Chinese researcher's death after questioning in US prompts anger in Beijing

Chinese researcher's death after questioning in US prompts anger in Beijing

12 hours ago
Koh Ewe and Stephen McDonell

China correspondent

Bloomberg via Getty Images
The University of Michigan said a researcher died after falling from a campus building on 19 March


China has called on American authorities to investigate the death of a Chinese semiconductor researcher in the US, who was found dead after "hostile questioning" by law enforcement there.

US media have identified the researcher as Danhao Wang from the University of Michigan. Wang died shortly after talking to federal investigators, CBS News reported.

The University of Michigan said in a statement that it was investigating "a possible act of self-harm", after a researcher's fatal fall from a campus building on 19 March.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the US, told the BBC on Thursday that they were "deeply distressed by this tragedy".

He said China has "repeatedly lodged solemn representations with relevant US government agencies and universities regarding this case", and have contacted the victim's family to "provide active assistance with the aftermath".

He also reminded Chinese students in the US to "heighten their safety awareness" and "handle US law enforcement actions appropriately".

While the embassy declined to confirm the deceased researcher's identity to the BBC, Liu earlier identified him to the South China Morning Post as Danhao Wang from the University of Michigan.

Both the university and the Chinese foreign ministry have also declined to confirm the researcher's identity, citing respect for the family and personal privacy.

Wang was an assistant research scientist of electrical and computer engineering, according to his profile on the university website. His research interests involved semiconductors.

China's foreign ministry first addressed the case on 27 March, when it said a Chinese scholar had taken their own life "after being subjected to hostile questioning by US law enforcement personnel".

Such actions "seriously violate Chinese citizens' lawful rights, poison the atmosphere for people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and continue to create a serious chilling effect," the ministry said.

It added that the US should conduct a "full investigation" and provide a "responsible explanation" to the researcher's family and Chinese authorities.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated calls for a US investigation on Wednesday, when asked about Wang's case by the BBC.

"China will continue to take what is necessary to firmly defend Chinese citizens' legitimate and lawful rights and interests," she said.

Wang's death is the latest case to draw attention to the status of Chinese academics in the US as tensions between the two rival nations persist.

After Chinese-American neuroscientist Jane Wu from Northwestern University died by suicide in 2024, her family sued the school, claiming that the university had treated her poorly while she faced a years-long federal investigation into her ties with China.

The US has tightened its scrutiny of Chinese students on American campuses in recent years, citing national security concerns.

In 2020, during US president Donald Trump's first term, he signed an order barring Chinese students and researchers with suspected military ties from obtaining US visas.

Last year, the Trump administration vowed to "aggressively" revoke the visas of Chinese students, especially those linked to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields. Months later, the US made a U-turn on the hard line stance, issuing 600,000 Chinese student visas as Washington and Beijing engaged in trade talks.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon aimed to undermine ceasefire, critics say

More than 250 people have been killed in a barrage of air strikes on Lebanon since the ceasefire was declared.

By Simon Speakman Cordall

Published On 9 Apr 20269 Apr 2026

Just hours after the United States and Iran announced a ceasefire in the war that has dominated news headlines around the world and pushed oil prices to new heights, Israel bombarded Lebanon on Wednesday, killing hundreds, injuring thousands and prompting Iran to reimpose its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The bone of contention: whether or not Israel’s relentless strikes on Lebanon were included in the ceasefire at all. Pakistan, which brokered the agreement, said they were. Israel said they weren’t.

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Later on Wednesday, the US sided with Israel, with President Donald Trump calling the violence in Lebanon “a separate skirmish” even though Hezbollah had entered the war in defence of Iran.

In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under intense political pressure since the US and Iran signed the ceasefire, which had little or no active involvement from Israel.

None of Israel’s war aims, which Netanyahu had assured his country were the basis for what he framed as an existential battle with Iran, had been achieved, angering those who supported the war.

Furthermore, under the terms of the truce published yesterday, a 10-point peace plan put forward by Iran has been accepted as a starting point for negotiations due to begin this weekend in Islamabad.

Under early descriptions of the Iranian plan, Iran would retain its nuclear stock and could benefit financially from levies charged on shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and from tariffs and sanctions relief promised by Israel’s ally, US President Donald Trump, on his Truth Social account.

This is far from the 15-point list of demands the US previously put forward to Iran, which would have seen the strait completely reopened without conditions, and Iran giving up its enriched uranium stocks, ending its ballistic missiles programme and promising to stop arming proxy groups in the region, such as the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and a flurry of armed groups in Iraq.

Arguing that Lebanon is exempt from the ceasefire agreement, Israel launched the most extensive bombardment on its neighbour in recent months on Wednesday. In the space of about 10 minutes, the Israeli military carried out more than 100 strikes on what it claimed were Hezbollah targets, hitting Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley, killing at least 254 people, 91 of them in the capital, Beirut, alone.

The attacks have been condemned by numerous nations and international organisations, including Spain, France, the United Kingdom, the United Nations and Pakistan, which brokered the ceasefire deal and stated explicitly that Lebanon was included.

Responding to the strikes, Iranian state media announced that its government was now considering walking away from the truce and has already announced that restrictions on the economically vital Strait of Hormuz will be reimposed.

For its part, Israel says it is not trying to kill the ceasefire by launching strikes on Lebanon. Charles Freilich, Israel’s former deputy national security adviser, told Al Jazeera that the motivation for the strikes arose solely from the “opportunity to hit numerous mid to high-level Hezbollah fighters, not spoil the ceasefire, which both the US and Israel maintain does not include Lebanon”.

‘Provocateurs-in-chief’

Some analysts are sceptical, however.

“Israeli officials will no doubt claim that this was a super sophisticated operation against necessary security targets, perhaps embellishing those arguments with claims of deep intel and technological penetration and sophistication, and you will probably have the usual mainstream Western media outlets slavishly parroting the Israeli line,” former Israeli government adviser Daniel Levy told Al Jazeera, before explaining that such operations typically combine two principal features.

“The first is, sadly, an Israeli devotion to death and destruction, largely for its own sake, to spread terror and upend state capacity in various places in the region, and to upend civilian life,” he said. “And, secondly, a very transparent attempt to prolong the broader war against Iran, to collapse any ceasefire prospects, and to act as provocateurs-in-chief.”

Politically, support within Israel for the war may have weakened, however. Many of those who initially supported the war on Iran have been unsparing in their criticism of a potential pause in the conflict negotiated by the other two parties at Israel’s apparent expense.

Posting on X, opposition leader Yair Lapid claimed that Prime Minister “Netanyahu has turned us into a protectorate state that receives instructions over the phone on matters pertaining to the core of our national security”.

Democrats leader Yair Golan was equally scathing. “Netanyahu lied,” he wrote on X. “He promised a ‘historic victory’ and security for generations, and in practice, we got one of the most severe strategic failures Israel has ever known.”

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has been unsparing in his criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a ceasefire he claims Israel was excluded from [Evelyn Hockstein/Pool via AP]

“Netanyahu is in real trouble, and he thinks he has to wreck the ceasefire to get out of it, just as he did previously in Gaza,” Member of the Knesset Aida Touma Sliman of the left-wing Hadash party, which has opposed the war from the start, told Al Jazeera. “The ceasefire has lost him a lot of support, even among those who backed the war. None of his war aims have been achieved and it looks like he is losing control to the Trump administration,” she said.

“Don’t forget, we’re heading towards elections,” she added, referring to the vote currently slated for October, “and Netanyahu’s dropping in the polls. He needs something he can claim is a victory.

“And that’s why he did what he did,” she said, of Wednesday’s barrage on busy Lebanese neighbourhoods that killed hundreds, including women, children and medical workers, according to emergency workers on the ground. “He conducted a massacre in Lebanon.”

***

Ya loh, everyone knows that - those murderous shailoks are scared of Iran and until the Persians are being thrashed kaukau, the shailoks won't rest in peace.

Hadi’s “Muslims continue to be cheated” is a powerful narrative to undermine Madani amid global energy crisis

Hadi’s “Muslims continue to be cheated” is a powerful narrative to undermine Madani amid global energy crisis

ONE wonders how PAS supreme leader Tan Sri Hadi Awang can so conveniently derived at the conclusion that “Muslims have yet again been cheated” merely to drive home the message that it is unfair for Peninsular Malaysia to be subjected to fuel price hike while Sabah and Sarawak are spared from any spike.



For starters, the cleric reasoned rather simplistically that Malaysia “is not included in the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz” given Iran appreciates “that many brave Malaysians refuse to side with the US and Israel who are “clearly aggressors against sovereign Muslim nations”.


“At the same time, Malaysia has its own oil and gas wells and many other resources that can be a solution alongside neighbouring Muslim countries,” he argued in his latest Minda Presiden PAS rant.


“The real problem that occurs is the many leaks and misconduct in management.”


Even if he had wanted to undermine the ruling Madani government, Hadi’s unsubstantiated statement without proper research and fact check only gives the impression that he is merely plucking his argument out of the sky or thin air while embellishing them with Quranic verses to undermine his political foes.



Contrast what the esteemed seven-term Marang MP did with that of veteran journalist and blogger Datuk Seri A. Kadir Jasin who also disagreed with the Madani energy policy.

Probably given the latter’s inclination as an economic/financial journo, Kadir always substantiate his argument with both facts and figures in his global energy crisis discourse.

“Yes, it’s a global crisis,” he remarked in a recent Facebook post to counter Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who snubbed Madani critics at finger-pointing amid the current swelling energy prices while justifying that “the nation is in crisis preparedness mode.

“But the Madani government raised fuel prices by 101% while global crude prices rose by 60%.”


Or like former Barisan Nasional (BN) strategic communication deputy director Datuk Eric See-To who has prolifically ‘attacked’ the Madani administration over the fuel price spike, especially with regard to diesel which he claimed is a lifeblood of the nation’s economy, hence can trigger vast inflationary pressure.

Again, like National Journalism Laureate Kadir, the loyalist of disgraced former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak substantiated his claims with facts, figures and in-depth research.


On the contrary, many staunch PAS followers will fall flat or be truly convinced with Hadi’s shallow yet spiritually-powered rhetoric which is embellished with Quranic verses while appealing to their emotion.


There is no reason to raise oil prices because previously he (Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has made a shocking statement that he can solve the oil price issue in less than 24 hours,”

But today he has resorted to cowardice by giving the excuse of global oil price hike is caused by the US and its allies following the closure of Strait of Hormuz by Iran.

But the fact is, Malaysia is not included in the countries that are blocked because Malaysians support Palestine and the Islamic Republic of Iran which is being invaded. – April 8, 2026

Temple says Aidilfitri open house is off, disputes Penang DCM’s replacement claim

Temple says Aidilfitri open house is off, disputes Penang DCM’s replacement claim



Thean Hock Keong temple in Butterworth, Penang, which said its planned Aidilfitri open house on April 11 has been fully cancelled following objections from state religious authorities. — Picture via Facebook

Thursday, 09 Apr 2026 3:10 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — A Penang temple has flatly denied that any event will take place on April 11, pushing back against a state leader’s claim that a “unity” banquet would go ahead in place of its cancelled Aidilfitri open house.

In a media statement today, Thean Hock Keong said reports that the Penang Zhao Zi Long Cultural and Arts Association would take over as organiser were “not true”, stressing that no programme — whether under its name or otherwise — is being held on that date.


“There is no event organised by our party on April 11, 2026,” it said, adding that the planned “Unity Event” or Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house had been fully cancelled in respect of the Penang Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAIPP).

The temple also distanced itself from any separate gathering reportedly scheduled for 8pm at Dewan Panorama in Bagan Ajam, amid what it described as growing confusion.


The denial comes hours after Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Mohamad Abdul Hamid said a “Majlis Jamuan Perpaduan” (Unity Banquet) would be held in Butterworth on April 11, organised by the Zhao Zi Long Cultural and Arts Association together with local residents.


He said the event would proceed under the coordination of the National Unity and Integration Department, following advice that unity-related programmes fall under its jurisdiction.

Earlier, JHEAIPP had barred the Butterworth-based Thean Hock Keong from hosting an Aidilfitri open house, saying such celebrations fall under Islamic religious activities requiring approval from the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP).


In its statement today, the temple said it had complied with the directive, cancelling the programme despite maintaining that its intention was to foster unity and strengthen community ties.

It noted that concerns raised by the state mufti — that a Chinese temple organising an Aidilfitri event could create confusion and sensitivities — would equally apply to any similar programme linked to the temple, including one organised by the Zhao Zi Long association.

“As such, to avoid any misunderstanding and undesirable implications, we have decided to cancel the programme,” it said.

The temple also defended its earlier plans, saying all food prepared for the event would have been halal and supplied by local Malay traders, with the programme funded by the temple and held under the auspices of the National Unity Ministry.

It further sought to clarify that its promotional materials had stated the event would be held in front of the temple, not within its premises, and questioned why this had been raised as an issue.

While expressing disappointment, the temple said it would abide by the authorities’ decision to cancel the open house, even as it pointed to a similar event organised by a Buddhist group in Johor earlier this year that did not draw objections.

It urged both JHEAIPP and the deputy chief minister to avoid issuing statements that could further confuse the public, reiterating that its “ultimate intention” had been to promote unity.

‘We don’t have that kind of time’: Anwar urges faster results, more ‘semangat’ from civil servants

‘We don’t have that kind of time’: Anwar urges faster results, more ‘semangat’ from civil servants



Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrives for the Ministry of Transport’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya April 9, 2026. — Picture by Yusof Isa

Thursday, 09 Apr 2026 10:05 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today called on civil servants to strengthen both delivery and public communication, saying government officers play a key role in ensuring policies are understood on the ground.

Speaking in his first address to the Transport Ministry at its monthly assembly, Anwar said officials must not only implement policies efficiently but also help explain them clearly to the public, especially amid ongoing economic challenges.

“We have the right to give opinions… but we cannot judge or respond based on wrong facts,” he said.

“That is why government servants must help explain — not to defend blindly, but to clarify.”


He stressed that in a fast-moving information environment, incomplete or misleading narratives can easily confuse the public if left unaddressed.

“Some people speak with only a little understanding but present it as if it is certain. This does not help — it only confuses the masses,” he added.

At the same time, Anwar said the civil service must continue to deliver results, noting that Malaysia’s public sector has shown it can perform under pressure.


“Sometimes they ask for six months, or even until 2027 to implement policies, but I say no — we don’t have that kind of time.

“Bring the target forward, and the best part is that all of you can deliver and do it well too,” he said.

He said such urgency has often led to stronger outcomes, pointing to the ability of civil servants to adapt when given clear direction and support.

“When there is semangat (spirit), unity, many things can be resolved faster than expected,” he said.

Anwar also urged officials not to focus solely on shortcomings, but to recognise progress made within a short period.

“Don’t just talk about problems all the time. Yes, problems exist — but look at what has been achieved,” he said.

He added that reforms within the public sector are still ongoing and will take time, particularly in addressing past weaknesses and leakages.

“We cannot solve everything immediately… but we must continue to improve and correct what is wrong,” he said.

As an example, Anwar pointed to the recovery of RM15.5 billion in lost national revenue through leakages in the past two years, which has helped sustain government subsidies for the people in the face of the global energy crisis.

“This is not because of one or two people, not because of the prime minister,” he said.

“It is because of the strength of the public service, working together with others to improve the country.”

He also encouraged more open discussions within ministries, saying internal meetings should allow feedback from all levels rather than being dominated by top-down directives.

“It should not be a monologue… give space for views from below,” he said.

Despite criticism from some quarters, Anwar said Malaysia’s civil service continues to perform well, and urged officials to maintain their efforts.

“I know all of you are working hard… continue doing your best for the country,” he said.

Malaysia presses on with 30-container Gaza aid mission despite rising regional tensions

Malaysia presses on with 30-container Gaza aid mission despite rising regional tensions



An activist waves the Palestinian flag as part of a civilian flotilla aiming at breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip leaves the port of Barcelona August 31, 2025. — AFP file pic

Thursday, 09 Apr 2026 8:49 AM MYT


CAIRO, April 9 — Malaysia will continue to prioritise the humanitarian crisis in Gaza despite escalating conflicts, geopolitical uncertainty and rising tensions across West Asia.

Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC) director-general Datuk Sani Araby Alim Araby, said Malaysia remains resolute in carrying out the 30-container humanitarian aid mission to Gaza, despite mounting challenges, to support the increasingly vulnerable Palestinian population.

He said global economic uncertainties, including currency instability against the US dollar and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, have significantly increased procurement costs for the mission.

“For non-governmental organisations (NGOs) supporting Gaza, rising costs have a direct impact. Most purchases are made in US dollars rather than ringgit, and currency fluctuations add a substantial burden,” he told reporters after inspecting final preparations at the Mapim-Al Khair warehouse here.


Sani Araby said concerns over a wider regional conflict have not dampened the Malaysian delegation’s determination to push through the blockade imposed by the Zionist regime on the Palestinian people.

The mission will deliver 374 tonnes of essential supplies, expected to benefit 100,000 people in Gaza.

He noted that while the 30 containers represent only a small portion of the needs of Gaza’s 2.2 million population, the initiative sends a clear message that Malaysia will not allow basic humanitarian rights in the territory to be denied.


“At a time when the world appears to be heading towards broader conflict, we must strengthen unity and focus on efforts that enable us to contribute to Palestine’s liberation,” he said.

The 30-container humanitarian mission to Gaza 2026, organised by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Islamic Organisation (Mapim), involves the delivery of 30 containers carrying 374 tonnes of aid for Palestinians in Gaza.

The mission is also joined by Malaysian media personnel, including a reporter and a photographer from Bernama. — Bernama

MCA: Arrest of activists over Azam Baki protest “excessive”, signals democratic backslide

MCA: Arrest of activists over Azam Baki protest “excessive”, signals democratic backslide

By Bernie Yeo
4 hours ago


THE arrest of three social activists during a protest at a speech by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki has sparked concern over a potential regression in freedom of expression.


The incident occurred during a public engagement session attended by Azam on Tuesday (April 7), where three activists three activists were arrested following a peaceful protest at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur linked to the #TangkapAzamBaki campaign.


The campaign calls for the arrest and investigation of the MACC chief whom protesters allege owns excessive corporate shares.

MCA Youth secretary-general Saw Yee Fung said the individuals were engaged in a peaceful act and did not pose any threat to public order.

She described the incident as part of a broader pattern of authorities using state power to suppress public voices and foster a climate of fear.


“In any democratic society, the right to express views peacefully, particularly on matters concerning the integrity of public officials and institutions, is a fundamental liberty,” she stressed.

“This right is protected under Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression for all Malaysians.”

Saw questioned the legal basis for the arrests, noting that the individuals did not cause disorder, incite confrontation, or engage in any form of violence.

“Under such circumstances, on what legal basis were they arrested? Were such actions necessary and proportionate? The authorities must provide a clear and transparent explanation,” she said.

She added that even if the protest was deemed disruptive, enforcement authorities could have opted for less severe measures.

Saw Yee Fung (Image: Akhbar Rakyat)


“The appropriate response would have been on-site engagement, advisories, or a request for them to leave, rather than resorting to arrest and detention for investigation,” she said.

“Such a response is excessive and sends a dangerous signal that dissent is increasingly being treated as unlawful. If this continues, any form of civic expression could be at risk.”

Saw also criticised what she described as inconsistency in the government’s stance on freedom of expression.

“It is particularly disappointing that Pakatan Harapan, prior to assuming power, consistently championed freedom of expression and opposed the suppression of dissent,” she said.

“Yet now in government, enforcement actions appear more severe and far-reaching. This inconsistency undermines its moral standing and raises serious doubts about its commitment to institutional reform.”

She further questioned enforcement priorities, noting that concerns surrounding Azam’s integrity have yet to see a comprehensive and transparent resolution.

“Instead, the public is witnessing media organisations being investigated, journalists being questioned, and now even activists being arrested,” she said.

“This raises a fundamental question: are enforcement agencies safeguarding the public interest, or diverting attention from matters that warrant proper investigation?”

Saw warned that heavy-handed enforcement could erode institutional legitimacy over time.

“A responsible government must distinguish clearly between criticism and genuine threats. While such responses may suppress dissent in the short term, they risk undermining social stability in the long run,” she said.

She added that the incident could also affect Malaysia’s international standing.


“If even peaceful demonstrations are no longer tolerated, how will the international community assess Malaysia’s democratic maturity and commitment to the rule of law?” she said.

“This may affect not only human rights perceptions, but also investor confidence in the country’s governance environment.

“Enforcement should be based on law, not political pressure. Once public trust is weakened, the impact on national governance will be serious.” ‒ April 9, 2026



Main image: Sinar Daily

Where are you going Hamzah Zainudin?



Thursday, 09 Apr 2026 8:36 AM MYT

By Praba Ganesan

APRIL 9 — Destination currently reads, nowhere. He’s fading faster than expected.

It’s as though after being kicked out of Bersatu, Hamzah Zainudin stands in the parking lot, toying with his smartphone while it is on flight mode and pretending to book a ride.


Raised in Umno, to posture is second nature but the Larut strongman is steadily losing momentum by, well, just posturing.

The defiance shown after his sacking by Bersatu by having a gathering the day after with most of the party’s MPs in attendance was a strong start but two months are about to pass and few outside or inside Perikatan Nasional are aware what the leader of the Opposition is up to. Or where he intends to go.



Everyone is fairly certain who he is against, however hardly anyone is aware what he is for going forward.


PAS have appointed a chairman for PN and by June, do not hold your breath, they’d appoint a new Leader of Opposition from their ranks.

When that happens, unless other developments precede it, he’d be without a party, a coalition or a meaningful position.


It’ll just be Larut in Dewan Rakyat, seated next to Muar and Bukit Gantang in the Siberia of the lower chamber. Political indecision is a career-killer even in risk averse Malaysia.

It probably makes a lot of people at Umno’s headquarters chuckle. How about them apples?



The author argues that Hamzah Zainudin’s post-Bersatu trajectory is marked by indecision and lack of direction, with his failure to articulate a clear political path risking his relevance as support within Perikatan Nasional wanes and rivals move to fill the vacuum. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin


The Attrition Method

He had a charmed life in politics till about eight weeks ago.

Hamzah jumped ship from Umno in 2018 to a Bersatu chaired by Mahathir Mohamad. By the time president Muhyiddin Yassin’s crew ousted Mahathir from the party and as prime minister, Hamzah was already a senior figure in the nascent party.

Appointed home minister in the pandemic Cabinet. When PN failed to deliver in GE2022, it was still an up for Hamzah as he was catapulted to become the coalition’s face in parliament as leader.

Last year in June, Hamzah worked with the leadership to prop himself up as deputy president, thanks to pliant Ahmad Faizal Azumu or Peja relegating himself from deputy to vice-president, to enable the manoeuvre. And being declared at the party’s October polls as the unopposed number two was just a step away to the top post.

Thereafter, lead the party and coalition to GE16 and the highest office in the land.

That quickly? Can be if it is a charm offensive in tandem with an internal ouster of Muhyiddin. Dance with the committee while assassins wait in the dark with silencers.

Gathered statutory declarations (SDs) from 120 division chiefs asking for a polite leadership succession. To Hamzah it was stratagem, to Muhyiddin it was a hostile takeover.

A series of sackings and suspensions followed, culminating with Hamzah’s own axing.

Future researchers cannot claim it a misunderstanding, as there were elaborate and painstaking efforts to undermine the president with the active role of the Perak Man. A hundred-twenty division chiefs do not randomly submit SDs.


Traded blows, in the sick-bay

Hamzah knew a standoff was building from the year-end Perlis putsch which precipitated Muhyiddin and allies’ resignations from PN posts. Yet it seemed the only thing he was ready for was for Muhyiddin to hand over the reins rather than fight.

Both were bloodied by Hamzah’s sacking. The ex-deputy had 18 MPs but no platform. They’ll wait but not forever. Politicians must consider options. Former Srikandi chief and Melaka chieftain Mas Ermieyati Samsudin has a state election in December, which determines her own political future. She backs Hamzah, for now.

Muhyiddin has perhaps six MPs including himself. While he can enjoy Hamzah’s struggle, he’d rue his party’s diminished stature. Even more so when there’s a global economic situation to rival the 2008 meltdown. Sitting governments are often punished and the benefactors will be the Opposition parties.

The Bersatu implosion forces PN to stutter as PAS is ill-equipped to step up due to its own deformities.

Surf conditions are perfect, and they cannot find a single surfboard among them to ride the wave to glory.


Panderers are Yellow Pandas

Knowing how Hamzah got to this predicament and PN’s preoccupations with being preoccupied explains the malaise. Yet, seeing Hamzah’s no-agenda method explains his own ineptitude.

The initial conversation was refashioning the inactive Parti Keluarga Malaysia, which unfortunately shares the abbreviation of the defunct Parti Komunis Malaya (Malayan Communist Party). It seems Hamzah is less comfortable to speak about the PKM ties.

Days ago, he intimated he may opt for PAS membership.

He cannot just pack and leave one major party for another and expect seamless integration. The entry of ex-PKR leaders into Bersatu lent to the power struggles between him and Muhyiddin.

PAS is a 75-year-old party which has navigated itself firmly as a cleric led movement the last 40 years. How does a soon to be 70 quantity surveyor turned Umno-style corporate bigwig position himself in PAS? And does he also drag along his 18 MPs?

Being open to options in the first week was prudent. Not narrowing choices after two months starts to give a scent of uncertainty. Which then makes supporters nervous. Umno is aggressively seeking to recoup ex-leaders who bolted, that’s the majority of MPs with Hamzah.

If the new leader does not deploy a pathway to power for the followers, and the old grand party opens its doors, doubt seeps in.

Mas Ermieyati is the Public Accounts Committee chair and grassroots leaders in Melaka, Umno only get stronger with her back as Masjid Tanah MP. Ronald Kiandee is a six-time incumbent at Beluran and can up Umno’s appeal in Sabah and give a valuable seat to tip the count on election night.

Umno rubs its hands with glee in anticipation in case Hamzah is a zero, they can become the hero and embrace old guards back into the fold.

While Hamzah has succeeded in the past, it has been on the shoulders of giants in Umno and Bersatu. Now, when the opportunity presents itself to him to kick off his own vehicle he displays more hesitation than enthusiasm.

It’s fun being angry and rewarded for wild fury all the while, but leading at the top means having a vision.

Perhaps this was always beyond his pay grade.

Trump killed people in the Caribbean sea, then he killed ... etc etc etc

From the FB page of:

Nury Vittachi 

tnopdrSeso57hh0gl0t9h8g9i7f4g4724ml6ih9g8515f2ghi5c1t94tuu70 ·

We must have been around this news cycle several times now. Trump killed people in the Caribbean sea, then he killed people in Venezuela, then he killed people in Iran, now he’s killing people in Cuba--and that doesn't count all the weapons the US sent to use on people in Gaza and Lebanon of course

Israel launches fresh strikes on Lebanon after huge attacks jeopardise truce

Israel launches fresh strikes on Lebanon after huge attacks jeopardise truce

By Parisa Hafezi and Maya Gebeily

April 9, 2026

4:23 PM GMT+10

Updated 30 mins ago


Summary

• Iran says ceasefire must include Lebanon; Israel says it is not covered
• More than 250 people killed in Israel's biggest strikes on its neighbour of the war
• Physical barrels of oil hit record prices
• Israel says it has killed nephew of Hezbollah chief

DUBAI/BEIRUT, April 9 (Reuters) - Israel bombed more targets in Lebanon on Thursday, putting the Middle East ceasefire in further jeopardy after its biggest attacks ​of the war on its neighbour killed more than 250 people and threatened to torpedo Donald Trump's truce from the outset.

Iranian negotiators were expected to set off later on Thursday for Pakistan for the first peace talks ‌of the war, due to meet a U.S. delegation on Saturday.

But there was no sign Iran had lifted its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has caused the worst disruption to global energy supplies in history. Tehran said there would be no deal as long as Israel was striking Lebanon.

Daily shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to less than 10% of its historical average after the start of the U.S.-Israel war.

The shortage drove the price that European and Asian refineries pay for oil to record levels near $150 a barrel, with even higher prices for some products such as jet fuel.

Israel, which invaded Lebanon last month in parallel with the war on Iran to root out the armed group Hezbollah, Tehran's ally, says its actions there ​are not covered by the ceasefire announced late on Tuesday by Trump.

Washington has also said Lebanon is not covered by the truce, but Iran and Pakistan, which acted as mediator, say it was explicitly part of the deal. A ​host of countries, including Britain and France, said the truce should extend to Lebanon.

A Pakistani source with knowledge of the discussions said Pakistan was working on ceasefires for Lebanon and Yemen: "It will ⁠be discussed during the (upcoming) talks and we will settle it."

ISRAEL SAYS IT KILLS HEZBOLLAH CHIEF'S NEPHEW

The Israeli military said on Thursday it had killed the nephew of Hezbollah's Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who had served as his personal secretary, and had struck river crossings ​in Lebanon overnight.

Israel struck Beirut's southern suburbs just before midnight and at dawn, and hit towns across the south on Thursday morning, Lebanese state media said.

For its part, Hezbollah, which had initially said it would pause attacks on Israel in line with the ceasefire, said ​it was resuming them on Thursday morning and had fired once across the border and twice at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

Families gathered on Thursday at Beirut hospitals to identify slain loved ones, and rescuers worked through the night to try to save those trapped under rubble from attacks that hit populated areas without customary warnings to civilians.

"This is my place, this is my house, I've been living here like more than 51 years. So, everything destroyed. See?" said Naim Chebbo, sweeping shattered glass and debris from his home in Beirut after strikes destroyed the building next door.

Lebanon declared a day of ​national mourning and shut state offices. At one funeral in central Beirut, mourners gathered quietly to bury a man who had been killed. His wife had survived the bombing, which sheared off half the building and left survivors trapped on upper floors for ​hours.


MOURNING FOR KHAMENEI

Iran's deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told BBC Radio that Israel's strikes on Lebanon were a "grave violation" of the ceasefire.

"It was a catastrophe, could actually end in more catastrophe, and this is the nature of this rogue behaviour that we are seeing from Israel in the ‌whole Middle East."

Inside ⁠Iran, where the halt to six weeks of U.S. and Iranian airstrikes has been portrayed as total victory for the clerical rulers, huge crowds turned out to commemorate 40 days of mourning for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed on the war's first day.

State TV showed crowds in Tehran, Kermanshah, Yazd and Zahedan, with mourners in black carrying Iranian flags and portraits of Khamenei and his son and successor Mojtaba. Large commemorative billboards were displayed and a huge Hezbollah flag hung from one building.

PHYSICAL OIL PRICES SPIKE

After six weeks of war, Trump has sought an off-ramp before the economic consequences derail his presidency. His announcement of a ceasefire has tamed a surge in benchmark oil prices, based on financial contracts to deliver oil a month in the future. But with a fifth of global ​supply still trapped, present-day prices of physical oil and fuels are ​still rising.

Though Europe and Asia have been worst hit so ⁠far, the U.S. retail price for diesel rose to $5.69 a gallon on Thursday, just 13 cents below the all-time high.

Trump, who announced the truce on Tuesday night just before a deadline he had set to destroy Iran's "whole civilisation" unless it unblocked the strait, threatened more attacks late on Wednesday.

If Iran did not comply, then "the 'Shootin’ Starts,' bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before," ​he posted on social media.

Though Trump has declared victory, Washington has not achieved the aims he announced to justify the war at its outset: to eliminate Iran's ability to attack its ​neighbours, destroy its nuclear programme and ⁠create conditions that would make it easier for Iranians to topple their government.

Iran still possesses missiles and drones that can hit its neighbours and a stockpile of more than 400 kg (900 pounds) of uranium enriched close to the level for a weapon. Its rulers, who had faced a mass uprising just months ago, survived the superpower onslaught with no sign of organised opposition.

And they emerge having demonstrated their ability to exert control of the strait, despite a massive U.S. military presence in the region built up over decades to protect Washington's allies and safeguard ⁠shipping.
Iran is pressing ​for even more U.S. concessions in a final deal, including the total lifting of U.S. and international financial sanctions that have crippled its economy, and acknowledgment ​of its control over the strait, an international waterway previously freely open to all trade.

Iranian officials say they plan to impose rules on passage through the strait, including a potential fee to use it, similar to those charged by countries that operate man-made canals over their territory.

The Revolutionary Guards published a map of the ​strait on Thursday with the main shipping channels through its centre marked as unsafe, ordering ships instead to sail around islands closer to the Iranian shore.