Technology and philosophy

Monday, June 29, 2026

Woman Wanders Through Empty Parliament as Guards Sleep on Duty

A female individual reportedly walked freely through the Houses of Parliament during late hours when security personnel were found sleeping at their posts.

As part of a string of humiliating events, the midlife tourist managed to avoid being noticed for multiple hours by concealing herself in the restrooms following the conclusion of her scheduled visit to the House of Commons.

She later walked through the halls of influence without opposition during the early hours of Sunday morning until she was finally seen, prompting the police to be summoned to detain her for entering unauthorized areas.

Currently, the parliamentary officials have initiated a swift inquiry into how this alarming mistake occurred—and it may examine allegations that staff assigned to patrol the renowned location were instead resting.

A source informed the Daily Mail: "This has created significant controversy because it was discovered that many of the night shift staff who were supposed to be patrolling near the building were actually sleeping."

It happened following an intruder who entered the property during the day and was finally halted by a heating technician when he had gone deep within the House of Lords.

The officials have also faced embarrassment due to a £10 million entrance gate that failed to function properly and a "unattractive" barrier, with Members of Parliament and peers taken aback when Director of Parliamentary Security Alison Giles suddenly resigned early this year.

During the most recent incident, a woman participated in an authorized tour of Parliament on Saturday afternoon before reportedly locking herself inside a restroom stall in Westminster Hall well beyond the time visitors were allowed to stay.

It is said she did not come out of her hiding spot until approximately 2 am on Sunday, after which she started walking around Parliament.

Nevertheless, officials refuted claims that she reached the Prime Minister's office located in the corridor behind the Speaker's Chair.

The female individual was discovered again within Westminster Hall, the earliest remaining section of the palace, with security personnel contacting law enforcement to effect her arrest.

A spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police stated: "On the early morning of Sunday, June 7, a woman in her 50s was taken into custody on charges of unauthorized entry—violating part of the Serious Organized Crime and Police Act 2005—after she stayed within the Palace of Westminster for multiple hours following the end of a scheduled tour."

She was granted bail while additional investigations continue.

A representative from Parliament stated, "An individual was taken into custody for entering the parliamentary grounds without permission on Sunday, June 7th. This matter is currently under investigation by the Metropolitan Police."

The well-being and protection of everyone working in or visiting Parliament remains our highest concern. Although we can’t discuss our security procedures or actions, an assessment is currently being conducted after the event.

The inquiry is anticipated to concentrate on the Post and Patrol staff, individuals belonging to the Parliamentary Security Division tasked with protecting the interior of the premises.

Throughout night shifts, they are assigned specific zones to oversee and are supposed to inspect restrooms; however, it is alleged that they did not detect the woman who was located in a stall labeled as out of service due to repairs.

They are accused of going to sleep instead of remaining on duty through the night — and the intruder was later discovered by Perimeter Officers who typically concentrate on the exterior of the property and the primary entrances.

A source stated, "The administration is expected to impose severe consequences on the officers working during last Saturday evening."

They have responded with an immediate reaction to this situation by requiring all officers on duty to report their locations to the control center at all times; not complying with this is considered a disciplinary issue. Additionally, they are attempting to hide this incident due to its embarrassment.

This month, it came to light that 23 law enforcement personnel received allegations of improper conduct due to reports that individuals tasked with safeguarding the Royal Family at Windsor Castle were found sleeping during their shifts.

Singapore Confirms Arrest Warrants for 1MDB's Jho Low Remain Active Despite U.S. Clemency Effort

A number of assets connected to 1MDB continue to be held in Singapore, including properties valued at approximately $78 million linked to Low and his relatives.

Singapore police stated that arrest orders for the wanted financial figure Jho Low are still valid, despite the fact that the Malaysian keeps trying to request mercy from the US President Donald Trump .

"Warrants of arrest and Interpol "Red Notices remain active for both Tan Kim Loong and Low Taek Jho," stated the police in a release on Wednesday. Tan is recognized as an associate of Low and is also involved in Malaysia's multi-billion dollar case. 1MDB scandal .

The U.S. and Malaysian officials accuse Low of orchestrating the 1MDB controversy, where billions are said to have been illegally taken from the state-owned investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad. Funds were reportedly redirected via a network of dummy corporations, with Low — who has remained hidden since 2015 — denying any involvement in improper activities.

Are you curious about the major issues and developments happening globally? Find your answers here with SCMP Knowledge Our latest platform featuring carefully selected content, including explanations, frequently asked questions, analysis, and visual graphics, presented by our acclaimed team.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim He stated that his administration would not entertain any petition for clemency regarding Low, as reported by the state news agency Bernama. Legal processes concerning Low—who faced charges in his absence in 2018—continue to be pursued.

Singapore officials mentioned that multiple properties linked to 1MDB are still under seizure in the country, including those associated with Low and his relatives. By July 2024, approximately S$164 million (US$127 million) in assets had been frozen or restricted from being sold, with S$101 million related directly to Low and his family.

Malaysia has retrieved 29.75 billion ringgit (US$7.3 billion) worth of assets linked to 1MDB, representing roughly 70 percent of the 42 billion ringgit reportedly misappropriated from the fund, as reported by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission .

In 2018, Low faced charges from U.S. officials but managed to avoid capture. Recently, he filed a request for clemency with the U.S. Department of Justice, as mentioned in an announcement on the DOJ’s official site.

CEO of UK AI Firm Found Dead by Stabbing Weeks After Taking Leadership Role

Neil Muller, the recently named CEO of UK tech firm Node4, was discovered fatally injured with stab wounds at his residence in central England only seven weeks after starting the role.

Muller was discovered at his secured, five-bedroom home located on Langley Road in the village of Claverdon, Warwickshire, during the early hours of June 7th. Stratford Herald reported.

Emergency medical personnel notified authorities at 6:15 a.m. regarding a man in his 50s requiring immediate treatment after being stabbed in the chest, as stated by a Warwickshire Police report. The individual was declared deceased at the location at 6:37 a.m.

A 55-year-old woman from Birmingham was taken into custody at 7:33 a.m. on charges related to murder and later granted bail, according to authorities. The police department stated there is no ongoing threat to the general public and that an inquiry is currently being conducted.

Muller was appointed as group CEO of Node4, based in Derby, in April. Node4, which refers to itself as an artificial intelligence business solutions and managed service provider, is among the biggest tech firms in the Midlands. The company is supported by the private equity firm Providence Equity Partners and has approximately 1,100 employees. Muller was hired to refine the company’s approach and grow its AI-enhanced offerings.

A representative from Node4 expressed in a statement that the company was "deeply saddened" by Müller's passing.

Even though Neil has only recently become part of Node4, he created a significant influence within a brief period," the spokesperson stated. "He introduced genuine enthusiasm, drive, and dedication to the company, and his absence will be profoundly missed by everyone at Node4 and beyond in the broader sector.

Muller dedicated over twenty years with the IT solutions company Computacenter, ascending to the position of managing director for the U.K. and Ireland, subsequently holding the role of group chief executive officer at Daisy Group between 2015 and 2018, and later overseeing the cloud technology firm Digital Space for seven years up until 2025.

Messages of appreciation from various parts of the UK tech industry came after word of his passing. John Bearn, the European managing director at Computacenter, commented on LinkedIn That Muller was among the top professionals in the field, according to the trade magazine. Insider Media reported.

Neil Muller, former CEO of Node4. Image courtesy of Facebook

In addition to his professional life, Muller was a prominent presence in Claverdon, having served for six years with the local football club as both assistant manager and manager before retiring from those roles approximately two years ago. He continued to support the club financially, which achieved a league and cup double this season. He was captured joining the team in celebration of their success at Warwick Racecourse earlier this year, the Daily Mail noted. He has a spouse and two offspring.

His father, Brian, aged 81, said to the Daily Mail The family remained eager to find out what had occurred.

I received a phone call from the police at 9 a.m. on Monday morning informing me that Neil had passed away, but they haven’t provided us with any further details. We haven’t met with the police or received any additional information, so we simply don’t have more knowledge about what happened.

He mentioned that he had last talked to his son via telephone the prior week, noting that the family occasionally experienced long periods without communication due to his son's job.

Resident claimed they were shocked by the passing. A nearby resident, who requested anonymity, mentioned that Müller contributed significantly to the local soccer team and that his absence was profoundly missed throughout the community.

Editorial: Why Male-Line Emperors Are Harming Japan’s Imperial Future

Efforts have progressed towards amending Japan's Imperial Household Law for the first time since the adoption of the present constitution, aiming to ensure the continued operations of the imperial family. However, the core issue—establishing a clear route for secure imperial succession—has remained unresolved.

A suggestion for dietary improvements aimed at ensuring sufficient members within the Imperial Family has been developed. The majority of political parties have endorsed a strategy allowing female descendants of the Imperial Family, such as Princess Aiko, who is 24 years old and the child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, to maintain their titles following marriage. Additionally, this approach includes provisions enabling males from previous branches of the imperial family to be adopted into the Imperial Family. However, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, which serves as the primary opposition group in the House of Councillors, rejected the idea of adoptions.

According to the Imperial Household Act, a woman within the royal family who weds someone not part of the dynasty forfeits her imperial title. Among the six single individuals in the Royal Family belonging to generations below the current emperor, five are females. The only male among them is Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old firstborn son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko. Without intervention, this trend will continue unchecked, leading to further reduction in their ranks.

It is appropriate to honor the desires of the women within the Imperial Family and let them decide if they wish to stay part of the family. Both the governing and opposition parties largely concur on this matter. As this issue significantly impacts the personal lives of female members of the imperial household, it must be implemented as soon as possible.

The question of whether the husbands and children of women in the imperial family should also be included in the imperial lineage was central to discussions, but an agreement remains postponed at this time. This is due to concerns from the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and others that granting membership to these individuals might result in an emperor descending through the maternal line.

However, some argue that if spouses and offspring continue to be regular citizens, enjoying constitutional rights to participate in politics and economics, there is a possibility the Imperial Family might be taken advantage of. The present-day Imperial Family performs its official responsibilities as a unified family, making it reasonable for husbands and children to also be part of this familial structure.

At the same time, it raises concerns that the proposal to include adoptive individuals who have a paternal lineage tracing back to an emperor as part of the imperial family was approved.

The people in question would be descendants of the 11 former branch houses that left the Imperial Family about 80 years ago. It is doubtful that the public would accept, as objects of respect, people who were born and raised as ordinary citizens. Some also argue that this would amount to discrimination based on family lineage, which is prohibited by Article 14 of the Constitution. Tracing the male line, their blood relationship to the current Imperial Family is distant, and one would have to go back as far as the Muromachi period (approx. 1336-1573).

According to an opinion survey conducted by Mainichi Shimbun in May, 63% favored permitting women from the Imperial Family to keep their titles, whereas backing for the adoption proposal stood at just 36%.

Article 1 of the Constitution indicates that the Emperor's role comes from "the will of the people." The LDP along with its allied party Nippon Ishin (known as the Japan Innovation Party, or JIP), clearly mentioned in their joint agreement that implementing this plan was their main focus; however, this does not truly reflect the will of the general population.

Firstly, the proposal to include males from previous branch families into the imperial family was not included in the 2005 report prepared by an expert committee during the Junichiro Koizumi government. This decision was made due to concerns regarding public comprehension and acceptance, as well as issues related to stability and traditional practices. In order to maintain the current structure, the committee supported the possibility of having female and maternal-line emperors.

Approximately half of Japan's former emperors had mothers who were consorts, yet this practice does not align with modern societal values. So long as there remains a strong commitment to preserving the paternal lineage, women joining the imperial family will face significant expectations to bear a son. Maintaining such a structure would prove very challenging.

With the progress of women within society and increasing examination of gender-based roles, societal values have evolved. The Emperor’s position as a symbolic figure is upheld not solely through tradition and lineage, but also due to the public's comprehension and empathy.

Following World War II, the imperial family has adapted well to changing societal circumstances, such as accepting wives from common people.

According to a Mainichi survey, 72% of people support having a female emperor. If the issue of permitting female rulers and those from the maternal line isn't addressed, the system could face an impasse, both structurally and regarding societal perception.

Nevertheless, House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori stated during a press briefing on June 8 that if a boy was born to an adoptive family member, he would be eligible to inherit the throne. This statement contrasted with the Diet's proposed plan, which sought widespread consensus, revealing the LDP's genuine commitment to maintaining the male lineage.

After the specific legislation for amending the Imperial Household Act and enabling the resignation of current Emperor Emeritus Akihito came into effect in 2017, a joint resolution approved by both the governing party and the main opposition urged the administration to explore methods for securing consistent imperial succession and establishing branches headed by women within the royal family. However, the 2021 report from the government’s advisory committee suddenly introduced an adoption proposal without addressing the core issue of succession.

The present Diet plan is merely an improvised solution aimed at maintaining the size of the Imperial Family, and it fails to address the key problem directly. A fresh group of specialists needs to be formed, and the discussion should begin anew with greater depth.

The present imperial household has aimed to remain "close to the people," which has garnered backing. However, should the family move excessively away from public awareness due to intense endeavors to preserve the custom of male-only inheritance, it would lose its legitimacy as the "emblem of the nation and the representation of national unity."

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Supreme Court: Cosmetic Tattoos Not Considered Unlicensed Medical Practice

The highest judicial authority has decided that individuals without medical training cannot face penalties for conducting aesthetic tattooing services like eyeliner and forehead line tattoos. This represents the initial instance where the court implemented its updated ruling, set by the Supreme Court as a whole body just last month following 34 years of previous guidelines, stating, "Aesthetic tattoo procedures carried out by those without medical qualifications do not qualify as unauthorized medical activity."

The Third Division of the Supreme Court (presided over by Justice No Kyung-pil) concluded the case of aesthetician A, resulting in an acquittal for alleged violations of the Health Crime Control Act as an unlicensed medical professional on the 11th.

Person A faced charges for conducting semi-permanent eyebrow and hairline tattoos on 14 customers between March and June 2019 at a beauty clinic located in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, earning more than two million South Korean won. The prosecutors claimed that tattooing, which includes puncturing the skin using needles to insert color, qualifies as a medical procedure under the Medical Services Act, asserting that A, who lacks medical qualifications, performed unauthorized medical activities.

Nevertheless, both the initial and subsequent trials found A. Not guilty. In the first trial held in 2022, it was determined that the phrase "medical act" within the Medical Services Act should be understood narrowly, referring exclusively to activities connected with illness prevention, identification, therapy, or comparable functions. The court decided that eyebrows and hairline tattooing have no connection to treatment and can be carried out by individuals without medical qualifications provided they receive appropriate instruction and maintain proper sanitation standards, therefore not falling under the category of medical acts. The second trial confirmed the verdict of innocence.

Last month on the 21st, the full bench of the Supreme Court updated its previous ruling, noting, "Although tattooing may sometimes be done by healthcare practitioners, it is usually conducted by individuals without medical training. Standard cosmetic tattoo services provided by those without medical licenses do not qualify as practicing medicine without authorization." This represented the initial modification in legal guidance after 34 years.

After the en banc ruling, the Supreme Court rejected the prosecutor's appeal and concluded with A's innocence. The court remarked, "The lower court's verdict stating that the tattooing process was not considered a medical procedure and therefore led to A's acquittal is justified."

Prosecutor Demands 8-Month Sentence for YouTube Spy Claim

The prosecutor asked for an eight-month jail term for a YouTube content creator who alleged that Kim Hee-young, head of the T&C Foundation and girlfriend of SK Group CEO Chey Tae-won, worked as a Chinese intelligence agent.

Judge Kwon Min-jeong from the Criminal Division 6 of the Seoul Eastern District Court conducted the initial hearing on the 11th for Park, a man in his 50s, who has been brought to court charged with defamation via misleading information under the Information and Communications Network Act. Park had previously received an indictment without being detained in April.

Park is charged with disseminating misleading information, such as claiming on his YouTube channel last year that Kim was highly likely to be a Chinese spy.

The prosecutor asked the court to impose an 8-month jail term on Park, saying, "The accused made unfounded and unreasonable statements and posted videos of those comments, which worsened the severity of the offense."

Park confessed to all the allegations.

The trial judgment for Park is scheduled for the 9th day of the following month.

Supreme Court Confirms 5-Year Sentence for Jagyeongdan Missionary

On the 11th, the Supreme Court approved a five-year jail term for a woman charged with producing explicit content involving sexual abuse and engaging in acts akin to rape against a child, during her involvement with 'Jagyeongdan,' South Korea's most extensive sex trafficking organization.

The Third Division of the Supreme Court (led by Chief Justice Oh Seok-jun) confirmed the decision made by the lower court, dismissing the appeal filed by Defendant Ms. A regarding allegations of membership in or managing a criminal group and breaching the Child and Adolescent Protection Act (which includes producing materials related to child sexual abuse).

Jagyeongdan was a pyramid scheme operating through Telegram, established in 2020 under the leadership of Kim Nok-wan. The organization gathered personal details from people who shared images of their bodies on social platforms, women who sought arranged meetups, and males attempting to access Telegram's 'Acquaintance Humiliation Room.' Victims were coerced into providing explicit photographs, which were subsequently utilized for producing and spreading sexually abusive content. It has been discovered that Kim Nok-wan was involved in several real-life sexual attacks as well. With 261 victims, including children, this figure surpasses triple the amount seen in the "Doctor’s Room" incident headed by Cho Joo-bin, which had 73 victims.

Kim Nok-wan, who called himself a 'pastor,' gave titles such as 'missionary' and 'potential missionary' to followers while engaging in acts of sexual exploitation. Ms. A, serving as a missionary within Jagyeongdan, was charged with creating child pornography and attempting rape against a male underage victim.

The initial and subsequent court proceedings resulted in Ms. A receiving a sentence of five years in jail along with three years under supervised release. Throughout the legal process, Ms. A asserted, "I was simply an instrument forced by Kim Nok-wan's intimidation and had no intention of participating in criminal activities," however, the highest judicial authority dismissed this claim. The ruling emphasized, "Her involvement in linking victims to Kim Nok-wan played a central and crucial role in the sexual exploitation offenses," acknowledging her as a joint offender due to her direct actions like generating explicit content for certain individuals.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court found Ms. A not guilty of being part of a criminal organization, determining that Jagyeongdan did not have enough structural organization to qualify as a criminal group according to the Criminal Act. The court supported the previous decision, noting, "No proof exists that Jagyeongdan was capable of systematically committing crimes independently of Kim Nok-wan."

In the initial and subsequent trials related to the Jagyeongdan incident, Kim Nok-wan was sentenced to life in prison. He has filed an appeal against the decision from the second trial, and the Supreme Court is now examining the matter.