INDEPENDENT 2024-08-30 12:10:18


Malaysia to refund passengers if flights are delayed by five hours

Malaysia has introduced new regulations requiring airlines to offer refunds to passengers if their flight is delayed by more than five hours.

These rules will also apply to passengers who choose not to take the delayed flight and buy a different one. The rules, set to come into effect from Monday, are meant to strengthen consumer rights in Malaysia.

Airlines have recently had issues in the country with flight delays and cancellations and national carrier Malaysia Airlines faced disruptions due to engine problems with its Airbus A330 fleet.

Malaysia’s transport minister Anthony Loke also stated that all cancelled flights must be removed from booking systems, including both online and offline travel agent platforms.

“This is to protect users from buying cancelled flight tickets,” he said at a news conference.

The policy is part of the revisions to the Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016, which will be officially published on 2 September.

Earlier this week, a statement from the managing director of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), Izham Ismail, said that the conglomerate was reducing flights from now until the end of the year to address ongoing supply chain challenges, worker shortages, and technical issues.

MAG operates Malaysia Airlines (MH, Kuala Lumpur International), Firefly (FY, Penang), and the pilgrimage carrier Amal by Malaysia Airlines.

These flight reductions came after multiple disruptions occurred last week across all three airlines. The disruptions included a Malaysia Airlines A330-300, flying from Melbourne Airport in Australia to Kuala Lumpur, which had to make an emergency landing in Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory due to engine issues.

Another Malaysia Airlines flight, heading to Madinah, was forced to return to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) because of similar engine problems.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) recently conducted an audit of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) to investigate the causes of the recent delays, cancellations, and operational issues, Mr Loke said.

“We are taking very seriously concerns about what’s happening at MAG,” he said. “I am in touch with Izham Ismail, and I’ve asked him to make all the necessary follow-ups to ensure that operations are smooth.”

The Malaysian Aviation Commission will also continue to monitor airline performance to ensure compliance with industry standards, Mr Loke said.

Meanwhile, airlines in Malaysia that fail to comply with the new regulations could be fined up to 200,000 ringgit (approximately $46,000; £35,000), with even steeper penalties for repeat violations.

Similar measures have been implemented in the US, and Australia is considering reforms to enhance consumer rights in aviation. Earlier this year, the US department of transportation introduced rules that require airlines to display the full cost of tickets upfront, including all fees, and provide prompt cash refunds for cancelled or significantly changed flights.

The Australian government also introduced a new “Charter of Rights” this week that will allow airline customers to receive cash refunds for flights that are cancelled or unreasonably delayed. The initiative – part of the newly released Aviation White Paper – aims to revitalise the aviation sector after high costs and the collapse of two airlines, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

“The bottom line is if people don’t get the service that they are expecting, then customers deserve to get their money back or they deserve to get an equivalent service,” Australian transport minister Catherine King said.

NCT’s Taeil questioned by police after amid ‘sexual crime’ accusation

South Korean singer Taeil was questioned by the police on Wednesday and dropped from the band NCT amid accusations related to a sexual crime.

Local media reported that Seoul’s Bangbae police station filed the case in June after receiving a complaint from an adult woman and Taeil, 30, has been under investigation since then.

Fans accused his label SM Entertainment of being aware of these allegations and still allowing him to perform at events on 3 and 4 August.

However, SM Entertainment told Korean media outlet Newsen that they only found out about the investigation in August, following which he was dropped from the band.

“Both the company and Taeil first learned about the indictment in mid-August. Taeil was questioned by the police on 28 August,” a statement provided to Newsen said.

On the same day, SM Entertainment released a statement in Korean saying that Taeil would be leaving the band after being accused of an unspecified sexual crime.

“This is SM Entertainment. We recently confirmed that Taeil was sued for a criminal case related to a sexual crime. We recognized the seriousness of the issue, and we have decided that Taeil can no longer continue team activities,” the label said.

“We have discussed this matter with Taeil, and it has been decided that he will leave the group. Taeil is fully cooperating with the police and we will provide further statements as the investigation progresses.

“We apologise for the controversy caused by our artist.”

Taeil, whose legal name is Moon Tae-il, has not commented publicly on the allegations. He was part of the band NCT, short for Neo Culture Technology, which debuted in 2016. The band has 25 members and is divided into several different sub-units, working under a multi-boy band concept which allows the NCT universe to have unlimited members.

NCT 127, the sub unit that Taeil is a part of, released their third Korean studio album, Sticker, in 2021, which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, becoming the longest and highest-charting K-pop album in the US in that year.

Earlier this year, SM Entertainment and NCT was mired in a similar scandal, after allegations against members Johnny and Haechan surfaced online, saying that the men had paid for sex and using drugs while in Japan.

The label denied the rumours and stated that they would take legal action against the owners of the social media accounts that made the allegations.

“These sensational rumours [are] entirely false and constitute criminal acts that severely damage our artists’ reputations. We have already gathered sufficient evidence regarding numerous posts related to these matters,” the statement said.

“We will not overlook such criminal acts and will take legal action against those involved without leniency or settlement, regardless of their nationality.”

Bodies of two Dalit girls found hanging from tree in India

The bodies of two Dalit teens found hanging from a tree in India triggered an outcry at a time when women in the country have been protesting against gender-based violence.

The two girls, 18 and 15, were from one of India’s most oppressed castes. They were found on Tuesday in a village in the northern and most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, which is governed by prime minister Narendra Modi‘s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The police said the deaths appeared to be suicide – a claim refuted by the families of the teenagers, who suspect foul play. “Prima facie it seemed that the girls had done it by themselves,” Farrukhabad superintendent of police, Alok Priyadarshi, said, adding that there were no visible injuries.

India’s 200 million Dalits, formerly untouchables, are placed on the lowest rung of a caste hierarchy and often the targets of discrimination though India abolished untouchability in 1955.

An autopsy of both girls found asphyxia to be the cause of death, according to reports. The district’s chief medical officer, Avanindra Kumar, ruled out sexual or physical assault.

The victims’ families alleged the girls, both neighbours and friends, went missing on Monday after leaving home to watch Janmashthami event (a festival celebrating the birth of Hindu deity Krishna) event at a temple not far from the house.

“They had gone to the temple, about 250m from my house, to celebrate the festival at 7.30pm. They returned around 9pm and shortly after left to attend the tableau procession,” the father of one of the victims told reporters.

When the girls did not return at night, the families assumed they were staying the night at their aunt’s house near the temple. “A woman from our village told us in the morning that someone was found hanging from a tree in the mango orchard. We went there and saw they were our daughters,” he added.

“It is a case of murder… but the police are trying to simplify the case by calling it suicide,” he was quoted by The Telegraph as saying.

The father of the minor said they were being questioned by the police “as if we are criminals”.

“Is this how they are going to solve the case,” he asked.

The families alleged that they were being pressured to cremate the bodies “as soon as possible”. “We are not demanding anything, we just want to know the truth.”

Police have formed a special team to investigate the deaths after the families filed official complaints on Tuesday.

The police found one mobile phone near the scene of the incident and a SIM card that reportedly belonged to one of the girls.

Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the opposition Samajwadi Party, sought an “impartial” probe.

“Who hanged them? Why? Nobody knows anything. This state has become a crematorium for women,” he said.

The incident took place nearly two years after two minor Dalit sisters were raped and hanged from a tree in the same state. The state administration under chief minister Yogi Adityanath faced criticism for handling the attack in which four upper caste Hindu men were accused.

In 2021, the gangrape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit girl in the state’s Hathras district brought national and international condemnation for Mr Modi’s party.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.

Viral ‘Lovebomber Baby’ singer insists her song is not a joke

An Indian singer’s viral hit about being ghosted by a lover has exploded on social media, becoming the backing track to posts across Instagram and dividing users on whether the song’s groovy beats and kitschy videography are meant to be a parody.

Gagni Porwal’s “Lovebomber Baby” has more than 877,000 views and over 32,000 likes on YouTube with lyrics that call out the callous lover who “took my heart, you crushed it badly, and tore it apart”.

“I made the song back in April and no one noticed,” Porwal tells The Independent in an interview. “I just started making reels and posting them every day, no ads. Then, all of a sudden, it just picked up almost overnight.”

Porwal’s interest in music began at a young age, although it was always more of a passion project than a career choice due to her family’s academic expectations.

“I’ve been singing since I was two or three years old,” she says. “But I was also academically bright, so I focused more on studies. But my father worked in defence, so I would sing in army parties, with the army band, and at my school’s cultural programmes.”

It was only after she completed her education that she decided it was time to pursue music professionally, a choice that her parents initially met with scepticism.

“And when the song went viral, they weren’t very happy about it, especially when the comments started pouring in. They were scared because they weren’t used to this kind of attention.”

“Lovebomber Baby” suddenly gained traction on social media in late June, months after it was released. Within a week, the song went from relative obscurity to a viral sensation, with one reel hitting 46 million views and 2.2 million shares – all without any paid promotion.

Porwal has continued to post snippets from the song nearly every day on her Instagram since she first uploaded it, resulting in the reels showing up regularly on Instagram’s For You section.

“Once lovebomber baby 10 minute version drops it’s over for Taylor Swift,” a fan posted on X.

“Vibing on lovebomber baby with grandpa was not on my 2024 bingo card,” posted another.

The song has predictably led to memes and remixes, with one layering “Lovebomber Baby” on a Taylor Swift performance. Even Netflix’s official channels have been getting in on the action.

“The whole concept of a breakup song is mad. Someone crushes your heart and the first thing you do is to sing a song and pull a lot of dance moves. Love it,” commented one user.

“Why did you ghost me? You said you loved me/ Why did you ghost me? You said you loved me/ Those lovely promises were fake or what?” are some of the lyrics of the song.

“The guy who ghosted her better apologise after this banger,” wrote a commentator on YouTube.

A large part of the song’s appeal lies in its clear “cringe pop” roots – a label Porwal is not comfortable with.

The song’s lyrics, which discuss the concept of love-bombing – a form of emotional manipulation tactic – are written in a casual, conversational style. While Porwal says some listeners have embraced the song’s message and have even told her it helped them forget their exes, others have made fun of it or labelled it cringe-worthy.

Porwal insists that “Lovebomber Baby” isn’t a parody, and is based on her experience with a romantic partner, who lovebombed her at first, and then ghosted her, leaving her confused.

“People are making jokes about it. Some are calling it cringe because they don’t understand my perspective,” she says.

“Had it been funny, I would have been laughing in the video. I put a lot of work into the song – it’s meant to be a proper song, not a joke.

“See, if I wanted to do something funny, why would I spend money on professional mixing and mastering of the song? Why would I record in a studio? Why would I shoot a music video? I could have just made a reel out of it with some karaoke or some pianist or something.

“It’s a proper song because I intended for it to be a proper song.”

Porwal’s frustration with the “cringe” label extends beyond just her music. She believes that the term is often used to dismiss anything that doesn’t conform to mainstream standards, especially when it comes from women.

“Here’s what I think: The world is mostly fake, and people want ‘cool’ stuff. So if they don’t find it cool, they probably call it cringe. Authentic stuff is cringe, basically,” she explains.

“This idea of cringe is often applied to women more often than men. Doing anything against the norm is harder for women, and if someone’s managing to break that barrier, we should encourage them.

“There are all these rules for how a woman’s life needs to look – if you get married at the ‘right time’ it’s okay, otherwise you get called a spinster. But why must our lives look that way?”

Despite the backlash, Porwal remains focused on her music and its message.

“I want the song to be about celebrating yourself because life is too short to keep sobbing on stuff. It’s about self-love – like, love yourself first,” she says.

“Right now, I’m the only one handling my social media. So I genuinely don’t have the time to see everything, but I have seen some of the hate, people making fun of my voice, the lyrics.

“I’m seeing it, but that’s fine. I mean, of course, I don’t like being trolled, but I’m trying not to absorb it.

“Because if I absorb that kind of negativity, then I won’t be able to do anything.”

As for what’s next, Porwal envisions a future where her music and skills continue to grow.

“I see myself getting proper vocal training, learning the technical aspects of producing a song, and being on a huge stage. I want to ensure that I have a regular income from music and that I’m mentally and physically healthy.”

She calls herself “a work in progress” but Porwal seems to have found the secret sauce to success by embracing the chaos and letting the internet do what it does best: surprise.

Scientists warn of ‘alarming’ rise in lightning strike deaths in India

India is witnessing an alarming rise in lightning-related deaths, driven in part by the effects of climate change, according to a new study.

Researchers say that lightning strikes have become increasingly deadly in the South Asian country, with over 101,000 deaths recorded between 1967 and 2020 – nearly 1,900 each year.

Even though increasing awareness and urbanisation are expected to protect more people, the study shows that the last decade alone has seen a sharp uptick in fatalities.

This disturbing trend positions lightning as one of the leading climate-induced disasters in India.

While the total number of strikes wasn’t directly measured, the data on fatalities paints a grim picture of lightning activity becoming more unpredictable and frequent across the country.

The average number of deaths per state has risen from 38 per year between 1967 and 2002 to 61 per year from 2003 to 2020, coinciding with India’s population growth to 1.4 billion people, the study, led by researchers at Fakir Mohan University in Odisha, says.

Monsoon season, stretching from June to September, typically brings much-needed rain to the subcontinent but also heightens the risk of lightning strikes, which are “becoming increasingly unpredictable”, the study says.

Scientists say that rising global temperatures contribute to this increase by creating conditions more conducive to lightning.

Higher temperatures lead to more water vapour in the atmosphere, which cools at higher altitudes and generates the electrical charges that spark lightning. This has made lightning strikes more common and more deadly.

India’s rural population is disproportionately affected. Most of the victims are working-class individuals, often sheltering under trees or in open fields when storms hit.

The lack of effective early warning systems and public awareness about lightning safety exacerbates the problem.

Despite advancements in meteorological technology, such as the installation of 129 lightning-detection sensors across the country, many of these systems fail to deliver timely warnings to those in harm’s way.

The states of Jharkhand and Bihar, in eastern and central India, are among the hardest hit by lightning strikes. These regions experience unique climatic conditions where hot, dry air from the northwest meets moist easterly currents, creating an environment ripe for lightning.

Earlier research also suggests that air pollution may also play a role in increasing lightning activity. Aerosols, such as dust and pollution particles, may enhance the friction between particles that generate lightning, leading to more frequent strikes.

In response to the growing threat, 16 of India’s 36 states and union territories, including Bihar and Jharkhand, have classified lightning strikes as state disasters.

This designation allows for compensation payments of 400,000 rupees (about $4,766) to the families of those killed. While this financial support helps, it does little to prevent the loss of life in the first place.

Researchers say there is a pressing need for improved safety measures, better early warning systems, and increased public awareness to mitigate the impact of lightning in India.

A study showed that a degree of rise in temperature can lead to a 12 per cent increase in lightning strikes.

Japan is offering incentives for single women to move out of Tokyo

Japan is planning to launch a new initiative to support single women moving from Tokyo to rural areas to get married, a move aimed at addressing the shrinking female population in the countryside.

The government believes it would also counter the trend of young women remaining in Tokyo for education or work, which has led to fewer single women in rural areas compared to single men, worsening depopulation challenges.

The government will also cover travel costs for matchmaking events and provide additional financial incentives for those who move, The Japan Times reported.

According to the 2020 national census, the total number of single women aged 15 to 49 in 46 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, excluding Tokyo, was about 9.1 million. This is approximately 20 per cent less than the 11.1 million single men in the same age group, with the gap reaching around 30 per cent in some prefectures.

In recent years, more women than men have moved to the greater Tokyo area and tend not to return to rural areas after moving for education or work – resulting in fewer single women compared to single men in the countryside.

The initiative will expand an existing subsidy program, offering up to $7,000 to women relocating from Tokyo’s 23 wards.

Japan is grappling with a significant demographic challenge as its birth rate hit an all-time low, with only 727,277 births recorded last year and a fertility rate of 1.20, far below the 2.1 needed for a stable population.

To address the declining population and its impact on the workforce and economy, the government has launched various initiatives, including financial incentives for couples to have children, expanded childcare facilities, and even a state-backed dating app in Tokyo that uses AI to match singles.

“If there are many individuals interested in marriage but unable to find a partner, we want to provide support,” a Tokyo official was quoted by The Asahi Shimbun as saying.

“We hope that this app, with its association with the government, will provide a sense of security and encourage those who have been hesitant to use traditional apps to take the first step in their search for a partner.”

While some experts warn against drastic fears of societal collapse, Japan is actively working to encourage marriage and family growth to counterbalance the demographic decline.

Prime minister Fumio Kishida has called the drop in birth rates the “gravest crisis our country faces”.

Australian man sentenced for sexual abuse of more than 280 victims

A 29-year-old Australian man, who pretended to be a teen YouTube celebrity to prey on children and young adults online, has been sentenced to 17 years in jail.

The Perth man, identified as Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen Rasheed, coerced 286 victims, including 180 children, from 20 different countries into performing sexually explicit acts on camera or video, the Australian federal police said.

Rasheed pleaded guilty to 119 charges in December last year and was first charged in 2021 when the Australian Federal Police (AFP) reported that he had posed as a teenage social media celebrity to befriend girls both in Australia and abroad.

Australian federal police’s assistant commissioner, David McLean, stated that the man’s “abhorrent actions” and complete lack of concern for his victims’ distress, humiliation, and fear rendered it “one of the most horrific sextortion cases prosecuted in Australia”.

“This type of online exploitation and abuse is devastating and causes life-long trauma,” he said.

“The predator, through his façade of being a social media celebrity, manipulated and exploited 286 children and young adults for his own sadistic pleasure. Most of these victims were in their own homes, a place where they should feel safe,” he said.

On Tuesday, the judge in the district court of Western Australia, Amanda Burrows said the volume of offences was of such magnitude there was “no comparable case … I can find in Australia”.

The man allegedly approached children online pretending to be a teen celebrity with a massive following and asked innocuous questions initially to gain their trust. The court heard that this would then escalate as he would ask them for pictures of themselves he could “rate”.

He then threatened to share screenshots of their responses with friends and family unless they carried out increasingly extreme sexual acts, which sometimes involved family pets and younger siblings or children in their home.

The judge said those offences were “of a degrading, humiliating nature [and] the conduct involving a family pet was particularly abhorrent”.

Mr McLean said there was collaboration between international law enforcement authorities which helped in nabbing the culprit.

“As a result of information provided by Interpol and HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) about an Australian sexually exploiting girls in other countries, the AFP was able to identify this man and stop him from hurting anyone else.

“During the investigation, AFP officers liaised with police in multiple countries to help identify victims and check on their welfare, and passed on intelligence about other offenders who had been in contact with this man.”

Rasheed was sentenced for 665 offences which occurred over 11 months and involved 286 victims.

“The victims will forever live with the fear that the recordings you made of them will be [further] disseminated,” Judge Burrows said.

He is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for a separate crime involving the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old child on two occasions in his car at a Perth park. The judge noted that these offences occurred during the same period as his online crimes.

Rasheed moved to Australia from Pakistan at a young age and his parents were “traditional, conservative and strict”, according to psychiatrists who spoke with him.

He reportedly began accessing child exploitation material online in 2018 which then led to him directly exploiting children in 2019 after the online material “lost its effect”.

If you are a child and you need help because something has happened to you, you can call the NSPCC free of charge on 0800 1111. You can also call the NSPCC if you are an adult and you are worried about a child, on 0808 800 5000. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) offers support for adults on 0808 801 0331

Malaysian authorities deploy water jets in search of missing tourist

Malaysian authorities are using powerful water jets to remove debris from underground sewers as they race against time to find an Indian tourist who vanished into a sinkhole a week ago.

Vijaya Lakshmi Gali, the 48-year-old tourist, fell into the 8m-deep sinkhole at 8.22am on 23 August as she was walking to a nearby temple in Kuala Lumpur’s Masjid India district.

The police official in charge, Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, said: “We feel there is something behind the heavy debris” and said that they are employing a “technique of blasting and disintegrating the objects” to clear the obstruction.

“On viewing the sewer line with trawl cameras, we found heavy objects and debris blocking the flow underground,” he was quoted as saying by The Star.

“Using the technique of blasting and disintegrating the objects, we can dislodge the blockage and have everything, including any remains, drained out.

“So far, we have yet to uncover any clues to the whereabouts of the victim,” he said.

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall has placed over 100 sandbags around the exposed sewer lines to protect them from the disruptive flow of rainwater. Earlier, heavy rains had added to the difficulty of the search, posing dangers to the lives of the divers themselves.

“In that hole, there is a sewage drain and other drains; it’s really deep,” fire operation officer Alimaddia Bukri was quoted as saying by The Straits Times. He added that the rescuers had been diving deep into the sewer amid strong currents and zero visibility.

Meanwhile, the victim’s family has been granted a visa extension and provided with counselling.  The family members “do not expect anything and would only want to ‘see her face’”.

“I have also expressed to them (the victim’s family) that the government is committed to the search,” senior government officer Arvend Applasamy said.

Kuala Lumpur’s mayor has, meanwhile, reassured the public of the city’s safety, stating that daily routines should continue unless evidence suggests otherwise. A task force has been established to assess the safety of structures around the sinkhole area.

“In my view, Kuala Lumpur remains safe,” the mayor said. Maimunah Mohd Sharif was speaking in defence of the city’s safety after a 2015 social media post went viral calling it “the most unsafe place” in Malaysia with a possibility of a “giant sinkhole” opening at any time.

“We will only consider it unsafe if there are studies that provide evidence to the contrary, especially given the alarming media reports.”

The Malay Mail reported on Wednesday that a new sinkhole has appeared on Jalan Masjid India, about 50m from where the tourist vanished.