The Malaysian prime minister on Wednesday declared voting day on May 9 a public holiday after a decision to hold elections on a workday triggered complaints that it would deter mainly opposition supporters.
The surprise move is seen as a bid to ease public anger a day after the Election Commission announced that voting will be held on a Wednesday, departing from the norm of having it on a weekend.
The weekday vote triggered a flurry of complains that it would deter thousands of Malaysians from…
Communist Party’s crackdown on dissent puts another Vietnam activist in jail for 13 years
A court in Vietnam on Tuesday jailed an activist for 13 years, followed by five years on probation, for threatening the survival of the state, police said, just days after six others were sentenced on the same charge.
Despite sweeping economic and social reform in Vietnam, the ruling Communist Party retains tight media censorship and does not tolerate criticism. It has been stepping up sentencing and arrests of activists and handing them longer jail terms.
Nguyen Van Tuc, 53, was sentenced for…
FCA puts Brexit and consumer protection on the priority list
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released its business plan for 2018/19, focusing heavily on the resources needed to deal with the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Vietnam activists urge Facebook chief Zuckerberg to stop ‘aggressive practices’ of censoring content
A group of 50 Vietnamese activists and rights organisations have written an open letter to Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg suggesting his company may be colluding with communist authorities to scrub out online dissent.
Vietnam ranks among Facebook’s top 10 users by numbers and the site is hugely popular among dissidents in a one-party state where independent media is banned and blog sites are routinely removed.
The letter to Zuckerberg comes amid deepening controversy at Facebook over…
UK plans to simplify gaming duty accounting periods
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has launched a consultation into potential changes to the accounting period for gaming duty paid by casino operators, following up on a promise made in last year’s autumn budget.
Thousands of North Koreans dance ‘with honour and pride’ in tribute to Kim Jong-il
Thousands of North Koreans gathered in locations across Pyongyang Monday to dance in celebration of late leader Kim Jong-il. Men in suits and women in the traditional high-waisted, formless dresses known as hanbok in the South and joseon-ot in the North assembled in formation, squatting patiently until a master of ceremonies gave the command for the party to begin. Moving smoothly into groups of three concentric circles, they gyrated and kicked in time, clapping in unison to tunes lauding…
Mastermind of deadly Jakarta bus terminal bombing says jail sentence ‘unjust’
An Indonesian court on Monday jailed the mastermind behind last year’s Islamic State-linked suicide bombings at a Jakarta bus terminal for nine years.
Kiki Muhamad Iqbal was convicted of organising the twin bombings, in which two men blew themselves up using pressure cookers packed with explosives and killed three police officers and injured 12 at Kampung Melayu bus terminal.
“We find the defendant guilty of planning (the act) and mobilising others to participate and sentence him to…
Cambridge Analytica boss Alexander Nix dined with two of Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign advisers in 2015
When Alexander Nix, the recently suspended boss of Cambridge Analytica, went to Manila in May 2015, he did more than deliver a talk on his new method of managing elections. Nix dined with Jose Gabriel “Pompee” La Viña and Peter Tiu Laviña, cousins who later played key roles in Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential campaign, notable for its use of social media. At the time, Nix identified himself as a board director of Cambridge Analytica’s parent company,…
Cambodia’s former opposition leader Sam Rainsy calls for election boycott if his dissolved party remains excluded
Cambodia’s former opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, called on Sunday for Cambodians to boycott a general election set for July 29 if his dissolved party isn’t allowed to take part.
The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was dissolved by the Supreme Court last November at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s government, which alleged it was plotting to take power with the help of the United States.
The CNRP and the United States have denied the allegations, which followed…
‘The art of divorce’: Russell Crowe’s Gladiator armour fetches US$96,000 in memorabilia sell-off
The torso armour Russell Crowe wore for his Oscar-winning role in Gladiator eclipsed expectations at a Sydney auction on Saturday, selling for A$125,000 (US$96,000).
Sotheby’s Australia had estimated the stunt cuirass worn in the 2000 blockbuster would fetch between A$20,000 and A$30,000. But much of the film memorabilia auctioned by the Australia-based New Zealander as part of his divorce settlement exceeded expectations.
A replica Roman chariot from the same film in which Crowe played…