'No evidence, no case': Najib denies bribery ties in French submarine deal
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's legal firm has refuted claims of his involvement in alleged bribery related to Malaysia's purchase of Scorpene submarines in 2002.
This was in response to a Bloomberg report, which cited assertions made by French prosecutors regarding the US$1.2 billion deal.
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EU mulls action against Israel over Gaza human rights violations
BRUSSELS: European Council President Antonio Costa said that the European Commission is preparing a legal report for action against Israel, which is expected to be presented to the Council of EU Foreign Ministers on June 23. The Palestine News and Info Agency (WAFA), in its report citing press sources, said the anticipated report could open the door to imposing partial sanctions against Israel without the need for unanimity among all member states, if it is determined that Israel is not fulfilling its human rights obligations under Article 2 of the Association Agreement with the EU. Costa said in a press statement, referring to the content of the anticipated report: 'The situation in Gaza is absolutely unacceptable, and when you watch your channels and read your newspapers, I think the conclusion you will reach is clear.' It is noteworthy that 17 of the 27 countries requested this legal assessment, while nine countries opposed it. Article 2 of the agreement provides a legal framework for the special relationship between Israel and the European Union in several areas, including trade. Although completely cancelling the Association Agreement requires the unanimous consent of member states, which some countries are expected to oppose, the EU is considering partial steps that could reduce the agreement without requiring unanimity, instead requiring only a special majority. Four European diplomats told Politico that pressure is mounting on the European Commission to submit practical proposals to downgrade relations with Israel if it is proven to be violating the human rights clause in the agreement. Two weeks ago, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called for a review of the agreement, and previous reports indicated that France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Belgium were exploring the possibility of recognising a Palestinian state.
The Sun
8 hours ago
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The Star
13 hours ago
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Greenpeace steals Macron wax figure for anti-Moscow protest
Greenpeace activists on Monday stole a wax figure of President Emmanuel Macron from a Paris museum and placed it in front of the Russian embassy as part of a protest against French economic ties with Moscow in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. According to a police source, two women and a man entered the Grevin Museum posing as tourists and, once inside, changed their clothes to pass for workers. The activists slipped out through an emergency exit with the wax work, estimated to be worth 40,000 euros (RM193,644), which they had covered up. The museum said that the activists had called to promise that the statue would be returned "unharmed". "They had clearly done their research very thoroughly," a museum spokeswoman told AFP. According to the spokeswoman, the activists distracted a security guard by asking a question about a disabled access lift, while some of them donned maintenance coats. After making away with the Macron wax figure, the Greenpeace activists placed it in front of the Russian embassy in a protest against the economic ties between France and Russia in the gas, chemical fertilizer and nuclear sectors. Greenpeace activists set up a wax statue of Macron - allegedly taken from the Grevin Museum - outside the Russian Embassy in Paris on June 2, protesting France's gas and fertilizer imports from Russia. Photo: AFP The action in front of the embassy lasted only a few minutes. The activists unfurled a Russian flag behind the Macron statue, while one man held up a yellow placard reading "Business is business". The activists also threw fake banknotes around. "For us, France is playing a double game," said Jean-Francois Julliard, head of Greenpeace France. "Emmanuel Macron embodies this double discourse: he supports Ukraine but encourages French companies to continue trading with Russia," Julliard said. Julliard said Greenpeace targeted Macron because he had a particular responsibility, adding that the French president "should be the first" among European leaders to end trade contracts with Russia. France has been one of the most vocal supporters of Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Macron has taken the lead in seeking to forge a coordinated European response to defend Ukraine, after US President Donald Trump shocked the world by directly negotiating with Russia. The wax figure of Jacques Chirac was stolen from the Grevin Museum in 1983, when he was mayor of Paris. The statue was found a few days later at the Vincennes Zoo. The statue of Valery Giscard d'Estaing was stolen by angry motorcyclists during his term at the Elysee Palace between 1974 and 1981. - AFP
