Carrier ablaze off Dutch coast carrying almost 500 electric cars

Reuters

Julai 28, 2023 18:10 MYT
Smoke rises as a fire broke out on the cargo ship Fremantle Highway, at sea on July 26, 2023. - Coastguard Netherlands/Handout via REUTERS

Carrier ablaze off Dutch coast carrying almost 500 electric cars

Smoke rises as a fire broke out on the cargo ship Fremantle Highway, at sea on July 26, 2023. - Coastguard Netherlands/Handout via REUTERS

AMSTERDAM: The car carrier burning off the Dutch coast since Tuesday night is carrying nearly 500 electric vehicles, significantly more than the 25 initially reported, ship charter company "K Line" said on Friday.

The fire on the Panamanian-registered Fremantle Highway, which was carrying new cars, resulted in the death of an Indian crew member and injury of seven others who jumped overboard to escape the flames.

There were 3,783 vehicles on board, including 498 battery electric vehicles, a Tokyo-based spokesperson for K Line (Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha), which had chartered the vessel, said. He declined to say anything about the car brands, including whether or not it included any cars from Japanese manufacturers.

The coastguard said on its website Thursday the cause of the fire was unknown, but an emergency responder is heard in a recording released by Dutch broadcaster RTL saying "the fire started in the battery of an electric car".

EV lithium-ion batteries burn with twice the energy of a normal fire and maritime officials and insurers say the industry has not kept up with the risks.

An investigation has been launched by the Panama Maritime Authority and the Netherlands is assisting the inquiry, the Dutch Safety Board has said.

The 199-metre (653 ft) Fremantle, which is still burning, is drifting about 17 km from the northernmost Dutch coast, the coastguard said. It was on the way from Germany to Egypt.

The islands are on the northernmost tip of the Netherlands, and comprise part of the Wadden Sea, a vast area of tidal flats and marshland stretching along Germany and Denmark that is on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

 

PRN Pulau Pinang: Bekas ADUN DAP pula umum keluar parti, bertanding Bebas

Astro Awani

Julai 28, 2023 15:25 MYT

PRN Pulau Pinang: Bekas ADUN DAP pula umum keluar parti, bertanding Bebas

Satess yang sudah bersama DAP sejak 2008 berkata, telah menghantar surat perletakan jawatan sebagai ahli parti itu kepada Setiausaha Agung DAP, Anthony Loke Siew Fok pagi tadi. - Gambar/ Astro AWANI

BUTTERWORTH: Bekas Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bagan Dalam, M. Satees mengumumkan keluar DAP seterusnya bertanding sebagai calon Bebas pada Pilihan Raya Negeri (PRN) Pulau Pinang 12 Ogos ini.

Katanya, keputusan bertanding di DUN Bagan Dalam itu dibuat selepas namanya digugurkan sebagai calon.

Beliau berkata, ia adalah isyarat jelas kepada pemimpin parti yang dirujuk sebagai Maharaja di dalam DAP yang didakwa cuba merosakkan pentadbiran kerajaan negeri.

Satess yang sudah bersama DAP sejak 2008 berkata, telah menghantar surat perletakan jawatan sebagai ahli parti itu kepada Setiausaha Agung DAP, Anthony Loke Siew Fok pagi tadi.

Tindakan keluar parti itu menyusul selepas bekas Ahli Majlis Majlis Bandaraya Seberang Perai (MBSP), David Marshel mengambil tindakan sama dan bertanding sebagai calon Bebas yang menyokong kepimpinan Chow Kon Yeow sebagai Ketua Menteri.

"Saya membuat keputusan keluar parti ini sebab saya mahu letak jawatan sebelum saya dibuang. Satu saja saya nak nyatakan... ada pihak kata sa...

 Bunuh pemandu Grab, dua warga asing dihukum gantung

Bernama

Julai 28, 2023 15:59 MYT

Bunuh pemandu Grab, dua warga asing dihukum gantung

Hakim menjatuhkan hukuman itu ke atas Sua Lay dan Gurpreet Singh selepas pihak pembelaan gagal menimbulkan keraguan munasabah di akhir kes pembelaan. -Gambar hiasan

SHAH ALAM: Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini menjatuhkan hukuman gantung sampai mati terhadap dua warga asing selepas didapati bersalah membunuh seorang pemandu Grab warga tempatan lima tahun lalu.

Hakim Nurulhuda Nur'aini Mohamad Nor menjatuhkan hukuman itu ke atas warga Myanmar Sua Lay, 38, dan warga India Gurpreet Singh, 28, selepas pihak pembelaan gagal menimbulkan keraguan munasabah di akhir kes pembelaan.

Nurulhuda dalam penghakiman memaklumkan tiada pembelaan yang timbul dan berbangkit berhubung kejadian pembunuhan pemandu perkhidmatan p-hailing itu.

Katanya, hujahan kedua-dua tertuduh yang dimaklumkan kepada mahkamah bahawa mereka tidak memahami bahasa Melayu juga tidak boleh diterima kerana tertuduh mampu memberikan arahan kepada mangsa untuk berhenti awal dari tempat asal yang dituju oleh mereka.

Selain itu, Nurulhuda berkata kedua-dua tertuduh mampu untuk memandu arah kepada penemuan kunci kereta jenis Perodua Myvi milik mangsa (ketika proses siasatan polis).

"Mangsa dijerut dan ada kecederaan pada leher. Selain itu ada penemuan ujian asid deoksiribonukleik (DNA) kedua-dua tertuduh pada tali pinggang keledar bahagian pemandu.

"Walaupun ia tidak dikatakan (pembunuhan) zalim, tetapi fakta mayat (mangsa) ditinggal begitu sahaja dalam kereta.

"Ini menunjukkan tertuduh tiada mempunyai perasaan belas kasihan terhadap si mati.

"Atas alasan itu, saya bersetuju hujahan pihak pendakwaan dan (menjatuhi) hukuman gantung sampai mati kepada tertuduh," katanya.

Sua Lay dan Gurpreet sebelum ini didakwa di Mahkamah Majistret Selayang pada 16 Julai 2018 atas pertuduhan membunuh seorang pemandu Grab, pada 21 Jun tahun yang sama.

Tertuduh, masing-masing bekerja sebagai pembantu kedai sayur dan kelindan lori didakwa dengan...

Actress Michelle Yeoh and fiance Jean Todt finally wed after 19 years

Michelle Yeoh and her long-time fiance Jean Todt finally made it official and tied the knot on Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland, surrounded by friends and family. PHOTOS: MASSAFELIPE/INSTAGRAM



THE STRAITS TIMES

SINGAPORE It took Oscar-winning Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh and her long-time fiance Jean Todt 6,992 days almost two decades since they first met to get married.

The couple finally made it official and tied the knot on Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland, surrounded by friends and family.

Brazilian Formula One racer Felipe Massa, 42, shared the good news on his Instagram account on Friday, congratulating the lovebirds with a sweet message (Happy marriage #JeanTodt & #michelleyeoh love you so much).

Todt, 77, first met Yeoh, 60, in Shanghai, China, on June 4, 2004, and after 1 months of dating, the French Formula One legend and motor racing executive popped the question on July 26, 2004.

Yeoh kept her style elegant and classy for her big day, as seen in the photos shared by Massa.

She wore a white silk button-up top and a tiered skirt for the wedding solemnisation, and was dressed in a champagne gown with an embellished corseted bodice at the after-party.



Meanwhile, her groom looked dashing in a navy suit.


Their love story is filled with romance. In 2020, Yeoh documented their 6,000 days together in an Instagram post, celebrating their time together.

This year is turning out to be one filled with memorable moments for Yeoh. She made history in March by being the first Asian woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the science-fiction comedy Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022).

This union is the second marriage for both Yeoh and Todt. He has a son, Nicolas, from an earlier relationship, while Yeoh was married to Hong Kong magnate Dickson Poon from 1988 to 1991.

VLN: Penguat kuasa antara 2 ditahan terima rasuah lebih RM100 juta

Bernama

Julai 28, 2023 17:35 MYT
Majistret M. Mageshwary membenarkan perintah tahanan reman kedua-dua lelaki terbabit selama empat hari bermula hari ini hingga 31 Julai ini di Mahkamah Shah Alam hari ini.

VLN: Penguat kuasa antara 2 ditahan terima rasuah lebih RM100 juta

Majistret M. Mageshwary membenarkan perintah tahanan reman kedua-dua lelaki terbabit selama empat hari bermula hari ini hingga 31 Julai ini di Mahkamah Shah Alam hari ini.

KUALA LUMPUR: Seorang pegawai penguat kuasa yang pernah bertugas di Suruhanjaya Tinggi Bangladesh antara dua individu ditahan kerana disyaki menerima rasuah dianggarkan lebih RM100 juta sejak 2021.

Sumber berkata pegawai penguat kuasa itu dipercayai menerima rasuah bagi meluluskan permohonan visa oleh warga Bangladesh memasuki Malaysia yang kononnya untuk tujuan melancong.

"Hasil siasatan mendapati pegawai itu dipercayai bersubahat dengan agensi pekerjaan di Bangladesh dan Malaysia dengan sengaja menyalahgunakan Visa Luar Negara (VLN) membawa masuk rakyat Bangladesh untuk bekerja di Malaysia sejak 2021.

"Selain itu, siasatan juga mendapati pegawai itu dipercayai menerima bayaran sekitar RM1,363 (US$300) ke RM2,272 (US$500) bagi setiap kelulusan permohonan VLN melibatkan jumlah rasuah dianggarkan lebih RM100 juta meskipun pembayaran visa yang ditetapkan oleh kerajaan hanya RM105 sahaja," kata sumber itu.

Susulan itu, Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) menahan seorang lagi individu dipercayai pengarah urusan syarikat pembekal tenaga kerja yang disyaki bersekongkol dengan pegawai penguat kuasa terbabit.

Sumber berkata kedua-dua lelaki berusia lingkungan 30-an itu dipercayai ditahan kira-kira 6.30 petang semalam ketika diminta hadir di ibu pejabat SPRM Putrajaya.

"Pegawai penguat kuasa yang ditahan itu merupakan pegawai agensi penguat kuasa ketiga yang ditahan untuk membantu siasatan Op Taka yang dilancarkan April lepas oleh Bahagian Pencegahan Pengubahan Wang Haram SPRM dengan kerjasama Jabatan Imigresen.

Majistret M. Mageshwary membenarkan perintah tahanan reman kedua-dua lelaki terbabit selama empat hari bermula hari ini hingga 31 Julai ini di Mahkamah Shah Alam hari ini.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM Tan Sri Azam Baki ketika dihubungi mengesahkan penahanan kedua-dua lelaki terbabit.

-- BERNAMA

 Allo's Rahmah Broadband package offers monthly subscription at only RM69 - Fahmi

Bernama

Julai 28, 2023 15:58 MYT
Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil said that Allo's Rahmah plan provides internet service with unlimited data throughout the contract period, enabling the subscribers to save RM30. - Astro AWANI

Allo's Rahmah Broadband package offers monthly subscription at only RM69 - Fahmi

Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil said that Allo's Rahmah plan provides internet service with unlimited data throughout the contract period, enabling the subscribers to save RM30. - Astro AWANI

KUALA LUMPUR: The Allo's Rahmah Fixed Broadband Package under the Rahmah Package initiative offers a fixed broadband subscription price of only RM69 for a 24-month contract, according to Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil.

He said that Allo's Rahmah plan provides internet service with unlimited data throughout the contract period, enabling the subscribers to save RM30 compared to the normal package offered by the company, which costs RM99.

"Malaysians from targeted groups of B40, senior citizens, personnel of Armed Forces, Royal Malaysia Police, maritime enforcement agency, as well as persons with disabilities are eligible to get subscribe to the plan which comes with a speed of 100 megabits per second (Mbps)," he said in conjunction with the launch of the Allo's Rahmah Fixed Broadband Package here today.

The package is a strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Communications and Digital, Allo Technology Sdn Bhd and Tenaga Nasional Berhad.

Fahmi said that the package covers both urban and rural areas, particularly in public housing areas, in Selangor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Perak, Penang, and Kedah which are within Allo's coverage area.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said that the package can be described as a gesture of compassion to assist the targeted groups while also building a more sustainable nation and fostering a more innovative and creative population to ensure well-being through the digital economy.

"Internet service is no longer deemed a luxury, it is now considered as a basic utility. The Internet has also become a platform to earn a living, whether in terms of job opportunities or as a digital business platform for micro-entrepreneurs," he said.

The minister said the government takes the welfare of the people seriously, aiming to provide them with the best and more affordable Internet services through the Rahmah Package initiative.

"The initiative is also in line with the government's aspiration to reduce the cost of living and ensure comprehensive digital connectivity for all segments of society," he added.

time, Fahmi said all Unity Package initiatives have been rebranded as Rahmah Package to commemorate the initiative...

  Datuk Abdul Malik Dasthigeer or known as 'Datuk Malik' will give full cooperation to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) involving investigations related to allegations of corruption, breach of trust, smuggling of illegal goods and illegal tax reduction.

The founder and chairman of the Malik Group of Companies said he had given full disclosure on the matter.

"I will help provide the information needed in the investigation of the case and will continue to provide all the information needed to help (solve) the case.

"Thank you to those who have expressed their support for me," he said through a speech on his personal Instagram on Friday.

Abdul Malik also hopes for the best so that justice can be upheld.

Abdul Malik is known for bringing artists from India to perform Tamil concerts in Malaysia.

@datoabdulmalik 28.07.2023: In the end, justice will always prevail. Lets keep marching towards the truth and one day it will all make sense. Thank you for the overwhelming love and support for the past few days Forever indebted to your kindness. #dam original sound - Malik Streams Corporation

 TUANKU SULTAN JOHOR WELCOMES THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

HM The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and HM The Permaisuri of Johor, Raja Zarith Sofiah Binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah graciously welcomed Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., President of the Philippines, who called on them at Istana Bukit Serene, Johor Bahru today (July 27).

The President was accompanied by his wife, Louise Araneta-Marcos.

Also on hand to welcome the guests, was HRH Major General Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, The Crown Prince of Johor.

President Marcos Jr and HM Sultan Ibrahim have much affinity as they were course mates when undergoing military training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in the United States back in the late 1970s.

The President and his wife were later feted to a tea reception at the Istana 

President Marcos Jr, who was inaugurated as the 17th President of the Philippines in June last year, is on a three-day State visit to Malaysia.

In July 2019, His Majesty visited the Philippines at the personal invitation of then President Rodrigo Duterte, during which Sultan Ibrahim was conferred the Order of Sikatuna, which carries the title "Datu".

Ringgit rendah berbanding dolar AS pada sesi awal

Bernama

Julai 28, 2023 11:10 MYT

Pada 9 pagi, ringgit susut kepada 4.5490/5525 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.5215/5260 pada akhir urus niaga semalam. - Foto fail/BERNAMA

Ringgit rendah berbanding dolar AS pada sesi awal

Pada 9 pagi, ringgit susut kepada 4.5490/5525 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.5215/5260 pada akhir urus niaga semalam. - Foto fail/BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: Ringgit susut berbanding dolar Amerika Syarikat (AS) pada sesi awal urus niaga Jumaat apabila mata wang negara maju itu mengukuh selepas pengumuman angka keluaran dalam negara kasar (KDNK) lebih positif bagi suku kedua 2023.

Pada 9 pagi, ringgit susut kepada 4.5490/5525 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.5215/5260 pada akhir urus niaga semalam.

Ketua Ahli Ekonomi dan Kewangan Sosial Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid berkata pengumuman data KDNK AS semalam menunjukkan ekonominya kekal berdaya tahan biarpun mengalami kenaikan kadar faedah secara besar-besaran sejak tahun lepas.

"Data KDNK bagi suku kedua 2023 itu mencatat kenaikan 2.4 peratus berbanding jangkaan awal pada 1.8 peratus manakala tuntutan pengangguran juga turun kepada 221,000 minggu lepas -- lebih rendah berbanding jangkaan pasaran sebanyak 235,000.

"Berikutan itu, Indeks Dolar AS meningkat sebanyak 0.88 peratus kepada 101.77 mata," katanya kepada Bernama.

Berdasarkan perkembangan itu, beliau menjangkakan ringgit di paras RM4.52 hingga RM4.53 hari ini berikutan pasaran terus memantau sama ada Rizab Persekutuan AS akan menaikkan kadar faedah utamanya dengan lebih ketara berikutan data yang lebih baik daripada jangkaan awal.

Sementara itu, ringgit diniagakan kebanyakannya tinggi berbanding kumpulan mata wang utama.

Ia susut berbanding yen Jepun kepada 3.2619/2646 daripada 3.2285/2319 pada Khamis, namun meningkat berbanding euro kepada 4.9948/9986 daripada 5.0374/0424 dan mengukuh berbanding pound Britain kepada 5.8186/8231 daripada 5.8685/8743 semalam.

Ringgit diniagakan kebanyakannya rendah berbanding mata wang Asean lain termasuk susut berbanding dolar dolar Singapura kepada 3.4170/4198 daripada 3.4163/4200.

Unit tempatan itu rendah berbanding rupiah Indonesia kepada 303.2/303.6 daripada 301.3/301.8 dan turun berbanding peso Filipina kepada 8.30/8.32 daripada 8.28/8.30 semalam.

Namun, ringgit mengukuh berbanding baht Thailand kepada 13.1702/1861 daripada 13.2634/2829 , sebelum ini.

-- BERNAMA

Penjual kasut dilepas, dibebas daripada pertuduhan samun berkumpulan

Bernama

Julai 28, 2023 07:50 MYT




Panel tiga hakim mengetepikan sabitan dan hukuman penjara 10 tahun dan dua sebatan yang dijatuhkan Mahkamah Sesyen ke atas perayu. - Gambar hiasan

Penjual kasut dilepas, dibebas daripada pertuduhan samun berkumpulan

Panel tiga hakim mengetepikan sabitan dan hukuman penjara 10 tahun dan dua sebatan yang dijatuhkan Mahkamah Sesyen ke atas perayu. - Gambar hiasan

PUTRAJAYA: Seorang penjual kasut terpakai dilepaskan dan dibebaskan oleh Mahkamah Rayuan di sini daripada pertuduhan melakukan samun berkumpulan di sebuah premis perniagaan dobi layan diri pada 2017.

Panel tiga hakim terdiri daripada Hakim Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, Datuk M. Gunalan dan Datuk S.M. Komathy Suppiah membenarkan rayuan Nur Mohd Rusydi Abdul Raman pada Selasa (25 Julai) untuk mengetepikan sabitan dan hukuman penjara 10 tahun dan dua sebatan yang dijatuhkan Mahkamah Sesyen ke atas perayu.

Vazeer berkata terdapat merit dalam rayuan Nur Mohd Rusydi.

Beliau berkata semasa memikirkan fakta dan keadaan kes, sabitan Nur Mohd Rusydi berdasarkan pengecaman di dalam mahkamah, adalah tidak selamat.

Beliau berkata Mahkamah Sesyen dan Mahkamah Tinggi terkilaf ketika mendapati pihak pendakwaan telah membuktikan kes melampaui keraguan munasabah.

Pada 3 Jan 2020, Mahkamah Sesyen mendapati Nur Mohd Rusydi bersalah terhadap pertuduhan itu dan menjatuhkan hukuman penjara 10 tahun penjara dan dua sebatan.

Dia kemudian merayu di Mahkamah Tinggi terhadap sabitan dan hukuman yang dijatuhkan ke atasnya tetapi rayuannya ditolak pada Mei 2021.

Nur Muhd Rusydi, 31 dituduh melakukan samun dengan sebilah parang dan merompak gelang tangan dan rantai emas serta wang tunai RM1,500 daripada Badariyah Baharuddin di sebuah premis dobi layan diri 24 jam di Taman Sri Gombak pada pukul 11.32 malam, 1 Sept 2017.

Sementara itu, individu lain Mohd Adib Yoosna yang dituduh secara berasingan tetapi dibicarakan bersama-sama Nur Mohd Rusydi didapati bersalah oleh Mahkamah Sesyen di atas kesalahan sama dan dijatuhkan hukuman penjara 10 tahun dan satu sebatan. Dia tidak merayu terhadap hukuman itu.

Berita mengenai rompakan itu tular di halaman Facebook "Info Roadblock JPJ/Polis," "Tanjong Karang," dan "Vat 69-Perjuangan" pada 2017.

Nur Mohd Rusydi diwakili Peguam Izleen Ismail dan Jeffrey John daripada Yayasan Bantuan Guaman Kebangsaan sementara Timbalan Pendakwa Raya P. Sarulatha mewakili pihak pendakwaan.

-- BERNAMA

 

Soccer - Japan to meet North Korea, South Korea face China in World Cup qualifying

Reuters

Julai 27, 2023 19:30 MYT

Soccer - Japan to meet North Korea, South Korea face China in World Cup qualifying

FIFA's decision to increase the size of the World Cup to 48 nations means Asia has been granted eight guaranteed berths plus a possible ninth spot at the finals available through a series of intercontinental playoffs. - www.fifa.com

Japan were drawn to face North Korea and Syria in Asia's preliminaries for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, while South Korea will face China and Thailand when the second round of the continent's qualifiers kick off in November.

The Japanese will also take on the winners of a playoff between Myanmar and Macau, to be held over two legs on Oct. 12 and 17, while Korea's group is completed by either Singapore or Guam.

Australia, who reached the knockout rounds at the 2022 World Cup before losing to eventual champions Argentina, will feature in Group I alongside Palestine, Lebanon and either the Maldives or Bangladesh.

FIFA's decision to increase the size of the World Cup to 48 nations means Asia has been granted eight guaranteed berths plus a possible ninth spot at the finals available through a series of intercontinental playoffs.

Teams fin...

1MDB scandal: AGC classifies Bank Negara's investigation paper as NFA, says Zeti

Bernama

Julai 27, 2023 19:45 MYT

Former BNM Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said 1MDB had not only failed to provide full and complete information in its applications for the FEA permission but had provided false information. - BERNAMA




1MDB scandal: AGC classifies Bank Negara's investigation paper as NFA, says Zeti

Former BNM Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said 1MDB had not only failed to provide full and complete information in its applications for the FEA permission but had provided false information. - BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here today was told that the investigation paper (IP) submitted by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) with the recommendation to initiate criminal prosecution and to charge 1MDB including the senior officers was classified as no further action (NFA).

Former BNM Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, 76, said despite all the damning evidence gathered and recorded by BNM in the IP on 1MDB, the then Attorney-General (Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali) for reasons unknown had on Sept 11, 2015, decided that the IP submitted by the central bank was to be classified as NFA.

The 46th prosecution witness said the IP was submitted as the 1MDB and its officers were found to have contravened the provision under the Exchange Control Act 1953 (ECA) for furnishing false information to BNM in the 1MDB application for permission to make payments outside Malaysia.

"At BNM's press conference on the second quarter GDP, which took place on Aug 13, 2015, it was mentioned that BNM had completed its investigations on 1MDB, relating to the areas that were within its purview and legislative powers. Concerning Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's accounts, BNM had provided all the relevant information to the respective law enforcement agencies," she said.

Zeti further said, BNM wrote back to the AGC on Oct 1, 2015, to reconsider the decision (NFA) and further stressed the omission of material information by 1MDB in its application for the foreign exchange administration (FEA) permission.

"1MDB had not only failed to provide full and complete information in its applications for the FEA permission but had provided false information. The AGC however did not reply to BNM's appeal.

Zeti said this when reading out her witness statement during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib at Najib's trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds.

Zeti added pursuant to BNM's legislation, BNM proceeded to revoke the three permissions granted to 1MDB and issued directions to 1MDB to repatriate back to Malaysia all funds that were illegally and falsely remitted abroad.

"The subsequent inability of...

Senarai pencalonan PRN, saya telah buat yang terbaik - Anwar

Bernama

Julai 28, 2023

Anwar bersama enam calon dari PKR yang akan bertanding pada PRN ke 15 selepas penyerahan watikah di Port Dickson malam tadi. --fotoBERNAMA

Senarai pencalonan PRN, saya telah buat yang terbaik - Anwar

Anwar bersama enam calon dari PKR yang akan bertanding pada PRN ke 15 selepas penyerahan watikah di Port Dickson malam tadi. --fotoBERNAMA

PORT DICKSON: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata isu tidak puas hati sesetengah pihak berhubung senarai pencalonan yang diumumkan menjelang Pilihan Raya Negeri (PRN) di enam negeri pada 12 Ogos ini adalah perkara biasa pada setiap pilihan raya.

Perdana Menteri, yang juga Pengerusi Pakatan Harapan (PH), yakin pemilihan calon telah diadakan sebaik mungkin sebagai persediaan PRN di Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Terangganu, Kelantan, Kedah dan Pulau Pinang.

"Dalam dunia ni, dalam pilihan raya, tiada yang semua berpuas hati...jadi kita dengar dan hormat serta cuba terangkan tetapi tidak akan memuaskan hati semua pihak. Saya fikir telah buat sebaiknya," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas majlis penyerahan watikah pencalonan kepada enam calon PKR di Negeri Sembilan bagi PRN kali ini.

Ditanya sama ada isu itu akan menjejaskan sokongan parti, Anwar, yang juga Presiden PKR, berkata setakat ini keadaan terkawal dan semua pihak perlu memberi peluang kepada calon baharu.

"Sepatutnya sekarang giliran yang lain, kita pun perlu ada pelapis, tidak boleh seorang itu kekal selamanya," katanya.

Mengenai manifesto PRN, Anwar berkata ia akan dilakukan mengikut negeri masing-masing.

Terdahulu, Anwar menyerahkan watikah kepada Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun yang dicalonkan untuk bertanding bagi kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sikamat, Tengku Zamrah Tengku Sulaiman (Ampangan), Nur Zunita Begum (Pilah), Ismail Ahmad (Labu), Yew Boon Lye (Chuah) dan Dr Rajasekaran (Sri Tanjung).

-- BERNAMA

'Najib asked me to clear his name regarding RM2.6 billion in his personal account'

BERNAMA

Julai 27, 2023 20:21 MYT
Zeti said, however, he refused to comply with Najib's request because he had no knowledge of the former prime minister's bank account. - Image file

'Najib asked me to clear his name regarding RM2.6 billion in his personal account' - Zeti

Zeti said, however, She refused to comply with Najib's request because he had no knowledge of the former prime minister's bank account. - Image file

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz told the High Court today that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had asked her to clear his name in relation to RM2.6 billion in his personal bank account.

However, Zeti said she refused to comply with Najib's request because she had no knowledge of the former prime minister's bank account.

"I was called to the Prime Minister's Office. He (Najib) asked me to issue a statement that he did not do anything wrong in relation to his bank account.

"I informed him that I could not issue such a statement because I had no knowledge of the transactions that had taken place in his account. He accepted my decision," said Zeti, the 46th prosecution witness, at the trial of Najib who faces charges of embezzling RM2.3 billion 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund.

The former governor said shortly after the meeting, she received a call from a minister who made the same request for him to issue such a statement and she gave the same answer.

Zeti, 76, who was BNM governor for 16 years since 2000, told the court that she did not know about the RM2.6 billion that was deposited into Najib's personal bank account at that time.

"Regarding the allegations made by Najib during his interview with Malaysiakini which was broadcast on 2 July 2018, where he claimed that I knew about the RM2.6 billion in his account at AmIslamic Bank Berhad and that I did not raise any questions about it, I would like to state with It is clear that I was not aware of the transactions made in his account at that time," he said.

Zeti explained that all account holders in the financial system are protected by banking secrecy provisions in legislation, hence, no one can access any account unless the financial institution concerned detects suspicious activity in the account and reports it to the central bank.

He said the allegations made by Najib were false because at the time, she did not know that the sum of RM2.6 billion had been deposited into the former finance minister's account and that the funds belonged to 1MDB.

Zeti, who served the central bank for 35 years, said the main concern at the time was that AmBank did not report to BNM about more than 500 suspicious or irregular transactions related to the acco...

Ship carrying 3,000 cars burns off Dutch coast, one dead

Reuters

Julai 26, 2023 20:30 MYT
Smoke rises as a fire broke out on the cargo ship Fremantle Highway, at sea on July 26, 2023. - Coastguard Netherlands/via REUTERS

Ship carrying 3,000 cars burns off Dutch coast, one dead

Smoke rises as a fire broke out on the cargo ship Fremantle Highway, at sea on July 26, 2023. - Coastguard Netherlands/via REUTERS

AMSTERDAM: A fire blazed on Wednesday on a ship off the Dutch coast with nearly 3,000 vehicles, killing one person and injuring several others, the coastguard said.

The fire began on Tuesday night on the 199-metre Panama-registered Fremantle Highway, which was en route from Germany to Egypt, forcing several crew members to jump overboard.

Rescue ships sprayed water onto the burning boat to cool it down, but too much water risked its sinking, the Dutch coastguard said. A salvage vessel hooked on to stop it drifting.

"The fire is most definitely still not controlled. It's a very hard fire to extinguish, possibly because of the cargo the ship was transporting," said Edwin Versteeg, a spokesperson for the Dutch Department Of Waterways and Public Works.

The coastguard said on its website that the cause of the fire was unknown, but a coastguard spokesperson had earlier told Reuters it began near an electric car.

The coastguard said the Fremantle, which had departed from the port of Bremerhaven, had been towed out of shipping lanes and could sink. It was 27 km (17 miles) north of the Dutch island of Ameland when the fire started.

All 23 crew members were evacuated.

A helicopter took some suffering from smoke inhalation to medical facilities on the mainland.

Coastguard spokesperson Edwin Granneman said salvaging experts were trying to work out next steps for the burning boat.

A spokesperson for Shoei Kisen Kaisha, the Japanese ship leasing company that manages the Fremantle, was not immediately available for comment.

The incident was the latest of several fires in recent times on car carriers.

Earlier this month, two New Jersey firefighters were killed and five injured battling a blaze on a cargo ship carrying hundreds of vehicles.

A fire destroyed thousands of luxury cars on a ship off the coast of Portugal's Azores islands in February last year.

Special aid of RM300 to civil servants, RM200 to retirees - PM

Bernama

Julai 27, 2023 12:55 MYT





PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the MADANI: Empowering People Economic Launch Ceremony at the Securities Commission of Malaysia, today. - BERNAMA

Special aid of RM300 to civil servants, RM200 to retirees - PM

PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the MADANI: Empowering People Economic Launch Ceremony at the Securities Commission of Malaysia, today. - BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will be giving a special appreciation aid of RM300 to civil servants of Grade 56 and below, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced today.

He also announced a similar aid of RM200 to retirees, including those currently receiving their pensions including pension recipients issued under the pension law, EPF retirees who retire from public service, as well as pensionable and non-pensionable veterans.

"This aid will benefit 1.3 million civil servants, including contract appointments, and over a million retirees. With this special aid, we hope civil servants will continue to work diligently in supporting the government's aspirations of implementing reforms," he said when launching the 'MADANI Economy: Empowering the People' initiative here today.

Anwar said the payment of this aid is expected to be made within two weeks from now.

He said the announcement on the special aid is made while the review of the civil servants' salaries and allowances is being done.

Present at the launch were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali.

The Prime Minister said the government remains committed to streamlining the remuneration for civil servants, taking into account its financial means.

"(Under the) MADANI Economy initiative, we strive to provide the best services possible and assist the government's fiscal policies in making the streamlining of the civil servants' salaries a reality," he said.

On July 13, the Prime Minister said that the civil servants' remuneration will be streamlined in phases based on the government's financial capacity and that the matter would be proposed to Mohd Zuki and Public Services Department Director-General Datuk Dr Zulkapli Mohamad before the state elections on Aug 12.

Anwar also announced RM100 e-cash credit to all adult Malaysians with an income of RM100,000 per annum and below, based on the earlier success and significant impact of the programme on the people.

He said it was estimated that more than 10 million people in the B40 and M40 groups are eligible for the funds amounting to about RM1 billion.

-- BERNAMA

Anwar, Ketua Eksekutif Hong Kong John Lee adakan pertemuan empat mata

Bernama

Julai 27, 2023 14:03 MYT
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim bersama John Lee Ka-chiu semasa menerima kunjungan hormat Ketua Eksekutif Wilayah Pentadbiran Khas Hong Kong (HKSAR) itu di Bangunan Perdana Putra hari ini. - Foto BERNAMA

Anwar, Ketua Eksekutif Hong Kong John Lee adakan pertemuan empat mata

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim bersama John Lee Ka-chiu semasa menerima kunjungan hormat Ketua Eksekutif Wilayah Pentadbiran Khas Hong Kong (HKSAR) itu di Bangunan Perdana Putra hari ini. - Foto BERNAMA

PUTRAJAYA: Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Ketua Eksekutif Wilayah Pentadbiran Khas Hong Kong (HKSAR) John Lee Ka-chiu hari ini mengadakan pertemuan empat mata di Putrajaya bagi membincangkan usaha meningkatkan hubungan dua hala serta usaha meneroka peluang kerjasama.

Pertemuan itu berlangsung di Perdana Putra di sini yang bermula pada kira-kira 1.15 tengah hari, sebaik ketibaan Lee ke negara ini bagi memulakan lawatan kerja tiga hari ke Malaysia.

Ini merupakan lawatan sulung Lee ke Malaysia selepas menyandang jawatan sebagai Ketua Eksekutif HKSAR kelima pada 2022.

Anwar dan Lee dijangka bertukar-tukar pandangan mengenai perkembangan semasa, kerjasama dua hala dan langkah ke hadapan, terutama dalam bidang perdagangan dan ekonomi, inovasi dan teknologi serta pertukaran antara rakyat.

Turut hadir Menteri Pengangkutan Anthony Loke Siew Fook; Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri (MITI) Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz; Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi Chang Lih Kang; Menteri Luar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir dan Menteri Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

Lee mengetuai delegasi yang terdiri daripada pegawai-pegawai kanan HKSAR, serta wakil daripada pelbagai sektor termasuk perindustrian dan komersial, perdagangan, inovasi dan teknologi serta pengangkutan dan logistik.

Lee juga dijadual menghadiri forum perniagaan Malaysia-Hong Kong dan menyaksikan pemeteraian beberapa memorandum persefahaman (MOU) antara entiti perniagaan ketika berada di Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA

1MDB: 'Tiada makluman derma akan dimasuk ke akaun Najib' - Zeti

Bernama

Julai 27, 2023 19:03 MYT
Zeti berkata, selepas menerima surat daripada Cheah pada 22 Mac 2011, tiada maklumat lanjut mengenai akaun Najib diterima daripada Ambank. - Gambar/ Bernama

1MDB: 'Tiada makluman derma akan dimasuk ke akaun Najib' - Zeti

Zeti berkata, selepas menerima surat daripada Cheah pada 22 Mac 2011, tiada maklumat lanjut mengenai akaun Najib diterima daripada Ambank. - Gambar/ Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Bekas Gabenor Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi hari ini bahawa bekas Pengarah Urusan Kumpulan AmBank Group tidak pernah menyebut tentang sebarang derma yang akan disalurkan ke akaun Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak di bank itu.

Zeti, 76, berkata Cheah Tek Kuang telah mengunjunginya di BNM pada 28 Jan 2011 dan memaklumkan bahawa Najib, yang ketika itu Perdana Menteri, membuka akaun dengan AmIslamic Bank Berhad dan memaklumkan bahawa akaunnya akan dirujuk dalam kod untuk ROMS (Sistem Pemantauan Operasi Ringgit).

Semasa membaca pernyataan saksinya, Zeti, saksi pendakwaan ke-46 berkata walaupun akaun itu dikodkan sebagai "AmPrivate Banking - MR" untuk ROMS, pembukaan akaun itu mematuhi peraturan yang ditetapkan, iaitu semua akaun peribadi yang dibuka oleh pemegang akaun mestilah di bawah nama pemegang akaun seperti yang dinyatakan dalam kad pengenalan dan bukan dengan nama lain.

"Tiada apa-apa lagi yang dibincangkan dan pertemuan itu singkat. Sepanjang pertemuan itu, Cheah tidak pernah menyebut sebarang derma yang akan disalurkan ke dalam akaun ini.

"Enam minggu kemudian, Cheah mengeluarkan surat bertarikh 22 Mac 2011 kepada Timbalan Gabenor (ketika itu) Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus dan surat hasrat dilampirkan untuk derma yang dijanjikan daripada Saud Abdulaziz Majid AL Saud yang bertarikh 1 Feb 2011 kepada Najib," kata beliau.

Zeti berkata demikian semasa pemeriksaan utama oleh Timbalan Pendakwa Raya Ahmad Akram Gharib pada perbicaraan kes penyelewengan RM2.3 bilion daripada dana 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) yang dihadapi Najib.

Menurut bekas gabenor BNM itu, selepas menerima surat daripada Cheah pada 22 Mac 2011, tiada maklumat lanjut mengenai akaun Najib diterima daripada Ambank dan tiada maklumat mengenai dana yang telah dihantar ke akaun itu atau dana tersebut tidak teratur atau mencurigakan.

"Seterusnya, dalam surat kepada BNM bertarikh 20 Jun 2013, Najib telah memohon kelulusan FEA (Pentadbiran Pertukaran Asing) untuk meminda jumlah sehingga RM2.26 bilion dalam akaun semasa MYRnya kepada USD bagi tujuan pemulangan/pengiriman keseluruhan jumlah.

"Dalam suratnya, beliau mengisytiharkan dana itu sebagai derma dan hadiah peribadi yang belum digunakan yang diterimanya. Berdasarkan surat ini, bagi dana yang dimiliki oleh pemeg...

 Bekas Timbalan Pengarah Kanan DBKL didapati bersalah 2 tuduhan rasuah

Bernama

Julai 27, 2023 19:12 MYT

Bekas Timbalan Pengarah Kanan DBKL didapati bersalah 2 tuduhan rasuah

Pada 18 Dis 2020, Mahkamah Sesyen membebaskan Sabudin daripada dua pertuduhan itu pada akhir kes pendakwaan. - Gambar fail

KUALA LUMPUR: Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini mendapati bekas Timbalan Pengarah Kanan Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) Sabudin Mohd Salleh bersalah atas dua pertuduhan memperoleh suapan berjumlah RM200,000 bagi mengeluarkan permit kerja.

Hakim K. Muniandy membuat keputusan itu selepas membenarkan rayuan pihak pendakwaan untuk mengetepikan keputusan Mahkamah Sesyen pada 15 Sept 2022, yang membebaskan Sabudin, 61, daripada kedua-dua pertuduhan rasuah itu pada akhir kes pembelaan.

Beliau menetapkan 15 Ogos ini untuk mendengar rayuan tertuduh bagi hukuman yang ringan sebelum mahkamah menjatuhkan hukuman.

Dalam penghakimannya, Muniandy berkata hakim Mahkamah Sesyen telah terkhilaf berhubung undang-undang yang terpakai kepada keterangan saksi pendakwaan ketiga yang bagi semua maksud tidak boleh dianggap sebagai rakan sejenayah menurut Seksyen 52 (1) (a) Akta Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM).

"Walaupun saksi itu yang memberi rasuah, ia berlaku kerana tuntutan yang dibuat oleh tertuduh untuk mendapatkan tajaan semasa saksi itu menemuinya untuk mengadu belum mendapat kontrak kerja lagi.

"Oleh itu, dapatan hakim Mahkamah Sesyen tidak disokong oleh bukti, keputusan...

 Rapper Travis Scott's concert at Egypt's pyramids cancelled

Reuters

Julai 27, 2023 



A concert by US rapper Travis Scott at the pyramids in Egypt has been cancelled, organiser Live Nation Middle East said on Wednesday, citing production issues. - REUTERS/FilepicRapper Travis Scott's concert at Egypt's pyramids cancelled

A concert by US rapper Travis Scott at the pyramids in Egypt has been cancelled, organiser Live Nation Middle East said on Wednesday, citing production issues. - REUTERS/Filepic

CAIRO: A concert by U.S. rapper Travis Scott at the pyramids in Egypt has been cancelled, organiser Live Nation Middle East said on Wednesday, citing production issues.

"Complex production issues meant that the show could not be constructed in the desert," Live Nation said in a statement on social media.

The Friday concert, planned to coincide with the release of his most recent album, had previously had its license withdrawn by the Egyptian musicians' syndicate, which also banned Lebanese band Mashrou Leila in 2017 after rainbow flags in support of the LGBTQ community were flown at its shows.

In June, a Texas grand jury on Thursday declined to press criminal charges against Scott and five others over a 2021 crowd crush at a music festival that left 10 dead and injured thousands.

Legendary singer Sinead O'Connor has died at the age of 56



July 27, 2023
Sinead O'Connor or her Islamic name, Shuhada' Sadaqat began forging a name in the global music charts in the 90s. - Twitter photo/@YusufCatStevens

Legendary singer Sinead O'Connor has died at the age of 56

Sinead O'Connor or her Islamic name, Shuhada' Sadaqat began forging a name in the global music charts in the 90s. - Twitter photo/@YusufCatStevens

Famous Irish-born singer and activist Sinead O'Connor has reportedly died at the age of 56.

The news of the 'Nothing Compares 2 U' singer's passing was announced by his family members in a statement on Wednesday.

"It is with great sadness that we would like to announce that Sinead has passed away.

"Family members and friends are deeply saddened and ask not to be disturbed at this time," the statement added.

Sinead O'Connor or her Islamic name, Shuhada' Sadaqat began forging a name in the global music charts in the 90s.

She is best known for the song 'Nothing Compares 2 U' which was written by Prince and released in 1990. It managed to penetrate the main charts of the world and was crowned as the world's number one single by the Billboard Music Awards.

In addition, Rolling Stones magazine listed the song at number 165 in its list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.

She also made history when she became the first woman to win the best music video at the Music Television Awards (MTV) in 1990 through the music video 'Nothing Compares 2 U'.

In addition, Sinead is also known for her vocal advocacy for human rights, including a controversial performance on Saturday Night Live in 1992 as a sign of protest against the sexual abuse of children in the Catholic church.

Sinead converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat but continued to perform using her birth name.

She also released a memoir called Rememberings in 2021.

Previously Sinead was hospitalized a week after her son died in early 2022/

She admitted that he was saddened by the death of his son, Shane , 17, and also expressed her desire on Twitter to 'follow in her son's footsteps'.

Pemain kriket negara Syazrul Ezat pecah rekod dunia selepas capai 7 wiket

Bernama

Julai 27, 2023 04:45 MYT
Syazrul Ezat muncul pemain pertama di dunia mencapai tujuh wiket dalam format perlawanan T20I dalam perlawanan pembukaan Kelayakan Rantau Asia B Piala Dunia Lelaki T20 2024 di Klang pada Rabu. - Facebook International Cricket Council

Pemain kriket negara Syazrul Ezat pecah rekod dunia selepas capai 7 wiket

Syazrul Ezat muncul pemain pertama di dunia mencapai tujuh wiket dalam format perlawanan T20I dalam perlawanan pembukaan Kelayakan Rantau Asia B Piala Dunia Lelaki T20 2024 di Klang pada Rabu. - Facebook International Cricket Council

KUALA LUMPUR: Pemain kriket negara Syazrul Ezat Idrus mempamerkan aksi hebat dalam arena kriket antarabangsa dengan muncul sebagai pemain pertama di dunia mencapai tujuh wiket dalam format perlawanan Twenty20 International (T20I), pada Rabu.

Pemain berusia 32 tahun itu beraksi cemerlang untuk membantu Malaysia memperoleh kemenangan bergaya ke atas China dengan kelebihan lapan wiket dalam perlawanan pembukaan Kelayakan Rantau Asia B Piala Dunia Lelaki T20 2024, di Klang kira-kira 35 kilometer dari sini.

Menurut laman sesawang Majlis Kriket Antarabangsa (ICC), walaupun 12 pemain sebelum ini mencapai enam wiket, tiada seorang pun berjaya memecahkannya dalam satu "inning" (giliran sesebuah pasukan membuat pukulan) sehingga Syazrul Ezat melakukan tujuh wiket untuk lapan larian.

Sebelum ini duo pasukan India Deepak Chahar dan Yuzvendra Chahal, pembaling putar Australia Ashton Agar dan Sri Lanka Ajantha Mendis merupakan antara pemain yang berjaya melakukan enam wiket.

Syazrul Ezat yang melakukan 47 wiket pada 23 perlawanan dalam kerjaya T201nya, kemudian diberikan penghormatan sebagai pemain terbaik perlawanan.

"Dia yang menggunakan balingan tangan kanannya membolosi barisan pemukul China di Bayuemas seorang diri, mengumpul tujuh wiket daripada tujuh balingan dengan pasukan pelawat tersingkir selepas hanya membuat 23 larian daripada 12 over," kata ICC.

Sementara itu, Pavandeep Singh melakukan dua wiket sementara S. Vijay Unni menyumbang satu wiket untuk Malaysia mengatasi China.

Pasukan Malaysia yang kemudiannya mula mengejar hanya memerlukan 24 larian untuk menang, bermula perlahan selepas ketinggalan dua wiket dengan hanya tiga larian.

Bagaimanapun, Virandeep Singh berjaya bertindak balas pantas dengan 19 larian, dengan satu pukulan "six" dan dua "four" untuk menamatkan permainan dengan 4.5 over.

Tuan rumah Malaysia akan bertemu Bhutan hari ini, diikuti perlawanan menentang Myanmar (Ahad) dan Thailand (Selasa) dengan hanya juara akan mara ke Final Rantau Asia di Nepal pada November.

Dua pasukan teratas di Nepal akan mendapat tiket ke Piala Dunia T20 yang akan berlangsung di Amerika Syarikat dan Hi...

Fahmi congratulates the success of the animation film 'Horologist'
BERNAMA
Julai 27, 2023 08:00 MYT

Lee (right) expressed his appreciation for MDEC and Finas who contributed to the success. - Facebook photo/Fahmi Fadzil

KUALA LUMPUR: Minister of Communications and Digital Fahmi Fadzil congratulated the director of the animated short film 'Horologist' Jared Lee who won the Best Animation award at the San Diego Comic-Con Festival in the United States, on Tuesday.

 

The Henley Passport Index 2023 Q3 rankings have been released, shedding light on the current state of passport strength and global mobility. 

Notably, Singapore has claimed the top position, dethroning Japan, which now stands at third place after holding the lead for five consecutive years.