PERWI

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 - Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has won the first battle in his Sodomy II trial.

Today, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge S M Komathy Suppiah ruled the certificatedsigned by the Attorney-General requesting the case be transferred to the High Court was invalid.

Earlier, Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad ruled that the Home Minister acted outside his powers in having Raja Petra arrested on Sept 12, and the grounds given for his detention were insufficient.

The judge ordered that Raja Petra be brought to the court no later than 4pm, for him to be released.

As Raja Petra walked to the courtroom, he was greeted with shouts of 'RPK' from dozens of his supporters, who came in t-shirts with the word "I am with RPK" printed on them, to celebrate his release.

Raja Petra was brought to the court at 3.15pm and the judge praised the prison authorities for its professionalism. . . . read more

Between 1998 and 2003 the United Nations (UN) has estimated that the war led to the deaths of as many as 5.2 million civilians. It is the bloodiest conflict since the end of the Second World War.

This is not a “civil” war but an international one. It has pulled in neighbouring states that have armed rebel groups and involved Western multinationals and governments that supported different sides in their attempts to control mines and minerals in the DRC. . . . read more from SW

A voter hotline set up by CNN to monitor polling problems received 56,000 calls, 22,000 of them being complaints. The most common problems concerned voter registration, absentee ballots going astray and voting machine malfunctions.

With the stakes high, there were reports of dirty tricks and legal battles, as well as what is now customary chaos at American polling stations. Voter intimidation, faulty machines, late poll openings, missing ballot papers and even the rain brought problems. . . . read more

Powell and Palin - Colin Powell endorses Obama; Sarah Palin tries comedy

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct.22 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Supreme Head Mizan Zainal Abidin has consented to the appointment of Zaki Azmi as the country's chief justice, local newspapers reported on Wednesday.

    The decision was made following the advice of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and deliberation of the Rulers' Conference, the New Straits Times said.

    The king also gave nod for the appointment of former Chief Judge of Malaya, Mohd Sheriff, as the president of the Court of Appeal.

    Former Federal Court Judge, Arifin Zakaria, had been appointed as the Chief Judge of Malaya.

    The appointments were effective from Oct.18, the newspaper said.

 xinhuanet

Zaki Tun Azmi is a contraversial figure as far as the opposition is concerned with colourful background of with Baby, businesses and politics.