- Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections.
Edwin Díaz opted out of Mets contract
Edwin Díaz opted out of the final two years of his five-year, $102 million contract with the New York Mets.










































View all Military Conflicts news
View all Entertainment news
View all Sport news

Edwin Díaz opted out of the final two years of his five-year, $102 million contract with the New York Mets.
I opted out of the final two years of my five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets.
I am willing to leave the Mets if it means getting the best deal for me and my family.
The New York Mets and Devin Williams agreed on a three-year contract worth over $50 million.
I am looking for a five-year contract.
We are looking for a contract in the range of three years for Díaz.
I consider the Los Angeles Dodgers the favorite to sign Edwin Díaz.
We are still interested in bringing back Edwin Díaz.
I am open to pitching in a setup role for the Mets.
Edwin Díaz will sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the winter meetings.
The Mets will sign Edwin Díaz to a four-year contract.
Slide 1 of 5

01 General knowledge
The 1MDB scandal is one of the largest corruption cases in modern history, involving the alleged theft of billions of dollars from a Malaysian state fund co-founded by Najib Razak in 2009. US and Malaysian investigators estimate that at least US$4.5 billion was stolen from the fund, with about US$1 billion linked to Najib's accounts. The scandal triggered national outrage and contributed to the fall of his party, UMNO, in the 2018 elections. Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, was convicted in 2020 for graft and money laundering, becoming the first former Malaysian leader to be imprisoned.
The case has drawn international attention due to its scale and the involvement of high-ranking officials. Najib's conviction in 2020 was for the fraudulent diversion of 42 million ringgit from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB. He began his prison term in August 2022 after his final appeal failed. The scandal has also led to broader anti-corruption efforts in Malaysia, including charges against other officials and a crackdown on military procurement corruption. The 1MDB case remains a defining issue in Malaysian politics, shaping public perception of the ruling elite and the fight against graft.
02 The subject
Najib Razak, aged 73, is a former Prime Minister of Malaysia who has been imprisoned since 2022 after Malaysia's top court upheld his conviction for graft and money laundering linked to the 1MDB scandal. He co-founded the state fund 1MDB in 2009 and served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018. Najib denies wrongdoing, claiming he was misled by others about the source of funds in his accounts. Despite his conviction, he retains significant political influence within the Barisan Nasional coalition, which is part of Malaysia's unity government, and his lawyer has indicated he may return to politics if pardoned and released.
03 Explained
In Malaysia, a royal pardon is a form of clemency granted by the king, which can reduce a prison sentence or change its conditions. The Pardons Board, which includes the king, reviews applications and can impose conditions, such as paying a fine. In Najib's case, the king granted a conditional pardon in September 2026, allowing him to serve the remainder of his six-year sentence under house arrest until August 2028, provided he paid a RM50 million fine. This is an unprecedented use of house arrest as a form of royal clemency in Malaysia, raising questions about royal powers and the treatment of prominent corruption convicts.
House arrest is a form of detention where a person serves their sentence at home rather than in prison, subject to conditions. The pardon applies only to the specific sentence it covers; it does not affect other sentences. In Najib's case, the house arrest does not cover a separate 15-year sentence from a second trial, which is scheduled to begin after his house arrest ends. The legal process for such pardons involves the Pardons Board, and courts can review the validity of royal orders, as seen in a 2025 ruling that rejected Najib's earlier bid for house arrest.
04 Previous developments
Najib was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined 210 million ringgit in 2020. In January 2024, the Pardons Board halved his sentence to six years and reduced the fine to 50 million ringgit. In December 2025, he was convicted in a separate 1MDB case and sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison and fined 11.4 billion ringgit, which will take effect after his current sentence ends. In September 2026, the king granted a conditional pardon for the six-year sentence, allowing house arrest until August 2028, provided the fine was paid.
On September 18, 2026, the Pardons Board meeting granted the conditional pardon, just a week after Najib's clemency application was deferred. Following the pardon, Najib's lawyers filed an application to stay the 15-year sentence, which was heard on October 14, 2026, but the court dismissed it, ruling there were no special circumstances warranting a stay. On November 6, 2026, UMNO paid the RM50 million fine, clearing the way for Najib's transfer to house arrest. However, the attorney general suspended the transfer on the same day, pending legal review.
05 The environment
The suspension of Najib's transfer has created a standoff between the attorney general and the royal palace. The palace insists that the royal decision allowing house arrest is clear and must be respected, while the attorney general defends his decision to seek legal clarifications, rejecting accusations of treason. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said he disagrees with UMNO's payment of the fine but acknowledges it is the party's prerogative. He warned that the payment should not give the impression that corruption involving billions of ringgit can simply be overlooked.
UMNO, Najib's party, launched a public solidarity fund on September 18 to raise the fine, which has drawn both support and ridicule, with some netizens donating as little as one cent. The case has sparked public outrage, with critics questioning why ordinary Malaysians should help pay a fine for a convicted former leader. Legal experts note that there are no specific laws in Malaysia governing such crowdfunding, but foreign donations would be subject to anti-money laundering and exchange control regulations. The situation remains fluid, with the attorney general's office expected to complete its legal review and announce a final decision.
06 Why this happened
The attorney general suspended Najib's transfer to house arrest because of unresolved legal questions about the pardon's scope and implementation. The suspension came after UMNO paid the fine, but the attorney general's office says the transfer is suspended until these legal questions are clarified. The house arrest order applies only to Najib's reduced six-year sentence in his first graft trial, not to the separate 15-year sentence from a second trial, which he is appealing. This legal complexity likely prompted the attorney general to seek clarification before allowing the transfer.
The palace's insistence that the order must be implemented adds pressure, but the attorney general's duty to ensure legal compliance may be the primary driver. The suspension could also reflect concerns about public perception and the political implications of allowing a convicted former leader to serve his sentence at home. The attorney general's decision to stand by his action despite the king's rebuke suggests a commitment to legal process over political expediency. The outcome of the legal review will determine whether Najib is eventually transferred to house arrest.
07 Facts and events
The suspension affects Najib's detention status and could influence public perception of Malaysia's anti-corruption efforts. If Najib is eventually transferred to house arrest, it would mark an unprecedented use of royal clemency in Malaysia, raising questions about the treatment of prominent corruption convicts. The case has drawn international attention, with comparisons to other high-profile corruption cases in the region, such as the sentencing of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for obstruction of justice. These comparisons highlight the varying approaches to holding former leaders accountable for corruption.
The legal review's outcome will have significant implications for Najib's political future. His lawyer has indicated that Najib may return to politics if pardoned and released, which could reshape Malaysia's political landscape. The case also underscores the ongoing tension between the monarchy, the executive, and the judiciary in Malaysia. The public's reaction to the fine payment and the suspension reflects deep divisions over Najib's legacy and the fight against corruption.
08 Questions answered
The 1MDB scandal is a major corruption case involving the alleged theft of billions of dollars from a Malaysian state fund, leading to Najib Razak's conviction and imprisonment.
The attorney general suspended the transfer to clarify legal questions about the pardon's scope, as it does not cover a separate 15-year sentence.
The royal pardon is unprecedented in Malaysia, as it allows a convicted former leader to serve his sentence under house arrest, raising questions about royal powers and anti-corruption efforts.
Slide 1 of 5
























Slide 1 of 3
Choose the stories that matter to you—and how you want to see them.