Vietnam furious over Australian commemorative war coins

VIETNAM’S communist government has demanded Australia cease issuing commemorative coins that it says show the flag of the toppled US-backed South Vietnam, a claim Canberra denied today. In April, the Royal Australian Mint issued 85,000 sets of gold and silver A$2 (RM5.95) coins to mark the 50th anniversary of Australian troops withdrawing from southern Vietnam.

PM wants Sungai Buloh Prison repairs fast-tracked

PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim today directed the Home Ministry to expedite repairs to the Sungai Buloh Prison quarters and ensure the work is completed by year’s end. “God willing, I have asked the chief secretary… to move the process into the fast track initiative,” he said in his speech at the Prisons Department’s Aidilfitri celebrations […]

US director Damien Chazelle will head Venice Film Festival jury

US director Damien Chazelle, best known for the Oscar-winning “La La Land”, will lead the jury of the upcoming Venice Film Festival, organisers announced today.   The 80th edition of the prestigious festival will take place from August 30 through September 9 on the swanky, beach-lined Lido island.  

Maduro accuses Biden administration of ‘looting’ Venezuelan oil firm

VENEZUELAN President Nicolas Maduro yesterday accused US President Joe Biden’s government of “looting” over the proposed sale of Caracas’s most valuable overseas asset, oil refiner Citgo. A court in the US state of Delaware ruled that shares of Citgo, a subsidiary of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, can be sold to pay off its creditors, […]

Dams in 3 northern states at ‘critical’ levels

WATER levels at six dams in Perlis, Kedah and Penang are still at critical levels, the National Water Services Commission (SPAN) said in a statement today. The commission said that the water levels at Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis; Sungai Muda Dam, Pedu Dam and Beris Dam in Kedah; and Ayer Itam Dam and Telok […]

Adidas posts loss as Kanye West split ‘hurts’ business

GERMAN sportswear giant Adidas reported today a hefty first-quarter loss, acknowledging its split from controversial US rapper Kanye West was “hurting” its bottom line.   The company booked a net loss of €39 million (RM191.1 million) from January to March, compared to a profit of €482 million in the period a year earlier.    

Nov 8 hearing for ex-assemblymen’s appeals against anti-party hopping law

THE Court of Appeal has set November 8 to hear the appeals of four ex-Penang assemblymen over the dismissal of their lawsuits to challenge the validity of a motion passed by the state assembly for them to vacate their seats.  Case management for the appeals was conducted today before Court of Appeal deputy registrar Radzilawatee Abdul […]