved by a majority of 60 votes. Home Secretary Suella Braverman claims that these changes will enable law enforcement to better manage harmful protests and clarify…
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Bath stabbing: 16-year-old Mikey Roynon identified as victim
Police have identified the 16-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed in Bath on Saturday as Mikey Roynon from Kingswood. Emergency services discovered the teenager at an address on Eastfield Avenue, where he was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination revealed that he succumbed to a single stab wound. Eight teenagers, who were arrested on a bus within 30 minutes of the…
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Teen charged with attempted murder in Devon private school assaults
A teenager has been charged with multiple offences, including two counts of attempted murder, following alleged assaults at a private school in Devon. The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified due to his age, appeared at Exeter Magistrates’ Court, where he was also charged with grievous bodily harm with intent against a school staff member, Henry Roffe-Silvester. During the hearing, the…
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Manchester City celebrate historic Treble despite heavy rain
Thousands of fans gathered in Manchester city centre to celebrate Manchester City’s historic Treble-winning season, despite heavy rain. The team secured their first-ever Champions League title on Saturday with a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in Istanbul, adding to their Premier League and FA Cup triumphs earlier in the season. This achievement makes them the first English club to win…
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Groom caught at 121mph on M4 with illegal tyre en route to wedding
A groom on his way to his wedding faced an unexpected delay when he was stopped by police for driving at 121mph on the M4 motorway. Wiltshire Police Specialist Ops shared an image on Twitter of the silver BMW alongside a police car and a radar gun showing the speed. The tweet, posted on June 11, stated: “Usually, the bride…
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Mother jailed for late home abortion after lying about pregnancy stage
A 44-year-old mother of three has been sentenced to jail for conducting a late abortion on her 32-34 week foetus. During the COVID lockdown, she obtained abortion pills from the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) under laws that permitted women up to 10 weeks pregnant to have phone consultations and receive abortion pills by post to take at home. The…
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Stoke siblings found dead in house, woman arrested on murder suspicion
Police have identified the two children found dead at a house in Stoke on Sunday as Elizabeth John and Ethan John. The siblings were discovered unresponsive and with significant injuries at a property on Flax Street. Despite receiving medical attention, both children tragically died at the scene. Ethan was 11 years old, while Elizabeth was just seven years old. Ethan’s…
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MMA urges debate on anti-smoking bill or reinstating nicotine control
The Malaysia Medical Association (MMA) has urged the government to either debate the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 in the current parliamentary session or reinstate nicotine as a controlled substance under the Poisons Act 1952. MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai expressed concerns over the government’s decision to refer the Bill to the Parliamentary Special Select…
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JPMorgan to pay $290m in Epstein-linked class-action lawsuit
JPMorgan Chase is set to pay a substantial sum to settle a class-action lawsuit involving a victim of Jeffrey Epstein, according to a joint statement from the bank and the woman’s legal representatives. The proposed settlement would see JPMorgan pay out US$290 million, resolving one claim against the bank in a class-action lawsuit filed by a woman who alleges Epstein…
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EU mulls €1bn Tunisia loan to tackle economy and refugee influx
The European Union is considering a loan of over 1 billion euros to Tunisia, with the majority designated as “macro-financial assistance” aimed at rescuing the nation’s struggling economy. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the potential package during her visit to Tunisia, accompanied by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The EU’s efforts…
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