Singapore has granted clemency to Tristan Tan Yi Rui, an inmate on death row for drug trafficking, and commuted his sentence to life imprisonment instead.
The 33-year-old’s case is believed to be the first time since 1998 that the city state, known for its zero tolerance for drugs, has commuted the death sentence of an inmate on death row. Tan was convicted in 2023 of trafficking not less than 337.6 grams of methamphetamine.
In a letter from Julius Lim, principal private secretary to the…
Nearly 3,000 Malaysian government employees caught taking bribes in a decade
Almost 3,000 Malaysian government employees had been caught taking bribes over the last decade, lawmakers heard on Friday, topping the list of receivers of under the table payments over the past decade and nearly three times more than in the private sector.
Bribery remains entrenched in Malaysian society despite strong public sentiments for its eradication. High-profile corruption scandals, including those involving several former prime ministers, has done little to dampen the public appetite…
Enforcing dispute board decisions by emergency arbitration
Over the last 10 years, many leading arbitral institutions have amended their rules to make arbitration more responsive to users’ needs, resulting in the introduction of emergency arbitrator procedures.
30,000 stranded at Japan’s Osaka expo after train service chaos
About 30,000 visitors to Japan’s World Exposition in Osaka were left stranded, with some forced to spend the night inside the expo grounds, after the sole train service to the venue had to be halted due to a power outage on Wednesday.
Services on the Chuo Line, the only direct route to Yumeshima, the artificial island that hosts the expo, were halted at 9.30pm – 30 minutes before closing time – because of an electrical failure, Kyodo news agency reported.
While the Osaka Metro partially restored…
Bali gets tough: can new task force keep unruly tourists in check?
Indonesia has set up a new immigration task force to keep lawbreaking foreigners in Bali in check, but critics warn the presence of uniformed officers on the popular resort island risks putting tourists on edge.
Agus Andrianto, minister of immigration and corrections, on August 5 inaugurated the Immigration Patrol Task Force in Bali’s provincial capital Denpasar, with the mission to “suppress illegal acts by foreigners”, as well as provide rapid response to immigration violations.
“The formation…
Financial entities face contract update exercise over third-party risks
Financial institutions could have to update contracts with third-party suppliers in the coming months to adhere to guidelines the European Banking Authority (EBA) is developing, an expert has said.
India’s navy gets a double dose of stealth with twin warship launch
The grey hulls of two new Indian stealth frigates are set to slide into service side by side this month, in a rare twin commissioning that analysts say embodies India’s maritime ambitions and sends a clear message to its rivals.
The INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri are set to formally join the fleet on August 26 in a ceremony at Visakhapatnam on India’s east coast. Both vessels, which were built in separate shipyards, are part of Project 17A – India’s most advanced stealth frigate programme – and…
Thailand to pay US$17,000 each to 2 Malaysians injured in fire attack
Thailand will compensate the two Malaysian tourists who were set on fire in Bangkok last week up to 550,000 baht (US$17,000) each for medical expenses and emotional distress, the tourism minister has confirmed.
Gan Xiao Zhen, 27, and Ong Yik Leong, 26, had been sitting on the steps outside the Big C shopping centre on Thursday last week when they were attacked.
Their assailant, later identified as Varakorn Pubthaisong, 30, allegedly doused them with thinner before setting them alight. He claimed…
Planning for age assurance: the challenges facing the introduction of Australia’s social media age restriction laws
Age assurance to protect children from harmful online content has come sharply into focus this year in Australia and globally.
From fishnet sales to richest Singaporean: Nippon Paint’s Goh Cheng Liang dies
Towards the end of his life, Goh Cheng Liang was known as the richest Singaporean, owning some of the world’s most luxurious superyachts, but his humble beginnings left an indelible mark on the elusive paint tycoon and spurred his philanthropic efforts. He died on Tuesday at the age of 98.
Goh, the founder of Wuthelam Group which owns close to a 60 per cent stake in Nippon Paint Holdings, and – according to Forbes – had an estimated net worth of US$13 billion (S$16.7 billion), died with family…