Evening Edition BFM Media

Today's countdown includes:

1. Google's AI-powered blunder has been telling people to eat rocks, mix glue into pizza sauce, and smoke during pregnancy. With Google scrambling to fix the situation, we reached out to Dr Zhi Yuan Chan, Associate Professor and Head of the School for Computer Science at the University of Nottingham Malaysia to comment on how AI is changing our search for information online.
2. Last week, the Home Ministry unveiled the updated film censorship guidelines built on public order and safety; religion and morality; and sociocultural perspective. Filmmaker, Badrul Hisham Ismail shares his thoughts on the changes.
3. Corruption charges plague the stability of Perlis state government, as Mohd Syafeed Mohd Shukri, the son of the Perlis Menteri Besar, Shukri Ramli, is charged with the submission of a fake claim amounting to more than RM19,000. Aizat Sharif, a journalist based in Perlis shares his insights into the situation.
4. Following the passing of Nor Zamri Latiff, the incumbent Sungai Bakap ADUN, the state seat is set to be contested in a by-election soon. Predeep Nambiar, the Northern Region Bureau Chief from FMT shares his thoughts on the developments that Sungai Bakap can expected.
5. Our top story: On SPM results day, we interview Felicia Yoon, co-founder of Arus Academy about this year's improved SPM results, and the preparations and challenges that students face in the run-up to the major exam.

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Today's countdown includes:
1. Make-a-Wish grants their thousandth wish to nine-year old Ayra Medina, who wished to be a mermaid princess. Irene Tan, CEO of Make-a-Wish Malaysia talks to us about what makes Ayra's wish special.
2. Phileo Damansara MRT is finally getting a proper pedestrian walkway, thanks to Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung and BCMY, a grassroots organisation of commuter cyclists and urbanists. Rajiv Rishyakaran, Bukit Gasing ADUN explains the who goes into designing a usable walkway.
3. With Malaysia’s aspirations to become a regional data hub, should we open the door for more data centre projects? The answer, according to analysts and industry players, is yes! Associate Professor Dato’ Husin Jazri, who is Director of the Global Centre for Cyber Safety from Taylor’s University weighs in on whether Malaysia is ready to realise its aspirations to become a highly-sought after data hub.
2. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak surprised Britain's political players and observers after calling for an early election. Some say the timing of the announcement is part of Sunak's election campaign strategy. Patrick Diamond, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Queen Mary University of London shed lights on what the sentiment is like in the UK, and issues that may come up during the campaign.
1. Our top story: Mala Vello, a Malaysian victim of human trafficking who has been trapped in Nepal for the past 12-years, is fighting to come back home to her family. We speak to Onysha Boak, a programme officer with Project Liber8, on Mala's situation, and what we can do to bring her home.

Image credit: Project Liber8
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Today's countdown includes:
1. We talk about a Michelin-star eatery in New York run by a someone who has never even stepped foot in Southeast Asia!
2. An incident of severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight caused the tragic death of one passenger, and injured several others. Shantanu Gangakhedkar, an aviation consultant for Frost & Sullivan helps us understand what turbulence is, and how to stay safe when it happens.
3. MAHB's privatisation plan with a RM12.3 billion price tag that's being led by a four-member consortium consisting of Khazanah, EPF, Abu Dhabi-based ADIA and New York-based GIP. With critics unconvinced with the proposal, we ask Emmanuel Samarathisa, journalist and founder of The Malaysianist about the concerns raised, and what MAHB's ideal partner looks like.
2. In the latest update of the government's shift from blanket subsidies to a targeted system, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced subsidy cuts for diesel fuel, with expectations that it will save up to 4 billion Ringgit of government finances. We hear what Geoffrey Williams, an economist and founder of Williams Business Consultancy, has to say about whether this would raise business costs, and if it really benefits the people.
1. Our top story: We speak to Datuk Roger Chin, Immiediate Past President of the Sabah Law Society about Sabah's 40% special grant, and the legal challenges that have been brought up by the Sabah government in the process of appealing for this demand.

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Today's countdown includes:
1. Huge pushback from several quarters on the dance party that happened recently on KTM's rental service coach. KTM has said they would "improve" their guidelines.
2. Climate change and extreme weather conditions putting this year's durian crops behind schedule.
3. A group of students have been fined for cooking using a gas stove at a petrol station in Genting. Khoo Gaik Cheng, Associate Professor of the School of Media, Languages and Cultures at the University of Nottingham Malaysia weighs in on how this would impact our durian exports.
4. A Perak family who has been stateless for generations, has officially been granted Malaysian citizenship. We hear thoughts from Professor Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, Commissioner of Suhakam.
5. The International Criminal Court has applied for arrest warrants against top Israeli and Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes. This has prompted criticism from both parties, as well as US president Joe Biden, who claimed that there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas.

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Today's countdown includes:
5. Singaporean comedian Sharul Channa's show in Malaysia was cancelled, after police reports were made against her, over a video of her show back in 2018. In the video, she was seen to be making jokes that alluded to 3R issues. We hear from Phoon Chi Ho, the chief executive of Laugh Labs Entertainment and the organiser of the event Sharul was supposed to performed at.
4. The government has announced that the Online Safety Bill is about 60% complete now. The bill aims to ensure platform providers to adhere to SOPs and help authorities when they conduct investigations related to online security.
3. FIFA is considering the suspension of Israeli teams from their events, after the Palestinian Football Association said the Israeli team had violated FIFA statutes. Haresh Deol, editor of TwentyTwo13 weighs in on this.
2. The Health Minister has announced a grading system for sugary drinks, in an attempt to reduce sugar consumption. This is following the result of The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, which revealed that diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the country.
1. Iran president Ebrahim Raisi has died after a helicopter crash, in the Varzaqan region, when he was returning with Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and several others from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan.

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Today's countdown includes:

5. After a small town in England is finding apostrophes missing from street signs, a NYT article has brought up scepticism on the need of apostrophes in modern times. We hear a clip from Andrew van der Spuy, a Senior Lecturer in Linguistics from the University of the Witwaterstrand speaking to eNews Channel Africa, about whether apostrophes really matter, and if it can be considered an endangered species.
4. UTM has gotten backlash for denying the enrolment of an autistic person into their chemical industry degree programme. On this, we received a voice note from an autistic member of SIUMAN Collective, who is also an Augmentative and Alternative Communication user, on the question of inclusivity for persons with disabilities in higher education.
3. Following the release of the 2023 Global Adult Tobacco Survey showing e-cigarette use among young adults, the Health Ministry is committed to put the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024. We hear a clip from the Bigger Picture's interview with Assistant Professor Dr Farhan Rusli, a Public Health Medicine Specialist from IIUM on how enforcment should look like.
2. An attack on a police station in Ulu Tiram, Johor in the name of Jemaah Islamiyah has. Dina Zaman, co-founder of Iman Research, comments on the deadly incident, the rise of extremist groups, and the influence of geopolitical events in shaping radical sentiments.
1. Experts are psuhing for better media literacy to navigate today's vast information scenario. We interview Darshini Kandasamy, co-foudner of Malaysian Information Education (MILE) and CEO of Between the Lines, about how we can adapt.

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