Latest news with #UPP
The Star
06-07-2025
- The Star
A safer Penang for visitors
Helpful Tourist Police boost security and confidence for travellers GEORGE TOWN: The visible presence of the Tourist Police Unit (UPP) at Penang's key tourist hotspots has boosted security and confidence among visitors, especially the large number of Chinese tourists. Software engineer Li Wei, 32, from Shanghai, who is on his first solo visit to Penang for a short vacation, said he felt completely safe throughout his week-long stay here. 'I saw tourist police patrolling near Lebuh Armenian and since I am travelling alone, this gave me a safe feeling. 'Although I didn't need their assistance, it was comforting to know they are around and easily noticeable,' he said when met yesterday. Another visitor, retired teacher Chen Min, 58, from Chengdu, said the presence of the tourist police helped her get better oriented with the city. 'This is my second visit to Penang and I returned because I love the peaceful atmosphere and friendly people here. 'I went to Esplanade and Batu Ferringhi recently and noticed the tourist police stationed at both places. I approached them once for directions to a bus stop and they were polite and helpful even though we had some language barriers. 'Their presence really makes it easier for tourists like me to explore with peace of mind,' she said. Marketing consultant Emily Hartmann, 34, from Frankfurt, Germany, found it reassuring to have the UPP personnel around, especially at busy spots. 'Their presence makes me feel safer especially when travelling solo. I've seen similar tourist police at places like Bangkok and Barcelona, but here they seem more visible and proactive. 'It's a great initiative that is trusted and helps tourists feel welcomed and protected,' she said. Central police station chief ASP Muhamad Firdaus Ishak said four stations namely his in Lebuh Carnavon, Lebuh Pantai, Jalan Patani and Pulau Tikus are involved in providing UPP personnel on the ground. 'At the Central police station specifically, two to three officers are assigned to the unit from 8am to 8pm daily. They are deployed to areas with high volume of tourists and public traffic, particularly around Lebuh Armenian, Lebuh Cannon and Lebuh Acheh, all located within the Unesco World Heritage Site. 'During peak periods, the regular deployment of two to three UPP officers remains unchanged but other patrol officers, including those from the Motorcycle Patrol Unit (URB), will also conduct routine patrols in those areas to boost crime prevention efforts. 'The common issues often faced by tourists include misplacement of their belongings or needing directions to specific locations. 'Our aim is to not only enhance crime prevention, but also foster a sense of safety among the public, especially foreign tourists. 'With the increasing number of tourists from China, UPP officers have been encouraged to use auto-translation apps to facilitate communication. 'In addition, our station assigns two female Chinese officers on a rotational basis to assist with communication, especially with tourists from China,' he said. The UPP, which was established in 1998, suspended operations during the Covid-19 pandemic following the closure of borders worldwide, but was reactivated on Oct 2 last year. Currently, their operations are coordinated by respective police stations by districts. Besides foreign tourists, locals also benefit from the additional security and hospitality provided by the UPP personnel on the ground. Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said Penang International Airport recorded 3.16 million passengers between January and May this year, a 7.37% increase compared to 2.94 million during the same period in 2024. 'Of the total, 1.7 million were international passengers, up from 1.5 million last year. 'Indonesia accounted for the highest number of international arrivals at 162,768, largely driven by medical tourism, while China followed with 76,532 arrivals, primarily for leisure travel. 'Other key markets included Singapore (59,728), Taiwan (17,672), Thailand (13,589) and India (10,735). 'China has risen from third place last year to second this year, while India, which is now in sixth place, wasn't in the top 10 last year,' he said. China was the only top source country to more than double its tourist arrivals to Malaysia in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Manoharan Periasamy in the Malaysia Tourism Statistics in Brief 2024. He said Malaysia recorded 37.96 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, a 31.1% increase from 28.96 million in 2023. Total tourism receipts also rose significantly, reaching RM106.8bil, up 43.7% from RM74.3bil in 2023. Manoharan added that Singapore remained the leading source of international visitors, followed by Indonesia, China, Thailand, Brunei, and India. The report highlighted particularly strong growth from China and India, with arrivals surging by 130.9% and 76.6% respectively, driven largely by Malaysia's visa exemption policy for both countries. The increase in visitors was supported by a 10.9% rise in weekly flight seat capacity. In terms of travel modes, 66.1% of tourists arrived by land and 28.9% by air. Penang International Airport alone welcomed 1.15 million tourists in 2024. Visitor spending in 2024 totalled RM106.8bil, with shopping accounting for the largest share at 37.4%. The influx of tourists also contributed to hotel occupancy, with Penang hotels registering an average occupancy rate of 56.8% across its 376 hotels and 26,692 available rooms.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is FIFA considering moving the World Cup out of U.S.? Why it's unlikely
Over the past few months, the world has witnessed the Trump administration's increasingly hardline stance on immigration result in visitors getting detained for weeks, people being sent to El Salvadoran torture prisons without due process and, most recently, the deployment of U.S. military personnel in Los Angeles. It's all led to a reasonable question: How can FIFA allow this version of the U.S. to co-host the 2026 World Cup? After all, in a press conference alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, U.S. vice president JD Vance even joked about detaining visitors who overstayed their welcome after the World Cup. It set the tone for a U.S. World Cup that will be openly hostile to foreign visitors and run antithetical to the global event's spirit. But anyone who expects FIFA to hold the U.S. accountable or to even consider the relocation of 2026's World Cup is setting themselves up for disappointment. FIFA's recent history shows exactly why. At face value, the deployment of U.S. troops to confront civilians should be a red line for FIFA. But there's already precedent in FIFA looking the other way on similar operations. In the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Brazilian government established a Pacifying Police Unit to essentially target any suspected criminal in Rio de Janeiro's sprawling favelas (slums). The "pacification" was a chilling misnomer as the UPP frequently engaged in violence and was accused of extrajudicial executions. Disappearances surged in the years leading up to the World Cup. Then, in March of 2014, Brazil sent in the actual military — 2,700 army soldiers — to occupy Rio's favelas through the end of July. Again, here was a country using its military as an occupying force against its own civilians, and FIFA didn't threaten Brazil's hosting status. The 2018 World Cup saw FIFA allow Russia to host despite a government that's known to violently quell dissent. This was before Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine, but Russian president Vladimir Putin had already annexed Crimea amid global outrage. Russia's hosting privileges were also acquired through a massive bribery scandal, and Russia's open hostility to the LGBTQ+ community had visitors concerned about their safety. FIFA's solution? It established an anonymous tipline to report homophobic harassment while still allowing Russia to ban Pride flags at matches. And, of course, there was the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where stadium infrastructure was built through modern-day slave labor that resulted in an estimated 6,500 deaths. FIFA ignored the global outcry about the tournament (acquired through the same corrupt means as Russia) and Qatar's poor human rights record. The only change FIFA really made was to move the tournament to the winter in order to avoid Qatar's devastating summer heat. Infantino watched the World Cup final in a suite alongside Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud — who approved the 2018 murder of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to CIA reporting. On social media, there have been rumors and 'reports' that FIFA is so concerned with the U.S. political climate that the World Cup could be moved entirely to co-hosts Mexico and Canada. But thus far, there is no evidence at all to support that claim and no indication from FIFA that it's even being considered. An AI-generated post on TikTok went viral that claimed Trump could jeopardize the World Cup for the U.S., but like many AI-generated videos, it was straight-up misinformation. Actually, yes! On Wednesday, FIFA released a statement to celebrate the one-year mark out from the 2026 World Cup. It said: The 2026 edition is expected to welcome 6.5 million fans to stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the United States – truly uniting the continent and globe through football. 'One year from now, the greatest football show on the planet will definitely captivate the world like never before,' said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. 'This is more than a tournament, it's a global celebration of connection, unity and passion. From every corner of the world, dreams are turning into reality as teams qualify and fans make their plans to be part of history, counting down to the biggest FIFA World Cup yet.' On Wednesday, it was confirmed that ICE and CBP would have a presence through the Club World Cup taking place this summer in the U.S., starting with Saturday's opener in Miami. ICE claimed that it would just be there to provide 'security,' but DHS did urge fans to have proof of legal status, which was, uh, ominous. Infantino was asked if he had any concerns about potential immigration operations taking place at matches, and the FIFA president spoke favorably about it all. He said: "No, I don't have any concerns about anything in the sense that we are very attentive on any security question. Of course, the most important for us is to guarantee security for all the fans who come to the games. This is our priority. This is the priority of all the authorities who are here. And we want everyone who comes to the games to pass a good moment." Yikes. This late in the process, it's almost beyond the realm of possibility for FIFA to strip the U.S. of hosting rights. It would take a massive opposition from competing federations with top teams boycotting the games and sponsors like Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch InBev pulling support. But it's highly doubtful two U.S.-based companies would work to have a World Cup moved out of the U.S. FIFA was prepared to allow Russia to compete in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers even amid the Ukraine invasion, and it took teams being willing to forfeit in protest for UEFA and FIFA to make a decision to ban Russia. But until the U.S. faces that kind of backlash on a global scale, don't count on FIFA to do anything about it. The organization has shown what it's about countless times already. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Is FIFA considering moving the World Cup out of the U.S.?
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Is FIFA considering moving the World Cup out of U.S.? Why\u00a0it's\u00a0unlikely
Is FIFA considering moving the World Cup out of U.S.? Why it's unlikely Over the past few months, the world has witnessed the Trump administration's increasingly hardline stance on immigration result in visitors getting detained for weeks, people being sent to El Salvadoran torture prisons without due process and, most recently, the deployment of U.S. military personnel in Los Angeles. It's all led to a reasonable question: How can FIFA allow this version of the U.S. to co-host the 2026 World Cup? After all, in a press conference alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, U.S. vice president JD Vance even joked about detaining visitors who overstayed their welcome after the World Cup. It set the tone for a U.S. World Cup that will be openly hostile to foreign visitors and run antithetical to the global event's spirit. But anyone who expects FIFA to hold the U.S. accountable or to even consider the relocation of 2026's World Cup is setting themselves up for disappointment. FIFA's recent history shows exactly why. Just look at the past three World Cups At face value, the deployment of U.S troops to confront civilians should be a red line for FIFA. But there's already precedent in FIFA looking the other way on similar operations. In the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Brazilian government established a Pacifying Police Unit to essentially target any suspected criminal in Rio de Janeiro's sprawling favelas (slums). The "pacification" was a chilling misnomer as the UPP frequently engaged in violence and was accused of extrajudicial executions. Disappearances surged in the years leading up to the World Cup. Then, in March of 2014, Brazil sent in the actual military — 2,700 army soldiers — to occupy Rio's favelas through the end of July. Again, here was a country using its military as an occupying force against its own civilians, and FIFA didn't threaten Brazil's hosting status. The 2018 World Cup saw FIFA allow Russia to host despite a government that's known to violently quell dissent. This was before Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine, but Russian president Vladimir Putin had already annexed Crimea amid global outrage. Russia's hosting privileges were also acquired through a massive bribery scandal, and Russia's open hostility to the LGBTQ+ community had visitors concerned about their safety. FIFA's solution? It established an anonymous tipline to report homophobic harassment while still allowing Russia to ban Pride flags at matches. And, of course, there was the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where stadium infrastructure was built through modern-day slave labor that resulted in an estimated 6,500 deaths. FIFA ignored the global outcry about the tournament (acquired through the same corrupt means as Russia) and Qatar's poor human rights record. The only change FIFA really made was to move the tournament to the winter in order to avoid Qatar's devastating summer heat. Infantino watched the World Cup final in a suite alongside Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud — who approved the 2018 murder of American journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to CIA reporting. Aren't there rumors that the 2026 World Cup is getting moved? On social media, there have been rumors and 'reports' that FIFA is so concerned with the U.S. political climate that the World Cup could be moved entirely to co-hosts Mexico and Canada. But thus far, there is no evidence at all to support that claim and no indication from FIFA that it's even being considered. An AI-generated post on TikTok went viral that claimed Trump could jeopardize the World Cup for the U.S., but like many AI-generated videos, it was straight-up misinformation. Has FIFA spoken about the 2026 World Cup recently? Actually, yes! On Wednesday, FIFA released a statement to celebrate the one-year mark out from the 2026 World Cup. It said: The 2026 edition is expected to welcome 6.5 million fans to stadiums across Canada, Mexico and the United States – truly uniting the continent and globe through football. 'One year from now, the greatest football show on the planet will definitely captivate the world like never before,' said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. 'This is more than a tournament, it's a global celebration of connection, unity and passion. From every corner of the world, dreams are turning into reality as teams qualify and fans make their plans to be part of history, counting down to the biggest FIFA World Cup yet.' What about ICE operations at the Club World Cup? Isn't FIFA concerned about that? On Wednesday, it was confirmed that ICE and CBP would have a presence through the Club World Cup taking place this summer in the U.S., starting with Saturday's opener in Miami. ICE claimed that it would just be there to provide 'security,' but DHS did urge fans to have proof of legal status, which was, uh, ominous. Infantino was asked if he had any concerns about potential immigration operations taking place at matches, and the FIFA president spoke favorably about it all. He said: "No, I don't have any concerns about anything in the sense that we are very attentive on any security question. Of course, the most important for us is to guarantee security for all the fans who come to the games. This is our priority. This is the priority of all the authorities who are here. And we want everyone who comes to the games to pass a good moment." Yikes. What would it take for FIFA to consider a move? This late in the process, it's almost beyond the realm of possibility for FIFA to strip the U.S. of hosting rights. It would take a massive opposition from competing federations with top teams boycotting the games and sponsors like Coca-Cola and Anheuser-Busch InBev pulling support. But it's highly doubtful two U.S.-based companies would work to have a World Cup moved out of the U.S. FIFA was prepared to allow Russia to compete in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers even amid the Ukraine invasion, and it took teams being willing to forfeit in protest for UEFA and FIFA to make a decision to ban Russia. But until the U.S. faces that kind of backlash on a global scale, don't count on FIFA to do anything about it. The organization has shown what it's about countless times already.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Karlovy Vary Film Festival Set To Revamp Industry Days Section With Bigger Focus On Series & Central European Co-Pros
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has given its Industry Days program a revamp, adding an extra day to the section while also extending its remit to the small screen and series development. The extended program, which takes place across four days (July 6-9) and is supported by a new partnership with entertainment outfit and broadcaster Central European Media Enterprises, will introduce a Pop-Up Series Incubator featuring five original European series. The aim is to establish Karlovy Vary as a hub for co-productions and creative collaborations across diverse narrative forms. More from Deadline Kelsey Grammer Boards 'Hell Ride'; Karlovy Vary Names Chair; Tarf Enters Theatrical Distribution; ITV Soap Boss Retiring - Global Briefs Jiří Bartoška Dies: Czech Actor And Karlovy Vary Film Festival President Was 78 Czech Oscar Entry 'Waves' Secures French Distribution With ARP Sélection 'We believe that we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our position as the leading industry event dedicated to Central Europe, a region that also includes creative powerhouses like Poland, Germany or Austria, and deserves focused international attention,' said KVIFF Executive Director Kryštof Mucha in a statement. 'Our aim is to serve as a central hub for producers, filmmakers, broadcasters and platforms from Central Europe, alongside global industry professionals who wish to engage closely with this vibrant region. Recognizing the growing crossover of storytelling across various mediums, our expanded Industry Days now have the capacity and vision to fully embrace this revolution.' Central Europe Takes Central Stage This year, there will be a new format dedicated to showcasing film projects in the making – the previous Works in Progress pitches will be replaced by a Central Eastern Europe-focused KVIFF Central Stage showcase, a new initiative created by the KVIFF Film Industry Office in cooperation with selected national film institutes of eight CEE nations (Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine). Thirteen fiction films by established filmmakers from these countries that are in late stages of development, in production or post production, will feature in this initiative, which takes place on July 8 on the Industry Main Stage in the KVIFF Industry Hug in Kaiserbad. Instead of traditional pitches, projects will be introduced through interactive talks, with a focus on filmmakers and the co-production landscape in each of the participating countries. The projects, which will be announced later this month, will be eligible for exclusive post-production benefits thanks to a partnership with leading studios UPP and Soundsquare. Projects qualifying for the Czech Audiovisual Fund's 35% incentive for digital production will receive an additional 15% direct discount from UPP and Soundsquare for comprehensive audio-visual post-production services. The most promising films in development, which will be selected by an international jury, will also be eligible for the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award. 'We chose this new format because it addresses a real gap in the Central European film landscape,' said Hugo Rosák, Head of the KVIFF Industry Office. 'There is significant support for emerging filmmakers across Eastern Europe, but mid-career filmmakers often lack the necessary spotlight and resources to secure financing, even though their projects are equally compelling.' Small Screen, Big Ambitions This year, the industry program will also look to embrace small-screen content through a new partnership with Central European Media Enterprises, a content creator and broadcaster that works in Central and Easter Europe in territories such as Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Slovenia. It also operates VoD platform Oneplay (formerly Voyo). The aim is to transform KVIFF into a comprehensive hub for television and streaming series development with a program consisting of showcases, panels, workshops and talks by major small-screen players and experts. That event will take place on July 8 and 9. Pop Up Series Incubator A vital part of the new small-screen focus is the Pop Up Series Incubator showcase, which takes place on July 8. It's a new series development program designed to support European producers and scriptwriters by boosting their projects through hands-on development, expert mentorship and financial support. Presented and organized by Tatino Films, co-financed by the European Union and supported and hosted by La Région Grand Est, the city of Reims and KVIFF, the eight-month-long program comes together in Karlovy Vary with a pitching session where the creative teams will present their series concepts to industry professionals and decision makers, followed by curated match-making sessions with professionals that look to finance or produce series. The 5 selected projects that will be showcased in Karlovy Vary are: (Romania) Producer: Anda Ionescu, Tangaj Production Writer: Cristina Grosan Based on a true story of The Angel Makers of Nagyrév Accompanied by screenwriters Leana Jalukse and Loïc Barrère (France) Producer: Eric Dupont, Incognito Films Based on La Vita Erotica Dei Superuomini, acclaimed Italian novel by Marco Mancassola Accompanied by screenwriters Nadya Todorova, and Ruddy-Williams Kabuiku (France) Producer: Candice Zaccagnino, Eliane Antoinette Writer: David Roux on La Nuit des Béguines, acclaimed French novel by Aline Kiner Accompanied by screenwriter Yaelle Kayam (Greece) Producer: Fenia Cossovitsa, BLONDE S.A. Writer: Elina Psykou Based on Alfatride (O iatrodikastis), a Greek novel by Vassilis Vassilikos Accompanied by screenwriter Lemba de Miranda (Lithuania) Producer: Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė, Just a moment Writer: Birutė Kapustinskaitė Based on a play by Lithuanian writer Birutė Kapustinskaitė Accompanied by screenwriters Fabrizio Muscia and Ruxandra Ghitescu Works In Development – Feature Launch & Focus Queer to Compete For Eurimages Co-Production Development Award One of the KVIFF Eastern Promises staples, the Midpoint Institute's Works In Development international script development program will showcase nine feature-length projects that are currently in development and five additional projects developed within Midpoint – Focus Queer, a program supporting filmmakers exploring queer narratives, highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion in contemporary storytelling. The projects, now looking for co-production partners, will compete for the traditional €10,000 Midpoint and KVIFF Development Award, as well as the €20,000 Eurimages Co-Production Development Award. Presentations take place on July 7. KVIFF Talents Now in its third edition, KVIFF Talents is a year-long program which supports Czech and Slovak filmmakers and innovative audiovisual genres. The Creative Pool focuses on identifying innovative audiovisual works of any genre or format – from short films to series to podcasts or game concepts. Feature Pool is dedicated to development of original auteur-driven feature-length fiction films. Six projects have been selected – three series and three features – which will receive development funding, mentorship from industry experts and the opportunity to present projects to potential producers, partners and investors on July 7. The projects are: (Czech Republic) Feature debut combining live action and stop-motion animation Animator & Director: Daria Kashcheeva Producer: Lukáš Kokeš, Nutprodukce (Czech Republic, Slovakia) Feature film – thriller Director: Tomáš Klein Screenwriter: Barbora Námerová Producer: Tomáš Michálek, Master Film (Czech Republic) Feature debut based on the novel by Petr Šesták Writer & Director: Greta Stocklassa Producer: Marek Novák, Xova Films (Czech Republic) Animated series for both children and adults Animator & Director: Phillip Kastner Producer: Tereza Havlová (Czech Republic) Anime series Writer & Director: Dužan Duong Producers: AZN kru and Nutprodukce (Czech Republic) Live-action musical series Writer & Director: Kateřina Letáková Producer: Daniel Bleha, Filmkolektiv Proven Industry Events Anchor Expanded Program In addition to these new showcases, KVIFF Industry Days will continue to offer its traditional mix of events, such as the Czech Film Industry Forum and International Industry Insights Forum, a series of swift sessions that provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the global and local markets. The program includes more in-depth workshops, panels and talks on the Workshop Stage, as well as industry networking and meeting opportunities. The schedule will be published later this month. Best of Deadline Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Winners Through The Years Deadline Studio At Sundance Film Festival Photo Gallery: Dylan O'Brien, Ayo Edebiri, Jennifer Lopez, Lily Gladstone, Benedict Cumberbatch & More TIFF People's Choice Award Winners Through The Years: Photo Gallery
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Private parking operator agrees to pay Vt. $150,000 over 'misleading citations'
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – A Maine-based private parking operator has agreed to pay Vermont roughly $150,000 after the company issued 'citations' without governmental authority to do so, Attorney General Charity Clark announced. Unified Parking Partners runs about 27 private parking areas in various parts of the state. UPP reportedly sent 'citations' to consumers over the course of four years, between 2020 and 2024. If unpaid, UPP alleged that 'citations' could impact license renewal, credit rating and more. In a release, Attorney General Clark and her office said that 'thousands' of consumers paid off these fines, and that UPP does not have the proper authority to impact consumer credit. Officers search for suspect in golf-cart theft An investigation was conducted regarding UPP's possible Consumer Protection Act violations, and they have agreed to change 'misleading parking notices' in addition to paying the fine. The company must also stop using term 'carrying any consequence it has no lawfulauthority to make,' according to an excerpt from the settlement agreement. Such language includes the terms 'citation' and 'fine'. Attorney General Clark said she is 'pleased that this company has agreed to stop its misrepresentations.' 'Companies have a right to charge for services rendered, but not to trick consumers into paying out of fear that disputing a charge could come with consequences the company has no power to impose. The message to commercial actors is that words matter and misrepresentations carry consequences. I'm pleased that this company has agreed to stop its misrepresentations.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
