The Online Citizen

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Six killed in Rohingya camps after ICC prosecutor visit

Six Rohingya people were killed in clashes at a Bangladesh refugee camp after an ICC prosecutor visited to gather testimony. The violence involved rival insurgent groups operating in the camps. Funding cuts and repatriation efforts further complicate the situation.

Court of Appeal holds Workers’ Party leaders Sylvia Lim and Low Thia Khiang liable for negligence; Pritam Singh cleared

Singapore’s Court of Appeal found Workers’ Party leaders Sylvia Lim and Low Thia Khiang liable for negligence over funds of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC), while clearing Pritam Singh. The Apex court also resolved that FMSS is not liable to either AHTC or Seng Kang Town Council in any respect, contradicting the lower court’s judgment.

PAP-majority Parliament hijacks WP motion, holds back on reevaluating Singapore’s sporting ecosystem as a whole

The Parliament voted in favor of an amended motion put forth by Workers’ Party calling for the support Singapore’s athletes, but refrained from calling for a reassessment of sports management. Amendments proposed by Mr Darryl David were passed with the support of People’s Action Party MPs who are majority in Parliament, despite dissent recorded from all the Workers’ Party MPs and the Progress Singapore Party’s Non-Constituency MPs present.

China bans some Japanese food imports over Fukushima water release

China’s customs authority has announced a ban on food imports from 10 Japanese prefectures due to concerns over Japan’s plan to release treated nuclear wastewater into the ocean. China argues that Japan has unresolved issues regarding the legitimacy of ocean dumping and the reliability of purification equipment. The plan, approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency, has faced opposition from regional neighbors and fishing communities in Fukushima.

‘No second chance’ to save Sri Lanka, central banker warns

Central bank chief Nandalal Weerasinghe warns that Sri Lanka’s economic crisis is its last chance for recovery, after facing years of mismanagement and debt. With an IMF bailout in progress, Weerasinghe emphasizes the need for strict reforms and warns that failure could spell the end for the nation’s economy.

#MeToo wave sweeps Taiwan in long-awaited reckoning

Whistle-blower Chen Chien-jou’s #MeToo account of harassment sparked a movement in Taiwan, exposing gender inequality and prompting calls for change in the culture of victim-blaming.

Facebook alters fact-checking controls for US users

Facebook, owned by Meta, has given US users control over fact-checked content, allowing them to determine the visibility of debunked posts in their feed. While some see it as empowering users, others worry it may benefit spreaders of misinformation and hinder fact-checking efforts. The move comes amid concerns about content moderation and potential political falsehoods ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Analysts call for more research on the impact of these changes before wider implementation.

UN urges end to arms, currency supplies to Myanmar junta

The United Nations called for the international community to block Myanmar’s junta from acquiring weapons and currency amid the deepening humanitarian crisis. The UN highlighted alleged human rights violations and urged targeted measures to limit the military’s access to resources facilitating attacks on the people, as well as emphasizing the urgent need for food and aid, warning against obstruction or denial of assistance.

Musk threatens lawsuit as Twitter rival Threads takes off

Twitter threatened to sue Meta over alleged trade secret theft as Meta launched Threads, a competitor to Elon Musk-owned Twitter, which garnered millions of downloads. The rivalry between Zuckerberg and Musk intensified, while users expressed both excitement and privacy concerns about the new platform.

Supermajority PAP Parliament dismisses motion to abolish GRC system, overlooks allegations of gerrymandering

Despite intense debates and unresolved allegations of gerrymandering from opposition members, the PAP’s supermajority in Parliament dismissed the motion to abolish Singapore’s Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system.