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Rabu, 17 April 2024

Taiwan submarine project chief quits, ministry says plans to proceed - CNA

TAIPEI: Taiwan's homegrown submarine programme will remain on track, the defence minister said on Wednesday (Apr 17), after the head of the programme resigned due to what he said were unfair attacks against him and the military.

Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has made the submarine programme a key part of an ambitious project to modernise its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert sovereignty claims Taipei rejects.

Taiwan unveiled the first of eight new submarines in late September, though it won't enter service until next year. The programme has drawn on expertise and technology from several countries - a breakthrough for diplomatically isolated Taiwan.

In a statement late on Tuesday, Huang Shu-kuang said he had resigned as head of the submarine project as he and the programme had been subjected to unfair attacks from people he did not name.

Huang told Reuters that the submarine task force, which includes the navy and shipbuilder CSBC Corp, will continue to operate despite his departure.

"It's impossible that the team will be dismissed due to one man's departure," he said.

Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told reporters on Wednesday that Huang was a "conscientious" person but added: "The members of the task force are all on active duty and can work for a long time. It will not change due to a single personnel change."

Huang has previously described the submarines as a "strategic deterrent" that can also help maintain the island's "lifeline" to the Pacific by keeping ports along Taiwan's eastern coast open.

Taiwan hopes to deploy at least two such domestically developed submarines by 2027, and possibly equip later models with submarine-launched anti-ship missiles.

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2024-04-17 04:27:16Z
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Selasa, 16 April 2024

KLIA shooting: Suspect's escape attempt foiled at hospital - The Straits Times

Hafizul Harawi has been identified as the suspect in an attempted murder at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on April 14. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

PETALING JAYA – After a botched attempt at shooting his wife at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) – which saw a bodyguard critically injured – the assailant allegedly planned to flee the country.

Amid the chaos at KLIA Terminal 1 during the early hours of April 14, the 38-year-old suspect, Hafizul Harawi, drove off in a white Honda Civic car and headed north.

He changed the vehicle’s number plate before arriving in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, in the afternoon of the same day.

There, he used one of the four identity cards he had – all belonging to other people – to book a hotel room. Strangely, though, he then decided to collect the results of a medical test, which he had taken a week before, at a private hospital in Kota Bharu.

That proved to be his undoing.

The police tracked him down and he was arrested in front of the hospital at around 3pm on April 15 – about 38 hours after the shooting.

Commissioner Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, the federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director, said it was a joint effort by CID elements from Selangor, Kelantan and Bukit Aman that led to the capture of the suspect.

“Based on our investigations, the man was making arrangements to leave the country,” said Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily at the Kelantan police headquarters on April 16.

“He had been in and out of Malaysia on numerous occasions prior to his arrest. Just last week, he came back from Saudi Arabia and landed in Bangkok. He then made his way to Kota Bharu from there.”

The suspect had gone to the hospital for his medical check-up then.

“During interrogation, he told us he went to the hospital to collect the results of the check-up,” Mr Mohd Shuhaily said.

Asked if the man was planning to head to Mecca via a neighbouring country, the Commissioner did not rule out that possibility.

He said it was also premature to comment on whether the suspect had gone for the medical check-up for travel visa arrangements.

“We cannot rule it out. We do know that he was making arrangements to leave the country.”

Mr Mohd Shuhaily said the police found a Glock pistol with one round in the chamber and eight rounds loaded in its magazine.

They also found a box containing 24 more bullets in the suspect’s car.

Further checks led to the seizure of 10,100 Saudi riyal (S$3,700), some Thai baht, and the four identity cards.

“One of these identity cards was used to book the hotel room he was staying in,” said Mr Mohd Shuhaily, adding that investigations showed the suspect worked alone and did not have a network helping him.

“He told us he arrived in Kelantan just after Zohor prayers on Sunday.”

He said the suspect was believed to have acquired the gun illegally from a neighbouring country.

On April 16, Hafizul was remanded and taken to Selangor to facilitate the investigations into the attempted murder.

“We will be calling several witnesses to come back to tidy up our investigations,” Mr Mohd Shuhaily said, adding that Hafizul, who is from Selangor, had previously studied at a religious school in Repek in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, and had memorised the Quran.

The suspect was flown to Selangor in a police King Air B300 aircraft and was taxied to the Police Air Wing Unit base at around 2pm on April 16. He was in purple lock-up attire while escorted by police personnel clad in full tactical gear and armed with sub-machine guns.

He was wearing a face mask and was seen sweating and looked physically drained when he was bundled into a silver police Proton Persona by police officers and driven out of the base at around 2.20pm.

Mr Mohd Shuhaily was seen entering an unmarked Proton X70 moments later.

The suspect has reportedly been taken to the Selangor police headquarters for further action.

On mounting concern over firearms being smuggled into the country, Mr Mohd Shuhaily said operations are ongoing.

“We can talk about how vast our borders are, and (their) potential for being porous, but it is by nature that way,” he said.

“The government has taken various steps to address the issue, including setting up the Malaysia Checkpoints and Border Agency.” THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

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2024-04-17 01:10:00Z
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Israeli war Cabinet postpones third meeting on Iran's attack - CNA

Some analysts said the Biden administration was unlikely to seek to sharpen sanctions on Iran's oil exports due to worries about a big spike in oil prices and angering top buyer China.

In a call between the Chinese and Iranian foreign ministers, China said it believed Iran could "handle the situation well and spare the region further turmoil" while safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity, according to Chinese state media.

Iran's weekend attack caused modest damage in Israel and wounded a 7-year-old girl. Most missiles and drones were shot down by Israel's Iron Dome defence system and with help from the US, Britain, France and Jordan.

In Gaza itself, where more than 33,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive according to Gaza health ministry figures, Iran's action drew applause.

Israel began its campaign against Hamas, the Iranian-backed Palestinian militant group that runs Gaza, after the militants attacked Israel on Oct 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 hostages, by Israeli tallies.

Iran's attack prompted at least a dozen airlines to cancel or reroute flights, with Europe's aviation regulator still advising caution in using Israeli and Iranian airspace.

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2024-04-16 20:29:00Z
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Hong Kong turns to China to fill labour gaps in its construction industry - CNA

WAR FOR TALENT ACROSS EAST ASIA

Today, more Chinese citizens are interested in moving to Hong Kong, even if it is for a short-term project, recruitment agency Robert Walters China’s general manager Sean Li told CNA.

“The wage is far higher in Hong Kong. And to be honest, the working conditions in Hong Kong would be much better than that in China,” he said.

However, he questioned if the labour transfer is sustainable, given that the Chinese property sector, which is currently in turmoil, may need its workers back in the future.

He added that there may be a language issue, given that the Chinese do not speak Cantonese and English, the two predominant languages spoken in Hong Kong.

Even as Hong Kong courts Chinese workers, the working age population of China – the factory of the world – has been shrinking for a decade now.

The Chinese government predicted the size of this group will further shrink to 700 million by 2050 from 880 million in 2021, a drop larger than the entire population of Bangladesh.

"Digital, innovative, and complex high-skilled talents are still scarce. There is a general shortage of front-line technicians such as fitters, welders, and elderly care workers,” said Chinese Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping, during the country’s annual Two Sessions meetings last month.

Other East Asian nations are also facing labour shortage amid tumbling birth rates.

Japan, Asia's second-largest economy, may face a shortage of more than 11 million workers by 2040, according to a 2023 study. From tapping on foreign workers to mobilising robots, the country is in a desperate rush to plug the gap.

Last year, South Korea beat its own record for having the world’s lowest birth rate, reporting 0.72 births per woman for 2023, down from 0.78 in 2022. The largely homogeneous country has turned to foreign workers as a solution.

Facing a worsening labour crunch, Taiwan has also turned to India for a new supply of foreign workers.

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2024-04-16 10:38:04Z
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KL airport shooting: 'I need seven lawyers', suspect says after remand order - The Straits Times

Having evaded the authorities for more than 24 hours, the suspect, identified as Hafizul Harawi, was apprehended by Kelantan police on April 15. PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIAN NEWS NETWORK

PETALING JAYA – The man suspected of firing a gun in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on April 14 says he needs seven lawyers to represent him after he was remanded for seven days until April 22.

Magistrate Rais Imran Hamid issued the seven-day remand order on Hafizul Harawi, 38, at a Magistrate’s Court in Kota Baru on April 16, Malay-language daily Sinar Harian reported.

Hafizul was remanded to help in investigations under Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971 and Section 8(a) of the Arms Act 1960.

Sinar Harian reported that the suspect was also under remand to help in investigations for possessing another individual’s identification documents and for using fake vehicle registration plates.

Earlier, Hafizul, who was clad in purple lock-up clothes, was taken to the Kota Baru Court Complex at 8.30am under heavy police guard.

Having evaded the authorities for more than 24 hours, Hafizul was apprehended by Kelantan police on April 15 at 3pm, after fleeing KLIA following the shooting incident.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said on April 16 that the suspect would be remanded for seven days in Selangor to help with investigations for attempted murder.

On April 14, pandemonium and panic struck KLIA’s Terminal 1 after gunshots were heard in the arrival hall.

At 1.20am, travel agency owner Farah Md Isa, better known as Farah Cie, was awaiting the return of clients who had used her services to go on Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

A firecracker was then thrown in her direction, injuring two members of the public nearby.

Two shots were then fired at Ms Farah at close range – one bullet missed its mark and the other hit her bodyguard, who had protected her from the gunfire, sustaining a wound to his stomach.

The shooter then fled to his car at Block C of the airport’s carpark.

Police later revealed the shooter’s identity as Ms Farah’s estranged husband Hafizul, who is also a partner in her business.

The couple were reportedly in the midst of a divorce.

The aftermath of the attack was caught on camera, with a video showing an injured man being wheeled out on a stretcher.

Another video was filmed by a person hiding behind a pillar, with a woman’s voice saying off camera: “Semua orang takut; ada pistol (Everybody is scared; there’s a gun).” THE STAR/ASIAN NEWS NETWORK

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2024-04-16 07:22:28Z
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Longer SIA flights to Europe as airline avoids Iranian airspace - CNA

The move by SIA to reroute its flights to avoid Iranian airspace mirrored those made by other airlines, including German airline Lufthansa and its subsidiary Austrian Airlines.

On Friday, Lufthansa said that its planes would no longer use Iranian airspace as it extended a suspension on flights to and from Iran's capital.

According to Flightradar24, Lufthansa flight LH779 from Singapore to Frankfurt took a southerly route on Tuesday, passing over Oman, Saudi Arabia and Egypt before heading out over the Mediterranean Sea and then Türkiye. It arrived after 13 hours and 36 minutes, exceeding the average flight time for the service by about an hour.

LH779 flights last week flew over Pakistan and Iran.

Australian airline Qantas also said on Saturday that it will redirect its long-haul flights between Perth and London to avoid Iran's airspace.

Flight Global's Asia managing editor Greg Waldron told CNA that "virtually all airlines operating through Middle Eastern airspace to Singapore will be highly wary of Iranian airspace, given the potential for military conflict in the region".

"Other countries in the region, however, appear to have opened their airspace, which helps facilitate traffic to Europe," he said.

Mr Waldron added that "events in the Middle East have made a challenging air travel situation even more so".

"At a time when the industry is focusing on environmental issues, flying alternative routes burns more fuel and increases emissions," he said. "Moreover, airlines in some cases will have to tweak schedules and connections."

The skies over Iran are not empty though.

Turkish Airlines has continued to use Iranian airspace, with its TK54 service flying over Iran on its way from Istanbul to Singapore on Tuesday.

Other major airlines continuing to operate in Iranian airspace include Emirates and Qatar Airways.

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2024-04-16 05:11:00Z
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Sydney church stabbing was religiously motivated terrorism: police - South China Morning Post

Police arrested a teen at the scene on Monday and were forced to hold him at the church for his own safety after a crowd gathered outside.

“We believe there are elements that are satisfied in terms of religious motivated extremism,” New South Wales state Police Commissioner Karen Webb said during a press conference. “After consideration of all the material, I declared that it was a terrorist incident.”

An attacker approaches Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel during a church service at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney, Australia on Monday in an image taken from a social media live-stream video. Photo: Reuters

Bishop Emmanuel’s live-streamed sermons attract a global audience and his video clips rack up hundreds of thousands of views online. He became well known for his hardline views during the pandemic when he described lockdowns as “mass slavery”, media reported at the time. A sermon uploaded on YouTube last year showed the bishop criticising Islam.

Australia’s spy chief said he would check people close to the attacker to rule out any further threats to the community.

“It is prudent that we do this to determine there’s no threats or immediate threats to security. At this time, we’re not seeing that,” said Mike Burgess, director general of security for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Asked by a reporter about a video circulating of the alleged attacker pinned to the ground, his face obscured, with a voice speaking in Arabic “if they didn’t insult my prophet, I wouldn’t have come here”, Burgess said: “We’re aware of those comments … everything else is open lines of inquiry to understand why that individual got to where they did.”

Police said there was premeditation as the attacker had travelled to the church, far from his home, with a knife. But state commissioner Webb said at this early stage of the investigation, police believe the attacker was acting alone.

Christ the Good Shepherd Church in a statement called the attack an isolated incident and said it was awaiting the police findings into the motive of the attacker.

“The church denounces retaliation of any kind,” it said.

Authorities urged people not to take the law into their hands.

“You will be met by the full force of the law if there’s any attempt for tit-for-tat violence in Sydney over the coming days,” New South Wales state Premier Chris Minns told reporters.

Emergency crews said they had attended to around 30 people after the clash outside the church, and seven were taken to hospitals with injuries. Several police were also hospitalised with injuries and 20 police vehicles were damaged, Webb said.

China student victim talked to fiancé just minutes before deadly Sydney knife attack

It was the second major stabbing attack in just three days in Australia’s most populous city after six people were killed and 12 injured in a knife attack at a beachside shopping centre in the Bondi area on Saturday.

“We’re a peace-loving nation. This is a time to unite, not divide, as a community, and as a country,” he said during a media conference.

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2024-04-15 23:47:10Z
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