Protesters disrupt Macron speech on Dutch state visit - CNA

THE HAGUE: Protesters interrupted French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (Apr 11) as he gave a keynote speech about European sovereignty during a state visit to the Netherlands.

This prompted the French president to say that those who do not respect the electoral process and elected leaders put democracy in danger.

The 45-year-old French leader has faced a series of protests and strikes in France against his pension reforms, with a new day of industrial action scheduled for Thursday.

"Where is French democracy? When did we lose it?" shouted the demonstrators, who were in the audience in the Amare theatre in The Hague where Macron was starting his address, AFP journalists saw.

Two female protesters held up a yellow banner saying "President of violence and hypocrisy" while one male protester on the other side of the theatre held a blue banner aloft.

"I can answer this question if you give me some time," Macron responded.

For a few minutes, Macron also competed with those who were shouting in trying to make himself heard. He said social debate was "very important," but that the conference was not the place to protest.

Macron also went on to say that "I can answer all the questions you have on what we are discussing in France".

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2023-04-11 15:42:00Z
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Pufferfish often thrown back to sea when caught, says Johor fisheries department official - CNA

JOHOR BAHRU: Following news that an elderly couple in Johor had died after consuming pufferfish, an official from the state’s fisheries department said the fish is often thrown back out to sea by fishermen when caught.

“Local fishermen will throw it back into the sea if the fish is caught in their nets, especially if it is dead – it has no value,” Johor Fisheries Department director Zainudin Abdul Wahab was quoted as saying by The Star on Tuesday (Apr 11).

He added that the Johor Fisheries Department has been taking proactive steps to create awareness among members of the public on the dangers of eating pufferfish.

Apart from using social media platforms to reach out to the public, the department's officers are also meeting up with fishermen to discuss the matter, The Star reported.

The issue of consuming pufferfish came to the fore recently following the deaths of an elderly couple who ate the fish. They had bought the fish from an online seller on Facebook, according to state news agency Bernama.

It reported that the 84-year-old man, who suffered food poisoning after eating the fish, died on Apr 8. His wife, 83, died two weeks earlier on Mar 25.

Johor Health and Unity Committee chairman Ling Tian Soon was reported by Bernama as saying that the Johor State Health Department had already taken action when a report on the first case was received. It had identified the suppliers, wholesalers and sellers involved in the pufferfish transaction.

Bernama also reported that Malaysia's fisheries department director-general Adnan Hussain advised the public to avoid eating pufferfish, because "almost all types of pufferfish contain toxins that can cause poisoning if not prepared or cooked correctly".

Malay Mail reported on Monday that the Johor State Health Department is waiting on the laboratory report on the pufferfish poisoning, with the result expected to be ready in about two to three weeks’ time.

Mr Ling, the state’s health and unity committee chairman, was reported as saying that the report is needed to complete the investigation paper before it is handed to the deputy public prosecutor’s office for a decision on the next course of action.

“We are waiting for the report from the laboratory and we need to discuss with the Ministry of Health and universities on certain existing acts to determine whether there are sufficient grounds to charge the supplier,” Mr Ling was quoted as saying by Malay Mail.

Mr Zainudin, the Johor Fisheries Department director, noted meanwhile that pufferfish is kept by some in aquariums as ornamental fish.

“People can buy pufferfish at shops selling ornamental fish. However, the sellers must have a licence to sell such a poisonous fish,” he told The Star.

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2023-04-11 10:09:00Z
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Malaysia court frees Sam Ke Ting who crashed into 8 teens racing on modified bikes in 2017 - The Straits Times

PUTRAJAYA - The Malaysian Court of Appeal has acquitted a woman of a reckless driving charge linked to a crash that killed eight teenagers riding modified bicycles in Johor six years ago.

In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel chaired by Justice Hadhariah Syed Ismail allowed Ms Sam Ke Ting’s appeal to quash her guilty verdict by the High Court, on grounds that the charge was defective.

“In this case, the charge was incorrect, it was defective. The conviction was also incorrect. On these grounds alone, the appeal is allowed,” Justice Hadhariah said on Tuesday.

The other judges on the panel were Justice Hashim Hamzah and Justice Azman Abdullah.

Justice Hadhariah said a guilty verdict could only follow the finding of fault of the driver.

“That is how the law stands. You cannot simply say that because it is a fatal accident, the driver must have been liable. That is not what the law says,” she said.

Justice Hadhariah then set aside the High Court’s decision and acquitted and discharged Ms Sam.

“You are now a free person,” she said.

The court also ordered for Ms Sam’s RM10,000 (S$3,030) bail money to be returned to her.

Ms Sam is largely seen as a victim of circumstance in Malaysia after crashing into a group of dozens of teenagers racing illegal bicycles – which had been modified by having their brakes and lights removed and handlebars lowered – on a poorly lit road at 3.20am on Feb 18, 2017.

The eight who died were aged between 13 and 16.

She was charged with reckless driving and causing deaths, and was previously acquitted twice – by the Magistrates’ Court in 2019 and 2021.

In her lower court trial, it was determined that she had not been driving under the influence of alcohol, was alert at the wheel, and was possibly driving below the speed limit at the time of the crash.

But a second appeal by the prosecution took her to the High Court, where on April 13, 2022, a Johor Bahru High Court judge allowed the prosecution’s appeal and convicted Ms Sam of driving recklessly and sentenced her to six years in jail and a RM6,000 fine.

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2023-04-11 07:21:46Z
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Chinese aircraft, ships remain around Taiwan after drills end - CNA

The ministry published a map showing that on Monday Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, which normally serves as an unofficial barrier, to its north and centre.

It also showed 15 carrier-based J-15s, most likely flying from China's Shandong aircraft carrier, flying east of Taiwan. Taiwan has been tracking the Shandong in the Western Pacific since last week.

Reuters reporters on the coast near the Chinese city of Fuzhou on Tuesday saw separate, and much more low-key, drills taking place, with a warship firing at targets. Those exercises were announced before China's massed drills around Taiwan.

Fuzhou sits close to the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands.

"DEFEND THE COUNTRY"

Tsai said Taiwan's armed forces and coast guard reacted calmly and professionally to China's exercises, and she thanked everyone involved.

"Although China's military exercises have come to an end, the nation's military and national security team will continue to stick to their posts and defend the country," she added.

The exercises have also caused concern in Japan, especially as its southern islands sit close to Taiwan and could become caught up in a conflict.

The Japanese island of Okinawa is host to a major US air force base, and last August when China staged war games to protest the visit of then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, Chinese missiles landed within Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Japanese defence minister Yasukazu Hamada on Tuesday described China's military drills around Taiwan as "intimidating training" to seize sea and air control around the island.

China appeared to have shown an "uncompromising attitude" regarding Taiwan issues through the drills, Hamada told reporters.

Life in Taiwan has continued as normal despite the tensions, with no signs of panic or disruption, and civilian flights around the island, including over the Taiwan Strait, were also uninterrupted.

Both Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties, in a rare show of unity, put out a joint statement from their parliament caucuses condemning the drills.

"The people and government of Taiwan have the right to conduct normal exchanges with other countries and contribute to the international community through international participation," the statement said. "The Chinese authorities have no right to obstruct and cannot change the strong will of the Taiwanese people to go out into the world."

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2023-04-11 03:41:00Z
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China’s PLA declares Taiwan live-fire drills over, with blockade capacity tested - South China Morning Post

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1. China’s PLA declares Taiwan live-fire drills over, with blockade capacity tested  South China Morning Post
2. China says it has successfully completed exercises around Taiwan  CNA
3. China's Weibo mutes spammers for hijacking trending #Taiwan Strait drill topic  Bangkok Post
4. China simulates striking Taiwan on second day of drills  The Straits Times
5. China's military drills following Tsai US visit 'more muted' than after Pelosi's Taiwan trip: Analysts  CNA
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2023-04-10 16:00:27Z
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Recent intel leak shows US spies on not only their foes, but their allies too: Analysts - CNA

AWKWARD SITUATION FOR THE US

The recent leak of classified documents is “nothing too serious”, as such spying behaviour among nations has been going on for a long time, analysts told CNA’s Asia Now. 

US allies such as Israel and South Korea “know very well that the United States remains acutely interested in what happens internally to the politics and the militaries of their countries”, said Dr John Blaxland, professor of international security and intelligence studies at the Australian National University's College of Asia and the Pacific. 

“The United States is hugely invested in making sure that it understands intimately well what's going on, because the United States has a stake in what happens there. The players inside Israel and South Korea know that very well.”

While not as big a deal as leaks in the past, such an episode can be humiliating for the US. 

“In the espionage business, the secret of success is in keeping one's successes secret. One doesn't divulge how good one is, one doesn't reveal one's capabilities,” said Dr Blaxland. 

“So this is a little bit embarrassing from that point of view from the United States. But there is a sense that this is not that much more than what is available from very sophisticated open source intelligence reporting available that you can download from and you can check on Twitter.”

It will, however, “take a bit of a diplomatic fence-mending” with allies such as Ukraine, Israel and South Korea, he noted. “Trust is critical in this business.”

Mr Newsham added that countries do not want to appear that they cannot keep secrets. 

“And that is what the Americans unfortunately have once again shown. But this could have been a lot worse, not to say that whoever leaked it doesn't have more and better stuff,” he said. 

“You don't want (to have) revealed the internal workings of a friendly government or really any government, because it does give them some idea of how you're getting it and they can take precautionary measures.”

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2023-04-10 12:04:00Z
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Royal pardon petition for Najib is Umno's stance, not government's, says Loke - New Straits Times

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1. Royal pardon petition for Najib is Umno's stance, not government's, says Loke  New Straits Times
2. Anwar: I will be part of Pardons Board panel to decide on Najib's fate  The Straits Times
3. Muhyiddin: Umno using 'political pressure' to push for Najib's pardon  Malaysiakini
4. Commentary: Will Najib Razak's dissenting judgment ploy sway public opinion?  CNA
5. COMMENT | This is about the system, not Najib  Malaysiakini
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2023-04-10 03:35:53Z
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