Sudan deaths mount as army chief rules out talks - CNA

KHARTOUM: Explosions and gunfire resounded in Sudan's capital on Thursday (Apr 20) as fighting between the forces of two rival generals showed no signs of abating ahead of festivities marking the end of Ramadan.

More than 300 people have been killed since the fighting erupted Saturday between forces loyal to Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Some of the fiercest fighting has been in Khartoum, a city of five million people, most of whom have been sheltering at home without electricity, food and water.

As battles raged for a sixth day, Burhan dismissed any prospects for negotiations with Daglo, telling Al Jazeera he sees no option but "decisive military" action.

"I do not think there is any room for talks over politics again with the Rapid Support Forces," he told the Qatar-based broadcaster, but said he was open to mediation.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire of "at least three days" over Eid al-Fitr, beginning Friday and marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Two ceasefires in as many days have failed to take hold, with witnesses saying "shelling did not stop" in Khartoum, as another ceasefire was breached Wednesday within minutes of its supposed start.

Gunfire continued Thursday, with columns of thick black smoke rising from buildings around Khartoum International Airport and the army headquarters.

"We were awoken ... to the roaring sound of fighter jets and air strikes," said Nazek Abdalla, a 38-year-old in southern Khartoum. "We locked our doors and windows, hoping no stray bullets would hit our building."

While many sheltered at home, others were venturing out and risking it "to protect themselves and their families", said architect Tagreed Abdin.

Beyond Khartoum, witnesses reported loud explosions in the city of Obeid, in the central state of North Kordofan.

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2023-04-20 18:17:00Z
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Singapore stops import of live pigs from Indonesian island after African swine fever detected in shipment - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE – A consignment of live pigs from Indonesia’s Pulau Bulan to Singapore has been found to be infected with African swine fever (ASF).

The virus was detected on Thursday in pig carcasses in an abattoir in Jurong where the animals are slaughtered for food, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Thursday.

The deadly swine disease, which does not infect humans, is highly contagious among wild boars and pigs.

This is the first time ASF has been detected in pigs imported into Singapore, said SFA.

SFA added that it has stopped the import of live pigs from Pulau Bulan, which accounts for about 15 per cent of Singapore’s total pork supply. This makes up about two-thirds of Singapore’s supply of freshly slaughtered pork.

Investigations are ongoing at the farm in Pulau Bulan, which is near Batam.

SFA said: “Due to the current situation, there will be temporary disruptions to the supply of freshly slaughtered pork from Sunday.”

Meanwhile, SFA said it will work with partners in the industry to increase the availability of chilled and frozen pork from other sources.

Singapore imports pork from more than 20 sources, including live pigs from Sarawak in East Malaysia, as well as chilled or frozen pork from Australia, Brazil and other countries.

SFA said: “Consumers can choose a variety of food types and from different sources, and opt for other forms of meat such as frozen or chilled pork or other protein options.

“There will be ample supplies for everyone if we buy responsibly and do not hoard.”

SFA said it is also working with the abattoir to maintain biosecurity measures and sanitise the premises as well as the surrounding areas after the pigs have been slaughtered.

It said pork available in Singapore remains safe for consumption as ASF does not affect humans and is not a food safety concern.

It added: “Pigs that are not sick and passed SFA’s inspections can be eaten. SFA and the Animal and Veterinary Service, a cluster of the National Parks Board, will continue to monitor the situation closely.”

Singapore’s import conditions for pigs, pork and pork products are based on science, and take reference from guidelines and standards from the World Organisation for Animal Health.

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2023-04-20 15:10:27Z
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Singapore halts import of live pigs from Pulau Bulan after African swine fever detected in carcasses - CNA

SINGAPORE: Singapore has stopped the import of live pigs from Pulau Bulan in Indonesia after African swine fever was detected in some pig carcasses.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Thursday (Apr 20) that the carcasses were from a consignment of live pigs from Pulau Bulan. They have been removed from the abattoir line.

SFA has halted the imports while investigations are ongoing.

"Due to the current situation, there will be temporary disruptions to the supply of freshly slaughtered pork from Apr 23 onwards," said the food agency.

"SFA is working closely with the abattoir to sanitise the premises and surrounding environment after the slaughter of pigs that are currently at the abattoir has been completed, as well as to maintain the biosecurity measures at the abattoir."

It added that pork in Singapore is safe for consumption, as African swine fever does not affect humans and is not a food safety concern.

Pigs that are not sick and have passed SFA's inspections can be eaten, it said.

"SFA and the Animal & Veterinary Service ... will continue to monitor the situation closely," said the agency.

AFRICAN SWINE FEVER

While African swine fever is a highly virulent and contagious disease in pigs, it does not infect humans, said SFA. 

To mitigate the risk of incursion of African swine fever, SFA requires regions exporting raw pork to Singapore to be free from the disease as raw meat from infected pigs is a possible vehicle of transmission of the virus. 

Processed pork products from approved establishments in areas affected by African swine fever are allowed to be imported and sold, provided they have been "heat-treated to inactivate" the virus, said SFA. 

"Singapore’s import conditions for pigs, pork and pork products are based on science, and take reference from guidelines and standards from the World Organisation for Animal Health," the agency added.

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2023-04-20 10:46:00Z
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PM Anwar: Muhyiddin should not have issued inflammatory statements in GE15 - Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as a veteran politician and former prime minister ought to have known that it is undesirable to make public statements that have a tendency to inflame and promote feelings of ill-will during the 15th general election (GE15).

In his reply to Muhyiddin’s defence statement against his defamation suit, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman claimed that Muhyiddin had distorted the truth and disseminated scurrilous falsehoods in respect of his salary as the Selangor Government Economic Adviser, more so when the same had been publicly rebutted by Anwar years ago.

Thus, the plaintiff claimed that Muhyiddin’s statement during an election campaign in Padang Serai in GE15 last year was defamatory and malicious.

“Muhyiddin ought to have known that it is undesirable to make public statements that have a tendency to inflame and promote feelings of ill-will, discontent or hostility between persons and candidates, to induce any elector or voter before, during and after election, more so when such statements are defamatory and malicious in nature.

“Nonetheless, the defendant had proceeded to make the same (impugned slanderous and/or libellous words) via his speeches in an election campaign which are clearly indisputably a contravention of the Election Offences Act 1954,” Anwar said in his reply to the Perikatan Nasional chairman, filed through SN Nair & Partners dated February 16, 2023.

He further claimed that it was not difficult for Muhyiddin to access the publicly available parliamentary Hansard record before making the allegation.

The Tambun MP contended that Muhyiddin has no legal duty to issue allegedly false and malicious statements in the Padang Serai constituency, which is not even the latter’s parliamentary constituency of Pagoh.

In the suit, Anwar, 75, claimed that last December 5, Muhyiddin made the slanderous remarks against him in a speech during the ‘Grand Finale Perikatan Nasional Padang Serai’ in Taman Selasih, Kulim, in support of PN candidate in GE15 Datuk Azman Nasrudin, which was attended by a large crowd.

Anwar is seeking, among others, general damages, aggravated damages, exemplary damages and an injunction to prevent Muhyiddin from continuing to publish or distribute similar defamatory statements.

On January 17, Muhyiddin in his statement of defence claimed, among others, that Anwar should not be offended by the criticisms and questions he raised in his speech. — Bernama

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2023-04-20 06:45:00Z
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China COVID-19 protesters released after four months' detention: Sources - CNA

BEIJING: At least two Chinese women who joined historic "white paper" demonstrations in Beijing calling for an end to COVID-19 curbs were released on Wednesday (Apr 19) after almost four months in detention, two of their friends told Reuters.

The protests, unprecedented in President Xi Jinping's decade in power, began in late November in cities across China. They were suppressed by police within days but helped hasten the end of three years of tough COVID-19 restrictions, sources have previously told Reuters.

Immediately following the protests, in which hundreds took to the streets across the country, many holding up blank sheets of paper as a symbol of their discontent, police interrogated and detained dozens of participants, according to rights groups, lawyers and friends of those individuals.

Many were only held for 24 hours or less, or were released after a few weeks.

Cao Zhixin, a 26-year-old book editor, and Zhai Dengrui, a 27-year-old teacher, were released on Wednesday, according to two friends of the individuals.

Reuters could not immediately reach the pair for comment or establish why they were released.

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2023-04-20 04:16:39Z
CBMic2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9jaGluYS1jb3ZpZC0xOS1wcm90ZXN0ZXJzLXJlbGVhc2VkLWFmdGVyLWZvdXItbW9udGhzLWRldGVudGlvbi1zb3VyY2VzLTM0MzEwOTbSAQA

EU pledges more cash in Ukraine grain standoff, Bulgaria bans imports - CNA

SOFIA: Brussels on Wednesday (Apr 19) offered an extra €100 million of support for EU farmers to ease a standoff over Ukrainian grain after Bulgaria became the latest country to approve a temporary ban on food products from the war-hit nation.

In recent days, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia banned the import of grain and other food items from Ukraine after a slump in prices triggered protests from local farmers.

As Brussels scrambles to find a solution to appease the deadlock, the European Commission on Wednesday proposed an extra €100 million (US$110 million) of support for farmers.

That money would come on top of a €56-million package that was provided for farmers in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria last month.

The latest measures would be aimed at ensuring grain could enter Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria only for export.

"EXTREME MEASURE"

Bulgarian farming minister Yavor Gechev earlier on Wednesday said that the government had "passed a decision that temporarily bans... a range of products originating from Ukraine".

Sofia said it was "forced to adopt... today's extreme measure" after unilateral bans by other countries were announced, "seriously" increasing the risk for Bulgaria due to the potential diversion of goods.

The ban will enter into force from April 24 and last until the end of June, but will not apply to the transit of goods through Bulgarian territory.

Bulgaria hopes for a common EU decision in the coming weeks.

Its neighbour Romania also announced on Wednesday that it would take additional measures regarding Ukrainian grain imports, including sealing and monitoring the vehicles that transit through the country.

Bucharest has "asked the Ukrainian side to rapidly find solutions for restricting the export of grain and oilseeds to Romania, in order to protect farmers who are facing difficulties," a government statement said.

The Romanian and Ukrainian agricultural ministers are due to meet in Bucharest on Friday to further discuss the matter.

In May 2022, the European Union allowed Kyiv to export its grain stocks through the bloc after the closure of the Black Sea shipping lanes following Russia's invasion sparked a global food crisis.

Member states agreed to import certain products from Ukraine without quantitative restrictions, and without customs inspections.

"SERIOUS DISTURBANCES"

Hungary's government on Wednesday widened its temporary ban on the imports of Ukrainian agricultural products to include honey, wine, bread, sugar and a range of meat and vegetable products.

The full list of items to be banned was revealed in a government decree, after Budapest announced on Saturday a measure to halt the import of grain, oilseeds and several other products.

Budapest complained that a significant proportion of imported Ukrainian products do not leave the EU, and instead have been sold at dumping prices in the member states.

Government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs on Wednesday denounced "the sudden influx of cheap products" that has created an "untenable situation" for European farmers.

"In the absence of the obligation to comply with the strict production rules required by EU law, Ukrainian products have a competitive advantage ... which causes serious disturbances in the internal market of the member states," the decree stated.

Hungary's decree, published overnight, said that its ban would also apply to flour, cooking oil, and wine imports.

The temporary ban will last from Wednesday until Jun 30. Yet, it will not apply to the transit of these products through Hungary, the decree specified.

Hungarian authorities will seal shipments of the affected products at the border and monitor them with the help of electronic devices and patrols, it added.

Carriers who break the rules may be fined up to the full value of the shipment.

Poland and Ukraine on Tuesday struck a deal to allow Ukrainian grain to transit through Poland after Warsaw banned imports.

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2023-04-19 18:41:37Z
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PM Lee outlines 3 geopolitical storms Singapore faces - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - While Singapore’s relations with its immediate neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia are stable and encouraging, the situation further afield has become troubling and even dangerous.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this in Parliament on Wednesday as he outlined three major geopolitical tensions that make the current global situation graver than what Singapore has faced in a long time.

Singaporeans need to realise the gravity of the situation, he said. “We are facing not just one storm, but several.”

United States-China tensions

There is deep mutual suspicion and fundamental distrust between the two superpowers that will not improve anytime soon, said Mr Lee.

“Even if the two powers avoid a direct conflict... enduring enmity and bad relations between them will be very costly for both, and will mean big trouble for the rest of the world,” he added.

While Democrats and Republicans in the US disagree on almost everything, they are united on China. The prevailing view is that efforts to work out a cooperative relationship with China have failed, and that China’s growing strength and assertiveness is becoming a grave threat to US interests and values.

Therefore, their view is that the US must go for “extreme competition” with China over technology including semiconductor chips, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology and green technologies, he said.

Negative perceptions of China are prevalent among the US population too, said Mr Lee, citing the latest Pew survey that found that more than 80 per cent of adults in the US have an unfavourable view of China, while nearly 40 per cent would describe China as an enemy of the US rather than as a competitor or partner.

He said Chinese public perception of the US has deteriorated. China’s leaders have become convinced that the US is seeking to “contain, encircle and suppress” China, he said, quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“(The Chinese) say the East is rising and the West is declining, and they think the time has come for China to take its rightful place in the world,” he said.

Mr Lee added that they consider issues such as Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet to be China’s domestic matters that affect its security and integrity, and see no room for discussion or compromise on these issues.

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2023-04-19 08:20:00Z
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