Ukraine summit opens in Switzerland, seeking path to peace - CNA

SECURITY DEAL

But since mid-May, Russian progress has slowed and Zelenskyy hopes to swing the momentum further with the back-to-back G7 and peace summits.

Zelensky arrived at Burgenstock on Friday evening after the G7 summit agreed to offer a new US$50 billion loan for Ukraine, using profits from the interest on frozen Russian assets.

Leaders of the Group of Seven rich democracies said they would support Ukraine "for as long as it takes".

Zelenskyy said the new loan would go towards "both defence and reconstruction", while Putin branded the move as "theft", warning it would "not go unpunished".

Meanwhile, a landmark 10-year security deal signed by Zelenskyy and Biden on Thursday will see the United States provide Ukraine with military aid and training, with Zelenskyy calling it a bridge to joining the NATO defence alliance.

Also on Friday, the EU's 27 member states agreed "in principle" on beginning accession negotiations with Ukraine.

NUCLEAR, FOOD, HUMANITARIAN FOCUS

The summit is being held at the ultra-exclusive Burgenstock hotel complex perched high above Lake Lucerne in classic picture-postcard Swiss scenery.

The summit aims to find paths towards a lasting peace for Ukraine, based on international law and the United Nations Charter; a possible framework to achieve this goal; and a roadmap as to how both parties could come together in a future peace process.

A plenary session involving all delegations will be held on Saturday.

On Sunday, three topics will be discussed in detail in working groups: nuclear safety, freedom of navigation and food security, and humanitarian aspects.

These will look at Black Sea shipping, prisoners of war, civilian detainees and deported children.

A second summit is envisaged. Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Tuesday that Kyiv hoped Russia would attend and receive a "joint plan" presented by the other attendees.

Samuel Charap, a Russia expert at the RAND think tank, said of the Swiss summit: "Russia is clearly going out of its way to demonstrate its pique with it ... That tells you something.

"Avoiding the expansion of the pro-Ukraine coalition - they're concerned about this," he told AFP.

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2024-06-15 11:08:00Z
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Bhutan being hard to get to and expensive is a myth, says its PM - CNA

“Our culture would be suffocated, not because tourists want to (suffocate culture), but the numbers would suffocate our culture.”

Almost 100,000 visitors arrived in Bhutan last year, a third of its 2019 peak of 350,000. 

Mr Tobgay said the idea that it is hard to visit Bhutan is a misconception that somewhat hurts the country’s tourism. 

“Potential tourists would want to go to Bhutan, put it in a bucket list, but never get down there because of the myth of Bhutan being difficult to get to, very expensive to get to,” he added.

However, the “myth” is good in a way, he said. 

“Because when people eventually get to Bhutan, breathe our air, taste our water, meet our people, engage with us, connect with us, there is a tremendous sense of satisfaction.”

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2024-06-15 02:00:00Z
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IN FOCUS: Alleged 'double standard' treatment of Palestinian, Rohingya refugees stirring debate, concerns in Malaysia - CNA

In contrast, a search for “Palestine refugees in Malaysia” on TikTok does not turn up such negative sentiments. The videos usually centre around Malaysia’s support for the Palestinian cause, and informal interviews with Palestinians living in Malaysia.

At least two Reddit threads have called out what appears to be a difference in how Malaysians perceive Rohingya and Palestinian refugees. “Why do Malaysians put so much effort into helping Palestinians, when in your own region, the Rohingya … faced a considerable amount (of) xenophobia in Malaysia” one asked.

Activists have taken notice too. Ms Lubna Sheikh Ghazali of Asylum Access Malaysia said the country championed the Palestinian cause but seemed to have “double standards” when it came to Rohingya refugees.

“We seem to have collective amnesia and are selective about who deserves protection,” she was quoted by Free Malaysia Today as saying at a human rights forum on Mar 19.

According to UNHCR figures as of May this year, Malaysia hosts about 189,340 refugees and asylum-seekers.

When someone crosses an international border seeking safety, they often need to apply to be legally recognised as a refugee, which in Malaysia’s case is indicated by the possession of a UNHCR card.

Asylum-seekers are people who intend to request for international protection, or are awaiting a decision on this request. Not every asylum-seeker will ultimately be recognised as a refugee.

Some 88 per cent of refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia are from Myanmar, including around 109,230 Rohingyas. The remaining are from 50 other countries, including Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Syria.

There are at least 620 Palestinian refugees and asylum-seekers in Malaysia, according to UNHCR figures, although some reports have indicated there could be as many as 2,500 of them in the country, with 30 per cent of these being students.

Despite that, Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its related 1967 protocol, meaning refugees cannot work legally or go to government schools.

Instead, refugees are considered undocumented or illegal migrants under the Immigration Act, and depend on non-governmental organisations (NGO) such as the Malaysia-based Refugee Emergency Fund for financial aid.

While the UNHCR card provides a 50 per cent discount on foreigner fees for refugees receiving treatment at public hospitals, it does not offer any further financial benefits.

DIFFERING TREATMENT

But as the Israel-Hamas war erupted in Gaza near the end of 2023, a bipartisan parliamentary group on refugee policy called on the government to issue a “Special Pass” for all Palestinians in Malaysia to allow them temporary stay and work.

Malaysia’s government - a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause - then said it would cover the study fees of Palestinian students at public universities, while those studying at private institutes would receive discounts of between 10 to 100 per cent.

On the other hand, a 2023 initiative to allow Rohingya refugees to study at the International Islamic University of Malaysia was made possible only through a grant from the Qatar Fund for Development. Meanwhile, authorities’ raids on illegal Rohingya settlements and businesses are prominently highlighted in the media.

Dr Benjamin Loh, a senior lecturer in media and communication at Taylor’s University, told CNA that Palestinians in Malaysia are not perceived as refugees - despite their official status as such - but as educated people who will one day return to the Middle East to fight for their land.

“But for the Rohingyas, there is this rhetoric that they are considered a low-class type of migrant,” he said, arguing that unlike the Palestinians, Rohingya refugees are seen as stateless people who ran from their country. 

“So, they are considered to add very little value as they only work in low-wage types of jobs. As a result of that, there is this sort of a very xenophobic view towards them, because they’re not seen as being beneficial to the country,” said Dr Loh. 

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2024-06-14 22:00:00Z
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Fire at Genting Highlands theme park sparks evacuations - CNA

A fire broke out at the Genting Highlands theme park in Malaysia on Friday (Jun 14), prompting evacuations as the blaze sent plumes of black smoke into the air. 

Footage of the incident shared widely on social media showed flames raging from the SkyAvenue shopping mall in the Central Park area of Genting SkyWorlds Theme Park. 

Visitors described their panic as the fire spread across the building, with some worried that the building might collapse.

Tourist Hafiz Abdul Halim, 42, who was with his wife, said they became fearful when they realised that there was a fire in the building.

"We obviously panicked when we heard people screaming here and there. The police on duty did ask people to evacuate the premises and exit to safer locations," he told local news agency Bernama. 

Restaurant assistant Adrian Wong, 32, said that staff as well as visitors were asked to vacate the premises. 

"Everyone made it out. They vacated and left everything to save themselves," he said, adding that all floors were evacuated for safety purposes. 

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2024-06-14 15:33:18Z
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Fire at Genting Highlands theme park sparks evacuations - CNA

Local news outlet Kosmo reported that more than 5,000 people had to evacuate, with some in a state of panic. 

The Pahang fire and rescue department said it was alerted at 4.55pm with personnel arriving at the location about five minutes later. 

The fire started on the second floor before spreading to the fourth, it said in a statement. 

Genting Highlands, in the Malaysian state of Pahang, is a popular entertainment and tourist destination. It has both indoor and outdoor theme parks, casinos, as well as shopping malls. It also hosts a variety of concerts. 

This is a developing story, please refresh for updates. 

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2024-06-14 11:39:00Z
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China's Li signals demand for New Zealand dairy and meat - CNA

His comments came as Chinese firms formally applied for an anti-dumping probe into pork imports from the European Union, escalating tensions after the bloc imposed anti-subsidy duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Global food companies from dairy producers to pork exporters are on high alert for potential retaliatory tariffs from China.

New Zealand and China on Thursday signed bilateral agreements on trade and climate during Li's trip, the highest level Chinese visit to New Zealand in seven years.

BOOMING TRADE

Li has promised that Beijing will further expand market access, create a market-oriented and internationalised business environment, and he encouraged entrepreneurs to seize opportunities, Chinese state media said.

Beijing sees itself as a key part of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's plan to double exports over the next 10 years.

China is already New Zealand's largest trading partner with bilateral trade totalling nearly NZ$38 billion (US$23.27 billion).

New Zealand remains keen to further boost trade ties with China but has also toughened its stance over the last year, accusing Beijing of hacking its parliament and noting what it characterises as a growing Chinese threat to Pacific security.

After his meeting with Li on Thursday Luxon said that as well as discussing trade, he had also raised concerns about issues such as Chinese interference.

Li's meeting with New Zealand opposition leader Chris Hipkins was cancelled on Friday, due to Hipkins facing travel issues.

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2024-06-14 10:06:36Z
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CNA launches in North America as part of international expansion - CNA

The launch event was hosted and moderated by CNA contributors and correspondents and will be advertised across the capital city this week.

Apart from Walk The Line, content available on CNA for North American viewers include:

• Daily news updates from the Asian region on the Asia Tonight programme and an in-depth look into developments from Greater China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula on East Asia Tonight programme.
• Insight – An acclaimed investigative documentary that analyses political, social and economic issues impacting Asia and the rest of the world.
• The Great Migration: A New Eden – A programme showcasing a year-long journey with a team of specialists moving 3,500 birds into Asia’s largest bird park in Singapore. The programme won the gold award at the World Media Festivals.
• Preparing For Dangerous Storms: Inside the People’s Liberation Army – A three-part series on the world’s largest army taking measures to ensure technology, energy, and food self-sufficiency in China. The documentary won the gold award for best documentary in the global issues category at the World Media Festivals.

CNA’S INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION

CNA was established in March 1999. The news channel has correspondents in 15 major cities across Asia, and is supported by 23 bureaus in North America, Europe, and Africa.

Mediacorp, during CNA’s 25th anniversary celebration in March, announced plans to scale up growth and reach new audiences in regional and international markets.

“We are making deliberate inroads in these regions because surveys have shown there is a significant audience in the US, Canada and the United Kingdom who are hungry for news and documentaries about Asia – in particular, China, Japan, and Korea,” said chairman Niam Chiang Meng.

Mediacorp said CNA fills a crucial gap in the North American market by delivering authentic narratives and firsthand perspectives from the Asian region, with an aim to enrich audiences' understanding of Asia.

This includes in-depth coverage of the region’s political scene, business developments, lifestyle trends as well as human-interest features which reflect the diversity of Asia.

Earlier this year, CNA launched its FAST channel in the UK with six hours of programming repeated throughout the day with news updates, in-depth current affairs content, and documentaries.

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2024-06-14 06:53:00Z
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