Latest news with #anti-government
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
An anti-PM rally that began as disquiet with urban renewal
About 300 people attended a rally in Shah Alam on July 6. Rally organisers say 300,000 are expected today, but police estimates put it at 10,000 to 15,000. PETALING JAYA : The 'Turun Anwar' rally to be held later today has been billed as the largest anti-government rally since Anwar Ibrahim was appointed prime minister in 2022. Rally organisers say they expect up to 300,000 participants, but police estimates put it at some 10,000 to 15,000. A similar protest in Shah Alam earlier this month drew just over 300 people. However, today's rally will feature several prominent politicians, including former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim as well as former PKR MP Tian Chua. Yet, despite the recent back and forth between Anwar's supporters and detractors in the past few days, the push for Anwar's removal was not the initial goal of the rally. In February, PAS Youth announced plans to hold a rally to protest against the Urban Renewal Act, which was expected to be tabled on July 31, claiming that it would displace minorities. But in June, the wing decided to rebrand the rally, shifting the focus to a demand for Anwar's resignation, based on issues arising from decisions made by the prime minister. The change was mocked by a PKR Sabah leader who accused PAS Youth of shifting the goalposts due to the lukewarm response it received to the planned anti-URA rally. On Thursday, Perikatan Nasional Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said the rally was specifically about Anwar and not aimed at toppling the unity government. Leaders from PKR have criticised the organisers, saying any change in government should be done democratically – via the Dewan Rakyat – rather than through street protests. On Friday, PKR Tenggara chief Fakharuddin Moslim said Anwar does not make unilateral decisions and that government policies were a collective decision FMT columnist Tajuddin Rasdi also wondered who could succeed Anwar should the opposition get what they wished for, suggesting that there is no worthy candidate to take over the reins. On the other hand, Anwar seems to be taking this matter in his stride. The prime minister was a student activist and the inspiration for anti-government rallies during the Reformasi period following his unceremonious sacking from government in 1998 and he also supported the Bersih rallies over the past 18 years. According to his senior press secretary Tunku Nashrul Abaidah, Anwar has only expressed hope that the rally proceeds peacefully and in an orderly manner, and had even instructed the police to facilitate today's gathering. Tunku Nashrul said the government's stance on the matter is in line with one of the Madani principles the administration espouses, 'celebrating democracy'. In driving home the point on respecting such rights, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said he has ordered all public transport services, including KTM and RapidKL, to operate as usual tomorrow. Loke even encouraged participants to use public transport.
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Zelenskyy announces new anti-graft bill in Ukraine after public outcry and EU criticism
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he's sending a new anti-corruption bill to Ukraine's Parliament on Thursday, in a further attempt to defuse tensions after he approved changes to graft laws that brought a public outcry and sharp criticism from the European Union. Opponents of the contentious law passed by lawmakers and approved by Zelenskyy earlier this week said that it stripped Ukraine's anti-corruption watchdogs of their independence by granting the government more oversight of their work. Zelenskyy said that it was needed to speed up investigations, ensure more convictions and remove 'Russian influence' from the fight against corruption, though he didn't provide examples of Russian meddling. In an abrupt change of course on Thursday, Zelenskyy unexpectedly said that he had drawn up a new draft bill on corruption that 'guarantees the real strengthening of the law and order system in Ukraine.' 'The most important thing is real tools, no Russian connections, and the independence of the (watchdogs),' he said in a Telegram post. The declaration appeared to bow to recent pressure that threatened to undermine public trust in Ukraine's leaders after more than three years of fighting Russia's full-scale invasion. The protests haven't called for Zelenskyy's ouster, but they are the first major anti-government demonstrations since the war began. 'It is important that we maintain unity,' Zelenskyy said in his post. The announcement also left some questions unanswered. Zelenskyy had said Wednesday that he met with the heads of Ukraine's key anti-corruption and security agencies and gave them two weeks to make recommendations on how the graft law could be improved before he presented another bill to Parliament. Despite that assurance, further street protests were scheduled for Thursday evening. The new pronouncement also left unclear whether Zelenskyy intended to revoke the law that he approved earlier in the week after Parliament had passed it. He didn't publicize details about the proposed new law. The unrest has come at a difficult time in the all-out war, which began on Feb. 24, 2022. Russia's bigger army is accelerating its efforts to pierce Ukraine's front-line defenses and is escalating its bombardment of Ukrainian cities. Ukraine is also facing a question mark over whether the United States will provide more military aid and whether European commitments can take up the slack, with no end in sight to the war. Delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul for a third round of talks in as many months Wednesday. But once again, the talks were brief and delivered no major breakthrough. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in the war. It's also an effort that enjoys broad public support. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern Wednesday over the new law, calling it 'a serious step back.' The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and damages trust with international partners. Meanwhile, Russian planes dropped two powerful glide bombs on the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, on Thursday morning, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. At least 37 people were wounded, including a 28-day-old baby, a 10-year-old girl and two 17 year olds, authorities said. The southern city of Odesa, and Cherkasy in central Ukraine, were also hit overnight, authorities said. The drone and missile strikes on the cities wounded 11 people, including a 9-year-old, and damaged historic landmarks and residential buildings, officials said. Ukraine has sought to step up its own long-range drone attacks on Russia, using domestic technology and manufacturing. An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi killed two women and wounded 11 other people, local authorities said Thursday. An oil depot was hit, officials said, without offering details. ___
Reuters
5 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Budapest mayor says probe of banned Pride march sees him as a 'suspect'
BUDAPEST, July 24 (Reuters) - The mayor of Budapest said on Thursday he had become a "suspect" in a police investigation targeting the organisers of an LGBTQ+ rights rally that turned into an anti-government protest last month. Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Hungary's capital city on June 28 as a banned Pride march swelled into a mass anti-government demonstration in one of the biggest shows of opposition to nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "I have become a suspect, and if in this country this is the price we have to pay for standing up for our own and others' freedom, then I am even proud of it," Mayor Gergely Karacsony said in a post on his Facebook page. Police did not reply to emailed Reuters questions seeking comment. The mayor's office told Reuters that Karacsony would be questioned by police as a suspect next week. Orban's conservative nationalist government has gradually curtailed the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in the past decade, and lawmakers passed a law in March that allowed for the banning of Pride marches, citing the need to protect children. The mayor tried to circumvent the law by organising Pride as a municipal event, which he said did not need a permit. Police, however, banned the event, arguing that it fell under the scope of the child protection law. Orban had warned of "legal consequences" for organising and attending the march. Police said earlier that they would not investigate those who attended the event. But there is an investigation under way against an unknown perpetrator, news site said on Thursday. Orban's critics have regarded the move to ban Pride as part of a wider crackdown on democratic freedoms ahead of an election next year when the Hungarian leader, whose Fidesz party has swept elections in the past 15 years, will face a strong opposition challenger.
CTV News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
CTV National News: What we know of an alleged anti-government militia's weapons stockpile
CTV National News: What we know of an alleged anti-government militia's weapons stockpile Canada's defence department says none of the weapons stockpiled by an alleged anti-government militia belonged to the military. Colton Praill reports.
CBC
14-07-2025
- CBC
Father of Quebec man accused in extremist plot says son was framed
The father of one of the Quebec men accused of plotting an anti-government militia tells CBC News his son and the others are being framed. Philippe Audet says his 24-year-old son wouldn't hurt a fly.
