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Kamis, 30 Mei 2024

14 Hong Kong democracy campaigners found guilty of subversion: Court - CNA

"SHOW SUPPORT"

Prosecutors said the 47 had conspired to subvert state power by holding unofficial primary polls, as part of their plan to form a majority in the legislature.

With control of the legislature, they would veto government budgets and force the city's leader to accede to five key demands raised by protesters in 2019, the court heard.

Defence lawyers argued Hong Kong's mini-constitution had laid out mechanisms for such a plan and that the matter was "a purely political issue rather than a legal matter".

Outside the court Thursday, Kathy, one of the 610,000 voters who cast their ballots in the unofficial primary election in 2020, said she believed the defendants "never committed any crime".

"For me, the primary election was simply an occasion to show my support for something I believe in," she said, declining to provide her full name.

University student Lam said the primary election was a strategy "common in many places around the world".

"I still can't figure out how it can subvert the state, so I want to see how the court would rule on that," he said.

Ahead of the hearing, well-known activist Alexandra Wong, also known as Grandma Wong, attempted to stage a protest before police moved her off across the street to a fenced-off area.

"Immediately release the 47!" she shouted, waving a British flag. "Support democracy, support the 47!"

The case has been closely watched by the international community, with diplomatic officers from the consulates of France, the European Union and Italy going to the court on Thursday.

The United States and other Western nations have criticised China for cracking down on democracy in Hong Kong and curtailing freedoms promised when the former British colony was handed over to Chinese rule in 1997.

In response to the 2021 arrests of the defendants, the United States had sanctioned six Chinese and Hong Kong officials.

Before Thursday, 114 people had been found guilty of crimes related to the national security law since it was introduced.

The case against the group of 47 was the biggest under the law.

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2024-05-30 04:02:00Z
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Malaysia helicopter crash: 1 helicopter was not flying at appropriate height, says Navy - The Straits Times

Emergency personnel work at the site where two helicopters collided in the western Malaysian state of Perak, on April 23. PHOTO: REUTERS

KUALA LUMPUR - The failure of one helicopter to fly at a designated height and path has been identified as the main factor behind its collision with another naval helicopter in Lumut.

On April 23, 10 Navy personnel were killed by the crash in western Malaysia during a rehearsal.

Royal Malaysian Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Ayob said the Investigation Board had not found any data that connected the incident to any human error on the part of the Eurocopter AS555SN Fennec helicopter crew, as there was no black box on the aircraft.

“The board has concluded that there was no human error involved, as the Fennec did not have a black box to summarise a connection to human error by the pilot.

“What we can conclude is Fennec was not at the set height and flight path,” he told a press conference at KD Sri Gombak on May 30.

The secondary factor is that the “channelised attention” of the Agusta-Westland AW-139 (AW 139) crew was focused on the change of flight path and this limited their reaction time to avoid collision, he said.

“This full report tallies with the preliminary report that had been issued previously. This report will be sent to the State Airworthiness Authority (SAA) for record purposes,” he said.

Admiral Abdul Rahman said following a comprehensive investigation, the Investigation Board discovered that there was no issue of hypoglycemia - also known as low blood sugar - or fatigue on the part of the aircrew and there was no use of banned substances. All crewmen were fit to fly.

“Their deaths were caused as a result of multiple injuries due to aviation crash,” he said

The AW139 helicopter did not experience any mechanical problem based on analysis of the black box.

“The same can be said for the Fennec based on visual and sound analysis.

“The maintenance of both aircraft were done according to procedures and routines set by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

“Samples of lubricant and fuel taken were inspected and it was confirmed to be normal by the Defence Science and Technology Institute (Stride),” he said.

The full report also stated that the weather on the day of incident was good and suitable for flight, he said.

“For the AW139, the black box was used to assist the investigation while for the Fennec, flight profile through air simulation using an actual helicopter was used.

“Cooperation from the OEM was sought to assist the investigation as well. Airbus Helicopter confirmed that there was no equipment that had non-volatile memory on the Fennec to assist investigations,” he said.

When asked on the statuses of both aircraft in their fleet, he said that the Navy will increase the readiness of available aircraft.

“We had three AW-139s and now only two helicopters remain, and will still be based at their set locations,”

“For the Fennec (helicopters) we have four from the six that are in operation as one also currently is damaged. We are in the midst of increasing readiness of available aircraft and are trying to get allocation for new helicopters either through direct purchasing or leasing,”

Admiral Abdul Rahman also emphasised that the welfare of the families affected were being prioritised.

“At the same time, service and benefit payments in the form of monthly pensions to eligible next of kin have begun.

“Other contributions from sympathetic parties via the collection we opened, which is the ‘Tabung Tragedi Lumut 24’ are still ongoing and god willing, it is well received.

“When we close the collection in October, the proceeds will be distributed to the families by then or November,” he said.

He added that the Navy had met families based in Kuala Lumpur on May 30 and will do the same the next day for those in Lumut to brief on the report’s findings.

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2024-05-30 04:55:00Z
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Rabu, 29 Mei 2024

Jury set to decide Trump's fate in historic criminal trial - The Straits Times

A conviction may cost former president Donald Trump votes among independent and some Republican voters. PHOTO: REUTERS

NEW YORK – Twelve New York jurors began deliberating on May 29 on whether to convict Donald Trump in the first ever criminal trial of a former US president, with their decision potentially upending the November election, in which the Republican seeks a return to power.

It was far from certain how long they might take to reach a verdict in the case with Trump, 77, who is accused of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star in the final weeks of the 2016 election.

Shortly before deliberations began, the judge overseeing the trial told jurors that they cannot rely solely on the testimony of star witness Michael Cohen, who played a central role in the hush money payment at the heart of the case.

Justice Juan Merchan told jurors to apply extra scrutiny to Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, because he testified he was directly involved in Trump’s alleged effort to cover up the payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.

“Even if you find the testimony of Michael Cohen to be believable, you may not convict the defendant solely on that testimony unless you find it was corroborated by other evidence,” Justice Merchan said.

The judge’s comments were part of his detailed instructions to the 12 jurors and six alternates who have sat silently in a New York courtroom for weeks while prosecutors laid out their case and Trump’s lawyers tried to knock it down.

“You must set aside any personal opinions or bias you might have in favor of or against the defendant,” Justice Merchan said.

A guilty verdict could upend the 2024 presidential race, in which Trump is seeking again to win the White House.

After weeks of testimony from more than 20 witnesses, the piercing glare of the legal spotlight now shifts to the jury, whose identities have been kept secret for their own protection amid soaring political tensions across the United States.

After receiving final instructions from the judge, the jury will retire to consider a verdict that – whichever way it goes – will have an outsized impact on Trump, and the country as a whole.

No time limit is placed on their deliberations, but an acquittal or conviction would require unanimity. If just one juror refuses to join the others, the judge would have to declare a mistrial.

A conviction will not prevent Trump, the Republican candidate, from trying to take back the White House from Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov 5 election. Nor will it prevent him from taking office if he wins.

Opinion polls show the two men locked in a tight race. But Reuters/Ipsos polling has found that a guilty verdict could cost Trump support among independent and some Republican voters.

A verdict of not guilty would remove a major legal barrier, freeing Trump from the obligation to juggle court appearances and campaign stops.

If convicted, he would be expected to appeal.

Trump faces three other criminal prosecutions, but they are not expected to go to trial before the Nov 5 election.

Biden campaign officials say any verdict will not substantially change the dynamics of the election.

Trump did not speak as he entered the courtroom.

But he fired off a characteristically angry, all-caps message on his Truth Social app, complaining about a “KANGAROO COURT!” and a “CORRUPT AND CONFLICTED JUDGE”.

During the trial, jurors heard testimony from Ms Daniels, who described in lurid detail a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, and from Cohen, the former Trump fixer who paid US$130,000 (S$419,000) to buy her silence during Trump’s 2016 White House run.

Prosecutors from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office say that payment could have contributed to Trump’s victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton by keeping an unflattering story out of the public eye.

“We’ll never know if this effort to hoodwink the American voter impacted the election,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told jurors during his closing argument on May 28.

They say Trump paid Cohen back in monthly instalments disguised as legal fees. They have charged him with 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents, and face the burden of proving Trump’s guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt”, the standard under US law.

Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies ever having sex with Ms Daniels.

His lawyers say Cohen, a convicted felon, lied under oath when he said Trump knew about the Daniels payment before the election and helped craft the reimbursement scheme after his victory.

“He is literally the greatest liar of all time,” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche told jurors on May 28.

Justice Merchan imposed a gag order to prevent Trump from intimidating witnesses and jurors, and fined him US$10,000 for violating it. REUTERS, AFP

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2024-05-29 15:17:00Z
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Jury to decide Trump's fate in historic criminal trial - CNA

NEW YORK: Jurors were to begin deliberating on Wednesday (May 29) on whether to convict Donald Trump in the first criminal trial of a former United States president - with their decision potentially upending November's election, in which the Republican seeks a comeback.

After weeks of testimony from more than 20 witnesses, the piercing glare of the legal spotlight now shifts to the 12-strong New York jury, anonymous for their own protection amid soaring political tensions across the US.

After receiving final instructions from the judge, the jury will retire to consider a verdict that - whichever way it goes - will have an outsized impact on Trump, and the country as a whole.

"You must set aside any personal opinions you have in favor or against the defendant," said judge Juan Merchan ahead of their deliberations.

"As a juror, you are asked to make a very important decision about another member of the community."

No time limit is placed on their deliberations, but an acquittal or conviction would require unanimity. If just one juror refuses to join the others, the judge would have to declare a mistrial.

Trump is accused of falsifying business records to reimburse a US$130,000 payment to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels, when her account of an alleged sexual encounter could have imperiled his 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors say the fraud was motivated by a plot to prevent voters from knowing about his behaviour.

If Trump is found guilty, the political repercussions would far outweigh the seriousness of the charges as, barely five months before the presidential election, the candidate would also become a convicted criminal.

Trump fired off a characteristically angry all-caps message on his Truth Social app, complaining about a "KANGAROO COURT!" and a "CORRUPT AND CONFLICTED JUDGE".

In a full day of closing arguments on Tuesday, his defense team insisted the evidence for a conviction simply did not exist, while the prosecution countered that it was voluminous and inescapable.

"The defendant's intent to defraud could not be any clearer," said prosecutor Joshua Steinglass, urging the jurors to use their "common sense" and return a guilty verdict.

If convicted, Trump faces up to four years in prison on each of 34 counts, but legal experts say that as a first-time offender he is unlikely to get jail time.

A conviction would not bar him from the November ballot and he would almost certainly appeal. In the case of a mistrial, prosecutors could seek a new trial.

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2024-05-29 15:14:55Z
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Singapore to deliver keynote speech at Asia's top defence summit - CNA

SINGAPORE: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr will deliver the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday (May 31), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a press statement.

This would make him the first Philippine head of state to do so at Asia's top defence summit.

The Shangri-La Dialogue - which is in its 21st edition this year - brings together top defence officials from around the world to discuss critical security challenges.

Previous keynote speakers include then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Mr Marcos Jr, who is in the country from Wednesday to Saturday, will be accompanied by his wife, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, and a high-level Philippine delegation.

During his visit, Mr Marcos Jr will call on Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, said MFA.

He will also meet newly-minted Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong as well as Mr Lee, who is now Senior Minister.

Mr Marcos Jr previously visited Singapore in September 2022 at the invitation of former President Halimah Yacob. It was his first state visit to the country since taking office in June.

Singapore and the Philippines also signed several bilateral agreements during the visit to boost cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, the digital field and personal data protection.

Mr Marcos Jr visited Singapore again last September to speak at the 10th Asian Summit organised by the US-based Milken Institute. He also stayed on to watch the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix 2023.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

During a working visit to the Philippines in April, Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan and Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo unveiled a logo to commemorate the milestone.

Dr Balakrishnan said then that Singapore and the Philippines are keen on strengthening collaboration in areas such as the green economy, smart and sustainable infrastructure, as well as innovation.

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2024-05-29 10:00:00Z
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Taiwan government to reject contested parliament reforms - CNA

TAIPEI: Taiwan's Cabinet will reject and send back for review legislation the opposition passed on Tuesday (May 28) on parliamentary reforms that have brought tens of thousands onto the streets to protest and accusations of Chinese interference.

The peaceful protests, and sometimes violent confrontations in parliament over the reforms, have been taking place against a backdrop of broader concern about efforts by China, which views Taiwan as its own territory, to influence the island's politics and split Taiwanese public opinion.

The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) Lai Ching-te won the presidency in January elections, but the party lost its majority in parliament. Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), along with the small Taiwan People's Party, together have the most seats.

The parliament reforms give lawmakers the power to ask the military, private companies or individuals to disclose information deemed relevant by parliamentarians, who have the power to punish those who fail to cooperate.

They also criminalise contempt of parliament by government officials and require the president to give regular reports to parliament and answer lawmakers' questions, which would be a first for Taiwan.

In a statement late on Monday, the Cabinet said the legislation could breach the constitution and separation of power between the executive and legislative branches, and once it had received the documents it will send them back for parliament to reconsider.

The Cabinet said while that was likely to be vetoed by parliament, it was "duty bound" to do this.

The DPP, which says the reforms were forced through without proper consultation and their content either vague or an over-reach of power, said it would support its lawmakers to ask the constitutional court for an interpretation on whether the laws and the way the reforms were pushed through were constitutional.

The DPP, and many of the protesters, have repeatedly accused the KMT of being in league with Beijing in trying to ram through the legislation.

Several senior KMT leaders have visited China this year in what the party says is an effort to keep open lines of communication. China refuses to talk to Lai or his party, saying they are "separatists".

The KMT strongly denies being pro-Beijing and says the parliament reforms are meant to improve government accountability.

"The KMT dismisses the accusations of collusion with China as unfounded and politically driven," the party said in statement in the early hours of Wednesday.

China views Taiwan as its own territory. The government in Taipei rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

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2024-05-29 01:37:00Z
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Israel pounds Gaza as UN Security Council meets over deadly strike - CNA

Sunday evening's strike, which medics said also wounded hundreds of civilians, drew worldwide condemnation.

The sight of the charred carnage, blackened corpses and children being rushed to hospitals led UN chief Antonio Guterres to declare that "there is no safe place in Gaza. This horror must stop."

NO "BLIND EYE"

One million civilians have fled Rafah since Israel launched its assault on the city in early May, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).

Nearly eight months into the deadliest Gaza war, Israel has faced ever louder opposition, as well as cases before two Netherlands-based international courts.

The White House said on Tuesday it is not turning a "blind eye" to the plight of Palestinian civilians, but it has no plans to change its Israel policy following the deadly weekend strike in Rafah.

"As a result of this strike on Sunday I have no policy changes to speak to," Kirby told a White House briefing. "It just happened, the Israelis are going to investigate it."

Kirby said, "this is not something that we've turned a blind eye to" but added: "We have not seen them go in with large units, large numbers of troops, in columns and formations in some sort of coordinated manoeuvre against multiple targets on the ground."

The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas' Oct 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on the latest Israeli official figures.

Militants also took 252 hostages, 121 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,096 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry.

DIRE HEALTH TOLL

On Tuesday, Gaza civil defence agency official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said 21 people were killed in an "occupation strike targeting the tents of displaced people" in west Rafah.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza gave the same toll and said 64 people were wounded, 10 seriously.

The Pentagon, meanwhile, said it had suspended aid deliveries into Gaza by the sea after its temporary pier was damaged by bad weather.

The World Health Organization said Israel's military offensive in Rafah was already taking a dire health toll in southern Gaza, and if it continues, "substantial" increases in deaths could be expected.

"There are currently 60 WHO trucks (in Egypt) waiting to get into Gaza," said Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the Palestinian territories, adding that only three trucks with medical supplies had entered since May 7.

On the diplomatic front, Egypt has "intensified efforts to relaunch" negotiations for a "truce and a detainee exchange deal", the state-linked Al-Qahera News reported.

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2024-05-29 05:05:00Z
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