Israel-Iran conflict: 4 Singaporeans evacuated from Iran with help from Oman and Malaysia
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2 hours ago
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European powers tell UN they are ready to reimpose Iran sanctions
PARIS: Britain, France and Germany have told the United Nations they are ready to reimpose UN-mandated sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme if no diplomatic solution is found by the end of August, according to a joint letter obtained by AFP. The letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council says the three European powers are "committed to use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon" unless Tehran meets the deadline. The foreign ministers from the so-called E3 group threaten to use a "snapback mechanism" that was part of a 2015 international deal with Iran that eased UN Security Council sanctions. Under the deal, which terminates in October, any party to the accord can restore the sanctions. All three have stepped up warnings to Iran about its suspension of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. That came after Israel launched a 12-day war with Iran in June, partly seeking to destroy its nuclear capability. The United States staged its own bombing raid during the war. "We have made clear that if Iran is not willing to reach a diplomatic solution before the end of August 2025, or does not seize the opportunity of an extension, E3 are prepared to trigger the snapback mechanism," foreign ministers Jean-Noel Barrot of France, David Lammy of Britain and Johann Wadephul of Germany said in the letter. All three countries were signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with the United States, China and Russia that offered the carrot and stick deal for Iran to slow its enrichment of uranium needed for a nuclear weapon. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the accord in 2018 during his first term and ordered new sanctions. The European countries said they would stick to the accord. But their letter sets out engagements that the ministers say Iran has breached, including building up a uranium stock more than 40 times the permitted level under the 2015 deal. "The E3 remain fully committed to a diplomatic resolution to the crisis caused by Iran's nuclear programme and will continue to engage with a view to reaching a negotiated solution. "We are equally ready, and have unambiguous legal grounds, to notify the significant non-performance of JCPOA commitments by Iran ... thereby triggering the snapback mechanism, should no satisfactory solution be reached by the end of August 2025," the ministers wrote in the letter first reported by the Financial Times. END OF COOPERATION The United States had already started contacts with Iran, which denies seeking a weapon, over its nuclear activities. But these were halted by the Israeli strikes in June on Iran's nuclear facilities. Even before the strikes, the international powers had raised concerns about the lack of access given to IAEA inspectors. Iran halted all cooperation with the IAEA after the strikes, but it announced that the agency's deputy chief was expected in Teheran for talks on a new cooperation deal. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to the UN last month saying that the European countries did not have the legal right to restore sanctions. The European ministers called this allegation "unfounded".
CNA
3 hours ago
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Jalan Besar GRC MP Wan Rizal to join NTUC
SINGAPORE: Member of Parliament (MP) for Jalan Besar GRC Wan Rizal will join the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) as a director and labour MP, the labour movement announced on Wednesday (Aug 13). His appointment as its Employment and Employability Institute's (e2i) director of stakeholder management, career services and partnership group takes effect on Aug 18. As a labour MP, NTUC said Dr Rizal will speak up for workers' interests in parliament and champion the organisation's key advocacy areas. The focus will be on supporting lower-wage workers and strengthening engagement with the Malay-Muslim community. "Building on his parliamentary experience and active grassroots engagement with workers across different sectors, Dr Rizal would bring his valuable insights into their aspirations and concerns," said NTUC. "His appointment reflects NTUC's ongoing efforts to stay closely connected with the community and deepen its understanding of workers' needs to improve their wages, welfare, and work prospects." MP for Jalan Besar GRC since 2020, Dr Rizal is a senior lecturer at Republic Polytechnic. NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng said his presence "further strengthens NTUC's ability to understand, represent and advocate for all workers". As director of stakeholder management at NTUC's e2i, Dr Rizal will work closely with community partners, union leaders, grassroots advisers and other stakeholders to strengthen relationships and organise career fairs and events that connect job seekers with work opportunities, said NTUC. He will also lead the development of strategies and programmes that support workers' innovation, employability and long-term career growth. Dr Rizal's grassroots connections and understanding of the challenges faced by lower-wage and mature workers, particularly within the Malay-Muslim community, will be invaluable, said Caryn Lim, CEO of e2i. She added that his experience will help e2i sharpen its focus on reaching underserved groups and design career services and programmes that meet their specific needs. 'I am honoured to join NTUC and NTUC's e2i in this new capacity. In my years as an educator, community leader and Member of Parliament," said Dr Rizal. "I've met workers who felt left behind - whether it's because of age, income, or background. I hope to be a strong bridge between workers and policy, and to champion the interests of lower-wage workers, mature workers - including those within our Malay-Muslim community.' According to the Singapore parliament website, Dr Rizal currently serves on the Punggol East Citizen Consultative Committee for Punggol East SMC. He was previously chairman of the mosque management board for Al-Islah Mosque and a member of the inter-racial and religious confidence circles for Punggol North and Punggol West. In its statement, NTUC also expressed its appreciation for Mr Fahmi Aliman, former director of operations and mobilisation division secretariat, who stepped down on Jun 30.
CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
Malaysia's top court dismisses appeal against jailed ex-PM Najib's house arrest bid
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's top court on Wednesday (Aug 13) dismissed an appeal by the attorney-general to block jailed ex-premier Najib Razak from pursuing access to a royal document that he says would allow him to serve his sentence at home. Najib, imprisoned since August 2022 for his role in the multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal, has said that an addendum order was issued last year as part of a royal pardon by then-king Al-Sultan Abdullah that halved the former premier's jail sentence from 12 years to six. Najib has since been seeking to confirm the existence of and execute the royal order. The case has stirred intrigue in Malaysia, with multiple government authorities, including members of the pardons board, for months denying knowledge of the royal document despite the former king's office confirming it had been issued. A three-member panel of the Federal Court, in a unanimous decision on Wednesday, said it accepted the existence of the addendum order, but was not in a position to determine if it was authentic or truly issued as part of the royal pardon. "We remit the case to the High Court for the hearing of the substantive judicial review proceedings before a new judge," Federal Court judge Zabariah Mohd Yusof said. Najib was found guilty in 2020 of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power for illegally receiving funds misappropriated from a unit of state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Although some 1MDB-linked charges against him have been dropped, Najib is still awaiting a verdict in the biggest trial he faces over the scandal, with the court expected to hear closing arguments in October. He has denied all of the charges brought against him.
