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☆ Can a New Law Force Airbnb Hosts to Become Landlords?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Ginia Bellafante | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

If you were planning a trip to New York City for Presidents’ Day weekend and logged onto Airbnb Wednesday morning, the first two listings to turn up might have vexed you. One was for a hotel room on Park Avenue South, and the second was for a townhouse apartment in Jersey City, advertised for its proximity to the PATH train to Manhattan, useful because Jersey City is not actually in New York. But Airbnb thrived amid loopholes in the law. In May 2022, there were more than 10,500 New York City listings on the site for apartments or whole houses. In December, as demand for Airbnb spaces in New York fell by 46 percent, the growth in Jersey City and Newark exceeded 53 percent.

Persons: Airbnb Organizations: ’, Malaysian, Local, City Council, York, New Locations: New York City, Jersey City, Manhattan, Jersey, New York, Newark

☆ Analysis-For Malaysian Filmmakers, Censorship Stifles Optimism After Overseas Glory
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

"This is a very good time ... where people around the world are really looking into Malaysian filmmakers. "Mentega Terbang" follows a teenage Muslim girl exploring different religions while dealing with grief. Online platforms are not covered by film censorship rules in Malaysia. Khairi and others involved in "Mentega Terbang" even received death threats at the time, media reports show. CENSORSHIPUnder Malaysian law, films intended for public viewing must be approved by the Film Censorship Board.

Persons: Oscar, Michelle Yeoh, Khairi Anwar, Malaysia's, Khairi, Badrul Hisham Ismail, Pagi Ke, Anwar Ibrahim's, Anwar, Zabidi Mohamed, Amir Muhammad, Brenda Danker, Danial Azhar, Rozanna Latiff, Himani Sarkar Organizations: Azhar KUALA LUMPUR, Reuters, Cannes, Cannes Film, Malay, Academy, Malaysian, Film, YouTube Locations: Azhar KUALA, Malaysia, Malaysian, Viu, Terengganu, Malay

☆ Malaysia halves jail sentence of ex-prime minister Najib
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Najib Razak, Malaysia's former prime minister, gestures as he leaves the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Malaysia, on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018. The board, chaired by Malaysia's king, did not give a reason for halving Najib's sentence. It said if Najib failed to pay the fine given, an additional year would be imposed on his jail term. Malaysia's king plays a largely ceremonial role but can pardon convicted people among discretionary powers granted by the federal constitution. The pardons board, which advises the king, includes the attorney-general and government officials.

Persons: Najib Razak, Anwar Ibrahim's, Anwar, Najib, Malaysia's, Jho Low, Al, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, Sultan Abdullah, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar Organizations: United National Malays Organisation, 1Malaysia Development, Saudi Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Johor .

☆ Malaysia Pardons Board Halves Jail Sentence of Jailed Ex-Pm Najib
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian pardons board on Friday said it has decided to halve the jail sentence of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was convicted of graft and money laundering related to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal. Najib, who is serving a 12-year jail term, will be released in August 2028 and fines imposed on him reduced to 50 million ringgit ($10.59 million) from 210 million ringgit, the board's secretariat said in a statement. Najib was jailed for graft linked to state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), from which U.S. and Malaysian investigators estimate $4.5 billion was stolen and more than $1 billion channeled to accounts linked to the former premier. ($1 = 4.7220 ringgit)(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Martin Petty)

Persons: Najib Razak, Najib, Rozanna Latiff, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, Malaysian, 1Malaysia Development Locations: KUALA LUMPUR

☆ Malaysia's new king has a $5.7B family fortune. Here's how he spends his money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, 65, was declared king on Wednesday as part of the country's rotating monarchy. King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor is photographed with his sister, Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, after his accession was announced in October 2023. MOHD RASFAN/AP ImagesSultan Ibrahim is head of the Johor royal family and is considered one of the country's wealthiest men. In May 2023, a video posted to the Johor royal family's TikTok account showed them dining at Istanbul Turkish Cuisine, a reservations-only restaurant in Horizon Hills, Johor. King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar (right) speaks with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) after the oath-taking ceremony.

Persons: Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Tunku Azizah Aminah, Iskandariah, MOHD RASFAN, Sultan Ibrahim, Sultan Ibrahim isn't, Ferrari Testarossa, HASNOOR HUSSAIN, Adolf Hitler, Hitler, Harley, Davidson, Tunku Ismail, Crown, Prince, of, of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Anwar Ibrahim, Abdullah Ahmad Shah, Mahathir Mohamad Organizations: Bloomberg, Facebook, Getty, Mercedes, YouTube, Boeing, Guardian, U Mobile, Maharani Energy, Johor Darul, The Straits Times, Malaysian, Malaysia's Locations: Malaysia, Malaysia's, Johor, Malaysian, Kuala Lumpur, India, Istanbul Turkish, Horizon Hills, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Singapore, Forest, Manhattan, of Malaysia Sultan

☆ Malaysia's new king is a billionaire with a collection of 300 luxury cars, his own private army, and family ties to Hitler
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Malaysia has a new billionaire king who has his own army, a fleet of private jets, and 300 luxury cars, including one apparently gifted by Adolf Hitler. King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar (right) speaks with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) after the oath-taking ceremony. AdvertisementAccording to Bloomberg, the Johor family is worth an estimated $5.7 billion. In a resurfaced 2013 interview posted to YouTube in 2017, Sultan Ibrahim said Hitler was a friend of his great-grandfather. AdvertisementSultan Ibrahim's wife, Raja Zarith Sofiah, is from another royal family, an Oxford graduate, and a children's books author, according to the Associated Press.

Persons: Adolf Hitler, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, Anwar Ibrahim, MOHD RASFAN, Sultan Ibrahim —, Yang di, Pertuan, Sultan Ibrahim, Hitler, Harley, Sultan Ibrahim's, HASNOOR HUSSAIN, couldn't, Mahathir Mohamad, Mohamad, Raja Zarith Sofiah Organizations: Malaysia's, Singapore Straits Times, Business, Bloomberg, Ferrari, Getty, Reuters, U Mobile, ABC News, YouTube, Davidson, Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald, Associated Press Locations: Malaysia, Malaysia Sultan, Johor, Singapore, Great Britain, England, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian, Oxford

☆ Malaysia Cabinet Discusses Najib Pardon Bid, but Won't Announce Outcome - Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

It will be at the discretion of the Pardons Board to announce its decision, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said at a press conference on immigration and labour issues, which was packed with media seeking news on Najib's clemency bid. Najib requested a royal pardon shortly after beginning his sentence in 2022 and after exhausting all other appeals. Najib's lawyer and representatives, as well as Malaysia's attorney-general, a member of the pardons board, did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. "Let us not jump the gun, let us wait for an official statement to be made," Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said at a separate press briefing. U.S. and Malaysian investigators estimate around $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB, with more than $1 billion channeled to accounts linked to Najib.

Persons: Danial Azhar, Najib Razak, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Najib, Prime Minister's Department Zaliha Mustafa, Najib's, Fahmi Fadzil, Jho Low, Nooryana Najwa Najib, pensively, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, 1Malaysia Development, Prime Minister's Department, Communications, Saudi Locations: KUALA LUMPUR

WASHINGTON (AP) — A prominent defense attorney whose star clients have included Snoop Dogg pleaded guilty Friday to leaking grand jury information to reporters about a political conspiracy case against a rapper from the Fugees. Michel's trial included testimony from such figures as actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Kenner’s attorney said in court documents that the reporters originally agreed to sign a protective order, but later changed their minds. L. Barrett Boss, one of the defense attorneys, said Kenner was planning to retire after Michel’s trial. But Boss said Kenner is “very strained financially” because he spent $1.4 million “out of pocket” on Michel’s defense.

Persons: Snoop Dogg, David Kenner, Suge Knight, Tory Lanez, Kenner, ” Michel, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeff Sessions, ” Kenner, Michel, Peter Zeidenberg, Kenner misattributing, Diddy, Judge Amit Mehta, Mehta, Barrett Boss, Boss, Pras Michel, Erica Dumas, Barack Obama’s, Trump, DiCaprio, Jho, _____ Whitehurst Organizations: WASHINGTON, Bloomberg News, U.S, Bloomberg, Kenner, Justice Department, Hollywood Locations: California, Washington, U.S, Malaysian, China, Philadelphia

☆ Batu Caves: This 400 million-year-old cave site and temple in Malaysia is planning an escalator upgrade
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

To reach the temple housed in a limestone cave at the top, visitors must currently climb 272 steps. Adding an escalator would make the site “more accessible,” a spokesperson for the site’s management committee told a press conference Friday. “We hope the government will assist us since this (escalator) will allow the disabled and elderly who are unable to climb the steps to reach the main temple,” said temple committee chairman R. Nadarajah. Visitors on the stairs leading up to Batu Caves' Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple. Batu Cave officials say the strategy has worked, pointing out the colorful stairs have become popular with Instagrammers.

Persons: “, ”, Nadarajah, Mohd Samsul Mohd Said Organizations: CNN, Visitors, Tourists, Malaysian Locations: Malaysia, Batu, Kuala Lumpur

☆ Passengers found a live snake in an overhead bin like a real-life 'Snakes on a Plane'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewAn AirAsia Thailand flight from Bangkok to Phuket erupted into chaos after passengers discovered a live snake in an overhead luggage bin, according to CNN. A video appearing to be from the incident, shared by the Malaysian news outlet UtusanTV on TikTok, shows the small snake slithering above the overhead bin. In the video, a flight attendant can be seen trying to capture it with a water bottle, before switching to a garbage bag. AdvertisementTikTok users in the comments referred to the 2006 movie, "Snakes on a Plane," which starred Samuel L. Jackson and involved dozens of venomous snakes being released onto a passenger plane. Phol also told CNN that certain passengers were relocated from the area as a precautionary measure, and that the flight landed without incident.

Persons: —, Samuel L, Jackson, Phol Poompuang, Phol Organizations: Service, AirAsia, CNN, Business, Business Insider Locations: AirAsia Thailand, Bangkok, Phuket, Malaysian

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — The director and producer of a banned Malaysian film that explores the afterlife were charged Wednesday with offending the religious feelings of others in a rare criminal prosecution of filmmakers, slammed by critics as an attack on freedom of expression. “As far as we are concerned, these are groundless charges and we will challenge those charges in court,” he said. The two filmmakers filed a suit challenging the government’s decision before they were charged. Human Rights Watch accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government of prosecuting the two filmmakers to win political support from Malays. Khairianwar has said this is likely the first time a filmmaker has been criminally charged in the country.

Persons: Mohamad Khairianwar Jailani, “, Tan Meng Kheng, Surendran, ”, Critics, Anwar Ibrahim’s, Anwar, hypocritically, Phil Robertson, Khairianwar, ” Khairianwar Organizations: Home Ministry, Islam, Human Rights Watch, Free, Free Malaysia Today Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Malaysian, Islam, Hong Kong, Malay, Asia, “, Free Malaysia

☆ Brunei comes to a standstill for royal wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Life in the tiny oil-rich kingdom of Brunei came to a standstill Sunday for a grand royal wedding attended by heads of state and royals from Bhutan and Middle Eastern countries, the highlight of 10 days of celebrations. The lavish ceremony saw Prince Abdul Mateen, the tenth child and fourth son of Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, wed his long-time partner, Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, the granddaughter of a royal adviser. Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty ImagesThe 32-year-old prince, a British-trained and educated military officer in the Brunei Royal Armed Forces who’s sixth in line to his father’s throne, has become the modern face of Brunei’s royal family. Iqbal Selamat/AFP/Getty ImagesThe royal wedding at Brunei's Istana Nural Palace. To Their Majesties Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Raja Isteri, our warmest congratulations on this happy occasion.”Prince Mateen kneels before his father, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, after the solemnization ceremony.

Persons: Prince Abdul Mateen, Brunei’s, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Yang Mulia, Rosnah, Nurul Iman, Bandar Seri Begawan, Mateen, Mohd Rasfan, Michael Jackson, Britain’s, Prince Charles, Teh Firdaus, –, Iqbal Selamat, Lee Hsien Loong, Hassanal Bolkiah, Raja Isteri, ” Prince Mateen, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Mateen’s, Hassanal Organizations: CNN, Nurul, Royce, Getty, Brunei Royal Armed Forces who’s, Abaca Press, United Arab, Singapore Prime, AP, of Defense Locations: Brunei, Bhutan, Middle, Brunei’s Sultan, Bandar Seri, Bandar Seri Begawan, AFP, British, Malaysian, Nural, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Borneo, Britain

☆ I quit being a lawyer to dabble in writing and podcasting. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I didn't know what I wanted to study in college. Working as a lawyer was exciting at firstI started working at an international law firm after graduating from the London School of Economics with my law degree. AdvertisementI struggled to come to terms with this because I didn't know what else was out there apart from the law. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to create something personal to me. But I couldn't see a path toward it because I didn't know how to monetize what looked like a hobby.

Persons: —, Ling Yah Wong, That's, It's, Wong, Red Hong Yi Organizations: Service, Business, London School of Economics, Malaysian, LinkedIn Locations: Malaysian

☆ Want to avoid crowds while traveling? Here's the 'not hot' list for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-28 | by ( Quek Jie Ann | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Adventure travel company Intrepid Travel's new "Not Hot" list is out — spotlighting overlooked travel spots around the world. The 2024 list calls attention to two destinations in Asia, two in Europe and one in Central America. Source: Intrepid TravelUnlike Italy's tourist-saturated Positano, travelers visiting Corsica can "enjoy a more authentic, tranquil, and immersive experience ... without the overwhelming crowds," according to a press release by Intrepid Travel. Intrepid Travel recommends Panama for those who wish to "immerse themselves in local traditions, folklore, and contemporary arts ... that differs from the more European-centric cultural landscape," the press release stated. Source: Intrepid Travel

Persons: Matt Berna, Nick Lim, Lim, Gonzalo Azumendi, Emberá, David C Tomlinson Organizations: Intrepid, Americas, Intrepid Travel, CNBC Travel, UNESCO, Heritage, Euromonitor International, Japan National Tourism Organization, Korea Tourism Organization, The Travel Corporation, CNBC, Trip.com, La Amistad, Bank, Getty Locations: Asia, Europe, Central America, Corsica Corsica, France, Corsica, Seoul Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Korea, Intrepid Travel Tokyo, Tokyo, Panama Panama, Central American, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, Panama Viejo, Casco, Darien, La, Guna, Corfu Greece, Santorini, Mykonos, Kefalonia, Corfu, Greece, Split, Dubrovnik, Croatia, Borneo Borneo, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Kalimantan, Indonesian, Sarawak, Sabah, Borneo, Malaysian, Indonesian's Kalimantan

☆ Asia’s year in review: Who had it good — and who had it bad — in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Curtis Chin | Jose B. Collazo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

As 2023 comes to a close, we take a look at the year that was in Asia and the Pacific region. But who had it good and who had it bad in 2023? Bad year: China's property marketWith millions of Chinese citizens still waiting for homes they put down payments on — but might never be built — 2023 was a particularly bad year for China's property market. A newly built property is seen from the air in Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province, China, Dec 15, 2023. Chinese families and individuals who once saw homes as more than somewhere to live but also as investments have reason to fear 2023 won't be the last bad year they face.

Persons: Curtis, Chin, Jose B, —, Vikram, Amit Dave, Narendra Modi, Taylor Swift, Kim Ji, Jennie, Kim Jennie, Roseanne Chae, Lisa, Lalisa, King Charles, Rose, Roseanne Park, Jisoo Kim, Jennie Kim, King Charles III, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Victoria Jones, Blackpink, Michelle Yeoh, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, San Francisco —, China Evergrande, Moody's, Asia's Organizations: Asian Development Bank, RiverPeak Group, ISRO —, Indian Space Research, Orbiter, ISRO, Buckingham, Sustainable, COP26, Getty, YG Entertainment, APEC, U.S, International Monetary Fund Locations: U.S, Asia, Turkey, Syria, Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Pacific, India, Gujarat Science City, Ahmedabad, Korea, British, LONDON, ENGLAND, Glasgow, London, England, South Korea, Malaysian, New Zealand, Thailand, China, San Francisco, United States, Taiwan, South China, Country, Hangzhou city, Zhejiang province

☆ Malaysia invites China's Xi to visit, ramps up tourism target
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Liz Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Journalists watch a giant screen broadcasting footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping speaking at the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum (BRF), at the media centre in Beijing, China October 18, 2023. Government data showed Malaysia welcomed 498,540 Chinese tourists in the six months to June this year, a figure almost a third of pre-pandemic levels. Malaysia's economic growth is expected to meet the government's target of 4% this year, driven in part by stronger tourism. Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has also invited China's President Xi Jinping to visit the country, Norman said. "We are hoping that President Xi will consent to visiting Malaysia," he added.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Tingshu Wang, China's, Xi Jingping, Norman Muhamad, Anwar Ibrahim, Norman, Xi, Wang Yi, Zambry Abdul Kadir, Liz Lee, Bernard Orr, Ethan Wang, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Malaysian, Malaysia's, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Malaysia, Thailand, Government, New York

☆ Elephant herd tramples car after baby struck along Malaysian highway
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A herd of wild elephants in Malaysia trampled on a car traveling along a major highway after it struck a baby in their group, local authorities said Monday. It had been drizzling and foggy at that time, Gerik Police added, and the car was “negotiating a left bend on the highway” when it hit the baby elephant. Authorities did not provide further updates about the condition of the elephant baby. In 2017, a baby elephant was discovered dead on the side of a highway, apparently killed by a car believed to have been speeding, elephant conservation group Management and Ecology of Malaysian Elephants (MEME) said at the time. In 2020, a distressed adult elephant trampled on a car that had been traveling on the same highway as the latest incident.

Persons: ”, Zulkifli Mahmood, “, ” Mahmood, Sylvain CORDIER Organizations: CNN, Gerik Police, Police, Management, Malaysian Locations: Malaysia, Gerik, Malay, Penang, Terengganu, Borneo

☆ Fact Check: Satirical Malaysian film falsely linked to Israel-Gaza conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An image from a satirical Malaysian TV movie released in 2018 has been shared online as evidence of Palestinians staging pictures of people in hospital during Israel’s war with Hamas. Included in the image is a caption: “Just a few important items: 1. Eid telemovie ‘Laksa Di Ambang Wati’.”Contacted by Reuters, Yusop confirmed that the image was a screengrab from his TV film he shot in 2018. Malaysian actor Tapai Gegarlawak starred in the scene, Yusop added. The image is from a 2018 satirical Malaysian TV movie.

Persons: Ambang, Al Jafree Md Yusop, oximeter, Eid, ‘, Di Ambang, ”, Yusop, Tapai Gegarlawak, Read Organizations: Hamas, Social, Twitter, Facebook, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Malaysian, Palestine, Hollywood, Israel, Gaza

☆ Chinese court starts hearing lawsuits against Malaysia Airlines over missing flight MH370
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Jiang Hui speaks with CNN in an interview in Beijing on November 21, 2023, days before a Chinese court began hearing lawsuits over the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. All of them are international companies headquartered outside China, though Malaysia Airlines, Boeing and Roll-Royce have offices in China. In Malaysia, two young boys who lost their father on the flight sued Malaysia Airlines for breach of contract and the Malaysian government for negligence in 2014. In China, families who signed a settlement agreement with Malaysian Airlines received 2.5 million yuan ($350,000) in compensation. Only a few dozen Chinese families signed initially, but over the years more have opted to settle.

Persons: Jiang Hui, Jiang Cuiyun, MH370, Jiang, ” Jiang, Royce, Covid, “, ”, – Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Malaysia Airlines Flight, CNN, Court, Maylasia Airlines, Boeing, Malaysia Airlines, Allianz, Rolls, Malaysian, Malaysian Airlines Locations: China, Beijing, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Chaoyang District, United States, Africa, Australia, Mauritius, Madagascar

☆ Malaysia opposition leader to step down as party president
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Malaysian opposition leader and former premier Muhyiddin Yassin speaks during an interview at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Malaysia's opposition leader Muhyiddin Yassin said on Friday he would step down as president of his party, which leads the Malay-majority bloc Perikatan Nasional. Muhyiddin, a former prime minister, said at his Bersatu party's annual meeting he will not defend his position as party president during internal leadership elections next year. "The time for me to pass on the party leadership to a new team of leaders has arrived," he said in a speech. Bersatu is part of the Perikatan Nasional opposition bloc, which is backed by a conservative Islamist party and made inroads among the country's majority ethnic-Malay Muslims during regional polls in August and last year's general elections.

Persons: Muhyiddin Yassin, Hasnoor Hussain, Danial Azhar, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Perikatan Nasional, Thomson Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, KUALA LUMPUR, Malay, Perikatan Nasional

All have been hit by a boycott campaign over Israel's military offensive in the Gaza Strip since the deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7. Western brands are feeling the impact in Egypt and Jordan, and there are signs the campaign is spreading in some other Arab countries including Kuwait and Morocco. Videos have circulated of what appear to be Israeli troops washing clothes with well-known detergent brands which viewers are urged to boycott. In Kuwait City on Tuesday evening, a tour of seven branches of Starbucks, McDonald's and KFC found them nearly empty. Previous boycott campaigns in Egypt, the Arab world's most populous nation, had less impact, including those advocated by the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Persons: Mohamed Abd, Reham Hamed, Ahmad al, McDonald's, Jordan, Hossam Mahmoud, Sameh El Sadat, executive's, Issam Abu Shalaby, Farah Saafan, Sarah El Safty, Mai ShamsElDin, Suleiman Al, Ahmed Hagagy, Jonathan Spicer, Aidan Lewis Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Gaza, U.S, Kuwait City, McDonald's, KFC, McDonald's Corp, Reuters, BDS, Starbucks, TBS Holding, Malaysian, Cola, Nestle, Turkish, Israel, United Arab, Thomson Locations: Kentucky, Egypt, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Cairo, CAIRO, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Amman, Rabat, BDS Egypt, Egyptian, Malaysia, Putrajaya, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Khalidi, Danial Azhar, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait City, Istanbul

☆ Binance mega-fine fits go-big-or-go-home vibe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Anita Ramaswamy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Cryptocurrency is a precocious industry, in its lows as well as its highs. So it makes sense that Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, has agreed to pay a $4.3 billion fine for anti-money laundering, effortlessly surpassing penalties paid by miscreant financial firms that have been around for more than a century longer. Binance boss Changpeng Zhao, a kingpin of crypto and the man who precipitated the downfall of bankrupt rival FTX, pleaded personally guilty on Tuesday to criminal violations. HSBC (HSBA.L), (0005.HK) in 2012 agreed to pay $1.9 billion for its role in facilitating drug cartels’ money laundering. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Changpeng Zhao, FTX, Zhao, Binance, Al Qaeda, It’s, Goldman Sachs, Goldman, David Solomon, Sam Bankman, John Foley, Sharon Lam Organizations: Reuters, HSBC, HK, Malaysian, U.S . Treasury Department, Thomson Locations: Iran, North Korea, U.S

☆ Jailed Russian nationalist nominates himself for president
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Girkin said from custody in August that he would make a better president than Vladimir Putin, whom he described as "too kind". The letter instructed his followers to set up a headquarters and start collecting signatures for his candidacy, SOTA said. Supporters of Girkin said in September that his criminal investigation had been extended until Dec. 18. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Putin has unprecedented support and that he would win an overwhelming majority if he ran. Reporting by Elaine Monaghan in Washington; editing by Clelia OzielOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Igor Girkin, Igor Strelkov, Girkin, Vladimir Putin, SOTA, Oleg Nelzin, Dmitry Peskov, Putin, Elaine Monaghan, Clelia Organizations: Kremlin, REUTERS, Maxim, Russian, Strelkov, West, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Malaysian, Ukraine, Washington

☆ Enovix Corp establishes $1.2 bln high-volume manufacturing facility in Malaysia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Enovix Corporation, a U.S.-based advanced silicon battery firm, will establish a 5.8 billion ringgit ($1.23 billion) high-volume manufacturing facility in Malaysia, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) said in a statement on Thursday. The investment, which will be spent over a period of 15 years, includes the first manufacturing line amounting to 315 million ringgit, MIDA said. The company's investment plan was disclosed to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the United States, MIDA said. "Enovix's (investment)... promises significant local spillover impact, notably the creation of substantial high-quality job opportunities for Malaysians, and the enhancement of our nation's industrial landscape," Malaysia's Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said in the statement. ($1 = 4.7050 ringgit)Reporting by Rozanna LatiffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: MIDA, Anwar Ibrahim, Industry Ministry Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Rozanna Organizations: Enovix Corporation, Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Economic Cooperation, Trade, Industry Ministry, Thomson Locations: KUALA LUMPUR, U.S, Malaysia, Asia, United States

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Acquire Licensing RightsNov 17 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. The Asia Pacific economic data and policy calendar on Friday is very light, with only Malaysian third quarter GDP and current account reports scheduled for release. Ahead of the data the ringgit is trading around 4.6850 per dollar, near last month's 25-year low of 4.79 per dollar. Anyone hoping for market-moving news from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco will have been disappointed. The gathering of APEC leaders has been cordial and cooperative but, viewed through an economic and market lens, lacking any real substance.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Jamie McGeever, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Fed's Barr, Collins, Daly, Josie Kao Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Treasury, Asia, Malaysian, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, CSI, Brent, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, Asia Pacific, Asia, San Francisco, China, Malaysia

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