TH rebranding becoming another racial tensions flashpoint
PAS is using the issue to paint a picture that funds deposited by Muslims hoping to go on the haj are being misused and channelled inappropriately to non-Muslims, and that bumiputera companies were being sidelined.
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The Star
7 hours ago
- The Star
HKEX posts record-high revenue in H1
HONG KONG, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) on Wednesday posted its revenue and other income for the first half of the year reaching 14.076 billion HK dollars, marking a 33 percent year-on-year increase and setting a new record for the group's half-year performance. Driven by positive market sentiment, growing investor appetite for non-U.S. dollars assets and increasing participation of international and the Chinese mainland investors, the average daily turnover in securities trading for the first half of 2025 was 240.2 billion HK dollars, up 118 percent year-on-year. The Hong Kong ETF market continued to deliver impressive growth during the period, reaching a record average daily turnover of 33.8 billion HK dollars, up 184 percent compared with the same period last year. Stock Connect also continued to gain traction during the period, achieving record half-yearly turnover in both Northbound and Southbound Trading. Northbound Bond Connect also set a new trading record with the average daily turnover up 3 percent year-on-year. In the first half of 2025, Hong Kong regained its position as the world's No. 1 IPO venue. IPO equity funds raised were more than eight times that of the first half of 2024, and the number of active IPO applications increased to 207 as of June 30, 2025, more than double the 84 applications as at Dec. 31, 2024. Bonnie Chan, chief executive officer of the HKEX, said that the group enters the second half of 2025 with new initiatives that are underway to further enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of our markets, including preparations for a shorter cash market settlement cycle, the expansion of paperless listing regime, as well as implementing enhanced IPO price discovery requirements and the first phase of reduced minimum spreads. (1 U.S. dollar equals 7.81 HK dollars)
Free Malaysia Today
9 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-MCA veep was comparing Akmal Saleh with PAS counterparts, not party
From Lee Chai Wah I refer to the letter by Terence Netto, titled 'Much to prefer in Puad-Ti clash than Akmal-DAP Youth slanging match' published on Aug 20. Netto wrote that former MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker wants the party to leave Barisan Nasional, and 'holds PAS these days to be more rational than Umno'. However, a report published by another news portal on Aug 17 contradicts Netto's assertion. In the said report, Ti explicitly stated that his remarks, which were first reported by Malaysiakini, were not aimed at whitewashing PAS. Nor was it about pushing for MCA's exit from BN, but keeping the coalition intact amid concerns over the growing Umno-DAP alliance. Again, based on the Malaysiakini report, Ti never said that PAS these days was more rational than Umno. Ti was quoted as saying: 'In a way, (Umno Youth chief Dr) Akmal (Saleh)'s actions, in this respect, are worse than his contemporaries in PAS'. Ti was therefore comparing the current crop of youth leaders in the two parties and not the party itself. Based on the context – the reaction to the blunder involving the Jalur Gemilang – Ti was merely referring to and comparing the response to the controversy and nothing more. It was an observation and in no way an endorsement of PAS and its policies, past or present. Jumping to conclusions and making wayward assumptions is incorrect, especially when it was explained and expressed otherwise. It must also be pointed out that Netto's comments were also based on remarks by Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi, which have no reference to Ti's statements. Puad had reminded Ti of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang's 1981 sermon on kafirs (infidels), when arguing against the claim that the Islamic party was more rational than Umno. But Puad's argument is off track, as it did not take into account the specific issue mentioned, which is the comparison of Akmal and his contemporaries in PAS. Instead, Puad defended Akmal's posturing as patriotism and chose not to address the comparison made by Ti in regards to how Umno Youth and PAS Youth reacted to the matter. The point was about tone and decorum, not ideology, and certainly not an endorsement of PAS. Ti's remarks must be seen in that context, and not twisted into something irrelevant. Lee Chai Wah is the general secretary of Kuantan MCA. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
The Star
15 hours ago
- The Star
White House starts TikTok account as platform in US legal limbo
The White House account had about 4,500 followers an hour after posting the video. Trump's personal account on TikTok meanwhile has 110.1 million followers, though his last post was on Nov 5, 2024 – Election Day. — Reuters WASHINGTON: The White House launched a TikTok account on Aug 19, as US President Donald Trump continues to permit the Chinese-owned platform to operate in the United States despite a law requiring its sale. "America we are BACK! What's up TikTok?" read a caption on the account's first post on the popular video sharing app, a 27-second clip. The account had about 4,500 followers an hour after posting the video. Trump's personal account on TikTok meanwhile has 110.1 million followers, though his last post was on November 5, 2024 – Election Day. TikTok is owned by China-based internet company ByteDance. A federal law requiring TikTok's sale or ban on national security grounds was due to take effect the day before Trump's inauguration on January 20. But the Republican, whose 2024 election campaign relied heavily on social media and who has said he is fond of TikTok, put the ban on pause. In mid-June Trump extended a deadline for the popular video-sharing app by another 90 days to find a non-Chinese buyer or be banned in the United States. That extension is due to expire in mid-September. While Trump had long supported a ban or divestment, he reversed his position and vowed to defend the platform – which boasts almost two billion global users – after coming to believe it helped him win young voters' support in the November election. Trump's official account on X, formerly Twitter, has 108.5 million followers – though his favored social media outlet is Truth Social, which he owns, where he has 10.6 million followers. The official White House accounts on X and Instagram have 2.4 million and 9.3 million followers, respectively. – AFP
