Two men were detained during a pro-Palestinian protest outside the US Embassy in KL, sparked by Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying 23 Malaysians. Police cited traffic obstruction, though affirmed the right to peaceful assembly. We speak to SUARAM’s Jernell Tan on what really happened, the question of excessive force, and how authorities can take a more facilitative approach to managing peaceful assemblies.

Other stories we covered:

• Occupational hazards in healthcare: Over 5,600 occupational health incidents were reported among MOH staff last year, from needlestick injuries to workplace accidents and disease exposure. With nearly 300,000 healthcare workers nationwide, how can we better protect those who care for us? We hear thoughts from Prof Dr Victor Hoe, a professor of Occupational and Public Health at Universiti Malaya and Dr Anantha Kumar Rajendran, Head of the Occupational Safety and Health Unit, in Sarawak General Hospital.

• How deepfake abuse impact minors: Deepfake nudes of two 18-year-old girls have surfaced online, but police say there’s “insufficient evidence” to act, raising concerns about enforcement gaps. Melissa Lim, a legal research fellow specialising in artificial intelligence, at Sinar Project, shares her thoughts on what needs to change and how upcoming laws could help.

• Obstacles in resolving the Myanmar Refugee crisis: A high-level UN meeting in New York has reignited urgent calls for action on the Rohingya refugee crisis. Over 1.2 million Rohingya remain in limbo, mostly in Bangladesh, while human rights groups warn that rushed repatriation could be dangerous. We hear from former Foreign Minister and Indera Mahkota MP Dato’ Sri Saifuddin Abdullah on the complex road to resolution.

• How to live well while being frugal: A Japanese retiree has gone viral after revealing he saved 65 million yen by living frugally his whole life, only to regret not spending more time enjoying life with his late wife. We discuss what it really means to balance financial goals while juggling the importance of living well.

Image Credit: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur's Facebook page